Birthday Party

[peripheries]

Who: Paul Atreides and all his CR
What: Throwing everyone’s favorite Duke a surprise birthday party
When: Forwarded dated to April 1st
Where: Bone House in Gaze

Content Warnings: Drinking, underage drinking, drugs (both fictional and not), drawings of space worms, skeletons, will add further warnings if necessary



When you arrive at the house in Gaze, (affectionately known as Bone House), a skeleton will open the door and offer to take your coat if you have one. No need to take your shoes off or anything!

The large house has been decorated with black streamers and confetti. In the entryway and hung on the railing to the second floor that overlooks the entrance to the great room are large banners that say “HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL” (though one looks like it used to say “Jaune” but was just painted over? Whatever).

In the Living Room, there is a large board and various colored markers for people to write messages to the birthday boy. There is also a table full of bottled water and various couches, chairs, and beanbags to collapse into if the party gets to be too much and one needs a quiet place to rest or a place to chill if you’ve imbibed too much… well, whatever you had.

It is also where all the food and drinks are.

There’s an extremely large charcuterie board with the usual meats, cheeses, and olives as well as an extremely eccentric collection of snacks ranging from individual sized Cheez-it bags, to humungous bags of Doritos and salty chips, as well as nearly every kind of Oreo one can imagine.

There are also various cakes, all angel food. Some are misshapen, some have an attempt at being frosted with whipped cream and fruit, one even says “Happy Birthday Ka-” before that was hastily covered with a bunch of strawberries jammed really close together.

At the island, a skeleton is playing bartender. Surprisingly, it can seem to take and understand individual orders, but there’s always a constant flow of tequila shots being made and sent out to the great hall to be served by another skeleton.

And, no, of course it’s not going to check your age to see if you’re legal. It’s a skeleton. Why would it care?

The Great Hall is the center of activity and where everyone is encouraged to mingle and have fun. There is a skeleton on the grand piano in the corner gleefully playing piano covers of the hits from the Shrek Soundtrack with the occasional cover of “DaRude’s Sandstorm” when it has another one to help out.

In another corner, on huge piece of paper that spans nearly 6ft wide and 8ft tall is drawing of an Arrakis sandworm and it’s giant maw. The game is Pin the Tooth on the Sandworm and it’s… very easy… because the worm maw is most of the board. Even if the skeleton spins you as you’re blindfolded, it’s pretty hard to lose. If you manage to do it, which is likely, the skeleton running the game will award you a tequila shot! If you lose, the skeletons will award you a tequila shot (but it’s rail).

(It’s a drinking game, isn’t the point to drink?)

There’s also a table that has many candelabras on it, numbering up to seventeen. They’re still lit and burning even though there is a sign that says “make a wish!” even though it almost looks like a shrine for the dead.

…It’s maybe clear that the concept of “birthday candles” was greatly misunderstood.

There is also a skeleton dealing out small doses of “Spice”, a psychoactive drug straight outta the Duneverse. However, you must check in with this Skeleton to get a dose. There will be no “permanently melting your brain with ancestral memories” at this party!

Teacher’s/God’s/Jod’s/The Emperor Undying’s study, adjacent to the main hall, is closed and locked. Though, the lock is fairly easy to break if someone really wanted to get in. There’s not even skeletons guarding.

That said, many things are warded with eerie runes of blood and bone.

So, fuck around and find out.

The upstairs is generally off limits. Party goers can climb up the stairs, and it’s encouraged if they want to look over the Great Room from above, but all of the bedrooms are carefully guarded by more skeletons who will SCREAM VERY LOUDLY if you try to enter and will become hostile if done by force.

Of course, this won’t happen if you are with someone who lives in the house.

Enjoy the party! Mingle away!

((ooc: if you have any questions or anything, please hit me up at worldtype)) or via PM.))

Birthday Board | At the Party | The Morning After | IC Party Games | Spice Dealer

Comments

[terriblepurpose]

[Obligingly, Paul takes Sansa's hand. As she begins to demonstrate proficiency, he gradually increases the speed of the dance, adapting the movements subtly to better match the music.

It reminds him of foot drills, and he finds himself smiling wider.]

You're doing well. [He says, encouragingly, glancing down at their feet.] What do you think of it?

