August 2012
11 posts
Can you fly high, far, and fast?
Higher. Farther. And faster than you.
Tengu, did people mistake you for a woodpecker?
YES. HOW DO YOU CONFUSE ME WITH THIS THING.
I DON’T PECK TREES.
HOW DO PEOPLE MIX THAT UP?!
Do you like origami, Tengu Man?
I am a master of the art of folding paper. I can make more than just a simple crane or frog. I can make anything I so please. Origami is practiced in silence and without instruction. In order to teach it to another, you do not speak, only fold and show the fold to the other. If they mess up, thats their fault, they weren’t paying attention.
What animals do you like other than birds, Tengu?
I’m supposed to like other animals?
………………………I like cats. WHEN THEY AREN’T SHEDDING ALL OVER YOUR EXPENSIVE KIMONOS OR CLAWING UP YOUR ZABUTONS OR RUBBING UP ON YOU…OR…OR PURRING SO LOUD YOU CAN’T HEAR THE TV.
You don't think my ears are like dog ears, do you?
WHO SAID THAT.
WHO SAID THAT TO YOU?
WHO SAID THAT TO MY DEAR GIZAGIZA-HAN!?
WHO!?
I THOUGHT WE AGREED THEY WERE RABBIT EARS, GIZAGIZA-HAN…AND ANYONE THAT SAID OTHERWISE WOULD BE BLOWN OFF A CLIFF OR CUT IN HALF.
July 2012
23 posts
TMI Tuesday
…I don’t look like a woodpecker, do I?
Tanabata Secrets (Open)
Snake Man looked at Tengu Man… and then his face sort of dropped. Thinking about it now, his brother could be right. And now he feels bad for even coming up with the idea today in the first place. Being selfish on a day like this?
“… Oh, uh… I guess you’re right about that. Sorry. I only hanged two pieces of paper in the city and decided to hang another out here somewhere. But… now I’m not so sure about this. I mean, even if it’s outside and a more natural place… this is my third paper. And….”
Snake Man looked at his green paper (which isn’t pastel) and then at the bamboos before taking a glance at Tengu Man’s bright red paper. Asking for too much? What’s he wishing for this year that’s different from the others?
“…. I’ve been making the same wish every year for the past six years. And it still hasn’t come true yet. It makes me kinda sad. I still keep hoping, though. At least you get your wishes. But how can you be asking for too much?”
“Love is something you have to obtain yourself. The Gods can’t make it happen for you.”
Tengu sat down under the bamboo tree and stared at his paper, watching it flutter slightly as the wind blew.
“The Gods can certainly handle money and other trivial things, but to ask for love is something big. You have to give something to them in exchange…and I have nothing of value to give them, exactly…I don’t think I have anything of true value to give them, really.”
He looked down and fiddled with the edge of his mask, pulling it away slightly to scratch at what was underneath. A flash of something bright red was evident..was it hair? Or was that his mask again? He refit his mask over his face and his bright green eyes stared up at the trees and their many secrets.
“And to be honest…I don’t know what I can do.”
Love? How did Tengu Man know that? Well, it’s close. What Snake Man had been wishing for is… acceptance. He stared as his brother spoke. Should he tell him his secret? His reason for his wish?
“… I see. I guess the same goes for… acceptance?”
Snake Man blinked at the flash of red he thought he saw under the mask (unless it was the mask itself). Poor Tengu Man. Is he in love with someone?
“Tengu? Is there someone you like?”
“If one is looking for acceptance, I think that’s something you might have to work for on your own…the Gods can only help so much. They can sway peoples minds so much, as we are beings of free will.”
He looked to Snake Man when he mentioned love. He put his defenses up figuratively and almost literally: he readjusted his mask to hide his face further and took out his bladed fan.
“Who says I like anyone like that?!”
“With how you’re acting, I’d say you like someone quite a bit…You like someone quite a bit.”
King was busy tying a gold piece of paper onto a bamboo branch. He glanced around a bit hesitantly, then spoke.
