WINE PARTY EVENT

[selfgodded]

Who: EVERYONE IN HINOTO-RI
Where: The Square in Scorpio Ward
When: Begins 00:00 New Years!
Summary: Anant and his Persona Dionysus throw a wine party! Mingle, have fun, and watch out for the drinks, some of them are spiked...
Warnings: Alcohol, so expect some silliness in this log. All of the silliness.



It began entirely by accident, really.

Anant had learned that one celebrated the turning of the New Year - a novel experience, really! A world that didn't stand still, that had the cycle of night and day, and the turning of the seasons; the thought of beginning time anew was something beautiful and magnificent to the deluded god. No wonder humans would celebrate such an event!

Dionysus had suggested that perhaps wine would be the best thing to toast the New Year with - and, of course, it would be best to celebrate it where the moon was high in the sky and the stars in view. Atmosphere was just as important! Their quest took them to the square in the Scorpio Ward, nicely fixed up from a past event (something about scorpions, they didn't pry). Anant, of course, brought their own table.

Dionysus supplied the wine, Anant pushed it upon those who were passing by at the time, and soon a crowd began to gather. It started small, but Anant's bubbly personality, delicious wine, and the lighthearted atmosphere drew more and more Hinoto-Ri natives to the scene, and eventually, some of the new arrivals. By the time the clock struck midnight, on the New Years, a large impromptu party had taken over the square!

The free alcohol was possibly the cause of it, but so long as everyone was happy and having fun, why should Anant object to such a thing! To observe such a large congregation of people together - it was magical! Fantastical!

Devious.

It was just past half past twelve in the morning when the 'effect's began appearing. But what did one expect, accepting alcohol from the God of Lunacy? With the moon so high on the sky, washing down on the people below, on such a jovial occasion, how couldn't Dionysus splash a bit of mischief in there?

So have fun, my fellow inhabitants. This night will surely be memorable...

[OOC: Sorry for the tl;dr! Alrighty, so everyone can mingle and do as they please in the comments! You do not have to know Anant to log in - you don't even have to interact with them! Just do your own thing and have fun!

For the list of effects that can occur, click here! You can mix and match, stick with one, or not pick any at all if you want!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!]

Comments

[primordial]

Sam hated parties.

They weren't fun, for him. All they were were just big gathering events where people acted strangely and silly and blathered on about nothing in particular.

But still, gathering information from drunk people was very easy, so while Sam hated parties, he loved the fact that he wouldn't have to work hard at all to get people to open up to him. So, with an uncomfortable little smile, he stands by the side, watching the people around him with noted interest.

Persuade the guy to have a drink, maybe?

[ghost_shield]

A familiar face over here has one hand around a column, trying to look casual. Actually, upon looking closer, his feet aren't on the ground. Maybe he's trying to hold onto the column in order to tether himself?

[primordial]

The holding onto a column thing isn't too weird, what with the people falling all over themselves and trying to keep themselves upright in their drunken stupors, but...the feet not being on the ground thing is quite another thing entirely. Sam approaches slowly, giving Nick a confused look as he points down to his feet.

"Um...this might be a very stupid question, and I'm sorry, but are you floating??"

[ghost_shield]

Oh, this guy again. He sure was a guy. Helpful though, at least.

"Ah... yes. I'm not really sure why, but it's been awkward for me all evening as a result," he replies, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly with his free hand.

[primordial]

Sam definitely was a guy, and right now he was a guy very intrigued by what is going on.

"So...you don't usually do stuff like this?" How odd. "Would you float away if you let go?"

[ghost_shield]

He sighs. "Well, I never seem to leave the floor more than a few inches, but I get pushed around by little currents of air, and it's just kind of annoying." He definitely SEEMS irked. "As for whether I usually do this? Not so much. First night, actually."

[primordial]

"Maybe it'll wear off? I mean, maybe somebody put a magic spell on you! Yeah,. I mean...people are drunk enough to do that around here, casting spells on people without thinking."

He scratches the back of his head as he thinks. "And when did you notice this happening, if you don't mind me asking?"

[ghost_shield]

He drums his fingers on the column. "I guess that's a possibility. Seems more likely than the wine causing it, doesn't it?" He pauses. "Although I should probably look into exactly who the host's Persona is mythologically before I come to that conclusion."

He sighs a bit. "Maybe about five minutes after my first glass of wine. It was pretty unnerving."

[primordial]

"The host? Oh, you...you think he might have something to do with it?" He strokes his chin slightly. "He might be doing stuff like this to everybody for his own fun. Though, why does it matter what mythology his Persona comes from? Does it matter?"

"And was anyone near you who you suspect you might have done something like this to you?"

[ghost_shield]

"Well, that's just it. I think he said its name was Dionysus, but I'd have to do some research on that. I'm not exactly the best read on mythology." He sighs. "You got so many people passing through where I came from that it wasn't practical to learn every single culture's stories unless you were specifically in that line of work."

He frowns. "Did this to me...? I don't think I've annoyed anybody. I guess it could be a prank or something, but I don't really recall anybody getting close enough to me for that."

[primordial]

"Oh, oh, Dionysus, I know that name!" For the first time that evening, something in Sam's usually dark eyes seems to flicker, making him look actually marginally excited that he knows the answer to this. "That's the Greek god of...um, wine making and partying and ecstasy, if I remember correctly. And that sounds like a complicated job...what was it again, exactly?"

He taps his chin in thought. "Then I guess we're back to the wine. Maybe somebody poisoned it, but with...well, magic stuff instead of actual poison."

[ghost_shield]

Nick groans, facepalming lightly. "Yeah, that'd explain some of the wine things, at least. Remind me never to go to a 'wine party' hosted by this guy again." He sighs. "Spiked with magic. THAT'S a new one."

