Crownless Cup Closing Ceremonies

As the sun begins to set on the city of Shibuya, the crowds begin to gather in the temporary tournament grounds for the last time. Tomorrow, the stands will be broken down, and the area will be returned to the guard as their training grounds. Tonight, however, those stands are jam-packed with landers and adventurers alike, all remembering a month of revelry, celebration, and entertainment.

Nyanta is in the announcer booth, holding the thing that has never actually been a microphone and has just been a thing he has been using as a placeholder for technology they do not have access to yet. He looks upon the grounds and smiles warmly, letting out a sigh as he looks on something that has been a good chapter of his life which he is about to finish. Still, each chapter has it's end, and afterwards, a new chapter begins. The Dandy cat considers he should probably wrap up this chapter so the next one can start...

The Coolest Cat in ETO holds the not actually a mic to his mouth as he speaks, "Ladies and Gentleman, It has been a wonderful month of Dueling here in Shibuya. Our fighters have done well to do battle for their own causes, but in truth, every participant of the Crownless Cup equally sought to bring attention to one cause alone: The War in the Palace Lands."

Nyanta continues, "Even as this month has been going, our friends overseas have been fighting for the freedom of those who are crowned. Still more uncrowned have been fighting for far longer, trapped in the Palace Lands with those oppressors, UNYIELDING to tyranny, UNWAVERING in their resolve."

"As we bring this Tournament to a close, I ask, first, that we have a moment of silence for those who have lost memories, their freedom, and even their lives, due to this conflict..."

    The solemn beginning of the ceremony provokes deep thought in Wake. She did not fight a duel, but as the sponsor, she has been here for many matches. The struggle overseas has never left her mind, though. She observes Nyanta and bows her head, thinking of the people in the camps, barely clinging to freedom and on the brink of disaster. But more than that thought of fear is one of hope, for even now her ships are sailing to their aid.

    Next to Wake sits Asuna, who has her child in her lap (as usual!) She isn't sure what to expect of closing ceremonies this year, but the mention of the danger from the Palace Lands makes her nervous and gets her to hug her daughter a little bit more tightly. The distance of the enemy is not great enough to provide much comfort at all to someone who still frequently stays in Mac Anu and right now sits in a place the enemy had occupied.

    June, is June but even she knows a moment of silence is a thing and all she has to do is let her mind go blank. So she does look a bit odd kind of staring off into the vague distance as she waits. She's dressed as she always is, like a Red Sonja cosplayer. The small mousey looking middle aged woman sticking out a bit as she usually does, but she just leans to the side to rest her head on Wake while she waits for solemn things to be solemn.

Haru has an imperial look about him during the closing ceremonies. Not the look one would want to go for with a tournament that is about the end of imperial crowning, but its resting imperial face. Haru's face. Its the monocle. As the person who won the whole thing, he felt it was proper etiquette to be present for it. Though for the introduction part of the ceremonies, there is no words to exchange. A moment of silence for those still fighting in the Palace Lands. Although the sporting event stopped here, the actual violence still rages on elsewhere.

    It's been an exciting event, to be sure, but there's pressing matters to attend to. Fuka's been using her time in Shibuya, part of the current center of attention, to make deals with various Landers that have come for the festivities. Making arrangements to purchase things to support the troops. Making friends, and making opportunities. Being her own little social butterfly, or at least sylph. They both have wings after all!

    She hasn't had much time for actual duels and competition, but that's okay. Fuka is willing to share the spotlight, or forego it entirely. Right now though, this is part of her official duties that she took on willingly with no one telling her she couldn't. Or that she had to, for that matter. The little blonde is once again dressed in a manner that would be completely different from her normal adventuring look. An evening dress that's both styled in Lander fashion and ... is something new, something perhaps a little scandalous. Thanks Gwen.

    When the moment of silence has gone on long enough, Fuka brings forth her own enchanted microphone-substitute, allowing her voice to carry easily through the arena. "As this tournament and this celebration ends, many of us go on to different places. Some are returning to their homes. Some head for the front lines. We all have our roles to play, and our own ways to do what we feel needs to be done. But before we all go our separate ways, tonight is a final celebration! Whether competitor or viewer, fighter or craftsperson, tonight we are all together to celebrate the past before looking ahead to the future!"

Nyanta is, somehow already in the stands. He's placed himself right next to Wake. He holds the never has been and never will be a microphone to Wake and asks, "Baroness Wake, as a sponsor of this event, along with the people of Eas, what would you say would be the most important crafting achievement that has been brought about by the War?"