“Don’t bother trying to read my secret! It’s in Italian and it’s written backwards…not like either of you understand it.”
“As much as I’d hate to agree with Goldbutt here, you’re acting pretty suspicious for someone who doesn’t ‘like’ anyone ‘in that way’.” Metal smirked.
He himself was tying a piece of paper to a bamboo branch, biting down on his lip ever so slightly. He then turned to King and rolled his eyes.
“That afraid of it coming out? Sheesh. Scaredy-cat.” He snorted. ”Don’t bother trying to read mine either.”
As though it were readable! His strokes were horrible, and he’d purposely written it in Osaka-ben so that it would be even more difficult to read.
So many Earthlings. Pluto’s ears twitched with a hint of nervousness. The feline droid wasn’t sure whether or not to tie the secret to a branch of bamboo now.
No. Pluto had to. The Plutonian warrior felt compelled to! At first, the feline hadn’t been able to decide what write down, out of two secrets. However, Pluto had decided and scrawled it in hastily-written Plutonian.
Deft fingers then tied it to a branch of bamboo. Wait. Pluto saw a familiar face! To speak? Or to wait until spoken to?
That was the question.
Snake Man had not expected Tengu Man to take out his bladed fan. What’s with him? He only asked his brother a simple question that could be answered with a “yes” or “no”. He also didn’t expect to see more people here. Two of them are suspicious of Tengu Man’s reaction and it seems there really is someone he likes. Snake Man couldn’t help but chuckle at King and Metal Man.
“Don’t worry. I know better than to read other people’s wishes and secrets. Besides, I don’t really know enough Italian. And Metty’s handwriting isn’t exactly the best from what I’ve seen. Anyway, when did you guys get here?”
Snake Man glanced at Pluto. There’s something odd about the stranger. But what?
“Hello~. Are you celebrating Tanabata as well?”
Tengu was a bit wary now that several people were were. He put his blade away and looked around, noticing Pluto almost immediately. He seemed to panic, trying to grab at his secret and untie it.
“Perhaps I should take this back, I really am asking for too much!!”
It was almost suspicious how he was acting. Why was he acting so defensively?
Tanabata Secrets (Open)
TANABATA:
Orihime, daughter of the Tentei (天帝 Sky King, or the universe itself) wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (Milky Way). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet.
Tanabata is a Japanese star festival that celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on July 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August.
In present-day Japan, people generaly celebrate this day by writing wishes, sometimes in a form of poetry or tanzaku, small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bambo or other decorations. The bamboo and decorations are often set a float on the river or burned after the festival, around midnight or on the next day. This resembles the custom of floating paper ships and candles during Obon. Many area in Japan has their own Tanabata customs, which are mostly related to local Obon tradition. There is also traditional Tanabata song :
Sasa no ha sara-sara
Nokiba ni yureru
Ohoshi-sama kira-kira
Kingin sunago
Goshiki no tanzaku
watashi ga kaita
Ohoshi-sama kirakira
sora kara miteiruTranslation:
The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.Tengu stared at a large bamboo tree growing near his house, many tanabata wishes already tied upon it. He fiddled with a piece of paper in his hands and sighed softly as he recalled his favorite holiday…looking down at the colorful piece of paper in his hand with the secret on it for all to see, he sighed a little and glanced back to the bamboo tree once more. Should he really post it up there? Or would it be way too obvious?
“…it’s already written. Might as well.” He hung his secret on the tree and stared at it…then walked away silently.
Snake Man was looking for another bamboo to hang his piece of paper on. He sort of hoped that his wish could really come true this year if he hanged more paper pieces on other bamboos. As he searched outside the city, in the distance he spotted a large bamboo… and Tengu Man walking away from it. He ran to his brother, still holding his green paper.
“Hey, Tengu Man! Is that you?! I haven’t seen you in a while!”
