imeeji_frontstage | ✨🏮🐅🏮✨

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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. ]

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[ ...didn't mind? She didn't expect that, but perhaps he's just being nice because she's such a sad sack at the moment. So she decides hell with it, being upset isn't going to fix anything, and she'd much rather not ruin her entire night brooding. There are more than enough occasions for that, here. ]

I hope you would tell me though, if you did mind. Or if you ever do. I know I sometimes act like I'm about to break open, but I wouldn't want you just -- [ humoring her, patronizing her. Hopefully he can complete the sentence well enough on his own, he's pretty good with context clues. ]

[ ...Will it do any good if he gets an arm around her shoulders? It's still going to feel awkward because he's initiated like. four hugs in his entire time in Imeeji so far, and who knows how many that he can't remember, but he gives her a squeeze. ]

Heh, I'm pretty sure you can tell. I don't think I've been all that subtle about it.

[ With his stiffening shoulders and the way he sometimes leans back. It might be too subtle for some people, but she's got those heightened senses. If nothing else, his steady heartbeat should be reassuring. ]

Edited 2022-01-20 04:22 (UTC)

Mostly. [ She can hear heartbeats, but there's any number of reasons someone might or might not have a shift in their pulse. Lying, for instance, sounds about the same as nerves, and anticipation, and relief. ]

And I'm sure you've noticed I'm pretty awful at subtle, so that works out.

[ She can tell that his arm slinging around her is a little awkward, which only means she appreciates it more. She gives him a little jostle with the arm closest to him, trying not to make matters worse for him. God, why can't things be this easy with Nemesis? ]

Thankfully I've met enough people here who are almost as clingy as I am, or I'd be climbing the walls.

[ A thoughtful hum. ]

Well, then I guess I'll have to promise to tell you. [ Beat. ] But I really am okay right now.

[ He tips his head back, looking for the right words. ]

Normally, it's like — an itch. Scratchy wool? But it's sort of under my skin, and itch isn't really the right word. Starts out really mild, gets a little worse the longer people hang on...?

[ Lets it trail off. ]

Maybe it's restlessness. [ Tries for a joke: ] Afterglow definitely shuts it up for a while.

Mm, all right. [ If he says he'll tell her, then he'll tell her. One less thing clattering around in her messed up brain. ]

I'm the opposite. Exactly the opposite. Whenever I'm not touching someone, I feel twitchy, like they're going to just vanish. I feel like I spent a lot of time alone, maybe, and hated it. I can handle it, but it wears on me after a while, I guess. Like I said, plenty of people here gave me an open invitation to hang on them, so hopefully they won't get too tired of me.

[ Offering a smile, ] Except the afterglow thing, of course. I think we're in agreement there.

[ ...Going to squeeze her again. ]

—This isn't really a place where we can make promises to stick around. People get transferred, or they graduate, however that works.

[ Beat. ]

But if I disappear on you, it's not gonna be by choice.

[ He's got to stop surprising her like this, she's bound to start expecting it. She smiles, soft but genuine, and ducks her head to bump his shoulder with it. ]

Thank you.

[ She wants to say the same back. Something, at least. The words are there, but she can't force them out. This shouldn't be complicated, isn't complicated, just say it. Say it. ]

[ Squeeze. ]

S'not anything to thank me for.

Sure it is. Accept your thanks like a grown-up. [ She's smiling now, really smiling, so mission accomplished if that was his goal. ]

It helps to hear. I've got enough illogical mess in my head without more things to wonder about.

[ Well, it's always a goal. ]

But Moooom.

[ No whine has ever been less serious. Rubbing her shoulder a little. ]

...Seems like that's all of us, at least some of the time. I figure honesty's the least I owe anyone.

[ His comment that they all have such thoughts is both comforting and not so. It never ceases to be odd, finding commonalities with people, striking at the heart of her that wants nothing more than to be like everyone else -- but also knowing that she's not like everyone else, and she can't allow herself to think that way. ]

[ Even the suggestion of being honest troubles her as much as soothes her. How could she ever be honest when she's being pulled in so many directions, all of them equally true to herself? ]

[ She shoves her internal conflict aside enough, thanks to his grounding touch, and her smile is genuine despite everything whipping around inside her. ]

Speaking of things you owe people, I decided on what I want you to bake. Izanagi helped me with some ideas.

[ Aw, Zari, he didn't mean it like that. ] [ But he does cock his head, curious. ]

Well, don't keep me in suspense.

[ She smiles in that overly sweet way that says she's about to be manipulative, but it'll be real hard to be mad about it. ]

A cake with cookies on top. Chocolate, if you don't mind.

[ What's really cute about that smile is how much the idea of a cake with cookies on top sounds awesome to him. ]

...Chocolate cake or chocolate cookies?

[ Hey, as long as the smile gets her what she wants! ]

You can never have too much chocolate, right?

[ ♥ ]

Hah. I just mean—

[ He digs out his phone, does a quick infernet search, and starts listing: ]

Chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chunk cookies, double chocolate cookies, spicy hot chocolate cookies, cookies with filling, chocolate crinkles...

[ Pauses. There's a slowly widening grin on his face. He turns his phone, dragging the photo at the top of the page wider, to show Zari chocolate mice. ]

[ She gets a little too enthused at the mice, but decides not to be a complete pain. ]

I know you like to be extra impressive at everything, so do whatever makes you happy. I like surprises, especially when they're edible.

[ Pffft, 'a pain'. It's definitely happening now. But she says she likes surprises so he just keeps smiling. ]

I'll come up with something.

[ She holds onto the arm that's slung over her shoulder so he won't be able to stop her when she swoops in to kiss his cheek. Fully prepared for a less than accepting reaction here, but it had to be done. ]

You're way too good to me.

[ jflks that is a two-part assault on his tsun, but it's — also attention, and his internal reaction to it is kind of torn ]

...Yeah, well...

[ She can't help but chuckle just a little, even though she expected as much. He's too cute for words. ]

Sorry sorry, next time I'll just offer to knock the hell out of you like a sweet little lady should.

[ Which drains some of the fluster and lets the attention just be nice again. He rubs the back of his neck, but grins at her. ]

If I see any around, I'll let them know they've got your clearance to kick my ass.

Excuse me, out of "sweet", "little", and "lady", which of those are you insinuating that I'm not?

[ She's just messing with him though, and it shows. ]

If such a woman exists and you don't share, we're going to have words.

[ His grin goes toothy. ]

I mean, if you put your mind to it, I'm sure you can achieve anything.

[ She can, in fact, be very sweet, and she's small enough by certain definitions... it's definitely the combination, making her sound someone's idea of harmless. ] [ But at the second part, he chuckles. ]

I can promise to always give you my very highest recommendation?

[ He has exactly negative interest in keeping anyone to himself, possessiveness is gross. ~~Someday, Lupine.~~ ]

Wow, saved by that second line. [ Giving him a playful shove ] Just for that, I'm not returning the favor.

[ She so would return that favor, because it's him. She has a lot of interest in keeping certain people to herself actually, and is very purposefully choosing to ignore that because when in Rome, and because she knows possessiveness sure isn't endearing; however. There are some people she just knows and accepts are not For That, at least as far as she's concerned, and Lupine qualifies. It's more a compliment than it sounds like. ]

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