TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

[synfluxmods]

TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

CONTENT WARNINGS: medical content

▶ 001. WELL DESERVED REST.

With no sign of upcoming city-level threats, LILITH has made the decision to provide Outsiders with a well-deserved break: there will be no official missions for the month of December. Outsiders are free to roam the city, continue their usual civilian jobs or take a holiday to any of the locations available via data portal. During this period, LILITH leadership will also be taking time off and any attempts to contact them will be met with an ‘out of office’ return email unless it is an emergency. (Dr. Spim is still around, but … he is a cat and doesn’t answer anyway... unless he feels like it.)

That isn’t to say it’s going to be a completely quiet month, of course. Our players have kindly prepared several player plots that anyone is welcome to join. Please refer to the top level here for links to the relevant plots. An updated quest has also been listed here.

Additionally, the Outsiders Program has successfully finished its first year! LILITH will be giving all Outsiders old and new a thank you bonus of 500,000 KRYPTOS (approximately 3230 USD) to spend freely on their holiday. Try not to spend it all on pachinko!

▶ 002. LET IT SNOW.

Starting December 1st, the temperature in Neo Tokyo will take a dive as the country enters into winter. The first signs of snowfall will occur on December 1st, and as it continues, the city will be transformed into a winter wonderland. The shops and restaurants of Neo Tokyo are capitalizing on the approaching festivities, putting up Christmas lights, Christmas trees and decorations. Many stores are having sales on warm clothing and popular gifts. Isn’t it the perfect time to find some nice gifts for your friends?

While only a suggestion, it is encouraged to support the integration of the orphans from Transylvania by taking them out on a winter adventure.

Winter activities found in Neo Tokyo include:

- Christmas Winter Illuminations. Certain parts of the city will be lit up in Christmas lights and holographic, winter-themed illuminations. Stop by at the right time and there might even be a drone show to watch.
- Ice sculpture building. Artists have gathered in Yoyogi Park to showcase their latest ice sculpture creations. Outsiders may view the attraction or join in on the ice sculpture contest. Winners will get prize money.
- Ice-skating. The Yokohama Red Brick Ice Rink is open again and characters are free to go skating with their friends. As a part of its latest attraction, the ice has been fitted with microscopic nanobots that light up when touched, causing the ice to glow or showcase striking colors as people skate across it.
- Playing in the snow. Even under threat of kaiju, the people of Neo Tokyo take the time to have fun when they can. Through the streets, there are people making snow angels or pelting each other with snowballs.

Characters may visit Las Vegas, Kyoto or Okinawa using the data portals. Kyoto and Okinawa continue to be uninhabited, but they can camp there if they wish. They are free to book a hotel and enjoy their holiday in Las Vegas too, where the city will have its own brand of winter activities (winter illuminations, Christmas shows, ice-skating and holiday-themed Vegas shows). While the weather is still cold, it will be snowing in Kyoto but not in Okinawa or Las Vegas.

▶ 003. SNUGGLE UP.

All the lights and festivities happening in the city are putting some strain on the power grid, and this leads to occasional bouts of power failure during the month of December. These seem to be happening in the base and throughout the city of Neo Tokyo, and they last for a few hours each time. With hospital equipment running on back-up generators, it isn’t a huge cause for concern, but it certainly is an annoyance; especially with the weather so cold.

LILITH robots will be offering Outsiders on the base extra blankets (traditional and emergency foil blankets) along with heat packs to get through the cold. Starting a fire within the base will not be allowed since it is a hazard, so those who still need the extra warmth will need to find other creative ways to obtain it. A snuggle never hurt anyone, right? There is one operational fireplace in the Library, and Outsiders may notice an influx of small tables throughout the base with self-serve hot beverages on battery operated kettles, such as tea, hot cocoa & artificial coffee. As Outsiders congregate around the base, snuggled up in their new festive blankets, perhaps now would be a good time for some classic party games such as Never Have I Ever and Two Truths and a Lie.

▶ 004. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.

Dr. Spim takes regular cat naps anyway, so he doesn’t see the need to take a holiday. As a result, he has continued to work tirelessly on finetuning the cure for the vampiric disease. Throughout the month, he will make several requests for volunteers (those with and without the vampiric disease) to participate in the ongoing clinical trials.

