deercountry | closedish to cool guys having chill day

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closedish to cool guys having chill day

Who: a bunch of funky friends invited by Viktor and Palamedes*
What: Having a Party in a field with Fireworks
When: the second week-ish in May
Where: (the field outside of) Pal and Viktor's bunker in Gaze

Content Warnings: alcohol and teens drinking it, irresponsible use of explosives, see threads for anything else that comes up

*If you have friendly CR with Palamedes please feel free to handwave that he mentioned this happening, also if your character has CR with a Pal Friend (a pal^2) who would invite them along, he's broadly allowing this. It's not a formal affair in the slightest lmaooo

--

afternoon/evening.

Earlier in the morning on the day of The Fireworks Field Party (tm), Palamedes makes sure to send a quick location ping to anyone who's never been to the Sixth bunker (also tm) before, because it is, indeed, just in a field somewhere in Gaze. The treeline is comfortably distant from the door to said bunker, which is the only real indication anything is out here besides a few "big rocks" that he names, in his message, as landmarks.

As an afterthought, he has set up a little trail of mason jars containing glowing mushrooms to lead the way to The Field, helpfully. The Field is what it sounds like: a dang field, just slightly ominous in the Gaze fashion, although besides the usual somebody's-watching feeling, it's grassy and spacious for kitschy lawn games. Among the things Palamedes has provided (upon recommendation of a shopkeeper, so like, do not perceive his choices, they were made for him) include:

1. Just a load of blankets, big cozy ones dutifully spread out for chilling on, on the ground.

2. Throwing game Crossbones, definitely chosen because of the bones (they are wooden sticks), and just kind of left sitting there waiting because your host does not know how to play physical games.

3. beanbag horseshoes because it rocks

4. Just, like, a specific blanket that has pencils and blank paper sitting on it... This is a free station, no one will question what art happens here.

Harrow has also provided bone chairs for alternate seating, which are precisely what they sound like.

Eventually, the field will also feature a snack table, which is a community effort, and a booze table, which is slightly supervised in the way that your esteemed host(s) will not permit booze and cherry bombs at the same time.

And, because it's an open field in Trench, there is also a table where emergency incense is waiting. Wandering too far from the space immediately around the bunker (which, it's a big space, you'd have to go far) will eventually lead you to blood wards on the ground, on the trunks of a few trees, etc. Don't touch these. Don't be gross.

the fucken fireworks.

It's fireworks. Once it's dark, there are even more glowing mushroom jars and homemade alchemy glowsticks from Waver to be passed around, somehow, and at least some of the little beanbags glow in the dark, ooh!! Viktor has provided cherry bombs to be used with at least a little caution, for god's sake. There are also some slightly larger fireworks in much shorter supply, from a shop, that will be closely guarded until someone with pyrotechnics talent convinces Palamedes they deserve one. Godspeed.

Broadly: this is a fireworks party (tm) for individual wee ones you can throw around on your own, with only a brief smattering of the big ones that light up the whole sky above the field. It's a chill time for cool buds, fire safety is encouraged, so is vibing on the blankets and enjoying a nice evening.

At various times, local dope musician Anna Amarande will be providing some light musical entertainment, for vibes.

the bunker i guess.

The party is not in here, but for reference:
-it's locked via numpad and neither of these stickbug nerds are giving out the code but they'll open the door if asked... you don't have to leave the place to go to the bathroom lmf
-it's a bunker. it's one room and a bathroom in the back. it's full of disorganized nerd stuff and an oversized moon orb and pal's mean omen, rocky the cool rat (harpy eagle), who will aggressively flap at anyone with sticky fingers until they leave
-the code is 69420 so if you're super funny like gideon you COULD guess it

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That he is. Chrysokomes, an awful menace, but a good cat.

[Iskandar finds it pretty fitting that his omen here is a golden lion. Proud, tall, with magnificent mane. It reminded him, the statues his father had ordered after the victory at Cheronea, the first time he saw it.

