[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

[bulletbiter]

[ Ah, the plight of folks coming from an entirely magicless world. ]

I see. [ Internal repairs, he assumes. Much like the Aragami. ] Could I help in any way?

[ He's assuming not, but it doesn't hurt to ask. ]

[deem]

It's kind of you to offer, but I'm not sure a human could...

[He hesitates, because mankind gave rise to androids, and he feels a stab of guilt at implying anything of their limits.

But a human can't perceive his systems the way he can, he thinks. That's the function of a Scanner]

[bulletbiter]

[ Indeed they can't. There's no offense taken, simply because he knows he isn't fit for the task. ]

Alright.

[ So he'll awkwardly stay there to watch if 9S is going to do something else. Maybe he should go...? ]

[deem]

Did you need something?

[Sure his one hand's twitching and sparking, but the rest of him is still good.

Does Julius need a hand? He's still got one...]

[bulletbiter]

[ Well, maybe the staring was a bit too awkward -- but he can't say he was waiting for 9S, could he? That would mean something with different implications to the android. ]

No.

[ But he should give a reason. Is hanging out a reason? He's not sure. ]

[deem]

Oookay...

[This is...a little confusing. 9S invests a few moments in taking stock of the situation. Surely Julius wouldn't be here without cause, and wouldn't have addressed him if it didn't matter]

Was I in your way?

[It's all he can come up with]

[bulletbiter]

Oh, no.

[ There's a flicker of uncertainty as he ponders what best to say. Would it be alright to... hang out, as the others in his team used? Was it something familiar to the android at all?

How strange, to seek companionship, when one had a compulsion to be alone. But 9S didn't ask any awkward questions. ]

I was wondering if... you would like to 'hang out'.

[ Gosh this is hard. ]

[deem]

[During the silence that follows between Julius' first words and those that come after, 9S can only speculate what sort of answer he intends to give, if any. Although he's intuitive by design, he's reluctant to guess that the man simply wants to be around him...

And then comes his suggestion. 9S tips his head curiously, like another angle might lend him better perspective]

Hang out of where?

[bulletbiter]

[ ... right, he probably doesn't know slang. ]

It's a term for spending time together, back in my world.

[ Good thing he's already so used to restricting his emotions; the embarrassment wouldn't show. ]

[deem]

...

[Hold on let him process this]

You want to spend time...with me?

[Positively mystified]

[bulletbiter]

Yes. If... you're fine with it.

[ Julius may be kind of awkward, but at least he can guarantee that his words are honest. ]

[deem]

[Julius has no idea how flattering that suggestion is to an android. What an honor...]

Why wouldn't I be? [A pause, as he looks back down at his hand] But you should stay clear of my arm, until it's repaired.

[bulletbiter]

[ He doesn't, but if he did, he'll probably insist on spending more time together. ]

Okay.

[ 9S already said he can't help, but the electrical fault still weighs on his mind. ]

Will you be going back to the celebration?

[deem]

Once I'm sure I won't jolt anybody. I just need to check some circuits, is all.

[One day Julius will know what a Big Deal human approval and interest are to androids like him and 2B. One day]

Do you want me to catch up with you?

[He wouldn't want to keep him from enjoying himself]

[bulletbiter]

[ That day is also the day he'll make sure to give as much approval as he can. ]

I'm not that good with crowds. I can stay here with you until you're done.

[deem]

I um...wouldn't be responsive during maintenance though. I have to shut down my external systems to complete repairs.

[That is to say, he'll be dead weight for a few minutes, and he's reluctant to resume his work if it's going to leave Julius waiting around bored]

[bulletbiter]

That's alright.

[ Waiting is easy, when he has other stuff to focus with. ]

[deem]

If you're sure...

[9S remains a little reluctant, though it's true he didn't know what to expect]

[bulletbiter]

I am.

[ He can wait. It gives him a little time to watch 9S and perhaps learn a bit more about him; barring that, there's always the constant task of needing to mind his own body. ]

[deem]

Alright...I'll try not to take too long.

[Don't mind him as he settles back against the wall and takes himself offline to finish attending to those repairs then. For all intents and purposes, it looks as though he's sleeping as he sits there]

[bulletbiter]

[ And Julius will wait. He turns his attention to observing 9S for a while; once he's sure the android had completely focused himself on internal things, he'll also do the same.

The pressure of the Singularity hasn't changed, that much he's sure. But by being in a safe, non-conflict environment, it feels easier to breathe. ]

[deem]

[9S doesn't take very long, though it seems sluggish to him when he's got someone waiting. The fact makes him impatient even though Julius isn't, but he's thorough in examining his systems and making adjustments.

Eventually, the sparking energy dissipates from his fingers, and shortly thereafter, 9S stirs]

Sorry for the wait.

[bulletbiter]

No worries.

[ Everything's fine. They can go somewhere if 9S wants to. ]

[deem]

You want to have a look around?

[Explore the party, avoid those suspicious pastries, the whole nine(s) yards?]

we can wrap here \o/

[bulletbiter]

We could. I'd hope we can learn something through it.

[ And they could go together, especially because going together avoided questioning and they enjoyed each other's company. ]