TANABATA ⟶ July Sanctuary Log

[likethelight]

 

Sanctuary - TANABATA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"SEE YOU AGAIN, MOM"

The "star festival", celebrating the one time of the year when star-crossed lovers could cross over a sea of stars to meet again. One based on hopes, wishes, and the fervent desire to see each other again. Following the departure of Amaterasu back to the sea, wolf momgod of all who is responsible for the Guardian Saplings including the one Sanctuary has been founded around, Sanctuary is hosting the best approximation to a Tanabata celebration as the Trench will allow. Why? Because hope keeps the trees alive and strong, and Tanabata is about people having hope -- and would have been happening around the same time.

And because people miss dogmom and she would have liked it.

The festival is taking place at Sanctuary, but all Guardian Saplings can be paid visits. Paper for wishes and decorations have been set up at each/given to the other caretakers.

A Sea of Stars
The main hall has been transformed into a living night sky, with jars of hope from the moonlit butterflies back in April hung with care high up, each repacked with a single orb of hope per small vial with care, creating a river of starlike glowing lights overhead. The windows have been covered to aid with the nighttime effect, in addition to helping to keep out the light of the Beast Moon after dark. The gentle glow, as they are literally the tactile hopes and dreams of people, provides a small purifying, uplifting effect to everyone underneath. The light ebbs and flows calmly. The hall is cool as well, thanks to the pale/cold bloodstone cooling system that glows like moonstone along the walls and keeps the indoor areas regulated.

In the evening, as the sun sets, the new choir bell will ring out as well, cleansing corruption entirely from all who hear it. The lights gently pulse in time with it.

Wishes and the Guardian Sapling
The sapling is no longer in bloom, but despite the sweltering heat in full glory. Paper wishes are hung in its branches, along with origami streamers in colorful paper of cranes and other shapes. A bustle of activity is in the cloisters around it in particular, with most tables set up there to keep the courtyard itself clear. Origami streamers are hung in all the doorways leading out to it as well, creating the effect of string curtains, and there are paper lanterns as well.

A life-size stone statue of a wolf bearing a striking resemblance to Amaterasu has been erected next to the sapling, with her most radiantly happy canine expression she could sometimes get. There is room to place offerings for her, and people are encouraged that she would like "all the foods."

Colorful strips of paper (tanzaku) have been cut and placed out on a table in the cloisters surrounding the courtyard, where one can write their wishes for the next year down on them and hang them on the guardian sapling. They come in the following colors with a helpful, but... somewhat hard to read note with arcane handwritten note:

Red will help with wishes relating to ancestors and family, and giving thanks.
Yellow is the color of friendship and is the best choice for wishes about relationships.
White is the color for determination and responsibility, and for making personal resolutions.
Blue represents tranquility and trust and will aid wishes aimed at self-improvement.
Purple is the color to choose if you want to improve your brainpower and skills.

Food and Activities
Following all of the best creative recreation methods available to them in Trench, the cooks in the kitchens have been trained by Megumi Fushiguro, among others, on how to best serve culturally appropriate dishes. These foods are served free at little vendor booths in the main hall (with people encouraged to help out and help serve!) and include pawprint mochi (the inside is either chocolate or strawberry), pickled sakura mochi, mitarashi and tricolor dango, chilled somen with a yuzu-soy dipping sauce, various types of filled onigiri, and cut watermelon in a variety of shapes including stars, sunbursts, and pawprints. Many have been made with small amounts of the Paleblood jam from June and have mild corruption cleansing effects as well. Various kinds of tea made from the dried or pickled cherry blossoms and/or leaves of the guardian sapling are being served as well, and they have a corruption-cleansing effect and have been noted as tasting "heavenly". Some of the jams have been cut with fruit juice/lemonade and frozen into popsicles as well... you're welcome, CorruptionPops are now a thing.

Various demonstration and activity tables have been set up including origami, with... questionably penned instructions from Palamedes in an arcane style for several shapes including cranes, sunbursts, stars, and wolves. Various Sleepers familiar with the practice have also been encouraged to set up there and help teach people how, and everyone is encouraged to hang their completed crafts in the guardian sapling. Most of the paper is red, white, pink, and gold. Paper lanterns have been made as well and light up various parts of the whole festivities.

A few vendor booths are set up, including one "selling" white yukata, trimmed in red and gold and bearing a distinctive star pattern on the back of it and intricate embroidery. Most Sanctuary members would receive one for free if they expressed interest, and anyone else can receive one for volunteering their time and helping out. People are encouraged to wear them for the celebration if they didn't have their own; these are styled in honor of Amaterasu.

Koz Orphanage has been specially invited as well, and children from it can be found running around during much of the event and given various activities to do or items to play with.

Sparklers are available for individuals as well, also courtesy of Viktor. Perhaps there might even be glowsticks from someone... :)

Fireworks and Closing Celebrations
On the final night, all the wishes will be gathered from the trees and collected in a ceremonial firepit. The wishes are burnt in order to release them to the heavens to be heard—and perhaps by Amaterasu still at sea—and will be ignited by several Sleepers with fire abilities (Shouto Todoroki, Megumi Fushiguro).

As they're burnt a fireworks display will begin overhead, launched from the steeple up high, courtesy of Viktor and anyone else assisting him in the matter. Anyone outside watching them in the courtyard will have the effects of the Beast Moon diminished by the blessing in effect from Moon Presence. The choir bell will toll a final time at the end, to clear the effects of any lingering corruption, and signal an end to the festivities.

WHAT

Sanctuary is about humane beast purification efforts and corruption relief. Renovations began in May 2022 and room clearing and rebuilding is still in progress. Beast patrol efforts and purification started more in earnest in June-July.

All roles are volunteer on an as-you-can basis up to full time, with time reimbursed by food, shelter, care, and community support. And because it's run by people who BLEED SENTIMENTALITY EVERYWHERE in addition to being founded on discovery of a Guardian Sapling, it's hosting a Tanabata celebration in conjunction with honoring the memory of Amaterasu.

WHEN

Starting July 7, ending after a few days in a final celebration and ceremonial burning of the wishes.

THINGS OF NOTE

Tanabata
➢ Please feel free to presume your character could have helped out with setup if they have any ties to Sanctuary or characters here! If they would provide a food, service, or game they are free to have a table set up.

➢ This event is open to the whole of Trench and would have been freely advertised as such, including as a safe place to treat effects from the Beast Moon and corruption.

General / Member Update
➢ Sanctuary has been blessed by Moon Presence for the month of July, thanks to the efforts of Luna and Sansa. All negative effects of July and the Beast Moon are lessened within its walls, and anyone meaning Sanctuary or the people in it will be physically repelled. Lunar flowers have begun growing up the sides of the monastery in earnest like morning glories as a result.

➢ as of June, coordinated efforts to patrol Trench on their own and save Beasts and people both have begun. Members will be on a group chat in order to coordinate with each other and reach out to purification Sleepers when encountering Beasts. Everyone is encouraged to work in teams, especially to partner with someone who can purify Beasts or corruption.

➢ a training facility has opened up, with currently self-defense hand-to-hand combat classes being taught by Jason and others willing to train others encouraged to come forward. Fighters on patrol and wardens will be contacted to let them know about open sparring times so members can coordinate better in fights. There is an indoor room with training dummies (that fight back courtesy of Viktor) that opens up into an outdoor space between two of the long halls that can also be used.

➢ with the hidden archives now unlocked, scholarly members of Sanctuary are encouraged to help study them and uncover other artifacts—and especially the strange new locked door discovered within.

