017 | Earth Turns Slowly

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Firefly viewing
When: Evening July 21
Where: The Near Shore
Summary: A vent is open and the fireflies are beautiful.



There have been so many things happening lately that the Heavens (mostly Amaterasu) have decided that the Far Shore residents deserve something nice to occupy their time. So everyone has been invited to view the fireflies on the Near Shore - a traditional sort of viewing in Japan that usually takes place during the summer, when the fireflies are out in force.

Traditional attire is encouraged, but people are also encouraged to just let themselves be comfortable and drink the night away!



The Viewing

The spread for the viewing is gorgeous. There are some lights strung up the trees, blinking slowly like fireflies as the actual fireflies mingle with each other and the people who have come to see them. Additionally, the Heavens have provided light snacks and an alcoholic drink that is easy to drink and very potent.

Fireflies

The fireflies are very friendly and easy to catch. They will gladly blink up from anyone's palm who happens to hold them. Also, they seem to have no fear of the people here, coming up close to anyone who happens to be nearby. They may even land on you if you stand still enough!

Blights

It will become more and more evident as the night wears on that some of the fireflies look distinctly different from the rest - they are larger and darker in color and more aggressively "friendly" than their fellows. These are the ayakashi disguised as fireflies and wherever they have touched someone, they will have left blighting. And that blight will slowly spread - should anyone else touch the blight, it will spread to them as well. The blight is not unique other than the fact that it doesn't seem to start hurting until after the blighted party has noticed it.

Vent

The opened vent is around a hundred feet from where the party is being held. Ayakashi are still pouring out of it, each of them as small as the firefly-like counterparts. Anyone who approaches the vent will be attacked by a swarm of bug-sized ayakashi. The vent is closing, albeit slowly, and will close more rapidly as more gods and shinki come to keep the ayakashi in check. By midnight, it should be closed completely.

In Summary:

• See the fireflies
• Fight some ayakashi
• Heal some blighting
• Help close the vent
• Have fun~

Comments

Mods

[godsoffortune]

If you have any questions or need an NPC, please comment here!

Re: Mods

[lookingforhead]

Do blighted fireflies need to contact skin? Is clothing contact enough? Celty's helmet for example.

Zeno | OTA

[eternalshield]

a

[Part of Hebe's job is to pour nectar for the other gods. But nectar is hard to find here! Alcohol is going to have to do.]

Cups out, cups out! Zeno is making rounds!

[Coming from a time before legal drinking age, he pours freely, though he's not completely filling cups at first. Gives him an excuse to linger.]

Let's hope no fires today, right?? This stuff is flammable~

b

[Zeno flops gracelessly on the cool, crisp grass. A dozen or so fireflies scatter, but a few stay hovering. Zeno beckons to them.]

You can come back... haha! Zeno isn't in the eviction business.

[he collects a few, a big fat glowing one reflecting gold off his dragon crest.]

Being able to create your own light... something people can't take away... I wonder if that's why we watch fireflies? To learn how?

But they're still so little and fragile...

c

[A brief flash of gold shimmers around you, before fading. It's like a dome aroundo you, as a swarm of ayakashi is deflected. With the air cleared, the invisible shield fades as well, and Zeno lowers his hands.

He's also got a stripe of blight down his neck, starting near his dragon crest. There's a slight shadow of pain in his eyes, but it's slight and almost bored.]

Hope you have some offensive ideas! Zeno doesn't, not for so many tiny ones...

A

[fullcowl]

[Izuku isn't aware it's alcoholic in the first place so he'll put his cup out and wait.]

It'd be nice if we could have a viewing like this without a fire.

Tot | ota

[papas_bunnydoll]

❚❚❚ Fireflies

[ While she doesn't usually care for bugs, there's something magical about fireflies. Tot will be found most of the night playing with them - dancing around with a small swarm, chasing after them, or just talking to any that happen to have alighted upon her.]

Aren't they the best?

❚❚❚ Blights

[Strangely enough, Tot's never seen the blight on someone before which means it immediately catches her eye when someone walks by with it visible. Whether they've noticed before she has or not, she's going to point it out.]

What's that?

[Someone please stop her before she touches it.]

❚❚❚ Wildcard

((ooc: Got something else you want to do instead? Go for it. I'm up for pretty much anything. Not sure - pm me or hit me up at purkle))

Blight

[lostinshadows]

[The moment he sees her coming, Lavi quickly moves out of the way.]

I'd advise you not to touch it. Don't want to get you blighted, too.

Tatara Totsuka | K

[heartshutter]

-Viewing-

[ No alcohol for him, thanks -- Tatara’s done enough drinking in the past few days to last him a good long while, if not a lifetime. Instead, he’ll nibble lightly on some of the snacks, seemingly more content to suggest them to others than to personally indulge. ]

If you pair these two together, it’s not as spicy as it looks. [ A wink... that could be confused with an attempt to mislead? ] I promise!

-Fireflies-

[ He sits by himself, removed from the heart of the commotion, but he’s by no means alone. There’s a quiet, breathy laugh almost carried away on a passing breeze as he watches tiny friend he’s apparently made roam from finger to finger. ]

Where’s your light, little one?

[ He lifts the curled knuckle it sits upon to his nose, as though to offer a nuzzle, and right on cue is a flicker of light. Touched and delighted, Tatara outright giggles. ] There it is!

