011 | Black Parade

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Parade of the dead
When: All day May 26
Where: Shinjuku
Summary: The Near Shore needs a little protecting from the dead



The last few days have been filled with festival food, high energy, and lots and lots of parades. Near Shore residents really know how to enjoy their holidays, stopping up traffic for hours on end as floats and palanquins go by and filling the streets and courtyards in the area with food stands and festival treats. Many Far Shore residents may have found themselves drawn to this particular festival, as it is being held in honor of a shrine.

When an unexpected parade starts up, the people gather round to watch the impromptu spectacle. It's a little strange, yes, but nothing too terribly off-putting. That is until the parade reaches the shrine itself, at which point all hell breaks loose as the members of the parade start attacking anything and anyone in their way.

The Heavens will then call upon all the gods and shinki who are available to help, because these attackers are not normal at all - they are, in fact, the undead.



Let the Festivities Continue

The festival is a large, booming one. There are dozens upon dozens of food stalls set up all over the place with so many different kinds of foods that it could make your eyes go buggy, most of them fried in some way. On top of that, there is live entertainment walking around, stalls with souvenirs, and lots of excellent company nearby. Surely you'll be able to enjoy the festival to its fullest.

The Walking Dead

It is not immediately evident that the parade is being manned by corpses, but keen observers would be able to pick out the noticeable rotting elements of the dead. Anyone with a soul-sensing ability might even realize that they're not soulless, just lifeless. When the parade reaches the shrine, every god and shinki will be needed in order to protect the Near Shore from this menace. Corpses must either be exorcised or completely mutilated to the point where they can no longer move in order to release the soul.

Not Rootbeer Floats

On top of the mass of dead bodies being possessed by stray souls, some of the floats on wheels in the parade seem to have been taken over as well. They are moving slowly and with purpose towards anyone that crosses their path. At first, it may seem like the float is just veering a little off course, but it will soon become evident that it's headed towards you. They may be slow, but they're very large as well, meaning there's a lot more than needs to be destroyed to release the soul.

Souls, Souls, and More Souls

As souls are released from the objects they've taken control of, the air will become thick with a hazy fog of souls rushing away, into the air, and out of sight. This may make the continued fighting a little more difficult, but it means that the job is getting done.

Through some innate sixth sense, some of the dead people may seem familiar to certain gods (or shinki with specific memories). They can recognize some of the souls as friends or compatriots from their home world that had died. And these souls will recognize them as well.

Any characters not currently in the game that have actually died in their canon are free to be used for this part of the event and played out as NPCs by you and whatever partner you are playing with. All of these individuals will react in a similar way, though - they will beg to be released because it hurts them so horribly to be here right now and, of course, they can only be released in the same way that all the other souls are being released: exorcism or total destruction.

In Summary:

• Enjoy the festival
• Help save Near Shore residents
• Take down the dead bodies
• Try not to cry
• Cry lots
• Have fun~

Comments

[missingache]

[At least it's a good death because happy. Roxas tries not to squeak, grabbing the hand scratching his side. Don't do that.

He shrugs.]

He gave me no choice, he clung to me since day one. Joined me at the job I worked, did everything he could with me, but after the Shadow thing I only really saw him at work and in our room. I think Koriko broke him.

[oathkeeper]

[That's depressing... Sora doesn't say anything in reply to that, instead just letting his hand go slack as Roxas grabs him. Another world another story.

He tilts his head up a bit.] Hey, Roxas? I love you.

[Maybe he's saying it a little bit for the other Sora too.]

[missingache]

[That place just made Roxas afraid of things he never had a reason to fear.

He smiles softly.] I love you too.

[The other Sora never said it in words, just actions.]

[oathkeeper]

[It has been a strange day. Sora is full of energy still and he doesn't think he can sleep right away.

He fidgets against Roxas and leans up to kiss him slowly. He pulls his hand from Roxas' and goes back to trying to let his fingers wander over Roxas' hip and stomach playfully.]

At the next festival that rolls around, let's see some stuff together before we go home, okay?

[Hopefully with less zombies or trees on fire.]

[missingache]

[What is Roxas going to do with you and your boundless energy? He sighs into the kiss, not in frustration but more in content. Never going to turn down kisses.

Damn it he'll just grab Sora's hand again and laces their fingers together so it's harder to pull away.]

We can make it a proper date. No talking about sad things, only good things.

[oathkeeper]

[Muh, no fun. He was just trying to tickle Roxas a bit. Yes, he's kind of hyper... But it's been an active day! He grins and squeezes Roxas' hand.]

Okay! It's a promise. I'd like that a lot. And we can try all the games together and all the food and win a bunch of prizes. Or maybe even find one of those sticker photo booths.

[He's also getting a terrible addiction to takoyaki.]

[missingache]

[Tickling is a no go. Else he might kick Sora off of the bed. Roxas smiles before nodding.]

Just us two. It's been a while since we've done anything alone... And I guess I'll kiss you in a picture if you want that. [Not gonna admit he thinks it would be cute.]