➢ there is a family of batcat kittens old enough to be crawling everywhere throughout the building now. They might still be learning manners and latch onto you in an overexcitement to taste your blood from time to time.

➢ the large communal baths have been cleared out and renovated, thank god. They run on being open to male-identifying characters for one set of hours, female-identifying for another, and the rest of the time operate on "nobody cares". Privacy screens are hung between the tubs though—one side is regularly cooled down with ice for the hot months.

➢ with more people needing safe harbor during the Beast Moon and rising violence from natives during July, more actual rooms have been cleared out and are free to use for anyone who will also help work to maintain the place (chores, grounds keeping, etc.). There are always spare beds in the infirmary wing as well.

➢ members who patrol or purify beasts/fight in some way now have access to various relic items that have been donated for use for when they are actively on patrol. These will eventually be tracked in the member spreadsheet... eventually. Just give them back when you're done.

➢ Viktor and K's efforts have resulted in the lunar generator coming online and bringing lunar lighting and cooling throughout the building via a cold-pale bloodstone network. Rejoice!

➢ There is now a small, hidden stash of coffee bartered from Dabi. Someone might have to pry it from Viktor's jittery fingers.

 

This log is WIDE OPEN for Tanabata festivities and serves as the general log for Sanctuary for the month. Go wild and do whatever you want, have fun with your top levels, etc. :)

Comments

QUESTIONS

[likethelight]

 

PLAYER IMPACTS

[likethelight]

AKA mini, somewhat DMed quest potential. Is your character doing something that will impact the setting going forward? Are they exploring? If so, how and with the intent of what? Tried to break in? Planted some flowers? Let me know, you never know what they might unleash!

<b>Character name:</b> <b>What are they doing:</b> Include any other characters that may be involved. <b>What was the timeframe:</b> <b>Thread:</b> <a href="URL HERE">Thread</a> or just say handwaved!

[umbraportation]

Character name: Nico di Angelo
What are they doing: Exploring! Time to roll some dice. No one else, atm.
What was the timeframe: Any time before the last week of July
Thread: Thread

[megatheorem]

Character name: you'll never guess it's Palamedes again
What are they doing: After sitting around with all these old statues and paintings in the back of his office For Months, he's finally going to put them in the newly unlocked archives... there are now a bunch of busted up statues and paintings in there to go with the existing cased artifacts and etc. He is Decorating. All I can think of that might constitute a dice roll of some kind is he will repeatedly get distracted and rifle through the hidden archive's contents while doing this, IS there something cool and fun he could find, document or object... editing this to add that pal and nico are 100% going to scour the archives for clues about the rune door!! hell yeah
What was the timeframe: idk early-mid july when he's on summer break
Thread: handwaving pal's decorating, editing twice in a row to add pal and nico's quest tm

[dohaeris]

Character name: sansa stark (alayne stone)
What are they doing: aside from previously discussed festival/ritual/puzzle pal stuff:

teaching local children about batkittens and helping the batkittens find good homes with kids who need emotional support vampire creatures

CAUTIOUSLY harvesting a few moonflowers to dry for garlands and wreaths just in case, if pal and viktor haven't already isolated the active ingredients in them she'll ask the kitchen staff and local medics if ingesting them cures corruption at all

offering to help locals and sleepers with a simple ritual to ask moon presence's blessing on their house, hopefully cynthia doesn't get sick of the mother's hymn? she knows a lot of songs but she'll keep trying that one

general housekeeping, making bedlinens for the dorms. semi-/permanent residents will get special blankets with their omens and/or significant motifs (if sansa likes them)

IN HER SPARE TIME, talking gently to pal's haunted dolls and the helmet ghost in the manner of a night walker (or margaery tyrell), encouraging them to seek peace (whether that means moving on into the cycle of reincarnation or simply leaving their objects for a more comfortable existence as a free-range ghost)

What was the timeframe: sansa will be spending most of her time at the wellness center while sasuke and sakura are gone but otherwise will be around the sanctuary or available for most of the month! she will be notably absent july 5th and july 15-16 but I will include starters dealing with that. she will probably cut back her hours if l is being a baby squid in her bathtub

Thread: a lot of this can be handwaved! I will post a general july starter for her soon lmao. here is her tanabata starter.

PLOTTING/HANDWAVING

[likethelight]

You know the drill. b(￣▽￣*)

<b>Character name:</b> <b>Plans:</b> <b>Desired cr:</b> <b>Unwanted cr:</b> <b>Threading or handwaving?:</b> Planning a top level? Just doing tag-outs? Just want to handwave what they're doing in the background?

Megumi Fushiguro | Jujutsu Kaisen | Cold Blood

[stoicsilhouette]

Character name: Character name: Megumi Fushiguro
Plans: Megumi has a table set up with Sakura Tea- it's usually something he carries on him regularly, but from the few characters (including Ammy) who he's made it for, everyone seems to love it. He will have a sign that says ASK ME ABOUT TANABATA. Seriously, go wild. This entire experience has been giving him nostalgia for his home world, and it's been healthy for him. Explaining tanabata or any of the cultural practices is something he would enjoy talking about with your character. He also has homemade dog treats that are safe for most carnivores to eat. So if you have a four legged companion feel free to assume he asked if they want a snack! Pepper (puppy bloodhound) and Kage will be there exploring and being generally friendly.
Desired cr: Old and New Cr welcome- Anything Positive
Unwanted cr: Antagonistic- Let's have a good festival
Threading or handwaving?: Top leveling

Chin Yisou | Saiyuki | Vileblood

[thevengefuldoll]

Character name: Chin Yisou
Plans: Typically, the demon prefers to stay alone or in small parties. However, after realizing how important the Tanabata event is to The Ranger Chin Yisou will be there. Plus he told his little sister about the event because she was troubled similarly to the sentiments surrounding the hosting of the Tanabata festival. The demon will be taken aback by all of the people present. Yet, he will make do with participating in activities- such as origami and the making of wishes. Asides, who could resist the comfort of food and company? Chin Yisou will also bring a small companion One of the centipede creatures met after the trials of Jumanji and the Catacombs.
Desired cr: New and Old Welcome (He's been waiting for this event and is willing to push himself out of bounds to celebrate)
Unwanted cr: Difficult encounters. Chin Yisou wants to enjoy he time and not argue with anyone. (Otherwise he may snap from being surrounded by too many people.)
Threading or handwaving?: Willing to tag along with others

Sato | Ajin | Darkblood

[madgamerhat]

Character name: Sato
Plans: Sato hears about a festival being held at the Sanctuary. Tanabata is a word that seems distant in his memories. Perhaps he has celebrated before or simply knew of it in his old life. Regardless, the old man is interested in attending. Apparently there are various activities including sparring. He likes that idea as well as the wishes. Overall, he cannot see why he shouldn't attend and bring some fish along for the menu.
Desired cr: New and Old (Sato is willing to mingle. After all, old people need friends too!)
Unwanted cr: Let's be respectful of the celebration so picking up a fight is not wanted
Threading or handwaving?: Looking for threads

Allen Walker | D.Gray-man | paleblood

[likethelight]

Character name: Allen Walker
Plans:

TANABATA
MR I'M A VICTORIAN BRIT FROM A WORLD WHERE JAPAN WAS DESTROYED BUT I WANT TO HELP MAKE TANABATA HAPPEN EVEN IF I NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE... He's thrilled and enjoying the results of the very hard work of him and others from the last week and just wants to experience it now. He'll be there for the vast majority of the festival and being a social butterfly greeting people and chatting with his friends and Sanctuary members. In a yukata with ridiculous hair clips (sans bunny thank god) and at least one skewer of dango in hand most of the time? You bet. _{smh, his hairclips.} He will also be writing red, yellow, and white wishes himself, and is pretty decent at origami after practicing the last few days to make decorations. His hand-eye coordination and precision are inhumanly good, but he's still learning all the actual steps... he's probably gonna try to wing it on his own from time to time and fail unless someone's helping him with the steps...

