Battle Fantasia MUSH - User contributions [en]

Yuuno Scrya

2020-06-08T03:43:56Z

SwordPerson:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 80%; float: center; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Yuuno Scrya'''
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | [[File:Yuuno.jpg]]
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Mascot Name:
| colspan="3" | Yuuno Scrya
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Magical Girl Partner:
| colspan="3" | Nanoha Takamachi, a.k.a. White Devil
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Class:
| colspan="3" | Animal
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| colspan="3" | Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Behavioral Age:
| colspan="3" | Maturing young scholar
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Weight:
| colspan="3" | 2 lbs
|-
! style="text-align:left" colspan="1" | Favorite Food:
| colspan="3" | Scrambled eggs.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Stats'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Cuteness:
! | 2
! style="text-align:left" | Roughness:
! | 2
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Quickness:
! | 4 (3 + 1)
! style="text-align:left" | Smartness:
! style="padding-right:70px" | 5
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Traits'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Multitasking.
| colspan="3" | Yuuno is talented at multitasking, able to work on two mental tasks simultaneously. He can't be at two places at once, but he can work on the solutions to two problems at once.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Ferret Archaeologist
| colspan="3" | Yuuno despite his age can actually claim a profession: archaeologist. Raised by a clan of them, he knows how to dig into the earth to get at objects. Even as a ferret. Especially as a ferret. He may not admit it, but sometimes he digs /too/ much.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Special Ability'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Ferret Field
| colspan="3" | Yuuno, though lacking much of his powers when in human form, can still manage enough magic once per plot for a weak defensive barrier. It shouldn't be relied upon, but is solid. Best used creatively.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
'''Yuuno Scrya''' is stupendous in every respect!

Yuuno is a member of an archaeologist clan from the magical planet of Midchilda. He came to earth seeking to seal the Jewel Seeds before they caused Earth any trouble. While only sealing one, he called out for help, and would begin his association with Nanoha Takamachi as well as giving her the Device Raising Heart. A skilled force field mage, intelligent researcher, and shapeshifter with the form of a ferret, he uses his power and keen intellect to support the young girl he admires as well as her friends!

Ability Use: Yuuno used his Ferret Barrier to create a slide for his fellow mascots to escape with! ...It smelled like ferret.
====Logs and Cutscenes====
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl: |category = cutscenes
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = logs
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Mascots]]

Yuuno Scrya

2020-05-30T20:00:56Z

SwordPerson:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 80%; float: center; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Yuuno Scrya'''
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | [[File:Yuuno.jpg]]
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Mascot Name:
| colspan="3" | Yuuno Scrya
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Magical Girl Partner:
| colspan="3" | Nanoha Takamachi, a.k.a. White Devil
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Class:
| colspan="3" | Animal
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| colspan="3" | Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Behavioral Age:
| colspan="3" | Maturing young scholar
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Weight:
| colspan="3" | 2 lbs
|-
! style="text-align:left" colspan="1" | Favorite Food:
| colspan="3" | Scrambled eggs.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Stats'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Cuteness:
! | 2
! style="text-align:left" | Roughness:
! | 2
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Quickness:
! | 4 (3 + 1)
! style="text-align:left" | Smartness:
! style="padding-right:70px" | 5
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Traits'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Trait Name #1: Multitasking.
| colspan="3" | Yuuno is talented at multitasking, able to work on two mental tasks simultaneously. He can't be at two places at once, but he can work on the solutions to two problems at once.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Trait Name #2: Ferret Archaeologist
| colspan="3" | Yuuno despite his age can actually claim a profession: archaeologist. Raised by a clan of them, he knows how to dig into the earth to get at objects. Even as a ferret. Especially as a ferret. He may not admit it, but sometimes he digs /too/ much.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Special Ability'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Name of Special Ability: Ferret Field
| colspan="3" | Yuuno, though lacking much of his powers when in human form, can still manage enough magic once per plot for a weak defensive barrier. It shouldn't be relied upon, but is solid. Best used creatively.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
'''Yuuno Scrya''' is stupendous in every respect!

Yuuno is a member of an archaeologist clan from the magical planet of Midchilda. He came to earth seeking to seal the Jewel Seeds before they caused Earth any trouble. While only sealing one, he called out for help, and would begin his association with Nanoha Takamachi as well as giving her the Device Raising Heart. A skilled force field mage, intelligent researcher, and shapeshifter with the form of a ferret, he uses his power and keen intellect to support the young girl he admires as well as her friends!

====Logs and Cutscenes====
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl: |category = cutscenes
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = logs
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Mascots]]

File:Yuuno.jpg

2020-05-30T20:00:28Z

SwordPerson: Yuuno /dook/ version!

Yuuno /dook/ version!

Yuuno Scrya

2020-05-30T19:57:49Z

SwordPerson: The time of DOOK is now!

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 80%; float: center; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Yuuno Scrya'''
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | [[File:YourPicture.png]]
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Mascot Name:
| colspan="3" | Yuuno Scrya
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Magical Girl Partner:
| colspan="3" | Nanoha Takamachi, a.k.a. White Devil
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Class:
| colspan="3" | Animal
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| colspan="3" | Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Behavioral Age:
| colspan="3" | Maturing young scholar
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Weight:
| colspan="3" | 2 lbs
|-
! style="text-align:left" colspan="1" | Favorite Food:
| colspan="3" | Scrambled eggs.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Stats'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Cuteness:
! | 2
! style="text-align:left" | Roughness:
! | 2
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Quickness:
! | 4 (3 + 1)
! style="text-align:left" | Smartness:
! style="padding-right:70px" | 5
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Traits'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Trait Name #1: Multitasking.
| colspan="3" | Yuuno is talented at multitasking, able to work on two mental tasks simultaneously. He can't be at two places at once, but he can work on the solutions to two problems at once.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Trait Name #2: Ferret Archaeologist
| colspan="3" | Yuuno despite his age can actually claim a profession: archaeologist. Raised by a clan of them, he knows how to dig into the earth to get at objects. Even as a ferret. Especially as a ferret. He may not admit it, but sometimes he digs /too/ much.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Special Ability'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Name of Special Ability: Ferret Field
| colspan="3" | Yuuno, though lacking much of his powers when in human form, can still manage enough magic once per plot for a weak defensive barrier. It shouldn't be relied upon, but is solid. Best used creatively.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
'''Yuuno Scrya''' is stupendous in every respect!

Yuuno is a member of an archaeologist clan from the magical planet of Midchilda. He came to earth seeking to seal the Jewel Seeds before they caused Earth any trouble. While only sealing one, he called out for help, and would begin his association with Nanoha Takamachi as well as giving her the Device Raising Heart. A skilled force field mage, intelligent researcher, and shapeshifter with the form of a ferret, he uses his power and keen intellect to support the young girl he admires as well as her friends!

====Logs and Cutscenes====
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl: |category = cutscenes
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = logs
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Mascots]]

Yuuno Scrya

2020-05-30T19:38:46Z

SwordPerson:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 80%; float: center; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Yuuno Scrya'''
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | [[File:YourPicture.png]]
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Mascot Name:
| colspan="3" | Yuuno Scrya
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Magical Girl Partner:
| colspan="3" | Nanoha Takamachi, a.k.a. White Devil
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Class:
| colspan="3" | Animal
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| colspan="3" | Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Behavioral Age:
| colspan="3" | Maturing young scholar
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Weight:
| colspan="3" | 2 lbs
|-
! style="text-align:left" colspan="1" | Favorite Food:
| colspan="3" | Scrambled eggs.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Stats'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Cuteness:
! | 2
! style="text-align:left" | Roughness:
! | 2
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Quickness:
! | 4 (3 + 1)
! style="text-align:left" | Smartness:
! style="padding-right:70px" | 5
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Traits'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Trait Name #1:
| colspan="3" | A description of Trait 1.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Trait Name #2:
| colspan="3" | A description of Trait 2.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Special Ability'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Name of Special Ability: Ferret Barrier
| colspan="3" | Yuuno, though lacking much of his powers when in human form, can still manage enough magic once per plot for a weak defensive barrier. It shouldn't be relied upon, but is solid. Best used creatively.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] (FC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
'''Your Mascot Name''' is stupendous in every respect!

Here's a brief summary of who they are and what their deal is.

====Logs and Cutscenes====
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl: |category = cutscenes
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = logs
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Mascots]]

Yuuno Scrya

2020-05-30T10:37:42Z

SwordPerson: Created page with "{| class="toccolours" style="width: 80%; float: center; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="ba..."

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 80%; float: center; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Yuuno Scrya'''
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | [[File:YourPicture.png]]
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Mascot Name:
| colspan="3" | Yuuno Scrya
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Magical Girl Partner:
| colspan="3" | Nanoha Takamachi, a.k.a. White Devil
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Class:
| colspan="3" | Animal
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| colspan="3" | Male
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Behavioral Age:
| colspan="3" | Mature young man
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Weight:
| colspan="3" | 2 lbs
|-
! style="text-align:left" colspan="1" | Favorite Food:
| colspan="3" | Scrambled eggs.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Stats'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Cuteness:
! | 3
! style="text-align:left" | Roughness:
! | 1
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Quickness:
! | 4 (3 + 1)
! style="text-align:left" | Smartness:
! style="padding-right:70px" | 5
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Traits'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Trait Name #1:
| colspan="3" | A description of Trait 1.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Trait Name #2:
| colspan="3" | A description of Trait 2.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''Special Ability'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Name of Special Ability:
| colspan="3" | A description of Doe-chan's special ability.
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="4" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Your Cast Page]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:YourUsername|YourUsername]]
|-
|}
'''Your Mascot Name''' is stupendous in every respect!

Here's a brief summary of who they are and what their deal is.

====Logs and Cutscenes====
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

{{#dpl: |category = cutscenes
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = logs
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 1
|rowcolformat=width=50%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}

[[Category:Mascots]]

Uminari Matsuri

2020-05-13T13:45:25Z

SwordPerson: Boot Crepes! (Not made with real boots)

'''Uminari Matsuri is a BF special event that runs through the middle of May 2020.'''

[[File:Uminari_matsuri_1.PNG|center|500px]]

'Matsuri' means festival, usually a local festival, somewhere between neighborhood block party and carnival. They're often sponsored and supported by a combination of community institutions such as shrines or temples, small business owner organizations, cultural associations, neighborhood watches, and the like.

One of the most famous and beloved of Tokyo's festivals is Shitamachi's Uminari Matsuri, named after its location -- the street that runs outside Uminari Seaside Park is shut down to cars and filled with festival booths, while the park itself is transformed by lanterns and other decorations into a truly magical setting.

[[File:Uminari_matsuri_2.PNG|left|500px]]

There's a lot to do, with sponsors organizing dozens of [[Food#Festival_Food|food booths]], crafts booths, game booths, souvenir booths, and so on, all of which require volunteers and desire patronage. Not everyone there is there to work, of course, but even the temps are expected to slip away and get some time mingling with the crowds and seeing the sights. Yukata are not required but there will never be a better excuse to wear one, so the plumage on display is often spectacular.

Uminari Matsuri both celebrates the conclusion of summer and is one of its highlights. There's more than enough festival fun to generate many scenes, large and small, over its long, warm IC evening. We'll be kicking it off the weekend of May 15th and wrapping it up the following weekend, with plenty of suggestions for things groups can do on their own, as well as an overarching, GMed plot to bookend the event.

The Sister Schools are not sponsors of this event, but basically any other shop, restaurant, cultural site or other organization can be. So if you'd like to have been roped into running a booth for part of the night by a parent, friend, or other connection (even just being a sufficiently enthusiastic customer of a sponsor is enough), by all means note in the bullet list below what booth you're associated with, and who the sponsor is! We've seeded the list with a few suggestions that you're welcome to put yourself into, but you're equally encouraged to add more booths, and indeed we've deliberately left off some classics for others to seize. If you'd like to just show up and party, that's great too! And if all of this has inspired you to do any scenes between now and when the festival starts doing some IC setting up, that's all the better.

[[File:Uminari_matsuri_3.PNG|left|500px]]

==Notable Booths:==
* The '''Shave Ice Booth''', sponsored by '''Game Center Crown'''.
:* '''Volunteers:'''
* The '''Mask Making Booth''', sponsored by '''Pino Karaoke Lounge'''.
:* '''Volunteers:'''
* The '''Fortune-Telling Booth''', sponsored by '''Tomoe Laboratories'''.
:* '''Volunteers:''' [[Eudial|Yuuko Arimura]], [[Mimete|Mimi Hanyu]]
* The '''Goldfish-Scooping Booth''', sponsored by '''Hikawa Shrine'''.
:* '''Volunteers:''' [[Rei Hino]]
* The '''Senbonbiki Booth''', sponsored by '''Yamamoto Fishing Industries'''.
:* '''Volunteers:''' [[Ai Yamamoto]]
* The '''Crepes Booth''', sponsored by '''Tanaka Custom Footwear And Polish'''.
:* '''Volunteers: [[Kasagami Araki]]'''
* The '''Insert Booth Here''', sponsored by '''Sponsor Name Here'''.
:* '''Volunteers:'''

==Logs==

Please include 'Uminari Matsuri' in the title of all of your logs and cutscenes, and they'll automatically appear here.

{{#dpl: |category = logs¦cutscenes
|titlematch = %Uminari Matsuri%
|notcategory = News Files
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 2
|rowcolformat=width=100%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no Uminari Matsuri logs or cutscenes yet. Fix it!
}}

[[Category:Special Events]]

File:Kass1.jpg

2020-02-23T18:44:23Z

SwordPerson: SwordPerson uploaded a new version of "File:Kass1.jpg"

It's a Kassie! By Arisuwu!

File:Kass1.jpg

2020-02-23T18:37:48Z

SwordPerson: SwordPerson uploaded a new version of "File:Kass1.jpg"

It's a Kassie! By Arisuwu!

Kasagami Araki

2020-02-23T18:35:31Z

SwordPerson:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:Kass1.jpg|200px|thumb|left]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Secretary
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
=History=

Born the daughter of a Diet member and a famous swordswoman, Kasagami Araki grew up into wealth and an expansive estate to a pair of loving parents that managed to carve out time for their talented young daughter. A youma and a fire changed all of that.

Scarred and alone except for distant family more interested in reputation and money than Kasagami, the private middle school was filled with taunts, insults, and bullying. She fought back, became abrasive and aggressive, earning her a reputation as a troublemaker with brilliance in kendo and athletics as well as an extremely sharp mind.

Then the letter came, along with a ring. Thrust into the Student Council as a Disciplinary Executive, Kasagami has since grown into her own. But will she find World Revolution and become a true King as she so desires?

=Random Kassie Facts=

Kasagami's longcoat is based off of an old picture of her mother. She spent a year leading a biker gang in Tokyo as a teenager.

Kasagami prefers men's clothing in general, but also likes women's clothing. However due to having hangups about her appearance, she only wears dresses around those she trusts. She is particularly self conscious about her leg and stomach, and has thus far avoided swimming lessons and exercise despite knowing how.

She has a pair of dog-patterned pajamas. Only a few know her woofy secret!

Kasagami hates heels, and is actually clumsy in anything over a minor step heel. She would kill herself in stilettos. Hence the boots.

Speaking of boots, they're special order steel toed ones with an inner pocket she occasionally keeps a rose scented perfume bottle in just in case. Or, if out magical girling, an extra throwing knife.

=Kassie Artwork=
Artwork done through commissions and by friends! <3 each and every one of you!

Art by Girutea@DeviantArt, with edits by Raising Heart: https://imgur.com/pZ0hX5K

More art by Arisuwu: https://imgur.com/QPsRVs4

Kassie room! Art by LaKirly@DeviantArt, comissioned by Kestrel: https://www.deviantart.com/lakirly/art/Commission-Mini-chibi-Room-steamforged-783889084

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #FFFFFF;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: A dear friend and found-family member, she's Kasagami's number one concern in the Puella community after the truth was revealed about them. She doesn't know what to think about Eri, or what to do about it. How can someone she cares about contain such a monster? She wants to deny it, but refuses to. Never before has she felt so powerless.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Once the walking personification of everything Kasagami Araki thought she hated. Later, the girl dared try to bring together two warring factions of magical girls in order to see Sayaka Miki brought back from monsterhood. It failed. This hasn't tarnished the idea that Madoka /tried/. Kasagami is, for once, happy to have been utterly wrong.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: The fierce, strong, berserk little sister Kasagami Araki has always wanted. Kassie doesn't find her strong objections to this projected sisterhood worrisome or heeds them at all. She probably should. Also doesn't find the berserker rage or ominous Child Miroku a problem. She probably should.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule. Since the Book of Darkness incident, their relationship has vastly improved, though conflict filled and tense. The only flesh and blood they have left.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Once a rival and enemy, then a monster, then a dead monster. Through her recklessness and grief, she helped reveal the truth of Puella Magi to Kasagami. The Duelist can't help but thoroughly hate her, and yet feel that no one should deserve such a fate. The implications of the truth have yet to be fully processed by the Duelist.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Before meeting Setsuna Meioh, Kasagami Araki never knew she needed the dark green haired senshi so much. She is wisdom, love, intellect and everything that Kasagami calls to mind when she thinks of the word 'Queen'. To see her open up, to have a little bit of that sadness fade in Setsuna's eyes when they're together? A priceless treasure. Yet her sudden coyness over a certain Prince of Ohtori has Kasagami worried in a way she hasn't felt before, and has no idea how to overcome.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. And with her departure from the Student Council, and Kasagami losing to both Utena and Touga? She finds herself missing the stinging thrusts of her senpai more than ever.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Ohtori's Prince, and the One Engaged. Kasagami sees her as a friend, a truest rival, admires her in as many ways as she finds the innocent young Duelist absolutely infuriating. Since her own Engagement and subsequent loss, she's grown increasingly fixated on the why's of the loss and what she's missing compared to a girl that, in her mind, she should be able to defeat with ease. Her loss has taught her a valuable lesson on stagnation, cheating and allowing one's achievements and wealth to overcome her. She's hungry to improve herself, and try again, ever ready to snatch away the Rose Bride: the right way, this time.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself. Her leaving the Shepherds has not changed Kassie's adoration of the tall Witch at all. If anything, she's happy Yumi won't have to face the conflicts involved.

|-
|}

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #ffffff;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Logs
|-
|
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 2
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|}

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #ffffff;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Cutscenes
|-
|
{{#dpl: |category = cutscenes
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = logs
|ordermethod = title
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

File:Kass1.jpg

2020-02-23T18:32:14Z

SwordPerson: It's a Kassie! By Arisuwu!

It's a Kassie! By Arisuwu!

Kasagami Araki

2020-02-17T22:15:59Z

SwordPerson: /* Kassie Artwork */

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:KassiePic.png|200px|thumb|left]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
=History=

Born the daughter of a Diet member and a famous swordswoman, Kasagami Araki grew up into wealth and an expansive estate to a pair of loving parents that managed to carve out time for their talented young daughter. A youma and a fire changed all of that.

Scarred and alone except for distant family more interested in reputation and money than Kasagami, the private middle school was filled with taunts, insults, and bullying. She fought back, became abrasive and aggressive, earning her a reputation as a troublemaker with brilliance in kendo and athletics as well as an extremely sharp mind.

Then the letter came, along with a ring. Thrust into the Student Council as a Disciplinary Executive, Kasagami has since grown into her own. But will she find World Revolution and become a true King as she so desires?

=Random Kassie Facts=

Kasagami's longcoat is based off of an old picture of her mother. She spent a year leading a biker gang in Tokyo as a teenager.

Kasagami prefers men's clothing in general, but also likes women's clothing. However due to having hangups about her appearance, she only wears dresses around those she trusts. She is particularly self conscious about her leg and stomach, and has thus far avoided swimming lessons and exercise despite knowing how.

She has a pair of dog-patterned pajamas. Only a few know her woofy secret!

Kasagami hates heels, and is actually clumsy in anything over a minor step heel. She would kill herself in stilettos. Hence the boots.

Speaking of boots, they're special order steel toed ones with an inner pocket she occasionally keeps a rose scented perfume bottle in just in case. Or, if out magical girling, an extra throwing knife.

=Kassie Artwork=
Artwork done through commissions and by friends! <3 each and every one of you!

Art by Girutea@DeviantArt, with edits by Raising Heart: https://imgur.com/pZ0hX5K

More art by Arisuwu: https://imgur.com/QPsRVs4

Kassie room! Art by LaKirly@DeviantArt, comissioned by Kestrel: https://www.deviantart.com/lakirly/art/Commission-Mini-chibi-Room-steamforged-783889084

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #FFFFFF;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: A dear friend and found-family member, she's Kasagami's number one concern in the Puella community after the truth was revealed about them. She doesn't know what to think about Eri, or what to do about it. How can someone she cares about contain such a monster? She wants to deny it, but refuses to. Never before has she felt so powerless.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Once the walking personification of everything Kasagami Araki thought she hated. Later, the girl dared try to bring together two warring factions of magical girls in order to see Sayaka Miki brought back from monsterhood. It failed. This hasn't tarnished the idea that Madoka /tried/. Kasagami is, for once, happy to have been utterly wrong.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: The fierce, strong, berserk little sister Kasagami Araki has always wanted. Kassie doesn't find her strong objections to this projected sisterhood worrisome or heeds them at all. She probably should. Also doesn't find the berserker rage or ominous Child Miroku a problem. She probably should.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule. Since the Book of Darkness incident, their relationship has vastly improved, though conflict filled and tense. The only flesh and blood they have left.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Once a rival and enemy, then a monster, then a dead monster. Through her recklessness and grief, she helped reveal the truth of Puella Magi to Kasagami. The Duelist can't help but thoroughly hate her, and yet feel that no one should deserve such a fate. The implications of the truth have yet to be fully processed by the Duelist.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Before meeting Setsuna Meioh, Kasagami Araki never knew she needed the dark green haired senshi so much. She is wisdom, love, intellect and everything that Kasagami calls to mind when she thinks of the word 'Queen'. To see her open up, to have a little bit of that sadness fade in Setsuna's eyes when they're together? A priceless treasure. Yet her sudden coyness over a certain Prince of Ohtori has Kasagami worried in a way she hasn't felt before, and has no idea how to overcome.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. And with her departure from the Student Council, and Kasagami losing to both Utena and Touga? She finds herself missing the stinging thrusts of her senpai more than ever.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Ohtori's Prince, and the One Engaged. Kasagami sees her as a friend, a truest rival, admires her in as many ways as she finds the innocent young Duelist absolutely infuriating. Since her own Engagement and subsequent loss, she's grown increasingly fixated on the why's of the loss and what she's missing compared to a girl that, in her mind, she should be able to defeat with ease. Her loss has taught her a valuable lesson on stagnation, cheating and allowing one's achievements and wealth to overcome her. She's hungry to improve herself, and try again, ever ready to snatch away the Rose Bride: the right way, this time.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself. Her leaving the Shepherds has not changed Kassie's adoration of the tall Witch at all. If anything, she's happy Yumi won't have to face the conflicts involved.

|-
|}

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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Logs
|-
|
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
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}}
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{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #ffffff;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Cutscenes
|-
|
{{#dpl: |category = cutscenes
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|notcategory = News Files
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|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

2019-04-30 - A Secretarial Hunger

2019-05-01T15:03:30Z

SwordPerson: Cutscene go!

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: A Secretarial Hunger'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''On a dark and rainy night, newly instated Student Council Secretary Kasagami Araki reflects on the events of the past few months, her losses, and the new road ahead of her.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Kasagami Araki]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Ohtori Academy, Secretary Office
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
4-30-19 - 6-2-15
|-
|}

THUD!

The last filing cabinet door of a long row is slammed shot. A few feet away, an overly large and ornate wooden table marked with carved flowers is empty of paper now after several hours of work. A glance outside. Still raining horribly, and dark besides. It's late, very late.

A thrice emptied coffee cup is emptied for one last time down Kasagami Araki's throat. She had never /liked/ Yukino, but now? There's a certain contempt and irritation at the filing system her predecessor for her newest office had set up. Kassie, arrogant as she is, can't help but imagine it's some personal slight against her tailor made to make her angry. That she /is/ angry only makes her angrier.

She makes a mental note to change the entire thing, just to spite the girl.

Searching for a distraction, her eyes land on a set of framed pictures. Her parents, of course. It's a precious staple in any place she calls her own. Two new ones have taken up residence however. The first, a picture of Eri Shimanouchi and Kassie. The Duelist is grinning, and very clearly messing with the Puella. They both look much happier. It's a photo of much better times. The other is of a much younger girl. Kimiko Akane, with Kassie mussing her hair and sneaking bunny ears into the picture.

It reminds her of how much she's lost. Her anger fades, and her eyes mist up. It wouldn't be the first time she's cried tonight. It's why she's working alone. That, and she wanted time to think.

Grabbing a long, fancy silver pen, she spins it in her fingers. She casts her mind to how much she's lost. The Engagement and the Sword of Dios, pried from her hand by a girl she cares for and yet hungers for what she has. The sharp jealousy with Pluto, and the gulf she feels with every moment unable to find how to fix it. Touga, and the tricks she should've heeded advice against, ruining her fortunes and putting her in debt. A sharp pain strikes her.

Not /just/ the wounded pride. Pills are chased by steaming hot tea.

Kassie looks about the office of the Student Council Secretary. Her office. Her Puella friends are all dead, more wounds torn into her chest that ache even now. She's barely slept, hence the exceeding amount of work she's accomplished. And still, papers are piled up.

Almost enough to crush, with the weight of Kyuubey's truths on her back. Having to serve, nominally aligned with the rest of the girls of the Student Council. So many lessons to learn. It's galling, but she knows how little she understands of the games she's involved in.

Her hand clenches, and the pen crunches. She takes a deep breath. In, out. Frustrated and sad and hurting.

She looks up, and her eyes open again at the ceiling. A beautiful chandelier shimmering with light.

Kasagami doesn't see it. She sees the mountain ahead of her. Up that steep mountain is full of battles, of politics, of Council, of a legendary storm and the grinding system of an alien. On it's summit?

A girl with long pink hair, a shining Prince guarding a throne. Kassie's hands come together, clenching the air as if it were a long blade.

SLASH.

"...It doesn't matter how high or how much it hurts! I'll reach you again, Utena-chan! And this time I'll truly claim that throne!"

Down at the foot of the mountain, she feels hunger and longing.
[[Category:Cutscenes]]

Kasagami Araki

2019-04-10T20:37:09Z

SwordPerson: Trimming relationships and updating! More to come later

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:KassiePic.png|200px|thumb|left]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
=History=

Born the daughter of a Diet member and a famous swordswoman, Kasagami Araki grew up into wealth and an expansive estate to a pair of loving parents that managed to carve out time for their talented young daughter. A youma and a fire changed all of that.

Scarred and alone except for distant family more interested in reputation and money than Kasagami, the private middle school was filled with taunts, insults, and bullying. She fought back, became abrasive and aggressive, earning her a reputation as a troublemaker with brilliance in kendo and athletics as well as an extremely sharp mind.

Then the letter came, along with a ring. Thrust into the Student Council as a Disciplinary Executive, Kasagami has since grown into her own. But will she find World Revolution and become a true King as she so desires?

=Random Kassie Facts=

Kasagami's longcoat is based off of an old picture of her mother. She spent a year leading a biker gang in Tokyo as a teenager.

Kasagami prefers men's clothing in general, but also likes women's clothing. However due to having hangups about her appearance, she only wears dresses around those she trusts. She is particularly self conscious about her leg and stomach, and has thus far avoided swimming lessons and exercise despite knowing how.

She has a pair of dog-patterned pajamas. Only a few know her woofy secret!

Kasagami hates heels, and is actually clumsy in anything over a minor step heel. She would kill herself in stilettos. Hence the boots.

Speaking of boots, they're special order steel toed ones with an inner pocket she occasionally keeps a rose scented perfume bottle in just in case. Or, if out magical girling, an extra throwing knife.

=Kassie Artwork=
Artwork done through commissions and by friends! <3 each and every one of you!

Art by Girutea@DeviantArt, with edits by Raising Heart: https://imgur.com/pZ0hX5K

Kassie room! Art by LaKirly@DeviantArt, comissioned by Kestrel: https://www.deviantart.com/lakirly/art/Commission-Mini-chibi-Room-steamforged-783889084

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #FFFFFF;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: A dear friend and found-family member, she's Kasagami's number one concern in the Puella community after the truth was revealed about them. She doesn't know what to think about Eri, or what to do about it. How can someone she cares about contain such a monster? She wants to deny it, but refuses to. Never before has she felt so powerless.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Once the walking personification of everything Kasagami Araki thought she hated. Later, the girl dared try to bring together two warring factions of magical girls in order to see Sayaka Miki brought back from monsterhood. It failed. This hasn't tarnished the idea that Madoka /tried/. Kasagami is, for once, happy to have been utterly wrong.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: The fierce, strong, berserk little sister Kasagami Araki has always wanted. Kassie doesn't find her strong objections to this projected sisterhood worrisome or heeds them at all. She probably should. Also doesn't find the berserker rage or ominous Child Miroku a problem. She probably should.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule. Since the Book of Darkness incident, their relationship has vastly improved, though conflict filled and tense. The only flesh and blood they have left.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Once a rival and enemy, then a monster, then a dead monster. Through her recklessness and grief, she helped reveal the truth of Puella Magi to Kasagami. The Duelist can't help but thoroughly hate her, and yet feel that no one should deserve such a fate. The implications of the truth have yet to be fully processed by the Duelist.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Before meeting Setsuna Meioh, Kasagami Araki never knew she needed the dark green haired senshi so much. She is wisdom, love, intellect and everything that Kasagami calls to mind when she thinks of the word 'Queen'. To see her open up, to have a little bit of that sadness fade in Setsuna's eyes when they're together? A priceless treasure. Yet her sudden coyness over a certain Prince of Ohtori has Kasagami worried in a way she hasn't felt before, and has no idea how to overcome.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. And with her departure from the Student Council, and Kasagami losing to both Utena and Touga? She finds herself missing the stinging thrusts of her senpai more than ever.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Ohtori's Prince, and the One Engaged. Kasagami sees her as a friend, a truest rival, admires her in as many ways as she finds the innocent young Duelist absolutely infuriating. Since her own Engagement and subsequent loss, she's grown increasingly fixated on the why's of the loss and what she's missing compared to a girl that, in her mind, she should be able to defeat with ease. Her loss has taught her a valuable lesson on stagnation, cheating and allowing one's achievements and wealth to overcome her. She's hungry to improve herself, and try again, ever ready to snatch away the Rose Bride: the right way, this time.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself. Her leaving the Shepherds has not changed Kassie's adoration of the tall Witch at all. If anything, she's happy Yumi won't have to face the conflicts involved.

|-
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

2019-04-03 - TIMELINE X: Bullet Versus Blade

2019-04-07T01:40:43Z

SwordPerson: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: TIMELINE X: Bullet Ver..."

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: TIMELINE X: Bullet Versus Blade'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''The mermaid witch's advent falls heavily upon a great many timelines. Deep into her devotional existence, Homura Akemi finds that one such tragedy triggers a firestorm of retribution from Kasagami Araki. Grief always has its costs.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Kasagami Araki]] and [[Homura Akemi]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
The Araki Estate
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
2019-04-03 - Somewhen amid the timelines
|-
|}

''This begins with an opening cutscene, a collaboration between Kasagami's and Homura's players; then on to the scene!''

It's been a week. A week since Sayaka Miki had given into the despair that's taken so many Puella Magi, that has sparked the transition into a Witch. While the revelation had been shocking, Kasagami Araki has dealt with it. Dealt with it by leaning harder into fighting in the Duels. Hunting youma. Training, anything to not think about the monsters walking and talking in the magical girl community.

Distancing herself from Homura Akemi, from Kyouko Sakura, and most of all from Eri Shimanouchi. Some of these had been close to her, and her own self-imposed exile has seen a drastic change in Kasagami. Gone are the days of encouraging her friends with bombast and confidence. She's been withdrawn, insular, and most of all, isolated and paranoid. More than once angry words and rages have chased away those who might in other timelines be solid allies.

But it hasn't been personal, not /really/. Until Saito Araki stopped responding to phone calls and texts. The curious silence has made a paranoid, wrathful Duelist worried for what feels like her only connection to someone who cares about her. Who isn't a potential enemy.

-Haneda Airport-

Midnight, Terminal 3. The last text had mentioned a business trip, a red-eyed flight to America. It took a few favors she was happy to burn, but she had the time, terminal, and flight number. He'd missed the flight, but a passenger had said he'd seen a man similar to Kasagami's uncle. The last location of his phone was here too.

An empty bathroom by an empty, closed restaurant. The employees and passengers alike of the airport had stayed clear through some intuition. All but the most vulnerable, the depressed, the weak. Drawn in, attracted by the unearthly minions of a deceased, brave hearted girl turned to a monster.

Saito Araki, business suit still impeccable, sits slumped over in a stall. His face is half melancholy, half regret. On his neck sits a hazy, indistinct mark, almost like a tattoo or a brand. An unfolded fan, or perhaps a half-sun of blades, their hilts the curls of musical notes. Already, the thing begins to fade.

"...Old man?" Kasagami starts, trying to deny what's in front of her. "Uncle...Saito?"

A phone slips from Saito Araki's cold hand, an unsent text flashing.

'I love you. The music won't stop playing. I'm sorry, niece.'

Screams and sobs fill the abandoned restaurant, and not long after, the police arrive.

-=-=-=-

The funeral is small. Saito Araki was a well respected man, but not well liked. A middle manager he reported to shows up. A few Ohtori students show to offer condolences to the Disciplinary Executive. The girl, usually so expressive and loud, brushes them off with silence and a set jaw.

Even the priest's prayers are ignored. When she approaches the closed casket, she places a hand upon it, and whispers words between herself and heaven.

"I'll stop every single one of those monsters, Uncle!"

-=-=-=-

Ohtori loses a bit of it's fire. The Disciplinary Executive, always so hands on, becomes a ghost. Gone from classes, from the halls, only emerging during Duels and seemingly at random to mete out harsh punishments on particularly unfavored students.

Delinquents, and those who slip out at midnight off campus are her worst targets. Curfew becomes tighter, stricter. Visiting certain areas of Tokyo more restricted as time goes on. It's an odd list.

Shibuya. Tokyo Bay. Akibahara. Keiyou.

Only a select few would see the common link.

-=-=-=-

Homura Akemi notices.

She's tracking everything, these days. These timelines. By now portions of her facsimile existence have become so rote she hardly notices them: school days blur into a series of tests she knows all the answers to and stolen glances at her pinkest-haired classmate, and even some Witch hunts feel more like practiced dances she already knows the steps to, however labyrinthine those steps might be.

It leaves her more mental bandwidth for tracking the changes, for spying and planning and worrying. Kasagami Araki, so frequently Ohtori's Disciplinary Executive and always involved in mahou goings-on, is a person she actively keeps tabs on -- like so many of the people Homura once thought of as friends. After all, Kasagami has so frequently kept tabs on Homura, over the timelines. It's an issue.

These newer developments spawn newer worries, suggest previously unseen issues.

Kasagami Araki bears watching. And so she is watched, by a pair of level and calculating violet eyes.

-=-=-=-

More and more, groups of girls find themselves under the wrath of the Disciplinary Executive. She's around the school more, soon blatantly targeting those around Puella Magi. Detentions. Nasty rumors. Kasagami Araki's actions push away friends from those independent puella outside of more veteran, established magical girls. In turn, at night, these girls grow more desperate. More prone to infighting.

One girl becomes a Witch. Another gets expelled from Ohtori.

Kasagami Araki seems a little more like her old self. Yet there's something hard growing in her eyes. She laughs, but never quite smiles like she used to.

-=-=-=-

It only took a timeline or two for Homura to learn the personal cost of forgoing school. She went through a period where she tried skipping in favor of weightier concerns, but it always ended up being more trouble than it was worth: another system she could not escape, in the end. Besides, going to class keeps her close to Madoka. Seats away, in fact.

Having experienced the wrath of overzealous discipline before, she takes pains to dodge it now. Others are not so careful, nor so lucky, and she watches the sword of punishment fall with level gaze.

She keeps watching the wielder, and her worries multiply.

-=-=-=-

It's not just at Ohtori. Puella magi find themselves followed. Familiars being cut down. A sense of someone watching, waiting, lurking.

A fight breaks out. A magical girl in a red hoodie and nodachi follows a Puella Magi into a Labyrinth. The magical Witch hunter falls not to a lack of grief seeds, a Witch, or to her fellow Puella. The 'Red Samurai' ends it.

One fewer potential Witch. Even so, the young woman apologizes.

Kasagami Araki is absent from Ohtori.

-=-=-=-

The pattern repeats. At first it's fights. Then the Red Samurai ambushes, begins actively targeting those that have made a Wish. With all of her heart being consumed by vengeance and the stress of such a grisly task.

She is determined, skilled, and efficient.

Kasagami Araki stops apologizing. Her glee is twisted, her smiles sharp.

-=-=-=-

A week after she disappears from school, Homura Akemi appears on her impressive estate doorstep unannounced. She rings the doorbell until Kasagami comes to answer: persistent, repeated, intrusive ringing, like every press of the button is the jab of a finger.

Her cold, level lack of expression is not unusual. This dark puella keeps secrets with her face as well as her words. She has never seemed interested in sharing her thoughts, or hopes, or worries; not with this Kasagami, nor with anyone. Homura is long done with that.

Her voice is quiet, but not soft. "You've been skipping school, Kasagami Araki. What happened to your pride in Ohtori?" A friend would say those words with concern... Not Homura.

"And your extracurricular activities are a problem for me."

She doesn't even blink as she makes oblique but certain reference to the increasingly bloody blade of the Red Samurai.

"Get back in school, Kasagami Araki. It is where you belong. Leave puella matters to puella magi. If you continue as you are..."

There's a pause. Her expression does not flicker, because Homura has so much practice now at pretending not to care. She lets it appear to be for emphasis, but she is remembering when Kasagami showed up at her apartment late one night to insist she attend the Athletics Festival. The duelist didn't believe her then. Now, she does. Now...

Homura flicks fingers through her long black hair.

"The next time I show up on your doorstep, I will put an end to it myself."

She works hard to give no sign that she cares, none whatsoever, and does such an excellent job that Kasagami may never know how this cold challenge constitutes a final hand extended from a girl who once considered her friend.

Then she is gone again, exiting between seconds to leave the truant officer an empty doorstep and a choice.

-=-=-=-

The jig is up. Kasagami Araki finds herself glad rather than despairing, for this intrusion of a girl that at one time was a friend. What is Homura Akemi to her now?

Just another monster in the making, of course. Inevitable, tragic, and deserved.

It's a hint to just how deep into her own pain and paranoia that she's withdrawn into, the way she smiles. Her good eye is open, bloodshot. This Kasagami isn't vibrant, or burning. There's darkness under her eyes as if she hasn't slept in a week.

Her laugh is hollow.

"What's the point of pride, Homura Akemi, if you don't have family to share it with? Where would the meaning of it all be, holding the world in your hands if you can't share that with the people you love?"

She laughs, quiet and long. And when Homura is away like a mirage or a hallucination.

"...Yeah. We'll end this. For both of our sakes, you little demon!"

-=-=-=-

The attacks finally stop for a time. Kasagami even returns to school. Things seem almost normal. But the Duelist still acts strange. Friendless. Even her jokes come off as twisted, harsh, macabre things. Discipline finds it's hold on the school.

Because the newly reinstated Disciplinary Executive is frightening. She's changed, and on the edge of a very, very high cliff.

-=-=-=-

Homura Akemi is a creature of practicalities, driven by necessity and to obsessive, controlling perfection. She does not hang her hat on ephemerals like hope, or at least, that's what she would claim. The truth? Well, Homura Akemi is also a liar.

Still. Still, she does not allow herself /hope/ that the grief-crazed duelist will back down. She has never known Kasagami Araki to be the sort to back down, and also, Homura knows what grief can drive a person to do. To be.

So she prepares.

It doesn't matter how many implements of destruction she slides into her shield. That dainty receptacle always sits light upon her slender arm, its face silver and circular and impassive over the terrible secrets it hides within. Kasagami Araki will be a deeply deadly foe, she knows -- deadly fast, deadly strong, and most of all deadly in intent. She has killed puella already.

Her usual armaments are not the best tools for this job, and there are other things she knows about Kasagami. Homura fills her shield with cruelty, deliberate and dangerous.

When the attacks stop, it should be a relief, but it is not. She keeps her watch on the black-mooded Disciplinary Executive, and her lack of faith finds its reward.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Never let it be said that the Araki doesn't have a sense of drama, or that she ignores certain older traditions. A sign is left nailed into the floor in front of Homura Akemi's apartment door. Wood and bamboo, it's something one might see in an Akira Kurosawa film.

The Red Samurai is challenging the Monster known as Homura Akemi to a duel. There will be no roses in this one.

Most of the Araki Estate remains in ruin. Burnt out ash can still be found in older sections of it. But the main house has been cobbled back to working order. It's a large thing, consisting of a three story building that takes up a full third of the grounds. The repairs are a mixture of fresh construction and cobbled parts where funds ran dry. The roof is high, almost pagoda-like at the top.

It's front door is doubled, large knockers on each bearing the head of a hawk as well as a sword-shaped handle to pull on. Large, sturdy things, in defiance of more traditional flimsier materials deeper in.

There are no maids, however, and everything has a fine layer of dust. An obsessed girl has no need for a place for friends. For family. All she has left is her sword, a half-finished moldering house, and a festering wound in her heart.

In the largest room towards the top, Kasagami Araki sits. A table is set out, with food and sake for two. A traditional meal, fit for a warrior. The young woman is dressed in a kimono that's been cut and slashed to resemble a hoodie. All blacks and reds.

Her combat boots are kicked up, and she'd look utterly indulgent if it weren't for the sword at her side. Polished. Pristine. And ready.

"I'm so…." Alone. Sad. Hurting. She'd been laughing two hours ago. Crying after that. Her emotions come and go like tides.

"Hurry up!" She snarls to an empty room and it's ghosts.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

The sign nailed into the floor earns a rare frown, unseen by its instigator, from Homura as she opens her door. Some of it is for the task now before her; some of it is for the defacement of personal property, and this is not the first time Kasagami has disrupted the sanctity of her home.

She waits for night, then makes her move. Homura keeps her promises.

-=-=-=-

Once upon a timeline, Homura Akemi was a meek and polite girl who used manners to shepherd her through the terror associated with social interaction.

Tonight, tonight she has not come to share dinner with her host, and she does not knock at the front doors like a polite dinner guest.

Instead she blows them in.

<SoundTracker> Roni Size, Reprazant - Railing Pt. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D88UQa2UV38

They're sturdy doors, strong and old and fine, but fire has already shown the Araki Estate the power of its hunger and Homura Akemi believes in concentrating power for full effect. She has the leisure of her private greyscale world to set the thermite charges precisely where she wishes them to be.

She appears for a brief moment on Kasagami's doorstep, her hair blowing in the night wind. She presses a button in the small black box in her hands, and disappears again -- seeking a safe distance.

Then the expectant still of a night spent waiting erupts inward with enough force to blow paintings from walls and fine china from dinner tables, and all is painted in the fervid red-orange-yellow-white of fire as explosions unfurl from windows and buckle solid old doors right off out of their frames. Wood splinters and glass window shards shred the air in a sharp-edged cloud ahead of all that combustive force.

Explosions can feel like they last forever, but in truth scant seconds pass as flame intrudes with its wash of pressure and heat. When the explosions are done, though, some growing embers remain: small crackling chars catch on cloth hangings and wooden furniture, the seeds of fires rapidly blooming.

Homura reappears: a dark outline of a girl with unbound hair whipping from the heat-winds, now, standing still and grim-faced in Kasagami Araki's smoldering and splintered foyer. Her shield gleams on her arm, and her eyes are as cold and as hard as her customary pistols.

"Araki!" she calls above the sound of a crackling window casement crashing to the floor. "I got your calling card. All you had to do was nothing... and yet here we are. You never can leave well enough alone. And you are now too dangerous to be left alone."

Even as she detonates her way into her schoolmate's home, Homura's words claim no responsibility. She is simply doing what must be done... or so she says. So she claims, even to herself.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Things never go the way she wants them to.

A wonderful life with her beloved parents shattered in a single night.

Duels lost when she strived so hard. Never able to defeat her rivals on the Council.
And now, after all that time spent preparing to give the Puella Magi what they deserve? To be let off of their misery and keeping those they care for safe no matter what it took?

No matter what it cost her?

The doors blow off in a great fiery eruption. The place is as beautiful as it is ramshackle in places. This makes for /excellent/ kindling as so many pounds of expertly placed explosives rapidly create a growing inferno as cloth catches fire, bamboo and wood and other building materials recreating the disaster that struck this place so many years ago.

And in a fashion that has Kasagami falling to her knees, unseen in the upper floor. Her mind crawls back to the youma that invaded her parents' abode. This is just like that time. /Exactly/ like that time.

There's even a voice that yells out. But it isn't her mother.

A voice she knows. The Puella Magi Homura Akemi has decided to take her up on her challenge. Her hand, sweating underneath a glove, grabs the handle of her sword and hefts it over her shoulder. Her laugh rings out, something like joy but not quite filtering down the stairwell.

"HOMURAAAA!!! You came, you really /CAME/! I'm not the one who just blew in my front door! Come heeeeere little demon! You've finally come back to finish what you started! But you won't take me! Not this time!" Glee rings in her words. Her voice is scratchy, even as it carriers all the way down. She coughs, waving away the smoke, staring at the flames.

The Araki heir is too tense to feel fear. Her heart beats achingly slowly for the situation as history repeats itself.

"I'm going to do you a favor, and stop you from taking any more mothers or fathers or uncles! All you monsters do is eat, and eat, and gorge yourselves on the suffering of others! A magical girl destroys monsters that do that, don't they!?"

She takes her first step forward, almost leisurely. And then, she leaps upon the first set of staircases, doing a manic hop to take them by twos down from her upper sanctum. Her other hand spins something in it faster and faster as she plays hopscotch with a little whistle.

It's almost casual how she rounds the last step. Her smile would almost be friendly. Like she's at a game of baseball, instead of feeling the sweltering heat of an inferno blister her skin. Old memories and terrors stab at a heart that is hardened and tired from rages and vengeance.

"Come eat me if you can!"

She steps, and slashes at Homura with her blade. But it's a feint. Instead, her other hand whips a bottle of sake through the fire and towards where she thinks Homura might dodge to. An impromptu molotov, and a repudiation of her rudeness.

Upstairs, china and plates shatter. Homura didn't even ask for an appetizer.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

"A monster? I don't deny it." Indeed, the grey girl remembers a timeline in which she insisted this was the case. No one believed her, then. "And I keep my promises."

The wild-eyed fervor amid the bloodshot in Kasagami Araki's good eye is belief aplenty, too late to be anything but dangerous: to the other puella magi, to Homura, and most importantly to extremely puella-adjacent Madoka Kaname, whom Homura can never quite seem to successfully shift from the strange-eared shadow of the Incubator.

The slip of a girl at the bottom of the grand estate stairs is tense, too, though she works hard not to broadcast it. Harder, as the Araki heir in all her vengeful battlejoy descends with that deadly sword upon her shoulder, like standing ground before a mad bull. Which way will Kasagami's horns slash?

She's seen the proud duelist fight so many times before, but Homura has never personally tempted the edge of her nodachi. She expects terrible strength, and terrible speed... but has historically done poorly with anticipating the wilder aspects of the girl she once looked up to. Kasagami has a way of catching Homura by surprise, and with some battlefield misdirection she does it once more.

That first sly slash comes for her, a blade-first attempt to chivvy her like prey. Homura is terribly quick, too -- without ever touching her shield she evades, but the attack was never meant to connect in the first place.

The very essence of improvised weaponry shatters against the wall just in front of Homura, splattering sake-turned-liquid fire in all directions, and the bloom of a bottle-born fireball reflects in big dark eyes gone wide--

--and so quickly it should not be possible, so disjointedly there is no transition to guide the eye from one spot to the next, a distinctly smoldering Homura crouches off Kasagami's other flank entirely. Somehow she crossed all that space and ended up with charred smoking holes in her clean white-and-grey henshin, the clear marks of liquid fire that is still actively splattering the air she just vacated. One porcelain cheek bears an ugly red score too, tracking downward as if a tear somehow scorched her face on its way down.

She doesn't look sad, though, or angry, or even as hurt as she should. Homura is implacable and cold, even amid all this fire. Her mien underscores accusations of inhumanity.

"Don't do me any favors, Araki. It's nothing personal."

But it is, somehow. Behind the icy near-whisper and the hard lack of expression there is an edge which gives the lie to that last statement. She rises from her crouch and backpedals away, black hair streaming, and there is a slab of deadly metal in her hand: a Desert Eagle, grey as the ribbons on her coat.

Then follows, not the concussive wallop of a .44 magnum splitting the air, but a sibilant shriek and a flare of white-hot flame spitting across the brief distance between girls as Homura lets loose with highly illegal white phosphorus rounds.

Nothing personal, indeed -- this is a deeply personal attack, indeed an assault on what Homura knows to be her once-friend's trauma-induced phobia. She hates herself for doing it, but in no way lets that stop her. Homura has done things even more unthinkable in the name of her promises.

Whatever she hits -- girl, wall, staircase, expensive heirloom vase -- the bottom floor rapidly fills with caustic smoke from the phosphorus, like a choking sea made of billowing white. Here and there a glow of red permeates, and a rising crackle speaks to how hungry the flames are for what remains of Kasagami's ancestral estate. Phosphorus doesn't just burn, it consumes in a pyrophoric rage.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Homura's movement is always something that's perplexed Kasagami. Sure, the girl is fast, but not /that/ fast. Can this demon of a Puella actually teleport!? Then why was she hit? Surely she could've avoided such a cheap trick if that were the case!

Kasagami Araki isn't sure, but she intends to find out. In her mind, she knows it might be key to winning against such a powerful opponent.

Things like that, though, are a little bit difficult to concentrate on when your neck is suddenly erupting in liquid, burning flame.

Spying wisps of hair and then the cold lump of steel in Homura's hand, the athletic young woman widens her stance. Gripping her blade with both hands, she aims a savage slash to the space between them! Kasagami is indeed horrifically fast even with her overly long sword's weight, her motions a blur as Homura's gun barks.

If it had been a normal bullet, it would've been cut in two. Instead, there's a splattering of white phosphorous that lashes into her hoodie and across the skin of her neck. Her scream hits the air even before she realizes the obscene amount of pain she's in. A magical girl won't be felled so easily, of course. But the burning gunk is already adding yet another deep, horrible scarr to her body that she won't recover from.

"YOU!"

Ripping off the hoodie portion of her kimono, she tosses it aside, before she steps towards Homura. There's no feint here, as her spinning strike sweeps her blade towards the young woman's kneecaps. She isn't aiming for a shallow strike, either. She knows how tough Puella are, and would much rather cut them out than just annoy Homura.

But she doesn't stay still. She stops, and then leaps towards the staircase. Up, up, and around to the second floor. There's a bend in the staircase leading to a much thinner hallway. Luckily the roof is higher up.

As she sucks in rapid, pained breaths, her blade is held high. Her eyes are wide, wild, waiting for the slightest sign of the girl.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Whatever dread feats of martial prowess and athleticism she's seen from the duelist known as Kasagami Araki before, Homura Akemi has never seen anyone move so swiftly as to simply cut one of her bullets in half. In this moment, each deadly combatant gets to wonder at the capabilities of the other...

But it was not simply a bullet after all, and so Homura transgresses against the Geneva Convention to score a terrible hit on her opponent.

It's not like the grey girl to stick around in the range of things like swords, but it's harder to keep her distance against such blinding speed and steel-described range. The counterslash comes before she can get clear, and in split second desperation the hard-faced puella springs straight up -- there's no safe way to suffer a blade like that.

World-class reflexes deny Kasagami those kneecaps for bounty but she does not pull through with an unblooded blade. It's a near thing, but the duelist hears a strangled sound of pain and feels the pull of connection--

--and the moment the blade's past Homura disappears again, leaving just the spray of red through white smoke to tell of a hit scored. In the monochromatic safety of her own private world, Homura Akemi learns how much it blackens a Soul Gem to restore a ruin of a foot.

All is quiet, save for the crackle of flames beneath billowing white smoke, for long seconds after Kasagami attains the second floor.

When it happens, it all happens at once.

A slip of a puella appears halfway up the stairs at a dead run, and to either side of the grand Araki staircase behind her a handful of small dark objects hover in the air as if dropped out of nowhere -- grenades? But why behind her?

Then she is but a black silhouette against a sunburst of white as several flashbangs go off simultaneously, blowing her raven swallowtail of hair forward over her shoulders as she comes. Homura makes for that hallway behind the duelist, low and dark within a brilliance of explosions.

She'd checked the original floor plans for the Araki Estate before coming -- another of her meticulous preparations. There should be a service elevator shaft at the end of it, and she'll go up it if she can. Homura wants more space to evade that far-too-sharp nodachi.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

A grin splits Kasagami's face despite the sheer pain she's in. The adrenaline helps, and the sight of the blood of a monster like a Puella Magi? She long ago came to enjoy the violent act. A righteous one, saving those she swings at through pure violence.

It's better to meet a warrior's end rather than live to become a monster.

Homura is gone. The teleport again!? The fact that she hit, that she felt that connection of blade and flesh is proof. It's reality. And yet...

There she is. Running. A full tilt, not a leaping dash. As if she could move too fast to be seen even by Kasagami's sharp eyes! There's no sign of her injury, either! She's pretty sure she caught at least an ankle, if not a foot! While she knows the recovery abilities of a Puella are vast.../when/? And where did those grenades come from!?

The flash of light and sound cut through her head like a spike driven through her skull. One of her ears is bleeding from the proximity. it doesn't take Homura's time stop to get past her, with her eyes flashing white and her head filled with that awful sound!

It's a few strands of black hair that tips her off to where Homura's going. Ignoring the ringing in her head, blade and perfect form never wavering, she rushes after the girl. She can barely see, vision swimming. Her aim would be off in the open setting that she guesses the Puella is going for.

The old service elevator. Despite the torment she's trying to clear out of her noggin, there's good cheer in that dark twisted way creeping into her face. Homura quickly find outs /why/.

Up the stairs, around the corner, smoke and fire following them both as the Estate's main house starts to collapse in part. It lurches, just a bit, and Kasagami stumbles. What does Homura find?

Nothing but a boarded up dead end. A few loose bamboo and wood slats reveals concrete beyond. It's been filled in, not merely covered up. Even a block of C4 wouldn't help her get up using this old place.

Kasagami herself ordered it filled in. The Duelist steps into the hallway, bodily blocking Homura from leaving. She takes three steps with a laugh on her lips. She doesn't need to see right to be able to move through the hallways here, and her instincts guide her. Only her steps are slowed, hindered, from the effects of the flashbang scrambling her neurons.

Her grip on her blade is tight and steady, however.

"Sorry Homura! I've been renovating, you crafty devil you! Ahhh, it's been too long since I've fought a real fighter...die by the technique of the Araki family with your honor intact!"

The only warning is a slight refraction of space, her hand seeming to leave little mirrored turns of light. One can see the reds and oranges of flame dancing about the blade again and again as Kasagami steps in. It's an overhand strike. A dire thing, meant to carve Homura clean in half from the top of her skull and downwards. She'll have to slash through wood, nails, and concrete to do it. But these things offer no resistance through the sheer magical muscle and obsession-honed skills of the girl who once dreamed of being a King.

That would be deadly enough, but five more blades menace the Puella. They're points of light in all of this fire continuing to creep. Both shoulders. Both legs. And the midsection. The hallway walls are slashed through in the same instant. Kasagami is close, closer than she would for merely cutting a humanoid.

It's as if she's trying to slash a mounted warrior in half. After Homura's impressive feats, she wants to carve the girl into constituent parts to make sure she doesn't come back.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Even with her escort of 7 million candela delivered directly to Kasagami's good eye, Homura skirts wide around the deadly puella hunter. Perhaps her foot is mended, but a clean-edged flutter of severed black cloth around it tells part of the tale.

Her dead heart thudding hard against her ribcage, she pelts full-tilt for the corner and hits the wall with one foot, kicking off it to retain momentum -- she can ill afford to lose speed with this foe at her heels -- and rockets for the elevator shaft.

The... boarded up... filled in elevator shaft.

The floor plans for this grand estate did not account for the scars it sustained after their filing, any more than Kasagami's childhood pictures could foretell the burns which would rake half her face. Once again, Homura's carefully laid plans go awry. Kasagami is not the only one here who feels like things never go the way she wants them to.

She is trapped, with a bloody-minded samurai at her back.

Kasagami's laughter fills the narrow hall as Homura turns in place. The puella's mouth is a hard slash, and her hands are empty. The hungry flames beneath heat the floor, heat their feet. In no way does Homura Akemi look as terrified as she feels.

At the word 'honor' her eyes narrow slightly. When Kasagami moves,

So does she.

Flame reflects, and scarlet scintillation casts across the puella's pale face like paint splashed on parchment. The ceiling splits before Kasagami's focused might -- the walls splinter, and a refraction of death comes for Homura upon the edge of the Araki family blade.

Hung upon the terminal focal point of all that fury of motion, Homura reaches for the shield on her arm

and the next thing Kasagami sees from the apogee of her assault is the pitch-black barrel of a Desert Eagle, staring her down and split visually by the metal of her blade, then there is muzzle flash and the five other bullets she fired in the timestop fly, too.

Now the bullet turns the blade.

Impossible. Any one of those shots would be impossible, taken together...

Homura doesn't stick around, but she can't go far either with Kasagami still baying her in the dead end hall. She skitters away on one black heel and one unclad one thanks to her blade-torn tights, until her back is against the boards blocking the elevator. She grits her teeth, and reaches for her shield once more.

These days, Homura prepares for contingencies with overwhelming firepower. Tonight she went with overwhelming fire.

<SoundTracker> nine inch nails - Burn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsM4FM3MiK0

A flicker, that is all -- like someone degaussed Homura Akemi's appearance in the world. But when she reappears it is with three tanks strapped to her back, and a relic of a weapon in her hands. Its long metal nozzle points at the Red Samurai, and black swims in the Soul Gem on the back of Homura's aiming hand.

A Japanese Type 93 flamethrower, in pristine shape, preserved since World War II.

"Honor is worse than a lie in this world, worse than worthless. If you can't see that with your Estate burning down around your ears then you never will, Araki."

And with a twist of a dial she unleashes inferno.

Heat roars forth, first in a jet and then a blooming fireball. It could be beautiful. So many deadly things are.

Homura bears down on the nozzle and pours a brilliance of combustion into the narrow hall, letting it blacken the walls and eat through the sword-gouges, until all she can see is a wash of angry redyellowwhite. Somewhere in there, somewhere in the firestorm, is the girl who tutored her at history and brought back her missing mitten.

Homura clenches her jaw against a pathetic squeak, grinds it to dust between her teeth, and pours on the gas.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Each bullet connects, turning aside Kasagami's expert swings just enough to avoid being split into sushi. Sparks fly, setting more smoke into the room and singing tips of Kasagami's hair. Metal shards slash into her clothes and beneath, but the girl seems to pay little heed to the damage.

She is focused, and wants only one thing. To end a girl who was a friend.

A girl, it seems, that has a trick up her sleeve. And one that, as Homura's world flickers and degausses like an old CRT, finally clicks into place in Kasagami's mind.

The movement, how she seems to act and disappear. How she was able to meet the many sword strikes all at once! The mechanics of it don't matter. But now Kasagami knows the what of it. And where it seems to come from. She eyes the shield.

Only for a thing of nightmare to be brought forth. This close, as Homura retorts about honor, it's like staring back into the demon that first brought this home to ruin.

For the second time in her life, her whole being if consumed by flame. And there's no body to shield her, nothing to keep half of her safe at the cost of another's life. The old warhorse flamethrower works quickly as Homura turns it up and throws away the feelings they'd shared together in that long-passed timeline.

Kasagami screams in agony. She writhes, stumbling back. Her knees bend, her hands tremble. One of the columns in the nearby wall fracture from the hole the burning fuel has put in it. A shard of it falls.

Amidst the suffering, the heat, and the horrible smell? A pair of bloodshot eyes stare at Homura, miraculously unclouded by the fire she spews. They're unmoving, wracked with pain, all of the fury and suffering she's endured since the loss of her uncle and resulting spiral into vengeful madness.

They grow clear, as Homura's words catch an old memory.

Sitting together in the Dojo, beside both of her parents, her trembling young hands painted two sets of kanji. One of 'Honor' to her left. One of 'Truth' to her right. The things a proper warrior-ruler family should embody. High ideals.

All of that agony is traded for clarity at the grave insult spoken aloud in the site of her parents' resting place. And one that may very well be her own.

The silhouette of Kasagami and her now crystal clear gaze is gone. There's a flicker through the fire and a shadow falling on Homura. High up above, scoured and scorched with her skin ashen, powerful legs push off of the ceiling. It splits beneath darkened toes.

The tip of her overly large sword drives towards Homura's gutt as she aims to pin flamethrower user and volatile weapon down together, butterfly-like to the wall. Press. Further. Further. /Further/ to the hilt, if she can manage it.

Twist. Tear. Slide.

"...Truth...is the only valuable thing in this world, Homura. No matter...ngghh...what it costs. You can't escape it." Her voice is raspy, vocal cords burnt and ravaged. She can't walk anymore, and even her breath smells like ash.

Her arms remain as hard as steel, utterly unwilling to give.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Through the growl of her weapon and above the crackle of an Estate going up in flames around them, Homura hears the awful sound of Kasagami's agony. The weapon she chose is cruel, so cruel that honorable battlefield commanders no longer deploy it -- there is a reason it is so old.

But fire is the only thing she can think of to repel the terrifying might of Kasagami, and Homura cannot afford to die here. She'll do anything for Madoka, including terrible things that stain her forfeit soul and keep her up in the middle of the night.

She redoubles her grip on the flamethrower's nozzle, relying on the horrific wash of flame to keep Kasagami from her. The hallway begins buckling, but it is the baleful pierce of a wounded girl's gaze which rounds the edges of large dark eyes.

It is as impossible as the shots which deflected a sixfold strike earlier.

She has committed her hands to her terrible weapon and her feet to their planted stance. Homura Akemi underestimated her foe, and she has just enough time to recognize the lethal cost of her miscalculation before a death named Araki falls through flame for her, bladefirst and blackened. The knowledge is in her eyes.

Whatever monster lurks beneath her porcelain facade, Homura exists in the shape of a girl, petite and bird-boned. She is shorter and slighter than the older and athletically-minded Red Samurai by many degrees, and there is in the end very little of Homura Akemi to come between nodachi and wall. Even the sturdiness granted by a traded soul splits before the steel brand in Kasagami's smoldering grip.

Homura pins easily, with hardly a sound except a soft one from the back of her throat. "...!"

The back of her head thuds against the boards behind her but the sensation is a dull one, as distant as the clang of flamethrower to floor. The blade in her belly, though...

They are as close as dance partners, bound closer yet by this moment of shared mortality. Even as Homura tastes the agonal ash on Kasagami's breath and sees smoke rise from fresh-charred skin, the other girl can reap the results of that sword twist in how her pinned quarry's face twists, too -- can feel her shudder bodily.

Homura's porcelain cheeks grey to match her ribbons, and a treacherous weighty cold seeps into her limbs.

"Can't... escape it? That's... where you're wrong, Kasagami Araki," she hisses between clenched teeth, and stares up into the torment contorting the other's features. "Truth has failed me... every time." There's accusation amid all the agony in her eyes, like Homura holds Kasagami personally responsible for this.

Maybe another Kasagami was, partially, once upon a timeline long gone. It is hardly fair to hold that against her now, but Homura's world is not fair and now neither is she.

And now -- now all the many possibilities this timeline held are gone, and her choices have dwindled to one, the same choice she has made every timeline previous. There is one escape left to her, and even skewered like a flame-singed moth she can still reach the shining implement her soul's wish summoned.

It is not the first time her shaking fingers have smeared blood upon the shield's perfect mechanisms and it will not be the last.

She doesn't often consider what befalls the wreckage of the timelines she abandons like sinking ships. In the smoking shadow of Kasagami, surrounded by the swiftly-crumpling corpus which once was her Estate -- which once held safe the very graves of her parents -- Homura is forced to consider, and she does: when she leaves will this timeline flash out of existence behind her? Or will this proud duelist who so often went out of her way to try and reach a painfully withdrawn transfer student burn, alone, in her wake?

But she considers only briefly, and the thought does nothing to slow her hand from twisting that gleaming silver counterclockwise. Their mortal clinch is so close that the duelist can hear the rare susurrus of sand flowing. The last Kasagami sees of her viscerally trapped prey is a flinch: she looks aside, away, can no longer meet that anguish even as she flees.

