APRIL 2022 EVENT

[jigokumods]

MAIN NAVIGATION

1. HANAMI

The week of the Night Parade is marked by the traditional symbols of Spring in Japan. Somehow, several city blocks have been turned into cherry blossom groves as a show of goodwill by the Sutoku Alliance. These cherry trees don't feel normal. They are more like spectral manifestations. Rumor has it they grew so quickly because they're planted on top of a graveyard. That's just a rumor, though. Don't pay it any mind! Don't listen to any whispers you might hear if you walk through the rows of trees alone and certainly don't dig under them for proof of their provenance.

Accompanying the hanami are copious amounts of food and drink. Such as dango, specialized bento, sake, and festive drinks. They are all available to purchase from stalls near the spectral grove. The refreshments may have a little something special added to them:

• Ingredients that promote peace (calming any angry or upset feelings)
  
• Ingredients that promote romance (gives soft, warm feelings towards the first person you see).

These effects are mild and only last as long as you're in the boundary of the grove. Eat, drink, and be merry with your fellow lost souls.

2. KANAMARA MATSURI (NSFW IMAGERY)

In addition to the simple joys of flower viewing and the cherry blossoms blooming, new festivals pop everywhere. They are inspired by various regional festivals from all over Japan. Some of these are benign and feature your normal festival fair. Others are a little more unusual, such as the Kanamara matsuri-inspired treats. You can thank the Tamamo Clan for this. Don't mind the giant phallus being carried down the street or the wooden phalluses you can ride on or the interesting mascots walking down the sidewalk, or the suggestive vegetable carvings.

Surprisingly, none of these foods are spiked, at least not more than the experimental recipes had been during the parade preparations. The spirit of the thing is more just the amusement of genital-based foods rather than anything meant to entice a sexy sort of good time. That will come as the parade rounds out onto the bath district...

3. HADAKA MATSURI

cw: nonsexual nudity

If that cheeky festival isn't your kind of fun, maybe the hadaka matsuri is more your speed. The Department of the Enma are probably the most stressed out faction in the entire city, so the Enma has allowed them to put on a festival to blow off some steam! It's a bit different from the traditional celebration: it's not contained to just men and it's not contained to a shrine.

This event is a mobile mob of nearly naked people and youkai running after a cart with a masked person throwing out small sticks. They represent good luck for the people who manage to nab them. There are far fewer sticks than there are people present and everyone will do a lot to get one of the coveted prizes. Try not to get in their way!

Or you can get caught up in it all and try to snag one yourself to see what your fortune holds. (No, the Enma isn't participating. Too dirty, for his tastes.)

4. FESTIVE FUN

A. SUMO
Some other festivities you might come across are miniature sumo tournaments put on by the Shuten Clan. Raised dirt circles with chalk rings on the outer perimeter pop up seemingly everywhere. Two people are allowed in the ring at one time and there are strict rules to be followed. If you disobey the rules, you may find yourself suddenly ejected from the ring with magical or physical means, and at the mercy of a Shuten enforcer.

Play by the rules to beat your opponent and victors will find themselves rewarded with a strong bottle of booze. The winners of each bout are handed out a commendation by Toraguma himself, which comes in the form of a commemorative sake gourd. This is probably the kind of prize you'd expect from an Oni at a festival like this.


B. FOOD RUNNERS WANTED
If you're in the mood to pad your pockets, maybe you want to help the Tamamo Clan out by running food delivery. This opportunity is available to anyone regardless of affiliation. Runners will be fitted with a contraption to carry the food orders on their person and may proceed either on foot or on a small motorbike. Be careful and make sure not to drop anything! Any ruined or undelivered orders will come directly out of your pay.

It's harder than it looks not to drop the food with all the excitement going on and your delivery recipient may be similarly hard to locate.


C. HOT BATHS (NSFW + cw: optional aphro)
The Tamamo Clan has set up a sanctioned orgy in one of their larger brothels. Rooms are available for whatever your heart desires, including one with exposed windows if you like being watched or if you want to watch in kind. Baths and pools are available for all your indulgent fantasies. Everything you could need is at your disposal: toys, restraints, costumes, lubricants, condoms, aphrodisiacs in many forms. It's a proper bacchanal celebration!

All that matters is your consent and enthusiasm.

