April | Event: Journey to the West

[jikan_mod]

Journey to the West↲ OOC Plotting

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Starting on the 10th, the entire city begins to buzz with the latest news. The long-delayed high speed, underground train connecting the Eastern Kingdom and Western Kingdom has finally been completed, and an inaugural train from the West was due to arrive any day.

But when that day comes, and a train pulls into the station, the people of Tokyo are shocked to find a very special passenger has made the trip personally: the new emperor of the Western Kingdom, Katsuragi no Mikoto. A young Kitsune Yokai with sharp eyes and a bright smile, it seems he's come with a very special message he thought would be best relayed in person, his booming voice audible through every magi-comm and speaker throughout the city.

"Salutations, refugees from another world! I, Katsuragi no Mikoto, have come to welcome you to ours! Already, word of your accomplishments and wonder have reached the ears of my people. We would be most honored if we could have you come to our capital in the West, and learn the cultures of all our people! It seems there is still so much to our world that you have yet to learn..."

It's not an offer to be taken lightly. Refusing a direct request from the emperor, even the young and inexperienced emperor of another kingdom, was simply not an option. But then, it's hardly a bad offer either, with many of the scientists at the NRL giddy upon receiving formal invitations of their own. Over the next few days, preparations are made, bags are packed, and soon-- Kyoto is now just a few short hours away.

Culture Shock

Upon arriving in Kyoto, it will immediately become obvious just how different things are in the West. Everything from lights to vehicles are powered by magic, rather than just magi-tech, with only basic plumbing utilizing steam-based energy. And the population is almost entirely Yokai, and while many are mostly human-like in appearance, many more look strikingly different. But of all types, Kitsune appear to be the most common in Kyoto, coming in all shades and colors, and some bearing multiple tails.

Their first stop in Kyoto is the Uji District, where they'll be provided free accommodation by the monks of Byodoin Temple. They'll be afforded the time to explore the city at their leisure, before being gathered for a special announcement in a few days time.

Color Quest Uji, Kyoto
Until further accommodations are arranged, most refugees (i.e. all player characters) will be offered the opportunity to experience temple life at an actual monastery! Everyone will be offered a futon in a large room, the beds separated only by folding shoji screens for privacy. Better hope the person next to you doesn't snore!

While everyone is free to go about their day, those who choose to spend their time at the monastery will have to adhere to their daily schedule. Meals are provided only at set times, and are entirely vegetarian. They'll find themselves being drafted into helping with daily chores, such as cleaning the floors, maintaining the garden outside the temple, offering ritual sacrifice to the resident Phoenix deity...

Sorry, did you miss that last one? It's a very important ritual that Byodoin happens to be famous for. Located on the edge of a large pond is the Phoenix Hall, where a beautiful rainbow-colored bird can be found roaming an intricately designed building. However, these patterns aren't natural, nor is this the bird's original color. In order to maintain the blessings of the resident ayakashi, an offering of color derived from one's own body must be placed on the altar in the main hall. These offerings can be anything, so long as the color is natural. Those blessed with hair of an unusual color may offer a lock or two, those with colorful talons or skin color can offer clippings or scrapings, and... well, there's a reason the temple is mostly red, given that blood is a very common offering as well. The less said about yellow the better.

Just be sure to come prepared, as anyone who approaches the altar without an offering will have all color drained from their body for a period of about five hours. Their skin will bleach, their hair will whiten, and the iris of their eye will blend in with the sclera, giving a rather frightful appearance. Even their blood will come out white! While there are no lasting effects of this, chances are the monks will be struggling not to laugh.

A Lovely Market Higashiyama, Kyoto
Unlike the sprawling industrial metropolitan of Tokyo, Kyoto is a vast but rather quaint city, with older wooden buildings and various pagoda and temples visible along the city's skyline. And those looking for a street to explore will find no shortage of covered streets and shopping arcades, mostly populated by local craftsmen.

One such street, nestled down a road covered with a colorful glass ceiling, is the Nishiki Market. Here, hundreds of stalls selling items from local farmers and merchants are located, making it the most convenient area for grocery shopping in Kyoto. One such stall appears to be selling sticks of fue grass filled with honey, a popular treat among children, as the fue grass can be played like a whistle after the honey has been squeezed out. The honey comes in a variety of flavors, and the vendors are happy to provide free samples.

However, it seems one in every ten of this particular batch is contaminated by sweet-love bee honey, a mild aphrodisiac. Naturally, as soon as this is learned, the entire batch is rebranded as a sort of boner roulette-- what, you didn't think they'd throw it out, did you? Curiously, this only seems to make them even more popular, with couples and groups of friends alike buying them by the handful. At least those who wind up with one by mistake won't be alone in the awkward boner corner, though the native populace doesn't seem to think of it as something awkward at all.

Magical Mysteries

Unlike in Tokyo, magic is far more widespread in Kyoto. Just walking down the street, one can find Yokai performing simple spells to aid in their day to day lives, from floating a heavy load of groceries, to grilling skewers of meat at a food cart without the use of a grill. And a few days after their arrival, the refugees are offered a rare opportunity to sit in on a magic class if they so please.

Ordinarily, it takes years of training for non-Yokai to unlock magic potential. But as the refugees are quick to discover, thanks to Gojira's blessing received last month, all refugees, new and old, have been gifted one of the four base elements, affording them the same innate control over that element as Yokai.

Of course, they'll still need to learn how to cast a spell in order to use it. But they're in the right place, as Kyoto has no shortage of magic schools, eager to take in these intriguing new students!

For more information on magic, please read this page!

Here Comes a Thought Higashiyama, Kyoto
Those seeking to learn which element they've been gifted are encouraged to visit the Kiyomizu School of Mindfulness, located at Kiyomizu-dera at the highest point in Kyoto. In addition to being one of the most beautiful temples in Nippon, the school is famous as both a tourist destination, and as the highest regarded place of magical study in Nippon. Even among Yokai, it's not uncommon for individuals to possess an aptitude for one element over all others. And while some schools choose a broad approach, Kiyomizu specializes in Mizu, the water element.

All refugees will be encouraged to visit the Tainai Meguri, a dark and seemingly foreboding wooden tunnel beneath one of the shrine buildings. Paired off in groups of two, refugees will descend a steep staircase into a corridor of absolute darkness, with only a braided rope handrail to lead the way. Even those who ordinarily can see in the dark will struggle to see anything in the darkness. Once they reach the center of the tunnel, they'll be met with a curious glowing stone, the only source of light in the room. Should they touch the stone with a clear mind, the carving in the center will change, showing which element they have an aptitude for: Tsuchi, Mizu, Hi, or Kaze.

However, those who touch the stone without a clear mind will face a different trial. Because the stone in question is a Memory Stone, an ancient magical artifact capable to projecting illusions of the past. If someone's heart is filled with worry or dread over something from their past, the light of the stone will jump out into the darkness, projecting those same worries and thoughts on the walls around them. Whether these illusions appear as text, an exact replica of one's memories, or something more abstract, varies by the person.

And it's for this reason that descents are done in pairs, as witnessing these illusions will cause the one experiencing them to be completely overwhelmed by the feelings associated with them. They'll need their partners help to calm back down, either through acknowledging and shouldering their pain, forgiving them for things they've yet to forgive themself for, or even just giving them the comfort they didn't know they needed. It's only then that the light will return to the stone, revealing the element as intended.

Spell Casting for Dummies Uji, Kyoto
While those who were gifted the element of Mizu may stay at Kiyomizu for some water manipulation demonstrations, those specializing in the other elements may instead choose recommendations for other schools around Kyoto. While small or private schools specializing in a single elements are common, those seeking something more general will be better suited to going directly to Maryouku University in Uji, also known as MRU.

