The Discussion Conference!

[espritdecorpse]

WHO: Everyone
WHERE: Near the shore, across the water
WHEN: August 8th
WHAT: Get together for drinks, discussion, and a little fighting
WARNINGS: some sappy stuff okay


Games:

[ As the day dawns bright on this auspicious morning… absolutely nothing at all happens because your host is still sleeping. But by early afternoon, anyone who ventures to the water’s sandy beach edge will find swords of every make and type arrayed: bamboo sticks, wooden swords, blunted metal practice swords, and—for those so inclined—live steel. Show off your swordsmanship, but remember: it’s only fun and games until somebody loses an eye.

For those disinclined to contact sports, there’s another game set up: kites with targets painted on the center, and a number of bows and several quivers of arrows. Shoot the kite! Of course, no matter how intrepid the archer, you need someone to fly the kite. Have fun trying to hit that moving target—and if you run out of arrows, it’s just a quick swim out to get them. Surely no monsters will be waiting to drag you under, right?

There’s absolutely nothing stopping anybody from just relaxing on the beach or playing in the waves (watch out for the tentacles). ]

Discussion:

[ After the games are drinks and discussion. Wei Wuxian has become an avid winemaker over the past eight months, and every kind of wine is here in abundance: punch, rice wine, fruit wine… and for the truly daring, durian liqueur (don’t ask where those durians came from, you might not like the answer). As the alcohol flows, conversation naturally follows, and what better topic than the story of Awash, the things each person has discovered and wondered about, and how the story abruptly seems to have an end.

Someone has brought the book out for people to write in, so there’s that as well. ]

Banquet:

[ And then, as the sun sets, it’s time for a banquet. Tables and chairs cobbled together from nearby abandoned homes are set up outdoors, and bonfires set on the beach. The dishes are varied: chicken and suckling pig, that is to say, a mutant chicken with the head of a pig. Following that delicacy is grilled fish, fried crab claws, boiled lobster, shark’s fin soup, and rice noodles. You might even be able to snag some attractively-wrapped cakes as well. Wei Wuxian might have cooked a few of these, hope you like ghost peppers. ]

Fireworks:

[ As the last light of the sun fades from the horizon and night truly falls, you’ll be handed a talisman. It won’t do anything at all, unless you’ve got spiritual energy or magical powers of some sort to activate it. If you do, point it at the sky. If you don’t, find someone who does. ]

Bad ideas:

[ Drunk skinny dipping in the ice cold, monster-infested ocean water, confessing your deepest fears, throwing up in the bushes, sloppily making out with and then passing out in the arms of someone attractive? Your host does not recommend you engage in any of these activities, unless you really want to. ]

Comments

Lan Wangji

[alittlespicy]

[ For all that Lan Wangji is not always social, but this time, he is present, his graceful motions seen almost everywhere as he tries to both encourage people and calm down any situation that seems to be growing tense.

There is... one difference that those used to him can spot. His hair is done the exact same way as always, but the forehead ribbon is no longer tied around it. ]

Games

[ Wangji is there. He's less playful, as such, but he is a cautious and good sport. He's more than willing to give a full demonstration of the Lan style of sword fighting with Lan Sizhui, or give a much more chaotic demonstration against Wei Wuxian. He did once talk about measuring his abilities against (Blue) Saber, as well his skill against Archer's, should they be interested.

Anyone else who might want to test themselves against him are always welcome, as well. ]

Discussion

[ Wangji is not touching the alcohol. But he is there for this, too, and--

-- then he frowns as he opens the book. ]

Where is the page that was placed here?

[ ... that might be important! ]

Banquet

[ Wangji did cook some of the food, so watch out for the red-colored dishes. Those might be moderate-level spicy.

He will try some of the other foods, too. ]

The soup is not bad.

[ Picky, picky. ]

Fireworks

[ For anyone who is wondering what to do with the talisman... ]

Do you need assistance with that?

Wildcard!

Anything else, go right ahead.

