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Big Boss OUTER HEAVEN DESERT, GALZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
EVENING

The Light Up The Night Festival is beginning in the deep deserts of Outer Heaven, in South Africa. While there may be scorpions to deal with, the place has been set up for the festival. Many, many tents populate the area, as do food booths with various grilled, fried, or other methods of cooked foods. People are getting beer, hanging out, shooting the shit...

And doing creative expression. There's several areas where artists have set up, there's music, and four of Outer Heaven's soldiers decided to set up a band and made a shitty little stage. They're okay.

In the center of it all is a massive bonfire, neatly corralled, still getting stuff piled onto it. It'll be lit soon, and anyone can help toss safely flammable things onto it.

Big Boss is patrolling the area with his aide du camp, Ezra Sanson. They're inspecting everything, and are free to talk to. The commander is holding a flask, which he drinks out of occasionally. His way of partying.
N'Raha     Well if you wanted burnables, N'raha's got that part covered.

    The catman huffs a bit as he shuffles into the Bonfire Area, carrying what appears to be two wrapped, slightly dried out evergreen trees over his shoulders.
    One of his ears are still busted, and there's bruises and healing cuts showing on his body under the rather beach-y looking open shirt and sandals and swim trunks.

    He grumps, and then tosses one, than the other tree onto the fire. "So long, Starlight Celebration. Sorry you trees can only last so long."
Selene Someone said to bring flammable things. Of course Selene's going to be helping out with that.

Rather, her Pokemon are. There's a massive bear-cat thing following the directions of a significantly smaller teenager sitting on its head, pushing along a dumpster full of probably safe-to-burn materials to add to the pile of stuff.

Also atop the Snorlax's head is also a black and red cat. It's napping in Selene's lap, and it doesn't seem to mind all the movement. "Once we get all this stuff in there, let's get the dumpster somewhere off to the side and grab some snacks!" She's already glancing over at the food stands, but it'll have to wait until after all the stuff gets piled in first.

Burnable junk, then food.
Gaonoir "Hey Gaonoir, you think after the party we cou--"
"No."
"But we're already in Africa it wouldn't take long."
"I said now."
"Com'n, they probably have safaris and everything for--"
"We are not going all the way to Kenya just for you to see if some stupid internet meme song is accurate."

Yes this is really the conversation that is occuring as Gaonoir and his human companion wander into the party.

It's followed by a bit of pouting whine from Erika. "But I want to see a lion. If it's true."
Gaonoir snorts, rolling his eyes. "You've seen Leomon before."
Erika immeadiately retorts, "A -normal- lion. One that isn't going to immeadiately try to kill you. Or us both."
Which gets Gaonoir to stop and slowly turn his head to give her a 'Did you really just say that?' look until she realizes how it actually sounded.
"Okay, one that isn't going to do it with a magic sword and roaring fire punches."

Gaonoir just sighs, slapping a gloved palm against his face. "I don't know why--" Cue Erika darting off towards one of the food stalls. "--nevermind."
Nova Terra     A terran transport sits a little away from the edge of the festival camp, its engines still warm. The group of several bulky men, plus one athletic blonde woman, that had disembarked quickly made their way straight towards the booze.

    The group now sits together at a table, the woman at the head. The men are winding up in anticipation, watching her as she chugs the beer from the mug she's holding above her head.

    Finally Nova slams her now empty mug down onto the table amidst cheers from her subordinates. The Ghost licks her lips for a moment, before grinning and saying, "Not bad."
Alruna Greengate Alruna has been here for a while, carousing merrily and is well 'in her cups', as the Eorzeans put it.

She's up on one of the tables, doing a jig when a new round of arrivals... arrive. She gives a merry wave to N'raha when she spies him, and goes back to arguing with one of Boss's soldiers. An agreement is struck, they spit on their palms and shake on it, and Alruna straightens up.

Winds swirl around Alruna as a burst of blue light erupts out of her, replacing her slacks and shirt with green plate and tough leather. The paladin's full plate armour that people have become accustomed to seeing her in.

And then she starts doing a dainty dance atop the table, which wobbles and deforms alarmingly under her sabatons as she dances.
Amelris Belthrone      Amelris Belthrone is quite happily already here, drink in hand and taking it quite easy on a seat. A drink is in his hand while the other is busily petting a glowing, fuzzy little critter with a gem in it's forhead, with floppy long ears. It's vaguely fox-like and /definetive/y not a normal animal, if an animal at all.

     He also have a thin, wool-like red turban on his head instead of his usual floppy, distinguished feathered hat. Someone's trying some new stuff.

     "Hoooooi!" Amelris calls up, throwing his drink up at Alruna dancing, downing the rest of his glass. The Carbunckle, meanwhile, wriggles on his lap, nomming on what appears to be a magical crystal.
Tohru Adachi      Parties are fun. Parties are great. Not for the social gathering aspect, or for the free food, or anything like that. More because you're allowed to get drunk and nobody looks at you funny the next day when you explain why you're drunk.

     To that end, Adachi has brought booze. Lots of booze. More booze than you'd probably be able to bring through customs. But that's okay, he's got a plan. They totally always have plans. He's just going to use the TV to get into Outer Heaven. Bypass all the restrictions and totally be the savior of the party.

     There's just one problem. He's only been to Outer Heaven once before to briefly meet with Big Boss, and he doesn't remember the exact route to get there. There's a lot of second guessing, a lot of exiting the TV world to get his bearing, and a lot of silent cursing. But after a while, Adachi's pretty sure he's got the right TV to exit from.

     There's a lot of noise as the ex-cop leaves the TV, cases of alcohol in hand. But it's not from him knocking over anything or dropping something, but from people. The people that were watching the television. They're clearly very confused and on edge, which causes Adachi to laugh nervously as he's quick to speak before they can get a word in.

