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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.
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But the height isn't the worst part. Standing inside the elevator, having apparently come down from a level above, is the Love Kami herself. The little spirit rushes onto the elevator with renewed determination, spurred on by Elliot's scolding. And though she initially takes a step forward as if to leave, the young woman stops when she notices which button the spirit is trying to press.]
... First level? [She looks from the keypad to Elliot;] Is this your spirit, young man? What brings you both all of the way down there?
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Why would they be mine? [He scoffs, not yet realizing he's talking to a Kami, and the Love Kami of everyone.] They're on an important errand that they need to see through!
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Is that so..?
[Between the way he talks to her and having no knowledge of spirit contracts, Satou can immediately tell that this boy is a Fallen Star. And yet, he's helping a little spirit with something as trivial as an errand. Her odd red eyes flash briefly as she gives the spirit a closer look, but she ultimately settles into a relaxed smile. What a curious pair.
Especially when he hits the button for the bottom level. She raises a brow, looks at the door... Then steps back into the elevator. As the doors close, the little spirit goes back to buzzing around Elliot.]
Well then! I'm in luck. This elevator ride was going to be so lonely, but now I have company! [She grins, spinning to look away from the metal door and to the glass walls.
The elevator lurches into motion.] Is this your first time in the glass elevator?
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It's...kind of endearing, he supposes.
Elliot was hoping they could ride the elevator in awkward silence, but she really did mean she has company. He tries not to look surprised, instead turning his gaze to the view.]
Yeah... I guess it is. Have you been here a while?
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[Satou peeks out of the corner of her eye, checking to make sure that Elliot and his new spirit friend are getting along. She's not sure why a spirit would go to level one: It's not a place with much faith and the spirit might dissolve if it goes there. Best to keep an eye on them.
Hearing him speak up makes her smile brighten.]
Mm, I have. I live here. [The spirit actually begins to buzz, trying to tell Satou to introduce herself properly. If it wasn't such an honest soul, then she might have pretended to be a normal girl until the end of the ride.
Ah well. She'll trap Elliot in a ten minute elevator ride with a kami.]
I'm also the kami of Love, who created this city. Do you like the elevator design?
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You're what?!
[Kami...
He's talking to a kami. He's heard some talk about them, although he can't claim to fully understand. She must be important. Elliot stares at her in shock, but rather than look impressed, he marches forward he frowns at her sternly.]
Are you the reason Leo and I got dragged here?!
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Instead, however, Elliot reacts with anger. Satou is stunned, lips coming together and eyes widening. The correct thought here was ”Oh no. That’s right, he’s a child taken away from home. And he doesn’t have his family here.”
The incorrect thought here was “He’s being cute and protective.”
She’s capable of both. Satou relaxes her expression and shakes her head.]
Unfortunately not, or I’d send you both home. You and Leo? I’m glad you got to bring a friend with you, at least. [Selfish as it is, Satou doesn’t want the younger Fallen Stars to be here alone.]
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[Elliot isn't easily deterred. He frowns, gripping the basket in his hands more forcefully than he intends. He needs to send Leo home...! And he needs to beat up whoever was responsible for bringing them here!
But when Satou repeats Leo's name, he freezes, turning back to look outside the glass.]
Leo... He doesn't belong here.
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But Elliot repeats the name and some things start to make sense. One being that the pair are close. Another being that Elliot had found a logical way to justify his being here, but not Leo’s.]
I don’t. But when I know, I’ll send you both back. [Though, judging by how Elliot separated himself from Leo in that statement:]
Is that what you want?
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...But as irritating as it is, Satou doesn't strike him as dishonest. If she isn't responsible for this, it would be pointless to lose his temper around her. Some of his anger dies down when she says she'll send Leo back, and-- Oh.
He walks away until he's standing at the edge of the glass. If it weren't for the hand he places against the glass, he almost feels as if he's floating, drifting down the city. It's beautiful. It's wrong that he's here.
