sunday dinner+wake! come one, come all! (bohemian rhapsody plays in the distance)

[preseance]

characters: gene+wanda+anyone else who cares to come
location: the church
date/time: the afternoon of sunday the 4th, possibly until the wee hours of the 5th.
content: eating, drinking, being merry. may or may not involve some underaged drinking/smoking/death refs.
warnings: none yet! will update if that changes.


( around three in the afternoon, folks will get a little chime from their tablets. it's a simple text from @/hicks that says — )

Hello to the old faces and welcome to the new ones. There's dinner on at the Church, if you're of a mind to join, around 1800. Six PM. RSVPs aren't necessary, so long as you bring an appetite. Just mind the rats. If you need an escort or haven't been here before, please let us know.

[ wanda’s username pops up next into the mass text, a rather blunt @/witch: ]

Eugene has organized the hallowed place strategically for supper, but tonight’s attitude I think shall proclaim it the first instead of the last. And I hope you’ve all got a thirst as well as an appetite — this is no sit down dinner. We are having a wake. Irish, East Orthodox, faerie — whatever tradition you might like to think of it. Contraband spirits liberated from the tavern, and memorabilia to celebrate all our lives.

Some of us have suffered for a month. Some have wounds still fresh and bleeding.

Let’s take a night off, shall we?




⚰️🍴🍺🍲🍗🍴⚰️


THE WAKE ➽

[ a sign above the church doors hangs, paper draped and scrawled in black shoe polish, some mixed brand of mutiny, heresy, and irreverent joy:

“ABANDON ALL WOES, YE WHO ENTER HERE.”

once inside, the responders to the invitation will see a new, brighter cast over the church, not unlike a spell woven from stone to stone, twixt and twain through and ‘neath all the cobwebs, and what once was ghostly now glows. on every standing surface there are extra candles, flames borrowed from the bonfire and flickering in a way that seems to invite — come closer, be warm, be full — and their light seems somehow brighter and less mournful than the prayer candles at the front of the pews.

the little flames adorn and catch the true stars of the main hall now: not the pews, not the decayed paintings of virgins or martyrs, but tokens hung carefully just so along the walls, over candelabras, on pedestals, over fountains and baths long empty of any holy water. tokens of the deceased, some somber, some with a sense of humor, all with affection:
a cowboy hat, hanging crookedly off the corner of the priest’s altar.
dog tags, a medical kit, enshrined in nocturnal flowers.
a rather large plastic sword, draped in twine with keys (a keyblade? perhaps).
little girl patterns holding hands, strung together, all in black… an attempt at shadow children?
several piles of chocolate gold coins, fit for any treasure hunter to indulge in.
taped and brightly lit, a picture of a rose drawn in crayon; the inscription reads only “family.”
a sadly empty pack of cigarettes… something shared in this church once, and not forgotten.
the list goes on, so many small and precious and luminous items that mean something to your character, to wanda, to gene, to the moments in between — something to touch you or make you laugh, snort while you eat and have a whiskey or vodka or juice.

because you do not — and we mean do not — have a respectable, rowdy wake without a drink in your hand. help yourself. ]


THE FOODENING ➽

[ the food is on a bench along one wall. it's not much — the rats have been getting into the supplies, and it's with that in mind that any cooking has been done with a keen eye towards minimal waste. but there are a few recognizable earth dishes. mostly things from the deep south of america, the cultural melting pot of new york and various areas across europe. feel free to say that your character's favourite dish (within reason!) made it to the table somehow.

in lieu of having an actual table, characters are encouraged to stand or sit on the pews to eat so as to mingle some with others. there's a gramophone in one corner softly playing playing... the greatest hits of queen? odd selection for a church. maybe someone will be inspired to dance?

after the party, there's some clean-up to do! who wants to stay behind and help clear and clean dishes and pack up food? maybe it's time for a food fight? either way, tag around, have fun and remember: the real treasure is the friends you make along the way! or... the rats you stomp on? mind those pesky critters! they're hungry too! ]

Comments

gene | ota!

