seasonsrpg | Event #3: Can't Defeat the Temple

Event #3: Can't Defeat the Temple

Can't Defeat the Temple
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Game Start

Part 1

A new message appears on everyone's smartphones. There's been a change in the Temple of Life: the door has finally opened! No one knows how or why, but the sensors left by quest goers alerted them to it suddenly being open. Preparations are made in each guild to finally explore what's inside it.

Those interested in helping are greeted by researchers in the guilds that will provide everyone with one single use item: Escape Rope: an item they found out about while investigating the temple. Should the Temple really prove to be a place "no one can return from" they should be able to use this rope to escape. It should teleport the person using it (just one) outside of the place they're in (can only be used indoors). Of course the rope can be saved for later use if it becomes unnecessary. Everyone also gets basic climbing and survival items, just in case. They have no idea what to expect inside, but better safe than sorry, right?

The new Teleport Crystal system will get you to the Temple of Life in a minute, but no one is forbidden to use a longer route if they want to travel rather than take the easy route. Once they get to the Temple (the teleport stones take them to the surroundings of the fountain in the courtyard) they will notice a lot of natives collecting various tropical fruits as the area is safe and the fruit are nice and nutritious. Anyone eating a fruit will notice a boost in stamina, too.

All that's left now is to climb the stairs and enter the Temple of Life.

Part 2

Inside the Temple of Life is a "lobby". It's actually just an empty room made with the same stone as the temple, but it has four different doors, each with a different symbol: lightning strike, snowflake, fire and a hurricane of sand.

Characters inside will notice that the door they walked in from is now gone (of course) and they may feel different as the temple has stripped them off of all their powers, including Seasonal ones. Instead they may feel like they're lighter (their jumping ability has increased to triple their normal one) and that they have three holographic hearts on top of their heads.

There's a holographic display near the doors and a shelf for laser guns. The display says the following:

This is the Gigaman simulator. Welcome, players. Each of you have been given three extra lives. Once all of your total of four lives have been used inside the levels you will get a Game Over. For native participants this unfortunately means you Die.

However, otherworlders! You are in luck. If you die four times inside the simulator you will be thrown out of the simulator, into the courtyard of the temple and you can try again! Dying is painless. Getting hit, unfortunately, is not. You have ten regular hits before you lose a life. Your lives are indicated by the hearts on top of your heads.

Things that will instantly kill you include: lava, falling into an endless pit and spikes.

Please take a laser gun and enter the level. You may bring any other items as well, but your powers will be gone and so will the special effects of the items. Except for the legendary "Escape Rope". That is something that can bypass our system. Keep the rope at hand if you get scared. If you lose your other items inside the levels, do not worry, they will appear outside. However, if you lose your laser gun it will reappear next to you.

Oh and you may keep the laser gun afterwards.

The question is: cAN yOu deFEAt [redacted]?

Well, the choice is yours. Do you enter one of the doors or use the escape rope to get out of the temple?

Part 3

All of the levels start with a normal room of just the environment of the level. But there, in the starting point of the place, there are natives of Ellipsa sitting around with a look of defeat and desperation on their faces. They're physically fine as the simulator grants you the ability to just ignore hunger and other basic needs, but they're also stuck here. It seems the simulator is just too hard for them to get past. Most of them have no holographic hearts over their head or just one: they're close to dying and don't want to take the risk.

Escape ropes are their only hope of getting out of the place and they promise anything if you give them the item and help them escape.

If you give away your Escape Rope, the only way to leave is to either Game Over or Finish the Level. Good luck, players.

(There are also some natives in various other parts of the game, too scared to go further or go back. They can also be saved by taking them with you to the end and defeating the boss monster together but if they die, they die, so there is a risk in that method.)

The Levels [ Click to Expand ]

All basic monsters and boss monsters are weak to the laser gun. Some can even be jumped on to decrease their health.