[dohaeris]

[she really doesn't have much trouble following a lead, and gets the hang of it fairly quickly! it is a bit faster than the dances she's used to, and she answers a little breathlessly.]

I like it! It's so lively!

[it reminds her of the bright music of the reach that she played with leonette fossoway, and she can imagine margaery introducing it to court with cersei glowering angrily from the high table. but she doesn't want to think about king's landing, she's much happier here.]

You can tell me about the worms now, if you like.

[terriblepurpose]

[Reassured, Paul brings his pacing in line with the beat of the music. He's sure they look no more odd doing this than everyone else does performing their own idiosyncratic moves.]

Oh, I wouldn't want to bore you. I was teasing.

[He laughs, his own breathing quickened but steady - the advantages of practice.]

Why don't you tell me something about a creature of your world?

[dohaeris]

They don't look that boring!

[you know, for a worm. she draws a breath.]

The only good one I know is the direwolf! They're very clever, and very big. Lady should end up at least twice her size.

[she pauses (speaking, not dancing) to flash him a grin. it takes a little effort to keep track of the steps and what her face is doing at the same time.]

Don't tell anyone.

[terriblepurpose]

As long as you don't show anyone these 'moves'.

[He grins as the song begins to come to an end, slowing his steps in preparation.]

That's what they call them, apparently.

['They' being the hip, young things of Trench, or at least the ones Paul knows. But then he sets levity aside, his expression growing more serious for his true answer.]

I still wouldn't say anything.

[He's apparently developing a reputation as a secret-keeper; Sansa isn't even the first to ask him to keep one tonight.]

[dohaeris]

[sansa's smile takes on a warmer hue, just for a moment.]

They can see us, you know.

[some of them may even be able to hear them as well, but for once she's not quite so worried about that. she giggles and slows her steps to match his. her face is a little flushed, and a few stray hairs are escaping her braids.]

I doubt anyone of them could manage anything like this. Moving is a good word for what they're doing. It doesn't look like very much else.

[it all looks so...uncoordinated? and that dance was pretty hard, even for the south!]

[terriblepurpose]

[Sansa may have a point, if Paul's tilted, caught out smile is any indicator.]

I'm sure no one was paying that much attention.

And some of them might be able to learn - but they'd have to be bothered first, and that I find less likely.

[Whether through lack of interest, shyness, or disdain for the concept, Paul is hard put to imagine even many of his own friends attempting the dance.]

Still, whatever they're doing seems to make them happy. Or at least temporarily distracted.

[dohaeris]

[sansa laughs a little. anyone could be taught to dance, if arya and her brothers were any indication.]

Is there something you're planning to do while they're all distracted?

[it does sound rather more mischievous than 'busy.']

[terriblepurpose]

[The current song comes to an end. Paul sweeps into a bow with a touch of flourish, face faintly flushed from the exertion and the heat of this many bodies in close proximity.]

Protect my ancestral dances, of course. I'd never do anything nefarious to a guest.

[He's teasing, but there's a note of truth in it. The Atreides have more reason than most to adhere to the law of hospitality. They have enough ill-luck as it is.]

Thank you for the dance, my lady.

[dohaeris]

[sansa curtsies, and if her smile is more grateful than amused at his declaration of guest right--well, he knows why.]

It was an honor, my lord.

[she darts a glance vaguely kitchenwards.]

But I'm sure you might take this time to try any of the little cakes you like, without causing them offense.

[terriblepurpose]

[In a world of unfamiliar mores and strange customs, Paul understands the reassurance of shared tradition - and he also understands why anyone might want the assurance of their safety in the presence of so many skeletons. He's accustomed to them, but he's not obtuse.]

You make an excellent point.

[He flashes a grin, and offers her his arm.]

Would you care to join me? I've worked up an appetite, but not that much of one.

[dohaeris]

[it's because of the red wedding, paul. which is also why she's a bit touchy about mishandling human remains (whether or not there are ancient evils involved).

she beams, however, and takes his arm.]

That, too, would be an honor.

[she pauses, considering.]

My sister would tell you to take one bite out of each of the cakes, I think.

[it is more along the lines of another gift, than an actual suggestion--another piece of her lost life that's she's willing to share. she's also not totally sure she could bring herself to do it. but she might try, if arya were there.]