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deercountry2022-07-13 07:21 am
likethelight) wrote in deercountry2022-07-13 07:21 am
TANABATA ⟶ July Sanctuary Log
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.Food and Activities
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.
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.
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.
➢ 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. :)
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how dare. making him quantify the things he subconsciously does. can the ground just swallow him up already before his face bursts on fire. ]
...teeth?
[ He shifts a bit sulkily. It takes so much willpower not to squirm or look crestfallen at his own weak answer, you have no idea. ]
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Allen... you can be so very confusing at times. ]
Is that... good or bad?
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Except don't, he already has the debt of a small country. ]
That... depends, doesn't it? [ Hesitating, noticeably so. He sits up a little straighter and turns so he can look at Shouto a bit more directly, realizing that something important might have inadvertently come up. Skittish still, nervous energy in how he moves and fidgets lightly with the edge of his sleeve.
If it's good or bad is why he asked you, but... ]
...I didn't mean it in a bad way.
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When a stray cat didn't want him near them, they usually warned him off by scratching him, and dogs... they didn't scratch, they bit. It's no wonder why he's questioning him, he's wondering if he might have inadvertently set off some kind of flight or fight instinct.
... He didn't mean too. ]
Did you mean it in a good way?
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Flushing a darker red, he covers Shouto's wrist with his hand again and momentarily hides his face against his palm again, nuzzling it lightly as if both trying to find some comfort for his nerves there and delaying an answer. As if he's even thought about this before!!
Soft grey eyes flicker over to Shouto's, sulky but quiet. When he answers, he doesn't pull back. Speaking softly against his palm. ]
I meant it the same as kiss. [ Abashed. It's an abashed, half-hidden look, but he doesn't bat an eye either. Maybe he's blushing but he'll face this head on damnit.
He does huff lightly though, closing his eyes and nosing at his palm lightly. ]
Around you, it's easy not to second guess that kind of thing.
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While his temperature swings in the opposite direction, he meets Allen's gaze wanting to know the answer, but once it's out there he's not sure what to make of it, except - Is that what a kiss is where he comes from? He's been in Trench long enough to expect the unexpected when it comes to how people do things, but this... he's not sure what to make of it but takes it surprisingly well. ]
I see.
[ He nods lightly at the explanation, and to further confirm that he's okay with it, he dips his head down to gently snag the closest cuff between his teeth, nipping lightly at the earlobe before straightening back up. ]
It's a kiss.
[ He understsands. ]
no subject
Ah— [ Half squeak, half soft gasp, it's a bit of a miracle he doesn't jump sky high at that. Instead, his hands come up and snag on the back of Shouto's yukata, clutching at him. Clutching him to him, startled and yet...
He sucks in a breath, yet is entirely breathless. ]
In... a sense. [ He stares a bit though, a little dazed. The tingling aftereffect has him shiver for a moment again (goosebumps), which he shakes off lightly. His ear-- the earring so nonchalantly... Well, maybe he had it coming.
His gaze flickers between Shouto's eyes, left and then right. Searching with a nervous sort of energy and his fingers still curled tightly into the fabric. ]
Is that... okay then?
no subject
Was it his hand I was supposed to bite? Did he misread what he said?
He tries to pull back, give him space, but Allen stares at him in a half-daze and doesn't let go. His brows pinch in, lips part slightly as if he wants to say something, but words escape him, say for: ]
Did I do it wrong?
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Allen stares at him for a moment, not quite comprehending, until the slight worry in his brow hits him and his expression gentles slightly. Oh. He was trying to, and he thought-- ...oh.
Shouto... ]
No... [ He fingers loosen slightly, no longer clutching at the fabric but curling more naturally into it to hold him more gently in place. Wondering too why he had become cool instead of warm a moment ago, but he puts it aside for now and leans in. Hesitating for only a moment, before pressing his lips to where the cuff used to be on his ear. No teeth, just a small and reassuring kiss to the shell of his ear there.
His fingers curl a bit more into his yukata, a small and silent tug to come closer, and lingers to speak gently by his ear. ]
You did it right.
[ Hesitant only for a moment to smother his own nerves, he dips to catch his earlobe gently and draw it between his lips. Careful of his piercings and with the slight click of his teeth against them in a soft graze. Not a nip, but mouthing it very lightly once-- and then a second time before releasing him with a small puff of warm breath. ]
no subject
You did it right. Followed by a sucker punch.
He sucks in a breath, startled by the graze of teeth. He twists his head around, grey and teal dilated by an order of magnitude loosening that buried doubt. With his ear abuzz, thoughts racing, Shouto finds himself entirely out of step as the pendulum swings left. His ear grows hot, lips still slightly parted for an entirely different reason. ]
....
[ Rosy-hued and growing warm, he glances shyly at Allen through lidded eyes; his new object of focus. His lips press chastely together before nodding once slowly.
So did you. ]
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But in the moment where he gasps and twists his head around so quickly, it's not entirely surprising how Shouto misinterpreted Allen's response, because his insides twist in a moment of doubt too. Did I overstep? But the way he looks at him—
Ah. ] ...
[ Smiling, softly and with a relaxed sort of fondness, he meets Shouto's gaze before also looking away a touch shyly when he nods and letting him go. Warmed too, and suddenly not quite sure to do in a bout of a different kind of nerves. So he smothers them. Smile flickering and curling a bit deeper, thoughtfully, for a moment before he shifts. Tucking himself back in at Shouto's side again with their sides pressed together, and this time lets his head rest comfortably on his shoulder.
Companionable. ]
no subject