But it's also a cat, and a such it has its whims. Right now, that whim is being unhelpful. Iskandar can't shake the feeling that his whole bird situation is endlessly amusing to the wretched creature.]

[Hop. Hop. Yes, he meant the Pthumerians. They're as close to gods of this place as he's aware of.

Hop. No, he didn't. He knows better than to bother the gods. Unless, in matters of great urgency. They didn't seem to notice his presence at all.

The signs are actually brilliant. Iskandar steps on the one that says yes. He definitely thinks this is helpful]

[ Kizu hums in amusement. ]

Cat? She looked like a lion.

Some people in his Earth. Shouto is fairly certain this sounds like something he once read in a fiction book. He's been in Trench long enough to know that what he considers normal - like quirks - may sound fantastical to some and vice versa. So, he wisely doesn't mention the books he read about 'magic' and instead uses that knowledge only as a reference.

"You specialize in alchemy. Do you use a wand or spells?"

Look, he had to ask ONE stupid question, and to be fair, this one at least gives him an idea of what kind of wizard - alchemist - he is where his other question lingering in his has nothing to do with magic but dragons.

As for the most interesting aspect of this conversation:

"Green." He repeats the color, adding a splash of emerald to the feline coat of grey. Long-tail. Twitchy ears. Then the size and weight. He's interested in this too much to his omens amusement, so when Waver offers a peek his eyes sparkle with curiosity unmatched even while his face remains calm from practiced diligence so as not to let his father know he affected him.

"Yes." He's looking up, eyes bright in anticipation, eyes shifting slightly to the sides to catch sight of a grey coat, a long tail standing upright? Do not tease him.

[ Shouto appears from one of the open corridors catching sight of Allen's reflection on the glass paneling. Eyes bright and calling out to him, bare feet step onto the wood with casual grace. 'What is it?' He asks, walking up behind him, setting an arm over one of the handles of his wheelchair, and looking down when he presents him with the cracked glow stick. Allen sets it down on the ground piquing his curiosity. It takes him a few moments to notice the fireflies drifting closer to the light source as if called by some ancient spell that thrums through their bloodline. He glows with excitement and he reminds himself to ask Waver for more glowsticks, a boxful or two. In two days, he'll leave them in the living room for Allen to rummage through, but for now, he simply watches him shine brighter than the artificial light.

Shouto cracks his glowstick at his urging, finding more joy from watching his excitement than from the act itself. He sets it next to the first stick, catching sight of a splash of red and orange in the water. The fish drift closer, mesmerized by the light, hoping for food. He smiles faintly when Allen starts waving the glowstick around to track the fish, and the corner of his mouth curves up, the bare minimum, and it transforms his entire expression. He picks up the other stick, the one he set down, and hands it over to him with a turn of his wrist. It's yours. He settles on the ground, seated cross-legged next to him, watching him through the reflection, and eventually drifts into a light doze, head pressed against his leg.

He wakes sometime later, head lifting, eyes immediately tracking the movement that woke him up - the fish splashing in the water, attempting to eat some of the fireflies that drifted too close. He looks up at Allen, sleep still in his eyes, and finds him safe. He stands, offers dinner and picks up something from town. He'll always ask Allen what he'd like, and those times he gives no answer, he returns with cold soba, which he neatly plates for both of them.

When they go to bed, Shouto sets up the futon every night. When he gets up for patrol in the early hours of the morning, he tries not to wake his companion and changes into his uniform. Blue pants and vest, collar clipped closed, his utility belt and snow boots strapped on and secured. He says goodbye to Allen with a promise to meet him in town for lunch sometimes and makes sure to check the pantry for food and water within easy access before heading out on patrol with a warm feeling in his chest. ]

Edited 2022-06-11 13:07 (UTC)

"Some might like the theatrics. I don't." A mild shrug followed-- this kid was entertaining!