[preseance]

  ᴅʀᴏᴠᴇ ᴍʏ ᴄʜᴇᴠʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴠʏ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴠʏ ᴡᴀs ᴅʀʏ; ﹙ɢʀᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛ﹗﹚

( gene's at the door to welcome folk as they enter. he's dressed nicely enough in a dark button-down that doesn't clash too horribly with his paratrooper's pants an' shiny brown boots. hair combed, clean-shaven, very forties. those comin' in that he knows by name he greets appropriately an' gestures 'em on towards the food — anyone he ain't met yet gets a warm smile an' a soft touch to their arm in greetin' if they seem amenable to the contact. )

Hey. Thanks for comin'. Hope the rats weren't too much trouble on your way — you got any allergies we ought to know about?

  ɪ·ᴍ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ᴘᴏᴏʀ ʙᴏʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ᴘᴏᴏʀ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ; ﹙ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴍᴘᴛ﹚

( whenever a song comes on that he's got more than just a passin' familiarity with, gene will absolutely come up to your character an' hold a hand out to them. male? female? robot? ain't hardly a matter. as long as they look ambulatory that's good enough for him. all the better if they're one'a beacon's new faces. what better way to get to know someone than through dancin'? )

Y'mind a dance? You don't gotta know how, just follow my lead.

  ʏᴏᴜ sᴀʏ ᴄᴏᴋᴇ﹐ ɪ sᴀʏ ﹙ʀᴇᴅᴀᴄᴛᴇᴅ﹚; ﹙ᴏᴛᴀ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴜʀᴄʜ ᴅᴏᴏʀs﹚

( gene can be found either just outside the doors to the church, lit by the golden glow of his lantern smokin' a cigarette an' catchin' his breath from the (likely prodigious) amount of dancin' he's done, or just to have a quiet moment to himself. providin' your character's roughly within spittin' distance of eighteen, he'll hold out the cigarette to share. )

Y'havin' a good time?

  ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ʙᴏʏ ᴡʜᴏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴍᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ sᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀɴ; ﹙ᴏᴛᴀ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ ᴄʟᴇᴀɴ﹣ᴜᴘ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅ﹗﹚

( as the evening (or morning) wears down an' other folks filter on out, gene's gatherin' up dishes an' packin' them to a tub he an' wanda magicked over here for this express purpose. if your character's hoverin' nearby and don't seem too drunk, he cants his head at them, )

Hey, you mind givin' me a hand with the dishes?

( his tone's genial enough it don't surely seem a mandatory thing, but he won't deny it'd be nice to have another pair of hands on deck. maybe he knows your character or maybe he doesn't. manual labour in the quiet hours of the morning is a good way to bond, right? )

 ( ooc; wildcards also acceptable! if you want something customized, drop me a line at vitarays or via pm and i'll whip something up for you. suffice to say, no one is allowed to leave without having pie!! )

greeting

[callada]

[The suggestion of a group dinner is a good one. A wake, though - references to places in another world are lost on him, but he quickly gets the gist. Big parties put him off. He's one of those who prefers to reach in for a bite of food, hang back and eat it while he sees others come and go, and leaves without having said much of anything other than a few polite greetings. The inclination to not be noticed has been cultivated for too much of his life.

He strikes a balance by going early. It's good to put in an appearance at events, because that's less conspicuous than never attending at all. Thanks to Rastus, he has a full set of colors to work from now and so he takes the time to do his makeup well, opting for not just the sunbeams and lipstick but a soft turquoise eyeshadow as well lurking beneath his bangs. But the best part? He's already got a cigarette in his mouth as he walks up and nods a hello to Gene at the door. Rastus really came through.]

Nothing I know of. Do you need people keeping the rats at bay? Wouldn't want them getting into the food.

dancing gene, young and sweet

[voktys]

⟪ arguably, she could be more... relaxed. instead, she worries, worries for the candles, worries for disturbing the spirit beneath their feet, worries for someone ignoring the warnings she drew and wrote by each instance of plant-made poison in the corner to keep the space rat-free.

Worries for the feast, too, and worries for--

Oh. ⟫

A dance.

⟪ it is so simple a suggestion, and they would not even be alone on the dancing grounds gene staked out, and... it's so tempting. just tempting enough to draw out a smile and to take the offered hand.

he's dressed up tonight, she can tell, has put work into making this a good, spirited celebration. it won't do to stand in a corner and worry for all of it. ⟫

You will find me an able student.

