jikan_rpg | December | Event: With A Bang

December | Event: With A Bang

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In the weeks following that rather heavy announcement, anxiety and unease become familiar emotions among the refugees. Eventually, rumors begin circulating throughout the city, as the "first" anniversary of the time loop's end draws ever closer. Even without concrete evidence, it seems some among the native population have started to believe that time will simply loop again as well.

But the refugees have more than a few powerful allies on their side, and with a little bit of work and a little bit of love, they'll find a way to move forward into next year.

For The Big Night

As the day of the potential loop draws near, all refugees will find themselves receiving a special invitation to a Winter Gala being held at the Imperial Palace in Nihonbashi on the night of the 24th. The refugees themselves are the guests of honor, with the Emperor of the East scheduled to be making an appearance. Surely this can't be a coincidence, right?

But unlike the casual atmosphere of the Western Emperor, here in the East, this is likely to be a far more formal affair. Thankfully, they'll have a few opportunities to prepare themselves before the Gala itself.

Dance Dance Perpetuation Yoshiwara, Tokyo
For a fancy Winter Gala being held in the Imperial Palace, it goes without saying that there's going to be dancing. And for those who don't know how, they'll find a certain dance troupe in Yoshiwara is offering free lessons for all refugees attending the Gala.

The dances range from a formal Waltz to traditional dances native to Nippon, with the instructors patiently teaching the steps and correcting dancers as they practice in their studio. They even offer to let the Refugees borrow some of their costumes to practice dancing in more restrictive wear.

But their patience has a limit, and their offer, an ulterior motive. Because the costumes they offer are no ordinary costumes. Built into the fabric is a special magic-conducive material that connects to a small magi-tech device hidden under the collar of each outfit. And when activated, this magi-tech will cause the wearer to move against their will, following the dance routines programmed into the device. Supposedly, these are used for training beginners, as well as ensuring that dancers who need to sync up with one another can do so seamlessly.

Of course, the reality is they're mostly just used for hazing newbies, because the sensation of having your body dance dance dance the night away against your will is unpleasant. But hey, at least you'll remember the steps!

Binary Blowout Shibuya, Tokyo
Over in Shibuya, the Central Station Department Store is holding a special winter sale for couples purchasing matching outfits for ringing in the new year. Thankfully, couples won't have to do anything embarrassing to prove they're together in order to get the sale, and merely need to buy one half of a matching set at the same time.

For the most part, these outfits will consist of traditional kimono and hakama sets. However, it seems gender equality was not taken into consideration for this sale, and with few exceptions, couples looking for up to 75% off luxury clothing may find themselves forced to pick who gets the masculine hakama set in muted colors and who gets the bright and colorful floral kimono set (complete with matching hair accessories). Unfortunately, this seems to extend into their more Western styles as well, perhaps to a more extreme degree. Flapper dresses and fancy suits? Well, at least the sizes are inclusive?

Thankfully, given the cost reduction, it's still worth it to buy the full set versus buying only one half. But seeing as the sets do need to be purchased at the same time by the couple, and the ever so helpful employees will insist on giving each person a proper fitting and even offer professional photos, this may just end up being a more embarrassing experience than they expected.

Winter Wonderland

At last, the day of the party arrives! The palace is tucked away in a large garden in Nihonbashi, set atop a man-made island with a moat surrounding it. No doubt a common sight when traveling through the city, this will be the first time any refugees have been allowed to enter the castle grounds.

Inside the castle proper, the entire main hall has been fitted with a wintry theme, complete with magi-tech powered snowflakes that aren't cold, but fall gently from the ceiling and disappear before touching the floor. As the guests of honor settle in, the Emperor himself makes an appearance, dressed in extravagant blue robes and speaking in a soft, gentle voice.

"Greetings, my dear time refugees. Although previous circumstances prevented me from extending you all a proper introduction sooner, tonight I shall hope to make up for it.

I am Karu, Emperor of the East, and the one responsible for initiating the Time Refugee Project. Although it is customary in Nippon to address me by my title, Tennō, I do not wish to impose such formalities on all of you. Call me as you will.

