YEAR OF THE TIGERDRAGON

[vengaboy]

No matter what language you speak, no matter what country or universe you reside in, a mysterious letter has found its way to you. Those who can read it will recognize it as an ornately scripted Japanese new year's invitation; those who don't might not even know these elaborate squiggles mean anything at all. Either way, when you look up from the neatly folded paper, you're probably nowhere near home anymore.

Where is this?! When is this?! Welcome to Japan as it was kinda, sorta, just shy of the year 1600, esteemed guests! If it somehow feels like it isn't even the right month anymore, that's because local time and date is still on the lunar system. It's fine. New Year's parties are New Year's parties.

And those parties mean alcohol! Music! Dancing! Feasting! Don't be shy! There are a number of attendants in colourful livery nearby, eagerly expecting an influx of new guests. They're all friendly enough, but they don't seem to bear the crest of any particular clan and sharp-eyed visitors may catch the briefest glimpse of a striped fluffy tail or a foxy grin... or is it a trick of the light? If you want nothing to do with any of this, they might pout a little but will send you home without any problem. But if you choose to follow them beyond the gates, get ready for one hell of a night. The only kind of explanation you get for what's going on is that the Takeda and Date clans have set aside their rivalries for a night of PEACE AND PARTY and everyone's invited. What does that mean? Go find out for yourself.

Of course folks from all over have been invited to this thing, but outnumbering the other guests by far are a bunch of rowdy samurai types, some in their armour, many in more formal robes, several proudly bearing banners of red or blue. Nobody appears to have any weapons on them, but if any guest takes that as an opportunity to start some shit they're going to be swarmed in like two seconds, so... maybe don't do that. However! There is plenty of space outside to spar in, if that's your thing! Or you can stay inside and drink, eat, enjoy the music, exchange raunchy stories, be an awkward wallflower, drink some more, witness some weird and kind of horrific family bonding, watch the unique display of gun- and canonfire alongside the fireworks, explore the scenic countryside outside of the compound, listen to some smug asshole in an eyepatch and some kid in red scream really loud at eachother, get playfully bullied into taking part in a ceremony you know nothing about, drain a bottle or two, flirt with famous historical figures, or... whatever you want!

All fandoms, all mediums, AUs, doubles, OCs, etc are all fair play here! Invite your friends! Invite your dog! Go nuts! Just slap a warning up if any threads take a particularly violent or sexy turn. Or both. I ain't judging.

LET'S PARTY!

Comments

[synastries]

Oh no... Even my darts can't reach that high.

[ She's about to cry. If only she could jump that high, like jumping from ship to ship. ]

1/3

[synastries]

Passionate, spirited, long and short hair....

[ That all sounds very familiar, and all she knows from Sasuke is that whoever it is they're in their school. And it almost sounds like Azai Nagamasa, but that can't be him could it? She can't recall if she ever seen him without his weird hat. Plus she's not sure if Sasuke is willing to subject himself to Oichi's sorrow. And her strange spirit powers.

Wait isn't Sasuke part of the soccer team besides the newspaper club-- ]

[synastries]

[ Oh.




OH................



WHAT A TWIST. ]

3/3

[synastries]

[ ... Not really, she should've have seen it coming and she's an oracle for goodness sake.

Who would have thought an older boy could blush and stammer like that, it's kind of cute. Like looking at Yumekichi or hiding monkeys at a zoo kind of cute. She just restrain the urge to coo at the contrasting moe Sasuke has comparing to his usual self. Even though it's not really much of a gap moe, but it's still a category of cute.

Every shred of composure to her smile is gone however, all's left is excitement and the need for this reading to go on. ]

What, oh no-- we could continue somewhere quiet if you'd like! I'm really getting the energy of this reading. It'd be a waste to end it here!

[ The loud protests around her falls on deaf ears, she doesn't care she's being bias. Please her crops are dying, she needs more of this tea. ]

[shinbunshinobi]

[ Again, only a year older. They don't get handed all the answers to life when you reach your second year in high school. And he's not moe! Yes, he is. ]

N-NO! I'm okay! I'll be fine without knowing!

[ Energy be damned. He's now thinking he made a huge mistake opening his mouth. Stupid stupid stupid!

She may have to grab him by the wrist and drag him because he just wants to dash away and hide in some convenient shadow. ]

[shinbunshinobi]

[ No! No Tsuru tears! Those are not allowed.

