closedish to cool guys having chill day

[megatheorem]

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

Comments

kneeslides in

[megatheorem]

[Fortunately, Palamedes is not a difficult man to find, here at this party at his own... field. He's a lanky grey matchstick of a person (until Shoyo gets a yellow jersey on him, but that's for later), and despite not really being into parties, he's making the pointed effort to be into this one. Mostly. Because it was his own idea. What that looks like is that he is always just kind of on the periphery on his way to look at something else, whether that be the snacks or the games or slinking off all the way out to the furthest edge of this shindig to reapply a few wards.

Double fortunately, he's also on the lookout for Allen. He's the person Viktor speaks about the most who isn't a nostalgic memory from home, which is compelling, and apparently he's very prone to trying to carry the whole world on his shoulders? That's a beacon to busybodies like Palamedes, even besides— the other thing. The death thing. Palamedes has already decided not to mention that out of turn because, wow, he's not an asshole? And it feels like an extra layer of awkwardness to rock up to someone with a 'nice to meet you, Viktor told me you died the other week!'

So he's not going to do that. He's on his way back from fiddling with a ward when he spots Allen, and so it is with a thumb pressed to a cut on his palm and darkblood smudges abound that he beelines over. White hair, red mark, Viktor's handy chair— toe to tip, this must be Allen.

(He even makes the effort to close his new eyes, so the backs of his hands are not boggling at Allen, like they could be. Howdy.)]

Hi; Allen? [he'd. shake hands. but there's stuff on 'em.] I'm Palamedes. Viktor talks of you all the time; I'm glad you could come, I was getting relentlessly curious.

[likethelight]

[ "Relentlessly curious"??

Well that certainly gets a surprised blink for a moment. And... then he is absolutely not surprised at all, and gives a good-natured sort of laugh. Ah, no wonder this is someone who's important to Viktor. That totally checks out.

He'd wonder about those eyes, closed or not, because they're kind of unsettling, but... a lot of people are struggling with strange new monstrous aspects and he's way too polite to draw attention to them. Thanks for not staring at him with them though, that'd be a little weird. ]

Mister Palamedes... [ It's warm and congenial, folding his hands in his lap. ] Viktor talks about you too; I'm really glad to finally meet you. [ but, um, sir...

His eyes drop and snag on his hands. And even if Allen is still smiling, like a radiantly gentle wreath on his face, because he's not sure if it's something he should point out or not -- he's kind of concerned. ]

..But are you alright? You're bleeding...

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes lifts his thumb off his cut palm, considering it - it's not bleeding so much, indeed little enough that he just sort of sticks his mouth on it for a few seconds and then shakes the hand out. He looks at it, wiggles his fingers, holds it up for Allen to see - it's fine! It's cut, but it's fine.]

Had to mind the wards; did Viktor tell you about the wards? Try not to touch them. It won't hurt, but the smears diminish the effectiveness, and I am not interested in this party turning into a beast capture exercise.

[But he's fine, honest, even if he rubs his thumb on the spot a little more just in case. Then he considers for a moment, and - moves to take a seat cross-legged right there on the ground. He's also relentlessly tall, and looming over Allen when he could just sit feels tacky? So: the ground.

He wonders just how much Viktor has shared about him, if only so he knows which details he needn't repeat. Hmm.]

You can just call me Palamedes, by the way. And don't worry about the hand; Viktor practically has a sixth sense for when I go overboard, he'll keep me in line.

[Overboard, of course, with the bloodletting. That, specifically. He tugs at the ends of his sleeves, to give his many new eyes that extra inch of cover. Ahem.]

Well, anyway— welcome to our humble... field. How are you liking it so far?

[likethelight]

[ That's -- actually so considerate. And actually almost brings them on eye level _{god you're tall.} Allen isn't short but he always seems to be surrounded by older and taller individuals, more than a few of them asses who like to rib him about his stature so it can be kind of touchy. Being like this doesn't exactly help that, so... you're an okay guy, Palamedes.