Kauchemar is usually here for the closing ceremonies and this year was no different. Even if she didn't make it so far, it was one hell of a performance. People were entertained with acts of bravery and combat prowess and that's all that really matters in the end. As a bard she was rarely silent for long, but the request for a pause in memorial is respected even by her.

Until it's passed and Nyanta is back to MC business amongst the crowd, turning it into another question and answer session. Interesting.

June rubs her face against Wake's arm like a cat before she sits up letting Wake have some spotlight without one of her knights being a weirdo. Or more of a weirdo than just existing as a Sleeping Knight makes one.

    With the attention on her, Wake needs no time to think this through. The answer is the tournament's name, after all. She regards Nyanta evenly and in a clear voice she says, "The most important advancement has been learning how to remove the crowns safely, so that we can put an end to this abomination. It is because of that achievement we have hope to end this war and to free our people. The war is not a battle of political will. It is nothing short of a battle of good versus evil. Of freedom against oppression."

    She pauses to look at Haru and says, "But this is a time not just to speak of the war, but to think of what this tournament stands for. It is symbol of excellence, a celebration of martial prowess, both physical and magical. Of daring and brilliance, improvisation and planning. I am pleased to be here, representing my home and the Dukedom to salute the new champion. Congratulations to Haru and to everyone who came to this tournament and made it the great event it is. This is not a day about politicians, but about those with the courage to be heroes."

Haru turns to look to Elly. As one of the sponsors, he expects there will be an excellent message to go forward there. There have been a lot of achievements that benefitted the situation during the war. Good topic. His blue eye only wanders a moment to Kau to see what sort of musical addition is going to come to the fore. It snaps to when Elly begins to speak. A humble 'thank you' nod of the head in her direction for the recognition of himself and all the others who made this possible.

Kauchemar is just listening for the moment, but she smiles a bit as Wake says 'our people'. Accepting those still of their own mind, or broken free of the Crowned's control, as their own. She would expect no less of Wake, but other people aren't so willing to open up to the people from the other region like that.

No music, Haru.. -yet-. This is not a moment she wants to inadvertantly drown out.

    There were, Fuka figures, two possible answers to Nyanta's question. As far as crafting merit goes, she's fairly sure the answer would have been the statue to the Goddess, which has greatly impacted the war. But on the human scale Fuka has to agree; the art of crown removal, figured out by Haru and Tian, has made the most impact. It means there is a way to fight beyond simply destroying the opposition, and that is an untoppable accomplishment.

    She slips off into the audience for now to do her own thing. That's the fun thing about this whole audience participation thing. It's nontraditional, and no one's told her she *can't* do it! She locates June, grinning upon recognizing the mousy woman that's visibly quite a lot different from the terrifying bull-headed werebeast that rampaged in the competition itself. "If you could have fought any one person, living or dead, in this tournament - who would it have been?" she asks, grinning a fierce little smirk.

Nyanta addresses Wake, and those around her, quietly as Fuka asks June a question, "Meow, I have some Fugu that I made just before the closing ceremonies began, and I would like to offer you all some, if you would like, nya." He stealthily pulls out a platter from his inventory, as if he were hiding it from Fuka.

    June looks up hmms "Oh that's easy Feanor." she nods her head "Then I'd have the Simarilli and POOF we'd all be whereever we want to be, be it here or home or whatever. Then I could rule over all creation as a goddess on high and all would worship and adore me." she nods her head. Yah don't throw softballs to the person playing badminton it goes all weird.

By this point Wake is accustomed to a certain presence appearing at her side where there was no one moments ago, as it is Kauchemar's usual means of entrance. And she is about to say something in greeting, but gets distracted by Nyanta's offer. Tilts her head. "... Isn't fugu the poisonous fish sushi or am I misremembering?" Her exposure to authentic Japanese cuisine is spotty at times, as much of her childhood was actually spent in the States.

Nyanta clears his throat, "Well, it is poisonous if it is purrepared incorrectly, which, I can almost assure you it is not..." He clears his throat, hoping everyone did not hear the ALMOST in that sentence.

He moves on in a straight transition to asking Kauchemar a question, "What do you believe is the most memorable event in the war, from your perspective? What even had the most influence upon yourself or those around you?"

    Yui, who has been pretty quiet and attentive turns her eyes to June. They go wide as the Adventurer's answer makes no sense at all. In fact, every Lander is going to scratch their head at that one. Adventurers are weird, sometimes! Just plain weird.

