Attack on Holidays

[hometown]

WHO: the Attack on Titan cast and their +1s
WHAT: holiday shenanigans
WHEN: around the Solstice
WHERE: an inn in Stormreach
WARNINGS: tba; please check subject lines



Sometime after a less than stellar conference call, Reiner sends an invitation to everyone from his world. "You're Invited to a Holiday Party," the store-bought invitation reads in swirling seasonally decorated letters. How very fancy!

The invitation specifies three things. Number one: it is a celebration of the holidays. Number two: it is a celebration of a year of a successful non-aggression pact. Number three: everyone is invited to bring a "plus one."

Surely, nothing will go wrong with this plan. Surely!

The party itself takes place at an inn in Stormreach, part of which has been reserved by Reiner. The inn is made of stone and wood, its aesthetic closely resembling buildings in Paradis. There are several spacious rooms available: places for eating, places for mingling, cozy corners for more private conversations, and access to the inn's bar.

• In one of those cozy spaces, one might find a lit candle known as a Candle of True Feelings. In its presence, people understand their feelings better and feel inspired to talk about them. How very curious!
  
  
• Of note: magic supersedes technology in Stormreach. One is far more likely to run across potions and crystals than gaming systems… But that hasn't stopped Reiner from setting up a gaming system in a corner, anyway.
  
  
• If one steps outside for a breath of (cold) fresh air, they'll find themselves close to the clock tower. Local legend claims that those who kiss on top of it are destined to never breakup. However, that legend has not been tested … yet.
  
  
• During the party, a table is filled with various gifts for the "+1s," created by those from Paradis and Marley. The gifts include knitted clothing (scarves, mittens, socks), chocolates, sweet baked goods, and fidget toys made of wood or stone. Feel free to partake, +1s!

Naturally, there is a wide assortment of food—some of which is best described as "ungodly spicy"—with a particular focus on potato-based foods. Also, peaches and pineapples, for Reasons™.

Have fun, and try not to break anything!


( ooc: this is a mingle! top-level, tag around, etc. put any warnings in subject lines, and if a thread heads toward smut, please take it to an inbox or something. ♥ )

Comments

[wingbound]

Levi attends dressed in his idea of fancy: a simple but good quality dark green suit, waistcoat included, except he's exchanged the tie for a silk cravat. Some extra bulk around his left knee suggests he may be wearing his brace underneath, but he does also sport a walking stick, and can mostly be found sitting down when he's not leaning on Erwin. Nonetheless, he's determined to participate!

He can be found testing the food, though he seems to be going for the more simple options rather than the super spicy ones, for example, he appears rather fascinated with the mashed potatoes. He also seems to have a soft spot for the fruits, especially peaches, and at least a few times he can be seen carrying a smoothie that he got from Sisu. Is he helping her advertise her future business or does he simply have a taste for fruity goodness? Who knows!

He knows nothing about videogames, so feel free to invite him simply for shits and giggles, but if someone or other spends enough time trying to convince him to participate, you'll probably see him playing something that looks like a powerwashing simulator, or awkwardly (yet surprisingly successfully) attempt something like Mario Kart or a combat game. He's holding the controller upside down all the while because of course he is, and he'll shoot down any criticism with a simple, "This is more comfortable".

He has also brought some gifts with him that he's handing out by simply shoving them into people's hands or holding it up in front of them -- the (former) Scouts and guests who are his friends will receive nice little textile bags with herbal tea mixes, home-grown and dried over the summer. They seem to be personalized to an extent, featuring either a flavor you like, or a herb that may help with whatever persistent issue you may be having (like relaxing lemonbalm for someone having trouble sleeping, mild chamomile if you're prone to colds, etc). Anyone else is welcome to pick their choice of color from a small pile of knitted hats, whether grabbing it from Levi in person or simply waiting until he deposits them onto the +1 gift table to take one without having to talk to him.

It's not impossible to catch him in the candle room, where he may have stopped for a little rest after walking around for a longer period of time. Surely someone as blunt as him has been open with his feelings all along, right?

