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

[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.]

[muchalucha]

Señor Diluc.

[ She repeats his name with a little nod of her head as she commits it to memory. She then gestures to herself with a little flourish and grin. ]

I’m Quetzalcoatl! New to the Meridian, but also your newest patron since I’m sure I’ll be back a few times.

[ Though with her introduction given, she does return her attention to the process of her drink being made since she’s definitely intrigued by the whole process. ]

You know, I’ve never been to a modern bar, so this is also a first! What’s the shaking for? Just mixing?

[fireballer]

I'll be sure to come up with something new for you every time, then.

[he flashes her a tiny smile, nostalgic for his shifts back in his tavern back in Mondstadt, as he readies glass to pour the mixture into. with a little sprig for aesthetics, he slides the glass toward her.]

Shaking ensures an even mixture while also chilling it. [he opens up the cap to the shaker, showing broken up bits of ice inside.] So it maintains its temperature in the glass without additional ice to dilute it.

In any case, I hope you enjoy it. [the drink is quite fruity with a vodka base - snezhnayan firewater as it's known in teyvat.] If not, I'll try something else.

[muchalucha]

[ Quetzalcoatl leans closer to take a look and makes a delighted little noise of interest as she nods. Clever! She’s definitely a “drinking to get drunk” kind of person, but she still appreciates the artistry and work that goes into making something like this. She makes a pleased noise as she picks up the glass and admires it first. ]

How fun! This is definitely much nicer than just drinking something straight, just by looks alone!

[ And as for taste…! She takes a small little sip that’s followed by a little oh because the spirit is unfamiliar to her, but the fruitiness is more familiar! Unsurprisingly for a god that overlooked a land rich in jungles, she loves fruits, so her expression lights up warmly. ]

Bueno, bueno! Well, señor, if you ever get tired of making me new things, I definitely like this one!

[ She takes a heartier sip to get a bit more than a taste, then nods ]

Mm, you have a talent for sure! Is this what you did for work where you're from? Or is this just something for fun?

[fireballer]

[ah, another satisfied "customer." it's always nice to know that he can read someone well enough to mix something that suits their tastes. or that he just makes really damn good mixes no one can complain about them. he didn't think he'd miss the feeling, but it's certainly itching a scratch he didn't know he had.]

Yes, I owned a tavern back home and often manned the bar myself. It was passed down from my father, and he taught me young.

[a small smile at the thought of his late father and the various lessons he had to go through. ah, he remembers adding too much lemon juice in one drink which caused quite the expression on his father's face...]

I'm quite pleased to know it meets your expectations. [he reaches for some empty glasses to prepare them to get washed.] If I may ask, what is the name of the language you are speaking? In all my travels, I have never heard such a lively and energetic language.

[muchalucha]

[ As Diluc explains, Quetzalcoatl’s temperament at least cools a little bit as she listens attentively. A big, broad smile still stays in place, but it’s fond. She seems to be enjoying Diluc reminiscing, even if only briefly. She’s a god that looks after humanity, so these are the sorts of things she loves about them, after all.

Though as he asks, she laughs airily and nods. ]

Spanish! It’s fun, right? [ It’s also not her native tongue, technically, but. I wave my hand at Fate/ lore about that rather than explain it bc it’s stupid,,, ] And you know, it’s funny! I think it’s probably… Oh, I don’t know, half? Of the people I’ve met recognize it, the others don’t! That’s the way Kenos works, I guess, but it’s still surprising, isn’t it?

[ The concept of multiple worlds isn’t all that strange to her, but having them be so different as to not at least recognize such a widely spoken language is a bit stranger. Not completely, though, since she can take it in stride. ]

There’s probably no travelling better than Kenos, in a way. You get to meet all sorts!

[fireballer]

Spanish. Yes, it's quite beautiful. [and that only confirms that diluc has never heard it. while diluc was on his world revenge tour for... well, revenge, it also broadened his horizons to what the rest of the world had to offer including language and cuisines and culture. he can definitely understand the the joy of meeting all kinds of different people. kenos truly takes it a step further by introducing them to people of different worlds.]

Indeed. I had thought there was no better way to meet new people than to be a bartender back in my hometown. Kenos certainly showed me otherwise.

[he takes a washcloth to the cup he'd just washed, drying it.]

It's surprising that half recognized it - one would think each world had their own unique languages, but it sounds as if some worlds may share a few traits.