Cherry Blossom Evening Party

[wipingallout]

You have received a private message:

Throughout the week, Hamuko has messaged the vast majority of people she's met so far - and eagerly invited them to come meet at Inokashira Park starting at 5pm.

⋆🌸₊˚⊹♡❀˖°🌸⋆

You're invited to an evening sushi-party-turned-hanami-picnic-party! I've organized a bunch of cognitive chefs and performers to come to that park on the listed date/time.

I've sent this to you because you were part of one of the three teams that helped with fighting Fatalis or rescuing Falcon and Wolf (or are Falcon and Wolf themselves!!) - we've all busted our butts a lot lately, so I think we deserve to have something nice together too!

Of course, the party is open if you have any +1s or more. But before spring turns into summer, let's celebrate what we've all accomplished together!




.🌸˚𑁍.ೃ࿔*:･

The Venue...


Inokashira Park has a lovely river and trail and a phenomenal collection of cherry blossom trees. They're in the tail end of their season, filling the air with petals like snowfall.

In a large open area, Hamuko's arranged a ton of picnic blankets for people to claim and sit down on, though each blanket is HUGE to accommodate people sitting with as many people as they can handle! There are cozy pillows for sitting on too, stacked neatly to be borrowed.

There's a truly humongous row of tables laid out with an impressive amount of sushi presented. With a few trucks nearby, it seems there's a few sushi chefs making fresh platters of it to lay out through the night.

Similarly, there are food carts along the trails if you're not in the mood for sushi and would rather have some more traditional fare like dango, taiyaki, matcha, takoyaki... it's got the place lively and smelling fantastic! There's sake for the adults, and some cherry-blossomed themed mocktails for minors.

🌸𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖🎐

Activities

There's a few set out activities besides just chowing down and socializing or walking along the lantern-lit trails under the cherry blossoms! Inoshikara Park has always had cute little swan pedal boats or regular rowboats for 'rental' (not that money matters here).

The area is SO pretty, perfect for taking pictures to have as keepsakes. There's even a booth to claim a yukata and privately change into it, if you want to go the extra mile!

Finally, in lieu of a traditional band or modern concert, Hamuko has picked out a large set of speakers connected to a small karaoke stage and screen - menace the party with your sing-along! Get a little boost to your Guts!!

Comments

Hamuko~

[wipingallout]

The party-thrower herself is excitedly bouncing between everyone, saying hi, eagerly greeting people and making sure they were having fun. She's in a yukata, too, and she's got a disposable camera in hand.

At least, most of the time.

She is also very, very likely to be at the karaoke stage and, with a mischievous glint in her eye, beckons for a second singer...

*Shoves Dove into karaoke*

[seekerofjustice]

Dove is visible from the stage, not too far away from Hamuko as he finds himself beginning to step by while admiring the cherry blossoms.

He pauses, turning his head to look towards Hamuko as she scouts for a karaoke partner.

"Hmm? I wonder what she could be searching for..."

[wipingallout]

Scanning, scanning... ah hah! Hamuko tapped her chin as she examined the Akechi in front of her, working to remember which Akechis are which, before pointing at him.

"Dove! C'mere!"

[unit_8910_wolf]

Well, well, well- Zenkichi was already here. Trying to observe her and Akane carefully after throwing daggers at Ichinose's way, metaphorically of course. Literally, he has a knife attached to a holster looped around his left thigh. He isn't expecting an actual fight to break out but he's had his fair share of experience to carry weapons unless he needed to remove it.

And Hamuko, ever the warm host, was always overwhelmingly friendly with everyone's little quirks.

He is still looking at the picnic blanket where Maruki and Ichinose are happily sitting together, all peace leaving his body as he focused on the sake in his choko.

>>>She gave it a name. That makes her responsible.

Bare hands clasped the poor ceramic vessel as if it was going to pop into a dozen pieces.

[wipingallout]

"Wolf-pop!"

