Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

[lynchpin_castle]

The servants are unseen and unknown. Residents are welcome to take over the Servant’s rooms or not, but it is not recommended. Likewise, it is unclear where the Master resides. Usually s/he will call a meeting of their champions and meet them within the reception all or Banquet room.

Meals are typically taken together as a group, and if requested--training times for the champions as a group may be arranged. Both of the mundane variety, and also recreations of challenge-zones, such as the Labyrinth and the Mirror Gallery. The castle and its immediate surroundings have been set to mimic Earth with its single moon and 24 hour cycle of time, along with a standard Julian calendar for convenience.

Comments

First Floor--Editing still

[lynchpin_castle]

The First Floor contains the Library and Den, Tapestry Gallery, Music Room, Breakfast Room and Banquet Hall, Reception Hall, Salon, and Winter Garden.

The Den is a cozy-space with a large fireplace, and many plush chairs and loveseats. The room is not fully soundproofed, but the walls are thick enough to muffle most sounds to a dull murmur where they might be loud otherwise.
The Library has wall-to-ceiling bookshelves on 3 sides, along with a large fireplace, and a spiral staircase at one end to lead to the second floor-level, where there is an indoor balcony. (The Library and Balcony borders suite 6 and guest room 3, on the second floor.)

The Tapestry Gallery is a long corridor with hanging tapestries reflecting scenes from all of space and time and existence. They seem to move out of the corner of one's eye, as if they were constantly changing and morphing. Staring too long may give one a headache.

The Music Room, Salon, and Breakfast Room are all adjoining and connected spaces designed for informal gatherings, but more formal than the Den. There are always snacks and light beverages available in the Breakfast Room, while the Salon offers a place to chat and relax. The music room itself has instruments available for those who wish to play, but also has light instrumental music of a pleasant ambiance playing at all times in the background.

The Banquet Hall is where formal meals are held, when all Champions eat together or if there is another occasion. It is a large room with seating-space for up to 20-30, in neutral colors and over-head lighting. When not used in full, the long table is often placed against the back wall and acts as a buffet area where food may be laid out.

The Winter Garden is a small room enclosed with glass doors and windows from floor to ceiling. Inside may be seen flowers and greenery of all nature and shape, some familiar and some not, to various champions. Often a light sprinkling of snow-flurries may be seen as well, catching the light.

The Reception Hall is a large spacious hall that may be used for a variety of purposes, most often to greet newcomers to the castle and guests.

Update to the Den

[lynchpin_castle]

Update--The Den:After the first training-session in the Labyrinth, a giant screen television will appear in the Den. Connected to it is a video-game system designed for multiple players if desired. Included are a variety of racing games, some puzzle and exploration games that may be competitive or co-op as well as single-player, a rhythm game or two along with a few fighting games. In addition, against the wall will also be a large arcade-style machine set up for dancing-games in the vein of "DDR" and "Parapara".

After the First Maze Practice

[neveraknight]

They had spent a good amount of time in that maze, and honestly, it was a great work out for more than endurance. Tamaki and Himawari were highly valuable in a few situations where she, Trunks, Ty Lee and Logan were more brute force than needed. It was interesting and eye opening. It also gave her strategist mind an idea of what they had on hand with the six of them.

For Ahsoka, she kept trying to work out, practice, meditate, or distract her mind from... things. She had found she was more and more distracted than anything. Not to mention she still had his damn jacket.

Not that she was thinking on THAT.

Or him.

Or anything.

Which she had in her hands about a hour ago! There in her hands she held that stupid damn jacket (not stupid at all, and it fit her so well, and comfortable, and it smelled good and--sithspit!). She had been headed to his room to drop it off when Himawari came running around a corner towards the stairs.

"Oh! Ahsoka! You have to come with me!" Himawari said with a smile, not reaching out to grab her arm or anything, but beconing her to follow at a trot.

Thinking it was something to worry about she did follow, running down steps after her. "What's going on?"

"You'll see!"

