[open] pre-gaming, the dignitary variety

[freeing]

Who: Anyone invested in the Dorchacht Dilemma or planning to visit Dorchacht through the event.
When: Septeril 1st, late evening
Where: The Sly Seadog
What: Planning
Warnings: Who the eff knows



[ It was getting late in the evening, but it was crucial to meet up. Daenerys – with the help of some more technologically savvy people – offered invitations to anyone who seemed interested in the affair with Dorchacht.

They meet at the Sly Seadog: a run-down little dive of a tavern, found along a narrow back-alley in the harbour, frequented by sailors, welcoming to Monsters and humans alike. The crowd is dense for this early in the "night", but still a few drunkards pawning off their last bit of money for a little bit more booze.

It was not up to a standard she would prefer, but it's something and it's relatively quiet. Three long tables can fit enough people for their meeting – and there's some standing room at the bar. Time to get down to business, right?

Feel free to top level, make points, argue, etc. ]

Comments

ota — everybody got they cups 🍺

[usurpers]

[ queer little situation.

as far as those who’ve showed up are concerned, eren is one of them. different than he was perhaps for those who’ve seen him anywhere close to last week, or anytime before that— he might even do well in blending into the ambience undetected. as far as an undetected dragon man goes. he has aged an extra year in a night, his hair unquestionably longer and his height towering a few more inches (his dragon legs are coming in fine). tattoos, new enough to bleed some, paint the membranes of his arm wings in and out with the symbols of runes and enchantments, up the neck and down the back, only covered partially by a black-pattern poncho (which doesn’t cover much).

odd is also how the man does not speak when he was once even expected to be talkative, coal and deep sunset scales occasionally shimmering into brighter or duller colors to match his hidden mood, behind a stoic expression that only listens, observes, and allow his fingers to play with a broken piece of glass against the counter. his broken piece of glass, mind you.

how many drinks he’s had by now is a mystery, but the bartender seems impressed when he asks for one more, as calmly as he did the last time. ]

Lots willing to help. [ he says to the person next to him, after a moment is given between conversations. it’s hard to tell if he’s being ironic about something, trying to start conversation or if he’s just flat with his words, all that doesn’t seem to match an expression so staid.

don’t mind him, just getting a feel. ]

[proficience]

[As a man soon to play the part of a dignitary, Dazai was one of many to receive an invitation to the pub, though he's not quite sure what to make of the entire situation, or even the atmosphere. Many conversations are going at once, which, while not overwhelming to him, are a little on the annoying side.

The fact that he can't really drink alcohol to enjoy the taste any longer doesn't help, as evidenced by how he looks at this stranger's next drink with desire-filled eyes. He even sighs a little. But, it seems that the stranger has noticed him, so he should respond. He feigns a small smile.]

I've been told that the more there are, the merrier. Still trying to figure out if that's the case.

[He pauses.]

That your drink of choice?

[usurpers]

Less is more.

[ which, after another look back and forth between other conversations— about putting an end to this and that, or waiting out, or many, many other opinions . . . and not one mutual end to those branches. “that’s what we’re here for!” one may retort if he were to speak his thoughts. he might touch a few, but not all of them. hoping to do so was just foolish.

at least he was aware of that, and why he doesn’t say much at all. not a single one of them spoke about how this could tie into their return home either, and it bothers him. yes there is the possibility of slavery in a neighboring city. yes it is tragic and repulsive. but they are outsiders, extra pawns they can get with every extra foot set across the mirrors and even more scapegoats. that’s all they’ll ever truly be here.

he doesn’t know how much “good” would do a heart hammering for justice, when it does not work as heroically as one would like. nothing removes the hunch from his mind: you’re being used. he hopes he’s wrong, but not surprised if he isn’t.

pulling a sip to his lips and letting the burn run down his throat, eren looks around them with an almost disappointed sigh, completed by the flick of his tongue, reptilian in nature. this was just. some kind of grape brandy, but eren swerves the drink in his hand and shrugs. ]

It gets the job done. [ good ol’ chest burning! ] Holding back?

