Chapter 1: Petals Born on Spring

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Jul 9, 2025 8:50 am
Not having any reason to dispute Homura's recommendation, and feeling fatigued after the battle on no sleep, the moment they return to base Abenanka hurries to her room. It wouldn't be the first time she'd been active in the night and had to sleep through the day so the sun doesn't bother her, but the heat does.

Her home was far, far cooler. She leaves the window open and curls up in her nest of blankets, willing herself to sleep.
Jul 9, 2025 9:24 pm
"Hmmm . . ."

Claude observes the change in the rhythm of flashes, and then suddenly pulls off the bedsheet-toga and throws it into the air, in the direction of these bursts of light.

The cloth falls to the ground, revealing that the swashbuckler vanished.
Now to get my bearings . . .

Claude makes a 180° turn, and tries to immediately figure out whether the Blink was sufficiently distant to flank the potential source of flashes, and whether they're still occurring as the decoy sheet falls to the ground.

If I plotted my course correctly, whoever's been the source should now be right in front of me, but not facing me.
OOC:
Using Blink 10, +5 Augmented with Swashbuckler ('flashy entrances and daring escapes'), to flank, locate, and maybe surprise whoever that might be (and then decide what to do next). If the flashing continues for a second or two after the Blink, all the better.

Rolls

Blink 10+5=15 - (1d20)

(11) = 11

Jul 9, 2025 9:30 pm
OOC:
Ok, that will be a challenging TN 15 resistance. Let me roll...

That's a tie! Neither you nor the other party get's the prize they're after.
After her fancy tricky, Claude turns swiftly as a cat, trying to catch a glance of her rearward to see... White! Her morning-twilight adjusted eyes are hit with a powerful flash, "Gah!! S-sorry for that! I didn't meant it... Oh, I'd better escape before you catch me, right?" She hears from the voice of a young man, the kind that's often higher-pitched when nervous.

Before waiting for any confirmation, Claude can hear the mysterious person running away for his life.

When she regains her sight, there's no trace of him but a camera laying on the ground, besides a bunch of photos: they portray many dramatical moments of the battle, with notes hastily written on their borders: 'Woa! That was so cool!' 'Wild stuff', etc.

There were also photos of Claude, an amount equal to the amount of flashes she noticed: 'That's a girl?!' 'I'm in love!' next to a silly heart-eyed face.
After loading the frames on the trucks, they all return to the theatre. After some hours of rest, they report to their commanders, who came meet them while they were having breakfast.

Shinzo Moriyama
"You all did a fine job... Specially Claude and..." He pauses, wary of causing an explosion, "Chimera~"

"By the way, after you finish your meal, Asakusa-san asked you to meet her at the rehearsing room, she wants to try her new actresses..."

Rolls

Resistance vs Claude - (d20)

(11) = 11

Jul 9, 2025 10:00 pm
"Actresses?" Hana protested, "We're warriors."

She crossed her arms in detestment of the idea of being 'tried out' as Moriyama put it.

"Shizuka, did you hear that?" she exclaimed then turned back to Moriyama, "What kind of performance are we even participating in."

Then the smell of food hit her and her stomach complained loudly, battling was a sure-fire way to work up a big appetite.. she calmed down a bit at the sight of the food.
Jul 9, 2025 10:11 pm
Back at the threatre, Claude hands off the camera and photographs to Dominique.

"Make sure to keep these safe. If someone tries to get these, alert the Revue immediately. I'll think how to handle this later."
aiurjordan says:
[Hana] turned back to Moriyama, "What kind of performance are we even participating in."
"Rumour has it that the Imperial Theatre will host a play imported from oversees, with some even saying it will be the Country Wife, a beyond-La-Manche adaptation loosely inspired by works of Molière. I think that would be a splendid material for tryouts," Claude grinned at Hana.
Jul 10, 2025 4:26 am
OOC:
What a fine choice of play, lol. Is it time to pull out that Youthful Ignorance flaw?
In a particularly good mood, Chimera can't help but throw her head back to chuckle, holding a hand over her eyepatch.

"Kukuku...so we are to peel back the veil of reality to weave an illusion so powerful, even those aware of its deception fall under its spell! Is there any other illusion, from the magic of grand sorcerers to the tricks of esoteric assassins, that can claim to do the same?"

Chimera turns her attention to scarfing down her eggs.

"That is to say, I will not only oblige, I will excel! Excelsior!"

After chewing for a bit, Chimera tilts her head in thought before turning to Claude.