Here, the scientists of the NRL have been invited as a sort of cultural exchange, though to what end is still unclear. But what is clear is that the Yokai professors of MRU are just as eager to assist the refugees as the scientists were. And for good reason, as magical power left unchecked could be accidentally activated to dangerous results. Thus, the first lesson all refugees will be taught is various means of casting spells. One kitsune recites a chant from memory, allowing them to transform into a small fox. Another sings an eerily beautiful song that causes everyone in the room to start laughing uncontrollably. And yet another wields a mysterious scepter that transforms them into a white-haired beauty in an intricate garb, allowing them to produce brilliant light shows with a mere flick of the wrist.

But as interesting as it is to watch, doing is far more fun. Refugees will be given a simple spell to perform based on their element: levitating a stone for Tsuchi, creating ripples in a bowl of water for Mizu, lighting a candle for Hi, or blowing a pile of leaves off a table with Kaze. Then, they'll be given the option of which method of casting they'd like to try. Will they memorize the spell and chant it? Sing it? Perform an interpretive dance? Play a little ditty on the flute? While some characters will find themselves mysteriously drawn to one method over the others, some may find their skills leave something to be desired...

Trying to light the wick of the candle may set the whole candle on fire, or even the entire table. An attempt at a light breeze may become a small tornado, leaving the room in total disarray. The bowl of water may splash outward, or endlessly begin to overflow until the room is flooded. And that rock might just refuse to move at all. But that's the whole reason they're here to learn, right? At the very least, the professors are very, very patient.

The Night is Short, Walk on

Kyoto is more than just a beautiful city. It's also known for its active night life scene, as tourists and locals alike come to enjoy a thrilling night out amidst the gorgeous backdrop of the Western Capital. Magic lanterns lining the streets come alive as the sun sets, as Yokai dressed in fine clothes come out to enjoy the streets and shops that only open sheet dark.

Unlike the East, laws in the West are a little different. Refugees will find that there are no laws limiting the sale of alcohol to minors, and those that do exist seem fairly lax. While the NRL scientists who came along for the journey will insist on personal responsibility, ultimately, all refugees who haven't been assigned specific guardians upon arrival are legally considered adults, regardless of their age. So those who want to join their friends in the bar or enjoy a nice drink are more than welcome to do so.

Bonding with the Locals Gion, Kyoto
Those looking for a fancy night on the town look no further than the Gion district. One of the most beautiful districts in Kyoto, Gion is known both as a popular tourist destination, and the home of the Geiko, the local Geisha who work in many of the teahouses and bars throughout Gion. One teahouse in particular seems rather tickled by the refugees, finding them so very unique and interesting, that any who enter will be immediately ushered to the back to be dolled up in traditional Geisha clothing. Those who don't immediately refuse will be then escorted on a private midnight boat tour along the illuminated Shirakawa river, where cherry blossom petals fall like snowflakes, creating a beautiful and romantic setting.

Of course, the romance might be a little marred by the fact that you must be dressed as a Geisha to attend the tour, regardless of size or gender. But seeing as Yokai come in all shapes and sizes, they'll have plenty of properly fitting kimono for everyone! And better yet, after the tour is over, they'll even be allowed to keep the kimono they've been given!

Those who stick with the tour to the very end will also learn something rather interesting. It seems the reason the Geiko feel so attached to the refugees is because they too practice in an ancient form of kizuna bonding, in which they bond themselves with the city of Kyoto itself, a practice unique to the Geiko of Tokyo. Because of this bond, refugees will find themselves capable of bonding with the Geiko as well, instilling them with an odd feeling of warmth and love for the city of Kyoto that will linger long after going home for the night.

Wacky Weed Gion, Kyoto
While conventional bars certainly exist in the West, given Yokai aren't as affected by alcohol, they aren't nearly as popular as Uki bars. Uki, a native plant with spiral leaves, is a popular recreational drug in the West, with roots that stretch back to traditional religious ceremonies in many Yokai cultures. Nowadays, it's enjoyed by those looking for a way to kick back and relax. And unlike more dangerous alternatives, Uki is non-addictive and produces a pleasant, sweet scent.

Most bars are centered around smoking it, with large glass pipes settled at the center of a table, connected by multiple smoking tubes and allowing large groups to partake in a single batch, either directly or from simply breathing in the ambient air from the top of the pipe. Naturally, Uki is rather potent, and simply walking into a smoking bar will often induce a sort of second-hand high. For this reason, smoking bars have an age limit of 15.

But there are other types as well, with another popular form of Uki coming as a powder then can be cooked into food. Ukimochi is one of the most popular Uki snacks, containing a sweet filling flavored mostly by the Uki itself, wrapped in mochi. While these are best enjoyed in Uki bars, they can purchased premade in shops throughout the West as well.

But all that said: what kind of effect does Uki have? For the most part, it merely relaxes the person taking it, while others may enter a sort of dreamy state, lowering their inhibitions while keeping their spirits high. And others still may find themselves feeling more amorous than usual, as Uki is sometimes considered to be a very mild aphrodisiac. With all these factors combined, it's not uncommon for Uki bars to have private rooms for guests to use for sensual cuddling, or even full-blown orgies.

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

• While characters have the option of staying behind in Tokyo, they will be unable to participate in the event. Characters who choose to go to Kyoto will be required to stay until the May TDM at the earliest.

• Please read the Magic page carefully! While learning native magic is completely optional, all characters will still have one element that they have been gifted by Gojira. This applies to all characters new and old, including any apped in the future! Please place any questions specifically regarding magic in the FAQ.

• As a reminder: characters can eventually learn all types of magic! The magic gifted by Gojira is simply the one that will come easiest for the, allowing them to use very powerful single-element spells right away. Other elements may require additional training, meditation, etc.

• Characters who cannot be soothed after touching the Memory Stone will have to be physically carried out into the light, which may prove difficult if the one with them can't do so while following the braided handrail leading out of the darkness.

• While Uki bars are age restricted, Uki itself is not, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Products that contain Uki will always be heavily labelled to prevent accidental ingestion.

• Yes, you can fuck the emperor. Characters who flirt with him on the train will be invited to a party at one of his villas, which tend to turn into orgies when the uki comes out. These will be handwaved.

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NPC | Katsuragi no Mikoto

[jikan_npc]

[Upon riding the train to Kyoto, some refugees will be afforded the rather strange honor of sitting in the same car as the Emperor of the Western Kingdom himself. It seems he's very eager to talk to the refugees more, as well as learn more about the Eastern Kingdom.]

Please, do not feel nervous on my account! I'm not so concerned with formalities. Have you any questions about the Kingdom of the West? I would be delighted to tell you what a beautiful land awaits you!


[As a reminder, talking to NPCs is not necessary, and is simply an option for people who want their characters to learn more about the lore of the setting in an organic way!]

[shutter_hime]

[Leave it to Kokoro to speak up. It was really strange to see yokai just out like they were here when they weren't nearly so open back home.]

Hi! I'm Amamiya Kokoro. Just going to jump in here, but:

Is it really true that your population is basically all Yokai? Because that's really neat.

[doommate]

It is good to see you in person, O Emperor of the West. I hail from the lofty peaks of Olympus as its grim god of war. My name is Ares.

[What a handsome-looking man! Ares is pleased to find himself in the company of lovely Katsuragi, formalities and all. So much so that he allows some of his mortal guise to fade, bearing his white war-paint and crowning leaves of laurel.]

While times are peaceful now, it would delight me to hear of battles in your kingdom's past. Surely there must be many exciting tales?

Dazai Osamu | Bungou to Alchemist

[thesettingsun]

[A: Midnight Tour]
[It'd be a shame to miss out on the lovely scenery, and if Dazai does say so himself? He makes a damn cute geisha.]

Lucky us we were invited while the sakura are blooming, huh?

[B: Memory Stone, tw: suicide, drowning]
[If anyone had told Dazai he needed to have a clear mind, he never would have even attempted this. He's chatty on the way there, mostly because walking in near-total darkness in silence would be too much, but when he finally touches the stone...

