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

[lockedon]

[ So his shirt is missing one (very large) panel of fabric, sue him.

Or insult him or mock him but definitely don't touch him? The distaste he feels - and subsequent stiffening of his form - at the sudden physical contact has less to do with skin-on-skin contact than it does with the presence of casual physical contact at all. Please don't touch him? Respect your elders and their desire for large personal bubbles, thanks.

The sarcastic suggestion to move meets with a decided lack of movement as Eustace stays right where he is, heels planted firmly against the ground as he meets Gen's gaze, uncowed. The painter, on the cusp of having a nervous breakdown, buries his face in his hands. ]

Since when are you so compliant with a stranger's requests?

[epiprocta]

[ Squinting at Eustace, Gen takes a moment to assess the pros and cons of the situations. On the one hand he can continue to be petulant and avoid the mortifying ordeal of these stupid portraits. But on the other hand, he can flaunt even the thinnest veneer of moral superiority for a while, and make Eustace uncomfortable to boot.

How can he turn down an opportunity like that, really. ]

What're you talking about, I'm always a cooperative model student.

[ Said at an obnoxious deadpan. And if Eustace won't step forward, then fine. Gen saunters forward to close the distance between them before slinging his arm over his shoulder. ]

And look -- [ gesturing at the long-suffering painter ] -- d'you really wanna make the poor guy cry? He's just doing his job, y'know.

[lockedon]

[ First of all, WHAT moral superiority is there to be gained from wearing a shirt with a back? Second of all, don't touch him.

But, sure, fine, two can play at this game. Even if Eustace isn't a spiteful bitch by nature, spite is just another offshoot of hatred and the gods only know how long he's kept the torch of seething anger alive in his heart. If there were any time to be a petty fuck it would be now. Dokja would be proud, probably. ]

Cooperative model student, huh?

[ The words come out in a drawl, accompanied by a swift change in attitude; he straightens, chin lifting up as he plants a hand firmly against Gen's back as the two of them half-drag half-push each other towards center stage. He turns towards the artist first, half a (very fake) smile present on his lips. ]

In that case, how would you like us to stand? Since my student here is being so obliging.

[ Buckle up, kiddos, there's no getting off this ride now. ]

[epiprocta]

[ The moral superiority of being nice to the poor painter, god! Not everything's about your slutty back-exposure fetish, Eustace!!!

But -- huh. He's admittedly a little taken aback by how quickly Eustace manages to change tack, even donning a smile, which Gen hadn't thought the other possible of with his frozen-stiff face. Caught on the back-foot by Eustace's swift about-face, he stumbles one, two steps as Eustace jostles him towards the place the painter had been indicating before regaining his composure.

Well, if Eustace is also going to play it this way, then. ]

Yeah, how're we supposed to do this?

[ At least the poor painter seems determined to take advantage of this reprieve, and meekly asks if one of them could sit? With the other standing behind them, maybe? He's probably thinking of one of those classic portrait styles, a little stuffy but easy to handle.

It sounds pretty insufferable, to be honest, but now that they're in this situation -- Gen gives Eustace a shit-eating smirk as he gestures to the seat. ]

Please, sensei. You should give your old knees a rest.

if this godmod is not okay pls slap me.....

[lockedon]

[ Very tame, very predictable, no fun at all. If he's going to be trapped here in a hell of Lottie and Misa's forced making, then he may as well exploit it for all he's got. The fact that Gen's rising up to the challenge only fuels his own sense of competition further.

Eustace ignores both the shit-eating grin and the silent suggestion for him to take a seat like the elderly ancient he's supposed to be, and aims a lofty look to somewhere an inch above Gen's head. ]

My old knees can kick your ass any day. [ Like tomorrow, for instance, and that's a promise. ❤️ ] It's the job of the adults to make sure that kids are taken care of. You should take a break.

[ From what? Who knows.

Eustace circles around, stepping past the chair and behind Gen as if making to casually shove him towards the chair and into sitting. Instead, he stops when he's directly behind and bends down, arms stretching out without warning to snag Gen into an impromptu princess carry. With, okay, some effort, because trying lift someone the same size without outside assistance is harder than it looks.

Don't jostle around too much, Gen, or you WILL be dropped without remorse. ]

how could i possibly slap you for giving me such a lovely gift

[epiprocta]

[ Like, duh, Eustace is probably going to kick his ass tomorrow? But that's a problem for future him, and thus not even something worth considering at the moment. (Future him will regret this a little bit when he's hungover and rekt and puking on Eustace's shoes.)

So for now, Gen just gives a puzzled cant of the head when Eustace suddenly maneuvers around him. ]

Take a break from what --

[ Too bad that retort peters off into an undignified little bark of surprise when he's suddenly being hefted up in Eustace's arms.

