after all your preparation and discussion, whatever questions you might have had for adrastea, the ship finishes its descent through the atmosphere and down into an avenue utilized for arrivals. because it's for spacefaring vessels, it's not a road - it's filled with water, as if it's there for boats instead. the small craft you've been in for the past half hour lowers a plank, and the sole remaining door opens up to allow your exit onto the planet's surface on the inner bank of this fixture. the air is thick with the fragrance of flowers, of plant life, and it's so very fresh, if extremely warm. to combat the humidity brought on by a planet with a greenhouse climate, a number of oscillating fans have been situated on either side of the path up to the grand building awaiting you. attendants flutter around the arrivals, offering to take coats, to valet the ships that arrive, greeting with enthusiasm in practiced delight.
but they do ask for your invitations, whether they be physical or digital, before they allow anyone to pass down the path to the celebrations.
when they're given, they bow ceremoniously, allowing you through, bidding that you enjoy your time here in the Hanging Gardens. adrastea bids a calm, confident "good luck" before the ramp retracts into the ship again, and they take off rather than allowing any of the attendants to pilot the craft.
you're, of course, not the only people arriving for the Blossoming Ceremony. many masked and unmasked figures walk the aisle, talking amongst themselves or greeting others regardless of familiarity, admiring the plants and statues of glasswork that surround them already.
some people can be found in gondolas in the water, at least in the areas not occupied by ships that are coming and going. tittering ladies with hand fans are escorted and aided into these gondolas, as servants hold the boats steady or inquire as to whether or not any of their guests would like to partake in finger foods or flutes of champagne. no one seems to be asking for ages, either, under the assumption that if you're here, you've paid quite the pretty yen or leaf for it.
a group comprised of numerous attendants - not dressed like those of the Hanging Gardens, but clearly in the same capacity - buzz around an individual like a hive of bees and their queen, masks decorated but otherwise simple by comparison to said queen. the figure, a woman with long, flowing white hair and wearing a glamorous golden gown, has a starkly intricate mask and the air of someone that would rule this estate even as a guest.
others mingle or make their way down the cooled path. no one stands out quite so magnificently as the queen bee, but they gather in clusters. a trio makes their way up into the doors that await the attendees, before disappearing through them. a pair are disembarking from their ship and talking to some attendants. some musicians are getting their equipment rolled in, followed by a group of elegant, beautiful figures - humanoid, but not all human. a large group is bickering amongst one another, elderly and posh and entitled if you had to guess. something about letting riffraff in for such an important ceremony as this. just what is the world coming to these days?
alright, boomer.
to start you off: with the nat 20s that owner and temenos rolled, they will be able to notice that there are a number of guards milling about, dressed to try and blend in with the guests but more obvious to a trained and observant eye. even with masks on, it's hard to miss the posture if you know what to look for.
aircraft are coming and going, even after adrastea takes off with your craft to go find somewhere to land. some of them are ritzy like a sportscar would be, while others are more simple while still being elegant. but there are some that are landing that seem to be very industrial, more boxy, and their destination isn't the main avenue, but insteaed behind the building ahead.
[ first of all: it is actually almost comforting to step off the ship into a burst of verdant green. this place with its gondolas feels familiar - it brings back memories of canalbrine, a similar city upon the water. of the leaflands, of timberain with its luscious rivers and elegant castles. after being trapped in the eudora for a week and a half, there's something imminently bolstering about standing here, preparing to gather information and to understand. it feels like home.
that isn't to say his guard is down, of course, but it does make it much easier to meld into the situation. with a nat 20 familiar situation at his fingertips, temenos rolls his shoulders and uses his staff as if it were a walking stick, step by step down the path, moving with confident elegance and ease in the new change of clothing.
the guards, first - temenos gives a brief sideeye to the others, gesturing just slightly to one of the guards with his head and playing as if he's adjusting his mask. what's the ratio of guests to guards, roughly? are there any of them hovering around particular groups, or are they just sort of infused within the situation as a whole?
beyond that, he's keeping his ears open as they move forward. the queen bee catches his attention, of course - the thick of servants is also not a bad place to start talking, but with their aforementioned queen bee hovering nearby, they won't say anything that's even remotely out of line. but for now, his eyes track towards the entitled group of boomers and their complaining. is there any sign to what the boomer gang is complaining about if we mill about a little closer to them to hear? how are they dressed? do they talk similarly/have similar sounding accents/are they ostensibly all from the same place? (forces you to think about irrelevant details probably) are they looking at certain types of people or certain places while they do their complaining?
just observing for now, not popping into the conversation! he gives todomatsu a brief smile but beyond that it's go time baby ]
[ yikes, this really IS fancy. and todomatsu is very grateful now that they're in this heat and humidity that he picked a relatively lightweight sleeveless dress for this, damn. he follows a half-step behind temenos, letting the fans dramatically blow his beautiful caramel locks, smiling pleasantly at anyone who might look in his direction.
while temenos is focusing on the grumbling boomers, he'll subtly move just a bit closer to the queen bee to listen in and get a better idea of what her deal is — what kinds of people are approaching her, if she's someone whose influence extends beyond just the social and monetary.
just to be clear, the building ahead that the industrial vehicles are heading toward is the main building on the estate? or something else? ]
owner will step out after them, taking a moment to note the positions of the guards. is there anything about them that might indicate how armed they are, or is that fairly well hidden to not startle guests?