Tengu screamed and hit behind a tree when he was called upon. It was instinct when placing his secrets. He peeked out to see it was only Snake Man. He perked up a bit and spoke timidly, so uncharacteristic of him.
“Hi Snake Man…didn’t expect to see you here.”
He looked at the bamboo trees, littered with colorful pieces of paper.
“…I thought I was the only one that celebrated Tanabata.”
“Eek!”
Was Tengu Man scared?! That surprised and confused Snake Man. He blinked and approached the tree slowly. Huh? Tengu Man sounds kinda timid for some reason.
“Well, I didn’t think I’d run into you. I didn’t realize how far outside the city I went just to look for more bamboos to hang my wish papers. Well, the pieces of papers all have the same one wish but I thought I’d hang them on more than one bamboo. Maybe my wish can really come true this year if I do that. Or maybe it’s a silly idea but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try.”
Snake Man also looked at the bamboos and admired the colorful pieces of papers hanging from the branches.
“They’re so beautiful~. Oh? I love Tanabata, too! When I first learned about it, I decided to celebrate it every year. Oh, I love the story of the weaving princess and the cowherd. It actually made me cry.”
Ah. Is he rambling? Snake Man grinned sheepishly at Tengu Man and rubbed the back of his head.
Tengu looked at the tree quietly, closing his eyes as the wind made the leaves and paper chatter. He seemed to be listening to the sound, although many would say it was an unremarkable sound to listen to. He opened his eyes and looked to him, leaning on the tree.
“I won’t argue with you…but I think that writing the same wish multiple times is cheating. It pesters the Gods that promise these wishes if they get repeats from one person…but you may do as you wish; we all celebrate differently. I write one wish each year. So far, I’ve gotten my wish almost every year. This year…”
He looked at a bright red piece of paper, probably the most obvious amongst the pieces of pastel colored papers.
“…I might be asking for too much. I think…I am being selfish.”
Snake Man looked at Tengu Man… and then his face sort of dropped. Thinking about it now, his brother could be right. And now he feels bad for even coming up with the idea today in the first place. Being selfish on a day like this?
“… Oh, uh… I guess you’re right about that. Sorry. I only hanged two pieces of paper in the city and decided to hang another out here somewhere. But… now I’m not so sure about this. I mean, even if it’s outside and a more natural place… this is my third paper. And….”
Snake Man looked at his green paper (which isn’t pastel) and then at the bamboos before taking a glance at Tengu Man’s bright red paper. Asking for too much? What’s he wishing for this year that’s different from the others?
“…. I’ve been making the same wish every year for the past six years. And it still hasn’t come true yet. It makes me kinda sad. I still keep hoping, though. At least you get your wishes. But how can you be asking for too much?”
“Love is something you have to obtain yourself. The Gods can’t make it happen for you.”
Tengu sat down under the bamboo tree and stared at his paper, watching it flutter slightly as the wind blew.
“The Gods can certainly handle money and other trivial things, but to ask for love is something big. You have to give something to them in exchange…and I have nothing of value to give them, exactly…I don’t think I have anything of true value to give them, really.”
He looked down and fiddled with the edge of his mask, pulling it away slightly to scratch at what was underneath. A flash of something bright red was evident..was it hair? Or was that his mask again? He refit his mask over his face and his bright green eyes stared up at the trees and their many secrets.
“And to be honest…I don’t know what I can do.”
Love? How did Tengu Man know that? Well, it’s close. What Snake Man had been wishing for is… acceptance. He stared as his brother spoke. Should he tell him his secret? His reason for his wish?
“… I see. I guess the same goes for… acceptance?”
Snake Man blinked at the flash of red he thought he saw under the mask (unless it was the mask itself). Poor Tengu Man. Is he in love with someone?
“Tengu? Is there someone you like?”
“If one is looking for acceptance, I think that’s something you might have to work for on your own…the Gods can only help so much. They can sway peoples minds so much, as we are beings of free will.”
