September Event - Guest Appearances

[pumpkinhollow]

GUEST APPEARANCES

Ignition

September 20th is the Autumnal Equinox. Many places across the world of Concorde celebrate the first day of fall. While various nations and regions have their own cultural practices surrounding it, nature is god everywhere. And so the inception of Mother Autumn’s domain is universally recognized, even if the names change from place to place. But on a little island named Marrow, in a little town called Pumpkin Hollow, there is another reason to celebrate.

The birth of Dahlia Leeds is not so important an event that it supersedes Celestine herself, and neither Dahlia nor anyone in town is foolhardy enough to claim as much. In fact, after the events on this very same day last year, one might argue that perhaps her birth at least started out as a bad thing. But she is certainly the wealthiest person in town. It is through the combination of substantial wealth and a generous heart, two things that are very seldom found in the same place, that we end up with a soiree where the birthday girl would rather spoil everyone else on her day than herself.

The doors to Leeds Estate, which presides proudly over the town upon its throne at the crest of Founder’s Hill, are flung wide open. Large sums of Brass are paid to caterers, florists, and seamstresses to make sure this place is decorated to the nines. Some businesses labor all year, just to prepare for the handsome payoff they’ll get from this event alone. And you, dear neighbor, are invited. Not only are you invited, but you are dressed for the event in whatever your heart desires, completely at the birthday girl’s expense. Dahlia ensures no cost nor conflict stands in between anyone in town and a much-needed break. She is determined for this birthday of hers to be a good night.

Or else.

Incipience

{ The timeframe between ignition and the peak of burning, where a small, contained fire spreads and grows gradually into an established flame. All it takes is a spark. }

The whole town is abuzz as preparations for the gala begin. From the moment people begin to wake up for the day, the air throughout Pumpkin Hollow just feels electric with excitement. After August, people have been needing this lift in morale, and after how last year’s gala went… well, there’s a lot riding on this one. And Dahlia seems much more in control now.

Speaking of being in control, the whole lead-up process has been incredibly organized. You wake up to a delivery--- your outfit, perfectly tailored and completely paid for. Accessories are included. She truly thought of everything.

It’s noteworthy that Dahlia’s invitations this time included another name beneath her own. “Suzanne Marie Dyneax,” it said. Most people don’t know the name, but gossip gets around in a small town like this. It’s not hard to pick up on the fact that this probably refers to Susie, one of the teenagers that Dahlia recently moved into her home, whose own birthday was ruined by Seemingly’s attack. Gift baskets have been delivered to others whose days were in proximity to the disaster--- Zivia, Capochin, even CT. Wine, fruit, and sweets, along with a birthday card. Dahlia has said in the past, “my birthday is your birthday,” but never has that felt more true.

With businesses mostly closed for the celebration, you are left with the majority of the day to prepare in relative peace. For many of the women in Dahlia’s inner circle, there is even a pre-party group dressing room set up on the third floor of her home. Only those who received her special invitation (Susie, Noelle, Fever, Cassandra, Anya, Alice, Patty, Melanie, Basira, Elsie) are permitted to join, but any friends or partners are gladly invited to wait at the bottom of the stairs for the girls to make their grand entrance.

The food is laid out, flowers placed, dresses laced and buttoned. The clock strikes 6pm, and the fun begins.

FLASHOVER

{ The moment when a blaze reaches its maximum size and heat, and the radiant heat in the space is such that all combustible materials ignite at once, allowing the flame to steadily and freely burn for the rest of the night. }

By the time it reaches 6:15, the ballroom is already flooded with eager dancers and hungry dinner guests. After all, the whole town is invited, and everyone’s excited to see Dahlia’s beautiful new ballroom and take a load off.

The music is elegant, played by a rotating cast of musicians who join the party when their act is over. The food is extravagant--- Dahlia and two of her partners are some of the biggest foodies in town, so this is expected. There is talking and laughing and the swirling of ballgowns, and all is well.