[ There’s a surprised little “ah!” that follows then as his newfound companion abruptly takes flight. Silly as it might seem, the god offers a tiny wave. ]

Fly free, friend.

[ That’s how it goes, even here -- friends for only a moment, but forever in memory.

When he sees he’s been approached, he offers a genial smile. ] Would you like me to catch you one?

-Blights-

[ Admittedly, it can be a little harder than one thinks to tell these ayakashi-flies apart from their benign counterparts -- especially in the dark like this. But if one approaches Tatara with a hint of blight, he’ll be quick to point it out, and even quicker to offer aid. Healing is part of what he does, after all -- in life and thereafter. ]

You’ve got a little something... [ and he’ll mark wherever the blight is on his own body in gesture ] Does that hurt?

I can help, if you like!

Blight

[lostinshadows]

[Lavi raises an eyebrow at him.]

Shouldn't you be a little more concerned about your own blight?

Dana Scully | all prompts ota!

[skepticstarbuck]

Fireflies

[Scully's quiet, despite the party atmosphere: she can't stop thinking about the murders. She's trying to let her subconscious mind work, though. She has some clues, and she's planning to mingle tonight, looking for anyone who has the apparent height and strength for the killings. In a place where someone could have used actual magic as a murder weapon, her conclusions aren't as definite as she'd like them to be, but she can still come up with a list of gods and shinki who appear physically capable of the act.

From there, she can start sorting for alibis. Maybe even motive, although if it's true that these crimes are based at least in part on anonymous network connections, it could be difficult to sort that out. Alibis are easier. There have been enough murders by now to make them a very useful sorting mechanism.

It would be easier if she had more command of social graces, but she's giving it her best shot, mingling with a glass of over-sweet plum wine in hand. Whenever she sees someone who fits the profile -- at least five feet eight, physically powerful -- she's approaching them with a smile.]

Nice night, isn't it?

Blight

[It is a nice night, and despite her distraction, Scully has to admit that the fireflies are beautiful. They keep fluttering around her, and even landing on her skin with a dry little tickle of feet and the steady greenish-yellow flash of luciferase.

She hasn't yet noticed the spreading blotches across her exposed neck and face, where the scoop collar of her blouse exposes skin to the tickling feet of tiny insect ayakashi as easily as it does the real insect feet. Instead, she's absently waving a larger, darker-toned ayakashi firefly away from her hair with one hand as she swirls a glass of sake in her other. The firefly circles, and arrows down into her hair, wings beating and tangling in the strands. Scully makes a bitten-off, startled noise, and immediately starts combing through her hair with her free hand to get the ayakashi out. Except her hand is already starting to purple.

Someone might want to help her out before it gets too bad...]

blight

[blizzardrock]

[There's a sight he wasn't expecting to see.] Uh, hey.

[Not going to ask if everything's all right; its clearly not alright]

What's happening?

Tsuzuki Asato

[sweetdeath]

Viewing/Fireflies

[Tsuzuki's sprawled out on his back on a big blanket, one arm folded under his head and the other hand holding a glass of the liquor the Heavens provided. He's in a plain dark blue kimono with dashed white pinstripes woven in, comfortably broken-in looking instead of starched and new (not all of the old clothes in the shed were fancy ritual clothes.)

The fireflies are floating all around him, and occasionally descending all the way to strut around on his face or his kimono fabric before they rise into the air in a flutter of chitinous wings. His eyes are wide with childlike wonder, which is probably fueled by the fact that he's had enough to drink to leave a dark flush on his cheeks.

As soon as he notices anybody passing by, he waves eagerly to them and pats the blanket by his side, almost spilling his drink.]

Look at this! You've gotta try -- if you lie on your back it's like you're floating in the stars!

[Yeah. That's not his first glass.]


Vent

[It's probably past time that Tsuzuki figured out this whole fighting ayakashi thing, right? Right. No time like the present!

No time like the present, when it's after eleven, he's three sheets to the wind, and his kimono is threatening to come entirely off one shoulder as he earnestly casts borderlines against the dark, swirling clouds of firefly-sized ayakashi puffing like smoke out of the vent. Little splotches of blight dot his face, shoulder and chest where he's already missed, but despite his drunken stagger, it seems like he's already surprisingly good with that borderline.

Casting it, anyway.

Aiming it is trickier.]

Line! -- Oh shit, sorry, I didn't hit you, right? -- [It was definitely too close for comfort, but then, he's seeing double: and the cloud of ayakashi plummet towards him the moment he drops his borderline in drunken concern.] Ow! Line!

vent

[eternalshield]

[Zeno causes an invisible shield to form around Tsuzuki, right before the ayakashi would hit. He... takes an armful himself, and is feeling hot under the collar, so he's hoping this won't be blight, because blight is annoying, but...]

If you need a bigger target, you can aim for Zeno, and just hit the ayakashi in front of him...

Demyx | Kingdom Hearts

[sitarsongs]

♫ Viewing ♫

[ Demyx could smell it coming -- a would-be buffet of snacks and drinks, just waiting for him to stuff into that bottomless pit he calls a stomach.

As ever before, he’ll be chowing down on them a few at a time; except this time, he steals away a few extra that he aims to sneak out of the area. Are they for himself, or someone else? Who knows!