He looked to Snake Man when he mentioned love. He put his defenses up figuratively and almost literally: he readjusted his mask to hide his face further and took out his bladed fan.
“Who says I like anyone like that?!”
Lunch with the Yokai (@Pluto)
The familiar trill set Tengu’s eyes alight, causing him to glance towards the sound. He smirked slightly as he saw that his invitation had reached its designated target. “Ah, perfect…couldn’t be prouder of my Tencrow…they’ve been losing letters lately…” He glared up at the tree. “I almost thought I’d have to deliver that letter myself and risk the fury of those beautifully manicured claws of yours.”
He set a few plates out, which had beautiful geisha and maiko ladies painted upon them. He also set out a sake set that had been modeled after Plutonian art…a rare find in his sake set collection. He spoke as he was setting the plates out.
“I wish to offera truce to you, if possible. If you’ll take it, of course.” He set simple bamboo chopsticks out for the two of them, continuing to make more jiaozi as he spoke. “If not, maybe the meal will be nice anyway before we have a fight.”
“Is that so?” A feline eye lifted its brow quickly. Ears twitched slightly. ”Well, at least the post-bird actually managed to make its delivery with success this time, yes?” Pluto would then fold hands together. Might as well try to make conversation, even though the feline droid wasn’t a master in that art. ”Oh, you’d risk your life against me again? Perhaps this time you would have caught me in a good mood. I just polished these claws of mine.”
The feline warrior watched the plates and sake set be sat out. Red eyes widened and Pluto leaned in close at the sake set; was this an authentic Plutonian set? No, that couldn’t be. The felinedroids’ trade route hadn’t made their way to Earth just yet!
“Ah, a gesture of peace? I would be open to that. After all, are not peace and war two sides of the same coin?” If anything, Pluto could often be one of the more diplomatic Stardroids, owing to the Plutonian culture that was ingrained in every circuit of the feline warrior. ”I see no reason to fight when a pleasant meal is shared, after all.”
Tengu kept getting the food ready, glancing to Pluto quietly. He smiled a little as the feline noticed the sake set, commenting on it.
“It’s only painted to resemble a Plutonian set…I have yet to find a real one. If I did, I’d probably use it every day. I love the artwork…although it’s incredibly expensive.” He sighed and frowned. “To own Plutonian items would be a dream of mine.”
He offered Pluto some jiaozi. “I heard that Plutonians make these…I tried to adlib the recipie I found, but I’m not so sure it came out that great.” He smiled uncertainly. A tencrow swooped down and grabbed one. Tengu shouted angrily and threw a rock at the tencrow. “DAMNED FIENDS, THIS IS A PEACE LUNCHEON, NOT A FREE-FOR-ALL!”
Pluto smiled and nodded. ”It is remarkable craftsmanship, even if it is not one of my homeworld. It seems that tradesmen in this world are able to finally replicate the fine details of it. Though I assure you, the price of a real set would be worth it if you could find one. Even if ours are hewn of stone.” The feline droid’s ears twitched somewhat. ”It is sad that our crafts are such a rarity, even on our own planet. We’ve had to import from other planets lately.”
The feline warrior’s eyes lit up at the jiaozi. ”You heard correct.” Pluto took a serving of jiaozi and smiled softly. ”Then allow me to ju—” The plutonian paused and stared at the Tencrow that stole the jiaozi. ”Rather rude little critters. Quite like some of the small furry critters that used to steal the food on my planet.” After this, the feline droid chuckled softly, then took a bite of a jiaozi. ”What kind of spice did you use? I taste a hint of it. Not a bad thing. Just a curiosity for me.”
The crow smiled at his words about Plutonian wares.
“I intend to buy a set someday. I collect alcohol sets from all nations and all planets…I own German beer steins, fine Italian wine glasses, many Japanese sake sets…but my collection will never be complete until I have an authentic Plutonian sake set…maybe even a dining set. I was lucky enough to get chopsticks from the planet.”