He would have of course been very involved in setup! I'm totally down for handwaving him working with people, or if there's something that'd be particularly meaningful we can thread it.

SANCTUARY GENERAL
He is back in fighting form this month! Or... close to it, he needs to train to get back to where he was. (He is a shounen protagonist Exorcist that functions more like a human spliced with a fragment of angelic divinity and has some pretty insane/out there powers.) He will be on patrol again himself (night patrol half the time) and working to partner in particular with fighters on patrol who don't have purification abilities! And training in the new combat facility, sparring, and friendly and engaging when it comes to working with others and showing what he does know (though he is quick to point out he's no expert on anything, but he is a master of acrobatic footwork). In general he is not around as much as he was before though, both from being out and about/hunting for beasts more and... not seeming to sleep there anymore except napping after his night shifts. huh.

Of particular note, all patrol/fighters and beast purification individuals can expect him to contact them about coordinating together more, in particular pairing up those with beast sensing and purification abilities with those who have none. He'll be wanting to cycle through and pair up with just about everyone himself at least once as well. No calling him "captain". Looking at you, Nico.

As for July effects, Good and Evil isn't applicable to him (BUT he can exorcise the Evil from people!), his raised aggression is mostly controlled by the Moon Presence blessing while at Sanctuary but he is more forward/blunt, and Fortune's Fool has just amplified the feelings he already has (platonic and non, he has BOUNDLESS LOVE FOR THE WORLD AND EVERYONE and his found family) and he might star-cross himself with his own angst. How canon. I'd love to run with realization that npcs/natives are becoming hostile to them as well, since that's also part of why they're doing this and are relieved for the Moon Presence blessing.

Desired cr: ALL OF IT and I have a hankering for cute shit. Sad shit! Feels shit. Serious shit about all this Trench shit. All the shit! Cute snack buddies... let him tell you all the ways in which mitarashi dango is The Best.
Unwanted cr: I can't think of anything applicable.
Threading or handwaving?: I will probably only be doing closed starters and tagging out for my own sanity. So please do hit me up here so I can make something custom for us! Anything that's general Sanctuary business or minor interactions to confirm character roles and interests I would be especially down for handwaving so we can thread other things!

i. tanabata

[dohaeris]

i. yukata

[lady trots in with an elaborate ivory collar covered in swirling gold clouds gently outlined in red with a large stumpwork sun charm similar to the one on the back of sansa (and friends)'s yukata. she sets a giant frozen fish at the altar to amaterasu and curls up beneath the sanctuary tree, where she can often be found during the festival. sometimes she has watermelon.

sansa's yukata has furisode sleeves and a stiff gold obi with red cord. it's decorated with gold beaded dragonflies outlined delicately in red thread chased with golden stars and swirls. there is a white and gold direwolf at the nape of her neck, neatly framed by her sideswept braid. notably, she has a matching eyepatch over her left eye.

only a few seagulls and ravens wheel over her head, occasionally lighting on her shoulder or swooping down to steal food. sansa's white raven omen, currently about the size of an eagle, guards the food table from above, when he isn't looking after her blood hound behind the yukata booth.

if any characters reached out to her before the festival about a yukata, she will have done her best to decorate it with reference to their omen and any particular motifs they might enjoy. otherwise she can be found at her yukata booth, making sure that anyone who wants one has one that fits properly. simple red and gold obi are both available.

the silhouettes are completely on point. the decoration is still in sansa's renaissance-inspired stumpwork-heavy style, but it does look pretty.

sometimes there is a blood hound behind the booth, enjoying the breeze. sansa's omen will fly over and help facilitate interactions, if sansa's not available (other times he is resting inside a quiet spare room in the sanctuary, and can be fetched out in case of emergency).]

ii. wishes

[sansa chooses a red strip of paper. in her looping, faintly calligraphic handwriting:]

Dear Lady Ammako,

We wish you would come back to be with us on land, but we know you are always watching over us, and doing great good under the sea. We hope you find the rest of our family, we think you would all like each other very much.

With love,

from two wolves to one

[since she is fairly tall and has a flying omen, she can also be found helping hang wishes on the tree.]

iii. mochi

[sansa makes an effort to try all of the various dishes on display. she has a sweet tooth and will be coming back for several pawprint mochi. if caught in the act, she might giggle.]

They look so like little puppy feet!

[she lowers her voice.]

Are they meant to be Lady Ammako's..?

iv. origami

[sansa follows the instructions carefully to make five little grey wolves, and one white, which she strings onto a garland. she then makes another garland with four grey wolves, one black, and one white.]

These should go on the tree, I think.

[she sets them aside and begins crafting a neat white wolf and a golden sunburst. she glances up.]

Do we have any glue?

[she should probably sew the sun into place on the wolf's back, but glue would keep it from sliding around as she works.]

ii. wishes

[hammerbearer]

[ Gaia isn't one of the ones that's thrown their all into the sanctuary's upkeep and care but she's been by a time or two. She might be familiar by sight. ]

You wouldn't happen to be familiar with this tradition by chance?

[ Sansa, who close by way of approaching with her own strip of paper to attach it to the guardian sapling. Gaia is sitting with pen and yellow strip, attempting to figure out what to write. Though there's no table nearby, she's made a makeshift lap desk from a a thick journal. ]

I mean should you do just one wish or is it fine to do multiple ones if you have regards to give to many?

Megumi Fushiguro | Jujutsu Kaisen | Cold Blood

[stoicsilhouette]

[ The amount of work that has been put into this matsuri in such a short amount of time shouldn't be dismissed, and the outcome is streamline, beautiful and- overwhelming. Everything looks so surreal and dream-like- from the hanging orbs of hope to the life sized statue of Ammy- all perfect. It's home.

A. Sakura Tea- ASK ME ABOUT TANABATA

As you look over you notice a white table cloth scattered with light pink paper petals in the like-ness of cherry blossoms and paw prints- some of which look extremely realistic. There is a large sign that says 🌸ASK ME ABOUT TANABATA- FREE TEA.🌸 In subscript-🐾 Everyone one else just give a bark.🐾 The handwriting is impeccably neat. A dark haired young man dressed in a bright yukata sits behind the counter with a neutral expression. He's there to answer all your questions about the traditions of the festival and offer you one of the best cups of tea you've ever had. Two canines are fiddling around weaving back and forth between the table and maybe you? The first is Kage a friendly large black wolf and Megumi's omen, and the second is Pepper a puppy bloodhound. He's lanky with paws too large for his body, and a small pair of velvets- his antlers are still growing in! Although energetic and safe to touch- he's still being trained and may try to steal your food if given the chance!
Two light green eyes look up. ]

What can I help you with?

[ B. Near the Guardian Sampling- Offering (Kumotsu)

Next to the life size statue of the wolf god is a butsudan - a small dark wooden table/alter- with a realistic charcoal drawing of Ammy at the center. Your character may find Megumi setting the table up, giving an offering- lighting incense, or simply looking up at the tree deep in thought. His pups may or may not be with him. If they are there- much like Megumi, their demeanor is somber and less excitable. Kage will be plastered to his side while Pepper will be laying next to the statue with large wet puppy eyes. Animals grieve in their own way, and these two miss their good friend dearly.

