New Years Festival!

[leaderkun]

Who: EVERYONE! Chosen and Partners, Damemon, Deputymon, Starmon too!
What: The New Year's Festival and Masquerade Ball
Where: Shinjuku Gyoen in the Park
When: December 31st



December 31st has at last arrived, and despite certain events depriving the Digital World of the original creator, the people involved with the New Years Festival managed to pull through. With Roze's work already underway and the designs and directions sent out, it wasn't hard to finish what had been started.

At mid-afternoon, a general text was sent out to all the D-Terminals announcing the festival grounds as open. Going to the Shinjuku Gyoen part of the park revealed a tiny wonderland of games and food manned by Chosen, Partners and Damemon alike.

Every Chosen and Partner have Damemon helpers and shifts rotate at each stall, making certain no one is kept from enjoying themselves to the fullest.

To either side of the festival grounds are picnic areas set up with several tables, all surrounded by bright white and yellow string lights. The four rows of game and food stalls are all decorated with large red paper lanterns, paper dragons and bright string lights, allowing the festivities to proceed well after dark.

At the front of the entire festival grounds Roze's Digimon - Julie the Impmon and Musashi the Kotemon - hand out copies of a simple map. On the back of each map the times for the masquerade dance are printed in case people forgot the time from their invitations.

In the Taiwan Pavilion, from the start of the festival to the end, Maya Matlin and Ryan Evans play music on piano and cello, rotating with Neku Sakuraba who maintains a steady flow of pre-arranged music. Several times throughout the day a handful of Digimon put on a simple but entertaining Taiko drum performance. Two long buffet tables filled with food and punch stay full throughout the day and night.

Jin Uzuki teaches calligraphy at one stall, as well as performs tea ceremony and lectures on Japanese traditions for those not educated on the themes presented by the festival.

Squall Leonhart stands sentinel over the Kingyo Sukui (goldfish catching) stall.

Campbell Saunders covers the ball toss, where people can try their luck knocking down milk bottles.

The Medicine Seller mans the Okonomiyaki cart, where people are free to order any combination of ingredients and eat hot food straight from the iron.

Mikasa Ackerman covers a colorful and pleasant-smelling stall where festival-goers can choose from dozens of bananas on sticks, the fruit dipped in different flavored coatings and numerous toppings.

Shannon Vaughn and Eli Delacroix cover the stall on the center walk where those at the festival can pick up sparklers and handmade papier-mâché masks for fun or the masquerade, if they have none of their own.

A ping pong toss with water-filled glass bowls sits with a pair of Damemon attendants cheering on participants.

Next to the Okonomiyaki cart, Saori Nakagawa and Laguna Loire provide fresh Takoyaki (octopus balls) on sticks, steaming and delicious.

The local Prince, Rowan, cheerily provides personal pies or slices of ready-made large ones and chats amiably with anyone who happens to be drawn in by meat or fruit fillings inside flaky crusts.

Cheerful little Miwako Sakurada watches the Yoyo Tsuri (water balloon yoyo) cart, balloons in bright splashes of color floating in a rotating pool of water, casting a rainbow across the cloth roof of the stall.

The ever large and boisterous Rider struts around a Strongman Hammer game, jeering and cajoling the men and complimenting the women, making bets and offering arm-wrestling competitions.

Little Wily-Kit has a raised platform surrounded by cushions where people can sit and listen to her play the flupe and regale them with tales from her homeland.

Dante sits at a stall of his own, playing guitar when he's not giving kisses for donations to the festival fund.

A ring toss game where one can try to put small rings around the necks of glass bottles stands manned by two Damemon arguing restlessly about the arrangement of the bottles.

Waver Velvet and his Wizardmon stand to dazzle onlookers with card tricks and details of magic performed in Waver's homeland.

Next to Wily-Kit's storytelling and Waver's tricks, Harry Potter serves up a variety of hot drinks close to the front of the festival so people have something to warm their hands and bellies while they enjoy the festivities.

Throughout the entire festival ground, Seifer Almasy and his hand-picked group of Digimon patrol the area, ejecting trouble-makers and seeing to damages while Yu Narukami and his team keep supplies full and assist Seifer with damage control.

The festival continues on through the day until the Masquerade Ball begins. All the stalls close and people are free to dress and attend as they like. Food and punch remains present and the music continues until midnight, when masks are to be removed and the New Year begins!