Homura knows herself for a coward. She is a liar, too, and a thief. She will be whatever she needs to be.

Then she is... gone, simply gone, and Kasagami is left to whatever fate awaits the abandoned.

'''END OF TIMELINE ???'''

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Logs]]

Kasagami Araki

2019-02-24T01:34:37Z

SwordPerson: Adding kasspic!

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:KassiePic.png|200px|thumb|left]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
=History=

Born the daughter of a Diet member and a famous swordswoman, Kasagami Araki grew up into wealth and an expansive estate to a pair of loving parents that managed to carve out time for their talented young daughter. A youma and a fire changed all of that.

Scarred and alone except for distant family more interested in reputation and money than Kasagami, the private middle school was filled with taunts, insults, and bullying. She fought back, became abrasive and aggressive, earning her a reputation as a troublemaker with brilliance in kendo and athletics as well as an extremely sharp mind.

Then the letter came, along with a ring. Thrust into the Student Council as a Disciplinary Executive, Kasagami has since grown into her own. But will she find World Revolution and become a true King as she so desires?

=Random Kassie Facts=

Kasagami's longcoat is based off of an old picture of her mother. She spent a year leading a biker gang in Tokyo as a teenager.

Kasagami prefers men's clothing in general, but also likes women's clothing. However due to having hangups about her appearance, she only wears dresses around those she trusts. She is particularly self conscious about her leg and stomach, and has thus far avoided swimming lessons and exercise despite knowing how.

She has a pair of dog-patterned pajamas. Only a few know her woofy secret!

Kasagami hates heels, and is actually clumsy in anything over a minor step heel. She would kill herself in stilettos. Hence the boots.

Speaking of boots, they're special order steel toed ones with an inner pocket she occasionally keeps a rose scented perfume bottle in just in case. Or, if out magical girling, an extra throwing knife.

=Kassie Artwork=
Artwork done through commissions and by friends! <3 each and every one of you!

Art by Girutea@DeviantArt, with edits by Raising Heart: https://imgur.com/pZ0hX5K

Kassie room! Art by LaKirly@DeviantArt, comissioned by Kestrel: https://www.deviantart.com/lakirly/art/Commission-Mini-chibi-Room-steamforged-783889084

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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|
[[Ami Mizuno]]: The Genius of Juuban. A study session ended with Kasagami on the floor after a crippling flareup of nerve pain. The girl selflessly helped her, commanded the situation with the kind of leadership and calm that makes a leader or a proper doctor. Such kindness and talent has Kasagami's respect. How easy it is to make her blush and her loyalty to her friends is icing on the cake. Good conversationalist, on the list of 'Talent to Scalp' for Ohtori.

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Kasagami's favorite Puella Magi, and leader of the Shepherds. Knows she doesn't fit in with the group. Shows loyalty anyway, which has only hardened her resolve to help them despite her own sense of justice along with concern for Setsuna. Often pushes back at her arrogance, yet knows her place at Ohtori. Quick to fight. Family, as fellow Shepherds, but too close to her own secrets. She worries it will split them apart one day.

[[Garnet]]: Stoic, straightforward, and an utter brickhouse of a person. Kasagami liked her instantly, and wants nothing more than to test her blade against the rock that is Garnet. Also can apparently transform. Kasagami finds that both fascinating and completely creepy.

[[Nanoha Takamachi]]: Cute as a button, the Midori-ya's daughter is the kind of innocent cheer that Kasagami wants to see more of, and shape a perfect world for. Apparently a magical girl. Also touched Pluto, and a new Chevalier. Currently in Kasagami's crosshairs of unreasonable fear and love fueled anger.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Everything Kasagami hates in one pink haired package. The fear and terror she shows in tense situations, magical or mundane, revolts her. How she keeps managing to extract guilt for her past actions and present ones so easily, infuriating. What the Chevaliers see in her, she doesn't know, but the mere thought of Madoka enrages.

[[Mami Tomoe]]: The Golden Queen of Shibuya, leader of the Chevaliers. An enemy to be sure, and Kasagami despises how she puts magic over the pride of Ohtori. More and more Kasagami wants to see her expelled. Yet, not all is blackness. Kasagami considers her a worthy opponent in magical conflict. Mami's hatred of her makes her a useful enemy to have, fuel to Kasagami's inner fire to reach for World Revolution.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: Fierce warrior cat. Oddly laid back outside of battle, furious inside of it. Kasagami aches to fight with her fellow Shepherd, only drawn in by the heat of Mikoto's wrath and her massive sword. Rejected her offer of a fight. Still annoyed. Wants to get to know the girl better, and maybe teach her a thing or two.

[[Usagi Tsukino]]: A blonde, clumsy, talent-less loaf of a girl in Kasagami's eyes that somehow manages to be a thorn in her side consistently. Yet she draws more frustration than hatred, mostly due to Pluto's steadfast loyalty to the girl even over her love. Yet, she's intrigued. What about this girl is so special? To be protected, if only for Setsuna's sake. As Sailor Moon, recent interactions have earned Kasagami's respect...even if her hope for the current world is baffling and secretly terrifying. Still a hope youma.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Their relationship is best described as politely neutral at best, familial obligations at worst. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Co leader of the Chevaliers. Completely infuriates Kasagami at times, while tickling her to her core. She doesn't back down. A worthy rival in Kasagami's eyes, as precious an enemy in her hatred as Mami if not moreso. Yet her recent turn to reckless advances and berserkerdom is an odd change. Worrying, slowly losing the sheen of knighthood in Kassie's gaze. A reckoning will come.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Wise, strong, quiet and with an eternal sadness that eats at Kasagami's sense of justice. As a Shepherd she's a valued ally, and as a person, has gained a place in Kasagami's heart as a lover and friend. But with the weight of their secrets eating at them, and conflict over Kozue, she's become the gaping void in her heart. A thousand Dead Screams can't equal the pain she feels over the distance, emotionally and physically.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. She respects Shizuru for her position, even if she hates the stoic ways of the girl and perfect calm. An enemy to be sure, and yet a mentor in some ways. Stomped on her dreams and humiliated her emotionally. Despite overcoming her in their Duel, the sting is harsh. Vengeance is high on her mind.

[[Sucy Manbavaran]]: An actual, honest-to-goodness potion using Witch of the cute variety! The quiet young woman's delinquency first drew Kasagami's ire. An encounter alongside Pluto would show the girl's magical talents, and time at Infinity's library sparked a deal made in perhaps better faith than expected. Slowly, she's coming to like the girl, ice to her fire. She might even consider Sucy a friend.

[[Rinji]]: The Muse, demur and quiet musician, and yet so much more. Kasagami has found herself attracted to, and coming to love the mute singer for both her passion and ability to cheer on others, as well as the kindness and ability to push her ever harder when she's down. More playful than is obvious, and that only melts Kassie's heart. Rinji saved Kasagami from despair when Setsuna and her fought. The bonds between the three grow deeper, and Kasagami's nightmares slowly drift from her past, to a terrible future reflecting her old tragedy.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Friend and enemy at once. Kasagami's intense feelings for the pink haired Engaged are conflicted in the extreme. Admiring her desire as a prince, she can't understand why she cares so for the Rose Bride or being 'normal'. After Utena's draining by the Wolkenritter, the wounds physical and mental on Utena forced Kasagami to challenge for the right to Duel her out of concern...and greed for the power that Utena has held. After being pushed away with her concerns, there's something else in Kasagami's eyes: disappointment in the one she thought might be her Prince.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself.

|-
|}

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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Logs
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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Cutscenes
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

File:KassiePic.png

2019-02-24T01:31:22Z

SwordPerson: Kassie Full!

Kassie Full!

Previously On Battle Fantasia

2019-02-15T00:31:51Z

SwordPerson: DE Kassie rides again

'''''Previously On Battle Fantasia is a special event that started on Battle Fantasia on 11/11/18.'''''

The five years of Battle Fantasia MUSH roleplay have established a miraculous and tragic [[Timeline|timeline]]...

...but it wasn't the first timeline.

__TOC__

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm2UHRMKtic Cue the music!]

[[File:Previously_on_Battle_Fantasia_labels.png|800px|center|link=Previously_On_Battle_Fantasia]]

===The Wayback Machine===

It is September 20, 2013.

The height of fall. Tokyo is golden and beautiful, afternoons still warm with the memory of summer; beginning to be crisp, in the early morning, with the promise of winter.

It is the second year of the Sister Schools program, which is still new enough to be exciting and also a little uncomfortable. Juuban Public School is about to host the joint sports festival, brushing up their fields. Infinity Institute and Ohtori Academy anticipate shoddiness, but are going to find sportsmanship instead.

But some students suddenly find themselves having to balance the challenge of finding the right partner for the three-legged race with a new life -- a double life -- a secret life.

That's because two weeks ago the demonic army of Dark Fall swept into the heart of the magic worlds, the Fairy Realms, and dislodged their masters. They possessed ancient artifacts and used them to explode fairy castles, and they sealed fairy queens away in teacups. They shattered souls, and remade worlds in their own dark image. And so the cries for help went out -- all of them, drawn by an unseen force, to the same blue ball in Space.

And so it is that today, on Earth, the consequences of centuries, millennia, of planning and battles have come to fruit, as Dark Fall and Ends of the World alike descend not as one, but at once. The greedy fingers of corporate masters tear the dreams out of children's chests in the hunt for the miracle-granting Embryo. A coterie of Belkan Knights root in the shadows for the Linker Cores of the innocent - leaving them half dead and bereft of magic. Orphans stir on Southern Cross Island, finding victims to feed on, as their master's mark blazes in the sky. Underground, the Order of the Glittering Crux seeks to release the seals that will allow them to summon their magitechnological wonders into the real world, and seize it for their own. Witches throng in the shadows, their attention called by the despair of those who see how bleak the world is, their Kiss drawing still more into that trap. Above, the Castle Where Eternity Dwells silently waits to see whose heart will next be savaged by the Duels it oversees. And in the North, Queen Beryl's empire rises again, to finally and absolutely conquer the Earth and therefore the crown jewel of the universe...

But the guardians of Earth are rising. Tokyo is where that battle will be fought; as Pretty Cures are found by the refugees of the Fairy Worlds, and HiME once more flock to the Land of Fuuka, now called Southern Cross Island, and the Silver Millennium's Sailor Senshi stir at last from their millennia-long slumber. The darkness is deep; but once, a great queen wished for a light to outshine any darkness.

She will not be disappointed.

She has you.

---

Welcome to 'PREVIOUSLY ON BATTLE FANTASIA', our game's next major plot. Starting immediately, we're taking a trip back in time to our world as it was in September 2013: a more innocent time, with more innocent characters. New transfer students are new once again. Virtually everyone is a freshly recruited magical girl, taking their first steps into the world of fighting evil by moonlight -- youma are scary and their masters mysterious and unknown. Balancing normal and magical life is not old hat but an often-overwhelming act of frantic rushing around and the occasional guilty lie.

And beautiful friendships are about to be born.

===Frequently Asked Questions===

'''WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?'''

Frankly, the game has been in a very dark place for a very long time, and everyone needs a break. PREVIOUSLY ON BATTLE FANTASIA will occasionally tackle some heavy truths, but overwhelmingly its tone is intended to be lighthearted and fun -- or at least not oppressively, inescapably awful. It is an opportunity for everyone to get a fresh take on their characters, exploring, in a backwards way, exactly how far they've come.

It is also, frankly, an opportunity for some fan service, and the staff is taking requests on 'alternate timeline' plot points you'd like to see worked into the story. Please email your ideas to battlefantasiastaff@gmail.com or join the brainstorming shared document [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TPfzE1C2d5w4waeg4u8qvS0409jtesO9i4FU8c3eimU/edit?usp=sharing here]!

'''IS EVERYTHING THE SAME?'''

No, and we will get into the differences between the first timeline and the final timeline (our regular game) [[#Timelines|below]].

Obviously, one major difference is that themes and characters that joined the game after September 2013 will have joined it earlier and younger: take a look at your 'school' entries, you'll see you've been sent back two grades! '''(If you are one of these characters, the staff wants to work out the details of your earlier arrival with you -- please contact Pink Moon Stick for a brainstorming session!)'''

Characters from later SEASONS of certain themes who weren't around at game start (here's looking at you, Chibi-Usa-chan) will not be present in September 2013, but can rejoin us as the timeline catches back up with them.

'''WAIT, TIMELINES PLURAL?'''

Yes. We are going to do several, one at a time, and in so doing tell a story, as a game, about the MANY ways things have changed from everyone's original destiny to their current one (not just the hairstyle of Homura Akemi). In each timeline we will be skipping around through the intervening year and a half between past and present to hit various highlight events from the old days that some of our players missed out on, and others would enjoy revisiting.

If you want to remind yourself and come up with a possible wishlist, http://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Timeline is hideously out of date, but it's the earlier stuff we're especially eager to do, so in that sense it's still a useful resource!

'''BUT I WANT TO KEEP DOING 2015 ROLEPLAY!'''

That's completely fine. All 'Previously On' logs are going to be labeled as such; you are welcome to roleplay in the 'current' timeline privately if you like, especially to give yourself a little denouement after certain major events, if you don't want to wait. We stopped at the end of the IC night of May 27, 2015, and will be picking back up on May 28, 2015 eventually; for various spooky plot reasons, please keep your roleplay within the next two days, May 28-29, 2015.

===Timelines===

For log titles, please label which timeline you're roleplaying in with the prefix: TIMELINE #:. So, a scene set in the first timeline might
have the title TIMELINE 1: Welcome To Tokyo!

Each timeline has a game-wide theme designed to help guide the overarching plot of Previously On Battle Fantasia across timelines. There is also a list of differences from the 'final' timeline (regular BF) to help people keep things straight and create prompts for interesting scene opportunities.

Please add to the bullet point list beneath the current timeline to document significant differences as they appear. We will be adding later timelines to this page gradually, along with their notable changes from the previous timeline required to get the roleplay a'rolling.

====Timeline One====
'''THEME: FRIENDSHIP.''' ''Everyone is meeting each other for the very first time. Friendships are born, and they are beautiful. Over the course of the first timeline, the innocence and passion of the magical girl community will be powerful enough to forge a grand alliance, in some respects the opposite of the final timeline. A good opportunity for bitter enemies to become dear friends. That doesn’t mean there is no tension among magical girls, but rivalries tend to be less painful and more hopeful.''

* '''IC Starting Date: September 2013'''
* '''Starting Plots: Sister Schools Athletics Festival, Hosted By Juuban Public School; Fusion'''
:* Madoka Kaname is a newly Contracted Puella Magi and Homura Akemi is a normal girl.
:* Themes/characters that joined at game start are rolled back to... game start.
:* Later themes/characters' integration deals will need to be explained here, please add them in brief after discussing your plan with the staff.
::* '''Miraculous Ladybug''' is pretty much the same except that Hawk Moth began his plot in September 2013 instead of later on. Everyone received their Miraculouses as normal, only they're a little bit younger and cuter.
::* '''Steven Universe''' arrived in Tokyo a little earlier and a little younger, with his powers almost completely unexplored and untested (eg, early season one), because Beach City decided to make their move in 2013 instead of 2015.
::* '''Kasagami Araki''' arrived much earlier and younger in this timeline, as a middle schooler in 9th grade. She notably lacks her cynicism about the world and people in general, being overall more positive and utterly new to her powers as a Duelist.
::* The New Transfer Student List, September 2013:
:::* Homura Akemi
:::* Kasagami Araki
:::* Utena Tenjou
:::* Mai Tokiha
:::* Mikoto Minagi
:::* Makoto Kino
:::* Lera Camry
:* After an eventful transfer to Ohtori - a ''car'' was cut in ''half'' on the boat ride over - Mai is bowled over by a strange girl who moves to attack her, only to run away instead. Mai finds her fainted in a hedge, and realising how hungry she is, brings her home to make some ramen. This is apparently the best thing which has ever or will ever happen, and the girl, Mikoto, attaches to her immediately.
:* 'Buki, amidst trying to get Ohtori students to join her Animal Care Club in the days before the festival, realises that a strange girl is trying to get at the birds in the greenhouse, and meets Mikoto and the cat she's trying to help get a snack. Luckily, she always comes prepared, and she has some canned food Mikoto can offer to her friend instead. Mikoto proceeds to... help... Inori try and get club members, and in the process volunteers herself to help out, instead.
:* Mikoto and Endo meet as the two last entrants to a broom racing contest, and despite the strange match-up, they sweep the competition.
:* After rampaging into the pool, Mikoto is taken to the sports festival's first aid tent, where she is restored by a caring civilian named Yumi Ohzora. She teaches her important facts about money and ownership.
:* Homura Akemi flees the sports festival that occurs on her second day of school, feeling depressed. Madoka, Mami and Eri (a Puella Magi trio, and already fast friends) go to look for her. They find her in a labyrinth, about to be taken by a Witch, and rescue her just in time.
:* Homura, Sayaka, and Hitomi are among the civilians given MIRACLE LIGHTS by the fairy mascots, in order to give the magical girls the power to defeat Fusion. Most of them don't remember this event clearly afterwards, though Homura does.
:* Eri and Mikoto separately come upon a stray cat and start to care for her. When she gives birth, their paths collide. They recruit Madoka, Nori and Homura to help take care of the kittens, which initially are hidden in the Garden Club shed at Ohtori, and eventually are moved to the Kaname household when everyone has to get on a train to go to Hokkaido.
* '''Winter 2013 Plot: Hokkaido and the Star Shards'''
* It is Sunday, December 22nd, the day after final exams -- and the second day of the school trip to Hokkaido (which began immediately after exams ended). As everyone has known for over an IC month, the Sister Schools have decided to pack everyone up and spend their Winter Break all together in the frozen paradise of Hokkaido! For most of an IC week, everyone will be staying at the Kubota Ski Resort (with occasional organized trips into Sapporo proper), skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and enjoying the rightfully famous all-you-can-eat crab buffets! While school trips are not /technically/ mandatory, they might as well be -- parents won't let their kids get out of it. It's all been paid for out of the joint Sister Schools Initiative fund, so money is no object.
* In the last three IC months, monster-of-the-day attacks have become all too commonplace (it's mostly been youma and the occasional evil lieutenant). Magical girls have gained a little more experience and comfort with their new powers, but, a few months into their double life, are beginning to really feel the wear and tear of all those little white lies, evenings spent fighting instead of studying, and so forth.
* Characters have had numerous opportunities to meet one another and become friends off the battlefield, allies on the battlefield, or both. People are encouraged to gently hash out progress in their relationships OOCly to make sure they're on the same page, since some fast forwarding is required.
* The major scuttlebutt in the magical community has to do with seven golden "star shards" which have fallen to Earth and nestled themselves in the hearts of seven humans -- if united, they are rumored to be able to grant one single wish. Six of them have emerged (and been fiercely contested by magical girls, men in black, and monsters), though no one is sure who currently has how many. The seventh shard has yet to appear.
:* After distracting a bear from Niramo when the two of them wander away from the lodge, Mikoto becomes worried about that bear not hibernating like all the students say bears are supposed to. Dismissive explanations lead her to investigate on her own, where she runs into Eas, instead. They briefly clash, and Eas immediately exploits the upper hand as she realises that Mikoto is holding back. Luckily, she's willing to talk, if only to make demands, and after Mikoto explains that she really just is out here to investigate the bears, Eas lets her go. Mysteriously, the bear problem is solved.
:* In December 2013, Steven Universe awakens his magical powers on Hokkaido, in the midst of a dire wish to end Christmas; filled with its spirit by his friends and classmates, he manifests his shield for the first time. The resonance of his first Rose Shield tears the wish apart, returning the world to normal.
:* The Moon Princess appears very early (compared to the original timeline), on Hokkaido, after the Maiden of Nightmares sends a lethal attack at Sailor Moon which is taken by Madoka Kaname instead. The Princess wields the Ginzuishou, and a miracle occurs on Christmas Eve.
:::* The Maiden is redeemed by the unlikely forgiveness of her assumed enemies.
* '''Spring 2014 Plot: White Day and Queen Beryl'''
* It is March 13, 2014, and tomorrow is White Day -- the distaff counterpart of Valentine's in Japan, the day that girls give chocolates to their friends and loved ones. It's a stressful time. Who can find enough hours in the day to sit their final exams, defeat the forces of evil, AND make (or even buy!!) chocolate for tomorrow -- and what will happen if this symbol of romance /isn't/ realized? Especially when the battles are reaching a feverish pitch. Most of the Jewel Seeds have been found, and possession over the last few will likely make or break the outcome. The Dueling Game is in full swing. Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite and Kunzite, the Four Heavenly Kings, have died in their pursuit of the Moon Princess and her Ginzuishou, as have innumerable youma. There have been countless clashes between Magical Girls, Orphans, and men in black, clashes which are starting to seem like they serve some greater, darker purpose. Last night Sailor Moon and her Court went to the Moon, then returned with the dual burdens of terrible knowledge and a cursed sword. Everyone else woke up this morning having just experienced the same dream about it (+bbread 12/110, 12/111). The very same dream. Winter is just now yielding to spring. The bite in the air has softened into promising warmth. Tiny leaves and other nascent greenery makes the treetops look like they're inhabited by ghosts. The plum trees have blossomed, but the sakura haven't quite yet.
* In the last three IC months, the fledgling bonds of the magical girls have strengthened immeasurably through both battle and time spent in their fledgling, normal lives. Profound relationships have formed. Large sleepovers and other magical girl gatherings have become normal (though, oof, so difficult to find time for). Their might is waxing, as they come into their true power -- the deeper, stranger, more wondrous power of the heart. But so is their danger, for the very same reason, as an open heart... is a vulnerable one.
:* Sailor Moon and friends go to the Moon on the night of March 12, while everyone else suffers a disturbing silvery nightmare, so Madoka calls for a sleepover on White Day, March 14 so they can face the night with the support of one another.
:* At the sleepover, Mami Tomoe coins the group name 'Covenant of Style', which catches on like wildfire.
:* On the morning of March 15, Beryl issues her challenge to the world: threatening all life on it and daring the magical girls to stop her. They disrupt her evil ritual and she is slain at the hands of the Outer Senshi, but not before she murders her much-hated Princess Serenity first. Usagi is revived by the Ginzuishou, which responds to the feelings of her friends, and afterwards they all defeat Queen Metallia together.
:* After the events of the North Pole, Mikoto reassures Homura by carrying her up a tree and showing her how nice high places are.
* '''Summer 2014 Plot: Orphans, and an orphan'''
* It is August 6, 2014. Cicadas whirr staccatos, forcing them through the oppressively heavy air. Nary a breeze stirs across Tokyo Bay; there is no respite from the concrete-gathered might of the sun as it absorbs and re-emits from every surface in the city. Sweat beads at temples, at necklines, at the bottom of the back. But it just makes the ice cream sweeter. The resumption of school is weeks away and the obligations of summer homework might as well be on another planet. It's a long, hot, lazy summer. What a great time to be alive.
* In the last five months: After defeating Queen Metallia and returning home, the magical girls resolved the Jewel Seed Incident (approximately per canon, with the apparent death of Precia and the redemption of Fate, and also per BF canon, with the full withdrawal of the TSAB from Earth and the stranding of Lindy). In terms of trouble on the /rise/, it mostly takes the form of increased Orphan attacks (HiME are busting out all over) and greater activity by Labyrinth -- Nakewameke out the ears, as they strive to fill their Fuko Gauge to the brim, harvesting the despair of Tokyo citizens. Also, everyone went up a grade, which means some middle schoolers are now in high school. Though school is not currently in session.
* Chibi-Usa and Sailor Pluto have arrived in Tokyo. (Black Moon won't be far behind, while the Death Busters were always here but have yet to start overt operations; similarly the Wolkenritter have been present but are just now starting to become truly desperate.) And so has Northa.
:* Mai finds an Orphan during her summer job as a lifeguard, and when the night falls she and Mikoto take care of it. Then Mikoto drags her off to the party which was distracting all the civilians, even though they didn't have an invitation.
:* An Orphan attacks Sensouji Temple, threatening to eat all the cold snacks, only to be brought down by a group of magical girls. It's believed to be a lion dance with very good effects in the aftermath, and the people involved in the battle are lauded as excellent actors.
:* Mikoto continues trying to get through to Eas, finding her after a Nakewameke attack. They share donuts and surprisingly friendly conversation, and Eas gives Mikoto advance warning about her next attack.
:* Kasagami hosts a fancy summer party on behalf of the School Council, featuring the impromptu D.J., Steven Universe.
:* Mikoto and Kasagami spar and no one gets stabbed for real.
:* Steven, Niramo, Ami and Mikoto band together to create THE ULTIMATE SANDCASTLE (plus one whale lord.)
:* Mikoto drags Endo out from his job at the convenience store to go watch fireworks instead.
:* Eas creates her ultimate Nakewameke, and sends out invitations to the magical girls of Tokyo to meet her at Tokyo Tower for a showdown. She nearly succeeds--but when she emerges from her command post to talk to the assembled magical girls, Klein activates his failsafe, and they're left to save themselves /and/ her; she stays on Earth, as a (relatively) ordinary girl.
:* Marinette is caught by her parents one night talking to Chat Noir and thinks they're going out. After a date night at Marinette's residence, the fiction becomes a reality.
* '''Timeline One: Walpurgisnacht'''
:* Walpurgisnacht comes to Tokyo. The magical girls rise to confront it en masse, but not without casualties. Among them are Eri Shimanouchi and Mami Tomoe, which leaves only Madoka Kaname to deal the final blow -- which, legend says, must be dealt by a Puella Magi. She sacrifices herself in order to save the city -- and her friends. And especially Homura Akemi, who hears her last words.
:* Homura makes a Contract with Kyuubey: ''I want to redo my meeting with Kaname-san. But this time, instead of her saving me... I want to be the one to save her!'' She becomes a Puella Magi, and the magic of her wish sends her back in time... ending Timeline One.

=====Timeline One Logs=====
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|titlematch = %TIMELINE 1:%
|notcategory = News Files
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 2
|rowcolformat=width=100%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for Timeline One.
}}
====Timeline Two====
'''THEME: DREAMS.''' ''Homura's dream has come true -- and that makes it easier for everyone else to pursue theirs, because the life of a magical girl is a whole lot safer when they have an ally who can stop time to keep them from harm. It's mostly a good thing, but there's nothing like peril to inspire rapid bonding, so although the magical girl community is still (relatively) unified, it is slightly more loosely knit than it was in Timeline One. And with a little less magical stress in their lives, people are able to focus more on their individual goals rather than joint ones -- pursuing their different, unique, beautiful dreams.''
* A few months have passed since the timeline began, along with a few major events:
:* Homura Akemi is a newly Contracted Puella Magi who has joined the Mami/Madoka/Eri konbi, and is still learning how to master her unusually difficult powers. Unable to keep the secret, Madoka spilled her guts to Sayaka about being a magical girl within the first forty-eight hours.
:* As with the original timeline, the Sports Festival was a big success, but it seems to have really inflamed competitive spirits and the rivalry between the Sister Schools is more pronounced than before.
:* Fusion was defeated without the girls being sucked inside his soul and freed by their friends and Miracle Lights; it was just a conventional (though the first physically gigantic, and still relatively dramatic) battle.
:* Believing the monster to have eaten her best friend, Puella Magi Madoka battled Dessert Witch Charlotte, alone and crippled by grief. But Sayaka Miki had just been lost in the Labyrinth, and contracted on the spot upon witnessing the battle. Madoka narrowly avoided losing her head as the two defeated their first Witch together.
:* On Hokkaido, the Maiden of Dreams was redeemed without her killing Madoka Kaname or awakening Princess Serenity (because of a timely Homura rescue). That means the identity of the Moon Princess is still a mystery, and the hunt is on. Zoisite and Kunzite are still alive and Queen Beryl has yet to enact her North Pole ritual.
:* Because the timeLOOP has begun, weird temporal effects are occurring, and one of them is that Sailor Pluto basically hit a weird patch of timenoise on her way over, and accidentally overshot her trip. She has arrived just now, in April 2014. (Chibi-Usa will still arrive post-Beryl.)
* There are other minor differences between the second and first timelines as well.
:* In haste, Sayaka wished for the first thing that came to mind. Now with each mystically assured victory the Ohtori Middle School Softball team achieves on its way to an inevitable championship, Sayaka feels less and less fulfilled...
:* Ye-jin Song arrives and is elected new captain of Ohtori Dance Club. Secretly, she's come to help hunt HiME...
:* Madoka has the unusual combination of confidence, time, and commitment to self-improvement to actually go out for sports for once. She joins the Archery Club where she studies diligently alongside Rei.
:* Natsuki and Mikoto's battle on the cruise liner was more serious this time around, and several floors were damaged, but the ship remained structurally intact. Mai's efforts have, once again, seen them going from enemies to friends.
:* Mikoto was introduced to the Puella Magi by Homura, this time, who was eager to meet her old friend again. Mikoto was initially shy, but soon warmed up to her, alongside Madoka, Eri, and the others.
:* Upon realising that Homura was trying to learn how to fight, Mikoto relented to Kasagami's attempts to get her to join Kendo club, so that she could figure out how to teach her.
:* Rather than unintentionally insulting Rei, Usagi instead pleaded for her help in the wake of the bus incidents outside Hikawa Shrine, prompting Rei to commit to protecting Usagi early.
* '''IC Starting Date: April 2014'''
* '''Starting Plots: Student Council Ball; The Jewel Seed Incident'''
* It is April 17, 2014, and the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It's the second week of the new school year. A transformative time, as students acclimate to their new classes, their new classmates, their new clubs (or incessant club recruiters, for the holdouts) -- and now, tonight, their new student councils. Elections are over, and the Sister Schools are celebrating with a shared social that really can only possibly be called a ball, because Ohtori Academy is hosting. Besides having the best venue, they also have the most surprising outcome: Kasagami Araki is the new Ohtori High School Student Council President, having won her victory by a single vote (secretly, Akio Ohtori's, because the Academy is not a democracy...).
* But life isn't just sparkling apple cider and roses. The Jewel Seeds -- called 'Lost Logia' by the offworlders pursuing them, but to any magical girl recognizable as magical jewels that contain the cross-section of terrible power and the potential to grant wishes -- have almost all been found. The dark mage Fate Testarossa, and her allies in Labyrinth, have claimed roughly half; the radiant newcomer, Nanoha Takamachi, and her friends, have the rest. Can Fate's heart be reached before something terrible happens?
:* At the 2014-2015 Sister Schools Student Council Inauguration Ball, Niramo and Takeo get in a fight with some boys who were harassing Suzuka Tsukimura and are disciplined by Kasagami in her role as the new Ohtori Student Council President. Rei and Usagi join the Dance Queen competition with predictable results. Utena encourages Anthy (a Dance Queen nominee) to attend and therefore does as well, wearing one of the dresses they were gifted by the dance committee in solidarity. Disaster strikes as Nanami (who arranged the nomination and the dresses) causes Anthy's dress to dissolve in the middle of the dance floor, but Utena comes to the rescue.
:* At a Dance Club recruitment drive held at Ohtori shortly after the Inaugurational Ball, Niramo receives some much needed confidence from both Ye-Jin and Fumiko. It's enough that Niramo actually reconsiders her choice in clubs, dropping her enrollment in the Anime Club and taking up Dance at Juuban instead.
:* Nanoha Takamachi leads the magical girls in confronting her rival Fate Testarossa; she proposes an all-out one on one duel for the Jewel Seeds, and Fate accepts. But Precia intervenes, ostensibly out of concern that Nanoha's friends will jump in and gang up on her enforcer, and forcibly duplicates Fate with magic, creating a wild battle. Despite her numbers advantage, Fate loses anyway; Precia seizes the Jewel Seeds before Nanoha can and leaves, but not before punishing Fate for her failure both physically and emotionally. Nanoha takes a broken Fate home.
::* Lindy Harlaown makes contact with Nanoha, as does Arf, who can give them the coordinates to the Garden of Time. Nanoha and her friends climb aboard the Arthra to confront Precia in her fortress before she fully activates all the Jewel Seeds and causes an existential threat to the foundations of the multiverse. Fate stays behind, but encouragement from Arf and (unexpectedly) Eas, as well as bearing witness to the support of her friends now fighting Precia in her name, allows her to regain her will to fight. She and Eas catch up and rescue the group at a crucial moment, and then everyone proceeds to confront Precia.
::* But reality is fragmenting quickly, and the group winds up having to pass through Precia's past in order to reach her in the present. A dialogue begins, but whether or not Precia's heart was moved will remain an eternal mystery, because at the moment of truth, she is murdered by Northa, Chief Executive of Labyrinth, who immediately orders Eas to join her in exterminating her allies. Eas tries to bargain with Northa for their lives, which Northa takes as disloyalty; she uses the Jewel Seeds to create doppelganger replacements for all the magical girls, INCLUDING Eas, to be her new, loyal, army. The magical girls must confront these dark reflections of themselves and defeat them before the Garden of Time collapses into less than nothingness; they manage to do so, together, and escape on the Arthra in the nick of time. In the battle, Eas is forced to destroy her Data Diamond to defeat her double, and she joins them without her powers on the ship.
::* As the Arthra returns to Earth, it is abruptly and unexpectedly destroyed by an enormous blast of Dark Energy that came from the North Pole. The magical girls (and the crew) are able to escape, teleporting back to Tokyo just in time to watch the contrails of the surprise attack fade from the sky. It's terrifying power... but now they know where they need to go to put an end to the threat of Queen Beryl.
:* Mami Tomoe and Sayaka Miki acknowledge their growing attraction to one another and begin to date. Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname are inseparable, but not officially together.
* '''Summer 2014 Plot: North Pole'''
:* The sakura faded and the trees grew leaves -- soft breezes became oppressive heat -- and spring yielded into summer. In late June, school hasn't quite let out for vacation, but that hasn't stopped the Sailor Senshi from taking a trip to the Moon, in part hoping for a way to release the kidnapped Mamoru Chiba, now known as Dark Endymion, from Queen Beryl's brainwashing. The Midchildans, meanwhile, have finished running analyses of the blast that destroyed their spaceship, and are able to organize an operation to storm the pinpointed spot in the Arctic by surprise.
:* The magical girls get separated at the North Pole and begin fighting their way into the Dark Kingdom against the army that appears to defend it. The Inner Senshi die getting their Moon Princess into position to defeat Queen Beryl, but in the aftermath, Usagi is able to revive them. Everyone celebrates, then joins together to oppose the true dark power behind even Beryl's throne, the destructive entity Queen Metallia. The Maiden of Dreams, rescued on Hokkaido, reappears to help at this critical moment. Everyone's hearts join together, and the explosive power of their dreams defeat Queen Metallia. Overcome by their feelings and the transcendent moment, Sayaka and Mami share their first kiss.
:* However, Madoka Kaname uses up all of her magic, and collapses even as Queen Metallia is destroyed for good. Her Soul Gem becomes a Grief Seed, and she becomes a massive Witch, Kriemhild Gretchen. Her friends are forced to face this horror, but Homura Akemi turns away. Armed with the horrible truth of the Puella Magi, she jumps back to the past again to try to prevent this future from ever happening... ending Timeline Two.

=====Timeline Two Logs=====
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|titlematch = %TIMELINE 2:%
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 2
|rowcolformat=width=100%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for Timeline Two.
}}
====Timeline Three====
'''THEME: TRUST.''' ''As in its complexities, its limitations, and its breakdown. Up until now, being a magical girl has included automatic membership in a sort of collective sisterhood -- the world has been divided into 'the magical girls' and 'the bad guys'. But a simple question changes everything: 'What if the fairy mascots and other sources of power don't actually have the magical girls' best interests at heart?' It's an unbelievable idea, but simply rejecting it means that, for some reason, Homura Akemi is trying to drive a wedge between magical girls and their mascots. In other words: not all magical girls can be trusted. Once planted, this seed of uncertainty can only continue to flower, and has done so spectacularly.''
* Numerous factors have further exacerbated the issue of trust between magical girls. Major examples include:
:* Competitions for limited magical resources, such as Star Shards, Jewel Seeds, and Grief Seeds, have all been far more intense than in previous timelines, with ugly consequences for would-be friendships.
:* Friendly fire is more of a narrative problem in this timeline than it has been (or will be) in others; even girls with the best of intentions might damage the trust of their allies by accidentally clipping them with one of their attacks, in a critical moment.
:* Magical girls are generally less willing to explain themselves and their actions to one another, since it's harder to know who to trust.
:* Secret identities are far more tightly protected than in Timelines One and Two. This means that sometimes people are friends as magical girls and, separately, friends as civilians, but that the crucial bond of trust that connects the two worlds is often missing. Sometimes, things are even more complicated, and magical girl rivals have no idea that their opposite number is their best friend at school.
* Although things are far from outright war, the magical girl community is under strain, and cracks are beginning to show. Rivalries are more heated and less friendly. 'Teams' can also sometimes be understood as 'schisms'. Conversely, true bonds of trust between individual girls are more precious and beautiful than ever. (And like all precious things -- they are vulnerable.)
* '''TIMELINE THREE IS SUBSTANTIALLY DARKER (OR, AT MINIMUM, MORE COMPLEX) THAN TIMELINES ONE AND TWO.''' It is not, however, an exercise in misery. The main 'tragedy' of the timeline, compared to the previous ones, is the environment of paranoia that has sprung up in the community. Even the most open-hearted magical girls have reasons to think more critically and carefully about their counterparts, and the ways of the world, than they normally would. (More reasons, in fact, than in the prime timeline, which did not have Homura Akemi sowing seeds of doubt from the start, nor such extreme competitions for the Star Shards and Jewel Seeds.)
* An entire year has passed since the beginning of this timeline; it is picking up several months after the last one ended, in fact (September; T2 ended in late June). All this is to say that quite a bit has happened, and happened differently, and happened in a way to put strain on trust between magical girls (while in turn forging some unbreakable bonds along the way):
:* The Fall 2013 Sports Festival, and Fusion's assault on Tokyo, occur essentially as they did in Timeline Two.
:* After spending enough time rebuilding her magical girl friendships that they'd have reason to trust her, Homura Akemi reveals the awful truth that Puella Magi are tricked by Kyuubey into accepting a fate where they will become Witches. It does not go over well, and creates a FIRESTORM of rumor and speculation that reaches all corners of the magical girl community. Everyone has heard about it. '''Nobody believes it (no exceptions!).''' Everyone has different opinions on why Homura would make such a claim, some more generous than others.
:* For a variety of reasons which certainly include heightened anxiety, magical girls' unanswered wishes are at the forefront of their minds when the Star Shards' existence becomes revealed, and the fight over them becomes (almost) as vicious between magical girls as it is between magical girls and Dark Fall demons/men in black from Ends of the World.
::*In the end, the star shards are never gathered in one place. Individual shards are painstakingly hidden by their current owners. The Maiden of Dreams remains a broken, nameless entity suffering endless torture within her seven golden prisons -- and nobody even knows that she exists.
:* The Jewel Seeds are hotly contested for basically the same reason. The Device-users of Earth do not line up neatly behind Nanoha Takamachi in her efforts to oppose Fate Testarossa; Endo Naoki especially wants to seize them for himself, which damages his relationship with Ren Aizawa.
::* Precia Testarossa does get her hands on all the Jewel Seeds eventually, after washing her hands of Fate. The magical girls are forced to unite to stop her from permanently sundering reality, and manage to do so, though not everyone participates in the operation. The Harlaowns are not involved; the Arthra is never allowed to come to Earth, due to rampant distrust between the TSAB and the Magic Association. Afterwards, Fate lives with the Takamachis.
:* Events surrounding the North Pole go more similarly to the PRIME timeline than either timelines one or two. In late summer 2014, once Usagi Tsukino is revealed as the Moon Princess, Mamoru Chiba is kidnapped and brainwashed into Dark Endymion, and the Four Heavenly Kings are dead, Queen Beryl issues her collective challenge to the magical girl community and dares them to stop her from making her dark wish.
::* Arriving in disorganized, separate groups, they fail. So, every magical girl in the world except for Sailor Moon and the Inner Senshi are banished to the Multidimensional Chaos World by the force of Beryl's wish. Adventures in bizarro spacetime ensue.
::* Back on Earth, the Inner Senshi die getting Sailor Moon past the DD Girls. She is forced to confront Beryl and Dark Endymion alone, and is narrowly able to do so. Afterwards, her wish for her friends revives the dead and recalls the missing, and everyone gathers together to put a permanent end to Queen Metallia.
::* The Maiden of Dreams is not present to help the girls gestalt their power, and so instead this battle is messy and dangerous. The magical girls triumph without anyone dying, but the aftertaste is a little bittersweet, tainted by injuries, plus the trauma of the uncontrolled dimension-hopping which resulted from Beryl's dark wish.
:* The World Tree roars onto everyone's radar when it's attacked by weird, sword-wielding shadows seemingly trying to disrupt a mysterious sparkly magical girl ritual, and by the end of summer everyone knows it exists, that it's a vitally important conduit of Earth's magical power, and that there's a more-and-less subtle battle being waged between men in black, Dark Fall demons and operatives (especially agents of Labyrinth such as Eas and Soular), Orphans, and the Magic Association, for control of the nexuses of magic that harness the World Tree's strength.
:* The Outer Senshi are present, active and renowned for their brutal determination to save the world by any means necessary without bothering to explain their methods -- in other words, they're the poster girls for how not all magical girls can be trusted.
:* The Wolkenritter are also getting active, creating rumors about magical girls who attack other magical girls in dark alleys -- and fear.
:* Drawn to investigate the source of the crazy rumor about Puella Magi and Witches, Kyouko Sakura and other Puella Magi close in on the Konbi's neighborhood. There aren't enough Grief Seeds to go around, and the question of hunting familiars becomes crucial. Tensions are rising.
:* Summer vacation happened. There was no trip to Okinawa. The return of school is something of a relief for kids stuck in the sweaty concrete prison of Tokyo.
:* Despite everything, magical girls also give each other reasons to trust one another as well. Every day is another act of kindness. Every friendship is its own miracle.
* There are other differences between the second and third timelines as well.
:* You are encouraged to add other differences between the second and third timelines to this list!
:* Please put your September 2013-September 2014 differences here, they're fun and interesting to imagine, especially as things have changed quite a bit between timelines two and three! Weird temporal effects continue to justify larger changes, such as when a character first came to Tokyo or first became a magical girl, as long as it happened after September 2013 (the beginning of Homura's time loops). Please run truly strange ideas by the staff first.
:* Mikoto Minagi and Natsuki Kuga's battle on the ship was once again more serious, with a large hole blown through several floors to expose the fight to the sky, but the ship managed to retain its structural integrity.
:* Mikoto spends a lot of her time searching for her brother, and so she has no time for clubs. Most of her associations are people she's met through Mai; on her own she is awkward and gruff, and does not generally reach out to make friends. Much of her involvement in early magical conflicts simply came down to the fact that Mai was there, rather than any urge of her own to get involved. What was seen as feline whimsy in the prime timeline now becomes much more suspicious: why does Mikoto so often go off on her own? Where was she when they needed help at the North Pole, or when Precia was threatening the world? And why does she keep herself shrouded in such mystery..?
:* The strain of the magical community means that Mikoto has had less exposure to kind life lessons, and so she is a much fiercer fighter. Mai has made what she doesn't approve of clear, and so Mikoto generally tries to avoid killing or doing severe injury to human opponents and will defend civilians, but she has no compunctions against hitting her opponents so hard that they don't want to get up again. She has a wild and unrestrained fighting style which makes it very easy for mistakes to happen and for allies to get hit.
:* Endo Naoki more than briefly considered using the Jewel Seeds to grant his own wish, leading to various squabbles with other Mages. He eventually came around to help stop Precia Testarossa, but harsh feelings may remain. With less sources of trusted support Endo tries to shoulder more of Tokyo's burdens, and listens more closely to the advice of his intelligent device, Fallen Stern.
:* Ye-jin Song is hunting HiME. . .
:* Shizuru Fujino is moving in secret towards the goals of Ends of the World. As the men in black continue to show up at various flashpoints of magical import, a woman in black with a strange red naginata often accompanies them. Her identity is unknown, but she has already shown a frightening ruthlessness that only adds to the cloud of suspicion in place.
:* Rei Hino was much more immediately suspicious of Luna's story of destiny, though she did eventually accept a place in the team. She is fiercely protective of her magical identity, and few people know outside of the Inner Senshi. She has come down especially hard on Usagi, viewing her crybaby idealism as unsuited to the strenuous climate of magical Tokyo. She's hard on the rest of the Senshi, too - and everyone else she comes to care at all about. She is unwilling to trust the rogue elements of the community, and even after a year, is slow to open her heart to her friends. She still carries the fear that if she comes to trust and rely on others, she will be betrayed and tossed aside.
:* Kasagami Araki joins at the end of summer vacation 2014 as the new Student Council Disciplinary Executive, despite being a transfer student and having only just entered the school. She is much more cynical this timeline, having worked for Ends of the World before coming to Ohtori. As DE, she has been put in charge of the civilian patrols for the 'vampires' on campus...and has enthusiastically been assisting in the hunt for HiME as well as the goals of Ends of the World.
* '''IC Starting Date: September 2014'''
* '''Starting Plot: SEARRS Invasion'''
* It is September 10, 2014, and Southern Cross Island is apparently infested by vampires. Or maybe it's a stalker. At any rate, girls who go out alone at night are being found unconscious and, from the disarray of their possessions, have been searched for valuables. Magical girls suspect that this is really someone trying to identify them within the ordinary student population of Ohtori Academy. The school has implemented an extremely strict campus curfew enforced by Disciplinary Executive patrols, however, which makes it slightly more difficult to mount the kind of MAGICAL patrols needed to investigate and guard against the real threat. Those who've taken the risk anyway have discovered that the true perpetrators are Orphans -- the native demonic enemy that HiME were born to fight. But Orphans have always seemed mindless in their monstrosity. Could something -- or someone -- be directing their actions?
* From a more normal perspective, summer is finally over, Fall Semester is in session, and for 9th-graders especially, it also brings High School Entrance Exams into focus as a looming existential threat to their ordinary lives. It is harder than ever to find enough time for it all.
* The Fall 2014 Sports Festival is coming up soon. Juuban had it last year, and now it's Ohtori's turn to host, and despite the campus safety issues the plan seems to be moving forward. That makes it roughly the one-year anniversary of most magical girls' careers; a time for reflection. How have things changed since they discovered the world of magic? How have THEY changed?

=====Timeline Three Logs=====
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[[Category:Special Events]]

Kasagami Araki

2019-02-02T20:49:52Z

SwordPerson: Art section go!

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|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
=History=

Born the daughter of a Diet member and a famous swordswoman, Kasagami Araki grew up into wealth and an expansive estate to a pair of loving parents that managed to carve out time for their talented young daughter. A youma and a fire changed all of that.

Scarred and alone except for distant family more interested in reputation and money than Kasagami, the private middle school was filled with taunts, insults, and bullying. She fought back, became abrasive and aggressive, earning her a reputation as a troublemaker with brilliance in kendo and athletics as well as an extremely sharp mind.

Then the letter came, along with a ring. Thrust into the Student Council as a Disciplinary Executive, Kasagami has since grown into her own. But will she find World Revolution and become a true King as she so desires?

=Random Kassie Facts=

Kasagami's longcoat is based off of an old picture of her mother. She spent a year leading a biker gang in Tokyo as a teenager.

Kasagami prefers men's clothing in general, but also likes women's clothing. However due to having hangups about her appearance, she only wears dresses around those she trusts. She is particularly self conscious about her leg and stomach, and has thus far avoided swimming lessons and exercise despite knowing how.

She has a pair of dog-patterned pajamas. Only a few know her woofy secret!

Kasagami hates heels, and is actually clumsy in anything over a minor step heel. She would kill herself in stilettos. Hence the boots.

Speaking of boots, they're special order steel toed ones with an inner pocket she occasionally keeps a rose scented perfume bottle in just in case. Or, if out magical girling, an extra throwing knife.

=Kassie Artwork=
Artwork done through commissions and by friends! <3 each and every one of you!

Art by Girutea@DeviantArt, with edits by Raising Heart: https://imgur.com/pZ0hX5K

Kassie room! Art by LaKirly@DeviantArt, comissioned by Kestrel: https://www.deviantart.com/lakirly/art/Commission-Mini-chibi-Room-steamforged-783889084

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[[Ami Mizuno]]: The Genius of Juuban. A study session ended with Kasagami on the floor after a crippling flareup of nerve pain. The girl selflessly helped her, commanded the situation with the kind of leadership and calm that makes a leader or a proper doctor. Such kindness and talent has Kasagami's respect. How easy it is to make her blush and her loyalty to her friends is icing on the cake. Good conversationalist, on the list of 'Talent to Scalp' for Ohtori.

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Kasagami's favorite Puella Magi, and leader of the Shepherds. Knows she doesn't fit in with the group. Shows loyalty anyway, which has only hardened her resolve to help them despite her own sense of justice along with concern for Setsuna. Often pushes back at her arrogance, yet knows her place at Ohtori. Quick to fight. Family, as fellow Shepherds, but too close to her own secrets. She worries it will split them apart one day.

[[Garnet]]: Stoic, straightforward, and an utter brickhouse of a person. Kasagami liked her instantly, and wants nothing more than to test her blade against the rock that is Garnet. Also can apparently transform. Kasagami finds that both fascinating and completely creepy.

[[Nanoha Takamachi]]: Cute as a button, the Midori-ya's daughter is the kind of innocent cheer that Kasagami wants to see more of, and shape a perfect world for. Apparently a magical girl. Also touched Pluto, and a new Chevalier. Currently in Kasagami's crosshairs of unreasonable fear and love fueled anger.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Everything Kasagami hates in one pink haired package. The fear and terror she shows in tense situations, magical or mundane, revolts her. How she keeps managing to extract guilt for her past actions and present ones so easily, infuriating. What the Chevaliers see in her, she doesn't know, but the mere thought of Madoka enrages.

[[Mami Tomoe]]: The Golden Queen of Shibuya, leader of the Chevaliers. An enemy to be sure, and Kasagami despises how she puts magic over the pride of Ohtori. More and more Kasagami wants to see her expelled. Yet, not all is blackness. Kasagami considers her a worthy opponent in magical conflict. Mami's hatred of her makes her a useful enemy to have, fuel to Kasagami's inner fire to reach for World Revolution.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: Fierce warrior cat. Oddly laid back outside of battle, furious inside of it. Kasagami aches to fight with her fellow Shepherd, only drawn in by the heat of Mikoto's wrath and her massive sword. Rejected her offer of a fight. Still annoyed. Wants to get to know the girl better, and maybe teach her a thing or two.

[[Usagi Tsukino]]: A blonde, clumsy, talent-less loaf of a girl in Kasagami's eyes that somehow manages to be a thorn in her side consistently. Yet she draws more frustration than hatred, mostly due to Pluto's steadfast loyalty to the girl even over her love. Yet, she's intrigued. What about this girl is so special? To be protected, if only for Setsuna's sake. As Sailor Moon, recent interactions have earned Kasagami's respect...even if her hope for the current world is baffling and secretly terrifying. Still a hope youma.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Their relationship is best described as politely neutral at best, familial obligations at worst. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Co leader of the Chevaliers. Completely infuriates Kasagami at times, while tickling her to her core. She doesn't back down. A worthy rival in Kasagami's eyes, as precious an enemy in her hatred as Mami if not moreso. Yet her recent turn to reckless advances and berserkerdom is an odd change. Worrying, slowly losing the sheen of knighthood in Kassie's gaze. A reckoning will come.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Wise, strong, quiet and with an eternal sadness that eats at Kasagami's sense of justice. As a Shepherd she's a valued ally, and as a person, has gained a place in Kasagami's heart as a lover and friend. But with the weight of their secrets eating at them, and conflict over Kozue, she's become the gaping void in her heart. A thousand Dead Screams can't equal the pain she feels over the distance, emotionally and physically.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. She respects Shizuru for her position, even if she hates the stoic ways of the girl and perfect calm. An enemy to be sure, and yet a mentor in some ways. Stomped on her dreams and humiliated her emotionally. Despite overcoming her in their Duel, the sting is harsh. Vengeance is high on her mind.

[[Sucy Manbavaran]]: An actual, honest-to-goodness potion using Witch of the cute variety! The quiet young woman's delinquency first drew Kasagami's ire. An encounter alongside Pluto would show the girl's magical talents, and time at Infinity's library sparked a deal made in perhaps better faith than expected. Slowly, she's coming to like the girl, ice to her fire. She might even consider Sucy a friend.

[[Rinji]]: The Muse, demur and quiet musician, and yet so much more. Kasagami has found herself attracted to, and coming to love the mute singer for both her passion and ability to cheer on others, as well as the kindness and ability to push her ever harder when she's down. More playful than is obvious, and that only melts Kassie's heart. Rinji saved Kasagami from despair when Setsuna and her fought. The bonds between the three grow deeper, and Kasagami's nightmares slowly drift from her past, to a terrible future reflecting her old tragedy.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Friend and enemy at once. Kasagami's intense feelings for the pink haired Engaged are conflicted in the extreme. Admiring her desire as a prince, she can't understand why she cares so for the Rose Bride or being 'normal'. After Utena's draining by the Wolkenritter, the wounds physical and mental on Utena forced Kasagami to challenge for the right to Duel her out of concern...and greed for the power that Utena has held. After being pushed away with her concerns, there's something else in Kasagami's eyes: disappointment in the one she thought might be her Prince.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself.

|-
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

2018-11-30 - TIMELINE 1: Skiis and Youth

2018-12-04T02:39:25Z

SwordPerson: SwordPerson moved page 2018-11-30 - Skiis and Youth to 2018-11-30 - TIMELINE 1: Skiis and Youth

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Skiis and Youth'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Kasagami Araki invites various Sister Schools students onto the Hokkaido slopes!''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Fuu Hououji]], [[Homura Akemi]], [[Kasagami Araki]], [[Niramo Umokeshi]], [[Nori Ankou]], [[Steven Universe]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Hokkaido Slopes
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
<11/30/18 - Winter in Hokkaido>
|-
|}

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Hokkaido! Beautiful mountains, a (thankfully) warm and comfy resort for the Sister Schools students and those with the money to vacation there! And of course, an obscene amount of courses ranging from slow and easy courses for the beginner to those fit for olympic athletes.

Take one single, ill-advised guess on which course one Newest Student Council Member Kasagami Araki /wanted/ to drag her newest friends, acquaintances and unfortunate victims towards?

Luckily a few students fainting in pure terror, a single Infinity teacher nearly having a heart attack, and gathering one or two less brave students she hopes to shepherd into proper bravery means that some vague sense of sanity has prevailed.

Kasagami Araki is clad in a black fur-trimmed coat snapped about her body with golden clasps over the cold-weather proofed version of the Student Council uniform (in red, of course) has her deceptively snug. Her hair is left to sway wildly in the light wind atop the skii course, and she has top-of-the-line skiis and skii picks clenched in gloved fists like dual blades. Both eyes, one steel and one a sightless white spark with ambition....

"Sister Schools! Don't let this great mountain intimidate you! For as the /AMBITIOUS YOUTH/ of tomorrow's Japan, you must do everything in your power to overcome your own limits! I, as Ohtori's Student Council Disciplinary Executive, shall show you the path towards bravery and realizing your dreams! My friends...Let's show this mountain what for! I believe in you!" One fist clenches.

It's the intermediate course, divided into two lanes. The one on the left will be a challenge for those who have never been down the slopes before. The one on the right will be a challenge for those who /have/, with a few more obstacles. Kasagami has had the sense to make sure EMT's, Ohtori bundled up servants with cocoa, food, and the like are ready as well.

She points down the slope, and then pitches down with a whistle. "Shall we? Come on, show your school spirit and your desire to overcome the thoughest challenges!" A nod.

Kasagami is down the right hand course...and practically arm-in-smaller-arm with a certain well bundled girl she's decided will be a vague passion project.

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

While this trip has been pretty much Fuu's first opportunity to go skiing, she's made the most of it, duly encouraged by classmates from Infinity and counterparts from the other schools. She's largely been taking it easy up to now, but the invitation from Kasagami seemed a little too good to pass up.

Although standing on her skis at the top of the slope, polls dug into the powder, and two gates standing before her, Fuu wonders if this really was a case of 'too good to be true' after all. She pauses one more time, looking over at Kasagami ... then heads for the left-hand lane, praying in the back of her mind for favorable winds.

Whatever "favorable" menas in *this* context, anyway. "Good luck, everybody!" she calls out before reaching the point where gravity's say in the debate takes precedence ...

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

"Snow! Cool!"

A fluffy-headed little boy was among those who made the trip to the mountain with the schools blessing. Though it took a great deal of convincing to let his moms (yes, plural) to let this particular child go. One was unsure, one was overprotective, and one was causing a scene with throwing eggs into the garbage disposal.

But... eventually they relented, as felt a little better about the situation. For their charge was him, but protecting him from danger was... potentially a little easier around these parts. As where they hailed from, they were the only magical protectors known. They thought themselves alone.

Turns out in Japan, that is far from the truth. Every time a situation arose, numerous magical girls came out of the woodwork to quell the threat. And when most of what you know is magical conflict, this is the only usual concern.

But against a pair of sweet little eyes and begging, all the magical defense in the world cannot save you.

And so, Steven Universe is galavanting through the snow, waring a large parachute material pink jacket that near doubles his size, an even pinker scarf, and a pair of bright yellow boots. "I should make a snow Cookie Cat! Heh heh heh. Wait. How do I..." The thought was fun, but his body can't... really make that shape. "I-I haven't gone skiing before! I have done tabogganing! Is it the same?" A look to others show that no, it is not. There are long mini-snowboards strapped to their feet! "Ohhhh freaky! I wanna try!"

This could go badly.

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

It's been nearly 6 years since Niramo has last come to Hokkaido, and just as long since she has any sort of interaction with a set of skis. As a much younger girl, her parents had taken a very rare vacation together here, and she was able to get some basic lessons on skiing from her father, like staying balanced and how to slow yourself down. It's was quite enjoyable to spend time with the constantly busy detective, and still remains one of the prized memories in her life.

Those lessons have been dulled with time and lack of use, however, and now a much older Juuban student finds herself looking longingly at the beginner slopes and not at the intermediate courses just in front of her. "I knew I should have done a little practice on my own..." Mumbling plans that she failed to due in time through her warm dark green scarf, Niramo shivers slightly despite her slightly worn winter coat and mittens. At least she dressed for a bit heavier for the weather!

The half-blind Ohtori student doesn't let her disability gets in the way of her desire to help improve the other students through her gudiance and an impressive impromptu speech, enough that Niramo wears an unseen smile under that scarf. It doesn't change the fact that these slopes are going to be rough, no matter which path she takes, but a little encouragement can make all the difference. Well...that was the hope, anyways. "A slope shall be a path to our dreams? I'm...not quite sure of that. Unless i'm dreaming of hot chocolate."

Straightening out her skis and pushing off with the poles, Niramo starts to go for the left slope and face the smaller chance of wearing a cast on the trip back home. "I hope everyone has a safe trip down!" Maybe Fuu can be a good judge of where and where not to ski?

But the estatic cry of Steven behind the Juuban girl has Niramo twisting around, even as the distinct memory of a brushy mustache warned a 7 year old ravenette that's exactly the opposite of what she's supposed to do. "Steven-kun! Um...see if you can rent some skis, but maybe the bunny slopes might be-aah!" Twisting back around just in time to see that she was about to slide directly into a pole showing the border of the 'easier' course, it takes some desperate ski pole pushing to prevent her first fall before Niramo is even on the slopes!

It's off to a great start...

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

What few school trips the eternal transfer student attended before this point were things she'd rather forget than remember, either observed from her cocoon of loneliness or cut short by another trip back to the cardiac ward. Usually she dreads their announcement, and if at all possible opts out.

This year the dread mixes with another feeling: excitement, all fluttery-new in her chest. For the first time Homura Akemi is not alone on a school trip. All of the people she knows are going... and she knows people! Shizuki-san and Miki-san and so many of her classmates -- and not just classmates but girls she shares things with, like kitten secrets and magic secrets. Ankou-san and Minagi-san are here, Shimanouchi-san and Tomoe-san. And Kaname-san.

Dread and excitement. And snow!

Right now though, it's just about alllll dread and snow.

She wavers in the slope-top powder like there's a breeze pushing her around -- there isn't, though Homura would make an excellent sail today. In a purple puffy coat a size too big over warm black tights and woollen mittens, capped with a purple-plaid ear flap hat that braidtips still stick out from underneath, she's a purple-puff dandelion on a skinny black stalk. For some reason, for /some reason/, this opposite-of-athletic girl is atop the right hand course.

This might have something to do with the taller girl beside her, the one who burns of an ambition so powerful it both impresses and frightens Homura. Her tremors are half-cold, half-fear as she peers through the double-blurry layer of foggy glasses and foggy goggles atop them. That slope... it looks so... steep. Like straight down! How do people...

Homura looks around instead, a sort of 'help meeee' look. She hunches up like a purple-shelled turtle into her outerwear with an audible puffy-coat squish. "Are you... sure I can't just watch you try it first, Araki-san?" A backward shuffle has snow piling up behind her skis. "I've never, ah, never gone skiing before..."

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

"Eh, it's just the mountains," says NORI ANKOU, native of SAPPORO, who is on the right-hand course. She is wearing a navy-blue ski suit and a quilted hot-pink parka over it, as well as wrap-around sunglasses and a felt beret on her head.

Blue, you say? What's a Red Future?

But she is in no great haste. She gives Homura a wider-than-usual smile and a wave-wave with one gloved hand because - well, her eyes are kind of hidden right now. After this she poles herself forwards, and if it is not quite 'as if the skis were part of herself,' she is at least not hesitant or clumsy. "The best way to learn is to try," Nori says to Homura as she approaches the slope. "Araki will keep you from hitting anything big. Just try to enjoy the feeling."

And then: Swish!

Down she goes, leaning forwards to build up speed.

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Endo has spent most of time keeping warm on the trip to Hokkaido. Also eating. There's a lot of crab to consume, and someone has to do it.

There is, however, time set aside to do the actual skiing. Which is what he's here for today, the boy wafing out into the snow with wide skis, big snow goggles, and a dark jacket. Poles help him along to the course, and he listens briefly to Kasagami's speech. It's inspiring enough that he even waddles a few steps out to look at the more advanced course--

And then immediately re-waddles back to the left side. "I think this is my limit." He decides somberly. There's a wave of a thickly gloved hand for classmates and familiar faces nearby, and then he scoots slowly out onto the slop.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Fuu pitches down on the left course, quite admirably down the gates. These intermediate courses are more well marked, and far less wild, with proper gates to guide you past anything particularly /troublesome/. But it's not without it's obstacles either!

Kassie clenches a fist, as Fuu wishes them luck. "Now that's the spirit! Ah haaaah!" She glows.

Steven gets, thankfully, pushed by one of the Ohtori students towards the /left/ course due to his small stature and his obvious inexperience. Still, Kasagami is all grins!

"You've got the right idea Steve-kun! Just go down, trust your instincts, and try not to chew snow!" She sounds /far/ too okay with his enthusiasm. Surely everything will be fine.

Several other students join in the chorus of Niramo wishing others a safe trip down! And she's not the only one that suddenly eats some of the first down: one or two on both courses eat poles. Two elementary school students eat fluff immediately, making snow angles. Two laughing ojou-chan's scream on the /right/ course as they almost immediately find themselves devouring a bank.

Atop the slope, Kasagami stands as a King-to-Be surveying all that is hers. Except until she looks down to eye that over-coated purple clad girl with long hair and those foggy goggles. Homura gets a confident smile!

It's precisely because the girl is so filled with anxiety and lack of confidence that she's doing this. A show of force of pride, and possibility.

There's a single gloved finger flickin on the back of Homura's head lightly. Then one arm clutches the shorter girl that dares shuffle /away/ just a little closer.

"It'll be fine." She starts.

Nori, in her beautiful and confident ways, beats her too it. Kassie takes it in stride, grinning to the young woman and nodding. "Darn right I won't! Even if a mountain bear or Great Snowman rose up, I'd slice them in half for my dear friend Homu-chan!" Kasagami practically bleeds confidence, in both the young woman so confidently dominating the right slope, and herself.

"...It's all about the experience." That last part, is, pointedly offered to both Homura...and then Endo as she notices him shuffling back towards the left slope. Swiiish~

~Left Course~

Gravity takes it's way, and Fuu's and all involved's particular paths down the slope is smooth going for a bit. An easy gentle downward slope that increases not too quickly, but still lets one pick up speed at a decent clip. Not too steep that one can't pull back and slow down, but enough that the ambitious can push forward. After a brief minute or so of thrilling downwards acceleration at self-determined paces (with a little help from more expert skiiers perhaps) comes the first true obstacle!