I am well aware of the many difficulties our world has imposed on you. Hence forth, I hope to become a more reliable ally for all of you in this world. It is my hope that together, we can move forward towards a brighter future, both here in Nippon and in all of your home worlds."

After delivering his speech, he can be found mostly surrounded by his attendants and just quietly enjoying the atmosphere. While guests are welcome to speak with him, they may be quick to notice that he's not quite as eloquent when his words aren't pre-written.

Sus Snax Imperial Palace, Nihonbashi
Beautiful decor aside, the Gala has a live orchestra supplying the music, which seems to be of a more classical affair, with a Nippon-like twist. Dances will shift from playfully energetic to slower and more romantic as the night draws on. Enjoy a slow dance with a sweetie? It might just be your last chance before time resets at the end of the night.

And of course, no party would be complete without plenty of food and drink. Drinks are unlimited, with no shortage of beer, locally-brewed sake, and very expensive wines imported from before the time surges made international travel too dangerous. Should the Emperor really be giving this out for free? If asked, the attendants managing the party will simply explain that the Emperor is not very fond of alcohol, and wishes to share the collection he's acquired over the years with those who will enjoy it.

But at some point after the party has begun, some rather mysterious snacks make an appearance. Although looking like perfectly innocent manju, just one sniff will reveal the unmistakable scent of Uki weed laced within the sugary treat. How did someone smuggle these into the Imperial Palace of all places?? Well, as long as no one's a killjoy, the attendants won't recognize the scent, and the snacks will remain until they've all been eaten!

But what of those looking for a little... privacy? There's far more to the palace than just the main hall, and with just a little sneaking around, they'll find a door that leads to the upper floors. Despite being closed off, it looks like some of them have been decorated for the season as well, although it only takes a glance to see that most of the rooms are clearly unused. Wasn't this the Emperor's home? Well, regardless, there's still plenty of futons to be found in the closet of each tatami-lined room, so there's no reason that guests can't have a little fun in secret.

Mistleno Imperial Palace, Nihonbashi
It seems there's some other sort of trickery afoot at this Gala. All around the main hall, and even in some of the private hallways and outdoor areas, colorful paper cranes can be found hanging from doorways and ceilings. There's only ever one, and they seem to following some kind of colorful theme. Naturally, it should come as no surprise that these little fellas are enchanted, with different effects triggering depending on the color of the crane itself.

The red cranes will cause whoever walks under it to kiss the first person they see. A second variety, with a glittery sheen, will instead make them seek out someone they've never kissed before for a smooch.

The orange cranes will cause whoever walks under them to spontaneously teleport to the side of the last person they were thinking about, whether they want to be there or not. It seems someone thought it was funny to stick one of these above the bathrooms...

The green cranes will only cause an effect if two people walk under one at the same time. This crane will cause their minds to switch places, putting them in the other person's body. Passing under additional green cranes while the effect is still present will cause another swap, until no one knows who anyone is anymore.

The blue cranes will cause whoever passes under it to suddenly confess something out loud to the first person they see. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be a major secret, and may even just cause them to offer a spontaneous compliment, or admit they've have a little bit of the Uki snacks from earlier.

The purple cranes will manifest a random Kizuna effect that may linger for the rest of the night. This can be anything, from a mild physical change like growing flowers in their hair, to a severe mental change like intense levels of possessiveness.

And the pink cranes are of the most predictable sort, causing whoever passes under one to become almost insatiably horny. Thankfully, these ones are the rarest.

But how long will the effects last? Good question! Although none will last past midnight, the range seems to be anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. If pointed out to the Emperor's attendants, they'll immediately begin trying to remove them, but the cranes will simply take flight and flutter to another hidden location. So they weren't intentional, after all... so who put them there?

Party Crashers

As the evening progresses, the source of the mysterious Uki and magical paper cranes is revealed, when a number of Yokai abruptly crash the party. But this is no ordinary group of party crashers, as they're all dressed in imperial regalia, and are joined by the Emperor of the West himself, Katsuragi no Mikoto.