either way, he will glance at kazuki since that's his date!!! but he will also look over to the doors that the pair disappeared through. is there anything that stands out about it? any glimpses into the inside they can see from out there, or is it a surprise until they actually go in? ]
[ whoa. fancy is right. kazuki suddenly feels very out of place, despite being dressed to the nines just for this...
his eyes linger on the environment and the guests for just a moment, wide-eyed under the mask, before settling on the musicians ahead. can he tell what kind of equipment they have from here...?
either way, they're not going to accomplish much by loitering around, and he's going to stand out among the guests with this guitar. so he hoists the case on his shoulder, glances back at owner, and starts to head for where the other musicians are. may as well get started. ]
while you can't really see inside it - it's still a walk up a path and stairs, and there's people milling at the doors - the building ahead of you is the only one that you can see, and it's extremely fancy and domed. the topmost portion of it is actually stained glass, refracting light in small rainbows where humidity mists or a fountain bubbles gently on the grounds around you. the industrial ships are quiet-moving, but hard to miss, considering they don't exactly blend in with everything - they're very boxy and inelegant overall.
the boomers are the larger group out front at the moment, so them next. they're mostly older folks, 40s to 50s to even 60s, and they're all human. posh as they are, they're not dressed as extravagant as maybe others are. you get the impression that they're more old school, old blood rich, keeping to tradition instead of being particularly flashy. they seem to mostly be complaining about the younger crowds, as well as... well, they're space racist. they don't seem too happy with the fact there are humanoid but nonhuman attendees. they do sideeye your group as a whole, but the disdain is more minor compared to, say, the group of musicians with their eclectic group and more avant garde dress.
the queen bee's group is moving, but not very fast. she keeps getting stopped with greetings from mostly people who look like they're businessmen, with hopes to talk business while she's here. there's a gracious smile on her face, and an idle of course, i'll see you inside given here and there. social reach is definitely the central point, here, but she might have more than just monetary. she's at least very polite to any of the servants - hers or those provided by the Hanging Gardens - so she's not a dick like the boomers are. her servants don't seem to mind anyone coming closer, so they're not on edge. just attending to their employer. they seem amicable enough?
the guards are trying to be subtle about their weapons and general presence, yes. there are a few that seem to carry themselves a little more stiffly in the shoulders and are bulkier looking in their suit jackets, so it's possible that there are holsters underneath their clothes - but hard to tell what they could be packing, if they are in fact doing that. they don't seem to be paying much attention to any specific group, just drifting in and out of the arrivals. some offer greetings to guests, playing at being guests themselves, but most are just content (or not adept at more social graces) to wallflower. there's probably a dozen outsid at the moment.
the musicians have a very wide variety of instruments! there's a few different guitar cases - electric, bass, acoustic - as well as keyboards, a harp, some violin family cases. woodwinds. a few are instruments that kazuki has probably never seen before, alien literally and figuratively. but he'll probably be able to blend in just fine?
temenos offers the sideeying space racist boomers a placid, calm Cleric Smile when they glance over and a polite dip of his head. there is nothing more old money than a catholic have you seen him? look at this outfit. he is a White Man.
no im kidding. all jokes aside, temenos does take a look around at some of the others to get a sense for what they're complaining about. how mixed up is this crowd? does it seem mostly like old folks with a few younger/more funkily dressed/non human folks or a 50/50 mix? is there a guard among this group, as far as we can tell? how do these guys feel about the queen bee lady, is it clear?
is there one in particular among these guys that seems especially bitchy? if so, he'll click his tongue softly as if disapproving and glance out among the crowd, putting a hand to his cheek. ]
Goodness... and I had hoped that attending this event in the place of my father would allow me to enjoy its traditions, not see them remade.... What a pity. [ he sighs, and then gives the ringleader of the complainers an apologetic smile. ] I pray that you'll be able to enjoy it, still, good ser?
[ he's keeping a careful eye on todomatsu, but it's subtle. go little character actor go, go make friends and learn things ]
owner, meanwhile, is going to walk over to one of the disguised guards! specifically one of the ones who are trying to act like they're social, so it looks less unusual than someone who is trying to blend into the crowd. ]
Excuse me, have you seen a bracelet? I seem to have dropped mine... I hope it's not lost, it's gold with rubies encrusted into it. It matched my outfit rather well...
[ weren't they supposed to be sticking together... oh, well. bye, owner. he's got musicians to charm. whoever looks the friendliest, he'll fall in line with them... trying not to stare too hard at the alien instruments but o: o: o: ]
They weren't joking when they say they go all out for this, were they? This lineup's already looking incredible.
[ glances at the boomers giving the group disparaging looks. ]
[ i'm going to color code the first couple of words of these so that you guys can see what parts are specifically yours in the brackets and what parts are for all of you while we're outside and having so many convos.
while temenos is a little more ostentatious compared to them, in all of his catholic holiness, they don't get immediately hostile considering he seems to be at least. respectable? also, the fact he has a mask conceals the fact he has a baby face, so they see the white hair and initially don't suspect him of being an interloper to the Crusty Old Folks group that they are. ] Your father, aye?
[ temenos has managed to find the bitchiest ringleader, a portly man who would fit right into octopath as a rich, fat villains: balding, stomach round against the buttons of his very fancy shirt, mustache appropriately curly. ] It hasn't all gone to the dogs, but it feels like it's almost there, I'd say!
[ she is. so attractive, totty. like gorgeous, even with the ornate mask that could rival temenos' biblically accurate angelic one. but she turns slightly towards him when he speaks up, and honestly i'll give you a freebie for committing to the dress: she doesn't seem to immediately realize that anything is amiss here. go, character actor, go. ] Why, thank you. I quite like yours, as well - it's rather appropriate for the ceremonies today. Do you recall what designer you got it from? Did they make the mask, as well?