Comments

Pavilion Masquerade - Ryan, Maya, Neku

[leaderkun]

Re: Pavilion Masquerade - Ryan, Maya, Neku

[ruffntumblenut]

Ruffnut had found herself surprisingly drawn to the music of the pavilion. They say that music soothes the savage beast, and such was the case here.

Standing awkwardly to the side as her partner wandered off to get food Ruffnut found herself swaying to the music and feeling pangs of misery with each new song.

Snoggletog had come and gone, and Odin had not found them.

Worse yet...neither had her brother.

She felt a pit in her stomach that was growing with every day threatening to devour her like so many dragons in the past.

The Taiko drums were her favorite, they reminded her of the drumming of proud vikings around a fire as they roared and told stories of bravery and heroics.

Could she be one of those heroes people told stories about without her other half?

[the_lion_roller]

"H'you're looking a little lost in thought..."

Either Martin is drawn to people who have family and friends at home they're missing, or he just happened to be enjoying the music nearby as well. ...It's probably the latter, but you never know.

Oh, yeah...he's also wearing a rather ridiculous looking mask right now (tied instead of held). At least he's also got an awfully cheering smile on too.

[ruffntumblenut]

Ruffnut turned to address whoever was speaking and let out a startled yelp jumping back a step and holding up her fists defensively. Only when she realized it was just a mask did she relax and look irritated.

"Can't get lost there if you never have em." She muttered still looking at him suspiciously.

[the_lion_roller]

At least he looks a little sheepish at having startled her. He raises the mask on his face a little so that it's resting above his forehead...which still looks ridiculous but at least a bit less startling.

"Sorry. H'just a mask."

He gives a small chuckle.

"Hah'that's impossible. Everybody thinks."

[innermonologues]

[ Of course he knew where to find Neku. He looked over the map over and over until he had all the booths and the people running them memorized. When he was on his break he walked over to the music and glanced around. It shouldn't be too hard to spot a short kid with bright orange hair, right? ]

[scratchitti]

[Normally Squall would be right, but considering Neku's normal outfit was replaced with a black and purple hakama, his hair not nearly as tall and partly hidden by the fox mask pushed up past his forehead, he wasn't as easy to see.

But he does see Squall eventually, waving him over]

[innermonologues]

[ he notices the motion and glances over. With a small squint he finally realized that figure looked a bit familiar, so he shoved his hands into his pockets and wandered off in that direction. ]

Looks like you're dressed to impress tonight.

[scratchitti]

Huh?

[He looks down at himself, turning a little red but looking pleased]

It's a formal dance-thing, right? Roze helped me pick it out...

[His smile falters slightly]

[headup_stickontheice]

Cam knows the music team quite well, so when he's on his off-times, it's natural that he gravitates toward the pavilion, to wait for their off-time or talk or just listen. He really likes the listening. He wanders over more than once, to catch Neku and Maya on their separate shifts.

[scratchitti]

Neku waves Cam down on his break, as Maya and Ryan start up. He grins, looking a little worn, but happy

"Hey! Come to see Maya play?"

[headup_stickontheice]

"For starters," Cam replies, not even trying to hide it. He's an open book, might as well live like it. "And talk with you. Good music choices."

His mouth twitches into a goodhearted smirk. "And outfit."

Cam himself's got a tie, a nice shirt, nice pants - pretty much Proper Game Day Attire from back home.

9:30pm, half an hour into the dance...

[fullofthorns]

The festival winding down, the dance cranking up, it seemed a good time to come in. Then again, she hadn't arrived long ago. When she realized the event was going on and she somehow hadn't missed it, there was no way she would now. Neither hell nor high-water would prevent her from going now that she had the chance, regardless of her mood and reservations.

It wasn't quite the entrance one expected from the movies - then again it never was - but the woman appearing at the wide entrance of the palisade flanked by a familiar Impmon and Kotemon could be no one other than Roze.

She seemed taller, her figure more imposing, though physically she hadn't grown an inch. She was fuller of figure, slightly less porcelain-skinned, more cream, and the long mass of pink hair that fell unbound around her shoulders was even richer in color than before but those sharp green eyes were the same. It was Roze Ichishi under the beautiful dress and mask covered in green roses and crystals. The sleeveless design displayed the bold lines of her tattoos and new additions like a large criss-cross scar on her right shoulder, or a bit of scar peeking out from under the mask.

