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yuji "old man whisperer" itadori. ([personal profile] eyescar) wrote in [community profile] synflux2025-07-17 06:34 pm

🎉 TANABATA FESTIVAL 🎊

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.
    soft_shelled: (266)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-21 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
    I mean, that's how it works with games like this back home?

    [Talking like an expert, when this is his first time ever being at something like this. His knowledge is from TV shows, at best.]

    And they gotta let some folks win sometimes, or else they can get in trouble.
    asagami: and then he started doing the stupid Elmo voice (I went to take a drink of water)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-23 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
    So, they're both cheating and not cheating.

    [Despite her nonchalant hum, she does take it to consideration. What with her staring at the tank, then to Little Donnie, back to the fish, and then turning her gaze to him again.]

    What about games that don't cheat? Have you seen any here?
    soft_shelled: (114)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-23 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
    [He's got his hood up, to hide his turtleness, and his hands in the hoodie pocket but also like. Not wearing pants, but turtle so why would he need them? So his green legs and two toed feet are visible. He tilts his head at her question.]

    Dunno, they're too crowded for me.
    asagami: Their sidekick is a fairy...which is called Sprite (I wonder if their sidekick's Sierra Mist)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-24 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
    [Another hum as she continues to stare with those big, red eyes of hers and mimics the head tilt in return.]

    Do you want to search together, then?
    soft_shelled: (371)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-24 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
    [Geh, she stares too much. He's pointedly not meeting her gaze.]

    I mean, I guess I can help you out.
    asagami: and that's to hunt fucking dinosaurs (I was born for one thing in life)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-25 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
    [She wanders off- begins to, at least before remembering something important.]

    ...oh, right. [And without even an ounce of hesitation, she takes hand.] Let's not get lost, okay?
    soft_shelled: (018)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-25 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
    [Eh, it takes everything in the young turtle to not jerk his hand away from her. But he does startle. Cause that hand she grabs has only got three fingers, so not very human-y.]

    Mm, okay. Although I don't see how we could?
    asagami: and then he started doing the stupid Elmo voice (I went to take a drink of water)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-26 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Briefly, she notices something about his hand being different...though, she doesn't really think too much about it, what with her glancing around and being preoccupied in the search for other games.]

    My mother told me to stick with her or a friend if it happens in a place with lots of people. And this one is big, so we should.

    [In her eyes, at least; for someone as short as her, it may as well be a maze.]
    soft_shelled: (408)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-27 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
    It's not that big, home is bigger.

    [He's used to New York busy, so this festival is nothing. Even if he does give her hand a little nervous squeeze because he doesn't actually like crowds of any size.]
    asagami: Their sidekick is a fairy...which is called Sprite (I wonder if their sidekick's Sierra Mist)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-27 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
    [a pause]

    ...like, a mansion?

    [That's bigger then a festival! From as much as what she's seen on some of the rare, occasional visits to the branch family.

    Regardless, she continues the search. Just a little longer until finally spotting a few stalls- one that has ring toss, another featuring a shooting gallery, and the last showcasing a tank full of water balloons of every color with people trying to fish them out with small paper clips.

    Choices, choices...she can only turn to Little Donnie and stare at him once more in expectation whilst pointing at all those stalls.
    ]

    Are these the ones? Which one do you want to go to?
    soft_shelled: (144)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-27 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
    No, like a city.

    [Like he could only dream of living in a mansion, but he doesn't say that out loud.

    As he's lead around by her, the longer they're among people though? She might notice him trying to shrink into himself, enough so that he's not paying attention to anything when she asks him about the game.]


    Ah, um... I dunno.
    asagami: and that's to hunt fucking dinosaurs (I was born for one thing in life)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-27 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
    So, even bigger then here? Wow...

    [Her tone comes out so soft and neutral, but even with her condition, it doesn't stop the smallest glimmer of excitement and curiosity in her eyes, for however brief it was. Gosh, she really wants to ask! Heck, she almost does- but, the way he seems to shy away makes her stop and tilt her head once more.]

