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Entry tags:
The Longest Day (Open to All)
Who: Open Log (All)
Where: Point-à-Tarte
Summary: The Longest Day
Warnings: N/A
Where: Point-à-Tarte
Summary: The Longest Day
Warnings: N/A
"Do they ever stop partying? Probably not...I gotta say that's one thing Eddan has going for itself..."
A Festival for the Sunlight
Eddan prides itself in its many festivals. While the summer solstice doesn’t have much religious significance to the city, it’s surged back into popularity as a holiday partly due to the city’s curfew. More daylight means more time to be out and about and to party!
It’s for this reason that the rest of the week is a holiday for most of the city. Everywhere people look, the city is decorated in bright flowers and lights that light up even the darkest of night (although everyone is warned to stay inside regardless).
A music festival with rock and electronic concerts is being arranged in Point-à-Tarte's park. Many great local acts are scheduled to take the stage until sunset, though that won’t be enough for some. The party will move into bunkers and underground clubs once the sun goes down, with the pounding beat of the music lasting until dawn.
It’s for this reason that the rest of the week is a holiday for most of the city. Everywhere people look, the city is decorated in bright flowers and lights that light up even the darkest of night (although everyone is warned to stay inside regardless).
A music festival with rock and electronic concerts is being arranged in Point-à-Tarte's park. Many great local acts are scheduled to take the stage until sunset, though that won’t be enough for some. The party will move into bunkers and underground clubs once the sun goes down, with the pounding beat of the music lasting until dawn.
The Arrows Never Lie
However for the Awakened, they will soon notice something odd. Some of the festival goers around them will take on a different appearance if they don’t look at them directly. If that’s not enough for someone to notice, the red arrows that begin to appear over their heads with the same symbol from Applenet is a pretty big clue.
No one else seems to notice, however. Not even the people themselves.
However if an Awakened person gets closer to one of them, a disclaimer will appear on their phone.
"Don't overdo it, got it? If you shake their brain too much, it might be dangerous. But keep a close eye on them for me, won't ya? Don't give them multiple headaches! That's bad!"
[OOC: If Awakened speak with non-Awakened characters, their conversations may bring little bits of memory back to them. However, be careful! If they overload them with memories they might attract the attention of something they wouldn't want to. Let us know if that happens!]
No one else seems to notice, however. Not even the people themselves.
However if an Awakened person gets closer to one of them, a disclaimer will appear on their phone.
"Don't overdo it, got it? If you shake their brain too much, it might be dangerous. But keep a close eye on them for me, won't ya? Don't give them multiple headaches! That's bad!"
[OOC: If Awakened speak with non-Awakened characters, their conversations may bring little bits of memory back to them. However, be careful! If they overload them with memories they might attract the attention of something they wouldn't want to. Let us know if that happens!]
no subject
[Kouyuki has come to Point-à-Tarte with his brother, but after agreeing to meet back up later, they go their separate ways, each keen on exploring different things and looking for different people. Or, in Kouyuki's case, looking for a good place to leave some new clues, which has him intently investigating an area near a digital city clock looking completely innocent...
Of course, trying to find creative hiding places is tiring work, and around midday he'll stop across the street at one of the cafes. There's a menu board outside on the street that he's staring at, and depicted in paint marker are several different drinks that are on sale today.]
Hm...should I get a Vanilla Frappuccino or the MystiKoi one?
[Once refreshed, he'll be easy to spot racing through the park or playing a game of basketball with some kids from the area. He isn't very tall, but as with most things he seems to set his mind to, he plays rather well...and competitively.
Maybe it's that spark of his that has drawn a small crowd, or perhaps it's the influence of the music that can be heard playing everywhere? Either way, if Kouyuki happens to notice anyone watching the game with especial interest, he'll toss them the ball and invite them to join.]
You know how to play, right?
[As for any Awakened who encounters Kouyuki, they will notice that he is among those attending the festival with a red indicator above his head. Of course, he doesn't seem to be any more aware of that than the subtle way his appearance will seem to shift for those looking at him from just the right angle — or not-looking, as it were. Eyes a soft blue-gray flicker gold and back again, and there wrapped about his neck is a white scarf that hangs low over his chest. Sometimes, the curve of his smile will appear just a little sharper, and even his hair will appear more wild...]
