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yumemigaoka2024-07-07 02:09 pm
beautifuldreamermods) wrote in yumemigaoka2024-07-07 02:09 pm
Tanabata Log
YUMEMIGAOKA
As it is every year, Yumemigaoka's annual Tanabata festival is held at the street just outside of the Hikawa Shrine. The street and the shrine itself have been closed off during the day beforehand and despite the absolute rancid weather, the community has come together to get the festival space set up and ready for everyone to enjoy. And somehow, as they usually do, things just seem to come together somehow.
Come seven in the evening, the street opens to pedestrians and the festival finally kicks off. A steady, misty drizzle of rain persists through the entire evening but somehow, it just adds to the dreamy atmosphere. Hanging lanterns twinkle with raindrops and cast a warm glow over the street, paper stars are fluttering gently down from strings strung between lampposts and stalls line the full length of the street with food offerings, festival games and just about everything in between. In the wake of all the chaos over the last few months, isn't it nice that some things are still simple, quiet and unchanged?
For folks looking for games, they can enjoy:
- ⧖ The most popular stalls, the shooting games! Using a gun loaded with paper bullets (so, you know, mostly harmless) the aim of the game is to get a clean hit on one of the prizes along the back of the booth and knock it down! The prizes are mostly candy, snacks or kids' toys but they're deceptively hard to get a good shot at...
⧖ Goldfish scooping, a summertime classic! Using a scooper with a thin sheet of paper for the net, try your best to catch as many goldfish swimming around the water below. Do well enough and you'll win a prize and you might even be able to take your goldfish home - make sure to take good care of it!
⧖ Senbonbiki is basically pure luck - bundles of prizes, usually candies and small toys, are strung up along the top of the stall and you just have to give the corresponding other end of the string a tug. Whichever bundle of snacks comes down is yours! Of course, if you're particularly unlucky then you might get a dud or penalty prize... but surely nobody's luck is THAT bad, right?
⧖ Ring toss! Throw rings onto targets marked "1" through "10", each worth different amounts depending on where they land. Beat the high score and you'll win a prize! Though do you really want to walk around the whole festival with a giant plushie under your arm all night...?
There's also a ton of options for Japanese street food; some traditional, others more modern takes. There's fried stuff, grilled skewers, rice balls, all manner of delicious noodle dishes and mountains of sweets too; taiyaki, chocolate covered bananas, shaved ice, cotton candy, and just about everything and anything else you'd want to spend an evening stuffing your belly with. And naturally there are plenty of drinks available including freshly squeezed fruit juice and tea and some booze for those who feel like playing with fire.
Aside from the rest of the festivities, the main event is really the hanging of wishes - it is Tanabata, after all. A few tables at the top of bottom of the street have been set up to carefully shelter them from the rain and have a whole rainbow of tanzaku for people to write and hang their wishes on the bamboo trees both in the street and in the shrine down below. You can hang as many wishes as you like, if you're feeling particularly greedy, but...
The festival doesn't really reach its peak until darkness falls and, undeterred by the continued drizzle, the Hikawa Shrine lights up the sky with its famous annual fireworks show - it's always pretty spectacular but perhaps out of spite for the nasty weather, it looks even more fantastic than usual this year.
With the fireworks done, the festival begins wrapping up and it's time to head home. But just as with last year, the night's festivities seem to have only just begun and as you drift off to sleep that night, you feel a gentle unmooring as you're carried off to somewhere new...
THE DREAM SPHERE
Most people in Yumemigaoka seem to have known what was coming tonight and sure enough, it's happened again - a week's worth of dreams of a strangely vivid image, an enormous bamboo tree with a wide canopy of leaves under a dazzling night sky, just like last year. And, just like last year, when you fall asleep on Tanabata evening, you find yourself arriving Somewhere Else.
