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

[takutomaruki]

His palette takes in the warmth of the liquor as he hums, a sympathetic glance thrown her way as she mentions said best efforts.

The paddle boats..."I remember when I first came around these areas back in my world- my legs were completely sore for the rest of the night that followed. And that time I used to regularly cycle- so I could only imagine that I will have to propel Azathoth to carry me around by the end of it now."

He holds out his hand- gently asking for the sake bottle.

"Who are you planning to go with? If at all?"

[dollmaxing]

"You, maybe pulling Morning along - say, did you come here for a date? Did you know there's a superstition that going on the swan boats will destroy your relationship? I learned that because my father insisted that he not go on one with my mother, and took me instead - isn't that funny?"

Ahh, it's been so long since she thought of that. Ichinose laughed, remembering it - fuzzy, vague, she can't fully remember her parents' expressions or details... but that argument was so clear.

"My father worked in an office, so I remember him huffing and puffing because I wasn't strong enough to paddle well at all - he couldn't carry me after we got back to shore, either. Hahaha!"

1/2

[takutomaruki]

Maruki's brows cinched at the mention of how Ichinose caught that little detail. I did. There's a sad glimmer in his eyes as he looks down at the hints of sake still left in his cup and brings it up to drink the last of it. To make himself look occupied. I researched it and Rumi challenged me, saying we could break the curse.

....

2/2

[takutomaruki]

"Oh, I could only imagine peddling your way around while also making sure you make it to the shore- my legs were dancing to their own tune and not in an appealing way-!" he chuckles.

"Your father seems like a very thorough man- I didn't even learn about it until my friend pointed it out to me."

[dollmaxing]

Uh oh, that was a pained look, wasn't it? He did have a breakup, huh. Funny.

"Thorough... maybe he was. My grandmother didn't really say," Ichinose shrugged, taking a long sip of her sake and enjoying the warmth of it blooming in her chest.

If her father had other relatives, maybe she'd know a little more? Hmm...

"I was too young to really have any ability to assess my parents' character."

[takutomaruki]

Lost her parents that early, huh? That with the isolation she had mentioned earlier, Maruki's current hypothesis of her seemed to have held some weight after all.

"Given your fond memories they must have been very loving," he grins softly. A sincere innocence aimed at the idea of Ichinose's loving family- stolen away by fate. His mood sinks a little as he remembers their first conversation. "Never underestimate the memories and experiences you go through as a child. Even if the mind forgets...it remembers. The only way through is to move forward."

[dollmaxing]

"My thoughts exactly. I remember those funny little moments. But I never really struggled with my school or hobbies after they were gone."

She just lost both of her parents, and even then... she doesn't cry... her expression doesn't even change.

She just sits there on her computer all day. It's like... it's like she's totally heartless.

Ichinose poured herself a bit more sake, taking a thoughtful sip of it.

"No point in ruminating. There's plenty out there in the world - more to do, more to learn, more to live."

[takutomaruki]

Maruki took note of the way she just timed herself and poured out more of the liquor. He releases a heavy sigh, already reading into the gesture in a way which felt as if he were looking at a mirror. Alas.

"More to drink?" he muses out loud as he takes the sake bottle and pours himself another round. He takes a quick swig, a low hiss coming from his mouth as he simply lets himself move fast the flavour so that he himself doesn't start ruminating. This wasn't a counselling session after all, more so to drink away the rest of their nights.

He pours himself a third right away before setting the bottle in front of them. "Still I...I just wanted to let you know I am glad you took my invitation. And I am grateful."

"Otherwise I would have probably declined Hamuko-san on text itself."

[dollmaxing]

"I understand, parties are quite obnoxious to attend when you're going primarily by yourself," Ichinose agreed, rolling her eyes a bit.

So many celebratory parties for work and success in her field... so often trying to ingratiate herself with her peers and struggling. UGH.

"This has been fun. You've been great company."

[takutomaruki]

"..!"

Maruki chuckled awkwardly. "That's not...um." Right, with his suspicions this was to be expected. "A--ah, well...thank you. Coming from you it means a lot."

"...but I like going to parties. The faculty in Shujin Academy used to host a lot of mixers that I attended with other teachers- I enjoyed them for the most part. Even if I did go slightly overboard."

