- « INTRO ⇢ WINTERBALL.EXE » OVERFLOW

[poised]

Who: everyone, literally everyone
When: ooc: 04/25-04/26; ic: 12/26
Where: the Gardens
What: overflow of intro log + winter ball!
Rating/Warning: PG-13 | possibly nsfw (please let me know if you need this rating changed, or you are welcome to continue any naughty shenanigans in a private log)

//winterball.EXE Pimp My Party -- Royalty Style A few weeks prior to December 26th, an invitation went out to all whom already reside in Cerealia. In delicate, curling script, it read: You are cordially invited by Natalia L.K. Lanvaldear to a Winter Ball to be held on the Eve of December 26th in the Gardens. Dress in your best attire and enjoy a magical evening of dance and fine cuisine. What do you mean we should fuss about worlds being destroyed? Get into the holiday spirit, you scrooge! And in regards to the new-comers: whether you have been wandering Cerealia over the course of the past few days and managed to receive one of the later waves of invitations or have simply suddenly appeared in the gardens with nothing but the (hopefully…. appropriate….) clothes on your back, welcome. The gardens have been transformed through the work of slave labor condoned by royalty incredibly talented volunteers. A buffet line possibly a mile long, a sprawling dance floor with temporary wood placement to cover the grass, a lovely orchestra with scheduled interruptions of magic shows on the stage, and the entire thing lit gently with lights stretch the span of the main area of the garden. Not too far off, there are ponds and pathways that take you elsewhere into the foliage, but why would you go that way? The party’s right here! "Good evening, everyone!! Whether you are new to Tellus or old, I hope to find you in good spirits. Mind you, I do not intend to ignore the blunders of CERES nor the grave situation that new-comers have found themselves faced with. However I assure you that at this time, surrounded by these people, you are in good company. Please, dine and be merry - I believe some worlds celebrated a holiday yesterday! Get to know one another so we may strengthen our ties and stand firm against whatever this world may throw against us! Also try the salmon, it's absolutely divine. . . . How do I turn this off...? Should I just walk away?"

//SCENARIOS.EXE PHASE I [ xxxx ] Like any respectable ball, your entrance is announced as you walk right into the party! What do you mean you wanted to slip in unnoticed? That simply won’t do. Natalia managed to rope in someone – is that a Tellus native? – to do the honor of acknowledging your character as they make their debut to the ball. This guy is under strict orders to not miss a single soul. If your character doesn’t give him a name and title ahead of time, then he’ll just make something up. Think along the lines of Broseidon McSnootyname, Duke of Erectile Dysfunction-- What do you mean that’s not your name? PHASE II [ xxxx ] Absolutely no expense was spared when it came to making sure that the food here was the best that money could buy (or threats could extort). Guests can select from a menagerie of main dishes from all sorts of cultures, adorable desserts that look like woodland creatures alongside towering cakes, and even those fruity drinks with the little umbrellas on them. Pig out, you animals – but there’s also a wide selection of fine wine if your tastes and curiosities wander off in that direction…. What even is the drinking age in Tellus? Remember, folks, drink (ir)responsibly. PHASE III [ xxxx ] Well, it is a ball. If you’re interested in proper, classical styles of dance, there’s certainly an orchestra that’s dominating most of the night. One of their songs may or may not sound familiar. Spin around in your flurry of skirts and do the fairy tale thing if that’s what you came here for. Romance, or whatever. Waltz your heart out and don’t forget to point your toes! … that said, there’s also a separate sound system not too far, prepared in case the orchestra might want a break. It’s also not being watched too closely. Maybe put on something to liven up the dance floor? Or did someone ruin your fantasy by putting on something unbearably inappropriate? PHASE IV [ xxxx ] The gardens really are beautiful. Spread throughout the area and more toward the outskirts of the party, there are plenty of beautiful fountains with glittering, crystal clear water. In fact, it’s so clear that you can spot the occasional alien life form flitting through it amidst the lily pads and gently sweeping foliage. It’s so graceful, what beauty! Look at how it rises to the water and gently opens its mouth into a yawn and—tries to chomp anything within range right off with razor sharp teeth what the fuck, whatthefuck. It would appear that's not all, though. Whether you're ready to fight the creature or run screaming, you feel something slowly slide and curl around your arm or your ankle. Look on in horror as you turn your head and realize that it seems that the nearby tree has grown rather fond of you very quickly, to the extent that it will reach out and lovingly wrap its hentai tentacles around you.... Brings a whole 'nother meaning to 'tree hugger', doesn't it? BONUS [ whyo'clock ] Are you lost? Did you try to catch your breath away from the party and start to wander off despite all the cautioning not to? Or maybe you were trying to leave and took a wrong turn? Either way, you seem to have only found yourself deeper in the gardens now. Try not to breathe too deeply or… at all. If you can’t manage that though, it appears that you’ve stumbled upon the hallucinogenic plants of the garden. You start to see things that aren’t there – though whether you suddenly find yourself in a den of cougars lions or think that the person standing next to you is the biggest, cuddliest pile of adorable puppies in the world depends on the person. Hope you have a good trip, bruh. [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let me know (through FAQ comment or PM preferably!) if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so I can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE Welcome to CEREALIA's latest intro post overflow! It's a bit early but just to make sure the transition for everyone over here was captcha-free. This one is player-run and all the basics have been laid out for you here. Absolutely feel free to come up with your own prompts and post new intros! For your convenience, I whole-heartedly welcome questions and inquiries being directed to my attention here and I'll answer them to the best of my ability! Have a ball! Enjoy!!

