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[unlucky7]

Who: Ginia and friends
When: 5/16 through 5/21
Where: Various locations on the Near and Far Shore
What: Ebisu has a festival on the 21st, Ginia calls on some friends to help with preparations. [Prayer Chain 17]

Prompts in the comments

Comments

Prayer C17A: A prayer for holiday revival

[unlucky7]

It's always busy at Ebisu's temple, but with a festival for him at his Kyoto shrine in a few days, the workload has exploded. It's an organized sort of chaos and exhausting as things will be over the next few days, Ginia finds it exciting helping out with a festival for her god.

However, understaffed this year, it means they need help wherever they can find it.

"I have a question for you," Ginia asks Romeo as they wrap up their sign language lesson for the week. She keeps her signs slow, spelling out some words and following it up with the sign as needed. "I have a prayer from someone who wants to bring his family back for a festival. Do you know how he could do that?"

[myblueskies]

Romeo watched Ginia's hands carefully as she signed her question. He was getting much better at it and could understand lots of words now!

Also this was an exciting question! "Does he know where they are? Do they live far far away?" He made sure to sign as well as speak his questions, which slowed him down a little bit but not too much.

[unlucky7]

"He does. They live far away. Some are older and don't travel as much, others are younger and busy. But he would like to see them."

For some the request seems enough, but if he's offering a prayer, it feels like a bit of a nudge is needed. It's a matter of seeing his family, but it's also a matter of pride too. As the current head priest, Ginia can understand his desire to show his family the work he's accomplishing.

"It's a very important day for him."

[myblueskies]

"So he really wants them all to come." Romeo nodded and thought some more. "Well if he prayed then maybe we can go and talk to them and tell them how much he wants to see them! He can maybe write them an invitation and we can deliver it!"

After all that's how Romeo had got all his friends to come to his book party, he had invited them all!

C17B: A prayer for holiday gifts

[unlucky7]

"Thanks for agreeing to meet!" The gardens at Ebisu's temple are a nice, relaxing place to meet and chat, especially with everything in full bloom. There's an assortment of cookies and cake stolen from the kitchen as well as a pitcher of lemonade. Having helped Kairi with a similar gift-related issue a few months ago, turning to her for help with a similar request feels right.

"Ebisu has a festival in a few days and I've been helping out the family that runs his shrine. They have family traveling in and want to figure out a meaningful present to give them. They're also trying to figure out a present for all the volunteers helping out."

Re: C17B: A prayer for holiday gifts

[pure_radiantics]

"Of course, no prob- whoa!" Kairi comes up on the gardens and sees all of the goodies. She's about to ask what's up when Ginia happily describes it, using a handful of words that stretch Kairi's sign language vocabulary, but she gets the idea from context.

She takes a seat - and a cookie - as she mulls over how to answer back. Still chewing, but hands free, Kairi chuckles a bit to herself that she can now - technically - chat with her mouth full, by responding with sign language in kind. "How wonderful! Is figuring out the present for the volunteers the part that you want my help with? The family must be having a really hard time deciding."

[unlucky7]

"Pretty much! I think I'm going with a similar photo album idea as a present for the family." The family traveling in are definite agreeable to being there. A present is less a bribe here and more a treasured keepsake.

"But for the volunteers, I'm a little stuck. We're looking at around or more hundred people, all ages and genders. Something memorable, but also not too expensive or would take too long to manufacture."

[pure_radiantics]

"Oh gosh," Kairi gasps aloud as Ginia signs for a hundred or more. "100 or more? You're sure?" Kairi signs it quickly, but easily, showing just how much she's trying to get a confirmation. It's more than she's ever thought for a gathering that she was helping - even in a distant manner as this - help to organize.