You'll see turned into the three girls taking time in the Den with the DDR. Just the girls for a bit. Himawari had to teach Ty Lee and Ahsoka how it worked, and then was out classes by them both in no time. Still, this was Hiamwari's attempt to get them spending girl time together.

Which lead to the three of them in the Den for a few hours. Loud fast music and each either taking a turn or battling it out.

For a young girl who never grew up with games like this, or 'fun' in general, Ahsoka took to it pretty well. Ty Lee might have been better, but she got pretty well into the groove of it. So if anyone else DID show up at the girls bonding moment, they might see Ahsoka dressed as she normally did, tapping and turning to a fast dance, and actually laughing.

The jacket hanging over the back of a chair near by, forgotten for the moment.

[light_of_willpower]

It hadn't been right after they all finally escaped. They'd needed about a half day just to rest fully. Another half day to eat, and get clean. It had been exhausting in so many ways. But everyone had a good idea of what they were capable of--mostly. Complimentary strengths, complimentary weaknesses (and a few of the same as well).

Part of the forest outside of the castle grounds was now a disaster area at best. Downed trees, small craters... Logan and Trunks' way of working out their respective angers and annoyances. Tamaki had briefly gone out to see if the pair wanted to join him for something--and had barely made it to the edge before some kind of energy-blast and a loud snarl had convinced him to turn around.

So...they were slightly calmer. Aside from noticeable tension between two champions. Tamaki wasn't yet at the point of wanting to shake the pair--but he was close. In the meantime though, he'd had a quiet word with Ty Lee, who had reacted exactly as he'd thought she would. It was all fun for her, as the flirting was a game. She hadn't meant to hurt Ahsoka at all!

Which now meant that 3 champions were actively shipping 2 of the others, and Logan didn't really care. Or at least he said he didn't. Tamaki was privately waiting to see whether the gruff man would shake Ahsoka or Trunks before he could.

But the new toys in the Den--oh that excited him. Following the noise, the blonde had investigated enough to find out what was going on. Then smiled so wide, before outright jogging up to the second floor library where he hoped Trunks was in his room.

He wasn't. So then it was back downstairs, and the blonde was mildly surprised to find the other was swimming. Only mildly though, and he managed to persuade Trunks to get dry and dressed, quickly. No, really--hurry! VITE VITE! (The fact that the other had rinsed quickly and then just dried himself via his ki made the blonde's eyes widen with amusement and awe.)

Which meant it was now a slightly out of breath Tamaki (all the running around the castle after all) and a very-mildly-damp Trunks peering around the doorway of the den to watch for a moment. At least until they were noticed...

[neveraknight]

When the boys did come around to peek in, Himawari and Ty Lee were both hanging back, trying to encourage Ahsoka to try something. Ty Lee set it up, having figured out how the machine worked, and Ahsoka had reluctantly rolled with it.

Not that it was bad, but it was upping the game a bit.

The song Butterfly was playing, and Ahsoka was tapping her feet across both dance pads, laughing in embarrassment when she missed a step. Still, she wasn't doing too bad. She had the moves down well enough at least.

Her lekku bounced when she did and her arms moved to the music with her. For once she seemed like a normal girl having a good time.

Himawari's plan was going well enough. Get Ahsoka to loosen up. Also her to her loosen up around Ty Lee!

Ahsoka was actually so into the game at the moment that she didn't at all notice the boys peeking in. As the song ended and she stuck the last two notes, she got her score, not as high as it could be, but she laughed anyhow, amazed at being able to do it at all!

She turned on the platform and moved to look at the other two, only to bring her hands up to her face to hide it as she realized there were two others there. The white marks on her orange skin brightened as a sign of a blush. "oh..."

[light_of_willpower]

"Ah, sorry..." Tamaki murmured with a laugh, and dragging Trunks into the room with him. He might've been blushing too, while Tamaki was applauding. "We didn't mean to startle you. But you were having so much fun I had to make sure we joined in!"

"Oh good, you saved me the trouble of finding you both!" Ty Lee encouraged. "I know Tamaki can dance, and Trunks can fight, but this is a bit different than both." The girl in pink was all smiles, including for Ahsoka. "Your aura has never been pinker than when you were playing, Ahsoka!"

