epidemiology | EVENT ▸ HANABIRA FINALE

EVENT ▸ HANABIRA FINALE

HANABIRA FINALE

A week passes after the summit at Doro's castle, during which some members of Guild Ophelia presented arguments in favor of Youmi and Nama joining together in marriage. They are now left to their own devices as the empresses and their aides presumably negotiate behind closed doors; there's not much to do around Doro's property beyond relaxation, so if you're looking for a little more action, you might want to continue patrolling the Flowerlands for clan conflicts while you wait. The Sea Clan capital is open to visitors, while the Mountain Clan capital remains under lockdown as the guards search for the remaining rebels.

Finally, news circulates that the empresses have an announcement to share, and ask for their citizens' attendance the following night. The empresses emerge together on the balcony of Doro's castle, a large crowd in the garden below hanging on their every word. There is, of course, heavy security keeping the rowdy at bay, which turns out to be necessary after the announcement is made.

Nama speaks first. Those standing close may notice her hands shaking ever so slightly.

❝We have caused you all to be summoned here today so that we may acquaint you with our resolution in the matter of imperial claim over the lands of the Crashing Wave and Celestial Mountains, which have caused the people much distress over the months. We have determined that, due to forces unknown and out of our control, neither side shall be faulted for laying claim to land they truly believed belonged to their clan.

We find that the clans will remain at an impasse as long as the public believes an empress is deprived of land that is rightfully hers. Therefore, in the interest of public welfare, it is my intention to ally myself with Her Imperial Majesty Youmi in the bond of marriage.

The crowd murmurs among themselves in shock. A couple people shout, angry, before guards from both clans roughly escort them out. Nama seems a bit dismayed even by the small outburst, so Youmi steps up to speak next.

❝I am deeply affected by the gravity of this engagement. Neither I nor my future wife have come to this decision without strong contemplation and assurance that the other will care for all people, not just her clan, as her own. A marriage between us shall mean a marriage between the empires.

The benefits to the people will be great. Unfettered access to natural resources across our unified empire will improve trade, and will the end of skirmishes in Lord Doro's lands. And I assure you, the bloodshed ends today. Guards from both empires will be stationed in the Flowerlands and will be aided by a foreign mercenary group who have proven themselves formidable allies. Those who do not heed this warning will pay dearly, as to threaten members of any clan is to threaten both of us. Those who wish to live in harmony need not worry, as our soldiers are even more powerful together than they are apart.

None need worry about the change that is to come. We shall maintain both capitals, and we do not ask that either clan change their traditions. Above all, our union is one born of love for you, the people.

Youmi squeezes Nama's shaking hand for a moment, urging her on. Nama speaks once more, finishing up the announcement.

❝We have thought fit to make our intentions known to you at the earliest time, so that you may be informed of a matter so important to the empires. The wedding shall take place in two days' time, but I promise you, Empress Youmi and her subjects are under my protection as of this moment. A move against them is a move against me, and shall be treated as what it is -- treason.

I trust this will be most acceptable to all. ...And if it is not, I suggest you persuade yourself otherwise.

Nama and Youmi leave the balcony. Most of the crowd talks among themselves, more bewildered than angry, although a small number of people do begin to swing insults -- "I'll never be one with Sea Clan scum!" "Scum? Better than Mountain Clan filth!" -- and are forcibly removed.

▸ THE WEDDING

The wedding of Empress Youmi and Empress Nama takes place at Doro's castle, the neutral ground between each empire chosen so as not to show favoritism to either clan. The ceremony is held at night, as is Hanabiran tradition; the cherry and plum trees are strung up with electric lights that softly illuminate the castle grounds, lending a certain romance to the atmosphere.

Hanabirans from all walks of life are invited to the wedding and the banquet after, from farmers to merchants to soldiers, in celebration of the promising future for the merged empires. Only the nobility is allowed inside Doro's castle, however -- the exception being the honored guests of Guild Ophelia, of course -- to view the elaborately laid out gifts from one empress to the other: lacquer boxes, mirrors, decorative combs, tea chests, and more are laid out on beautiful silk cloth, heirlooms from each empress's family and the empresses before them.

The ceremony itself is short and takes place on the balcony for all to see. Youmi and Nama, both dressed in black furisodes with motifs representing their clans, share sips of sake from elaborate lacquer cups to symbolize the joining of their families -- and thus, their empires.

