🎉 TANABATA FESTIVAL 🎊

[eyescar]

WHO: Everyone in Neo Tokyo
WHAT: Tanabata festival! 🎉
WHERE: In the centre of the park
WHEN: 17/07 onwards
WARNINGS: N/A

NEO TOKYO TANABATA

aka operation festival funtime

As the middle of July opens, the streets outside of Neo Tokyo seem to get decorated almost overnight. Colourful origami banners hang from the trees, a mixture of tanzaku, kamigoromo, orizuru and toami.

For anyone who has been to the Sendai region in the midst of the Summer months, the decorations will look almost endearingly familiar; it's time for tanabata!

▶ 001. OPERATION: FESTIVAL FUNTIME.

The savvier of people might notice a particularly bright shock of pink hair running around in the early hours of the morning, taking part in setting up the decorations and putting together a basic layout of tables with tablecloths and various goods and prizes. Each decoration is hand made, and if you look closely you might see little golden traces throughout, giving a clue to who helped made these ones. There's something infectious about his enthusiasm and the delight, even as he gets a little more tired as the day goes on - there's nothing stopping him. Eventually, his section of the festival is set up; there are various stands, some for making decorations (bamboo branches with ornaments, more paper ornaments, origami, and various other cute and traditional arts and crafts), some space for you to take a break and have a fruity and always non-alcoholic drink and an area with a handsome backdrop for the taking of photos.

He's not alone, though!

Raidou's looking livelier than he has than in the last few weeks. He's helping the festival in an organizational capacity, while Yuji handles most other things. He sets up the stands, moves and directs supplies to the right place, picks out spots for decorations, and makes sure both vendors and visitors have everything they need. If you stop to ask him a question or ask for direction, you get a quick, polite answer before he flits off to the next task.

Once things are running smoothly, you'll find him working at one of the food booths, where he's frying up takoyaki and taiyaki. Raidou couldn't be more in his element - serving up fresh food and treats to the Outsiders and the community. You might even get your food handed to you from him with a smile.

At night, the festival is lit up with fireworks and sparklers throughout, lighting up the sky with explosions of little joy and happiness.

Throughout the festival, you can also get a free bento, delivered to you by a cute looking rabbit. The bentos come in many designs, cute, adorable or precious!

▶ 002. A DREAM IS A WISH.

One of the most exciting aspects of tanabata remains the wish-making. In the set-up for the festival, there are little posters left around near one particular booth (manned by local cryptid Choso) to explain the story of the festival and the meaning that it holds. Alongside it are an almost ridiculous amount of paper strips in various colours, left with some pens and calligraphy brushes for people to pick up and use. A big sign next to it declares the following:

Make a wish! If it's a good one, it might come true!
The directions are clear: write your wish on a strip of paper and hang it on one of the bamboo decorations. The harder you wish, the more likely it is to come true - and there are some prompts for the kind of wishes people could make, just in case you're strapped for ideas:

Academic or work successes

Prosperity or good health

Care and love for family and friends

Success in love or platonic relationships

Fulfilment of a personal goal or ambition

You might notice Yuji watching as you're tying your wishes up... Don't worry about that!

If you require further assistance in your wish-making (or even if you don't at all) Choso seems more than happy to lend a helping hand. When he isn't cutting up paper strips and sorting them out into strangely-organized piles (paper thickness instead of size or colour), he's preparing the calligraphy ink via manual inkstone grinding or offering an absurdly wide variety of coloured (and scented) markers for your convenience.

The strips of wishes can be as decorative or simple as you like, so don't stress about your artistic genius!

( ooc note: If you would like Yuji to take a shot at making your wish come true, please respond to this comment! There will be some RNG "granted wishes" that you can use in your top level and keep as a fond memory, but please note there is only one "granted wish" per character. )

▶ 003. AS THE POETS SAY.

In the centre of the festival, in the midst of a park with vibrant flowers, is a table where Yuji sits for a few hours at a time between breaks. He seems to be practically vibrating out of his seat, and when approached he launches into an explanation of this particular game:

THE SOULMATE GAME!

The aim of the game is simple: you are given a ribbon at random with a number on it. Your mission? Find the person with the matching ribbon within a time limit of an hour and win a special prize. Don't worry though... If you lose, there's a prize for not quite making it within the limit. The festival is meant to be a celebration, after all, and Yuji doesn't want anyone to miss out.

Here's the problem: Yuji isn't making it easy for people to find their soulmate. He's not left a boundary for how far you can go (in case you were tempted to hide...) nor has he done anything to make the festival less distracting. This area is set up with your traditional festival games, such as (fake) goldfish scooping, ring toss and some chairs and tables set out for food and conversation.

To make it worse? Sometimes, Yuji might pop up and give you a hint to go in a particular direction, only for it to be a total red herring. This is definitely fun, isn't it? Who doesn't love a good chase? The problem is...