Water. The illusion that lights on the walls around them is nothing but water, far over your head. For you there's only the vague sense of being submerged and a weight around your ankles, but for Dazai-

He grabs at his throat, choking, eyes wide and near unseeing.]

[C: fun magic shenanigans]
[Okay that was horrible let's never talk about it again - but Dazai found out that he's a wind type! And wind types can fly!

Which means that you may be minding your own business when the shadow of a fuckin' weirdo casts over you.]

How's the weather down there?

[Yes, he is enjoying himself, thank you very much.]

[D: wildcard]
[idk man i'm easy]

B

[blackbeastcoat]

[ The concept of this whole thing was just ridiculous, but Dazai had wanted to check it out so naturally? Who was he to say no to it? He didn't mind talking with the other as they ventured through the darkness, but it was upon reaching the stone that he stopped short with eyes widening slightly.

He glanced around all of the walls and tied those accompanying feelings to why Dazai looked like that. Something akin to worry rose up and he stepped in front of him, hands surprisingly gentle, but firm as he stepped closer with a furrowed brow to place them on Dazai's wrists. ]

Dazai. I'm here. Come back... don't lose yourself to it.

[ God. Akutagawa doesn't even know if this will work as he's horrible at comforting people but... he's trying his best. ]

C

[mobileforces]

H-How'd you manage that already!?

[MAD-- wait, can she--]

[...]

[Leeeeans.]

I can see up your kimono like that, you know.

D for --

[chichichi]

[ Yes, hello, Dazai, did you leave the futon provided by the monastery well-made and flat in preparation for a good night's rest after a busy day exploring Kyoto? Well, it's still reasonably made, but not at all flat and when he approaches, that curious shape occupying his futon moves and a certain feather headed brunette peeks deep violet eyes over the top of the blanket at him.

There may be little stars shining into existence around her head at the sight of him. ]

Bakugou Katsuki | My Hero Academia

[detonating]

💥This Edible Ain't Shit!💥

[It took Katsuki a while to realize that... mistakes were made. Serious fucking mistakes. He'd been hungry, and hauling a container of Ukimochi around for his mochi-fiend of a best friend. Sweets weren't his thing, but he was fucking hungry, and eating one to tide him over in his journey to their designated meeting place was fine.

They were pretty good, actually, and one turned into another. And another... then another, until only about half of them were left.

The realization that he had seriously fucked up came a little while later. His hands were getting abnormally sweaty, to the point that he paused in his steps with a puzzled look, to make the move to wipe one of them off on the cloth of his yukata, and the slight glean on his palm caught his attention. In bringing his hand up close to peer at it, that everything was suddenly really fucking weird. Vivid, the sun glistening off of the sweat on his palm... and was that the faint thump of his heart he was hearing, feeling? Even the rate that he took in breath suddenly came into sharp focus, and it was all so fucking weird and sudden that...]

Oh... fuck...

[Have fun, glimpsing this dumbass just staring at the palm of his hand like it's done the most amazing thing. Katsuki is kind of stuck there for a moment, as he comes to acknowledge the horrific facts: he ate the wrong fucking mochi and he is high as a fucking kite.

Or, once he has broken himself out of that zoning out session, maybe you find him wandering around, slowly, just staring at everything around him in near awe. Anyone who knows Katsuki will probably find it concerning, how at ease he seems as he just watches the world move around him- at a much faster rate than he feels like he is going. Probably because he is not going fast, at all.]

💥MF-in Cuddles💥 [Closed to Ochako]

yo
where are you
i've been at the spot for like 80 fuckig years

[It hasn't. It's been like 5 minutes.]

[[Open to any other ideas! Just poke me detonating | papapapanic | meganlodon#0267 @ discord if you wanna hash something out!]]

BLAZE IT

[floatsaway]

[Ochako is...squinting down at her tech piece right now, tilting her head to one side very, very slowly. She's rarely ever seen Bakugou text like this - he's usually so proper, unless stunned or REALLY angry - and a typo? This feels...weird. Already a few alarm bells are going off in her head and she responds with a tiny frown.]

I'm just out sightseeing. I wanted to take some pictures.
Where is 'the spot'???
And why are you texting funny?

Ranpo Edogawa | Bungo Stray Dogs

[sweetsleuth]

1 | Here Comes a Thought | Previous CR Only | cw: BSD manga spoilers, violence
[Let it be said that Ranpo is afraid of the dark. It's not something he's very open about, but it's something that's always been true. But it's not a weakness he enjoys talking about, let alone losing to. And when someone else says they need a partner to descend into the tunnel, well... he'll have to get over it eventually, right?]

[Just try and ignore the fact that he's walking so closely, he's practically clinging to their back.]

H-How much further does this thing go? We should have turned around by now, right? The exit is right next to the entrance. Why is the basement here so long?

[That slight tremble in his voice? They're just imagining it.]


2 | Spell Casting for Dummies | OTA
Theoretically we could do all of these, huh... which method are you going to use? Chanting look easy, but sounds boring.

[Ranpo is looking at the list of casting options on the board, and the array of magical items available to channel the spells for certain methods. He turns to the person next to him, a grin on his face.]

Say, which of these do you think is the silliest? We should try them all!


3 | And Then I Got High | cw: obvious smut, drug use, optional voyeurism
[It's not that Ranpo didn't realize exactly what kind of establishment this was when he walked in. Oh no, he knew what he was getting into. But he's not here to smoke, having no real desire to put this stuff in his lungs. Instead, he buys some of the Uki snacks being offered before finding a table of friendly-looking people to sit with -- and then he eats them.]

[It doesn't take long for the effects to kick in, and when they do, it doesn't take long for the flirting to start. They share some giggles, some flirtatious touches -- and pretty soon Ranpo's being invited into their lap, straddling their waist and grinding against their lap, as he tilts his head back to invite more kisses along his neck--]

[Is your character the one whose lap he's climbed into? Or someone on the other side of the table, enjoying the show? Or maybe even someone walking by who thinks Ranpo might need some time to leave and cool down if he's doing something like this in the middle of a public bar? Pick your own horny adventure!]


4 | Wildcard
[Feel free to remix the above prompts as needed! Keep in mind Ranpo will not enter the Tainai Meguri without at least being prompted to do so because he's afraid of the dark.]

2

[holeful]

[A bit startled to be addressed, Fukuda thinks for a moment.]

The silliest? I guess maybe the dancing? It seems a bit indirect.

[Somehow just standing there he gives off the aura of someone who absolutely does not know how to dance.]

Genbu Onishi (WoL) | Final Fantasy XIV

[protectorofsmiles]

His Dream, His Memories [cw: descriptions of gore and death]

[This was a huge mistake. It wasn't supposed to be like this. All Genbu wanted was to partake in the fun Kyoto had to offer. He just wanted to have a little fun, to grab the nearest familiar face he saw and travel down a dark tunnel, a courage test of sorts.]

Fret not, Gen-chan...I bear no grudge against you...please do not fret...

[Genbu touches the stone, curious to see what his element would be. His whole body filled with dread the moment he saw his child self standing in the rain, barely twelve summers, his horns whole, but not fully grown, unusual for one like him at this age. He froze, only able to watch as he and his parents went tumbling down along a landslide near a hill.]

Look to the future...It's up to you now...to carry on our name, our...dream.

[He watches as the Raen child comes to, and sees his mother, split, with her bottom half completely crushed under a boulder, and her, Kami have mercy, still alive. The child wails, holding his dying mother as she forces out her final words in labored breathing.]

Promise me, Gen-chan. Promise me you'll carry on our dream, our legacy. Bring joy to all, so that all may know hope...

"I...I promise!"

I promise... [Genbu murmurs the words to himself along with the child projecting onto the walls.]

Ah...good. With you out there doing what you do best...the world will be...just a little...brighter...