"...But I admit that I'm not familiar with the story of 'The Country Wife'. If it earns the praises of someone of your class, then it must be a respectable work. Maybe I'll practice some scenes to show Mother when I see her next."
Jul 10, 2025 5:54 am
aiurjordan says:
"Eh!? Shizuka-san?" The petalframe looked surprised, as if it were communicating her body language. "I can't believe it, they let you pilot a petalframe?" she said in a joking tone of voice.

Audible laughter was clogging the comms from Hana for a moment when Chimera spoke.

She stopped abruptly, "Chi-mei-rah, she sounded out, like the mythical beast? Sugoi, such a cool name! It will be a pleasure to fight beside you Roosevelt-sama." She used the honorific, unsure of Chimera's social standing and she didnt want to offend.

Viperlily took a few strides through the square to come up closer to Shizuka to get a better look at her petalframe.
Shizuka laughed, which could be heard even outside of her petalframe. It was somewhat rough even before the damage, as it was built be to sturdy and reliable instead of fast or powerful. It's main feature was a shield that looked like it was used to bash as much as it could block.

"We should catch up later! We also gotta get you in a room and an undercover job at the theater! It's gonna be a blast!"
Once the mission was over and everyone was trucked back to the theater for breakfast, Shizuka loaded up her plate and had a huge cup of coffee. She ate as if her life depended on it, but still somehow managed to be clean an efficient. Perhaps due to her upbringing she learned to eat as fast as possible without wasting food. She stopped and took a drink once Moriyama implied they would be actresses.

"Hey, I thought I was an undercover barista, not an actress! If I have one more job I'm really not gonna have time to sleep."

Upon hearing Hana, Chimera, and Claude's reaction, she thought a bit more and spoke up again. But not before downing a small bowl of miso soup, as well as mixing an egg into her rice.

"Well, we ARE warriors, but the petalframes are supposed to be a secret so we have to go undercover... as long as it's a legit theater, and we're not showgirls or something. If I have to be the country wife, Claude-kun, then you shall be my husband!"
Last edited July 10, 2025 6:32 am
Jul 10, 2025 10:16 pm
Hana nodded at Shizuka and Claude explanation's, accepting it, "Fine, that makes sense as an excuse."

She reluctantly agreed to travel along with the group to find out more about the play.
Jul 10, 2025 10:36 pm
Claude seems to be momentarily put off-balance by Gozen's suggestion, but quickly recovers. "I did not expect someone to envision me in such a green-eyed role. That would . . . require some imagination in the approach to portrayal, and the result, if successful, would not at all be reminiscent of how I've seen such a dramatic persona portrayed when I first became an audience to this play."
Jul 11, 2025 12:54 am
Chimera tilts her head in confusion, before looking down and rubbing her chin in thought.

"Why wouldn't you be suited for the role? Aren't your eyes green?"

After giving it a moment of thought, Chimera reaches an epiphany, lightly smacking her fist into her palm.

"Ah, is it because you're not suited to be a 'Country Husband'? I agree, I couldn't see you doing something like getting all sweaty and dirty with a hoe or a rake."
Jul 11, 2025 2:47 am
Akira Hoshikawa
"Don't be fooled, Takizawa-chan! Cultivation in the arts is paramount for making a great warrior! Acting on the stage will elevate and strengthen your souls, put them in harmony! Besides, with it, you will also touch the souls of your audience, the people of Tokyo, purging their bad-feelings for good ones, and make them happy... In the war to defend the capital from the shamon, that is important too!"

After a good measure of scandalous innuendos, the girls finish their meal and leave for the practice room. There, in a wide room floored in polished wooden tiles that make an echo-y noise when stepped on, one of the walls completely covered by a mirror, they find Mrs. Rin Asakura:
Rin Asakura
"Oh, hey there! I was waiting for you~" The woman said, raising from the chair that stood next to the wall, along with many others; she drops the booklet she was reading over another seat.

Studying the girls with her gaze, she swings her finger, before pointing: "Hmm, you must be Chimera-san, Hana-san..." She goes on, with a warm voice, rightly naming everyone, "Oh, and Homura-san, of course! Heh, I was given good clay to work with! Let's see if it's malleable enough though... Dance!" She says, doing some steps and expecting everyone to follow.

Her dance was full of spinning and tapping with her high-heels, her dark hose-covered legs swinging with the flow, up and down, showing great flexibility; the rim of her robes being wider than normal, swing wildly like the petals of a flower.