Will you find your soulmate in time...?

( ooc note: If you would like to win (or lose) at the soulmate game, please respond to this comment! Go ahead and OOCly decide who your character gets paired with and whether or not you win or lose - there are different prizes for each. You can play the soulmate game as many times as you want ICly, but you will only get one prize roll per character! )

▶ 004. TINY FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN.

NOTE: THIS PROMPT WILL REFER TO THINGS THAT ARE SPOILERS FOR JUJUTSU KAISEN CHAPTER 264 ( refering to Yuji's powers and how he uses them in a fight ).
Here's the thing: Yuji wants everyone to have fun. His dream is that people are able to find some joy and peace in the midst of the darkness of the last few weeks, and so he sinks into something that is familiar to him - cursed energy, and his domain expansion. In the early hours of the second day of his festival, you might catch him making a hand sign before a ripple of powers hits, collecting around the area of the festival like a literal bubble. Anyone on the edge of the bubble will see it like a flickering, semi-transparent void, but there's nothing to worry about... Right?

The power of Yuji's domain expansion is simple enough, in theory: it transports into the memories, digs into the heart of what people want to show. His intention is to share the tanabata of his childhood with the people of Neo Tokyo and spark some joy for the Outsiders who have been through so much. He wants to show them something sweet and nostalgic, but he doesn't quite anticipate the side effect.

Outsiders who end up stepping into Yuji's domain will find themselves able to come face-to-face with their childhood selves, and enjoy the festival together. If they're together with another Outsider, those childhood versions of themselves (shaped in the way they remember themselves rather than how they actually looked!) are visible and shared, like an extension of their thoughts come to life.

It's still tanabata, but this particular part of the festival is influenced by what Yuji remembers from his youth, and Outsiders can find themselves seeing and being able to take part in various activities:

Crayfish catching (try and get the biggest or rarest one!)

Archery (can you beat your friends and get the bullseye?)

Horse riding (and you might hear Yuji commenting on how big their faces are)

Parades (are you going to join in?)

And anything else you can dream up! It's your character's childhood too, right...?

As soon as Yuji realises his mistake (at the end of the day, lost in his own memories) he brings down the domain, but it might be too late for some Outsiders who have come face to face with their more adorable versions. Whoops.

EVENT BREAKDOWN (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. OPERATION: FESTIVAL FUNTIME: The festival is being set up by Yuji and Raidou, with support from other Outsiders to make decorations. Food and other entertainment is on offer for anyone who attends, but all drinks are non-alcoholic.

2. A DREAM IS A WISH: Outsiders are given the chance to take part in the tanabata tradition of wish making. They can decorate paper with their wish and hang it up in the hope it will come true. Yuji will be granting one wish per outsider.

3. AS THE POETS SAY: The "Soulmate Game" has characters being randomly assigned numbers and tasked with finding their matching pair to win a prize. They have an hour to find their partner and, win or lose, there is a prize for taking part.

4. TINY FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN: Yuji uses his domain expansion to bring Sendai tanabata to life, that has the accidental side effect of allowing Outsiders to meet and see their childhood selves. It also allows them to visit Sendai itself and take part in some other minigames that are not tanabata related if they want.

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Comments

[curingidiocy]

[ In a moment of triumph, Veritas manages to figure out where the correct button is and turns on the necklace's projection function. A holoscreen appears above the necklace, displaying all the albums that have been created and placed inside the necklace. Without even asking, Veritas clicks the first album and begins to look through the pictures.

There's a lot of pictures of the big blond man. And a few pictures of the blond man with someone who looks kind of like him. He's got indigo hair and sunset eyes just like him. Who is this? He looks over at Aventurine and stares at him for a few moments, and then stares at Kakavasha, and then back at the pictures.

You can almost hear the gears turning in his brain. ]

[stonehearts]

( The best part about dating someone like Ratio is knowing that he's a damn genius, and therefore his kid self is able to put things together at a rate maybe other people would struggle with. As well as using the evidence to draw his own conclusions. But it might help to nudge him along, right?

Aventurine puts a hand on Kakavasha's back, helping him forward with a soft, fond ruffle of hair. )

His name is Kakavasha, just like how it's my name. Though for the sake of clarity why don't you call me Aventurine. You are Veritas Ratio. And he-- ( He gestures to one of the pictures of Ratio. ) is my fiancé, Doctor Veritas Ratio. He's got eight doctorates, you know, and plenty of people who care about him. Friends, even, who like him just the way he is.

[curingidiocy]

[ Veritas is quiet for a moment, digesting the new information. That was the conclusion he was coming to, but now it's been confirmed. He has questions, like how two of the same person from different times can coexist, but the most important thing is: ]

I'm going to marry him???

[ Pointing at Kakavasha and scrunching his face in disgust. ]

I don't want to marry him! He's loud and annoying and dirty and ugly!

