the final afterparty

[incompletely]

[

That sure happened, but everyone, by some miracle, made it out alive. No one else died, nothing blew up, no arson was committed, we're all still here. And being here, being present despite everything that just happened, is really important. This is for everyone, McGillis and Yuri included (and Jack, if he wants to party from the dungeon), because they all need it. Even with the new revelations, nobody should be left behind.

The party takes place in the bar again, and it probably looks a little...odd? Because there's all the alcohol in the back, and then...there's a bunch of donuts on one of the tables. Two whole baskets of donuts from the bakery, provided by Tenn. Next to the baskets is tea provided by Koto. Have at it, everyone. ]

Comments

[incompletely]

[ Since Suga isn't here, Tenn decides to take on his role and be the designated "let's check on everyone" guy. So he'll check on as many people as he can; it's okay if they turn him away. He figures he should try anyway.

Everyone will be met with: ]

Can I get you anything to eat or drink?

[ He'll stick around if anyone has anything to say, too. Good or bad. ]

[ideismo]

[Well, Alexei is...here? He's here, and he's currently just playing with a matchbook, striking things and letting them burn down and tamping them out, again and again and again; he's got a bit of a blank look on his face, though he glances up when Tenn approaches.]

...No, that's fine.

[He never really does at gatherings.]

You ought to come spar with me sometime. I would like to see it.

[scythegun]

[It's a nice gesture, Tenn. Yeager's here a little later, since he took the time to switch over to his usual suit; he's currently shuffling cards idly without actually doing anything else with them, it's just something to do with his hands for the time being.]

You don't have to trouble yourself for me, you know.

[He pauses for a moment, considering. And then...]

Actually, there is something you can do for me. You can take a seat.

[He gestures across from him. C'mon Tenn, sit down!!]

You probably need a break, ja?

[mirrite]

[It's a long time before Marcus finally makes his entrance; he does so quietly, slipping over to a seat at the end of the bar and just sort of hunching there in silence. He's really only here because he wants to drink himself into oblivion, not because he actually wants company right now... as if his red eyes didn't make that much clear when anyone draws close enough to get a good look at him.

He won't approach Tenn, but if Tenn wants to come over to speak with him, he probably won't chase him away, either. Probably.]

[biyishuangfei]

[ Oh, hey Tenn... ]

Maybe something to drink? You really don't have to, though.

[kowashi]

Let's share the most ridiculous donuts you have.

[ she's putting sugar and ice into her tea because who needs refinement. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ To absolutely nobody's surprise, McGillis does not show up at the bar. For quite some time, he's also not at his room, but if you want to come visit him later in the night... well, he'll eventually be in there with a bottle of wine he's grabbed from the parlor. He might even open up for you. ]

[ideismo]

[Alexei stays in the bar for about as long as he can stand it; when he leaves, he's half-tempted to leave it there, but honestly, he just...doesn't, in the end.

The knock he offers on the door is firm and unhesitating without being demanding; it just is what it is, much like his general mood for the night.]

McGillis.

[biyishuangfei]

[ Well, a lot's happened by then.

But sometime, late at night, there's a light rap against his door. ]

McGillis?

[crimson_flamel]

[Edelgard sits silently, staring at the bar. Yeah. This was all expected. She can only hope that Jack dies tomorrow.

She hasn't even touched the donuts yet.]

...What are we going to do now?

[It's a rare moment of actual despair from her. She carries despair everywhere she goes but she never lets it slip. But... this. It hurts.]

[incompletely]

[ Tenn will sit next to her, if she allows it. It's the first time he's seen her look like this...and it's worrisome, but he's going to do his best to talk things over with her. ]

What do you mean?

[ideismo]

[He normally doesn't approach Edelgard at these things, but this is... It's something, at any rate.]

We don't have much choice in the matter, unfortunately.

[We hate ourselves, we keep going.]

Objectively, we're at no more of a disadvantage than we were before. I think we ought to remember that much.

