January | Event: Winter Bloom

[jikan_mod]

Winter Bloom↲ OOC Plotting

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The snow continues to pile up on Kyoto, and soon, the people start to realize there's something unusual behind all of this...

And while some Refugees will jump at the chance to save the day, others are content to sit back and enjoy this strange phenomenon while it lasts. Just another month in Nippon, right?

Snow Day

As the streets turn blue with this strange compacted snow, rumors begin to spread that the Everfrost of Hokkaido has somehow moved to Kyoto. After all, the Everfrost also takes on a dark blue color once compacted into ice.

But the Everfrost is only unmelting in it's solid ice form. The snow in Hokkaido is perfectly capable of melting. But perhaps this is only true in the modern era? Was the original outbreak of Everfrost also unmelting? Unfortunately, no one knows.

But despite the rumors, life must go on, and the people of Kyoto find ways to navigate their new arctic lifestyle.

Sandal Skater Kyoto, Western Kingdom
With layers of blue ice covering every street and sidewalk, just navigating through the city its growing more dangerous day by day. While fresh layers of snow provide some relief, for the most part, pedestrians will find themselves slipping and sliding all over the place.

To mitigate this, shops and stalls around Kyoto have begun selling special geta that have been fashioned into makeshift ice skates, allowing travelers to skate across the ice to reach their destination!

But there's definitely something of a learning curve when it comes to ice skating in what are essentially sandals. Even those experienced with ice skates may find themselves falling flat on their faces, or sliding out of control when they realize these things don't exactly come with brakes. And even if they figure it out, that doesn't mean others around them aren't still hazards!

Perhaps that's why they eventually shift gears and start selling geta with spikes to pierce the ice instead.

Snowed In Kyoto, Western Kingdom
But while some have acclimated well enough to the snowy weather, others have chosen to bunker down with food and supplies to wait out the storm. And for good reason, as the more the snow piles up, the more difficult it becomes to leave the house.

Those in apartment buildings are in a particularly rough spot. With the snow blocking the lobby entrances, they'll have to ask their neighbors on the second floor if they can pass through to leave through their balcony.

Still, going out isn't a very wise choice, unless someone is choosing to evacuate. A brief visit to see a friend or dine at a restaurant will quickly turn into a shelter-in-place, as the snow abruptly picks up and blocks the roads.

And worse yet, while much of Kyoto runs on magic, the same can't be said for basic heating systems, which tend to rely on steam power far below that of Tokyo's advancements. The lights will stay on at least, but when the steam generators powering the heat kick out, it'll be blankets, sweaters, and cuddling for warmth to get by.

Better hope someone in the house invested in a magic-powered kotatsu before the storm hit!

Winter Wonderment

The more the snow falls, the less recognizable Kyoto becomes. Some buildings begin to buckle under the weight of the snow, collapsing their roofs. Others become buried entirely, transforming their uppermost windows into entrances as the front doors become inaccessible.

But as the scenery of Kyoto starts to change, so too does the snow begin to reveal certain supernatural properties, complicating the lives of those living within the snowy city.

Melancholia Higashiyama, Kyoto
In addition to the curious weather and dark blue ice, the increasing piles of snow also cause a rather rare sight in Kyoto, as crystalflowers begin blooming throughout the city. Ordinarily only found in Hokkaido, it's unknown what could be causing them to start growing here at such an alarming rate.

As the name suggests, they're flowers with a crystal-like appearance, with jagged petals and a clear stem. And despite growing like flowers, attempting to handle the fragile petals will cause them to melt like ice. Some grow on spiky vines like roses, while others grow straight from the ground like poppies.

But beautiful as they are, being surrounded by so many has an odd side effect. Those with an affinity for water or ice magic of any kind, be it local or from home, they may find themselves starting to cry when standing amongst the flowers. While they won't be able to understand why, they'll feel a certain sense of melancholy when looking upon them, as if reminded of someone dear they've lost in the past.

Thankfully, this effect will wear off after getting some distance from the flowers, but that may be easier said than done as they start to blanket the snowy streets.

Mirror, Mirror Higashiyama, Kyoto
Although the snow turns blue once compacted, it takes on very different properties if allowed to build up on the side of a window. The snow thins and grows a glassy sheen, turning into a bizarre mirror that struggles to properly reflect light. Over time, these "ice mirrors" start popping up everywhere, from store fronts to private homes.

But beyond looking rather ominous, these mirrors possess certain magical qualities that manifest depending on how one looks into them.

When two people stand on opposite sides of the window, they'll see an illusion within the mirror of the two of them standing together. This may escalate into the illusion of the pair beginning to strip off their clothing and having sex, or at the very least, ending up in a very risqué situation.

But when two people stand on the same side of the windows and look into the mirror together, they'll instead find the mirror reflecting their thoughts, fantasies, or memories. These can be seen by everyone else around them, but please try not to break the window in order to end the illusion.

And finally, those who look into these mirrors alone for too long will find themselves changed by the experience. Their bodies will feel cold, their emotions will grow muted, and they may find themselves prone to wandering out into the cold until hypothermia sets in.

Thankfully, a few hours spent in the arms of a loved one will break the spell.

Death Blooms

By the time the source of this mysterious phenomenon is found, much of Kyoto is either buried under the snow or evacuated entirely. But those who remain will be asked to assist in a bit of pruning, as the source of the storm is revealed to be an enchanted flower that somehow started growing in the Kita Ward of Kyoto. The icy winds and clouds seemingly pour out of the earth from where the flower grows, and until it's destroyed, spring will never return to Kyoto.

Those who have explored the snowy wastelands of Hokkaido might just recognize this particular flower as being the very same type that once sprouted from the empty throne of an ancient goddess, located in the so-called eye of the storm at the center of Sapporo.

But just how did it get to Kyoto? Perhaps that's a question best explored later. For now, it's time for the heroes to step up.

Frozen in Time Kita, Kyoto
In addition to those capable of fighting, rescue teams in Kyoto are also looking for those capable of providing support, be it through offering first-aid for those who are frost-bitten, aiding in the continued evacuation of those living close to the center of the storm, or providing warm food and drinks to the rescue teams.

The weather nearest the source of the storm is the harshest, with winds strong enough to knock people off their feet, and snow piling up at an alarming rate. Even with the aid of magic to provide sturdy shelters for volunteers to rest in, simply approaching the area will prove to be difficult, taking nearly an entire day just to cross a few city blocks.