Kidou: Bespectacle Yourself 🕶 Don't CAUSE A Spectacle!
[At some point, Kouyuki and Michi find one another again in the park. There's still plenty of daylight left, but for all that Kouyuki has been very busy, he's worked up something of an appetite. He suggests getting something to eat, enough for both of them to share, and on their way back toward one of the picnic tables with their tiny hoard he asks his little brother to hold the food...]
Go ahead, I'll catch up. I can feel my shoelace coming loose.
[While he was roaming around earlier, he happened by some faux flower decorations that would keep well throughout the day. One blossom in particular caught his attention for its bright pink and white striped petals, and pulling it form the arrangement, Kouyuki had secured it flat against his ankle and beneath a layer of a folded down sock.
While Michi takes the food toward the table, Kouyuki frees the little flower and does his best to sneak up quietly, and quickly, behind him. He never did get to properly flower Michi's hair during the last festival, but this is about more than winning their silly little war. His little brother hasn't been quite himself lately. He tries to hide it, but Kouyuki sees those changes. Right down to those sunglasses he's wearing.
Sunglasses Kouyuki's decided he wants to get a closer look at! And if his diversion goes as planned, that flower will slide neatly right in the back of Michi's dreadlocks and allow him to pluck his sunglasses right off his face!]
KOUYUKI!! uh, I mean... spectacle
Plus, it gives him a chance to mull things over for a little while.
Between that marker over his head and the song that Kouyuki somehow knew, he couldn't shake the certainty that Onii-san had to be on that app right now. Kidou refused to say a word about it. He's increasingly grateful every day for the sunglasses hiding where his eyes were; he couldn't keep his gaze from straying to that indicator completely.
What was he going to do about this? What could he do? And more importantly, who-
Kidou's distracted. His hands are both occupied. This internal monologue is promptly interrupted by a deft motion right behind him of something thin sliding directly against the back of his head, into his ponytail.
And a followup deft motion of that hand, once it's there, snatching the sunglasses right off of his face.
Kidou goes completely stiff, having to fight the urge to whirl around. He can't reach back to get it without risking the food from one of them. While it wasn't the same as his goggles, those sunglasses had meaning. They were quite literally all he had to try to feel at least a little bit normal in a world that didn't expect him to be. And Kouyuki took them!
That flash of indignation only lasts until he's managed to get Kouyuki in his peripheral vision. ... because, Kidou thinks as he starts to turn around, he really doesn't know better. His older brother would never deliberately hurt him. He'd been trying to get them for a while and 'Michi' never said a word about it. He'd evade him or dance just out of reach, or somehow make it difficult until Kouyuki had to stop. He knew Kouyuki well enough to know that, in hindsight, he'd invited this. He even knew this moment might come enough to prepare for it. So what could he do, invite it more? Draw attention to the fact that overnight Michi grew an attachment to a pair of sunglasses? He certainly can't begin to explain why not to do that! And saying not to would mean that he'd be asked why.
Michi's reaction would be to hastily set the food down and give chase to get those back, probably yelling. But Kidou's entire reaction is based on staying presentable and calm at all costs. His mouth snaps shut again, eyes narrowing His shoulders don't grow less tense, but they lower again. His jaw is tense from clenching his jaw, but he makes no verbal objection. As much as it eats at him, reacting at all is not an option right now. For the moment, his head freezes mid-turn, then turns back around. And keeps going.
He'll just have to endure this and pretend it isn't as humiliating as it feels for the few more moments it takes until he can get one hand free. He doesn't even check what's in his hair until he's set the food down.]
😎
He stops and, whirling back around, gazes at his Michi in time to see his little brother look at him, and then look away, carrying on towards the place he'd picked out for them to have their lunch as if he can't be bothered with anything else.
