[MINGLE, ESPECIALLY TO NEWCOMERS] ROOFTOP FESTIVITIES!!!

[icanfixer]

WHO: All!
WHAT: Rooftop festivities!
WHERE: On a rooftop of an office building in the second open district!
WHEN: 8/14, evening!
WARNINGS: alcohol, tba as it goes


Banner displayed inside the train station, outside city hall, and on the most used residence buildings.

Follow the arrows.
So you're unaware. Maybe new. Or maybe you just didn't care the first time you saw it. That's fine. Between the banners hanging around key areas, and the flyers quickly drawn up in a similar fashion scattered across the city, it's hard not to know something is going on -- and there's helpful arrows, chalked on building walls and the streets the day of the party, to let people know where to go.

The Rooftop

A splendid scene awaits those who travel heavensward. Fairy lights connect the corners of the roof access building to metal poles at the corners of the building itself, lifted by cylindrical supports where needed, each one held straight by pots filled with well-packed dirty and stone. There's multicolored stars hanging from some of the lights, while various painted flowers hang on others, and what greets the ears first is some royalty free party music played from a CD player off the the side.

There's a long folded out table in the center for those who'd like to share cuisine, just set and serve yourself! Nearby is a space for Daan to do some bartending as well, a man who can make a multitude of cocktails and mocktails for those who want something less alcoholic. Also, pints of various ice cream flavors in a cooler!

Don't worry -- they won't have any odd effects on them, Don verified the lack of them herself. Not all of them are normal. Think loaded baked potato weird.

For those who'd like a quieter space, there's beanbags and a swirly, fuzzy carpet to sit on more away from the center of the party area. This'll be a great time to play some games, such as truth or dare, spin the bottle, and... whatever else you play at parties. Get to know your fellow man and such. Play the violin.

Naturally, no party... hosted... by Don Quixote would be without a space to fight, if one wishes to show off a little! It's also taking place on a swirly fuzzy carpet, just so no one smashes their head in, and there's a neat little banner hanging down from a string of lights that says thus:

WIN THREE MATCHES AND A PRIZE AWAITS THEE!!!!!!!
- NO KILLING
- HANDS ONLY

What the prize is, no one knows. But come find Don Quixote with your battle scars and she'll grant it -- and stick around a while, 'cause this party's gonna end with a bang... that is, with homemade fireworks donated by "a friend" through Junpei.

Anyway, have fun!!! Share words about your worlds!!! The society your characters are from, the cuisine they've brought, how they're working out in the city -- help the new kids along, too. There's more vets here now than there were a few months ago, after all.

Navi: Truth or Dare - Two Truths and a Lie - Hydra Storytelling w/Junpei - Drink Up With Daan - Qixi Festivites

Comments

[nomoresharks]

A. Fashion Disaster

[When you come from a society that considers outward expressions of individuality taboo, the chance to let one's hair down and allow his individuality to shine becomes quite enticing.

Would that it also came with instructions.

Hythlodaeus's first foray into fashion has... mixed results, to say the least. He's managed to pick colors that work well together (black is always a safe bet, and purple goes with both his eyes and hair so surely nothing can go wrong there), but pattern and fit are an entirely different story--too loose in some places, awkwardly tight in others, and a little too much plaid for a single man to wear. It somehow manages to keep the mask around his neck the least ecclectic thing on his person.

...But at least he seems to draw the line at socks and sandals?]


B. Starry Skies

[Hythlodaeus stands beneath some of the star decorations, a hand cupped just beneath them and a look of concentration on his face. Little by little, magic flows from palm to star, and his pursed, set lips slowly give way to a warm smile as some of the stars begin to emit a faint glow.]

There we are. Paltry though it may be compared to others' contributions, I can do this much, at least.


C. Tipsy Turvy

[He may have started the evening with soda and mocktails, but as the night continues, Hythlodaeus starts to lean into the more alcoholic drinks all the more, trying this and that until his cheeks are flushed and he's (somehow) even more giggly than usual.

A little unsteady on his feet, he nearly stumbles into someone]

Oh! Pardon me. My, the floor is uneven here.


D. Wildcard me!

b!

[astraphilia]

[ now that... is fascinating. Reno's no stranger to magic like it, but this is maybe the first time he's seen it done without the aid of materia, and more than that he'd been firmly under the impression that magic had been stamped out of the city. clearly not so, if this guy (in his... exceptional outfit) just made some stars light up with a wiggle of his fingers.

so, recalibrating his understanding in that arena, Reno offers a polite golf clap. ]

Hey, don't talk yourself down. Looked pretty cool to me.

[nomoresharks]

Really, it was nothing.

[Though he does his best to waive it off and appear appropriately sheepish, he can't help but feel some relief at the praise.]

I'm neither a cook nor an artist, so I merely offer what I can.

[astraphilia]

Well, hey. [ Reno grins, easy. ] I ain't a cook or an artist and I can't make magic with my bare hands, so you're still comin' out ahead.

[ he is curious, though— ]

I just got here a couple days ago. [ contextualizing information for the question he's about to ask, which is, ] I thought I heard that people with abilities back home can't use 'em here. So did you bring that with you or pick it up in this place?

—Reno, by the way.

[nomoresharks]

Hythlodaeus.

And from what I've gathered, it isn't so much that people can no longer use them so much as they are... [He searches for the word] dampened. Some more severely than others.

Given this is a fairly simple charm for light, I was hoping that I would be able to pull it off--and full glad am I that that is indeed the case.

c.

[gradenine]

[ like hyth, roland's also feeling a bit of a buzz. he can't afford to get too drunk at the moment though -- don't wanna lose more of his bearings when he can't recognize anyone by face at all. still, he manages to catch the other guy by the arms before they both collapse together. ]

Nah, it's no problem. Must be the architecture here.

