275 gallons of lube in the barn, 275 gallons of lube...

[framestory]

WHO: EVERYONE
WHAT: Ellis tries hosting a summer party with slip n slide.
WHEN: Summer 12
WHERE: On Ellis's farm property
WARNINGS: NSFW dialogue. Owen laying out his kinks for everyone to see.


[ On a very hot day in Summer 12, every house in Crescentview will receive an invitation to Ellis's place along with a map with directions tailored to each house. Better tell your housemate about it. Ellis has invited everyone to come over to his place. There will be an insanely long slip n slide that feels ridiculously slippery. In fact, it is not powered by water. It's powered by water-based lube. But don't worry, Fluffy the white adult samoyed dog can hose you down to wash it all off if desired. He will also accept pets and attention from those who feel awkward at parties. The dog will also go around once in a while to spray random people with the hose.

Anyway, there's also free food laid out on the table! From Lucia's Cozy Kitchen (and advertised as such), there are fried chicken, fried noodles, and spinach wraps. From Diluc's Dämmerung Bar & Winery, there will be this season's specialty: strawberry wine! There are many other food as well such as dried apple chips, crispy fruit salad, generic snacks... there's also soda and water for the people who don't want to drink wine.

The main attractions in the party seem to be the extremely long slip n slides--multiples of them actually--and there is a specifically longer slip n slide, but it's used as a game. There's a plastic stick at the end that you must get to and bring back without falling even once. Yes, your feet must be on the slip n slide. Beware, this one is even more slippery than the others. There is... an assortment of prizes to win. What are the prizes? Win one and find out.

Other than that, Ellis is also selling bottles of water-based lube. He knows some of y'all need these.

Mingle, eat food, and have fun!

If there are any questions, please PM or ping me on the discord server. ]

Comments

3. just mingling;

[esurientabyss]

[ Does this look like the face of someone who would tell everybody Steinbeck is putting away food in his pockets? Though...He Xuan may raise a slight brow to indicate he's noticed.

But, here he is, enjoying the food. ]

I suppose you've already tried the fried chicken.

[graftage]

Hey!

[He Xuan is getting a friendly smile from him. Thanks for not telling on him, bro.]

Yeah, its pretty good! Might as well get more while they last.

[esurientabyss]

[ He Xuan is particularly good at keeping secrets. The greeting, though...he'll just nod to acknowledge it, if anything. ]

Good idea.

[ But, speaking of which... ]

If you've gotten them all, we can do something else too.

[graftage]

Oh, sure, my pockets can only hold so much.

[He turns back to He Xuan, pilfering done.]

What do you want to do?

[esurientabyss]

[ Suddenly going to be pulling out his bingo card here! ]

...Something from this.

Since we've still a good amount of time on our hands.

[ And no matter how good He Xuan can be at integrating himself in places, he is not going to be playing around on a slide. ]

[graftage]

Oh, okay.

[Looking over.....]

Hey, we got one of the same thing! "Have you ever"....have you ever played that? Haha.

[esurientabyss]

...No, I haven't.

[ Beat. ]

Is that how it's played, or is it more in-depth than that?

[ It seems so simple, and sure He Xuan has played various games when he was younger, but... ]

[graftage]

[A little laugh.]

Well, yes and no. We basically ask each other stuff. Like..."have you ever gone fishing" or "have you ever balanced an egg on a spoon". It's a good way to get to know each other.

[esurientabyss]

...Hm. One of those games.

[ Well, he can't say he's surprised, but- ]

Have you ever had the opportunity to prove that someone was wrong to underestimate you?

[graftage]

Whoah, what a question.

[But he does hmmmm a bit.]

Yeah, actually, something comes to mind. Not by much, and I didn't like how that fight turned out...but I'm crafty when it comes to things like that. The man thought he could pull a weapon on me and I easily disarmed him. He didn't have even time to blink.

Have you ever...lied to someone to their face about something?

[esurientabyss]

Sounds like a potentially satisfactory ending, if not for what you said about the 'fight' turning out as you had not liked.

[ But, maybe the guy even died for his hubris.

As for the question, there is a pause. ]

Impossible to avoid it.

[ Considering what he did in order to achieve his vengeance...but also because he's lived for a very long time. He keeps the answer succinct, unless the other will ask about it. He's not sure how many times they are supposed to ask, so he'll also keep going? ]

Have you ever had to abandon something you wish you didn't have to?

[graftage]

Exactly. I'm still a little sore about that. His damn ability...

[MMMMM >:I DAMN BOOKWORMS]

[But he nods, as if he expected it. Of course, he would give the same answer.]

Because of work, or your life...? [But now its his turn to answer, and he frowns a little.] Yeah. Absolutely. I even told you about it. Had to clean up the mess my boss made, so that involved leaving things behind.

[esurientabyss]

Ability?

[ Look, he got a wee bit curious... ]

...'Living' a long time. So, it's bound to have happened eventually.

[ Though, thinking about, He Xuan thinks he can make a case for childhood nonsense as well. Well, maybe not. He was a well-behaved child. ]

I do remember you mentioning having to clean up after your disappeared boss.

