aionlogs | welcome to achamoth

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welcome to achamoth

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hee hee. You're so funny, Amos. It's not so hard.

[ And she really means that, if the dainty, amused way she says it is any indicator. She can tell just by looking that this is totally not Amos's scene, so she's determined to help him feel a little more comfortable. Explaining a game should be easy enough. Maybe then it'll be easier for him to play with someone else... she already has her own fruity beverage in hand to play. ]

We'll take turns saying "never have I ever" done something! Like, if I say, "never have I ever kissed someone!" Then you have to take a drink if you've done it. It's a good way to learn funny and interesting stuff about people. Do you get it?

[ He nods; he's always gonna be awkward in places like this, but he is capable of making an effort. And it's always easier when you've got someone you like willing to help you along, right? Besides — when she puts it like that, it is easy.

He takes another second to think it over. What's something... ah. ]

Never have I ever been famous.

[ And he's kinda hoping that part stays true, even though the longer he resides in Achamoth, the more difficult that's probably gonna be. Sure, he's been famous-adjacent — Cap had accidentally gone viral, and he'd ended up swept up in the consequences of that every now and then — but Amos himself? Nah. ]

Haha, you got me already.

[ Misa takes a deliberate, long sip from her drink, grinning around the rim of the glass. So, Amos isn't some celebrity...? That makes sense, given his personality, she thinks. Plus, are there even celebrities in space? Does the internet exist up there? ]

Did you do that on purpose? Can you tell that I'm famous? Or was that just a lucky guess?

[ There's a playful note of curiosity to her questions, truly just interested in how she comes off to people who had never known of her fame beforehand. ]

[ Amos' eyebrows raise, though really, on reflection, maybe he shouldn't be surprised. It's kind of like a piece falling into place — he could see someone like Misa being popular on one of the entertainment feeds. Hell, he likes her, and that seems like the kind of quality that kept those feeds going. At least every time he'd taken a passing glance at them without really absorbing any of their content.

But to answer her, he just shakes his head no, still relaxed, but feeling pretty good about this game now. Like there really is a kind of purpose to it. ]

Lucky guess. I was kinda thinking about my captain back home — he accidentally got famous, but he found a way to handle it. Or at least he seemed like he did. And the way Achamoth is... I'm just hoping if it happens to me here, that I can be like him.

[ He blinks, shakes his head again to clear it. Kinda just accidentally felt something there, so that's enough of that. When he speaks again he does his best to match her in playfulness. ]

But now that I know that about you, I can see it. That's cool. Maybe I'll just have to take notes from you one day. [ And then he inspects his own... equally fruity drink, actually, upon reflection. Lifts it up. ] C'mon, you gotta give me an excuse to get this in me now.

Well, if it's posing for pictures or answering interviews that you want to learn, ask away. I was a model back then...

[ "Back then" being her time on Earth. She flip flops between thinking that it's all over and their only chance at salvaging anything from their homeworld is to help the Regent and remake it, and deluding herself into thinking that all of that vision was a dream.

His challenge keeps her attention focused on the game, though, and she spends a few moments thinking up a good one, before chirping out brightly: ]

Haha, I know. Never have I ever had astronaut food.

[ You know, the freeze dried strawberry stuff... that's what people who go to space eat, right? Is this cheating? If it is, she shows no remorse. ]

Maybe interviews. Though I probably shouldn't be anyone's first choice for public speaking, but... you know. Just in case.

[ He does have a propensity for fucking up when put on the spot, after all.

But a model... That makes sense, as does back then. There really isn't any going back; it's all in the past, as far he's concerned. Still, no reason why she shouldn't be able to remake that career here.

He almost laughs at how easy hers seems, her lack of remorse, but he had said he wanted to drink, so drink he's gonna, before giving her any elaboration. And. It is good; he has to remind himself to stop so he'll have plenty left for future rounds. ]

Lots of soy and tofu up there. Almost everything's a substitute of some sort or grown in a vat. Everything down here? Probably the best food I've ever had in my life.

[ And there is a fine appreciation for it on his end, one he isn't taking for granted. Though now he's gotta think up a new one... Now that she's got him thinking of going up the gravity well, actually. There was always the half-assed version of that... ]

Never have I ever flown in an airplane.

[ Actually, when she'd said that, she hadn't really been imagining what food was actually like in space. Now that he explains, she can see it all being pretty boring food. After all, how's a kitchen supposed to work up there? It must all be pre-packaged or, like he says, grown in some created environment. Huh. No wonder the food here would taste so amazing by comparison.

Still, at the prompt, she just laughs, and shakes her head. ]

I went on a plane when I was a kid. My parents took me and my sister on vacation... [ She trails off, momentarily hesitating until continuing. This is actually the first time she's even thought of her sister since coming here? ] I bet it's boring in comparison to being in a spaceship. It seemed fun back then, though.

[ Misa seems to brush off talking about her family quite easily, despite the momentary hesitation— like Amos, she doesn't seem particularly affected by speaking about the worlds and pasts they came from, destroyed as they allegedly are. Her smile turns more mischievous, her brow quirking. ]

How about.... never have I ever stolen something.

