riverviewlogs | open: gold & glitz

open: gold & glitz

who: Bryn Zethir & Guests
what: A Gold & Glitz House Party
when: Evening of June 1st
where: Bryn's apartment
warnings: Alcohol, tobacco, and weed.

[Welcome to Bryn's apartment. The door is unlocked, and personal belongings can be tossed up onto the bed just at the top of the stairs. The party's theme is apparent at once. As mentioned on the network post, gold and glitz is strongly encouraged (though no one will be turned away for lacking either) in clothing, jewelry, accessories, or however creatively someone would like to incorporate it. Those interested in participating but lacking anything gold or glitzy will find gold glitter body gel to spread on their skin, compliments of the hostess.

There's a bar cart by the front door with a sign that reads WELCOME in gold script. It's laden with short shot glasses filled with what looks like liquid gold. When imbibed, however, it tastes like a faintly peach-flavored vodka. The rest of the alcohol and mixers can be found in the kitchen. Clear plastic cups feature labels that can be written on in gold permanent marker, then filled with any number of beverages. Really, there's no real rhyme or reason to what's available, as guests have been encouraged to bring whatever they like and add it to the kitchen island. For those who don't drink alcohol, there's a sign on the fridge indicating that non-alcoholic drinks and mixers are kept within. Anyone looking to fill their stomach a little between drinks will find platters of finger foods available throughout the apartment. Gold macarons, cheese and crackers, sliced fruit and vegetables are plentiful, but guests who are quick enough may find they can grab some of the thinly sliced beef arranged around a bowl of spicy dipping sauce. Of note, there is also a plate of gold fortune cookies for guests. While it's noted there's only enough for one per person, the fortunes feature not only a fortune but a party challenge. Dance with a stranger? Eat nothing that isn't fed to you? Try your hand at inventing a new drink? Why not try it and see what happens? Play a game of party jenga for that matter.

Beyond all this, anyone attending is encouraged to mingle and enjoy themselves. There's ample seating throughout the apartment for people to sit back and enjoy their food and drinks, including a plush rug in one corner covered in floor cushions and pillows around a hookah with a variety of flavors of tobacco. For those who are more inclined to activity there's space enough to dance to the music that booms throughout the apartment. With the windows open the space stays well aired out and comfortable, inviting any who attend to linger as long as they like. By the looks of things the hostess has no intention of kicking anyone out no matter how late it gets...]

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_{[ It isn't a cultural thing, no. A lot of what Karamatsu says and does should just be disregarded-- that's how it usually goes, so he's accustomed to it at this point. Actually receiving a response only fuels his fire as he side steps closer and eventually slides down to sitting on one of the pillows next to her. His attire is a suit covered entirely in blue sequins-- he honestly looked like disco ball which could grab anyone's attention but it was probably too embarrassing to merit anyone's attention without him talking to them first. There is this cocky looking smile on his face as he twists his hair with his fingers, though his grin looks unstable like he might give it out any second from nervousness.

Seriously. He had never been to a party by himself before. ]}

We all have a certain path in life that we must take-- I have been set off course of mine. My own endeavors have been interrupted by other circumstances, but attending a party is part of my plan-- my Fate-- as now I have risen higher on my social ladder by attending a party.. the more I attend these, the more chances I have to graduate from the pond-scum of my status-- a virgin NEET-- and reign victoriously over my siblings.

_{[ He's definitely wordy. It takes him a second in silence to realize he was doing it again and clears his throat, giving her a shorter version: ]}

A-Ah, basically.. I enjoy parties, and I have not attended one in awhile since I have not been invited to one in awhile, so I feel somewhat victorious!

_{[ dude its just a party. ]}

[Okay. Wow. This is...a thing.

She brings the nozzle of the pipe back to her lips and breathes in as he goes through his speech, and holds it in as he continues to speak. To explain.

Of course, what she's getting from this is that he thinks her party is a means to elevate his social status over his siblings? Or something to that end? That he tries to recap is welcome but...]

I'm sorry, did you also just tell me that you're a virgin?

[Sorry, that's the word that stuck out for her.]

_{[ Oh, she hung onto that word, didn't she? Actually, he's certain he probably didn't actually mean to say that to a stranger, but it's kind of been a part of his identity for a long time-- shitty virgin NEETs kind of collectively identifies all six of them as a whole. Everybody back home knows, so it's almost casual for him to let it slip out without thinking.

His body jolts, almost enough to nearly knock him over at the realization of his error. How the hell is he going to make this sound appealing? ]}

Ha-ah, you know! It's something sacred I treasure-- a precious gift I'm saving for the perfect person.

_{[ That's probably a lie, and for some reason he think it'll help his situation. ]}

Edited 2017-06-05 13:46 (UTC)

[Bryn blinks again. She was judging at first, honestly. That's a hell of a thing to blurt out to a stranger, even in her world where they can be fairly open about sex.

His explanation however--well, it makes sense. There's just one thing that's sticking in her head.]

Well that's...very sweet of you. I mean it's good you're waiting for someone special. Do you always introduce yourself like that to new people? I mean, is that how things are done in your world?

