open mingle - bust the moves, old timer!

[traumaticus]

Who: Adults [citation needed] of Aldrip!
Where: The Tavern
What: A night out for the senior grown up folks of the chosen
Warnings: I'd say pretty much what you'd expect from a set-up like this! Please be sure to mark any potential warnings on the comment subjects!



**Ok, it says adults of the Aldrip. But icly there is really no one to keep an eye on this. So, if a rebellious or unassuming teen wishes to sneak in to smuggle out a beer and/or listen to old ppl talk about how things were good back in their days then they're welcomed :D




Sometime around the first week of the November there are fliers and posters posted around the Aldrip, welcoming the population of The Chosen to enjoy a night out at the tavern attached to the inn. There's some mention about the place changing the ownership from native citizen to one of the chosen, but that's not important! Not when there is also mention of the food, drink and the games! So yes. Come all!

The atmosphere at the tavern itself is warm and welcoming. The electric lights have turned dim so that they don't overthrow the candles that are burning on each table, creating a cozy and warm ambient lighting around the guest area. Those who've visited the establishment before, perhaps during their own stay, might notice that the decor of the place has barely been changed -- aside from the white roses that are the centerpiece of each decoration placed on the wall.

The staff at the tavern has been instructed to serve the chosen all night. While they might not like it, they still follow through the orders without much of a protest (that is unless someone were to provoke them), bringing them food and drinks as promised. If someone were to ask what's on the menu they'll simply answer something along the words "the big bird", whatever that means. As for drinks? Unfortunately, the selection is not the most vast or spread out, containing mostly just beer, wine, whiskey, simple cocktails. Though, if someone wants the real good stuff they can always ask the barkeeper what's under the counter.

As for the activities? There's a dart board placed on one of the walls, and there are cards & dice available if one wishes to partake to some lighthearted gambling. There's even a jenga with a little dares and questions written on the blocks. While there's no karaoke-set in the place this time, there is a live band who will take requests and leave the mic open for those who have the urge to bust out to a song!


Now everyone! Remember to be in your best behavior.

Comments

vash! OTA!!

[skelters]

➤ food first, drink whenever!

[ alright, there is some food - but if you're hitting the heavy alcohol, you feel like something a little more substantial than bowls of fries and chicken nuggets (or other "big bird" varieties of your choice) ... which is why vash is wandering around, a small notepad and a pencil that he's wrangled from one of the staff member, asking everyone their choice of pizza order.

i'm sure they won't mind, right? he'll clean up all the rubbish afterwards, and everything!

anyway, if they're sitting at the bar, or in the booths, or the open tables, vash will soon spot them and slide up to where they are sitting or standing with a big smile, as though he totally works here and isn't here just like the rest of them to unwind and have a drink; ] Hello! Do you feel like a pizza? I can go get some, so I'm asking everybody what they want on it!

➤ games

[ vash is so down to challenge anyone for a game of dart, cards or jenga!! pick your game and i can do a starter or vice versa, i'm keeping this lazy and open!

note that vash will try to cheat outrageously at any card game despite me not knowing any rules, so let's have fun! ]

➤ time for drinks

[ despite how much he's been running around (as always) to make sure everyone's having a great time, at some point in the evening you might see vash sitting on one end of the bar with a couple of fingers' worth of whisky in the glass in front of him. spread out in front of him is a simple cocktail menu, which he seems to be reading ... but maybe he isn't, and he's just zoning out? is he drunk? ]

➤ wildcard-y

[ have another wild drunken adventure in mind? hit me! ]

jenga!!!!!!

[icequeenly]

[ The tower is already set up, it's just a matter of finding someone else to play this thing - a game that is apparently a staple at these types of parties. She's never heard of such a thing but it seems simple enough rules wise... no reason whatsoever as to why this could be a complete disaster.

Fortunately, Mitsuru has already picked her target to play this game with her. She's already the tiniest bit tipsy, probably why she's not overthinking exactly what could come up if they go through with this. ]

So it seems I must challenge you to a jenga duel, Vash.

[ Is it even a duel though? Technically? Of course she can't be normal about this and talk like someone who is actually a nineteen year old from the noughties and not a medieval queen... ]

[skelters]

[ and for vash, who's never seen a jenga tower in his life nor what this particular tower is so fraught with danger, comes trotting over like a friendly dog being called - he's got a bright red drink in one hand (a "cocktail", someone called it, and it really wasn't half bad! fruity and tart, actually!!), and after about five of those and a few others, he's feeling the beginnings of a pleasant buzz ... or maybe that's just from being around so many other people in a definitely non-stressful situation. ]

Mitsuru! You're here too!!! A party sure is great, right??