The serum he is testing will not cause harm to the body, but it might result in any of the following side effects:

- Dizziness, fatigue and difficulty coordinating movement.
- Fever, chills and a desperate need for warmth.
- Mood changes, which can present as euphoric or depressed or both.
- Hallucinations or delusions.
- Increased hunger, thirst or other physical needs (interpret as you wish.)
- A ravenous need for blood (for vampires.)

Certain volunteers may encounter no side effects at all, while some may experience all of them. Luck of the draw, really. The side effects are not permanent and last for a few hours. As always, Dr. Spim will explain the possible side effects and get consent before administering the medicine.

By the end of the month, a stable cure will be finalized and LILITH robots will deliver it to all those affected by the vampiric disease (if your character was already a vampire, don't worry about it). It is highly encouraged to take the medicine! Dr. Spim has no time to chase down the people refusing to take their medicine, so he might pay some of their friends to do it for him. He is a cat. He has better things to do (such as knock this beaker off the table….)

As an OOC note, please do not let your character remain a vampire unless they are already a vampiric character. The vampire event in Transylvania was meant to only have temporary effect.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third team building event! All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards December AC.

We have a lot of player plots this month, and are using this log to encourage players to participate in the player plots since the event itself is light. As a reminder, the mod team will be taking a break during the month of December and will not be answering any questions at this time.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. WELL DESERVED REST: Outsiders enjoy a quiet month with no kaiju attacks, but are provided plenty of things to do (via player plots) and they are welcome to use the data portal to travel to Okinawa and Las Vegas at this time.

2. LET IT SNOW: Heavy snowfall turns Neo Tokyo into a winter wonderland with many snow related activities to participate in such as ice skating, ice sculpture making, etc. LILITH encourages the Outsiders to allow the misplaced orphans to participate in some of these activities.

3. SNUGGLE UP: The power outages strike again, this time from too many festive lights that overheat the generators. LILITH provides Outsiders with emergency blankets and hot beverages during times of outages.

4. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE: Dr. Spim trial runs an antidote for the vampiric disease that struck Outsiders during their mission in Brasov. He takes volunteers who are both vampires and not. Finally, a cure is made, and all Outsiders are asked to take it (please do not let your character remain a vampire unless they are already a vampiric character.)

code

Comments

[intertwinedfates]

[THIS IS TRUE!

Good question...

One would definitely be silly - or foolish - to think of courting Yatogami when they don't care for fun and silliness. Because he is practically the embodiment of both as a god, only taking things seriously when it's required or appropriate.

They do indeed have her younger, brave self to thank for conveying her true feelings. Without which Yato likely wouldn't have had the nerve to confess himself and let older Hiyori know how much he longed to be her special someone. For them to love one another like humans do...

He just has to hope that she continues wanting to maintain or advance their love to the next step, and soon at that--]

Hehehe~ Sorry... [Said with the least amount of remorse possible. But he does back off with one final kiss, reaching around her to choose a pair of leggings for her.]

Go with these? They'll match the hoodie.

[wwtd]

[ gazes.........dgljsldjkg

hiyori cares for it. it's one of those ATTRACTIVE qualities of his in most cases. but sometimes he can PLAY TOO MUCH. and get into trouble. with her or others.

then, for Christmas, thank you her younger self. for deciding that living without regret was, for once, a choice she'd rather make than do the right thing. of never letting yato know how she felt.

it will culminate into the PURPOSE OF THIS THREAD. ]

Hm? Oh, yeah, those are good. I can wear this skirt with them, too.

[ something red. tweed. FESTIVE. with her outfit chose she is

going to

undress her pajamas in front of him. because that's a good idea, hiyori. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[Stares into space..... Haha....

Like in most things, it's all a matter of moderation. Too much of anything, even positives like playfulness and fun, can become a detrimental aspect instead. Thankfully he's learning.

Praise be to younger Hiyori, yes indeed~ 🙏 For her strength and determination helped inspire Yato himself to do the same - to live without regrets even if it lead to being rejected.

THEIR GOAL SHALL BE REACHED.]

Mmm. I like the look of that. It's a pretty combination. As long as you'll be warm enough.

[He doesn't want her freezing, after all!

But...

Yes, backing up so she can undress now. He's behaving for once, though his eyes remain firmly on her ass as she sheds her clothes in order to put on today's attire.

He just

might

give her a holiday pinch on the bottom for good measure. Yeah. BAD YATOGAMI]

[wwtd]

[ always learning. maybe crashing at tenjin's shrines for so long influenced him.

if she wasn't going to be warm enough wearing this, she sure as heck will be with yato pinching her behind. somewhere along the way she had a thought like, "if he likes it, I have to wear it" but now it's more like

"dammit, Yato"

HOLIDAY PINCH. she yelps, back going straight and whipping around to give him a gobsmacked stare. why is that icon so perfect klsdjglsjd ]

You - !!

