OPEN :: A golden bird was singing

[baedalites]

Who: Everyone!
What: St Kelley's evening
Where: The Apache and surrounding environs.
When: Veerdi evening.
Notes:
(1) The topic threads are just suggestions; if you've got somewhere else that your characters simply must be, make your own thread.
(2) All mementos will appear overnight in some part of your character's apartment.
(3) Dance!

St Kelley's is one of the more sedate occasions in Baedal, at least as holidays go. It passes more or less unnoticed by the majority of the population as many of them feel it doesn't concern them. It's not their holiday; it's for the others. Those with severed ties and broken hearts. The temple and church preach that it's a time for reflection or for glorifying the generosity of the gods. It's one of the few days on which no one looks askance at first generation Citizens mourning their missing loved ones publicly.

As night rolls around and floating lanterns are set to sea, the Apache in Mog Hill prepares to accept guests from the newer cohorts. It's something that happens every year, making it a practical tradition. The alcohol will be cheaper for first timers, and the music will be kept at a reasonable level.

Comments

[charismatic]

If Will were to sit down and survey his own behavior since arriving in Baedal, he would probably conclude that he's become something of a busybody. He's not doing that right now, though, and probably never will, so he just pauses next to the table, peering down at the lone occupant and the not-very-empty pitcher of beer. That's never a good combination.

He plops himself down uninvited, folding his elbows onto the table and looking over at Shrieky. “Today is not a good day to be drinking alone,” he says.

[wontturntofoam]

Why ever not?

The question floats through Shrieky's mind, but he decides against asking it. He's getting a little tired of looking like someone who doesn't know anything about anything. Instead, he blurts out indignantly, "I'm not drinking alone!" Except that... he sort of is, isn't he? Shrieky amends: "I was not drinking alone, when this jug was initially purchased. I don't think I have any money, so I couldn't have been, and legally, this probably doesn't even count as being mine."

He frowns, staring at the pitcher with some new misgivings, before redirecting his gaze towards Will, "You should probably have some of it though. To prevent me from drinking alone."

[charismatic]

Will shrugs, taking the explanation in stride. That's better than buying a whole pitcher for himself, even though none of it is actually any of Will's business. “I'll go grab a glass,” he says, though, and disappears for a moment. He comes back with a clean glass and fills it halfway. He's had a couple already, and he wants to be companionable, not drunk.

“Well,” he says, tipping his glass toward the other guy before he takes a sip. “Since we're officially not drinking alone, I should introduce myself. I'm Will.”

[wontturntofoam]

For some reason, Shrieky hadn't actually been expecting will to come back, and when the other man does, he's visibly pleased about it. He tips his own glass in response to Will doing so, and nods at the introduction.

"I'm very pleased to meet you, Will! Did you send one of the little boats out?" He feels that he smoothly dodged the name question there, Will probably didn't even notice.

[charismatic]

“I did,” Will says, and he only feels a little silly about it. He's only a tiny bit sentimental, personally, and there were a lot of people out there with him. It's a weird situation. Gotta take what comfort you can. “How about you, Mr. No-Name?”

[wontturntofoam]

"Have you received something in return?" When Will calls him on his failure to give a name, Shrieky has the decency to look at least a little uncomfortable about it. Apparently he's not as adept at dodging that conversation point as he'd thought, "I did also, and it's Mermaid. Which I realize isn't actually a name, so much as it is a species identifier, but none the less... that's what I am."

[charismatic]

Will tilts his head. That's the first time he's come across that, even here. “Well, do you want a name?” he says. It seems like a logical question.

[wontturntofoam]

"I don't really mind. If people call me mermaid then I know that I'm being addressed, it just makes introductions somewhat awkward."

Truth be told, he's still a little leery about being given names by humans, a lifetime of being called things like 'Shrieky' and 'Eel-boy' have put paid to that. Besides, he has a name. It just happens to be private.

[charismatic]

“You could pick one,” Will says, around the lip of his glass. He puts it down after he's done sipping. He shrugs. “I've met another mermaid,” he says after a moment. “She has a name, though.”

[wontturntofoam]

"It seems like a lot of responsibility, choosing a name for yourself. What if I chose the wrong one, and it never felt like it was actually mine?" Shrieky curls his fingers around his glass, peering at Will quizzically, "Ilde? The Rhinemaiden?" He smiles, "Or is there another?"

He would like there to be another.

[charismatic]

“Yeah, that's her. I saw her earlier.” Will waves a vague hand toward the door. He puts his elbows on the table, looking back at Shrieky. He doesn't think he's ever met someone without a name before, and he supposes it's not necessary if he has an identifier he likes. Still, he ends up pursuing the topic. “You could always change it, if you didn't like it. The name, I mean. It's yours, so you get to pick.” Well, most people don't, initially. But where Will's from, at least, everyone has the option eventually.