The banquet afterwards is opulent, with traditional food from both clans prepared. The Sea Clan has brought various fish dishes, most notably all kinds of sushi! They've also prepared tuna and cuttlefish sashimi. For those who don't care for fish, the Mountain Clan has prepared sukiyaki, a thinly-sliced beef dish simmering in a pot with vegetables, soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. There's also skewered chicken and pork cutlets. For the crowd who doesn't like meat -- or just wants some variety! -- there's soba, udon, and plenty of fresh vegetables.

Beyond food, there are entertainers who have been hired to perform music and to socialize with guests, and contests of skill for the guests to partake in themselves: hanetsuki, tea-guessing, and Go. Owing to the romantic theme of the gathering, prizes for winning any of these contests will be a plum or sweet rice cake intended to be shared with a loved one.

But the wedding isn't all fun and games -- before the ceremony, Doro asks any interested members of Ophelia to volunteer to play guard and ensure nothing is interrupted by displeased citizens of either clan. Volunteers are recommended to guard in shifts so as to keep fresh eyes on the situation at all times.

Throughout the festivities, there are a number of attempts at disruption: the Mountain Clan inventor who scales the walls with a grappling hook, worrying that the new competition from the Sea Clan will put her out of business; a group of Sea Clan teenagers who start a riot at the gates simply because they want to riot; a Flowerlands farmer who becomes a bit too inebriated for his own good; and finally, a dangerous plot about which one of Doro's guards alerts the volunteers:

Mountain Clan rebels have escaped the lockdown of their city and have slipped into the wedding party with the intent to poison Nama due to her betrayal of siding with the "enemy." It'll take the best investigators of Ophelia to figure out who the rebels are and to stop them before they kill Nama and destroy the burgeoning peace everyone has worked so hard to secure. All they know is that it's likely the rebels will be slipping the poison into her drink via a poison ring or will have a moment alone with her food to slip the poison into it.

(Mod note: Players are welcome to NPC their Mountain Clan rebels and can make them however they wish as long as it doesn't contradict game canon! Their motivations, personalities, and backgrounds can vary, and they can work alone or in groups. Whether they can be persuaded out of it or will have to be taken down is also up to player discretion. This is your chance to get as creative as you want. Keep in mind that if your character accosts the wrong person or gets too rowdy themselves, they'll be kicked out! Please let us know if your character destroys anything in Doro's castle during a fight... he'd like to know himself, as he'll be expecting reimbursement.)

▸ THE AFTERMATH

As the festivities wind down, the guests are invited to stay the night at Doro's castle (or camp outside, depending on their social standing) instead of heading out in the middle of the night. When the morning comes, most guests sleep in, worn out by the revelry the night before, so Ophelia will have some privacy to talk amongst each other freely.

In the later morning, while guests begin to depart Doro's land, the empresses send word that they wish to speak with the foreigners; Ophelia is invited to meet them in the garden, where they are seated and holding hands. Youmi says that the future of their people is bright now that they are together, and that they couldn't have done it without Ophelia's assistance. Nama thanks them for their strength in military matters -- and immediately blushes when she realizes how blunt she sounds when compared to her wife, though Youmi only smiles and doesn't seem to mind.

Several hours later, Ophelia's magitek suddenly projects words in front of their eyes that only they can see:

Guild Ophelia:

Hathaway mission analysts have observed you to have successfully completed your mission. You'll be pleased to know that on your success, timeline analysts have also found continued peace in the Hanabiran region to be a 99.8% certainty for the foreseeable future.

Please prepare for return to Headquarters. You will be rifted in exactly 36 hours, so do make sure you're not visible to any natives at that time.

- Guild Master Imogen

With that, Ophelia has their orders. Finish up your business, buy whatever souvenirs you want, and get ready to return to Hathaway Headquarters.

▸ OOC NOTES

If you have questions about this log or the overall mission, please ask them on the dossier. Questions about Futurology in general should be directed to the FAQ.

▸ Up now:

Activity Check is due 5 March 23:59 UTC. Please note: we do not accept late activity and we do not post warning lists.
Voting for Guild Ophelia's uniform is now open! Voting will close on 10 March, after which finalist voting will be held.

▸ Coming next:

Post-mission assessment goes up on 11 March. Finalist uniform voting will also go up.
Mandatory How's My Driving meme goes up on 25 March. Participation is required to pass March AC.

▸ Bounty Board ▸ Items Page ▸ March Calendar

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It’s not like she actually has the words to communicate it. Just like she hadn’t that night Rey had followed her out of Doro’s castle hall, or even the night she had first slunk to Odinson’s chambers. She had actions- and though she flinches away instinctively from touch she did not specifically invite, the strangest feeling settles in just after.