What he wants isn't--]
I want Leo to be happy. And my presence will only result in the opposite.
[He finally smiles, past Satou. It doesn't reach his eyes. He doesn't really know why he's asking her this, but it's not something he can ask his sister, or his mother, and in a way it's easier to talk to a complete stranger, kami or not.]
Is it that selfish to want that?
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It doesn’t take much for her to put the pieces together.
Satou’s smile softens.]
Mm, it is quite selfish. But love is selfish. [She offers an out as she adds:] Even love for our friends.
Did Leo tell you that, or are you a mind reader? Should I be worried?
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Love???
If it weren't for the glass, Elliot would have fallen off the elevator. He hits his forehead against it before he whirls around to glare, his face flushed.]
I don't have to be a mind-reader! I know Leo! AND WE ARE NOT IN LOVE, YOU WEIRD KAMI!!!
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No no. I’m the love kami. Not the weird one.
[She maintains her smile.]
Would being in love be so bad? Do you dislike him?
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[Because it's definitely Satou who's being difficult. Elliot's gripping the stupid basket with both hands now so that he doesn't throw it at the glass.]
Don't be ridiculous! I could never dislike him! He's...
[Brilliant, unique, blunt, otherworldly, maddening, lovely...
And hurting.
Elliot's grip relaxes and he's smiling sadly again.]
How could I ever dislike the one person who's always seen me as an equal?
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And even as she feels like she’s getting through to him… This boy seems so sad. There’s something holding him back that isn’t simple denial. Satou’s expression becomes slightly saddened by concern.]
Are you treating him like an equal now? It sounds like you’re putting yourself on different level than him.
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Elliot is lost in his own thoughts about Leo. His desires, what he wishes for but knows he cannot have with him. The life that was stolen from them both. He's so preoccupied with his own regret, that he fails to hide the surprise on his face when Satou asks him that question. Is that what he's doing...? Does Leo see it that way?
No. Clearly Satou misunderstands.]
Tch. Leo did everything in his power to try and protect me, but he's the one who needs protecting. That's all I'm doing. I never stopped seeing him as an equal!
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[She might apologize for this later, but the Difficult kami is also nosy. And worried. She doesn’t know him well, but he decided to ask her advice and he’s going to get it.
She’ll give him a pass on the protecting bit. It just proves that he’s got feelings for this Leo.]
And you said you’re hurting him by being here. Is that up to you to decide?
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[He grumbles, (conveniently) dodging the question. What about him? They were talking about Leo, not him!
But when he thinks about it...he's terrified. He doesn't want to die a second time. This place may be unfamiliar, it's not the home he's used to, but he doesn't want to leave here, not when he's starting to remember what it feels like to be alive. He doesn't want Leo to leave him either, and that's why--
His grip tightens again on the handle to try and keep his hands steady.]
It's not up for anyone to decide but Leo. [He sighs.] But he didn't decide to be dragged here either. So I need to find whoever decided for him and beat them up within an inch of their life, kami or not!!!
[He declares, using anger to conceal any of those sadder emotions.]
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But the end of their elevator ride is approaching. Satou can see the forests and farmlands of the second level beyond the glass. That means that they're almost at the bottom... She might not be able to follow him down there.
Well. Unless he really does have a crush on someone. She could follow that feeling, but he might get angrier.]
Do you deserve to be here, but he doesn't? [She repeats herself, insistent as she pursues that topic.] Whatever you may believe, the fact remains that you're here now. Together. The path of life isn't always what we want or deserve. Sometimes it's tragic. Sometimes it's a miracle.
Is being with Leo a tragedy or a miracle?
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It's not a tragedy.
[He can barely get his voice to work, his response a whisper. Elliot had never intended to court anyone, or marry anyone, he had only wanted to bring honor to the Nightray Dukedom and have Leo by his side throughout all of it. But things had gone so tragically wrong, a nightmare he could never scrub out of his mind.
Elliot's so angry. Angry that he hadn't seen Leo's pain until it was too late, angry about his own weakness, about being here, the fact that he's going to let Leo down again.
