jigokulogs | open | i think i'm prone to getting blinded when it's bright

Entry tags:

open | i think i'm prone to getting blinded when it's bright

Who 🌙 ritsu & whomever
What 🌙 a nice neat little catch-all
When 🌙 the night parade + april in general
Where 🌙 night parade + here and there
Content Warnings 🌙 n/a; adding if it comes up

≫ THE NIGHT PARADE :: ペストリー

( There's a ton of different stalls set up for this event—and Ritsu's set up one of his own. Did he get clearance for it? ... It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission, okay. Anyway, there's a number of different wagashi, cakes, and so on that look very appetizing...

And then some stuff that looks a little less nice—the type that if it was on television, it'd have to be pixelated or blurred out because it just looks way too gross to bear. The taste is all the same though: really, really good. In fact, maybe the fact the last ones look so terrible makes them taste all the better...!? If you can get past how, uh, unique their composition is, anyway. )

Welcome one and all to Ritsu Sakuma's Confectionary Carnivale...♪ Heheh. Wanna try some? I'm not chargin' tonight, seein' as it's a party. If you want a recommendation, I'd go with... ( ... He taps the gross-looking sweets. ) These ones. I put my whole heart and soul into makin' them.

≫ THE NIGHT PARADE :: 花見

( Ah yes, cherry blossoms... Spectral they might be, they're still a familiar sight for Ritsu; their whispers not so much, but he forces himself not to pay them any mind by putting his focus elsewhere: mainly, scaring people.

Maybe that's not really the right word, but it's probably what happens anyway when someone suddenly steps out from behind a tree in the grove the Alliance has set up and puts their arm through yours. Hi! Partners now. Ritsu has a drink with him, thogu given where he is, it probably isn't Tamamo-spiked. Sutoku's refreshments are a little less... risqué. )

Yo~ ( Sooo friendly-sounding, like he didn't just materialize out of seemingly nowhere (he's just quiet). Ritsu smiles languidly, all the world a cat in human form. ) Let's walk together~... How about it?

( ........Like he is just asking for courtesy's sake, honestly. )

≫ THE NIGHT PARADE :: 花火

( Before everything goes to hell (haha)—

Ritsu's tired of being on the ground, but too many people have taken to higher spots to watch the fireworks... so he's with the crowd instead, a little more on the edge rather than in the middle of it. Less elbow brushing and bumping that way. He watches the sky, thinking of sea spray and the flicker of something in his chest at the sight of tears shed on a stage shared, and nudges the person next to him. )

Hey, did you know? If you share a kiss with someone when the fireworks start, your lives will allllways be entwined... Think that even applies in Hell?

≫ AFTERMATH :: 隠し

( Those in the Sutoku Alliance get a little more from the Kappa than other factions, given they're under the same banner, and after listening to a few frenzied youkai Ritsu's decided they're probably (probably) not at fault here. Actually, he's almost certain of that; the Kappa wouldn't have anything to gain from killing the Alliance's leader, so it just plain doesn't make sense.

The other factions, though... Well, there's probably something in it for them.

Ritsu'll be doing his best to hide kappa in his place of stay (sorry roomie), in any of the several hiding places he's found since coming here (sorry, people he's shown them), and even calculating the risk of throwing himself into a struggle between someone getting arrested or taken in and, well, their arrester—before doing it anyway. He's not one of the noble, gallant Knights for nothing, even if that is just supposed to be a stage presence; it's something that's ended up seeping into their very being.

Besides: it feels wrong to just sit back and watch people get blamed for things when nothing's actually be investigated yet. It smells just like someone finding someone else to pin the blame on to get rid of them—he doesn't like it, and he resolved, once, to take more action when he can.

...Even if it's going to earn him a few broken bones.

Help him out, scold him, or be the one fighting him—all's good. )

≫ APRIL GEN :: ステージ

( When none of ... that ... is happening, when things are calmer(?), or as calm as they can be, Ritsu can be found performing in a Sutoku-aligned bar; normally, he's part of a pair with Emily as La Force—and they even have matching outfits, too—but some nights, he just wanders up on stage to play piano. Most of his experience lies in being classically trained, though he just as often will play whatever melody comes to mind, not paying attention to any particular work or composer.

