[ open mingle log ] birthday boy boltund

[dunchies]

WHO: Laios and friends, old and new
WHAT: A belated birthday dinner, mixed with a housewarming and welcome party
WHEN: Evening of December 1st
WHERE: Laios’s mid-tier house
WARNINGS: Pokémon as food, alcohol mention



a. appetizers

[ Look closely at the quest board lately, and you might find a posting that doesn't quite belong. A flyer, handmade yet carefully crafted, with an important announcement: Please join us for a special dinner! All are welcome!

There's a hastily made correction too, scratching off the November 26th date for December 1st. With the snowstorm and influx of newcomers, changes had to be made. No matter. The party must go on. Just be sure to follow the directions when that new date finally arrives, up the Canopy toward the far corner of the mid-tier housing. You'll eventually find a humbly decorated abode, warmly lit with candles and all manner of foods to try. There's plenty of options to choose from, ranging from soups to skewers, with respect to the various opinions on dietary choices around here.

Then, of course, front and center, are the meals made with special thanks to their contributors. Feel free to taste test them with your fellow party-goers, or perhaps ask your host what exactly might be in this thing. ]

b. entrees

[ Later into the party, you might be interested in starting up a few games to pass the time. There's always those sleepover classics, or maybe one of the board games Laios borrowed from the Archives. Both seem to be all the rage these days. The birthday boy seems plenty excited to join in for either!

For non-game enthusiasts, you're more than welcome to a slice of cheesecake — pumpkin or Pumpkaboo flavor, courtesy of the resident pirate chef Sanji. Now might even be a good time to get Laios to finally open that present you brought, after bringing it all this way. ]

c. desserts

[ It’s a bit later in the evening when Ribombee makes his brief appearance. He doesn’t have much time to stay and chat with the other guests — always a busy bee, he is — but he does manage to pull Laios outside to talk for a time. One could only imagine the birthday wishes being given to one of the guild leader's most special of boys.

Not long after arriving, Ribombee flutters off yet again, leaving behind a gift basket of fancy bottles and cheeses. Laios simply sits at the edge of the platform, staring into the distance, until the bug is finally out of view. All alone now, he lowers his head. Maybe it's time to bring him back in before it gets too cold. ]

Oh! [ Whether he knows you well or not, he puts on a smile for whoever might approach. ] S-sorry, I got a little distracted.

[ If you’re old enough, he might motion toward the basket, offering: ] Want to try some? I don’t really like to drink alone.

[ If you’re younger, or just not inclined toward alcohol, he’ll instead say: ] It’s a nice night, right? I never realized how bright the stars can get.

d. snacks

( ooc: your classic wildcard option. note that along with the meals made for the player quest, you can assume there's more standard options too, with and without meat. all prompts are open to play around with, so feel free to mingle and mix it up too. happy to toss laios at anything! )

Comments

c.

[holidaygirl1225]

[]It sure is high up here in the Canopy. If she jumped out the window, maybe she would sprout angel wings and fly away. Surely that's not beyond the scope of this world, right?

Noelle usually avoids the Canopy because there's a certain unsavory person she prefers not to speak to. But, after hearing through the grapevine that Flowey and Laios had a fight, she decided to risk it. It's unlikely Flowey would show up, and she wants to support her new running buddy.

As soon as she arrives, though, she realizes it was a mistake. The only thing she can eat are the bananas and french fries (pomme frites?), since she isn't sure if eating non-meat that was harvested from a Pokemon is vegetarian. She's too tired to talk to anyone when all they want to talk about is her disappearance. She's too young to drink.

Funny, isn't it? Obeying some arbitrary drinking age law when she's in another world-- and when she's done so much worse.

She's so entranced by the stars that it takes her several moments to realize Laios is speaking to her.]

... Oh. Yeah. [She's introduced herself to him and vice versa, but they haven't spoken much. Just running. When the wind rushes through her fur and she's exerting her body as much as it can handle, she feels... more. Less. Both, somehow, at the same time.]

I was looking for the north star, but... I can't find it. Maybe it doesn't exist in this world. [Maybe that's a sign how far they are from home.

Laios didn't offer in this version of the prompt, but she glances toward the gift basket.]

... Let me try some. I'm old enough.

[dunchies]

[ His head lifts when Noelle decides to join him. Admittedly, he wasn't expecting her to make the trek up all the way here, but a part of him is silently glad for it. Running together didn't leave much room to talk, and with his luck, he's going to need to make new friends before more get sick or change or— ]

I never noticed. [ He blinks up at the sky. As unfamiliar as it should be, he wouldn't be able to tell the difference himself. It was never something he thought to care about. Pieces of home that he never thought he'd leave behind. ] But I didn't really pay attention to the stars back home either.