[ in just her underwear, hiyori picks up yato around his middle and BODY SLAMS HIM ONTO THE BED. in all the gift wrapping and mussed sheets and even onto her picked outfit for the day.

ALWAYS PLAYING.

at least the breakfast tray is out of the way. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[He just soaked up that knowledge, hehe!

If nothing else, he keeps her on her toes...? Certainly not sitting down with the way he's always getting frisky, that's for sure. But he does indeed approve of her outfit, as if that wasn't obvious enough.

MERRY PINCHMAS, HIYORI!! Tis the season for love, and he loves being his usual trolling self. Never give up your dreams, that's his motto. And he dreams of making Hiyori flush bright red before he goes in for a kiss, grinning all the while.]

Hehe~

[Though he doesn't get much further than that before he's bodily wrassled onto the bed. DING DING SCORE ONE FOR IKI!! He yelps out of both surprise and the fact that he's being manhandled in his nice! Suit!! But he can't complain too much, having invited the abuse himself.

So he does the only thing he can think to do: grabs onto her and tries to flip them over, sending wrapping paper flying and kneeing the rubber duck so it squeaks.]

If you wanna be like that, all you gotta do is say so--!

[wwtd]

[ everyone else is getting kissmas and she gets PINCHMAS.

he gets a moment of her flushed cheeks as she turned around before he was piledrived into a mattress, anyway. he did invite the chaos. as he does. troublemaker and hiyori can't stand by and just take the teasing.

at least she's somewhat laughing as he flips them over. ]

You started it!!

[ poor princess quack, smooshed under yato's knee. be gentle with her presents! they should be getting ready to hand out gifts. not play-wrestling on Christmas morning. but hiyori is rather tired of all these SHOULDS, especially when she's having fun.

and also flipping yato onto his back again with a huff and her thighs around his waist. then, she's pinching him in his side. not quite his ass but - ]

Gotcha.

[intertwinedfates]

[But it's so very Yato, right??

Her laughter means everything to him, so he happily accepts defeat as she attacks him in return, earning herself a squeaky laugh and much squirming while he bats helplessly at her hands, unwilling to fight her too hard on anything today.]

I know, I know! All's fair in love and tickle wars...

[Which is why he debates strongly on doing the same to her-- and in the end he scrambles to ghost his fingertips over her bare sides, coochie coochie cooing all the while like a total DORK.

Remember, Hiyori, you fell for this idiot.]

Gonna getcha good, Hiyori Iki--!

[wwtd]

[ IS IT???

if she notices that he lets her win, she doesn't comment because she's just as taken by yato's funny squeaky laugh as he is with hers. enough that it makes her grin widely and her body brimming with affection for this ridiculous god.

he is so DORKY, though. DON'T COOCHIELKJDGKLG

she swats at him now, shoving his hands away from her sides and her camisole that rode up in their scuffling. taking his wrists in her hands and holding them away from her body while trying to catch some of the breath she lost in that.

she did. she fell for this absolute moron. ]

What you're going to get is trouble.

[intertwinedfates]

[IT IS!!!

Good thing this isn't a serious battle for dominance, otherwise they'd both be losing. Though he wins out on the ridiculousness factor, for sure. Nobody can goof like the goofiest of gods!!

He doesn't struggle too hard against her, thankfully, only playfully tugging at his wrists while she steers him away from her sensitive sides. It gives them both a few moments to catch their breaths, though he continues chuckling under his, cheeks warm with pleasure.

He loves her so damn much it's almost overwhelming at times.]

If it's trouble from you, I wouldn't mind... [Punish him, mistress~]

[wwtd]

[ yato ALWAYS wins out on ridiculousness factor. hiyori can come close, sometimes, but he wins. without fail. the best she can hope for is a tie for goofiness.

hiyori's grip isn't that tight either. it's more like she's just holding him now after pulling him away. if he wanted, he could break free. from above, hiyori smiles down at him affectionately.

though his CHEESY ASS LINE gets a huff. ]

Shameless. [ as ever.

love wins out anyway. over her mild exasperation at such canned lines, definitely meant to get him OUT of trouble. ]

You just like trouble.

