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]

"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."

[takutomaruki]

"It's a good colour on you," he comments easily, already getting used to her ramblings. Really it was nice to hear people talk about their likes and dislikes, open their hearts to him and give him the opportunity to learn and grow out his perspective.

That said, the mention of the paddle boats makes him give a pause, mind still influenced under alcohol as he turns to squint at her. "Why would I not want to?"

[dollmaxing]

"Maybe you'd find it dull? I don't know," she shrugs, walking ahead to one of the tables with stacked plates and napkins, picking out a plate. "I know it's polite to offer an out, if you get tired of being glued to my hip all night."

[takutomaruki]

Heh, that's a funny conclusion to make. Here he thought that she was just being polite considering that she caught that little detail of him bringing a date here (ah if only it was just a date) and got subjected to the curse of the swan. Who knows?

As Ichinose picks up a plate, Maruki let's go of her hand.

"I just...we could get in trouble, maybe?" He raises a brow as he picks up a plate- letting the hum of alcohol carry in his system. "Late night where you can barely make out anything in the water, slightly intoxicated, peddling in the middle of a river-" he looks on ahead as he places a set of napkins under the plate- held between his left index and middle finger. "It's utterly reckless."

[dollmaxing]

"It sure is - but imagine getting a look at the lanterns and cherry blossoms out now from the view of the water!" Ichinose laughed, apparently unbothered by possible danger. At least, the danger of the river didn't worry her.

"And getting food in me first anyway, I ought to sober up plenty to be able to swim if we capsize! Not that I think those boats can capsize anyway."

next up will be the alpha wolf's cameo...

[takutomaruki]

Maruki could imagine it alright. It already looked wonderful from simply standing here, looking past the bright cherry blossoms that had transitioned to colours of light green to yellow in some spots- a clear sign of summer peeking in through the months of spring.

The danger of the river definitely worried him, unlike her. Even if they could come back to life in a place like this- what a way it would be to sour the whole evening, won't it?

"I would rather not bet on their ability to flip over tonight," he chuckles dryly. "Besides that- I will make sure to throw a snack at you just in case of peril." He teases as he elbows her lightly before moving past her to grab the rest of the offered food; walking up to all the chefs in the food trucks. Turns out he's still starving from the previous round-!

[dollmaxing]

Time to stack the plate!! Dango and taiyaki, but savory treats like takoyaki and yakitori! And hmm, there's still some room on the plate... after making the rounds and chatting with Maruki all the way, Ichinose made her way to the sushi table again. Time to go get some yellowtail and eel...!!

[unit_8910_wolf]

Alas while Maruki was busy talking away with one of the chefs administrating behind the counters of their food trucks, the lines of sushi were the main source of attraction for the residents. And for good reason.

Zenkichi loved sushi.

He treated himself to some once he made it here but it was obvious that the sudden change in diet had made his stomach...more than upset. Coughing up the microbots from his mouth as they scrambled to fix the sudden onslaught of actual food entering his system. After that system, food had been the last thing in his mind to treat himself with. Then came Akane's new form...

Hamuko had lulled him in alright. He had already downed 7 plates in and now that his body was used to having natural foods, it was easier to simply savour the sushi for what it was worth rather than recognizing its weight or how small it felt in his hand- now bare with its augmented parts of metal melting with the flesh. He subtly licked at the vinegared rice on his index. Now that's the stuff. He grinned as he looked at his last target, the Yellowtail Nigiri as he grabs it and is just about to eat it until-!

He stops, eyes widening behind his mask. His towering stature making the white yukata sway away as he locked eyes with none other than- KUON ICHINOSE of course! Why WON'T she be here?

He glares at her, holding the last piece of sushi in his hand.

[dollmaxing]

Massive size or not, Ichinose had reached for the last yellowtail piece and flinched back when she saw that massive, half-metal hand. Well. There goes the last of the yellowtail... she isn't about to fight him over it, even if she's glowering and doesn't realize.

1/2

[unit_8910_wolf]

Zenkichi levels her a look, carefully marking his claim on the sushi as he pauses- letting her have a moment to simply watch him as he takes the last sushi right before her eyes.

Huh...

2/2

[unit_8910_wolf]

Nevermind this- this is good.

Therapeutic even.

He maintains eye-contact as he eats away the last Nigiri, a canine poking out from the corner of his mouth just enough to give away the fact that he was grinning ear to ear.

[dollmaxing]

What are you, a child?

The comment goes unsaid, but the stink-eye is fierce. She turned away from him and moved further down the table, going to find and pick out the eel pieces instead.

[unit_8910_wolf]

Zenkichi savored the last chew of the yellowtail like it was fine wine, swallowing it down with a satisfied, exaggerated "ahhh."

Still watching her.

The stink-eye Ichinose threw over her shoulder was... new.
Not the stiff little poker face he'd gotten used to back in their wrecked world—no, this one had real bite.

Real heat.

Interesting.

