22 - Harvest Moon Viewing

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Harvest Moon Viewing
When: September 10, 6 PM
Where: The Meeting Hall grounds
Summary: The Heavens are throwing a moon-viewing party!







Party Games

Children are dashing all over the moon-viewing grounds in the early evening, flying kites or playing tag and other games. Many of them are wearing cute seasonal rabbit masks made of paper, or sporting ink curlicues and scribbles drawn over their faces, if they've lost too many games.

Card games and spinning top battles, a few practice archery butts towards the edge of the park, poetry-composing competitions, and even badminton: there's something for everyone, and anyone who doesn't look too busy may find themselves offered a rabbit mask and a game to play. Or perhaps you'd like to try your hand at drawing people into your own game?

Moon Viewing

The moon rises not long after sunset, looming over the garden in hazy golden and red splendor thanks to the volcanic fumes in the atmosphere. The games are winding down as darkness falls, and the faint scent of burning incense fills the air as people settle to view the moon rise. Shinki in their festival best, adorned with Amaterasu's golden chrysanthemum, are serving the guests. They set out trays of fresh seasonal fruit (Japanese pears, persimmons, and chestnuts) and plates of mochi, serve sake, and light portable grills to cook sweet potatoes and skewers of meat.

Mazed & Confused

Part of the grounds have been rearranged into a hedge-maze made of tall, plumed grasses packed close together. A sign at the entrance reads, "Bring back my ribbon from the center of the maze,
and I'll give you a special prize!"

Unfortunately, that's harder than it sounds. The maze is full of dead ends, confusing turns, and twisty little passages, which all look alike. It's almost magical how easy it is to lose your way inside, and the tufted grass will prove to have painfully sharp edges if anyone tries to cheat by pushing their way through the "walls" of the maze.

Those who successfully find their way to the center will find a white ribbon fluttering from the top of a tall pole. If they can climb the pole, pull the ribbon free, and make it back to the entrance, they will hear the sound of a child's laughter, and the ribbon in their hand will disappear to be replaced by a round cake of mochi. Enjoy the prize!

Wild Moon

One of the children participating most energetically in the games of tag and dashing around the party is wearing an oversized gray hoodie with the hood pulled up right to the edges of his happy rabbit mask. He's not being very careful, either: he keeps bumping into other party attendees and barely taking the time to mutter an apology before he sprints away.

Although nothing noticeable happens at the time, anyone who's been tagged or bumped into by that particular child will begin to feel more emotional, quicker to react, and less self-controlled as the night wears on. Those who he only brushed by won't be too powerfully affected, but the more times that he has run into someone, the stronger the effect will grow.

(Note: This won't cause anyone to have emotions that they wouldn't feel otherwise, but both ongoing moods and temporary reactions could be amplified.)

In Summary:

• Play party games
• Relax with snacks
• Try to solve the hedge maze
• Go wild
• Have fun~

Comments

[thirdbeauty]

[A - Moon Viewing, Mingling]

[Natsuru has dressed up for the occasion, opting for a nice dress instead of something more traditional this time. She hadn't exactly been prepared for party games, yet she'd indulged the children a little bit. One in particular had bumped into her more times than she could count! But she couldn't bring herself to scold anyone for being too careless. Seeing so many happy children made her smile, and she still has a cheerful spark in her eyes and a lightness in her step now as the moon viewing officially begins.

She cheerfully bounces from tray to tray to sample the snacks, while avoiding the sake. She's pretty sure she's still underage, after all. But she brightens up at the sweet taste of a persimmon she's plucked from the trays, inadvertently turning to face someone nearby.]

Oh! Hello.

[With a bright smile, she offers another piece of fruit she has in her hand.]

Have you tried any yet? It's really good!

[B - Moon Viewing, Contemplation]

[At some point, as much as Natsuru wants to enjoy the party, she feels more inclined to rest and quietly take in the sights. Sitting off by herself for a while, watching the moon, a lot of thoughts pass through her head. Eventually, that aura of bright cheerfulness she'd had dims, and is overshadowed by something more melancholy.

She thinks of all the people she wishes she could share this with. People who helped her find her way when she first arrived in this place - Lightning, Masaki, Kainé, Roxas, Lara... plenty of others. If this really is heaven, why do so many people she cares about leave?

She sighs, more audibly and sadly than she'd perhaps intended. The feelings run deeper than she even realizes, with the void left by her missing memories and how attached she had, and has, grown to those who filled it. She doesn't realize her eyes are already welling up until she feels the trickle of a tear down her cheek. A finger delicately wipes away the tear as she tries to blink back the others, but it's too late. Another small sigh, her vision blurs from the tears, and... she softly cries. She's crying. She's never cried like this over such a simple sadness before, but it's all hitting her so hard all at once and it's just... too much...]

[C - Mazed and Confused]

[The twists and turns of the maze are proving far more difficult than Natsuru had expected. Over and over, she finds herself second-guessing everything, thinking she'd tried one path already only to turn around and find herself in familiar surroundings there too. She's starting to regret having come in alone.]

Hello?