A turn that's swift, buffered by a large snow bank on the right. If you're too slow, you might just eat powder already!

~Right Course~

Kassie gives Nori a slight lead, given her companion, but all three are forced to contend with things. This slope is steeper, quicker, and an immediate acceleration. Those who take this course are swiftly overtaking those on the left one, yet have more room overall in maneuvering. It's a far more windy course, as there's a double-turn facing the more experienced (and one kidnapped homuguin!) to challenge! A right, then left bank one has to lean in to get across without falling! The speed is blistering, the cold cutting cheeks, yet thrilling!

Kasagami, for her part, tries to urge Homura forward. She means to press on, cut through snow towards that seemingly impossible drop towards an endless field of white. Both of her eyes briefly alight to the purple-clad girl, gaze full of adventure, ambition and /thrill/! A reach for a hand, and a deceptively light tug.

All Homura has to do is follow...and Kassie will cut close, to snow or Homura either way.

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

Cheeks visibly red from both the cold and embarrasment, Niramo manages to recover quickly and get herself back towards the middle of the slope with a little effort. The steady rate that the skiers are going down the slope is a great time for the Juuban girl to experiment with the poles and the angles of her skis. Maybe the old saying about how you never forget how to ride a bicycle has some truth to it!

Now if only she had ever used a bicycle...

Ahead of her, Fuu seems quite capable in her skis, and now with Steven and Endo joining them, they have a small group going on! Was there a technical term for a group of skiers? "Also, remember! Straight for Speed, Slanted for Slow! It might help things easier for you!"

However, it's time to take those words and turn them into action. There's a sudden sharp turn up ahead, and Niramo bends her knees slightly. Locking your knees and trying to move at the same time usually tends to make you fall over like a stiff board, after all! Eyes focusing forward intently on the sharp twist, the ravenette decides it might be best to play it safe here.

Turning her skis inward and using the increased friction to slow herself down, Niramo leans into the direction she wishes to turn into, but it's a bit too much! A quick save using her poles to keep herself upright prevents her from taking a tumble, but her face gets a frosting of snow and some lost speed. "J-just do what I did, just not at steep!"

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

The trick to navigating any unfamiliar course, particularly at speed, is to pay attention to what's ahead and around you. Fuu has the relative advantage of being closer to the front of the group that's headed downhill, so she doesn't have as much to worry about in terms of avoiding collisions ... but she doesn't have anyone to help warn her of obstacles that might be more tricky to negotiate. Still, Niramo's advice gets an emphatic nod by way of reply, plus a somewhat muffled, "Got it!"

Of course, the fact that snowbanks are basically 'white on more white' makes them rather harder to spot. Fortunately, Fuu's ski goggles keep snow from plastering on her glasses, so she doesn't simply plow into that snowbank. She has to slow down quite a bit to make the turn with anything she'd consider 'comfortable safety' ... which makes it easier for people to get past her, if not on the turn itself, then after the turn where the path widens out, while Fuu is carefully picking up speed again.

But it's not a race, is it? Fuu is more concerned with making it to the bottom in one piece, upright, and with unbroken legs; she doesn't care if she winds up as the last skier in the group to get there.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

"Hi Niramo!" Steven says with a cute little wave over the head. "I think I will-- wait, bunny slopes?!" A pause. "...Are there actual bunnies on the slopes?" That sounds like an amazing time, skiing and petting bunnies!

Having gotten his skis (yes they are pink too) and put them on, he penguin-waddles his way over toward the courses, and is promptly moved toward a particular side. "Oh, this one? Okay!? he says, enthusiasm clinging to his voice like, well, snow to the ground!

It seems the ability to try something new is what Steven is all about, as he needs little encouragement besides what has alread ybeen said to go! And go he does!

Very slowly.

"I'm doing it!" he shouts, waving the guiding pole thingies he was given. His error in why he is going so slow is obvious-- his skis aren't parallel. Pointed intward in the front, as if he is trying to stop, but doesn't seem to realize that is why people do that. But he certainly seems to be enjoying himself! "Hiiii!" he says, waving toward Homura passing by where she is.

And then... THE OBSTACLE. "Uh oh! How do I turn? How do I turn?!"

The boy flails on his slow trip to icy destruction, whereupon he connects with the drift, and doesn't necessarily eat a faceful of frozen water, though does sort of a slow-motion tip over into snow.

"Steven has crashed! There were no survivors," the boy says, rolling over and playing dead

He doesn't play dead very well, as he starts giggling about five seconds later. He is obviously very well alive. And having fun! If not in his own way.

"How tough is the other slope?" he asks aloud.

<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Endo does kind of know how to ski, it turns out. Some time on the beginner slopes in the past day has helped familiarize him with not falling fast-first into white fluff immeditaly out of the gate. He he does pretty well at staying on his feet for the first part. He's happy enough to stay near the middle of the pack, nodding his head pleasently at Niramo's advice. That sounds right to him!

When it comes time to turn he slows to do just that, and he gets an excellent view of Steven toppling over in the process. "Steven-san! We won't forget you!" But also not stop for him either. Because stopping is kind of hard. Also, Endo is looking more at Steven's crash site than where he's going, and his balance shifts accordingly. And poorly. He's not falling, but he is making a crooked line off course.

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

When Nori Ankou glides by, Homura could swear there are little ice crystals sparkling in her wake, like stars in the air... or is it just freezing condensation on the outside of her goggles...? She scrubs at the lenses with one blunt mittenhand and nothing changes, except that Homura's eyes widen beneath them.

Her impossibly cool black-coated senpai isn't having any of her hesitation, though! Homura feels the tug and it pulls her away from her Nori-dazzle. There's something a little infectious about that confidence in Kasagami's wide smile, and Homura tries to focus on that through a lifetime of doubts, like cradling a candle flame in a blizzard. Maybe... maybe if she manages it, she can tell Madoka about it later...

Tug. Through that double-fog she peers up at Kasagami, little bits of big violet eyes showing through all that condensation -- it's made worse because she's sweating, now. But she nods, at least it looks like it's probably a nod and not a particularly sharp little quiver.

Then she squeezes her eyes tight and scrunches up her face and holds on as tight as a weak mittened hand can -- Kasagami's swordwielding strength is called upon, here -- and tenses toes to tip as she feels herself pulled forwaaaaard...

...and even with her eyes shut so tight she can feel the downward slope and a sound starts to escape Homura like air would a balloon:

"...eeeeeEEEEEEEEE--"

--and the air grabs her braidtips and she hodls on tight but her skinny wrists are so sweaty in her mittens, her oversized mittens, that the glove pops right off and suddenly she's untethered from Kasagami and her eyes fly open and the sound gets louder as her mouth gets wider--

"--EEEEEEEE--"

--as she catches the tiniest bit of air, enough that her skis barely lift from the powder, and Homura Akemi flies face-first into a snowdrift at the very top of the right hand slope. Her legs stick up at an angle, propped by skis stuck toe-down in the snow, and otherwise it's purple coat and braid tips and that's all. She has a faceful of white stuff, right up against her goggles. Steven gets to wave at her skiis, but at least they're kind of waving back, with how she's flailing just a bit...

Maybe her blush will melt her right out of the snowdrift.

<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Nori calls over her shoulder, "I only saw a bear once all the time I lived heeeeeeeere--"

RIGHT COURSE

Nori is some yards away, far enough away that she savors the rushing wind in relative silence. She adjusts her coure slightly and she leans down, the wind whipping at her firmly planted beret's little plume up top. The hat is not blown off, though a couple of stray strands of hair do get rustled. Lean to the right, bring your legs up... lean left...

Someone asks a question in the distance. Nori turns her head to call out, "Bicycle!" as if it explains everything.

IN THE DISTANT PAST

A dim memory of her mother. On these very slopes.

"Mm - well, if you're going to do it right, my little Noritte, you ought to think of it like riding your bicycle. You remember your bicycle, yes, before you lost it? You have to lean into the turn... here, try it again. - Ah! Very good, very good - "

HERE, NOW, IN 201X AD

Nori straightens out and looks over her shoulder for a fleeting moment. Huh, she thinks, Homura must have gotten a slower start than I expected.

She is absolutely going to hit an obstacle.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

~Left Course~

Niramo's advice seems to get a few of the crowd of left-course skiiers! Between her and Fuu racing (relatively in safety) down the course, the duo end up frosted while others have eaten that singular bank. A few others are face first in snow, while some are all tangled up in each other! Luckily, in vague two-by-twos, they're all getting downwards.

And of course, Steven gets a tumble into the snow! A younger ojou-sama titters by, but a fellow Juuban student more credibly laughs!

"This is the daredevil course! The other....is for Ohtori princesses!"

They then skii on down to avoid a scathing Kassie Glare.

"AND KINGS, YOU FOOLS!" Howls Kasagami amidst snow.

But those barreling down towards the last section of the course are left with one final obstacle: a single, looming /jump/! ...It's only a couple feet, but even the weakest of speeds gained will result in at least a five foot drop to the end of the course! How thrilling! Endo might want to be wary of that flipping bank that keeps people from going /too/ off course, given his current trajectory!

~Right Course~

Down Kassie and Homura go, and complications arise. Kassie is all confidence and surity that they can do it. Even a scrunching face, that tight hold, and obvious doubt doesn't penetrate the self-centered world of a certain Duelist, even in this time of comparative innocence for the young woman. She simply /does/, both to drive discovering who she should be, and to not /think/ of what has been.

Thus, Homura might catch the lightest hint of a shiver from Kasagami. But maybe it's imagined. Surely not, scarrs or no.

POP! Kasagami is cutting snow and there's this 'Eeeeee'. She somehow manages to swallow the vague sense of guilt as she watches Homura cromp onto the slope almost....artfully. She still clutches Homura's mitten in her hand, even as resort workers are going for the blushing, flailing girl!

Kasagami's smile, as she looks from mitten to Homu to mitten as she cuts down /backwards/ upon snow holds apology in them for Homura alone. For all of half of a second.

"Every march across the Alps upon Hannibal's elephants starts with the first skii step of his soldiers, Homu-chaaaaaan!" 'Consoles' Kassie as she laughs. Not nervous, nope, as she waves with that homu-mitten in hand still.

And is quickly forced to rotate around, mitten in a pocket, as her coat flutters behind her. Turns and poles are navigated, until the true test of skill hits those who've braved this true challenge!

Nori gets it first. Trees. They're little more than saplings, but they're dense, along with shrubbery that approach in /loosely/ packed snow in comparison to the upper portions of the course. One will need to cut a zig-zagging line to avoid eating /too/ many branches. No dramatic leaps, just pure skill!

Sorry Nori-chan, this may or may not be the doom of your snowy bicycle ride that memory offers. Such is the life of those in Ohtori. Memory is, after all, weak.

Still, up here, even certain StuCo might have issues on this fool's errand. Kassie, for her part, ends at the bottom of the slope with a rather lashed up cheek after getting /way/ too ambitious with some needles across sapplings, and is missing one arm of her coat after nearly getting entangled, forced to headbutt a branch off in retaliation. But she's survived...even as her good eye casts upwards towards a certain young girl's fate. ~Below~

Regardless, both courses end up at the same end goal! And there's towels, warm cocoa, first aide and /delicious crab/ awaiting those who've made it all the way down! Kasagami gets quickly patched up on the cheek, and is congratulating those who made it down with gusto, and coupons for extra luxurious meals in the skii lodge normally reserved for the rich!

And a skii ride back up towards warmth!

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.

'This is the daredevil course!' Fuu overhears, and she does a brief double-take at the speaker, then at the other course, or at least what she can see of it, before turning her attention forward and downhill again. Kasagami's two-word rejoinder just makes her smile a bit underneath her scarf; then she focuses -

Wait why is there a gap there? Even white-on-white she can see the snow's surface come up and stop and then continue ... she should slow down but then she'll never make it past that 'ramp,' will she?

There is, to those who are listening closely enough, a faint sound of a whimper before Fuu hunkers down, the noise of dismay turning into a sound of determination. SHe's come this far, the only way out is through - or over, as the case may be - and she'll just have to make the best of it now.

*zoom*

Her skis slide up the rise and into the air, and for one brief, transcendent, heart-stopping moment, she is genuinely airborne. Without engines or wings. Without magic. Without *anything* except the elegantly brutal laws of physics.

Fuu Hououji untucks from that not-quite-fetal curl, gauging the surface beneath her, and tries to match the angle of her skis to the angle of the once-more-approaching snow-covered ground - and lets out a yelp as she doesn't QUITE get it right. She manages to salvage her balance, but she's flailing, sticking her arms out to the sides for balance, dropping one of her ski poles, and at the tail end, nearly running over one of the first-aid attendants ... or maybe closer to 'walking over,' given how slowly she's going at that point.

"Boring or not," Fuu decides, "I think I'll stick to the easiest slope."

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (7)] has posed.

The turn is sharp and hazardous, but it's only enough to get Niramo's heart racing from her recovery from her near fall. Thankfully, wrist straps makes it hard to lose her pole with that turn, and she turns her head towards Fuu, with a grin heard if not seen due to the scarf. "Have you been skiing before, Fuu-san? You took that turn better than me!"

Endo calls out to Steven as he passes by, and a pink pair of skis can be see sticking straight up, with a seperate set sticking out of a snowbank close to the other slope. The slopes were certainly taking their fair share of victims today! "Steven-kun! Fuu-san, Endo-san, i'll see you at the bottom, okay?" Stabbing the snow in front of her with both of her ski poles (and nearly sending herself flying from the sudden forceful stop), the Juuban girl turns herself around and starts pulling herself up the slope and back towards the snowbank. No man, woman or child left behind to be devoured by snow bank monsters!

Panting with the effort after climbing back up to Steven, it's a relief to see the transfer student not looking any worse for his trip, and he was even making a joke. "I think that's why we need to try the starting slopes later and take it easy, Steven-kun. Here, let's get you back up on your feet." Letting go of her poles, she offers Steven up with a double-mitten grab.

Once Steven is upright and hopefully none the worse for wear, she tries to give Steven a little bit of advice. "To turn, try leaning in the direction you want to go, like leaning to your left. Just, uh, don't do what I did and almost fall over. Use your poles to help keep you steady if you need to!" It's...not quite the most informative, but perhaps experience will be the better teacher here.

Down the slope Niramo goes, sparkling snow being kicked up with her passing. It looks like they're nearly at the bottom now, but...oh, that's a jump. That's a big jump! But she might lose the poles if she tries another sudden stop...! Turning her skis inward to the point they were nearly touching, it's enough to slow the neckbreak speed the Juuban girl was racing down the slopes for, but not enough to make it a small jump.

As a young girl take flight into the air, there are a few emotions being felt as liftoff is achieved. Fear. Anxiety. Excitement, and a little bit of joy as well. And it's not just the matter of a few feet either. 10 feet through the air...passing by 20 now and now fear is taking full hold. Arms and poles flail, and Niramo tries her best to keep her feet in just the right position...!

Landing is achieved at just over thirty feet, bent knees helping to absorb some of the shock. However, you shouldn't try to bend them too much, either, as the Juuban vacationer is realizing. Down goes Niramo after a panicked moment of trying to stay upright, and she crosses the goal on her stomach, sort of like a penguin. Thankfully, scarfs are great for keeping snow out of your mouth. "I think...I would like a slope without jumps, Fuu-san."

So much for trying to be the cool, supportive student...

<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.

Everything happens much more quickly than Homura Akemi is able to track. She's no action hero!

It's just movement-tilt-scream-speed-slip-bump-air-FLOMP-andafacefulofsnow from her perspective. The snow gets burny-cold on her exposed cheeks and that shocks Homura out of her, well, shock, and that's when the blushing and flailing begin.

There's time to reflect on what a phenomenal failure /that/ was, and after Ankou-san and Araki-san both encouraged her so nicely, taking time out from their fun for her sake... Homura remembers that fleeting daydream, the one in which she told Madoka about how brave she was flying down the slopes over cocoa later tonight in the lodge, and she promptly burns it to dream-ash on the white-hot sear of her embarrassment. Instead she promises to herself to never ever tell Madoka about this moment.

A shame. It really /was/ brave of her.

At least she doesn't have to steam away the snowbank from the inside for long. Having completely eaten it at the very beginning of the course, however humiliating that is, comes with an advantage: the ski lodge workers get to her quickly.

She's ensconced at a first aid station lickity-split, just to get checked out (she's fine, just winded), and from that slope-bottom vantage point gets to enjoy the finish line accomplishments of Hououji-san and Umokeshi-san! That they make it somewhat off their skis doesn't matter a whit to Homura, they /made/ it. Fuu's jump was so graceful, and Niramo stopped to help Steven -- just like at the athletics day, she remembers. She pumps one scrawny arm in the air, but then withdraws it again sheepishly after.

She has a puzzle to work out, a couple of snowbank-muffled and thus maybe quarter-heard shouts. Something about... bicycles? And then elephants? What do those things have to do with skiing? Homura tucks her legs up underneath the cot she's perched on and gets a preoccupied, thoughtful look on her face.

But she's far too self-conscious to just /ask/ Ankou-san and Araki-san what they meant -- it's probably obvious to people who know so much about skiing! -- so instead she starts stacking skis and elephants and bicycles mentally in various configurations, trying to figure it out. It's a weird circus tent in Homura Akemi's imagination, even moreso than usual, right now.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (4)] has posed.

Steven jsut seems content to play in the snow where he fell!

Though as he makes a snow angel, another crach happens right by him! A wince and a peer over toward Homura comes before he speaks. "Ah... you okay?" he asks nicely. She might not even be able to hear him.

He watches the others go by, laughing, mocking, waving and looking on curiously. "Daredevil course?!" he asys, trying to peer beyond their slope to the next. "That sounds way too tough! "Write me a good memoir!" he calls back to Endo. "Or I will haunt people!"

He's not serious, is he?

...

Anyway.

"Oh, thanks Niramo!" he says kindly, taking her hand and propping back up on his skis. "Like leaning, kinda?" he says, trying to maneuver himself property, going down the slope again. At a slow pace. Painfully slow.

And yet, the little poofy-haired child is cheerign the whole way, as if he is living the dream. "Ohhhh man I hope there is hot cocoa here somewhere! Do the yhave hot cocoa in Japan?"

A silly question from a silly kid, of course they do.
[[Category:Logs]]

2018-11-30 - Skiis and Youth

2018-12-04T02:39:25Z

SwordPerson: SwordPerson moved page 2018-11-30 - Skiis and Youth to 2018-11-30 - TIMELINE 1: Skiis and Youth

#REDIRECT [[2018-11-30 - TIMELINE 1: Skiis and Youth]]

2018-11-30 - TIMELINE 1: Skiis and Youth

2018-12-04T02:34:50Z

Previously On Battle Fantasia

2018-11-12T01:22:32Z

SwordPerson: /* Timeline One */

'''''Previously On Battle Fantasia is a special event that started on Battle Fantasia on 11/11/18.'''''

The five years of Battle Fantasia MUSH roleplay have established a miraculous and tragic timeline...

...but it wasn't the first timeline.

__TOC__

===The Wayback Machine===

It is September 20, 2013.

The height of fall. Tokyo is golden and beautiful, afternoons still warm with the memory of summer; beginning to be crisp, in the early morning, with the promise of winter.

It is the second year of the Sister Schools program, which is still new enough to be exciting and also a little uncomfortable. Juuban Public School is about to host the joint sports festival, brushing up their fields. Infinity Institute and Ohtori Academy anticipate shoddiness, but are going to find sportsmanship instead.

But some students suddenly find themselves having to balance the challenge of finding the right partner for the three-legged race with a new life -- a double life -- a secret life.

That's because two weeks ago the demonic army of Dark Fall swept into the heart of the magic worlds, the Fairy Realms, and dislodged their masters. They possessed ancient artifacts and used them to explode fairy castles, and they sealed fairy queens away in teacups. They shattered souls, and remade worlds in their own dark image. And so the cries for help went out -- all of them, drawn by an unseen force, to the same blue ball in Space.

And so it is that today, on Earth, the consequences of centuries, millennia, of planning and battles have come to fruit, as Dark Fall and Ends of the World alike descend not as one, but at once. The greedy fingers of corporate masters tear the dreams out of children's chests in the hunt for the miracle-granting Embryo. A coterie of Belkan Knights root in the shadows for the Linker Cores of the innocent - leaving them half dead and bereft of magic. Orphans stir on Southern Cross Island, finding victims to feed on, as their master's mark blazes in the sky. Underground, the Order of the Glittering Crux seeks to release the seals that will allow them to summon their magitechnological wonders into the real world, and seize it for their own. Witches throng in the shadows, their attention called by the despair of those who see how bleak the world is, their Kiss drawing still more into that trap. Above, the Castle Where Eternity Dwells silently waits to see whose heart will next be savaged by the Duels it oversees. And in the North, Queen Beryl's empire rises again, to finally and absolutely conquer the Earth and therefore the crown jewel of the universe...

But the guardians of Earth are rising. Tokyo is where that battle will be fought; as Pretty Cures are found by the refugees of the Fairy Worlds, and HiME once more flock to the Land of Fuuka, now called Southern Cross Island, and the Silver Millennium's Sailor Senshi stir at last from their millennia-long slumber. The darkness is deep; but once, a great queen wished for a light to outshine any darkness.

She will not be disappointed.

She has you.

---

Welcome to 'PREVIOUSLY ON BATTLE FANTASIA', our game's next major plot. Starting immediately, we're taking a trip back in time to our world as it was in September 2013: a more innocent time, with more innocent characters. New transfer students are new once again. Virtually everyone is a freshly recruited magical girl, taking their first steps into the world of fighting evil by moonlight -- youma are scary and their masters mysterious and unknown. Balancing normal and magical life is not old hat but an often-overwhelming act of frantic rushing around and the occasional guilty lie.

And beautiful friendships are about to be born.

===Frequently Asked Questions===

'''WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?'''

Frankly, the game has been in a very dark place for a very long time, and everyone needs a break. PREVIOUSLY ON BATTLE FANTASIA will occasionally tackle some heavy truths, but overwhelmingly its tone is intended to be lighthearted and fun -- or at least not oppressively, inescapably awful. It is an opportunity for everyone to get a fresh take on their characters, exploring, in a backwards way, exactly how far they've come.

It is also, frankly, an opportunity for some fan service, and the staff is taking requests on 'alternate timeline' plot points you'd like to see worked into the story. Please email your ideas to battlefantasiastaff@gmail.com or join the brainstorming shared document [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TPfzE1C2d5w4waeg4u8qvS0409jtesO9i4FU8c3eimU/edit?usp=sharing here]!

'''IS EVERYTHING THE SAME?'''

No, and we will get into the differences between the first timeline and the final timeline (our regular game) on the wiki page, which is designed to help us keep track of the timelines as we go through them.

Obviously, one major difference is that themes and characters that joined the game after September 2013 will have joined it earlier and younger: take a look at your 'school' entries, you'll see you've been sent back two grades! '''(If you are one of these characters, the staff wants to work out the details of your earlier arrival with you -- please contact Pink Moon Stick for a brainstorming session!)'''

Characters from later SEASONS of certain themes who weren't around at game start (here's looking at you, Chibi-Usa-chan) will not be present in September 2013, but can rejoin us as the timeline catches back up with them.

'''WAIT, TIMELINES PLURAL?'''

Yes. We are going to do several, one at a time, and in so doing tell a story, as a game, about the MANY ways things have changed from everyone's original destiny to their current one (not just the hairstyle of Homura Akemi). In each timeline we will be skipping around through the intervening year and a half between past and present to hit various highlight events from the old days that some of our players missed out on, and others would enjoy revisiting.

If you want to remind yourself and come up with a possible wishlist, http://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Timeline is hideously out of date, but it's the earlier stuff we're especially eager to do, so in that sense it's still a useful resource!

'''BUT I WANT TO KEEP DOING 2015 ROLEPLAY!'''

That's completely fine. All 'Previously On' logs are going to be labeled as such; you are welcome to roleplay in the 'current' timeline privately if you like, especially to give yourself a little denouement after certain major events, if you don't want to wait. We stopped at the end of the IC night of May 27, 2015, and will be picking back up on May 28, 2015 eventually; for various spooky plot reasons, please keep your roleplay within the next two days, May 28-29, 2015.

===Timelines===

For log titles, please label which timeline you're roleplaying in with the prefix: TIMELINE #:. So, a scene set in the first timeline might
have the title TIMELINE 1: Welcome To Tokyo!

Each timeline has a game-wide theme designed to help guide the overarching plot of Previously On Battle Fantasia across timelines. There is also a list of differences from the 'final' timeline (regular BF) to help people keep things straight and create prompts for interesting scene opportunities.

Please add to the bullet point list beneath the current timeline to document significant differences as they appear. We will be adding later timelines to this page gradually, along with their notable changes from the previous timeline required to get the roleplay a'rolling.

====Timeline One====
'''THEME: FRIENDSHIP.''' Everyone is meeting each other for the very first time. Friendships are born, and they are beautiful. Over the course of the first timeline, the innocence and passion of the magical girl community will be powerful enough to forge a grand alliance, in some respects the opposite of the final timeline. A good opportunity for bitter enemies to become dear friends. That doesn’t mean there is no tension among magical girls, but rivalries tend to be less painful and more hopeful.

* '''IC Starting Date: September 2013'''
* '''Starting Plot: Sister Schools Athletics Festival, Hosted By Juuban Public School'''
* Madoka Kaname is a newly Contracted Puella Magi and Homura Akemi is a normal girl.
* Themes/characters that joined at game start are rolled back to... game start.
* Later themes/characters' integration deals will need to be explained here, please add them in brief after discussing your plan with the staff.
::* '''Miraculous Ladybug''' is pretty much the same except that Hawk Moth began his plot in September 2013 instead of later on. Everyone received their Miraculouses as normal, only they're a little bit younger and cuter.
::* '''Steven Universe''' arrived in Tokyo a little earlier and a little younger, with his powers almost completely unexplored and untested (eg, early season one), because Beach City decided to make their move in 2013 instead of 2015.
::* '''Kasagami Araki''' arrived much earlier and younger in this timeline, as a middle schooler in 9th grade. She notably lacks her cynicism about the world and people in general, being overall more positive and utterly new to her powers as a Duelist.
* The New Transfer Student List, September 2013:
::* Homura Akemi
::* Kasagami Araki
::* Utena Tenjou
::* Mai Tokiha
::* Mikoto Minagi
::* Makoto Kino
::* Lera Camry

Food

2018-10-06T20:37:55Z

SwordPerson: Karumeyaki go!

Japanese cuisine is highly seasonal, with many dishes using ingredients only available at the right time. Modern technology has eased this burden, but it is still traditional to eat certain foods at certain times of year.

''Special thanks to Kuniko Saito's player for contributing the Winter entry of this guide!''

__TOC__

==Autumn==
Some in Japan call autumn the 'season for eating.' Coming off the heat of summer, there's a trend towards savory dishes that celebrate the bountiful harvest, and nice warm comfort food to eat as the weather turns colder.

'''Sanma''' (literal translation 'autumn knife fish'), or Pacific Saury, are sleekly silver fish that rise fat and juicy for fishermen in the fall, considered an iconic centerpiece of autumn cuisine. They are typically served whole (even as sushi!), and when cooked, sanma are seasoned with salt and grilled over a charcoal fire. The crispy skin is a much-beloved part of the experience, often garnished with soy sauce. In early September, Tokyo's Meguro district holds a festival where many thousands of charcoal-grilled sanma are given away for free tasting!

'''Satsumaimo''', or Japanese sweet potatoes, are purple on the outside, bright yellow on the inside, and are drier in texture, but sweeter and creamier in taste, than yams. Traditionally, they are roasted whole, on hot stones outside (lending themselves well to the centerpiece of a scene where characters tend, then consume, their roasting sweet potatoes while raking leaves or otherwise enjoying the season; they are also sold, steaming hot, out of the open backs of minivans, by men who attract their customers by singing an iconic lamenting song). Satsumaimo are also popular fried, mashed, or boiled. The stereotypical consequence of overeating satsumaimo is a popular source of fart jokes among the young (and sometimes the old).

'''Kabocha''' are essentially Japanese pumpkins. On the outside they're green rather than orange, and on the inside they're somewhat sweeter than the Western squash, with a rich, butternut flavor. In the fall, they're made into soups, barbecued, battered and fried as tempura (alongside maple leaves, '''Momiji Tempura''', an unusual autumn treat!), and, yes, even used in Western-style pies.
* The most classic comfort food preparation of kabocha, however, is as a filling for breaded and fried croquettes, locally called '''korokke''' -- kabocha (also, satsumaimo) korokke are an often-homemade autumn snack. Watch out for the hot oil when it pops! Independent of season, korokke made with regular potatoes, or sometimes with ground meat, are popular throughout the year, and are sold at delightfully hot temperatures for pocket change prices at the konbini.

'''Matsutake''' pine mushrooms are the most prominent of the fungi that, nurtured by summer's high humidity, pop up for harvesting in the fall. Impossible to cultivate, they're highly prized and very expensive, starting at a hundred thousand yen per pound for the premium grade, and occupy a similar position of honor in Japanese cuisine as truffles do to the French. To make a few matsutake mushrooms stretch a long way, they are popularly featured in a seafood broth soup called '''Matsutake Dobin Mushi''', which is served in a clay teapot. When eaten whole, their delicate, smoky flavor is best preserved by grilling them on an open flame, and they are sometimes sprinkled over rice. Cheaper mushrooms are also popular in autumn, with hearty mushroom broth sometimes replacing the standard cup of miso soup served alongside a meal.

'''Kaki''', or Japanese persimmons, are ubiquitous in the fall, a sweet and tangy fruit found ripening on trees all over the country. Making a day out of a kaki picking trip is a common weekend treat. Besides eating them straight off the tree, they are often served chilled, or dusted with sugar and dried (a treat called '''hoshigaki''').

'''Kuri''', also commonly called by their French name '''maron''', are Japanese chestnuts (with a similar omnipresence to kaki, seen on trees everywhere, but an entirely different taste -- creamy, sweet and rich). They're usually sold uncooked so that they can be prepared at home, but you can get bags of roasted kuri at your supermarket or konbini for a good sidewalk snack. Roasting your own at the end of a trip to a kuri picking farm makes for a good finale to a September day!
* '''Shinmai''', or "new rice," comprises the first harvests of rice in autumn. Shinmai is said to be moister, sweeter, and more beautiful than ordinary rice, and starting in late September one of the best ways to prepare it is with kuri boiled alongside rice in the pot, creating a hearty sticky rice dish ('''kuri-gohan''') with a tiny dose of sweetness. Gingko nuts are also a popular shinmai topping, because of their subtle flavor, which allows the rice's unique qualities to shine through.
* Boxes of '''kuri-kinton''', or candied chestnuts, are popular gifts for friends and family in autumn -- in this treat, kuri are steamed, mashed, combined with sugar, then twisted into a bun shape. The snack is popularly enjoyed with a cup of hot tea. Kuri are also used in many other Japanese sweets, including '''kuri-manju''' cakes.

==Winter==
The prototypical dish for winter cuisine in Japan is the '''hot pot''', also known as ''nabemono''. Ingredients are combined in a pot and boiled, forming a rich broth; it is typically shared, with individual diners plucking out their favored morsels, and the broth typically mixed with rice at the end and consumed as a final course. Eating nabemono with your friends would be an excellent reason for a social scene; gather together, stick your legs underneath the kotatsu, and enjoy the warmth of friendship and flavor.

Nabemono is very versatile. Indeed, the name can be translated as "cooking pot stuff." Here are some common styles of nabemono; all of them can be considered to have vegetables such as bok choy and daikon involved, as well as varieties of mushroom.

* '''Sukiyaki:''' Thinly sliced beef (sometimes pork) simmered with vegetables and a soy sauce/sugar/sweet rice wine sauce. Before eating, the hot ingredients are usually dipped in a small bowl of raw beaten egg. Common at year-end parties and suitable for all ages.
* '''Shabu-shabu:''' Thin sliced beef is boiled in water or broth and eaten with dipping sauces. This dish may be considered similar to the "fondue" style meals available in America. It is quite suitable for service with fine ingredients, particularly wagyu beef and other marks of conspicuous consumption.
* '''Yosenabe:''' A combination style of nabemono which combines all sorts of things and cooks them well together: meat, seafood, tofu, egg, and vegetables. A common "homestyle" meal, often with a thicker sauce than is typical for nabemono.
* '''Yudofu:''' Nabemono prepared in a kombu stock and featuring tofu as the primary protein, with citrus and spicy sauces. Socially considered as vegetarian, though small amounts of fish are typically involved.
* '''Chankonabe:''' A nabemono dish that is a common restaurant meal, it was originally a heavy dish eaten by sumo wrestlers to put on weight efficiently. Very high in protein, often with chicken, fish, beef and various vegetables, chankonabe is a good meal for growing young'ns when served in less heroic proportions.
* '''Ishikari-nabe:''' A Hokkaido specialty, this hot pot features salmon and potato as well as butter.

'''Oden''' is another characteristic winter dish, prepared in a manner similar to hot pot but made available as its own individual dish in many venues. Featuring boiled eggs, daikon, fishcakes and a soy/dashi broth, most convenience stores have a bubbling pot of oden to sell by the cup during the winter months.

'''Tori zosui''' is another winter favorite; a thick rice soup with chicken, often prepared with leftover rice and served with sliced scallions on top. It's an excellent and popular way to warm up after a bitterly cold day.

====Winter Holidays====
There are also some specifically traditional holiday dishes, associated with an individual day or days. Your character is likely to eat them, and may well help prepare them!

* '''Christmas Cake:''' These cakes are typically a simple sponge cake, frosted with whipped cream and decorated with strawberries plus a chocolate plate that says "Merry Christmas!" Something of a more structured strawberry shortcake. It is eaten on Christmas Eve, which is, in Japan, typically celebrated as a romantic holiday a la Western Valentine's Day, and is thus perhaps the hardest night of the year to get a table at a nice restaurant. Yule Log cakes are also popular.
* '''KFC:''' There is a tradition of obtaining Kentucky Fried Chicken meals as a Christmas dish, in part because turkey is an absolute unknown in Japan. A 1974 advertising campaign started a tradition, and now a bucket of KFC "Christmas Chicken" (with salad and a cake) is typical fare on Christmas, often ordered months in advance to beat the lines.
* '''Osechi ryori:''' An umbrella term for food prepared specially for the New Year's period, these dishes come in a huge range of ingredients that are meant to encourage good luck and fortune for the upcoming year. They are typically sweet, sour, dried or otherwise preserved, as they come from a time before refrigeration was common, and when many markets would be closed for some time. Traditionally, nothing should be cooked on New Year's Day, so the preparation of osechi is finished before New Year's Eve. Osechi ryori is arguably the most important meal of the year, with each dish serving as a symbol or wish for the coming year. The food is even eaten in a special way by using chopsticks that are rounded on both ends; one side for the humans to use, one side for the gods. There are so many varieties that space would prohibit easy discussion. A more detailed discussion is present at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osechi Wikipedia] including a plan for a three-tiered "jubako" box.
* '''Toshikoshi soba:''' This is eaten at night on New Year's Eve. A simple meal with buckwheat soba with toppings such as seaweed, fried tofu, or vegetables. The long noodles are said to symbolize a long life, their consumption representing "crossing over from one year to the next," the meaning of ''toshi-koshi''. Another theory is that it is very simple to make - a relief after preparing several days' worth of osechi for the upcoming celebrations! It is often considered bad luck to leave any of your toshikoshi soba uneaten.
* '''O-zoni:''' A soup eaten during on the morning of New Year's Day, considered very lucky, featuring local ingredients and lots of mochi. While many areas have their own specialties, the typical Kanto-area meal uses a soy sauce/dashi broth, squared and grilled mochi, and meat and vegetables to preference.
* '''Nanakusu gayu:''' Eaten on January 7th, this is a collection of seven wild edible herbs eaten with rice in order to ease the stomach after all of the things listed above, which have been eaten over the course of several weeks.

==Spring==
Spring cuisine is all about appreciating the beginning of the growing season, as shoots and ferns unfurl from the ground, and petals blossom on fruit trees. These events are cause for major public celebrations, and, in turn, the fruits and vegetables in question are heavily featured in a variety of dishes.

Besides the bounty of the rich brown earth, there are naturally seasonal selections from the deep blue sea:
* '''Tai''', or Red Sea Bream, are rich-tasting fish that are in season in spring, and famously symbolize good luck in Japan. Besides eating them as sashimi or grilled with salt, '''Tai-chasuke''' is a dish where tai is served on rice with dashi fish stock poured on top.
:* For people who can't abide the fish, but still want their good luck, there is also '''Taiyaki''', a traditional Japanese sweet named after and shaped like tai. They're filled with '''anko''' (sweet red azuki bean paste), and often served at cherry blossom viewing parties (called hanami).
* '''Ika''' (Squid) is available good and fresh throughout the year, they're sweetest in the spring. '''Hotaru-Ika''' (firefly squid) are particularly popular served as a snack accompanying drinks, prepared in a variety of ways, including as sashimi, sauted, or boiled in soy sauce.
* '''Magaki''' (Pacific Oysters) are in season from late winter to spring, where they become bigger and sweeter. They're often served in an all-you-can-eat format, grilled, steamed, or even fried.

'''Sansai''' are much-beloved Japanese mountain vegetables that sprout in spring and are enthusiastically consumed. Many are picked from the wild; indeed, most are difficult to cultivate on a mass scale, and they're often quite bitter and tough until boiled or otherwise processed to consume. Besides serving them raw in salads, seared on the grill, or battered and fried as tempura, there are numerous specific dishes unique to a given mountain vegetable.
* '''Nanohana''' are the young spring shoots of rapeseed plants; though they're available in plain green at supermarkets for most of the year (and are closely related to broccoli -- the florets, stems and leaves are all edible), in spring they are prized for their bright yellow flower buds, which arrive in late March, in between the plum and cherry blossoms. Wandering through yellow fields of nanohana is a much-beloved practice, and fields outside of Tokyo are planted and sculpted into mazes, not unlike corn mazes in North America during Halloween. Unlike many sansai, nanohana isn't bitter or tough, so no pretreatment is required to enjoy it. Flowering nanohana is traditionally used as a side dish called '''ohitashi''', where it is briefly boiled until tender, and served with soy sance, dashi, bonito flakes and/or toasted sesame seeds. '''Karashiae''' is a similar dish, but the soy sauce is seasoned with spicy mustard.
* '''Takenoko''' (literally "child of bamboo") is a bamboo shoot, which can only be picked in a very tight window of the correct size and tenderness. Even then, takenoko must be boiled in rice bran water (with a couple of hot chili peppers added to, paradoxically, increase the bamboo's sweetness) for over an hour, to soften the flesh and reduce its bitterness. '''Takenoko-gohan''', or bamboo shoot rice, involves steaming precooked takenoko in rice (sometimes with fried tofu and shiitake mushrooms), flavored with soy sauce, dashi, mirin (sweet rice wine) sake and sugar. As a solo entree, larger pieces of bamboo cooked in a similar seasoning blend are served as '''takenoko no nimono''' ("simmered bamboo shoots"). Takenoko is also featured prominently in stir fry, in the spring.
* Other sansai, essentially all of which require advance parboiling, include '''Fuki''' (Butterbur), in which both the stalks and buds are used; spiraling, curled '''Kogomi''' (Ostrich Ferns) which are blanched and simmered; '''Shungiku''' (Spring Chrysanthemum) which are often served with a sesame dressing, or added to soups and hot pots; '''Tara no Me''' (the fresh shoots of the Angelica tree, sometimes called the "king" of sansai) which are particularly popular as tempura; '''Wasabina''' (Wasabi Mustard Greens) often used in salads; and '''Yama Udo''' (Mountain Asparagus) which is typically thinly sliced and pickled in miso, vinegar and sugar, or, if served fresh, can be grilled or sauteed.

'''Ichigo''' (strawberries) are in season in Japan from December to March, making them the go-to fruit for early spring. They're much beloved for their ability to brighten up this dreary time of year, and appear everywhere, in everything. Particularly fancy breeds of premium berry are marketed as high class gifts in department stores, but anyone can buy normal strawberries -- including going out to greenhouses to pick them, a spring activity known as '''ichigo kari'''.
* '''Daifuku''' are a very popular traditional Japanese sweet, comprised of a glutinous rice ball filled with sweet white or red anko, but in spring, they're sold with an entire strawberry inside, and called '''ichigo daifuku'''. These are hawked from the food stall to the konbini and back again, and are best enjoyed with a cup of green tea.
* Strawberry shortcakes in Japan are sponge cake and whipped cream layer cakes with fresh strawberries between the layers and on top (Christmas cakes are usually strawberry shortcakes), which is a little different from the cake with the same name in the West.

'''Ume''', the Japanese plum, is the first major tree to blossom in spring, and its flowering is avidly anticipated by the populace (though without quite the intensity of the excitement surrounding sakura blossoms, see below). Accompanying all this hype are uses of its fruit flavor. Since ume is often pickled as unbelivably sour, salty '''umeboshi''', it's available year-round, but when the weather starts to warm and spring is around the corner, ume-flavored chips (which are sort of like fruity salt and vinegar chips) and other snacks and sweets, appear on the shelves of the supermarkets and konbini.

'''Sakura''' blossoms are the main event for the celebration of the arrival of spring (even though ume come first and are also celebrated separately). In Tokyo, they begin to bloom in April, and as the public eagerly follows the cherry blossom front (as forecasted by the weather bureau, as it moves from South to North) to find out exactly when the blossoms will pop, you'll find sakura-flavored (or at least sakura-colored) everything; there's Sakura Kit Kats, Starbooks lattes, donuts, tarts, roll cakes, ice cream, taiyaki, mochi, and more. Sakura fever turns the shelves of the supermarket bright pink.
* '''Sakura-mochi''' is the iconic traditional sweet associated with hanami (as well as Hinamatsuri, the Girls' Festival, celebrated on March 3rd); it is the sweet, pink mochi of spring, wrapped around anko and topped with an edible leaf from a sakura tree (which is the only part of the sweet, actually, that involves actual sakura).

====Bento====
'''Hanami''' (literally, "flower viewing") is the traditional Japanese custom of throwing a party under flowering trees (especially sakura trees) in order to properly appreciate the blossoms in the brief time that they're around -- only a week or two a year! People gather in huge numbers, play or listen to music, and hold elaborate feasts on picnic blankets. Although there are often food stalls in larger parks, preparing and packing your own food is common, making this a great place to discuss '''bento''', the Japanese boxed lunch.
* Making yourself a great lunchbox is satisfying, but the true importance of bento comes from the feelings you put into preparing them for other people. It's a chance to imbue love into every bite -- parents make bento for their children if they can, and giving a specially prepared bento to a friend (or crush!) is a great demonstration of affection.
* Bento boxes (which can, themselves, vary greatly, ranging from elegant to cute to steadfastly functional to straight-up disposable -- and the same is all true of the chopsticks packed with them) are usually designed with a few subdivisions, to separate small portions of multiple dishes, such as rice, meat, and pickled or cooked vegetables. Everything tends to be served in bite-sized pieces, for convenience, and it's not uncommon for individual pieces of food to be cut into whimsical shapes, such as apple-rabbits, hot dog-octopi, and so forth.
* Taking the decorative element one step further, '''kyaraben''' ("character bento," as in anime/manga character) and '''okekakiben''' ("picture bento") arrange all of the elements of a bento into a recognizable image. Such meals require snapping a picture on your cell phone to immortalize your beautiful lunch before eating it!
* Not all bento are made by a loved one; anyone can buy bento from convenience stores or supermarkets, and some restaurants specialize in takeout bento. You can even purchase bento at railway stations ('''ekiben'''), which is a surprisingly old tradition with a huge variety of offerings, where local specialties compete for the appetites of travelers. Purchasing a box lunch at a station shop -- or while on a train, for longer trips -- remains one of the special treats of Japanese railway travel.

==Summer==
Executive summary about the themes of summer cuisine in Japan.

Savory:
* Somen -- Mikoto
::* Nagashi somen
::* Zaru somen
* A non-somen cold noodle way to beat the heat is with '''Hiyashi Chuka''' (literally, 'Chilled Chinese'), a cold pasta salad composed of ramen noodles, arranged artfully (and VERY colorfully) with vegetable (and sometimes meat) garnish. Thinly sliced carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes are popular toppings, and ham and shrimp are not unheard of. Some chilled sour soup broth is drizzled on top. Konbini serve prepackaged Hiyashi Chuka with a hardboiled egg.
* '''Hiyayakko''' (sometimes called hiyakko or yakko-dofu) is chilled tofu, served with various toppings; its name refers to the servants of samurai in the Edo period. Chopped green onion, dried tuna flakes, and soy sauce are one common combination of toppings, but you can also find hiyayakko topped with shiso, yuzu rind, daikon, ginger, plum paste, or even mustard.
* '''Rei shabu''' is a pork dish, related to the popular wintertime shabu-shabu (a hot pot) - though rei shabu is more akin to a cold pork salad. Unlike regular shabu-shabu, the vegetables of rei shabu - things like daikon, cucumbers, tomatos, green beans and carrots - are raw, and the thinly-sliced pork, once boiled, is dipped in ice water to cool it down. Rei shabu is served with a variety of cold sauces, like miso or sesame sauce, and is sometimes served with somen noodles.
* '''Unagi''' or freshwater eel is a common ingredient in Japanese cooking, although it's also so highly prized that there's a day in midsummer when one is ''expected'' to eat unagi (specifically ''doyou no ushi no hi,'' the midsummer day of the Ox from the Chinese zodiac cycle; it may fall anywhere between mid-July to early August). Since eating raw eel poses a high risk of food poisoning, unagi is ''always'' cooked, frequently grilled. In particular, the cooking style known as ''kabayaki'' involves splitting the eel along either the back or the belly, gutting and boning it, cutting it into square filets, skewering, and dipping in a sweet soy sauce-based sauce prior to broiling on the grill. Once unagi has been cooked, it may be served donburi-style over rice (which includes the dish known as ''unaju''), or torn up and mixed with the rice to make ''hitsumabushi'', which is especially popular in the Nagoya area.

Sweet:
* '''Watermelons''' are considered a luxury in Japan, and are grown accordingly by farmers as a gut-pleasing treat. The rind is thinner and the flesh around the seeds are sweeter as compared to their Western counterparts. As such you can find them in many unusual shapes(cube, face, Godzilla egg!?) which can make them ornamental and expensive. The Densuke watermelon of Hokkaido considered to be the ferrari of these tasty treats with prices ranging up to 400,000 yen. However their luxurious nature makes them the perfect gift to offer your favorite senpai during the hotter months of the year! Summer gatherings and festivals aren't complete without a round of Suikawari(Watermelon Splitting).
:*Suikawari: A game between friends where a person is handed a wooden stick or bokken, blindfolded, spun three times then told to have at it. ’Official’ Rules for Suikawari:
::#Players placed between 5-7m away from the watermelon.
::#Blindfold tested with large yen bills.(May not apply to the 'Ohtori' rich.)
::#Time Limit of 3 minutes.
::#Scoring determined on how clean a break was made.
::#Melon collectively devoured after break is made for bonding between friends.
* '''Kakigori''' is shaved ice covered in flavored syrup like strawberry, lemon, melon, bubblegum, or a variety of other festive flavors, along with actual toppings like mochi, sweetened red beans, fruit slices, or even ice cream. Unlike a snow cone Kakigori is soft, cloud-like, and without much texture. Kakigori is a popular dessert when on the go, and many summer festival food stalls can be found shaving gigantic blocks of ice into this cool, fluffy treat.
* '''Garigari-kun''' is a particularly popular brand of Japanese ice pop. At a glance, they are similar enough to any other ice cream bar, coming individually packaged (at a reasonable price!) with a large-mouthed mascot. Within is a slab of ice milk on a stick, notable for having bits of ice intentionally included to give it that gari-gari crunch. The most notable aspect of these treats is the variety of flavour - while fruit and soda flavours are commonly available, Gari Gari Kun is infamous for limited-time flavours such as Onsen Manju, Cream Pull, Rare Cheese, or Spaghetti Napolitan. Yes, really. And if your stick says Atari (winner), you can get another one for free!

Drinks:
* '''Mugicha''' (barley tea) is just the thing to cool a person down on a hot summer's day, or even a hot summer's night, since it's caffeine-free. Plain mugicha is a mellow brown color and has a savory, roasted taste with a touch of bitterness; sometimes it's sweetened with sugar. It can be purchased at any konbini or made at home using roasted barley teabags.
* Ramune -- Lera Camry
* '''Umeshu''' is an aromatic liqueur made by steeping unripened ume fruits (Japanese plums) in alcohol (typically shouchu, also called white liqueur, but also sake, brandy, whisky, or other liqueurs) and sugar, with a refreshingly sweet, tangy taste. Its alcohol content varies with the drink used: usually around 10-15% ALC, about the same as wine or mead, or, at its strongest, diluted sake, but sometimes as low as 5% (similar to many beers) or as high as 25% (like undiluted sake, or fortified wine). It is believed that umeshu has many health benefits; it's said to relieve exhaustion, promote digestive health, and stimulate the appetite. The legal drinking age in Japan is 20, but due to lax enforcement, it's relatively easy to gain access to alcohol for enterprising students, largely through convenience stores or umeshu brewed at home (which is quite easy!), or sometimes through vending machines, though these are becoming less common. The umeshu-tasting festivals do reportedly check identification at entry! Of course, there's always nonalcoholic umeshu - though some brands are reported not to taste much like umeshu at all.

====Festival Food====
Summer is the season of festivals so let's do a food stall feature!
* '''Yakitori''' -- literally grilled chicken, but not necessarily chicken! The important part is it's bite-sized food on skewers, grilled over charcoal. It's a regular festival and event food, and also popular to have while drinking! It's pretty ubiquitous. Generally it's going to be meat charred on sticks, often (maybe even mostly) with vegetables as well. It might go with salt, but with tend to have sauce; 'tare' sauce is one option, a mix of sake, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar, but the idea is something sweet and savory. The particular cut of meat isn't all that important--while the most traditional is chicken, as mentioned it might have beef, octopus, or sausage just as a start.
:* Fish on a stick! That's not just an exclamation, it's also sweetfish, or '''Ayu''' - a freshwater fish with a light texture. Often seen at fireworks displays, it's a popular festival snack associated with summertime. Grilled or barbequed, it's topped with salt, and its crispy outer flesh hides a distinctive sweet taste. Some people even say it tastes similar to a watermelon! It's served whole, and it is artfully placed on a stick in a wavelike swimming shape, to give an impression of swimming up against a current.
* '''Karaage''' -- While the Curse of the Colonel is infamous amongst baseball fans in Japan, don’t mistake Western fried chicken for Karaage. Karaage is fried chicken where flavors like sake, soy sauce, garlic or ginger are added to the chicken before the flour is added rather than simply into the flour itself. This process adds a juiciness to the meat that Kentucky Fried Chicken simply lacks! While this frying style was originally from China, it’s been adapted into something uniquely Japanese that they can be proud of. Each region of Japan has it’s own regional twist on this delicious treat such as Nagoya’s spicy version or Gifu’s karaage that’s black due to a type of algae mixed in.
* '''Takoyaki''' is a crispy savoury snack made of diced boiled octopus legs covered in a wheat flour-based batter, shaped into balls. While octopus is the operative ingredient - it's right there in the name! - takoyaki can also contain things like seasonal vegetables, tempura scraps (or tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion. It's typically served with okonomi sauce - a sweeter and less salty cousin of Worcestershire sauce - and mayonnaise, but can also be served with goma-dare (sesame and vinegar sauce) or ponzu (soy sauce, with dashi and citrus vinegar), amongst other variations. It originated in Osaka, but is now popular throughout Japan. Takoyaki is typically eaten by stabbing the ball with a toothpick, and served in paper dishes which resemble boats. It's also served piping hot, so be careful not to eat too quickly!
* Ikayaki -- Pluto
* Hotate Butter Yaki
* '''Okonomiyaki''' is a pancake or omelette-like dish served, much like their comparisons, with a variety of toppings and fillings. There are two main ways this savory dish is served! the Osaka-style has the extra chosen toppings mixed in to the batter and cooked together and pan-fried, served much like a stuffed griddle cake. The Hiroshima-style version serves it much like a layered cake, with the chosen extra toppings stacked on top of the batter cake one after another. Cabbage, green onion and pork seem to be the most common ingredients, but locations that serve the dish have many different ingredients on request, such as vegetables, seafood (such as octopus, shrimp, and squid) beef, and cheeses. Certain locations offer more unique varieties such as with fried noodles or chicken!
* '''Yakisoba''' is stir-fried noodles, plain and simple. While sometimes made with buckwheat soba noodles, most servings are prepared with thinner ramen-style noodles, making it quick and easy to prepare. The dark sweet-and-savoury sauce gives the fried dish a tang, and diced vegetables and meat are usually thrown in - ranging from chicken to pork to hot dogs to Spam, depending on the locality. While an actual dish is sometimes used, the festival food is commonly served on a humble paper plate - or in a bun, for a meal on the go.
* '''Yakitomorokoshi''' is just corn on the cob (on a stick), except that it isn't 'just' anything. Rather than being boiled, buttered and salted, its preparation is uniquely Japanese. After a brief boil to soften it up, chefs throw their corn on a charcoal grill and brush the corn's surface with some combination of soy sauce, mirin and sugar, which forms a glaze. The smell is amazing, somehow nutty, salty and sweet at the same time, and many a customer is led to this stall by simply following their nose.
* Tai is a spring fish but '''taiyaki''' is as valid an entry at any summer festival as it is at hanami viewing. These traditional Japanese pastries are shaped like the fish they're named after, and are somewhere between a waffle and a cake, stuffed with sweet azuki red bean paste (or, more recently, custard, chocolate, or even cheese or meat). Part of the fun of taiyaki at festivals is that you get to see them made in specially molded griddles, right there in the stall -- and the art of flipping over a half-baked 'fish' with a chopstick without getting batter and filling everywhere is fine, indeed...
* '''Crepes''' - A popular street food that can be sweet or savory, although the sweet variety is more popular in Japan. They are often served as a cone and filled with cream or custard and a kind of fruit such as banana, strawberry, blueberry, peach, kiwi or apple. They can also be filled with ice cream, chestnuts or almonds,or if someone if filling very decadent a cake topping such as cheesecake, brownie or chocolate cake. A sauce is drizzled among the inner folds and over the top of the crepe such as strawberry jam, chocolate, caramel, nutella or kuromitsu. The more savory kind of crepe, often just called 'snack crepes' often include tuna, egg, bacon, cheese, sausage, ham, spinach or chicken as their filling and then topped off with a sauce such as Japanese mayonnaise, curry sauce, pizza sauce, teriyaki sauce or even salsa.
* '''Dango''' -- Dumplings made of rice flour called Mochiko and served on sticks with many regional varieties of the sweet treat(or savory in Gifu where they’re served with soy sauce!). The Japanese have been eating dango since the Jomon period and how they’re served has evolved over time. Offerings of dango are made during special festivals to the kami for purification purposes before taking them home and eating them for good luck. It’s referenced in the odango hairstyle(o- is honorific) which in Japan can be conflated with any variety of bun. Just watch out calling anyone sporting this kind of hairstyle odango-atama(bun-head or dumpling-head) unless you’re charming enough to get away with it.
* '''Jaga bata''' means butter potato, and it's pretty much exactly that -- potatoes, steamed in wood ovens, and stuffed with butter, salt, and soy sauce. It's especially popular to use the smaller 'reject' potatoes for this purpose, turning them into a nearly bite-sized street food, but the paper boats they come in sometimes just have one big potato instead.
* '''Karumeyaki''', or grilled caramel, is a mixture of egg whites, sugar (brown or white), baking soda and water. It's similar to French and Italian meringues, and has a taste and texture similar to honeycomb and meringue cookies. It's often sold in Japanese festivals (matsuri), where it can be cooked on portable burners or simply sold in packets. There are other flavors as well, such as coffee or vanilla. Freshly made Karumeyaki ends in a ball with a crispy crust that melts in one's mouth when eaten.
* '''Castella''' (or kasutera) is a fairly simple sponge cake, made with sugar, flour, eggs, and starch syrup. Their creation dates back to Portugese merchants in the 16th century, and the modern Japanese castella cake is a specialty of Nagasaki owing to this connection. Full-sized castella can be bought year-round, but the bite-sized '''baby castella''' (bebi kasutera) is a popular festival snack. Besides the plain recipe, there are varieties made with powdered green tea, brown sugar, honey, etc.
* '''Wata-ame''' or watagashi is cotton candy, usually very similar to the Western version, also known as fairy floss or candy floss in various parts of the world. Sugar which has been melted into a liquid state, and flavorings and/or colorings added, is spun into tiny strands, and gathered on a stick to serve, sometimes covered with a decorative plastic bag (usually adorned with anime or other artwork) for protection until it's eaten. Wata-ame dissolves quickly in contact with water and readily melts again in high heat, so it's not something to save for ''much'' later!
* Ringo Ame
::* Ichigo Ame
::* Mikan Ame
::* Ume Ame
* '''Choco bananas''' are frozen banana treats, covered in chocolate. While the chocolate is traditionally milk chocolate, there are also varieties made with white chocolate, strawberry chocolate, or other varieties - which can make for a dazzling rainbow of snacks. They're often topped with sprinkles, nuts, coconut flakes, or other sweets. Don't worry about getting your hands dirty, because they're served on sticks, just like toffee apples. Choco bananas are staples of Summer festivals, and they're a common sight in stalls.

==Favorite Foods==
Everybody has a favorite food -- and often it isn't just the food, but the story of why they like it, who they like it prepared by, and where and when they most like to eat it.

* Add your character's favorite food to this bullet list -- one long paragraph recommended. Please include your character's name and both a cultural summary of the food and its particular significance and specifics for the character. It's okay if your food was mentioned already elsewhere in the guide -- no two bowls of ramen are alike, after all.
* [[Adrien Agreste|Adrien's]] favorite food is '''pizza with his favorite toppings being cheese, mushrooms, pepperoni and sausage'''. Due to his carefully watch model diet, he doesn't get to have it often, but it's a delightful treat for him when it does. It especially becomes an even more favorite when his friends invite him to go and share a pizza with them. It's just how it's like from the shows he watched on tv!
* [[Eri Shimanouchi|Eri Shimanouchi's]] favorite foods are '''Okonomiyaki''' and '''Modanyaki'''. Although she's been a vegetarian since starting middle school, her love of these varieties of Osakan soulfood hasn't changed, as it reminds her of happier times during her youth. Instead she's just sworn off red meat varieties and substitutes seafood instead. It is extremely rare for her to eat it in front of friends though because she's embarrassed about how messily she eats it. Her favorite location for it is a small grill in Ogikubo Tokyo, which was within walking distance from her former territory in Shinjuku.
* [[Fuu Hououji|Fuu Hououji's]] favorite food is '''tessa''', fugu sashimi which has been sliced so thinly that it's almost transparent. Only specially trained and licensed sushi chefs are even allowed to prepare tessa, due to the potential danger of pufferfish poisoning; as such, it's an expensive luxury dish, not something that even the Hououji family goes out for very often - but that rarity is part of why Fuu enjoys it so much, when she has the opportunity. (In an interesting bit of irony, the Emperor of Japan is forbidden by law from ever eating fugu out of concern for his health, making Fuu's favorite dish something that the Emperor himself can never eat.)
* [[Hotaru Tomoe|Hotaru Tomoe's]] favorite food is '''nihon soba''', buckwheat noodles. They're a very plain and easily digestible meal, but that isn't why Hotaru likes them; rather, it's because she associates them with the tradition of staying up late at night on New Years Eve. Every year Hotaru gets to have them, it's another year she's still alive.
* [[Kozue Kaoru|Kozue Kaoru’s]] favorite foods are the '''Milk Shake''' and '''Cake'''. She will never admit it though, because she likens those things to this nostalgic sweetness invoked by the memories of the most important people in her life. Part of growing up she feels is pretending she doesn’t like these childhood treats. All the same, whenever her twin Miki invites her out to a small bakery on Southern Cross Island, it’s rare that she refuses outright. Instead she complains the whole trip.
* [[Madoka Kaname|Madoka Kaname's]] favorite food is '''cream stew''', a popular yoshoku dish firmly established as a standard, home-cooked meal. '''Yoshoku''' ('western food') refers to a uniquely Japanese style of Western-influenced cooking which originated during the Meiji Restoration. Despite its name, there is no cream in cream stew; it is rather based in béchamel sauce, a white roux, which can be bought in granular packet form in stores. It's very colorful, with chicken (or sometimes pork), potatoes, carrots, onions and green peas, and its mild taste is especially popular with kids. It is also called 'white stew', a name which appeared in 1947 when Japanese schools started serving stew with skim milk added to it, to supplement calcium for children to help them recover from lack of nutrition during the war. Papa Kaname prepares it with homemade chicken stock!
* [[Marinette Dupain-Cheng|Marinette]] is particularly fond of '''macarons'''. A French cookie delicately formed from meringue and almond flour, these delicate treats come in a wide variety of flavours and colours. Marinette is admittedly biased in the source, as her family's bakery makes them frequently. In addition to being light, sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, macarons lend themselves well to an artistic flair. The batter is very easy to colour, and the little puffs can easily be adorned with bits of icing. Just picture a cute little kitty-cat, or a deceitful hamburger, or a ridiculously elaborate replica of the Discworld - the sky is as ever the limit.
* [[Mikoto Minagi|Mikoto Minagi's]] favourite food is Mai Tokiha's '''ramen noodles'''! Ramen is a common Japanese dish - wheat noodles, served in broth which is typically meat- or fish-based, with a variety of toppings. Many regions of Japan have their own variation of ramen: Tokyo's own spin on the recipe involves curly noodles and chicken broth with a little dashi, though perhaps Mai's own tendency to use chicken in her ramen is also because chicken is cheaper than some of the other meats in the market. Mai's ramen noodles were Mikoto's introduction to the fact that food could taste /good/ instead of just being plain sustenance, and she is forever grateful to her friend for revealing that there were wonders of taste she had never before experienced. She'll never be able to forget the wonders of that very first meal. Though Mai can make many other more complicated dishes which exhibit her skills as a cook, Mikoto's first choice for dinner is always Mai's ramen. It's never quite the same thing twice - there are always different ingredients on sale, after all!
* [[Nori Ankou|Nori Ankou's]] favorite dish is '''grilled marine snails'''. As a child Nori's parents would often grill shellfish when the weather was cool but not yet snow-encrusted, and the simple flavors were a fond memory for her, as were dashing the shells open and playing with the shards as if she were a Jomon princess. Her particular taste for marine snails was developed in the sea-caves near Ohtori when she was laying low, and when they were her only food. She cooks them in a traditional Japanese way: the snails are arrayed in their shells atop a charcoal fueled grill with the openings turned up, and each is anointed with a sauce - whether shoyu, mirin, or sake. The meat of the snail is tricky to pull out compared to the French escargot, although she often has the aid of Batiste's clever little paws. It is a private sort of treat that feels eternal, and the connection to her childhood is gratifying too - even if she would never admit it. (She still plays with the shells, but she takes greater care to wash them off.)
* [[Plagg|Plagg's]] favorite food is cheese. His most beloved kind is camembert, but he loves any kind of cheese. Old, string, stinky, cheese sticks, marbled, blue, etc Just set any kind of cheese out and he'll devour it, just be careful you don't lose a finger as a result.
* [[Steven Universe|Steven Universe's]] favorite food will of course always be '''hot dogs'''! A packaged meat in a tubular shape, generally pork, beef or turkey with seasonings, is grilled until plump, then served on a bun with an assortment of condiments and toppings such as diced onions, chili, cheeses, peppers and pickles. They hold great significance besides great flavor, such as fond memories, or recalling the times of Beach City. They even help use alien technology*! Whenever he bites in to one, it all comes back to him in the best way possible.
* [[Utena Tenjou|Utena Tenjou's]] favorite food is '''rose tea''', especially as prepared at her favorite tea shop on Southern Cross Island, Magnolia Cafe. There's just something noble about the way it tastes! Rose is a more popular flavor in Japan than it is in Western cuisine, and there are both green tea and black tea versions (plus a heavily sweetened rose milk tea!). It is not uncommon to blend a rose tea with sakura flavor as well.
* [[Westar|Westar's]] favourite Earth food is '''donuts'''. These sweet treats are made of dough, cut into rings and deep-fried to a crispy puffy perfection. There are a thousand and one variants on the simple donut, with as many flavours to try as one might imagine. Common additions to the dough are spices, fruit, or chocolate. Many donuts, after frying, are subsequently dipped into glaze, coated with icing, or dusted with sugar. Amid all these choices, though, Westar's preference is for simple and familiar. An uncoated plain donut, whose ring contains a heart shape as its hole, the hallmark of Kaoru-chan's stand.

