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【MAID WEEK / open mingle】
MAID WEEK
Welcome to Starsand
The city's atmosphere has lightened up since the cherry blossoms were revived. Talk of Fallen Stars being "omens of misfortune" and "out to replace us normal folk," have died down to mere whispers. In their place is louder talk of an event affectionately called "Maid Week," which has captured the attention of gossip and activities alike.
When prompted, cityfolk will explain that the event is actually a citywide cleaning event. Everyone in the city gets together not just to clean the streets, but to repair things and decorate. It's common for walls to be set aside for drawing on with chalk or for entire art projects. People who specialize in repairs or building will loan their skills to the public in order to better the city. Friends often get together to repair and clean each other's homes as well.
These efforts are given mostly for free... "Mostly." You see in Starsand, there is no longer a use for money. Spirits can provide most anything that you need in exchange for prayers, so coin money is becoming irrelevant. But when you work hard and passionately in Starsand, your emotions create something called a "Starling." These magical items look like konpeito and they have the same magical value as an hour of intense prayer. Starlings can be given to spirits for quick miracles, so they've become a sort of "faith currency."
During Maid Week, a lot of Starling is produced. When your character lends their help, they will produce Starling equal to how passionate they were about the task. For example, hating your job will result in one or two tiny Starling pieces per hour. But if you are doing something that you brings you joy, you will create bigger and more pieces. Because of this, people are encouraged to make the act of cleaning and helping as fun as possible. Some turn it into a game or a chance to hang out with friends, while some get playfully competitive.
Oh, but the most important part?
Maid outfits. Normally, the amount of Starling produced when doing household chores is minimal. You get more Starling at licensed places of business, where a special shrine is built to amplify the power. In order to make "Seasonal Cleaning Week" produce more Starling, a special enchantment was made... This enchantment triples the amount of Starling a person produces, which makes Maid Week more profitable (and appealing.) And, you guessed it... The enchantment only works on maid outfits. Wow. Weird.
So grab your maid outfit and earn yourself some magic konpeito! This isn't a fabricated excuse for maids at all!
The enchantment on the maid outfit will not wear off, so long as the owner of the outfit is not changed. (Ex.: Don't trade it or give it away.)
Your character can keep their outfit and continue profiting off household chores, even after the event.
Maid outfits are given out for free at various shops. No one will force your character to wear one, but people will explain why it is beneficial and gently encourage it.
Only spirits get a magic boost from eating Starling. For humans, it will provide a temporary energy boost.
Maid outfits are physical pieces of clothing, but magically altered to fit each client.
Characters can only keep one enchanted maid outfit. The enchantment transfers from outfit to outfit. But they can collect multiple free dresses this week.
The enchantment cannot be transferred to non-maid themed clothing. It can be added to a headdress, sleeve cuffs, or apron if you don't want a whole maid outfit.
Butler-type outfits are included, but everyone still calls them "maid outfits."
Skills should be beginner-level. Characters can return to establishments for part-time jobs to develop new skills further.
Go wild with cleaning/fixing projects!
You can assume that your character earns a sizable amount of Starling. It can be handwaved for buying housing, restaurant meals, nice clothes, and other luxuries.
Starling does not expire, but it does lose its potency within a week of being produced.
You may handwave various types of cafes.
Characters may be able to open their own pop-up cafe if they get support from a local. Locals are very happy to help bring new ideas to the city and will assist in keeping the cafe safe and up to code.
Reblooming picnic baskets can be picked up at cafes.
Reblooming parties produce Starling.
If you want to give sad spirits konpeito, reply to the Sad Spirit top-level for an NPC response.
Spirits are not malicious with their clumsiness.
Clumsiness should not break the city, but it can be very irritating and borderline dangerous.
Stronger spirits will step in to prevent injury, death, and widescale disaster.
! Out of Character Notes
(A) Dressing Up
Starting on Saturday the 7th, most clothing stores and boutiques will open special "Maid Day" sections. Here, customers can pick an enchanted maid costume to wear for the rest of the week. There are numerous styles, which vary depending on the type of store you are visiting. It's also possible to try them on. Everything will be fitted specifically to your character once they pick their outfit as part of the enchanting process.
If you're passionate about fashion, it's also possible to volunteer at these shops for the weekend. Volunteers can help modify details to make the outfit perfectly suited to each customer. They may even learn a thing or two about the enchanting process! And, of course, Starling will be created from their efforts.
! Out of Character Notes
(B) Volunteer Activities
There's a lot that needs doing during Maid Week! The activities will seemingly never end, so characters should have no trouble finding work to do. Streets need sweeping, buildings need repainting, structures need mending, gardens need tending... If your character sees something that needs to be fixed, then they can self-assign themselves the task of doing it. They're also encouraged to help others with tasks in-progress. Strangely, Starling amounts increase when more than one maid works together. So teamwork is literally valuable!