He takes a swig of his third strike, as if adding onto that point.

"But I like hanging out with you. Half of what I would have said here would have just made me an...out of touch ex-counsellor spewing about feelings if I came here alone."

[dollmaxing]

"Oh, I always hated mixers!" Ichinose laughed, easily remembering how often people got uncomfortable around her - didn't matter if she was completely sober or not. "But you're affable, sensitive - you're good at sensing where someone wants to take a conversation, aren't you?"

Not like her. God, she tried. She did her god damn best. Friendly, trying to focus on what she knows...

H-hey... she's just goin' on and on...

Does she even notice us talking right now?

Ah, right, right.

"AND! You don't let me run you over in the conversation. You would've been fiiiine. But I'm glad you invited me anyway. I get to eat and drink like crazy and enjoy the weather before it becomes sweltering."

[takutomaruki]

For a moment he's stunned silent, hushed by her words as he blinks at her when she offers her opinion of him. His chest warms up a little as his lips ease into a melting smile, as if simply hearing that dispelled an invisible weight of his shoulder.

"I am nothing special really, I have just been trained to allow someone else to open upto me if they wish," he shakes his head. Judging from this place's mixed reviews...he had no idea what was right to hear at all now. "Hazard of the occupation I suppose. I do enjoy talking to you."

He's been told he's a good listener too, so there's that.

"Sweltering...ah yes, I am glad this party is happening before May. Could you imagine the heat? Everyone will have to drop their layers." He shook his head. "Still...yeah, that's good. Staying cooped up in the lab wouldn't have improved our situation."

He goes for the bottle anyway, pours himself his fourth glass before holding it out for her, should she wish to accept it.
"I support you in these endeavours. Even if I feel like I will heavily regret it the next morning...which is why hydration will be helpful."

He glances to the side still, a bit obvious but that is only seeing that Wolf had most of his attention on Akane and Hamuko.

"If it weren’t for this party, which other location would you like to visit here?"

[dollmaxing]

"Don't take your conversational skills for granted!"

Honestly!! Ichinose gladly took up the offer for the next pour, fully intended on getting plastered. She only ever drank at parties, after all.

"Here in the park? I've been here plenty of times. Or anywhere else, well, hmm..." she pondered the question, drinking some more. She was getting pretty unsteady - she ought to eat some more soon. "Some of the other towns might be fun to have a little trip exploring. Those places in the 'past', even. I could find some clunky old tech - wouldn't that be fun! Get an old PC before the cream-white plastic yellowed with age... ooh, it might be fun to build myself a PC in one of those clunky old cases. That would be a funny little project..."

[takutomaruki]

Maruki laughed at the sort of half-drawn comment. She's really saying that...when all he does is put up a front. He pours out some more sake, humming as he settles his legs to a more relaxed cross-legged position.

His shoulders had grown far laxer as he proceeded to take in small gulps of the liquor, cheeks blushing.
"Like a little trip to memory lane...given that most of those areas are relevant to our times."

Her birthday was coming up next month...maybe he could show her around in one of the internet cafes he used to visit in Mikage-cho?

[dollmaxing]

"Back to appreciating the roots! There's a sort of fun thought I've had recently - do you know the concept of 'retro-futurism'? It's looking back at how those in the past imagined what our future technology would be! Typically the term is referring to some time in the fifties, especially in the west, but it had me thinking when I got here and we could go into areas that are several decades in the past--"

The more drunk Ichinose got, the more quickly and giddily she chattered, too intoxicated to pay attention to whether or not she was overwhelming her conversation partner.

"Since we're in a cognitive space - there may be some degree where we could make some of the fantastical technologies of the past, maybe? If we aren't too poisoned by the knowledge of the current state of technology, that is. Imagine if we could pull off creating the space exploration tech in all of those old illustrations, and bring them back to the real world still functional!"

[takutomaruki]

Retro-futurism?

There was a lot that was mentioned and really, if Maruki was sober he may have caught on every detail to the T but after getting slightly tipsy like this, he could only nod intently and hope he didn't just agree on something controversial. Those in the past imagining how future technology would be like...to study the growth of technology and the need for it to cover every human need possible.