But it was clear that Shouto had one interest and one interest alone: it was enough to have Gray stirring shyly in that noncorporeal space inside his heart chakra. Waver could ask but feel her staring at him, eyes wide with nerves in a manner not wholly unlike her namesake.

"It's one matter with your king, or even Palamedes. You're all adults. Are you sure you want to share a look at me with a boy?"

The fact that she was referring to how she was his soul given shape and form wasn't lost on him. All he could do was give her some reassurance.

Give both of them reassurance.

"It's okay, Gray. You can come out, now."

In the space beside him on the blanket, she simmered into visibility: a black cat with a short coat and jewel-like green eyes watched Shouto, her tail flicking about nervously beside her.

Edited 2022-06-11 13:19 (UTC)

Shouto nods to himself understanding the sentiment. His father liked to show strength by displaying his quirk at all times whereas he preferred to keep his under wraps only activating it when necessary. Maybe that's why his omen hardly ever came out. She was fickle just like him.

At the reassurance, Shouto finds himself anticipating the mirage of shimmering gold that sometimes proceeded Kizu's appearance but he doesn't hold his breath. His omen, a snow leopard, only appeared when he was in danger to protect him. Otherwise, she hid away between his ribcage preferring to lounge inside him than roam outside when others were around.

Almost a year here and only a handful of Sleepers had seen his omen. In the beginning, seeing other Sleepers and their omens walk side by side, he'd wondered why she never came out, and one day when he asked her outright if she could show herself to another Sleeper in order to introduce her, he'd been utterly rejected. It wasn't long after that he learned not to ask at all, giving his fickle omen autonomy to come and go as she pleased. It worked for them.

Grey, on the other hand, could be different. She wasn't a reflection of him, but Waver, and he seemed more put together than most adults he knew. So, when that faint shimmer appears next to the blanket, he's almost caught off guard even though he was anticipating it. He blinks, eyes shining with hope until she materializes, solid and whole, with her tail flicking lightly. Long tail. He thinks, pleased he was correct.

Shouto, for his part, doesn't move forward to greet her but stays still, hands twitching with the urge that stirs within him, enough to propel him into an earnest greeting.

"My name is Todoroki Shouto." He touches his chest as if to make it clear who he was talking about. "I'm a Hero in training with a preliminary license back home. Here, in Trench, I'm a Hunter. I work alone a lot because I don't agree with some of the philosophies of other Hunters. I like cold soba and green tea. My omen is a snow leopard who comes up to here." He raises his hand to mid-chest." I have a name. "Her name is Kizu and she doesn't like to come out either, so thank you for coming out."

He's a little out of breath by the end ignoring the huff of annoyance from his omen at the description. She is promptly not interjecting in this utter nonsense of her Sleeper.

Edited 2022-06-11 15:03 (UTC)

Both man and cat exchanged a look-- both impressed by the sudden show of formality, burst of dialogue, and earnestness displayed before the cat rather than the person. Clearly there were a complicated set of dynamics at play, but Waver found himself catching onto a theme he had hard before.

"If we're being formal, then I am Lord El Melloi II-- also called Waver Velvet." He tucked a stay lock of hair behind his ear and stood, feeling a need to match the boy's formality. Gently, he added: "Although, I've been using Mackenzie since we've been in town to make matters simpler."

After his grandparents, in role if not in legal status. Torn between bowing and offering a hand to shake, he lowered his head in a show of respect.

"My grandparents live in Japan, although we're not Japanese, so I need to ask... Do you prefer Shouto or Todoroki?"

Besides the Mackenzie's living overseas, he also had a friend who hailed from that country-- as well as a number of students. He knew enough to try to be respectful, even if he didn't understand everything.

"You're not the first young person here to talk about being a Hunter and a Hero. Those are big roles for someone your age. How are you doing with your education? What about time to be with your friends?"

Catching the cue, Gray stepped forward on delicate paws and nudged at Todoroki-- noting quickly that one leg was warmer than the other and rubbing her head against it in surprise and interest. There was something about this boy that was almost too much to bear...