     "Hey now, don't mind me. Just good ol' Adachi on official Watch business. So say hello to your wives for me and have a good holiday. Peace~"

     By the time he's finished his sentence, he's already out the door and on his way to the party proper. That was close. Next time, he's putting up with customs.
Big Boss The food is good. The drink is good. The TV is okay but Adachi just kinda crashed it.

Big Boss stops near Amelris and Alruna as they dance on a table, waiting for Alruna to either stop dancing or pass out, before speaking even if she doesn't. "You must be the new recruits in person. I am Big Boss. How are you enjoying the festival?"
Gaonoir The previous bickering is promptly forgiven and forgotten when Erika returns with a couple of kabobs from one of the food stalls, handing the one she'd not already taken a bit out of to Gaonoir. Food makes everything better, especially when it's your primary source of energy. Gaonoir takes it, bites an entire chunk off with little effort, and chews loudly.

Erika sticks to more humanly appropriate bites, though not without eyeing the big bear-catthing pushing a dumpster around. "That... that's not a digimon, is it? Monzemon are normally yellow."
Gaonoir pauses and sniffs the air a few times. "Doesn't smell like one." Pauses. "Neither does the green fox thing sitting in the guy's lap." He just raises a brow faintly when Erika shoots him a look. "What, you think I didn't know what you'd keep asking?" And resumes eating his kabob like it was nothing.

Erika sighs, rolls her eyes, and bites off another piece from her own before using her free hand to get out her smartphone. "Well even if not I'm still getting some pictures. Might be some sort of cryptid."
Alruna Greengate The table begins to split under Alruna's feet as she dances from one end to the other, and right as Big Boss walks up, it gives way, and Alruna shrieks, dissolving in laughter as she's stuck, waist-high, in the table. Blushing furiously, she accepts another can from someone and drinks out of it, before responding to Big Boss.

"Good! 'S good, erm, sir." she says, her eyes slightly unfocused. She shakes her head and properly looks at the reserved, distinguished man. "Alruna Greengate." she says, lifting the table a few inches as she straightens up to present herself.
Amelris Belthrone      Amelris is part of the laughter when the table cracks and gives way beneath the Paladin's feet, the Red Mage pushing himself up to his feet. The Carbunckle bounce up to balance up on his shoulders, curiously peering at Big Boss. "Yeah! It's pretty fun and relaxing, especially after that last tense day yesterday. Thanks you for the invitation."

     He lends out a hand, his tail twitching behind him and his ears rising again from flattening because of the noise Alruna made. "Amelris Belthrone. Good to meet you in person, Big Boss."
Riku Parties are fun! It's a place to enjoy yourself and get to know others and unwind.

    Which doesn't explain the kind of edgy, angry, dark aura on the outskirts of the party. Riku is the clear source of it, sitting in the shadow of a nearby dune and staring up into the night with a (non-alcoholic) drink in his hand.

    At least he seems to have yielded that much. He doesn't seem all that sociable at the moment. It might take someone considerably brave or foolish to try to do something about that.
Selene Ooh, booze. And other strange creatures! And people that kinda look creature-y. Or are they cosplayers? Selene's not sure what to make of the Eorzean trio, watching Amelris and Alruna and N'raha with their varying states of sobriety and contributions to the bonfire for a few moments. "Hey! Are those real?" She calls out before turning her attention to the booze again.

It's not like there's any narcs here, right? Nova's crew seems to be on the cooler side, so it's probably safe to grab some drinks near them, and Adachi's bringing some of his own, so that really just leaves...

Erika and Gaonoir. Selene strokes her chin as she stares right at them inquisitively, leaning sideways once to pat the Snorlax's ear and direct him towards the food. It groans once in vague approval, then pushes the dumpster over somewhere it won't get in the way before carrying the trainer and the cat over to get some much needed SNACKAGE.

So much snackage. Its hands are massive to hold massive amounts of fried foods.
Danzo Katou     Not seen since the Ad Coleum operation (or tragedy, depending on who one asks), the mysterious woman in red has reappeared where Big Boss is once again, without introduction or announcement. Half her face is obscured by a thick red scarf, and the rest except her yellow eyes by long black hair. She quietly tends the bonfire, in the way directed by Big Boss; her form of personally contributed burnable items is heaped on top of the flames in regular deposits, like a train engineer before a coal furnace. Spears. Bows. Arrows. Baskets. Utensils. Lacquered armour. Clothes. Burned in piles. Very close examination yields that the clothes are stained in blood and turn in places, but that's not important.

    She doesn't have any food. The only drink she has is a large bamboo flask, almost like a tankard, sat on a nearby stool. Considering the total lack of small, it's probably just water. It can't possibly be all that enjoyable; she seems more like staff than somebody who's here as part of the celebration itself. But still. That'd been Big Boss' only direct instructions. Bring fuel for the fire. That means she has One Job, and so the fire is extremely large and extremely bright. She's even micromanaging what anyone else brings to toss on the pyre, to maintain a perfectly optimal burn, apparently knowing quite a bit about fires.
Alruna Greengate Alruna fumbles, trying to pull herself out of the hole in the table. There's various protests and people grabbing their drinks off it before they spill. Some of them are too slow and get a lapful of booze before Alruna plants her hands firmly and pushes down. The table lands with a clank and the paladin awkwardly climbs out, changing back into her party pants with another *skworrrsssh* of clothes-changing magic.

She raps on the one soldier that she shook with's chest with the back of her hand, then holding it out. Pay up. Some things are universal, like the triumphant smirk on her face as he grumbles and lays a few notes in her hand. Alruna's collecting a lot of currencies, but that's going to be a problem for Future Alruna. "Ohhhhhhh! What is /that/?" she exclaims, spying Selene and the enormous teddy bear that's carrying her.