Hamuko chirped up at him, a bottle of water in her hand. She'd just sung her heart out on stage, after all. "When're you gonna join for karaoke, huh? Or paddleboats, or get your picture taken!"

The little disposable camera was on a cheap strap around her wrist, dangling.

[unit_8910_wolf]

Zenkichi lets out a small, almost resigned sigh, giving Hamuko a side-eye as she grins at him with that infectious energy of hers. She’s fresh off karaoke, practically bouncing with excitement, and that damn camera is hanging from her wrist like it's always ready to snap a photo of every ridiculous moment she can create.

"Go on the paddleboats? What if it sinks on my side, huh?" He jokes with a subtle smile. It's a shame that Akane can't go in any of them...and really maybe he should go on one of those stupid boats. This is a celebration after all, he's not on any sort of job.

He glances back before finally lowering the vessel down.

She's always on the move, making sure every guest is enjoying themselves.

"I am doing fine here- don't worry. You go have fun." Then makes quick note of the bottle of water and her state in general. "Or actually sit down for a bit- you and Akane really had the place buzzing."

[wipingallout]

"We did!! Singing is a ton of fun. I am so gonna lose my voice by tomorrow, I have a dozen more songs in me saved up to drag anyone looking like they're feeling sheepish."

She does pause to take a swig of water, at least.

"Mm! Have you had any food yet? The sushi tastes great, here!! I picked out and recruited all the chefs myself."

[unit_8910_wolf]

"Maybe you would stop being an incessant little brat for once," he shook his head fondly- not a single bite in his tone as he watched her take a swig of water. "Some peace and quiet..." The way she kept reaching out to him like that, he would call her efforts foolish if they didn't hold their weight.

Zenkichi raised a brow behind his mask, the mention of food both being a somewhat touchy topic but the mention of sushi making his heart singing nonetheless. He's so neutral about his sushi. If it weren't for the fact that Ichinose was in the same damn party as him cause everything he was looking forward to for this evening has already been ruined.

"Haven't had much of anything yet, I am still surveying the environment." His curiosity gives way as his smile tightened. "You've been at this for a while, haven't you? First with Fatalis...then the two dungeons."

"Gotta say...I miss when the park used to look like this back in my world."

[wipingallout]

"Well... maybe someday it'll get to look like this again. You might be around for that, even," she suggested, pointing at his cybernetics. "Being there to be part of the rebuild effort... however far away it is, I think it'll be satisfying, don't you?"

She looked around the park, imagining what it might look like if society collapsed. Wild, overgrown, the trees probably stripped down for resources but otherwise left alone...? The river probably fought over. Sad, but... getting things built back up would be worth looking forward to.

"And-- yeah. The fights were the reason I thought we should all celebrate. We're all here together, for better and for worse, but we should work to have what comforts and kindnesses we can while we're here."

[unit_8910_wolf]

"And there you go again," Zenkichi's tsks- once again reminded of their first meeting. "Damn, I don't know. We always thought about the prevention so far- the recovery is whatever we seem to have. Ah- it's not that relavant." He waves his hand, dismissing his own words like he had said to me. Nostalgia really was a dangerous drug.

He shifted on his footing, one hand resting on his waist as his hand wrapped around the small glass. He hadn't even realized there was a crack on its body.

"And yet here you are, alone putting in all the effort to get us along," he remarks carefully, not wanting to sound offensive or condescending. Reflective, if anything.

There's a knowing smirk. "Judging from the timing, I am guessing you were trying to defuse whatever was happening just a few moments ago?"

[wipingallout]

"Nope! I noticed you haven't eaten yet! So I came to pick on you," she teased, playfully elbowing his arm. At least, before fishing in her obi for a packet of tissues, fetching one to pass to him. "Here, your cup's dripping sake! Lemme grab you a new one."

[unit_8910_wolf]

"Uh huh," he nodded along, the corner of his lip twitching with annoyance at the elbowing. "I think you were going to pick on me regardless."

