OPEN💗 LATE VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY

[peoplewatch]

WHO: Newbies, oldbies, everyone is welcome!
WHAT: A Late Valentine’s Party mingle, since Valentines’ Day was over Kaiju month…
WHERE: “MANTRA”, an underground, alternative club in Neo Toyko
WHEN: March 10th
WARNINGS: Romance and shippy things, alcohol, hookah, suggestive things. Anything NSFW is to be appropriately labelled.

Around the 10th of March, Outsiders will receive a message in their ocular inbox from Kabru, the Outsider also known as @ rasgulla. The message reads:

“To my dearest friends and teammates,

If we haven’t met before, call me Kabru. When not on missions as an Outsider, I work as a freelance event planner for various businesses and private organizations within Neo Tokyo.

Valentines’ Day is a popular holiday in Japan that was sadly interrupted last month by the kaiju. My current client is holding a belated Valentines’ Day event and they would really like the Outsiders to come. There will be plenty of food and things to do. Even if you're not looking for a romantic time, I'd encourage you to come!

Please wear something comfortable. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Yours sincerely,

Kabru.”



A location pin comes attached with the invitation. It looks like Kabru’s become more adept at technology over the months.

Follow the location pin and you’ll find yourself in front of ‘Mantra’ in metro Tokyo, an underground, alternative club making waves for its uniqueness in the club scene. Outsiders will all be allowed in without much fuss. The owner of the club is a gentle woman who kindly requests that all guests take their shoes off and leave them at the side. There is a lingering scent of incense and the people hanging out in the club look remarkably calm as they relax; cuddling and enjoying each other’s company. What kind of Valentine’s day party is this? A New Age, alternative kind, apparently. The owner of the club wants to be promoting togetherness in a completely different way.

Thankfully, finger foods and alcohol appear to be abundant, even if Kabru would really like you to be mingling with the people! There is a bar with free flowing wines and spirits, and a table with hors d'oeuvres and small desserts as accompaniment. These can include sushi rolls, small sandwiches, crab cake bites, small skewers, chocolates, little cakes and tarts. Food aside, there is live music playing and guests are highly encouraged to dance.

Naturally, couples are also coupling up, but anything too raunchy is of course cordoned off to a private room. Also, ignore the people smoking electronic hookah at the side…

What can you do besides eat and drink?

1. DANCING 💗

The DJ mostly plays trance and synth pop music in the background but he’s happy to take requests. On the dancefloor,there’s always a group of tipsy guests dancing their hearts out, some dancing alone and others dancing as a couple. There’s no right or wrong way to dance and most people will not cast judgement. Give it a try? Better hurry, before some of the overeager guests try to drag you in.

2. CUDDLE PILE 💗
Numerous cushions are set out around the venue for guests to lounge in and cuddle. It’s highly encouraged, in fact! Especially after a vigorous dance session. There are people lying together in larger groups, and couples choosing to spend their time lounging and enjoying each other’s company. Finding it difficult to relax? The owner might give you a whiff of her special perfume that’s guaranteed to put you in a state of complete calm. It might even make you more open about lying together with someone else.

3. SPEED DATING 💗

There’s a speed dating round going on in one side of the club. Guests are numbered and paired up randomly, then given a short amount of time to get to know each other on a speedy little date. Don’t know what to say? A list of questions will flow in through the oculars to give you a prompt. (Please refer to here and here for some examples or make up your own!)

4. MAKE SWEET TREATS 💗

In the spirit of Valentines’ Day, the owner of the club is hosting a quick desserts-making workshop at the event. Guests will be provided with ingredients and taught to make chocolate or cupcakes, and they will get the chance to decorate it however they like. It’s highly encouraged to make something to give to your sweetheart or the person you admire. Do you really want to be the person eating their own chocolate on Valentines’ Day?

5. PARTY GAMES 💗

What’s a party without party games? Throughout the night, people will be getting drunk and playing local drinking games such as the King’s Game. Eventually, other games from the West get introduced by other people. These games include Truth or Dare, Spin the Bottle and 7 Minutes in Heaven.

6. TAKE SOMEONE HOME 💗

If it looks like you're having a pretty good time with someone else, a helpful robot will approach you and provide you both with a key to a private room. Some of these private rooms are normal and some are themed, similar to a love hotel. There's no need to actually do anything raunchy of course. You could just cuddle up and enjoy the warmth of the digital fireplace! Everything one might need for a nice time together (condoms, lubricant etc) will be readily available.

As the event planner, Kabru will be buzzing around and making sure everything runs smoothly, but he can be stopped for questions or concerns (pls be nice to him he has anxiety). Characters can sit out of anything they want, but drunk and overeager guests might decide to drag them in.