Before it all begins - closed to Wei Wuxian

[ Wangji's steps are steady as he walks towards the now familiar house in Ruga. Bichen is already hovering beside him - ready to carry, not fight - as he knocks on the door. ]

Wei Ying.

way too early jeez

[espritdecorpse]

[ There's a distinct lack of a response. Hey, some of us are still sleeping here! 5AM is a rude time to be awake, Lan Clan people. So's 6AM. And 7. Even 8 o'clock's pushing it. 9 is ever so slightly more civilized, but still unpardonably early. 10... look, if you've slept until 10AM already, it seems a shame to bother getting up at that point.

Eleven... now that's a reasonable hour to be contemplating leaving one's bed. ]

ZZzzzzzzzzzz........

Banquet

[witchual]

[ Hey, it's Saber's housemate. Magilou has heard of him (and probably ate food that Saber mooched from him), but never actually met him. The mysteries deepened...

Until she meets him now, and the most mysterious person in this conversation is her. She sidles up to him, her hands empty of any food; she'd probably have her hands in all of them, but this is more interesting. ]

Ooh, high standards, huh? Which ones here meet your particularly partial palate?

games;

[neronian]

[ Nero, decked in what is a Mystic Code fashioned after a swimsuit (she made it herself, you see, via magecraft) watches intently as Wangji demonstrates his sword fighting style of choice. It's a new one to her, and for that reason, she takes in the sights and sounds, the way his blade sings through the air after he finishes another bout with another competitor. ]

Hm, not bad, not bad at all! I have not seen that style before.

Discussion!

[noholdsbard]

Which one?

[ Alarmed, he glances over the book as well. Did someone tamper with Xie Lian’s page after all? ]

games... of death

[artorian]

[ Oho. Hohoho. Saber gives her blunted metal sword of choice a practice swing before facing Lan Wangji.

She didn't have the foresight to hunt down a local swimsuit (they barely existed in her time, really, and she has no intention of going into the water), so she's settled for unbuttoning her collar, rolling her sleeves up, and baring her feet to the sand. This will just be a friendly spar (until it isn't), so it should be okay to take things casually.

Yes... Casually... Saber stands tall, or as tall as her bare five feet can get, her chin proud and her smile dazzlingly confident. She's been looking forward to this for a long time. ]

When you are ready. Please hold nothing back, Wangji.

games

[alwaysfacepalming]

[Of course SiZhui was there. He was dressed properly as a Gusu Lan junior should be, sword at his side if anyone should want a partner to spare with or want a demonstration from himself and WangJi together to show off Gusu Lan techniques.

Of course, the missing forehead ribbon is not lost on him and he would of course be unable to stop himself from noticing it a few times in its oddness. Of course, he won't be so bold to come right out and say it]

HanGuang-Jun, it seems like a good turn out.

[wooden_one]

i: Discussions

[When Chu Wanning sat down, he'd claimed an entire bottle of rice wine for himself. Not a particularly adventurous one.

You may catch him in the process of pulling that bottle over to himself.

Or, if you catch him later, you might see him polishing off the last of that bottle and reaching for another. He looks 100% sober, still.

Either way, his hand brushes yours when he reaches out before he snatches it back as if burned. (He's not one for casual physical touches.)]

...watch it.



ii: Banquet

[A mature grandmaster would surely eat a balanced diet.

...except no. On his plate are some vegetables but mostly? It's cakes. Also, wine. He sips at it as he glares at the bowl of ghost peppers. He can guess what that is!

But he's also looking at the food with a similarly displeased frown.]

...why is there so much meat?

[The complaint is said quietly, he wasn't actually asking anyone.]

iii: Special Delivery!

[If you arrive earlier, you may spot Chu Wanning walking in with an armful of swords, all blunted and not dangerous except as a bludgeoning weapon. He looks around, as if he's trying to figure out where they're supposed to go but...can't figure out where.

Maybe he stares at you for a moment, before looking away. Needing to ask but not wanting to admit his ignorance. How difficult could it be, really...? He can figure it out!]

iii

[espritdecorpse]

[ He is (possibly) clad in swim trunks, a flowered shirt, and Ray-bans, as well as an unusual accessory: a blue and white ribbon wound around his wrist. When he sees Chu Wanning, his eyes light up and he exclaims: ]

You brought them! Thanks so much! Can I give you a hand with any of these?