"Well, hmm... There's buttons - you know like the kind you pin to a shirt or bag - since you can get those in bulk, or something like laminated bookmarks too. A simple keychain maybe, or t-shirts with a print on them wouldn't be too bad either if you're getting that many... There's coasters... small picture frames... magnets for a refrigerator... maybe even little stones with a symbol etched into them, although a symbol like that - that's special to Ebisu - you could use that for a lot of these ideas. Oh, paper fans too!"

Finally, she chuckles a little and looks over at Ginia, remembering to sign this time - for her own practice if nothing else. "Do any of those ideas sound good to you?"

C17C: A prayer for holiday traditions

[unlucky7]

"Suzaku, I need your help." Ginia looks a bit harried as she drops by Suzaku's desk, signing fast. It's impossible to miss how much extra work there is at Ebisu's temple with festival preparation well under way. It's carried over to the part-timers too, and truly, everyone is thankful for them for picking up some extra work.

"Can you help me research and brainstorm some ideas for Ebisu's upcoming festival? The family in charge of the shrine is trying to find ways to keep the festival interesting while still keeping within traditions."

[swordofzero]

It was indeed hard to miss the extra work that the festival was causing. Suzaku was doing his best to put in extra hours when needed, whilst also trying to make things up to Saber and be more present at his own temple.

He's learned that he needs a lot less sleep than he maybe thought he did so that's a good thing, he's also learned that when you get a reputation for 'being good with computers and things' you get a lot of extra work from shinki who had very little idea how they worked at all.

He's glad that his ability in practical things seems to be enough for them to forgive his lower ability in other matters. He can't know why but it's clear to him there are odd gaps in any education he may have had in life. Which is why he is currently frowning at a sheaf of papers and stubbornly refusing to use a dictionary because he's not a child and he should be able to read these kanji.

Ginia's interruption is welcomed. His eyes pick up the signs quickly. "I'd be happy to Ginia. Do you have a list of traditions already for us to adapt or are we starting at the beginning?"

[unlucky7]

There's a sigh of relief and a tired smile as Ginia grabs a seat from one of the empty desks nearby. "You're the best." She slides her briefcase off her shoulder and pulls out a folder. Inside are printouts about Ebisu's shrine and Shinto traditions.

"There are some regular traditions at his shrines as well as broader traditions. The main part of the festival is the parade of his shrine around Kyoto. I thought maybe there was a way to highlight some of the regular traditions or make them special for that day. Or maybe some kind of food or charm people could buy?"

[swordofzero]

As she grabbed a chair Suzaku quickly cleared his desk so she could spread out everything from her folder. He looked over the information, both about Shinto itself and the traditions more specific to Ebisu's shrine.

"The easiest thing to highlight might be the lucky bamboo, if they made charms specifically for this festival to hang off them it would make it special for the day as well as holding to what seems to be one of the more famous traditions."

There are probably other things, he keeps reading a little more carefully now, looking for other things that could be adapted.

C17E: A prayer for holiday look

[unlucky7]

It's a touch self-serving, but Ginia also knows Waver could use a distraction and company and anything that can accomplish multiple goals is worthwhile. There's barely a chance for her to explain what's going on when he arrives in the wardrobe department as Terumi immediately throws his arms around Waver in a crushing hug.

"My poor fair raven. Come, I have something you'll enjoy." He leads the way toward one of the workrooms in the back. Across the large sewing tables and floor are several baskets laid out with various happi. The baskets on the floor contain folded garments while the ones on the table (and there are far more on the table) are thrown in a little more haphazardly. There's also a stack of labels and pens strew on the table.

"The happi on the table need to be looked over for stains and tears. If they're fine, fold them up and put them back in the basket. If they need repairs, label them with what they need. Finish this, and then we'll head to Kyoto to look over ritual garments."

Ginia smiles apologetically as Terumi pours a basket out onto the table, quickly typing on her phone.

"Sorry for the tedious work, but this really helps us out a lot."

[hypomeneo]

"Terumi. It's so good to see you."

One must be careful with their crushing hugs when one is a Servant. Waver's eyes scrunch shut as he holds fast and hard. This is good. This is good.