[ owner gets true red, but at least the guard doesn't seem to be surprised by being approached like this. he straightens up a little more at being addressed, like going on point, before inclining his head in acknowledgement. ] A bracelet... no, I haven't seen anything recently. Where did you last have it, if you remember..? I'm sure someone will turn up with it if they find it before you do.
[ at least he's, like, looking around on the ground now in some attempt to help. or seem like he's helping. ]
[ for our hot topic baby boy we can do maroon. the other musicians welcome kazuki practically instantly, seeing his getup and also his! guitar case! this particular group of them seems to be the younger crowd, and one of the alien performers - they have four eyes and a flat, bat-like nose - offers him a wry smile. some of the others, human and alien alike, have similar enough reactions but all are fairly welcoming when they're not hauling equipment. ] It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but, y'know - always gonna be the stiffs, right? Don't let 'em get to ya, they're just blowing smoke outta their asses. You a solo act, kid? Or you rollin' in with one of the later arrivals like us?
[ go to the dogs, huh. too bad you're talking to a hound. ❤️ ]
Indeed, that is correct.
[ fuck yeah his white haired anime boy DNA (?) wins for once! temenos nods along to the first comment, and places a hand gently to his heart, as if lamenting. ] He is rather ill, you see, though no one knows of it at the moment in our homeland: so I cannot share much more detail than that.
[ drop a lil juicy sorta detail to reel em in as you do...
beyond that he smiles, politely, warm. look at him. he's just a little guy. ] But, I pray that I may make a suitable envoy for the time being? I look forward to engaging with the proper pomp and circumstance of such an important event, though I confess, there was little time to inform me of how to proceed.
Still, I have been well-taught with proper manners, as has my niece. [ temenos glances to the Generic Octopath Boomer Villain ] And I would hate to fall in with the wrong crowd. [ and then back out to a random set of non-humanoids, shaking his head as if this is a great disaster. ]
The last thing I would want to do is embarrass myself, mn?
[ shit... at least he's not a stupid horndog who's incapable of not springing a boner at the sight of a hot woman like most of his brothers, so this is fine. just makes his brownnosing all the more realistic... ]
Ahh, thank you so much!
[ smooths the skirt of his dress! ]
I felt really inspired by the "blooming" theme, you know? The dress is a Dior, but the mask is actually something I commissioned from an independent artist to go with it. I was having a hard time finding a designer one that matched.
[ this is a very useful conversation for the mission i'm sure ]
Perhaps five minutes ago or so...? I was chatting with my brother when I noticed it was gone. The clasp of it was recently broken, but the jeweler assured me it was fixed... ah, this is the last time I go with someone else's recommendation.
[ owner will also look on the ground, but he will also try to sneakily check to see if being this close to the guard can give him a better idea of what the man is packin' (weapon not dick) ]
[ gotta say kazuki thinks this alien looks pretty cool? bats are cool. so he really doesn't have to force the grin - these guys, aliens or not, do kind of remind him of talking to other pros back home. ]
Always. And yeah, solo, for now. It's the first time I've played a gig for something like this, but there's no way I was about to miss it. It's not often I get to meet musicians from other worlds.
[ something something the more truth in a lie...
while they're chatting, though, how's this group looking? no one's acting odd or looking out of place? ]
If you need a hand taking stuff in, let me know. I don't have much, so I don't mind helping out.
so far so good, here. an awkward beat comes, before a small harrumph follows when an elderly woman elbows the man - perhaps a relative or spouse? ] My condolences.
[ what a little guy... but all the sweet talking seems to be doing the job against whatever the hell this guy's damage is, and he is mollified for now to learn that temenos is Also a space racist as he shakes his head, straightening up even more as if he's the one running the show here. ] We can't have that happening to you or a young lady, no, not with the way riffraff have been coming in in droves - why, the last soiree that happened, it was overrun! No, no, my good sir, you and your niece are welcome to join us.
Richard, if it's their first time here, surely we can bring them in with us? [ this is the wife, maybe. he looks at her in her fancy dress and her mask on a stick, nodding solemnly. ] Yes, of course, Eleanor. We'll be proceeding up to the entrance hall before too long, to collect drinks, and then escorted into the garden proper to witness the Blossoming Ceremony.
[ this is... mostly fine, still. the woman's copper brown eyes narrow slightly behind her mask, but the smile remains flawlessly perfect on her face. ] Oh, so fortunate to have found someone to work with you for the event. Is this your first time attending, if I might ask? Things should be commencing, soon, so it would be best to make sure you're prepared to head in.
It really is a sight to behold. They're saying that this year's bloom will be the best one yet, it seems, so it would be terrible to miss when things begin.
[ a chorus of murmuring delight and excitement buzzes around her from her servants, some of them whispering how excited they are - it's their first ceremony, after all! they're so lucky that they could come along with their lady!
meanwhile... well, owner. he is packing dick! (no he is packing heat.) as the guard leans forward a bit to see if maybe it fell into the water, uncertain if he should be doing this and not getting one of the attendants to do it, you'll be able to spot something that looks like a taser gun grip peeking out from beneath his suit jacket. ] I see... That really is too bad, especially with all of the water around here. Hopefully it didn't fall in. I, ah, can't really say I'd have any recommendations for a decent jeweler for you if we did find it, but let's see if we can't get some more eyes out.
