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

Entry tags:

(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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Joel glances at the person next to him, raising his eyebrows skeptically. ]

Why should I do that? To make you feel better? You need me to tell you that things could be worse for you?

[Kaeya's smile widens, undeterred by Joel's terse response.]

That's quite the assumption you're making! I assure you that it's not my intention to pry. Is it a crime to make conversation? It helps to have allies, you know.

[Especially in uncertain circumstances like these.]

Guess if we're all criminals here...

[ Joel snorts faintly, because the concept of crime is still absurd to him, even after a couple of months in this place. ]

[Kaeya glances at his mug, briefly considering whether or not he wants to hazard another sip... but instead, he nudges it aside and closer to Joel. Waste not, want not, correct?]

According to whom, I wonder? I will admit I've made my fair share of mistakes in life, but it's a tall order to accept my newfound status as a criminal when I've yet to stand before a judge and jury.

[And even if he had, what authority do they have over him?]

[ Hey, another beer. Joel won't complain about that. He slides it closer to himself, lining it up. He doesn't say thanks, just grunts a vague acknowledgment. ]

Everyone's probably a criminal, by someone else's standards. Not sure what makes us special.

[LISTEN telepathy is hard when you're boredline drunk and there's a lot of loud, drunk minds around you.

Ven blinks, because he swears he knew what card he was seeing in her mind, but it's when a table next to them flips over the very card in his hand that he scoffs at himself.]

Right card, wrong table, I suppose.

[And that means it might be time to give his "card tricks" a rest for the night, before he completely blows his telepathy cover.]

Perhaps even friends. [Ven is still hesitant about this place, but he's trying to relax into it and open himself up. It's not so much that he's a creature of habit, but he doesn't like not knowing what's going to on. Side effect of being telepathic, he supposed, because it was easy to pick up on trends of behavior with a glance at a mind. But even the local's minds didn't give up any information. There was so much unknown about here and it was driving him crazy not having all the answers.]

Honestly? It's not so bad, if you get past the fact that we're all supposedly criminals. But everyone I've met has been nothing but welcoming, Chosen and otherwise.

[ Honestly, at this point in the party, it's hard to look a gift horse in the mouth--even if it comes from the asshole that thought fun and games involved bombs and electric shock therapy in an old rundown church. With a grim sort of look, he pushes his empty glass in Reno's direction and claims the mostly-full one he's offered, clutching it and bringing it to his lips for a long swallow.

Poisoned or not, at least it's cold. Tastes just about the same as everything else. ]

Baby jail party. [ Yeah, that kind of makes him want to laugh. ] Too bad you actually are a criminal. Pretty sure I can't make a plea for your life or whatever when the proof's all there.

[ It's maybe the first time he doesn't feel particularly bothered by Reno pulling out a pack of cigarettes and lighting up; it's maybe also the first time he's ever considered smoking himself. Something about all the liquor makes it feel like the sort of risky business that's right up his thought avenue.

Still: better not to ask. Better to not even engage more than is necessary, so it's back to his (their) glass for another long gulp. ]

...The kids? [ That at least earns an actual laugh, scoffed under his breath. ] What kids? I haven't even...

[ Whoa, too much information there. He immediately shakes his head, but it makes it ache a little. ] No Tifa. She's not here. Haven't seen Rude or anyone from Shinra, except the one that's supposed to be dead.

[ There's nothing particularly cold in his voice: and nothing that makes him think he's offended him, and yet the words stick with him in a way, uncomfortable, as though maybe he's overstepped his boundaries; they might be drinking buddies, or he might even wager a cautious throw towards the term friends if not safer to leave it as acquaintances. He's had so few of them that it's hard to know if he's pushing too hard, going towards something uncomfortable.

The thing is, he'd been pretty damn good at darts. Beat out Wedge's score, anyway, back in Seventh Heaven, and made it to the top of the list. Whether Nanami doesn't want to share or not will be at the mercy of the game, maybe.

As his gaze goes to the easy dart that Nanami throws at the board: his expression shifts into an annoyed sort of scowl. ]

Guess I'm not entitled to anything. [ --with a faint lift of his lips in a reluctant sort of smile, as he decides not to go for the dart board, but for his glass instead. Gulping it down. ] I'm gonna lose.

[ It's easy enough to feel the stare, and like any other, he feels himself grow uneasy with it--he's never been particularly keen on people looking at him, but at least in this instance, he knows that whatever uncanny glow Roche sees in his face, it's too similar to his own to really be scared or put off by it. Rather, he finds himself wondering what could be so interesting at all; he's grateful, then, when it seems they're able to take the shot in stride.

