Also my tags are broken for some reason.

Hello!

Hey, Aggron! What's up?

Not much. How about you?

I'm working on a story, but other than that, nothing's really going on.

So, are we gonna be skipping ahead to the celebrations today?

I believe so.

Alrighty. Shall I write something to start it off?

Ahh, cr.ap, I’m sorry for dropping off the map! Yes, please continue.

(Don't worry about it! Novel post incoming...)

The party was being held in a large room inside the palace. There were several long tables arranged with a multitude of food, as well as some decorations around the room. Somebody had made a huge banner featuring a crudely-drawn picture of Sargon, complete with the words: 'THE COUNT IS DEAD!' In a corner, there was a stereo set to randomised playlist of music.

Quite a lot of people were already there, eating or chatting. Armin was leaning against a wall near the stereo, drinking something alcoholic, while Ivy was flirting with a young Sovereign soldier. Frederick didn't seem to be there yet.

On one side of the room, there was a massive window that had been left open so that Wendigo could push his head inside the room, observing the party with a grin.

{For the most part, Jerry and his family was having a good time, drinking, laughing, and having a good time. Dianne was sitting in the corner by herself, drinking a tall glass of wine and reading a book. Magnus was on the far end, setting up amps, drums, and a microphone with the help of some draugrs. Eliza was there as well, doing much better thanks to Pythia. However, she could not walk without help from a cane. Pythia was also present, talking with a few medics.}

After a few minutes of drinking by himself, Armin wandered over towards Magnus. 'Hey,' he said in greeting, eyeing the amps and other equipment. 'You're planning a performance, I'm guessing?'

Just then, Frederick walked into the room. He exchanged brief words with Wendigo before walking over to one of the tables to get himself some food.

Magnus: "That I am. Why do you ask?"

{When Frederick walks in, the Old Man is also getting food. He nods to the vampire as he approaches.}

(Short comments are short.)

(I'm RR)

'You've got a microphone and a drum set over there,' said Armin, nodding at the instruments in question. 'Who's going to be singing and playing drums?'

Frederick nodded back at the Old Man. Once he'd gotten some food and a glass of wine, he looked around the room, then walked towards a chair close to the table and sat down to eat.

Ivy, meanwhile, walked away from the Sovereign soldier with a dejected expression. It seemed that she hadn't gotten their number.

(I think I have to go now, it's pretty late. I'll reply tomorrow.)

(Ok. Sorry for my inactivity, just had a lot to do. :( )

{Magnus grins.}
Magnus: "Oh, I'll be singing and playing. I'll put Bufo on the drums and one of the other draugrs on base. Despite the way they look and act, they pick up on things really quick."

{As Ivy walked away, Pythia caught her dejected look.}
Pythia: "What's wrong, dear? Why the long face?"

(No problem, it happens sometimes. X) )

Armin eyed the other draugrs a little doubtfully. 'Well, if you insist.'

'Oh, nothing,' Ivy replied, letting out a theatrical sigh. 'Just another potential boyfriend who doesn't realise how wonderful I am. I'm not worried, though. Once the word gets out that I was the one who stopped Sargon, I'm sure everyone in the country will want to go out with me!'

Across the room, Wendigo kept snickering to himself and looking at the 'Sargon is Dead' banner. Frederick glanced at him suspiciously.

'What are you laughing about?'

'Uh, nothing...' said Wendigo, before dissolving into a fit of giggles. He hadn't told anyone, but he was actually the one who'd drawn the banner. Fred just sighed and returned to his food.

{Pythia just tilts her head.}
Pythia: ""Ivy, do you think maybe the reason you're having trouble finding someone to settle down with is because...you might be laying it on a little thick?"

{Magnus chuckles at Armin's doubtful look.}
Magnus: "Well, didn't you mention playing an instrument? You want to give it a try?"

{Outside, Titan approaches Wendigo.}
Titan: "What's so funny?"

Ivy opened her mouth to let out an angry protest, then stopped and thought about it. '...No, I don't think so. Anyway, who said anything about settling down? I'm not interested in getting /married/ or anything. I'm just looking for someone to go on a few dates with.'

