aionlogs | EVENT #2: HEARTS LIKE YOURS (ACHAMOTH)

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EVENT #2: HEARTS LIKE YOURS (ACHAMOTH)

Achamoth

A DEITY'S WELCOME

After only a day or two on the river, the newly christened Kenoma will arrive in the city of Achamoth. The architecture is the more striking things about it, as if its skyline has been built up and constantly improved over many centuries. It's clear from even the riverside view that there is an artistic tendency towards building humanoid shapes into the supports and detailing of structures here, creating the strange effect of placing hundreds of silhouettes in your peripheral vision. If you ask the sailors why its like that, they will simply say it's the way its always been. Any metaphorical seed was planted long before anyone here was born.

The Citadel can be seen even from the entrance of the city, a towering spiral that looms over the rest of the land around it, lit from within by various magical energies. That's your destination, you are told. Soon, you will be passed into the care of the Citadel's staff, and will be sure to meet with city's elites not long after.

They aren't wrong. When you show up at the port closest to the Citadel, the street are always lined with people waiting to greet you. It's easy to recognize now how diverse the population of Horos can be, with many of those waiting showing off unusual heights, colors, and appendages, though appearances that are typically 'human' are still the most common. Most of them wear dark outfits with a gothic flare, with mask-like facial adornments apparently being fashionable. They cheer and chant as you come down from the boat, tossing flower petals and small gemstones onto the path you walk upon. This continues all the way to the Citadel.

Once you are inside, up winding paths of stairs, you will be shown to your new quarters to rest. You're each assigned a lavish bedroom with servants stopping by ever so often, offering to bring you food, clothing, or other items of comfort. There are a variety of soaps in your room's private bath. You are told that if you take a liking to any individual servant that you may claim them as your permanent retainer, though you are not required to. Their dispositions range from euphoric to be serving you to quiet and shy, but there is a notable lack of resentment.

After about a day of rest, you will be brought an official invitation by one of the servants. Apparently, the Regent has requested your presence for supper that evening. It is not optional.

THE FEAST

A few hours before suppertime, one of the servants will arrive to take you 'clothes shopping' for something appropriately formal to wears for your meeting with the Regent. In practice, this means taking you to one of several changing rooms filled with costly formal wear. The styles and sizes are diverse, which makes sense when you are informed that they are a collection of offerings from local weavers and seamstresses, some of which have been waiting for an owner for quite some time. From an Earthly point of view, there is a wide spectrum of cultural aesthetics, though most of them lean towards the same dark colors and gothic sensibilities that you saw the citizens of Achamoth wearing. Headpieces and artistic masks are plentiful, but not mandatory though the servant will tell you they are in vogue. A servant will be able to make alterations to your clothing with magic to achieve a proper fit.

After that, you have a couple more hours to prepare before you are invited to a lounge-like area for pre-meal drinks. You can get almost any kind of cocktail you can imagine, including some you can't, and will be allowed to chat each other up for about an hour before the feast begins. Some small appetizers are available, and soft, rhythmic music plays in the background. If you look for her, Xishen is present as well, dressed in a black evening gown with golden accents that flicker like stars in the night sky, her long hair pinned up into a messy bun and decorated with hair-sticks. As usual, she seems to be avoiding company for the moment, though she is keeping an eye on everyone. Perhaps she's counting heads to make sure there are no stragglers.

When the time arrives, two huge doors are opened, leading you into a room that looks like a mixture of a dining room and a cathedral. Ahead of you, three long takes are connected together in the shape of a triangle, with a large throne positioned at the point furthest into the room; it is presently empty. You'll be instructed to take a seat, basking in the multicolored flames of the candles and torches lighting the room. As you find your places, all seats will be filled except for the throne up front, with Xishen at its side. All you can do now is await your host.

[Mealtime interactions with the Regent can be threaded here. They will arrive right after the first course has been served.]