Dance~

[featherknives]

[She's been trying so hard to just- blend in. She's short enough for that- or so Xayah thought. It was almost bordering on fascinating that people are actually getting along here instead of coming at each other's throats (or coming after her), so 'curiosity killed a cat a bird.

Xayah blinks and looks up from the offered hand to Gene. A dance, huh? Not her type of dance, but still a dance. And she's never refused an invitation to one. There is only a second of hesitation before she accepts offered hand.]

Can't say no to that.

cleaning up

[withsadness]

[Mary doesn't seem drunk, which makes sense. She does look a little sleepy though. Really, the only reason she's still here is because she fell asleep while she was coloring. She's so small that it's easy enough to overlook her between the pews while she's lying down. Still, she smiles at Gene even as she rubs her eye with one hand.]

I like to help! What should I do?

chevies and levies

[mind_blown]

[ he's just here to crash the party, and to look at who's around, who needs to be worried about. you know. the good stuff.

he's left his hood... somewhere, just to make sure that he doesn't stand out immediately to everyone. It's a nice thought to maintain anonymity. ]

What kind of food do you even have in this place?

[ please.... for the love of god... at least have chips ]

Being good isn't always easy, no matter how hard I try (cleaning up)

[equinoctials]

Yep. That means move it.

[ Riku's as clear-eyed as he was when this whole party started, equally the result of abstaining as it is the responsibility of having friends to look out for. Riku plants his hands on his hips, standing at the other side of the wash basin. After a moment of maintaining a stern face-off, the corner of his mouth twitches into a small smile.

The stance starts to unravel, he leans his weight to one leg, starts unfastening the buckles and zippers and straps that fix his half-glove-slash-bracers over his hands, one and then the other, first the right.

The left, once free, shakes out his fingers, rolling his wrist before he shoves his gloves into a pocket. ]

Come on. My turn. You've done enough.

[replicates]

[ he shrugs, ]

Sure.

[ a non-committal answer, but it's not an outright no. the thing is, he's never been to parties before, not first-hand anyway. personally, it's a little too much — people and sounds and eyes looking at him, but he's been slowly warming up to it. he still has a threshold of how much he can take, however, which is why he's joined gene just outside the doors.

dawn has no sunday best, but he did put his hair up; a high ponytail secured with a black band. it's as much to differentiate himself from riku as it is to keep his longer hair out of his face. ]

What about you?

clean up

[knifecollecting]

[Jo had managed to dodge the dance offers but she sticks around as people slowly disappear.]

I'll take over. After all, you cooked.

⤞ and a dancing bear

[facelessgirl]

[ Arya has been sitting back, out of the way, not so much trying not to be asked to dance so much as she's just never thought to defend herself against the possibility in the first place. Where she comes from, ladies are asked to dance. They wear their dresses nicely and know all the steps and take the hands of gentle knights and are nothing like her. Nothing like Arya. So when Gene approaches her, she just blinks at his hand, and then up at him. She's a bit familiar with him now, so it's clearly the offer that seems to have her so mystified. ]

Why don't you go ask a lady that does know how?

[ Sure, there's a little defensiveness in her tone, but it's less aggressive than it is genuinely confused. Why would he want to dance with her? There are so many people here that seem to know how to. And Arya isn't one of them. ]

wanda maximoff ✖ ota

[hext]

𝕚 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕖 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕕𝕒𝕪𝕤 — 𝕨𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕒

[ wanda can be found walking around the nave, the altar, the transept, even the apse behind the altar — tweaking little finishing touches with treasures in her arms, adding shine with an extra candle here, levitating something special to a window there, where the moonlight catches it.

from behind the altar she picks up a rather odd looking potted plant, something she had found in the ground and safely transferred to a clay pot found in the general store. she sets it atop a corner pew for its perch, and affixes a red bow. although it looks rather christmassy, she hopes its intended won't mind terribly much.

and on she goes, seeing to the candles and the guests as they arrive. she turns a quiet smile to you as your paths cross, something of the moonlight in it: ]

...What do you think — too cheesy? Or just enough?

𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥! 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕡 𝕞𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕨! '𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕚'𝕞 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕟' 𝕒 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖 — 𝕝𝕖𝕥'𝕤 𝕖𝕒𝕥, 𝕕𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕜, 𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖

🥘🍲🍜 SOUP'S ON

[ when it comes to sustenance and merriment, wanda has made it a mission to cover all her bases. she found success when she made her recipes for some of the younger crowd, and she has brought them here to serve (and offer for buffet) this evening.

Đuveč, like she made previously, she let cook for the whole day — always start with a stew, so it has plenty of time to simmer, and soak in all its flavors. onions, celery, crushed tomatoes, an assortment of peppers, thyme, garlic, chili flakes... and of course chicken and sausage. two pots she made, again, plenty to sample. you may catch her serving bowls of it to those who come near the fragrant spices, asking how they, how you are finding your evening. ]

This was my mother's recipe, [ she confides to you, ladling out a bowl and passing it forward. ] She started teaching me this one when I was... six, I think. [ her smile softens, satin, on the memory, and unfurling for her guest to find a cozy place within. ] Have you had a good evening, so far?


🥩🍡🍺 TAPAS AND TAPS

[ Pljeksavica is a spicy hamburger stuffed with cheese she hopes some guests will enjoy, served with the only version of flatbread she could find after the rat-nado. not anything like she's used to, and the cheese is not her ultimate preference from home, but the meat, she thinks, is good. stove grates make for good grills in a pinch. she offers you a plate and seems warm and open to engage in conversation.

when she is not making sure people are good and fed, wanda is serving drinks like vodka and whiskey and gin (and juice) may as well be on tap. she's not encouraging irresponsibility, but she does think they've suffered and deserve to let loose. sip a bourbon. do some shots. even orange juice shots.

she turns to you, with food or drink or smile imbued with the candle light all around, ]

Thirsty? Have you had enough to eat? I know it's a bit much, but... [ her fingertips play over the edges of her lips, never idle, always scenting the air, helping her process. ] ...I wanted people to feel— less in the shadows. We both did.


🎶🎵🎶 DANCIN' AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT

[ all the while, she's thinking... anything not to focus on the night. the darkness. nearly five weeks. nearly five weeks. it's bright in here. they can all be bright in here for one night.

and the music clicks on with that pleasant hiccup-tick of an old gramophone, not even the age of records yet—

mama...
just killed a man...

wanda starts to dance, eyes drifting closed, swaying into the breezy fabrics of her shawl and dress, arms twisting up — balletic and whimsical — over her head. she invites you in by simply opening her eyes with a strange look, somewhere between serenely magnetic and vulnerably imploring. the words escape her, ]

Didn't mean to make you cry—
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow...

[ ooc: WILDCARDS AH YES. THOSE ARE GOOD. SHE'S WEIRD AND WILD AND OPEN and also soft and just come talk to her about anything. is the darkness getting to you? it's getting to her, too. have you tasted the crab ice cream? come tell her. you wanna take a walk outside, get some fresh air? anything at all, just hit me up with a tag of your choice, i'm flexy. ]

Tapas and Taps

[takeanyadvantage]

[ All Chloe has to hear is dinner and she shows up. She is no wallflower so she chats amiably with people but quickly gets to the food. She picks what smells like something spicy, her favorite option, although her level of spice intake is much higher than most. She hasn't been here that long but picked up some supplies; still, having no talent for cooking, this is very necessary.

She notices Wanda through the dinner often on her feet and helping others, being a good hostess. It takes a certain type of person to worry more about taking care of strangers than oneself. It's not a trait Chloe herself has, really, but she appreciates it more in others now than she used to. Gene she's met but the hostess she hasn't. When Wanda comes by to offer some booze, Chloe glances up at her, smiling. ]

Well you did a good job, love, but how about you take a seat? Have a drink with me. You've been moving about this whole time. [ Her voice is low and sultry and her accent Australian. ] I have a good ear for accents, but I can't entirely place yours. Sounds Czechian?

[equinoctials]

[ There's a steady and silent intensity to the gaze that meets Wanda's, when Riku crosses the room to meet her. He takes the plate she offers him and the distraction is there - he's an age that could always eat, and she's just elevated the idea of a burger for him in a way he definitely can appreciate. But it's not why he's here, and his other hand drops over her wrist without grasping. ]

Hey... thanks.

