December | Event: With A Bang

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With A Bang↲ OOC Plotting

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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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[leafwhistle]

[If Scaramouche was intending to sour Kazuha's mood again or punish him for his playfulness by pulling on his hair, then he clearly failed. As the white haired Inazuman's head is tugged back, his smile only turns more self-satisfied. He enjoys teasing the Harbinger a great deal, knowing how much he can get away with.]

You think so? Maybe you would have liked it.

[He should reel himself in some, for the doll's sake. He can't spend the whole night teasing and tormenting him, even as much as it might be delightful for himself. It wasn't like Kazuha wanted to push him into running off again.

For Scaramouche's sake, he doesn't say much while the other man brushes his fingers through and plays with his hair. Though his smile lingers, no new stars have emerged in his hair. Probably for the best, as the Harbinger's hands could easily push them out of the way for the moment.

He likes the feeling of his hands in his hair probably more than he should.]

Thank you. I've only had my Vision for a few years, though I'm proud of how I've learned to use it.

[How terrified he'd been at the thought of losing his Vision to the Decree. He thinks it would have been a fate worse than death itself. Yet... it's still possible, isn't it? As long as he has a Vision, there's always the chance of it being lost or taken.

His fingers brush over the Visions tied to his hip.]

I learned some good news tonight.

[lyingstars]

[Scaramouche scoffs as the words leave the samurai's mouth, unamused by the idea that he could have possibly enjoyed watching the man calling out for him in the middle of a party. There's no entertainment to be gained from that, just annoyance and unwanted attention. He doesn't need, nor does he want, more eyes on him than necessary.]

Why would I like you making a fool of yourself and dragging me into it?

[The immortal shakes his head, Kazuha didn't go that route and he's thankful for it. Though their meeting had been unplanned and unwanted on his part - the conversation difficult enough that he isn't certain if he's glad it happened - he does find moments like this pleasant, hands gently combing though the other man's hair. Scaramouche moves his focus fully to the task at hand, soft hair between his fingers as he works a neat braid into existence and allows silence to settle between them.

It looks nice he thinks, set to the side as the vagrant normally did his ponytail - far neater than the mess that had become of his head before he began to work on it. Still the Harbinger can do nothing about the hair that curls and sticks out atop his head, how wild all of it wishes to be even as he ties off the end of the braid. There's a charm to it, not that he'll ever admit to it, even as a smile tugs at the corners of his lips.

When Kazuha finally speaks up again he's pulled from his thoughts, expression returning to something more neutral.]

You're quite skilled from what I've seen. Though I can't say much for your combat ability. I imagine our one fight you were trying as much as I was.

[With the samurai's hair as good as it was going to get with what they had, he takes a step back. Definitely much better than the ponytail he sported earlier, and just as nice as it had been loose.

He doesn't want to forget any of this.

Turning his gaze away, Scaramouche quietly holds out his hand - a silent offering. A way to anchor himself to the moment, unable to flee should his own feelings grow too unbearable again.]

Oh? What good news could there possibly be tonight?

[leafwhistle]

[It might be romantic. The thought briefly crosses Kazuha's mind, though he chooses not to say that. He's only just really starting to consider that what he feels towards the immortal might just be a little... more than he'd thought at first. Friendship had terrified Scaramouche. He doesn't want to propose anything else.

It was unlikely to be reciprocated anyway— a human ronin like himself had nothing to offer. He's no one special.]

Oh, so you don't want people to know I was looking for you? Maybe I should have asked less people then.

[Please, Kaedehara, reign in the teasing. Though that was the truth at least— he'd asked a few people if they'd seen him around, knowing that he was present at the party but avoiding him.

It's been a while since anyone has braided his hair. It's very relaxing, which is a boon when he's been too emotional, and he lets out a deep sigh when Scaramouche ties off the end of his hair, leaving the braid dangling to the side of his shoulder. At first, he thinks maybe the other just braided his hair off center, until he reaches back and touches it realizing it's on purpose.