She said nothing to anyone, walking into the dance with her chin high and her green eyes cool. As she entered into the pavilion, light caught on a bracelet and necklace only familiar to some. The most impressive accessory, however, was the enormous, slithering tail weaving on the ground behind her like a giant serpent, covered in dark, purplish-red scales and ending in a massive fluff of hair as thick and pink as that upon her head.

When she heard the music and saw the people, her chilly expression warmed slightly, though only just, and she moved away to the side and one of the balconies, turning slowly on the spot, the long tail reminiscent of Chinese dragon's coiling around the base of her dress in two long loops.

Julie and Musashi were instantly attendant to her, one rushing off and retrieving a glass of champagne, the other a plate of sushi, practically falling over themselves to see to her needs as she stood there, cool and detached but there and real.

[leaderkun]

It was impossible to miss Roze, even before she vanished. Now she was an even more imposing figure. As if cut from gems and lightning and all things lovely and wild. The tail was...certainly new, but Yu made no mention of it as he approached. It was enough to see her, here, right now.

The now younger man was dressed in white, a sharp contrast to Roze's greens and pinks. Like a blank spot waiting for color.

"May I?" He offered a hand, gray eyes sparkling behind his mask.

[fullofthorns]

Cool eyes slid up and down, a distinct tension in her jaw as she considered her options. Eventually a hand lifted, coming to rest in Yu's with a faint smile. She was angry about a lot of things, but she wasn't angry at anyone. Besides that, he looked good, and she appreciated the acknowledgement without a barrage of questions first. Just a simple welcome back, something to ease her back home.

She didn't say anything as she stepped forward, tail hissing against the hardwood floor as it uncoiled, weaving behind her; she simply nodded and gave him the lead.

[velveteenmage]

Waver had been preparing to leave--it was getting late, and both his partners were thoroughly worn out. Seemed as good a chance as any to escape, and he'd planned on taking it.

Until, of course, he caught a flash of pink out of the corner of his eyes that stopped him in his tracks. That wasn't...was it? She looked radically different, to be sure. (The tail was definitely new.) Waver didn't waste more than a few seconds standing around staring and almost immediately broke into a full-on sprint to close the considerable distance between them, instantly switching into full-on indignation.

"Where have you been?!" he demanded, with a strained note that might have suggested the shouting came from no small amount of genuine worry.

[fullofthorns]

She tensed, flinching slightly, eyes flickering as she leaned away a fraction with lips pursed in frustration. After a moment she stood straight and cocked a brow behind her mask, the corner of her mouth quirking up at the corner.

"...Hello, Velvet Cake," she murmured, her voice older, more smoky and full of promises than before. Promises and unvoiced apologies. There was nothing she could do to come back, but she was here now, at least.

She stood there, silent and uncertain for a moment. The Roze from before would have pounced, dragged him around, laughed his ear off, teased him for his concern. This Roze was different. More subdued - but only just. She at least gave him options, raising both of her hands and opening her arms, offering him a hug, if he was willing to take it.

Re: 9:30pm, half an hour into the dance...

[lilpoppa]

Tetsushi eyes were welling up with tears as he saw Roze. She was not gone all that long, but to her father it had felt like years. He dashed half way over to her stopping when he realized he would be making a scene. Patamon was hovered in tow.

Tetsushi's suit and mask did nothing to hide his identity. It also seemed the suit was wearing him more than he was wearing it. Its black color stood out against his skin and his thin black strip mask matched. Patamon had his own black mask and bow tie that he was rather proud of.

After Tetsushi finally reached Roze he took a small bow. His eyes were still full of tears, but he was smiling none the less.

"I'm glad to see you."

Tetsushi opened his arms for a hug in the hopes that she actually would.

[fullofthorns]

She stared at the man for several long moments, anger rising to her face in an instant before being schooled to a perfect, cold sort of calm. She did not go to him, did not hug him. She barely wanted to speak to him.

"Yes. Well, I'm back, so there's nothing to worry about now, is there?" she snorted softly, turning her eyes coolly away from him and gazing out across the dance imperiously. She had no desire to communicate overmuch with the man-child and being forced to discuss their past.

