[EVENT] - Kharveryos

[zenderael_mods]

Who: Open
When: Friday/Saturday/Sunday, 4/1-4/3
Where: The Culture Center
Before/After: N/A
Warnings: Language. Violence, injury, combat. Cannibalism in 9pm thread.

[OOC post for this event is here]

Comments

[Before 8PM Saturday]

[zenderael_mods]

Saturday night sees an increase in customers for those who might have checked in on Friday. Large tables have been set up around the perimeter with all manner of cultural dishes on display, on sale to those who have come to partake in the festivities.

An area in the back has been closed off to make room for dancers in cultural dress, with the music on going to keep spirits high. Tables to sit and eat at are kept around this space, away from the traffic of the serving area.

[Mingling threads go here.]

~6-7pm [Pretty much open tbh]

[zenpc]

Everything was delicious. Gyros might have been his favorite, all rolled up in its convenient food pouch. Baklava was good, but mainly for the name. Listen to that. Baklava Baklavaaaa. But then Zale found loukoumades and they were in tiny ball form and nothing else about them could have mattered at that point. He promptly shoved one in his mouth.

Okay, no, those were his favorite.

"You guys have to try this," he said, calling to his X-DAV companions, but willing to take anyone who got caught in the crossfire of his insistence.

[zenpc]

As far as Roman was concerned, this was work, and there was no room for goofing off. He hung close to Zale because otherwise the kid would just get himself in trouble, but he hated it.

The berserker was dressed simply, in jeans and a T-shirt with a denim jacket over it. He looked like any other average American citizen in the room. Except, if you looked closely, there was a pair of plated gloves hanging from one of his belt loops.

"Quit stuffing your face," he replied, giving Zale no more than a single disapproving sidelong glance.

[7:30~8 Saturday]

[zenpc]

It was a food-centric event. Roman wasn't such a hardass that he couldn't take the time out for a dinner break. He left Zale and Noelle to their own devices, wondering if that would prove to be a bad idea in the end, and got himself a plate of moussaka and spanakopita to enjoy by himself at an unoccupied section of table.

Well. He still kept an eye on them from across the room. Just to make sure Zale wasn't getting himself in trouble.

[cloverstone]

That was her chance.

Jordan had been watching him, waiting (after she'd done a double-take) for him to move away from the other two. She had begun to thought it wouldn't happen, that she'd have to speak with him in front of Noelle who, bless her heart, might give something away, but no, there he was, alone at the table with his food.

If she separated herself from the situation, she'd grimace at her own likeness to a vulture. As it was, she was much too focused.

"Hello," she chirped, tone high with false amiability as she sat down across him. "You're the guard from the first XDAV meet. I didn't have a chance to thank you."

7-8PM [open]

[catchingseasons]

She separated from Roman and Zale, walking along the walls of the room, looking over the stands and the attendees. Of the three, she was the most poorly disguised, her bow and quiver, wrapped in sheets sticking out like sore thumbs. A group passed by, the word 'vigilante' easy to decipher, their label of her.

Well, it wasn't exactly a mystery.

[ open to any, and if your character wouldn't stop her, then you can assume she has stopped in front of a food booth ]

7ish

[wificafe]

Alison hadn't expected to spot Noelle here, of all places. Not that she minded, since it'd be that much more protection if anything did happen, but she hadn't heard much about the Hunter since they'd had their run-in.

To be honest, she still wasn't sure what to think about characters crossing over like this.

She only hesitated a moment before approaching, a guarded smile on her face. "Noelle, isn't it?" It was possible she could be mistaken, after all.

[deselfing]

It was a little after they'd arrived, people had settled into the event, grabbed food, taken seats, that she found herself standing in front of a bulliten board (shooting lessons, safety training on how to recognize signs if a monster is around your yard, capoeira), eating a gyro and wondering how she'd gotten there. She would much prefer to be at home, reading a book, or at work doing cataloguing, but she was here, knowing it was because she really didn't have those other two things to do (all books read, library locked down on the weekends earlier and earlier), and Zenderael... well, she would think of something to do.

And someone had asked her to come. That had been novel enough in itself that she had obliged.

