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[Shinigami] Week 313: Ring in the New Year (SWA Event)

It would be impolite not to answer Udo with snark: “If you go a make-over, you’d be Vice-Captain by Thursday.” It wasn’t so much flippant as it was a clear disapproval of Kago’s absence from command that made this idea ridiculous. Honestly, if the greenie could remain in the normal flow of time, he’d be a good candidate for the position.

She turned her attention to Nevada’s request, “Quite eager, aren’t you?” the redheaded noble offered a small laugh. She had a lot of business still to do in regard to being the Tenth’s captain that she didn’t want to do, but Nevada’s interest and the pending new year were certainly pushing her to take those actions. She wanted to transfer from the Eighth to the Tenth. Didn’t that beat all.

With a small, barely noticeable, falter in her smile addressed rather quickly, the Briton’s neck gave a soft glow from behind her as her voice settled into Tabawara Udo’s mind, Is it because you hit on her? Flirting someone right into my arms? You’re wingman skills are as keen as ever, I suppose, but do try to keep one for yourself. The joking was all the more unsettling since it was in the mind of her victim. Her gaze never left Nevada, but the hint of laughter gave away her telepathic teasing.

Though her tone had a hint of pensiveness, mostly because she couldn’t predict what trauma would befall the division next though she was certain it would happen. “Come by my office? I’m sure Ren would love having you around, and she’s on the fast-track to officership, so if you’re anything like her, I would simply love to poach you from Kago.” It couldn’t be said that Adelaide was anything other than friendly. She was certainly projecting an air of nobility, but her captaincy seemed at best an afterthought to her, not once manifesting as emotional distance between her and those of lower rank.

Though, she didn’t want to do anything on a whim, “But do drop by before filing paperwork. I have a lot of love for the Enchanted Blades and want you to be absolutely sure that the Tenth is what you want before you make any choices. My Mystics are my family, and I want none of them carrying regrets about being a part of that family,” which, as it turned out, was a truly unpleasant and dark foreshadowing of things to come for the Mystics of the Divine.
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“Is me dat een verrassing!” a boisterous and rather loud Dutch phrase cut through the chatter going on through the room. Utterly stunned, Arthur stood at the entrance seeing Miya for the first time. Then he realized the commotion he had just stirred up, with a stroke of his chin he announced quickly, and far quieter, “Apologies ladies and gentlemen for that outburst. Please accept some of my finest Vinland Mead, just delivered and to be out shortly, in apologies. If you’ll pardon me.”

Strolling through the crowd, he still stood out heads above the average party goers. A single bottle of his prized golden liquor was held under one arm, and with a motion that should not have been possible for someone his size he balanced three glasses in his hand.

“Well this is a surprise! I didn’t expect that you would show up in a party of all places!” the Dutchman exclaimed, reaching out and wrapping both Miya and Kasumi up in a one armed hug that left them suspended feet off the ground. Seeing Tsubaki before them, he smiled in embarrassment. Quickly he poured a cup of mead and handed it out to his superior.

“Oh... hello Tsubaki-sama, I didn’t see you there. Would you like to try some mead? I make it myself,” he also looked down to Miya and quickly read her hand signals. With a sigh he translated, “My younger adopted sister here would also like you to know she was frustrated at her ‘trouble making daughte’, and not you, as she's used to working around her impairment. If she read your reaction correctly, that is.€

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An elated smile found its way on Nevada's features as she clung tighter to Udo's arm. Absentmindedly, she looked up at him once again. The look in her eyes gave away the one emotion she seemed to be made of usually. Joy. She could live with Ren, have a captain who cared to 'play' with them and would hopefully have things unravel between she and the jolly green-haired shinigami. It was an amazing new year already.

"Thank you, captain Adelaide. I'll stop by as soon as possible!" she said with a chipper tone, holding back the chance to bounce up and down like her usual giddy self.
 
A tall man strode forward towards the festivities. He was dressed in a Grey suit that matched his hair, with a blue tie that matched his eyes. The burn scar on his face was prominent, but not revolting. Around him was draped a long grey coat that nearly touched the floor, the accents all in the same ice blue as his tie. He turned to look at his companion, a woman that had been just a few steps behind him. Not out of respect, but because she had had to pause for some reason and he had gotten a few steps ahead before he had realized it.

“Shall we go in and say hello?”