She wanders towards the looming Snorlax, craning her neck back to stare up at it, wide-eyed. And then she leans into it, trying to hug an entire Snorlax, or die trying.
Big Boss Big Boss nods to the two. "Good to see you setling in, then. Enjoy the party." He then heads to look after the bonfire, bumping into Selene on the way. "Selene Hyperion." He nods his head, and then turns to Selene, and Adachi if he eventually shows up. "How are you two enjoying yourselves?" And then, to not leave Danzo out of the festitives on his way, but knowing generally how to treat her. "How is the bonfire coming?"
Tohru Adachi      Adachi's set up properly now, revealing that his attire for partying is actually... The same suit and tie he always wear. That's pretty boring, but it's pretty practical. Why change what isn't broke?

     He places the now on closer expectation, pretty cheap drinks down and pulls one out for himself, though he's not quite ready to sip from it yet.

     "Oh hey, Riku. Nice to see you buddy. Still haven't found yourself a trench coat I see. Bummer."

     He waves towards the brooding teenager, opting to completely ignore the mood.

     "Well, I mean. Unless you're too cool for that. Alternatively we can get you a scarf like Lil Miss Kunoichi over there. Pretty sure those are cool by kids your age too."

     Adachi motions towards Danzo as if to emphasize his point. And also because he's not allowing these two to be brooding boring people. If he's not going to get out of here without socializing, these two sure as hell won't.
Gaonoir Erika meanwhile is trying to sneak closer to Amelris and snap a pic of Carbunkle without startling it. You'd almost think the girl was some kind of aspiring paparazzi or something.

Well, conspiracy chaser, close enough at times.

Gaonoir is just sitting back, chewing on his kabob and waiting to see the results. They're usually entertaining, one way or another.

That and food probably being the only reasons he hasn't gone off to brood with the other snarky edgelord.
Amelris Belthrone      Amelris gives the Big Boss a polite bow even as he moves off, watching him talk to other people, particlarly that ninja by the bonefire. The Miqo'te scratches his chin, leaving Alruna and her drunken self to her own devices to investigate the GIANT BEAST with a little girl.

     He pops, straightens his red vest and starts making his way to the bonefire to talk to the kuniochi.

     "Hey!" He says, approaching where she and Big Boss are. "That's a real nice bonefire you've got going! You using anything in particular to keep it afloat like that?"

     The Carbunckle still remains on his shoulder, wriggling and looking all around curiously, it's tiny adorable nose wrinkling at the smoke near them,.
Selene Snack time! Selene ties a ribbon around her knee looped through a bag, providing the Snorlax with an easy spot to deposit enough snacks to be an entire meal for herself and the Torracat sitting on her lap. She doesn't dig in right away, though, peering down at Alruna curiously before laughing at the display of affection towards her giant creature.

"This is Slunch! Hmm... You're not a narc, right?" Alruna hugs the bearcat, and Selene laughs while the creatures pats the white-haired paladin on the head lightly. It's got a soft touch, almost as if it's used to this sort of thing.

Also, because it's busy cramming food into its face. Carefully, even, as it limits itself to one skewer of meat at a time.

When Big Boss approaches, Selene grins brightly while lifting a hand in a firm salute. It'd probably look more formal if she wasn't literally sitting on top of a giant bearcat. "Boss! This party's great. We've got food, fire, boo-uhhh."

Crap. Would he frown upon her drinking? She turns her head stiffly to try and not draw too much attention to that last thing she said, instead focusing squarely on... Ninja lady tending to the fire! "Hey! Heeey! Lemme know when you wanna tag out and grab some grub!" She even waves a chicken wing in the air towards Danzo for emphasis, then feeds it to the black cat on her lap. It takes a small nibble, singes the wing with a small puff of flame, then devours it hastily.
William Pauwel Parties are fun! And yet, even with the fire roaring nearby, Will isn't feeling very... En flambe. Maybe it's the beer, maybe it's the looming shadow of the challenges up ahead, maybe it's that he's watching Kato Danzo chucking things into the fire and wondering why it is his heart is going tick-tick-tock instead of its usual rhythm.

Oh well. At least he has a carbuncle to pet. If said carbuncle allows himself to be lured off Amelris' shoulder with a wiggling piece of bacon.

"How's it going tonight, everyone?" Will asks, ideally with an armful of fluffy blue catfox. "Seems like the bonfire's going pretty bright, ahahahaha~!"

Maybe being closer to the fire, talking to some of these folks, will help push some of those awful premonitory thoughts out of his head. Maybe.
Danzo Katou     "Do not worry. It will be seen to, to the best of my ability, my Lord." replies the woman in red to Big Boss, equal parts intensely serious, and way too soft-spoken. "Compared to The various manuals of fire tactics, a simple bonfire is very easy. There should be no problems." she continues, picking up an armful of haphazardly gathered branches, then carefully sorting them for size and flicking them into the fire, landing at various perfectly-propped angles.

    Suddenly ending up somewhat crowded by other people, she turns her head to look at Amelris over the rim of her scarf somewhat awkwardly. "Afloat? There's no need for the fire to float. The sand is very hard-packed here." she says, clearly not quite grasping her meaning. "I'm only using the items brought by attendees, as my Lord ordered. I have extensive experience with fires. Signal flames, camping and cooking fires, distractions, burning enemy munitions, setting fire to forts, houses, disposing of bodies . . ." She pokes the kindling just so, and a wave of heat rises from the coals in a great, sparkling burst.

    She physically shrinks away from the chicken wing just slightly. "Thank you, but that is unnecessary. I will be fine without." God that's so boring.
Riku Of course Adachi would be drawn right to him. Riku's expression betrays a moment of annoyance that he suppresses a short time later. He looks over to the ex-cop, taking in the sight of the Mostly Harmless serial killer. "Maybe. And no." He glances over to Danzo for a moment, then back to Adachi. "Definitely no."

