sheep_game | Tana-baa-ta

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 ♥))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

..You're killing me here. Really? Nothing jumped to mind? Not even a reflexive, "he's not expecting me to say seven, is he?"

Of course not! Who randomly thinks of numbers?!

All kinds of people. That's half of how most forms of betting work! Ask any Clover.

Okay, okay! I'll pick a number. Does twenty-one work?

Like a charm. ...You didn't pick that one just because I mentioned betting, did you?

_{[ regardless of answer, he fans out his deck, and plucks up the 21st card from the top. he lays it face down in front of Lethe. ]}

This card... shall be your question.

_{[ and 21st from the bottom... he draws a second card, laying it down face-down next to the first. ]}

And this, shall be your answer. Now. Which are you interested in knowing, first?

[--laughs]

The question, of course. The answer doesn't mean much without the question.

I see. So that is the side which you value more.

...
The cards are ready now. They've learned enough of you to be ready to speak.

_{[ he flips the question card. ]}

...The Six of Spades. A card of currents. Of wind, rather than of water, River Lethe-- a release from bonds, a beginning in inertia.
But it is not quite a card of open potential. The Six bears one forward and upwards... but only through a marriage of one's own efforts, combined, with the natural flow of the air.

And that card... is your question.

Do you want to hear what the answer is?

Edited (my brain leaked out my ears 3 time trying to get the words right) 2023-07-31 05:07 (UTC)

I don't think I understood what the question was, but sure. Let's hear the answer.

_{You make a tough crowd, Lilybud...}

...First, a question for you, from me. Could I venture that you are someone... drawn most firmly, to those things in life you know you can directly grasp...? Does lofty concept, then, tend to mean less, than grappling with what is 'real,' in the present moment?

Edited 2023-07-31 15:30 (UTC)

Yeah, you could say that. I'm not, uh, especially philosophical, I guess. I've got bills to pay. I have to plan for my retirement. There are more concrete things to think about.

_{[ he flips the other card. The Five of Clubs. ]}

...then, your answer card... certainly does fit you. Five of Clubs. "Solid ground." Support, and... especially, strength, in camaraderie. Five's when a number becomes a network. It's a card that wants to tell you...

The path ahead, towards what you desire is long, and uncertain. But...
You're not alone.

[honestly, it's a cheesy, generic sentiment that shouldn't hit too hard. but it's not untrue, here or back home. he's only ever been able to pull himself along through the help of others.]

That was pretty good. You're not half bad at this.

_{[ titter, titter. ]}
The effect was often quite magnified, when I would pull little indiscretions and secrets in, as nudges for the boat. The free version is, perhaps, the more pleasant experience.

Edited 2023-08-04 05:11 (UTC)

The paid version sounds worse than I'd like. At least for something that's supposed to be entertainment. Who likes their secrets getting thrown around?

Who, indeed?

You don't go from outsider to top dog in town on good looks and a sparkling personality alone, I'll tell you that. ...ahh, but I actually rather enjoy being retired from all that, now.

Really? I would've thought you'd enjoy the theatrics of it.

...

The honest truth, River Lethe? While it's here and on my mind?

[leans in, listening]

Yeah?

It didn't make me happy, living like that.

It just... served to validate all the worst conclusions I'd ever made, about people and their inner workings. In time... I started to see every shine... as mere fool's gold.

[something flickers in his eyes, a little like empathy]

It sounds like you've changed your mind on that, though, haven't you? What made you think that wasn't the case?

I suppose you could say I one day, quite suddenly found... common ground, to others, that I never thought I had before.

Edited 2023-08-06 04:00 (UTC)

There's always more common ground than you think. ...I'm glad that you found it. Looking at the world and seeing fool's gold doesn't sound like much fun.

It's... thrilling, you could call it. You don't get bored, because you never stop seeing motives, in anybody.

...
I'm ruined for it, now. Been exposed to too many earnest people with sunshine and flower petals for brains.

_{[ it's a good thing he'd found that "common ground."

he'd been an infinitely dangerous person, before he accepted death was bound for him as much as he beckoned it for others.]}

Edited 2023-08-06 04:43 (UTC)

Isn't "sunshine and flower petals" a bit harsh? There's nothing wrong with earnestness.

What's yours, then, Mr. Practical? Bread and honey?

Re: PLAYING CARD TAROT

mykidisthebest - 2023-08-07 00:39 (UTC) - Expand

finalbows - 2023-08-07 01:04 (UTC) - Expand

mykidisthebest - 2023-08-08 17:16 (UTC) - Expand

finalbows - 2023-08-08 17:27 (UTC) - Expand