Tana-baa-ta

[survivaltricks]

WHO: everyone!
WHERE: the pasture
WHEN: day 22, all day

[the morning of day 22 begins with a light drizzle, as has been typical for the past few days. but despite the damp weather, a playlist of music also echoes across the pasture, luring you towards the center!]

[there, you will find that someone has planted a large bamboo tree, which is surrounded by wooden tables that are covered with colorful slips of paper and pens. a colorful sign, decorated with random doodles of stars, clouds, suns, and other fun shapes, contains a set of instructions:]

WELCOME TO TANABATA!

WRITE A WISH ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND TIE IT TO THE BAMBOO TREE.

HAVE FUN!

[the music and the bamboo wishing tree are a great start to the festival, but other people have been hard at work to make this a day to remember, right?]

[it's time to celebrate Tana-baa-ta!]

((FEEL FREE TO MAKE YOUR OWN TOP LEVELS IN THIS POST AS WELL! I made a few to get things going, but you should all run wild and free and thread to your heart's content ♥))

Comments

[wants_the_phd]

[?]

No...

[catposting]

It's the reason we're holding this festival in the first place.

I'd show you a picture, but our teammate still has my lighthou— ... storage device. The real thing's in a cave not far from here.

[wants_the_phd]

What does it depict?

[catposting]

Murals of all six flocks, plus a sheep and sheep-lookalike kissing under some stars, with descriptions beside each. Only shepherds can read the text.

Rose's was... let's see.

"A house receiving the rare blessing of the beast, Rose has always had a stubborn streak, but simply wish to spread their convictions to others."

And the text beside the couple was...

"Every summer the flocks come together to celebrate their unyielding sense of community and love.
As inspired by the star crossed lovers who shine, fated to only meet once, in the stars above.
Perform this rite with passion and fervor, and may you all be blessed.
That last part did not rhyme. Wait no don't carve that--"

[ yes he knows that by heart shut up ]

[wants_the_phd]

[haha nerd]

I guess it's as good a reason for a party as any...

1/3

[catposting]

. . .

[ his body burned the catnip off while he was distracted god DAMN IT ]

2/3

[catposting]

[ huffs!! to her it definitely just looks like the catnip abruptly and mysteriously wore off lmao ]

[catposting]

[ uuuuugh it's fine he's clearly not huffing at her ]

Did you have anything like this back home?

[wants_the_phd]

[Thinking about it]

Mmm... We have celebrations observing historical events like major war victories or the anniversary of the Emperor coming into power and stuff. But I think the most similar comparison to an event at a small scale like this might be an office party after hitting a major milestone, or winning a particularly large grant. Something like that.

[catposting]

We had similar things. It's my first time being directly involved, though.

[wants_the_phd]

Really? Your very first time?

[catposting]

Yeah. I had...




... scheduling issues, back home.

[wants_the_phd]

They kept you busy, huh?

[catposting]

Yep.

[wants_the_phd]

What was your life like before you came here?

[catposting]

I was a pet cat for most of it.

[ half of it? some of it? all of it? depends who you ask. ]

[wants_the_phd]

[She was expecting a lie and this sounds like one for sure]

What about the rest of it?

[catposting]

[ uh. ]

Does 'tower climbing' mean anything to you?

[wants_the_phd]

Nope.

[catposting]

[ unlucky. ]

My world's a giant tower. Each floor's the size of a 'continent', if you know what those are. If you pass all the floor tests up to a certain level, you earn a certain status that gives you access to better jobs and housing. That kind of thing.

That's what I did before I became a pet.

[ there's a fondness in the way he talks about this. the good old days, so to speak. ]

[wants_the_phd]

Wow. "Climbing the social ladder" in a very literal sense, huh?

Does everyone start at the bottom? Or did you start in the middle?

[catposting]

[ he has to actively try not to laugh here ]

Everyone starts at the bottom. As far as I know, anyway.

[wants_the_phd]

Hm.

So what was it like, being a pet?

[catposting]

[ shrug ]

It was relaxing enough. All I had to do was play around in a cat tower for some rich guy. I had to fight battles sometimes, but nowhere near as often as I did while climbing the tower.

[wants_the_phd]

So which did you prefer?