    He pauses for several moments, allowing the silence to become awkward. "So what are you here for? Free food and drink, I'm guessing."
Alruna Greengate "I have no idea what a narc is. I'm going to guess no." Alruna laughs as she's patted on the head by the giant toy - in her mind - and turns around to lean against it. "Hello, Slunch." she says, craning her neck back to look up at it and sliiide down its furry mass until she's sitting on the ground, happily gazing at the fire.
Amelris Belthrone      "No, no, I mean, good job on keeping the fire all nice and big like it is right now." Amelris replies, waving a hand in a vague attempt to dispell the confusion that he might have caused in the... woman? She's pretty clearly A woman, it's rather obvious but... She hits her various other uses of fire, his tail twitching anxiously. "Huh. Thaaaat's... a lot of uses to fire you know! I mostly know a few, namely with spells. By the way! Amelris Belthrone. Red Mage." He says, thrusting out a hand. "And this, is Carbunckle... Carbunckle?"

     The adorable fox-like creature is gone from his shoulder. Instead, it leaped off to get to Selene, looking up adorably as she wave around that chickenwing. But then... there is the bacon. It's glowing little nose wriggles, looking around to stare at the bacon luring it over... then look back up at the chicken wing. Then back at the bacon.

     The poor thing. It cannot decide.
Gaonoir Oh, that's perfect. Erika quickly snaps a few pics that get both the carbunkle and (most of) Slurch in the picture. Then zooms on the carbunkle being adorable in confusion between CHIKKEN and BAKUN
Tohru Adachi      "Free food? Nah, if I wanted to eat I'd just hit a convience store on my own. I just wanted an excuse to get drunk."

     Adachi cracks open the drink in his hand at this point, taking a small sip. The taste doesn't seem to phase him, so clearly, the man is used to this stuff.

     "What about you though, Mr. Cool Guy. Parties aren't conductive to the loner image, you know? Or you also looking to get drunk? Cause I'll have you know, underage drinking is a crime. I'll have to bring you guys in if you try anything funny."

     The question is clearly legit, but it's quite clear that Adachi probably isn't serious about reporting them. Probably because he isn't a cop anymore.
Selene Alruna confirms herself as /not/ being a narc due to ignorance, so that means she's safe in Selene's book! Slunch stands firmly despite being a big fat soft thing, although he eventually settles into a sit to focus more on munching.

Selene's focus is all over the place, of course. There's a cowboy with bacon, and she asks him the only thing she can think of: "Hey. Hey. Are you a sheriff or a bandito?" Subtle. "If you're not a sheriff..." She glances around, then stage-whispers to try and not get attention from anyone that might be a dreaded narc or... RESPONSIBLE. "Can you grab me some booze?"

Danzo's reaction to the chicken wing has Selene furrowing her brow at her next. "Aw, you're not on a diet or something, are you? I bet they've got... Like. Low-fat wings or vegan fried butter or something if you're worried about that kinda thing." She tries to reassure her, then notices the carbuncle approaching. She watches it curiously, not noticing that it's more interested in the wing or that the Torracat's already devoured the thing. She absentmindedly holds the bones out, pauses, then chucks the bones aside to get a fresh handful of wings!

Her hands and her Pokemon's fur are going to be so gross by the end of the night.
Amelris Belthrone      The Carbunckle's glowly eyes are wide in shock at being presented bones, even if new wings are being shown right afterwards, turning around to bounce over to the bacon-bearer. Bacon never betrayed it. Never.

     Good work, William.
Danzo Katou     "It's not . . . i-it's not a matter of being on a diet. Thank you again." says Danzo, graciously, yet awkwardly, holding up a hand to decline having food waved in her face. "Please save it for the guests who will enjoy it more." Cryptic.

    She seems more comfortable talking to Amelris at this point, even as stilted as that is. "There are many uses for fire described in the corresponding number of the five manuals; a master shinobi knows them all. Every application of fire, earth, water, and wind, is a critical tool that can mean the difference between a successful mission and failure." She repeats, after a pause. "A simple bonfire is easy. There is plenty of fuel."

    Glancing down at Amelris' hand, then glancing back up at his face, Danzo returns to staring at his outstretched hand for an uncomfortably long period of time. It's *just* before it feels appropriate to give up and take his hand back, that Danzo finally reaches out and grips it, extremely delicately. For working with a fire, her fingers are a little cold. "I am . . . pleased to meet you?" she says, audibly hesitant, as if testing out the words. "And Carbunckle."

    Apparently noticing Tohru and Riku talking about her scarf, even from a distance, she habitually pulls the garment up a little further.
William Pauwel None can resist the siren song of bacon, especially when its only competition is a munched up chicken bone. Will claims his carbuncle prize, scooping the foxcat up, only to offer it yet another bacon strip. It seems Will has come prepared today! Prepared... With bacon.....!

Hopefully it doesn't just start seeing him as some kind of delicious porkbelly dispensary. That would just be tragic! Being a walking vending machine, it's... It's...!!

There's a beat as Selene immediately treats Will as some kind of walking vending machine. He frowns and tips his hat with mild consternation. "I ain't a sheriff, miss. But I ain't a thief either! I'm a <<treasure hunter!>> There's a real important difference there!"

But Will fetches a chilly can of beer for her anyway. It's some kind of german stuff, apparently from a brewery in a place called Alberichstadt. "There. Give thattun a shot. Ain't half bad, I think."

Will cranes his head up and over at Danzo then, too, and scans his gaze from the ninja over toward the rest of the band gathered together. "Lot of new faces 'round here today, eh? Huh. Don't think I've met half of you in person before. Name's Will! If y'all need anything fixed, I'm yer man. Or... beer. I guess."