[ or whatever kaveh would've said. roland doesn't quite meet him in the eye as he lets go of hyth and dusts himself off. ]

Wanna sit down a bit?

[nomoresharks]

[His height should serve to help Roland in the future, at least, even if it's something of a hindrance now. Few people in this city can claim to be 6'5", after all.]

Not sure I have much of a choice, really.

[Stairs seem a... daunting prospect at the moment.

Still, a few more giggles escape him as a realization comes:]

I think going to hurt come tomorrow.

[gradenine]

[ yeah, that's definitely why hyth stuck out like a sore thumb. don't really meet a lot of guys that tall like, ever...

and now he's babbling like a drunk. roland doesn't mind; the guy seems like he's never gone out to mingles like this before, much like his fellow librarians. ]

Yeah, yeah. Come on. put your arm 'round my shoulder, big guy.

[ just lean on him and we'll get ya where you wanna go! which is towards the chairs gathered near the railings, ye. ]

[nomoresharks]

Right. As they say:

[He swings his arm over Roland's shoulder as instructed, and holds up a finger with a serious expression.]

four legs are better than two.

[He pauses to let this dramatic, very wise statement sink in, then snickers and adds in a conspiratorial, not-so-whisper:]

I'm "they."

b

[icanfixer]

[ o-ho, someone is admiring her handi...work? by the wing. it's glowing. she's scurrying over hello. ]

How did thee do that?

[nomoresharks]

Oh, it's just a little magic. Nothing special, really. Unless you come from one of the worlds without?

[icanfixer]

Hmhm, that is difficult to say. There is technology that is almost magic-like, but it is not magic -- yet it is said that in the Outskirts past the walls of my City lies the Ruins, which does have magic within it! Though no one knows for sure.

[ probably. anyway!!! ]

I for one have not seen it before! Are thee able to make other things glow? Does it hurt to use? What else can thee do?

[nomoresharks]

[Ah, the curiosity of youth... Or young adulthood in this case.

He counts his answers off on his fingers as he responds]

If I can make this glow, I imagine I could make a great many other things glow as well.

It doesn't hurt at all, though using too much leaves me quite exhausted, especially here.

And much, much less than I possibly could back home--partly due to whatever interference this place provides on its own, partly due to the lack of, ah, "materials" [For he's made peace with the fact that the word "aether" means little to most of the people here] necessary to do so. I've only my own reserves to draw from.

C

[wordchain]

[ A near-collision can be forgiven, but if this stranger's coordination and spatial awareness are impaired, his stumbling around may end in a different outcome before long. Reflexively, Yesod has raised his hands between them, lowering them only when it seems unlikely that the inebriated party guest in front of him will topple over. This is less of a hazard than Netzach's evening, at least. ]

I suggest staying still.

[ But the man presumably has the perfectly level floor to cross first. Yesod casts it a glance. ]

[nomoresharks]

Hm... That seems a little unfair, don't you think. Everything else gets to move.

[He may or may not be pouting.]

[wordchain]

[ "Everything else"? Lifting his gaze — and admittedly needing to tilt his head back to look all the way up at Hythlodaeus's face — Yesod stares at him in an unspoken question. ]

...You're free to disregard the advice. I suppose few here would heed it over the alternative.

[ Remaining seated in one spot may not be conducive to experiencing the gathering's advertised objectives, after all. ]

[nomoresharks]

[The question is asked, though it takes Hythlodaeus a few moments longer than usual to process it]

'Tis truly just me, then?

[What if the floor IS flat?]

Oh nevermind. I'll sit still if you tell me how you're enjoying the party.

[He may not be the host, but it's absolutely critical that everyone is enjoying themselves.]

B

[furibund]

[ Nebula had been paying attention to something else when the man moves underneath the decorations — It's the light that catches her eyes first and she turns sharply to look in its direction. Hand half goes to a blaster that's not there before she pauses, takes in the sight. Thinks a moment and offers: ]

You turned paper to light without fire. I would not call that paltry.



[ Is it an attempt to be affirming...? Maybe. ]

[nomoresharks]

Indeed I did.

[He covers his mouth as he laughs.]

And full glad am I there was no need to resort to fire at all. Though it may be impressive in the moment, I somehow doubt our hosts for the evening would enjoy their work being set alight.

[furibund]

Oh, from here, they might clap delightedly.

[ They seem that sort anyway. The woman was overly excited and enthusiastic, a trait of too many people she's met around here. What is it about this place that attracts that kind of personality? ]

But a fire big enough to take down a building could be just what we need.

[nomoresharks]

Ah.

[He stares, mind momentarily going blank as he attempts to process what she's just said.]

I'm... not sure I follow.

b.

[uglybug]

[ Mantis is standing nearby when Hythlodaeus lights up the star decorations. She's never been the type to be jealous of other people's abilities, but that is lovely. Her smile is as warm as his when she speaks. ]

It's really pretty.

[nomoresharks]

My thanks. I may see to doing the same for some of the others, depending on how long the charm lasts.

[He lowers his hand and brushes both hands off.]

I don't suppose it's something you're familiar with?

[uglybug]

I've seen things like it. [ Having been all over the galaxy, and having seen Ego do feats of "magic" even beyond her understanding, Mantis is rarely surprised by displays like that.

That doesn't mean it's not both pretty and considerate. ] What sort of ability is that? How do you do it?

[nomoresharks]

A simple enchantment on the decoration, meant to give it a little glow. How long it'll last, I haven't the slightest, but I hope that in its short time it will come to delight others in the same way it's managed to delight yourself.

As for how I managed to do so...

[His smile turns a touch helpless]

Would that that were an easy answer with so many differences between worlds.