[ Laios looks at her, smaller than him but not exactly tiny either. Despite the rules around here, she seems to be right around the age when he was allowed his first drink back home. That still doesn't change the fact that he doesn't remember seeing her eat much at all since she got here. ]

... Mm. It won’t be good on an empty stomach. [ There’s a hint of disappointment in his voice. Maybe the special ingredients were a bit much, if all the normal options were gone already before she could try any. ] Do you like cheese? I think there’s some bread in here too.

C - For Laios

[dripdrive]

[Despite being a bird himself, Anasui has enjoyed all the meat dishes. The Rowlet wasn't overdone, the Fletchling Bites had a good kick to them, and the Ducklett Wings were great. It's been a long time since he had meat and Anasui sure as hell enjoyed it. Even the bird sashimi was good, even if the knowledge of what happened to Fireheart added a sour flavour to it all.

Anasui has never been one for socialising. He still mingles at the party but his social battery and tolerance for idiocy depletes quickly. Eventually, it gets late enough in the night for Anasui to go actively find Laios before it gets too late (for Anasui, at least). He has a present, after all.

Once Ribombee has left, Anasui heads onto the balcony. Laios' bowed head does not escape him, but before Anasui figures out what to say, Laios is speaking first. Anasui gives a small shrug.]

Yeah, I'll have a drink. Sounds good on a cold night like this.

[Anasui walks over to Laios but doesn't sit immediately. Instead, he uses his psychic abilities to take off what looks like a neatly-wrapped hemisphere off his back and sets it to the side. Then, he sits down next to Laios, legs curled up much like an ostrich.]

What have you got? Wine? Mead? Some of that weird berry juice?

[dunchies]

[ The sound of talons on wood easily catches his attention. Despite Anasui's contribution to the feast, Laios wasn't sure how willing he'd actually be to join the commotion, but from the way he cranes his neck up with a smile, it's obvious it means quite a lot. ]

It's a nice way to finish off all that food, that's for sure.

[ He hums with a mild tone, eyes following what looks like a gift until it's on the ground. First thing's first though. ]

Shuckle wine, apparently. Ribombee knew I'd like that. [ The explanation for how it's made certainly got him excited, and yet he doesn't feel the need to get into it. ] But there's a honey mead too, if you want something a little less... [ He shrugs and leaves it at that. ]

[edgewater]

a.

[ parvati's been hanging around with a plate stacked comically high, munching away as she takes in all of the exciting new flavours. she's happy she could make it, but she is wallflowering a bit. parties aren't a thing she's done... ever, really. halcyon didn't really do 'em within her own eyes, and the few party-adjacent dos she's been to have been ruined by the need to keep the plot going. at least nobody here is inclined to murder, right...?

she's also really impressed with the casserole -- she'd put that card in there not expecting them to use it, for it was a pretty humble and specific dish, but it felt as accurate as it could be. well, as accurate as a dish substituting the two main ingredients could be. and it didn't cost a hideous amount of bits! junlei's opinion runs through her mind, this was her favourite, after all. law damnit. ]

b.

[ later on, she's less interested in the games. she got a bit too, ah, intense during the blizzard. in ways she didn't think were possible. so no games for her unless somebody wishes to literally drag her along and subsequently deal with her technobabble scrabble answers. if nothing else, she's enjoying the cheesecake very much. the sweet things appeal to her palate, after all. ]

c.

I don't usually like this stuff, but why not?

[ statements she might regret, being the absolute lightweight she is. maybe real alcohol will taste a bit nicer than the synthetic booze back home. then again, she did immediately jump into the harder shit right out of the gate last time--

she takes a seat and produces a loaf of sourdough bread loosely wrapped in a checkered cloth, freshly sliced. ] You know, back home, we used to be able to see the planet's rings in the night sky. Didn't realise how much I took that view for granted until getting here. [ it's now occuring to her just how accidentally homesick she's made herself. again.

she offers out some bread. ] Me and Six made this during the blizzard, figured you'd appreciate a loaf. Might go nice with your cheese, huh?

c!

[dunchies]

[ As a social drinker, he knows it's not for everyone, but he appreciates Parvati's willingness to try. Still, he waits to pull out one of the bottles, head tilting at her curiously. ]

I didn't know planets could have rings... [ Unless he just wasn't paying attention. The stars and moon are all he's familiar with, but even then, he hardly had much reason to look up. ] Wait, really? That's perfect! You should have some too. Looks like there's all kinds in here.