Electricity
Design: A factory with plenty of platforms and conveyor belts over bottomless pits (or spikes) that change directions occasionally. The main hazard of the level is the beams of electricity that will damage players. They can be switched around with buttons, but deactivating one beam will activate another.
Instant Deaths: Bottomless Pits, Spikes

Basic Monsters: Ufo Catcher (a claw with googly eyes that will try to drop characters into a pit or spikes), Small Robot (small robots that throw wrenches at players), Slinky (slinkys with googly eyes that won't stop for anything)

Final Boss: Squirmle: A slinky minion mass-producing machine (looks like one of those Worms on String with googly eyes, but mechanical). Occasionally fires electric shocks that stun players for 5 seconds while the minions attack them. Weak to Smokescreen as the sand jams its machinery and makes it temporarily lose the ability to produce minions.
Boss Loot: Laser Gun Upgrade: Electric Shock (damages and has a chance to stun the opponent)

Snowflake
Design: A snowy mountain cave with active waterfalls. The ground is slippery (ice physics!) and some of the platforms have a limit as to how many times you can jump/walk on them (they reappear after a time). Occasionally, while on a normal platform, a strong stream of water will fall on it, intending to push players into a bottomless pit (it can be predicted by a few drops of water before it).
Instant Deaths: Bottomless pits

Basic Monsters: Snowmen (throw very sharp carrots at players), Skeletal Fish (fish that appear from the waterfalls and spit out lasers), Yeti (a monster that will try to stomp on players)

Final Boss: Frosty: A bipedal monster made of spiky ice (doesn't have a distinct form to refer to, just looks like a giant block of animated ice) that breathes a frosty breathe that both damages and makes players go slower. Tries to stomp players by jumping high in the air. Weak to Fire Bullets, as they will melt it little by little.
Boss Loot: Laser Gun Upgrade: Ice Beam (damages and has a chance to slow down an opponent)

Flame
Design: Inside of a volcano where all bottomless pits are lava pits. Platforms are mostly normal, until a notorious section where the only way to get over a lava pit is to jump on disappearing blocks. Learn the pattern and follow it. Occasionally lava rocks will fall from the ceiling (but luckily not during the disappearing block section).
Instant Deaths: Lava

Basic Monsters: Demonic Fireballs (fireballs that jump around from spot a to spot b and hurt a lot when they hit), Lava Bomb (occasional lava rock with googly eyes that can move towards players like a homing missile), Fireman robot (a robot that will try to douse fires with scorching hot water).

Final Boss: Lavadoom: A volcano headed monster (a volcano with eyes, mouth, arms and legs) that shoots fire bullets and lava rocks at players. Occasionally makes part of the floor be literal lava that burns players health little by little. Weak to Electric Shock as it will stun the monster for long enough to turn off the volcano on its head and then you can jump on it.
Boss Loot: Laser Gun Upgrade: Fire Bullets (damages and has a chance to cause burn damage over time)

Sandstorm
Design: A desert area full of bottomless pits and rocks with spikes. The floor is mostly quicksand that can only be crossed if you stay constantly in movement. Late in the level massive sandstorms will block players' view and push them towards the pits and spiked rocks, making movement during it very dangerous.
Instant Deaths: Bottomless Pits, Spikes

Basic Monsters: Walking Cacti (cactus that shoot spikes at players), Angry Missiles (ride the sandstorms and try to hit players), Sandworms (appear from the sand and try to bite the player)

Final Boss: Hurrisand: A bipedal sand monster (looks a bit like a it could be a human, but at the same time has animal features, not to be mixed with a certain Looney Tunes character) that will turn into a literal sandy hurricane that makes it hard to see anything and makes bullets miss. Weak to Ice Beam because it slows it down so that it can't turn into a hurricane.
Boss Loot: Laser Gun Upgrade: Smokescreen (enables easier escape from situations)

You're free to challenge all of the levels and gain all of the upgrades to the laser gun, which you can then use outside the temple as a weapon. Even after all of the natives are rescued or all of the levels have been beaten, you can re-enter the levels and do them again. You won't get the boss loot again, however.

When Your Heart's Not Open

Part 1

Back in the city, the weather is strangely cold in every district (except the central one that's safe due to the artificial weather there). Even the hottest of them, Solarpeak, is advising people to wear long-sleeved shirts, just in case, even if the temperature only drops to +10 Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit at worst.