Comments

overflow + ota!

[candlecutterpikachu]

phase i;

[ Mitsutada manages to make it to the ball in one piece, especially after dragging his best friend along and making sure they both stay in one piece. His buddy might have already darted away to someplace when he enters through the front door (but he trusts Ookurikara to come back, eventually), so it is rather unfortunate for the other tachi not to catch the title that the announcer very kindly graces him with. ]

Presenting, Shokudaikiri 'Melonslasher' Mitsutada! [ After that proclamation comes a reflexive, more annoyed: ] It's candlestickslasher, got it?

[ Please, don't ask. Just don't ask, and let the snappily-dressed man melt away into the crowd... ]


phase iii;

[ ... a certain uchigatana is going to get possibly suplexed later on, but that's something best saved for later. Mitsutada's natural confidence and flamboyance is out full-force in the ball - he's even studied how to dance properly. That's what humans do at parties, right?

If you're a lady (or look like a lady, since he was told that men are supposed to dance with women) with no accompaniment, you might find an one-eyed gentleman coming up to you. He's trying his best not to be intimidating (thanks, natural blindness in one eye). ]

Would you care for a dance?

[ He has a voice like honey, which may or may not be to your preference. ]


phase iv;

[ Honestly, he didn't expeect killer trees would be that much of a problem. He's fought demons before, surely they can't be that threatening... but the thing with killer trees is that they actually have pseudo-hands, and one of those vines certainly is trying to steal his sword from the scabbard belted to his waist.

Except his sword is actually him, so that is immediately met with a - ] Hey! Unhand me at once!

[ The tree certainly doesn't seem inclined to let go. The most obvious course of action here would be to simply slice the offending vine in half - but he can't quite do that, since his sword is the thing being man(tree?)handled at the moment. And the somewhat nauseating feeling of being poked around inside his chest is back again, which is not only annoying but... actually slightly distracting.

Okay, maybe it's very distracting. The tree seems to have the upper hand right now - which is quite a big problem.

Help? ]

vietnam

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ from here ]

​[ Not too late indeed. He is amongst one of the blades to have been given a new lease in life, and that is something he certainly doesn't want to squander away doing boring things. Being blinded in one eye is a small price to pay one change for being able to exist once again. Plus, he is used to wearing an eyepatch already - it just turned into a necessity instead of an accessory. ]

No matter how long we live, there's always something new to see. [ This he says with a smile - one positive thing he can acknowledge about this godforsaken place, at least.

