015 | Sky Full Of Stars

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Tanabata Festival
When: All day July 5
Where: The Near Shore
Summary: The Heavens are throwing a party and you're invited!

Edit: OVERFLOW is here!



With Tanabata drawing close, the Heavens have decided that there is nothing wrong with a little celebration for the annual occasion. So they have invited everyone on the Far Shore as well as a large number of people from the Near Shore to attend a festival for Tanabata. Tanabata festivals are not uncommon in this area, so the Near Shore residents are none the wiser, though some of them are a little uncertain about where this street they've never heard of popped up from...

Tanabata is a festival held to celebrate the one time a year that the lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet across the vast expanse of the Milky Way. Many birds have been working their tail feathers off to create a bridge for the two lovebirds and that bridge - perhaps unsurprisingly - touches down on this street, in the middle of the festival.

The Heavens have prepared entertainment, food stalls, and as many tanzaku as might be needed for everyone to write down wishes, along with plenty of bamboo stalks to hang the wishes from.

New arrivals will find themselves ushered to the festival and offered traditional clothing after their normal briefing at the Meeting Hall.



Stalls

There are festival stalls of every kind present, all run by shinki dressed in white robes and bearing the golden chrysanthemum of Amaterasu. Many of them seem a little bruised still, but they are happy to smile for anyone who comes to the stall they are running. There is food, games, and drinks available of all kinds, so feel free to roam around to your heart's content sampling everything that you can.

Performance

A large stage has been erected at one end of the festival street. The Heavens know that there are many talented gods and shinki present, so they are more than willing to clear spots in the scheduling for those people to perform. Anytime a Far Shore resident isn't on stage, there are plenty of Near Shore acts to go on, ranging the gambit from traditional music and instruments all the way to a rock band that has somehow found themselves here for the celebration.

Wishes

Pieces of paper called tanzaku have been strewn about a number of bamboo shoots all over the festival. There are brightly colored decorations on the bamboo and the papers themselves exist in every color of the rainbow as well. Attendees are encouraged to write down any wishes they may have and hang them from the bamboo, a normal Tanabata tradition. Wishes can range from 'I want a soda' to 'World peace' and anything in between. Obviously, some of these wishes may not be able to be granted during the time of the festival, but gods and shinki alike are encouraged to answer any wishes they can as well.

NOTE: Please report any wishes your characters answers to the first comment on this post along with a link to where the wish is answered. There will be small bonuses awarded for answered wishes.

The Bridge

As stated previously, the bridge that will allow Orihime to meet her lover touches down in the very center of the festival's street. It may be made of tiny pieces, but the bridge itself is sturdy. While it may not be able to take just anyone who sets foot on it across the Milky Way, you are allowed to walk along the bridge yourself, though you will always find yourself turned around after a short time and heading back towards where you stepped on. Lovers in particular are encouraged to walk the bridge together to deepen their bonds, but be cautioned! If you walk onto the bridge with someone, you might start feeling affectionately towards them even if they are your sworn enemy! Such is the power of love on this day.

In Summary:

• Enjoy the festival
• Watch some quality entertainment
• Make and/or answer wishes
• Meet Orihime
• Traverse the bridge
• Have fun~

Comments

[rainbowmaster]

[He turns as well, going back to the stall he was inspecting and purchasing what appears to be shaved ice.

He hands her one, too.]

Really? Why's that.

[fortune_detective]

[She looks from the shaved ice to back up at Johan, blinking at him for a moment of surprise before she reaches out and accepts the shaved ice.]

Thank you.

[She then blushes slightly as she answers his question.]

W- well, it seemed a little embarrassing to change into a yukata that had just been offered to me and to then wear it around at a festival where I don't know anyone.

[She takes a bite of her shaved ice.]

I'm more comfortable staying dressed how I am presently.

[rainbowmaster]

[He gives her a smile.]

You're welcome.

[A thoughtful look as he tries the shaved ice.]

I guess that can be a bit embarrassing.

[Still, Johan doesn't seem to think it should really bother her.] I don't think anyone would've minded you wearing it, though. A lot of people are, after all.