[ he straightens again, flagging another person down that's more slight in stature to him but still has that same Energy that he does: another guard, probably. there's no alarm here, so you're fine for now - you can decide how you'd like to proceed with getting another schmuck over here.
bat guy nods along, not seeming to find it particularly strange that kazuki says this. it's not too uncommon, maybe, or he just seems like he's a budding musician that hasn't quite made his big break yet. ]
This place's as big a gig as you can get without being on a stage. Plenty of producers show up, or big name stars themselves, so you can make a break if you play your cards right, yeah? [ he says something in a round sounding language interspersed with clicks to another bat alien, who holds out her hands to take the equipment that he's got. after that, he turns back to kazuki. ] Ya wanna come in with us, we got a few bags we need to get carried. We can show you where the setup is, too, and that'll let ya get kinda get around all these judgy pricks out here.
hmm. interesting - lots to unpack in that one. temenos smiles, placid, completely void of any actual emotion beyond Cleric Smile, and then bows his head politely to the woman and the man alike in gratitude. ]
Thank you for your well wishes - we have nigh constantly been praying for his recovery, so if the gods are good, we will be rewarded. [ or something like that. prayer doesn't fix anything but whatever, his fake dad is a fake guy with fake terminal cancer or something. it's fine.
the placid smile remains, and temenos glances across to todomatsu briefly, tracking the progress with the pretty fancy lady. hopefully. hopefully that goes fine. hmm. but he turns back to the group after, and dips his head once more. Cleric Aura ]
But truly, you are both far too kind to extend such an invitation. I'll fetch my niece as we meander forwards; she may be a touch starstruck. [ with a soft chuckle. ] May I ask how many of these ceremonies you've witnessed? I confess, I find myself anticipating what I might see - Father was awfully tight lipped regarding the details.
[ well that phrasing is weird enough that now he's questioning what it is that's supposed to be blooming........ and he notices that little change in her expression, so. okay, time to play up the clueless thing. ]
It is! Probably obvious, right?
[ a self-effacing little laugh! ]
I'm here with my uncle, but he didn't give me a lot of details about the ceremony itself, so I'm not really sure what to expect... but if it's about to start, I'll get out of your hair and make my way over, then!
[ putting his hand over his heart and dipping his head in a little bow. ]
It was so nice talking to you!
[ he'll take a couple of steps, then pause for a moment and pretend to be looking to see where his uncle went — does it sound like it's every servant's first time here? ]
[ oh. hello second guard. owner gives this new one an apologetic look, like he is so sorry for being such a pain! ]
Oh, thank you. You're all so kind... if this takes more than a few minutes, I won't bother you any further.
[ he shyly tucks his hair behind an ear... bashful... tee hee. ]
Have you been to this before? If you're familiar with the building, you wouldn't happen to know where someone might turn in a lost item...? It's my first invitation.
[ kazuki brightens, the very picture of a young musician excited to be around someone more experienced. it's not too hard to fake, when he'd been exactly that only a few months ago. ]
[ the nice lady reaches and pats temenos very, very briefly, a reassurance maybe? before hooking her hand in the man's elbow with a friendly smile. they're definitely WASPs from space and she seems to be the better tempered one. ]
The gods are so often good to those who show their devotion. [ these are probably not the same gods, but, you know, it's probably fine. the man grumbles a little about this but doesn't protest as he pays more attention to getting to flaunt his affluence. he does that wiggle that rich men do where they look like they're shimmying their britches up, but is trying to make himself look even more important. ] Why, this is our ninth one! You're very lucky to have come across us, yes indeed. We can show the two of you further in, and you won't have to worry one bit about the more common folk.
[ the smile upticks slightly, but the beautiful woman simply hums rather than calling much attention to whatever she seems to have noticed. high perception on this one, likely. ]
It is, but I think you'll do just fine. [ she inclines her head, before lifting a hand up to indicate to her servants that they'll be leaving. ] Come along, everyone, let's head inside. I do hope we'll see you there, miss - do bring your uncle over once the festivities begin, won't you?
[ as she turns away, todomatsu gets to hear that it's... a lot of the servants' first times! the ones that aren't fluttering in nervous excitement are calmer, and most don't really give anything away about their opinion on this. but there is one of the servants that looks back his way, frowning, then looking quickly away as if genuinely nervous - or, perhaps, worried. hm. weird.
a quick rundown is given to the second guard, who simply nods - it turns out to be a woman, who regards owner with sympathy. ] We'll get some of the staff to look around for you. If you're heading inside, then we'll be able to find where you've gone - if not, there's... what, the staff all around?
Mm, yeah. There's going to be staff passing out food and drinks before the partygoers are escorted into the gardens. They don't usually do that during the ceremonies, though. It's been a while since they last did - too many people getting sick. [ the first guard shakes his head. ] You can always come back here and see if someone's turned in any lost items, though. You'll be picked up here same as you were dropped off anyways.
[ bat guy nods, grin toothy and a little uneven. ] For sure - c'mon, grab a duffel and we can get things started. If you're solo, ya might actually be heading into the main atrium where they're doing the whole thing. Not as much room for a big band. We're gonna be in the dining hall once the main bloomin' thing or whatever's all over with and they're windin' down.
Indeed they are. [ god. okay. he will take this pat, continuing with his placid smile, and glancing over at todomatsu. then, he waves his hand forward towards the entrance. ] And so, indeed, are we. I thank you for your kindness. Allow me a moment to fetch my niece - we'll catch up, shortly?