He gestured to the chopsticks Pluto was using. He didn’t skip a detail on the wares Pluto was using at all…he made sure his guest felt as much at home as was possible.
Tengu perked up as he saw Pluto taste the jiaozi. Upon being asked about the spice, he replied.
“I used several, but the one you’re probably tasting is chinese all-spice. I might’ve been a bit heavy-handed with it.”
He slumped a bit and sighed.
“I didn’t have the proper spices on hand, but all-spice was the one that was closest to substitute…I feel that perhaps this is a bit of a rough jiaozi. I have never tasted this sort of food, only thing I know that is close is gyoza.”
He held up a piece he had finished making, offering it to him.
“And I make some pretty good gyoza.” He smirked slightly.
Tanabata Secrets (Open)
TANABATA:
Orihime, daughter of the Tentei (天帝 Sky King, or the universe itself) wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (Milky Way). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet.
Tanabata is a Japanese star festival that celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on July 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August.
In present-day Japan, people generaly celebrate this day by writing wishes, sometimes in a form of poetry or tanzaku, small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bambo or other decorations. The bamboo and decorations are often set a float on the river or burned after the festival, around midnight or on the next day. This resembles the custom of floating paper ships and candles during Obon. Many area in Japan has their own Tanabata customs, which are mostly related to local Obon tradition. There is also traditional Tanabata song :
Sasa no ha sara-sara
Nokiba ni yureru
Ohoshi-sama kira-kira
Kingin sunago
Goshiki no tanzaku
watashi ga kaita
Ohoshi-sama kirakira
sora kara miteiruTranslation:
The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.Tengu stared at a large bamboo tree growing near his house, many tanabata wishes already tied upon it. He fiddled with a piece of paper in his hands and sighed softly as he recalled his favorite holiday…looking down at the colorful piece of paper in his hand with the secret on it for all to see, he sighed a little and glanced back to the bamboo tree once more. Should he really post it up there? Or would it be way too obvious?
“…it’s already written. Might as well.” He hung his secret on the tree and stared at it…then walked away silently.
Snake Man was looking for another bamboo to hang his piece of paper on. He sort of hoped that his wish could really come true this year if he hanged more paper pieces on other bamboos. As he searched outside the city, in the distance he spotted a large bamboo… and Tengu Man walking away from it. He ran to his brother, still holding his green paper.
“Hey, Tengu Man! Is that you?! I haven’t seen you in a while!”
Tengu screamed and hit behind a tree when he was called upon. It was instinct when placing his secrets. He peeked out to see it was only Snake Man. He perked up a bit and spoke timidly, so uncharacteristic of him.
“Hi Snake Man…didn’t expect to see you here.”
He looked at the bamboo trees, littered with colorful pieces of paper.
“…I thought I was the only one that celebrated Tanabata.”
“Eek!”
Was Tengu Man scared?! That surprised and confused Snake Man. He blinked and approached the tree slowly. Huh? Tengu Man sounds kinda timid for some reason.
“Well, I didn’t think I’d run into you. I didn’t realize how far outside the city I went just to look for more bamboos to hang my wish papers. Well, the pieces of papers all have the same one wish but I thought I’d hang them on more than one bamboo. Maybe my wish can really come true this year if I do that. Or maybe it’s a silly idea but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try.”
Snake Man also looked at the bamboos and admired the colorful pieces of papers hanging from the branches.
“They’re so beautiful~. Oh? I love Tanabata, too! When I first learned about it, I decided to celebrate it every year. Oh, I love the story of the weaving princess and the cowherd. It actually made me cry.”
Ah. Is he rambling? Snake Man grinned sheepishly at Tengu Man and rubbed the back of his head.
Tengu looked at the tree quietly, closing his eyes as the wind made the leaves and paper chatter. He seemed to be listening to the sound, although many would say it was an unremarkable sound to listen to. He opened his eyes and looked to him, leaning on the tree.
