#thelightningunderdog

"So is it safe to assume that your favorite song is 'Boom' by P.O.D.?" (Bambi)

Tessai folded his arms and surveyed the scene slowly, giving it a final appraisal. Though it was a quarter to ten the night of December 31, the artificial sky had been set to ‘sunset’ and would flow gradually through ‘twilight’ to ‘night’ over the next two hours. It was part of the ambience, as were the many multicolored lighting effects creating a festive glow. He had spent most of the prior week preparing for this joint celebration, an annual event ever since he’d had done with the prior disregard for Urahara-dono and Yoruichi-dono’s birthdays, falling, as they did, around the New Year holiday. They would not be forgotten, not on his watch. Thus, the tradition continued, and invitations had been sent out.

The setting sun was square-shaped. The rocky outcroppings and distant cliff walls of the Shōten underground area, guests would notice, had taken on an unusual blocky appearance, replete with lava flows and waterfalls. A holographic reference to Minecraft as this year’s decorating theme had been Jinta’s idea, and Tessai was all too amused to implement the scene as an homage to the honorees’ penchant for kitting out subterranean spaces. In a prominent area, cleverly blending in with the aesthetic, was a meter-high karaoke stage. A banquet table stood nearby, already laid out with a buffet of savories and sweets. Conveniently close but discreetly obscured by scenery, he had set up a field kitchen, putting to heavy use Yoruichi’s Christmas gifts of the Roccbox pizza oven and the American-style outdoor grill and smoker, and she, along with the rest of his guests, would soon taste the depth of his appreciation. A 7-kilogram hunk of Australian wagyu beef brisket had been occupying the latter, marinating in a smoldering haze from locally-sourced cherry wood for the past fifteen hours. 

“Oi! Mic check!” came Jinta’s amplified voice from the PA system. “Testing, testing – three, two one –” The following explosion of beatboxing drew a smile from Tessai. The young man had talent, and he’d earned a moment to enjoy the equipment he’d just set up.

“They’ll be here soon!” Ururu called down from a square-shaped hole in the sky at the top of the old ladder. For some time now, guests had no longer had to brave this awkward descent, but direct access from the dining room still had its conveniences.

“Is the freight elevator prepared?” 

“The projectors are on, if that’s what you mean.”  The illusion would begin the moment they stepped into what appeared to be an oversized mine cart to begin their virtual descent through the ‘shaft.’  “I’m ready to show them in.”

Tessai nodded, then gave one final scan, satisfied that all the various and sundry activities were prepared to his standards. He was, after all, an excellent host.

* * *

The party was in full swing, swirling with guests, music, lights and life. The keg had been tapped and Jinta was challenging Grimmjow (@deivorous​​) at beer pong, seeming to relish having found a worthy opponent. Since coming of age, he’d dedicated himself to mastering the sport. Ururu, meanwhile, was teaching hanetsuki to Udyati (@dvarapala​) and Nemuri (@kxrotsuchi​​) as Tōshirō (@ryusxnka​) and Mayuri (@kxrotsuchi​) looked on, both clearly appreciating the training far more than the gauche and garish soirée around them. Tessai was pleased to see that the two less-sociable captains had deigned to attend at all, and had both found some sort of acceptable entertainment. Off in an obscure corner, the Hōgyoku (@sphaeraa​) stood on the ceiling in scowling observation, and Tessai smiled at his sudden inversion of posture and attitude upon Shutara’s (@behindthestrings​​​) fashionably late and characteristically dramatic entrance.

