1 ❀ SECOND MONTH / WINTER MEME

[konnosuke]

1 ❀ SECOND MONTH / WINTER MEME

1. HOUSE WARMING Before winter hits in full blast, it's time to celebrate. Everyone's been fixing up the citadel for the past month and what do they have to show for it? A gorgeous citadel they can finally call home. Sure, it might not be perfect yet (there are still a few stray spirits trying to test them) but it's nothing that can't be fixed later. There's plenty of food to go around and for the first time all month there's more than enough alcohol to get Jirou everyone through the night. 2. STAY WARM (I just wanna cuddle) It happened gradually so the swords should have seen it coming but it's like the temperature dropped suddenly overnight. Did the swords turn the heater on the night before? Maybe they did but it wasn't enough... because this morning, it's like waking up in an icebox instead of a home. They better hope that there's a sword around who knows how to adjust the heat or they're going to have to find other ways to keep warm until a modern adult comes home. 3. WINTER WEATHER Gross. Maybe the swords were looking forward to snow but that's not happening. It started off as cold rain and then there was a slushy mix of ice and rain while they were coming in from the stables. Or maybe it's the sudden hail storm in the middle of the night that wakes you up and ruins winter for you. Either way, there's no doubt about it. Winter is here and if you're patient... The first snow will come. When the swords wake up one morning, they can find everything covered snow. It's your first snow so don't be afraid. 4. TIS THE SEASON And I mean cold season. It was never a problem before but now you have bodies and you need to take care of them. Try as you might, though, some things just can't be helped. It starts off with a scratch in the throat and then WHAM! You have chills but you're burning up, everything hurts, you smell like sickness, food tastes like muck, and even though you've been told you aren't dying it sure does feel like it. 5. WINTER CELEBRATIONS (PART I) With winter comes festivals and who wouldn't be excited? If the swords can find a clearing in the woods, they can look down and see the little town at the foot at the mountain. What was once a dimly light town at night has suddenly brightened overnight. There are lights of all colors flashing and sometimes, on particularly quiet nights, you can hear laughter and music. What's it for? Hana will eventually explain Christmas. It's a very basic explanation she's remembered from school: A Christian holiday that has become popular in Japan. The best part is being with friends, eating together, and exchanging gifts. She'll explain the other curious customs like writing letters to Santa and what not so feel free to run wild. And what about more traditional celebrations? The town is having a snow festival-- tiny snowmen and ice sculptures line the streets. It's very popular so people from all over the country are coming! Even weirdos from Tokyo........... in case anyone wants to take turns sneaking down. 6. WINTER ASSIGNMENTS The citadel is up and running so it's time to get out there and do some missions! While different teams head out to the frontline, you might be left behind wondering what else there is to do. Don't worry! There are still things to do on the homefront until your turn comes around . A. Frontlines. The mission is easy: Seek and destroy. You know roughly where the enemy will be so it's only a matter of time until you sniff them out... hey, what's taking you so long? What do you mean you haven't found the enemy yet? Who let the blind grandpas scout? You've been running in circles and into dead ends all day. B. Expeditions. You're in this for the long haul. Your mission is to go undercover and try to find out where and when the enemy will attack. You could be working for days, weeks, months, or even ye-- okay, this is a pretty easy mission so it shouldn't take that long. That said, how's your reconnaissance? If you're going to be living in this time for awhile, you should learn to dress up like the people... you know... fit in and not be so sword. C. Neighborhood Welcome. There are some new neighbors at the citadel! They're very shy so it's hard to see them... but they aren't afraid to let themselves be known. It starts off innocent enough-- someone will throw a snowball at the window when no one is outside or a branch will suddenly drop piles of snow on top of you when you're out. But the pranks grow until suddenly, all of the snow on the roof is crashing in your direction. You open the door to go outside and you're completely snowed in. Get to the bottom of any of these mishaps and you'll catch glimpses of what look like little bipedal snow rabbits causing mischief. They just want to have fun and don't appreciate being ignored. Engage in a snowball fight to the death to appease them. You'll know you've won because later that night you'll hear mysterious singing. A woman in white gathers up the smaller spirits and together, they sweep across the citadel, leaving a blanket of fresh snow and a blue teapot on the veranda with a note "to good health." Anything made in the pot is tastes perfect and is just the right temperature. The sick will recover faster and the healthy will feel warm and happy... are those cherry blossoms in the winter? D. Let Them Eat Cake. For most of December, the swords will find fruit baskets and various slices of cake in different takeaway boxes. The fruit baskets are nothing special other than the fact they never stop coming but the cake comes with a note from the saniwa to help themselves and let her know which one is your favorite by sticking a note on the refrigerator (sticky notes provided for your use). Picking Christmas cakes is important work so stuff your faces. 7. PICK YOUR OWN ADVENTURE. You know what to do. Be a new arrival, come in for repairs, destroy a microwave, be a sword.

