( open ) an informal family dinner

[theidlemaiden]

Who: the summoned of cadens
When: beginning of august
Where: the sarstina inn and tavern
What: the welcome committee (sam wilson, hilda, jesper) has come back together again for another cadens welcome event! everyone might remember the last event and this one will be much of the same. Including, but not limited to, another invite by hilda! | sam art credit!
Warnings: will update as needed!

THE DINNER

Just as before, this is kicked off with Hilda's invitation, and if any of the Summoned come by Sarstina's that evening, they will find it set up a little differently than usual, but very similar to last time.

There is a long table set up near the bar that has a whole party-spread, a ye-old-southern-party kind of set-up, if you will. There are dips, charcuterie plates, sandwiches, drinks, a pastry/dessert bar and almost anything else that Sam could get his hands on. It is all, of course, limited by what’s available in Cadens, but thankfully he’s been here long enough to figure his way around the food options. Behind the bar is Mag (because no one else is getting their hands on the alcohol stash, thank you very much) and she will serve whoever it is that comes up to ask for a drink and will refuse any sort of payment - it appears someone is covering the tab tonight.

The rest of the tavern is set up for a party, with tables and chairs scattered around, a stage set up in the corner, and a decently sized space in front of the stage for dancing if the night gets to that point. There may or may not be some live music later in the evening, no promises have been made, but if anyone else wants to get up on the stage they are more than welcome.

Nadine has been kind enough to provide little apothecary bags filled with a mild sleeping tonic and things to help settle the nerves that new (and old) Summoned can take with them. There’s a table near the door and by the bar that have these bags in wicker baskets with a small sign that reads: Visit Salves and Stitches for all your medical needs!

The vibes are definitely low-key and casual – come get an ale, come eat some food, and if you're new there is a very good chance you'll end up (gently and in the most friendly way) cornered by either Sam, Hilda, Jesper, or any of the other Summoned. They are here to help answer questions and give a bit more background on what the hell is going on. And also let you know about the deal that has been going with Mag and the Inn for almost two years now. Aka, if you're looking for a room, there is one here for you in exchange for work. You can leave whenever you have a job, or you can stay as long as you like. It’s all about helping Summoned get more settled, and as long as you’re good at taking instruction and picking up after yourself, Mag hasn’t had any issues. Not a bad gig, right?

And if being social isn't your thing, or you’re just not the party kind of person, the Welcome Committee understands. But also, really, who is going to turn down free drinks and free food? The Cities work on coin and commerce, so turning down a free meal isn’t really the smartest thing. Plus - there’s alcohol. And the food is pretty damn good.

OOC INFO

- this is a totally open post! There will be some TL’s below from the Committee Members, but otherwise, have fun, meet some people, and put up a TL of your own! there are various places to run into people around the tavern, and if you find someone who is willing to help you into the Horizon (Sam is happy to help, but he’s helping Host), Sam's been letting people know they can use his room upstairs.

- the only Rule is there will be no fighting. You want to duke it out? Take it somewhere else. There will not be warnings or second chances, so don't be an ass. Summoned have lived in this Inn since they were all portaled here ages go, this is their home. and if ANYONE is seen giving Mag a hard time, there are a few people here who will not hesitate and who are not afraid of squaring up. Also, you cause problems, and you will not be invited back :)

- The whole purpose of the Welcome Committee is going to be going overboard to be welcoming, especially to new faces. Even if your character didn't see the big invitation, feel free to have them invited by word of mouth, or chased down by any of the members. Some Summoned may have also checked the barracks for any new Summoned to bring them into town.

- Mag is an NPC who you can read a little more about in the NPC section of the Cadens setting page. Feel free to have her come in and out of your tags as needed!

THE INN

Magmara (or Mag) has run the inn for years and has been a familiar face in that neighborhood as a woman who always made ends meet, almost in spite of the way she took care of her friends and neighbors above all else. Most weren't always sure how she managed to run the place on her own, but she made due, though she always seemed a bit overwhelmed and exhausted. When the Summoned arrived in the Cadens through that first portal, Sam managed to stumble in and make quick friends with Mag. In exchange for manual labor, fixing up and cleaning up the inn, as well as whatever other various tasks Mag needed to be done around, Sam would be given free room and board (a deal she now offers to any Summoned that arrives in the city for as long as they need it).

The inn itself is 4 floors tall, with the top three floors making up the 15 or so rooms (around five rooms per floor), and the entire bottom floor reserved for the restaurant area. The tavern makes up the entire first floor and is a large open floorplan, with a small stage in the corner, a walled-off area for the decently sized kitchen, and a large wooden bar where Mag does all her business for both the inn and tavern (where can almost always be found standing behind). It serves drinks of some variety (though not nearly as large a selection as some of the more well-known taverns) and some food (usually a single, large meal that will be served to the tenants and whoever comes in throughout the night for a moderate price). It can be busy some evenings, but in general tends to keep a more 'dive-bar' kind of feel, filled with more locals and regulars than a casual dinner-going crowd.

