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

[eonsadrift]

In that case, I can't say I hate it. [ He pockets the crystal, and it'll probably find its way to sit on the desk in his room later. ] Or that nickname.

Have you ever tried to do this little trick on yourself?

[finalbows]

Certainly have. Won't work. A quirk of the magic. If I wanted to see whatever mine could be... I'd have to teach someone else the spell.

The stone is generated from the act of... conversation, you could call it? Between the caster, and the cast-upon. I can chatter to myself all I like, but in the end... it's still just the one me.

[eonsadrift]

How sad for you. It's a neat little trick, but I imagine you wouldn't want to share your secrets just to find out what your special little rock is.

[finalbows]

What? No, I'd love to. I've always wanted to know.

[eonsadrift]

...really? I'd have expected a technique like this would be a closely guarded secret.

[finalbows]

This is actually considered a charlatan's trick, where I used to live. You can crush them to release a minor healing effect, but... you can't use them for most things you'd want a stone for. Particularly the kinds of stones they can sometimes be lookalikes of.

They will degrade out of existence eventually, if you subject them to re-cuts. You'll wake up one morning, and that pretty, pretty ruby has vanished in its setting. And there are few, who relish raw rocks... besides devotee collectors. Who do also tend to be particular about source.

[eonsadrift]

How interesting. I guess it'd be too easy if you could simply generate precious gemstones.

And yet... you've never encountered anyone willing to divine your stone for you?

[finalbows]

Back then...?

I wanted to know, but I didn't care to ask.

[eonsadrift]

What, like you had too much pride to ask?

[finalbows]

Like I had too much pride to ask.

[eonsadrift]

Pff. I guess I can't fault you for that.