Open | The Epicurians Present: The 1st of September Beach Bash!

[bleatingedge]

Who ► Leo & Anyone that wishes to join!
What ► BEACH PARTY!!
When ► September 1st
Where ► Δ Haggard Traveler's Reprieve
Content Warnings ► People will be drunk. Will add to if needed

[The time has come... for fun! Δ Haggard Traveler's Reprieve has been decorated with all the niceties that a beach party requires - docks for fishing, large umbrellas to hide from the sun, several tables with sets of chairs for sitting and conversing, and the most obvious addition: a massive roaring bonfire with a big cooking mesh over the top of it for barbecue cookin'!

Leo's wearing a fishing hat and aviators alongside his trademark loincloth-and-nothing-else getup for maximum dissonance. From his position on the other side of the bonfire, he waves a hand at those arriving.]

Welcome to the Beach Bash! Snacks and drinks are on the tables, bottles of sunscreen and crafting tables are under the umbrellas, and complementary fishing gear are at the docks for your convenience. Have fun, friends~

[Emperor Grunty is also here, should you wish to annoy him! He's currently laying in the sand with a reflector. What? Grunties need their sun too!]

Comments

[selfconcept]

[ Hien is here, though he's mostly keeping to himself in his swimsuit and quietly eating. He wishes he could drink right now, but he's working... the sunglasses hide how tired his eyes look than usual.

This is his w/e TL to say that he exists here somewhere. Bother him if you want, but he's staying far from the party where the people congregate because he doesn't like... parties... he's here to chaperone. ]

[worldbent]

["Chaperone" is a pretty funny way of wording what Hien does around here, by Matoba's estimation, but what can he say? It keeps the cats somewhat herded. And just like they'd once talked about, sometimes you needed to be a little heavy-handed to accomplish that.]

[Speaking of heavy-handed, they'd all really let loose last time, huh? And now everyone is taking some well-earned time to relax and enjoy the immersive VR for a little fake vacation. It might not actually rest their bodies, but maybe it will put them in a better mental state...... Some of them, anyway.]

[With the swimsuit Matoba shows up in, high-ponytail getting the heat off his open back, Hien might not be getting much relaxation. Don't ask about the finer details of his character model right now.]

What are you doing all alone over here, sulking? [He's munching on a shaved ice as he saunters over from down the beach- Hawaiian blue flavor, to be exact.]

[selfconcept]

[ He turns around and looks at Matoba, staring at him for a while before turning back around. Why is he wearing that. Hien feels himself astral project a little. He no longer wants to be here. Help him, whatever gods may be out there. ]

I'm not sulking.

[ He says, shoving a BBQ rib into his own mouth. It comes back out as a clean bone. ]

[worldbent]

Where do you put all that.

[Matoba, at least outwardly, ignores the sight of Hien's soul leaving his body to focus on his uncanny eating skill, as he turns around to look at him. Wdym, Hien, it's the beach?? He's wearing a swimsuit???]

[Since Hien is at a table, Matoba considers taking a seat, too. But there's only one chair at this table.......]

[Hmm.]

Anyway... If you're not, then you don't mind me joining you, right? [Matoba strolls over and scoots himself onto the edge of the table, right in front of Hien. Right in front of his salad. His legs cross at the ankle.]

Shall I suppose that the new cooking systems were your doing, then? [Fatass.]

[selfconcept]

No.

[ But also: ]

Get off the table.

[ How dare you dirty the sacred eating table?? Hien frowns up at Matoba. Right in front of his ribs?? ]

[worldbent]

[Matoba is gonna pretend that "no" was for the cooking question and not about joining him, okok]

[He pauses in eating his ice, though, and frowns down at Hien.]

Why do you need it?? You suck that food down before it can even hit the table.

[selfconcept]

[ Matoba would be right, since Hien just flat out ignored the part about joining him. ]

Sit somewhere else.

[ He's a sour guy, but this is just about his average interaction with Matoba. Nothing too scathing. Just the usual. ]

[worldbent]

[Just the usual, indeed, which is why he's hardly bothered by it! That Hien, always so grumpy.]

[See, this is why he needs company. Which is why, at Hien's insistence, Matoba slides himself off of the table,]

[And lands himself side-saddle on Hien's lap, instead. He recrosses his legs and takes a bite of his ice.]

As you command, Admin-san. [He offers a bite of shaved ice up to Hien's mouth. Blue Hawaiian??]

[selfconcept]

[ He sighs when Matoba just sits on his lap. Why this. But when he offers a bite of shaved ice, he leans in and nom. The coolness of the shaved ice feels refreshing...

He yawns while lowering his head a little. ]

My legs aren't that cushy.

[worldbent]

No, they're not. But neither was the table, so it's not too bad.

[There you go, Hien-kun, everything is solved with sweets. Matoba takes another scoop of the ice for himself. What is this weird scene going on under the umbrella, don't worry about it.]

What's your favorite flavor syrup or topping for shaved ice, Hien-kun? [Maybe if he feels very nice later, he'll get you one (when he refills his own...)]

[selfconcept]

Honeydew.

[ He's realizing that he enjoys being fed like this... he'll think about this later. For now, he yawns and rests his head on Matoba's shoulder. He's extremely tired and he can feel it seeping into his virtual bones... ]

[worldbent]

Melon.... Good choice. [Hmm, maybe he'll get himself a melon ice next, too.]

