5 ❀ Sword Dancing

[konnosuke]

SWORD DANCING an open post

It’s a special time of year and the sword army is invited to come down from their citadels and celebrate. What? A summer festival, an offering to the gods, or perhaps a special ceremony of sorts. A normally quiet, rural village at the foot of the mountains will transform for the night with lanterns, fireworks, and music all around but first! Some preparations need to be done. Did you really think you would be invited down here without having to do some work? Prepare to dance, prepare to sing, prepare for a night of fun. 1. CEREMONY PRACTICE At the citadel, a new chore has been added to the list: ceremonial practice! The swords selected to perform at the festival will have to practice their song and dance or else they'll risk embarrassment in front of the crowds. Or maybe this entire thing is embarrassing... either way, this is your duty! Saniwa's orders! Where and when is up to you but you better be ready. 2. SPECIAL CLOTHES You can’t wear those same old clothes. They’re all torn and worn or just not appropriate at all for the type of festival you’re going to. The government has all of your measurements and has sent special robes for the spirits and saniwa to wear. It even comes complete with accessories! What’s taking you so long? We should have left twenty minutes ago. Do you need help? Or are you trying to perfect your appearances for your big debut? 3. PERFORMANCE Everyone is dancing and everyone is singing. Are you one of the performers? Or are they dancing to you? What kind of songs are you hearing? What dances are you watching? Did you see the ceremonial sword dance? Or maybe you were invited to dance in a special performance with your saniwa! When the performance is over, make sure to congratulate the performers on a job well done… or tease your friend. 4. OFFERINGS AND PRAYER After the festive ceremonies, there are more serious things to do. There is a sacred fire and you can take a moment to pray to the gods. Remember, we are fighting a war and it’s important to remember those that have fallen. The swords that were broken and damaged beyond repair are gathered up and taken to a sacred fire so that their spirits can be purified and reborn. Later, all of those offerings you have been saving are offered up to the gods for their blessings. It's also a chance to hopefully pray for a turn in luck. Maybe you'll pray for an old friend to return to the citadel. It's been a long time since you saw them, right? They'll come home eventually. 5. FESTIVITIES The ceremonies are finally over! Wow, that sure took up a lot of time, huh? There are still a couple of more hours left in the night so enjoy the festivities. Try the food, play the shooting games, win a couple of prizes. How many goldfish can you catch? Or maybe the important question is: How are you going to take care of this goldfish? At the end of the night, you can catch the fireworks before the night ends. 6. SURPRISE ATTACK With so many saniwa and sword spirits gathered in one place, it's the perfect time for the enemy to make a major blow against the Time Government. In what should have been the fireworks finale, there's a loud explosion and lightning strikes. The Time Retrograde Army strikes without warning. It's nothing the Touken Danshi haven't taken care of before but this time, they'll have to protect their saniwa too. 7. WILDCARD Pick your own adventure. Maybe you have to help make offerings or tonight is a special night for a special summoning.

What if the saniwa had to perform other duties besides just summoning swords to fight? What if they had to take part in special ceremonies? What if they had to invite their swords to perform with them? Feel free to get as creative as you want with this prompt as far as things like: Why are they celebrating? How often do they get to leave the citadel? Etc

Comments

saniwa ❀ ( mori hana )

[130]

3. Special Performance

( It isn't her first time at an event like this but that doesn't make it any less exciting. When you're a saniwa raised by the government, your world is pretty limited to only your citadel and the occasional trip outside of it like this.

She enjoys watching the performances. It's always impressive to see the swords chosen do their unique dances. Likewise, being one of the saniwa raised by the government, there's a certain expectation for her to perform as well. After all, this might be an event to celebrate the accomplishments of the saniwa but they wouldn't be here at all if not for their swords. With her own performance coming up, she wears a veil over her face which gives away which dance she's going to do. It's the same one she's had to do every time so far but she doesn't mind. If she can do this for others, its a small price to pay for their support.