[biyishuangfei]

Why are you asking that?

[ He's just...curious as he comes nearby her. ]

I really don't think this is the end, if that's what you're thinking?

[biqe]

[ Phil stops to look in her direction. As intently as she's staring at the bar, he's not sure if she even realizes she's addressing the idiot who dropped the flashbang candy, but... he'll answer. ]

I'm not certain... but I think we should all meet sometime soon — tomorrow or the day after — to discuss our options. Up until now I imagine we've all been holding back information out of fear of letting it fall into the hands of someone who would use it against us. Now that we no longer have to wonder who can be trusted and who can't, I think we'll all be more willing to share more of what we know. We may be able to make connections we couldn't before.

[scythegun]

[That sure fucking happened. Goddamn. Yeager doesn't look nearly as cheery as usual, but he's not angry or upset either. He's just really damn tired!! Anyway, he swings by the lodgings for a bit to get changed and grab a few other things before joining the party at the bar; as always, he has his weapon with him, though it remains in briefcase form for the time being.

He's brought cards with him and will be glad to play a game with anyone who approaches, but for the time being he seems to mostly just be shuffling them automatically while not being focused on it at all. Some days are just like that. If you approach (assuming you're not one of the blond squad!!) Yeager will pause in what he's doing and gesture for you to join him.]

How are you holding up after all of that?

[It's a stupid question, but whatever, it's been a stupid day.

Anyway, Yeager's going to eat a donut and steal a bottle of alcohol before he ditches, but you can eventually find him at the sparring grounds. He only has his own weapon with him today, and he seems to be running through drills. Despite how much he was complaining earlier, he doesn't seem inclined to stop despite conquering the tower more times than anyone really should in one day.

He's not intensely focused and will pause whenever he hears someone approaching; he'll hold up a hand in greeting as well as he slings the scythe over his shoulder.]

Do you need something?

[He's smiling, but it's definitely not genuine this evening.]

cards;

[biyishuangfei]

[ Huaisang eventually drags his feet, but after some time?

He's here, looking just as tired as Yeager was. ]

I'm not sure, to be honest.

[ He'll come closer to properly join the other man. ]

A lot has happened, if you know what I mean?

Sparring grounds

[mirrite]

Yeah... another match.

[It would probably be a better offer if it weren't immediately clear that he's had a few. More than a few, actually, but that doesn't seem to be deterring him here, because despite the redness of his eyes, he looks pretty damn determined.

And angry, and upset, but. Isn't everyone, after that?]

cards

[edamamepon]

[ The words catch Makoto off guard, gets him blinking at Yeager before he does indeed join him. He can't quite keep his gaze from sliding away from him as he sits. Well, this is new, isn't it? ]

... Holding up better than I have any right to. How about you?

[crimson_flamel]

[Edelgard will sit down across from him to play a game wordlessly, only speaking up when she's spoken to.]

Frustrated is the best word for it, really. I find that's often how I come out of these trials feeling.

[And a bit hurt. Don't worry about it.]

You?

Dungeon Afterparty??

[heroicact]

[So, since he received such a nice meta-invitation, and since we might as well have the last afterparty in style even though one of the erstwhile party organizers (present) is a huge disaster, Jack will be available in the dungeons starting sometime (a little while?) after everyone has departed the tree.

Of note:

He's still in his casino outfit, hair baubles twinkling in the scant light, and he's... lounging upon a certain familiar couch that those who visit Hamelin's office often may have noted recently. There's also a fuzzy purple blanket there. He looks entirely too relaxed for a condemned man.

... There is also alcohol in this dungeon cell. There is a decent amount of wine and sweeter drinks, and although he's not swirling wine like some kind of dramatic theater villain whenever anyone walks in, it definitely is a thing that exists.

Come yell at him, throw things at him, attempt to fight him through the dungeon bars, interrogate him, whatever you would like! ☆ Floor's open, door's closed, party hardy.]

