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

[giddyundertaker]

Has it now?

Alright, truth or dare?

[buriedstar]

This is a party game, yeah? It's been a while since I've attended one of those and not a banquet or function.

[ Busy, busy! The thought of playing truth or dare with CEO's is kind of amusing, though. ]

Dare.

Linking the post so you can just comment at it.

[giddyundertaker]

[ Yes, good. He will continue spreading this. ]

Right then! I already dared Harker to do something on that bench, there. When he gets on it, I need you to wait for him to shout "the Phoenix," and when he does, you shout that back at him and copy the pose he's doing.

Shouldn't be too hard, now.

[buriedstar]

[ Blink, what. ]

Is this some type of spell or something? [ He's absolutely going to do it, but that doesn't mean he's not going to be confused about it first. ]

[giddyundertaker]

I wouldn't call it a spell, but...

[ He's giggly just thinking of that silly pose used for a flamboyant spell. The late Rian Stoker would make an entertaining wizard. ]

[buriedstar]

Close enough? If it was a spell and my skills weren't sealed, you wouldn't need anyone to help.

[ Sometimes you need to flex even if it's on something as silly as this. ]

[giddyundertaker]

[ He scoffs. ] If only we had that sort of magic where I'm from.

[buriedstar]

You really don't have anything like magic at all?

[ He's not keeping count, but there sure are a lot of (supposed) normies around. ]

[giddyundertaker]

Hm...

[ How does he put this... ]

Well, we don't have any actual spellcasters or the like. That I'm sure of.

[buriedstar]

What about things that would make Jonathan jump?

[ Points helpfully wherever his suitemate is. Could he have used another example? Yes. But maybe the comment from earlier is still on his mind. ]

[giddyundertaker]

Ahh... There may be one creature that fits that description...

[ Yes, this may be "safe" enough to share with this group... ]

If you really wanna hear more, then give that dare all you got! I'll be watching~!

[ He'd ask for a joke, but this pose was funny enough. ]

1/2

[buriedstar]

I always do my best.

[ Again he does not need to be taking this so seriously, but we're here now. brb! off to sell this whole phoenix thing. ]

[buriedstar]

[ After he's done the thing. ]

Well? Was that up to your standards?

[giddyundertaker]

[ Seeing as the Undertaker is currently laughing at everyone, yes. ]

[buriedstar]

I'll take that as a yes. When you catch your breath, don't forget your side of the trade.

[ Seo Dawon is patient though, and doesn't mind the laughter. ]

[giddyundertaker]

Alright, alright, hee hee hee...

[ Give him a few moments to settle down... ]

Now then. Are you familiar with the old stories where mortal men sell their souls to the devil?

[buriedstar]

A Faustian contract?

[ If it's that, he sure has. Seo Dawon also would fit right in with Sebastian to be honest, the korean version of "That butler". ]

[giddyundertaker]

Exactly.

[ Speak of the devil in disguise. ]

We have those sort of demons in my world- Not that the public is aware, of course, but I have heard plenty of stories of devils making bargains with people and gorging themselves on their souls at the bitter end... Powerful beasts they are, and cunning as well. They could even take human form, I hear.

[ Why does it sound like he's actually met something supposedly rumored to exist? ]

[buriedstar]

I can't say demons don't exist in the Hub, but they don't really exist like that either. If you can name a mythical creature, it probably exists in a dungeon somewhere or appears during a particular event. But mobs aren't really sentient, they're just there to drop experience, loot, and go through the motions of the scenario.

[ ... ]

Actual demons who consciously chose to corrupt and bind others, kill innocents, and destroy the world...they're not real, or at least they're not supposed to be.

[giddyundertaker]

Ah yes... That Hub's part o' that gate you mentioned, isn't it?

[ He doesn't understand video game mechanics too well, but he did listen to everyone who cared to explain their worlds earlier. ]

I don't know about any demons destroying the world, mind you. Most just want to eat people's souls. And we don't really have any dumb magical creatures like those mobs you mentioned. Only clever spirits who lurk in the shadows...

[buriedstar]

[ Nod. ]

Is that all? [ Soul eating is less bad, but still. ]

Less dumb and more literally, head empty. What other kind of spirits have you run into?

[giddyundertaker]

That's what I mean by dumb, they've got no rational thought whatsoever!

[ What other kind of spirits, though.... Hhhhnnn... He doesn't want to reveal too much of his hand now. Could be dangerous for him. Burning more bridges than he already has... ]

I don't really know. I'm an undertaker, not an esper.

[buriedstar]

That's a profession you don't see every day. [ A beat. ] And one we'll probably need, sooner or later.

[hotpaprika]

You are aware that I can hear you, right...?

[buriedstar]

[ His face says he knew exactly what he was doing. ]

It was just the first example that came to mind.