“I won’t argue with you…but I think that writing the same wish multiple times is cheating. It pesters the Gods that promise these wishes if they get repeats from one person…but you may do as you wish; we all celebrate differently. I write one wish each year. So far, I’ve gotten my wish almost every year. This year…”
He looked at a bright red piece of paper, probably the most obvious amongst the pieces of pastel colored papers.
“…I might be asking for too much. I think…I am being selfish.”
Snake Man looked at Tengu Man… and then his face sort of dropped. Thinking about it now, his brother could be right. And now he feels bad for even coming up with the idea today in the first place. Being selfish on a day like this?
“… Oh, uh… I guess you’re right about that. Sorry. I only hanged two pieces of paper in the city and decided to hang another out here somewhere. But… now I’m not so sure about this. I mean, even if it’s outside and a more natural place… this is my third paper. And….”
Snake Man looked at his green paper (which isn’t pastel) and then at the bamboos before taking a glance at Tengu Man’s bright red paper. Asking for too much? What’s he wishing for this year that’s different from the others?
“…. I’ve been making the same wish every year for the past six years. And it still hasn’t come true yet. It makes me kinda sad. I still keep hoping, though. At least you get your wishes. But how can you be asking for too much?”
“Love is something you have to obtain yourself. The Gods can’t make it happen for you.”
Tengu sat down under the bamboo tree and stared at his paper, watching it flutter slightly as the wind blew.
“The Gods can certainly handle money and other trivial things, but to ask for love is something big. You have to give something to them in exchange…and I have nothing of value to give them, exactly…I don’t think I have anything of true value to give them, really.”
He looked down and fiddled with the edge of his mask, pulling it away slightly to scratch at what was underneath. A flash of something bright red was evident..was it hair? Or was that his mask again? He refit his mask over his face and his bright green eyes stared up at the trees and their many secrets.
“And to be honest…I don’t know what I can do.”
Tanabata Secrets (Open)
TANABATA:
Orihime, daughter of the Tentei (天帝 Sky King, or the universe itself) wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (Milky Way). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet.
Tanabata is a Japanese star festival that celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on July 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August.
In present-day Japan, people generaly celebrate this day by writing wishes, sometimes in a form of poetry or tanzaku, small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bambo or other decorations. The bamboo and decorations are often set a float on the river or burned after the festival, around midnight or on the next day. This resembles the custom of floating paper ships and candles during Obon. Many area in Japan has their own Tanabata customs, which are mostly related to local Obon tradition. There is also traditional Tanabata song :
Sasa no ha sara-sara
Nokiba ni yureru
Ohoshi-sama kira-kira
Kingin sunago
Goshiki no tanzaku
watashi ga kaita
Ohoshi-sama kirakira
sora kara miteiruTranslation:
The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.Tengu stared at a large bamboo tree growing near his house, many tanabata wishes already tied upon it. He fiddled with a piece of paper in his hands and sighed softly as he recalled his favorite holiday…looking down at the colorful piece of paper in his hand with the secret on it for all to see, he sighed a little and glanced back to the bamboo tree once more. Should he really post it up there? Or would it be way too obvious?
“…it’s already written. Might as well.” He hung his secret on the tree and stared at it…then walked away silently.
Snake Man was looking for another bamboo to hang his piece of paper on. He sort of hoped that his wish could really come true this year if he hanged more paper pieces on other bamboos. As he searched outside the city, in the distance he spotted a large bamboo… and Tengu Man walking away from it. He ran to his brother, still holding his green paper.
“Hey, Tengu Man! Is that you?! I haven’t seen you in a while!”
Tengu screamed and hit behind a tree when he was called upon. It was instinct when placing his secrets. He peeked out to see it was only Snake Man. He perked up a bit and spoke timidly, so uncharacteristic of him.
“Hi Snake Man…didn’t expect to see you here.”
He looked at the bamboo trees, littered with colorful pieces of paper.
“…I thought I was the only one that celebrated Tanabata.”
“Eek!”