He also pauses to take requests, and if he likes you enough, he might agree to teach you—if you're interested in that kind of thing. Just don't mind how careful he is when he moves, and if his fingers catch on the keys because he stretches too far and too fast and it hurts like a bitch... No he didn't! You saw Nothing. )

≫ WILDCARD

( If none of this catches your eye, or we've made other plans, just toss me a starter! Alternatively, you can hmu on Plurk or PM this account to make some plans. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ it's this bar that murr decides to visit on this particular day; the events of the night parade have somewhat passed by and are still being digested by the various clans. of course... the sutoku-aligned one has been the most affected. while murr himself has been doing his best to aid the kappa, he also knows that what he does may not ultimately mean anything. public perception versus private perception... a wizard knows some of these things best.

especially when this wizard is best at splaying out on a couch. or loafing. ]

Hiya!

[ he slides onto the bench right next to ritsu. ]

You're playin' the piano? [ gasp... ] Do you know any songs that has cats in it?

( OH JEEZ ritsu startles a little, moving a few inches away out of habit. he doesn't mind playing with people, except that's a lie because he does, he really does mind, he's super picky about partners--

he eyes murr and doesn't quite relax, but lets his fingers settle back on the keys. )

Yeah, actually. ( not a lie, leo is also a fan of cats, may have joked around about making a kittens idol unit with his stray's babies. nyaights if you're out there. running through titles in his head... oh. ) I can play "The Cat and The Mouse" for you.

( he demonstrates a little, like the first minute or so. )

It's a little chaotic, but it's a good finger stretcher.

( or good for putting your fingers on a stretcher, apparently it's hard to play, me reading comments right now and i'm like wow insane. ritsu won't have any issues with it but wow )

[ oh, what a pleasant surprise! ritsu didn't flee! he's kind of happy about that, and it shows as he decides not to drape himself all over the instrument or the performer. pianos do make for good resting places after all.

but even more surprising is his choice of piece? as murr listens, he also keeps an eye on ritsu's fingers. how quick he is to bounce around the keys, up and down, the change of tempo and frenetic energy ascending and descending in chords and intervals alike...!

sidenote: i played that piece for my junior recital a long time ago c: ]

I can see that! [ as soon as ritsu finishes, murr claps his hands together. ] Here, you wanna see what I can play?

[ be amazed by his keyboarding prowess. ]

( me, who's impressed by anyone playing anything on piano because i've never played it before in my life vs ritsu, who is staring with The most unimpressed face as murr plays.

he schools it a little, because he really shouldn't... have expected anything... no matter how much murr reminds him of a friend, )

Not bad for a beginner, but you're supposed to actually play it with chopsticks.

( this is a joke, but he's going to play it, too... without chopsticks... and, after the same bit murr played, moving his hands into a more improvisational version of it. he's used to just playing whatever he likes, letting the melodies weave together in quiet rooms; adding traces of other works into something as easy to switch up as chopsticks is no problem, really.

he carefully reigns in back in, knowing there's no use in getting lost in black and white while he has company around. )

You know how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star too?

( the other beginner song. he's lowballing murr right now he doesn't think he's wrong to. )

Eh? Really???

[ where are the chopsticks that he needs to perform this now-complicated piece of music? also, why didn't anyone tell him that was a requirement??? murr is a little beside himself, but it does make sense. the piece 'chopsticks' is certainly too simple to just play with fingers or hands or paws alone. ]

Huh. You kinda remind me of Rustica... he could make a song out of anything and make you feel like it, too.

[ murr sadly misses the song about the delicious eggs and how it made his stomach rumble. but upon the question, he shrugs. ]

I can try! It's supposed to sound like stars, right?

[ and then he decides to take it upon himself to just randomly hit keys all over the board. up, down, all around. just like stars that twinkle, shimmer for a second, and then fade as their light has finally reached the planet.]

( ritsu lunges for his wrists, PLEASE STOP ABUSING THE PIANOOOOOO )

If you bang on this thing one more time, I'm gonna get you kicked out.

[ he more or less allows ritsu to take his wrists, though he could probably wrestle them away if he wanted. no... he's happy to be stopped by the boy. it's kind of cute. ]

What do you mean 'bang'? I'm expressing my creativity through how I see fit!

[ which is right now, a little violent. ]

What's twinkling supposed to sound like, anyway...

...Twinkling's more delicate and small, like quick taps, but... how do I put it? Individual, so you don't usually play the twinkling at the same time... Mmm, it's easier to demonstrate.