EXPLORATION

Having survived supper with the Regent, the next few weeks are essentially yours to plan. Though the Regent indicates that there is work for you to do on the Horizon, for now your orders are to simply rest and prepare. You'll have access to the Citadel's armory to acquire any basic armor or weaponry you could need; though none of what's on offer seems to be enchanted, it is undoubtedly the work of a master. Clothing is much the same as it was for the formal wear you picked out, though you will find there are more practical offerings available as well. If you don't find anything to your tastes, you are also welcome to go out on the town with a generous allowance from the Regent's own coffers.

Clothing isn't the only thing you can get out in the city, though. While there are material goods of many kinds available, the most tempting thing for many residents is the raw hedonism of the city's entertainment district. It has just about anything you could imagine, from day spas to gambling to brothels, and none of it is contained by the burden of law. Any Achamite entertainment seen as too intense to face daylight would certainly not be for the faint of heart.

The locals haven't had enough time to recognize the city's new Aions on sight, but if they see your shard or or any other sign of your status, you are bound to attract a lot of attention. You're a celebrity in these streets, and while it can get you plenty of favors or even unsolicited offerings, it can also be quite overwhelming. In many cases, Achamite's religious fervor exceeds their survival instinct, at least in terms of the ones most likely to bother you. They will back off if threatened by you, but they will take politeness as an invitation to continue.

When leaving the Citadel, a servant will usually try to accompany you, though they will stay behind if you order them to do so. They insist that it will be easier for you to get around with a dedicated guide, but in the end you're the one in charge.

QUESTIONS

How does my character picking a retainer work?
All Kenoma are offered the opportunity to take on an NPC retainer after arriving at the Citadel. This retainer will be an NPC created and played by you. They will be available day and night to attend to your character's needs. These servants understand the Regent largely from a religious perspective and will not have any outspoken anti-Regent sentiments, though they may or may not be nervous about their new master. Generally speaking, though, this is in a new job jitters sort of way, as working in the Citadel is considered to be a job of great cultural and religious significance. They want to do a good job! You are free to develop your retainer's personality and relationship with your character. If your character (or you) are not interested in having a personal retainer, they will instead be served by a rotation of unattached servants.

How much money are Kenomas given for shopping?
They will be given an emerald's worth in jools, which is 1000 units. This is about how much a minimum wage worker makes in two months. They will continue receiving spending money on a monthly basis, though the Citadel itself will take care of all of their needs. On an OOC level its safe to say that average city expenditures will be covered by the money they are given, though they are welcome to invest that money in making more money if they have to skills to do so.

What sorts of things are there in the entertainment district? Is anything illegal?
Almost everything is legal in Achamoth when it comes to entertainment, and there is not much government oversight in the way anything is run. This means that most 'entertainment' you can imagine is both present and largely unregulated, and it doesn't need to be underground on account of how permissive Achamite law is. Brothels, drugs, and even bloodsport are all fair game... technically, participants in brothels and bloodsports must be willing but that 'consent' can be pretty nebulous. 'Extreme' bloodsport is generally hush hush (those that are particularly graphic and unpleasant, or basically torture) and behind closed doors mostly just to avoid causing a fuss.

The one thing there is official rulings on, straight from the Regent, is the enforcement of 'age of consent' and laws against child abuse. Children are generally not allowed to participate in those skeevier activities and there is a cultural expectation for people to raise their children properly, though this still goes wrong fairly frequently. It's just one of the things that is actually punished. Adults, however, have fewer innate protections.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

This is where you can ask the mods questions about the event scenario or pursue IC investigations about your character's surroundings. Attempts to engage with NPCs that don't have their own top level will default to summary interactions unless the thread moves towards needing dialogue. Please remember that responses will be limited by demand and mod availability.

[The following toplevels happen at different times during the meal, and can be responded to either in multi-character threads or individually. Threadjacking is allowed, but not mandatory. The first occurs right at the start of dinner, and the other begins later on.]