Not decreasing her pace, she starts: "Our first play will be... 'The Love of Amadis', an adaptation (made by me~) of the great baroque opera 'Amadigi Di Gaula' and the chivalric romance that inspired it! It's about a heroic and noble prince going on a journey to save his beloved princess from the claws of an evil witch!" She continues, explaining and dancing.

"We need to cast roles... There's the role of Amadis, of course, his beloved Oriana, the evil witch Melissa, Dardano, Amadis companion and friend, Urganda, the good sorceress who protects Amadis... Think of a fairy godmother... And then there's a bunch of minor roles, which you will mostly have to fill in..." She says with full confidence, not even considering how bothersome that sounds.
Jul 11, 2025 8:00 am
saevikas says:
Chimera tilts her head in confusion, before looking down and rubbing her chin in thought.

"Why wouldn't you be suited for the role? Aren't your eyes green?"

After giving it a moment of thought, Chimera reaches an epiphany, lightly smacking her fist into her palm.

"Ah, is it because you're not suited to be a 'Country Husband'? I agree, I couldn't see you doing something like getting all sweaty and dirty with a hoe or a rake."
OOC:
With that wording, it's like Chimera knows the themes of the play very well and feigns ignorance.
Claude takes a step towards Chimera, and with a pretentious wave of an arm and a smug grin, begins to speak pompously in a lowered pitch, as if sharing some grand secret to a confidante.

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss,
Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger:
But O, what damnèd minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!"


The noble stands casually once more. "That kind of green-eyed. Sir Pinch is a very jealous, insecure character, who wants to keep his spouse - deliberately selected to be from outside the city - all to himself, disapproving of the prospect of her gaining the affectations of other Londoners. He is also middle-aged, and quick to anger.

This combination of traits combines into a demeanour that I am not used to putting on, and that I am not used to wearing, and one that I would find a challenge to make likeable on stage. But it is an interesting challenge, and I think I have an idea how I would approach if were it to become a role for me to play."

Claude shrugs and heeds to Rin's suggestion, trying to follow suit with movements that might not be identical, but overall in the same vein. Some might notice that there's an expression of resignation once Rin dissolves the 'rumours' regarding what the first play might be.

"From the little I can surmise based on the description and the familiar names, I find Melissa and Dardano the most enticing role choices, while Urganda and Oriana the least. I am unsure what the final role of various extras entails, and so am unsure whether it would be passive filler, or something that offers a chance to shine for one scene."
Jul 11, 2025 9:36 am
Homura seemed ambivalent about the idea of acting in a play. She wasn't against it, per se, but the world of theater was one she knew little about. Regardless, she decided to dance when prompted, following Asakura's movements in a passable manner, though she noticeably struggled to reach the same heights of flexibility when it was necessary.

I can't believe this old lady's doing this in high heels...!!

Her brows knitted as she focused on replicating the dance moves. "Nh... That sounds quite boring, but if it'll lift people's spirits, I'm in! Just give me the most exciting role. You said Amadis wanted to save his girlfriend or something? Give me Amadis, then!" Homura demanded. She made a misstep and fought to keep her balance for a moment, but gravity soon won out, sending her tumbling to the floor. "Agh!"
Jul 11, 2025 1:22 pm
vicky_molokh says:
Claude seems to be momentarily put off-balance by Gozen's suggestion, but quickly recovers. "I did not expect someone to envision me in such a green-eyed role. That would . . . require some imagination in the approach to portrayal, and the result, if successful, would not at all be reminiscent of how I've seen such a dramatic persona portrayed when I first became an audience to this play."
Shizuka didn't know anything about the play, but based on Calude's reaction it seemed it was some sort of dirty play. Her reaction made Sizuka giggle as she finished her breakfast, saving the fish for last.

"Ehhh, it's one of THOSE plays? I patrol the city at night you know, there are plenty of fake-geisha girls out there putting on performances. Sometimes they do illegal popup plays in the street, and we have to break up them up. Their patrons seem to think the police are part of the show, though, so I've had a few people lunge at me, nothing a kick to the face can't solve!"

After breakfast, the group was basically forced to meet with Mrs. Rin Asakura to figure out what the cafe-theater's first play would be. Shizuka was just hoping that it wouldn't take up too much of her free time, but Rin's enthusiasm was making the play seem like, at the very least, something fun to do in-between training and defeating shamon.

