(mingle) PLEASE ACCEPT THESE ROASTED BIRDS

[vestigemods]

PLEASE ACCEPT THESE ROASTED BIRDS

NOVEMBER 27TH

► TRYPTOPHAN MAY BE A MYTH, BUT WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED

On the morning of the 27th, every claimed phone in the containment zone once again emits that terrible sound for the third time in as many days. This time, however, it comes with what amounts to a GPS navigation map set to guide each person to a location near the center of the available section of town. With it, a message:

In light of the last 48 hours, a Thanksgiving feast will be provided at the marked location at 4 PM. No tricks. Just alcohol and food.

And they mean it, too. It's one of the few things the Technicians will offer with no actual chance of death - unless you choke on your food or murder someone over their jukebox music choices, and honestly, that's on you.

The navigation leads you to a building labeled 'THE BAR' (creative, right?), which those who've spent any real time in town might notice looks... a little less run-down than it used to? But the real change is inside - which many of you will discover at precisely 4 PM, when the plywood covering the door falls away to the sidewalk, revealing an unlocked wooden door.

It's truly a shame that no one yet bothered to break inside in the past couple of months, because only they could truly appreciate how much The Bar has changed. Though still quite dimly lit, it now looks more like a well-worn alcoholic haunt than a desolate broken-down waste of perfectly good booze - and speaking of booze, the shelves are lined with it. The bartop itself, meanwhile, is covered with an array of food, the rich aroma of which welcomes new arrivals in the moment they enter the door. The spread is quite diverse, with cooked turkeys and various Thanksgiving side dishes, some traditional and some a bit more offbeat, and a number of non-alcoholic drinks can be found refrigerated behind the counter.

As for the ambiance, it's festive but not overwhelmingly so. The Bar seems to have bought into whatever Foodland is selling, with a few recognizable decorative items scattered here and there to make it look appropriately fall-themed. A faintly-glowing jukebox sings out from one end of the room, cycling through various classics from the 60's, 70's, and 80's (it particularly seems to like Elvis, the Beach Boys, and Motown hits). A peek through the offered albums, however, will find a variety of other options on tap - Christmas music, heavy metal, banjo-laden hoedown music, who knows what you might discover (and force everyone to listen to) at one wrong press of a button!

All in all, the atmosphere is... weirdly uplifting, considering the month and the recent days' visitors. There's a distinct chance that there's a teensy-weensy artificial mood-enhancer in the food - but it's not much! Just a little! The Technicians are just trying to help. It's not nearly potent enough that anyone starts acting unlike themselves. Just... maybe the tiniest bit less weighed down for a couple of hours, y'know? It wears off naturally after five or ten minutes of fresh air, and it's generally mild enough that you likely don't even think twice about your good mood. The festive environment put a little distance between you and the chaos the visitors wrought, at least for an evening.

► MOD NOTES

• This is a catch-all log for top-levels pertaining to November's Please Accept These Roasted Birds event, taking place on the IC date of November 27th (the day after Thanksgiving). Go ahead and utilize vestigenet for any event-related network posts you'd like to make.
  
• The original event briefing can be found on the November Bulletin, but most of the concrete info is here on this log.
  
• A note that not only does the mood enhancer enhance mood, but it also dulls the event after-effects briefly while characters are at the feast. They're still present, but not nearly as intense/potent as they are outside of the bar.
  
• As of this mingle, the bar, #9 in the 'town' section/map, is now an active location within the game and can be revisited at any time. Alcohol remains stocked and the jukebox continues to play. It'll be added to the Locations page when I have a minute.
  
• Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.

Comments

Vivi Ornitier | OTA

[toosmall]

[For all the time he'd spent in town he'd never seen this building look so nice! From the outside looking in it had seemed a disaster, but now it was so clean and welcoming! Did Gilia have a hand in this maybe? She was very good at tidying and making things good and wonderful.

Vivi is at the bar, standing on top of a barstool surveying all the food and trying to decide what to eat.

Yes he did struggle to get on top of the barstool, no let's not talk about it.]

Golly, it all smells so good, I don't know where to start.

[lethechained]

[ The little black mage is quite a recognizable figure on his own, but even more so with a bit of added elevation. From across the room she spots him, shoulders jumping as she realizes who else has come to this event. Even with the mood enhancements, she's got some fresh and unpleasant memories of the recent encounter with those unwelcome guests floating around in the back of her mind, so - perhaps it's prudent to go and check on him. ]

Vivi...!

[ She calls this briefly ahead of her arrival at a polite distance to his side along the bar, a gentle smile already prepared for when she catches his eye. ]

There you are. It's been a while, hasn't it?

[toosmall]

[Hm? He hears someone call his name and looks over seeing a familiar face. Ah!]

Hello!

[It has been a little while, some how time did go by fast here. Just like she'd said.]

Mhm, you were right, Namine. Have you been okay? Did you stay inside when that message went out?

[That had been scary!]

[lethechained]

It's good to see you again.