If he notices you looking, he will be inclined to ask: ]

Did you know her too?

[ C. Wishes-Gratitude

Despite ferociously defending the right for others to make wishes, Megumi himself doesn't believe in them. This however doesn't stop him from writing a few private messages. Your character may notice the teen mainly using red tanzaku and a single white one. His expression remains hard to read, but a perceptive character may notice the small sad smile that naturally graces his face before quickly disappearing mid-thought as he writes. Or maybe they catch him standing on his tippy toes tying the messages to the tree. He's on the taller side, and wants to hang his high up so shorter people can utilize the lower branches. Or at least that's what he'd say if asked- it couldn't be that somewhere really deep down he hopes some of it will come true, but doesn't want his handwriting to be easily recognized. That means you Walker!

D. Fireworks- The Feeling of Home

Outside looking up at the colorful blast and explosions. Sitting alone half of his mind fully invested in the moment, and the other half very distant. This is the most emotional part of the event for Megumi. Fireworks were a part of every tanabata he attended growing up. The Trench having something that reminds him so much of home is hard for him to comprehend. Maybe your character misses home too? Or just wants someone to sit next to. Megumi’s here for all of that. The dogs will not be present for this prompt because fireworks and animals don't mix well. ]

b!

[mehanizovati]

[it's been a busy festival so far, though finally viktor feels confident enough in preparations to go wandering. rio sticks to his side for the moment, big eyes taking in the excitement, nearly skittering off a few times and only stopping with viktor's hand on her head and a fond reminder she might be a little big for goofing off. the last thing they want is her tail knocking over one of the vendors.

when he catches sight of megumi he makes his way over, this time letting rio move ahead to sniff at him in greeting. admittedly the whole yukata thing is taking some getting used to but the colors for ammy are a nice touch, he thinks.]

You've done well with the food. It reminds me a little of back home, actually. [he stops, leaning on his cane and surveying things- kage and pepper, the charcoal drawing.] I lived in the immigrant district, the Ionian families sometimes celebrated a bit like this.

[umbraportation]

I. Tanabata

Wishes

[ Nico doesn't have much in the way of clothing yet, so he's showing up in black jeans and a black t-shirt. Both hands are tucked into the pockets of his jeans as he roams the courtyard taking everything in. All of his emotions are carefully kept in check, not wanting to disturb any of the flora here.

Red, yellow, and white wishes are all hung up by him - a wish for his half-sister, his friends, and himself. All three are carefully written in Italian, for multiple reasons. Once that's done, he simply stands back to look at the tree - appreciating the view. ]

Activities & Food

[ Throughout the course of his time here during the festival, Nico tries a variety of the food. Anyone watching may notice a portion of everything goes to the wolf statue, every single thing he eats on every single day. Not that he eats a lot, mostly grabbing one or two items at a time then nothing else.

He lingers by the origami station, watching but not moving to participate. Those sparklers, however, Nico picks up one of those and will find the orphan child to entertain by drawing in the air with it. Or just doing a few simple tricks.

When the time comes to burn the wishes, Nico will be there, standing at the back and watching it all happen. Shifting his gaze to the sky when the fireworks start. ]

II. Sanctuary

Visiting

[ Several invitations have been given to Nico to visit the Sanctuary for different reasons. So he's here to bug a couple of people, see the ghost, and do some cleaning. Occasionally, Nico will get some food from the cook and finds himself a place in the dining hall to eat it. Even during these moments outside Tanabata, he gives a portion of his food to the wolf statue. ]

Exploring

[ Whenever Nico's not doing other things, he is poking his nose around the place. It's time to search as many nooks and crannies that he can, open almost every door that doesn't feel like someone's room. So mostly ones that look like they haven't been touched yet. ]

A slightly creepy, no-longer-abandoned, definitely haunted, probably magical church. Definitely not going to find anything weird here.

[ His tone is full of skepticism, waiting for something to pop out of seemingly nowhere. ]

III. Other

Wildcard
[ Drag him into something not listed above! ]

exploring

[megatheorem]

[The thing that pops out of seemingly nowhere is in fact Palamedes, emerging from a nondescript doorway set into the stone wall in such a way that from just a few paces down the hall, it looks for a moment like he really did just come out of the wall itself. But no, there is a doorway there, the door left ajar to reveal yet another dusty, unused room, if one were to peek.

Palamedes dusts his hands off on his slightly faded skull screenprint t-shirt (his summer vacation fit), gives the doorframe a little pat as thanks, and then looks over at Nico. Oh, hey.]

It's absolutely all of those things. Including creepy.

[But in a fun, chill way.]

Find anything ordinary yet? That would be a decent surprise.

your pal, pal | ota

[megatheorem]

cool guy has chill day

[Or at least, that's what the local children from the orphanage think is happening, once the festival is in full swing. A handful of these kids are members of Shoyo's volleyball club, which makes them members of Palamedes' volleyball team as their highly qualified manager, which is all to say that he's being shadowed by excitable kids all afternoon and into the evening.

He's fine with it; he even puts on his HOT WINGS team jersey (it's bright yellow, unlike every other item of grey clothing he owns) to appease them, which is delightful. He helps them write their wishes and hang them up; he hands out snacks but not too many snacks; he even muddles his way through some origami with them.

You may encounter him at any time he's just being a dad to these kids, otherwise, once they've been shepherded away to look at sparklers and other sundry, he is finally at peace enough to talk to other non-children.

If he knows you and you're on friendly terms, he holds up an origami shape of your choice (questionable quality, a little crooked) and says,]

The kids asked me to hand these out to my friends. How are you liking all this, so far?

[If you have not met, then you may have just been struck by a child-sized, origami gift-giving hit and run, after which Palamedes will approach with only mild exhaustion in his bones. Ah, youth.]

Did they get you? [did a child throw a handful of slightly wrinkled, slightly sweaty cranes in your face] If it helps, they wanted to give them out to 'super cool people.'

wishes

[Or: Local man doesn't know what 'concise' means. Palamedes helped cut these papers, he wants to see them get used, which is clearly the reason he seems to have settled under the tree with a lapful of... a lot of them. Red, yellow, white mostly— if there's a blue tucked in there, don't perceive him about it. He appears to be filling them, that is to say, he is covering every inch of these strips in his cryptic chicken-scratch handwriting, putting one down and picking up the next to continue scribbling when he's filled them up.

Totally how it's supposed to go. He doesn't hide what he's writing, and a glance (and maybe a squint, the handwriting is quite arcane) reveals that he's writing an awful lot of well-wishes but also general life updates to a one Camilla Hect, or, if you're tuning in to his fifth or so installment, just Cam.

In an idle moment he pauses to lean his head back against the tree and tap his pen against the slip, asking whoever's nearby:]

How would you describe this place of late? I'm torn between 'tremendous,' in every sense of the word, and 'mired in mystique.' [He glances at his slips of paper, adding mostly to himself,] She'd have a litany of adjectives ready for me; how ironic.

