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

[untodeath]

[ In truth, she doesn't want him to leave. William urging her to bed had been his exit, in her eyes. She can't agree to it; instead, her jaw tenses, until she wills herself to walk past him, toward bed, as he wished. ]

You might see me as an obligation, but I'm not--... [ Unable to bring herself to sit, she raises a hand to leans against the bedpost. ] Yours. To consider.

[ There's many things that she dies want - to say, to do. In this life, she's never had an issue acting on impulse before, and yet, she'd never again allowed herself to stew in such emotion.

Perhaps she isn't stable at all. ]

Stop doing what you should, you damn fool. Do what you'd like, for once; leave.

[ Even for her, this is dramatic! She can't help but press a hand to her face in exasperation. ]

[death_glare]

[ Without another word, William turns away.

But not to leave. Instead he stops short of the door and takes a seat in one of the other overly extravagant looking chairs that decorate Grell's master suite. He takes a moment to get comfortable - even standing again to remove his jacket and drape it neatly over the back rest. Then sitting once more, he'll resume looking at his phone. ]

[untodeath]

[ When Grell hears him turn to leave, she slumps with a quiet sigh ... That is, until can still sense his presence, and what's more, make him out to be shuffling around.

Bristling, she peers over her shoulder. ]

Just-- what are you doing?!

[death_glare]

[ Not even looking up. ]

Precisely what you said I should be doing. Have you already forgotten?

[untodeath]

[ Arms stiff at her sides with frustratiin, Grell shield around to face him with the most petulant frown! ]

I told you not to do what you should, Wiiill--! [ HUFF! ] Why don't you ever listen--!

[death_glare]

Honestly, I could ask you the same.

[ He finally glances up again, thumb paused mid-swipe of his screen. ]

Did you even stop to consider that what I should do and what I would like to do may be the same in this situation?

[untodeath]

[ There's a twinge of her upturned brows, as her eyes search William's face for further explanation - for he's shocked her into silence, in that sole moment!

Fists loosening, Grell approaches him. Cautiously, almost. ]

Surely, you understand what I meant... [ Crossing her arms over her middle, her lips pucker just so. ] So, I... don't understand...

[death_glare]

I do not want to leave. Nor do I think I should. Honestly, it's not that hard to comprehend.

[untodeath]

[ Collapsing to her knees with a heartfelt GROAN, Grell's forehead will come to rest atop his knees while she ruffles her wet tresses in frustration. ]

Why are we like this--! [ In defeat, her arms flop t her lap, and she leans into him with a whine. ]

[death_glare]

[ William's reply is simply a silent shrug and shake of his head. ]

We've been through a lot.

[ Taken in so many ways. Both their pasts and presents. Both alone and together. ]

[untodeath]

[ At that, she raises her head to peek up at him over the frames of her glasses. More than anything, what he's said makes sense to her.

Slipping her hands over his knees to fold atop one another, she rests her mouth against them for a moment, as she contemplates over William's words. ]

Even so, I... Well. [ Breathing a sigh, she briefly nods her head with confidence! ] I would take the sacrifice again, if it meant having this. You.

[death_glare]

[ William looks down at her through his own frames, a bit of a frown reforming on his face. He can't claim that he'd do the same as her, but he does feel something similar. ]

I am grateful to have you here with me. I may very well have given up already if you weren't constantly forcing me to keep on top of things.

[ It's an oddly backwards statement, but somehow it seems to define their relationship perfectly, for him. ]

[untodeath]

[ Well, Grell understands the sentiment well enough. To simply hear that her presence is of some benefit to him would be something-- but rather, he is grateful, and that has her breath catching! There's a touch of moisture to her eye, as she lowers her eyes to focus on the hands she's left upon William's knee. Gently, he fingers hold in the folds of his trousers. ]

If you do ever find that you have a change of heart, know that I've always taken you seriously, Will. I've only ever hoped to fill mine with someone else - but truly, no one compares. I'm in love.

[death_glare]

[ With just those few exchanged statements, William feels like a century of stress and tension is slowly starting to lessen. Is this all he had to do - say what he'd been keeping to himself? ]

I hope that I will be able to accept things and move on, one day. But it's not nearly as simple as it sounds.

[ But it's a promising statement. And maybe having this heart to heart with his oldest afterlife friend is the start to that process.

William shifts in the seat. Not abruptly standing as he did earlier, but rather indicating to Grell that she should move before he does. ]

You really should rest.

[untodeath]

[ Hey, she'll take it! Such promise even brings a smile to her face - not one coiled with unease and fangs exposed, but something softer. Genuine!