[ He catches that moment of hesitation, but since she brushes it off so quickly, so does he. He'd just done the same thing, hadn't he? Their families from back home are dead now, so it doesn't really matter. ]

I dunno. Feels like there's a novelty to planes. Where I'm from, you only got to go on one if you were really rich. [ And that was... never gonna be him.

Oh, that look from her, though. Amos cocks his head at her, giving her a long look before conceding with a small grin, taking another drink. ]

Technically, [ and he starts slow, drawing the word out, ] the ship I was on before everything died had been abandoned before I commandeered it. And the Roci was a legitimate salvage, though I don't think the Martians ever got over it. But. You got me.

[ He pauses, before quirking an eyebrow of his own. ]

Never have I ever been convicted of a crime.

[ Hell, he's committed a bunch, but it's just never come around to bite him in the ass. Not like he wasn't prepared for it if the time came — he was always just more prepared to escape punishment. ]

[ She goes to take a sip of her drink, then stops, then holds her drink farther away, the play by play of her realizations out for all to see. ]

I was arrested! But never convicted. They were false charges, so it was all their fault for being wrong! They actually paid me off to not say anything.

[ At least she says that... confidently? Actually, she still seems a little miffed about it, if the way her lips twist into a pout show anything. ]

And before you get any funny ideas, it wasn't for anything as crazy as stealing a whole spaceship.

[ He sure said 'technically,' but she saw him take that shot. That means he admits to stealing?? Color her shocked (and somewhat scandalized.) ]

[ Now that's an answer, huh? Amos blinks in surprise; he hadn't thought he'd hit anywhere close to home with that one. Who the hell would charge Misa with anything, anyway?? He doesn't blame her for being miffed about it; being arrested — or imprisoned temporarily while everything gets sorted out, whatever — is annoying. ]

Stealing a spaceship isn't crazy. If you've gotta get to space, what else are you supposed to do? The world had already ended.

[ Like, before-before it ended for real and he woke up here. Hell of a day he'd had. So any hint of her being scandalized goes completely over his head; stealing a ship was the only sensible thing to do at the time. Of course he'd done it. Anyone would've. ]

But alright, I'll bite. What'd they try to pin on you?

[ What could anyone possibly pin on Misa?? ]

[ And asked that, she finds herself at a crossroads. Should she make up an entirely new lie, which she'll have to keep track of for the entire time she's here? Or stick with the original lie that she's been holding on to since she got all her memories back and arrived here...? ]

Did you ever hear about the Kira case?

[ ...Can't hurt to find out what he knows. He's from the future, isn't he, where the world's already ended? She can't imagine he would care that much about something that happened decades or hundreds of years ago. And of course, she assumes they must both be from the same Earth - just different points in time. In her mind, she thinks everyone in the Kenoma are more likely to be Kira supporters, anyways - he's not going to totally condemn what she's about to tell him, is he?

Eventually, she decides it's worth risking telling him about. Just to know where he stands. ]

It was an international sensation in my time, 2004. Someone, who everyone started calling 'Kira,' was killing criminals and those who got away with crimes worldwide. No one knew how he was doing it— almost all of his targets would die of a mysterious heart attack. But the police were looking for suspects who were helping Kira, and I got caught up in it...

[ She trails off there, pausing to look for recognition of the case and to gauge his reaction. ]

[ He shakes his head in response; nope, Kira case has never come up at any point in his life. Not in any passing mention he can recall, nothing. It makes sense that she'd asked, though — for all any of them know, they are from the same Earth. Just with a... lot of distance between them.

Either way, he's not gonna force her into anything. The idea of Misa being arrested is unpleasant, so if she doesn't want to go into it, he gets it.

... But it's kinda nice that she trusts him enough to. He absorbs her every word, mulls it over when she stops to look up at him expectantly. ]

2004's ancient history for me. Lots of people died between then and my time. Lots of killers, too. And not like I'm a historian, so makes sense I've never heard of it before.

[ He pauses, thinking the rest of it over. It's not like she's asking him only to explain why he's never heard of this before. And he's an absolute shit judge at morality, but... going with his gut instincts here...

Amos frowns sympathetically. ] He was only killing criminals? I mean, I get why the cops would've wanted to put a stop to that. Someone was actually doing something to help people instead of putting on a whole show before letting things go back to the way they always were. [ Is that a hint of bitterness in his voice... noooo... But it falls away as he acknowledges Misa specifically. ] That sucks that you got caught up in it though. I guess it's cool they paid you off, but that's fucked up.

[ Yeah, nothing to worry about, he's still Team Misa. ]

[ His words— her eyebrows raise in an expression that can only read as pure hope, excitement, passion. There's even a faint dust of pink on her cheeks, taking in the very apparent bitterness in his voice as if it's the hugest, most obvious positive sign she's ever heard. ]

Oh, Amos, you totally understand! Kira was trying to make the world a better place...