[ OOC: I put this up so everyone can enjoy a chill mingle after the chaos of last month! And also because we didn’t get the opportunity to have do much for Valentines’ Day given the timing. Naturally, please label any NSFW, add your content warnings appropriately, and state your boundaries and preferences in terms of shipping/gen/being tagged by younger/older characters. ]

Comments

[sanguivorous]

[The way Taryon quickly shuffles his hand into his pocket doesn't go unnoticed, and for some reason it makes him feel . . . odd. Uncomfortable? Bad. That was the simple way to put it. He is no stranger to people remarking how cold he feels, and he would always respond in a purr about how they could help warm him up, but seeing Taryon hide his hand away as if to keep it away from him was new.

He blinks as Taryon began talking, a welcomed distraction from this terrible new feeling.]

Oh, it was no trouble. However... [A pause as he leans in, a charming smile on his lips.] ...there is something I would like to ask in return.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon leans away slightly with Astarion's approach.]

...Is it something I should be worried about? I mean, I trust you as a friend, but I really don't want to go to jail.

[It's always a narrow escape, whether in Exandria or on Earth. His luck has to run out at some point.]

[sanguivorous]

[This reaction doesn't offend him at least, it's fair enough. But with a playful note in his voice, he answers:]

Not unless magic is suddenly criminalized. A bit of presidigitation, if you don't mind?

[He straightens himself out while pulling out the bit of his shirt with the red stain on it.]

Surely a fastidious gentleman such as yourself has that spell in your repertoire.

[likemybooks]

Um.

[His eyes dart around the room in a telltale sign of panic. He's a budding artificer who uses tools to cast his spells based on the UA ruleset for Artificers, and he didn't think much about preparing something for mundane spells. Presidigitation wasn't flashy and worthy of including in his autobiography.]

I...let me see what I can do. One second. [He raises a finger, then turns in his heel to run for his bag. It should be a simple enough spell to imbue into a coin, he just has to figure out the components and write them down.]

[sanguivorous]

[He obeys and stands there for a moment, then asks himself why the hells was he obeying him for. Following him to his bag, he comes up behind him, perhaps unheard, and eventually asks:]

So you can't just cast it like a wizard or a sorcerer?

[He knew Taryon tended to use items as a means to spellcast, but Astarion had assumed it was merely a clever way to have a spell on hand in case you ran out of your own magical essence, not a necessity. Artificers weren't very well known to him.]

[likemybooks]

I'm not a wizard or any of those fellows that focus solely on the esoteric side of spellcasting. [Meaning they he swears he's not that much of a nerd. With his hand resting gracefully on his hip, he raises his chin.] I imbue my powers into objects, and only some are available at command.

[Which doesn't include useful cantrips.]

I mean, I could potentially follow the proper hand flourishes for it, but I'm a worldly man, not someone who wishes for things to come into existence.

[sanguivorous]

Hm. That doesn't sound as convenient as those esoteric hand flourishes. [He doesn't look too impressed at the moment.] Now, don't get me wrong, I see the benefit in having a coin that can help you fly in a jot, or a giant automaton fighter, but what if you just want a good old fashioned Fireball?

[He illustrates this by holding up a hand with closed fingers then throwing them open, as if an explosion.]

[likemybooks]

Then you should speak to a wizard...or I build something that casts it. [Taryon hesistates towards the end of the sentence, wondering if he should come off as more aggressive, but ends up rather uncertain. Can Taryon tinker a fireball?] If I had some gems, it would be easier.

[He attempts to imitate Astarion's hand movements, but it just feels like he's imitated gestures he's seen drawn in a manual.]

Besides, it's way cooler to run into battle, blade drawn, in armor, fighting the enemy head-on.

[sanguivorous]

That I cannot disagree with. Though, my preference is lunging from the darkness and inflicting a startling blow. [He titters, a bit more blood-thirsty of a sound than his previous giggles.]

[likemybooks]

[Why are so many adventurers eager for a fight? Taryon's face is stoic as Astarion revela in his love of backstabbing.]

Anyway. [He presses the pads of his fingers together, palms facing each other.] We should wash that before someone notices. There's soap in he restrooms.

[sanguivorous]

[Charging in recklessly or attacking from the shadows, both help you win in the real world, Taryon.

He looks vaguely disappointed.]

Really? We've just decided on soap and water then?

[likemybooks]

Oh. [He must have been looking forward to having magic used for mundane applications. Now Taryon would be a real jerk not to fulfill his wish.]

I...will prepare the spell. You should find a spot where no one can see the mess for a few minutes.

[sanguivorous]

I...what?

[Astarion is starting to get whiplash. He just didn't want to expend the effort of getting red out of a white shirt using elbow grease, it wasn't as if he found it impressive.

With a quick shake of his head, he just . . . goes with it. He gestures at the nearest corner, walking toward it.]

I'll just wait over there, shall I?

[likemybooks]

Alright.

