retrospec | sixth evocation ✧ cybele

[This time instead of a text wall, the post is a brief video, also seen on the ReVA Facebook page if you follow that. Minako is featured front and center, wearing a yukata and her hair done up-- the perfect image of Japanese summer. She waves cheerily into the camera.]

Hi everyone! Minako here from ReVA to wish you a happy Tanabata! For those who don't know, Tanabata is a Japanese festival celebrating the folk story of Princess Orihime and the cowherd Hikoboshi. The two lovers were separated by Orihime's father, and were only able to meet on the seventh day of the seventh month, after Orihime wished for a way to be able to see Hikoboshi again. A flock of magpies answered her call and carried her to him, allowing them to meet once a year on that same day from then on. The festival is a time for people to send their dearest wishes to the deities and ask them to be granted, so--!

[She steps to the side, and the camera follows her to show a magnificent bamboo plant set up right in the entrance of the ReVA community center.]

Come by the community center and write down your wish! If you tie it to the bamboo plant, it will surely be received by the gods and be granted. [She points to a little red piece of paper already tied there.] This one is mine. No peeking though, or else the wish won't be fulfilled!

One last thing: there are yukatas like this one available for rental here at the community center. Come try some traditional Japanese summer wear, take some pictures, and eat some shaved ice with us!

[She smiles sweetly and playfully salutes the camera in farewell.]

Thanks for watching, hope to see you soon!

[An extra message for her fellow Retrospeccers has been added below the video.]

it doesn't matter if you believe in the gods or you don't

sometimes writing out a wish is emotionally powerful enough to spur you into working towards it, or for fate to nudge you in the right direction

so, for example, if you need help filling out the bingo tile to "grant a friend a wish", I can help arrange for that here! (✩´꒳`✩)

or if you don't want to make the trek but you okay with posting your wish here so it can potentially be fulfilled, that's fine too

Tanabata is closely tied to Obon, the festival honoring ancestors and lost loved ones, so you guys might see something else from me when that comes up too

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She texts back something affectionately equivalent to "you ice cream fanatics" before trotting to the back room to find something for him.

When he arrives, she'll have only just found something, the whole thing draped over her arm as she goes out to greet whoever just came in.]

Oh, Sora! Perfect timing, let's get you to the fitting room.

What, already?

[He literally just walked in, Minako. Still, Sora lets himself be shuffled over to the fitting room and ushered inside with the yukata. He holds it up to himself, and he has to admit, his cousin's sense of style far exceeds his own.

It doesn't take him long to change and come out of the dressing room for Minako to fuss over further.]

How do I look?

[And fuss she does! Minako reaches over and adjusts the sash so it sits straight across his hips, but she's smiling wide the whole while.]

Like you came straight from Japan! It looks really good on you. Actually--

[She reaches over to the nearby table and hands him a traditional rounded uchiwa fan.]

There, that completes the look!

[Get ready to be blinded by the flash of her phone camera, Sora.]

[Luckily, he's totally already ready for the camera, and flashes his trademark smiles for it. He knows these are all going to his mom, anyway.

After that's done, he walks over and looks in the mirror, admiring the yukata. Vaguely, he thinks of an old photograph of his grandfather when he was young, still living in Japan. Honestly, he doesn't look a thing like his maternal grandfather, but the effect is still nice.]

D'you know, I've never actually been to Japan? I think Mom has, but after we were born I think she just never got around to it again. Is that weird?

I don't think so. I'm sure some people must be unable to visit their ancestral home for one reason or another. Too busy, not enough time or money, not knowing where to start planning for such a trip. Those kinds of things.

[She smiles, soft and fond, at him in the mirror.]

I hope Auntie can go again sometime soon, though. And take you with her. It's worth seeing even just once.

Yeah. I mean, it's not like I'm disconnected from it or something. Mom's side of the family is still pretty traditional, and my Japanese is pretty good. I'd like to visit someday.

[Sora turns away from the mirror, finally, and moves back over to Minako, hands fiddling with the fan.]

What's it like there?

[She was halfway to pulling out her phone so they could take a selfie together, but his question makes her pause.]

Aside from all the usual things about the breathtaking scenery and the meaningful culture and the delicious food?

The people are very different. I can't say too much about the rural areas, but in Tokyo where I lived, it can be very cut and dry. Everyone is always busy, always working hard. People are polite, and sometimes that's a bad thing because sometimes it feels like there's a lack of sincerity in every interaction you have in the course of a day, because everyone is trying hard to live up to someone else's expectations. You wonder if they're really a part of your life, or if they're only only someone who decides when it's convenient for them to be around you.

[She presses her lips together and decides to stop pursuing that line of thought before she upsets herself.]

But when they're on their off days, when they can let loose and remind themselves that there's something else aside from their work? They are the most enthusiastic people you can ever find. Every Japanese person is a fan of something, and they'll completely indulge themselves with good food and friends while being a fan, whether it's going to idol concerts or playing card games or having tea ceremonies.

[She taps the corner of her lips as they curve up, just a little.]

They have the most beautiful smiles, when they're enjoying themselves. That's the Japan that I hope you get to see one day.

[Sora listens patiently to Minako's speech, and watches. He's never heard her talk about her life before Recolle before, and in a way he almost feels like there's something she's not telling him.

But, he lets it go. Minako will tell him when she feels ready to, when she wants to, and Sora would never push her into telling him. He likes to think that they have a trusting relationship, and honestly, sometimes she feels more like his older sister than his cousin.

When she's finished, he looks up at Minako and grins.]

I think that sounds really cool. I definitely want to go visit sometime. You should come with me!

[She relaxes, laughs, and leans forward to give him a little noogie over his hair.]

Um, excuse you, that was the plan all along. How else are you going to eat all the best food in the city and avoid all of the tourist traps?

[Sora laughs with her, glad that he could cheer her up, at least.]

I dunno. I guess I'd have to wing it!

Nope, no winging it, not when you have me to be your guide. So you'd better start saving up for the trip~

sixth evocation ✧ cybele

yes!

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