welcome to achamoth

[oomfies]

WHO: Kenoma Aions
WHAT: Welcoming party for the new Kenoma!
WHERE: Achamoth
WHEN: May, a few evenings post the TDM
WARNINGS: None for now!

I. 𝙒𝙀𝙇𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀 𝘼𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎! 🍸🎉 As per several many (slightly annoying) communion invitations, come a few evenings past the arrivals of the new Kenoma, there’s a party being thrown in a building just outside the Citadel. And thanks to the combined efforts Misa, Lottie, Gen, Matt, Luo Binghe, Amos, and more, the space is quite inviting. The tables set up are adorned with plenty of vibrant food and decadent drinks, all laid upon gothic, lacy tablecloths. There’s even live music— a small group of Achamite musicians playing the closest thing there is to grunge folk are plucking at strings in the corner. The hosts for the night, Misa and Lottie, stand in the entryway to usher their fellow Aions in. They’ll be busy accounting for everyone being in attendance for the first hour or so of the party (because they’ll start bothering people through Communion who don’t show up), so characters will be free for a while to peruse what they’ve set up: The largest table aside from the one that’s supporting all the fancy finger foods has a placard on it that reads “♡GAME TABLE♡”. This long, long table is taken up half way by shot glasses that have been pre-filled with a clear, fruity smelling alcohol. The other half of the table has a message written by Misa and Lottie: One of the most important missions of tonight is to get to know each other! Learn a thing or two about the people at the party through these games, got it? Or if you know some fun drinking games, teach someone one! By the way, you should also take one of these tally cards and have your partners in your games sign it when you’re done. Everyone who fills it out completely will get a prize 💋 Next to that placard are blank cards with three blank slots, as well as several quills. Getting three people to sign your card seems like it’ll result in you getting a prize! Allegedly. Next to those cards are explanations that Misa and Lottie have written on how to play 1) truth or dare, 2) never have I ever, and 3) two truths and a lie. They’ve even provided a deck of face down cards that have suggestions for truths and dares on them (because they didn’t want anyone to like, dare someone to burn the place down or something.) The truth and dare questions will be pretty innocent and/or jokingly flirty, think along the lines of “I dare you to tell your partner who you think is the hottest Aion on the Kenoma side.” However, characters are under no obligation to use these, and are free to go wild and make up their own. The second area of interest is an area with a black curtain pinned up, and an Achamite artist sitting in front of an easel… that’s right, they’ve hired a sketch artist to take people’s (very quick) portraits, thinking that since everyone can’t take selfies, it’d be nice to have some other physical memento of the party. Problem is, with the budget constraints for the party, they can’t afford to pay for everyone to get one alone - characters will need to pair up! There are a number of small miscellaneous accessories they’ve procured (hats, jewelry, etc.) that characters can wear if they wish. The artist seems a little fickle, though, and may keep asking characters to change poses or, you know, get closer so they can both fit in the frame… Characters who are wallflowers or simply don’t want to participate will be fresh out of luck— Misa and Lottie will be patrolling around the venue after ushering people in to ensure that people are participating. And yes, that means physically pushing two people together that they see sticking to the edges. You are free to handwave that they forced your character into a game or sketch with someone if they wouldn’t willingly participate! By the way, while characters are increasingly encouraged by Misa and Lottie throughout the evening to play with other characters in order to complete their cards, when they actually turn them in to the hosts, no prize will be immediately offered. You can handwave your character receiving a very non-committal “it’s not here yet,” “I’ll get back to you on this,” or “Wow, good job! Talk to me later, okay?” from either Misa or Lottie if they actually go through the effort to turn their card in.