[Genbu watches in frozen silence as the child's grieving wails echo across the walls, holding his limp mother in his arms. He watches, as the child finds his father's arm sticking out of a pile of stone, as he pulls the arm out in a desperate attempt to save his father, as the sounds of already damaged bone and flesh snap when he pulls only his arm out, the rest of his body crushed and buried under the rubble.

Genbu only watches in silence, tears streaming down his face, completely forgetting about his companion who is witnessing all of this as well.]

Wildcard

[ooc: Honestly writing up that first prompt took a lot of energy from me and I couldn't think of anything else at the top of my head, so hit me up if you have some other, more light-hearted prompts you want to do!]

[cw: more gore] here we go!

[detonating]

'The fuck am I doing here with this asshole?' Was a question Katsuki was asking himself a lot as they made their way down, through the dark tunnel. The answer was fucking stupid, it pissed him off to no end and sort of made him feel itchy, that familiar feeling of being uncomfortable with himself. Listening to anyone's criticism of him was something he already had a hard time with, but actually making a blatant effort to correct it was another thing entirely. But Ochako had been pretty fucking pissed off at him, for what he'd said to Genbu on the network, he was her friend, and some-fucking-how, Katsuki let that influence his decision making here. He was seriously going to have to try to stamp out this stupid fucking... crush thing he had going on, cause it was just causing him headaches at every turn. Making him do stupid shit.

Naturally, he wasn't outwardly pleased about it either, not hesitating to complain the entire way down.

It wasn't until the memory started playing out before their eyes in full that Katsuki actually snapped his mouth shut, and watched with a growing horror, a sick pit tightening in his stomach, as an obviously child-aged Genbu went to his fatally wounded mother's side to listen to her last words. It was so fucked up... probably one of the most fucked up things he'd ever seen.

Stealing a glance at the giant man beside him, Katsuki's expression was uncharacteristically pensive. Solemn, his lips pursed as he turned to watch the rest unfold. But even an asshole like him couldn't help but wince, at the sound of his father's arm being snapping away in that sickening fashion, crimson gaze moving down and to the side with a hard frown and a solid clench of his jaw and fist. Katsuki was never the type to envision himself in someone else's shoes, to empathize, but he couldn't help but fucking imagine his own Mom, split in fucking half by a rock, saying goodbye like that. To try to pull his own Dad out from underneath rubble... it made his throat feel tight, made his eyes sting briefly just to even fucking go there in his own mind.

Fuck. At that point it ends, and Katsuki stays like that for a long moment before he turns his attention back to the silently crying Genbu. He is obviously not fucking okay (who the hell WOULD be?!) and stuck in a state of shock, reliving that horrible scene, and the blonde isn't quite sure what to do to break the heavy silence between them. He's not a comforting type, he's not in any way a fucking people person. He finds himself thinking about what Ochako would do right now... and that had him holding back a scoff. She would hug him, say something really fucking kind and reassuring... something. Like fuck he would ever do that, with anyone but her, but... he could find a middle ground, right? It wasn't like he could act like this never happened, leave Genbu to just deal on his own... that was a level of cold hearted that even Katsuki couldn't fucking stomach.

Reaching out, Katsuki's hand found Genbu's arm in a brief, tentative touch before he dropped it back at his side. Voice low, but firm. Just enough to try to pull him out of his staring.

"Genbu."

Princess Concordia | Original Character

[bloodyroses]

Here Comes A Thought (cw: body horror, weirdly sexualized human sacrifice?)

[ Hey, it's a fancy party! A beautiful young man is lying on a table with fruit being served off his naked body. Everyone seems to be wearing clothes you'd find in your typical medieval fantasy setting, but the clothes don't stay on for long, since this is one of those parties that turns into an orgy fairly quickly.

So far, so good, but then things get...weird.

Another girl next to you, about Cordy's age, gets her wrists grabbed by two figures and dragged to the center of a room. It's hard to make out her face as the crowd around her grows, but her expression grows increasingly desperate and afraid.

"Oh gods, please no, please-"

It's a flurry of chaos as this girl's clothes are being ripped off and a long, mosquito-like proboscis bursts its way out through the flesh of one partially obscured figure who's holding her by the waist. So sure, now she's getting all the vitality sucked out of her as her husk of a body starts collapsing and melting in on itself.

The worst part is, despite her repeated cries for help, you seem to be getting farther and farther from her, until there's nothing but silence and her eyes popping out of their sockets as they roll out on the floor.

Cordy, meanwhile, is hyperventilating. ]

Wacky Weed

[ Okay, so that didn't work out so great. Cordy has decided to drown her sorrows in a bunch of edibles at literally the first uki bar she found on her way back, where she's just sort of... staring at her hands, waggling her fingers every now and then. ]

I could go for like...an anchovy roll right now. Or like. Ten. And they don't fuckin' have 'em here.

...eh, whatever.

Midnight Tour

[ For all it's worth, Cordy looks absolutely lovely in geisha attire. Someone found a kimono her size that's blue with pink peonies on it, and it's absolutely fabulous. And contrary to the sort of demeanor she's put up for most of her stay here, Cordy is...surprisingly proper in her posture and mannerisms tonight. Look, all that princess training she's had crammed down her throat has its purpose.

It's just that sometimes she'll turn away and appear to be staring at...sometimes nothing, sometimes the trees. And she's sticking her tongue out? It's kind of hard to figure out just what she's doing, but she's actually trying to catch cherry blossoms on her tongue like they're snowflakes.

IDK, she's a weird kid. ]

Frog Friend

[ In the monastery, there's a small enclosure, and on the cage is a sign that just says "LIVE FROG, DO NOT EAT, PLEASE MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T ESCAPE"

If you look inside it when Cordy's not around, you get...okay, what were you expecting. Honestly. He's got a bowl of water and a branch and there's a little spray bottle?

later, on the network, there's just this panicked post from user "crypt_thing" ]

UUUUUH GUYS WHAT DO FROGS EAT?

WHAT DO FROGS WHO USED TO BE HUMAN CHILDREN EAT

Wildcard

[ Or anything else you want, that's cool too ]

Okumura Yukio | Blue Exorcist | a new one | cw: suicidal character

[reflash]

arrival (closed to setsura)
[He stumbles through the door and listens, dazed as they ask him questions, look him over, and he tries to answer. Whatever he says isn't good enough, and they sit him down in a corner of the medical office, drape a blanket over his shoulders and hand him a cup of water. Just wait here they say, and he doesn't want to think, doesn't want to go home, doesn't want to be here.]

temple
[Yukio hovers politely around the temple, smiling, assisting where he can. He's used to chores, he's used to a sort of temple life, he's even used to making little sacrifices to keep demons appeased.]

Would you like some help with that? [He asks a stranger (you're all strangers to him). He looks a little tired, but he's friendly enough.]

a thought (open but let's plot, cw to be added)
[Yukio's mind is anything but clear, but he's ignoring that. As he and his companion start their walk down to the basement, he smiles politely.]

What element do you think you're aligned with? [He asks. The walk is dark, but he's friendly and knows how to be reassuring.]

it's 4/20 im editing in a uki prompt
[Yukio is the sort of person who's so uptight that even being a little relaxed would be noticeable, and he's more than a little relaxed right now. And affectionate. Way more affectionate than normal, stepping up beside someone and taking their hand to just sort of... tug them along.]

How are you? [He continues, without much of a chance for the other person to respond.] Have you had a chance to explore much? It's really incredible here, I've never seen anything like this!

wildcard
[[ooc: anything else? Let's plot!]]

arrival

[chichichi]

[ She pushes past bodies and quickly rattled information through the doors with a quiet smoothness, turning deep violet eyes around in search of -- ]

Yukio-chan!

[ -- because he and Shiemi had disappeared and, taking into account Shigure's explanation, she hadn't been entirely certain how the return process would work for those of them essentially, impossibly pulled from two locations. Would they simply be returned? Was Prismatica itself subject to corrupt time and also trapped in the loop?

Those questions fall away at the sight of him sitting there in the medical office. Her eyes sweep over him without an inch of subtlety as she steps into the room and she sees the differences.