[ He reaches out to help, probably inadvertently brushing against the man's skin. ]

iii:

[alittlespicy]

... useful.

[ What. Wangji can appreciate the assistance.

His face feels slightly odd without the forehead ribbon, but he would not like this day to be any less than wonderful, so here he is, to help prepare. ]

Let me take them.

[ If the swords are relinquished, he'll just. Take them all in one arm, effortlessly. ]

ii;

[neronian]

[ Wuxian's roommate is here to scandalize everyone while decked out in a Mystic Code that leaves not a lot to the imagination, rejoice. Nero, having prepared some of the dishes herself, only crosses her arms and takes his muttering as address. ]

Why is there so much meat? More like why not? A hearty gathering requires hearty meals!

[espritdecorpse]

GAMES/BEACH ACTIVITIES

[ Wei Wuxian walks around surveying the grounds. He’s dressed up for the occasion: black robes, with a hint of red underneath.

Once he’s satisfied with everything, he’ll pick up a kite and send it flying aloft in the sea breeze, watching it bob in the sky, and then hand you the string to hold while he nocks the end of an arrow to the string and draws his bow. After a moment, he stops and relaxes his arm, without releasing the arrow. ]

Pffff! This is really too easy. I wonder how we can make this interesting?

DISCUSSION

[ He’ll buttonhole anyone nearby and attempt to fill their glass while he chatters: ]

Maiden Sierra and I interviewed a group of skeletons recently, and they corroborated the story Mister F told about the curse and the town. Everyone disappeared, save for a small mixed-color group of survivors, who went into the forest to look for their fellow townspeople, and died there.

When I asked how to break the curse, I was told I had to “remember what was forgotten.” That seems extremely unhelpful, you know!

[ or ]

What do you think we all ought to do regarding the last forest guardian?

[ or ]

I managed to put together all the pieces of the red map, want to see?

[ or while he’s pointing at the book: ]

What’s your idea of a “happy ending” for this town? Or for yourself?

BANQUET

Hey, hey, hey, there’s something I’d like to say, if I could have your attention!

[ He stands up at his table, swaying slightly. He is uncharacteristically serious, despite his pink cheeks. He has an excellent tolerance for alcohol, but by now he’s probably a little drunk. For some reason, he's shed his black robes and he seems to be wearing Xie Lian’s red dress. How odd, but one never knows, with this guy. ]

The morning before I arrived in Chroma, I awoke to someone kicking me in the face. The night after I arrived, a kind soul... [ His eyes seek out Tristan, somewhere in the little group. ] gave me the cloak from his shoulders, to shield me from the snow. This has been my experience in this place. While it hasn’t been perfect by any means, and there have been tears as well as laughter, I can say truly that I never expected to have the friendship of such warm and generous people.

I’d also like to take a moment to remember those who were once here with us in Chroma, but have moved on.

[ He pauses, his gaze complicated. And then he raises his cup of wine. ]

To old friends, who are still with us today, in our memories and our hearts.

discussion

[meridio]

[ He's not likely to drink that, but allows Wei Wuxian to fill his glass all the same.

A happy ending? That's an optimistic choice of words. ]

That the vanished return to a town restored of its color.

discussion;

[neronian]

[ Nero, somewhat inebriated but completely sober when decided to deck herself out in a very swimsuit-esque Mystic Code (it's magecraft, don't ask) for today, and clearly a practitioner of holding her drink, sidles up to Wuxian and bobs her head slightly at his attempt to fill up her drink. ]

Hmhm, I have already obtained a happy ending in my mortal life. There is no need for me to change it.

[ Because it was perfect, as sad and pathetic her last moments may have been. ]

But for the town? I think something like a god suddenly showing up and giving the inhabitants a happy ending, returning to a town blooming in color and freed from their curse!

[ Though it is a strange for someone like her, a romantic and idealist who yet does not like fantasy, to suggest a deus ex machina of an ending to make things right in a deity's snap of their fingers. ]

discussion!

