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

[fogboundcrow]

"Most people wouldn't." Still, a sheepish smile pulls at his lips. "I'm just used to trying to be perfect. I wanted to excel, to be seen and needed... I won't say it's healthy, but it's a force of habit that's hard to discard."

Crow is proof of that.

[gorobo]

"Well..."

Falcon pauses, trying to find the right words. He visibly struggles for a moment, before clearly going 'fuck it'.

"You don't have to be. Not around me, at least," he says. "Even if I'm... like this-" an asshole. Jealous. Easily angered and anxious, and just kind of a bitch in general, "-it's preferable to pretending that you can just do and be everything all the time."

[fogboundcrow]

"For what it's worth, I'd much rather you be yourself than pretend to be someone else." Not to mention, Magpie can be abrasive, too. It's not like it's anything new, really. "It's just a force of habit. And... well, I suppose I've also changed over time."

[gorobo]

"I'm... trying not to pretend anymore," Falcon agrees, looking at the petals flowing in the wind. Those words... he looks contemplative. "Change... it's very human."

There's a small frown on his face as he says it, and he pauses, thinking. As a machine, he can't physically change. Not unless someone does it for him- replacing pieces of himself with something else.

Would that still be him? Is he still the same as he was when mother made him?

Of course not. But is that a bad thing? Hereward hums, after all... we're not even close to what we were when we were first made, mentally, are we?

And this, too, is all thanks to the people around him. Good, bad... a little piece of everyone.

"... If I can change, as a machine, then I'm human, too," he determines in the end. It's something he already knew, but... it feels good to say it again. Even if it feels a bit like a lie, still, but Hereward harrumphs with satisfaction, so it must count for something.

Despite his earlier frown, his lips twitch upwards a little- indeed, is that a small smile?

"Thank you, Raven."

[fogboundcrow]

"I'm glad you found an answer for yourself." His smile's small, his voice oddly timid, but it's good to hear Falcon come to a comfortable conclusion. "I've known other beings that weren't technically human, but still developed a sense of humanity. There's Shiro, of course, but Teddie as well. Morgana-kun also comes to mind..."

So perhaps 'human' shouldn't be used so literally... It's so limiting that way.

[gorobo]

And yet, it is the word Falcon has fixated on. Humanity, or his lack thereof-- it is what has defined him as a being for so long. His personhood practically hinges on it, in his mind.

He's not human, but he is, in his soul. A machine with a human soul.

As for the ones Raven mentions... well, he knows Shiro, and he somewhat knows Morgana. Teddie, however, he doesn't know at all personally, but it hardly matters.

"Yet, they're different from how I was made," he points out.

[fogboundcrow]

"Does it particularly matter?" It's not a particularly forceful respond, though he does raise his eyebrow and cock his head slightly to the side. "Different beings of different origins, all arriving to a similar conclusion... Surely that only reinforces your own humanity."

[gorobo]

"... No," he murmurs, "I suppose it doesn't matter, in the end."

[fogboundcrow]

"But you do matter, and I hope it's easier for you to grasp that now." After all, so many people cared.

Raven would have been there, too, but he already made that clear.

[gorobo]

"Despite my misgivings... I suppose it is."

It's still hard to think about, but with Hereward, and with so many people coming out to-- fuck, help him, a machine with a human soul... perhaps he can start to believe it. Just a little.