_{[ His world is a very average world.. just a lot of strange circumstances happen there. His whole entire birth is something of a strange event; sextuplets are rare and it's a pity all six of them are losers who haven't really left the nest. They had every potential to be celebrities, but no, that's not their personalities whatsoever.

He twists his fringe in his fingertips as a nervous habit. ]}

My world is filled with people-- people who lie and deceive, who are fascinated with greed and strife-- it is just like any ordinary world. How, then, do you stand out along people such as that?
You are honest with people-- as honest as you can be. You are generous, giving what you have. Instead of strife, you embrace love.
_{[ he says this, but he's still probably stretching the truth about why he hasn't had sex yet. ]}

[That doesn't exactly answer her question. There are some countries back home that are almost unsettling in their brand of direct forthrightness. Their honesty is never embellished, however, not at all couched in poetic terms the way he manages.

Is it possible he's just...so very, very over the top?]

I see.

[And while it's not particularly polite, Bryn doesn't say anymore, mostly out of a curiosity to see what he'll say next. If he'll continue speaking even without prompting.]

_{[ You can give him one-liners and he will talk your ear off, so it's no problem. He's very over the top. For somebody who wants to stand out anyway, he has to try extra hard when he's a sextuplet. Can you imagine how often he gets mistaken for somebody else with five of his siblings look alike? It's annoying. He needs to have his own branding. ]}

Do you honestly, though? Are you a person who tries their hardest to stand out among the dirty footprints of people who carry blood on their hands? If not, I encourage you to do so. No matter how dark betrayal-- sadness-- anger-- how it cascades over your heart, you should give back only feelings of goodness-- that's how they will know that is how you want to be treated.

_{[ Karamatsu, that's how you get walked all over. ]}

I have faith in you.
_{[ Y'ALL JUST MET. ]}

Edited 2017-06-17 02:57 (UTC)

[She's been bewildered and somewhat amused by this conversation from the start--up until he started talking about people with blood on their hands and standing out from them. Preaching to her how she ought to live her life and then condescending to say that he has faith in her. As if she needs to better herself. As if he knows anything about her at all. There are some things she'll smile and swallow, deities knows it's what she's been trained to do and it's what her mother would expect of her as a hostess. But this is her home and she refuses to let it pass without comment.

Blowing a ring of smoke from her lips, she fixes him with an unwavering look.]

And I have blood on my hands, in service to my country. Watch your step if you don't want to pick up dirt from my footprints.

[She turns back to the pipe after that. It's not kind, it's not understanding of the fact that clearly he's a very, very socially awkward being. She ought to have been gentler, but he'd struck a nerve at the very core of her being. In this case, bluntness was called for to cut through the nonsense he was spouting at her.]

_{[ It's a firm response with good reasoning-- Karamatsu is accustomed to it, but it does cause something to twist uncomfortably in his chest. What Bryn doesn't know is a lot of the words out of his mouth are affirmation to himself as well; he doesn't look it, but during his time on the Eluvio he had to make some rash decisions in order to live. It's a miracle he survived on that space ship.

He seems a bit more meek, at least, which is a feat in and of itself since he's typically so Extra. So when he perks up again, still not shot-down from talking to her, he sounds a little soft: ]}

I'm sorry... _{[ both an apology for his words but also cause he's confused: ]} .. service to your country..?
_{[ was he speaking to yet another action hero? One thing about him, as fragile as he can be, is he usually never gives up building relationships with people, so be as rude as you need to. ]}

[Apparently turning her back on him isn't enough to give him the hint that she's no longer interested in this conversation.

Bryn can almost picture her mother's admonishing expression as she hears the guy respond, obviously tentative in response to her cutting remark. Her lips purse together in a thin line before she turns back to him. She's not glaring at him, at least, but neither is her body language particularly welcoming anymore.]

I'm a soldier back home. In service to the Council that rules and protects my country. It's an honor to protect and defend my home, to keep it safe for my friends and family. For everyone.

[After a moment she sighs, running her fingers through her hair.]

Look, in the future maybe focus more on getting to know someone before giving uninvited advice or telling them how they should live their life. Your words about having faith in them are going to ring hollow, insincere, and even a little condescending otherwise. And rubbing someone the wrong way on first acquaintance isn't what you want, right?

_{[ Of course not, he's a persistent gnat. What she says really strikes a chord with him in return-- it's somebody else who is a hero of sorts that he's met with. He could have explained himself a little better, but once again, he should probably put his foot in his mouth instead of trying too hard to impress somebody.

Bryn actually gets him to nod, as if he is understanding what she is saying. Will he practice that? Probably not, but it's more effective than telling him to back off or even result in violence (usually the case, honestly.) ]}

I see, well--
_{[ He doesn't actually sound offended surprisingly enough. ]}

I will do my best to take your advice then. It was nice, uh-- actually meeting the host of the party.
_{[ It's an awkward silence before he does take a side step back and leave her alone to possibly mingle with one or two more people before heading out.

Nobody has ever actually explained it to him so effectively before because her advice seems actually helpful. ]}

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