5. NIGHT PARADE

One of the primary highlights of the Night Parade are the fantastical floats depicting scenes of legendary events. Keen-eyed observers may note that the humans are portrayed as the bad guys in most of them. While a few of these are mounted on motorized vehicles, most of them are carried by people. That means you'll probably be called on to help carry one along the parade route. It's a fun job, if exhausting.

If you're not the type to wear yourself out carrying a float, ride on one instead! There's plenty of things to toss out into the crowd along the street; candies and trinkets. Dress up in a fitting costume and walk around the float. Have fun scaring bystanders or just have fun hamming it up and celebrate the peaceful night.

5. FIREWORKS

The parade's central stop is the festival square in the heart of the city, just under the shadow of the Kaigo no Bou Tower. There is a stage set up here where the four faction leaders and their personal entourages have assembled. All of them are giving pretty typical speeches. The Enma has declined to give one, having no patience for unnecessary oration. Tenkohime gives praise to the unifying factors of love in the city, while Toraguma rallies the crowd like a sports hero; encouraging them to get stronger and do better in the coming year.

The Daitengu is the last to speak and they also seem to have the largest entourage. The entourage is quite conspicuous: White Wolf Tengu, each standing well-taller than the Daitengu themselves. They are carrying massive broadswords strapped to their backs and hunting about the area for anything suspicious with keen eyes that seem to see right through the crowd and the heat of night.

The Daitengu's speech is also pretty typical, although much more humble than their fellows. Mostly, they just wants to hurry up and get to the fireworks. Just as they finish speaking, the sky lights up.
There are a few peaceful moments beneath this spectacle as the crowd enjoys the display of unity and phantasmal wonder that this unique and strange world has created.

But the explosions aren't just in the sky. One particularly loud boom seems to rattle the very earth beneath the crowd. That is the only warning anyone gets before...

6. A NIGHT PARADE TO REMEMBER

Every manhole cover on the street bursts open, injuring anyone that was standing nearby. Far worse is the deluge of steam that rushes out from the underground. Pillars of hot, blinding steam spill into the air, quickly filling the streets. The luminescence of the festival lamps and city lights are diffused and blurred into singular blobs of color, obscuring all vision and making it impossible to see what's going on. The panicked cries of the crowd also make it impossible to hear. Everything happens so suddenly, so violently, that ascertaining what's going on takes time.

Too much time.

In the chaos, gunshots are heard. They seem to come from several directions. Fighting is breaking out. It's difficult to tell from where and who is in the brawl. Previously unseen figures in full-body black coverings appear from nowhere, rushing the stage. They zoom past any Lost Souls nearby, ignoring their presence. They are focused on a singular goal. The barking of the White Wolf Tengu further indicates the goal of the attack.

Struggle in the steam, help others get to safety, get caught up in fighting the other factions, try to protect the Faction leaders, or try to keep up with the black-suited youkai rushing the stage; do as much as you can.

When the steam finally begins to clear, however, there will at least be one thing that is certain: the Daitengu has been killed.

Welcome to the April event!

• If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
• We also have OOC top levels for Shuten Sumo Results, Tamamo Partner Cards, and Hadaka Luck Draws!
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Comments

aerith gainsborough 🌷 tamamo 🌠 ota

[everblooms]

bring your salt. ( HANAMI )

[ Before she can enjoy the Hanami herself, Aerith takes to helping sell bentos. She had been convinced by a little youkai with adorable, furry, round ears to help with the crowd. They were understaffed, apparently: some of their workers must have ran off to enjoy the festivities early. As such, she can be spotted behind a cart selling bentos, a great big smile on her face. What she gives your character is random, but she's here all the same.

Later on, however, she's knee deep in the grass, fallen petals stuck to her body like raindrops. She seems meditative, hands together clasped in silent prayer. She stays there, still as a statue, with only the rising and falling of her chest indicating that she's alive. Soon enough, however, a smile cracks the illusion. ]

I spent aaaaall morning working. [ Her hands fall. The come to rest in her lap, and her gaze is trained to the ground. If you're astute, you'll realize she's not speaking to you. It's the flowers— and indeed, Aerith tilts her head back to look into the thickest part of the branches, as a little petal dances to the ground. ] But, it'll be okay. I get to see my friends now that I've done all that. I'm just glad this dress didn't get ruined... Wait!