Feeling helpless and a little like he may have crossed a line, Kouyuki looks on as Michi reaches the picnic table and begins to set down their lunch. He isn't even in a hurry to pull the flower out of his hair the way he'd been expertly dodging him at the last festival. It just sits there...an out of place accessory that is completely ignored, rendered as utterly ineffectual as this victory...
Were the sunglasses that important?
Quietly, he makes his way towards the table, holding them out before him. They looked like any other pair of sunglasses to him. Every time he tries to ask Michi about them, he doesn't get an answer. And every time before now when he'd tried to get his hands on them, he'd failed. But even up close they yield no answers.
Not even when he finally slides them on and peers at his brother does he see what's so great about them. They're just...sunglasses. Albeit fairly comfortable ones, he guesses.]
Hey, what's up? You didn't even yell at me or anything...
no subject
It can't be helped, can it?
Internally he has to sigh when his older brother's voice speaks up again from behind him, with that note of concern that adds guilt to the feeling of loss. It's inevitable as well, isn't it? He's just going to keep making Kouyuki's life difficult. How many times has he fixated on that now? That who his older brother really wants isn't who he's talking to ... not anymore.
Out of everything so far, nothing makes him feel more guilty than knowing that. He can make his face blank. Anything more positive than that is pushing just too far right now.]
Nothing. [The lie he keeps having to tell, over and over...] ... well played.
[Why can't he add any emotion to that that's supposed to be there? The best he can manage is barely anything at all. Kidou turns around then to face him, already putting on the backup pair. Better that than letting Kouyuki see his whole face right now.
... that flower is still in his hair, unchecked. The sunglasses are more important than even that, apparently.]
no subject
...is it just the sunglasses, or does Michi not even look like his brother right now?
He isn't smiling. There's no mirth. His shoulders are tense, his expression guarded. He's not cold, but he's not open, either. In fact, for all that they're standing only a couple of feet apart, it feels more like they're miles, and miles away.
No sooner the thought sprouts like a weed in his mind, though, he's ripping it out like he's pulling those sunglasses off his face. Only the sunglasses are treated with a great deal more care for belonging to Michi. Whatever his reason for having bought them and a second pair, it must be important to him, and that isn't something that Kouyuki wants to disrespect. Whatever prompted his brother to care about his accessories this much, it doesn't make him not his brother. It just means there's something going on that he doesn't know how to handle and can't express. And maybe that he's hiding it because he doesn't know what else to do. Probably.
The arms of the sunglasses are folded in carefully, though Kouyuki doesn't hold them out for Michi to take back quite yet.]
It's not really well played if you're not having fun, you know.
[There's worry in his voice. He can't help it.]
no subject
Kidou has to fight down the urge to say whatever it is he's going to say, and ends up having to break eye contact.]
Sorry.
[For everything.
He reaches up, gently pulling out... what turns out to be a leftover holdout from flower war. He tries to smile; that much he can even admit is genuinely amusing. He even half manages it, but a sad smile is probably worse.
Was that the last real thing they did together, as them?]
... I should have known.
[No, really. He honestly should have seen that coming. Clearly he's been far too distracted.]
no subject
And that's something precious to him, something he wants very much to protect. So he holds out the sunglasses, but not before stepping a little closer and patting his younger brother on the shoulder.]
It's okay. [He's still worried, but for Michi's sake, he manages a smile as warm as the sun itself.] Let's eat, maybe that'll help.
[Not that he'll push to have this sort of fun after they're done eating. As much as he misses the way they used to be, just being with Michi is something he enjoys. And if that means just sitting down over lunch and talking, that's fine with him. Maybe they can even talk about what those sunglasses mean? It's worth a try.]
no subject
It doesn't solve everything - the core problem is something Kouyuki never could and shouldn't be expected to - but it's salve on a raw wound.]
...Yeah.
[He'll even hesitate to pull away, letting Kouyuki do so first. The contact is minimal, but Kidou never needed much. Michi didn't either. It says everything it needs to as it is. Kouyuki may or may notice that in that moment, the faux flower gets slipped into Kidou's pocket stem first, angled carefully so that it hopefully will stay secure. It's so important that he keep this, but he can't very well wear it in his hair. He's got an image.
