AYTO | Happily Ever After

[igiko]

You are cordially invited to
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
for an interdimensional reunion.

The scene is a sprawling garden in an undisclosed dimension. Peach- and white-colored decorations dot the grounds from the outdoor furnishing to decorative balloons that highlight the block letters spelling out HAPPILY EVER AFTER in the center. Music plays in the background, gently in volume so as not to disrupt socialization, while strings of light hang from the arbors, trees, and tents that glow warmly once the sun dips into evening.

Surely you'll be wanting to meet all the former contestants present, whether they came alone or as half (or third) of a pair. Low tables with heart-shaped cushions have been arranged at the heart of the garden for socializing with a small twist: seats have been assigned via name cards, and each table houses at least one former contestant from each round to encourage mingling between seasons. Once you settle down, you'll notice another card on the center of the table that reads: INTRODUCE YOUR CASTMATE (OR YOURSELF IN THE ABSENCE OF ONE). How's that for an icebreaker? Overseers, in their infinite power, have the privilege of sitting anywhere. Make friends and merry as you partake of the catered food and drinks, of which alcoholic beverages will be served only to those of age.

Once the introductory meal has concluded, former contestants are herded over to tents with cozy furnishing in which to lay and spend time with loved ones and old friends. That's right—the tents are designated by seasons for some catching up between castmates. There's another card here that encourages everyone to SHARE ONE THING THAT'S CHANGED SINCE YOUR APPEARANCE ON THE SHOW. After this, you're free to visit other tents and mingle to your heart's content.

A stack of cards atop a garden stool on a modest stage contains the names of every perfect match to date. For what? Why, to play charades! You must play out the perfect match listed on the card you draw with your match while the rest of the former contestants take a guess. If half of a match declines to participate or isn't in attendance, another former contestant or an Overseer is welcome to fill in. What if you didn't watch the other rounds? Well, then it's time to make educated guesses, isn't it? (Cards are drawn at random in character, but can be decided between players or via wheel).

Dinner ushers in an evening of romance. Bistro lights illuminate the garden, and the stage is cleared for dancing the night away. Of course, you're free to do whatsoever your heart desires if you've something else in mind. This particular corner of the world is, at least for today, your very own oyster.

( ooc: This is a reunion log for all game rounds of AYTO to date. All characters, including Overseers, are welcome to participate. As the passage of time can vary between dimensions, the answer to the question of "how long after X round is this reunion?" also depends on the characters. I'm watching you, Minato and Kotone. Feel free to handwave seating assignments and add in whatever you fancy to the setting, and do check back periodically as there is no all-inclusive channel to post new top-levels. Last but not least, have fun! )

INTRODUCTIONS | REUNIONS: AYTO, HOLIDATE, PUPPYCRUSH | CHARADES

Comments

MILLA & ASH, ROLAND, JUNIPER & STEVE

[igiko]

[duskspear]

[His gaze lingers on each and every person before he raises an upturned palm to address the table at large.]

It appears I'm the only one from the cabin, in which case I shall introduce myself.

Greetings, fair guests. I am Roland Glenbrook. My season was the second.

[souperb]

[ "greetings, fair guests........."

maybe that's true for the teenager side of the table. the season one side has such questionable vibes, help. exhibit a: ]

Don't make it sound so formal. We're just a bunch of weirdos whose drama got aired on multidimensional television for fun.

[ milla doesn't actually sound bitter about this for once, but also that is a line. ]

[duskspear]

[They are all beautiful. Milla in particular is lovely.]

Be that as it may, did all of us not walk away with more than with which we came?

[They may be a bunch of weirdos, but they're a happy bunch of weirdos.]

[souperb]

[ rutile is right there?

and unlike rutile, the optimism bounces off of milla even as she notes that, yes, he's right. of course he is. ]

Hm. I can't disagree.

[ hello? character development? ]

Considering none of us messed up — which is a miracle, by the way...

[ val screeching in the bg ]

We all got a wish in the end. Isn't it the point that we come out of it better than we were?

[ ... yeah. there's no deeper meaning to this at all. it's just the wish! ]

[duskspear]

[Okae, Milla. And it has already been established that Rutile is the loveliest.]

My wish was to make a connection.

[The reward of a wish still sits in the globe back home, untouched despite wretched temptations of days past. His true wish was granted as early as the first week of the show, and so he doesn't necessarily view Milla's answer as superficial as she intends it to be.]

Would you say that yours came true as well?

[souperb]

[ hm. it's not a comment she returns, nor a question she answers right away. she's just looking him over for a moment, a tilt of the head with an expression that's not exactly sizing him up. it's- something.

the smile she offers him isn't warm, but it is amused. there. she's not sure if he's seen her like she's seen him. she's not about to ask. ]

I wonder. You picked the wrong season to be embarrassed on if you wanted to know about me.

