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Nov. 9th, 2022 12:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sleepingthornyWeek 1
In the story edit, Kizuna's first meeting is with Ferdinand as she introduces this misplaced noble to the contemporary elevator. She then runs into Ryuki, a startling figure from her past, before claiming a bed overseen by Wayne. Settling into the vast space, she checks out the profiles and immerses herself in the conversation pit; Hajime Saito (the historical figure) and Dominique are complimentary of her poised appearance and endeavor to make her comfortable, especially the latter fetching Kizuna a stuffed swan that she names Jeanne. Roka is more passive and less ingratiating, though he doesn't mean to be insulting. Roland gets very into the game of twenty questions. Kizuna gets some air with the cool, aloof Aki and encounters Ermes as she brings more of her baggage inside.
The first major event of the game is an invitation to eat a cookie that will cause you to have a pleasant dream about someone you want to know better. Although Gawain declares someone himself and Eula calls the entire show a farce, Kizuna eats hers eagerly - she tries to soften the blow when Dominique is skeptical and outright teases Ryuki.
In her discussion afterwards with Ryuki, she is much less excited - she is hesitant to explain everything about Ryuki to Hayasaka or to admit to Dominique who she dreamed about. Dominique also reveals that she is a vampire, an oppressed minority. Kizuna suggests that they nominate for the naughty-and-nice booth Roland and Rutile, lovely people who dreamed of each other, though they do not match.
On match day, Kizuna suggests to Dominique that the dream showed one out of a few good candidates; Roland approaches her, but she admits that she has someone in mind. After Zapper marvels at her work and Sena contributes a candy-onigiri, Kizuna shows Ferdinand her dream house.
At the ceremony (arrival outfit), as they lock-in, Ferdinand admits to Kizuna that she was his first choice, flattering her deeply. Meanwhile, Nagiko randomly points at Vera, while Rutile twinks for Zapper. After three stars are revealed, the discussion spirals out of control with some calling Ferdinand and Kizuna an obvious couple and others speculating that she has a shallow or even selfish desire for a prince. Kizuna explains that she is no princess, which causes Hayasaka to back down a bit, while Barok insists that she is one. She murmurs that there is a witch inside her. She did not congratulate Barok and Dominique for matching earlier.
Week 2
The next morning she gives confession that she is hiding her feelings for someone who could cost her everything. This risk-averse mindset continues when she suggests they abstain in the Advent event. Outside, Tatsuma exercises in the snow while Rutile rides a broomstick and helps Kizuna cast the spell ZEBLATOH TOH (help). Roka asks her what her favorite color is. She asks Dominique several things about the game. She manages several daily affairs - as Zapper points out, most of all lurking coyly underneath the mistletoe.
She pairs with Ferdinand for the challenge, a maze where she operates the walkie-talkie and he is blindfolded. Though she approaches the situation with a bit of bravado and control, they. This leads to kissgate, where Zapper encourages them to kiss on the date, and Barok speaks on behalf of Ferdinand, Kizuna, and Dominique in declaring that this dating show is not the "proper channel" for courting. Kizuna objects but does not press the issue. On the date, Kizuna loses herself in friendly competition with Ferdinand, for once feeling that she can participate freely.
However, when the truth booth ceremony is about to begin, Kizuna cannot contain her feelings - she declares to Dominique, "I dreamt of you!" She had not been ready to share after she ate the cookie. This is the first selfish decision that Kizuna has made since she was nine years old. She then reapplies her makeup in the bathroom and encounters Gawain under the mistletoe on her way back. She gives Barok her congratulations - unaware of the event, he encourages her to pursue Ferdinand.
Ferdinand does not completely ignore what happened and is understandably concerned about Kizuna's motives for pursuing him. Kizuna had previously perceived herself as taking advantage of the kindness of others, but now she finally acknowledges that she always hated being pitied by a man who claimed to love her, and that she would like to "build her new dream house". She also runs into Zapper and deprecates herself as well as the possibility of intimacy in the house, wraps gifts with Roland and unpacks her new plan for the future, gifts with Jolyne as well, and talks strategy with Hayasaka.
Ferdinand is surprised that she chose to match him a second time. Hajime and Zapper? She talks strategy
Week 3
She admits to the overseer that she feels forced to catch the culprit just so that no one will consider her traumatized by the accident anymore. ROKA WHERE DID YOU COME FROM - she confides in him for the first time about "Big Sis" abandoning her suddenly upon being adopted for real. Drifting through the days includes the hot or not board. Branching out, she picks Sena for the ideal future game. As for camping (Roka unintentionally teases her about Ferdinand again) and voting, she ends up buddying for the actual camping with Zapper. The booth result is positive.
