Book Party [ota]

[myblueskies]

Who: Romeo, Elfnein and literally everyone in the heavens. Even if you weren't personally invited every invite came with a +ALL YOUR FRIENDS and there's also a sign. Strangers are just friends these two haven't met yet.
When: 29th April. Afternoon onwards
Where: Temple Smol (Gegute's library)
What: Just the cutest book party the heavens has ever known! Bring your best book!



Arrival

You might have received an invitation, or perhaps you are just passing Gegute’s library but there is an brightly painted sign outside.

Book Party today!

Everyone welcome! Bring your best book or dress up!

Lots of tasty food!

The doors of the temple are open and once you arrive in the lobby there are more bright arrows pointing the way into the library. If you are still stuck mister Goat is at the help desk, he’ll direct any one who needs it!

Activities

The layout of the library hasn’t really changed at all, except a few tables being moved to accommodate activities and all the comfy reading cushions have been brought to a central location. All the shelves are decorated with colourful paper chains and streamers.

Romeo had really enjoyed Yuna’s birthday party with the activities to do so he had copied the idea for Elfnein’s book party! On one table there is material for making bookmarks. You might want to recut the card strips, they are a little wonky. There is ribbon and glitter and colouring pens and glue.

On another there is a cardboard box puppet theatre, painted in a riot of colours with colourful strips of material as curtains. There is some felt and other material, as well as scissors, glue and wool to make puppets with. A sign reads in childish Hirigana. Show your best book!

Food

The invitations had promised lots of tasty food and there sure was a lot! A whole table filled with tasty treats, Romeo had been very very busy! There was a whole tray of chopped fruit, another of vegetables like carrots and cucumber.

There was bread and cheese and two bowls of pasta with different sauces. Another bowl of noddles with meat and vegetables. There was a huge bowl of rice too with a tray of grilled fish and a bowl of broccoli and asparagus.

An entire part of the table was taken up by apples and things with apples in them, apple turnovers and even an attempt at an apple pie, it was a bit smushed but probably tasted fine.

There was a tray of very misshapen cookies with messy icing and another of even messier cupcakes with far too much buttercream. There were also churos and a chocolate Gateaux, these seemed to have been bought rather than made, Romeo hadn’t even known where to start it making them!

There was an attempt at making books and other shapes out of rice and vegetables packed in the two bento boxes Ebisu’s temple had given him for Christmas, but they were a bit crumbly, misshapen or just plain strange. In the centre of Romeo’s bento attempts was his magical bento box, every time it was opened there were different fancy bento creations, if the children’s attempts left a lot to be desired.

Have fun!

Comments

[towards_okeanos]

Is that as a promise?

[Iskandar chuckles.]

Who needs sleep anyway...

[Technically they can get away without it for some time. It's not sustainable in the long run but we're not speaking long term here.]

Then I count on magic because we may want to leave the hotel a couple of times.

[There's a slight pause and then a familiar, self-satisfied smirk appears.]

Unless we don't ?

[myblueskies]

That would be fun miss! I think reading is important at a book party!

[So he could definitely make time!]

[myblueskies]

I have! I like cooking it's really fun even if all the reading is pretty hard! But it means I get lots of practice!

[And practice is important!] Do you like cooking, mister Shinji?

[mithrarin]

"No, but I knew that when I decided to come anyway. I can't just sit around brooding all the time, right?" He wanted to at least try to improve things, even if he wasn't sure what path to take.

[hypomeneo]

What do you think?

[As he suggestively presses against Iskandar. Oh... someone's smirking. Ooohh!! Don't tease him for the fact that he's just as horny as you, Iskandar. There's twenty plus years of separation to make up for after all.]

I think you'll agree some variety is more interesting. [As he runs his fingers up Iskandar's chest.] Provided we don't scandalize the public in the process.

[Yes, that old chestnut. Though Waver is slowly being worked around to Iskandar's point of view... slowly.]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[If he wanted to throw a party... would he be excited for this many people to show up? Today's not so bad, he figures, given the nature of the party being held in a library, with plenty of quieter activities for everyone to participate in. It's not very rowdy, overall, which is appealing enough, but he can't imagine himself wanting to do something like this in the first place.]

Is there anyone you'd want to invite to a get-together?

[Take the attention off his own thoughts, nice. Besides that, he is genuinely pretty curious...!]

[kokuyoyo]

For another few long moments, Chikusa stares at him. This seems as though it's almost guaranteed not to really work, but he also has no idea on just... how to get out of this situation. At least, while he's still eating, which is an action he doesn't really wan to abandon just now. So, after a second, he moves one shoulder in a sort of shrug.

