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]

[ 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?

[death_glare]

[ He nods, briefly, apparently accepting her thanks. But her last comment has that suspicious look returning again. Or, perhaps more confused than suspicious. ]

You are asking permission to be close to me... Are you certain you're feeling better?

[untodeath]

[ With a hum, Grell closes her eyes, brows knitting just so! ]

I want to hold you, without being pushed away!! You're honestly making this very difficult, William!

[death_glare]

Wouldn't it be more difficult if I gave you a single brief moment of contact?

[untodeath]

[ That has her attention again, her gaze leveling with his once more! Considering the thought, she'll hum. ]

--Perhaps, but I would appreciate it all the same. A bittersweet moment with you is better than none at all.

[death_glare]

[ If there's anything else William's learned about Grell from their century together, it's that giving in to her attempts at contact, without giving her too much hope along with it, satiates her for a bit. Accept the head leaned against your shoulder for a brief amount of time and you'll avoid being tackled and unwillingly forced into something more intimate.

With a sigh and another sip of his coffee, he answers. ]

Fine.

[untodeath]

[ Eyes lighting up with positive delight, she's barely capable of biting back a squeal! Without missing a beat, she crawls closer to flop down at his side, claiming a spot on his pillow to drape an arm across his waist!! ]

[death_glare]

[ William remains still, in comparison. There's no attempt to move his arm from between them and put it around her or lean into her touch. But, he's also not shifting away. It's quite a big step forward for Grell, especially if you count the fact that they're still in robes. ]

[untodeath]

[ Hey, at least she put on panties this morning.

In any case, she's clearly content with even this, the way her eyes close and she sigh melodiously. ]

Mn, so--... [ Inevitably, she had to break the silence! ] Is that why you stayed? There being no better options, and all.

[death_glare]

Well, I certainly was not going to leave you to run off again and put an even worse impression on people's view of the London Dispatch.

[ You know, the important repercussions of Grell's actions. ]

[untodeath]

Right. Yes. Of course.

[ A faint snerk sounds through her nostrils, as she tucks her head against his side! Really, how could she have expected to hear any differently. ]

That was silly of me to ask!

[death_glare]

You were acting off, even for you.

[ So perhaps there was a bit of concern that leaving her would cause something more to happen, just because he wasn't by her side. But he won't say so. ]

[untodeath]

[ Oooh, but THAT has her turning just enough, so that she can peek up to him hopefully! ]

So-- you're saying that you were worried for me?