He tried to keep up with her pace anyway, digging into his bag after another swig that they both just ingested equal amounts of alcohol but Maruki clearly looked like he didn't mind keep going.

"Well, if this place really does follow belief as its operating system… then theoretically... yes. I suppose we could recreate those old predictions. Say, a city run entirely by vacuum tubes and punch cards? And to sell the effect we involve something like cognitive dress codes. You’d have to wear a lab coat to operate it. No exceptions. The computer refuses to function otherwise."

[dollmaxing]

"Hahah! How easy it'd be to get in with just a costume, though - did you know that there's been studies on how simply wearing a lab coat or holding a ladder will trick people into granting access to areas that are off-limits to people that should not be there? The sheer confidence of the approach and the signifiers are a thief's perfect tools!"

Ichinose laaaaughed and laughed, like she'd brought up the funniest joke.

"Say - when the Phantom Thieves were gaining popularity, did you also end up watching a bunch of spy thrillers? Oh, and heist films! I had about two months where I went all in on those and I always wondered how much that sort of mythical gentleman thief swagger was what carried the Phantom Thieves through their missions and made them so successful. We culturally accept the concept that thieves are so clever and creative and even powerful in a way - thus maybe our belief in the Phantom Thieves gave them the ability to act the way they could, even before we were aware of the group in the news properly."

She really was bouncing from one thought to another, completely oblivious to the people around her, to the fact that Hamuko had stepped off the stage to grab a drink and some more sushi, that the Hasegawas were still nearby. No, she was drunk and having fun without a care in the world.

[takutomaruki]

And so she continued, rambling and explaining over and over as he nods, attentively listening believe it or not. Even with the words bleeding, he placed two and two together with his overall understanding on the topics she discussed. Ah, didn't Kira sneak into his laboratory by stealing the labcoat from one of the shadows there? He had almost made it out too, if it weren't for one of the higher ranking officials to catch him in the act. Maruki wished he could say that he would have had him in his palace for any other setting.

"I did watch spy thrillers when I made it here...back home, I didn't have the time," he offers just as Ichinose launches on a quick rant again. He chuckles, resting his chin on the inside of his palm as he sets the choco down. Humming along. Films influencing the swagger that the phantom thieves carried..."Books, films, anime... I suppose they would have a lot of influence in the way cognition presents itself. Media manipulates the public after all."

"Makes you wonder how much of said extraordinary acts and events that barely hold any sort of explanation might very well be explained through cognitive phenomenon."

He digs into his bag and pulls out a small pocket snack. Happy pop... derived from roasted sweet potato- they were like little puff balls about a minute size. He pulled open the packaging. Normally he would be up and try to have something else like the variety of sushi offered here but he had his decent fill earlier...and he could hear Ichinose out for a few more minutes before he decides to wander off on his own.

His mind is a little hazy from the liquor and it makes it easier to forget...other little details. The other mutual problems he now shared as the Hasegawas talked amongst themselves. There was a lingering smile on the older man's face as his daughter talked away...the sight did put him at ease a little.

"Want some?" He holds it out for her, mid-rant.

[dollmaxing]

Rant successfully derailed, Ichinose looked down at the snacks and laughed a little.

"Brought your own snacks when there's so many food stalls here? You really are a snack enthusiast!" she teased, though despite the jab she still fished out a few bites of happy pop and munched on them. Hmm... salty snack didn't go well with sake, not really, it would've been better with a beer.

"We should get some dango. That's the thing to be eating with sake under the cherry blossoms! Oh, you know, if I'm going to stand in line there, I may as well get some for Morning, too," she rattled off her thought, going to stand and struggling a bit between the yukata and her sheer drunkenness.

[takutomaruki]

"Heh...I wasn't sure if we want to start chowing down right away- sometimes snacks itself can build your appetite," he chuckles as he tosses the happy pop up and watches as the snack slips off his mouth. "...Ahaha..!" he rubs the back of his head, drunk out of his mind as he tries to recover himself by tossing up one more and this time- he does catch it-! He proudly holds the happy pop between his teeth all too proudly like a circus act nailed on first try before happily nibbling on the last bit.

