[Open, Major Event] 12 June 2066

[geistnet]

Over the course of the last week, you'll have likely noticed the buzz and excitement that's been building all around Metro Manila -- if you've been around awhile, you know what time of the year it is. If you're new: well, this is an experience you're sure to enjoy.

The festive mood surrounding Philippine Independence Day is hard to miss. Wander around the metropolis and you'll note that the streets are filled with tourists and locals; turn one corner and you'll see parades, turn another and you may be treated to performances set up on strategically placed stages.

As for Falner, the colors of the Philippine flag seem to be everywhere you look: the kids who live or study at the estate are mostly running around with their faces painted. If you wander down towards the Fair Grounds in the South District, there are a couple of booths set up offering anything from body paint and temporary tattoos to local delicacies. West District establishments The King's Rest and Liquidated also have special treats aligned with the theme of the day. There's also talk about the annual street party which will be held over at the Baywalk later this evening, and the younger initiates are abuzz over the yearly light show held over Manila Bay that showcase reenactments of all the major battles all the way up to the Darkest Vigil.

Independence Day is also not all that's being celebrated, because for Keepers of the Vigil and supernatural communities all over the world, today marks the second anniversary of Arcis Fortress City.

OOC NOTES FOR PLAYERS

Don't forget to mention in the subject heading if your threads are OTA (Open to All) or Closed, and the time in which the exchange takes place. Feel free to make a top-level comment of your own if none of the placeholders fit. For details on each of the locations found at the Falner Estate, here is a handy link!

Comments

[shuryoinai]

[ Okay, he'll take some of that. Might as well: work's out for the day. ]

Just because you asked? No.

[bladeweaver]

You're still the meanie I remember you to be, then.

[And he legit pouts at nothing.]

How's Gisi? Is my wife a taskmaster? She is, isn't she?

[shuryoinai]

She's only a taskmaster to people who don't put out.

[ Like you, Mr. Space: the Final Frontier. ]

[bladeweaver]

Hey, if it's putting out we're talking about, I put out all the time! She knows this from last night.

[Yes. Yes, he knows that was a setup, Mister Master Mortician, sir. Might as well walk into it.]

[shuryoinai]

[ Pffft. Chuckling there, shaking his head, and then, as he's bringing his sake cup back up to his lip: ]

She is so going to kill you tonight.

[bladeweaver]

In a good way, I hope.

[He conjures his own cup of sake to match yours. He's not gonna drink much, though, as he's already pleasantly buzzed.]

What brings you here? You don't usually like crowds.

[shuryoinai]

Not usually, but I'm willing to make an exception for tonight.

[ Besides, the two of you haven't had a good sit down in a while. You were occupied with other people the entire day, last he checked. ]

[bladeweaver]

[He's only not gonna tease you about being so concerned because he gets it. He's missed everyone on this big hunk of rock, anyway.]

Cheers to that.

[He raises his cup for a toast.]

[shuryoinai]

Cheers.

[ Raising his as well, and then downing his sake. Time for some more... ]

So. Has anything interesting happened in outer space recently?

[bladeweaver]

Honestly? No, not yet. The crews are dying of boredom, which I suppose is a worse way to go than dying of actual something.

[Read: he's dying of actual boredom. Nothing to stab, no one to shoot, nobody new to meet...]

Keep it between us, though, okay? They all think spacey-wacey is fun times forever, and we do have recruitment rates to keep up.

[Space must be bad if it taught Taning politics, of all things...]

[shuryoinai]

Last I heard, you guys aren't going to have a problem with that for a while regardless of whether people know what it's really like out there or not.

[ Space travel is the new "in" thing in and beyond the Vigil, it seems. ]

[bladeweaver]

Heh. True enough.

[There ARE a lot of things you can stand for the chance to go into space, after all. Up to and including cleaning bilge oil from engine spaces.]

Seriously though, how are things on your end?

[shuryoinai]

More of the same. People die, I reap them. More people die, and then I come back around.

[ Shrug. ]

[bladeweaver]

[Gotta love how nonchalant you are about that. Still...]

Ever get used to the whole Reaper thing yet?

[shuryoinai]

I've gotten the hang of it already.

[ It wasn't all that different from being a Sin-Eater. ]

Most nights are slow.

[bladeweaver]

I think I meant more, how's being an embodied concept treating you?

[Because you both know that the universe rarely bestows her largesse without certain... drawbacks.]

[shuryoinai]

[ Oh, right... ]

Honestly? I'm taking to the Rules pretty well.

[ He's a rather different person from his ex-boyfriend, see. ]

[bladeweaver]

You mean, you haven't found a good reason to push them yet.

[That's kinda a Mortician thing; more to the point, it's kinda a you thing, too. Pushing things to see where the limit is.]

[shuryoinai]

[ He'll smile at that, and yet... ]

I really haven't. They make a lot of sense to me.

[ He's got a Thing of breaking laws that don't make sense, or bending the rules to suit the purposes of his cause. Reaping, however, is... kind of his cause. ]

Roll: Gnosis(10)+Space(7)+Angelwing activation bonus(5) [+Fate&Prime], Ban on sound = 7 successes

[bladeweaver]

[OOC note: Prime included to prevent spell from being felt, Fate to change sound emanating from their area to mundane chatter. Six successes assigned to cloak potency.]

Glad to know it.

[A short pause filled with alcohol and smoke, and then...

You might have felt a Ban go up, just then.]

Speaking of making sense, have you made sense of what you feel about a certain Bladian, just yet? Don't worry, all they'll hear is talk of Reaping.

[He isn't talking about Hikaru, of course.]

[shuryoinai]

[ ...

True to Makoto's nature, his reactions are incredibly, incredibly subtle: a minute pause, a Glance in your direction, and him bringing his cigarette back to his lips as he goes back to watching the crowd. ]

I've had that sorted out for a while.

[ This may be a lot like pulling teeth.

You have been warned. ]

[bladeweaver]

[Well, he's got all night, now. His high has also steadily come down, if you'd noticed.

Taking a cue from you, he leans back and projects a disaffected, disinterested air. You'd know it's an act, though.]

I'm listening, if you care to share any of it.

[As in, SHARE IT BRO, SHARE IT. Except less out of being a horrible gossip, but more out of genuine concern. You're a bro and Yulia's practically a sister.]

[shuryoinai]

[ Noting that. ]

While I'm touched by your concern, I'm not sure why I need to share anything.

[bladeweaver]

You don't need to share anything. You don't owe me anything of the sort. I am merely... concerned for Yulia. In the, I don't doubt you could make her happy, because you're both crazy. But I want it to actually happen, you see.

[You know what he means. Yulia Bostova, the perpetual emotional signal dead space.

He lights a cigarette, then lets out a long, thoughtful exhale. Then pins you with a Look.]

Of course, you could just, I suppose, tell me it's none of my business. I'll stop asking if you want me to.

[It won't mean that he'll be pleased to be shut down, but private matters are private matters.]

[shuryoinai]

[ Taking a drag on his own end first, and then looking down at his drink. ]

I'm interested, but I think that she still has a lot of things to sort out for herself. If she's ever interested in me, great. If she isn't, though, that's fine.