eyescar: 🐾 manga (pic#17020140)
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.
    30storieshigh: (79(bb lizard))

    [personal profile] 30storieshigh 2025-07-24 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
    Kreonk...

    [ What a defeated little not quite "skreonk"! The little guy lets out a huff of frustration, wispy trails of smoke escaping from his nostrils, and goes limp in Saber's grasp.

    This tongue the not apes speak in is so weird. The Elder One has been coaching him in its usage, but he doesn't really like it! Their kind's form of speech is so much better. He should at least try to make himself heard though. ]


    Trouble. Not... not trouble.

    [ His voice is rather... soft, shy even! Is he doing this right? ]

    Let go now. I bite.

    [ Okay that's the opposite of not being trouble. ]
    baeber: (she's...baeber)

    [personal profile] baeber 2025-07-27 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
    You will not.

    [ She's undaunted by his threat, as she's got her fingers safely under his arms. Still, reptilians have flexibility she can't deny and it would be folly to assume he can't twist around and bite her anyway.

    Saber sets him down so his feet touch the ground, but she doesn't let go of him just yet. ]


    I will unhand you if you promise to leave the horses alone.
    30storieshigh: (79(bb lizard))

    [personal profile] 30storieshigh 2025-07-27 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
    Bah.

    [ Did he pick that up from Godzilla or is that just how he is...?

    Either way with his feet on the ground the little guy stops flailing nearly as much, instead he just kinda... goes limp and pouts. He can't outmatch her in strength so he's not going to try. ]


    Ape is unfair. Plenty of prey, large prey, should let myself hunt. I shall call for elder, elder will hunt the prey and you.

    [ Little guy really just said "my not dad will beat you up". ]
    baeber: (where's the beatin' stick)

    [personal profile] baeber 2025-07-28 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
    [ This little brat. She's actually impressed he's so sassy for how young he seems! ]

    They are not prey. These creatures are like family to their owners and riders. I'm certain your elder would not want you to cause problems for everyone here by eating their family members.

    [ Still, him going slack is more than enough reason for her to let him go. For now. Her legs remain tense just in case she needs to spring after him, though. ]
    30storieshigh: (79(bb lizard))

    [personal profile] 30storieshigh 2025-07-28 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
    Family...?

    [ He doesn't sprint away once she lets go of him. He stays standing where she releases him, turning to face her with big yellow lizard eyes. His head tilts to one side, then the other, that nose of his sniffing the air curiously.

    She doesn't smell like an ape! She smells like something that should have scales. Weird. ]


    Kree... strange ape. Scaled Ape? Prey is Scaled Ape's family too?
    baeber: (og; ok wow really)

    [personal profile] baeber 2025-07-28 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
    [ Scaled...ape. That's a hell of a thing to be called. Though, she supposes it isn't too outlandish. Her family name is Pendragon, after all. Dragon's blood flows through her veins. She hadn't thought it would be obvious, but he does seem to be some manner of dragonkin. ]

    Yes. I'm very fond of horses. I would be quite cross if you were to try and eat one.
    30storieshigh: (79(bb lizard))

    [personal profile] 30storieshigh 2025-07-28 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
    Cross?

    [ Head tilt, blink. What's cross mean? He doesn't get that one. Like, going across an ocean or...? ]

    Ape weird. [ Still she's not so bad for an ape! The little guy takes a cautious step forward, sniffs again, then blinks up at her. ] Scaled Ape is Cross. Myself is--

    [ Instead of a name it's kind of... well, there might be syllables in there somewhere but it's mostly growls and trills. That's what his name is in whatever passes for language for his species, at least. ]
    baeber: (so I says)

    [personal profile] baeber 2025-07-28 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
    [ Oh. Oh dear. It seems this little one isn't familiar with certain words. Hmm... ]

    Well, I suppose there's no harm if you wish to call me Cross.

    [ His name, however...how is she supposed to pronounce that?? ]

    Then I shall call you Grouse for now.

    [ Since that's what he's been doing and he's the size of one. ]
    Edited 2025-07-28 03:11 (UTC)
    30storieshigh: (79(bb lizard))

    [personal profile] 30storieshigh 2025-07-28 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
    Grouse...? Grouse.

    [ He lets out a confused chirp of a noise. Grouse? What's a Grouse? That doesn't remotely sound like his name. Which he repeats for her, as if that'll help. ]

    Cross is weird.

    [ But she seems alright! He leans forward and uh... proceeds to bite onto her leg. It's not a full bite of course, more like a gentle gnawing, he's even wagging his tail a bit. It's a friendly bite! ]
    baeber: (og; my rookie master tho)

    [personal profile] baeber 2025-08-02 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Saber thankfully doesn't take his biting to heart. If anything, his gnawing with little needle teeth brings a soft laugh out of her. Another cub showed her affection the very same way long, long ago. ]

    I've been told as much. Now, where is this Elder of yours? I should think they're worried about you.
    30storieshigh: (79(bb lizard))

    [personal profile] 30storieshigh 2025-08-02 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Playful growling is Saber's only answer at first, the little guy's tail smacking the ground while he gets the friendly aggression out. After that he lets go and tilts his head to the side. ]

    Elder is...

    [ He stands up a bit straighter, as much on tiptoes as a dinosaur can, using his tail to balance, and does... something? He's not sniffing the air or calling out, it's like he has some other way to tell where his Elder is. ]

    Near. With Mate... or Mate's nest mate...? [ An unsure "Kree" as he considers this, then he shakes his head. ] Not worried. Knows I am near too.

    [ That could very well be the lie of a youngster if Ko-Goji had any concept to what dishonesty is. But much like his older self, it's a pretty alien concept to him. ]
    baeber: (og; with my invisible swaerd)

    [personal profile] baeber 2025-08-02 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
    I see.

    [ At least this Elder of his is around? And with his Mate? She can guess as to what that means, but she's still more than a little perturbed. A parent should always be mindful of their children lest they go missing like this! ]

    Then, until we are joined by your Elder, I shall accompany you. Even if they know where you are, you should still have an attendant to help you if needed.
    30storieshigh: (79(bb lizard))

    [personal profile] 30storieshigh 2025-08-03 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
    Kree... Attendant?

    [ Not familiar with the word! But she seems nice and smells vaguely like his own species so...

    The little fella proceeds to climb. Just, scrambles up Saber's side and tries to perch himself around her shoulders like he's been doing with his Elder. ]


    Hungry. Couldn't hunt. Cross help find food?
    baeber: (I guess it's fine)

    [personal profile] baeber 2025-08-03 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Luckily for the tiny titan, there's not very far for him to clamber until he reaches Saber's shoulders. She's much closer to the ground than his Elder. Once he's comfortable, she reaches up to lightly stroke along the side of his head and neck. ]

    Of course. There are many booths serving meat skewers we can visit. I'm certain we'll find something to your liking.
    30storieshigh: (79(bb lizard))

    [personal profile] 30storieshigh 2025-08-04 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
    [ The little lizard's eyes go wide from the touch but not for any negative reasons. It just feels really, really good?! He quickly leans into Saber's hand, a sound that's pretty much just a purr starting to bubble in his throat. ]

    Meat. Meat good. Scaled swimmers also good. Most food good.

    [ He is not picky. ]