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 Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 1:10 am
2025 Star Festival Prompt The Lantern Festival (7) : Scientists have been hard at work trying to understand the strange, glowing qualities of the luminescent caterpillars found in the caves by the reservoir. The caterpillars still shrivel up if they are taken out of the caves but their glowing secretions have been processed into an organic paste that can withstand the outside world. The city is selling paper lanterns infused with various seeds. The glow paste is full of minerals to support healthy plant growth without risking damage to the environment; all lantern purchases come with a small packet of activating power that will heat the paste up enough to mimic the effects of a candle without the concerns of flammability. When the glow paste loses its heat, the lantern will return to the Earth and upon the first rain (or any contact with water) the paper will dissolve and the seeds may begin to grow. All proceeds from the lanterns are put right back into the community to support local conservation and environmental protection efforts.
It seemed that a packet of activating powder was included with the purchase of each lantern. The powder was supposed to heat the paste up enough to cause the lantern to float. Roka decided to buy a lantern, thinking it would be nice to make a wish on it before sending it off into the sky with the heat from the glowing paste. It must have gotten hotter than he expected to be able to cause the whole lantern to defy gravity and he was eager to see it at work.
Though he knew he probably wouldn’t get to see where the lantern landed, the glow paste was supposed to eventually lose its heat gradually, causing the lantern to descend back to Earth where any contact with water would cause its paper to dissolve and the seeds in the paper to grow. Even better was the fact that the lantern proceeds were supposed to support local conservation and environmental protection efforts by going right back into the community towards those causes. It seemed like an all-around good idea, so Roka made his purchase and got to work setting up his paper lantern.Near_Rivers2665 ((Please let me know if you’d like me to change anything!))
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 11:13 am
Every year, Jackson spent a few days before the event pondering whether he would go to the Star Festival or not, and every year he ended up going. He always had a decent time once he got there, but it was always the convincing himself that he shouldn't stay cooped up in his flat with his guitar and paints and studies that needed doing. Especially if he was intent on being a teacher, it wouldn't do to give in to this more introverted nature and just stay home. So, on the afternoon of the first day, he dressed in a black T shirt, black jeans, and black converse high top sneakers, and headed towards the festival grounds. Once there, Jackson took a long walk around the festival, taking in the sights, figuring out what there was to do this year, grabbing a snack or 2 and a drink, and eventually making his way over to the lantern booth. The information provided about the lanterns was actually rather fascinating. He had vaguely heard about the cave with the newly discovered caterpillars and their glowing properties but he hadn't given a lot of real thought to the information. It was interesting that scientists had already found some real application for them aside from just being cool and lighting up the caves that they came from. He looked at the lanterns being sold, he continued to read on how the lanterns were basically designed to fly out, land, degrade, and grow more plants and greenery for the environment. Frankly, Jackson wasn't much for any kind of active conservation, but he always enjoyed the outside and appreciated the effort that other people actively took to make sure he could continue to enjoy the outside and nature, in general. That being said, it wasn't like he would decline to participate in efforts like this that presented themselves to him and were not overtly out of his way to take part in. So, he bought a lantern with a gold star charm and started to wander off to set it up and set it off into the sky With the thousands of other lanterns. As he walked and tried to find somewhere to set up, Jackson saw a familiar waterfall of long silver hair. Familiar in the fact that he had seen Roka Toshiro in quite a few of his music related classes at the university. He wasn't sure what major the other man was in aside from they shared a few classes in the music department, and he didn't know too much about him other than he was quiet, did his work, and then seemed to vanish before Jackson could pack his things away. Jackson also rarely saw the man anywhere other than classes. Jackson had thought a few times about trying to talk to the man and find out more about him, but the opportunity never presented itself for more than a moment. Maybe now would be the moment as Rocco seemed to be setting up his own lantern. "It is interesting to see you here, Mr. Toshiro." Jackson said gently as he walked over to the other man. He smirked a little. " I wasn't sure you existed outside of the music department." He continued, slightly teasing the shoulder man. We generally hoped that his teasing wasn't offensive. It wasn't like Jacqueline had any real social life this weekend. Usually did his classes and either immediately went home to do homework, practice his instruments, or paint, or he was meeting someone for an instrument or art lesson of some kind. Jackson was friendly with his classmates, but he wouldn't call almost any of them friends. It's hard to make connections and real friendships as an adult but Jackson was open to the opportunity to make one. Something made him feel like he and Roka had maybe a little more in common.
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 12:20 pm
As Roka went about setting up his paper lantern, he found the kit came with an Opal Star Charm and smiled with surprise. It was very pretty, so he set it aside to later put with the others he had found or been given during the festival. Just as he was turning back to his lantern kit, however, a voice spoke up, addressing him politely with a 'mister' preceding his last name. He startled a bit, at first thinking it might have been someone from his family's company, but when he looked up, he found another pleasant surprise.