( when he's SURE murr isn't going to go ham on the keys again... ritsu lets go of his wrists, returning to the piano. let's go with this one, we won't tell leo he's playing mozart tonight. )

The stars only show themselves when it's nice and quiet—when everything's starting to drift off to sleep, and the darkness wraps around you like a nice, soft blanket. ( he lowers his eyes. ) So you have to get that atmosphere right... and after that, the stars shine and sparkle in a lot of different ways, yeah, so you can vary what you do with it, as long as you keep that soft voice to your playing. Actually, this song—it's a variation on an old French kid's song, too. Tons of people've made their own adaptations, but Mozart's is the one that got super popular.

( ... )

You gettin' what I mean? ( as he plays. )

[ yeah, don't tell leo. it'll be a secret between the two of them.

but murr goes through a series of reactions: the explanation alone makes his eyes widen. his mouth, slightly agape. how ritsu explains nighttime with the stars, how things sound so soft and pleasant and nice. it makes him close his eyes... makes murr place his head on the piano while still keeping his head turned towards him. the music certainly helps too.

how nice. how lovely. cats have to love this music too.

which is why he... sort of dozes off... and begins to lean against ritsu. what a great pillow he is. ]

( well, it's no surprise that murr begins to doze off; even in its faster variations it's still pretty soothing, though ritsu doesn't even notice at first, too lost in playing through the rest of the song and further beyond that, turning twinkle twinkle little star into something else completely, no real name or composer to place to the song aside from ritsu and ritsu alone.

yet he wouldn't say he composes songs; he just plays what he likes, which begins to be increasingly hard as murr's weight starts to register against his side, and he grunts when he wiggles his arm free and

pauses, thinking, before he just shifts so that he can still play and murr can still nap. it's nicer, like this. not as noisy, not as annoying...

he'll wake him after a couple more songs, gently shaking him. )

That's enough of that. Get offa me, Murr-san. You're too heavy.

[ he rubs his eyes. he smacks his lips very gently. it's not his fault that ritsu is so good at playing the piano, a reminder of other wizards with incredible musical skill while murr is probably best playing like... the tambourine. a cowbell. maybe a slide whistle. maracas filled with tiny jewels? yeah, that's probably his style.

but once he notices that ritsu is done (and that he's being jostled awake), murr laughs gently as he leans to the other side as to give the pianist some space. ]

A-ah~ what a nice nap. You're so talented, Ritsu!

[ back looking at the keys, murr feels like maybe he should give it another whirl...? ]

Here. Lemme try again.

[ very carefully, very slowly... he plays a few consecutive notes. a simple scale. ]

...Mmm, not bad. I mean, it's just a scale, but better than what you were doing.

( his poor piano... ritsu adds a little more to murr's simple scale, light and whimsical. )

Most of the time you can just string together a bunch of notes that sound nice... That's what I do. I don't write it down or remember it or anything, though, so I don't really think it's the same as composing... ( koga would disagree but what does he know!! ... ) Anyway, you wanna learn to play something?

( ugh. he doesn't like teaching, but maybe he's got a soft spot for this kind of person. )

It's something you do when you're first learning, yeah? And something you do when you warm up!

[ he knows. he knows a little. not like, All The Stuff but who's insane enough to just start playing without a warm up? ~~not me, i said, with my glass bones and paper skin.~~.

but hey, this is the kind of offer he wants. he desires this more than anything. why? because if he learns how to make beautiful music like ritsu, then he can play for the moon!!!

and for shylock!

and for other people too. probably. ]

Yeah! I do! I wanna make magic like you do.

...Magic?

( ritsu's fingers stall momentarily, then continue on as he shakes his head with a soft, small laugh. )

This isn't magic—it's just music. There's a whole other unit I know that specializes in that kinda stuff... Knights' specialty is— ( kidnapping. being argumentative. individuality. ) —fanservice.

[ knights is really the western country of enstars, huh.

the concept of fanservice is lost on murr, whose 'fans' honestly hated and admired him at the same time, so. there's that. he can have that here too but in a different way? ]

Magic and music are almost spelled the same way. [ because that's how similarities and differences work: by letters. ] So it's gotta be close.

[ maybe it's a very sentimental and naïve way of thinking, but. well. it's murr. ]

[Hazel is definitely a 'edge of the crowd' type girl these days, although it would be a lie to say that she didn't resent it a little. that sort of paranoia ate at her for how drastically it had changed her habits - but that wasn't a line of thought she wanted to pursue right now. how long had it been since she'd watched some fireworks, after all?

the shapes and colors are gorgeous, as expected of a people able to wield magic. less expected is her being addressed by one of her fellow crowdgoers; for a second she raises an eyebrow and nearly asks if he's trying to hit on her, but common sense catches up just in time. no, no. this guy can't be that stupid.]

