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deercountry2022-07-13 07:21 am
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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. :)
for Shouto
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. ]
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Does he find it odd that he's up there? Yes. Will he say anything about his choice of perch? No. Not at all. Allen can be odd sometimes, and Shouto doesn't question many things. It works for them. He greets his wave with a raised hand of acknowledgment. A more dignified greet, not that that's his reason for doing it, he's just awkward. Speaking of! ]
What are you doing up there?
[ He asks, completely missing his unvoiced invitation. Maybe one day, he won't need things spelled out for him, but that day is not today, unfortunately. Once the message is sent, he looks back up, perfectly content with this mode of communication. Unmoving amid a bustling crowd, he stands out, even more, disturbing the flow of traffic, forcing a few passing festival goers to go around him, not that he notices what an inconvenience he's causing. ]
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He blinks at the text that comes back before laughing for a moment, a touch sheepishly, and moves to actually pull out his omni to respond. This feels endearingly ridiculous to do when they can see each other. ]
Enjoying the festival.
[ Does he need to spell it out? Yeah probably, although the thought makes him smile. His feet kick a bit in the air for a moment as he continues typing. ]
Join me?
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Okay.
[ Like many things about him, he takes the most direct route, executing the feat with an extravagance that's simply a basic use of his quirk. If Allen wanted to remain anonymous, he shouldn't have asked the guy whose art of deceit is hilariously non-existent.
Ice forms beneath his feet, a perfect circle no more than two feet in diameter that shoots up into the skylight before arcing over to his perch. He lands on the ledge of the balcony, a few feet away, and steps down onto the third floor. ]
How long have you been up here?
[ He asks, casually setting his left hand on the jet of ice, turning it to steam. (At least he cleans up after himself.) When the ice disappears, he settles down on the ground next to him with his back pressed against the balcony railing looking up at the living night sky. ]
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...he should have known better. That said he's still a little comically dumbfounded when Shouto does it anyway, staring a bit at him before glancing down and catching the fact the entire hall is now staring up at them. O-oh.
He gives a small, apologetic sort of wave down at the crown before looking back up at Shouto with a sheepish laugh. Haha. Should have known better... ]
Only about half an hour maybe. [ During which time he decimated the snacks he had brought up with him save his last two sticks of mitarashi dango, one of which he takes and offers reflexively to Shouto with a brightened smile. Want one? ]
Everyone really liked the decorations you helped put up. [ He's pointing up as he says it, expression becoming a bit gentler and warm. The stars, or orbs of hope more specifically. ]
It's been nice watching people relax and have fun for a time.
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Were you looking for someone?
[ It's the perfect perch to spot people in the crowd. He's not a people watcher, considering he's usually the one being stared at due to the mass media covering his father's agency and UA's sports festival. He did get over four thousand offers for an internship, after all, with the next highest offer less than four hundred.
He takes the skewer between two fingers, getting used to Allen's love of food. The empty cups are a common sight since the festival started. He never realized it before, but the amount of food he consumes doesn't match his weight at all. Maybe he's like Yaoyorozu. Her quirk requires the constant consumption of food, too. He's never met other Exorcists from Allen's world, so he assumes that's how all their powers work. Maybe he needs three portions instead of one? He thinks to himself as he takes a bite of the dumpling smothered in a sweet soy glaze. It's the kind of sweet he's used to, subtle and not overwhelming. He chews thoughtfully, thoughts on the proper portion size to start giving Allen when he mentions the decorations. ]
Everyone worked hard to set them up in time. [ He looks down at the crowd, noting the kids from the orphanage running around in excitement before following Allen's gaze up to the artificial night sky. ] It was a good idea. Celebrating the absence of a friend like this.
[ Instead of grieving them. He never met Amaterasu, but he knows many whose lives she touched with her guardian saplings, including his. The sapling at the beach was a source of comfort during a trying time for him, and for that alone, he'll always remember her. ]
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Honestly Allen doesn't mind though—or he's used to it by now. Probably both, as he just gives a thoughtful hum at the question, glancing back over at Shouto. ]
Mm, I was kind of hoping I'd spot you. [ Said simply and with an easy sort of smile, like that's just obvious. ]
But I also just like being able to see how happy it makes everyone without necessarily being in the middle of it, you know?