The quip about Viktor gets a small, good-natured sort of laugh from him though. ]

I'm sure he does. [ He tends to mother Allen a little so that's entirely unsurprising. ]

It's a really good thing you've done for everyone, I think... thank you. [ He smiles a touch more gently then, more thoughtful; one that actually connects this time instead of just masking concern like some pleasant sticker one slaps over one's face. Someone astute might notice his mannerism dropped a touch more casual, a bit more actually relaxed as soon as Palamedes told him it was okay to not use the more formal address, but it's very minor. ]

It can be a little too easy for everyone to get caught up in how terrible things can be what with everything that goes on, so... it's important to still have things like this to look forward to. [ Glancing around briefly at how others have flocked to their various activities, he smiles in a quieter and fond sort of way. Bittersweet. ]

People always need something like that. [ It's reflective; nostalgic.

--and then he smiles lightly, focusing back on Palamedes and waving a hand slightly as if to say it's nothing to be concerned about. ]

Also, sorry-- 'wards'? [ No, Viktor had not mentioned it. But then, Allen had distracted him with the fact you can juggle sparklers. But he is pretty clever when it comes to figuring things out from context. ] You mean they help drive away beasts?

[megatheorem]

[Somewhere Viktor is out there, looking at a blood ward and torn between "wow, neat" and "he cut his hand open again huh." Truly, enduring a necromancer is an herculean act of tolerance; Viktor is a hero.

Palamedes, on the other hand, shrugs; he doesn't want it to be a huge thing that he's wrangled the pieces to put together this party, even if it's very intentionally a party born from his urge to make some sad teenagers a little happier. It being a big thing he belabors over and over isn't the point, so he doesn't say it. He appreciates that Allen says it, though— at least he knows he's hit the mark.

So, party status: as planned.]

It's not all my doing, which is nice. Good company goes a long way.

[Something something, it wouldn't be half as good a party if everyone coming wasn't fundamentally worth the effort and other such tenderness. Half of this party came together on the strength of friendly volunteers; he'll never stop being warmed by the willingness for people here to do things for each other just because.]

Thank you, though. Anyway, wards— yes, they do that. They're blood wards, and I know it sounds counterintuitive already, but I'm a necromancer; this is what I do. The shape carries the intention, be it a simple 'dispel' or a full-on attack on anything that touches it. But this is a party, so I kept it light just in case.

[It does mean that he has to bleed around the perimeter of the field, but like, whatever? That's fine; that's necromancy.]

It's not airtight, of course. But it casts a wide net as long as I've got blood to put down.

[likethelight]

[ Enduring a necromancer and a teenage fighter with little regard for himself who keeps getting himself hurt and is the reason the first aid kit at the lab keeps getting used up? Truly, Viktor is the most heroic of them all...

"Good company goes a long way" -- Allen smiles at that, a little knowingly, and gives a small nod. He won't push it. ]

That's right, Viktor had mentioned you're a necromancer as well. [ Good thing he did! Else Allen's reaction might have been a touch alarmed. But then, his own master practiced some necromancy, forbidden as it was... he has a mixed bag of feelings on the topic. But he looks a touch intrigued and curious about that. It's a much different application of the skill than what he's used to. More like general sorcery. ]

I didn't realize you could do things like that with it.

[megatheorem]

Oh, did he? Good.

[Thanks Viktor for doing him that favor; it saves him that first step, although he can guess from Allen's second comment that necromancy is, yet again, different in the Nine Houses from what other people expect it to be. He shrugs, lips pursed, gesturing a moment like he's casting about for a point to start at with this thing. The Different Necromancy.

It shouldn't bother him, that so many people seem a little nervous about it; it doesn't, not necessarily, except that the other Imperial necromancers here are, hm, all monsters? Besides Harrow? He feels a little defensive of his craft when nearly all the other representatives in town are kind of offputting.]

I'm fundamentally a wizard, but our natural medium is thanergy— the energy related to cell death. There's also thalergy, the opposite, associated with living forces, but it's not as widely studied. Or practiced. I've dabbled.

[A brief quirk of his lips at the corners of his mouth, like that will ease dropping 'cell death wizard' in party conversation. He leans back on one hand, gesturing in the air with the other.]

By my understanding, other worlds have a different concept of necromancy than what I necessarily know. For one, our necromancers are born necromantic— and we don't run around throwing zombies at people. Constructs, maybe, but for a properly good one, you'd have to ask a bone adept.

[Somewhere, Harrow's bone chairs sit menacingly empty, because they are creepy bone chairs.]

Using the thanergy stored in blood, I can throw up those wards. My specialty is psychometry; energy-memory reading.