"Natsumi's around as well?"

As they go towards one of the workrooms and Waver sees the pile of coats on the tables and folded in the basket. This is work he doesn't mind at all. There's something comforting about it, really, to be absorbed in fabric and stitch. A pure physicality that draws away from thought. Waver reaches for pins, labels, and a pen.

"I'll get it sorted."

Ritual garments snag his interest as always. Terumi knows what he loves and fashion and history feature prominently in the list.

"No, it's no problem. I really enjoy working with clothing."

[unlucky7]

"Our dear winter queen is off flirting with the geisha, but promises to come back with the ritual garments."

Terumi is full of fond smiles as he consults something on a tablet, leaving the sorting to Ginia and Waver. The happi have seen better years, faded from years of exposure to the elements and repeat washing. It's the kind of wear that adds to the story rather than looking shabby, though there are plenty of torn seams, fraying hems, and yellowing along the collar.

"Which group do these happi belong to?" Ginia asks. The coats currently spread out in the table have a stylized bird centered on the back and a hexagonal pattern on the trim.

"That would be Kyoto Sanga FC." Terumi's voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper as he leans in. "I enjoy the sight of athletic men with firm buttocks running about in any city, but my allegiance is solely to Tokyo Verdy. But I am a man of honor and would dare not tarnish Ebisu-sama's reputation by misplacing an entire group's coats. That wouldn't do."

[hypomeneo]

"At the Ichiriki? She has such fond stories of its garden," Waver asks, fussing with a pinned label at the armpit of one happi. With all the stress at that point, no wonder the stitch has come undone at this intersection of seam. "Or is she somewhere else in Gion? She does speak of the Nyokoba quite often lately. And the Miyako odori just wrapped up last month."

Or she could be in another hanamachi entirely and Kamogawa odori is running in Ponto-chō all through May, but the Gion Kobu was the best district and where the true movers and shakers of Japan's business and political scene liked to play. Plenty of prayers of high stakes and importance there, Waver knows.

"Who doesn't?" Says the man with eyes for only one set of hindquarters out there. In his very biased opinion, no other ass can compare. But it's a great topic of distraction. "Especially as footie season ramps up. Which reminds me I have to update the lists on the J-League for our Temple. We have to keep an eye on the rivalries."

Prayers had started trickling in at March at the start of the season and now they're starting to get intense. Almost as intense as the baseball rivalries. A shadow falls over Waver's eyes briefly... The lists. Ah, those are in Satya's things.

He smiles.

"No matter the sport, Iskandar's followers tend to get a... little crazy come championships."

... YEAH...

"Just a little."

C17D: A prayer for holiday treats

[unlucky7]

"Thanks for agreeing to help again, Romeo." Back at the library at Elfnein's temple, Ginia pats the large stack of cookbooks on the table. It's a mix of books from Kimi's collection, the public library, and Elfnein's collection. "I thought we could find something the family could eat for their first meal in a long time. Since Ebisu is a god of fishers, I thought we could pick a seafood recipe then help them get the ingredients."

[myblueskies]

"It's alright, miss Ginia! I like helping it's lots of fun!" He couldn't wait for the festival! He bet it was going to be such a good one because Ginia had been working so hard on it! Ebisu was going to be so happy he was sure!

"Fish recipes are really fun and there's so many!" It was a good job Ginia had collected so many books! And that it was such a big table!

"Are they making it for all the people who come to the festival?"

[unlucky7]

There certainly is a good variety to work with. Such is the territory when your nation is an island. It'll make picking up ingredients easier too given all the fish markets they can go to.

Ginia considers Romeo's question as she opens a cookbook, a pad of sticky notes nearby. This was for his family, but there's no reason they couldn't introduce a recipe to sell at the festival too. Brings the community together, helps out fishers, it all works out.

"Why don't we look for a few recipes? Ones the family can enjoy and ones easy to cook for a larger crowd?"

