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

absolutely not

[lockedon]

[ heck off 🖕

Being browbeaten into the sketch booth yet another time has miraculously not sapped him entirely of the will to live, though it has unfortunately increased the amount of spite bubbling inside of him. Instead of moving even a single centimeter closer to Kaeya, Eustace digs his heels into the ground, crossing his arms over his chest. ]

He can paint the picture like this.

[ He being their agitated painter for the night, who is vehemently shaking his head and insisting that actually he can't paint them like this and would the good sirs please move a little closer to each other? Or maybe a lot closer, like into an embrace or with one of them sitting on the other? ]

[subsist]

[ oh, eustace... you make this too easy.

kaeya's smile only grows wider when the erune refuses to play nice. no matter. he's used to being treated the most annoying thing in the world, so he acts no differently — rather than shy away, he's the one who boldly closes the distance between them. if eustace wants to get violent over it, he can protect himself so he isn't too woried. ]

Like this?

[ the painter shakes his head some more, saying it looks like they're having no fun at all. he gestures at kaeya to make him sit down on the chair. oh boy. ]

Ah, I'm afraid you're going to have to simply just... [ casually, kaeya settles his hand on eustace's shoulder and urges him to sit down. nicely. for now. ] Sit down. It will be over before you know it.

[lockedon]

[ Someone just take him out back and put him out of his misery now, thanks.

The casual physical contact does nothing to improve his mood, and he shrugs off the hand before stalking to the chair and taking an ungraceful seat. ]

I know how to sit.

[ He just doesn't know how to comply with commands that don't suit his preferences.

The portrait artist, buoyed by this small sign of progress, decides to push his luck. Ah yes, perfect, now if the other good sir could just take a seat on top, terribly sorry but we only have the one chair available tonight—

What. ]

[subsist]

[ unfortunately for eustace, it seems the gods are determined to make this whole experience a living nightmare for him. the artist is happily encouraging kaeya to sit on the erune's lap, and that— makes him hold back a laugh? he knows if he laughs now, it'll only serve to sour his portrait partner's mood, so he goes with what he does best: he makes it worse.

the hand that was on eustace's shoulder snakes around his neck, allowing kaeya to use it to steady himself as he gracefully plops himself on the erune's lap without much fanfare. his smile is dazzling as ever, as innocent as it is mischievous. ]

Terribly sorry about this. There is only one chair, you know, so I do hope you don't mind.

[ oh no, he hopes eustace minds it a whole lot. ]

[lockedon]

[ Kaeya may as well be sitting on a statue, given how much tension is weighing Eustace down, every line of his body stiffer than stone. There isn't a single thing about this situation he hates, and he's very seriously contemplating just shoving Kaeya off his lap and stalking out of the party, Lottie and Misa's protestations be damned.

But there's no telling how much stock the Regent is putting into their behavior and attendance at this party, and Eustace really has no desire to make waves this early on. The longer he can stay quiet and buy himself more to figure out what the hell is going on in this place, the better. Looks like he can't leave just yet, at least not while throwing a fit.

What he can do however, is stare stonily forward with his mouth shut. Sorry Kaeya, but you're gonna have to work a little harder to get this guy to talk. ]

[subsist]

[ it hardly bothers kaeya considering this is — was — something he has to deal with on a daily basis, but there are more ways to handle a non-talker. he simply pats eustace on the shoulder and then turns to face the artist, eyebrow raised and all. it looks like the man is already scribbling something but kaeya has to interrupt him for a quick second. ]

So... how would you like us to pose? Like this?

[ the artist pauses for a second and thinks about it, wondering if kaeya wouldn't mind inching a bit closer, maybe wrap his other arm around the erune. it would look like they're really getting along, and— ]

I believe you might be pushing your luck, good sir.

[ kaeya doesn't want to die tonight, thank you!! ]

[lockedon]

[ Wow Kaeya, don't be such a coward.... Eustace doesn't have his gun here, no one is dying tonight!!

Though maybe he should have brought it, to make for some more exciting picture poses. Who doesn't want their likeness captured while staring down the barrel of an oversized gun held by a man with government-assigned cat ears? Alas, that future is closed to them now and so they must both suffer the injustice of having to sit on each other's laps. (Only one pereson is suffering injustice tonight.)

The artist, apparently, sees no such injustice in front of him, still doing his best to squish the two men closer together. Ah, but what if Mister Furry-Eared placed his hand on the other gentleman's back like so, and smiled a little? Oh, or, he could bring over some jaunty hats and dress them up a little bit—

Tired of the prattle, Eustace slaps a hand against the small of Kaeya's back and barks out an order. ]

Get to work.

[ Get to work and free him. ]

[subsist]

[ if eustace had brought his gun, it's not like kaeya would have shied away from it— a missed opportunity, truly.

kaeya doesn't believe in letting chances slip by, especially not one that practically lands on his lap. eustace slapping him on the back gives him a bright idea. one that the erune is probably going to hate, but at least the artist is going to like it very much, and it's payback for even daring to hurt his back like this. (as always, kaeya is melodramatic.)

he wraps his other arm around eustace's neck, curling in close. holding on like means the erune can't just drop him unceremoniously on the floor. ]

No fancy trinkets, if that's alright with you. [ he doesn't want silly hats, thank you. ] This should be fine, hm?

[ the artist agrees with an overly excited Yes!!! before he starts sketching right away. ]

Do you think it'll take him long to finish it? He seems rather inspired now.