"Salutations, my dear guests from another world! Please, do not let me and my entourage disturb you! You see, I simply have very important business with a certain Karu-chan who stood me up last summer... no regrets, right?"

After a brief kerfuffle, the two emperors quickly take their leave to the very private balcony that absolutely no one can sneak into or blatantly peek at from the windows, not at all. Those hoping for a steamy scene may leave a little disappointed, but the lingering glances and shy smiles shared between the two say plenty on their own.

Boom Boom Boom Nihonbashi, Tokyo
Although the party may have been winding down before, once the Yokai join the group, things grow very lively very quickly. The classical music playing on the dance floor is replaced with some swinging jazz tunes, and dancers may find themselves literally dancing on air, as the Yokai use their magic to allow for weightlessness on the dance floor. They're being very careful that no one falls, and those affected will find their dance steps unaffected by the chance in altitude, but it's sure to be a little disorienting for some.

In addition to the Uki-laced snacks from before, drinks bearing magical effects are also brought out, with each effect carefully labelled to prevent accidental ingestion. The blue soda bottles cause drinkers to grow or shrink in height or size, in varying degrees of strength. Some may simply grow to a respectable six-feet tall, while others may find themselves shrunk down to no more than six-inches tall! The red berry-flavored drink causes those who drink it to become overtly flirty and confident, earning it the nickname "suave soda". And the mysterious sparkling sake causes those who drink it to become imbued with powerful Kizuna magic, causing severe Kizuna side effects to manifest. Strangely, it seems this one effects Yokai very differently, as the intended effect is simply a magical amplifier. Oops?

But aside from escorting their amorous emperor to his long-awaited date with the other emperor, the Yokai accompanying him have one last present to offer the refugees to make the evening even more magical. As the night grows late, a special spell is cast upon the ceiling, making it entirely transparent. And following a brief countdown, a spectacular show of fireworks is played overhead, visible from all over Tokyo. Magical in nature, the colorful bursts often take the shape of creatures, bounding across the sky before bursting into a brilliant show of light and magic.

By the time the show comes to end, few will have noticed that the clock has long since passed midnight.

Your Best Friend Everywhere, Nippon
It's not until the sun begins to rise that the last of the party goers begin filtering out of the castle and into the streets. Although none of the people sleeping in their homes are aware, it seems yet another time loop has been successfully stopped thanks to the refugees!

...sure, they did cause this one, but it still counts for something!! Though it seems they'll be left with no definitive answer for exactly how the time loop was prevented in the end. Maybe someone just needed to let loose a little for once?

Over the next few days, things really do seem to be progressing as normal. And more importantly, the people seem to be in even higher spirits than before. As another year safely passes by without any word of another loop, the native population begins to feel a true sense of relief, as if this year was proof that the time loop was truly over. Perhaps this is why scienz_rulz_1899 was so insistent that no one else find out the truth: because she knew just how important this peace of mind would be for the people of Nippon.

As thanks for their efforts, all refugees will find a gift addressed them to delivered to wherever it is they're staying -- and regardless of where. How did it find their way to them? It seems she still has her secrets! Each gift will include either a box of fancy pastries, a bottle of wine, or a small amount of money for those who can't enjoy either. And alongside that, an item from their home world that they would be happy to see again.

And at the bottom of each box is a small card, printed in their native tongue: from your best friend, Tomoko.

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's December event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.

• While there is no official dress code, characters will ICly be encouraged to dress up for the occasion! For outfit ideas, consider searching 1920s fashion trends and Taisho era fashion!

• Feel free to make the effects of the paper cranes and drinks as mild or as strong as you'd like! Only the sparkling sake is alcoholic.

• Attempting to destroy the cranes will cause them to fly away. With effort, they can be torn up, but the effects they cause will linger unless burned to ashes. They are not living creatures, so don't feel bad about it.

• Characters who are in one of the upper floors when the fireworks begin will also experience an invisible ceiling. However, thanks to the way the magic works, the floor will not be invisible, and those on the floors below will not see them fuckin'. Unless you want them to, in which case, exactly one room will have this effect for all you exhibitionists out there.