[Or, later, you might find him trying to string all his wishes into one mega-wish, because that's what they are, or offering to help hang them up, because he is very tall and some of y'all are teeny.]

wildcard

[hmu with whatever! please see his plotting comment on this very post for general Sanctuary happenings, i welcome those here as well ♥]

wishes with a dash of the kids first though

[mehanizovati]

[the first time viktor sees pal when all the festivities start is when he's making rounds to see that all the stalls have sparklers to hand out. last minute prep for the fireworks kept him away at first and now he's moving around with rio, talking to stall owners, trying not to laugh at abigail's severe demeanor against the activities.

a good night so far. made better when he catches sight of a gaggle of children following pal around like ducklings.

he makes sure to come over- rio is always a hit with the children, he probably had to stop bringing her around to what practices he decided to tag along with because she's a distraction. it works now, because viktor can place a hand on pal's shoulder and murmur he can take a break, get himself some tea. he'll spent a little time there besides, handing out sparklers and showing them carefully how to use them, answering some questions about how they work to more curious kids.

but it's a busy time so he has to head off again. (with one kiss to pal's jaw, with several of the kids make exaggerated sounds of disgust about. viktor grins at him before leaving, enjoy handling children mr hot wings.)

later, much later, he sees pal with all that paper, shakes his head in fond amusement and goes to get a few of his own. he sits down to join him, rio nosing into pal's business because she demands her share of attention before anyone can do anything else.

viktor's papers are yellow and blue, and he holds out a hand.] Pen? Since I know you have several on you at all times.

I like the simplicity of tremendous. [also glancing over what pal's already written and yes, gaze softening when he sees it's for camilla.]

viktor | ota

[mehanizovati]

(festival)

wishes

[viktor misses the beginning of things, mostly because he's making sure the fireworks are good, the set up is right, he isn't missing anything. to be entirely fair everyone getting so impressed with cherry bombs and sparklers the last time he made them had determined to put a probably ridiculous amount of effort into these. those ones before were so simple, barely worth a second glance. this time? he's showing off. it's absolutely ridiculous, obvious and he will admit it to people if teased.

of course, if he's being sentimental, a lot of it is for ammy, who he thinks would like them. for megumi, who seemed excited and nostalgic at the prospect, for allen, who put so much effort into this. this sentimentality he will not admit, thank you.

but after he can be found by that statue of ammy maybe, lips quirked. he might say,] She once pretended to be a statue to prank me. In hindsight it really was rather genius.

[otherwise find him with wish paper, looking kind of confused. if someone sits with him he'll say,] I admit, I don't quite understand if this is meant to be a proper wish or more a prayer. And to who?

origami and food

[he can also be found at the origami table. this is a mistake, because even when he makes a beautiful one he finds some issue with it, gets annoyed and tries again.

there are several little wolves now, some kind of ugly. his omen is batting at one at his feet like it is a toy.

when trying the food he learns something new, which is holy shit he loves mochi. the pawprint ones especially, enough that his first bite has his eyes widening as he regards it, then says to whoever is near,] This is incredible. Try one.

fireworks

[anyone want to help set off the fireworks? viktor will need that help, seeing as getting up to the steeple after a day of walking around is kind of killing his back and bad leg. if you have cr with him assume he asked for the help in setting them off, if you are not feel free to notice him with a box of obvious fireworks under one arm.

he'll be happy to say if asked,] Oh, it is almost time for the show.


(sanctuary)

early july storms

[since viktor is staying at sanctuary for a while he's really just around all hours. including evening, up late and sitting with a cup of tea, watching the rain pour down the window. (or maybe coffee, if he finds it. he will consider sharing maybe.)

or maybe a character is dodging inside to escape the weather. they'll get a blink, and then,] Do you need a towel?


research

[if someone is walking near the study viktor works in they might feel a sudden lull, like they're very sleepy in a warm way. this is followed by a sigh and the feeling fading. a peek inside will find viktor tinkering with some odd machine, a paleblood gem encased in the middle.

the machine is about the size of a large bowl and when he messes with it again there will be a sudden feeling of almost uncomfortable giddiness. it's clearly hitting viktor too, who laughs with shaking shoulders until he adjusts something else, the feeling fading as quickly as it came and viktor sighing.

he glances over though, at anyone peeking in.] Ah, apologies- actually, did you feel anything on your way in? And from how far away?

family dinner, closed to allen, pal, shouto and nico

[mehanizovati]

[the sanctuary kitchen is much better for making a proper meal, as it turns out. as he sets out ingredients he complains, because of course.]

One of you are at fault for this, I'm not sure which. [that goes to pal and allen. he's already dragged allen in to helping him with the soba, since he wanted to learn.] Look at me, I own an apron, I have opinions on kitchen appliances now. It's dreadful. Who am I? A monster, that is what.

[said like a man who is actually fine with this but there you go.] Nico's coming too, yes?

Chin Yisou | Saiyuki | Vileblood

[thevengefuldoll]

First Impressions

[ A demon stands in front of the Sanctuary's Hall. He cradles a small centipede (If anyone is familiar with Pokémon they'll recognize a Venipede). His eyes stare at the lights above. ]

They are lovely aren't they?

[ The demon asks out loud without taking his eyes off of the glistening orbs. ]

Wishes and Decisions

[ The old man stands by the table. He observes the various colors with interest. Somewhere deep within himself, the demon remembers doing something similar. However, this time he is conflicted. ]

What color to pick?

[ His finger hovers above the red and blue ribbons. He turns to you with a nervous smile. ]

Isn't it funny to not know what to wish for?

Lost Pet

[ A frantic old man scurries around the church. He peeks around every corner and around every statue. While standing in the hall, he approaches you with a nervous glance. ]

Excuse me, but have you seen a lost animal scuttling around?

[ The demon tilts his head. He appears unhinged.

wishes and decisions

[entreats]

[ Ange shrugs, seemingly not too bothered by the question itself. ]

Wouldn't that depend on the reason for it?

[ Despite talking to a stranger here as she's standing near the papers, trying to pick a colour herself, Ange sounds fairly casual. She may not be too big of a fan of the crowds here, but dealing with people one on one is pretty doable for her. Even if she doesn't recognize this person at all. Has she seen him around town before..? ]

If it's just that you have too many things to wish for, then that's pretty normal. I think most people are like that. And if you have nothing to wish for at all, it must mean you've already got everything you'd want. I think that's pretty lucky.

Jun Ushiro | Bokurano

[icanhearscreams]

me in the corner

[Jun didn't want to come. But he was dragged to come, so he's hiding out in the corners. He's not really eating anything or participating in any of the activities, jut... watching the people go by. He's found a yukata and put it on just to try to feel normal again, but it's... not working. With this many people around, he's tired already.]

[Besides, he shouldn't be here. People might recognize him from the video where he said this whole thing was a stupid idea. He's going to get piled on or told 'I told you so', and he knows it. He sighs and watches people a little more. Maybe he should just leave...]


hidden feelings

[Jun isn't one to share his emotions, but he's been dragged here anyway. He might as well do the thing. He gathers up a few pieces of paper - did he cut these ones? He's not sure. A few reds and a few yellows are all he takes, and he sits down to write them.]

[The first few go okay. Wishes to Waku and Kanji, hoping they're somewhere better. A wish to his adopted father, apologizing. His handwriting gets a little shaky as he starts writing one to Machi, but he manages. It's when he gets to writing one to Kana that the dam bursts and he starts crying.]

[Shit, shit - he gathers up his things and starts trying to figure out how to leave. He can't let people see him like this.]


wildcard

[Not feeling either of these? No problem. Hit me up on the plotting post here, atrypical, Discord at Matt#6266, or PM.]

hidden feelings

[mehanizovati]

[it's a rare quiet moment for viktor, between all the behind the scenes he's involved with regarding the festival. a nice change of pace to life here in general, especially this month, and he walks through the stalls and festivities just to enjoy the air of it.

at least until he notices jun. his brow furrows and he's struck with a sudden sympathy- for his tears, yes, but very much for not wanting to be seen this way. it's what has him walking over, standing between jun and the closest crowd, not that there's much of him to block the view. it's why he doesn't look at jun, glancing to sanctuary instead as he offers,] If you'd like a moment of privacy I can take you to my study here. It's close.