It's as the first course is being served that the Regent suddenly appears, with no flourishes what so ever. One moment you are looking down at the soup a servant just brought you, and the next, the throne at the head of the table has been filled. Cloaked in layers of shadow-like robes, the Regent is a creature of unremarkable proportions; sizing them up, you think they are just a bit taller than you are, in fact. No part of their true body is visible, with their face represented by nothing but a silvery, faceted mask.

They lean forward onto the table, intertwining their fingers, their mask hiding every aspect of their expression. Even so, you can feel their eyes on you, and that sensation will last for as long as the meal goes on.

"Welcome," the Regent says, with a voice that is impossible to identify as either feminine or masculine. In some regards, it feels as if multiple voices are speaking with perfect synchronicity. "I assume you have questions for me."

After the initial volley of questions, the meal will continue on. Despite the fact that the Regent is brought a portion for every course along with their guests, they never actually make a move to eat any of it, leaving it perfectly untouched for the duration of its time on the table, only for it to be taken away by a servant at the of the round. Instead, they seem to do nothing but silently stare past their gradually cooling food, watching at their guests eat instead.

It's towards the middle of the meal that they speak up again, in a moment where things have otherwise fallen silent. Their face plate tilts towards Xishen for only a moment, before addressing the table as whole.

"I've been told that several of you saw fit to disregard Xishen's orders. That others went as far to actively meddle with the work of your kindred. Why is that?"

Hello mods! A few general questions about the Citadel/Achamoth as a whole:

1) Is there any sort of library within the Citadel? If yes, what sort of texts would it contain? And in a similar vein, what sorts of books might be found in bookshops around the city? (Assuming there are at least a few bookstores....) If it matters, Eustace would primarily be interested in history books, along with any folk tales/legends/the like.

2) For those Aions with more of a frugal streak, is there some sort of bank/ledgerkeeping service they can leave their extra funds with or are they going to have to stash their jools under their mattress?

3) If an Aion didn't want to stay in their government-assigned Citadel room and decided to hang out in an inn for a few days or go camping (somehow), would that be frowned upon?

4) What's the stray animal population like in Achamoth, are there dogs, cats, chickens, other native species prowling around....? Also do the locals keep pets?

1) There is a library in the Citadel but it mostly just contains a ton of books about the Regent and the Regent's religion, may of which have been written by people in the Citadel itself. So, there are absolutely tons of books about Regent related legends. (If you'd like some specifics, it would be helpful to narrow it down to certain types of legends he's looking for.) Most of the one about the Legacies are written in the context of "here's a bunch of parables about the Regent besting the Legacies", often retellings of the same stories by different people, or analysis of what these stories are mean for the purpose of spirituality.

In the bookshops around the city there's a lot more fiction alongside the various religious texts. There's not a lot of history books that aren't Regent centric, mostly because they are all about Achamoth, and the history of Achamoth and the history of the Regent and one and the same. If you had any specific questions about Achamoth's history, feel free to ask.

2) There are banks, yes, though there are vaults they can gain access to in the Citadel itself if they want to keep it in-house. He'll get a private key and everything.

3) It would be frowned upon at the moment, yes. It gives the impression of immediately wanting to separate himself from the Regent and the Regent's gifts, which is just a bad look no matter how you slice it.

4) They do keep pets, yes! More or less the same kinds of creatures you'd expect to find anywhere. There isn't much room for things like livestock in the city proper, though, and chickens wouldn't be wandering around. It's more likely they've be kept to the yard of whoever owns them. There are also various scavenger birds that live in the city. A lot of corvid looking creatures, unsurprisingly. There are also unusually large spiders.

Edited 2022-04-02 21:39 (UTC)

UNUSUALLY LARGE SPIDERS.......that's horrific, thank you.

Also a clarifying question regarding answer three (staying outside the Citadel), is that something that a servant/retainer would mention if they were to catch him doing so? Just so I can proceed accordingly.

EDIT: Wow I can't read and missed the specifics of the first question, I will think about that and get back to you at a later date.