[closed thread unless someone wants a cameo~]

[inchesofevil]

That someone wasn't even entirely sure why he'd asked Theresa. Maybe because, despite how creepy he considered their first meeting, the second had changed his mind and slotted her under "decent company." He liked that she didn't try to fill silence with empty noise. She was oddly comfortable to be around.

So, Duncan had asked her if she wanted to come, and she came.

They'd split off for a while, Duncan going to find his other friends and Theresa doing her own thing, but he found her again eventually. He walked up to her, a hand raised in greeting. "You doing okay?" he asked.

He'd come dressed as he normally did, boots, jeans, band-shirt, leather jacket over that. The difference today was the shiny new hunting rifle slung across his back, muzzle toward the floor. There were a couple loaded magazines in his pocket, but hopefully they'd stay there.

[7:15ish, after arrival.] [Rhys/Jo + Mal]

[brokencrescendo]

Rhys felt he should have done some research before coming, forgetting what a picky eater he had become. He convinced himself he would be able to eat meat again sometime, frequently missing the easy source of protein, but the thought of the texture against his teeth made his gut twist. Thankfully, the festival had clearly marked what was and wasn't vegetarian, and he was vigilant in keeping to what was safe.

When it was time to pay, he gestured toward Jordan while she finished with her own plate and paid for both of them upfront, leaving no time for protest, if not even room to notice until it was over. Rhys had invited her out, and it didn't seem fair for her wallet to take a hit for that.

[cloverstone]

Rhys wasn't the only picky one, though for Jordan, her reasons were financial. Then again, she wasn't one to eat much in one place at food festivals, anyway. She was a hit and run kind of food taster at these sorts of things.

She hadn't noticed him paying for her share until the person at the register waved her on. It made her feel odd.

"Thanks," she said, coming to stand next to him. "Where do you want to sit? Ah," she cocked her head in the direction of a free spot at the long cafeteria-styled benches, "there?"

[6ish, upon arrival] - [Mal/Gabe + anyone in the group who tags along 8D?]

[andlivefreely]

Malachai got all dressed up, as he tended to do for these things, only this time, his outfit included a shirt of chain mail made out of black steel in a tight weave, suitable for keeping most monster claws or larger teeth at bay. It draped over a dress shirt and ruffled cravat, and above was his ankle-length leather duster, ruffled ends of the shirt's sleaves sticking out at the cuffs. Black dress pants were tucked into mid-calf leather boots that tied up the side, and he had his typical cane, a top hat adorned with a series of brass gears, his goggles, and various other perephenalia.

After arriving with his mismatched group (the three vigilantes- er, neighbours- he'd acquired, or who had acquired him, he supposed, were only a part of what made the group so strange), he took Gabe's hand and hooked it on his arm before leading him off. He figured the group would all wind up doing their own things anyway. "Soooo, watcha wanna do? Sample the cuisine or just hang out?" Of course there'd be cuisine sampling at some point, but he didn't know if Gabe was hungry yet or not.

Unlike the rest of the group, Mal had left his shotgun in the truck, tucking it away and locking the thing up tight. He didn't much like guns.

[turnsteptwirl]

There was a part of Gabe's mind that still screamed that this was a very bad plan. After all, the last gathering they had been to had resulted in a man being thrown through the window and his roommate turning into the Ahura when he wasn't looking. There was a very good chance that something bad was going to happen here, too, and he couldn't shake the feeling, even with his arm being linked with Mal's. Mal was safe. Though, admittedly, he wished Mal had brought the gun in. At least they'd have some sort of protection. Just in case.

The worst part about all of this was that it was far too easy to put on a smile when Mal talked to him. All he had to do was pretend as though nothing was wrong whatsoever and maybe then he'd start to believe it. It hadn't worked the previous times he had tried it, mind, but it might this time!

Maybe.

"Oh, honey, if we're here, we're getting the food." Hanging out was fun and all, but what was the point of a food festival if you didn't eat the food immediately when you got there? Honestly...

6pm-ish Saturday [Alison + Eileen]

[feedtherain]

Ohhh this was so exciting! Eileen grinned, twirling a little as she and Alison walked through the door to the culture center. The music, the food, the smell of the food! It was all so wonderful! This was what happened when a LARPer brought Greek food to the camp and you fell in love with it.

