Totally Normal Garden Party and not an escape meeting

[hotpaprika]

[It's Friday afternoon, and the party is almost ready. Jonathan, with the help of others, have arranged a quaint table setting in the garden, adorned with various flower arrangements. The spread of food seems quite impressive if not... somewhat strange with some of the offerings. Floyd brought takoyaki (careful, some of them have hot sauce in them!), Jason brought donuts, Hadoka brought some scrambled eggs, although not enough to feed all 25 citizens, Brett brought finger sandwiches, Joy brought some fancy flatbread, Mille brought fancy little cakes and pastries, The Undertaker brought some bone shaped biscuits, and Adamon brought some mushroom risotto. For drinks, Jonathan brought over several pitchers of lemonade, enough for everyone at the party and then some.

Nandor also brought ice cubes and Misfire brought one (1) lemon.

If anyone is hesitant about coming, Jonathan will gently find them and tell them that the party "really means a lot to him", with added details about the true nature of the party if they are still resistant. There were really only two people he was keeping this a secret from.

Just before five o'clock hits, Jonathan finds himself looking increasingly nervous. Anxiously tapping the table, looking around for anything suspicious, and taking a quick swig from his flask that he got from the pool to calm his nerves. For those who think that this is just a garden party, this might not exactly look like the most normal behavior ever.

It's a few minutes past five and, once Jonathan does one last look around to make sure everyone is here, he gently taps his glass of lemonade with a spoon and stands up, clearing his throat.]

Thank you all for coming to the party! I have told this to a few of us, but I was not entirely honest when I wrote the invitation. While, yes, part of my motivation is to grow more familiar with the rest of the citizens here, my true purpose is much more vital. I organized this meeting so we can discuss how to escape from this prison the Mayor has placed us in, and I intend to do so before any casualties occur.

I do not want to burden everyone with the details of my life, but I had been held captive before, and I know the horrors of letting my captor know of my escape plans, and that is why I had to be secretive about this. I do not want our opportunities for escape to close because we let it slip that we're trying to leave, and I ask everyone to be similarly secretive about this.

But, on the bright side, we have the numbers I didn't have back at the Castle, and I am confident with our combined efforts we can overthrow the Mayor and get back to our homes before too long!

[And with that, Jonathan sits back down in order to begin the meeting in earnest!]

[ PLANS INFORMATION BACKSTORIES GENERAL CHATTER ]

Comments

Plans

[hotpaprika]

So! The first order of business is to try discussing plans on how to escape or how to stop Mayor Fontaine and Eleanor from their evil scheme. Feel free to throw out any idea that comes to mind. No idea is a bad one, after all.

[pairtner]

[Aiba seems a bit lethargic -- how not to be, making her projection appear on twenty-something eyes is going to deplete her battery something fierce, even though she's cutting corners by aiming at only one eye instead of both. Oh well]

If we find the equipment from where the content of the radio got broadcasted at the start of our stay here, there's a chance we can reach out outside. However this depends on the goodwill of anyone listening to any message we send, therefore you must not take this as your plan A in any way.

[Also they may not find radio equipment, or it may not have a connection to outside, but those go without saying, she's sure]

[howveryglib]

I spoke to Eleanor and she seemed to imply that the areas we do not presently have access to are currently flooded. I am not quite sure if there is a safe way to confirm this, but I would advise against trying to force any of the locked doors until we can confirm this.

[inaclearing]

This is less of an idea, but - you probably don't know this, Jonathan, but there's a good chance we're always being observed in the hotel. The Mayor probably has hidden cameras.

[Brett looks up at the dome enclosing them.]

It's possible they could be out here somewhere, but probably less likely. You'd be able to see them if they were mounted up on the glass.

[prompocalypse]

I was kind of hoping there'd be something useful from the vending machine but it all ended up being pretty useless...

My own plan is to try and figure out how to break the effect that's taking our magic away... from there I should be able to teleport out and get help from my classmates, I think. But I haven't had any luck in figuring out how that all works.

[She misses Aelwyn in times like these...]

Information

[hotpaprika]

I was curious if anyone else has gathered information or clues from either around our prison or from conversations from our captors. This place seems quite peculiar with secrets around every corner.

