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
( He lowers the mask, holding it in his hand and shakes his head, )
It isn't necessary.
( Her help, that is. He could put the mask on himself if he really wanted to. He's just not sure if he does or not. What he knows is that he doesn't want to give it to anyone else, though. It's a gift from his brother... so he'll keep it with him.
The "while we play games" part confuses him though and he looks at her, trying to see if he heard her right. "We?" )
( So she really did mean they'd play together. He isn't sure what to think of that. Surely, he can't be good company. Melon jumps down from his shoulders and into his lap, sliding under the mask so the string catches around it's neck. What if Melon just carried the mask? )
( He's never played any of these games before. He watches as she tosses the ring out and.. it looks easy and yet, there are still so many prizes left to claim. His eyes narrow. Is there some sort of a trick here?
He holds one of the rings delicately in his hands, like he isn't really sure how to hold it and... gently tosses it out. It's not a very spirited throw and it falls completely short of hitting anything. )
( What was he trying to reach? He frowns and looks at the prizes to choose from. There's a little box of strawberry cookies right there and all he knows is that they're sweet. Ah, but he never wants for anything so he doesn't say it out loud, even if his eyes fall in that particular direction and the only other prizes to choose from are toy sword and some other small knick-knacks. )
These games are often skewed against the player.
( They're fixed. )
There are better ways to use resources, aruji-sama.
( Why is she so aggressive about this. He holds the ring in his hands, turning it curiously and becoming familiar with the weight. He still thinks this is a waste of resources but if Satori is ordering it...
He tries again, this time, with a little more effort. He doesn't hit the cookies but he manages to almost hit a small stuffed animal. Unfortunately, his ring bounces off and he frowns.
(One more time? He looks down at his ring and gives it one more go. Like she said, he tries to throw it little harder but he seems to have overshot his ring. It goes over the cookies and lands on...
An inflatable sword. A katana, even. If you hit something with it, it probably squeaks.
The vendor gives Hakusan his prize and Hakusan accepts it perhaps a little too formally, with both hands and a small, awkward bow. Now he just... has a sword and he looks at Satori.)
( Is it? He looks down at the toy sword. It seems pretty useless to him. He can't really think of how something like this can be important to them so... why would he be pleased? You can't even eat this. Ah, but then there's the briefest thought. One of his brothers might like it. Maeda, maybe? Thinking of that, it makes him feel... excited.
The next thing he knows, he has a box of cookies being shoved into his hands and he looks down at that and the toy. But wait, )
Eh?
( EH?? How did she know he wanted to give this to Chougi? )
[Come on, Hakuchan... In spite of what Choogs would like to think sometimes, she does actually care, and she has been a saniwa for a long time. She is pretty observant.
So she'll smile at Haku and then crouch in front of him, snatch his hat and ruffle his hair gently.]
That's why you wanted them, right? So now you can go have them together. You don't even have to tell him i'm the one who won them. Just say you got them at one of the games.
( Everything happens so quickly. He barely has time to react to his hat being taken and the next thing he knows, his hair is being ruffled. Even if it isn't a lot of weight, he still bows his head under it. Hair disheveled, he looks up... confused. What was that for?
But more important... how did she know?)
Together?
( He was just... going to give the cookies to Chougi. He hadn't really thought of sharing them. )
Yes, together! How about I get you some drinks too, and you can go find him and get yourselves a quiet spot [Because she knows the crowd can get a bit overwhelming at times] and have yourselves a little picnic, just the two of you.
[She shakes her head at his next words.]
I won them, but then I gave them to you, so technically, you did get them. It doesn't really matter how, does it? besides, Chougi will like them better if they're from you.
( Ah, drinks too? His eyes widen. He can't help but be surprised. It seems like so much to someone who's never asked for anything more than the good health and happiness of those around him. Even more... just the two of them. He's a conservative spirit and it makes him feel warm just hearing that. What is she implying? "Just the two of them?"
He looks away. )
It isn't necessary.
( Please.
Satori is saying so many confusing things, though. It's hard to not respond or be curious. )
[Haku is a little special, and on some days, Satori does try to go and explain things in word she can understand.
On others, though, she'd rather let him experience some things firsthand and then ask him questions about it. But to make it happen sometimes requires a bit more work. So...]
Alright then. In that case, I want you to trust me on this.
I'm going to buy you some drinks, you will go and find Chougi, you'll go sit under that tree over there, the one that is a little way away, and you will share the cookies with him. Alright?
[And then tomorrow after they've gone home she will grill you on how you felt and if you liked it. But for now... go, baby fox.]
( He listens seriously, like he's receiving orders. Because these are certainly orders, right? His eyes widen as she explains though and then narrow in confusion. What a strange order to receive but if.... these are her orders then, )
[Yes, choices, Hakuchan. Because you are a person who gets to choose what he would like to drink.
Satori buys the drinks and gives them to Haku and then sends him on his way with a smile and a wave... but she is going to keep an eye on those two from afar. Just in case.]
(Well, it isn't the smoothest interaction. Chougi looks surprised when Haku suddenly asks to go somewhere with him. It's awkward and there's a lot of silence between not knowing what to say between them and Haku just not knowing how to carry a conversation on his end.