[intertwinedfates]

[THis is very true. She's always the runner up in silliness, but Yato's had years of experience perfecting the art of assinity. Shush that's totally a word. He made it up himself!

This is the kind of standoff he can get behind, where they're both just content to be within each other's bubbles, happily teasing one another from time to time.

And saying sTUPID THINGS that make him grin widely. Ham bone.]

What can I say? I like your form of badness, hehe...

[Leaning up to nose at her, he kisses her cheek before flopping back down and trying his best to look enticing. Flirty, even.]

No denying that. But you're my favorite form of trouble~

[wwtd]

[ ASSINITY. yeah, he has.

again with the cheesy lines!! for his enticing and flirty look. for his cheesiness and being an embarrassment, as usual - hiyori plants her palm on his face to hide how her cheeks grow warm.

her FORM OF BADNESS.

FAVORITE FORM OF TROUBLE. gods, where does he come up with this stuff? but this means one of his hands is free, at least. ]

Okay, what do you want? Spit it out, Yato. You have that look on your face like you want something.

[intertwinedfates]

[FLAT ASSERY.

HE'S A WALKING HOT HAM AND CHEESE MELT, OKAY. But at least he's not doing anything rude or embarrassing or otherwise dubious to her. Nothing save attempting to mirror her gesture by groping at her face, only to miss and snag her by the shoulders.

At least he didn't smack her in the face or grope her a little lower... Idiot.

With a slight puff of air escaping through his lips, he smiles in a definite teasing manner.]

Well, while I wouldn't mind some Christmas sex, I can't tell you what I really want until tonight. It's a se~cret~♥

[Wiggling about, he escapes from her grasp in order to catch her 'round the waist and spin her around until they're both standing alongside the bed and he can kiss her properly.]

So run along and get dressed, m'kay? We've got a busy day ahead of us! Party!!

[wwtd]

[ ASSHATTERY.

ham and cheese melt, yum. look; as if she isn't USED to him groping her or trying to get AWAY WITH groping her. hiyori, predictably, flusters at his answer. that was going to be his

final gift. later. like, a lot later, yeah. after parties and spending the day doing Christmas things.

it's that secret he's been keeping, isn't it?

yato wants something more than he wants sex. what a miracle. JUST KIDDINg. since she's still flustered and can't think of a comeback, he escapes and she's kissed. ]

R-right. Yeah. I'll just be a bit. [ stop teasing her, then!! (impossible)

hiyori gets dressed this time without interruption and they're in MATCHING HOODIES. all day. we can time skip here if you want slkgjslkg ]

[intertwinedfates]

[SMARTASSERY.

At least they're in the same aisle, so to speak. Talking about buttering her bread, cheesing her buns. Thankfully he doesn't say as much out loud, though. That'd REALLY get her flustered, huh?

They both probably have the same idea of a last Christmas present, except

his has one more special detail. Which he's not divulging, yet.

IT IS A MIRACLE. A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE. Kinda like him managing to wiggle his way out of any further scoldings or punishments for his remakrks.]

No worries~ Take your time. We can go whenever you're ready. [Contradictory!! That's gods for you. Two sides at war with one another.

PARTY TIME FOR THEM YEAHHHH 🎈🥳🎉🎊

Once the craziness is all over, hearts have been broken (thanks rogue mistletoe!!) and food has been consumed in copious amounts, Yato starts them off home in an unusual manner: he directs her not to a simple walk back to base, but to his hoverbike, where once they're on the thing, he drives them further into town, towards the high-rise hotels and residential district.

Where oh where could they be going...?]

Hang on tight, Hiyori! I don't want you falling off!

[wwtd]

[ SHE'S PRETTY DAMN FLUSTERED. weeks, months later and she's still bashful sometimes. it should never come as a shock what yato wants but it does and she finds herself on the back foot.

funny, she has a special detail of her own!

hurrying her and telling her to take her time in the same damn breath!! well, she gets ready anyway.

AND THEY PARTY. and hiyori's has a couple of glasses of champagne but not a lot. she avoids the mistletoe like the PLAGUE, scooting around it skillfully. yato is an idiot, on the other hand. but as long as he keeps it CHASTE and to cheeks and hands or something?? she won't get annoyed. 🙃

hiyori has MIXED feelings about yato's hoverbike. on one hand, WIND IN HER AIR. SPEED. on the other, it's terrifying as much as it is exciting. has yato been drinking??!

at his warning, she tightens her arms around his middle. even if she fell off, she figures he would be doing whatever he could to catch her. like their ice skating. ]

Where are we going?!

