Non-Canon The Nutcracker: Arcade Edition (Christmas Special)

[Raptor Jesus]

Without so much as an ounce of hesitation in the mind of Sayori, a plucky, pink-haired high school girl, the invitation for the christmas party she received was gratefully accepted. Upon arriving to the location of his Christmas party, Sayori squealed and clenched her fists happily, swaying where she stood out of sheer excitement.

"Uwaaaa~! This place is sooooo beautiful! This party is going to be so much fun! I can't wait to make some new friends and have some Christmas fun! I only wish my best friend could be here to see this. Oh weeeell. Ah ha ha ha." With more excitement than her facial expression could contain, Sayori skipped off in the direction of the place she considered to be the most important one. "To the dining hall! Yaaay!" As always, the girl couldn't wait to grab a bite to eat, and hopefully it could be something sweet.

To balance out the excitement in the room emanating from Sayori, a nearby Christmas scrooge could be found nearby. Joshua Kiryu, a grumpy fellow at the moment, seemed to recall another invitation to a similar party he had gone to on Valentines Day and he wasn't happy. Why had he even bothered to come to this party? Well, it wasn't as if he had anything else better to be doing and... maybe he did have a reason why he had come that he hadn't let on about yet. With a sigh, he stood near the christmas tree--watching it with little interest.

"I don't think I'll ever fully understand why christmas is such a big deal," he mumbled to himself, poking at an ornament on the tree with his index finger. "Humans come up with any excuse to party and give gifts to one another." When he had been a human, christmas hadn't been a huge deal in Japan and, even if it had been, Joshua's family would've been too busy treating him like he was crazy to let him him enjoy any holiday fun.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Whoever : 3​

DeDeDe, after being scolded heavily by Karin and essentially blown off by Ibuki. Having scarfed down a large plate of food, and another untouched one in his hand, the triple D noticed Joshua hanging out by the tree all on his lonesome.

Now, DDD may be a self-centered jerk, but even he couldn't stand the sight of seeing someone alone at a Christmas party. So, being the jolly penguin he was, DeDeDe stomped his way on over to the Composer and slapped him on the back with his large... uh... weird penguin hand before letting out a hearty laugh.

"What's the matter, boy? It's Christmas! Here, try some'a this here food!" DeDeDe exclaimed as he shoved a plate in Joshua's face.

@Neko Shogun @Pretentious Pineapple​

 

[Minerva]

"Uwaaaa~! This place is sooooo beautiful! This party is going to be so much fun! I can't wait to make some new friends and have some Christmas fun! I only wish my best friend could be here to see this. Oh weeeell. Ah ha ha ha." With more excitement than her facial expression could contain, Sayori skipped off in the direction of the place she considered to be the most important one. "To the dining hall! Yaaay!" As always, the girl couldn't wait to grab a bite to eat, and hopefully it could be something sweet.

Luka had come with Oliver. Unfortunately, he had wandered off somewhere into the large party crowd.

Well, wherever Oliver went, he couldn't have gone far. He'd find Luka later or they'd run into each other. She wandered around the crowd for a little bit until she found Sayori. "Hello." She said simply.

 

[Not a Writer]

"What in the great Celestial Plain is 'Ku-ri-su-ma-su'?"
​

The little figure peered at the strange words, painfully pronouncing a particularly foreign one. Making matters worse, he caught whiff of something that stung his nose, so Issun sniffed at the paper he had somehow received - screwing up his nose at the scent. It smelt like traditional medicine, the stuff he'd get from Sei'an City. Actually, almost the same smell that was lingering about the Emperor's palace after the whole issue with Blight was resolved, thanks to the heroic (and disgusting) adventures of the great Issun and his trusty pal Ammy.

He wasn't one to accept random invitations, especially to a place he had never heard of, but he did know what a party was. It had been a while since anything exciting had happened ever since Ammy left.

Besides, he also knew what was always at every party.

Busty babes.

And where busty babes are, Issun follows.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Alex Azure @THEOKAMICREW @anybody
​

Chibiterasu noticed a tiny little bug hopping around. With all these adults who were much bigger around him, it was exciting to see something closer to his size. There weren't many living things in the Celestial Plane that were smaller than him.

The blue penguin and many of the other grown ups were all talking about "presents" and "Christmas" and other things that Chibi didn't understand. Since he didn't have much to do and his mother appeared to be in a less positive mood, he took the bouncing bug as something he could investigate.

He stole away from the safety of bis mother's side and went to examine the bug. On further inspection, he found that it was not a bug. Rather, it was a very tiny man! Chibi waved hello to the tiny man and bowed politely.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Sen @Anyone​

Lazy as she may sometimes come off as, Amaterasu was no fool, nor was she ignorant. Her son's departure from her side quickly pulled her attention away from where she had previously been observing the party with clear boredom that was not cracked even by the mention of gifts(though she did seem slightly curious, her tail flicking to one side), dark green orbs following him like a moth seeking a light. Or, they did, up until a familiar scent hit her nose. Said nose was immediately wrinkled, the woman's eyebrows knitting together as she looked around with almost comically calm confusion, searching for the source.

Fortunately, her two conflicting interests seemed to be at the same location. Only, when she saw the source of the scent, she tensed and hunkered down to a defensive stance, moving to tug Chibi back behind her as she seemingly readied herself for a fight. Who was this... this.... Issun impersonator?! Sure, he looked very similar to the real deal and shared the same scent, but there was no way Issun could possibly be this tall without her herself being shrunk by the lucky mallet. After all, he was a bug. No wayyyy.

And she def wasn't letting her sun son near the impostor, either.

@Sen @Alex Azure​

 

[Macy Moretti]

Lazy as she may sometimes come off as, Amaterasu was no fool, nor was she ignorant. Her son's departure from her side quickly pulled her attention away from where she had previously been observing the party with clear boredom that was not cracked even by the mention of gifts(though she did seem slightly curious, her tail flicking to one side), dark green orbs following him like a moth seeking a light. Or, they did, up until a familiar scent hit her nose. Said nose was immediately wrinkled, the woman's eyebrows knitting together as she looked around with almost comically calm confusion, searching for the source.

Fortunately, her two conflicting interests seemed to be at the same location. Only, when she saw the source of the scent, she tensed and hunkered down to a defensive stance, moving to tug Chibi back behind her as she seemingly readied herself for a fight. Who was this... this.... Issun impersonator?! Sure, he looked very similar to the real deal and shared the same scent, but there was no way Issun could possibly be this tall without her herself being shrunk by the lucky mallet. After all, he was a bug. No wayyyy.

And she def wasn't letting her sun son near the impostor, either.

