the hideaway ➞ a time for celebrations

[ramuhs]

Who: The Hideaway Crew and friends
Status: Semi-Open to anyone who knows a crew member and could have gotten an invite
Where: On their island, "The Roost"
What: A giant party to celebrate killing off a parasite god, a special daughter's birthday, and holidays in general
Warnings: Well there's the mistletoe and alcohol and just stares at all of you

I. FEAST FOR KINGS

Although Ultima had been rid of once and for all back in October, the situation with the Farplane and other circumstances had delayed a proper victory celebration. Now, with everyone fully rested and the holiday season in full swing, it seemed a fitting time to have a long overdue party at the Roost. Even more so with snow starting to fall on the island, much to everyone's surprise as it was their first winter on the island.

Deep within the cavern halls where everyone resides, large tables have been set up on the main floor, sunlight streaming through the large skylights high above, their openings closed by glass windows to prevent snowfall and cold drafts from entering. On these tables, one will find a veritable feast made up of many assortments of meats, fruits, salads, sandwiches, kebabs—and of course a line of open kegs, free for anyone to drink their fill of ales, ciders, beers, and wines. Juices and other non-alcoholic drinks are also available. Desserts are also available in the form of pies, cobblers...

II. BIRTHDAY GIRL

And a birthday cake!

It had been debated if they should cram everything in, but in the end it was decided that they would take this as an opportunity to celebrate Mid's 17th birthday during this time as well. A large cake is situated right at the center of the dessert table with the words, Happy Birthday Mid at the center. And of course, as her father, Cid could not resist but go ahead and have part of her gift set up early.

And that would be her original Orchestrion. The music it plays can be heard throughout the cavern, all an upbeat, festive theme, but there are other selections available for those who may want to poke around.

III. FUN ACTIVITIES

While around the Roost, there are a few other things one could enjoy.

🔥 There is nice, large bonfire situated in a large space of the hall that anyone can gather around to sit on blankets and pillows with warm drinks and use its flames to toast or roast anything from the food tables.
🎁 Although not required, should anyone have brought gifts either for Mid or for friends and acquaintances of the Hideaway they are free to exchange them at any time!
🌿 To celebrate a few of the seasonal customs, there are sprigs of mistletoe hung around various parts of the Roost. These aren't enchanted (as far as Cid is aware, anyway), so completely optional. But who knows, maybe some moogles decided to put a little prank...
🍬 Kaveh has created a special candy tower pinata in the shape of a gryphon that guests are free to bash. Break it open for a treasure trove of candy!

Outside, it's snowing quite a bit and for those who wish to cool off from the warm caverns, they can follow a well lit and decorated path right outside.

☃️ Build some snowmen, or snow moogles! Or just general snow fun.
🦅 The Roost has gryphons and they are going to have some fun throwing garlands at anyone, especially at pairs of people. Have fun getting out! If treated with respect (and bribed with some meat from the feast) they may give a short flight around the island.
🐤 The chocobos have grown and a few are available harnessed to a sleigh to ride around the hills and fields around the island. Feed them some gysahl greens and they will work even harder!

Should anyone find themselves too inebriated or just wanting to spend the night, there are extra lodgings available so anyone is welcome to stay the night! Or perhaps if one wants to join permanently...

IV. WILDCARD

YAY THE WITCH IS DEAD AND DAUGHTER HAS BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE??? Giant party log have fun. Keeping it light since the Winterstide event is also happening soon. For those who may be interested in the crew, you can refer to Hideaway info page here.

The log is set for December 12th and as mentioned in the log, if anyone needs to stay the night they are welcome to do so! Below are some reference images for the island in general. Note: the main residence is situated inside a large cavern spacious enough to have an entire town inside. There are numerous buildings and smaller caves that serve as functioning nooks like forge, library, etc. It's warm and comfortable inside despite the cold outside.

GALLERY

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code by efrynidel

Comments

Emet-Selch | Final Fantasy XIV | Paladin

[emet_sulk]

(ooc: I'm guessing he would probably have at least been invited by Joshua if not by someone else.)

