Miyako
🎖️ Game Master
- RP Date
- YE 44.9 (Solstice->Until New Year's Day)
- RP Location
- Kyoto, Yamatai
Downtown Kyoto, Planet Yamatai
Winter-Night Lights Pavilion
There was a flurry of activity on the night of Winter Solstice in downtown Kyoto, which was coincidentally encountering a heavy snowfall that early evening. Festivities in the massive park sandwiched between immensely tall skyscrapers and access to mass transit had been underway since at least 1500 hours local time, but the big announcements were coming as the longest night of Winter set in. The party promised to be a complete blowout, and the main event was the lighting of the massive Norse spruce that was replanted in front of a positively massive feasting hall made out of dark wood, and decorated with lights.
Anyone who could be on Yamatai was invited, with explicit invitations going to members of the Motoyoshi, Ketsurui, and Shimizu Clans. Employees not working the event were given the rest of the year off and encouraged to attend. Given the change in temperature and clime, the Norians were invited through Aestaesys Airwin Caeyara with a handwritten card signed by Akina and Katsuko. Just in case, there was a special place attuned to their specific biology in one of the buildings nearby, off of the lobby.
The park was totally transformed into a mashup of Yamatai traditions at the end of the year leading up to New Year's Day. In addition to the feasting hall a large circular ice rink had been created, with the free skate rentals were doing a brisk business, though not as much as the stalls selling hot drinks for the wind-chapped! Revelers were everywhere despite the heavy snowfall, many were actively enjoying it. Opposite the Hall on the other side of the rink about 50 meters away there were lights beaming into large-scale ice sculptures. All the standards were there from snowflake and reindeer shapes to an attempt at the Empress herself. An amateur competition was being organized, and introductory classes (with no few Kodians) were all part of the fun.
Along the western path skirting the attractions there were booths and vendors of all kind that could be corralled into coming. Crews of starships willing to staff booths were given them, and the option to make their own treats and/or gifts to pass out, or use part of the funding for the event to furnish their generosity. There was a lottery booth to award a Princess-Class Yacht and all associated berthing and maintenance fees for five years, as well as secondary prizes.
Inside the great hall it was a buzz of activity. Real fires had been lit and filled the space with heat as much as all the bodies packed inside. Just like most of the staff hired for the Spectacular, they were in various kinds of costumes based on their interests. They ranged from full animal outfits to cheery and sometimes hideous sweaters. Hot food including the somehow traditional fried chicken and white cake with all the fixings was up for grabs, and a massive assortment of drinks from the Tokyo Brewing Company and other companies were being enjoyed with abandon.
For those seeking a reprieve from the nippy weather the skyscraper behind the hall led up to take the elevators to the top floor of the building to enjoy the sights such as they were, from on high in the hospitality suite there at the company headquarters. All of the buildings were specially decorated to have their lights out, and only as two figures flanked by many more made their way on the stage did they begin to slowly fade into colors, then slowly fade out so another on a different floor or further down could light up.
Dwarfed by the unlit tree a large stage had been set up, with snowflake patterns crossing the ground in front of a microphone as things finally started to get underway in earnest for the big lighting ceremony. There were risers for a choir, and a section where a band was already set up. The volumetric projectors turned on, and a band all bundled up with a small group of singers in more traditional outfits from Winter kimono to very Norse styled gowns and trousers. The music swelled as they took the stage, and joined the medley in singing songs about the holiday, and the joy of being with each other.
For some time the two figures stood in front of the orchestra while one conducted it. After covering the band on the massive projected screens, it cut to them. Princess Taisho Shimizu-Motoyoshi Akina wove her hands confidently and worked them through the song with one hand. The other was around a slightly taller blue-haired woman, very easily recognized as Jōkōgō Heika Motoyoshi-Ketsurui Katsuko, her wife. The redhead, whose hair sparkled even more than she had modified it to under the lights, looked positively energized as the song moved into the last minute, and closeups on their faces showed them blushing either from the cold, each other, or both.