But there's still some time before her performance if you want to grab her )

5. Festivities

( This is what she's really here for!!! As mature as she acts, she's still a child and one that doesn't get out very often at that so when she's at a festival, you better believe she's going to enjoy as much of it as she can.

There are games to play, foods to try, and they have to do as much as they can before the fireworks at the end.

There's a water balloon game nearby that's caught her attention and she's crouched next to the water's edge, a paper hook in hand and very carefully trying to lift one above the surface. It's close. She's so close and then-- )

Ah!

( It falls right back into the water. Well, there go her three tries and she doesn't have a single balloon left to show for it. The vendor holds up three fingers to show she can try again for another three hundred yen and she starts to reach into the sleeve of her kimono, trying to shake out any loose change she can find... )

7. Fireworks (before a Surprise Attack)

( She'd rushed her swords and friends to get a good place to watch the fireworks so now they've arrived a little early and there isn't much going on. The fireworks haven't even started yet and people are only just now arriving with their own groups to get a spot. There's music playing in the background and the night sky looks particularly dark tonight. Well, it was supposed to be cloudy so that's expected. It's too early to really to know that anything might go wrong so for now, everyone is still relaxed. )

The clouds are so heavy tonight. Do you think it'll rain?

( It's summer so you never really know. )

7

[toobigtohandle]

[Tarou has been hovering protectively behind Hana for most of the evening. Because this is a ceremony, he is in full regalia and carrying his sword, so he's rather impressive and probably more than a few people decided not go and try to impress the new baby Saniwa because of her entourage.


He looks up at the sky, which is indeed quite dark.]

A summer shower could happen, Aruji. But it's alright, we have umbrellas if needed.

[130]

( A saniwa would have to feel pretty big and bold to approach any saniwa with Taroutachi nearby. Or at least, they would have to be very comfortable around the saniwa. Maybe that's why the only people who have really approached her tonight have been her friends and certain higher officials. She hadn't planned for things to go this way but she won't complain.

She looks at the sky again and nods. Yes, a summer shower could happen. Those are always sudden, coming without much warning. )

Hopefully it won't come before the show. ( What's a festival without fireworks? And she looks at Tarou, ) Will you be alright if it rains?

( Will the umbrella be able to cover him? )

5

[dragoncarving]

Here.

[Before Hana can get any loose change out, Ookurikara's already giving the vendor the money for another round. Wait, where did he come from?

Standing next to her, he looks at Hana.]

I can pay for this one.

[130]

( She thinks someone else is stepping in to get their own turn and she steps aside, immediately bumping into-- )

Ookurikara-san?!

( And she looks at the vendor now taking the money and back at him. She's surprised by the gesture but before she can really say anything else, the vendor is handing her the paper hook to try again. She's a little flustered and she bows her head quickly in thanks and kneels down trying to find a balloon to grab. She can't waste Ookurikara's money so she wants to do her very best this time.

There aren't any strings floating to the top though that would make this easy so she just has to take a chance. Reaching for one, she tries to pull at the string but her hook bumps against another balloon and she jumps, pulling the hook out quickly without grabbing anything. )

Ah!

( She's a little too careful at this-- too slow to really get anything. She needs to just go for it all together without worrying and maybe she'll get something. What if she can't get anything and she just wastes Ookurikara's money!! )

Uhm... do you want to try, Ookurikara-san?

( He did pay, after all. )

7 oh no

[nuetoyobare]

[ With all the people and swords jostling about, the mood is cheerful despite the dark skies. Everyone is looking forward to the fireworks, they're just all hoping the weather won't be so cloudy they're invisible. The good news is, despite the clouds, they'll surely get fireworks...of some kind.

The prelude to the attack is quiet -- a few weak swords and their inexperienced saniwa get picked off at the back of the crowd, while all attention is on the skies instead of on the people on the ground. Their attack abilities might not have been significant, but it's important to thin out the enemy; even a novice knows that. The hand that grips Hana's wrist is anything but weak. It's firm and insistent. Unyielding. And the voice that speaks has a strange cadence to it, confident, but with an odd lilt. ]

Don't worry. It won't rain. Not like you think it will.