The rooms themselves vary from fairly simple, single-bed inn-style rooms with a small bathroom and little else, up to a two 'bedroom' suite style with small kitchenettes and spaces for sitting rooms. Each bedroom has its own small bathroom for the tenants, with cleaning, washing, and chores left to those who live there. What used to be more of a working inn now serves as a kind of boarding house for newly arrived Summoned (or simply those who won't leave), and Mag has found herself quite okay with that.

Comments

sam wilson { justice

[falcony]

BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT

[ sam will wait for at least a few faces to show before he makes his way to the front of the room. if general conversation doesn't immediately lessen, he'll do that really fun, loud hey....HEY to get everyone's attention. and then, once he does, he'll lift up his tankard - speech time, get excited.

those who were in attendance last time will probably recognize...a lot of this. but hey- if it works, why chance it? ]

If you're new here, welcome to Mag's! There's a bunch of us around to help chat about what the hell is going on, and if you don't want to do that, there's a ton of alcohol and food and no refrigeration to keep leftovers, so y'all better eat. [ seriously, do you see that table of food? sam has been in that kitchen for the last two days, and he knows it's good. ]

If I haven't tracked you down yet, my name's Sam- I've been here a hot minute, and I live right upstairs. If you've got questions, if something's bothering you, or if you don't know where to start, come find me. Otherwise, you see all these people around you? [ he gestures out to the other people gathered, makes a circle around the room with his hand. is he giving camp counselor vibes? probably. ] We've all gone through the same shit getting here, and been through shit while here. There is someone who knows something about what you're going through, and I know everyone would be happy to help. [ yes, he said everyone. and he means it. ] You have people who can help, so talk to them.

Oh- and that right there? [ he gestures with his tankard to mag behind the bar, who rolls her eyes fondly and waves to the room. ] This is the Lady of the House. You piss her off, that's it, you're out. Her rule is law here and I expect everyone to get that from the get go. Respect her, respect her place, and make some friends.

Alright, that's it! Y'all can keep talking!

[ sam will step off the stage at that point and move a little further into the open space in the middle of the room. feel free to come approach him as he stands, or to walk on up to him at any point through the evening. he's in a very host-y mood, so it'll be with lots of overly friendly, overly welcoming, overly helpful smiles. ]

THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT

[ sam will be a little difficult to pin down during the course of the evening, if only because it appears he's made it his personal goal to try and track down and introduce himself to anyone he doesn't already know. that can include, but is not limited to, him quite literally just walking up and holding out his hand with a friendly smile. ] Hey, I don't think we've met yet. How long have you been in the city?

[ or, if you're standing anywhere near the table of food- ] Oh, here, this one. Yeah, no, trust me- [ just as he's filling up a plate and handing it to you. there is definitely more food on there than you planned on taking. hope you're hungry!

or, possibly, if you're running low on whatever drink you've been nursing for the night, there he will be, with a friendly smile and a second cup in hand. ] Here- good to see you. I'm Sam.

[ you get the idea. whatever the situation, he is not afraid to approach you. this party is put on by the welcome committee after all. ]

END OF THE NIGHT

[ sam will be the last person hanging around, no matter if this turns into a rager or just a low key hang. either way, once most of the summoned have gone back to their respective places and mag's also slipped off to bed, you can find sam cleaning up - picking up dishes, moving chairs and tables back to what you can assume is where they normally sit. he is most likely humming to himself, and though he does appear to be somewhat tired, he's going to be here until it's all put up.

so if you linger, or if you wait around until he's not surrounded by people, this would be your moment. feel free to come up to him directly or, if sam notices that you're just sort of wasting time, he's not against calling out to you across the tavern while he's in the middle of his stuff. ]

Everything good over there?

[restingstitchface]

[Crane regards the hand with a mixture of curiosity and caution. Being a quiet man, a reserved man who avoids parties of all kinds, the last thing he wants is to shake hands.

But he does. Only for one second but it is enough to break the ice.]

Fourth months, now.

[He would ask the same in turn but knows this man has been here a while.]

end of the night

[aquilus]

[Altaïr isn't a permanent resident of the inn — he's not a permanent resident anywhere — but he's got a room for tonight, so he's in no hurry to leave. It's mainly happenstance that he finds himself one of the last ones around, writing quietly in his journal at a side table.]

Just recording a few thoughts before they escape me.

[Nothing tremendously important, but there's no time like the present. And he hates losing an idea because he didn't write it down before being interrupted by a distraction. And there are always distractions.]

