[open] party rap rap rap

[roppou]

🧙 WHO: Mingle with some hypmics and OTAnyone who wants to crash a party
⚔️️ WHAT: Birthday party for plenilunium who just arrived like yesterday
🕒 WHEN: April 14
🗺️ WHERE: Phoenix Roost
⚠️ WARNINGS: None

the network post

As a resident of Avalon, you are cordially invited to the birthday celebration for Aimono Jyushi. The party is a surprise which will take place at the Phoenix Roost on April 14 at 8:30 PM. There is no need for gifts or payment. Our guest of honor is new to the city and the intention is simply to host a fun event to meet new people.

Please direct any and all questions to Amaguni Hitoya, organizer of the event.

preparazione

A party of any sizable reputation takes a considerable amount of work to put together. Even more so on such short notice. There's decorations to hang. Food to prepare. A cake to bake. Sound systems and lighting to check. Balloon animals to balloon. In the hours between closing for the public and the start of their surprise party, the phoenix roost is a buzz of activity to transform it into something to properly welcome and celebrate the life of Avalon's newest MC.

banchetto

Guest will find plenty of sustenance to sustain them through the night. The party menu leans heavy towards the Italian influences with bright red Napolitan pasta, and squid ink pescatore, aracini and caprese crowding the table. Much of the food has been seasoned with a touch of the macabre like the candy apples that appear to be dripping blood. Beverages for evening range from sweet cream sodas to mature wines and liquor to appease a diverse crowd, with all the usual enchantments necessary for such drinks. And of course sitting at the center of it all is the eponymous cake.

musica

Jyushi is a musician so it's only right that they pay homage to that calling on his birthday. The stage is set for karaoke where you'll have your choice of music and lighting to accompany your performance. Need an instrument? There's even a few of those on loan too. Out of respect for the venue and all attendees, please just stick to the provided microphone instead of any you may be carrying with you. We'd rather not check them at the door.

giochi

Party planners were really feeling enthusiastic so attendees will find a few social activities set up around the hall. If the conversation is growing stale, try grabbing one of the equally stale fortune cookies lying around. They won't promise you riches or future love in your life they will prompt you with a random ice breaker idea.

There's an adaptation of Fukuwarai set up against one wall except the usual face has been replaced with the image of a cartoonish pig. Grab a partner, don the blindfold and have fun trying to attach her button eyes, floppy ears, and little jester cap.

Finally about halfway through the night, someone who has probably dipped a little too deep into the boozy drinks drags a bunch of chairs out from the table and arranges them in a circle. It's time for CRB (that's Chair Rap Battle for the uninitiated or if you come from a normal world--Musical Chairs). Everyone who's playing should pick a chair. Everyone who's not? Congrats one of you has been chosen at random to start the rap roundabout. Luckily there's no time limit on how long to go. Once stopped, with everyone in a seat, the odd man out is responsible for leading the next round with their sick freestyling.

concerto

Jyushi had been surprised when he realized his birthday was coming so close after coming to a fantasy land that you thought only happened in mangas and stuff. But here he was, in Avalon and apparently a year older. It kind of felt like cheating but technically he was 19 now.

And when he walks in to see the party, to see how all of this has come together simply for his birthday, it doesn’t feel important at all whether he cheated the system to age another year. Not when he’s faced with the biggest party he’s ever had thrown for him. And with a bunch of people he doesn’t know? And are technically enemies but not only is Avalon new to him but so is the whole division battle thing too. But right now, that seems so far away. It’s overwhelming. In all the best and worst ways but he thinks the good is outweighing the bad.

Hitoya had told him to perform and Jyushi always feels nervous about it every time even if he’s definitely performed more than enough. But usually he has more time to prep and he has his band to back him up. But right now, all he has is a karaoke track, his guitar, and his own talent. With a deep breath, he goes up to perform with all his usual visual kei flair.

"Hello, esteemed guests! Thank you all for coming to this bon anniversaire! Allow me to perform for this auspicious day. A song that is all about sharing joys…!"

When the song begins, it shows off Jyushi’s normal voice in an uplifting ballad before it turns into something much more metal. Throughout it, it changes gears. Sometimes light and happy but then back to hard and loud. It’s jarring but it’s jarring in the same ways that Jyushi is going between his two personalities. It’s a fitting song for him to be singing as an introduction of sorts.

Once he finishes, with one more dramatic thanks for listening, he’s coming off the stage, heart pumping because he did it! He sang in front of all these people and in this new world…! He’s really happy!