Her complimenting his sword form is something he doesn't expect, though. He never needs to look down to check that his true body is unharmed - he can just feel it, after all - so he just replies straight away. ]

You have quite the discerning eye, Miss Vietnam. My maker was the best of his time. [ So it is only logical that his form would embody perfection as much as possible. ] I'm glad you can acknowledge his work.

[ There aren't many of them surviving, after all. Most, if not all, are destroyed or otherwise lost. ]

[hoasen]

[While she knows it is possible for a sword to die (thanks, Naki), she didn't realise that this was the case for him. All the while, she assumed that he was just a very driven man.]

You're right. I definitely see something new every day. Even back home. All of this here is new, of course. I hope you are finding it easy. [This time in Cerealia. It's further ahead of her time by a lot. She manages a soft laugh though, because while she doesn't trust those in charge at all, at least she is learning much from the environment here.

It's interesting, learning about how he perceives himself as a sword too. He's proud of his original form, and it shows through his presentation. Now if only she could learn to be that confident.] You're welcome. Creating swords is no easy task, but to be the best, you are blessed. [She understands all too well what can be lost through the passage of time.] That's not to say you're not doing well for yourself in this form too. You've dressed for the part magnificently. [Seriously, he's rather sharp, amirite. AYYYYY. (Amy get out.)]

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ He is a very driven man, driven by the same intense will that he inherited from his master. Move on with the times and do what you need to do - it's what makes him one of the more well-adjusted swords. Which makes it all the more surprising for others to learn about the fact that he has actually died - but it really isn't something necessary, so he doesn't intend to bring it up anytime soon.

Her words manage to make him chuckle a little. ]

I'm glad to hear that. [ It means he's doing well at assimilating with humans. Not that he ever intends to become one, but knowing that he can actually fit standards is reassuring. That'll make him cooler, right? ] Most of us haven't been in contact with humans other than Haruji, so this is all very new to us too.

[ He's curious about moderners' lives, if anything else. There is three centuries he needs to catch up on, after all. ]

[hoasen]

[It's this drive which makes her so very grateful to be working with him. Even Ookurikara, as surly as he is. She can tell what he's like, they're like, from their interactions. While she would like to learn much more about him and his previous history, it is something she can take by stride. She would understand. She is history.

His is a pleasant laugh that manages to make her smile. It's rather contagious, and it eases her enough to actually relax now in her steps. It's finally fluid, nothing like the rigidity she had with him at first.]

You're very welcome. [He should be proud! Though what he says is rather curious. After all, while they have many similarities, they also have about the same amount of differences. One being that nations are about as human as a human can get, plus other responsibilities.] Hmm, then being here is the first time you've met many other humans? Partake in their customs?

[Her wrist jerks a little and her hand moves in his, just a small gesture to show that she'll support him.] I can help show you, if you like.

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ There is a lot that goes undetected in Mitsutada and Ookurikara's interactions. He puts up with the younger tachi with almost superhuman patience, always well-meaning and willing to aggressively befriend his partner despite the sometimes acrid rebuffs that come his way. And both of them are content to let it remain like that, even if it means Mitsutada making a fool of himself and Ookurikara being pegged as unpleasant. Because there is a lot, a lot that goes under that, and it is best for the both of them that other people don't know. ]

Yes, that is true. [ A lull in the conversation now, while they execute a particularly complicated maneuver. ] We did not have spirit forms before this, and most of our time is spent on work, the like.

[ So in one way, being in this colony is a blessing. But he will not acknowledge that out loud. ]

Ahh, if you could, that would be great.

minako

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ from here ]

​[ Indeed she is. He pauses the conversation while he lets her spin under his arm (as dictated by the dance steps) before catching her and going back to their previous positions. ]

You're quite good at this, if I may say so myself.

[ For a human, he thinks. Tsukumogami like him are much more grounded in terms of their senses, so he can respect her spatial awareness. ]

[awaken]

Thank you. I like to think it's because I'm adaptable.

[ Mitsuru and Akihiko certainly have told her that. And maybe because of one of Pharos' passing comments... Like the number zero, but holding all sorts of potential. ]

You're pretty good.