[ he comes to a stop beside the table, and finally his attention seems to focus on the tower set up in between them ... ]

... Um, how do you play it, again?

i'm here for Board Game

[manifestering]

[The great mystery is this: why did Octavian come to this party? After all, he's made it very clear to nearly everyone he's talked to in Aldrip since arriving that he's really not into socializing, or groups, or clubs— really anything with more than two or three people at a time, five maximum if he's feeling adventurous. So the fact that he is hovering around the edges of this... "gathering for adults" is possibly a surprise, if anyone actually notices him.

Maybe underneath all of his complaints about groups and people he's been alone for a very long time, and just hovering at the literal edges of this party is enough socializing for him. No one even has to talk to him!

But oh, there's Vash, and Octavian drifts over to him eventually. What is Vash doing at this very moment? Doesn't matter, he's interrupting:]

Did you choose a board game.

[Hi, play a game with him, and also shut up in advance!!]

smashes octavian w a chess board metal chair

[skelters]

[ oh don't worry, vash probably wasn't doing anything much worth speaking of, either - for someone who seems like he was born to chat up anybody and everybody (and does indeed play into that expectation most of the time), he also seems to have moments where he hovers at the edge of things - not because he doesn't want to join in, necessarily, but rather because he's holding himself back - of course, none of this will be all that obvious unless someone is observing him carefully. ]

Octavian! Hello!!

[ it's like he has some kind of sensor-radar field around him, because he looks up almost before the other speaks - his head snapping up with a big, thousand watt smile directed straight towards his ghostly (self proclaimed, not returned?) friend. ]

I did! How do you feel about Scrabble? I thought about card games too, but maybe too many pieces are too complicated - oh, but so is Scrabble - but at least it's easier to grab for you, maybe? Is that alright? Or we could choose something else!

[ it's almost as though he's trying to overcompensate for how quietly he'd been sitting with his elbows resting against the bar. suspicious ... ]

Root & Shaw | OPEN

[computation]

[ Prompts for each of us below, and one joint prompt ♥ ]

Root + Shaw | OPEN

[computation]

[ Root arrives wearing a slinky black dress with mesh sleeves and royal blue stilettos, makeup classic and hair artfully tumbled. She's accessorized with a medium handbag just large enough to store some weaponry and her dark web communicator. She poses next to Shaw like she's a Hollywood trophy wife, teetering above her on her heels, delicately grasping Shaw's arm.

What she's actually doing is using a precise steel grip to propel Shaw toward people she knows. ]

Let me introduce you, sweetheart.

[ If you know Root even slightly, expect her to approach you with Shaw in tow! ]

shows up 5 days late with coffee

[melnik]

[ Although it's his first time seeing Root in the flesh, it still strikes Miller as oddly fitting that she comes to greet him with some unexpected development alongside her. Whatever is need to know is never minced with her. And so, even though he's looking all too military casual in comparison to her, he more or less takes it in stride, moving away from the bar to meet the two with a drink in hand. ]

Root, is that you? So we finally run into each other!

[ It doesn't go without notice that Shaw is being, um, encouraged to say hello, but nevertheless, he nods his head in her direction. ]

Good evening. You can call me Miller. Have you just arrived?

here to meet the girls

[traumaticus]

[The host of the night is, for once, also dressed in more "casual" wear compared to his usual leather attire. Though goths gotta goth, right? Richard does notice Root as she arrives to the inn, dressed to impress and with... a friend? Richard assumes.

When the pair makes their way to him, Richard crosses one hand over his chest as he gives them a bow.]

Miss Root. It's a pleasure to see you here tonight, looking so dazzling. I see you have brought a friend, too. [Yeah. Not even the nickname is enough to make Richard clock it, sorry. The ladies in court would often walk arm-in-arm and call each other with endearments or so. But! Richard offers his hand to Shaw, palm up.] Richard Plantagenet.

Root | OPEN

[computation]

[ You can also find Root alone with a drink -- something brightly colored and fruity -- making a pest of herself with the Jenga blocks. They were unaccompanied, which means it's her turn to make her own prompts on them.

Someone might catch from looking over her shoulder that she's using a Sharpie to write crimes on them.

Murder... kidnapping... identity theft... hacking... extortion... drugging... Her handwriting is getting small and cramped to fit some of these. ]

[cactusy]

[Shaw isn't great at physical affection - not because she's particularly offended by it in theory, but because it doesn't come naturally to her, to the extent that she has to consciously remind herself to do it even in situations where it's appropriate or expected of her. This is fine most of the time, because she's not often in those situations, and half the time when she is she doesn't care about not meeting expectations - but it does occur to her now that Root is prancing around telling everyone how close they are and how much they care about each other, and to people who don't know her from Adam, her natural stonewall demeanor probably comes off as particularly strange in that light.

