Heavenly Blanc Void Party

[starshower]

🥂 HEAVENLY BLANC VOID PARTY 🥂 Who: Everyone! What: Heavenly Blanc mingle and info exchange Where: The Heavenly Blanc Bar and Café When: "August 1"; but really, what is time Content Warnings: N/A Maybe you heard through word of mouth, or got an invite from the barista and barkeep directly, or spotted the handwritten paper invites hung up around the area, but there is a gathering happening at the Heavenly Blanc Bar and Café TODAY! So feel free to stop by, hang out, have some drinks, and share some stories. 🍺 DRINKS: Coffee will be served by Ren, and Tifa will be handling the other drinks. There's a wide variety behind the bar, ranging from alcoholic to the non-alcoholic, with delicious cocktails (yes, including virgin ones for the minors) to pick from. And before you ask - no, if you are underage, you may not have alcohol. Tifa will be very strict about it, and anyone who tries to bypass her imposed law will be subject to room temperature tapwater for the rest of the party. 🎲 GAMES: Various boardgames that came along with Le Blanc will be made available for all to play, including a Shogi board for the strategically inclined (and whoever knows how the heck to play it). Along the side wall are two pinball machines, and while they don't light up and make sounds, the mechanisms inside them still work, so they aren't completely out of the picture! Next to them, between the jukebox and the door is a dart board. Please do be mindful when throwing darts, as the light filtering into the bar through the front windows is very minimal. 🤔 INFORMATION EXCHANGE: The important part! When all are gathered inside the bar, Tifa and Ren will make a small announcement for everyone: "Now that we've all had the chance to take a look around and get our bearings, I wanna encourage everyone to exchange what you know, or what you've found. Even share it with the rest of us! Locations, ideas, theories - anything that could be useful in helping us all figure this out. We all come from different worlds, but we're stuck here, so we're in this together until we're not, yeah? Let's make friends and play nice, and most importantly, have fun today! Oh, and if you're coming and going, make sure to close the door nice and tight behind you." "It's nice to see everyone. Since we're stuck here together, let's cooperate well." ☕ OOC NOTES ☕ This is the open mingle post for the Heavenly Blanc void party! Please feel free to top-level and tag around. There is a top-level included here for you to post OOC notes of what their characters have discussed on the log, as well as their own thoughts about the world. If there is anything important that people should know, please reply to the top-level with the information, so that it's easy to find for everyone. General info posts about what your character will be talking about are fine as well. Just please try to avoid multiple edits if you can as you thread if you are going that route! for the sake of my dw inbox... Because this is an info exchange/mingle post, we encourage thread-jacking. However, we know that not everyone is into that kind of thing, so if you are okay with others hopping into your threads, please be sure to indicate it in your top-level. Questions about the log can be directed to the ooc post. Have fun!

Comments

A week late with Starbucks (Open, thread my jacks, etc)

[symbolofstrength]

Drinks

Samuel hasn't eaten or drunk anything since he got here, having not felt hunger or thirst, and this party is no exception. If they eat or drink without needing to, and end up running out by the time they do actually need to eat or drink, then where will they be? Not to mention the idea of where it actually goes -- has anyone had to use the bathroom since coming here?

Still, he can be seen occasionally giving longing glances at the mocktails the younger ones might have around him. No, he's trying to conserve resources, he doesn't want a Roy Rogers, shut up!

Games

He does give the Shogi board a lookover, before shaking his head. Nope, never seen this before and have no idea how to play it. That's what happens when the English dubbers try to scrub all the Japanese culture they can out of your anime.

"If only we had a deck of cards or something," he sighs, before turning to the pinball machines. These are close enough to a video game that he can figure them out, and it turns out, even in the dark, even with only using the flippers and not knowing that he can nudge the table to alter the ball's path... he's actually pretty good? No way to count points or anything, but it's a long while between lost balls. Flying Fingers Sammy strikes again!

Sketches

Samuel has his notebook out on the table in front of him, open for anyone to come and flip through and ask questions about his sketches. Without cameras, drawings are really the only way of recording visual information they have.

