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

[takenwithhim]

[Surprising because he’s never actually been confronted with the reality before. Not so surprising because it makes sense. He frowns as his mind ponders on that concept. Why gods would fight other gods. Obviously the first idea in his mind if the theft of shinki; it’s a personal, very real memory and he knows a few gods that wouldn’t take kindly to that. But, strange to think it, there are only a finite amount of people in the world. Gods needed belief and prayers of their followers. The ideas are strange, they don’t make a lot of sense, but enough possibility that he can’t deny the use of the spells.

It’s another irritable nettle that the shinki’s only resource against ayakashi is the borderline; they need gods to access their own power—how ironic—and their other spells are only useful on other shinki. It’s a twisted way to go about it. Makes him question what a shinki really is. Again.

Luckily, Chikusa’s spared the mental grumbling. Sousuke figures the guy’s already pondered over this entire concept himself; he assumes the other shinki’s that kind of person. Maybe they’re a little more similar in other ways too. Asides from being quiet.

The question earns a blink and Sousuke looks at Chikusa with a small frown. Considering he has no idea what “that” school even meant, obvious answer.]

No. Unless you’re referring to the guy Bishamon suggested. [Watch it be a big thing he’s completely missed out on.]

[kokuyoyo]

...No idea...

[It's not as if he and that particular god were ever close. The extent of their relationship has mostly be small things, if he's honest. They fought together on his first day as a shinki against undead hordes, and he gave her a melon once so that he could be there to speak to her exemplar... and that's really it. If she's been recommending anyone in particular to people, he can't say he would have any idea who.]

[Instead, after popping another chesnut into his mouth, he gives the answer.]

Cho Hakkai.... A shinki, but now he's a god. He's put together a school in an abandoned temple...

[takenwithhim]

[That answers that. They’ve got a lot of dead ends between them, don’t they. Not surprisingly, since Sousuke and Chikusa have had different experiences and lives on the Shores. He lets the answer slide and waits for explanation if he’s going to get it. Which, lucky for him, this time he does.]

Cho Hakkai. [Sousuke frowns slightly at the idea of a shinki becoming a god. He’s heard of both before, Hakkai and the whole “class change” thing. Obviously doesn’t know much more about either.] I was talking to someone who knows him.

[The abandoned temple sounds like a pretty appropriate place for a school to train shinki.] Did you learn from him or is that where you’re suggesting I continue my own training? [He’s still committed to getting those three spells from Chikusa.]

[kokuyoyo]

That happens a lot. [People talking to someone who knows Hakkai, he means.]

[Really, Chikusa supposes it's not surprising. While it'd gone over his head the first time they'd met, now that he's had a chance to speak with the older man some more, Chikusa is well aware of how... manipulative the shinki-turned-god can be. It's not that he's some mastermind, Chikusa figures. It's simply that Hakkai very clearly knows how to get people off his back, while also searching out people who he can take advantage of by just smiling a lot and being vaguely nice enough. Sometimes, at least, even if not all of the time. Some of that niceness is actually genuine, which is the really interesting thing.]

[Either way, it paints a picture of a man who gets around a lot, especially with a now established institution like a school making him known to at least a few people. That's just how it is.]

Anyway.... He wants me to go there, sometimes... [For both teaching spells and casual plotting, you know.] So it'd be easiest to meet there....

[takenwithhim]

Not surprising. [He gets that. He’s heard the name a few times in random conversations. Interesting he might actually get a face to the name soon.

Sousuke begins working on a skewer of pork cutlets interspaced with cooked vegetables lightly glazed in the seasonal sauce. Obviously Chikusa has dealings with Hakkai and he’s deeper into the whole “figure out what’s going on” aspect than the swimmer is. Even if that’s not really far at all. Sousuke’s been content to live a quiet life here with his god, not making waves (ironic of a swimmer), and try to just adapt. But inside, he’s restless. Rin’s the same. Neither of them like these limitations and secrets and if they had the choice, Sousuke knows both of them will take the opportunity to get answers (and do something about that amnesia).

When Chikusa answers his question, the larger teen glances at him, minutely surprised he plans on meeting at the place. But… it’s logical. Fits in with Chikusa’s desire not to waste more energy than needed.] All right. I take it that means you want a to-go meal rather than something cooked at your place.

[kokuyoyo]

...It technically has a kitchen that can be used... [Trust him, he knows. Him and Ken and a few other runaway children stayed there long enough to have a rough idea of what the school is capable of. Surprisingly: as much as a regular school. Who knew?] But it's up to you. I'm not picky...

[Wait no that's a lie]

...No pickled plums.

[Not that such things are likely to show up in the food available at an event like this, but Chikusa had still been careful when picking out his plate.]

[takenwithhim]

I see. [That makes a little difference. Mostly because Sousuke’s agreed to make meals for Chikusa, not for any other students or teachers that might be nosy enough to want some as well. But even he knew a fresh-cooked meal always trumped a packaged one made earlier. Oh well, since the choice is left up to him, he’ll see what he feels like on the day.

Sousuke hums slightly. So even Chikusa can express some personal opinions. It’s kind of refreshing, considering the relative quiet and stoic demeanor. Not that the swimmer’s one to talk about stoic and quiet…] I’ll keep that in mind.

What day and time is good for you?

[kokuyoyo]

[It only takes a moment, filled by picking vegetables off a skewer one by one, for Chikusa to think on the days ahead. Really, he doesn't have much of a schedule exactly. With neither of his gods particularly asking him of anything, it's left him with a lot of spare time. For the most part, he fills it with things he's often done in the past: practicing spells, spending time at the library, checking the BBS for any noteworthy news, taking care of Ken. There's only one real issue he can think of offhand.]