[She calls out, hoping for some kind of response. When none comes at first, it tips her over the edge from concerned to borderline frightened. How could she get so lost? She whirls around, calling again and again in different directions. In her frantic search, she leans too heavily on the hedge walls and shrieks when her finger grazes the unusually sharp edges.]

Ah-!

[She clutches the injured hand close to her mouth, tear-filled eyes darting to and fro while her trembling breaths grow rapid and uneven. As if she doesn't expect anyone to actually answer, her voice lowers to an almost-whisper.]

S-Someone... please, help...

mazed and confused

[priforprince]

[ From high above, a small slip of paper drifts to the ground, grazing Natsuru's head on the way down. It is accompanied by a few purple sparkles and some red lily petals.

If Natsuru picks up the paper, she will find it's actually made of cardstock and features a picture of an opulent mask. On the side facing her, anyway. ]

1/2

[thirdbeauty]

Ah-!

[Natsuru jumps, startled by the brush of something against her hair. It's something gross or terrible, isn't it???]

[thirdbeauty]

[... No, it's not. Just a piece of paper? She notices the sparkles and red flower petals fluttering down at about the same time. What-...?

She cautiously crouches down to pick up the paper (card?) and examines the image of the mask for a second. Then, curious, she starts to turn it over.]

[priforprince]

[ The other side features an elegant message! ]

Momentarily, I shall come to steal away your fear.

And with it, your heart.

[ This is neither suspicious nor familiar, yes? ]

[thirdbeauty]

Eh?

[Color rises to her cheeks while she reads the message, until her whole face is pink. Steal her fear... and her heart??? Such a dramatic message, almost too dramatic to be real. And yet something about it certainly does seem familiar.

She slowly turns and tilts her gaze upward, looking around to see if she can find the source of the mysterious message.]

Is-... [The slight tremble in her voice betrays how nervous she still is.] Is someone there?

[priforprince]

[ Silence. Darkness. The sides of the maze, looming up on all sides of Natsuru.

And then, she may well see it, gaze turned upwards as it is - a flash of movement from behind.

Something's coming for you, Natsuru. Coming to literally sweep you off your feet. ]

[sing_for_me]

Are you okay, miss..?

[Alex approaches her from behind, not sure whether to reach out and touch her. She didn't want to frighten the girl after all.]

[thirdbeauty]

Ah-?

[The voice behind Natsuru surprises her, and she flinches and hides her face for a moment. But she doesn't seem frightened. When she does turn around after a moment, her cheeks are lightly flushed. It's embarrassing, but try as she might, she can't hide that she'd been crying. It looks like she's trying awfully hard to hold it in...]

It's, um... it's nothing.

[That's not a 'yes'.]

I was just... thinking about...

[She sniffs, trying to choke back a trembling sob. She can usually hold it together so much better than this! It's not long before the tears start back up, and she half hides her face in embarrassment again. She just can't help being so sad about it!]

[sing_for_me]

[Alex pulls out her handkerchief and holds it out to her.]

It’s okay..you can let it out.

[She rubs her back soothingly, silently letting her cry.]

[thirdbeauty]

[Oh no... she's being so kind! Natsuru manages to accept the offered handkerchief, and uses it to dab at her eyes while she finds herself crying even more. This woman... reminds her of some of the people she was thinking of.]

It's... it's stupid...

[She manages to speak around quieter sobs.]

They've been gone for a long time... I shouldn't-... [sniff] ... be crying about it now...

B-But some people didn't just disappear! They died, and... how come we can die if this is the afterlife???

[Crap, now she's found something else to be overwhelmingly sad about. She's actually starting to tremble, she's so overwhelmed.]

[sing_for_me]

[Ah..this was about people here. It surprised her too, hearing that you can die even after dying already.]

Hey..let's go sit somewhere, okay?

[Alex guides her, one hand on her back, another on her arm, towards a bench.]

You miss them..

B

[papillonprincess]

[ She didn't like the feeling she was getting when it came to this place -- no, when it came to tonight. There was something in the air, something that had her thinking back to everything that's been going on these past few weeks even if she hadn't meant to. The urge only got worse after that child bumped into her.

But that's when she hears crying... and sees a familiar face at that.

Her troubles are forgotten momentarily as she approaches, taking her handkerchief out of her pocket and holding it out to Natsuru with the smallest smile. It's a delicate dark blue number that smells faintly of lavender. ]

Whatever's bothering you... I'm sure it'll be alright in time.

[thirdbeauty]

H-... Hime-san...

[Tears continue to well up in her eyes, as she looks into Kuroyukihime's. Her hand delicately accepts the offered handkerchief, but that moment of stunned silence is soon broken when the waves crash again. She buries her eyes in the handkerchief, sobbing uncontrollably, and suddenly clings to Kuroyukihime in a tight embrace.]

Th-... Thank you...

[She's so overwhelmed, both by sadness and how moved she is by Kuroyukihime's kindness!]

I... I'm sorry, I just... ngh-!

[It'll take her a few moments to stop clinging to the other girl, while she cries all the tears that she feels she has built up over so long.]