[ with that, he bows his head, polite and kind, and then heads off as if he's going to gather up todomatsu -and in the meantime, he's just kind of listening, keeping an eye on other random conversations, and using his earpiece to check in, speaking quietly:
Are you all alright? We ought to head in, or at least regroup. ]
[ hm... he tries to give that nervous servant a smile to emphasize how new and innocent he is and how easily he might be put in danger!!!! but then they're looking away from him, so okay, he'll just make a mental note of what that particular servant looked like in case he runs into them away from the rest of the group later... hopefully these servants are not also identical sextuplets.
when temenos comes over his way, he brightens up with a cheerful "oh, there you are!" and goes over to meet him, latching onto his arm. ]
It sounds like it's about to start!
[ and then under his breath: ]
Did anyone tell you what the hell this blooming thing's about?
Oh, thank you both. I appreciate it. I will continue to look over here for a bit and then go inside. I should find my brother, in any case, before he just goes in without me.
[ owner will bow his head politely to the two of them before wandering off, keeping his gaze towards the ground to feign searching for something. once he is far away enough, he'll speak into the earpiece, only glancing up to try to figure out where kazuki is. ]
The guards have tasers. Also, they said that food is not passed around during the ceremony, as people would get sick? How odd.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ARRIVAL: a little party never killed nobody
after all your preparation and discussion, whatever questions you might have had for adrastea, the ship finishes its descent through the atmosphere and down into an avenue utilized for arrivals. because it's for spacefaring vessels, it's not a road - it's filled with water, as if it's there for boats instead. the small craft you've been in for the past half hour lowers a plank, and the sole remaining door opens up to allow your exit onto the planet's surface on the inner bank of this fixture. the air is thick with the fragrance of flowers, of plant life, and it's so very fresh, if extremely warm. to combat the humidity brought on by a planet with a greenhouse climate, a number of oscillating fans have been situated on either side of the path up to the grand building awaiting you. attendants flutter around the arrivals, offering to take coats, to valet the ships that arrive, greeting with enthusiasm in practiced delight.
but they do ask for your invitations, whether they be physical or digital, before they allow anyone to pass down the path to the celebrations.
when they're given, they bow ceremoniously, allowing you through, bidding that you enjoy your time here in the Hanging Gardens. adrastea bids a calm, confident "good luck" before the ramp retracts into the ship again, and they take off rather than allowing any of the attendants to pilot the craft.
you're, of course, not the only people arriving for the Blossoming Ceremony. many masked and unmasked figures walk the aisle, talking amongst themselves or greeting others regardless of familiarity, admiring the plants and statues of glasswork that surround them already.
some people can be found in gondolas in the water, at least in the areas not occupied by ships that are coming and going. tittering ladies with hand fans are escorted and aided into these gondolas, as servants hold the boats steady or inquire as to whether or not any of their guests would like to partake in finger foods or flutes of champagne. no one seems to be asking for ages, either, under the assumption that if you're here, you've paid quite the pretty yen or leaf for it.
a group comprised of numerous attendants - not dressed like those of the Hanging Gardens, but clearly in the same capacity - buzz around an individual like a hive of bees and their queen, masks decorated but otherwise simple by comparison to said queen. the figure, a woman with long, flowing white hair and wearing a glamorous golden gown, has a starkly intricate mask and the air of someone that would rule this estate even as a guest.
others mingle or make their way down the cooled path. no one stands out quite so magnificently as the queen bee, but they gather in clusters. a trio makes their way up into the doors that await the attendees, before disappearing through them. a pair are disembarking from their ship and talking to some attendants. some musicians are getting their equipment rolled in, followed by a group of elegant, beautiful figures - humanoid, but not all human. a large group is bickering amongst one another, elderly and posh and entitled if you had to guess. something about letting riffraff in for such an important ceremony as this. just what is the world coming to these days?
alright, boomer.
to start you off: with the nat 20s that owner and temenos rolled, they will be able to notice that there are a number of guards milling about, dressed to try and blend in with the guests but more obvious to a trained and observant eye. even with masks on, it's hard to miss the posture if you know what to look for.
aircraft are coming and going, even after adrastea takes off with your craft to go find somewhere to land. some of them are ritzy like a sportscar would be, while others are more simple while still being elegant. but there are some that are landing that seem to be very industrial, more boxy, and their destination isn't the main avenue, but insteaed behind the building ahead.
what's the plan, stan? ]
no subject
that isn't to say his guard is down, of course, but it does make it much easier to meld into the situation. with a
nat 20familiar situation at his fingertips, temenos rolls his shoulders and uses his staff as if it were a walking stick, step by step down the path, moving with confident elegance and ease in the new change of clothing.the guards, first - temenos gives a brief sideeye to the others, gesturing just slightly to one of the guards with his head and playing as if he's adjusting his mask. what's the ratio of guests to guards, roughly? are there any of them hovering around particular groups, or are they just sort of infused within the situation as a whole?
beyond that, he's keeping his ears open as they move forward. the queen bee catches his attention, of course - the thick of servants is also not a bad place to start talking, but with their aforementioned queen bee hovering nearby, they won't say anything that's even remotely out of line. but for now, his eyes track towards the entitled group of boomers and their complaining. is there any sign to what the boomer gang is complaining about if we mill about a little closer to them to hear? how are they dressed? do they talk similarly/have similar sounding accents/are they ostensibly all from the same place? (forces you to think about irrelevant details probably) are they looking at certain types of people or certain places while they do their complaining?
just observing for now, not popping into the conversation! he gives todomatsu a brief smile but beyond that it's go time baby ]
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while temenos is focusing on the grumbling boomers, he'll subtly move just a bit closer to the queen bee to listen in and get a better idea of what her deal is — what kinds of people are approaching her, if she's someone whose influence extends beyond just the social and monetary.
just to be clear, the building ahead that the industrial vehicles are heading toward is the main building on the estate? or something else? ]
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owner will step out after them, taking a moment to note the positions of the guards. is there anything about them that might indicate how armed they are, or is that fairly well hidden to not startle guests?
either way, he will glance at kazuki since that's his date!!! but he will also look over to the doors that the pair disappeared through. is there anything that stands out about it? any glimpses into the inside they can see from out there, or is it a surprise until they actually go in? ]
My, my...