That said, when Hamuko points out the dripping sake, his eyes shoot up behind his visor. "Wha-" he blinks at the now cracked choko in surprise, seeping and soaking through his hand with the ceramic scratched against some of the initial scarring. "Oh hell... thank you," he quickly grabbed the tissue and wiped away his hand.

"Also no need...sake's pretty weak for me anyway," he waves off his hand. "Better keep my eyes peeled for the night."

[wipingallout]

"Keep them peeled, huh?" Hamuko glanced over at the two psientists drinking and chatting before looking back up at him. "They're so busy drinking and stuffing their faces, what could they actually do tonight, hmm? Especially with everyone around here ready to pounce at a hint of trouble."

Hamuko gestured to everyone else, around and about. Most people here were highly competent, strong fighters, after all.

"And I'm here! So you can take a break, Wolf-pop."

[unit_8910_wolf]

"Ichinose's planning something," he insists as he narrows down on them- still reading her lips. "Really- if she's drunk then that's good, maybe I can catch her slipping-"

>>There's a sort of fun thought I've had recently - do you know the concept of 'retro-futurism'?

"I mean- eventually? Probably? I have never seen the Ichinose in our world go off such long rambles..." He's definitely unimpressed with his investigation thus far. Zero leads. It doesn't help that his days working in PubSec had blended into his daily life or how stalkerish his behaviour truly was if he paid attention to it.

His gaze drifts back to Hamuko at her reassurance. "..." Should he take a break?

[takutomaruki]

He... he hadn't thought he'd ever have this much alcohol in his entire life.

Well—perhaps he had, once. In mourning. In sorrow. At the graveyard of a future he had once so carefully sorted, and in the wake of reviving a dream he'd long buried. But not like this. Not while sharing drinks with a man who had no particular desire to be his friend—or maybe one who had simply lowered his guard enough to humor him with a drinking competition.

And for a while, he'd been confident. Confident that he might actually make it through to the end as the victor.

Maybe he shouldn't have underestimated Wolf's tolerance after all.

It was a miracle he could even hold the two skewers of takoyaki in his hand, given how badly he was shivering now. The warmth of the sake was slowly draining from his body, even as it somehow still managed to burn him up from the inside. Too much. Went overboard again.

The cognitive chefs must have taken mercy on him, at least—he could still taste the incredible crust, the subtle sweetness of the sauce, and the texture of the octopus meat. It was the closest impression of the real thing he’d had in some time.

He idly chewed on a single skewer while sitting near the karaoke stage, trying to feel his own mouth again after what felt like nearly drowning it in alcohol. A small box sat beside him, a few more skewers poking lazily out of the opened packaging.

Hm... maybe she’s already left.

[wipingallout]

She wasn't at the stage right now, but that was simple enough - she had seen Maruki and Zenkichi drink a crazy amount of alcohol, and then had seen that Maruki was shivering.

It'd taken a few minutes for her to track down an actual blanket, not a picnic blanket, and hurry back over with that and a bottle of water. Hamuko came up from behind him, holding the cold bottle on top of his head.

"Boop."

[takutomaruki]

Truly, Maruki’s senses were in a league of their own. Which is to say—they had long since left the park.

When she came up behind him, he startled, flinching just slightly as if the world had returned on a short delay.
“...Ah—Hamuko-san,” he said slowly, voice a little hoarse at the edges.

He turned to face her with careful, deliberate movement, as though the air itself had become heavier. His eyes, half-lidded and unfocused, blinked slowly—cheeks tinged pink not just from the alcohol, but from the effort it took to keep upright.

He stared at her for a second too long, like a cat trying to catch the end of a moving thread.

“...Didn’t hear you coming,” he murmured at last.

Then, with a faint, lopsided smile that tugged tiredly at his lips, he added in a voice lower and softer than usual, “Am I that easy to read...?”

[wipingallout]

"I saw you and Wolf drinking like crazy, then I saw you over here shivering - that's not so much a book to read as it is a poster, you know?" she teased a little, passing the bottle to him and unfolding the blanket to wrap around his shoulders. She sat down on the blanket next to him, a slightly amused smile on her face.