There's a very brief moment of quiet and she's moving more slowly than quickly to come to stand near him. ]

How are you feeling?

Lulu The Fae Sorceress | League Of Legends

[cuddly_incoming]

I - A Lovely Market: Sweets overload!
A market full of new sights, sounds, smells and tastes? You'll definitely find the happy-go-lucky Yordle zipping back and forth between stalls and trying out all the things she can get her hands on. She's particularly fond of sweets! So you can find her with a bag full of the honey sticks while sucking on one cheerily. Who knows, maybe she's up to sharing!

II - Spell Casting for Dummies: The moe you know~!
Lulu was already an incredibly magical being. A Yordle blessed/cursed by the fae of Runeterra with a natural aptitude for all things magical. So any chance to learn new things was always something Lulu aimed for, as long as it was not boring! And if it was... well, she may spice things up with her mischieviousness. She also may be having too much fun playing with other spellcasters...

"Hey! C'mon you, let's dance!" right before a spell flies off in the unsuspecting person who is now surrounded by a shield of petals and flowing flowers.

III - Bonding with the Locals: I want it!
Lulu us 100% on board with this! A pretty robe-thingy, cool makeup and a tour to boot while hanging with the locals? HECK YES! On the boat tour Lulu is even more excited as she zooms here and there, mingling with locals and tourists alike. You'd swear she was hosting this thing.

"Hi! How are you?! Are you enjoying this ride? Isn't it so pretty!"

IV - Wildcard: Trust in the Yordle?
Anything else you might want to try with Lulu is fully open! Just let me know!

Valeria | FFXIV WoL

[concussionprotocol]

a moment, a memory
[ She had heard rumor that touching the stone might bring memories to the forefront of her mind and, in some desperate way, Valeria honestly hopes that it might show her something she has lost. Perhaps it could bring some part of her that's been lost to the endless dark of her mind back.

She would not be so fortunate.

It hurts, what she does see, and it's one of the few memories she does hold, clear and bright and accusing every day. It's fairly recent. Her hair is lighter and longer, brushing the small if her back and held away from her face by a wide headband. She stands next to a bed, head bowed and arms crossed tightly over her abdomen.

In the bed lays an older man, grey just touching his temples and his face weathered by a life lived well. His eyes are open, unseeing, and his face slack, jaw gaping, as death took hold.

She had been minutes too late to say goodbye.

In the doorway behind her is a buxom woman and it is not grief that settles on her features. Anger, bright and raging, is plain as day. He asked for you, Valeria. Over and over, he asked for you!

Val flinches - and, in the cave, she flinches at the words, too. She has no defense. She hadn't known it was so bad,hadn't known that he'd been so injured on a hunt, hadn't known he'd started going out alone after she left.

Say your goodbyes and get out. Don't come back. You have no one here. The woman turns on her heel and leaves the room.

Beside the bed, standing over the man who had been as much a father as she had ever remembered, Val cried.

In the cave, she bowed her head and swallowed her sobs. ]

live like the river flows
[ It's so beautiful.

Val loves the water, so of course she's going to end up on a boat. Her kimono is in shades of red, deep crimson that complements her pale skin well, and her expression is one of pure joy.

She laughs at the Sakura blossoms falling, leans over to gaze into the water, and turns to her companion. ]

It is beautiful, no?

A moment, a memory!

[mobileforces]

...I'm sorry.

[It felt so personal, seeing the painful past of a stranger like this. It made Higuchi hesitant to touch the stone herself, well aware of what it might show her. But right now, this illusion in front of them was what needed to be handled.]

[But what could she say? She's never considered herself a warm or comforting person. And she's certainly never comforted someone over the loss of what appears to be a parent, or at least someone akin to one.]

You... can't predict something like that happening. People die all the time, for all kinds of reasons... you couldn't have known it was going to happen then.

[She doesn't know that for sure, but-- given the body language of the woman in the memory, she doubts she would have brushed this man off if she knew he was on his deathbed.]

[shutter_hime]

Kiss Me, Kiss Me with Your Eye Closed~ (Potentially 18+)

[While Kokoro was used to being trudged along to Kyoto when her mother went to visit her family, this Kyoto was way more interesting. Even the dialect was fun to listen to. (She would never tell her mom that she missed hearing "Maido!" coming out of shops and down streets in the shopping districts.

And that's when she stumbled on the honey shop. Honey was great by itself, and it wasn't like it was the worst sort of sugar to ingest. The sweet-love bee honey sounded weird, but she picked up 5 bundles of 10 to the delight of the shop owner. (What? She liked honey.) Then she was off, looking at dangling hairpins and other cute things.

Eventually she runs into someone she knows. (Possibly literally.)]

Whisper That Your Heart Shows All I Want is You, Yeah You

[Kokoro found herself skeptical of the cave. How was some rock supposed to tell them what element they were? Wasn't that cheating? Still, she went in with a friend and slowly made her way in the dark. When they got to the center, her mind was still clear (and still skeptical), but she looked back behind her. Just in case.]

Do you wanna go first? Or should I?

Hold Me, Hold me I'm Your Bunny

[An opportunity to dress up like a maiko and go on a trip down the river? Count her in! Kokoro wears a kimono of peach, pink, and white, hair pulled up and away from her face. While the white make up and the small patch of red lip color made her feel a little strange, at least it was interesting (and she got to keep the kimono at the end, so a win-win situation, really).

Downside, though, she kept getting sakura petals in her hair. She turns to her seat partner, clasping her hands together.]

Hey, hey. Can you make sure I got all of the little petals? I feel like I'm going to be taking them out for a week.

Tell Me I'm Not Funny, Tell Me I'm Legit

[Want to do something else? Please enjoy this wildcard option. I'm on plurk @ sentralia and on Discord at Sweet Irene#7091]

ALL OF THE SWEETS PLEASE!

[cuddly_incoming]

Not quite running into, and not someone she knows either, but Kokoro feels someone very lightly hop off her shoulder with a feather-light step before spinning mid-air and facing her, still kind of floating.

"Hi! I see you got lots of honey sticks too!" The cheery, purple hued girl shows off her own stash of the sweets with one sticking off the corner of her mouth and some specks of honey on her lips and cheeks. "Wanna trade some? The store owner said they're full of surprises and I love those!"

Ike Atalanta | Original

[electricalburn]

1 | Ashes of the Past | OTA cw: child abuse/illness, parental death, severe burns in Ike's memories<
It would probably be cheating if I made a spark so we could see, huh.

[Ike's never done something like this before. Thunder Elemen tended to be pretty nonreligious, so the whole idea of temples and shrines was pretty novel to him. But as soon as the memory stone comes into view, he feels like he can understand why the people here would treat it with such reverence.]

So we're... supposed to touch it?


2 | Boner Roulette | OTA cw: underage (Ike is 17)
Hey, look! That vendor over there is giving away samples of these-- they're super good! You should try some!

[Whether Ike knows his current companion or not, he knows they're a fellow refugee. Which is why he's sticking close, feeling safer in a group than exploring on his own. And right now, he has a honey-filled stick of fue grass in his mouth, sucking up the honey between sentences.]

Kinda weird that they're just giving it away, but-- it's really tasty honey, so I'm not going to complain!


3 | Edibles | OTA cw: underage (Ike is 17)
[Ike is a good boy who has no interest in smoking or drinking. But when he hears about Ukimochi, he can't help but get a little curious. It certainly sounds like something he could benefit from, with at least one vendor describing how some take it to deal with chronic pain, others for anxiety... he can just try a little, right?]

[Unfortunately, Ike is a sweets fiend, and as soon as he realizes ukimochi is both delicious and very sweet, he ends up eating the entire batch.]

[Which is how Ike ended up where he is now, flopped over a futon with his kimono in disarray, a goofy yet peaceful grin on his face.]

Hey... wanna lay with me? I think I gotta hold on to someone or the world's gonna rotate without me.


