Summer Festival in the MGU

[crashout]

Wherever you are, whoever you are, one minute you’re at home minding your own business and the next you’ll see a shower of sparkles before you blink and find yourself teleported elsewhere.

The elsewhere, it seems, is an open grounds lined with stalls, pathways and gardens. Lanterns light up the pathways in soft glowing oranges and pinks, and even though it’s evening the weather is warm and enjoyable for a fun summer festival.

As you set off to explore, you’ll find that there are countless stalls with every type of treat you can imagine from a variety of cultures (including some from your own home worlds, strangely), all of which smell delicious and enticing. There are other stalls available with different carnival games as well. Go ahead and give it your all! Win a prize for that special someone, or just keep trying out of sheer stubbornness. Other stalls seem to be selling wares such as clothing, household items, flowers, and other things that can be given away as gifts. It seems that every time you look around, a new stall opens, almost as if this festival is responding to your every wish.

Speaking of wishes, there’s a small cluster of bamboo trees nearby as well, tables set up with baskets of arts and crafts supplies to write your wishes on the colorful paper and tie them to a branch. It’s a sweet thought, no?

And of course, what’s a festival without fireworks? Every now and then fireworks will light up the night sky, bursts of color in fun shapes such as stars, hearts, faces of people you know, whatever! Sparklers and bubble wands can also be found to play with throughout the evening near the viewing gardens. Flowers bloom and cover the area, though the paths lead to several small alcove-like areas and gazebos for those of you who wish to have a little romantic privacy. No matter where you are though, you’ll always be able to see the starry night sky.

Do try to play along and enjoy yourself for the evening. It’s only when the last firework bursts several hours later that you can actually leave anyway. Have fun!

[ooc: you know the drill, past mg characters from any of our past games, please don't make me list them again but go nuts.]

Comments

[liuli]

[ it doesn't say that any of these stalls have booze but i've decided they do so

when in rome! or, when in a weird summer festival, you do as the romans do. if gu yun is concerned about suddenly appearing in a strange place, he doesn't seem to show it; he's already two drinks in from one of the stalls and holding some other festival cocktail with a paper umbrella sticking out of the top of it as he peruses his way through one of the flower shops. ]

Never been whisked off to another world to celebrate Qixi before - only celebrated Qixi in another world. Suppose this is some sort of hint?

[ he will pluck out a plum blossom from one of the bouquets with a charming smile at the person minding the stand, and then turn to you, twirling it a bit between his fingers. ]

Here. Hold still.

[ ? ]

[shiftingwinds]

Hm! It might just be.

[shi qingxuan is, predictably, a couple of summer festival cocktails in, herself. she's sipping idly at one when gu yun speaks up, and she doesn't even hesitate to go entirely still when he tells her to, though her gaze does flick briefly to the blossom.]

I'm not moving, Gu-xiong.

[liuli]

A bit early, but I'm sure Niulang and Zhinu wouldn't complain for the chance to see each other more than once, don't you think?

[ cowherd and the weaver girl, summer festivals... all that jazz.

he's coming over to step to qingxuan's side. ] Give me your hand? [ and then places his drink in her hand, then starts to weave the plum blossom into her hair. ] We'll have to find an ox or two to hang flowers from their horns.

[shiftingwinds]

They'd better not! Once a year is just too sad!

[she beams, offering him her hand and holding onto his drink - but she takes a sip from it, because of course she does, and lets him weave the blossom into her hair. haha, he's making her pretty. prettier.]

Luckily, there seems to be no shortage of flowers. Well, I suppose if we can't find any oxen, we can hang them from White's horn.

[evocationary]

[ok ok i'll stop being mean

she does, in fact, hold still. comically so, with her drink halfway to her mouth.]

[liuli]

[ 🥺

hmmm. gu yun looks very thoughtful for a moment, tapping the peach blossoms against his chin... and then reaches over and sticks the stem in her mouth so she holds it like a dramatic tango dancer would.

wehehe ] There. Perfect.

[evocationary]

[perfect.

she takes this stem and puts her drink down, only to twist her fingers and attempt to knock him down with telekinesis. or, rather, she's just going to like... dip him, without actually using her arms to do so.]