[ He carefully takes the bread with his teeth, gently setting it down in the basket before nosing around. ]

And you know, you don't have to try any of the drinks. I think they're on the sweeter side, but there might still be some regular juice left too.

a for appetizers!

[swordarc]

[III, as new as he is, has turned up to the party anyways, figuring it can't hurt to visit.

(After all, the poster says all are welcome, doesn't it?)

However, he seems to have taken to wallflowering a bit, not sure who to talk to. He doesn't even have a gift to give, due to being so new. Between that and not knowing most Pokémon here, he's resorted to hanging out on his own, nibbling on some pomme frites due to being a probably herbivorous Ralts.]

... [It's hitting him, not for the first time but perhaps more acutely than usual, that he's alone here. In the past, even at the worst times he at least had IV around as company, but here he has no one.] ...I wonder if I should just go...

[dunchies]

Oh!

[ By pure chance, Laios happens upon the Ralts munching on pomme frites all by his lonesome. As much as he's excited to see his friends, there's something special about encountering someone entirely new, especially around here. ]

Why's that? Not feeling well?

[indifferentinferno]

a. appetizers

[Why is he here? Just to suffer?

He'd spotted the small flier when taking a look at the quest board. Giving it a read over out of curiosity, and in case it offered him any work to do. As the month turned over, quests were scant as people prepared their requests. There wasn't much for him to do. And at the moment, he felt like he was going to go crazy if he sat around in the spire for any longer.]

[So he thought about it. Thought about it some more. And eventually gave in.

After all, it would at least get him up and moving about.]

[But the moment he stepped into the lively room where the dinner was being hosted, he felt a wave of regret. This was stupid. But what else was he going to do? And was he really going to let himself get intimidated out of a party? Its not like he hadn't been roped into several back on Rhodes Island.]

[... He would stay until he got his fill of food. A free meal was worth staying for. And maybe he could get a better impression of the Cheri guild, since this was their home turf. Pokemon might also be talking about their impressions of current events, the weather... all valuable things he would like to know.]

[He makes his way over to the tables, anyone who tries to talk to him along the way receives very stilted responses. They end up walking away in order to break from the awkward atmosphere.]

[Feel free to try to talk to him as well, for better or worse. Or maybe you can try to bond with him over the food? He doesn't hesitate in the face of the pokemon dishes. He seems to show for a preference for the savory foods, meals containing meat or vegetables, and avoids more of the sweeter and more desert-like foods.]


b. entrees

[He finds himself lingering. With the exception of the strange Pokemon forms, the wooded house, the different kinds of foods- okay maybe many things- but the atmosphere was strangely... familiar.

It did in fact, remind him of the few Rhodes Island parties he'd been dragged along too. Even in the cold interior of a metal landship, people managed to create their own warmth.

He stays out of the games, they're not for him. And he has no gift for the birthday boy. It wasn't a requirement, and he didn't consider himself to be much good at picking out gifts anyways. Instead he just lingers at the edge of the larger groups, idly listening to people laugh, shout, and in general make merry.

He has his own slice of cheesecake, which he hasn't touched yet. He prefers more practical foods. But he'll indulge on occasion. For now though, he's simply soaking in the atmosphere, for once not looking so severe or tense. One might even say he looks relaxed.]


d. snacks

[Feel free to wildcard me with whatever- I'm so down to clown. Come at me bro.]

b!

[dunchies]

[ Laios has been pleasantly surprised at the turnout so far. Sure, not everyone might be going for the special meals, but it's the thought that counts! The cheesecakes in particular seem to be doing well, though that might mostly be him getting an extra helping or two.

After making a few rounds between groups, he suddenly stops in place, spotting a face he hasn't seen in months, not counting the concerned visit to the clinic. ]

Flamebringer, you're— [ He cuts himself off with stunned silence. While he heard the Absol recovered a few weeks ago, this is the last place Laios expected to see him. His ears pin back, eyes still wide as ever. ] ... Are you enjoying the cheesecake?

[ He realizes after the fact that there isn't even a bite in his slice yet. ]

C

[paperceptive]

[ Odile is. Genuinely only here because Siffrin is here, really. She's been disinclined to let them out of her sight for too long lately, and whatever lingering irritation she feels for Laios is nowhere near enough to deter her.

She's spent most of the party lingering either near the Shinx, or near a wall. But the offer of drinks is...actually surprisingly welcome. ]

...alright. What is it?

[dunchies]

[ Realizing it's Odile immediately puts him on edge. As much as he enjoyed their initial meeting, Laios has since learned about her connection to Siffrin, and now can't help but look like he's seen a ghost. ]

Oh, well. It's just been really— [ She's not asking about him, she's asking about the drink. He stutters back on the right right track. ] —ehm, Sh-Shuckle wine! They ferment berries in their shell until it becomes a drink! Isn't that cool?