'Oh, no,' said Armin. 'I don't play anything. Well, except trombone. I used to be the lead singer in a band made up of other people in Sargon's army, but that was just because they couldn't find anyone good.'

Wendigo pulled his head out of the window and looked around at Titan. 'Oh, hey dude. Nothing much. I just made something funny to decorate the party room with.' He started giggling again.

{While no one could see it behind her book, Dianne's expression soured a little at Ivy's response.}
Pythia: "Ok...But you have to admit, your method of flirting is a tad bit...aggressive."

{Magnus just nods.}
Magnus: "Huh, and Sargon was ok with that?"

{Titan raises a brow, looks through the window, then chuckles.}
"Hehehehehehehheheheheh, ok, that's pretty rich."

Ivy looked surprised. 'Aggressive? Really? I hadn't noticed.'

'He didn't know about it,' said Armin. 'He had a lot of minions - he couldn't keep track of what /everybody/ was doing.' He smirked. 'Quite a lot of secret clubs and groups sprung up in his army without him ever knowing about it.'

Wendigo grinned broadly, seeming very pleased with himself. 'I just wanted to leave something for the others to remember me by when I'm gone.'

{Pythia chuckles nervously.}
Pythia: "Well, the first things you always say are some heavy pick up lines, and you continue this relentlessly. Then, twenty minutes later, you ask for their number. That would make anyone uncomfortable."

{Magnus just rubs his head.}
Magnus: "Well, here's hoping some of them survived and fled."

Ivy rubbed the back of her head thoughtfully. 'Well, I didn't know that. Is there supposed to be a better way?'

Armin nodded. 'Some of them did, I know it. They ran away before Sargon wiped out Shacklestone. I don't know where they are now, though.' His expression darkened for a moment, then he shook his head and took a sip of wine. 'Anyway, so what are you guys going to be playing?'

{Pythia takes a moment to think.}
Pythia: "Well, yeah. Just be yourself, take it slow, and just...get to know each other. If both parties agree that the other is compatible, then maybe you'll get somewhere. If you just hit on them relentlessly, you just come off as...well..."

Dianne: "Desperate."

Magnus: "I'm sure they're safe. I wouldn't worry. Oh, probably a bit of everything. Got any requests?"

(This is RR, being too lazy to log out)

'Not really,' said Armin. 'I'd rather it be a surprise. Just play whatever you like - I'll be somewhere, watching.' He walked off to find a vacant chair and some more wine.

Ivy turned to scowl at Dianne, not appreciating the interruption. 'I am /not/ desperate, thank you very much. I'm just a normal person who wants to have some fun. There's nothing wrong with that.'

A random soldier noticed that Magnus was about to perform, and quickly turned the stereo off. The loud dance music that had been playing stopped abruptly.

{Dianne turns to look at Ivy, putting her book down momentarily.}
Dianne: “Fun? You think it’s fun to be playing with people’s feelings like that? When you engage in a relationship that involves dates, your partner likely thinks that there’s a chance for more. However, you go in with no intention of a long term relationship, knowing that they’ll pour their heart out to please, wanting to take advantage of their trusting hearts, to get material gain.”

Pythia: “I don’t think-“

Dianne: “What you’re doing is disgusting and no better than what Sargon did to Ana.”

Ivy spluttered and fumbled for a response. She wasn't used to anyone calling her out on her behaviour. Most people were too scared to confront her about it.

'...Yes, I get it, it's not good,' she said at last. 'But lots of people do it. Besides, I can't get into a long-term relationship until I find the /right person.'/

(Lol Dianne’s response should go on the subreddit r/quityourbullish!t)

Dianne: “If lots of people do it, does that make it right?”

Pythia: “No one’s saying you should look at every potential partner as ‘the one’, but it’s not right to lead people on just to get stuff out of them.”

(XD)

'OK, OK,' said Ivy. 'I'll stop doing it. I don't know why you care so much about what I do, but whatever.' Of course she had no intentions of really stopping; she'd just stop until Dianne and Pythia were gone.