Comments

presents

[roppou]

as mentioned in the invitation, there is no expectation of gifts but if you brought one, feel free to comment here

[glossophobia]

[ Even if he doesn't know Jyushi he doesn't want to be coming to this birthday empty handed. After some intel from Rei and his past experiences as a punk, Rosho comes with a little jewelry box containing a necklace he alchemy'd up. ]

[capitalismkills]

[Also after some ideas from Hitoya, Doppo is going to end up giving Jyushi some form of heated blanket (it's heated by ~magic~), and a smaller, minature sized one for Amanda.]

[champagnetower]

A makeup set with this kinda feel to it.

[groundzeroes]

[As the Phoenix Roost owner, Rei is of course in attendance for much of the event and its planning. Not that he'd miss a chance to scope out what the other Avalon castaways from his world are up to-- this one just happened ( :) ) to fall right into his lap. What was he gonna do, say no????????]

party prep

[Rei will leave decorating to someone else, but he oversees the sound system and karaoke setup, at least. It's his forte... and a good way to practice technomancy, besides.

Rei is bent over an extension cord at the base of a stage light, fitting it into the floor's wire channel for safety. "Found: 'top 50 multiverse karaoke tracks.' Now downloading," chimes a glitchy voice from the nearby flickering TV screen.]

Thank you, Iris.

party time

[This party's for a kid, so there's no need for a bartender. Well... you'd THINK that, but this is Rei's place, Hitoya planned it, half the attendees are adults, and the live house's bar is right there anyway, so fuck it: Alcohol.

Everything is mostly self-serve, but during a lull Rei is amusing himself behind the bar by replacing some of the empty punch bowls with thematically appropriate replacements.]

Dry ice is the classic for this kind of edgy theme, right...

[His familiar, the eponymous phoenix(sort of; technically she's a hou-ou but details), sits upon one of her perches near him and and peers curiously at all passersby. hello? Friend?? Is that cracker in your hand for Her please???]

wildcard

[rei is pretty much There the whole time if you need him outside of the above conversation starters-- come at him. he's tall make him hang up a streamer. drag him into party games. WHAT'S HE GONNA DO, SAY NO????????]

party time

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi was told that this place belonged to Rei and so, since he allowed it to be here, Jyushi thinks he should say thanks. But Rei is kind of scary? There's something very threatening about him and Jyushi's been staring at him for the better part of the night, rehearsing what he's going to say.

When he takes a deep breath and takes a step to Rei, he locks eyes with Rei's familiar. She isn't even threatening but there's something very unnerving to be so close to creatures that are known to be mythical? He still isn't used to it. There's a squeak, and if that catches Rei's attention, he immediately loses all nerve and bows.]

Dear sir, this humble warrior wants to show you his deepest gratitude for this magnificent gathering~! It is a celebration these eyes have never seen before!

[He's never had a party like this basically. This is a sincere thank you!...Just wrapped up in all this nonsense.]

[groundzeroes]

[Rei has felt Jyushi's eyes on him on and off, but let him be: even Rei is not so cruel as to menace a birthday boy on his birthday. But if Jyushi approaches him, that's a whole new ballgame!]

Ahh, the man of the hour himself. [Rei puts down the cup he was wiping, taking in the top of Jyushi's head (the bow obscures his face) with an amused grin. Under all that fancy speak, Jyushi's a pretty sweet kid, isn't he! Agewise he straddles the line between Jiro and Ichiro... but he seems much gentler than either. Guess Rei's kids are just a rough bunch.]

You should thank that lawyer friend of yours, really. Keeps a good eye out for you, does he? [And foots the bill. Lmao]

EDUCATE time

[glossophobia]

You were wrong.

[ It's the lead-in for his own conversation starter as Rosho goes to refill his now empty glass of punch but decides to wait for Rei to finish refilling the bowls. ]

It's not goth. They call it visual kei.

[ Yeah Rei, you IDIOT. ]

[groundzeroes]

Hey, I'm too old to keep up with all the kids' trends these days! Cut me some slack. [LMAOOO]

And how'd you come by that information? [Rei slides the punchbowl within Rosho's reach, setting its foggy contents spinning.] Jyushi-kun not like your gift or something 'cause I gave you the wrong idea?