Once free, he'll move deliberately to the other side of the table, letting his older brother have the closer seat so he doesn't have to go as far. He'll switch out glasses in a minute, once he's settled.]
It's true that late lunches rarely help things.
[Thank you for that observation, Kidou. Your conversational skills are noted.]
no subject
Taking his seat opposite his brother, he seems to center his attention on unpacking their lunch, but not a moment passes where Kouyuki isn't equally aware of Michi. He may not have seen precisely where that flower ended up, but he's noticed where it didn't. While Kouyuki can't imagine why Michi'd want to keep such a thing, he knows his brother has always been so careful with the things he was given, even in play. It's one of his more endearing traits. Though, certainly not his only one.]
I didn't know you had two new pairs of sunglasses.
[Setting out two paper plates, one for each of them, Kouyuki opens the sushi they bought to split between them.]
They're pretty nice. Where'd you get them?
no subject
This pair, I got at one of the station gift shops.
[The exact name is omitted. Neither of them have much reason to need to take anything regularly; they're very close to the school. Within walking distance. So any trip would be noteworthy, especially at the lengths Kidou had to end up going to get it.]
The other one ... [Meaning the backup.] ... it wasn't too far from here.
[But he doesn't really need it if Kouyuki's going to stop going after it anymore. Hm. He leaves them on the table for now, instead of putting them in his pocket alongside the flower. While he's hungry, he doesn't immediately reach to take anything for his plate once he's finished his odd little ritual; instead, he's looking down at the backup pair in quiet contemplation.]
no subject
You almost look cool wearing those ones.
[Not to imply Michi didn't look cool otherwise, or...is it? If it is, the way Kouyuki's mouth quirks into a teasing smile should communicate he doesn't mean anything by it. He's just having fun. As usual.
Although the compliment is real enough. There's a strange edge to Michi these days. But he's still Michi, Kouyuki's little brother. So he doesn't worry too much. As long as he's safe and happy, that's all that matters.]
no subject
[ironically, Emily's actually taking this opportunity to scope out some of the shops around Point-a-Tarte to see if any can be used to further her own participation in the silly little word game she'd help kick off. places that were busy but not hectic enough that she'd run the risk of her clue being removed or altered were ideal - it wasn't any fun if they were all in difficult to find spots, after all.
but it's also a day of celebration, so she's allowed herself to indulge a little while 'working' so diligently. she smiles brightly, rattling the ice cubes from the drink in her hand around to underline the superiority of the selection. mmm, refreshing flavors.]
no subject
If he recalls correctly, along with its vanilla base, hint of coconut, and splash of orange mango, it has a little pureed strawberry, too. The only thing it's really lacking is the matcha...]
Mm...but it's hard because I like trying new things.
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They do punch cards here, you know. Maybe you should fill one up and try the new stuff for free.
[you know, in case it turned out that tropical flavors and coffee tasted like someone got sick on their flight home from Hawaii.]
no subject
[He nods in agreement, but knows that filling up a card isn't something he can go out and just do. Kouyuki doesn't come from a wealthy family. They're not poor by any means, but they're required to be cautious and limit frivolous spending to rare occasions. In reality, he knows buying water would be healthier and also more cost efficient, but the free spirit within really wants to spoil his taste buds.]
I think I'll go with the MystiKoi one for now, though. I hear they decorate it with a little scarecrow umbrella.
[It's a trivial reason to want to try it, but it can't be helped. He wants the little stick decoration. It could make a nice trinket to leave with one of the clues he'll plant around the district later.]
Your drink looks almost empty. You should try it, too.
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[not that Emily's really going to complain either way, as is clear from the expression on her face. little pseudo-spooky charms like that are pretty much the most adorable things in the world to her, and who wouldn't want on as a bonus for getting a nice, sugary drink?
at Kouyuki's suggestion, though, her gaze inevitably drops down to the dregs of her own drink. she swishes the straw around as she shakes her head gently, chuckling a little.]
I don't know if that'd be such a great idea for me, though.