"Go for it." Maybe that will be easier to weather.

[nopixiedust]

"Good lessons, and good food." Wendy flicks them off her fingers in a count. "Well, you can't go wrong with that."

Still, they've gotten a little off track. Wendy pauses to look over some of the rows of books they've passed. "So are we there yet? This library feels as though it could go on forever."

[chibisu]

"I agree." It's work without overwork. Ebisu knows his shinki well enough, despite his age, and he knows that particular issue is one Takami has trouble with. Finally satisfied with a plan, he looks back to his bookmark. Now where was he...?

"It's an impressive bit of work, isn't it?" he asks, referring to the BBS while Kiwami quietly reaches over to nudge some glue a bit from Ebisu's elbow.

[towards_okeanos]

I think the public could survive some scandalizing.

[Iskandar catches that trailing hand on his chest with his own, lifts it to his lips to kiss Waver's fingers and only then lets go of it.]

But I'm not that keen on sharing my best sights with anyone else [He leans down to kiss Waver again.] so no scandalizing.

[That's not teasing, that's celebrating.]

I bet we could find a beach that's empty but still nice and warm.

[If a bit rocky. At least there would be no sand. He hates sand. It sticks and gets everywhere.]

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Practice is important!]

I do like it. Cooking for my god and the other shinki in our temple is really... relaxing.

[kokuyoyo]

...Can't relate.

[Chikusa still has no idea what he's doing about his own happiness, and what that even feels like, actually. Other people can wait their fucking turn, as far as he's concerned.]

And it still feels like too much work. Although I guess I don't... have to do idol training when dressing up...

[myblueskies]

"Right! Well if you ever feel sad or scared or angry and you got to keep your spirits up and it's tricky you just do this."

He punched the air, fist straight up to the sky.

[myblueskies]

"Almost!" It is a big library, "It does feel like forever! It's really easy to get lost!"

But one more set of shelves and here they are! The fiction section, Romeo spread out his arms to indicate it.

[myblueskies]

I'm glad you like it! Maybe we can cook together some day! [Cooking with others would be a good way to learn new things, as well as being really fun!]

[unlucky7]

"It's a nice communication system. I've always wondered who maintains the system." Mostly because of how quickly it updates with arrivals and departures. Knowing who has the information and how they're getting it could explain how they arrive and how people go away.

That was the long, discussed theory for awhile, but the crystal certainly throws all of that for a loop.

"I also like the romance story someone's posting on it."

[chibisu]

"Heaven hasn't exactly informed us of how it works," Aomi says, in the quiet and polite but very much dry tone of someone who knows exactly why this hasn't happened, "but, if I had to surmise the matter, it's likely being assisted with some manner of magic. While finding the origin of so many changes to gods and shinki might be a little difficult, I would imagine that one could still figure out a magical way of sensing those changes. After all, the worship of a god is affected when they suddenly disappear in an... abnormal way."

Ebisu nods, tapping his chin as he surveys his work. It's an extremely blue bookmark. "It's an unprecedented technological step for Heaven, so I can understand why they may be cautious in describing how it works to others. Especially with current events in mind." He looks up with a smile. "But I've seen glimpses of the romance story! It's unfortunate that I haven't had enough time to properly read it."

Kiwami finally leans in, maybe a little confused. "...There's a romance story?"

[unlucky7]

"Probably also concerning when a god disappears and then returns looking entirely different and in a different pantheon."

The fact the other pantheons still exist in their country of origin and recognize the new gods as one of them raises as many questions as why everyone is tied to Japan. Ginia can't imagine the other pantheons are too happy about losing gods to another country, and it can't be any easier here having so many foreign gods show up.

"But it doesn't seem like there's anything to do about it.

As Kimi once said, it's the kind of problem that's above her pay grade. As a shinki, her thoughts lay more towardwhether she can stay here or whether she'll suddenly disappear. Or turn into a god.

So best seize on the other topic. Ginia smiles and nods at Kiwami, typing furiously.

"It's a bit more urban fantasy crime thriller, but the romance aspects of there. The kind of story you know the main characters will hook up but you don't know when it'll happen.

A few chapters have been posted. The second chapter went up shortly after I arrived so I'm always happy when there are updates."

[hypomeneo]

Good.

[He's going to draw that kiss out. If he keeps that up, they're going to need the woods again, but... at this point, it might be too late.]

... mmm. I like that idea. We did miss out last time thanks to the crowds. We never got to properly enjoy it.

[Something tells him fun in the sand would be no fun at all, though. If beaches in Greece are sandy. He shifts even closer, smiling up before claiming another kiss.]

... bring a blanket, maybe some wine...