The reason for the unexpectedly cold weather is simple: a cold breeze travels through the whole city. Sometimes the wind even appears white, as if it's laced with snow and ice. It's easy to tell that this is not a normal sort of wind, but a very magical one.

The wind indeed has a special effect: there's a chance of the wind freezing someone's heart. This doesn't instantly kill anyone, but instead it starts to freeze people from inside out. This effect especially targets people who either have secrets or have feelings that they hide. The freezing is a slow and painful process, taking two weeks to completely encase someone in ice. Once that happen they will end up breaking into pieces and die.

Somehow this wind doesn't affect the plant life or animals at all.

Part 2

Scientists are quick at work to work on a cure. They have found that there are certain ingredients in all four of the Segments that when mixed together into a potion will undo a frozen heart. So, to help those affected, there are some options that you can do.

Stay in the City to take care of the affected. The key to healing a frozen heart is not only the potion that they will make but also affection. So those brave enough to touch someone who feels cold as ice to touch are encouraged to hug and cuddle, tell them positive things about them and making sure they're comfortable. This will ease the pain and slow the spreading down.

Head to one of the Segments to find the ingredients. The guilds are helping with the preparations to go outside and providing anyone interested clear instructions and maps on where to find them:

• Winter Segment: Bottom of the Unfrozen Lake, a coral that can survive in cold temperatures
• Spring Segment: Breeze Hills, the eggs of a monstrous Firebird (a bird that has wings made of fire that spits out fireballs, not to be confused with a phoenix)
• Summer Segment: Deserter's Desert, a special cactus flower that only blooms during a sandstorm
• Autumn Segment: Mushroom Sanctuary, a special mushroom that only grows on top of the mushrooms that are a size of a house

Once all the necessary ingredients have been found and delivered, people can also participate in potion making. The more people helping with making potions, the quicker everyone affected can get their potions and be cured. The potion is successful if it smell like a warm fireplace during a winter night.

The Towering Jenga Heights

Part 1

The VR Arcade of the Underground is holding a special event: they have managed to come up with a technology where you can minimize yourself and enter board games! They're looking for volunteers to test this new way of gaming.

For example, there are games like Jenga, Monopoly, Chess, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Checkers, Scrabble and many, many more! The games are made to fit the tiny people, but are also very realistic. Oh and Monopoly has an actual jail, but the money is as fake as can be.

It seems Jenga in particular is at its regular size and people will have to climb to push pieces out. That definitely seems like a fun challenge? Everyone gets a safety rope that's attached to poles around the Jenga towers, that will act as sort of a safety bungee jump rope.

Usually the minimized effect wears off once you end the game and leave the game board, but occasionally the technology glitches and leaves players small. The unexpected side effect wears off between 2 to 12 hours.

Anyone who did participate in the experiment will either get a month of free VR gaming time or a handheld gaming console with classic 8-bit games like Tetris.

Part 2

Those stuck in a tiny form longer than expected may discover jumping platforms to the fairy mall. It's located in the ceiling of the Underground Mall and is fit for small people like fairies. Here the fairies are all visible as they go about shopping and relaxing. They're all friendly and will make sure you have a lovely time relaxing in this small fairy oasis. Be warned, however, that the food here is strictly for fairies so if you eat it, you might end up sprouting fairy wings for a week. And not necessarily on your back.

Don't worry, you can't turn back to your regular size in the middle of the fairy mall. The magic there prevents that for the duration. Once you return by jumping onto one of the cushions left below the mall, you will return to regular size.

For souvenirs, why not buy a little bit of fairy dust? It's useful for potions, as it gives them stronger magical capabilities but used as is will make anyone be able to fly for 24 hours. The problem is you cannot use it on yourself or else it will horribly backfire and turn you into a talking frog for 24 hours.

OOC TIPS

• Ask event related questions here.

• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a private entry of your own (your own entry or a new locked post on the comms).

• Remember to content and spoiler warn as necessary!

• All of the prompts happen around the same time but you can get affected by the frozen wind after visiting the Temple of Life or the other way around.