[ No...this sword isn't one of hers. And yet to Hana, he'll likely feel like an unsettling combination of familiar and unfamiliar, all at once. ]

[130]

( There's a hand on her wrist and she looks to see who it is. At first, she thinks it must be one of her swords reaching for her attention but when she sees that it isn't, she jumps and tries to pull her hand back. She's always been on the more naive side thanks to being raised a very sheltered life but even she knows to be careful around strangers. )

I--

( "Don't know you." She begins to say but that doesn't quite feel right. There's definitely a strange feeling here and she frowns, )

Who are you?

( And what does he mean? )

[tosa]

2. Clothes

( His clothes are always a little torn and dirty. He wouldn't be Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki if he really cared about his appearance to let him stop from getting into the trouble he's prone to finding. It's easy to forget that he's actually a handsome sword when he's too busy acting like a scamp but when the boxes containing the new clothes for the chosen swords arrive, he's excited as everyone else to see the set just for him. Can you believe how fancy this clothes is? And it's all for them? Wow, these government folks must have a lot of money to be able to do this for every single saniwa and their chosen squads.

When the day of the festival comes, Mutsu is dressed up like everyone else in a formal, monochrome kimono. His hair is tied up for once and gee, he really did clean up well, didn't he? But all of this attention getting brought on him makes him self conscious and want to act out. Not that it'll really stop him from showing off. Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki is a sword full of contradictions sometimes... )

What d'ya think? ( Holding out his sleeves, ) Not bad, right?

5. Festivities

( There's a shooting game and you're a fool if you thought he wasn't going to make a beeline right for it. Armed with one toy rifle, he rests it on his shoulder and turns to you, )

So, what d'ya want?

( Which of the prizes do you want! He'll get it! Just for you. He's pretty dang confident about his skills. )

7. Wildcard

( COME AT ME!!!! )

[cranelike]

1. Ceremony Practice

( He doesn't usually volunteer for these things. Why bother when there are others who are more willing to earn the saniwa's good favor and show off for a bunch of stuffy officials? He's more than content to just make his saniwa look good by merely showing up and he'll have fun watching the others perform.

But this year is a little different. It's taken a couple of years but when the saniwa asked for volunteers, he'd stepped forward. It was nice to see how surprised the others were to see him offer.

So until the day of the festival, Tsurumaru practices but always in private. It's pretty rare to catch him but if you're lucky, the sight of him dancing is beautiful. He's graceful and obviously very skilled. Huh, he really should dance more often. Just when you think he hasn't noticed you at all though, he turns and stops, holding position perfectly and grins, )

Are you surprised?

( Did you think a punk like him could actually be graceful? )

5. Festivities

( This is the best part of the entire festival and if you want to convince him otherwise, you'll have to fight him. Grabbing onto the closest person he can find, he'll drag them over towards an obviously rigged ring toss game and shove a bunch of rings in your hands )

Let's see what you can do.

( Did he even pay for these?

Have some fun.)

6. Surprise Attack

( When thunder roars and lightning strikes, he recognizes what's happening instantly. He's been in enough battles to know the enemy when eh sees them and he's quick to step forward and join the defense. )

Now, this is a surprise!

( He laughs. This is a lot more fun than the past festivals, isn't it? Drawing his sword, he catches a tantou's blade and strikes it down. )

Let's see... how many do you think I can cut?

( He sure is going to make a game out of this. He isn't going to let a little invasion ruin his festival fun. )

6

[tsukijiji]

Don't get too heated up, Tsurumaru.

[Honestly, with so much power gathered in one place, it would have been surprising not to get some sort of opening by the Time Retrograde Army. One could argue that so much power gathered could have made them hesitate, but they obviously don't always act smart, and this is a chance to try and reduce their enemies' ranks.

Mikazuki hasn't drawn his blade yet. His Master hasn't given him any order and people seem to be doing fine for now.]