    Wake arches an eyebrow at Nyanta. "I think perhaps we can talk about that after the ceremony," she says tactfully. She clears her throat and asks softly of the feline, "Is there an award of some kind for the participants?" It is a little like herding cats. She is, like Asuna, a mom at all times, and will do her best to keep things on the path.

Gwen is here to close things out she's very happy for Haru's victory, she's also in her Taki costume again. She's vibrating with exitement she's also looking over to Haru as well for a moment with a faint smile.

Meanwhile Uther and morri are in the crowd selling food and plushies a whole lot of plushies of which everyone who Gwen had made such of would find a cut of the money from their sales.

Gwen also looks a little tired she'd been busy on the logistics end of many of WAke's new project shelping out in one form or another. "Well done on your victoryu Haru!"

Haru thinks on that a moment. That sounds right. The whole blowfish poison. "It is," is the response he has to the whole fuga situation. A light nod to Nyanta on to it being in the preparation. There is a smile on his face when Gwen stops by to pass the congrats over. "Thank you, Gwen. And thank you for the first match. It was a memorable one." Because it had /fashion/.

Nyanta clears his throat as he quickly answers Wake's question, "There was a sepurrate award ceremony, as many purrticipants were unable to attend this one, nya. However, if the Lady Bombast has an award that she wishes to give the purrticipants as well, I am sure that none would complain, nya."

oh, the inhumanity, baiting people with food and then slinging out questions. But being the performer she is Kauchemar isn't easily phased by it. She likes attention being on her, intentional or not. "Why pick one event?," she replies without missing a beat. "They have -all- been important, from proving ourselves in driving the invasion from our lands, to the great Statue creating a haven zone to help free those enslaved in the Palace Lands. Everything that has proven we will stand our own, and help others who cannot so readily do so, against a great and common foe."

    Wake rises and flicks her inventory open. An elegant, open basket appears, held gracefully in the crook of her left elbow. She looks to Nyanta and nods her head, "If you will excuse me, I shall do just that."

    She does not have far to go, though, before she begins. The basket holds many neatly rolled papers in it. On each is Wake's official seal: which is an elegantly scripted A, for Arcadia. Also on each is the name of a competitor in similar, careful writing.

    Every letter is unique. They extoll the actions of each participant in the tournament, but also often harken back to meaningful stories of each participants' past. These show not only an understanding of the recent present, but the fuller stories that led each person to this tournament. They are, in short, a letter of appreciation and admiration from a woman who understands the willpower it takes to stand up and do battle.

    Beyond the general tone, they are similar in that each is signed by the Marchioness of Arcadia and is composed on behalf of the Dukes and Duchesses of the Fourlands, as well as Olympus Alliance and the Prometheus Guild.

    To every competitor, Wake says a variant of this:

    "Thank you for sharing your story, your energy, and your lives with all of us. You are a shining light that proves that we can never be defeated, and that good is ever ready to do battle with the forces of oppression."

Haru got his reward for arriving victorious in the tournament at a different occasion. Given a few of the things that were 'declared' during the matches, he is surprised how well it is being taken. Elly makes the fine point of it. Everyone has a story to share. One to tell. The heat of combat is one such way of bringing that store to the fore. "Well said," the champion dignifies the tribute at its end. May those stories carry on to their conclusion, and the next. For his own, it came out already that this was his last event as a member of Silver Sword as he moves to broader ventures with Prometheus. One excellent way to end that chapter.

Nyanta bows his head in reverence to the Noblewoman Adventurer. "We of the Crownless Cup Organization Committee thank you, humbly, for your generosity, nya. Every single one of our participants are well deserving of your kind words, nya. None more deserving, of course, than our Champion, Lord Nox." He quickly segues over to Haru with his it really isn't a microphone how many times do I have to tell you.

"Champion of the Crownless Cup, what words do you have to impart upon us on the War? Is there anything that you would like the people to keep in mind going forward?"

Kauchemar accepts the award from Wake, and makes a grand bow in return. "You honor us with the admiration of yours and your people."

Haru looks to Nyanta when the microphone comes in his direction, "War." A pause a thought. Somewhere out there a Ron Pearlman adds 'War Never Changes'. "War wins when it breaks the spirit of the people. The task of holding that fire strong is one we all have, no matter what we do from dawn to dusk. It is what you can do. So do it to the best of your ability." He flicks a blue eye to Nyanta. Then one to Elly. "And never forget the people that make the fight worth fighting for. Your family, your home, your personal reasons for pressing on."