@Sen @Alex Azure​

Chibi was surprised as he was suddenly dragged away from Issun. He hadn't even learned the bug-man's name! He knew his mother wanted to protect him, but could he be that dangerous? The man didn't look dangerous. Chibi carefully peeked his head out from behind Amaterasu.

@Sen @Pretentious Pineapple​

 

[Takumi]

Olive frowned at being yelled at, giving a muttered apology, along with a small pout.

'He started it by pushing people.' he thought. Although being an android, that didn't stop him from being rather childish.

Not only that, but his question was ignored. Now he might not ever know for sure what kind of bird DeDeDe was.

@Yun Lee @Minerva @thatguyinthestore @Khan of the Mardu @Jeremi

Bee simply watched this all go on while twiddling her thumbs a bit by the buffet table.

'Geez, she got mad really quickly. That blonde kid sounds like someone I know though...but who?' she thought for a moment, trying to think of all the people she knew.

Meh, whatever. She finished her food and disposed of her plate before wiping her face and deciding not to get in any arguments with anybody.

Noticing Sayori, Bee gave her a friendly wave and smile.

@Widowmaker @Neko Shogun @Buffet table

 

[Sen]

Lazy as she may sometimes come off as, Amaterasu was no fool, nor was she ignorant. Her son's departure from her side quickly pulled her attention away from where she had previously been observing the party with clear boredom that was not cracked even by the mention of gifts(though she did seem slightly curious, her tail flicking to one side), dark green orbs following him like a moth seeking a light. Or, they did, up until a familiar scent hit her nose. Said nose was immediately wrinkled, the woman's eyebrows knitting together as she looked around with almost comically calm confusion, searching for the source.

Fortunately, her two conflicting interests seemed to be at the same location. Only, when she saw the source of the scent, she tensed and hunkered down to a defensive stance, moving to tug Chibi back behind her as she seemingly readied herself for a fight. Who was this... this.... Issun impersonator?! Sure, he looked very similar to the real deal and shared the same scent, but there was no way Issun could possibly be this tall without her herself being shrunk by the lucky mallet. After all, he was a bug. No wayyyy.

And she def wasn't letting her sun son near the impostor, either.

@Sen @Alex Azure​

Chibi was surprised as he was suddenly dragged away from Issun. He hadn't even learned the bug-man's name! He knew his mother wanted to protect him, but could he be that dangerous? The man didn't look dangerous. Chibi carefully peeked his head out from behind Amaterasu.

@Sen @Pretentious Pineapple​

​

The young man watched as a small child bounded up to him, standing at almost the same height as him. There were many people about, with all sorts of auras and commanding presences, but Issun seemed to be particularly drawn to this one kid. He stared at him. He had markings on his face, familiar ones, accompanied by an also familiar aura.

It was almost exactly like the great goddess Amaterasu, if not just a bit smaller. Issun's jaw fell, since when did Ammy take the form of a human being? And... and why was she so small? "Ammy? Is that you?" he took a step forward to get a closer look, tilting his hat back. "Wow, you're a goddess and this is your human form? Are you on a budget?"

"I must be doing a bad job as an Envoy if this is all human belief is doing for you - must be hard up there without me, eh?"​

Just then, a tall woman tugged away the child, and Issun had to tilt his head back even more to meet her gaze. At least, that was what he was trying to do, but really - all he could notice was her well endowed... eyes.

"Oh lord. Oh my. Oh great Amaterasu."

Now this was starting to make sense to him.

"Ammy, you turned into a busty babe."

@Pretentious Pineapple @Alex Azure​

 

[Neko Shogun]

Luka had come with Oliver. Unfortunately, he had wandered off somewhere into the large party crowd.

Well, wherever Oliver went, he couldn't have gone far. He'd find Luka later or they'd run into each other. She wandered around the crowd for a little bit until she found Sayori. "Hello." She said simply.

More in tune with her sweet tooth than her surroundings, Sayori would not even see Luka when she would step in front of her. Instead, she would plow right into the other female--nearly running her over. "Eeeek! Owie... Oh no, I just ran into someone didn't I? I'm sorry about that!" she chirped apologetically. "Are you okay?" she questioned sheepishly.

@Minerva @Anyone​

 

[Macy Moretti]

Macy Prologue:
A Christmas Spirit

Macy hurried as fast as she could towards the dining room, where the party was gathering. The clicks of her heels against the wooden path leading to the dining room echoed in the chilly Christmas air. She mentally cursed the heels she wore, as they caused her to be a bit late to the party. It was a monumentous trial to put them on, though they matched her light blue dress perfectly. This was a party, after all, so she felt it necessary to look nice.

As she finally, triumphantly arrived at the ballroom, she took a look around the room. She could smell the food, hear the chatter, and see a familiar face whom she didn't expect.
​

Without so much as an ounce of hesitation in the mind of Sayori, a plucky, pink-haired high school girl, the invitation for the christmas party she received was gratefully accepted. Upon arriving to the location of his Christmas party, Sayori squealed and clenched her fists happily, swaying where she stood out of sheer excitement.

"Uwaaaa~! This place is sooooo beautiful! This party is going to be so much fun! I can't wait to make some new friends and have some Christmas fun! I only wish my best friend could be here to see this. Oh weeeell. Ah ha ha ha." With more excitement than her facial expression could contain, Sayori skipped off in the direction of the place she considered to be the most important one. "To the dining hall! Yaaay!" As always, the girl couldn't wait to grab a bite to eat, and hopefully it could be something sweet.

To balance out the excitement in the room emanating from Sayori, a nearby Christmas scrooge could be found nearby. Joshua Kiryu, a grumpy fellow at the moment, seemed to recall another invitation to a similar party he had gone to on Valentines Day and he wasn't happy. Why had he even bothered to come to this party? Well, it wasn't as if he had anything else better to be doing and... maybe he did have a reason why he had come that he hadn't let on about yet. With a sigh, he stood near the christmas tree--watching it with little interest.

"I don't think I'll ever fully understand why christmas is such a big deal," he mumbled to himself, poking at an ornament on the tree with his index finger. "Humans come up with any excuse to party and give gifts to one another." When he had been a human, christmas hadn't been a huge deal in Japan and, even if it had been, Joshua's family would've been too busy treating him like he was crazy to let him him enjoy any holiday fun.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Whoever : 3​

Joshua Kiryu! She hadn't seen him for a few months. The last she saw of him was at the Valentine's soiree that had gone south.
​

DeDeDe, after being scolded heavily by Karin and essentially blown off by Ibuki. Having scarfed down a large plate of food, and another untouched one in his hand, the triple D noticed Joshua hanging out by the tree all on his lonesome.

Now, DDD may be a self-centered jerk, but even he couldn't stand the sight of seeing someone alone at a Christmas party. So, being the jolly penguin he was, DeDeDe stomped his way on over to the Composer and slapped him on the back with his large... uh... weird penguin hand before letting out a hearty laugh.