But as they get closer, the true horror of the storm is revealed. Scattered just beneath the surface of the snow are icy statues: people who've been transformed into solid ice. Some may even recognize loved ones present in Nippon among the icy statues, with flags planted into the snow to designate areas where these statues are located to prevent anyone from tripping on them and breaking them.

And as more people draw closer towards the center of the storm, some may find their own limbs beginning to lock up, as the cold ice slowly overtakes them, transforming them into solid ice.

Thankfully, despite being transformed, they aren't dead. They're simply affected by a very powerful curse, which the Yokai predict will only be lifted once the source of the storm is defeated.

But some Refugees may have other means of freeing their friends sooner. Those capable of dispelling powerful curses using their own abilities will find the magic responds to them. Likewise, anyone who has mastered Mizu and Hi magic may be able to force their body to transform back. And those who have mastered Sora magic will find their skills to be the most powerful, allowing them to reverse the flow of time on the curse itself, freeing anyone who happens to be nearby.

Otherwise, anyone still left frozen will return to normal at the end of the event, after being dug out of the snow.

New World Boss Kita, Kyoto
At the center of the storm, the ground appears ruptured, a deep chasm now in the middle of the street. And standing atop the gap is an absolutely massive flower, seemingly sprouting from somewhere deep underground. And while it certainly looks similar to the flower that blooms in Hokkaido, those more familiar with it may note this one appears sharper, jagged icy petals sticking out in every direction, as if it were somehow mutated.

The flower is capable of summoning icy phantoms, who take the form of beautiful young women. These phantoms will surround their opponents with cyclones of icy wind, causing a death by a thousand cuts if they aren't shattered. Only by shattering the phantoms will they have any chance of reaching the flower's body to destroy it.

But even with the phantoms out of the way, the flower is far from unprotected. From out of the chasm, long roots reach out and coil around whatever they can grab, stabbing victims with icy thorns that steal away the heat from their bodies, before lifting them into the air and throwing them aside. Those hit by the thorns will quickly develop a serious case of hypothermia, so don't underestimate their danger!

Once the stem of the flower is completely cut through, it'll let out a terrifying screech before shriveling up, stopping the storm and freeing those who were previously cursed.

Strange, the flower in Hokkaido is infamously unkillable... was this just a different variety?

But as for the snow, that's going to take a few days to melt. So those who are still able are asked to help dig out anyone who was previously buried when the snow fell onto their cursed icy bodies.

Aftermath Kita, Kyoto
With the strange flower successfully defeated, the snow finally abates in Kyoto, allowing the snow to begin melting. Unfortunately, any snow that was compacted into the blue everfrost will never melt, and over the next few weeks, the blocks of everfrost are transported to the spot where the strange phenomenon began in Kita, sealing in the hole from which the flower emerged.

Rumors abound that the city is attempting to cover up some sort of conspiracy by hiding the evidence of the disaster, but for those who were present at the flower's defeat, they may understand where the city is coming from.

Because at the bottom of the chasm created by the flower, the glowing crystalline petals of a mahougi tree could be seen peeking out from the fractured earth, the petals taking on a curious blue hue...

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

• As the Hi element concerns both high and low temperatures, characters who have mastered either Hi or Mizu can also be affected by the crystalflowers.

• From a distance, the mirrors won't appear very reflective at all, looking more like very shiny metal than a glass window. The extent of the illusions and the effects of looking into the mirror alone are up to you!

• The flower is made of similar material to everfrost, and it cannot be melted and is very difficult to cut. As such, it'll take a group effort to cut the stem to kill the flower.

• Characters who become frozen into statues can say they were turned at any point during the month. They won't remember anything from while they were a statue, but they may have vague memories of a fractured and corrupted woman's voice screaming in the wind.

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Aerith Gainsborough | Final Fantasy 7: Remake | OTA

[ancientflower]

Enchanted Kimono: [ tdm cross post ]

[Aerith couldn't help herself. The dresses were so pretty!

The moment she stepped out behind the folded partition with her new dress on, she gasped in surprise.]

Did you see that? The flowers. They changed!

[The flowers had been pretty pink sakura blossoms. But now they were mixed with a familiar flower.]



Dangerously Furry: [ tdm crosspost ]

What is 'pineapple'?

[Aerith mused over the selection of pretty mochi, all sorts of colours and flavours. But the 'new' ones were so very tempting...

She should have known better!

It wasn't long after she'd taken not one, but three of the pineapple mochi (Aerith discovered she rather liked the taste of pineapple!), that the changes began. It started with her hair and ended when she spun around and a trio of tails swirled around her, large, fluffy and pure white with baby blue tips. Her hair had changed to a pale blue as well, pale blue and white, just like her tails.]

... At least they're soft...

[She sighed and absently petted one of the tails.]



Snowballs!:

[It had been a while since Aerith had seen snow like this and on finding out that Kyoto was now a wonderland of ice and snow, she just couldn't help herself!

She'd arrived only an hour earlier and had found the perfect spot... to make a snowman!

Aerith had already managed to roll a large ball of snow that she was patting into shape to make a good base for her snowman. There was a big smile on her face and occasionally she would laugh to herself. Clearly remembering warm and happy memories.]



Melancholia:

They're such beautiful flowers. But so tragic...

[Aerith sat in the snow, wrapped up warm in a black leather, a jacket that was very reminiscent of Sephiroth's own. Only hers was smaller and could close in the centre.

At current, the sides were gathered up into her lap. She'd propped her elbows on her legs and dropped her chin onto her hands, just gazing at the beautiful, crystalline flowers.

Hopefully she wasn't in anyone's way.]



Mirror, Mirror:

[All she had been doing was wandering the stalls when a flash of something had caught her eye.

Her reflection in a mirror.

Aerith was not vain, at least she didn't believe she was, but she felt compelled to turn around and have a look at this strange effect this mirror had.

... How long she was standing there, she didn't know.

But she knew she felt very cold...]



Wildcard:
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Mirror Mirror

[censorshipnutkin]

Hey hey. Snap out of it!

[Sorry Aerith, but with that comment, he's going to gently shove you to try to get you to snap out of staring at the mirror for so long.]

Probably shouldn't be staring at that for too long.

Snowballs!

[cupiditasmedendi]

[He's been watching her for a bit. Quite openly so - not staring, but not trying to make it look as if he's not observing her - but unintrusively as she bustles about rolling the snow into a large ball. While he's sure that she must be cold it looks like she's having a lot of fun, and as she seems to decide that the amount of snow she has gathered is 'enough' he pushes himself up to approach her.]

What are you doing?