Eventually, they do seem to find some sort of rhythm between them, even if it's slow. It seems to end with Chougi looking a little more determined and offering his hand to Haku to go do something and that something ends up being waiting in line to try a new food. Maybe Chougi laughs and maybe Haku makes a few expressions he normally wouldn't.
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It isn't necessary.
( Her help, that is. He could put the mask on himself if he really wanted to. He's just not sure if he does or not. What he knows is that he doesn't want to give it to anyone else, though. It's a gift from his brother... so he'll keep it with him.
The "while we play games" part confuses him though and he looks at her, trying to see if he heard her right. "We?" )
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[Yes, 'we'. Come on, Hakuchan.]
There's inarizushi for Melon, too. Come on!
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( So she really did mean they'd play together. He isn't sure what to think of that. Surely, he can't be good company. Melon jumps down from his shoulders and into his lap, sliding under the mask so the string catches around it's neck. What if Melon just carried the mask? )
You want to play... with me?
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I want to teach you the games, Hakuchan. You've never played, right?
[So let's start with something easy, like throwing balls or hoops.]
There, you see, it's easy! You choose what you want and try to get the hoop around it.
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( He's never played any of these games before. He watches as she tosses the ring out and.. it looks easy and yet, there are still so many prizes left to claim. His eyes narrow. Is there some sort of a trick here?
He holds one of the rings delicately in his hands, like he isn't really sure how to hold it and... gently tosses it out. It's not a very spirited throw and it falls completely short of hitting anything. )
I lost.
( Clearly? )
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[She knows it's all new, Haku, but do try, will you? She stands behind him and puts her hands on his shoulders and catches on of the hoops.]
Like this.
[And she's gonna swing hard and hit a nice hairpin.]
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These games are often skewed against the player.
( They're fixed. )
There are better ways to use resources, aruji-sama.
( He doesn't have to play..... )
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Of course they're rigged, but that's not the point! The point is to have fun!
Come on, aim for the box of cookies! And do it for real!
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He tries again, this time, with a little more effort. He doesn't hit the cookies but he manages to almost hit a small stuffed animal. Unfortunately, his ring bounces off and he frowns.
... He really did try. )
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[Stop worrying about the koban, she has money!]
Try it again. Just throw a bit harder!
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(One more time? He looks down at his ring and gives it one more go. Like she said, he tries to throw it little harder but he seems to have overshot his ring. It goes over the cookies and lands on...
An inflatable sword. A katana, even. If you hit something with it, it probably squeaks.
The vendor gives Hakusan his prize and Hakusan accepts it perhaps a little too formally, with both hands and a small, awkward bow. Now he just... has a sword and he looks at Satori.)
... I do not need another sword.
(This one isnt even good???)
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[Yes, she's probably being a little overenthusiastic here, but she just wants her baby robot to try and have fun!
But also...]
Look, I'll try it too!
[She pays for herself again and it take her three tries, but she finally gets the box of strawberry cookies... and promptly gives it to Haku.]
Here you go. You can share them with Chougi.
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The next thing he knows, he has a box of cookies being shoved into his hands and he looks down at that and the toy. But wait, )
Eh?
( EH?? How did she know he wanted to give this to Chougi? )
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So she'll smile at Haku and then crouch in front of him, snatch his hat and ruffle his hair gently.]
That's why you wanted them, right? So now you can go have them together. You don't even have to tell him i'm the one who won them. Just say you got them at one of the games.
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But more important... how did she know? )
Together?
( He was just... going to give the cookies to Chougi. He hadn't really thought of sharing them. )
... But I didn't get them. Aruji-sama did.
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Yes, together! How about I get you some drinks too, and you can go find him and get yourselves a quiet spot [Because she knows the crowd can get a bit overwhelming at times] and have yourselves a little picnic, just the two of you.
[She shakes her head at his next words.]
I won them, but then I gave them to you, so technically, you did get them. It doesn't really matter how, does it? besides, Chougi will like them better if they're from you.
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He looks away. )
It isn't necessary.
( Please.
Satori is saying so many confusing things, though. It's hard to not respond or be curious. )
... Why?
( Why does it matter that they come from him? )
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On others, though, she'd rather let him experience some things firsthand and then ask him questions about it. But to make it happen sometimes requires a bit more work. So...]
Hakuchan, do you trust me?
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Yes, aruji-sama.
( Absolutely. )
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I'm going to buy you some drinks, you will go and find Chougi, you'll go sit under that tree over there, the one that is a little way away, and you will share the cookies with him. Alright?
[And then tomorrow after they've gone home she will grill you on how you felt and if you liked it. But for now... go, baby fox.]
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Yes, I understand.
( He'll do as he's told. )
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Great. What do you want to drink, then? I'm getting a strawberry Ramune for Chougi.
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... Tea, please.
( Unsurprisingly. )
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Satori buys the drinks and gives them to Haku and then sends him on his way with a smile and a wave... but she is going to keep an eye on those two from afar. Just in case.]
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Eventually, they do seem to find some sort of rhythm between them, even if it's slow. It seems to end with Chougi looking a little more determined and offering his hand to Haku to go do something and that something ends up being waiting in line to try a new food. Maybe Chougi laughs and maybe Haku makes a few expressions he normally wouldn't.
... it isn't a bad end.)
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