[ A little awkward about it, given the micromovement of his eyes away from her face. ]

For doing this.

[ This has her mark all over. It's thoughtful, the same way she'd been at her dinner, between the food and drink and the decorations, a little sweet, a little humorous. Riku's touch is brief and only intended to illustrate his sincerity, well aware that his own tendency to guard both his heart and his expressions can give a different impression altogether. ]

It's been as hard on you as it's been on the rest of us. And you still found it in your heart to pull this off.

smilin' at the old days;

[preseance]

( funny thing. he'd picked out somethin' for everyone but herself, hadn't she? it ain't like he's got much to go on. he knows so little of her — he saw her death, but beside that an' a few brief conversations beside, he ain't come to know her. still, he wants to give it a shot.

a couple red scarves from the general store, brushed with glue so they can be shaped like chicken wire. what would he have thought of her ghost? if he'd met her in some quiet corner of europe, an' she'd died just the same? he'd have enjoyed the quiet of her company. the soft refrain of her voice. the gentleness to her spirit that he knows is somethin' she chooses rather than somethin' she is.

he ain't the most creative or imaginative sort. he ain't so keen on the abstract. but he shapes one of the scarves into somethin' like a little red heart. the other one, a rather more amorphous figure, almost human, holdin' it. it's how he sees her in beacon, that nurturin' soul an' spirit.

he doesn't put it anywhere obtrusive. just tucks it away with the rest of the tokens and don't give her a whisper of it. instead, thumbs tucked in his belt as he surveils their work — )

Lookin' good to me.

gimme that tasty soup

[withsadness]

[Mary is more than happy to accept a serving, and the first spoonful is in her mouth in a blink. Her eyes are practically sparkling as she expresses her thoughts on the dish.]

It's so yummy!

[Man, food is really just the best.]

I'm having a lot of fun--do you think you could teach me how to make this, too? I like learning!

[consecrates]

[ the soup looks like gumbo, reminding her of home, and davina accepts it with a faint smile. she's been debating on whether or not she should go to this little gathering, normally preferring to isolate herself, but she guesses this is a good way to get more information on what's happening.

she cups her hands around the bowl, loving how warm it is. she's so used to the ancestral realm being cold and uninviting. dead. ]

Rats aside, you mean? [ it's honestly been a pain in the ass dealing with them, taking much of her time and magic to get rid of and keep them out of where she's staying right now. ] Is it really like this here?

tapas and taps

[mind_blown]

[ it's a burger.

honestly, it's pretty obvious that he's ravished and he'll take around twenty-- but he considers the appearances. and remembers he's not here to just steal everything for himself.

but holy shit, there are burgers? of a sort? ]

Honestly, I didn't think I was gonna find a close approximation of a burger here.

smile at the old days

[replicates]

I don't know, [ he says, making a show of looking around the space with a critical look. ] Think you pretty much got every corner already.

[ the beginnings of a smile betray his dry tone, one he's taken to adopting these days, even if it's not nearly as sharp as it'd be around anyone who isn't wanda or sora and his friends. as socially inept as he is, he'd be blind not to see the effort she put into this, into making people feel comfortable. to feel at home, as much as they can in a place like this.

it's a lot like her cooking — she puts her heart in it. he doesn't need to share hers to know how much she's trying. ]

That keyblade is a nice touch, though.

Riku | ota

[equinoctials]

Hey, brother, what you thinking?

Riku, like most of them, doesn't have what anyone could consider a Sunday best, just the clothes a trio of fairies provided him and the other guardians of light to protect them, even though Riku... did not technically need protection from the corrupting influence of the Darkness.

Let's take a night off, the invitation said. He knows how important it is that they gather like this, that they take the time to replenish themselves, even if it's just a temporary respite from the bleak and lightless world outside. Riku, honestly, doesn't really feel like rubbing elbows with others in a party setting, which is exactly why he should go. It's when the temptation to isolate grows stronger that he knows his equilibrium is beginning to falter, he needs his heart to be strong, he isn't just looking out for himself.

