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

[minogame]

( He beams, looking absolutely proud of himself. He's always been a sucker for praise so when he gets it,
he can't help but glow a bit. )

Heh heh, thanks! I'll remember it. You owe me stories next time!

What do you think, though? It's a little sad but it's really good, right? Ah, maybe she can meet the rabbit and he'll teach her how to care again...

( Maybe. He can dream! It would be a nice way to tie the stories together. )

[futhark]

I really liked it! [ You earned all the praise kid, good job. ]

They could be moon-friends forever. She does sound like someone who would need more time to get to know, though. But I'm sure a cute, fluffy bunny with tons of determination will win her over.

[ And here they are, composing moon bunny and princess fix-fic together. What a time to be alive ]

What's your favourite type of stories? I'll prepare something in advance.

[minogame]

( Nodding. He definitely believes the rabbit is up there teaching Kaguya-hime to love again. Ah, but his favorite story? He has to think, )

I like... stories with good people. ( Nodding, ) People who protect the weak. ( Hmm... ) And princesses and treasure too.

( He's easy to please, really. )

[futhark]

Alright... sounds easy enough. [ Most stories he knows are a tad bit murderous, and their definition of "good people" might vary, but aside from that - no problem.

Aside for just one bit ]

Can't guarantee the treasure. That part sounds hard. [ Unless you consider a prized bull people fought over to be a treasure, but then he was there, so that doesn't count as a story to tell. ]

[minogame]

( The stories will be fine. Urashima's a good kid and pretends to be squishy but he's a lot tougher than he looks. Honestly, he's just a bit off at times... )

That's okay. My favorite story doesn't have treasure in it... at least, not a good one. ( A box that turned a young man into an old one after he'd lost everything isn't really treasure. ) Mm! I'm sure it'll be a good story, though so take your time.