[Mingler] Gong Hey Fat Choy! (Congratulations and be prosperous)

[chevalier_boy]

Riku has fond memories of Setsuban or the Lunar New Year, and given the number of Chinese immigrants in their neighborhood, his dad had offered a double celebration at Omoro. And so, as part of continuing to give back to the Mansion and the people in it, he's spent the past day cooking up a buffet of Asian delicacies, including Chinese dumplings

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[notavillain]

Warren wanders in to the main room, looks around, and laughs. He hadn't even been paying attention to the date, but he immediately recognizes what the celebration must be for. He helps himself to a couple dumplings and leans against the table to watch the bumbling lion dancer.

[chevalier_boy]

Riku, by now, despite his boundless Chiropteran energy, has taken a break from making a racket to scare away the evil spirits, and he's now walking about, carrying the basket of red envelopes. He holds up one to Warren. "Gong hey fat choy" he says, smiling.

[notavillain]

"Gong hey fat choy," he echos, and adds as he accepts the envelope, "and happy new year. Thanks." He uses the envelope to gesture around at the decorations. "Did you set all this up?"

[chevalier_boy]

"Oh, yeah! I cooked the food and found the lanterns and the red envelopes," he says, smiling. "I'm not sure who the lion dancer, but they need a few lessons first," he adds, laughing gently.

[whutobjection]

Phoenix always up for a celebration. But he can't quite take his eyes off that strangely awkward lion dancer.

"Ummm, sir? Lady? Are you blind underneath that costume?"

[cute_shinigami]

The lion turns it's head toward him moments before the dancer falls over an armchair. "Ow! Dammit!" a male voice yelps inside the costume. And those are definitely a male pair of legs clad in a pair of blue jeans underneath the costume.

[whutobjection]

Phoenix knows that voice.

"Tsuzuki?"

If the typist allows, he'll help the clumsy lion dancer out.

[cute_shinigami]

Laughter comes from inside the lion costume. "Ah-ha-ha, yeah, it's me in here," Tsuzuki replies. "Some lion dancer I make. Could you give me a hand? It's a bit stuffy in here."

[gettin2old4this]

Genkai, being ethnic Chinese and being a person that calls Japan her home, loves the lunar New Year. (She also understands it more than Christmas. Even more so, the spiritual side of it.) She embraces the shamelessly Chinese aspect of the celebration, she lived in a time were that had to be hidden.

But for those that might find her, she's actually hanging lanterns and incense around the main room. She's dressed in newly red clothes.

[chevalier_boy]

Riku, by now, is handing out red envelopes. "Gong hey fat choy!" he says, offering her one.

[gettin2old4this]

Genkai smiles at the child and takes her envelope. "Suì suì píng ān." [(I wish you) everlasting peace year after year.]

"So you're the one who did all this?"

[chevalier_boy]

"Oh, yeah, I cooked the food and put up the lanterns and found the red envelopes," he says. Then glancing at the inept Lion dancer, he adds, "I'm not sure who that is, though."

At that moment, the lion falls over a couch, emitting a loud "WAAHH!!" of shock.

[in_summer_leaf]

Hisoka has wandered into the celebration, attracted by the scents of Asian cooking and incense and the sound of chanting and pot-banging. The only red item of clothing he owns is his sweater, so he is wearing it. He blinks at the lion dancer, admires the paper lanterns amongst the cranes, and sips ginger sake.

[prinzwolfiechan]

He may find he soon has company, another blond young man with green eyes, clad in a blue uniform which resembles that of a Spanish-American War era officer. He's sipping a cup of tea and watching the inept lion dancer with a puzzled look on his handsome face.

At length he asks, "Have you any idea just what that dancer is trying to do?"

[in_summer_leaf]

Hisoka replies, "I think he's trying valiantly to avoid the furniture."

"Actually, the story is that he's a magical lion, promised by the gods, and created by a sorcerous monk. He's blessed by the Goddess of Compassion, Guan Yin, who retrieved his horn of power for him when the gods took it away because he was arrogant. This ceremonial dance is supposed to drive away evil spirits and attract good fortune."

He adds his New Year's wishes, "Life, health, and happiness to you, Prince Wolfram!"

[prinzwolfiechan]

He glares a bit at the inept dancer. "I certainly hope that he succeeds, but if his success in attracting good fortune depended upon his skill, we may well see a less than fortunate year. I hope that is not the case," he says. Then, bowing to Hisoka, he adds, "But regardless of the skill of this dancer, may you have health, happiness and luck in abundance, Master Kurosaki."

[aboveallpride]

In comes Yukio, curious about the smells and the fanfare since it reminds her of times at the booths.

"It's the lunar new year already?"

[chevalier_boy]

Riku spots her and smiles, happy to see her: though her hair is longer, something about her face makes him think of Saya. "Oh, yeah, it's the Year of the Rabbit," he says, offering her a lucky red envelope.

[aboveallpride]

"I see..." She takes the envelope and opens it.

"Chocolate coins..." She smiles.

[chevalier_boy]

"Yeah, money isn't worth anything here, and there's no real need for it," he says. "I asked the magic cupboard to give us some envelopes with real money, but I guess the house has different ideas."