You seemed in your element tonight.

end of the night

[monomachy]

[Diana had met a few people tonight, but mostly reconnected with some familiar, friendly faces. She's often on the road between Cadens and Aquila, more so now that she's made it a point to avoid the barracks outside of business calls, so she's noticed that it's... difficult to keep up with everyone. She never had that problem on Themyscira--she knew all her sisters by name, and saw them all the time. But they were also all confined to the island. Maintaining a social life is somewhat new to her, even a year after arriving.

She's had her fill of food and wine, and has bid farewell to those who have gone; all that's left is Sam, but she doesn't really feel like leaving just yet. So she follows his lead, stacking up empty dishes and pushing tables into their regular, familiar positions, not struggling at all to move the solid wood furniture.

Eventually (and pretty obviously), she slowly makes her way towards where he is, until they're clearing plates from the same table. She flashes him a smile.]

I think tonight was very successful. Your committee always does an excellent job.

[princessvegas]

[ Julie has fallen out of the habit of going to these gatherings. It's no love lost for Sam -- she still clomps up those stairs in heels for the smaller family dinners. She just doesn't have much patience for most of the newly Summoned, usually preferring to socialize with people after they've stuck around a few months.

She's tired of repeating the same stories and warnings. Tired of answering the same questions. And tired of most of them disappearing so quickly. With a handful of exceptions (a teenage girl and a giant shark man), she keeps away from the newest arrivals.

But she has really been craving some mac and cheese. Good, real mac and cheese. And why make it herself when she can just come here and eat an enormous plate of it?

So that's exactly what she's doing. For most of the night, she's been at Geralt's table, her feet propped up on the chair opposite herself. He's since left, his patience wearing out sooner than hers, and she's still here, consuming a small mountain of cheesy noodles.

She takes a bite just as Sam comes over, and covers her mouth as she hurriedly chews so she can answer. ]

Hey.

[righteously]

( He's been hesitant to resurface to the general public since everything went down. Especially here, the central hub of the Free Cities summoned, when he can't know how far rumor's spread about the crap he did. Given the ass he made of himself rather frequently during the later stages of the Mark picking fights here? Yeah, it hasn't... felt great. He only comes because Sam reached out.

He starts the night off by taking Mag off to the side and having a quiet word with her. He doesn't tell her the full story, just a La Croix version, with ample apologies and a promise to come around more again, to help out. She forgives him, gives him a hug and a drink, and sends him on his way.

He settles at the back while Sam gives his speech, and once it's over, offers an obnoxiously loud clap and sharp whistle just to kick off an unnecessarily enthusiastic applause. Like a dad at a junior high sports game.

The crowd gets back to doing what crowds do around food and alcohol, and, at length, he wades gently through the bodies toward Sam's direction. Teasing, mildly. )

That was good stuff, Cap. You work on that speech all night?

End of Night

[itookashot]

[ In true 'Good Son' fashion, Jesper is there as long as Sam is. He helped set everything up and he helps put everything away. He spends enough time in here that he could put the layout together blind so it's easy. He insisted on Mag leaving, shooing her off since the two of them can certainly finish things off.

He moves a table and hears one of the legs squeak, kneeling down to find where the hinge is squeaking so he can place his hand on it and fix it. Mag often makes use of his Durast abilities around the place, so in many places her inn is almost new. Fresh carpentry, stronger metal, Jesper's paid for his room many times over as her magical handyman.

He was in a bad place a few months ago but in typical Jesper nature, he lingered in his feelings for a few weeks before pretending nothing happened and going back to normal. He doesn't linger in pain points. The only real bad part was when he and Mat split up, and they didn't last long separated. He's been designing maps with Kaz and thinking about finding those captured cultists.

If he ever finds them, that will be another blip in time, before he acts like everything's normal yet again. ]

I think it went well. We got a good new chunk of folks.

[ Jesper knows all of them, he's memorized the Summoned and made notes on them. It's the way his brain works. ]

I was thinking. Maybe we could do an update on the inn. Add another floor of rooms or upgrade what she has.

[ It's good business for them, as they keep getting new people, and also something that would be nice for her. It would require pooling together of money and resources, but he's not worried about that. ]

if your dance card isn't too full yet, Throughout the Night

[hatejakku]

[ Finn would be lying to himself if he said the main reason he was here wasn't the free food. Luckily, he only lies to himself a couple of times before he inevitably ends up near what he can only describe as the buffet. And, sure, there are other reasons to be here. Information. Networking. Potential allies. The smell of actual real food after he hasn't eaten in what's at least twenty-four hours or so.