[ He loves talking with and engaging with everyone, strangers and friends alike, he truly does with seemingly boundless good natured cheer sometimes. But... eventually, he needs to break away somewhere quieter too, just him and Tim. That's when he can really relax and let his guard down. It's two different things he enjoys, but the first one does start to wear him down after a while. It's like when he's done street performances; he loves doing it, loves seeing people's smiles, but... it is still very much an act that really takes a lot of focus and thought.
Sometimes, moments like this are better. ]
The festival was Fushiguro's idea. I'd never heard of Tanabata before. [ He smiles, eyes hooding thoughtfully. A little bittersweet. ]
I'm really glad he said something.
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You were?
[ He sounds surprised by that but quickly recovers. Looking down at the crowd, he thinks he understands having seen him interact with people that first month he was in a wheelchair. Interacting with people is part of a hero's job, so his intentions were obvious to him. Helping people in a less direct manner, before they had a falling out. It's something he admires about him. That kind of forward-thinking.
He nods, understanding needing his own space. Having grown up alone, yet placed in the limelight every time he went out was difficult to adjust to. He liked being among people, but he also preferred to be separate from them. Enjoying the easy-going atmosphere without necessarily being a part of it, separate but present. It's how he grew up. ]
It's common where I'm from, maybe Fushiguro comes from a similar world to mine.
[ A turn of his head to stare at him. ] For the festival or Amaterasu?
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Of course. Isn't that natural?
[ Really. Isn't it?
He taps the wooden tip of his own dango skewer against his lips thoughtfully as he stares out over the crowd again (thank god they've gone back to not paying attention to them), contemplative of that question. This was for Amaterasu, yes, to let people have something to celebrate over her instead of grieve, but... ]
Mm... both? It'd be nice to do this every year regardless, I think. It's important that people remember to take the time to have fun from time to time and find things that they're hopeful for.
That way they won't forget her either, too. Having it centered around her trees like this.
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Maybe you can make it a yearly tradition?
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That's what I was thinking.
[ Does he realize he's so easily acknowledging this means committing to both it and that he'll be here for years? Technically, but... also not really. It doesn't click as such yet, just since that's something so... foreign to him. Exorcists don't make plans for years to come. They're just Exorcists. They live to fight and survive.
It's ironic, it's the first time in his life he's ever had such a desire. To the point where he doesn't even realize what that means. But the idea, all of this... it's comfortable. It just feels right.
Seeing a future. ]
Did you make any wishes?
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He shakes his head. ] I couldn't settle on one.
[ He was hoping something would come to him if he left it alone for a while. ]
Did you make any?
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He gets a small, fond sort of smile then. Expression softening for a moment before he shakes his head. Fake starlight from above catching in the loose strands of white hair around his face. ]
I couldn't settle on just one. [ He clasps his hands lightly, looking down at them as he echoes the same back. ]
Every time I tried to come up with something it didn't seem like enough. But in looking around and trying to understand that better...
[ He presses his thumbs together for a moment. Almost like he's conflicted as much as the feeling in his heart is gentle and at peace. ]
All I kept feeling is everything I'm already so grateful for.
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They were enough... the wishes I wanted to write down.
[ His eyes focus on the Dango. The mere act of turning the skewer up and down ninety degrees to keep the glaze from making a mess keeps his mind occupied enough to voice his worries. ]
But there's only one paper. One wish.
[ He turns the screwer vertical, the thought of taking another bite to do away with the problem entirely never even enters his mind. He's not very hungry. ]
I didn't know which I should prioritize. [ A horizontal turn. ] My family or my friends.
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Then... why don't you write one for each? Two wishes.
[ He says it quite simply. As if that's just such an obvious thing. ]
When both are important, it has to be alright to express your wishes for each.
[ "Both" is always the answer, even when the world tries to say only one does. ]
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Wouldn’t that make it a half wish?