[chibisu]

Kiwami takes a moment to digest this information. "People pick up all sorts of strange hobbies as shinki..."

"And yet you've kept the same ones for decade now," Aomi teases gently, smiling to his coworker. "Well, it's good to find a way to pass the time." As shinki, granted that they're lucky and careful, they have nothing but that.

Ebisu merely nods and reaches over to pick up a pair of scissors. Both of his shinki immediately edge a little closer. "I wonder if the author came here? That's the kind of hobby or profession which would be at home at a book party."

[unlucky7]

Ginia also watches cautiously as Ebisu picks up the scissors. There's the urge to help, but Ebisu needs to be able to handle things himself. At worst, she can always take care of any injuries with her healing spell.

She watches a few seconds longer before looking around the room for Chikusa. There's a lot of people around, but it's not hard finding him slumped somewhere with food. The food is probably more the draw than the books, she would have to wager. However, as he's posting anonymously (though barely), she keeps it to herself.

"Maybe! The author is posting anonymously so no one knows who they are.

"What hobbies do you two have?" Ginia is pretty sure what Aomi's are, but it doesn't hurt to see which ones he considers hobbies and which one more skills to rely on. Kiwami, she's always curious about her most stoic of coworkers.

[chibisu]

"Very fitting for an author writing a mystery thriller, then." Aomi smiles slightly into one hand. Well, whatever keeps everyone happy. At her question, however, he raises his head. "Oh, well. I like to keep a lot of old traditions alive, so things such as tea ceremony, archery... When I came under Ebisu-sama's name, I found myself with a lot more resources than before, so I thought I'd learn whatever I could. Mostly, however, I rather like gardening. At the time of my naming, he was very indulgent of the idea." He holds up one finger. "It's why we have such a large one over in the apartments." You know, the one that's right in the middle of the large space in the rather square area inbetween the different buildings. Some of their coworkers like to do a bit of work out there among the flowers, or even the outdoor fire pits in colder temperatures.

Ebisu perks up. "Oh! I'd written down that there was a gardening effort, but I hadn't known it was you, Aomi."

"Yes, young master. It's changed throughout the centuries, but the idea is still there." After making sure that Ebisu's fingers are well out of the way of his cutting route, Aomi looks to the side. "Kiwami?"

"Mm? Oh." He blinks a bit, as if remembering that he has to answer as well. "Ah... Fishing. Scuba diving. Sailing." He curls his hand at his mouth, as if thinking for anything else. "...Fishkeeping counts. I've also tried making sushi, but I haven't done that in a few years now."

A wide grin spreads across Ebisu's face. "He's very constant!"

Aomi nods a little, smiling himself. "You were like this when you first joined, I remember that."

Kiwami shrugs, not really seeing a problem with it. "I like what I like."

[unlucky7]

"It's a very beautiful garden, thank you for starting it." There's a warm smile and a bow of her head. It's a place she's retreated to from time to time both for working in fresh air and when she needs space from everyone.

There's a light huff of a giggle at Kiwami's list. Yes, constant is the right word. Truly a man of the sea. It's hard not wondering if Kiwami was a sailor or a fisherman when he was alive.

"I think it's good knowing what you like." It's also nice knowing you have the years to work on something too.

"I'm still figuring that out. I know I like origami. Photography too. Shun taught me flower arranging, though I haven't tried that in months."

[towards_okeanos]

[Crowds. Yes. They kind of didn't want to put on the show for half of the Far Shore. Or more precisely Waver didn't. Iskandar couldn't care less.
He chuckles. And all he planned was the museum but it seems they both were at their respective breaking points there. He knows, he was. That's not a complaint. He's quite happy with the result. Though the appropriate word here would rather be ecstatic.]

That we did. Truly a shame.

[Somebody's going to come here to tell them to get a room quite soon... Not that it bothers him one bit. Though they might not be able to enjoy the rest of the party because he is going to teleport them to the Temple any minute now. He can apologize to Elfnein and Romeo later.]

...wine would be nice...

[Somebody is being completely irresistible today.]

I need more icons

[hypomeneo]

[He's more flexible around mortals, or rather is becoming more comfortable around mortals as Iskandar steadily knocks the shame from him. Mortals can't see them for the most part. This may lead dangerous places in time.

It's too late. His libido has taken the reigns and it's why any scolding is going to fall flat when it comes to this, as Waver is utterly horrible at keeping his hands off Iskandar when he's in a mood too. Poor Satya. How does she even stand them at times?]

... it would... it would be very nice...

[There's the slide of an eye to confirm no one's spying on them or coming by, and 3... 2... 1... Waver's diving in for another kiss, thoroughly intent on starting to slowly make out.]