He tells himself he's here to keep an eye on Sora. To make sure Kairi's having a good time. Probably to heckle Dawn, too, suspecting he might find such a gathering... overwhelming.

This being one of several visits to the building, the change isn't one he expects, his hand flying up to shade his eyes when he finds it so much brighter, warmer, and lively than on his other visits. Any astonishment expressed by his friends finds an echo in his wide-eyed surprise, the way his mouth drops open for a moment.

That good ol' sound is ringing

Unlike his more outgoing friends, Riku is a little slower to warm up enough to mingle. Eventually he does, very likely over the food when so much of it is unusual and unfamiliar - both of these things welcome to someone with the hunger he has for new vistas and experiences.

The greater challenge is getting him to dance, even if the effect of it can be spied in small gestures - a foot tapped along to the beat, or the drum of his fingertips against the pew or his leg, the smile that threatens to tug at the corners of his mouth when he hears others begin to sing along in snatches.

It's going to take some coaxing to get him to dance, but not impossible, as Gene (and his closest friends) discovered.

He's never heard it before, but music is one of those universal things, and he comes from a universe where hearts are easily stirred by song and verse. The one thing Riku does exercise restraint is drinking - he will, at most, have only one cup that contains alcohol and otherwise sticks to water or juice.

If it's strong enough to leave him feeling a little more loose, that's where it stops. This abstinence isn't extended to anyone else, however; Riku's more like to steady someone too deep in their drink, but isn't about to get between anyone and however they choose to enjoy themselves.

They don't know what they're missing

(It's the wildcard option)

hey brother;

[originallutece]

Is it your first party?

[It's not that she isn't impressed by the light show; she is, no doubt. It's a marvel after so many weeks of darkness vaguely pierced by dim lighting. But she's never one to stand around and make a spectacle of herself, and so here they are.

Here she is, at the edge of the party, something strong in her cup and her eyes somewhat amused at his awe. It is, for what it's worth, somewhat friendly amusement.]

Or are you always this dazzled?

five, ota

[fogey]

[ five isn't really one for parties.

but ben had been interested in coming, and eugene had been eugene, which means he does show up sooner or later with his brother.

he's dressed up enough, as much as he usually is; all dark pants and white dress shirt, navy tie, and the umbrella academy blazer. most of it's come new this month from rastus. five doesn't mingle, really, but he does keep a drink in hand, try some of the warm food.

he stays to the periphery, as much as ben allows; he can be found inspecting the decorations, or just people watching from somewhere near the windows, the door. he'll give the gramophone a curious look at some point -- that's new -- but definitely will not. be dancing.

feel free to wildcard as well! ]

here she is fuckface

[withsadness]

Five!

[He cannot escape this child. Mary's bounding over as soon as she sees him.]

What are you doing? Are you having fun? What are are you drinking--can I try it?

[She has a lot of questions.]

mary | ota

[withsadness]

RATS (AGAIN)

[When Mary gets to the party, she arrives sporting a steaming teapot cradled in one arm and...a large, squirming rat cradled in another. The impact of the size of the rats has really reached its full potential when held up to her tiny frame. Someone please tell her that rats are not invited because she's absolutely planning on bringing it inside with her.]

Hello! I'm here! Let's have lots of fun, okay?

FOOD!!!

[Like any proper child--or any proper foodie--Mary is all but glued to the food table for the first portion of the party. She wants to eat everything, but she's so excited she just doesn't know where to start. So she keeps pointing out different things.]

Hey, hey! What's that? Is it good?

COLORING (OF COURSE)

[At some point, Mary finds a place to sit and settle down with her sketchbook and crayons...because, well, of course she does. With so many people all together, it's the perfect time for drawing? Come close and you'll see that her muse today has her drawing everyone dancing and smiling, with party decorations all around. She'll smile at anyone she notices, if she happens to break her concentration.]

WILDCARD

[Wanna ask Mary to dance or have some other cute idea? Maybe she falls asleep as it gets late and is just curled up on a pew. Go for it! Alternatively, plot with me on discord or plurk at ddsapphire]

Food

[featherknives]

[Despite her strong dislike for humans, children... do make her cold heart soften a bit, regardless of where they come. Knowing this little girl died before she even experienced life is--]

I don't know. Let's try it together, hm?

