Gambling Hall- Adult Character OPEN MINGLE

[rollfordiplomacy]

Who: Everett Vaughan and other adult Mirrorbound characters
When: One Early Aguril Night
Where: DiplomaTea's cellar
What: Socializing mingle for Adult characters only, please!
Warnings: Smoking, alcohol, various drugs, and strip poker.



It must say something of Everett's comfort with Aefenglom that he has tossed out the facade hiding his gambling hall. Late last month, he extended an invitation around to his friends of a speakeasy style social night at DiplomaTea. He'd encouraged those he told direct to further extend the invitation to other adult Mirrorbound. Such was easy to have picked up from the grapevine of those Everett knows and who they then told. Do remember the cutesy code required for entry, it's "bees knees".

With all other patrons gone after normal operating hours, the shop is closed up. Yet, the hum of muffled conversation and music gives away the activity within. A simple ring of entry bell will get a delayed response. If it's Lord Viren, he's both very strict the password is given correctly, while also being thoroughly unamused with any answer. Everett himself will simply throw open the door enthusiastically and usher in anybody who is not obviously a child.

I. Drink, Smoke, Be Merry

Once inside, both the top floor and basement level are bustling with people. The space is crowded, but lively and playful. It's easy to join a conversation simply by meandering nearby and nodding ones head a bit. There's a piano in the above level, enchanted to place some background tunes and sometimes being actively played by Everett. Any other party goer is also welcome to take up the seat and play some tunes.

The cellar has kegs of alcoholic cinnamon spiced cider on free tap, an open bar of various liquors, and various... rolled cigarette boxes with different labels. Definitely pay attention which read "tobacco", "cannabis", and "opium" because those will give a very different evening based on choice. Everett is nothing, if not, a very generous host.

I. The Hall

The most active space would be the main gambling hall in the cellar. Everett has three main attractions here. In one corner, simply enough, is a pool table where people can play and watch while leaned up against the wall. Just be mindful when walking by, messing up someone's shot is easy enough if they're not minding their draw back reach.

Opposite that is a large gambling table with many seat. On one side there is a bowl and dice, while the other has cards for various games. Strip poker was, surprising, not Everett's idea. It simply started up and he didn't stop it.

Last and most odd is Everett's large vault beside the bar. Beside it is a set of lockpicks, set out as a challenge. His father, Vaughan, was the finest Springtide Vaultmaker and Everett has a passion for the subject of both creating and cracking difficult locks. This one must be broken the technical way, he's had antimagical runes to counter too easily meddling. Still, it's not impossible to get into and he's supposedly emptied it of anything personal, offering a small cune fortune to any who could break it.

There will be plenty of time and no limit on attempts, the party will be going for the majority of the night.

[OOC: Hi all! This is an OPEN MINGLE for adult characters! Presume all CR with Everett was invited directly and anybody without CR with him could have heard about it through the grapevine. Characters are welcome to use the above prompts or create their own in the setting.

Since these activities are all taking place in both a relatively small area and also at the time, please consider all your threads open to threadjacking and/or being witnessed or overheard by any other characters in attendance! Tag around, jump in and out of each other's conversations, have fun and don't worry about tag orders. Everett will not have his own TL, but I will definitely get him around to as many people as I can.

For characters below the age of 18, sorry, not getting into this party... but feel free to putter around outside, attempt to sneak in, or get turned down at the door!]

Comments

The Hall

[petcromancer]

[Hector's still learning his way around revelry. He grouses for a few moments at the door before he flatly says the ridiculous password to enter. He's drinking, of course, but he's steered away from the various types of cigarettes. His first experience was a bad one, and he's not going to repeat it.

A little tipsy, he sits down at one of the card tables for a friendly hand or two, but he's...not good at cards. Or at bluffing. And now that he's lost a few layers and his coat no longer hides his little sheep's tail, its nervous twitching broadcasts his thoughts even further.

Unfortunately, he's got the bravado of the vine behind him, and he's still attempting to bluff. His shirt goes in the pot. He's absolutely going to lose it.]

Your move.