Sasuke whistles, and a crow who decided to decorate himself for the party swoops down and lands on Sasuke's hand. ]

Mr. Tori, try to find Kotaro and report back to me.

[ With a caw, crow flies off with his mission.

Yes, Sasuke's crow is named "Mr. Tori" or essentially Mr. Bird. Sasuke never said he was good at naming things. ]

[synastries]

[ It's hard to think otherwise, everything in her world is still fresh and new, and surely it'll make better sense when you're settled in your second year? Tsuruhime has yet to get rid of expectations of an exciting high school life. Unfortunately for Sasuke however, she's been trying to catch Wing of Twilight for a whole semester that she manages to grab his arm faster, along with a grip you would expect from someone who practices archery. ]

Please allow me to continue reading your fortune. I'll make sure that your privacy is well-respected, senpai.★

[ As much as it's worded as a request, she's already dragging him to a private room. She turns to her disappointed crowd for one last announcement. ]

I'm sorry, public readings will take a short break. This is a dire emergency.

[ When they're out of earshot, her tone is more gentle than normal; ]

I mean it you know, I know this is a sensitive topic for you, Saru-oniisan.

[gatescostmoney]

Huh. News of your departure must not have reached my men yet. My apologies.

[ He'll have to look into this more. He doesn't like not being in the know of changes in alliances such as this. Sasuke feels a slight tension headache coming on. Among everything else he has going on in running an army, gaps in intelligence can spell disaster for the Takeda... and Yukimura. Especially Yukimura.

This is exactly why said Yukimura is so adamant on Sasuke enjoying the party. Sasuke will bury himself in work if left unchecked. He gives a sigh.

He's only "well" in the sense that he's alive and breathing still. Red routes suck. Blue routes are where the parties happen. ]

No harm will befall you here. Though I suppose if you're no longer with the Western Army, you're with the Eastern Army now. They'd intervene just as much as the Takeda would.

[gatescostmoney]

That's exactly what I would like to know. Your first reaction to me makes a lot more sense now that I've seen him.

[ Sasuke shoots a glare at that version of himself, who's yelling who knows what and turning redder than Yukimura's headband. What went wrong here? How is he the only one that... They share similar appearances and a name, but Sasuke can't fathom how they are supposed to be related. He's loud, emotional, scrawny, unarmed... ]

How is he supposed to be me? Can he do anything I can do?

[ Most importantly, how is that Sasuke supposed protect Yukimura?! ]

That cannot be a tiger cub's shadow.

1/2

[shinbunshinobi]

[ And there he goes, being dragged away from someone younger than him. How does this keep happening to him? ]

2/2

[shinbunshinobi]

[ Once in the private room, Sasuke slumps to the floor. What a fool he just made of himself. He's... got it bad... He's acting like Kasuga whenever Kenshin's near. How was being conflicted over his feelings easier than this? Because it involves Yukimura, the guy who can get past all his defenses.

Tsuru's gentle voice makes him look up at her. ]

You're not going to let this go, are you?

[belomancy]

Your concerns are much appreciated, but I can hold my own well if it comes to it. I may be an oracle, but I'm also a general of Iyokono.

[ A relatively new one and not to mention armorless right now, but that's totally besides the point. And okay she had the ever wonderful and charming Wing of Twilight protecting her, but she still pulled her own weight. Also, Blue route is dumb because she spends the whole time having a boat race ]

Although I would rather go back to my hometown, it seems there's an agreement to a truce in this party, isn't there? All I have been seeing are loud and drunken men.

[synastries]

[ She feels kind of unsightly for crying while she's wearing such a pretty hakama for the occasion. It's hard to get rid of the tears once they start, even with her blurry vision, she blinks and looks at the bird flying off to the distance.

Being careful not to get the sleeves stained by her tears, she rubs her eyes with the back of her hand. ]

He must still be around...

[ Actually she should use her time to be productive and beat Motochika up. ]

[synastries]

No, because you're pretty awful at it.

[ She means it in the nicest way but it's kind of hard to watch, in all honesty. It's a combination of her own innocence and personal observation, but it feels like Sasuke is punishing himself by denying something possibly wonderful.

Or something concerning if her first assumption is correct. Whereas she had been sitting in a proper seiza with the crowd, she's sitting in a much casual way now that it's just her and Sasuke. ]

But first I have a personal question I need you to answer me.