Trunks kept his head down, arms crossed slightly defensively but he was in the room at least. Letting the blush fade hopefully, while commenting quietly. "I've said before she moves like a dancer on the battle field. Logan and I tend to just barrel through everything."

[neveraknight]

Himawari gave the boys a cheerful look as they came in. "She's a natural, isn't she! Ty Lee as well! When I saw they had DDR here I just had to see if they had played it before."

Ahsoka ran a hand over her cheek and moved between the bars, stepping down off the cheering platform, looking down a bit as well, but still smiling. P-Pinker? What even did that mean? "It's just... hitting the arrows at the right time. After a few rounds it was... easy." She said, trying to play it all off. Too many compliments.

Especially the dancer one. She crossed her arms and shook her head, not quite looking at him. "Okay, okay. Enough of that. Who's next. I need a break anyhow." She said, fanning a hand at her neck as if to dry off a bit. "This is as good as a work out."

[light_of_willpower]

"Brilliant Hima-chan!" Tamaki praised, as he was familiar with the game from commoner arcades. Even though he'd never played himself. "I am also not surprised. But having that type of timing still takes skill." Stepping up, the blonde was examining the machine with interest as Trunks hung back slightly.

"I am not at my best, after having run up and down 3 floors of this castle---so I motion Trunks go next." Tamaki's smile was playfully sly, raising his hand. "All in favor say 'aye'!"

Trunks blinked and looked torn between horror and annoyance--which only furthered with Ty Lee immediately cheered "Aye" with Tamaki, Himawari also adding her vote. Reluctantly he stepped up, shooting a mild glare at the blond. "I'm not even going to try doing two of these things. Please tell me there's a way to set it so that I only have one set of arrows to worry about?"

Ty Lee was grinning. "What, and let Ahsoka school you? I suppose we can let you have at least one practice round." Tamaki was still fiddling with the controls--having set it for only one 1 player. Also taking the chance to set the music up too, with a smile and a wink at his friend. "I have seen how fast you can move my friend, you shall do magnifique!"

That was about all the warning Trunks was given, before the opening animation played and the beat started.

[neveraknight]

Even Ahsoka gave a soft Aye when the other chimed in, though she moved away and over to the side, sliding her hands behind her back, watchful. Amused that he was at least stepping forward to join in.

"Oh let him get a feel for it first." She had said as Ty Lee was talking about being schooled, but that he can have a practice round. She bit her lip a moment after, realizing that the others jacket was right there. She moved a bit more to stand in front of it, hiding it as the others set Trunks up to start.

As the song started, she had to speak up and add. "No flying either. Or hovering. You actually have to move." She warned teasingly.

Himawari clapped her hands as the music started, grinning widely. "You've got this Trunks-kun! If you mess up just try again!" And she grinned at Tamaki, giving a firm nod, like a thumbs up for this.

[light_of_willpower]

Ahsoka's comments had him turning briefly to her with a "Hey!" in protest. "I do actually have standards, thanks." And apparently some pride, even if nothing like his parents. But he appreciated the votes of confidence, before letting himself focus.

The one advantage he had was that he did know how to move, and was used to how his body could move. Decent spatial-awareness too, with remembering where the buttons were and the bar at the back of the machine. The timing was trickier--and Tamaki having set it 'fast' hadn't helped. Near the end though, the half-saiyan was picking up the timing, and just as focused as he would be for any other training.

Tamaki had noticed that Ahsoka still had the jacket too, and shared a brief triumphant grin with Himawari.

Ty Lee moved over to come lean by the togruta, helping her hide said-jacket. "It's kind of adorable how seriously he's taking this." She semi-whispered with a grin.

[neveraknight]

Ahsoka gave him a smirk as the Hey and held back comments against his standards. As much as she wanted to tease him she wasn't sure how to go about it suddenly, so instead he stood back, cooling down and stretching her arms out a bit.

It's not like she was trying to HIDE the jacket, as she WAS trying to return it when she got dragged off. But she didn't want him to get the wrong idea of why it was there until she could make comment about it first.