[ A beat. ] There's mead too.

d :3c

[shotinhead]

[ Now, while Courier Six has been enjoying the food and all, he's got a bit of a frown in his mind. He's got a small box in his hands. Does Laios celebrate the season? He had an odd feeling, like this was a better time to give a gift then just a feast--

--ah. It was a birthday. Perhaps others had celebrated theirs silently, as the year had gone on. Still. Hm.

Truly, the most remarkable bit? Courier Six was sort of. Hovering outside, using his wings properly. ]

[dunchies]

Courier Six!

[ The Dragonite is hard to miss, but only now has Laios been able to catch him. He approaches excitedly, tail wagging as he cranes his neck up. ]

You're flying!

[ Because of course that's the first thing he'd want to comment on. ]

a., for AAAAAA (open to anyone who wants to comfort or troll the mushroom)

[0dchess]

[Kinger has started to come to grips with the fact that eating meat in this world means eating people, and he is aware by now that his mushroom stalks can be plucked harmlessly. There is still some level of unease as he sees a part of his new body stuffed and served on a platter. Especially surrounded by dishes from Pokémon who weren't lucky enough to get away with just a haircut. Anyone who approaches will see this mushroom with a thousand yard stare, assuming they look close enough to realize he isn't part of the buffet!]

[holidaygirl1225]

... Hey, Kinger. [She awkwardly pushes aside her serving of the Morelull caps.] Not hungry...?

[dunchies]

[ His eyes light up at the sight of someone new. A Morelull!

... staring blankly at the stuffed Morelull caps. Maybe he should step in to explain. ]

Uh. Hello! [ Look at how innocently he's wagging his tail. ] Those caps of yours — I mean those caps over there... some other Morelull out in the forest donated those, so don't worry! [ That probably does not help make them look any tastier. ]

... We also have cheesecake?

C

[bladeofnymeia]

[The party had kind of been very distracting for Firoza - so many unusual foods! And there's games you play on a board! And and and-

And where is the Birthday Boy, she has yet to give him a special gift.

It's as Firoza realizes this that she notices Ribombee made an appearance - by seeing him leave, and Laios off by himself with a basket of goodies and a gaze set out into the distance. Firoza's head tilts, her ears twitch. She crosses over quietly, great care in handling the paper-wrapped package in her mouth, and sits next to Laios and places the gift at his paws.]

Apologies, but it completely slipped my mind before. Happy Nameday, Laios.

[Oh wait - he's offering her a drink? She smiles, a little strained, a little nervous.] Ah, no, that's fine. I'm not...partial, to alcoholic drinks.

[dunchies]

[ Instantly he feels the tension start to lessen. A small comfort, brought by the company of a friend now sitting beside him. ]

Oh, that's alright, Firoza. I can always save it for later. [ It's not for everyone, just as some food requires certain preferences. He's certainly glad enough that he saw her trying other things earlier in the night. His eyes widen down at the gift now at his feet. ] Wait, is that really for me? Can I open it now?

a (open!)

[heartonachain]

[Kris arrives late to the party, having wasted a bunch of time stopping and staring at random objects and scenery around the Canopy. They don't arrive too late for all the good food, at least—there's still plenty to go around when they shuffle through the doors, head held high to sniff the pleasant mix of aromas in the air. They make an immediate beeline for the feast, drooling with anticipation.

... except they don't seem to actually be eating anything. The Deino slowly makes their way along the edges of the buffet, sniffing and lingering at every single platter, but they never actually try to take a bite of anything. Maybe they're having a hard time deciding?

Should anyone cross their path, they turn away from the food completely, focusing their attention on a new topic.]

Whose party is this? [Genuinely, they have no goddamn clue. They're just here for the free food.]

[telewarped]

[By the time Kris shows up, Shoka is lounging at the fringes of the party and engaging in a bit of Pokémon-watching. As witness to the entire, painstaking process of them entering and scoping out the buffet without actually trying a single dish, she can't help being curious enough to approach—and just like that, they're on to another topic.

Weirdo (affectionate?).]

It's for Laios, duh. Who else would have this much mystery meat at their birthday dinner?

[There's an awkward pause before, suddenly remembering Kris' tastes, she adds:]

Don't answer that.

[dunchies]

[ Laios is busy attending to a few other guests, so it takes him another moment to notice who's shown up. His eyes instantly light up, tail already wagging before he even approaches them. Despite having a few suggestion on what to try, their question comes first. ]

—oh! It's mine. [ He laughs, only to awkwardly pause. ] ... Did I forget to my name on the poster?