• All natives will be rescued by the end of the month, but the Temple can be accessed later just for fun.

• The frozen hearts potion will be done by the end of the month as well.

Temple of Life
• More Escape ropes can be picked up from the guilds to save more natives, but there's no way to tell there's someone trapped inside until someone goes in, so they'd have to get back after the first visit.
• Smartphones do not work inside the Temple of Life.
• You are very much allowed to work together inside the temple.
• The boss door will only open once the previous group of players has defeated it and have been transported out of the Temple. Then the boss will respawn.
• No one will have basic human needs inside the temple. It's basically a simulator so it doesn't matter how long you spend in there. Once you get out you might need to refuel on touch energy and food as soon as possible, but other than that all one needs to worry is surviving the temple.
• We admit the inspiration for this came from "I can't defeat Airman" without shame.

Frozen Hearts
• The event can affect anyone, not just those with secrets and hidden feelings.
• At the same time, the event can completely miss people as well.
• Samples of the wind can be collected and analyzed but it will turn out as a classic "it's magic" explanation.

• Reminder that this month is Activity Check-in month and check-in ends on July 31st, at 23:59 PST.

code bases by tricklet

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Much better? This is the best! Ayaka's so happy to have Cloud back to normal. So much so that she's forgotten they're in the tub, are supposed to be taking a bath, and are even naked. After giving her beau a tight squeeze, she pulls away slightly to give him a kiss on the cheek, a hand cupping it as she does so. And again. ]

Welcome back, my love.

[ And again. ]

You're not hurt anywhere, are you?

[ After Cloud takes one last deep breath, loosing away any tensions with a sigh, he feels his body relax in the tub as the water level rises around them. A kiss on the cheek. Meanwhile, his hands are busy, strumming along the small of her bare back beneath the water. ]

Happy to be home, Ayaka.

[ And right after she delivers to him another kiss on the cheek, Cloud doesn't let her escape that easily, following her to plant a kiss on her cheek right back. He's here, the door's shut, and he couldn't be happier to be back to normal and making up for lost time. ]

No. Never felt better. [ His hands stop caressing, settling just above her backside in the water as he comfortably holds her. Eventually they're going to have to get more comfortable, but right now, he's not prepared to let go quite yet. ] ...or cleaner. It paid to be little.

Ah, that's good to hear.

[ That he's not hurt! And he's rinsed himself well that there aren't any soap suds left, and his hair seems free from shampoo, as well. No need for her to fuss about those things now. ]

I should wash my hair now.

[ She lowers her hand, resting it on his shoulder to balance herself. He's holding her and keeping her steady, but this helps her, too. ]

Oh, would you like me to prepare you something to eat once we're done? Or were the sandwiches enough? Oh, and some tea— I'll make you some tea to drink. It would be best to put the clothes you were in the laundry now that you're back to normal, as well. I'll have those laundered, so you can wear a fresh set of clothes now.

[ Fuss, fuss. Cloud is always the priority!! ]

[ He's got no reason to get dunked in the water again! So she's right. If Cloud was going to wash her hair, he'll let go whenever she feels the need to slip away. ... It might be for the best, too. Because just kissing her earlier was threatening to stir his excitement. And if she found herself staying close enough in his lap, then...

/// ]

Funny you say that... I still feel full. Maybe what I ate grew with me? [ As for tea... ] Never gonna say no to your tea though.

[ She is comfortably sitting on his lap now :) Maybe she'll notice... maybe... she's just far to happy to have her beau back. ]

Perfect. I'll prepare matcha.

[ But she can do that later. She doesn't mind getting all wrinkly if she can keep holding Cloud like this. And yes, she does hug him again. Her heart is pounding, their chests pressed together no doubt letting him know and feel it, too. ]

It feels so long since I last held you like this.

[ SHUT UP AYAKA IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN FOUR HOURS ]

[ At least...give him a chance to...shuffle slightly? So that if it's gonna happen, she ain't sitting on it. ~~...yet.~~ ]

No one makes it like you...