[unghost]

[ When asked, "What do you think we all ought to do regarding the last forest guardian?", they merely shrug, giving out a non-committal scoff. ]

Isn't it sort of late to be asking what to do about those things? The other two already got killed.

[ Not that they think killing them was really a bad thing - really, it seemed like the obvious thing to do, all things considered. You see an enemy in the forest, and you try to kill it. It's normal. To them, what's strange is to go back on the method already used in succession. ]

It's not like not killing this one will make up for the other ones, if that's the issue.

games!!

[artorian]

[ Saber can't resist joining in on a game, even if it's with her actual least favorite person in Chroma. Looked at another way, it's a legitimate excuse to try and beat him into submission, and isn't that the greatest gift of all?

She doesn't have a swimsuit, but her sleeves are rolled up, her collar is unbuttoned, and her feet are bare in the sand. When Wuxian stops short of his shot, Saber turns her gaze from the kite to him. ]

It is your own game, and you are already bored of it?

Discussion

[wordsinthesoul]

A red map? [Huh. He'll take that refill, looking at the glass thoughtfully before he looks up at Wei Wuxian.]. I don't think I've heard about it. Is it a good thing, or an ominous thing?

[queenofminiskirts]

[She brightens at the mention of how to break the curse because! She knows the answer to this one!!]

It's love! Shiho, Izuku-kun and I went into the forest one time and when we completed the challenge, Shiho asked what had been forgotten and the answer is love!

[...which may not be super helpful! But it was something!]

[regrede]

i. shooting the kite, the wrong way

[ sierra isn’t as much of a party pooper as she may appear to be, even on the heels of death. this little “conference” seems like more of an excuse to get everyone together than anything else, but in a way, it’s doing some favors for the quest on the forums as well. she’s not complaining.

what she will not do, however, is play along in a way that requires more effort than the bare minimum. ]

I need no arrows.

[ she’s just going to… summon a flurry of bats to take the kite down. it counts as hitting the target if the whole thing is covered in little batty claws, right? ]

ii. vegetarian vampire

[ sierra does not eat meat. this may seem like a weird sticking point for someone who has consistently terrorized most people in town for their blood at one point or another, but this means when the rice noodles finally come around, she allows herself to partake in this dish rather than any of the others.

…unfortunately, she cannot use chopsticks. ]

Tch! [ she looks like she’s about to snap one between her fingers. ] What strange design.

iii. you better firework, bitch

[ when the night finally comes, sierra takes the talisman curiously—and it’s easy enough for her to figure out, after that. she remembers from past encounters that not everyone in town has an ability to cooperate with this little trick, though, so she’ll, in unusual but boundless kindness, approach anyone with a talisman yet unlit. ]

Shall I?

iii

[meridio]

[ he'd intended to leave when he was given the talisman. partaking of no food himself, he's done nothing but stand around ever since the banquet. he could activate the talisman probably—if only he knew what it is and how it works. but he also isn't interested and holds it out to sierra at her offer. ]

Hail, Sierra.

i

[espritdecorpse]

[ He's taking turns holding the kite this time, and feels a few sickening jerks on the string as the kite is overrun with bats, before the line goes slack as the kite goes down.

He stares openmouthed for a moment, before rounding on Sierra and exclaiming: ]

That's cheating!

[noholdsbard]

[ OOC: Prose & action both welcome! ]

i. The Archer class is made up of archers
Wait…what’s that kite doing there? The competition’s long since over and everyone’s moved on to the banquet and whatnot already! There’s hardly any wind left to keep the kite afloat, besides, but still it adamantly clings to the air as if for dear life. If you choose to find its wayward flier, you need only venture a short ways before you can hear a soft snoring emanating from behind a nearby tree.

It seems that somebody’s decided to slack off while on the job, buck-naked save for trousers and with his scar in full view like the world’s most melodramatic bulls-eye—Hawaiian tourist shirt and goggles excluded. And he hasn’t noticed your arrival…

ii. This is for all you watery tarts out there
Ah, bonfires. What better way to bond with one another than to trade stories and song before a fire? Truly, there can be no greater way to forge bonds as Mr. F had so appealed to them to do.