Or bacon. If you're a carbuncle.
N'Raha     Well, if you're wondering where the Other Catte wandered off to, you're not going to have to wonder too much more.

    A... well. Rather wobbly looking N'raha is shuffling over to the crowd, carrying a large basket in one hand. The top of it is misting with cold air drifting around and... Raha seems to not be hurting quite so much any more. "HELLO FRIENDS." He smiles, and then shuffles over to one of the nearby snack tables, and drops off the basket.

    He reaches inside, and then pulls out... a mason jar of a mint green looking liquid. "Who... who ordered some lassi? I got some... with a kick."

    He takes one of the jars, and unscrews the lid to get a sip, and then looks around.
    MISSION START: Gotta find Amerlis and give him shit.
Amelris Belthrone "I see! Danzo, right? Wonderful to meet you!" Amelris answers, smiling wide with his fuzzy ears fluttering as he takes her hand, shaking it. He have a pretty gallant shake, the Red mage gently bowing his head at the shinobi. His own hand is rather warm, despite the gloves he's wearing. The gloves themselves are rather sturdy yet pretty smooth! Silk, maybe? If she can FEEL things, anyway. "So this is a sort of elemental practical application. I've known magic of all theses elements... except water, amusingly enough. Red Magic is pretty versatile that way." He smiles a bit wider. "Yes! That is Carbunckle! Come on, buddy, get closer to the nice lady--buddy?"

     Amelris looks over at this shoulder, blinking, discovering he's been abandoned. He looks around, to find the glowing little critter in William's arms.

     Carbunckle is rather comfortable where it is right now, munching, nibbling with adorable little sounds the bacon it is offered to it. It finishes it it, wriggling it's ears, very much like the Miqo'te did a few moments ago to look up at William, pensively.

     It lifts a paw -- awww, it got little glowing beans! -- and boops his nose, it's tiny brow furrowed.
Alruna Greengate Alruna would also like bacon! Tomorrow. Tonight, she seems quite happy to subsist on beer, and a plate of meat kabobs that she has acquired somewhere while people weren't paying attention to her, before returning to her spot leaning comfily against Slunch.

She draws her lips back, showing a mouthful of pearly whites that she sinks into well-seared meat, dragging it up the wooden stick so she can properly consume it.
Riku Riku shrugs to Adachi. "Whatever works for you." He doesn't seem to blink when the ex-cop takes a drink of his booze. He scowls at the mention of underage drinking and the fake warning and looks away. "I don't drink." He says simply. "You never know when you're going to need all your senses."

    He glances over to Adachi, again. "You can drink all you want though. I'll keep you covered."

    A pause, then. "Why did you say all that stuff earlier?" Which stuff? He's not specifying. Adachi can probably figure it out.
Danzo Katou     The minute Selene tries to take a sip of her beer, it will taste exactly like water. Danzo is holding the beer can offered by will. The beer can in her hand is fake. It's just bottled water. How in the fuck?

    "Growing children shouldn't be consuming alcohol." she says, with the utmost degree of gentle patience. "Please don't serve alcoholic beverages to those whose health it might affect." She sprinkles some of the beer on the fire for a good fwoosh.
N'Raha     Well. Right. No one else immediately is presenting themselves, so Raha shuffles over to Alruna, and then merrily slumps down next to the lady, his good ear flicking a bit as he takes a long pull from his lassi, the chilled drink smelling vaguely fermented. A sniff, and he wipes a milk mustache from his face.

    "Hi you." From the fight at the tower to now, he's looking... much more relaxed and much more comfortable. Hopefully that can last.
Gaonoir "Technically alcohol is determental to health regardless of ag--ow!" Erika's commentary is cut off by Gaonoir bopping the back of her head with a gloved paw lightly.
"Don't ruin the Very Special Episode moment with facts, nerd."
Danzo Katou     That emergency situation averted, Danzo relaxes (enough) to answer people. "Apologies. I haven't formally introduced myself to the faction. I am working on rertainer for my- 'Big Boss'. He called for my services, for the mission aboard the Ad Coleum." She goes silent for a while after that.

    "Practical applications are everything." she eventually replies to Amelris. "I don't work with magic. Not really. But my genpou is enough to convince anyone, that it might as well be. Sorcerers are looked at with mistrust, normally." She glances at the green jar. "Whatever is contained in that jar, please, do not give it to children. And behave yourselves." The swap from cold, soft, awkward conversation to even softer, almost sisterly chiding is abrupt and flawless, though she doesn't seem to notice.
Tohru Adachi      "The idiot friend stuff? I assume you're talking about that, given how riled up you got. Well..."

     Without the radio, Adachi's face is in the open. Riku can see that his face twists and grimaces a bit. It's not the usual sneering face he makes either. It's the kind of face one makes when they're remembering something they regret. It doesn't last long though, and soon the ex-cop has his usual aloof expression back.

     "It's simple really. I kinda knew a guy like that. Sorta. Graaaanted, this Sora kid sounds like he has actual rocks for brains, by the way you and that Moon King guy go on about him."

     He stops talking at this point to take a few more sips.
N'Raha     Raha smiles up at Danzo. "It's bhang! That's this Thavnarian drink they make with uh, femented lassi and moko." He hoists the jar up at Danzo, and then smiles.

    Oh right, Raha, introduce yourself. He coughs, and then shuffles back up to his feet. "RIGHT! Uh, I'm N'raha, I'm with these fine upstanding uh... defenders of the light and stuff. He waves to Amelris and Alruna, before wobbling back down to his spot next to the paladin, and drinking more of his beverage.
Alruna Greengate Alruna blinks. Suddenly, there's a N'raha next to her. She looks over to him and agreeably knocks her can against his drink. "Evening!" she replies, just hitting the point of pleasant numbness. Alruna drags another mouthful of meat off her skewer and munches.

