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

opennn

[mehanizovati]

[with the many ways one could go and socialize or play at this party, viktor has gone with dragging a chair up from the bunker and sitting off to the side somewhere to observe activities. this is how you attend a party, right, this is the spirit right here.

but no, for all his wallflowering he looks pretty content all things considered, sitting back with a mug pal drew a squid on (it's viktor's squidsona, you can tell because of the moles obviously) and a bag at his side, crutch leaning against the back of the chair. rio is much more social and will actually poke her nose around until the loud fireworking starts, when she'll skitter off.

anyway he'll be handing out cherry bombs from that bag (feel free to handwave getting as many as you want) and even sparklers (same as above) with only vague warnings of 'don't blow anything important up, thanks.' if you're drinking no bombs for you. if you're a teen extra bombs, which is a questionable choice but he figures the point of all this is for the teens to cause some vaguely supervised trouble anyway. also the bombs explode in fun colors and sparkles, sometimes some colored smoke. he's a fucking show off.

other potential happenings include:

- snooping the art station because he's morbidly curious what people might decide to draw here. if he gets bored enough he might be here making a blueprint for something and pretend that's a party activity.

- taking a turn supervising booze and being way too lenient about it because he's an undercity kid at heart and figures most people can handle at least a little liquor while around dangerous materials.

- examining the blood wards because he still thinks they are fascinating and this is clearly a normal party activity.

- actually just enjoying the music with mild swaying so he did it, a single party activity done the right way.

- observing pal seeing fireworks properly for the first time because that's the whole point in his opinion. besides everyone getting a nice break. mostly this though. ]

[terriblepurpose]

[Paul sidles up to Viktor early in the night, having heard that this is where an enterprising young man can collect his explosives, and having a passing suspicion of who it is that's doing so. He's dressed in his festive best: a fitted black t-shirt paired with pants of a rough-and-ready fiber dyed black, tucked into black boots, two bone studs in each earlobe. He's even gotten someone with steadier hands to give them a slick of subtle black eyeliner.

(The heirs of the Sixth House and House Atreides both have a certain commitment to the monotone.)]

I like your mug. [He extends his hand promptly, smiling - he knows his manners, and anyone Palamedes trusts with explosives Paul trusts with his bare hand.] Paul Atreides. A pleasure to meet you.

[mehanizovati]

[in truth viktor's first thought is 'this must be one of the other ninth house people or necromancers.' no skull face paint but the sheer goth energy? he's starting to associate that with that particular group.

sometimes he wonders if each house just has a Color or pal is just weird with the grey thing. he could believe both.

his expression brightens a touch in recognition at 'paul,' telling of what pal's told him so far about paul. he's a fan, mostly because he sounds like he's been a good friend to pal and viktor, shockingly, appreciates that very much. he takes paul's hand in a firm shake.]

Thank you, Palamedes has a particular artistic talent. [with ridiculous doodled squids.] I am Viktor, and it's good to finally meet you, Mister Atreides. I've heard your praises sung on occasion.

[terriblepurpose]

[Paul spends enough time around people from the Empire that certain things have rubbed off on him, but a spare, dark aesthetic is something he brought from home. That it helps him fit in with his household and friends is simply a side benefit he appreciates.

The point of a unified look, after all, is to make yourself an identifiable part of something else. He brightens in turn at the mention of his praises being sung, clasping Viktor's hand a hair tighter for a moment before he releases it.]

I've heard nothing but good things about you as well, Mister Viktor. [That being the polite form of address is a mirroring guess, but he doesn't think anyone Palamedes would spend time with would be a person prone to sticking too much on perfect formalities.] I thought I recognized the style. I'm sure you've seen plenty of his diagrams by now. It's all about - expressiveness, evocation.

[The enthusiasm Paul has for Palamedes' art is part of a general enthusiasm for Palamedes that's blazingly obvious from even these few words.]

But please, you can call me Paul. Any friend of Palamedes is a friend of mine.

[noniad]

[The last time Ortus attended a party was over eighteen years ago, but he remembers precisely how to appropriately wallfungus (the Ninth being short on flowers suitable to metaphor) at one.

The first step is finding a place relatively out of the way to sit, where one may hold an opaque cup that obscures the fact one has filled it with a tart red juice (taken with permission from the bunker, along with the chair, at Viktor's generous prompting) instead of the various liquors on offer.

