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.)

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Comments

[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.

😭😭😭😭😭

[wwtd]

[ it's enough. no, it's more than enough.

but she hopes he understands her answer to that - that she wants it, too. how could it remind her of anything bad? it's yato. except maybe the part where she forgot she could record this, yeah. oops. no time for tech. only time for yato.

when has hiyori done anything all that normal, though? he said he wanted to be surprised, right? here she is, dropped to her knees. surprise. tenjin wouldn't approve of this, at all. he was always so worried about her existing on the far shore. but it's not like that. it's more like yato exists on the near shore. with her.

he's an idiot, though. as if she wasn't already his, forever. hah.

she lets him have a relieved, if hysterical? moment and just smiles at him bashfully, happily over the two boxes they've presented to each other. she had one ready, too. burning a hole in her pockets. like him, she was nervous. it IS more traditional for the guy to propose, but she had this idea to do it at the party. but she got too SHY and there was so much going on. stupid mistletoe.

there were times before that, too. always spontaneous. always when he did something to make her overcome by her feelings for him. nothing ever seemed right, though. and then

this.

she's not the best. she didn't do all this. she didn't set it up. all she wanted in showing him this ring is for him to know she really does want forever. the design etched into it representing that. intertwined. she gives a little shake of her head, holding back the tears as best as she can. for as LONG as she can.

it all falls apart as he slips the ring on. the tiny weight settles there and now she can't help but stare at it and how beautiful it really is. sakura blossoms. her favorite. the tears are pouring down her cheeks when yato lifts her hand to kiss the ring and her finger.

she sniffs. ]

You are everything. I love you as you are. But... but husband is good... it's perfect, it - [ it's all she can get out around how choked up she's getting. through her shaking fingers pluck the ring she picked for him out of the box to slide on his finger, too.

the two of them, this idiot couple, are crying at each other on their knees. rings on their fingers. another chapter to the story - more to come, gods willing. it's yato's final line, so nostalgic, reminding her of how this all started that she launches forward.

arms thrown around him and both of them toppling onto the floor. in balloons and hiyori's bright peal of hiccuping laughter. while laying there in a pile, she picks up yato's hand to look at the ring on his finger again. then uses her hand with its new piece of jewelry to weave their fingers together. ]

You had this planned since this morning, didn't you?

THEY ARE OFFICIAL NOW 😭😭

[intertwinedfates]

[This is Yato, the god who worried so much that he would be rejected and abandoned by his new friends that he never even told them his real name. So it shouldn't come as any surprise that he fears things might go badly for this most important of moments, too.

True-- Hiyori has never been normal since the moment they met in the street, with her pushing him out of the way in an attempt to save his life. Once again, she's gone and surprised him with something he never would've expected in a hundred years. Meeting him halfway, as she always does. Showing him as much love as he shows her, if not more. Because this is very much not a traditional set-up, a woman proposing to a man.

And he's perfectly fine with that. Theirs has never been a normal relationship in the strictest sense, so it only makes sense for that to continue. Tenjin may not approve, and perhaps nor her mother, but so long as Hiyori is willing and happy, that's all that matters to him.

He'll be grateful she never got the chance to do it at he party later, if only because this way it's more private, more intimate. His younger self would've done the same, making a huge spectacle of themselves in public, but this slightly older, somewhat ore mature Yato prefers to keep some things to themselves.

She is the best thing ever to him, no doubt about it. She doesn't need to present him with a huge display for him to know she loves him. Hers is a more quiet, sensible love, which he appreciates so much in light of his own habit of being ridiculous and over the top. Besides, just seeing her try to keep her own feelings in check makes his heart fly up into his throat.

And then back down again as she begins crying for real. Hurriedly, he wipes at the tears, trying to prevent them from hitting her lap. Hopefully that's a positive response...? He did his best to find a ring that suited her without being too commonplace. Something special for his special gal. Again, he kisses over her hand. Not in a dramatic, hammy frenzy, but in slow motion. Taking his time to convey his love.]

I'll remind you of that the next time I get in trouble, heh. [Teasing, he moves his lips up to hers, stealing a soft kiss.] I do like the sound of "wife", it must be said... [He releases her hands in order to let her return the favor of slipping his ring on his finger, though he temporarily goes deaf as the pounding of his heart reaches a fever pitch in his ears and his hand shakes ever so slightly from nerves.

He's... hers. He belongs to someone, body and soul. There's someone - Hiyori - who wants to keep him by her side, forevermore.

Thankfully he recovers in time for her to tackle him, leading him to catching her with a gasp of her name and a laugh, hugging her tight as they flop onto the floor, balloons scattering every which way, with some bumping up against them. But nothing can distract from the new jewelry on their fingers, which he tightens so she can't pull away. As if she would.]