That anger ignites his whole being and he finally snaps like the overly emotional teenager he is.]
What happens to me is off no consequence anymore, but Leo-- Leo has his whole life ahead of him!
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Ehh... So if I threw you out of the elevator, that would be okay? No consequences?
[Love is violent. She hears that near whimper of a response and it causes her such pain. He's hurting. Love is hurting him and, as the kami of such a twisted feeling, Satou feels sad for Elliot. 'A whole life ahead of him' is a strange thing to say, especially when Elliot has been distancing himself from Leo throughout the conversation. Something isn't right here, and it's not the fact that Elliot is being difficult.
This time when he snaps, she shakes her head and reaches out to put a hand on his shoulder. She's a lot shorter than him, so please have some mercy. He will not be thrown out of the elevator, despite her threat.]
Don't talk about yourself that way. I don't know what happened back 'home,' but there will be consequences here. I'll beat the shit out of anyone who says otherwise. [Oh right, back to bulli:] Is love really so scary to you? Or is it something else?
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[Elliot shouts, finding his ever weakening patience unraveling. Ugh...she's worse than Leo! And he still has this basket to deliver. Elliot won't quit an errand until it's finished, even if he finds it to be a mundane one!
But the distraction is just that. Elliot has no reason to put on an act in front of this stranger, this kami, but he starts to suspect she might make good on her threats and looks at her warily when she puts a hand on his shoulder. She doesn't look like much...but neither does Oz. Is she really going to try it?]
...Ah?
[Why is she talking about someone she doesn't even know as if upset on his behalf? Her stern resolve...it's familiar. It brings back memories, bittersweet ones of how outraged he had been by Oz's own self-neglect.
She reminds him a bit of his sister, too.]
That isn't necessary. [She is...very short.] I can fight on my own. You really don't know when to quit, do you? [He shrugs off her and so that he can turn away.] Love isn't scary. It would be cruel to him.
[Ah, well. Elliot's never been good at being cryptic, so he might as well just bluntly spell it out so she can go and matchmake someone with a chance--]
I shouldn't even be here to begin with. I am dead.
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[For once, Satou shuts up. Her hand has already been moved away, but it falls to her side limply. Her expression is embarrassing in how obviously it gives away her shock. Dead? This kid? Then how is he...
The pieces begin falling into place. The reason why he was being so stubborn, why he talks about himself like that while simultaneously seeming so prideful, and worse (for the love kami anyway,) why he doesn't want to pursue his feelings. Which, she realizes, must be so miserable when tainted by regret.
But she doesn't know when to quit. Satou's always been bad at that. Some of her gentleness is lost when she puts both hands on his shoulders and spins him around to face her. Before he can escape, she grabs his wrist in one hand and finds his pulse with the fingers on the other. It takes so much of her willpower not to cry for him or even let her expression waver.]
Not anymore.
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His own pain is enough of a distraction for him to not react as Satou spins him around, his own emotions a sudden whirlwind as he stares at her in stunned silence. He can feel his pulse moving beneath the warmth of her fingers...but she-- she looks at him so confidently. She doesn't look at him like he's a ghost.]
This isn't fair... You're so stubborn--
[His laugh comes out broken and strained. He nearly drops the basket as all of those emotions, everything he has tried to wall off and pretend to accept and tell himself it's fine like this comes flooding at him at once. Satou may not cry, but his own eyes are tinged red.]
Am I...am I actually alive?
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When she finds out who did this... When she finds the person who took Elliot and made him live every day in the shadow of his own death... She isn't sure she can be a love kami to such a person.
Satou gently releases his wrist and tries to pry the basket from him. He's carrying enough burdens. The picnic basket doesn't have to be another one. She can bully him about his obvious crush later. Right now, Elliot is the one who needs to be loved.]
Mm. You're here. Your life is just as valuable as any of the others here.
[...] You've been so brave. Good job. You can take a rest.
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