[ When the video comes on, a very cheerful looking literal cat-lady will be on screen, holding up a miniature bamboo tree with colourful papers on the branches! ]

This must be the date! Hoy there, everyone! Name's Megumi, Matriarch of the Utakata Tribe! I'm a healer and huntress from the star of Hydaelyn, and it's time for a story!

[ Isn't this fun? Pay attention! She sits up with her ears wiggling enthusiastically. ]

I've heard it differently back in Yanxia on my world, but it seems like there are some people here who have a more romantic version of it! Eorzean Moonfire's just violent when you think about it but at least we wear cute outfits... Anyroad! This one's about a Star Festival!

[ She perks up. ]

The general story I've heard is that there's a Princess, and a Cowherd! The Princess' job is to weave beautiful fabric for her father, the Sky King, but is sad because she never gets to meet anyone because of her work. Her father arranges for her to meet a handsome Cowherd who lives across the river, and they eventually fall in love and marry! But because they're so distracted, they're not performing any of their regular duties, so the Sky King separates them across a river they can't cross. The lovers are in despair! Finally, the Sky King relents, allowing them to meet on the seventh day of the seventh moon, er... month at the river.

But when they reach the river, there's no bridge to cross! How in the hells did the Sky King get the Cowherd there in the first place?! Suppose the bridge plot's there for drama, but, anyroad!

[ She hates plot holes!! But, she puffs her cheeks and continues- ]

The Princess cries so much, that a flock of birds offer to create a bridge so she can visit her husband. And so it's said that when you see a bridge of stars in the heavens on a clear night, on the seventh day of the seventh month, that's the Princess and Cowherd meeting across the star bridge! I don't know how the birds made a star bridge, but they must be bloody amazing birds- But if it rains, they have to wait a year to meet again! That's so depressing!

[ Then, she claps her hands. ]

Anyroad, back home, to commemorate the day, we'd write wishes on these colourful paper strips which you should absolutely make, too! They'd be shaped in different little shapes too, and hung on bamboo branches. So, you should all make a wish too! I think you can go "anonymous" on here, so how about using this little post to make wishes?! Consider it your personal bamboo tree! Here's a little guide, but really, you can wish for anything however you want.

【 tanabata attachment 】

And if you want to make any wishes in person, I've got bamboo trees outside my clinic [ location provided ] and lots of tanzaku! Come by and make a wish!

What sorts of traditions do you have in summer? Tell me about them too! [ She sighs deeply- ] I need something new to write about, so inspire me! Oh, and if you get sick or feel sad, come to my clinic! We'll help!

✨ Matriarch, out!

[ ooc; feel free to threadjack with permission and make anon wishes or just chat! Or un-anon. Have fun! ]