open!

[arf]

🧙 WHO: Taichi Nanao & YOU!
⚔️️ WHAT: Open prompt for teru teru bozu quest and a street act!
🕒 WHEN: Early June
🗺️ WHERE: A cafe for the first prompt, on the streets of Camelot for the second!
⚠️ WARNINGS: The Teru Teru Bozu song is actually kinda creepy? It's got an execution in it. Otherwise probably nothing.

A. Wetdding Bells! (Quest)
[ There are a handful of things Taichi is an absolute mess about, and there are a handful of things that Taichi is surprisingly good at even though he doesn't seem like the type. With how excitable he is and not necessarily patient, it often confuses people to learn that he's good with his hands. Arts and crafts, particularly paper crafts and sewing, are specialties of his. A specialty he's happy to show off while surrounded by a group of kids at a little cafe right now. There's one he was obviously working on sewing really nicely on the table, but since a bunch of kids were asking about it, he decided to show them it's something anyone can make even if they can't sew!! ]

Teru teru bozu are from Japan! That's where I'm from! Though I've never heard anything about marrying them before... Anyway, it's super easy, you can even do it with coffee filters or napkins.

[ It's very simple, and he shows the group of kids to scrunch a couple of napkins and stuff them inside the other, then tie the head off with one side of the string long to hang it from something and draw a face on it. ]

Oh- but you can't forget the most important part! Let me teach you guys the song or the spell won't be complete!

[ Taichi proceeds to get a group of kids singing the teru teru bozu song... which is fine until like the last part, which Taichi doesn't even think about being weird because that's how it goes? Either way, feel free to join in if you know the song, or yell at him for teaching kids about cutting off monk heads, or ask him how to make the more advanced sewn versions he's making himself! ]

B. Street Act + Advertising!
[ It's not exactly the way the theater advertises here normally, so Taichi's out here with only one or two reluctant actors who feel like they should definitely not be acting on the street for free as opposed to the theater. At the very least, he got someone to hand out flyers for their actual play while Taichi tries to act on his own with the audience as participants. Taichi is really throwing himself into it though, and if anyone joins in with him, he'll happily incorporate them into the scene.

And so, with tears in his eyes and a grown-ass man looking dead-eyed behind him, Taichi grasps someone's hand with his own. It looks like there's genuine pain in his eyes. ]

Please, you have to help me..! My sister was kidnapped by the yakuza, I need your help to rescue her!

[ Well, he's kind of an idiot, so he forgot not everyone knows what a yakuza is. Someone may want to save him on that, too.. or pretend to be a yakuza and come "kill" him, he's pretty great at death scenes.

..Or wait until he's done and ask about the flyer he just handed out, for an actual theater performance! Taichi's neither of the main actors, but he is in the background of the promo photo on the flyer. He has a couple of lines and he's so proud of it ok!!! ]

C. Wildcard
[ Have something you wanna do? Let me know. I may go back to add prompts for the event later once it's up too. Closed prompts in comments. ]

Comments

Closed to Ren

[arf]

[ Working at a karaoke bar is probably a lot of fun, but Taichi is finding that it doesn't leave much room for his visit-at-work of Ren to have that much actual visiting... Maybe he'll have to stick around until after hours to bug him...!!

Though Taichi's bed time tends to be pretty early, so that may not work very well. But at some point he does manage to flag Ren down to at least ask for one thing before an attempt to stay until closing! Just in case his sleepy self doesn't make it.]

Ren-san! Are you busy?

[saxsongs]

[Ren smiles when he notices Taichi and waves at him just as he walks over.]

Hey, Taichi-chan. Not at all, I was just about to end my shift for today.

[arf]

Heh, you're probably trying to get out of here then, huh? I was going to ask if you could hang out.

[ But he doesn't want to make him stay at wok f he doesn't want to. ]

[saxsongs]

I don't really mind staying. It's fun just being the customer every once in a while.

[He winks, looking around.] There's a free booth there or we could grab a bite. It's on me.

[arf]

Let's do a booth! Hehe, I want to hear you sing!

[ He knows he can but he doesn't think he ever actually has seen it live!? He couldn't make it to the Valentine's live due to certain circumstances involving getting kicked out of the inn. ]

teru teru!