Sam doesn't have to recommend to him what's good. It's all going to be good. He also doesn't have to make a plate for him, but Finn is not complaining when it's shoved into his hands. ]

Oh, uh- Thank you. You didn't have to add so much, though. I don't need this much.

[ Because surely he's not the only moron here that's this hungry, right? ... Right? ]

But, um- I'm Finn. Wanted to introduce myself.

[ It's true, at least. Said as he balances the plate in one hand and offers the other to Sam. He did want to seek out the man that made the speech tonight. Just. Well, this is as good a moment as any. ]

cidolfus telamon < judgement

[ramuhed]

(Cid isn't sure what he should be more impressed by; the fact that the summoned in the Free Cities had been helpful and put on a shindig for everyone, or the fact that someone had somehow managed to stick an invitation in his pocket and vanished before Cid could spin around and say anything.

He's going to stick with the former though. The tavern looks great with seats and tables all over, ample space for what could be a larger crowd. Cid can't deny the food too looks great; the Hideaway had been growing it's own but such things took time trying to get plants to survive with the ongoing blight and so they'd made do. The dips especially are catching his eye and every so often Cid wanders over from his vantage point at the bar to snag some. He's not even sure what he's eating but it tastes good and even better — it's free, as are the drinks.

Bless whatever kind soul decided to pay for this lot, Cid has no doubt someones pockets will be stinging when the night is done.

So far things are almost familiar, board and rooms given on a helping out basis. Never let it be said that Cidolfus Telamon isn't as helpful as he is handsome, having given some rooms a going over with a broom and a grin. He's not a hypocrite in that aspect, though there are some back home who would argue that and then some.

An apothecary bag sits on the bar next to Cid, unopened for now and the outlaw takes a drink of his beer as he watches the room and it's inhabitants. So far the summoned have seemed helpful, the Welcome Committee especially. Which in itself answered questions and raised many others. How long had this been going on for such a set up to be arranged? It almost seems old hat to some of the summoned, which means whatever the purpose is originally it's either changed or not been met. That and there's still the issue of his friends being in Thorne, a place that allegedly has the worst reputation going.)

Food, drink and maybe entertainment? Someone's been busy then, not that I'm complainin'.

[aquilus]

We've found that it's worth the effort to band together and share knowledge as Summoned. Regardless of all else, we're bound together by our status here.

[Which is largely why Altaïr is here. Not that he's against free food and drink, but he's not one to make merry in a crowd just for the sake of it. Learning more about his fellows is another matter.]

Also because Hilda, Sam and Jesper are unconscionably social.

[earthborn]

Yeah, they throw these things every other month, it seems like.

[Shepard is not here to speak to Cid— or, rather, she's not only here to speak to Cid. In a listless crowd of uncertain people, there's really only one form of reliable entertainment, and he happens to be seated directly in front of it.]

Just one—Mag, come on. The big one, you know me. [The woman behind the bar laughs, and pours the contents of the drink she'd been pouring into a somewhat larger vessel, and tops it off before passing it along.] Thanks. So, new guy.

[This to Cid, finally, as she turns to lean one elbow on the bar and Mag turns to serve someone else at the other end.]

I'm Shepard. Welcome to Cadens.

[philancer]

[ He’d missed the last one of these, so Sylvain’s playing a bit of catch up tonight, swinging by the bar to get a refill from Mags. Or maybe just enjoy a bit of her gruff affection and the exasperated roll of her eyes his mischief always gets him. He’d tried to step in and help out earlier and she’d promptly shooed him away with enough of a scolding to discourage him from trying again. So instead, he slid his tankard across the bar with a wink, just in time to hear the man a barstool down from him make his thoughtful observation out loud.

Since he was here and waiting anyway, he leaned his hip against the bar as he angles towards him with a crooked grin. His face wasn’t a familiar one and he definitely had that air about him of one of the newly-arrived. Sylvain’s been here long enough now that it’s gotten easy to recognize. ]

I think they’ve gotten this perfected to a bit of an art by now, honestly. It helps ease some of the shock a little. At least for most people. [ He holds out a hand, having adopted the greeting that so many of the Summoned seemed to favor, even though it still didn’t come naturally to him. ] I’m Sylvain. You look like you’re taking his more in stride than some who arrive here.

[ And as Nadine’s package of herbal “assistance’ hadn’t been opened yet, it clearly wasn’t because of that. ]

[godshattering]

We really know how to throw a party, don't we?

[ That's meant more for the Free Cities Summoned as whole considering Claude himself has 1) nothing to do with this party itself aside from being a guest and 2) really isn't trying to take credit for that, especially when the three absolutely wonderful hosts have been making the rounds plenty tonight getting well-deserved accolades for it.