[oathkeeper]

You guess?!

[Sora looks scandalized! What does Roxas mean, he guesses! It would be super cute and he should admit it to Sora! Sora nudges Roxas. Tell him!]

You have to! I've always wanted to try something like that!

[missingache]

Huh? Even before we got together? Who would you have picked?

[You sound like a school girl, Sora. Isn't that what they do?]

[oathkeeper]

[He can't like cute sticker pictures because it makes him sound like a school girl? That would make him upset. Those stickers are awesome!! You can get space ship ones...]

No, I've never tried it before. Who would I've picked? What do you mean, if we didn't go? I guess Kairi or Riku?

[missingache]

You would have kissed Kairi or Riku?

[That's what he meant, Sora.]

... It's not like I would have said no if you wanted to do that before that night at Leo's....

[oathkeeper]

W-What? No, just to take the sticker pictures!

[Sora is still captain oblivious sometimes. There's an embarrassed flush on his cheeks now.]

[missingache]

[Roxas laughs softly, shifting so he could give Sora a kiss.]

As long as it stays that way, I don't really care what you do with them.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora kisses him back but there's a smile pulling on his lips as he does so. He mutters happily against Roxas' lips,] Roxas, are you being jealous?

[He's kind of flattered.]

[missingache]

Jealous? [With a grumble, Roxas gives Sora another kiss.] I wasn't until Riku showed up. And who knows who else has a crush on you around here.

[oathkeeper]

[Roxas is being jealous! Truth be told it's kind of nice to see Roxas getting grumble-y over him. Even if Roxas has zero things to worry about in that regard and he's flattered for only about five seconds.

He reaches up to ruffle Roxas' hair affectionately and hugs him close.] Don't forget, you're my favorite person and I love you more than anyone ever.

[He's enamored with you, Roxas. And who the heck would have a crush on Sora anyway. he's oblivious to the other crushes]

[missingache]

[Well Roxas isn't Riku's biggest fan, just tolerates him enough because he helped save Sora.

He'd huff, but Sora is in a good mood, so instead he pulls Sora closer.]

I know. I feel the same about you, and I'll try not to be jealous... Try.

[oathkeeper]

[He knows the two of them don't have the best friendship. He hopes he won't have to play mediator all the time but he absolutely will if has to!!! Because Roxas and Riku are both incredibly important to him. It would be important to Sora for them to at least try to get along.

He cuddles against Roxas, wiggling happily.] Riku just gets over protective, but he's still my best friend. He's the same way with Kairi.

[missingache]

Overprotective? I don't think he likes me. Like, at all.

[Riku did seem really panicked when he saw Roxas because Sora might be asleep again.] I don't really care as long as he doesn't get between us.

[oathkeeper]

[That makes Sora sigh in exasperation.] He just got here, give it some time, okay? I'm pretty sure the last time he saw you was because... [You know, dragging Roxas back to Sora and all... POINT IS, Riku is slow at adjusting to things.]

It'll be fine, don't worry. [Sora is gonna do everything he can to make them get along...]

[missingache]

[... Sora, no, you don't remember, but that's not the last time they met. Roxas is just going to keep mum about that. No admitting he helped Riku wake Sora back up in a different situation.] I know when I saw him last. It still don't think he likes me, but he leaves me alone because of you.

[He snorts softly.] You can't force two people to like each other. Maybe tolerate each other.

[oathkeeper]

[He's pouting now, eyebrows furrowed. He wants them to get along really badly. It's kind of making him upset that it might not be a possibility. Was it really so much for Sora to ask for?]

Would you try to, for me? I'll ask him the same thing.

[Though, Sora knows how both of them tick. Maybe it is too much for Sora to ask for. They're both stubborn. Maybe if he just straps them together for a day.........]

[missingache]

.... [Roxas sighs, shifting so he can pull Sora close, hiding his face in the others hair.] I'm sorry... it's just really hard to like him when I don't have the best past with him. But I'll try.

[Mostly to try and avoid a situation where Riku would tell Sora to choose between them. If that ever happened, Roxas would fight.]

Did you tell him about us? I didn't.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora chews on his bottom lip.]

Yeah, I did.

[The reaction had been opposite of what Sora had expected.]

He wasn't happy about it. But I think he just needs some time.

[Which, in all fairness, is granted. Riku has just learned about Kairi too. But Sora didn't think he'd be that upset.]

[missingache]

[That was rather predictable. Roxas takes a deep breath. There's now a simmering anger welling up. Riku upset Sora. Riku upset his best friend because he was stubborn and hates Roxas.

He kisses the top of Sora's head, gently playing with some of the spikes of his hair.]

Even if he doesn't accept it, I don't care. I don't need his approval to be with you. [Just like he doesn't care if Riku respects him or not... though some of those things Riku said were hurtful. Roxas doesn't need to tell Sora those parts.] I didn't like who one of my friends dated in Koriko, but I didn't get in the way of their happiness. I don't get why Amaya chose to date a guy who was a literal TV... but that's not the point! Just an example.