[so yeah he's just a more goth wizard]

[likethelight]

[ Necromancy that isn't how most consider necromancy? Actually, not too hard of a concept to him -- and further relieving. Good. He'd have issues with zombies or anything that might involve trapping a soul. It makes him wonder about Cross, too. He never really understood exactly what his master's sorcery and necromancy abilities were, just that he had them and it gave him a rather terrifying array of powers that even Allen only saw elements of. Magic isn't common in his world, not in the slightest, and only made the man more of an enigma.

...made himself more of an enigma too, the one time it felt like arcane words bubbled up within him from some set of memories not his own and he spoke a spell he had no idea he even knew. Barrier magic. (Oh, right. Barrier magic.)

He really should have tried to understand more things. ]

It's similar with Exorcists, I think. How we can exorcise, or save something -- it isn't the same as most people understand it. [ Even back in his own world. ] Generally they think it has something to do with scripture or casting out demons, or that we're priests, when it really isn't like that at all.

[ Even if he's sure that exists, and the notion makes him uncomfortable. But hold on, Allen might not be academically gifted or intelligent in a learned way, but he is clever at putting things together when they're presented to him. ]

But if, ah-- "thanergy" is the energy around death though... and you can use it from having it stored in your blood... [ Pausing, making sure that adds up. ] Doesn't that mean...?

[ He's just gonna trail off at realizing where that train of thought is leading and let Palamedes finish it before he leads himself to a wrong idea and makes a fool of himself. Looks a little startled though.

Did he just accept the idea of manipulating death energy though? Yeah. Weird kid. ]

[megatheorem]

[Don't worry Allen, he has plenty of judgmental opinions when it comes to trapping souls!! But this is a party, he's keeping it light, etc. He does not stop to specify that his brand of necromancy is the, hm, call it 'lesser' of the kinds represented by the others here from home, because of the judgmental opinions. No, he's quietly portioned off "necromancer" from "Lyctor" even for his own purposes, so the good necromancy for morally upright people is what they're going to talk about.

But oh, exorcism, that's... more spirit adept-aligned, more Eighth maybe, if somebody really wanted to yell about casting out the sinful sinners who sin. Not that Palamedes dislikes the Eighth, or anything. He hums, considering, and there's a question on the tip of his tongue about how the exorcism does work, how spirit adept-y it is across worlds, but—

Ah?

Huh? Dang, is this the first time someone has actually questioned him on the concept of thanergetic reserves - it might be.]

Hmm?

[Can he see the gears turning? Maybe. Still,] Every necromancer has thanergetic reserves; we're born with the aptitude, so it comes with the territory. Besides, every cell in your body dies and gets replaced with clockwork regularity. A body has plenty of 'death' in it, cycled out when the new cells are made. We're just making use of it.

[A beat.]

What did you think it meant?

[likethelight]

[ Oh thank you so much for not leaving him to flail about like a hooked fish. ]

It does?? Everyone's bodies? [ Hi, he's an uneducated Victorian orphan. Modern biology isn't something he's that familiar with, though ironically he is familiar with artificially creating human life, soul implanting, and that weird things can happen and mix with human DNA... ]

I had no idea... [ That actually -- isn't so creepy then. Huh. It's just re-directing something that's already inside all of them. Even if the idea of having "death" inside oneself is... well, let's just say as odd as it's also a little unsettling in its own right? Perhaps that's how his master had used it as well. Some manipulation of inherent life as much as death. (Still an unsettling thought.)

--blast he isn't going to get away with his train of thought though. ]

But ah... Well... [ tactfully navigating... how does one ]

In my understanding... dead doesn't always have to mean "dead"?

[ he thought you might have been implying you yourself were technically dead, yeah ]

[megatheorem]

[oh, bud. the education system is a shambles everywhere he turns.]

Everyone's bodies, that's right. All cells copy and divide themselves, and the older ones inevitably die. The problems arise when they copy themselves too much or too little, but that has nothing to do with necromancy.

[Well, there's a necromantic trick or two involving growth and decay, but never mind those for now. He blinks, smoothly not showing any reaction to this very tactful question. It's— hmm.

It's a fair question. It's also the kind of question he would answer in brief and move on from, if not for the memory of one very long night with Viktor inconsolable over his dead young friend.

