[Open] Not quite a palace in the desert, but...

[acapriciousreaper]

Who: Kuja, all who accept the invitation
When: October 3rd, 6:00 PM
Where: Yun’Ashia
What: Kuja’s invited a host of people to his home because it’s traditional to do so when moving in.
Warnings/Notes: Alcohol, Dragons, Cats, Excessive amounts of Kuja

It is, ultimately, just a house. If he’s being honest, it’s not a fantastic house. Part of him rails against the fact that there are no stained glass windows, no flying buttresses, not a single marble statue or ornate candelabra in sight. It’s a small house in a rural community, not a lavish palace in the middle of nowhere, or an ornate manor surrounded by walls, in the public eye but unreachable. The furniture is not at all his tempo, taken from a store where he’d had to assemble most of it himself with impossible-to-understand instructions, and the ‘quaint little barn, perfect for the aspiring chocobo rancher’ has turned out to be little more than a shed- he’s going to have to pay someone to build something decent instead, he knows. There’s a million things wrong with it. He should hate it.

But- and this is, in his mind, the important thing. It’s his. Uniquely his, and there’ll be time for improvement later. Kuja looks out on the grounds, at a dragon dozing in the grass, stupid mutt of a cat curled up on her back- he’d been terrified Opalescence couldn’t be trusted around Orichalcon, but he’d been proven wrong on that front, thankfully-
”Hey, Boss?” The moogle’s voice cuts through his thoughts, and he turns to look quizzically at Mojito.

“Hm? I was miles away, Mojito, what is it?”

The moogle sets a box on the counter, an assortment of bottles that Kuja for the life of him still hasn’t worked out how in the world the moogle manages to carry; he’s certainly never seen where Mojito actually keeps them. ”Nothin’, it’s just a quarter to four and you said to remind you. You, uh. You okay with this many people bein’ at your house, Boss?”

Ah. Of course. “Nonsense. This is what people do. Besides, it’s basic networking. And they’ll mostly be on the lawn, anyway. It’s not as though I’ve invited a pack of animals. Short of everyone taking leave of their senses, what’s the worst that could happen?”

Comments

[acapriciousreaper]

Suddenly the local population of Kuja's kitchen seems to be increasing exponentially as more people show up. And there's Papyrus. Oh. Right. He... invited Papyrus. Well it would've been rude not to, but now he's brought... pasta. Massive amounts of pasta. Oh dear. "Ah. Yes, we actually met shortly after I was recovered. I... was not quite in the best of moods at the time, for which I apologize, but we've crossed paths a few times since." He pauses, considering.
"I fear I may go mad from the revelation, but what, pray, is 'Scientific Spaghetti'."

[musicinmysoul]

It's no surprise to see Kuja be this popular. While having this many people around can leave her tense, Matilda has to admit that these people seem alright. Having a few friends among this crowd helps, including the well timed arrival of Papyrus!

Before she can also question the skeleton about any scientific spaghetti, Tilly can't help notice the canine nearby eyeing her, leaving the girl brushing her hair with her fingers. Is...is he checking her out?

"Uhh...hi..."

Nailed it.

[einspine]

"ONLY THE MOST INCREDIBLE CULINARY FEAT OF OUR GENERATION!!!" He would gesture with it, but that risks splattering sauce. And that would not be good. So he'll have to settle for another gigantic grin. Not that he ever has a shortage of those.

"NOT ONLY IS IT SPECIFICALLY ENGINEERED TO HAVE A SUPERIOR TASTE, BUT IT ENHANCES YOUR COOLNESS! MAY MAKE YOU TALLER AND ALSO CAN GRANT LASER VISION FOR A SHORT TIME!"

He looks down at the plates, slumping. "UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BEEN RATHER DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE HERE, SO I'VE MOSTLY STUCK TO EXPERIMENTS WITH HEALING ITEMS. FOR NOW."

[poisonwish]

"You!" For one of the few times in his long life, Snow White was speechless. He pointed at Papyrus, mouth somewhat agape as he tried to remember why he knew this loud spaghetti skeleton. "My dream!"

It hadn't been a dream, though... Ugh and that just brought up embarrassing memories. Not of his childhood, but of Dylas. Gross.

The spaghetti, at least, was intriguing. Snow White hadn't heard of anything magical about it, but Vaikuntha seemed to change the rules about what was "normal."

"Are you a Gourmand?" he asked. Maybe Papyrus just needed an extra hand. Belatedly, he realized someone should probably help relieve the skelly of his 'ghetti, and while he usually would push that onto someone else... he wanted to examine the noodles for himself. He took one of the large plates from Papyrus and placed it carefully on the table.

[acapriciousreaper]

Kuja watches these exchanges with an air of slowly-increasing panic. He also makes a quiet note not to touch anything that Papyrus brought. "Well. It's becoming quite crowded in here, so perhaps if we move out back I have a few tables set up with shade if you would like-"

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa steps over to the enormous near-vat levels of spaghetti, looking quite impress and displaying remarkable restraint in ensuring that his ears don't fall into any of the dishes.

"Ah.. were we supposed to bring you something? ..Sorry, Kuja. I don't think I really have anything on me right now."

He says, before smiling. "Can we see the dragon, though? What did you say their name was again?"

[acapriciousreaper]

Kuja waves his hand dismissively. "I did specifically say that bringing gifts wasn't necessary. I certainly wasn't about to put that in the invitation if I didn't mean it."