II. 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝘿𝙎 𝙊𝙁 𝙒𝙄𝙎𝘿𝙊𝙈 🗣🎙 After everyone’s had a chance to have some booze, food, and possibly some embarrassing (or revealing?) moments while playing games, Misa and Lottie will signal for everyone to quiet down, and will step onto a small podium that they’ve brought into the venue. It’s during this time that they’ll finally address the group. Lottie speaks first: "Hello guys, how are we doing tonight? I'm Lottie Person, one of your hosts for tonight. Thank you to everyone who came and helped make this event a reality. First, Misa and I really couldn't have done it without everyone who pitched in. Is it cheesy to say it warmed my heart? Maybe.. But it shows that even if we all haven't exactly held hands, we still can come together for the important stuff. And second, thank you to all the new people who joined us tonight. This really wouldn't have happened without you, and we're happy to see such an amazing turn out with both new and old faces. As part of tonight's soiree, we've arranged to have some of the best and brightest people come and talk to us about all the things you need to know to better understand what's going on, and how you're involved." The two of them will introduce each speaker as they come up to the podium and give their spiel. The speeches that take place can be found here. Characters will have the opportunity to ask questions after each speech for clarifications or further details, so long as the speech giver is willing to answer. Once everyone has had their chance to share their knowledge, Misa will thank the speakers, and raise a glass of the closest thing Horos has to champagne for a toast: “That pretty much covers everything, doesn’t it? A big, big thanks to everyone for helping explain all that. I know me and Lottie were asking a lot of you, but we really couldn’t do it all by ourselves…! Some of you are way better at that stuff, ahaha. Anyways, I really hope everyone who came here to Achamoth feels a little more welcome now. I know everything’s been really crazy ever since we all came from those shrines, and it’s been scary, too. We don’t know what happened to where we came from, or what might happen to us… but I don’t feel too afraid. Because in my heart, I really believe in what we’ve all come here to do. And I believe in the Regent’s power. Let’s all remember one thing going forward. We’re on the same team, so that makes us all friends, okay?” She raises her glass. “Together, let’s create an ideal world.”

III. 𝙀𝙎𝘾𝘼𝙋𝙀 𝙁𝙍𝙊𝙈 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙔 🏃‍♂️💨🎭 Following the close of the serious speech section of the party, there’s still a bit more time to mingle before the party ends. Or, under normal circumstances, there would be. Shortly after Misa’s closing speech, some of the Achamite workers who have been hired to work at the party will have worked up the courage to approach Aions directly (particularly those with their shards visible.) Newer Aions may not have had a chance to experience this just yet, with their relative newness to the city, but Achamite citizens treat Kenoma Aions with the utmost excitement and religious fervor. It’s common for them to make generous offerings to Kenoma Aions if they are recognized or if their shard is spotted, or treat the Kenoma Aions in general as celebrities. This can result in your character being badgered with questions and offerings from the few non-Aions in the crowd helping with the party – older Kenoma Aions will recognize this behavior for what it is. Misa and Lottie will also take notice of this starting to happen, and will mentally communion urge everyone to leave the party ASAP before it turns into a meet and greet for overly enthusiastic onlookers. They’ll do their best to divert the attention of anyone getting too nosy by intercepting, but they won’t be able to keep everyone from experiencing this. Any lingering questions about the apparent reverence the Achamites hold for the Kenoma Aions will have to be answered by older Aions — preferably while you make a clever escape. Outside the party venue is the rest of Achamoth, with the Citadel stretching high above into the dark night sky above. You can make a quick return back to the Citadel’s familiar dining halls and bedrooms, or perhaps you want to escape to somewhere else in the city.

Comments

wallflowering...

[gravings]

[ Eustace's ear be looking cute, but Gray doesn't comment on it as she sidles up to him at his spot at the wall. She blinks around at the rest of the room briefly, gauging the people nearby, before saying quietly for his ears only: ]

Um, would it be alright if I stood here with you? If we're together, they might not feel like they have to pull us back in...

[ Not naming names........... ]

[lockedon]

[ Ah, another victim of Lottie and Misa's ceaseless bullying encouragement...