"What's the matter, boy? It's Christmas! Here, try some'a this here food!" DeDeDe exclaimed as he shoved a plate in Joshua's face.

@Neko Shogun @Pretentious Pineapple​

It appeared that some blue penguin was causing a ruckus. Curious and wanting to help, Macy carefully clicked forward, doing her best not to topple in her heels as she approached Joshua.

"Hello there, Joshua. Long time no see. Is this some friend of yours?"

@Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore @Pretentious Pineapple

---

​

​

The young man watched as a small child bounded up to him, standing at almost the same height as him. There were many people about, with all sorts of auras and commanding presences, but Issun seemed to be particularly drawn to this one kid. He stared at him. He had markings on his face, familiar ones, accompanied by an also familiar aura.

It was almost exactly like the great goddess Amaterasu, if not just a bit smaller. Issun's jaw fell, since when did Ammy take the form of a human being? And... and why was she so small? "Ammy? Is that you?" he took a step forward to get a closer look, tilting his hat back. "Wow, you're a goddess and this is your human form? Are you on a budget?"

"I must be doing a bad job as an Envoy if this is all human belief is doing for you - must be hard up there without me, eh?"​

Just then, a tall woman tugged away the child, and Issun had to tilt his head back even more to meet her gaze. At least, that was what he was trying to do, but really - all he could notice was her well endowed... eyes.

"Oh lord. Oh my. Oh great Amaterasu."

Now this was starting to make sense to him.

"Ammy, you turned into a busty babe."

@Pretentious Pineapple @Alex Azure​

Ammy? Was this man referring to Amaterasu, origin of all that is good and mother to us all, with some kind of nickname? He had never heard anyone adress his mother so informally. Chibiterasu himself would certainly never dare adress her as Ammy.

"Mother, do you know this person?" Chibi asked softly. It appeared that this man knew his mother, and she didn't trust the man. If he wasn't a friend, then that must mean he is an enemy. Was calling her Ammy a kind of insult? And what did the words "busty babe" mean?

Chibi frowned at Issun.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Sen​

 

[Not a Writer]

Prologue: The Greatest Gift

To say that Teresa Agnes was happy would be a blatant lie.

Of course, that was a fact that came with weeks without sleep, said weeks spent navigating the hell that was a troubled, traumatized mind, haunted by the past. Her troubles were not those that could be deemed 'simple' in nature, nor illogical, for each and every little snippet of dark memories that danced a dreary waltz through her mind had affected her greatly. Not to mention they had birthed many of the less than savory thoughts that plagued her as well, infecting her and overwhelming her with concern for what was to come. But through it all, a few things rang true.

Her name was Teresa Agnes. She was dead, but she was a survivor. She would give anything for those in need; even her life. For she was a guardian. She was not the monster- the betrayer -WICKED had shaped her to be.

She was Joshua Kiryu's conductor.

And, most recently, she had been invited to some party.

It was funny, in a screwed up sort of way, to her; when she had lived, the only party she had ever been to was a brief bout in a chaotic rave, that of which had been held by cranks, where less than pleasant events had transpired. And that had only been shortly before her death. Thereafter, and the seventeen years before, she had been to no such thing. Not until her afterlife, where party invites seemed to crop up endlessly now. How ironic that people seemed to want her now that her life had come and gone. This was, what, the third party she'd been invited to?

Like it or not, it also would be the third party she went to. Fortunately, in the given situation, she did like it. Not because of the holiday or the host- she knew not the woman in charge, and she refused to believe a god so cruel as to leave the world to suffer and rot existed -but because it was a distraction. The past few weeks she had not had many tasks in Shibuya, and it was leeway for those dark worries and memories to hit her in full force. So whether she enjoyed parties or not(she didn't), the invite was a blessing in disguise.

Or perhaps a curse.

Regardless of just what it happened to be, she was attending. And, just as he had attended both that ridiculous valentines day party and the party of his own hosting in Shibuya, Joshua was as well. Which, she wasn't about to vocally claim she was inherently crazy about, but she didn't feel opposed to at all, either. As much as she annoyed him and vice versa, as much as she teased and taunted and claimed dislike for the male, she held an appreciation and fondness for him she lacked for anyone else. Not because she didn't care for others, for she certainly did; some very deeply, but because all that time ago... Back in her very first Reapers' Game, he had accepted her. It was a small thing, certainly, to most. Acceptance was, or should have been, a common thing among humans. Something they held for each other under any circumstances. But to Teresa, who knew only neglect and rejection and shame from others, it was nothing short of miraculous and touching.

What more could a person want, than to be wanted? For after all, the greatest gift of all was to be loved.

And, save for Ash, Hurley, and a couple of others- all of whom had left her in a manner no less than heartbreaking -he had been the first to show her kindness or care. And while that was common for most, it was not for Teresa, and was thus appreciated beyond expression. So no, she did not care that he opted to accompany her- though it was more the other way around -; far from it. She was glad, even though she would never say such aloud.

That did not alter the fact that her actions screamed it.

Joshua's immediate working of himself into the remotest area he could find did not go unnoticed by the female. Purely the opposite was true; even in the midst of the stunning lights, flood of people donning gowns and suits, and the overwhelming scents of various delicacies that would make even the fullest man's stomach rumble with longing, it was the very first thing she took note of. And she quite plainly wasn't going to sit around and let it slide.

So it was with a frown that she approached, her eyes screaming displeasure and darkly-hued gown flowing as she joined his side, one hand going to her left hip that jutted to the side subtly. "Hey," she greeted, voice teetering a fine line between boredom and annoyance. "What's your deal? Aren't you, y'know, gonna do something? I didn't really take you as a tree-hugger," she remarked, only the joke didn't really make her herself feel any better about his state. Her gaze softened instead, and she opened her mouth to utter something, on the verge of doing so when--

...When Joshua was met with a barrage of other people. One was yelling, the other was a familiar girl, more would probably come soon. she noped the fuck outta there

@Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore @Alex Azure​

 

[Archmage Jeremiah]

Quietly hovering around the heart of the festivities, Silora Moongrove paced in circles about the bridges and decks that made up the event grounds, the creaking of wood underfoot forming the beat to her lonely performance.

Gently strumming and plucking her lyre, and softly humming the parts her lyre couldn't play, Silora performed just loudly enough to hear herself over the boisterous conversation and song coming from the main hall, weakening and growing in volume as she strayed away and then strayed towards the hall again.

@anyone​

 

[Minerva]

More in tune with her sweet tooth than her surroundings, Sayori would not even see Luka when she would step in front of her. Instead, she would plow right into the other female--nearly running her over. "Eeeek! Owie... Oh no, I just ran into someone didn't I? I'm sorry about that!" she chirped apologetically. "Are you okay?" she questioned sheepishly.