==Least Favorite Foods==
Everybody has at least one food they despise, too, and often an interesting reason why!

* Add your character's least favorite food to this bullet list -- one long paragraph recommended. Please include your character's name and both a cultural summary of the food and its particular significance and specifics for the character. It's okay if your food was mentioned already elsewhere in the guide -- no two bowls of ramen are alike, after all.
* [[Hotaru Tomoe|Hotaru Tomoe's]] least favorite food is '''milk'''. Everyone is always nagging her to drink it so that it will make her strong, but this is obviously, empirically not the case. In Japan, milk only became widely consumed after the westernization. It's also worth noting that something on the grocery store shelf called 'miruku' may or may not be real milk -- if it's 100% real, it will be labeled with the Japanese word for milk, 'gyuunyuu'. Hotaru hates both in any event.
* [[Madoka Kaname]] claims that her least favorite food is '''inago no tsukudani''', a Japanese dish featuring locusts that are boiled in soy sauce and sugar, but it is a fairly safe bet that she named it as, like, the least offensive possible choice. It's said this dish originated from famines suffered because of locust swarms; after locusts ate all the crops, there was nothing left to eat but the pests themselves.
* [[Mikoto Minagi|Mikoto Minagi's]] least favourite food is the '''super spicy curry bun'''. Curry buns, or kare pan, are a popular Japanese snack: curry wrapped in doughnut-like dough which is coated in bread crumbs, and deep-fried or occasionally baked. Toyofuku, in Asakusa Traditional District, claims it's been making its own version - with prime cuts of wagyu beef and handmade panko breadcrumbs - for over a century! While many curry buns are made with relatively mild curry, the super spicy curry bun is a pre-packaged pastry of death, hot enough to keep people awake when they're working long hours. Mikoto happened to steal a pack when she first came down from her mountain home, totally unaccustomed to the fact that spicy food existed. Her heightened senses and complete inexperience with hot food combined to make it a horrible, painful experience, which left her rampaging through the school as a dark blur which led students to talk about the Fire-Mouthed Cat Demon which haunted Ohtori's grounds ever since. On that day, Mikoto learned a painful, awful lesson: ''food can be an enemy, too.'' While Mikoto hates all types of spicy food, she has never forgiven the super spicy curry bun for its transgressions.
* [[Nori Ankou|Nori Ankou's]] least favorite dish is '''very sweet things'''. This category does not include all desserts or sweet flavors, but candied fruits or similar treats were not a point of appeal for her. Some of this is that she does not have much of a sweet tooth - but most of it is that her mother, who was to Nori's understanding a lower-upper-class home-maker without strong responsibilities, thanks to the family business, was a dedicated SWEETS HUNTER. Nori would often be brought along to these places and associates sugar and dessert confections, to some extent, with the presence of a distant but controlling maternal figure.
* [[Usagi Tsukino|Usagi Tsukino’s]] least favorite food are '''carrots'''. Usagi in Japanese means bunny or rabbit and as such one might think this is the result of one too many jokes or puns being thrown her way. That’d only be half-right. The rest of the truth is that Usagi has a palate that's still a little like a child's and just doesn’t like the taste or the texture of carrots, going so far as to not request them in her curry dishes. So you read it here first, the bunny on the moon just does not like carrots.
* [[Utena Tenjou|Utena Tenjou's]] least favorite food is '''sausage'''.

For more information, please see: [[Holidays and Events]], [[Culture]]

[[Category:Theme]][[Category:Culture]]

2018-10-02 - No Swords In The Hallways

2018-10-03T15:54:46Z

SwordPerson: Yumi is truly best witch! Log go!

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: No Swords In The Hallways'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Kasagami Araki gets ratted out by a student, and faces discipline and the loss of her own social status. Yumi Ohzora uses her witchly wiles to save Kassie, and dispenses sage advice to her friend.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Kasagami Araki]], [[Yumi Ohzora]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Ohtori Academy Hallways
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
<10/02/2018 - 05 - 18 - 15>
|-
|}
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kasagami Araki is not having a good day.

The tall Kendo Club captain of Ohtori is gripping a long, heavy bokken currently laid across her shoulder at an angle. She stands straight, hair perfect and the sunlight cast down on her from behind so that her shadow falls over the two people she's currently looking at. A little trick she's used to intimidate during her tenure as the Disciplinary Executive, it's doing little to help her as the math teacher before her waggles a finger disapprovingly at her. Beside the teacher is a short brown haired Ohtori middle schooler nodding along with every word coming out of the teacher's mouth.

"...You truly are a disgrace to this school, Kasagami Araki! Walking around with a weapon like a delinquent! I can hardly believe someone like you was on the Student Council. Hmph! You probably cheated to get there too."

The student pipes up. "Of /course/ she had to cheat to compare with President Kiryuu! She's a cheating, violent loser! Maybe you should transfer to Juuban, Araki-kun! You'd fit right in! Oh~ho~ho~ho~ho!" The student's laugh is nasally, and /carries/.

Kasagami's eye is narrowed to a slit, and the absolute rage and humiliation radiating off of her palpable. Her hand is clenching the hilt of the bokken hard enough that it's actually creaking under the force.

"You know that I'm the Kendo Captain. I have every right..."

"Don't you back talk me, young woman!"

Kassie's stance seems a little more tense, her mouth a thin line. The student smiles smugly. Already, there's a small crowd forming by passing students.

<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

That sure is a bath to a bad day. It's not something Yumi was expecting, exactly, but she's not unaccustomed to this /kind/ of thing happening. ...More to her than Kasagami, though. She happens to be preparing to lean against a wall, to keep moving towards the club rooms on her way, but--she hears the voices...

'Kasagami Araki', in anger. That's not ideal.

So it is that a girl in an Infinity uniform turns the corner, mostly regulation save for the bright green tights against a chill she feels more than most. The laugh carries, and Yumi, through her glasses, glances over the student, the teacher... This is... not something she's really prepared to help with that much. Not normally anyway--isn't this part of why she wanted to avoid Ohtori to begin with?

She thinks about it, bites her lip, and is easy to miss in the crowd since, sure, she's tall, but she's not doing much /interesting/ yet. So instead--

"Oh, hey!" Yumi says, straightening her shoulders and walking closer after she speaks up. "Oh, it's--it's terrible!" Yumi says, not having to fake that she's a little out of breath as she stops by the teacher. "There's--there's blood and everything, she just--she /fell/ up on the next floor!"

Is Yumi lying? Oh yeah she's making it all up /entirely/. "Just back that way!"

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

As much as Ohtori lives and breathes gossip and drama, there's nothing like a medical emergency to drive a nail into the thumb of the social backstabbing. The crowd instantly disperses, either to be nowhere near it or to go rubberneck at the gruesome sight. For more gossip, of course, and morbid curiosity.

It seems that Yumi's lie has planted a good seed, because it's Kasagami herself that reacts first. Old habits die hard, and the Girl Who Would Be King is nothing if not protective of the student body. The tension remains, but shifts as the Duelist turns away from the teacher sharply enough that the student and teach both have to duck to avoid the edge of her longcoat across her back as both it and hair billow. She takes two steps forward, concern writ on her face as she has her phone out in her free hand and starting to raise it to her ear.

"Go on ahead, I'll call the nurse!" Barks Kasagami with force, if not quite the authority that it once carried. Still, credit to the math teacher, it seems the sword issue is dropped hard as Yumi and Kassie's voices kicks her into gear.

"We'll talk later Araki-kun." Comes the teacher before rushing off. The student scowls, offering Yumi a look that is /blistering/ in disapproval and promised Ohtori payback, before she too is among those fading into the mass of the student body.

It's on that third step that Kasagami's higher level brain functions kick in, she recognizes the voice, and something jives in her head and instincts. Just shy of hitting that button to actually call the nurse, she blinks.

".....Yumi-chan?" There's a pause. Blink.

"I didn't hear any shrieking." All of Kassie's tension dies as she finally realizes just what happened.

That bokken is leaned against one of Ohtori's brilliant columns, and after a brief glance to make sure they're alone, Kasagami Araki is coming for Yumi Ohzora with both arms to try to grab-and-swing her in an exuberant hug as she laughs aloud.

"You beautiful, brilliant jerk, that was /genius/! You witch, you!" It's said with nothing but affection and as if it was the highest compliment in the world.

<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

...It won't take people long to realize that they aren't /finding/ anything, of course. The confusion should help a little on that front. Yumi watches Kasagami take charge and take a step, and as that one middle schooler gives Yumi a blistering look--

Yumi actually sets her jaw and looks /right/ back at her. It's only for an instant, of course, before Yumi turns towards Kasagami and nods.

"Yep. Aaaand you sure didn't. So let's get moving before somebody comes back to yell at you, all right?"

...A hug is the /opposite/ of leaving! Blinking in surprise, Yumi is all too easy to pick up and swing, /way/ too light for her height, and after a noise of surprise she actually laughs back. "Hey--"

"I mean it's not gonna last long. C'mon, let's get out of here." Not that... Yumi knows where /to/ go, of course.

"...And don't worry about that girl," she answers, shaking her head. "I don't even know who she is."

...In this context that somehow sounds like a pretty harsh insult.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Yumi, once all the hair and coat and general spinning subsides, will get a front row seat to the second 'Kassie's brain engages' of the night. Oh. /Oh/! Says her face as her thick skull takes the bricking it sometimes needs.

She drops the tall witch without warning, smooths out her coat, and uses the back of her boot to kick her wooden nodachi into the air. It's caught, without looking of course. The showboat even grins while doing so.

"Good thing I have someone so clever by my side, or else I would have been devoured by teacher's pets and adults." As much as it's meant to be a show of bravado, there's an edge to her voice. Kassie sounds hurt, frustrated, and the sting of embarrassment is clear in the set to her jaw.

"Right! Away we go!" Despite the opinion of some, Kassie isn't an idiot, and so she tucks that sword as best as something of it's length can be to take up less notice, her free arm is offered to Yumi's elbow, and she's hightailing it to the first place she can think of.

A classroom that's usually empty this time of day, and right up Yumi's alley at that. One of the few classrooms where it's not open to peering outsiders, this is used for model drawings and other such artistic pursuits. The door is all but punted behind her.

That's when Kassie drops her pretenses, sighs, and barely resists the urge to punch a wall. "Huh. Well, I'm sure she deserved it. Ohtori is known for many things. The amount of skeletons you could dig out of the dorm room closets is something to behold!" Grin! The insult to the poor faceless student seems to give Kasagami some kind of joy after all of that.

There's a couch currently in the classroom, and Kasagami drapes herself over the back of it. Legs cross, she leans back, and that bokken is placed across her body so that the tilt covers one eye. A dramatic, showy pose, even as her good eye seeks out Yumi.

"Yumi. Thank you. I...Hah. How quickly status and power slips through one's fingers. A /teacher/ giving /me/ talk about having a sword!" Snarls the young woman, scandalized. Maybe how far she's fallen from grace hasn't hit her since her loss of the Duel yet. Maybe it's willful denial.

"...Makes me wonder if people respected me because of me, or because of the Council. What do you think, Yumi-chan? Am I..." Her free hand runs through her hair. She leans back harder. A frown sits on her face.

"It's just like back in middle school. What am I going to have to do to get respect for what I've worked for!? Didn't I work hard to keep discipline, to set students straight and protect them!? People are so damn fickle..." Her voice is almost a whisper. Frustration, and maybe a little despair lurks in her voice.

<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Yumi clatters a little, avoiding falling with mostly luck, and then--ah, clever is it? "Nah, you'd have been fine. You were holding your temper okay, anyway--it's if you'd let /that/ go then you would've had a problem, right?"

Yumi is not... the /fastest/, exactly, and on Kasagami's arm she kind of slows the two down a bit. She doesn't comment on embarrassment though--instead, once the door opens, Yumi steps in and leans on a wall, trying to catch her breath. "Ah--ha, ha--I bet that's..."

She's not the Ohtori type; hands against the wall beside her, back to the same wall, she glances back. "Ah, well..." She doesn't exactly argue /teachers/ all that often but in this case...

Yumi hesitates. She looks over Kasagami for a few moments... and shakes her head.

"...Looks like it was the Council," she says, quietly and not without sympathy. "Stuff like this... it's as much about what status they can get /from/ you as it is what you can do. Sure, you worked hard but..."

"You can't just yell at everybody and expect them to do what you want, you know?"

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kasagami's eye twitches. The fury and venom comes back to her easily. "That's what gets me, Yumi. Holding back, bowing to...to a /teacher/! To an adult! She isn't my mother! Nowhere /near/ deserving that kind of respect! Mom would've sent her fleeing in terror with just a /look/!" Rants the Duelist, both boots hitting the floor. Toes flex,scrunch and it lets her give her athletic form just /that/ little bit more of an arch to her pose that she holds. Bandages wrap both of her feet. Maybe she came from kendo practice when all of this kicked off.

Still, she relaxes just a little bit. As she listens to the tall witch, her face turns more and more thoughtful. A small smile that's almost sad comes to her lips.

"...Maybe you're right. I mean, it's proper to respect the Student Council's authority. To earn a position on it, is to show that you're skilled and have talent." A small nod, self assured. One finger rubs the rose signet that adorns her, guarded so jealousy. Silence.

"For your information, I don't yell! I'm simply assertive. That's the sort of thing a King should do, after all. They have to shine harder than anyone else in everything they do! To gain the skill and power to lead everyone to a better world! To..." Bring Revolution.

Kassie bites her lip.

"Still. What am I missing? I don't care how much work it takes, what do I have to do to be worthy of leading?" Kasagami's body shivers. She turns a questioning gaze to the young woman she'd dare call friend and perhaps, family.

<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Yumi can tell--the anger's there quickly, and she looks back to Kasagami thoughtfully, looking over that anger, listening to the rant... If her heart weren't already beating overfast, the anger would make it do it. But she spots a smile, and--...Is Kasagami going to listen? She's not sure. But...

"Mm."

She tilts her head, at that. "I dunno, it sounds like yelling. ...Yelling stresses me out," Yumi answers with a shake of her head, and reaches down to her purse, pulling a small bottle of water out of it. She starts to open it, and bites her lip, looking down first, and then--

"...Kindness," Yumi answers. "You're acting like you're already in charge--and that people should just... get in line. But most people aren't going to listen to you that way."

"You act like holding back, being polite to a teacher's a bad thing--but that's normal. You don't hold a position by disrespecting everyone else's. They're an adult--so that's why you need to be polite to them. Maybe your mom could send her fleeing... But you're not your mother."

Yumi lets that hang, lifts the bottle and takes off the cap. "You need to show them you have their best interests at heart. Don't order; show them why they should /want/ to listen to you. You've got to demonstrate that skill you're talking about before you do anything else. Just being better than everybody doesn't make you a leader, you know?"

"...Thinking about what the people who follow you need, that does. Think about how Eri-chan does it."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kasagami seems to be listening, at least judging by the utter silence she offers to Yumi for about three minutes after Eri's name is uttered. Slowly, sloooowly over the course of the Lost Ivy Inheritor's wisdom on offered does the Duelist more and more relax. More and more kind of slide into this disheveled position on the modeling couch.

She even pops a button or two on her uniform while doing so, stuck between dramatic performance model piece, and peering at Yumi in utter disbelief. She takes up her bokken that sparked all of this initial conflict, and lays it along the couch for a better angle.

"Darn right I'm not Mom! I'm nowhere near her!" Kassie is 'asserting' right now. Vigorously.

"She was strong and brilliant and...even after she'd been at a tournament, she'd call me up or race home..." Her voice breaks up a bit. "Of course I'm not! An Araki has to be better! That's what we do!" Her voice breaks a bit more. The bokken falls off the couch with a heavy thud of wood on marble, ruining that picture perfect lounging.

"What are you talking about, Yumi-chan!? That kind of attitude is why the world is so...so messed up! Being /normal/ and /ordinary/ leads to weak, mealy-mouthed leaders that don't look beyond their own noses! The strong and skilled and brilliant deserve to be at the top! To be examples to those they're above!" She might be listening, but perhaps Kassie isn't understanding. Her words are passionate.

Another shudder, and more silence. "Eri-chan?" A beat. "I...I've tried. It's the duty of the strong to care for the weak. To lead them. I don't get how she does it. She does everything so /quietly/!" There's admiration, and yet, frustration surfacing. Both eyes close again.

"I want to shine, Yumi, bright and proud. I can't be Eri-chan. That isn't me, that isn't my family name. I'd be spitting on my parents' graves. I want to burn long and brilliantly." Offers Kassie.

<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Yumi sticks with the wall. It's pretty good, and besides; it lets her keep watching Kasagami as she answers. ...The way Kasagami's voice breaks... Well, that's something Yumi can get; she gives a sympathetic look, but--when Kasagami argues with her...

"I'm not saying you should /be/ Eri-chan," Yumi answers, finally pushing off the wall, moving to stand a little closer. "Just--learn a little. She pays attention to what everyone is good at, what they need. Knowing is the first step, you know?"

"...Don't discount normal, you know? A lot of people out there are normal, and that's okay. They're the ones we're helping, you know? The ones who we protect, who we lead... Whatever. But 'above'..."

Yumi puts a hand to her temples and sighs, adjusting her glasses and moving to sit down on the couch, too.

"Okay. Here's what I think. ...Mother's taught me a lot about authority, about where it goes, what matters, and it comes down to a few things. The big one is..."

"It's not about 'deserving'. There are people all over the world who deserve things they aren't getting, or who get things they don't deserve. That's not /enough/, on its own. You want to lead? You have to show people why they should follow you. Give them a reason to /want/ to lead, that isn't just because you're so great--because sure, you're great, but what does that matter for them?"

"If kindness is what's messing up the world... Then the world isn't messed up enough yet. That's what I think. I know... Mother would say ambition is good, but..."

"You're using all stick and no carrot, you know?"

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kassie's boots fall to the floor as she sits upright when Yumi approaches. She gently pushes the sword on the ground away from Yumi's path, watching the Infinity student as she settles in. The Duelist is still for a moment, and then she's trying to throw an arm around the taller girl's shoulder as she tries to process what she's been told.

Yumi will even get a ruffle and scritch of the scalp if she allows it, affection clear in Kasagami's motions.

"The first rule of combat is shifting your tactics to fit the opponent." Quotes Kassie. Her gaze is cast downwards. Her heart beats, and silent struggle plays out on her features. Earning, rather than deserving. That hated 'normal'.

"'The world is unfair'." Kasagami adds, picking through the advice she's been giving. Another moment, she tilts her head.

"Yumi Ohzora, I'm lucky to have a friend like you. That's it. That's /IT/!" Grin! She's smiling as if she's had an epiphany! Arms suddenly cross.

"People are self-centered, so I need to show my greatness /and/ how they can benefit! How could I be so stupid!? True nobility is to shine bright, radiate loudly, and to raise up others kicking and screaming if I have to!" Her laugh radiates in the large art hall.

Cue the Duelist draping over the couch again, head nearly touching the floor in order to do so. Brilliant white teeth flash. Her toes wiggle again.

"...Hey. Yumi-chan. How about you draw me like one of your Italian girls?" Yeah, she's been saving up for that one.

"Setsu-chan deserves a present, huh? And I know of no one more brilliant as you in the arts. Name your carrot!" Wink.

Pause. "As long as that carrot isn't green. I have enough red right now." Kassie wilts a bit at the thought spoken aloud.

<Pose Tracker> Yumi Ohzora [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Yumi accepts the arm around her shoulder, but deflects the attempt at a ruffle. "Hey, watch the hair," she answers pleasantly enough, and then--well all she can do is really think about whether this is what to say, or it's going to work, or--

"Yeah, the world can be. But we can make it better, right?"

Lucky to... "I-is it?" Yumi answers, not quite sure--and she sort of... stares for a few moments as Kasagami certainly gets /a/ message. Not... the one she meant, exactly, but--

"Ah, that's... not..."

She sighs, and shakes her head. "Ah... You want me to draw you, huh?" She considers, a thoughtful cast to her expression. "Hmm..."

A wave of her hand and a shake of her head, "I don't need money. Italian girls, though, huh? I don't... know a lot of Italian girls..." Pause.

"I'll think about it. I don't usually take requests unless I get inspired, but it would be nice to give her something. I'll get back to you, okay?"

She smiles after a moment. "Just... Well, I know you won't give up, you know? ...Just remember people have their own lives, I guess."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

"Oh, don't be that way! Your hair is wonderful, Yumi!" Retorts the Kassie without hesitation. Maybe juuust a little teasing.

Still, she doesn't force the issue, instead choosing to railroad down her track of message wrongly received. "It /is/! Really, Yumi-chan, when I'm King you'll make a fine Court Witch! A King can't rule without their advisors. And I fear, this thick skulled Ruler-To-Be will need all the help she can get!" Her eye sparkles, her sigh long, and her lean back in the chair overly dramatic. Ahhhh~!

Blink. "An artist of high standards. I can respect that! I'll have to groom up properly then, so I can be worthy of your peerless touch of the brush to canvas, and so that we can bring joy and a smile to Setsu-chan's face! You drive a hard bargain, but I'll convince you yet!" Her face is full of love for that particular Outer Senshi, and yet her voice is almost a threat. Sorry, Yumi, she'll not be letting this go.

Her laugh is utterly amused. "An Araki doesn't know the meaning of that word! That's for /normal/ people!" She shakes her head. Own lives?

"I'm sure they do."

[[Category:Logs]]

2018-06-28 - LOTUS INCEPTION: Kasagami Araki

2018-07-01T18:39:06Z

SwordPerson:

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: LOTUS INCEPTION: Kasagami Araki'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Setsuna, Niramo, Mikoto and Steven find the partying King, and set about breaking Kasagami Araki free from her dream.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Kasagami Araki]], [[Mikoto Minagi]], [[Niramo Umokeshi]], [[Steven Universe]], [[Setsuna Meioh]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Dream Ohtori Academy
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
6-28-18 - 4-24-15
|-
|}

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

It's the halls of Ohtori that Kasagami Araki has claimed as her castle, and the King fully intends to make use of them. The largest of ballrooms has been arrayed for one of her generous and legendary parties. Ohtori students, her Knights, and those she cares for have priority in attending, and there's a small sea of well-wishers greeting their new King.

A banquet table is piled high with meats, cheeses, salads, and every delicacy imaginable. A full orchestra attends to the music, pumping classical and jazz in equal measure into the open air of the dance hall.

All along the walls, swords crossed over a black and red banner depicting a hawk decorates everything, further shows of fealty to the new King of Tokyo. Guests eat, dancing, and laugh, though few are bowing at the moment after the initial ceremony of all bowing to the King upon her gleaming, ivory throne installed in the hall for the evening.

Instead, Kasagami Araki is out on the dance floor. She sweeps across the floor, dressed in what looks to be a far fancier version of the Student Council uniform, all blacks, golds, and reds. Upon her back is a white-fur trimmed cloak, a golden crown atop her head. This doesn't seem to hinder her dancing.

The man leading is just as graceful as the King, yet could easily get lost in a crowd. He's slightly older, starting to grey in otherwise short cut business like black hair. He's not handsome, but not ugly, the picture of a japanese salaryman or businessman going by his black and white suit.

Yet a closer look, particularly in Kasagami's eye and jaw, one can see the family resemblance. They dance well together, taking turns leading, before finally ending at the crux of the song and bowing to each other. Kassie leans up, and without shame embraces the man lovingly who does the very same. Pride shines in this man's eyes.

The pair soon step off the dance floor, the older man a step behind his daughter. Passers by bow, salute, or simply smile at the King and her Father, the younger of the two giving a warm, cocky smile while the older one giving a far more subdued version.

The woman that meets them first is the spitting image of Kasagami, her hair longer and graying as well, but strong, tall, and beautiful. She still has a few inches on her daughter, and the nodachi at her side looking as dangerous as Kasagami's own, if not moreso.

"If you two were out there any longer, I feared I'd lose you both to some admirer." She fixes the hem of Kassie's cloak, then pokes her on the nose.

"Agh! Come on, my Knights are going to arrive soon!" She blushes.

"My loyalty is assured, Queen Mother. All beauty crumbles to ash before your own!" Comes the older man.

"Die, you silver tongued flatterer!"

He's in a headlock, being kissed, and noogied all in the same motion. Kasagami turns away from her parents, sighing happily, as she takes up a wine glass and sips, eyeing the crowd.

This, truly, is happiness. Isn't it?

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

Through the tree once, to leave behind something he desired more than anything. To discard happiness now, for happiness in the future. Happiness for him, and millions of people still out there.

Through the tree twice, to save someone cared about deeply, from that which they wanted. To see into the heart of someone is no small thing, but to understand them better may help after all.

Through the tree thrice, to...

"Where is this? Oh..."

It takes some time for Steven Universe to get a hang of where he was. THe trappings of the location were different, but the locale is the same. it was Ohtori Academy. Designed with a somewhat strange motif, though the thought of someone comes to mind. A specific descriptor, a title one gave herself in the throes of ascension.

"Better have a look around."

---

"Cool!"

A boy holds up a pink greatshield in a room with familiar objects he owns. "I wanna make it look like this all the time! OKAY." Steven summons a shield, and then concentrates.

Concentrates.

/Concentrates./

Nothing happens. "Awh. Oh well, I'll totally put this armor to use to blend in!" He looks it over as he puts on the shoulderpads and barbut. "Wow, this stuff really does fit! Guess it is supposed to if it is my room. Heheheheh," he giggles like a doofus as he stumbles around in the armor, heading for the door and making a racket.

...But not before grabbing that pink sword. Looks kinda like mom's! Neat!

---

The boy follows some other folks as they head to some sort of soiree! Parties are the best! Hopefully no one seems to mind if he makes himself at home, at least until he can find whose dream he has wandered in to. It might take a while to find, but with the proper sleuthing--

...Yeah, no, that was fast, it was obviously Kasagami out there. Just look at her.

"Ho-kay! How to do this. Ah, crap. Wait, who is that she is with? They look familiar-- oh." Oh yeah, that's right. THis jsut got a bit more complicated, cause he knew how that felt. Steven half-expects for Kasagami to break out into a fight if this is done wrong.

"I made it! Uh, Knight Universe!" he says, adjusting a poorly strapped helmet. "I came when you called, Your majesty!" Did she even call for him? Heck if he knew. But it worked for getting into parties.

This is going to go swell.

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Feeling reality reassert itself after entering the deadwood corpse of the World Tree, Niramo blinks rapidly as her eyes adjust to the bright light. As everything comes back into focus, the ravenette got a sense of deja vu as she gazes upon the ballroom floor. It was like the Crimson Rose Ball, except somehow even more extravagant and grand. "Is this...Kasagami-chan's dream?"

Mumbling to herself and not at all expecting a response, Niramo nearly leaps a foot in the air as a familiar and all too-comforting voice responds to her. "I would imagine so. The realities formed inside this...Book is quite detailed. It makes quite a devious trap for those unaware or even aware of it." Floating in front of her, Takk looks quite the same as always, except he was sporting an odd headband straight out of an ninja anime around his little head.

Happy to be reunited with Takk, the real Takk, Niramo quickly gives the Kwami a tight hug that only stopped once the struggling mouse squirms free. "Takk, you're fine too! But...wait, I was transformed when I entered the tree..." Had Kasagami's reality somehow forced her back into an untransformed state? Getting the feeling that something was odd, Niramo cautiously checks herself out.

It seems that she was fit for the party, with a billowing gown like the one she wore to the Crimson Rose Ball, but in pitch black and deep red. She was wearing fingerless black leather gloves with sheets of metal on the outside and a quick check of her feet shows that instead of heels were ninja tabi, of all things. A pair of gleaming silver tonfa that brings more than a twinge of guilt and embarrassment rest in a large ribbon on her back. Even her hair was in an extravagant bun, but the 6 silver knives with rubies in the hilt look to be meant more for throwing than for decoration.

And for some odd reason, a billowing black scarf was wrapped around her neck and face, obscuring her mouth from sight. "...I need to talk to Kasagami-san if this is how she sees me." "You won't be the only one having words with the cyclops."

Making her way through the crowd and looking all around her, Niramo catches sight of very familiar sight of Kasagami Araki, decked out as if she was some European king or queen. Maybe she was one in her dream? The two people with her were unknown to the ballgown ninja, but the memory of a quiet evening fishing at a river comes to mind, especially with how familiar they seem yet not. "...her parents. Uh oh. Um...I think this is going to so much worse than my dream."

Walking up towards Kasagami without really a plan in mind, Niramo kneels for just a moment to her dream liege to show respect before standing back up. "Your highness, it's good to see you celebrating! Surely...uh, things will only become greater from her on out?"

...maybe the reason why her dream version had a scarf is because she still had an absolutely terrible poker face when it comes to lying.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

When Setsuna Meioh, freshly come from the abandonment of her own dream, comes upon the royally ornamented halls of Ohtori... she shuts her own pains up deep in her chest, with the familiar dull ache that has always accompanied such sacrifices. Her heart leads her inside, knowing who she might find.

It doesn't take long for the royal dream to take hold, and at first the senshi doesn't realize, but soon enough the sheer volume of her new garb makes itself known. She looks down, and garnet eyes widen.

One dark-gloved hand curls around a silvery scepter, and the crenellations in its metal feel familiar. Setsuna Meioh looks up at it and... there's an orb set at the top, but no pulsing light speaks of a magical heart within the depths. It is dead inside. With a swallow, she continues on, following the sounds of what sounds like a grand party.

She arrives just in time to see the dance. The crowd parts as the newly-arrived royalty advances to its edge, giving her a wide and respectful berth. Setsuna watches with hands clasped over her mouth, and it takes some will to force them down and to a more relaxed-looking posture.

When the dance ends, another Queen awaits the return of the King and her father from the dance floor. She's draped in intricate skeins of black organza and lace layered upon a rich red Victorian evening gown. The belled bustle with its gathered overskirt sweeps the ballroom floor as she advances, embellishing grandiosity upon her usual grace. Many mystical keys depend from fine ebony chains about her waist and chime a strange music, and it's hard not to look down in worried curiosity at her own accoutrements. They sound... different, wrong, somehow.

When King Araki looks her way, she will find her Queen Meioh, exactly as she should be in every way... except... there is something about her eyes.

They are sad.

It's no lovely glimmer of charm-banishable melancholy. Something else anchors in garnet depths, some ineffable empathy, some steadfast sorrow.

"My..." A slight pause, like she was going to use another word, then, "King. It is so good to see you and- your family." And she despairs, quietly, because how can she pull Kasagami from this dream?

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Fur and velvet.

Mikoto can't get away from these complicated clothes in everyone's dreams, can she? There is wildness to the outfit, but elegance in turn; they befit high status. These are not designed for battle - they are for celebration.

She is not at the ballroom, initially. The reason might have become clear, as a green-haired knight runs into her.

"There you are! Has your Lord Sister -"

Might have, except for those words. They're words which instantly turn the cheer Mikoto had on seeing her to a scowl.

"/Lord Sister?!/" Incredulous. Angry.

"Oh, no, did your sparring match with King Kasagami go poorly? Aww, don't be a sore loser, Mikoto-chan -" and that teasing cuts off into genuine alarm as Mikoto storms down the hall. "- Mikoto-chan!"

She growls, and does not reply.

It's a lie, after all.

All paths in a perfect world lead to the banquet, eventually - the smell of food, the sound of revelry. It's obvious who she's come to, this time, as she tears through the World Tree's decrepit husk to rip her friends from their slumber. It's as obvious as the rose crown on her head.

Mikoto storms in, storms forward, and she is not obeying the rules at all; but perhaps that's normal, for Dame Mikoto.

"Kasagami!" Mikoto snaps in anger - and it's strange, because there's no family crest on the hilt of the greatsword on her back, now. She wants to demand she explain herself, to explain this treachery -

- but she doesn't know, does she?

She wanted family. Golden eyes - and they're gold instead of grey, now, bright and catlike - shift from the older woman to the older man. She... wanted family. She was desperate to think of anyone as her family. And Mikoto let her.

Sadness crosses anger, and Mikoto sighs, some of the tension dropping from those shoulders. "Kasagami..." And it's regret, now, and sorrow.

Not 'King Kasagami.' Not 'Lord Sister.' But it sounds so natural, the way she says her name yobisute.

And she is not obeying the rules at all.

"Kasagami knows my Lord is my Lord Brother," Mikoto insists, a little kinder now, but still firm. "Kasagami can't replace that. Because Kasagami's my friend... and Kasagami can't be my family!" Mikoto's voice rises - "Kasagami assumes it's fine, but it's not! And - I didn't want Kasagami to be sad, so I just never promised nothing I couldn't, but that made Kasagami think this was okay, right?!"

She is upset. She is angry. She is worried.

She takes a breath, to steady herself. "I should've been honest... I just..." Mikoto shakes her head, ashamed to admit it - especially under the shadow of 'Lord Sister'. "I'm honest now. Kasagami's not family. Can never be. Family's different. Doesn't mean I don't love Kasagami... but it's 'cause Kasagami's my friend." Those eyes which have been grey all her years are yellow, now, and they bore into Kasagami like a blade. "This isn't real."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Steven's entrance is met with almost as much fanfaire as Kasagami's! Even despite his slightly mis-worn helmet, he's greeted with reverence due to a warrior of the King! A few 'peasants' scrape and bow, many others offer salutes and other smaller works of respect. One girl a year or two older than him even throws a few flowers his way! All dark crimson, of course.

But it's the King that catches him. She stalks right up to the young man, eyeing that helmet, and instantly a balled fist slams right down towards his noggin.

Yeah, that's Kassie alright! "/SQUIRE/ Universe! Is this a test? Coming before your liege both improperly reigned /and/ daring to take a title before it's bestowed upon you?" Her voice is loud and imperious for a moment...and then it breaks into a laugh.

"How ambitious of you! I didn't think you had it in you to put on a show, but fine! Prove your worth against the Darkmoon Empire, and you'll have that title. I'm not interested in followers that blindly follow. Ambition fuels ambition, that's how a country is made powerful and secure. Be your own man, Steven."

Scowl. "But next time wear your armor properly! Decorum!" More yelling. The King giveth, the King taketh.

Well, at least it seems he was called for. Kassie is turning about, pressing a glass of wine towards the young man, and winking over her shoulder.

Niramo approaches, and the King offers a warm smile and arms outstretched, almost as if to embrace, but not quite. She takes in that amazing dress, the jewels, the blades and the return of her familiar. Takk's presence gets a brief, narrowed look. Something seems...off. One finger slips to her temple. A sip of wine, and she tries to relax. Merely a headache, no doubt.

"Beautiful. Beautiful! Now /this/ is how to present yourself before your liege! Teach your fellow Squire decorum, and you'll be well rewarded! You're right. We have work ahead of us. Darkmoon blades await us eagerly, as do their teeming hordes of youma. But this country, no, this /WORLD/ shall be saved, ours to raise up into greater heights! All beneath the banner of your glorious King!" She's just so /into/ herself. She leans down. Her good eye narrows.

"We should enjoy our time. We won't have much later. ...You seem..." Pause. "Troubled, my sweet Squire." Kasagami's eyes bore into Niramo's.

That scarf is indeed there for a reason.

Kasagami turns, and it's the visage of her Queen. At first her smile is wide, and those about Pluto give both wide berth and reverent worship. She's one of the few almost on the same level of the King, and deference is everything in Kasagami's world. An authoritarian to the last.

She reaches out, seeking Setsuna's hands to hold them, to squeeze lightly, so loving and true. Her eyes are radiant for a moment.

"How could I possibly let you hide away in gardens or on other worlds, my dear, lovely Queen? Without you at my side, my heart would run cold as ice and the wisdom needed to ensure this world and those beyond come beneath our secure banner fled into the darkness of the void!"

She blinks. Something...feels off as she peers into Setsuna's eyes.

A hand reaches for a cheek.

"Is something wrong, Queen of Keys and Starlight? You're troubled." Her voice falls to a whisper. True concern lights up her gaze. A doting King upon a Queen. Her head aches, just a bit more. Something is /wrong/! A few party goers look upon this oddity. The party seems to pause all at once, in remarkable lock-step.

Mikoto bursts in, and Kasagami rounds. It's instinct, a knife drawn into a hand as if expecting an attack! Her smile is large, eager, vicious almost. But it's not the attack she expects. Not the sparring, the screaming muscles and adoration she desires of a little sister. It's flicked away just as quickly. Arms open, as if ready to embrace her! "My sweet Little Sister! Tell me, what stokes your raging fi..."

Kassie meets the anger head on. But it's the eyes that make her pause. Golden, beautiful. /Familiar/. The more she looks upon Mikoto? That headache builds, and something seems /wrong/. It's a brief, odd thought. She's a King. She has her parents, and lovers, and a Family, and a Little Sister. She's in control. Nothing is outside of her grasp, and she is a true King and Hero with beautiful Knights so loyal to her. Loyal, faithful, and /obedient/.

Those golden eyes sear.

Her smile falls slowly. Ever the show-woman, she forces it up. To anyone who knows her, it's as strong as half melted glass.

"...This is a test, right? You're speaking nonsense! There's no Lord Bro..." She bites her lip hard enough to bleed. Why does she feel like she's lying? Isn't this her precious little sister?

Her arm feels like it's hot, almost burning. One hand clenches a wrist, charred skin exposed for a second.

"A...friend."

Anger, family, honesty, and Mikoto offers accusations that break every single well-crafted rule of her dream. Kasagami throws away her wine glass, shattering upon a table. A gasp flies up amidst the party. The revelry is gone. Her parents approach from behind, but Mikoto has her attention.

Eyes bore like blades, that blunt statement cutting her to the quick. Legs spread, knees bend, and suddenly there's her nodachi in her hands. One finger, now gloveless, reaches for the hilt.

"That's not right. That isn't right! Of /course/ you're my family, Mikoto! Why wouldn't you be!? We've..." Lived together? She flinches.

"We've fought together, haven't we? Don't we love the same people!? HOW DARE YOU!" Tears drip down her eyes.

Anger flares in her gaze. Her entire body is tense, starting to chip away at that feeling of wrongness the others have touched upon and Mikoto has shattered right open.

The crowd grows louder. Kasagami's father clears his throat, imperiously, quietly. It carries. Everyone shuts up.

"I believe..."

"IDIOT!"

There's the sound of blade sliding from steel, and Kasagami is forced into a sudden, last minute roll. A few whisps of hair fall, as she narrowly avoids her Mother's own blade. It's returned in a flash.

"....An Araki fights for those they love. Even if they're a King, they should /listen/ to them too." Comes the tall form of the Matron Araki. Her eyes are searing holes, with love and pride. They turn to each intruder in turn, nodding to each with a private smile.

Then she's hauling up her quivering daughter.

"If you're her friends, her love, speak true." She encourages, far more gently, yet no less vibrantly.

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Seeing Steven in ill-fitting armor is certainly a surprise, but he looks surprisingly sharp with it. That helmet that he was sporting was obviously a poor fit for him and doesn't seem quite right for him. A mental image of that pink top hat he uses to deflect some cake forms a soft smile under her scarf, despite just where she was. If she ever find the real Steven in this twisted and crazy Book, she hope his dream was a pleasant one.

Takk meets the narrow eye with one of his own, and an almost undetected smirk creases a corner. So this is what Niramo's mentor desires to be in her wildest dreams?...well, not like Niramo could cast stones herself. Really, he is going have to have a talk with his partner once all is said and done about just how impractical her 'outfit' was.

Niramo knows that when Takk gets that look in his eyes, he's about to lay down a long-winded speech, but the words Kasagami speaks on how the entire world shall be saved is a brutal jab in the heart after waking up so soon from her dream. They both want to save the world and be praised for it, to be a perfect example for those around them, and it hurts to realize that just despite how different it appears, they both have the same wish deep down.

"U-um, of course, your highness. Just preparing for the next battle against the Darkmoon Empire, that's all. And I will do my best to help you succeed, for we are friends before we were squire and King." Pulling down that annoying scarf, Niramo gives her mentor a smile, though it falters after a moment and Niramo forces herself to look aside. Kasagami looks so proud and sure of herself here...

The appearance of Queen Setsuna nearly has Niramo fall over in shock as the dark-haired elegant Senshi meets the King in the ballroom. If Setsuna was the Queen and Kasagami was the King, were they...married?! But they're best friends in the real world! Maybe Kasagami's love for her friend was so deep that the Book mistook them to be in a romantic relationship? Niramo just adds this to the growing list of questions to pester her mentor later.

And then Mikoto storms into the ballroom, spitting angry like she was a demonic cat from the depths of Hell, full of anger, worry and fear. The fact that she says this wasn't real has realization hit home with Niramo, and she and Takk share looks for a moment. Her fears that Takk could be realized as real and allied with Niramo are valid concerns, but the Kwami surprisingly shakes his head. "#-1 FUNCTION (ASNI) NOT FOUND"

Kasagami's outburst about how she and Mikoto were family tears at Niramo for a brief moment as she tries to understand what the sword-carrying Ohtori student and Kasagami had in common before what has to be Kasagami's mother swings down her incredible nodachi. Seems Kasagami gets the flare for the dramatic from her mother's side of the family.

Those calm words spoken by the matron of house Kasagami has Niramo subconsciously stiffen her spine and she nods her head. "Kasagami-san, as much as I want it to be otherwise, Mikoto-san is right. This world...this dream that you're in right now, it's just want you want most in the world, but you didn't actually earn any of it here!"

Frowning as she tries to muster the correct words on what to say, Niramo takes a moment to pause before continuing. "I...had a dream like this too, where I succeeded at everything I always wanted, that I never faltered or gave up, and my family was always there at my side. That I just got some recognition for what I have done in the past. But it was all meaningless because this isn't real! This is even worse than the cell we were locked into. At least then we recognized that we were prisoners!"

Takk floats forward as Niramo finishes and calmly pulls off the headband marked with the symbol of House Araki and tosses it down at the King's feet. "I can fully understand Niramo being fooled by this world of illusions. I expected you to see beyond this quite easily with the willpower you carry even with that one eye of yours. Sadly it seems that humans are just as confusing as ever with their emotions. You are so willing to take falsehoods that you would toss aside everything that you have devoted your entire career as a Duelist for? You are embarrassing yourself and that false throne behind you. Cyclops."

Floating higher so that he can stare Kasagami in her eye, Takk twitches his tail and shakes his head. "What are you going to do now? Will you be a coward and choke yourself on these balf-faced lies? Or will you at least try to act like the King you wish to be and face the threat that would destroy the world before you can be crowned for it? Which is it? King cyclops or coward?"

A long pause before Niramo groans and shakes her head. "...Takk. No more shounen anime for a week."

.

And then Mikoto storms into the ballroom, spitting mad like she was a demonic cat from the depths of Hell, full of anger, worry and fear. The fact that she says this wasn't real has realization hit home with Niramo, and she and Takk share looks for a moment. Her fears that Takk could be realized as real and allied with Niramo are valid concerns, but the Kwami surprisingly shakes his head. "It won't matter once your mentor wakes up. I will be dismissed as just another part of this fantasy world of...her's."

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

Oh yeah, Steven had this right. This is going to be /swell/.

THUD.

"OWUH!" the boy chortles out as he recovered from a thorough drubbing. "I-I what?! There was knight armor in my room, I think! Was that my room?!" He was about ninety percent sure. He hasn't seen many folks in Tokyo with his body type. And that armor fit. The boy tries to fumble with the helmet and armor to fix it like some sort of, well, child.

Squire Universe never had such problems. 'Knight' Universe has tons of them.

Hearing Kasagami talk... hurt. A part of him knows that ache well, and where it comes from. Its the feeling of love and loss. More are here than he thought that have seen the truth. Her mother, an active, vibrant woman much like her kin, gives them a moment to speak.

Steven takes his helmet off. Fun time was over.

"K-Kasagami, tell me. How nice is it to be at the top? Is it everything you had hoped it would be?"

"Do you remember the journey there at all?"

This was a dream. She wouldn't. In her warrior's heart the long fought battles, the tears, blood and sweat shed for this day would not be there. People, dream people, may have told her the battles fought, but something deep down would be different. Wrong.

"You always told me about the stories of how you would climb your way to the top. But if you are only placed there, is it still the same? Do your ideals hold the same merit and weight they would have otherwise?"

The boy looks to Kasagami's mother. "She's not real. None of this is. We've all been lied to. And to save everything we have ever known, we have to let it all go." He begins to tear up a little, but Steven manages to fight it back. For now. "For all the evil it would commit, that person outside gave me the one thing I ever wanted in my life."

"I got to see my mother."

"It looks like you got to, too."

It is hard to talk to her about this. It was bad enough with Amethyst. "But we have to go, Kasagami. We have to do what is right." A pause to think. "In some small way, we should be thanking this evil person. It gave us a glimpse. A glimpse into our dreams. To see them become real, in front of our eyes. If anything, it will help us reach for them even higher than ever before. But we can't let it be."

The boy looks toward Mikoto, Setsuna and Niramo. They all knew. What types of tragedy did they go through, he wonders? Pulling away from this dream was... It was best to try and not think about it. "If this is what you wanted when you kept saying 'King', well... I would always wanted you in that chair. But it can't be in here. I know what it feels like to turn to a parent and say goodbye now. It sucks. It shouldn't be something we should be able to relate to."

"...But it is now."

"And we have to make the thing that made us feel that pay. Or many more people will go without their parents. And themselves."

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

Knight Universe arrives -- at least that's the title he announces, and his finery does nothing to convince Setsuna otherwise. Niramo too, who makes a show of kneeling in greeting. They both move within the trappings of the dream, but the senshi dressed like a Queen wonders, hearing their voices.

It's hard to focus on them, though. She keeps looking over to the older businessman, to the fierce Queen Mother, and then sliding the same gaze back to King Araki. Oh Kassie, she cries out silently, and it shows in garnet eyes though her lips are sealed around the words.

There is a familiarity in the fervent eloquence as Kasagami calls her Queen, and her cheek recognizes those fingers upon it. But to the King's eyes, Setsuna looks strangely unmoved by her eloquence -- instead of a pretty flutter of eyelashes or a fiercely flirtatious rejoinder, there is only growing sadness.

Is there something wrong? "There is," she replies, her voice gentle with reluctance, and with one hand she captures Kasagami's caress against her cheek, just for a moment.

It is only a moment, because a furious disruption named Mikoto Minagi arrives... and if Setsuna was unsure whether Steven or Niramo were aware of the dream, there are no such uncertainties here, not with the dream's rules left in a wreckage by that wielding of painful, jagged truth. "Mikoto...!" And the sound of the name is somewhere between sorrow and gladness, and even Setsuna does not know their balance.

She looks to Kasagami -- a Kasagami with tears on her face who rolls away in a flash, beneath the quicksilver blade of her mother. It's hard to meet that gaze, harder than Setsuna Meioh would have thought; she is the eternal Guardian of Time, and she faces an ephemeron.

But she also faces the exposed heart of her love.

Queen Meioh did not bow to an approaching King Araki, earlier, against all established tradition; now, Setsuna Meioh bends low at the waist, long evergreen locks sliding over her shoulder to sweep the ballroom floor. She bows to Kasagami Araki's mother, the woman she never thought to meet, and if she spends an extra moment with eyes lowered to find her voice in a choked throat then that in no way lessens the deep honor she feels in this moment.

"I will only ever tell the truth to your daughter," she promises the dream-spirit.

The senshi gathers her resolve to her and turns garnet eyes glistening with sorrow to Kasagami. She lets go of the silvery scepter and it drops to the ballroom floor with a heavy *clunk*. The garnet orb at its pinnacle dislodges, rolling free like a dark and lifeless marble to bump into the toe of Kasagami's boot.

"Mikoto-chan is right. This isn't real." Simple words, suffuse with sadness, with understanding. She reconsiders, then amends. "This isn't... the real world. It's a beautiful dream. A terrible dream." She pulls the long satin opera gloves off as she speaks, one by one. "A pretty trap.

"Is this how you want me?" Her dark hands, bare now, entreat Kasagami with palms up. The courtly Victorian finery, luxe and perfectly fitted, it is also voluminous and binding by its very nature. "Only in your colors, and bowing to you? I... am not your Queen, Kassie. Remember what we said about... about earning each other?"

She swallows, again, and keeps speaking, somehow. "None of this is earned. Some of this never can be." Setsuna glances to the Kasagami's mother, her father, and there is such apology in her eyes when she looks back, but she has her promise and she will fulfill it. "Your parents died, Kassie. They have been gone a very long time. And you haven't done the things that would have made them proud, not yet.

"But you will! You will, Kassie. If you can face this. And I know you can, you have it in you to do this. The Kasagami Araki I know is going to change the world. You can face this, too. And you're not alone."

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

What stokes the fires of destruction?

Mikoto comes into these worlds and she shatters them like glass.

... it doesn't feel good at all, and it's so obvious, as those terrible golden eyes glance to Setsuna at her cry. It's not nice, or good, or kind. It's just necessary.

Because it's a lie. It's all lies.

(Takk, too, is perhaps just another lie. Mikoto doesn't seem terribly focused on the squires in the hall, nor the Queen. Hasn't Kasagami always strove for a captive audience?)

Kasagami's smile falls. Mikoto isn't smiling at all. Her expression is intense, intent, anger and concern. She is deathly serious. It is so evident it is not a test at all.

She halts over that one, singular truth of friendship, and Mikoto dips her head in a nod.

She reaches for her blade - Mikoto's stance shifts, knees dipping down slightly, feet spread to match her weight. It is the fraction of a second before evasive action. She fully believes Kasagami might attack here, here. Might become her enemy.

Eri warned her. Eri warned her...

But even as she prepares for the attack, she doesn't reach for her blade. Not yet.

After all... in Kasagami's world, there'd be no threats to her rule, would there?

No threats until Mikoto came along.

If she can just make Kasagami see that she isn't a threat - if she can just get through to her - if there's really something she can do aside from fighting her enemies -

Those questions have answers. "We have! We do! But not like this, Kasagami!" Mikoto clasps a hand at her heart, so close to a bead below her clothing. "It's not like this..."

Well - those answers have questions, aside from one.

How can Mikoto dare to do this?

Their parents intercede, one after another. Mikoto's eyes widen in alarm as her very mother attacks Kasagami - and perhaps it explains a few things, after all.

They tell her to speak, with all the authority of royalty. And for long moments, Mikoto is silent, though her gaze doesn't drop from Kasagami at all.

The others tell her this isn't real. She wonders how real they are, but it doesn't really matter.

What matters is the girl trapped here, in a gilded cage.

What matters is -

Steven talks about how it gave them a glimpse into their dreams, and for the first time, Mikoto looks away, brow creasing in sadness. It's a confronting question, isn't it, Mikoto Minagi?

It's a confronting question, so she swallows it down and raises those golden eyes to Kasagami again.

After all - some of them never said goodbye.

"I dare 'cause I love Kasagami. I told Kasagami already... I can't be Kasagami's knight." Mikoto shakes her head, braids flipping back and forth behind an imperial circlet. "This dream's supposed to be mercy. So we wouldn't die fighting. So we'd die easy." They're familiar words, to Mikoto. She hopes if she says them, maybe they'll help more than hers. Anger drives her - but she still has no idea what she's /doing./

Mikoto stares, intent and focused, and of all of them it's Setsuna's words she follows up on. "Won't be a world to change soon. I know it hurts, Kasagami. Hurt me, too. But Kasagami, we /have/ fought together. 'Cause of that, I know Kasagami wouldn't wanna sleep through it."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kasagami's arm slices air, and shoves her Mother's touch away. At the very least, she's on her feet now. Her grip on her sword is far looser, and her tall body slumps just a bit lankily. Hair covers both of her eyes. And yet...she listens.

A single hand points balefully as she suddenly glares hard at Niramo. "And why haven't I!? Does the suffering, the pain, the agony and hard work I've given mean nothing!? Why...why must this world take from me and..." Give nothing in return? Her growing tirade falters, and she stumbles back. She clenches her arm briefly. Something is out of place. She's a pure, perfect King. Surely she gained all of this effortlessly. Surely...

The flag-baring, gilded walls of the dance hall suddenly feel like iron bars. Ones leaking with heat.

Down falls that headband, and Kasagami's sense of wrongness and disbelief focuses. Straight back into annoyance.

"I don't remember saying that rodents could talk down to me! I'd never toss away a victory, or a loss! Shut up, don't act like you know me!" Deny deny deny, goes the false King, holding onto her dream. She stumbles back. A dream, to a Duelist, is paramount.

"But...but I wouldn't lose." Her heart pounds. Pink hair. A scattered, dark red rose. Her gaze goes unfocused.

Her words are ashes on her lips. They feel like lies. Something is /missing/, and it hurts.

Steven grows serious, and asks a simple question. She can avoid, deflect the others. But this? It eats at her. 'Do you remember the journey?' On the heels of Niramo and Takk, it only makes that twisted road that the dream had all but devoured come back into her mind. A ring, a kidnapping, so many battles. Victory, love, defeat, and ultimately, crashing down. All flash through her mind, roll down her spine as her back feels mercury-cold ice slither down it.

Kasagami's mother offers a big, fierce smile to the young man. Perhaps she's a figment of a dream, but her heart is that of the loving woman that birthed this girl. The love is real, and she encourages the friend of her daughter, no matter how much it might pain the lost Duelist.

"...Don't give me empty praise!" Snaps Kasagami. It's a cruel thing, this. Her entire body shivers, as reality sets in with his words. It's all lies. All fanciful dreams and dire wishes of someone driven through pain and sorrow. In the young man's eyes? She sees herself. Clearly. Too clearly, for all their myriad differences.

She looks away. "Shut up! Why should I thank anyone...anyone that would make a dream and intoxicate a person with it!? Show them everything they ever wanted, dangling it like a carrot in front of them!?" Kasagami isn't a fool, despite the opinions of some. The evidence mounts. Tears fall thick already. She can't fight it, not surrounded by so many she cares for. In the presence of her /parents/!

She bites her lip, growing silent. Pay. Is this really a dream? Surely not! She's a King! Surely not!

Anger, dark and black and bitter, sparks in her heart for reasons she can't identify.

The touch of her Queen cools her anger for a moment, however. She focuses, drawn from the growing oddities of everything and her own turmoil. That trembling grows less, even as Setsuna pulls away to bow at the older Araki. A smirk from the woman, and she dusts off a pants leg. Then a wink. She runs a hand through her hair, and elbows her husband.

"...Did we ever look like that?" Comes a whisper.

"Never." It's returned. It is also false.

The dropped scepter is met with a flinch, and Setsuna has her attention fully. A dream. Beautiful and horrible, a trap. But then she lays out a question that makes her heart skip a bit.

And in that moment, she recognizes what a dear friend was saying. Maybe it really /has/ been all about her. Truth rings in her chest. She knows Pluto is right. She knows they're /all/ right.

"...Yeah. We made a promise, didn't we, Setsuna-chan? I must look pretty pathetic right now. Am I really chasing at ghosts?" She reaches out for Setsuna's wrists. "Binding those I love like that? Seriously? How low can I get?" Her voice carries, but it's low, and seething hints of self loathing fill in the spots where anger slowly tapers.

She swallows. Those words of encouragement have her smiling, even as her legs feel weak.

She's not alone.

The illusion finally shatters as the wrecking ball of a feline joins in with the others to end it. "I...I love you too Mikoto-chan!" Not 'Little Sister'. Mikoto-chan. Her /friend/. Not her knight. Someone close, an ally, a fellow magical warrior.

One hand balls hard enough that leather creaks and skin rubs raw beneath. "Mercy? MERCY!? Where's the mercy in this, then!? I can't believe I fell for this. I'm nowhere near noble enough, /GOOD/ enough in strength or character to be a King! Right!? I've been selfish and greedy!" Confesses the young woman as reality crashes hard down around her, as the mahou gathered's words finally sink in.

"Maybe not even worthy of being your big sis, Mikoto." She chokes on a sob.

A sucked in breath. "....But you're right. All of you are. I can't sleep forever. If it's a dream...I want to turn the world into my dream. Even if I can't have everything I'd like."

The crowd is gone, and it's only the magical girls, Kasagami, and her parents. She turns, and looks at them. Dropping her sword, she runs into their arms, and the three embrace.

"Mom. Dad. I don't...I don't want to lose you again! Please...I'm begging you!"

Warm hands brush hair, and cheek. Choked sobs fill the air, as she finally succumbs to the truth. And hates every minute of it.

"Your friends are right, my little tiger. Lies and daydreams like this mean nothing, no matter how sweet." The man lets go of his daughter.

A hand slams down to her noggin, and Kassie winces. The taller woman's eyes are as misty as her daugher's.

"Dropping your sword? You're still young, and not strong enough yet. But don't think this is the end! We'll meet again one day! Now go pick up that blade, and stop moping! I love you, Kaa-chan. Become truly strong, and you can become a King!" Offers warm, rough encouragement, and then she's being shoved towards the others.

She isn't on her feet long, just enough to fall to her rump. Legs pull up, her chin on her knees. She shivers...and hugs her sword close to her body. Everything fades. A single grey eye peers out at the others as she breaks down crying truly.

"I'm sorry, everyone. All I wanted was..." Her words are unintelligible as she gutters her heart out in tears, angry, humiliated, and spent. Yet they shine with love for those gathered here.

Kassie might just need a minute.

[[Category:Logs]]

2018-06-28 - LOTUS INCEPTION: Kasagami Araki

2018-07-01T18:19:01Z

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: LOTUS INCEPTION: Kasagami Araki'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Setsuna, Niramo, and Steven find the partying King, and set about breaking Kasagami Araki free from her dream.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Kasagami Araki]], [[Niramo Umokeshi]], [[Steven Universe]], [[Setsuna Meioh]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Dream Ohtori Academy
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
6-28-18 - 4-24-15
|-
|}

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

It's the halls of Ohtori that Kasagami Araki has claimed as her castle, and the King fully intends to make use of them. The largest of ballrooms has been arrayed for one of her generous and legendary parties. Ohtori students, her Knights, and those she cares for have priority in attending, and there's a small sea of well-wishers greeting their new King.

A banquet table is piled high with meats, cheeses, salads, and every delicacy imaginable. A full orchestra attends to the music, pumping classical and jazz in equal measure into the open air of the dance hall.

All along the walls, swords crossed over a black and red banner depicting a hawk decorates everything, further shows of fealty to the new King of Tokyo. Guests eat, dancing, and laugh, though few are bowing at the moment after the initial ceremony of all bowing to the King upon her gleaming, ivory throne installed in the hall for the evening.

Instead, Kasagami Araki is out on the dance floor. She sweeps across the floor, dressed in what looks to be a far fancier version of the Student Council uniform, all blacks, golds, and reds. Upon her back is a white-fur trimmed cloak, a golden crown atop her head. This doesn't seem to hinder her dancing.

The man leading is just as graceful as the King, yet could easily get lost in a crowd. He's slightly older, starting to grey in otherwise short cut business like black hair. He's not handsome, but not ugly, the picture of a japanese salaryman or businessman going by his black and white suit.

Yet a closer look, particularly in Kasagami's eye and jaw, one can see the family resemblance. They dance well together, taking turns leading, before finally ending at the crux of the song and bowing to each other. Kassie leans up, and without shame embraces the man lovingly who does the very same. Pride shines in this man's eyes.

The pair soon step off the dance floor, the older man a step behind his daughter. Passers by bow, salute, or simply smile at the King and her Father, the younger of the two giving a warm, cocky smile while the older one giving a far more subdued version.

The woman that meets them first is the spitting image of Kasagami, her hair longer and graying as well, but strong, tall, and beautiful. She still has a few inches on her daughter, and the nodachi at her side looking as dangerous as Kasagami's own, if not moreso.

"If you two were out there any longer, I feared I'd lose you both to some admirer." She fixes the hem of Kassie's cloak, then pokes her on the nose.

"Agh! Come on, my Knights are going to arrive soon!" She blushes.

"My loyalty is assured, Queen Mother. All beauty crumbles to ash before your own!" Comes the older man.

"Die, you silver tongued flatterer!"

He's in a headlock, being kissed, and noogied all in the same motion. Kasagami turns away from her parents, sighing happily, as she takes up a wine glass and sips, eyeing the crowd.

This, truly, is happiness. Isn't it?

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

Through the tree once, to leave behind something he desired more than anything. To discard happiness now, for happiness in the future. Happiness for him, and millions of people still out there.

Through the tree twice, to save someone cared about deeply, from that which they wanted. To see into the heart of someone is no small thing, but to understand them better may help after all.

Through the tree thrice, to...

"Where is this? Oh..."

It takes some time for Steven Universe to get a hang of where he was. THe trappings of the location were different, but the locale is the same. it was Ohtori Academy. Designed with a somewhat strange motif, though the thought of someone comes to mind. A specific descriptor, a title one gave herself in the throes of ascension.

"Better have a look around."

---

"Cool!"

A boy holds up a pink greatshield in a room with familiar objects he owns. "I wanna make it look like this all the time! OKAY." Steven summons a shield, and then concentrates.

Concentrates.

/Concentrates./

Nothing happens. "Awh. Oh well, I'll totally put this armor to use to blend in!" He looks it over as he puts on the shoulderpads and barbut. "Wow, this stuff really does fit! Guess it is supposed to if it is my room. Heheheheh," he giggles like a doofus as he stumbles around in the armor, heading for the door and making a racket.

...But not before grabbing that pink sword. Looks kinda like mom's! Neat!

---

The boy follows some other folks as they head to some sort of soiree! Parties are the best! Hopefully no one seems to mind if he makes himself at home, at least until he can find whose dream he has wandered in to. It might take a while to find, but with the proper sleuthing--

...Yeah, no, that was fast, it was obviously Kasagami out there. Just look at her.

"Ho-kay! How to do this. Ah, crap. Wait, who is that she is with? They look familiar-- oh." Oh yeah, that's right. THis jsut got a bit more complicated, cause he knew how that felt. Steven half-expects for Kasagami to break out into a fight if this is done wrong.

"I made it! Uh, Knight Universe!" he says, adjusting a poorly strapped helmet. "I came when you called, Your majesty!" Did she even call for him? Heck if he knew. But it worked for getting into parties.

This is going to go swell.

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Feeling reality reassert itself after entering the deadwood corpse of the World Tree, Niramo blinks rapidly as her eyes adjust to the bright light. As everything comes back into focus, the ravenette got a sense of deja vu as she gazes upon the ballroom floor. It was like the Crimson Rose Ball, except somehow even more extravagant and grand. "Is this...Kasagami-chan's dream?"

Mumbling to herself and not at all expecting a response, Niramo nearly leaps a foot in the air as a familiar and all too-comforting voice responds to her. "I would imagine so. The realities formed inside this...Book is quite detailed. It makes quite a devious trap for those unaware or even aware of it." Floating in front of her, Takk looks quite the same as always, except he was sporting an odd headband straight out of an ninja anime around his little head.

Happy to be reunited with Takk, the real Takk, Niramo quickly gives the Kwami a tight hug that only stopped once the struggling mouse squirms free. "Takk, you're fine too! But...wait, I was transformed when I entered the tree..." Had Kasagami's reality somehow forced her back into an untransformed state? Getting the feeling that something was odd, Niramo cautiously checks herself out.

It seems that she was fit for the party, with a billowing gown like the one she wore to the Crimson Rose Ball, but in pitch black and deep red. She was wearing fingerless black leather gloves with sheets of metal on the outside and a quick check of her feet shows that instead of heels were ninja tabi, of all things. A pair of gleaming silver tonfa that brings more than a twinge of guilt and embarrassment rest in a large ribbon on her back. Even her hair was in an extravagant bun, but the 6 silver knives with rubies in the hilt look to be meant more for throwing than for decoration.

And for some odd reason, a billowing black scarf was wrapped around her neck and face, obscuring her mouth from sight. "...I need to talk to Kasagami-san if this is how she sees me." "You won't be the only one having words with the cyclops."

Making her way through the crowd and looking all around her, Niramo catches sight of very familiar sight of Kasagami Araki, decked out as if she was some European king or queen. Maybe she was one in her dream? The two people with her were unknown to the ballgown ninja, but the memory of a quiet evening fishing at a river comes to mind, especially with how familiar they seem yet not. "...her parents. Uh oh. Um...I think this is going to so much worse than my dream."

Walking up towards Kasagami without really a plan in mind, Niramo kneels for just a moment to her dream liege to show respect before standing back up. "Your highness, it's good to see you celebrating! Surely...uh, things will only become greater from her on out?"

