- « 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

[tsuranuki]

They appear to like kidnapping the Shinsengumi. [ Speaking of that... ] Apparently, Yukuimura and Hijikata-san were here, before? [ Because it wouldn't be Saitou if he didn't worry.

But this is odd for him, to not be the one who is the most informed about the comings and going of everyone. He cannot recall any other world but their own, and here, the others all have an experience he has not shared. ]

I would welcome, then, any advice for situations like this. [ Because from what he heard from some people, this place threw things at people that they couldn't have possibly expected. Readiness is never bad to have, and he'll take whatever advantages he can get.

However, he doesn't want this to be all formalities. They didn't expect to see him, and neither did he. Regardless of what he does or doesn't know or hasn't experienced, they're still the same comrades. ] ...how is everyone doing under these circumstances?

[ How is everyone holding up, is the actual question. ]

[nostatus]

Yeah, they were.. they're gone now, though. That demon was here before too.

[ Does he need to specify which one in this case? If it's "the", it's the most pompous and annoying one to begin with.

Besides, that's not important - he does worry about what happens to people who disappear, but what's more important for the moment is the people who are here, he knows how Saitou is, so he should at least pass on the details of how everyone is doing. ]

I guess everyone's relatively well though. Y'know, despite the circumstances and all. [ It could be worse, and they've certainly had moments of less morale in Zelien, so Shinpachi will take what he can get. ]

It's hard to tell with Souji. I think you could get it out of him better than I could. Sano's fine though [ except not really since Shinpachi now knows the problems that guy has, but he cares about Sano's pride too much to just spill that himself ] and Heisuke's...

[ .. sigh. ]

Well, he has a tendency of getting into trouble. [ Big trouble. Not just the kind where they abandon him and let Hijikata yell at him for fun.. ]

[tsuranuki]

[ Ah. Him. Saitou narrows his eyes slightly, lips thinning.

He's not sure how he'd react if Kazama were here now. Not pleasantly, for sure. But for now, he nods at the explanations and it seems like, mostly, they're as fine as they can be, given the situation.... ]

What sort of trouble? [ He hasn't seen any of Heisuke yet, which is worrisome in itself. ]

[nostatus]

[ .. well, there's not really any other way of putting it, and Shinpachi's never been one to mince words - although he at least raises his hand to ruffle his hair a little bit, since it's not that easy for him to talk about. Bad memories, man. ]

The dying sort of trouble. [ Multiple times even, yes. Can't take his eyes off his son for even a moment, apparently.. ]

It's already happened twice. And that's on top of him not remembering all the stuff at Aburano-Koji just yet.

[ That's his way of saying "on top of him not being a rasetsu here", but.. you know, Shinsengumi secrets. He can't just say that out in the open at the party here. He knows Saitou's smart enough to pick up on it though. ]

[tsuranuki]

Here, or elsewhere? [ Aburanokoji is enough to make him nod in understanding, though. He assumes Heisuke has no idea what happens to him. ]

I regret not being present during any of that sort of trouble. [ Or if he had been present, there is also a small sense of failure in not being able to prevent such deaths. ]

1 / 2

[nostatus]

Once here and once back in Zelien, but..

[ Well, there hadn't been much any of them would have been able to do for Heisuke that second time - he and Sano got there as quickly as they could, but it's hard to do something against a sword sticking straight through someone already.

But the other time in Zelien, he vividly remembers something in combination with that last thing Saitou mentioned. It was such a shitty time that it's easy to remember despite how long ago it was, and so Shinpachi does remember one of the things that stood out the most about it. Saitou throwing himself against that force field over and over in order to save Chizuru and Heisuke. Not giving up, even if it didn't do jack shit in the end.

This might not be something Saitou remembers, but it's why he doesn't bring it up specifically. Instead he lightly shakes his head, his expression a little wry. ]

.. nothing. You did fine, Saitou, don't beat yourself up over stuff you can't even remember.

[nostatus]

[ It's said pretty seriously, but like hell Shinpachi wants to linger in some sort of downcast mood when one of their friends has just reminded, so the usual grin rises to his face again soon enough. ] 'specially when there's lots more things you can better beat up in this place!

[ Laughing so hard at his own joke. ]

[tsuranuki]

[ He still looks troubled. Honestly, he could do all that was in his power, and still feel as if that's not enough. Recent events proved that well enough...it it seemed like it was proving so in other places. ]

Then I will make sure I do not forget, or that I do not disappear from this place again. [ It's probably pointless to promise something like that, but saying it, it convinces him that it makes a difference, for all of them here. Saitou's almost relieved that Shinpachi's changing the topic. Even if that's a horrible joke. ]

By that kind of beating up, am I to assume that you have been terrorising things less than you?



[ ooc: gdit i'm so sorry i am taking forever with tags ]

[nostatus]

Oi, oi, don't call it terrorising! I'm a good guy, yeah? [ Who do you think he is, Souji?? At least he doesn't hold little kids up in the air and then refuse to put them back down, okay. At least he's better than that.

Still, he's about to prove Saitou's point exactly right as he proudly speaks on. ]

There were just these times when there was no meat around to eat, so I had to go around and beat up some crocodiles, or huge snakes.. stuff like that. [ He's almost trying to downplay it, but even in that downplaying is a hint of "LOOK HOW HUMBLE I AM ABOUT BEING SO COOL". Shinpachi is never subtle. ]

[tsuranuki]

Shinpachi, I've seen you terrorising our own men sometimes. [ Not in a serious way, but...you can be both friendly and intimidating at the same time. And Souji's a special case in himself... also, what do you call the times you and Heisuke fight over something, and you leave Heisuke at Hijikata's mercy?

He listens with a sort of disbelief that...well, doesn't last very long. ] Crocodiles? Huge snakes? [ He doesn't know what a crocodile is. ] I hope you were not the one to cook them. [ Sorry, he doesn't quite trust you to experiment with food. ]

[nostatus]

Hearing you say all that, it's almost like you don't even believe in me..!

[ Even if it's totally true. Shinpachi is way too overly friendly (in the "please take your arm off my shoulders we met 5 minutes ago" kind of way) and too intimidating at other times.. not to mention that while he's a good teacher, it's in a slightly rough way.. and no one wants him to cook either.

But admitting those things is no fun, now is it? ]

Saitou, for saying all of that, you gotta give me at least one compliment now! That's how it works! [ Shinpachi, you tried that one with Sousei and it didn't work.. do you really think it's going to work now. ]

[tsuranuki]

[ Moved to avoid captcha → ]