[Has he seen something like this before..? People made out of snow? He hadn't really understood it.]

Your hands must be frozen.

Kainé | NieR: Replicant v. 1.22... | OTA

[pissoffbook]

❄ 𝒮𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝒟𝒶𝓎 ❄

---

Snowed In: [Kainé doesn't have a problem with harsh weather conditions due to her Shade blood. You can see her out and about, still dressed as usual. She's never seen snow before, so when it started falling, she doesn't know how long it's going to last, so she spends all the time she can in it. It's not like she has anything better to do at this point.

She also has no problems getting to her apartment on the top floor of an apartment building, her ability to leap high distances coming in handy here.

However, if she finds someone stranded, it may tug at her heartstrings a little and she'll awkwardly ask them if they need shelter, and help them to her apartment. She has plenty of blankets, as those were given to her when she arrived, but if the person needs more than blankets, she will supply her own body heat if needed. Though she'll probably be a little embarrassed about it.

❄ 𝒲𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒲𝑜𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 ❄

---

Melancholia: [Kainé has quite the appreciation for flowers, so when the strange ice flowers start to bloom, she has to go check it out. However, as she stands surrounded by the blossoms, she's reminded of a few people, one still very raw. She kneels down to pick one up and it melts in her hand.

Tears start to prick the corners of her eyes and she flicks one away with a finger.She doesn't know why she starts to cry as it's pretty unusual for her, but the memories keep coming. You may find her sitting with her arms around her knees, head down, in tears.]

Mirror Mirror A.[Another phenomenon that draws her in is the mirrors on the windows. She's, by no means a vain person, but when she catches a glimpse of herself, she finds she just can't stop looking. She may look a bit dazed to passerbys. If she sees anyone on the other side (perhaps it's you?), she'll quickly look away if caught as she doesn't want to be known as a creeper, but the image that appears rips her attention right back; her pale cheeks flushing pink.]

B. [Or maybe you see her looking dazed and go to rouse her, instead seeing her eyes locked in horror as one of FOUR MEMORIES: [CW: foul language, violence, childhood abuse and trauma, bullying, body dysmorphia, implied sexual violence, genocide, intersexphobia, possession by an entity that influences her to commit violence, mental illness, and suicidal ideation.] (Discrimination: 0:00-7:42, Daily Life: 7:43-15:27, Separation: 15:28-24:03, Encounter: 26:28-33:31) is displayed for all to see.]

❄ 𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 ℬ𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓂𝓈 ❄

---

New World Boss: [Upon seeing those frozen in ice, Kainé couldn't sit back and do nothing. As much of a fucking image she has to maintain, she can't just let people suffer. So she is one of the first to volunteer to fight the flower. With a pair of wicked looking serrated swords in hand, Kainé leaps at the plant.]

Alright you piss guzzling son of a bitch! You're gonna die today!

Aftermath; Network post:

#nrl_time_refugee_support - online

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delicatefuckingflower: Anyone else see it?
delicatefuckingflower: I was there when they filled in the hole.
delicatefuckingflower: There was some kind of tree down there. With blue leaves. What the hell was that?

Aftermath

[beshackled]

#nrl_time_refugee_support - online

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warder: 'Tis a mahougi tree, from my understanding. However, this one is different from much of its kind.
warder: That is, save for those of a particular location. I have seen one bearing blue flowers before, in Aomori.
warder: The trees in Aomori are not to be approached without caution. If you feel at all unusual when near one, it is best to draw away.

Death Blooms

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch manages to venture out as well. He is no stranger to peril and he grudgingly supposes that he can't simply sit back and wait for a problem to sort itself out. Call it Azem's influence, or even the Warrior of Light's. He knows he'll be blaming one or both of them if this goes sour.

A loud crack from Kaine's right can be heard as his claymore cleaves through ice. There is a stubborn, determined set to his face as he evades the flower's attempts to stab him with its roots. ]

winter wonderment b

[mistsplitter]

[ Everything is beautiful outside, but Ayaka now understands that it is also dangerous. Finding Kainé out, she decides to approach her to warn her of what might happen if she stays out for too long, but she pauses when she realises the other girl is looking into a mirror. Kainé might see Ayaka's reflection behind her before the mirror shows something else. ]

Kainé? What are you looking at?

Kainé | NieR: Replicant v. 1.22... | OTA

[pissoffbook]

Video link for mirror prompts I'm sorry! (I will have to do this again for a future event 'cuz I messed up)

Melancholia

[vennessa]

[Vennessa manages to escape the influence of the flowers, but she has seen them before and knows how they can catch people unawares. It can be difficult to move along when things get overwhelming and she has been trying to help when she finds people struggling.

And here's another. A young woman with her head bowed to her knees, sobbing like her heart is breaking.]

Hey... [She touches Kainé's shoulder gently.] Can you stand? It'll get better if you move away.

Mirror Mirror B

[theworldender]

[Nier wanders by and sees a familiar form standing still, like they are lost in thought. He hadn't seen her since they ran into each other at the New Years festival. He moves over to her and puts his hand on her shoulder.]

Kainé? [His voice is quiet as he glances up at the mirror.]

Mirror Mirror B.

[sultanofsquat]

[ The flowers hold an influence over many amidst the arrival of the Everfrost. And whether it was by a sheer stroke of luck or fate deciding that Cloud had seen enough for the time being...he trudges through the snow, managing to will himself away from the frosted petals that had since broken many others down. Suffice to say, no matter what Cloud had seen...or revisited since his past tethered return to Nibelheim,

Nothing would prepare him for what he was about to witness next. From afar, it was but a fleeting sense of embarrassment after their first (and also last) encounter, cheeks flushing slightly as he spots a familiar face seemingly window shopping. Perhaps a reprieve from the rest of the frostbitten mess that Kyoto has become. Seems that she's been finding her way in this world fine enough. Despite the obstacles she's faced with herself, Cloud was still confident. She was going to be okay. She'd find her way in the time she has in this world, just like he did. Just like everyone else did. Just like...

Like... ]

...?

[ She's...not moving. And suddenly he can feel his chest tighten, a kneejerk response that he fights to steel away as he wastes no more time in closing what little distance remained between them. At first, he calls out more casually, ]

Kainé!

[ If she responds? He can approach her more leisurely... But even from this short distance left, he can tell that something was wrong. Almost like she was lost in a trance. Until he was close enough to realize that the look in her eyes was one of trapped terror. ]

Kainé...what's...

