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]

[ A vague answer, but one he accepts without fuss. After over a month's time spent getting to know his fellow Kenoma Aions (usually unwillingly), he's learned that a good number of them prefer to be cagey about their abilities and their histories. Sometimes that ends up being a pain but for the most part it works out in his favor. The less reason he's given to trust anyone the less likely he is to be attached and the more he can keep all his relationships purely business.

He takes another stack of disposable paper plates and deposits them in the trash. ]

Field operative. I carried out missions assigned by the higher-ups.

[ What kind of missions? That's for her to speculate on. Though given all the skills he's already put on display, maybe it's not too hard to guess the type of missions he'd been sent on. ]

Do you miss it? Being a hunter.

[ He knows there's a couple of them that miss their old lives. ]

[expiera]

[Idle hands are the devil's plaything, so the saying goes. Helping along would speed things up, so she gets to stacking up the dishes where the hors-d'oeuvres were served in and empty glasses left behind.]

It does seem like the sort of thing you would do.

[Just a remark, plain and simple.

(He didn't ask, so neither does she.)]

I knew what I had to do, what to expect. That wouldn't be bad to have back, yes.

[It's still not a direct answer, but maybe it's telling all the same?]

Do you relate?

[lockedon]

[ That answer gets him to look sideways at her, gaze assessing as he considers her answer. The image of an obedient little soldier comes to life in his mind, perfectly complacent to do as told without question. Except it's a short blue-haired woman standing in front of him now, face placid as she tidies up next to him. ]

You don't find the Regent's orders to be enough for you so far?

[ Yeah, so she technically asked him a question but he'll get to that in a bit. ]

[expiera]

"Stop them" as a gauge for own willingness to take initiative, then a dispatch for the shrines to bolster our forces. Those are the only orders we've received so far, we're otherwise given the time and funds to do as we please while we're on standby.

[She summarizes their past month or so with a small shrug, closing her eyes as she stacks up a glass into another one of the same shape.]

There was "rest and prepare" too, yes, but it's hardly been enforced. We wouldn't have needed to make that communion transmission ourselves, if it was. Is it strange for me to think it hasn't been much? Lacking in direction too, in spite of knowing what the ultimate goal is.

[If she didn't prove herself already so eager to Do Things in general, it could very well have almost sounded like she didn't care. This level of complacency is probably disturbing to some degree, though she hasn't really displayed the sort of enthusiasm and endorsement that Misa and Amos have, either.

Everyone's here for their own reasons, right?]

[lockedon]

[ She has a point; they haven't exactly been given a massive amount of direction comparatively. Fine for him, since he's always preferred a certain amount of freedom to do as he pleases in between missions, but apparently that's not the case for Ciel, who seems to lean towards obedience rather than free thinking.

His eyes drift to her as she speaks, cleaning motions slowed ever so slightly as he does his best to unravel the unspoken meanings behind her words. ]

You seemed willing enough to take direction, before.

[ Happy might be an overstatement, but certainly she'd done so without complaint. ]

Or was that only out of necessity?

[expiera]

Haha. Did it show, that I had a preference of any sort?

[Frankly, Ciel herself has no idea. She's hardly allowed herself to stay idle since their arrival to Achamoth despite the obedience talk now, and more importantly:]

I just do what I have to.

[She doesn't look back at him, but is still wearing a small smile. It's not exactly forced nor hollow, but probably doesn't look like the most appropriate or natural thing, either.

Maybe he can relate, regardless.]

[lockedon]

[ She does what she has to, huh? An interesting way of phrasing things, though he can't say he doesn't relate.

Even so, there's a decided melancholy to the words all the same, at least in his opinion. Simply because she does what she has to, as he does he, doesn't mean that she necessarily wants to. Or is it that she truly cares so little about what she's been asked to do thus far? It's hard to read past the surface of her smile, one that spreads across her face but doesn't seem to sink any deeper.