At the match party, Kizuna is animated enough to create a set of calendar prompts and dress up in an angel costume: she heads down for a gender-swap with Tatsuma, creates a tree-topper angel for Hajime, shows off her dolls to Zapper, sits in Wayne's lap, and talks things out with Ferdinand. They're still exploring other options but are no longer avoiding each other. At the match ceremony, she wears white, is picked by Aki, and dollposts.
CAMP CHEER
Here, she visits the confessional to say goodbye to her old life - as she puts it with Aki, she "broke off a six-year engagement" by coming here. Roland gets to see this person stalk her, and she admits her bizarre experiences with the departure of "Big Sis". Nagiko shares her emotions, and with Roka she admits that Ferdinand helped her realize that the man (in her bizarre fountain memory) was not making her happy. Bunking with Zapper leads them to experienec a dream where they are both in high school.
Planning a picnic together on the beach with Ferdinand suddenly goes awry as a vivid memory occurs of him at war. Kizuna's trauma around violence is set off and she initially describes what she sees as quite barbaric, which concerns Ferdinand and makes him want to be sure that he is sincerely accepted. They share their emotions first magically then verbally. Due to past experiences involving "genetics" Kizuna comes to agree that rather than absolute pacifism, it was the correct choice to attack the church and ensure that the Crest system would be abolished. She shares her idea of seeing Fódlan for herself during a medium-term period of "service"; Ferdinand is eager, though it's fresh and new enough that they continue to explore other options romantically for now. All this commotion helps her barely raise an eyebrow when her memory of being kidnapped is observed by Rutile.
Blue Christmas
Roland starts a first round of King's Game, including Kizuna; with Roka the king, she gives her first impression of Roland and lends Rutile something shiny.
In the second round Kizuna discreetly instates Good King Zapper. Her orders, originally given as numbers she didn't know, include "[Kizuna], someone's gotta take a body shot from you" (it's Roland! Zapper is so thoughtful, she set the table) and "[Wayne], I want you to sit with [Kizuna] on your lap, face to face, for five whole minutes".
The participants for the third round are Kizuna, Ermes, Rutile, Jolyne, "Nirvana" (Roka???), Roland, Wayne, Hayasaka, Zapper, Ferdinand, and Aki. Caren's orders include Jolyne and Hayasaka, who offers her arm wrap to use as a blindfold. As important context for the following prompts, Ferdinand asks Zapper to sit on him. Zapper attempts to seduce Aki. Ordered to demonstrate who is her second choice as a match, Kizuna shows her affection to Zapper, brushing off Caren and Roka's attempts to help (which she feels bad about because he was going to kiss her hand). Aki gives out the kisses including to Kizuna, as assigned. Roland returns; Kizuna and Roka write ("write") compliments on him.
WEEK 5
Kizuna faces the challenge with Hajime, growing closer to him. In the wake of White Elephant, Gawain helps Kizuna pick out a white bear to represent Caren if she is matched to Eula, while she finds herself asking to officially date Ferdinand; elsewhere, she addresses her concern that the revised matches caused a domino effect rather than being revised minimally. Kizuna leads a discussion where Tatsuma and Sena are chosen to go to the Naughty or Nice booth. She gives a long theory when the result is confirmed.
The party is ugly sweater, dashing Ferdinand and Kizuna's style swap plans. She still enjoys seeing the horseys with Zapper, Ferdinand, and Roland - she is cautiously confident in discussion about "romance sweep". The ceremony's count of eleven stars, to Ryuki and Kizuna's delight (later shock when this takes the intermediate form of Caren choosing Ryuki). Hajime chooses Kizuna. The star tally has Ferdinand and Kizuna convinced that Roland and Ferdinand were matched pre-reshuffle, and themselves together now, with a path towards victory that Zapper and Hayasaka watch her verify with her dolls.
WEEK 6
Kizuna happy zone with Roland and Hayasaca-kun
boxing with Jolyne
cooking challenge tunnel of love date
shows Roka that his path to victory is with Gawain, asks Caren if she reads their hearts
Jolyne/Zapper, Eula/Caren, Ferdinand's speech on live television, Ryuki and Wayne, Rutile and Roland, Santa is real and match wins real.
musical number
[BEGIN AU DAY] Kizuna steps on Hajime [END AU DAY]
epilogue
Blue Christmas Dance
Date: 2022-12-16 08:34 am (UTC)Nagiko hosts a game of King's Cup; the participants are herself, Ryuki, Roland, Roka, Hayasaka, Rutile, Tatsuma, and Zapper.
Roland starts a first round of King's Game, including Ryuki, Hayasaka, Kizuna, Zapper, Tatsuma, and Roka, the king.