• The item received in their gift from Tomoko/scienz_rulz_1899 can be normal or magical in nature, but it must be something they would want to see again, and something that would realistically fit in a large box. They do not need to attend the Gala to receive this item.

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[wow, genuine interest? Someone else who likes bugs? It's so rare to come across someone who falls into one of those categories, let alone both - that is, someone who isn't a kid.

(anyone shorter than him is usually a "kid" but he's starting to realize that uh, there's a lot of folks shorter than him and most aren't kids. Maybe he should reconsider it)

The surprise on his face is brief, before morphing into a huge grin]

Usually onikabuto aren't aggressive - heck, they spend most of the day doing nothing. But if you get two of 'em and set them up to battle, then they're unstoppable until one of them flips the other onto its back.

[a pause] You said you eat them? [...] Are they good? I can't say I've ever eaten one.

Unstoppable? I can't say I'd call any of mine that, but perhaps it's the situation I have them in.

[Beetle care and breeding is much different from setting them up to fight, even if he knows little on how to make them actually fight. The ones he has here aren't meant for that, though Scaramouche stores the thought away in his mind. If he's ever bored enough, playing around with them even momentarily could offer up some entertainment. A quiet observation as to which of his beetles was stronger.]

I find them to be quite nice. They're certainly good enough for vagrant life, but if you're more selective in your tastes you may not enjoy them.

[He shrugs knowing that they aren't for everyone.]

You'll either enjoy the electric aspect of them, or you'll hate it.

Huh, it might be. [he's giving this very serious thought] Usually me and the kids catch them in the wild, but if you're breeding them for something else then maybe they don't have the same fighting spirit.

[though, raising onikabuto specifically for beetle fights is not something that ever crossed his mind before. Something to file away for whenever he gets sent back home]

The only thing I won't eat is anything with beans in it. [he briefly makes a face] But - I'd try them at least once. The electric doesn't bother me.

If you're into onikabuto like that, does that mean you're from Inazuma?

I've never tried to fight any of mine, so it's difficult to know for sure.

[It seems that the both of them seem to be thinking along the same line, Scaramouche considering if it was truly due to his breeding or not. He still has the original onikabuto he was given, their line was hardly in far enough for specific traits to be bred in and out. The setup was likely then for their lack of 'fighting spirit' as his conversation partner had put it.]

Did you not ever breed them? Targeting the aspects you want out of a beetle seems perfect for fights. You could easily ensure you win every time.

[Given how many times the man has stated he lost, he assumes not.]

I am - a vagrant specifically. So, why beans?

Well, if you're interested, I'd be happy to help you out.

[though really, even if there's no beetle fighting - the beetles themselves are pretty cool. He shakes his head at the question, though, grinning a little] Part of the fun is going out and finding them. Breeding a warrior would be pretty interesting . . . I dunno if that's something I could pull of, though. I don't exactly have a place to set up anything for them. I guess you could say I'm a vagrant too, but I stick to Inazuma City most of the time.

[the face returns, nose scrunched up in distaste. He reaches up to tap one his horns]

Oni are allergic to beans. Just touching them makes me itchy, so eating them is out of the question.

[most of the time, anyway]

[Scaramouche takes a moment to roll the offer around in his mind, wondering just how much he could get out of pitting some of his beetles against each other. Boredom wasn't something he was currently facing, magic occupying most of his time, but knowing in advance just how to go about gaining entertainment from an insect he was already breeding could be useful later on.]

It could prove entertaining... I can't say I'm against the idea, if it's something you have the time for.

[If any of them had time for anything, with the time loop looming. The Harbinger supposes that there's little against agreeing when it was likely in a few hours they'd all forget, and if they somehow didn't - something of which he doubts - then he'd have a second use for his bugs.

Despite the oni's appearance, he doesn't seem so bad. He hasn't felt any irritation directed towards the man since they started speaking, so that could only be a good thing.]

Doesn't that get dull? Confining yourself to the city.

