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

[userunfriendly]

I was transfixed. It was like watching a python.

[ (Affectionate). Anyway, he's snagging a napkin for himself to try to clean up whatever damage Oria did to him with that rib. Augh. He's like a bbq sauce vampire now. ]

Enjoying the party? [ There's a question! ]

[dissimulative]

[ Well... that comparison isn't so bad. In fact, it sounds kinda cool, so he'll let it slide. ]

Yeah! The food is great!

[ And just that, apparently. ]

And what about you? I thought you wouldn't like parties like this.

[userunfriendly]

[ Michel isn't even going to question that part. Oria and food, after all. ]

Ordinarily, no. Call it a novelty. [ A beach where he doesn't burn! ] I'm surprised you still have an interest in gatherings where you accept food from strangers.

[dissimulative]

It's a bit different here. I don't think most of the playerbase knows who I am, so they wouldn't have a reason to spike the food in the first place.

[ Trust is a difficult word, so Oria always has to try and find logical ways of explaining himself. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ Once again, they're on a parallel wavelength there. Michel tips his head a little wryly. ]

Most. [ Without quite meaning to, he glances around to see if he catches sight of Sinclair. ] I can see why you would make time for the beta. Have you ever thought about just retiring?

[dissimulative]

No.

[ That answer is delivered without hesitance. ]

Never. I don't want to—even if it's for the sake of losing all the time I invested into it, I...

[ --don't know how else to live, is what he finishes in his head. His pride won't let him. ]

... would hate seeing all those old guys thriving because I quit.

[userunfriendly]

Even if it means surviving to see it?

[ A little hesitation might have been much more reassuring there. Michel sighs and leans over towards the drinks. ]

Your "treasure trove of information" was more cursed than you implied.

[ "Look up my family," Oria says with a smile. "It'll be a good time," Oria says. At least it isn't news to Michel that the internet is exhausting. ]

[dissimulative]

Surviving to make sure those old guys don't get what they want? Hell yeah, I think that would be worth it.

[ Vindictive, this guy. Oria has fruit juice next to him, because he won't be drinking alcohol. ]

They say "knowledge is power" and that "ignorance is bliss", so surely, it must mean that you were prepared to keep burden of said knowledge.

[ :) ]

[userunfriendly]

[ All well and good for Oria, but Michel is going for the wine. That's a reasonable beach drink, probably. ]

...Ignorance is only bliss if it's possible to stay that way. [ If even then. As far as burdens go, will Michel notice one more? Probably not. ] What do you mean, get what they want?

[dissimulative]

[ Oria won't fight on that, honestly. Live your best online life, Michel. ]

I'm fighting them for the business. I'm not inheriting anything.

[userunfriendly]

[ Live your best life today, by tomorrow someone could be horribly murdered— ]

...Why not? Isn't that what your mother wanted?

[ He's not going to reference those events any more directly than that in public, but. The question remains. ]

[dissimulative]

There's no point in inheriting something so big if you don't know how anything works just to run it to the ground in the first year.

[ That's why. He's gotta be worthy and all that. ]

[userunfriendly]

It's difficult to lose that much money so quickly even if you're truly incompetent.

[ Just look at Georges (affectionate). Michel shrugs slightly in acknowledgment, though. ]

You take it more seriously than I expected.

[dissimulative]

You'd be surprised!

[ Haha.............. Ha.................

Anyway. ]

Is it because I don't seem to be the serious type of person?

[ He grins. Oria is definitely kicking his feet in the air, anticipating Michel's response. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ What's that reaction... does he even want to know the story there. ]

Partially. And partially, that those in a position to have things given to them have a tendency to take them for granted. I would have understood if you resented it as well.

[dissimulative]

[ does he want to take another bite of the forbidden fruit ]

Well, you're right. I did resent it. I used to, but I'm over it now.

[ It sounds Oria really does mean it though. This kid has really strong willpower. ]

Ironically, this position made it so that I can't take anything for granted. I actually have attempts on my life several times a year.

[ He just says that like it's nothing. Yeah. Michel wouldn't have found that bit on the news, because... well, the family company shut them all up. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ It's impressive that Oria can say something like that and honestly sound like he means it. Michel respects that about him...

But that look isn't lasting long on his face when Oria keeps talking. ]

At the very least, can you not say that as if it's normal?!

[dissimulative]

But it is normal. For me.

[ Yeah........................... all the kids are fucked up, Michel. ]

Normalcy is subjective because everyone has their own standards. And this is mine.

[userunfriendly]

No. Acknowledging that it happens is refusing to look away from the reality of your situation. But accepting it as normal — speaking as though it's natural that someone wants you dead is another thing entirely.

[ It might sound like semantics, but he clearly feels pretty strongly about this. What the hell, Oria. Why are rich people like this? ]

[dissimulative]

I can accept a situation as normal and not take it like a bitch. Those two statements are different things. Of course it's natural for people to want to take a literal shot at me. My life is valuable--not even in a sentimental, egotistical, or moral way--it's an objective fact. While it's valuable, it's also a hindrance to some people. That's why they want me gone. They want me out of the competition for money.

[ Then he just sips his grape juice. ]

[userunfriendly]

[ God. It's too early in Michel's day for this. He stares at Oria for a while, not even going for his own drink.

It's logical, yes. He isn't going to be shocked at this point by what people can or will do. But he's surprised, yet again, that he can still feel anger over it. ]

I recognize the hypocrisy of my saying this... but I think you could stand to be more sentimental about it. [ Anyway. ] Fine. Objectively, do you think they'll stop once you officially inherit?

[ And to think, Sinclair had been worried about involving Oria in his troubles. ]

[dissimulative]

I'm not inheriting anything.

[ His pride won't allow anyone to say that it's an inheritance. ]

And it's not really a secret that my family has been against a certain terrorist group for decades, so... probably not, no. I like living though, so don't get me wrong.

[userunfriendly]

[ That's fair enough. He tips his head to the correction in concession. ]

When you take over, then.

[ A whole life lived looking over his shoulder, not by necessity, but by choice... It puts his own difficulties into perspective, at any rate. ]

To be honest... I feel exhausted just thinking about it. Is that really the scale of problem a family takes on?

[ When you have a family like that, maybe so. But it's a relief that at least Oria isn't as cavalier about dying as he sounded for a moment. ]

[dissimulative]

It has to be. It's easier for people to formulate opinions over groups rather than individuals, so they'll look at my family as a whole, and not as who we are as a person separately.

[ He holds out a bbq rib to Michel. At least he isn't stuffing it into his mouth like last time. ]

That's just how people are in general. Of course we want to be the exception individually, but it is what it is.

[ Anyway, that's enough of cynicism regarding human nature. ]

Did you want to ask me anything about what you read though?

[userunfriendly]

[ Well, that part isn't wrong. Michel lets out a sigh of provisional agreement and eyes the bbq. It's really too early in his day for this. But a food offering from Oria feels like a gift with weight, so he reaches out to take it. ]

You're — well, unsurprisingly cynical for your age.

[ That kind of position would do that, wouldn't it? Eighteen is something of a blur to Michel. But he doubts he was much more optimistic. Absentmindedly, he nibbles at the rib. ]

Not about what I've read. [ Is there any use in point-blank asking "were you involved in your ex's death?" ] How did you meet Sinclair?