I did. I actually scheduled the place a week ago, but the goal was always to ask you come Christmas evening. So you'd have the beauty of the season to highlight my love of you.

[With his free hand, he cups her cheek and grins.] I also got us cake.

OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL OFFICIAL

[wwtd]

[ in the end, like his name, he had nothing to worry about. not with this.

his teasing got another laugh, for the record. plus, a weak swat at his arm before she's taken by a kiss. the look on her face seems to agree as he pulls back. yeah, she likes the sound of wife. she never thought she would. she was more concerned with being a doctor and the guys interested in her never really interested her much.

no. the one meant for her, who was waiting for much longer than she was, and who she wanted was waiting for her to remember him again back home. and here, he's holding her against him as they lay on the floor. she's lighter than air. lighter than those balloons floating over them. lighter than heaven.

as if she would - is right. ]

A week... [ this has been ready for a WEEK. ah, that checks out. he's been acting weird for about that long? longer? he mentioned that ~secret~ last month. a secret that wasn't very secretive. ]

Nothing could be better than you loving me. Not even Christmas.

[ nothing could be brighter. it couldn't be more radiant. except perhaps with hiyori's joining in his. she was always happiest when they were together. since she can remember. instantly, with a sigh, she leans into his palm and closes her eyes. too brief. they open up at the mention of cake and she beams brightly. ]

You did? What kind? No, wait. Before that -

[ she puts all her love, or as much as she can muster in one, into this kiss. grabbing his face and holding his cheeks and smiling against his lips. she always said she wanted to be with him longer. since she was a teenager trying to convince herself she wasn't in love with a god.

longer stretches further. if asked now how long she wanted to stay with him, it wouldn't be "just a little bit longer".

it's "forever". ]

OFFICIAL DORKS, YOUR HONOR

[intertwinedfates]

[Laughter is the best medicine; as a doctor she should know that, heh. Husband and wife... Truly magical words now that they're about to be applied to the two of them. He'll probably end up calling her that just to savor the way it rolls off his tongue. He's so grateful that it's not another guy calling her his, too...

Meanwhile he's heavy, if only because the weight of the ring on his finger makes him feel like he's been cocooned in a full-body hug, though that may just be her grip on him pulling him in for real.]

Y-Yeah... [He's hoping during this week he hadn't been TOO awkward and distant while trying to keep said secret. He knows he's been cagey, but... it was worth it.]

Hehe! So getting both in one go should mean that it's extra good, right?

[He teases lightly, definitely bright himself. There's never been any doubt about who made him happiest, not since they met and he started teasing her. At first it was just a game, picking on her now and then, until she became more and more important to him. Finally culminating with him falling well and truly in love that day in the rain.]

It's a--

[He doesn't get a chance to respond, not with her clamping her lips over his and making him melt into a tiny moan of happiness that finishes with a whimper as tears start up again. He's still not used to this, this feeling of being well and truly loved by another. It's remains a new sensation in the life of a god who's lived a millennia without anyone who cared for real.

Once they break for air, he gradually eases them up into a sitting position and from there, coaxes her back onto her feet with a deep breath. It's real. It's really real, their love of one another. That's... going to take some getting used to, honestly.]

It's a red velvet and sakura cake... I couldn't decide which, so I got one with two tiers.

[Hurrying out to the kitchen, he goes and retrieves a fancy ass cake that probably would be suitable for a wedding itself.

King of going overboard, that's him.]

ALWAYS THAT BRUH

[wwtd]

[ approved by the fda as the best medicine. (that's not true, do not quote me on that it's a jOKE.)

crazy to think that yato and hiyori will be synonymous with husband and wife. fiancee and fiancee now BUT -

but there's something quietly tragic that neither of them is going to acknowledge, too. that even if yato says here and forever, it has to stay here. doesn't it? thoughts about that can come later. much later, when it's a problem. she just wants to be happy. let herself be happy. let that inner high school girl have this thing she thought, she was told she could never have.

he hadn't been too awkward. well, no more than usual. yato's always at a certain percentage of awkward at all times.

that's not how it works but it's Good. it's... she has no words. nothing good enough to express what this all means to her. to what she means to yato. so

she kisses him in an attempt to express it.

there's a breathless laugh at his moan and whimper and she smooths her thumbs against his cheeks and runs her fingers through his hair. get used to it, yatogami. you're going to have it for a while now.

because it's real. hiyori said yes to his proposal. after knowing each other for a year, after living together for another (although hiyori isn't aware of that part she trusts herself in that other world), to six months of dating. of learning about each other. to learn more in the future. because

because she will never know enough about yato, she thinks. what she does know? now?

that's a yes.

hiyori stands there, still struggling to catch her breath, as he runs off. she looks around at all the work he put into everything again. when he comes back she's nursing her champagne again.

it's OVERBOARD!! and definitely meant for a wedding but hiyori looks equal amounts delighted and shocked. ]

Wow...! This is so fancy!! And pretty. And way too big for - [ she gives yato a glance. nope. his stomach is a bottomless pit. ] Nevermind. You'll eat it, won't you?