But there is a guest you do not recognize in the corner of the ballroom. An older man with white hair, strong features, and a dour expression. You can see Dahlia eyeing him, then flitting over to him, then talking to him. Her expression shifts from anxious, to annoyed, to resigned, before at last she sighs heavily and leaves him to it. Whatever it is that’s going on, clearly it’s something Dahlia is willing to begrudgingly tolerate in order to get back to having fun.

The reason for the disturbance becomes clear in short order, but by the grace of Celestine (and perhaps Eligos), it isn’t a reality bending nightmare or an attack by some monstrous beings. It is simply more guests.

A lot more, in fact.

Those who were on the island in September of the previous year will recall the Visitor’s Center, which appeared briefly just past the beach and served as temporary living and meeting quarters for visitors from the homeworlds of current residents. It would seem that this is a repeat incident. For the night of the gala, one to two “plus ones” have been invited for the vast majority of offworld residents. Most of them are friends or family who are happy to see their guests--- but this is ultimately a working of Eligos, so naturally, this is not always the case.

At the very least, Eligos seems to have been generous with his own granddaughter. As she turns away from him, she very nearly runs into someone much shorter than her. A dark haired human man with dwarfism. He laughs at the accident, grinning up at her as she stares back at him, utterly baffled. Then, petticoats billowing out, Dahlia sinks to the floor and embraces him as tight as she can, head pressed to his chest with little regard for her carefully-styled hair. Even those across the room can hear her shout his name. ”Jonah!”

Within the hour, the ballroom is packed with nearly double the people originally expected, turning the party livelier than it’s ever been. Tearful reunions, laughter, dancing, mischief, romance, sparring, cruelty, and even proper, righteous violence. Truly, this Leeds Gala will be one for the books!

--------
[ OOC reminders: each apped-in player character is entitled to one or two guests from their homeworld. This can be former selves, family, friends, enemies, and they do not have to be from the character’s exact canonpoint. They can be from the past or the future. You may play them yourself, ask another member player to do it, or recruit a non-member player to do so with moderator approval. Non-member players are permitted to join the Discord server while they’re active in this event! Threads you write for your own guests are eligible for AC for the character they’re there with, and threads you write for someone else’s guest can be used on the AC of a character of your choice. Just make sure to mark them as guest threads. After the gala, guests will be allowed to move freely about town, stay the night on Saturday and go home Sunday, or leave right after the gala if preferred. And last but not least, characters played in the gala can be apped directly from this event, rather than going through the normal arrival process. Let a mod know if you have questions, and have fun! ]

Smoldering

{ The decay of a flame as available heat, oxygen, and burning material gradually diminish. Eventually, the flames will recede entirely into glowing embers, glittering like orange starlight amid the ashes of what once was. }

The party rages well into the night. It’s not typical for residents of Pumpkin Hollow to stay out this late, with everything around here that goes bump in the night, but eventually party-goers begin to find their way out. They move in small groups, huddled around lanterns, may they ever stay lit. Perhaps the surprising bit is that their guests can go with them. There are even reservations made for board overnight at the Oak & Iron, all under the name “E. Rex”.

But alas, these reservations are only booked for one night. And by the time the sun begins to set on the darker half of the year for the first time, an unfamiliar black boat is moored at Jack's Marina. One that the guests will recognize as the vessel on which they arrived. They must leave by the time it becomes dark.

Or must they? Perhaps for a select few, they will fail to feel the call which draws them home. It is unclear why. There are many that Mortanne would have allowed residency for, if she could. But for some reason, all but a small few feel the pull. Perhaps Eligos has simply abandoned them here. (Or maybe none at all end up marooned and everyone goes home? That all depends on you, dear reader.)

When the sky goes dark, the aptly named Heavy Heart shoves off, with only her crimson sails hanging suspended seemingly in midair in the moonlight. The black ship is otherwise consumed by the night. And soon, even those flashes of red vanish into the distance.