His hands still, fingers brushing against the edge of one partially-filled cup but not going so far as to pick it up. ]

And what about the things you want to do? Or do those not exist?

[ His voice is deceptively calm, only a flicker of interest underlying the words despite how curious he is to hear her answer. ]

[expiera]

[...Hm.

It's unlike him to ask such things, she thinks. They've bantered before, but talks stayed strictly professional, which complaining about fellow coworkers, equipment, or whatever else they came across WHILE working qualified for. Technically. Is it the alcohol? Hah. What a funny thought.

She glances back at him, an inexplicable sense of distance paired with a faint and self-deprecating air of amusement.]

If I answer that, will you do the same?

[Just a hunch, that's all.]

[lockedon]

[ Is it the alcohol? mysteryghost.png

By all rights, he should definitely not be agreeing to anything that might put him in a situtation where he'll have to reveal any of his deeply personal inner thoughts. They're coworkers, at the end of the day, united by a common goal but not much more than that. If there are similarities between any of them that go past the surface, best not to learn about them.

But it's been a long night, and he has had more alcohol than usual, and the bulk of his thoughts are far away from here, back in a world that may or may not exist any longer. So he shrugs one shouler, resuming his clean-up. ]

Sure.

[ Ciel can have one (1) genuine answer tonight, free of charge. ]

[expiera]

[Alas, at this point they're also united by the Minegishi Watch... And putting together training programs... And... does it still count if it's MEANS to that goal, and not exactly the same goal proper? They'd probably still willingly excuse it all under the broad umbrella of 'work', wouldn't they? Hm.

Head in my hands, this could've been ear petting instead but bc they both have Issues gotta settle for One Genuine Answer... Someone else will have to win Eustace('s Ears Petting)bowl 2k22 any% speedrun, 😔]

Okay.

[...]

If it exists, it shouldn't. ["The things you want to do". It must sound strange, maybe even nonsensical, especially without context. But she looks perfectly at ease saying it, a soft and barren answer easily swallowed up by the drunken afterglow of the party's dying embers.]

I'm not here for myself, I'm here because of it. That's why it makes no difference, so I should be focusing on what I can do instead. [Nosing over their allies' business, even their enemies'. Preparing, planning, helping, welcoming... Anything and everything. As long as it conforms to why she's here, advances the cause of the Kenoma and affiliates. Regardless of what it may sound or look like, it's pretty simple, right?

And expectantly:]

Your turn?

[lockedon]

[ That sure is some nonsense answer, both in terms of phrasing - "if it exists, it shouldn't"? - as well as deeper meaning. Eustace frowns in the cup in his hand, not entirely pleased with the answer despite it being a valid answer in the first place.

Maybe because it's so depressing, to not allow oneself any shred of personal happiness, and to devote one's life instead to some other cause and some other person in need (or at least that's how he's interpreting her words anyway). Certainly none of them gathered here on the Kenoma side are truly free of wrongdoing except maybe Gray but humans are a selfish bunch by nature. To twist that nature so completely in the opposite direction.....well, it usually takes a lot.

Straightening, he turns towards her, expression and voice frank. Unfortunately, Ciel will have to wait just a little bit longer for her answer. ]

Is that what you truly believe? That your wants shouldn't exist?

[ It's unfair to ask her this question, and truthfully he doesn't expect an answer, further explanation not part of their silently agreed upon deal. But he feels compelled to ask all the same. ]

[expiera]

[But it's no secret, is it? That she bears the Legacy of the Martyr, and it may or may not be more or less common knowledge that she's probably among the most willing of their bunch to interact with Xishen. It may be extreme, but she's clearly fine with it. Would he have guessed, if he didn't ask? Surely she's done a good job unlike Dokja at appearing functional, no matter what her beliefs and driving motivators behind her actions may be.]

We're long past that.

[She doesn't mind. Lots of things in life are unfair, and she's simply accepted that. It didn't matter too much anyway, when her own actions are the deciding factor whether to make things better or worse. And considering her track record...]