Probably counts even more in a place like this, yeah? It's how a succubus seals the deal and all that shit.

( he's not the type to hit on people at random either, so she has that going for her, too. )

You think so? ( ... ) Well, it does sound pretty underhanded, so you're probably right.

( succubi would Definitely be more aligned with tamamo. definitely. though an enma-based one that made you sign some sort of shady contract would be fun to see— )

It's a nice thought though, right? ( slowly looking back up. ) Fated to be with someone no matter what. However you want that, I guess, too.

You think so?

[she echoes Ritsu's question, but tone is far more bittersweet as she directs her attention back up to the pinwheeling explosions of light and color. the sentiment is a deeply romantic one, even if the bond was potentially platonic, and once upon a time it would have appealed quite a great deal to Hazel. it still did, if she was being honest with herself, but life had cast dark shadows on such pretty things. it was the sort of thing that felt far out of her reach now.]

People change. You might end up trapped with a monster by the end of it.

[and she'd know all too well, wouldn't she? even without a fireworks kiss, she'd never be able to escape herself...]

They don't change as much as you think. Whatever change you find in 'em's always been there, ( he replies, watching the fireworks. ) S'just been hiding.

( Good or bad, they've always had the capacity. It's just a matter of what pushes them to that point... besides, he's seen the worst of the people he loves, and he loves them all the same.

...They feel the same way about him, too, even despite the fact he sometimes still considers himself a monster. )

Ahhh, that's way too down. ( A glance around... He nudges her shoulder. ) Wanna mess with people who aren't actually watchin' the show?

[that is not the sort of answer Hazel wants to hear when her thoughts are turned as deeply inward as they are in this moment. it isn't so much that she disagrees as - well, fuck, who can accept that maybe they've never been human at all? that her outside might match her insides in a way that the witch had no hand in was too much to bear, too much to hear someone else say. she couldn't pretend it was all bullshit with outside opinions aligning without ever knowing the context of her situation.

the fireworks seem overwhelmingly loud all of a sudden, the crowds too close. she's sure that if she still could breathe her chest would be tightening, pressure bearing down on her until Ritsu's nudge for attention punctures the sensation and pulls her back into reality.]

What, and ruin all that destiny they're trying to cook up?

[...she grins. it's not like this guy could know she'd been feeling sorry for herself, right? to him there was nothing wrong, and to her - Hazel never could say no to being a pain in the ass, especially when she needed a distraction.]

Yeah, alright, guess I'm in. How big of an asshole are we being?

Biggest.

( it's time for a little chaos. Ritsu's smile isn't as big as her grin, but the same mischievous energy is in his eyes. )

I mean, those fireworks people worked sooooo hard on all of this, yeah? Seems rude for people to just ignore all that just for a little destiny. ( mmhmm, that's the reason. ) I was thinkin' of just givin' em a scare, y'know, like a ghost or somethin'... Boo! and whatever, but I'm a nice guy. I'll take suggestions, 'specially from a co-conspirator.

( well, she was wandering around alone, anyway, so a little company is always nice! a bit sudden, when he suddenly intertwines their arms, but regardless: she grins, at a familiar face, ears perking up. )

The cherry blossoms got you feelin' bold, huh? ( well, it's fine. they're friends, and it's not the first time he's touched her, so!!

she lets their arms remain hooked, nodding to confirm. ) Sure. Dunno where I'm headed yet, but it's pretty out here.

Yeah, the Alliance did pretty well.

( he's sure people who've been in it longer—not them, newly arrived—would have some pride in their voice for what their faction's done, but ritsu's is the same as ever. it isn't like he helped with this, after all. )

It mostly reminds me of home. ( and maybe despite his easy-going attitude he's held for a month he is missing home. no, he definitely is, he's just been keeping it on the downlow. ) They've got whole festivals for when the cherry blossoms start blooming... Mmm, and the school I go to has a real big one in the courtyard, too. Maakun and his friends had a nice little show at it last year.

( super pretty. maakun looked great too ♪ )

It's such a shame that such pretty trees've got some pretty unsettling rumours about 'em, huh?