Moments recede into memories, like a dying fire settles gently into glowing embers at the bottom of a hearth. The festivities are over, and the guests are gone. Life in Pumpkin Hollow resumes as before. But maybe just a little warmer and brighter.

“My birthday is your birthday,” as Dahlia often says.

Happy birthday.

References to the appearance of Leeds Estate can be found here!

Comments

Susie (One Miss Suzanne Marie Dyneaux) | Deltarune

[thrashmachine]

Four walls and fancy friends
[ Closed to those attending the pre-gala Girl's Night ]

When people start filing into Dahlia's gathering of friends for Gala preparations, Susie feels so out of place.

A lot of the people here are... intense, in the way that makes you know they're capable. Stylish. Cool. Feminine. Things that, for her whole life, she'd been certain weren't for her. It almost makes her feel like she's intruding at first, like she should see herself out into the rest of the house while everyone else gets to it.

Then, next thing she knows, her hair's getting brushed through and braided neatly by someone else in anticipation for styling in the morning.

This place really doesn't stop feeling like the weirdest dream ever, does it?

Skittishness slowly starts to wear off, and eventually, she starts to have fun with it once she can reconcile with the idea that a lot of the people here aren't so different from her, when it boils right down to it. It's weird to find a group that feels like they could be her people, but this is it. And, even in midst of playfully-snarky jokes, she might even cave into the temptation to help someone with any sort of preparation they're doing. After all--- even if she keeps finding herself by surprise with just how many of them she's finding herself with--- that's what friends are for, isn't it?

Don't need me none of them
[ Early/Mid Party ]

Oh no. Birthday Girl duties call.

Her name's on the invite, so when people start coming in, Susie's right there beside Dahlia, standing just behind her (and towering a little bit in the process). She's expecting for people to just greet Dahlia and move on--- after all, she's the lady of the town or whatever it is. So imagine Susie's surprise when people stop to shake her hand or even just stop for a little bow, curtsy, or birthday wish. Nobody's looking right through her tonight. Between all the attention and the sparkly dress, it feels a bit like there's a spotlight on her.

It's not awful, but she's so relieved when she's turned loose to get to partying.

Not really having been invited to enough parties to exactly know party etiquette, and being way too excited to hold back, Susie's throwing herself into anything that catches her eye. Snacks, dancing, anything weird anybody seems like they might be getting up to, she's there. If she's not getting into something, she's a little easier to catch, but even if she's looking thoroughly winded, she's not hard to convince to hop back to her feet. Need a buddy to grab cake with? Dancing by yourself? She'll be there for it.

Maybe it's how friendly the people are here, how many people have been happy to see her, or the fact that her friends actually want to spend time with her... but this takes her best birthday of her life by a landslide. Good luck to any other birthdays that want to try to compare.

Because I've got you now and that's enough
[ End of the night, closed to the Fun Gang + Noelle (+ Also Dess) ]

Eventually, things start winding down, and Susie's all socialized out. Sorry, random town people, one half of the birthday court is seeing herself out. ...Mostly.

After disappearing, returning with a backpack, and taking one more hasty trip with a bunch of cloth napkins and glass bottles to the food tables, Susie vanishes properly upstairs. When the other teenagers that have been taken into the Leeds house return to their bedrooms, whenever that may be, they'll find a note attached to it. The writing is heavy-handed but deliberate with each pen-stroke.

Come find the open window on the third floor for the super excluesive afterparty. Bring your coat or a blanket in case it gets windy. The roof is pretty flat but be carefull when you step out.

See you soon
-Susie

And, as soon as the invites are received, and any are followed, they'll find a wad of spare comforters in the approximate shape of a nest on a nicely level portion of roof before the slope begins, littered with bottles of fruit juice, food that's been slowly picked at, and dress ruffles from where Susie's plopped into her corner of the "nest." Stripes of pajama pants peek out from beneath her dress already; if she's gonna hang out with her friends, she's gonna be cozy, dammit.

The second she hears something at the window, she perks up, flashing whoever she finds a toothy grin. "Hey! C'mon, night's still young, and I didn't bring all this junk out here for nothing!"