[currysseur]

( man, she hasn't made teru teru bozu in a while, but the process brings back some good memories. her hands work automatically at the construction of one while she watches Taichi teach some of the kids who've gathered around.

it's adorable, filling her heart with warmth. he's a wonderful young man and it's moments like this where she truly remembers that he's an older brother as well. the kids are enthralled, excited to make these little dolls for... well, a purpose Izumi had never heard of, but different worlds and all that.

she even sings along with the song, a smile on her face all the while. )

Taichi-kun— ( she pipes up once it's time to start setting these out. ) I have an idea.

( she's been practicing her light magic, so... ) I think I can make a light altar for the dolls. ( she thinks that would be so cute, okay? )

Re: teru teru!

[arf]

A light altar...?

[ Taichi looks curious, but he's not really sure what she means. It sounds cool though. ]

What's that look like? Maybe we can do a whole theme!

[currysseur]

( yes! it's a little ambitious, even in the basic form she's thinking of, but a girl never got anywhere without practicing new skills. that's how she's choosing to think of this whole magic business, anyway. )

Hm... How about this?

( she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, imagining a church, picturing the aisles, flower petals falling, light streaming through stained glass windows...

okay, maybe she overdid the detail, as instead of a little church aisle placed nicely in her palms, what actually happens is the whole room fills with blinding, multicoloured light and no proper shape.

dang it. )

[arf]

[ Taichi's eyes light up from excitement, reflecting the lights of Izumi's bright-lit room. ]

Director-Sensei, that's so cool! Maybe a little big, but awesome!

[currysseur]

( it is pretty nice, but... whoa. )

H-how do I make it smaller?!

( uh... maybe she should just think about it? right! that should work, and so she screws up her face and concentrates once more! she'll do it this time.

... or, instead, she'll create a small, purple cube of light. )

Oh.

Street Act!

[bakudan_bambino]

[He just stopped by out of curiosity, hearing the noise and the bustle of the small crowd enjoying? the show being put on. Gokudera certainly isn't expecting anyone to take his hand, and he recoils some before he's looking at teary eyes and is taken completely aback. The cigarette between his lips dangles slightly and he gives a tough expression.

If he were to help rescue this guy's sister from the yakuza, surely his boss would think well of him and he'd have no choice but to make him his right hand!

Ever the hero, and stupid as well about this being street acting, he toughens up.]

Where are they? I'll take care of them.

[He is dead serious. This boy would flash a holstered gun if he had one, but all he's got is dynamite tucked against his dress shirt. Gokudera would probably look more like the mafioso he is, except he isn't in a suit. It's just a grey dress shirt, a blue zip-up hoodie, and some black jeans with a fashionable leather belt.]

[yankiisuwari]

[ Juza, too, looks like a complete bystander, but the truth is that he's into acting at least as much as Taichi is. He watches as someone else gets pulled into the act, but the yakuza part is basically his. Though he doesn't look as much like Ken Tatsuta without a suit—his usual, simple get-up with a college jacket, instead—his scowling face means every bit of it.

As he steps up, Juza's hand lands on Gokudera's shoulder. His eyes are on Taichi, he's telling his character. ]

Oi, you draggin' civilians into this? [ He speaks up for the street audience. ] I warned you, mess with the Nishiki Group and you'll pay the full price!

[arf]

[ Not being aware that this dude is literally packing heat, Taichi thinks it's obvious they're doing a street act. Apparently Gokudera hadn't gone by the flyers yet. When he hears Juza's voice and the positively terrifying lines coming from the guy who comes off as a gangster even in day-to-day life because of his appearance, Taichi could cheer. He doesn't though, he's a decent actor, and manages to stay in character. He lets out a shriek, tears welling up in the corner of his eyes as he moves around to hide behind Gokudera. ]

Th-That's him! There's no way we're getting out of this! Quick, think of something, he's never going to let us go! Uhggggg, why did I steal those juicy dogs from their cover-up kitchen!?