[--Xayah reaches over and grabs bread with a lot of seeds on top of it, that seems to be pulled out of the oven recently.]

Looks good, [she smiles, breaking it in half and offering the girl one part of it.]

Noctis • OTA

[broplaints]

• Carry On My Wayward Son • Wake

[Noctis spends far too long looking at everything that's been left in remembrance - and although he wanders away occasionally, he keeps coming back like he's drawn to it. Like there's something that he wants to add but he hasn't quite worked up the courage to actually do it yet.

He knows his father is gone. Just like he knows that his father isn't here. But there's never been anything more than a few news paper clippings and radio broadcast to stand as his memorial. There would be no statue to add to those that already stood tall in Insomnia. Just his own memories.

Late into the night he finally stops hesitating, and places something places something down upon one of the pews; a crown hand made from twigs. Along with a small piece of paper that says King Regis Lucis Caelum - He Walked Tall]

• Veggie Tales More Like Veggie Bails • Food

[There was free food and Noctis had never been one to turn that down. Of course, he carefully avoided anything that even looked like it so much as contain a single vegetable. Which, admittedly, limited his options a bit. But considering he'd never even heard of most of it, he was actually pretty eager to try most of it out.

Although;]

Why would you ruin good potatoes by making them into a salad?

[Someone please explain to him the difference.]

• OTA •

[Hit me with your best shot!]

veggie fails

[dualikey]

[This is, strangely, the second free dinner Sora's found himself at. It's also the second free dinner that's been full of thinly disguised vegetables.

Noctis isn't the only one standing a short distance away, watching the table and its buffet warily. Sora hasn't made the leap into trying anything yet though it feels like an only a matter of time thing. Still, there's no denying a good question when it's asked.]

I didn't even know you could do that.

Turn a potato into a vegetable.

vanitas | ota

[evulsed]

(muffled i'll be watching you playing in the distance)

[ He doesn't enjoy these things, even though he knows he's supposed to. Maybe it's the frivolity of it all. The music playing, the glitter of all the lights. It's probably the most of it he's seen since he's been here, beyond the steady glow of the bonfire. Vanitas knows it's meant to make people feel better about their circumstances, and some intrinsic part of him rails against it.

Then again, maybe some of that is just because the last time he'd been in this church, he woke up screaming.
From what he's been able to see, most of the wreckage he created is gone though— beyond the crack that goes up one of the support beams holding the roof up, anyway.

They called it a wake, but beyond everyone being awake and eating and dancing and whatever else, he doesn't know what that's supposed to mean. He's not really interested in much that's happening, regardless.

Mostly, he's here because Sora is here— and because Vanitas has become his literal shadow, since he'd felt himself drawn to the shoreline those weeks ago, since he met his death at the hands of those forest spirits. He keeps one eye on the other boy as he goes out to mingle. Vanitas keeps glancing up from wherever his attention might divert, and when he doesn't immediately spot the bob of brown hair he changes location until he can see Sora again. It's an almost obsessive behaviour, making him look from an outside perspective like he's either restless or like he's hunting something.

Vanitas sticks to the corners, like he's dodging all the light thrown around by the candles and the torches, making up the shadows where the shadows have been chased out. He sinks into them easier, too, having finally divested himself of his armor in lieu of black jeans and a black turtleneck. ]

is that a buffet

[ The only other thing that takes Vanitas' attention for any length of time is the food spread. There's a whole host of things that might be deemed of interest, but Vanitas goes past every savory dish in favor of the desserts.

On his shoulder, what looks like it might be a rat but wrong, crawls down the slope his arm makes as he reaches for a chocolate cake. Unlike the ones that came in on the boat, this is one of the Unversed he unleashed into the church when he'd woken up. It doesn't eat any of the dishes, but it does scurry down the bench, knocking things over, to snatch the honey pot that was far enough away Vanitas couldn't lean to get it himself. ]

wildcard

[ come at me with ur ideas friends ]

[dualikey]

[It's not like he can't cook. When he'd been younger there were summers filled with hot dogs over campfires- and then he'd met Little Chef and spent some time in the Bistro. It was never the kind of thing he did just for fun or for the satisfaction of it, and it's definitely a skillset he's practicing more now that he's here. But he's a far cry from going hungry even with so much of their stock coming from cans and jars.