He steps outside, onto the back lawn, where rented tables and chairs are collected under a gazebo, providing shade. "I could hardly stop you from seeing her. She does catch the eye, doesn't she?" Indeed, the silver-white of the dragon's scales is more or less impossible to miss against green grass. "I decided on Opalescence. I think it... fits her. Honestly, this is the most relaxed I've seen her since we got back. I think the move away from the city has done some good..."

[einspine]

"A GOURMAND, A CHEMIST, AND A MAGITEK KNIGHT! SUFFICE IT TO SAY, I'M A SKELETON WITH MANY-" Oh. Help! That's good. He smiles in return. "AH, THANK YOU. AND YES, I AGREE THAT MOVING SEEMS... PRACTICAL. ESPECIALLY IF DRAGONS ARE INVOLVED!"

So, with his one plate, he points dramatically with his free hand, before following Kuja's lead. Just give him a moment as he observes the dragon. Very different from the ones he's accustomed to. More bestial, for sure.

[musicinmysoul]

Matilda would offer to help carry the...enormous amounts of pasta, but Papyrus seems to have that much under control. It has the fox softly laughing to herself as they start making their way outside. It was a comfortable looking place, she had to admit; Tilly wouldn't mind a place like this.

Naturally, her attention does focus on dear Opalescence, who seems to be savoring all of the attention and praise. The look of intrigue on the girl's face is obvious; it's been a while since she was in the presence of another dragon, shapeshifted or otherwise.

"How long have you two known each other?"

[acapriciousreaper]

Kuja glances over at the dozing dragon, thinking back. "It's been... more than twenty years, I think. Silver Dragons are... magical constructs. Not dissimilar to Eidolons; originally she was just 'Silver Dragon', a magical servant to... do what I needed."

He sighs. "Now, of course, things are... different. She's all I really have left of Gaia."

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa steps closer to the dragon, and sits down a little ways away from her head, tilting his own to look at her. "She.. sure is a lot bigger than I expected." The only time he's met a dragon before now, well, he was a lot taller than him, sure, but this is just... huge.

...Actually, he's started to get reminded of Leorina. For some reason, in more than just the physical way.

[acapriciousreaper]

One crimson eye opens to glare at Klonoa, before closing again, the dragon apparently satisfied that the furry creature in front of it is not a threat. It's probably almost comical, a clearly-predatory flying animal the size of a small car, curled up with a cat in the grass, but there she is, seemingly unbothered by Klonoa's proximity.

Kuja, for his part, sets about the arduous task of herding the crowd and ensuring the food is set out where it can be easily reached. "Alright, well. Everyone, I think we are indeed all here, so by all means, acquire a plate and a drink. And don't be stingy about it, I haven't nearly enough room in my larder for all this."

[poisonwish]

"Not with that much spaghetti," Snow White quipped, trying to imagine where it would even go. Even if there was room, one man surely couldn't eat that much spaghetti alone. Those were noodles of loneliness.

That said, when he did serve himself he made sure to take some of Papyrus' offering. Something made by the efforts of a Gourmand and a Chemist (he wasn't sure how Magitek Knight would improve the flavor) was intriguing. It could even influence him to take up the Chemist job himself.

"I'm glad you named her." Snow White watched the silver dragon nap in the sun. "Opalescence suits her."

[acapriciousreaper]

Out of morbid curiosity and the desire to not look like an ass in polite company, Kuja... does indeed sample the dreaded noodles.

At that quiet comment, he finds himself... smiling, in spite of it all. "It does suit her, doesn't it? I was terrified she'd react to Orichalcon like... well, like a large apex predator typically responds to small, furry animals, but they've been getting along famously..."

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa smiles at the dragon, and at the cat, before standing up again to return to Kuja now that he's got a good look at her. "She's very pretty." He says, getting together a plate of spaghetti. Don't mind if he does! He's very hungry.

"So... Kuja..? If that was a memory, then... what happened to her after it was over?" He asks, thankfully not asking the question excessively loud.

[acapriciousreaper]

Kuja pauses. Does Klonoa mean the 'first time around'? "I... I do not know. I didn't stay around to check. She was... quite dead, at that point. Unless you mean after we left the memory, in which case the Curti Center people became very upset with me because they didn't have accommodations available for a dragon. I tried taking her out for a flight every day, but it was clear she hated the paddock they scrounged for her. That's why I moved out here. That, and I do enjoy my privacy. I didn't have anything in particular against the other residents, but this is much better, I think."

[musicinmysoul]

"You had to take Opalescence into consideration...and I think she really appreciates it. She looks so comfortable out here, where she can stretch her wings..."

Matilda can't help regarding the silver dragon with a smile, seemingly content with the other's relaxation. She pushes some of her hair aside and returns to the table of food, particularly aiming for one of the wine bottles she brought with her.

"I'm glad this change is working out for both of you."

[poisonwish]

"It makes Yun'Ashia less boring," Snow White noted with a smile. He'd been thinking of leaving to pursue something more glamorous, perhaps in Lavode... But when he saw Kuja's invitation to a place nearby, it changed his mind.

"Snow White was really excited to come see you!" Apple blurted out, thoroughly enjoying Papyrus' noodles.

Snow White blushed. "Apple!"

[acapriciousreaper]

"Well it's not the most stylish of places to live, but at least somebody with a sense of decor lives here. I haven't the foggiest what I'm going to do long-term with this place, but we'll burn that bridge as we come to it, I suppose."

Experimentally, Kuja samples the noodles as well. Admittedly... not nearly as awful as he was expecting.