Unfortunately, as he bumps someone while making his escape, he drops probably a handful-ish onto the ground. ]

Aww, man! Bummer! Now I have to go back for more! [ Psh, like that’s really twisting his arm. ]

♫ Fireflies ♫

[ At first, Demyx is bewildered by all these twinkling little lights in the sky that seem to blink inconsistently here and there -- until one buzzes right into his hair like a low-flying jet and he nearly jumps right out of his skin. ] Hey! Watch where you’re going! Rude!

[ He’s talking like that to a bug, mind you. Though that may or may not be readily apparent... ]

♫ Blights ♫

[ Okay so, there are bugs, right? And then there are bigger, buggier bugs that are starting to really, well, bug him. And he can’t help but notice that wherever they land, there’s a spot of black left behind.

...What did they say that was called, again? Bright... black... whatever -- point is, it’s bad, that he knows for sure! ]

H-hey, stay away from those things!

Fireflies

[fullcowl]

[Izuku always shows up to these things, even when he probably should be at home resting. But firefly viewing seemed like an easy enough thing, how wrong could it possibly go?

He's not running on a lot of sleep though, so when Demyx says that, even while Izuku is still a few feet away from him-] Sorry, my fault...

Toshizou Hijikata | All OTA, last prompt may include some Souji

[koukai_kirai]

Viewing / Fireflies

[There's something about traditions like this that he finds comforting, since coming to the Far Shore.]

[Truth be told, Hijikata was never really much for big social events in life. He's always had his mind focused on bigger things than parties and festivals, and no is no exception. But now, when the Near Shore has changed so much from what he remembers, he finds some kind of relief in the sense of continuity that the lingering hints of the old ways give him. The little everyday celebrations of the changing of the seasons, their old familiar patterns, help him feel grounded in his new home.]

[If anyone asks, he can imply that Souji dragged him here. But the truth is, he's happy enough to be right where he is -- long legs stretched out in the grass, a bottle of sake within arm's reach, smoking his cigarettes and watching some of the younger, more excitable gods and shinki as they go chasing after fireflies. There's a quiet air of contentment around him, and at times, when he thinks no one's watching, he might even have a small smile on his face.]

Blight

[He notices it first on his left hand, where he brushed against a curious firefly as he shooed it away from his drink. Small as a pinprick, at first, but over the course of a few minutes, it spreads out to cover a couple of square inches. Hijikata frowns when he notices it -- then winces, shaking his hand as if trying to shake away something that's burning it. There are a couple of other dark spots on his neck and shoulder, but he doesn't seem to have noticed them just yet...]

The Hell...?

[His scowl grows sharper, as he looks around for his shinki. He's not stinging him, is he...?]

Vent

[Blight be damned, Hijikata's not taking this lying down. He's got his shinki in hand -- a sword that looks slightly different depending on which angle it's viewed from -- and is standing at a moderate distance from the vent, not quite close enough to get himself swarmed, waiting for one or two ayakashi to get within striking range. The moment they do...]

Baiki, rend!

[He strikes out with impressive precision, slicing one of the tiny ayakashi in half. He doesn't look too happy about it, though, as they keep pouring out of the vent.]

Tch... There's got to be a faster way to deal with them...

Viewing

[reformedsinner]

[It really is a lovely night. Hakkai's threading his way through the crowds to the spot he's staked out -- far enough away from others to be quiet, close enough that he can still see what's going on, in case something less pleasant than firefly-watching happens -- when he spots a familiar face.

It's familiar, at first, from confused snippets jumbled into the tumult of Ayumu's memories. It's familiar immediately after that as the man he'd spoken to about the revived corpses, after fighting by his side against them. Hakkai turns in his direction, and pauses a polite several steps away, leaning against one of the light-draped trees.]

Good evening.

Yuuri Katsuki | OTA

[latebloomingeros]

Viewing

This is nice...

[Yuuri's talking to himself, more or less, though he wouldn't object to someone taking it as an opening for small talk. The cool of the evening is pleasant, and there's something really enchanting about something as simple as just sitting back and watching the fireflies. It's really nice and peaceful, and maybe it's the drink in his hand, but he's feeling more relaxed than he can really remember feeling since he became a shinki.]

Fireflies

[...It's possible, in fact, that Yuuri's feeling a little too relaxed.]

[That one drink turned into two, and then two turned into "a few, I don't know", which turned into "lots", and at some point, Yuuri got a little bit... giddy.]

[And now he's lost his shoes and his jacket and one sock, and he's feeling great, and it's... it's really beautiful tonight, isn't it? The summer air, and the stars, and the fireflies, and...]

Hey. D'you... d'you want to dance? You should dance with me, it'll be fun!

Blight

[Unfortunately for Yuuri, he hasn't been in a state of mind to be anything but fascinated and delighted by the friendlier-than-usual fireflies. He doesn't remember when, exactly, he might have come into contact with them, but when he collapses into a tired, tipsy, happy pile in the grass, he brings his arm up to wipe the sweat from his brow, only to see a mottled, bruised-looking mess of blight marks on his forearm.]

Huh? ...Ow!

[He sits up, looking around in panic, the pleasant haze of alcohol feeling suddenly a lot less friendly and comforting.]

Vent

[There are so many of them.]

[Yuuri feels a familiar sort of twisting in his stomach. His weapon form is useless, isn't it? There isn't much that he can do to protect his god, or Viktor, or any of his new friends...]

[But somehow, through the dizziness and panic and self-doubt, he remembers that that isn't true. He still has something to fight with, doesn't he? And if he can use that to keep some of them from getting further from the vent, then that means it will be harder for them to get to his friends. So it's worth trying, right?]

