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]

[ 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! ]

[death_glare]

[ So much for being a light sleeper. Even that peck to his cheek takes a moment to rouse him. Gosh, you'd never believe he'd slept for two weeks straight.

Without his glasses, the room before him is a blur of red tones, part of which he doesn't realize is Grell until she speaks up. That gets him to sit up, blinking blearily as he pats around the night stand for his frames. ]

Sutcliffe? What in Death's name are you doing in my bedroom?

[untodeath]

[ Grell can't help but snerk, at that! Placing a hand at his chest in some attempt to ease him, she shakes her head. ]

You're in my bed, Will.

[death_glare]

What?

[ Specs finally located, he slips them on, now finally seeing the elaborate decor of the room. The lounge he'd sat upon, the mass amount of pillows on the bed, even the black robe he's wearing slowly remind him just what brought him here last night. Being in such a daze after waking already has him suspicious that Grell may have sneaked out while he was asleep. ]

Ah. You better have behaved yourself last night.

[untodeath]

If only I hadn't. It's a wonder, having such a decadent man beside me.

[ With a wink, the redhead's hand will slip down to take William's by the wrist, so that she may place the coffee cup into it. ]

But, no, I slept all too well. I dare say, I wouldn't look so good, otherwise!

[death_glare]

[ For whatever reason, he believes her. Perhaps just because he expects she'd choose laying beside him all night over causing terror throughout the Far Shore.

He's about to protest that wandering hand when there's suddenly a cup of hot coffee handed to him. He eyes it, a bit wary. ]

You made this?

[ Grell's certainly managed to ruin a perfectly good batch of coffee on... well, just about every attempt she's made. ]

[untodeath]

Try it.

[ Rather than give an indignant huff, as she otherwise might, she looks pretty certain of herself! Perhaps it's because she came prepared, as she reaches over to the nightstand to retrieve a banana, which she will offer to him as well.

It's hardly a home cooked meal, but she wouldn't do that to either of them. ]

[death_glare]

[ He sniffs at it, surprised by how fresh and appealing its scent is. Then the smallest sip. It's surprisingly good. ]

So your shinki made it.

[ He's unconvinced there could be any other logical option. Though, he'll willingly accept the other offer. As it's not until now that he realizes he hasn't eaten since he awoke the night before. ]

[untodeath]

No--

[ Okay, now he'll have that indignant sniff, as she plants a hand on her hip! ]

I did! [ Though, she'll be averting her gaze not more than a moment later. ] We got this machine that makes it rather fool-proof, is all.

[death_glare]

And you haven't broken it yet? Surprising.

[ But hey, he is enjoying it. And he hasn't left yet, so that's good, right? ]

[untodeath]

[ Hands upon the bed, Grell leans forward with a sassy little quirk of her lips! ]

Well, when I do, you can expect me over at your place for coffee.

[death_glare]

As if you wouldn't be showing up unannounced for other reasons, already.

[ He continues to enjoy his coffee, pausing inbetween sips to take a bite of the banana. ]

You seem to be acting a bit more like your usual self this morning.

[ Which isn't too much of a difference, but somehow she seems less vulnerable. ]

[untodeath]

[ The reply she receives manages to force something of a smirk out of her. It's entirely true, he can't really avoid it; but that resignation might as well be permission, she thinks!

It's the change of subject that keeps her from saying so - instead, she's sitting up, her eyes venturing off in recollection. ]

Last night was... rather unusual, to say the least.

[death_glare]

Would you care to explain yourself?

[ Grell had certainly gone on rebellious streaks like this before, but he's curious what prompted it this time and why she seemed even more emotional than dismissive over her actions. ]

[untodeath]

[ Humming, Grell considers that request. When her gaze returns to meet William's, her upturned brows ease just so; knowing then that she'll consent. After all, he'd stayed with her through the night, and he's here, even now. ]

I... recall thinking about that time I'd spent in London, with-- that woman. [ Ah, she hesitates to say Angelina's name in front of him, now? Faintly, she scoffs at herself. ] The memories began to consume me, it seemed. It became difficult to discern if what I felt was true, or an echo of the past...

[ Closing her eyes, she sighs. ]

There were times that I slipped out of consciousness, I think.

[death_glare]

[ He frowns at that last bit. Grell's always been entirely aware of what she was doing, even when that involved acting out in a way that the reaper community would highly disapprove of. Her actions were entirely her own. ]

And do you have any recollection what caused this difference? Honestly, I assumed you were merely inspired by the harvest moon.

[untodeath]

[ Goodness, he's really asking the hard questions, isn't he--! With a furrow of her brow, Grell's head tilts back while she taps a finger to her chin. ]

The harvest moon is certainly what reminded me, but... [ No, it had to be something more. ] I think the turning point was when I excused myself from the party.

[death_glare]

[ Another frown as he sips at his coffee. The banana peel is carefully discarded on the bedside table. ]

Whatever it was, I expect you to get in contact with those you attacked and explain yourself.

[untodeath]

[ Lips shifting into a pouting frown, Grell plops onto her side, sprawled across his blanketed legs with a groan! ]

That shouldn't be awkward at all; I probably didn't mean to very nearly murder you the other night, hope there's no hard feelings...! [ Said gesturing toward the ceiling with outstretched arms, of course. ]

[death_glare]

Honestly, I do not see what the issue is.

[ She'll get a knee to the back, his mild attempt at getting her to move. He doesn't want to have to put his coffee down, after all. ]

Up.

[untodeath]

[ She just doesn't want to do it. Duh.

Of course, before she can say so, there's a knee to her back, making her yip with protest! ]

Ah, so cruel...

[ Of course, there's a vaguely sweetened tone to her complaints. It's not exactly what she would consider to be a problem.

Grell does shift to push herself up, however - leaving one hand on the opposite side of him, to do so. Quieting in that brief moment, her eyes remain on the comforter. ]

I don't believe that I explicitly thanked you for staying with me through that, by the way...

[death_glare]

[ William eyes her warily. The emphasis on 'thanked' makes him suspicious of what she might try next. ]

Someone needs to keep you from making a complete mess of yourself. As far as I've noted, I seem to be the only one capable of doing so.

[untodeath]

That's why I'm so glad that it was you, Will. So-- thank you.

[ Peeking up at him over the top of her glasses, Grell manages the smallest smile, a bit of healthy flush to her cheeks! Really, he manages to make her feel like a schoolgirl, at times!

And so, it's merely a force of habit that she made that sound as suggestive as it was! ]

I know you'll think it bold, but... may I lie down beside you, while you finish your cup?