[WORLD ONE | POST-UVI CELEBRATION]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and Palai
Where: In and around the Aimintas marketplace
When: Day 39
Open/Closed: Open to All

After an appropriate amount of time for mourning, the Palai have shifted into a more positive mood -- they're a very resilient species, though there is a bit of a muted tone to their celebration. The whole event is a little hodge-podge, mostly because they aren't used to having to celebrate with the coven members added to the guest list. The Palai have gathered together all of their people and have invited the coven members to a small, intimate gathering -- the purpose of the event is to thank them for their service in fighting the Uvi, and the success of freezing the Uvi in their home. While no one knows how long the Uvi will stay gone, any amount of time without the Uvi being a concern is fine by them. The event takes place in the very center of the marketplace, with the Palai interacting on the fringes of the party throughout the rest of the large building. The coven members have time to spend by themselves, but there's room for moving around on their own and also spending time with the Palai if they so choose. A ▢ One of the more noticeable editions to the food the Palai have provided is a large pile of sweet, sugar dusted pastries. You may notice that something about them seems...odd, to say the least. It looks as if the pastries are vibrating slightly, but they smell divine. If you're so inclined to ask what the deal is, these pastries are magically infused by Eltos, which somehow gives them a sweeter flavor and enhances the sensation of tastebuds. The Palai sometimes eat these before meals in order to better the flavor of their entire spread -- though adding this energized magic to an already magical being means magic powers may be a little off kilter. Don't be surprised if suddenly your abilities go a little crazy. B ▢ The Palai aren't participating the party for two big reasons. One, the purpose is to celebrate the victory of coven members. The other reason, however, is one that may be more interesting to outsiders. While previously the Palai were peaceful people, happy to exist submitting to the Uvi, the coven's show of strength and valor has inspired them to be more aggressive in their approaches. Grown Palai can be seen working on makeshift weapons, but the idea of smaller tools like slingshots have already been constructed and almost perfected. The Palai youth have discovered these tools and are playing with them gleefully, though occasionally hitting each other -- and potentially you -- with energized, paralyzing rocks fueled with Elto energy. Watch out or you might get zapped! C ▢ Other Palai youth aren't as fortunate to be so distracted and happy. While fewer Palai died during this attack, the casualty number wasn't zero. Most Palai children still have at least one family member to care for them, but they're still a little disconnected from their people by means of grief. Some are milling about with the coven members, trying to eat or pester them for attention. If you're good with kids this may be more your speed, but those bad with children can find this irritating. Some Palai youth are more muted, however, content to just sit and listen to stories or eavesdrop on conversations. D ▢ For some people, rain isn't that big an issue -- but it certainly puts a damper (get it?) on a party. The Palai seem a bit confused by the sudden shower that comes in heavy as the evening dies down. The Palai have never experienced rain before, using irrigation systems and existing ground water as their means of hydration (both for themselves and for plants). Because the rain is coming from the ocean, the drops are large and salty, and the marketplace quickly begins to flood. The Palai move the party indoors for the most part, but that doesn't mean you or the food aren't already soaked. It's much warming underneath the roofs in the marketplace, but that doesn't provide much relief since the ocean rain is warm and humid. E ▢ Wildcard! How will your character handle this violent and volatile situation.

Comments

[potentite]

[He hesitates.] It's tempting. Very very tempting. But... if I did... [He glances up at Dirk.] I'd just be ignoring how miserable we all were again, right?

[splinten]

We'd all be ignoring it. I'd be missing your obvious hints and deliberately shoving away Jane just because she had a natural advantage on me.

[potentite]

[Jake tilts his head, frowning.] What do those statements mean?

[splinten]

Jane's a girl, and you hinted past the point of plausible deniability on my part that you weren't comfortable with Brobot or the Autoresponder.

[potentite]

Uh... Wait are those connected thoughts or separate?

[splinten]

Separate, and also related.

[potentite]

[Jake considers it for a moment.] How are they related?

[splinten]

You're a common element between them.

[potentite]

Oh! Well... [Jake rubs the back of his neck.] I don't really think Jane had an advantage? But I... understand why you thought that. And, um, as for the rest, you couldn't just shut off old glasses. And I probably should have been a mite bit firmer about everything else.

[splinten]

The flipside of that, bro. I could have been more firm with my shades and taken you at your word about Brobot.

[potentite]

Mm, but... He was sort of his own person wasn't he? Kind of? Or was that another ruse of his?

[splinten]

He was his own person. He was also me. [There's the strain of just pure irritation at his DAMN SPLINTER LIFE.] I could have done more to intervene.

[ok like that's true about brobot but

not exactly about the AR]

[potentite]

Not too sure there was a whole lot you could have done about him. [Though about brobot he'll agree a little but he's not volunteering it right now.]

[splinten]

[DIRK WILL]

I could have done a lot with Brobot.

[potentite]

I, um— Wasn't very vocal about it, though.

[splinten]

You weren't entirely silent. I'd decided that it didn't matter because I knew best. Hubris, as usual, came to fuck me up the ass for it.

[potentite]

[Jake brushes their hands together.] It did some good, too. You're so damn anal.

[splinten]

That's the point of hubris's ass-fuckery.

[Why are they making these jokes. Maybe because Dirk's fingers curl towards Jake's before he stops himself.]

Did you actually want Brobot?

[potentite]

I did. [That much is true.] But, I guess... well, um, hm, how to put this... [Jake tips his head back.] I loved the thrill of it most days, the anticipation of a fanciful stroll turning into a heated scrum. And I loved getting into fisticuffs most days, too. But...

[He worries his bottom lip in thought.] Sometimes, losing all the time got to me. And turning it to, um, the easier setting... I wasn't ready to deal with that knotted mess of feelings it brought on. And sometimes I just... wanted to let my guard down for a little bit.

[splinten]

I'm sorry.

[It's messy and mixed, yes, but he knows what he did.]

I should have asked what you wanted a long time ago.

[potentite]

[Jake gives a small shrug with a similar smile.] I didn't like saying what I wanted.

[splinten]

Thanks for saying it now.

[potentite]

It's late in the game for me to be saying it now.

[splinten]

Nah.

[This time, he brushes his hand against Jake's.]

I appreciate knowing now. It's, you know. Something to build on.

[potentite]

[It makes Jake blush lightly.]

Well... Okay, if it helps.