[ she calls out from behind him before burying her face in the middle of his back. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[It's a good(?) thing that he can still manage to keep her on her toes even after all these months together. It speaks to a healthy relationship that they haven't gotten too used to one another or lost that spark that keeps thing interesting.

Special details all around!!

PARTY! PARTY!! Meanwhile Yato is into aaaaall the booze, which is probably why he stumbles into so many mistletoes. Either that or the damn thing's attracted to his godhood not THAT kind and wants to make his life difficult. Not msiderable, because it's kinda fun, but yeah, nothing but chaste smooches from the Yatogami. He loves his Hiyori too much to cheat on her, even if he's being bullied by a plant.

But yes. Yato + alcohol + hoverbike = ?!?! Not one of his better moves, although at least it seems like he has a better hang of it than when he first took it out for a spin.

For once she grips him with enough force that he can feel it, he zips up the side of a building, using its ability to stick to walls a means of avoiding traffic. They bounce from one structure to the next, hovering over people's windows and freaking out no small amount of occupants.]

Somewhere special!! You'll love it!

[He shouts back, grinning like crazy, which he probably is. Another few miles of this madness and he zips UP a high-rise building to the very top, leaping over the edge with the bike like a damn mechanical dolphin.

But he sticks the landing, amazingly enough, skidding to a halt beside an in-ground pool on the roof. Once they've "parked" such as it is, he can't help giggling and cackling like a loon, revving the engine once more for good measure.]

Vroom vroom!! These things are fun, aren't they, Hiyori?!

[They might be, with someone saner in the driver's seat...]

[wwtd]

[ don't know if ANYBODY can get used to yato, not even her. and who can get used to hiyori??

nope. it's just because he's a drunk idiot. at SOME point, she slowed him down. taking his glasses of champagne and trading it with sparkling cider. in the hopes that he wouldn't be able to tell the difference. she's glad he had fun and got all kinds of attention but there's a piece of her that's

still irritated, too. with how many people his lips landed on. ugh. don't blame her for being jealous, okay? once or twice wouldn't have been a big deal and she could take it in stride but it KEPT. HAPPENING.

he should NOT BE FUCKING DRIVING???????? why did she allow this. this should never be allowed they arE MORTAL, YATO, YOU FUCKING -

they go up the side of the building and hiyori yells the entire way in terror. they are freaked out because the girl on the back is screaming for her life. ]

GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH -- !! I'M GONNA DIIIIIE.

[ no, she won't. but she can be a bit dramatic, too. it's too much madness for this girl. and MILES of it? at some point, she loses her voice and just BURIES HER FACE COMPLETELY AND PRAYS FOR SAFETY. gravity pulls her in every direction and she feels like CRYING. it would be so fun to ride the hoverbike NORMALLY. take a spin around the less crowded places but NOOOooOoooo. HE'S A LUNATIC.

once they stopped, hiyori scrambles off of it and puts distance between herself and the bike to fall on her hands and knees. ]

UUuugugggghhhhhhhh....

[intertwinedfates]

[There's so much TO get used to, it must be said. Lots of weird ideas and quirky (bad) habits. He thinks he's used to Hiyori, but hopefully not too much. He likes being eternally surprised.

Drunk dumdum that can't ever seem to stay out of trouble despite his questionable efforts. There definitely reaches a point where he stops noticing the blissful sting of alcohol is missing from his drinks, so mission accomplished in that regard at least. If only...

...he wouldn't be so blase about kissing other people, even if it wasn't on the lips. At least there was no enthusiasm by all parties involved...? Mostly Yato spent those barrier moments panicking and trying to get free, but he was like a rat in a trap. STUCK.

Maybe that's why he's so keen on being unrestricted on the way home, of saying FUCK YOU to the roads and traffic and laws in general. A god can do whatever he wants, dammit!!

Unfortunately(?) Yato's pickled brain interprets her screams as that of excitement, and he adds his own whoops and hollers to the mix as they sail along, probably being reported to the police at various intervals.]

OF FUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!

[If there was ever a time for drama, it'd be now. When Yato is sailing up buildings and across the gaping gaps between them. Maybe it's a full moon or something...? Surely there must be some explanation for his behavior besides sheer insanity, right??

Okay, probably not.

At least he gets them there safely, if with Hiyori a nervous wreck. Yato's a bit unsteady too when disembarking, but only because of the drink. He staggers over to her, crouching down and hugging her tight.]