[While plenty of his own time wandering Inazuma had involved staying in Tatarasuna, he had eventually left the island of Kannazuka to explore the rest of the islands. It's difficult to imagine staying mainly in the city, to wanting to be near to all the noise and chatty people. Near the Archon. Scaramouche realizes his own experiences are much different to that of a normal vagrant, and he shakes the thought from his head.

If this was to be a distracting conversation then he needed to not drift towards things he wanted to avoid.]

Shame. You're missing out on a bunch of sweets.

Haha, I've got nothing but time. I just got here, so all I've really been doing is getting used to the place.

[he knows something's going to happen at the end of the night, some kind of time loop or whatever, but it's hard to be concerned about when you've only been in Nippon a few days. Were it a longer stay, or maybe if he'd met more of the people he knows before now it'd be different, but.

Worst case, he gets lost a bunch of times again. Tokyo is much bigger than Inazuma City and Ritou - probably even combined]

A little bit, but most of the folks I know live there, so I try to stick close. I was just on Yashiori Island, though - and Kannazuka is the one of the best places to find onikabuto. So I'm not there all the time.

[he stirs up enough trouble - deliberately and accidentally - that it's rarely dull anyway, but he's not gonna say that]

That's what I hear. [he sighs] It can be a pain.

You picked quite the time to show up, I hope it hasn't been too difficult for you. But if you have no other plans you should come visit. As far as I'm aware, I have the only onikabuto in Nippon.

[If they all manage to remember goes unsaid, the Harbinger not wanting to allow his mind to wander back towards the thought. He's not certain inviting the Oni over to his home is the best of ideas, given not just who he lives with, but the fact that it seems much too friendly. Something he will simply have to deal with unless he wants to carry a bunch of beetles around.]

Wishing to stay close for friendship. I suppose that might offset the stifling Eternity the city suffers.

[Not something for him, but if it brought the oni joy he's not about to argue.]

It sounds like it. I can't imagine needing to be cautious around food of all things.

Yeah, I heard something was going on, but other than that it hasn't been too bad - I adapt easily. [gasp he's made a bug friend] But I'd love to stop by!

[okay now the possibility of him not remembering anything is slightly more annoying, but there's not much he can do about it, so he's just gotta hope that it's all talk, this time loop nonsense at the end of tonight.

Though the mention of Eternity does have him making a face]

It isn't as stifling now that the Shogun ended the decree. But yeah - they're practically family, and it would suck to leave them behind.

[he doesn't have anywhere to go either, but that's barely a detail he considers]

Hah, you get used to it. I learned how to cook because of it, too, so it's really only a concern if I eat at one of the restaurants. It's only around the holidays that it's really bad.

Fortunate. After the party we should work out a time. Perhaps if it's entertaining enough, I'll give you one of them.

[They could simply do it now, make more solid plans without knowing if they could follow through, but Scaramouche feels like attempting to enjoy himself in the now is a far better option. Instead of sorting things out that may cause him to dwell, it can be left hanging, something to look forward to.

It wasn't often he got to interact with people who held an interest in bugs, while also being able to offer their own insights into Inazuma.]

You think the decree made it that worse?

[The immortal lifts a hand to his chin in thought. The nation becoming more restrictive didn't help matters, as entertaining as he had found it, but it wasn't something he would have claimed made Eternity that much worse. When it already stifling to begin with, did the decree really make a difference.]

Learning to cook should be something you do regardless of allergies. No one wants to end up like your god - absolutely useless in a kitchen.

Man, just introducing someone to the fights is enough for me for now. But yeah, after the party I'd be happy to.

[this guy doesn't seem like a big party guy, but then again he isn't just going to assume - and besides, it's a party, and a seemingly important one at that. Bugs and bug fights can wait.

Ah, but a more serious question . . . he crosses his arms and takes a moment or two to consider how to answer. It isn't a complicated answer from him but then again, he wasn't nearly as involved with any of it as others]

In some ways, yeah. Like . . . not a lot folks care about Eternity, y'know? Not the way she did - does, whichever. These are people who's first concern is making it to the next day, or getting to work.