(Well, I'm glad) (Well, so am I)

[ Wildcard! Throw whatever ya got at me, including party night and the Sunday while the guests are still around. :D ]

Don't need me none of them

[tehilim127_1]

Susie's probably seen this lady around town here and there, but this is the first they're actually meeting. So it may be a bit of a surprise that she gets a broad, beaming, genuinely pleased smile along with the handshake.

"Happy birthday," she says. "You're one of Kris's friends, aren't you? I've been hoping to meet you. I'm Zivia."

[thrashmachine]

"Oh, uh--- yeah! Thanks!"

Well that's pleasantly surprising, this might be a first for her. Someone who's heard of her from a friend, and is excited to meet her? This place is wild. She returns that smile and handshake with one of her own and a little grin, though.

"I'm Susie, or--- I guess you probably knew that from the invites, huh. Right. But, where'd you meet Kris at?" Maybe she's from their job? She's got more of a vibe of a teacher, as far as Susie can tell, but she doesn't recall having her for any of their classes. (Though she's certainly slept through enough of them that it wouldn't surprise her if she'd missed a whole entire teacher in the process.)

[tehilim127_1]

"On the street, if you'll believe it," cheerfully, "dismembering a giant watermelon. Were you here for the giant watermelon?"

[thrashmachine]

"Hell yeah, you bet I was! I tore that thing up! It was a huge bummer when it got pushed into the ocean. I've thought about maybe trying to see if I could swim out to it, or catch a boat there, but... salt-water soaked watermelon doesn't sound good, I don't think."

There's not a hint of irony to her words. She's been genuinely considering it.

Got you now

[heartofadreemurr]

When Kris finds the note, they're almost too exhausted to even look at it-- until they see the little drawing. They'd recognize that silly little doodle anywhere.

Disrobing partially (no more hat or coat, cape is being carried) they head up to the third floor. "Oh shit am I first?"

[thrashmachine]

"Yeah, dude! I think Noelle's still hanging out with her sister, and I wouldn't be shocked if Ralsei wound up in some type of butler outfit situation again. Just us for now!"

Susie sits up, offering Kris a hand to help them get through the window.

"It's a really nice night, right? The sky's all clear and everything. And we can watch people do a really bad job of walking straight on the way out. I hit some guy with a cookie earlier, too, and he was so messed up he thought it came from the sky. It was awesome."

[heartofadreemurr]

"Yeah, Noelle might be a bit. But you should meet Dess if you haven't already, she's cool and I think Noelle'd be happy if you talked," Kris advises, taking her hand and plopping down next to her.

The story gives Kris a chuckle, and they lean forward a bit, watching people trickle out. "That's awesome. If Mr. Boom is still here, we should see if he can catch a grape from up here. I bet he could. In his mouth and everything."

[thrashmachine]

"Oh, man, now you gotta let me know the second you see him, I gotta see that. You're officially on old man watch." She's only sort of joking.

For a moment, in a rare instance, Susie lets a comfortable quiet fall, leaning a comfortable bit of weight into Kris' arm. This is nice. Comfortable. It might get rowdier when their other friends start to gather, but for the moment, Susie enjoys a peace that she doesn't find often.

"I'm gonna sleep like a freakin' rock when we go to bed," Susie half-jokes, finally looking back Kris's way. "If we have anything we gotta do tomorrow, uh. No the hell we don't, after all that."

don't need me none of them

[chenpathy]

Alex bumps into Susie after coming back in from one of her garden retreats and making straight for the food for like the third time tonight—all these emotions and socialising, it's enough to make anyone hungry.

Honestly, it's the pure, golden joy radiating off Susie that makes Alex take note of her, now, more than anything else. Focusing in, reflexively, gets her thoughts of a birthday like no other and that's sweet—god knows she's had more than her fair share of crappy birthdays (her 22nd passed her by not that long ago, but, well, she hadn't really felt like celebrating anything anyway).