Like she would understand. A foreign feeling... maybe proof she’d drunk too much after all.]

What-

[Still somewhat defensive in a realm she had never trespassed into verbally, Hayame forces herself to almost pull her hand from her red cheeks.]

Do not tell me you are also... associating...

[Did women like... just talk about this stuff????]

No!

[ Rey erupts with that with an equal sudden and furious defensiveness that is otherwise uncharacteristic of her. She even fumbles her cup. ]

No. [ More firmly as she catches her cup with some lazy telekinesis. It occurs to her, using the Force to catch her cup and the sake in it and right it again before it hits the ground, that the last time one of them had been drunk, she had seen Kylo.

The bond.

Would it open back up this time? Should she be worried? She had thought to be conscientious of it when making plans with Poe, but this had snuck up on her, and … The thought slips away. ]

But there was someone I wanted. [ Her gut clenches, twists. ] Want. [ Let's not pretend there. Hayame doesn't give a shit or know what's up, and frankly, coming to peace with that fact seems important to this new personal journal she's trying where she accepts the feelings that she has and tries to not let them eat her alive and make her desperate. Imagine: acknowledging your emotions without letting them control you. A concept. ]

[Lazy telekinesis? Try demon magic, quit it.

Thankfully, Hayame is far too concerned with the danger-laced conversation they were having to be upset by mystery work, looking at Rey with... a mixed expression. She is attempting to listen, she really is, despite the discomfort for such a topic, her own shameful inexperience, helped along by the Force she doesn't know exists.

Want.]

Is he...

[She forces the words out, trying her very best to use them for once, even if she's not sure why now is the time. Almost says a number of things, "is he a noble's son", "is he of a polluted caste", "does your father not approve", but those are all things of her own world that would prevent a woman from being with the man she desired, not... things of this world. Other worlds.]

Cold to you?

[Is what she goes with.]

[ An uneasiness about her, Rey realizes she didn't entirely want to stumble into this but here she is. Stumbling in. And the sake loosens her up, drawing a prompt reply out of her all the same. ]

Yes. [ That's not entirely right. She thinks of the warmth of his hand in hers, and the way she'd been able to chase amusement out of the sharp edges of his face, and— ] And no. That's the confusing part. He's cold with everyone. [ Even his anger was cold. ] But sometimes he isn't with me.

Because of the times he wasn't, I convinced myself that he cared for me. [ She throws back the rest of her cup of sake. She's going to need it to finish this thought. ] I was wrong.

[ Saying it out loud makes her feel stupider. Especially because she keeps wavering between past and present tense, and that just makes her feel like the biggest idiot in the galaxy. ]

You don't have to tell me how stupid that sounds. I know.

[Hayame has met her share of cold men. Men who had ice in their veins, who could buy jinba if they were nothing, who could kill like it was nothing. She had always striven for it herself- the cold, severe sort of harshness that marked a warrior, a survivor, and she'd done so well at it once, until it all came apart.

But those men... she supposes she shouldn't think about them. They weren't this one. Whoever it was.]

... It is very girlish.

[Muttered, even as she forces herself to peel her hand from her face and refill both Rey's cup and her own. THEY NEEDED IT.]

But that is what most men do- They play with women as if they are things. Now that you have seen that, you will not be deceived again.

[The perks of divulging such information to a man-hater (lesbian or not)... the man gets the blame.]

[ Hadn't some part of her wanted to hear that? To offload the ability to be angry with Kylo, so she could feel justified. Now that it's out there in the universe, though, she's just more convinced that it's not entirely accurate. The compassion she feels for him is still there, and all she can hear is the hollow sound of her trying to convince him that she hated him for it. ]

It wasn't like that. [ She's sure of that. Whatever Kylo was going through, it wasn't a game for him. If he had been trying to deceive her, she'd have felt it. But now she just sounds like she's in denial. Maybe she is. She certainly wouldn't blame Hayame for thinking so.

She looks down into her cup. Stupid sake. If she could follow that thought through, Rey recognizes she might be on the verge of understanding something here, but her thoughts just keep running in circles instead. ]

[“It wasn’t like that”... ? Hayame actually mouths the words to herself in confusion. She had thought Otaka more sensible than this- hadn’t she just sort of said it was like that? Is this what the playthings of those sorts of men told themselves, to feel less foolish for having fallen for it? She’s heard readings of the famous tales on guard duty for her master- like the serving women or other lovers who would lay with that Lothario prince and then be consumed with shame and jealousy to find themselves cast aside.]