[papillonprincess]

[ She hadn't really expected being buried into like this so there's a split second of 'what do I do with my hands' before she decides what to do with her hands: move one to lightly stroke Natsuru's hair, the other moving around the other girl's shoulders. ]

No... it's quite alright.

[ She lets go when the other girl does, offering her the smallest smile. ]

If I may ask. What exactly has you so bothered? It's alright if you'd rather not tell me.

[thirdbeauty]

[Yeah, she's just. Going to stay here for a while. Eventually, she does manage to pull away, dabbing at her tear-streaked face with the handkerchief. She smiles back at Hime, weakly but genuinely.]

It's... It's okay. I think I'm okay now.

[The smile doesn't last long, yet she doesn't break down into sobs again either. Finally, she manages to put words to her feelings.]

There's... a lot of people that used to be here. I was looking up at the moon, and thinking about how they're not here to see it, and I might never see them again, and...

[Oh dear. The tears are starting up a little again.]

[papillonprincess]

[ ....oh. Oh, you poor girl... she knows this feeling all too well. Her own smile doesn't linger as long either but she does shift her position closer in order to place her hand over Natsuru's, just to offer the other girl some much needed contact.

Maybe it's contact she needed herself. ]

...there was a boy.

[ Her voice is quiet as she speaks. Somehow, she can't bear to look up at the moon. It only makes the longing deeper. ]

...there was a boy I kissed on the bridge during the night of Tanabata. He's back... but he isn't the same. I suppose it's almost as good as not his being here in the first place. So.. I certainly understand how you feel.

B

[nopixiedust]

[One of these days, she's going to stop getting side tracked by people crying.... but since it's someone she knows, Wendy won't bother feeling annoyed by it.]

[That means, over the sound of her tears, Natsuru might hear some furious stomping, and that sure is Wendy rolling up her kimono sleeves.]

Who made you cry? I'll make them regret it.

[She doesn't care what supernatural nonsense is going on. That's no excuse as far as she's concerned.]

[thirdbeauty]

[That purposeful stomping makes Wendy seem so much bigger than she is, for a second. Actually, Wendy approaching while Natsuru is sitting and curled up as small as she possibly can over feelings has something of that effect too.]

Eh?!

[She looks up in surprise, attempting to wipe the tears away as if she can possibly hide it now. As if the redness around her eyes will magically disappear, or more tears won't fall to replace the ones she's wiped away.]

I-It's not like that! I was just... thinking, and...

[She tries to choke back another sob, ineffectually covering her mouth with a hand. Sorrowful eyes welling with tears gaze into Wendy's, almost pleading.]

I... I can't stop...

[nopixiedust]

[So no one has started any fights... It's just regular old misery, made worse by some jerk kid. As she comes up closer, Wendy slows her furious pace and smooths the ruffled lines of her kimono. She's already been running around, both while playing games and while trying to tackle some snot nosed punk.]

[If there are some tear stains, then it's not as if anything was made worse.]

[Coming closer, she reaches out to gently rest her hand in Natsuru's hair. No ruffling, none of that, just a simple bit of contact.]

It's fine if you can't stop for right now. What was it you were thinking about? There's no point in letting it stay inside you.

[At this rate, there's no way it can anyway.]

[thirdbeauty]

[That simple touch is more reassuring than Natsuru could have ever expected. She's still crying, sniffling and sobbing and clutching her hands to her chest. But there's a small sigh, almost like relief, and she's trembling a little less now that Wendy's here and comforting her.]

Y-You know... how some people leave? And some even got... k-killed?

[She sniffles again, feeling another powerful wave of sadness that seems like it'll burst right out of her.]

I... I miss them! Lightning-sama, and Masaki-chan, and Kainé-san, and Jennifer-san... everybody that's gone, or d-... de-...

[She can't say it. It's too much.]

A because apparently she's in need of sunnier threads

[heptagram]

Not yet. [Patcchy shakes her head a little. It's taken her a bit to even get interested in the festival. What else is new, though?]

I don't see why I couldn't, though.

[thirdbeauty]

[Patchy certainly hasn't seen Natsuru quite this sunny before, and she only brightens up even more on realizing she's speaking to a familiar face. That playfulness she's still feeling from spending time with the children, amplified several times over, wipes out so many inhibitions and makes her actually consider doing things she never would have before.

Like how she's holding out the piece of fruit close to Patchy's mouth now.]

They're so good! Here! Say 'ah'...

[Yep, this sure is happening.]

[heptagram]

[Um, that was fast.

But also she is not going to turn this down. It's from a friend, right? Perfectly normal. Just gals being pals, etc.

So, she opens her mouth. She expects Natsuru would be disappointed if she were to just take the piece of fruit herself.]

[thirdbeauty]

[Natsuru giggles as she gently pushes the fruit past Patchouli's lips. She can't help it, Patchy just looks so cute.]

There~. What do you think?

[She beams at the shorter girl, almost expectantly. She's just so overwhelmed with the desire to tease her, and see more of those cute reactions however she can.]