Tanabata in Kabuki Street - July 9th!

[BardGallant]

This being the bard's third year attending the Tanabata festival, Minister of Culture Sheridan "Dris" Driscol was better prepared. He had spent weeks ahead of the festival browsing through all the shops in search of the perfect haori to wear for 2022. Dris arrived early and in the company of his life partner, Minister of Technology, Rhys Germain. Together they watched the parade, leaning shoulder to shoulder with a smile while holding hands. They hardly let go of each other the entire day, reserving one free hand for drinks, handshakes, high fives, and snacks. The bard tried his hand at least once at smashing a watermelon, and had to resist taking home the goldfish he had scooped free of the school. Other duties called him away from Kabuki Street and to Twilight Isle, but with promises of a quick challenge he and Rhys were certain to make it back to the festival in time for the fireworks.

[Yuko Kubo]

Though she usually chose a yukata from her own antique shop, this year Yuko was in the mood for something modern and new. The KSCS principal found some time away from her duties in the office to take a late night shopping trip to JUSCO. Though she never said as much, JUSCO was selected specifically so she could get a chicken wrap before picking out Tanabata attire.

[Yuina Hirano]

This year it was Yuina's turn to film the segment on the Tanabata festival for the Hanami Harmony Variety show, which featured Yuina helping her cousin Hana at the shrine. The filming wrapped up in time for her to go change into the yukata she had bought and meet up with Haku Kubo to enjoy some games and food and fireworks. Yuina remembered being sentimental about the stars at the end of last year's festival, and her choice of yukata pattern reflected the theme.

[Haku Kubo]

Haku could be spotted here and there in the background during Yuina's variety segment recording. She also found herself signing a Princess Mariah posters (From Grand Fantasy III Online, Mobile, and now TCG) for a friend of the Zama Shrines new miko. Perhaps she was easily spotted since she was wearing the summer 6-star outfit from the mobile game because she thought it would be a waste to only wear it once for a promotion.

[Patrick]

For part of the day Patrick could be found in the company of his temple dog, Red, and his niece, Midori, giving her mothers some time to enjoy the festival without a young toddler in tow. Inspired, perhaps, by the beautiful fish theme he had going on this year, Midori insisted they visit every stall and tent advertising kingyo-sukui with adorable shrieks of sakana! until he relented.




Together they worked up a mighty appetite burning through Uncle Patrick's money buying dozens of paper scoopers, and when Midori was unable to win herself a fishy friend (because Patrick sure as hell wasn't going to send her home with a live animal--he knew better!), they tried their hand at yo-yo tsuri instead. Twenty minutes later, there was one happy baby double fisting a pair of colorful yo-yo balloons, riding on her uncle's shoulders all the way to the Zama Shrine where they ate a hearty meal of taiyaki and takoyaki and shared their watermelon dessert with the bunnies.

Later, after returning his niece, Patrick met up with the Beautiful One. Though they were waylaid every so often by children who recognized him, all begging the pilot to play a game for them because he rarely lost and always gave away the prizes, the two spent the majority of their time browsing stalls together, eating delicious food and chatting with friends before the big fireworks show.

[Delahada]

Over the past several weeks, Salvador had been privy to numerous conversations filled with excitement about the upcoming Tanabata festival. He had listened with a fond but faint little smile to his friends eagerly discuss plans for their attendance. Among them was Yuzuki Ito, who had informed he and the gatito about plans to decorate her Dojo. They had made certain to stop in to see for themselves earlier in the week, knowing the Dojo would be closed the day of the festival.

Salvador was better prepared this year than those before. With the gatito's assistance well ahead of time, he had picked out a haori better suited to his personal style, and wore it to the festival over a plain white tee with dark jeans. He and the gatito were seen strolling through the busy streets together in the company of their good friend Rekah Illyriana. The Spaniard kept them on either side of himself to use as a buffer as they navigated through the sea of bodies, making it easier for the introvert that he was to enjoy himself.

It also helped that they encountered a great many familiar, friendly faces. Having spent quite a bit of time in Kabuki Street over the years helping delinquents and gate guardians with troubles on occasion, he knew many by name and was certain to flag a V for victory if not a general lift of a hand hello to those he did. He stopped to chat, or at least listen while his companion chatted, with those they called friends. Salvador stood back, snacking on many of the food options, especially anything remotely vegetarian, and watched as the gatito and Rekah indulged themselves in the games, always with a smile.

As the night wore on, Salvador and his companions melded into the crowd and disappeared. They found themselves a nice, quiet spot on a roof removed from the majority of strangers. Perhaps they had even assembled with friends. After watching the fireworks, with Salvador leaning his head close to the gatito to listen to him describe them, the trio took their leave of the festival, taking joy and fond memories with them wherever they next roamed.

[Strawberry]

The Lady Governor was there to celebrate too!

[Mallory]

Her own was not the only yukata Mallory had picked out:



Midori had one, too!

[Death Knell]

While Ettyn had a little more practice wearing a yukata this go round, she still sought out Cherry’s help getting ready. This year she picked a yukata with her symbol, the thistle:

[Tell a Lie]

Tella had not donned a yukata for the festival, but selected a vintage dress instead: something from the Tokyo fashion scebe from around the time of You Only Live Twice.

[Morgan LaLuna]

Morgan was explicitly grounded by Mallory from attending Tanabata for his recent fight on the beach, so of course he broke the rules and used the technicality of celebrating Chilseok, instead. Someone pray for Mallory Maeda. Or to her. Her adopted son is an absolute shit and troublemaker.

When Morgan wasn't avoiding Mal's gaze and pouting about not being able to sneak away with Midori to win an inordinate amount of goldfish to set free in a pond, he might have been seen... eating. He tried food at every vendor's stall, of course, and by the end was happily full and curled up with a handful of treats to watch the fireworks before sneaking his way home once more.

[Velen Ilnaren]

Though he was often low-key, Velen had become a regular visitor to Kabuki Street in the years since the Community School had opened. As music was one of his passions, he would often listen to local musicians and learn from them. So it was no surprise that he was present for Tanabata once more this year, in a new yukata for the occasion.

[Rohin MacKurn]

The Collector doesn't have anything thematic to wear, but they skirt the fringes of the festival, greeting friends and sampling food. Music, of course, draws them like a moth to the flame and glimpses of fire hair and blue ink might be caught in the crowd.

[Eregor]

Since he had a challenge for the Tower of Air in the evening, Eregor wore a yukata with a cloud motif, and a white sash at the waist (not pictured).

[Desdenova VonTombs]

Lil' Desdenova arrived as he always did during the festival: via a repaired television in one of the shops, oozing out of the screen giggling and being happily horrifying. But once he was on his feet, he quickly chased down Amaris and Maggie, and Lambence, if she was around, to get them to go play the games, particularly the smashing watermelons, and find all of the food.

Also probably talk them into wholesome and completely legal pranks and larks.