singillatim | Hot Potato (party log)

Hot Potato (party log)

Who: Chloe Frazer & any and all party people!!
What: Harvest Celebrations/Halloween Party/Ruby’s Birthday/Rat Marriage/Big Communal Cooking Party so Chloe doesn't burn down her house
When: October 12
Where: At Chloe’s house on Greene Street

Content Warnings: Food descriptions, probably.
Other Notes: Feel free to make this a mingle and reply to other characters!

Chloe had wondered whether to go through with the harvest party once Lalo had disappeared, but as they say, the show must go on. There's still a lot worth celebrating, and people need something hopeful after the mess last month. Luckily her house had made it through everything all right.

The poster had said to wear a costume, so she's hoping to see a lot of those, and she’d recruited some people to help her put together the menu exactly to Lalo’s specifications, so unfortunately no one is safe from British Potatoes. There are even candles for the birthday cake.

Chloe herself is dressed as a sexy lumberjack, with one of Lalo’s old flannels tied in a knot under her breasts and denim cutoffs made from the jeans Kostya had gotten blood on (shh). She's got a fire roaring, because otherwise she’d freeze.

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I could! [Randvi laughs at the thought.] Though I doubt anyone else here knows the songs I know, save perhaps Ragnar.

[The other part isn't as funny.]

I saw… it. During the fighting.

Hey, maybe you could teach the rest of us.

[ It sounds like fun, honesty! Russians love their songs, too. But... oh yeah, that next part definitely has him sobering almost immediately, brows lifting in visible startle. He lowers his voice, ducking his head down as he moves in closer. ]

You saw the— creature? [ Shit! Just how many people came across that disgusting little thing? ] Did it try to hurt you? What did it do?

[Randvi lowers her voice too, doubly glad she's not wearing a skull on her head.]

No, it had just fed when I saw it. [And they won't think further about that.] You were right, it did remember me. When it heard my voice it came close and indicated it required the use of my power again.

[ it had just fed... Lovely! Little shit!! He can only hope that poor Randvi didn't witness that actually happening....

But as horrific as this is to learn, he's at least feeling some dose of relief to hear that next part. It remembered her. It didn't try to hurt her. He can't help giving a sharp exhale of pent-up tension, closing his eyes for a moment. ]

Thank goodness.... [ Eyes opening again, he considers this, baffled. The thing wanted her to warm it again.. It was smart enough to recognise she could provide such a comfort for it. ]

You might have helped save its life, [ he realises. If it had been left out in the cold for too long... ] ...And mine.

It was… [Even now it's kind of amusing, underneath the horror of it.] It was like Ulfrùn demanding a treat. It was shivering, but in a way that was intended to make certain I saw it.

What... [ He clucks his tongue, speechless for a long moment. Acting pathetic so it could have warmth... The audacity...! He always knew that thing would demand Randvi's power again someday, but he had no idea it would be so directly... ]

I'm very sorry. [ He seems genuinely embarrassed, like a parent apologising for its child's bratty behaviour... or maybe a pet's. That she had to touch it is bad enough... and she probably saw some pretty disgusting things, as well. ]

I suppose it thinks you're its personal heater now!

I was surprised to see it attempt to communicate with me so directly. It does give me hope that it can be trained, or at least learn to direct its behaviours.

It is a stubborn little beast, though, you were correct on that.

[ He used to retain memory of whatever the creature did while it was out of him, but this place has snapped that tether. It's an odd thing — sometimes he wishes he had that ability back. At least then he'd know exactly what it did. As it is now, he has to fully rely on what others tell him, and he's paying close attention to what Randvi says. ]

I hope it didn't give you too much trouble... It definitely has its own mind. [ Which is... a terrifying concept. The thing's smart. But maybe Randvi really could be someone to help train it. Still, he's worried. ]

Did it seem aggressive towards you at all?

It growled a bit when I first saw it, which is to be expected as it was feeding. Once it recognized me, it was almost docile. It nearly fell asleep in my hand.