[ That's when his peripheral view gives him everything he needs to see. The thick smoke. A fire...or was it? There was far too much smoke for that. A pooling darkness that only seemed to grow the closer the view in the frosted mirror became. At first, his breath hitches and he almost thinks that he's staring at his own memories... There was no fire inside the establishment they're standing outside. So what they were seeing was...

It was terrifying Kainé. And come what may of this terror manifest before their very eyes, his stomach was already sinking. His throat already tight. What the hell was this supposed to be?

It's as if she was reliving this increasingly worsening memory. It would remain within his peripheral view, but he had a more important task at hand now. His eyes implore her to look away. To snap out of it. The nightmare may have only just begun for the two witnessing this, but Cloud had to bring her back out of her own mind one way or another. With no further hesitation, he finds her hand, squeezing it in his as his brow furrows with but a single command. ]

Look at me.

Prompto Argentum | Final Fantasy 15 | OTA

[silverselfie]

Dangerously Furry:
[Prompto was completely unaware of the fluffy tail wagging behind him as he poked at a triangle of mochi and popped it into his mouth.

Before arriving in Nippon he'd never experienced mochi before. But now he was it's biggest fan! He loved the stuff, especially the fruit flavoured ones.

He just tended to forget that this world wasn't normal. And he should always be wary of what he put into his mouth...

However he sure did make for a cute blonde doggo, even if he hadn't quite noticed how he was slowly changing.]



You've Got Mail Again:
Uhh... guess this is why they say never click spam links, huh?

[Prompto laughed anxiously after he spoke.

It had been an accident! The link had looked innocent enough!

He reached out to touch the magical wall that was trapping them both and pushed. It didn't budge. He sighed.]

I'm sorry. This sucks. I don't know how to get us out.



Sandal Skater:
[He fell on his ass.

Again.]

Oof!

This... is a lot harder than it looks!

[Prompto winced and rubbed at his hip with a gloved hand. He was going to have so many bruises! But it would be worth it if he could finally learn to use these weird ice skates.]



Frozen in Time:
[Prompto actually hated the cold. He had some very bad memories about snow like this... But at least he now has a use for his old snow outfit. It didn't look like much, but it kept him warm enough.

He wished he could have stayed behind and looked after people...

Something pulled him onwards, though. His ability to use Sora magic would come in useful here. So far he'd only ever used it on his chocobo's to protect the young. But if he can save even a single person from their frozen prisons, then Prompto would be happy.]



Wildcard:
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Sandal Skater

[vennessa]

[He isn't the only one struggling, and unfortunately for them both Vennessa was right behind him when he fell. The woman yelps, tries to course-correct so she doesn't trip over him while he's on the ground, and ends up all but throwing herself into a snow drift.]

You can say that again...

[Though at least her landing had been softer, if a little more difficult to get out of with all the layers she's wearing to fend off the cold.]

Ack-- I'm stuck.

[mistsplitter]

❄️ A: WARMTH
[ With snow covering most of Kyoto, Ayaka worries for the other people around. The Kamisato Estate isn't exempt from the effects of Everfrost, but at least it is a big enough place for people to rest and take shelter in, if they need it. They have enough blankets for everyone, though Ayaka will have to go shopping to buy food and stock up if people to take refuge with her.

In any case, a post goes up on the network: ]

Greetings.

Should you need company or shelter during this time, please do not hesitate to come to the Kamisato Estate. I will be opening our doors to anyone who needs it.

It may also be wise not to go outside by yourself. I would like to go out to purchase some food. If there is anyone willing to accompany me, please send me a message.

[ Double shopping trip! That may or may end up with them getting snowed-in. Either way... at least they won't be alone! ]


❄️ B: CRYSTALFLOWERS
[ Ayaka has never been to Hokkaido, and as such, has never seen these flowers. It piques her curiosity more than anything else. Despite the cold temperatures, she finds herself walking down a path littered with these crystalflowers.

They're beautiful.

They draw Ayaka to crouch down on the ground to observe them better. If they are made of ice, she doubts she could pick some to put on display in the estate... Before she could even touch its petals to see how they feel though, she begins to feel her chest growing tighter and tighter. It isn't difficult to breathe, but a heavy amount of sadness suddenly hits her like a freight train. ]

Mother...

[ Her tears begin to flow and she cries in silence, sitting in the ground as snow falls around her, the cold that attracted her to this place to begin with slowly consuming her. ]


❄️ C: MIRRORS
[ Safe yet again, Ayaka ventures outside to see if there is anyone now who needs assistance. One may catch her staring into the mirrors, if only because it's in the way of where she was headed and she is, unfortunately, curious about it. Should anyone catch her and stand in front of the mirror on the other side, or behind her, it'd still be early enough that the chilly breath of the snow hasn't begun creeping into her system yet. ]


❄️ D: WILDCARD
[ Plot with me here or hit me up with a starter of your own! :D ]

🍷 red wine

[mistsplitter]

[ Ayaka had heard of Regisvines before, but she's never seen one. They do not exist in Inazuma, but she is more or less familiar with the dangers a Whopperflower may bring. Hearing of a massive flower that's sprung out from a chasm in the city... she cannot help it— she must do something about it. Anything. There are people who are in danger, so she must raise her sword and fight.

Despite her Vision giving her Cryo abilities, she should still be able to do something. There are other fighters who took it upon themselves to fight this monster, so Ayaka is lucky that she is not alone. Her experience in the battlefield is minimal compared to, say, the people of the Tenryou Commission, but she is able to stand her ground. Nearby is Red Wine, whom she would honestly greet with the utmost of courtesies, but she cannot find it in herself to do so from how tense she feels.

It is cold, but she still feels agile and as light as she normally does. She can see the mist from her breath every time she breathes out— fragile and easy to break. . . ]

We must act swiftly, [ She tells her companion. Ayaka hopes that they would be able to defend themselves and each other even though they've never shared the battlefield together before. ]

Crystalflowers

[afoolshope]

[Minato knelt down and silently took hold of her hands. He pulled at her to stand and to walk away from the flowers. It wasn’t that he was unaffected by the flowers, but he and melancholy were simply old friends by now. He knew how to deal with any surge of emotion that hit him when thinking of his parents death. He simply let it roll over him, wash over him like a wave and let it leave just as quickly. There was no use crying over it now, but he would never say the same to Ayaka.

Instead, he led her away from the clearing full of flowers. He paused for a moment and stood before her. He gently clipped the earphones to her ears and pressed play. He wanted to distract her until they were far enough away that she could regain control of her emotions and, if needed, talk about them.

