Waking the Dead 2.0 || August 9, 2063 || Tuesday

[kalikat]

[Dinner is served late in the mess hall because it's a grand banquet in honor of the Magistrate of Kibo. It's a pretty modest celebration, all things considered: the people at Kibo are invited, along with her family, any Searing Wind members who feel like dropping in from wherever they've been as of late, and a few friends among the other Keepers of the Vigil. That's about it.

Still, Kalika looks like she's having fun. Her husband and her children are, of course, all in attendance, together with her husband's familiars and the entire division of the Strays from Seigi. The food, mind you, is excellent, and there is more than enough booze.

You're welcome to come and go as you please. Kalika's easy like that.]


OOC Notes:
+ Will have some threads for NPCs of note, but just to give you a general idea: many members of the three blades are in attendance, along with pretty much anyone whom Kalika views as family. If you want to request for somebody, lemme know!
+ Debby and Noey: feel free to put your NPCs in here. =w=
+ Feel free to start your own threads too. Just specify if it's open to all, or if you're going to thread something out with a particular PC.

Comments

Open to all!

[bladeweaver]

[This one can be found not!snuggling up to Sabina, after having done the round of socializing he likes to call his Dead Man's Rounds. That's as opposed to his Batman Rounds, but no one except Sabina knows that's what he calls them, so far. And, no, she wasn't as amused by his wit as he himself was.

Bug him anytime, he'll probably only be very slightly buzzed because he is being policed. Violently.]

[renascens]

[ Batman Rounds, eh? This one will most definitely get that reference -- and he won't rib you for it either.

As it is though, it's kind of a rare thing to see Renae Montelibano-Profaci actually without his Electronic Wife, but hey, it's his Aunt Kalika's birthday, the three blades are in attendance and yeah, he might be randomly checking his watch because Someone Is Not Here Yet.

His sister gives new meaning to "Take Your Sweet Time".

He's not unapproachable, just... quiet. And usually leaning in some far corner discreetly watching the proceedings. ]

[bladeweaver]

[Fortunately, this far corner is relatively close to where Taning and Sabina are. Taning excuses himself for a moment from her, and approaches Renae, who, he belatedly realized, is his Netsach boss. It seems... appropriate, to introduce himself.]

Good evening, sir, and sorry if I'm bothering you. I'm Taning Marasigan, of the War Hounds. You are my boss in Netsach; I'm sorry if I haven't been around as often as is probably proper. But, well, with the whole enforced break and everything, you can use me for whatever you see fit.

[renascens]

[ What an introduction.

And yes, that earns you one of this one's rare smiles and an offered hand by way of introduction. ]

Renae Montelibano-Profaci. Good to meet you, Taning. [ You'll note that his grip is firm, steady. ] I'd say don't worry about not dropping in, but I gotta say that having one more mage check in is something I'd actually like.

[ He's also going to talk right into your head.

( Want to go get some fresh air? I uh, noticed that your partner's been watching your booze intake like a hawk all evening. )

Taking a sip at that. ]

[bladeweaver]

[Taning blinks twice, at that. Then his face slowly breaks into his familiar (to those who know him, anyway) goofy smile.

He's gonna like this boss.

(I make it a point to take my superiors' advice, sir. Lead on!)

He heads over to Sabina and mumbles through some things like "work" and "boss over there" and "introducing myself", and is then off.]

[renascens]

[ And he's going to note that, chuckle and then cant his head in the direction of one of the doors which he steps through.

He's got three beers in one hand, other than the one he's already drinking. ]

Here you go.

[ He's going to sit down in one of those empty benches now. You are very welcome to join him -- he'll even insist. ]

[bladeweaver]

[He takes that with a grateful smile.]

Thanks, boss.

[Oh, what the heck: he'll join you on that bench.]

[renascens]

[ He's going to hide that smile of his by bowing his head as he fishes out his cigarettes. ]

Want one? [ You'll probably note the familiar logo of his pack. He was watching you earlier after all, while you were speaking with his mother. ]

[bladeweaver]

[Is it just him, or can you really not people very well?

His smile widens a little bit at that thought. It's always nice to make new friends. Maybe.

He'll take that cigarette as well.]

Thank you. Ma'am Cisco offered me one just like this, just a bit ago. I forgot to ask her where one gets these.

