expiationlogs | (OPEN MINGLE) Ain't no party like an Aldrip party

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(OPEN MINGLE) Ain't no party like an Aldrip party

Who: The Chosen
Where: Aldrip inn
What: Open mingle log (with mod approval)!
Warnings: Nothing major anticipated, other than light (underaged) drinking and comic mischief, but PM me if any warn-worthy things happen and I can update this space.

Feel free to use this log as a completely open mingle for all characters new and old! There will be a few prompts below the cut, but you're free mess around with them or come up with your own ideas for toplevels, and tag around as you please.

Nestled in the heart of the quaint town of Aldrip, the inn, formally known as The Inn, has housed the Chosen of Expiation since their initial arrival. In spite of the occasional influx of new Chosen, they've dedicatedly provided rooms, food and drink, and basic amenities without buckling—even during the food shortages and other issues that have plagued the town. Of course, the Chosen have been no slouches themselves, repaying the hospitality with mercenary work, hunting and fishing, cooking, completing odd jobs, and much more to help bolster the economy. Even those, er, less magnanimous sorts have benefitted from this give-and-take, although there are those that prefer their living space to be a bit more solitary (or perhaps cave-ier) that might not have noticed as much.

In the days to follow, most won't be able to recount exactly how The Party started. The true story is that one particular new arrival, after having spent a day or two scouting the area out and, deciding it's chill enough, opted to do what he does best: be a public menace. What is known is that rounds of drinks start getting ordered and handed out, and soon platters of cheese, fresh bread, and other victuals make the rounds as well, appearing on tables that quickly begin filling with people. Somehow, someway, local musicians are pulled in to play and given a striking, energetic setlist to set the tone. The word gets out—party at the inn!

And boom: just like that, it's a party, and everyone's invited.

Early on, the offerings are relatively meager. The inn's food stores aren't completely bottomless after the shortages, to say the least, and there are a sight more Chosen (and local residents who also join in on the fun) than there is free food to toss at them. The drinks range from milk, water and juice to scuzzy, pisswater beer, which is a bit more plentiful. As the tavern portion of the inn fills with people, the music relatively ambient so that you can still hear the people at the table next to you talking, others bring their own food and drink, adding to the options on offer.

Others bring things like cards to play with, or dice and coins to gamble with, and set up spaces at tables toward the back. There's even an amateur fortune teller, heavy emphasis on amateur. Maybe you've got some party games of your own in mind, or you're a natural-born performer and want to hit the stage. Maybe you'd rather just grab a pint and lurk in the corner doing some people-watching. Or maybe you're just hungry and want to stuff a bunch of cheese in your pockets for later. Either way, there's something here for everyone.

As evening wears on, the peaceful inn party blossoms into a proper block bash. Even if you're not the partygoing sort, it'd be a little difficult to ignore the sheer ruckus going on downstairs while you attempt to read quietly in your room. The music, chatter and laughter carries on down the street, attracting even more people. By this point, it seems as if the food and drinks have multiplied, thanks mostly in part to others showing up with their own offerings, Chosen and local alike. It's getting rowdy in a few places—the music's louder and livelier, people are dancing and singing, and the gambling/party games' stakes seem to just keep climbing higher and higher. It's a good time all around. If you're not the quiet, loner type, anyway.

Thinking of sitting this one out? Think again: somebody starts going around to all the rooms and knocking on the doors, calling out to come join the fun. By the time you get to the door, though, whoever's up here disturbing the peace is gone, but maybe you can track them down by their voice at some point and wring their neck later.

In addition to the escalating merriment, all this imbibing also has the added benefit of loosening a few lips. Now's your chance to pick up the latest Aldrip gossip! You might even hear tell of a few pesky monsters that need slaying, so if you want to jump on that bounty before anyone else gets to it, you better act quickly. (But maybe don't run out into the woods in the middle of the night to fight monsters while inebriated... or do, nobody's stopping you.)

Late into the night, the festivities are still going, and they're... messy. Fortunately the drinks and provisions seem to have run to the bottom of the barrel, so those that've been partying hard for hours are getting cut off whether they like it or not. The band's getting tired, the tempo of the music fluctuating. Some people might like to go to bed sometime soon, so maybe now it's time for the voices of reason to tell those still dancing on top of the tables to get down. And why is there a chicken in here? ...And oh no, somebody tell those guys to take that swordfight outside!! Yeeaaahh, maybe it's about time to shut this production down.

Or maybe not. Let the good times roll until the sun comes up! That's up to you.

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If a brawl's what they wanted, then they should have had this shindig outside, not here where we'll break all the tables. They wouldn't have to do much convincing to get everyone out there -- you're right, there's not a whole lot to do around here.