"You're gonna be sick, drinking like that! Was it fun?"

[takutomaruki]

Maruki blushed out of straight embarassment, trying to keep his expression in check while he bit inside his cheek, fidgeting with his hands before catching the bottle passed onto him and feeling the blanket draped over his shoulder. He constantly switched between looking at the takoyaki to adjusting the fabric on his shoulders, catching Hamuko sitting next to him.

Levelling her a smile, he finished the last of the takoyaki stabbed through the skewer and sets it aside for now, pulling his legs to his chest as he nearly curled into the blanket. Warm..

Was it fun?

What was..?

"Hm?" Oh, she asked him a question. "Uh...will be honest, I didn't want you to see me like this," he answers honestly with a nervous chuckle. "I heavily underestimated Zenkichi-san...he's a whole tank."

[wipingallout]

"Hahaha! Plus, he has like - nanomachines! That's practically cheating. But he's in a much better mood now," Hamuko giggled approvingly.

She got the feeling that's... probably what he was trying to do, right? Trying to keep things from getting too tense with Ichinose and Wolf.

Hamuko understood why everyone was being very cautious with the two scientists, but she also understood how they are probably feeling.

"Ichinose-san seems to be having fun, too! I'm glad you brought her along."

[takutomaruki]

Hamuko would get to see the older man visibly brighten at the fact that even she noticed his mood was better. "I am glad to hear that," he remarks with a sigh as he looks down at the bottle and screws it shut.

...In two tries. The first time the cap fell on the blanket.

He doesn't regret trying to patch some things between Ichinose and Zenkichi, if they were even visible. Both of them should get to enjoy the party, shouldn't they? This wasn't a viable environment to be seperated for long, not when you don't know how long you will have to stay.

Really he would have loved to mention all that but all he does is offer a sincere smile to Hamuko as he says- "I am glad you went ahead and invited us. Allowed me to bring her along- even with your close relationship to Zenkichi-san." Yes, of course he sees things. Wolf was soft for her. Like a father.

[wipingallout]

"I heard from Akane what the whole deal was, what happened, all of that. I don't think it was very wise of him, but I understand why he did that, especially since he thought it might be 'his' Ichinose," Hamuko nodded, hugging her knees casually, comfortably.

"And I get why you took Ichinose-san in, and why she went into hiding. I don't necessarily approve of anything that happened, but I understand everyone."

[takutomaruki]

It didn't matter if she approved of it or not, that wouldn't have changed a damn thing for him...just a little disheartened but not surprised.

Maruki eased up, looking ahead at the way the bright flowers stood out in the dark, almost magical even with the lights or the reflection of the trees against the ripples of the water.

"It's easy to hate and misunderstand," he continues slowly. "I wouldn't say I am above it either...but if I can salvage something good from my time here- then that's all that matters in the end."

[wipingallout]

"Yeah. No one's immune to it, it's only human to misread things or act rashly."

She's done it plenty, she's done it here, and she'll probably keep doing it for as long as she's here.

"I'm frustrated that Zenkichi went on what was basically a suicide mission, as far as he knew... I'm frustrated he didn't step back and not scare the shit out of a newcomer... I'm frustrated she feels like she has to hide to stay safe."

Hamuko sighed a bit.

"I knew you would give someone a chance, though. I'm glad you helped her out. I would've done the same thing."

[takutomaruki]

A suicide mission. Right. Hasegawa-san didn't have much going for his own world, did he? "People bank a lot on the fact that no one can die here permanently. Atleast not in a way that's cheated the system. I could see both sides of why Zenkichi-san did what he thought was right."

It was so awful. The system itself, not the fact that death isn't permanent. Its a decent addition, given that if it weren't for that he might have already died.

And did nothing to really fight against his fate anyway.

His expression turned sombre at what she just said. I would've done the same thing.

"...maybe she should have gone to you," he replied quietly. "Not because I don't like her company-! Nothing of those sorts... it's just maybe she would have an easier time opening up to everyone else."