He was a bit of a hypocrite, never once having discussed what happened when his parents died aside from it simply having happened and he had been ten so that was that. Minato continued to hold her hands, eventually letting one go to wrap around her shoulders and pull her close.]

Hythlodaeus | Final Fantasy XIV

[conceptreview]

[Snowed In - closed to Hades]

Like many others, Hythlodaeus finds himself stranded by the snow. A visit to Hades’ little apartment has turned into an overnight - or possibly longer, he muses, as he watches the snow pile up expeditiously from the window. Fortunately, anywhere Hades calls home, Hythlodaeus does as well. He already knows that he’s welcome to stay as long as he needs - or wants; it’s not as if Hades minds sharing his bed with him, after all.

Not for the first time, Hythlodaeus thinks that he is lucky to have such an opportunity to be with his loved ones. Being suddenly brought to a strange world after casting themselves into the aetherial sea has been, while unexpected, rather fortuitous for them. (And for Azem as well, of course. Perhaps even for Rhea’li, though of the four of them he’s the one who actually has a life to go back to, Hythlodaeus realizes…)

The heating has gone out in Hades’ apartment, and sitting by the window isn’t helping, so he gently closes the curtains and steps away, stuffing his hands into his sleeves for warmth.

“Trapped inside by a wintry storm, with no warmth save ourselves,” he says lightly. “Whatever shall we do, dear Hades?”

[Mirror, mirror - OTA]

As the days wear on and the snow compacts, Hythlodaeus takes the time to explore the streets - just a little, and very carefully, of course, with liberal use of the ice-skating getas and his own short-range teleport ability. He finds the deep blue ice fascinating, not only for its appearance but for the sneaking suspicion that it is not just ice; he’s been on enough adventures to know when a seemingly innocuous set piece has some hidden origin or powers to it.

He pauses his exploration outside of a shop, resting on the porch by the window. It’s there he notices that the ice is odd-looking even when thin; it’s covered the aforementioned window and now warps his reflection almost beyond recognition.

“That’s intriguing,” he mutters, half to himself, as figure joins him either on the porch or from the other side of the window. “It’s really not structured the same way regular ice is.”

[I am up to both the side-by-side effects or the through-the-glass effects! NSFW or SFW are both good!]

barrels in

[emet_sulk]

He makes a grumbly noise that only his closest friends will ever have the privilege of hearing and hugs his knees more tightly beneath the blanket on his bed. He has, unfortunately, grown used to cold weather. Colder weather than this in fact. He doesn't think anywhere can be more frigid than the north Ilsabardian mountains.

"I don't know. I've no means of entertainment here. I hope the weather eases before we run out of food as well."

Red Wine ◈ Food Fantasy

[judgementor]

i. Snowed In

This is ridiculous.

[It’s the middle of the day, and following a half-hearted attempt to clear some of the snow from the store fronts in the street Red Wine and a few other locals are huddled close around what appears to be little more than a large metal can that someone threw some wood into and lit up. He’s bundled up to his nose in a thick scarf and still cold, and just how did he end up getting roped into manual labour anyway?

The man huffs, stuffing his hands into the sleeves of his coat.]

It wouldn’t be so bad if it was at all warmer indoors. [Normally, Red Wine would be the first to complain about it being too hot… but this? This is absurd. He slants a sidelong look to the person beside him.] That being said, I think a hot drink is in order. If your legs aren’t frozen solid, I invite you to join me.

ii. Mirror, Mirror

[By now, Red Wine has enough experience of ‘strange mirrors’ to try and avoid the ones that are popping up all over Kyoto. Easier said than done with how many of them there are and how they keep appearing in the most unexpected of places…

And so it happens, inevitably, that he ends up standing either side by side or across from somebody, and both of them looking at the blasted thing.

The former seems to be fairly innocuous. Red Wine hesitates for a moment before he realises that it seems like it really is just nothing more than the two of them standing side by side, at which point he takes a couple of steps forwards… only for his reflection to not mirror his actions. Ah.

The latter, however, is a little more jarring… but the moment that a scene he recognises as having come from himself begins to play out across the surface he very quickly tears his gaze away. Still, it was probably long enough for the other unfortunate soul to have seen something.]

iii. Frozen in Time

[At first, he focuses on making sure that the people who want to get out of Kyoto manage to make it out. Red Wine is not shy of taking charge of a situation and will confidently stare down anyone who tries to tell him that he needs to back off in any way at all. His priorities shift, however, when the source of the storm is discovered and the rescue teams start asking for volunteers to go and confront it.

His bread and butter is hunting down and destroying creatures like this. Ones that threaten the safety of humans. It’s not the kind of call that he can even hope to ignore. As he and the ragtag group he’s with start to draw closer to the centre of the storm, however, the power of the curse radiating out from it begins to take its toll.

It’s just his fingers at first, then his hands, and he doesn’t say a word. The first indication of something being wrong is when one of his knees locks up and sends him toppling ungracefully face-first into the snow. With no Mizu or Hi magic, and definitely no Sora magic to speak of… well, he could be out of luck here.]

iv. Wildcard

[Down for anything you want to throw at me! Hit me up on plotting if you’re not sure about something ;)]

[battlebound]

( Somehow, some way, they are the unfortunate bastards who happened to by in Kyoto when the worst of the snow hits. When it goes from certain streets blocked with piles of snow to just about everywhere and the chill whistles through the hotel room with each passing breeze.

If he'd known this was going to happen, Steak would have let Red Wine book the fancy place he wanted. But no, they were only supposed to be here for a few things, why would they need to splurge on a hotel room when it was just a place to sleep at night?

Fuck his past self's choices, honestly.

But Steak, as ever in these situations, is lucky. He runs warm and so the chill doesn't bother him as much as the damn whistling of the wind through cracks in the window frame. When the hotel's heat goes out, the blankets in the room and his natural warmth are sufficient to keep him from growing too cold.

The same can't be said for his companion, however. Steak gazes at Red Wine, red eyes focused on the tension in his body or the shivers he may try to suppress, and he offers — )

If you can't handle the cold, you can come here.

( Of course, because it's them, Steak's words are just as much a goading, a mark of I win this round as they are a genuine offer. )

Thanatos ◈ Hades

[inevitablerest]

i. Sandal Skater

[Thanatos questions the wisdom of anyone who decides to take up the ‘skates’ that are initially being handed out to help people get around. Given the number of collisions he has already seen it does not seem to be helping matters at all. Par for the course when it comes to Nippon, he supposes… everything always seems to get more comical or complicated before it gets better.

