A Night of One-Hundred Tales!

[faithfulflame]

Who: Rei Hino, Tsuzuki Asato, and ANYONE who wants to join in!
What: A Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, or telling ghost stories!
When: October 29th in the evening
Where: Tsukino Shrine
Summary: Rei and Tsuzuki decide to invite people to share ghost stories to celebrate Halloween. There will be food and drinks, and the ghostly interlopers are kept at bay by the shrine's wards to give people a break from hauntings. Turn up and share stories, or listen to them.
Rating: PG-13 at the worst, depending on the story!

It had taken quite a bit of work, but as night fell everything seemed as perfect as they could manage it. The andon were lit, the chairs were arranged in the courtyard, and the wind-screens were in place to keep everyone warm. Rei had thrown open the shrine doors and set out braziers to warm participants, stoking them with embers from the temple's main flames. Food had been laid out, snacks, coolers of cold drinks, and even thermoses of hot water for warm ones. They even had a mirror sitting on the steps of the shrine, reflecting light into the courtyard. Not the most traditional way of doing things, but it's what they had to work with.

The shrine wasn't large enough to house a crowd of more than ten or twelve people inside, but if the crowd was small enough they could move indoors. Everything was set up for a night of storytelling, casual fun, and a little bit of relief from the ghostly visitors that were assailing the villagers.

Guests start arriving around twilight, and Rei can't help but smile as they get underway. This was hopefully going to be a good time for everyone involved.

(OOC: Feel free to assume Tsuzuki or Rei made an announcement about the party. For those not familiar, the goal of a Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai is to share stories with other people. Each time a story is finished, one andon (small lantern) is extinguished and the room steadily gets darker. Feel free to have your character post a story of their own in a comment, and discuss to discuss what's been narrated. Linn and I would love to have characters share ghost stories from all sorts of worlds, scary or silly. I hope you guys enjoy this!)

Comments

[idealism]

Good. [He doesn't think about the hand holding. Gods have different rules for this kind of thing. And right now, it's a way to offer quick reassurance in the case that Eley feels scared to be on another god's turf, which means that Tsuzuki is perfectly happy to continue to hold it.]

Isn't it pretty? Rei got some friends to build it.

[winds_voice]

[Really, Eley didn't know the benefits of being close to anyone else or making physical contact. It did seem to comfort him having that constant reminder that someone was right there with him, though he still carries on as if he hasn't even noticed what he's doing, looking at the many candles and the temple as a whole.]

It is a very beautiful temple. What do people worship here? Or should I say who?

[idealism]

[It's so natural to Tsuzuki that it doesn't occur to him that he ought to explain it. It just helps them both relax. Where is the harm?]

You know, I'm not really sure. We should ask her.

[winds_voice]

[Eley will notice in a minute, honestly... Then again, what would he do if he did?]

Perhaps I shall. I would like to know more about this temple since I have been invited to stay here tonight.

[Speaking of.]

What exactly are we doing here again?

[idealism]

Ghost stories!

[He sounds way too happy when he says so. Tsuzuki helpfully points to the candles they've been lighting, as if that will Explain Everything.]

The tradition is to try to tell at least a hundred tales before the night is up, and then snuff out a candle after each story.

[winds_voice]

[Eley nearly jumps at Tsuzuki's suddenly excited tone. He follows his pointing finger to the candles and listens carefully.]

I see. It is quite an interesting way to spend the night. One hundred stories seems like quite an achievement though. What happens if you do not succeed?

[Yes he's taking this verrry seriously all of a sudden.]

[idealism]

Then we just tell as many as we can.

[It's kind of sweet how earnest he is.]

Do you know why we tell ghost stories the way we do?

[winds_voice]

There are no consequences? That is good to know.

[ff Eley hasn't really learned the concept of doing things for the sake of tradition, for fun or simply because that was what was done. He's eager to learn though!]

I do not. Is there a reason?

[idealism]

Well, originally people were afraid they'd summon spirits by talking about them. Telling ghost stories was a mark of courage, because sometimes the spirits liked to make visits.

And if they didn't like the stories, they made sure to let people know.

[winds_voice]

... [That wasn't unnerving at all.] Then it was a challenge to all of those involved? It seems... dangerous. Were they always protected by wards?

[idealism]

No. Usually there are no wards.

[He stops, watching Eleytheria carefully.]

Are you okay? You look a little pale.

[winds_voice]

[fff don't watch him like that, you'll make him blush! And he doesn't even know why.]

Ah, yes I am fine. I am just glad for some protection. I would rather not meet malicious spirits tonight.

[idealism]

[Confused blushing is the best kind of blushing.]

Me neither! I had enough of them last year.

[winds_voice]

[Shhh, but... now he's wondering.]

What happened to you last year?

[idealism]

I don't remember if it was last year or the year before, but there was a mist. It made you remember horrible things.