[proficience]

[Normally, Dazai wouldn't pay too much mind, or any mind at all, to slavery in a neighboring country or city. It doesn't affect him. But that dream had made him realize that it could, and more importantly -- it could affect his closest friend. The man who'd been given a second chance at life here. The man who, Dazai hopes, never has to worry about being enslaved.

That's the only reason why he's bothering to play the role of a dignitary. Otherwise, he'd just remain here, lamenting over his inability to drink any alcohol at all.]

Can't have anything. [He shrugs, casually gesturing toward the rows of bottles behind the counter.] I've tried several different drinks, and they all taste the same. [They also pretty much always come right back up, but he won't say that. There's no need to.]

How long have you been here, if you don't mind me asking? You appear as if you'd undergone quite a few changes.

[usurpers]

I wouldn’t say you’re missing out.

[ a small shrug, because taste is very personal! he never came to actually enjoy it, anyway. even with the question asked, eren takes a moment more to settle and, what looks like thinking. may, june . . . ]

Five months, counting this one. [ a beat. ] Guess I could pass as a native.

[proficience]

I can't say I don't miss sake, though.

[His gaze falls right down toward the counter, where he taps his fingers. Sake is not only a pleasant drink for him to have, it brings back memories.]

Five months! [He jolts upright again and blinks.] I'd say you are a native at this point. Have you -- lost anyone you were close to during that time?

[He's asking since, in all honesty, he wouldn't know what to do if Oda leaves. Having this time with him here, alive and happy, means a ton.]

[usurpers]

[ lol, him, a native. he’s almost tickled into chuckling! it only comes as a huff, even if he started it. if only he’s actually act like a native.

he’ll ask about “sake” later. ]

Lost— anyone? [ it takes a minute for him to actually understand what was being implied, or at least he thinks. ] You mean when the mirrors break?

[proficience]

Hm. Yes, I believe so.

[The urge to brave a drink right now is high, since he's talking about serious things, things close to his heart.]

I've reunited with a lost friend. Someone very dear to me. But I'm always wondering in the back of my mind --

How long he'll stay here.

[usurpers]

[ he won’t stop the waiter from slugging over and dropping off a few extra beers for the table. it looks like his new speak partner might be in need of one, even if the taste is bland. ]

There’s no way for you to see him again, I take it.

[ he might be on the opposite end of that line, but at least no one around here is afraid of losing him. too much. he hopes.

that’s a lie. ]

[cspd]

Getting this many people on the same page is going to be like herding cats.

[ Lloyd has...some notes scribbled on the notebook in front of him, though not as many as the amount of talking being done would seem to imply - because he's writing down facts and important questions they need to answer, and leaving off the arguing, filler, posturing, and the like.

He sighs and takes a minute sip of his drink - his one drink, which seems to be disappearing at a glacial pace.

It's going to be a long night. ]

[usurpers]

[ hold on tight to that drink, lloyd, it’s probably your best friend. eren leans back in his seat, nearly tipping his chair back to balance on before it clatters beneath him. he also does it to get a better look at the other’s notes. ]

You sound like you’ve done so before.

[ he’s serious when he says it, but.






he make joke. ]

[cspd]

On a much smaller scale than this...thankfully.

[ If he'd had to juggle this many viewpoints and agendas back in Crossbell he might've lost his marbles. ]

[usurpers]

Kittens, then.

[ . . . he’s still being figurative. he’s so full of serious jokes today. ]

[cspd]

...well, a few of them might actually appreciate the comparison.

[ Some of them, on the other hand... ]

[usurpers]

[ lol ]

I can imagine the type. [ imagine. only imagine. he’s never met too many people who would enjoy being called kitten. ] What’ve you got written so far?

[cspd]

Not nearly as much as I'd like, to be honest.

[ He tilts the notebook so Eren can see it, then frowns. ]

Wait...writing doesn't translate like speech does, does it.

[usurpers]

[ making sure he doesn’t pull the notebook back in dismay, eren’s claws reach out to lightly clutch the book’s bottom. ]

It does, [ he says as his eyes spring back and forth to get the messages quickly, and. he can only come to one conclusion. ] but you might be wasting your time.