[ whether or not eustace will answer is up in the air, but kaeya can just keep talking if he doesn't say anything in return. ]

[lockedon]

[ bruh

A muscle twitches in his temple at the sudden contact around his neck. The only mercy is that he can't seize up any more than he already has. It's a blessing then, when the artist finally gets to work, pen practically flying across the paper. Hopefully the guy takes some liberties with the drawing, else he's going to be painting a gargoyle sitting in the chair.

Small talk is the last thing he wants to engage in at this moment in time, but he manages to grind out a curt reply, less of an answer and more of a catty remark of his own. ]

Shouldn't you know better than I would?

[ Just an observation, based on the attitude this guy exudes. Probably has women (and some men) lining up for his attention. ]

[subsist]

[ the cattiness isn't something kaeya misses, but he chooses to ignore it, feigning innocent confusion. ]

Why do you think I would know better? Do I look like someone who gets portraits done on a daily basis?

[ then again, a certain captain is (was?) fond of painting kaeya, but eustace doesn't need to know that. the information is irrelevant to the argument anyway. ]

Besides, if I recall correctly, you've been wrangled into this booth more than once.

[ all things considered, it's eustace who is the veteran portrait-goer between the two of them. ]

[lockedon]

[ Does he have to answer that? He's not going to answer that, mostly because the answer should be quite obvious to anyone with eyes. (Or even one eye.)

Regardless, Kaeya has at least managed to tip the conversation away from himself and his (objectively) dashing pirate good looks and towards something more deserving of Eustace's ire. ]

Exactly. Wrangled. [ Like some sort of disobedient pet. ] I didn't ask to be here.

[ At this party or this booth, though somehow he's found himself at both. He can't help but wonder if Misa and Lottie have some personal vendetta against him, to zero in on him so frequently and quickly. It's because he doesn't drink his respect women juice.

But thankfully for everyone involved, Eustace can in fact recognize when he's being a whiny sulky lil bitch, and chases the worst of it away with a tired sigh. ]

Fifteen minutes. Ten if no one moves and the artist is feeling inspired.

[ Which he seems to be now, brush strokes moving across the paper with lightning speed. Must be channeling his inner Lunalu..... ]

[subsist]

[ in kaeya's humble opinion, eustace does look like a disobedient pet, but that's neither here nor there. at least it doesn't look like he's interested in poking and prodding a puppy that's already upset now that he finally fished out an answer he can work with.

it's not like he wants to be here all night either. (he would make that happen if eustace made things much harder for both of them, however—) ]

That doesn't seem too bad. You'll be free from this ordeal before you know it.

[ as if on cue, the artist looks up at them and asks if they could give him a smile. kaeya is more than happy to provide that, but eustace on the other hand... ]

What do you think? Can you manage that much? Or is grumpiness your forever look?

[ when will he shut up. ]

[lockedon]

[ If Eustace needs a leash, then Kaeya needs a muzzle—

There's a slight dig of nails into the fabric of Kaeya's outfit, a silent warning to cut the crap (not that he truly believes Kaeya will). ]

I don't believe in lying, with either words or expressions.

[ So no, he will not be smiling for the camera painter, who is simply going to have to #dealwithit. Luckily for everyone involved, the painter does in fact accept this half-success, and gets back to work while probably thinking about how Kaeya is his new favorite Aion. ]

[subsist]

[ the warning does nothing to dissuade kaeya. if anything, it emboldens him just a teensy bit. he would have moved his arms lower if it wasn't going to lengthen this entire process, but alas.

he settles for questionable statements instead. ]

So eager to mark me.

[ that's about the only thing he's going to comment on, because he has nothing to say in response to eustace's preference for avoiding lies. the painter announces that he's just about done with the finishing touches. it shouldn't take them longer than a few minutes more, which is a relief to kaeya since that means he'll be able to stretch his legs very soon. ]

Are you planning on getting any more portraits done after this?

[lockedon]

[ bRUH

The impulse to just stand up and walk away right now nearly threatens to choke him with how strong it is but the finish line is (apparently) near, close enough that he doesn't want to risk drawing attention to himself.

Of course, the knowledge of his impending freedom does little to quell his absolutely scathing dislike of his portrait buddy, nor does it do anything to stop his tongue from moving on its own. ]

Why? Do you enjoy sitting on laps so much?

[ Do NOT answer that. ]

[subsist]

[ as if reading eustace's mind— ]

Do you really want me to answer that?

[ his expression grows amused, if only because he already knows the answer (and subsequent reaction) to his own question. eustace seems like he's this close to shoving kaeya off his lap so out of respect for the artist who is almost done his work, he doesn't say much more.

the last few minutes would have been so agonizing if it hadn't been for that small exchange. it appears to have been enough to keep kaeya in higher spirits, his face lighting up even more when the artist declares their portrait done. without much fanfare, he shimmies out of eustace's lap and heads over to admire the finished art.

it's like he's completely forgotten about his portrait buddy once he starts complimenting the artist's work, applauding him for capturing their likeness quite nicely. he won't even bother asking if eustace wants to see it. ]

[lockedon]

[ It's for the best, really. As soon as Kaeya gets up, Eustace follows suit, except instead of heading towards the artist booth to see how well his likeness has been captured he just....leaves. Walks away without even a single look back or a spare compliment for the artist, who surely worked so hard on this picture.

At least that leaves Kaeya free to do whatever he wants with this beautiful couple's portrait, for better or for worse. (Probably worse.) ]