lucetilogs | A Very Auldrant Dinner Party, 2013 Edition

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A Very Auldrant Dinner Party, 2013 Edition

Who: Auldrant folks and their friends.

What: A dinner party to ring in the new year!

When: December 31st

Where: House One

Summary: Like last year, it's a party to celebrate the end of the year and the start of a new one!

Rating: No more than PG right? RIGHT...?

It's time again for the annual New Year's party at House One! Or rather, it's something that ought to become an annual thing. Though for some it might just serve as a reminder that they've spent one more year here in Luceti, for others, there was still no reason they couldn't celebrate that through it all, they were still here together. And wasn't that something to be celebrated? Which is why this year aside from the usual Auldrant attendees, they've invited their Luceti friends as well. The more the merrier, right? Especially when you've got a two story house to fill!

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[As the party organizer, Ion spends much of the start of the evening making sure everyone is getting settled in and everything is going smoothly for dinner... he's even allowed to help in the kitchen! Mostly just stirring things and washing dishes, but hey, it's an improvement.]

[But of course, once a certain pink-haired guest arrives, he'll be spending most of the evening by her side, if only to keep her away from those she might try and start a fight with. Did he mention he was inviting Arietta? No? Oh, well, maybe he just didn't think anyone would mind! Not that he was going to give anyone a chance to argue. He made Arietta promise to behave, and if that means abating her by staying by her side, so be it. He can't help but see it as a small victory, bringing her here with everyone else -- maybe this could be a step in the right direction?]

[But during those brief periods of time when Arietta isn't be his side, he'll still seem a bit... quiet. And for anyone who saw how he was acting on the 24th, they might have an idea as to why. There's a notable party guest missing from among the others, after all. And not because they decided not to show up. It may have been his choice not to invite her, but that didn't stop him from feeling guilt over what had happened between them. And that guilt has certainly had more than a little impact on his mood.]

[ Heyyyyy guess whose boyfriend invited her?

And guess who is at some point going to make a beeline for Ion. Because he's sweet and she adores him and he ... oddly seems a bit down. She's a little curious about that girl he's been with, too. ]

Hi, Ion. Having fun? [ Said gently. ]

[This was one of those times when Arietta wasn't clinging to his arm and demanding every second of his attention, and perhaps that was a factor in his being a little quiet moments ago. It was a little exhausting being around her sometimes, given he usually tried to act like the Ion she used to know, despite the fact that she knew the truth now. Some habits are just hard to shake...]

[But in spite of that, his expression changes to a smile when he sees Xion come over. This was a party! There was no need to drag everyone else down too, right?]

Oh, hello Xion. Yes, I am. It's so nice to see everyone here together.

[ She takes a seat beside him, still smiling warmly. She's very fond of Ion, but also a little concerned that something might be going on. ]

Do you guys do this every year? Luke was pretty excited to tell me about it... [ She laughs. ] Even Asch is here. I'm a little surprised someone convinced him!

Actually, this is only our second year doing something like this. Though I know I wouldn't mind if it became an annual tradition. It's not always easy getting everyone to come together like this...

[He takes a short glance around, as if looking for someone. Though in truth, he's actually a bit relieved when he doesn't see her nearby.] ...perhaps some more than others. Though Asch was here last year as well.

[ She follows his gaze, but seeing no one in particular, looks back at him. ]

Who do you mean if not Asch?

...have you ever met the girl I was with earlier before?

I don't think so. Who is she?

Her name is Arietta. And on Auldrant, she was one of the six god-generals working under Van's command.

[There's a brief pause as he glances back at her for a reaction. He's not sure how much Luke had told Xion about Van and everything that happened on Auldrant, but... it seemed fair to assume that she knew enough.]

...right now, she's living with Asch. I'd like to think there's no need for us to see each other as enemies now that we're in Luceti, but... I suppose for some of us, that's easier said than done.

[Perhaps even more so when the "enemy" isn't the one being difficult.]

[ Her eyebrows leap up. She seems mildly alarmed, though keeps it under wraps fairly well.

Yes, Luke has told her enough. ]

But she's so young... [ Said softly, and she trails off to listen to the rest of what Ion has to say. And, in the end, it wins a sympathetic look. ]

... I remember the first time Van was here. I know we were all trying to live with him... but he scared me, no matter how polite he was trying to pretend to be. [ She rests her chin in her cupped hands, watching him with a look of concern. ] If you think it's safe, Ion, I trust your judgment... is that why you've been staying by her side, though?

...that's not entirely the reason, no.

[The real reason goes much deeper than that, and causes a small frown to begin spreading over his face.]

Arietta was originally a Fon Master Guardian, in charge of serving and protecting Fon Master Ion... the original one.

[The real one. Even someone like Ion, who's come to far to accept himself as his own person, can't help but revert back to those kind of thoughts whenever Arietta is concerned. It gives real merit to Anise's desire to keep her away from him.]

In order to keep the truth about the replicas a secret, she was never told about his death. And until she came to Luceti, she believed he and I to be the same person. But even now that she knows, I don't think she completely understands the difference...

Ion...

[ She is sensing the danger there. The temptation to sort of ... regress. And it concerns her a lot. ]

... so ... you feel responsible for her?