( :)! )

( cherry blossoms... she's heard of them existing, back in the old torna, 500 years ago. no such luck anymore, in the current regions of alrest — this, for her, is basically an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see them. they're pretty, sure; they're trees. flowers. the petals have a pleasant aroma to them. she's not a big appreciator of beauty, though. )

So they're common, back where you come from, huh? ( kind of funny to think about all the differences between their worlds. she's learning a lot.

extending her free arm, palm-up, she catches a stray petal and hums thoughtfully. ) I guess it's something to celebrate... the arrival of Spring, I mean. Kinda makes no sense in hell, though. You'd think it's always scorching summer here.

( and yet!! )

... rumors?

( well as long as it doesn't get too cold, ritsu can't complain about the weather. he misses his kotatsu though... )

Mmm, just that cherry blossoms've got pink petals 'cause there's dead bodies buried under them. ( ... ) Wanna dig under one of these and see if it's true, seein' as they're all spooky?

Huh? But dead bodies aren't pink.

( ????

she stares at him like she genuinely expects an explanation btw. chop chop. )

The blood, Nyachan.

( her nickname... revealed. )

It's a rumour born from an old but famous work... ( he'll quote, he's good at that: ) "How else could they flower that beautifully? That unbelievable beauty made me uneasy for a couple of days. But now, finally, I get it. There are dead bodies buried under the cherry trees." The story's even about hanami--flower viewing, what we're doin' right now. Nice, huh?

Ooh... like, they were originally white, and the blood stained them pink?

( still not quite there; she listens to his quote and hums, twirling one of the fallen petals between her fingers, careful not to tear into it with a claw. )

This place is big. It'd take a lot of dead bodies. And we're in hell, right? Do people even die here?

( yeah, something like that. close enough at least. )

The Daitengu did, right? ( though how much he believes in that... well, whatever. conspiracy theories for another day. ) Anyway, we can always check... If not bodies, then maybe we'll find treasure or somethin' under a tree. The Alliance has a ton of different types—maybe someone heard about the rumor and thought, "Hey, sounds like a great way to keep people off my loot 'til I can get it to a safer place!" and buried it by one of the trees.

That's what they say.

( she saw them, briefly, on the network. didn't interact, but they seemed pleasant enough. probably the nicest one of the bunch, actually. )

Haah? You wanna dig for real? ( she seems surprised... ritsu wants... to do something strenuous??? ) Do you have a shovel, or do you wanna do it with your hands?! Either way, that's crazy talk.

Did you wanna have a romantic date with me instead~?

( teasing.... like it's either "dig up bodies" or "date"-- )

Y'know if you have a good enough time, y'gotta give up your first kiss.

( why can't they dig up bodies and still be romantic... these two are not mutually exclusive? )

Haah? Who said I've never kissed anyone before?! ( she hasn't she's a loser )

( so true. )

Have you?

[Things were tense among the clans after the Daitengu's assassination but luckily Sheliak didn't look like a member of Shuten. It allowed him to wander more freely and he was very curious to hear what the alliance thought of all this. It was coincidence that Sheliak chose the bar Ritsu preformed at but after hearing him play, Sheliak kept coming back. The classical music reminded him of home. It was a nice break from everything, almost as good as sleeping.

Unfortunately for Ritsu, a dear friend of his was also a musician that foolishly liked to push himself. He saw that. Sheliak waited until Ritsu was done playing his current piece before walking over to him with a charming smile.]

You play beautifully. Would you care to join me for a drink?

( Oh, is he getting hit on...? )

I try not to drink with strangers, but I guess my fingers could use a little rest... ( ...he hesitates still, stretching them against the keys before he slides out of the seat. ) Lemme just find someone to take over the mood music since I'm steppin' off.

( That's the least he can do for his employers, really. )

Pick a table and I'll meetcha—mm, and order me an apple cider or somethin', too. I'll pay you back.

[That wasn’t exactly his intention, not that Ritsu wasn’t attractive, especially with his music, but he was merely giving him an excuse to rest. He doubted that Ritsu would have accepted if he asked him to take a break directly.]

If you would prefer we can just talk.

[Making him rest was important but not at the cost of Ritsu's comfort.]

( It's sort of his job, so maybe not—but most of all, playing the piano is a break for him, if he has to be out and among people. He kind of wishes Chongyun was here so he could sleep in his lap though,

but company is nice either way. Ritsu shrugs. )

Might as well make it worth your while. Besides... ( ... ) I don't mind meetin' new people as much as I used to.

( Drinking with strangers can just be a little weird, like how do you even know what kind of drunk they are!! Mostly that. )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

open | i think i'm prone to getting blinded when it's bright

april gen

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fireworks

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hanami

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April Gen

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