imeeji_frontstage | ✨🏮🐅🏮✨

Who: Idols and idol accessories
Where: Tokyo-F
When: Day 437

[ Idols will start their day today to find red envelopes, each with their idol names, presented to them on a table at their dorm's landing. Each envelope is supernaturally sealed, incapable of being opened except by their designated recipient. Inside each envelope is a gold zan-style hairpin with stripes of silver carved into its stem, and the tip is heavy with a weighty decoration—be it a dragon, phoenix, tiger, butterfly, flower(s), or anything else, they are all inlaid with bright, glowing tiger's eye gemstones.

As ornate as they look, these hairpins aren't just for decoration: upon the recipient touching the accessory, they'll find their clothes magically changing into fanciful Chinese or fantasy Chinese clothing—perhaps vibrant red, regardless of unit, or woven patterns and colors that reflect the idol's position. At the same time, the hairpin knits itself into the idol's hair (if capable, else it pins itself as a brooch) which has also magically been done up fancifully.

Down at the lobby there are more hints toward the holiday, if the red envelope didn't already make it obvious: red streamers and paper lanterns decorate the hotel, along with tiger decorations which vary from elegant wall scrolls to cute tiger plush pillows on the lobby seats. And, if it still isn't clear enough—perchance for those who aren't familiar with the culture at all—a red and gold banners hang from the wall, reading "HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY" and "LUNAR NEW YEAR" and "YEAR OF THE TIGER".

Near the kitchen, there are tables with spreads of Chinese foods from various regions, all available in an all-you-can-eat styled buffet. And, what's more—the food seems to be completely safe! They don't contain even a little bit of status effects. For once, here's a party with safe food.

There are additionally tables with gift bags, once again labeled with each idol's name. These are not supernaturally sealed, and in each bag are . . . well. . . tiger things, along with a note that reads,

300 points per item worn for the day! Max 1,200 points (head/hands/tail/feet

Oh, right, this is an idol show. And oh, surprise, the tiger appendages (optionally) have some sort of status effect thing going on:

Feel more cuddly/desire cuddles
Feel more mercurial/contrarian
Feel more possessive/territorial
Feel more hungry, both for food and for immaterial things (especially attention)
Feel more brave
Feel more light-hearted/more easily amused

At least they're all fairly mild in effect.

Last but not least, decoration wise, there's also an ominous poster near the elevators. . . Well, who's afraid of a sign, right? . . . Nevermind that if someone were to break a taboo, they'll find themself just slightly unluckier today, on the level of breaking their shoe/sandal laces and receiving the wrong order at the café.

Outside, though the weather is cold, the sun is auspiciously bright today, warmth radiating out the city to soften the chill. Moreover, there's an infectious energy on the streets, one that would surely make a person forget the temperature—long paper puppets, taking the form of dragons and lions and tigers, parade down the street, powered by ghostly dancers and backed up by the orchestra of a marching band and fan dancers. Floating lanterns guide them throughout the city, where they'll circle around the streets ceaselessly until evening.

At the stroke of midnight, idols will find their old clothes back in their closet and their hairpins no longer glowing, but they'll also find they're able to keep the clothing they received from the hairpins. They can also keep the tiger paraphernalia, which have lost their effects. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Easily tugged over. ]

Oh? What do you recommend?

Have you tried these? They're great!

[Pointing at the jiandui urgently!!]

No, but I will partake if you speak so highly of them.

[ He picks up a pair of chopsticks and picks up one, taking a careful bite as he assesses the flavor. ]

Ah, they've done well in the preparation - ensuring that the inside is moist and flavorful while the outside still retains just a touch of that fried texture.

Right, right?

My compliments to the chef! All the food here is suuuuper tasty!

I am glad you are enjoying it. May your compliments make their way back to the chef. A truly uncelebrated part of this production.

Though - if I may - since this is the closest I believe we will come to a festival of Liyue - I have a gift for you.

-Hm?

[That catches him by complete surprise.]

[ He holds out to Izanagi with both hands a red envelope ]

[!!!!!!!]

You guys do this too?

[TAKE.]

Yes. It is part of our celebration to welcome the New Year. You do not know how pleased I am to see that it is something celebrated in your culture as well.

[ Inside the red envelope is a thick almost cardstock paper with an elegantly written poem blessing the receiver for the next year. The paper is trimmed in red and gold. Unfortunately, there is no physical money inside, since points do not have a physical form.

But within the next 24 hours, Izanagi will find 250 points sent to him.

Possibly from Caeli's bank account if Zhongli's has run out of funds. ]

[He pulls out the card, reading it with a smile.]

Yeah. The adults are supposed to give money to the kids, right? Though I guess there's no physical money in this place, so...

[He still seems pleased to have gotten something, though.]

Yes, it makes the whole process extremely inconvenient. How does an economy survive with no physical currency...?

Though I would not call this a normal economy.

Please do not be alarmed if you see any activity in the point shop soon. That will be purely intentional on my part.

Eh- are you actually sending points out?

Of course. It is tradition.

Ahh, thank you... I wonder how long it's been since I got money for new years?

I hope you don't consider yourself too old for it.

[Clutching the red envelope and card close.]

Absolutely not! I'm not an adult for a while I think...

Excellent. Though I would have probably given one regardless of your perceived age.

Sometimes it refreshing to experience the same things we did in our youth.

Does that mean Venti's getting one, too?

Of course, but for different reasons entirely. You've seen the state of his room, yes?

I don't actually go to his room much, no. What's wrong with it?

It has barely changed since his arrival to this place outside of the assortment of instruments that he has purchased.

Ah... so it's because he hasn't gotten any room upgrades?

More dire than that.

I don't think he's purchased anything for himself that isn't a bottle of booze or an instrument.

So he needs some upgrades and some new outfits, too!

If you can trick him into the first, I might be able to help with the latter.

(no subject)

bondsofsuffering - 2022-02-07 03:56 (UTC) - Expand