[ Give him a minute. He'll realize what he just said. ]

[telewarped]

a. appetizers

[Shoka hasn't eaten meat a single time since she became a Pokémon. This is partly due to a personal distaste for hunting cute, collectible monsters with fang and claw instead of FanGO magicite, and partly due to her simply not having any carnivorous urges. While she has no idea what Mimikyu naturally eat in the wild, she'd found that she could subsist on pastries and berries, and that was fine by her.

But she was an omnivore before she became a Pokémon and the meat is already here, so nicely prepared and smelling heavenly. It'd be a shame to let it go to waste.

So she takes a Spicy Fletchling Bite for herself, delicately plucking it up in her claws and pulling it under her cat-shaped disguise rag. The process of eating must be taking place somewhere under the cloth, because she makes a small, pleasantly surprised noise before announcing:]

Low-key... I kinda love this. [And she only sounds very slightly guilty about it!] Wonder if somebody'll whip up some fried Combusken or something later, too. With Christmas coming up and all...

c. desserts

[Shoka spends some time watching Ribombee and Laios before deciding to approach. She isn't trying to be nosy, really; she just can't help being a little curious—and she still has a gift of her own to deliver anyway.

When she sees Laios dip his head, she hesitates, wondering if it might not be a good time—before deciding that now is definitely the right time and shuffling over anyway. Thankfully, the birthday boy doesn't seem to mind.

When he indicates the stars, she gazes up at the sky, the head of her disguise drooping backward as she does.]

Mm. Don't think I've ever even seen this many before. Most nights, you can't see any where I'm from.

[A set of claws emerges from under her disguise rag to deposit a small jar of Honey into his already full gift basket. It's wrapped in a bright yellow bow and decorated with a tiny, dangling lizard, sewn together from wedges of fabric and stuffed with scraps of yarn.

There was already plenty of honey present in the night's dishes, but she didn't know that when she decided to bring the jar over, and it can't hurt to have more for later, right?]

Here. Didn't have a chance to give it to you earlier, so...

desserts!

[dunchies]

Really? I didn't even think that'd be possible.

[ He looks up again with her, unable to fully picture just how pitch black it would be without those specks of light dotting the night sky. Back home, he had plenty to stare at, not that he really cared to. Not once did he think that'd be something he was taking for granted.

Hearing her deposit the jar instantly gets his attention back. His head tilts down at the honey, already excited to try it later, before he notices the small lizard too. His tail idly starts to wag. ]

You... you really got this for me? [ He gently puts a paw on the top, as if to stake his claim. ] This is perfect! I wanted to make a few more desserts with this actually, but I didn't get enough. [ He also sampled a lot more than he should have from his batch, but he's not going to say all that. ]

[timeexistseverywhere]

A. Appetizers

[A party up in the trees...? Aegiomon has only been to one party in his entire life so far, and funnily enough, it was exactly like this. In the trees with a lot of food. He remembers eating so much, that he nearly got sick and he passed out from a food coma. It was...really fun. His longing for something comforting and familiar outweighs the awkwardness of not knowing the birthday boy. What even ARE birthdays?? Being the bravest ever, he peeks inside the admittedly very nice mid-tier housing, scouting to see if he recognizes anyone here.

He doesn't, but that's okay, his reaction isn't at all negative.]

Woah! There are a lot of Pokémon here!

[And they're all here for one guy?! He must be popular...]

B. Entrees

[While people are playing games, Aegiomon has snuck off to take a better look at the food. Unlike the aforementioned party in the Digital World, he's found his diet is much more limited in this Skiddo body, and he sadly has to pass on the meats. It's...frustrating, because everything looks and smells so good. At least there's bananas.

One thing does catch his attention more than the other dishes, and he can't help but accidentally verbalize.]

Ew, who would want a cake made out of cheese? Isn't that...already just a chunk of cheese anyway? Unless they're frosting it, and that's just worse...

entrees!

[dunchies]

[ His head immediately turns. Who is this goat and why is he saying these awful, untrue things about cheesecake. Laios approaches cautiously, unsure of what to make of him, but his suspicions are paused when he catches a whiff of those leaves. How delightfully relaxing.

Okay, maybe this goat just never got to try it before. Laios can play nice. ]

Um, actually— [ Pushing up his metaphorical nerd glasses here. He may not be a baker, but the man loves his cheese enough to know this. ] —it's usually made with a cream cheese, not hard cheeses like cheddar. It's a lot more mild and sweet. You don't even need frosting!