But there's more to Maid Week than cleaning. Shops will not only hire temporary workers, but shop owners are eager to share their craft with newbies. Bakeries are offering baking lessons, for example, or teaching people how to manage a store. Boutiques are teaching fashion and basic sewing, sports teams are teaching their games, clinics offer first aid, etc. Taking time to sit down and learn a skill can also produce konpeito, so why not try something new?
! Out of Character Notes
(C) Maid Cafe Break
Another aspect of Maid Week is pop-up cafes. Buildings are rented for limited run Maid Cafes, with some additional theming. There are animal-themed cafes (cats, owls, foxes, etc.) or design themed (alice in wonderland, gothic, cottagecore, etc.) The point is: There are a lot of them. And they're hiring!
Maid Cafes offer a space for the not-so-cleaning-inclined to make some spare Starling. They earn more Starling if they're having fun, so it's suggested to work somewhere that you'll enjoy. Refreshments are free. After all, hard workers need to refuel and relax between helping the city!
Starling is produced for both the maid and the customer if they have a lively conversation, so be sure to chat up the staff!
! Out of Character Notes
(D) The Reblooming
It's a well known fact that the cherry blossom trees "rebloom" every night at midnight. During this event, the blossoms that had fallen will float backwards and reattach to their respective sakura trees. Then the process of blossoms falling repeat until the next reblooming. During the hour after a rebloom, the petals glow like stars.
During Maid Week, this event receives a lot more attention. Tiny wooden shrines, looking a lot like bird houses, are set at the trunk of every tree in the city. At midnight, people gather to watch the reblooming and to give thanks to the hardworking sakura trees. They leave Starling in the shrines and potted flowers around the base, to "keep the trees company." It's common to throw midnight picnics at the trees, where people laugh and sing. They say that the tree's spirit is an honored guest. It's a joyous event, held under a canopy of glowing cherry blossom petals.
! Out of Character Notes
(E) Maid Day / May 10th
On May 10th, the formula of Maid Day switches up a bit. Rather than the citizens working to repair the town, this is a day when the spirits spoil the maids. Apparently this is why everyone wears maid outfits when doing work: It's so that the spirits can tell who they need to thank.
When characters wake up on May 10th, they'll find their breakfast has been prepared by spirits. If they've been giving a lot of Starling to the nearby shrines, then they will find a fantastic and luxurious meal. If they haven't then, well... the spirits will do their best, but they may not have the power to create something amazing.
This pattern of spirits trying to thank maids will occur all day. Sometimes the result is amazing: Your clothes are laundered and folded, your home is clean, you have great luck with everything that you do... But sometimes, it's not so great. A spirit tried to brush your hair and turned it pink instead. All of your clothes, except your enchanted maid outfit, have been ruined. The food in your fridge all expires at once. The spirits aren't malicious, but the weaker ones have a success rate of 10%. May the spirit gacha be in your favor.
At the end of the day, when all of the damage is done, some of the cleaning efforts are also undone. You may find spirits sulking in dark corners of the city, ashamed of how poorly their efforts went. A sulking spirit does not produce a glow, but creates a speck of darkness. Those with strong empathy can hear them crying wordlessly. You have a lot of Starling from working hard, right? Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to feed these spirits..? Or maybe you hold a grudge over their cluminess. Up to you.
! Out of Character Notes
Extra Notes
Maid Week takes place from May 7th until May 13th. Characters will be able to earn a decent amount of Starling from this event, which can be exchanged for luxury items. You can handwave your character paying for permanent housing, nicer clothes, going out to fancy restaurants, etc. by using their Starling. We don't track exact amounts, so no need to do math to tally up what your character earns.
Feel free to invent extra prompts & be a bit silly with the concept. This event should lean light-hearted.
no subject
I'm smart. And now it is time to be getting even smarter...
[She paused, looking over the library. Decisions still weren't her strong suit.]
Uhm...How about I give you a consolation prize. You may point me in the direction of interesting books that need to be shelved. I'll start reading there.
no subject
[He would have been happy to see Tau pick a direction all on her own. But he library was split into so many sections and expanded to make room for more knowledge, so anyone would have had a hard time deciding where to start. After some careful consideration, he pointed Tau towards a section that resembled a garden. It was where fairytales from other worlds where being kept; Stories that wouldn't bring up the past of their world.]
That section needs some attention. You seen much of it yet?
no subject
[It really didn't matter to her. She loved reading, and a direction is a direction.]
no subject
At least, they should be. See anything that doesn't have that vibe and let me know, hm? We'll put it where it belongs.
no subject
[That definitely peaked her interest. She was already wandering that way before turning around and giving Shugo a salute.]