[stonehearts]

( Kakavasha scowls back, his hands going to grip Aventurine's sleeve as he sticks his tongue out at Veritas. )

And I don't want to marry someone who's mean! He called me stupid.

( Goddess help him. Aventurine sighs, shooting off a message to Ratio: Found them, and they hate each other. Turning back to the children, he does his best to continue to de-escalate the situation he's found himself in. )

Technically you marry me.

[curingidiocy]

[ In response to Aventurine's text, Ratio only sends his patented: k, and nothing else. But that means Ratio thinks texting is a waste of time and is currently making his way to Aventurine's location with all haste.

Meanwhile, little Veritas scans Aventurine from head to toe with discerning eye and a frown. ]

You're too bright and flashy. You remind me of a peacock.

[stonehearts]

( A peacock is fitting enough, and Aventurine makes a show of flipping his coattails as if he’s preening. Kakavasha laughs, at least, so he’s earned a point there. Maybe not with little Veritas, who’s just as direct and uncompromising as Ratio.

He’s charmed, actually, and intends on teasing Ratio about it when they’re alone. )

Yeah? Do you know why male peacocks have all that colorful plumage? To attract a mate. ( Aventurine, helpless before a six year old Veritas, reaches out to gently bop the child’s nose before laughing. ) It seemed to have worked on you just fine when you’re older.

( Kakavasha takes a step towards the distracted Veritas, peering at the photos still in the air. )

That’s so much water!

[curingidiocy]

[ Veritas yelps and stumbles backwards, gripping his nose, and then frowns even wider at Aventurine, eyebrows drawn down scrunched in an expression that looks comical on the young child but would be very fitting on his adult self. ]

No. I wouldn't like someone just from their looks! That's just stupid. If adult me only likes you because he thinks you're pretty, then he's stupid.

[ With that, he walks up to Kakavasha and dumps the necklace into the other child's hands. ]

I don't want this anymore! You take it!

[stonehearts]

( Not helping his case, Aventurine laughs fondly and the expression on Veritas’s face, though he gently takes the necklace from his younger self. It’s one of the things he wants to be sure comes back with him after all of this, even if he can’t remember he’ll know. Ratio loves him, and Aventurine loves him in turn. )

Unfortunately, he also knows I’m one of the few people who can keep up with him in conversation. I imagine the realization made him make the same face you’re making now.

( Adults, Kakavasha has decided, are weird. So instead he offers his hand to Veritas once more, almost pleading. )

Come on, let’s go see the horses. Or go to the creek! I caught the biggest crayfish earlier, I bet I could find it again and you can tell me all about it if you’re that smart!

[curingidiocy]

[ Veritas squints up at Aventurine, looking unconvinced. Then he looks at Kakavasha, annoyed. ]

Will you stop bothering me if I say yes?

[ It seems, finally, Veritas's stubbornness has been worn down enough, though he doesn't look happy about it. ]

[stonehearts]

Maybe! I have to see if I want to marry you, and I don't know if that's gonna be one day or two.

( Kakavasha is just saying. He's done waiting for Veritas' hand, however, and reaches out to take it with his own. Kakavasha thinks, beneath the meanness and the book, he's a bit silly. Maybe that's what makes him love him in the future? Kakavasha doesn't know.

Aventurine says nothing, just gives them both an encouraging grin. See, that wasn't so hard now was it? )

[curingidiocy]

I still don't want to marry you. I don't want to marry anyone. I don't want anyone bothering me to do stuff I don't want to.

[ Veritas very reluctantly allows Kakavasha to take his hand, though he scowls at the adult with every fiber of his little body's might. It's fine, he'll play along with them just once, they'll realize he's no fun and very boring just like everyone else did, and then they'll finally leave him alone.

At the same time, Ratio, the adult one, approaches the group with haste, brows furrowed.]

Aventurine.

[ His eyes flick over to the two young kids by his side, holding hands and not at all looking like they'd been fighting. He quirks an eyebrow at his beloved, as if to ask what's going on. ]

[stonehearts]

Ratio! You're just in time. I think my charm's finally worked on you.

( Aventurine perks up, visibly so and evident to the three onlookers. Whatever they might think of him, at least it's clear that Aventurine isn't lying about his feelings for Ratio. He flashes him a grin, gesturing to the kids.

Kakavasha, for his part, is looking at Ratio with wide eyes. He's pretty. And a bit shiny, though not as much as Aventurine is. Maybe that's why he marries him? He's pretty sure he can put up with a lot from Veritas if it means he looks like he can lift him up in his arms when he's older. He looks back at Veritas, thoughtful. )

If we're married that means I'm not going to bother you about anything. You'll want me to do it!