[He scoops another bite, meaning to raise it to Hien's lips, but-- oh. He blinks, bemused when instead the man's head droops to his shoulder. And he looks rather comfortable, so.... Fine then. He'll eat this scoop himself. Hmph!]

Have you ever heard of "shirokuma ice"? [He mumbles around his spoon. Ah, Hien's hair is looking particularly rufflable, but he'll refrain from getting his sticky fingers in it for now.] It's a treat that originates not far from my home prefecture. If I might suggest that to be another food item available in the game, I think it would be an enjoyable and cute addition- as a special seasonal item, perhaps?

[selfconcept]

[ Hien slowly blinks and lifts his head off of Matoba's shoulder. ]

Mm... kakigori, right?

[ Surprisingly(?), Hien knows what it is. That said, he grabs Matoba by the hips, lifts him up, and puts him off to the side so that Hien can stand. Please have Matoba stand on his feet... ]

Just a moment...

[ Then Matoba will see Hien just lethargically walk off... past the big rocks where he can't be seen. A minute passes. Five minutes.

...

He's still not back. ]

[tablescraps]

( Out of the corner of your eye you see him.... Mithrun One.

Dressed in his swimsuit skin, Mithrun has small pot of turkey biscuit pot pie with him (smaller than the photo - maybe four biscuit big and then a little more room for the filling a little more out - a decent serving size for a single person). It took a bit for Mithrun to find a simple enough recipe, but this one, at least, plays on his strength: his relentless exploration. He went through quite a few Areas and dug through quite a few more gathering sites to find the monsters, crops, spices, and all the rest he'd need to actually put it all together. It's rich in flavor in a hopefully acceptable way (lest Sinclair's sacrifice be all for naught). )

... Are you still accepting submissions?

[selfconcept]

I am.

[ Hien wonders if Mithrun (One) had learned his lesson from his previous attempt that Hien takes this very seriously, but the food looks good. Smells good too. He raises the fork and takes a small bite out of it.

...

He raises his gaze from the food to Mithrun. ]

Who taught you how to cook so quickly?

[tablescraps]

( Hmmm... Does this mean he didn't fail? )

I cooked the same few things over and over until Vogel ( may he rest in peace ) told me which one tasted the best, and then I cooked that one over and over until he ( god bless his soul in heaven ) said it was acceptable.

( So he can cook........... One Dish ! But better than zero. )

[selfconcept]

[ god bless Vogel... But this dish really does play up to Mithrun's strengths: unholy amount of material gathering, trial and error with his research ways... ]

It's actually better than "acceptable". It's great. The flavor somehow meshes with all the spices and materials you have used. They come together nicely despite there being so many. That's a very delicate balance to pull off. I'm... impressed.

[ Honestly? Yeah. He eats the rest of it too. ]

You pass.

[ He gives Mithrun a chef outfit and a little black pomchi. If he wants a different breed, he will have to speak up now. ]

[tablescraps]

( !

! ! !

He did it...(!)

Hearing praise from Hien is also pretty different, in itself. What an interesting experience. He guesses figuring out a recipe was worth the time and effort, after all. )

... Thanks.

( Genuine, it just sounds weird coming from him.

Mithrun equips the chef outfit, as he always does when he gets a new skin. Ooh lala (or whatever sound chefs make)

The little pomchi runs around his legs. nyom. He looks at it with his usual gaze, studying closely. Hmm. Yes. This dog is good. However. He looks back up at Hien. )

... I think I said once I used to have a dog. It was a long-haired labrador. Can you make it that shape?

[selfconcept]

Alright.

[ He is trying his utmost best to not stare at Mithrun's legs with that chef outfit. WHY ARE ALL HIS OUTFITS SO LEGGY.... Hien doesn't understand despite being the one handing these out. Perhaps it's linked with their player ID. He should really check the coding again.

Hien whistles and the pomchi comes back to him, disappears, and now, a black, long haired labrador sits next to Mithrun. ]

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun's internal user ID, as it turns out, is ID#W24G8RD2L3GZ4D4YZ

Mithrun yields another "!" as he sees a big ol lab next to him. Similar to the cream-colored Cheesecake they used to have, but different. A little like him.

He sets his hand on its head. Hello. You exist now. It wags its tail. )

... Basque.

( Basque Cheesecake, AKA "burnt" cheesecake. Very functional. )

Were the quest and rewards your idea?

[selfconcept]

[ Thanks I hate it

After Hien heard Mithrun name the dog, he looks up at him and nods. ]

The original dog reward is modeled after my real dog.

[ Black pomchis... ]

[tablescraps]

Ah. Ren?

... Would they get along?

( Ren and Basque, he means.

Basque, meanwhile, is chillin', Mithrun's hand still on her head. She's thriving, in her lane, moiturized... truly is a great day to exist as a bunch of pixels. )

[selfconcept]

Ren gets along with everyone, but he's a little shy.

[ But a pomchi sits on Hien's head right now, and he picks it up to put it down next to Basque. This one doesn't seem to shy and jumps at Basque's paws. ]

[tablescraps]

( !!!!!! friend!!! excited, Basque jumps back!! Tail wagging rapidly, she does that circling/nudging thing to Ren dogs do when they're excited and want to play. Mithrun watches them go... )

... I don't know if labradors can be shy.

Did you program the possibly personalities of each breed yourself?

[selfconcept]

I had a large part in it.

[ Ren might be a little shy, but this pomchi? It is not. Hien hasn't named this one either. There can only be one Ren no matter how many black pomchis there will be. ]