He narrowed his eyes behind his visor, grinning like a wolf. So that's how it is now, huh?
For someone who’d once been little more than a walking mannequin full of tech jargon, this was... almost refreshing. Almost.

He followed her down the table, deliberately slow, finishing the last bits of yellowtail with lazy, theatrical licks of his fingers. Just to be extra. Just to make sure she noticed.

And when she reached for the next platter-
-some neat little display of glossy, glistening eel sushi-
-Zenkichi casually, with one hand, with absolute ease, snatched the entire plate off the table and balanced it on his palm.

Didn’t even break stride.

Held it up like a waiter in some fancy restaurant, smirking down at her from his damn six-foot frame.
The white of his yukata rippled as he shifted weight onto one foot, plate steady, like this was normal behavior for him.

"Whoops," Zenkichi said, deadpan. "Guess this one’s under new management."

He popped another piece into his mouth, chewing with deliberate, obnoxious slowness as he watched how she reacted.
Eyes half-lidded. Casual. Daring her.

[dollmaxing]

"Are you a child? That is so pathetically petty," she scorned. The audacity! Just because he can't cause a scene and shoot her, here, isn't it?

"Are you so obsessed that you'll punish me for ever expressing anything but supplication?"

[unit_8910_wolf]

Zenkichi didn’t answer at first.

He just watched her-
Cool and level, with that same lazy, unbearable patience a cat reserves for a bird too stupid to realize it's being hunted.

He plucked another piece of sushi off the plate, popped it into his mouth, and chewed on it. Teeth clacking.

Her accusations hung in the air.
"Obsessed."
Horrifying.

He finished chewing, wiped his fingers delicately on a pink napkin that Akane had told him to pin to the holster of his gun still strapped over his shoulder like he had all the time in the world, and muttered under his breath with a scoff:

"Didn’t know dolls could eat, honestly."

Sharp, sardonic.
But his next words—those dropped a little heavier.

Zenkichi shifted the plate to his other hand, rolling his shoulder slightly to stretch it out.

"Obsessed?" he repeated, finally looking down at her properly. “Hate to burst your delusion bubble, lady, but I'm not that generous.”

He gave a small, sharp tilt of his head, almost a shrug.

"I'm just watching. Figured I'd see what you do, now that you’re not hiding behind a god complex and a lab coat."

[dollmaxing]

Her expression leveled out as she watched that hand get uncomfortably close to the holster - but even as the expression dropped, she stepped back, as if she could've gotten away if he actually bothered to pull his gun.

Damn it.

"A god complex."

Was that referring to her? To Maruki? It could've meant either of them. But she wasn't really willing to pick a wager.

"Whatever. A sadist like you has to find a more socially appropriate way to be an asshole in a party like this."

[unit_8910_wolf]

For a second, Zenkichi actually blinked-caught off guard. His brows lifted in something between disbelief and exhausted amusement.

"I’m... what now?"
The words slipped out low and incredulous.

Sadist.
Right.
Still clinging to that one, huh?
As if a warning shot close enough to rattle her nerves counted as real cruelty.
God, she was dramatic. He’d seen people do worse to each other over snacks back in the camps.

He gave a short, humorless laugh under his breath, "Calm the hell down, would you? Seriously—" he said, voice loosening back into something almost casual. "If I wanted to shoot you, you wouldn't still be standing here arguing about it."

He let that hang a second, flashing a lopsided, sharp-edged smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"And anyway," he added, tone a little lighter-mock-affable in the way only a man used to arguing in public could manage, "close quarters ain't exactly the best place for fireworks. Pretty sure the kids here don’t deserve to spend the night dodging stray bullets just ‘cause you’re a sore loser."

"That said—"
Zenkichi tipped the plate slightly toward her, balancing it one-handed with that same cocky grace. "If you really wanna escalate, hey, I’m sure everyone here would love to watch a man wrestle a crocodile in a yukata."

[dollmaxing]

"You are twice my size and have cybernetic implants. I'm not stupid. Regular self defense classes aren't going to get me anywhere," she replied, eyeing the plate skeptically.

As if he didn't know she was from a time that was peaceful, all things considered. And she fully intended to keep it that way.

No, she'll give up on the eel and start plucking some tuna pieces for herself before he can snag those, too. Ass.

[unit_8910_wolf]

Zenkichi’s grin twitched. Twitched—and then collapsed into a scowl so fast it could’ve given someone whiplash.

He glowered at her, dark and unblinking, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

"Yeah?"
His voice dropped low, ragged around the edges.

"And whose damn fault d'you think that is, huh?"

His free hand flexed absently at his side—the one that still bore faint traces of the metal threading under the skin.

[dollmaxing]

"Someone with my name, my face, some of my history - but who isn't me. That and this Kirijo Group making questionable at best tactical decisions," Ichinose answered flatly, a wry smile on her face. She spotted a familiar face nearby - so she gave him a fake as fuck smile.