[wylderrant]

[ Iramaat eyes Hector with a grin that's almost lecherous from over her hand of cards, self-assured and very at ease. She, as it turns out, loves bluffing. So cards are a great deal of fun for her. She has her jacket in the pot, but she still has shirt and cravat and almost everything else on. ]

I call. And raise-

[ She slowly undoes here cravat with one hand and then drops it onto the table with a dramatic flourish. ]

Let's see what you're made of, Hector.

Iramaat

[wylderrant]

Drink and Make Merry

[ Iramaat's taken a bit of a musical bent into her head, especially after the last party, and so she's carefully settled herself at the piano. She's a bit of an amateur with it, but she's making up for it with enthusiasm by belting out something jaunty and cheery, albeit with a few missed notes here and there. She flashes a grin at anyone who approaches, whether they're there to compliment her playing or ask her to please, stop. ]

Ah, requests? Or perhaps a tip for your beautiful musician...?

The Hall

[ Later on, Iramaat has moved on to the hall itself, a small collection of cigarettes in her pocket and a drink of some sort in her hand. Someone is going to have a fantastic time tonight, apparently. She's already a bit inebriated - but she's also never one to really back down from a challenge, so the vault has her attention. She's never really picked a lock before, but she reasons it can't be that hard. So she's staring at it with a look of concentration, one large ear cocked toward it as she figures out her plan of attack. ]

I wonder if there's a certain trick to it. Or if it's simpler than it looks.

[ Wishful thinking, perhaps. Still, she's not about to give up! At least not yet. ]

drink & make merry

[bloodwit]

[ viren is, honest to god, trying not to be a complete party pooper here. this was meant to be a festivity where people enjoyed themselves, and he'd come upon being beckoned by everett to do so. he knows he could've stayed elsewhere. ]

[ so, instead of marching on over and demanding the amateur pianist stop mid-song, when she comes to a natural pause, he's at her side. in his claws, ready to drop should she outstretch a hand, he holds several coins. ]

Not a tip. [ he clarifies. ] I'm paying you to play better. Please.

The hall!

[hoboagogo]

[Shinjiro switches between watching Iramaat watch the vault, to glancing down at those tools himself. They look like something a dentist would use. He imagines. (And really, he can't even think of the last time he'd even been to one, but that's just the sort of rambling thought that meanders into one's head when they're a good few drinks in.]

I mean... I figure there's always gotta be a trick to it. I just dunno what that is.

[Said as though he has any idea what he's talking about.]

It's just a matter of how it works and keeping it from working right.... right?

[Now how a lock even works, that's a complete fuckin' mystery to him.]

You gonna try it?

[turmoiling]

[Please don't take the snake-eyed stare too hard -- it's hard to not stare when you don't have eyelids. But Jin Guangyao's expression is pleasant as he watches her fingers on the keys, and even if there's a wrong note or two it doesn't appear to bother him too much.

As she finishes up her piece and asks him the question, he laughs lightly.]

I don't think any pieces I know would be familiar. May I ask how long you've been playing for?

drink and make merry

[glitzandglamour]

The only request I have for you is to keep being that beautiful musician, darling!

[Said as Mettaton slinks onto the piano to recline upon it Sexily. Posed to perfection is this mechanical Puca, one leg drawn out across its surface with the other bent perfectly at the knee. He supports himself upon the bend of an arm, cradling his head atop a hand as he fixes his gaze upon Iramaat. His tall, long ears are held at an easy, neutral angle. The only thing that would make this picture perfect is if he were feeding himself grapes or something.........

He's heard worse. More... Strong, and fishy.]

That's what pianos are for, after all. With a bit of elegance, you can make anything sound like a song... And you have the passion and energy to convince.

[mettaton loves pianos. they make great surfaces for posing.]

[hoboagogo]

[Show up, get your booze on.]
[Everett's last party had been absolutely exhausting, and half of it was barely remembered-- but it had also been fun, both in its eccentricy and in that primal way that spoke to those wild, reckless faun instincts that tended to press on him, needing an outlet. So of course as he heard about it, he'd decided to show up and see what it's about. (And... let his housemates know. For one, in case they wanted to tag along. For two, in case it ended up being a three-day disaster again.)