“Yes, let’s,” she replied as she caught up to him. The woman was dressed in a crystalline azure gown that matched her partner’s tie. Taking his hand and interlocking her fingers in his, the two walked forward.

As they drew closer, Lilith’s eyes flit over the glamorous estate, its seasonal decorations, and the spread of good cheer that seemed to bubble up from member to member. A playful smile crossed her lips as she wondered aloud, “This is an SWA event. I wonder how it’ll compare to that painting project back when I was still president.”

Ishin could not help but smirk, his grin showing all the way across his face.

“I doubt it will be as fun and entertaining as that one was. But, I guess we’ll just have to make do with getting drunk and socializing, now won’t we?”

They walked inside and he unlaced his fingers from hers in order to take off his coat.

She helped remove it from his shoulders before taking off her own coat. When a butler came by, he took the pieces of clothing from Lilith, then in turn, offered a plate of wine flutes.

Before Lilith took a glass, she turned to Ishin, “Sweetie, would you like one? Or would you rather look at their beer selection? Knowing Adelaide, she probably has a lot of alcohol available.”

“Wine is fine for now, though i wouldn’t mind seeing a beer list if you have one. Now then, let us go find our host, shall we?”

He took one of the flutes in one hand, and escorted Lilith with the other.


Ish [218]
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Lil [164]​
 
...and the quip got sent right back. Funny thing is, Udo started to take her response seriously. He thought, Perhaps some cosmetic assistance might help me up the... no, no, that's a load of rubbish.

All of a sudden Udo's thoughts were pushed to the side as Adelaide's found their way in. Sure, these two had spent plenty of time together and knew each other quite well, but mind-reading? Already? The reaper didn't know how to respond in kind, so he chose to delay that answer to another time.

The spell-blade spotted one of the longest-standing captains of the Gotei, and his wife and decided that it would be best to move his plans with Nevada forward, before Adelaide was stolen by socialization. He said to her, "I certainly hope your theory on makeovers and ranks is not true. Anyway, there is one thing I would like to ask you. Where might I find a bag of marshmallows?"

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She spotted her former Captain and her big piece of man and turned to face Udo again, “Of course. Material Summon.” The spell cast, hundreds of marshmallows began to fall on her former superior’s head. And a single bag. But most importantly, hundreds of other marshmallows. The apologetic tone she took up was clearly feigned. “Oh, my. Seem to have outdone myself. Well, there’s a bag in there somewhere. Unfortunately, my duties as hostess require me elsewhere...” Her grin could only be called devilish.

Leaving marshmallows in her wake, the noblewoman drifted, like walking on air, toward the Judge and Prisoner. It was a stunning picture as always, seeing them together. It also clearly made her door attendants and some of the wait staff uncomfortable. “Don’t mind them, Captive captain,” she smiled broadly, waving off those who seemed uncomfortable. “Sadly, a number of my staff last saw you when you were devistating their lunchtime last year. Most people don’t bounce back from being possessed by a Scion of a Mad God as easily as you do. If you lose interest in the wine, I understand the loud Dutchman makes remarkable mead.” And Raury Feybrand wasn’t even there.

Her good-natured teasing of the giant lead to a polite bow toward his companion, “My Captain. I know your Association was more about activity than fancy parties, but I figured it was a great way to make my House’s accountant lose her mind to throw an elegant evening to celebrate a new year. I hope the festivities suit you as much as formal dress does.” It was a strange sort of semi-formal, like Adelaide was looking for what the right tone to take was. Lilith had ignored her in a time of need recently and forced her into the arms of their SRDI, a position that she didn’t enjoy. That coupled with Lilith’s new station and Adelaide’s new nobility made it hard for Adelaide to tell exactly what tone she should strike in this conversation.
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Hikaru sat down with his legs crossed before him and sighed defeatedly, it would seem that our victim wouldn't talk his way out of this problems today. So the man sat still and waited patiently while his unruly locks were tamed eagerly by the hunter. At least he'd still have it all when she was done. Hikaru took he sketchbook from the Tia's green eyed body guard of a brother, and sat still flipping through the pages of the book half heartedly. However the more he looked the more interested he became in the artwork, and it was obviously showing through his lack of concentration in his speech.

"What? Of course it's one of my passions," the Mage replied distractedly, as he flipped through Tia-chan's sketch book curiously. The pages all seemed to glow with emotion, bright and dark colors bloomed across many of the pages, while others were solemn and dark in their simple black and white. She doesn't seem like someone to be interested in art, but then again neither do I... Maybe I should learn more about this kid... Oh my.