[Lighting that up and taking a luxuriant drag. It's good shit, man.]

[renascens]

[ Chuckling at that before he finally relaxes against that seat. ]

You can bug her about it, or ask my dad.

[ Very good shit. He's taking a long drag himself, because mmmm cigarettes.

Actually, since he needs to build rapport anyway. Here: tossing you a pack now. ]

You should be able to pick them up at any of the groceries that specialize in organic stuff.

[bladeweaver]

[Catches that, and bemusedly flipping the box open, taking a cig, and smoking it.]

Thanks, boss. And that's good to hear. I thought they needed... extra effort, to acquire. Not that it should be a problem for a Mortician, but well...

[renascens]

Mortician, eh? [ He didn't peg you the type. Then again... that's saying something in itself. ]

So. I'll be upfront. [ Taking another leisurely drag now. ] You're a mage -- forces, if I read your file right. Got any inclinations towards weapons modifications?

[shuryoinai]

[And the first thing Makoto did as soon as Josh arrived was promptly separate himself from his ride. He's still angry: go figure.

Thankfully, Hikaru had picked up on his presence immediately and had been generous enough to let him materialize for the evening. The better to enjoy himself and try to chill the fuck out, right?

Hence, after greeting several people of choice and having a round with the Brands, he's approaching Taning. Seems like he's the best person to talk to right now, among the Hounds.]

You look good with your woman.

[bladeweaver]

[It is no surprise to see Makoto approaching him; the surprise, though, is in the fact that he is approaching him, of all people. Taning had excused himself briefly from Sabina to talk to Renae, and was walking back to her when he saw Makoto, so he paused and ordered a whiskey for two at the bar, and waited for Makoto there. He smiles a contented smile at Makoto's greeting, and greeted him back while sliding the drink in his direction.]

I think Sabina can make anyone look good with her. I'm just along for the ride. [He smiles, meaning it.] Speaking of rides, you've left yours, it seems. I saw him earlier without the rings, so I was not surprised to see you.

[shuryoinai]

[Taking that drink with an approving look as he's leaning back against the bar, and lifting his glass in a salute to his fellow Mortician.]

He and I aren't talking.

[Not one to mince words, this one.]

[bladeweaver]

[Welp, that... needs a premise.

Taning blinks. To be fair, he only blinked once, before knuckling his forehead and asking:]

What did my blade leader do or not do, this time?

[shuryoinai]

You tell me.

[Significant look in your direction. You were there, weren't you?]

[bladeweaver]

[Man, Josh, the crap you get into from time to time...]

Ah, about that. Well, I would normally advocate giving the guy some time, but...

[Yeah. There's only so much quibbling this guy can take before, you know, not being able to take it. Granted that he can take a lot more than other people, but still...]

[shuryoinai]

Oh, I plan on giving him all the time he needs.

[He's done for the moment. Besides, he also knows Josh well enough to know that the kid's calibrating. He has been for a while now.]

[bladeweaver]

I should probably stop giving him well-meaning but unsolicited advice, then.

[That didn't sound bitter, or so he'd like to think.]

[shuryoinai]

[It did.

Blinking at once before going for his drink.]

Keep at it. You're his third, aren't you?

[bladeweaver]

[He does think your advice is sensible. It makes him realize that Josh really need him and Yulia differently, as leaders. Yulia gets to be the one who doggedly continues to have faith in him, and he gets to be the devil's advocate who can and will challenge any decision.

He supposes that part of this challenging is being determined to provide any sort of advice, no matter if it is needed but not wanted.

He is quiet as those feelings make him pause for the length of a thought and a half, then says, quietly:]

I'm worried that being his third will come in the way of being his friend.

[shuryoinai]

[No immediate response from this one to that, because he's going to enjoy his cigarette.]

Are those roles really supposed to be mutually exclusive?

[bladeweaver]

They aren't, I know this. I worry because I might not be good enough at smoothing the waters when I keep throwing rocks in the pond.

[Wow, how and why did he suddenly become elliptical about it?]

[shuryoinai]

[Yeah, why did you?

...Oh right. You're THAT kind of guy.]

Might as well say it straight, Marisigan. I don't have all night.

[He really didn't. Josh was eventually going to leave.]