hotsteamynights | YEAR OF THE TIGERDRAGON

YEAR OF THE TIGERDRAGON

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!

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I would be insulted, but I also know better than to assume that nothing stranger has happened. ...Which makes it a blessing that it is you I have run into, and not some other Yukizome. Though I now know how to have a fantastic conversation with her, at least?

[He bows a little, face already starting to ruddy from the sake and eyes shining with relieved mirth; if nothing else, he knows how much her compliments mean in this arena, has that vague memory of her spine of steel.]

And this would be...Very close to my home, yes. Not Oshuu proper, but a neutral ground between here and Kai; our contingent is quite distinctive, in blue. And...I felt it only right that, since we were invited, I should help to ensure that things ran somewhat smoothly--

Have you eaten! The imoni is a specialty we brought from home, and if Sanada Yukimura has not stolen all of the zundamochi, I recommend those as well. They are probably more rustic than what you are used to, of course, but...They are Oshuu's pride! [AKA please keep telling him he's pretty Chisa, he actually trusts your opinion on this shit.]

[ Chisa's smile only gets wider as he fusses. Oh no. Oh no, this is cute. She has a soft spot a continent wide for big buff scary-faced men who are so concerned with domestics; how can she not be charmed? She squeezes his hands again, laughing. ]

I sampled a little here and there! But I don't know if I saw any of the mochi you mentioned. If it's something you're proud of, though, I definitely wanna! I'll bet they're fantastic.

[ And while she isn't above flattering for the sake of soothing a nervous host's feelings, she likes Kojuro. He reminds her enough of Juzo that her immediate instinct is to project as much sincerity and encouragement as she can. Even the loyal retainer deserves some support!! ]

If you're not too tired, I'd like it if you helped me find some. Ah, we could catch up while we do! I assume a guy like you keeps plenty busy.

[ Tell her about your one-eyed over the top swordsman, she'll tell you about hers, ]

Ah, zundamochi is a specialty of ours! It's likely that you thought it was something else completely, due to the coloration...But I think that the vibrant green stimulates the appetite, personally. And naturally, I would hear of all that I have missed as we search together, though this time...Not by smell. I should be able to track down an attendant with slightly more ease.

[His ears are starting to burn red from all that sincerity and encouragement, but he still returns the hand-squeezes before offering one arm. The attendants would likely track him down soon as see him in the crowd, but if not? Kitchens.

...And it's a chance to show off the grounds, the homeland he knows so well.] I would return any news with my own, but...I'm afraid to say that I have just been performing my typical duties for Lord Masamune. You've seen him, I assume; eyepatch, causing a ruckus, possibly wielding six of anything at any given time? That is...He is why I returned, after all. Even with time stopped in the valley, and so many good things...I could not bear holding my lord still when he is so full of life and energy. I could not leave his side for so long.

[ Tough luck to the attendants, she's got dibs for now. From the way he's talking, she can guess that it would be wiser to not say anything like dibs for the night! but that also makes her smile. It's a familiar feeling, both to experience and to witness. ]

Ahhh, I think I've seen him around, yeah. He seems to be enjoying himself tonight. [ Because almost certainly, a guy like that is having a great time when he's fighting against someone giving their all as well. ] But I know how you feel. Going out for the night is fun, but... no matter how nice a place is, it's not really "home" without the right people.

[ She's done her stints of being without Her People, and she's pretty sure no matter how perfect a place was, it wouldn't be good enough to make up for the lack. ]

Mm, and maybe I'm assuming too much -- you can tell me to shut up if I am! -- but I'm gonna guess he's happier you chose him over anything else.

Good. I'm sure that he would come and whine if he was not, but...That much is still a relief to hear. Though-- Did you bring anyone with you in turn? That you should be alone on a night like this, and I speak of my lord...Seems unfair.

[Hey, she can call dibs all she likes, it just...Won't mean jack shit to anyone. But the silent dib-call is there all the same, whether any of the attendants would call it that, and so they at least have the grace to simply nod at them both as they pass by. Maybe it's something to do with 'getting Katakura-dono out more often and having him socialise with ladies'? MMMMAYBE.

He doesn't notice, either way. Kojuro is, after all, single-minded when he wants to be; why have attendants at all if he must run the whole show?]

I did not tell him about my travels, at any rate. I thought it...Would make things too difficult, to explain, and it did not affect him at all, so it was meaningless. Did you have the same issue, Yukizome? I...You had your close friends with you, in some form; I am just not sure whether they were from your time or another, though your 'home' was with you all the same.

Not tonight! It's a boy's night home, girl's night out.

[ Once upon a time, Chisa would have been incredibly insecure about leaving her loved ones, even for a night. Of course she'd known that both Kyousuke and Juzo had their moments hanging out without her, but with so many things implied and unsaid, that unease had followed her even when intellectually she might have approved.