[overworker]

[Towa has shifted seats several times to get involved in different plans and enter into discussion. While she knows that going is unavoidable at this point, she knows that there are a great number of people who's ideas of getting involved go further than she'd hoped they would.]

It may not be our fight, but I think a lot of people-- myself included-- find it hard to ignore the issue we see. If not because it's morally wrong then... because we never want to see such horrible practices implemented where they could further affect us.

[The shock of those living conditions, and the threat of conflict are good enough reasons to shake anyone. And she's not just a little uneasy about what their involvement could mean for their situation. But there was a risk that came with not getting involved as well. She takes a long, slow drink of scotch from the glass in front of her, closing her eyes.]

I just... hope we're making the right decision.

[usurpers]

You’ll always be wrong to someone out there.

[ he says rather easily— a sign that, after a moment of processing his words, decides that he’s had enough brandy. he finishes up, sets his mug out, and asks for water while shifting back into his seat.

it has been a long night and his ears are tired of repeating history. ]

. . . Do what you’ll regret less, is what I’ve always been told.

[overworker]

That's true.

[It's a familiar feeling-- not wanting to fight, but knowing that you can't accept the decisions of those standing opposite you. At least if she could understand them it would be easier, but... she can't relate with the conditions she saw at all.]

For me... I don't like what's happening here, but first and foremost I want to do what's best for our group. If we have to be involved... I want it to be to create a safer place for the people here-- for ourselves and the people who have been kind to us and helped us. If we can help someone else in the process that would be nice, but... I don't think that should be our priority just yet.

[usurpers]

[ if anything, eren is a good listener. even if he’s rocking back and forth in his chair as if he didn’t invest much in the meeting as a whole. the less attention on him, at least, the better.

his freedom was implanted elsewhere, but for that— keeping his ears perked like a hunting hound’s was a necessary setback, among a few other things. . ]

You have a focused heart. [ he doesn’t say if it’s good or bad, and doesn’t give much margin for one to assume, other than it just being something he’s noticed. ] And you feel prepared for this involvement?

[overworker]

[It's an interesting observation-- one she's never heard before anyway. To her, at a time like this, it feels nice to hear, so she's going to accept it as such.]

Yes. I don't know how much I can do, but I'm going to do everything I possibly can. I don't know what kind of outcome we may get, but I'm prepared to face whatever comes next.

[If it weren't for this feeling-- this overall sensation of everyone coming together to discuss their ideas and opinions, her own might have been different. But watching this, it's hard not to feel a little inspired.]

I can only say that because of everyone else though. I know there will be a lot of other people working just as hard to accomplish that change. Because it's something we're working towards together as a group-- I'm willing to accept whatever outcome follows. Because it's the path we chose together. I don't have any regrets with that.

[usurpers]

[ he doubts that, with such a focused heart. but then again— he really never did say if it was good or bad, right? eren stays quiet with a glance that strays even further away. it’s as if he’s listened, understands her, nods at her,

but by no means agrees with her. ]

“Strength in numbers”. [ wetting his lips with a dip of water from his cup, the dragon flicks his tongue and inhales. ] Who’s a part of your group?

[overworker]

My group? Heh... I haven't been here long enough to say that I have a really strong connection to this group as a whole.

[While she admires what they want to do, she doesn't think they're exactly unified-- and while that's understandable considering their numbers, she's had to think about where she stands. But that wasn't something particularly difficult for her.]

The group that truly matters to me the most are my former classmates. Rean, Elliot, Fie... While I don't mind doing what I can to support everyone... if I have to make a choice, then there's no question about it, I stand where they stand.

[usurpers]

[ “that’s nice”, is eren’s initial thought. too many holes in that for him, small contradictions that’re impossible to unify under the situation presented, and only ignorance would accept as something true, possible and righteous. it’s too idealistic for him, these days. he’ll pass. ]

Sounds like the ideal outcome, [ he dips his head a little, takes some water, and briefly settles his glance over one of their own debating at the table. ] for visionaries.

[ this is almost a waste of time, almost. but, he’s here, so, he’s getting something out of it. who he might be able to count on, or use, for lack of better wording, even though that still makes his skin crawl. he’s met, rean, fei, she doesn’t look like a machias . . . ]

You must be Towa?