[WORLD ONE | DING DONG THE FISH IS DEAD]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and the Palai
Where: Celebrating the Uvi going boom-boom
When: Day 67
Open/Closed: Open to All
OOC Note:

The initial setting information found here should be utilized for threads here.

There's no official OOC account for the Palai people. You're free to roleplay their actions and reactions on your own, as in depth as you want -- asking questions, hand-waved interactions, becoming best friends. The new world is your oyster!

For decades, the Palai have had to deal with the threat of the Uvi invading their homes, killing their families and returning 30 days later. After the coven found their way to Aimintas, the Palai found that the threat wasn't so...threatening. After the last attack, with many more Palai lost as compared to previous Uvi instances, some Palai had lost hope. Now, after seeing their nemesis blown to bits and falling out of the ocean, their faith in safety is restored. While the Uvi are still committed (by and large) to learning more about barriers and other forms of safety, the time for focusing on serious things has passed. It will return, but tonight? They celebrate. Unlike their last, shrimpy festival, this party has a lot more going for it. The Palai have had time to process the events and prepare themselves for a grand celebration. The Palai know how to party, but you ain't seen nothin' like this. A ▢ As a birthday tradition, the Palai give the birthday lizard a special concoction. It contains Elto energy and a combination of found herbs that can easily be located in Aimintas. When these herbs are combined with the Elto energy, they create a sort of...hallucinogenic experience. It's supposed to feel extremely relaxing and give the Palai pleasant visions, but in human bodies it's essentially just getting high. There are vials of these being passed around like candy, so don't worry about anyone running out. B ▢ Despite the adults getting lit, there are obviously a lot of baby Palai on the lose. Responsible coven members who have their own babies will have the ability to let them run wild and play with their lizardy cousins. If you want to spend time with your baby, the nursery caretakers have platters of crackers with mushy foods adorning them -- these are essentially candy to a tiny Palai. They may also be tempted by other foods present at the festivities, but you can avoid them getting a tummy ache if you have a watchful eye. C ▢ Speaking of food, there certainly is a lot of it. There are large grills being heated by the newly found bone structures. These hold shrimp and fish, grilled vegetable skewers and other foods. Instead of the Palai doing the serving, the coven members and other Palai are instead encouraged to utilize their own raw ingredients (which includes several large sharks, dolphins, etc.) in whatever fashion they choose. It's essentially a "build-your-own-kabob" station with no limits. D ▢ Because the party is lasting on into the night, some Elto have decided to light the marketplace with some of the bone structures they found by powering them and inserting them into small cloth bags that they then magically levitate around. While they provide a powerful light source that can increase the party's longevity, they're also floating live wires. Bump into one of these and you'll get a nasty shock! This is doubly concerning since Palai babies are fascinated by following these floating "toys." E ▢ The Palai, feeling more familial and supportive of their ideals than ever, haven't let go of the whole family/romance pushing on the coven. Their newest attempt is a bit of a prank (probably due to high Palais) who have taken magic bone structures and tied thick strings to the spines that poke out of them. At the end of these strings are loops that they're quickly slipping around the wrists of coven members they find. You may find that you're suddenly magically connected to someone -- or two other people if you're lucky enough -- by a magical thread that's VERY hard to slip out of or break. F ▢ Wildcard Part 1: Other previous party prompts can also be considered here, from the rolls that make magic go haywire to the aged liquor that causes a bit more than a headache. G ▢ Wildcard Part 2: Any prompt you like!

Comments

[splinten]

Four letters, starts with J.

[Dirk crouches down. He gives a little pet to the little lizard, soothing it.]

I... have no business raising anyone. I'm pretty sure I was a downright monstrous guardian to Dave in the other universe, not that he ever said, but I must've been enough like that to... [He can't finish the thought. He is a bad person. He'll ruin this little lizard child.]

[potentite]

[The Palai is a toddler and doesn't understand complicated issues of self-esteem, so they seem happy enough with what Dirk does, pacified by it for now instead of wandering off to cause trouble.]