[ Wrinkles can go away. And they'll know when it's time to get out when the water runs cold. Though given how hot his body feels when she hugs him tight again, her soft chest squishing up against him as their hearts take turns beating upon a hastening drum...

At this stage? To hell with it. If he gets excited, she can notice. He can't really bring it in him to care anymore. The way she's holding him means that her ear was well within shot of his lips for a soft, simple kiss. It may have only been less than four hours, but in a way? She also wasn't wrong either. ]

Definitely a first holding you in a tub like this.

[ But judging by the more intimate cadence of his voice so close to her ear, he doesn't mind. ]

Is this different from when we were in Nippon?

[ They took a bath together then, too! Though maybe to Ayaka, it's the same, but she was facing the other way and was resting her back on him then.

Her ears feel warm, and the spot that Cloud kissed tingles. He might have even felt her shiver despite the warm water. She lets out a more heated sigh and stays there in silence for a while, taking this all in. ]

I wish we could stay like this longer.

[ Doesn't even matter that they're naked. Ayaka's very comfy like this, just wanting to be held and to be cradled and to be loved. And if there's something that's poking her thigh, she at least asks about it so she doesn't make him too uncomfortable. ]

Cloud...? Are you... Should I move now?

A little...

[ But that doesn't mean that it made this feel any less special. Her back was to him, yes, but to have Ayaka embrace him so heartfelt... Cloud didn't want to let her go either. Despite the heated sigh that leaves Ayaka's lips, he wasn't trying to get her riled up either. ]

No, you're fine. Kinda hard to help it.

[ No pressure here! He even can't help but chime up some more, ]

You can hold me some more outta the tub too.

[ If sakura could start dancing around her right now, they would. They live together, do so many things together, and even just did a quest recently together! Ayaka could hold him as much as she likes, whenever she likes. Hearing Cloud say that, though, makes her very happy. It's not her asking! That just came from him. ]

Really? Hehe. I'd like that.

[ She lets go, though, her hand slipping back down into the water. ]

I'll wash my hair. You can go on ahead, if you like.

[ Just as Mako particles would hover and illuminate the bathroom with the depth of their bond. He doesn't let her get away without stealing away one last kiss in the tub, pecking her on the lips before nodding in agreeance with her when she lets go. ]

Right. I'll go get dried up and wait for you.

[ Once she's moved back enough, he pushes himself up and out of the tub, instinctively turning himself away from her as he does so. ~~So she doesn't get a faceful of half-erect dong FSLAKDJ~~ That didn't mean she wasn't about to get a lovely shot of ~~Weiss' favorite ass~~ his back as he stretches up. This feels so much better. But he doesn't waste much time in reaching over to grab one of the spare towels folded up on the shelf, taking the time to scrub his body down to dry off. ]

You got the tea, but... [ Yes he's asking this as he finishes drying off outside the tub. Almost one. jafdhsk ] Want me to get everything out for you?

[ Ayaka looks away and gets up herself, when Cloud does after removing the drain stopper so that the tub can empty. She'll just take a shower to clean up. It shouldn't take long!

So fortunately, she doesn't see anything of Cloud's! Until he asks if there's anything he can get for her. She looks over her shoulder, only to let out a little "eek" as she turns back around. ]

T- Thank you. There is no need, though. [ 😔 She can't be a good wife if he makes her lovely husband do work for her!! ] I'll prepare everything when I finish. I won't take long, I promise.

[ He hears that little "eek!" And he sighs before finally wrapping himself with a towel. He doesn't feel like going back into his old outfit again. He'd rather grab a yukata from his bedroom and begin settling for the night. Which is exactly what Ayaka will be greeted with once she does get out and get dressed! ]

Take your time. I'll be out in the kitchen. [ Waiting for her to collect and prepare everything. ] Love you.

[ And with that, she finally has full privacy as he slips out! The second he does, however, shutting the sliding door behind him... ]

Uh...?