Still, this event had been mentioned a few times and he knows Wanda- she'd had them all over for dinner just a little while ago. Coming here feels like the right thing to do, and there are so many familiar faces to run into along the way. Some more familiar than others.

Sora doesn't stray far from the lakeside these days, and though it isn't his first time visiting this church this is his first time going inside. It's hard not to notice all the little memorials; harder not to be reminded of the graves and shrines from just a few weeks ago. He doesn't put his hands in his pockets, and he doesn't touch anything either. Maybe because he can't help it, because light is such a precious resource here- he makes his way to the little rows of candles and looks down at them, throwing his shadow up against the wall in uneven slashes at a time. Do they burn like the lanterns do? All on their own, into forever?

He raises one hand, and passes a single finger through the flame- looking for warmth.]

Jo Harvelle | OTA

[knifecollecting]

I'm playing my role in history, looking to find my goal
[Jo looks over the other items for a moment without making an effort to connect them to anyone. Memories are personal, she won't try to pry tonight.

She pulls out a shot glass and one piece of her newly aquired shotgun ammo. The ammo goes in the shot glass and she leaves it with the other offerings. A reminder of the last happy time.]

This world could be fed, this world could be fun
[There are more options than she expected. She takes a bit of all of it - that's how one properly enjoys a potluck.

By the food, she might give someone a nod or smile.]

Looks good.

[She'll take whatever seat she can find, setting her simple lantern out of the way so she can eat.]

Are you enjoying yourself?

food

[callada]

Yeah. It's nice to get everyone together like this.

[His plate is a little light, but he's appreciative of the unusual fare. The mixed rice and red beans and fried vegetables are new to him and the only reason there isn't much is because he's eaten most of what he served himself.]

How've you been? Making it through our rat infestation safely?

Coraline || OTA

[primordialerebus]

Around - OTA

[ Coraline definitely looks like a fish out of water as she flits around the room, making all the effort to avoid bumping into anyone. At first, she can be found sitting in a dark corner most likely people watching, possibly asleep. It’s rather hard to tell with the sunglasses. Once you get closer though, you’ll see she’s humming and tapping along to the music.

After being dragged out for the umpteenth time (maybe by you!), she’ll be at the table and in the thick of the crowd. Not really making an effort to socialize or anything like that. Instead, she’ll be quietly cleaning up after everyone.

It’s while she’s at the table, rearranging the food for a lack of anything else to, when she feels someone approaching behind her. To nab something she’s blocking probably. ]

Oh, uh. Sorry.

[ She says quickly, stepping to the side, head down. ]


*Constant Internal Screaming* - Rosinante

This is possibly one of the most surreal moments she’s had since… coming here. Between the varied food spread, decorations, and Queen echoing in the space. Yeah, part of her feels like she’s in a dream. More than usual anyways. She looks at the filled up space, glad for Gene that the turnout is respectable, less glad for herelf at the amount of strangers (amazing considering there’s like what, 50 something people here?). Indeed, she’s planning her route of temporary exit when a familiar, Tall figure enters the building, causing her nonexistent pulse to spike.

She needs to apologize.

Yet, what-ifs fill her brain, paralyzing her and preventing her from doing anything. So, she just stares for a long moment, glad that her sunglasses and mask prevented anyone from noticing her panic. Soon, her guilt outweighs her fear though, and she starts to move, slipping through the crowd until she’s right next to Rosinante. She taps his shoulder arm, hoping that it will be enough to get him to notice her.

[callada]

"Hm?"

It's definitely enough, and it feels deliberate enough rather than someone just bumping into him, that he turns to look with a raised eyebrow - though that may be hard to detect under the bangs. There are quite a few people here, which gives him even more reason to hang back where it's a little less chaotic once he's gotten something to drink and eat.

But Coraline needs something first, it seems, and on seeing her he gives her a small half-smile. A concession, perhaps - no hard feelings. They may not have parted on good terms last time they spoke, but nobody was feeling their best that week and he's just glad it's over.

"Hey. Need something?"