Yeah.

Yeaaaah.

She whispered back to the other. "I'm not sure adorable is the word for it." It is. It really is. Adorable. And she couldn't help but watch, amused. A hand covering her mouth and her smirk. "He's at least getting into it."

Himawari side stepped over to stand near Tamaki and grinned, whispering. "These two have been getting along nicely after about the second song." Ty Lee and Ahsoka, she means. Not that they couldn't get along, but she was determined to make sure that they had their girl bonding time.

[light_of_willpower]

"I think he just takes things too seriously. Which is sad because he has a nice smile, when you can get him to." Ty Lee agreed, hands up to cover her laugh as well. "I have no doubt he'll get Tamaki back for this. And us..."

Absently, Trunks registered the comments as background noise. His senses weren't as sharp as Logan's, or Ahsoka's--or even a full Saiyan's. But they were better than a pure homans, IF he'd been less focused on his game.

Tamaki gave Himawari a winning smile, arms crossed proudly. "Good good. Ty Lee and I also had a charming conversation the other day." Which was code for I spoke to her, and she's totally on board. Then the song was done, and the score was---not bad.

Applauding, and Tamaki grinned at his friend. "Still want to kill me?"

"For now, you live. I think I have the timing..." Trunks responded easily, which just made Tamaki beam. "Excellent. Then it's time for the real round." The blonde chimed, once again selecting the song.

[neveraknight]

"Perhaps a bit..." She said softly to the 'too seriously' comment, thinking that she and he shared that in common at least. And she couldn't help but smile at the idea of him having a nice smile. He did. It was a very nice smile. One she rather liked seeing (directed at her).

Ahsoka had been distracted enough with the smile comment that she didn't even catch the one about getting Tamaki, and them, back for this.

Himawari held her hands in front of her, smirking, pleased with them. Fantastic! That must be why Ty Lee was being on her best behavior. Which isn't to say she was bad before, but she was just being friendly in general. Things were going nicely.

When the song was over, Hima clapped for him, bouncing from heel to toes. "That was amazing Trunks-kun! Especially for a first time."

Even Ahsoka was giving him a clap for a job well done. "Ty Lee and I might actually have someone to worry about."

And then the new song was punched in and Hima covered her hands over her mouth before laughing. "Oh, no! Tamaki-chan! That's too cruel!" She said, giggling, amused.

[light_of_willpower]

It started off slow and didn't seem so bad at first. The 'held' arrows did trip him up, but Trunks adapted better than he thought he would this time. The pauses gave him trouble too once he'd gotten the rhythm.

Ty Lee crossed her arms and shared a look with Ahsoka with an impish smile. "He's not as cute at it as we are though." Good thing Trunks was focused so didn't hear that.

Tamaki just grinned like a contented cat, leaning on the machine. "I have faith in him. He and Ahsoka have been good sempai after all."

[neveraknight]

It was interesting to see how he adapted to the steps. Even when she stumbled upon the held arrows like that she kept trying to stomp wrong and did terrible. He was... really good.

And damn right he knew how to move his body.

Not that she just thought that. No. Noooo. (Yeah, she did, shit). And her face went a bit brighter again as she heard Ty Lee say that about them being cuter at this. She had to force a s oft chuckle, running a hand over her mouth to hide her talking. "Well, we have been at this for hours. I'm sure he'll surpass us soon."

Himawari just chuckled, bouncing on her feet and 'dancing' along, long curls bouncing in amusement. Now if they could just get Logan in here. Ha.

[light_of_willpower]

Himawari would have a better chance of getting Logan in there than Tamaki would. (The blond wasn't even going to try... Not without back-up anyway.)

Ty Lee nudged her shoulder against Ahsoka's playfully and conspiratorially. "That just means we get to enjoy watching, right?"

"I heard that one!" Trunks called--as he'd heard enough, even with it as background noise. It wasn't too much longer before the song ended again, and his score was higher than before.

