[closed] meanwhile, at telophoroi tower...

[trollophoroi]

WHO >> The Telophoroi guild and their +1s.
WHAT >> A dinner party that will surely be calm and enjoyable for all involved.
WHEN >> 9/15, evening.
WHERE >> Telophoroi @ home.
Content Warnings >> May make you hungry, more added if needed.

ARRIVAL

[ Welcome! Welcome to the Telophoroi Tower, as the guild leader likes to call it, even though only the interior itself will give that impression. It is, after all, instanced like every other guild @ home. The interior is... curious... at best. It's ominous, not even a little bit friendly-looking, all sharp corners and metal floors and walls. Metallic alien-like tubes curl around the walls and the pillars, crisscrossing the high ceilings, and creeping along the edges of walls; it could easily be a dungeon interior, provided it had actual monsters inside.

Greeting the guild members and guests alike is the Guild Grunty with a bowlcut and, just for tonight, a purple butler's outfit instead of its usual cultist robes. It still wiggles its hooves at people as they enter, though, as proclaims, ]

OoOoOo! Welcome... to your doom! [ Wait, that isn't right. It visibly sweats for a second during a pause, then remembers to add, ] And your dinner! Yes, and your dinner, hehehe~

[ It will also offer to take coats if needed, then lead them to the meeting room (now masquerading as a dining room); it's only slightly less intimidating than the rest of the tower and that's only because the lighting is nice, candles have been added, there's some very low classical music playing somewhere in the background, but it is still definitely part of the tower with the table being wicked metal with thinner imprints of those alien-like pipes running wild in the design, and the chairs are massive metal thrones, difficult to move, although green and purple cushions have been added to offer some comfort.

They will also find that there are, in fact, assigned seats.



There are some little Coronation Chicken Pies and Blue Cheese and Pear Appetizers for snacking while they wait as well as Cultist Grunty offering to pour them either champagne or, if they aren't interested in alcohol, some sparkling lemonade.

If asked about where the guild's leader, Fandaniel, is, Cultist Grunty will assure them that he's only putting the finishing touches on tonight's meal and will be with them shortly. ]

IT'S TIME TO EAT

[ And after about a half hour of arrival, the lights of the room... flicker, flicker, and then shut off, plunging the party into pitch darkness. Even the candles go out, though only long enough for people to exclaim or react.

When they come back on, Fandaniel, dressed up in his own butler skin (although it doubles quite well as merely looking fancily dressed), has made his appearance at the head of the table, where his seat had been left empty right up until now. He's standing, arms spread out wide, a grin on his face, and the starter course set out on little plates before them. ]

Hello! Hello, my dear friends. I am so glad that you could all join me for our little dinner party. I do hope you have been enjoying yourselves thus far. Now! [ And lowers his arms so that he can clap them together upon saying that word. ] Let me introduce you to our meal for the evening.

[ And he'll go over what they'll be having tonight! The menu is as follows:

Starter Course: Hot Tofu, a simple dish of tofu and dashi kombu with a little bowl of sauce to pour over it.

1st Course: Chawanmushi with Matsutake Mushroom, a savory egg custard flavored with dashi stock, soy sauce, and mirin, steamed in a cup.

2nd Course: Unadon, grilled eel brushed with sweet and savory unagi sauce and served atop a bed of rice.

3rd Course: Shoyu Ramen, made with a flavorful pork-bone broth with wavy noodles and topped with bamboo shoots, meltingly tender pork belly, and thin-sliced green onion.

4th Course: Tempura Vegetables, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, Kabocha squash, lotus roots, and eggplant deep-fried in a crispy, crunchy tempura batter served alongside a dipping sauce.

And every time a course is finished, the lights will, once again, go off and, when they come back on, the course will be swapped out. It's quite a bit of showmanship, but only possible thanks to Cultist Grunty changing up the room's configuration on the fly as well as the timing it had worked out with Fandaniel. Still! It offers a very mysterious bit of ambiance to the meal. ]

Bit of a Beastly Dessert, Isn't It?