And really-- he'll have to ask Everett about the spiced cider, or compliment him on his brewing abilities. That dumb goat tail sticking out from underneath the waist band of his kilt is swaying happily at trying it. The clearly hand-rolled cigarettes get a look, but he'll probably... hold off on that. For now.

He'll hold up his drink in an offer to clink glasses or toast with whoever is next to him, lips curling up faintly.]

As good a way to celebrate being stuck here for a year as any, I guess.

[It's bad to gamble when your lowest jrpg stat is luck.]

[He likes to think he's not beholden to his Persona any more. He hadn't had it for over a year now, after all, and surely the shitty luck it brought wouldn't still linger and grasp at him?

But then the bowl is over turned to show the dice. And while he'd called odds, the sum is even. With a grumble, he shoves the cunes forward on the table, adding to the considerably stack he'd lost. In a playful sort of aggravation, he pulls a face, even as he picks one of the (tobacco) cigarettes off the ashtray he'd rested it on, bringing it up to take a drag.]

Gonna be even more broke than usual, at this rate. You wanna try a different game?

[That safe, tho!]

[He has absolutely no desire to try and lockpick the damn thing-- hell, he wouldn't even know how. Sure, on TV there was always some scrappy girl who just swirled a hairpin in there to buy her freedom, but... there's a reason that doesn't work in real life.

But he is fascinated by watching anyone attempting it, be it from the tools they choose to pick out from the ones laid out, or the way they crouch down to try and get the heavy door open. He's sitting on top of a nearby table, furry legs dangling in front of him, with the thin hoove barely brushing the floor as they sway, and he finally speaks up.]

You even know what you're doing with that?

[Anything else!]

[Feel free to hit me up for anything! Drag him into a drinking contest, lets do some drugs, lets have questionable bets and gambles-- or even just shoot the shit in the smokey, speakeasy atmosphere! Shinjiro will be content to wander around and check everything out, or be pulled into conversations.]

It's bad to gamble...

[rollfordiplomacy]

We could play a traditional game from my homeland! [A warning, immediately, mischief and enthusiasm sparking in Everett's eyes.]

Mermaid's Gambit is fairly simple. The game moves in turns between the players, who make up the rules as they go, negotiating their additions each round. The core of the game is to twist presumptions and play so long as the game is still fun and challenging. The loser concedes when they no longer enjoy the game. [it's a game about being clever, where luck is only brought in if a player adds it to the structure of the game. Everett is a fan]

Would you like to try a round?

boozing. because...

[rightfoot]

[ He's already had one drink. This party was not meant for lightweights it seems, but he has determined that is fine by him. It's okay to let loose, and as long as he didn't make too much of an ass of himself, all would be well. Already more at ease than he typically would be with a fresh glass in hand, he sits himself directly next to his friend. It's far more close and personal than he would be with a stranger. Rather than offering his glass to the toast, he reached up and gently pats Shinjiro's cheek. ]

I can't believe I've put up with you for almost a year, Shinjiro.

[ "Put up with", he says, and clearly doesn't mean. Nothing but love here, he promises. After a moment, a couple more playful taps then he offers his glass up in a toast. ]

[polterguide]

make merry;
[Bailey isn't a stranger to parties, despite their preference for staying at home or working. They went to college! They knew sorority sisters and frat bros! Not to mention the vampire nightlife their roommate introduced them to. Just, you know. It's been a while.

It's fine.

They get theirself some cider, and they peruse the available cigarettes. After a moment, they huff out a laugh and mutter to theirself.]

I can't believe there's fantasy weed here.

[They shouldn't be surprised, not after all the bizarre plants they've seen, but... It's literally just weed.]

the hall;
[...Bailey doesn't know fuck about cards. They thought they did, but they don't, and they are trying so, so hard to not lose everything in poker. They're glad that the fashion around Aefenglom tends to favor layers, though...

It's still a struggle. They're trying so hard.

They're squinting at their cards, trying to just. Retain their dignity. That's all they want.]

I fold.

[They've been...folding a lot.]

make merry

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett turns a corner with wine in hand and overhears the muttered comment over his cigarettes. Fantasy weed... well, something about that is accurate, and he's tipsy enough to slip into bragging.

Wait, who are we kidding, Everett likes to brag regardless of intoxication level.]