"So there's the hero-guy, his lover, his friend, a bad witch, and a good witch? Can I be the good witch? If I can't do magic in the real world, then at least I can be ~magical~ in the play!"
Jul 11, 2025 10:45 pm
Hana stood awkwardly and attempted to do as she was told, but she was not very good at it.

She followed directions as prompted, and tried to mimick the graceful steps of Asakura, she tripped and fell over more than once.

"Perhaps it's best if I take on a minor role.. theatre was never really my.. forte." she suggested.
Last edited July 11, 2025 10:46 pm
Jul 12, 2025 2:35 am
Chimera's takeaway from Claude's response is that she doesn't want to play a jealous old man and nothing more than that. Any implications of mature subject matter flies over her head.

As far as the dancing goes, Chimera struggles, but not for a lack of will. She's plenty energetic. Rather, her body is not physically capable. For one, her leg definitely does not lift as high as Asakura's, and Chimera almost ends up kicking the other girls.

"I want to be one...hah...of the witches! Yes, I'm sure we will have superb compatibility!"
Jul 12, 2025 7:36 am
handle says:
Shizuka didn't know anything about the play, but based on Calude's reaction it seemed it was some sort of dirty play. Her reaction made Sizuka giggle as she finished her breakfast, saving the fish for last.

"Ehhh, it's one of THOSE plays? I patrol the city at night you know, there are plenty of fake-geisha girls out there putting on performances. Sometimes they do illegal popup plays in the street, and we have to break up them up. Their patrons seem to think the police are part of the show, though, so I've had a few people lunge at me, nothing a kick to the face can't solve!"
Claude blinked. Huh, where did that come from, and where is this headed? The puritans certainly would have called their successors' masterpiece one of 'THOSE' plays, but how did Gozen conclude that?
aiurjordan says:
"Perhaps it's best if I take on a minor role.. theatre was never really my.. forte." she suggested.
"I wonder if perhaps Oriana would end up being a major yet simple role, being present in many scenes but being not as demanding of active playing compared to Amadis and the two witches. What do you think, Asakura-san?"
saevikas says:
As far as the dancing goes, Chimera struggles, but not for a lack of will. She's plenty energetic. Rather, her body is not physically capable. For one, her leg definitely does not lift as high as Asakura's, and Chimera almost ends up kicking the other girls.

"I want to be one...hah...of the witches! Yes, I'm sure we will have superb compatibility!"
"Seems like the two of us are on the villainous team then, unless there is someone else eager to take Dardano's role. And I do think we'd be compatible too. If we end up locked in to these choices, come find me later to discuss our approach to synergy and to how to make the most out of our villainous demanours."
Last edited July 15, 2025 12:15 pm
Jul 12, 2025 9:22 pm
Rin Asakura
Not slowing her pace, Rin continues: "I see... Homura-san as the hero Amadis, Shizuka as the good sorceress Urganda, Claude as Dardano and Chimera as Melissa! This casting is going well so far..."

She fixates her eyes on Hana, without stopping her dance, "A bit nervous, eh? Heh, I think you would make a great Oriana, as Claude-san suggested! Just pour all of your emotion into it!"

She chuckles as Homura trips, stopping the dance at that exact moment, Homura takes everyone's attention. "Good... We will do rehearsals from now on... If you feel worry, don't mind reaching out to me for some acting classes, heh~ Don't worry, with my precious experience and your great talent, it will take no time at all to turn you into stars!!"
With that over, the girls have the rest of the day with no assignments, and are finally free to do their bidding.
OOC:
Now you can all describe what you do in your free time.
Jul 13, 2025 6:09 am
Homura uses her free time to approach Rin for some lessons. Now that she was going to be the hero of the play, she couldn't half-ass it. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she did! Once she decided to do something, she didn't like to give up or give anything less than her best.

"Asakura-san... I need you to teach me. Teach me to dance and act and whatever else I need to know to give people hope on the stage!" She'd practically shown up out of nowhere to urge the woman to teach her.
OOC:
I'm thinking Homura's 'Hero Complex' flaw drives her to take the role of Amadis very seriously. It also helped push her toward the role in the first place
Jul 13, 2025 7:52 am
Once dismissed, Claude charged Dominique with preparing a quick bath, and spent the waiting time browsing more thoroughly through the items left by the lone wolf cameraman. After the bath, Claude returned to the bedroom to catch up on the lost sleep, and only after that finally went on to wander through the non-restricted areas of the theatre, exploring and perhaps even hoping to see who else might be there.
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