[Still a bit shaky, he drags himself to his feet, then makes a conscious effort to straighten his back and square his shoulders, calling on every bit of resolve and (mostly liquid) courage in him as he raises his hand to summon the Borderline.]

A line!

[It blazes to life in front of him, glowing brightly, stopping several of the ayakashi in their tracks. Yuuri just sort of stands there, looking at them, a little surprised that it worked and unsure what to do next.]

Viewing

[tuishou]

[This is...] Yes. [Yeah. Can't deny what is obvious, and what he's also taken to enjoying. Neji keeps quiet for a beat- he's decidedly not great at chatting for the hell of it, but there's no harm in attempting to be friendly.

And yes, that's a drink in his hand, too. He refuses to think that has anything to do with this new conviction to be more... open.] I was beginning to think the Heavens only knew mayhem, or that they had strong liking for it. If they arranged quieter evenings like this I suspect more people would come to like them better than they do now. [There's a lot to fix. Picnics shouldn't be first or second on the list. But, well. A firefly darts near him-- and Neji leans back, away, before gently shooing it off. He's not that enamored with the bugs, thanks.]

Shun Kurosaki | OTA

[revolutionfalcon]

[A: Fireflies]

[It's been a couple of days since Shun has been able to sleep, so while he's got nothing in particular against coming to a firefly viewing, he'd really much rather be doing something productive to occupy his mind so he doesn't have to think too much about what's been stopping him sleeping. As usual, he's avoiding any food provided by the Heavens like the plague, especially the alcohol, and has taken a seat a little away from the main viewing, where fireflies only drift over every so often.

He does at least involve himself when they do, letting them land on a cupped palm and throw light onto his face that casts it into a sharp relief of bright and dark. Once anyone approaches him, though, he lets the fireflies go, because that pool of light marking out the shadows on his face makes his tiredness a little too obvious for his liking.]

There's more of them over there, if that's what you came over here for.

--

[B: Blights]

[It doesn't take Shun long to notice the particularly large, particularly "friendly" fireflies, and though he's not exactly eager to let one land on him, once one of them does manage to flicker against his hand before he sweeps it away, he notices the blight immediately.

With a frustrated hiss, he draws the container of blessed water he always carries out of one pocket - it's somewhat like a small canteen, so he'll have enough to discourage quite a few. After flicking some over the ayakashi that had bumped him, sending it skittering away for the time being, he starts looking around for anyone else who has the firefly ayakashi on them.

He's not particularly careful about where he's throwing the water otherwise or whether the target knows what those fireflies really are, though, so people might be getting flicked with a tiny amount of blessed water in the process as Shun deters the bug ayakashi from them.]

Have you seen any more of these? [They need to find a source, if there is one.]

--

[C: Vent]

[...And that would be the source. The amount of ayakashi coming out of it is kind of a dead giveaway, and Shun gives the vent a long look over before turning slightly to look around the party. He won't turn down anyone else's help if they offer it, and his container of blessed water is still at the ready while he has half an eye on the vent still, but he really needs one or other of his shinki right now, and is focused primarily on picking them out in the crowd.]

c

[blizzardrock]

[One of said shinki has his back turned, looking up at the fireflies. It's a viewing party, he knows that and all, but something had struck him from the corner of his eye—glowing, flashing, golden lights, drifting upward—and suddenly he was thinking of death. Which isn't...a surprise, as he has been thinking about death lately, but—]

[When he drops his gaze and turns around slightly, he catches sight of Shun.]

Shun...?

Son Goten | OTA

[sonofson]

• - Fireflies:

[One thing Goten really enjoys chasing and catching: Bugs. The fireflies are no exception. But its not really as fun when they're coming right to him. Still he's made a game out of trying to catch and hold as many fireflies as possible at one time. He is careful not to squish them despite his excitement and every person he comes across is almost instantly greeted with a huge grin. Goten runs over before he holding up his hands that as clasped loosely together]

Look, look!

[Even if you don't lean down to look, Goten opens his hands to show off his prize anyway. Enjoy a small swarm of fireflies flying at and around your face.]

They're really friendly, huh?

• - Blight:

[ The weird looking fireflies get treated no differently, if anything, Goten is more drawn to them because of how strange they look! With curiosity peeked he doesn't hesitate to catch some of them or be bothered when they bump into him. It soon becomes a dodging game, one he isn't trying to hard at. Spots of purple are quickly appearing along his hands and face, it almost looks like he has a painted on black eye at this point. It's only going to get worse at the rate he's going.]

• - Blight 2.0:

[ Goten has learned from his mistakes. Aymeric and Kairi have taught him lots about blight so he's come fully prepared to with two water bottles filled with holy water. Anyone with visible blight on them will promptly splashed with the water without warning. Blight is an awful thing.]

That should help...I hope! Are you okay?

[Goten offers an apologetic smile but he really can't be too sorry trying to help someone. Blight isn't fun for anyone.]

[toremainbehind]

[A borderline will appear between Goten and the fireflies.

It'll last briefly as Izumo yanks Goten back from it, ignoring how there's blight slowly spreading on him before he summons his Aura enough to force the tiny fireflies back.]

Goten.