[ And she might be surreptitiously studying him for any outward sign of injury or mental distress, but she plays it off well enough. Her head tilts as she wonders what it is she was right about, but answers his questions without delay just the same. ]

I've been alright, for the most part. I did stay inside like they told us to, but... [ A little softer, ] I think maybe I was unlucky.

[ 'Cause there's no help for it when one of those creepy bird guys comes to visit anyway. More importantly, ]

What about you? Were you able to stay safe...?

[toosmall]

Huh? Oh no, did it come inside your home?

[He moves to sit on the barstool now, facing her.]

Did it hurt you?

[His head tips to the side a little, trying to look her over, much like she has him. Honestly he doesn't even know what they were, he'd huddled under his bed with some blankets during that mess.

Thankfully nothing got close enough to his place to mess with him.]

[lethechained]

[ The girl sucks a tiny breath, straightening as Vivi turns to face her. She's quick to shake her head, hoping to dispel any worries she might have created; her arms lift from her sides slightly, as if to prove there's nothing - physically - wrong with her that she might be hiding. ]

No, it never came in the door. But... when it was close by, I started to feel very strange.

[ Her brow wrinkles slightly, yet with such a cheerful atmosphere around them it's hard to really fret over the recollection to any significant degree. The event seems farther away now than it did before she arrived at the party. ]

Sick, almost, just-- not in any way I'd ever been before.

[toosmall]

[Whatever those things were, Vivi is just glad they're apparently gone. Or taken care of.]

Oh...

[Part of him wants to ask what she means, but it just doesn't feel important to get into the details of that scary stuff. Not when they have all this really nice food and stuff! What's a little monster nonsense when it's so nice inside here with everyone?]

Mm, at least you're okay now and there's so much really tasty looking food to eat. If my friend Quina were here they would probably gobble this all up on their own!

[Quina was... well. Quina. A very eccentric Qu who much like any of their kind just wanted to eat all the delicious foods and things.]

[lethechained]

[ Despite the fact that she's been rather preoccupied with what happened since it, well, happened, her expression eases quickly enough as Vivi directs the conversation toward the food. ]

Yes, I suppose you're right. [ Her voice is soft enough not to provide much of an interruption, and she perks curiously at the mention of this friend of his. Yet another name she knows she hasn't heard, then, but she finds that doesn't bother her much, either. Holding most of a laugh down in her chest, she tilts her head curiously. ]

Really? All of it? [ With an amused shake of her head, ] I'm not sure the others would be very happy about that. [ Although she says it with clear humor, of course. ] But it does look good. Do you have any recommendations for what I should try...?

[ Since he'd seemed to be studying it so closely before she walked up, and all. ]

[toosmall]

[Vivi laughs a little, agreeing with Namine.]

I'd be unhappy too, my tummy is really hungry.

[Time to stand back up, a bit wobbly as he's standing on a barstool, but gotta take risks for the yum yums.]

Ummm... the pies look really good! I don't know what kind, but I bet all of it is yummy. The mashed potatoes too...

[Vivi looks down as his stomach rumbles loudly.]

I'm gonna try one!

[Come on Namine, join him in awkwardly reaching over things and piling food up on a plate.]

[lethechained]

[ She curls a hand briefly against her mouth to hold down her little breath of a laugh. ]

I'm sorry - I didn't realize I was keeping you from helping your tummy.

[ There's no real weight behind the apology this time. (Not that she did mean to distract him from eating, but at the moment it doesn't feel like a big deal even to her.) Turning to regard the food, she hums her understanding at his description. ]

Pies... usually have fruit in them, don't they? [ Which is quite appealing to her-- ] But those are for dessert.

[ Or at least that sounds like a rule Sora's mother probably had to enforce at one point or another. Naminé does take the cue to pick up a plate, however, and begin carefully selecting a few things to stock it with. Only, that doesn't seem to hold her attention very well, since more often then not she's busy giving Vivi concerned sidelong glances, debating with herself whether or not to acknowledge the fact that he looks about one wrong move from getting a face full of mashed potatoes instead of a bellyful. Presently her worrywart nature gets the better of her, and, ]

Maybe-- I should help you? It must be awfully hard to reach anything like that...!

[toosmall]

Some do! Um, I think there are meat pies too-

[And he almost tips over, thankfully catching himself and shifting his weight so the stool does not topple over. Holding his plate carefully and standing still for a second he sighs, relieved he didn't fall.]

That sounds like a good idea.

[He's already got quite a bit on his plate for such a little guy, but look. It all looks so good! He just wants to try a little of everything.]

If you could get some of the potatoes and the mixed vegetables I'd really appreciate it. Th-Thanks, Namine!

[lethechained]

Ah, that's true. I wasn't thinking about--

[ The girl startles as he begins to tip, nearly dropping her own plate in her haste to raise a hand in case he needs steadying. Her palm hovers uncertainly near Vivi as she watches him steady himself, and only once he's been perfectly still a moment does she finally let her arm lower away, exhaling her held breath. ]

Careful, [ she murmurs late, more to finally let it out than because he needs to hear it now, when the danger has already been proven. Looking relieved, she nods immediately to confirm the arrangement. ]

Of course.