[ How unladylike. As she says that, she had turned to check the back of her dress and... well, a little green grass stain is blooming, giving one particular rose in the lace of her dress the suggestion of a green stem. A little help? ]

bring your cigarette. ( SUMO SPECTATING )

[ A thud rings out in the ring. One wrestler has fallen. The crowd goes wild, deafening cheers leaving her ears ringing. It's not painful, though: There's something kind of exciting about good, friendly sportsmanship. Aerith, too, is standing and clapping. The fallen opponent stands and laughs, having been beaten fair and square. The other raises his hands in victory, sending the crowd into overdrive. Beer sprays in the air and nearly catches on her. A laugh, nervous but joyful, escapes her. ]

You know, really is a different air here than in the ring...

[ She turns to you, hair swaying. It's sticky with alcohol, even if she was spared this time. Cameras are flashing as the fighters make their way out of the ring, a desperate attempt to capture the moment. Could it ever compare? ]

What about you? [ Presumably, she's already chatted you up a few times, if only because she's friendly as can be. ] Ever spent some time in the ring? Maybe not with sumo, buuuut...?

draw me a circle. ( NIGHT PARADE )

Cover me!

[ From the back, she means. Aerith makes her way up onto the float, a basket in her hand. It's stuffed with candy, a few fall out as she climbs the ladder up the back of it. The very top is the head of a fish, which is pictured leaping out of water. Standing there, finally, she takes in the image of the crowd all chanting, shouting... There's so many faces within, and with that many eyes turned towards her, she feels at once a rush of adrenaline and embarrassment.

Turning back, she holds a hand out. Aerith, for her part, is not wearing a costume. Instead, she's dressed up in a knee-length red dress; there is lace depicting flowers long it. You are supposed to be wearing the costume. ]

C'mon, the wind feels great up here.

[ Heave, and a ho—! ]

and i'll protect. ( ASSASSINATION )

[ Chaos reigns with a bang, cries immediately following. The catastrophe hits, and crowds start running. It's impossible to navigate, but when you've spent a month wandering the streets of Hell, memory can fill in some blanks. There's a restaurant, big and closed with enough room for nearly fifty people inside, she knows. While people are screaming, fights are breaking out over the haze. It's difficult to see, and she counts her steps as she makes her way through.

Eventually, her hands find another body&mash; your's. ]

Are you okay? [ Her green gaze is swarming with concern. Still, she looks collected for someone trying to make her way through a disaster. ] I can get you inside somewhere— are you hurt?

[ It's hard to see, and a woman rushes past her, slamming into Aerith. Still, she stands, planting her feet to the asphalt with determination. ]

heaven is here if you want it. ( WILDCARD )

[ I have a plotting post here, and if you'd like to plan something out, I would be happy to! I'm also happy to write you a personalized starter. Please just let me know if that's the case. ❤

As a note for the bento prompt: let me know if you'd like me to randomize the effect for you, otherwise, feel free to pick the one you like! ]

CLOSED to nia.

[everblooms]

[ Food preparation should always be done as close to serving as possible. The day of the parade, the local eateries are a-buzz with work, coming alive before the sun even rises. Following their mutual attempts at chaos on the network, Aerith had contacted Nia to make her way into her plans; her intention is always to help, after all. Any thing else to help her do her thing sounds like a good thing to her.

She stashes her phone in a pocket of her's before waving a greeting to the smaller girl. Aerith had come down to meet Nia outside the apartment complex, and apparently has been texting even this early in the day. ]

Heya. Crazy how things work out, huh? So, how 'bout I help you transport the goods, and you pick the sneaking route. Sound good?

[ Easy peasy. All the same, she nervously fixes her hands together, fingers lacing together. ] We should probably find a neutral street to keep on. No one's going to tattle if they have no loyalty either way, right?

[nya]

( as far as causing trouble goes, it's always best to have a reliable companion by your side — and who better than the girl who had seemed to have the exact same idea for mischief as nia did? a funny coincidence, maybe, but from their very first meeting, nia felt a particular attachment to aerith, anyway — and though she's not as quick to trust, there's a spark of it; a promising kindling, when she sees her again, waving a clawed hand in greeting.

great minds think alike, and all... )

Sounds great! ( she nods. if it's sneaking in and out of places, consider her an expert — sometimes, being so pathetically small actually... comes in handy...

that said, she doesn't know the territory all that well yet; shuten is still a bit of a mystery, with its' bloodstained streets, so. best to have someone with you, just in case. )

Probably. We'll have to avoid places we're easy to spot, too, though... crowded streets work best. ( everyone's busy with preparations — two girls trying to get from spot a to spot b shouldn't attract too much attention. ) If anything's off, let's just run, though, 'kay? I don't want to get you hurt.