I grew it all myself, so I attest it is of the highest quality! Underestimate not a faun's magic, dear one.

The hall!

[hoboagogo]

[If Bailey isn't good at cards, Shinjiro isn't much better. It's only for the fact that they keep folding that he's managed to keep from falling hard enough to have to throw his own shirt into the collection on the table.

He tilts his head, those goaty ears flickering in a way that could honestly be... anything. It could be some sort of tell, it could be the noise from the piano, or it could just be itchy, with the way his thick hair tickles them. But Bailey folds, so his pair of eights is at least better than absolutely nothing.]

You got some shit luck with cards, huh? [It's casual conversation, and he'll shove his last few cunes towards the center of the table, pausing just long enough to pick up his drink as he leans back.]

make merry;

[rightfoot]

[ He's interested in the things that can be found here. From the drinks to weed itself. Which, if he were totally honest, he's not completely surprised to find around. The people here are pretty creative when they want to enjoy themselves. He leans over, moving his fingers up to pick up some of the cannabis first. He's examining it. He'll want the tobacco later. Maybe after he's had a couple of drinks. ]

If it's cannabis, is it really fantasy weed and not just regular weed?

Connor

[plasticasshole]

The Hall;

[Connor can't eat or drink, nor can he smoke- and honestly, the use of drugs isn't something he approves of too much anyway. But he's here out of sheer curiosity, and at the very least the atmosphere in the room is pleasant. He mingles with the crowd, watching people play pool and analysing their moves (he doesn't attempt to play, because being able to calculate his shot with pinpoint precision is probably unfair), lingering near the strip poker table on occasion, and eyeing the safe. He doesn't need the cunes, but he is tempted to try anyway.

He's open to chit chat, or to being dragged into any of the three activities on offer.]

[glitzandglamour]

[Turns out Connor's not the only android who turned up. It's not hard to keep track of Mettaton's movements, given his impressive presence (tall height, tall ears, big movement, so on), but he seems to have an inclination toward trying the safe.

And failing at lockpicking it: a blatant display of a failing in technical refinement, anyway.

When he spots Connor over the size of his own fixation on himself (wow), Mettaton brightens up, his ears standing tall.]

Connor, darling! It's fabulous to see you here. I've been hoping to run into you sometime... [But it begs the question:] Though with all they offer here, I can't imagine you get much out of the festivities. Drinking, smoking, eating. ...Can you even get intoxicated?

[There are endless questions about mechanical bodies, okay?]

momo | ota

[yesdoubt]

[a: real booze hours]

[Given Momo's habits of going to big drunken industry parties back home to schmooze and information-gather, he wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to do something of the sort here. Not that it's really a necessary thing here, but it's a fun way to find out more about people, as far as he's concerned.

He's keeping to the cider and liquor (and also a lot of water for his methods of making sure he has to get drunk multiple times over to actually be drunk), but will readily approach anyone regardless of whether they're smoking or drinking or what. He's most likely to go for people who look like they're a few into whatever it is they've been partaking of, but people who are just getting started or even people who are sitting out that side of things still have a high chance of getting him because he just likes talking to people.]

Been here long? It's nice to have a party like this once in a while. [Said in the knowing, almost nostalgic tone of someone who has probably been to far more disastrous parties in his time. He still has a burn book memorised of every industry senior who got him blackout drunk when he was starting out.]

[b: it's all fun and games until something something]

[Momo is more about the ball games than the...ball games, so instead of the strip poker he occasionally takes up at the pool table. He's more the type to do it for the challenge than for gambling, but he won't turn down a small bet just for the hell of it either. While he's not an expert in pool specifically, he's played a fair few times before at parties (typically much drunker than he is now) and has enough experience with games where force and trajectory are key to strategy that he's a fairly strong contender.

If someone comes to join him, he straightens up, resting the cue over the back of his shoulders for the moment.] Want to join? Promise you won't lose your clothes at this table.

[He tilts his head towards the strip poker game and winks, a slight smile on his face. He can't say he hasn't mildly spectated the strip poker, but Yuki might kill him if he joined in.]

[c: wildcard]

[[Feel free to hit me up with other shenanigans! Momo's mostly going to be encouraging people to get more drunk/inebriated/etc and gently squeezing for personal information if he gets the chance b/c that's how his industry parties usually go.]]

b!

