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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[ This Sasuke wears a rokumonsen of his own. When he finally returned home ~~after cursing out the Junimo and harvest gods for making him build bonds only to have them break and causing them to go "oh shit we messed up with this one"~~, the strung coins hadn't disappeared. The necklace is only visible because he's dressed in a simple green kimono instead of his usual ninja garb. And truthfully, he's a little self conscious of how this outfit shows some of the scarring along his neck, forearms, and hands. Those are his secrets out in the open. However, he's making an honest attempt to simply enjoy the party as a person instead of a ninja... at least now he is. (Stupid Danna giving him a hard time... Why can't he ever win against him? grumble grumble)

He was on his way to get a fresh pot of green tea when a younger Masamune crosses his path and... waves at him? Sasuke stops in his tracks and stares. Why would a Masamune be bothering with him and doing so without obvious distaste?

Unless... ]

... If I mention Bonten or Katako Farm, would you understand what I mean?

[Bonten Farm was bad enough, but what the hell is- oh. Right. He remembers now, and the circumstances behind the name change are exactly why he's sticking with tea tonight. He grimaces and crosses his arms.]

Wow. If you're just gonna mock me I guess I won't bother thanking you for helping me out after all.

It's called confirming who you're talking to, little One-Eyed Dragon. I didn't think our paths would ever cross again.

[ A genuine smile appears on Sasuke's face. He didn't think he'd be happy to see this brat again. ]

You doing all right back at your place?

You coulda gone with something else!

[Something less embarrassing! Like, um... hm. Come to think of it, all Masamune really did on the farm was get into trouble. Damn it. Not that he's any different at school. Or what was the Academy, anyway... He pulls a face and shrugs one shoulder helplessly.]

Uhh, that's a loaded question. Nobody died? But school's on an extended break since it got completely destroyed. It was crazy.

[He has an excuse not to study for a good long time though. At least there's that.]

Your school got destroyed? I thought your timeline was a relatively peaceful one.

[ Aw, damn. He sounds more concerned than he probably should. But really, he thought that time was safe. What could bring down a school so badly that they can't attend?

Wait... no. He knows exactly what might destroy a building. (Sasuke is also thinking the school is much smaller than it actually is.) ]

... Did you and Master Sanada destroy the school in your fight over the field? Or was it Lord Takeda and Master Sanada fighting that destroyed the school.

[ He pauses. ]

They still fight and yell at each other in your time, right?

[ If they don't, Masamune comes from a completely foreign time that Sasuke can never hope to comprehend. ]

[If there are infinite possibilities and infinite timelines, then that would be one of them. Scary to think. Thankfully, Gakuen is not that timeline.]

Ugh. Yeah, that's the same. "Relatively peaceful" ain't necessarily "quiet," you know...

[Just that people usually aren't slaughtering each other. Usually. But... this party's really nice, huh? Even with the property damage and constant yelling, it's the same peace Masamini is familiar with.

He hums and scans the crowd to see how many almost-familiar faces he can pick out at a glance. Kojuro and Yukimura are the most obvious to him, of course, but Shingen hardly blends in with the crowd either.]

Come to think of it, from what I can tell most of us got a lot in common with you clones, except you. You're some kinda badass ninja but the Sarutobi I know is a real wimp. Just tells people to play games against eachother and then cries when they do it. What's up with that?

[Probably because NOBODY CAN FOLLOW SIMPLE RULES?? #savesasuke

And yes, this is clearly more important than not having a school anymore.]

Edited 2019-01-02 21:14 (UTC)

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.

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.

[ 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. ]

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?

[ 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. ]

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

Edited (typo! /shakes fist at) 2019-01-04 06:27 (UTC)

[ 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...? ]

[ 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?! ]

[Hey, come on, just because it's fun to rag on the other Sasuke doesn't mean we have to go insulting any Masamunes. Their ego is very much the same in any timeline...]

