Multicoloured kindnesses, met by chance, one by one

[yoshinocherry]

Who: Yuna and EVERYONE. No CR? No problem, drop on by to make new friends!
When: March 21st, all day
Where: Shinju's Temple
What: Hanami birthday party yayayay

[With a blanket invitation delivered, the only matter of business left is ensuring the temple is set up nicely for a gathering!

The main attraction of the day, of course, being flower-viewing in the temple's courtyard. With light snacks and refreshments lined up at tables inside the building itself and blankets and pillows available to pick up for lounging under the flowering branches, the 'viewing' part of the day should be set. As winds blow lazily through the area, blossoms in an array of colors are occasionally shaken free from the tree, falling in gentle showers to the ground below, creating a serene, relaxing atmosphere. A handful of paper lanterns have been strategically placed around the grounds as well, ensuring that anyone who happens to arrive or stay as the sun sets can still have a good view.

Elsewhere in the temple, the room Yuna uses largely for crafts appears to have spilled over somewhat. There are a few stands set up with origami paper, watercolors and brushes arranged at a table with a few chairs, card stock, glue, colored pencils, stickers, ribbons, and most importantly, there are flowers. There are flowers everywhere. Some arranged tastefully in vases, some dried and pressed and left alongside the other craft supplies, clearly for use in tandem with whatever you feel like making with the other things left out in such a tantalizing way. Go ahead. Make some stuff.

And, while the invitation had been extended to pretty much anyone wanting to drop by, should any of Yuna's friends decide to stay a little longer, she'll let them know of a cozy hot spring bath in one of the back rooms of the temple. Towels will be provided, of course, so why not stay and have a soak to wind the day down with?

The hostess herself will be roaming about the party in high spirits, ready and willing to top up beverages, share a snack, or just have a nice chat. So - kick back! Enjoy the sights!]

Comments

Mordred | OTA

[roundtablerebel]

[ With Yuna's party well underway Mordred has taken the opportunity to slip away from the busier parts of the temple. As weird as it is to have strangers traipsing around her home it hasn't detracted from her enjoyment of the festivities. Up until a few minutes ago, she'd been cheerfully chomping down on the delicious goodies they'd prepared or that had been brought by their guests and she'd even spent some time at the crafts station trying to hone her flower-pressing techniques.
No, the reason she's seeking some solitude is because of events that transpired weeks ago— the stupid boats and the apparition of Kanade. Watching Yuna celebrate her birthday makes her happy but it also brings up some unwanted emotions that she'd rather bury in private.

Of course, such seclusion can't really be found today so Mordred has settled on the courtyard steps. She occasionally switches between observing anyone in the vicinity like a small blonde watchdog and being uncharacteristically lost in thought. ]

You'd better actually be dead...

[myblueskies]

[Romeo had come to help celebrate Yuna's birthday! Yuna was a good friend and they had had a lot of fun together, they had made a good team in scavenger hunts and other training activities.

The temple was full of people and things to do and Romeo was currently looking for the birthday girl herself so he could give her his present.

Instead he found himself in a courtyard and blinked at the words.] Um? I'm a shinki miss if that's what you mean!

[roundtablerebel]

Huh? No, I...

[ Despite watching Romeo walk up Mordred blinks in surprise as if she's only just seen him. Irritation pricks at her from being disturbed but Mordred remembers that she committed to being a little more polite today. ]

I wasn't talking to you, kid.

[ That probably sounds weird since he's the only one here...

She gives a quick nod toward the present he's holding to try and change the subject. ]

You here for the party?

[myblueskies]

Oh. Sorry miss. [He looks around, as if looking for anyone else she could be talking to. He sees no one but maybe she was just talking to friends that weren't there. That could happen sometimes.] I am, I came to say Happy Birthday to miss Yuna. Are you here for the party too?

[roundtablerebel]

It's nothing, forget it.