Crossing his arms, and there was a smirk on his face. "Your turn Tamaki...you'd better have recovered by now." Tamaki mimed looking skyward for help, before throwing himself in front of the controls before Trunks could get to them. "Oh no mon ami...no no no, I am not as physically talented as you are. Let me at least play it for a few days before you start selecting songs for me."

Ty Lee just giggled, and waved the half-saiyan over here. "Come watch from over here with us, Trunks. We can be Tamaki's cheer section."

Blue-eyes sliding between Tamaki, and Ty Lee and Ahsoka, before shaking his head in amusement. "Tamaki-kun, I swear your charm is your super-power." Heading over to come and stand on Ahsoka's other side.

Tamaki breathed a sigh of relief, and set about picking his song. Stretching a little, and then focusing just as intently as Trunks had done. The song was slower than the others but still a good pace.

[neveraknight]

Oh and she might, at some point. She knows he's around somewhere. She had seen him check in on them a while back, but couldn't get his attention to come in. Or he ignored her. Still, she might try again later.

Trunk's outburst at Ty Lee's comment made Himawari giggle behind her hands, grinning. Things were going well. This new arcade was a great idea. She had never played DDR with others, and when she did play she tended to be careful FOR others. It wasn't until the port that she got more into it all. This was great though. It felt like everyone was in good spirits.

AAhsoka had given Ty Lee a small shove when Trunks heard, and she was sure her face went brighter when he was invited over. She took a slow breath and let it out, hands resting on the chair behind her where the jacket rested.

"He does know how to get what he wants with a smile." She said of Tamaki, giving him a smile as he got on the pads and started out with a good song. Himawari off to the side, bouncing along with the song cheerfully. Ty Lee looked pleased, and... there was Trunks, coming to stand beside her.

She stayed silent for a moment, fingers curling on the jacket thoughtlessly a moment, watching Tamaki play, as if that was distracting her.

[light_of_willpower]

It was rather obvious that Tamaki was frustrated when he missed a step or two. Something muttered under his breath in another language being the tell. Took him a little longer to recover too, but he was at least having fun.

Ty Lee was trying to help, clapping along with the beat. Then moving--as if it were the most natural thing in the world--over to join Himawari on the other side. Moving to bounce along with the other girl.

Trunks was quiet for a few heartbeats, before speaking softly. "Somehow this is not what I figured we'd all be doing a few days after dealing with the maze." But there was amusement in his tone, relaxed--at least as much as he could be--next to Ahsoka.

Too aware of her, of the tension between them that he had no idea how to fix. He didn't want her mad at him... But they hadn't really had a chance to talk after they'd all gotten out of the training zone.

[neveraknight]

"You've got this, Tama-chan!" Himawari said, and clapped along with Ty Lee to help. Even if his score was very low she would encourage him. After all, it was his first round, and he did just run a lot. So long as they were having fun.

Ahsoka saw Ty Lee take off to clap along with Tamaki's dancing and almost considered moving along with her, but didn't. Her hands curled a moment again and she glanced over at him.

"With this group, I'm surprised it's just this." Then added... "At least it's not too bad. Like training but fun." And looking back to Tamaki, she added, softly. "You did very well up there."

She wasn't mad with him. Not really. SHe... wasn't sure what she was anymore. Unsure, that was the thing. She was unsure about a lot with him now.

[light_of_willpower]

"Like you said, it was the timing." Trunks murmured in turn, eyes sliding over to her briefly, then back to Tamaki. Chuckling a bit at a particularly loud 'curse' and mis-step.

"I'll get this! I refuse to be defeated by a commoner's game!" And Tamaki was scrolling through and selecting another song. His timing wasn't bad, but his awareness of where the buttons were seemed to be his weakness.

"GO Tamaki! You can do it!" Ty Lee cheered on.

Trunks let himself smile at the blond's determination, before looking around the Den again. Then back to watching Tamaki. "Seems like they have other games, that are less active physically, too."

[neveraknight]

Ahsoka seemed amused to hear Tamaki cursing, in what ever language that was. It was still a curse and made him more... relatable in a way. She had cursed a few things out when she first started as well. "I think once you know the placement of the foot pads it gets easier." She said softly between the two of them.