1

[bukimi]

[Tsurumaru Kuninaga does not usually volunteer for such things, or so it is said. Tsurumaru Kuninaga is a free spirit, who keeps his distance, and lives on surprises.

Tsurumaru Kuninaga has been practicing his dance for weeks, now, in preparation for both the festival, and the surprise.

And Sachiko? Well, she's never been one to pressure her swords into doing anything but following their own whims, so long as they behave and listen to her when it's important. Perhaps that endeared her, in a way, to Tsurumaru. Perhaps it hadn't, and this was one more thing to try and surprise her. Whatever the case, when he stops, poses, grins, asks if she's surprised...

She blinks. Lets her head tilt to the side ever so slightly, as if she's considering... something. The question, perhaps? The execution? The pose itself?]

Were you... intending for your practice to be secret, Tsurumaru?

[So. Not surprised. Pleased, yes, as indicated by the shadow of a smile on her features, but not surprised.]

[shirayama]

4. Pay respects

( While everyone else is celebrating and having a good time, Hakusan can be find in a quieter area at one of the altars dedicated to the spirits of those who have been lost so far. There are all sorts of offerings put down and squads from other citadels gather to pray.

Even if he hasn't experienced any loss recently, Hakusan approaches the altar, closes his eyes, and prays for a long time. When he finishes, he turns around to see you and bows his head apologetically, )

I'm sorry.

( For taking so much time. )

5. Festivities

( It's his first festival and he isn't really sure.... what to do. While the others run around having fun, he steps aside, keeping to himself and petting Melon as he watches the others play. At one point, one of his brothers has given him a fox mask that he holds in his hands curiously. Should he wear it? He wonders and he holds it up to his face, not quite putting it in on and looks out through the eye holes. )

7. Wildcard

( Someone teach a boy to have fun. )

7

[myswords]

You want me to help you put that on, Hakuchan?

[It's the first festival for Hakusan, and he's clearly a little lost.]

Or we can have one of the big guys carry it for you while we play games.

[Well... while she teaches Haku how to play games because he's not playing, but he is.]

4

[niisamonji]

It's alright. You do not have to leave.

[Besides, one can never take too much time to pay respect to the fallen.

Kousetsu raises up one hand, his prayer beads clinking as he does and closing his eyes.]

It is unfortunate that fighting is our lot even now. Once more the casualties are many in this war.

[He hates it, just like he hated it as a sword. At least their saniwa is careful and no swords have broken under their care so far, but this is proof that many are not.

4

[xx_ogsalty158_xx]

It's fine.

[ What, like he's going to complain? Now that Hakusan is around, Chougi's indulging in whatever time he can get with him. Doesn't matter if that time is sometimes spent in holy places. ]

It's important. And it's not like there's anywhere else we have to be, so it's fine.

[ His prayers were much more quickly done, so he's just been watching Haku for a while. It's nice. ]

Did you say everything you wanted to say?

Saniwa (Onibuchi Satori)

[myswords]

1. Ceremony Practice

[So, the secretary has just announced the program for the festivities they're being 'invited' to, and of course they're expected to put on a show.

Normally, Satori hates any kind of government gathering. She kinds of hates this one too, but it's one occasion to see her friends, and also an occasion to rub a few things into the faces of certain people. One of the few times where she does not protest having to wear a traditional hairstyles, and where she actually takes her strongest swords to show off because guess what, Time Government? She summoned all of these all on her own and you'll never take that away from her.

She knows who she's taking, and that has just been announced. However, that doesn't answer the most pressing question now.]

So... who's dancing? Do I have volunteers before I start picking victims?

3. Performance

[Satori does not perform herself because she never really learned and doesn't have an interest in learning those things. Watching is fine, though.

And, well, she is one of those few Saniwas who actually get Mikazuki Munechika to perform and show off for everyone. She has others of course, but having him as a performer is a great thing.

She can even act all modest and demure while he does, honest! At least, she'll try real hard.]

