[Closed] Rising up from the Sea

[icefangrush]

Who: Genshin Cast (+ one Sherlock)
Status: Closed
Where: Surasthana Cafe, Jan. 10th
What: Wriothesley arrived and was informed about basically a truce agreement. Why not just have a small gathering to catch up? ... and also do paperwork.
Warnings: Will add as necessary. For now, everyone has a 'get along' t-shirt

Surasthana Cafe, a beautiful shop conceived (and designed) by a Riftfarer and very unlike many other businesses on Eltrut. Bright and colorful, the stain glass pours what sunlight peeks out in the winter as radiant hues upon the forest-like interior. As per a typical business day, there are books upon books upon shelves around the cozy furnishing and... some questionable decor, but it's not a typical business day. No, it's closed for today, but for a private matter. One could say it's a party with a table set with teapots and tea cups, and a grill having been sparked a few steps outdoors; one shouldn't expect too many serious discussions going on.

No, not at all. It's only a small get together.

Comments

Interior - Tea Time

[icefangrush]

There's tea to be had between conversation. Hopefully people remember which cup is theirs...

one slightly sulky not a cat man (open)

[indispensable]

[There's probably something to be said in regards to how long it'd been since the last time everyone from Teyvat had gathered like this. In the grand scheme of things not much has really changed beyond the disappearance of Dehya (unfortunate) and the addition of two others who are decidedly very much not from Sumeru.

At the very least there's not much about Bennett to be concerned about. The other one, however...

Of course, Alhaitham has heard about the so-called "Duke of Meropide"—the rosy coated title granted to the man who runs Fontaine's underwater prison these days. That being said, he's never had a chance or reason to meet the person himself in the flesh, and he certainly doesn't have the interest to do so either. There's no reason for him to, after all. His days of being the Acting Grand Sage has long come and gone, and he's happy to keep it that way, especially in this place that is not governed by any of Teyvat's laws.

All of that is to say that Alhaitham is thus very content with being in his usual spot in the cafe, comfortably settled on his usual seating spot and reading one of the many, many books that occupy the bookshelves in the cafe. Feel free to approach him if one desires, but how successful that venture is will largely depend on a variety of factors—almost all of which involves Kaveh in some form of fashion.]

absolutely a cat.

[empyrean_mirror]

...Haitham.

[Genuinely. Honestly. He doesn't know what he expected.]

Bennett | OTA

[bahati]

[If Bennett had been invited to this little gathering, he was completely unaware. Out of town for the past while, off exploring the far corners of the region, tackling what quests seemed doable to him, it all has left him rather disconnected from whatever might have been taking place recently. ...Breaking his shellphone while out on said quests probably didn't help matters either.

So it's by pure happenstance that he stops by the cafe when he does, perhaps even a stroke of luck. He pokes his head into the cafe, the front door conveniently unlocked even though the business was supposedly closed. The place looked like it was set up for something... But what?]

Hello? Mr. Kaveh? Mr. Alhaitham? Anybody here?

[Even though he calls out for those two by name, anybody who happened to hear him is free to catch him.

BENNYYYY

[empyrean_mirror]

Oh!

[Well, Kaveh was making some more tea for someone, but he pops his head out when he hears Bennet, and smiles.] Bennet, good timing! I was worried when we hadn't heard from you for a little while.

[He'd sent a text but it had been marked undeliverable...probably because Benny had been too far out, in hindsight.]

Come on in, there's some people here you'll want to meet.

[icefangrush]

[While he might not know Bennett, the invitation had been extended to everyone from Teyvat (with Sherlock. Can't kick out a guy who lives in the place, that's rude). He recognized a few names from the list Kaveh gave him to set this up, matched faces, but he still had one name left over. Process of elimination says 'yes', but that doesn't make for a good organic introduction.]

I'd say there's a few here. Anyway, you're just in time. C'mon, shake off the cold and grab a cup. Food will be ready in a bit.

Wriothesley | OTA

[icefangrush]

[Looks like folks were slowly coming in. Good, good... meant he could take a break and pick out which tea to have. Yes, he is grilling outside, but these teacups were not going to keep it warm out there. No, he would give himself about ten minutes to enjoy a hot cup, then go outside the check how the food was coming along.]

Let's see...

[Maybe he requested too many to be made. He had kind of wanted to have a closer look at the books the cafe had, buuut this... might take him a moment. He really did this to himself...]

[empyrean_mirror]

Do you need help finding one to start with? We have a few more experimental blends in the back if you don't like any of these.

[Kaveh. Kaveh no. Kaveh that's the opposite of helping. kaveh pls.]

[scooba]

[Meanwhile, here was Freminet looking at Wriothesley at the various other people in the cafe. He really didn't know what to do. If he helped him out, his brother would yell at him. If he didn't, he would risk being rude and that was something Father told him not to do.