Hehe... You're the best, Hiyori~ C'mon, I got somethin' to show ya! [Taking her gently by the hand, he leads her over to the rooftop door, unlocking it with his implant before leading her down a short flight of stairs. In the penthouse he's rented out for the night, the rooms are lit with candles and fairy lights and adorned with bunches of floating pink and blue and silver balloons, with some scattered about the floor for a more festive look. Quiet classical music plays from a futuristic jukebox sideboard, upon which stands a bucket of ice with champagne bottles and two flute glasses.

He lightly guides her in by the gloved hand, stepping them carefully through the maze of balloons to reach the drinks, where he pops the cork with a wince and a small "yikes!" before pouring them both a drink. With care he passes her glass over so they can share a careful toast.]

To us!

[wwtd]

[ if only, yeah. meanwhile, if hiyori ever got caught under mistletoe she would hardly be able to kiss someone's cheek unless she knew them. and it would be a quick, platonic thing. she couldn't go near someone else's mouth?? she wasn't in the mood to get on yato's case, either. not again. from what she saw, he did look pretty panicked. stop getting stuck under mistletoe... idiot...

A GOD CANNOT DO WHATEVER HE WANTS!! THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THIS!!! not unless he wants his human girlfriend to be SICK and in a pile on the roof of some building. where even are they where has he brought them

she gets her answer as she's led inside, down stairs, and into a

penthouse.

holy shit.

she goes frozen by the door, taking it all in. it's a lot to take in but HEY. it's taken her mind off the HELLRIDE she was just on. just like the rides at capyper land. a nightmare.

this? this isn't. this is like their own special party. when?? did he do this

she needs his guidance to pull her forward and she stumbles a bit, still looking around at everything. absently, she takes the glass and stares at him like he's grown two heads. but, finally, her voice seems to work. ]

To... to us.

[ it's a bit hoarse from all her screaming, though. after taking a small sip, she can't help but try to ask all her questions at once. ]

Y-Yato, what... this is... i-is there going to be another party here? Another Christmas party? Is it someone's birthday? It's not your birthday, it's not mine. A friend of yours? Did... you need help setting up food or something? Is that why we're early? Pink and blue isn't Christmas. It's... like our... tracker rings.

[ this can't be all for her. this is so much. it's so beautiful and romantic and makes her heart race because CLEARLY it's special. SHE IS SO OVERWHELMED. ]

Did you... really do this for me?

[intertwinedfates]

[Hopefully she won't mind a little more mistletoe of the normal variety, as there's a very obvious sprig of it fixed over the doorway leading to a certain room down the hall. Bedroom.

THIS GOD CAN, DAMMIT. At least today! Because today is special and he's going to make sure Hiyori never forgets it!! In more ways than one...

Thank goodness the grandeur and splendor has distracted her from their journey here. That part she probably wants to forget about, memories be damned. He, meanwhile, suddenly seems to sober up a great deal, a nervous smile fixing itself on his face as she starts questioning him, each baffled one making him titter more and more, his cheeks growing redder and redder.

Until finally he takes her by her free hand and gives it a squeeze, hoping to calm her thoughts a bit.]

Another party, yeah, kinda. It's not anybody's birthday, though it is a day I hope will be special... You're right about the colors, though--

[Lifting her unburdened hand, he kisses the back of it and continues leaning over it as his voice comes out a soft murmur, his eyes unable to meet hers.]

...I did. Merry Christmas, Hiyori. Did you want your last gift now?

[wwtd]

[ that - she wouldn't mind. not that they need an excuse anyway but. statement stands: she wouldn't mind it. at all.

yato taking her by the hand FINALLY seems to shut hiyori up. although it hasn't calmed her thoughts, he's made her mind a blank. an overwhelmed blank, but a blank nonetheless.

another party kinda. okay. not a birthday. a day he hopes will be special. it's Christmas, it's already special. he doesn't mean that. stop THINKING, hiyori. just

live in the moment.

she tries. heart hammering in her chest, she tries. for all of yato's inability to meet her gaze, she can't take her eyes off him. he did it for her. ]

Merry Christmas... [ she repeats and pauses for a moment. in her peripheral is a floating balloon. all the candles and fairy lights halo yato's form in a soft, heavenly aura. fitting, considering what he is. ]

There's more. [ said rather than asked. breathed rather than spoken. this is already so much. a PENTHOUSE in the highest room of a nice hotel. whereas he could barely save enough for a meal, before. had to lean on her, a high schooler to pay for him and yukine at a family restaurant.

he's serious. like her, he's serious. ]

... Okay.