That part is not technically the question, but it is the part that gets Palamedes to wiggle one particular detail into his answer, casually,] There are theories about the necromantic output potential in the moments just before death, but— nobody mostly dead is performing great feats of magic, you know? I've died here, and it didn't impact my necromancy at all.

[Which he thinks both makes perfect sense and also no sense at all, but that's another theory or twelve for another time. He takes his glasses off to fiddle with them, bending the temples back the precise way they aren't supposed to go.]

For my kind of necromancy, the necromancer has to be alive. Plenty of papers have been written theorizing about the alternative, but I brought none of them here with me.

[likethelight]

[ There's a bright-eyed sort of look of clarity, something clicking in the way where this is something he actually knows, when Palamedes says nobody mostly-dead can perform great frats of magic. Mostly-dead individuals can still practice magic and necromancy some places, some of it very extraordinary in a frightful way. They're called "Skulls", where he's from. Though admittedly he doesn't know much about them, but... he has seen some of what they can do firsthand. There can be something that is "living", but also dead and no longer human when they once might have been. Even if they might otherwise seem perfectly alive.

Though perhaps that begs more the question of what "death" actually is.

That's what he means to say at least when Palamedes lets that slip, that he died here. And while even before that would have set Allen gently back on his heel before being contrary into what may or may not be a delicate thing, now... he hesitates, noticeably. ]

--oh. [ shit, tact backfired ] I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply-- [ that you died, like he did

It rattles him a little more than he thought it would, grey eyes flickering back and forth slightly between Palamedes's; though his voice is still gentle, if a little heavier. ]

I didn't know that had happened, sorry.

[megatheorem]

[Ah, jeez. Palamedes shakes his head and- leans back, looking away from Allen and around at the other party guests. Hm, if he does a rough count real quick-]

Don't worry about it. Most everyone here already knows; half of them were there.

[Not that that makes it easier to process on a daily basis; not at all. But it makes it less of a secret and more of a thing to put on the table and actively process, instead of putting it away somewhere and pretending it didn't happen.

He's already had to learn this lesson. Learning it again by Trench-induced torment isn't in his immediate interests.]

Not that I'm advertising. But I'm not about to shake myself to pieces just thinking about it.

[Not a second time!! Ha ha ha.]

That said: I can accurately report that necromancy is defunct to the dead.

[likethelight]

[ Well that gets a surprised blink. Half of them were there? What was it, another party? What kind of fireworks do you have planned?

His easygoing manner of brushing it aside does do the trick for Allen though, tension bleeding off his shouders, even if there is a bit of lingering guilt. And he smiles a little, even if in a very small sort of way, and finds that a bit inspirational. Even if he's put on a good face and has thrown himself into living and spending time with people as much as he can after getting his feet back so to speak... if he stops for even a moment, there's still a quiet sort of haunting dread that seeps back. At death, yes, but... more how it had made others cry. How it'd broken them.

It's... a little relieving, hearing someone else talk about that sort of thing too. And at least seem okay for it. ]

Not all the time. [ It's said with perhaps a bit of good-natured cheekiness. It's very subtle though, with a warmer smile. ] At least, not everywhere.

In my experience, some of the most powerful magic-users are those who are already dead. Or, a form of living death I guess you could say. [ Not really smiling anymore; it's a gross and unpleasant thing, Skulls. ]

While admittedly I don't understand the exact nature of what they can do, being able to transform the living into others like themselves was one of the abilities they had.

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes shrugs at that surprised look, like, it's whatever! He doesn't know what precisely Allen is thinking or he'd helpfully correct him, but it is true that plenty people at this party were there when he died— this party's origin is because one of the people present at that event opened up to Palamedes about still being shaken by it, so. It is what it is.

But oh, other necromancy? He perks up, leaning in just slightly with interest, which surely will not encourage more cheekiness. Huh!

"Living death" immediately makes him think of Lyctors, even though he's plenty familiar with revenants and constructs and the idea of "zombies," but he knows - or at least, he hopes - that Lyctors aren't a thing in other worlds. Still, it's interesting.]

I could hazard a guess at how that would work with what I know how to do— flipping the energies around with necromancy might create something new, but it wouldn't be... ethical.

[He frowns, like, does he have to say that? Allen seems to understand morals and ethics.]

So I guess you could say we'd all be better off if necromancy were unavailable to the dead. Or un, as it were.