Aotsuki, Maxim, and Alices All Reconvene

Gathering / Conference

Following his underground meeting with a dangerous "Shogun," Maxim returned from the waterways of Ōtsu Castle and sought out Aotsuki Tsukamoto for a meeting and transportation to the day's tournament in Shimonoseki. Things were not to be that simple, however. After wandering a few halls, the swordsman was hailed by none other that Watagyūma-dōnyo, a notorious trickster and malcontent somehow still free to move around the castle.   At the same time, Aotsuki was rising with his wife Tokku-hime in the castle beneath Lake Biwa. In the shimmering morning light, the two discussed their dreams of the previous night. Aotsuki was surprised to find that Tokku had apparently dreamed of Ryūgūjō, a castle beneath the sea that he had visited once upon a journey. As a sacred place with a strong connection to Dragons, it seemed unlikely that her vision was unconnected to the events of the previous day.

Aotsuki promised to take Tokku to the draconic castle under the sea sometime in the near future, and began to tell her of his own dream, and the White Rabbit Bowl. No sooner had he mentioned Alice of Hearts than the door to his chambers began to groan, and then break in a flood of sequins, lace, and plush. With Aotsuki's help, Tokku managed to avoid drowning in stuffed animals until the flow died down. Soon, all that was left was Alice of Hearts, lying face down in the doorway. Bewildered but unharmed, she expressed joy at meeting Aotsuki again and agreed to accompany him to her new quarters at "Oatsu" Castle. It promised to be a busy day for both as Tokku, too, would be choosing a permanent place to stay in Aotsuki's domain.   Back at said castle, Watagyūma was offering to lead Maxim to Aotsuki's chambers. Though charming and convincing, there was something sinister about her charity. So it was that when Second Mate Ryūji appeared with a similar offer, Maxim chose that instead. As Watagyuma protested, Alice of Spades appeared as well, complaining that she had been lost in the castle for hours. The pandemonium was such to drive Haures to wonder if they were under attack.   After a few more false starts and a few strange "rules" that had apparently been driven into Spades' head, they finally got underway following Ryūji to the rooms above. Watagyūma, however, followed. As they came near the second-floor stairwell, an explosion blasted in from just outside one of the hall's spacious windows. Upstairs, Aotsuki arrived just in time to feel the blast, and brought his wife and Alice down to investigate.   Everyone below was on high alert, as it seemed they were under attack. Seeing Watagyūma in the mix, however, Aotsuki had other suspicions. He invited both her and Maxim outside, and cautioned Kagami not to take her eyes off the troublemaker. Beyond the window, they found what Aotsuki likely expected to see. Fire magic set up all along the hall to explode loudly, but harmlessly, at someone's command. In anger at Watagyūma's antics, the White Frog ordered her to seek remediation with Abe no Seimei before inviting Maxim upstairs for a proper meeting.