Emet-Selch isn't much one for big parties and celebrations, but he understands the worth of attending them. Much like the one Joshua had once encountered him at, Emet-Selch sits quietly at one of the banquet tables, sipping at his drink and leisurely picking through his generous plate of food. He has brought along the white chocobo Clive allowed him to adopt and the adolescent bird currently sits behind him and to the side, eating from its own barrel of greens. It would have been a shame to not let it see its siblings, no?

Wallflower though he is, if someone takes a seat near him, he will politely strike up conversation. "Wonderful party, this is."

Such a rowdy group. It's...nice.

[ramuhs]

Then Emet-Selch likely won't mind a familiar face sliding right next to him, a tankard of ale in hand as he grins.

"Looks like you're enjoying yourself. And it's been some times since I've seen this fellow."

Cid reaches over to feed the chocobo a gysahl green before giving it a friendly pat on the beak.

"Might be having more of a feast than we are."

[emet_sulk]

The white chocobo lets out a cheerful 'kweh!' before snatching up the vegetable and gulping it down. Emet-Selch smiles faintly behind the rim of his own glass.

"Aye, he's got quite the appetite now. I already knew these birds do, of course, but I think I will have to prevail upon your crew for a steady supply of those greens."

He has been feeding his bird standard vegetable fare instead. Which, to be fair, it seems happy enough about. But the chocobo seems happier when fed a gysahl green.

[ramuhs]

A quiet laugh at that as he sits back so he can more properly converse with Emet-Selch.

"Not a problem. However we may have to charge a small fee," he adds with a friendly wink. "Have a number of chocobos after all."

[emet_sulk]

He chuckles and props his elbow on the table, resting his chin on the back of his hand.

"Of course. I wouldn't dream of short-changing an honest worker," he drawls. "Even if he is my competitor in business."

A light jest. Emet-Selch's does not plan for the Forge to compete directly with Cid's own business.

[ramuhs]

He can't help but grin at that.

"You know, we could always partner together more officially."

[emet_sulk]

"Oh?" He raises an eyebrow. After a moment, he flashes a smirk. "I didn't realise you had a preference for other men."

Let him have this one joke.

[ramuhs]

There's a small raise of his own brows before he laughs. Yes, he can let Emet-Selch have this joke and just flashes him a charming grin in return as Cid leans towards him.

"Man, woman, does it truly matter so long as one can create a meaningful connection?"

Emet-Selch just better hope Benedikta doesn't see this.

[emet_sulk]

He chuckles, propping an elbow on the table so he can rest his chin on his hand. Tempting as it is to carry the joke further, his heart is not fully in it. There is too much grief in him for a random dalliance.

So, while his words match Cid's tone, he is careful to create an emotional distance. "I would not mind deepening our partnership. Since I'm trapped here I may as well do something with my time."

[ramuhs]

It's all well and good since Cid was just teasing and playing along. Sensing that pull back, he does the same with a light chuckle.

"Besides the engine, what else are you thinking of?"

[emet_sulk]

He gestures airily. "Well, a young man was pestering me some moons ago for a means to watch one of his 'movies'. Something called a 'television' in his world, which I have surmised is a larger version of the shellphones we have. It took him a while to obtain the disc his movie is stored on but I have it now. That is my next project."

[ramuhs]

Cid arches a brow at that.

"So a larger screen to display videos and pictures and such? Intriguing... Do you not have anything like it in your world?"

[empyrean_mirror]

"It's nice to celebrate the good times, no?"

Kaveh of course brought his own drink, and a refill for the older man should he wants to. He's in good spirits, being the kind of man who loves a party and a bird that explodes into candy. But mainly he came over to coo gently at the chocobo, because he's still upset he was not allowed to keep one in his backyard.

[emet_sulk]

He will gladly offer his glass for a refill if Kaveh is offering it. The chocobo beside Emet-Selch chirps and fixes the other man with a curious eye. Since it's seated, Kaveh can easily reach out and pet the bird if he wants.

"Mm... I'm not really one for rowdy celebrations. But who could refuse free food and drink?"