"You look better." she says, then gulps down her mouthful, wordlessly offering an untouched kabob to him with a smile.
William Pauwel Will is bopped on the nose by the glowing foxcat. Is he as vulnerable to toe-beans as he looks!?

Judging by the way he produces another strip of bacon, he is exactly as vulnerable to toe-beans as he looks.

"Aww, who's an adorable little guy?" Will coos like the exact kind of soft-hearted foxcat snuggler that he is. "Is it you? It's you~"

Then! There's WITCHERY afoot! Will stares at the can in Danzo's hand. Kato Danzo, more like Steal'yo Canzo! "How'd you-- That's good beer! Don't just sprinkle it around! 'Sides, I was always allowed to drink an' I turned out fine! One won't hurt, hrmph!"
Amelris Belthrone      Amelris watches the EMERGENCY SITUATION being handled, his tail twitching. He remembers that time his father stopped him from drinking a cup of wine when he was eight but his mother laughed and gave it back to him, then his father laughed.

     Being raised by people that used to be pirates is one hell of a thing, let me tell you.

     "Yo, N'raha!" he gives the fellow Miqo'te a nod, returning his attention to the kuniochi. "Ah, techniques that are so close that most people might as well consider it magic. I see." He says, rubbing his chin, geniunely interested in this. "There was a time in Eorzea history where magic-users were seen upon with distrust... and with good reasons at the time but fortunately, that's waned with time. And it was for specific wizards." His eyes brightens, smiling. "You ARE very fond of keeping children safe, aren't you? You seem to know your stuff."

     The Carbunckle is munching on the new piece of bacon, satisfied in nibbling a new piece of smoked meat and demonstrating his ability to manipulate humans enamoured with it's adorable little fuzz. Or it's just that innocent and cute. WHO KNOWS!
N'Raha     The jar clanks a bit, and Raha grumbles over at Alruna. "Yeah well Inga and I had some time to sort things out and now I'm drunk and high so." He sniffs. "I hurt a lot less."

    The meat skewer is immediately snatched up, and Raha nomfs on kebab, savoring the greasy meat. Mmmmmmm.
Selene Perhaps Selene will have a carbuncle of her very own another day, but today is not that day. No, it's a pretty definite never since that requires all sorts of weird math shit and she's already too loaded up with other stuff, anyway.
Does't mean she won't try eventually, but still.

"A treasure hunter, huh? Neat! We should go hunting for stuff sooner or later. I saw a few weird spots on maps the other day and-" She pauses, having taken a sip from that can he gave her and squinting as it tastes nothing like booze. It tastes like nothing, even! She only puts two and two together once Danzo basically spells it out for her, still looking at the fake can afterwards.

"Mmmr.... Fiiine." Pouting a bit, she slumps in place while nursing a chicken wing. Slunch turns right to Danzo and holds a beefy paw up in something vaguely similar to a thumbs-up gesture. Afterwards, he all but shoves a skewer into Selene's face, who finally perks up after devouring the shit out of it far less carefully than the bearcat has been. There'll be opportunities to sample that weird green jar of N'raha's later, maybe!

But first? "Introductions time? Introductions time!" She hops onto her feet, wobbling a bit atop the Snorlax until he rights her with a gentle nudge. "I'm Selene Hyperion, codename MUSCLE CHICKEN! If you need fire, fists, or flooding, I've got Pokemon right for the job!"

She strikes exactly one pose before doubling over and laying right back down with a pained groan. She really shouldn't have done that after eating so much.
Big Boss Big Boss is continuing to patrol as shenanigans go on. He returns as Danzo snatches a beer can from Selene with ninjaesque tactics. While he doesn't care if she drinks, he also doesn't care enough to say anything against it. Instead, he responds to Selene's reaction with some amusement, muted.

"Muscle Chicken. My men named you that. You seem to have taken a shine to it, mm?"
Danzo Katou     "Apologies. None of those words meant anything to me. I will politely presume you were not making them up, and they are simply something I am unfamiliar with." Danzo says to N'raha. "Again, please do not share any with the children."

    "Beer and sake are for adults." she repeats in different words, softly but firmly to Will. "I will continue to confiscate it as long as you hand it out to minors. You won't be able to avoid it." She says that second part like an absolute matter of fact, though she does look at him with a simply staggering amount of sympathy for her only being visible as a pair of eyes. "There's still time to move on to the right path. You aren't a lost cause yet."

    Amelris might be about to save Will though, since the woman in red turns to acknowledge one very important statement. "Children were the treasure of the village. Our most important resource. They represent the future, and the future is something you should pay very close attention to." A beat. "A shinobi village isn't the safest place to raise a child, though. I do have plenty of experience."

    As the introductions go around, she introduces herself extremely plainly. Blandly, even. "Katou Danzo." Another momentary pause. "Yes. That one. Shinobi aren't commonly recorded in history. I am surprised I was an exception."
Alruna Greengate Alruna beams at N'raha and goes back to her own, which she eats much more daintily than most foods the paladin consumes.

She gives a hearty sigh and slumps down, picking up another skewer. "Good to hear. S'long as you aren't moping about in that house all day." she says, her words getting slurry again.
Gaonoir There's a sizable awkward silence. Until Erika finally lowers her smartphone and gives Gaonoir a light jab with her elbow.
"What?" The girl just bobs her head vagely towards the introductions going on. "... You know I hate bothering with that."
"You complain when I start off doing it," Erika snaps back.
Which gets an exasperated sigh in response. "Fiiiine."

Ugh, social interaction getting in the way of just eating greasy fried food at the edges of the gathering.