4 | Wildcard
[Hit me with ur best shot]

Boner Time

[shutter_hime]

[Kokoro hadn't made it around to the "buying things to snack on" portion of the Kyoto trip, but when she ran into Ike, she stopped short and grinned.]

I mean, that's a little weird, but sometimes you get free stuff if they're trying to promote something. Which vendor is it? I wanna get some, too.

Heine Rammsteiner | DOG: Bullets & Carnage

[streunerhund]

Dank City

[Ohhh, he made a terrible mistake.]

[He should have maybe learned to interpret the apparent benefits in a way that meant yes, this will get you high, rather than just some holistic magic nonsense. Lured by the sweet smells of smoke and sugar, Heine learns first hand that DARE was right and people will just hand you drugs.

He was three edibles in before things started to get weird, feeling a little outside his body, and he started to see the way some people were giggling maybe way too much, actually, no that was funny--]

"Oh, fuck, I'm high."

[Everything seems to have slowed down. What he thinks has been around ten minutes has turned out closer to only two, everything seems to come into sharp focus when he notices it, his mind fixating on little things like his breath, or the texture of his shirt as he rubs his hand over it. His normally enhanced reflexes have slowed to a crawl, his reactions to things delayed, if he notices at all.]

[Perhaps you might catch him sitting outside the building, just trying to get more fresh air. Or maybe you'll find him in a safer spot inside, having been rescued by some kind Inu yokai to settle down in a more private room.]

Night Market

[Being relatively new to Nippon still, Heine didn't have too much to pack before they were brought to Kyoto. A few days in he notices the problem. He's going to run out of clean clothes pretty quickly, and maybe even quicker if any end up with holes.]

[Heine walks at a leisurely pace through the night market, pausing to look at stands occasionally to check and see if there are any clothes or new jewelry that might interest him. He's already eyeing food stalls, but instead what ends up distracting him is knives. He wanders closer to the stall, examining a knife with an intricately wrapped, red handle, with a frown set on his face.]

Damn, why's it so hard just to find a t-shirt?

[But he is still checking out that knife.]

Wildcard

(ooc: Feel free to wildcard any of the given prompts or just throw something completely unique! I'll roll with it. I'll write up a memory share prompt or do that with people if you're interested as well)

night market

[relieable]

[this place is buzzing! Osomatsu has been left to his own devices tonight, and is currently roaming the streets, just checking out the merchandise in the market. he's stopped at a booth and he's flipping through some of the happi coats when he notices someone nearby. not that that's a big deal, since there are people (and Yokai) everywhere.

his head turns in time to hear Heine's disapproval about t-shirts, and he snorts]

Uh. I hate to break it to you, buddy, but I don't think that's gonna tell you where to find a shirt.

[he should mind his own business]

Yato | Noragami

[fiveyengod]

Arrival in Kyoto

[ Being around as long as he had, sudden time-loops, weird doors into a land that held a SUPER old Japan in it wasn’t quite the weirdest thing. Ayakashi at least seemed to be common? Yato also had come in tired, weary and on the tail end of a successful fight but it hadn’t been over yet.

The scientists assured him that time would not progress without him, so for the time being he was left here. Not that it’d magically made everything better but meant Yato was going to cope with this the best he could… by being himself after making the trip to Kyoto. Though... this? It was different from what he was used to since everything was all powered by some kind of magic and there were so many inhumans walking around he could hardly believe it.

It’d meant a brief moment of distraction before he gathered the right tools, and then? He gets to work. After a few hours, he goes out with a stack of papers and starts placing them everywhere in Kyoto that he can. They’re hand drawn pictures of two people with words written on them in somewhat scrawling writing saying ’IF FOUND, PLEASE CONTACT YATO!!’

Hell. He even looks pleased with himself as he puts one up near someone else at some point, grinning widely. ]


Here Comes A Thought [ CW: SPOILERS FOR NORAGAMI IN 2ND PROMPT & A VIOLENT DEATH ]

A. [ Okay the concept of this sounded super cool, even to a god like him so of course he wanted to actually visit this place and found some poor soul to go with him. Though it was actually down IN the pitch black tunnel that Yato actually has something of regrets because this brought back memories of being in the Underworld and it wasn’t something he wanted to think about. ]

S-So!!! What element do you think you are, huh?

[ His voice shook, not out of fear but more because he needed to say something as to not think about the things weighing down on his mind right now. ]


B.[ Now that they’ve reached the area in question it’s a little better, though since nobody had told him he needed a clear mind for this sort of thing? He throws caution to the wind and touches the stone. What came next was… the walls suddenly began projecting an image of a very roughed-up, injured Yato.

He’s holding an older, much more injured man who’s VERY bloodied and barely conscious in his arms. ]

Stay strong, Ebisu! Don’t you die!!

[ The man is quiet for a second and tears fall as something crosses his face and he smiles as he looks up at him. ]

I’m glad… to have met you…

[ Yato’s eyes went wide, words leaving him as he shook his head. About to say something when the man’s expression turned rather agonizing and VERY pained. ]

No… I don’t want to die..!

[ Nothing else is said as what follows is the man suddenly just explodes and blood goes everywhere, leaving his clothes behind. This is what has Yato sinking to his knees, eyes wide as he clutches his hair, expression pained as he shook his head. ]

No...no… No… I should’ve been able to..

[ He’s very nearly hyperventilating now.. ]


Wacky Weed

[ He may be a god who liked to drink but smoking was a bit much for him. Not that it stopped him from eating the snacks though, and as such? Cue one VERY high Yato once the effects kicked in, to which he started with just leaning on someone before finding an opportunity to just lay back onto someone’s lap with a lazy smile. ]

Y’know… you’re pretty… and comfortable. Lemme lay here a moment, would ya?

[ Whether you’re man, woman, he doesn’t care. Just… he sure thinks you’re good looking and not caring. Words were trivial things when he felt like he didn’t have a worry in the world right now. ]


[ Wildcard ]

[ Don’t see anything you like? Hit me up @ indulgentsin or just toss something at me! ]

arrival.

[penpoint]

[ You know, another artist is not the first thing Rohan expected to see upon getting to Kyoto. He had enough time to settle in before making his way around town to get a feel for this new location. He doesn't know how long they'll be here, but he had all of his essentials with him, at least. He sees the drawings a ways out, and others appear as he closes the distance between himself and the apparent culprit, as he sees him --

Right in the middle of proudly putting up the sign. They do look like drawings, and whether or not he can attribute them to this young man isn't something he can be sure of yet.

But Rohan's never been one for trying to place or say things delicately, so he'll just bluntly ask. ]

Did you draw these?

Dionysus | Hades

[vapelife]

Nocturnal One

[Sleep is a luxury that Dionysus enjoys greatly. He's not yet gotten the chance to meet the sleep god, Hypnos, though when he does he'd always planned to tell him what a wonderful boon he's given to all.]

[Tonight, it seems robbed of him.]

[The sweet, syrupy smell of wine and grapes clinging to him, the god opens his shoji screen and picks up his futon. He steps around the sleeping refugees, quieter than one his size should be able to move, until he picks a new spot and puts down his futon.]

[He places a hand on his neighbor's shoulder.]

How about some cuddling, yeah?

Milk and Honey (Can be NSFW)

[Honestly, the chance of somehow enflaming himself with passion was something that Dionysus found exciting, but honey is a wonderful treat in itself. Dionysus has bought quite a few of the fue grass, but instead of eating it raw, he's found some seating outdoors to fill a table with a few different desserts.]

[Right now he's coated a strawberry in the golden nectar, which he pops into his mouth whole after a few licks. Ever the messy eater, he pops his fingers into his mouth to clean the honey off after. He stops after a moment, then gives a wave.]

Hey, man! Interested in sharing?

r/Trees (Can be NSFW)

[For a god that usually would drink a coffer empty before he succumbs to the sweet sleep of wine, Dionysus had low expectations of uki. He'd wished for something that would clear worries from his mind and lift his spirits, and the plant surprisingly delivered. He couldn't be more pleased to have his head... empty.]