It's meant more as a welcome considering the face he's looking at from over the rim of his own mug of ale as he takes a sip isn't one he recognizes, but - like so many others, he's learned to recognize the signs of someone new. That's one of the many reasons he's been stopping to talk to everyone aside from being rather social himself, and it's been nice to see familiar faces amongst the partygoers too. For now, though, he's taking a break at the bar with that ale and a plate full of random tidbits from the offerings to snack on.

It's rude not to share, after all, so now that he's found someone to chat with while the other surveys the room, Claude nudges that plate forward as a silent offer. ]

Don't let them catch you without something to eat in hand, by the way, or they'll escort you back to the feast immediately. How's it been going for you so far?

[ Possibly trying new foods since of these are still new to Claude himself, this party, being here, and then the other Being Here - he'll let his new acquaintance choose how he'd like to answer that one. ]

figured we could hop to this and assume TDM happened :D

[itookashot]

[ Jesper is part of the welcoming committee, he did tell Cid that, so it's no wonder to see the young gunslinger busily wandering the place. He helped set everything up and he'll break everything down at the end of the night, as usual. He is the bartender of the night too, at least one of them, often bringing new drinks by the time one is finished. He knows everyone there too well, chatting and laughing.

But this entire thing is about welcoming the newbies, and since he got Cid all set up here, he considers himself responsible to check in on the new guy with the heavy DILF energy. Jesper shows up with two drinks in hand, one he sets in front of Cid, and the other for himself as he flops onto a chair next to him. Comfortable and casual, glowing as he usually does after a night of socialization. A true extrovert to his core. ]

I told you, we're pretty close-knit around here. No one gets the wild situation we're in better than each other.

[ Jesper's sharp eyes are on the room, checking in on the people he knows. He's surprised to see a few faces, not in a bad way though. After a scan, gray eyes return to Cid, and he flashes him a cheerful smile. ]

Sometimes Jaskier graces us with a musical performance. He's a bard. Very popular around these parts, especially for the Summoned.

[ As an explanation for the potential entertainment. ]

geralt of rivia — ◈ the hanged man

[gynvael]

i. speech

[ Sam's hosted these dinners for as long as Geralt can remember. Practically one of the first fucking things he did after they set foot in Cadens together. It isn't Geralt's scene. On the rare occasion he appears, it's after the crowd's dispersed—much to Sam's chagrin.

For once, he's arrived on time. Mostly. It is not for the gathering. He's here because he passed the last of his coin to Jaskier a week ago—hadn't needed it then—who's currently fucked off somewhere. Geralt can't be arsed to track the bard down merely to buy something to eat. He'll make do. In this instance, making do involves going to Sam for the free food.

Geralt sweeps right through the inn mid-speech, slipping around the back without bothering to be more than discreet than that. Should you be watching, you can probably catch him rolling his eyes at Sam's same old monologue.

He leans on the counter, waiting alongside everybody else to collect his ale. Did you ask? Maybe, maybe not. Geralt will say it regardless; if he's to be here, he may as well make the most of it at Sam's expense. (Fondly.) ]

He's had two months to write a new speech.

ii. dinner

[ Never a picky eater, Geralt collects whatever dish is nearest and contains meat and settles into a corner by himself. He isn't quite exuding a fuck off aura, but nor is he an open invitation. If the tavern's short on tables and you're feeling bold, you're welcome to take a seat.

Depending on who else arrives, it's clear that he's familiar with nearly everyone in the city who isn't a newly summoned face. Considering his less-than-sunny disposition, one might divine he's been in Cadens for a very long time. Almost too long.

But it means he's good for a few questions if you've any.

He can also be spotted:

• Quietly snatching a thieving pigeon out of the air and putting it back outside—though not before the bird's left a hole in one of the cakes.


• Briefly talking to Sam, which may or may result in the first half-smile he cracks for the night.


• Drinking a notably healthy amount without becoming any less sober than when he arrived.

Geralt takes off well before the evening has concluded, moving towards the door while the party is bustling. You can stop him outside if you want. Or perhaps you're also looking to make an early exit yourself. He's amenable to company so long as you don't get in his way. ]

[everybodysterrible]

In the corner, before Geralt headed over there, Abby was already perched on a handrail with an ale in hand. Disguised in her usual veil of shadow. She wasn't avoiding people, or socializing, the way a tall stabby Witcher was. Her problem is that there are new faces. And she can't tell who is cool, who isn't cool but their world doesn't give a fuck about underage drinking, and who isn't cool and from a world that cares about underage drinking.

So to avoid that whole thing she is getting her drink on where nobody will bother her. Because you have to try really hard to see that she exists, and even if you see that she exists you won't see any discernable features besides 'maybe person shaped.' So to really notice both that she's there, and that she's Abby, probably requires being both supernatural senses and knowing Abby already.