Edited 2022-04-02 21:45 (UTC)

Yes, if a servant realized he was planning on leaving to sleep somewhere else they would react very uncertainty. Something like "Oh... you're leaving? Are you sure... Um. I think the Regent would really prefer for you to stay with them, don't you? You've only just met, after all...!"

They're try to be chill about it but they seems pretty nervous that the Regent will be unhappy.

F to those servants......

But thank you so much as always for your quick and detailed answers!

Paul personally isn't unfamiliar with the concept of robes and layers covering the skin, and if anything he's found a quiet sense of relief in the notion that keeping everything covered, including his face, is considered acceptable in Achamoth. His face remains uncovered for this, as do his hands, but everything else... Well, everything else is swathed in black, the cut and draping along the lines of what might be considered acceptable among the Regent's most devoted. Higher-end, perhaps, and embellished in silver, but it isn't something he seems uncomfortable in, nor does he pick at it or show any signs that he's bothered by all the layering.

He's largely been keeping his head down, not making eye contact with much of anyone and certainly not with the Regent; similarly to their host, however, he likewise doesn't eat, though he does offer quiet words of appreciation to whatever servant is bringing him food anyway. The question, however, garners his attention, and when he speaks his words are measured. Quiet, but not unsure of themselves.

"I intended no disrespect toward Xishen, her work, or her orders. I simply felt as though it should be to our benefit for them to believe that there are those of us that are still on their side, despite everything. I've found that hearts and minds can't be truly changed by force, but rather that people will find a pathway back to you when offerings of mercy and kindness; if we grant them a display of those things now, they will be more receptive to hearing us at a later time."

He hesitates once that's out there, though. "I...admit this was assuming that the fighting may go south, and I apologize for my lack of faith in our capabilities."

𝟭. 𝓪 𝓭𝓮𝓲𝓽𝔂'𝓼 𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 💎

[ She thinks she must be dreaming. Only in her most insane, wildest, strangest of dreams would she conjure up crowds, and crowds, of people cheering for her presence. Lottie takes her first, tired, step onto land and feels herself waver, feels more nauseous than she did on the ship staring into the eyes of so many people she doesn't know. And usually, this isn't a problem. Lottie Person adores the fanfare of her fans throwing wave after wave of compliments at her, crying at how happy they are to finally meet her, but there's a disconnect here.

All sound melts into one, blurs together so much she can't even make out what the citizens are saying. Her breathing gets quicker as she sluggishly follows the crowd of so many like her being led to the Citadel, clearly overwhelmed. Not even the petals, or gems, they throw their way settle her stomach.

Still, she smiles, a nearby citizen shouting even louder in delight when she accidentally makes eye contact after a wave of her hand. And when she turns, still smiling, she mutters just loud enough for the person beside her to catch, ]

God. I wish they'd just quit it with the flowers already.

𝟮. 𝓵𝓸𝓭𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 🚪

[ You know, maybe this.. Isn't so bad?? Like, at all?? ]

It's bigger than my condo!

[ Lottie gushes in delight, clutching a notebook to her chest, a pen in her hand. After taking a long Depression Nap(tm) in her swanky new room, she's found herself more inclined to socialize. Which leads her to leaning against the wall of the hall they've all been sequestered into, in the middle of a very enthusiastic conversation about all the home décor possibilities and what does home décor look like here? Once she remembers a conversation is a two way street, she asks: ]

How do you like your intern, by the way?

𝟯. 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽 🥂

[ Predictably, Lottie's mood plummets when she finds out she has to go meet their boss. She's never had to work for someone else before, much less.. Well, one of this proportion. The fitting process is as awful as she figured, embarrassing in new ways she didn't know existed. But as conflicted as she feels in black, at least she's lost an inch off her waist from the move? ]

..God, that sounds so sad. What's wrong with me?

[ She says to herself, raising a glass of water to her lips. In the end, she's wrapped herself in a gown recommended by the servants, a matching mask at the ready around her wrist, preferring to let them pamper her so she doesn't have to think.