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett is playing the good and also troublesome host by carrying a fresh bottle of wine around and topping off and matching drinks he finds his guests with. Rounding the pool table, he sets down the bottle and takes a cue for himself to accept Momo's offer to join]

I'll hold you to such a promise! A no stakes game sounds pleasant. [and is better because Everett's since been kicked off the gambling table for being a cheater. Can't really cheat pool! Not... as far as he knows]

a.

[rightfoot]

[ Louis is sitting, comfortably holding a cup of cider in one hand, and is considering if he should step outside with his tobacco cigarette in the other. Though it doesn't seem to be a big deal here, it's always something he's been sneaking around doing, so he wants to make sure he's courteous. He's been, mostly, quietly enjoying himself for the duration of the party when he's approached. He puts the cigarette aside, and settles on just a drink for now. ]

Been here in the city long or here at this party long?

[ He's just...messing with Momo, a little. ]

viren, ota

[bloodwit]

i. the hall

[ viren's only encountered the game of pool through aefenglom, and even then it remains foreign. he quietly watches others play from some corner, and when they've departed, makes the executive decision to begin experimenting with the setup himself.

he doesn't need anyone else to play, it's fine. he selects a longer stick, aligns the rack so it's just perfectly within position, not a centimetre out of place. delicately withdraws it so he can observe the balls' spacing. he lines himself up to give this a shot; behind him, there's an excited fluttering of his tail.

pow— unfortunately, stupid strength and all, he shoots the ball upward over the table's lip. careful of that. ]

ii. the hall, again, but the (tipsier) sequel

[ the safe is a lovely, distracting conundrum in which viren is most inclined to sink majority of his evening into (if he's going to stick around here at all), through fixating on it and it alone. he's probably been at this alone twenty minutes now, wholly determined to solve this, but regrettably foggy with how many of those -- stupid, cinnamon spiced ciders he's had.

by this point, he's cozied himself up well and close to the bar and its safe (could he punch this open? maybe not. would that defeat the purpose? probably!!), hunched over it as he tries yet another combination of lockpicking. seventh time's the charm, right? ]

iii. wildcard

( hit me baby w whatever )

ii

[petcromancer]

[Hector's a faun at a party, which is to say, he's currently a mess. He's wagered and lost several articles of clothing, and he's more than a little tipsy.

And he's currently sitting on a bar stool, elbow on the bar top with his head leaned into his hand, watching Viren try his luck (again).]

I'm trying to decide which would be more disappointing- if you fail, or if you actually get in and find out Everett took everything fun out of there already.

[Either way, it's amusing for Hector.]

Mira Chambers | OTA

[inlikethebrume]

Drink and Be Merry

[It's one of those rare times that the dark knight decides to try this socializing thing. What is having fun when you're usually saving the world? But here is Mira listening to whoever is playing music and sipping on some spiced cider. Definitely a good thing she heard through the grapevine.

She still has to be a responsible adult at least and watch herself. But while listening to some decent music. Hopefully. But it's a rare time where Mira feels relaxed for once, not needing to worry about anything else. But being a wallflower is still a thing and company would be appreciated.]

Wildcard

(OOC: Wanna do something else with Mira? Hit me up!)

[marmoron]

[ Keith mostly came here to observe, so while it wasn't strictly his intention to be a wallflower, that's more or less what's happening anyway. ]

That drink any good?

Saori | OTA

[needsteaplz]

Drinks and Smokes

Saori made herself comfortable by the tap as she sampled her first glass. "Oh damn, this is really good cider," Saori sighs in content. "Who do I need to throw my wallet at because I can think up so many things to cook and drink with this."

Later, the fox/crocodile chimera can be found where the cigarette boxes are with a rather dumbfounded look on her face. "You mean to tell me weed actually exists here? I could've made pot brownies!"

Things About to Get Dicey
Saori decided to take a turn at being the dealer with the dice table. "Alright, how about a simple game from my home. It's called Cho-Han, or simply Even-Odds." She removes her jacket, placing it over the back of her chair to reassure anyone there's no cheating from her.

