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

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[gatescostmoney]

[ Plop.

Well, Sasuke doesn't exactly pull his camo poncho over Yukimura's head while he's wearing it (Sasuke's wearing a kimono right now), but he does drop it over his head. Then he takes a seat behind Yukimura, leans against his back, and offers some additional body heat. Sasuke doesn't like the cold either. He's too used to things catching aflame by two fiery tigers.

But he also knows how stubborn Yukimura is going to be about watching these fireworks, and he doesn't feel like trying convince him to go inside. ]

[akazonae]

[ Well, the poncho certainly does take him by surprise... as does most things in life. As much as he would like to stake a claim into the fireworks display lulling him into a reflective silence... it really does something to someone to a see a younger reflection of oneself speeding past them. It unearths him to seem like the only one affected by this. Just earlier today he had witnessed a much younger version of himself paddling through the corridors with wax pigments in hand, as well as hounded a younger version of his best friend, who in turn, helped him view Sasuke through a different scope if not from an older objective view.

Not to mention, he also saw a more delinquent version of Kojuro in the crowd, as well as the variety of different Masamunes' that seemed to unearth from whatever dimension they came from. Be it as it were, there was only one of them who could cause a great stir inside his chest and – argh, this was upsetting! But instead of making a little stir, he let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding in for so long before he felt the familiar weight of another on his back. If it wasn't for the measured mass seared into his mind, the bushels of thick hair was a dead giveaway to the freeloader laying against his back.

He waits in silence for the next few minutes, expecting Sasuke to make a small quip or suggestion to lumber his rear inside, but it never comes. And Yukimura was okay with this for the next 20-30 minutes. Amongst all the chaos that still continued to carry over and reign into the evening, Yukimura was content with this comfortable silence until he felt like he came at a standstill and reclined his head back against Sasuke's. Now when it seemed the viewing would come to a final end, he was ready to commentate now. Or at least, start to if Sasuke wanted to entertain him. ]

The skies are beautiful this evening.

[gatescostmoney]

[ Sasuke had mild embarrassment from the youngest version of him, so new to the kagemusha (and babysitting) role and fearing his contract being terminated over any reason. He could already see Benmaru working his way through the defenses he tried to build. If it hadn't happened yet, Sasuke soon wouldn't be able to let him go. But there are worse things than being "trapped" in a tiger cub's claws.

The kid also tried to attack Nobunaga "The Devil King" Oda with only a dango stick. You can't help but be impressed by that bravery. It was a fight he wouldn't have won, but still. His dedication showed.

That other Sasuke, however.... He had major issues with, and that boy should pray they are never left alone in each other's company.

The company he has right now is much nicer. Anyone who didn't truly know Sasuke might have thought he dozed off against his master's back. He's comfortable in this silence in this position, but there's only so long that the Takeda compound can remain quiet and still. Sasuke replies softly, almost sleepily. ]

Hmmm... I suppose they are. I hadn't noticed.

[ Sometimes, admiring the scenery escapes him. He thinks of viewpoints and ambush locations rather than the beauty of his surroundings. ]

[akazonae]

[ As much as Yukimura wanted to chide his friend and embolden him to lighten up, already soothed by words spoken to him earlier than day by Shingen followed by Masamune hours later... he couldn't exactly fault Sasuke for his answer either. Considering the times they were living in, a war-stricken era when pandemonium could spread throughout the land within a blink of an eye, sometimes it served more beneficial to become more cautious than unaware. Even in blithesome events like these, that seemed so far away but still kindled that flame of his to keep pushing on. ]

Oh, but Sasuke you're missing out on the best part of the evening!

[ One of them, anyway. If that wasn't enough incentive to get Sasuke to look things his way, this certainly would grab his attention. In no less than a few seconds, Yukimura would cant his head slightly to the side and pull Sasuke's head down to recline on his shoulder; grabbing a fistful of his hair and forcing his poor dear friend to look up at the saturated night sky. He was going to make him see the beauty of it all, damn it!

Whether it came down to Sasuke struggling or giving in, Yukimura was relentlessly stubborn and wanted at least share another memory with him that wasn't shrouded with subterfuge or steel clashing against another. Even though, asking Suffersuke might have yielded him easier, less painful results. ]

Come, look at them with me. It is not like the sight is going to kill you.

[ A part of him had hoped that younger boy that looked so much like himself, was able to witness this sight in its entirety as well. Wherever he was. Meanwhile, a recently awakened Benmaru would finally be reunited with his Sasuke and found talking his ear off about his entire day accompanied with hand-drawn pictures. ]

[gatescostmoney]

[ One of the reasons why Sasuke bloodies his hands is to let Yukimura have those carefree thoughts, so he could see the world's beauty, so he could experience more of life. Sasuke's not going to wax poetry about how fleeting they all are. He's not going to pine for what he can't have. (At least, he's not consciously doing so.) Samurai can speak those flowery words. Shinobi do not have that luxury.

His thoughts are interrupted as pain flares on his scalp. That was completely uncalled for! ]

Ow! You could have asked!

[ But despite the grimace, Sasuke looks up. He sees the dark expanse stretch out above them. He feels small. It'd be easy for him to be swallowed up into that darkness. He notices the different shades blurring together in cosmic swirls, so Sasuke opts to focus on the pinpoints of light. The stars are bright, and they number the millions. (No light pollution from cities is a wonderful thing.) ]