Which was why he'll stand there awkwardly as he shifted his weight looking back at the older man before looking back at his brother.

What was he to do??]

[book2thehead]

[It does not take a detective to identify the newcomer to the group. Which is why it's terribly easy for Heizou to pick the Duke out amongst the others from Teyvat. He doesn't approach right away of course. No, he chooses to stay on the sidelines for a while as he's prone to do, simply observing the man from over the rim of a cup of green tea. He's heard a lot about him from Lyney already, but he's determined to form his own opinion of him without his boyfriend's influence.

He does eventually make his move when his own cup is empty, stepping up to him with a polite smile and a nod of his head.]

Perusing your options? I'd recommend the matcha lattes, but then again I'm a bit biased toward more Inazuman flavors.

the plus one

[astudyinviolet]

[ When Kaveh told Sherlock that the cafe was closed for a meeting but not to worry about coming downstairs and interrupting, Sherlock originally planned to stay in his room. He was still suffering one of his black moods brought about from painful realizations (and fears) and his birthday. Maybe he'll sneak out and try to find something to monopolize his mind away from bad feelings.

He hadn't expected everyone he knew from Teyvat (including two he has never met in person or at all) coming over. This... tugs enough at his curiosity to keep him from just vanishing again and needing to be grounded dragged back to the cafe.

So... cue one detective in the stairwell trying to quietly peek around the corner to see what is going on. ]

[indispensable]

[It only takes a few moments after Sherlock peering from the corner to have a plated sandwich all but shoved onto his face.]

Eat.

[A single word that brooks no argument, coming from nobody else but Alhaitham, who has finally(?) elected to extricate himself from his couch to go over to where the detective is.]

[empyrean_mirror]

You may as well come out, you know.

[SURPRISE KAVEH FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STAIRWELL???]

Heizou's probably lurking about out there, and you might like the Duke and Bennet.

hi plus one, why being a stranger?

[icefangrush]

[Ever get that weird feeling of being watched, but mostly ignoring it? Well, that's Wriothesley, but mainly because Lyney is present and he's almost sure the Magician was attempting to set him on fire without doing so because he would be in trouble with Father present. That, and risks to the cafe - maybe he was trying to curse?]

[But when it happens a bit more often, and he looks around, catching someone at the stairwell.]

Ah, I was wondering if you'd be here.

[Have Wriothesley in his actual clothes this time, Sherlock, and approaching the stairs.]

[book2thehead]

[At some point, Heizou decides to sneak up to Sherlock's apartment to get away from the party. He just needs a moment's reprieve, and it's probably best to take it while Lyney seems to be managing (for now). Maybe he could also use some reinforcements in the form of someone not from Teyvat.

Either way, he's knocking on Sherlock's door soon enough to see if he's still in.]

Sherry? I've brought rations to stash in your kitchen for later!

One slightly on edge not a cat man (open)

[spectacleofphantasmagoria]

[Lyney, truthfully, has not set foot in the Surasthana Cafe for quite some time now. It's nothing against the establishment itself, of course; while he may prefer Fontainian-style coffee, the drinks here were pleasant and the tea and atmosphere quite delightful. No, he's been staying away for more personal reasons. After all, when one of the owners openly makes his hostility known, well, it hardly makes for a relaxing atmosphere. While Lyney is no stranger to having enemies who would gut him where he stood, he's grown rather accustomed to the peace he's formed here and would rather not dispel that.]

[However, the reasons for Lyney coming here today are completely unexpected. He hadn't been planning to run into Wriothesley, of all people. He hadn't been expecting Father to approach him with talks of getting the Duke to sign their current peace treaty. And he certainly wasn't expecting to be brought over to another peace gathering, and expected to partake in pleasant conversations about the man whom he holds a particular grudge against.]

[But it's fine. Everything's fine. Even Lyney's fine, as he goes around to those gathered with a cup of tea in hand and a pleasant smile on his face. In fact, he's rather downright pleasant today, and will be quite easy to get into a conversation with. He might seem a bit distracted at times, but it's fine, really! If his smile is too tight and his movements too performative and his stance too stiff, surely no one would notice, right? It's not the first time Lyney's been forced to perform, and it certainly won't be the last.]

[empyrean_mirror]

[...Yeah, okay, Kaveh doesn't see Lyney that often for reasons, but he knows a stiff performer when he sees one. So if he just casually wanders over with a cup of tea, well, he's being a good host, right.]

Lavender?

[Here, Lyney. a calming blend.]

Exterior - Barbaque

[icefangrush]

It might be cold, but a social gathering calls for food. Whoever is willing to cook... be ready to share some personal space because that's the warmest spot outside.

