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]

[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?

[catposting]

[ a week ago, he might have lied, but ]

Climbing. No contest.

[wants_the_phd]

[He still can. She expects them, anyway.]

Why's that?

[catposting]

The freedom was nice.

[wants_the_phd]

Was becoming a pet something you chose to do? Or was it something that happened to you?

[catposting]

... I would have died if I hadn't agreed to it. Or worse.

[wants_the_phd]

Yeah, I can imagine how that would take the fun out of things.

What's the story there? If you feel like sharing.

[catposting]

...

It's easier just to show you.

[ starts heading toward the fountain. turns back. ]

We can replay our memories in the fountain as many times as we want. This one isn't as... scary.

[wants_the_phd]

[HEY!!!! WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT ANYONE BEING SCARED!!!!!!!!!]

[She follows him, though.]

[catposting]

[ stops in front of the fountain.

a memory plays. the green guy gives off the presence of being a literal god.

the real Blood Fiend looks pretty casual about the whole thing; he's played the memory back to himself in private enough times to get used to having it shown. ]

[wants_the_phd]

[She watches it quietly, and remains quiet for a few more beats after the memory ends.]





What does "family" mean to you?

[catposting]

[ dryly ]

A collection of individuals that answer to some rich guy's whims, bound together either by blood, marriage or commission.

[wants_the_phd]

[Her expression is carefully controlled, but it's still a moment before she speaks again. And when she does, it's quiet.]


Heh.

I guess no matter how strong you are, there's always someone at the top.

Sometimes it's enough to make you wonder.

[catposting]

... What does it mean to you?

[wants_the_phd]

[calmly, mildly, she shrugs with a placid smile on her face.]

Nothing at all. Our society isn't structured like that.

There's still a hierarchy, though. The higher castes rule the lower castes. The god-king Emperor's every word is law.

[She fingers her collar, trying to keep her hands from betraying the fact that she'd tear her own throat out if that would get it off]

And no matter how hard you work, apparently even someone like you gets sent here to die with a collar around your throat. Trapped in here with people like me.

Sucks to be you.

[catposting]

Heh. Having a 'strong personality' was the only requirement to be here, according to Blossom. Not that I trust her, but... nothing so far has disputed that claim at least.

[wants_the_phd]

Do you prefer life better here or at home?