[ Misa folds her hands together, pressing them to her chest in a show of her sentiment. She knew it. She knew it, even from the first few moments she met Amos, on the boat, when they'd talked about how they'd come to the Kenoma. At the dinner, when she'd promised him they could change the world together. He's just like her. And it feels so validating, in a way she's truly never experienced— it's such a distinct relief to feel seen, and to feel understood. All this time, she's been alone in holding such a viewpoint... but now she has someone she can call a friend, a true ally. Instantaneously, then and there, Misa decides that he is the one person that she can actually trust in the Kenoma. A supporter of Kira, of course!

Her smile widens, becomes something warmer, something more genuine than her typical excitable, cutesy brand. ]

Kira punished the man who killed my parents, so Misa was super pro-Kira. I really wanted to meet him and help him. [ And she drops that with such a casualness, all but confirming that she did want to help Kira, she just... couldn't. Allegedly. ] So that's the whole story of why I was suspected...

[ His words about not knowing who Kira was— those are just a small blip on the overall radar, now. She's not even thinking about what that means, if that means that Kira never ended up creating the world he meant to. It's a comfort alone to share this with somebody. She doesn't mirror that pensive frown he has at all— she actually seems much happier than she was just minutes before. As if to reassure him: ]

That's all over now, though! I actually had just gotten released before I woke up in the Lover's shrine. So I'm A-OK.

[ Her reaction throws him at first, the way she swallows up everything he'd said. It seemed obvious enough to him, not really that big of a deal, but... it clearly is to her, and something in him feels warmer at her own warmth, heart aching in a way that feels pleasant, and he's not sure what to do with himself over that. He wants to pull her in, he wants to hug her, and it's a feeling so weirdly strong all he can really do is set his drink back down on the table, leave his arms at his sides.

Later, when all is said and done for the night, it'll dawn on him that this might be what truly connecting with someone else is. He's experienced it before, he's pretty sure, but... maybe not. Maybe if this is what it actually feels like.

... For now, it's all he can really do but to match her smile, something natural and genuine and it might almost hurt with how good it feels to have this.

The feeling dips sharply for a second, that someone killed Misa's parents, that particular detail sticking out more than the fact that she'd even been a suspect, that she'd wanted to help a killer. The latter feels so trivial, the former a little less so, but... if she's fine now. He gets it. It sucks when you lose someone, but the sooner you move on, the better.

So he beams at her. Draws her in with one arm for that hug after all, not because she needs the comfort, but because it just feels like the right thing to do in this moment after all, that sense of connection finally causing him to act. ]

That's good. [ And he does mean that, pouring every bit of feeling he can into those words as he looks down at her, just. Just plain happy, apparently. ] You had someone to kill the guy who killed your parents, and you got released, and you're here now. That's — all of that's really good.

[ Personable and friendly as she acts towards everyone— this feeling of fondness in the depth of her chest is quite foreign to her, too. When he pulls her in for that hug, it's actually a little... surprising? How long has it been since she's had a friend that she could be more open with like this? She probably hasn't had one— not one that was human, anyway. There wasn't anyone left on her Earth who would embrace her like this out of a genuine sense of warmth, a fact she's distantly aware of as the reason behind her unfamiliarity with the intimacy. ]

It is good, isn't it? Everything worked out in the end... and I even still get to help Kira.

[ In a roundabout way, serving the Regent's interests made sure that Kira's interests were served as well. At least, from her warped perception of what it is that Kira wants. Carefully, so as to not spill the rest of her drink, she wraps her arms gingerly around him in order to give him a fond squeeze, pressing her cheek firmly against his chest. ]

You forgot one important thing, though. [ Misa looks up from where she's flush against him, a youthful playfulness there. ] I got to meet Amos, too! We never would have met otherwise. So everything's really good.

[ They are perhaps the only two present at this party that view being in the Kenoma that way, and that, too, she is aware of. But she simply doesn't care. All that matters to her is having found someone that could understand even the basest of her motivations— motivations that she's been concerned she'd need to hide for the length of her stay here. ]

[ He nods: it is good. He doesn't quite make the connection of helping Kira, but he thinks he can see where she's coming from: making a universe where someone like Kira isn't necessary. Killing someone after the fact's all well and good, making sure they can't kill again, but if someone had to die beforehand, it's still not that great, so... yeah. Amos gets it. Gets her. He was already pretty sure of that, but the returned hug just seems to cement it: one last physical indication that there's a deeper understanding between the two of them, and holy fuck, is it nice to share that with someone else.

He cocks his head when she says he forgot something, but with the revelation comes a widening of his smile, a reciprocating squeeze. It's not often he's wanted. Not like it's never happened before; not like he hasn't appreciated it every single time. This just so happens to be another one of those times, and he's not going to forget it. ]

We're right where we're supposed to be.

[ And they are; he truly means that. Doesn't really matter if nobody else here follows their lead — they're here for a reason. They can do what needs to be done, even if nobody else can. Everyone's got their roles to play; he figures this is theirs. ]

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welcome to achamoth

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