"Basically, I'll roll these two dice in the bowl and flip the bowl upside down. Everyone wagers whether the total of the two dice is either even or odd and how much they want to wager. Dice will be revealed and losers pays winners."

She tosses the dice and catches them. "Or we could do a strip version where maybe the losing side removes an article of clothing but only if everyone playing is okay with that. What do you say?"

Smokes and Drinks

[petcromancer]

"That'd be your host for this evening, Everett. He owns this place."

Hector isn't sure if the older faun brewed the cider in house like he did the teas he sold, but if not, he'd be able to direct her to his supplier.

He's more excited by the talk of ciders than he is of her mention of 'pot brownies', having no point of reference for either element of the treat. He's had a sample of the smoke before, but knows none of the street names for it.

"You know, it's a party. You're supposed to relax, not think about work you could be doing," he tells Saori over his own glass of cider. Cooking seems like work to him, at least. He'd never say 'no' to Saori's cooking, but she really should kick back and enjoy herself a little more.

Wataru Kurenai | OTA

[kivatteru]

i; just guarding the place

[ There needs to be someone in the party who has to make sure things won't go to hell, and that someone is Wataru. He's no smoker or a frequent drinker, so his role here is just to watch over the crowd and pluck at some food when he's hungry.

If someone's either tipsy or high and stumbles onto him, he's quick to steady them and gently hold them by the shoulder, a concerned look in his eyes. ]

Forgive me, but I think you should sit down.

ii; born a winner (i blame ruby for this prompt)

[ Wataru was eventually dragged to one of those strip poker games. Don't ask him why he's here - he's not sure he can give a straight answer without dying of embarrassment. He's not even that versed with poker, as he had to go through a quick tutorial before he could play, but the moment he got a solid hang of it and he started playing much more serious matches... well, the victories piled up one after another.

And he kept winning, and winning, and winning some more.

Eventually he, as the Clothing King, is surrounded by clothes he's not sure what to do with, while his opponents show more and more skin. Whether you're one of the unfortunate naked saps or an onlooker, you'll get a pretty mortified look in return from Wataru. Life can throw pretty curious curveballs, huh? ]

iii; wildcard

[ Throw anything at me and we'll see if it sticks! ]

ii

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett had excused himself from the poker when it began to wager clothing. In part, out of prudishness and in part because he simple didn't wear all that many pieces to the party. Bet his gloves? Never, he'd rather have both and be stark naked. Not that he planned to be...

Seeing Wataru get in on the game was surprising to say the least.

Seeing Wataru absolutely destroying at the game was even more so. He's leaned on the backrest of Wataru's chair and watching the game as his youngest bonded wins yet another hand, pulling in more clothing to wager with]

My lad, I wasn't this good and I was cheating!

/slides in late with Starbucks

[bergamotrose]

Be Merry

[Mistakes were made.

It was a combination of Lorenz's lack of experience with social gatherings that were not in the heights of society and his lack of familiarity with both his full nature as a Faun and the variety of substances that were employed for recreation that started the chain reaction of events which culminated in the tall, slender gentleman languishing on some cushions in the corner of the basement level of DiplomaTea-- a perplexed look on his face as he watched the buzz of the crowd flit around him like ten thousand insects seeking a flower to land upon.

Hubris and pride had driven him to try one of the offered, rolled up cigarettes on impulse, quietly irritated once and for all with himself over his newfound discomfort with flame. It wasn't his first cigarette-- but it was a matter of principle that led Lorenz to avoid them in general, as they fouled the air and made it difficult to breath for those who were not careful with their indulgences. But... having reasoned that this was a party in the Springtide fashion, Lorenz determined that it was far more appropripriate to indulge for once rather than follow limits out of politeness.

--It was only his nature as a Faun that kept him from the worst effects, Lorenz knew as he stared idly at the swirling crowd. Sitting up was an effort, nonetheless standing, but for the most part he had his wits.

...

It wasn't likely that he would indulge in Cannabis again for quite a long time.]

Wildcard

[HMU at woodrift for plotting!]

[inlikethebrume]

[And there is someone sitting next to him, keeping a hold of her spiced cider drink as she looks up at him with a tiny smile.]

You too decided to try leaving the comforts of your house?

[She can get it.]