Party Like It's Your Birthday [OPEN!] [Mingle-friendly]

[niepokonany]

Who: Feliks and anyone and everyone!
What: Big fancy noble birthday party!
When: November 11th
Where: The Łukasiewicz family estate in Union
Summary: Missing Boyfriend Quest kept Feliks from fulfilling his social duties, so for his birthday, his grandparents are shoving him back into noble society! But that's boring, so Feliks invited the ill-bred masses to come and make his birthday party actually fun.





It's been a long time since Feliks put in much of an appearance at any kind of noble function. When was the last time? Lux's birthday, maybe? Ages ago.

Now that his main reason for being away all the time is gone, though, his grandparents made it pretty immediately clear that he isn't going to get out of his social obligations forever. And what better opportunity than his birthday to throw a party and get him back into the whole noble thing? It's sort of like they're trying to re-debut him to Polite Society or something, he thinks.

Of course, Feliks doesn't care much for Polite Society, as much as he cares for his noble friends, so he's taken the liberty of inviting everyone else to come and keep him entertained. More guests mean more presents anyway, right?

The Łukasiewicz family might not be quite as prominent as some of the bigger, richer noble families, but they rather famously never do anything by halves. Every cobweb has been cleared out of the old ancestral residence that his grandparents stay in, every inch of marble and gold and mahogany in the place polished to a brilliant shine. Flickering candles and glittering overhead chandeliers light the entirety of the estate with a warm glow, from the elaborate ballroom down to the quieter sitting rooms and balconies, and there are lush floral arrangements everywhere, set into vases or twined around pillars and draped over doorways. A large orchestra is set up in the ballroom (which is left otherwise rather open to encourage people to dance), where they're alternating familiar dance tunes with a surprising number of adapted songs from Calderan and Citadel music, even one or two from as far off as Sanctuary or Glacier. Wherever people aren't dancing, a number of humanoid Pokemon in snazzy little butler outfits are wandering around with trays of drinks and fancy little hors d'oeuvres, offering them to anyone who looks thirsty, hungry, or in need of something to do with their hands. (The Gardevoirs are particularly adept at singling out people who need something.) A Blissey at the door (his grandfather's, Feliks thinks?) seems to be in charge of greeting everyone and taking their coats for them.

The guest of honor is dressed relatively conservatively (for him) this evening -- though for Feliks, all that means is that he felt more like wearing pants than a skirt this time. He is still wearing a wine-red tailcoat over a ruffly cream-colored shirt and a gold brocade waistcoat, with gold trim on his tight brown breeches and knee-length boots that have a bit more heel than is strictly considered normal for a man. (What good is "normal" anyway, right?) There are moments when he looks a little overwhelmed by all the people, but with several good friends in attendance, he's able to largely keep it together and enjoy himself, mingling with his friends and dancing with anyone who so much as stands close enough to the dance floor to get dragged in.

[[OOC: Going to put up a couple of headers for different areas of the party; feel free to use this as a mingle post and interact with each other!]]

Comments

[copperpiercing]

...Mm. I see what you mean.

[They tried to bring everyone together. Cities that hadn't known the other exists now worked with these newcomers. They kept adding them to their circle of allies.]

[But, a small voice in the back of her head whispers that it's too good to be true.]

Seems like they're as good a people as any to throw in with, then.

[untalented]

That's my opinion too-- and the reason why I stayed here instead of Caldera.

[Even though Sanctuary and Caldera shared an ancient alliance, he found the people of the desert city to be too wild for his sensibilities. Union, however, was an excellent place for an academic to set down a foundation for all sorts of research that may be of interest down the line.]

[copperpiercing]

[Vin nods. She can handle wild. It's not her speed, but... she can keep up. But, the attitude here is... it's nice enough. Different than Sanctuary, to be sure. She appreciates that.]

I haven't been to Caldera yet. I should see it sometime.

[untalented]

Go prepared for half naked men and extremely spicy food, [Waver warned, flatly.]

That said, they're everything you'd expect them to be.

[copperpiercing]

...Everything you'd expect of a place with extremely spicy food and half naked men?

[It feels easy enough for her to imagine.]

[untalented]

Yeah. You're asking as if there's something else to expect.

[Because sure, there was a desert, a volcano, and relentless heat.....but most people didn't travel to Caldera for the landscape. They travelled there for the fighting-types, the spicy food, and the half naked men.]

[copperpiercing]

I don't know. It's a little comforting to think the city is that straightforward. It's not for me, though.

[Actually, maybe Vin would be okay with some all of those things.]

Maybe I'll go look sometime.

[untalented]

[Not as straightforward? What a curious word choice...

Eh, well. It was their first meeting-- and none of his business.]

I'd recommend it. The curry there is better than anything here, even if the desert sands are uncomfortably hot.

