songerein | ⨂ Eustace's Bach--er, Camping Party ⨂

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⨂ Eustace's Bach--er, Camping Party ⨂

Who: Eustace & all his male CR
Which: Semi-closed log, forward-dated to the weekend before the wedding (November 26-27)
Where: Out in a cosy clearing of the Wildlands
What: Eustace can't make up his goddamn mind, so he invites all the men he knows to his bachelor party. He intends for it to be a relaxed hangout, but...well. We'll see.
Warnings: Alcohol, underage drinking, ghosts, more to be added if they come up

» invitation
At some point in early November, all those named by Eustace (aka, every man Eustace has had CR with) will receive a short message from Trahearne over the journals:

Hello. If you aren't aware yet, Eustace will be getting married this winter. He has invited you and several others to join him in a pre-celebration of the occasion called a "bachelor party." This will be held on Saturday, 11/26 at a location in the Wildlands (see attached map). Please bring food and drink and anything else you will need for camping.

No need to reply. If you are unable to attend for any reason, feel free to ignore this message. If you will be coming, we will see you there.

For those who are reluctant, or want to go but can't find a good excuse, some of Eustace's dogs will appear at those characters' houses without warning to dognap them. The flower dogs can make use of vines for those who really want their characters to suffer for this party.

While any of the dogs may come to grab people, only the male dogs will stay for the party, of course. There will be 5 dogs in attendance total--4 corgis and 1 flower dog.

» campgrounds

In the weeks beforehand, Trahearne and Beat went and scouted out a suitable little place for the shindig: A clearing in the woods flanked by a small cabin. The cabin sits nestled among the trees at the edge of the clearing. The clearing itself is sizeable--there's a place for chopping firewood, a ring of stones in the middle suggesting its use as a bonfire spot, and a grill built into the ground nearer the cabin.

The ground here is soft, but not muddy--perfectly suitable to sleep on. Beat and Trahearne made sure to clear away excess leaves from the ground to make things more comfortable.

The woods around the clearing are not thick, but they are still wilderness. There is abundant, if mundane flora to be found, and smaller critters that happily scamper around in the daylight. Who knows what lurks beyond in the nighttime... Better keep those fires going to keep the bad things away.

» cabin

The small cabin at the edge of the clearing is just that--small. It is comprised of only two rooms. The front room is a sitting room with a small kitchen, kept warm by a wood stove. Visitors to the cabin are free to make themselves comfortable in front of the fire on the couch big enough for three, or the large sitting chair by the window. The dining table only seats two, and it sits snug against the back of the couch.

The back room is home to the bedroom. Here, the visitors will find two bunk beds--enough sleeping room for four (or more if you wanna share i'm not judging). All the beds are made and equipped with soft, clean blankets and pillows. It seems whoever was here first was anticipating the party.

There is also another door in the bedroom, which leads to a closet. The particularly nosy will find all sorts of things useful for a cabin stay inside: extra pillows, blankets, tools for maintenance, an extra grill... You name it! Within reason!

On the outside, there is a stockpile of wood for the wood stove, and an outhouse. Just the one.

» nighttime

This is an overnight party, by the way. And when night falls, that's when the real fun begins.

As mentioned before, there is more than enough space in the clearing to create a big bonfire. But be careful--it's dry and windy. Take care not to unwittingly set any of the trees on fire. The ground is comfortable enough to sleep on (especially for those seasoned travelers), but for those who don't want to rough it completely, there are tents and sleeping bags.

The cabin is for those who don't like or can't sleep outside. It is comfortable and warm, yes, especially with all those others in the same room... But there's a catch. It's haunted. The ghost that inhabits the cabin isn't malicious, thankfully. It's friendly, in fact. Perhaps a little too friendly. Those sleeping in the cabin may find themselves poked and prodded into awakening at odd hours. Besides that, it's harmless. Promise.

Treat this as a mingle log! The setting description above is just the stage--feel free to come up with games, have your characters bring things to add to the mix, play around with the things mentioned above. It can be as chill...or not as chill as you want.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There's no sense in dirtying another glass for just a taste, if you're willing to share.

[Diluc takes the offered sip, considering the flavor before responding with a soft hm. He's impressed--especially since this is a relatively new hobby for him.]

Technically moonshining, but the product is anything but the low quality one typically associates with the activity. You've put a lot of thought and work into it.

I'm willing, just would rather check before assuming.

[He'd done his best to lighten the sort of kick most would expect out of moonshine- oh, it was still there if you took a shot of it without thought, but the taste softened to instead tell it was whiskey mixed with honey and notes of fruit.

Could be surprised it came out of a handmade distillery hidden out in the woods somewhere with the time and effort he put into getting it right.]

I've had the time to, more so if I was going to share it with some folks who might have the same issue that I do with regular alcohols and the like. I, of course, also make that for the typical drinker that won't knock them on their ass. [He hummed-] Better when it tastes good, too. Enjoy the experience and all.

[Diluc can definitely tell that it's the kind of alcohol that could get ~~a lightweight~~ an infrequent drinker like himself into trouble. Memories of downing a glass of fire-water and passing out for three days spring to mind.

At least this was made with flavor in mind. "Better when it tastes good" is something Diluc appreciates--it's more or less the Mondstadter approach to alcohol.]

What issue do you have with regular alcohol, if you don't mind my asking?

