pawnstorm | HAVE A CUP OF CHEER [open]

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HAVE A CUP OF CHEER [open]

Who: Keigo and YOU
When: DECEMBER TIME aka monthly catch-all type deal!
Where: EVERYWHERE basically cassia and blanc, various locations.
What: a catch-all for the month! mostly for job/quest type deals, including "the most wonderful time of the year" job! keigo is waking up from a month-long sleep, so there is opportunity for confusion and whatnot! if you want to plot something specific, hit me up via PM or

heartsigh and we'll figure smth out!
Rating: pg-13 for now??? idk if this will change but i will update it if necessary!

A: TIME WON'T LET ME GO

Keigo couldn't remember falling asleep, though when his eyes first opened and let that bit of light slice through the darkness, he wasn't all that alarmed. After everything was all said and done in regards to that forest, he had been exhausted, far too preoccupied with ensuring he wasn't infected to really think deeply on resting. And when he'd finally gotten around to getting into bed, it was only natural that everything had hit him all at once. Stretching with a sigh, he practically rolled out of bed and onto the floor, hair a disheveled mess and eyes still heavy with sleep.

Whenever he got around to leaving the expansive mansion that Shunsui humbly called a house, everything seemed normal... Aside from all the decorations around the place. What happened? Did they do all of this overnight? It seemed kind of excessive... Keigo only got so far before he had to stop someone and ask, "What's the deal with all of this crap?" Hopefully he'd get some answers; it seemed a bit... much for just having returned from a hard battle.

B: LIPS AS SWEET AS CANDY

Once Keigo got readjusted to things, such as the huge chunk of time he was missing, it was only natural that he got involved with all the festivities. What better way to block out the potential trauma than to make an ass of himself? He wasn't familiar with the traditions they were observing (what the hell was a "cramp-as?") but it was all the more reason to get involved! Learning about things wasn't usually his ultimate goal, but if it meant having more fun, so be it!

One could find Keigo milling about Blanc and Cassia, getting to all manners of hijinks. Bonfires? He was definitely there! Hot chocolate and alcohol? He was first in line!

1.: NO THANKS NEEDED
As if things weren't awkward enough with his month-long absence, Keigo was in the process of getting some of that special hot chocolate when one of the locals decided it would be funny to sneak up on him while dressed as that "cramp-as" thing. Anyone could have seen it coming, but blame the fact that Keigo was perhaps a little too eager with those drinks to really notice someone hovering behind him until it was too late. A cold hand swiped against the back of his neck and it was all over. Hopefully you're not standing too close when Keigo shrieks shrilly enough to shatter glass, dropping his drink in the process. Wanna laugh at him? Or maybe prevent him from decking the native that was in the midst of cackling cruelly at his deeds? Either way, be sure to bring earplugs.

"Is that your idea of thanking someone?!"

2.: I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS
Whether Keigo escaped the clutches of the Cramp-guy or not, he managed to find solace in a more or less secluded space. It was getting colder as the day drew to an end, leaving him to shiver helplessly in his meager cloak and uniform. He should have invested in a scarf... The alcohol was helping with numbing off his senses, but it only did so much. He didn't know where his friends were in the milling crowds, so he figured the best thing to do was stand underneath a tree, adorned with softly glowing lights and streams of tinsel that glittered charmingly. Keigo's carrier was huddled in the collar of his cloak, the little bird seemingly asleep, and for the better, really. He didn't think he could handle hearing the bird chime in every time he so much as shuddered.

Actually, people watching wasn't that bad. Keigo got to see a lot of his fellow Heroes in a more ... natural and relaxed manner, which was ... good. It helped in making them appear all the more real to him. Problem was that if any number of them decided to join him in his little activity, they'd be victim to the whims of some of those devious little faeries. Was that mistletoe there a moment ago? Does Keigo even know the person who might have joined up alongside him? Doesn't matter! The next question was obvious: would he notice, or would his newly found companion be the one to point it out?

[ ooc note: feel free to have the mistletoe either be normal or ~enchanted~ to maximize hideousness! i'm down for whatever you prefer! /o/ ]

C: ANYTHING ELSE [WILDCARD]

[ obligatory random option! feel free to make up your own scenario and throw it my way! also, re: prompt A: the prompt can take place either before or after keigo leaves the mansion, in case roommates want to have some shenanigans! as stated above, if you want to plot, don't be afraid to shoot me a PM or message on plurk! and as always, i will match format if you'd rather do action tags! /o/ ]

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A lot of these traditions are similar enough to home that William isn't too thrown off by them. But it's jarring all the same, considering it had been Christmas time back in England when he left. So the timing is leaving him feeling off.

And after a particular visit from Krampus William decides to take refuge under the nearest tree. With what appears to be sane company.

"I take it you're done with the festivities as well?"

Keigo blinked when he was joined by someone he didn't recognize. That wasn't uncommon; he could hardly claim to know everyone, Hero or otherwise. In all honesty, he wasn't expecting anyone to approach him. Not that he felt he was unapproachable, but everyone seemed to be having such a good time...

He offered up a slight laugh, shrugging through a slight shiver as the wind blew softly, yet bitterly, against his face.

"Yeah, pretty much. It's all a bit much to take in. Not to mention that Cramp-thing is..." weird? Obnoxious? Both? He trailed off, leaving that thought to hang in the chilly air.

"That Krampus thing? I think some parts of the continent have him back home. But I'll suffer Father Christmas over him," William sighed. He could see Krampus now actually, off terrorizing some would be young couple and ruining their romantic outing. Good on him.

He shivered a bit, pulling his scarf tighter around him. "Though if I get some presents out of this whole ordeal, I won't complain too much."