...maybe the reason why her dream version had a scarf is because she still had an absolutely terrible poker face when it comes to lying.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

When Setsuna Meioh, freshly come from the abandonment of her own dream, comes upon the royally ornamented halls of Ohtori... she shuts her own pains up deep in her chest, with the familiar dull ache that has always accompanied such sacrifices. Her heart leads her inside, knowing who she might find.

It doesn't take long for the royal dream to take hold, and at first the senshi doesn't realize, but soon enough the sheer volume of her new garb makes itself known. She looks down, and garnet eyes widen.

One dark-gloved hand curls around a silvery scepter, and the crenellations in its metal feel familiar. Setsuna Meioh looks up at it and... there's an orb set at the top, but no pulsing light speaks of a magical heart within the depths. It is dead inside. With a swallow, she continues on, following the sounds of what sounds like a grand party.

She arrives just in time to see the dance. The crowd parts as the newly-arrived royalty advances to its edge, giving her a wide and respectful berth. Setsuna watches with hands clasped over her mouth, and it takes some will to force them down and to a more relaxed-looking posture.

When the dance ends, another Queen awaits the return of the King and her father from the dance floor. She's draped in intricate skeins of black organza and lace layered upon a rich red Victorian evening gown. The belled bustle with its gathered overskirt sweeps the ballroom floor as she advances, embellishing grandiosity upon her usual grace. Many mystical keys depend from fine ebony chains about her waist and chime a strange music, and it's hard not to look down in worried curiosity at her own accoutrements. They sound... different, wrong, somehow.

When King Araki looks her way, she will find her Queen Meioh, exactly as she should be in every way... except... there is something about her eyes.

They are sad.

It's no lovely glimmer of charm-banishable melancholy. Something else anchors in garnet depths, some ineffable empathy, some steadfast sorrow.

"My..." A slight pause, like she was going to use another word, then, "King. It is so good to see you and- your family." And she despairs, quietly, because how can she pull Kasagami from this dream?

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Fur and velvet.

Mikoto can't get away from these complicated clothes in everyone's dreams, can she? There is wildness to the outfit, but elegance in turn; they befit high status. These are not designed for battle - they are for celebration.

She is not at the ballroom, initially. The reason might have become clear, as a green-haired knight runs into her.

"There you are! Has your Lord Sister -"

Might have, except for those words. They're words which instantly turn the cheer Mikoto had on seeing her to a scowl.

"/Lord Sister?!/" Incredulous. Angry.

"Oh, no, did your sparring match with King Kasagami go poorly? Aww, don't be a sore loser, Mikoto-chan -" and that teasing cuts off into genuine alarm as Mikoto storms down the hall. "- Mikoto-chan!"

She growls, and does not reply.

It's a lie, after all.

All paths in a perfect world lead to the banquet, eventually - the smell of food, the sound of revelry. It's obvious who she's come to, this time, as she tears through the World Tree's decrepit husk to rip her friends from their slumber. It's as obvious as the rose crown on her head.

Mikoto storms in, storms forward, and she is not obeying the rules at all; but perhaps that's normal, for Dame Mikoto.

"Kasagami!" Mikoto snaps in anger - and it's strange, because there's no family crest on the hilt of the greatsword on her back, now. She wants to demand she explain herself, to explain this treachery -

- but she doesn't know, does she?

She wanted family. Golden eyes - and they're gold instead of grey, now, bright and catlike - shift from the older woman to the older man. She... wanted family. She was desperate to think of anyone as her family. And Mikoto let her.

Sadness crosses anger, and Mikoto sighs, some of the tension dropping from those shoulders. "Kasagami..." And it's regret, now, and sorrow.

Not 'King Kasagami.' Not 'Lord Sister.' But it sounds so natural, the way she says her name yobisute.

And she is not obeying the rules at all.

"Kasagami knows my Lord is my Lord Brother," Mikoto insists, a little kinder now, but still firm. "Kasagami can't replace that. Because Kasagami's my friend... and Kasagami can't be my family!" Mikoto's voice rises - "Kasagami assumes it's fine, but it's not! And - I didn't want Kasagami to be sad, so I just never promised nothing I couldn't, but that made Kasagami think this was okay, right?!"

She is upset. She is angry. She is worried.

She takes a breath, to steady herself. "I should've been honest... I just..." Mikoto shakes her head, ashamed to admit it - especially under the shadow of 'Lord Sister'. "I'm honest now. Kasagami's not family. Can never be. Family's different. Doesn't mean I don't love Kasagami... but it's 'cause Kasagami's my friend." Those eyes which have been grey all her years are yellow, now, and they bore into Kasagami like a blade. "This isn't real."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Steven's entrance is met with almost as much fanfaire as Kasagami's! Even despite his slightly mis-worn helmet, he's greeted with reverence due to a warrior of the King! A few 'peasants' scrape and bow, many others offer salutes and other smaller works of respect. One girl a year or two older than him even throws a few flowers his way! All dark crimson, of course.

But it's the King that catches him. She stalks right up to the young man, eyeing that helmet, and instantly a balled fist slams right down towards his noggin.

Yeah, that's Kassie alright! "/SQUIRE/ Universe! Is this a test? Coming before your liege both improperly reigned /and/ daring to take a title before it's bestowed upon you?" Her voice is loud and imperious for a moment...and then it breaks into a laugh.

"How ambitious of you! I didn't think you had it in you to put on a show, but fine! Prove your worth against the Darkmoon Empire, and you'll have that title. I'm not interested in followers that blindly follow. Ambition fuels ambition, that's how a country is made powerful and secure. Be your own man, Steven."

Scowl. "But next time wear your armor properly! Decorum!" More yelling. The King giveth, the King taketh.

Well, at least it seems he was called for. Kassie is turning about, pressing a glass of wine towards the young man, and winking over her shoulder.

Niramo approaches, and the King offers a warm smile and arms outstretched, almost as if to embrace, but not quite. She takes in that amazing dress, the jewels, the blades and the return of her familiar. Takk's presence gets a brief, narrowed look. Something seems...off. One finger slips to her temple. A sip of wine, and she tries to relax. Merely a headache, no doubt.

"Beautiful. Beautiful! Now /this/ is how to present yourself before your liege! Teach your fellow Squire decorum, and you'll be well rewarded! You're right. We have work ahead of us. Darkmoon blades await us eagerly, as do their teeming hordes of youma. But this country, no, this /WORLD/ shall be saved, ours to raise up into greater heights! All beneath the banner of your glorious King!" She's just so /into/ herself. She leans down. Her good eye narrows.

"We should enjoy our time. We won't have much later. ...You seem..." Pause. "Troubled, my sweet Squire." Kasagami's eyes bore into Niramo's.

That scarf is indeed there for a reason.

Kasagami turns, and it's the visage of her Queen. At first her smile is wide, and those about Pluto give both wide berth and reverent worship. She's one of the few almost on the same level of the King, and deference is everything in Kasagami's world. An authoritarian to the last.

She reaches out, seeking Setsuna's hands to hold them, to squeeze lightly, so loving and true. Her eyes are radiant for a moment.

"How could I possibly let you hide away in gardens or on other worlds, my dear, lovely Queen? Without you at my side, my heart would run cold as ice and the wisdom needed to ensure this world and those beyond come beneath our secure banner fled into the darkness of the void!"

She blinks. Something...feels off as she peers into Setsuna's eyes.

A hand reaches for a cheek.

"Is something wrong, Queen of Keys and Starlight? You're troubled." Her voice falls to a whisper. True concern lights up her gaze. A doting King upon a Queen. Her head aches, just a bit more. Something is /wrong/! A few party goers look upon this oddity. The party seems to pause all at once, in remarkable lock-step.

Mikoto bursts in, and Kasagami rounds. It's instinct, a knife drawn into a hand as if expecting an attack! Her smile is large, eager, vicious almost. But it's not the attack she expects. Not the sparring, the screaming muscles and adoration she desires of a little sister. It's flicked away just as quickly. Arms open, as if ready to embrace her! "My sweet Little Sister! Tell me, what stokes your raging fi..."

Kassie meets the anger head on. But it's the eyes that make her pause. Golden, beautiful. /Familiar/. The more she looks upon Mikoto? That headache builds, and something seems /wrong/. It's a brief, odd thought. She's a King. She has her parents, and lovers, and a Family, and a Little Sister. She's in control. Nothing is outside of her grasp, and she is a true King and Hero with beautiful Knights so loyal to her. Loyal, faithful, and /obedient/.

Those golden eyes sear.

Her smile falls slowly. Ever the show-woman, she forces it up. To anyone who knows her, it's as strong as half melted glass.

"...This is a test, right? You're speaking nonsense! There's no Lord Bro..." She bites her lip hard enough to bleed. Why does she feel like she's lying? Isn't this her precious little sister?

Her arm feels like it's hot, almost burning. One hand clenches a wrist, charred skin exposed for a second.

"A...friend."

Anger, family, honesty, and Mikoto offers accusations that break every single well-crafted rule of her dream. Kasagami throws away her wine glass, shattering upon a table. A gasp flies up amidst the party. The revelry is gone. Her parents approach from behind, but Mikoto has her attention.

Eyes bore like blades, that blunt statement cutting her to the quick. Legs spread, knees bend, and suddenly there's her nodachi in her hands. One finger, now gloveless, reaches for the hilt.

"That's not right. That isn't right! Of /course/ you're my family, Mikoto! Why wouldn't you be!? We've..." Lived together? She flinches.

"We've fought together, haven't we? Don't we love the same people!? HOW DARE YOU!" Tears drip down her eyes.

Anger flares in her gaze. Her entire body is tense, starting to chip away at that feeling of wrongness the others have touched upon and Mikoto has shattered right open.

The crowd grows louder. Kasagami's father clears his throat, imperiously, quietly. It carries. Everyone shuts up.

"I believe..."

"IDIOT!"

There's the sound of blade sliding from steel, and Kasagami is forced into a sudden, last minute roll. A few whisps of hair fall, as she narrowly avoids her Mother's own blade. It's returned in a flash.

"....An Araki fights for those they love. Even if they're a King, they should /listen/ to them too." Comes the tall form of the Matron Araki. Her eyes are searing holes, with love and pride. They turn to each intruder in turn, nodding to each with a private smile.

Then she's hauling up her quivering daughter.

"If you're her friends, her love, speak true." She encourages, far more gently, yet no less vibrantly.

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Seeing Steven in ill-fitting armor is certainly a surprise, but he looks surprisingly sharp with it. That helmet that he was sporting was obviously a poor fit for him and doesn't seem quite right for him. A mental image of that pink top hat he uses to deflect some cake forms a soft smile under her scarf, despite just where she was. If she ever find the real Steven in this twisted and crazy Book, she hope his dream was a pleasant one.

Takk meets the narrow eye with one of his own, and an almost undetected smirk creases a corner. So this is what Niramo's mentor desires to be in her wildest dreams?...well, not like Niramo could cast stones herself. Really, he is going have to have a talk with his partner once all is said and done about just how impractical her 'outfit' was.

Niramo knows that when Takk gets that look in his eyes, he's about to lay down a long-winded speech, but the words Kasagami speaks on how the entire world shall be saved is a brutal jab in the heart after waking up so soon from her dream. They both want to save the world and be praised for it, to be a perfect example for those around them, and it hurts to realize that just despite how different it appears, they both have the same wish deep down.

"U-um, of course, your highness. Just preparing for the next battle against the Darkmoon Empire, that's all. And I will do my best to help you succeed, for we are friends before we were squire and King." Pulling down that annoying scarf, Niramo gives her mentor a smile, though it falters after a moment and Niramo forces herself to look aside. Kasagami looks so proud and sure of herself here...

The appearance of Queen Setsuna nearly has Niramo fall over in shock as the dark-haired elegant Senshi meets the King in the ballroom. If Setsuna was the Queen and Kasagami was the King, were they...married?! But they're best friends in the real world! Maybe Kasagami's love for her friend was so deep that the Book mistook them to be in a romantic relationship? Niramo just adds this to the growing list of questions to pester her mentor later.

And then Mikoto storms into the ballroom, spitting angry like she was a demonic cat from the depths of Hell, full of anger, worry and fear. The fact that she says this wasn't real has realization hit home with Niramo, and she and Takk share looks for a moment. Her fears that Takk could be realized as real and allied with Niramo are valid concerns, but the Kwami surprisingly shakes his head. "#-1 FUNCTION (ASNI) NOT FOUND"

Kasagami's outburst about how she and Mikoto were family tears at Niramo for a brief moment as she tries to understand what the sword-carrying Ohtori student and Kasagami had in common before what has to be Kasagami's mother swings down her incredible nodachi. Seems Kasagami gets the flare for the dramatic from her mother's side of the family.

Those calm words spoken by the matron of house Kasagami has Niramo subconsciously stiffen her spine and she nods her head. "Kasagami-san, as much as I want it to be otherwise, Mikoto-san is right. This world...this dream that you're in right now, it's just want you want most in the world, but you didn't actually earn any of it here!"

Frowning as she tries to muster the correct words on what to say, Niramo takes a moment to pause before continuing. "I...had a dream like this too, where I succeeded at everything I always wanted, that I never faltered or gave up, and my family was always there at my side. That I just got some recognition for what I have done in the past. But it was all meaningless because this isn't real! This is even worse than the cell we were locked into. At least then we recognized that we were prisoners!"

Takk floats forward as Niramo finishes and calmly pulls off the headband marked with the symbol of House Araki and tosses it down at the King's feet. "I can fully understand Niramo being fooled by this world of illusions. I expected you to see beyond this quite easily with the willpower you carry even with that one eye of yours. Sadly it seems that humans are just as confusing as ever with their emotions. You are so willing to take falsehoods that you would toss aside everything that you have devoted your entire career as a Duelist for? You are embarrassing yourself and that false throne behind you. Cyclops."

Floating higher so that he can stare Kasagami in her eye, Takk twitches his tail and shakes his head. "What are you going to do now? Will you be a coward and choke yourself on these balf-faced lies? Or will you at least try to act like the King you wish to be and face the threat that would destroy the world before you can be crowned for it? Which is it? King cyclops or coward?"

A long pause before Niramo groans and shakes her head. "...Takk. No more shounen anime for a week."

.

And then Mikoto storms into the ballroom, spitting mad like she was a demonic cat from the depths of Hell, full of anger, worry and fear. The fact that she says this wasn't real has realization hit home with Niramo, and she and Takk share looks for a moment. Her fears that Takk could be realized as real and allied with Niramo are valid concerns, but the Kwami surprisingly shakes his head. "It won't matter once your mentor wakes up. I will be dismissed as just another part of this fantasy world of...her's."

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.

Oh yeah, Steven had this right. This is going to be /swell/.

THUD.

"OWUH!" the boy chortles out as he recovered from a thorough drubbing. "I-I what?! There was knight armor in my room, I think! Was that my room?!" He was about ninety percent sure. He hasn't seen many folks in Tokyo with his body type. And that armor fit. The boy tries to fumble with the helmet and armor to fix it like some sort of, well, child.

Squire Universe never had such problems. 'Knight' Universe has tons of them.

Hearing Kasagami talk... hurt. A part of him knows that ache well, and where it comes from. Its the feeling of love and loss. More are here than he thought that have seen the truth. Her mother, an active, vibrant woman much like her kin, gives them a moment to speak.

Steven takes his helmet off. Fun time was over.

"K-Kasagami, tell me. How nice is it to be at the top? Is it everything you had hoped it would be?"

"Do you remember the journey there at all?"

This was a dream. She wouldn't. In her warrior's heart the long fought battles, the tears, blood and sweat shed for this day would not be there. People, dream people, may have told her the battles fought, but something deep down would be different. Wrong.

"You always told me about the stories of how you would climb your way to the top. But if you are only placed there, is it still the same? Do your ideals hold the same merit and weight they would have otherwise?"

The boy looks to Kasagami's mother. "She's not real. None of this is. We've all been lied to. And to save everything we have ever known, we have to let it all go." He begins to tear up a little, but Steven manages to fight it back. For now. "For all the evil it would commit, that person outside gave me the one thing I ever wanted in my life."

"I got to see my mother."

"It looks like you got to, too."

It is hard to talk to her about this. It was bad enough with Amethyst. "But we have to go, Kasagami. We have to do what is right." A pause to think. "In some small way, we should be thanking this evil person. It gave us a glimpse. A glimpse into our dreams. To see them become real, in front of our eyes. If anything, it will help us reach for them even higher than ever before. But we can't let it be."

The boy looks toward Mikoto, Setsuna and Niramo. They all knew. What types of tragedy did they go through, he wonders? Pulling away from this dream was... It was best to try and not think about it. "If this is what you wanted when you kept saying 'King', well... I would always wanted you in that chair. But it can't be in here. I know what it feels like to turn to a parent and say goodbye now. It sucks. It shouldn't be something we should be able to relate to."

"...But it is now."

"And we have to make the thing that made us feel that pay. Or many more people will go without their parents. And themselves."

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

Knight Universe arrives -- at least that's the title he announces, and his finery does nothing to convince Setsuna otherwise. Niramo too, who makes a show of kneeling in greeting. They both move within the trappings of the dream, but the senshi dressed like a Queen wonders, hearing their voices.

It's hard to focus on them, though. She keeps looking over to the older businessman, to the fierce Queen Mother, and then sliding the same gaze back to King Araki. Oh Kassie, she cries out silently, and it shows in garnet eyes though her lips are sealed around the words.

There is a familiarity in the fervent eloquence as Kasagami calls her Queen, and her cheek recognizes those fingers upon it. But to the King's eyes, Setsuna looks strangely unmoved by her eloquence -- instead of a pretty flutter of eyelashes or a fiercely flirtatious rejoinder, there is only growing sadness.

Is there something wrong? "There is," she replies, her voice gentle with reluctance, and with one hand she captures Kasagami's caress against her cheek, just for a moment.

It is only a moment, because a furious disruption named Mikoto Minagi arrives... and if Setsuna was unsure whether Steven or Niramo were aware of the dream, there are no such uncertainties here, not with the dream's rules left in a wreckage by that wielding of painful, jagged truth. "Mikoto...!" And the sound of the name is somewhere between sorrow and gladness, and even Setsuna does not know their balance.

She looks to Kasagami -- a Kasagami with tears on her face who rolls away in a flash, beneath the quicksilver blade of her mother. It's hard to meet that gaze, harder than Setsuna Meioh would have thought; she is the eternal Guardian of Time, and she faces an ephemeron.

But she also faces the exposed heart of her love.

Queen Meioh did not bow to an approaching King Araki, earlier, against all established tradition; now, Setsuna Meioh bends low at the waist, long evergreen locks sliding over her shoulder to sweep the ballroom floor. She bows to Kasagami Araki's mother, the woman she never thought to meet, and if she spends an extra moment with eyes lowered to find her voice in a choked throat then that in no way lessens the deep honor she feels in this moment.

"I will only ever tell the truth to your daughter," she promises the dream-spirit.

The senshi gathers her resolve to her and turns garnet eyes glistening with sorrow to Kasagami. She lets go of the silvery scepter and it drops to the ballroom floor with a heavy *clunk*. The garnet orb at its pinnacle dislodges, rolling free like a dark and lifeless marble to bump into the toe of Kasagami's boot.

"Mikoto-chan is right. This isn't real." Simple words, suffuse with sadness, with understanding. She reconsiders, then amends. "This isn't... the real world. It's a beautiful dream. A terrible dream." She pulls the long satin opera gloves off as she speaks, one by one. "A pretty trap.

"Is this how you want me?" Her dark hands, bare now, entreat Kasagami with palms up. The courtly Victorian finery, luxe and perfectly fitted, it is also voluminous and binding by its very nature. "Only in your colors, and bowing to you? I... am not your Queen, Kassie. Remember what we said about... about earning each other?"

She swallows, again, and keeps speaking, somehow. "None of this is earned. Some of this never can be." Setsuna glances to the Kasagami's mother, her father, and there is such apology in her eyes when she looks back, but she has her promise and she will fulfill it. "Your parents died, Kassie. They have been gone a very long time. And you haven't done the things that would have made them proud, not yet.

"But you will! You will, Kassie. If you can face this. And I know you can, you have it in you to do this. The Kasagami Araki I know is going to change the world. You can face this, too. And you're not alone."

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

What stokes the fires of destruction?

Mikoto comes into these worlds and she shatters them like glass.

... it doesn't feel good at all, and it's so obvious, as those terrible golden eyes glance to Setsuna at her cry. It's not nice, or good, or kind. It's just necessary.

Because it's a lie. It's all lies.

(Takk, too, is perhaps just another lie. Mikoto doesn't seem terribly focused on the squires in the hall, nor the Queen. Hasn't Kasagami always strove for a captive audience?)

Kasagami's smile falls. Mikoto isn't smiling at all. Her expression is intense, intent, anger and concern. She is deathly serious. It is so evident it is not a test at all.

She halts over that one, singular truth of friendship, and Mikoto dips her head in a nod.

She reaches for her blade - Mikoto's stance shifts, knees dipping down slightly, feet spread to match her weight. It is the fraction of a second before evasive action. She fully believes Kasagami might attack here, here. Might become her enemy.

Eri warned her. Eri warned her...

But even as she prepares for the attack, she doesn't reach for her blade. Not yet.

After all... in Kasagami's world, there'd be no threats to her rule, would there?

No threats until Mikoto came along.

If she can just make Kasagami see that she isn't a threat - if she can just get through to her - if there's really something she can do aside from fighting her enemies -

Those questions have answers. "We have! We do! But not like this, Kasagami!" Mikoto clasps a hand at her heart, so close to a bead below her clothing. "It's not like this..."

Well - those answers have questions, aside from one.

How can Mikoto dare to do this?

Their parents intercede, one after another. Mikoto's eyes widen in alarm as her very mother attacks Kasagami - and perhaps it explains a few things, after all.

They tell her to speak, with all the authority of royalty. And for long moments, Mikoto is silent, though her gaze doesn't drop from Kasagami at all.

The others tell her this isn't real. She wonders how real they are, but it doesn't really matter.

What matters is the girl trapped here, in a gilded cage.

What matters is -

Steven talks about how it gave them a glimpse into their dreams, and for the first time, Mikoto looks away, brow creasing in sadness. It's a confronting question, isn't it, Mikoto Minagi?

It's a confronting question, so she swallows it down and raises those golden eyes to Kasagami again.

After all - some of them never said goodbye.

"I dare 'cause I love Kasagami. I told Kasagami already... I can't be Kasagami's knight." Mikoto shakes her head, braids flipping back and forth behind an imperial circlet. "This dream's supposed to be mercy. So we wouldn't die fighting. So we'd die easy." They're familiar words, to Mikoto. She hopes if she says them, maybe they'll help more than hers. Anger drives her - but she still has no idea what she's /doing./

Mikoto stares, intent and focused, and of all of them it's Setsuna's words she follows up on. "Won't be a world to change soon. I know it hurts, Kasagami. Hurt me, too. But Kasagami, we /have/ fought together. 'Cause of that, I know Kasagami wouldn't wanna sleep through it."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kasagami's arm slices air, and shoves her Mother's touch away. At the very least, she's on her feet now. Her grip on her sword is far looser, and her tall body slumps just a bit lankily. Hair covers both of her eyes. And yet...she listens.

A single hand points balefully as she suddenly glares hard at Niramo. "And why haven't I!? Does the suffering, the pain, the agony and hard work I've given mean nothing!? Why...why must this world take from me and..." Give nothing in return? Her growing tirade falters, and she stumbles back. She clenches her arm briefly. Something is out of place. She's a pure, perfect King. Surely she gained all of this effortlessly. Surely...

The flag-baring, gilded walls of the dance hall suddenly feel like iron bars. Ones leaking with heat.

Down falls that headband, and Kasagami's sense of wrongness and disbelief focuses. Straight back into annoyance.

"I don't remember saying that rodents could talk down to me! I'd never toss away a victory, or a loss! Shut up, don't act like you know me!" Deny deny deny, goes the false King, holding onto her dream. She stumbles back. A dream, to a Duelist, is paramount.

"But...but I wouldn't lose." Her heart pounds. Pink hair. A scattered, dark red rose. Her gaze goes unfocused.

Her words are ashes on her lips. They feel like lies. Something is /missing/, and it hurts.

Steven grows serious, and asks a simple question. She can avoid, deflect the others. But this? It eats at her. 'Do you remember the journey?' On the heels of Niramo and Takk, it only makes that twisted road that the dream had all but devoured come back into her mind. A ring, a kidnapping, so many battles. Victory, love, defeat, and ultimately, crashing down. All flash through her mind, roll down her spine as her back feels mercury-cold ice slither down it.

Kasagami's mother offers a big, fierce smile to the young man. Perhaps she's a figment of a dream, but her heart is that of the loving woman that birthed this girl. The love is real, and she encourages the friend of her daughter, no matter how much it might pain the lost Duelist.

"...Don't give me empty praise!" Snaps Kasagami. It's a cruel thing, this. Her entire body shivers, as reality sets in with his words. It's all lies. All fanciful dreams and dire wishes of someone driven through pain and sorrow. In the young man's eyes? She sees herself. Clearly. Too clearly, for all their myriad differences.

She looks away. "Shut up! Why should I thank anyone...anyone that would make a dream and intoxicate a person with it!? Show them everything they ever wanted, dangling it like a carrot in front of them!?" Kasagami isn't a fool, despite the opinions of some. The evidence mounts. Tears fall thick already. She can't fight it, not surrounded by so many she cares for. In the presence of her /parents/!

She bites her lip, growing silent. Pay. Is this really a dream? Surely not! She's a King! Surely not!

Anger, dark and black and bitter, sparks in her heart for reasons she can't identify.

The touch of her Queen cools her anger for a moment, however. She focuses, drawn from the growing oddities of everything and her own turmoil. That trembling grows less, even as Setsuna pulls away to bow at the older Araki. A smirk from the woman, and she dusts off a pants leg. Then a wink. She runs a hand through her hair, and elbows her husband.

"...Did we ever look like that?" Comes a whisper.

"Never." It's returned. It is also false.

The dropped scepter is met with a flinch, and Setsuna has her attention fully. A dream. Beautiful and horrible, a trap. But then she lays out a question that makes her heart skip a bit.

And in that moment, she recognizes what a dear friend was saying. Maybe it really /has/ been all about her. Truth rings in her chest. She knows Pluto is right. She knows they're /all/ right.

"...Yeah. We made a promise, didn't we, Setsuna-chan? I must look pretty pathetic right now. Am I really chasing at ghosts?" She reaches out for Setsuna's wrists. "Binding those I love like that? Seriously? How low can I get?" Her voice carries, but it's low, and seething hints of self loathing fill in the spots where anger slowly tapers.

She swallows. Those words of encouragement have her smiling, even as her legs feel weak.

She's not alone.

The illusion finally shatters as the wrecking ball of a feline joins in with the others to end it. "I...I love you too Mikoto-chan!" Not 'Little Sister'. Mikoto-chan. Her /friend/. Not her knight. Someone close, an ally, a fellow magical warrior.

One hand balls hard enough that leather creaks and skin rubs raw beneath. "Mercy? MERCY!? Where's the mercy in this, then!? I can't believe I fell for this. I'm nowhere near noble enough, /GOOD/ enough in strength or character to be a King! Right!? I've been selfish and greedy!" Confesses the young woman as reality crashes hard down around her, as the mahou gathered's words finally sink in.

"Maybe not even worthy of being your big sis, Mikoto." She chokes on a sob.

A sucked in breath. "....But you're right. All of you are. I can't sleep forever. If it's a dream...I want to turn the world into my dream. Even if I can't have everything I'd like."

The crowd is gone, and it's only the magical girls, Kasagami, and her parents. She turns, and looks at them. Dropping her sword, she runs into their arms, and the three embrace.

"Mom. Dad. I don't...I don't want to lose you again! Please...I'm begging you!"

Warm hands brush hair, and cheek. Choked sobs fill the air, as she finally succumbs to the truth. And hates every minute of it.

"Your friends are right, my little tiger. Lies and daydreams like this mean nothing, no matter how sweet." The man lets go of his daughter.

A hand slams down to her noggin, and Kassie winces. The taller woman's eyes are as misty as her daugher's.

"Dropping your sword? You're still young, and not strong enough yet. But don't think this is the end! We'll meet again one day! Now go pick up that blade, and stop moping! I love you, Kaa-chan. Become truly strong, and you can become a King!" Offers warm, rough encouragement, and then she's being shoved towards the others.

She isn't on her feet long, just enough to fall to her rump. Legs pull up, her chin on her knees. She shivers...and hugs her sword close to her body. Everything fades. A single grey eye peers out at the others as she breaks down crying truly.

"I'm sorry, everyone. All I wanted was..." Her words are unintelligible as she gutters her heart out in tears, angry, humiliated, and spent. Yet they shine with love for those gathered here.

Kassie might just need a minute.

[[Category:Logs]]

Land of the Lotus Eaters

2018-06-21T16:49:38Z

SwordPerson: /* Fantasy Worlds */

[[File:Lotuseaters.png|800px]]

''"Sleep -- sleep as my Master sleeps, lie in an endless dream between life and death. Dream peacefully. Dream beautifully. This is my final gift to you, children of a doomed world."''

'''''LAND OF THE LOTUS-EATERS is a special event on Battle Fantasia MUSH that will run through the second half of June.'''''

Magical girls have been absorbed, body, mind and spirit, into the fully unleashed Book of Darkness, who claims to be granting her Master's final wish by giving them all the gift of eternal peace: an endless, perfect dream, surrounded by their friends and loved ones.

A fantasy where no one is missing -- no one is lost.

And everything is fine...

[[2018-06-10_-_What_Lies_Beneath_18|What Lies Beneath 18]]

Over the next two weeks, magical girls will explore their own, personal fantasy worlds, complete with idealized versions of their family and friends, enemies and allies -- and know temptation. Eventually they will encounter one another, not as each other's fantasies, but as fellow prisoners, and must search for the truth at the heart of the lie. And they will have to decide for themselves whether or not the ugly reality outside is really worth fighting for -- given who and what they'll have to leave behind.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the Book of Darkness is beginning to run rampant. She threw a vastly powerful Barrier across Tokyo, shifting the initial violence caused by her simple presence over by one dimension, but it won't be strong enough to stop NachtWal from destroying the Earth. In the meantime, those magical girls who weren't trapped in the Book must contend with a Tokyo fast transforming into an unfamiliar hellscape of grinding pillars of stone and howling pillars of magma. And the Barrier is far from perfect -- millions may have become hundreds, but there are still ordinary people trapped in there with them, too... all too vulnerable.

As magical girls escape from their dreams and into a waking nightmare, they will join their allies outside in doing what they can to protect what's left of Tokyo.

__TOC__

==The Three Phases==

There are there phases to the Land of the Lotus-Eaters plot:

* The Fantasy World
* The Shared Dream
* The Waking Nightmare

Players who absolutely want to opt-out of having a character absorbed by the Book can proceed directly to the third phase, 'The Waking Nightmare', where they will be gradually joined by Book of Darkness escapees.

Everyone else wakes up inside The Fantasy World!

===The Fantasy World===

Anyone who wants their character to have been absorbed into the Book of Darkness (and this is highly, highly encouraged) is welcome to assume they were there on the margins of the magical girl army that witnessed her rebirth, and should read the contents of [[2018-06-10 - What Lies Beneath 18|What Lies Beneath 18]] and consider it IC knowledge.

Characters absorbed by the Book awaken in not only their own bed but the /ultimate/ bed, the bed that most feels like home, a bed that may have been lost forever or even one that has never existed. They are safe and surrounded by the ones they love most, who are eager to comfort them from the nightmare they just experienced, and help them adjust back to 'reality', in a lovely, peaceful world.

Constructing a character's fantasy world is an opportunity to:

* Bring back dead characters, returning them to living, happy selves.
* Reimagine living characters through the lens of your character's fantasy; enemies could become allies, crushes could become romances, broken friendships mended, lost souls saved.
* Rewrite history wholesale, if things went off the rails years ago and your character might awaken in an extremely different life than the one they had.
* Ultimately, explore the ways in which the real world is better than the fantasy one. If Fate Testarossa hadn't had a broken family, she never would have met Nanoha Takamachi. In what ways have the trials of the real world made it worth saving?

It is not an opportunity to:

* Create a Candy Land where all the buildings are made out of choco parfait and takoyaki, NAGISA MISUMI. >:|
* In more seriousness, these dreams are powerful simulations driven by the characters' memories and desires, but they do fundamentally simulate the character's ideal /world/, as in a recognizable Earth, and furthermore, unless it is absolutely unworkable, their ideal Tokyo (for reasons that will become obvious).
* Unfortunately for those who were eager to get into trippy dream logic, it is NOT obviously a dream; the fantasy world has verisimilitude in terms of being a real place filled with real people, even if everything else feels impossible. Impossibly wonderful, that is.

Players are encouraged to introduce their character's fantasy world through a cutscene of their characters first awakening and discovering that everything up until this point has 'all been a bad dream,' posted to the wiki with the following format: YYYY-MM-DD - LOTUS AWAKENING: Character Name. (They can of course also put it on the MUSH bulletin boards if they like.) These cutscenes, besides being an opportunity to really pull on the heartstrings, are useful worldbuilding that can be referenced by other players, because:

During the first phase, any given scene can only exist in a single character's dream. All other participants are invited and encouraged to discuss NPCing special, important characters featured prominently in the main character's fantasy (such as dead family members), but can, alternatively, play the fantasy version of their own character, as envisioned deep in the heart of the main character.

* For example: Fate Testarossa, Nanoha Takamachi and Vita want to have a Fantasy World scene. They decide to let Fate be the main character. Nanoha volunteers to NPC Alicia Testarossa, and Vita appears as a version of herself that Fate dreams of being friends with. (Fate and Nanoha discuss OOCly who the fantasy Alicia Testarossa is, her role within the dream; Fate and Vita do the same about fantasy Vita. Players are encouraged to be flexible about conforming to the fantasies of the main character, as roleplaying (admittedly often somewhat Stepford) alternative versions of themselves, as wished for by another character, is a pretty unique gameplay opportunity. Fantasizing players are expected to keep it classy, as is always the case on Battle Fantasia.)

===The Shared Dream===

Many characters will be unable to break out of their fantasy without intervention by another. The Shared Dream begins when Fate Testarossa confronts the truth that her dream is not and cannot be real, and that she wants to leave it behind -- and discovers the World Tree at the heart of her dream. She can then use it to transport herself into someone else's dream, replacing her dream double.

Once this happens (it will be flagged both via bbpost and on this wiki page), all of The Fantasy Worlds begin to merge into The Shared Dream. During phase two, The Shared Dream, characters are now wandering through each others' fantasies, in a single, larger fantasy. Given that most characters want to live blissfully in a Tokyo-like location, this is often seamless, but not always. Still, the power of the Book of Darkness is very strong, and the Land of the Lotus-Eaters is very seductive; even as prisoners are able to meet one another and speculate as to what's going on, the Book tends to keep mortal enemies apart, unless reuniting with one another is a deeper level of their fantasy. The Shared Dream is still a beautiful dream -- many beautiful dreams, fading into one another.

* For example: Fate Testarossa, Steven Universe and Saki Hyuuga want to have a scene in The Shared Dream. Fate is already fully awake, and replaces her dream double; the world of this scene is is a blend of Steven and Saki's ideal worlds. As this is a shared dream, Fate and Steven can encounter Saki's fantasy version of Michiru Kiryuu, or Fate and Saki can encounter Steven's fantasy version of Rose Quartz, or both...

It is worth noting, however, that the 'idealized' PCs and NPCs within their fantasy are also aware that this is only a dream; they want to keep their main character safe and happy within the dream, but are also willing to grant them absolution to leave them behind and depart into the real world. This is a rare opportunity for closure, though not required.

Players are strongly encouraged to allow others (whether 'awakened' PCs, or idealized but actively posed PCs and NPCs) to help them find the strength to leave the Land of the Lotus-Eaters, as it should not be easy or trivial to be willing to depart; the journey of accepting and embracing a more painful reality is far better undertaken as an interactive scene rather than as a cutscene alone. However, for those who prefer it, cutscenes are also welcome. In either case, logs/cutscenes involving this turning point in any character's arc should be named under the following scheme: YYYY-MM-DD - LOTUS INCEPTION: Character Name(s)

Once fully awakened and accepting of reality, characters can stay in The Shared Dream to help free their friends, or escape the Book of Darkness via the World Tree, which exists at the heart of all of their dreams, and will return them to the shattered deadwood corpse of the real Tree in Tokyo.

This begins the third phase: The Waking Nightmare.

===The Waking Nightmare===
[[History: Modern Times#The Book of Darkness|A generation ago, the magical girls of Earth were decimated trying to contain and defeat the Book of Darkness]]; it was the most significant magical event of the new millennium, until the Long Dark Night in 2013. It is widely understood IC knowledge that Signum, Vita, Shamal and Zafira, aka the Wolkenritter, aka the Cloud Knights, have been ambushing magical girls and draining their magic into the Book of Darkness in order to fill all of its pages -- at which point the Book of Darkness will basically go supernova in a world-ending-threat-level event.

Apparently the first stage of 'supernova' was the Book transforming into a scary woman who calls herself the Tome of the Night Sky. The first thing she did was suck every magical girl she could sense into the Book of Darkness' Fantasy World. The second thing she did was spread a Barrier across Tokyo.

A 'Barrier', in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha terms, is a particular class of magical spell: a wide-area field that shifts everything within that field about half a dimension to the left, metaphysically metaphorically speaking. The chief effect that it has is to remove all noncombatants and other non-magical people from the area it encompasses, which allows magical combat to continue with only minimal risk of collateral damage.

The Book of Darkness' barrier won't protect the world from ending when the automated defense program within her being known as NachtWal goes berserk, since that blast is far greater than her barrier can contain.

And, because Tokyo is so huge and there are so many people in it, neither is it totally successful at keeping all the noncombatants out. A small handful of noncombatants, usually either already-magical people or people closely connected to magical people, such as friends and family, have found themselves drawn inside... and Tokyo, on the other side of the barrier, is an ugly place.

('''''This is strictly optional.''''' There are a handful of people stranded in Battlefield Tokyo for exactly two reasons, narratively: first, to have people to rescue on general principles, and second, for characters who want to be OUTTED to a normal friend or family member to have a dramatic opportunity to do so, in rescuing them (Recognition Inhibition is still 'on', but this is a good reason for it to fail if someone wants it to fail in order to tell their story). If you've wanted your parents to find out what you do, or want your long-misled best friend in on the secret, this is a good time for that!)

The Waking Nightmare is yellow-and-black-skied, with a great deal of purple lightning. It is filled with eerily empty streets and skyscrapers, punctuated here and there with jagged stone spires and immense geysers of magma, created by the seismic instabilities already beginning to engulf the world as the Book of Darkness' power unfolds.

* The Book of Darkness herself, if engaged, will immediately suck combatants into the Fantasy World, which is another way of saying DON'T.
* Fleeing from her, finding allies, protecting civilians and lamenting the state of things is more the order of the day.
* There is also some pathos to be had wandering through the creepily empty, shattered cityscape.

When everyone has escaped the Shared Dream and regrouped to confront the Book of Darkness, we will be at the true finale of What Lies Beneath.

==Frequently Asked Questions==
Q: I wasn't at What Lies Beneath 17-18, can I still have been sucked into the Book of Darkness?

A: Yes! It is safe to assume your character was on the margins of those events; the Book of Darkness cast a very wide net when she absorbed everyone in.

Q: What's the approximate OOC timeline here?

A: Since there's a lot of pathos to go around, we expect to spend around a week in The Fantasy World and a week in The Shared Dream, with maybe each of those being a bit less than a week to make some space for The Waking Nightmare (though it is the least important of the three for participants of the entire plot, since its experience will in most senses be covered by the plot's actual finale).

A2: Individuals can go at their own pace, if they want to spend more time in The Fantasy World after Fate's escape initiates The Shared Dream. Time is all very relative right now, anyway.

Q: I need someone to NPC my dead parents! What should I do?

A: Ask! The staff will be on hand to provide NPC support, but the playerbase is also very strongly encouraged to volunteer.

==Fantasy Worlds==
Please add yourself and a one-sentence description of the core concept of your character's dream world to the list.
* '''[[Fate Testarossa]]''' is living happily with her mother, sister, and teacher.
* '''[[Niramo Umokeshi]]''' has a family who is always there for her, and is the leader of the magical protectors of Earth, the Stardust Champions.
* '''[[Nori Ankou]]''' is in a storm-wracked and gothic Tokyo, where everyone is gorgeous, especially the precious ones.
* '''[[Fuu Hououji]]''' is a regular schoolgirl, her adventures as a Magic Knight now the province of a tabletop RPG campaign.
* '''[[Mai Tokiha]]''' is a carefree teenager with a pet bird, independent of magical trouble, Ohtori weirdness, or anyone depending on her.
* '''[[Eri Shimanouchi]]''' is an average middle schooler, free of contracts and obligations, living her best life with her family and friends.
* '''[[Inori Yamabuki]]''' is brimming with confidence and getting her happiness as a normal girl.
* '''[[Lera Camry]]''' is back on Midchilda, with her mother... and father, who is alive and well.
* '''[[Mikoto Minagi]]''' and her beloved family deal with monstrous threats from their shrine on Mount Moto, so that the world of Tokyo below can remain peaceful and happy.
* '''[[Steven Universe]]''' is just a human with his mother, Rose Quartz back. Beach City has wholly relocated to Tokyo, and all Gems get along with humans!
* '''[[Kasagami Araki]]''' is the King of Tokyo, fighting the Darkmoon Empire alongside a royal court of valued allies and enemies.
* '''[[Kimiko Akane]]''' is just a regular teenager with a normal family consisting of her mother, younger sister and father.
* '''[[Nanoha Takamachi]]''' is a normal, happy and carefree kid surrounded by many friends and her loving family.
* '''[[Setsuna Meioh]]''' is a magical girl in a Tokyo that never suffers world-ending threats, which leaves plenty of time for beach trips with Small Lady.

==Logs==

Please include 'LOTUS' in the title of all of your logs and cutscenes, and they'll automatically appear here.

{{#dpl: |category = logs¦cutscenes
|titlematch = %LOTUS%
|notcategory = News Files
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 2
|rowcolformat=width=100%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no LOTUS logs or cutscenes yet. Fix it!
}}

2018-06-13 LOTUS AWAKENING: Kasagami Araki

2018-06-21T16:46:41Z

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: <Your title>'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Kasagami Araki awakens to her Dream World, King of Tokyo and awakened 'gently' by her parents. Everything is as it should be...right?''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Kasagami Araki]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Araki Family Royal Estate
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
2018-06-13 - April 25th, 2015
|-
|}

Kasagami Araki struggles and screams in her binds. Pain is the only thing vaguely keeping her in a semi-conscious state as the Book of Darkness draws them all in. It's a futile and worthless struggle in vain, but the young woman is nothing if not stubborn to a fault. Black dots solidify into a sheen of the same color, and then she sleeps.

~Now~

Hands clench into the soft, heavenly fluff of a blanket. More searingly, a sound of curtains being thrown open burn light straight into the eye and has Kasagami gasping and opening her lids. Both arms cover them again as she lets out a surprised and annoyed sound that echoes through the bedroom.

"That's possibly the least royal sound I've heard in my entire life, my little hawk." Comes a voice that is close yet distant, nostalgic yet faded by the ravages of time. A half remembered voice from what seems like eons ago, but is a simple handful of years. Kasagami stills, leaning into the plush of her bed, and slowly blinks as the searing daystar filtering in from outside is made less punishing as her good eye adjusts.

"Who...what is going..."

Realization slowly sinks in, but too slow for the other person in the room. The sound of something heavy kicks wood. It's an impatient sound, offered in a smooth rhythm before suddenly going quiet. Hands reach, and throw off a soft blanket onto the floor with far more drama and motion than needed. It audibly hits the ground as a door lightly creaks. Cough.

"It's just about time. The coronation starts in..." Comes a stern, masculine but quiet voice. There's a pause.

A barely contained sigh escapes the man's mouth. Another light cough. "...You still have much to learn, little King. I will be waiting. I love you, Kassie. Good luck." With an eye roll, he walks out of the room, the man's gait easy and his face stoic. Almost. He can't help but uplift the corners of his mouth before wincing as the sound of a body hitting a slightly softened wooden floor by way of blanket and a sudden inverting of the world by Kasagami's still sleepy sensations.

The jolt has her awake, and she stares into the face of someone she dared not dream to see again. Steel grey eyes bore into her grey-and-white with intensity, anger, love and joy all at the same time. She's being shaken by her collar, and finally her brain catches up with shock and sleepiness.

Her throat feels dry all of a sudden. "...Mom? Wait. What's going on? How are you here!?" Starts Kasagami, confusion and fear mixing in her mind before the woman that just tossed her out of bed stops her violent waking of the younger woman. They're spitting images of each other, with the exception of Kasagami's injuries and the older woman's lines and other signs of age. Suddenly Kasagami is pulled into a tight, warm hug.

"Don't be stupid, my little bird. Of course I'm here on your most important day. You won. You fought so hard, you suffered, but now you have your dream. Maybe that last sword fight gave you a bump on the head. Every one of your loyal servants are here too, ready to help you become the ruler you've always wanted to be, Kassie."

Kasagami's mother, tall, strong, and confident, yanks up her daughter, kisses her on the forehead, and then turns around.

"...And we're here for you, with what we've learned in our lives, Kassie." Pause. Frown.

Kassie's mother scowls and points at the door.

"EVEN THE EAVESDROPPING IDIOT FATHER OF YOURS!" Kasagami's father pokes his head in, stoic, but still with that smile.

"A man of the Araki household would never be so sneaky. ...Also little hawk, your knights are awaiting your presence this morning. Tokyo waits with baited breath as you gain the crown. I believe Mikoto-chan was eager for a sparring match before the festivities. And...something she called 'feline motion training'." The man just shrugs. Kassie's mother just eye rolls and starts to say something sarcastic.

"Lady Tomoe, Dame Shimanouchi, Squire Universe and Umokeshi..." The names rattle off constantly, and finally Kasagami feels awake and whole.

She still feels rattled, but the young woman stands. So many names, so many loyal hearts, and here she is dragged out of bed. Kasagami cuts off her Father with tears in her eyes. She reaches, hugs her Mother from behind tight about the waist, and looks to her Father with pure joy. For some reason? She can't tell why but this feels like a reunion, even as she brushes it all off as the effects of a dream.

"I'm sorry. I just...had a nightmare. I'd lost both of you. I lost a...very important, powerful, wonderful enemy. A world where /I/ lost status and respect in the adult world and withou..." The elbow comes lightly.

"Shhh. It was just a nightmare. Come on. You have your Queens and Prince waiting too." Jab jab jab annoyingly. Kasagami's Father turns, makes a brief motion, and then addresses a certain purple haired servant amidst the Araki Family's estate workers. It's a brief conversation, and light flickers across a pair of large glasses upon the dark skinned young woman's face. She smiles, docile, obedient, and yet quietly offers suggestions.

The older Araki dame ignores how Kasagami sheds tears, pressing into her back and holding her as though she might slip into sand.

"Come on, a King shouldn't be shaken by a simple nightmAAAAAAH!"

Kasagami Araki grins like a madwoman, pulls back, and the sound of a body being suplexed into the bed ends in a tangle of limbs, laughter, and a single proclamation!

"Tell Mikoto-chan I'll be late! Face the wrath of a King, oh Head of the Araki School of Swordsmanship for turning your back on an opponent! Royal Suplex Technique, goooooo!" Proclaims Kasagami, and soon Mother and Daughter have fallen off the bed after a long round of tickles, roughhousing, and early morning insults.

Kassie lets out a happy sigh. She's attained her dreams. And all of those she loves is near and loyal to her. She'd have it no other way.
[[Category:Cutscenes]]

2018-04-29 - Gone Fishing

2018-04-30T12:32:27Z

SwordPerson: SwordPerson moved page 4-29-18 - Gone Fishing to 2018-04-29 - Gone Fishing: Wrong title format

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Gone Fishing'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Kasagami Araki invites some friends to go fishing. Family and kind words are given all around.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Fuu Hououji]], [[Kasagami Araki]], [[Niramo Umokeshi]], [[Setsuna Meioh]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Tama River
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
4/29/18 - 4/14/15
|-
|}

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyEj0E794XQ

Despite the many visitors as of late and the insistance that she sleeps, it just wouldn't come for Kasagami. And so when she finally couldn't sleep, Kasagami Araki threw on her clothes again, grabbed a cooler, and snagged a ride.

A few phone calls to trusted friends, and she's out on a pier overlooking the Tama river. A set of durable fishing rods, extra fishing line, a big tackle box, bait knife and boat, and of course that cooler is ready with iced drinks with plenty of room for fish. Kasagami is wearing a pair of jeans, and an AC/DC shirt. And a straw fishing hat on her head, breaking the rocker look. Legs are crossed, a few pvc pipes are on the pier to let rods set while waiting.

She knows at least one person will show up.

It won't be long before night begins to fall. Just enough time for a good few casts. Kasagami smiles to those that arrive and come with her.

"Did I ever tell you about my Father?" It's addressed to one at first but no doubt is soon offered to the rest. Orange light casts Kasagami's face in burning reds. Her expression is one of thoughtful nostalgia.
GAME: Save complete.

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

On the list of people that Fuu Hououji hardly expected would call *her*, Kasagami's name was surprisingly close to the top. Granted, she's been the recipient of Kasagami's unexpected invitations before - the most recent one being one of the most surprising - so maybe it shouldn't have been that much of a surprise.

Whether Kasagami expected Fuu to *accept* the invitation is another question. The school year is still newly-started but homework is already piling up ... but Fuu, diligent student that she is, has been doing her best to keep up and even try to get ahead on the reading. And it's not like she has to go terribly far; Tama is more or less her part of Tokyo.

So here she is. "I don't believe I've heard you speak much of him, no," Fuu replies. Truthfully, she was hoping for a chance to visit Kasagami and talk with her about recent events ... but she'd also figured on it being a more private conversation. So letting her start the conversation seems more than adequate.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

Setsuna Meioh's hands rest across her lap, and her hair flows freely in the breeze. Her trim aqua tank top would leave her arms and shoulders free, except that she wears a black meshwork top over it, loose and swingy. She sits with her legs tucked to one side, and shares a smile with Kasagami.

"Some," she replies. "Enough that I want to know more. You've spoken more of your mother to me, I think."

She isn't fishing yet, herself. Instead she orients herself to Kasagami and alternates between watching her fish, and looking out over the water. It's peaceful here, in this moment, with this company, and she feels a content calm.

She gives Fuu a small wave as she arrives, polite and friendly, by way of greeting. "Houoji-san, it is good to see you again."

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.
Freshly cleaned kitchen utensils and a pot are set over on a towel to dry as Niramo puts the finishing touches on her and Takk's dinner. Homemade tuna sushi, the white rice a little too sticky but still fresh is cut into appropate pieces and put on two seperate plates, and they were just being set down on a small kitchen table before Niramo's cell phone starts to ring. A few minutes later, and only a slight delay caused by Takk not wanting to give up so quickly on his dinner, and the sushi is set into the fridge with a note for her parents. Friends come first, and convenience stores are always open, no matter the time.

A short-sleeved white tee-shirt with an faded image of a shrine maiden fighting a demonic crow, knee-length denim shorts and a pair of worn tennis shoes are worn to this meeting with Kasagami, one quite different from what's normally expected to wear whenever Kasagami is involved, but tonight is not quite the other nights, is it? Her brown book bag is slung over one shoulder, and while she is a tad surprised to see Fuu here, seeing her and Setsuna here to be here for Kasagami fills the ravenette with comforting feelings. Kasagami must really trust them to have them come out like this, right?

Opening her mouth to say something, Niramo pauses before closing and shaking her head in the negative. That light falling upon her friend's scarred face makes the contracts stand out starkly, but only makes her inner beauty shine even more than when she stands in the spotlight and is the center of attention of a crowd.

That, and Niramo was examining a borrowed fishing rod carefully, not quite sure where to start, but afraid to say a word about this being her first time fishing. It's obvious the Ohtori student needed to say something to them, or at least to vent, and she would not disturb the mood for that.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Fuu gets a smile that's warm, but still holding the preoccupied look of someone grappling with severe issues. A small nod, and she offers a drink over to the young woman after popping off the cap with her fishing knife. Cursed Duelists and their skill with all things sharp and pointy!

It is, luckily, Odoul's. Mixed with sparkling cider. Some would say it's an acquired taste. Others would say it's a rancid abomination against beveragekind.

Kasagami downs one in a single pull.

Ahhhh. That is /awful/!

Setsuna of course, is here. And her reply and frankly wonderful choice of attire allows Kasagami to occasionally find a smile as she looks at the young woman that she loves so very much. And a subtle brush of one of Setsuna's locks teasingly. The fresh river air and natural beauty are a far cry from the growing problems and decay of her home. It's doing her some good to be out here.

Niramo gets a small little wave, and seeing how lost she looks? Well, Kasagami can't help but put her rod into the pipe, and walk over. She cuts up more bait, and silently shows Niramo first how to bait a rod, then how to cast. She needs the time to formulate her words.

"Well, being a Diet makes for a busy man. I'm...not going to say I never resented him for it. But I know he loved me, and he always came home. And he loved my mother with all of his heart. My Mother was the burning fire, the raging wind. He was the cooling river and the bending branch amidst the storm. When Mom and I fought, he'd bring us back together. When I was being a hardheaded little brat? He knew just how to not just make me repent, but to see /reason/. He taught me how to think under pressure. One of the most valuable skills a swordsman or a politician can have."

A sigh. "The night before the fire, he told me something: that I'm just like my Mother. I will always burn brightly, hate strongly, and love three times as much. But if I don't learn how to reign in my passions at the right times, then it will be my downfall."

A bitter chuckle. "Doesn't it suck when your parents are right?"

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

"It's good to see you again as well, Meioh-san," Fuu replies, bowing politely to her upperclassman. "I trust your business and studies continue to go well?" She waves to Niramo as well, smiling at the Juuban student.

The bottle of O'Doul's gets a somewhat wary look - one might even call it suspicious - but Fuu accepts the bottle. She does not, however, start drinking from it right away, instead looking over the label, dividing her attention as Kasagami talks about her father. Reminisces, from the sound of it, and from Kasagami's choice in tense. "Only when you didn't want them to be," Fuu replies, a soft trace of amusement detectable in her voice.

She finally takes a sip of the beverage, as cautious as the look she first gave the bottle .. but she's polite enough to largely suppress a grimace at the taste. Clearly, anyone who drinks beer - actual beer, not this non-alcoholic substitute - does *not* do so for the taste, if this is any indication.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

"Umokeshi-san, hello again." Setsuna nods to the girl as she walks up, her voice warm. "I hope you have been well." She does not forget, this Guardian, and there will ever be gratitude in her for the way Niramo came to Rinji's aid in a time of dire need.

Fuu asks about her business and studies. After only a moment: "They keep me quite busy, indeed," with a polite nod. "And yours?"

All she's wanted to see, these past few days, is this easing of strain and pain in her love. It is in turn the balm Setsuna finds she has needed. Worries recede, and the teasing touch coaxes another curving smile from her.

The senshi-at-rest spends so much of her time looking at Kasagami, following the way she fishes and sometimes simply gazing at her for long spans, that it would take a very observant eye to catch that she absolutely /never/ looks at what she's drinking. The avoidance is studious and complete.

Some things, even the Guardian of Time cannot face.

"You're good at that," she says as Kasagami assists Niramo. And listens, with that warm and enveloping totality of focus, as she starts talking about her father.

"He sounds very wise, Kassie. And strong. No wonder you miss him so." She brushes a thumb across the other's shoulder for a moment. "Thank you for sharing this with us. They are both part of you, your parents. I am thankful to them, in my way." A small smile.

"It also sounds to me like you have learned a great deal from them." To that bitterness, she squeezes before releasing that shoulder. "And he was right, you are such a bright soul, Kassie." I love you so for it, her voice says, though she does not voice it, not here and now and in company. "It gives you the strength to face this, and learn whatever lessons you need to, to move forward. I know it."

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.
A slight blush tints Niramo's cheeks when Kasagami still took the time and effort needed to show her how to bait a fishing rod. Even when she was the one who needs someone to listen to, it still doesn't change the fact that Kasagami will set aside time from her own schedule to help those in need. Dark rumors that form around the Ohtori Student Council or no, the memory of the Council member sticking her head out of a broken oven was the first clue that you can never believe in rumors.

Waving over at Fuu and Setsuna, she rubs the back of her neck in slight embarrasment at others seeing just how inexperienced she was with fishing, but it didn't really bothered her like it would be with strangers. She knows Fuu well, and while she hasn't been around Setsuna often, her kind nature and the fact she is obviously a pillar of support for Kasagami, among other things, tells the Juuban student that their relationship can grow in the future. "Good to see you too, Fuu-san, Meioh-san. I always been curious if you were able to keep the painting from the art show."

Listening to Kasagami mention what her father taught her right before 'the fire' reminds Niramo of another memory shortly after the oven being fixed, of Kasagami staring at a small oven flame and being frozen as if a raging inferno was about to consume her. Turning her head towards the calm river, the ravenette shakes her head at the words of the crimson-haired woman. "I...can understand having a father who is constantly busy with his work, and my mother as well. It's more often than not that I have to make dinner for myself, with my mom not returning home until I go to bed, and my father barely around often enough to say that he loves me, and that's if i'm lucky. It's selfish of me wanting them to spend more time with me when they are already sacrificing so much already just so I can go to school, but at the time time, it's also the same reason why I treasure the time I spend with them."

Niramo looks over the edge of the pier at her line and frowns at the lack of ripples around her line. "But, after I completely failed a test for social studies, several years ago, my dad actually took the time to come and walk home with me when I stressed over it. Instead of getting mad at me, to my surprise, he decided to give me some sound advice. 'There are many times that we fall, and feel that no matter what effort we put forward, that it would be better to just give up and walk away. Instead of surrendering to our fears, take that failure and turn it into determination. Learn what you have down wrong, and find a new path to your goal, for you are never a failure until you no longer try.'"

Turning her head, she nods at Kasagami, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Maybe I still don't quite have the strength needed to learn from my mistakes like that, but I know you, Kasagami-san. Besides, i'm always here for you and try to help the best I can. I mean, that's what friends do for each other, right?"

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kasagami turns and watches as Fuu takes a sip! And nearly snorts as she manages to not wince. "Well, someone likes it. I'll get you two cases for your birthday, Fuu-chan~."

Siiiigh. "Once, Father made me eat a pie a day for a week after he caught me eating an entire pie in one sitting from the shelf that he'd made. That man was terrifying when he wanted to be!"

Kassie, similarly, can't help but keep looking back to Setsuna with glances of fondness and love. Just being here amidst the light breeze and setting sun and the smells of the river has her wanting to curl up against Setsuna. Yet, she manages to relent. Mostly. Her shoulder has a habit of leaning against the other girl whenever there's an excuse.

Kassie, meanwhile, takes every opportunity to flaunt the horror that she's drinking. Kind of like someone drinking super hot hot sauce, only with trash NA bev.

Smile. "Dad taught me."

Goodness and then Setsuna is thankful to them, and Kasagami looks caught between a blush and a tear down her cheek. She recomposes herself quickly before she gives into her instinct to hug this beautiful Senshi for such a touching statement.

"I can only hope so. I find myself thinking more and more of him during times like these."

Kasagami nods as Nira explains about her own family. So familiar to Kasagami, this kind of home life. "They both sound wonderful, Nira-chan. I wish they could've met. Yes, treasure every single moment you have with them. They leave you all too quickly." High praise from Kasagami!

"We'll only know if I'm strong if I can manage it. Thank you, all of you. When you get too caught up in your own self-image, you lose track of what's important." She starts.

And then her rod tugs! Kasagami is on her feet, yanking and leaning back hard! "Come to Kassie you fried sandwhich on fins!" Gives Kasagami in a proper fishing war cry!

RrrrrRrrrrrrrrrRrrrr goes the reel!

A glance over to Fuu. "What about you Fuu-chan?" Rrrrrr!

"I'd like to know more about you, if...you feel like sharing." It's almost gentle, if she weren't fighting a fish battle!

<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.

No amount of good manners can stop a grimace from crossing Fuu's face at that. "Please, you needn't go to *that* much trouble," she protests as genteely as she can. "This looks like it was imported, I'd hate for you to go to that kind of expense on my behalf ..."

Not that money ever seems like an object that stops Kasagami. She answers Setsuna, "Classes are going well enough so far, and the archery team has gotten back up and running respectably well after spring break. We did rather well at the tournament in Asakusa a few days ago, despite ..." She makes a face. "... somebody's ill behavior."

She hasn't tried casting a line of her own yet, although she was watching intently as Niramo got her lesson in hook-baiting. "I'm not sure if there's a great deal to say about my family," Fuu admits. "My father works for a software company; I get a certain amount of my interest in computers from him. Mother doesn't hold down a particular job the way Father does, but she's still active both in and out of the home - there are several different charitable organizations she contributes to, fiscally or physically if not both ... She's always believed that the best investments are the ones which pay off in a form other than monetary, whether the rewards - or rather, the harvest - come to you, or to those whose need is greater."

She pauses briefly, watching Kasagami wrestle with her hooked fish. "Mother's taken quite an interest in the campaign for replanting the burned forests on Southern Cross Island," she adds - preferably at a moment when a distraction hopefully won't be as costly to Kasagami's progress. "That alone might tell you where her priorities lie."

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

"The portrait is in the very best of hands, I believe: it is with its creator. Thank you for asking after it, Umokeshi-san. Yumi-chan's talent is amazing, isn't it? I am still so honored."

That gleam on that cheek and the rosy hue it crosses steal the senshi's attention wholly, and her words too. She leans in, pressing shoulder to shoulder, as her pulse skips off its clockwork rhythm for a moment.

After Kassie speaks about strength and self-image she nods and finds her voice: "Show us, then, Kassie." There is only belief in her eyes for the other girl. "You see the friends who still stand by you. You're not alone." The last has fresh layers of meaning between them.

Possible dinner makes a splash out at the end of Kasagami's line, redirecting conversation and attention! Setsuna gets to her feet too, not nearly as animated as Kassie but showing excitement in her own quiet ways: the flash in garnet eyes, the crinkling at their corners.

"You have this...!" As she ever will, the tall young woman cheers Kasagami on. Setsuna does not pump a fist -- that would be undignified. She's light on her feet though, almost bouncing on the balls of them, long hair dancing with the motion.

And listening, as Fuu tells her tale. "The forests could use that aid, it seems. There have been so many fundraisers." Setsuna Meioh follows this news, and all other sources she can regarding Ohtori Academy -- has for months, now... "Yet there is still so much work to be done. I admire your mother's priorities."

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.
The drink that Fuu had to be drinking couldn't be all that great, if the visible effort needed by the Infinity Institute student was clear. Makes her feel really glad that she wasn't offered one, and to stay away from those drinks in the future. Then again, Kasagami seems to be enjoying her bottle, so maybe it was an aquired taste?

The pie story is enough to have Niramo giggling halfway through the telling, with it sounding so much like Kasagami. Though the image of a mini Kasagami trying to eat a pie in one go is almost impossible to imagine. "Please tell me he wasn't mean enough to have it be the same flavor every time, at least! Varity keeps things like that interesting!"

Kasagami's warning about her own recent learning experience does make Niramo think on her own current situation, and her lack of strength to face it. It wasn't a weakness to know that you have to improve yourself and stop dragging down those that depend on you...right? The sound of the mortal combat between Duelist and Fish breaks the silence for a moment, and Niramo takes the chance to check her own line. Calm and still, but a quick examination of the hook shows that a sneaky fish has claimed the prize under her very nose. Grumbling, Niramo sticks another piece of bait onto the end of her hook and cast the line back out manually, by hand. She gets the feeling that trying to cast it out by swinging the pole over her head is just going to result in hair being pulled.

The mention of the archery contest sends a shudder down Niramo's spine, hopefully unseen by anyone. The proto-daimon still exists, at least in her dreams, and sometimes it's assisted by the dream reaper, courtsy of Northa. Maybe that's why she tends to break so many more bottles during 'training'.

With the struggles against the watery fiend only intensifying, Niramo walks away from her own pole to cheer Kasagami on. While Setsuna may be too dignified to make any hand motions, Niramo picks up the slack by thrusting an arm over her head and cupping the other around her mouth. "Come on, Kasagami-san, you got this! Oh, and I like sashimi, so don't fry all of it!"

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

The mere word 'expense' has Kassie's brow twitching, but she steamrolls right into the committment. "Why, I doth think the Lady protest too much!" She adds in her best faux-Shakespearian. Sorry Fuu-chan. You're doomed.