FOREVERMORE

[intertwinedfates]

[Just so long as you aren't prescribing lAUGHING GAS MS. HIYORI IKI.

It is a strange thought, yet a truly wonderful one that he is more than prepared to graduate to. She'll have to get used to him using the word "wife" at every turn, like he's discovered a new candy and can't help sampling it again and again throughout the day.

Maybe it will end in tragedy... Or maybe they can find a way to share a new reality, one where they can continue being husband and wife until Hiyori lives out her mortal life. Though that does present the problem of them not going home... Will they be missed back there? What'll become of their friends and family...? It's not something he can handle dealing with right now. They're stuck here for the foreseeable future, so they may as well live their lives as best they can.

Kissing each other and showing one another they care. That's the important part. He gratefully accepts the gesture, one arm sliding around her briefly. Her touches are so kind and gentle, full of love... He may not be deserving of them in some ways, but he'll greedily take them all the same.

Even if as a god who mostly takes, he'll be sure to give back to her this time. Give her all the love he has to muster and then some.

Because it's true that he, too, doesn't know everything about her. He didn't even know her birthday a couple years ago. There's so much he's yet to share with her, about his many lifetimes worth of experiences. About Sakura. Who he hopes would bless their union as much as he loved her, too.

Pleased as punch with his choice of cake, he delivers it to her with a flourish, setting it on the sideboard beside the bucket containing the champagne. Not the healthiest meal, but today's a special occasion! Taking up his own glass, he sidles back over to her, once again wrapping an arm around her and leaning in to kiss her cheek.]

Isn't it just? I knew I needed something grand and lovely to match you, but I couldn't decide on the flavor so I said "fuck it" and got both, hehe. [Nodding happily, he downs the remaining contents of his glass and sets it down, pulling out the forks and plates from the sideboard.] Damn straight! You're gonna have some too, right?

[wwtd]

[ SHE CAN'T SHE'S A NURSE THAT'S NOT ALLOWED

getting used to yato calling her "wife" is something she will be glad to get used to.

that too, that their friends and family aren't here from home, is a thought for later. as happy and blissful as she is at this moment, some very important people to her won't be here to celebrate with her. the same is true for yato. first and foremost, yukine. like him though, she doesn't want to think about those details. the bigger picture is good for now.

not the healthiest meal at ALL. this time, she'll let it slide. as long as he doesn't make himself sick, at least.

grand and lovely to match her? who?? he's such cheeseball. hiyori huffs and throws him a look. not for his cursing, she's used to that. it barely even phases her anymore. ]

Of course. I have to have at least one slice.

[ while yato gets forks and plates, hiyori grabs the nearby knife and poises it over a section of the cake before pausing. it's just them. they can pretend. the mood is too good not to pretend.

so she waits for him to set the plates down before grabbing his wrist, dragging his hand over to her. ]

Wanna cut the cake with me?

[ wiiiith a little color to her cheeks. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[HAVE TO GET THEIR LAUGHTER THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY

They'll be the most disgusting pair of saps this side of LILITH's base, hehe.

It's all they can do to remain happy and content for the time being while saving their acknowledgements of reality for later. Nobody can live in misery, so focusing on the here and now is best. There's no need to fret over the future when tomorrow may never come, after all.

If he does make himself sick, at least he has a doctor to look over him...? Provided he doesn't puke. She might draw the line at that.

Besides, he's plenty hammy as is; he doesn't need to add any other food metaphors to the mix! But at least he's happy and content, beaming at her constantly since she put his ring on him.]

Alright! And then we can have some for breakfast, too!

[BIG KID, that's him.

But not so much of kid as to be impervious to the suggestion she's making by catching him by the hand and poising it with a knife over cake. That much he knows about through having been alive long enough to see various weddings in person and in media. Hence why he immediately blushes deeply, hesitating only a second before nodding eagerly.]

Y-Yeah...! Of course. Get in a bit of practice, huh?

[With her holding the knife, he clasps his hand over hers, standing so tightly beside her that they seem joined at the hip. Carefully, he helps guide her and the knife through the first layer of cake, using it afterwards to scoop up the dessert and place it on a plate for her. Then he follows suit by doing the same for himself - only his slice is practically twice a big as hers, with him giggling as he decides on such a large slice.]

