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

[dohaeris]

[sansa laughs, more self-deprecating than anything.]

Oh, you can just stay by my side, it's the only thing I'm good at.

[self evidently not true. she links her arm through adaine's and waves at l(azarus), not quite dragging adaine in his direction (politely).]

Lazarus! Hallo!

[in a lower voice, to adaine:]

He's the one who's good at finding things out.

[classic northern understatement!]

[hearthebell]

Alayne... thank you again for the water, earlier.

[If her companion doesn't know about "Sansa", he's keeping her secret. If she does, she will understand why he's using Alayne.

He glances back and forth between Sansa and Adaine, cataloguing, associating, before he recognizes that he should probably say something else.

He holds up his drink.]

I made something with ice and fire. Also vodka. It's terrible.

[adaine]

[Adaine is nothing if not perpetually awkward in social situations. Introductions are especially excruciating but she can do this, out of a desire to not embarass her friend.

She's fine with leaving it at Alayne. This is a public setting, after-all.]

Um. Hello, I'm Adaine. I'm a friend of Alayne's.

...Do you want me to change the flavour of your drink? I'm a wizard.

[She's weeping internally.]

[dohaeris]

[sansa will catch them both up later. the idea that her name could be the source of any social awkwardness is yet another injustice to lay at the feet of her enemies. she laughs gently. was he referencing the pact of ice and fire to let her know he'd read more about the dance of the dragons? it comes to mind quite quickly, having invoked it to knight allen only a month before.]

Yes, I think it's the fire that might be the problem there. Have you considered a juice, perhaps?

[she looks between the two of them, beaming.]

I was telling Adaine a few weeks [over a month] ago that the two of you share a talent and perhaps a trade. Adaine is an Oracle, as well as a wizard. It sounded to me as if it might be a little like what you do, Lazarus.

[there does seem to be quite a lot of difference in methodology, which should allow them both them the opportunity to explain things and therefore settle on a topic of conversation most likely to be comfortable to the both of them.]

[hearthebell]

[L finds all sorts of little ways to reference things; in this case, it just happens that his drink is in fact themed, fully incidentally.]

Adaine? I'd shake your hand, but... I think that it's actually possible for me to make a worse initial impression.

[He holds out his drink instead.]

You're an oracle who can predict something that tastes better, I hope.

[An oracle is a bit like what he does, as a paleblood and also as a detective. It's a little dangerously close, in fact, to the point where he wants to divert attention from it.]

[adaine]

I mean, I can do magic that isn't oracular... [Adaine works with a detective, it's not like she's unfamiliar with detective work. She and Akechi even work together sometimes - or worked, before he attacked her.

She passes her hand over his drink, her eyes glowing the slightest bit brighter as she does, and suddenly it'll just taste like cola.]

Ah, I should probably have asked what you wanted it to taste like... it won't be terrible at least.

[dohaeris]

[sansa smiles. this is not progressing as quickly as she hoped.]

Oh, Adaine knows a good deal about all kinds of magic. She comes from a world where magic is very well studied. I've learned so much from her–not only spells, but all manner of things. The other day [also a month ago] she was telling me how a necromancer in search of power might acquire a cult and become a lich.

[she says this as casually as possible, as if she were only relating a simple anecdote from a friend. she turns and smiles at adaine.]

And Lazarus is very accomplished in Paleblood magic to do with dreams, he's been teaching me about it as well. Perhaps we might all get together sometime and compare notes over tea and cake.

[please...take the hints...]

[hearthebell]

[He takes a sip, grimacing slightly, but only because it's unexpected. Cola's not the worst thing a beverage can taste like; it's sugary, after all, just not what he'd choose.]

Chocolate?

[Always a winner, but it's true that they're beginning to spin their wheels in idle small talk, and Sansa perhaps has other designs planned.

At first he's vaguely worried that it's an attempt to matchmake, but fortunately, her purpose becomes clear. He stares for a moment longer than he might have ordinarily before returning his gaze to Adaine.]

Of course. I'd be very keen on it. The Paleblood sanctuary has no explicit rules against tea and cakes.

[He gets it.]

[adaine]

[Okay, not his preferred taste. She wipes her hand over his drink again while listening to Sansa talk. It now tastes like chocolate milkshake.

Adaine isn't a beacon of political subtlety and social grace, but she can take a hint. She raises an eyebrow at Sansa, a twinge of annoyance at her for not telling her what this introduction's about. She shakes it off pretty quickly.

Note to self: Teach Sansa the message cantrip.

It seems like comparing notes would be fruitful in this case.]

Okay, yeah, tea and cake sounds nice. I probably won't have to use any magic on them.

The Sanctuary is a lamp location, right?

[She then points at Lazarus from inside the pockets of her jacket, a thin piece of wire curled around her finger. Nobody else will hear her voice except him.]

Is this sanctuary safe from prying eyes and ears?

[dohaeris]

[sansa gives adaine a curious smile back–she thought she'd made herself perfectly clear by referencing their previous conversation, where she suggested adaine talk to lazarus (and she suspects adaine was unable to find him through magic because lazarus is a fake name, and adaine had only wanted the names of her enemies for the trap spell, so her magic must have something to do with names, somehow). she has also perhaps overestimated the degree to which other people want to network at parties. every party is a work party for the highborn career girls of westeros. besides, she really does think adaine and lazarus will enjoy talking about magic and so forth.]

Yes, Lord Mackenzie taught me the trick of brewing tea! I never burn [oversteep] it anymore. I could even make it for us at my house, sometime.

[her private, well-warded house, hidden in plain sight in the safest district in trench, covered in ravens who love to squawk and chatter at the slightest intrusion...the paleblood sanctuary is a good place to study, and it would be well for all of them to train there, but it does amplify the power of all palebloods, and she's not sure they could manage to reserve the whole thing for a clandestine discussion.]

[hearthebell]

[L takes another sip, officially impressed by the trick. Now it's very much to his taste, and he takes another, deeper sip.

And then, as the conversation cordially continues around tea and cakes, something else happens. He's about to answer when he realizes that Sansa seems not to have heard. He furrows his brow, nodding as if along with the rest of the conversation, but letting eye contact with Adaine linger a little longer so she knows it's a little more targeted.

He wants, very much, to find out how she did this. In the meantime...]

Your house should be very comfortable for the purpose, Alayne.

[He would know; he lives there too, but he's not sure how much Sansa wants that getting out.]

[adaine]

[Adaine relaxes as L nods, and at Sansa's suggestion. Yes, that's much easier. She won't mentally engage in semantics about only being alerted at the nature of this conversation a few sentences ago, but she feels like she's on more solid footing at the moment.]

Alright, well, I think we can reconvene there. The lanterns are convenient for this sort of thing...

[Much easier than walking!]

[dohaeris]

[sansa laughs a little–she hadn't meant right now, but adaine does look relieved at the prospect of leaving the party. sansa had thought adaine might like a few more introductions, but perhaps she already knows the other mages.]

Oh, all right, if you'd like to leave now. I should tell Allen goodbye, and Lady's gone underneath a table again. She'll be very glad to go home, I think.

[sansa smiles fondly in the direction of lady, hiding under a table from cherry bomb noises. she hopes she has enough cake...]