open | a merry meri mingle

[sterngaze]

Who: Meridians new & old!
What: Cookout mingle
Where: Alenroux
When: Mid-March, after Vander's rescue
Warnings: Potentially alcohol consumption and violence, for the rowdy

After the initiation of Springstar's invasion plans for Alenroux, tensions among the Meridian-aligned might be a bit strained. The move comes as a surprise even for many of the shard-bearers within the faction itself, to say nothing of those whose livelihoods depend on the farms here. It's not yet clear what Highstorm's response will be, but one will certainly be coming; when that happens, someone is going to come out on the bottom, and their blood will be at least partially on Meridian's hands.

At times like this, the importance of maintaining morale can't be understated. A call goes out to the newest generation of those harmonized with Meridian's light: it's time to have a party!

PREPARATION:

Those who can are invited to help with the set-up. There are drinks to procure, foodstuffs to acquire and prepare, canopies to erect for shade, entertainments to organize. It's not meant to be a grand affair — the gathering is private, intended to foster camaraderie among the shard-bearers after long days and nights of work — but it will be a comfortable one, with edibles and enjoyments to offer to those taking solace in the company of their fellows.

It takes one of Alenroux's long days to make all the necessary arrangements — and then, late the following morning, after the night's monsters have slunk back into the woods, things are made ready. All that's left is for the guests to arrive.

THE EVENT:

Spring is still in the midst of taking hold over Alenroux, so a tall bonfire at the centre of the gathering place offers a toasty place to linger and chat throughout the day. Hot drinks and a variety of fire-roasted foods are on offer, including an entire deer helpfully supplied and prepared by Liem. Logs and stumps provide simple seating, and nearby canopies provide shade around the tables of food and drink. A little further away, sturdy tents provide more private gathering places for those wishing for a break from the hubbub.

And there will be hubbub. To break the ice between unfamiliar faces, a variety of contests have been set up over the course of the gathering. These range from simple arm-wrestling competitions, to three-legged races, to friendly sparring matches for those so-inclined. Gathered Meris are encouraged to spectate and bet amongst themselves on contest outcomes — and better yet, to volunteer to participate themselves during the next round.

For those who have already had a chance to relax and let off some steam, the gathering is a perfect opportunity to get to know one's fellow sect-mates a little better, and to reaffirm why Meridian called to them in the first place. Those gathered are encouraged to take the chance to tell a few tales about the place they came from, and to share the visions inside their Sunbeam with those from other worlds. A favourite place, a cherished person, an unkept promise, even an old enemy: all could be worth revisiting for a moment with new comrades in arms.

Comments

[muchalucha]

Alcohol, please!

[ Quetzalcoatl leans on the bar with a grin as she watches Diluc work. The whole “mixing drinks” thing is admittedly a little new to her, and it’s fascinating! It also makes them both a little more fun and a little less, uh, dangerous. Considering her drinking activity of choice just tended to be drinking straight tequila, this helps space things out. It may be hard for her to get drunk when she’s restricted to the more spiritual form of a Servant, but it’s not impossible.

…And she’s a bit of a rowdy drunk, so. This is better for sure. ]

Well, while you work, you don’t mind chatting, right? There’s so many people to meet here, so I want to make sure I at least recognize everyone’s faces. We’re all camaradas now, after all!

[hauntedking]

I would rather peace than not. Conflict has dogged my steps all my life. I've embraced it at times and fled from it at others. But... finding a place where we can build and help others rather than spill blood on the battlefield... that's my hope. My dream.

[ He glances at Byleth after a moment, his brow furrowed. That was honestly a good question. One he couldn't entirely answer. ]

When I was king, I was busy, regardless. But... there's training. Upkeep. Maintenance. I suppose... well. What do you enjoy doing, Byleth? What is it you like to do when you aren't preparing for war or fighting?

[fishfearme]

Hm...

[Well, there were a few things.]

I enjoy fishing, of course. It's a productive use of your time, and it can be relaxing. But if there's no river or lake to cast my line, then I pass the time reading romance novels.

[Yes, you heard that right: romance novels.]

Or listening to stories in general. Then when it grows too dark to read, I stargaze. The vast expanse with their countless stars is endlessly fascinating, especially if you find entertainment in creating your own constellations amongst them.