[Ivy Crowned Dionysus was stoned out of his mind.]

[He lounges, his eyes mostly closed, a pleasant expression on his face as he lifts a pipe to his mouth and takes another drag off it. The smoke he exhales is tinged purple as it exists his lungs in a sigh of pleasure, his body feeling heavy, the low embers of desire pulsing through his core.]

[Company would make this better.]

Heeeey, man, come sit with me, plenty room.

[He pats the inside of his thigh as he leans his head back. His yukata, messy with lack of modesty, is already parted wide up the leg, showing enough that it leaves only his cock to imagination.]

Wildcard

(ooc: You can wildcard any of the above prompts to your liking! Please also lmk if you're wanting a NSFW route or not in general. If you have another idea entirely, then feel free to have at me.)

r/Trees, we all know why i'm here.

[notgrande]

[ He had been initially quite disappointed to find that where he'd typically find bars with alcohol, he found Uki bars instead. But, after spending even only a short amount of time in one, he found the experience pleasant. He liked the relaxed, almost empty feeling that alcohol gave him. Except he's certain he wouldn't pass out after having way more than he should.

Still, his brief companions had left so he was seeking out a new place to take a seat and enjoy the company when he hears that familiar voice of a man - a god he quite enjoys. While the kimono itself is tradition in the gorgeous greens, blues, and teal - the way he's wearing it is rather relaxed. The people here don't seem to be bothered, but he assumes it's due to the entire nature of the place.

The offer he's given is too good to pass up. So, without even a moment of hesitation he does exactly as he'd like and claims a spot on Dionysus' lap. The contact is nice, he hadn't realized how much this place had made him want it, but now that he's here he doesn't think he'll be leaving anytime. ]

I'm not surprised to see you here.

Rohan Kishibe | JJBA | OTA

[penpoint]

I. A LOVELY MARKET

NSFW Options Possible

[ He's absolutely not one to pass up something as exciting and interesting as this. He dressed colorfully - a pink headband to match the colors in his kimono and a contrast to his green hair and lipstick. Over his shoulder is a small bag - an 8 by 10 sketchbook.

The location is beautiful. With the gorgeous architecture and décor, he's drawing inspiration wherever he looks. He looks up, and the glass ceiling's patterns of color and designs which seem so artistically placed are what draws him in first. He finds himself pausing from time to time to fish into his bag and draw for a few moments before he tucks his work away.

He makes his way through several stalls, picking up produce for himself. He picks up some honey and passes one to the nearest person before he starts to try his. ]

This might also be good in tea.

II. HERE COMES A THOUGHT

CW: violent murder, hand fetish

[ He wouldn't pass up a chance like this. A chance to see what element he was connected to and what he'd get to learn. Would he ever pass up up the chance to learn something more like magic? He's even willing to go in pairs, although he is quiet through most of the trip. He doesn't talk to or really engage with his companion for the duration of the trip (even if his companion opts to talk).

He'll walk immediately towards the glowing stone and lay his hand on it without hesitation.

Unfortunately, his mind is not as clear as he would have hoped and when he touched it and up on the wall is basically like manga pages being flipped through to display an animation of the sequences.

He watches at first -

On the screen is a scene from 1983, August. He knows it well, and Rohan's already stepping up closer and closer to the display, reaching for it. There's a young girl there, and though he's not there yet, he's there.

But when Rohan knows that it's meant to show him - he's a scratched out image, as if someone scribbled through the illustration of him with a black marker. But still, that image is lifted up and out. And it refocuses inside - on her. And a young blonde boy in the doorway, who seems to have just located her. He appears to be about the same age as her. ]

This is all -- I don't need to see this.

[ Yeah, he's getting pulled in without even getting to the worst of it. He knows what happens next. He's seen it played out before, again and again, back on Lunatia. Why does he need to see it again. He's not happy. ]

III. WHACKY WEED

NSFW Options Possible

[ The past few days have been a lot and he did need to blow off steam. He's not usually one who drinks a lot. It tends to lead to bad decision making. Uki sounds like it will be different for him. Or so he hopes. Regardless, he wants to be there because it's not like he'll get to experience an Uki bar anywhere else outside of this interesting place. When he steps inside, he can already sense that this is going to be a very different experience.

He hadn't really been sure what he was expecting - probably not a group activity quite like this. Still, he's already committed to it, and he doesn't change his mind. So he's here to at least get the feel of what this will be.

And he's sure it's going to be... interesting.

He's going to find the table with the most empty seats (or, perhaps, someone is sitting alone when he spots them). He doesn't pay mind to whomever is next to him when he sits down and joins them. ]

IV. WILDCARD

Want something different? Unique? I'm game - you know it. Hit me up agalio or Undercuts#6759 for custom starters/questions.

I

[holeful]

[Fukuda has been wandering fairly aimlessly himself, and seen Rohan stop to draw across the way before they properly crossed paths. His festival look is much plainer. If it weren't for the hole in his head he wouldn't stand out at all, basically. In any case, he seems a bit startled to be addressed, but takes the proffered treat, blinking.]

Ah, it would be. Honey and tea are good any time of year, I think.
[He sucks on his though, as he's seen people doing.]

... Are you an artist?
[If he has an excuse to ask now, he might as well.]

Ares | Hades

[doommate]

1. A Lovely Market

[This battle-hungry son of Zeus would always consider armor to be more befitting of him than robes, but Ares finds himself a nice enough yukata to be worn while perusing the streets of Kyoto's markets (divine traits hidden, of course). Their hosts had been so gracious, it is only fair that he act in kind and not be a burdensome guest.

Eyeing the stalks of fue grass, he is delighted by the game of risk added to the honey snack. The nearest familiar face will get a sharp little grin from him.]

Do you enjoy testing Fate? Perhaps we should make a bet on who will find the special meal on their tongue first.

2. The God of War gets Turnt

[ Ares is pleased to have tasted the Uki bars with Dionysus, otherwise he might have never thought to indulge. He took unusually well to the dreamy, relaxing effects, whether it be sharing a table or a private room. So much so that he finds himself forgetting to maintain his mortal airs, for a moment. With his eyes glowing like coals, the next misty breath that leaves him is rife with the god's warlike essence:

a. the nicer kind
[ Plumes of black vapor leaves his nostrils, bringing with it the scent of flaming smoke. The sweet, woodburnt air of a bonfire signaling the beginning of a triumphant feast after battle. A swelling sense of courage or victory seems to accompany it. ]

b. the less nice kind
[ A bitter cloud escapes his mouth like a deep red flare. It has the strong smell of iron; blood would be a more accurate description for those familiar. Anger, fear, or bloodlust taint this particular vapor.]

[ The haze is quickly lost to the sweet air of the residual Uki smoke, and with it the momentary effect it had. Ares looks lost in his own dreamy amusement, but he does seem to be aware of the mistake.]

Excuse me. The pipe certainly relaxes ones inhibitions.

((ooc: feel free to have your character ignore/not be affected the emotional bits if you want, I just thought it might make for a spicier prompt for some!))

2b

[holeful]

[Fukuda seems really thrown off, almost staggering off his feet from the vapor. Or maybe it's Ares' change in appearance.]

Ah, Mr. Ares...
[The tone in his voice seems a bit less soft than it usually does? He's also not quite meeting the war god's gaze? It seems slightly off still directed at his face but.... more the side of it?? The temple.]

You know, I was wondering, ever since I met Mr Dionysus, but... you're not just named after the God of War, are you?

Kuro | Servamp

[neetvampire]

Culture shock
[Kuro had needed to be more or less bullied into getting on the train. Not because he was particularly against going to Kyoto, but because he would rather stay in bed and sleep some more.

...Honestly, it's probably good that he's getting out of his dorm.