This is our second catch-all open post! Our next post will be a mini New Year Meme at the end of year. Remember to read the information post for information on our setting and saniwa-chan. If you have any questions, let me know @ eski on plurk.

Comments

mutsunokami "dragon puppy" yoshiyuki

[tosa]

1. Drunk History

( Mutsu is drunk.

Or at least, in part. The other part is he's just the kind of guy who gets drunk off the atmosphere easily so of course he's going to get a little wild when the party is going. While everyone is sitting, he's up on his feet telling the most dramatic stories to anyone who will listen (particularly the tantou and wakizashi spirits). Right now, he's regaling everyone with the epic love story of Ryouma and Oryou. )

--and while she was takin` a bath, a spear came right through the window! ( Fwoosh, hand straight through the air like a spear and he's looking around to make sure everyone is listening. ) And ya know what she did?

( A n s w e r h i m. )

3. Swords are Old

( Of course, Mutsu's been a menace this season too. He's thrown snowballs at his fair share of people and rolled around in the snow like the overgrown labrador retriever he is but at the end of the day, winter isn't his season. During the day, it's all fun at games when he can run around but at night, he's got to settle down like everyone else and maybe it's something in the air... but it's a little difficult to sleep. So you can find Mutsu sitting out on the veranda, cross legged, chin resting on his hand, and just looking out into the garden.

It's not everyday you get to see a Mutsu at rest and deep in thought. So you can choose to enjoy the peace and quiet or ask him what's on his mind so late at night. )

6A. The Wrong Side of Town
( SCREAMING.

Mutsu is actually screaming when he makes a run for it down the streets of old Kyoto, yelling at you to ask questions later and just run into the market crowd. There's someone chasing behind him... actually, there are several someones all dressed in the signature blue of the Shinsengumi and they're yelling something about how they aren't going to get away.

When you ask him what the hell did he do he just yells back, )

Nothing! I didn't do anythin`!

( And yet, here they are, running from the police. )

7. Wildcard

( (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ )

6a we can't take you anywhere

[fushichou]

[It's amazing what Mutsu can get up to when someone takes their eyes off him for five minutes. But really, Kanesada can't really be surprised because it's Mutsu.

All he knows is Mutsu is running and he needs to be running, too, and the pursuers are very familiar and his haori could make things even more needlessly complicated. He probably could use it to their advantage, but then that would mean getting more involved with history and that's just something they can't do.

Ugh, Mutsu.]

Somehow I don't believe you!

[But Kanesada continues running, reaching up to undo his haori so he can at least get rid of that big ol' signpost.]

he'll take *you* anywhere

[tosa]

( He takes personal offense to this, Kane and he growls, )

I mean it! I didn't do anything!

( And he's making a bit of a split to grab the cover from a vendor's stand and throwing it back to blind a certain tenth squad chasing after them. Do you see this punk, Kane? It's just like the old days but now you're the rebel too! He's also pushing through the crowd, grabbing at his haori if only to try to be helpful. Get rid of that!

Mutsu is also looking back, yelling obnoxiously (taunting?!) in that signature Tosa accent of his, )

I'm bein` unfairly profiled!

3!

[sharplydressed]

[Kashuu doesn't sleep easily even on the cozy nights, though it's pretty uncommon for him to actually get up and move about. He prefers staying in his futon and at least trying to get back to bed, or listening to the even sound of Yamato breathing from just a few feet away.

But tonight he's feeling a little restless, and it leads him to the same veranda despite the crisp chill in the air. He's bundled up, but it's still pretty cold, and he can see his breath float away in little puffs.

When he comes across Mutsu, he pauses for a second, and then:]

Aruji's been dealing with sick people all week, y'know. What're you sitting out in the cold for?