Since he's being pushed into it Gaonoir makes an exaggerated act of clearing his throat into a clenched glove-clad paw. "Name's Gaonoir. A Digital Monster, or Digimon for convenience sake." Then jabs a thumb over his shoulder at Erika. "This is the human I'm stuck keeping out of trouble."

"You need to get better at that job," Erika retorts, and sticks her tongue out. Though she's glad he didn't just call her his 'sidekick' this time. That's demeaning!
Selene Big Boss' question gets a slow thumbs up from Selene. Not because she's hesitant, but because she's trying not to groan from the cramp in her gut. Otherwise, she's actually still managing to grin and nod!

Eventually, though, she actually recovers from that gut pain, and she sits back up in time for Danzo to scold Will and explain her thinking to Amelris. Although she's not being spoken to directly, Selene still feels a bit of that emotional gut stabbing, and she lets out a long sigh before crossing her arms and looking off to the side. "Fiiiine, I'll behave. It's only another... Year and a half."

Or finding more irresponsible people later, but she can at least behave here.
Amelris Belthrone      Amelris' ears flutters as the woman in red seems to be talking... more fondly in that manner. He probably imagined it but this part seems to be very, very dear to her heart. "A pleasure to meet another shinobi from the Far East." The Red Mage says, bowing his head again, a hand on his heart. "I am certain that you have been a wonderful mother and caretaker to many youth. You are correct, childrens are very precious just as you say." He straightens, turning around to give a wave at Gaonoir and Erika, the Miqo'te grinning wide. "Nice to meet you two as well! I'm Amelris Belthrone, Crimson Duelist!"

     He makes a swish of his braided hair with a wide grin, before returning that look at Danzo. "I'm sorry, the name is... not too familiar, I'm afraid."
N'Raha     Raha snorts quietly, and nestles in on Slunch as well, before glaning over to wave to Gao. "It's been a while. Didn't you help me on a FATE last year?" His green eyes seem to wander a bit, but thinkingthat far back is a little rough at the moment. He takes another bite of Kebab, some of the veggies now, and considers things, before pointing at Amelris with his stick. "Careful, y-you're gonna get him started. Also I t-think he's got a crush on the OTHER shinobi back home, so watch out." A smug look on his face. "He likes 'em sneaky like he is."
Riku     Riku is looking at Adachi, so he sees the way that the ex-cop's face shifts. There's a few moments, but the scowl drops from his face, his expression becoming less hostile at that display of emotion. He looks away as Adachi explains himself, going quiet as the man speaks. The angry teen stares into the night, the light at his back. His demeanor is stiff. Brittle, the teen clearly holding back intense emotion of his own. With a flick of his hand, he absently pulls out what looks like a cellphone. As he unlocks with a flick of his hand and pokes the screen, he says quietly. "Yeah. He was exactly like that."

    The phone displays a red dot and a circle on a black background. He thumbs the phone, and with a little bwip, it seems to fire the dot at the circle, where it vanishes into it, a line like a visualizer running and surging along the edge. He keeps pressing it as he talks, the teen seeming to not notice what he's doing as he leans back a little.

    "He was a complete idiot." The red dots continue to fall into the sphere. Bwip. Bwip. Bwip. "He always just rushed ahead into everything. He never thought anything through, he just did anything someone told him and thought friendship would let him get through it."

    He shakes his head. "And Seifer is just a fraud who won't admit it."
Gaonoir "Bunch of fire god worshiping lizard men, yes." No surprise Erika is the one that immeadiately remembers it. "Because they keep abducting people as sacrifices. Really cult zealot kind of crazy.
"Something like that." Gaonoir tosses his empty kabob stick and goes to get some more food.
Alruna Greengate Alruna watches the flames, not really paying attention to anything in particular until she happens to glance up from the dancing firelight to see Amelris turn on the charm with the fire-tender, and her eyes jerk wide open, sitting up. "There isn't a cliff around here, is there?" she asks, apropos of nothing.
William Pauwel How do you even deal with that kind of sincerity!? Will shinks up and back in a way that suggests he has no idea whether to argue back or just pout like some kid who got caught with his hand in the candy jar. At least he has a hat to pull down over his eyes to save some face. "T'ain't a wrong path though. Out in the wilderness, ain't it that sometimes booze is the only safe thing to drink? Nnn."

Will is doing nothing but digging himself deeper. Abort! Abort!!

"Oh, well, it's a pleasure, y'all!" Will chirps, desperately trying to haul himself out of the hole he's fallen into. "Hope t' work well with y'all goin' forward. Now uhhh, since y'all can't drink I GUESS--" Will rounds upon Selene, and offers......

Bacon!?

"Here, I feel bad. 'Bout the booze not being okay. Between you n' me, I don't see the problem. But maybe I'll just think of this as a challenge, eh? Ahahahaha!"
Amelris Belthrone      The Carbunckle in William's possession currently is still nibbling on the large amount of bacon it was provided. It looks up, perks, it's floppy ears wriggling as it looks at Selena, blinking at her.

     Without asking permission, the glowing, fluffy carbunckle crawls off William, following along his arm, to follow on Selene and nestle on her shoulder.
Selene Selene's not going to turn down bacon, even if it is probably going to screw her stomach up more than anything else she's eaten tonight. "Eh? Pssh, it's fine. Year and a half isn't that long!"

It is very long but she's not going to admit that after that earlier boast. Also, she's already taking the bacon and chowing down. "Challenge accepted! Uh... What's the challenge again?"

It's not the carbuncle, but she'll accept it nonetheless. She bites a clean chunk off the bacon, then offers what's left in her hand to the little glowing creature. The Torracat opens its eye after awakening from that brief catnap, stares at the carbuncle, then blows a hot puff of air at it before closing its eyes again.

