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

[righteyed]

...I am glad that Sarutobi took care of you. I knew that I could trust him. And I am also glad that you could return home, but...

Mitsunari here is more than a headache, yes. A callous, single-minded, empty monster would be more like it.

[Kojuro gets that familiar thousand-yard stare, before realising something and stopping short to look at Masamune very, very seriously. This...This isn't right, is it. Especially mentioning Mitsunari...A thousand different scenarios run through his mind, none of them good.] What have you seen? You have not met him here, have you? If you see him here, you are not to engage him whatsoever.

I do not care about your pride, Masamune. You are not to approach him. I will not lose you! [There's open fear in his words, painted on his face; he's seeing all that blood again, Masamune's body ragdolling in the air from each precise slash too fast to truly look for. He couldn't let this child, his precious child, be hurt like that.]

[powerhittou]

[This is the part where he'd normally scoff at the concern, deeming it completely stupid and unnecessary, maybe even go seek out Mitsunari explicitly because he was told not to - part of him still does want to honestly - but for once it's surprisingly easy to soothe that savage beast within him. He stares Kojuro in the eye, knowing but not really wanting to fully comprehend the sheer horror on his face. Fear rooted deep in the heart of the man who so matter-of-factly told Masamune about the lives lost to his true lord's failings, who struck a man down and didn't spare the still-warm body another thought, who faithfully followed him to the Devil King's lair.

What the hell is the Mitsunari here like to inspire that kind of terror?

(And does everyone at his school have another life here? Cripes.)]

...Don't worry, I ain't wasting my time on him if I see him around. Nobody in their right mind would invite that weirdo to a party anyway.

[Come to think of it, didn't even the one in his timeline straight-up try to kill Ieyasu at the election itself? ...There was a lot going on that day.

He swallows and shoves his hands into his pockets, rocking back and forth on his feet. How many times will Kojuro traumatize this poor bastard? Current count is 3. But he shrugs, because it's fine and he's fine and nothing's going to change that just because there's more murder going on than he's used to. Not here, though. Everyone seems to be having a good time and that's comforting, at least. ]

Not like I gotta worry if you're here, right?

[righteyed]

...Of course not. You are safe here, and a good half of the attendees would fight for you, if I should fall at the first pass. There is no better place to return.

[And like that, relief floods back onto Kojuro's face, sweeps all of his fear and anger away until all that's left is that same old paternal adoration and the glow of lanterns. Look, he doesn't mean to traumatise Masamune, naturally; it's just so intrinsic to him, to them, that he simply can't separate the concepts of Hittou and Fighting For His Life And Freedom. (And even if this Masamune has more peace, thankfully, he still knows that there must have been some trauma. What's a little murder in the face of maternal rejection?)

The point will always remain, though. This is now his Masamune too, and even though Kojuro can't keep from hurling dead bodies at him or saying dumb shit as advice, he would still absolutely die for him if Mitsunari ever so much as looked at him. And he will absolutely close the distance between them once more, expression softening yet again at the sight of that clear unease and hands stretching out to squeeze his shoulders.]

I feel as though you have grown, since I saw you. I wish that I could take a selfie with this you as well, and compare my old ones, but I am sure of this all the same...Wait a moment, however. I would do something with you and make up for lost time. [Kojuro 'Party Nipple' Katakura is now looking for a Cool Stick on the ground. Damn bitch u ok???]

[powerhittou]

Oi, you're getting all mushy again...

[Kojuro does mean that he's gotten taller, right? Maturity's probably fine too but not at all Masamune's top priority. Not now, not ever.

But he's the one who feels like a proud mom, listening to Kojuro talk about selfies like one of his fellow kids. His phone doesn't get any reception here, STRANGELY ENOUGH, but the camera should still work... Even if only one of them can keep it, Kojuro can at least get a good long look at it to sear the picture into his memory.

Masamune pats his pockets while he watches... whatever Kojuro is doing.]

You drop something, old man?

[righteyed]

Call me 'old man' again and I will flog you with this.

['This' being the cool stick he indeed just picked up. Thick enough that it should be able to take a few hits, but not a log, so he can still swing it. Look, I don't care about stick logistics right now. The fact is that he's pointing it at Masamune now, chin jerked back and challenge clear on his face.]

I never got around to getting you to teach me how to play. And I have blades here, if you are still interested--

Did you forget something, my lord? [The stick gets pointed at those pockets. wyd buddy.]