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his eyes linger on the environment and the guests for just a moment, wide-eyed under the mask, before settling on the musicians ahead. can he tell what kind of equipment they have from here...?
either way, they're not going to accomplish much by loitering around, and he's going to stand out among the guests with this guitar. so he hoists the case on his shoulder, glances back at owner, and starts to head for where the other musicians are. may as well get started. ]
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while you can't really see inside it - it's still a walk up a path and stairs, and there's people milling at the doors - the building ahead of you is the only one that you can see, and it's extremely fancy and domed. the topmost portion of it is actually stained glass, refracting light in small rainbows where humidity mists or a fountain bubbles gently on the grounds around you. the industrial ships are quiet-moving, but hard to miss, considering they don't exactly blend in with everything - they're very boxy and inelegant overall.
the boomers are the larger group out front at the moment, so them next. they're mostly older folks, 40s to 50s to even 60s, and they're all human. posh as they are, they're not dressed as extravagant as maybe others are. you get the impression that they're more old school, old blood rich, keeping to tradition instead of being particularly flashy. they seem to mostly be complaining about the younger crowds, as well as... well, they're space racist. they don't seem too happy with the fact there are humanoid but nonhuman attendees. they do sideeye your group as a whole, but the disdain is more minor compared to, say, the group of musicians with their eclectic group and more avant garde dress.
the queen bee's group is moving, but not very fast. she keeps getting stopped with greetings from mostly people who look like they're businessmen, with hopes to talk business while she's here. there's a gracious smile on her face, and an idle of course, i'll see you inside given here and there. social reach is definitely the central point, here, but she might have more than just monetary. she's at least very polite to any of the servants - hers or those provided by the Hanging Gardens - so she's not a dick like the boomers are. her servants don't seem to mind anyone coming closer, so they're not on edge. just attending to their employer. they seem amicable enough?
the guards are trying to be subtle about their weapons and general presence, yes. there are a few that seem to carry themselves a little more stiffly in the shoulders and are bulkier looking in their suit jackets, so it's possible that there are holsters underneath their clothes - but hard to tell what they could be packing, if they are in fact doing that. they don't seem to be paying much attention to any specific group, just drifting in and out of the arrivals. some offer greetings to guests, playing at being guests themselves, but most are just content (or not adept at more social graces) to wallflower. there's probably a dozen outsid at the moment.
the musicians have a very wide variety of instruments! there's a few different guitar cases - electric, bass, acoustic - as well as keyboards, a harp, some violin family cases. woodwinds. a few are instruments that kazuki has probably never seen before, alien literally and figuratively. but he'll probably be able to blend in just fine?
i think that was everything. ]
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temenos offers the sideeying space racist boomers a placid, calm Cleric Smile when they glance over and a polite dip of his head. there is nothing more old money than a catholic have you seen him? look at this outfit. he is a White Man.
no im kidding. all jokes aside, temenos does take a look around at some of the others to get a sense for what they're complaining about. how mixed up is this crowd? does it seem mostly like old folks with a few younger/more funkily dressed/non human folks or a 50/50 mix? is there a guard among this group, as far as we can tell? how do these guys feel about the queen bee lady, is it clear?
is there one in particular among these guys that seems especially bitchy? if so, he'll click his tongue softly as if disapproving and glance out among the crowd, putting a hand to his cheek. ]
Goodness... and I had hoped that attending this event in the place of my father would allow me to enjoy its traditions, not see them remade.... What a pity. [ he sighs, and then gives the ringleader of the complainers an apologetic smile. ] I pray that you'll be able to enjoy it, still, good ser?
[ he's keeping a careful eye on todomatsu, but it's subtle. go little character actor go, go make friends and learn things ]
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anyway, he'll get in the queue to offer her some pleasantries since clearly this is what he should do as a hopeful young socialite. ]
Hello~! Sorry, I don't want to take up your time, I just wanted to tell you how much I love your dress! Such a flattering cut and color!
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owner, meanwhile, is going to walk over to one of the disguised guards! specifically one of the ones who are trying to act like they're social, so it looks less unusual than someone who is trying to blend into the crowd. ]
Excuse me, have you seen a bracelet? I seem to have dropped mine... I hope it's not lost, it's gold with rubies encrusted into it. It matched my outfit rather well...
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They weren't joking when they say they go all out for this, were they? This lineup's already looking incredible.
[ glances at the boomers giving the group disparaging looks. ]
...Even if some of them don't have much taste.
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while temenos is a little more ostentatious compared to them, in all of his catholic holiness, they don't get immediately hostile considering he seems to be at least. respectable? also, the fact he has a mask conceals the fact he has a baby face, so they see the white hair and initially don't suspect him of being an interloper to the Crusty Old Folks group that they are. ] Your father, aye?