5. Festivities

[That's the best part of the evening of course. Once again, Satori has ditched her geta so she can go and get food from the food stalls and some alcohol too. She's a bit too old for the game, but it's fun watching the younger ones try hard at them.

Careful, she's sort of running around with her arms full and she might bump into you!]

6.Suprise Attack

[Well, it's a good thing she ditched her geta earlier. Satori stuffs her snacks inside her kimono and goes to where she knows her sword will be waiting - they have instructions on where to wait and what to do in case of such an event.

Once she finds them, she is quick to issue orders.]

Jii-chan, you and the oodachi take the front. Manba, Hasebe, Nagasone and Kane-san, get up there and grab them before they get inside the perimeter. Yagen, you and Haku head inside the building and make sure it's clean and empty, we might need it to fall back. Tomoe-chan, with me.

[In times like these, it helps to have years of experience, even if she's not normally on the battlefront. She may hate the Time Government, but she's not letting anyone break or take any swords here.]

1

[cranelike]

( Satori has been a saniwa for some time now and not once has Tsurumaru Kuninaga ever volunteered to perform for her. Why bother when there are so many other willing swords here ready to show off and make their master look good?He'll be content to just go along with her and make her look good by simply being hers.

But after all of these years, he's grown rather fond of his new master. They've been through a lot together. She's had to put up with a lot of his more stubborn and foolish moments and she's taken care of and forgiven him each time.

So when Satori asks for volunteers, for the first time since summoning him, he steps forward, )

Oh, pick me, pick me!

( He'll be a victim this year. )

5

[130]

( Hana doesn't get out often. Honestly, she can probably count on both hands the number of times she's left her citadel and all of those times would most likely include meetings and other sanctioned events. Maybe she has a few sleepovers or visits with Satori and her friends but those are few.

One of her favorite things is playing the games and having fun. She wonders if she can catch some of the goldfish and raise them back at home. Or maybe she can get a stuffed toy to take home? It seems ridiculous to make the tantou share one toy... but she's sure Mutsunokami is collecting his share. She's so excited she barely pays any attention. When Satori comes by, she steps out of the way quickly and calls out, )

Satori-san!

( She's carrying so much! Most children would ask what she has but Hana, being who she is, isntead offers, )

Do you need help?

1

[dragoncarving]

[Ookurikara stay silent as he listens to the announcement, and watching Satori talking with the other swords. Many of whom are perfectly willing to volunteer. But they can only do so many performances, before the other citadels get their turns.

In the past, he never volunteered. Ookurikara never care for such social gatherings, and he prefer to leave his skills in the blade than in the performing arts. But he would have the build, flexibility and focus for it.

And well, before, he's more reluctant to get close to Satori. And being more picky about how much he would respect the Saniwas.]

... I don't mind.

[Suddenly, he speaks up! With a surprise?!]

[dragoncarving]

► Performance
[It's time for the dance, and out of all the performances so far, one sword surprised everyone in attendance the most. Well, save for those who came from this particular citadel.

Clad in red, black and gold with strong dragon imagery, Ookurikara draws many gasps and widen eyes as he step onto the designated dance area for the performance. His golden eyes gaze at the audience, as if daring them. Daring them to look away from him. Daring them to watch and criticise him.

When he start his dance, Ookurikara give everyone the impression that a powerful dragon have descended in his movements and choreography.]

► Offerings and Prayers
[It might also be a surprised to see Ookurikara here, praying for the fallen swords.

He wouldn't pray for reunions, despite his deeply buried desires. It's better that no more of his old friends come to his citadel. Because despite however quietly happy he is, he also feared the separation that comes with death or if the war ends.

Nor would he pray to the gods. Not when he prefer seeking results with his own hands, with his own actions instead of asking a god who wouldn't even grant his desires.

... But he can pray for the fallen, and for peace to their souls. For their next "life" to be better. But he wouldn't admit to that last part.

When he opens his eyes, he turns to leave and hopes no one will ask. But maybe... maybe he look for someone? A company? Just this time, he kind of want a distraction from his thoughts.]