The dream unfolds as an expansive open field, drenched in the silvery light of a magnificently star-spangled sky above and cut through with a river of flowing water that reflects the sky so clearly, it looks to be filled with stars of its own. Just like the real festival, there's a fine rain drizzling down from the sky, filling the air with mist and the sweet fragrance of the hundreds of tiny, bell-shaped flowers swaying lazily in the grass. And at the center of the field, just as it was last time, is the bamboo tree from your dreams. In the year since last Tanabata, it seems to have somehow gotten even taller and even though it's so huge, though, it doesn't seem like a threatening presence at all. Its branches are spread out even wider than before, hanging low enough for you to reach out and touch and this time, they're not just weighed down by tanzaku strips but glass wind chimes, too, that tinkle and sing whenever the breeze rustles the trees.
It seems tht once again, the magic of those two starcrossed lovers has allowed everyone in Yumemigaoka to cross the Dream Sphere tonight, Dreamer or not! The effect will only last until morning, at which point the dream will unravel, so you might as well enjoy it while you're here. Many of the mundane dreamers will find they're able to move differently in the Dream Sphere, running faster and jumping impossibly high and long distances with nary a scratch to show for it; no magic of their own yet, but at least enough to have a little fun while they're here.
There's a little bit of natural magic at play here in the environment, too. If you approach the tree with a wish in mind, there's no need to write it down; it'll appear in pretty, sparkly ink on an appropriately colored tanzaku strip, already tied to the tree. Or if you go to peer at your reflection in the river, you might see it take on a shape that reflects the wish you're carrying in your heart.
... Except...
What sort of things are you really wishing for? The things you won't admit out loud to anyone, or even to yourself? The deepest wishes right in the darkest part of your heart that you want more than anything? Unfortunately for you, this tree seems to be of a mind to grant wishes and once it's gathered enough of everybody's tanzaku, there's a bright flash of light...
And suddenly everyone's secret wishes have been made manifest... though only in the Dream Sphere, of course. These can be anything from silly wishes to something more serious - the important part is that these secret dreams and wishes have been pulled out of your head and put on display for everyone here to see! How on earth are you going to deal with this gracefully?!
Regardless of what you choose to do, the apparitions only last for an hour or so before fading away and the sky lights up with a beautiful meteor shower that seems to go on forever. You're free to stay and watch the meteor shower and enjoy your last moments in the Dream Sphere for as long as you like but eventually, as you're watching the stars streak down from the sky, the dream around you begins to gradually fade away until you find yourself stirring in your own bed. Though it was an exceptionally busy dream, you find you're well rested and... okay, maybe a little embarrassed after all that.
Nobody will be able to return to that strange field or find the dream to stabilize it but... maybe that's fine. Aren't some things all the more special for only happening once a year?
Overall Toplevel
Nagihiko (AKA Yumemigaoka)
[Truth be told, though he's been Nagihiko for most of the day, he has a...pretty strong feeling he might be shifting soon. He isn't feeling uncomfortable yet, thankfully, but he's almost certain he's going to be Nadeshiko by the end of the night.
Which means he's getting all he can out of this while he can!
So for the first major part of the festival, Nagihiko can be found traversing the games, playing each at least a couple times. He wins some, he loses some, but either way he seems to be having an absolute blast. Particularly with the ring toss; kid's got a decent throwing arm.
Eventually, one might come across a tiny crowd circling him, and it's because he...doesn't seem interested in keeping any of his winnings??? He's giving a lot of the prizes he wins away, particularly to some of the little kids that might've also watched him play, to their delight.]
II: Wishes (or: vague? vague. he loves being vague (not really he sorta hates it actually))
[Eventually, though, Nagihiko decides to actually fulfill the purpose of Tanabata.
Except he...actually seems to be a bit lost on what to write? He's sorta staring at the paper like it insulted him or something for a while.
Eventually, though, he does manage to get something down;
"I just hope everything turns out alright in the end."
Simple? Maybe, to everyone except him. Even after putting it up on the tree, he just kinda...stands there for a while, staring at it, with a weird look on his face.]
III: Fireworks (or: OOP THERE IT IS)
[The fireworks start off fine. He's gotten a couple snacks at this point, and is absentmindedly munching on a riceball as they start, and quietly admires them along with the rest of the crowd.
...around the near-end of it, though, he pauses.
He feels that familiar shifting feeling within him and yeah ok it might not be done yet but he needs to go now.
