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

3

[fogboundcrow]

Look out, Falcon! There is a middle schooler thundering your way with wide eyes fixed on the prize.

The prize being Falcon.

He skids to a halt, gasping for breath. "Falcon!" Pant, pant. "I... I'm sorry!"

[gorobo]

"Raven?"

Falcon turns just in time to watch Raven skid to a halt- leaning away despite himself. A burst of anxious energy ripples through him- something... unpleasant.

He abandoned you, he doesn't care, he left Crow to deal with you-

Hereward hums in his mind.

It hurt, he says, we're allowed to be hurt. But we also know he means well. We know why he didn't come. He's already apologizing, isn't he?

... Right

"Raven," he repeats, slower this time. "Calm down. Take a breath."

He's not going to take this out on Raven. He's not.

[fogboundcrow]

"But..." Give him a second. He does need to breathe. "I wanted to be there. I really did. It was so hard to choose, but Wolf had a smaller group. It was hard, but I knew you'd be safe."

[gorobo]

... It was one thing to be told secondhand. It was another hearing it straight from the horse's mouth. Conflicting emotions sizzle through his circuits; angry betrayal. Guilt. Happiness, that Raven sought him out just for this.

Falcon gestures at the spot next to him on the blanket.

"Sit down for a minute," he says, stalling while he tries to figure out what he wants to say, and how.

[fogboundcrow]

"...All right." He takes a small, shallow breath, then sits down. Apprehension still gnaws at him, but he'll let Falcon lead the conversation.

[gorobo]

Raven sits down, and silence falls between them. Only Raven's breaths, and the noises of the festivities around them are heard, but for a moment, Falcon says nothing.

When he does speak, it's quiet.

"I won't say it didn't... sting," he says slowly, haltingly. "That'd be a lie."

And if nothing else, his Shadows taught him a thing or two about lying to himself.

"I understand why. But... I'm sure you heard what my Shadows had to say from Crow, Hiro, and Magpie."

[fogboundcrow]

Raven nods, quiet at first. "But I'm used to Shadows. The things they say can hurt, but it's never the full story. The feelings they feel are larger than life, they come in extremes... The same can be said for Hiro and Shiro, even if the feelings they represent come from a different place."

His head droops, shoulders sinking. "If I could duplicate myself, then it would have been so simple. I know you and Crow don't exactly get along, after all."

[gorobo]

"I know you would," Falcon says, "but... it's not fair to expect you to be everywhere at once."

You're a kid, he doesn't say. Raven is more than a mere child, at this point.

"I know you care," he murmurs.

[fogboundcrow]

"That's good to hear." At least Falcon understands... That eases some of his fears. "I suppose I can see it... how Crow ended up the way he is."

Given his own worries, it's only natural.

[gorobo]

Ugh, Crow. Crow Crow Crow. Always Crow. What does Crow have to do with any of this?

... Everything, doesnt he? He's Raven's future self. And yet Falcon still doesn't like him.

Hereward rumbles in his mind, and Falcon makes a face. You know why, don't you?

"I suppose. I am still mad at him for his hand in... that," he says, haltingly, his eyes narrowed, every word dragging itself across his tongue like a rake. "I hate that he was there to see me at my worst. Twice now."

He sounds bitter. Angry. Angrier than he intends, and he quietens for a moment.

"Part of it may be because-" ugh, god, he wants to tear out his hair, "-I'm jealous."

[fogboundcrow]

"For what it's worth, I do understand." He gazes out at the party, and at Crow specifically, milling about.

Briefly, Crow turns to look at them, but he looks away. He can't not know what's happening, but he can still try to respect their privacy.

"I look at him, and I wonder how I end up becoming him. He seems to have it all figured out. I know he's not perfect, and I know he struggles, too, but he's good at hiding it."

...

"But I know it must be harder for you. Yet... I was the one who acted as bait so that the others could hack you. Crow only came to make sure everyone was safe. Shouldn't you hate me, too?"

[gorobo]

"I don't-" he starts, but Hereward rumbles in his mind, shutting him up for a moment.

Don't lie to him.

Falcon shrinks a little into himself, looking away.

"... I do. A little," he admits quietly. "Don't take this the wrong way, but, I can't..."

He pauses, considering his words. He doesn't want to say anything else, really.

"..."

[fogboundcrow]

"I suppose it's only fair." He still sounds disappointed, with an air of resignation to his words. "But then... why continue to spend time with me? You came to my birthday party. You let me sleep in your lap when I was a cat."

[gorobo]

Oh, no, this is worse.

"I-" Falcon scrambles mentally to come up with the right words, panic and guilt rising. "I just-"

Fuck. Shit.