[ She wonders if he was a professional dancer, used to beginners with two left feet. ]

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ Adaptable is nice, he likes that trait. A lot of his comrades are forced to be that, when they arrived here - this is very much different from the relative quiet and serenity of the Citadel. Mutsu had a blast, but he isn't sure if he can say that for the rest. ]

Thanks. I'm still learning. [ It's just his natural awareness at work, really. ] I have not done this before.

[ He actually means going to parties, but it could be taken to refer to dancing. ]

[awaken]

Oh, it's the same thing for me, too.

[ re: dancing and going to parties. when you're a high school student moonlighting as an anti-shadow fighter, there's really not much room in your free time to party.

besides, she gets enough of what she assumes to be party-like behavior at escapade at least. ]

My school wasn't big on parties, but we had a cultural festival, which I think it's as close as you can get.

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ School, parties, cultural festivals. He sort of knows what those words mean, but not when they are all put together. Did schools have festivals, too? He knows Aizen is big on those things, but nothing much more than that. Schools did not exist in the times he could still remember, after all. ]

Then, I suppose this is an experience for us both.

[ A pause, before he continues. ]

Could I have your name?

hori

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ from here ]​

[ Mitsutada relaxes once he can be sure that the tree is truly dead - but he doesn't sheathe his blade just yet, still prepared in case another tree tried to take revenge. He quickly steps away from the plants, rejoining Horikawa closer to the exit. ]

Well, let's hope the rest of them learn their lesson. [ Thievery is an offense, and these vegetables should realize that by now. ] Let's go back in, then.

[ At least humans are slower (and more predictable) than wild plants. ]

I wonder whose bright idea was to plant these. [ They're getting a stern scolding if he ever catches them, that's for sure. ]

your icons are cuter!!

[sheathwife]

Humans of this age seem to be quite strange.

[ It's silent now... Surely, the rest of those plants felt the heat of the battle. As if on instinct, they're choosing to remain silent and blend with the beautiful atmosphere once again. They should leave, either way. So the two walk, side by side, and leave the false tranquility behind.

Horikawa has a feeling that strange things will continue to happen, considering that they live among unreadable, unpredictable figures in the background. It's not very settling, but there's little they can do. All they can do is to be prepared. ]

For the time being, at least it seems safe at the ball.

no yours!!

[candlecutterpikachu]

That they do. [ Weird priorities, man.

Or maybe the humans here aren't really Earth humans, but he hasn't thought that far off yet. Always focusing on the immediate - and there are tons of things to do right now, not counting the tree. Such as going back into the party and hopefully collecting more information.

He never trusted them from the beginning, and definitely won't trust them now. ]

That too. Kuri-kun was with me, but he should be able to handle himself. [ From the trees, he means. Fellow sentient beings... not so much. ]

How're you holding up?

uwooo! /defeated by the cuteness...

[sheathwife]

Haha. That's right, Ookurikara-san is strong after all.

[ Just like Mitsutada. They're truly an admirable pair... Together, they're even more formidable. Horikawa doesn't need to worry much, he knows this.

But even so, he can't help but be concerned for these two time to time. It's just in his nature to think about his friends, too. ]

I'm adjusting more easily than I thought... I'm still uncomfortable with certain things, but I'm sure they won't be a problem. How about you two?

\o/

[candlecutterpikachu]

Ah, we're fine.

[ Or as fine as they could be. They haven't discussed a lot of what's truly on their minds, but they know that's how each other functions. Ookurikara kept things to himself because it just isn't in his nature to share, while Mitsutada kept it to himself because he dealt with things better that way. ]

Kuri-kun's antisocial as usual, but I've got that covered. [ The other won't get into too much trouble. ]

This place's very different, but I suppose I don't even have to say that. There are a lot of humans here, too.

kurikun

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ from here ]

​[ Even though this is only his first mass social gathering, Mitsutada has already concluded that it's something he can handle with ease. It provided plenty of opportunities for mingling, and even when he isn't talking to someone he can still sit back and watch. Humans are still very interesting, even after all these years. And now that he has become like one of them, maybe it's about time he learned how to interact with them.