► Festivities
[As anyone who knows Ookurikara, or a Ookurikara, they're never one for loud, social gatherings. Much less a festival setting. And this Ookurikara is no different.

If it's a personal festival at his citadel, that would be one thing. But one hosted by the government, with many others from other citadels in attendance? That went beyond how much he would tolerate it.

That's why he try to avoid people and stick to his own thing. Walking around, looking at the stalls at his own pacing, getting something to eat.

(They're good, but not as good as Mitsutada's cooking.)

Unless... he find his Saniwa, then he wouldn't mind accompanying them. They are someone who earned his respect for him to dance for them, after all.

On the other hand, maybe someone find him and literally drag him around for all the games. Despite his complaints, he didn't seriously break free from their grips. A quiet sign of how much he soften. Maybe.]

► Wild Card
[Give me your best shot!!]

Performance

[myswords]

[It's hard not gloat, honestly.

Satori saw the faces of the time government officials when her performing swords came forward. The moment Kara-chan stepped up? There was a collective murmur with some choice expletives murmured and many people glaring in her direction, which she answers with smiles and a bowed head.

She's pretty sure she's given them their biggest surprise in years, and people are going to be super salty about this for months if not years. And she's also wondering which of them will come try to suck up to her afterwards like they don't insult her behind her back all the time.]

performance

[cranelike]

( Tsurumaru watches the dance from the crowd, quietly impressed and smiling all the while. Perhaps more than most here, he can appreciate how special this dance is. In a thousand years, he's only seen it one other time before and it was so long ago... this really is a surprise.

ANd it looks like the others know it too. Ah, Ookurikara really made their master look good tonight. B

When the dance is finished, he'll wait for the saniwa to give Ookurikara his deserved praises. And when he can get a moment to himself, the throws an arm around Ookurikara's shoulders and laughs, )

Kara-bou! Wonderful, wonderful! Hahaha! I think you've shown me up tonight.

( Not that he minds. A dance from Tsurumaru is special but one from Ookurikara is once in a lifetime. )

Well done!

[sleepiwa]

2. Special Clothes
[ It's no secret that there's talk about Noa around the government. Whether it's about her lackadaisical behavior, or her sometimes worryingly casual relationship with history itself, many people in the government are wary of her. Not like they are of Satori...but maybe they should be just as wary of Noa. But y'know what, in the end it's kind of hard to be too wary of Noa, because when she shows up at these functions, it's always with a smile on her face and a flirty "oh you!" joke at just the right moment, and she's always, always dressed to perfection. ]

Isn't it lovely? Sacchan gave it to me!

[ Satsuki. And he's letting her borrow it. That's right. For the 8th year in a row, the government sent her a kimono as a "gift" and for the 8th year in a row she "accidentally" sent it back unopened. ]


4. Offerings and Prayer
[ Like everyone else, Noa is respectful and quiet at the shrine. But unlike many of the others, there's no air of sadness about her. She consigns a few pieces of a sword she couldn't save to the fire with a smile. ]

Don't you worry. We'll see you again soon.


5. Festivities

Ei!

[ IS THAT HER FIFTH GOLDFISH? NOA, WHY. ALSO: HOW. ]

[myswords]

Kikaaaaaai-chaaaaaaaan!

[It was hard to get close to Noa in the ceremony hall and then there were too many people everywhere, but it's a safe bet Noa will be near the goldfish at any celebration anyway. And of course....]

Kikai-chan, don't take all the poor man's goldfish. leave some for other people.

5!

[minogame]

Uwah!

( How many goldfish does a saniwa need? The answer is never too many when you're Urashima Kotetsu. It's not surprising that he's taken to the game himself, scooping up a few fish and winning them for some of the tantou. Heh heh heh, he's a bit of an expert at this game. Of course, when you're named after Urashima Taro, it's only natural that you'd have an affinity for fishing.

He claps for Noa, )

Aruji-san, aruji-san! That was amazing!

( He really thought the fish was going to get away. )