[tosa]

( Ugh, of all the people. He shifts a bit, leaning far back, supporting with his hands behind him, and looking at Kashuu upside down, )

Ya think a cold catch can me?

( He'd GAHAHAHA if it wasn't in the middle of the night so he just huffs a bit. Nevermind that people normally catch colds and not the other way around but semantics, man, )

What're ya doing up, huh?

[sharplydressed]

That isn't how it works.

[GOD!! He knows Mutsu knows that, but he has to be a butthead and point it out, anyway. He also crosses his arms over his chest, and the gesture is more ornery than it might normally be in front of anyone else. Just a little.]

I'm just getting some fresh air. It's too stuffy inside in the winter.

[Sometimes, anyway.]

[tosa]

Then I'm just catching some too.

(Hmph, and he's sitting back straight again, head held up high and as stubborn as can be. It doesn't look like he's going to budge, especially now that Kashuu is here but its quiet, in the middle of the night, no one is going to see them,)

Ya're right though. Staying inside all the time's no good.

(It reminds him a bit of being stuck in storage in Hokkaido all those years. And because he's Mutsu and he can't help himself, he's gotta focus more on the now and future than the past so he asks,)

How're ya guys doing? Kanesada still think he's dying?

(Someone sounds a little smug.)

[sharplydressed]

[Double the stubbornness, double the penchant for not lingering on the past, double the trouble. They're like Team Rocket.

He makes a vague humming sound in response to Mutsu's statement, either way - staying inside all the time really isn't any good, but it's not like he's keen on voicing the agreement aloud. And then:]

They're fine, they're fine. He's just dramatic.

[Says Kashuu Kiyomitsu, king of theatrics.]

Aruji gave me some cold medicine earlier so Yasusada's doing better, too. These cold things are a real pain, though... You'd think these stupid bodies would be sick-proof or something.

[tosa]

Good, good!

(That they aren't, you know, dying. They're punks but Mutsu doesn't want them to die. Who else is he going to fight with if they're gone?)

C'mon. We get sick if we don't eat and we get sick if we eat too much. If it's that easy to get sick, I'm surprised we weren't coughing up sooner.

(Makes perfect sense to Mutsu but if you'd asked him a month ago if they could get sick, he'd just vaguely shrug and say he doesn't plan on getting sick.)

I'm not worried, though. Everyone'll get better in no time! Takes more than a cold to stop a man.

(Hell, Ryouma was running around all across Japan with his colds so.)

[sharplydressed]

[Just!! Huffing again! Mostly because Mutsu is right and he's tired and he wants a sturdier body, dangit. He doesn't even realize just how much easier they have it than Actual Humans...]

How're we supposed to fight well in winter if we've gotta worry about stuff like colds?

[Or even worse, THE FLU. Time to live in fear-- Except not really, because Kashuu is still perfectly healthy himself and doesn't truly have The Fear yet because of that.]

We're already way down on hands for helping with fieldwork and horse-keeping duty.

[tosa]

( Please, it's no surprise Nagasone is sick with all that chest he's always flashing around. It's a miracle Urashima isn't sick too but the kid basically runs on sunshine so maybe he's immune to winter... Mutsu's got no other excuse for any of the others except maybe Kane and Yamato did something dumb to deserve it but he won't say that out loud, )

By making sure everyone gets better real fast.

( Easy. )

I get what ya mean though... it's like we just started doing the real stuff and we're outta commission already. At this rate, it's gonna be just you and me doing all the heavy duty stuff...

[sharplydressed]

[This is why he needs to be babysat, honestly. Urashima stole all the luck and is Snow Fortified despite the kochestsu curse.]

You make it sound easy.

[It's not, oh god, set him free from all these finicky whiny patients. He doesn't know how Hana does it. He can barely do it. Why are sick swords so fussy.]

—And don't curse us by saying something like that either, geez! I've already chipped like, three nails just this week.

3

[toobigtohandle]

[Than small plonking sound is that of a small, warm pot containing sake being put down on the wooden floor. And it's not who you might expect when sake is involved - only because Tarou is much better at not acting drunk than Jirou is, even though he can drink just as much.

Tarou is holding out a cup towards you, Mutsu. Because having a cup of warm sake while looking at snow seems like a fun thing to do right now.]]