C17F: A prayer for holiday celebration

[unlucky7]

Nervous energy radiates through Ginia's link to her gods. While she's grounded enough to not let it distract her, she's definitely pacing on the rooftop as she waits for the parade to begin. It's not hard picking out Ebisu's other shinki set up along the parade route, all waiting with borderlines at the ready.

The plan is clear: the shinki along the parade route will keep borderlines up to flush out any smaller ayakashi that might have attached to humans. They'll drive off smaller ayakashi and keep them from attaching to other people. A few shinki on the roofs will keep an eye out for any larger ayakashi approaching the area or, god forbid, a vent opening. They'll contain what they can and send a message out.

As for Ginia, Chris, Tsubasa, and their soulless shinki, their job is to rend any contained ayakashi or go after any medium or larger ayakashi on or approaching the route. With how long the route is, they definitely need to pace themselves.

"It really means a lot the two of you are helping me out with this." Ginia says through her phone, still pacing back and forth. "Dinner is on me."

[trustheart]

"No problem," Chris replied, while standing at Ginia's side. She felt her shinki's nervousness, but was otherwise not trying to show it outwardly. She knew from experience that commenting on someone's anxiety tended to make it worse.

She was decked out in full Symphogear armor, and had already transformed her Armed Gear into a set of pistols. She stood there, watching for any sign of trouble as they talked.

"But be prepared, I'm starving today."

[beyondtheblade]

"What Yukine isn't saying is that we would have helped regardless."

Not that she wants to sink access to a free meal, mind you. She's also transformed, arms crossed and leaning up against a wall.

"It is after all what we are here for - be it in this world, or our own."

04: A prayer for business

[unlucky7]

The first impression of the card sharp is a perfectly normal shop like all the others in the area. The front display has ads for upcoming releases, sales, and upcoming casual tournament, and even a mosaic of cards creating the kanji for "good luck." The interior is well-lit and clean, the shelves are well-stocked without feeling cluttered, the displays are nice.

There's one other person browsing the selection, but given it's after school hours and there's a steady flow of people in the shopping area, there should be more in the shop.

Behind the counter, the owner - a kindly man with a grandfatherly feeling - smiles broadly as Ginia and Shun enter the store. "Welcome! Please let me know if there's anything you're looking for!" The hope in his voice in palatable.

Ginia smiles and nods at him, giving the store another look around before signing at Shun.

"This might be different than what you're used to, but does anything stand out as why business isn't doing well?"

[revolutionfalcon]

Shun nods to the owner as they enter, looking over the shop and taking in the...lack of bustle. It's not too different to gaming shops in his world in terms of layout, honestly, but the lack of people is striking even taking into consideration that games like this don't have the same weight here.

The one other person in the shop, a middle-school aged girl, takes a phone out of her pocket and starts texting as Shun glances over to Ginia and signs back so they don't alert the owner to what they're actually doing.

"The store itself looks fine. Even good, considering it's easy for places like this to get disorganised. And I can't see the owner putting anyone off. Might be something else."

The girl puts her phone away, and maybe a minute later, two boys who look about the same age as her stick their heads through the door, looking around cautiously before they come in and head towards the girl. "I thought you were kidding about him not being here today...it's been weeks since he wasn't, hasn't it?"

The owner's smile gets a little strained at the mention of this nebulous "he", and Shun glances over somewhat pointedly before looking back to Ginia.

[unlucky7]

Aha. Ginia's mouth turns in a small frown. The wrong person can certainly ruin the feel of a place. It wouldn't take much with a younger crowd to drive them off, especially with so many other stores in the area. But everyone has their favorite shops and given the kids here, it must have its fans.

"If someone's causing problems, there has to be a reason the owner simply hasn't banned him. Especially with younger customers around." The owner doesn't seem to be the kind that would let anyone horrible run roughshod over everything. He's gone over to chat with the kids.

"We should see if the other shops in the area are having similar problems too."