[Something about Byleth's expression seemed to light up fractionally at the talk of stars and... wasn't this a little familiar? Didn't he talk at length about how amazing stars were with someone at the masquerade?]

[exhound]

If it is who I think it is, then you’re right to be cautious. The man’s an underhanded rat who wouldn’t think twice about making moves against someone poking around his business.

[There’s a clear undercurrent of anger there, an anger that Vander isn’t usually keen on making so apparent in front of others. It’s harder than usual to mask it though, and so he doesn’t.]

So I’d be glad to lend a you a hand there.

[He moves to return the wanted poster to Byleth, his other hand reaching out to give the younger man a firm pat on the shoulder. His head dips in a resolute nod.]

Just name the day and I’ll be ready.

[fireballer]

[diluc gets started on mixing up her drink, glancing at her when she addresses him. he's definitely not much of a conversationalist, but he's worked at a bar long enough to know how to small talk, despite not being a fan of small talk himself.

he doesn't know what a camaradas is, but it sounds close enough to comrade, so he figures it's probably a good term. and she's right - it's good to at least put a name to a face since they're all working together.]

Certainly. My name is Diluc- I was a bartender back in my world, so hopefully this drink is to your liking.

[he pours the drink into a tumbler, and he puts a lid on it and shakes it vigorously.]

[hyperpotamous]

I'll admit I'm not much of a gambler either; I don't like leaving things to chance any more than I can help it.

[ he likes to be in control too much to rely on luck. ]

[hyperpotamous]

[ unfortunately, that's ywhat's happening. john is annoying when he's sober — which is why people have been quoted as wanting to put him in an acid jail for a thousand years — so sasuke is really doing pretty well, all things considered. john is super not sober right now. ]

Oh, I'm the obstacle? Were you actually having fun? I'm just wondering since you opened with murder.

[warmare]

[The problem is she doesn't believe him... and the problem continues to be that she doesn't believe him.]

That proves nothing!

[Anyone could kill a Meridian and take the iliachtida off their corpse. Any mage could use some sort of illusion to make it seem awash with Meridian power, even.]

Surrender or be shot, I said!

[The fact that they haven't identified themselves already...]

[warmare]

I don't know how strong your people make their lance hafts.

[If it sounds like she's being contrary... Honestly, she isn't enjoying this event, and it's only an attempt to be "kind" to her troops that she's even indulging them like this in the first place, so. He'll have to blame the two cheerleaders.

But she squares up, making a look of distaste at the closeness, and then clasps his hand. A woman would likely normally have a smaller hand than this man, but considering her overall size... it's more even.]

But very well.

[The simian woman bounds over to pump up the crowd, counting down 3, 2, 1... !]

sorry for the delay!

[warmare]

[Strangely? enough, this isn't Hayame's first time dealing with men with strange eyes with dark sclera and lighter irises. It's weird, now, but not shocking... and she shouldn't still be annoyed or shocked herself by the comparison to legends or myth, but-]

Are you another of the type who admire "centaurs"?

[She's heard the word more times now than she cared to count.]

I hate to disappoint you, but I am not one of them.

[... Strangely, her voice doesn't sound all that sorry to disappoint, but she does him at least the favor of polite veneer.]

[warmare]

[He has a good grip, at least. Hayame can admit that, her expression shifting to one far more serious.]

A healer? Good to have.

[And something she will definitely be pursuing... later. For now, as the small little crowd gathered around the rock urges them to begin and the simian woman counts down from three...

Hayame suddenly throws about half of her weight into her grip.

She was serious about trying not to break his arm.]

[warmare]

Not a problem. I'll just stay here.

[She supposes it doesn't matter if Claude, of all people, knows that she doesn't relish being surrounded by people who are feeling openly emotional about their worlds. the tears, the sharing, the talking... None of those things were anything she was good at.]

Do you actually find it interesting, or are you just getting along with everyone.

[- Is she a little annoyed still about certain things from the Manon "debate"? ... Maybe.]

[leicesters]

My interest in other worlds is a hundred percent genuine. It might be useful information later, it might just be interesting in its own right... but I don't think we can understand our friends and allies without knowing the walks of life they come from.

[That, and he's just incurably nosy, but she's also correct that it's part of getting along with everyone. Whether she likes it or not, it has its uses.]

I wouldn't mind learning more about your world too, but I'm guessing you're not so keen on that idea.

