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

[willowandoak]

A few days ago:

Ren leaned forward over Igor's desk, hands braced on the table, an unknowing echo of Frog's posture when he'd first arrived. "You owe us."

The attendants stood rigidly, watching for any sign of violence. Igor himself considered Ren from his chair. "You may be right."

"I may be right? You have us all trapped here in this fucking cage, and you can't even keep it free of murderous little shits like Fatalis. You act like you rule this place, but we had to solve that problem for you. People died. Nox is still paying the price for everything he had to do while you sat here wringing your hands. You owe us, you old fuck. Pay up."

Igor steepled his fingers. "What is your request?"

That was... easy. Ren eyed him suspiciously for a moment. "I want another wish token for everyone who helped."

"Hmm." Igor considered it for a moment. "The wishing stars were a special occasion. They're not to be granted as rewards." As Ren opened his mouth, outraged, he continued: "But I can offer a lesser version, if that's agreeable to you."

"I won't agree to shit without more detail."

"I simply mean that I can provide tokens that can be exchanged for smaller requests. A mundane item, a new Persona or skill. Nothing so extravagant as some of the requests I received for Christmas." Igor glanced behind him at the training room door.

"People gave their lives to clean up the reeking pile of shit you dropped your pants and dumped in the middle of the room. And you think all they should get in return is a fucking trinket voucher?"

"People often place great value in sentimental items," said Igor, unperturbed. "And, of course, there are other uses for the token, should you agree."

...And the truth was, Ren hadn't expected to get more wishing stars. He'd have liked it, but he'd have been pretty fucking surprised. But you always start with a real high asking price, and then when the other guy tries to meet you in the middle, they actually give you what you wanted all along. "Fine. Asshole."

Igor smiled. A blue bag made of velvet (what else?) appeared on the desk in front of him, visibly bulky with small objects. As Ren reached inside, Igor said, "There are enough coins to distribute to everyone who aided us all, whether they fought in the battle itself or not. Merely make a wish on the coin, and if it's suitable, we will grant it."

The coin Ren pulled out was bright, gleaming silver, with a butterfly on one face and a calligraphic V on the other. He dropped it back in the bag. "Cool." In no fucking life was he ever going to thank Igor, especially for giving his team their due after they dealt with the Fatalis bullshit, so he simply picked up the bag and turned to leave.

"Amamiya-kun," Igor said behind him. "You're correct. You have my gratitude, along with the rest of your team."

"Good."

Ren's been feeling a little weird lately, but maybe that's all the more reason he should come to the party. Maybe it'll help. If nothing else, it's a good opportunity to pass out the coins he wrangled from Igor.

Because he feels like it, he shows up in a women's yukata, black with a cherry blossom pattern and a white obi, all under a grey haori. He's not in a wig, and he hasn't gone all out with makeup, but he has applied some eyeliner and a bit of lip gloss. In one hand, he holds a blue velvet bag.


1: coin distribution (closed to those who participated in the Fatalis fight)

If you were involved in the operation against Fatalis in any capacity, be it fighting, providing items, being in the reserves as a backup option, or anything else, Ren is looking for you.* His last duty as team leader, before he can shed the role for good, is to make sure everyone gets what they're owed from Igor.

*Unless your name is Takuto Maruki. If it is, he intends to deliver your reward via a third party. But anything can happen at a large gathering like this.


2: he's fine actually. don't worry about it (open)

When he's not hunting down team members, he tucks the bag into his obi (the same place he's stashed all his weapons, of course, which is why he needs the haori) and grabs some sustenance. You might find him staring pensively up at the cherry blossoms while he eats some sushi or sakuramochi. Or maybe while he drinks a little sake, because who the hell is going to enforce laws about alcohol consumption?

[wipingallout]

Hamuko's been running around and chatting with pretty much everyone, if not singing her heart out on the makeshift karaoke stage. She initially approached Ren assuming he might've been the lady Ren... but didn't she have long hair...?

Either way, Hamuko had intended to approach first, but stopped and admired... pretty... this Ren, Akira, whichever was so pretty..............

[willowandoak]

When Ren catches sight of her, he blinks in surprise... and then cracks up.

"You look cute too," he says. "Nice yukata."

It doesn't occur to him that she hasn't recognized him.

[wipingallout]

--!! That cadence - "Ohmygod you're pretty...!" Hamuko blustered, squishing a hand against her cheek. Yep. It was warm, she was definitely bright red, wasn't she.

"Drake. Wow. Your boyfriend is lucky."

[willowandoak]

Funniest thing he's seen all week, for sure. He grins. "Are you like this every time a guy wears makeup? I could take you to some clubs that would melt your brain."

Coin Distribution

[vampirethief]

Kaitou is in his own yukata, though just a mens' black yukata. He is holding a red parasol to protect himself from the sun.

He notices the other Ren and makes a small wave with a free hand. "Oh hey. That's a good choice in yukata."

He doesn't judge for crossdressing and in hindsight, maybe he should have as well. But he wasn't have a girl day (he's genderfluid). Maybe if there's a summer festival, he might do that next time.

[willowandoak]

Ren is also genderfluid, even though he thinks he isn't. These days, he doesn't put much more thought into things than, 'I feel like dressing femme.' Still, he's proud of his hard-earned skills, and he brightens at the compliment.