[ Then comes the last course, the dessert course. Once again, the lights go off, they come back on, all the dishes are cleared and new plates and utensils sit before them all. There's more on the platters set across the table but each dish has a serving of sweet potato pie, done in the Japanese style, which is a far cry from what more Western types may expect from a pie like that. It's a flaky pastry, nice and sweet, but not overly so.

Cultist Grunty goes about a glass of a dark dessert wine for all. This time, there is no alternative, but seeing as dessert wines are meant to be savored in a small amount, those who want less will certainly get less. The reason why they're insisting everyone has wine will be apparent soon enough when Fandaniel raises his glass to offer a toast to them. ]

And this is where we end the night, I fear! Our last course, our dessert. Fai was kind enough to lend a hand in the kitchen with it. I would also like to thank him and Hien both for making the little treats we had before the dinner began. They were quite good, were they not? Ah, and, of course! [ He'll nod towards Cultist Grunty in his cute little tuxedo. ] Our dear Cultist Grunty has been an infinite source of aid during the past two days in getting this all set up. He handled all those little light tricks and all the dish swaps.

[ And then to the rest of the party. ]

And to the rest of you, for better or worse... [ At this point, probably worse, let's be real here. ] We've been having an interesting time in this game but I am glad you all took the time to humor me and my desire to hold a little dinner party like this. So, to all of you!

[ And that's the cue to drink and... now for the real reason he wanted everyone to drink the wine. See, Fandaniel has laced it with one of the game's potions, only! Only, well, originally the Potion of Fang and Claw, which should have given them nothing more than some cute animal ears and tails, ends up doing something wildly different.

Everyone who drinks the wine will find themselves turned completely into an animal.

Glasses will tumble to the floor, breaking and spilling wine everywhere. Armor and clothing will pop off as items, unequipped, as they no longer fit their bodies. Surprise! Enjoy spending the next 24 hours as a talking animal! ]

Comments

MISTEAKS

[gluttoning]

[At arrival, Misteaks is noticeably low energy, picking through appetizers and refills of lemonade like he hasn't eaten in days. Maybe it's just that delicious? Who's to say. He doesn't seem to stay on his feet for long, looking more physically uncomfortable than socially, but he'll still mingle from his seat while they wait. Hopefully with more people than the plush that is sitting directly across from him. Why is there a plush directly across from him. He is so uncomfy.

And that's about the only time one will get a word from him easily. Once the food starts, Misteaks has a laser-sharp focus on one thing - picking apart every dish with vigor, eating every crumb and drop of every dish presented to him, more visibly enthralled over every new dish that rolls in than the presentation and showmanship itself. Eh, you can't win em all, Fandan. He might even look a little too long at people if they're not particularly fond of whatever course is in front of them, like a dog trying to be sneaky about begging.

He avoids alcohol the whole night, and dessert is no exception, hesitating when the grunty insists on at least a small portion for the final course. Someone might need to encourage him a little, though he is obviously curious for how he takes a whiff of the open cup.

When he finally caves for the toast, the chair underneath him breaks under the weight of a full sized lion, which looks to the glass (and the immense amount of equipment) that drops to the floor with an almost saddened expression. Oh. What just happened. He's fuzzy now.

The lion licks its chops, nonetheless. Compliments to the chef.]

arrival

[tablescraps]

( As the guests filter in, Mithrun is in his red riding hood outfit, probably because he was encouraged to dress up, anyway, unimportant. As he enters with Tylor, he does a quick glance about, looking for a certain gentleman he holds in low regard, but what he finds, instead, is Barrett.

He doesn't hesitate, despite everything. With a brief word to Tylor, he strides off to Barrett's seat and grabs his wrist, probably interrupting any appetizers Barrett may be enjoying. )

Come with me. I just need a minute.

( "I just need a minute" may not be a phrase we should trust Mithrun with given the last time he used it and its outcome, but maybe it'll will work out better this time? )

[gluttoning]

[He's partially through another appetizer when he sees Morgan step into the room, eyes finding the bright red and then growing surprised at who's wearing the outfit.