@Minerva @Anyone​

Luka stumbled a bit, but was able to pick herself back up. "Oh, I'm fine. Are you alright?" she asked, brushing a bang of her hair out of her face.

 

[Macy Moretti]

Prologue: The Greatest Gift

To say that Teresa Agnes was happy would be a blatant lie.

Of course, that was a fact that came with weeks without sleep, said weeks spent navigating the hell that was a troubled, traumatized mind, haunted by the past. Her troubles were not those that could be deemed 'simple' in nature, nor illogical, for each and every little snippet of dark memories that danced a dreary waltz through her mind had affected her greatly. Not to mention they had birthed many of the less than savory thoughts that plagued her as well, infecting her and overwhelming her with concern for what was to come. But through it all, a few things rang true.

Her name was Teresa Agnes. She was dead, but she was a survivor. She would give anything for those in need; even her life. For she was a guardian. She was not the monster- the betrayer -WICKED had shaped her to be.

She was Joshua Kiryu's conductor.

And, most recently, she had been invited to some party.

It was funny, in a screwed up sort of way, to her; when she had lived, the only party she had ever been to was a brief bout in a chaotic rave, that of which had been held by cranks, where less than pleasant events had transpired. And that had only been shortly before her death. Thereafter, and the seventeen years before, she had been to no such thing. Not until her afterlife, where party invites seemed to crop up endlessly now. How ironic that people seemed to want her now that her life had come and gone. This was, what, the third party she'd been invited to?

Like it or not, it also would be the third party she went to. Fortunately, in the given situation, she did like it. Not because of the holiday or the host- she knew not the woman in charge, and she refused to believe a god so cruel as to leave the world to suffer and rot existed -but because it was a distraction. The past few weeks she had not had many tasks in Shibuya, and it was leeway for those dark worries and memories to hit her in full force. So whether she enjoyed parties or not(she didn't), the invite was a blessing in disguise.

Or perhaps a curse.

Regardless of just what it happened to be, she was attending. And, just as he had attended both that ridiculous valentines day party and the party of his own hosting in Shibuya, Joshua was as well. Which, she wasn't about to vocally claim she was inherently crazy about, but she didn't feel opposed to at all, either. As much as she annoyed him and vice versa, as much as she teased and taunted and claimed dislike for the male, she held an appreciation and fondness for him she lacked for anyone else. Not because she didn't care for others, for she certainly did; some very deeply, but because all that time ago... Back in her very first Reapers' Game, he had accepted her. It was a small thing, certainly, to most. Acceptance was, or should have been, a common thing among humans. Something they held for each other under any circumstances. But to Teresa, who knew only neglect and rejection and shame from others, it was nothing short of miraculous and touching.

What more could a person want, than to be wanted? For after all, the greatest gift of all was to be loved.

And, save for Ash, Hurley, and a couple of others- all of whom had left her in a manner no less than heartbreaking -he had been the first to show her kindness or care. And while that was common for most, it was not for Teresa, and was thus appreciated beyond expression. So no, she did not care that he opted to accompany her- though it was more the other way around -; far from it. She was glad, even though she would never say such aloud.

That did not alter the fact that her actions screamed it.

Joshua's immediate working of himself into the remotest area he could find did not go unnoticed by the female. Purely the opposite was true; even in the midst of the stunning lights, flood of people donning gowns and suits, and the overwhelming scents of various delicacies that would make even the fullest man's stomach rumble with longing, it was the very first thing she took note of. And she quite plainly wasn't going to sit around and let it slide.

So it was with a frown that she approached, her eyes screaming displeasure and darkly-hued gown flowing as she joined his side, one hand going to her left hip that jutted to the side subtly. "Hey," she greeted, voice teetering a fine line between boredom and annoyance. "What's your deal? Aren't you, y'know, gonna do something? I didn't really take you as a tree-hugger," she remarked, only the joke didn't really make her herself feel any better about his state. Her gaze softened instead, and she opened her mouth to utter something, on the verge of doing so when--

...When Joshua was met with a barrage of other people. One was yelling, the other was a familiar girl, more would probably come soon. she noped the fuck outta there

@Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore @Alex Azure​

"Teresa! You're here too! What fun! You look fabulous tonight." Macy flashed a bright smile at Teresa, full of hope that her mood would brighten. Macy could feel Teresa's dark mood just as easily as she could see her dark dress. Macy's heart had a habit of reaching out and seeing how others were feeling, whether or not they were willing to show it. Macy was determined to brighten Teresa's mood.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore​

 

[Crow]

Prologue
Momo's Bizarre Adventure

[Insert Picture of Momoka standing beside Gold Experience Requiem with a blue P-head badly shooped on it.]

"Producer-chama? Is this where you're meeting your boyfriend?" Momoka teases her Producer as they approached a cafè.

"He's not my boyfriend, Momoka," Producer replies.

"I read that-"

"Momoka, don't get us banned."

"You read me just like a book, Producer-chama. I am proud," Momoka giggles.

"Well, here's the place, Momoka," Producer says as the two enter the cafè, looking around for someone very specific.

The cafè before them was decorated by all manner of Christmas decoration. It was December, after all. Many a customer were in for a fine cup of coffee on a frigid winter like this.

Zen had arrived there a few minutes prior, enough to get himself a warm cup of tea. The hat he wore on his head did nothing to hide his white hair spilling from under it, but the sunglasses he had covering his eyes did help him with his disguise. Zen had finally gotten the break he deserved, since he had been working for days on end now. The Coalition coupled with his acting career was a heavy load and getting away from it all - even for a little bit - was the gift he wanted for Christmas.

The last thing he wanted was to be hounded by his fans or even worse, the paparazzi. Normally he didn't mind, he loved media attention, but since he was meeting somebody today that wasn't what he needed.

The chime that the employers hung over the door rung when more customers arrived. He looked up from under his sunglasses and spotted the person he had been waiting for.

"Oh! Madoka PD-ssi! Over here~" he called out to her, waving one arm in the air to get her attention.

"Hey!" Producer was about to say his name, but then realised it was best to not say it while he was is disguise.

"Zen," Madoka says in a low voice as she arrives at the table, "meet Momoka, Momoka, meet Zen."

"Greetings, Zen-chama," the petite lady greets.

"Anyways, I couldn't find a better time or place, so... Merry Christmas, Zen," Producer smiles, revealing a present from underneath her overcoat. "By the way, Momoka & I are headed to a Christmas party later. My brother insisted on staying in the Production, so he has a ticket to spare. I was wondering if..."

The actor returned her smile, "Merry Christmas to you too, mademoiselle. And I would love to! Surprisingly I don't have anything planned for the Christmas break, my manager's been busy and..." Zen sighed, the stress just rolling over him from these words alone. His manager definitely had her hands full around this time.