"Well, anyone who wants to rebuild Ohtori's forests is a friend of..." She pauses. Another twitch. ONe fist clenches.

"Of the Ohtori student body." An awkard moment and she laughs.

"Well, I hope I can meet them both one day! One could always learn more about other disciplines outside of your wheelhouse." Shrug.

Leeeeean. Yup, Kassie is shameless in the moment. Only doubly so as Setsuna only encourages her!

"...No. I guess I'm not." It's quiet, a moment of renewed realization.

Fiiiish! And as Setsuna gets up and cheers her on? That hair dancing and light on her feet? Confidence surges with Setsuna cheers! Up goes the rod, and the trout flies into the air! Wreeeeench!

She'll show everyone! For now, by reeling in fish!

A glance to Niramo. "Worse. Alternating flavors. There is no great punishment than teasing the tastebuds!"

Yoink! Finally up comes the fish. It's a large trout! A good three feet of fish, in fact, as she turns to her friends and love.

She smiles. "Sashimi and fried fish for everyone tonight then. Come on. There has to be at least three more in there..."

That's one way to get some free food.

[[Category:Logs]]

4-29-18 - Gone Fishing

2018-04-30T12:32:27Z

SwordPerson: SwordPerson moved page 4-29-18 - Gone Fishing to 2018-04-29 - Gone Fishing: Wrong title format

#REDIRECT [[2018-04-29 - Gone Fishing]]

2018-04-29 - Gone Fishing

2018-04-30T12:26:24Z

SwordPerson: More logs!

2018-04-26 - Unanswered Questions and Tea

2018-04-29T22:53:43Z

SwordPerson: Log go!

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Unanswered Questions and Tea'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Ami Mizuno checks in on Kasagami Araki. She has few answers, but gives plenty for Kasagami to think about.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Ami Mizuno]], [[Kasagami Araki]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Araki Estate
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
04/26/18 - 04/14/15
|-
|}

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
The Araki Estate is already becoming untenable. Dust and insects are reclaiming the large place already without servants to maintain it. The pure emptiness of everything is astonishing. The place, once so renewed and full of life, now feels like an abandoned mining town. One could imagine ghosts residing here.

Arguably one does, even if her pulse still beats. Kasagami Araki has bound herself up in a kimono, a dark blue and silver one, particularly thick given it's a somewhat chilly night. The young woman is at her desk, still pouring over ream after ream of finances. She's still being the shut-in, a drastic thing for the attention-and-people loving Kasagami. But at least thanks to Setsuna, she's more actively facing her problems. That her face is drawn and stressed, showing lack of sleep and internal agony, might be evidence she is still very much grieving over everything.

But Kasagami Araki is a young woman who /does/ things. Often destructive to herself and others, but pride so far keeps her afloat from simply giving up. That, and the love of her dear Setsuna.

Her phone sits nearby in the old office that she's practically locked herself away in since the dinner with her dark-eyed love. She's past the phonecalls.

All she can do is try to desperately think, double check, and plan as obsession sets in.

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
When the rumours first began to circulate it seemed like it was impossible. It was hard to envision Kasagami as anything but the outgoing and hard-working person she had known. Regardless of things that had happened in the past, Ami still found it hard not to care about someone who had faced a lot of the same things they had and still managed to come out unscathed. But, perhaps this was her breaking point and she found it hard to stop thinking about it.

That is why she finds herself rushing out of class today to make it to the estate. She hesitates before knocking wondering if she would be intruding or even if Kasagami was home. Given the whispers of rumours she had heard from her peers, she imagines it would be hard for her to be out much right now.

When she finally knocks on the door, the sound echoes around her. With no answer at first, Ami knocks louder and more forcefully. "Araki-san, it's Ami. Are you home?" Her face is filled with concern as she calls out. Even though she is unsure if the girl is home or can hear her, Ami continues, "It's okay if you're not up for visitors. I just..." A pause. "...wanted to make sure you're okay."

Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
The forceful knocks finally get Kasagami's attention. She looks up from a ledger, and finally stumbles to her feet. It takes a minute or two, but the Ghost of the Araki Estate shows her face.

Click. The door opens. It's an expansive estate, made so much lonelier now. It /feels/ like decay and mourning, matching the spirits of the one who peeks her head out. She blinks. Kasagami's eye is bloodshot and face darkened by lack of sleep.

Comprehension comes slowly.

"...Ami-chan?" Starts the young woman, staring at her as if she isn't sure the Genius of Juuban is really here. She considers sending her away. After all, why would someone like /her/ want to spend time with someone who /lost/! She's heard all the rumors by now. Their weight is an iron anchor around her neck, alongside far more tangible concerns.

But no, this is the same girl that helped her so selflessly when she was weak and in pain. She won't be cruel to someone who helped her. After all, wouldn't a real King do so? Can she do at least that much.

There's no boisterousness in her expression. But she opens the door, and turns to lead in Ami towards the office. "There...isn't much left here, Ami-chan. My servants are gone. My contacts abandoning me by the minute. A single moment really can snatch away everything you have built and fought for." A shudder runs through her body. She looks tired, angry, and depressed all at once. Her words are bitter and full of venom without any real place to vent at.

"Pathetic, isn't it?" She wanders aimlessly to a slightly dusty kitchen, where she starts to make tea. She can at least try to be that much of a host. Silk rustles as she moves about.

Finally, she looks at the younger woman. "Why are you wasting your time on me? You're someone who has talent far above others. Hah, I can hardly match up in any way right now." There's no jealousy in those words, just self-loathing brought out in a raw, stabbing motion in her own heart.

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Ami turns to glance back out away from the estate, sighing softly, when the clicks of the door make her quickly turn back to face the door. She nods slightly at the question, making note of the worn look in Kasagami's eyes. "It's me Araki-san. I'm sorry if you don't want visitors but..." She pauses, not knowing how to explain her concern or the reasons for it and maybe it didn't matter so much right now.

She follows Kasagami into the office as she talks about what happened. Ami listens at first. It takes her awhile to formulate a response to the hopelessness she hears in Kasagami's voice. When she speaks, her voice is calm and quiet and if she can, Ami reaches out a hand to her shoulder. "Araki-san... I know you probably feel like there is nothing else you can do but you can't give up. What about all those speeches and all that inspiration you gave to so many other students and your friends? You can't say that all of that was for nothing."

While Kasagami busies herself in the kitchen, Ami steps up beside her. "Will you let me help you?" She pauses to reach for a mug. "And... I don't just mean with the tea. I mean, you have friends and people that care about you...like me. I would never consider this a waste of time. I wouldn't be here if I did." Ami offers a smile to Kasagami, hoping in some way to cut through the haze.

For awhile, there is silence in the kitchen as Ami moves to assist as she can. The dust that has accumulated doesn't seem to bother her. "This is going to sound really silly but in a lot of ways I look up to you. You know how to talk to people in ways that I never could. You have goals and aspirations and even if some of that was taken away from you, it's not the end. So..." Ami takes a towel and wipes some of the dust from the counter. "...what can I do to help you? What do you need right now?" Her eyes meet Kasagami's tired gaze as she asks this.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Kasagami doesn't reject the touch to her shoulder. She looks back, and peers at Ami for a moment. They feel like a lifetime ago, when she felt so full of ambition and energy and /purpose/. When she felt unstoppable, unlike now. Her inner turmoil writhes. Yet? She thinks back to when she first started organizing events, driving so hard to encourage the passions of Ohtori's student body.

She doesn't respond. Into the kitchen, she's busy making tea, but she looks more distracted than ever.

A shudder. Surely, those students she inspired will abandon her speeches as nothing right? Surely, she didn't touch their lives now that she /lost/! Kasagami sucks down an angry rant, at lashing out at this wonderful girl who has come here to /help/.

She glares, surely, back at Ami. But at least the girl has drawn some of her old fire out of her. Even if she's on the edge of lashing.

Yet it's easy to dismiss the rumoring Ohtori students. Her friends? Not as much. The Shepherds flash through her mind, and Kasagami finally turns to fully face Ami. Whatever invectives she was ready to offer the bluenette die on her lips.

"If...have I really been helping them? You're far too nice of a person, Ami! All of this time, I've only been considering myself! All of those speeches, all of those encouragements, was it really for them, or was it for /ME/?" She screams suddenly, Utena Tenjou's words haunting her like keen knife edges at her heels.

The teapot boils behind her. She doesn't notice.

She slumps into a chair. Ami might have to deal with more than just the tea.

One leg is hugged towards her chest. "...I..."

Goals. Ambitions. And this beautiful soul wants to /help/. She remembers Setsuna. Eri. Kyouko. Akko. Chitose. Yumi. Everyone that's been a true friend.

"My Estate will die in two years if I don't regain my family's fortune. I have no contacts, no friends in the /adult/ world left, Ami-chan."

She pauses. She swallows, and that haze lifts for just a moment. "I want to change the world." She starts. She says it twice, then a third time, then a fourth.

"Where do I go from here? How do I rebuild? I want...you're right. I can't let the people I love down. But how do I go forward when I have nothing?" Then she looks to Ami. Her eyes brim with tears.

"I want to be a King, what /should/ a King be?" She finally belts out the question that's started to grind at her very essence of being.

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Ami feels the tension building in the silences between them but even still she doesn't seem overly concerned. When Kasagami screams though, she nearly drops the cup she is holding. The reaction that of surprise not fear. "Kasa...even if it was for you. Even if your motives weren't in the interest of others, deep down... I think that you do care and that other people are important to you. It's not just about status you know?"

Ami steps behind Kasagami to take care of the boiling teapot and then walks back to the girl, now sitting in a chair and she bends down, meeting her at eye level. "You have to snap out of this. The longer you avoid facing this head on, the harder it will be to get out of it." She frowns, sitting back on her heels as Kasagami continues repeating her words.

The next questions make Ami realize that maybe she can't be as helpful as she would like to be in this situation. "I think that... the most important thing is talking to other people, figuring out exactly what you need to be able to do that. I probably don't have the solution that you want Araki-san but..."

Concern grows in her eyes with the appearance of the tears. "...you have friends who I am sure would do whatever they can to help if you just ask for it."

Ami stands up quickly, grabbing a chair from nearby and she faces it towards Kasagami, sitting down as the question is raised about kings and she considers it for awhile before speaking.

"All of this time you have spoken about wanting to be a King. When I think about that I immediately think of someone who can lead others, who makes decisions and follows through. A good king has power but doesn't abuse it and cares about people and making a difference." She pauses and takes one of Kasagami's hands.

"I can see all of those qualities in you but if you don't know what you want or how to get out of this how can you ever achieve that goal?" Ami offers a warm smile. "I think you know, deep down, what you need to do."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Status. Respect. Things she's always sought after her time in middle school. She gives a look to Ami that's openly confused. When /hasn't/ it been about status? Since she gained, and then lost it?

But her good eye opens a bit wider. The young woman finally /listens/.

Eyes meet, and steel peers. It reminds her of Setsuna.

Encouragement to face the problem directly. Has she ever done anything but? Guilt wells up in her chest, and Ami deals with the tea. Kasagami is up, stumbling forward as if she wants to stop Ami from turning into the host. She's way too tired to follow through. She finally collapses back into a seat. She ignores more dust.

She laughs. It's a low thing, almost defeated, but not quite. Ami is right. She has friends. People close to her, that love her.

One tiny, miniscule part of her soul feels hope. It's just for a moment, but this young woman reminds her of those who truly matter. Those that, even if she's been selfish, she's been fighting for all this time.

Hands touch, and then Kasagami finds herself gazing into Ami's smile. She blinks, and as the tea finishes? She sips it with her free hand. Warmth, physical and emotional fills her.

The tiniest shard of hope remains. And then she remembers the promise she gave to her dead parents. Teeth grit.

"...I'm not sure that I'm not a terrible person, Ami-chan. And I am not sure if I can live up to the Kingship I imagine. I...don't even know what an ideal King is right now, Ami. But..." Another hand joins Ami's, and then she rubs the other girl's hands as a weak, fragile smile comes to her face.

"I want to make the world better. For me. For the people I love. For..." She gulps.

For the people she hates. For her enemies. For everyone. That little spark grows brighter, a zippo amidst the infinite darkness of her ravaged heart. But a spark starting to glow, thanks to Ami and Setsuna.

"I really am being a terrible host. Let me at least find something to make you for dinner." At least the Estate still has power and a decent pantry. Even as she aches, even as she's tired, she struggles to make Ami a good meal.

Italian of course. With excessive spices to mostly keep herself awake.

[[Category:Logs]]

2018-04-27 - Rebuilding

2018-04-28T21:08:31Z

SwordPerson: Log go!

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Rebuilding'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Eri and Mikoto visit an obsessing and depressed Kasagami. Her two friends offer advice.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Eri Shimanouchi]], [[Kasagami Araki]], [[Mikoto Minagi]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Araki Estate
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
<04/27/18 - 4/14/15>
|-
|}

Logfile from BF Mush.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Even in the afternoon at the Araki Estate, it's mostly empty and lonely halls take on a melancholy vibe. It's exactly the sort of place that would be haunted by ghosts. The old style Japanese buildings take up the bulk of the estate, and yet the sprawling complex has but a single light on. It's the main building, a single window lit up dimly. To one looking around, it wouldn't be hard to find.

Inside is an office with a large desk and plush office chair. Kasagami Araki, dressed in a midnight blue kimono pours over ledgers and homework at turns. Her good eye is bloodshot and her face is pale on her good side. The lack of sleep shows, darkness under her eyes as she mechanically goes over work and the dire state of her finances.

She sips a hot cup of green tea, shuddering as she eyes the numbers again. She starts to shake, and not for the first time tonight has to steel herself to not break down and cry.

Remembering Pluto's advice on facing it, she stares down. Teeth grit.

"...What am I going to do?" Kasagami mutters to herself, the young woman's fire gutted out into melancholy despair.

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

There's something about the Araki Estate that feels very Ohtori to her. It's strangely eerie - like that feeling she gets when she goes to the lesser travelled yet more witch infested areas of the campus. Take a turn and there's a building she's never seen before. The next day it may not be there... like a hint of how the apathy of wealth leads one not to understand how the world is waiting to gobble you up any moment.

BGM Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3dpghfRBHE

The words of a poem she translated in English class resound in her mind as she crosses the foyer.

Look upon my Works, Ye Mighty, and despair.
Nothing beside remains. Round the Decay
Of that colossal Wreck boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away

She doesn't look at Mikoto through the foyer and down the halls. In the office however...

Her expression is distant, the girl in the Ohtori High Schooler's uniform looks at Mikoto every so often now. Then exhales, her thumbnails gripping her skirt from where she's seated and looks up at Kasagami. "It's simple really. Survive. Meet your most basic needs... then rebuild. You can lose everything and come back from it if you still have your life - and the will to better your circumstances. So tell us-"

She prompts gently, "-what is it that you need right now - that Mikoto and I can do for you?"

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Mikoto spent the day with Yumi in hospital - she hadn't intended to stay so long, but Yumi /needed/ someone, and Mikoto scared her so badly, or at least reminded her of something so scary...

... and Yumi asked her not to go. So Mikoto didn't go, even after Yumi fell asleep, not until the nurses all but picked her up by the scruff of her neck and threw her out.

It means it's afternoon by the time Mikoto gets on the train to go home. It's so difficult to hear anything in the din of the carriage, but one of the hands on her shoulder, when she turns to fix them with a withering death-glare to warn then away from /touching her,/ turns out to be someone she's actually quite happy to see! That dangerous warning instantly shifts to a smile as she recognises Eri, and naturally she follows her when tugged off of the train.

She's shed her walking stick; as crushing as the guilt might be, especially when they divert their course from Ohtori to the Araki Estate, Mikoto has some limits on what she'll endure, even for Mai Tokiha. She still moves so much /slower/ than she should, but at least it seems her limbs are giving her so much less trouble than they used to.

When they come to the front door, Mikoto tries it, and it opens. She blinks, looking up to Eri with a concerned frown. Doors are not /supposed/ to just be open, are they? Not front doors, anyway. They're supposed to be closed, so enemies can't get in. But instead of saying all that, she just says one word, plainly concerned. "Kasagami..."

Mikoto makes her way into the estate without a single care for whether she's /invited,/ stopping at the threshold to take off her shoes. In white socks she pads inside, that sharp nose sniff-sniff-sniffing as she scans the huge estate. "... this way."

Because she can smell the gentle scent of green tea, even here. Mikoto follows it through the halls, and into the office. The frown on her face only deepens, as she sees Kasagami's state. Mikoto's looking much better, than she did, when she and Eri retrieved Kasagami from the duel - she's shed her bandages, now, and there is just the raised line of skin where her removed stitches have sewn her together again. Her bruises have faded to scuff-marks, and her scrapes are barely lines any more.

Kasagami, on the other hand...

Kasagami looks like she hasn't slept in a week.

"Kasagami?" Mikoto calls, and it is caring and concerned. She goes to her, step over careful step, and stands by her side - Mikoto's unwounded side exposed to her, in case she decides to lean when Mikoto lays a hand on her shoulder.

She doesn't see the ledger, the numbers, those meaningless things. She looks at Kasagami, her friend, who is worn and broken and who she cares about so much. She lets Eri handle the comforting words; Mikoto has never been very good at them. She is just /here./

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kasagami blinks, and looks up. The usually sharp Duelist is a shell of her former self on appearances alone. Tear-streaked cheeks tilt up as she finally /looks/ to the duo that have entered her study. Eri. Mikoto. Her dear, dear friends and allies. The advice runs through her head as her good eye focuses. The pen she's been using drops from her hand.

"I..."

Lips purse, and then she drops her gaze. Right to the ledger. Her hand twitches, and then turns into a ball as she clenches it. Gloves creak.

"You've...lost before, Eri-chan." Kassie knows the weight of experience when she hears it, even now, when she's so lost and despairing. She looks up again.

"All of my life, Eri-chan, I always thought that I was fighting for the world. For other people. But this entire time? I've been selfish. So very, very selfish. Even with the Shepherds. It was really all for me. I've been a terrible friend, Eri-chan, Mikoto-chan. I..."

A sucked breath. She has to face this.

See to her basic needs. Rebuild. Better her circumstances.

She realizes that Mikoto is /here/ and seemingly whole. "And I barely have even looked at /you/, Mikoto. Are you alright? I should have visited. Forgive me." Her voice cracks. She's so, so weak right now. Her vulnerable face that she hides so often is on full display to Mikoto and Eri.

"Can I...ask you both how to live? I don't know how to live as anything other than a spoiled rich girl. That's how I got myself into this mess. Me and my ego." A bitter chuckle. She couldn't become President. She's not even on the Council. What a fall.

"...How can I go from pauper to King?" The smallest spark enters her voice only to fade.

"What even is a King?"

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The moment Kasagami says that, something grips her like ice in her chest, her throat feeling parched, however she simply says quietly in reply, "Yes."

She's told her the story before, but all the same she does so again. "There's nothing to give you a little perspective on losing everything like nearly dying in an alley over a foolish dispute - over childish ideals. Feeling that life ebb from your body gradually, knowing the end is coming and there is nothing you can do. Only to be saved - and my reward for clinging to life was only to be kicked out of my home. Disowned in almost every way."

It's stated coldly, dispassionately, matter of factly. But there's no condemnation there, "There's nothing wrong with being selfish. Each of us came together for our own reasons. To defend what's important to us. The Shepherds are there for each other - but each of us have our own agenda. If anything - I've been selfish asking each of you to defend my territory all this time."

And yet she doesn't apologize for it exactly either - does she? She nods at Kasagami's own apology, not saying anything there, perhaps she doesn't believe Kasagami has been a poor friend? Whatever thoughts she has there she keeps to herself.

Kasagami says she should have visited, but Eri cut off all contact from the world for a few days there...

And then she looks sideways at Mikoto as Kasagami asks her how to live. The two girls perhaps sharing a look there for a moment, before she stares forward at her. "That depends I suppose on what your pride will allow. My senpai sleeps on the streets, in sewer bolt holes. She tells me that pride and dignity are death's snares. There are things my pride has to endure to continue to stay at Ohtori - living in the dorms."

Her hands are more sedately folded over her lap now. As she stares through her spectacles, "We can teach you how to live but first we must know- what will your pride allow you to endure Kasagami?"

The final two questions though - "Mmm." She makes a small sound as if she's debating it like considering how to answer questions in class. "Japan has an Emperor - but as we well known he's more a figurehead. A symbol. Monarchs throughout the world have lost most of their power - but there's still meaning in symbols. Which is why politicians keep them on - and keep them living in wealth."

There's a faint tilt of her head, as she looks back towards Mikoto again, "The idea of a King as you've always stated it feels like an ideal to me..." And she doesn't put much stock in ideals, "Someone larger than life, that inspires people to greatness."

There's this faint wince in her expression, like something of that statement hurt...

But whatever it is, she doesn't elaborate.

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kasagami looks to the ledger; Mikoto sees it for the first time. She still doesn't properly understand. She's never understood numbers. But she's seen the hospital bills Mai tries to keep hidden. She knows that red numbers are bad.

... really bad.

She squeezes Kasagami's good shoulder, lightly, as she listens. Her eyes are heavy with sorrow, all for the weight which lies across them. Selfish... Eri calls herself selfish, too. It seems like all her friends think they're so selfish...

But it's not such a bad thing, to be a little selfish.

Mikoto shakes her head, when Kasagami asks how she is. She doesn't smile, but her expression is soft. It takes her a moment to speak, as she considers how to answer all the questions Kasagami lays at their feet.

"... not great," Mikoto admits, after a long moment, to her first question. "But I'll get better. It's okay, Kasagami."

To the second...

Mikoto frowns, as she considers it, looking to Eri as if the other girl could provide her with guidance. These are deep questions, questions which tear at a dark underbelly Mikoto would prefer to leave untouched - but Kasagami is open like a wound, and Mikoto cannot deny her. It hurts her so, to see someone so confident now crumpled. Her voice, when it comes, is quiet and halting.

"... how I live... how Kasagami lives... will always be different. 'Cause I wasn't made to lead." follow fight find

Her thumb rubs at Kasagami's kimono, absently, as she tries to order her thoughts. Mikoto doesn't seem to have any shame over her admission at all. "... but Kasagami wouldn't be happy with that."

Her gaze is so distant, and Eri's cannot reach her now. There's an edge of /formality/ to her voice, and it sounds so strange on her lips. "To command is a binding promise. To make difficult decisions, even when they're painful. To know measure of your servants, and your enemies. It is always thinking, always preparing, always knowing way forward. Heavy weighs the crown. That is why it must never be questioned."

It's almost like she's reciting some lesson, from long ago...

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

The alleyway. Eri bleeding out over ideals. The girl she killed and yet defended her name. Eri kicked out for surviving. Kasagami's eye flashes with anger at the idea. That Eri's parents would betray her so! But for once she doesn't spit venom. The insult to the leader of the Shepherds rankles her, tucked away for another day.

And then, Eri's words spark clarity. Maybe Utena is right. Maybe she's been selfish. But she's fought with the Shepherds. Wielded the Sword she won and then lost for them. Even when it dragged her into conflict with her former friend. Even when it led to the Duel against Utena that cost her everything.

"...How could I forget? It's been so long since we've all been together. Right now, all of you...really are family to me. If we're all going to be selfish..."

She pauses, swallowing her words and letting the duo continue. And then Kasagami is rock straight in her chair. Mikoto plays with her Kimono. The young woman reaches over, running her hand over Mikoto's short hair like a beloved pet or fond younger sister. She smiles. It's a sad one, her wound gaping and bleeding. But Mikoto and Eri are /here/ and they're trying and they love her.

She isn't alone.

Kasagami /listens/ to that formal statement of a King. To the ideal that Eri rejects. One she so proudly boasted to Eri long ago. Mikoto's formal idea strikes her.

Is she to be the ideal, or the heavy reality? Utena's words haunt her.

Could she be both?

"I won't live on the street. I am an Araki! I will not disgrace my family again!" She suddenly roars. The mere thought angers her, rankles all of that arrogant pride. Hands slam to the desk, and send a ledger flying.

And then she drops her head into her arms and chokes on a sob.

"I really have fallen far. But...I told you I'd change the world, Eri. Become a King. To show you that change really is possible."

Can she still do that?

She /has/ to. Why else is she still alive?

"I want to be stronger than anyone. More powerful, wiser, more skilled than anyone. I want to /lead/! To inspire and make change. I'd forgotten that. I only focused on myself. To only turn inward...isn't a King. I'm not ready to wear a crown yet, but..."

She goes silent, and steadies herself. She looks to her two wonderful friends, her family, and her gaze is solemn, hurt, but some small spark of her ambition lurks in her eye again. It's faint.

But she isn't down yet.

"If I'm going to be selfish, I want to be selfish /for/ all of you. Call on me again, and again, and again, Eri, Mikoto. And I'll...do the same. I'm going to need you both. My dear family..." She's up. And she's trying to pull the two close into her arms.

"I'm going to need help. If you're willing to give it...I think I can be worthy of a crown, with just a little luck and dedication."

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Family - is what Kasagami says. And there's a slight flutter of her eyelashes during that moment, but no change to her expression. It's a touching statement certainly... and right now Mikoto seems to look every bit the little sister to Kasagami. Right now though she can't really respond other than the faintest sort of nods - especially with Mikoto saying she's not great.

What she's feeling in these moments isn't complicated to understand - but one wouldn't know it by her expression.

Then Kasagami roars and slams the table.

This time Eri doesn't even bat an eye. Even as the ledger flies across the room. Whatever anger Kasagami's feeling quickly changes to sobbing sorrow.

"It was an unfair challenge. Because I believed it was impossible from the start." Eri murmurs quietly. "Please don't blame yourself for failing to show me something better. Sayaka Miki declares constantly that she'll show us something better too. She told my senpai that once..."

Her gaze lowers fractionally, "... and I slapped her for it. It's not like I wouldn't want to see it... something better. A better world. I just can't allow myself to hope."

She won't say what she's really thinking - that it's time for Eri Shimanouchi to grow up, and be a big girl now. Not to rely on things like false hope - because she doesn't want Kasagami to think she's implying the older girl is immature.

Her eyes however slide over to Mikoto, while Mikoto says that. She can see the distance that Mikoto has from both of them right now. And Eri Shimanouchi just stares - the sides of her lips contracting just fractionally. For whatever reason she seems - tense?

Then all of that tension seems to be gone. "That's quite an answer... Social Studies always was your best subject Mikoto-chan." As if she were playing it off - like Mikoto writing an essay from class.

Because if she says what she's really feeling right now... things might get bad.

Getting pulled up into Kasagami's arms - right now it's not a gesture she feels like she can return well, but she tries. Her arms touch Kasagami's side loosely. "... Thank you. As always, you can call on us if you need us... and we'll do whatever we can."

But whether she's worthy of the Crown? That's not her place to judge, to say.

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

The touch calms Mikoto, makes it so much easier to speak. She smiles, vaguely, because that touch, so fond, almost possessive, reminds her so much of... him.

Her hair is always messy, no matter what Mai tries to do to it, but it's soft as cat's fur.

Eri says she cannot hope, and Mikoto hears her, distantly, and the sorrow reaches her heart but cannot touch her distant eyes.

Then Kasagami roars, her hand slipping down to slam against the desk, and Mikoto startles, stiffening against her for a moment. It rips her from the trance she's found herself in, and she looks stricken, for a moment, terrified as if she's anticipating some terrible punishment -

- before she realises where she is, who she's with, as Kasagami starts sobbing. Those eyes turn to concern, as Kasagami sobs. She glances to Eri, uncertain. "Yeah," she nods, "guess so..."

What answer did she give, again? She just remembers the smell of sweet things burning.

It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter, because Kasagami is crying out her hopes and dreams, and Mikoto smiles when she sees the spark in her eyes. She is pliable; she moulds into Kasagami, reaches a hand out to Eri.

"I'll help Kasagami, because Kasagami is my friend, and I love Kasagami." She realises there is nothing else she could do, nothing else she could give to someone so commanding.

But she's still a friend, because Kasagami is not kept by obsidian edges. Mikoto can accept their considerations, accept being considered family - but as Eri has already seen, she cannot return the favour.

... family is obsidian ritual and old vows and unwavering service to dark and transcendent things, and they will not, cannot understand.

That her help is not a promise of that same service is implicitly understood, and Mikoto doesn't bother to explain.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

The sob dies, and Kasagami looks to Eri. Slowly, a weak smile comes to her face. "Hah. Maybe I could use a good slap." A small smirk.

That smile fades. "Impossible challenge, huh? Yeah, I guess it is. I swear, Eri-chan, you know how to tempt me. As long as we're both alive, that just means one more chance to try, right?"

Arms touch her, and as Eri sems so awkward, and Mikoto moulds? Kassie sighs. She reluctantly lets go.

"I'm going to need to learn from you especially, Eri-chan. You've been a good leader. And you know how to...well, live without being grand." She hates it. Having to lower herself from the heights she's attained due to necessity is painful. But she has to, if she wants to retain her Estate. To be worthy of her departed parents. To obtain that respect she so craves from the people who've abandoned her.

Mikoto says she loves her, that she'll help. Kassie misinterprets it entirely, but doesn't seek clarification. "If only I'd had a little sister like you. He's lucky, your Brother, that the loyal, loving Mikoto is his flesh and bleed. We'll find him, Miko-chan."

One more ruffle on the short girl's head, and she pulls away from the pair.

A sigh. Her stomach growls. "I know I'm not sleeping tonight, but this is accomplishing nothing." She waves her hands at schoolwork and ledgers. She opens the door, and takes out a flashlight.

"I need to get the food in the kitchen eaten, or it's going to go bad. I can't afford that. Come on. Who's hungry? Then I'm training." Fists clench. She has so, so much work to do.

But at least she can try to repay her friends.

<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

"I'm not going to be the one to do it." Eri says quietly, but then one of her arms that's loosely hugging finds itself draping around Mikoto, near the small of her back. It's a gesture meant to comfort. "I was mad at her. I'm not mad at either of you." It's meant to be soothing, what she says.

But Kasagami states that she feels she's going to need to learn... from her. And there's a distant look. "I'm not certain you wish to look too far towards me as an example... up to a certain point."

She continues quietly, "I've just been what everyone needs me to be. But I am especially what my senpai needs me to be... you said earlier what your pride wouldn't allow you to do. And that's fine - but you should understand too, that despite how she lives, she's probably the closest among us to acting like... nobility I guess."

There's something sedate about her posture, "Her fellow magical girls are treated like fellow Lords in her court. Eating with her is like partaking of her hospitality - at her table. She's down to earth while seeming unaffected by how humbly she lives to those who see her, defending her lands as viciously as anyone I've ever known and all the people in her territory serve her - whether they know it or not."

She closes her eyes, "I'm more her general... or her steward. Much of what I do is so she doesn't have to... and as it stands, because I've done my job well - her territory remains untouched."

Trailing off for a while - she sighs softly, seeming tired. She doesn't say anything on finding Mikoto's Brother...

Maybe because the subject hangs in the air around her like a miasma. The source of quite a bit of tension lately.

Which then releases again when the subject changes, "Alright we'll eat together... and then you can train /lightly/. But even if you're not sleeping well you should still rest."

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Mikoto leans back, when Kasagami pulls away, but she doesn't go far. She smiles up to her as her hair is ruffled yet again. Her love is pure and unfettered, and while she cannot think of Kasagami as family...

... is it even /possible/ for someone like Mikoto to love romantically?!

But Mikoto doesn't know about the four loves, and cannot possibly explain the difference between Eri's storge and Kasagami's philia and Mai's eros and her Lord Brother's agape when she doesn't understand them herself. Love is love is love, after all; what difference is there? What difference can there possibly be? She loves her people, she wants to protect them, and that is enough.

And it's also enough for Eri.

Mikoto looks up, when Eri starts talking about Kyouko - and there's such /recognition/ in her eyes. Her well-tuned ears catch every quiet word, and her breath catches in her throat. "Eri," she says, quietly, and the word is acknowledgement and understanding because they are the same, they are the same, they are the same. She smiles, softly.

There are a lot of familiar things about that precious girl Eri Shimanouchi, but so many of them are like looking into reflective glass.

And then Kasagami speaks up, and Mikoto nods, firmly, as she promises to help her find her dear Lord Brother. "Yup!" She doesn't - or refuses to - sense Eri's tension over the subject. Her mind rejects the possibility out of hand.

Yet there's guilt as well, reflected so plainly in those too-bright eyes. Because Mikoto hasn't been able to search. For so long, she has left one of her most important duties undone, simply because she has been too injured to search. It hurts her, to think of it. she is failing him

But Kasagami pulls away, and declares that /food/ is /going to go bad,/ and that is the most terrible and alarming thing Mikoto can possibly think of. "I can help!" Mikoto declares, fiercely. "I'm good at knowing when food's bad!"

Her senses have always been so much /sharper/ than a normal girl's, after all.

She frowns, considering. "Then training..? But -" Mikoto blinks, realising how useless protesting is a moment later. She wouldn't respond well to being told to go to bed, either. But there's one thing Kasagami /has/ responded well to, all this time. "... I bet Kasagami could sleep if Kasagami really tried. Even if sleep's hard!"

[[Category:Logs]]

Kasagami Araki

2018-03-26T23:54:29Z

SwordPerson: quick history, and Kassie Facts!

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
=History=

Born the daughter of a Diet member and a famous swordswoman, Kasagami Araki grew up into wealth and an expansive estate to a pair of loving parents that managed to carve out time for their talented young daughter. A youma and a fire changed all of that.

Scarred and alone except for distant family more interested in reputation and money than Kasagami, the private middle school was filled with taunts, insults, and bullying. She fought back, became abrasive and aggressive, earning her a reputation as a troublemaker with brilliance in kendo and athletics as well as an extremely sharp mind.

Then the letter came, along with a ring. Thrust into the Student Council as a Disciplinary Executive, Kasagami has since grown into her own. But will she find World Revolution and become a true King as she so desires?

=Random Kassie Facts=

Kasagami's longcoat is based off of an old picture of her mother. She spent a year leading a biker gang in Tokyo as a teenager.

Kasagami prefers men's clothing in general, but also likes women's clothing. However due to having hangups about her appearance, she only wears dresses around those she trusts. She is particularly self conscious about her leg and stomach, and has thus far avoided swimming lessons and exercise despite knowing how.

She has a pair of dog-patterned pajamas. Only a few know her woofy secret!

Kasagami hates heels, and is actually clumsy in anything over a minor step heel. She would kill herself in stilettos. Hence the boots.

Speaking of boots, they're special order steel toed ones with an inner pocket she occasionally keeps a rose scented perfume bottle in just in case. Or, if out magical girling, an extra throwing knife.

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
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{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #FFFFFF;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|
[[Ami Mizuno]]: The Genius of Juuban. A study session ended with Kasagami on the floor after a crippling flareup of nerve pain. The girl selflessly helped her, commanded the situation with the kind of leadership and calm that makes a leader or a proper doctor. Such kindness and talent has Kasagami's respect. How easy it is to make her blush and her loyalty to her friends is icing on the cake. Good conversationalist, on the list of 'Talent to Scalp' for Ohtori.

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Kasagami's favorite Puella Magi, and leader of the Shepherds. Knows she doesn't fit in with the group. Shows loyalty anyway, which has only hardened her resolve to help them despite her own sense of justice along with concern for Setsuna. Often pushes back at her arrogance, yet knows her place at Ohtori. Quick to fight. Family, as fellow Shepherds, but too close to her own secrets. She worries it will split them apart one day.

[[Garnet]]: Stoic, straightforward, and an utter brickhouse of a person. Kasagami liked her instantly, and wants nothing more than to test her blade against the rock that is Garnet. Also can apparently transform. Kasagami finds that both fascinating and completely creepy.

[[Nanoha Takamachi]]: Cute as a button, the Midori-ya's daughter is the kind of innocent cheer that Kasagami wants to see more of, and shape a perfect world for. Apparently a magical girl. Also touched Pluto, and a new Chevalier. Currently in Kasagami's crosshairs of unreasonable fear and love fueled anger.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Everything Kasagami hates in one pink haired package. The fear and terror she shows in tense situations, magical or mundane, revolts her. How she keeps managing to extract guilt for her past actions and present ones so easily, infuriating. What the Chevaliers see in her, she doesn't know, but the mere thought of Madoka enrages.

[[Mami Tomoe]]: The Golden Queen of Shibuya, leader of the Chevaliers. An enemy to be sure, and Kasagami despises how she puts magic over the pride of Ohtori. More and more Kasagami wants to see her expelled. Yet, not all is blackness. Kasagami considers her a worthy opponent in magical conflict. Mami's hatred of her makes her a useful enemy to have, fuel to Kasagami's inner fire to reach for World Revolution.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: Fierce warrior cat. Oddly laid back outside of battle, furious inside of it. Kasagami aches to fight with her fellow Shepherd, only drawn in by the heat of Mikoto's wrath and her massive sword. Rejected her offer of a fight. Still annoyed. Wants to get to know the girl better, and maybe teach her a thing or two.

[[Usagi Tsukino]]: A blonde, clumsy, talent-less loaf of a girl in Kasagami's eyes that somehow manages to be a thorn in her side consistently. Yet she draws more frustration than hatred, mostly due to Pluto's steadfast loyalty to the girl even over her love. Yet, she's intrigued. What about this girl is so special? To be protected, if only for Setsuna's sake. As Sailor Moon, recent interactions have earned Kasagami's respect...even if her hope for the current world is baffling and secretly terrifying. Still a hope youma.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Their relationship is best described as politely neutral at best, familial obligations at worst. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Co leader of the Chevaliers. Completely infuriates Kasagami at times, while tickling her to her core. She doesn't back down. A worthy rival in Kasagami's eyes, as precious an enemy in her hatred as Mami if not moreso. Yet her recent turn to reckless advances and berserkerdom is an odd change. Worrying, slowly losing the sheen of knighthood in Kassie's gaze. A reckoning will come.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Wise, strong, quiet and with an eternal sadness that eats at Kasagami's sense of justice. As a Shepherd she's a valued ally, and as a person, has gained a place in Kasagami's heart as a lover and friend. But with the weight of their secrets eating at them, and conflict over Kozue, she's become the gaping void in her heart. A thousand Dead Screams can't equal the pain she feels over the distance, emotionally and physically.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. She respects Shizuru for her position, even if she hates the stoic ways of the girl and perfect calm. An enemy to be sure, and yet a mentor in some ways. Stomped on her dreams and humiliated her emotionally. Despite overcoming her in their Duel, the sting is harsh. Vengeance is high on her mind.

[[Sucy Manbavaran]]: An actual, honest-to-goodness potion using Witch of the cute variety! The quiet young woman's delinquency first drew Kasagami's ire. An encounter alongside Pluto would show the girl's magical talents, and time at Infinity's library sparked a deal made in perhaps better faith than expected. Slowly, she's coming to like the girl, ice to her fire. She might even consider Sucy a friend.

[[Rinji]]: The Muse, demur and quiet musician, and yet so much more. Kasagami has found herself attracted to, and coming to love the mute singer for both her passion and ability to cheer on others, as well as the kindness and ability to push her ever harder when she's down. More playful than is obvious, and that only melts Kassie's heart. Rinji saved Kasagami from despair when Setsuna and her fought. The bonds between the three grow deeper, and Kasagami's nightmares slowly drift from her past, to a terrible future reflecting her old tragedy.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Friend and enemy at once. Kasagami's intense feelings for the pink haired Engaged are conflicted in the extreme. Admiring her desire as a prince, she can't understand why she cares so for the Rose Bride or being 'normal'. After Utena's draining by the Wolkenritter, the wounds physical and mental on Utena forced Kasagami to challenge for the right to Duel her out of concern...and greed for the power that Utena has held. After being pushed away with her concerns, there's something else in Kasagami's eyes: disappointment in the one she thought might be her Prince.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself.

|-
|}

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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Logs
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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Cutscenes
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

Sawdust and Tariffs

2018-03-18T21:54:00Z

SwordPerson: SwordPerson moved page Sawdust and Tariffs to 2018-03-18 Sawdust and Tariffs: Forgot dating in title

#REDIRECT [[2018-03-18 Sawdust and Tariffs]]

2018-03-18 Sawdust and Tariffs

2018-03-18T21:53:59Z

SwordPerson: SwordPerson moved page Sawdust and Tariffs to 2018-03-18 Sawdust and Tariffs: Forgot dating in title

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Sawdust and Tariffs'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Oda Sato, friend and political understudy of Kasagami Araki's Father visits the restored Estate with a political conundrum. He asks for her Father's advice. Kassie returns her own council instead.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Kasagami Araki]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Araki Family Estate
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
03-18-18- 04-03-2015
|-
|}

A black car with a government plate rolls up to the Araki Estate. A door pops open, and a man in his early forties gets out, pausing to admire the renewed home of his former colleague. It's hauntingly familiar. Oda Sato remembers this place well, and it's masters. A stoic, unyielding Diet member with a silver tongue hiding a big heart for the people of Japan and a calculating mind. The grandmaster of the Araki style swordsmanship, a woman whose sharp tongue and aggressive demeanor always surprised the traditional man with her volume and willingness to push her husband straight into conflict, both personal and political. Like fire and water, the two combined tempered each other upon the steel of national stage and tournaments won such that the Araki family name would be one ill forgotten on the night of their deaths.

A tragic tale, leaving the sole proper heir a disfigured young woman. But miraculously, fortunes seem to have reversed. Rumors are aplenty on how Kasagami Araki and her single living uncle have risen to such prominence. Everything from black market deals, to unearthed stock purchases that suddenly turned around to grant a windfall. Oda is suspicious. A smart man, he's known Kasagami from the age of seven. He's caught glimpses of the spitting image of her mother turn dark increasingly as she went to school. Of the distance her Uncle kept, the loneliness and how she's never quite finished mourning the passing of her parents.

A good tool to use. Yet, she's still just a girl no matter how much she thinks she's a woman. Oda has that much love for Kasagami Araki. Her father was his mentor, after all. He walks into the nearly empty Estate, past the main buildings, right to where he guesses she'll be. A small little building's door is opened. Instantly, the smell of sawdust hits his nose.

"Ah, Kasagami-kun! Can I have a moment of your ti...AHH!" A piece of wood goes flying, and Oda ducks just in time as it embeds itself into the wall. This is a proper American-style woodworking and 'man cave'. Her Father loved this sort of thing. Pictures of women lounging on muscle cars, the gleaming black and red Harley Davidson ready to be taken out, a mini fridge filled with O'douls and juxtaposed by some Chateau de Fleur Champagnette. Her father's classic mix is in a flute glass. It tastes disgusting. Kassie doesn't care as she leans over her latest project.

"Thought I heard you, Oda-san! You need to learn to knock. Woodworking is surprisingly dangerous. Goggles on the left!" Comes Kassie, her large teenage frame looming over a half-carved smack of wood. She's working on something precise and maticulate. She's dressed in heavy carpenter's jeans, a leather belt slinging woodworking tools at her hips. A muscle shirt and pair of goggles complete her outfit. The right half of her body is bandaged up. Only the slight pause at another person entering hints at her discomfort at being even this exposed. Her confidence, as ever, wavers wildy on that point.

Oda does as asked, walking over. He eyes the woodwork in question, and can't help but smile. For all that she's her mother's daughter, Kassie shared in her Father's passions just as equally. "Kasa-kun. I need your Father's advice. This...I don't want to ask this of a girl, but what would he say?" A small smile. He tries to be gentle, and steps back. Two more wood shavings fly, more pointedly. Just as expected.

Yet, Kassie doesn't yell. She laughs. Oda looks into the young woman's gaze. "Too bad. My Father, Oda-san." Her tone grows tight. "Is dead. So unfortunately you're stuck with a /girl/." She snarls fiercely. Rounding, Kasagami Araki draws herself up at her full height and then grabs Oda's shoulders. She has a good two inches on him, even at this age.

Smile. "The tariffs, right? They're being aggressive and posturing. It's going to start a trade war, and no one is going to win. My advice? Go straight for them. The only way you can polish a piece of wood is by going against the grain. Even if the sandpaper cuts your hands a bit. Don't be stupid, don't back down, and wear some gloves. Call their bluff, move forward, and claim victory, Oda-san!" Her gaze is intense. She lets go. There's a flute in the older man's hand. A shiver, and he downs it. Then he pulls out a hip flask, and sucks that down too.

"Against the grain. I understand, Kasa-kun." She's right. The Diet Member smiles. And then he picks up a piece of sandpaper.

The pair spend a long night, trading stories of the man who owned the indulgent woodshop. Somewhere, an old ghost smiles in melancholy, knowing his daughter's trials to come.
[[Category:Cutscenes]]

2018-03-18 Sawdust and Tariffs

2018-03-18T21:48:27Z

2018-01-25 - Kasagami Campaign Speech

2018-01-25T23:08:06Z

SwordPerson: Kassie speech go!

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Kasagami Campaign Speech'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Kasagami Araki gives her campaign speech for the Ohtori Student Council President race. Made with the help of Rinji and Anthy players <3!''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Anthy Himemiya]], [[Kasagami Araki]], [[Rinji Sakurai]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Ohtori Academy
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
1/25/18 - 3/22/13
|-
|}

It's a bright morning at Ohtori Academy. The sun casts it's gaze down upon the walkway leading up to the Academy itself. A sea of students is blocked, however, by a podium that's been set up. Many in the back of the crowd, latecomers, struggle to see over taller students. They don't, however, need to train their ears to hear.

Up on the podium, leaning on it almost casually with one elbow, Kasagami Araki's hair and coat flutters in the gentle breeze. There's no cues, no cards, she's working on half prepared speech and half winging it. Beside her is the Rose Bride, like some sort of ornament to the young woman's speech. To the other side, one Rinji Sakurai. A side wink to the latter, and then she addresses the crown with an easy grin that seems to draw in the eye with an aura of success that even she hadn't had before her recent 'windfall'.

Rinji Sakurai is a face less known than that of Kasagami, but there are more than a few that might recognize the quiet woman from classes, or from her attendance of the Garden and Music Clubs that Ohtori is known for. She stands with hands calmly clasped in front of her, beside and standing just behind the Disciplinary Executive at the Podium. Her hazel gaze catches the wink from Kasagami, and offers her a brief but warm smile before focusing back on the crowd. Calm stillness is practically radiated from her as she waits patiently for the woman at her side to speak.

Kasagami's gaze and smile scans the crowd, the intense look as intimate as a lover or as hungry as a wolf depending on who receives it. She's not looking at a crowd, her gaze, but seemingly looking at each student as if she was addressing them and them alone.

A school functionary starts to speak, until Kasagami waves them off. "Good morning, my wonderful students of Ohtori! For those of you who've been hiding under a rock this past year, I am your wonderful Disciplinary Executive, Kasagami Araki!" A few eye rolls in the crowd, but they're most often done with a smile.

It is when Kasagami starts to speak that Rinjis purpose at the podium becomes clear. Her body springs into motion as her hands go out and she begins to move. Those familiar with sign language would realize that she is translating what is being spoken. The Disciplinary Executive was always known for wanting to be inclusive of others!

"My mother had a saying. The purpose of a swordmaster having students isn't to preserve the school's name. It is instead to take the skills and history that the name represents, everything that has come before into a new generation. Not simply to copy. But to innovate, improve, and surpass, leaving that name stronger than ever before!" Her voice is passionate, lower than usual, her words full of faith and true belief in what she's saying. One hand, hidden by the podium, clenches for a moment.

Sign language is a peculiar thing.Speech patterns and emotions become translated into facial expressions, the gestures themselves, and in turn Rinjis very demeanor. Kasagamis passion is shadowed in Rinjis demeanor, the Muse vigorously gesturing out the translated words.

While the fire of Kasagami's speech echoes across the crowd and the fury has its mirrored expression through Rinji's arms and hands, Anthy Himemiya might as well be a statue of a student instead of a girl. Neither motive nor emotive, she stands with her hands folded upon neat skirt pleats and a faint smile fastened upon her face. She makes a pretty, composed presence at the elbow of the Presidential candidate. None are positioned to see the rivulet of sweat that runs down the back of her neck and darkens her uniform collar.

"And I believe this holds true for anything with history. From the many, many famous families that have and are learning here. To the family names just now gaining their prominence. And even to Ohtori Academy itself! Each and every one of us has a responsibility to bring pride to our family names and Ohtori, to honor our own histories and surpass what has come before us!"

"That is what Ohtori means to me. Skill, learning, tradition, and ambition! We are an elite few, and it's up to us to prove we are elite. But right now, there is an enemy to furthering Ohtori Academy's aims!" Her voice grows louder, until finally, she goes silent. A deep pause, letting anticipation grow. A hush falls over the crowd.

"Stagnation! Resting on one's laurels! For too long, a single man has led this Academy's illustrious Student Council! Touga Kiryuu is an embodiment of the noble name that simply continues, and refuses to innovate or surpass! My fellow students, my friends, how can we let such a man be President? I say no more!" Kasagami stands fully, and puts her hand to her heart, eye full of fury and ambition.

It takes this proclamation of Ohtori's enemy to pull Anthy's eyes from their somewhat glassy stare above the sea of lack-of-faces. She watches Kasagami declare a war on stagnation as the cornerstone of her campaign, otherwise remaining very much the same as she has been this whole time. Then she returns that persistently vague smile to the teeming listeners once more.

Sweat beads on Rinjis brow as the full fire of Kasagamis ambition and pride are showcased, the Muse trying valiantly to keep up and give the true meaning and intent behind the words with every line of her body and firm, confident motion of her signing.

"As Student Council President, I will do everything in my power to promote competition, learning, and honoring of the legacy of Ohtori. There will be no room for the stagnant, those without ambitions or drive! I'm going to give you the resources and power you need to truly rise up, to better yourselves and master your own destiny! I ask but two things from all of you in return!"

The Disciplinary Executive grins, and opens her arms as if to embrace the crowd. The sun shines around her, casting her in light like some sort of angel or saviour.

"Your vote, and a promise that every single one of you will push yourselves to the absolute limit! Together, we can make the spirit and grandeur of Ohtori burn even into the darkest of nights!"

Right on cue, a fancy Ohtori biplane zooms by, trailing decorative smoke and with a large banner. 'Kasagami For President'. Rose petals and campaign fliers fall from the sky, and a cheer goes up in the crowd. Faceless Kasagami imitators lead the cry the loudest.

Kasagami looks like a conquering warrior-King taking her throne.

Volume is showcased by near anger in Rinjis movements, speed and power to the signing that is almost never seen from her as she gets behind the President-to-be’s message with a heartfelt sincerity fueled by her confidence in Kasagamis words. When the speaking stops, so does she as her hands slowly move to knit back in front of herself. Her shoulders rise and fall with the quick pants of air she brings in through barely parted lips, trying to catch her proverbial breath after the boisterous speech. Pride shines in her hazel eyes as she looks out over the crowd… Clearly, she knows where her vote is going.

[[Category:Cutscenes]]

2017-12-03 - Light Up The Dance Floor 1

2017-12-06T02:50:26Z

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Light Up The Dance Floor Part 1'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Kasagami Araki invites friends and acquaintances to a dance party. Funky beats flow, and groove of the highest order is had, and the Outer Senshi deliver threats and news to the Duelist. But up above, the evil DJ D-Ark prepares to reap the energy of the dancers below.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Akko Kagari]], [[Amethyst]], [[Anthy Himemiya]], [[Haruka Tenoh]], [[Kasagami Araki]], [[Michiru Kaioh]], [[Niramo Umokeshi]], [[Steven Universe]], [[Sucy Manbavaran]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Tokyo
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
12-3-17 - 3-10-15>
|-
|}
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Kasagami Araki has sent out a few invitations. These rather more discrete than her usual type, but definitely filled with the bombastic verbage she uses so often. Tonight is a night of celebration! Of friends, of life, of success, and of course...

What she terms 'burning souls and essence of groove'. Best not to think too much on it.

And thus it is that Kasagami Araki is just outside one of Tokyo's many night clubs, uschering in her fellows. Car rides have been acquired as needed. Even Kassie needs a night out, and she's willing to expend some of her wealth to drag in friends.

She's also rented out the venue. Hoodies and other casual clothing is the norm, though most seem to be of the high dollar kind. Definitely mostly her fanclub and various hangers-on from Ohtori in attendance. Kasagami herself is decked out in a black hoodie, with a jean-skirt in her usual red. Stockings are striped of the very same colors, thick and warm given the weather. And of course, she has her coat and boots.

"Welcome everyone! Get inside before you get cold. Who's ready to party?" Grin! Inside? There's a huge dance floor, food set out at a bar, and energy drinks everywhere. Electronica is currently the music of choice.

The D.J. booth is oddly empty. Back in the staff area? A man is unconscious. Something evil gathers, stealing a pair of shades and grinning.

<Pose Tracker> Akko Kagari [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.

EARLIER

Akko Kagari received an invitation and, in truth, wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. On the one hand, it was nice of Kasagami to invite her! Now, she could get out and see a little of Tokyo. On the other hand...

She holds up the bill that she has been fretting over for the past few days. She can't afford this! (She thinks. She hasn't done the math.) She turns it over, then looks down at the invitation. Then, she looks up, face screwed up with determination, and nods. "Sucy! C'mon, we're going to meet someone!"

Nevermind that the invitation was for Akko. Akko will not be deterred.

NOW

The brunette stands in the cold for a moment, tugging her jacket around her. She has a dark blue hoodie on, with an orange scarf wrapped about her neck. Her eyes light up as she looks at the cold. "Oh, /wow/," she says, "we didn't ever have anythin' like this back home! We--"

She remembers the bill. "Right! Determination and such." Akko nods, and then she marches forward, looking up at Kasagami. "Awright, I'm here! And I got that bill with me!"

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Anthy Himemiya may not necessarily be ready to party, but she is here nonetheless, close to the elbow of one Kasagami Araki. She's dressed the part, at least, in a wine-red dress of the same dimensions as a school uniform; the resemblence ends there, as it's made of daisy-lace and tiered ruffles, with a cream-pale lining beneath. It's more tea-in-the-garden than rave-in-the-club, but at least she's not /actually/ in her school uniform still. For the moment, her dress peeks out from beneath a soft white coat.

Upon arrival she gave Kasagami's jean-skirt and striped stockings a slightly longer look than her outfits usually receive, but of course said nothing.

If Anthy is cold with her mostly bare legs she isn't showing it. "Araki-sama," and she bobs up onto her toes to get a bit closer to the tall Engaged so she's heard above the music pouring out of the club, "will they be playing other sorts of music tonight?"

Dress: https://i.imgur.com/e24gBiz.jpg (but absolutely positively not those sandals)

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Earlier~

Man, what was with Kasagami hosting so many events?! Maybe she has always done this, and a certain Gem child has finally reached the VIP list! He is a rising star after all! Wait, no. His shirt has a star on it. That was it. The boy studies the invitation carefully, before rushing to the back of the beach house, banging on the enigmatic gem-inlaid door. "AMETHYST! PARTY!"

He can't go to a dance party without her. It would be criminal. They are the party crashers; the partners in crime!

It takes the boy a good bit of time to decide on an outfit. He has to make a good impression! As he looks in the mirror, the only thing he can think of is how easy Gems have it making outfits! They jsut shapeshift them! "Maybe...!" Steven stares intensely in the mirror, focusing everything he has at it! "Hnnnnng...!"

Nope. Nothing. "Was worth a shot," he says, deciding on a pight pink polo and a pair of aviators, along with his winning smile. "Eyyyy!" he says, pointing at the mirror. These really were some happy days.

Now~

Who needs to pull up in fancy cars and limousines when you ride up on a PINK LION that MATCHES YOUR SHIRT. No one, that's who! "Woooo partay!" he says, hearing the music inside. It kinda reminded him of Sour Cream's sound. Wonder how he is doing in Tokyo? This type of music seemed common here, so finding venues must be cake.

"Whats up Kasagami? I got your invitation!" The boy looks over to Amethyst, whom he has totally invited. "This cool cat is Amethyst! I dont think you have met her yet!" The boy, of course gives Anthy a wave too! She seems to be hanging around Kasagami a lot. Maybe they are BFFs?! "I like your choice in music!"

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
It was almost normal now to see an invitation letter tucked inside Niramo's locker now, and its' appearence only makes the middle schooler pause for a moment before shrugging and opening the letter to see what she would be invited to today. The writing inside, filled to the brim with Kasagami's usual verbage was heartwarming, though she had to raise an eyebrow over one of the words used. "Who says 'groove' these days?" Tucking the letter inside her book bag, Niramo quickly makes a rain check with Wakatsuki to go see her new computer later. She was almost certain Kasagami had already planned on her attending tonight.

Stepping out of the passenger side of the car that Kasa had provided for transportation, Niramo was dressed in a dyed dark green denim jacket, a light brown flowy skirt, black stockings and worn tennis shoes. Quickly moving inside so she wouldn't linger out in the cold for too long, she waves a hand at Kasagami as soon as she manages to spot her past several members of the Council member's fan club, but Niramo didn't recognize them as such. She was about to take a step forward, but then she saw Akko marching towards Kasagami and instantly recognizing her. Niramo stepped back to make room for the passing Infinity student.

Seeing Anthy standing next to Kasagami, she blinks in surprise at seeing the Heiress of Ohtori here, standing out of the crowd considering her choice of clothing. Seeing how Kasagami would be busy with the antics of a possible witch, Niramo walks up to Anthy and smiles up at her. "Hello there, Himemiya-san! I hope you're having a wonderful night tonight. I'm not exactly sure what to expect tonight, honestly. This is my first time out at a dance club like this!"

Hearing Steven speak up behind her, Niramo turns around and waves at Steven, a large grin on her face now. "Universe-san, i'm glad you're here tonight! I never really got to say thanks for your help back at the ball!" She looks at Amethyst and nods her head in greeting. "Hello there, Amethyst-san! Any friend of Steven is a friend of mine. I'm Niramo, and I go to middle school at Juuban!"

<Pose Tracker> Amethyst [None] has posed.
====Earlier====

The alien Gem Peridot returning and planning the rectivation of Amethyst's potentially planet-killing home. Some mysterious gem named... Emerald, was it? So much has been going on lately *. It would be nice to have a break after all this chaos. Amethyst paces, nearly wearing a hole in the floor of her and the Crystal Gems' house. She needs an outlet for her fears and frustrations (not that she has any fears of course, she totally means frustrations and frustrations, yeah that's it!). Maybe she should go out and mess around. Perhaps she could -

"AMETHYST! PARTY!" And Steven with the save. A party? Food, fun, and no work? "Aw yeah, I'm in, Steven!"

Time to get ready for the party! First - collapse on the floor for a quick nap. No reason, whatever. Gotta wait for Steven. Besides, she's already ready for the party! Her tank top allows for maximum flexibility for maximum groove, and her leggings have just enough wear and tear to show she knows how to party without being TOO indecent. Time to party.

===Now===

Riding a pink lion to a dance party isn't something that most people have the luxury of saying they've done. At least not without funny looks. That's just one of Steven's many benefits besides just being family and awesome. "Thanks for the ride Steven! Oh, and the invite, but when you are as cool as I am, you don't NEED an invite." She nudges the half-gem boy and chuckles. "But really, thanks. This is gonna be awesome!"

Amethyst waves to Niramo, Anthy, and Kasagami, as Steven seems to be introducing her to them. "Sup? I'm Amethyst, a shapeshifting purple alien that is also a rock. And yes, I rock."

<Pose Tracker> Sucy Manbavaran [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Sucy Manbavaran certainly doesn't know what any of this "Ohtori Debt" business is about and reacts to the subject with nonplussed confusion.

"Magical Explosions are unpredictable, especially ones like yours Maybe one of your invocations-class accidents reached Ohtori... and destroyed that coat." she suggests with her usual flat, raspy tone.

When an invitation addressed to Akko arrives at their dorm from the Ohtori Disciplinary Executive, Sucy doesn't bat an eye, except to suggest how strange that was "Huh. Isn't that where you got that bill from? Is this their idea of a joke?" she comments.

When Akko declares her intent to attend this dance and settle this score. Sucy follows, for "moral support" of course.

She is wearing a green hoodie of her own (https://i.imgur.com/1URtyss.jpg), with black jeans and black boots, and doing her best to blend into places where the lights do not reach.

While she appreciates the drinks, she's dismayed to find that there is no free food. Oh well. Can't win every time. Maybe she'll take a tip from the host, she thinks to herself order some to be delivered, ...and bill it to Akko!

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The Engaged gives her Bride a smile. It's not exactly warm. It never really is, not to her. But it's at least a promise of change from the current thumping beat.

"Oh don't worry Anthy, I like quite a few genres. Metal...trance...industrial...and some jazz if anyone can still hear at that point!" Why does she sound /so/ enthuastiastic for all this?

Akko gets a wolfish grin. "You really /did/ come Akko-chan! I'm so very glad." She sounds it, actually. The girl amused her, definitely, and intrigued besides. She treats her like an old friend as she waves off the mention of hte bill.

Why does it look like she's suppressing laughter? "We're here to have fun, Akko. Don't worry about little matters like that tonight! Come on, go in, get warm, and grab a dance partner! Or some food, or drink. Hope you brought ear plugs and glowsticks!"Pause. She spies Succy in tow, and somehow she even seems more amused. "Sucy-chan! Looking stylish! I can't wait to see you express yourself in your own unique way, and blow the rest of these TRYHARDS out of the water!" That last bit is back at the dance floor. Some of those desperately trying to get her attention there slink into the shadows, shame-faced.

And then Steve-kun! "Good to see you, Steve! And your pink friend! Ohhh?"

She dips into a bow with a winning smile towards Amethyst. Despite where they are, she can summon up Ohtori Glamor at a moment's notice. Even if it's of the rakish variety.

"The pleasure's all mine, Amethyst. Kasagami Araki, Disciplinary Executive of Ohtori! Any friend of Steven-kun's is...well, certainly interesting." She totally has notes for all of this. Written by herself.

The bit about 'purple alien and rock' doesn't phase her. She remembers her /last/ adventure with Steven after all. She sweeps her hand towards the entrance for the Gem Duo.

"Now get in there, and show me your BURNING SPIRIT within your heart, and the smooth moves of the young and ambitious!"

Niramo seems included in all of this. She lets Anthy deal with the girl though, aside from Niramo getting a warm smile and a ruffle atop the head! Wink!

It should also be noted, that every delivery has a gratuity fee. Sucy's plan is an excellent one.

The crowd on the dance floor parts as Kasagami waves any latecomers in, and then steps onto the dance floor herself. The tempo of the electronica picks up. She motions Anthy to it. Upstairs in the DJ booth? Someone, shaded in black given how high up it is, at the mic.

"This is your musical mastermind, Deee-Jay Dee-Ark! Dance until you die down there, boys and girls!" Comes the voice. It sounds...off. And there's no light up there except for shades.

Kasagami beckkons to the Engaged, and would try to pull her in. It's a close-in dance here, and Kasagami has snapped a glowstick in one hand. She waves it around, spins in place, and then tucks it into Anthy's hair! One hand across her chest, Kassie bends backwards, other hand behind her, in a motion that would break anyone less limber.

And then up again, as she leads Anthy in what might best be described as a cross between proper rave dancing, a ballroom waltz, and salsa dancing.

Nor does she remain silent throughout.

"That's right! Show us your MOVES, Sister Schools!" Well, at least they're all students here.

One or two students though retire to side chairs. Can't hack it, maybe? But they seem rather...passed out for simply being tired. Hard to tell in the low light struck through by glowing orbs above in strobing patterns!

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

A list of unpromising music types comes from Kasagami, and the Engaged receives what she might be coming to recognize as a 'yes, Araki-sama' smile in return. It's a bit like a sigh, but more polite in front of company.

"Hello Steven-san! You look very put-together tonight." She has a more friendly expression for the young rose enthusiast, and a little wave for his friend Amethyst when he introduces her. To the shapeshifting purple alien, she says, "It's good to meet you." Either there are stranger things in Anthy's life than aliens, or she is too well-mannered to show her surprise. (The reality is, a little of column A, a little of column B.)

Niramo comes up with a greeting for Anthy instead of Kasagami, and gets an owlish blink at first for it -- this is not how things usually go, and is perhaps more surprising than shapeshifting purple aliens! Then comes a little bow and courtesy. "Nice to see you again, Umokeshi-san. It is my first time to this sort of thing, too. Araki-sama is quite determined to expand my horizons."

The two approaching witches each receive an appraisal from the girl with the purple curls and vivid green eyes. She's otherwise occupied, as they are with Kasagami herself, but there's something strange and cool in her gaze before a reflection across round glasses lenses occludes it. Maybe just a trick of the light...

Once inside Anthy doesn't have to suppress shivers of cold any more -- she just needs to suppress those that come with the rising tide of dread. All of these people, in the noisy dark, are hardly better than silhouettes. The screams of the crowd could be excited or angry, it's impossible for her to be sure.