People carrying volumetric candles they were given joined them after a time, but stayed to either side out in front of the orchestra, where they sat down. The seating was for Star Army Command Staff, Ketsurui, Motoyoshi, Shimizu, the Norian state leader if he attended and his retinue, and serving members of the Senate of Yamatai if they chose to attend. More handwritten invitations had gone out to the Empress and the heirs of each Clan, so anyone could show up!
The music came to a crashing, bouncy crescendo at the end and suddenly stopped as Katsuko suddenly raised her hand and directed the last page of music! When it ended, they both bowed slightly to the performers, then turned around and bowed in greeting to the crowd.
Akina took the microphone and placed her other hand in her wife's as the lights hit her and the screens showed her from the waist-up. She wore a traditional Norse dress that flowed to the floor, had a collar that was patterned in rare winter plants and trees, and it had a rather comfortable and warm looking sash around her midsection. A dagger hung from it in a sheath, and her makeup had been carefully applied to show up easily from the stage without being too dramatic, including a nice berry tone for her lips.
"Happy Yule, Kyoto!" She shouted, to get the crowd to shout back, which it did in a raucous song. A big smile cracked her face as she motioned out, sending the snowflake patterns to drift through the crowd while they all got more and more real snow on them.
She continued, "We're going to throw the switch up here and light up the whole complex to kick off in a moment. I want to welcome you to the First Annual Winter-Nights Solstice Spectacular! Happy Yule, to one and all! I'm so happy you've come to join us, it's really touching. It has been quite a year, and most of us have been through a lot, so we're going to party and enjoy each other's company like it counts, because it always does." After a pause, her eyes went to one of the screens.
"I have always wanted to do something like this, but this year there's even more reason to celebrate! Thanks to the hard work of everyone on our most involved project to date, I want to announce a new SYNC ecosystem of services and products to the Empire, but not just the Empire, to the sector!" At the clapping from the stage, she paused before going on. The words '桔梗ｃｏｎｎｅｃｔ' Flashed on the screen after a swooping transition of white and gold snowflakes obscured her face.
Akina continued to speak as a video showing a sleek hub page started to shift into three dimensions for a user with a volumetric projector coming from her Star Army Communicator. It swooped into her eyes, and then back out as she held up her hand to meet another pair of women in a mountainous region, meeting her with their snowboards. After that, images of a shopping hub both as a static page and a generated construct to browse with sensory input flashed on the screen.
"Consider this service formally available to the public. Use it to make connections across the vastness of space. Wherever SYNC reaches, Kikyo Connect will take you further. I am going to keep this brief, you can see all the features at the product store near the skating rink on the Western side." A vague gesture with the mic went in that direction, "My daughter Miu, one of the project managers, will also be there. She's dressed like a bear. Sort of. You can't miss her. With that all out of the way, I am officially announcing the formation of the Shimizu Zaibatsu to help manage our growing business. The work everyone has done to put these things together, not to mention working on the Spectacular is tremendous, and I am even happier to be here with my wife, Katsuko. I feel as giddy as when we met, and we're even closer now." That elicited both merry cheering as well as some hoots from the crowd, and some on the stage with them laughed softly.
"Now, if you'll help me?" Their hands went to a large switch on a pedestal in front of them. "Okay everyone, time to light up the Winter Nights! Count with me!"
"Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four..." The crowd became louder and louder as the numbers went lower, and the band and choir both prepared themselves to perform.
"...three..."
"...two..."
"...one!"
Together, the couple turned the light, which sent a wireless signal to the computer operating all the lighting, including with those in the buildings around them. The tree blazed to life from the star on down, and like it was spreading from that point of light, all around the park beautiful displays lit up, surrounding the entire place in twinkling lights beaming through the onslaught of snow.
"Happy Yule! Winter-Nights has officially started! Enjoy the rest of your night, and into the morning. Free access to the premium service from Knet will be given out to anyone wearing fancy dress, that is, a costume of some kind, at the main Shimizu tent, or just find a wandering gift giver to sign up! If you enter the lottery, you may get far more than a year! Again, from all of us at the Shimizu Clan, and Motoyoshi Clan, the best Yule to all of you."
The cheering started to swell again, and that's when the band took over to play them off the stage as the music, full of pomp and cheer started up again. They moved off following the VIPs also leaving the stage, as the official festival finally got underway in earnest, lighting up the Empire's home with light and merry-making.