Eustace looks down at Gray. Looks back at the gathered crowd of Kenoma Aions. Closes his eyes and takes a sip of his drink. ]

I'm not sure they'll see it that way.

[ Also not naming names, but we all know who they're talking about. Regardless, once a little more alcohol's made its way through his system, he sidles over one step (so she can shrink into the shadows even more), opens his eyes and looks down to sweep a critical gaze over Gray, who looks even smaller than usual. ]

Not a party person?

[ He's pretty sure he already knows the answer, based on past behavior. ]

[gravings]

[ After enduring his cryptic look, she thankfully slides in parallel with him so that she can better don the COVER OF SHADOW. It probably isn't helping all that much.

Her shoulders droop at his extremely accurate and obvious assessment of her party proficiency, hood lowering as her face turns down to hide the helpless look she's sure is plastered there. ]

I've been to parties. Though they were probably more like functions... and I would be there as an assistant rather than an honored guest.

[ And she preferred it that way!! ]

I don't suppose you'd have any tips...?

[lockedon]

[ Ah yes, here it is, his chance to prove himself as a well-versed member of the partygoing scene. This One Trick Will Cure You Of All Your Party Mingling Fears: ]

Don't go to any to start with.

[ Hope she wasn't expecting a real answer.

Actually, that's the only answer she gets for about the next minute, his attention caught by a pair of Kenoma Aions once again trapped in the sketch booth, looking increasingly more uncomfortable as the artist rattles off their list of suggested (and suggestive) poses. Thank the gods that isn't him anymore.

But eventually he returns with a follow-up, tone of voice a little less dismissive this time around. ]

Alcohol usually helps. [ Provided one drinks responsibly, of course. ] Or find someone you're comfortable around.

[gravings]

[ Can't believe she fell for his clickbait... Her face falls a fraction, but she spends the ensuing minute of silence seriously wondering how plausible it would be for her to skip every party henceforth. When Eustace actually follows up with substantial advice, it catches her off guard. ]

Alcohol...

[ It would explain why people drink so much at parties. She understands that people drink to stave off their problems, but she hadn't applied that logic to a social setting. Somehow, it makes sense to her. She eyes Eustace and his half-empty glass. So he's trying to escape too....... ]

I hadn't tried any alcohol until today, actually. Do you really think it will help?

[ Answer carefully... ]

[lockedon]

[ Is this girl even legal to drink alcohol, tbh....

Maybe it's for the best that she's asking him about alcohol rather than, say, Howl with his Celebrant nature, even if his continued inability to dispense advice in a way that isn't terse or a little mocking could use some work. Of all the times and places to dip one's toes into booze, now is probably one of the better opportunities for it. ]

If you're careful about how much you drink.

[ He's not looking at her as he says it, eyes scanning for the nearest refreshments table, which ends up being some fifteen feet away. Without saying anything further, he ambles to the drinks table, whereupon Gray can catch him picking up various drinks and slowly sniffing them. (What a weirdo.)

Eventually he comes to a decision and comes back with a small glass of pink-tinted liquid, which he hands to Gray. It smells slightly fruity. ]

Here. Drink it slowly.

[gravings]

[ Case Files says that Brits can drink as early as 15(?!) with adult supervision, so yeah sure why not. Reines is even smaller than her and can knock back glass after glass of wine, so Gray doesn't see how one or two drinks could hurt. Of course, she doesn't intend to become a pathetic, sloppy drunk like her mentor sometimes does either.

She watches patiently as Eustace scouts out the drinks and brings back a cute pink one. She takes it and, following his example(?), also gives it a delicate sniff. It smells... nice? ]

Thank you.

[ She takes a single sip as instructed. Immediately, her eyebrows raise with the delicacy of the taste. While the unmistakable heat of alcohol still seeps into her throat, it isn't unpleasant. The rest of the drink is sweet, refreshing even, and were it not for Eustace's instruction, she could easily drink it all in a few goes. She can always count on Eustace, her toxic liquid supplier. ]

... It's good! I didn't expect it to taste so friendly.

