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

[roundandaround]

Wow!

[Rinku sparkles and ladles some onto a plate.]

It looks so happy! [how is food happy] I tried that stew over there, it kinda reminds me of the romazava we ate on Tiotio Island, even if the meat's different and the spices aren't exactly the same either. But it's really spicy all the same!

[urtitan]

[Frieda may not understand how food can look happy, but she does know that Rinku likes round food!]

They might go well together! Let me try the stew, too.

[She fills a bowl for herself. Sitting and eating with Rinku makes her feel more comfortable. Many people at this party may have mixed feelings about her at best, but Rinku likes spending time with her no matter what.]

What's been your favourite part of Yuletide season so far?

[roundandaround]

Hm... Last year we had those little cabins around town that people could rest in while they were out celebrating! That was fun. Oh, and the skating this year! But the mistletoe is fun! I brought out the kissing booth again and raised some money for the hospital! And giving everyone presents has been a lot of fun too! And I'm working really hard to learn to make fried chicken so we can have some, but I made a big mess of the kitchen when I first tried and then I just took Mary-chan and everyone out for pizza. But what about you?

[urtitan]

[Leave it to Rinku to love virtually ever aspect of the season!]

I went ice skating with Evangeline, and we made one of her friends from home out of snow! That was really nice. But sending and receiving presents has been wonderful, too! And just being out and about, smelling the food and hot drinks from the street stalls... I can't choose! I'm just sorry that I missed your kissing booth!

[Also--]

Is fried chicken a traditional Yuletide meal where you're from?

[roundandaround]

Yeah, that's what we have where I lived last! They always have long lines and you have to pre-book. It sounds like you're having a ton of fun! Which Abnormality was it, do you know? Was it cute?

[urtitan]

Beauty and the Beast. She's very kind, Evangeline said.

[That Abnormality's story really stuck with Frieda. She, at least, only turns into a hideous monster on occasion! Being stuck like that has to be very painful, and that's without going into the horrid energy extraction method.]

[roundandaround]

Oh, the one who gave her her flower! She sounds like she's always so sad. I'm glad Neechan can be her friend, but I wish her world could get nicer for everyone.

[urtitan]

I wish for that, too. Their world is... it's hard to live in.

...

Did you also get to see it?

[Be it through that simulation incident, or through any of the memory share occasions.]

[roundandaround]

Only a couple times. When the fairies put that memory-sharing spell on the flowers in that one field in Blossomcrown Park. But she didn't show me anything really scary. It still feels terrible, even just with the stuff you hear.

[urtitan]

[She nods.]

I'm glad that Evangeline won't have to go back there after Ellipsa is saved, but I feel bad for the Abnormalities.

[Alas, she can't save everyone. Right now, she can't even save her own people.]

[roundandaround]

Yeah...

[Rinku fidgets. At least she'll get to talk things out with Evangeline tonight eventually, but she's been pretty nervous about the subject.]

But maybe there's ways to change things like that, even though she says there isn't. I'm worried.

[urtitan]

[Oh... she's done it again, hasn't she? She's always such depressing company!]

I know I can't always bring up sad things like this and then tell you not to worry about them, but please try not to let it eat you up! These problems are bigger than all of us.

[She tries to comfort her with a hug, but now she's made herself sad for the Abnormalities, too. With Evangeline gone, they'll lose a kind caretaker. But she shouldn't stay in such a place, all the less without her parents!]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku hugs Frieda and shakes her head.]

That's okay! Sorry, Frieda-chan. You're right, this is a party! And everyone's worked so hard to make this happy, haven't they?

[urtitan]

To be honest, I think it was mostly Reiner.

[It's not like everyone else didn't contribute - there's no way he alone could have filled the buffet- and present tables to this extent -, but she has no doubt that it was him who made all the necessary arrangements, not to mention invited (and, in at least her case, convinced) everybody to come. Her expression is fond as she looks at him across the room, where he animatedly talks to some other guests.]

...

I think he cares a lot about what we have here. I know we all do, but Reiner... he works hard to make things as good as they possibly can be.

[roundandaround]

He's a nice person, isn't he? And he always seems to be doing his best! I hope he's having a good time if he arranged this whole party mostly himself.

[urtitan]

I'm sure he is.

[His smile speaks volumes! She conspiratively lowers her voice.]

You know what we should do, Rinku? We should all work together to make sure he has a nice birthday party next year. It's in the middle of the year, so we have plenty of time to plan an prepare!

[roundandaround]

Really? Of course! When is it? What kind of stuff does he like? I know he likes to play games, like guess-where-this-selfie-was-taken and stuff...

[urtitan]

[Sadly, Frieda missed that episode of Reiner's on the network, otherwise she'd certainly have weighed in!]

On the first of August! I know because I ran into him when he wanted to buy himself a birthday cake this year. That just wouldn't do, right?

[She wrangled him into letting her treat him, but then she revealed her identity to him, and the cake - an ice cream cake! - melted over their emotional exchange. Even now, she has to struggle to not get choked up again as she remembers all the hardship, determination, hope and longing she saw in Reiner's memories that day.]

...

You know, I just realised that Eren likes hot food, and Reiner likes cold food.

[Not necessarily exclusively, but!]

[roundandaround]

Really? Oh, that sounds nice! Does that mean if you're getting something for both of them, it should be both hot and cold? What all food is hot and cold, anyway? Like that thing that has ice cream on the inside but on the outside you set it on fire?

[Baked Alaska. She means Baked Alaska.]

[urtitan]

I don't think I've ever seen anything like that.

[They don't have Baked Alaska in the Walls! But if anything, that means Rinku has her work cut out for her.]

[roundandaround]

Maybe someone who's an expert on cooking will know! There's gotta be something, people are always coming up with new things.

[urtitan]

And we have plenty of time to find out what Reiner likes besides food, too!

[She wouldn't be above looking into his memories during physical contact... if only it weren't such a Russian roulette. (What is it with Founder holders and not being able to use their words!)]

[roundandaround]

Yeah, yeah! What'd you get him for Yuletide? I got him a slow cooker, the department store had it on display and it looked like a good present.

[urtitan]

I'm sure he'll enjoy that!

[Unless Reiner is always really hungry and wants his meals spontaneously, a slow cooker ought to be an asset to every household!]

This is a bit shameful, now, but I only made him a couple of healing potions and a bag of cookies... the same things I brought for everyone. He gave me such a beautiful handmade bowl! I definitely want to make his birthday present something special.

[After the agitation her Eldian Relocation plan caused among the others, she felt like any Yuletide presents would inevitably come across as an attempt to buy their appeasement, so she forewent them this year.]

[roundandaround]

Eh? That's okay! If you're worried about how good your present was, I'm sure he doesn't feel bad. Neechan felt bad about the present she gave me, but I loved it! As long as you tried to make everybody happy, I bet it'll be fine.