"I don't hate you the way I hate Drake. Or Glitch, or even Crow," he tries to explain- but that doesn't sound right, either. "I don't- you try, and, I-"

Shit. This is going poorly.

"I don't know how to explain it," he admits, haltingly. "You've been. Good to me. Even when I definitely didn't deserve it."

[fogboundcrow]

"You didn't deserve what you went through, either." Raven sighs, watching Crow, who once again tries not to make it obvious that he's aware of what's happening.

Little hard when Raven's emotions get so strong, but he's trying.

"...Crow does feel bad, for what it's worth. I think that's why he's tried so hard to remain civil and reach out. He knew this operation was important to me, and he didn't want to replace me. I think... in a way, he wanted to atone for his role in hurting you."

[gorobo]

Falcon accidentally catches Crow's eye. He quickly looks away, but it's not hard to realize what's going on, now that he's aware of Crow's lingering.

I'm not trying to upset Raven, Falcon thinks, very hard. I'm just trying to-

What, exactly?

Sort through feelings he's had for so long he forgot he had them, probably.

"Mh." Falcon stares ahead of himself. He's quiet for another moment, and then:

"You were the first to reach out to me. After. Did you know that?"

[fogboundcrow]

"I didn't want to assume." It's... nice, knowing that, he supposes, but he sees Crow grimace.

Good grief.

"...I also know that Crow dragged his feet. And yes, I know you don't like talking about him. I still remember the party, and I know that was my own damn fault for pushing you too hard, but..."

There's a point here, he's realizing. Something he took for granted.

"Crow remembers everything I do, which means he also remembers how you treat me as if he was me in those moments. I think, perhaps, that's part of why it's bothered him so much. Why he can't just let things go."

[gorobo]

"..."

Ah.

The memory link. Of course.

"But he's... not you," Falcon says, very slowly, "not really."

[fogboundcrow]

"But he used to be." It's said calmly, without any real judgment. "I can't choose how you feel, but I just think the two of you could benefit from... Perhaps not a fresh start, but something similar. I doubt he would have chosen your dungeon if he didn't care."

[gorobo]

Falcon's eyes wander to Crow again, frown on his face. He looks... contemplative.

He doesn't want to become friends with Crow. He doesn't like Crow. He didn't want Crow to see any of that, but he still showed up.

You didn't want anybody to see that, least of all yourself, Hereward murmurs. Falcon's scowl deepens.

... but two of the people he (ugh) cares most about are unquestionably linked to Crow. Hiro is, quite literally, Crow's Persona. No matter how sentient he is, he'll never truly be separated from Crow. Raven, meanwhile, isn't Crow. Not yet, anyway.

(That thought, too, makes Falcon shudder.)

Then there's Magpie, who, for all his gripes about Crow's sentimental nature, still cares so much for him.

It's so fucking unfair. It always comes down to Crow, doesn't it?

Ugh.

"I won't lie, and promise that I'll forgive, or even get along with Crow." he says. "But I'll acknowledge he tries his best."

Which may as well be Falcon-ese for 'fine, I'll try to get along better with Crow.'

[fogboundcrow]

Raven gives him time to deliberate. It's only fair. Even he can see how difficult this is. It's not like he doesn't understand.

"It's a start." He pauses. "I remember how hard it was to set aside my jealousy towards Yu. I wanted to hate him because it was easier than accepting that he truly cared. It was... Hard, giving myself the room to trust others."

He looks down, posture slightly slumped. "But hate is exhausting. Even if you aren't friends, I do think it'd be healthier to try and let go of those hard feelings."

[gorobo]

Tall order, Raven. Hate is what kept him going for so long, and even now, he's having a hard time letting go of it. That's all easy for him to say, but he's... a much better person than Falcon is, or will ever be.

Okay, that's not fair. Raven clearly worked hard to get where he is, but that doesn't take the latter fact away.

Falcon's not a good person, in both the literal and metaphorical sense. He still hardly feels like a person at all, more often than not.

[fogboundcrow]

Well, Raven can tell this isn't exactly simple for Falcon. "But... I know it may be difficult. And, frankly, it's not my position to 'fix' everything. I know that."

He sends a glance over to Crow, who... offers a nod of acknowledgement to Falcon that says 'we'll talk later.' He's going to at least try to give them space now.

"I'm just glad you're better now," Raven finally says.

[gorobo]

Falcon makes a face. He is not looking forward to talking with Crow.

Ugh. He guesses he'll try, at least.

"I'm certainly not feeling any better," Falcon huffs. He's just anxious all the time now instead of when he lets his guard down.

[fogboundcrow]

"Sometimes it takes time." He certainly did. Granted, he at least had started accepting the others as friends, if only subconsciously. All he needed was a gentle nudge. "I don't think anyone here expects perfection out of you."