[ She looks again at the happy pink of the drink, then glances up at the happy pink of the bow on Eustace's ear. Hmm. ]

[lockedon]

[ Sorry Gray, your toxic liquid supplier is cutting you off after this drink. Maybe. It truly depends on how much of a lightweight she ends up being.

For now, he watches her intently, hand poised at his side to confiscate her drink in the event she ignores his instructions and tries to down it all in one go. Thankfully she doesn't, and he relaxes after a few seconds of Gray slowly sipping at her drink. ]

The ones that taste good are the most dangerous ones. You don't realize you've had too much until it's too late.

[ Is he speaking from personal experience? Maybe. Either way, getting lectured about alcohol at a party is probably not on anyone's bucket list of things to accomplish during their first week in Achamoth. ]

[gravings]

[ Being at Achamoth isn't even on Gray's bucket list for being at Achamoth, so she takes the lecture seriously, nodding afterward to show her understanding. She's already seen her mentor absolutely clobbered with drink, thoroughly judged him for it, and made a resolution to never, ever follow his example, so any advice is welcome advice.

She spends another few minutes sipping at her drink and watching the sea of little interactions unfolding in front of them, a low warmth already working its way through her body. She does feel a bit more relaxed, but it's hard to say if it's the alcohol or Eustace's presence doing the job. ]

By the way, I've been thinking about what you said... about whether or not I enjoy being a gravekeeper.

[ She starts with just that, trying to gauge how much he's actually interested in hearing... ]

[lockedon]

[ Just two Kenoma Aions and their drinks, hanging out in a dark corner of a party five feet apart and being losers.

But this fine. Preferable, really, to any of the other activities he could be (forced into) engaging in. Gray doesn't seem like the type to needle him with annoying personal questions, and her presence is quiet enough that he can relax and leave only one ear swiveled towards her rather than his full attention. For awhile, it seems like this is how the rest of the night is going to go, with just the two of them hanging around. Until she speaks up again.

Turning away from the party before him, he looks at Gray. ]

And?

[ If there isn't any open interest visible on his face, there's at least enough sincerity in his voice to prove that he's paying attention. ]

[gravings]

[ Even a single word is more interest than outright ignoring her, so emboldened, she continues on, navigating her words carefully to rein in the subtle loosening of her enunciation. ]

I think I would have to say... that I dislike it. But since I was very good at it, and the people who came into my life because of it were good as well, I'm grateful that I was able to do it in the end. And now I can help other people by gravekeeping, so I like it for that... Does that make sense?

[ She's not sure where she was going with this. In the end, she still probably hasn't fully answered his question of whether or not she currently likes gravekeeping, which is a mostly pointless topic anyway. The comfortable warmth swimming in her head might just be melting the words out of her. ]

[lockedon]

[ Girl, is he going to have to confiscate that drink?

In a weird, convoluted way, her words make sense, at least for him to understand the gist of her intent. Personally he can't think of many people that would enjoy spending their days and/or evenings tending to a spread of graves, so it's not all that surprising that Gray, who appears to be a perfectly normal albeit very shy girl, wouldn't much like it either. ]

It does. You can be thankful for having learned a skill despite not enjoying the skill itself.

[ From what she says, it sounds like it was a largely beneficial part of her life. And now she's here, in a gloomy cult city surrounded by people with only their personal interests at heart. He frowns. Takes another swig of his own drink and says abruptly: ]

Do you miss them? Your friends.

[ Presumably the people she talks about are her friends. ]

[gravings]

[ You can't confiscate this drink because she's already done with it!! Aside from a light brush of color to her cheeks, she doesn't seem overly affected. Though she does bob her head to agree with his assessment a few more times than strictly necessary.