He is not quite as sanguine about his observations as Viktor is, but Viktor is unfamiliar with the types of havoc that young necromancers are capable of wrecking under the influence of so much as a strong emotion, let alone strong drink.]

You're certain these are safe?

[He looks at the bag of cherry bombs worriedly, the way he's been looking at just about everything worriedly.]

[mehanizovati]

[in true, reassuring fashion viktor offers a hum then,] Oh, they are very much not safe, in a general sense. If they are used properly they are harmless.

[cool. not even on the truth juice, but as far as he's concerned the danger is part of what makes them enjoyable. maybe it's the undercity in him, maybe the vaguely mad scientist. either way he does offer some reassurance, because he is very glad ortus decided to come and also to wallfungi with him.]

You would have to be holding one while it exploded for it to do any real damage, and I made sure the fuse is plenty long. Would you like to try one? I warn you, they are loud.

[noniad]

[As fretful as Ortus is, his barometer for appropriate risk is calibrated to his upbringing. The young of the Ninth, even ones as coddled as himself, are exposed to the concept of acceptable levels of risk at an early age. How could they not be, raised on the foundations of an apocalypse? So Viktor's reassurance actually does Ortus some good, settling him back in the chair with a slight sigh.

He will, of course, demur the offer to try one of the cherry bombs. He doubts he would enjoy it, and besides, it would be a lapse in decorum.]

I would like to try.

[And yet: here he is, extending his hand palm up, much to his own surprise. He blinks ponderously at himself, but does not retract his hand.]

We had no such things on the Ninth. I fear they would have devastated the congregation with the shock of them.

Bloodwards

[slightlytaller]

[Examining bloodwards was a totally normal party activity-- one that the slender, polished looking centaur was more than glad to enjoy with a side of adult drinks. Normally he preferred his whiskeys or his robust ciders, but the offered tequila was excellent for the occasion.

Especially when mixed with soda and lime.

Waver Velvet was by this point comfortable on his four feet and trying to not dwell on a possible eternity as a mythic beast, and he stooped down to examine the bloodwards with the man he recognized as Palamedes'... pal. ]

It's really fascinating, isn't it?

[He asked in lieu of proper greeting, tucking his long hair behind a soft horse ear so it wouldn't get in his face while he studied. ]

Every caster has a different style with the sigils they use, but it all creates the same effect. Some people would balk, but it's not uncommon where I'm from for families and individuals to have their own signature.

What do you think about it?

[mehanizovati]

[viktor's caught up enough that he doesn't hear a whole centaur approach, a blink and he glances over- yup, a centaur. this monster month was something else. his own change is easily hidden for the moment under his shirt and he's thankful for that.

the comment and question have viktor looking back to the ward, familiar now with how much work he and pal have done with them. not unlike the runes of his world but more... hm, adaptive.]

It's incredible. [that is an easy answer to the first question, leaning a bit more on his crutch as he leans to get a better angle.] I've seen something similar in the spellwork of my own world, a sort of eh... signature, as you say, to how the runes were laid out and spun together.

I am no mage myself, but I have always found the this language of magic particularly fascinating. That the arcane can be imprinted into the world in runes or sigils or words.

[slightlytaller]

[The sentiments about interweaving magic with the mundane drew a smile to Waver's face. This was a discussion he could go for hours about...]

You'd be amazed. Some families have spent generations learning to make gemstones the catalyst for their magic. Others turned their attention to creating golems, or even raising the dead for their deeds. The possibilities are far more than just interwoven runes and sigils literally drawn into the world.

[likethelight]

[ Early on when everyone is still showing up, Allen's going to be breaking away from Shouto and Sansa and seeking Viktor out right away. Even before hitting the snack table. Thankfully, he's quite easy to spot -- mostly due to Rio, who Timcanpy seeks out immediately and beelines over to greet, spinning around her head in a delighted little aerial corkscrew of greeting.

And Allen is entirely not surprised to see Viktor sitting a little off to the side, but similarly elated to see him. ]

Viktor! [ He waves a hand as he approaches, before remembering he needs both as he begins to pivot and quickly corrects himself. Oops.