...that's one way of putting it, yes. But she doesn't have anyone else she can turn to. And replica or not, "Ion" is one of the few people she feels she can trust.

[Perhaps it's looking up and noticing the look on her face, but all at once, he seems to become aware of the sad look that had taken up residence on his own. And so he smiles -- but his heart really isn't all that into it.]

And I suppose there's a small, selfish part of me that hopes she might be able to better understand replicas if she gets to know me better... the real me, and not the "Ion" she thinks she knows.

[Yes, how selfish of him to want her to see him as his own person!]

[Of course, this is keeping in mind that for her to accept that this Ion is different, she would have to come to terms with the fact that her Ion is already dead. And not even Ion knows whether or not that would be any better than simply letting her continue to deny the truth.]

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fourteen - 2013-01-22 07:19 (UTC) - Expand

[DUN DUN DUN DUNNNNNN]

[Guess who just saw that pink-haired guest arrive and immediately latch onto Ion? Anise stalks up to the two of them, bristling. She doesn't yell, not wanting to cause a scene (or hurt Ion's feelings), but her tone is very much not friendly when she speaks.]

What is she doing here, Ion?

[DID YOU INVITE HER. 8'| ]

[Even though Ion had been expecting this, he still couldn't help but frown at Anise's reaction. This had been intended as a gathering for everyone from Auldrant and their friends. Last year's obligatory Van-clause aside, there was nothing said about excluding Arietta from the invite list.]

[But just as quickly, he's back to smiling. The last thing he wants to do is encourage a sour mood for the party.]

She's here because I invited her. [He keeps his tone very matter-of-fact. And though he's not exactly returning Arietta's clinging, in this instance, he's not exactly pushing her away either. He did promise to stay by her side if she behaved, after all. And now, here's a test to that.]

This party is for everyone and their friends, isn't it? And Arietta is my friend.

Edited 2013-01-03 08:24 (UTC)

[ Arietta doesn't let go of Ion, but she does move forward a little, getting a bit closer to putting herself between Ion and Anise.

She promised she'd be good, so no yelling.

Yet. ]

Yes. Ion wanted me to come! [ So take that, Anise! ] And I'm going to make sure nothing happens to him.

Yes, but -

[Augh! She folds her arms, struggling to remain civil. When Arietta edges closer, she puffs up even further, trying to sidestep a little to keep Ion in her line of sight.]

Nothing would happen to him here. ["The only thing that would put hurt him is you," she almost says, but decides against it.]

[There's no chance to say it, but he appreciates Anise trying. He knows it can't be easy for her to stay civil right now... he's surprised even Arietta seems rather calm. Now he just has to hope this stay that way.]

That's right. And I'm sure nothing could happen with the both of you here to protect me. [And before Arietta can try and rebut that, he's just going to set a hand on her shoulder. It's nowhere near a hug, but given she's so close to him, it may as well look like one.]

[But the night has just started. And the last thing he wants is for a fight to escalate right off the bat.]

[ She almost says something to that, even opens her mouth to speak, but then Ion's hand is on her shoulder and she snaps her mouth shut and glares at Anise instead. After a moment she turns and gives a small tug on Ion's arm. ]

Ion, let's go somewhere else.

[Omg Ion don't touch her like that!!!]

Yeah, we shouldn't all be standing here and blocking the door. [Anise is smiling through gritted teeth. Guess who doesn't intend on letting the two of them out of her sight?]

[Oh dear. Unfortunately, now it'll probably become Ion's goal to find some way to shake Anise. Not that he doesn't want to spend time with her too -- the opposite, in fact! -- but keeping these two apart is key to maintaining the peace. After all, Anise isn't the only one who Arietta has a problem with, and he's not so sure Arietta will be able to play nice around all of them.]

Well then, why don't we find a place to sit down? There are plenty of places in the living room to sit...

As long as Anise sits far away! [ Hmph! Also Arietta might be getting a bit louder now... ]

[Sorry, Ion, but your fragile peace is probably teetering right on the edge of being shattered.]

Maybe you're the one who should sit faaaaar away. This is my house.

And it's my house as well, Anise.

[He knew he would have to do this. Appeasing Arietta was one thing -- she was easy to keep happy, but difficult to calm down -- whereas controlling Anise's temper was another. So long as Arietta was in the house, the chance of Anise being happy around Ion was slim.]

[He'd have to choose a side.]

[Turning so as to put himself between the two of them, he faces Arietta, resting both hands on either of her shoulders. He's smiling at her, but thankfully she probably doesn't know this Ion well enough to tell when his smiles aren't genuine.] Arietta, please go find a place for the two of us to sit.

[And then, turning only his head to look back at Anise with that same smile:] Anise, why don't you go see how things are doing in the kitchen? I'll be there to check on things myself in a few minutes.

[ She doesn't. She just sees a smile, and her heart instantly leaps. Ion's just barely finished talking to Anise by the time Arietta takes his hand and starts to lead him to one of the couches. Specifically, one with only room for two people. No Anises allowed!!! ]

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anise -> ion -> arietta does that sound okay?

Sounds good to me!

B)

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