Her Engaged requires her presence on the dance floor, at the center of that sea of faceless people. Anthy comes as called, placing her hand in Kasagami's. It does not tremble. For the placement of the glowstick she holds statue-still; it lights one of her cheeks.

She's no salsa dancer, is Anthy Himemiya, and starts to stumble as soon as the steps get complex. Her cheeks color. She stammers a hushed apology to Araki-sama and feels eyes like blades digging into her back. She tries to keep up, and can only truly handle the more ballroom-adjacent moves. The rest become an awkward off-tempo chase with limbs that are better coordinated to slow grace.

<Pose Tracker> Sucy Manbavaran [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Sucy ghosts by Kasagami with Akko, beneath the locks of her hair, two little mushroom-shaped earplugs do their thing and block enough of the loud music to prevent hearing damage. Of course, that doesn't stop her from hearing Kasagami, who of course sees the music as a challenge, and raises her already boistrous way of speaking to match. Nor does it prevent her from hearing Akko, who is both very close, and also isn't one to speak with restraint.

Sucy doesn't really get what either of them mean by showing off her "moves" so Sucy instead seizes on Akko's words to a stranger:

"Good idea, you've never met a rug you wouldn't trip over..."

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Music is rockin', and tops are poppin'! Energy drink tops. Best to clarify. He may need to tell Amethyst about Kasagami more later, but for now, knowing that shes a person that knows how to host events should be plenty! "Heeey, What's up Niramo?" he asks kindly near the entrance. Hanging out here watching folks file inside is actually kinda fun! ...Was that Sucy? He couldn't quite tell. She seemed to be with someone though.

"Thank you!" he says toward Anthy, popping his collar. He seems pretty proud of his outfit choice! Anthy always seems to be the counterpoint to Kasagami, interestingly enough. She is so polite and well mannered, where Kasagami is more animated and passionate. They do seem to make a good team! "See you two on the dance floor!" he says happily. He actually is curious how Anthy will dance. Will she shock the floor and bust out into full trance, or be more reserved?

"We better get in there, before the energy drinks get flat!" he says toward Amethyst, running inside. The boy looks back toward Anthy and Kasagami though. Wonder why they keep doing these events? Not that he is complaining!

The boy grabs a drink for Amethyst and himself, and pounds it. Or at least tries to, getting only about half down. "Stuff is strong!" he adds, setting it down. Maybe drinking the whole thing wont be a good idea.

What the boy does next is more improvisation than dancing, naming dance moves silly names like 'the lawn mower' or 'car wash splash', things a kid would do. But what is clear is he is having a superlative amount of fun here with Amethyst, and anyone else that comes close when dancing.

<Pose Tracker> Amethyst [None] has posed.

Loud energetic music, energy drinks, and snacks fuel Amethyst's crazy moves. Hair whipping, hip shaking, shoulder rolling and arm waving abound as she gets into the 'funky flow', as coined by Steven. Mid-dance, she takes the drink from Steven and guzzzles it down, keeping the rhythm flowing. "Thanks, party king!"

<Pose Tracker> Haruka Tenoh [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
The valet is surreptitiously tapping on his cell phone beneath his podium as he waits. Fruit splatters from swipes of his thumb with satisfying splats. Each time, however, that noise seems to get quieter, as a low, gutteral rumble swallows it. Distracted, the valet thumbs up the volume a little, but even as the blue volume bar fills up, the music disappears entirely into a tooth-gnashing engine growl, and the podium vibrates as it briefly hits resonance.

The valet looks up, befuddled, as a coppery orange sportscar rolls up, with black racing stripes across its brow like warpaint. It shudders under its own might as it idles, and with a well-engineered hiss, its door opens to emit its long-legged driver. His narrow waist and sleekly brawny torso flatter his black suit better than a department store dummy. Slim-cut with a glistening density to its silk weave, its jacket flutters as he turns to walk around the car, to open the passenger side and offer a hand to his date for this (and every) evening.

As the two pass the valet, the driver tosses the keys up for him to catch, which he does, turning wide eyes to the vehicle now in his care. Noticing the young man's astonishment, the driver half-smiles as he goes.

"The clutch is like a leg press and you really have to punch the gearshift," he advises benevolently.

Once inside, Haruka Tenoh gives the room a seemingly indifferent once-over, taking his time. His eyes linger on Kasagami Araki and her newly won bride, and he tilts his neck to one side, wincing an eye lazily as he stretches. His shirt and tie are black as well, giving his aggressively cut suit a suitably slick look, ornamented only by the snow-white scarf he wears down his lapels.

"Should we talk to her?" he asks the beauty at his side. "Or just pretend we don't see her?"

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Kaioh [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

A slim white hand comes out of the passenger's side door, though the valet is probably not looking, exactly, at the sea-green motion near to his awestruck visual embrace. There are some things that one loves best of all.

Haruka speaks to Michiru then as they come within. Her hand had not left the taller figure's during the passage in, although her other hand does come up now to sweep an errant strand of sea green out of her eyes. Michiru is wearing a sea-green cocktail dress in fabric with shimmering threads throughout, with spaghetti-thin straps partially veiled by a gauzy shawl over her shoulders. It's too thin to be frumpy, thin enough to show her shoulders, and the pattern is three shades of blue - tie-dyed, perhaps, or just carefully placed. She is wearing pearl earrings, too.

She lets out a small sigh at the question.

"I suppose that I should," she answers Haruka, her hands moving now to clasp before her. "If we both came in, I imagine she'd simply wear her mask. You'll rescue me if I'm in peril, I trust? Perhaps with something to drink..."

Her eyes cut to the side with a faint smile. "The dance floor's lively, too... isn't it?" With that said, Michiru's eyes turn across the crowd, tracking like searchlights for Kasagami, her head tilting back just a tiny bit as if to greet wordlessly.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Out on the dance floor, even Kasagami's passion is tested! Mostly by her dance partner. She finds herself having to adjust for the stumbling steps of Anthy, and there's a light sheen of sweat to her brow as she repositions, spins, and is forced to take the lead rather harshly.

A night that she's supposed to be enjoying is already being tarnished by just how /weak/ the Bride is. The purple haired girl is eventually led /off/ the dance floor.

"You /really/ can be entirely useless sometimes, Anthy Himemiya." Is the Engaged's whispers. She's expected more from someone at Ohtori! And it shows in her glare.

But then she chuckles. "But maybe you're just not cut out for things like that. Help me make sure everyone's having a good time, alright?" It's almost placating.

She leaves Anthy finally, rather somewhat near Akko and Sucy as it turns out. Kasagami herself shoots a challenging glance to the duo.

"Don't be wall flowers out there, ladies and gentlemen!" Calls Kasagami, as she snaps her fingers. One of her fanclub all but materializes out of the shadows, and 'accidentally' bumps straight into Niramo! Urging her onto the dance floor! The spotlight even soon highlights the girl from up above!

As it does with Akko and Sucy!? That last part apparently isn't in Kasagami's plan, judging by the brief blink and pause. Upstairs, DJ D-Ark helpfully adds his volume to the mix!

"Look at all these sticks-in-the-mud not showing their moves! Get on out there ladies, break your necks! Er, legs!" Comes the odd DJ from on high.

The odd aura persists, and more than one person is on the sidelines now. But nothing overtly magical, at least not yet.

Of course, Kasagami notices the arrival of a certain pair of Outers. And freezes almost instantly. The mere sight of the two has her searching for a third. Both hands clasp, and then she's making her way over to the bar. Time to swallow down delicious Blue Ox. Sugary, too much caffeine, but maybe jitters will disguise how she suddenly wants to cry.

At least a few members of Kasagami's fanclub are cheering on Amethyst and Steven!

"Hey, that's the kid that won at Araki-san's party! Gooo little guy!"

"Yeeeah, he's great! And so's his friend!" The two Ohtori students laugh, a little mocking, but appreciative at least.

Michiru's gaze can't be escaped, and Kasagami isn't the type to run. So when they finally meet? A hand raises, offering Michiru over. It's almost a wave to the graceful violinist. Her smile almost welcoming.

<Pose Tracker> Akko Kagari [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.

"Sucyyyyyy!" Akko whines at her roommate. "I didn't trip over... uh... anyways!" She says, tugging on her collar awkwardly. Akko looks back at Niramo, though, and she blinks -- before she laughs. "I guess I got that saying wrong. Uhm, don't worry about it!" She shakes her head, and then she motions -- with a little flourish -- to Sucy at her side.

"This is Sucy Manbaravan!" she says. "We're roommates and we learn magic together! I-I mean, uh." She hasn't learned to stop doing that. But has anyone really expected her to stop?

She slows to a stop on the dance floor, and watches Steven Universe bust a move. Nevermind that it's more like improvisation than real dancing -- Akko wouldn't know the difference in the first place. She starts clapping loudly, which stands out with the atmosphere of the club, to say the least. She doesn't notice the awkward glances from some club-goers. Nor, really, does she care. "Yay, you did a great job!"

AND THEN A SPOTLIGHT IS UPON THEM.

While Akko Kagari is many things, she is not -- as a rule -- shy. She looks up, blinks a couple of times, then looks at Sucy. She flashes her a big, bright grin. Then, she looks at the direction of the DJ. "We're not sticks in mud! C'mon, Sucy!"

A hand is clutched, and she tugs Sucy to the dance floor. With a flourish, she turns to face her friend. Her maroon eyes light up. And widen.

...And widen.

"Sucy," she says in a sharp whisper. "I just remembered! I don't know how to dance at all!!"

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Told by Niramo to not let Kasagami drag her everywhere she goes, Anthy simply... smiles. A big, bright mask of a smile. Then it's time to go into the club -- movement and music interrupt, and a summons to dance.

Her performance does little to endear the Bride to her Engaged, and eventually disgust at her failure drives them off the dance floor entirely. Sweat beads Anthy's brow -- the glowstick hangs at a goofy angle, half-dislodged from a particularly flubbed twirl.

She doesn't respond to Kasagami's whispers with more than a subdued nod. Grateful at least to be near a wall, Anthy sinks against it with her eyes down. The lace back of her dress is damp with sweat too, cold against her shoulderblades. After a minute her breath is regained.

Useless.

Well, it got her off the dance floor and away from the center of attention. The Rose Bride once again finds bittersweet reward in her own helplessness, a flavor she has come to savor. She watches the two nearby witchlings take the dance floor with veiled eyes, and recovers.

<Pose Tracker> Haruka Tenoh [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Haruka arches an eyebrow at the singular pronoun, but the explanation is swift in coming, and wins a coy smile. "/Well/. And suddenly I feel a moment of pity for Araki." Being able to surprise each other is valuable in a relationship. "I'll see what's at the bar..." His wink is subtle.

"And take my time."

Leaving Michiru for now, Haruka makes his way around the periphery of the dance floor to find the bar. As someone peels away from the crowded real estate, he slides in quickly to a stool, settling there and resting an elbow on the bar as the music pulses.

The bartender, faced with this well-shaped back rather than a paying customer, when the latter are struggling for space, approaches sourly.

"What're you having?"

Haruka turns to favor him with an affable grin. "The seat, for now."

"Buddy. This isn't--"

A folded banknote bisects the bartender's vision, near the end of his nose, held between two fingers. "I'll let you know when I need you," Haruka says, with the same winning smile.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

"This party is great!" Steven calls out over the din of jam music. He hasn't been to a shindig this fun in... well, since Kasagami ran her last event actually. All her stuff is fun! The energy drink helps a good deal as well, helping fuel silly and obscure moves from the 80s.

Thanks Greg.

"What?" he says to himself as he heard two folks talking about him nearby. THe party? Yeah, and he... OH MAN. That is right! He won a thing at the party, him and Niramo together, and they have /yet/ to cash that voucher! It doesn't expire, but now might be a good time to ask about it! She was here after all! "Ill be right back!" he says to Amethyst, heading off i nthe crowd. She was around here somewheres...!

THere she is! "Hey Niramo!" Steven calls over the cheering crowd and reverberating beat. "Heeey!" Steven calls out. "Someone just reminded me, we still got that dinner thingy we won! We should use it soon!" he says. Wait, why wasn't she out dancing? "Come on, the dance floor is fun!" he yells, trying for her hand to pull her out towards the center. Though if she doesn't want to, he will of course let her be. She might be too shy to want to do such.

"I totally gotta recommend a DJ to Kasagami when I get the chance! He does super awesome music like this!" he says to Niramo. The boy looks bac kto Amethyst. This seems like her sort of gig! The boy trys to whip his head like she does, but just gets dizzy.

The lack of long hair makes it look... not quite as cool as when she does it too. "How do you do that?!"

<Pose Tracker> Amethyst [None] has posed.

"You hear that?" Amethyst grins like a cheshire cat at Steven. "They like our dancing! We gotta bring it harder!" Yeah... their laughs weren't exactly the most supportive or praising, but maybe Steven won't notice - and Akko seems to be enjoying it. The violet Gem busts out her more energetic moves, making as much room for her as possible. Anyone too nearby would get a facefull of her long, whipping hair, or possibly an elbow to the gut. She's going all out, with reckless abandon. "Come on everybody, can't let this party be boring!" She glares into the garden of wallflowers, then turns back to Steven. "You just gotta... do it, you know? Let it happen. Don't force it, let it come to you. Find your own dance, both on this floor and in life." She then chuckles, and lowers her voice. "Am I inspirational or what?"

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Kaioh [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

The spotlight rests on the dance floor and Michiru's eyes turn that way for a moment. At Akko's confession, she smiles to herself, knowingly, and tells Haruka, "Enjoy yourself. I know you'll make the scene." With this, and another of those faint seafoam-wistful smiles, she moves away...

On an intercept course for Kasagami.

Kasagami banishes her bride, and Michiru moves forwards to extend a hand to the taller woman. "What a lovely set they're playing," Michiru tells Kasagami, raising her voice over the dance music and seeming unperturbed by the tones. (Michiru does not discriminate, although it is, indeed, a little loud for her tastes.)

"Let's do as the gentleman says," Michiru tells the aspiring king. "Show me your moves. I'll do my best to keep up."

<Pose Tracker> Sucy Manbavaran [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
Freeze frame.

RASPY MONOTONE VOICEOVER: Yep.

That's me.

You're probably wondering how I got into this mess.

Resume play.

"Don't look at /me/..."

A pause. "I said stop looking at me... Akko!"

Sucy exclaims and pulls her hand out of Akko's. Stunned at first, it finally dawns on Sucy what just transpired, in that whirlwind of a moment and she twists away from her "dance partner".

This was such a coordinated effort that she doesn't know exactly who to blame: Akko? Kasagami? But it's the operater of the spotlight itself that gets a hiss and the first glare, and the light catching her stark white skin, her pointy little fangs and eyes with white pupils might reflect back upon them in an unpleasant and unsettling way.

Sucy is not so much a dancer. When she thinks about it, it makes her want to disappear, So that's what she does, this time only figuratively, as she steps backwards into the shadows, She takes stock of those around, and recollects the moments before.

Meeting Niramo, watching Steven with Akko... and decides that it's Kasagami's fault for provoking Akko, and Akko's fault for being Akko.

In that order, and slowly calms herself.

Sucy isn't a stick in the mud.

But mud and dark is where mushrooms grow best.

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Niramo stumbles out onto the dance floor from the ever so gentle bump by one Kasagami Araki and pull by one Steven Universe, and is grateful she manages to stop before she goes headfirst into several older teens dancing to the crazy beat. This wasn't her plan at all for tonight, though. She was hoping to stay off to the side and talk to everyone for a few hours before heading on home, but that wasn't going to happen tonight now! Before she could turn to give Kasagami a quick piece of her mind, the blinding spotlight from up above focuses upon her, Akko and Sucy, and Niramo is dealing with the uncomfortable sensation of being the center of attention.

With the spotlight shining down on her, and with the DJ especially calling all of them out, there was no way she couldn't escape to the side now! She looks around wildly for some way to escape, and latches onto Steven like a drowning woman latching onto a log. Akko is sharing the spotlight with Sucy, so any help from her young friend was greatly appreciated! "Oh, right! We just need to decide on who is going and where, Universe-san. And you really should!" 'Maybe he won't draw attention to uncomfortable people?'

She looks at Steven's wild style, then looks at Amethyst to see if there was some sort of steps to follow, but doesn't get any help there just by watching. It was her advice, to simply do and let it come to you, that was the most surprising. Was it really that simple?

Knowing that she wasn't going to get out of this without embarrasing herself even more, Niramo lets out a sigh before she starts to bob her head to the beat, her long hair whipping up and down behind her like a dark waterfall. Not quite sure what to do next, she starts to move from side to side, zig-zagging randomly and moving her arms up and down to the beat. It looks awkward, but the more she just focuses on the dance, the more she starts to relax. A light sweat starts glazing her face with the effort, but Niramo was...starting to have fun? Dancing? Not at all how she expected her night to go tonight!

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Anthy mostly gets her time to be the wallflower that the DJ and Kassie both made their feelings for well known. One or two of Kassie's fanclub pass by her. A few are almost sympathetic, in that mocking Ohtori way. But most of them?

Envious looks, great and terrible. It should be /them/ on the Engaged's arm. Not her.

Steven and Amethyst both get their space, mostly due to copious useage of hair whipping! And probably an elbow or two, and those mocking girls at least back off. Plenty of room for Sucy, Akko, and Niramo! A few encouraging whistles from the crowd!

Haruka, meanwhile, draws his own set of looks. The poor bartender thusly bribed, no one seems to jostle. Instead, a few starry-eyed looks are mixed with annoyance at those pushed /out/ of finding their seats!

Kasagami offers a smile to her fellow Shepherd. Truly, Michiru is a beautiful person, and she takes a moment to be sure to take that hand properly, and even bow to her in her best gentlemanly fashion. She respects the graceful Outer too much to do anything less.

Kass' hand is just a little /too/ tight. Stiff rather than limber, and up this close she looks horrifically distracted. Her gaze darts to corners. Especially at flashes dark green hair real or imagined to her.

The next song comes on right on cue. It's a mixture of more techno, and salsa dancing. Heavy on the violin. Kasagami loves a challenge, and here it is from the seafoam green one herself.

"That's why I like this place. They know their music, and their customers. I'd be honored, Michiru-san!"

And so she does. First, she pulls back from her newfound dance partner, pulling her deeper onto the dance floor. Then closer, and back again to the rhythm. Boots tap out a steady rhythm, even as she soon works in a spin, letting Michiru finish it off. Back together effortlessly, and she'll attempt to dip the woman just a bit.

It'd be wonderfully distracting from her troubles, if it weren't /Michiru/ she's dancing with.

"...How is she?" She can't not ask. She doesn't clarify. There's no point. This close, one can almost feel the trembling in Kasagami's arms.

Sucy's retreat is met by the stares of dancers and Fanclub alike. But not for long. Mushrooms grow easily in the dark, out of sight, though one above doesn't ignore the witchling.

DJ D-Ark grins down, and one eye opens. It's deeply red, and seems to follow the girl even into the shadows.

He's more vocal for Akko though! "Come on little lady! Just groove to the sounds and beats!" That spotlight is still /glaringly/ on Akko. At least Michiru and Kasagami are drawing /eyes/ away.

<Pose Tracker> Akko Kagari [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.

Akko blinks at Sucy, when she pulls her hand back, and she looks hurt... for about half-a-second, before she sighs and looks down at her feet. "Aw, c'mon, it's just for fun!" she says. Akko is clueless, after all, and sometimes that cluelessness has an edge. Sometimes, she can do something that might hurt. She frowns at Sucy, and she almost starts one of those infamous pouts, until a few things reach her.

First, she has someone (Steven) calling out.

Second, Niramo is dancing, after a little shrug.

Third, the spotlight is on her.

What would Shiny Chariot do? She would--

URSULA CALLISTIS'S OFFICE-SLASH-APARTMENT

"OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD I HAVE TO TEACH THEM TO DANCE BEFORE THE NEXT FESTIVAL," Ursula screams at her computer screen. "Save me, YouTube, you're my only hope!"

A CLASSIER CLUB THAN THAT HOT MESS

--dance fearlessly and amaze them!

Which is why Akko starts crab-walking, hands held out to the side, waving them in a nonsense pattern that doesn't match the rhythm at all. Sometimes, she stops to randomly flail her clenched fists.

"Yay!"

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

A girl with hair like the sea and mesmeric beauty offers a hand to Kasagami Araki, drawing the attention of Anthy as she recuperates against a dark wall. Araki-sama had bidden her to make sure everyone's having a good time; soon, she'll get moving. For now she steals a few more moments for the watching and, it must be said, enjoys that theft for its own sake.

The paler of the witchlings proves to be as reluctant a party-goer as the First Witch, and they find themselves not far removed along the same length of dark wall. This seems as good a time as any to begin obeying her Engaged's most recent decree. Her breath and heartbeat settled, Anthy tips away from the wall and heads that way.

"Sucy-san, was it?" Kasagami had used -chan outside, but familiarity is not Anthy's way. She also seems to remember this same girl from a Garden Club social. "Are you having a good time?" Anthy wears a sweet enough expression... though those well-versed in such things would know that sweetness is a common enough mask for all sorts of poisons.

Still. It's a nice smile, and she's apparently about as enthusiastic about the party as Sucy is. The whole time, Anthy's gaze drifts between Sucy and the dance floor -- or more precisely, Sucy and Kasagami Araki.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

"Yeah, like that!" Steven says doign this strange hand raising number. He doesn't seem to be doing any particular dance moves that are common-- instead preferring to just make them up as he goes. Occasionally he flounders when be realises something looks really dumb, but he snaps back, trying something else! "The only ones missing out are those on the sidelines!"

Amethyst has the point down for sure. Just lose yourself in the music! Not like it will be bad for you! People just go home happier when they do. The worries of the world can disappear in music, at least for a time. "Whoah!" Steven lets out, barely dodging a hair whip! Man, it is hard to judge how far that reaches. Or did she extend it?!

"Oh, for sure!" I will try to find somewhere nice that the voucher will work at!" he adds toward Niramo.

And then it happens.

The msot glorious improvisation ever seen in reality.

Akko doing the crab stance.

"YEAH! THAT RIGHT THERE!" He yells, pointing right at Akko. "DO IT UP GIRL!" It looked like the person he thought he saw Sucy with. "At these dance, you just dont care! Just do whatever!" Steven almost weeps at the heartfelt crab-dance. Almost.

<Pose Tracker> Michiru Kaioh [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

"Well," Michiru says, as she leans back into the dip, her dress shimmering in the dance floor light, "about that. I suppose you'd want it direct, hm?" She smiles at Kasagami, and Kasagami might notice, if she looks closely, that Michiru's smile hasn't reached her eyes.

As she straightens up, Michiru gives that honest answer. "Miserably. Her heart's broken. She's hiding it as well as you might expect." Twisting round, Michiru doesn't move far away, or flinch from Kasagami's touch. She looks up to her and speaks, her expression unchanging; could the watching Bride see the difference? Maybe this kind of thing isn't a surprise to Anthy.

"Hearts are funny things, aren't they? Like bones. They do heal, with the right setting... perhaps they even come back stronger. But the pain doesn't vanish, either. And it's hardly a guarantee."

Michiru twirls. The world seems diaphanous, in the flickering lights and loud music. Her voice carries clearly, even so. "I suppose we've come to stand against each other by misfortune. We put our trust in someone unreliable... and I suppose that we've all paid a price. You're not to blame for our errors..."

Michiru moves back towards Kasagami, reaching up to place a slim white hand on her shoulder as she leans back again, eyes like emeralds five fathoms deep as that small smile stays there, as she stares at Kasagami. "But I should warn you; that if you hurt her again, I won't let myself be distracted. She's very dear to me."

<Pose Tracker> Amethyst [None] has posed.

"Aw YEAH Niramo!" Amethyst beams at her, still dancing crazily but now her head is more still, eyes focused on the girl taking her advice. "That's what I'm talking about! I barely know you at all but I'm proud of you. Just feel the rhythm of yourself and let NOBODY tell you what it should be!" She looks at the rest of the non-dancers. "Gonna just sit there? pbft, suit yourselves."

Then the crabwalking Akko happens. Amethyst flashes her a quick thumbs-up. "Sweet moves!"

<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Niramo breaks out of her 'dance' to looks at Akko, and starts to cheer her on. Are you suppost to dance like that? Well, Steven seems to know his dances, so it has to be true! She cheers Akko on, shouting to be heard over the music. "Wonderful moves, Akko-san! Cut those rugs and show the dance floor who is Queen of the Dance!" If Amethyst is right to just do and not to force it...Niramo shrugs before she starts to join in, trying her best to incoporate the crab stance into her current dance moves. As Steven himself likes to say... "Akko-san, sometimes you just need to go with the funky flow!"

<Pose Tracker> Sucy Manbavaran [Infinity Institute (7)] has posed.
"No," Sucy replies to Anthy plainly. "I attended because Kasagami is hosting, but I expected a different kind of fun." Sucy is now watching Akko enjoy herself with Steven and the others with a blank look and something of a frown.

She gives Anthy a brief sidelong glance, but not for long.

It's clear to the pale witchling by the voice who it is speaking to her, but not exactly why. Perhaps just good hosting, but Sucy remembers the Garden club meeting too, and there was something in her bearing then that suggested something beyond the sweetness.

This girl seems to be around Kasagami a lot recently.

The last party of Kasagami's she attended they were celebrating something together. She can't recall exactly.

Are they dating too? Kasagami's love life is a labyrinth.

<Pose Tracker> Haruka Tenoh [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
From a distance, and yet closer than Kasagami will ever get, Haruka watches Michiru. Theirs is the sort of partnership where a victory achieved by the one gives full satisfaction to the other. Indeed, they may somewhat prefer the other's triumphs. Michiru is seizing all the fun here, but in truth, it's doing Haruka a favor. Haruka will find a way to repay that.

Few can parallel Michiru in sheer, sparkling elegance, and the ethereal dance she favors Kasagami with is impressive to behold for many more eyes than Haruka's. Haruka smiles a little, proud, and watches Kasagami's expression to figure out what Michiru's saying. Kasagami probably has a much worse poker face.

Lifting two fingers, Haruka summons the bartender, who is more eager for another tip of that magnitude than he is resentful of being treated the way club bartenders prefer to treat others. When the man returns with the drinks, Haruka takes the two martini glasses in his hands, sips the amber one, and proceeds towards the dance floor at no great speed.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Akko's dance is mesmerizing! If you're going by the stares she draws. The many, many, many stares. Even the DJ is silent.

But Steven to the rescue! A few members of Kasagami's entourage claps for her. Most of them just laugh and point and generally are Ohtori style Jerks.

Kasagami follows along in Michiru's dance. She doesn't look away, doesn't shrink from the woman, imposing despite the difference in height. Oddly enough? She finds herself smiling.

Yet she doesn't looka t Michiru once. Not really. Her gaze is lost inside the darkest of pools, ones she's lost herself in both in person and in her dreams. Drowned in them in her latest nightmares.

"...I really am a terrible person, huh?" She mutters, more to herself than Michiru. Lips press together. She swallows. She won't break down. Not here, not before this Sailor Scout.

That smile grows as they dance. The pain in her own heart is searing. "Maybe not. But she's made of stronger stuff than that. I believe in her. I've never seen a stronger heart than hers, maybe except for my mother. Don't you dare sell her short." There's no happiness in her eyes. But pride instead.

And then finally, the dance ends, and she stares deep into those emeralds. Her gaze focuses, and she finally /looks/ into them.

"Trust me, there's no one who wants to be in this position less than me. I suppose I should have realized that's how you would see things, Michiru-san."

And then that wolfish grin, violent, hungry, and yet, so passionate and desiring of the future. It's marred by tears threatening to break out from her eyes.

"Two things though. First, I'm a woman of my word. I'm going to keep my promise, no matter how...awkward things get. Second? Anyone and anything that gets between me and the people I love are my enemies. Just keep that in mind, alright?" Her head tilts down, and she finally lets go of the woman.

"Even if that enemy is myself."

Hands snap to pockets, as the song ends, and she bows to Michiru.

"Always a pleasure, Michiru-san. Haruka-kun is lucky, really!" She laughs. Her voice goes quiet again, almost lost amidst the music.

"...Take care of her for me? Please?"

The fiery, passionate Duelist? Well, she most definitely has a much worse poker face than Michiru.

She falls onto a chair not long after, unmoving. Up above? DJ D-Ark grins. And then, a pulse of magic fills the room.

[[Category:Logs]]

Kasagami Araki

2017-11-20T23:49:32Z

SwordPerson: Updated Pluto!

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
=History=

To Be Added!

=Personality=

To Be Added!

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
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{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #FFFFFF;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|
[[Ami Mizuno]]: The Genius of Juuban. A study session ended with Kasagami on the floor after a crippling flareup of nerve pain. The girl selflessly helped her, commanded the situation with the kind of leadership and calm that makes a leader or a proper doctor. Such kindness and talent has Kasagami's respect. How easy it is to make her blush and her loyalty to her friends is icing on the cake. Good conversationalist, on the list of 'Talent to Scalp' for Ohtori.

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Kasagami's favorite Puella Magi, and leader of the Shepherds. Knows she doesn't fit in with the group. Shows loyalty anyway, which has only hardened her resolve to help them despite her own sense of justice along with concern for Setsuna. Often pushes back at her arrogance, yet knows her place at Ohtori. Quick to fight. Family, as fellow Shepherds, but too close to her own secrets. She worries it will split them apart one day.

[[Garnet]]: Stoic, straightforward, and an utter brickhouse of a person. Kasagami liked her instantly, and wants nothing more than to test her blade against the rock that is Garnet. Also can apparently transform. Kasagami finds that both fascinating and completely creepy.

[[Nanoha Takamachi]]: Cute as a button, the Midori-ya's daughter is the kind of innocent cheer that Kasagami wants to see more of, and shape a perfect world for. Apparently a magical girl. Also touched Pluto, and a new Chevalier. Currently in Kasagami's crosshairs of unreasonable fear and love fueled anger.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Everything Kasagami hates in one pink haired package. The fear and terror she shows in tense situations, magical or mundane, revolts her. How she keeps managing to extract guilt for her past actions and present ones so easily, infuriating. What the Chevaliers see in her, she doesn't know, but the mere thought of Madoka enrages.

[[Mami Tomoe]]: The Golden Queen of Shibuya, leader of the Chevaliers. An enemy to be sure, and Kasagami despises how she puts magic over the pride of Ohtori. More and more Kasagami wants to see her expelled. Yet, not all is blackness. Kasagami considers her a worthy opponent in magical conflict. Mami's hatred of her makes her a useful enemy to have, fuel to Kasagami's inner fire to reach for World Revolution.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: Fierce warrior cat. Oddly laid back outside of battle, furious inside of it. Kasagami aches to fight with her fellow Shepherd, only drawn in by the heat of Mikoto's wrath and her massive sword. Rejected her offer of a fight. Still annoyed. Wants to get to know the girl better, and maybe teach her a thing or two.

[[Usagi Tsukino]]: A blonde, clumsy, talent-less loaf of a girl in Kasagami's eyes that somehow manages to be a thorn in her side consistently. Yet she draws more frustration than hatred, mostly due to Pluto's steadfast loyalty to the girl even over her love. Yet, she's intrigued. What about this girl is so special? To be protected, if only for Setsuna's sake. As Sailor Moon, recent interactions have earned Kasagami's respect...even if her hope for the current world is baffling and secretly terrifying. Still a hope youma.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Their relationship is best described as politely neutral at best, familial obligations at worst. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Co leader of the Chevaliers. Completely infuriates Kasagami at times, while tickling her to her core. She doesn't back down. A worthy rival in Kasagami's eyes, as precious an enemy in her hatred as Mami if not moreso. Yet her recent turn to reckless advances and berserkerdom is an odd change. Worrying, slowly losing the sheen of knighthood in Kassie's gaze. A reckoning will come.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Wise, strong, quiet and with an eternal sadness that eats at Kasagami's sense of justice. As a Shepherd she's a valued ally, and as a person, has gained a place in Kasagami's heart as a lover and friend. But with the weight of their secrets eating at them, and conflict over Kozue, she's become the gaping void in her heart. A thousand Dead Screams can't equal the pain she feels over the distance, emotionally and physically.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. She respects Shizuru for her position, even if she hates the stoic ways of the girl and perfect calm. An enemy to be sure, and yet a mentor in some ways. Stomped on her dreams and humiliated her emotionally. Despite overcoming her in their Duel, the sting is harsh. Vengeance is high on her mind.

[[Sucy Manbavaran]]: An actual, honest-to-goodness potion using Witch of the cute variety! The quiet young woman's delinquency first drew Kasagami's ire. An encounter alongside Pluto would show the girl's magical talents, and time at Infinity's library sparked a deal made in perhaps better faith than expected. Slowly, she's coming to like the girl, ice to her fire. She might even consider Sucy a friend.

[[Rinji]]: The Muse, demur and quiet musician, and yet so much more. Kasagami has found herself attracted to, and coming to love the mute singer for both her passion and ability to cheer on others, as well as the kindness and ability to push her ever harder when she's down. More playful than is obvious, and that only melts Kassie's heart. Rinji saved Kasagami from despair when Setsuna and her fought. The bonds between the three grow deeper, and Kasagami's nightmares slowly drift from her past, to a terrible future reflecting her old tragedy.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Friend and enemy at once. Kasagami's intense feelings for the pink haired Engaged are conflicted in the extreme. Admiring her desire as a prince, she can't understand why she cares so for the Rose Bride or being 'normal'. After Utena's draining by the Wolkenritter, the wounds physical and mental on Utena forced Kasagami to challenge for the right to Duel her out of concern...and greed for the power that Utena has held. After being pushed away with her concerns, there's something else in Kasagami's eyes: disappointment in the one she thought might be her Prince.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself.

|-
|}

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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Logs
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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Cutscenes
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

2017-11-20 - Kasagami Araki Fundraising Lunch

2017-11-20T19:46:17Z

SwordPerson:

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Kasagami Araki Fundraising Lunch'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Kasagami Araki, the Engaged, hosts a fabulous party to fundraise for her campaign against Touga Kiryuu. Friends and even family show up.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Ami Mizuno]], [[Anthy Himemiya]], [[Chitose Shiratori]], [[Kasagami Araki]], [[Kuniko Saito]], [[Steven Universe]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
<Araki Family Estate, Tokyo>
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
<11/20/17 - 03/06/15>
|-
|}

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The Araki estate just outside of Tokyo proper is large and impressive: a main, well appointed house and guest area of ancient design, leading into more modern buildings for servants and baths when one feels the need for a spa, or simply modern living. There's an energy here: of old history and grandeur mixing with potential for the future. Of ambitions old and new alive and well where not weeks before there was only ruin and despair in ash.

A field of dark crimson roses, one of it's many gardens, is cut through on the way to the centerpiece of tonight. A shockingly large dojo of wood and bamboo, massive enough to hold a large kendo school or perhaps train a small army, has it's twin doors thrown wide open in invitation. Scrolls of names of the particular style of swordsmanship is proudly hung about the place, the largest ones clearly ancient, while much smaller ones more modern. The newest has a single name: Kasagami Araki, the school's defacto head.

It's upon a pulpit that anyone who's come for the fundraiser would find her. Outside, lengthy tables have been set up where black clad, suited servants are preparing for the actual lunch. Sparkling cider, as well as variou other classy drinks are set out already. One servant is taking meal tickets: those with the funds to donate receive free reign. Those who might not, or aren't from Ohtori, are instead given fliers for Kasagami's campaign and posters with promises to plaster them on places that are easily seen. The fliers are, as might be expected loud and have heroic shots of Kasagami on them alongside copious propogranda.

Inside, there's a number of people already seated or milling about away from the actual training floor. Numerous black coats are over shoulders, as is the trend amongst many students recently at Ohtori, along with sneaky bits of red or black. There's several businessmen, government officials, and others here for being a Student Council fundraiser. Or, perhaps not, given it's for Ohtori. A couple members of the kendo team flank Kasagami, and several pieces of armor and weapons of both Japanese and European make shown.

Kasagami's voice doesn't need a mic. "Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen of Tokyo! My beloved friends at Ohtori Academy, and our wonderful members of the Sister Schools! Today, I welcome you all as I officially announce my candidacy for Student Council President of Ohtori High School! Japan is a nation of strength, courage, and honor!" She begins, voice filled with vigor, passion, and energy.

" With the best and brightest of minds in the world! And as President of the most prestigious Academy in the country, I will do everything in my power to advance the interests of the student body, and transform the stagnant, uninspired leadership of Touga Kiryuu's reign into one where the most brightest and ambitious amongst you can become the leaders that will lead Japan into world prominence as the true vanguard of the modern world!"

Then, bowing upon the pulpit as the clapping starts, she smiles and looks out to the crowd, affable gaze and hair fluttering just a bit.

"Please see the servants and my home's majordomo, Anthy Himemiya, if you would like to further donate or work alongside our campaign! Be be warned, just as the Student Council under my leadership will work tirelessly to advance you /and/ all of the Sister Schools, I expect nothing but the most hard working and ambitious to walk beside me! Now, everyone, please enjoy yourselves as the Ohtori Kendo Club demonstrates some examples of the Araki Family's weapons collection."

She steps off the pulpit, and goes to mingle amongst the crowd. Old katanas from Tokugawa's reign, and other storied weapons are swung in meaningful, ceremonial katas, even as Kasagami strikes up a conversation with an older real estate mogul.

Her eye, and many of the servants however are watching out for more interesting members who may have come.

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Anthy Himemiya already knows her way around the kitchens at the Araki family estate. Given her orders for the evening and hands at her disposal, she makes good use of that knowledge. In what short order she's given, the appointed majordomo of the estate whips up a feast. Edamame and fried chicken wings, onigiri and spring rolls -- it's a smorgasbord of finger food, without a single utensil needed or indeed provided.

She's chosen a quiet look for herself, with a trim apricot coat belted snugly so that only a few inches of burgundy dress show between creamy lapels. Gold glints around Anthy's neck. Only her too-girlish socks with their frothy pink lace tops ruin the image of a good young society lady. One hand folded into another before her, she attends to the proclamations of Kasagami Araki with the most polite of attentiveness. That Anthy does so from a dark corner where the milling masses might not spot her, well...

It at least works until she gets named. Then the crowd's eyes fall on Anthy like so many searching spotlights. She does not shrink, even though she wants to. Instead she makes herself visibly busy by seeking the nearest servant to murmur in his ear.

"Go... go see if the dessert is ready." She knows it is; still, she sends him. By this time, Araki-sama is talking about swords and taking the crowd's attention along with her, and Anthy allows herself a relieved sigh.

She tries to busy herself across the room from those kendo demonstrations, though that may not always be possible, and never gets out of sight of Kasagami. In fact, she checks regularly for the taller girl, like one might poke at a sore tooth. Drifting from table to table, Anthy reaches out to adjust a rose-festooned centerpiece here or to sample an onigiri there.

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

The finger food has a few dainty touches in among the favorites - some of the onigiri has been packed into pita quarters and dressed with spiced chicken and pickles instead of traditional fillings.

Sitting near the entrance closest to the kitchen, Kuniko Saito has a fisherman's cap rakishly set down to half-veil her eyes. She is wearing her usual chef's outfit, and has a glass of rosewater in front of her on a table, even as she listens to the words being called out.

Kuniko is slouching but perhaps she is permitted.

'This event...'

EARLIER

"This is a pretty big last minute thing, huh," said Saito as she whipped through preparing the chicken wings, her skills at dredging and breading already beyond compare. Her outfit then was plainer, though she had an old blue apron on her waist. "I'm glad I could help out, and I think you're gonna like the entree, but..."

"What was it?" she had asked the violet-haired woman. "Like, she decide to get into the race at the last minute?"

BACK NOW

Kuniko's head lifts upwards, revealing her eyes. 'Something about it stinks,' she thinks as she picks up the glass. Her eyes track towards Himemiya and then towards the stentorian voice of 'that woman.'

"Well," she says, "at least they'll remember they had a great dinner. Chef is going to owe me for this one..." Which chef? That's the beauty of the title - there are many options.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Finally, a good night's sleep. How you have been missed. No stressful situations, no tense situations, no robots entering the atmosphere to do nefarious deeds. This day couldn't be better! Well, unless you were in trouble. But punishment hasn't been meted yet.

So currently, Steven Universe is free! For now.

The boy has caught wind of somethign rather big, involving someone who also had to deal with those problems of the day, and so he has shown up to provide support, as he is want and happy to do. The child boasts his usual attire, save for wearing a pear of sneakers instead of flip-flips, and is wearing a light pink buttondown, though undone as to see the usual deep-pink-with-yellow-star shirt underneath. Just trying to look a little better for somethign that sounded important. Though with all the students with a specific fashion selection, he wonders if there was a dress code for this!

"Oooh," Steven coos, seeing all the marvelous red roses. "These are great! Does Kasagami raise these?" The approach to the dojo is regarded with even more delight. It reminded him of the dojo out of Lonely Blade! So cool. The boy files in, and listens as Kasagami makes a statement-- a bid for president! She was... vice president? Well, guess there was only one spot above that. Might as well go for it!

"Neat!" he says, clapping at the end of the speech. She said... Anthy was the fundraiser lady, right? Isn't she the one that did the Rose lessons? ...It was! The boy plunges a hand into his pocket, pulling out a cookie cat-themed wallet, checking the fold. Okay, he did bring some spare cash! He can totally help the fundraiser.

...Though it may be wise to wait for the initial rush of people to dissipate. There is tons of cool stuff to look at all over the place first! Swords, plaques, names of accomplished swordsmen and women, oh my!

<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

So Chitose is here. Why is she here, even though she has a vague disdain for Ohtori and fancy parties in general?

Well, for one, Chitose wasn't at Ohtori! This wasn't Ohtori, at least. So she was fine there.

Plus, well, Chitose was actually fond of Kasagami! Admittedly, almost every Ohtori-related function she had attended since leaving that school had Kasagami's name on it, and the one that she attended that /didn't/ ended poorly for everyone involved.

So, she's here.

She's kept quiet, in the back, wearing her usual white shirt/black skirt attire. Being older than most of the people from Ohtori she knows, she never paid too much attention to student council elections, so she's not too sure exactly what Touga's policies were. Yes, even though Chitose actually went to Ohtori in the past.

That said, Chitose spends her time alternating looking between the host of the event, and looking around at everything. This was made pretty easy, as the bespectacled girl's eyes was higher than the tops of a lot of people's heads. But for now, that's all she does.

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

It is not unusual for Ami to take a break from her studies and other activities to check out various student activities. Although she had no interest in being on the student council, it was an important time for some and from what she knew of Kasagami, the student likely had something big planned and so she just makes it in time while everyone is gathering at the estate.

It is her first time here and while she doesn't know her way around she finds that it's easy to follow the crowd as fliers are passed out and she notices the familiar girl on the front. She laughs a little at how serious Kasagami was taking her running. Although, to her, it seemed a little unfair to other who may have wanted to run and didn't have much money but those thoughts are pushed aside while she makes her way to the main area.

Ami takes notice of all the fancy decorations. Even if her mother had money, they had never lived in anywhere this nice. The decorations and accomodations are superior, she thinks. When she enters the main area, Ami glances around for familiar faces and chooses a seat near the front but off to the side.

Ami wasn't sure how nicely she should dress so she is wearing a blue, ruffled, short-sleeve dress with a black jacket and black tights. On her shoulder is a small black purse with feathers covering the outside. She didn't want to stand out too much but still it seemed like an occassion to dress up a little.

When the speech begins, Ami can't help but find herself intrigued by the words that are spoken and the enthusiasm the crowd shows and she considers what her own role could be. She wasn't one of the most popular students but people at least seemed to know about her, for better or for worse. Maybe that could come in handy to help somehow? her thoughts are interrupted by the final claps from the crowd and as Kasagami leaves her pulpit, the Juuban student stands up, waving a little towards Kasagami if she catches her attention.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The servant is off like lightning: less due to any fear for the nervous, purple-haired majordomo, and more out of knowing just who is cutting the checks. Kasagami Araki, for all her flamboyant nature, expects skill from everyone. And increasingly, absolute obedience to spirit and letter of her word.

The servants may in fact, seem a touch nervous.

But eyes follow Anthy the entire time. The rich and powerful play here, mostly a mere excuse by said personages to mingle and work deals amidst a young star rising. But the energy here is unmistakable.

It's like a hand reaching to the stars, like Alexander the Great reaching for dreams that may well be impossible. But are they doomed to gutter and crash? Only time will tell.

As the katas end, and bows are made, swords are sent back to sheaths. Kasagami makes long-legged strides to meet the crowd. Kuniko's presence, slouched though it may be, gains no reproach from those around her. That hat hides her eyes, and her chef's outfit may as well hide her presence from the seething mass of humanity. Students, politicians, it's all a white noise sheen of power being traded around. And Kasagami swirls amidst it.

But Kuniko's work isn't unnoticed. There's the murmurs of praise in the air of the fingerfoods, so above the usual norm. A few eyes do turn to look upon Kuniko.

After several minutes of brushing shoulders with Ohtori students and business leaders, Kasagami openly motions towards Anthy expectantly. A quick glance around. There's an arm held out. She imagines green tresses, and long limbs walking into her arm. The black hole swirling in her heart aches, and she shakes her head. Kasagami's smile doesn't falter, but she needs to have /someone/ on her arm. And no Rinji.

Once purple and black are joined, Kasagami will nod to the girl. "Well done so far, Anthy. Now just help me out, and remember you're my perfect little head of house, right?" A whisper. A grin.

Her first stop is towards Steven of all people. Short and stout though he may be, her eye caught his distinctive profile. The line he's fighting is long, but? No, the hostess herself is stalking towards the young man with a warm smile.

"Steven!" There's honest joy for seeing the child, said as though she's greeting a long lost friend. Even if it's been but a scant day or two.

"You're the last person I expected here, but welcome! Come on, come on, skip the line! Get yourself something to eat!" It seems the boy might be free of any entrance fee through sheer power of Kasagami admiring him for who he is.

Fingers snap, right to Anthy. He might notice her coat is missing, the young woman dressed in one part StuCo uniform, one part swaying black kimono upon her. Seems she's improvised.

"I'm afraid I'm the type of person that's more suited to cutting roses than tending to them. Why don't you ask my majordomo here, Anthy Himemiya?" Grin! She nudges Anthy forward with just a little more force than is needed.

"Anthy, meet Steve-kun. The young light of the future, may he never fall to ashes." Her tone shifts, and sounds almost...sad for some reason.

Kuniko, for her part as one of the Chef(s) is surrounded by a small pack of lesser servants. So far nothing has gone wrong in all of that cooking! But one servant, a nervous looking teenager younger than her that looks expectant of the slouching woman! "U...uhh, what should we do for the dessert, Chef-san? There's an order, but...it just says..." She pulls out a hastily scrawled note.

'Amaze them! Show me your ambition! -KA-chan~'

This poor girl is in /tears/!

Chitose is another face in the crowd. At first. But there's a tall man that stands up behind her. In fact, about two inches taller than the already very tall woman. Otherwise, he'd be unremarkable. He's the picture of a salaryman: complexion, dark hair, stiff. Japanese, yet tall, but not hulking. Arms fold, and he catches the sight of Chitose as she peers at the hostess. He steps to her side, and clears his throat gently.

"...What do you think of Kasagami Araki, and her seeking that position?" He asks suddenly. The man has to at least be in his fifties, and there's a stern edge to his voice. He stares with a hard look.

His eyes are a dull and steely grey, notably.

In between prodding Steven, Kasagami spies Ami too! That waving has her laughing. "Ami Mizuno, genius of Juuban!" She calls out. She is not quiet about this.

"I have people for you to meet!" More than one /very/ influential politician or business mogul slams their eyes on the bluenette. Kasagami merely grins at her Imperial Summons. Dun dun duuun!

In between eating one of those chicken-stuffed fingerfoods. Kuniko has outdone herself. She's already devoured three, utterly politely.

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Earlier in the kitchen, Anthy at first had only the spare time to nod her thanks when this mysterious culinary savior arrived on the scene. After Kuniko's expertise bought them both some breathing room she managed a bit of conversation here and there. Her voice was sweet and soft, if a bit thin from exertion.

"Araki-sama is a woman of great and unpredictable temper." A long pause followed; maybe she was catching her breath. "Ah. Temperament, I meant." She flapped one hand at the end of her bird-boned wrist, silly Anthy. "But look at how powerful she is -- she commands something and it happens. Is it not admirable? Oh! The wings are going to burn, pardon me."

-=-=-=-

For the help Kuniko Saito has brought, with the miraculous just-in-the-nick-of-timing reserved for all true heroes, she has more than earned the right to a judicious bit of slouching. At Anthy's quiet word to a nearby waiter, that rosewater will be kept topped off all night long.

That imperious summoning gesture strikes its mark; Anthy gives a little nod to Kasagami and takes that dipping motion to suck in a quick breath, then hastens to obey her Engaged. The Rose Bride slips through the crowd and is at Kasagami's side within half a minute. Lashes thick and lowered, she murmurs, "Yes, Araki-sama," and adorns the arm of Presidential hopeful on her tour around the room.

'Does Kasagami raise these?' Anthy gets that unsubtle nudge and stumbles half a step before regaining her balance. She plays it off as her own clumsiness, or tries to.

"You could say Araki-sama is responsible for the roses, and wouldn't be wrong." Anthy Himemiya tilts a smile Steven's way as if nothing just happened, even as she gives... is that an answer? It might be hard to tell. "It's nice to see you again, Steven-san. Are you here to support her, tonight?"

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kuniko watches things. Steven's enthusiasm is great to see, but that stout lad... isn't he a little young for politics? "Tch," Kuniko says, for no good reason.

A passing server looks at her. "Are you OK, Saito-san?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, just had, uh, something in my teeth," she tells the server immediately.

Then she frowns in thought. That's Ami Mizuno, she's Makoto's friend, isn't she? Kuniko thinks -- but then she's surrounded by servants! She gets up because she wants to be able to see, raising her hands and saying, "Hold on, hold on! We haven't even gotten the main out and you're already worrying about dessert?"

EARLIER

"Mm," Kuniko had answered Anthy. The wings finished, she moved on to mounting a lot of things on metal skewers. Her eyes turn towards Anthy then, watching her because the autonomous reflex of what she's doing allows her to work without much thought. The mechanical acts of prep are soothing to her, a sort of mantric meditation...

NOW AGAIN

"So get that stuff out, come on, it ought to be about ready."

Kuniko takes a deep breath - "Oh yeah," she says. "I can smell it."

AND SO, the main course is revealed...

KEBABS. The metal skewers of grilled meat are presented in a range of styles, each of them including different assortments of vegetables - on some, onions and tomatoes and peppers, on others, riceballs and mushrooms and takoyaki. In each case the primary ingredient is sportfish - swordfish, tuna, and king crab meat were basted in a solution of olive oil, garlic and curious spices (Himemiya might recognize North African influence; others would simply recognize FLAVOR) to allow for greater savor and browning during the grilling process over hot flame.

This is accompanied by veritable seas of fresh-baked pita bread.

"It's not the most advanced trick in the book," Kuniko muses... "But lunch is a pretty simple meal, and it'll appeal to a wide range of people. Isn't that what you're going for... Araki-kun?"

Kuniko then lapses silent a moment later because she realizes, a little belatedly, that she's actually standing within earshot of Kasagami when she said that.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

So much history in this place! How long has it been here? Is it new or refurbished? Or has it stood the test of time so well it is just as it was made? It is difficult for Steven to tell. His dad Greg might be able to point that out, but not himself.

Some folks around he recognizes from other events! Some older students here are from Juuban, and they get a form of recognition, if not just in passing. Though more weaponry get his attention. An especially old blade gets his eye, and he leans in quite close to get a really good look at it.

"Eep! I didn't touch it!" he says, spinning around quickly. Oh, it was kasagami! "Heeeey!" he replies with, cheerful as ever. The lady seemed unharmed for the most part from the other day, or recovered quickly, both of which are good outcomes, though her lovely coat is missing. No doubt the work of the detonating Robonoids. Jerks. "Nice event! I do like the Dojo!" He will probably have to explain some things to Kassie one day when he gets the chance. The Kindergarten certainly isn't something that one should stumble upon. "Hiii!" the boy says, wiggling his fingers in a cute wave to Anthy. "Oh, learning more would be great!" he exclaims. "I certainly am! With what I can spare, I will totally help." The least she could be offered. Kasagami has such high aspirations. They need to be supported! "It is nice to see you here helping too!" he adds to the nice Rose Lady.

And then the food happens. The boy was enjoying some edemame earlier (which salted and steamed, is his favorite snack in Tokyo thusfar) but these kebabs smell amazing! The boy sits at a table, ready to eat! Though he currently doesn't know many of the folks where he is sitting. But that is okay! Maybe a chance to make some friends!

As the food is served, Steven makes a note to thank the chef as soon as possible! What a hard job making all this food has to be. Especially to present it perfectly.

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

People begin to mingle and there are few here that she openly recognizes and Ami is not one to really push her way into other people's conversations or interrupt unless she needs to so instead she starts to head towards the food tables where Kasagami and Steven area.

The abrupt and loud greeting by Kasagami however makes her redden and look around nervously. "Araki-san, that's not my title!" She says this quietly, but forecfully. The comment about having people to meet though makes her raise her eyes towards the girl. "Oh? What kind of people?" Networking couldn't hurt right?

It's then that Ami notices the smaller, black-haired boy nearby one of the tables. "Oh, you go to Juuban too don't you?" A pause. "I am Ami Mizuno." Not that he probably already hadn't heard thanks to Kasagami. The older girl offers a slight bow to him. "It's good to see other students here from our school. I was worried it would be all Ohtori students." Ami looks back at Kasagami, "Not that it's a bad thing mind you." She laughs a little, the enthuasiastic offer for her to change schools was still fresh in her mind.

Then, lunch is announced and Ami starts to move back towards her table, but abruptly she changes her mind and walks over to Steven's table. "Do you mind if I join you? Usagi-chan couldn't make it so I came alone. Ami sits down at the table as food is being served. It smells so good that she closes her eyes briefly, taking it all in. "They really went all out for this right?"

Once being served, she doesn't take long to dig into her own lunch since she had chosen not to eat beforehand. The kebabs were perfect in her mind. The flavors and presentation were both spectacular and she finds that just one of them fills her up quickly. "Oh wow, this is amazing. I guess Araki-san really wants to get on everyone's good side." She laughs and then adds, "I mean food is the best way to get people's attention right?"

<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

Chitose's attention is suddenly drawn to the sudden man speaking to her, and she turns to him just enough to see him. "Hmm?" She looks at him for a few moments, then back to Kasagami. Then, back to the man. She shrugs awkwardly. "I can't really say, when I went to that school I never paid attention to those races." Admittedly, seeing a few people constantly win the same races got tiring after a while, to the point that Slightly Younger Chitose would just pass by the various election posters without even noticing.

"But she is... enthusastic, at least. Ohtori will be different if she wins." If instead of when! Not because Chitose doubts Kasagami, but she doubts Ohtori in general. "I'll be paying attention, at least.

And then suddenly, FOOD. Chitose is attracted by the food, and with that she breaks off dialogue. "Pardon me, it seems the food has arrived." And so she turns and heads her way to the course, making her way to a table. For the most part, she doesn't pay attention to who or what seats at her table, but she watches the food. Chitose is wealthy enough that food is never a concern for her, but she does enjoy free food!

Especially good free food.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Into her arms Anthy goes, and Kasagami nods in approval. These steps aren't of lovers. No, Kasagami holds herself with pride. Some might say arrogance, as though she's above the purple haired Anthy. A purely hierarchical confidence that she holds herself in...and places herself at the top, internally. All on ambition, as tenuous as a scaffold that may be to her own Kingdom.

Anthy's response has her chuckling. "Yeesh, don't be so modest, Anthy! Just because they're at my beck and call, doesn't mean others haven't toiled for their raising! A true ruler over any piece of land commands. But that doesn't mean her gaze doesn't fall upon the servants and knights as well! Take pride in what you do here. Because what you accomplish gives meaning to your life, no matter how it all ends!"

The kebabs, it seems, are entirely to the crowd's liking as they're unveiled. There's no outright reveal to the lunch proper, but katas end, and Kasagami briefly breaks to save one kendo member from a slightly over-exerted strike of a nodachi. She pauses, bows, and waves away Anthy's presence for just that long. A swing, a slice of air, and she adds overly long pointy implement back to it's old home.

Then pretty much jogs up as servants unveil the KEBABS OF DESTINY!

A vast majority of the crowd, students, wealthy types, and those not immediately involved are all devouring what Kuniko and her team of crack Chef-types are unveiling. To say it goes well would be an understatement. The small army works to refill glasses and generally make the tabled experience be as lovely as possible. The food may as well be as close to divinity as one can get on this earth.

As proved by one Kasagami Araki, as she snaps her fingers to one Kuniko Saito. Perhaps unlike most, 'Araki-kun' only has her grinning. The girl gets a /look/ of respect for her work this night! "That's exactly right! Everyone! Please give your finest thanks to our finest chef!" Kassie doesn't actually know Kuniko's name right now. Her confidence doesn't falter, but instead of being angry by any casual tone, she instead directs the hungry crowd to their culinary benefactor.

"Isn't she just /wonderful/! This is the face of culinary ambition!" Boots thunk together. For a second, all eyes are on Kuniko, and then they fade away back to scrumptious noms and conversation.

A chuckle as Steve spins around. "It looks like you have an eye for swords too! Deep breath, Steve. I'll introduce you to the collection soon." Smirk. Wink. Car and sword both, it seems!

Amongst other more weighty matters. A glance to his wallet, and then to him. She very quickly, and forcefully, tries to hold his wallet closed.

And then gently push it back to him. "Save it. For your own ambitions, Steve. I'd rather you join my campaign. Wny not put my posters out in town? Or post things on the internet? You're a friend to me." Her voice is strangely sincere. The earnest young man feels like the little brother she never had.

"Now go enjoy our Chef's work, huh?" Grin!

Two arms cross, and she openly grins at Ami. "If you were a slightly more ambitious woman, it would be! You've worked hard to obtain those kind of test scores. I mean, you're at /my/ notice, after all! The best and the brightest."

Flick. Yup, she's definitely mentioning both Anthy and Steven, oddly enough. Not some kind of mogul. No politician. These two, for different reasons entirely, she sees something in of worth beyond most.

As Ami sits down with Steven, she nods approvingly. Even with a wink!

"Enjoy, Ami-chan! My campaign could use a real webmaster after all!" She offers in parting.

Somewhere, a nerd dies inside.

Chitose's words have the man sighing. "Ethusiastic...Different?" The man scowls hard briefly, and then sighs almost hopelessly. He waves a hand. Pianist's fingers.

"Overblown as ever." Mutters the man as Chitose makes off to food. And then he walks forcefully over to Kasagami. She turns, amidst devouring one more kebab as she's sat down.

And then, spinning three kebab metal sticks in hand, she stands up. And then drives each one two inches down into faultless wood as she stands up.

"...What is it, Uncle?" Comes Kasagami to the tall man that just left Chitose. He pauses, and then, is silent. He looks her over, then Anthy, then over to Steven and Ami in particular.

And a hand is offered over. His voice carries.

"I still do not like you as a head of the family. Your Father would have been better." Before Kasagami can let loose her protest to those words, he clears his throat. Kasagami pauses, and then, takes his hand.

A shake. The enmity between the two family members may as well be thick enough to cut.

"But no matter your...oddities, your success these last days is remarkable. If you can lift our family to true prominence again, I'll support you." The tall man then lets go, and starts walking away.

Kasagami is speechless. She looks past the man, stunned at his offer.

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

When Kasagami's route takes them past one of the dinner trays Anthy snags a kebab. It's too good to last long. The purple-haired girl casts a big-eyed look over her shoulder at Kuniko in her chef's hat.

"As if I could miss it," Anthy tells Steven with a big smile aimed Kasagami's way. Ami gets a long look and a polite smile, noting her refusal of the 'genius' title. Anthy tilts her head, and wonders.

She makes a pretty adornment for Kasagami's arm, polite and deferential. "As you say, Araki-sama. The honor is mine, of course, to be close to ambition so nearly realized."

The way Kasagami's uncle announces himself gets a look of proper shock from Anthy where she hangs off of the tall young woman's arm. They shake; the older man offers begrudging support and gets stunned silence in return.

Green eyes wide like full moons, she looks up at Kasagami Araki and asks in a bright and innocent stage whisper that's sure to carry:

"Is this a good time for dessert, Araki-sama?"

That's as good as giving a signal. A trio of servants marches out to uncover their trays with a synchronized flourish: rice balls colored like bright flowers, with fresh fruit and berries inside them to match.

One has reds and greens arranged to look like a blooming rose. One has a symmetrical and abstract design, like a stained glass pattern. The final tray? A cheerful yellow-shelled snail with a purple body!

Anthy herself claps a bit in delight to see their presentation carried out to perfection. "Oh, they're almost too cute to eat!"

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kuniko quietly savors everyone's look of appreciation, and their savoring in turn of her food. She paps one fist into the opposing hand, nodding to herself. Yeah!!

And then she's put on the spot. "Uh?" she says, looking out at everyone.

"Uh...! Please enjoy your meals!" she calls, and then the attention passes away and she staggers slightly to her side, putting a hand on a chair. Shivering violently. All those EYES on her...

Anyway: That's how Kuniko ends up sitting down, just in time for dessert. "Oh, damn, this is some great presentation," she says - although she falters momentarily at the sight of the snail.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Oh! It seems Kasagami knows one of the other students at Juuban! Awesome! "Hi Ami! I'm Steven. Steven Universe!" The boy offers a polite bow. He's getting the hang of how to introduce himself in Tokyo! "Nice to see you here too! " he adds. He has seen the girl in the school halls before... he thinks. Yeah, hes pretty sure he has, actually.

This food is fantastic. It reminds him of a sunset barbeque spent with friends after a long day of hard work. Music playing, games all around, and the food is hot and ready. The boy looks up from his meal, and gladly helps make room for Ami. "Mm!" he says with a mouth full. He speaks after his mouth is free. "Yeah! Hey, I thought I saw you at Kasagami's ball, too! That was you with that blonde girl, right?"

He couldn't help but eavesdrop that night while hanging with Niramo in between their own conversation exchange. Being a socialite is fun!

"Oh totally," the boy adds in after another bite. "A good speech, good food, good dances... A bit of preparation can go a long way!"

The boy excuses himself for a minute, to go and make his donation. It was a modest amount, a little more than you'd expect a kid of his age to have saved up. It was a good time while folks ate! Though he is stopped by someone he didn't expect. "Ah--!" Steven lets out, hearing about the ideas Kasagami has instead of money. "Y-Yes!" he lets out, starry eyed as ever. HE GETS TO BE A PROMOTER! Wait, is tha twhat a promoter is?

"You just let me know and I will canvas the whole city for you! I'll canvas the internet!" he says, excitement filling his every word. It was like he was working for a band, except this time it was a political band!

The boy returns to his seat, followed by the two in charge, beginning to munch more as Kassie speaks with Ami. The boy nods his head viciously toward Ami, hoping she wil laccept his offer! Though someone else walks over now. A man of stature arrives. The boy looks to Anthy and Kasagami. Who was this person?

They don't sound pleased.

At least until the last thing he says. It sounds like he didn't like how she acted, but has looked past it, seeing greatness therein. THe boy freezes, holding a kebab vertically, staring wide-eyed at the situation. Even as the juicy goodness of the kebab drips down onto his hand and his pantleg. He seems utterly affixed to what is about to happen...!

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Ami claps enthusiastically for Kuniko. She admires anyone who can come up with something this delicious. But people are quickly returning to their food and Ami does as well. "I wonder if it's some secret recipe. Not that I could probably do as well." Ami wasn't big on cooking, preferring things that could be made quickly and easily so she has a great deal of admiration for those who can make it such a labor of love for other.

There is a frown given to Kasagami, "More ambitious?" She shrugs. "That's not the kind of recognition that I want. I am sure you enjoy the attention that you get from this kind of thing but it's not for me." There is just a slight undertone of bitterness in her voice and she adds, "It's not the reason that I work so hard."

Taking her seat, Ami just nods at Kasagami's final words but doesn't offer anything in reply. She was here in support it was true but helping further with the campaign wasn't something Ami really ever intended on doing.

Ami does offer Steven a nod. "That's right. That was my best friend Usagi-chan. Do you know her?" Just nearby, the conversation with Kasagami's uncle interrupts her thoughts and even if she doesn't know the man until the question is raised. Feeling like she is in the middle of some unknown family drama, Ami tries not to focus on it too much but she cannot help but hear the words that are spoken. It makes her realize just how little she knows of Kasagami.