After sending a quick text to his mom, he slips away from the crowd (and anyone he might have met up & hung out with during the festival) and begins making a beeline for home.
...though, of course, he's a little too distracted to completely ensure he doesn't get caught sneaking away.]
ring toss
[The person running the game, wearing a Tourism Yumemigaoka uniform, claps politely and gestures to the medium prizes.]
You want to pick one of these, or play again and see if you can upgrade to a large?
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Which, of course, means that just stopping here is unthinkable.]
I think I'll take up the chance to aim for the top!
[Either he gets a big prize (that he's likely to gift to someone who'd better suit it later on, but at least he could say he earned it), or he just gets to challenge himself a little more. A win-win, in his eyes!]
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[Maki does the exchange, handing Nagihiko some more rings in a different colour to mark which ones are for this play. She steps out of the way.]
Step right up and see what you can do.
II.
Wow, what did that wish do to you? If you thought it was that offensive, you could've just written a different wish, y'know?
[NIKKI?!]
That wish is fine though. [he pulls the skewer out of his mouth] Maybe you could work on being a little more chipper about it. Something like: "Everything will definitely be alright" or "Everything's coming up Milhouse!."
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O-Oh, no, it's not like I'm unhappy with it! Just...
[He settles a little, looking back at it for a moment before turning to the other.]
Some of it's just...really up to luck. The sorts of things I can't really control or prevent. [He shakes his head, then tries his best to put on a casual smile.] So I'm mostly gonna try to handle whatever life throws my way, and hope it'll be enough.
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That's fine and all but you should work on your outlook. Drop the 'hope it'll be enough' at the end there, buddy. [a grin] Something like this:
You're going to handle whatever life throws your way!!
[he points his skewer skyward like it's a sword as he takes a step forward. It... Looks way too dramatic to be taken seriously. He holds the pose for a second or three before popping the skewer back in his mouth to finish the last bit of food on it, like he didn't just look like a total weirdo just now. The stares and giggles from the crowd around them seems to just bounce off Nikki too, who is now looking for the nearest recycling bin]
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Then...he can't help but start laughing.]
Hahaha! With that level of enthusiasm cheering me on, how could I not?!
[Jeez, he's not normally so amused by stuff like this!
...he's not normally so aggressively unsure of everything, either, and now it all feels a little silly. All remaining uncertainty aside (which he still doubts will fade for a long while), he thinks his general weird mood might've tainted his wish a little. Either way...
The other boy's right. He needs to try for a brighter outlook.
With another chuckle, he sighs.] Haahhh...you're right, though. [He smiles again, now considerably more genuine.] Thanks. I think I needed to hear that, honestly.
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He grins back at him, skewer stick poking out of his mouth]
Hey, no problem! [the gratuitous Engrish strikes again-] It's easy to get caught up in your own head if you aren't paying attention. Sometimes you just need to give yourself a good shake to get those cobwebs out of the way. Or get someone to do it for you.
Besides, good luck won't help you any if you don't capitalize on it either.
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[He's...not sure how he sorta forgot that point, honestly. Heck, he's pretty sure he'd given similar advice to one of his old friends in the past. Had he really been that out of sorts lately?
...to be fair, between the Dreamer Awakening and the personal issues, he's had a lot on his mind as of late. But...maybe now could be a good chance to try and shake all of that off for a while and simply enjoy being in the moment, like he used to do whenever he was Nagihiko in the past.]
I owe you one. [It feels way easier to smile now, now that his mood is lifting.] It'll definitely be easier to enjoy the rest of the festival without that looming over my head.
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Nah, I'm just here, hanging out, doing my thing~ [he grins around his skewer] Nothing says welcome like some good old fashioned pep talk! [he's not even a local to Yumemigaoka. What is he even talking about--
And eschewing all Japanese etiquette, Nikki extends a hand out for a shake]
Name's Nikki. Nice to meetcha!
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Honestly, this guy is reminding him more and more of Kukai. That's a good thing; Kukai was a good friend, so meeting someone like him was a very good thing in Nagihiko's eyes.
He's quick to return the handshake.] Nagihiko. Same here!
