THE TANABATA FESTIVAL

[goldless]

[ It's a breezy summer day on Isle Bermuda. There are gulls crying, a few lazy clouds, and plenty of sunshine with a cooling wind.

Today also happens to be a special event! It's time for Tanabata, and seemingly out of nowhere, a thicket of bamboo has sprung up in the trees near the shoreline. Speaking of the beach, a festival seems to be underway; there are lanterns strung up, fresh food, and plenty of goat-people selling fresh food and games.

The festival goes long into the evening, so don't miss it!

The tradition of Tanabata, as you will notice, is to write a wish on a tag and hang it from a bamboo tree. So make a wish and hope for the best! ♥ And what's this? A mysterious, female voice is drifting along, carried by the wind; ]

The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.

Comments

[pishirogane]

Ah... yes.

[Sorry. Distracted by how the paper is sticking together.]

[not_so_paper_thin]

Alright! Let's get started.

[Yomiko heads over to a tree and tosses the double-sheet at the tree. It hits the tree like a bullet and anchors itself in the bark.]

[pishirogane]

[Naoto raises an eyebrow. How is it doing that?]

[not_so_paper_thin]

[Yomiko keeps adding to the chain and trying to get it around trees to make an outline. She's got a bit of a slow start, hauling her paper and adding to the links.]

[pishirogane]

[This... is this how she's making the map? Never mind that...]

How are they staying together?

[not_so_paper_thin]

Paper listens to what I say. I'm just asking it to hold together.

[pishirogane]

Telekinesis of some kind then.

[And with paper. Curious...]

[not_so_paper_thin]

Ahh, it's something like that. It's nothing all that special though.

... I think I'm gonna run out of paper.

[pishirogane]

It's common then where you're from? Or are you being modest? [Because it's telekinesis with paper. How is that not special?]

Hm... I'd offer some notebook pages, but it wouldn't be enough.

[not_so_paper_thin]

Well I mean, it's not like I can walk through walls or anything.

The notebook might help...

[pishirogane]

Still, paper is convenient. However, here, perhaps not as much.

[Naoto reaches into her pocket and draws out a pocket notebook. Its size might be the main problem.]

[not_so_paper_thin]

Ahh... hrm.

[Yomiko starts reeling her paper in.]

Maybe we can try this again later.

[pishirogane]

Sure.

[Though, can't this be done another way?]

[not_so_paper_thin]

It's the best thing I can think of, anyway.

[pishirogane]

There has to be another way to create this map.

[not_so_paper_thin]

There's obviously no measuring tape long enough and we have no way for an aerial vi-

Wait!

[Yomiko looks up and adjusts her glasses slightly.]

Wait, no, that wouldn't work.

[pishirogane]

Hm?

[Right now, the floor is open to suggestions.]

[not_so_paper_thin]

No, it's ah... I could make a giant paper airplane but we need a tall building for that to work and it's not exactly safe, so I'd rather not do it again.

[pishirogane]

[Ah, a paper plane...]

Yes. I understand why.

[not_so_paper_thin]

It went alright last time, but that was in New York...

[pishirogane]

Ah... yes. There would be plenty of skyscrapers to allow you to gain the air you need.

[not_so_paper_thin]

I still could have thought it through better...

[pishirogane]

It can't be helped if you were in a hurry.