[ This kid is so polite that she's having a hard time being annoyed by his presence.

Mordred smirks at his question. ]

Something like that, yeah... I'm Saber, Yuna's shinki and the Exemplar at this temple. She didn't give her true name in the invitation so the fact that you know it means you aren't just some random street urchin, right?

[myblueskies]

Oh you're miss Yuna's shinki! [The one that Yuna had been trying to win a prize for! Romeo's glad to finally get to meet her. He shakes his head though, with a grin.]

I'm Elfnein's shinki. Miss Yuna helps me with training a lot and we play kites together!

[yasei]

Perfectly dead!

[ Said way too cheerfully. He's pretty sure she wasn't talking to him....probably. ]

Why is that important, Miss?

[roundtablerebel]

[ Mordred recoils a bit at that cheerful declaration— It sounds exactly like something the person she's been thinking about would say. ]

It isn't... Unless you happen to be the reincarnation of a certain red-headed bird brain.

[yasei]

[ Ahh- did he do something weird? He noticed her recoiling. ]

I don't think so, but then again, shinki don't generally know that until they remember. Reincarnation is a bit different though right so it would be harder to know?

[roundtablerebel]

Yeah, I suppose you'd have to somehow still have memories from two lifetimes ago to know for sure.

[ She shakes her head, dismissing this train of thought. ]

Anyway, you're way too old be Kanade's reincarnation.

[ It's only been a few months since her friend vanished— nowhere near enough time for her to have been reborn, grow up and die as this guy. ]

Still, I haven't seen your face before. You a guest?

[reloves]

[ Wow, Mordred, you can't just threaten invite people to come to a birthday party and then totally ignore them! Not that Minako doesn't like birthdays, and Yuna seems pretty sweet, so she sure doesn't mind being here.. But she also definitely wants to see Mordred when she's the one who invited her.

And Mordred being deep in thought gives Minako - for once - the opportunity to sneak up behind her and quickly try to put her hands over the other's eyes. It's Minako, so it still might not work, but hey, a girl's got to try! ]

Guess who! [ She sounds so enthusiastic, it sounds like she doesn't even realise it might be kind of startling. ]

[roundtablerebel]

[ Mordred's way too distracted and doesn't even hear Minako approach or register her presence at all. It's only the blur of motion from the hands closing over her eyes that snaps Mordred back to reality. Her hands snap up instinctually to grab the wrists of her would-be "attacker" and a moment later she's throwing Minako overhead without even realizing. ]

Nice try you bastard but there's—!

[ Yup, she's only just now seeing that flash of familiar blonde hair fly by but it's too late to stop herself from tossing her BFF down the stairs. ]

[reloves]

[ Maybe this was a bad idea.

Not that Minako has much time to consider that idea, because one moment she's behind Mordred, all smiles, and the next moment she's suddenly taking an involuntary trip through the air. And then over the stairs.

It's only thanks to her quick reflexes and subconscious sailor soldier instincts that she manages to turn the fall into a slightly better roll at the last moment, so she doesn't end up breaking her bones, but it still means she ends up lying miserably at the bottom of the stairs.

And groaning. ]

Wrong answer.. [ She sounds a bit out of it, but that's what getting thrown around does to you, huh. ]

[roundtablerebel]

Antlers!

[ Oh no...

Horrified, Mordred scrambles down the steps over to her friend. Kneeling beside Minako she hurriedly looks her over for any serious injuries and even though there doesn't appear to be any errant bones sticking out, Mordred still hesitates to touch the other shinki. ]

Shit, that looked really bad! You're not dead, are you?

[reloves]

I was already dead..

[ Apparently she's at least still doing okay enough to make those kind of remarks in return to what Mordred is saying. And it's true - she doesn't look like she has any really bad injuries. Mostly just a lot of bruises and she's going to be really, really sore in the morning.

And right now she's kind of in a daze. For obvious reasons. Hence why she's not getting up just yet. ]

Geez, you're so strong...