[fergalicious]

If you don't compare my beauty to the flower, I'll be disappointed.

[ She isn't moving, at least. ]

[liuli]

I'd never insult you as to simply call you as beautiful as a flower, Medb. You outshine every bloom in this stall.

[ but he will come over to tuck the flower carefully behind her ear! it's pink and white, so it matches. ] There.

[fergalicious]

[ She smiles up at him, pleased. ]

I knew I could count on you. I missed you.

[toyska]

[Wow how romantic-- (no)

I am pretending the flower part is not there for this and they're just drinking and wandering.]

What's "qixi"? [His pronunciation has not improved]

[liuli]

[ yeah childe gets no flowers

gu yun makes a face at his awful pronunciation, sipping his wine. ] Stop speaking like you have eggs in your mouth. Qī xī jié. It's the seventh day of the seventh lunar month - a quite common festival at home, though a rather romantic one, and typically aimed towards women. Celebrating the reunion of the Cowherd and the Weaver.

Your Liyue has nothing similar? Seems the type of place you'd take that spouse of yours. [ stop ]

[toyska]

[punches his arm and carries on browsing]

If they do, I didn't hear about it. [I'm too lazy to read the lore books and double-check] They've got their Lantern Rite, but I think that's a bit different from what you're describing. So I've been told, anyway.

[He did not go... tragique]

[papasha]

[He's holding.

This meeting is very funny for a lot of reasons, but most importantly: when Gu Yun turns, this dude is six-foot-five, so maybe Gu Yun will either just keep the flower, or simply tuck it into... I don't know what I'm making Blanca wear.

Do they have yukata this big? He can be in one of his stupid fancy button-ups because he's dumb. Isn't he hot? Yes.]

You should probably keep it to offer a beautiful woman instead.

[liuli]

[ somewhere, lup, screaming

well! he was not expecting this giant who is taller than shen yi, but gu yun, true to form, doesn't even miss a beat - he smiles, charming as ever. ]

Does that matter so much? [ then reaches over and tucks the flower right into the pocket of his fancy button up.] Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or so they say.

[papasha]

[Sometimes you scream hornily when your two men meet.

He will accept this flower, though. It really softens his roguish features. Hilarious.]

That is what they say. I must thank you for the compliment then. I'm honored.

[Pats the pocket with the flower gently. Please at least pretend to be straight. (no)]

[fatalattraction]

[ sup binch! misa giggles when gu yun looks at her, standing still like a good girl! ]

Awwww, Zixi, you're sooo sweet.

[liuli]

[ cute. he will come and affix this flower right behind her ear. it matches her outfit! ]

Fufu. You've already dressed so nicely, I thought perhaps an accessory wouldn't be minded. Hello, meimei - how lovely to see you here.

[fatalattraction]

Didn't I already tell you that flattery doesn't work on me? But yeah, it's nice to get a little surprise vacation! Just as long as nothing's keeping us here this time– I have a boyfriend to get back home to, after all. ♥

[inaudibly]

[Just making an x with his arms because no thanks do not put flowers on him?]

[liuli]

Don't be so fragile.

[ sir your masculinity

puts it on his head. ]

[inaudibly]

[Just reaches up and grabs it??

Throwing it on the ground seems TOO rude to do to a stranger so he just eats it.]

[fishingforcompliments]

[well!

flayn, clad in a very pretty hanfu, stops in her tracks when gu yun turns.]

Ah, yes...?

[she's standing still!!]

[liuli]

[ oh, her clothes look liangese... he has no idea who this is, but a pretty lady is a pretty lady, so. gu yun leans down to affix the flower behind her ear, nestling it in nicely with her hair. ]

There. Perfect.

[fishingforcompliments]

[oh! hm. she almost starts to draw back - her ears... - before forcing herself to go very still again. perhaps the poof of her hair will hide the way the tips of her ears are pointy.]

Ah, thank you! [she smiles] ...pardon my asking, but are you Gu Yun, by any chance?

[she's literally only asking because he's one of the few other fantasy chinese-looking people here that she doesn't already recognize i'm sorry.]