    ...what's wrong? Are you ok?
    soft_shelled: (364)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-28 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
    [It's a lot, it's overwhelming for a little turtle kid who usually sticks around his brothers and doesn't like crowds. Especially one who isn't big on being touched by strangers, but this girl seems like she needs it? So he's got to be a grown up.]

    Yeah, just. I'm okay, promise!

    [This is a lie, but she doesn't know that he's a horrible liar no matter his age.]
    asagami: HOORAY! (I got the "I Forgot" move.)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-28 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
    Alright.

    [She's none the wiser, giving a nod. So far as she knows, he seems like he needs something. Food or drink? Maybe. Probably??

    And yet- she doesn't lead him towards the rest of the stalls, further down to where the concessions are.
    ]

    ...I'm sorry...

    [Or maybe she actually did something and messed up. That must be why he was shrinking away earlier.

    Even if the emotions she has have been dulled down to such an extent...there's a tiny hint of an apologetic look underneath her blank expression, for as much as it can allow, as much as she's able to.
    ]
    soft_shelled: (254)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-28 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
    [Oh no, she's apologizing for the fact that the problem is him. Not her. Little Donnie looks even more distressed by her apologizing than by anything else now.]

    oh, um, erm... it's not your fault...
    asagami: HOORAY! (I got the "I Forgot" move.)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-30 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
    [Fujino shakes her head; even with her exclaim coming out still soft and toneless, there's a vague hint of worry.]

    But, it is! I did something bad...

    [She doesn't get it. Not fully. Heck, what is she supposed to do? What can she do?? All she knows is some gestures of solace from her mother anytime she's been comforted by her.

    And so, she does just that- close her eyes as she tries to mimic her mother and give his hand a momentary, gentle squeeze of reassurance.
    ]
    soft_shelled: (342)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-30 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
    [Ahhhh no, the hand squeeze surprises him because sometimes one of his brothers would do that when he gets like this to kind of ground him. Not that he knows that what it is.]

    But you didn't... I. people are...

    [Poor kid doesn't know how to articulate what he means, he's smart but not that smart.]
    asagami: and then he started doing the stupid Elmo voice (I went to take a drink of water)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-31 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
    Are what?

    [By now, there's more people gathering around this area, either walking by or looking to try their luck at one of the stalls; she looks up and glances around, blinking slight confusion. Was there something wrong? Doesn't look like anyone's paying mind to them, so far as she's seen. But on the other hand, it is pretty b i g. Ah geez, this is no good. What if they get lost amongst the crowd? That just won't do at all!]

    Um, let's go back...

    [She'd ask, but she'll have to save it for later. Right now? Fujino will lead him back towards the goldfish stall. There's so, so much less people around that stand by the time they get there, though there's still many of those little fish swimming about, and just as many broken paper nets in that one bin.]
    soft_shelled: (376)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-07-31 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
    [He is led! But when he notices that they're going away from the other stalls? He starts to tear up, because oh no he did it again. Because of him someone isn't getting to do something they way want to do.

    So once they're back at the goldfish stall, he's sniffling and trying to not cry.]


    m'sorry, you wanted to do stuff and I...
    asagami: and that's to hunt fucking dinosaurs (I was born for one thing in life)

    [personal profile] asagami 2025-07-31 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
    [The sound of his sniffles give Fujino pause. Is that what he was worried about? She doesn't say anything for a moment, but when she speaks again, her tone comes out more soft and gentle.]

    ...it's okay.

    [She may not understand. Not now, maybe not ever. But, she does know it wouldn't be right to leave someone crying. Her hand gives his another squeeze, before she looks up at him with a small smile, and red eyes tinged with a tiny bit of warmth.]

    If it makes you sad, then I won't do it. I don't mind, so long as you can get to be happy too.
    soft_shelled: (153)

    [personal profile] soft_shelled 2025-08-03 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
    It's not... sad.

    [More like frustrated and unable to voice it because child, thus the tears from him. But he knows sad, he doesn't really do sad... or happy, or extreme emotions.]