It was enough to make Waver worry about how the teenagers in this town were faring.

It's the most he's probably spoken in Trench without some kind of explanation at play. Nor is he often introduced to other omens, let alone a feline type like his own. It leaves him with the distinct urge to leave a good impression which means being open and honest.

Mismatched eyes shift up when Grey's Sleeper formally introduces himself. The title gets a momentary pause before the familiar name of Waver settles back in. "Mackenzie." An odd name that doesn't seem to fit him, a thought plain to his see in the way his brows knit together. His temple smoothes when he asks about his name and he sobers up, eyes losing some of their hopeful brightness.

"Shouto." He answers frankly. "Shouto's my Hero name."

It forced the media to refer to him by his given name. Shouto, not Todoroki. A name that was easily linked to his father, the famous number one hero in Japan. Shouto wanted to be known for his own accomplishments, not his father's.

A little more reserved in his demeanor, he nods faintly at the comparison. "Those are my classmates." Said with a kind of certainty that comes with experience. He's been in Trench long enough to catch on that the title of 'Hero' seems to be unique to his world. "I don't go to school here." He continues, answering honestly. "I hang out with my friends on occasion." Less than they did when they lived in the dorms. A sobering thought, one he doesn't have a chance to linger on when he feels something small and soft rub against his leg.

His thoughts trail off as he blinks down at Grey. He's warmer on his left side where the omen rubs nudges against his leg. The movement throws him off-kilter and he grows warmer by a few degrees, unable to contain the little burst of shock and fascination.

"Are you... doing that?" His pulse picks up, afraid to move for fear of scaring her off.

"I didn't ask her to."

And yet there Gray was, telegraphing his own sentimentality and soft nature underneath the stern, lordly manner he worked hard to cultivate. It was rude to be so affectionate so quickly, but for a person who grew up orphaned and along it was hard not to.

In truth, Waver saw reflections of his students in the boy-- and of himself. Although he had been more mouthy in his youth, he also spent it working hard to the point of it being a detriment. He had only wanted to be seen as he was... A goal which, even with his lordly title, he had yet to achieve.

"Shouto, then." He began. "That's a bold move, using your given name in what sounds like a media circus. It can't be easy-- life there or here-- and it's a shame."

No one should have to waste their youth trying to reach a goal that the world forced upon them by circumstances.

"You just want people to see you, right? You can have that, here... But spending time working when you should be learning and growing isn't going to help with that."

He knew from experience, and it took a series of traumas in his twentieth year to realize his folly... Too late to do anything about it.

"'Hero' is a lofty title to aspire too, but even young heroes need a break and need someone to talk to. Have you been giving yourself those chances? Do you have someone who will lend an ear?"

Edited 2022-06-11 16:59 (UTC)

He shakes his head at the remark. "Todoroki is my father's name. He's the top hero." Not his, but Japan's. Still, he can acknowledge his father's accomplishment when it comes to heroics.

"I'm just Shouto."

The name his mother called him. Todoroki is what the media used labeling him as Endeavor's son at every turn making it almost impossible to remove himself from his father's shadow, a sentiment that's all too easily gleaned by someone who once walked in his shoes not that Shouto knows that.

His eyes flick up to Waver, hesitant and a little skittish with being called out so easily. He stills, pulse racing in his throat, and swallows the nerves to meet his eyes. No words are exchanged only a clear line of sight and a firm acknowledgment in the form of a nod. Yes.

Maybe if he better understood Waver's intentions with this line of inquiry, he wouldn't shut down so quickly at the reprimand. He's been the object of adults telling him what to do and how to feel for too long to take any of it with a grain of salt. Refusing to capitulate, his expression turns neutral in every form.

"It's a title you earn, not one you're given." Blunt and to the point. He's back to careful neutrality, his eyes losing any form of spark they held before. "I have my friends. One who is currently waiting for me." He raises the four glowsticks. "I'll tell Allen these are from you." And without another word, turns on his heels and heads back outside.