[tuishou]

✖✖ Viewing
[He refuses to voice it, just as he refuses to believe he's the only one wondering just what will go wrong with the Heavens' plans this time. The comfort he finds is that the... set-up is incredibly simple. No floats, no festivals, no swarming crowds of people in the city. His hand reaches up to touch one string of lights near him and he contemplates just making himself comfortable on the spot-- it's. Nice. Pretty much. The outing is so far relaxing (spoilers: he hasn't been out for long and he looks the part, taking in the sights ahead of him with a possible glimmer of hesitance).

Spoilers, again: Neji's not exactly searching for a reason to dislike the gathering. To help keep himself on task (the 'task' is to relax-- keep up) he decides (what could possibly be the harm?) to get himself a drink. It's a good thing it's smooth going down because

he has no idea what to do with the warmth spreading to the apples of his cheeks and the last time he'd felt so content was. Well. It didn't that happen often.]

✖✖ Vent
[--did they all really go so long without noticing that just a few feet away from them all?

There's a slow anger boiling under his skin, and Neji's at a loss at what (or who) to pin the blame of this turbulence on. Or maybe that's just how he normally reacts to swarms of ayakashi-- he's tried hard to avoid being the object they're directed towards, after all. It's not easy to keep up with which demon goes where, but excuse him if his priority is that none find their way to his goddess. Of course that means at least attempting to get rid of the ones who've already breached the... hole in the ground (what is that?). He'll cast lines with some ease but

yeah, it's not good enough. There were too many ayakashi. Neji clicks his tongue in annoyance and

well, there's a lot of shinki here, too. So. So listen to him.] Can't we seal them off? Instead of casting borderlines randomly, we should try to encircle the ayakashi and not give them any way to move past where they come from.

vent

[kokuyoyo]

[Oh hey, it's that loser which attended that time Hakkai fucked up]

[Chikusa has been prowling around the perimeters of the vent- never close enough to enrage a swarm, not while he doesn't have Axel with him. He's not an idiot. All he's doing is gathering information, trying to see if it's big, getting bigger, and what exactly comes out. By the time he runs into Neji, he's done a few loops, and doesn't mind slowly letting his attention drift to the other shinki.]

....We'll need more than two. It doesn't seem too big... and I think it's getting smaller.... But we still need at least a small group.

Zero | VK

[moonlitknight]

i. Fireflies

[ Sitting against a tree a ways away from the crowd, Zero unexpectedly finds himself in strange company - a small firefly glows determinedly on the forefront of his thumb. ]

You're going to be left behind you know.

[ A warning and yet, Zero makes no move to disturb its perch. ]


ii. Blight

[ The fireflies are still in bloom around the festival grounds but Zero is ready to leave. He heads out, not knowing that he's already been a victim one of the crafty ayakashi that hid itself among the swarms of fireflies, landing on his neck where his Hunter tattoo stands in sharp contrast to his skin. ]


iii. Wildcard

[ ota! Write your own story and I'll pitch in. ]

ii

[blizzardrock]

Hey, there's something on y—

[—Oh. Hi there.]

There's something on your neck...

[He's also holding up a little container of blessed water in case Zero needs it.]

Hibiki Shikyoin ♔ OTA

[priforprince]

[ I. The Viewing ]



[ Hibiki is in her yukata again, having chosen a secluded spot for her firefly viewing. She's also seated inside a tent of lace mosquito netting, to keep the main attraction from getting any ideas about mingling with the audience. ]

A sparkle as tranquil as a mountain stream.

[ As usual, she's brought her own refreshments. If you want a nice sparkling water, there's a bucket and some ice and some crystal glasses....looks like Japanese-style sweets, too. ]

The perfect refreshment for a storm-tossed heart.

[ Sip. She'd needed something quiet like this. She just...she just needs to stay here and watch the little glowy lights. All night. Where it's calm.

And she can brood if she needs to. ]

[ II. Fireflies ]



[ It's quiet here, all right. Quiet, and peaceful, and relaxing. And Hibiki has had a terrible week. She's managed to rally a few times, but, for the most part....

Long story short, she's resting her weary eyes and soul after a week that would have trampled a lesser Prince, and just happened to coincidentally bring a little neck pillow. Long story shorter, she's on the verge of falling asleep. And, unbeknownst to her, the back of her tent has blown open.

She is covered in little flickering dots. She is also, increasingly, covered in rather unpleasant-looking patches. ]

[ III. Blight ]



DON'T COME!!!

[ What's that sound, and that silhouette in the night sky? Oh, nothing. Just Hibiki, her skin both greyed out with visual effects and patchy with blight, swinging from treetops by a glowing purple rope while a gigantic blinking, buzzing cloud pursues her.

Business as usual. NBD. She's clearly handling this with all the skillemon and aplum she managed when she was a child in a similar situatangerine. ]

II

[alchemists]

[ Oh no, this isn't good. Seeing Hibiki covered in fireflies and bumps Elfnein is quick to try and help. ]

Please wake up, if you don't soon then treatment for those skin irritations might be hard.

Maria Cadenzavna Eve | OTA

[declamando]

[A: Viewing]

[Maria is wearing basically what she did to Tanabata, a yukata in pale pastel colours and flower patterns, though this time her hair is done in a ponytail with petalled hair accessories rather than coaxed into a bun. It's been a bit of a week, so it's good to have something like this to take the edge off a bit.

Speaking of taking the edge off, she's partaking in some of the Heaven's offered refreshments without quite realising how potent they are until after the fact. She has another glass ready after her first two, but by that point, it's hard not to belatedly observe that she's having trouble seeing straight.