Alternatively, he might be working on a new one, looking at the nearest obvious non-human while he works without even bothering to hide what he's doing. If they seem amenable to it, he might even ask them to step outside so he can get better light.

Wildcard

((Come at me with something else? He's used to hosting parties not attending them okay.))

Games

[blue_eyed_obsession]

"I'm going to assume you mean a deck of playing cards... " Kaiba answered as a reflex, since he did actually have his duel monsters deck on his person, and let's face it- no one was going to allowed to touch it or the cards it contained. "It wouldn't be hard to make one with enough material."

Then he looked towards the source of the voice, wondering why it was vaguely familiar.

"Oh, it's you. Guess you didn't end up getting completely mauled by your lofty ideals afterall."

[symbolofstrength]

Well, even Kaiba's cards are playing cards -- cards used to play a game. But yes, he means a standard 52-card deck (54 with jokers) with 4 suits and all that. If they had two decks, they could play Canasta! All old people like Canasta, it is the law.

"I wouldn't call them 'lofty ideals'," Sam protests. "I've lived for half a century and they haven't gotten me killed so far." Congrats, Kaiba, now you know how old Professor Oak is! But not his name.

"But yes, I got that bite treated." Holding out his bandaged arm. "It's good to see you're alright too...." This is where he would address Kaiba by name if knew it, but they never exchanged names. "I don't think I ever got your name."

[blue_eyed_obsession]

Look- do you think duel monsters is just a game? Most people do there, Kaiba. It's not only a game, it's an immersive experience that tests the limits of a person's strategic abilities and it's also highly collectible. Unlike the standard 52. That being said- they could use one of those. Sure. Only one, to dash those dreams of canasta.

Excuse him while he suppresses an eyeroll. "Still seems as if the risk outweighed the reward." It's not as if the old man had gained the undying loyalty of the monster in question.

Looking briefly to the other's arm, he didn't offer further commentary. "Spare me your fabricated concern for my well-being." This guy had no reason to care whether he lived or died (Oak could just be a decent human being- but the skepticism as always was high). "It's Seto Kaiba, I'm the CEO of a major corporation, and an elite duelist". An elitist when you get right down to it. "You?"

[symbolofstrength]

Doesn't 'collectible' just mean 'pay to win' in the end, though? With the usual correlation between rarity and power. At least with the standard 52, everyone starts out on equal footing and it's solely based on skill (and a bit of luck). Unless duel monsters has a draft format?

"Oh, I don't mind. I've gotten worse from the Pokemon I work with." He does frown and cross his arms (at least his bite has healed enough that he can use that arm normally without pain, as long as he doesn't do anything too strenuous with it) at the word 'fabricated', but doesn't comment on it. He's not going to spare him basic decency, though, sorry Kaiba.

"Professor Samuel Oak. I study Pokemon." At least he doesn't offer a hand to shake, which might relieve him.

[blue_eyed_obsession]

Why is this a problem in any way? COUGH. For as much as Kaiba enjoyed a challenge he was also the sort of person that liked having the financial upper hand. As for rarity- he was in possession of the only three blue-eyes white dragons that were in playable condition and he preferred it that way (hence having destroyed the 4th Blue-eyes). He'd rather not have his own tactics used against him. Besides, it could be argued that someone like Yugi who did not have the same advantages still managed to pull together a formidable deck. He by no means had the same resources available to him. Let's not talk about Wheeler, who was by far the least financially secure of the three and a loser.... I mean- why would you want someone like Wheeler being able to afford whatever? Really?

"..." More of this Pokémon nonsense. With so many people proclaiming the creatures were real it was getting harder to assume it to be some kind of mass delirium. There had to be some explanation for it since he wasn't going to start believing any time soon.

"That explains the coat," and not much else. How can you build a career around fictional monsters? Er- excluding himself of course, which made total sense. "So you're under the same delusion as many of the others.."

[symbolofstrength]

Well, it's a little thing called 'fair play', Kaiba. Ever heard of it?

"Delusion?" He shakes his head, with almost a pitying smile. "Didn't you hear? We all come from different worlds. Pokemon might not exist in your world, but that doesn't mean they're a delusion. I'd show you mine, but Pokeballs aren't working right now." Not that showing him would help much; he must have seen the Pokemon of the others by now, and another Dragonite wouldn't do anything more to convince him than the first one did.