[ Not that Claude is the sort to participate in a pub brawl anyhow. That would be his cue to slip right out. He knows what he's good at in a fight, and close combat has never been his forte.

He offers a grin right back at her. ]

You make it sound like you've been in your fair share of pub brawls yourself. Am I right?

[ Ah, now this is a man with a serious disposition. Not Claude's favourite - hard to navigate around, less inclined to be won over by an easy joke or a roguish smile - but he'd be lying if he said that he didn't think that sort of countenance is probably the reasonable way to react to a place like this. He's not happy to be here either. ]

Is it that obvious? I like to think I don't do a half-bad job at blending in. [ He leans on the bar, idly wiping some of the condensation from the mug onto his trousers. ]

And why wouldn't a welcome be appropriate from you, exactly? Just not the welcoming type?

[ Given basically everything about how he looks and acts, one might assume Nanami's a big law and order guy, and he is. He prefers to follow rules and regulations.

But, even if not removed to another world with its own law, Nanami couldn't fault it. Society shouldn't allow that sort of extreme inequality to exist. People will naturally do what they must to survive. It may not have been a matter of survival for a band of "scrappy kids", but still understandable.

Regardless: An obvious shift in expression. The sort that one sees staring back at the bottom of a glass. Nanami knows it, having spent some time in bars and plenty of time at his apartment looking at the bottom of his own glass.

He wouldn't pry even if he was the type. ]

Shit happens.

[ Agreeing, and there it is, the bottom. He swaps empty for full. ]

Well, if we come across something fancy, you could probably afford it here.

[ The people of Aldrip are literally making them statues. Fine wine shouldn't be out of reach. ]

I'll let you know if it's truly quality.

Canned crab. I'm a simple man. Luckily, there's plenty here! I get to eat crab a lot! Just not enough MSG.

(which is, well, solvable. not by him, naturally, but it's not like chuuya doesn't go above and beyond to make sure he eats. sleeps. has some sort of dopamine rushing through his brain.)

Favorite... Drink so far!

Ooh, I don't know if anyone would like that. I've been told I'm something of a wild dancer. We may as well keep it civil for now -- that sort of thing is better outside, by a roaring fire, [ Claude says, giving Fai a little wink.

For all of his talk about being a wild dancer, it's immediately clear that Claude is more than used to dancing himself, taking to the ballroom style and leading them into the fray immediately, though he raises a brow in question at Fai, wondering if he would prefer his hand on his hip or on his shoulder. ]

My name is Claude, by the way. What's yours?

[He tilts his head further, blinking owlishly at her.]

...why wouldn't we be?

[Suni doesn’t appear to know what to say at first, opening and closing her mouth a couple of times before she laughs sheepishly.]

No, nevermind. It’s a silly question, I guess. I just… Kasumi is—was— really great, you know? If she was in the Phantom Thieves… If it was her, instead of me…

[She trails off and then shakes her head sighing] It’s really no use thinking about that sort of thing, I know… And I know you guys like me for me. I know that. I just… have to remind myself. I’m sorry.

You could call it that but I'm choosing to believe that it was stolen rather than lost. One of the other questions I had concerns the very same thing and it's... concerning that I haven't heard or seen so much as a hint of it all day. Even this—

_{[ A quick wiggle-waggle of his phone, and he balances it on one corner against the counter and spins it once or twice. ]}

—hasn't been any help in finding which is even more worrisome given that I've got a tracker on it. That's why I was hoping there was a mayor or something like that I could speak to. I don't suppose you've seen it? A red motorcycle?

_{[ Now it's his turn to let out a breath. Not only was he still speaking, he was actually sitting beside him and Roche has a moment where the rest of the world goes deathly silent all around him leaving the man with only the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears. He quickly realizes the look he must have on his face and quickly shoos it away with a grin and a laugh, eyes dropping to the brand new shot sitting between them for a moment and then he makes the biggest mistake of his life— ]}

Against my will it would seem, yes. In some field out in the middle of nowhere.

_{[ Roche looks back up. It's been a few years since he's been with Shinra and while he once thought the glow all SOLDIERs possessed was eerie (especially seeing it in his own for the first time), they're just as ordinary as any other pair of eyes. Except now they're simply stunning. Maybe it's because he was never able to get a good look at Cloud's in the tunnels and in the annex, but here in the low light of the inn? He sees exactly what had him so enthralled to begin with.

An equal. His equal.

He never had a parent to scold him about staring, so Roche keeps at it for a few moments longer as he reaches for the shot and raises it partway up — cheers — and further to his own lips. It smells strong enough to strip paint and compared to the rest of the swill being served it even has something of a bite that pulls a quiet snort from Roche. Not strong enough for his liking, but it's a start. ]}

Has... anyone ever told you that you're a very hard man to find?

If you could say that, I'd tell you to switch to water.