Turning the bottle, she peers at it like she's trying to draw the mysteries of the universe out of it.] What's in this...?

--

[B: Fireflies]

[At least not drinking any more of the powerful alcohol stops Maria's tipsiness in its tracks, though she is a little more giggly than she might otherwise be. This is not particularly helped by the presence of the fireflies, who seem to be quite happy landing on her on and off.

It's hard to tell whether it's the effect of the lights or the continual feeling of them landing and flying off again, but before long, Maria has a hand held to her mouth to try and stifle her soft laughter.]

Is it supposed to tickle this much?

--

[C: Blights]

[Initially, Maria doesn't really notice the larger, more suspicious looking "fireflies". But after a few of them land on her, it's very difficult to miss the blotches of darkness spreading up her arm, and she snatches her hand away from one as soon as she notices and the blight stabs with pain at the moment she does.]

What on earth--? [She's never been blighted before, so it takes her a moment to realise what it is, but once she does, she shakes her head a little and stands up, trying to trace the fireflies' movement through the air.]

Where are they coming from?

a

[priforprince]

This might prove more refreshing, Queen Maria.

[ Here. Hibiki has actually left her anti-bug (and anti-company) tent to bring you a glass of sparkling water. Whether she feels obligated due to her admiration for you, her acknowledgment that you've seen her at her worst and examined Venus when she couldn't, or she just plain can't stand seeing you drunk, remains unclear. ]

Princess Celestia | OTA

[letteropener]

A.

[Traditional clothing? Well... Celestia supposed she could have found an outfit that would accommodate a different shape of hers, but really now. She couldn't just keep taking on a human form every time something happened!]

[So the pony has no special garb for this viewing, and thus her large, pale form stands out all the more brilliantly in the low light as she paces around, pausing here and there to pick up a cookie from the supplies refreshment with a magical glow that seems fantastically bright in comparison.]

C.

[Problem 1: Celestia has no problem with letting fireflies land on her, and in fact outright seems to attract them in exactly the matter one would thing a magical princess pony would.]

[Problem 2: Celestia has no clothing or protective layer between her and whatsoever chooses to land on her.]

[Problem 3: The blight causes no pain until it's noticed.]

[Result: Celestia stumbles away from the crowd with blight blotching her entire back and all through her wings and down along her flanks, her teeth gritted against the pain. She's trying desperately not to make a scene, but when the blight pulses pain that feels like she's on fire, she can't help but release a whining whinny that is likely the most equine noise anyone would have heard her make. One particularly rough sting has her rearing back, pawing at the air in instinctive response to the pain.]

[She has to get away, and figure out what to do. What to do!]

c

[mostsuitable]

[It's difficult not to notice a pony stumbling about in pain, even if she isn't trying to make a scene. Knowing it'll do no good for anyone to panic, he shields her with his blue aura, driving ayakashi away as he calmly approaches. Although he's surrounded in blue aura himself, it appears he hadn't noticed their plight early enough to not have been blighted himself.]

How well can you move? We should get you to safety.

Dust | OTA

[mithrarin]

A.

Another festival?

[Viewing, ceremony, whatever -- call it what you will, it was still one more party to Dust. And as thoroughly unpleasant as the whole age-shifting experience had been even if he hadn't suffered its effects himself, this didn't seem to be the right way to handle it.]

[So Dust is there, but leaned up against a tree, his arms folded in the shadows.]

Maybe we should be figuring out how to solve our problems instead...

D.

[The moment he heard of ayakashi, Dust went hunting for their source. Not difficult to find, all things considered -- but a definite problem, facing down a vent that spews ayakashi when he can't actually put a permanent end to them.]

[That doesn't stop him from trying to interfere, of course.]

[Very close to the vent, Dust baits a cloud of the malevolent fireflies, sword in his hand as he offers himself up as a tasty target ripe for blighting. They surge forward, only for Dust to all but vault over them, landing where they'd begun as they turn around to chase him mindlessly. Some of them begin to split off to hunt easier prey, but the moment they do, Dust flings a hand up to spin his sword on his palm. The blade whirls into a vortex so fast it becomes a mere distortion of the space beyond it, and its powerful suction yanks the whole cloud towards him in one mass that he quickly dodges away from.]

[The display itself is competent, but the impressive thing is just how long Dust can keep this pace up -- he's been going for a while now, and shows no signs of slowing down...]

A

[nopixiedust]

They're probably just trying to keep the greenhorns from getting all worked up while they do the work themselves.

[Rustling through the tall grass, holding a mason jar in one hand, she glances up at him.]

Probably because of some dumb pride thing at worst. What if all the new faces went and showed them up? Anyway, did you go get anything to eat?

Tendou Souji, Helios | OTA

[pathofheaven]

Viewing

[ Tendou's no stranger to traditional clothes. The yukata and wooden sandals both fit him comfortably as he settles into the picnic mat.

And of course, he's brought his own snacks, in the form of a gorgeous three-layered bento box, each level filled with all kinds of surprises. Fluffy omelettes, sticks of grilled meat, one layer filled with nothing but yakisoba. All the classic bar fare, cooked by the master chef.

The wine though, you're going to have to make do with what's been provided. ]

Grandma said this: "Good food and good views must both be shared."

[ He points upwards at the moon, and looks directly at you. Yes, you, a clear invitation to sit down next to him.