[fishfearme]

[Byleth accepted the wanted poster, but paused at the shoulder pat, unused to people casually touching him. It wasn't a bad thing, just unfamiliar.]

Ah, thank you...

[He stared at Vander for a moment longer before shaking off whatever odd feeling had come over him, and stowed his wanted poster back into his satchel where it belonged. With his hands now free, he crossed his arms and planted his feet shoulder width apart, his head tilted downwards in a thoughtful posture.]

For now, the situation here is stablising. Meridian's position is fairly entrenched and enough Shard-bearers are here to assist the soldiers in fighting the monsters at night. At the very least, Dimitri counts as an army unto himself.

[Byleth recalled how his strength had made even him stagger when he had fought him back in his world. Dimitri could probably grab these monsters by their tails and simply swing them off the island.]

In which case, I'll resume my investigation by the end of the month. It's best to get to the bottom of this, to find out if Birdie's disappearance is an outlier, or if it's linked to the other two. If so, we can try to put a halt to it before more 'disappearances' occur.

[Which is the most important thing in Byleth's mind: normal criminal manoeuvring? Nothing to be concerned about. Something darker at work in the background? Definitely something to be concerned about, especially with this 'Aetos' skulking about...]

[fishfearme]

[Byleth was briefly caught off guard, not having expected so much force so quickly - his arm swung back, but stopped several inches from hitting the stone, the muscles in his arm clenching so tight it locked it in place.

Despite how awkward and painful the angle of his arm was, or how exerting it was to hold it like that with Hayame's weight bearing down on it, his expression didn't twitch. It remained devoid of any and all emotion, his unblinking stare boring into Hayame's eyes.]

Ah, impressive. [He didn't even sound out of breath!] You caught me off guard.

[And with that, he began his counterattack. With a quiet, barely there grunt, he started pushing back against Hayame, millimetre by stubborn millimetre.]

[warmare]

[Hayame keeps track of the comings and goings near the outpost she's been stationed with a unit of one of Springstar's archery troops. This is the sort of work she's been trained for, that she's used to. Unlike the Oracles, full of unknown variables and magic, at least this she understands. Scouting, stockpiling, defending, hunting, fighting...

She is not good with names in Kenos. There are too many that sound absurdly foreign to her ears. But she is good with faces...

And this face she has seen before. Not at the farms, not a worker in one of the nearby stalls... perhaps a "tourist". But who goes on tours to occupied territory? Who casually walks about to look at trees off the trails with no basket for gathering herbs or hatchet for wood? It is enough that she leaves her position... and the sound of hooves soft on dirt and leaves is audible just before a voice rings out from the brush.]

You, there. What business have you here?

[The figure is still half obscured by the shadow of the trees, but it is... large. And carrying something long and slim.]

[warmare]

[Since the debates... No, perhaps, since the masquerade... Hayame has been tense, sharp and even more inclined to lashing out to defend herself against... something. She had thanked Liem for his instruction on how to dance, (though she had commented slightly bitterly that she had not ended up needing it), but beyond that... she threw herself only into Meridian's occupation.

What else did she have?

One person after another she has demanded simple answers from. Would they do this, or not? Would they come, or would they go? Would they stay and let her help them with their Discord, or would they go to someone else? She wanted it to be black and white, yes or no, easy to understand...

She's so tired of games. She wants to believe him when he says he values her opinion (greatly), but-]

If you value my opinion so much, why are you in such haste to tell me I am wrong?

[To her, he is a good person. He's so annoyingly "good" that he organized this damn gathering for the sake of Meridian goodwill and morale, when someone like her would have rather forced them to patrol and simply work instead.]

[hauntedking]

Stargazing!

[ That does tickle his memory, honestly. He wonders if it's a coincidence. ]

I knew about your love of fishing, of course, but you're right... there isn't much of that to be done here. Although I'm sure we could find something for you to read...

[ He pauses, debating on whether to follow this line of questioning. ]

...I met someone a little while ago who was likewise enamored with the stars. Your words made me think of them.

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri offers another smile - maybe a touch self-deprecating - and then his expression settles into one of concentration as the count-down begins. When it ends, his muscles strain as he puts his strength into the contest. And he is strong. Strong enough to at least make this a challenge for Hayame instead of a walk-over. He exhales with a low little grunt as he feels muscles tense and they begin their struggle... ]

[fishfearme]

Oh?