"Hey, you're the birthday girl, right?" she asks as introduction, despite the answer being obvious even without mind-reading. She's also at least a little aware she's one of that kid Kris's friends. "Does anyone actually call you the full name they put on the invites or was that for extra fancy points? My full name's Alexandra and no one ever calls me that, so..."

[thrashmachine]

She's never seen this new face before, but brightens even still, distracted from the next round of Sick Juice that she was helping herself to. Just as quickly, though, her bright smile goes to that joking sort of exasperated, and she lets out a playfully-irritated groan.

"Ugh, no way, it sucks! I told Dolly that nobody would even recognize it, but she said it's a fancy party, with fancy invites, so full names made sense, but now everybody knows it," Susie complains, but it's mostly good-naturedly. (Besides, Dahlia already got all the louder complaints about it when the plans were made.) "I just go by Susie. So are you... Alex? Just Al? ... Andy?"

[chenpathy]

Alex laughs. "Got it the first time, I go by Alex. Andy might be a good option if I ever have to fake my death and go off the grid, though. You never know when that's going to happen."

Joking, obviously. She probably won't ever have to do that. Could be useful as a stage name, though.

"Honestly most people will probably forget after tonight. The only people who ever remembered mine exists were like, care workers, teachers and doctors."

[thrashmachine]

"Ugh, I hope you're right. It seems like half the people here don't have any idea who I even am, 'cause they've never heard it, so I got that going for me, at least?"

Silver linings, at the very least. She's never been so relieved to get overlooked as she was when people were loudly gossiping nearby about whoever Suzanne might be, and when she was taken under Ms. Leeds's wing.

"It probably wouldn't be too hard to go off the grid in a place like this, though. I mean... do they even have a grid? Not a lotta spaces that aren't town, but I bet you could get creative with it. Maybe take up cave-hermitting or something."

The smile she cracks is awkward; it's not uncomfortable, but it isn't hard to see that she's not well-versed in this. A lifetime of watching people talk but never doing it herself shows at the edges, of trying not to listen, or wincing through the more familiar types of attention she's more used to receiving. But that gold doesn't fade as she tries to stumble her way through all of this new.

don't need me none of them!!!

[montyhall]

" Susie!!! "

Oh, boy. Here comes Tenna, about as loud as his outfit and positively beaming once he finally spies Susie amidst the crowd. (He might have been even louder but, fortunately for everyone within earshot, he hasn't really started in on his alcohol consumption for the night.)

"Susie, SWEETheart, THERE you are!! Oh—" He stops just short of whatever it was he was about to do (pull her into a hug, maybe, or even give her a twirl like he's already done with at least one other guest tonight?) and instead sweeps out his arm for an exaggerated bow. "Or should I say, Miss Suzanne Marie Dyneaux? Ha, who knew! I sure didn't!!"

[thrashmachine]

"Tenna!! Hey!"

As soon as his voice carries over the crowd, Susie throws her arms up in delight, absolutely beaming. Her excitement turns into a fluster at the bow, though, and her purple cheeks wind up being a little bit more violet-red than she'd care for.

"Ugh, yeah, I don't tell anybody because it's stupid and way too long," she complains, trying to play it off like it isn't so embarrassing that people from home know that now. "Just stick with Susie, 'k? Just Susie. I don't want this to be a whole... thing."

[montyhall]

"Haha, alright, alright!!" Tenna straightens up out of the bow with both hands raised in a conciliatory gesture. "Can't blame a guy for wanting to try it out just the once, can you!? But alright, just Susie it is!!"

(He is 100% loading up that dad joke into the chamber for later deployment. He can't go against his nature, after all.)

Four walls and fancy friends

[thethirteenthchild]

Dahlia buttons up the last few black buttons on the back of Susie's dress, peering around her to look in the mirror. "What do you think?"

[thrashmachine]

"It's, uh..."

Pretty? Elegant? Way more expensive than anything she's been allowed within twelve feet of? All of the above, honestly. She's tentative when she reaches down to straighten the skirt out a little bit.

