you and me in the moonlight

[crosslaced]

Who: You!
What: A year end party MINGLELOG to help everyone recover from the Shit we’ve been through.
When: Forwarddated to Nov 24
Where: Enso E4, close to the ST Temple
Warnings: Mark as necessary, but none expected.

As the end of November draws near…… it’s time for that player plot the mods hinted at in their latest announcement.

Laurent’s Witch Labyrinth! -no, actually, it’s just a party.

[preparation]

All day on the 24th people are hard at work setting up on the golden beaches of Enso. The Storyteller’s Temple can be seen from the site and vice versa; it’s just a short walk away. There’s quite a bit to be done, so every extra pair of hands are welcome!

[the party]

As evening falls, a series of torches light up the party site for the lost; most prominent are the three large campfires spaced out across the beach, offering a variety of gathering spots for those who don’t like the loud partying going on at the other one.

There’s more than enough food to go around. An entire Cariborn is being dug up from the sandy soil way up the beach, having been roasted in the ground. There’s a wide variety spread out on tables… of handwaved origin… maybe they’re the ones left around from 4/20?? It’s probably fine. Herb- baked vegetables, fresh fruits, meat of various types, pizza!! and yes, Muffet’s Magic Blackberry Alcohol abound.

We’ve also got party favors. Amongst them, it seems like..... owo are these sparklers?

Come hang out! It’s a well-deserved break.

[activities]

The children (and adults so-inclined) have some cute party games to have fun with. There’s a simple little ringtoss area set up, with rings that aren’t even proper circles (listen, Laurent tried) and wooden stakes in the ground to be ringed.

Across the wide stretch of sand there's a lot that can be done- want to build some sandcastles? Pick some shells? Fight some crabs? The beach is dotted with doodles in the sand, inviting you to join in.

The biggest attraction is perhaps the petting zoo- well, it’s a cluster of animals just hanging out, but you get the idea. Located far up on the beach and away from the danger of the waves, the petting zoo has three whole Chocobos, two whole Tigerlilies (one of which is clearly guarding the Chocobos), and one whole horse. Sometimes two horses, but the grey wandering one is wearing a plaque that says “I BITE. PET ME CAREFULLY.”

[storyteller?]

Yes, ST-chan is invited! I’m leaving it to them to top-level or tag out at their leisure. Keep an eye out for the bunny god, they’re Coming.

Comments

[devilstongue]

That's very good!

[ Molly says with a sweeping flick of his tail, grinning at her. ]

You can do it if you change your technique a bit, I'm sure. Just move it more in a circle rather than from hand to hand.

[ He slows his own juggling down a bit, showing her a little before he catches the apples in his palms and uses some slight of hand to make them 'disappear'. (It doesn't matter that the apples fall out of his sleeves thanks to him not wearing his normal shirt.) He gives a showy bow, clearly in his element. ]

You know, in all the confusion from last time we met, I'm not sure I even got your name? That's a tragedy, isn't it!

[catpiper]

[Cool, so she doesn't need any kind of otherworldly arcane powers to throw fruit in the air. There's an intense expression on her face as she watches his hands, unable to catch how they disappear, which is definitely a trick way out of her wheelhouse. She doesn't seem to notice the ones that plop out conveniently after they 'disappear'-he's just hoarding some apples too. It's fine.

She taps her apples together, clapping for him in the dumbest way possible, and bows back. Not that she did anything extraordinary. She just wants to copy him.]

It's Ren-that's who I am. Now it's not a tragedy.

[But she does remember his name at least and has to ask-]

Did you find Beau? Did you get to hold her hand?

[devilstongue]

[ She's an excellent audience and it felt good to show off a little bit. Molly missed the circus sometimes, but the past was the past and he kept always looking forward. That didn't mean he'd happily be a bit of a clown right now, though!

(Especially with the way he fumbles that apple magic. Oh well.)

Her little applause is weird and adorable, and so is her bow. He returns it with a swish of his tail, grinning. ]

Mollymauk Tealeaf, Molly to my friends. We're definitely friends!

[ He's about to say something else and then chokes on his words with a cough as the girl mentions Beau like that. ]

Moonweaver, no! She punched me a couple of times and then we talked shit. She's like an annoying sister!

[catpiper]

[The we're definitely friends sends a surge of happiness through her and the smile that lights up her whole face is undoubtedly because of that one comment. It's Molly from here out.

But Moonweaver is-who?

It takes her a second to remember nicknames. This could be one of them and somehow, even though she's only known Beau a couple months, her reaction isn't shocking. She seems. Active. Although punching would be the last thing on her mind when meeting up with an old friend. You can still hold hands with your sister!! That's better than violence!! And didn't Murasaki tell her 'shit' was a secret cat language? So many people know it. Maybe he's a cat too?? Who knows.]

Did it hurt when she hit you and talked shit? Are you okay?