[Now that Taryon has a new goal ("make Astarion think I'm really cool"), he runs to the table and takes a napkin. He scribbles some runes, writing out what components are associated with each part of the spell. It should be easy, if any wizard can do it, so if he perhaps uses a towels to control the stains.

Actually...yes! If he can infuse some of the spell into his glove he could control the magic....his brownish furrowed as he does his god damn homework during a party.]

[sanguivorous]

[He leans against a wall and...waits, it seems.

Taryon begins a process that is confounding to him. He's writing on napkins, and looking at this and that. Staring at his glove for a moment for some reason? Is this how artificers work? He's both fascinated and horrified.

This is why he just stabs things in the back.

After awhile, he pushes off the wall and approaches him again.]

This is madness, Taryon.

[likemybooks]

[This is just what being a nerd is like. Taryon stops only after he completes one line of runic coding.]

This is arcane magic. This is what any magic user studies to cast a fireball in he first place.

[sanguivorous]

[Taryon looks so dedicated and excited to be in the middle of this arcane stuff, but Astarion is an impatient man.]

I changed my mind, it would be far more interesting watching you do this to make a fireball gem. Right now, I would be more impressed if you did wash out this stain with elbow grease.

[likemybooks]

[His smile falters.] Oh. [He was so excited to puzzle out the spell, but...

The smile returns.] So you don't believe I know how to wash my own clothes, do you? I may have grown up with servants, but I've learned a thing or two about worldly matters. Come.

[He stands and beckons Astarion to follow him to the bathrooms. Oh, is he so, so glad that Vex taught him the basics of homemaking when they lived together.]

[sanguivorous]

[What an eager pup, ready to please no matter what. The cupcake was a good move, he thinks.

He thinks to tell him he can take care of his own clothes (gods know how often he has had to get blood out of his shirts), but...]

You're right, I don't believe it.

[likemybooks]

And that's where you'll be proven wrong, my friend. [Taryon pushes the door to the bathroom and steps aside with a bow before following him inside. This totally does not look suspicious from the outside.

Taryon grabs a square of paper towel and stations himself at the soap dispenser to pile up some suds.] Untuck your shirt first. I'll need a good grip on it as I launder it.

[sanguivorous]

[Does Astarion smirk at someone that glanced at them as Taryon ushered him in? Yes, he does, even if it would have to be a particularly wild night for Astarion to be caught even kissing in a water closet.

He follows him to the sinks, grimacing at the large mirror that hangs over them, showing just his empty clothing. How he loathes seeing that. He turns slightly to focus more on Taryon, trying to keep them out of his peripheral, and tsks at the suggestion.]

And risk you wetting my pants? No thanks.

[He pulls his shirt free, slipping it over his head, seeming to have no issue with his half nakedness as he holds it out to the man.]

Here/

[likemybooks]

[As Taryon approaches the sink, he's halted by the sight of empty, floating clothes in the mirror. His friends had fought a vampire long before they met Taryon, and they had talked about his powers, but seeing this phantom in the reflection is far more unsettling that reading about it in a reference book.

The shirt floats upward, wrinkling around the shoulders, then flattens as it's held out towards Taryon by an invisible hand.] Oh- right.

[He faces the elf and grips the shirt. His eyes are naturally drawn to the article of clothing, but just behind it is a slender, pale torso. It's ludicrous seeing the fine pants paired with a bare chest, and Taryon catches himself staring for a second before swiftly turning on his heel, sticking the offending stain under the faucet, and silently lathering the area.]

[sanguivorous]

[Taryon's staring at his naked torso, (lean, yes, but still well-toned, one of the few perks of his vampirism), Astarion is surprised to find where he would usually find a revulsion at someone ogling him, but in this moment...well, he doesn't want to explore what the feeling is that he's having, but it's not that. Maybe because the human had tried to look away rather than make some vile comment or try to touch him? Or something deeper...

Taryon begins trying to scrub at the spot, and Astarion steps closer to watch him work with a critical eye, but a small smirk on his face. His chest is just centimeters from that scrubbing arm.]

Hot or cold water?

[likemybooks]

[He's distressingly close, and Taryon's scrubbing slows so he doesn't accidentaly jerk into Astarion's ever-approaching body and...hurt him? Feel something worse?]

Cold. My friend said to use cold. [And he will trust Vex's rustic wisdom as she's the one who grew up in the forest. He runs the soapy fabric under the chilly stream for a few seconds as he rubs the stain thoroughly.

What next...? Right, wringing the water out and checking the progress. He keeps his body rigid, facing forward without angling towards or away from Astarion. He cannot allow himself to acknowledge the proximity of their bodies.]

[sanguivorous]

Fascinating.

[He feigns interest with a curious tone of voice, as if he didn't know himself. As Taryon opens the fabric to check it, Astarion puts a hand on his shoulder and leans in more to look over it--just so he can see the state of the stain too, of course.]

Hmm, looking good so far.