[bakudan_bambino]

[Gokudera is convinced by the acting, and also gullible. That, and he takes matters of the mafia and yakuza very seriously, having dealt with both in his life. He's a traditionalist at heart, and that this is a street performance flies over his head. He hadn't associated the fliers with this performance, thinks it's just a gathering of people. Honestly, if Taichi were not acting, seeking help from the public would be a wise move. There are plenty of public eyes to look out for his safety. And that's exactly the reason he isn't pulling any bombs out. Too many innocent bystanders (the actual audience, Gokudera you clueless, idiot boy), that could be hurt.

Juza should not touch him. No one should, for that matter. Especially when he's facing someone under distress. It puts him on edge. The words behind him, spoken clearly so that his voice carries to the audience (how does Gokudera misunderstand that this is acting), just set off all the alarms in his head.

Dogs?! Cover-up?! It's legit. It has to be!

Gokudera turns on a dime and aims a fist right for the purple-haired man's nose with no hesitation. He moves to Taichi and clenches his fist before him, the image of righteous determination]

Get out of here. I'll find your sister even if I have to beat him and the entire Nikishi group.

[yankiisuwari]

[ Taichi is really all about his juicy dogs. This is a detail Juza can roll with, doesn't matter that it might have the plot come up as ridiculous, acting the gangster-part can just as much be done over some roasted weenies. Conversely, he hasn't got a clue that Gokudera isn't getting it. That guy is reacting passionately, he might as well be an enthusiastic actor, too. While Taichi clings to his savior, Juza gets his next line lined up. ]

Some scum thief like you, we're gonna p— [ Pound into cutlets? Wherever this cover-up kitchen scene was going, he doesn't see the fist coming. And that's not an act, shit's a real punch; Juza knows street fights. ] Ugh... [ That smarts. He groans, but without holding his face or anything, hardly even swaying. Though, as he comes around, he grabs and yanks the back of Gokudera's hoodie, unaware of the no-touching policy this guy's got going. ] ......You wanna get your ass kicked right now?!

[ Uh-oh... that punch maybe riled Juza up more than 's good for the show here. He's got a sort of look in his eye that Taichi must know from him getting in a scuffle with Settsu. Forget the Nishiki Group, for a hot-headed second. ]

A. Teru Teru

[yorhaberserker]

[She was walking by the café when she saw a group of children surrounding a table. Curious she finds herself wandering over to observe what was happening. The children seemed excited as she watched them.]

Teru teru bozu? What exactly are they for?

[She tilts her head to the side as she asked her question.]

[arf]

They help dispel the rain! I guess the storm spirits here are super attracted to them, which is way cuter than the original way the used to help with it.

[ Taichi's happy to share about arts and crafts. he's dumb about a lot of stuff, but he loves this kind of stuff. ]

[yorhaberserker]

[She gave him a little smile, his excitement palpable.]

Would you mind showing me how to make one? It would be nice to get away from all this rain.

[arf]

Sure! The paper one or the sewn ones? I have extra fabric.

[ So, whichever level she wants to learn is fine. He grins. Wow, she looks really cool.. He's so lucky to get to teach a lady like this something!? ]

I'm Taichi Nanao.

[yorhaberserker]

[She looked over the little Teru Teru's, smiling softly.]

Probably start with paper. Be safer that way. I'm A2, it's a pleasure Taichi Nanao.

five years later, Teru Teru Bozu (backdated to start of June)

[saxsongs]

[Ren had heard of teru teru bozu of course, but he had never actually done any. So this was all new to him and he was following the napkin instructions.

Then Taichi starts singing the song and while he could join in, he ends up looking at the kids at the end who look... sort of terrified. And back at Taichi who doesn't seem to notice.

He moves to shelter a young girls' ears since she's visibly shaking. She clings to him.]

Tai-chan, maybe that song isn't... appropriate.

[arf]

Why not? It's the traditional song you learn growing up...

[ He doesn't get it. he didn't even really think about it, much like most people don't think about how creepy a lot of kids songs are (LIke rock a bye baby, or ring around the rosie..) ]

[saxsongs]

Have you ever stopped to listen to the words?

[Just a ... friendly suggestion.]

[arf]

Sure I have.

[ ...Has he?

Taichi looks like he's processing for a second as he thinks about it. ]

Wait, that's creepy?!

[saxsongs]

[Ren nods. So do the kids, still looking pretty shocked.]

Kid's songs sometimes surprise you with their lyrics.