[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

[gradenine]

Yeah, well. It's one of the better perks of being human.

[ they had this talk, once upon a time. they'll never have that beef stew that he'd highly recommended angela with, but maybe they could try something else in the far future.

the book she's holding, though. the ones around this city are filled with blank pages, but maybe hers isn't? he'll have to ask her later. ]

And hey, I just know how to cook. Not like I had any plans on becoming a chef in the first place. [ he scans the table, and hands her a couple of chopsticks. ] You know how to use this?

[worldexecute]

( why would she need to, she never had to EAT--

still. angela steals a glance at someone else using them and mimics their grip. it feels a little awkward, but it's something she'll just have to get used to. )

Yes. You just pinch food between the tips of these, don't you? It isn't that difficult.

[gradenine]

All right, if you say so.

[ she'd probably observed how people in the city eat for a long time. she's got this. roland reaches over with his own chopsticks and pulls out some pork strips from the grill, putting them on a little platter for her. ]

You can try this dipping sauce I made. [ some lime juice, ketchup, soy sauce, and green chilis. ] Just dip them a bit here and pop it into your mouth, then the rice.

[worldexecute]

( does this have poison in it. ...no, there's more than just her here. in theory she's got this, but in practice is a little— clumsy. she manages it though, not as delicately as she would like, and dips the pork strips in a little bit.

into her mouth... quietly, contemplatively chewing them... it really is such a delight, to be able to taste things— to enjoy them like this— even if it's roland here (or maybe because it's him, here), she can't help but let her happiness slip through her usual composed façade.

this is probably only made more apparent by the way she goes in for the next strip, then the last, until her platter is done. don't comment on how quickly it disappeared, she needs a napkin to pat her mouth clean with. )

Maybe you should give it some thought. Becoming a chef, that is. It isn't as if I have need of your services here, ( and she doesn't have them back home, for reasons ) and you're skilled at it.

( closest thing he's getting to "that was great, bruh" )

[gradenine]

[ something about watching angela take her first bite, then another, then another... looks like she's enjoying it, at least. he knows that she doesn't need that much handholding from him, thanks to millions of years of human observation on her part, but he can't help but fuss anyway. gleaning information from video feeds and humans turned into books aren't the same as experiencing them for yourself, and--

well, he still has complicated feelings about her being here and all. don and kromer had mentioned the victim losing memories, and while it's futile asking angela what she'd forgotten, roland wants to know anyway. no, he needs to know. their entire relationship hinges on it.

but for now, he just... wrinkles his nose at her suggestion. waves hand, waves hand. ]

Oh, come on. It ain't that hard to admit that the food's good. [ haha - ] But nah, I don't wanna make a career of my own hobby. 'Sides, the restaurants here can serve up any food you want even though there's no one manning the stoves. It's creepy if you ask me. And there's also the fact that chefs in the City don't make as much money compared to Fixers...

[worldexecute]

( angela almost tells him he doesn't have to worry about that, there isn't—

but something stops her. the people, maybe. the awkward normalcy of their banter. the party, perfectly nice. angela just leans over to steal another slice of pork instead, her dexterity much improved. watching others, reading about it... is different than experiencing it, but handling chopsticks isn't as difficult as handling whatever's going on between them right now. )

You were going to quit being a Fixer anyway, weren't you? You might as well do something you like. ( "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life," as she's read. ) I agree with you, however. I haven't been able to figure out how it works.

( she is ten seconds away from sitting in a kitchen and waiting for someone to come into the restaurant and seeing what happens. she is so close to doing that, roland. )

[gradenine]

[ ah, she remembered. he'd thought that her becoming human would mean she'd have the same brain as an ordinary human, but angela is far from ordinary herself. that's precisely why he's been having a Time trying to banter with her now compared to their old chitchats in the Library. ]

Maybe, if we're back at that City. But that brings its own slew of problems that I don't wanna think about right now.

[ like what kind of food to serve, what kind of restaurant it'll be, etc. that's... not really his dream, and with the way things are between him and angela and the state of the library now, there's no way it can come true. ]

But you're right. I don't hate cooking. I usually make my own food in case there's actually something in the pre-prepared food. The last thing I want is another District 23 situation. [ haha... ]

[worldexecute]

( of course she remembered. now that she's human, it's more important than ever to hold onto the things she wants to.

that's complicated though, let's not get into it. )

I hadn't considered that. ( she needs to learn how to cook... wow, exciting. she kind of wishes she had her list of things to do, but her book is good enough. ) I suppose it's time for me to pick up a new hobby then.