Hiyori (@viciousvizard​) had found the brisket and appeared bent on challenging Yoruichi (@midnightactual) to some sort of eating contest. Alas, she must wait; the latter was holding forth on the karaoke stage while Yuuno (@ice-cold-shihoin​), Kouta (@the-lightning-underdog​), and Soi Fon (@waspandr​) cheered their encouragement. It must have been the spinning disco ball that inspired Shinji (@hirako5hinji​) to swing himself up and join her in an impromptu duet of Donna Summer’s This Time I Know It’s for Real. Kūkaku (@crashingheavens​), the apparent target of Yoruichi’s eye contact, returned it with an exuberant grin. Tessai was certain his guests were looking forward to her midnight fireworks display, as, of course, was he. Near the buffet table stood Adelha (@adelha-mathilde​), recently returned from Germany just in time to attend, chatting pleasantly with Isshin (@hisdaddy​) and Ryuuken (@xyuuken​) beneath a small cloud of tobacco smoke.

Tessai’s brow furrowed as he peered about. Where had Kisuke slipped off to? ...Aha – there he was. The gleaming white lab coat he’d donned (a recent gift from Ryuuken) made him easier to track. That had been his concession to heartfelt pleas to dress nicely.  Beneath it, he wore a button-down shirt and tie — and had left the hat behind. He was watching the stage from a quieter vantage point, engaged in conversation with their newest and perhaps most unexpected resident, Szayelapporo Granz (@behindthestrings​), as Birdy (@cosmacy) and Kara (@orphanedshadow​) curiously looked on. Heaven and Hell appeared to be well-represented.

Satisfied with his work, Tessai turned to replenish the buffet table, only to encounter Akane (@akanekishimoto​). “Ah! It is good to have you with us again, Akane-dono.” He gestured to the spread. “Have you sampled the Smörgåsbord?”

“This is good.” Tessai recognized at once both the presence and voice of Benihime (@crimsonprincessbenihime​​​), manifested and towering behind him, offering him her praise. He found his glasses fogging, and raised a hand to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye. 

Holidays Ask Meme (x)

@the-lightning-underdog​ said:

🌿 (well this is very awkward)

Standing at the front door, Kukaku waited patiently alongside Kouta while Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko gathered the last few gifts intended for the inhabitants of the shouten. Naturally, most of them were pyrotechnics, fireworks, sparklers,  but Kukaku had added a few more personal presents into the mix as well. What those held, well, they'd have to find out for themselves come Christmas day.

A few minutes had passed since her tutors-turned-assistants had left, and ever since, she'd noticed the lad squirming. She arched a brow, side-eyeing him while he wriggled to and fro.

"What in the hell are you getting all fidgety for now, kid?" Kukaku questioned, watching the lads' eyes darting above and down to her again in an almost...nervous fashion? Gradually then, she'd turned her head up, catching sight of one of the many, many mistletoes she'd had hung throughout the corridors and doorways and...She burst out laughing.

"That's what's got you doing a piss-jig?" She cackled, bringing her hand up to wipe a tear from her eye as the laughter settled.

here we start with @the-lightning-underdog​ ‘s OC Kouta! 

@the-lightning-underdog asked for Random Starters:

“Please tell me you’ve got embarrassing stories to share.”

Whether it was because he was technically her superior officer, or more likely the fact that Askin was far more durable than someone this rage-inducing had any right to be, but teasing Candice never turned out too poorly for him. 

The shop today was a bit of a mess due to someone’s antics (Kisuke), trying to do some research to outrun Mayuri Kurotsuchi on a particular topic. It was always a race between those two. By the time he was done, there were papers all over the place and evening had already arrived.

@the-lightning-underdog

He simply rolled his eyes at her snarky comment. “Yeah yeah yeah. Well you look like you’re ‘adapting’ just fine regardless. You get used to living here in the world of the living.” Kouta added. He then immediately went back to her comment about 'helping’ Kisuke. “Oh yeah! And how long have you and Kisuke been business partners??? I just found out about that shit the other day!” 

               “ What’s there to adapt to? Life in Schatten Bereich and life in the Living World aren’t that different. Your boss and I struck up a lucrative partnership recently, ” Candice boasted flippantly. Exactly, how lucrative, she had no idea. Kisuke hadn’t exactly expounded on the details yet. 

         She shot him a suspicious stare.