He chuckles and spears a slice of fish with his fork. "And I daresay I deserve it after all that effort it took to keep their little lordling alive."

[garudas]

[She certainly is questioning the choice to have the chocobo so close to the rest of the food, but she is not drunk enough yet to even ask. Though, she would be remiss to say that she is not entirely curious about the man who helped banish Ultima into the void with Joshua, so she makes an "excuse" to approach by picking at some of the food nearby, a piece of cheese that she nibbles the corner of.

Only to be surprised when he is the one to strike up the conversation first.]

A bit crowded for my tastes.

[emet_sulk]

[ He nods affably enough, gesturing slightly with his glass. It comes naturally to him, this congenial act. He would drop it for those he knows better but it will suffice for a stranger.

When his eyes linger on her though, Benedikta may get the feeling that she's being perceived in some way. ]

A little. But it would hardly be a party if it wasn't, aye? And 'tis a deserved one after Ultima's banishment.

[garudas]

[A feeling that she is being perceived that she does not like, and she shifts uncomfortably first before she bites into the piece of cheese that she's taken from the platter.]

I suppose so. He got what he deserved, in the end.

[She casts a sideways glance at him.]

And you had helped. [She presses her lips together a moment, the words sitting strangely on the tip of her tongue before she simply shoves them out.] ... I suppose I owe you thanks as well.

[emet_sulk]

[ The perceptive feeling eases off and he glances away as well a moment later, apparently satisfied with his brief scrutiny. ]

Hah. No need to force yourself to say what you don't mean. I'm not the sort of man who expects thanks for the help he offers.

[ He says it airily, indicating he means no offence by it. ]

I don't believe we've met before. [ Well, he's seen her soup from afar, technically. ] Emet-Selch. And you are...?

[garudas]

One would think that we would have... given what you have done.

[She kicks a leg over the other, crossing them, and casually leans back on her hand, and now it is her turn to perceive him with a sharp, hawk-like gaze.]

Benedikta.

You have worked with Cidolfus on occasion as well, have you not?

hope you had a restful xmas!

[emet_sulk]

Aye. He and I share an interest in magitech. He was quite helpful - dare I say, instrumental - in helping me complete the Enterprise.

[ He bears her own scrutiny easily, idly wondering what she gleans from it. He casually portions out a forkful of some mashed potato on his plate and dabs it on to a slice of meat he had carved out earlier. ]

I hope to continue our partnership. Truth be told, he has something of an advantage over me when it comes to innovation. Ah - but don't tell him I said that.

[ He winks at Benedikta and promptly puts the forkful of food in his mouth. ]

i did, thank you!! i hope you did too 💚💚

[garudas]

[She nibbles on that little piece of cheese, a brow arching up.]

No need to fret. I do not need to stoke his ego any further than I already have.

[A little snort, but now she is curious.]

Might I ask what sort of advantage? He has told me much about the work you and him have done, and it would seem he admires your knowledge quite a bit.

<3

[emet_sulk]

My knowledge comes purely from being immeasurably old compared to the majority of you.

[ He makes a gesture towards the room at large. "All you mortals," it basically seems to say. ]

I make use of whatever man invents. Learn the inner workings of it, if I can. Apply it elsewhere. I couldn't possibly lay claim to anything I know because it is the product of a long line of far brighter minds.

[ Is it her imagination or is there a tinge of melancholy behind his words and manner? ]

[garudas]

Old? You do not look a day older than he does.

[She notably does not include herself in the lump of "the majority".

But Benedikta prides herself on being able to read people—it was all part of the job before, a skill that she had picked up young, and while she does notice that hint, she does not pry. Not so obviously, of course.]

There are many of those where you are from? The sciences were something of a new development in our world. I admit, I know very little of them myself.

[emet_sulk]

[ One corner of his lips twitches upwards. ]

Oh yes. In the course of some, oh, twelve thousand years or so, one does see quite the development in technology and science - and that is only mortal man's history. Ah, but to say more would spoil its natural course here.

[garudas]

[She nearly spits out her drink.]

I beg your pardon—you said twelve thousand years?