Jason Kolchek | House of Ashes

[hearuthinking]

I. Tanabata
i. General Festival Stuff
[Jason might know anything about this festival, but he still pitches in to help make it a success. Whether that may be helping people hang their wishes up on the tree branches or guiding them around the Sanctuary should they not know the way to somewhere.

He stops by the origami station and makes some poor attempts at the craft. He tosses them to the floor so his omen Esfir can play with the paper. It's not often she manifests herself, but this happens to be one of those times. She will keep a close eye on people but only demands attention from people she/Jason knows]

ii. Fireworks
(cw: some war-related PTSD)

Jason gathers with everyone else for the fireworks. He hasn't seen a good display in years-- not since joining the army and shipping off to Iraq, anyway. And plus he's just excited to see what kind of fireworks Viktor made for the event. Esfir is curled up nearby.

He's relatively chill until the fireworks start going off. Jason flinches a little at the sound. They were just fireworks, it wasn't a big deal. But another went off, and another, and he grows more unsettled and anxious. After a while he just gets up and goes somewhere quieter with Esfir following after him.


II. Sanctuary

[Jason tries to stop by at least once a day to see how everything is doing. As for the training rooms, he peeks his head in there as well. His own classes he holds there once a week for anyone who wants to learn some basic combat and self-defense]

III. Wildcard

[If I didn't list something here and you want to poke Jason, be my guest. My plurk is seraphjewel if you want to plot a thing. But also welcome to random pokes]

i

[tealeafs]

[ Chizuru may never have attempted origami before now, but it's actually kind of fun.. and she's found that she's actually not all that bad at it as she's standing there, attempting it now.

Still.. it's not like she doesn't notice that it's not quite as easy for everyone else. And though the man standing there, making some poor attempts at origami, is a little intimidating.. Chizuru tries to gather all her courage to speak up to him anyway. C-Come on, girl, you can do it..!! Be brave! ]

Um.. Do you find it a little difficult..? [ She still sounds a little meek as she speaks up, but hey, at least she's speaking up in the first place. That's something. ]

closed to ruby;

[entreats]

[ It's not like Ange is ever going to say no to the idea of having a cute date with Ruby. Heck - it's not like Ange can ever say no to the girl. Not most of the time, anyway.

But at least this time it doesn't involve some plan of Ruby's that Ange will inevitably regret about five minutes in. Sure, it involves going to a place where there will be a lot of people, but maybe it'll be.. manageable, Ange thinks. Maybe she can just ignore most people there. Maybe she won't come across many people she recognizes, and then she can just focus on Ruby and pretend like it's just the two of them present there. That works, right?

(God, she sure hopes it works.)

At least Ange did properly prepare for the date and all. Knowing that it'd only be for as long as they're at the festival anyway, she conjured up an outfit for herself. It's not too much magic use if it can just disappear after tonight, since she won't really have other occasions to wear it anyway. Ange even did up her hair a little differently, because.. w-well, maybe she wants to look nice for Ruby. Just a little bit.

But at the same time it makes her infinitely more self-conscious as the two of them arrive at the Sanctuary grounds for the festival. Maybe she's looking ridiculous after all? And-- god, there are a lot more people than she imagined. Ange's taking in deep breaths and holding Ruby's hand, but she can feel her cheeks growing a little rosey all the same. C-come on, Ange, focus..! ]

Um, so.. what did you want to do first..? [ She turns to ask Ruby, trying her best to just focus on the other girl. P-Pretend everyone else isn't there!! You can do it, Ange!! ]

[onekindsoul]

[Ange wasn't the only one dressed up for the occasion, Ruby had found an outfit of her own with the help of some friends. Her hair was tied back and she a rose eyepatch covering her prosthetic eye for the evening. She was less bothered by crowds than she used to be when she was younger though they still hit at her nerves just a little. Being a leader had apparently meant getting used to things like that but it didn't stop her from being just a touch awkward about it.

She felt Ange's hand against hers and she gave it a gentle squeeze as she looked around the area.]

Well- I mean I don't want to be too obvious but grabbing a bite to eat is always good but that can always wait.

[There's a pause as a child runs by with sparklers.]

Oh my gosh- That looks so fun- Where do you think he got that?

Xerxes Break | Pandora Hearts | OTA

[payingfordeliverance]

Origami

[Being the sort of person who needs things to fidget with in quiet moments lest he make his general existence everyone else's problem, of course one Xerxes Break investigates the origami table. It's very clever, he thinks, making so many little shapes out of folding paper just so, and it's amusing enough that his giant borzoi of an omen sets himself up half beneath Break's chair and in between his arms so that he can watch the folding directly. Naturally Break makes a wolf, and it's a perfectly fine one, despite being a little lopsided. Even so, Baltus makes disappointed grumbling doggie noises at it, and says something to Break in his head that makes him laugh under his breath.

He turns to whoever is helping out at the table at the moment.]

Ehhhh, pardon me -- those long noodle dragons are from the same sort of place as Milady Wolf was, isn't that so? Is there a way to fold one of those? [He sets a fond hand on his omen's head.] This noodle here is enamored of them, as his noble cousins.

[The borzoi proceeds to throw cute puppy expressions in that person's direction. He is very good at this, despite being a spooky spectral ghost dog with glowing white eyes.]


Here for the Food

[Being someone who only started cooking after he arrived in Trench, one of Break's amusements in this place has been learning about foods from unfamiliar lands, and so of course he tries a little of everything. He doesn't bother to hide how charmed he is by all the cute shapes, which he's seen once before at the Medicine Seller's little party last January, but it's actually the onigiri that really catches his attention. For one thing, the foods he likes making most are the neat things with lots of steps, like beautiful breads shaped into braids or little pumpkins stuffed with wild rice. For another, there are no less than seven kids in his household at any given time and often there are more of them hanging around, and these strike him as the sort of thing he could set out for them to grab in passing as they run off to commit their various acts of chaos.

But also, well. Speaking of chaos:]

These all have different fillings in. [Break stares at the onigiri he's just bitten into, and tilts his head slightly towards his omen.] You know, Baltus...one could make a whole batch of these and only put sour pickle things into one or two, and then whoever bit into them would have a fun surprise.

[The borzoi nods solemnly. Although it's the dog Break is really talking to, he isn't keeping his voice down here at all. Whoever is close enough to overhear him gets to be in on his latest troll secret, here.]


A Touch of Magic

[It's a cute little festival, to be sure, and exactly the sort of thing Trench needs more of given its obnoxious habit of tossing corpses and nightmares and whatever else at people. But Break does have an ulterior motive for being here. Though he kept quiet back when it came up over the network, he's aware that this Allen fellow is the one interested in reversing beasthood rather than automatically killing everyone who succumbs to it, and that the Sanctuary is likewise intended to provide safety and solace to those who may be walking that line.

Break does not intend to get involved directly -- for one thing, while he agrees with and encourages the effort, he comes from a world where killing a mindless murderer before they can wipe out a pile of innocents is just common sense that he doesn't feel like arguing about. For another if he winds up stuck in a pile of idealistic world-saving young people again he will probably just shrivel back into a squid and scuttle back into the ocean. Even so, he intends to scope the place out properly while he is here. Many of his own world-saving young people are here with him. It will be good to know if he should direct any of them here as they attempt to sort out what lives they'll build in Trench, and if the Sanctuary is the sort of place where he can say, "If ever something happens and you can't get home, go here. It is safe."