Sure would be a shame if someone matching those two items were heading to this corner of the tavern. She watched him head over, trying to determine if he knew she was there, or when he'll figure it out. Since he's seen her do this before. Abby's not concerned Geralt will tell her to stop drinking, but a lot of other problems might come up right now if he decides to do something uncharacteristic like talk.

At least until she finishes her (first) drink.

speech

[monomachy]

[Diana attends the dinners whenever she's in Cadens for them; a few times, she's been on the road to or from Aquila when a new group of Summoned arrived, much to her disappointment. But they are always jovial events, and it's a good opportunity to see the newest faces in the Free Cities.

And some old ones. Diana spies Geralt as he slinks through the back of the room, and can't help but crack a smile, pleased to see him. He's a rare sight at these dinners, to be sure, and it's nice to see him outside the sparring ring or just in passing.

Once the speech is over and she spies him head towards the bar, she follows. Diana flashes Mag a fond smile (she, too, had lived at the inn for a short while after arriving), and then turns her attention to the man waiting on his drink. There's humor in her voice as she responds:]

It isn't a bad speech. It's... informative.

[hatejakku]

[ As the bird flutters off outside, its evidence of a sugary dessert along the beak and feathers, Finn is left... staring. It's not entirely a look of surprise and shock, not really the first time he saw someone snatch something out of the air like that, but it was certainly an unexpected move. Especially right in front of him.

This is the second time something weird and bird-related happened around this man. Finn hopes this isn't a pattern. ]

Hey. [ He looks at the hole left in one of the cakes, thinks about saying something, doesn't, looks back up- ] ... Good catch.

matt murdock — marvel tv

[catholica]

01 HANGING OUT

( showing up to these things just drives home how long matt's been here. he doesn't think it's been a year yet but...it's getting closer and closer. he sometimes wonders about his home, about foggy and karen, about fisk and everything else but he's settled pretty well here, he thinks.

it's not the same but it's close.

he's worked most of the day so when he shows up to the party, he's still in a suit, tie loose and hair askew. but, he's there and and he drops into a seat to start off, holding a glass of something alcoholic.

he doesn't think he'll get drunk but hey, if it happens, maybe he'll get a little more sleep than usual. he yawns, covering it with his bottle before stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankle.

he can't really spot who might be new but he listens for unfamiliar voices and different heartbeats. that'd be his way to pick up new arrivals. )

02 UP AND AROUND

( at some point, matt does get up and starts wandering around the room, stopping to talk to those he knows and maybe some people he doesn't. the free cities always seems to get a lot of new arrivals and matt's been a little busy or a little out of it the last few times to really get to know them. he intends to change that this time.

he's got a new bottle in his hand as he and his cane move around the room easily. he'll apologize if he accidentally thunks your ankle with the cane but, you know, he's blind.

forgive him, please. )

hanging out

[hatejakku]

Matt Murdock.

[ The worst part about telling Finn your full name: He's going to repeat it on the regular. It's a name. That's how they work, right?

Anyway, Finn's been at this party long enough to get some food and a few drinks in him, just enough to relax and loosen up a little. So when he approaches Matt and leans against the back of a different chair at his table, there's a smile on his face. ]

You look like you've had a long day.

[ That yawn wasn't very sneaky. ]

up and around

[expositus]

[ the event is a little crowded, so matt would probably be forgiven if not for the fact that jess has the dubious privilege of knowing him outside of this place. because she does, she’s able to catch on and avoid his cage right before it knocks against her ankle. he earns a glare from her for that, not that he’ll be able to see it. ]

Watch it. [ she’s almost certain that wasn’t totally accidental, but she doesn’t want to blow his cover either way. she gestures towards his bottle with her own. ] Don’t tell me you’re ahead of me.

viktor | death

[techmaturgy]

i. throughout

[Viktor’s reputation may precede him—if any new arrival asks about where to go if they want something built or fixed or improved, it’s likely that veteran Summoned will point them in his direction. You might hear of his exploits involving his business, his various innovations, the one time the government raided his lab to seize an illegal experiment, or (more benignly) that he’s hiring. Part time, yes, but still a good alternative to the military, especially for those with scientific or engineering aspirations.

When Viktor finally makes an appearance, however, it’s not necessarily a friendly one. His current state is a bit of an open secret—what was once a business partnership is now a solo operation, and his quiet, slightly sullen presence at the mingle seems to reflect that. He doesn’t partake in the meal and instead finds a table, nursing a drink while he scrawls something in a notebook.

True to form, he’s brought work, and will begrudgingly share explanations if asked (though be warned, he will get into it about various esoteric engineering principles). He does, generally, assume that anyone who approaches his table is looking for a commission, or otherwise has a question about his work, and though he’s a bit terse, he’s attentive all the same.]