( how hard could it be. )

[gradenine]

[ a new hobby... ]

Like what?

[worldexecute]

( art. just kidding.

mixology, after she's done talking with daan about bartending. maybe art, in genuine, but in secret. her possibilities are endless here, even if she does, a little, want to stay inside still. )

Who knows? ( maybe... writing? a nice, solitary activity. ) I'll figure it out. I have the time to now.

( ...yeah, plenty of time, here and back home. it's only here she has roland, though. )

[gradenine]

[ so she does. in more normal circumstances, he'd be happy for her. he'd help her out in trying some of them, even. it's what angela would normally deserve after everything she's been through.

but roland knew better. ]

Well, good luck. There ain't much to do here at the moment, unless you wanna pick up bowling?

[worldexecute]

Bowling?

( teach her. )

[gradenine]

Yeah, bowling. [ he grins. ] You roll a bowl on this aisle to knock down these pins. The more pins you take out, the more points you get.

[ simple enough, right? ]

[worldexecute]

And people find this fun.

( hitting........ pins. )

*ball not bowl oh my godddd

[gradenine]

Racking up points is always fun no matter how you slice it. Especially when you play with a whole buncha people.

[ ...hm. ]

We could bring the other guys along. [ the librarians... ]

i didnt even notice dont worry

[worldexecute]

( netzach, gebura, yesod, roland, and angela. bowling. )

None of them would go for it. ( she'd kind of pay to see roland convince them though ngl ) If you can get them to agree to hanging out like old friends, shooting the shit, then sure. But—

( ... )

They'd probably be happier if I didn't come play.

[gradenine]

[ ye, imagine... ]

You sure? I managed to get Gebura join me for one game. Netzach's good with whatever. Yesod...

[ ... ]

Well, it'd still be fun. And it's about time you guys get along, now that you're human and all.

[ he smiles, but it doesn't quite meet the corner of his eyes. no, he's watching her like a hawk, all this time. ]

[worldexecute]

( angela hesitates, her lips pressed in a tight, thin line.

it still feels wrong, interacting with them when she knows what's become of them. it still feels horrible, speaking with roland when she knows how he really feels. how she thinks he really feels. )

...You could probably convince Yesod, ( is what she says instead, shaking her head. ) But cut your losses with me, Roland.

( a sharp glance at him. )

You'd prefer that I'm not there either, I'm sure.

[gradenine]

[ he laughs. the audacity. ] Nah, I wouldn't say that.

[ he does want her there! it'd be easier to ■■■■ her that way, along with everyone else -- ]

But let's take a raincheck on that for now. Gotta have you and the others acclimated here in the meantime. [ he takes a mushroom and pops it into his mouth. ] Got any more questions for me?

[ choose carefully. ]

[worldexecute]

Roland, you...

( ...no, he's right, and she shakes off the resentment that rises up as she picks a few more things off the grill for her platter. )

Yes. Where are you staying? I'd like to know each of your whereabouts just in case. ( she'll be asking the other librarians where they're settling too in due time don't worry. ) I'd like your username also, for easy contacting. I just went with "librarian". It seemed simplest. Use it to let me know when we're going bowling. And...

( angela pushes he food around, her third question on the tip of her tongue until she exchanges it for something else. )

Have you been enjoying the party? I'm sure Don Quixote would love to know, if you have. She seems to be someone who thrives off of praise.

[gradenine]

[ she's firing questions left to right, and none of them are implicating enough. roland tries to meet her eyes, tries to see what she's going to get from asking all that -- and fails. damn this faceblindness. ]

I'll give ya a map where I'm staying. Got no roommates so far. My username on the network is keter. Nothing special, I just think I wanna match the others.

[ Does He Know ]

As for the party... [ give him a moment to pop another piece of meat into his mouth ] I think it's okay. Definitely a lot better than that one party this City held for us a while back. Guess it only needed a human touch, even if the organizer came from our shithole of a City.

[worldexecute]

( well. at least they are all easy to get ahold of. )

It is difficult for something non-human to truly understand what people need. ( sorry, that was a little bitter. her mouth twists. ) ...You didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry.

[gradenine]

[ he narrows his eyes at her. girl what the hell are you on. ]

You said that, not me. [ shrug. ] But you shouldn't overthink about that either. You just got here and all, and there's a lot to process. For now, just enjoy what Don and the others have to offer, and worry about the rest tomorrow.