Edited 2022-06-11 18:26 (UTC)

Stunned by the abrupt change in manner, Waver watched the boy leave in silence. There was no broaching that type of stubbornness-- and for a moment he was left wondering, what was it that he had said to trigger this?

He sighed, and exchanged a look with Gray once more.

"Looks like I pushed too hard, hm? I should've known. These kids aren't the ones my fellows at the Clock Tower gave up on."

No matter how much they resembled the kids he knew, he needed to keep clear sight of his boundaries.

Have you figured out your blood type?

[It was the simplest avenue to go in offering suggestions to the girl, if that was what she wanted. Blood types did indeed seem to influence the kinds of abilities people gained in Trench. However...]

Besides life here, what kind of things did your friends look to you for back in your home? Did you bake? Could you draw? Were you able to find your way home no matter where you were at?

[either he's gently prying for more information or he has no concept of sarcasm. either way, it gets a grin on anna's face.]

Yeah? Let's just say I thought he was one kind of person just 'cause we recognized a lot of the same stuff. Turns out I trusted him too easy because of it and now I'm thinking I made a couple mistakes I can't take back.

[she wouldn't usually be so susceptible to this, but lazarus, she thinks, is starting to make it just a little clearer where he falls. she thinks—though this was the whole problem in the first place—that she can get away with sharing this.]

"Yeah?"

She got the horse joke, but the promise of going 1v1 in something with Waver was something new entirely. She tilted her neck until it cracked, which was an increasingly impressive feat since she didn't exactly have many vertebrae left, and turned her body to hit him with a cocky grin.

"Been a while since I've gone up against someone. Used to be pretty okay with stuff like that in college. Fighting games, yeah?" Oh, this was gonna be fun. "How about this. We eat shitty takeout and do matches all night. Whoever loses has to tell a story about their home." She knew that Waver was probably gonna be on his nocturnal shit, and Anna didn't really object to it. Sure, she had someone to come home to, but Waver lived close enough that she didn't feel like she had to caution Kainé about anything.

[Between the dark and his paint, Ortus knows that his blush will be imperceptible. He rolls the cherry bombs in his palm again, then considers the possibility of accident, and sets them gingerly on his lap instead. It would not do to meet the same fate twice. There would be too much of the cheaply ironic in it.]

I have thought about it.

[He closes both of his hands around the near-empty cup, dwarfing it, the admission unexpected and shy. He has thought about it, but he has submerged that thought so deeply that he does not understand how readily it comes to him now. He clears his throat, briskly, as if to knock the past words aside.]

It is a more complicated matter, and one whose workings I am not privy to. It is a sacred mystery. [This, once more, is less fraught a topic.] I do not judge those who would avert their eyes from an unfathomable end. The shadow of the Tomb has little comfort to offer, save duty, and silence. Such things do not serve as balm for most.

How strange..

[ Thankfully that's her being able to actually interpret the answers here, rather than her being confused what he means in the first place.

But just the answers themselves are enough to make her think. It's so strange that this would happen to him when he's done nothing wrong. When he hasn't personally offended any of the Pthumerians who seem to be - in their own way - in charge here. It's.. kind of sad, actually. Chizuru feels really bad for this person stuck as a bird for no reason. She can only imagine how scared she'd be in his shoes.. ]

If it's not a punishment, then maybe.. [ .. for what other reason do god-like beings do things in stories? ] Maybe it's supposed to be.. some sort of lesson? Though I think it's a cruel one..

[ Look. She just wants to have said that much! It's not cool to change people into animals against their wishes!! ]

Maybe it's trying to teach you something about being a bird.. but I don't know what. What could you learn from being one..? [ It's partially her asking him, but also just wondering out loud to herself. Chizuru knows she's not that smart, so she has to try and think extra hard to figure this one out. ]

[ What did her friends look to her for, huh..