[devilstongue]

[ Mollymauk is the last person in the world(s) who should even begin to try to explain theology to Ren, so a nickname it will be.

Still, he's not the smartest man around so when the girl worries that he's been hurt, he makes a wounded face just to fuck with Beau later. Payback and all that. ]

Oh yes, it hurt a lot! I had bruises for days!

[ It's how Beau shows her love, really. ]

It's all good now, though. She just punches me sometimes.

[ Like the times he gets up naked and takes 0.2 seconds too long to put on pants. ]

Are you having fun at the party?

[catpiper]

[What the hell, Molly? He slides over that tidbit of information like I'm hurt doesn't mean anything. She looks him over, a bit nervous, despite his happy demeanor. She doesn't see any bruises now, but judging from his words, it's bound to happen again.

She's gotta call Beau!! Give your friends bacon not beatings.]

You have to say 'Don't be mean' then she'll know she can't punch you.

[No Hitting. No Fighting.]

Yes, this kind of thing is fun. Everyone is smiling a lot and their hearts are very warm. Yours is too, right? You're happy right now?

[devilstongue]

[ He spreads his arms out as she looks him over, showing her that he's not hurt. She sounded a little bit too worried, after all, and Molly is trying to be a jerk to Beau, not Ren. ]

If it was only that easy! I'm pretty certain that telling her not to be mean would be like telling her not to breathe.

[ It was kind of who she was, after all. ]

...and yes, I'm having a great time. My heart is very full. This is a good place, despite the strange things we've seen.

[catpiper]

[Not only does she scan his body, she does a little circle around him while his arms are extended to make 100% sure he's okay. She doesn't see any bruising? And if he's able to move about and juggle, it must not hurt. That's good.

And she comes full circle, standing on her tiptoes to check for scratches or chips on his face and horns. Nothing. Nice. Content with her quick assessment, she finally pulls back and lets him be.]

It's very good and if you see strange things that are scary, you can hold someone's hand until it's not scary anymore. Everyone will let you do that kind of thing.

[She would inquire more about it, but everything is semi-weird here at the best of times, for reasons good and bad.]

I'll show you places to hide too. You can go there if someone tries to punch you.

[Or if he's being chased by gun wielding monkeys or spirit leeches.]

[devilstongue]

[ He lets her walk around him and assess any damage (there's none), even bending down again so she can check his face and horns.

When she pulls back and speaks, Molly stands up completely again and looks at Ren as she tells him smart little things that were good for little girls to know.

Less effective for him, but he definitely appreciates the thought. ]

Don't worry! If someone that isn't my friend tries to punch me, I have magic words that will stop them.

[ Or, you know, spells that do psychic damage by mocking them. It's hopefully effective against gun-wielding monkeys?? ]

Anyway, we should be talking party things, right?

[catpiper]

[If the magic words are anything like the magic her family casts on occasion, she really doesn't need to worry about him. Even Barry has tricks that keep him safe. So that's fine. She's okay with that and nods in approval, as if he needed it to continue on with his day.]

Okay. You should write them down so you don't ever forget them.

[Is her final piece of ~~**amazing**~~ advice before she does a little twirl back towards the party. What are party things? She glances around, taking in what's happening around her and asks-]

What's your favorite 'party thing?' Do you like petting zoos? And food? And dancing?

[devilstongue]

[ Pretty much, yep. ]

I will never forget them, I promise you that.

[ Hypothetically, at least. They're literally in his blood.

Then Ren asks what his favorite party thing is, and Molly beams like she just said the magic word. ]

What don't I like about it? It's a marvelous thing, a party. It brings everyone together and fills them with all the good things in life. Food, drink, happiness.

[ He smiles and throws a hand out to gesture to the people there, all enjoying themselves (mostly). ]

The petting zoo is new to me, but I love new things. Dancing's a favorite, as well.

[catpiper]

[Molly's speaking her language. It does bring people together, make them smile, make them happy-she can look around and see her family and friends enjoying themselves. Most of them, anyway, and that's what counts. Those who don't seem to be enjoying themselves are quickly brought into the fray anyway.

She does a twirl towards the biggest group of partygoers and-]

We should look for people who are smiling and I'll say 'You have to dance with Molly.'

[BEST PLAN.]

[devilstongue]

[ BEST PLAN. ]

Now we're talking! That is an absolutely excellent idea.

[ It would be easier with some music, but beggars can't be choosers and all that. It's a party and Mollymauk wants to move, to laugh and to make people smile.

Looking at Ren, he offers her his hand. ]

Will you have the first dance?

[catpiper]

[That request is all it takes for her to spin back, grabbing his outstretched hand with a huge smile on her face.]

Yes, then I'll take you to your 'second' and 'third' and 'fourth' dance. You can keep going until your feet get really tired.

[Which might be awhile, with this goblin. She really likes dancing and isn't super great it at it, but at least she's barefoot and it probably won't hurt if she steps on his feet a few times.]