[...Anyway, that's not the issue. The issue is that any relief Masamune was hoping to get out of this very answer ISN'T COMING TO HIM. He did not consider the part where he'd probably have to explain himself.

Shit, what's the quickest way to get this out of the way and never talk about it again?]

[BY MAKING A BEELINE FOR THE NEAREST SAKE BOTTLE.]

[ Sasuke thinks about giving chase because oh hell no is he dealing with another drunk Masamune. But then again, there are a number of Right-Eyes who can do the job and do so better and more willingly.

Sasuke is going to go for his own bottle of sake. God damn Date Clan pushing him to drink. ]

[Hey cheers he'll drink to that, bro.

...And make a sour face on the first big sip. He swallows it anyway, but... no. Do not want a repeat of last time.]

Yecch... Never mind. The only important part is I didn't start any of that shit. Forget everything else. Got it?

[ Sasuke fills a small cup, downs it, ~~avoids coughing from drinking it too fast~~ and fills it up again to sip more slowly. ]

I find that hard to believe. He doesn't have the backbone to do something like that.

[ ie: He still suspects that Masamune is trying to pick up that loser for reasons he can't understand. ]

[It's a good thing Masamune stopped at once sip because he would have scoffed booze all over the floor just now.]

Yeah, okay, hate to break your heart here but wimps like that are a huge turn-off for me, got it? I can't believe I even have to say that... Remember how I said he got pissed enough to punch me once? That was right after he kissed me, so I guess he's got it real bad for me to stoop to that. But it's not. Mutual.

[He only kissed back because he was angry!! It makes sense to lizard brains.]

I just wanted to make sure it wasn't because of some... [He glances aside and waves his hand a bit. YOU KNOW. WEIRD TIMELINE... SPIRIT... ECHOES... or whatever.]

Oh, so the kiss was actually a distraction technique.

[ Is it possible that the younger Sasuke could manage that? Maybe there's hope for that boy yet. Not a complete failure of an alternate self. ]

However to answer your question... No, I never have nor do I have any desire to kiss the One-Eyed Dragon.

[ Unless he needed to use it as some kind of distraction or seduction technique to gain information he couldn't have gotten otherwise, but Sasuke really really really hopes that is never the case. ]

[Hey... wait... It's easier to believe that a coward would want to punch him than just kiss him? What is that supposed to mean?! Masamune's pretty sure that's a jab at his winning personality. But he doesn't want to argue for once, if only because going into any further detail is just going to be at his own expense.

He purses his lips tightly and looks away for a long moment. And then is struck by a certain curiosity he just HAS to satsify:]

...What about Sanada?

[That is, does Yukimura have a thing for the other him. DON'T GET HIM WRONG, THIS IS COMPLETELY ABOUT HAVING A LAUGH AND STROKING HIS OWN EGO, NOTHING MORE. And most certainly not meant to be taken as asking about if Sasuke is the one into Yukimura because that would just be silly.]

[ Masamune had no hesitation talking about the punch. He did when talking about the kiss. Thus, Sasuke is more inclined to believe that happened as is, and the kissing is something Masamune really wants to focus on despite his claims otherwise. ]

... I have not had nearly enough sake to continue answering your questions about who has kissed who... Try again if I actually get drunk.

[ He won't drink enough to become that. Although, there's a blush again on his cheeks that could be interpreted to mean many things. ~~Shut up! He can't control what happens between himself and his master in dreams! And he never knows how to feel or think after, so he pretends the dreams never happen!~~ ]

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YEAR OF THE TIGERDRAGON

You better not be trying to drink like Kojuro again, young man

He's behaving!! for now.

Good boy, have some zundamochi

you can't buy me, fake mom!!

Gods! Fine then. Be a brat and not accept positive reinforcement for not drinking

FINE I WILL. ...wait

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lol that makeout bit would bluescreen Oldsuke

you leave me NO CHOICE

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4/4

1/3

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