[ Mochi's sitting just outside the door. Canting her head and looking...honestly? Really confused for a dog. FDALKSJ WEREN'T YOU JUST SNACK-SIZED A WHILE AGO?!? WELCOME BACK CLOUD BUT WHA-

Her tail wags as she waits for Cloud's cue to approach him for an ear rub. Which he gives with a cool 'hmph' as he turns to face her. Just one little rub before he goes and gets changed. Everything's starting to calm down again. Everything's...slowly but surely, returning to those halcyon days. ]

Edited 2023-08-25 06:17 (UTC)

[ Cloud might actually have some work to do in the kitchen. Fortunately, the condiment bottles they have are plastic, as are the salt and pepper shakers. The dining table is a mess though, because the Buster Sword is literally resting on top of it, taking up all the space. Now that it's full-sized again, it's essentially pushed away the other stuff on the table ajdjsjfk

When he's done with giving Mochi some attention, anyway.

As for Ayaka? She takes her shower in peace, and dries her hair before she leaves the bathroom. Even though she sleeps in Cloud's room most of the time, her clothes are still in her room, so that's where she gets changed. Contrary to Cloud's more relaxing yukata, she puts on a comfy dress to wear that's more for moving around in the house. She'll dress up in her nightwear much later. She doesn't put her hair back up though, now that they're home and comfy!

Now to just make the tea! And she'll finally have a snack herself, too. ]

[ Sure enough, Cloud doesn't take long to get changed into something more comfortable and familiar to him. If he wasn't out and about on errands or working, the country boy from a little mountain town had gotten rather cozy wearing Nipponese/Inazuman garb. Like it was second-nature to him. Even tying his sash was a fluid motion now, as was making sure the sleeves were fitted right and that the front of the yukata was as straight as possible. What came after that as he relaxed, sat down, sat up? That hardly mattered. He came to learn the importance of presentation in the Kamisato household. ... The reward is that the clothes were comfortable.

On his way to waiting in the kitchen? He sees it, clear as day. Having to do a double-take at the sight of the Buster Sword acting like an oversized coaster on the dining tabletop. His breath catches and part of him can't help fight the urge to panic. This is...very embarrassing. It doesn't look like anything got broken or spilt in the process...but that doesn't mean he wasn't going to scramble to get everything back in a neat and tidy order. After he's rearranged everything on the table and lifted the Buster Sword back up, he realizes that he doesn't have his magnetic backing on to secure the weapon like normal.

Which means he has to awkwardly hold it over his back manually like he was preparing to draw it.

Behold. The slowest Iaido draw incoming. FDSALKF

But enough about that. Cloud needs to get this sword secured back in his bedroom before Ayaka comes out so he can meet her in the— ]

Oh.

[ —hallway. At least the Buster Sword isn't in the way. Just. He's got his hand on it the handle. Holding it as flush to his back as possible. His cheeks redden a little as he tries to explain. ]

It uh...turned back to normal on the table, so uh. Just gotta...

[ Put it back... ]

I completely forgot about your sword!

[ Oh dear... But she's glad Cloud has it under control now— not that there would have been an issue in the first place. She doesn't know what's gotten him so embarrassed, though. It's not like he's doing anything bad! Or remotely embarrassing '-' ~~only Cloud would bring a sword to a game of jenga...~~ ]

I must have left it on the dining table... Was that where you found it?

Me too.

[ So she's not the only one. Cloud was only worried at first and scrambling because he didn't want anything broken because of him... But at least seeing her and talking to her was already helping. And in practically a breath's time, he's back to being calm again. ]

Yeah. Good thing it wasn't in your bag anymore.

[ Otherwise he'd be getting her a new one. ]

'Kay. Be right back. Gonna put this away.

[ Then he'll see her in the kitchen! ]

That's true. Hehe. I wouldn't have a bag anymore, if that were the case!

[ She laughs it off now, but she'll probably be sad about it if it did actually happen. Her bags are so cute, after all???

Cloud can go ahead and put his sword back to his room, then. Ayaka excuses herself so she can prepare the tea and snacks. Since putting his sword back wouldn't really take too long, Cloud would arrive to an empty dining room. Instead, Ayaka is in the living room because she wanted to relax on the floor, instead of on a chair.