[graftage]

Yeah, ability. People back home have things like that.

[And some are worse than others!!]

How long is a long time? [HOW OLD ARE YOU, MAN.] And yep. That was a mess and a half. And...its my turn! Alright. Have you ever...hurt someone you didn't mean to?

[esurientabyss]

Seems rather common.

[ Between different worlds, even. ]

More than a couple centuries by now.

[ So, effectively ancient compared to this cast. As for the question, his expression will turn...well, it's something unreadable, but displeasure can be read along the edges. ]

Yes. Perhaps this too is an inevitability of life; to eventually hurt someone you would rather not.

[graftage]

Not really where I come from. Ability users are rare. Almost to the point of myth.

[He doesn't seem at all shocked - in a way, it makes him smile a little wry smile instead.]

You don't look a day past one hundred. [Heh.] And...yeah. I guess if you live long enough, and interact with enough people...it'll happen. Even with the best of intentions.

[esurientabyss]

Then they have to be born with it already?

[ In his world, there are many normal people for certain. But, a mortal in question can develop a level of cultivation where their prowess can be considered a 'skill' or 'ability'. To say nothing of the various types of beings and creatures who already wield otherworldly abilities and powers as it is.

Not exactly going to comment much on his age. Though, he just ends up nodding about the comment regarding interactions, seeming to accept it. But, with the best intentions, huh?

He did not have those for Shi Wudu, but for the other one, well—he casts aside the thought. ]

That aside, have you ever achieved a goal which originally seemed impossible, even to you?

[graftage]

Yeah, most are. Though I've heard the government is working on some ability users of their own. Not even that surprising.

[Of course, there's skill and all, but abilities with a capital A? Those are innate. Those aren't things just chosen at will.]

[The question makes him glance up, pensive, trying to think it through.]

Mm. I think...surviving that whole ordeal, maybe. But...nah. I can't think of anything major. Maybe getting out from under that guy's thumb.

[His boss.]

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if certain decisions weren't made?

[LIGHTEN UP BOYS]

[esurientabyss]

Hmm...no, not surprising.

[ There are many other things which can be easily considered more than. But most reigning bodies would reach for trying to get the same if they can. ]

I assume you mean your disappeared boss?

[ Only person who it seems Steinbeck would be under the thumb of. As for the question...hoo boy. GO BIG OR GO HOME, is apparently the game being played by them both here. ]

I have. All the time, for many centuries; less so, with time. But, as to be expected, it changes nothing, and it is useless to consider it for long.

[graftage]

Yeah, that guy.

[Said lightly, and yet there's something so hard in his eyes, like his irises are solid stone, cold as anything.]

Geez, its harder especially with all those years under your belt. And here I thought at my age I had enough of that for a few lifetimes. [A wry sort of smile.] I guess its nice to know I'm not alone in that feeling.

[esurientabyss]

[ Easy for He Xuan to take notice of. You know, kind of like looking into a mirror.

It's the same kind of look he's certain he had whenever any subject came up having to do with the Water Tyrant in his presence. He's not good at hiding that kind of displeasure himself.

Maybe that boss of his won't ever come back. Or die. That too. ]

It is. Didn't used to think I'd care to think about such things, whether or not others felt the same, but it does make a difference.

[ It's almost a strange thing to admit, but maybe not. There's something about someone just getting it, you know? ]

Have you ever wanted to tell someone something, but you couldn't?

[graftage]

[Unfortunately, bosses tend to be like cockroachs. Not that Steinbeck would blame the man, coming back from nothing, because there's something to him he understands, but...]

[Then again, fuck that guy.]

Hm.

[Now that...is a question.]

...Yeah. Of course. [He says, quietly.] I've wanted to say a lot of things to people I like. But some things have to stay under wraps, no matter what. That's how it is.

[A plainly said thing, but its something that sinks like a stone in his chest.]

Better that way.

[esurientabyss]

[ ...

It's a difficult truth, but one that's simple and to the point. ]

An irrefutable fact of life.

[ And some things, if the other person knew, it would destroy them. Or perhaps make the person run away in fear. Or other various reactions that would not bode well.

Though, it doesn't necessarily mean it is so easy to hold back those words either. ]

You will find no disagreement here.

[graftage]

...You've got some stuff to hide too, huh.

[The look he gives He Xuan is a little fond, somehow - its funny, to find someone so familiar, and yet not all that familiar at the same time. They think similarly. Maybe that's why he's being a little more open with him than he would with most people here.]

[He lets out a hum.]

Have you ever...gotten a sweet treat with someone?

[esurientabyss]

You're right.

[ Those things are now smaller in number than they ever have been, thanks to a majority of that originally being due to his plot to enact vengeance being fulfilled. Anything now is simply a matter of personal convenience, and can be potentially counted on one hand.

As for discussing these things with Steinbeck...well, despite their differing dispositions, he's acknowledged their similarities. ]

I suppose I have. In my childhood, it's inevitable. In a place like this, it's happened a couple of times. There's plenty of food to choose from, and as you can see, many are generous.

[ ...He recalls how many have handed various foods to him. But he's not going to object to it happening again, because food. ]