[ Living, growing flowers are one thing. Pink darts are another. Though, should they be? Standing a place like this when considering all the possible universes, why rule out the possibility of sentient darts? It's annoying that he has to think of the ridiculous as reasonable, but scientific understanding in his world had already been limited by its inability to recognize cursed energy.

Speaking of. ]

Declining to answer shouldn't be called avoiding. Or, do you think you're entitled to my life story?

[ Despite the words, Nanami doesn't speak coldly. Instead, thoughtful, his attention on the darts gathered in his palm. He takes one between his fingers. ]

But, it's fine.

[ Glancing at Cloud, his mouth easy, as he stands at the line. ]

I was thinking of cheating, anyway.

[ Which will inevitably lead to the sort of answers now waged. As anyway leaves his mouth, still looking more at Cloud, he throws, and it's simple. Those without enough cursed energy shouldn't be able to see anything, but here, who knows?

Dividing the center circle, the bullseye target, 7:3. The dart won't hit the exact center of the circle, but it hits within it. ]

It's not about how good or bad you are at blending in.

[ Nanami's definitely not been paying attention to that, whether from this guy or anyone else. Maybe he's more than half-good, maybe it is obvious and he's terrible. His demeanor's easy enough, so the former's believable.

Matter-of-fact, as though he's noting that it was cloudy two days ago, sunny yesterday, sunny today. ]

Of the so-called Chosen here today, the first batch of us arrived about two months ago. Another batch followed last month. Another this month. There aren't so many of us that new faces won't stand out.

[ Taking up the table knife to cut a helping of meat on his plate, then spearing the cut on his fork, not yet bringing it to his mouth. ]

I'm not. Moreover, the Aldripians are too welcoming, and it's their town.

Don't thank me yet. I don't think they mean to poison all us 'hardened criminals'-- [ her voice, and the look on her face, goes flat at that, which kind of puts a damper on what's supposed to be a casual remark ] --in one swoop, but I wouldn't rule it out entirely, with what they're serving.

[ She leans on the doorframe, tucking her hands in her jacket pockets. The carousing in the main room of the inn goes on, as raucous as it was before, but it doesn't sound like anyone else is getting out of line. So far? ]

Have you, now? I can't say I've ever tried to sweet-talk a company of men into compliance... [ A thoughtful pause. ] Though I bet that's how the King of Figaro runs the country, back home.

Friendle-- [There's something about that nickname that just makes Akechi's blood boil. It's not incorrect and something he'd normally just shrug off. But this man is beyond infuriating, with his patronizing attitude and pretended ignorance. All enough to make Akechi peek up from his hands and leer at his way.

If only a stare could kill and so on.]

No. That's not it. You-- [Did something. Something to erase the awakening within his heart that called upon the Personas. But he has a feeling that getting an answer out of the man in his current state would be fruitless endeavour. So he drops his head back to his hands and muffles]

Nevermind. You know nothing, right?

[It's really too bad that Akechi can't just let go of that tension and relax, as he is very much outside of his comfort-zone here. He's not enjoying the dance-off a bit and is fully powered by the drive to win. (which might not be happening anytime soon.)

However, to create the illusion of enjoyment he crafts a playful smirk to his face as he continues to dance, trying his best to match Kotone's movements.

Luckily, the song doesn't last more than the usual 4 minutes. While Akechi isn't really out of the breath he does feel few droplets of sweat damping the back of his neck, making some of his hair stick to his skin. ]

So, [He offers her an effortless smile and brings his hand to rest against his hip.] how was that?

[The book Akechi is currently reading isn't exactly the most captivating one that he's come across. The writing is dull and mundane, but the worst part is that it doesn't really contain any useful information about the Adlrip or its people. So, he's just mostly flipping through pages, reading only first few sentences of the each paragraph, when Shinjiro decides to join him.

He looks up from his book and is almost ready to either ask if he needed something or to tell him to get lost, but then he notices to book in under his arm and.. slightly reluctantly nods, allowing him to join him. Well, at least it seems like that this stranger will be quiet and easy to deal with!

Unlike the locals approaching them, trying to coax them to leave their little quiet bubble and party. Akechi opens his mouth to refuse the offer (to put it nicely) but his companion beats him to it and.. Oh, well. The stranger doesn't look all that friendly, so his harsh reply doesn't come to as that big surprise, but still it makes Akechi frown a little. ]

What he means is 'no thank you'. We'll join you guys later. [It's said with a small smile. Look, he can play the nice guy this time since Shinji seems to be keen on taking the bad guy role.]

[ He gives a placid smile in return, inviting Reno to figure out which it is himself. He'd like to think that if he was a pushover he wouldn't be angling for a fight, but Zhou Zishu has seen far too many self-important idiots getting their asses handed to them to think skill means anything in the face of a challenge. Besides, he likes being underestimated.