Clearly, that motto is still going strong even into the lounge, because she's been standing in the corner for as long as humanly allowed - noticeably, not drinking any alcohol? And noticeably, eyeing near everyone else in the room behind her glass. ]

𝟰. 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 🔎

a. [ Well, her time spent binge watching Game of Thrones was worthless. Lottie doesn't know shit about ye olde fashion, much less ye olde goth fashion. She sits down a fancy little stool at the clothing shop she's traveled to, face in her hands. And then she groans. Loudly. ]

I don't even know what to do!

[ Either you're in the same place and, as rules go.. Strength in numbers? Or you deliberately chose to go with Lottie (I'm sorry) on this expedition, and now have to deal with her crisis. For the moment, the two of you are servantless - she told them to quote, "Go get a coffee or something, not for us, but just.. Take a while." ]

What's casual wear here that doesn't make me feel like I'm going to a renaissance fair?!

b. [ Or, optionally, you've caught Lottie going complete "incognito" (mask on her face, wearing all black that somewhat hides her silhouettes.. But beneath her head piece there is still her long mane of green hair), lurking in front of a weapons shop as she clutches her notebook. At the moment, she is servantless, and in a relatively quiet part of the city to where she isn't being bombarded with attention. To herself, she comments, after a scoff - ]

They can't be that heavy..

𝟱. 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓭 🃏
[ lottie will generally be everywhere and then.. not everywhere in general states of distress. if you want to thread something else specifically, i have a plotting comment over here! if not, feel free to toss whatever at me. i can be reached at

snottie if you'd prefer to plot there, as well! 💕 ]

"I see."

The Regent does seem to spend a moment considering what he's said.

"I will not fault those that hope to help the Pleroma see the truth. Yet, it cannot come at the expense of you or your kindred. The Pleroma calls to those with reckless, unreasonable spirits... you saw the way they refused the Kenoma's pleas. Convincing them will not come easy, and I will not allow it to be the expense of our work."

"I understand."

And he does sound at least somewhat contrite at that, for what it's worth.

"I don't expect it to be a fast process, as these things usually aren't. But I sincerely believe that those that can be convinced will be more willing to serve, in the end - if they feel as though they've made the decision for themselves, the stronger their conviction will be."

He's remaining entirely still for this, without fidgeting or seeming anxious despite his continually low gaze; whatever he believes about all of this, at least there's conviction in it. "I have no intention of allowing it to come at the expense of myself or anyone else here. What comes to pass will come to pass."

Hi mods! I hope you don't mind a few questions...

1) Would it be possible for a chosen permanent retainer to have some martial training? Nothing too impressive or intricate, of course. I only ask this because Makoto himself is pretty worthless in a fight (and not very interested in bettering himself in this at the moment), so if he had an option to pick someone who could at the very least competently fight his most basic fights for him (should they just so happen to arise while in the city), he definitely would.

2) My apologies in advance, but given his personal history, Makoto will use some of his free time to frequent an array of the brothels about Achamoth (he will be certain to visit a variety throughout the social strata of the city). He's not really interested in being a customer in the traditional sense, but given that he learned everything there was to know about his previous plane of existence through this channel, he will mostly be leveraging money, a generous and amiable mien, and/or his distinction as an Aion (whichever comes first or is necessary; he's not cheap when it comes to good information) in order to get on good terms with the individuals that work there and the managers/matrons. He probably won't give away too much information about it, but he will seem very familiar with the goings-on of such places. In conversation he will also try to get information out of them this way, namely:
- How is it that power is delegated and distributed by the Regent? What does the structure of government end up looking like? Are there visual indicators of those with power in the city? And, just because he likes digging for dirt just for fun, if he can glean if and where any locals in positions of power like to frequent (either from gossip or observation), that would be an incredible bonus...
- Any history about past Aions... What exactly they are seen as by locals, how frequently they are seen / how many of them there seem to be, anything like that.
- Specifically in the establishments that cater to higher-class clientele: etiquette! What is the importance of the masks he sees so many people around town wearing? Are there any obvious social faux pas that he might not be aware of, given that his etiquette sensibilities are more of a traditional Victorian nature?
- These are my main points of interest but if there's anything else fun or interesting you would like to throw in there, please feel free!