Hikaru blinked in surprise as he came across one very interesting picture, it seemed to be a frog with orange eyes and a small mop of black hair, all in full color. The older man closed his eyes in slight embarrassment and held up the page for his stylist to see, "Umm, Tia-chan... Who is this?" Hikaru looked up and waited for the girl to respond.
 
A grin found its way on Nevada's face as the marshmallows were summoned by the Briton, all raining down on Udo's head. Plucking one of the fluffy delicacies from her dates lime hair, she stuffed it into her mouth with a giggle. "These are perfect!"

Gathering what untainted marshmallows she could in the bag Adelaide willed into existence, the younger Tegishahara tied it and skipped off towards her sister. From Udo's view and perhaps everyone else, she looked like she was trying to bribe her sister to let her leave with the marshmallows. It took a long while, but Ren buckled when Nevada stuffed a marshmallow in her mouth and ran off, managing to snag Udo's hand halfheartedly. She looked up at her amethyst-eyed date and grinned. "We'll go roast them later."
 
Tia froze halfway through flat ironing a lock of Hikaru's hair. Her face remained neutral in expression, but not in color. A sigh followed Tia's pause. Zechariah snickered quietly from his place by the door. "Oi! Shut up!" Tia threw a hairbrush at him with surprising speed and accuracy.

"Hey, hey," the afrosoul dodged, still laughing, "you're the one that drew the picture of your frog prince!"

"Hika-kun is not my frog prince!" Tia spluttered. She sighed again, dragging the palm of her hand over her face in exasperation. "The frog is you, Hika-kun. Turn the page. I draw lots of people as animals."

On the following page was a small grey cat with hazel eyes and purple ears and stripes. The feline was absolutely precious, laying curled up with one paw tucked under herself rather cutely.

"Be careful, Kaeru-san," Zechariah said mockingly, "you know the princess usually ends up kissing the frog."

"TEME!" A stiletto had found its way into Tia's hand just in time for her to launch the shoe at her brother. The heel imbedded itself in the wood of the door with a dull thunk.

A centimeter below the shoe, the green eyed boy let out a sigh of relief, "Hey, hey, we can talk about this, right?"

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"Oh, well that's interesting," the man said defeated, sighing inwardly. Though he was confused as for why he had these feelings, Whats wrong with me the girl isn't even a trainee, she's just a civilian for Kami's sake, Hikaru thought frustratedly, and tried to shake away these new, uncomfortable thoughts in favor of reason, Besides, even if she was a death god, there's no telling what Adele might do to me if I hurt her. In fact... Hikaru quickly twisted his head around to scan the room, just in case his cat-eared sensei was watching or eavesdropping on this less than striking moment. The man moved back to his original position due to fierce protest from his stylist and continued to flip pages till he came to a few blanks in the back.

Hmm... Zechariah might be recording all this right now for all I know, waiting to report back to his big sister. Hikaru shivered slightly and felt for the afrosoul's reiatsu, it was calm and silent not obviously malicious or mischievous though, just observant. The spellblade would keep watching him though. However for now this calm left him back in the situation he started in, playing dress up. After finishing wrestling his thick obstinate hair into a horsetail with thin bangs, Tia had taken up a new challenge. Stuffing an embarrassed shinigami into random kimonos and tuxedos, as you can imagine it wasn't exactly fun for our formerly spiky haired friend.

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[Dude, I am so sorry about the timetable. Weekend. Don't even ask.]

"I took no offense, and intended to cause none as well." She greeted the man with a courteous enough nod, though with the difference in height between the two it was little more than a polite futility. Tsubaki tilted the glass back and forth for a moment, watching the golden liquid swirl back and forth before taking a sip. As the glass left her lips the woman looked back (and up) at the giant and with a pleased but curious expression.

"A very soft and well-balanced flavor, but I am stuck on one of the additions here. Cherry juice, maybe?"

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"Nice catch! But no, no additives for this batch!" Arthur's chest puffed out with pride, "I figured something like Viking Blod would be overkill for a first batch at one of these events. I did however use cherry wood barrels, and the hives were in one districts area that is absolutely flooded with cherry trees in the spring. Then two months to ferment, and aged in those same barrels. A much more subtle approach!"