This is why, in the interest of not making Root look like she's the delusionally overinvested half of a mismatched partnership, Shaw sidles up to her at the Jenga table and very deliberately slips an arm around her waist, leaning into her shoulder. It's much more the sort of move that Root would normally use on her, but Shaw thinks she pulls it off okay.

Mostly. She might be leaning a little too hard.]

You realize you've tried more than half of these on me?

Sameen Shaw | OTA

[cactusy]

[Taverns are a bit too old-world for Shaw's tastes, and she's very much not a fan of this style of social night - so under most other circumstances, she would have skipped out entirely. But when Root had brought it up, she'd actually seemed kind of pumped about it, and... well. It's not that Shaw finds it difficult to say no to Root; that is, in fact, something that she can do quite easily and with zero guilt). It's just that it's been a hell of a long time since she's seen her properly happy, and the glimpses that she keeps spotting here are something that she wants to encourage and draw out.

But after Root finished parading her around and showing her off to her buddies, Shaw slips off into a dark corner on her own, nursing a drink and doing her best to be unobtrusive as she people-watches. Once she's had a couple drinks in her, she slips over to the games table, musing aloud as she considers the dartboard:]

I bet I can come up with a way to up the ante and make this really fun.

[Dare you ask how, fellow partygoers?]

[solitarysoul]

[Levi looks up from where he sits, reshuffling a deck of cards.]

Oh yeah? How so.

ellie, ota. party crashing!!

[giraffic]

cw for food scarcity issues ala canon just to be safe

[ with nothing better to do, it's time to get a feel for the adults in this place take more food CRASH A PARTY

without anyone really watching the door, she's slipping right on in. of course, she's come prepared, a fake mustache drawn just below her nose. Very Adult.

a. not that she's making too much effort to go unnoticed, flitting from set up to set up. she's taking over one of the empty dart games, but she can be caught catching a glance at those cards too. she hasn't played poker in forever.

b. otherwise, once the real reverie begins, she's taking advantage of the distraction. bit by bit, food disappears from people's tables as Ellie passes by, the small pocket of her jacket becoming heavier. or is that jacket just big on her? it's hard to tell.

she might be getting a little overconfident when she goes to grab someone's actual drink, though. ]

b

[cactusy]

[Shaw isn't expecting the attempted drink-grab, so there's a little bit of a scramble as she snatches it back, amber liquid sloshing up over the glass and onto her hand. Honestly, that's more offensive than the fact that someone's invaded her Lurking Corner^TM.]

You're going for a whiskey? Seriously?

Re: b

[giraffic]

[ she strokes her fake mustache contemplatively, before putting on her best imitation of a deep southern drawl ]

Beggin' your pardon ma'am, I must have mistook it for my own.

b

[traumaticus]

[When Richard first sees the child running around the tavern among the older folk, he merely raises a curious brow at her. It wasn't like that they weren't allowed inside but, you know, he couldn't really fathom why would a small child take interest to gatherings like this. But he leaves her alone for now.

That, however, changes when he spots the girl later on. This time pocketing food from unassuming guests plate like some street urchin. Sighing through his nose, Richard approaches her from behind]

Thievery is not tolerated here, child. You may indulge in the contents of your haul, if so you wish. However, do not let a single crumb leave this building.

Re: b

[giraffic]

[ Ellie looks at him for all of ten seconds, the picture of a teenager with an authority problem, before she's just shoveling whatever she's just grabbed into her mouth defiantly. ]

Yeah? Or what?

Daan - OTA

[magnamedicinal]

who's going to tell him? (cw: smoking)

[It had taken a bit of wandering, but Daan had finally found his way to the promised land of alcohol and dim lighting. It was no Bop, but maybe that was a good thing.

Sitting at the bar, he's nursing a glass of whiskey and a bowl of peanuts, looking perfectly content to mind his own business and leave the socializing to others. There's just one little problem - he's from the 40s, and nobody's told him that smoking indoors isn't something people do anymore, which has him lighting up a cigarette right at the bar without a second thought. Will you be the one to break the news to him?]

[solitarysoul]

[Levi considers himself an adult, so he's here in am attempt to get drunk force himself to get used to crowds. He's spent most of the time in a corner by himself, so that's not going great but seeing Daan gets him to move. He takes his drink and heads over.]

Hey. You settling in?