"Sparkly. And poofy. ...I like the colors. Do you think it looks okay?"

[thethirteenthchild]

"You look beautiful," Dahlia tells her earnestly, tugging her shoulder so that they can face each other. She meets Susie with a broad smile. "Thank you for indulging me. I hope you're enjoying yourself--- it's your day, too, after all."

got you now and that's enough

[theonewhosuffers]

Ralsei grins upon finding the note, quickly changing into his warmest pajamas and tying a blanket around his neck like a cape. A few minutes later, he's climbing out the window, giggling as a chilly breeze ruffles his fur. "Susie!" he loudly whispers, waving to her. "Did you carry all this stuff up here by yourself? You should have told me, I'd have helped!"

[thrashmachine]

"What? No way, dude! You were busy dancing when I was planning, and you were having so much fun! Like hell I'm gonna interrupt you when I totally had it under control."

The second he's out, she pats the spot she saved for him, passing him a bottle of juice. It's just across from her, so she's able to nudge his foot playfully with her own.

"Just enjoy the afterparty, 'k? I made it for us, and that includes you." A beat, and she gives him another playful little nudge, grin widening. "Cute blanket cape, by the way. You rock it."

[theonewhosuffers]

Ralsei covers his face in brief flusterment when Susie mentions him and dancing in the same sentence; there was only one person he danced with seriously. But the feeling passes and he sits beside her, nudging her back with his paw.

"I look pretty dashing, right? Like Kris." He giggles, waving the end of his blanket/cape with one hand before finally opening his drink. "You looked 'rockin' today too, Susie," he tells her slyly, deliberately playing it up to make her laugh.

i've got you now

[glaceir]

Noelle arrives a little after Kris with a special guest in tow.

She holds onto Dess's hand all the way up the stairs, even though there's no reason to think that she'd lose her. It's just Noelle being careful, is all. Mulcahy's cross going missing - the gift from his sister - has made Noelle a little worried, but Fever found it, so that means everything is going to be okay. Things are good tonight, and they're going to stay good, and that's the end of that.

Noelle takes a spot in the nest close enough to lean into Susie (you know. if she wanted.) but not actually doing so. What do you think Noelle is, a girl who shoots her shot?? She brings her knees up to her chest, takes a deep breath, and - for what feels like the first time, in a long time - she smiles.

[thrashmachine]

With the additions of Noelle and Dess, everybody's here, and it's everything Susie could've hoped it would be.

There's jokes across the blanket, people-watching to be had, and everyone she could've hoped to have close within arm's reach. Whatever terrible things are looming on the horizon, they're out of view tonight. It's momentary peace, but she'll take it.

And without all of that stress weighing her down, y'know what? Maybe she will take her shot.

She's just as cautious (and maybe a little bit awkward) as you'd expect, though. She waits for a moment when everyone else is wrapped up in conversation, scoots just close enough for their shoulders to touch, and leans back a little bit, cracking a little smile Noelle's way.

"It's a pretty night out, right? After how crazy today was, taking it easy and just getting to watch the stars is... really nice. I'm glad you weren't too tired to make it up here."

[glaceir]

Wow! Their shoulders sure are close! Noelle's head immediately fills with static as she wonders whether Susie, like meant to do that, if it means anything at all, or maybe this is just to get a better view of the sky, or, or, or -

It reminds her, for some strange reason, of sitting up against Dess's old bed. But better, because now Dess is here. She looks up at the sky, Susie beside her, and that reminds her of Cyber City. She lets herself drift in these memories, as if they're holding her tight. Keeping her safe.

She looks at Susie, and smiles back. Her smile isn't Susie's roaring fire, but it's just as warm. Little embers that glow softly in the night.

"Yeah." Noelle doesn't especially want to watch the stars, to be honest. She really just likes watching Susie. Memorizing that face, that smile. "You - you have to promise not to laugh, but. I think this might be one of the best nights of my life."