[ideismo]

[Hello, Jack, you're a shitshow, how's it going.]

I imagine you feel better now that all of that's out of your system.

[ideismo]

[Alexei is determined to be at the bar for as long as he can stand it; in theory the idea was...decent, in practice it ends in sitting at a table with a box of matches and just...lighting them on fire, one after another, and watching them burn down as long as he can stand it before tamping it out and lighting another. His expression is exceedingly blank; it's hard to tell what he's thinking about, but he's clearly off in his own head about something.

He gives up on the bar fairly early into the night, though, and eventually... Well, he finds himself back at the church. It's only been available to them for a couple of weeks and it's already so deeply ingrained; if anyone wants to find him outside of the bar then he'll be here for a while. He's got one of his gloves off, toying with one of the rings he usually wears there; it's simple, a ruby with fairly flat facing on it so it won't interfere with being worn under gloves or armor. He takes it off after a brief while of toying with it, pausing for a moment before setting it down on the stand with all the votive candles. He'll light the others that he usually does, though tonight he counts out one more; for better or worse, Jack is still with them tonight.]

bar

[scythegun]

[...Ah, you're having a real normal one today, huh.]

This isn't quite what I had in mind when I suggested you light something on fire, but it's a start, I suppose!

[............i'm sure alexei wanted to be greeted exactly like this, anyway hi how's it going, he's joining you.]

[biqe]

[ Phil comes out of his room eventually, though he expects everyone's still frustrated with him for getting everyone caught up in such a mess at the end with his stupid clumsiness. That's fine.

He's in just the innermost layers of his usual outfit — a long sleeved black shirt and pants — because in many ways, except for the ones that really mattered, he really was quite a bit like Suga at his core.

He gets a donut and some tea and just goes to sit at a table in a corner somewhere... where he takes an old letter from a folded envelope in his pocket and just sets it there on the table in front of him to look at as he sips his tea. ]

[biyishuangfei]

[ ...Well, he's certainly not frustrated with him... ]

Phil? Mind if I join you for a bit?

[edamamepon]

[ After carefully removing the flowers and braids from his hair, changing clothes, and trying to figure out how he even feels after all of that, Makoto is transient for most of the night. He can mainly be found at the lodgings, the bar, or the park.

For most of the night he can be found at the bar. If anyone looks lost behind it or lonely sitting at it, even the blonds, they might find Makoto offering them a drink. ]

Want me to make you something?

[ Later on, catch him making a late night cup of coffee. Ask for tea (or without asking if they've publicly preferred it) and he'll oblige while he's feeling restless. Makoto is happy to make a drink for anyone that wants some, or just offer company. ]

How are you doing?

coffee time coffee time! wildcard-ish?

[incompletely]

[ Tenn will actually be the one to approach Makoto first, and he looks a little uneasy doing so. ]

...Hey.

[ He stands next to him as the coffee's brewing. ]

I'm sorry for snapping at you back there. I...got scared for your safety. That's all.

A THING? - Locked to NHS + McGillis

[sempiternel]

[ It's very early in the morning - as it always is for these types of things. Last Wednesday an operation was carried out and thought to be completed; the fact of it is their job isn't done. Hiding the gumball machine parts is not enough.

So Yuri has asked NHS and McGillis for their help to finish the job. She's made a couple of candied cherry bombs, handled carefully and with gloves, of course. NHS has already agreed to show them where the parts are hidden and McGillis has agreed to pitch the bombs. ]

Thank you both for coming with me. Is it around here, Lord Huaisang?

[biyishuangfei]

[ Huaisang leads them to where the pieces are...

Welcome to the chocolate river. ]

I'm happy to help, and um...

It is, yes.

[ Luckily let us say that the pieces are in one spot of the river bunched together so that this doesn't turn into a chocolate scavenger hunt. Huaisang hands her immediately the smaller pieces that needed carrying and were already on his person. He points to the spot in particular too... sorry about this, god!! ]