Do you have something for me?

ii. wildcard

[hey what’s up new friends and old; please hit me with whatever you like. For everything else, I’m no plurk at whitticus.]

[thepath]

[ Cal isn't interested in personal gossip about the man in front of him, really, but he is interested in the phrase "he's hiring", so here he is. Because if he has to spend one more day in the barracks, surrounded by kriffing soldiers that somehow remind him of both the clones and the Imps at the same time, it's going to be the thousandth cut.

But to move out, he needs money, and to earn money, he needs a job—you know, your standard capitalism.

The problem is, Cal hasn't been gainfully employed for about five years now—hard to pass a background check when you're wanted on over six million planets. But he's hoping his old scrapper skills and hobby for tinkering will come through for him now, since it sounds like this man—Viktor—is looking for help of the scientific or engineering variety.

His accent catches Cal off guard, his surprise betrayed by a quick blink before he recovers. It's Merrin's accent—Dathomir's accent. But Viktor looks as human as Cal is, not Zabrak, so he sets the detail aside. ]

A job interview, actually. I heard you were hiring.

Abby Littman | The Lovers

[everybodysterrible]

01. Setting the Stage

Abby can be spotted setting up a collection of empty tankards on a long rectangular table. A dozen cups on each side, then bouncing a small ball made of cork across it to the empty cups. She seems very good at this, whatever this is.

Anyone who knows Abby, or knows what American teenagers do when they are left unsupervised with alcohol, should be aware of what she's setting up. And maybe want to talk to her about what she's up to. Anyone unaware might want to just ask what the heck she's doing.

02. Let the Games Begin!

"Hello Cadens!"

Abby is standing atop the table she'd previously set-up, in a sleeveless off-white blouse, with a matched pinstripe vest and pants. Black with a bright pink accent to them. The table is, of course, for her to be visible to anyone and everyone. She claps her hands, then spreads them wide to get more attention. "I thought I'd introduce everyone to a family game from my world. Something a little better to break the ice than fussy speeches. It has a few names, Beirut is when you have teams. But Beer Pong is the standard for it. Don't worry, it isn't always beer."

Anyone used to Abby being more uneasy socially, the youngest of the Cities Summoned and generally feels in over her damn head, might notice she's very outgoing, very fun, and only a little buzzed. She's holding up a small ball of cork, "You bounce a ball like this one, across the table, into one of the cups. You succeed, your opponent downs that cup, then they bounce it back. So on and so on until someone's out of cups, and they lose. But they win at life because they'll definitely be wasted!"

Abby hops off the table, entirely unbothered by the distance of her drop, very springy at that age, "I suggest not challenging anyone immune to alcohol, but I'm not a fucking cop! That said, I'll play against anyone who won't be too hurt losing to someone like me."

(OOC: Abby will leave the table and ball set-up for the evening if people want to play beer pong in other threads, not involving her.)

03. Throughout

Abby spends the remainder of the evening, after her little show of improving the culture of Cadens, sitting on the bar with a small plate of all manner of food (mostly meat and sweets, little in the way of greens. Mags doesn't seem to mind her. Her drink is very obviously alcohol and she will salute with it to anyone who gives her a disapproving look, daring them to say something to her.

Or if you want to chat with a teenager who seems to lack fear and is fully ready to embrace fun, she's there to talk to.

games.

[wiedzminka]

Generally speaking, Ciri isn't against parties. She just hasn't really been involved in these welcome ones that heavily, though in some cases she's simply been working or otherwise out of town. This time, when she gets the invitation from Hilda and due to their friendship at this point, she does feel a little bit of an obligation to go.

Even if Sam's speech is as long and boring as ever. (She might give him a hard time about it later.)

Ciri spends more time drinking than mingling, taking note of the new faces, possibly subtly listening in on some conversations while enjoying the free food and booze.

When the girl (one she's seen before, in passing, so not a completely green newcomer) starts shouting about balls and beer up on the table next to Ciri's, there's really no helping getting roped in.

"Beer... pong?" Why does that sound familiar...?

"Mm. I think Julie's told me about this before. But why does your opponent get to drink the cup you hit?"

cal kestis ☆ the hanged man

[thepath]

▶ONE. DINNER

[ Oh, Cal is not good with social settings like these—he's not a mingler. But he recognizes that he's a purrgil out of space here, as a new Summoned, and cantinas (or, in this case, an inn) are the best places to pick up information and gossip and important people to know. And there's free food—he's not really in a position to turn down free food. Or free anything, really.

Plus, the invitation he got is so... well, it's something. But it's nice that the people here seem to be looking out for each other. It's a much warmer welcome than he's used to getting back in his own galaxy, that's for sure.

Still, he keeps mostly to himself when he first arrives, picking a table around the edge of the room to settle into with his ale (that he's definitely nursing) and plate of food (that he's absolutely devouring). As he sits and eats, he keeps his eyes on the crowd and his ears open for interesting conversations around him while also trying to look like he isn't blatantly eavesdropping—and like he isn't giving off big loner vibes over here.

He's friendly, really. You can pet the ginger. ]

▶TWO. AND DRINKS

[ Cal's finally run out of ale to nurse, so he approaches the bar to order another, propping his weight against the counter on one elbow like he's a cantina regular. (Which he is, lately. He might even still smell like Pyloon's, at this point.) ]

You sure I can't pay you?

[ That's directed at Mag, who refuses patronage—again—and moves to fetch him a fresh drink. But Cal can't just not support his local watering hole—he's got a little soft spot—so, while she's occupied, he slips some money under an empty glass, quick and smooth, and goes back to leaning against the counter minding his own business. Call it a tip.

Finally, he glances over at anyone loitering at the bar next to him, his body language open and friendly, even if he still doesn't look entirely at ease. ]

Should I be asking you for the lowdown?

▶WILDCARD

[ idk throw whatever you want at me!! or feel free to ping me on plurk @ matriarchy ]

2 -- drinks!

[cointosser]

[It is typical that Jaskier always makes time for these sorts of gathering -- for one, Sam is hardly a terrible cook, and for another, a tavern is where a bard thrives -- and he is more often than not inserting himself by doing a few performances, whether he was asked or not. (Sam does not ask nearly enough as he should, if you ask him.)

This time, he comes fashionably late, and though he has his lute in tow, strapped to his back, he doesn't have plans to perform here, tonight. He's already been all over the bloody city performing, because no one warned him that stabling a chocobo would cost more than a handful of coins.

No, he did not entirely think it through. And no, it wouldn't have stopped him either way.

For tonight, it's a drink he's after, and Jaskier tips his hat with a wink at Mags before taking it off, the long peacock feather poking out across the bar. She pours him a pint while Jaskier's eyes take in the new patrons -- including a few he does not recognize.

Ah. About that time again. When a man addresses him, Jaskier gives him a smile.] Oh, absolutely. I know just about everything and everyone around here. Like I know that the moment you look away, you'll be finding that coin back in your pocket. [He tilts his head to what the Summoned's left behind for Mag. One should not underestimate her.] She has -- well, whatever one would call the opposite of sticky fingers.

james t. kirk (mirrorverse) // the tower

[invicto]

[ For someone aiming to get some connections soon after his arrival, an event like this would be ideal. And yet, James isn't exactly in the ideal mood for socializing, and his initial plan is to get a couple of drinks, see if he can meet at least one or two new people, and leave. But when he's informed that he doesn't have to pay for said drinks, his focus shifts. ]

What about the food?

[ Everything is covered, he's told with a friendly smile, and he changes his mind quickly after that. Not that he couldn't pay if he wanted to, but having just started off here, he doesn't have a lot of money to his name, and he may as well take every opportunity that comes his way.

It's also a chance to watch some of the other Summoned in the Free Cities, and how friendlier they get the more they drink. This doesn't seem like the kind of party that anyone would end up being blackout drunk, but on the other hand, he's seen plenty of people making plenty of bad decisions.

He's not going to approach others a lot, but it won't be difficult to catch him watching someone. Not intently, but intensely. Or if anyone comes over to greet him, he'll easily slip into a more sociable, approachable stance. He can manage that much.

Eventually he might be the one addressing others, mostly about two topics:

First, when he hears about the deal between Mag and the Summoned. ] Heard something about us being offered rooms here?

[ Second, as his curiosity gets the best of him (and a few drinks have perhaps made him more prone to asking questions). ] What can you tell me about the Horizon?

[hatejakku]

[ Well, Finn and James definitely have at least one thing in common. The idea that free food is good food.

But it's a bit later into the night when Finn sees the familiar face. Food has been had, some drinks have been drunk, and he's been more or less nursing an ale while mingling the evening away. So, naturally, once he notices James' bright eyes looking around the room, he makes his way over.

They aren't exactly familiar with one another, but Finn ends up sliding in to stand beside him all the same. ]

You were asking around about the Horizon, right? [ Hi, yes, Finn knows things sometimes. ] From what I gather, you'll get different answers depending on who you ask. It's a point of moral debate, apparently.

[ Finn could have started this conversation with a greeting or something, but he's relaxed enough now to just dive right in and ignore the pleasantries. Hopefully, James doesn't mind.

Finn doesn't think he will, anyway. Finn doesn't think a lot of things while slightly buzzed. ]