He can also be found taking a little breather outside when the party gets too overwhelming; for someone who actually likes being around people he doesn't enjoy crowds at all and often slips out when it gets too loud or too busy. Light pollution probably means no stars can be seen from outside the inn, but the fresh winter air is still a nice change.

[abnormalizes]

"Oh, thank you!"

Google says rosemary is good for nightmares, so let's go with that. Not that Evangeline knows the different uses of various herbs, but it definitely smells nice.

"Mine isn't as thoughtful, sorry."

She hands him a wrapped box with a "vacuumologist" shirt inside.

[wingbound]

Well, if she has a better night's sleep after drinking some, it'll be a pleasant surprise! And might also make her come back for more once he actually starts his tea business.

"That's alright." He just accepts it rather than try to offer reassurances; he is quite sure he'll like it regardless of what it is, because getting free presents from people is still a comparatively new concept for him, but he's just not much for expressing verbal niceties. He takes the box, unsure if he's supposed to open it now or bring it home. "Thanks."

He'll definitely be confused by the word on the shirt if he opens it on his own.

[abnormalizes]

Does he not know what a vacuum cleaner is. Does she get to be the one to introduce this cleaning marvel to him.

"Any time! I hope you like it."

[wingbound]

He has, in fact, discovered the joys of vacuuming! His best friend even bought him a roomba just a few months in. Well, technically, he was the one paying so he bought it himself, but they told him about it and showed it to him, so it still counts.

Words ending in -ologist is a different matter. He thinks it usually refers to doctors, but he's not sure what the relation between medicine and cleaning is.

Well, cleanliness does keep one healthy. He decides it must be related to that as he takes her hopes as an encouragement and does in fact open it, holding the shirt up to see.

"It's not a style I usually wear," he says, tone unreadable, as he inspects the garment. True enough, the closest he's gotten to a t-shirt so far is probably a long-sleeved henley, and most of his shirts are button-downs.

Nonetheless, there's something softer in his expression as he glances back at Evangeline; perhaps not quite a smile but a hint of one in his eyes. He likes it, because it's a gift from a friend.

"Maybe it's a good time to start."

[abnormalizes]

"They don't make as many button-down shirts with witty text on them, sadly." And funny shirts are Evangeline's go-to present.

"It doesn't hurt to have a few more casual options."

[wingbound]

"That probably wouldn't work very well." Opening the shirt would mean splitting the text, and buttons might obscure some of the letters. It would look strange, too.

"It looks comfortable to wear at home. Stretchy fabric usually is." He may or may not have succumbed to wearing sweatpants in his house a few times. It's easier to dress with his shitty leg when there's some extra space in them.

[abnormalizes]

"Sure is! -I know I'm the last person who should be saying this, because I wear my EGO suit for protection reasons ninety percent of the time, but comfy clothes are really nice."

She owns sweatpants and T-shirts! She just barely wears them.

[wingbound]

"That's a good reason," Levi assures. "I just wear what I'm used to. My uniform does have half my gear in it though, so there's that."

It's a lot easier to just grab and equip the gas and blades than to also have to put on the full-body harness first. So, maybe that technically qualify as protection too; it won't stop a bullet but it'll make him able to spring into action more quickly. He's not in his unform now, though; suits are also something he wore quite a lot once he was able to afford it, exactly because of that; he thought it was fancy and he didn't have access to it when he was younger.

[abnormalizes]

"Mm. -Do you also have trouble convincing yourself you won't need to be ready to fight at any moment? I have that problem a lot."

Logically she knows she's not in danger in the city proper, but emotionally...

[wingbound]

He does, too; he just doesn't see it as a problem, which may be made obvious by the way he sort of stares at her with a mix of something like confusion and apprehension.

"...Why would I want to convince myself of that?"

[abnormalizes]

"I've been told that being constantly on alert for danger is unhealthy for you? And sure, I'd believe it, but getting attacked while your guard is down is also unhealthy for you."

Checkmate, concerned friends.

