OPEN - Grad Celebration / Free Cities Mingle!

[cointosser]

Who: Jaskier, Nadine, and friends!!
When: Sometime in early October
Where: The Sarstina Inn & Tavern
What: A small graduation party and open mingle
Warnings: None!


Open Invitation
One desert-warm autumn night, The Sarstina Inn & Tavern suddenly has a sunflower wreath hanging from its front window.

The most enticing signal though is a sign that says:

A party to celebrate the graduation of the esteemed Doctor Cross.
Free drinks for all visitors!*
*Limited to 3 if you're a drunkard.
That's right, drinks are on the Free Cities' illustrious bard and local philanthropist for the night. But tonight is not about Jaskier at all. Tonight is about Nadine Cross whose recent graduation from the Academy is in celebration. Friends and passersby alike are invited to join!

Inside, you'll find more sunflowers, lilies, and foxgloves in various bouquets and arrangements around the tavern. There's also a floral chair on one side of the tavern for the woman of the hour. Decorated in pink and ivory roses, it's possible it references something special of Jaskier and Nadine's time together. Fellow gods who visited them on one of their spring solstices may recognize the arrangements.

Free Booze! (& Food)
You won't have to pay a dime for your ales and cocktails. Try drink in moderation, however; if you make an ass of yourself, you'll be asked to leave. Not by Jaskier, obviously. He doesn't do that sort of thing. That's why he's got very muscular friends (or a small yet intimidating innkeeper). While a white-haired Witcher lurks in the background, chances are Mag will get there first if things become too rowdy.

If you're hungry, there's an array of delicious baked goods (pies of the minced meat and fruit varieties, bread, and poppy seed rolls), some meat and cheese to pick at, and a pot of rabbit stew courtesy of Mag herself. Help yourself to anything you want, or ask for assistance by the somewhat haunted looking girl behind the table, Quille, a regular employee at Jaskier's plant store. The tavern's also running as usual, so you're free to buy an old favourite off of Mag's menu!

You can also bring something to share yourself. Anybody familiar with Nadine, Jaskier, or Geralt would've had a heads up for the party and anyone passing by can bring in what they've got on hand.

There may be a surprising lack of pierogi, and that's simply because the bard refuses to become a stereotype.

Weaving among the party goers is a toy gryphon who will approach most people for a scratch under the chin or around his ears, and duck under tables for dropped scraps, and who otherwise rides Jaskier's shoulders in between performances.

Towards the end of a night, a modest floral cake will be brought out for all party goers, with Doctor Cross being the first to receive a piece.

Entertainment Hour
Drinking and eating's mostly the point, but there's a couple of things that go along with the night:

• Live music! Thanks to Jaskier, Master Bard, the Free Cities' own Gem of the Phoenix. He'll be playing his usual set list, plus a special cover song dedicated to Nadine (suggestion courtesy of Dean Winchester). His performance is accompanied by a few brilliant lights and magical glowing birds that flutter through the inn, streaming sparkling lights behind them. When Jaskier is busy mingling, a familiar drummer and flutist (if you're a frequent visitor to Jaskier's concerts) take up the music in his absence.


• Party favours, specifically a modest selection of leafy greens and flowers, trimmed at the stems, that you can use to make your own mini flower bouquet to take home. It's not super fancy, but it's pretty adorable.


• Free Samples from Nadine's shop - sleeping potions, calming tonics, minor painkillers, tonics to ease withdrawal symptoms, sunscreen and sunburn ointment, relaxing bath salts and oils. A small sign states "further medicinals available on request."

OOC Notes
Feel free to mingle whether or not you have an explicit invitation. If you normally drink at Mag's or you live in the inn and you're just stumbling into this party on your way home, come join! New folks totally welcome. You don't have to know anybody here.

Threadjacking encouraged or do whatever! Just don't destroy the Sarstina and keep things pleasant or Mag will kick you out on your ass.

Comments

OTA

[nadine_he_loves]

For the start of the evening, Nadine will be found seated in her floral chair, just enjoying the fact that all of this is for her. She almost can't quite believe it - both that Jaskier and Geralt went to all this work, and that she went back to school at her age and completed a second education. Years spent at the academy, and she's done. She's graduated, with a diploma and a license to practice medicine unrestricted. She is officially Doctor Nadine Cross, with all the proper credentials and training.

It wasn't something she planned. She hadn't had any intention, when she first took an apprenticeship with a medicinal herbalist, to make a career out of it. It's nicely symbolic, she thinks, of how much of her old life she's left behind and how much she's put into building a new one. All the strangeness of this world, all the troubles that have been visited on them, all the losses...they're worth it, for everything else. More thoughts try and crowd in, but she pushes them away. This is a night for celebrating. She made it through med school, after all!

And most of her lingering sorrows are well banished when Jaskier breaks out a rendition of an Eric Clapton ballad - one she remembers well from her youth. It's those little extra steps he always takes that strike her at her core.

Considering the enormity of what's being celebrated tonight, Nadine has dressed for the occasion. It would be a shame not to show off her dress, and she can be found dancing and mingling - after a couple of drinks. It feels silly just to sit and watch the party happening, but she's still slow to throw herself into festivities without at least a little liquid courage. But she ought to thank people for coming, at the very least. It means a lot that they would.

Throughout the night she'll drop by the table of samples, to make sure everything's stocked and in case anyone has any requests. She doesn't just put out the cannabis based products, but she always has them with her.

Which is why she will also be found outside the inn sometimes, enjoying the cooling night air and smoking one of her petal-wrapped joints. And if perhaps they're a bit more potent than she usually indulges in, well, she's lost family recently and she graduated medical college. She's within rights to indulge.

[thearchangel]

"Congratulations."

There's no mistaking the voice approaching her from one side. No mistaking the shape of the guy who's stopped at her elbow, extending a hand in greeting. Even though he'd changed clothes for the occasion. It's not necessarily formal, but hey. Better than the usual getup he's been able to put together here.

"Seriously, congratulations, doctor."

He cants his head to one side with that lopsided half-grin of his. "I'd ask if you wanted to dance, but I hate to monopolize your time."

[nadine_he_loves]

"Thank you."

Nadine flushes a little, from both the drink and the congratulations. It's a bit daunting, being the center of so much attention in normal life. But Garrus is right. She's a doctor. That's no easy feat, and the Academy of Medicine had been brutal and grueling in its teaching. But here she was.

"And don't be ridiculous, I'd love a dance. I always have time for you."

Strange as she'd found him at first, Garrus has become one of her dearest friends in this world. Even all the things alien about him - which is most - seem perfectly normal and ordinary.

[archiholic]

Relatively new to Abraxas, Kaveh hasn't yet met the person at the center of the celebration, but he's not about to turn down free drinks and food at the Inn. Especially with the fact that it's for someone who's completed a monumental moment in their education -- Kaveh remembers his own graduation, celebrating with his Darshan mates and drinking until late in the night in order to put the sadness in his heart out of mind. (His mother had not been able to attend, and Alhaitham-- well. This evening isn't about him, so enough of living in his head and the past!)

Instead he spends the first part of the night sketching the woman -- Nadine, wasn't it? -- on her chair. It's not much of a gift for the doctor, but he'd be a poor guest if he came, enjoyed himself, and then did nothing to express his gratitude. When he finishes, it's of Nadine in her chair, the flowers on the chair and in her dress intermingling and fading out into a field. He's added more -- a crown of them to rest on her head, and several in her hair. But most important is the look on her face; he'd seen the joy, and he'd seen something deeper in her eyes that he hopes to have captured a little.

Once finished, he presents the sketch to her, politely bowing before her with a warm smile. His wings stretch out and mirror the gesture -- he still hasn't managed to get them to vanish, but he's becoming more comfortable with them by the day. "A gift for the woman of the evening. We may not know each other, but completing one's education is always worthy of a celebration!"

[nadine_he_loves]

Nadine finds herself quite literally speechless at first. She's never met this Summoned before, assumes he's among the newest of them - though she can't be sure, Cadens is a large city and their numbers have grown - and here he is. Not only congratulating her, but offering a very thoughtful gift on top of it.

"Thank you," she finally manages, smiling widely and flushing. "This is an incredibly kind gesture, you didn't have to, really..."

It's a beautiful piece of art. She'll have to frame it, and hang it in her office.

"It's beautiful, thank you. I hope you've been having a good time, tonight."

Technically Jaskier is the host of this party. He and Geralt planned it, he paid for it, he's gone to great lengths for it. But she still feels as though she ought to perform hosting duties, the whole thing is for her after all.

[assembles]

If this feels surreal for Steve, that Nadine has graduated with her medical degree, he can't imagine what she must be feeling right about now. He remembers when he first arrived here in Abraxas and met Nadine, when she was maybe a year or less into her medical training, and it's something else realizing that all this time has passed and now she's graduating.

It's a nice gathering that Jaskier has put together, and Steve's relieved to see that Nadine's not grumbling and trying to avoid the whole thing like Viktor did when he got his title. She might be a little overwhelmed that there's so much attention on her, but that's understandable.

Steve approaches Nadine where she's currently seated, carrying a small plate with an assortment of the offered foods on it, and nods to her in greeting.

"Congratulations," he says as he shoots her a genuine smile. "This must be a pretty huge weight off your shoulders. To be honest, I don't know how you kept up with all your coursework with everything we have going on." Though if he had to guess, he'd say it was pure dedication on her part.

[nadine_he_loves]

"Hey!"

Nadine smiles broadly when Steve joins her.

"Thank you, I am so glad to be done with school! For a second time."

This one had been much more grueling an education, compared to early education in New Hampshire.

"And it wasn't easy, I pulled a lot of all nighters and used a lot of stimulants. Perks of being in the medical field." Plenty of access to stimulants. She's not sure how she would have managed otherwise, with everything else.

But it had all been worth it. This was something she felt she was supposed to do, like she'd felt with teaching in her former life. It was a Calling.

Outside

[itookashot]

Jesper has been working at the Sarstina all day helping set up for the event given that Mag always takes his help and it's for Nadine, so he wanted it to be perfect. He's his usual amiable self while he helps hand out drinks and refresh food for people, until Mag shoos him off to actually enjoy the party rather than work for her all night too. He enjoys a drink and chats with the people who show up, having settled right back into his life after his time at the mines.

He is not usually the one who needs to take breaks outside since he likes being in the party and the energy that comes from it, but he spots a certain silver head outside and decides to take the chance. The night is cooler right away and he can see why that would be a relief, pulling out a joint.

"Don't look at me, this is mine fair and square." He flashes her a smile since she told him a long time ago to buy it off Julie instead of her, since it made her squirm as a teacher. That's who gave him this one, and he figures this is what she'd be doing too.

"You did it, Dr. Cross. You've come a long way from a newbie herbalist, huh?" Jesper smiles at her warmly. He's loved Nadine as long as he's known her, but she's not someone who has an easy time celebrating herself. He's glad to see she's letting it happen tonight.

[nadine_he_loves]

"It's fine, even by my world's standards, you're not a minor." Nadine holds up her free hand, waving off his justification. Jesper's not in his teens anymore, she's not going to make a fuss about it.

Especially as she's doing the exact same thing.

"And I sure have. It seems like it was forever ago, but it feels like it was just a few months ago, too." She shakes her head. How funny time can be. Especially now, with centuries of memories - faded and fuzzy as many of them are - floating around in her head. It really skews with a person's perception of time in general.

"Now I'm a licensed doctor. I don't have to hide my surgeries anymore."

outside;

[iustise]

John clears his throat softly as he steps up beside her, not wishing to startle her lest she find herself lost in her thoughts. He flashes her a gentle smile, tilting his head in a silent question as if to ask whether he might join her.

John does not know Nadine, but that is hardly a surprise, considering he does not know many people here in the Free Cities just yet, beyond Jaskier and Geralt and the Witcher household. But Jaskier had insisted he come along, and who was he to argue with that?

Still, he recognizes her as the woman of the hour. Notable for the fact that she has stepped out of the party that is currently celebrating her honor.

"Doctor Cross. I understand that congratulations are in order," John says, raising his drink to her in a toast.

[nadine_he_loves]

"You understand right, thank you." Nadine inclines her head, both in thanks and in permission to join her. She didn't slip out to be alone, just for some fresh air and so as not to bother anyone else with her smoking.

And it's not the first time this evening she's been congratulated by someone she doesn't know. It's not like the old days, when she knew everyone who'd been brought to this world. The turnover has gotten surprisingly rapid.

"Just graduated the Cadens Academy of Medicine. Which is crazy to say at my age, I think I'm the oldest graduate in my class by a long shot."

[cointosser]

It wouldn't be a true Jaskier performance if he didn't swing around for the recipient of his intended ballad's reaction. Not that he needs to, not that he wasn't watching her face as he belted out an unfamiliar man's words (but a talented one, he admits, with music that does, in fact, speak to him.) He watches her as he sings, gives her a wink when the song is over, when the last note of his lute rings into silence, before the applause.

Jaskier, of course, dressed as he does when he means to make an impression: his red coat with its embroidered phoenix across the entire back, a large red hat with matching feathers, and a white tunic with a cut so low it almost goes down to his navel, revealing most of his chest and the necklaces swinging there: a bone ring and a tiny tuning fork.

He puts his lute down in her case and steps up to her floral chair with a sweep of his arms. "Well, well. If it isn't the woman of the hour. Or, several hours, if I've anything to say of it." He leans in for a kiss, a hand resting on her thigh. "Enjoying your party, love?"

Despite their recent losses, most importantly. It was a deep wound to all of them, but... he couldn't sit back and think that Nadine would be nursing a wound (pun not intended) rather than celebrating what she'd accomplished. Grief is lasting, but the world moves on, and there will not be a second chance to celebrate this graduation.

— OTA.

[gynvael]

[ A rare figure during such festivities, Geralt has appeared at this one for Nadine's sake. It's an important day for her. He knows she's been through much; they've each lost people, not merely recently but over their years in this sphere. And while Geralt is used to swallowing his losses and so is she—they are neither of them particularly talkative—he wants to at least be present for this.

Besides. The ale is paid for.

He can be found in the corner somewhat apart from the crowd. He is never spotted without a mug of ale at his side. Despite his lurking, however, he seems at ease, lounging in the chair as he watches the people.

At some point, a small bouquet appears on the table. He may or may not have put one together, perhaps to give to Ciri later. Some time later, he's procured a plate of pastries and will offer you one if you approach. ]

batshaming

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard's here to put in a respectful appearance for Nadine's work, but also to let Jaskier take care of some other very important introductions.

What can Alucard say? He appreciates a dramatic journey in a relationship. It's genetic.

He's contemplating leaving when a flash of white catches his eye in the back corner.

There's a wordless nod as the dhampir sits himself beside Geralt, the glass of wine in his hand barely touched since the start of the evening.]

Julian told me about your new house guest.

ota;

[karaksys]

[ Daemon cleared out of the barracks as soon as he could, managing to find a modest room here at the Sarstina. If nothing else, no one bothers him about enlisting anymore.

Unexpected as it is to come back to a party, Daemon appreciates that his limited coin will go that much farther now. Ordinarily, he would probably enjoy party crashing — having been a frequent visitor to every wine sink in King's Landing at one point — but he doubts he's very good company at the moment and sticks to the edges. Drinking for free used to feel less like charity and more like a tribute (because it was).

Having eaten a bowl of stew and had a cup of ale, he's busy working on his second while idly playing with a coin and trying not to think too hard about how the currency is all wrong. Daemon gets it to balance on its edge when he notices the guest of honour seated on her makeshift throne across the room. ]

What is a doctor anyway?

[ Thinking out loud. ]

[youmiscalculated]

I'm pretty sure it's the same thing as a healer, or a...a mage?

[ Adora's been living and working at the inn for a while, living with the Doctor. She squints a little at this person who asked the question, but otherwise answers the best she can. She's partially sticking to the edges because the only person she's recognized (so far) is Geralt, and partially because this is only the second party she's been to. Hopefully this one doesn't end with fighting or kidnapping.

She has no clue though, what a doctor is, in the Fright Zone you didn't get much of being taken care of, you either made it or you didn't. And magic took care of everything in Bright Moon. But she's figured it out from context clues, what a doctor might be. ]

I could ask, but then that takes the fun out of guessing.

[itookashot]

[ Jesper is one of the welcoming committee so he was happy to set Daemon up with a room, as he often does when newbies either wander in or if he spots them looking confused coming from the barracks. It's not hard to give them a quick summary and offer a place to live. The same thing happened to him the first day he was there, since Jesper escaped from the barracks within hours of showing up. No thank you, nope not at all.

He helped set up for this event and chatters comfortably with everyone there, refilling drinks and swapping out empty plates. Eventually Mag shooed him to be a part of the party, since he'll automatically be on clean up duty for her, so he doesn't mind doing a turn around the room.

He's already on his way to check in on Daemon since he does that with the new folks, and hears his question as he does, a drink in hand. ]

A medic, a healer. Do you not have those in your world? [ He wonders what the sick people do if not. ] In some places you just learn the craft and do it, but in others you need to get a whole education and degree for it.

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor has been here long enough to know that the worlds of the Summoned are vast and varied--what's commonplace in one universe is unheard of in another, and he's spent plenty of time explaining the intricacies of his technology to those who cannot even conceive of electricity. He does his best to be understanding, and not to judge, but perhaps this is a bridge too far.

The man who answers the question has posted up at a corner table, a respectable distance from most of the action. He doesn't seem uncomfortable in a social setting, per se, but there is the distinct sense that he'd rather be somewhere else.]

Who treats illness or injury, where you're from?

[Probably they just have a different name for the profession. This guy is also a doctor, sort of. Just not the kind that Nadine is. He has a feeling that might be a bit complicated to explain.]

[theidlemaiden]

[ While Nadine and Hilda weren't close she still frequented the shop from time to time and knew enough that she had been working towards a certification of some kind.

Sticking to the edges of a party isn't really her style, but the long nights she'd spent putting in work on Geralt's sword have left her a little lacking sleep and therefore her typical perky energy. Which is to say that to anyone that doesn't know her very well would still think this is her normal level of cheer and extroverted-ness.

She's seated nearby enjoying her own stew when he asks his question aloud. Whether or not he wanted the question answered, it's about to be answered. ]

The question is a little broad. There's all sorts of doctors - but I didn't really know that either until coming here.

ota;

[iustise]

[Lord John has not had the pleasure of meeting Nadine yet, but he does know Jaskier, which is how he has scored an invitation to this get-together (not that he had needed one in particular, but even so). Jaskier had been particularly adamant that John come along, impressing the fact that there would be free drinks and his various performances through the night and party favors.

In truth, John had not needed much motivation to attend. He is so new to the city, his only real acquaintances are Geralt, Jaskier, and Ciri, and while he cares for them all dearly, his social circle really should extend beyond the walls of the house he is living in.

A mug of ale in hand, John lingers just on the edge of the crowd, mostly people watching or maintaining polite conversation. He's still a bit reticent to just throw himself into the fray, but he enjoys a good party when he sees one. He may even join the merriment on the dance floor, if anyone should ask it of him.

Somewhere during the evening, one of the little floral bouquets finds itself tucked through a buttonhole of his jacket.]

[itookashot]

[ Where a party is, a Jesper appears, and this one is celebrating one of his favorite people on this planet so of course he was going to show up. More than that in this situation, where he helped Mag set up for it like the good adopted son that he is and was her errand boy during the start of the celebration. So it would appear in the start like he's a worker there more than anything else, until he finally is shooed off by her to have a good time.

A drink in hand, he's moving around the room chatting amiably with everyone, and when he spots John he freezes entirely. Gray eyes widen and he nearly chokes on the sip he was just taking, coughing and setting it down to hurry over. ]

Veritas? No, wait, John?

[ It's been awhile since they came out of the weird god vision they had, but the God of Love certainly remembers one of his patrons and friends, and Jesper hasn't lost his affection for the friends that were made during that time even if they were illusions. He doesn't look that different from how he appeared as a god outside of lacking the sort of glow and vividness that came from divinity, but otherwise, it's him.

His smile is very genuine and he claps a hand on John's shoulder if he allows him to. He would even go in for a hug if it didn't seem inappropriate. ]

Saints, how in the world are you here right now?

[youmiscalculated]

[ When Adora sees someone she knows, who actually shouldn't be here, she can't help but make a bee-line right toward him, a bright smile on her face. ]

Lord John, you're here!

[ And she's back; originally in Thorne and now they're both here in the Free Cities. It's funny, kind of. ]

I mean, obviously here at the party, but also in the Free Cities, in general.

for john and alucard!

[cointosser]

[Lucky for John, he's about to have one more new acquaintance. A very fine one, if he does say so himself.

So it is with a looped arm around Alucard's that Jaskier pulls the dhampir with him up to meet his newest and most sudden roommate. He's all smiles right now, but Alucard, at least, will recognize the faint whiff of smugness about his person. He has, of course, dressed to the nines for Nadine's party, with his bright red coat embroidered with the phoenix across the back, a very jaunty (and perfectly angled) hat with Mog's feathers sticking out of it. His neck and fingers are bejewelled with corresponding colours to an amount one could easily call obnoxious, and there is most certainly a rose tucked behind his ear in a bright orange shade.]

John, my dear, I wanted to introduce you to my finest friend and partner in all sorts of work, Alucard. Alucard, this is our new roommate, so to speak, John. [His brow raises as he says it, directly to Alucard. A tease but also a hint of be nice. Maybe directly to both of them. Certainly the levels of cattiness in a conversation can raise exponentially when he and Alucard are together.]

[assembles]

[ Steve knows a wallflower when he sees one, mainly because it's pretty normal for him to fall into that same behavior at gatherings like this. He's gotten better, but that's only because he knows most of the Free Cities Summoned at least at the level of acquaintances by now.

This particular wallflower, though, is a new face. While it's possible that he's one of the few Cadens natives who's decided to come to the Sarstina, it would be odd to do so on a night like tonight, when all the Summoned are having a gathering.

That alone might have been enough to make Steve curious and also feel obligated to welcome a new face, but then he also caught the beginning of a conversation between the stranger, Jaskier, and Alucard. Something about how he was Jaskier's "new roommate" and how the man had made some kind of journey here.

That drives his curiosity to a new level, and it's only after Steve has refilled his (largely useless) drink and finds that John has been left to his own devices that he steps over, nodding in greeting as he asks: ] Mind if I join you?

matt murdock ; ota

[catholica]

01 FOOD AND BOOZE

( it's always a toss up on whether matt's going to come out to these parties or not. he knows he doesn't necessarily need to and he'll meet everyone new in due time but...well, he's found himself with a lot of time since the whole job thing so he decides that coming out isn't a bad thing to do.

he grabs a glass of ale when he gets there, wandering around from the food table and hanging out around the perimeter. he's found it's easy to listen to conversations there, pick up bits of news from people that might not necessarily share with him.

when the ale runs out, he refills it, and adds some rabbit stew to the mix because it's there and he's hungry. after his second glass of ale, he does try and get around to congratulate nadine even if they've only met each other twice. he knows that what she's done is very difficult so she deserves the accolades.

afterward, he's back to just hanging out on the fringes, glass in hand while he looks nondescript and off in his own world. )

02 ENTERTAINMENT HOUR

( ever seen a blind guy trying to create a bouquet of flowers? well, now you have. matt has the furthest thing from a green thumb but maybe wanda's influence is rubbing off on him. maybe he thinks that a nice bundle of flowers will look nice in his room.

the only thing is that he has no idea what colors the various flowers are and he has no idea if what he's put together matches at all. they certainly smell nice but colors are one of those things that he can't really pick up even with the abilities he has.

so, please enjoy his garish bouquet of flowers that are messily put together. it's not great but he's trying, he's trying. )

03 WILDCARD

( feel free to throw something at me that's different than the above. )