The new song started and Himawari nodded in approval. "You have this. This is a good song to warm up to." She encouraged. "I think you're doing great!" She cheered.

Ahsoka smiled at Tamaki as well, before glancing off at the room when Trunks mentioned other games. "Yes, there seems to be a lot of... things? Himawari was very excited for though one. She said I might... like it because it was a form of training and fun."

It was true, she did like it.

A moment after she drew back from the chair, turning to look at the coat, then mutter. "Oh, and... I was on my way to drop this off at your room when she found me. Ah, your... jacket. Sorry. I should have brought it around sooner."

[light_of_willpower]

Slowly, Tamaki was getting it. Slowly, and at least once he had to grab the bar when he tripped. But he was laughing at himself, and then restarted the song, Ty Lee encouraging him along with Himawari.

"You did look like you were having fun. I'm glad." Genuine in his praise, Trunks letting his eyes find her again for a moment. "After the annoyances we had, I'm glad you're having fun." And her injury, and their tension--seeing her enjoy herself made him happy. She was graceful and looked so at ease, with her lekku swaying along and body moving easily to the music.

Then she was turning, and Trunks blinked when she produced the jacket. A hint of laugh, and small smile. "It's okay. I'm actually pretty resistant to the cold--comes from my Father's side. I figured you'd get it back to me at some point."

Not that he minded her having his jacket. On the contrary, he'd been glad to lend it to her and she had... Looked adorable and attractive in it. Like it brought her comfort, and that made him feel warm and faintly possessive inside.

[neveraknight]

Himawari was leaning on a chair near by, grinning at him. "If you feel comfortable enough, maybe we can do a double next round. We're about evenly matched!" She giggled, only wanting to play for fun and not for sport.

Ahsoka felt herself smile a bit, lopsided as it was, as he praised her for her having fun. The injury to her hand wasn't too bad, and when they returned from the maze the wound was healed up, though the soreness was still there, as promised. A reminder of the trauma to learn from.

"It's not like I don't know how to have fun, Trunks Briefs." She said with a lift of her chin. She shook her head a moment after, looking down at the Jacket, before pushing it over to him. "Yes, well... resistant to cold or not, I meant to bring it back sooner. Thank you for allowing me to barrow it."

Ug, she liked his jacket. It was comfortable and warm and smelled like him. And if she had curled up in it in her bed last night, she wasn't going to say as much.

[light_of_willpower]

"Oh? Last time we had fun was tearing down clankers, Ahsoka Tano." Trunks grinned back at her in answering tease. Then taking the jacket, and throwing it back over the chair with a shrug. "You're more than welcome. We're partners, right?"

Yes, he meant all of them. Ignore that his eyes had met hers a bit too deliberately (and unconsciously) on his part as he'd said it. Ignore that his tone was hopeful and genuine. Especially as he turned his head back a bit to watch Tamaki for a moment.

"I think as long as I don't fall of this pad, I'd be game for that Hima-chan." Tamaki replied, letting himself catch his breath as that song ended finally. Ty Lee grinned at him and poked his arm teasingly. "Maybe I should go get some of those water-bottles for all of us. And a towel. And a chair for you, Tamaki." Impish grin as she said that.

[neveraknight]

"Last I heard, taring down clankers was fun." She said back, head lifting, and a smile coming back to her lips. And in that moment, as he said they were partners, she had caught that glance, t hat look. Blue eyes looking back at him a bit too long.

She took a small breath and nodded, looking away and said. "Partners. Yes." And then smiled a bit too large, arms wrapping around herself a moment as she stood there. The song ending and poor Tamaki getting a break. She pushed away a step and clapped for Tamaki. "I liked that last song. Nice show, Tamaki." Awkward Togruta was awkward.

Himawari chuckled faintly, leaning on the chair she had. "Here, Tama-chan. Take a break. Next time you go up, we'll dance off. Have you done this before?" A commoners game, he called it. How cute.

Though she did glance over to that awkward aura of Ahsoka and Trunks, curiously watching them.