    Elly waits until Nyanta is done with his question and Haru has given his answer. There are a lot of close friends she has among the competitors. But there are friends, dear friends, and there is family. Haru is family.

    Before she presents him with his letter, she wraps him up in a hug.

    "I am so proud of you, Haru. You set out to achieve something incredibly difficult, you did the hard work, and you won. It's not the victory that matters most, it is every action you took to get here. Most of all, you've become a better man along the way."

    Something else is added, but more softly. Some things are meant only for his ears.

Gwen says "Oh it was fun! We got to show off what I can do with the new material as well." She's beaming a bit and will now pause at the letter and she thinks about what Kau is talking about. "Food humm." Oh she liks the sound of that she also will pause at the letter from wake, and will start reading it... She will then pauses at the offered food. She pauses at the mention of Fugu and there's a look almost never seen on Her face. Like Deer in headlights...she does not go for the Fugu. She just stares at it and her mind wonders how someone found it you could even eat it...

It would be expected that hugging Haru is stiff at first. It softens and the young man hugs Elly back. "Thank you. Of the things I value, authenticity is one of them and I can't think of a more authentic celebration of achievement." There is a nod as if to confirm the private sentiment. "Now that the challenge is issued out, we will see how it plays out." Who knows, could be ignored. Gotta roll the dice to see what the result is.

    "What's in the letter, mama?" Yui's voice is soft and she's super curious. She also cannot understand all the words in the letter. At least not the first part. Much to her delight, though, after the signature is something surprising. It's careful printing using very simple words of appreciation for the most dedicated fan of the tournament. And there is an extra addition of an artist's rendering of Yui sitting in Asuna's lap while holding a very stately mallard during one of Soujiro's matches.

    "Will there be another tournament again soon, mama? I hope so. These are so fun!"

    Asuna laughs softly and sighs wistfully, "Well, not real soon, honey. I'm going to have to wait to get another shot at it."

Meanwhile in the stands Morri would come up to Asuna and Yui. She'll grin and hand Yui a group of plushies.

"From my Daughter Gwen to you young lady." There is a plushie of Yui of which none are being sold, one of Klien, Asuna and one of Souji.

    Yui is the princess of dolls at this point. Between Morri, Wake, and Dosbox (especially Dosbox), she has so many. And all that on top of Asuna buying her one more for every match. But these are unique, and not tournament related.

    The Little Lander smiles up at Morri and says, "They are wonderful! Thank you!" She has her usual Soujiro plushie hugged close, and soon she's hugging the entire family close.

    Asuna's warm smile turns to Morri, as well. "Thank you so much! And for all the help with costume ideas, too, not to mention other outfits." Which need not be explained in front of her daughter. "Gwen's going to be even more famous after this tournament. It seems most of us were wearing her fashions throughout. You must be so proud of her!"

Morri grins at this. "Your welcojme but do remeber Gwen made them." She turns her look to Asuna for a moment with a grin. "Yes she's finally loosening up on it it's good to see her expanding her wings in every sense of the word." She grins and pauses "Oh I have a few ideas for you myself Asuna but we can talk later maybe at a pub about it." She winks, oh gods what is Morris up to...

    "I'll send you a chim," replies Asuna. "I'm looking forward to your ideas!" She's a fearless young woman. Besides, the dread of Morri's ideas is for children! Asuna rather enjoys all of them! They certainly are appreciated by more than just her at home, too.

    There is always more to say, but this is not a place for deep conversation. And so it is that Elly leaves some of what she wishes to say for later. She smiles at Haru and explains, "When you are ready, I would like to celebrate your victory in Eas. I hope for now, you can enjoy this moment! You deserve it."

    Speaking of showing up out of nowhere, Tae is there, as well. She is smiling as she, too, hugs Haru. "Eas parties are the best," she says warmly. "We'll be waiting for you. There will always be work to do, but getting in some time to rest, recover, and refocus is precious."

    "See you soon!"

    With that, the two leave together, taking their time to stop and talk to Morri for a moment on the way. They have some ideas, too! And they hate to leave Gwen blushing on a night when she should just enjoy the celebration.

Morri grins, Asuna is fearless in some ways more so than Gwen. The worst idea she's had for Yui is an adorable sundress and a big old straw hat. Yui is a child after all. Meanwhile Gwen will wave to Wake as she leves while she eyes Haru to drag him into the party with her!