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Yosh! [he gives Nagihiko a enthusiastic shake before letting go and giving him a salute instead] Well then, I'll leave you to enjoy the rest of this festival! There's a few other food stalls that were calling my name, and I wanna try them all out before they close.
Ciao!
Nadeshiko/Maihime (AKA Dreamsphere)
[Thankfully, Nadeshiko manages to get home with minimal issue. But she's exhausted, and happy to get some rest, and...
...oh. Well. This is new.
Maihime and Temari manifest, looking...confused, but curious.]
This is...
Hmm...it feels peaceful, at least. And nobody else seems particularly alarmed. [The little figure smiles at her Dreamer.] Why not enjoy it a little? It's hardly often that you get to simply be Maihime, you know.
...yes, I suppose you're right.
[Maihime smiles, and then the two go off to mingle a little. Hi, c'mon and chat with the still-newbies!]
II: Wishes (or: nevermind i kinda wanna cry now)
[Wishes are made manifest, and Maihime is no different.
There's a small group around a fancy-looking table, which is covered in cups of tea and snacks, mainly sweets. Nadeshiko (as in how she looks in the waking world) is sitting there, a bright, clear, genuine smile on her face. Sitting alongside her are multiple people: a girl with pigtails and a small girl with long golden hair seem to be teasing a pink-haired girl, who's deeply flustered. A blonde boy sits beside her, blushing a little himself, but smiling. A slightly older-looking boy with brown hair just laughs at the whole thing, and his laugh seems contagious, because eventually all of them are.
Any attempts to interact with them are in vain; touches will go through them, and they don't respond to anything you say. Their happiness and time together is left uninterrupted.
Maihime just...watches from a small distance, a wistful smile on her face. Temari is floating beside her.]
They're your old friends, right? They seem like lovely people.
...they are. Very much so.
III: Starshower (or: ok its ove- eyo what the hell is that-)
[Eventually, like all the wishes, the gathering of friends vanishes, and Maihime is left watching the falling stars. Temari perches on her left shoulder, and...
Both of them seem to make one more wish. If you listen closely, perhaps you can hear Maihime whisper, hands clasped together tightly-]
I'll find you, I promise. So please, wait for me.
[And after she says this...something strange happens.
Over her right shoulder, a faint figure seems to briefly form. They're around the same size as Temari, and have long hair like her...but they're incredibly transparent, and their body seems covered in a faint blue haze; details are obscured, their bright blue eyes the most visible thing about them.
If they notice you looking at them? They wink, and place a finger up where their mouth would be in a "sshh"-ing motion...and in a blink, they vanish.
Neither Maihime nor Temari notice. Their eyes are locked to the sky.]
i;
Fujisaki-san? Is that you?
[Her bass isn't even slung over her back yet, so she looks like she's dressed up for a party - Tanabata kinda is a party in here - but Rhodonite's expression is all surprise at the moment, though it'll slowly fade to a calm cheer, only a little guarded.]
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Imai-san!
[She'd been wanting to see if she could find the other over here at some point, but having Lisa find her instead is just as welcome!
Her smile grows as she makes her way over to the other, almost appearing as if she's floating with how quiet her steps are and how her kimono flutters over & around her feet.] Yes, it's me! It's wonderful to see you again.
[Temari continues to float beside her, tilting her head slightly and sending a curious smile the other's way.]
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Mm! I'm glad to see you, too. A little surprised, but hey, tonight's a night for almost anything, yeah? [Rhodonite comes the rest of the way toward her, unease mostly ebbing away.] So I'm inclined to enjoy it, and I hope you do as well. Um, safely. Last year certain people went a little overboard.
[She does notice the additional set of eyes on her, and turns her attention to the small figure over the other girl's shoulder with open curiosity.]
I haven't met you yet, though. I'm Lisa Imai! Or, ah, Dreamer Rhodonite while we're in the Dream Sphere.
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At the slight warning, she chuckles. That's the tone and words of someone who witnessed exactly what she was talking about.] I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully nothing too ridiculous happens, but...I'll simply stay out of the way if it does.