In the second round Kizuna discreetly instates Good King Zapper. Her orders, originally given as numbers she didn't know, are as follows:
The participants for the third round are Kizuna, Ermes, Rutile, Jolyne, "Nirvana" (Roka???), Roland, Wayne, Hayasaka, Zapper, Ferdinand, and Aki. Caren's orders are as follows:
Ermes exchanges with Rutile, who iconically says "Please bring back King Zapper". Former king Zapper and current king Caren are unsure how to feel, while Roka showers him with kisses before Roland leaves with him. Jolyne and Hayasaka, after consulting with Kizuna and Caren, carry out the makeup dare and the reenactment dare as well. As important context for the following prompts, Ferdinand asks Zapper to sit on him. Zapper attempts to seduce Aki. Kizuna shows her affection to Zapper, brushing off Caren and Roka's attempts to help (which she feels bad about because he was going to kiss her hand). It also turns out that Caren miscounted Roka's kisses. Aki gives out the kisses to Kizuna, Wayne, and Ermes, as assigned. Roland returns; Kizuna and Roka write ("write") compliments on him.
WHITE ELEPHANT
Date: 2022-12-16 09:23 am (UTC)Barok leads the discussion saying they should test whether they can assume the matches are modified as little as possible. Kizuna disagrees, considering a cascading reshuffle much more likely in light of the possibility that Rutile and Roland have been given a second chance at happiness. Roka has reacted to the situation extremely poorly, leading Kizuna, Gawain, Nagiko (as he begins to leave), Rutile (as soon as possible after he has left), and finally Wayne to offer him support. Kizuna and Barok continue questioning the logic, with Rutile approaching Barok alone to make his case for his love with Roland. Ferdinand and Barok discuss the importance of winning and wishes as well.
Zapper urges the players to go for broke and accept that not even Caren knows what's going on. Roland supports Zapper, while Rutile and Gawain end up admitting to getting kicked out of the Reindeer Games Room (Nagiko: OOH!). Zapper and Gawain make an agreement to go there themselves.
ULTIMATE FINAL DOLLPOST
Date: 2022-12-16 09:00 pm (UTC)AI and NAGIKO: These are plushies - on the one side Ai has a conical body defined by her black dress, while big chunks of fabric are the perfect way to recreate Nagiko's hair. They were then later "frankendolled" so their two hands were connected and formed a pair of peace signs.
TATSUMA and SENA: Tatsuma is built up like a mummy in blues, whites, and blacks wrapped around metal rods, including the glove effect. Sena's muscles are defined in styrofoam that is firmly covered in marker for clothes. Something blue and fluffy was made into her hair, then colored black, so there's bizarre blue wisps at the tips.
AKI and ERMES: Aki is a change of pace in blacks and whites on pale cardboard. She also cut up a lollipop stick to serve as a very tiny pack of cigarettes in his breast pocket. Ermes is made out of popsicle sticks, with black shoelaces for her dreads and a fluffy green fabric vest.
ZAPPER and JOLYNE: Zapper is a plushie with short blue legs to stand on. There is a single oval shaped orange LED to represent the sunset logo on the red shirt, and some angular chunks of plastic for lightguns. The braids go swingy. Jolyne is made of popsicle sticks with brightly colored origami paper clothing and is standing on a surfboard.
RYUKI and WAYNE: Ryuki is a chibi plushie with meticulously recreated orange sweater fabric and one bright red eye and one dark black eye. Wayne is designed with his longcoat disguising a rigid base and black leather arms also a convenient method.
ROKA and GAWAIN: Roka is made of pure white styrofoam, with rhinestones all over but especially the eyes. He has been given a kimono (almost all one piece if you look closely) that has thin green leaves on off-white. Gawain has a hard masculine body carved out of rigid light-hued foam underneath flaxen thread hair and gold foil armor. Green thumbtack eyes.
HAJIME and ZELOS: Hajime is a wara ningyo with button eyes in a hakama. Zelos is red paper on pale cardboard, with brilliant blue rhinestone eyes.
EULA and CAREN: Eula has tinfoil armor and paperclip high heels, while Caren's bear has since been given a simple dark red dress in compliance with Caren not going full santa the way Fujiko does.
KIZUNA and FERDINAND: Kizuna very obviously made herself first as practice for the other plushies. Her braid doesn't go swingy correctly. The eyes and mouth are super off. She has a black body with a pink blanket and green skirt. The white plastic panels of the wheelchair did... their best. Ferdinand is made of wood with the details painted on, like a nutcracker but without the insane jaw.
ROLAND and RUTILE: Roland is also nutcracker style. You can see the wisdom in his eyes. Rutile is a hybrid plushie like Wayne with colorful fabric clothes and a really twisted attempt at broomstick-over-platform.
GOLD and SILVER: There are simple ribbons, like balloon string, tied around the wrist of each doll to indicate the team alignment.