And Tristan, who’s completely sober, mind you, clears his throat to get everyone’s attention. A harp materializes in his hands in a flash of golden light. Those who are sitting next to him, or who simply happen to be observant, might notice that strand of golden hair which takes its place among his harp strings.

“To all who are gathered here today, I wish to bring you songs of joy and celebration. For though the future seems bleak, yet all around me are bright faces who are full of hope. And there is one person who stands above them—one who must be honored this day, for I can think of no better occasion than this. That, and I have a rather important promise to keep. And so, my dear master Mythra, this song is for you!”

Whereupon he embarks on a very excruciating enthusiastic ten-minute ballad which goes a little something like this:

Mythra! Oh, Mythra!
How lovely and fair you are
Your golden hair shines
No matter the clime
Trailing light—a distant star!

Mythra! Oh Mythra!
Your voice, it pierces me so
No matter your fate
You are, at any rate
Always captivating me so!

And so on…

iii. EVERYBODY GET IN HERE AND THREADJACK
Tristan, now considerably more drunk and inclined to even stupider things than usual, pulls out his harp for another round, even as it seems to strum in protest at his abuse. Fear not, however—even while drunk Tristan still maintains the vocal prowess with which he’s known for. So what if it’s a bit on the slurry side? It’s not like any of you are any more sober!

Anyway, he begins playing the opening strain—a strange and oddly jaunty number, coming from him, and it goes a little something like this:

I’m foolish, fervent, and tragic
The result of some strange magic
As such my renown comes not from great swords nor lakes

But despite my tragic fate
And my somber serenade—
I’ve always wanted to atone for my mistakes.

HARP SOLO. Can you believe this is happening because I sure can’t!!!!!!!

Perhaps my sad and tortured heart might find some peace—
Righting wrongs and foiling evil schemes!
Yet still I am destined to fail
Of this cruel fate then, I must wail—
“How sad!” For way down deep inside I’ve got a dream!

iv. Wild…card

iii

[espritdecorpse]

[ As soon as he has the gist of the tune, he starts playing along with his flute. And when Tristan's lyric ends, he helpfully jumps in with his own verse, whilst throwing an arm around the man's shoulders: ]

He's got a dream!
He's got a dream!
Tristan's not as grim and tragic as he seems
Though he wallows in his sadness, let's give him a little gladness
Like everybody else, he's got a dream!

[ Yeah he used your real name out loud, deal with it. ]

[asano_san]

Games

[Just because his ideal beach party didn't magically come to life when he wrote in the magic book doesn't mean Keigo can't try to make it happen on his own!

The only problem is supplies. Snow cones are out. (Where was that guy who made a freezer when you needed him?) There isn't a beach ball in the land. He has a volleyball! But no net or poles. Bathing suits, though...

When he arrives at the beach, he's wearing the sweatpants he brought back from his high school locker room with the legs cut off at swim trunk length. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. He's also carrying a pile of rags.]

Bathing suits! Get your bathing suits right here!

[No, not rags - bathing suits, an assortment of old-fashioned town-provided pants cut into shorts and pieces of fabric tied together into bikini tops and whatever else someone with no sewing supplies and no idea how to sew anyway could make.]

Discussion

[Wei Wuxian said he could drink the wine, so he takes a cup as it's passed around. It's not like he needs anything to get the words flowing, though.]

If the story's done, that means Mr. F is done with us, right? Then why are we still here?

[Or the high emotions.]

Or does done mean done? Is the whole town going to kill us now?!

Bad Ideas

[Wei Wuxian said he could drink the wine. He didn't know anything about drinking ages or the low tolerance of a guy who was shamed into not trying more than a sip the one time he braved a vending machine beer. ("Oh, you're a big delinquent now, Asano-san? I'd better leave and go protect my girlfriend from you.")

A loose-limbed Keigo slings an arm across the shoulders of whoever is closest.]

Hey! Hey...we should make some bonds.

[Eyebrow waggle implied because he can't feel his eyebrows right now.]

Discussion

[espritdecorpse]

[ Was it... a mistake giving Keigo wine?