With a half-hearted tilt of the glass in an answering cheers, he brings it to his lips, swallows it down, and--immediately makes a face of disgust, staring at the glass in abject horror. The hell is this? He's never really been one to drink, other than a few orders at Seventh Heaven under the guise of sounding knowledgeable, and immediately, he slides the empty shot glass back onto the counter. ]

Melon? Lime? [ He's licking his lips and goes for a swig of beer, choking slightly on it at the words: you're a very hard man to find. ] ...Nope. Never heard that before.

[ He probably has. With a half-breath, a snort of amusement, he gives Roche a look. ]

I woke up in the field, too. Seems you were just a few weeks too late to catch me there. Are we doing another round?

[ Oh. Well. That's not so—wait. ]

As long as we're not talking home-cooked, yeah, maybe. They got some halfway decent restaurants around here, right? Or hell, they can just get an extra helping of the bar cheese, assuming they don't run out.

[ I mean, it's pretty good cheese. But they're undoubtedly gonna run out. Reno helps himself to a slice from one of the myriad plates scattered all over just to make the point. ]

[ Poor Stede. Don't go hoping Reno's going to come to the rescue: all he does is let his mouth drop open in amazement, then immediately start cackling like a hyena. Now this is entertainment. ]

Holy shit. C'mon, man, walk it off! Get back in there and show him why you don't screw around with pirates!

[ Or something. ]

[He burrows into the hollow of her shoulder in response, squeezing her gently.]

Listennnn, I didn't know the punch was spiked.

Huh. Probably worth digging into, or it would be if we had access to whoever it is that's been...

[ Gesturing kind of aimlessly with one hand. "Kidnapping us"? "Dragging us here"? Insert whatever verb makes sense here—he can't decide which one. Once he's got his drink, he lays into it with a long sip. ]

If that were the case, though, I wouldn't have to go wheedlin' it outta guys like you.

Sure can. I'm just full of hidden talents like that.

[ Anyone who knows him would also probably have a thing or two to say about "Reno" and "can cook" in the same sentence, but to be fair, he's never really cooked for most of them before, either. And besides, "can cook" is a—a broad statement. It can also just mean "makes one specific thing well" or "doesn't burn this house down." Whatever the case, Reno wears a smug smirk, like he's pleased to have this special skill of his acknowledged for once, although that might also have something to do with the whole checking out/being checked out thing they've got going on here. ]

Already planning for the morning after, huh? You don't waste any time.

[He's Kaeya Alberich, and he liked dandelion wine before it was cool.]

[Akira chuckles softly, grinning so hard his eyes crease at the outer corners.] 's okay, I've been arrested before. It's only bad if they're really bad cops. [He leans closer, abruptly.] I don't think you're a bad cop, Mr. Alberich.

[ Safe to say they've both had at least a couple, then. This should be interesting.

He continues to watch as Reno finally makes his way to the ground, tracking the man's movements as he cocks his head in thought. He doesn't look armed, but that's not saying much, Zhou Zishu doesn't either. And pulling his sword seems like a poor idea in a crowded room like this, when they're just testing each other. He does have some self-preservation instincts, even if he's choosing to ignore most of them at the moment. ]

No weapons.[ He holds his empty hands out at his sides to make the point. ] For now. If that serves?

[ If he can get a laugh out of Cloud, he can go willingly and happily to his sentenced electric chair. Even that tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth is enough to get him amped up with encouragement. Not that he spends his days lurking around the Edge bar, pining for the chance to share drinks with Cloud and gaze upon his dour face like some people, but this is kinda how it should be, right? Just a couple of guys in a post-Midgar world, both of them doing their bit to set things straight, having a cold one and shooting the shit. Especially now that all the trouble's been averted—they earned this after all that remnant shit.

He shrugs his shoulders, amicably accepting the assessment. ]

Yeah, and so're you. I'd at least throw a "but he's got some sick moves" out there in your defense before they send you to the firing squad, though. I got your back.

[ And there's the laugh. Not sure how he would've thought he'd react, but what he does is put his chin in his hand and smile like somebody's just started telling him a whimsical bedtime story. So that's how it sounds, huh? Cu—lmao wait hang on. His hand pulls away from his chin so fast he almost falls into the table. ]

Haven't even what? You can't just say two fucking depressing things back to back like that! Three depressing things, actually. That little girl's gonna give you hell when she hears you forgot about her. "Again," if my recollection's right.