He looked at the young Momoka, "Is Momoka-ssi new in the making, or am I out of the loop?" He should really take the time to browse through the latest entertainment news.

"She was new when we first met, but now, she's a lot more experienced," Producer says, "her first day was-"

"Producer-chama!" Momoka pouts.

"- it was a stepping stone to the Momoka of today."

A conversation was had to remember the old and cherish what was to come, but alas, all good things had to come to an end. Unfortunate, but they will meet again.

"Time flies pretty fast when you're enjoying yourself, but it looks like I'll only just make it to the party if I leave now. You are coming too, right?"

"Yes!" the actor stood up, bumping the table and upsetting his cup of tea. It clanged dangerously, but thankfully nothing was split. He ferociously apologised to the nearby waitress, who blinked and stared at him but only awkwardly smiled as if to say it was alright. Zen was more relieved that she didn't recognise him.

It was at that moment that his phone buzzed in his pocket, so the actor rummaged it out and peered at the screen. There were two texts, one from his manager and a close female friend, the other from another member of the RFA - a particular, enigmatic redhead. From the preview alone, one could easily see that they were of an urgent subject. The way she was typing was strange, and it worried him.

"Aaah-" Zen furrowed his eyebrows. "Sorry, Madoka PD-ssi, I think... I think something's come up again." He frowned, "Damn, I really wanted to go as well..."

"Maybe next time? I'll invite you to one of our RFA parties to make up for it, how does that sound?"

"Well, I'll be waiting for that day," Producer prepares to leave with Momoka by her side, "see you again, Zen, see you again."

"I hope we get to know each other better, Zen-chama~."

It was time to hit the road.

---

"Dammit! We were so close!" Producer grunts as they walked into their destination.

"Producer-chama, we are here," Momoka points out as the pair gazes upon the luxurious place.

"That's not what I- oh my, Maki is missing out!"

"Well, Other-Producer-chama had to choose between quite a number of idols to bring along."

"Let's not talk about him now. Let's talk about..."

Producer walks towards someone.

"You're not as mature as I thought you were, are you, Producer-chama?" Momoka sighs as she follows.

"She's nearly perfect for L.M.B.G, don't you think, Momoka?" Producer has a good look at the one known as Plutia, shifting from an excited expression to a much more serious one. "Oh, pardon my manners, Miss."

"If Producer-chama is making conversation, so shall I," Momoka turns towards Haruka, "greetings. My name is Sakurai Momoka. I am an idol of the unit project L.M.B.G. Just Momoka-chan will do. So, what's your name?"

@Widowmaker @Gummi Bunnies​

 

[Not a Writer]

​

The young man watched as a small child bounded up to him, standing at almost the same height as him. There were many people about, with all sorts of auras and commanding presences, but Issun seemed to be particularly drawn to this one kid. He stared at him. He had markings on his face, familiar ones, accompanied by an also familiar aura.

It was almost exactly like the great goddess Amaterasu, if not just a bit smaller. Issun's jaw fell, since when did Ammy take the form of a human being? And... and why was she so small? "Ammy? Is that you?" he took a step forward to get a closer look, tilting his hat back. "Wow, you're a goddess and this is your human form? Are you on a budget?"

"I must be doing a bad job as an Envoy if this is all human belief is doing for you - must be hard up there without me, eh?"​

Just then, a tall woman tugged away the child, and Issun had to tilt his head back even more to meet her gaze. At least, that was what he was trying to do, but really - all he could notice was her well endowed... eyes.

"Oh lord. Oh my. Oh great Amaterasu."

Now this was starting to make sense to him.

"Ammy, you turned into a busty babe."

@Pretentious Pineapple @Alex Azure​

Ammy? Was this man referring to Amaterasu, origin of all that is good and mother to us all, with some kind of nickname? He had never heard anyone address his mother so informally. Chibiterasu himself would certainly never dare address her as Ammy.

"Mother, do you know this person?" Chibi asked softly. It appeared that this man knew his mother, and she didn't trust the man. If he wasn't a friend, then that must mean he is an enemy. Was calling her Ammy a kind of insult? And what did the words "busty babe" mean?

Chibi frowned at Issun.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Sen​

While Chibiterasu poked his head out from behind Amaterasu, the goddess leered at the wandering artist that stood a good few shorter than her, her gaze piercing and body tense at first. It was severely concerning, seeing a seeming duplicate(though many, many sizes larger) of her long lost companion here. Surely he couldn't have grown since her departure upon the Ark of Yamato, right? But...

Apparently that was exactly what had happened, based on the way he spoke to her son alone. Were any doubt left, it would have been vanquished by the small man's words to her herself, her body relaxing and shoulders visibly slumping with clear disbelief and wariness. This was Issun alright, there wasn't even a minuscule sliver of doubt about it. No other being could possibly make her feel so exhausted with everything with just a singular phrase. Hearing his raving over the 'racks' of other women in their time together was bad enough, but now she had to hear him speak of hers too. T_T

Fortunately, the goddess was a forgiving one, and despite her initial response being slouching and giving the most unadulterated look of disbelief to possibly ever have come about from anyone ever, she shook her head and slowly righted herself, managing an affirmative nod. Just, not about her status as a busty babe. About her identity, the origin of all that was good and mother to us all, Okami Amaterasu stood proudly before Issun in all of her glory. Except she really didn't look proud in that moment. She looked done, and then as she drank the short male in with her intense green gaze, mildly amused. Tilting her head, a gesture was made regarding Issun's current height, then another regarding his former, a faint trace of a smirk on her lips as she addressed his 'sudden growth'. Heh. She wasn't sure which of his heights were sadder.

In any case, she did not get to tease the male as she may have liked, her gaze shifting back to the small boy behind her. Which actually initially amused her more, her grin widening as she stepped to the side and gestured him to come forth in symbolism that it was okay, for her eyes took note of the fact that Issun and her extremely young child were the same height, thereabouts.

...Calm. She was calm. She wasn't giggling at that fact, not at all.

With her composure regained and a more tender smile than her previously amused smirk, she gave yet another affirmative nod. Yes, she and Issun went back quite a time. It had been a handful of years since they had parted, but despite her evident teasing, the way her gaze softened as she looked to him was clear tell of the fact she held him in high regards. He had provided endless aid to her, and for that she would eternally be grateful.

It was good to see him again.

@Sen @Alex Azure​

 

[Neko Shogun]

DeDeDe, after being scolded heavily by Karin and essentially blown off by Ibuki. Having scarfed down a large plate of food, and another untouched one in his hand, the triple D noticed Joshua hanging out by the tree all on his lonesome.