His eyes immediately travel straight back to his plate, assuming there would be some need for space. So there's a jolt of surprise when the exact opposite happens, the redhead blinking at the grip on his arm, before looking towards Morgan.

Many words come and fall away faster than he can grab them, his look growing deeply apologetic as he quietly pushes his chair from the table.]

...Okay.

[Morgan has him, for the moment. Barrett isn't about to say no after the morning they just had... even if all Morgan has to give is anger.]

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun is going to drag Barrett away from the main hall - if Cultist Grunty stops them if they get too far, he's fine with just getting a hallway away, around a corner. He'll speak low.

He pulls Barrett against a wall there and lets go. And very suddenly: )

I don't think you have a fetish. Don't take what I said seriously. But if you want to avoid me then tell me now instead of trying to be discrete.

[gluttoning]

[He lets himself be led, a slight flinch to his steps at times before they settle against the wall. He's unsure what to brace for, how Morgan could even be feeling after everything. So he keeps quiet, even when Morgan's words come so intensely.]

...What?

[But he'd said... but he'd thought...

...

It's a tumble, trying to sort through his feelings. He wants to say that Morgan can leave him be, if what had happened this morning had been too much.

But his mouth still moves of its own accord. Just like it had this morning.]

I don't want to avoid you.

I just don't want to hurt you.

[tablescraps]

( Crosses arms... Sigh @ past self...... )

You don't hurt me. That's just how I was, back then. I was like that toward everyone.

( Except, like, Niamh, but the exception is not the rule. )

The way I used to feel about things... I don't understand it anymore. I lost a lot of things, like my insecurities. If I didn't like something the way I am now, I'd tell you.

( For example: he's going to pull a Judith beheading Holofernes on Fandaniel when the universe allows it. )

lion

[tylorific]

[ They're so far away and preoccupied with their own sides of the table that through the food and the drink that Bear probably only got a parting greeting and smiles from across the way.

But once they are animals, Bear seems to be the only one comparable in size to this incredibly happy, but very large, grey wolf that trots over. His tail is still wagging. Before he speaks he makes a bark of a sound with his head lowered, but it's raspy like a dog whisper. ]

Wow, you're a lion, how cool! What's that feel like?

[gluttoning]

[The lion's massive tongue rolls over its muzzle, regarding the dog. Hm.]

Fuzzy.

[A nod, as though this is an acceptable answer. He recognized that voice, though...]

Hi, Tylor. Sorry I couldn't sit with you.

I don't want to reuse the same icon every time so

[tylorific]

[ Tylor makes a sound that would probably be a laugh, but he lets it come out more dog like than human. ]

Oh, don't worry about it. Sitting carnivores too close would scare everyone anyway.

[ He jokes, standing up to step a little closer. His front legs stretch out and the front of his body dips while his tail is still wagging. It is Dog for Play. ]

How'd you like the dinner? Spankmaster is a pretty cu--good host, huh? He even had this fun surprise for us too!

Big mood friendo

[gluttoning]

Spankmaster?

[whomst?

He pauses for a moment, looking and seeing the sign of Happy Dog, before stretching himself out of his previously-intact chair, a roll of muscles under fur and a yawn lined with teeth as he starts to pick up his items with his teeth. Hm. Can he still access his inventory like this...]

We should probably check on everybody. Some people turned into tiny things.

[tylorific]

Fanny.

[ He answers like it's an explanation. ]

Oh yeah, our host is a cute little bird.

[ Tylor rolls himself, almost on instinct at big teeth. Belly up and wiggling like he's scratching his back with the floor, he keeps his playful wolf-y gaze on the bigger cat.

Tongue lulled out, he pauses to respond. ]

That's a good idea, but won't we just scare them? We've got such sharp teeth now.

You know, you should've been a Bear.

food~

[trollophoroi]

[ Fandaniel is more than happy to offer Barrett food off of his own plate once he begins making sad puppy dog faces at everyone else's plates. He's been trying the food on and off throughout the day as he made it, so it isn't as if he'll be missing out. ]

Here, Misteaks, would you like some more of this?