[everblooms]

[ Gesturing for Nia to lead the way, Aerith decides to keep a tight follow. The sound of life is a lovely backdrop to their devious plan, but there's a little twinge in her gut when the other girl says, simply, that doesn't want her to get hurt. Aerith's expression turns, tightening into barely concealed concern. ]

That's my line! [ Her response is followed quickly by a friendly and perhaps overly familiar tap on Nia's shoulder, the action half-hearted but wishful, somehow. ] But, sure. I'll let you play bodyguard today.

[ The tall buildings overhead cast a long, domineering shadow of the streets. Isolated is a gentle way to word the feeling brewing inside of her. ]

Say, how do you feel about the parade? You know. In general.

CLOSED to six.

[everblooms]

[ In the past month, she's seen little more than a few hints of flourishing life in Hell. It's not a particularly desolate place. There is a great deal of life within this space, but none of it has gone through the soil. What little she's seen has been the property of someone else, or confined to the gates of some gardening pot. It'll have to do, but can anything live held down like that? (Hypocritical, she knows.) The display Sutoku puts on is beautiful. It's not quite free as she would like to see, but there's love in it, she thinks. The way people share a glance at one another under the branches of the flowering trees speaks thousands and thousands of words, the passion found there palpable. Tamamo had been the one talking about love and unity, and Sutoku had given the stage. Maybe that's what this whole day is about, she thinks.

The cherry blossoms that flutter and move with the breeze, spectral or physically present, are stunning. It is a sea of blush pink under a tinted blue sky, reflecting back a sort of purple that simply can't be described. Those lights, artificial as they may be, are beautiful.

She thinks that the color would suit a good friend of her's. She misses her dearly. ]

...I was thinking about the look on my mom's face when I told her about her husband. [ Head tilted up, she seems to be speaking to someone in the branches of the trees, a forgotten bento box left by her knees. She's knelt onto the ground, elbows to her knees. The red, floral lace dress will stain grass green underneath if she isn't careful. ] It was a long time ago, but I remember how sad I knew she would be. I just wanted to help, in some way. He had so much love to give her. But, you already knew what that feels like, didn't you? So, yeah, I've been thinking about a lot.

[ She leans in, turning her head as if trying to listen better to a whisper. In fact... there is a whisper.

...She's talking to the cherry blossom trees. Are they even responding? ]

[wray]

[ this is a festival meant to celebrate the coming of spring, a festival meant to ease the tension that persistently hangs over their hands. six knows that, he knows, and yet he can't find it in him to relax one bit. the meeting with the other members of the enma department left him less than enthused about their chances of preventing a disaster so he can't help but remain ever vigilant. high alert.

he navigates through the crowded streets in hopes of spotting anything that may be out of the ordinary. any sign that someone is up to no good. he doesn't care what shape it comes in, only that it helps give him something he can work with rather than the lack of answers he's been struggling with ever since they left the sewers. the image of that machine lives in his mind rent-free, and it would have stayed that way for the rest of the night if it hadn't been for the wind carrying a familiar voice.

his ears swivel towards that direction, perked up in immediate recognition over who this voice belongs to. there's only one person he knows who sounds so light and airy, as if one wrong thing will be enough to send her fluttering away, just like the petals along the breeeze.

when he finds her, she is already kneeling on the ground, cherry blossoms scattered all around her. it would be a beautiful sight if what she's doing hadn't made him so confused, prompting him to call out her name. ]

Aerith?

[ almost immediately, he wonders if he should have done that. she sounded as if she was lost in coversation and he feels bad for interrupting.

... he keeps going. ]

What are you doing?

[everblooms]

[ There is a passing moment of silence as she lowers her gaze from the blossoms, turning her head to face him. She knows it's him when she hears the fresh sound of his voice. Discerning between the voices and someone's voice has always been easy for her, being of two worlds like she is. Six's corporeal forms drowns out the whispers momentarily. He's got that look to him like a cat ready to protect what belongs to it. A smile slow snakes across her lips, and she tilts her head back with a knowing glance. You know already, don't you, Six? ]

Shh!