[wingbound]

"A knife between the ribs is more unhealthy than a shitty sleeping pattern," Levi huffs. "I'll take my chances."

Checkmate, indeed.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata incredulously stares at Levi's powerwash simulator game.]

What the hell are you playing?

[Is he just... cleaning something??]

[wingbound]

[ He doesn't even deign Mayorin's presence with an acknowledgement until he speaks up... mostly because he's so absorbed in uncovering a beautiful tile mosaic under an overgrown, mossy and muddy garden path on the screen. The way the little pointer thing follows his instructions with the buttons and leaves a colorful swath in its wake is also quite satisfying. ]

It was in the box. [ He means the console. ] Jean recommended it.

[ Probably because he knew exactly what he was doing. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

Well, I'll watch.

[He plops down next to Levi and observes his continued water-pressure-aided excavation efforts.]

...

Is this the whole gameplay?

[Where are the enemies?? Where are the explosions?]

[wingbound]

...

[ Levi doesn't invite him but he doesn't deny him either, apparently fine with him taking a seat next to him. Hijikata might want to voice his bracket inquiries if he actually wants those answers, because Levi knows just about nothing of what "gameplay" even means. ]

There are different places to clean.

[ He means levels. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

I see.

[What the hell. This has to be some mini game inside a proper game, or a joke advertisement, or something like that. Who'd make a whole game about cleaning?! But as he keeps watching, sure enough, nothing else happens.]

...

Are there any enemies in this game? Or, like, objectives, such as cleaning x amount of items under a certain time limit?

[wingbound]

[ Levi's eyes slowly move to stare at Hijikata for a few moments before returning to the screen and his lovely tile mosaic garden path. ]

The dirt is the enemy.

[ Duh. ]

[ There are probably some optional objectives for points or a cooler looking hose or something, but he's not that knowledgeable in gaming just yet. ]

[mayoninofukucho]

... I see.

[Is he for real? Is this a game for grandpas?? Or some immersive therapy kind of thing? How is Levi, who chopped up chimera bears and frost giants with him, into something this mind-numbing??? But then again, he is a neat freak IRL...]

Isn't it, uh... boring?

[wingbound]

[ It's probably all of those things, let's be real. ]

[ Levi huffs indignantly, as if Hijikata's impatience offends him gravely, but not enough to actually do anything about it. ]

It's actually rather satisfying. [ YEAH FOR HIM MAYBE!! ] Do you want to try?

[mayoninofukucho]

Yeah.

[He takes the offered controller. He needs to at least give it one try, otherwise he'll keep boggling over how a game like this with no apparent target audience could even be made!

As soon as the pressurised water cleans encrusted mud off a tile, all in beautiful high resolution, he gets it. Sure, this isn't as exciting as Grave Raider: The VR Experience, but it is satisfying!]

Okay, it doesn't suck as much as I thought.

[wingbound]

[ Levi haughtily hands over the controller but remains in his seat, leaning back with his arms folded to watch Hijikata uncover some more pretty, clean surfaces. He gives a little snort at the backhanded verdict. ]

Told you.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Once the tile is completely clean and a small accomplishment pops up, complete with a sparkle effect, he gives the controller back to Levi.]

This is nice to relax, but if you don't take care, you'll get rusty! When was the last time you went on a combat quest?

[Apparently, Levi's leg still being in its brace isn't reason enough for him to give him a break - but then again, the brace has never stopped the man before!]

[wingbound]

[ Considering he's had the brace since... well, since not too long after he arrived, it really doesn't have to be a deterrent. It's just part of him now, but he's only recently started to accept it. Ever since Erwin declared his willingness to carry him around for the rest of their lives if he ever needs to, Levi has felt a little less like a broken burden because of it. ]

[ He still scoffs at Hijikata, of course, gesturing at the console with some irritation. ]

Do you think I sit on my ass playing picture box games? I didn't even know this existed before today.

[ ...He may certainly be spending a lot of his days cleaning in real life, though. It's therapeutic, and also now that he's got a whole ass house, by the time he's finished with the second floor the first one can use a dusting again. ]