Chizuru thinks of the men of the Shinsengumi, the only real friendly relationships she's ever had back home, and even then those sure had a rough start. What did they look to her for? .. nothing, really, right? They always protected her. They tried to cheer her up in their own ways.

The more she thinks about it, the less she feels like she was ever able to do for them in return..

The girl goes suspiciously quiet, and she ends up hanging her head. For a moment it looks like Chizuru is actually about to cry, but she bites her lower lip, determined to not cry in front of a stranger. It'd be like pushing the burden onto poor Waver. ]

I'm.. not sure, sir. [ She instead says, quietly.

But she doesn't only want to leave him with that uncertain answer to his last question. Not when she does have a certain one for his first. ]

But when it comes to my blood, it seems that I'm a paleblood.

That is very true. It may be the only chance many have. [viktor answers, and does think of the fact his own life wouldn't have lasted more than a couple of months more back home. thinks of palamedes who died in his home as well and dragged himself back, of others who have let a similar story slip.

hm, not good party talk, he thinks. the point of this was to give the teenagers a break, not speak of mortality.

so he glances over with an almost apologetic quirk to his lips, refocusing.] At the very least eliminating the need to kill beasts would help cut blood pollution, which is a matter that will need to occur eventually if there's ever to be a serious attempt at rebuilding. In one way or the other it all ties together, between the sea, the blood and the beasts. Rather a dangerous balancing act.

[the comment about the party makes him snort, leaning in slightly to conspiratorially say,] Please, you are making it bearable. I hate parties. If it was not for Palamedes I would be in my lab as we speak. Thank you for sparing me small talk or party games.

[Iskandar's omen looked like a lion because he is a lion. The question leaves Iskandar a little confused. Aren't lions considered cats here?]

Lions are cats, aren't they? So are tigers and panthers.

It would be better if I could kick the curse, truly, instead of making more work for you. You'll always let me know the ways I can make less, I hope.

[And he does try. His dishes get cleaned instead of left by the sink, and though his books can be scattered around for an entire afternoon, they're always stowed by evening. His habit of cramming everything into his backpack and actually utilizing wardrobe and drawer space is proving difficult to break, however, and his scant efforts to play handyman have ended poorly.

He's pretty sure he made a leaky faucet much, much worse.]

"I hear the bigger fireworks are for later tonight," he says, dipping his head slightly in both acknowledgement and thanks for procuring them.

"We call meta abilities Quirks in my world. It's technically a physical ability. Not necessarily like magic I've seen here."

He picks up another bomb from the bag but doesn't light it. He says thoughtfully, in his unassumingly casual but nerdy way,

"I think to some extent the magic of this world can interact with ours, probably due to us being Sleepers now, with different blood and physiology and everything. I got stuck down a well here once, and both my super strength and my friend's magic were nullified."

[It has absolutely been suggested that L is daft. There's probably something to it.]

A code? It sounds fun.

[Blithely, he doesn't back off, either not getting the hint that he's too close, or completely disregarding it. It can be hard to tell through that affected goggle-eyed stare, however uncanny the demonic changes have made it.]

You mean the lock on the bunker, I'm sure.

[It's all he's noticed with a lock and a code.]

Do you stand to gain or lose more by simply leaving it alone?

[The goggle-eyed affected innocence L wears so easily on his exaggerated features sharpens slightly, looks a little shrewder.]

Well. That's not very productive... thinking in terms of mistakes you can't take back.

[Not that fatal missteps don't happen. L knows this better than anyone, although with the information he had and the resources available to him, his final case back home didn't end for that reason.

No, he'd played by the rules of the outlined game, and then been stricken down by a god, anyway.]

The question should be what a recovery would look like, and how you could manage it. Whether that means repairing a relationship, or...

[Doing battle, psychological or otherwise, with someone you realize you shouldn't have trusted?]

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closedish to cool guys having chill day

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i lost this tag im sorry ;;

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