Dirk... Um... [He struggles to think of something to say. Or rather, he has a feeling, he just doesn't have the words for it.] You were scared something was going to happen to me if I kept hiding out in my room all the time, weren't you? Maybe not on the island but, um, someday?

[splinten]

[Quietly.]

Yeah.

[Can Dirk teach June how to high five and fist bump? Important.]

[potentite]

[June seems to like Dirk a lot, since Jake seems to and also Dirk is fast, so of course.]

That's part of why you built Brobot for me. And, I know, you don't think you did something right there. But your heart was in the right place regardless.

[splinten]

[There's a pause. Dirk looks up from June.]

You don't think I did something right.

[There's a lift in there. Almost hopeful?]

[potentite]

[That seems like an odd thing to be hopeful about and Jake hesitates, chewing on his lower lip.]

I... I— I mean, you should have at least listened to my concerns...

[splinten]

Yeah. I'm sorry I didn't.

[a pause]

But you think my heart was in the right place.

[potentite]

I know it was and still is. So, um... maybe you wouldn't be the greatest father, I don't know. I can't really say. But, um. I think you'd be an okay babysitter with me.

[splinten]

[There's another moment, as Dirk just looks at Jake. And then some of the tension eases out of him.] Okay. Okay, cool. I can do that.

You have to tell me off if I get shitty though.

[But Jake convinced him he can do it.]

[potentite]

[Realising he managed to ease Dirk's worries somewhat, Jake's eyes light up.]

I will, I promise.

[splinten]

Okay. [Dirk pauses a moment, and then lifts up June.] What gender is June, anyway?

[potentite]

[June giggles and claps their hands as Jake comes to Dirk's side.] Eltos! So, uh... n—neither? Both? Um. Yes. I had to ask someone to be honest.

[splinten]

'Eltos' would cover it. [Learn to fist bump now, June.] The plus side is they only have one kind of romance.

[potentite]

[They're trying! They might miss a couple of times. Toddler motor skills.] Oh, well, that's true. But June's a bit young for that. I think. Apparently they grow awful fast.

[splinten]

I'd suggest grabbing a biology book before we leave, except there's that minor issue where we can't read the damn language.

[Look the important thing is June is trying. Okay, now learn a thumbs up.]

[potentite]

[That one is easier and June even gives a double thumbs up after figuring out one.]

Well, I'll find someone good for June before then who will understand it.

[splinten]

Haha, nice. [The response is a high five again. Must teach what that will mean.

Dirk glances up.] You're not keeping them?

[potentite]

[June seems to think highfives mean they did something good, so they do the thumbs up again.]

Ah... No, I— I think I should not raise a child. Even a fast-growing sprout like this. But, um! I won't shove them off onto just anyone, I just— I want them to be better than me.

[splinten]

[That gives them another high five, so good move, June!

Dirk is still looking closely at Jake.]

You're sure about that? I'll help you if you want to keep them.

[potentite]

[June is so delighted by all of this. Best new father to them.

Jake, meanwhile, flushes and looks down.]

I just— I think they've got a better shot without me? I can barely hold myself together and I wouldn't really call it 'together'.

[splinten]

As a dude completely certain I'd fuck up any caretaking, I can relate to that idea, but it isn't exactly what I was getting at.

[He picks up June in his arms. Apparently it's time for cuddling the child.]

It's more of a question of whether or not you want to learn and grow to be capable of raising this child, or if you just don't feel like that's something you're ready for trying at this stage because you want to deal with other shit first.

[potentite]

[Cooing, June snuggles up against him. Jake reaches in to rub the top of their head.]

I... I don't really know. I think not knowing is a bad sign? It's not that I— I like them! I just... I don't know what I want.

[splinten]

That's okay, dude.

[Solemnly]

I'll wait with you at Planned Parenthood.

[potentite]

Planned Parenthood? To... plan being parents?? [Dirk wants to raise a kid with him?]

[splinten]

[....]

It was infamous in pre-Condesce America for providing abortions to low income women. It also helped families make informed choices if they chose to keep a child.

I'm saying I will have your back whatever you decide.