[ he's already given himself, calling her mistress. he's already given her multiple, wonderful gifts this morning. breakfast in bed. he came with her on her present drop-off before they showed up to the christmas party. he's given her beautiful memories. he's planned to build them a house. he's given her pretty much everything she could ever ask for and more.

what's left? (besides that thing he asked for. starts with "s" ends in "ex") ]

You're going all out this year...

[intertwinedfates]

[They don't need a reason, for sure, but it's the gesture that counts. It says "I want to kiss you more", which he always does. Because she's his special someone. The person he loves most in the whole world.

He can see by her silence that her mind is a whirling dervish, and he's not quite sure how to calm her enough so that everything he has to say doesn't go over her head. Kissing her might work, or it could make her blank out even more. It's hard to tell.

Calm thy self, Hiyori Iki. It's just your God of Fortune. Just dumb, flailing Yato.

Finally, when she returns his holiday wishes, he manages to peek up at her, smiling softly. If he wasn't aglow from the lights, he would be from his own happiness shining through. Nodding at her not-question, he carefully takes her glass of champagne from her and sets them both on the sideboard, turning to give her a kiss on the cheek before hurrying to his track suit jersey which is hanging up by the front door.

There he fiddles with something briefly, then pads back over with hands behind his back and a look of determination on his face. Suddenly he seems so serious, but there's still a bright sparkle to his eyes. It's nothing bad, clearly, but something important. For he rarely manages to maintain a non-goofy demeanor for long when it comes to her.]

Because today is special in a way I hope no other will ever be. [Swallowing nervously, he tries to ignore the heat pooling in his cheeks.] Hiyori, you've been the spark I've waited all my life for, the glimmer of hope that's compelled me to change for the better and finally start living again in a way I haven't been able to for a millennia.

[Taking a deep breath, he looks her in the eye and takes her by one hand, holding it to his lips like he enjoys doing.]

You've taught me so much, not just about being a better god, but about being a better person. You've shown me such care and love that I thought I'd never be able to experience again, you've given me the courage to take steps necessary to save not just myself, but others, too. Every day that I wake up beside you is a blessing from Heaven itself, and...

I want that to be not just for here, but forever. I want to keep what we have and make it more. I--

[Letting go of her hand, he drops down to one knee and holds out a small box to her, opening it up to reveal a sakura ring. It should be clear what he's after this time.]

Hiyori Iki, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?

it deserved a long ass tag gomen

[wwtd]

[ a festive way to say it since it's just the two of them in this room.

or maybe they're the only two on this earth. that's what it feels like, watching yato get something from his jersey and then listening to his small speech. dumb, flailing yato. yato, shining the most bright in this room. too lovely for words, to be real, sometimes. maybe especially now with a goal in mind and with how he looks at her.

get you a god who looks at you like how yato looks at hiyori. he is all those things of dumb and flailing but she's also airhead, bashful hiyori. he takes the champagne from her easily because she's too busy staring at him.

him and his blue eyes. him and his big heart. him and his over-the-topness. him and how could she ever be jealous when she gets this? she had her hoodie twisted in her grip when yato takes her hand and brings it up to her lips. like she did beneath fireworks, she's speechless and staring. staring at him. only him.

a kaiju could attack and she wouldn't know it.

and when he drops to a knee.

he takes the breath from her lungs with him.

it's a beautiful and heartfelt speech. from start to finish, she listened. she just wished she could record it somehow so she could listen to it over and over. or maybe a year from now, they can go back and watch this moment. see the way hiyori's eyes go so round and her cheeks rosy.

it's so yato. just a bit over the top, just a little theatric, but that's him. he's the most honest he's ever been, too. it's

everything. it screams yato and that is enough to make it perfect.

hiyori drops to her knees in front of him, too. at this point, she's not surprised that the ring is perfect like everything else. for the small look she could give it before her attention was drawn back to him. all of her focus is on him. he could have proposed to her at the skating rink. at any of their archery lessons. he could have done it while they were in bed and hiyori was nose deep in his clothes and halfway to dreamland. he could have done it with a damn ringpop.

he could have never done it and she would be happy, as long as she was at his side.

but since he did it this way. since he's waiting for the answer. since he's serious about this and he's put in all this effort and he's pouring it all out to her -

of course she wants to take his heart into her hands and protect it. hold it in the breadth of her palms and shelter it. of course she wants forever, if it's allowed. it probably isn't.

but she'll take what offer there is. what time they're gien. for now, she can cup her hands around his cradling a perfect ring in the middle of a perfect proposal on a special day that no other will be like. not if she has any say in it.

just in case he doesn't know her answer? ]

I will...