[Byleth seemed intrigued. Was there another person fascinated with the stars like him? The few he spoke about to had only mild interest, and only because Byleth had brought it up... and it had been at the masquerade. If there were others who shared his love of the night sky, then maybe he should lead in with that in conversation from now on.]

I'm always happy to hear of a fellow stargazer. Are they in Meridian?

[hauntedking]

I can't say for certain. It was during the masquerade, so... you understand I didn't know their identity. We talked about the constellations they might have known at home and how different the stars are here.

[ He sounds rather fond speaking of this mysterious stranger. ]

[exhound]

That’s right. We’ve gotta look out for our own first and foremost, or things are gonna fall apart quickly.

[Tensions were going to be inevitable. He knew it, in the more abstract sense, once he’d arrived and had the situation explained to him. But after the way things shook out at the Isles a couple months back now… it became a lot more apparent. That first bid for the Oracle was only a taste of what they’ve got coming. The can’t allow themselves to get caught on the backfoot this early.]

Our last attempt at seizing an Oracle didn’t go in our favor.

[Perhaps Diluc has already gotten word of that, as fired up as he is about Meridian’s cause, but it’s worth reiterating the stakes.]

We’ll have to make sure we’re more prepared next time. And making sure things are secure for us here and in Springstar goes a long way in helping out with that.

[exhound]

[Thankfully, they did have the support of Springstar’s well-prepared army to keep things stable out here. The Shard-bearers certainly have their work cut out for them, but it should be safe to leave things in their hands until Zenith starts making some obvious moves.]

Yeah, it’s best we get to the bottom of all of this before it gets out of hand.

[There’s enough danger lurking out around these parts as it is. Vander knows that all too well now. And sure, digging around into the whereabouts of a dangerous person is probably what got him into the mess he’d escaped only days ago, but that’s not going to stop him. This is important.

He tucks his hands into his coat pockets, turning all this information over in his mind for a moment.]

I spend a fair amount of time down in Kowloon myself. I’ll keep an eye and an ear out next time I head out there for any signs of the other two. It’s… been a while since I’ve heard form either of them, so I’m not sure I’ll have much luck. But it’s worth a shot.

[exhound]

[Set is an interesting man, in Vander’s estimation. They’ve had little opportunities to talk, and even fewer to even cross paths, it feels like. But the glimpses of the man he’s gotten thus far and the way others spoke of him paint an interesting picture nonetheless. Like a wild and untamable force of nature personified.

It’s something of a surprise to find his approach here. It shouldn’t be, though—the entire point of this gathering is to foster camaraderie amongst their people, to give an excuse to bond and perhaps forge new connections with comrades new and old alike. Vander is finding it a bit hard to commit to that for the entire time he’s here, though. Gatherings like these are usually right up his alley, as someone who has always been dedicated to making sure he knew his people and knew them well. But he’s tired and uneasy, still feeling off after his over a week long sojourn in a cell and what came after it.

So he takes time for himself every so often, detaching from the gathered crowds and the games people have struck up to take it in from a distance. Let his thoughts wander a bit. When Set comes to join him with food in hand to offer, it startles him out of one such reverie.

His words should be heartening. And they are, for the most part. But mostly it reminds him of what a fool he’d been to get into such a mess. To drag other people into it just to get him out of trouble.

He eyes Set with a tired, half-hearted smile.]

Think they’d do the same for any one of our people. Gotta have each other’s backs.

[It’s easier to think of it that way.]

[fishfearme]

Yes, I've wandered Kowloon myself, but my investigation turned up little.

[Because Byleth's method of investigation was literally walking up to someone, wanted poster in hand, and demand if they had seen these missing persons. Needless to say, he got nowhere fast.]

However, I'm inexperienced when it comes to investigations like these. I'm capable of hunting high priority targets on battlefields, or if they flee during a rout, but attempting to pick up cold trails is... beyond my capability.

[Not to say he's never done bounty hunting, but such people were pretty easy to find, especially if they were a certain someone well known for ripping his shirt off in public and loudly declaring himself the "King of Grappling" before beating up all the guards. Balthus's trail of destruction could be tracked by a blind man.]

I'll accept whatever help or advice you can give.