[yoshinocherry]

[In all honesty, it's a bit of a relief to see Mordred enjoying the party as much as she is - it wouldn't do well for her shinki to be phoning in her cheer while there are a bunch of guests to contend with. It's better for the both of them if the cheer is genuine, right? Less stress for both god and shinki, the easier it'll be to get through the day.

When Mordred finally does slip off for a little solitude, it isn't too surprising. Yuna is more than happy to let her have some time to herself, but it also doesn't hurt to check in and make sure there's no trouble, either.]

Still holding up okay? Not too overwhelming, is it?

[roundtablerebel]

[ Her attention promptly snaps back to her surroundings upon hearing Yuna's voice. Mordred fakes an easygoing smile but Yuna would feel the echoes of her inner turmoil through their connection. ]

Hah! What makes you think this tame little garden party would be overwhelming for me?

[yoshinocherry]

[Surely something's going on that requires a more sensitive approach, so while her own smile dims just a little bit, she refrains from digging into any hard questioning right away.]

It is pretty peaceful, [No one causing a big fuss, no huge messes to be cleaning up just yet, it is a nice day, all things considered,] But sometimes it's nice to get away from the crowd for a little bit.

[Granted, she has her suspicions that this isn't wholly the reason for the retreat, but she'd rather toss her shinki that lifering than have her struggle to come up with a reasoning for scurrying off.]

Did you want to talk for a bit, or were you looking for some quiet time?

[roundtablerebel]

[ That would be an ideal excuse and for a moment she considers taking it. Ultimately she decides it won't do any good to keep it to herself. ]

Ah, why the hell not? Just letting this stew inside my head isn't gonna solve anything. Here.

[ Mordred pats a spot on the staircase for Yuna to sit beside her. A few moments pass in silence while she gathers her thoughts again. ]

Do you remember Kanade?

[yoshinocherry]

[Yuna's patient - Mordred's already relented to let her know what's going on, so however long it takes to come up with the right words, to approach the subject in a satisfying way.]

Kanade? [The name is familiar, definitely.] That was a friend of yours, right?

[futhark]

[ For all the threatening that happened that made Caster come here, Saber indeed is pretty reclusive. Once he spots the culprit he approaches from the blind-side. Just so he can get a sudden double poke under the shoulder-blades ]

Yo!

[ That's not how you greet people ]

[roundtablerebel]

GAH—!

[ Mordred yelps and springs to her feet at the unexpected contact. Everything she'd been contemplating is instantly overwritten by a wave of anger and the shinki spins around to face her assailant. ]

You think that was funny you stupid son of a—

[ Her voice trails off when she sees who it is. ]

Caster, you dumbass! I should poke your eyes out for that!

[futhark]

[ That was a reaction even better than he wished for. Now he's just laughing aloud, s-sorry ]

I'd rather you not, I like keeping them as a pair!

[ Then he gives Mordred a pat in the shoulder, his hand staying there. ]

Already tired from the festivities?

[ It's his way of asking if everything's okay. There was some damn introspection happening here moment ago ]

[roundtablerebel]

[ Mordred continues to glower at him. For a second it seems like she's about to go for a gut punch but then the moment passes.

Mordred shakes her head, brushing his hand aside. ]

Nah, it isn't that, I just...

[ She hesitates to admit that something is genuinely bothering her, especially when she should be enjoying Yuna's party. But then again Caster might actually be able to offer some insight.

Mordred gives a sharp sigh before turning away and plopping herself back onto the steps. A few moments pass and it seems like she isn't going to say anything further.

Then... ]

Were you over at that River Festival a little while ago. You know, the one with the boats?

[futhark]

[ The only good thing to do, is to plop right next to her. ]

Not for long, but yeah. I was there.

[ That day sure was eventful and for many reasons ]

Let me guess, you found a familiar face among the dolls?