Was Tengu Man scared?! That surprised and confused Snake Man. He blinked and approached the tree slowly. Huh? Tengu Man sounds kinda timid for some reason.
“Well, I didn’t think I’d run into you. I didn’t realize how far outside the city I went just to look for more bamboos to hang my wish papers. Well, the pieces of papers all have the same one wish but I thought I’d hang them on more than one bamboo. Maybe my wish can really come true this year if I do that. Or maybe it’s a silly idea but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try.”
Snake Man also looked at the bamboos and admired the colorful pieces of papers hanging from the branches.
“They’re so beautiful~. Oh? I love Tanabata, too! When I first learned about it, I decided to celebrate it every year. Oh, I love the story of the weaving princess and the cowherd. It actually made me cry.”
Ah. Is he rambling? Snake Man grinned sheepishly at Tengu Man and rubbed the back of his head.
Tengu looked at the tree quietly, closing his eyes as the wind made the leaves and paper chatter. He seemed to be listening to the sound, although many would say it was an unremarkable sound to listen to. He opened his eyes and looked to him, leaning on the tree.
“I won’t argue with you…but I think that writing the same wish multiple times is cheating. It pesters the Gods that promise these wishes if they get repeats from one person…but you may do as you wish; we all celebrate differently. I write one wish each year. So far, I’ve gotten my wish almost every year. This year…”
He looked at a bright red piece of paper, probably the most obvious amongst the pieces of pastel colored papers.
“…I might be asking for too much. I think…I am being selfish.”
Tanabata Secrets (Open)
TANABATA:
Orihime, daughter of the Tentei (天帝 Sky King, or the universe itself) wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (Milky Way). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet.
Tanabata is a Japanese star festival that celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on July 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August.
In present-day Japan, people generaly celebrate this day by writing wishes, sometimes in a form of poetry or tanzaku, small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bambo or other decorations. The bamboo and decorations are often set a float on the river or burned after the festival, around midnight or on the next day. This resembles the custom of floating paper ships and candles during Obon. Many area in Japan has their own Tanabata customs, which are mostly related to local Obon tradition. There is also traditional Tanabata song :
Sasa no ha sara-sara
Nokiba ni yureru
Ohoshi-sama kira-kira
Kingin sunago
Goshiki no tanzaku
watashi ga kaita
Ohoshi-sama kirakira
sora kara miteiruTranslation:
The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.Tengu stared at a large bamboo tree growing near his house, many tanabata wishes already tied upon it. He fiddled with a piece of paper in his hands and sighed softly as he recalled his favorite holiday…looking down at the colorful piece of paper in his hand with the secret on it for all to see, he sighed a little and glanced back to the bamboo tree once more. Should he really post it up there? Or would it be way too obvious?
“…it’s already written. Might as well.” He hung his secret on the tree and stared at it…then walked away silently.
Snake Man was looking for another bamboo to hang his piece of paper on. He sort of hoped that his wish could really come true this year if he hanged more paper pieces on other bamboos. As he searched outside the city, in the distance he spotted a large bamboo… and Tengu Man walking away from it. He ran to his brother, still holding his green paper.
“Hey, Tengu Man! Is that you?! I haven’t seen you in a while!”
Tengu screamed and hit behind a tree when he was called upon. It was instinct when placing his secrets. He peeked out to see it was only Snake Man. He perked up a bit and spoke timidly, so uncharacteristic of him.
“Hi Snake Man…didn’t expect to see you here.”
He looked at the bamboo trees, littered with colorful pieces of paper.
“…I thought I was the only one that celebrated Tanabata.”
Tanabata Secrets (Open)
TANABATA:
Orihime, daughter of the Tentei (天帝 Sky King, or the universe itself) wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (Milky Way). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet.
Tanabata is a Japanese star festival that celebrates the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on July 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August.