[magnamedicinal]

[Unfortunately, Levi, Daan does Not consider you an adult. That doesn't stop him from sliding the peanut bowl over and giving a smile that, by Daan standards, is fairly warm.]

As well as I can. A part of me is still waiting for the other shoe to drop, though.

[He cracks open a peanut and waves the shell at Levi.] Aren't you a little young to be in here? [His eye casts down towards the drink.] And to be drinking that?

[traumaticus]

[Well! Luckily (??) for Daan, the newest owner of the inn comes from even further back. From time before cigarettes, actually. In fact, his only introduction to tobacco is from other smokers, who would not hesitate to indulge in their vice in public or indoors. So yeah, fret not. Richard will not be kicking him out.

Instead, he merely approaches the stranger, with a polite expression on his features.]

Greetings, my friend. I hope that the evening has treated you well so far.

richard | ota

[traumaticus]

I - The Master of The House

[Hosting banquets and such were essential part of a nobleman. They did not only work as a means to strengthen the social network but also to showcase ones wealth over the others. Richard, himself, did not care much for such events, only partaking to them when his presence was required by the king. His own banquets were more modest, done out of necessity to take part of in the theater called royal court.

But as for the purpose of tonight? Well, it would be lying to say that it didn't have similar meaning as the parties he experienced back at home. The purpose had been to create a possibility for The Chosen to meet and mingle, strengthen their previous bond and create new ones with the recent patch having arrived not too long ago. And to get his own name out there, of course, to familiarize more people with his name and face. Let it serve as the practice of penance for the damned Council.

So yes. Richard was very much just playing a good host. And hey! For once he has chosen more casual outfit for the event. He's not much of a busybody, though, trusting that the staff of the inn knows how to handle their shit without him. Once or twice he can be seen ordering more food and drinks to be brought about, but that's all. Otherwise he's around meeting, greeting and mingling with the fellow Chosen. Whether he knows you or not, Richard will make it his business to talk with pretty much everyone around.

"Greetings, I hope this evening has been treating you well."
"Well met. How are you faring, my friend."
"Please, do not hesitate to tell me if there is something you need."

Yada yada. The usual polite small that you'd expect to hear. Well, anyway. As the night goes on he does, too, relaxes a bit. Richard takes part to some of the activities around. Although even that is mostly limited to cards and dice though. And that's because it is the only thing he feels even remotely familiar with. But he can be seen observing curiously someone to play jenga and such.]


II - doling out the charm

[And just like always! If Richard's around it means that his trusted animal companion isn't far! Whitey the albino boar is also present at the tavern, strutting around like he belongs there. If you happen to be eating anything you bet that there's a gentle poke to your legs as Whitey tries to get your attention. As if to say "Hey! Remember to share the good stuff with the co-host!" But worry not, if Whitey gets too pushy, Richard will be there to chastise the boar.

When not going after for the scraps of the food, Whitey can be seen snoozing on the pile of ridiculously luxurious and fluffy cushions that's set in the corner at the bar. Feel free to give into the temptation and pet him. Just feel how soft that white coat can be.]

3 Dads & 2 Cups | closed: miller and silco

[traumaticus]

[Oh! Hello there Silco and Miller. It seems like you guys are enjoying your time here. Well, hope that you guys don't mind a friendly little interruption by no one else but your best friend. Which is Whitey, of course.

Yeah, once the boar spots a familiar human sitting at one of the round tables he instantly makes his way to him. And as his usual greeting he lets out a soft "Meep!" sound and pokes Silco's calf with his snout. Hello friend! Got any treats for your pal?

After that, he turns his brown beady eyes at the other man sitting at the table. Now, Whitey might be used to humans and like them even, but he is still a coward. So, the sight of a rather big and burly looking stranger doesn't encourage him enough to make any more contact than this. So, sorry Silco. He will be hiding behind you.

At least until a familiar voice calls out:]

Hey, Whitey. Stop that. [Yep. Richard to the rescue.]> My apologies, gentlemen. I hope he wasn't bothering your evening.

i

[coolerjunpei]

[There's about a hundred percent chance Junpei is here only because Charles saw the flyers and encouraged him to go, which is why he's definitely playing jenga alone and calling it good enough. He's not going near the cards or the dice—too many traumatic memories about, uh, casino games and dice rolls—so, it's jenga. Jenga and a single drink, which currently sits ignored as he gets more and more into building his jenga tower.

It's high enough now that he has to stand up from his chair to keep building it, but he's short, so that's not that high...

Anyway, hi Richard, he sees you lingering.]

Hey. You too busy to play?

[Mr. Host...]