Your turn, Eustace.

[She gives him a nudging nod, smoothly moving on without missing a beat as if they were talking about the weather or some such. Let's not dwell, shall we? He ought to know better than think he can change her mind just by staring. She's given her honest answer, she didn't promise him it was going to be a satisfying one. So back on track, respectable coworker. Whatever this is, it'll be more trouble if he tries digging deeper, and besides, surely he can't be enticed by the prospect of starting a meddling war with Ciel of all people?]

[lockedon]

[ Girl, you need some help.

—is what he thinks silently to himself, though with resignation. Each legacy has long since branded its own with certain common traits, and he's brushed up against Martyrs up until now to get a sense of the personality traits that shine through the brightest with this particular bunch. In some ways their wants (or lack thereof) run counter to his own particular drives as a Firebrand, namely his selfish desire to fight for his own wants and needs, incorrect though they might sometimes be.

Maybe that's why he finds her nonchalance in this particular area so unpalatable.

But he also knows that he'll be fighting a losing battle if he tries to pry deeper into this particular topic, and unfortunately he isn't Martyr enough to elevate her problems above his own (at least not yet). So he makes a tactical retreat for now, resuming in his cleaning while contemplating his own answer.

In the end, his answer isn't much more enlightening than hers. ]

The only thing I want to do is impossible now.

[ To settle an old one, over fifteen years in the making, the all-encompassing drive that's kept him going for the majority of his life. But his world is destroyed now and with it the culprits that had taken everything he'd ever cared about from him. What's left for him now?

He's really not sure.

He doesn't give her much time to ask nosy questions back (though he can't stall her from asking forever), switching tack within the next few seconds, voice changing from mildly regretful back to business-like. ]

You spoke to Xishen earlier.

1/2

[expiera]

[Okay, you first? We're already among Kenoma's seemingly (keyword, right here,) best adjusted, what else does anyone want??

His answer... Elicits a sound. It's not a scoff, but it doesn't seem completely free of something almost dismissive, either.]

Someone stoic and focused like you, having a strong sense of attachment to something back in your world? Hmm...

[As if toying with the premise in her own head.]

I hope it's not something as clichéd as settling a score?

[It's not a terribly outrageous guess. The tall dark and broody tends to be the featured character archetype of choice for quite a number of stories, and revenge IS a popular trope. Her casual guess is delivered with the usual smile he must've seen a million times by now too, as if making light of her own silly remark. He wouldn't be faulted, however, if he thought that it looks particularly off tonight.]

2/2

[expiera]

[That remark casually thrown out, she motors right on without further acknowledgement, as if it was never made in the first place.]

Yes, she came by during the speeches. What would you like to know?

[Back to the usual, she's gone so far as to turn her back to him to resume tidying up from her end of the table. They still have work to do, they sure do.]

[lockedon]

[ Her (accurate) guess gets a sideways glance from him but nothing more. It's not a guess wholly without foundation and Ciel has always been sharp, but at this juncture in his life, there's just simply no point in discussing it further when there are no concrete actions he can take at the moment. Although, her dismissal of his Very Important Life Goal™ rankles a little. Revenge murder is very important, thanks!!!

Other things that are more important right now though: discussing the details of Ciel's conversation with Xishen. ]

Was it something important?

[ TBD on what his definition of important is..... Honestly, it's entirely possible that the two of them had spent ten minutes engaging in frivolous small talk, but based on the way Xishen had been turning her head left and right half the night in search of something, he's betting that's not the case. ]

[expiera]

[Ok but since he wouldn't want to talk about it anyway as he would much rather look aloof and cool instead, there's no point trying to make a big deal out of it, now is there? Besides, he started it first when he squinted at her problematic self-perception, and while she's not exactly a vindictive person by any measure, it did make up enough excuse for her to take a shot of her own in exchange. This is totally fair? (According to no one at all?)