[ temenos has managed to find the bitchiest ringleader, a portly man who would fit right into octopath as a rich, fat villains: balding, stomach round against the buttons of his very fancy shirt, mustache appropriately curly. ] It hasn't all gone to the dogs, but it feels like it's almost there, I'd say!
[ she is. so attractive, totty. like gorgeous, even with the ornate mask that could rival temenos' biblically accurate angelic one. but she turns slightly towards him when he speaks up, and honestly i'll give you a freebie for committing to the dress: she doesn't seem to immediately realize that anything is amiss here. go, character actor, go. ] Why, thank you. I quite like yours, as well - it's rather appropriate for the ceremonies today. Do you recall what designer you got it from? Did they make the mask, as well?
[ owner gets true red, but at least the guard doesn't seem to be surprised by being approached like this. he straightens up a little more at being addressed, like going on point, before inclining his head in acknowledgement. ] A bracelet... no, I haven't seen anything recently. Where did you last have it, if you remember..? I'm sure someone will turn up with it if they find it before you do.
[ at least he's, like, looking around on the ground now in some attempt to help. or seem like he's helping. ]
[ for our hot topic baby boy we can do maroon. the other musicians welcome kazuki practically instantly, seeing his getup and also his! guitar case! this particular group of them seems to be the younger crowd, and one of the alien performers - they have four eyes and a flat, bat-like nose - offers him a wry smile. some of the others, human and alien alike, have similar enough reactions but all are fairly welcoming when they're not hauling equipment. ] It's the opportunity of a lifetime, but, y'know - always gonna be the stiffs, right? Don't let 'em get to ya, they're just blowing smoke outta their asses. You a solo act, kid? Or you rollin' in with one of the later arrivals like us?
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Indeed, that is correct.
[ fuck yeah his
white haired anime boyDNA (?) wins for once! temenos nods along to the first comment, and places a hand gently to his heart, as if lamenting. ] He is rather ill, you see, though no one knows of it at the moment in our homeland: so I cannot share much more detail than that.[ drop a lil juicy sorta detail to reel em in as you do...
beyond that he smiles, politely, warm. look at him. he's just a little guy. ] But, I pray that I may make a suitable envoy for the time being? I look forward to engaging with the proper pomp and circumstance of such an important event, though I confess, there was little time to inform me of how to proceed.
Still, I have been well-taught with proper manners, as has my niece. [ temenos glances to the Generic Octopath Boomer Villain ] And I would hate to fall in with the wrong crowd. [ and then back out to a random set of non-humanoids, shaking his head as if this is a great disaster. ]
The last thing I would want to do is embarrass myself, mn?
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Ahh, thank you so much!
[ smooths the skirt of his dress! ]
I felt really inspired by the "blooming" theme, you know? The dress is a Dior, but the mask is actually something I commissioned from an independent artist to go with it. I was having a hard time finding a designer one that matched.
[ this is a very useful conversation for the mission i'm sure ]
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[ owner will also look on the ground, but he will also try to sneakily check to see if being this close to the guard can give him a better idea of what the man is packin' (weapon not dick) ]
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Always. And yeah, solo, for now. It's the first time I've played a gig for something like this, but there's no way I was about to miss it. It's not often I get to meet musicians from other worlds.
[ something something the more truth in a lie...
while they're chatting, though, how's this group looking? no one's acting odd or looking out of place? ]
If you need a hand taking stuff in, let me know. I don't have much, so I don't mind helping out.
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so far so good, here. an awkward beat comes, before a small harrumph follows when an elderly woman elbows the man - perhaps a relative or spouse? ] My condolences.
[ what a little guy... but all the sweet talking seems to be doing the job against whatever the hell this guy's damage is, and he is mollified for now to learn that temenos is Also a space racist as he shakes his head, straightening up even more as if he's the one running the show here. ] We can't have that happening to you or a young lady, no, not with the way riffraff have been coming in in droves - why, the last soiree that happened, it was overrun! No, no, my good sir, you and your niece are welcome to join us.
Richard, if it's their first time here, surely we can bring them in with us? [ this is the wife, maybe. he looks at her in her fancy dress and her mask on a stick, nodding solemnly. ] Yes, of course, Eleanor. We'll be proceeding up to the entrance hall before too long, to collect drinks, and then escorted into the garden proper to witness the Blossoming Ceremony.
[ this is... mostly fine, still. the woman's copper brown eyes narrow slightly behind her mask, but the smile remains flawlessly perfect on her face. ] Oh, so fortunate to have found someone to work with you for the event. Is this your first time attending, if I might ask? Things should be commencing, soon, so it would be best to make sure you're prepared to head in.
It really is a sight to behold. They're saying that this year's bloom will be the best one yet, it seems, so it would be terrible to miss when things begin.
[ a chorus of murmuring delight and excitement buzzes around her from her servants, some of them whispering how excited they are - it's their first ceremony, after all! they're so lucky that they could come along with their lady!
meanwhile... well, owner. he is packing dick! (no he is packing heat.) as the guard leans forward a bit to see if maybe it fell into the water, uncertain if he should be doing this and not getting one of the attendants to do it, you'll be able to spot something that looks like a taser gun grip peeking out from beneath his suit jacket. ] I see... That really is too bad, especially with all of the water around here. Hopefully it didn't fall in. I, ah, can't really say I'd have any recommendations for a decent jeweler for you if we did find it, but let's see if we can't get some more eyes out.