Cake and champagne~ Best Christmas dinner!

[wwtd]

[ gross, indeed!!

like puke, but she's dealt with much worse at the hospital. both this one and the one back home during her residency. but, seriously, don't PUKE YATO.

they can't have cake for breakfast that's so UNHEALTHYyYyYYYyy ]

You're going to turn into cake. [ if he EATS SO MUCH OF IT. he sure is a big kid, sometimes. 1000 years old and trying to eat CAKE for breakfast. if anyone can do it? it's yato. it'd suck to waste food, too.

waste this cake that they're cutting together. she holds her breath as they do it. like it might slow her heart rate down. spoilers: it doesn't. he gets a hip bump for his HUGE SLICE as well. but what can you do? if he wants his big piece, he should have his big piece. he sounds so happy about it, too.

as per their usual, she's feeding him cake right after he finishes his decree. frosting gets smeared on his lip as the fork goes into his mouth. ]

You might not have to work off the calories but I do. Jeez.

[intertwinedfates]

[HE WILL PROBABLY WAKE UP WITH A TUMMY ACHE AND NEEDING TO BE LOOKED AFTER FOR HALF THE DAY because he's a dumbass.

Good thing she's signed herself up for this, huh.]

If I do, be sure to eat me, okay? [DEVOUR HIM LIKE AN AYAKASHI, HIYORI. He will gladly accept that as his fate should it come to that. But yes. Cake for breakfast!! He's going to be a big kid tonight and tomorrow, all the while professing his totally, completely mature adult love for her. (Yeah right.)

His cheeks are flushed deep crimson by the time they get his extra large slice out, his giggling reaching a fevered pitch when she bumps him for a playful scolding. Let him have this one thing, Hiyori...! He needs something in his tummy to settle all the booze he's consumed, and cake is as good as anything.

Munching on his first bite of cake for the evening, he lets out a satisfied hum, teeth scraping over the fork to get every last bit of frosting from it. His eyes half close, but they open enough once she pulls the fork back to regard her with a definite playfulness. But also a look of passion and need.]

I know a good way for us to work off any potential weight gain, hehe...

[Don't mind him groping her ass as he tugs her closer so that she's flush against him. He might be hungry for cake, but there's something else he craves even more...]

[wwtd]

[ could've been a 200 iq plan where he just wants nurseyori.

for the most part? dumbass. good thing, for sure. ]

Mmmhm. [ hiyori agrees, like a tolerant parent. because they are completely mature adults.

alright, alright. he can have this one thing. ONE THING. as if he didn't get the girl, too. he does need to soak up the alcohol with food. come to think of it, had the proposal been - you know what. she's not going to ruin it with deep thoughts. it's going to remain a moment she'll never forget for all her days.

using that same fork she fed yato wish, she cuts off a bit to try. she can tell he's looking at her and she glances at him, having to quickly glace away for a look she knows aaaaallll too well.

he's embarrassing.

r-right. the final, FINAL gift. he's not going to get her with lines like that, though. even if he's right. it is a pretty good cardio workout. that bite of the cake she cut off her herself, she shoves in his mouth once again. at least she doesn't push his hand off of her. that's still where it is. ]

There's a gym somewhere for us to use? I hope it has a stair stepper.

[ kidding, but she can't be THAT easy. you won't get her LIKE THAT. even if he already has her. it's there in a ring on her finger. ]

[intertwinedfates]

[It could've been! But truthfully, he's not that smart for the most part. Sometimes you just want cake.

But her dumbass, yes indeed.]

Hehe... [THE MATUREST.

Hurray! Cake and booze! Cake and booze! Two of his favorite things, with Hiyori leading the pack! Oh no though, what horrible thoughts are you harboring now, Hiyori...? Nothing too upsetting, hopefully. Because Yato is nothing if not blissfully happy.

He's definitely regarding her with That Look, the one that says funtimes are on the horizon if he has anything to say about it. The expression that boils down to "I love you body and soul, and especially body right now~"

Thankfully they have cake as a distraction. Kinda. It's probably not as much of an incentive as the other thing, but... it's still good.

So he takes the bite in stride, making ahhhhmmmm noises when she feeds him, hugging her closer at the same time. Implying there's something else he'd rather eat than just cake. Briefly sad face though at not being able to woo her with his cheesy lines, even if she allows his hand to stay.]

I hear it has all manner of exercise equipment. You haven't seen the bedroom, yet~

[HEAVEN HELP THEM. It shouldn't come as a surprise that if he went all-out for the penthouse, he saw to it that the more intimate side of things would be accounted for as well.]