Now, DDD may be a self-centered jerk, but even he couldn't stand the sight of seeing someone alone at a Christmas party. So, being the jolly penguin he was, DeDeDe stomped his way on over to the Composer and slapped him on the back with his large... uh... weird penguin hand before letting out a hearty laugh.

"What's the matter, boy? It's Christmas! Here, try some'a this here food!" DeDeDe exclaimed as he shoved a plate in Joshua's face.

@Neko Shogun @Pretentious Pineapple​

Macy Prologue:
A Christmas Spirit

Macy hurried as fast as she could towards the dining room, where the party was gathering. The clicks of her heels against the wooden path leading to the dining room echoed in the chilly Christmas air. She mentally cursed the heels she wore, as they caused her to be a bit late to the party. It was a monumentous trial to put them on, though they matched her light blue dress perfectly. This was a party, after all, so she felt it necessary to look nice.

As she finally, triumphantly arrived at the ballroom, she took a look around the room. She could smell the food, hear the chatter, and see a familiar face whom she didn't expect.
​

Joshua Kiryu! She hadn't seen him for a few months. The last she saw of him was at the Valentine's soiree that had gone south.
​

It appeared that some blue penguin was causing a ruckus. Curious and wanting to help, Macy carefully clicked forward, doing her best not to topple in her heels as she approached Joshua.

"Hello there, Joshua. Long time no see. Is this some friend of yours?"

@Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore @Pretentious Pineapple

---

​

Ammy? Was this man referring to Amaterasu, origin of all that is good and mother to us all, with some kind of nickname? He had never heard anyone adress his mother so informally. Chibiterasu himself would certainly never dare adress her as Ammy.

"Mother, do you know this person?" Chibi asked softly. It appeared that this man knew his mother, and she didn't trust the man. If he wasn't a friend, then that must mean he is an enemy. Was calling her Ammy a kind of insult? And what did the words "busty babe" mean?

Chibi frowned at Issun.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Sen​

Prologue: The Greatest Gift

To say that Teresa Agnes was happy would be a blatant lie.

Of course, that was a fact that came with weeks without sleep, said weeks spent navigating the hell that was a troubled, traumatized mind, haunted by the past. Her troubles were not those that could be deemed 'simple' in nature, nor illogical, for each and every little snippet of dark memories that danced a dreary waltz through her mind had affected her greatly. Not to mention they had birthed many of the less than savory thoughts that plagued her as well, infecting her and overwhelming her with concern for what was to come. But through it all, a few things rang true.

Her name was Teresa Agnes. She was dead, but she was a survivor. She would give anything for those in need; even her life. For she was a guardian. She was not the monster- the betrayer -WICKED had shaped her to be.

She was Joshua Kiryu's conductor.

And, most recently, she had been invited to some party.

It was funny, in a screwed up sort of way, to her; when she had lived, the only party she had ever been to was a brief bout in a chaotic rave, that of which had been held by cranks, where less than pleasant events had transpired. And that had only been shortly before her death. Thereafter, and the seventeen years before, she had been to no such thing. Not until her afterlife, where party invites seemed to crop up endlessly now. How ironic that people seemed to want her now that her life had come and gone. This was, what, the third party she'd been invited to?

Like it or not, it also would be the third party she went to. Fortunately, in the given situation, she did like it. Not because of the holiday or the host- she knew not the woman in charge, and she refused to believe a god so cruel as to leave the world to suffer and rot existed -but because it was a distraction. The past few weeks she had not had many tasks in Shibuya, and it was leeway for those dark worries and memories to hit her in full force. So whether she enjoyed parties or not(she didn't), the invite was a blessing in disguise.

Or perhaps a curse.

Regardless of just what it happened to be, she was attending. And, just as he had attended both that ridiculous valentines day party and the party of his own hosting in Shibuya, Joshua was as well. Which, she wasn't about to vocally claim she was inherently crazy about, but she didn't feel opposed to at all, either. As much as she annoyed him and vice versa, as much as she teased and taunted and claimed dislike for the male, she held an appreciation and fondness for him she lacked for anyone else. Not because she didn't care for others, for she certainly did; some very deeply, but because all that time ago... Back in her very first Reapers' Game, he had accepted her. It was a small thing, certainly, to most. Acceptance was, or should have been, a common thing among humans. Something they held for each other under any circumstances. But to Teresa, who knew only neglect and rejection and shame from others, it was nothing short of miraculous and touching.

What more could a person want, than to be wanted? For after all, the greatest gift of all was to be loved.

And, save for Ash, Hurley, and a couple of others- all of whom had left her in a manner no less than heartbreaking -he had been the first to show her kindness or care. And while that was common for most, it was not for Teresa, and was thus appreciated beyond expression. So no, she did not care that he opted to accompany her- though it was more the other way around -; far from it. She was glad, even though she would never say such aloud.

That did not alter the fact that her actions screamed it.

Joshua's immediate working of himself into the remotest area he could find did not go unnoticed by the female. Purely the opposite was true; even in the midst of the stunning lights, flood of people donning gowns and suits, and the overwhelming scents of various delicacies that would make even the fullest man's stomach rumble with longing, it was the very first thing she took note of. And she quite plainly wasn't going to sit around and let it slide.

So it was with a frown that she approached, her eyes screaming displeasure and darkly-hued gown flowing as she joined his side, one hand going to her left hip that jutted to the side subtly. "Hey," she greeted, voice teetering a fine line between boredom and annoyance. "What's your deal? Aren't you, y'know, gonna do something? I didn't really take you as a tree-hugger," she remarked, only the joke didn't really make her herself feel any better about his state. Her gaze softened instead, and she opened her mouth to utter something, on the verge of doing so when--

...When Joshua was met with a barrage of other people. One was yelling, the other was a familiar girl, more would probably come soon. she noped the fuck outta there

@Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore @Alex Azure​

"Theresa! You're here too! What fun! You look fabulous tonight." Macy flashed a bright smile at Theresa, full of hope that her mood would brighten. Macy could feel Theresa's dark mood just as easily as she could see Theresa's dark dress. Macy's heart had a habit of reaching out and seeing how others were feeling, whether or not they were willing to show it. Macy was determined to brighten Theresa's mood.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore​

Entranced by the christmas tree, it would take Joshua a moment before he would even notice the plate DeDeDe had shoved in his face. "I'm afraid I have to decline," he grumbled, pushing the plate away with the back of his hand. "Why not find someone else to feed, you..." The male trailed off, his azure eyes finally scanning over the king. "Prinny servant, or whatever you are."

It was then that yet another person Joshua was familiar with would approach him. He only vaguely remembered Macy, recalling he had encountered her during that strange Valentines event he had attended. Man, he just couldn't seem to shake away the memory of that event, could he? "Hello, Macy. No, he's not a friend of mine. In fact, I came to this party alone--without friends." Although, admittedly, he had caught wind of the fact that someone else he knew might attend this party. This someone was part of the reason why he had actually decided to come--whether he would admit it or not.