Grilling Buddies | Open

[icefangrush]

[In the depths of the ocean where they can barely get any sunlight, the Fortress can be naturally cold despite hissing pipes. In the Production Zone, it quickly becomes sweltering; and if someone wants to go for a few rounds in the Ring, the cold can be grounding stepping out of the arena. The cold here on Eltrut? Not too bad; if Wriothesley wasn't watching the grill, he might consider putting on his coat, but the fire's doing well to keep the cold away.]

[Shouldn't be much longer before this would be ready for the table.]

Lyney || OTA

[spectacleofphantasmagoria]

[To his credit, Lyney believes he's performed admirably this afternoon. Sure he could feel his stress levels get to dangerously high levels at times, but it's quite fine, really! There's good tea. There's fine conversation. There's even a lovely barbecue to enjoy. What's not to enjoy? It's easy to enjoy the small things if he forces himself to focus on them, and not the buzzing under his skin. While inside the cafe, Lyney is downright pleasant, if a little distracted or stiff.]

[Eventually, though, he'll be taking a moment to step outside the cafe. Needing a bit of air, that's the excuse he gives; after all, the lovely scent of the barbecue outside is calling him, and the cafe is bustling with activity, who wouldn't want to take a breather? It's a perfectly reasonable request, if Lyney says so. And thus it's with a flourish and a spring in his step that he steps outside for some much-needed fresh air, not stopping until he turns a corner and finds himself in an isolated little space just out of the boundaries of the barbecue itself.]

[Only then, when he's certain he's out of sight of everyone else, does Lyney let out a desperate, shaky breath, leaning against the wall of the cafe. He briefly removes his hat and runs his hand through his hair and ignores the way his entire frame is shaking. Not from the cold, no, his Vision can help with that. It's just... difficult to be pleasant around a man who makes him tremble with rage and frustration and something he refuses to label as fear.]

[He'll be fine, he just needs to get through this day. Just a handful of hours, and then he can leave. He'll be fine, he just needs a minute without the mask on... hopefully, no one else comes looking for him.]

Don't mind the awkward penguin (open)

[scooba]

[Freminet was at a loss of what to do. While he was sitting outside, he knew he should help the people around him to get everything they needed. However, he knew better than to help the Duke when there was his brother running around. If he dared help Wriothesley out, he would probably get yelled at by Lyney. If he didn't, he would be seen as rude and he didn't want that.

So right now, he'll just looking back and forth between the two as he ate some cake. Because at the end of the day, he'll just be awkward and have no idea what to do.]

Interior - 'Meet and greet'

[icefangrush]

Everyone should already know each other's name... well, there is a new arrival, but he should introduce himself. Point is, it's time to discuss what matters brought them here today.

Wriothesley | OTA

[icefangrush]

[He's satisfied after some tea and light eating that now... now, he looks one way and then the other. He isn't the warden here, and he's probably not about to get back to that, but the cafe could be less stifling.]

Alright, who wants to go first? I know a peace treaty isn't meant to make us all 'get along' without question, but we're also not in a place where trying to be in a room together for... [He glances over at a clock and shakes his head.] ... that long should make tensions this bad. Doesn't pose well for future cooperation all things considered... don't worry, I'll answer too. That is, if you have questions of me not related to here.

[Since he hasn't been present long enough to contribute anything meaningful to progress on Rifts or Ancients and the like.]

Arlecchino | OTA

[balemoonrise]

[As ever would be the case, The Knave was rather neatly seated with a few choices of pastries and cakes set within her reach, and a cup of coffee she had asked Kaveh for; be it something she had yet to try there or something he recommended. Even if not apparent she did quite enjoy his thoughts when it came to coffee and paired goodies.

Here and there a cat could be seen in her general area when not sniffing about other people. Always on alert despite how relaxed he could seem; the Warrior Cat really had fallen in as an easy companion.]

Yet again, a blend that doesn't disappoint.

[Rather glad of it as well, even if it was difficult to tell simply due to Arlecchino... being herself.]

Mm, I might add one doesn't need to be hesitant to approach with questions for me.

[Given outside of dropping by for coffee, she tended to keep to her own business.]

Kaveh - OTA

[empyrean_mirror]

Ah, it's not related to matters on Teyvat, but since all of you are here--that includes you, Sherlock, please listen--there's something important I should give you warning about.

[Kaveh has been wrestling with how to talk about this, but...given the dangers, he has to be honest. The last thing anyone needs is Azul taking Arlecchino's powers.]

If you see small rifts, particularly with...tentacles...emerging from them, avoid them at all costs. They are connected to a magic that will steal abilities for their owner. By the same token, the Phantoms appearing in the sea waters and affecting the wildlife are magical in nature, part of an...emotional corruption, and it is apparently contagious, so I'd also avoid touching them if you can.

[A longer pause.] Bloom cores work just fine on them.