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

[alloutoflove]

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.

[righteyed]

[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?

[alloutoflove]

--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.

[righteyed]

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.

[alloutoflove]

[ 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. ]