"Thanks. I almost got one with spider lilies, but it seemed a little on the nose."

[vampirethief]

Honestly gender roles are bullshit anyway, and Kaitou doesn't care what society thinks.

He shrugs. "Maybe a little, but this one still works."

Honestly it would have been really on the nose had Kaitou worn it, considering he's undead. It's why he rejected spider lily as a codename, as well as it simply being too long anyway.

[willowandoak]

"Yours looks good too. I like the umbrella. Practical."

As he speaks, he reaches into the velvet bag he's carrying and pulls out a silver coin.

"I'm glad I ran into you. This is for helping in the Fatalis operation. Igor said you can wish on it like if you didn't make a Christmas wish and got one of the stars instead, but it can't give the really powerful stuff."

1 and 2 because i do what i like

[lakebrat]

And when Ren arrives, Goro comes up to greet him, with a subtle smile and a small plate of sushi, which he hands across. "You're wearing it well. Lala-chan would be proud."

[willowandoak]

And where anyone else's praise would make Ren brighten, Goro's makes him glow. He takes the sushi, but doesn't dig in yet. "You think so?"

[lakebrat]

"Mm-hm." Imagine if he was uncomfortable because Ren was in a skirt. Lala would brain him, and at this point, he thinks she'd be right to. "Black is really your colour. And the cherry blossoms sell it, at this time of year."

Then he bites his lip, turning a bit pink; in retrospect, he can see that time they sat down and did makeup for exactly what it was. He breaks it with a laugh. "You're getting a few looks, too. More than a few."

[willowandoak]

"Jealous?"

He kind of hopes the answer is yes. He picks up a piece of sushi and sticks it in his his mouth.

Coin Distribution

[seekerofjustice]

Dove is standing off by himself for the moment, admiring the cherry blossoms as they fall. He holds his hand out, catching a stray cherry blossom in his hand, and he quietly looks at it while lost in his thoughts.

Thankfully, before he can find himself too deeply engrossed within them, he spots Drake out of the corner of his eye, which causes him to lift his head and snap back to reality.

"Hmm, Drake-san? Is everything all right?"

With the way Drake seems to be looking for someone (or something, perhaps?), Dove can't help but wonder what's on his mind, and asks as he approaches.

[willowandoak]

"Dove, hey. Yeah, I'm good. Just looking for some people. Like you, actually."

And, indeed, he has brightened a little. He pulls a coin from his bag and holds it out.

"Here. I got these from Igor to give to people who helped with Fatalis. They're like smaller versions of the wishing stars. He said a new Persona, an item with no weird powers, that kind of thing."

Coin delivery

[herewardbound]

The most immediately-recognizable member of that operation was, currently, pondering the libations, and blissfully unaware of the fact that he was being hunted.

The subject of sake appeared to be giving him a bit of trouble, given he'd been lingering in front of it for nearly half a minute without making a decision. Easy prey for a Drake to catch, while he was distracted.

[willowandoak]

Ren sidles up behind him... closer, closer... He takes a deep, silent breath...

"Hey, Phoenix!" he exclaims loudly.

[herewardbound]

Feathers were remarkable things. They moved, at times, of their own accord, to aid with regulation of body temperature, or in response to unconscious reflex.

Right now, with a noise a bit like an umbrella being opened on a particularly windy day, every one stood on end, trying at once to make him look much bigger than he actually was. This, accompanied by a highly involuntary squawk as he jumped aside-

And, on finding what the source of the sudden noise was, attempted, by means of affecting a poker face to rival a champion cardshark, to look nonchalant about the whole thing, as though he hadn't just done what he had. "... Ren. You look nice."

[willowandoak]

It's everything Ren hoped for. He barely manages not to laugh, and probably only because of the distraction of the compliment. "Thanks. I felt like dressing up a little. Does that happen a lot, with the feathers?"

1

[unfoggedlotus]

"Hey, Drake!"

Watch out -- Joker's coming in hot, riding a manual, self-propelled wheelchair, red fingerless gloves working his wheels so he comes to an almost dramatic screeching halt in front of the other Ren.

"Like my new ride?" He grins, showing off the Phantom Thief-themed decorations; masks between the spokes of his wheels and black frame painted Arsène red for style.

[willowandoak]

"Oh, shit." He takes a second to admire the wheelchair, which is objectively the coolest wheelchair he's ever seen, and also to glance over Joker himself. He looks way better than last time Ren saw him, thank fuck. "Yeah, it looks sick. Did you decorate it yourself, or did you find it like that in a store?"

[unfoggedlotus]

"Some of column A, some of column B," Ren grins. "Found some of the stickers and paint in stores, did the rest of it myself." He spins in place.

1

[rosemaudite]

Haru's there to be found, in a properly-goth yukata of her own. She's not exactly fond of big parties, but she knows how to navigate them, and at least everyone here is real. (And to the extent others here are operating with ulterior motives, they're ulterior motives she understands.)

"That suits you very well."

[willowandoak]

"Hey, Rose." He's been meaning to speak to her about bombs, so he's especially glad to have found her. He glances over what she's wearing, raising his eyebrows even as the compliment makes him smile. "Thanks. Your yukata is cool as hell, where'd you find it?"

[rosemaudite]

"It took some digging around in Harajuku, but I quite liked it. Thank you."