Sketches

[koopacrusher]

Bowser's gotten used to people not knowing who or what he is. He's even been willing to answer questions about what Koopas were. Such questions gave him a chance to brag about his powers, his titles, and his accomplishments.

But the fact that Oak has simply begun taking notes on, or perhaps even sketching Bowser without asking bothers him. So he decides to object, growling the words, "could you not?"

Re: Sketches

[symbolofstrength]

That startles Sam into dropping his pen, as he hastens to put his hands up to show he means no harm. Then he puts his notebook back down on the table, leaning down to the floor to pick it up.

"Sorry," he offers once he comes back up. "I'm just doing science."

[koopacrusher]

"Science? Is that what you do? You're some kind of scientist?" Bowser's now more curious than upset. He considers for a moment, then asks, "you got any kind of answers for... this? The void? Everyone showing up in this dimension? Anything?"

[symbolofstrength]

"Is it not obvious?" He laughs gently, gesturing at his labcoat. But maybe he's from somewhere where labcoats aren't a thing, so he doesn't understand the significance? At his question, though, he grows thoughtfully quiet, gently shaking his head.

"Pokemon are my specialty, so I don't have any more answers than anyone else. While it's true that a Pokemon of sufficient power would be capable of this -- either bringing people to a new world, or creating an illusion of a new world -- I don't think they're involved, since so many people here aren't familiar with Pokemon."

[koopacrusher]

The man is dressed like a scientist, Bowser must admit. "You study Pokémon...? Bah. Am I the only one here who didn't know what Pokémon are before I got here?"

However, Bowser decides, if anyone can give him answers about what Pokémon are, it should be this guy. "I've been hearing a lot about these 'Pokémon' things since I got here. A lot of people have been asking me if I am one. Maybe you can give me the best answer: what is a Pokémon?"

[symbolofstrength]

"Pokemon are just what we call the wildlife of my world. I've seen other people use terms like 'animals', 'monsters', or 'creatures' to mean basically the same thing." Yep, that's all it is. Of course Pokemon are a little different than animals, but that's the basic gist.

sketches!

[rotomphone]

Raihan, with a bit of drink in him, had also tried some sketches of his own on the bar's white board. He's definitely no artist (and on the advice of better judgement, had made adjustments to his more phallic interpretations), but they had mostly been done to give a visual so that some potential names for these creatures could be posed. Upon being informed that there was someone here who might be more qualified for the job, Raihan wanted to make sure he'd take the time to seek him out. Though he doesn't know much about the Kantonian professor, the man was more or less a household name thanks to his involvement in the creation of the Pokédex. It's like meeting a living legend, and Raihan will make sure he's composed for such a meeting.

"Professor!"

With a confident smile, Raihan calls out with his approach. Duraludon shuffles next to him, ever-vigilant.

"I don't mean to interrupt, but I wanted to introduce myself," he starts, holding out a gloved hand to offer for a shake. "My name's Raihan; I'm a Gym Leader in the Galar region."

[symbolofstrength]

Looking down at his hand, Sam slowly, reluctantly reaches out to take it, letting go as soon as he can and still be polite. Nothing personal, he just doesn't enjoy touching strangers that much. Doesn't anyone around here bow?

It's also nothing personal that he's obviously more excited to see the Pokemon than the trainer, eyes shining like a schoolboy's. Oh, right, he said something, didn't he?

"Thank you, I'm not too familiar with the Galar region. And I suppose you already know who I am, so there's no need for me to introduce myself, is there?" He addressed him as 'Professor', so unless that was a lucky guess based on his clothes....

[rotomphone]

Gotta love those cultural differences, right? Bowing definitely isn't in the Galarian lexicon, but a nice, firm handshake sure is, so that's what Oak is getting as a sign of respect. Though he's used to fans fawning over him upon first meeting, Duraludon often gets attention of his own, so he definitely doesn't take offense to it.

"No worries! I wouldn't expect you to, what with how far away we are," he replies, his hands return casually to his hoodie pockets. "I just figured I'd make myself known, seeing as we're more or less from the same place."