[He drank plenty that had tasted like someone shouted the name of a fruit at some paint thinner, and adjusted his 'recipe' as needed to try and keep the strength that normally brought that on and- well. Twist it, bring out the flavor of the honey and fruit mixed with corn that made this whisky with an inspiration from mead sort of thing.

Had gotten a lot better, more so when he discovered what letting the honey sit around a bit in sealed jars did.]

Doesn't so much as get me buzzed unless I drink a lethal amount- or down half a bottle in one go.

[A light tap to his chest.]

It's the same reason drugs don't work on me for long unless they're made specifically to do so. So- bit of a self interest to pick up the hobby since I had the time in a place like this.

I see.

[The exact opposite issue that Diluc has with alcohol, then. He's especially glad he only accepted a sip. He might not have survived this bachelor party if he had a full glass.]

Is that sort of thing common where you're from? Those resistances?

Not really. Has to do with the reason I go by 76, though.

[To some that could scream of some sort of scientific experiment, and it wouldn't be wrong at all. Wasn't something against is will, but it sure as hell went ways he never could have expected.

Not many of them were still alive, either.]

[That implication behind the statement that there's a reason he goes by a number is grim, regardless of the actual details. Scientific experimentation is not a foreign concept in Teyvat. Diluc's seen the effects of it on others multiple times.

He'll respect 76's privacy and not pry further.]

I wish you continued success with the hobby, although from what I had tonight I hardly think you need my blessings.

[He was half waiting for something to come up, to be wrong, simply because of how long he was still going. That things had been done he couldn't know about simply because of those times he was comatose to keep him alive during it all. Would he still do it all again, like he'd told someone so long ago?

... Couldn't tell anymore.

His head tipped a bit.]

Never hurts to hear it. Improving with every batch after all, and always room for it. Some folks who come to the Harvest like the toned down versions at least.

[It's better on both sides to keep the conversation on the business and hobby of alcohol, really. Bachelor parties aren't really the right venue for navel gazing and regrets.]

Ah, I was going to ask if you've made this available through the Wild Harvest.

I still think it's a shame that our two business can't cooperate more closely, but that issue is beyond the both of us.

Could call it a watered-down version, mostly because I'd rather no one get swept off their feet after a sip. Doesn't take from the taste of it, at least.

[There was a faint chuckle there because- yeah. Yeah.]

It is, and maybe one day that issue will be less of one. [Said the man who went after Kazuma when he started to turn Noctaere over van Zieks arriving in the world.] Still, we can still talk about it at least.

No harm in it- and we did do well for the pop-up, at least.

[Diluc also went after Kazuma during that whole fiasco. It was his first run-in with nightmare energy, in fact.]

I stay out of it. It's not my place to get in the middle of it, and... I see where each is coming from, besides.

[Diluc himself has similarities to both that might be Concerning.]

But we did do well during the pop-up, and I hope we can continue to work together on events in the future.

[One hell of an incident, that was for sure- and it didn't help him much given his own still present form of nightmare energy clinging to him. Reason those gloves of his were still on, in fact.]

Same, really. I only know one side of the story, and I've also seen the type of people they both are. Maybe time will tell there, either way.

[He knew Kazuma was a good man, and so was van Zieks. Some things just... ran deep, took longer to heal if they ever did.

76 hummed.]

So do I. Food and drink pairs real well together after all.

[Diluc, meanwhile, just wears gloves all the time because fashion. And probably some burn scars.]

I know bits and pieces of both sides. [Well, more about Van Zieks' than Kazuma's. But that's to be expected, given which of the two of them he knows better.] And I can't say I'd do differently than either of them have. They've both lost dear family to terrible circumstances, and that sticks to you.

[He knows that much from his own experience. Without even thinking about it, he clenches and releases his left hand.]

[76 tipped his head with a low noise in his throat; he'd seen things, things he wouldn't even bring up other than silent memory of nightmares, the times he had pulled Kazuma around and out—]

It does.

[From his own personal experience, and it painted why he fell to using a number assigned to him. Why he was on the path he was back home. Why he didn't blame either, but still hoped maybe they could do better for themselves. A truth found that could help in time.]

One reason I stick so close to the kid when he needs it.

And one of the reasons Van Zieks makes it a point to keep an eye on me, if I have to be honest.

[He's gotten variations of 'don't do like I did at your age' advice from the man. It's advice he's tried to take to heart, although the reality of his own feelings is too complicated to be able to heed it wholeheartedly. Especially with a certain someone now in town...

Either way, it's a rather tacit admission that he's less okay than he purports to be. Maybe the sip has affected his judgement more than he realizes.]

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out.

It's real easy to spot yourself in someone that hasn't gotten to the point you have yet... and want them to do better, take even a slightly different path and live better.

[Shoulders shrugged a little as he spoke, taking a slow sip from his glass just at that last word. Wanting to know the truth, digging in deep, anger and a growing hatred fueling a revenge filled justice- he knew that well. Reason he'd flung himself under a sword for Kazuma in a nightmare.

Reason he went after him and didn't stop until he pulled the kid out, even after having to make mistakes to figure out what was needed. Hell of a thing.]

Yeah, and hopefully it goes for the best- for the both of them.

[Whatever it could entail to be the best for Kazuma and van Zieks.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

⨂ Eustace's Bach--er, Camping Party ⨂

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