And, yes, the cute young girl in the flowery skirt had a knife attached to the belt at her waist. She still wasn't sure how she had managed to sneak that out of Kyle's room in the first place, and she suspected he'd kill her if he realized she had taken it without permission, but it was his own fault for not being around to ask. It probably wouldn't do too much, being a smaller thing, but Eileen suspected it would buy her a bit of time if something jumped her. Of course, she'd rather have a sword on her, but any of Kyle's steel blades were mounted on thing. A sword would be a much better plan than her knife if something attacked her, but it would just have to do.

Of course, that was if something happened. For right now, she was perfectly content to pause just inside the door and take Alison's hand, smiling at her. "Thanks for coming with me. The housemates don't really like Greek food as much as I do."

[wificafe]

Alison followed Eileen in, her colourful skirts shifting as she moved, a holster strapped to her hip carrying a .40, which she really hoped never to have to use. Once inside, she suddenly paused to take in the scent. Oh how she missed her cafe already. She let out a sigh of longing, deep and depressing, but then smiled bright and cheered up almost instantly.

This was going to be fun, being the customer rather than the server.

She looked back to Eileen, giving her hand a squeeze. "Oh, it's alright! I love these sorts of things. So much food, and I didn't have to make any of it!" She gave a grin, though it was likely anyone who knew her would know she missed doing all that kitchen work.

At least she still got to bake for her parents.

7-ish, maybe? [Eileen/Ezra + Nadir]

[feedtherain]

Eileen honestly didn't think she had ever seen this much food in one place before. She had tried some of it already, but some of it wasn't nearly enough. And she hadn't even touched the delicious-looking baklava yet! She was looking forward to that most of all!

Of course, there was a little matter of figuring out what kind she wanted. She didn't know baklava came in kinds. She just thought the traditional sort she had once ages ago was the only sort of baklava there was, and now suddenly, there was variety!

Eileen frowned a little as she stared at the table full of baklava. Unfortunately, she was only one girl and couldn't possibly eat all of it. She'd just have to choose. But why was making decisions about this sort of thing so hard?

[coolmonsoon]

"If yer havin' trouble deciding," Ezra said from behind the table, using a rolling cart to restock the dolmas on the other side of the table, "feel free to ask for a sample. Dolmas are pretty good, but if you're lookin' at the baklava, my personal favourite is the one with pistachios."

He paused a moment, then broke into a grin as he got a good look at her. "Hey!" he said brightly. He'd already seen Mal and company while he was working, but he'd expected them. Seeing someone else he recognized in Fall City, even if they'd only met face-to-face once, was something else altogether. "Eileen! How're you doin'? Do you like pistachios?"

[8PM Saturday]

[zenderael_mods]

A deafening roar of thunder shakes the restaurant, knocking glasses from the tables that hit the ground and freeze into thin sheets of ice. The room fills with fog, and from the frigid mists peer two blue eyes, bright with the glow of demonic magics. An idle swipe of Kharveryos' tail knocks over a corner of the restaurant's tables, and quite a few patrons with it.

The vigilantes are quick to react, firing upon Kharveryos' undead form. He stomps toward them, unfazed by the bullets that tear through his vestigial flesh. The best they can do is serve as a distraction as other shout commands and rush to fallen citizens, helping them up and rushing them into an evacuation.

It's a distraction that doesn't last long. Kharveryos opens his maw, frost collecting at his jaws before another roar launches a blast of cold, icicle breath at the vigilantes.

[All post-Kharveryos threads go under here.]

[zenpc]

There it was. The "large disturbance" they'd been warned of. Roman calmly donned his steel plated gloves and faced the threat, slamming his fist into his palm in anticipation of the fight to come. There was no way he and his team were taking this thing out by themselves, but they could at least keep it away from the civs.

"Zale," he said, not taking his eyes off the dragon. "Punch me."

[zenpc]

Zale dropped his glass of water as it froze in his hand, and it cracked when it hit the ground, held together by the ice it had become. He stared at the dragon a few moments, then turned to Roman, cracking his knuckles.