In present-day Japan, people generaly celebrate this day by writing wishes, sometimes in a form of poetry or tanzaku, small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bambo or other decorations. The bamboo and decorations are often set a float on the river or burned after the festival, around midnight or on the next day. This resembles the custom of floating paper ships and candles during Obon. Many area in Japan has their own Tanabata customs, which are mostly related to local Obon tradition. There is also traditional Tanabata song :
Sasa no ha sara-sara
Nokiba ni yureru
Ohoshi-sama kira-kira
Kingin sunago
Goshiki no tanzaku
watashi ga kaita
Ohoshi-sama kirakira
sora kara miteiruTranslation:
The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.
Tengu stared at a large bamboo tree growing near his house, many tanabata wishes already tied upon it. He fiddled with a piece of paper in his hands and sighed softly as he recalled his favorite holiday…looking down at the colorful piece of paper in his hand with the secret on it for all to see, he sighed a little and glanced back to the bamboo tree once more. Should he really post it up there? Or would it be way too obvious?
“…it’s already written. Might as well.” He hung his secret on the tree and stared at it…then walked away silently.
HIATUS/INFREQUENCY AHEAD
((I will be on temporary hiatus starting on July 9th. I will have to take care of my mother, as she will have full knee replacement on that date. I might drop by here in the next week or so, but I’m not positive about how frequent or infrequent I will be. I cannot guarantee when I will be back, exactly, but I will try to post at least once a week during my hiatus/infrequency. I AM NOT GIVING UP MY CHARACTERS.))
Lunch with the Yokai (@Pluto)
The familiar trill set Tengu’s eyes alight, causing him to glance towards the sound. He smirked slightly as he saw that his invitation had reached its designated target. “Ah, perfect…couldn’t be prouder of my Tencrow…they’ve been losing letters lately…” He glared up at the tree. “I almost thought I’d have to deliver that letter myself and risk the fury of those beautifully manicured claws of yours.”
He set a few plates out, which had beautiful geisha and maiko ladies painted upon them. He also set out a sake set that had been modeled after Plutonian art…a rare find in his sake set collection. He spoke as he was setting the plates out.
“I wish to offera truce to you, if possible. If you’ll take it, of course.” He set simple bamboo chopsticks out for the two of them, continuing to make more jiaozi as he spoke. “If not, maybe the meal will be nice anyway before we have a fight.”
“Is that so?” A feline eye lifted its brow quickly. Ears twitched slightly. ”Well, at least the post-bird actually managed to make its delivery with success this time, yes?” Pluto would then fold hands together. Might as well try to make conversation, even though the feline droid wasn’t a master in that art. ”Oh, you’d risk your life against me again? Perhaps this time you would have caught me in a good mood. I just polished these claws of mine.”
The feline warrior watched the plates and sake set be sat out. Red eyes widened and Pluto leaned in close at the sake set; was this an authentic Plutonian set? No, that couldn’t be. The felinedroids’ trade route hadn’t made their way to Earth just yet!
“Ah, a gesture of peace? I would be open to that. After all, are not peace and war two sides of the same coin?” If anything, Pluto could often be one of the more diplomatic Stardroids, owing to the Plutonian culture that was ingrained in every circuit of the feline warrior. ”I see no reason to fight when a pleasant meal is shared, after all.”
Tengu kept getting the food ready, glancing to Pluto quietly. He smiled a little as the feline noticed the sake set, commenting on it.
“It’s only painted to resemble a Plutonian set…I have yet to find a real one. If I did, I’d probably use it every day. I love the artwork…although it’s incredibly expensive.” He sighed and frowned. “To own Plutonian items would be a dream of mine.”
He offered Pluto some jiaozi. “I heard that Plutonians make these…I tried to adlib the recipie I found, but I’m not so sure it came out that great.” He smiled uncertainly. A tencrow swooped down and grabbed one. Tengu shouted angrily and threw a rock at the tencrow. “DAMNED FIENDS, THIS IS A PEACE LUNCHEON, NOT A FREE-FOR-ALL!”