Keigo nodded. He liked to think of himself as somewhat informed, but this mythos was new to him. His eyes followed his new companion's line of sight, watching as said Krampus impersonator wrecked that young couple's evening. He knew he'd be pretty pissed if someone interrupted his lovey-dovey plans for the night! What a nuisance.

"Presents, huh... We don't really do that sort of thing back home," he muttered, adjusting the collar of his cloak as another chilling wind brushed by. "More or less, Christmas is just an excuse to be with your girlfriend or boyfriend or whatever. None of this... crap, really. Decorations, cake... no weird ... Krampus thing."

"Dating? You don't have parties or anything like that?" Granted, Christmas as celebrated back home was a new invention and like many great and terrible things could be attributed to Queen Victoria. "But yes, anything is better than that," William sighed as Krampus was now turning it's horrible attention towards a couple of school children who had been laughing at his spectacle.

"I'm William Twining by the way. I don't think I've met you yet." Not that you could meet everyone here with the way everyone came and went at all times.

"Not really. I mean, I guess some people might. My favorite part about it is the cake, honestly," he admitted with an almost sheepish chuckle. There wasn't much point in hiding things like that. Who was he trying to impress? Krampus?

Keigo glanced over at the introduction, almost surprised. Most people might not care enough to get to know him. With a smile, he turned a bit more directly towards William, giving a nod. "Asano Keigo. I really haven't met many people here, to be honest." What was the point? No one was a permanent resident. It almost made everything even lonelier. "It's good to meet you."

William couldn't exactly disagree about the idea of a Christmas cake being appealing. He had little shame about liking such things anyways. Even if he had, he knew too many sweets maniacs back home to have managed being stuffy over it.

"So would it be Keigo then?" He'd figured out Japanese names by now, but he still liked being sure, especially in this place where most people were not as formal back home. "But have you been here long?"

Keigo blinked at the question of his name; even still, it was such oppressive habit to introduce himself with his family name first. It was slightly embarrassing, not to mention strange, but he quickly amended the situation with a soft laugh, "Ah, yeah, sorry. My given name is 'Keigo,' so... you can call me that, if you want." Most people did, anyway, so the pretense of humble respect was quickly fading from Keigo's mind, despite the other persistent habits he still fostered.

"But, ah..." as for how long he'd been there... "It's been here a few months, now. I'm not any more comfortable now than I was when I first got here, though."

"No need for apologies," William said as he shook his head. "I was just curious. I'd normally be just Twining back home, so I've had to adjust a bit here." One day Lord Twining, but not yet sadly. "But considering the situation, I think there's no reason not to be more familiar."

"I think I've been here a little longer, but yes, it' not any more fun. I feel like you find new problems to dodge around all the time," he brushed some his hair back behind an ear. "I'd almost take Krampus over some of it. Almost."

Keigo could understand the need to adjust. It was the only way to survive in this place, he felt. Perhaps that was a bit dramatic, but really, Keigo just wanted to be in peace, not thrust into a war. But this wasn't the time to breech that topic. Not when everyone was trying to relax, himself included.

"Heh, I get what you mean," Keigo said, adjusting his cloak a bit further. "But, honestly, I don't know if I'll ever get into a rhythm here. I feel like most people aren't having as difficult of a time as I am."

The desire for peace is something William can understand. The peaceful days back home were gone when he left, but that didn't mean he wanted to go from one disaster to another. Not when he could be working on his own problems.

"...that's normal though, isn't it? Everyone goes at a different pace. And that might be for the best. Otherwise a person sees things like this," William said as he waved at the tree, "and let themselves get lulled into a false sense of security."

Keigo was glad that William could at least understand where he was coming from; that was generally the most difficult part of being there. Having people claim to understand him when they really didn't was probably one of the worst feelings he could fathom.

He glanced over towards the tree as William gestured to it, eyes taking in the lights and other such decorations. They were nice, but... he was right. It painted a very different picture than what they were actually in store for.

"You're right. I mean, I guess it's nice to relax every now and then, but..." but that lingering anxiety still remained. Being able to relax completely seemed like such a far-off thing that Keigo wasn't sure he could attain it, anyway.

"There is a lot going on here that we don't understand and too much of it we don't understand, that is likely being withheld from us." William frowned a bit as he reached up and touched the branch of a tree. The smell of pine was heavy in the air, but this species was completely different somehow, like every plant here.

"I almost prefer the times when they are keeping us busy. I feel like I am at least progressing towards something then. But even that is slow going." He still had yet to find the path to glory that he wanted. Not that it was very meaningful in this place where you could leave at anytime, but it was a path forward.

Keigo couldn't say he shared William's views, in that sense. He frowned, watching as he extended his reach to the tree. It was just like everything else in this world; familiar and yet exotic and unknown. That didn't just apply to the fauna and flora, though; even the natives felt strangely detached, in a way. Or at least, Keigo felt that much through his brief interactions with them.

He stepped in towards the tree, as well, tipping his head back as he looked at it. "I don't. It's pointless to be progressing towards something you don't understand. It makes me feel like a..." pawn, ironically. Keigo's lips thinned out. "Anyway, you'd think they'd want us to be a bit more informed, but I guess it doesn't matter, as long as we're doing what they want us to."

"Life is like that, always at someone else's beck and call." Fate, God, Lucifer and right now, the forces in this world. It was onerous, even if there were blessed moments where you forgot.

"If they are indeed lying, it might be because they truly don't know what is going on. And it's dangerous to let other people know such a weakness. It gives them no reason to trust them." And really the only reason to trust people at all was because they were horrible. No, if William was honest, some of the higher ups were nice, respectable people he might have admired under different circumstances.

"It's a bad hand either way."

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HAVE A CUP OF CHEER [open]

B/2

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ah sorry for taking so long with this! holidays and all OTL

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