[copperpiercing]

Curry, huh? Does it have meat? I can't... quite get used to Unionite food.

[She wants some meat, dammit. She likes meat; it was a treat.]

[untalented]

Of course they do. Anyone who's tried a proper curry knows that you need a good meat base for it!

[Meat indeed was a treat-- these people in Union just didn't understand the joys of a properly made shepherd's pie!]

[copperpiercing]

[Vin smiles, pleased. Yes. Finally. Someone who gets it.]

Exactly. You can't get by without it.

[untalented]

I don't get how Union got by for so long on a diet of vegetables alone. There's nothing like a good fish pie on a cold night, and a proper curry needs everything from a properly cut baby mareep to the spice blends Caldera is famous for.

[He shrugged.]

Even now that Union is starting to understand this sort of diet a little more, they still just don't quite get it.

[copperpiercing]

People don't like change, I think.

[She shrugs, but... then she sighs.] Even when change is delicious. It's a shame. Hopefully they'll get it, eventually.

[untalented]

I think they're starting to? But they're not doing a very good job of it.

[He sighed as well, lamenting the loss of his heavy starches, juicy meats, and strong black teas for the duration of his stay in Union.]

We'll just need to go to Caldera to get our fill. Sanctuary and Citadel are still too far for a day trip on foot.

[copperpiercing]

Yeah. Not everyone can fly.

[She can, but she won't boast. Besides, her method of flying takes some... focus. She's getting the hang of moving between cities, still.]

[...but it sounds good.]

Now I want a good Skiddo steak.

[untalented]

Same, [he admitted, not at all ashamed of his tastebuds.] With a ton of potatoes and some brown gravy, like my grandma used to make.

[copperpiercing]

Mm-hmm. Or one of the ones the street vendors had.

[That she used to snatch. Those were the days!]

[untalented]

[The very same ones he would dig through every known crevice to collect the coin for, and would saver on the cold nights when the winds blew in from the north.]

They say that the great cause of divide among people is food-- people judge others based on what they eat, and it's more comfortable sharing a meal with someone who eats the same as you.

Union's open minded....but some things you don't forget too easily.

[copperpiercing]

Yeah... it's like clothes. Or the places you go. But... it's easier to appreciate meat, when you knew it was rare. In a way some people never could appreciate it, I think.

It... wasn't like that here.

[It's a nice thought. But it also makes Vin jealous.]

[untalented]

Union's always lived up to it's name-- that is, everyone being together and working together. Sure, there's a wealthy class...but it's not like people have been left wanting.

You're right. It is different. But...I don't think I can go back home after being here for a few months.

[copperpiercing]

Mm...

[She can't say the same, but she hasn't been here so long. But it's hard to imagine a place not letting her down eventually. Everything -- everyone -- leaves her behind, eventually. The thought is nice, though.]

[And dangerous.]

You're also from Sanctuary. [It's not a question. The cuisine gave it away; the talk confirmed it.] I can see why. There isn't a lot there for most people.

[untalented]

Especially if you're from outside the towers.

[He sighed, not bothering to confirm or deny her question. Waver had suspected the same thing himself; there was a certain cadence to her words that reminded him of the back alley ways and the busy markets of Sanctuary. The conversation and final question had only confirmed his suspicions.]

But it's not like I've got anyone waiting for me either. Some of the other people who passed through here did, and there's something about knowing a warm fire waits for you that keeps people going back home.

[A shrug. He had no sense of shame about his personal circumstances. A kid born with the powers inherent of a Magus to a family of poor Sorcerors didn't have the chance to amount to much, especially if that kid came from the wrong side of town.]

I like it here. And, right now, that's good enough reason to stay.

[copperpiercing]

[Vin hesitates, but she nods. That's the truth: the towers were different. The Mages there had good lives; the Sorcerers there had... well, they were better lives than the people on the streets had, whatever they were. She looks down for a moment, and then she looks down.]

[Someone waiting for her. She can't imagine. The only one would be her brother, and he... left. He's gone, now. Vin's lips purse as she looks down at the ground, before she looks up.]

It's a good enough reason. You've met people you care about here?

[There's more she thinks. She almost says it; she doesn't quite trust that. How can someone be sure they really care?]

[untalented]

[The question took him by surprise, and the sentiment was clear on Waver's face in the moment as he thought over the connections he had made since he travelled to Union. While they were still few in number compared to many people, he had indeed met some that he didn't want to live without.

His expression turned to one that was more embarrassed, and almost cute.]

Would I be here at this party tonight if I hadn't?

[copperpiercing]

...You wouldn't.

[It's pretty simple. Or maybe it's not, because she doesn't really know anyone that well yet. But, given time, she can come to know them better. Given time, she...]

[Maybe it'll be the same, some day.]

It's good that you can find people like that here.