When some unfortunate soul goes whizzing by him, clearly out of control, he reaches out and scruffs them by the back of their coat. The death god levitates, so the ice on the ground has been no obstacle for him.

It also means the person he scruffed is likely a couple of inches off the ground at this point.]

… Watch your step.

ii. Frozen in Time

They’re still alive.

[He’s looking down at the frozen statue of someone who is supposed to be a living, breathing person when he feels someone lingering nearby. Though his gaze doesn’t turn away from the unfortunate soul that has his attention he does at least spare a little to give that… reassurance, as unsettling as it may be.

Thanatos crouches down with a soft hum, brushing a little of the still-accumulating snow away from the person’s icy prison. Maybe they are someone that the individual hovering near to him knows? Or perhaps they, like him are simply… morbidly curious about what exactly is going on with this unnatural snow.]

But there is nothing I can do for them. Finding the source is a more sensible use of our time.

[Does he seem too calm about all this? Maybe.]

iii. New World Boss

[Seven feet tall and wielding a scythe almost as big as he is, Thanatos has always made for an imposing figure on any battlefield. There’s a good reason that Ares delights in his company, even if the feeling is not entirely returned.

The thorny roots race after him as he cuts at the stem of the flower, yet each time it seems that they are almost about to touch him he vanishes in a flash of green light and reappears at another point near the edge of the chasm.

But this isn’t a one-man show and he knows it. Some lucky soul might just find themselves being gripped by a strong hand and whisked away in a dizzying lurch, moments before they were about to be unfortunately impaled. He doesn’t ask for permission. ‘T is better to ask forgiveness, but he isn’t going to do that either.]

Stay out of the way if you don’t know what you’re doing.

[It’s hard to tell from his tone if he’s trying to be helpful or insulting.]

vi. Wildcard

[Down for anything you want to throw at me! Hit me up on plotting if you’re not sure about something ;)]

ii!

[beshackled]

At least they are still alive.

[It is enough for Erichthonios to breathe a sigh of relief. With the mounting difficulties the unnaturally long-lived snow has been presenting, hypothermia not the least among them, it is reassuring to know that the people who have become akin to statues are still living.]

Unfortunately, I cannot say what the source is. The blue of the compacted ice brings to mind something else I witnessed, but I've no proof of a connection between the two.

Raphael ◈ Original Character

[cupiditasmedendi]

i. Snowed In

[Though not bothered by the cold himself, Raphael is not ignorant of its effects on mortals and how things can very quickly start to go downhill with their delicate bodies once that bone-deep chill sets in. So, as the temperature drops and the ice and snow continue to build, the archangel begins flitting around making sure that anyone he finds struggling in the weather is not left to freeze.

Any unlucky (or lucky, depending on how you view it) person who happened to be caught out, or simply can’t make themselves keep moving through the cold despite how many layers they might have put on to combat it, will suddenly become aware of someone beside them, observing them with a curious expression.]

Do… do you need help?

[Sometimes it’s hard to be sure. Sometimes he simply… doubts himself.]

ii. Mirror, Mirror

[When it comes to the strange mirrors, curiosity got the better of Raphael fairly easily. He had spent far too long, to his misfortune, staring into one and now… now he’s wandering about as if in some kind of daze. The cold doesn’t affect him normally and now is thankfully no exception, but that doesn’t mean that none of the other effects have impacted him and even if he isn’t going to get hypothermia he feels unnaturally chilly as he walks.

He isn’t sure how long he’s been trying to shake off the feeling of numbness, only vaguely aware that something is dreadfully wrong, before he finally sits down on a snowy bench at the edge of a park and simply stares down at his hands as they rest lightly against his lap.

Given his natural immunity to the elements he is already dressed entirely unseasonably for the weather, and it’s easy enough to notice him sitting there looking very out of place as snow begins to gather on his hair and across his shoulders. Distantly, he’s aware that something is wrong here… but he can’t seem to move himself to care.]

iii. Frozen in Time

Hey, don’t panic, I’ve got you.

[A voice, and then a hand placed against one shoulder, radiating warmth. Raphael has had his fill of all of this and has decided that he will not hide, and he is currently picking his way through the worst of the icy gales in the storm racing through the street, finding people who have been unfortunate enough to falter before managing to reach one of the shelters set up along the way towards the centre.

He uses one wing like a shield, the wind buffeting against it forcing bones and muscle to flex and shudder, but he smiles and gives the person he’s set down beside a reassuring look.]

You don’t have far to go, but you can’t stay out here. I can keep the curse at bay.

[It’s good to realise there’s something he can do about this. People he can save.]

iv. Wildcard

[Down for anything you want to throw at me! Hit me up on plotting if you’re not sure about something ;)]

snowed in

[wild_romance]

[ Daigo laughs breathlessly at the inquiry. He is, quite honestly, used to being fussed over by bodyguards and attendants. He doesn't think too much about a concerned stranger. ]

Kinda cold, isn't it?

[ Oh, he's not doing too badly, but-- ]

I could really use a warm cup, how about you?

Diluc Ragnvindr ◈ Genshin Impact

[phoenixblessed]

i. Snowed In

[Before it grows simply far too difficult to keep on top of the amount of snowfall let alone leave the house, Diluc diligently clears a path from the front door of the home he shares with Kaeya and Chuuya down to the road outside. It’s difficult work, particularly when the snow insists on freezing into solid lumps when under pressure, but he manages a mostly serviceable pathway to the gates of the small estate each morning.

Which is, perhaps, how he comes across someone else. As he straightens up with shovel in hand and rubs the back of his wrist across his unpleasantly chilled, damp forehead he nods slightly to anyone who happens to be passing by outside.]

Keeping warm, I hope. [Though not really one for small talk, sometimes a kind word can be a balm in this kind of frigid weather. And besides… it could be that their journey is going to be all for naught.] Do you have far to go? Some of the shops in town have shut up already.

ii. Melancholia

[He knows about the flowers but has never been near enough to them to be affected by them before. In Hokkaido they’re easy enough to avoid but now, as they spread rampantly through the streets of Kyoto, one can barely turn a corner without coming face to face with the things.

Though he still does his best, there is at least a time or two when one might be able to come across the redhead furiously trying to clear the welling tears from his eyes as he speedily walks away from a clutch of those damnable flowers. It’s hard to see, with the cold and the haziness from the tears, so straight up walking right into someone is a risk he’s definitely taking.

