make it easy to be on top of the world (open)

[fairlyheroic]

⌛ Who: Arataki Itto (oneandoni), Asch the Bloody (charredflame), and Zack Fair (fairlyheroic)
⌛ What: permanent catch-all
⌛ When: various
⌛ Where: various
⌛ Warnings: nsfw, probably; threads will be tagged!

👹 itto
🔥 asch
🔪 zack

Comments

@crimsonflower

[charredflame]

[Asch doesn't mind the festivals too much, even if he doesn't like the crowds. There's always something new to see, and sometimes to experience . . . albeit most of his experiences haven't been all good. He's learned his lesson about going to these places without being suspicious of everything - and he's more than had his fill of surprise effects, thank you very much.

But other than that, he finds them enjoyable enough. And he's more than fine simply watching others take part in the different festival games. Which is how he finds himself wandering over to the goldfish scooping game, curious. Not that he has much to compare it with, but he's never seen a game like this before. He watches one person scoop up a little red fish after a few attempts, though from what he can hear it was a missed try at golden fish swimming around. It seems pretty harmless!

That is, until the person suddenly starts pulling open their kimono and undressing, all while trying to plaster themselves to the person next to them.

You would think Asch would be used to seeing things like that by now, but no dear reader, he isn't. And the face he makes says as much]

Of course it's something like that.

[crimsonflower]

[Edelgard was actually excited to do something fairly normal. A festival sounded like a grand way to explore parts of the area while also indulging in junk food unjudged. But this? Well, it's probably something she should have expected after hearing about the "Pollen Induced Heat" and suffering through those oni trials.]

How obscene. Do these game hosts know what—

[Oh. Oh no. That woman is even taking off the slip underneath her yukata. It all falls open, and the lady's breasts fall free. Now, Asch is about the age she was when she started her five year war, so while not a child he's still younger than her! She must take responsibility!

And so she's quick to stuff the last of her festival snack in her face and use its disposable plate to shield Asch from the indecent view.]

[charredflame]

[he gives a little sputter, part-surprised and part-offended, as suddenly there's a plate in his face. But not offended by the plate, oh no - the lack of properiety, as always, shouldn't be this bad and yet, seeing displays like this is normal. Or not seeing them at least; he would never be caught staring]

—a-ah. Thank you.

[he reaches up for the plate] Whatever it is you were going to say, I can only assume the answer is "no".

[crimsonflower]

I suppose it might also be possible for them to know and not particularly care. As long as they're making money such fall out is not their concern.

[There were plenty of people in power who were like that back home.

He may take hold of the plate, but she's so busy staring disapprovingly of the game host counting their coin that she doesn't take notice.]

[charredflame]

[he peers around the plate to see the host counting and huffs out a sigh. That sounds familiar enough to him, too]

I'm not surprised. Though, given how . . . acceptable such behavior can be in this place, I'm sure that contributes to it as well.

[crimsonflower]

[Well, if he's going to be peeking anyway might as well just toss the plate in the bin. She tried.]

With how the flora and fauna influence people here I think it would be quite ridiculous to have less acceptance. It would be difficult to charge people with indecency when they're practically poisoned by the environment to act that way.

[charredflame]

[he's careful not to look at the people being affected by the fish, at least, he doesn't want nor need to see it]

That's true. At the very least things like this - [Asch gestures vaguely in the game's direction] - could stand to be done a little more privately.

[crimsonflower]

I'm curious, how long have you been here?

[It's only been a couple months for her.]

[charredflame]

Ah . . . six months? Thereabouts.

[which, thinking about it, was longer than he thought] Why do you ask?

[crimsonflower]

...Ah, quite a bit longer than I have. It's only been about two for me.

[charredflame]

I see. I would say you get used to this sort of thing, but . . . [it might be a him problem, but it's pretty obvious he's still adjusting himself]

I hope it hasn't been too difficult adjusting for you.

[crimsonflower]

The jarring cultural shift coupled with my sudden independence has absolutely made it difficult, but quite honestly it's nothing I cannot survive. There are worse things in the realm of man to be subject to than too much sexual liberty.

[charredflame]

That's certainly true. And being scandalized is at least harmless in the long run.

That reminds me, though - were you able to find others to help with the things you weren't familiar with?

[crimsonflower]

Mostly, yes. Why? Interested in continuing to tutor adults?

[charredflame]

I hope you're not implying that I'm a child.

But if the adult still needs assistance then yes, I am.

[crimsonflower]

Would you not consider yourself a young man?

[Is he old enough to drink, she wonders? Well, he's definitely old enough to have been at least the same age as when she started her war.]

[charredflame]

I do. I can't say I've given it much thought before.

[but he doesn't seem offended, shrugging easily] I'm seventeen, but I don't feel very young. I've been independent, more or less, since I was ten.