But hey, the magic of communication can be a powerful thing! So when she tells Kojuro this, her smile doesn't change; if anything, she's more pleased than before. The attendants can make of that what they will. ]

Ah, between the three of us, I'm usually the one who likes parties the most... Sakakura-kun doesn't like big gatherings much at all, and Munakata-kun only really tolerates them if he needs to. But I like people! So I'm here to have some fun, and they can relax. I'll tell them about this later.

[ Though she does hum briefly at the question, tapping her cheek with her free hand. ]

Mm, and I had a similar problem... once. It was kind of weird, even as these things-- [ and here she gestures outwards as if to indicate the party, the random guests, everything ] --go! But what happened was like... ending up in a place like this, and thinking you'd found the "right" people, only to find out that they weren't. They were still Munakata-kun and Sakakura-kun! We recognized each other, we were happy to be reunited... but they were different from ones who'd been through the same experiences with me as before, the exact same.

And then the four of them met. That was probably the weirdest part.

[He listens intently, eyelids lowering to better allow a mental image to form; although he doesn't recall meeting her Husbands, the faceless mannequins he subs in are pretty close in build and stance, at the very least.

There's a soft hum right at the culmination, if only because he's glad he hasn't had to deal with that sort of confusion yet. And maybe because he's glad that someone else understands his feelings regarding other versions of his loved ones. All Masamunes are his, after all; treasured and adored, the lot of them. And hearing that Chisa's had that same feeling means that he doesn't have to feel greedy.]

At least they were...Still yours, if not yours. I understand wholeheartedly how that is, though I cannot imagine having all of them meet at once. I fear that would, perhaps, only make things harder for me whether they got along or not.

[Ah-- none of the servers have zundamochi on their trays, though. Time to head towards the kitchens! A sharp turn, and he cocks his head apologetically.] ...Do you feel spoiled, too? For having them all...And being able to know them all, like this. I think I am the happiest Kojuro alive, in truth.

And I will have some food put into nurimono for them, if you wish. Are they more fond of sweets, or meats?

--Sweets, please!

[ For Juzo, mostly. Kyousuke would also surely appreciate specialty souvenirs of any nature, so those feel like the best bet.

But she also smiles at Kojuro's comments, immediate and reflexive and -- not sympathetic, but definitely understanding. ]

It was pretty difficult for a while. I wouldn't say it ever got easy! But... for me, it was definitely worth it. I know there isn't any other "me" that's ever been happier. Or more spoiled.

It's hard not to feel that way, right? Even when they're the same, they're different, and even when they're different, they're the same. You meet them over and over and it always ends up that way. And you think, I'm definitely being too greedy about this, but also, they're mine.

[ It's more explicitly bold than she usually ever is, but if anyone is going to understand... ]

They're mine, and I'm so lucky that even if the rest of the world can see that, I'm the one who gets to be right there for it.

Some extra zundamochi then, with a helping of dango before Sanada eats them all. Imoni would be harder to transport, at any rate; it's simpler for everyone, as well as just what they'd like. I'll have enough packed to keep them fed for a week at least. [So that'll be enough to require horses to cart it home, naturally. But he doesn't think of that; it's a given that he'll set her up with enough food for a small party at the very least, right? That's the Katakura way.

Besides, he couldn't give her a pittance when she's perhaps the only one who gets the #struggle, friendship aside.] I understand completely, Yukizome. You're only one person, so it's...Hard, sometimes, to manage your resources. But you wouldn't have it any other way, because they're all their own person that you can't help but love all the same. You give because they're the same but not, and that's all that matters...And maybe, if they find another you, they'll take care of them too.

But what matters now is you and them, of course. [Going by the increase of both humidity in the air and the delicious smells, the bustle of people ahead would likely be the kitchen staff they're looking for. Then again, with how they all turn to wave or bow, even holding bowls or knives, that's...Probably obvious.] It's...I am no poet, like my lord. Nor can I get my feelings across quite so well as you do. But it's wonderful all the same, and I'm glad that you know the joys that I do. ...As well as the exhaustion, ha.

[ Cute... She doesn't really bother to hide her smile, though she does lift her sleeve to her mouth briefly. ]

Ahhhh, I don't know about that. It sounds pretty poetic to me!

[ But also she's a gigantic softy and isn't ashamed of that. She likes listening to a confession that's romantic, which is very different from a romantic confession, okay. A soft laugh follows the comment. ]

It can be tiring, yeah. But it's a good tiring! The sort of thing that's worth it, the best way to spend your energy. [ Even at her worst, she'd always been willing to throw everything she had into her relationship with both Kyousuke and Juzo, after all. ] ...Though, aha. I'm not sure I could be as generous as you are about it! I know any other me out there would take care of them, but I'd also be jealous too.

[ She be more of a western-style dragon, jealously guarding her treasure and reluctant to share unless challenged and defeated. ]

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YEAR OF THE TIGERDRAGON

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