[open] Welcome to the home of tradition and progress!

[theearth]

Who: EVERYONE! including Mrs Kaufmann and Rose Bonbright
When: October 11th, starting 6 p.m.
Where: The museum that is attached to the town-hall of Füssen, specifically the Kaisersaal.
What: Mingle and happy welcome!

Through the usual channels, the mayor of Füssen has invited any and all numbered - no matter if they are only visiting for the evening/weekend and actually reside in Locke or Vegas or if they are staying for longer - to attend a little reception at the Kaisersaal in the town museum which is attached to the townhall.

Aka this snazzy room just with the chairs grouped around tables and no stage, though four musicians play quartets on a low podium at the side of the room. It's a very distinguished affair don't screw it up, you can do it, numbered! No, we don't know who believes that, either.

Mingle and eat and have fun!

And a note: Drinks are free! But the youngsters will get carded, and alcohol like beer will only be served to 16+ people, while spirits and other higher percentage booze will only be served to 18+ people.

Comments

OTA

[purestambition]

As if Saretha was going to turn down such an invitation. That, after all, would be incredibly rude. She's still in the process of collecting her thoughts on a variety of matters, for just as many reasons, but... Business is business. In this case, making a good showing is important.

She's foregone Junketsu tonight for something far more elegant, even if she has taken measures to make certain there is a car out front with her name on it housing both that creature and her katana. For now, she mills about, trying to more or less get a bead on what everyone else is doing, and seeing if she can zero in on any particular people of interest.

[charcoalfeather]

Now was the perfect time for Rakka to stumble upon the person that she say punch Raye through several brick walls. What's the worst that could happen?

Rakka had opted for something very elegant as well for this event, it went really well with her wings and halo. The only problem was she was sort of... drunk.

"Heeey. Didn't you punched Raye once?"

[purestambition]

It's rather easy to pick out someone who really shouldn't be drinking, sometimes. Especially when they come up to you. Saretha herself had opted for just tea, as she wanted full control of all her faculties. As it was, since obtaining Junketsu she'd hardly drank much at all. The necessity to maintain her willpower at full potency at all times meant she couldn't have anything clouding her mind.

She peers down at Rakka for a second, taking a sip from her cup, before answering finally.

"More than once, if you want to be precise."

[charcoalfeather]

Of the many things Rakka probably shouldn't have been doing while she was in Germany, attending something that was supposed to be good publicity for Numbered everywhere, getting drunk because of Octavia probably wasn't one of them.

But fuck it, right? She had been through a lot, and she could actually hold her liquor quite well. Just ignore how she sort of swayed back and forth.

"Yeah, you did. I saw you." She shook her head, possibly trying to regain some of her higher brain functions. "What're you doing here? Are you gonna... punch Raye again?"

[purestambition]

There is a flicker of... something in Saretha's eyes. No telling how well the intoxicated Rakka could potentially pick up on it, but she turns slightly, shaking her head.

"No."

It's simple, but it says a lot. She's long been wanting to push her fellow Numbered to be stronger, to grasp their power and make way for themselves rather than let it be dictated by others... She understood, through meeting her and through Satsuki's memories, that fighting Raye was the only way she'd have gotten through to her in past instances.

Things were different now, and Saretha is not so hung up on petty rivalry to push it for no reason.

"I don't have the reason to, as it stands. All of this, however... Whether you like it or not, we are all on the same side."

[charcoalfeather]

"...I like that."

It's honest and calm, the way she says it. For a moment, however short it is, Rakka was completely serious and her mind was clear.

"We all have to help each other, since... no one else wants to." Not necessarily the people here, of course, but her point was made.

[purestambition]

Saretha goes back to her tea a moment, and then nods. The girl was perceptive, even moderately intoxicated. Her lips twitch upwards ever so slightly.

"Precisely. There are many who would see it easier to hang us out to dry, all while we are seeking our own survival - and theirs as well. We must continue to fight if we are to attain that, and there is an extent where eventually... We must look to our common goals."

[charcoalfeather]

"Yeah!" Rakka nodded a bit too excitedly, but at least she was agreeing. "That... that's right! We have to work together now."

Rakka's expression flickered, her lips turning down into an unsure frown. "I mean... if we can."

[purestambition]

Saretha's expression shifts away a bit. She seems to be thinking about something else entirely for a second before just nodding a little bit again. "I suspect that such a thing will not be entirely easy in some circumstances, but... We have to think about the long term effects of our actions, too."

[charcoalfeather]

"Right. Like, what some of us have already done, and if it's good or not, right?" Drunk as she was, Rakka was still putting her mind to this conversation. She was invested in it now.

[purestambition]

A nod. She's following along, which is a good sign, drunk or not. "Precisely. Every action we take, every movement we make which is seen by the public eye... It makes a difference, one way or another. Unfortunately, it is much easier to make a bad impression than maintain a good one."