I know it's a lot to ask of y'all, so please take your time if that helps, but I do appreciate it!!

[ Very incognito, that green hair doesn't stand out at all in a city filled with black, black, and more black.

He's not here for Lottie in the slightest, having his own long laundry list of errands to run - aka, weapons to look at and buy - but there's something so conspicious about a woman just loitering in front of a window that he can't but interject, curtly. Even if she did help him out and even if they are technically compatriots, he's never been all that friendly to begin with. ]

They're heavy enough once you wield them for hours on end. [ Has she even picked up a single sword in her entire life? His gut says no. Also: ] Are you going to stand there all day?

[ Yes, he is also wearing all black because that's his natural #aesthetic. No, his shirt isn't backless. ]

It's ... probably for the best that Paul went first. He echoes a lot of Matt's feelings, but manages to phrase them much more respectfully than they'd formed themselves inside Matt's head. (Ex: I disagreed with Xishen's methods on a humanoid-psychology level and I'm here to remake the universe, not resort to violence at moment one.)

In contrast with some of his fellows, Matt does fidget at the table. Too nervous to eat but too hungry not to, he picks at this and that with birdlike gestures: abrupt and flitting, then nothing at all. When it seems like the silence will go on forever, he takes a gulp of water from the cup at his place and speaks up.

"I felt similarly to um, the way Paul did," he says. Matt's not exactly a public speaker, but he is unconsciously accustomed to people valuing what he has to say. "Not that we talked about it, just ..."

Matt tugs at his mask, bedecked with decorations wrought in the shape of moths. Its eyeholes make him feel like he can't really see the Regent.

"I come from a ... life-centric culture, I'd say, and self-centered. I'm betting for some of them it's the same. So I think they need more time, and to be in a position to be receptive to something that doesn't feel intuitive."

1) This is fine, yes, some of them do have that training.

2A) Religious leaders seem to be the people most in charge besides the Regent themself, as well as the Regent's personal military. In general, if he wants to meet the people with the most social capital, it would be the religious ones, though. Otherwise, everyone in the city is given money and resources directly from the Regent, similar to a kind of universal income, so the "government" is mostly just the organizers that facilitate that and the soldiers. High level priests will sometimes make social rulings on the Regent's behalf, and otherwise settle disputes based on the doctrine they've put together. (The doctrines do not come directly from the Regent, they are guidelines put together through observations of the Regent's past commands.)

2B) Many Aions have come and gone, though most of the stock they had died off about thirty years ago in a particularly violent struggle between the Pleroma and the Kenoma. Most of the current Achamites don't really know the details of that, though, only that the Regent killed off all of the Pleroma and it was awesome.

There are currently two Aions in Achamoth, besides the new arrivals, and they've been around for decades. The first is Xishen, who Makoto knows, and then there is Dionys. Dionys apparently spends most of her time living out in the city herself and is the queen of brothel and club scene. At the time Makoto asks about it, she is apparently busy participating in some kind of massive orgy celebrating the Lover's Moon. How cool would it be to join her, they wonder? It's said that her venom is the sweetest ambrosia there is. The brothel she runs herself is considered extremely elite.

2C) Masks are not required, they are just a fashion trend and/or sign of the pious. It ostensibly isn't related to class at all, though because of the social implications, a lot of the people with high spiritual social status tend to wear them. Almost the entire military does, as well. There don't really seem to be any obvious social faux pas (besides hating on the Regent) not wearing the mask just makes you look like a normie.

[ It doesn't matter how good looking this guy is, or how great he is at giving mediocre life advice, it doesn't mean he has to be so.. So rude! She's just standing here? How is she even in his way? Lottie openly glares at him when she turns to the voice speaking to her. Dogdude, as she has now officially labelled him, will get a incognito woman crossing her arms stiffly. ]

I don't know. Maybe!

