Cherry Blossom Viewing Party

[flamescout]

WHO: Raye Hino, OPEN
WHAT: The cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, so this calls for a weeaboo picnic party traditional social gathering to relax, eat food, and admire the view. And maybe shenanigans.
WHEN: April 27, 2014 - All Day
WHERE: Genessia City - Shrine
NOTES: Feel free to make your own threads! Just indicate if the thread is open, or locked to just a few. HAVE FUN OR ELSE!


Raye had indicated that the weather would be favorable on Sunday, so when the rain started coming down over the weekend, she got angry. And she ranted at the spirits, who didn't bother responding to her demands for pleasant weather to encourage attendance at the shrine. But to her relief, Sunday morning brought blue skies after all. Whether that was the spirit's doing, or if the skies were going to clear up on their own, who could say? Raye didn't care so long as she got results.

She rushed to the temple as soon as she was dressed in order to put up the paper lanterns once more...and to throw out her blanket on the spot she thought was the best for watching cherry blossoms. If no one else had claimed it first, then she was within her rights to aggressively stake her territory, especially if she was going to spend the day with Jaune and Minako, possibly some of her other friends as well. She hoped Harry would show up, but Everglade had a lot going on, so it wouldn't surprise her if he couldn't. She'd lecture him about it later.

Hastily she swept up the courtyard and tossed feed at the chickens, trying to take care of her daily chores before the first of the party-goers arrived. She'd worked hard to make this tradition a success, and no one...no one...was going to ruin it. Or they would face her wrath.

Comments

[explodewiththerage]

Aww but he liked that hand on his own. Still he doesn't comment on that and instead enjoys the peaceful moment until Lucy starts talking again. Only this time it's quite the odd topic.

"Given how we do things, I'd be more surprised if we didn't." After all Fairy Tail had this unspoken pull on those without a home to call their own anymore.

[celestial_wizard]

She had to say something. She didn't want it to get too quiet, after that conversation she had with Rei. She watched him out of the corner of her eye for a second, grinning. "Yeah, you're right. Especially if things get as chaotic as they usually do -" She giggled. "Kind of like what was in the magazines back home." Heck, probably half of the people in Fairy Tail joined up because of their shenanigans, and how strong they were.

Also just how comfortable did she plan on getting here? She kept shifting, slightly, until her arm moved behind him, mirroring the way his arm was almost around her.

[explodewiththerage]

He knew she was watching him. Of course he knew. But he let her think that he didn't notice. Even so he was thankful for the various topics. Things always happened when they went quiet.

"You're right. Everyone's got their own unusual story. It's kinda funny that way but they are all family now and it doesn't matter where they came from." Natsu said with a nod before he felt her arm reaching around him like he had done. Wait she was actually mirroring his move! Then that meant...

[celestial_wizard]

And while he was letting her think he didn't notice her watching him, she ... kept watching him, a faint smile on her face. In truth, the quiet is their enemy. And their ally. With her arm settled in place half around him, she glanced away after a moment, uttering a soft hmm, adding a little teasingly, "Maybe we should start having a betting contest on who we'll see next?" She's sure the guild back home had one on when Al and Bisca would have a kid.

Or when she and Natsu -- uh... moving on.

[explodewiththerage]

That smile was still cheating and it made his ticker tick quicker even more. Even so he had the distraction required to focus on other things. Too bad that didn't seem to be exactly enough. Natsu gave a small chuckle that shook up both of them when he heard her suggestion.

"Sounds like a plan to me. You wanna make the first bet?"

[celestial_wizard]

Not cheating! It was just natural. There was a lot Natsu did that she could claim was cheating just as easily. But she grinned at the sound and feel of the chuckle, warmed by the sound. "Okay. Theeen, I bet the next person to arrive will be... hrm... Levy-chan!" ... or maybe she just wanted her best friend to show up again. "What about you?"

[explodewiththerage]

Well then she should have spoken up about that. He wasn't a mind-reader. Then again that was likely for the best. Things were already baffling as it stands.

"Levy huh? Could happen. My money's on Laxus!" Gotta get all the strong people he competed with.

[celestial_wizard]

Nope never. Well...maybe not never. But still, if she said anything to that effect then he'd get an ego boost and they can't have that. She giggled at the suggestion of Laxus though. "Not Gildarts?" The strongest of them all? Or ..was that his second guess. "So... what do we win if Levy or Laxus show up then?" Lucy..may or may not be grinning a liiiiittle bit more than necessary. She has a terrible poker face.

Also her hand is definitely resting against his again. Must be a magnet.

[explodewiththerage]

"Nah. Gildarts spends so much time away from the guild I bet he'd be able to avoid whatever force that grabs us and brings us to other worlds." His tone was so certain it was likely a hilarious impression he was making.

As for her hand well then it's understandable why his own lightly presses up against hers.

[celestial_wizard]

It -was- a hilarious impression, which was why Lucy, about to counter that statement, suddenly bursts into giggles, "Natsu..! You're so -weird-." Such a silly silly dragon. She felt her cheeks warming slightly when his hand pressed against hers, her smile growing a bit more.

Heaven knew what people might think if they passed by and saw the two of them. Actually, no everyone knows what people would think if they saw it. But Lucy wasn't thinking about that, rather focusing on the comment of GIldarts and Natsu being just weird as always. Still, she curled her fingers over his hand after a moment, lacing her fingers through his. "Hmm...Think so? They were able to kidnap a God, after all... it's not reall impossible to fathom Gildarts showing up too based off of that."