[ Delicately setting her own plate aside, she busies herself reaching for the provided utensils to procure the food in question, gets a bit gathered onto the spoon, then turns back to look at his platter. There's not a lot of room, but-- ]

Here.

[ She'll just. Have to try really hard not to drip potatoes anywhere else while she's figuring out where to put them on his plate. ]

[toosmall]

[Thankfully Thanksgiving food tastes good whether it's all neatly sectioned off or mixed up in a slop, let's be real here. Not that Vivi knows that, but he's also not picky either.

He'll watch eagerly as Namine kindly helps, offering up a "thank you" when she takes his plate.]

Do you wanna go eat at one of the little tables?

[Vivi will helpfully point over at a couple tables not far away. It would probably be easier than trying to eat at the bar which was starting to get a little crowded.]

Song Lan | OTA

[snowflicks]

[Yes Song Lan is here, no it's not because he's a super fun extrovert who wants to mingle. In fact that's the very last thing he enjoys doing. The tall mute swordsman is off to the side of the bar keeping an eye on things, literally, though he does consider trying some of the food.

It does smell and look very good.

If he did have anything here it would be the food, drinks though? No thank you. He's here in case anything goes wrong, knowing this place it wouldn't be a surprise after all. This all seems too easy. A message telling everyone to come here for food and drink and there would be no tricks?

That didn't sound suspicious at all.]

xiao xingchen, ota

[daozhangs]

( the man who steps into the bar at around 4:30 couldn't seem more out-of-place if he tried. the white of his robes all but glows in contrast with the wood-hued dim of the bar at large, and even his posture alone gives the distinct impression of a man who hasn't set foot in a single bar in the entirety of his life - and that wouldn't exactly be incorrect. taverns and teahouses are often one and the same, in the land from which he came, and such places are unmatched in their ability to provide information on monsters or spirits which plague the area... but this sort of bar is most certainly not his typical venue.

for all that it's worth, though, he doesn't look the slightest bit ill at ease. he approaches the food with muted intrigue, drawing up beside someone else who seems to be doing the same - someone whom he turns to, after a long moment of trying and failing to discern most of the food items present, and with a faint lilt of good humor he asks, ) Have you any recommendations? I confess that none of this is terribly familiar to me.

Fran Bow | Fran Bow

[keeperofkeys]

It's been a while since Fran has had a chance to mingle and hang out with the good people of... you know. Wherever they are. Anyway, she's excited to be here, her mood even more uplifted then usual. She opts for one of the non-alcoholic drinks and eyes the impressive spread of food.

"Well this certainly is nice, isn't it?"

[toosmall]

Vivi had already sampled some of the food and was tryin to pace himself now. Take a break and go in for seconds later. Now he's sipping on a fruity soda of some kind, feet kicking over the edge of a chair.

"Yeah this is really good!" The drink, the whole shebang. He goes to take another sip, but burps from all the carbonation in his drink. Embarrassed he covers his mouth not that you can even see it lol.

"S-Sorry, it just came out on accident."

[keeperofkeys]

Fran covers her mouth to hide a small laugh, not wanting to offend the poor little thing. "At least you apologized. Very polite of you.

My name is Fran. I don't think I've met you, yet."

[toosmall]

He's not offended at all, he'd much rather someone laugh or find humor in things then get mad at him. Fran is right though! They've not met and Vivi is always happy to make new friends.

"I'm Vivi, it's nice to meet you, Fran." He smiles, glowing yellow orbs for eyes closing into arches.

"Have you been here for a long time? I think it's been months now... but it goes by so fast."

[keeperofkeys]

"Time does feel very strange here. Minutes seem like years, and months seem like seconds.

I don't mean to be rude, but can I ask -- what are you, exactly? I've never seen anyone like you before."

[toosmall]

Vivi has a little sippy sip while Fran talks, stopping only when she asks what he is. He doesn't mind, he'd rather someone ask then be mean because they don't know what he is. At least she's being nice about it!

"Oh, I'm a black mage. We're um... we're really powerful black magic users. Like fire, lightning, ice and water? Stuff like that." He can try to elaborate if she needs more. Not everyone knows about magic, or thinks it's real. So he can definitely show her too!

[keeperofkeys]

"Oh you know magic, how wonderful! I've only ever done a few spells and things, but I had to follow recipes. I think it's fantastic that you can do magic like that.

Did it take you very long to learn?"

[toosmall]

Vivi shakes his head.

"Mm mm, I've always been able to as long as I can remember, but um, we were made to use magic so I guess that's why." When you're made to be a weapon guess it makes sense to just. Be good at doing the thing.

"What kind of magic have you done?"

[keeperofkeys]

"Oh..." Her face falls a little, thinking of the twins. Black tar spewing from their mouths. "The first spell I did wasn't a very nice one. But I had to use it in self defense.

The second one helped turn me back into a human. I was a tree at the time."

[toosmall]

"Golly a tree? What happened?"

And he understands using magic to protect yourself. He has to do it all the time. Better to protect yourself and others than use it maliciously.

"Sometimes its not fun using magic... sometimes people get hurt, but I only ever want to protect my friends and help people."