He looks apologetic. "Oh, I guess I never said to you, huh? Normally I'm a medium when I'm not delivering books. I moonlight as a paranoramal investigator too, since the two kind of go hand in hand. I specialize mostly in negotiating with spirits."

[primordial]

"Hey, I mean...we're in a place where creatures come from our brains and fight demons, so spiking things with magic isn't too far out, is it?"

He'd really have to look into it if this magic spiking was true, this was quite an interesting little effect he could take advantage of.

"Paranormal investigator...and negotiating with spirits? That must be a really scary job! And what do you do, just help them pass on? What kinds of spirits do you converse with?"

[selfgodded]

Well, this is where Anant comes in! Having harried almost everyone there to have a drink, it is now Sam's turn to be accosted by a very drunk and manic god.

"Hello, hello, hello~" Anant chirped, appearing quite suddenly by Sam's elbow and brandishing about a cup of wine. The dark red liquid sloshed about messily, spilling over the edges and dripping all over the floor. Poor Anant had already lost their coat, revealing the very awkwardly androgynous body beneath. "I see you are not drinking - why not? Here, you can have mine-!"

[primordial]

"Oh, um, no, t-that's..."

Sam stammers, waving his hands back and forth as he glances at the wine glass in Anant's hand, stepping back so it does go and spill on him. Well, looked like someone was having fun. Time to ask a few questions, just to see how much of a state he was really in.

"I'm not really a drinker, I'm not, I mean...what happened to your coat? Aren't you cold?"

[selfgodded]

"Coat? Oh - not really," Anant said flippantly, pausing their wild movements to gently swirl the wine, peering down into it. "Did you know that alcohol widens the blood vessels close to the skin, allowing one to feel warm in cold conditions? Of course this is not particularly wise to do considering that it leaves the internal organs with less heat but I still find it fascinating..."

They looked back up and thrust the wine back at Sam. "So! Therefore! You should have some wine if you feel cold! The temperature is not such to cause hypothermia if the internal organs are not properly warmed!"

[primordial]

"Still, it sounds dangerous, and...I-I'm fine on the cold thing."

No, really, he was. His own body temperature had fallen quite drastically, after, well, that incident, so bearing the cold wasn't even noticable enough to be an annoyance.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay? I mean, I wouldn't know where to take you if you did let the cold get to you."

[selfgodded]

"I will be fine," Anant laughed, the noise coming out stilted as per the norm. "But, I am touched that you worry about me so! A complete and total stranger, and whose health you- oh wait, I know you!"

They pointed abruptly at Sam. "Yes! Yes you...are familiar..."

[primordial]

Sam just shakes his head slightly. Honestly, if Anant went out right now and froze to death on the street, good for him. He just doesn't want to be responsible for dragging around a dead body, that's all.

"Um, yes, I think we talked once...Anant, right? The one trying to get his own cult?"

[selfgodded]

"Yes, well, no longer a cult. I have come to the conclusion that people do not need one here," Anant said dismissively, waving his cup of wine about enthusiastically. "They are - how to say... they do not need something to believe in, like a deity, but only in whatever they find here! Of course, it is probably because the government is something like their god, they look up to it, expect it to defend them, to help them... hm, hahaha...that's funny though..."

Anant's chuckle was somewhat...disturbing then. Low and dark. Their voice became chipper and bright quickly enough though.

"But yes, I remember now, I remember. Sam. Sammy. Samantha? Or is that purely a feminine name? Samuel is the male, right, yes..."

[primordial]

Sam stares. Ah, that...that little chuckle, that was interesting. As he outwardly looks vaguely confused, he takes that little tidbit and files it away in the back of his mind for further review in the future.

"B-but the government is anything but religious, right?"

And he frowns at that next part, shaking his head. "No, just Sam. That's my name. No Samuel or anything like that..."

[selfgodded]

"Government can be a form of religion," Anant said, "There are laws to follow - do not murder, do not steal, respect your fellow man - and there are devotees to the government. Almost slavish, almost fanatical."

Their head tilted to the side slightly. "What is the difference, really. People expect the government to have the miraculous power to fix everything that is wrong, and when they inevitably fail to meet expectations, become restless out of resentment and disappointment. Revolutions happen, a new government is set up, and the cycle repeats."

They laughed. "I sound cynical over this, but it is merely an observations. Humans are incredibly flighty, aren't they?"

[primordial]

"I guess that's true, but..." And there's a pause, and Sam's gaze darkens. "I think that companies can also be a sort of religion, too, you know? The whole selling of products and making people addicted to what they make. I mean, if you're looking for cults, just look there. Government just does stuff for itself, I don't think it cares much if there are devotees or not. If anyone speaks against them, they just send in the right guy to get rid of them for good. But companies...they need people to follow them."

He lets out a slight laugh. "Sorry, I digress...but either way, everything is cyclical in a way, isn't it? Things happen again and again all the time." He laughs again, though there's no happiness in his face. Just...apathy, really. "And yes, humans are..."

[selfgodded]

"Yes, you understand. Religion is not the sole cult that ensnares humans. While they are independent, and thrash against confinement, they are also like sheep, and crave to be controlled and led. Paradoxical. Always so."

Anant was swirling the wine in their cup, looking down in it thoughtfully. "They like to cast responsibility onto someone else, actually. So that if things do not go their way, they have someone to throw their anger and blame at. 'It was them! They did not try hard enough! They failed their duties!' And ad nauseum. Government, companies, religion or god..."

[primordial]

"You sure do like your paradoxes, huh?"

And he shrugs at that next part, though his gaze darkens. Oh, he knows that feeling very well. "What can I say? It's easy. They want to see themselves as perfect and others as the monsters. It's just what they do."