It's actually pretty easy for him to manage the grass and terrain in his wheelchair. Does he like the adjustments Viktor made? You bet, and the better tread might be his favorite part. All in all, his spirits seem quite high actually.

You wouldn't think he had still been dead a week ago, or that this wasn't something he'd always dealt with. ]

It's good to see you.

[mehanizovati]

[viktor sees tim first, more so when rio perks up to see her bud come over to butt her head fondly at. viktor raises a hand as he sees allen approach, watches said approach critically for any hint he needs to make some sort of adjustment to the chair.

hm, not bad for what he had to work with. the chair gets momentarily forgotten though, mostly under allen looking far happier than he has, given you know. everything.

it makes viktor offer him a quite genuine sort of smile, relief elevating it from the usual brief quirk.] I can say the same. Ah-

[he reaches into his bag, offering a sparkler out to allen.] Did your world have these? Sparklers.

[see, he's not even fussing. he is dedicated to allen having a Proper Break damnit. even from him.]

[likethelight]

[ Good on you for distracting Allen right away with literal sparklies, Viktor. He also appreciates the lack of fussing; he already feels bad for how much Todoroki has been looking after him and helping him around, even if he knows it probably helps the other boy as much as if not more than him. It's been the actual worst part of this: the worry he's caused others. ]

Sparklers! [ It's definitely a tone of recognition, and he takes the offered firework and inspects it for a moment. ] I've seen them before -- not here, but... before. [ Their worlds, the ones they remember from before. ] We used to have them for customers at the circus, and they were in some of the acts. I never really got to use them, though...

[ did he never mention he grew up in a circus before? oops ]

[tealeafs]

[ Please, Viktor. As if true wallflowering can ever happen with Chizuru around. Sure, she will respect his choice to be doing just as much and leave him sitting there rather than attempt to drag him off. But on the other hand - she also sure won't leave him sitting there by himself.

She watches him interact with other people, but the moment it seems like Viktor might be left alone, or just with his Omen, Chizuru is quick to make her way over to him with a smile on her face. ]

Viktor, hi!

[ .. she seems rather excited, huh. Maybe she's just happy to have been invited here by him, or maybe it's-- ]

These fireworks.. they're so fascinating! [ Ah, that's it. ] It's the first time I've ever seen anything like this..! It's like magic!

[mehanizovati]

[no chizuru, you're ruining his very real and not fake reputation as the boring, serious adult wallflowering with the best of them. alas, he ruins it more by smiling when he sees her, glad she decided to come despite his warnings about potentially rowdy teens.]

Hello Chizuru. [he greets, rio perking up with a tail thump of recognition.

the enthusiasm about the fireworks is instantly endearing, and he turns to pull a couple of sparklers from his handy little bag.] Maybe next time you're by my lab I'll show you how they're made, they're actually quite simple all things considered. Here-

[he offers her one of the sparklers before moving to light his own with a match, holding it out towards chizuru as it starts to spark.] You can light yours on this one- I thought you might enjoy these in particular. [mostly because they're a little less loud and A Lot than the cherry bombs.]

[megatheorem]

[As a half-assed host, Palamedes has a duty to make his rounds and also be terrible at all the games before he can circle back to the real goal: Viktor giving him explosives to play with. He does this, being particularly bad at crossbones and particularly amused by how bad he is at it despite himself, and further, has a stupidly enjoyable time at this party, even though parties are boring. Perhaps it was the lo-fi field energy all along that could have saved parties...

When he inevitably finds Viktor again it's with a shoulder-bump of greeting and a hand resting low on his back, hello, and he peers at the bag of cherry bombs as if he has never seen it before. Good gracious, what is this. Golly.]

There you are; I've been losing at games for ages and I need to have a conversation that isn't about throw trajectory. [ha, sports,] How are you liking all this? And— how many of these do I get to have?

[How privileged is he with fruit bombs, hm?? Eh???]

[mehanizovati]

You really couldn't resist when you heard there was a game called 'crossbones,' could you? [viktor still hasn't the faintest idea what that game is and he's at least ninety precent sure pal didn't either and just saw 'bones.' necromancers are fun.

still, he is also having a decent time, which goes against his moral code but alas. he digs into the bag and pulls out one of the bombs, holding it out for proper viewing, lips quirked fondly.]