He's not much for friends, but a companion at a time like this is just what the doctor ordered. ]

--

Vent

[ Now that the viewing party has been most rudely interrupted by ayakashi, Tendou figures it's time to earn his keep. He walks towards the vent, the source of the blight, with intense purpose, no fear of the incoming monsters apparent.

And the reason for that soon becomes clear, as once the firefly-shaped ayakashi approach the sun god, they are immediately knocked aside by the appearance of a robotic beetle, which flies circles around its owner bashing them aside.

He pulls a large metallic belt out from inside his sleeve (how does that even fit?) and with a practiced gesture, fits it around his waist, the beetle landing on the belt buckle like that's where it always belongs. ]

Meals are a sacred time. To interrupt them shows that you monsters truly deserve to be defeated. Transform.

[ Who better to fight monster bugs than a karate bugman? Kamen Rider Kabuto has arrived. ]

viewing

[kokuyoyo]

[Oh, it's the food stall guy. Chikusa had just been passing by, but he stops when he's addressed. For a second, he ponders just... ignoring him. However, a quick glance to his own group's blanket and he decides that they can.... probably survive without him. At least at a firefly viewing sort of event.]

[Besides, it's free food. He can't refuse that.]

[Carefully, he comes closer.]

...So you made your own food as well?

Munakata Reisi; OTA

[mostsuitable]

c; blights

[As the night goes on, viewing becomes more like studying, and Munakata begins to notice some fireflies that seem unusually friendly. They appear darker in color, leading him to think them a different breed until he observes the blight appearing on himself and others.

Those fireflies are ayakashi.

After this discovery, Reisi attempts to protect others from ayakashi without causing panic or pointing out their blights lest they start really feeling it. He secures an area by drawing a borderline around it to keep the ayakashi out. But this isn’t really enough—Munakata decides he has to find the source, as well as his god.]

d; vents

[Studying and tracing larger concentrations of the firefly-sized ayakashi leads Munakata to the source, a vent roughly thirty meters a hundred meters from the party. As he approaches, a swarm erupts around him, rushing forward to attack him. While he’s quite a capable person, he won’t mind if anyone wants to join him in battle. Besides, he hasn’t seen his god since noticing the ayakashi to begin with...]

x; wildcard

[Don’t see a prompt that’s right for you? Pop by with your own idea! XD]

c

[blizzardrock]

[Hey. Hey Munakata. What is that collapsed person-shaped thing nearby with overlarge fireflies on his back?]

[halp]

Shuusei Kagari | OTA

[latentforlife]

[The Viewing + Fireflies]
[Shuusei is here, dressed in his black slacks, black shirt, loose hanging red tie and black jacket even though it's warm out. He's also sporting a cast on his leg and is moving around with the help of crutches. His face has some faded bruising still.

He's been moody and avoiding meeting people in person lately since his god left but he knows he needs some cheering up and has decided to come out and see the fire flies. He he still smiles and waves awkwardly if he spots anyone he knows.

Also, he's not really all that quick and he's really looking forward to the fire flies so he lets them land on him and even reaches out now and then when he's sitting to watch them come to his hand. It's almost magical and really that's what he's here for. Only why isn't it cheering up his mood any?]


[Blights]

[When he notices the discolorations the pain sinks in. It doesn't take Shuusei long to realize what's happening and that's when he panics. He flails the fireflies away and begins throwing up weak borderlines to keep them back. He's not mobile, he's not really putting much strength to his borderlines.

Blight. Blight is bad. Shuusei knows that and he's been blighted by Ayakashi before. His goddess teleported them back to the temple and they cleaned it off. If you don't clean it, you become ayakashi. He doesn't have a god to help him fight this though.

Shuusei doesn't call for help. He's frustrated. He's panicked. He throws down borderlines and tries pushing them back since he's not really able to escape this. He tries to contain them too but he's not thinking clearly and those borderlines don't last long as he forgets to focus.]

Blight

[toremainbehind]

[It's fortunate then that Izumo seems to have noticed Shuusei, sending fireballs at the Ayakashi to ward them off.

He frowns a bit as he finally joins up with Shuusei, forming a Borderline.]

Shuusei.

Tsubasa | OTA

[1wing]

Viewing

[ Someone's found themselves a blue yukata and has taken to watching the fireflies. They really are very pretty, but there's something else occupying her thoughts right now.

That is the small cup of sake in her hand. ]

Do you think I ever reached twenty?

[ It's a question to nobody in particular, and also to anyone within earshot, as she seriously thinks about the alcoholic drink in her hand.

She wouldn't want to break the law. ]

--

Blights

[ Tsubasa's yukata now has a big hole where a sleeve used to be, her left arm burnt black by the blight. This was definitely unexpected, but until Corrin calls her name, she can't take part in destroying the ayakashi.

Until then: ]

Stay behind me! [ She calls out to any god who seems to be alone, or any shinki who looks out of their depth. Springing into action is instinctual for her, placing herself between the enemy and her allies.

This is what she's really here for. Her duty, as a sentinel.

Even if all she can do now is draw a borderline to keep them out. ]

viewing

[kokuyoyo]

Does it matter?

[Says the lanky teenager seated nearby, drinking a cup himself. At least, presumably he's drinking it, albeit very slowly. No rush here- and besides, if he loses track of himself, he knows he'll go drinking a whole damn bottle.]

[Zoro has imparted a horrible thing onto him.]