1/2

[giddyundertaker]

[ It's always nice to share his little side hobby with others. Even if the only things he knows how to bake are plain bone shaped biscuits, they do taste like decent treats. For people, not dogs.

The man's currently nomming on one of those biscuits when the topic of information comes up. ]

I understand these are desperate times, [ Gulp. ] but I do charge a fee for information. There's a certain watchdog who comes knocking on my door whenever he needs to know anything about my clients- For any case the Queen has him dealing with, of course.

I'm afraid I'd have to ask you for the same thing I ask of him...

[allatonce]

Hey, has anyone found one of these while snooping?

[She holds up an audio tape.]

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan reaches into his pocket and pulls out a red key.]

I've been keeping it safe on my person for a few days now; but I found this during my trip to the pool. Mayor Fontaine paid a janitor to keep this hidden, so I feel like it must be something he doesn't want us to have

[specialyellthing]

I've been toyin' with the radio, tryin' to see what I can pick up. Got a channel with a bunch of unfamiliar music, but not much else. But the fact that we can connect to anything is impressive.

It's gotta be either comin' from down here, or be a real impressive signal.

Backstory

[hotpaprika]

And for morale, I was thinking it would be nice for us to share the stuff we have missed from back home, to remember what we’re fighting for. This will be optional, of course, and I will be opting out myself unless there are requests to have me tell my story. Like I said, I do not want to burden everyone with the things I have witnessed.

[specialyellthing]

We can chat later, Champ. [After the whole feeding infants thing he was going on about, she's pretty sure it's best that he doesn't share with the group at large. But she also knows what keeping that kind of thing pent up inside can do to you.

She stands, smiling broadly at the room as a whole.]

And a HAWKAH, to all of you. For those of you who I haven't met, my name's Zinda, code name Lady Blackhawk. I was part of the ace pilot team the Blackhawks, back during -- you kids call it World War Two, I guess. Some alien shenanigans took my plane off course, an' I ended up about 80 years in the future. Worked with a gang of ladies after that to deal with crime an' help people with tricky problems-- I'm a pilot first, but I'm good in a fight if ya need it, and my drivin' isn't too shabby either. Been through all kinds of crazy things-- you name it, I've probably lived through it.

I'm tellin' you all this so you know-- if anyone needs anything, let me know. I'll try an help as best I can. And I'm gonna try and get us out of here, sooner, rather than later.

[buriedstar]

I want to hear it. [ I'm sorry he's like this. ]

[visiblepattern]

I too would like to abstain.

[Forrest's voice is gentle when he speaks up, befitting the fact that he's in his dress and looking every bit the part of a delicate young lady. Not that he is one, but that's almost beside the point.

Rather than the usual ringlets today, he's got his blond hair tied up high and away from his face, trailing down his back in much looser curls than he'd usually prefer. He doesn't seem entirely out of place at this gathering; the sort of person who belongs at garden parties.]

But I would like to say that my name is Forrest, and I serve as a medic in the army back home. If you have any troubles, physical or otherwise, you can come to me. I have a steady hand, and I'm always willing to listen to anything you might have to say.

[pairtner]

My name is Aiba.

[........]

I finished. Who is next?

[Most about herself is classified and she wants to hide a whole lot about the rest, so that was quick, haha]

[allatonce]

Name's Joy, she/her pronouns. I also don't want to "burden anyone with the things I have witnessed" so pass on the rest of the sharing circle.

[Is she making fun of Jonathan? She might be, but she also legitimately doesn't want to for a number of reasons.]

[timegazer]

[Adaman is more than inclined to leave Jonathan and any others alone about their own stories; it's not a good story if you don't want to share it, after all, but Adaman is more than happy to share some things about his home!]

Greetings, all of you! I believe I have become acquainted with most of you over our stay thus far, but for those of you I have not met--I am Adaman! Leader of the Diamond Clan back in my homeland of Hisui, but please, no need for formalities at all. We are all equal in this place, after all! And if there is anything I can do to assist you all, do let me know with haste!

[Adaman claps his hands together with a smile.]

Truth be told, there is much I miss about home--my siblings, my partner Pokémon, and other such things. I do worry especially for the wardens that I have left behind--but I have faith in them. They are incredibly strong people that I have grown up with, and I know that they will continue to protect our land and the noble Pokémon that protect our territories dutifully while I am gone.