Naaaah! ]

Don't you think it would be an awfully abrupt ending for a story? If we're still here, it means there's some part left for us to play. And it's not as though we don't have any more quests to do, Mister F did leave us with that last instruction: form bonds with one another.

No, this is probably the point in the story where, for instance, Sleeping Beauty swallows the poisoned apple and falls into a deep sleep like death. She's like that for some time, before the handsome prince saves her.

[neronian]

i; beach flower

[ What she's wearing is absolutely not fightworthy, but since when did she ever care about that? Nero sizes up who she presumes to be her opponent in swordsmanship, guy or girl or neither, her trusty Aestus Estus stabbed in the sand next to her. (Is that even allowed? Who knows.) ]

Hm? What is that look on your face for? This outfit is no ordinary swimsuit but a Mystic Code—no, a Theatrical Code! It will not tear or rip. So if you were thinking any untoward thoughts about wardrobe malfunctions, know that this will not be your lucky day, if ever.

[ After all, she reasons, they must be staring at her because she is beautiful, for her figure is absolute perfection, and though she may not blame them for their interest, she must still make things clear. ]

ii; seven crowns

[ But even an emperor needs a break every once in a while, as much of a shock that may be for Nero Claudius of all people. As she sits down, plate of food in hand, Nero's expression is surprisingly pensive, thinking of just what they're supposed to do to...fix everything. And so, she decides, it's better to simply ask others. That's what a discussion roundtable is for. ]

What sort of ending have you envisioned? A happy one, I hope. Though if the time comes and we are truly at the end of our ropes in making it come true, perhaps writing in a deus ex machina will do. I am not so fond of that particular staple of theater, but it is an expression of hope nonetheless, so I will not deny it.

iii; golden theater praised in song

[ Nero gazes at the waters, sea stretching out what seems endlessly. Perhaps it is time for her to let slip about her true identity, she thinks to herself. After all, if anyone has a problem with a famous ancient Roman tyrant walking amongst them, she knows that there are people here who have accepted her as such, and they are the ones whose opinion she cares about most. Besides, after having lived here for quite some time, she trusts the citizenry here enough. If she still has yet to unveil her true name by now, she cannot be a proper emperor for them, no? The answer was so simple all along. ]

This is hardly a spectacle worthy of such an audience.

[ Sorry Wuxian.

There Nero stands, in the waves, arms crossed under her chest, before she yells out, and what rises from the water is not tentacles thank god but a glitzy, glamorous theater (which has been downsized so as to not destroy the structural integrity of the surroundings; there are beachgoers here after all), golden gleaming pipe organs attached to the top. ]

The theater that rises from within the sea— Extravagant! Magnificent! And elegant! Gaze upon it! The Illustrius, praised in song! My Golden Theater!

[ As if on cue, multicolored fireworks, not lasers, fly out of the pipe organs emerging from the summoned theater. Did anybody ask for a fireworks show like this? No? Well, too bad, because they're getting one. ]

wildcard;

[ You know the drill. Hit me with what you've got!! ]

iii...

[noholdsbard]

[ WHAT

WHAT THE EVER-LOVING FUCK!!!

Even for a man used to the most outrageous Noble Phantasms, this is going above and beyond! In fact—why is she even revealing a Noble Phantasm right now?! And one that's wholly unfamiliar to him, besides! Tristan staggers back from the water’s edge, gaping at that grand display with openmouthed surprise. ]

Saber! What is the meaning of this?

[ Is there…Is there a threat they should be watching out for?! ]

Lan SiZhui

[alwaysfacepalming]

Beach games
[SiZhui definitely well prepared for the games. He had his sword with him, but he was not actively displaying it, more favoring the wooden sword as he warmed up. The wooden sword was less threatening to those who were unfamiliar with swords. Less dangerous as a whole.

And while he was displaying any skill with an arrow, if someone should look like they were having trouble, he'd be willing to offer a few pointers]

Banquet
[SiZhui was considered too young in the cultivation world to have much say at discussion conferences so he mainly found a place to sit and listen.

He also won't be partaking in the wine. He does also know where the durian wine came from...]

Fireworks
[SiZhui was very excited for the fireworks part. He was also happy to help if someone needed some assistance with the spiritual energy part]