A Night of One-Hundred Tales!

[faithfulflame]

Who: Rei Hino, Tsuzuki Asato, and ANYONE who wants to join in!
What: A Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, or telling ghost stories!
When: October 29th in the evening
Where: Tsukino Shrine
Summary: Rei and Tsuzuki decide to invite people to share ghost stories to celebrate Halloween. There will be food and drinks, and the ghostly interlopers are kept at bay by the shrine's wards to give people a break from hauntings. Turn up and share stories, or listen to them.
Rating: PG-13 at the worst, depending on the story!

It had taken quite a bit of work, but as night fell everything seemed as perfect as they could manage it. The andon were lit, the chairs were arranged in the courtyard, and the wind-screens were in place to keep everyone warm. Rei had thrown open the shrine doors and set out braziers to warm participants, stoking them with embers from the temple's main flames. Food had been laid out, snacks, coolers of cold drinks, and even thermoses of hot water for warm ones. They even had a mirror sitting on the steps of the shrine, reflecting light into the courtyard. Not the most traditional way of doing things, but it's what they had to work with.

The shrine wasn't large enough to house a crowd of more than ten or twelve people inside, but if the crowd was small enough they could move indoors. Everything was set up for a night of storytelling, casual fun, and a little bit of relief from the ghostly visitors that were assailing the villagers.

Guests start arriving around twilight, and Rei can't help but smile as they get underway. This was hopefully going to be a good time for everyone involved.

(OOC: Feel free to assume Tsuzuki or Rei made an announcement about the party. For those not familiar, the goal of a Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai is to share stories with other people. Each time a story is finished, one andon (small lantern) is extinguished and the room steadily gets darker. Feel free to have your character post a story of their own in a comment, and discuss to discuss what's been narrated. Linn and I would love to have characters share ghost stories from all sorts of worlds, scary or silly. I hope you guys enjoy this!)

Comments

yaaaaaaaaay Zevran!

[idealism]

Antiva?

[It's then he notices Zevran's ears. He should have realized that he couldn't be from earth.]

You know, you might have a point about the cider.

^_^

[antivanleather]

My native country, a great deal warmer and with far less ghosts. Though I think that might be said of most places at this point.

[He offers the man a light smile.]

Almost everything might be improved by a good barrel of cider, my friend.

[idealism]

Is it the kind of country with beaches and sun?

[Because to be honest, after months of cold weather that sounds really tempting.]

I haven't had cider in years. Do you know if 7th Heaven serves it?

[antivanleather]

My Antiva has a little of everything, but the beaches? Oh the coast is wonderful at any time of the year.

[He shuffles a bit, tugging his coat tighter around his shoulders.]

Mmm....I think they do, actually, though I have not tried it just yet.

[idealism]

Me neither. I usually have other drinks.

[Tsuzuki tilts his head, his smile growing a bit more understanding.]

It's much warmer inside. And we have food for the guests.

[antivanleather]

Coffee- though they've the most ingenious ways of making it here. I've become quite fond of cappaccinos. It almost makes up for the lack of proper drinking chocolate.

[He shook his head with a sad sigh, and at the invitation to enter, well, who is he to ignore it?]

Good company, fine tales and good food? What better way to spend a chilly evening. Thank you, my friend.

[idealism]

At least hot chocolate isn't hard to make at home.

[That's the spirit. Tsuzuki visibly perks up when it becomes apparent that Zevran will join them for the story telling. The more, the better. He pats his shoulder.]

Come inside. We have mochi and tales, at least. Perhaps next year we can sneak some cider in, but don't tell Rei I said that.

[antivanleather]

Hot chocolate is not the same as drinking chocolate, my friend. I have been fooled by this before in the restaurant. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, etc.

[He grins at the shoulder pat and starts on in.]

I have never heard of mochi, though it sounds fascinating. And I would be the last to give you up to Rei. That sister has a stern face when she wishes it, and I'd not have that turned on any man I might find a friend!

[idealism]

What's the difference between hot chocolate and drinking chocolate?

[It sounds good! So clearly he needs to learn more about this. Tsuzuki ducks his head, looking like he might chuckle. He has been lucky and only seen the nice side of Rei until now, but the gleam in her eye has betrayed that she has more backbone than most.]

I appreciate it. --I'm Tsuzuki, by the way.

[antivanleather]

Hot chocolate is much like a timid lover- light, gentle, full of flavor but the true joy is hidden behind a veil of disappointing milk and consistency. Drinking chocolate is more like a worldly lover, rich with spices and experience, thick with the full brunt of flavor right upon your tongue. It is something quite unique and so very enjoyable.

[He cracks a soft laugh, almost purring out the explanation as given.]

Zevran Arainai, Zev to my friends. A pleasure to meet you Tsuzuki.

[idealism]

[Tsuzuki swallows thickly. He doesn't even know if it's chocolate or something else he wants, but the craving is surprisingly persistent.]

If... if you ever find a place that serves drinking chocolate, I hope you will take me with you, Zev.

[antivanleather]

It would be my pleasure to do so.

[He did not lay it on as thick as he might normally, the past few days and the strangeness of ghosts has him off his game. But Tsuzuki was tall, lean, and lovely enough to warrant a token attempt.]