A Faraway Place - NPC Account (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ulternnpc) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
farawayplace2023-07-07 02:48 pm
ulternnpc) wrote in farawayplace2023-07-07 02:48 pm
Entry tags:
[MINI EVENT] ☆T A N A B A T A☆
Those from the four regions of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh will be very familiar with the sight of bamboo stalks that are left outside decorated with colorful and sparkly paper decorations. There are people gathering around, helping one another put up paper amulet of varying colors to tie around the bamboo branches. On each amulet is a single wish that’s been handwritten by someone.
One can only hope that their wish will be heard…
At night, there’s a surprise to be found: an alternate colored Jirachi is out dressed in what’s clearly a handmade costume. Around its neck, is a colorful paper chain made of sparkly origami paper.
Not only has Jirachi come to grant wishes, Miniors are out and about bright and colorful. They’ll be dancing around seemingly trying to invite people to come join them in the festivities.
((OOC: Happy Tanabata! In the morning is a general mingle post. But as the evening sets in and Jirachi appears, it will start granting the wish written on your amulet whether big or small -- wealth, a long life, or maybe a way to return home. You're free to catch Miniors too, and there's a slightly better chance of encountering a shiny one as well. Just be careful of the ones still in their shell or you might just get a rather explosive surprise...
This event can take place at any town, so feel free to specify a location!))
no subject
[Manzana can be seen outside decorating a bamboo stalk with paper chains and also flowers. He seems to be in a good mood as he's humming to himself. While being on decoration duty he'll be stopping anyone who's passing by to come closer.
In his hand he'll be holding a paper amulet and a pen while holding it out.]
Ulsai! Would you care to put up your wish on the bamboo?
Night
[While others may be around enjoying the festivities with the Miniors and Jirachi, Manzana takes the moment to step away. He'll be seen with a single paper amulet in hand as he writes down his own wish.]
...I wish for my friends and family here to be happy, and that any future sorrows be short and fleeting.
[There's a small, sad smile on his face as he sighed.]
I have to make sure no one sees me hang this...
Night
He quietly listened, not meaning to intrude, but he was curious.
He stepped forward and lightly tapped his shoulder.]
Manzana! [With a warm and glad voice, a big grin on his face, even if it didn't quite reach his eyes...
He'll hold his arm out, in case Manzana would like a hug, adding more quietly:] Sorry, was it supposed to be secret?
no subject
He'll move closer to put one arm around Attila to reciprocate the offered hug. It's then followed with a sheepish look on his face.]
Oh... I wasn't sure if my wish would come true if anyone saw it. You know, like when you wish on a star...? I know that sounds silly...
no subject
Then, of course, he'd have to let him go.]
... it isn't silly. But you know, while they're hanging there, folks are gonna read 'em. It's kind of fun, I don't think it'll hurt their chances of coming true any...
But I won't look at it if you don't want me to.
[Buson turned away, not that it mattered, he'd heard Manzana earlier... it's just to out Manzana at ease.]
How've you been? Chura's real nice, got a nice job too, lets me travel a lot between islands. Missed what Ohritori's got to offer, though!
no subject
You do have a point...I don't mind if you see it. It's something I don't mind telling to those I care about, as much as I can.
[He then smiled to Buson upon hearing the news, oblivious the other had even left Ultern at some point.]
I'm so glad to hear that. I didn't doubt that you would have a good time in Chura... oh. That's right, I got to meet your friend earlier.
no subject
Then, whenever you're ready! [Buson acted curious and enthusiastic, as if he hadn't already heard it.
But Manzana's words next made him blink.] My friend...? Which one—oh, do you mean... the one I'm living with? [Bashou didn't mind his name said, he'd learned, but Buson still felt a bit apprehensive in Ohritori, at least in public, given he had committed a crime here and didn't want Bashou mixed up in anything. No one's recognized him yet, but...
Right, partner, accomplice, all of those sound suspicious, ~the one I'm living with~ sounds like he's cohabiting with him (literally, yes, but)—]
Uh, Fox. Fox's good. On account'a his looks.