[ She purses a single finger to her lips. How is Aerith going to hear the flowers' response with him speaking over them? Closing her eyes, she hears it again. There is a warm, loving lilt to the whispers. Yes, they know what she meant— to go so far for a loved one. ]

Yeah, it's been a long month. [ The whispers return, growing in volume, as if to continue the conversation... but they die down, carried away by the wind. The leaves shake and fall, again.

Dusting herself off, she moves closer to him. Silence envelopes the moment, and Aerith breaks it easily. ]

Were you looking for me?

bring your salt;

[pathofsacrifice]

[ He has been walking through the trees -- he tells them how beautiful that they are and he appreciates the flowers as much as he hopes they appreciated his blood.

Artemy calls to her as he sees her kneeling to talk to the flowers. Both those above and below. ]

Khetey. [ He crosses the short distance to rest his hand on her shoulder. ] The flowers are to play a nasty trick on you soon. [ Tipping his chin up, he gestures with hand and eyes that there is a stain about to ruin her new festival dress. ]

[everblooms]

Huh? [ Aerith is more concerned with the hand on her shoulder for a moment, meeting him with a smile of relief. Somehow, even if things have been safe so far: it's nice to see him in one piece.

But at his mention, she turns her head and nearly launches into the air to wipe away all the fauna. ] Oh, no. I paid a pretty penny for this, and it's on loan still...

[ Ugh. Shaking her head as if to disregard it, Aerith turns back to him. ] Heya, Artemy. Is there an equivalent to Khetey? You know, for guys?

[ She wants to play along. She's been thinking about it. ]

[pathofsacrifice]

[ He shakes his finger at the flowers. ] You should offer some apologies. It's a time for fun and some mischief but don't go ruining someone's day with bad tricks.

[ Artemy isn't sure if the fauna are willing to listen to his scoldings, but it does not hurt to try it.

He pauses at her question if there is an equivalent. His expression turns complicated; it isn't that there is not, but he struggles to know what it is. ] Khayaala, perhaps. It means brother.

With men, it seems we only refer to ourselves as "brother" or "younger brother." Even if someone is older than us, we would still call them "brother." I suppose that is saying that men are more sensitive to their age. [ A beat and a wider smile; it's awkward and looks a little strange on him, but he is trying. ] But don't let anyone know I said as much.

Assassination;

[littleshield]

[ Well, Felix has definitely tried to do something at one point or other to fight against those blackguards that had initially come. He is not exactly there or close enough to stop them near the beginning but when he finds some stragglers or towards some nebulous point in the aftermath, he does try to confront them. The results are...mixed, let us say.

His skill carries him well, to the point where he doesn't seem to have managed to get hit with a bullet—not directly. But, it doesn't mean he escapes uninjured.

When someone's hand touches his shoulder, he'll whirl around, amber eyes wild, before calming as he gives a little huff. ]

Have you just been asking anyone you happened to see around here?

[ He scowls when someone just runs on by like that, and yet the woman still stands firm. As for him, one of his hands is holding onto his right side rather tightly. ]

[everblooms]

Yeah. I have. [ When she nods an affirmation, smoke is clouding his expression just enough to obscure whether the man is annoyed by this or not. She thinks she's interrupted him, but she can't just let someone hobble through the streets. It's unsafe, and the panic raining down on all sides makes for no place to start an argument in response. ] We can discuss it all you want...

[ Placing a hand on his shoulder, she avoids a flying weapon of some kind. An bottle of alcohol shatters some feet away. ]

Somewhere it's safe. [ Her gaze flits down to his side, and the concern in her expression tightens. ]

You haven't answered my question! Are you injured? Or is that— a sword you're hiding?

[littleshield]

[ This is getting too insane, even for him. He's still in flight or fight mode so he's not thinking straight himself, and...well, for a moment his eyes lay on the shattered bottle of alcohol, before back at the brunette in front of him.

At the show of tangible concern (not that it wasn't there before), he feels at least compelled to say something of it. ]

It'd be ideal if I did have two on me.

[ But he manages to clarify: ]

Yes, I'm injured. If you know a safe place, you should lead to it. Otherwise, we should get moving if we don't want to be considered a couple of standing targets.

