maplebrook_box | (no subject)

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❄ HOLIDAY BASH ❄

Welcome to the totally rad holiday-themed party happening in a pretty sweet castle in the middle of nowhere! You were invited here by someone who was invited by someone else and--actually you have no idea who's hosting. You know how these things work. You think you saw Leonardo DiCaprio on a balcony when you were walking up the driveway, but it was probably just your imagination. Or a ghost. Spooky.

Whether you end up running into familiar faces or not, there seems to be plenty going on!

There's a food table covered with all sorts of sweet and savoury delights alike next to an open bar for all your rum and eggnog needs.

There's a piano trio playing jazzy holiday music in the corner who are also willing to provide karaoke instrumentals if you're feeling up to it.

Near the windows is a big Christmas tree with countless gifts beneath--you'll probably find at least a few with your name on them!

Need a break, or looking for some privacy? There are several small rooms branching off from the main room with comfy couches available for a quick nap. (Or other things, but keep in mind that a place as nice as this probably has security cameras everywhere.) Fresh air can be found easily out on one of the various balconies! What a romantic view.

Oh, and don't forget about the mistletoe! If you're found under one with someone else, you might find your wrist tied to theirs with a length of pretty red ribbon that'll stay there until you smooch. (What kind of castle is this?)

Anyway, the party seems to be carrying on 'til at least New Year's, so remember to sleep, eat, and stay hydrated, and most of all, have fun!

[ Threads have been set up for general areas of interest, but please feel free to post a new top comment if you have other ideas! Also, the mistletoe is literally everywhere so you have total freedom with when and where you happen to get tied up.

Lovingly yoinked from

altarianite! ]

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[Well, Fubuki is the only one here, and it's a pretty large balcony...and the view is fantastic.]

There's plenty of room.

[... Shoot, now he can't really excuse himself.

He offers Fubuki a sheepish smile before drifting closer to the railing.] Nice night, isn't it?

[He nods, perfectly comfortable in the cold air despite his thin clothes.]

It reminds me of home. I haven't seen weather like this since leaving.

Ah, is that so? Where are you from?

Hokkaido. It's much colder than this there at this time of year, though.

...! I have a friend who's from Hokkaido. [He smiles fondly.]

It's a little colder than what I'm used to... [He finally looks over at Fubuki properly, with Morphine alighting on his shoulder.]

Unless he went to Hakuren, I don't think I'd know him. What's he like? [As an afterthought, though:] Ah, or she.

[Fubuki may be calm and making smalltalk like anyone would, but evidently there's more to him than meets the eye. A shaman is familiar with spirits, so Lyserg would see the ghost of a young boy floating around Fubuki. A young boy who looks suspiciously similar to him.]

He. [Lyserg chuckles.] He's a little older than you. He's really competitive, passionate, and fierce as a wolf, but he's got a kind heart... he jokes around a lot too, haha. He's devoted to protecting nature.

[... The ghost is going to feel a couple pairs of eyes on him now, the minute Lyserg spots him. Morphine is silent, as always, but she frowns a little, leaving her shaman's shoulder to flit over to the ghost.]

A wolf, huh... [Like the old legends he used to listen to as bedtime stories.] He sounds like a good person. Is he like the wind?

[The spirit notices Morphine, and instantly puts himself between her and Fubuki protectively. He won't...be hostile, but she better not be a threat.]

Like the wind? [He tilts his head to one side for a moment, with a smile, but then shakes his head.] No, I'd say he's more like... More like the rain, really.

[Morphine stops short where she is, she has no intention to hurt her shaman's conversation partner! She's just curious about the spirit!

... Of course, hopefully the spirit can translate as much from the fairy shaking her head and making a few silent gestures.]

Rain is good, too. Though I like snow better.

[Good, stay back. His human. ...Whether he's protective for good reasons or bad ones is up in the air. He's not letting down his defensive position, but he tilts his head at her.]

I like both equally. [Lyserg glances away from Fubuki for now... if only to look directly at the spirit. He can see you, little guy.

Morphine lifts a hand to her chin, tapping her cheek and frowning in thought. After a moment, she snaps her fingers. She points to herself, to Lyserg, then back to herself.

Then, she points to the spirit, to Fubuki, then back to the spirit.

'Is he your shaman partner?' is what she's hoping to convey.]