Shifting back to roll onto her feet, she smooths down her robes as she stands. ]

Perhaps I shall-- but I won't have you sleeping on any of these chairs, Will! Why don't you share the bed with me? [ Oh, but now she IS grinning, knowingly. ] You'll sleep atop the covers, and have plenty of pillows to shield your dignity.

[ Lighter in step, she makes for the bed, plopping atop while she gestures to the other side. There's certainly enough room for the two of them, plus some. ]

[death_glare]

[ Pausing mid-stand, his frown returns. ]

You can't expect me to believe this huge temple is devoid of spare guest bedrooms.

[ Come on, Will. Like you didn't foresee this moment happening. ]

[untodeath]

You could help yourself to one, I suppose.

[ Pulling back the covers to situate herself beneath, Grell runs her fingers into her hair with a dismissive shrug. ]

Of course, I don't know how well you could play babysitter with all that distance between us!

[ Plopping down onto one of the, indeed, MANY pillows, she'll lay out her long locks beside her to dry. Normally, she takes such good care of her hair, but it won't be anything a straightener can fix in the morning. God bless technology. ]

[death_glare]

[ Okay, she's got him there. Damn her using his own words against him. ]

What am I supposed to sleep in? [ And then quickly before she can get an answer out: ] Do not say 'nothing'.

[untodeath]

[ Mouth already open and prepared to give such an opinion, Grell is forced to retract the thought with a disappointed tick of the tongue! ]

Well, I do have a spare robe up in the wash closet. It's yours, if you want it.

[ Oh, she'd nearly forgot about her glasses! Well, she's up again to carefully free the chain from her hair, and set them on a side table... Seems she wanted to have herself a look, if he did decide to forgo his clothing. ]

It was hardly my style, anyway! You should know when you see the thing.

[ Not that it is an unsightly robe. Simply plain, and black. If William does go looking for it, he'll find it in a mostly bare clothing rack, tucked into an alcove beside the sink. ]

[death_glare]

[ He should have put on one of the more casual outfits Grell had convinced him to get. Or better yet, just stayed in his own pjs before heading out to find her. But a stiff dress shirt doesn't seem at all appealing to sleep in. Nor do slacks.

Well, at least she's removed her glasses.

So he'll take the suggestion. It being the only option he has aside from heading to his own temple and changing there. But again, that would defeat the purpose of him deciding to stay.

A few minutes in the bathroom and he's returned with his clothes neatly folded in hand. The robe is a bit shorter than he'd expected - or hoped, at least. And he's most certainly left his undergarments on! ]

I suppose this with suffice.

[ Though she'd suggested otherwise, he does find his place beneath the sheets, only taking the advice of propping pillows up for himself. ]

I expect you to keep your hands to yourself.

[untodeath]

[ Now, she realizes that perhaps she should have waited until he returned to remove her glasses. William has just climbed beneath the sheets, and she had the chance to see his handsome, muscular legs! What a waste.

Grell will put the poor judgement down to tiredness. In the short time that the other had excused himself to change, she'd comfortably curled onto her side, an pillow in her arms - and even as she attempts a response, her speech is airy with drowsiness. ]

Mn, that-- will be a challenge. [ Except her lids are already fluttering closed. Not particularly threatening. ]

[death_glare]

[ His own glasses are placed carefully on the night stand. It's a wonder he's even able to contemplate sleeping again, having just woken up from what was apparently weeks worth of slumber. But that relaxed feeling is still lingering with him and he's soon settling comfortably into the plush bedding.

It's also oddly comforting to be sleeping along side someone again. With a content sigh, he lets his own eyes drift shut. ]

I am an extremely light sleeper. So do not try anything.

[untodeath]

[ For a moment, all Grell can seem to manage is a sleepy sigh - but she urges herself to blink awake, just long enough to steal a glimpse of the other resting beside her. Even if it's all fuzzy shapes and nonsense that she sees, it the feeling of having him close like this that she wants to commit to memory. ]

Goodnight, William.

[death_glare]

[ William gives his own contented hum. ]

Goodnight.

[untodeath]

[ If the shift of weight on William's bedside isn't sufficient enough to wake him, perhaps the kiss to his cheek might!

Grell sits beside him, holding a fresh cup of coffee; black, just as he likes it. Fortunately, with credit due to the efficiency of single-serve coffee machines, it's the one thing she can't mess up. ]

Good morning, my darling~♥

[ While she's still robed, the redheaded reaper has taken the time to do her hair and makeup before waking him! ]