But I am certain that as long as we keep working together, and with almighty Sinnoh looking down upon us, we will find a way home in due time!

[withagun]

[ More withdrawn, definitely not looking at home at this "party," Hodaka just holds his sweet little kitten, who keeps trying to paw at other people if they get home. ]

No thank you.

[onemillion]

I too would like to abstain from sharing any more information, but my name is Rossiu and I currently serve as the Supreme Commander of Earth. Though from what I have gathered, the place I come from is a very different version of Earth.

[He's not exactly opposed to talking about it, but he also comes from kind of a fucked up background and that seems like a bad idea to share right now!!]

[howveryglib]

I would only ask you to discuss your situation prior to your arrival if it had any significant bearing on our present situation. I believe we have already discussed it enough that I do not believe it to be that relevant barring any further revelations.

[he'll still fight dracula if he has to though. okay, time to go from adressing johnny to everyone else!]

In any case, I believe I have encountered most of you, but given that the ranks given on my profile may be unfamiliar to the rest of you, I am what I suppose you would call a general of the Garlean Empire. Our empire is more technologically advanced than our neighbors so I am generally used to explaining things to people who are unfamiliar with it, and I have significant combat experience. In the event that we find we must resort to force I will certainly step up, though I will admit that I am a bit less practiced in fighting unarmed. Even so, the armor I have been wearing is state of the art, so I am not easily bested.

[...what things he misses. ha ha. that's silly. there's no need to talk about that in a Big Meeting.]

[kninja]

...Hmmm, well...

[Obi doesn't want to share, honestly, but with so many people opting out, he kinda feels bad, actually? He stops doing leg stretches and sits butterfly-style with his hands on his ankles and his soles pressed together.]

I'm Obi, and where I'm from, we didn't have... well, any of this, almost. [He waves back at the entire hotel.] I'm used to carts and horses and needing candles to read at night, so I guess that's what I miss? I'm like a fish out of water with you all, haha.

[daimakaicho]

Seems like a bit of a copout to ask other people without first doing it yourself.

[ It doesn't sound like she overly minds that much, though, so she shrugs it off and moves on. ]

You can call me Hild. I'm what you would refer to colloquially as the ruler of the demonic realm.

[ There's a pause. ]

Well, former ruler, technically. I was in the middle of a coup shortly before arriving here. I thought this might have something to do with it, but my, shall we say, successor's imagination doesn't run quite this deep.

[inaclearing]

Uh...well, I'm Brett Riebach, he/him.

[FIRM SOLIDARITY WITH JOY]

I'm a freelance journalist. My most recent project was a podcast, which is sort of like a personal radio show, for those who know what that is. My world doesn't have magic or anything like that, and I'm just an average person there.

[He shrugs a little. He doesn't feel like he has a lot to contribute here? Certainly not in the way of combat ability or...being the leader of a whole-ass country-slash-demon-realm like half you people are. All he can do is perhaps take notes, which is something he is doing.]

I do know a lot about audio equipment, if we ever come across anything more complicated than these tapes.

As for stuff I miss... [Sigh. Well. It's probably fine. It rankles a little anyway, to not - Brett's fingers drum on his leg, a nervous motion, but his voice is as even as ever as he goes on.] My husband, Luca. He's been traveling for work, so I hadn't seen him for a week. He was supposed to be coming up to the cottage...today, I think. I was hoping to see some of the kids again before they all went back to college, too...

[But they've probably gone by now. Fall break isn't that long.]

General Chatter

[hotpaprika]

[For anything else! Go mingle! Go poke fun at Jonathan! Do whatever!]

[dullshooter]

Alright - show of hands, who’s ready to die in a variety of creatively improvised ways?

Parlor Games with the Undertaker

[giddyundertaker]

[ After the sixth person in a row refuses to talk about their past, The Undertaker decides to take matters into his own hands. ]

Some morale you're boosting, Harker! I bet only my usual clients would be quieter than you lot!

[ He takes another one of his homemade biscuits and bites into it. Monch, monch, monch... Ulp. ]

Let's have some real fun, shall we?

Truth or Dare

[giddyundertaker]

Let's start off with a simpler game.

You ask someone "truth or dare." If they say truth, you ask them a question they must awnser honestly. If they say dare, you dare them to do something!

If that doesn't make things interesting, I don't know what will.