⭐ o1. 7/7 « video/text »

[menphina]

[ When the video comes on, a very cheerful looking literal cat-lady will be on screen, holding up a miniature bamboo tree with colourful papers on the branches! ]

This must be the date! Hoy there, everyone! Name's Megumi, Matriarch of the Utakata Tribe! I'm a healer and huntress from the star of Hydaelyn, and it's time for a story!

[ Isn't this fun? Pay attention! She sits up with her ears wiggling enthusiastically. ]

I've heard it differently back in Yanxia on my world, but it seems like there are some people here who have a more romantic version of it! Eorzean Moonfire's just violent when you think about it but at least we wear cute outfits... Anyroad! This one's about a Star Festival!

[ She perks up. ]

The general story I've heard is that there's a Princess, and a Cowherd! The Princess' job is to weave beautiful fabric for her father, the Sky King, but is sad because she never gets to meet anyone because of her work. Her father arranges for her to meet a handsome Cowherd who lives across the river, and they eventually fall in love and marry! But because they're so distracted, they're not performing any of their regular duties, so the Sky King separates them across a river they can't cross. The lovers are in despair! Finally, the Sky King relents, allowing them to meet on the seventh day of the seventh moon, er... month at the river.

But when they reach the river, there's no bridge to cross! How in the hells did the Sky King get the Cowherd there in the first place?! Suppose the bridge plot's there for drama, but, anyroad!

[ She hates plot holes!! But, she puffs her cheeks and continues- ]

The Princess cries so much, that a flock of birds offer to create a bridge so she can visit her husband. And so it's said that when you see a bridge of stars in the heavens on a clear night, on the seventh day of the seventh month, that's the Princess and Cowherd meeting across the star bridge! I don't know how the birds made a star bridge, but they must be bloody amazing birds- But if it rains, they have to wait a year to meet again! That's so depressing!

[ Then, she claps her hands. ]

Anyroad, back home, to commemorate the day, we'd write wishes on these colourful paper strips which you should absolutely make, too! They'd be shaped in different little shapes too, and hung on bamboo branches. So, you should all make a wish too! I think you can go "anonymous" on here, so how about using this little post to make wishes?! Consider it your personal bamboo tree! Here's a little guide, but really, you can wish for anything however you want.

【 tanabata attachment 】

And if you want to make any wishes in person, I've got bamboo trees outside my clinic [ location provided ] and lots of tanzaku! Come by and make a wish!

What sorts of traditions do you have in summer? Tell me about them too! [ She sighs deeply- ] I need something new to write about, so inspire me! Oh, and if you get sick or feel sad, come to my clinic! We'll help!

✨ Matriarch, out!

[ ooc; feel free to threadjack with permission and make anon wishes or just chat! Or un-anon. Have fun! ]

Comments

[menphina]

I'm helping! And keeping you active and sprightly. ♡(◕ᗜ◕✿


My wish isn't a secret.
I just want to see my children and family somehow.
But you knew that.
The wish I make with you will be different, though.

[zazen]

I am as sprightly as I can manage at my apparent old age.

[See, see. Even Jakurai can make a joke sometimes. ]

You know that if I could help you see them now, I would.
As for my own wish, it is incredibly selfish. A thing of which I am not used to being.

[menphina]

[ He's doing so well, her cute doctor. ]

You've still got some fire in you! I'm proud!
And you're never selfish.
Which is all the more reason to share the wish and see if I can make it come true! ♡♡♡

[zazen]

I am not so certain of the possibility, darling.

[menphina]

Whaaaat?!
(◕д◕✿)!!
Unfair! We have to try!!

[zazen]

I have long been researching the possibility of it, with little luck.

[menphina]

[ Oh.

She suddenly has a feeling she knows what he means, but also- she doesn't want to assume too much. ]

Nothing it entirely impossible.
Unless it has to do with going home...

[zazen]

Now you cannot give me the solemn lines. If I am not allowed to be gloomy neither are you.

[menphina]

I'm not gloomy.
But if that's what it is...
Then you shouldn't feel selfish about wanting to make a wish like that.
I've wanted to, a lot, too.

[zazen]

If I am able to leave this place and return to you intact, who is to say that there would never be a way for us to never have to miss each other too often.

We cannot make any real assumptions until there is more information on the table.

[menphina]

That's why we make most of the time we have here!
I don't regret being here, you know.
With you, and everyone I do love here as well.
I'll have no regrets if I return home.
But you know, if I find a way to take you home with me,
I'm going to do it! (＃｀д´)ﾉ

[zazen]

I suppose I won’t feel too selfish for the wish I made, then.
Such emotions as love and fear of feeling empty will be ever present, but I cannot dwell on when and if either of us will be called back to our worlds.

So I choose to focus on what is in front of me.

And what would you want to wish on together?

[menphina]

There's nothing to feel empty about.
I'm here and you're here.
It doesn't make anything we're experiencing any less real, aye?

As for what to wish for together...
I want us to be the happiest together in everything we do! And everyone you want to do, too.
But I want everyone to find their happiness as well.
So a wish for everyone we care for, too!

[zazen]

Of course, you are right. We cannot afford to dwell on such things like fear and emptiness when we are still in one another’s presence.

Just how many strips of paper should we use for that? A wish for everyone we care for will be a tall order.

[menphina]

We just need two.
If we think of everyone we like and write the wish for them all to find happiness, it'll work!

By the way, have you been texting in your office this entire time?
You're NOT working?
Σ(・口・)

[zazen]

I hope that they will all make a wish for themselves as well. The people we care about. Combined with our well wish for happiness, tanabata will be successful this year.

As for your question...
I have been taking a small break.
I am indeed not working at all right now.

[menphina]

Let's hope they remember to come by, then!
Goodness, a wish I didn't even have to write down came true!
My darling Doctor Jakurai taking a break!
Now should I reward or punish that? (◡‿◡✿)
We are on the clock after break is done.

[zazen]

I would think that my efforts towards being more proactive about my lack of breaks would be rewarded. Don’t you?

[menphina]

Right you are.
But you do take punishments so prettily, love. ☆
I'll be kind, because it is Tanabata today!
How would you like to be rewarded?

[zazen]

Your presence is enough, and you are quite aware of that.
Are you texting me on the clock as well, darling?

[menphina]

I have a minute til break ends.
But I also don't have any appointments next.
And I don't think you do at this hour, either.
Maybe you should punish me for being bad, Doctor.

[zazen]

Punish you?
You ask nearly the impossible of me.

[menphina]

What if I want you to? You certainly didn't hold back that time you used your voice on me.

[zazen]

You very well know you liked that, darling. I cannot do the same when we are not in the Sanguis moon.

[He is lying because he totally can with his microphone.]

[menphina]

Who needs a moon when you've got a voice like yours? You could make a hrothgar weak in the knees, you know!