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

[onedrinkwithme]

Well, if you insist...

[And somewhere within the festival, children are giggling with their silly masks. A cat is sleeping on a windowsill and yawns. The gentle sounds of a windchime are tingling in the breeze. The musicians during the show are playing quiet melodies with a few folks dancing along.]

[brynwieldr]

[And Leo is laughing, hand over his mouth and bright red.]

Good gods, Aymeric! I almost want to ask if that was from personal experience, but I'm afraid to find out. Wow.

[onedrinkwithme]

[Pure and innocent his arse. Seeing that he made the prince blush like the tomatoes he loves, it seems his task is complete.]

I did say that kind of talk does not phase me as much. Tis something I can only share with close company rather than publicly but it does feel good to speak of it.

[brynwieldr]

[He is Impressed. Niles hardly fazes him anymore but this got him. He hands the bottle to Aymeric]

I almost feel as if I owe you another drink after that, one that we're not sharing.

[onedrinkwithme]

I would prefer your company all the same; the drinks are just a nice touch to something I already find wonderful.

[brynwieldr]

[Leo smiles, blushing a little. From the bourbon, obviously, never mind that he drinks more than this without getting flushed so quickly semi-regularly.

With Aymeric.]

You know, that's the first time anyone's outright told me they like my company, never mind calling it wonderful.

[onedrinkwithme]

Then it is their loss.

[brynwieldr]

And here you are, flattering me once again. I swear, Aymeric, you get more and more charming with every conversation.

[onedrinkwithme]

[The strange thing is that hearing someone comment on how charming he is, it's something that he can quickly push it off and be polite. Something he has an excuse or a witty reply to but this time, he feels like what he says will determine the outcome of the situation and it matters much more than pleasing heads of state. This is a good friend he's referring to and with that, he can't use what he does with mostly others.

Aymeric does have a few people he is close with here but Leo was the first. He knows what it's like to have heritage that most would scorn at and how they were a lot alike but yet also different. He wants to be truthful to him because that's what he deserves.]

I cannot say if it is charming but rather truthful. I wish to give you nothing less.

[brynwieldr]

[Maybe it's the alcohol, maybe it's the atmosphere, maybe it's the fact that ever since Niles brought up Leo being interested in someone he hasn't been able to get Aymeric out of his mind (even though he's sure Niles didn't mention anyone by name), but something about that makes Leo's chest feel tight for a moment.]

It's a good thing I find truthfulness charming, then.

[Well, really more "attractive", but. Leo glances at the bottle they've been sharing and tsks.]

It's almost empty. Should we go out and find some more?

[onedrinkwithme]

[Oh...did they already drink it all?]

We could...or we can walk around the festival.

[brynwieldr]

[Honestly?

Not quite. There's about a quarter of the bottle left. Leo just feels compelled to walk around a bit.]

Let's do that, then. Maybe the crowds have died down enough for it to be enjoyable.

[onedrinkwithme]

Or mayhap they are trying to find a place where they can watch fireworks. The festival grounds are nice but to see fire in the sky may not be the best place to get a good look.

[brynwieldr]

Either way, the less people the better.

[Leo stands and leaves the little alcove]

Thank you for joining me, by the way.

[onedrinkwithme]

[He remembers that his dear friend hates crowds. Oh well, more time with him, the better.]

How could I refuse a dear friend?

[brynwieldr]

We spend so much time together, I'm worried you'll get tired of me. So many others do, since I lack the tact I was born with--to quote an old nanny.

[onedrinkwithme]

If that was true, I would not be here right now.

[Aymeric was right and the festival is less crowded but he can't help but put a hand on Leo's shoulder for reassurance.]

Just because some say you 'lack tact' does not mean anything. I know a very good man who does the same but he and I are wonderful friends and have been for the past ten years. If that is so, then you have nothing to fear.

[brynwieldr]

[He looks up when Aymeric rests a hand on his shoulder, smiling a little.]

One day I will have pretty words to say about you that are more than just "a wonderful man I'm honored to know". One day.

[Now, which way do they want to go....]

[onedrinkwithme]

You need not florishing words to flatter me, it is your actions that I value much more.

[Actually, Aymeric does take notice of something: the bridge. Oh, Tanabata does have a bridge in the origin story. And there is little people nearby. Hey, maybe they can cross it and see what's on the other side.]

What about this path?

[brynwieldr]

And I am very thankful for that.

[He glances at the path and nods, heading down it]

The bridge, right?

[onedrinkwithme]

Yes, it doesn't have many near by. There seems to be no harm in walking across.

[brynwieldr]

Then that's where we'll go.

[It's strange how abandoned it is and Leo thinks maybe it's unstable.

But the first step on is stable and the bridge hardly moves]

I wonder why no one else is here.

[onedrinkwithme]

Hmm, is this not supposed to be a symbol of the bridge for the celebration today? Mayhap only those of the Far Shore are supposed to cross?

[brynwieldr]

I guess. Oh, well. That just means fewer people to avoid.

[He smiles up at Aymeric and is struck for a moment by how pretty he is in this lighting.]

[onedrinkwithme]

[He nods and the moment he steps on the bridge, Aymeric can't help but feel lighter almost. Its a strange feeling but also intense; he always feels joy whenever he sees Leo smile but right now? It's much more than that particular emotion.

That and he's standing much closer to him than before. Huh.]