To that end he can be found wandering all over the Sanctuary, being nosy and peering into every room he can get access to, from the training area to the archives. Again and again, however, he finds himself drawn to the Guardian Tree in the courtyard, and eventually he can't help but pause to rest there. For the most part, he keeps away from the wish table, enjoying the relative solitude off in his own corner with his heavenly tea and idly watching his omen playing horsie with the orphanage kids. But from time to time, glimmers of purple light flicker up around his hands, drawing the eyes of those nearby.

It isn't a sparkler. Rather, he's attempting to conjure up a cluster of sakura blossoms from memory, and harden them to glass. The one time he met Amaterasu, it was at the guardian tree she placed down by the beach, and the glee and delight she took in everything around her as she explained what it was struck him hard. These little flowers are not "all the foods". But, coming from him, what better offering to a goddess such as she than something lovely for its own sake, undying, called into existence by the blood magic he's been so afraid of and is doing his best to learn to use anyway, for the sake of protecting those who need him here...?]

food!

[bolstafir]

Wow. I can't believe you'd put me at risk for surprise sour pickles, Xerx.

[Comes the faux-pouting voice of boyfriend-kun, from around the corner. The joke here is, of course, that he is a living human garbage disposal, and yet.]

That's just cruel and unusual.

[It's the principle of the thing ok]

qrow branwen | ota

[bolstafir]

i. food & mingling

[It's something of a personal rule of sorts of Qrow's, to never turn down an opportunity to obtain free food. So he turns up at the Sanctuary having scared up an appropriate outfit, and promptly makes a beeline for the snacks. It reminds him a bit of Mistral, and the bandits, but for once the association is more nostalgic than it isn't. These are the sorts of aesthetic trappings he grew up with, after all, and absent the atmosphere of violence, there's something soothing about revisiting that part of himself. (Or maybe that's just the choir bell.)

At any rate, sometime after demolishing a plate of pawprint mochi, dango, and onigiri, he has made his way to the CorruptionPops. It turns out, when a man typically weighed down with entirely too much stress and anxiety gets even a minor reprieve, he talks more. Rambles more, even.]

This is genius, actually. If we had enough of these to go around all year, who'd even worry about Beasthood anymore? Maybe we could just give these out during new curses instead of talking about our fee--

[You know that moment when you've consumed enough of the popsicle that it begins to lose all structural integrity? Qrow, unfortunately, passed that moment a good thirty seconds ago, and the ill-fated hand gesture that accompanies his statement sends a whole chunk of it flying off -- perhaps into the face of the person he was talking to, or the shoes of some hapless passerby.

How unfortunate.]

ii. origami

[He was trying to make a crow. It would've been fun and thematic and he'd planned to make some stupid corny jokes about it that were liable to make Ruby groan.

The best laid plans of mice birds and men. Instead of taking on any charming corvid-esque characteristics, the paper crumpled up in Qrow's hands could most charitably be described as mush. There are multiple similarly tragic mushballs that have met their tragic end, failing to reach their destiny as origami pieces, strewn all around the table where he is sitting. He tries, valiantly, one more time, to flatten out the mess in his hands and try to fold it properly ... but this time it rips nearly clean in half.

Qrow all but bangs his head against the desk.]

This is hopeless.

[yall out here doing literal witchcraft ok]

iii. wishes

[Qrow hesitates with visiting the Guardian Sapling moreso than any of the other parts of the festival. It reminds him of nothing so much as the shrine to the God of Light, and he is entirely too bitter about anything that resembles a god that seeks worship, these days.

...But then he recalls Julia Sodder, the godlike being who only ever wanted to be an ordinary little girl, and he thinks of...Ozpin, who always insisted so desperately, so vehemently that he was nothing so grand or distant as a god. Just a man, and not a very good one. He thinks of the wolf who'd spoke of throwing an egg at his face as play, as a silly challenge, rather than as punishment for perceived transgression.

Qrow does not like gods. He doesn't trust them. But the wolf called Ammako had not seemed like a god, and so it is because of this that eventually he visits the tree, leaving a pawprint mochi as an offering as he hangs a single red strip of paper, bearing the following brief wish:]

keep them safe, if they're down there

iii

[entreats]

[ It's a total coincidence that Qrow happens to be right there at the tree as Ange is approaching it, really. She was originally here for her date with Ruby, but it's likely that the other girl got momentarily distracted by chatting to someone else she knows - and Ange is definitely not sociable enough to be able to not just be an awkward third wheel in that situation.

So she's looked around the festival to find something to do in the meantime. It's why she's got a piece of paper clutched in her hands as well, but she's not hanging it up just yet. Instead she decides to speak up to Qrow first when she finds the man standing there next to the tree at the exact same moment she approaches it. ]

.. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?

[ Ange's voice is a little more gentle rather than just her usual deadpan, because she genuinely doesn't want to accidentally startle Qrow. For all she knows, the man was so caught up in the thought of whatever wish he put up there that he wasn't paying attention to who was approaching him.

And maybe her tone suits her look too, considering she's made sure to wear a fitting outfit for the festival, and her hair has been done up all cutely too. ]

For Allen Walker;

[manyone]

[ Beatrice isn't quite sure why she goes to this little festival. She's been brought here by that girl, Sansa and it's a nice enough place to stay--that there happened to be this whole familiar celebration while she's here is only a happenstance.

Perhaps it would be rude not to participate. She's standing before the tree with a slip of yellow paper in her hand, looking down at what she's written. It feels embarrassing, to simply wish like this, like she were a human still.

As if she was ever human.

Yet wishes have power. Love has power. Belief has power.

And maybe this place will give her some of that.

She reaches out to hang the paper, reading Please understand me on one of the branches. It's a quiet moment.

The perfect sort of moment to get snuck up on, really. ]

[likethelight]

[ Even if Allen might not be sleeping here beyond naps after his night shifts and patrols, despite technically having a room, he did notice that Sansa had brought Beatrice by and helped get her situated. Their paths haven't crossed much between how busy he keeps himself, and he's been curious to see how she interacts with others. Hard to get a read on her, and she did give him as much reason to be cautious as she did to make him suspect a damaged human heart. Someone who deserves a chance and kindness as much as anyone.

So she catches his attention from the corner of his eye when she's standing there by the guardian tree, clearly hesitant, because that strikes him as just a little odd. Wasn't she the one who had been so adamant on the real strength of wishes, after all? So it can't be because she thinks that's a silly or trivial thing. Which means... ]

Do you think it will come true?

[ He says it quietly as he comes up behind her, tipping his head to the side as he peers at her a bit curiously. Could he have caught a glimpse of what she had written down? Sure, but he won't. That's awfully insensitive and invasive.

His hair is longish and tied back in a fluffy sort of ponytail, a bit messier from the heat, and there's a grapefruit-sized, golden orb-like creature with wings that hovers just over his shoulder who is peering at Beatrice with equal quiet curiosity, despite seeming to lack a face or eyes. (An omen? Yes.) If she's able to notice such things... in person the oddly bright scar on his face, specifically the star-like inverted pentagram feels like a curse or cursed energy. But there is also a very faint holy presence that comes from his left hand, though hidden by his glove. Though that entire arm, what's visible, is scarlet red unlike the rest of him.

Also, gloves? With a yukata? Yep. ]

Allen Walker | semi-open??

[likethelight]

[ Plotting comment is here with everything he's doing! Both for Tanabata festivities, and other Sanctuary-related things for the month. I'm doing mostly closed starters for people so please hit me up if you want to plan something.