Chikusa Kakimoto - ota

[kokuyoyo]

A - Viewing and Fireflies

[As he often does, Chikusa has gone to a bit of effort in setting up something for his god- and Ken, by default. A long nice blanket has been set out that's large enough for all of them, and he's prepared a sizeable amount of bento. Oh, don't get him wrong, he's still going over to filch accept some food and plenty of that booze. Anyone is free to come over and chat with him.]

[For the most part, however, Chikusa will just be seated there, working very very slowly on one cup of alcohol. Proper attire? Listen, he'll wear whatever is most comfortable, and that includes a pale green knit beanie with a pompom. A small, black, two-tailed cat is watching the fireflies lazily besides him, and a large white owl is hopping through the grass near the blanket. Apparently, the bird is on a mission to completely destroy any and all fireflies near it, and seems very happy doing so.]

[Chikusa takes another minuscule sip from his drink.]

It hates other things so much...

B is for Blight

Hold still.

[You are listening to that sudden and blank voice, right? Hopefully you are, because Chikusa's yoyos suddenly go cutting through the air. In another life, he was able to slice the fuses off of dynamite in midair- temporarily putting down tiny ayakashi isn't a problem. Yoyos zipping back into his palms, Chikusa slumps.]

[It's hard to tell, because Chikusa's default state is "dead inside", but he' probably annoyed.]

Ayakashi..... what are the Heavens thinking....?

[Yeah he's probably annoyed. A sigh.]

Is there a spray bottle around?

C - Vent

[For anyone near where the vent is, whether on purpose or by accident, they'll be finding a lanky teenager waving them over.]

I need help with something...

A

[goeshyper]

[ Tsuna just happens by the blanket Chikusa set up for his god. He sees the spread and the drinks, and everything looks very inviting. However, the one thing that turns Tsuna off is seeing that owl attacking the fireflies. He watches for a bit as those large talons tears those gentle insects apart.

And all Chikusa has to say is that it hates everything?! Why doesn't he stop the bird?!]

Aren't those fireflies harmless though? It's not like he needs to do that.

[Killer instinct maybe?]

Wendy - Kuroshitsuji

[nopixiedust]

Fireflies

[Wendy is hopping through the fields, dressed in her yukata from the festival and laughing as she carries along a small glass mason jar. Is she trying to see how many fireflies she can catch? You bet she is. Hibiki might want to just sit and relax the quiet- and Wendy agrees, it's good for her. However, Wendy wants to try and enjoy what they can.]

[Anyone nearby gets a wide grin.]

Hey! Want to catch one?

[papillonprincess]

[ Hey at least someone looks like she's having fun. Please don't mind her as she stops to watch this girl a moment, idly fanning herself.

At the offer though, she does manage an apologetic smile back. ]

Ah... no, thank you. i just couldn't help myself. You seemed so happy.

Leo | Closed to Sora and Aymeric

[brynwieldr]

The Viewing

[This was a wonderful idea the Heavens had, and he's not just saying that because he's had a couple of drinks with Aymeric. After the weird age magic, this is nice and relaxing and just perfect.

...the fact that he's had a few and is all but sitting in Aymeric's lap as they watch the firefiles does make it better, though. He's not drunk, just relaxed enough to be affectionate.

Camilla-levels affectionate, possibly.]

I still say you could lift me, Aymeric.

[onedrinkwithme]

[While he is relaxed somewhat, Aymeric is a little worried when it comes to etiquette and courting. He has heard that kissing and closeness is great but also can be too much. He has no problem with any contact (he quite enjoys the kissing) but this is the only time other than Tanabata that they were out in public. He does not want to mess this up, for the love of Halone.

The only reason why he's not so serious or wound up more is because his dear one is relaxed, making him less of a bundle of nerves. Now a stiff drink may help but there's always that part of him that should stay alert so he went with just one for now.

That and watching the fireflies helps.]

Oh? That I do not doubt but we already have a nice view from here.

[He can totally lift him. Can't be a knight without strong arms. But even as he speaks, one arm moves tighter around Leo.]

Niles | OTA

[deniles]

The Viewing | Locked to Zoro

I suggest you be careful.

[Holding up the bottle of booze Zoro brought over for them to share. Niles was getting comfortable beside the green haired man, fingers moving to wrap around his hand.]

You left me all alone again, you have no idea what I might do.

[He laughs gently. Although he's happy that Zoro has a new place to stay, he's still displeased the man had to leave at all. He misses waking up every morning with him.

It's sad.]

We might even need to find some privacy.

Fireflies

[Niles spends some time walking about, checking out all the pretty, floating lights. They're soft and gentle in the night air, and it makes Niles feel relaxed. He even lets a few of them land on his arms and head before shooing them away when they get to be too much.]

Friendly little bastards... [Grumbling softly and shaking his head.]

They're a pain in the ass...

Vent

[The biggest problem ends up being the ayakashi. Niles has been fortunate enough to avoid the bigger, angrier fireflies and instead heads towards the vent. Pulling out his bow and arrow, he narrows his eyes and tries to get the clusters of bugs to scatter. Grumbling as everytime, his arrows seemed to do absolutely nothing.]

What a waste...

[He needs help. Preferably from a god.]

Wildcard

[For any other option, or if you want to run into Niles while being blighted.]

[brynwieldr]

Then stop shooting. ...Sorry, that was uncalled for.

[Have one very grumpy god-prince, Niles]

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