Winter-Night Lights Pavilion
There was a flurry of activity on the night of Winter Solstice in downtown Kyoto, which was coincidentally encountering a heavy snowfall that early evening. Festivities in the massive park sandwiched between immensely tall skyscrapers and access to mass transit had been underway since at least 1500 hours local time, but the big announcements were coming as the longest night of Winter set in. The party promised to be a complete blowout, and the main event was the lighting of the massive Norse spruce that was replanted in front of a positively massive feasting hall made out of dark wood, and decorated with lights.
Anyone who could be on Yamatai was invited, with explicit invitations going to members of the Motoyoshi, Ketsurui, and Shimizu Clans. Employees not working the event were given the rest of the year off and encouraged to attend. Given the change in temperature and clime, the Norians were invited through Aestaesys Airwin Caeyara with a handwritten card signed by Akina and Katsuko. Just in case, there was a special place attuned to their specific biology in one of the buildings nearby, off of the lobby.
The park was totally transformed into a mashup of Yamatai traditions at the end of the year leading up to New Year's Day. In addition to the feasting hall a large circular ice rink had been created, with the free skate rentals were doing a brisk business, though not as much as the stalls selling hot drinks for the wind-chapped! Revelers were everywhere despite the heavy snowfall, many were actively enjoying it. Opposite the Hall on the other side of the rink about 50 meters away there were lights beaming into large-scale ice sculptures. All the standards were there from snowflake and reindeer shapes to an attempt at the Empress herself. An amateur competition was being organized, and introductory classes (with no few Kodians) were all part of the fun.
Along the western path skirting the attractions there were booths and vendors of all kind that could be corralled into coming. Crews of starships willing to staff booths were given them, and the option to make their own treats and/or gifts to pass out, or use part of the funding for the event to furnish their generosity. There was a lottery booth to award a Princess-Class Yacht and all associated berthing and maintenance fees for five years, as well as secondary prizes.
Inside the great hall it was a buzz of activity. Real fires had been lit and filled the space with heat as much as all the bodies packed inside. Just like most of the staff hired for the Spectacular, they were in various kinds of costumes based on their interests. They ranged from full animal outfits to cheery and sometimes hideous sweaters. Hot food including the somehow traditional fried chicken and white cake with all the fixings was up for grabs, and a massive assortment of drinks from the Tokyo Brewing Company and other companies were being enjoyed with abandon.
For those seeking a reprieve from the nippy weather the skyscraper behind the hall led up to take the elevators to the top floor of the building to enjoy the sights such as they were, from on high in the hospitality suite there at the company headquarters. All of the buildings were specially decorated to have their lights out, and only as two figures flanked by many more made their way on the stage did they begin to slowly fade into colors, then slowly fade out so another on a different floor or further down could light up.
Dwarfed by the unlit tree a large stage had been set up, with snowflake patterns crossing the ground in front of a microphone as things finally started to get underway in earnest for the big lighting ceremony. There were risers for a choir, and a section where a band was already set up. The volumetric projectors turned on, and a band all bundled up with a small group of singers in more traditional outfits from Winter kimono to very Norse styled gowns and trousers. The music swelled as they took the stage, and joined the medley in singing songs about the holiday, and the joy of being with each other.
For some time the two figures stood in front of the orchestra while one conducted it. After covering the band on the massive projected screens, it cut to them. Princess Taisho Shimizu-Motoyoshi Akina wove her hands confidently and worked them through the song with one hand. The other was around a slightly taller blue-haired woman, very easily recognized as Jōkōgō Heika Motoyoshi-Ketsurui Katsuko, her wife. The redhead, whose hair sparkled even more than she had modified it to under the lights, looked positively energized as the song moved into the last minute, and closeups on their faces showed them blushing either from the cold, each other, or both.
People carrying volumetric candles they were given joined them after a time, but stayed to either side out in front of the orchestra, where they sat down. The seating was for Star Army Command Staff, Ketsurui, Motoyoshi, Shimizu, the Norian state leader if he attended and his retinue, and serving members of the Senate of Yamatai if they chose to attend. More handwritten invitations had gone out to the Empress and the heirs of each Clan, so anyone could show up!