[synastries]

[ Too bad, she's stepping on his shadow and he's not allowed to go anywhere until she's done scolding him. Also gods Motochika, are you underage drinking. Why. ]

You heard me! He- he ran off because you scared him with your drunken yelling.

[powerhittou]

Hah. Yeah, he's the loudest shadow I've ever seen.

[Now that he's had a little time getting to know the Sasuke in front of him, looking back and forth between them only drives home the fact that these are two completely separate people. Masamune... can actually let himself kinda like this one.

If he doesn't scold him for something that isn't even his fault again.]

I guess he's good at sticking his nose into everybody's business so he's got dirt for his lame newspaper, and he's got pet crows. But normal ones, not shadowy ones. [Abnormally strong ones though jeez.]

.. One time he got pissed enough to punch me in the face which was almost impressive. Buuut other than that he's a coward who hates conflict.

[alloutoflove]

[ It's not that much of a challenge for her compared to a layperson, but she's still testing things first, hmmm. ]

They're boisterous all the time! It just depends on where you go.

[ While it's true enough that her best people are not wild party types, that doesn't extend to the rest of their class. Or her other class of students. ]

So does that mean our host is famous or something?

[alloutoflove]

Eheh, well...

[ She puffs up a little at that, hands on her hips and proud. ]

Doing this sort of hopping around thing is becoming pretty familiar to me! I've been to places a lot wilder than just ancient Japan! Places where most of the population wasn't even human! And even when they were, you might not recognize them as such at first sight.

[ That's taking it too far, surely. Most Japanese teenagers would likely recognize kemonomimi when they saw it. But it sounds cooler, so she goes with that. ]

So after a while, you learn to adapt pretty well! It's like the whim of the gods more than anything else.

lol that makeout bit would bluescreen Oldsuke

[gatescostmoney]

[ Sasuke is willing to give Masamune more slack now that they've gotten to know each other. Also, it's hard not to go easier on a guy who you had help after he consumed too much alcohol because his parental figure vanished without too much of a goodbye. People bond over the strangest things.

Like ragging on the other Sasuke, apparently. ]

Not wanting conflict is one thing, but being a coward who can't stop a conflict is another.

[ Secretly, Sasuke is glad that Mr. Tori exists in his world-time, but that doesn't keep him from being. not. impressed. with that version of himself. ]

[gatescostmoney]

[ But less people die and have lives completely ruined in the Blue Routes. Clearly they are superior to the Red Routes. Although, Sasuke is still broke in Yukimura's Blue Route. RIP

Sasuke looks over the crowd, and while there are a number of samurai enjoying copious, they are behaving themselves. No one's exposing themselves or causing a ruckus. ... Yet. He's heard stories of what the Date Clan can get up to... ]

Loud and drunken men is one way of putting it. Although, there are also children about, so if anyone is acting too improper, try to keep them from getting mentally scarred.

[ He's mostly referring to Benmaru. The teenagers can deal with it. ]

you leave me NO CHOICE

[powerhittou]

Yeah, it's definitely the latter. He only wants the kind he can get a good story out of without actually being part of it.

[Of course Masamune doesn't want a world embroiled in the chaos of war and steeped in despair. But a good scrap makes a man feel alive, and sometimes you just want to settle things with your fists instead of having to set up some dumbass competition! Is that really so bad, Moesuke? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?]

...Hey, uh, just checking-- you ain't ever kissed the other me or anything, right?

1/?

[gatescostmoney]

[ Sasuke is about to reply with another jab on his other self's character when Masamini asks him a question. At first, he doesn't think he heard correctly. ]

2/?

[gatescostmoney]

[ Wait, did he just ask if he ever kissed the Masamune in his own time?! ]

3/?

[gatescostmoney]

[ Sasuke looks back and forth from Masamini to the bright red Sasuke getting dragged off by Tsuruhime. Why would Masamune even ask that question of him when, as far as Sasuke is concerned, they are two very different people...?

Oh.

Oh gods. If that Sasuke is so unlike him, and he hates the Masamune of his time, then could that mean...? ]

4/4

[gatescostmoney]

[ Sasuke doesn't realize it, but a blush is spreading across his cheeks. He looks between the two students again. The only reason that could ever come into context is if they--

He takes a step back, now more confused than ever. ]

I don't even want to think about kissing that snake! Are you telling me you two have?!

[ What the hell?! Is Masamune trying to asking for courting advice?! ]