There doesn't seem to be too many Pokémon-inclined people around here, so getting to know each other, regardless of their regional origins, seems like the smart thing to do. And if being colleagues with people like Opal and Kabu has taught him anything, it's that he should respect his elders.

"And this is my partner, Duraludon!" He gestures with a nod of his head, which prompts the Pokémon to give a nod in greeting - more polite than his Trainer, as far as bowing is concerned!

[symbolofstrength]

"I wonder about that," he ponders, in response to 'coming from the same place'. "Have the others," here he means the other Pokemon folks, "told you about me coming from a parallel universe?" So does Raihan come from their universe, his own, or a third one altogether?

The 'not comfortable touching strangers' thing definitely doesn't apply to Pokemon, and he offers Duraludon his hand, and pets if it's comfortable with them.

[rotomphone]

"Woah, hold on. 'Parallel universe'?"

From the way that his eyes widen, he has been told no such thing. It might not be the weirdest thing that he's heard today, but it takes him by surprise all the same. "Not that I don't believe you or anything, but how do you figure that?"

That is, how can he be so sure? While Raihan ponders that, Duraludon is going to gladly go into that offered hand to prompt the professor for some headpats. His metal body is smooth and cool to the touch, and the soft rumble he lets out says plenty about how much he likes the contact.

[symbolofstrength]

"Well, they all claim to know me, but I've never spoken to any of them before. But the biggest thing is that in my world, my grandson is named Gary, not Blue, and he's a lot younger."

He's petted Steel-types before, so it's nothing new to him as he continues to pet Duraludon as he talks. Honestly, the only Pokemon he hasn't pet are the ones that are literally impossible to pet, and most of the Legendaries. (But only most of them. He's pet a Celebi.)

drinks!!

[thunderwave]

[ and, lo and behold, lance appears with what appears to be a bourbon on the rocks, sliding it toward sam with something of a warm smile. lance has a matching drink in his other hand, which seems to be mostly untouched. ]

Something tells me we'll need this, as the teenagers are drinking.

[ as he leans against the table, glancing toward the mingling group of people . . . and blue, truthfully, who has decided to bartend this evening. and without much more hesitation, he continues: ]

I wanted to apologize, for our initial meeting.

[ and he tilts his head toward the set of drinks. ]

So perhaps we could get to know one another without such assumptions, if that is alright with you.

[symbolofstrength]

"Well, all of our other biological processes aren't functioning the way they normally do. So maybe we can't get drunk, either." He gives a careful sniff at the offered drink, recoiling at the smell. Out of politeness, he takes the tiniest of sips anyway, making even more of a face before passing it back to Lance.

"It's not for me, sorry." Now he really will need something else to drink, just to get the taste out of his mouth.

"So starting over, basically? That's fine with me." Perhaps not from the very beginning, as they've already introduced themselves, but close enough.

[thunderwave]

[ ah, well. an attempt was made. and lance sets the undrunk bourbon on the edge of the table for someone else to grab, if they want it. ]

Starting over sounds good.

[ as he turns to look at the mingling crowd of people. ]

And I'm actually not sure . . . judging by the behavior of some of these kids, I think being drunk is possible. Or maybe it's just a placebo effect.

[halloflamer]

[Speak of the devil (Impidimp?), it's hardly a few moments before Blue, with his tray of drink glasses, swings by the table and casually sweeps the rejected drink back up from the table's edge, hurrying away with a brief, friendly and well-behaved wave towards both Oak and Lance.]

[That drink didn't last long. Don't worry.]

[symbolofstrength]

"Let's hope for placebo effect. I don't want anyone passing out or getting sick." HE SEES YOU THERE, BLUE. All those drinks on that tray had better not have been for you, that's way too much!

"So... is there any particular subject you wanted to talk about?"

[thunderwave]

[ lance offers a slight wave in return to blue, as he makes his way . . . though he, too, notices those drinks. he makes a mental note to check on blue, later. ]

Oh, I don't know.

[ amicably enough, as he glances back toward sam. ]

Should we start with favorite colors?

[ -- he's joking, slightly, but as lance says it, he realizes he doesn't know what his version of oak's favorite color is. ]