[ She answers indecisively, not with any bite but moreso with a vaaaague hint of childishness. But after a moment, she hesitantly asks: ]

..Are you going in there?

[ Unfortunately for Lottie, her new best friend Dogdude only knows how to be rude, and only knows how to judge others for asking (in his humble opinion) stupid questions. He stares right back at her for a moment, the look on his face decidedly unimpressed, before turning back towards the door, his intent to enter abundantly clear. ]

I wouldn't be here if I wasn't.

[ Unlike SOME people, he's not about to waste all day standing around doing nothing but staring. ]

You'll get a better idea of what you want if you try them out in person.

[ Have some more mediocre and completely unasked for life advice?? At the very least though, it seems like he knows exactly what he's doing, his stride purposeful and brisk as he ducks through the door and towards a set of glinting blades mounted on one wall. ]

I am absolutely feasting on all of these tasty details, mods, thank you!

Just for the curious of mind... What would the rumor be for someone who might be interested in meeting with Dionys?

If he asks about it, people will give him her brothel's address. It's apparently very difficult to get in contact with her, since they aren't really accepting clients off the street, and everyone who is expected to show up there is already a known quantity. The people he asks about it will reason that (if he has revealed his Aion nature) that maybe he could just show up and see what happens? After all, he's a fellow Aion, it would make sense for her to have time for her own? Not that they've ever met her.

[ Well.. She doesn't know! What if he was going to try and talk to her or something?? This guy.. Unreasonable. Lottie refrains from huffing, instead toying at her hair and frowning beneath her mask. As aggravating at this guy is, striding in like he knows everything about everything, he's.. Well, right.

So she follows him (after making sure the coast is clear - don't want any fans bugging them) inside the store, tentatively lurking beside him because even she knows tagalongs can be super awkward. Lottie stares up and at the blades on the wall looking.. Passive. ]

Are we.. Allowed to try them out? Shouldn't we ask somebody for help?

When the Regent's gaze turns to Matt, it falls upon him with particular weight. They remain silent, listening to Matt's explanation. However, while they thoughtfully accepted Paul's perspective, there is doubt in the way the Regent tilts their head now.

"A decision you made alone, and decided upon for the others. So confident were you, to interfere in the plans of your kindred... at a time where hesitation could have ended their lives."

They tilt their head back the other way.

"Do you see yourself as a leader, Matthew Jamison? The arbiter of what's right?"

Are you talking to yourself?

[ That dry comment comes from a bit off to her side, where Lottie might have noticed another person who's been lurking there basically since the beginning -- though Gen's at least snagged a drink or two from the passing servers, nursing them slowly to try and calm his prickling nerves. Though he largely keeps his gaze trained ahead, studying the others milling about the room, he does look over to properly give Lottie a once-over as he adds, insufferably: ]

Maybe that's what's wrong with you.

[ Obnoxious as that comment is, at least it's said quietly without any edge, more at a low deadpan. It's not like he's really looking to pick a fight in a place like this -- more just that he's a little buzzed and needs an outlet for at least a little bit of the anxious energy pent-up in his nerves. ]

[ This feels like a crime against hot people™. ]

Haha..

[ Despite her feelings being hurt by that comment, all she does is laugh politely. It's not like she's going to correct him and say what she was thinking out loud. That'd make this way worse than it could be! She holds her glass a little tighter as a result, committing to her silence until she's about ready to burst from the (nonexistent) expectation that she continue the conversation. ]

Well, I mean, sometimes you just need to.. Get on the same page with yourself? We've got a big dinner coming up, so!

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EVENT #2: HEARTS LIKE YOURS (ACHAMOTH)

MOD CONTACT

THE REGENT (NPC)

YOUR HOST FOR THE EVENING

THE MATTER AT HAND

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4b

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3

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