The worst part is, he doesn’t even know why he’s so upset.]

iii. Frozen in Time

[Not for the first time, Diluc stalls mid-step while battling through the blizzard. The tips of his fingers are frozen solid again, stiff, blue and translucent as the ice that has been slowly taking over Kyoto since the snow began to fall. He had learned quickly how to force it back, how to push warm back into his extremities, but each time he has to do it again it seems to become more and more tiring.

He concentrates, slowly flexing his fingers as the curse seeps back out of them again, then he looks up. It’s hard to tell if more of him is facing the same problem, parts that he can’t see…

… Like the thread of blue slowly working its way across his cheek from the top of his jaw.

Diluc is not the kind of person who gives up, so he presses on through the wind and as he reaches one of the magical ‘check points’ he stumbles inside, almost immediately collapsing onto the floor.]

Shit--

[Get up… get up.]

iv. New World Boss

[He’s seen this before. This flower. He knows what to expect, and his claymore is in his hands before the phantoms even appear.]

Take them down! And watch your feet!

[Taking them down quickly is the ideal, if his memory of the way they work is anything to go by. He had come out of the battle against the flower in Hokkaido with too many paper-thin cuts to count and they had taken much longer to heal than he would have liked, and he has no desire to go through that again here.

Diluc doesn’t pull any punches. The crimson Vision attached to his belt flares up as fire lashes out from his weapon, licking against the ground and slicing through the roots that emerge from the chasm. He’ll be the first to shout out to someone, to tell them to watch where they’re putting their feet. Diluc was not a captain in the Knights of Favonius for nothing.

Once the flower is cut through and the storm suddenly dies, his weapon vanishes in a shower of golden sparks. He offers his hand down to someone on the ground.]

Come on. There was something not right about that flower.

v. Wildcard

[Down for anything you want to throw at me! Hit me up on plotting if you’re not sure about something ;)]

Snowed In

[afoolshope]

[While Minato worked in Nara, he hadn't actually yet made the move so it was a bit of a trek each time. It was doable though because the weather wasn't so crazy. But as the snow kept piling on, it was becoming more and more difficult. Today, he wasn't working at least but getting food felt like an incredible chore when doing this all on food.

Minato still had one more place to go, but his bag of food for both him and Koromaru was quite hefty. He held it with both arms holding it tightly, the loops tied up top to stop any spillage. He heard the voice and paused in his careful trek. His scarf was covering his mouth, earphones peaking out but the music wasn't loud so he was able to hear Diluc. He just didn't have the hands to politely remove them.

Instead, he nodded quietly.]

Are they? ...er, is the pet shop closed then?

[Feeding Koromaru normal food and not just kibble was fine, but the kibble was a bit more shelf stable and good as a back up for the pup. So, he wanted some handy.]

Vennessa ◈ Genshin Impact

[vennessa]

i. Sandal Skater

Look out!

[This wasn’t the best of ideas, though it seemed like a good one at the time. Surely stopping while on a pair of skates couldn’t be that difficult of a thing to ask? Vennessa quickly works out just how wrong she is as she goes careening down a slightly inclined pathway with nothing to grab on to and every instinct in her revolting against the idea of simply throwing herself onto the ground so she stops moving.

So, deepest apologies to the poor soul that has to deal with the former gladiator smacking into them (or perhaps glancing off their side, or whizzing right by if they’re fast enough) before falling almost face-first into a snowdrift next to the road.

With little harm done - hopefully - Vennessa pushes herself up enough to catch her breath and then just starts to laugh.]

ii. Frozen in Time

[Even in her own time, Vennessa knows stories of people going up onto Dragonspine and never returning. It’s taken as simple fact that they just froze to death up there, caught out by the ice and winds, and it hadn’t taken much thought for her to connect the strange blue ice to stories from those mountains.

She doesn’t try to make it to the centre of the storm. Vennessa knows her limits, knows there are people with capabilities that far outreach her own making their way there instead. She stays in one of the magically reinforced outposts along the way and helps out by offering first aid, hot food and drinks to people stumbling in out of the storm winds.]

What’s happening out there..? [Vennessa asks the first person who doesn’t look like they’re struggling too much to answer her as she hands them a mug of hot tea.] We’re not hearing anything back here when people leave.

iii. New World Boss

[When the flower is defeated and the storm finally dies, Vennessa is one of the first who starts on the task of digging people out of the snow. It’s not an enjoyable job and doesn’t carry the same kind of impact as having actually defeated the flower itself, but she puts herself to it with as much energy as she can muster.

There are others with her. Of course she isn’t doing this alone. Vennessa closes her eyes and tips her head up as she takes a brief break, flexing her fingers to try and urge a little warmth and feeling back into them. Even with gloves on, it’s still cold enough that the chill inevitably worked its way right down to her skin.]

That flower… [She says out loud, her brow furrowing into a frown. Though she hadn’t seen it, she had heard things.] How do you think it got all the way down here? Is that one in Hokkaido… spreading, or something?

iv. Wildcard

[Down for anything you want to throw at me! Hit me up on plotting if you’re not sure about something ;)]

arataki itto | genshin impact

[oneandoni]

I. Sandal Skater

[he (kind of) learned how to do this skating thing last year! And hey, he's a master of doing everything in a pair of geta, so this should be a cinch! Stand back, he's—]

Gyahahaha, I've got this, piece of—oh hell—

[— . . . he's slipping and sliding by on his face. Nevermind, nothing to see here, carry on]

II. Snowed In

[Itto doesn't get many visitors to his place and that's only because he's always out and about himself. But with the cold and all he does find himself staying inside just a little more often - and it's not because he's cold!! This Itto-sama is fueled by his burning heart!!

But in reality, it's more because people need a way out or through the building and he can provide that! He leaves his front door open so people can just waltz in, and he's hanging out burrito—I mean, lounging casually with a heavy blanket draped over his shoulders]

Hey, way's out that way but be careful, it's getting pretty bad out! Sure you don't wanna just hang back 'til it's over?

[feel free to hang around and warm up, Itto is a loud but pretty gracious host who will even cook if you want some warm food in your belly]

III. New World Boss

[eventually Itto can't just sit around doing nothing and heads out to help with other things - until he hears about the flower.

Then all bets are off; he'll march through the storm, fight through whatever the hell is in there to get to that reject of a cryo whopperflower!! AND THEN HE'S GONNA SMASH IT.

For some this may seem odd, since Itto is pretty laid back and doesn't let his temper get the better of him. But that's absolutely that oni anger flaring up.

Ushi gets tossed out to power through the storm with him - and so he can complain to someone not the poor soul trudging forward with him]

I don't care if it ain't the same one, I'm gonna shatter it to pieces for what happened last year!

