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

Wishes

[rememberher]

[ It seemed a little unfair for gods and shinki to write down wishes, didn't it? And admittedly, Lux isn't sure what to do with this, really. So instead, she's settled on reading a few herself, seeing if maybe there was something she could manage.

Yes, it felt a little nosy, but at the same time, wasn't that their job? To make sure that these wishes (they were a little like prayers) were answered? Still...

"I hope he notices me."

"Please let me get into Tokyo University."

"I want to get married."

How was she supposed to help with that?

Seeing a familiar face, however, Lux blinks a few times, offering Yona a wave as—wait, was she tying a wish onto a bit of bamboo? Her expression softens, the older girl smiling warmly. ]

I didn't realize that gods had wishes like this as well.

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona gives a small start before glancing over at the other girl, expression softening when she recognizes Lux. Giving a soft laugh, she turns to face her, hands clasped loosely in front of her. ]

Is it so surprising? That gods might have something they hope for as well?

[rememberher]

[ Well, when put that way... Offering Yona a sheepish smile, Lux shrugs her shoulders upward slightly, head canted to the side. ]

But I thought that it was our job to make wishes come true.

[darkestbefore]

[ She hums softly, her gaze flicking back to the strip of paper she'd hung. ]

It's true, but there are things I can hope for that are beyond my ability as a god to see to. Perhaps, like other prayers, it will find its way to a god somewhere who can see to it?

Responding to tags out of order shhhh

[rememberher]

[ A quiet look of awe falls over her, because really, this is something Lux hasn't thought about–the idea that gods and shinki could have wishes and dreams of their own. That they were allowed to, and that these might be answered by others. Her eyes following Yona's gaze, it takes a moment for the blond to react.

Then slowly, pulling what appears to be a slip of light blue paper from her sleeve (yes she thought about doing this) and a pen, she hesitates.

Is this okay? She looks almost conflicted. ]

...And what if it's something beyond anyone's control? What then?

[ Is it still worth writing? ...Is it all right to be a little selfish and still ask? ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona reaches out and brushes her fingers over the many prayers already hung here. ]

Who decides if it's beyond anyone's control? Who can say how many gods there are in the heavens or what they might be capable of? Besides, sometimes just giving voice to a plea for help sometimes makes it a little easier to face.

Everyone comes across something that is too much or too big for them to tackle alone at some point. If you're willing to reach out a hand for help, you might be surprised to find who is willing to reach back and offer it.

[rememberher]

[ "Sometimes just giving voice to a plea for help sometimes makes it a little easier to face."

Lux looks at Yona then, struck by those words. Because really, something like that wasn't something she ever put into words herself. It was certainly a thought, but to hear it spoken so plainly like that floored her just a bit.

Reaching out for help... It's not something she's altogether willing to do herself, but at that sentiment, at those words, the shinki looks back toward the wishes tied there.

Is it okay?

She pauses, before a small smile curls her lips. ]

I don't know if it's something anyone can answer, but maybe I should write something down too.

[ A beat, and a quick cover-up as her smile brightens, looking perhaps a little rehearsed. ]

That is what this festival is about, isn't it?

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona's smile is warm and genuine as she lets her hands drop back to clasp them in front of her. ]

From what I've been told, it seems to be. I don't know if mine can reach the ears of a god that could answer, either, but I still wanted to try. I suppose, in a way, that makes it no different than any of the prayers the humans here have offered up. They're all filled with the hope that somewhere there's a god who can hear and answer them.

[ Yona nods at the piece of paper Lux holds, since the shinki still seems a little uncertain about it. ] Having a wish of your own isn't anything to be ashamed of. Everyone - even gods - need help sometimes.

[rememberher]

[ It's not that she's ashamed of writing her own wish, per se, but... it's difficult, really. Thinking of something suitable, that isn't a bit selfish at its core. And while there are quite a few wishes that fall into that idiom, asking for something for herself feels a little, well, weird. Unlike her.

But at the same time...

Looking down at the paper in her hand, then back at Yona again, the older shinki blinks a few times in surprise before her smile warms. Because something about those words resonates with her—the thought that everyone could use a bit of help sometimes.

A light of hope, perhaps. ]

Can I see it? Your wish.

[ Because maybe it's something that she and her partner can take care of. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona looks surprised at the request, but after a moment of consideration, her expression softens and she holds out the slip of paper with her prayer carefully written on it. ]

Maybe it sounds silly to some, but it's been the most pressing need on my mind since coming here.

[darkestbefore]

[ Continued here. ]