You can always go ahead and wildcard me something too, but please understand I will probably be quite slow with my rp load! Contact me at SleightsOfHand or SleightsOfHand#7916 on Discord. ]

for Shouto

[likethelight]

[ It's the final night, and most people have filtered into the cloisters and courtyard to make their final wishes before they're collected burned, and Viktor's fireworks. Some people are still mingling through the main hall where various vendors and food stalls are still set up, and overhead the orbs of hope twinkle like hundreds of points of soft starlight.

Allen is sitting high up looking down on all of that, up in the triforium with his legs swung over the side and Timcanpy sitting next to him. Quite the content pair -- with a pile of empty somen cups, mochi plates, and dango skewers next to them. He leans forward for a moment (gosh that would look dangerous to a passerby) when he spots Shouto down below, and waves to him. Or -- he tries to. He'd have to actually be actively looking up to the second level to spot Allen, which he realizes after a moment when a frown... So instead Shouto will get a text message from seemingly out of the blue.

Look up.

There's Allen, in one of the yukatas they made in Amaterasu's theme of white and red with his hair tied back in a messy, fluffy sort of ponytail that's seen better days, smiling brightly down and waving to him. Which he switches to waving him up as soon as he knows he has his attention.

Come on, join him. ]

ii. july at the sanctuary

[dohaeris]

i. batcats [open, all month]

[sansa can often be found teaching small groups of children (and sad adults) how to feed and hold batcats, while her white raven omen stands by with knight the blood hound. she has one of the kittens right now, clamped around her left wrist. it rather matches her cotton charcoal dress and wide leather belt.]

See? It doesn't hurt. They have a sort of numbing medicine in their mouths, so you don't even feel it when they bite. And they only need a little blood.

[the batkitten releases his fangs and yawns, licking up a few stray drops of blood before resting his head against the top of her hand, purring.]

This one has finished his dinner, I think. Would anyone like to hold him?

ii. walk of shame [puzzle pals, july 6th]

[the day after the storm, sansa resolutely brings her blood hound to the sanctuary, trailing a few stray gulls and ravens. she has a tooled leather eyepatch and a stony expression. lady doesn't stray from her side.

those who can sense things like souls or life force might notice that a chunk of hers is missing. sansa is rather hoping someone here might know what to do about it.]

iii. return to form [open, july 13th]

[by july 12, sansa was trails an almost untenable amount of birds, too many to keep inside the sanctuary for any length of time. she does what she can in the godswood (courtyard), her omen ushering anyone in need of tailoring or a blood hound outside to her. her stitches never waver, but a simple mending spell leaves her winded.

on july 13, she comes in bright-eyed and without any birds in her wake. the eyepatch is gone, and her cap-sleeve dress is a serene grey blue with silver wolves and muted greenery down the bodice.

she can be found tailoring clothes indoors, for once. at the moment she is helping a girl of about 12 or so with a simple summer dress.]

Very good. If you might lift your arm?

[the girl does, and sansa expertly folds and pins a dart into place. she beams and sits back on her heels.]

I think we're done! I'm afraid you'll have to take it off before I can sew it all into place, though, if you wouldn't mind putting your old things back on for the moment.

[the girl nods and darts off to a changing area. sansa smiles softly after her, and then beams up at the nearest sleeper approaching, as if it were any other month.]

iv. lonely wolf [close cr, july 16]

[this time sansa leaves her blood hound with her omen and heads straight for the godswood (courtyard) with lady. her eyes are still faintly red from crying, and her black cotton dress is held together in front with a pin in the shape of a fish. they both curl around the sanctuary tree, lady's head in sansa's lap.]

I'm sorry, Lady Ammako, but I don't know that I can keep on doing this without you.

[she rests her head gently against the tree.]

You might have waited just one more month.

[she doesn't know that august will be any better, since apparently moons last for two months (which doesn't make any sense to sansa), but perhaps lady amaterasu could have stopped the emperor, if she were in the city. and of course it would be a great comfort to have her here, now.]

v. bloodstones [open, july 18th onwards]

[when things have finally calmed down enough, sansa brings in a bag of rings of various sizes–vile bloodstone, powerful enough, with a thin coating of inert pale bloodstone on the outside. she is eager to hand them out to any palebloods around.]

The vile bloodstone should help with monthly curses Palebloods seem to get–at least, as much as Vileblood ever does. They're meant to be worn under gloves, but I coated them with pale bloodstone, to be safe. There isn't any power in it, so it shouldn't give anyone strange visions if they happen to touch it.

[she smiles.]

I can take them to my jewelry teacher, though, if you'd rather have stainless steel. I don't think it will corrode, but I don't know metal as well as I know bloodstone.

[she has rather more elaborate pale bloodstone jewelry for vilebloods, which she will eagerly press on any she runs into.]

july 7

[megatheorem]

[On July 5, Palamedes skulks into the Sanctuary with Viktor and doesn't emerge from Viktor's study for days. Why bother, when he's indelibly not in the mood and Viktor is preoccupied with fussing over his wellbeing for most of that time?

So it's late afternoon of the 7th when he emerges, shuffling around the corridors in a tshirt and flannel pants and a pair of overworn slippers-- pajamas, undeniably, but he's not going to get dressed to schlep plates back to the kitchen. That's his current task: bringing plates and silverware back to the kitchens, cleverly avoiding Abigail's different, more wrathful fussing but without any heart in it.

He's standing just outside the kitchens considering an apple with that same listlessness when he glances up-- ah, and nods to her, as she goes down the corridor. Hi.]

[CLOSED TO SHIGARAKI]

[floatsaway]

This month has been hard on Ochako - extremely so. She's kept swinging back and forth in terms of being Good and Evil and totally fine and corrupted to hell. For time being, or perhaps because it's nearing the end of this godawful month, she seems normal again, albeit somewhat tired and looking a little paler than usual. The festivities certainly help, and thankfully she even had a kimono to wear for it, too!! One brought from Nippon, hilariously enough. There's a smile on her face, but the shadows of the hardships of the month linger in the corners of her smile, and behind slightly misty eyes.

She mingles, of course - ever the social butterfly that she is - but after some time even she has to take a break and be by herself. The soothing, almost healing air of the festival does wonders for her body, but her mind is a constant whirl. It's not something cured easily, though she enjoys a mug of the cleaning tea made from the Guardian Sapling's flowers and leaves, sighing softly to herself as she sits calmly. one pinky on each finger is raised on instinct, a reflex mostly...though she bites her lower lip and curl it to touch the mug after a second of thought. There's no familiar pink glower from her finger pads, and even when she holds the mug in her palm, it remains there.

She exhales again, closing her eyes and taking another, much longer gulp of her tea. Perhaps she should meditate later? That might, hopefully, help ease her mind a little bit.

Wow I can't believe you admitted to affiliating with a chapstickneedinass guy like Shigaraki

[comecatchthesehands]

As for most of the things he attended, Shigaraki goes in what he mostly came in. Yes, he at least cleans his clothes, but he doesn't have much of them being able to move as much as he wants and not be caught up in one place. His jacket that he most certainly would kill a man for doing anything but admire, pants too short for him, red shoes and his shirt. It wasn't his ideal clothing but it's better than nothing and he's grateful in that respect.

This place is the easiest to meet her, or rather, drop in on her considering the public venue even where most things are considered more private. There's still people around that could make her feel safer. It's easier to track his own quirk than hers and the ease at which he finds her is unmistakably because of that. Without much to do about anything, Shigaraki settles in next to her in her thoughts. As if he was supposed to be here and isn't just appearing out of nowhere multiple times. One to try to stop her from making the mistakes he can't stop her from making and another just then.

"How does it feel to be able to do that?" he asks, honestly, sincerely.