I will go through every single one.
no subject
Thank you. I can think of no one better to help sort through all of these books. Maybe you can help with the covers sometime?
no subject
[She reached for the messanger bag she was not wearing today, oops.]
I left my bag at home. It did not go with this dress. Do you have a spare notebook?
no subject
I'm on it~.
[Sorta. Shugo takes one of the konpeito shaped starlings out of his pocket and kneels down, inviting one of the many cats to come up and take it. As it should turn out, the cats in the library are not cats at all: They're spirits, who take cat form.
One cat eats the konpeito and creates a modest notebook from magic as thanks. And Shugo picks up said notebook to give to Tau.]
How's this?
no subject
[She takes the notebook and pulls a pencil out of her pockets. Artist's habits require to have one on hand at all time. She resumes her journey over to the fairytale books, and picks one up off the table it was left at.]
...Do you want to read it with me?
no subject
[Moments like these are very precious to Shugo. Being able to provide even a notebook for Tau means a lot to him. This whole parenting thing is new and difficult, even after years of trying it, and he's always worrying about being a 'bad' parent.
So her invite feels like a reward. He's normally pretty guarded about wanting things (a tsundere, you might say,) but he's not so reluctant with Tau.]
Sure. You don't think I'd get in your way? I am preeetty boring. [Since he's always doing research.]
no subject
[She sat down, making sure there was a place for him close enough to read it with her. She gestured for him to sit too. She was frowning angrily, and most definitely not pouting cutely.]
You are not boring. You are smart and kind and good.
no subject
[Satou doesn't generally mock Shugo, but she does scold him for spending so much nose-deep in his books.
He removes his cape before sitting down. He will not be seen a fool who stands on it when trying to stand later.]
Where should we start, then? You're the expert on this sort of thing.
no subject
[She looked at the book she had picked up, and her new notebook, and thought for a bit before speaking up.]
Well, for reading, we should start on page one. For notes though...Since art for the cover should be related to the story...We should look at character descriptions and re occuring themes and motifs. Or if there is a moral, that could be useful too...
no subject
But he's still a nerd and gets excited about books:]
Hmm, that's a good point. It would be interesting to see if there's a particular motif or theme that is common across many worlds, huh? Maybe that could help us sort them too. Covers'll help make that easier, yeah?
no subject
[She started scribbling things down in the notebook, starting with the title of the book at the very top.]
Tell me if you notice something interesting, okay?
no subject
[He nods, helping her look through the books for themes. Fortunately, the books lean on the simple side. Most of these are fairytales, after all, collected to entertain immature spirits.]
I sure hope that 'Fallen Star' isn't an insult in any other world.
no subject
I hope not either. I do not think it is for any of the ones currently here. At least...I have not heard any one mention it being an insult.
I think it is a pretty term. It sparkles.
no subject
Your mother said the same thing. She thinks that shooting stars are romantic... Thinks it means that all of the Fallen Stars are blessings.
[Since they're all partially responsible for the term sticking, Shugo likes to think that the positive association sticks too.]
Maybe we could make a symbol for them? A little logo to put in the corner of the books that'll tell people it's from the Fallen Stars?
no subject
[She's flipped a page in the notebook and has started scribbling all kinds of shooting stars. This is one of the rare times that she's moving quickly, and not in her normal dazed pace.]
And if we make them a pretty logo then they will definitely know that the name is not an insult. Logos need to be simple to be able to recreate them though...Simple but pretty...Simple but pretty...
[And she's slowed back down. At least the drawings are becoming easier to make out.]
Do any of these stars look simple and pretty?
no subject
They are look very pretty... But these two- [And he points them out,] Look very kind? I think they tell Fallen Stars that we like them and want to help.
Which do you think is best?
[He's given her the option of two, in order to make it easier. Shugo knows that Tau is still working on confidently making choices. But wherever possible, he tries to encourage her to practice her decision making.]
no subject
[She stares down at the two he suggested, hoping that one would scream 'pick me'. Of course neither did. Not wanting to let her dad down, she pointed to the one closest to her.]
This one?
no subject
[He's quick to praise both her work and her decision.]
I bet that we could make stickers of those and keep them behind the front desk! Then every new Fallen Star book can get marked.
no subject
Stickers would be better than trying to recreate it on every book...Which means less work for me.
[Which means more sleep for her.]
Next thing is....Deciding what to do for the covers, right? Starting at the beginning of the notebook is...logical, right?
[She flips to the notes of the first story they read and looked up at Shugo to make sure she was okay.]