[Cleaning the sauce off of his fingers with his mouth, he raises up one shoulder.]

Any day after tomorrow.... Nights like this are tiring.

[While he goes along with obligation (and a sense of curiosity) for the events Heaven throws just to see if anything noteworthy happens.... They're inevitably tiring. He's not a people person at all, and his energy reserves are permanently low as it is. In the end, he always needs an entire day after just to recharge.]

[takenwithhim]

[Sousuke obviously leaves the choice up to him without prying. Chikusa’s got a mysterious life around him, though from what he’s revealed tonight, it doesn’t sound like he’s much closer to answers than almost anyone else is. But he’s actively trying and he’s improving himself along the way. Definitely a step up from the first time they met. The swimmer finishes off one of the skewers and leaves it to hang on his middle finger so he can work on some of the other food.]

After tomorrow works. [That gives him time to check his own schedule and make sure everything’s able to work out. Plus he’ll need to let Rin know where he’s going… or at least make something up. Besides, as Chikusa said, attempting anything tonight’s foolish. Sousuke’s not a people person either and being around a bunch of them in this setting with so much interaction is taxing on him. Both his energy and his patience.]

I’ll need directions to the temple. Unless you want to walk me there.

[kokuyoyo]

Ew.

[Which should say enough about his feelings on that particular idea.]

[Still, directions- for what they're worth in the strange landscape that is the Far Shore- are important. Without them, this whole arrangement will be pointless. So, with his free hand and now working on some sweet potato that he's found within the food mass of his plate, Chikusa digs about in his pocket. He always has his phone on him; there's no reason to ever leave it at home considering how important it is to stay in contact or access the BBS. However, it's still buried under two yoyos and two different small metal boxes, and it takes him a second to ferret it out.]

Number...?

[It'll be easier to just text it to him. That way there's less chance that he'll have to remind him of the way.]

[takenwithhim]

[Why do you think he put it that way to begin with?

Admittedly, Sousuke’s more used to jumping between the Far Shore and the Near Shore and exploring Tokyo than he is exploring the Far Shore itself. He’s gone to a few other god’s temples, but nothing too extensive in terms of direction. A hand dives and Sousuke assumes it’s the phone Chikusa’s going for. He’s right. His own phone’s inside his yukata at the moment and he’s not keen on getting it out with two hands of food.]

All right. [He gives it, understanding he’s probably going to get a text rather than a call when the time comes. Better, since he’ll have the directions he can then call up. As for asking for Chikusa’s, nah. He’ll get the number on the call.]

[kokuyoyo]

[There's not even any need to wait. Chikusa commits the number to his phone's memory and then, fingers working surprisingly quickly despite the tired look in his everything, he sends off general directions. In the Far Shore, there's nothing such as street names or building numbers. Going by landmark is the best they have to work with, so Chikusa does so in the instructions he types in. If there's any change in the coming days, well, they'll cross that bridge when they come to it.]

[Once that's sent off, Chikusa only needs to hear the confirming buzz or ring before he slips his phone back into his pockets again and lays back with his eyes closed. It seems he's done with conversation for the time being.]

[takenwithhim]

[He’s grateful for the initial run through of directions. Gives him some time to look it over, maybe ask some people he knows, before packing up and shipping out the day after tomorrow. Interesting Chikusa’s fingers are so fast despite the haggard look he’s exuding. Once the direction get sent (with the phone buzzing somewhere on his chest in the inside pocket), Sousuke offers a silent nod of thanks before going back to his food.

One more aspect of the conversation.] Are you sure you’re up for lessons? You seem a lot more tired than I remember. [On that day, Chikusa had been quiet, stoic, but not this lethargic. Sousuke’s surprised the guy hasn’t fallen asleep as it is.]

[kokuyoyo]

[That the conversation continues is actually a pretty surprising thing, enough so that Chikusa opens his eyes again and shifts his head to more comfortably look at Sousuke. While it's not that he figured they were exactly alike (most people aren't with him, he's found), he had still thought they were similar enough when it came to things such as conversation and people.]

Ah.... Do I? I always feel sort of tired...

[Well, he supposes he hadn't for that first day, not entirely. The world had still been sort of new, and he was still adjusting to his brand new purpose of being Axel's shinki, his exemplar. Washed free of any experiences, he supposes he probably had a bit more energy on that day than the ones that followed. But then he had to deal with crowds and people and undead hordes that he wasn't really equipped to vanquish at the time. After that, well.... He supposes the exhaustion didn't really leave. Or maybe it just finally found him again after that brief respite.]

[Really, it's hard for him to say. Is it a part of him? A consequence of the things he pushes himself to do, or the recent grief he tries to forget? Honestly he doesn't know the answer, and he's not sure it's important either.]

[It's not as if he knows what he could do to stop it anyway.]

I've done more intensive things while feeling like this.... So it's not a big deal.

[takenwithhim]

[Sousuke regards the other boy silently. If he’s going to be taught, particularly at something serious, he’s going to pay attention to the health and state of his teacher as well as himself. There’s no point in forcing someone to run themselves down just because of him. But Chikusa appears to accept whatever his condition is, even if the other shinki’s not sure he buys that “always feeling tired” is something good…

He gets his answer in the same calm, semi-dismissive way that he’s grown accustomed to during their second meeting. It’s just part of who Chikusa is. Sousuke offers a silent nod.] All right. [And returns to his food. If the other guy says he’s fine and can do it, he’ll hold him to it until it’s proven otherwise. There are worse things to be afflicted by than fatigue. Besides, there’s no point in digging for an answer. It’s Chikusa’s business beyond that.

So he settles back against the tree to finish his food, enjoy the rest of the night, and leave his new instructor to his rest.]