[ Even now he doesn't have a great attitude, though at the very least he's going to try to be more forthcoming here. ]

and the smoke clears - WILDCARD

[dehallow]

[ By the time all the smoke has settled and the streets have cleared out, sunrise begins to gently illuminate Jigoku-cho. The town looks dreadful, its streets littered with decorations, food and even clothing items that were dropped and trampled during either the panicked scramble to get as far as possible from Kaigo no Bou or the bloodthirsty fights started by those who live for nothing but trading blows. It had been a lot of effort to convince those sorts to go home - doubtlessly, some of them still haven't.

Van Zieks doesn't remember the last time he's been this physically exhausted. An hours-long street battle is very different from fighting for your life in isolated scuffles, it turns out. Still, he can't afford to turn in yet.

There's work to be done, more work to be done, and people to find. He reaches into his torn and bloodied coat, not expecting much, and finds that by some miracle his phone has survived the mayhem. That makes this easier.

Hope your phone survived as well, Aerith, because it's getting a call. ]

[everblooms]

[ The sunrise is yolk-tinted golden this morning, like an egg cracked across the bleak horizon. Smoke billows to the sky from a few isolated areas, where the last of the city's destruction is being snuffed out. She watches it happen from one of the medical tents, where several members of staff still reside as they take stock of the situation. Several civilians are still injured, and she can't simply walk away from that. The downtime, though slow, has been ripe for checking in on others, and Barok's name flashes across her phone as she shoots off a text to another friend.

Looking back into the tent, she recalls the rush of cool relief when no one she recognized had been in any of the tents she'd ducked into. Barok, she knows, can handle himself. All the same, she'd still looked for him.

When she answers, there's a tired softness to her voice. The calm that comes after the storm. ]

Morning. [ She raises a hand, covering her eyes. Though uninjured, she's certainly tired, worried, and, to be completely truthful, a bit sad. There is guilt settling in her heart. Perhaps this could have been avoided. ]

Pretty sunrise, huh? [ A short pause passes as she sighs, looking to the asphalt. It's dirtied with old blood, spilled from who knows when. ]

Most of us are here to see it. And you?

and i'll protect

[kikuichi]

I'm fine, but we need to direct the crowds.

[Norimune isn't that far from Aerith, his feet planted as firmly as he can in the chaos. But he did take a few steps to lend a hand to fallen youkai, who had trip and fell to the ground in the mad rush. They quickly thank him and continue to run, hopefully away towards safety.]

Know any good spots around here?

[everblooms]

[ Nodding, Aerith turns tail and gestures for him to follow. ] I'll take you there. It's hard to see, but I know the way— think you can crowd control while I lead the way?

[ While she's already making a beeline for the building, there's a lot of crowd control to do out here. With the amount of shrieking happening, she has to shout to hear herself, and she hopes Norimune can keep up. There's only so much room for waiting around. ]

assassination!!

[aceslow]

Aerith? No, no -- I'm fine.

[ He easily waves her off. He's a little scuffed up, scratched from where he'd been pushed down in the confusion, but his words hold neither pride nor machismo; any injuries he's incurred are small, to be dealt with later with an ice pack or a daub of antiseptic in the comfort of his own home. ]

I'm afraid you were correct to be wary, [ he says, taking a moment to look her over. He's worked with emergency medical staff before during crises and knows that they have a tendency to care for others' wounds before their own. ] Are you all right? You're not going to take shelter?

[everblooms]

[ A scrape cuts across her cheek, but aside from dirt and sweat, she seems largely unharmed. For a girl who couldn't seem less out of her depth, she's managed to keep herself together. Truth be told, living in the slums definitely made her scrappy. This is taking her back to when the plate fell on Sector 7. The shouts, the chaos, the desperate need to survive coming at her from all angles. ]

No, I won't. [ She shakes her head, firm on this stance. When she looks back at him, she locks eyes with Kim. ] I'll be okay, I know what I'm doing. [ That determination is sapped away, though, giving rise to a sympathetic tilt as she reaches up to wipe away some dirt off him. ] I'm much more worried about you. We can't lose you, so don't give up on us, okay? [ Sighing, she leans back. The heels she's wearing click on the asphalt as they connect with the ground again. ]

Let me show you where I've been taking people. Do you have any medical exp—

[ A glass shatters overhead, from one of the tall buildings overlooking the scene, and shards rain down in sharp edges. Without another thought, Aerith throws herself at him, a cry leaving her body as she tries to shield them both from any debris. ]

assassination!