And, as if on cue, that certain someone would actually appear right behind him. Josh shot his Conductor a look over his shoulder, his head seeming to freeze in place when he rested his eyes upon her. He couldn't argue with Macy; Teresa did look very nice tonight. No, she looked... breathtaking. He found himself taken aback by her appearance, unable to retort the young woman's tease about him being a tree hugger. Truth be told, he was dressed rather decently himself--adorning a black suit with a sleek silver tie, but for some reason he felt as if she looked far better than he did.

"I, uh." Joshua snapped his head straight forward again, looking to the tree once more. "I was just, uh, enjoying the view." He stuck his hands in his coat pockets, feeling his palms get a bit... sweaty. "Breathtaking."

"I-I mean, there aren't trees like this in Shibuya, you know?"

Try as he might, Joshua couldn't really make a quip back to the girl--at least for now.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Alex Azure @thatguyinthestore​

 

[Macy Moretti]

While Chibiterasu poked his head out from behind Amaterasu, the goddess leered at the wandering artist that stood a good few shorter than her, her gaze piercing and body tense at first. It was severely concerning, seeing a seeming duplicate(though many, many sizes larger) of her long lost companion here. Surely he couldn't have grown since her departure upon the Ark of Yamato, right? But...

Apparently that was exactly what had happened, based on the way he spoke to her son alone. Were any doubt left, it would have been vanquished by the small man's words to her herself, her body relaxing and shoulders visibly slumping with clear disbelief and wariness. This was Issun alright, there wasn't even a minuscule sliver of doubt about it. No other being could possibly make her feel so exhausted with everything with just a singular phrase. Hearing his raving over the 'racks' of other women in their time together was bad enough, but now she had to hear him speak of hers too. T_T

Fortunately, the goddess was a forgiving one, and despite her initial response being slouching and giving the most unadulterated look of disbelief to possibly ever have come about from anyone ever, she shook her head and slowly righted herself, managing an affirmative nod. Just, not about her status as a busty babe. About her identity, the origin of all that was good and mother to us all, Okami Amaterasu stood proudly before Issun in all of her glory. Except she really didn't look proud in that moment. She looked done, and then as she drank the short male in with her intense green gaze, mildly amused. Tilting her head, a gesture was made regarding Issun's current height, then another regarding his former, a faint trace of a smirk on her lips as she addressed his 'sudden growth'. Heh. She wasn't sure which of his heights were sadder.

In any case, she did not get to tease the male as she may have liked, her gaze shifting back to the small boy behind her. Which actually initially amused her more, her grin widening as she stepped to the side and gestured him to come forth in symbolism that it was okay, for her eyes took note of the fact that Issun and her extremely young child were the same height, thereabouts.

...Calm. She was calm. She wasn't giggling at that fact, not at all.

With her composure regained and a more tender smile than her previously amused smirk, she gave yet another affirmative nod. Yes, she and Issun went back quite a time. It had been a handful of years since they had parted, but despite her evident teasing, the way her gaze softened as she looked to him was clear tell of the fact she held him in high regards. He had provided endless aid to her, and for that she would eternally be grateful.

It was good to see him again.

@Sen @Alex Azure​

With an affirmation that this is a friend of his mother's, Chibi stepped out in front of his mother to greet the wandering artist. He wasn't much for words with anyone aside from the motherly goddess, but he still wished to introduce himself. As a way of doing so, he plucked a blank scroll from Issun's pack and held it up for Issun to see.

Marks of ink would suddenly appear on the paper, written by the power of his own Celestial Brush. The marks spelled out his name for Issun to see:

"Chibiterasu"

@Pretentious Pineapple @Sen​

 

[Neko Shogun]

Luka stumbled a bit, but was able to pick herself back up. "Oh, I'm fine. Are you alright?" she asked, brushing a bang of her hair out of her face.

"Ah ha ha ha, oh I'm just fine! I do things like this all the time! It's kind of embarrassing, really." Despite the fact Sayori claimed to be "embarrassed" she seemed to be just fine. "Oh, but, my name is Sayori! What's yours? I haven't met anyone at the party yet. I only just got here! I'd love to make a few friends to spend time with here since, well, none of my friends from school are here right now. Ah ha ha, this is all so exciting!" she chirped, seeming excited about the party, and life in general.

@Minerva @Anyone​

 

[Macy Moretti]

Entranced by the christmas tree, it would take Joshua a moment before he would even notice the plate DeDeDe had shoved in his face. "I'm afraid I have to decline," he grumbled, pushing the plate away with the back of his hand. "Why not find someone else to feed, you..." The male trailed off, his azure eyes finally scanning over the king. "Prinny servant, or whatever you are."

It was then that yet another person Joshua was familiar with would approach him. He only vaguely remembered Macy, recalling he had encountered her during that strange Valentines event he had attended. Man, he just couldn't seem to shake away the memory of that event, could he? "Hello, Macy. No, he's not a friend of mine. In fact, I came to this party alone--without friends." Although, admittedly, he had caught wind of the fact that someone else he knew might attend this party. This someone was part of the reason why he had actually decided to come--whether he would admit it or not.

And, as if on cue, that certain someone would actually appear right behind him. Josh shot his Conductor a look over his shoulder, his head seeming to freeze in place when he rested his eyes upon her. He couldn't argue with Macy; Teresa did look very nice tonight. No, she looked... breathtaking. He found himself taken aback by her appearance, unable to retort the young woman's tease about him being a tree hugger. Truth be told, he was dressed rather decently himself--adorning a black suit with a sleek silver tie, but for some reason he felt as if she looked far better than he did.

"I, uh." Joshua snapped his head straight forward again, looking to the tree once more. "I was just, uh, enjoying the view." He stuck his hands in his coat pockets, feeling his palms get a bit... sweaty. "Breathtaking."

"I-I mean, there aren't trees like this in Shibuya, you know?"

Try as he might, Joshua couldn't really make a quip back to the girl--at least for now.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Alex Azure @thatguyinthestore​

"I think you might find a better view over here," Macy said. She nudged Joshua closer towards Teresa.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Neko Shogun​

 

[Minerva]

"Ah ha ha ha, oh I'm just fine! I do things like this all the time! It's kind of embarrassing, really." Despite the fact Sayori claimed to be "embarrassed" she seemed to be just fine. "Oh, but, my name is Sayori! What's yours? I haven't met anyone at the party yet. I only just got here! I'd love to make a few friends to spend time with here since, well, none of my friends from school are here right now. Ah ha ha, this is all so exciting!" she chirped, seeming excited about the party, and life in general.