His question is a little odd to her though; she feels the answer should be self-evident. Maybe Eustace doesn't have very many friends himself? She wouldn't be able to judge him for it. She knows more than most people that it can be very difficult. ]

Yes, terribly. I only had a few... and I can't say they were all good people, but they were good to me when they didn't have to be.

[ Her fingers fidget at the empty glass in her hands, spinning it round and round. It's hard to speak of the people she knew as it they might be dead. She still expects them to show up out of the blue someday, riding on a wave of commotion.

A thought crosses her mind, and the gate that would normally keep it confined to her mind is now boozily ajar. ]

A bit like you, Mr. Eustace... though I'm not sure if you're interested in making friends.

[lockedon]

[ Way to call him out on his caretaker tendencies, Gray....

But better that she does it than any of their more unsavory Kenoma fellows, all of whom would get little more than an annoyed glare in return. Instead, Gray is rewarded for her kind words with a brief flicker of pain crossing his face. Good to her, huh? He can't bring himself to agree with her statement, not when he'd been the one to bring her into this gloomy city filled with its gloomy citizens. If anything, his actions now are a self-imposed penance for leading her down this path.

Following suit after Gray, he downs the rest of his drink, coughing slightly as the alcohol burns its way down the back of his throat. ]

You might see them again.

[ He recalls Emet-Selch speaking of his compatriots from home, displaced from time as he'd known it. He thinks about his gun, magically appearing out of nowhere despite its supposed erasure from existence. Nothing is impossible here, it seems. ]

How are you feeling now?

[ What was that about making friends....he will pretend he didn't hear it. ]

[gravings]

[ If he's not interested in making friends, then that's fine... It goes without saying that she's not the kind of person he'd normally make friends with anyway. She rocks slightly on her heels, guided by a ponderous, pendulous momentum in her head.

She doesn't ask what he means by her possibly seeing her friends again. Abel already explained as much to her, though Eustace is surprisingly encouraging about it against Abel's more reluctant, pessimistic slant. How unexpected, and how telling. She chews on that for a moderate, distracted silence before remembering to reply to Eustace's question. ]

Warm... and more relaxed. Though I don't think I should drink any more.

[ She may be buzzed, but that doesn't mean she's irresponsible!! She slowly turns to him. ]

I'm going to try again. Before I go... would you come down for a moment?

[lockedon]

[ Can't believe Gray has immediately shot up to near the top of his respect chart simply by being responsible about alcohol. When a fifteen year old is beating out half the Kenoma population.....

It's encouraging to hear that she's feeling relaxed, and it makes him feel better about letting her scurry back into the wilds of the party with only an empty drink glass for company. He's already nodding and preparing to be on his own way when she halts him with that soft request.

Between his own boozy adventures and Gray's complete lack of guile, it doesn't cross his mind that Gray might have any motive other than to tell him something above the noise of the party. So he obediently complies and leans down, expectant. ]

[gravings]

[ Him being closer does save her a bit of voice volume too... but she tiptoes up a bit to get to her true objective. ]

Your bow is crooked...

[ Delicately, she tugs at the little pink bow on his ear to get it to an angle of maximum presentation, then dusts at the fur on his ear to get it nicely fluffed up. Naturally, she then has to do the same to the other ear to make sure they match. For some reason, an unkempt appearance really nags at her.

Satisfied, she settles back on her heels. ]

There. Thank you for letting me stand with you, Mr. Eustace.

[ If there's nothing else, she'll dip a fraction of a bow and head back out to (social) battle... ]

[lockedon]

[ His what? Hang on, just what is she planning on doi—

The answer makes itself abundantly clear as her hands begin their work with startling efficiency. He freezes in place, eyes widening in surprise at the unprompted entry into his personal space. Between the alcohol winding through his system and Gray's quick movements, she's already finished with her tidying up by the time he thinks to pull away. In fact, Gray is already on the move by the time he rights himself, looking a little dazed by what just happened. ]

.....Right.

[ That's all he's got in him apparently. Party hardy, Gray, and leave this useless man behind. ]