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

Spring Stage - Senou Natsuru

[thirdbeauty]

[The Spring concert hall, while technically inside the temple, certainly appears to be an outdoor stage set in the middle of what might be a fairytale forest or a picturesque garden. Flowers of all kinds decorate the landscape, and friendly-seeming birds and animals appear in the background, out of reach of anyone in attendance.

When it's time for the show, the otherwise natural-seeming lighting dims everywhere except for a spotlight-like beam lighting the stage through a gap in the trees. Violas suddenly bloom in a circle around the stage, just as Natsuru steps forward into the light, wearing a creative take on traditional Japanese clothing, with the short hemline and frills and thigh-high stockings everyone should expect from the more feminine side of idol costumes.

She doesn't introduce herself, or welcome the audience. This being her first performance, she's far too nervous to do anything but focus entirely on what she's been taught. So the music starts, and Natsuru begins to dance to it. It's not a cutesy idol technique at all... Hibiki seems to have decided to focus on classy, elegant moves with just the right touch of sexy to them. And Natsuru is making it work, surprisingly well for a novice who'd only just begun training!

She sings well too, not missing a single beat or note. She puts a lot of feeling into the lyrics, poetic and romantic as they are. Perhaps she's thinking of someone special while she sings?

On the final beat, Natsuru's choreography flows into striking a final pose, and the 'spotlight' shining on her stage dims into darkness. After the performance, Natsuru can be found with a friendly deer trailing after her (that no one else can seem to get close to or touch no matter how hard they try) throughout the garden scenery, offering a shy smile to anyone she recognizes from her audience.]

Ah, hello... I hope you enjoyed the show.

[She's trying not to turn into a complete mess of awkwardness! An idol needs to be able to show her appreciation to her fans, after all. This, like so many other things, is a way to improve on her confidence.]

[heptagram]

It certainly seemed like you were enjoying yourself, Natsuru.

[Patchouli smiles a little. She's always glad to see her friend having a good time!]

[thirdbeauty]

[There's still a particular smile Natsuru gets around friends like Patchouli. It's more relaxed and pleasant, from genuinely enjoying their company. No matter who else is around, she just seems more content this way.

Add to that her excitement at having successfully performed a whole song, and her cheerfulness doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.]

Thanks!

I think... that's probably important. If I don't enjoy performing, then the audience won't enjoy it either. Something like that...

[heptagram]

Of course. But it also means you'd stop performing, right?

[She... may be admitting she wouldn't mind seeing her perform again.

But that much is clear anyway right]

[thirdbeauty]

Well, yeah. I guess if I really didn't like it...

[She can't imagine that, though. It was a little nerve-wracking, but it was exciting too. It would have been better if she'd gotten to share the stage with Hibiki or Maria, but... she's sure she's not on their level yet.]

[heptagram]

That would be quite unfortunate... still, I'm not exactly sure how you manage that confidence. I guess you're probably a better performer than me, though.

[thirdbeauty]

{Continued here}

[priforprince]

[ These roses being offered to Natsuru's arms, a mix of the same shade of pink as her dress and Hibiki's favorite purple, aren't an illusion. No, this bouquet is real.

And for you. ] Splendid. A truly ethereal, verdant ball.

[ Hibiki smiles. This room just got even more beautiful. ] Will you remain after the midnight of summer, my Cinderella?

[thirdbeauty]

[Hibiki... how many times are you going to greet Natsuru with flowers? You're going to spoil her at this rate!

Of course, Natsuru blinks, eyes wide and cheeks flushed, as she accepts the bouquet into her arms. She holds the roses like they're the most precious thing in the world, while a smile grows across her lips.]

Thank you... Hibiki-sama.

[She's still riding on the high from the performance, so she doesn't get quite as flustered in her excitement. It's still there, though. Especially at being called 'my Cinderella'...]

Ah, doesn't that mean I'd have to go before the spell wears off?

[And then she giggles like a dork. Because she is not good at this flirting thing, she just happened to have just enough confidence left over to actually give a little teasing quip a shot.]

Of course, I'd like to stay, though...

[There we go, she's back to that dreamy tone of voice she gets around Hibiki so often. All is right with the world again.]

[priforprince]

[ You should see your training room. There's a flower arch, as well as several standing displays, decked out with associated blooms, ribbons, and ferns, all real. When Hibiki greets the embodiment of spring, she commits to it.

Her smile for Natsuru kicks the sultry up a single notch. ] My magic is eternal. Like my admiration.

[ Perhaps she's spoiling her pupil. But Natsuru did well, complemented to perfection, of course, by the extravagant grandeur Hibiki provided. She was a fitting centerpiece.