It's not like the Torracat wanted that bacon or anything.
Danzo Katou     "Thank you." Danzo says to Selene, oddly warmly, rather than simply authoritatively satisified. "Don't be in a hurry to grow up. Ten years from now, you'll be looking back and wondering where all the time went. You should make the best of the life you're living while it lasts." She looks to Will. The amount of concern hasn't diminished. "If you haven't learned yet, I will teach you the basics of purifying drinkable water-- no, here you should have plenty to eat and drink, yes? Please don't deprive yourself because you're afraid to ask. Children shouldn't be living out in the wilderness on their own."

    Yet, the second Amelris mentions motherhood, Danzo fatfingers one of the sticks she's adding to the fire, causing a small tent of kindling to collapse on itself, throwing up cinders and smoke. "Me? I'm sorry, but I've never been . . . I took care of many of the village children, but none of them were my own. Many of their parents were away on missions for most of the year, or had died, and children undergoing rigorous training need the most attention and care. I didn't mind it though. Those years . . . weren't bad at all. I only wish I remembered more of them."

    "Ah. My apologies again. What clan are the shinobi you know of from? I supported the Fuuma clan, during the Sengoku period, from its founder to the Fifth Head."
Tohru Adachi      "Tch. Friendship, bonds, camaraderie. I swear, people who think that's the answer to everything really get under my skin."

     Adachi takes a few more sips to finish off his current beer, before he quickly squeezes it. The aluminum can really didn't stand much of a chance, be it from Adachi clearly being agitated on this topic or the fact he's actually got superhuman strength isn't really clear though. It's probably both, though. He pauses the conversation for a bit as he goes to throw the mangled can away and replace it with a new one.

     "Anyway. Again. I wasn't kidding when I said I bet this Sora kid still thinks of you as a close friend. If the idiot I'm thinking of can still look at me as a friend after all I've done and still have the ability to get top grades in school, some Aussie kid who barely has a higher IQ than a moogle is going to think you're the coolest shit no matter how much black clothing and hair dye you decide to wear."

     There's a lot of sincerity in Adachi's voice, unfortunately, there's also a lot of sass. And general disregard for the feelings of multiple parties that are currently not here. Though that's probably a good thing. While he's saying this, he also makes a mental note of Riku's phone, but other than that doesn't bring it up. Multiple conversation threads tend to muddle things, after all.
Amelris Belthrone      Well. That... took a melancholic turn. The Miqo'te listens to the shinobi's words, taking not of her 'fatfingering'. It seems like he's touched something of a nerve. Perhaps he should've been more careful about it?

     "I see." Amelris nods, stoically. It's a well-practiced stoic nod. One that's been used countless times in his adventuring career. "Then I am certain all these children looked upon you as if you were their own mothers. Children do not easily forget this." His smile brightens. "I've lived through the Calamity when I was younger. I've seen many kids far younger that could have used a kind heart like yours."

     He shakes his head, brushing off visions of Dalamund crashing upon from the skies.

     "Oh, ah... I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about. They are from Doma. They ran away from their home after a failed liberation attempt of their homeland and now live in Eorzea. Kind people, brave kids, too."
N'Raha     Damn, Amelris didn't take the bait. N'raha grumbles a bit next to Alruna, and snickers, having some more of his weed milkshake. "Thanks, by the way. I needed that talk. I mean, the other night. Someone had to say something and I'm glad it was you."
William Pauwel Will is abandoned by the carbuncle! No, carbuncle! Your bacon recepticle is right here! Will frowns, and not just about his adorable missing catfox! But also because Danzo is turning up the MOM RAYS something fierce. "Oh, no! I know how to boil water, got a portable alembic an' all that, don't worry! Just, you know, I was tryin' to explain why it didn't make sense to like, keep folks from drinkin' just 'cause of a matter of age! It ain't a thing from where I'm from! Is all!"

Oh no, he's turned beet red! Will is flustered!!

Flustered enough that he temporarily misses Selene's invitation to go TREASURE HUNTING, but he'll get around to bringing that up with her in a little bit... Maybe!!
Amelris Belthrone      The Carbuncle snatch the little bit of bacon given to it, making a nice chirping sound. It nestle on her other shoulder, blinking rapidly at the small puff of air fired it's way. It's eyes widen, it's adorable fluffy ears perks up.

     Then it takes a breath, then just let loose a small puff of air at the Torracat in return, it entire body glowing as it apply some magic!
Alruna Greengate Alruna drunkenly rolls her head around to look at N'raha muzzily, like she doesn't know what he just said.

Then she smiles and punches him in the arm. "Yer welcome." she murmurs. "You'll get through it. People c'n get through... anything." She trails off, staring at the fire.
Riku     "Yeah? I know." Riku sighs for a moment, shaking his head. "They're the worst. I didn't used to really care, maybe, but... Things change."

    When Adachi crushes the can, Riku's eyes flick to one side, noting it. But he says nothing, looking back. He's not so deep in his teen angst that he doesn't catch things like that. Still, Adachi says some things that might actually be positive and hopeful!

    The thumb begins tapping faster. Bwip bwip bwip bwip bwip. He doesn't seem very comforted at it as his expression falls. "I know you're trying to make me feel better. But it really doesn't matter even if he did." His voice sounds... Kind of dead, really, as he stares out into that darkness. "It won't change anything."
Big Boss The bonfire is done. It's all set up. As it finishes, Big Boss gathers everyone at the festival together, and proceeds over to the bonfire. "Thank you all for coming. Let us light up the night."

And then, behind him, on queue, the bonfire is ignited, blazing hot. It provides warmth all around, and could probably be seen by planes easily, which is why it's lucky they're in Outer Heaven airspace. It's super pretty, and honestly...

It's good to have a day where you're not fighting for what you believe in.