"Oh! Mister...Mr. Insomnieux, was it?" he asked, unable to hide the grin that suddenly sprang to his face. "I'm so flattered you know me! I know we've passed each other briefly in classes and hallways, but it's so good to see you outside of that environment! As it so happens, I do, indeed, exist outside the music department, but usually secluded and alone somewhere, so I don't blame you. I'm glad to have the chance to get out and take in some fresh air, though, for once! How about you? Are you enjoying the Star Festival?"
His broad grin broadened wider as he noticed Jackson was wearing an all black shirt, pants, and shoes to match his hair. Was he going for a goth look, perhaps? Or emo, with his bangs covering the right half of his face? It was always amusing to Roka that they each wore their hair parted to have their bangs hiding their right eye while their left eyes were both green, but he'd always been too shy to comment on it.
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Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2025 7:02 pm
Jackson couldn't help if a small amount of color came into his face at the bright smile that spread across his classmate's face at the sight of his darker classmate coming to talk to him. Jackson wasn't exactly used to people other than his parents being quite so happy to see him and so wasn't prepared for that enthusiastic of a greeting. He also hadn't expected the shy, elusive man to, well, say so much so suddenly. The taller man smoothed his bangs down over his non-functioning right eye a little shyly as he responded to the slurry of questions. "You can call me Jackson if you want." He started with. It would be nice if they could be less formal after all. "I'm rather the same. I usually don’t do a lot outside of the university and my flat, but I think my family name would be shamed if I didn't go to the Star Festival for at least one night." He continued with a small chuckle, teasing himself. "I always enjoy it when I can convince myself that it's worth coming out for. How about you? What do you think of what they've done with the lanterns?"As shy as they both were, or as Roka seemed to be, it was surprisingly easy to talk to him. For half a second, Jackson wondered why he hadn't talked to the other man before this.
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2025 5:52 pm
Was it just his imagination, or had Jackson gotten a bit pinker? Roka wasn't sure, but he began to wonder if he might have said something wrong or embarrassing, pondering it over as he watched his fellow college student smooth down his bangs. The gesture caused him to smile fondly, reminding him of his own habit of tugging on his bangs when he was nervous or otherwise flustered. Roka tried to think harder about if he might have done something wrong to cause him to behave in such a way, but it was difficult when Jackson's behavior was so distractingly cute.
"I'd like that," he said happily when Jackson told him he could call him by his first name. "But then you have to call me 'Roka'. Deal?"
It was intriguing to hear that Jackson also spent much of his time alone in his flat outside of university...but something he said had Roka especially curious. "Your...family name?" he asked. "I'm sorry, I've been overseas for the past few years. Is your family well-known around here?"
He laughed lightly when the noiret explained he ended up enjoying himself when he could convince himself to come out to the Star Festival. "Funny how that works, isn't it? I'm glad you remember that you enjoy it enough to convince yourself to come out again each time."
Oh! The lanterns! He'd almost forgotten all about them! "I love them," he stated, smiling down at the kit he'd all but forgotten in his hands. "It's wonderful how it gives us something to do while not just being harmless, but also giving back to the enviornment in various ways. They're almost like stars when they float up into the sky. And I know some people like to make wishes on them just like stars, too."
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 2:25 pm
Jackson found himself smiling as Roka smiled and then smiling sheepishly wider as Roka gave Jackson permission to use his first name as well. "Deal."
He raised an eyebrow as Roka asked about his family and then chuckled a little, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah. Not particularly. That was mostly a joke, but it is important to my parents. When I was younger, we used to go every year, and they made a big deal out of it."
The taller man nodded along as Roka spoke with a certain admiration about the lanterns and their purpose. "It is kind of fascinating what they've done with it. Ah, if you'd like, there's a hill I know that we could put them together and set them off. It... isn't too far." Jackson offered shyly.
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 3:23 pm
Dazzled by Jackson's smile, Roka almost didn't hear his next words, but the sheepish way the other young man rubbed the back of his neck caused Roka to realize he might have just embarrassed himself again by missing the joke. Because...well, he had something of a well-known family name, at least in Japan, and the peers he'd known there had all had pretty well-known families as well. He should have known better to assume the same of Jackson.
"O-oh! Right, of course," he said, forcing an awkward chuckle as he anxiously tugged on his own bangs. How could he have been so stupid? "Sorry about that. But...that sounds nice, being able to attend something like this with your family." He certainly would have liked to go with his if he could have. He wondered vaguely why Jackson didn't still go with his family today, but decided not to pry. He didn't want to humiliate himself any more than necessary or be nosier than he already had.