{Dianne turns back to her book and Pythia smiles.}

Pythia: "We're just concerned, that's all."

Dianne: "I'm not. I just can't stand people being scummy."

{Just then, Magnus spoke up on the mic.}

Magnus: "Hello, Soveriegn City! My name is Magnus, and I'll be your entertainment for tonight. Tonight, we're are celebrating not only our victory over a madman, but also the lives of those who gave their lives in service of this province. Sovngarde will welcome them with open arms for their sacrifice. Hail the victorious dead!"
{At that, every draugr in the room raises a fist to the air and yells 'Hail!'. It seems this is some sort of archaic gesture of respect, remembered only by these dead individuals. After this, Magnus begins to play something upbeat.}

When Magnus started playing, everyone in the room turned to watch, and a few people started clapping along to the music. Ivy took advantage of the distraction to scurry away before Dianne could say anything more about her dating habits.

'Huh, I didn't know draugrs knew anything about music,' said Wendigo as he watched through the window. 'He's pretty dam.n good.'

Armin was sitting near one of the tables, drink in hand, watching the draugrs performing. Frederick, meanwhile, spotted Dianne sitting in the corner with her book, and walked over to join her. 'Well, I guess you were right about not being a party person,' he said with amusement.

{Titan chuckles.}
"Back when he was alive, he was known as the Bard King. He'd always be playing something in times of peace. Give him an extra two thousand years in this world and nothing else to do but play music, and he's bound to get good."
{Dianne doesn't look up when she responds.}
Dianne: "I've been told by many that I'm, "Anti-Social", whatever that means. I guess I just don't have much interest in interacting with other people."

Wendigo grinned. 'Yeah, I see what you mean. Seems like he's practiced a lot in those two thousand years. I wonder if I was around that long, I'd get really good at something.'

Frederick smiled slightly, though Dianne wouldn't see it since she was looking at her book. 'That's perfectly understandable. I don't know why people think it's a bad thing - not all of us are obsessed with socialising. Some of us just prefer the peace and quiet.'

{Titan smiles.}
“Well, yeah. Repetition is how anyone gets good at things. With that much time, you’re bound to pick up some things.”

{Dianne nods, still reading.}
Dianne: “I’m glad someone here understands. Social interaction is overrated. For some people, it seems, going to parties is their sole reason for existing. I much prefer more peaceful pastimes.”

For a moment, Wendigo pulled his head out of the window to look at Titan directly. 'So, how long've YOU been around, Titan? As long as Magnus?'

'Well, yes. I agree,' said Frederick. 'Some people seem to think they can't survive without being surrounded by other people 24/7.' He threw a glance at Ivy to make sure she wasn't close enough to overhear. 'I don't much like parties, but it's nice to do something different from what I normally do.'

Most of the people in the room had now gathered around the corner where Magnus was playing, giving him their full attention. It seemed that they didn't even care he was a draugr, if the music was good enough.

{Titan just shrugs.}
"Longer than I can count. I'm perhaps the oldest one here. My name, Titan, kind of explains it. I used to be an elemental, boasting a great and terrible form made of earth and fire, one of the many sons of the creator goddess."

{Dianne smirks a bit.}
Dianne: "Yes, I suppose so. Still, you seem to be keeping to yourself mostly. Tell me, what do you normally do with your time?"

(Lol, imagine if the Sovereign king comes back and walks in right when Magnus is playing some extremely metal stuff.)

(I should totally have that happen. XD)

'Wow.' Wendigo looked away thoughtfully. 'I can't even imagine what it's like to be that old. And heck, I'm glad I didn't know you back then. What you used to be sounds kinda terrifying, honestly.'

Frederick shrugged. 'Pretty much the same thing you're doing now. Back when I was in Sargon's army, I used to spend most of my free time reading, and sometimes writing.'

{Titan laughs.}
"My old form was much bigger than this. Yes, many enemies of the natural world fled before me. I was quite the spectacle, or so I'm told."

Dianne: "Makes sense. Well, he's dead now. Was there nothing you've always wished to do that you couldn't do under him?"