[ embarrassed.... ]

[duskspear]

[Embarrassed . . .

Is this a good time to bring up the fact that he watched a rerun? Granted, he knows better than anyone how the show splices reality to its choosing. He's seen how dry, how joyful Milla can be—but watching isn't the same as knowing. What glimpses he caught of her through the screen are nothing to her in the flesh.

Still, knowing what little he does, the smile she gives him feels precious.]

It seems I have. Then I am even more grateful for the opportunity to do so now.

[souperb]

[ ... ah.

maybe earlier on, that kind of forward statement would have been met with some defensive lashing out, foreign as it would've been. though it's less novel now, there's still some part of her that feels a bit of indignation at something so direct.

she looks away, the smile disappearing. ]

... Seriously?

[ ROLAND SURE IS ROLAND..... ]

We're not working for connections and wishes anymore, so you can drop those kind of lines.

[duskspear]

[Seriously. Her reaction doesn't deter Roland in the slightest, though he does measure his words.]

Indeed, the time for seeking matches is now behind us. However, I believe there is a reason this reunion is comprised of all seasons and not merely our own.

[The last thing he wants is to pressure Milla. But he thinks the time is ripe for making new connections without wishes attached—only good will. He imagines not many receive this sort of interdimensional opportunity in their lifetimes.]

[feyfound]

Hail and well met!

[ Waving enthusiastically! Also she hasn't seen any of the other seasons, so: ]

What was the second season like? Did you guys have to do kiss bingo, too?

[duskspear]

[He lifts a hand with a nod, giving her a small wave back. Well met!]

It was themed around the holidays. Our Overseer was Caren, who later became a contestant herself.

[His hand lowers back to his side.]

Instead of a bingo card, we each received an envelope with a tailored task. In my case, I was assigned to write a short play featuring some of my fellow participants.

[souperb]

[ not them forcing milla to say things about other people? she couldn't even cobble together a nice introduction for herself?

which is why after such an awkward pause where she tries not to make extended eye contact with people, she's looking away and raising a hand to gesture at ash with a casual: ]

... Hey. This is Ash. He likes money, and you couldn't kill him if you tried.

[ (fond)? nailed it. ]

[gilden]

Hey, hey, hey I love money!!!

[ Oh, he should addressing the killing part. ]

But yeah, I'll just heal anything you throw at me, so don't bother!

[ ...give him a second to stop focusing on himself which is truly an entire ordeal. ]

What you should bother with is Milla! She makes a great roast and she can put up with even those bloodthirsty barbarian types, you know the ones. Oh, and she can kick your butt too!

[ There is some inference here, but considering Jeritza....yeah. ]

[feyfound]

[ Juniper, whose government-assigned class is barbarian and who is known to be a little bloodthirsty at times, squeaks!! ]

I-I like money, too! But what's wrong with barbarians!? We're just a little eager to fight is all!

[duskspear]

[It is truly fascinating to watch these two introduce each other . . . ]

Milla is quite skilled, is she not? The same surely goes for your healing.

[souperb]

... Don't attract more of those to me.

[ he already did it once with jeritza?

does ash want to make her even more tired, when she has to spend all her energy being here pretending to be a socially acceptable member of society who talks to people?

anyway— ]

It's nice to see you haven't changed all that much.

[ is this a compliment or an insult? ]

[feyfound]

[ Juniper is practically sparkling at everyone here. They all look so experienced and wise and cool...!! Her rabbit ears are twitching attentively! ]

Hail and well met!

[ With a grand sweep of her arm to gesture at one Steve Harrington, she clears her throat dramatically: ]

Introducing... The esteemed King Steve, kind and benevolent former ruler of Hawking [ Hawkins? ] High, and purveyor of Napoleon [ Neapolitan??? ] ice cream and illusory stories, including that of Starface!

[ Scarface... Anyway these introductions are going well! ]

We were in the round in the house with the really nice furniture and Pocky and a swimming pool!

[souperb]

[ teenagers



milla thinks, being only two years older. ]

... I somehow managed to come out of this knowing less about King Steve than I did before.

[ which is zero? she knew zero about steve.

(she did not know zero about steve she watched all the ayto seasons) ]

[feyfound]

[ (meanwhile Juniper, who has not seen any of the other seasons and probably would have forgotten everyone even if she had,) ]

Well, all you really need to know is that he is a valiant, formidable fighter! His weapon of choice is a bat of nails! But he was proficient with "guns," too!

[souperb]

[ bless you, juniper.

but is that all milla really needs to know? it's probably all jeritza needs to know, but jeritza "master of fight me" is an outlier and should not be counted,

she tilts her head, raising an eyebrow. ]

Were you on a dating show, or a fighting tournament?