[she's totally going to try to manifest Dream Popcorn and absentmindedly watch the ango thing from a safe distance later once that occurs. like a colosseum spectator]Ah, in that case, please refer to me as Dreamer Maihime here, then. [She smiles, then turns to the little one beside her.] And this is-
Temari. [She floats forward, bowing to Rhodonite.] You could consider me a sort of "manifestation" of Maihime's powers. It's a pleasure to meet you.
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[She'll see the Ango thing later, but she'll be too horrified in the moment to popcorn at it. For now though, with the tree idle enough, she keeps her focus on Maihime - and Temari for that matter. She bows faintly, conscious of the smaller figure's position.]
Nice to meet you too! I don't think I've run into a secondary function of someone's powers that can talk on her own, but I'm up for a first time for anything. [She glances back to Maihime questioningly.] On that note, is Temari-san your power herself, or do you also have...? [Rhodonite raises a hand and gestures in a fairly clear "shooting a beam" fashion to anyone that's seen a magical girl anime for more than ten seconds.]
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(not that she doesn't want to see her friends, its just gonna be a sad reminder), but for now, she's also content basking in the peaceful night for as long as it lasts.]We've not met anyone else like us, either. I know Maihime wished to research on if it has ever occurred before. [She glanced at the Dreamer.] Did you get around to that yet, by chance?
Not yet, unfortunately, but perhaps I'll make that a priority tomorrow. [At the question, Maihime chuckles a little at Rhodonite's 'example', before nodding. She focuses briefly, and while she doesn't fully activate Robe of Feathers, the ribbons trailing off of her obi lift up and extend out a little, clearly being controlled by her.]
I'm able to extend these out and control them as I wish. I'm mostly accustomed to using them to hold onto something; if it's something like a Nightmare, it could hold them in place, or at least slow them down somewhat.
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Well, there are a lot of people and a lot of Dreams between them, right? We'll probably never see every possible power. Which is fine! It means we can see cool new stuff all the time. [Her eyes widen a bit watching Maihime, and she grins.] Speaking of, that's a neat one, and it'll probably be useful, too. Mine are all a bit... well.
[Holding her arm out with a flourish, a sparkle yields her Sandglass bass guitar that falls into her waiting hand as she grabs it by the neck. Slipping the strap over her head and flipping her hair, she strums once, and to her left side, a very, very faint dome of red light shimmers into being, in the (extremely) unlikely event the tree decides to throw a branch at her. She never looks away from Maihime doing it, as she tries desperately to look cool but probably only manages to look like she's been practicing.]
I've got a pretty clear theme going.
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[And that continued here, as Maihime watched with amazement as Rhodonite showed her own skills, observing first the guitar, then the dome it makes very closely.]
Oh my...yes, I can see what you mean. That's quite impressive! [Her eyes sparkle as she looks at the guitar again.] For it to take this form, and to do it with such ease...do you play music in the waking world as well, then?
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She's happy to have Maihime seem so interested, but the question about playing on the other side hits a nerve, and Rhodonite... doesn't quite scowl, but she seems a little deflated, her low note fading into the night.]
I... used to. It's a long story. I want to pick it back up again, though. Hopefully sooner rather than later. [She glances down at her bass, sighing softly.] And I think that's why my weapon and powers are like this. It's part of why I'm interested in everyone else's powers too - it can't be just me, right?
[She stops well short of asking if that includes Maihime. That's... not polite conversation, but since the other girl asked, she doesn't mind volunteering the information herself.]
Anyway... for all my complaining about this part in particular, I do like Tanabata, and I want to hang a wish on the tree before the night's over. It's tradition, you know?
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Maihime knows a sore spot being hit when she sees it. A long story, indeed.]
Well... [She tries to put on as reassuring of a smile as she can.] If you ever do, I'd love to hear you play. [At the other's observation, she nods.] That...makes sense.
[
but then what did that mean for her, who only ever had one identity here when she had two outside? there had to be something here for nagihiko, right? if not...Pause. No. Bad train of thought. Go back.
She's thankful for the change in topic, and relaxes a little.] Of course! [She turns towards the tree, then looks back at Rhodonite.] Shall we, then?
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