She's mixing the matcha powder and the water to make it frothy but the time Cloud arrives, and there's a plate of onigiri already there on the table. It's for Ayaka, but she did put in an extra piece or two in case Cloud would like some. Four cups, as per usual, one for her parents (they can share at this point since they... don't actually drink any???), one for Claudia, and one for her and another for Cloud. Mochi is sprawled on her lap, and has basically covered up all of Ayaka's legs. She is just an upper body human now. ]

Tomorrow would hafta be a bag-shopping day.

[ Seeing her laugh off narrowly avoiding such an accident was enough put a more relaxed smile on Cloud's face. Watching her go off, he sighs with relief before he makes his way back to his room. Holding the Buster Sword up, he has a spot for it whenever it's not in use. In Midgar, it hardly mattered if he put the massive weapon down on the ground. Most floors weren't really needing to worry about being kept in pristine condition when it's roughly cracked concrete, dirt, wood, or Shinra property he couldn't give two shits about preserving. But here?

He wasn't about to go putting little holes in the nice Kamisato flooring. Once it's hung back up, he's quick to return to the dining room. Huh. She's not there... ]

Ayaka?

[ Oh! She's probably in the living room. Whether she calls to him or not, he makes his way there in record time just in time for her to be mixing the matcha and going through an abridged ceremony. ]

Heya. [ As per usual, Cloud acknowledges their parents before he settles down seiza style by Ayaka's side. He'll get back up to serve the cups after. For now, he patiently waits for her as he eyes up the extra onigiri on the table. ... onigiri that he may or may not take a bite of after she's had hers first. ] ... Think we should go back and pick that game up?

[ Just. You know. Normal-sized. ]

[ It's not like Ayaka was down to begin with, but she brightens up once Cloud is in the room and says hello. It's been over a year since the two of them became friends, but she never tires of seeing him, and is always looking forward to spending time with him. ]

I suppose we could... I am a little curious what other questions the blocks had.

[ There were still quite a lot that were left untouched, after all! '-' Once the matcha's frothy enough, she begins serving the tea, placing an ample amount in each cup. There's none left for a refill, but she can just mix another blend later on! ]

Still can't believe our luck. [ Once he's served his cup of matcha, he holds the cup in his hands for its warmth, taking a moment to close his eyes and breath in the soothing aroma. ] You got most of the clean questions.

[ But judging by the relaxed look on his face, he's hardly complaining. In hindsight, he can laugh now. ... Not that he was laughing this instant but the sentiment is there. ]

What if we put our own questions on blank blocks?

[ Make a blank version of the game their own! ]

[ The tea is very relaxing! And there's a smile on Ayaka's face once she's had a sip. ]

Our own questions? I suppose they would have to be general ones, won't they? Since the game is also meant to be played with others.

[ Hmm, she's having a difficult time thinking of an example. ]

Then... what would you ask?

[ After he's taken the time to enjoy breathing in the aroma of the tea, he follows suit with Ayaka and takes a sip. ]

Hmm...

[ At first, he wasn't sure. It's not that he minded the sensual topics he shared with Ayaka, he was thinking how it'd be harder to want to commit to this around other people. ~~May their double-dates with Yoimiya and Tartaglia stand the test of time. adsfjkl~~ Oh! He's got an idea! ]

Well? What about questions about other worlds? [ A beat. ] Not every day we get a chance to build something around coming from other places.

Maybe we can get two sets? One for us, and one for when we play with others.

[ She'd honestly want to hear about Cloud's world in a more natural conversation, instead of a game. If it were just the two of them, she thinks she would want to ask him questions about how she can improve and what else she can do for him. ]

Doubt they're expensive... What would you get for us?

[ And since it's just the two of them... He's not trying to poke back into explicit territory, but... ]

Something like what we were just playing?

[ AKA Shippy/Sexy Jenga. It can be fun when it's with her! If it were up to him, he'd share the world sharing questions for something outside of a game, too. ]

Yes. One for us to finish the questions, and another set that is. . . more, ah- [ How do you say safe for work ] general, I suppose?

Though, I realise that one we finish the questions, we would have no need for it anymore.

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