[baofeng]

(OOC: As I'm also dealing with RL stuff at the moment, replies may be slow. Hope that's okay!)

I- I’m okay!

[Yizhi is neither a fighter nor a fool. Sure, he doesn’t like his weakness sometimes - it’s not even weakness, he’s just surrounded by thoroughly above-average people - but he knows there’s no point in brute-forcing it, especially when the people surrounding him right now have guns. The young man Aerith grabs has long hair and flowing robes, and is fully cowering as he tries to find a place to take shelter in. ]

Do you know somewhere that’s safe?

[As more gunshots ring out, Yizhi shields his face with his arms as some meager defense. Who knows how close the closest assailants are in this soup-thick steam.]

[everblooms]

[ ooc: no worries at all, it is completely ok! ❤❤ ]

I—

[ High off adrenaline as she is, Aerith still feels like there's something familiar about this person. Perhaps it's something as simple as brushing shoulders earlier in the evening, or some other night, or perhaps it's deja vu. Evacuation is a lot of the same thing, after all— shots ring out like bells announcing their departure as Aerith immediately tries to shield him from any stray bullets. A flag falls to the ground beside them, billowing and dancing before it lands. It's immediately trampled. ]

We can't stay here any longer.

[ Anywhere is safer than here, she thinks, but she can't promise that hiding inside an eatery will do much for them. It's got doctors inside and water, too, at least. That's the best she can offer now. Aerith pushes him forward. The dark is doing little for them in this moment, but fires and flicking streetlamps are lighting the way as much as they're obscuring them. ]

Is everyone you know accounted for yet?

[ The look she gives him conveys the meaning behind her words: She'll go looking if he has directions of any kind. ]

bring your cigarette

[sefirot]

[Sephiroth is interested in fighting, there's no doubt about that. He's not sure about this kind, but he can't say he has anything against watching it at least. What he finds to be even more interesting than the fight is catching her here. He thought she'd avoid this kind of thing, but she seems enthusiastically into it.

Which is ... something he's not sure about either. He would have taken her more for a pacifist. But he also never paid that close attention to know much about her as a person either. Is she more of a fighter?

When Aerith turns to talk to him, he just kind of stares at her for a moment. Not because she's daring to speak to him, but rather the question itself. He can't remember if he ever did any arena type fighting ... Probably not, but then again --]

What would be the point of such things? No one can match me in battle --

[Other than Cloud, shhh.]

So any reward for victory would hold no meaning. I've always been at the top. I do not need to prove anything else.

[Since he can't remember if this is something he's ever done before he just gives her the longest non-answer ever.]

[everblooms]

[ His answer surprises her a bit, and tilting her head, she only responds in a simple question. ]

You don't? [ He answers in a long, meandering way, as if to confuse her through a maze of words, but in contrast, she just seems to want to cut to the heart of what she means. ]

So, like... not even for fun?

[ She swings her legs forward and crosses her ankles, swinging her legs back and forth for a moment, thinking. Two fighters enter the ring, matching boisterous smiles on their faces. ] I don't think either of them are proving themselves. ...So you've never even thumb-wrestled for fun?

night parade;

[breweries]

[ ah, that does look rather fun. shylock doesn't feel embarrassed in the very least, but the adrenaline is there as he clambers up onto the float as well with his fellow tamamo's help. ]

Well, what can I say but -- I'll never get tired of this view.

[ it's an all-too familiar one, though this time this did not come with humans gossiping amongst themselves in disdain as wizards begin their parade. so this parade seems to be much, much better than that already.

still, he's not quite aware of the assignment he was given when he dons the costume. so he turns to her and asks, ] Now tell me. Does this outfit look good on me?

[ what is he wearing, even. not that it matters, since shylock is a man with virtually no shame. ]

[everblooms]

Hmm...

[ Aerith pauses in her work (tossing candy out into the crowd), to look him over. She holds her chin between her index finger and thumb, studying Shylock as if memorizing every inch of him. It is a long, purposeful stare, with a squinted gaze and puckered lips.

He's dressed as Bunbuku Chagama— in other words, his head is sticking out of a giant tea kettle. Is it functional? She wonders. ]

Better than good. You're downright handsome!

[ It's definitely haute couture, at least. ]