Oh, he... noticed.

His hand finds the offered one easily, almost on reflex, their fingers lacing together as he reaches out with his other to pull the other Inazuman closer by a hip. It's almost the stance they had while dancing, but Kazuha doesn't drag him back into step. He smiles at him, his expression warm.]

A friend of mine brought news of things I don't remember. He said I faced the Shogun in combat and lived. I'm traveling in Liyue.

[lyingstars]

I never said that. I don't care if people know.

[Despite the words Scaramouche's fading blush returns, dusting across his face once more in a deep red. He knows what the samurai is doing, attempting to embarrass him as though people knowing he was being looked for was something to want to hide. Why would he care that Kazuha had been asking around for him? While they didn't often spend time in public places, he never once hid their - friendship he reminds himself - never had he hid it.

It would have been annoying had anyone he asked - if he had actually asked - come up to him. The immortal's night however, had been free of many unwanted and overly chatty interactions. He felt no lingering eyes and no one was foolish enough to approach him to speak of the samurai.

There's an ease to how Kazuha slots their hands back together, as though he were waiting for it, pulling him closer. And he allows it, as he allows far too much when it comes to the other Inazuman. There's an odd comfort in being close, the hold on him gentle in comparison to earlier when all he wanted to do was run.

The news has him glancing up, peering into striking red eyes in surprise. He fought the Shogun and lived? It's not something Scaramouche would expect, humans didn't just come out of a fight with her intact - the samurai was much stronger than he predicted, and he feels something akin to relief wash over him.

Back in Teyvat, Kazuha doesn't die. He'll live which means that perhaps he'll stop being so reckless, acting as though his death has already been sealed. The thought has him offering a small smile of his own, though slightly strained.]

I'm glad to hear it. I expect details when you have them... if we remember.

[leafwhistle]

[Maybe it was Kazuha who was the only one self conscious about it at first, being seen spending time with a Harbinger knowing that they were involved with Inazuma's issues. He's stopped being worried at some point— sometime just before Scaramouche started avoiding him.

Watching the emotions play out on the other man's face is interesting. The samurai was aware that the immortal disliked it when he speaks of his mortality, the inevitability that he'd reach his end, though he had been uncertain if he cared or not. Scaramouche's small smile is met with his own, and he reaches with his other hand to rub the back of the doll's knuckles soothingly.]

My friend said I saved his life and blocked her killing blow. I... never thought. [He tilts his head, feeling humble now. Perhaps it was silly to talk of things he doesn't remember himself.] It doesn't seem possible.

[Would Aether lie to him to bring him comfort? He hopes not.]

I should know more soon.

[lyingstars]

[To hear that Kazuha blocked a killing blow to protect a friend isn't nearly as surprising as whose attack he blocked, so willing to give up his own life if it would protect someone he cared for. It's a trait he can both admire and hate, having seen the results of what such selflessness can bring far too many times for his liking.

Befitting of a samurai.]

While her power is not impossible to overcome, that doesn't make you any less of an idiot.

[All things could fall to enough force, his creator and her puppet are no exception. Just as Eternity had made Inazuma susceptible to tampering from within, it made the Shogun complacent, thinking herself in control when clearly she couldn't even grasp the power of her own people.

Still that does not change the fact that most in Kazuha's place would have been struck down, that his strength - while impressive - doesn't make up for how impulsive the decision to act was. No planning, no thought, he could have died, and that he holds a Vision is the only reason Scaramouche can think of that he was even capable of matching the Shogun's strength.

The Harbinger lets out a sigh, shutting his eyes and focusing on the soothing touch to his hand. If somehow time doesn't loop, if they retain their memories and stay friends then at least he knows the vagrant lives. He can berate the man for his recklessness then, when they have more time for it - not now, when there's so little left.]

No more fighting gods. If we're to be friends then I would prefer for it to last.