"Ah, if you'll excuse me ladies," the blonde Dutchman bowed, handing the bottle and remaining glasses to Kasumi, "I should schmooze around these fine women. To spread the word of my fine mead and all that, I can even say the great Tsubaki enjoyed it. What a treat!"

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Udo glared at Adelaide, mentally promising to get back at her one day. In the meantime, however, he had Nevada to attend to. The sixth seat asked her, "So where exactly are you dragging me?"

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"What we are doing, Udo~" she paused on his name, watching the gathering of people disappear behind them as they walked away and out of the Pierce estate, "is dancing. In celebration for our marshmallows of course!" The young blonde giggled as her bare
feet graced the snow and she waved goodbye to her older sister, disappearing into the winter night with her date.

Ren smiled as she watched the young spellswordstress flee from the scene with Udo behind her - whether he liked it or not, really - and continued to stay by herself. She'd stay there, watching everyone enjoy themselves and a smile would cross her features every now and then. She was one of the last to leave the gathering, enjoying just simply watching and feeling the bright emotions and warmth of the happy shinigami around her. She bid Adelaide a farewell when the time came and she was off to tend to her gardens as usual. A brand new year, with brand new faces and possibly a brand new future. It was so exciting not knowing what was in store for anyone.

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Zechariah pulled out a camera and snapped a photo of Hikaru's latest outfit: A grey kimono Tia had swiped from Adele's closet tied shut with a thin, pale blue obi. The poor man looked like a girl thanks to Tia's work.

The pale ravenette grinned and threw an arm around Hikaru's waist, resting her head on his chest due to the height difference between them. "Take another one, Nii-chan!" She ordered, "You can be in the next one."

"Sure thing," the afrosoul smiled, raising the camera. "Say cheese!"

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Lilith felt Ishin squeeze her shoulder after Adelaide's jarring attempt at humor. The issue regarding the hollows of madness was not one that Ishin liked to discuss, particularly not at a public 'cheery' event. Turning her head toward the grip on her shoulder, Lilith kissed the top of Ishin's hand before she peeled herself out from under him.

"Sweetheart, will you ask the bartender to make me that drink you introduced me to? The one that..." She coaxed him to bend forward so that she could whisper in his ear, and as she spoke, Ishin's expression morphed from stern to almost shamelessly mischievous. He nodded his head before pulling away and kissing her on the nose.

"I'll be right back." Then he turned to the redhead and said, "It was good seeing you, Adelaide. Thanks for inviting us over."

When he left the two women alone, Lilith held Adelaide's emerald gaze for a moment, reading her expressions and the subtle ways she tightened the muscles in her jaw and forehead. The noblewoman's excessive formalities did not go unnoticed -- formalities which did little to veil the bittersweet longing for their old friendship that lingered in her voice. Rather than respond to Adelaide's strange manner of speech, the dark-haired woman simply reached out and embraced her friend.

This was not the time to be a judge. Or even to be a former captain. Professionally, Lilith and Adelaide stood on starkly opposite ends of the spectrum and could only reach the other by hurling daggers. The differences and disagreements were so radically enraging that, if she were to consider them now, Lilith might be tempted to disappear off of the Pierce property entirely.

But as two women that once shared secrets, laughs, vulnerabilities, and discoveries side by side, Lilith only wanted to express just how grateful she was to be with Adelaide again. Still holding the redhead tightly, she whispered, lips close to her ear, "It's reassuring to know that I can still catch your eye with a tight dress. I would tell you to try not to upset Ishin, but I'm sure your appreciation just gets him excited."


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She couldn’t help but smile. She was more than a little intent on disappointing Lilith in the coming weeks, but right now? Right now she was reminded that she was still a friend despite everything changing around them. “Well, then, clearly I’m doing my job. Now if only I can get you to throw a shoe at me, I’ll have gotten the ‘best friend’ award for the second year running, and I’ll get it right at the wire.” She honestly had a few topics of conversation that would probably fetch her that award, too, but she didn’t go for them right away, doing so would’ve not been nearly as fun.

A glance over Lilith’s shoulder showed a woman with light brown hair, looking massively uncomfortable with how close she was to LaSalles. Seriho made a gesture to her wrist, clearly encouraging Adelaide to be mindful of the time, before she shirked off to do something else that was around fewer reminders of Adelaide’s new peerage.