Eh, I like you so you can have a few extra. Here, put all that talk of throwing trajectory to good use. [a pause, then genuinely,] It isn't so bad, for a party. You have good friends.

[dohaeris]

[sansa only meant to ask after him, and see how he was doing, but now she has been given explosives. she looks down at the bombs, and then back up at him, mildly horrified.]

They blow up?

[is there wildfire in them? why?]

[mehanizovati]

Yes, they are filled with a powder that explodes upon contact. [a simple way to put it, he could Get Into It but most people didn't love the extended science jargon talk.

he pauses for a moment before pulling out a stick- a sparkler! this would probably be a little less alarming, he thinks.] There's also these, if you'd like to try it. You just light the end and they spark without any explosions.

booze table

[towards_okeanos]

[At the very end of Victor's shift at the booze table a strange occurrence happens. A metal bird, the size of a small child, lands at the very end of the table. For a short moment it sits there tilting its head, hops a few times in place, making the whole table shake and the bottles rattle. Then it looks up, staring directly at Viktor.
Who might have noticed it's the same bird that arrived with Waver, and made a few passes at the snack table, snatching a few things from there.

Help?]

[mehanizovati]

[viktor's just about ready to go back to the party, aka wallflower somewhere away from the action, when the drinks table rattles with the weight of a very odd and very large bird. viktor blinks- he had assumed when he first saw waver and said bird enter it was waver's omen, but idle observation throughout the party started to make him wonder.

this, for example.] Are you Waver's omen? [he asks, then a thought strikes him- the transformations. jason's whole head being a ram.] Or a sleeper too?

[lipochrome]

[ Gideon, of course, wastes no time lining up for her very own personal bag 'o' bombs. But more importantly, she's here to meet Palamedes' cool new roommate, who is, if Palamedes is to be believed, a scholar and a scoundrel and a generally good guy. ]

Don't worry, I'm only going to blow up something important if I think it's gonna look really cool.

[ Gideon grins, which is definitely reassuring. ]

You're Sextus' roommate, yeah? I'm Gideon.

[mehanizovati]

[viktor tilts his head as if giving this assurance serious thought before nodding, faux solemn.] A good enough reason then. Sacrifices must be made for progress.

[don't encourage this, viktor. still his lips quirk, perking up a touch at that name.] Ah, Gideon from the Ninth, who has a good heart, or so I've been told. Yes, I'm Viktor, Pal's roommate- well, partner now as well.

[that is an important distinction.] It is good to finally meet you. Palamedes speaks fondly of you.

[wannasmash]

More tree than faun, Midoriya ambles around the field in a T-shirt and dark blue cargo shorts. Midoriya's skin has turned a medium green. His mop of hair remains a dark viridian. Two ram's horns curl above long ears that regularly pivot towards sound. His feet are very elongated, his gait shifted to his toes--one a hoof, the other looking like the thin base of a tree.

Instead of being covered in hair like a true faun, he has acquired a corded, rootlike structure, especially in the lower legs. The scars covering his body like a map cross over raised whorls and striations in his skin that recall wood and long-forgotten spirals drawn by some ancient sapient. Midoriya hopes people will be less put off by his scars, especially the huge one on his right arm, since they're made less stark by everything else.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm Midoriya--my family name, most people call me that back home. Palamedes-san told me we're making explosions?"

The polite young man offers a small, guileless smile and adds in a reassuring voice, "Don't worry, I'm used to being around explosives, but on the receiving end. I'll make sure everyone is safe."

[mehanizovati]

Oh, plant transformation buddies! Well, at this stage Viktor's is entirely hidden behind his shirt and brace, and without the ram elements, but still.

Viktor offers a nod in greeting, thinking that it's quite the time to meet new people when he'll only have a vague idea what they look like when they're back to normal. "It is good to meet you as well, I am Viktor."

A normal enough beginning, but then this polite young man says that and Viktor has to blink. What... does he mean on the receiving end? As something he's used to? It strikes him those scars aren't just part of the transformation and give him a beat to just recover for a second here. He has so many questions he's pretty sure will have upsetting answers.

"Ah well... we certainly appreciate it. The last thing I want is someone blowing off a finger, though so far the rowdiness has been at a minimum." He pulls out a cherry bomb, holding it out to Midoriya and still resisting the whole many questions urge. "Would you like to test one out?"