[He suggested "Kitsune" to Ken as an alternative to calling Bashou by name. He could've suggested "Hun," but he was already known as "Attila," so that would've been a bit too obvious to trace, right? Bashou and Hun are out,
Botamochi would likely not be appreciated nor tolerated,so... Fox.]no subject
...oh, ah of course you probably can't read this can you? I just simply wanted my friends and family here to be happy.
[He'll glance over to Buson. There's a faint smile on his face, not wanting to say anything more about Bashou out loud. He knew they didn't want to talk about it out loud in the open, after all.]
I'm glad that he's doing good, as are you--oh. Speaking of which have you written a wish yet?
no subject
... yeah, I wrote a wish. S'kinda embarrassing to say it outloud, but, I guess it's... fine. Same as yours.
I want you all to live—happily, without fear or despair.
[Perhaps with a bit more emphasis on the "live" as he looked Manzana in the eye.]
no subject
I think that's a wonderful wish. I thought about wishing for something else but...I'd rather the people I care about live happily. Anything else, I figure we can work something out, together.
no subject
[His gaze looked sad… but he kept his tone as casual as he could.]
Won’t hurt to tell me, right?
no subject
[He seemed thoughtful for a moment.]
It might be obvious, but I was going to wish that I never leave Ultern. I want to live here for the rest of my life.
[I'm sorry he's like this, but at least he isn't grabbing him by the shirt or anything yet???]
... I'd promise to write it next year, if I'm still here, but—if I only got one wish, I feel like I'd still be tryin' to balance what I want for Bashou an' everyone else... why won't you write it? You know your staying here, where you're safe and sound, is an important part'a our happiness too, right? Don't you GET how important you are to people?!
[Unfortunately, Buson's stronger emotions all filtered through as anger, so even that grief lead to shouting, over something so uncertain, he seemed to take it seriously or maybe it was just what it represented that upset him more than what wishes Manzana did or didn't write. What Manzana saw as more important.]
To hell with me, think of Anemone at least! Do you think she'd be happier with or without you?!
Manzana just keeps stepping on landmines--
More than anything when I started writing my wish the first thing I thought about wasn't about myself but everyone here, who I've befriended and who has grown to call me their family.
[His expression softened despite Buson lashing out. While he didn't know the other as long as Bashou might, he still recognized that reaction. It was from hurting Buson, wasn't it? Manzana remained close, not wanting to back down.]
Besides...just by wishing to stay it won't necessarily mean it would come true. If my wish does have some power, I want it to count for something. Everyone's sense of happiness is different from others. Maybe their happiness includes me in it too. Not that I would know, in all honesty.
[CW suicidal ideation]
Manzana had hardly finished speaking when Buson grabbed his shoulders with both hands, not violently but with a sort of desperation, as if wishing he could shake sense into him or, if nothing else, cling to him.]
Of course, it includes you! It isn't just about the wishes you wrote on those things... I still remember what you said, about if you did make it back to Kalos alive... why do you act like your life has no meaning? Why would you hurt your family like that? You can make up for the past alive better than you ever could dead...!
[CW suicidal ideation]
My life back in Kalos wouldn't have any meaning. That's why if I do make it back unscathed... no, if I do make it unscathed from that situation somehow I don't know what I'll do. A part of me thinks if I try to die there, maybe...maybe I'll wind back in Ultern again. That's better than the alternative of hurting others again and soiling my hands even further for any shred of happiness.
[He's averting his gaze from Buson.]
...but maybe I won't make such a rash choice because I've gotten to meet Anemone, and even you. If I can change here in Ultern, then I could try and change in Kalos. I won't have to be Manzana of Team Flare...I can just be someone unrelated to those claiming to be my family, or to Team Flare. I can just be Manzana of Ultern even in Kalos. So...that's why... I didn't want to write such a selfish wish. Ultern will always be inside of me, there and...here too.
[He'll look back, and trying his best to smile even if it looked pained.]
Please don't beat yourself up for me. I made my choice back in Kalos, and faced the consequences. I...should still face them, if I do live, somehow.
[CW suicidal ideation]
But, as Manzana went on and Buson realized he was beginning to move on from that terrible plan, the fury born of grief dissipated, in fact, it gave way to joy and relief!
He hugged Manzana again.]
That’s good! That’s great… really happy to hear that!
(no subject)
[good place to wrap up, I think!]