[ it's scarcely said louder than her own heartbeat. tears welling up in her eyes and her smile watery, wavering with all the emotions building within her. eternity isn't long enough to express all the love she has for him. for this god.

her god of fortune.

yatogami, the god in the tracksuit. ]

Yes, Yato. I will.

[ she reaches into a little purse she took with her to the party and pulls out her own small, velvet box and opens it up for him with a disbelieving, breathless laugh.

his final gift, too. ]

As long as... as you do me the honor of being my husband...

[ there in the box sits a ring for him. a simple one, harkening back to their tied ema. red threads of destiny. fortune. with an engraving on the inside.

may our fates intertwine ]

it does hehe 💒

[intertwinedfates]

[They could very well be the only two souls left in this world, with the determination and sincerity that he makes his speech. He hopes it's enough to properly convey everything he's trying to impart to her.

That he want to be with her, not just in this world, but the next, when they go home. That he would give up everything for her including his very being should it mean her continued happiness. That he desperately wants to intertwine not just their fates, but their lives too, into one glorious existence.

He can only hope that this doesn't remind her too much of bad times and instead fills her with happiness and memories of their better times together. To make her think only of him kissing her, not his dad. He wants to fill her thoughts as much as she fills his heart and makes it fit to burst.

Silly Hiyori, though, forgetting about their oculars if she wanted to record this moment for the future. But then again, he's hardly thinking of similar things, being too intent on confessing everything to her and praying silently to some other higher being that she'll accept.

There's no time for technology.

Not when she's dropping to her knees to join him, making his heart leap out of panic that she might turn him down. W-Women don't usually do that, right...? They stand there and cry and sob and say "yes, of course!" Or at least that's how he's seen it in the movies and other media.

So it is that his heart pounds with fear and apprehension, a glimmer of nervousness making its way into his expression as he bites his bottom lip just a bit in those seconds after she's down on the floor with him. Will she grant him all the happiness in the world by saying yes? Or is she preparing to turn him down, with whatever reasons she might have for not wanting to be his partner forever?

Because... forever is a long time, especially to humans. Maybe she wants to keep her options open? Perhaps she isn't ready to put down roots and remain with a single person. She may tire of him and his antics, his inability to stay out of trouble. Maybe she's already had enough of it here... All those thoughts whirl in his mind as she cups his hands with her own, making him begin to tear up faintly.

And then she's saying yes. She will.

It's like someone has done a full-body massage on him in an instant: with all the tension draining from him, he relaxes in a single, long breath, yet still manages to let out a nervous if happy laugh. Mildly hysterical, one might call it.

She accepted...! She said yes--!]

Hiyori, I-- I just...

[There's so much he wants to say, he doesn't even know where to start. "Thank you" might be best, but it gets stuck in his throat along with all the other words as it constricts and his voice comes out a heartfelt croak.]

T-Thank you, Hiyori... I love you so much--

[Except he doesn't get much further before she's fishing around her purse for something as well, leaving him watching in bewilderment. What could she be doing...?

He finds out soon enough, though as she gifts him with a ring of his own, revealing it slowly and with the same care that he did for her. If he didn't still have her ring in his hands, he'd be clasping them to his mouth out of shock and joy. Instead, he holds her gift in one hand and lightly touches his own gift with a finger, marveling at its beauty.]

You... You had one ready, too? [Amazement carries through every line in his face, gradually turning into sheer happiness. They had the same idea. She wants to marry him, as well. The same thoughts. The same heart.] Haha...! You really are the best, you know that?

[Exchanging their ring boxes so they're holding their own rings, he sets his down briefly in order to pluck her piece of jewelry from its container. Then he's taking her hand in order to slip it onto her finger, bringing it up to his lips in order to kiss it and her hand.]

Of course I will. I'll be your husband, your god, your everything. Whatever you'd have me be, I'll become it for you, my precious Hiyori.

[Then he's picking up his own ring again, examining it more closely. May our fates intertwine. That's when he can't take it anymore and the tears pour forth, coming down in two steady streams as he offers her the box so she can return the favor of placing it upon his hand.]

Your wish has been heard loud and clear, Hiyori Iki.