[Fubuki goes back to looking at the scenery, not a care in the world. Morphine could fly right at his face and he wouldn't notice. He's a normal human. Mostly.

Atsuya, on the other hand...glances suspiciously between spirit and shaman. It's Lyserg noticing him that tells him exactly what's going on.

"Stay away from him. He's not a shaman at all."]

[Lyserg turns--so he can face the spirit fully, without Fubuki seeing what he's doing.

First, he holds up his hands in a placating gesture. He and Morphine have no intention of hurting him. The dowser glances between the spirit and the other human before he starts tracing something in the air--Morphine uses a little magic to allow it to linger for Atsuya to see.

"家族" Kazoku. Family.

Lyserg then tilts his head, as if to punctuate that with a question mark.]

[And Shirou is out of this conversation for the time being.

Atsuya bristles. Good guess. Not that it's hard, since Atsuya looks a like a younger Shirou. ...He's a lot like a cat that thinks it's a guard dog.

"Yeah, he is. I'm gonna protect him."]

[... Well, Morphine seems to have made that comparison too, she's giggling a little (albeit silently). The fairy immediately sobers up when Lyserg shoots her a stern look, though.

Lyserg offers Atsuya a small, warm smile. He, for one, doesn't doubt the spirit's abilities to keep Shirou safe, and it shows in his expression. The next bit that Lyserg traces in the air is a question--sort of.

You're quite the brave one, aren't you?]

[Don't laugh at him! Protecting Shirou is serious business. Apparently, the less pleasant kind of spirit is attracted to kids like him. He wasn't always suspicious of every spirit who crossed his path.

"You bet I am! What of it?"]

[It was an observation. He's lucky to have you.

... As much as Lyserg has no idea to what extent, he is aware that if Shirou has a spirit hanging around to protect him, he, more than likely, needed it a lot.

Lyserg himself was lucky in being a shaman and having Morphine, really, but he's had his encounters with the more malevolent sorts.]

["If he were 'lucky', he wouldn't need me. Either of me."

I'm sorry, did you think they had normal people issues? Atsuya knows he can't protect Shirou from everything. He can only fight off other spooks. In the meantime, he has to watch his brother's inner demons tear him apart.]

[...

Given the circumstances, I would call him lucky. I'll readily admit that I don't know the full extent and that you can't guard him from everything, but having you to protect him is better than not having any protection at all--

Lyserg shifts there, pulling his arms closer to his body. The dowser frowns and casts his glance to the side.

Mildly touchy subject? Mildly touchy subject.]

[He's sorry, Lyserg... Atsuya is just frustrated. He's only eight. Not counting years after dying, anyway. He's only eight, and he can't do anything for his brother's real problems.

He casts a sad, lonely look at Shirou before looking back at Lyserg and Morphine.

"He's mine."]

[Lyserg's just... tense and Morphine, sensing her shaman's (mild) distress, is a little agitated in return.

Lyserg takes a breath to calm himself, glancing at Atsuya and Shirou. There's a long stretch of silence as Lyserg thinks things over.

...

Eventually, Lyserg finds himself asking one thing--

Do you want to talk to him?

... Whatever the dowser has in mind is earning him a Look from his fairy companion.]

Edited 2015-12-25 08:03 (UTC)

[For a moment, Atsuya perks up! He wants to talk to Shirou so badly. He misses him - they were supposed to always be together, and they are, but Shirou doesn't know that...it's just like being alone.

But his excitement lasts only a moment as he casts a worried look Shirou's way. The other Atsuya....has been unstable lately. What would it do to him to speak to the real Atsuya again?

"...I dunno if that would be good for him right now..." But he sounds so hurt and heartbroken.]

[Lyserg swallows, glancing over to Shirou worriedly. There was something going on, huh... But really, it's Atsuya's tone that tugs (... really, yanks is more like it) at the shaman's heartstrings.

It's really tempting to say something like 'you never know until you try,' but... he doesn't know the circumstances. Is it really his place to speak like that?

He'll stay silent, as if to allow Atsuya to think it over.]

[Atsuya is silent for a few moments, then hops up to sit on the banister of the balcony. He gazes out at the scenery the exact same way his brother does.

"He's an orphan, you know? Mom, dad, and me all died at once... I don't think he knew how to handle being alone. Dad said we would be perfect together, right before..."

Silence again, for a minute or so.

"He found a way around it, at least. But I don't think it's making him happy anymore."]