[ Day! I figured they should meet at last! ]
[Bashou stops and holds out his hands, without really thinking about it.
It's tradition, isn't it? Bashou hasn't paid any attention to Tanabata for years, but it makes him feel nostalgic, and he used to love writing his wishes - even if he never really believed that they would come true.
They never did, and he can't possibly write down the things he might wish for these days. Not for other people to read.
Bashou suddenly curls his fingers into his palms and withdraws his hands.]
Actually...I don't know. No, I can't think of what I'd write, and besides...
[He doesn't want to be a downer on a festival day, even if being a downer is what he's good at, so he stops himself mid-sentence, before he can start talking about how there's no point to these things. In an attempt to get out of this awkward situation that he's created, he pretends that he's only just noticed the flower shop.]
Oh, do you work here? Would you happen to be Manzana? I think you might know my friend...
They meet at last!
Even a tiny wish is work making. Of course there'a no pressure to write one either.
[He'll leave it at that as Bashou had changed the subject already. Manzana nodded while placing a hand to his chest.]
I am indeed Manzana. It is nice to meet you. May I ask to whom your friend might be...?
no subject
[Bashou returns the smile, although his is crooked and shaky, like it's a skill he hasn't practised very much. He isn't used to meeting new people, and his heart feels like it's climbing into his throat, even though Manzana seems so nice, and Bashou has only heard good things about him...]
Ah, my friend is...I think you might know him as Attila? He has mentioned you, anyway...
[A lot, and with heartfelt words of both gratitude and concern! But Bashou doesn't want to cause any embarrassment.]
no subject
Ah, so you must be his... [Manzana paused, stopping himself from blurting out the words "partner" out in the open.] His friend from back home, correct? It's nice to meet you.
[ sappy Bashou... very rare... shiny... ]
[It seemed more likely that Bashou wasn't from the same world as the Attila that they both knew, even if any differences were trivial...but that was too much to explain right now, and surely nobody else needed to know.
Bashou's smile softens into something more natural, just for a second, before his expression fades back to a more serious one.]
I'm glad to have met you, finally, because...I wanted to thank you, I suppose. When I arrived here, Bu...Attila told me about how difficult it had been, in the beginning. But you helped him to build some kind of life here. The truth is, he's my only friend. So, I'm grateful to you, too, for how you helped him. Thank you.
no subject
You didn't have to thank me. I simply wanted to help, like how the Ulternians have helped me.
[He wasn't sure how much Attila told Bashou about himself, or whether he should burden anyone else with who he used to be--but in any case more than anything he was glad to finally meet the person Attila had told him about.]
I am glad to meet you. How has Ultern been treating you?
no subject
[Bashou hadn't gone out of his way to seek any help, let alone make friends - he was fortunate that he'd run into Buson on his very first day - but he remembered Evie, and the boy who'd given him a map...]
Ultern is nice. Different. Still not used to the heat, still getting used to working sporadically rather than having a fixed job...but Chura is lovely. Very peaceful.
[Bashou nodded in the general direction of the farms, smiling faintly as he thought of Buson as a farmhand.]
I hope I didn't inconvenience you by dragging Attila away like I did.
no subject
[He tore his gaze away and up to the bamboo stalk. The leaves swayed from the gentle wind that swept by. Manzana too thought back to his first time in Ultern, almost drowning upon entering the region. To being too scared to take a hold of any hands that reached out to him.
He turned his gaze back to Bashou as his gaze softened.]
Please, there's nothing to worry about. Even if you and Attila are over in Chura it doesn't mean we still aren't under the same sky. Besides, nothing is stopping either of you to come and visit any time you wish, and there's definitely nothing stopping me from doing the same. I'm just more than happy to know that the two of you are doing okay in Chura.
...and if either of you need any help at all over there, just don't forget you can reach out to me here.
no subject
[Bashou follows Manzana's gaze to the bamboo stalk. All this time, in the back of his mind, he's been trying to think of a wish...but he still can't decide on one that both feels right, and that he'd be willing to write down. Maybe he's thinking too much about that Mankey's Paw story, where every wish turns into something horrible. But this is Tanabata, and surely he could think of something, even if it's not perfect? It's not real, anyway...]
Hmm...on second thoughts, I think I will write a wish, if you don't mind?