( ota )

[glossophobia]

[ Rosho will arrive in cozy, casual clothing, something that's just slightly decent for a party but also works well with all the rain they've got going on. Black also helps him not blend in very well. Parties can be kind of very nerve-wracking, so he hopes to just pass by, maybe stay an hour or two, then head back on home. At least that is the initial plan. His plans never tend to work out well. ]

( foodie time )

[ Rosho only recognizes a few of the things set out on the menu, and it's difficult to figure out where to even begin. But Italian food also means Italian desserts...! Cannoli, panna cotta, tiramisu— yeah yeah you're supposed to have a meal before dessert but this is a birthday party, he's going to treat himself.

He'll also be taking a moment to take some pictures of the cake, because gosh, it's kind of adorable and very pretty. In fact, he is taking... frequent pictures of things. He likes to remember what he eats, especially if he enjoys it. His students got him hooked on that. ]

( ice breakers )

[ Oh, a fortune cookie! How can you resist one of those. Rosho picks one up then cracks it open. Except, instead of a fortune there's a... question? ]

"What's the most difficult thing about being you?" [ Rosho winces and immediately crumples up the paper. ]

That's... really personal, isn't it? Maybe I should try another one.

[ He finds another cookie, opens it up: ]

"Do you have any unusual fears?" Are these all like this?! I don't want to share these kinds of things with strangers!

[ One more cookie: ]

"How much damage could your best friend do to you if you ever had a falling out?" [ THROWS THE PAPER ON THE GROUND ] These are so negative!! Who wrote them?! This is a birthday party!

( wildcard )

[ You know how Rosho be. He is going to wallflower for most of this party so just grab him from somewhere and try to pull him out of his shell. Or get him drunk. Please get him drunk. ]

Foodie time

[plenilunium]

[Like any other normal 1819 year old, Jyushi is also taking pictures of all the food. He's taken pictures of everything he can and now it's time for the food. Jyushi is smiling to himself as he takes pictures when he notices Rosho. Jyushi doesn't know him but still, he came to the party so he needs to thank him! He knows his manners!

But despite his best effort, he freezes up until he goes into his visual kei mode and instantly feels the confidence to speak up.

Even if it sounds bizarre to anybody else.]

I, too, want to immortalize the visage before us now. The beautifully crafted confections before us deserve nothing but the highest praise and so do you. Allow me to bestow my gratitude unto you for gracing this celebration with your presence.

[Or in simpler terms, thanks for coming because it means a lot!]

🥃...🧃❗️

[whosaysdajare]

[ This sorta switch up they've had going for half of the month already, where Sasara is the quiet one—and he wouldn't admit to 'down-beat', or 'melancholic', or the overall reason for it, so far—it doesn't suit their dynamic, anyway!

While Rosho's hugging the walls, he's in a better mood, around people, in the middle of a celebration. Getting to his partner who'd only benched himself, Sasara has a drink in hand and he shows it off by holding it up. Something that looks deceptively like a Sex on the Beach, colorful and fruity. ]

Just one drink. [ Like it's is allowance for the night; though, it doesn't have any of the punch it's supposed to be packing.

Teh...! One (1) drink– Sasara knows how he gets, so he's not about to give his partner anything at some kid's birthday party. Not until it's just the three of them, staying behind. You can bet that he knows about the alcohol-placebo experiment for its comedic potential... It's only punch. ]

Like usual, ya gotta ease up a little, Rosho!

foodie-get drunk with him wosho

[capitalismkills]

[Oh good, thank god, there was someone he didn't feel horribly on edge around at this party. Doppo felt so guilty because he wanted to wish the other division member a happy birthday, but maybe the kid hated him and his giant floating whale that was following him around. Stupid thing wouldn't leave him alone.]

Rosho! Oh, did you find the cake that Hifumi made?

wildcard? I'm sorry I couldn't help it

[roppou]

Bosozoku huh? Been a few years since I heard a compliment like that.

[It's been a surprise finding out exactly who has come from their world at the party though Rosho stands out as one he least expected to run into again. A few casual conversations revealed him to be part of Dotsuitare Honpo though one could forgive him for not keeping up with Osaka's comedy scene and last he knew Sasara was currently a solo act.

Not that it's any of his business. Nor is Rosho's opinion of him. It's a party after all and simply enough that he passes it all off with an illuminating smile.]