"Sure thing, boss."

Using all his weight, Zale threw himself forward and decked Roman across the jaw.

[Ali/Roman 8D]

[wificafe]

After shouting to Rhys, Alison had tried to usher people out of the building. It hadn't gone too poorly- she'd managed to get a few small groups outside- but then the doors were frozen over, and the rest of the people huddled under tables or in corners, behind stalls/counters, and so on, were trapped. Including her.

She wasn't as bad off as some, huddled down and looking terrified, but she couldn't get them out any longer. That had her furious, actually, and the first thing she did was run to the exit and start smashing the ice, trying to break it off. It was mostly unsuccessful.

She turned, skirts sweeping around her, and started searching for alternate exits, fire exits, ventilation shafts, anything! As she searched, she moved from the frozen exit, eyes up and scanning all the walls, floor to ceiling, moving closer to the dragon yet trying to keep an eye on where it was located, and almost tripped over the remains of the baklava table before noticing there was someone on it. Or in it? Well, there was a guy there, either way.

She knelt down beside him. "Are you alright?"

[duncan/jordan] foreshadowing is a bitch

[cloverstone]

After leaving Roman alone, she'd been wandering around, looking for a tall head of orange, but to no avail. She'd come to a halt near a stand, resorting to texting him when she overheard the worker talking in a cell about needing another burner but Jacob still hadn't returned and they couldn't leave the stand unattended.

Having nothing better to do, Jordan volunteered to get this burner, if it were readily available, and lo it was, apparently one in the supply closet. 'Closet.'

She stared up at shelves and shelves of stuff and thought, no, don't be stupid, it's got to be in the front because this was something recent. Right?

[9pm]

[zenpc]

[Closed to Ezra/Nadir... for now.]

The battle had gone on for an hour, but Rhys and Roman were still at it. Fury may have been the only thing driving them past their exhaustion. Mal's offering of mail had done a lot to protect Rhys, but an icicle was still wedged into the Ahura's shoulder. Fury let him ignore that, too, and the trail of blood he left behind with his motions.

Kharveryos was equally relentless. No matter how many times he fell, he reformed back on all four feet. Undeath would outlast a berserker's battle lust.

Zale had been removed from the fight after taking a blow to the left leg from Kharveryos' tail. It didn't support his weight anymore, and he had been forced to flee to a fort he had built out of tables. The food was too frozen to eat, but that wasn't as much of a disappointment as his inevitable death. He picked up one of the small, cinammon honey balls. He forgot what they were called already. Maybe he could use them as projectiles. (Noelle may or may not have been resorting to kebabs as arrows.)

Ezra would find his hiding place in the kitchen gave him a clear view of the battle through the windows. The door had been frozen half open rather than closed, by anyone wanting in or out would have to be willing to run under Kharyveros to do it. At the very least, he was protected from stray frost breath, but not the cold itself.

[Mal/Gabe/Theresa] - can things get any worse

[andlivefreely]

After texting Gabe to find out where he was in this mess, Mal made his way to where he and Gabe had come in as quickly as possible, which, unfortunately, wasn't as quick as he'd have liked, since there were people trying to find safe places to hide, scattering every time that dragon moved or turned, not to mention things getting knocked over.

When he did finally get there, he searched frantically until he spotted Gabe, then ran up and grabbed his arm. "We gotta find somewhere safe," he insisted, only then stopping to look around at the chaos.

[turnsteptwirl]

Gabe had found a decent hiding place, at least. A table had overturned at some point and he had been using that as a shield. Fortunately, the dragon hadn't noticed him in his corner, and he had done everything he could to keep the thing from seeing him in the first place. He had chanced notice all of once, just to snap a picture to send to Duncan, but that had been it.

Mal catching hold of his arm, however, nearly caused him to drop his precious cell phone, and he fumbled with it a bit before finally managing to get his hands around it to tuck it into the pocket of his jeans. "Honey, at this point, I think 'safe' might be relative. Giant dragon, remember?" Giant dragon that could apparently only be killed with disenchantment or some sort of holy ability, according to Duncan, neither of which they seemed to have. They'd be lucky if they made it out of there in one piece.