[ he straightens again, flagging another person down that's more slight in stature to him but still has that same Energy that he does: another guard, probably. there's no alarm here, so you're fine for now - you can decide how you'd like to proceed with getting another schmuck over here.
bat guy nods along, not seeming to find it particularly strange that kazuki says this. it's not too uncommon, maybe, or he just seems like he's a budding musician that hasn't quite made his big break yet. ]
This place's as big a gig as you can get without being on a stage. Plenty of producers show up, or big name stars themselves, so you can make a break if you play your cards right, yeah? [ he says something in a round sounding language interspersed with clicks to another bat alien, who holds out her hands to take the equipment that he's got. after that, he turns back to kazuki. ] Ya wanna come in with us, we got a few bags we need to get carried. We can show you where the setup is, too, and that'll let ya get kinda get around all these judgy pricks out here.
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hmm. interesting - lots to unpack in that one. temenos smiles, placid, completely void of any actual emotion beyond Cleric Smile, and then bows his head politely to the woman and the man alike in gratitude. ]
Thank you for your well wishes - we have nigh constantly been praying for his recovery, so if the gods are good, we will be rewarded. [ or something like that. prayer doesn't fix anything but whatever, his fake dad is a fake guy with fake terminal cancer or something. it's fine.
the placid smile remains, and temenos glances across to todomatsu briefly, tracking the progress with the pretty fancy lady. hopefully. hopefully that goes fine. hmm. but he turns back to the group after, and dips his head once more. Cleric Aura ]
But truly, you are both far too kind to extend such an invitation. I'll fetch my niece as we meander forwards; she may be a touch starstruck. [ with a soft chuckle. ] May I ask how many of these ceremonies you've witnessed? I confess, I find myself anticipating what I might see - Father was awfully tight lipped regarding the details.
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It is! Probably obvious, right?
[ a self-effacing little laugh! ]
I'm here with my uncle, but he didn't give me a lot of details about the ceremony itself, so I'm not really sure what to expect... but if it's about to start, I'll get out of your hair and make my way over, then!
[ putting his hand over his heart and dipping his head in a little bow. ]
It was so nice talking to you!
[ he'll take a couple of steps, then pause for a moment and pretend to be looking to see where his uncle went — does it sound like it's every servant's first time here? ]
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Oh, thank you. You're all so kind... if this takes more than a few minutes, I won't bother you any further.
[ he shyly tucks his hair behind an ear... bashful... tee hee. ]
Have you been to this before? If you're familiar with the building, you wouldn't happen to know where someone might turn in a lost item...? It's my first invitation.
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[ kazuki brightens, the very picture of a young musician excited to be around someone more experienced. it's not too hard to fake, when he'd been exactly that only a few months ago. ]
You sure? I'd definitely owe you one.
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The gods are so often good to those who show their devotion. [ these are probably not the same gods, but, you know, it's probably fine. the man grumbles a little about this but doesn't protest as he pays more attention to getting to flaunt his affluence. he does that wiggle that rich men do where they look like they're shimmying their britches up, but is trying to make himself look even more important. ] Why, this is our ninth one! You're very lucky to have come across us, yes indeed. We can show the two of you further in, and you won't have to worry one bit about the more common folk.
[ the smile upticks slightly, but the beautiful woman simply hums rather than calling much attention to whatever she seems to have noticed. high perception on this one, likely. ]
It is, but I think you'll do just fine. [ she inclines her head, before lifting a hand up to indicate to her servants that they'll be leaving. ] Come along, everyone, let's head inside. I do hope we'll see you there, miss - do bring your uncle over once the festivities begin, won't you?
[ as she turns away, todomatsu gets to hear that it's... a lot of the servants' first times! the ones that aren't fluttering in nervous excitement are calmer, and most don't really give anything away about their opinion on this. but there is one of the servants that looks back his way, frowning, then looking quickly away as if genuinely nervous - or, perhaps, worried. hm. weird.
a quick rundown is given to the second guard, who simply nods - it turns out to be a woman, who regards owner with sympathy. ] We'll get some of the staff to look around for you. If you're heading inside, then we'll be able to find where you've gone - if not, there's... what, the staff all around?
Mm, yeah. There's going to be staff passing out food and drinks before the partygoers are escorted into the gardens. They don't usually do that during the ceremonies, though. It's been a while since they last did - too many people getting sick. [ the first guard shakes his head. ] You can always come back here and see if someone's turned in any lost items, though. You'll be picked up here same as you were dropped off anyways.
[ bat guy nods, grin toothy and a little uneven. ] For sure - c'mon, grab a duffel and we can get things started. If you're solo, ya might actually be heading into the main atrium where they're doing the whole thing. Not as much room for a big band. We're gonna be in the dining hall once the main bloomin' thing or whatever's all over with and they're windin' down.
[ an in... times two. nice.
what's the plan kids. ]
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[ with that, he bows his head, polite and kind, and then heads off as if he's going to gather up todomatsu -and in the meantime, he's just kind of listening, keeping an eye on other random conversations, and using his earpiece to check in, speaking quietly:
Are you all alright? We ought to head in, or at least regroup. ]
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when temenos comes over his way, he brightens up with a cheerful "oh, there you are!" and goes over to meet him, latching onto his arm. ]
It sounds like it's about to start!
[ and then under his breath: ]
Did anyone tell you what the hell this blooming thing's about?
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[ owner will bow his head politely to the two of them before wandering off, keeping his gaze towards the ground to feign searching for something. once he is far away enough, he'll speak into the earpiece, only glancing up to try to figure out where kazuki is. ]
The guards have tasers. Also, they said that food is not passed around during the ceremony, as people would get sick? How odd.
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