[whosaysdajare]

[ All month's been sort of a rainy day for Sasara— though, you wouldn't know it. The crowd of a party cheers him up and given that he's in the Roost's employ it only goes to reason he's here. The kid, he doesn't really know the birthday boy, but as division leader he's keeping one eye open, even if it doesn't look like it. ]


'just' in case 🧳
[ Sasara is a comedian, not a clown! Who asked him to blow up balloons... his only recent effort to quit smoking catches up to him quickly. His head's all red and he's sorta out of breath... and he doesn't know how to twist them into anything other than "snakes". ] Heeh...! [ Before he faints, let's not let him do it. Anyway, what about a blimp race!? He's got to let at least one of the balloons whiz across the room.

More helpful is the simplest way to describe him lending a hand to set the tables, for food and presents. Trust him to have a joke or two up his sleeve too; many words make light work. ]


this takes the cake 🍰
[ It's all fun and games, no DRB here! However, Sasara is up for playing in the CRB.

He'll take a turn with the rest of the games too. As someone who's got his eyes closed all the time, does he still need to put a blindfold on for that porky– ah, perky version of Fukuwarai?

Those ice-breaker cookies put down kind of a damper, though! Seems like 2/3s of the Funny Division doesn't see the humor with them. ] "What is your current philosophy about money...?" Eh!? [ He crumples that one up. ] Teh! Ya oughta ask the old man about that one!


wildcard 🍾
[ The penchant for regular party-things aside, Sasara'll stick around till his teammates leave. Given that it's Rei's place and it'll be difficult to carry Rosho home on his own once he's had his drink... he'll make it a late night for himself. Take the chance of finding him wound down a little VS. his usually domineering personality. ]

this takes the cake

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi can use all the help he can get with ice breakers for conversation. Talking to people is really hard, especially when everybody in this room is supposed to be an enemy? However, it doesn't feel like Sasara really likes the questions so Jyushi tries one instead.]

How would you describe your sense of humor? Can you give an example? [Little does Jyushi know how perfect that question is for Sasara.]

kind of wildcard

[capitalismkills]

[It was after he and Rosho started drinking and the poor man was passed out on the bar counter that Doppo figured out he was not going to be able to lift him. Not only did he have several inches on him, but Rosho clearly weighed a lot more too.

So he sought out the nearest Rosho friend he could find, and that happened to be the loudly colored Sasara. The drunkenness that had settled in had made him a bit more agreeable than usual so he came right up to the comedian.]

Ah, Nuru...Nurude-san. I um...I don't think I can move Rosho anymore. He went to sleep so he should go home.

[plenilunium]

ice breaker.

[Jyushi certainly needs help to get a conversation going so he picks up a cookie and reads it out loud:] 'What's the story behind the last time you cried'? [That's a good question, kind of personal, but for Jyushi? He's always crying. He tries hard not to but it seems like he can't help but cry all the time irregardless.] Um, I cried when I got to the party? I was really happy that Hitoya-san threw such a nice party for me and people came so I got happy and tears came to my eyes...

[Oh, it feels kind of embarrassing to admit?]

fukuwarai.

[Jyushi is absolutely thrilled with the party game as he shows it to Amanda because of course she should be here. It's her birthday too!] Look, look, Amanda! It's you! Do you want to try? Okay! [The blindfold is a little difficult to put on her but Jyushi manages it somehow as he attempts to have her hold the parts, also close his eyes, and put the parts on.

They're all very haphazardly put on and he laughs.] You missed! It looks so funny, huh, Amanda? [Don't judge the boy and his stuffed pig.]

red, red wine.

[Jyushi's always been curious about wine, especially red wine. It goes so well with Italian, right? And he is allowed to have wine here. It feels a little like breaking the law? He's underage in Japan and even if they aren't in Japan, he doesn't want to get in trouble!

Still, he decides to try it anyway. Be brave! Do new things! He's got this! One sip and he does not like it. Taking a bite of Napolitan pasta immediately and it feels like it ruins the taste! Ugh...but it's so refined and elegant to drink red wine, he thinks. Perfect for his image. So he drinks it way faster than he should.

And that's how you end up with a tipsy Jyushi, giggling over everything at the table. He just feels really, really good? Like he doesn't feel nervous or anything. Just light and happy.] Ah, feels like I'm on a cloud or something.

[If you talk to him, you have a chatty Jyushi on your hands. Oops.]

red wine aftermath?

[roppou]

[Despite every urge to curate the party from beginning to end, Hitoya does his best to leave Jyushi to his own devices, to make his own friends, find his own footing here and simply enjoy this day for what it is. That doesn't save him from being dragging into the odd conversation about his many merits but it does stay his hand in the spirit of celebration.