When it's all said and done, Ami glances at Kasagami but instead focuses on Anthy, "Himimeya-san..." Ami smiles warmly to her. "It's good to see you again. We should have tea sometime." The mention of desserts makes her look towards the new trays being passed around and she admires the presentation. "Oh wow..." As they are passed around, Ami gratefully takes a rice ball. "Too bad Usagi-chan isn't here. She would love this."

"At this rate, I bet Araki-san will win. It's hard to imagine her being outdone right?" Ami asks to Steven and Chitose.

<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

Chitose starts to eat her KEBAB, although after a bite or two of the food she hears the man talk again, this time to Kasagami. She blinks, but after a few moments she continues eating. While some might be somewhat shocked at the altercation happening, Chitose only eats, muttering to herself. "I'm so glad I'm an only child." She pauses. "Of only children." Again, she pauses, this time stopping her eating fully. "I think. Mom doesn't have siblings, does she?"

The hairclip on the back of her head doesn't reply to this question.

She does applaud for Kuniko, though, and nods to Ami. "Yes, this is very good."

Chitose continues to eat, and while she does notice the new dessert trays, she doesn't move to take anything. Blink and people will miss it, but she sticks out her tounge and grimaces at a thought. Why? Because the red rice balls concern her. She's concerned about

STRAWBERRIES.

Though she pauses for a moment, and asks someone nearby, whether it'd be someone else or some of her tablemates. "What are these flavors, I have to ask?"

She doesn't move to take anything, though, even if she gets a different answer. The risk is too great.

But Ami's question does elicit a response, and she sits back and puts her food down to give it, crossing her arms for just a moment. "Well, I /want/ her to succeed. But I kind of wonder if Ohtori will let her."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

It's perhaps telling of their relationship that Kasagami actively, yet very gently, puts Anthyy behind her as her Uncle strides forward. Anthy's confidence has her smiling, but the events of the shake-and-leave has her arm going limp. Her breath catches, and she swallows. A smile.

It's as brittle as glass.

"Go for it."

And then imediately latches onto Kuniko's staggering. She sits down. And then that snail-bit has Kasagami reaching out with a most sharp knife indeed, and rips that snail out to chomp it down without a single sign of mercy. It's almost reckless that devouring!

She vaguely recovers enough as Steve's voice picks up, and she's peering. "Honestly? I have enough for the city. Focus on the internet. You'll know parts of the internet at Ohtori that I wouldn't! I trust you Steven. No matter the outcome!" Her voice rises, and she turns about to ruffle the kid on the head.

A pure, innocence kid that didn't get consumed by flame. Even the thuds of her Uncle's feet can't quell that particular urge.

"I know someone like you should inherit the world." A smile, and a grin, then she's away.

And then fingers snap. "And why shouldn't you be? Only the truly talented, the truly best in their own ways should rule!" She offers to Ami without restraint! She then openly slumps. No, Ami isn't going for her campaign. Kasagami almost looks sad.

Just almost, as she snakes another kebab.

"...I really don't see what someone like her is in favor of!?" She offers to the crowd beside her, as blatant mutters.

And then she turns to Chitose, and smiles at the woman. She remembers her form an ice skating party, long before. And offers a nod. A very, very weak nod, and she avoids the shuddering stress in her eyes.

She reaches for a glass of cider, and reaches it high. A single, last glance to her Uncle, and she grins for the crowd! "Let us toast! To a new future! To an honest rulership of ambition and pride in each other, and ourselves!" Offers Kasagami Araki! And then, stalking towards the dojo once again. And within, she swings through katas all at once, to show off her skill.

Perhaps a way to World Revolution. Or perhaps an ambitious fool's dream.

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

"Tea would be a delight, thank you, Ami-san. If I'm able I'll join you someday. Or perhaps I could serve you some at the next garden club social? We have them as time allows."

Chitose wonders about flavors and suddenly the Rose Bride is at her elbow, Kasagami's rounds having brought them by at /just/ the right moment to allow for one of Anthy's creepy appearing acts.

"The orange ones aren't orange!" Himemiya giggles, clearly finding that part too funny. She recovers and adds, "The reds are raspberry. And then the purple... were they plum, or blackberry? I'm not sure..." Then she's pulled out of range, a thoughtful look still on her face.

She raises a glass to the toast and lifts the drink to her lips, letting the bubbles fizz against her smile. But Anthy Himemiya does not drink.

[[Category:Logs]]

2017-11-20 - Kasagami Araki Fundraising Lunch

2017-11-20T19:40:48Z

SwordPerson: Log go!

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Kasagami Araki Fundraising Lunch'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Kasagami Araki, the Engaged, hosts a fabulous party to fundraise for her campaign against Touga Kiryuu. Friends and even family show up.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Ami Mizuno]], [[Anthy Himemiya]], [[Kasagami Araki]], [[Kuniko Saito]], [[Steven Universe]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
<Araki Family Estate, Tokyo>
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
<11/20/17 - 03/06/15>
|-
|}

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The Araki estate just outside of Tokyo proper is large and impressive: a main, well appointed house and guest area of ancient design, leading into more modern buildings for servants and baths when one feels the need for a spa, or simply modern living. There's an energy here: of old history and grandeur mixing with potential for the future. Of ambitions old and new alive and well where not weeks before there was only ruin and despair in ash.

A field of dark crimson roses, one of it's many gardens, is cut through on the way to the centerpiece of tonight. A shockingly large dojo of wood and bamboo, massive enough to hold a large kendo school or perhaps train a small army, has it's twin doors thrown wide open in invitation. Scrolls of names of the particular style of swordsmanship is proudly hung about the place, the largest ones clearly ancient, while much smaller ones more modern. The newest has a single name: Kasagami Araki, the school's defacto head.

It's upon a pulpit that anyone who's come for the fundraiser would find her. Outside, lengthy tables have been set up where black clad, suited servants are preparing for the actual lunch. Sparkling cider, as well as variou other classy drinks are set out already. One servant is taking meal tickets: those with the funds to donate receive free reign. Those who might not, or aren't from Ohtori, are instead given fliers for Kasagami's campaign and posters with promises to plaster them on places that are easily seen. The fliers are, as might be expected loud and have heroic shots of Kasagami on them alongside copious propogranda.

Inside, there's a number of people already seated or milling about away from the actual training floor. Numerous black coats are over shoulders, as is the trend amongst many students recently at Ohtori, along with sneaky bits of red or black. There's several businessmen, government officials, and others here for being a Student Council fundraiser. Or, perhaps not, given it's for Ohtori. A couple members of the kendo team flank Kasagami, and several pieces of armor and weapons of both Japanese and European make shown.

Kasagami's voice doesn't need a mic. "Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen of Tokyo! My beloved friends at Ohtori Academy, and our wonderful members of the Sister Schools! Today, I welcome you all as I officially announce my candidacy for Student Council President of Ohtori High School! Japan is a nation of strength, courage, and honor!" She begins, voice filled with vigor, passion, and energy.

" With the best and brightest of minds in the world! And as President of the most prestigious Academy in the country, I will do everything in my power to advance the interests of the student body, and transform the stagnant, uninspired leadership of Touga Kiryuu's reign into one where the most brightest and ambitious amongst you can become the leaders that will lead Japan into world prominence as the true vanguard of the modern world!"

Then, bowing upon the pulpit as the clapping starts, she smiles and looks out to the crowd, affable gaze and hair fluttering just a bit.

"Please see the servants and my home's majordomo, Anthy Himemiya, if you would like to further donate or work alongside our campaign! Be be warned, just as the Student Council under my leadership will work tirelessly to advance you /and/ all of the Sister Schools, I expect nothing but the most hard working and ambitious to walk beside me! Now, everyone, please enjoy yourselves as the Ohtori Kendo Club demonstrates some examples of the Araki Family's weapons collection."

She steps off the pulpit, and goes to mingle amongst the crowd. Old katanas from Tokugawa's reign, and other storied weapons are swung in meaningful, ceremonial katas, even as Kasagami strikes up a conversation with an older real estate mogul.

Her eye, and many of the servants however are watching out for more interesting members who may have come.

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Anthy Himemiya already knows her way around the kitchens at the Araki family estate. Given her orders for the evening and hands at her disposal, she makes good use of that knowledge. In what short order she's given, the appointed majordomo of the estate whips up a feast. Edamame and fried chicken wings, onigiri and spring rolls -- it's a smorgasbord of finger food, without a single utensil needed or indeed provided.

She's chosen a quiet look for herself, with a trim apricot coat belted snugly so that only a few inches of burgundy dress show between creamy lapels. Gold glints around Anthy's neck. Only her too-girlish socks with their frothy pink lace tops ruin the image of a good young society lady. One hand folded into another before her, she attends to the proclamations of Kasagami Araki with the most polite of attentiveness. That Anthy does so from a dark corner where the milling masses might not spot her, well...

It at least works until she gets named. Then the crowd's eyes fall on Anthy like so many searching spotlights. She does not shrink, even though she wants to. Instead she makes herself visibly busy by seeking the nearest servant to murmur in his ear.

"Go... go see if the dessert is ready." She knows it is; still, she sends him. By this time, Araki-sama is talking about swords and taking the crowd's attention along with her, and Anthy allows herself a relieved sigh.

She tries to busy herself across the room from those kendo demonstrations, though that may not always be possible, and never gets out of sight of Kasagami. In fact, she checks regularly for the taller girl, like one might poke at a sore tooth. Drifting from table to table, Anthy reaches out to adjust a rose-festooned centerpiece here or to sample an onigiri there.

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

The finger food has a few dainty touches in among the favorites - some of the onigiri has been packed into pita quarters and dressed with spiced chicken and pickles instead of traditional fillings.

Sitting near the entrance closest to the kitchen, Kuniko Saito has a fisherman's cap rakishly set down to half-veil her eyes. She is wearing her usual chef's outfit, and has a glass of rosewater in front of her on a table, even as she listens to the words being called out.

Kuniko is slouching but perhaps she is permitted.

'This event...'

EARLIER

"This is a pretty big last minute thing, huh," said Saito as she whipped through preparing the chicken wings, her skills at dredging and breading already beyond compare. Her outfit then was plainer, though she had an old blue apron on her waist. "I'm glad I could help out, and I think you're gonna like the entree, but..."

"What was it?" she had asked the violet-haired woman. "Like, she decide to get into the race at the last minute?"

BACK NOW

Kuniko's head lifts upwards, revealing her eyes. 'Something about it stinks,' she thinks as she picks up the glass. Her eyes track towards Himemiya and then towards the stentorian voice of 'that woman.'

"Well," she says, "at least they'll remember they had a great dinner. Chef is going to owe me for this one..." Which chef? That's the beauty of the title - there are many options.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Finally, a good night's sleep. How you have been missed. No stressful situations, no tense situations, no robots entering the atmosphere to do nefarious deeds. This day couldn't be better! Well, unless you were in trouble. But punishment hasn't been meted yet.

So currently, Steven Universe is free! For now.

The boy has caught wind of somethign rather big, involving someone who also had to deal with those problems of the day, and so he has shown up to provide support, as he is want and happy to do. The child boasts his usual attire, save for wearing a pear of sneakers instead of flip-flips, and is wearing a light pink buttondown, though undone as to see the usual deep-pink-with-yellow-star shirt underneath. Just trying to look a little better for somethign that sounded important. Though with all the students with a specific fashion selection, he wonders if there was a dress code for this!

"Oooh," Steven coos, seeing all the marvelous red roses. "These are great! Does Kasagami raise these?" The approach to the dojo is regarded with even more delight. It reminded him of the dojo out of Lonely Blade! So cool. The boy files in, and listens as Kasagami makes a statement-- a bid for president! She was... vice president? Well, guess there was only one spot above that. Might as well go for it!

"Neat!" he says, clapping at the end of the speech. She said... Anthy was the fundraiser lady, right? Isn't she the one that did the Rose lessons? ...It was! The boy plunges a hand into his pocket, pulling out a cookie cat-themed wallet, checking the fold. Okay, he did bring some spare cash! He can totally help the fundraiser.

...Though it may be wise to wait for the initial rush of people to dissipate. There is tons of cool stuff to look at all over the place first! Swords, plaques, names of accomplished swordsmen and women, oh my!

<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

So Chitose is here. Why is she here, even though she has a vague disdain for Ohtori and fancy parties in general?

Well, for one, Chitose wasn't at Ohtori! This wasn't Ohtori, at least. So she was fine there.

Plus, well, Chitose was actually fond of Kasagami! Admittedly, almost every Ohtori-related function she had attended since leaving that school had Kasagami's name on it, and the one that she attended that /didn't/ ended poorly for everyone involved.

So, she's here.

She's kept quiet, in the back, wearing her usual white shirt/black skirt attire. Being older than most of the people from Ohtori she knows, she never paid too much attention to student council elections, so she's not too sure exactly what Touga's policies were. Yes, even though Chitose actually went to Ohtori in the past.

That said, Chitose spends her time alternating looking between the host of the event, and looking around at everything. This was made pretty easy, as the bespectacled girl's eyes was higher than the tops of a lot of people's heads. But for now, that's all she does.

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

It is not unusual for Ami to take a break from her studies and other activities to check out various student activities. Although she had no interest in being on the student council, it was an important time for some and from what she knew of Kasagami, the student likely had something big planned and so she just makes it in time while everyone is gathering at the estate.

It is her first time here and while she doesn't know her way around she finds that it's easy to follow the crowd as fliers are passed out and she notices the familiar girl on the front. She laughs a little at how serious Kasagami was taking her running. Although, to her, it seemed a little unfair to other who may have wanted to run and didn't have much money but those thoughts are pushed aside while she makes her way to the main area.

Ami takes notice of all the fancy decorations. Even if her mother had money, they had never lived in anywhere this nice. The decorations and accomodations are superior, she thinks. When she enters the main area, Ami glances around for familiar faces and chooses a seat near the front but off to the side.

Ami wasn't sure how nicely she should dress so she is wearing a blue, ruffled, short-sleeve dress with a black jacket and black tights. On her shoulder is a small black purse with feathers covering the outside. She didn't want to stand out too much but still it seemed like an occassion to dress up a little.

When the speech begins, Ami can't help but find herself intrigued by the words that are spoken and the enthusiasm the crowd shows and she considers what her own role could be. She wasn't one of the most popular students but people at least seemed to know about her, for better or for worse. Maybe that could come in handy to help somehow? her thoughts are interrupted by the final claps from the crowd and as Kasagami leaves her pulpit, the Juuban student stands up, waving a little towards Kasagami if she catches her attention.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

The servant is off like lightning: less due to any fear for the nervous, purple-haired majordomo, and more out of knowing just who is cutting the checks. Kasagami Araki, for all her flamboyant nature, expects skill from everyone. And increasingly, absolute obedience to spirit and letter of her word.

The servants may in fact, seem a touch nervous.

But eyes follow Anthy the entire time. The rich and powerful play here, mostly a mere excuse by said personages to mingle and work deals amidst a young star rising. But the energy here is unmistakable.

It's like a hand reaching to the stars, like Alexander the Great reaching for dreams that may well be impossible. But are they doomed to gutter and crash? Only time will tell.

As the katas end, and bows are made, swords are sent back to sheaths. Kasagami makes long-legged strides to meet the crowd. Kuniko's presence, slouched though it may be, gains no reproach from those around her. That hat hides her eyes, and her chef's outfit may as well hide her presence from the seething mass of humanity. Students, politicians, it's all a white noise sheen of power being traded around. And Kasagami swirls amidst it.

But Kuniko's work isn't unnoticed. There's the murmurs of praise in the air of the fingerfoods, so above the usual norm. A few eyes do turn to look upon Kuniko.

After several minutes of brushing shoulders with Ohtori students and business leaders, Kasagami openly motions towards Anthy expectantly. A quick glance around. There's an arm held out. She imagines green tresses, and long limbs walking into her arm. The black hole swirling in her heart aches, and she shakes her head. Kasagami's smile doesn't falter, but she needs to have /someone/ on her arm. And no Rinji.

Once purple and black are joined, Kasagami will nod to the girl. "Well done so far, Anthy. Now just help me out, and remember you're my perfect little head of house, right?" A whisper. A grin.

Her first stop is towards Steven of all people. Short and stout though he may be, her eye caught his distinctive profile. The line he's fighting is long, but? No, the hostess herself is stalking towards the young man with a warm smile.

"Steven!" There's honest joy for seeing the child, said as though she's greeting a long lost friend. Even if it's been but a scant day or two.

"You're the last person I expected here, but welcome! Come on, come on, skip the line! Get yourself something to eat!" It seems the boy might be free of any entrance fee through sheer power of Kasagami admiring him for who he is.

Fingers snap, right to Anthy. He might notice her coat is missing, the young woman dressed in one part StuCo uniform, one part swaying black kimono upon her. Seems she's improvised.

"I'm afraid I'm the type of person that's more suited to cutting roses than tending to them. Why don't you ask my majordomo here, Anthy Himemiya?" Grin! She nudges Anthy forward with just a little more force than is needed.

"Anthy, meet Steve-kun. The young light of the future, may he never fall to ashes." Her tone shifts, and sounds almost...sad for some reason.

Kuniko, for her part as one of the Chef(s) is surrounded by a small pack of lesser servants. So far nothing has gone wrong in all of that cooking! But one servant, a nervous looking teenager younger than her that looks expectant of the slouching woman! "U...uhh, what should we do for the dessert, Chef-san? There's an order, but...it just says..." She pulls out a hastily scrawled note.

'Amaze them! Show me your ambition! -KA-chan~'

This poor girl is in /tears/!

Chitose is another face in the crowd. At first. But there's a tall man that stands up behind her. In fact, about two inches taller than the already very tall woman. Otherwise, he'd be unremarkable. He's the picture of a salaryman: complexion, dark hair, stiff. Japanese, yet tall, but not hulking. Arms fold, and he catches the sight of Chitose as she peers at the hostess. He steps to her side, and clears his throat gently.

"...What do you think of Kasagami Araki, and her seeking that position?" He asks suddenly. The man has to at least be in his fifties, and there's a stern edge to his voice. He stares with a hard look.

His eyes are a dull and steely grey, notably.

In between prodding Steven, Kasagami spies Ami too! That waving has her laughing. "Ami Mizuno, genius of Juuban!" She calls out. She is not quiet about this.

"I have people for you to meet!" More than one /very/ influential politician or business mogul slams their eyes on the bluenette. Kasagami merely grins at her Imperial Summons. Dun dun duuun!

In between eating one of those chicken-stuffed fingerfoods. Kuniko has outdone herself. She's already devoured three, utterly politely.

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

Earlier in the kitchen, Anthy at first had only the spare time to nod her thanks when this mysterious culinary savior arrived on the scene. After Kuniko's expertise bought them both some breathing room she managed a bit of conversation here and there. Her voice was sweet and soft, if a bit thin from exertion.

"Araki-sama is a woman of great and unpredictable temper." A long pause followed; maybe she was catching her breath. "Ah. Temperament, I meant." She flapped one hand at the end of her bird-boned wrist, silly Anthy. "But look at how powerful she is -- she commands something and it happens. Is it not admirable? Oh! The wings are going to burn, pardon me."

-=-=-=-

For the help Kuniko Saito has brought, with the miraculous just-in-the-nick-of-timing reserved for all true heroes, she has more than earned the right to a judicious bit of slouching. At Anthy's quiet word to a nearby waiter, that rosewater will be kept topped off all night long.

That imperious summoning gesture strikes its mark; Anthy gives a little nod to Kasagami and takes that dipping motion to suck in a quick breath, then hastens to obey her Engaged. The Rose Bride slips through the crowd and is at Kasagami's side within half a minute. Lashes thick and lowered, she murmurs, "Yes, Araki-sama," and adorns the arm of Presidential hopeful on her tour around the room.

'Does Kasagami raise these?' Anthy gets that unsubtle nudge and stumbles half a step before regaining her balance. She plays it off as her own clumsiness, or tries to.

"You could say Araki-sama is responsible for the roses, and wouldn't be wrong." Anthy Himemiya tilts a smile Steven's way as if nothing just happened, even as she gives... is that an answer? It might be hard to tell. "It's nice to see you again, Steven-san. Are you here to support her, tonight?"

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kuniko watches things. Steven's enthusiasm is great to see, but that stout lad... isn't he a little young for politics? "Tch," Kuniko says, for no good reason.

A passing server looks at her. "Are you OK, Saito-san?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, just had, uh, something in my teeth," she tells the server immediately.

Then she frowns in thought. That's Ami Mizuno, she's Makoto's friend, isn't she? Kuniko thinks -- but then she's surrounded by servants! She gets up because she wants to be able to see, raising her hands and saying, "Hold on, hold on! We haven't even gotten the main out and you're already worrying about dessert?"

EARLIER

"Mm," Kuniko had answered Anthy. The wings finished, she moved on to mounting a lot of things on metal skewers. Her eyes turn towards Anthy then, watching her because the autonomous reflex of what she's doing allows her to work without much thought. The mechanical acts of prep are soothing to her, a sort of mantric meditation...

NOW AGAIN

"So get that stuff out, come on, it ought to be about ready."

Kuniko takes a deep breath - "Oh yeah," she says. "I can smell it."

AND SO, the main course is revealed...

KEBABS. The metal skewers of grilled meat are presented in a range of styles, each of them including different assortments of vegetables - on some, onions and tomatoes and peppers, on others, riceballs and mushrooms and takoyaki. In each case the primary ingredient is sportfish - swordfish, tuna, and king crab meat were basted in a solution of olive oil, garlic and curious spices (Himemiya might recognize North African influence; others would simply recognize FLAVOR) to allow for greater savor and browning during the grilling process over hot flame.

This is accompanied by veritable seas of fresh-baked pita bread.

"It's not the most advanced trick in the book," Kuniko muses... "But lunch is a pretty simple meal, and it'll appeal to a wide range of people. Isn't that what you're going for... Araki-kun?"

Kuniko then lapses silent a moment later because she realizes, a little belatedly, that she's actually standing within earshot of Kasagami when she said that.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

So much history in this place! How long has it been here? Is it new or refurbished? Or has it stood the test of time so well it is just as it was made? It is difficult for Steven to tell. His dad Greg might be able to point that out, but not himself.

Some folks around he recognizes from other events! Some older students here are from Juuban, and they get a form of recognition, if not just in passing. Though more weaponry get his attention. An especially old blade gets his eye, and he leans in quite close to get a really good look at it.

"Eep! I didn't touch it!" he says, spinning around quickly. Oh, it was kasagami! "Heeeey!" he replies with, cheerful as ever. The lady seemed unharmed for the most part from the other day, or recovered quickly, both of which are good outcomes, though her lovely coat is missing. No doubt the work of the detonating Robonoids. Jerks. "Nice event! I do like the Dojo!" He will probably have to explain some things to Kassie one day when he gets the chance. The Kindergarten certainly isn't something that one should stumble upon. "Hiii!" the boy says, wiggling his fingers in a cute wave to Anthy. "Oh, learning more would be great!" he exclaims. "I certainly am! With what I can spare, I will totally help." The least she could be offered. Kasagami has such high aspirations. They need to be supported! "It is nice to see you here helping too!" he adds to the nice Rose Lady.

And then the food happens. The boy was enjoying some edemame earlier (which salted and steamed, is his favorite snack in Tokyo thusfar) but these kebabs smell amazing! The boy sits at a table, ready to eat! Though he currently doesn't know many of the folks where he is sitting. But that is okay! Maybe a chance to make some friends!

As the food is served, Steven makes a note to thank the chef as soon as possible! What a hard job making all this food has to be. Especially to present it perfectly.

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

People begin to mingle and there are few here that she openly recognizes and Ami is not one to really push her way into other people's conversations or interrupt unless she needs to so instead she starts to head towards the food tables where Kasagami and Steven area.

The abrupt and loud greeting by Kasagami however makes her redden and look around nervously. "Araki-san, that's not my title!" She says this quietly, but forecfully. The comment about having people to meet though makes her raise her eyes towards the girl. "Oh? What kind of people?" Networking couldn't hurt right?

It's then that Ami notices the smaller, black-haired boy nearby one of the tables. "Oh, you go to Juuban too don't you?" A pause. "I am Ami Mizuno." Not that he probably already hadn't heard thanks to Kasagami. The older girl offers a slight bow to him. "It's good to see other students here from our school. I was worried it would be all Ohtori students." Ami looks back at Kasagami, "Not that it's a bad thing mind you." She laughs a little, the enthuasiastic offer for her to change schools was still fresh in her mind.

Then, lunch is announced and Ami starts to move back towards her table, but abruptly she changes her mind and walks over to Steven's table. "Do you mind if I join you? Usagi-chan couldn't make it so I came alone. Ami sits down at the table as food is being served. It smells so good that she closes her eyes briefly, taking it all in. "They really went all out for this right?"

Once being served, she doesn't take long to dig into her own lunch since she had chosen not to eat beforehand. The kebabs were perfect in her mind. The flavors and presentation were both spectacular and she finds that just one of them fills her up quickly. "Oh wow, this is amazing. I guess Araki-san really wants to get on everyone's good side." She laughs and then adds, "I mean food is the best way to get people's attention right?"

<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

Chitose's attention is suddenly drawn to the sudden man speaking to her, and she turns to him just enough to see him. "Hmm?" She looks at him for a few moments, then back to Kasagami. Then, back to the man. She shrugs awkwardly. "I can't really say, when I went to that school I never paid attention to those races." Admittedly, seeing a few people constantly win the same races got tiring after a while, to the point that Slightly Younger Chitose would just pass by the various election posters without even noticing.

"But she is... enthusastic, at least. Ohtori will be different if she wins." If instead of when! Not because Chitose doubts Kasagami, but she doubts Ohtori in general. "I'll be paying attention, at least.

And then suddenly, FOOD. Chitose is attracted by the food, and with that she breaks off dialogue. "Pardon me, it seems the food has arrived." And so she turns and heads her way to the course, making her way to a table. For the most part, she doesn't pay attention to who or what seats at her table, but she watches the food. Chitose is wealthy enough that food is never a concern for her, but she does enjoy free food!

Especially good free food.

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

Into her arms Anthy goes, and Kasagami nods in approval. These steps aren't of lovers. No, Kasagami holds herself with pride. Some might say arrogance, as though she's above the purple haired Anthy. A purely hierarchical confidence that she holds herself in...and places herself at the top, internally. All on ambition, as tenuous as a scaffold that may be to her own Kingdom.

Anthy's response has her chuckling. "Yeesh, don't be so modest, Anthy! Just because they're at my beck and call, doesn't mean others haven't toiled for their raising! A true ruler over any piece of land commands. But that doesn't mean her gaze doesn't fall upon the servants and knights as well! Take pride in what you do here. Because what you accomplish gives meaning to your life, no matter how it all ends!"

The kebabs, it seems, are entirely to the crowd's liking as they're unveiled. There's no outright reveal to the lunch proper, but katas end, and Kasagami briefly breaks to save one kendo member from a slightly over-exerted strike of a nodachi. She pauses, bows, and waves away Anthy's presence for just that long. A swing, a slice of air, and she adds overly long pointy implement back to it's old home.

Then pretty much jogs up as servants unveil the KEBABS OF DESTINY!

A vast majority of the crowd, students, wealthy types, and those not immediately involved are all devouring what Kuniko and her team of crack Chef-types are unveiling. To say it goes well would be an understatement. The small army works to refill glasses and generally make the tabled experience be as lovely as possible. The food may as well be as close to divinity as one can get on this earth.

As proved by one Kasagami Araki, as she snaps her fingers to one Kuniko Saito. Perhaps unlike most, 'Araki-kun' only has her grinning. The girl gets a /look/ of respect for her work this night! "That's exactly right! Everyone! Please give your finest thanks to our finest chef!" Kassie doesn't actually know Kuniko's name right now. Her confidence doesn't falter, but instead of being angry by any casual tone, she instead directs the hungry crowd to their culinary benefactor.

"Isn't she just /wonderful/! This is the face of culinary ambition!" Boots thunk together. For a second, all eyes are on Kuniko, and then they fade away back to scrumptious noms and conversation.

A chuckle as Steve spins around. "It looks like you have an eye for swords too! Deep breath, Steve. I'll introduce you to the collection soon." Smirk. Wink. Car and sword both, it seems!

Amongst other more weighty matters. A glance to his wallet, and then to him. She very quickly, and forcefully, tries to hold his wallet closed.

And then gently push it back to him. "Save it. For your own ambitions, Steve. I'd rather you join my campaign. Wny not put my posters out in town? Or post things on the internet? You're a friend to me." Her voice is strangely sincere. The earnest young man feels like the little brother she never had.

"Now go enjoy our Chef's work, huh?" Grin!

Two arms cross, and she openly grins at Ami. "If you were a slightly more ambitious woman, it would be! You've worked hard to obtain those kind of test scores. I mean, you're at /my/ notice, after all! The best and the brightest."

Flick. Yup, she's definitely mentioning both Anthy and Steven, oddly enough. Not some kind of mogul. No politician. These two, for different reasons entirely, she sees something in of worth beyond most.

As Ami sits down with Steven, she nods approvingly. Even with a wink!

"Enjoy, Ami-chan! My campaign could use a real webmaster after all!" She offers in parting.

Somewhere, a nerd dies inside.

Chitose's words have the man sighing. "Ethusiastic...Different?" The man scowls hard briefly, and then sighs almost hopelessly. He waves a hand. Pianist's fingers.

"Overblown as ever." Mutters the man as Chitose makes off to food. And then he walks forcefully over to Kasagami. She turns, amidst devouring one more kebab as she's sat down.

And then, spinning three kebab metal sticks in hand, she stands up. And then drives each one two inches down into faultless wood as she stands up.

"...What is it, Uncle?" Comes Kasagami to the tall man that just left Chitose. He pauses, and then, is silent. He looks her over, then Anthy, then over to Steven and Ami in particular.

And a hand is offered over. His voice carries.

"I still do not like you as a head of the family. Your Father would have been better." Before Kasagami can let loose her protest to those words, he clears his throat. Kasagami pauses, and then, takes his hand.

A shake. The enmity between the two family members may as well be thick enough to cut.

"But no matter your...oddities, your success these last days is remarkable. If you can lift our family to true prominence again, I'll support you." The tall man then lets go, and starts walking away.

Kasagami is speechless. She looks past the man, stunned at his offer.

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

When Kasagami's route takes them past one of the dinner trays Anthy snags a kebab. It's too good to last long. The purple-haired girl casts a big-eyed look over her shoulder at Kuniko in her chef's hat.

"As if I could miss it," Anthy tells Steven with a big smile aimed Kasagami's way. Ami gets a long look and a polite smile, noting her refusal of the 'genius' title. Anthy tilts her head, and wonders.

She makes a pretty adornment for Kasagami's arm, polite and deferential. "As you say, Araki-sama. The honor is mine, of course, to be close to ambition so nearly realized."

The way Kasagami's uncle announces himself gets a look of proper shock from Anthy where she hangs off of the tall young woman's arm. They shake; the older man offers begrudging support and gets stunned silence in return.

Green eyes wide like full moons, she looks up at Kasagami Araki and asks in a bright and innocent stage whisper that's sure to carry:

"Is this a good time for dessert, Araki-sama?"

That's as good as giving a signal. A trio of servants marches out to uncover their trays with a synchronized flourish: rice balls colored like bright flowers, with fresh fruit and berries inside them to match.

One has reds and greens arranged to look like a blooming rose. One has a symmetrical and abstract design, like a stained glass pattern. The final tray? A cheerful yellow-shelled snail with a purple body!

Anthy herself claps a bit in delight to see their presentation carried out to perfection. "Oh, they're almost too cute to eat!"

<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.

Kuniko quietly savors everyone's look of appreciation, and their savoring in turn of her food. She paps one fist into the opposing hand, nodding to herself. Yeah!!

And then she's put on the spot. "Uh?" she says, looking out at everyone.

"Uh...! Please enjoy your meals!" she calls, and then the attention passes away and she staggers slightly to her side, putting a hand on a chair. Shivering violently. All those EYES on her...

Anyway: That's how Kuniko ends up sitting down, just in time for dessert. "Oh, damn, this is some great presentation," she says - although she falters momentarily at the sight of the snail.

<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.

Oh! It seems Kasagami knows one of the other students at Juuban! Awesome! "Hi Ami! I'm Steven. Steven Universe!" The boy offers a polite bow. He's getting the hang of how to introduce himself in Tokyo! "Nice to see you here too! " he adds. He has seen the girl in the school halls before... he thinks. Yeah, hes pretty sure he has, actually.

This food is fantastic. It reminds him of a sunset barbeque spent with friends after a long day of hard work. Music playing, games all around, and the food is hot and ready. The boy looks up from his meal, and gladly helps make room for Ami. "Mm!" he says with a mouth full. He speaks after his mouth is free. "Yeah! Hey, I thought I saw you at Kasagami's ball, too! That was you with that blonde girl, right?"

He couldn't help but eavesdrop that night while hanging with Niramo in between their own conversation exchange. Being a socialite is fun!

"Oh totally," the boy adds in after another bite. "A good speech, good food, good dances... A bit of preparation can go a long way!"

The boy excuses himself for a minute, to go and make his donation. It was a modest amount, a little more than you'd expect a kid of his age to have saved up. It was a good time while folks ate! Though he is stopped by someone he didn't expect. "Ah--!" Steven lets out, hearing about the ideas Kasagami has instead of money. "Y-Yes!" he lets out, starry eyed as ever. HE GETS TO BE A PROMOTER! Wait, is tha twhat a promoter is?

"You just let me know and I will canvas the whole city for you! I'll canvas the internet!" he says, excitement filling his every word. It was like he was working for a band, except this time it was a political band!

The boy returns to his seat, followed by the two in charge, beginning to munch more as Kassie speaks with Ami. The boy nods his head viciously toward Ami, hoping she wil laccept his offer! Though someone else walks over now. A man of stature arrives. The boy looks to Anthy and Kasagami. Who was this person?

They don't sound pleased.

At least until the last thing he says. It sounds like he didn't like how she acted, but has looked past it, seeing greatness therein. THe boy freezes, holding a kebab vertically, staring wide-eyed at the situation. Even as the juicy goodness of the kebab drips down onto his hand and his pantleg. He seems utterly affixed to what is about to happen...!

<Pose Tracker> Ami Mizuno [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Ami claps enthusiastically for Kuniko. She admires anyone who can come up with something this delicious. But people are quickly returning to their food and Ami does as well. "I wonder if it's some secret recipe. Not that I could probably do as well." Ami wasn't big on cooking, preferring things that could be made quickly and easily so she has a great deal of admiration for those who can make it such a labor of love for other.

There is a frown given to Kasagami, "More ambitious?" She shrugs. "That's not the kind of recognition that I want. I am sure you enjoy the attention that you get from this kind of thing but it's not for me." There is just a slight undertone of bitterness in her voice and she adds, "It's not the reason that I work so hard."

Taking her seat, Ami just nods at Kasagami's final words but doesn't offer anything in reply. She was here in support it was true but helping further with the campaign wasn't something Ami really ever intended on doing.

Ami does offer Steven a nod. "That's right. That was my best friend Usagi-chan. Do you know her?" Just nearby, the conversation with Kasagami's uncle interrupts her thoughts and even if she doesn't know the man until the question is raised. Feeling like she is in the middle of some unknown family drama, Ami tries not to focus on it too much but she cannot help but hear the words that are spoken. It makes her realize just how little she knows of Kasagami.

When it's all said and done, Ami glances at Kasagami but instead focuses on Anthy, "Himimeya-san..." Ami smiles warmly to her. "It's good to see you again. We should have tea sometime." The mention of desserts makes her look towards the new trays being passed around and she admires the presentation. "Oh wow..." As they are passed around, Ami gratefully takes a rice ball. "Too bad Usagi-chan isn't here. She would love this."

"At this rate, I bet Araki-san will win. It's hard to imagine her being outdone right?" Ami asks to Steven and Chitose.

<Pose Tracker> Chitose Shiratori [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

Chitose starts to eat her KEBAB, although after a bite or two of the food she hears the man talk again, this time to Kasagami. She blinks, but after a few moments she continues eating. While some might be somewhat shocked at the altercation happening, Chitose only eats, muttering to herself. "I'm so glad I'm an only child." She pauses. "Of only children." Again, she pauses, this time stopping her eating fully. "I think. Mom doesn't have siblings, does she?"

The hairclip on the back of her head doesn't reply to this question.

She does applaud for Kuniko, though, and nods to Ami. "Yes, this is very good."

Chitose continues to eat, and while she does notice the new dessert trays, she doesn't move to take anything. Blink and people will miss it, but she sticks out her tounge and grimaces at a thought. Why? Because the red rice balls concern her. She's concerned about

STRAWBERRIES.

Though she pauses for a moment, and asks someone nearby, whether it'd be someone else or some of her tablemates. "What are these flavors, I have to ask?"

She doesn't move to take anything, though, even if she gets a different answer. The risk is too great.

But Ami's question does elicit a response, and she sits back and puts her food down to give it, crossing her arms for just a moment. "Well, I /want/ her to succeed. But I kind of wonder if Ohtori will let her."

<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.

It's perhaps telling of their relationship that Kasagami actively, yet very gently, puts Anthyy behind her as her Uncle strides forward. Anthy's confidence has her smiling, but the events of the shake-and-leave has her arm going limp. Her breath catches, and she swallows. A smile.

It's as brittle as glass.

"Go for it."

And then imediately latches onto Kuniko's staggering. She sits down. And then that snail-bit has Kasagami reaching out with a most sharp knife indeed, and rips that snail out to chomp it down without a single sign of mercy. It's almost reckless that devouring!

She vaguely recovers enough as Steve's voice picks up, and she's peering. "Honestly? I have enough for the city. Focus on the internet. You'll know parts of the internet at Ohtori that I wouldn't! I trust you Steven. No matter the outcome!" Her voice rises, and she turns about to ruffle the kid on the head.

A pure, innocence kid that didn't get consumed by flame. Even the thuds of her Uncle's feet can't quell that particular urge.

"I know someone like you should inherit the world." A smile, and a grin, then she's away.

And then fingers snap. "And why shouldn't you be? Only the truly talented, the truly best in their own ways should rule!" She offers to Ami without restraint! She then openly slumps. No, Ami isn't going for her campaign. Kasagami almost looks sad.

Just almost, as she snakes another kebab.

"...I really don't see what someone like her is in favor of!?" She offers to the crowd beside her, as blatant mutters.

And then she turns to Chitose, and smiles at the woman. She remembers her form an ice skating party, long before. And offers a nod. A very, very weak nod, and she avoids the shuddering stress in her eyes.

She reaches for a glass of cider, and reaches it high. A single, last glance to her Uncle, and she grins for the crowd! "Let us toast! To a new future! To an honest rulership of ambition and pride in each other, and ourselves!" Offers Kasagami Araki! And then, stalking towards the dojo once again. And within, she swings through katas all at once, to show off her skill.

Perhaps a way to World Revolution. Or perhaps an ambitious fool's dream.

<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.

"Tea would be a delight, thank you, Ami-san. If I'm able I'll join you someday. Or perhaps I could serve you some at the next garden club social? We have them as time allows."

Chitose wonders about flavors and suddenly the Rose Bride is at her elbow, Kasagami's rounds having brought them by at /just/ the right moment to allow for one of Anthy's creepy appearing acts.

"The orange ones aren't orange!" Himemiya giggles, clearly finding that part too funny. She recovers and adds, "The reds are raspberry. And then the purple... were they plum, or blackberry? I'm not sure..." Then she's pulled out of range, a thoughtful look still on her face.

She raises a glass to the toast and lifts the drink to her lips, letting the bubbles fizz against her smile. But Anthy Himemiya does not drink.

[[Category:Logs]]

User:SwordPerson

2017-10-09T01:54:53Z

SwordPerson: Player Page Go!

Hello! I'm the player of everyone's favorite Disciplinary Executive, [[Kasagami Araki]]!

IT person, lover of Dark Souls, JoJo's, Sailor Moon, Revolutionary Girl Utena, and italian cooking.

Much <3 to all you wonderful players on BF Mush!

Kasagami Araki

2017-10-09T01:48:07Z

SwordPerson:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:SwordPerson|SwordPerson]]
|-
|}
=History=

To Be Added!

=Personality=

To Be Added!

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #FFFFFF;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|
[[Ami Mizuno]]: The Genius of Juuban. A study session ended with Kasagami on the floor after a crippling flareup of nerve pain. The girl selflessly helped her, commanded the situation with the kind of leadership and calm that makes a leader or a proper doctor. Such kindness and talent has Kasagami's respect. How easy it is to make her blush and her loyalty to her friends is icing on the cake. Good conversationalist, on the list of 'Talent to Scalp' for Ohtori.

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Kasagami's favorite Puella Magi, and leader of the Shepherds. Knows she doesn't fit in with the group. Shows loyalty anyway, which has only hardened her resolve to help them despite her own sense of justice along with concern for Setsuna. Often pushes back at her arrogance, yet knows her place at Ohtori. Quick to fight. Family, as fellow Shepherds, but too close to her own secrets. She worries it will split them apart one day.

[[Garnet]]: Stoic, straightforward, and an utter brickhouse of a person. Kasagami liked her instantly, and wants nothing more than to test her blade against the rock that is Garnet. Also can apparently transform. Kasagami finds that both fascinating and completely creepy.

[[Nanoha Takamachi]]: Cute as a button, the Midori-ya's daughter is the kind of innocent cheer that Kasagami wants to see more of, and shape a perfect world for. Apparently a magical girl. Also touched Pluto, and a new Chevalier. Currently in Kasagami's crosshairs of unreasonable fear and love fueled anger.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Everything Kasagami hates in one pink haired package. The fear and terror she shows in tense situations, magical or mundane, revolts her. How she keeps managing to extract guilt for her past actions and present ones so easily, infuriating. What the Chevaliers see in her, she doesn't know, but the mere thought of Madoka enrages.

[[Mami Tomoe]]: The Golden Queen of Shibuya, leader of the Chevaliers. An enemy to be sure, and Kasagami despises how she puts magic over the pride of Ohtori. More and more Kasagami wants to see her expelled. Yet, not all is blackness. Kasagami considers her a worthy opponent in magical conflict. Mami's hatred of her makes her a useful enemy to have, fuel to Kasagami's inner fire to reach for World Revolution.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: Fierce warrior cat. Oddly laid back outside of battle, furious inside of it. Kasagami aches to fight with her fellow Shepherd, only drawn in by the heat of Mikoto's wrath and her massive sword. Rejected her offer of a fight. Still annoyed. Wants to get to know the girl better, and maybe teach her a thing or two.

[[Usagi Tsukino]]: A blonde, clumsy, talent-less loaf of a girl in Kasagami's eyes that somehow manages to be a thorn in her side consistently. Yet she draws more frustration than hatred, mostly due to Pluto's steadfast loyalty to the girl even over her love. Yet, she's intrigued. What about this girl is so special? To be protected, if only for Setsuna's sake. As Sailor Moon, recent interactions have earned Kasagami's respect...even if her hope for the current world is baffling and secretly terrifying. Still a hope youma.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Their relationship is best described as politely neutral at best, familial obligations at worst. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Co leader of the Chevaliers. Completely infuriates Kasagami at times, while tickling her to her core. She doesn't back down. A worthy rival in Kasagami's eyes, as precious an enemy in her hatred as Mami if not moreso. Yet her recent turn to reckless advances and berserkerdom is an odd change. Worrying, slowly losing the sheen of knighthood in Kassie's gaze. A reckoning will come.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Wise, strong, quiet and with an eternal sadness that eats at Kasagami's sense of justice. As a Shepherd she's a valued ally, and as a person, has gained a place in Kasagami's heart as a lover and friend. After patching up their relationship from the fight over Usagi, more insight into her past as Sailor Pluto and the growing bonds between Rinji, Setsuna, and Kasagami is giving Kasagami the family she's lost. With the War heating up, and Setsuna withdrawn thanks to her grim duty, a worming terror over losing Setsuna increasingly eats into her heart.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. She respects Shizuru for her position, even if she hates the stoic ways of the girl and perfect calm. An enemy to be sure, and yet a mentor in some ways. Stomped on her dreams and humiliated her emotionally. Despite overcoming her in their Duel, the sting is harsh. Vengeance is high on her mind.

[[Sucy Manbavaran]]: An actual, honest-to-goodness potion using Witch of the cute variety! The quiet young woman's delinquency first drew Kasagami's ire. An encounter alongside Pluto would show the girl's magical talents, and time at Infinity's library sparked a deal made in perhaps better faith than expected. Slowly, she's coming to like the girl, ice to her fire. She might even consider Sucy a friend.

[[Rinji]]: The Muse, demur and quiet musician, and yet so much more. Kasagami has found herself attracted to, and coming to love the mute singer for both her passion and ability to cheer on others, as well as the kindness and ability to push her ever harder when she's down. More playful than is obvious, and that only melts Kassie's heart. Rinji saved Kasagami from despair when Setsuna and her fought. The bonds between the three grow deeper, and Kasagami's nightmares slowly drift from her past, to a terrible future reflecting her old tragedy.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Friend and enemy at once. Kasagami's intense feelings for the pink haired Engaged are conflicted in the extreme. Admiring her desire as a prince, she can't understand why she cares so for the Rose Bride or being 'normal'. After Utena's draining by the Wolkenritter, the wounds physical and mental on Utena forced Kasagami to challenge for the right to Duel her out of concern...and greed for the power that Utena has held. After being pushed away with her concerns, there's something else in Kasagami's eyes: disappointment in the one she thought might be her Prince.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself.

|-
|}

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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

Kasagami Araki

2017-10-09T00:30:43Z

SwordPerson: Colors edited

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[]]
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#B31B1B; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:YourUsername|YourUsername]]
|-
|}
=History=

To Be Added!

=Personality=

To Be Added!

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #FFFFFF;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|
[[Ami Mizuno]]: The Genius of Juuban. A study session ended with Kasagami on the floor after a crippling flareup of nerve pain. The girl selflessly helped her, commanded the situation with the kind of leadership and calm that makes a leader or a proper doctor. Such kindness and talent has Kasagami's respect. How easy it is to make her blush and her loyalty to her friends is icing on the cake. Good conversationalist, on the list of 'Talent to Scalp' for Ohtori.

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Kasagami's favorite Puella Magi, and leader of the Shepherds. Knows she doesn't fit in with the group. Shows loyalty anyway, which has only hardened her resolve to help them despite her own sense of justice along with concern for Setsuna. Often pushes back at her arrogance, yet knows her place at Ohtori. Quick to fight. Family, as fellow Shepherds, but too close to her own secrets. She worries it will split them apart one day.

[[Garnet]]: Stoic, straightforward, and an utter brickhouse of a person. Kasagami liked her instantly, and wants nothing more than to test her blade against the rock that is Garnet. Also can apparently transform. Kasagami finds that both fascinating and completely creepy.

[[Nanoha Takamachi]]: Cute as a button, the Midori-ya's daughter is the kind of innocent cheer that Kasagami wants to see more of, and shape a perfect world for. Apparently a magical girl. Also touched Pluto, and a new Chevalier. Currently in Kasagami's crosshairs of unreasonable fear and love fueled anger.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Everything Kasagami hates in one pink haired package. The fear and terror she shows in tense situations, magical or mundane, revolts her. How she keeps managing to extract guilt for her past actions and present ones so easily, infuriating. What the Chevaliers see in her, she doesn't know, but the mere thought of Madoka enrages.

[[Mami Tomoe]]: The Golden Queen of Shibuya, leader of the Chevaliers. An enemy to be sure, and Kasagami despises how she puts magic over the pride of Ohtori. More and more Kasagami wants to see her expelled. Yet, not all is blackness. Kasagami considers her a worthy opponent in magical conflict. Mami's hatred of her makes her a useful enemy to have, fuel to Kasagami's inner fire to reach for World Revolution.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: Fierce warrior cat. Oddly laid back outside of battle, furious inside of it. Kasagami aches to fight with her fellow Shepherd, only drawn in by the heat of Mikoto's wrath and her massive sword. Rejected her offer of a fight. Still annoyed. Wants to get to know the girl better, and maybe teach her a thing or two.

[[Usagi Tsukino]]: A blonde, clumsy, talent-less loaf of a girl in Kasagami's eyes that somehow manages to be a thorn in her side consistently. Yet she draws more frustration than hatred, mostly due to Pluto's steadfast loyalty to the girl even over her love. Yet, she's intrigued. What about this girl is so special? To be protected, if only for Setsuna's sake. As Sailor Moon, recent interactions have earned Kasagami's respect...even if her hope for the current world is baffling and secretly terrifying. Still a hope youma.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Their relationship is best described as politely neutral at best, familial obligations at worst. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Co leader of the Chevaliers. Completely infuriates Kasagami at times, while tickling her to her core. She doesn't back down. A worthy rival in Kasagami's eyes, as precious an enemy in her hatred as Mami if not moreso. Yet her recent turn to reckless advances and berserkerdom is an odd change. Worrying, slowly losing the sheen of knighthood in Kassie's gaze. A reckoning will come.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Wise, strong, quiet and with an eternal sadness that eats at Kasagami's sense of justice. As a Shepherd she's a valued ally, and as a person, has gained a place in Kasagami's heart as a lover and friend. After patching up their relationship from the fight over Usagi, more insight into her past as Sailor Pluto and the growing bonds between Rinji, Setsuna, and Kasagami is giving Kasagami the family she's lost. With the War heating up, and Setsuna withdrawn thanks to her grim duty, a worming terror over losing Setsuna increasingly eats into her heart.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. She respects Shizuru for her position, even if she hates the stoic ways of the girl and perfect calm. An enemy to be sure, and yet a mentor in some ways. Stomped on her dreams and humiliated her emotionally. Despite overcoming her in their Duel, the sting is harsh. Vengeance is high on her mind.

[[Sucy Manbavaran]]: An actual, honest-to-goodness potion using Witch of the cute variety! The quiet young woman's delinquency first drew Kasagami's ire. An encounter alongside Pluto would show the girl's magical talents, and time at Infinity's library sparked a deal made in perhaps better faith than expected. Slowly, she's coming to like the girl, ice to her fire. She might even consider Sucy a friend.

[[Rinji]]: The Muse, demur and quiet musician, and yet so much more. Kasagami has found herself attracted to, and coming to love the mute singer for both her passion and ability to cheer on others, as well as the kindness and ability to push her ever harder when she's down. More playful than is obvious, and that only melts Kassie's heart. Rinji saved Kasagami from despair when Setsuna and her fought. The bonds between the three grow deeper, and Kasagami's nightmares slowly drift from her past, to a terrible future reflecting her old tragedy.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Friend and enemy at once. Kasagami's intense feelings for the pink haired Engaged are conflicted in the extreme. Admiring her desire as a prince, she can't understand why she cares so for the Rose Bride or being 'normal'. After Utena's draining by the Wolkenritter, the wounds physical and mental on Utena forced Kasagami to challenge for the right to Duel her out of concern...and greed for the power that Utena has held. After being pushed away with her concerns, there's something else in Kasagami's eyes: disappointment in the one she thought might be her Prince.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself.

|-
|}

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Logs
|-
|
{{#dpl: |category = logs
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{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
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!style="color:black;background:#B31B1B;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Cutscenes
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

Kasagami Araki

2017-10-09T00:24:50Z

SwordPerson: Collapsing table attempt 1!

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[]]
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:YourUsername|YourUsername]]
|-
|}
=History=

To Be Added!

=Personality=

To Be Added!

{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
{| class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="border:0px solid #000000;background: #FFFFFF;vertical-align: top;"
!style="color:black;background:#0278E7;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Relationships
|-
|
[[Ami Mizuno]]: The Genius of Juuban. A study session ended with Kasagami on the floor after a crippling flareup of nerve pain. The girl selflessly helped her, commanded the situation with the kind of leadership and calm that makes a leader or a proper doctor. Such kindness and talent has Kasagami's respect. How easy it is to make her blush and her loyalty to her friends is icing on the cake. Good conversationalist, on the list of 'Talent to Scalp' for Ohtori.

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Kasagami's favorite Puella Magi, and leader of the Shepherds. Knows she doesn't fit in with the group. Shows loyalty anyway, which has only hardened her resolve to help them despite her own sense of justice along with concern for Setsuna. Often pushes back at her arrogance, yet knows her place at Ohtori. Quick to fight. Family, as fellow Shepherds, but too close to her own secrets. She worries it will split them apart one day.

[[Garnet]]: Stoic, straightforward, and an utter brickhouse of a person. Kasagami liked her instantly, and wants nothing more than to test her blade against the rock that is Garnet. Also can apparently transform. Kasagami finds that both fascinating and completely creepy.

[[Nanoha Takamachi]]: Cute as a button, the Midori-ya's daughter is the kind of innocent cheer that Kasagami wants to see more of, and shape a perfect world for. Apparently a magical girl. Also touched Pluto, and a new Chevalier. Currently in Kasagami's crosshairs of unreasonable fear and love fueled anger.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Everything Kasagami hates in one pink haired package. The fear and terror she shows in tense situations, magical or mundane, revolts her. How she keeps managing to extract guilt for her past actions and present ones so easily, infuriating. What the Chevaliers see in her, she doesn't know, but the mere thought of Madoka enrages.

[[Mami Tomoe]]: The Golden Queen of Shibuya, leader of the Chevaliers. An enemy to be sure, and Kasagami despises how she puts magic over the pride of Ohtori. More and more Kasagami wants to see her expelled. Yet, not all is blackness. Kasagami considers her a worthy opponent in magical conflict. Mami's hatred of her makes her a useful enemy to have, fuel to Kasagami's inner fire to reach for World Revolution.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: Fierce warrior cat. Oddly laid back outside of battle, furious inside of it. Kasagami aches to fight with her fellow Shepherd, only drawn in by the heat of Mikoto's wrath and her massive sword. Rejected her offer of a fight. Still annoyed. Wants to get to know the girl better, and maybe teach her a thing or two.

[[Usagi Tsukino]]: A blonde, clumsy, talent-less loaf of a girl in Kasagami's eyes that somehow manages to be a thorn in her side consistently. Yet she draws more frustration than hatred, mostly due to Pluto's steadfast loyalty to the girl even over her love. Yet, she's intrigued. What about this girl is so special? To be protected, if only for Setsuna's sake. As Sailor Moon, recent interactions have earned Kasagami's respect...even if her hope for the current world is baffling and secretly terrifying. Still a hope youma.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Their relationship is best described as politely neutral at best, familial obligations at worst. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Co leader of the Chevaliers. Completely infuriates Kasagami at times, while tickling her to her core. She doesn't back down. A worthy rival in Kasagami's eyes, as precious an enemy in her hatred as Mami if not moreso. Yet her recent turn to reckless advances and berserkerdom is an odd change. Worrying, slowly losing the sheen of knighthood in Kassie's gaze. A reckoning will come.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Wise, strong, quiet and with an eternal sadness that eats at Kasagami's sense of justice. As a Shepherd she's a valued ally, and as a person, has gained a place in Kasagami's heart as a lover and friend. After patching up their relationship from the fight over Usagi, more insight into her past as Sailor Pluto and the growing bonds between Rinji, Setsuna, and Kasagami is giving Kasagami the family she's lost. With the War heating up, and Setsuna withdrawn thanks to her grim duty, a worming terror over losing Setsuna increasingly eats into her heart.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. She respects Shizuru for her position, even if she hates the stoic ways of the girl and perfect calm. An enemy to be sure, and yet a mentor in some ways. Stomped on her dreams and humiliated her emotionally. Despite overcoming her in their Duel, the sting is harsh. Vengeance is high on her mind.

[[Sucy Manbavaran]]: An actual, honest-to-goodness potion using Witch of the cute variety! The quiet young woman's delinquency first drew Kasagami's ire. An encounter alongside Pluto would show the girl's magical talents, and time at Infinity's library sparked a deal made in perhaps better faith than expected. Slowly, she's coming to like the girl, ice to her fire. She might even consider Sucy a friend.

[[Rinji]]: The Muse, demur and quiet musician, and yet so much more. Kasagami has found herself attracted to, and coming to love the mute singer for both her passion and ability to cheer on others, as well as the kindness and ability to push her ever harder when she's down. More playful than is obvious, and that only melts Kassie's heart. Rinji saved Kasagami from despair when Setsuna and her fought. The bonds between the three grow deeper, and Kasagami's nightmares slowly drift from her past, to a terrible future reflecting her old tragedy.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Friend and enemy at once. Kasagami's intense feelings for the pink haired Engaged are conflicted in the extreme. Admiring her desire as a prince, she can't understand why she cares so for the Rose Bride or being 'normal'. After Utena's draining by the Wolkenritter, the wounds physical and mental on Utena forced Kasagami to challenge for the right to Duel her out of concern...and greed for the power that Utena has held. After being pushed away with her concerns, there's something else in Kasagami's eyes: disappointment in the one she thought might be her Prince.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself.

|-
|}

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!style="color:black;background:#0278E7;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Logs
|-
|
{{#dpl: |category = logs
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = cutscenes
|ordermethod = title
|columns = 2
|rowcolformat=width=75%
|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
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{|style="text-align: left; border: black solid 2px;background:#ffffff;-moz-border-radius: 10px;margin: 0.5em 0 0 0"
|
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!style="color:black;background:#0278E7;font-size: 120%; text-align: center;width: 1500pt;-moz-border-radius-topright: 10px;-moz-border-radius-topleft: 10px" | Cutscenes
|-
|
{{#dpl: |category = cutscenes
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}
|notcategory = News Files
|notcategory = logs
|ordermethod = title
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|suppresserrors = yes
|noresultsheader=There are no cutscenes on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.
}}
[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

Kasagami Araki

2017-10-08T13:56:52Z

SwordPerson: /* Relationships */

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Kasagami Araki'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[]]
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Kasagami Araki
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Ohtori Student Council Disciplinary Executive
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
|16
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 'Tall'
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Black
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Left: Dull Grey Right: White
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| O
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Tacos
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Udon
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| P.E.
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Mathematics
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
|[[Organization: Ends of the World|Ends of the World]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Council:
| [[Student Council: Ohtori|Ohtori High School Student Council]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Ohtori Academy|Ohtori Academy]] (Grade 10)
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Revolutionary Girl Utena]] (OC)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:YourUsername|YourUsername]]
|-
|}
=History=

To Be Added!

=Personality=

To Be Added!

=Relationships=

[[Ami Mizuno]]: The Genius of Juuban. A study session ended with Kasagami on the floor after a crippling flareup of nerve pain. The girl selflessly helped her, commanded the situation with the kind of leadership and calm that makes a leader or a proper doctor. Such kindness and talent has Kasagami's respect. How easy it is to make her blush and her loyalty to her friends is icing on the cake. Good conversationalist, on the list of 'Talent to Scalp' for Ohtori.

[[Eri Shimanouchi]]: Kasagami's favorite Puella Magi, and leader of the Shepherds. Knows she doesn't fit in with the group. Shows loyalty anyway, which has only hardened her resolve to help them despite her own sense of justice along with concern for Setsuna. Often pushes back at her arrogance, yet knows her place at Ohtori. Quick to fight. Family, as fellow Shepherds, but too close to her own secrets. She worries it will split them apart one day.

[[Garnet]]: Stoic, straightforward, and an utter brickhouse of a person. Kasagami liked her instantly, and wants nothing more than to test her blade against the rock that is Garnet. Also can apparently transform. Kasagami finds that both fascinating and completely creepy.

[[Nanoha Takamachi]]: Cute as a button, the Midori-ya's daughter is the kind of innocent cheer that Kasagami wants to see more of, and shape a perfect world for. Apparently a magical girl. Also touched Pluto, and a new Chevalier. Currently in Kasagami's crosshairs of unreasonable fear and love fueled anger.

[[Madoka Kaname]]: Everything Kasagami hates in one pink haired package. The fear and terror she shows in tense situations, magical or mundane, revolts her. How she keeps managing to extract guilt for her past actions and present ones so easily, infuriating. What the Chevaliers see in her, she doesn't know, but the mere thought of Madoka enrages.

[[Mami Tomoe]]: The Golden Queen of Shibuya, leader of the Chevaliers. An enemy to be sure, and Kasagami despises how she puts magic over the pride of Ohtori. More and more Kasagami wants to see her expelled. Yet, not all is blackness. Kasagami considers her a worthy opponent in magical conflict. Mami's hatred of her makes her a useful enemy to have, fuel to Kasagami's inner fire to reach for World Revolution.

[[Mikoto Minagi]]: Fierce warrior cat. Oddly laid back outside of battle, furious inside of it. Kasagami aches to fight with her fellow Shepherd, only drawn in by the heat of Mikoto's wrath and her massive sword. Rejected her offer of a fight. Still annoyed. Wants to get to know the girl better, and maybe teach her a thing or two.

[[Usagi Tsukino]]: A blonde, clumsy, talent-less loaf of a girl in Kasagami's eyes that somehow manages to be a thorn in her side consistently. Yet she draws more frustration than hatred, mostly due to Pluto's steadfast loyalty to the girl even over her love. Yet, she's intrigued. What about this girl is so special? To be protected, if only for Setsuna's sake. As Sailor Moon, recent interactions have earned Kasagami's respect...even if her hope for the current world is baffling and secretly terrifying. Still a hope youma.

Saito Araki: Her Uncle, and legal guardian. Their relationship is best described as politely neutral at best, familial obligations at worst. Rarely seen by Kasagami due to his busy work schedule.

[[Sayaka Miki]]: Co leader of the Chevaliers. Completely infuriates Kasagami at times, while tickling her to her core. She doesn't back down. A worthy rival in Kasagami's eyes, as precious an enemy in her hatred as Mami if not moreso. Yet her recent turn to reckless advances and berserkerdom is an odd change. Worrying, slowly losing the sheen of knighthood in Kassie's gaze. A reckoning will come.

[[Setsuna Meioh]]: Wise, strong, quiet and with an eternal sadness that eats at Kasagami's sense of justice. As a Shepherd she's a valued ally, and as a person, has gained a place in Kasagami's heart as a lover and friend. After patching up their relationship from the fight over Usagi, more insight into her past as Sailor Pluto and the growing bonds between Rinji, Setsuna, and Kasagami is giving Kasagami the family she's lost. With the War heating up, and Setsuna withdrawn thanks to her grim duty, a worming terror over losing Setsuna increasingly eats into her heart.

[[Shizuru Fujino]]: The opposite of Kasagami in more or less all ways. Offers cold, wise advice that rings of truth. Her heart rejects it, her head finds sense in it. She respects Shizuru for her position, even if she hates the stoic ways of the girl and perfect calm. An enemy to be sure, and yet a mentor in some ways. Stomped on her dreams and humiliated her emotionally. Despite overcoming her in their Duel, the sting is harsh. Vengeance is high on her mind.

[[Sucy Manbavaran]]: An actual, honest-to-goodness potion using Witch of the cute variety! The quiet young woman's delinquency first drew Kasagami's ire. An encounter alongside Pluto would show the girl's magical talents, and time at Infinity's library sparked a deal made in perhaps better faith than expected. Slowly, she's coming to like the girl, ice to her fire. She might even consider Sucy a friend.

[[Rinji]]: The Muse, demur and quiet musician, and yet so much more. Kasagami has found herself attracted to, and coming to love the mute singer for both her passion and ability to cheer on others, as well as the kindness and ability to push her ever harder when she's down. More playful than is obvious, and that only melts Kassie's heart. Rinji saved Kasagami from despair when Setsuna and her fought. The bonds between the three grow deeper, and Kasagami's nightmares slowly drift from her past, to a terrible future reflecting her old tragedy.

[[Utena Tenjou]]: Friend and enemy at once. Kasagami's intense feelings for the pink haired Engaged are conflicted in the extreme. Admiring her desire as a prince, she can't understand why she cares so for the Rose Bride or being 'normal'. After Utena's draining by the Wolkenritter, the wounds physical and mental on Utena forced Kasagami to challenge for the right to Duel her out of concern...and greed for the power that Utena has held. After being pushed away with her concerns, there's something else in Kasagami's eyes: disappointment in the one she thought might be her Prince.

[[Yumi Ohzora]]: Kasagami's nerdy best friend, and brilliant Witch. Despite her poor health and bookish ways, doesn't take Kasagami's guff. Which makes her in turn guff harder at Ivy to get a reaction, and round and round it goes. Frequent target of flirting, just to get her to blush. Is going to find this girl a date if it kills someone. Probably Yumi herself.

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=Cutscenes=
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Ohtori]][[Category:Ends of the World]]

Kasagami Araki

2017-08-09T18:25:16Z

SwordPerson: Sucy-chan get

Kasagami Araki

2017-08-07T19:34:15Z

SwordPerson: Purging old unplayed entries, adding a few. More updates to come when not lazy!