[explodewiththerage]

Anyone who knew them and watched them regularly, likely lost a batch of their hair volume with each moment they shared and just narrowly missed each time. However right now Natsu wasn't thinking about that at all.

"Hey I'm serious. I mean look at all the times we were in serious trouble. Now look at the number of times Gildarts was around." That couldn't be denied really. THe man had a knack at not being where he was needed most.

[celestial_wizard]

Just like now. Sharing a quiet moment, being subtly affectionate. She fell into a thoughtful silence as she actually considered that, her shoulders slumping a bit. "... Okay you have a point there."

It was seriously uncanny. It was like someone knew that his insane strength was exactly what was needed to turn the tide and made it so they had to deal with things on their own!

[explodewiththerage]

This was a moment just for the two of them. Before everyone else joined them at some point. Relishing and treasuring it was a possibility now and now alone.

That had to be it. Some all powerful deity had to always lead Gildarts astray while they fought for their lives.

"I know I do. SO that's why it'd have to be Laxus or gramps."

[celestial_wizard]

"Erza'd be really happy of Master Makarov showed up here." And so would everyone else, of course. But she suspected that the members of Team Natsu would be happiest. "Hah, you know, it'd be our luck if someone that wasn't even from our guild showed up instead, like Lyon or ..Ichiya." Snerk. Please no though.

[explodewiththerage]

"Yeah I bet she would be." He knew while Erza was capable of leading the guild she had no explicit interest to do so and preferred to just hang out with them on an equal footing.

"Or those two whose ass I kicked during the Grand Magic games." Rematch in another world.

[celestial_wizard]

As proud Lucy would be of Erza if she led the guild full time, she preferred it when their friend was able to go with them on trips and missions. Even if she was extremely strict. And scary. "The two...?" She paused, and suddenly laughed. "Oh, those dragonslayers from Sabertooth? Sting and Rogue, right?"

It would be interesting to see them here, she had to admit.

[explodewiththerage]

"Yeah them. That'd be pretty fun. Would be fun to get ot fight with them again." Only Natsu would eagerly speak about a rematch with two dragon slayers. In fact he was hoping they'd gotten stronger.

[celestial_wizard]

Only Natsu. Lucy giggled, "Well if you can hope for Sting and Rogue to show up, then I can hope for...mm, Yukino." Because she was a celestial spirit wizard too, and it'd be nice to bond with another one. Also, Yukino was sweet.

[explodewiththerage]

Of course only Natsu. After all that was part of his charm wasn't it? AT hte mentions of yukino he nodded eagerly.

"Still can't believe she ended up going back over to their side. She wasn't kidding when she said she always wanted to make it into Sabertooth."

[celestial_wizard]

Yep! All part and parcel of the Natsu package. "I can," Lucy mused after a moment. "Kind of. I've always wanted to be in Fairy Tail, after all." She was just lucky that the people in Fairy Tail were so amazing. Absently she gave his hand a light squeeze at the unvoiced thought, "I just hope things work out better for her now there." Now that Sabertooth had been thoroughly taught a lesson.

[explodewiththerage]

"Well I know that. But we were never power hungry assholes." He still had a bit of a grudge towards Sabertooth for how they laughed when Lucy had been suffering under Minerva's assault. Still if they hadn't learned their lesson. He felt the squeeze on his hand but only felt even more right for it.

"But if they make her cry again we can just kick their ass two times harder until they get it."

[celestial_wizard]

Lucy sighed faintly, thoughtful. "Yeah, I know." A fact that she really really was glad for. "It kind of makes me wonder if I would have done the same thing though, in her place. Wanting to be a part of Fairy Tail so badly, and being willing to put up with however cruel the members are."

.... n o p e. Well. Probably not. She grimaced slightly at the thought, shifting her hand back onto her lap for comfort's sake. ..except she was still holding onto his hand so... erm. Yeah. Realizing that little detail, that she'd semi-accidentally pulled his arm around her? she's moving back to blush city thanks.

...maybe he won't notice.

"Y-yeah, absolutely. They don't deserve her if they mistreat her again." And a whole lot of guilds had wanted her to join them, Fairy Tail included.

[explodewiththerage]

"Hmmm probably not. That's not your style. You belong in Fairy Tail and nowhere else." Of course he said that without a shred of hesitation. It was his honest belief. Lucy had become such an integral part of the guild that Natsu could never imagine what it would be like without her.

When she pulled his arm around her, he didn't even notice. It was simply that natural of a hold that it was akin to breathing.

"Damn straight. Still can't believe that blonde spiky haired bastard got made guild master though." A fellow dragon Slayer being made Guild master before him. It was something he wouldn't easily let go.

[celestial_wizard]

It did feel natural. Strangely natural. Natsu's statement about where she belongs brought a bit of a blush to her cheeks again - he says it with such -conviction-. "You're right. And I wouldn't want to be anywhere else besides." Fairy Tail - and Natsu - was too important to her to think about being without them.

.. not thinking about her future self.


"It is surprising; he's pretty young to be a Guild Master." That's .. totally not the point he was making. "But better him than that woman. Minerva.."

[explodewiththerage]

That whole mess with her future self was never going to leave them completely. Natsu's guilt at letting it all happen or Lucy's knowledge gained from her future self's diary before it vanished. Both were likely going to be crosses they'd bear for a while to come.

But now was not the time to think about past mistakes and dark futures.

"Well on that I can agree. Though Erza did mention she ran into that hag when we went to the giant village." He had a bad feeling about that whole affair ever since.