( At that, Aventurine can't help but snort as he tries to keep his laughter in, and raises a brow at Ratio. Anything to say in defense of yourself, Doc? )

[curingidiocy]

[ Little Veritas watches the two adults interact with an incredulous look on his face. So this is what he looks like when he's an adult? He's so... brawny. Did he lose his brains somewhere in all that muscle?

And then Kakavasha goes and says that, and Veritas gives him a look that clearly says he thinks the young Avgin is an idiot.

Ratio looks at Aventurine with consternation. ]

What have you been teaching them, damn gambler?

[ At the same time, little Veritas says: ]

Keep dreaming, idiot.

[stonehearts]

( Is he being ganged up on by two Ratios this time? Aventurine gasps, a hand to his chest. )

Nothing! Just that perhaps they might want to stop kicking each other in the dirt, seeing as they're going to be married eventually.

( So actually something. Frowning at the adults, and Veritas, Kakavasha gently tugs on Veritas' hand. )

I'm not an idiot. Don't you have anything more interesting to call someone other than stupid and idiot?

[curingidiocy]

[ Veritas stares at Kakavasha with a flat expression, still annoyed by Kakavasha's continuing insistence to interact with him. ]

I could be meaner, but I don't see a point in getting creative with my insults when idiot and stupid is the perfect description for you.

[ Veritas's eyes flicker briefly at the two adults before he turns his head in an emphatic 'hmph', that feels more like exaggerated acting than anything else.

Ratio's lip twitches in faint amusement, though he does his best not to reveal it to the kids. ]

You'll have quite the uphill battle convincing my younger self to be pleasant. I was quite... spirited, let's say.

[ Spoiled. He means spoiled. ]

[stonehearts]

( Aventurine sees that twitch of his lip and knows what it means. Ratio, you wretch, you're setting up Kakavasha up for failure! Aventurine lightly elbows him again -- though his amusement shines through his eyes. )

He means spoiled. Always used to getting his way. ( He says, ruffling the hair of both his younger self and Ratio's, if Veritas lets him. ) But it'll be worth it in the long run.

( Kakavasha looks doubtful, but turns to Veritas with a questioning look on his face. )

And you're not listening. ( Another tug of their hands, as Kakavasha tries to lead him back towards the creek. ) I don't know how to read because Big Sis says we're not allowed to have schools. But I bet I could be really good at it if you taught me!

[curingidiocy]

[ Veritas doesn't have the reflexes of a kid used to receiving hair ruffles, so he reacts with an indignant whine and a scandalized look once it's over, patting down his hair and trying his best to smooth it over. ]

What was that for!

[ Aeons, what is wrong with these two! Or this one guy who is apparently two people at the same time. He's so annoying. He's so annoying, and yet... ]

Fine! I'll teach you how to read. But I'm not going to be a nice teacher, so you better be prepared!

[ So annoying, these two.

Ratio's brows raise in surprise. ]

... interesting.

[stonehearts]

Are you admitting that my charm can work on you no matter what age you might be?

( Aventurine offers, grinning up at the other man now that he figures the kids are fine. Probably. Less likely to start biting each other, at the very least.

Kakavasha, however, is extremely excited at the prospect, and at his new friend. Because they are going to be friends, Veritas. You will not escape him. )

You're not gonna kick me again are you? That's probably a bad way to teach people--

[curingidiocy]

Charm? I think it's your ability to be a great nuisance that has worn down on him.

[ Oh, so adult him does have some brains. Is that what the big Kakavasha did to him? He was so annoying big him had no choice but to give in? Veritas frowns even more at little Kakavasha. ]

And I'm going to make sure you stop being so annoying. I don't want to be around annoying people. Also, you're the one who kicked me! I only pushed you!

[stonehearts]

Ratio! You're going to give him a biased impression of little me. Shouldn't he be allowed to form that on his own?

( Even if little-Ratio is having the appropriate response. Still!

Kakavasha frowns, and then outright scowls for a moment at Veritas. )

You called me stupid! That's rude. I bet other people tell you not to be such a know it all, but you don't change. So why should I just because you tell me to? That's a-- ( Kakavasha looks to Aventurine, who mouths the words 'double standard' at him. ) A double standard!

[curingidiocy]

He is more than smart enough to amend his first impression if necessary.

[ He knows what he was like at that age. If someone placed expectations, then he would have tried to rise to them, or exceed them. And now that he's said that...

Veritas looks at big him, confused, and then at Kakavasha with a resolute expression. So big him expects him to learn all about this annoying blonde to see if his opinion will change? Fine. He'll learn everything so he can come up with the best conclusion about whether or not big him is smart or stupid to want to marry this flashy guy. ]

Well, if you want me to change, figure something out. I'm not gonna change because you want me to.

[ It's a challenge, and Veritas so loves challenges.

Ratio huffs quietly in amusement, lowering his voice so only Aventurine can hear. ]

Satisfied?