Then what... was it...

[She already regrets asking, but there it is.]

It wasn't fun for him. He wasn't playing with me.

[ He was suffering. That much she was sure of. The complexities of it escaped her, but on a basic level she can say at least that much is true of Kylo. They'd both been alone for so long, they understood how it felt to be so alone that you were truly desperate, he never would have — Taken advantage of that.

That, at least, was real. ]

I think maybe I wanted something he couldn't give. [ Does this make Kylo Ren sound like a eunuch ?? ? Maybe.

But Rey's deep in thought now, somewhere else. That seems like a sad conclusion to draw, but it's not a sentence necessarily. Just an observation. He didn't care about anyone, and he couldn't imagine how she could care about the people here. Maybe he didn't have it in him to. Maybe the Dark had taken that from him entirely. ]

I told you it was confusing. [ She downs her cup again. Immediately she regrets it, her stomach lurching. This time, she sets the cup away like ok that's enough of that. ] We don't have to talk about this. [ She realizes Hayame's not great at giving it either and she has resolved to not push people like that anymore. As it turns out, almost get one best friend killed, and you learn a lesson. ]

[A eunuch in body, or a eunuch of love... either way.... it didn't sound... good...

Despite herself, Hayame makes a face at the idea of such romantic trouble, of having to deal with that sort of confusion. Surely Rey could... just stop wanting it, then, if she recognized that he would not provide it?

Even though Rey sets her cup aside... Hayame only notices it is empty, and moves to fill it once more, struggling for the right words, for the ones that wouldn't end like they usually did, heated and final.]

Know that I would advise you if I were able.

[Just.

She was no expert in these things, so... she could hardly impart any actual wisdom.]

[ The color drains out of her face into a kind of disgust as she looks at the cup being refilled. No. Don't make her drink it. That's — Well, she doesn't have to touch it just because it's there. She spares herself that pain, at least. ]

Thank you, Hayame-san.

[ That's genuine, but it's focused on what she says instead of the fact that she's pouring more drinks. ]

I thought getting it out would feel better, but I also feel a little worse. [ Does that make sense? She sighs. ] It really is complicated. [ A part of her had hoped maybe she was just being people-stupid. ]

Perhaps you could...

[Hayame stares into her drink, then the half empty cask, trying in vain to recall the sorts of things her master's women had talked about. She never spoke to them directly, but they spoke amongst themselves when they prepared her hair and dressed her for Exhibition Days, when they oiled her tail and polished her hooves. She had been dismissive then, ignored their words... but she almost wishes she had not, now.]

... find someone less complicated?

[She gestures vaguely with her cup towards the revel around them, muttering.]

There are many two-legged men here...

[So option wise... Rey had at least more than she did, surely? (Nevermind she could make herself that shape, it wasn't-)]

[ She seems to genuinely consider it a moment, then erupts in a short laugh. Yeah. No. The Force bond would mean pretty much anything else just complicated things further. She can't even manage her problems when there's only one person involved, let alone two. ]

That would make it worse.

[ She sighs, trying to figure out how to explain it without … explaining it. ]

Do you remember in the hot springs, how you and I understood each other? [ There's a storm in her eyes, bleak and distant. ] There are lots of things he can't give me. But he gives me that in ways no one else can.

[Don't laugh...]

[... She remembers, though. As much as she doesn't like being reminded of any time in which she had been vulnerable, been understood.]

Because he is from your world... ?

[Or was it something else? (Part of her thinks... this is none of her business. But the drink has loosened her tongue enough that the question just comes out.)]

Edited 2018-03-08 11:04 (UTC)

[ That cuts too close to identifying him. Rey shies away from it, thinking of Keith; she wouldn't let that happen to Hayame. And anyway, it's not the truth. If it were just that, she would feel the same towards Finn, if not Poe and Thrawn as well. ]

Because even though his life has been very different than mine, his feelings and experiences have been much the same. [ Lonely. Hayame understands that, too, she thinks. Backing off of that is made easier if she just drops down from the intense emotional response she has to Kylo and says— ] He's not bad to look at either. Really, he's huge.

[ She holds her hands up as if to indicate a much broader chest than her own, but it just looks comically exaggerated. Like … Kylo Ren drawn by Rob Liefield. ]

... I see.