@Minerva @Anyone​

Luka smiled. She was glad to see that the girl was alright. "I'm Luka. It's nice to meet you, Sayori." She said happily. "If you want, you can stay with me. My friend Oliver should be around here somewhere. Hopefully he's not getting into trouble." Luka said, glancing around the room for the little blonde Vocaloid.

@Takumi

 

[Raptor Jesus]

"Teresa! You're here too! What fun! You look fabulous tonight." Macy flashed a bright smile at Teresa, full of hope that her mood would brighten. Macy could feel Teresa's dark mood just as easily as she could see her dark dress. Macy's heart had a habit of reaching out and seeing how others were feeling, whether or not they were willing to show it. Macy was determined to brighten Teresa's mood.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore​

Prologue: The Greatest Gift

To say that Teresa Agnes was happy would be a blatant lie.

Of course, that was a fact that came with weeks without sleep, said weeks spent navigating the hell that was a troubled, traumatized mind, haunted by the past. Her troubles were not those that could be deemed 'simple' in nature, nor illogical, for each and every little snippet of dark memories that danced a dreary waltz through her mind had affected her greatly. Not to mention they had birthed many of the less than savory thoughts that plagued her as well, infecting her and overwhelming her with concern for what was to come. But through it all, a few things rang true.

Her name was Teresa Agnes. She was dead, but she was a survivor. She would give anything for those in need; even her life. For she was a guardian. She was not the monster- the betrayer -WICKED had shaped her to be.

She was Joshua Kiryu's conductor.

And, most recently, she had been invited to some party.

It was funny, in a screwed up sort of way, to her; when she had lived, the only party she had ever been to was a brief bout in a chaotic rave, that of which had been held by cranks, where less than pleasant events had transpired. And that had only been shortly before her death. Thereafter, and the seventeen years before, she had been to no such thing. Not until her afterlife, where party invites seemed to crop up endlessly now. How ironic that people seemed to want her now that her life had come and gone. This was, what, the third party she'd been invited to?

Like it or not, it also would be the third party she went to. Fortunately, in the given situation, she did like it. Not because of the holiday or the host- she knew not the woman in charge, and she refused to believe a god so cruel as to leave the world to suffer and rot existed -but because it was a distraction. The past few weeks she had not had many tasks in Shibuya, and it was leeway for those dark worries and memories to hit her in full force. So whether she enjoyed parties or not(she didn't), the invite was a blessing in disguise.

Or perhaps a curse.

Regardless of just what it happened to be, she was attending. And, just as he had attended both that ridiculous valentines day party and the party of his own hosting in Shibuya, Joshua was as well. Which, she wasn't about to vocally claim she was inherently crazy about, but she didn't feel opposed to at all, either. As much as she annoyed him and vice versa, as much as she teased and taunted and claimed dislike for the male, she held an appreciation and fondness for him she lacked for anyone else. Not because she didn't care for others, for she certainly did; some very deeply, but because all that time ago... Back in her very first Reapers' Game, he had accepted her. It was a small thing, certainly, to most. Acceptance was, or should have been, a common thing among humans. Something they held for each other under any circumstances. But to Teresa, who knew only neglect and rejection and shame from others, it was nothing short of miraculous and touching.

What more could a person want, than to be wanted? For after all, the greatest gift of all was to be loved.

And, save for Ash, Hurley, and a couple of others- all of whom had left her in a manner no less than heartbreaking -he had been the first to show her kindness or care. And while that was common for most, it was not for Teresa, and was thus appreciated beyond expression. So no, she did not care that he opted to accompany her- though it was more the other way around -; far from it. She was glad, even though she would never say such aloud.

That did not alter the fact that her actions screamed it.

Joshua's immediate working of himself into the remotest area he could find did not go unnoticed by the female. Purely the opposite was true; even in the midst of the stunning lights, flood of people donning gowns and suits, and the overwhelming scents of various delicacies that would make even the fullest man's stomach rumble with longing, it was the very first thing she took note of. And she quite plainly wasn't going to sit around and let it slide.

So it was with a frown that she approached, her eyes screaming displeasure and darkly-hued gown flowing as she joined his side, one hand going to her left hip that jutted to the side subtly. "Hey," she greeted, voice teetering a fine line between boredom and annoyance. "What's your deal? Aren't you, y'know, gonna do something? I didn't really take you as a tree-hugger," she remarked, only the joke didn't really make her herself feel any better about his state. Her gaze softened instead, and she opened her mouth to utter something, on the verge of doing so when--

...When Joshua was met with a barrage of other people. One was yelling, the other was a familiar girl, more would probably come soon. she noped the fuck outta there

@Neko Shogun @thatguyinthestore @Alex Azure​

"You two know this boy? Well, maybe you can cheer him u--"
​

Entranced by the christmas tree, it would take Joshua a moment before he would even notice the plate DeDeDe had shoved in his face. "I'm afraid I have to decline," he grumbled, pushing the plate away with the back of his hand. "Why not find someone else to feed, you..." The male trailed off, his azure eyes finally scanning over the king. "Prinny servant, or whatever you are."

It was then that yet another person Joshua was familiar with would approach him. He only vaguely remembered Macy, recalling he had encountered her during that strange Valentines event he had attended. Man, he just couldn't seem to shake away the memory of that event, could he? "Hello, Macy. No, he's not a friend of mine. In fact, I came to this party alone--without friends." Although, admittedly, he had caught wind of the fact that someone else he knew might attend this party. This someone was part of the reason why he had actually decided to come--whether he would admit it or not.

And, as if on cue, that certain someone would actually appear right behind him. Josh shot his Conductor a look over his shoulder, his head seeming to freeze in place when he rested his eyes upon her. He couldn't argue with Macy; Teresa did look very nice tonight. No, she looked... breathtaking. He found himself taken aback by her appearance, unable to retort the young woman's tease about him being a tree hugger. Truth be told, he was dressed rather decently himself--adorning a black suit with a sleek silver tie, but for some reason he felt as if she looked far better than he did.

"I, uh." Joshua snapped his head straight forward again, looking to the tree once more. "I was just, uh, enjoying the view." He stuck his hands in his coat pockets, feeling his palms get a bit... sweaty. "Breathtaking."

"I-I mean, there aren't trees like this in Shibuya, you know?"

Try as he might, Joshua couldn't really make a quip back to the girl--at least for now.

@Pretentious Pineapple @Alex Azure @thatguyinthestore​

Oh.

Oh this little punk did not just go there.

Grabbing Joshua by the collar, DeDeDe pulled up to meet eye level, teeth grit and eyes narrowed.

"I'm a king, ya dern idiot! I ain't no servant boy! You'd bettah apologize or else you'll be seein' stars in the next two seconds!"

@Neko Shogun @Pretentious Pineapple @Alex Azure​