[the little geo construct gives an enthusiastic moo]

IV. Wildcard

[feel free to hit me up at sociologize, fiendare#8712, or by PM if you want to do one of the other prompts! ♥]

New World Boss

[phoenixblessed]

[Itto is a fine enough companion despite his apparent propensity for talking, but it saves Diluc the trouble of struggling to fill any silence between harsh, biting gusts of wind with attempts at small talk. He doesn't think there is a coat warm enough to fend off this cold and even his natural physical warmth is struggling with it.]

I would think that what is happening now would be more of a concern, Itto. [The wind almost snatches his breath away and he gasps between syllables.]

By the Winds, how much further can it be until the next rest stop?

Chongyun | Genshin Impact

[spiritblade]

1 | Snow Tears
[Unlike most people, Chongyun is greatly enjoying the strange Kyoto snow storm. He's not immune to the effects of the cold, but he handles it better than most, and he certainly prefers it over heat. So he can be found just walking through the snowy landscape, not entirely dressed for the cold, offering to help people out of they're trying to get somewhere warm indoors.]

[But at some point, he starts taking notice of the crystalflowers starting to bloom in the snow. He's never seen anything like it before, and he spends some time picking them to try and figure out how they work.]

[And this ultimately proves to be his downfall -- as someone nearby may find themselves drawn to the sound of someone quietly crying, Chongyun all alone and kneeling in the snow by the flowers.]


2 | Icy Recollections
[After experiencing the strange flowers, Chongyun can't help but wonder if there's something akin to a ley line disorder going on here. As such, he decides to make an effort to study whatever strange phenomena he comes across, and one of those happens to be how the windows have been transformed into mirrors by the snow.]

[People can find him standing in front of one of the mirrors, causing one of their own memories or fantasies to appear on the mirror in question.]

[Alternatively, it'll play one of Chongyun's! If it's a memory, they'll see an illusion of Chongyun breaking the icy surface of a frozen pond and then jumping into the water. If it's a fantasy, they'll see him holding hands with a young man with dark blue hair, as they sit and watch lanterns floating up into the night sky together.]

[Otherwise, someone might just find him wandering out in the snow after dark, dazed and shivering with no recollection of what happened or how long he was outside. He's going to need someone's help if he ever wants to feel warm again.]


3 | Wildcard
[Plot with me here if you'd like a closed starter or want to plan out something different!]

[inevitablerest]

[He would not claim to be the best at comforting. Or... any emotions, come to think of it, though his experience in them has been wide and varied since he first came here. When he spots somebody kneeling in the snow, though - a young boy, by the looks of things - and hears the sound of crying he cannot find it in himself to simply continue walking by.

Thanatos is dressed lightly, clearly not bothered by the cold either, and he braces his weight against his knees as he crouches down beside Chongyun.]

What's wrong.

[His tone is flat, and the stoic expression could mistakenly convey that he doesn't care... but Thanatos is not without kindness, and if he did not care, he would not ask.]

Daigo Dojima | Yakuza

[wild_romance]

🐉 Bee | itsabee#1072 in server
🐉 LINK HUB | CR/INTRO MEME | PLOTTING

---

Sandal Skater (Wildcard)

[ He's having a decently good time skating around. Sure, he's fallen over breaking in a hurry a couple times but he's not that old that is bothers him, right??? Right?! Maybe. He's definitely paused to catch his breath with a high probability that he's fiddling out a cigarette as he leans against a snow-heaped lamp pole. ]

Snowed In

[ He hasn't seen this much snow since some record-breaking storm when he was a kid... Maybe he should have gotten his shit together a little faster because he sure doesn't have much in that apartment.

He will unfortunately be forced to meander over to a neighbor's apartment, two small bottles of sake as his offering, ]

Ah, hello. I'm Daigo, Daigo Dojima. I'm here to prevail on your sense of hospitality?

[ ??? ]

Melancholia

THOUGHTS
[ His thoughts take the form of a crowd of people. Mainly men in uniform black suits with slicked back hair and golden jewelry. There are a few who stand out... The pale and imperious woman in traditional kimono. The man in the white suit with a red button up, he is greater and brighter than anything else. The collection of rivals and lieutenants and friends. He carries this great weight, the Tojo Clan, in his mind all the time. But seeing it so clearly exhausts him quickly. Daigo rubs his eyes with one hand, sighing. ]

MEMORIES
[ He is lonely in a new town, and that reminds him of his childhood. He is the son of Sohei Dojima, once in line to rule the Tojo Clan. A powerful and cruel yakuza oyabun. Everyone was frightened to be near his son, except for those who had wanted to manipulate him for influence. Daigo became aware of everyone's secondary motives early, he always was smart. No one is to be trusted. He is growing imperious and solitary. Some might call him a brat, others might offer a bit of understanding for a boy with no role but the one prescribed to him: heir to violent legacy. ]

FANTASY
[ He is daydreaming about Nick Ogata's immaculately decorated apartment. About wine and Nick plinking away at an expensive piano with middling talent. They may or may not have met a bar, and now, for the first time in his life, he has moved in with another man he can be himself in front of. Nick laughs and tuts at his oppression, asks him what he thinks about becoming business partners. Daigo promises to consider him. [[that can continue explicitly, if you're so minded]] ]

STRIP NSFW 25+ (lil flexible about min age, but please talk to me first)
[ Daigo Dojima is an older man, worn into fine detail by a difficult and violent life. He has great strength and great warmth. His attention is elating, he puts his whole self behind seeing others and accepting them with true grace. He cares, deeply. The slow removal of his white button down reveals his truths: the many scars of a life fighting on the streets, the bullet wounds that mark his resilience, and the great tattoo down the strong line of his back. Fudo Myou, the Immovable Lord. The wrathful deity who removes obstacles on the path to Enlightenment. Daigo is powerful leader and a man filled with caring and sacrifice. ]

Aftermath (Wildcard)

[ At any communal gathering, Daigo has a few questions about what has occurred, ]

So... Is this... about normal around here?

Sandal Skater (sorry for the wait!)

[angel_of_death]

[No sooner than the man manages to extract a cigarette does the tell-tale sound of a Zippo flicking open sound next to him, a boy looking perhaps in his early teens extending his arm, brushed chrome lighter in hand.

For the connoisseur, the model is circa 1941. But for anyone else, a silver-colored Zippo.

The boy strikes the flint with practised ease, flame leaping to life.]

I don't suppose you have a spare?