[ No Rude, then, definitively. He could've guessed, seeing as he hasn't turned up by now, but it feels like a rock drops into his stomach when Cloud says it so pointedly. It's too early to start feeling some type of way about it, at least. They've been apart before. It's when the time drags on and the total absence—no way to contact, as if he doesn't even exist—that it might start fucking with his head. But hey, at least he's got his good buddy, the virgin Cloud. And—? ]

Wait, you talkin' about the Prez? Rufus? He's here?

[ Whether or not Nanami suspects that Fai's having a little fun at his expense is immaterial. It's better manners not to go around opening doors at random, even in a public establishment while volunteering services. Nanami doesn't work here, hasn't at any point in the last two few months, but he's eaten and drank here enough to know where they keep the brooms.

Crossing to one such door, which does look very much like a door to a supply closet, he opens it. Reaching in with two hands to take a broom in each, he then turns and probably not seriously considers tossing one at Fai (more than suspecting that fun) before holding it out instead. ]

Here. Please don't call me boss.

[ He could turn that on her — everyone needs help sometimes, and it's plain she needs it more than he does in the moment. It might come off like he's interested in continuing to debate it, and be heavy-handed besides, since the phrase sounded almost habitual.

Nanami's already clocked that, because he doesn't recognize her face, she must have arrived with the latest batch. If he hadn't, he'd like to think that the fact she has to ask whether he's from this place evinces a lack of familiarity. Otherwise, he'd need to square with himself that he somehow resembles or behaves like an Aldripian.

The prospect alone stays him, expression briefly blank as he leaves the rag on the table, leaning a hip against it as he faces her properly. ]

I'm not from this place. [ Perhaps because her wince hadn't gone unnoticed, perhaps because he would have anyway after hours of light drinking, he adds, ] That is, though it's a shit name, I count amount The Chosen.

Since you're new, [ having no problem with assuming in this instance, ] that's another reason not to push yourself so hard, so soon.

Probably.

[ Agreeing, though it's certainly possible Cloud's excellent at darts and would match him. Nanami has good aim and high precision even without using his technique, but he could certainly slip up. The beer's shit, but he's been drinking enough of it at a steady pace. ]

But if I'm caught cheating, then I've already lost.

[ Nonetheless, he readies the next dart. ]

The Memorandum on the Obligation of Jujutsu Sorcerers, a legal agreement between jujutsu sorcerers and the civilian government, forbids disclosure to non-sorcerers of anything pertaining to sorcery, or shamanism, be it cursed techniques, cursed spirits, or cursed objects.

[ Throwing the second dart. It lands just above the first, still securely within that center circle. ]

The punishments for violating that rule, and any of the others, range from property confiscation to house arrest to death. Logically, none of that would apply here. I've also already told you a little about cursed spirits. Nonetheless, I deemed it prudent to continue adhere in this still unknown situation.

[ Third dart, third throw, third center hit. ]

It's true I worked for a school. Jujutsu High trains sorcerers and doubles as the headquarters for sorcerers in Tokyo.

[ Stepping forward to retrieve his darts, Nanami then returns to his cup, gesturing for Cloud to take his position at the line. ]

Then no more! [But she's laughing as she says it, not really sounding like she's commanding it or anything.

She's quiet for a long moment, just resting against him.] How long are you going to hold me? Aren't I going to get heavy for you?

Yeah, they're not interested in showing their faces to us.

Makes sense. If you could effectively lock up people you'd decided were evil, without having to face them, I'm sure you would.

[ Everyone would. ]

I'd say you owe me a few more at the very least.

_{[ Anyone else and it might've come off as foreboding but since it's Roche and this is Cloud he's speaking to? He's all grins and eagerness. A glimmer of the man who lurks beneath the SOLDIER, and he doesn't hesitate to wave down the bartender for another round. Make it two just to be safe. Thankfully it doesn't take long for the first set and with another motion, Roche knocks it back with a barely there grimace.

Alright, so that one was a little more potent. ]}

Lime, I think. _{[ Wow. ]} You know, ordinarily I'd be much more upset with you seeing as you've eluded me twice, but... Well, I finally found you, didn't I?

_{[ Even if it was completely by sheer dumb accidental luck. ]}

What do I have to do to get the story out of you, hm? First I couldn't find nary a trace of your lovely face in the slums, then after fearing the worst I find out you broke into HQ and skipped town without so much as a "goodbye"? It's like you're trying to break my heart, Sunshine.

[ She just shrugs, turning the apple over in her hand and even giving it a toss and catching it a time or two. She should probably more suspicious about this than she is right now. ]

I'm... just not used to strangers handing me apples. But you're not an old hag, and I'm not Snow White, so that's a good start.

[ ...She sniffs the apple. Where did he get this...? ]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 24 of 45

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject