[EVENT | MYSTERY GAMES] PARTY LOG

[ironwood]

Characters: Arno Dorian, Aya, China Sorrows, Gene Khan, Hiro Hamada, Jack Frost, Klaus Reinherz, Midii Une, Pepper Potts, Raine Sage, Valdis, Zelgadis, and ALL THE FOREIGNERS.
Date: 31 August 2015 (2016 in-game)
Location: Courtyard of Public Opinion, with outreaches into Central Sector (‘after-parties’, if you will.)
Situation: The Mystery Games have ended, the points have been tallied, and the awards have been declared! Now it’s time to celebrate the victories, the near-misses, the sportsmanship, the camaraderie, the teamwork, and the results!
Warnings/Rating: None yet, but please label threads as needed.

The answers to the crimes were publicly announced on the 29th, much to the chagrin of quite a few teams who didn’t manage to solve theirs in time. The post-Mystery-Games party begins on the 31st, with the bulk of the feast and the awards taking place in the Courtyard of Public Opinion. Since the party continues late into the night, however, a lot of the celebration spills out into Central Sector – it’s not uncommon to find small groups of drunk kedan right on the borders of the Sector, happily demanding that uninvolved passersby help them celebrate and immediately forgetting those same passersby the moment they’re out of sight.

Thanks to the water-producing efforts of the Foreigners, there is a little more water available at the feast than expected -- enough that the rations have been lifted slightly for the event. Only slightly, mind; the Woodsmen are keeping a close eye on the limits, which might explain why there’s an excess in alcoholic drinks over the course of the night. Likewise, there is a minor limitation on foodstuffs, with the feast not quite as opulent as in the past -- but none of it goes to waste, and no one is begrudged seconds if seconds are available.

The Courtyard and surrounding areas have all been lit with the traditional red paper lanterns, and the atmosphere in general is one of collective victory, regardless of which teams actually won their respective events. Everyone is invited to this party, whether they were involved in the Mystery Games or not! Games participants, however, might find themselves in possession of the last leg of meat during the feast, or the target of a tirade of questions during an after-party. For a single night, they’re practically celebrities.

---

LINKS
Investigation log | OOC post | Crime #1 Awards | Crime #2 Awards | Crime #3 Awards | The Feast | After-Parties

OOC
This log will be usable for both August AC and September AC, but cannot be used for both. Just make sure you don’t link the same threads for both and you’ll be fine! (There will be a reminder in both AC posts as well.)

Some starters have been provided for each awards ceremony, the general feast, and the after-parties, but feel free to label specific in-game locations for each new thread as needed! Players are free to decide what ICly occurred during their characters’ investigations and where their teams placed, so long as it doesn’t conflict with the information given in their crime’s awards starter.

Likewise, the mods will not be NPCing anyone for the purposes of this log, so please feel free to handwave NPC interactions and/or NPC necessary kedan as needed for your threads!

Comments

THE FEAST

[ironwood]

There are two noticeably different sides to the feast. The first one lasts for about twenty minutes, and it’s pretty much what the Foreigners would expect to accompany an awards ceremony. There’s laughter and pleasant conversation. Food gets passed around. Actors from the Mystery Games perform short skits around the tables to delight and entertain the feast-goers, some even picking up instruments or singing.

The second side of the feast appears when the rowdier teams from The Serpent’s Demise begin involving the crowd in their little self-contained ‘Peanut War’. At first, there’s mild groaning, polite sidestepping, and quiet complaints. Towards the end of the feast, however, at least one entire half of the Courtyard is fully embroiled in a bead-throwing fight.

OTA

[aquanimity]

Though she wasn't involved in the games herself, Aqua joins in the celebratory feasting with pleasure. She recalls the February bonfires with fondness, and if this is any similar, she is certain she'll enjoy it as well. Aqua seats herself at a table about middling distance from where the awards are being presented, and happily watches the proceeds while engaging in the occasional brief chat with the kedan nearby.

It's a fun night, and even when she isn't speaking with the kedan, Aqua is open to any who would sit with her. It is a time to enjoy oneself, after all!

[wrathfulkhan]

While it has been fun to enjoy the festivities with his team, Gene's decided to wander around the feast festivities - or feastivities - stag for a little while. Blue hair catches his eye, and he turns to see Aqua.

He approaches, drink in hand. "Hey, Aqua."

[aquanimity]

Aqua looks up at the familiar voice, and smiles brightly. "Hello, Gene! Enjoying the festivities?" As she speaks, she scoots her chair to the side to more easily offer the empty seat next to her. "Feel free to sit down - there's no one taking this spot."

[wrathfulkhan]

"They're a nice cap to the fun of the Games, though I'm usually not one for parties." Gene admits, and sits down in the vacant seat. "How about you?"

[aquanimity]

"Oh yes, you participated in the Games, didn't you? It sounds like it was fun." Aqua takes a sip from her drink - though there is less food and drink one would expect at a party such as this, it's still enough for her.

"I'm doing well, myself." The party has certainly done work to lift her spirits. "I think I've been to more celebrations like this here in Keeliai than I'd ever been to before; it's fun to be a part of."

[wrathfulkhan]

"I think I have, too," Gene says. "It's definitely been something to get used to." And truthfully, he hasn't been as averse to it as he'd been during the first party he'd been to at Sinbrilee. He's beginning to come out of his shell. Only took him three years.

"It's been nice to have some fake drama to focus on, for a change."

[aquanimity]

"It has been, yes. But it's been fun, too." After all, it had been at the bonfire celebrations where she had learned of Xion's ability to wield the Keyblade. And speaking of Xion....

Aqua nods, a somber expression edging its way in. "There's been a lot going on these last few months, hasn't there?" The soul gem muggings, the cultists, the sinking of the turtle... and that was barely scratching the surface.

[wrathfulkhan]

Gene nods too, his expression darkening. "There has. I think things are more volatile now than they ever were when we were under the shadow of Malicant." At least back then, the kedan weren't warring with each other and the other civilizations weren't treating Keeliai like a prize to be won.

His ruminations are interrupted by a storm of beads from the nearby bead fight that has encroached upon their conversation. He fishes one out of his drink. That's just rude, guys, enbeadening a man's alcohol.

"What...is going on."

/pounces on

[lasergrenades]

Although the Games hadn't gone exactly as Pepper had imagined, it still was an awesome event and she had a lot of fun. She's also pleased that there is a party, and not only that, but that the party is open to everyone. It reminds her a little of New Years in Manhattan.

She's wandering around with a plate of food, searching for a seat when she spots a familiar shock of blue hair, and makes a beeline for its owner.

"Hi Aqua!" Pepper beams at the young woman. "Isn't this awesome? This food smells great, I can't wait to try, like, everything. I haven't seen you in a while, how have you been? Mind if I sit with you?"

slides in here last minute

[makesright]

"Are there any festivals where you come from quite like this?" Thomas asks as he sits with Aqua, smiling as he takes in the atmosphere. "It feels a bit like the Fourth of July back home."

OTA

[makesright]

Thomas often fancied himself a man who defied expectations. He worked in innovation, progress and wonder, always overstepping the line between himself and the impossible. With enough drive and creativity, surely anything could be accomplished.

And then there were some expectations Thomas was more than happy to meet. In this instance, well... a rather sizable man enjoying a grand meal. This was a celebration, anyway; Why not indulge a bit?

Of course, others at the table might have a thing or two to say about his portion sizes -- he was certainly trying to make sure there was enough to go around, but everything looked so delicious.

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony is in no position to be passing judgement on portion sizes.

Despite having already consumed more than enough for one meal at the table, he's now walking around with another fully-heaped plate, combining socializing with more eating. There are a lot of perks to Extremis - and all of them require energy. Tony's baseline caloric intake is outrageous.

He smiles when he sees a familiar face, and makes his way over to Tom (dodging a few 'peanuts' along the way). "Hey, Dr. Light. Oh— you've, uh, got something in your soup, I think." Another stray 'peanut.' Those bead-throwing hooligans are a menace to all this delicious food!

[makesright]

Tom looks down to his food, then winces in response, picking the small object out of his soup. "Ah. Thank you, Tony." He pauses to glance back at the bead-throwing hooligans around. "If they thought I needed more minerals in my diet, you'd think they'd have the decency to tell me face to face," he adds with a smirk.

[highprofilerichkid]

"I don't think beads are a great source of trace nutrients anyway," Tony says, laughing. "At least the food's good - with or without peanuts." He's had to pick out a couple, himself. "Were you on one of the mystery-solving teams?"

[makesright]

"This is true. I doubt they're really digestible at all. Probably will sit with years of swallowed gum, I'm sure." He inspects another bead that feel into his meat, flicking it away idly.

"No, I decided to sit it out and observe this time around. Maybe another time."

[highprofilerichkid]

"Pretty sure that gum thing is a myth." Tony grins and takes a bite of his food (after checking for beads).

"I didn't do it either, but Gene did. All our real mysteries are enough for me. Seems like everybody had fun, though." Everybody is certainly having fun now, at least. Plenty of food and alcohol tend to put people in a good mood.

[makesright]

"It certainly looked that way."

He smiles at Tony, raising an eyebrow. "What sort of mysteries do you solve back home, by the way? I get so involved talking about science advances I forget to ask about everyone's personal lives. You're a brilliant young man; You must be quite the detective back home."

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony's not sure he'd call himself a 'detective,' but hey, he'll take the compliment. Dammit Tom, don't inflate his ego any more!

"Oh, you know - uncovering corporate espionage, figuring out who's secretly a supervillain and trying to kill me this week, unlocking the mysteries of ancient alien technology... that sort of thing."

[craftlife]

Deon had been keeping himself to himself this past month - Vincent's arrival had shaken him up quite a bit, and whenever he thought he was doing better he saw Vincent on the network - but a party this big was enough to draw him out. Normally he isn't one for parties, but...he has to admit even to himself that he needs to get out more.

"Dr. Light!" he says with a smile. "Mind if I join you?"

[makesright]

"Deon!" He called back, beckoning his friend to the table with a sweep of his arm. "Of course, any time! Sorry I've been such a hermit as of late!"

[craftlife]

"Ah, well, so have I," he admitted, and went to go sit by his friend. "I keep forgetting that I don't have to keep to myself like I did back home."

[makesright]

Thomas laughs. "It's easy when you're set into a routine. But that's what friends are for; Shaking things up a bit."

He picks a bead out of his meal and gives it a playful toss at Deon's nose.

[craftlife]

Deon is very briefly nonplussed at the bead toss. It bounces right off his nose. (Good aim, Thomas.)

"Wha--"

And then: MORE BEADS. A scattering of fake currency beads lands on the table with a ratatat sound.

"This is definitely not the kind of party I'm used to." The only parties he's used to are LAN parties. Nerrrrddd!

[makesright]

"Well, if you can't beat them..." Tom glances back at some of the other partygoers, sweeping a handful of beads from the table onto a clean dish and sliding it in Deon's direction.

"Make alliances."