That being said, when he isn't making the occasional ventures outside, he can be found hanging around the temple: either napping around in cat form, or curled up in his futon until a monk shoos him out... or rolls him up in it and shove him in a closet.

At least one day he might actually just stay in the closet as a futon burrito, but dealing with the fussing is too much trouble generally, so he makes his way into town.]

Market
[Well... shopping and snacks are a good distraction, at least. Kuro spends a good portion of the early evening popping in and out of shops curiously, buying treats from stalls and taking in the sights. When all else fails, snacks and sweets are a comforting indulgence.

It'd almost be easy to assume he's doing fine... except he's also making slightly dumber choices than usual.

Case in point: The fact that he's looking more than a little flushed after eating a honey stick.]

...You've got to be kidding me...

[A one in ten chance... but his luck has always been the worst. Maybe it was a black cat thing.]

Memory stone
[Honestly, if Kuro had known what really awaited him in the tunnel, he wouldn't have even gone. Bad enough he was still afraid of what awaited him back in london, but now--

Now, that fear is overwhelming. Now, the illusions painted on the walls are that of a black beast, huge, hulking and cruel. The image changes, twists into something that that looks alarmingly like kuro.

He snarls at it, even as he backs up against the wall. Hopefully whoever is down here with him can snap him out of it.]

Whacky Weed
[Kuro will attend some of those magic classes... later. Not today, ideally not tomorrow either. Right now he just wants to not think about much of anything-- not about the painful absence of his partner, not about the things he'd seen in the cave, not about everything that had been happening at home.

Luckily for him, the Ukimochi being advertised is said to be a very relaxing sweet treat. He kind of doubts it'll have much of an effect, but sweets are sweets.

...That woeful underestimation is why he can be found flopped in one of the private rooms of an uki bar, crimson eyes half-lidded and seeming almost boneless in contentment, yukata askew without a care.

Well, that or a small black cat just laying on the ground, utterly stoned. A small black cat that might or might not turn into a man if someone picks it up, though.

He isn't really thinking how weird this might look.]

Wildcard
[OOC: Fairly open to anything! Kuro is big on cuddles, so this is a good event for it. Smut is M/M only, but otherwise fairly open. Feel free to plot with me at symbological or on discord.]

weed

[accidentallich]

[He'd thought about trying some of the local, ah, specialties, but it seems like normal drugs that aren't specifically from the God Of Drugs don't have much effect on him. He can't even smell it.

But he definitely can spot the flopped over black cat, and scoops him up without hesitation.]

I'm glad you're having fun, Kuro.

Kashuu Kiyomitsu | Touken Ranbu

[saigawa]

► Here Comes a Thought (Blood, breaking, abandonment)
[Unfortunately for Kashuu, for all of his carefree looking attitude, he still have his past hanging over his heart. Acknowledging the past doesn't necessarily mean his heart moved on.

As he approaches the stone, he reach out to touch it...

Suddenly, the walls of the room suddenly have blood splatter all over them. It's not real, just illusions, but they feel so real enough. The room suddenly looks like the interior of an old fashioned inn at night time, not at all out of place from Kyoto's style. There's a swordsman in the middle of a room, surrounded by fallen corpses and coughing up blood with a broken, familiar looking sword in his hand. The same sword anyone would have seen Kashuu carry by his side.

As for Kashuu himself, his eyes widen as he take a step back. His hand reach up to his heart, shocked by the sudden reminder of his past.

"Can't you repair it?"
"I am sorry... but Kashuu Kiyomitsu cannot be repaired."

And then, a scene of that man walking away from the broken sword.]

Stop, stop, stop, stop showing me this!

► Casting for Dummies
[Let's not speak of that experience. Instead, Kashuu will be learning how to use his new magic: hi or fire!

Kashuu is with the group of students learning to cast a simple spell. He's focusing deeply at the candle he's given, trying to lit the candle.]

... Ah, almost!

[For a moment, the smallest flame appeared at the tip of his finger, before it goes out.]

► Bonding with the Locals
[Kashuu got swept up and into wearing the geisha clothing. At first, he's suspicious until he saw the beautiful clothes they're going to dress himself in.

Thanks to their expertise, and of course his own beautiful looks, Kashuu knows he look gorgeous as a geisha. And will sought people's gazes and compliments after they're done dressing him up.]

Hey, hey, how do I look?

[Feed his ego, please.

During the tour, he pay attention curiously and attentively. After all, he might learn information he might need. By the end... he learned about the Geiko and their own form of ancient kizuna bonding. More importantly, he can keep this kimono!

So when the tour ended, and everyone is free to disperse or choose to mingle. The Geiko are free for any of them to approach for bonding. Kashuu smiles as he talks with one of them, only looking away when he saw someone watching him. He gives them a friendly wave of a hand. Come on over and join in.]

► Wild Card
[Bring your own scenarios here! Hit me up via PMs or Sonica if you want to plot things first.]

here comes a thought

[hoasen]

[When it comes to crushing thoughts, Vietnam has always been plagued by it that it becomes a scar. And then she learns to cope and take a step forward.

Of course, she's not sure if that applies to everyone else, even Kashuu. But when it is happening right before, she immediately touches his back, rubbing it as she wonders what is happening.]

Kashuu? What do you see?

Ragetti | Pirates of the Caribbean

[woodeneye]

a - market

[ Oh boy, guess who can't read the warnings on the fue grass packs? Guess who straight up went ahead and bought a couple anyway? This pirate!!

Halfway through his current honey stick, he stops. Shifts awkwardly. Glances sideways at the nearest fellow refugee. ]

...Is it s'posed to do that?

b - memory stone

[ The thing about clearing your mind is that it's a lot easier when there's not much in there to begin with. Which is to say, Ragetti's going to have absolutely no problem getting his aptitude result from the Memory Stone! But if anyone were to join him who would, conceivably, have a problem... hey, he's a pretty empathetic guy. There are worse memory-sharing partners.

They're still making their way through the tunnel at the moment, though, and that's a long way to traverse in both darkness and silence. Ragetti can't do anything about the former, but he makes a valiant attempt at disrupting the latter. ]

So... magic, eh? They got anythin' like that where yer from?

c - dressup

[ Well, Ragetti is undoubtedly the, shall we say, scruffiest individual Kyoto's geiko have ever had to wrangle into a geisha getup. But let no one say they don't rise to a challenge. By the time they're done with him, he's... Look, no one is going to mistake him for an actual geisha. For one thing, they don't usually have beards. But the kimono actually suits him pretty well, and the kanzashi ought to stay in his hair if he doesn't move around too much, and he even leaves the teahouse smelling nice, which is a feat in and of itself. The geiko breathe sighs of relief and congratulate each other on a job well done.

The man himself, of course, is having the time of his life. Sure, it would have been nice if the girls had come up with a proper glass eye from among their stash of fancy clothes and baubles, but honestly, he doesn't feel like he can ask for too much more at this point. Here he is, dolled up so pretty he can hardly recognize himself (and apparently he even gets to keep the outfit!), drifting down a leisurely river in a boat equipped with no artillery whatsoever, occasionally leaning over to trail a hand through the cherry blossoms that dye the water a soothing pink. It's hard to think of any way this could be more different from his life back home, and yet... he's not complaining. Maybe pirates would be a little less belligerent if they took a night off every so often to dress up and look at flowers.

When their guide pauses in her tour spiel to give them a chance to take in the scenery, Ragetti leans over to one of his boatmates: ]

I ain't ever seen nothing like this. 'Course, there's a lot here I ain't ever seen nothing like.

[ He looks up, contemplating the flowers for a quiet moment. ]

Pretty.

d - wildcard

[ Tbh I'm down for anything, so you can honestly tag with whatever, but if you want to plot something out first, PM me or hit up vethica! ]

a

[holeful]

[Fukuda does read, so he's well aware of the affects. Even so;]

Supposed to do what?
[Is he dumb or is he bullying Ragetti? Who's to say.]