He hasn't been carried since he was, like, six? And it turns out the most iron-clad bad-boy delinquent act in the world isn't impervious to the shock of having your center of balance suddenly shifted. Gen reflexively ends up grabbing at Eustace's shoulder for one mortifying second before realizing what he's doing and hissing, ]

-- the hell's wrong with you?!

[ And, very predictably, he struggles to try and get back to his feet. Is Eustace at all surprised by it, really. He was probably prepared to drop him from the beginning, huh. ]

[lockedon]

[ What the hell is wrong with you well a great many things, actually.

None of which are going to be revealed on the metaphorical dance floor today, sadly, because there are other more important things to cover first here. Like delivering a lecture to one particularly disobedient student right in front of (Achamoth) god and everyone.

His grip on Gen is tenuous at best and made all the worse by the squirming happening in his arms. Right. Only one thing to be done about this. ]

So much for being a cooperative model student. [ Heavy emphasis on the last three words. ] Looks like you need some discipline.

[ He lets go on the last word, arms loosening their grip with the full intent of just letting Gen drop to the ground, no mercy shown. ]

[epiprocta]

[ Motherfucker. Gen knows what's coming the moment he hears the obnoxious emphasis in Eustace's voice. And while he's not so agile or dextrous that he can shift cat-like to land on his feet ... he can at least make himself a pain in the ass.

So right before Eustace just unceremoniously drops him, he hooks the closer arm around the back of Eustace's neck, his other hand almost reflexively coming to claw into a handful of Eustace's shirtfront.

Bitch, if he's going down he's taking you with him.

(Also the poor painter is almost certainly going to cry if these two hooligans wreck his setup with their petty fighting but that's fine, right.) ]

[lockedon]

[ Again: can you really call a party fun if at least one person doesn't flee the premises in a fit of tears?

Lottie and Misa are probably going to bill the damages to the resident pair of Kenoma assholes but that's fine, a dent out of his allowance (that he's barely even been dipping into anyway) is a worthwhile price to pay to watch Gen suffer in real time.

And watch himself suffer too, apparently, the dig of nails into his shirtfront enough to drag him off balance. Down they both go into a graceless heap, the chair creaking and then toppling over with a loud thud as the combined weight of their bodies sends it sliding to one side.

The painter stares at them wide-eyed, frozen in place with his knuckles white from clutching the pen too hard. Is this....is this supposed to happen? Is he going to get in trouble for this? Where are the people that paid him to do this, is it too late to just pack up and leave? (No refunds though.) ]

[epiprocta]

[ Gen gets to relish approximately half a second of triumph when he feels Eustace's balance wobble from the hard jerk of his hand, fabric straining between his fingers as he yanks the other down. Ha, eat shit, asshole.

-- and then it's promptly squelched by the impact of the chair's arm whacking into his back as he makes a hard landing.

The sound of the painter's quiet, dismayed cry, the clatter of the chair falling over, and the murmur of curious onlookers is rather forgotten as he spends a moment doubled over on the ground groaning at the pain radiating from his shoulderblade. But between breathless 'ah, fuck's and stifled groans, he gropes for the nearest object he can get his fingers around.

Some big, dumb, floppy hat meant to be used as a prop for the portraits.

Which he swings it at Eustace's face. ]

[lockedon]

[ Tell him he lookds pretty, Gen—

The hat hits him square in the face, the force of the impact sending bits of his hair blowing back every which way. Dimly, he realizes how stupid all of this is, engaging in a child's fight with Gen in public with any number of eyes zeroed in on them. Better to just pack up and leave, use this this opportunity to usher the both of them away from this booth and towards separate corners of the building so Misa and Lottie can't chase them down.

Or.....

After two seconds of hat in his face, he grabs the offending accesory and yanks it from Gen's grip, untangling himself while he's at it and pushing himself to his feet with his free hand. ]

Great idea. You can wear this while you pose.

[ Is he seriously going through with this....yeah probably, because if Gen leaves now then he comes out the winner. If he's already lost his dignity then he can at least try and win this stupid petty fight. ]

[epiprocta]

[ You know what Eustace, you can have this win. Because Gen still has a hand pressed to his back as he relinquishes the floppy hat -- wow, with the way he's doubled over, this sure feels like karmic justice for him having treated Eustace like an old man just seconds ago -- and glares at him in response to that magnanimous offer.

And then flips him the bird. ]

Go fuck yourself.

[ Too bad that retort comes out a little breathless, given he's still winded from that whack to the back. But not so winded he can't wobble to his feet, shooting Eustace one more glare before he makes to slink off.

Although unfortunately for Eustace, the fact that Gen retreats quietly instead of actively fighting back is a clear indicator that this is just teenage moodiness instead of proper anger. So he won't be free of his babysitting-slash-training duties anytime soon, with a training session with a severely-hungover Gen awaiting him in the morning ... though that's a story for another time. ]