Then they started really enforcing the decree and it felt like every time they'd come through, they'd shake all that up and every time it was harder to fix it. My gang got involved because my vision was taken - they didn't have to, and I was the one mostly stirring up trouble, but all that's still on me.

[he pauses, then laughs and reaches up to tap his vision] Now it's a lot less tense and folks stare at me for the horns, not my vision.

[he's in agreement, though, cooking is an important skill and he opens his mouth to say as much but -]

The Shogun can't cook?

I look forward to it.

[The oni's thoughts on Eternity don't come as much of a surprise, that their god cares more for it than her people. A people who, given the state of their lives, would be much better off in a land embraced by transience he thinks. It would hurt them less than attempts made at making the land never changing.

The decree sounds like it did its job however, he's positive Signora was likely preening over how well her little plan was working up until the Traveler got involved. Serves the hag right.]

She hasn't cared about her people in a long time. If she ever did.

[He tilts his head as he looks up at the mentioned horns - they weren't the first thing he noticed stood out from the other man, other aspects certainly draw the eye first, but the horns likely don't help stop any stares. Oni aren't terribly common around the city from what he knows, but Scaramouche can't see it bothering the man if he continues to stick around it.]

Hmm, they're pretty alright horns.

[But there's something far more important to focus on. His creator's ability - or lack thereof - in cooking.]

She can't. If the kitchen makes it out intact it would be a miracle.

Maybe. Or maybe she cares too much. [he seems to think about that, lips pursed] I've never really thought about it before. But I feel like things would have gone differently if she didn't care at all.

[he shrugs, expression wry] Either way, the decree's done with and she's back to just being the Shogun to me.

[really, she's just the lady he yells at when he almost gets hit by lightning. Anything deeper than that would take some serious consideration.

- oh, he thinks his horns are nice. He reaches up to touch one, looking a little surprised] You think so? Thanks.

[of course the Shogun and Eternity and all those deep thoughts pale in comparison to what her cooking ability is like]

Geez, that bad, huh. I mean, I can understand why she might not know how, but - has anyone tried teaching her?

[...]

Have you seen her destroy a kitchen?

"Too much" gives her undue credit. I can't see as many people dying if that were the case.

[Perhaps he's too spiteful over the past, over emotions he felt or didn't feel when he had awoken, asking his creator for help and instead being left to watch the people that surrounded him die off one by one. His feelings have only become more mixed, muddled in confusion since he'd arrived in Nippon and begun living with her. How nice it must be to only see her as the Shogun and nothing more.]

I haven't encountered many oni, but I can't see issue with your horns.

[The Harbinger is almost relieved for the lighter tone the oni has seemed to latch on to, despite the more serious talk being one of his own making. He's always willing to speak ill of Ei's cooking skills, the fact that he would need to be the one that cooked in the household not even being mentioned when the compromise of living together had been put forth.

As understandable as her inability to cook might seem, Scaramouche doesn't see how even attempting to get her to help can be as big a problem as it often is. He sighs, wondering if her sister had been the one with that ability.]

Sort of... on both counts. I've tried, but it's my kitchen at risk and I'd rather not have to pay to replace anything.

Hah, maybe. The only person who'd know for sure is the Shogun herself, and even then I doubt she'd answer if asked.

[honestly, spiteful or not whatever feelings this guy has towards Raiden Shogun are probably deserved. Just because Itto doesn't have too strong feelings doesn't mean he's not aware that other people aren't as laid back or forgiving as he is. All she did to him was have his Vision taken.

He can't help but grin, though, tapping his horn one more time before letting his hand drop]

If folks have an issue with my horns, then that's their problem. There aren't too many of us around, though - and especially not in the city.

[if there are, then they've done a good job of avoiding him and his gang, and his guys hear and see most of what's going on when he isn't there.

He can't blame him for not wanting to ruin his kitchen, though; if Itto had his own kitchen, he'd probably feel the same way]

That makes sense, that's gotta be expensive. I dunno if teaching an Archon how to cook is worth the risk.

[. . .

wait]

Wait, does that mean - the Shogun's here?

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December | Event: With A Bang

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