She offered her friend a quick nod, but had some time yet to talk to Lilith before she had to rush off to announce the beginning of a new year to her guests. “I only wish my own love life was as comfortable as yours, Lilith. Leaving Brooke wasn’t easy, and the fact that my new partner rightly thinks me a monster doesn’t make things simpler. I suppose there is justice in the world after all,” she laughed a bit derisively at herself. This situation was one of her own making, she knew that. “Penance is a pain in the ass. I’d advise you to avoid doing profoundly stupid things.”
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The words fell heavily upon the judge's ears. Despite how she tried to dismiss the quandaries that set the two women apart, such an allusion was far too obvious to feign absolute ignorance. After a brief pause, Lilith gave a sardonic smirk and stated, "You should heed your own advice, Adelaide." Her orchid eyes remained still as the shadows of light and movement twinkled across her irises like the ripples of Kosui Shinkouteki.

Then with a playful laugh to break the evocative stillness, the woman put a hand on her shoulder and charmed, "Like letting little Evie slip from your fingers when midnight strikes. No one can deny a New Year's kiss, no matter how bitter they may be. And who knows? Perhaps this can be a new beginning for you two."

From the corner of her eye, she saw Ishin approaching with a pink and yellow drink in one hand and a large, cold glass of beer in the other.

"After all, my own beau is coming. You should spend the next few moments with yours."

She nodded her head in the opposite direction, directing her attention to a blue-haired girl in a satin silver dress that nervously picked a few desserts and put them on her plate. Her usual pigtails wee restyled today in a fancy updo that showed all the curves of her delicate, feminine neck. "She does look beautiful today."
 
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A sad smile grew happier hearing Evie’s voice. Time ticked on, unfortunately, so Adelaide’s moment of silent joy was something altogether costly. “You came...” She wasn’t sure Evie would. She had invited her, but given the rocky footing they were on, she wasn’t sure it was going to happen. And it did. Maybe, just maybe, the tale didn’t always have to be a tragic one.

“Come here a moment,” excitement filled the noble, putting energy; real and powerful, in her steps. She took Evie’s hand, waved to Lilith with the other, and with great excitement lead the remarkably beautiful bluenette up the stairs at the far end of the room, placing the two of them well above those in the entry hall. Her hand, absently, gave a gentle caress to Evie’s, “If you were hoping for a quiet and understated entrance, my love, you really forgot who I am.”

She made a vague gesture toward the orange- and silver-haired girls across the room who slipped out the front doors, “Ladies, gentlemen, invited guests from the Gotei and Soul Society’s largest movers and shakers,” God, she was in her element now. She put her arm around her beloved, pulling her close. “We actually have a moment or two yet before the stroke of midnight, but if you’ll forgive me a little selfishness, a vice of mine I’m sure you’re all aware of, I would like to say a few words.

“In a few moments, we will start a new year and unveil some new figurines to collect. Spoiler alert; there’s a Kyuto Figure. But I invite you to consider the impact of a new year, and why we’re here celebrating. Living as long as we do, it can be something of a trivial moment. It can be like marking the passing of an hour or a minute. But I hazard against a response so jaded. Because a year is something more special. Years define us. So, right now, turn your thoughts to where you were a year ago. On who you were. Was life different? For a lot of you, it was probably better. For most of you, it was simpler. For some of you, nothing’s changed. As we walk together into a new day, a new year, I invite you all to change. Change perspectives. Change something in your lives. Let go the fears of the past and the things we cannot change. Don’t ever forget, no. Some things also can’t be forgiven so easily. But tonight holds a special power, if you want it.

“Tonight lets you rewrite your fate.”

She gave Evie a gentle squeeze, clearly trying to draw strength from her. Some things had to be rewritten, some things had to change. And some of them would be bad. Really bad. But some would be so wonderful that nothing could take it away from her. “I want to thank all of you for sharing this moment with me, with my family. I don’t just mean my siblings and darling girlfriend Evie, I mean the Shinigami Women’s Association, the Tenth Division and every person who worked hard to make tonight possible. Now, as I understand is a Japanese tradition, please welcome the Mitakihara Choir to perform Ode to Joy as the clock strikes midnight.” The two women Adelaide had gestured to earlier opened the doors and let in a number of very cold singers who had been outside welcoming guests.

“To days to come.” She raised her free hand in salute before leading Evie away. “Sorry, I had to do that and now Ihave other plans for my mouth at midnight and so I—”
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