[ Honestly, that's all very creepy, but yet.... the best possible outcome. Isn't it? It knows her, it (hopefully) won't hurt her.

Konstantin frowns for a moment as he thinks on it. ]

I suppose this is... good news, then. Or something like it. Maybe that idea of yours to train it sometime really will work.

But... are you all right? Interacting so closely with something so disgusting...

I was able to encourage it to perform certain behaviours if there was incentive, so I believe that it can be trained.

[She lowers her eyes.]

To be honest, I mostly felt guilty for encouraging it to… return to you. I know this isn't what you want.

[ Konstantin looks back up at her, brows lifting in surprise. ]

Ah — that isn't something you need to feel any guilt for. You didn't ask for any of that to happen. And... I owe you a great deal for it.

[ He nods with a smile (which makes his stupid eyestalks wobble around.) ]

I don't want to be the reason you feel down at a party, after all! Especially not when I've heard through the grapevine that you can be quite the wild one when you want to be.

[ He winks at her. As if Randvi would know at all what he's referring to... ]

[Randvi blinks, though the ridiculous movements of his costume do make her smile a bit.]

I'm not sure what you mean…?

[ Konstantin is all too happy to shift the focus from Disheartening and Disgusting Worm Things and to this, instead. With all the various harrowing events as of late, he hadn't had the chance to bring up the fact he'd encountered Randvi when she was just a girl... ]

Do you remember an old woman who gave you tea, out in the woods? A few months ago. Apparently it did something to people here, affected them temporarily. When I found you out there, you had become nineteen years old, and you informed me of some colourful stories of your past. [ He grins brightly. ]

[Randvi’s eye widens, caught off guard.]

Is that what happened? I awoke with my bandage missing and my hair in disarray, but I did not know why.

[Had it temporarily restored her face? What a strange thought.]

Gods… nineteen. That was before the war. What did I say?

You didn't recognise me at all. I was a little worried you might beat me up at first; you seemed very tough. [ He laughs. ]

We got to talking about marriage and settling down. You seemed very opposed — rather have fun partying with people in the watch tower instead. [ He lowers his voice almost conspiratorially, and winks. ] I didn't know you had so many party days in your youth! I'll have to work harder to catch up!

[Randvi’s face flushes again - she can only imagine what that little beast must have said to him - but she laughs, too.]

I was so rowdy back then. I'm the youngest daughter, so I had no real responsibilities.

[ He feels a little bad for flustering her, but this is so charming! Konstantin grins like they're best friends, giving the poor woman another little nudge with his elbow, brows lifting knowingly. ]

Rowdy is a fun word. And there are so many beautiful people in the world, why limit yourself when you don't have to, right?

[Randvi covers her face with her hands.]

Gods. Did I say that?

[She can't deny that it sounds like something she would have said.]

[ Poor Randvi! She doesn't deserve this! Konstantin laughs again, leaning in a little as if to try and see her through her own fingers, looking absolutely delighted. She's so cute, and he's horrible. ]

If I remember correctly, you called yourself an expert on beautiful people, actually.

[ He doesn't explicitly say "women" yet, although "beautiful" as a descriptor might make that pretty obvious. ]

Clearly I should have been coming to you this whole time for advice!

An expert! [Randvi groans, though she has to admit this is a time she looks back on fondly.] I thought I knew everything in the world.

It's okay, I'm pretty sure all teenagers are this way. [ Konstantin laughs. ] I was a handful of my own. I think we would have gotten along when we were young. Although we might have argued a little over things like this. I almost wonder if we have the same type!

Type… [Randvi groans again. Her friend Katla is a tough blonde too.] What did I tell you?

You didn't say anything explicitly about it, but... I had the feeling we might've been similar, there.

[ He chooses his words very carefully, eyes sparkling. ]

I've always had a weakness for blondes with bright smiles and a strong attitude.

[She does peek out from behind her fingers now, mortified.]

Am I truly so obvious?

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