[charcoalfeather]

"Yeah..." She'd come all the way here for a so called second chance, right? Rakka wasn't going to mess that up. She promised herself that.

"And everyone is focusing on the bad impressions." She frowned. "That sucks."

[purestambition]

"That's the way the public eye works." Her family certainly had spent enough time in it to learn that lesson early on in life. "So... we must do all we can to swing the opinion the other way, for whatever good the attempts may do."

[knights_king]

Arthur hadn't drawn attention to Saretha at any moment, figuring she looked way too busy any time he figured to say 'Hello'. Still, he was easily distracted well enough, having somehow discovered a familiar soul in the crowd--a young man his age who happened to also have grown up watching mercilessly stupid wrestling shows.

It was probably the most pleasant anyone not intimate with him would see Arthur act.

[purestambition]

Even so, Saretha does zero in on him eventually. When it came down to it, he was one of the few people on the Network she'd interacted with that had never once actually annoyed her. She might be getting better in that respect, whether she wants to admit it or not, but... it's still significant enough in her book.

"I do believe this is the first time I've ever run into you under 'normal' circumstances."

[knights_king]

By then, Charisma had been somewhat weighed down by the waiter who had consistently brought Arthur a new beer every single time he finished one for the previous half hour. Dragon's blood or not, he was in another country and knew very few people, so his inclination to keep from embarrassing himself was somewhat declined.

Arthur stared at Saretha awhile, one eye blinking slowly, followed by the other.

"OK," Good answer. "I mean 'hey'. What's normal?"

[purestambition]

Saretha stares back, and then takes a few seconds to go back to her tea. Finally then, she smirks just slightly.

"Looks like you're enjoying the local hospitality, at least," she says. "As for normal... I suppose the lack of things trying to kill us would be a good place to start."

[knights_king]

Having tea at a party like that. Arthur couldn't help but suspected, briefly, that Saretha was some sort of super-villain.

He reached up to take another conscious sip, though admittedly his brain wasn't tilting in the right direction.

"I dunno. I figure lots of folks and monsters want us dead at this point. It doesn't really matter when they do it, because it'll probably be at the worst time, anyway..."

[purestambition]

Saretha has a thing about being in control of her actions at all times. Besides, you wouldn't want her to have to don Junketsu and not be fully considering of her actions.

"Ah, wanting us dead and actively trying to kill us are two different sorts of things. Regardless, should anything occur... I am prepared for that eventuality as well."

[knights_king]

"Don't see a difference," Arthur thought of it on two fronts: an enemy sharpening his sword was just as likely to encourage others to attack in his stead just by having a malicious presence. It was the same as a bully staring you down on the playground. The other kids would get ready to harass you just to be a part of the struggle.

"Cocking your first and throwing a punch--same thing to me."

[purestambition]

She blinks. Having been drinking or not, Arthur's still on the money. Enough that Saretha, in a rarity, actually relents and nods. "That I will see you. As we speak, there are those plotting our demise... Though one hopes they are far away from here, for now."

Saretha's no fool, of course - hope or not, she's still playing this whole affair cautiously. Giving everyone a certain amount of scrutiny.

[knights_king]

"They already tried to off plenty of us," He sighed into his drink, taking a moment to enjoy the expensive liquor he was shoveling down his throat. Saretha seemed to agree with him, but he had the impression that her ambitions were being a bit withdrawn. She must have wanted--

"You want to attack 'em, though. Not without throwin' the first punch, but you wouldn't show 'em any mercy, right?"

[purestambition]

"And have succeeded if not with us, then members of some of our families." Such as Alan Hunter's mother. Or Raye...

She gives him an impassive look at the question, but nods. Really, there was no point in being dishonest - he's right on the money. "Correct. But if I am seen throwing that first punch, I have no recourse to defend myself. However, should they strike against me... well." Her eyes glint a bit in the light as she tilts her head up a little. "I have a great deal in store."

And not just straight up killing them. Oh, no.

There are many more ways they can be a lot more useful to their cause than dead.

[knights_king]

"Not sure if you've dealt with how the mafia likes to treat its enemies," Arthur had never had to deal with it before, but he knew about it speaking with others works on site and hearing things from his father when he was a kid. They didn't care who they dealt with. Power, influence--it could come crumbling down if someone knew the right cog to tamper with. It was why he was underspoken in that instance.

Arthur would fight, but he didn't know what cost would be incurred if that were the case. The only one left aside from Emilia had been Kyle, whether he hated his brother or not.

"It's not just with guns, y'know?"

[purestambition]

Saretha tenses just a little bit. It's more than may be usual for her, but it may be detectable to someone with a keen enough sense about such things. She gives a slight nod. "I have... seen their handiwork, yes."

She shakes her head, however. "But no, it is not... nor do I have intentions to just combat them in the traditional sense if needed, either."