[hellspawnedhero]

Even if he hadn't recognized the tattoos and the hair, that necklace would have given away Roze's identity to Dante in a heartbeat. He'd been putting on a false face of cheerfulness all day, keeping the mood of the festival and ignoring the fact that his Crest of Love felt heavy around his throat. Though he knew it would heal into a scar he could hide with ease, as it always did when he lost someone dear to him, it felt as if Roze had taken half of his heart with her when she'd disappeared. Now that he saw her again, it was like a weight was lifted off of his chest.

She looked different, but to the eyes of the half demon, it only made her more beautiful. While he preferred humans for the most part, the knowledge that she was a true hybrid, much like himself, meant that the reminder of her supernatural nature didn't carry with it the suggestion that she lacked the qualities almost only seen in mortals. And he knew that she didn't, though her cold expression told him that she had been through something rough recently.

Still, he couldn't help himself. As soon as he saw her, he broke into a run, nearly stumbling in the red kimono he'd worn in her honor, and threw himself into a hug that might have knocked over someone shorter or lacking in a tail for extra balance. Tears glittered behind his red mask, but he didn't care. All he cared about was that she was here...and that maybe her feelings for him hadn't faded because of her time away.

"Didn't think I'd see ya again..."

[fullofthorns]

"Really?" she asked, groaning slightly under the weight. She did indeed end up needing to use the tail, one eye twitching at the corner from the sudden pain of kinking it. Still, at least they didn't go spilling into a buffet table. "So little faith in what we had?" she added with a curious, mocking tone.

She twisted slightly, squirming out of his grasp enough to stand up and straighten her tail out, wincing again before turning those cool green eyes on him. She opened her mouth to make some remark or other, but it ended up an inhale instead. Oh God. He looked good. The only words that came to mind were entirely ribald, and for a moment she just looked completely flummoxed. She was hurting! She was sad and she was...just...too confused. It was like being two people at once, and she couldn't seem to decide who to be in that moment.

So she fell back on what she had.

Hands reached out, gripping both sides of the front of the kimono to tug him forward into a bruising open-mouthed kiss, searing away her anger and fear long enough to wash the bitterness out of her mouth and taste something familiar and good. So what if anyone else was watching, she thought, tail winding around Dante's ankles of its own accord. Let them. Maybe it was better to be a little bit of the Old Roze. Even she didn't much like New Roze.

[innermonologues]

Despite the whole reason he was coming to this dance in the first place being gone ( At least to his knowledge) he decided to stay at the dance. He made a promise to Roze after all that he would show up and stay till the end. He may have made that promise, but he just couldn't stay out there with all the music and happiness going around.

With a small glass of champagne in his hand he made his way out onto the Balcony and just leaned against railing. Even though he promised to come to the dance, he didn't realize he had to be so fancy like everyone else. He only came dressed in his usual leather pants and a white tank top shirt.

He took a small sip from his glass and sighed, looking a little lost in thought. It hadn't even occurred to him that there was someone next to him. It was his own fault since he left himself to his thoughts. It always kept him thinking and thinking.

[fullofthorns]

"Quite a party," she murmured with an amused expression, not immediately alerting the young mercenary to her presence or who was specifically speaking to him. She still had the same voice, but it was older, huskier, a smokey sound. It had been an alluring voice before, but maturity brought with it a new kind of promise.

"You don't feel out of place, not wearing a nice outfit? I mean, at least a mask would have been nice. They did have a stall for masks if people didn't have their own. You just insist on going against the grain?" she asked, the feathery tuft of her tail flicking in cat-like taunting, brushing against the backs of his calves and ankles.

"One would think you'd have a little more respect for observing tradition. Tsk."

[needsteaplz]

Roze's presence didn't go unnoticed by Saori. She gave the other a few minutes before walking over to her. A golden moon mask and a starry night like dress was her choice for her costume. Kiyomi and Guren followed after her. If it wasn't for the party air, she would've hugged Roze tightly.

"Damn girl, now that was quite an entrance," she complimented with a smile. "You're a sight for sore eyes, Roze."

[fullofthorns]

She smiled in return, a placid lake, serene and hiding a world of strange things under the surface.

"And you. It looks like the celebration went off without a hitch. I guess I worried over the details for nothing. Everything came together quite nicely. I was hardly needed," she laughed, arching a brow and shaking her head.

"I'm glad everyone managed. It looks like it was fun."