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He blinks at that, a touch comically. Just for a moment though, before he smiles so wide and bright, quiet and radiant. Haha... ]
It doesn't feel like only half a feeling to you, does it?
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No. [ His voice is firm, no longer distracted but fully present, mind in tune with itself on this issue. ] It’s not half a feeling.
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Then I think it's okay to write both. [ This isn't his tradition, he isn't one to speak about what may or may not be appropriate traditionally (and had not thought to ask before). But on the matter of is it okay to make people choose one important thing over the other... no. He believes that quite strongly. Besides-- ]
If there's any power in wishes, it comes from people's earnest desires behind them right?
[ He leans over, reaching out to snag Shouto's wrist lightly -- the hand that's holding the dango -- tug it towards his face. So that he might swipe some of the errant hair from his face and, with a practiced sort of nonchalance...
Delicately nip one of the two remaining dumplings right off of Shouto's skewer. ]
So it can't be wrong to write it how your feelings actually are.
[ Absolute nonchalance. ]
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I... can write in the back.
[ One paper. One wish. Normally, there was a front and back side, the front prominently displayed. That was an issue when placed on a wall giving one wish more weight than the other, but if he... ]
And tie it to a branch.
[ He nods to himself, eyes a little distant while he works out the mechanics. Deep in thought, he doesn't notice Allen's interested look or how he reaches for his hand, fingers curling around his wrist - that pulls him from his thoughts - holding his hand steady to steal away one of the dumplings. ]
......
[ Shouto stares, perplexed. Expression shifts to one of curiosity. Blinks once and delicately - looking so very curiously - moves against the hand holding his wrist to offer the rest of the sweet to Allen like he would one of the stray cats he often fed. ]
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Better for both of them he crushed his initial thought though.
Wouldn't it be easier just to take two pieces of paper? Who's to say you can't? He's pretty sure he saw others doing that. But Shouto seems to work out something that works for him and that's all that matters so Allen says nothing, chewing thoughtfully for a moment before he smiles lightly. ]
Mm. That sounds good.
[ His eyes cross slightly for a moment though when Shouto offers him the rest of the dango, unfocusing and then refocusing on it before glancing up at the other boy with a lightly surprised, curious look. Oh.
... hesitating only for a moment, his fingers curl a little tighter before he leans in to take the last dumpling. Teeth set lightly against it and tongue swiping along the line of sauce that's slowly started to drip down before he pops it off in his mouth and sits back to chew, releasing the other boy's wrist in the process.
He tips his head back, looking over at Shouto with a quieter, but thoughtful expression. ]
You know, there was a reason I was hoping to see you here, actually.
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Pleased, he makes plans to get another skewer later, remembering his recently made plans to portion out at least three times his portion size to Allen. ]
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A reason? His thoughts slow, hesitate, and his eyes lose their spark. His brows pinch in slightly as he looks over at Allen with a neutral expression. ]
What reason?
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How dare you call him out like this.But he offers a light smile in response to the question, whimsical and a little hard to read. ]
I said I'd replace your earring, didn't I? [ The paleblood cuff he'd asked to keep after it was still on his ear after being in his nightmares. And he reaches inside one of the sleeves of his yukata to fish around for something. ]
It took me a while to find someone who could replicate it properly, but I finally did.
[ He pulls out a tiny pouch, which he hands over to Shouto. Inside he'll find an earcuff made in the same simple style, made of paleblood as well. ]
There's a slight design on this one. [ His tone is a little sheepish or shy, it's hard to tell, and he scratches at his cheek lightly with index finger as Shouto pulls it out. ] I asked but he said it's dependent on each person's blood. [ The shifting patterns unique to each person's blood when turned to stone.
In this case, Allen's that takes the form of a white starburst.]
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You did?
[ He stares, dumbfounded, having forgotten about the earrings with so many other pressing matters at the time. He watches Allen fumble through his yukata, pulling out a tiny pouch and handing it to him. Shouto takes it after a moment's hesitation turning over to see the small design etched in the center, missing Allen's shy turn when he realizes what he's seeing. ]
... It's the north star.
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