Of course, his internal monologue is interrupted as soon as he catches sight of his best friend. Ookurikara had slipped away as soon as they arrived - while he isn't particularly concerned for the other's safety (he can handle himself just fine), it still is a surprise to see the younger tachi still here.

And then he sees exactly what is in Ookurikara's hand.

He's over in an instant, expression more bewildered than offended - though that bewilderment is soon turning into a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment. ]

Did you really...?

[ What the fuck, Kuri-kun. Just... what the fuck. Why is his melonslasher legacy spreading like wildfire. He didn't ask for this. ]

[birthmarkless]

[ This... is gold. This is simply the single best moment of his life yet, flustering his best friend like that. He was already a bit too used the other way around, but he'd never known that being on the more glorious end of the spectrum is going to be this satisfying. ]

Did I really what? [ He holds up the drink again, just for a single second before he takes a small sip. ] Or you have something against a melon juice?

[ For the record, Ookurikara emphasized the 'melon' one. You're fucking welcome, partner. ]

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ Don't do this to him, Kuri-kun. You're breaking his heart. Or something. ]

Did Mutsu tell you too? [ Someone really needs to get suplexed... ] Or was it the announcer? Goddamnit, I knew I should've shut him up or something!

[ It's not the juice he's annoyed at, it's the fucking nickname. ]

And I thought you were more of a sake person.

[birthmarkless]

[ He exists to break his heart, as well as putting them into one big piece again. ]

I haven't seen Mutsu around. Take a wild guess.

[ One final sip, and the glass is as good as empty. Be grateful now. ]

I do, but sometimes you just have to drink something else. [ He shrugs a little as he walks a bit to the side to put the empty glass somewhere on the table, before he returns to address his bro. ] And want to amuse me on how is that nickname a thing?

[ He was called as something-something-grumpy back there by the announcer as well, but Ookurikara being Ookurikara, of course he put little to no shits about his own nickname. ]

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ Well... now that they've come to this, might as well. If he had to pick someone to laugh at him over his magnificent screwup, he'd choose his best friend over anyone else. ]

So it was that announcer. [ Sigh. ] Anyway, remember when I went shopping for everyone yesterday? Some robot lobbed a melon at me.

[ And he reflexively bisected it... to the detriment of quite a few parties involved. Needless to say, it was very uncool. ]

iii

[icefallen]

[Oh dear... he does have a nice voice, but Rio knows she is hardly that sort of girl, so she turns to Mitsutada and looks him up and down. He certainly is... different, but it would be wrong not to give him the benefit of the doubt, wouldn't it? Even though the height difference may make things difficult as well, she figures she may as well try it.]

I would be happy to, thank you.

[She brushes a strand of hair behind her shoulder and curtsies quickly.]

May I ask who I have the honor of dancing with?

helloooo

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ This certainly is one well-mannered young lady. One reason he asked Rio is because they shared the same hair colour, but the fact that she didn't brush him off is a lot better. Even giving him a curtsy, too! That's a lot more than what he was expecting to get. ]

Shokudaikiri Mitsutada. I'm the spirit of Date Masamune's sword.

[ He returns her curtsy with a half-bow of his own. ] And you?

yooooo o/

[icefallen]

[Well, that's certainly an interesting introduction. It's not something she's heard of before, but there have certainly been stranger things happening to historical figures in her world -- famous Japanese warriors among them -- so she can't bring herself to doubt it.]

I am Rio Kamishiro. But I must say, I've hardly had the pleasure of dancing with a personified sword before! How does that work, I wonder?

[But she's happy to start accompanying him to the floor. It's only polite, after all.]

[candlecutterpikachu]

[ She's just... taking it at face value. Which is honestly not what he is expecting, because most other humans tended to squint and/or ask further questions - but it is refreshing, nevertheless. Perhaps she has some spirit sense. ]

Nice to meet you, Miss Rio. I have not had the pleasure of dancing with humans before, either. Shall we try and see how it goes?

[ Said sprightly, with a confident smile while he offers her his hand. ]