[ He's plucked a piece of beautifully cooked pork belly off the top of his ramen with chopsticks (although forks and spoons were available for those who are unable to use those). Rather than place it in Barrett's empty bowl, however, he's holding it out directly for him to eat from Fandaniel's own chopsticks.

Open wide~. ]

jaws music as mithrun watches and Cooks

[gluttoning]

[Already well into his own ramen bowl, Barrett perks up at the offering, not even hesitating to stop what he's doing.

When the pork is offered up, the redhead leans forward, mouth open. If Fandaniel doesn't feed him, Barrett will absolutely just snap it right off the chopsticks like a dog. He has zero shame here, it seems.]

[trollophoroi]

[ Oh, he feeds him alright. He'll put that pork right into Barrett's mouth for him and although Fandaniel isn't bothering to look Mithrun's way, he is sure he can feel that aura of hate seething at the far end of the table. ]

Good, isn't it? I was worried the ramen would be too stereotypical to serve as part of the meal but it seems that everyone is enjoying it.

[ Well, almost everything. Mithrun probably doesn't know how to enjoy it? Oh well. ]

gao

[selfconcept]

[ Oh, Misteaks is a lion... Cute...

He holds out a bit of the sweet potato pie on a spare plate. Eat, young one. ]

woof bc i might not TL who knows

[tylorific]

[ Nearby, Tylor is a good boy right now, despite his massive size. But that doesn't stop him from staring intently, ears forward, at the food offered to Bear. His tail is wagging so fast that it hits the ground with softened thuds as he sits. The pent up energy, the instinct to steal it is still there, in the way the weight shifts between front legs as he tries so hard to stay still. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Where did this wolf come from... Well, it doesn't matter. Regardless, Hien holds more bits of the pie over to Tylor on his hand. Eat up, big guy. ]

this is a wolf icon

[tylorific]

[ Tylor bounds forward too happily for his size. He laps up the pie greedily, shamelessly licking off anything left on Hien's hand. He's still licking at his muzzle when he sits down closer this time. His big head seeks to rest heavily in Hien's lap while he looks up at him, tail wagging. ]

Wow, thanks. That was really tasty.

[gluttoning]

[Oh.

:-D

The lion's ears immediately swivel forward, whiskers at attention, eyes sharp. Its tongue too big, its teeth too sharp.

The pie is gone before it could even consider its final potatoey words, the big cat letting his tongue run against his muzzle to clean himself up.]

It's good.

[...wait a second...]

Why aren't you an animal, Hien?

[selfconcept]

... Shouldn't I be asking you the opposite?

[ Why is Misteaks a lion? He reaches over to pet him through the mane. Cute... Well, at least Hien knows that the devs bothered to put in more animal assets in the game now. ]

[gluttoning]

[He allows it, his ear tilting out of the way to give Hien room to work.]

Don't know. I guess something was in the dessert?

Fandaniel seems kind of angry about it, though. Maybe someone pulled a prank.

[tinged]

[ since they’re all arriving with different people, it only makes sense for hani to seek him out early on.

because they’re friends!

and hani is a good friend who would platonically (?) feed a whole chicken pie into bear’s mouth like it’s nothing. ]

What do you think, Bear-kun?

[gluttoning]

[:0!

Pie...

He immediately takes the pie directly from Hani's fingers with his mouth. How is he doing that without breathing...

It takes him a few seconds to get a response with as full as his mouth is. But his face lights up with an enthusiastic nod, even as he starts to swallow.]

It's so good... Fandaniel's cooking is always really good. I've had it before.

[tinged]

Have you?

[ that’s absolutely delightful. they wanna feed him more just to see that look again. ]

Is that something that happens a lot? People feeding you?

[gluttoning]

Mn, not really... I usually just eat it myself. [The grunty comes around for refills, and Barrett easily tops his lemonade off, nearly chugging it.] But I think it's fun.