The night winds down with the music and the minutes growing long as more and more guests take their leave. The scene around the roost dissolving to reveals the remnants of a successful party and all the work they'd have cleaning up. A problem for tomorrow, quite frankly. And before long Jyushi is left alone, slumped in a chair and over a table in the company of Amanda who still has a smear of frosting on her nose. Still in spirited conversation, moreso, than normal given he's in public.

Finally, Hitoya makes his way over to the seat across from them.]

I'm not interrupting am I? Thought you kids might be getting tired by now. [Though Jyushi could easily reply he's not a kid anymore given the drinking.]

ice breaker

[capitalismkills]

[Well, at least it was a two hit combo of people that absolutely needed conversation starters. He was a bit worried that Jyushi might start crying again and not know how to deal with it, but he seemed happy. And not freaking out about the whale.]

T-that's probably a better reason to cry than I've ever had in my whole life...Amaguni-san really is excellent at things like that. I um...I also wanted to be able to apologize a-again for the incident with the tree....I should've been able to help you out more.

[Also here comes the whale, floating over to Jyushi b/c the familiar liked him.]

[champagnetower]

[Anywhere Hifumi went he had a suit jacket to match the occasion, and that certainly didn't end in Avalon. With a black/red rose suit jacket, white button shirt underneath, along with black slacks, Hifumi is ready to party in style. One could argue he's always ready to party, but one must look the part to be the part!]


Food and drink
[As usual when there is drinking to be expected, one must fill up with food! The squid ink pescatore in particular looked especially scrumptous to him. If this is all due to Jyushi's taste, then he would have to remember to commend him later for having fine taste in cuisine! Pairing his meal with a white wine, Hifumi holds out his glass.]

Shall we toast to the birthday boy?


Ice ice b... reakers
[Hifumi didn't need help with conversations not now or ever. What kind of host would he be if that were the case?! But he saw everyone else hanging around the fortunes and became awfully curious, so he wanted to try too!]

"How well do you think you understand yourself?" Hah! I do believe I understand myself pretty well!

[Easy, he thinks. That was nothing!]

"If everyone here was a color, what color would each person be?" Hmm... I think Doppokun would be blue like the ocean!


A fine performance
[Jyushi's performance was one to be watched indeed. Hifumi found it rather interesting seeing him perform versus what he experienced of Jyushi in person.]

Brilliant!

[He applauds.]

This time was different than before, at the host club back in Shinjuku... I suppose this style truly suits you best!

a fine performance

[plenilunium]

[Jyushi might have spoken with Hifumi before but with everything going on, a room full of people he doesn't know well, and having just performed? He'll be staying in visual kei mode for the time being.

As he goes down to thank everybody for watching, his thanks to Hifumi is a little more outgoing. They have spoken before!]

Merci! Yes, this romance surely flows through my blood like a lifeline of sorts...! It is as natural to me as breathing! My oxygen, you could say...?

ice bureika

[glossophobia]

Ah, I don't know... he seems more like, a burgundy? Or a maroon. Somethin' like red, but, a darker red.

[ Rosho you're just thinking about his hair. ]

strolls in five years late with islay whiskey

[roppou]

closed to Jakurai;
[It's not that Hitoya has been avoiding Jakurai. Admittedly, his old friend was invaluable in helping to get this whole thing off the ground in the first place when he still had so few connections here. But Jyushi's presence, particularly on stage, illuminated certain subjects that had been long shrouded by time and distance.

The white guitar flashes beneath the macabre glow of the stage lighting as Hitoya finds his way to the table Jakurai occupies alone for the moment. He holds out a drink.]

Grapefruit juice, right? [It was another call back to the past, of long nights during university when he might not have been so considerate.]

wildcard;
[Taking the cheaters way out but honestly, he's responsible for the whole thing? So he's there for all the prompts if you want him.]

strolls in even more late with grapefruit juice

[zazen]

[No, he never thought that Hitoya was ignoring him. In fact, he'd reach enough to say that Hitoya being productive while they were here was a good thing. Joining him in the product of his work was just a perk for Jakurai at the end of the day.

He takes a seat next to his old friend, a light chuckle leaving him.]

I don't expect you to ever forget that about me.

[At least his old friend was considerate now, lest his party get uproared by a drunk who couldn't control himself.

He was quick enough to catch the guitar, a small smile catching at the corner of his mouth. It brings back some sort of fondness.]