At that, she stops moving with her back still to him. It lasts for a few seconds, and when she does answer him, it's the same tone used for when they talk actual business, including the time she called him because of their misbehaving problem child.]

She was looking for Howl. He's not here tonight.

[lockedon]

[ Apparently there are multiple misbehaving children among the Kenoma ranks, if this conversation is any future indication. Not that Howl doesn't qualify under 'grown man' status based purely on age, but after accounting for personality and maturity levels....well.

Eustace barely knows anything about everyone's favorite magician, having only passed by him in the hallways a handful of times, but he has managed to gather that Howl is a person who thrives under attention and who enjoys a good party—tonight's event included. So it's something of a surprise that the man isn't here, and more of a surprise that one of their higher-ups is looking for him.

His belligerant look turns thoughtful, almost concerned. Not for Howl himself (sorry bud) but for the implications of what his absence might mean. ]

I noticed. Did he land himself in trouble?

[expiera]

[Ciel exhales, and her shoulders slump a bit.]

It would seem so. She expressed the sentiment that it'll be in his best interest for it to work. If it does, it won't need to happen again.

[Whatever "it" may be.]

We shouldn't worry the newcomers over this.

[lockedon]

[ If that ain't a shady-ass sentence if he's ever heard one. And a warning delivered slightly too late, his mind already drawing up his earlier conversation with Barnaby outside on the patio.

It's nice of Ciel to try and cushion the new fledgeling arrivals, but he's not sure he entirely agrees with her. ]

You don't think they deserve to know?

[expiera]

I don't think threatening them without context will help anyone. We don't know what Howl did exactly to incur consequences like this. We don't know what he's undergoing right now. We don't know how he'll be, once he returns.

[Then there's Xishen's take over the whole thing, based after her understanding of the Regent. Should she even bring that up?

Or in other words, know which part, exactly? There's a lot they could unpack from this, starting from the top.]

[lockedon]

[ True, they don't know the specifics, but if Emet's behavior during their first dinner was any indication, he's not sure any further context is really needed. Maybe that's just his pessimism and distrust shining through though. He still doesn't trust the Regent within an inch of his life.

But there's not exactly much they can do now about it, and he doesn't care enough about most of their assorted newbies (sorry newbies) to be proactive about this. ]

If you say so.

[ Although, he has to admit: ]

I'm surprised Xishen didn't mention the details.

[ Was it because she didn't know? Or because she didn't want them to know? ]

[expiera]

I didn't ask.

[She clarifies without hesitation. If there is fault, then she would have her share of blame to account for too.]

She did say that the Regent prefers followers who are motivated by reasons other than self-preservation, and that they are not the sort to threaten those who haven't done anything wrong.

[The sound of cutlery and glass. They'll have to cart quite a bit away, later.]

You may take that as you will. I don't think she has any reason to lie about this, and she should have a better read on the Regent than any of us.

[Does she sympathize a bit too much with her fellow Martyr? Maybe, but there is at least effort that's gone into making it not too obvious. They ARE on the same side, what would Xishen have to gain to deceive them over the Regent's nature?]

[lockedon]

What's wrong and right differs from person to person.

[ He murmurs it softly, barely heard above the clink of glass and cutlery. It's not meant to disprove her point; it comes out before he can help it, a loosening of his mind and tongue from too much alcohol and turning his thoughts more genuine than he intends.

At least with two people they've made quick work of the clean-up. There's still a bit left but far better organized than before. ]

If you take the cutlery, I can take the glassware.

[ Back to work it seems. He's still thinking about Ciel's subtle compassion towards Xishen - a Martyr thing, maybe? - but that can be for a later day. ]

[expiera]

[Hah. So he's not a black and white guy himself, huh? That's all she's hearing, and it's not particularly surprising.

...]

That sounds good, thank you. Let's wrap up here, shall we?

[Neither of them are in any rush or plan to go somewhere else. Another day, it shall be!]