[tosa]

(He isn't expecting that at all but Mutsu is never one to turn down free sake. He's a sake merchant sword, after all, and he accepts, raising his hand some in thanks and making himself comfortable,)

Can't sleep?

[toobigtohandle]

[Tarou pours the sake first and take a small sip himself.]

I already slept a lot today.

[Because he too has been sick although he's better now.]

What about you?

[tosa]

Feeling better?

( He's heard about Tarou being sick too.. another casualty in the sword plague. But hmm... he takes a sip before he answers and wonders how to explain, )

Yeah, I guess I get pretty restless around this time of year.

( Except he's always restless... But this is a different sort of restless. )

[toobigtohandle]

I am, yes. And there is nothing that some warm sake cannot take care of.

[Divine sword remedy for everything. Sake.]

What is so special about this time of year?

[tosa]

That's the spirit!

( Have a nice, hearty pat on the back, Tarou. )

It's the end of the year! Everything's gonna be ending pretty soon, ya know!

( He hasn't had enough sake to spill his Dead Master tragic past and his Days Forgotten in Hokkaido but December always feels like The End to him. )

[toobigtohandle]

[Tarou will blink at that.]

... Time does not end. It just cycles back to a new beginning, endlessly.

[That's how you see it when you've spend hundred of years as a divine object. Time becomes a bit of an abstract after a few years.]

People usually go to the temples to make wishes at this time of year.

[tosa]

( That sure was a more heavenly way of thinking about things and he can see what he means. There's a moment of reflective silence and he sighs, )

Yeah, yeah, so what? Out with the old and in with the new, right? It's gonna be fun seeing the new year out here than in some old museum.

( Extending his cup out to Tarou. Top him off, bro, you started this and you have to commit to this life now. )

What d'ya think about that, huh?

( OPINIONS ON YOUR NEW LIFE AND OPTIONS )

1

[youwillbeunequaled]

[At first this new face was just gravitating towards where the kids are, but now Tonbokiri is listening too. Especially since there’s now a spear involved. But he doesn’t know this story… And suddenly he's being asked what happened next?]

I can't imagine. What did she do?

[Sorry, he doesn't even want to share a guess. Although he thinks it would be pretty splendid if she pulled on the spear and knocked her attacker solidly against the wall.]

[tosa]

( He's glad you asked Tonbokiri. In fact, he's particularly glad it was him (or maybe he's just glad he's around) because Mutsu is reaching out to grab him by the shirt and exclaim, )

She grabbed it with her hand and yelled, "Ya can't kill me!" ( And he let's go as quickly as he'd grabbed on, ) Next thing ya know, she's out the bath and running up the stairs-- all wet and just a robe on.

( Naked. She was practically naked. )

And she bust in on us to warn us and helped us get outta there!

( Hand in the air shooting straight out, zoom! )

[youwillbeunequaled]

[Tonbokiri blinks in surprise but otherwise lets Mutsu do as he wills- he's obviously drunk, after all.

As the story continues he smiles, glad he was almost right, but also in admiration.]

It is not just any woman who would do such a thing! How formidable! Her husband must have been honoured to have someone so loyal by his side.

[tosa]

Ya better believe it!

( He looks proud, chest out, chin up, eyes sparkling, )

They ran off and got married right after that. ( What do you mean they weren't married before... Mutsu's told ten stories about them already and he never once mentioned them being unmarried until now, ) After that, anyone's gotta realize she was the one, right?

( You mean he didn't notice after a year?! It looks like Mutsu's old master, as proud as Mutsu is and as great as he claims to be, was a little dense and suddenly, parts of Mutsu's personality make more sense, )

Gahaha, I always knew they were gonna end up together. Ya know, their honeymoon was the first one ever. Can ya believe that? All those years and no one's ever been on a honeymoon? Gahaha, there's really no other guy like Ryouma.

( And one of the tantou exclaims somethign along the lines of how that is pretty romantic. )

[youwillbeunequaled]

[Mutsu is so proud you'd think that he was the one marrying her!
Of course, he is reserved enough to not say so to someone he's just met, but Tonbokiri still chuckles. This is one interesting guy...]

That is rather romantic. You were with them, then? What was the honeymoon like, as there was no precedent?