Brightening as Jackson recommended a hill they could go together to set off their lanterns, Roka cried, "That sounds perfect! Would you...please lead the way?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 4:14 pm
Jackson himself couldn't help but be captivated by the blush that kept creeping up over the bridge of the other man's nose. It was undeniably adorable and he had a hard time reigning in the burst of affection that kept flowering in his chest. Jackson wasn't usually draw to people in this way this quickly, and frankly it had been quite a long time since he was draw to anyone in this way. It felt foreign to have, well, what appeared to be a crush again. He hadn't expected for Roka to be this talkative either and it was a nice surprise that ended up drawing Jackson in even further. For a second, he couldn't help but wonder if Roka was always this friendly, but just a busy college student who didn't want to get distracted by being draw into social conversations and that's why he was so quick to get out of class and back home. Probably. Jackson resisted the urge to take the other man's hand to guide him, and gestured to another end of the park with his hand instead. "Yeah." He said with a smile. "It's right over here." He led the other man over to a rather tall hill that overlooked the city, sat down, gesturing for Roka to sit down near him, and began to assemble his lantern. "Does your family live far away or nearby?" He asked, remembering Roka's comment about it being nice to attend with family, which meant they either were probably either uninterested in going with him, or to far away to go with him.
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 5:56 pm
Beaming so hard his face hurt, Roka followed after and wished his heart would stop hammering so fast in his chest because frankly it was annoying. He felt he was too old to feel an infatuation this quickly like he might have in high school just because some cute guy was giving him some personal attention.
The cute guys generally knew what catches they were and played it to their advantage. From what Roka knew, not only was Jackson so good-looking, but he was quite talented as well - not just as a musician, but an artist, too, from what he'd heard. He couldn't allow himself to be drawn in so easily, especially not so quickly.
Roka had gotten infatuations and even crushes at least a couple of times before and each time he had found out the person he had a crush on didn't feel the same way about him or had their own red flags.
But this one, Jackson...just seemed so nice. And Roka hardly ever saw him with anyone else. Of course, maybe that was just because he was private about his love life or lives...playboys often were when they didn't want their other girlfriends knowing about each other...but Roka wasn't sure. Jackson didn't exactly seem the type.
He had to stop overthinking everything. Jackson had just asked him to go up on a hill to release lanterns, not go out on a date. Sheesh.
Roka continued to follow until Jackson gestured for him to sit down next to him on the hill and he did so, his lantern and the other parts of the kit in his lap. As he continued to put it together while Jackson did the same, he found himself being asked a question and looked up in surprise. "They...live in Japan," he explained with a small, sad smile. "I just came back from there, but I didn't get much time to spend with my sisters because my father wanted me to shadow him at his work. Still, though...it's nice to be able to be more independent and do what I want again here."
He glanced at Jackson. "What about you, if you don't mind me asking? How come you didn't attend the festival with your family this year?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 6:47 pm
"Ah," Jackson said as he put his lantern together, admittedly stealing glances at Roka as he worked on his own and talked. "I'm sorry about that. Does it bother you being so far away from home?"Jackson thought for a moment on Roka's question about his family as he finished putting together his lantern. "My parents are older and my mother's health isn't as stable as it used to be, so they don't go out as much any more. We might go together on another night when they're feeling up to it." He said finally without a lot of emotion. He cared about his parents and the fact that they were getting older and weaker but he'd always been taught that that was just life. It was just matter-of-fact. "Are you ready?" He asked, looking up at the other man with a gentle smile as he finished his lantern and prepared to start the packet that would make it fly.
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 8:09 pm
Chuckling softly, Roka shook his head. "My family is so controlling, it's a relief to be away from them. I lived in Destiny City once six, almost seven years ago to do some schooling here, so I'm no stranger to living alone, but I do miss my sisters a great deal. I have three; one older and two younger. The older is the one who taught me a love for music." He paused, realizing how much he was talking. "I'm sorry, I'm ranting. I guess...I do wish I got to spend more time with them. But...I hope maybe one day...I can maybe persuade my parents to let them come here."
He finished up the last of his lantern's assembly as he listened to Jackson, setting the thing aside to face him when he was finished so he could give him his full attention. "Oh...I'm so sorry to hear that," he said, his brows steepling in concern. "I really hope you get to. If you need any help bringing your parents here or assisting them or looking after them, please don't hesitate to let me know! I'd be happy to."
Roka allowed himself to smile again when he saw Jackson's - boy, was that man's smile dazzling; not to mention contagious - and nodded. "I think I'll make a wish on mine as we let them go. Are you going to do the same? Or...do you think that's silly?" he asked as he pushed himself up to his feet and offered Jackson a hand up.
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 8:40 pm
Jackson smiled, taking Roka's hand and hauling himself up from the ground before putting the packet in and gently letting the lantern float away from his hand.
"I will. I don't think it's silly at all." he said, turning back to Roka after making his silent wish and watching his and the Roka's take flight. "I'm glad we met today."
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 11:00 pm
"Me too," Roka answered, glad it was getting too dark by then to see how red his face had gotten. Had he actually taken his hand? It had seemed like a dream. But then, the whole thing had started to seem surreal by then. He really needed to be careful about getting in too deep too quickly. It was like falling into quicksand and by then, he wasn't sure he could get out.
Still, he couldn't keep the smile off his face despite what he was sure was his imminent demise closing in on him.
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