When Ichinose mentions dango he hums along, considering that option before his attention goes to how Ichinose tries to stand up and horribly struggles to recover herself. Maruki's attention is immediate as he scrambles to get up, nearly trips over his own Yukata before getting to gently grasp her hand and haul both of them. Given the height advantage and the fact that he wasn't as drunk as her, he managed to place a hand to the side.

"You're...you're going to hurt yourself if you get up that fast," he tries and remembers his hand on her waist as he quickly pulls it away. "A-ah, sorry- okay, wear my sandals atleast. You look like you are going to trip any second on the geta."

He vaguely looks down at his half open snack now fallen to the floor. "Aw.."

[dollmaxing]

If she noticed anything about the hand on her hip, she didn't say anything - she just got steady as she could now that she was upright, chuckling to herself and looking down at the forsaken snacks.

"Uh oh. Man down! I think it's not beyond hope, though," she hummed, keeping her hold of his hand so she kept her balance to lean down and scoop the snacks off the blanket, salvaging what was left in the package.

"I haven't been this drunk in years!"

[takutomaruki]

Well Maruki was just about to let go but it seems she needed that support regardless so he obliged and took to helping her out until she needed the distance. His heart melted at the touch, her hand was warm. The way she said Uh oh shouldn't have made him giggle but it did, eyes half lidded as a wide grin showed on his face. It's when he sees her lean down that his eyebrows hike up behind his now slightly askew. "No- no, it's alright you don't need to..."

Nevermind him, she was going to make sure his snacks were saved from peril. "...thank you," he continued softly as he accepts the package from her and bunches up the top with one hand, sealing it away as he shoved it into his open bag.

Her proclamation only further made him move his hand up to her shoulder- giving her a moment (or giving himself a moment given how fast he got up when he really shouldn't have) to stabalize herself. "Years?! I suppose that makes one of us-" he opens with a self-deprecating smile. "I go...go way too overboard on my end." He shakes his head as he pushes past his own sluriness.

"You mentioned dango, right? Some food in between will be good. Food and water will be good." Then pushes slightly as he leans in, making note of the blush on her cheeks. "You okay holding on like this?"

[dollmaxing]

"I only ever drank like this in good company! Otherwise it was a glass or two at celebratory parties. Getting drunk by myself just makes it harder to work or do any of my hobbies," she laughed lightly.

She looked down to her feet to slip out of the geta, waiting for the sandals he brought.

"Sure am. Some food will get me back to stable. I'm a lot less practiced moving in a yukata, haha."

[takutomaruki]

Ichinose’s quick and casual explanation left him smiling away an easy smile- almost lazy as his eyes creased at the end.

"I suppose we can let ourselves go then, for the night." And he meant those words. Get a little drunk...figure things out from there, let himself relax and allow Morning to get along with others...it was a good plan.

If she was okay holding on then sure. They will eventually seperate to get food, just need to let her stomach the alcohol till they get there.

"A scientist not having experience wearing traditional clothing, eh?" He teases as he bumps his shoulder against hers playfully.

"I love wearing Yukatas- for occasions, for festivals, for parties...though I only ever manage to wear the same design every year. Don't have a lot of money saved up back home and really, I do quite the fascinating job of making sure that little hole in my cloth around the lower areas is perfectly concealed," he shook his head as he noticed that she got her feet out- signaling

He pushes the slippers towards her direction, letting her wear it in peace.
A smirk graces his face. "We can steer clear from ponds...if there's too much risk."

[dollmaxing]

Carefully, she stepped out of her geta and slid into the slippers, laughing at how oversized they were compared to her feet. Hopefully they didn't get her tripping just as much.

"They're fun! But wearing it right means it's snug around my legs, I'm so used to pants. I wonder if the one I had from when I was younger would still fit? Hmm. Whatever, this one is really cute, I've never worn one that's got such a dark pattern or such a nice blue, I really like it, I think I'll keep it," she rambled, looking over herself. Despite the drunken stumbling, she had managed not to undo her obi or spill anything on the fabric.

"Paddling on the boat might be fun, though! I'll drag Morning along if you don't want to. He'll have a blast."