The music came to a crashing, bouncy crescendo at the end and suddenly stopped as Katsuko suddenly raised her hand and directed the last page of music! When it ended, they both bowed slightly to the performers, then turned around and bowed in greeting to the crowd.
Akina took the microphone and placed her other hand in her wife's as the lights hit her and the screens showed her from the waist-up. She wore a traditional Norse dress that flowed to the floor, had a collar that was patterned in rare winter plants and trees, and it had a rather comfortable and warm looking sash around her midsection. A dagger hung from it in a sheath, and her makeup had been carefully applied to show up easily from the stage without being too dramatic, including a nice berry tone for her lips.
"Happy Yule, Kyoto!" She shouted, to get the crowd to shout back, which it did in a raucous song. A big smile cracked her face as she motioned out, sending the snowflake patterns to drift through the crowd while they all got more and more real snow on them.
She continued, "We're going to throw the switch up here and light up the whole complex to kick off in a moment. I want to welcome you to the First Annual Winter-Nights Solstice Spectacular! Happy Yule, to one and all! I'm so happy you've come to join us, it's really touching. It has been quite a year, and most of us have been through a lot, so we're going to party and enjoy each other's company like it counts, because it always does." After a pause, her eyes went to one of the screens.
"I have always wanted to do something like this, but this year there's even more reason to celebrate! Thanks to the hard work of everyone on our most involved project to date, I want to announce a new SYNC ecosystem of services and products to the Empire, but not just the Empire, to the sector!" At the clapping from the stage, she paused before going on. The words '桔梗ｃｏｎｎｅｃｔ' Flashed on the screen after a swooping transition of white and gold snowflakes obscured her face.
Akina continued to speak as a video showing a sleek hub page started to shift into three dimensions for a user with a volumetric projector coming from her Star Army Communicator. It swooped into her eyes, and then back out as she held up her hand to meet another pair of women in a mountainous region, meeting her with their snowboards. After that, images of a shopping hub both as a static page and a generated construct to browse with sensory input flashed on the screen.
"Consider this service formally available to the public. Use it to make connections across the vastness of space. Wherever SYNC reaches, Kikyo Connect will take you further. I am going to keep this brief, you can see all the features at the product store near the skating rink on the Western side." A vague gesture with the mic went in that direction, "My daughter Miu, one of the project managers, will also be there. She's dressed like a bear. Sort of. You can't miss her. With that all out of the way, I am officially announcing the formation of the Shimizu Zaibatsu to help manage our growing business. The work everyone has done to put these things together, not to mention working on the Spectacular is tremendous, and I am even happier to be here with my wife, Katsuko. I feel as giddy as when we met, and we're even closer now." That elicited both merry cheering as well as some hoots from the crowd, and some on the stage with them laughed softly.
"Now, if you'll help me?" Their hands went to a large switch on a pedestal in front of them. "Okay everyone, time to light up the Winter Nights! Count with me!"
"Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four..." The crowd became louder and louder as the numbers went lower, and the band and choir both prepared themselves to perform.
"...three..."
"...two..."
"...one!"
Together, the couple turned the light, which sent a wireless signal to the computer operating all the lighting, including with those in the buildings around them. The tree blazed to life from the star on down, and like it was spreading from that point of light, all around the park beautiful displays lit up, surrounding the entire place in twinkling lights beaming through the onslaught of snow.
"Happy Yule! Winter-Nights has officially started! Enjoy the rest of your night, and into the morning. Free access to the premium service from Knet will be given out to anyone wearing fancy dress, that is, a costume of some kind, at the main Shimizu tent, or just find a wandering gift giver to sign up! If you enter the lottery, you may get far more than a year! Again, from all of us at the Shimizu Clan, and Motoyoshi Clan, the best Yule to all of you."
The cheering started to swell again, and that's when the band took over to play them off the stage as the music, full of pomp and cheer started up again. They moved off following the VIPs also leaving the stage, as the official festival finally got underway in earnest, lighting up the Empire's home with light and merry-making.
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