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto kind of half mutters under her breath.]

But I would have minded...

[She clears her throat, and attempts to steer the conversation towards a different topic.]

So, this really is heaven then. I suppose that would explain the extravagance of their Tanabata festival.

[rainbowmaster]

[He merely gives her a sheepish look before he nods.]

Yeah, it does.

...You're familiar with it?

[fortune_detective]

I- I am, yes.

It seems even without any memories I'm still somewhat knowledgeable on certain topics.

[As weird of a feeling as that was, this being the afterlife means Naoto's trying to learn to live with the strangeness.]

[rainbowmaster]

[Johan smiles, though it feels almost strained.

Shinki do have it rough.]

I've heard that the only problem a shinki has is not knowing anything about themselves.

[fortune_detective]

Well, I know my name... and the fact that I am deceased... so that's at least two things I know about myself.

[Surprisingly, the fact that she was missing memories did not seem to be nearly as alarming to Naoto as it possibly should? "It is what it is," a voice seemed to be telling her.]

Really the only problem that is currently a priority for me is locating my assigned god.

[rainbowmaster]

[Shinki...really do have it tough.

But at least Naoto doesn't seem too bothered about it.]

You still haven't found that person yet?

[fortune_detective]

[She shakes her head.]

I was told that they would be alerted upon my arrival, and that we would apparently know each other when saw one another. However, this has yet to be proven.

[rainbowmaster]

[Johan frowns a bit, looking thoughtful.]

If you haven't met your god yet or maybe felt some sort of pull, then it's possible that you might not have been assigned a god. I've heard that can happen.

[After all, it's only just recently that Johan has realized he himself has been assigned a shinki after going for a while without one.]

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto grimaces slightly at that. Her brow furrowing in concern.]

Yes... that has been a concern of mine.

As to sensing some kind of pull... it's hard to say. At the very least, I do feel as though I'm meant to stay near the festival for the time being.

[rainbowmaster]

Mm. Then your God might still be around the festival.

[He gives her a reassuring smile.]

You'll find that person soon.

[fortune_detective]

[Johan's smile does help to cheer her up a little, and a slight grin of her own finds its way to her lips.]

I hope so. If he is currently looking for me, then at this rate I might begin to fear that he'll think I'm actively trying to avoid being found.

[rainbowmaster]

Chances are that he's distracted with the festivities.

[He offers her a yakitori.]

You should take advtanage of it, too, while you're at it.

[fortune_detective]

[She accepts the yakitori gratefully, but she does not eat it yet. It would be rude to talk with her mouth full after all.]

I am trying, but it's hard for me to distract myself from what feels like the more pressing objective.

[rainbowmaster]

Hm, well, I'd like to help, but I'm not sure what I can do to help.

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto shakes her head, waving off Johan's concern with a slightly smile.]

It's all right. You've done enough by just giving me someone to talk with.

[Her smile then grows a little warmer as she motions with the shaved ice before taking another bite.]

The shaved ice helps, too.

[rainbowmaster]

[Johan laughs, grinning.]

Always happy to be around if you ever need someone to talk with.

[The grin widens as he lifts his own shaved ice as if in a toast.]

What better than to cool off with?

[fortune_detective]

It is rather delicious. In fact, I think I've yet to taste something here that hasn't been good.

[Naoto briefly questions why exactly she even feels the need to eat exactly if she is deceased, but she quickly dismisses the thought as the food really just tastes too good.]

[rainbowmaster]

I think they're trying to accommodate for bringing in so many different people here.

[He bites his own shaved ice.]

[fortune_detective]

You mean with all the different varieties of food available?

[rainbowmaster]

Yup!

[He gives a shrug.]

One way to make people happy is food, after all.

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto grins.]

You certainly have a point there.

Admittedly, I was a bit surprised at first by the variety of people here, but I suppose given the diversity of the original pantheons themselves it is not so surprising that their replacements would be equally as various.

[rainbowmaster]

[Johan gives a nod of agreement.]

That's true. But it doesn't mean anything bad.

[A grin.]

Just means more people to get to know.