[that is a lot of caffeine to get hopped up on, as tempting as the idea of a second drink in this warm weather sounded. not to mention...]
I'd only have one spot left to fill on my card if I did, and that's so frustrating to wait through.
no subject
Nope. I think they're supposed to be modeled after one of the items you can get in the game. It's pretty popular.
[Or it had been until it caused a bit of an uproar with new players, because no one knew it was a bad item until it had already begun spreading and stealing fish. It still amuses Kouyuki to think about that. Anyone who finds his clue who happens to be familiar with the game will surely be surprised! And anyone not familiar can enjoy a cute little scarecrow stick umbrella. There's really no downside in his opinion.]
I have an idea. If you come in with me, I'll buy my drink and you can use it to fill your card. Then you won't have to wait, you can just use it whenever you want to.
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I don't really play too many games, so I wouldn't know anything about that. Sounds like fun, though!
[it also sounds like something some of the kids she sat for would almost certainly be into. maybe she'd ask them about it the next time their parents had a business meeting they couldn't bump back.]
Oooh, don't tempt me! I'm the one who'd have to deal with all the consequences.
[but then...she'd wanted to plant a few more clues, hadn't she? surely a little extra energy while scoping out ideal locations couldn't hurt. uuugh.]
no subject
[Leaving no more room for debate, Kouyuki turns away from the sign and starts toward the shop's door. As he holds it open for Emily, a blast of cool air from within seeps out and onto the street.
An air conditioned cafe has got to be more inviting than baking to a crisp on a city sidewalk, right?]
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If it actually does end up tasting like fish then I'm going to make you drink both.
[even if she's a completely willing victim, she can't help but get a little playful 'revenge' for being roped into a second drink. as she passes through the door one of her hands shoot out to ruffle his hair; her pace picks up immediately after committing the crime, making instant retaliation almost impossible.]
no subject
[Having his hair tousled isn't something Kouyuki is used to, though he supposes he invited retaliation of a sort just by being himself and teasing. Following after her with a little laugh, the door closing at his heels, he starts past some seated customers and toward the short line near the counter. He doesn't bother to fix his hair, not beyond a little shake of his head that settles the more flippant strands back into place, just stares up at the menu board while dividing his attention equally between it and the girl accompanying him.]
You know, you'd have to catch me first if you wanted to do that. And now that I'm on alert, it won't be easy.
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Yeah? Sounds like all I need is a little patience.
[besides, even if he's fast, there's a pretty healthy amount of obstacles in this cafe. the odds of him eating shit before reaching the door were pretty high.]
It's not like the drink's going anywhere if I decide not to have it, after all.
『 NOTE』Minor retconning here since we decided they met in person previous to this encounter.
When it was their turn at the counter, Kouyuki moved on up and placed an order for two medium MystiKoi drinks, but when the barista asked for their names for the cups, he looked quizzically over at Emily. And then smiled.]
Wolfmoon and Oracle.
[The barista chuckled at his nod to their app names, neither of which they could publicly say, but these subtle allusions were certainly alright.]
it's cute how you're putting that there like literally anyone aside from us cares
and so Emily smiles instead, sliding both her punch card and enough cash for both drinks across the counter to the barista. it's the least she can do to repay finding a small moment of positivity from all this network nonsense.
as the barista turns to start up their order and they slide out of the way of the customers behind them, she can't help but murmur:]
So what do you think is actually going to be on the cups?
[because no coffee place ever got the requested names right. ever.]
╮( ˘ ､ ˘ )╭
[She raises a good point. He's come here in the past simply to experience other promotions and has encountered errors in the way his name was written on the cup. He laughs softly and sighs when he recalls Cow Key. At the very least, that wouldn't be the same thing on his cup this time, but he has to wonder what comical horror he'll find there in its place.]
I can't say. Wolfmoon is pretty simple...but what about yours?
look at that emote with all its nonchalant and untainted optimism...
it knows the note is more for us than anyone else! that's why!
but we already knew???? emote why
just in case we ever look back and wonder! some of us have magikarp brains!
i doubt that is ever going to happen