Though the question does earn an arched eyebrow. He likes his drink fine, but if he'd claimed everything around them, he'd be dead. ]

I'm not drunk, if that's what you're after.

[It's already very late and Akechi isn't really feeling that well. He's tired and hurting all over. Mainly from the headache now that he's slowly sobering up and the dull ache on his jaw where Akira had punched him only an hour or so earlier. Then there were the bruises on his back from their fight...

So, needlessly to say, Akechi wasn't in the best mood. He's more than ready to return to his room and call it a night. He hoped to be lucky enough forget about the disastrous events of the night(we all know he's not). But then he sees a flash of familiar red moving swiftly from table to table, picking up cups and other trash. For a quick moment he watches her from afar, wondering if this was just a trick of a mind. He had met Akira almost immediately after his arrival, so it's... surprisingly annoying that he sees Yoshizawa only now.

His state isn't really optimal, and he almost follows up with his plan to go upstairs to his room but ends up deciding against it. Taking a deep breath, straightening his back and trying to look as normal as possible (just ignore the red spot on his jaw, plz) he walks up to her.]

I see you're keeping yourself busy, Yoshizawa-san.

There's nothing weir- oh!

[Well, it's a good thing there wasn't anything weird in it, because Vi is just going right for it. Kotone clasps her hands behind her back with a grin, bouncing a little on her heels. She'd adapted her banana cupcake recipe to one more suited to the local fruits, but-]

Do you like it?

[She tried really hard, and she's usually pretty good at baking, so she hopes so...]

[He levels her with an impassive look, letting her finish, and then pouches his lips outward like he's trying to balance a pencil between his nose and upper lip, thinking. A hum is the only warning she gets before he stoops and hooks his arms securely around her, hoisting her off the ground and wrapping her up securely in his arms.]

Don't be sorry, be Sumire. [He could have given her a speech, but he's not much of a speech guy. So he just hugs her, and focuses all his attention on her. She seemed to appreciate being looked at-- he had to assume it had something to do with being in Kasumi's shadow her whole life, and he was happy to provide her all the attention she wanted.]

[Given his lack of experience it's no surprise that Akechi isn't exactly good at handling his alcohol. He hadn't meant to get drunk at all, only to drink enough to outmatch his rival who had appeared to Aldrip among the recent arrivals. But only after two pints of the so called piss-water-beer (which, to be honest, was rather accurate description) he finds himself flushed and light-headed as the alcohol did its job. It's distracting enough that he doesn't really pay attention to the person sitting closest to him as he's slowly nursing his current drink.

Only after that the redhead speaks he raises his red eyes up from his glass, looking at her with an amused smile.]

A jail? Not a bad way to look at this place.

[ Fai pauses when he senses Nanami's presence again, standing up straight and setting a mug that had been discarded on the floor onto the table right next to him. ]

Could you show me where they are, boss?

[ He supposes they're in a nearby supply closet, but it's more fun to have someone show him where they are than to look for them himself. ]

[ He laughs lightly, the idea of a roaring fire accompanying a gathering like this sounding quite nice. Maybe he can make a suggestion for one next time around.

But for now, Fai takes note of that raised brow and simply moves Claude's hand right to his hip. They're already dancing, so there's no need to be overly polite. ]

Fai D. Flowright. Although, just Fai is fine.

[ And with how smoothly they're moving, he can't help but make a little remark: ]

You seem used to this.

[ Fai looks down at that phone, wondering what exactly it is. Some kind of locating device? But he glances back up before a sheepish look overtakes his expression. ]

A red motorcycle... those are the bicycles that move fast right? They're loud too.

[ Sorry, Roche. He's only recently learned that cars exist, and he still has trouble placing the name to the object. ]

"Contest" implies there'd be a prize for the winner.

[ Which sounds a little too close to "paying for intel" for his liking, but he doesn't make a point of showing just what he thinks of that idea on his face just yet. ]

What kinda reward would you say's fair for something like that?

What's "not drunk," anyway? I mean, I'm not drunk, but that's a pretty different "not drunk" than yours. Statistically speakin'.

[ What "statistics" he's using for this are a mystery, but don't worry about it. What's important is that he's completely sure he's right and probably is, and with that level of confidence, you don't need things like numbers to back up things you blurt out from on top of a table. ]

Anyway, yeah. I'll take you on, sure.

[ Shifting his stance, he steps down on the edge of table so that it lifts up off one of its tripod legs and tilts down toward the floor, then slides down with ease. The table tips back the other way without his weight on it, narrowly avoiding just flipping over entirely. ]

Whadya fight with?

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Page 21 of 45

(OPEN MINGLE) Ain't no party like an Aldrip party

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D - welcome to the drama

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