[Being from the same world is the easiest explanation she has for being understood by another person, but... she cannot deny that there are other ways. And she has little reason to doubt Rey's truthfulness. After all... she has not been entirely open with the girl, even though she's told her far more than most people knew, but she hasn't lied. And surely that earned her the same in kind.

Even in... shameful conversations such as this one.

She looks at Rey's hands, narrowing her eyes trying to recall where she's seen such a size... but her mind wanders, encouraged by liquor, and she can only mutter into her drink.]

Odinson is the largest man I have ever seen with two legs... they tend to be so small.

[How big was big when it wasn't... draft horse comparable?]

[ Probably to Hayame's chagrin, Rey laughs again. This time it's delighted. There's something really relieving about sharing this with her — probably because of how much she respects Hayame. She's clearly gruff and has been through a lot and come out the other side of it; toughness was a high value trait on Jakku, and still is for Rey.

But she's also soft and gushing about her boyfriend ?? ? Cute. ]

Compared to other species, I guess human men often are. [ Rey has seen lots of aliens ok. They're real big sometimes. Anyway she'll have to keep an eye out for Odinson is what she's hearing here. ] Did he come with you tonight? [ She learned all about wedding dates from the Scott and Veronica mess ok. ]

[After Matsukaze and Odinson... her senses on size might be somewhat skewed. But why... is Rey laughing again????]

That is true... everything about you humans is small.

[It was just a fact, so??? Hayame just downs another shot of sake, refilling the lacquered cup huffily.]

Why would he? He can walk by himself.

[Hayame, however, has not learned about dates. Nor does she see the need for anyone to appear at an event such as this unless they were married... or for... anyone to ever see her any Odinson doing anything expect maybe talking together or standing close, and even then, maybe only in the rarest of situations, so-]

Well, you care for each other, and everyone was saying that it's common for people to bring dates to weddings.

[ She's still working this stuff out, so maybe Hayame knows some caveat to this that Rey doesn't. She's not saying it in a know-it-all way, but in a tentative way that articulates that this is her tenuous understanding of the principle. ]

Everyone else I know who has someone they're with came together.

[Even just hearing "you care for each other" out loud makes her want to shudder in shame, unable to stop herself from stealing a glance around to make absolutely sure that no one else was overhearing them.]

Well it is certainly not common in my world. As if anything good would come of parading around so publicly as that?

[ The privacy component fits well with her understanding of Hayame, but she puts it in a wider context. Maybe she makes a good point. Maybe it's not anyone else's business. After all, Keith hadn't ever told her about Lance either. ]

Sharing your happiness, I guess. Spending time together? [ She's thinking through it aloud. ] I don't know.

What is there to share? Such a thing- that is between one another, not... everyone else.

[She honestly couldn't understand it any other way... but then again, Rey is talking to a woman who hails from a place where anyone who had the wealth for it kept separate living quarters from their wives and mistresses, who were only seen in public together at occasions like banquets or ceremonies... and even then sometimes not even seated together.]

It is perfectly acceptable to only spend time together in private-

[Seeing as... most anyone who has ever seen Odinson and Hayame together in public would likely never guess what was going on. The most she's ever even touched him in front of others has been handing him a piece of food.]

[ Kylo would agree. That's the first thing she thinks. But she shakes it off. It doesn't matter if he'd agree because there's nothing to it. At least, though, hearing it from Hayame helps put some of where he'd been coming from into perspective. Hayame is better able to explain herself. ]

You're a very private person, Hayame-san.

[ This is spoken as fact, not necessarily compliment or insult. It contextualizes what Hayame says, in a way. But it segues Rey to something else. ]

So I'm glad you're still willing to talk to me about these things.

[At least someone, once, at one point in time, thought "Hayame is better able to explain herself".

She doesn't... consider herself that private a person, strangely enough. She considers herself of average... privacy... but, in comparison to the rest of the shameless hooligans in this group... she supposes she won't argue it.

Rey's words bring her gaze down, though, to the shorter girl, lips pursing oddly a moment as she struggles with what to say. It wasn't like she'd set out to, and it wasn't as if it was some sort of... attempt to make up for her inability to communicate anything but anger the other night, and-]

... It is not as if I am a mute.

[... Just a private, easily offended, very intimidating and physically powerful centaur who didn't usually give people the chance to even get close enough to asking the things Rey has.]

No, I guess not.

[ Rey smiles a sort of private smile. Physical limitation is not what she had been thinking about at all — she understands the emotional limitation to being able to talk about certain things just as well. ]

Thank you. That's what I really mean to say.

EVENT ▸ HANABIRA FINALE

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gently wraps this /??