And what greater reward can Hibiki give someone than Hibiki herself? ]

[thirdbeauty]

[She will be dazzled when she returns there after the rest of the shows. Not that she isn't dazzled right now. It's becoming her default for spending time with or in proximity to Hibiki.]

I see...

[A little blush and smile again betray how clearly smitten she is with her new boss. She's got momentum now, just enough to barely keep up with Hibiki's nonsense instead of getting completely swept away by it.]

I can't stay forever, though. Maria-sama would come looking for me.

[She actually managed a second little joke. What is happening? Is this the adrenaline from the performance still going and sweeping her up into a comfortable confidence even in Hibiki's presence? If so, it can't last long.]

Would the rest of the shows be enough?

[priforprince]

Stay as long as you wish.

[ Because of course you want to witness the birth of the full CelePara Talent Agency, in all the splendor Hibiki could construct for them!

She offers Natsuru her arm, escort-style. ]

This is your cotillion, after all.

[ ...in Pamerican usage. It's the most overly-elaborate term for a debutante ball that she knows.

Shall they take a turn about the proceedings? And make flirtatious smalltalk? ]

[thirdbeauty]

{THEY SHALL... over here}

Re: Spring Stage - Senou Natsuru

[pure_radiantics]

[Kairi is very enthusiastically cheering for Natsuru even in her yukata. She shouts over the crowd as loud as she can beforehand, she cheers during the lyrical parts that need audience response, and when all is done she cheers then too.]

GO NATSURU!

[But after the scene, she tries to find Natsuru to congratulate her.]

What a super-cool song too! Did you pick that out?

[thirdbeauty]

Kairi-chan!

[Rather than Natsuru's more polite, reserved greeting, Kairi gets a brighter smile and even a quick greeting hug.]

Thanks for coming!

[She soon pulls away from the hug, but keeps her hands lightly settled on Kairi's arms. She's just so happy that so many of her friends came to see her!]

Hibiki-sama picked everything, actually! She's been helping me a lot.

[pure_radiantics]

Overflow link here!

[nolittlesecret]

[........... that was strangely awkward for Nari. Natsuru looks cute, the deer was cute, but the performance felt stiff despite the feeling put into the singing. Not at all enjoyable.

When Natsuru greets him, he frowns and crosses his arms.]

You didn't pick the song or routine, did you?

[thirdbeauty]

[This guy...

Natsuru blushes deeply, but to her credit doesn't stumble over answering at all.]

Not exactly... I wouldn't have even known where to start.

But I thought it was fun...

[If she was stiff or awkward at all, she just figures it's because she's not used to this sort of thing yet. It's only been a short time since she started practicing, and she's already debuting in an actual performance!]

[nolittlesecret]

[Yep. This guy.]

Fun? [How to put this...] Thinking it's fun, but actually having fun are two different things.

[thirdbeauty]

{Continued here}

tags in 15 minutes late with starbucks

[declamando]

[While Maria certainly doesn't plan to miss the bulk of the Tanabata celebrations, it had been obvious as soon as she'd passed by Hibiki's temple on her way to the celebrations that she had something planned. And if it's the introduction of her agency on the Heavens' stage, she can only expect Natsuru to be part of it.

So after passing by the two stages held by people who clearly aren't Natsuru, Maria comes upon the Spring stage - and seemingly just in time for the performance, given how soon Natsuru steps out on stage. While she doesn't watch from an obvious location, for concern it might throw Natsuru off her performance, she certainly does watch, and it's an impressive sight to see. Someone like Natsuru, who had always seemed so unsure, performing like that warms her heart, and even if she has some conflict about it being with Hibiki's agency, she can't begrudge anything about it beyond that.

Once the performance finishes, Maria goes looking for her, slowed a little by the geta she's wearing beneath her pale blue and pink-tied yukata, and eventually comes upon her among the scenery. With a wave of the hand that quickly turns into a show of polite applause, she approaches.]

I did. It was a wonderful performance, and you should be proud of it.

[thirdbeauty]

[Natsuru maybe got through three quarters of her sentence before she fully turned to face the latest person to cross her path. Maria looks pretty different when dressed up so traditionally, yet it still takes Natsuru practically zero time to recognize her god and gasp in surprise. Maria came to see her show too?! She'd been too nervous to actually tell her when Hibiki planned to debut her, and eventually figured she'd missed her chance to invite the other most important person she wanted to see any performance she put on. But she still came!

There's a moment of awkward, flustered stammering before Natsuru finally manages to speak in actual words.]

Th-Thank you...

Um... I'm really glad you came to see it!

[Despite her nerves, her smile is bright and genuine. If Maria says she did a good job, she can absolutely believe it. It makes her feel like she really could do this more often!]

[declamando]

[[Continued to the overflow.]]