food glorious food [open]

[drewthetower]

WHO: August, his aunts, and Literally Everyone
WHERE: August's very small house
WHEN: Early February
WHAT: His aunts are in town, that means food, which means his aunts told August to invite people over, which means he is inviting folks from the Zodiac app
WARNINGS: August swears? Like a lot?

aunts are here. if you can see this you're invited to food. feel free to bring your own dishes, Marianne'll love that


actually if you're veg or gluten-free you might wanna bring something, Marriane never met a meat she didn't like and this kitchen ain't GF-friendly by virtue of me loving bread

August's place looks about like you'd expect a college kid's rental to look: small, not the newest, and hilariously crowded. It does have two bedrooms, but only technically. The second bedroom is tiny, and is also where August technically sleeps.

What? Did you think he wasn't going to turn the master bedroom into his craft room? Please.

When you arrive, you'll be greeted by one of three things:

-Julian cawing happily and landing on your head (if he knows you personally)

-Marianne (small, a bit rowdy, always eager to embarrass August or Cat) calling out to August in French, August replying in French, and then Catherine (taller, calmer, and always ready to bemoan why both her wife and nephew-son are wimps) sighing and turning to you with a "hi, you must be friends of August!"

-the above, but with loud and colorful swearing from the kitchen instead of Marianne and August bickering. Listen long enough and you'll probably learn to swear in another three languages!

If you brought food, Cat'll take it and set it on August's tiny table or the card table they brought because they know their son. If you didn't, Cat will point out the stuff already laid out--and there is a lot. On top of the typical relish tray and other snack-y foods, there's already three types of salad, two kinds of soup, a pot of chili, a crockpot full of very fancy cheese dip, another crockpot full of hot cider, a third that seems to be full of some kind of bean dish, and whatever else Marianne is making.

If asked why they brought so much food for what was likely going to be just August, August will say "they're empty-nesters" before dodging whatever Cat is throwing at him for that pun while Marianne cackles in the background.

Comments

[drewthetower]

Yeah. Shuffle them, split the deck, shuffle then split the deck, split the deck three times and then shuffle...the only two who haven't are my aunts.

[whiteshroud]

Huh...

What's the card?

[drewthetower]

[August pulls out his Ten of Cups.]

This, reversed. It's supposed to represent relationship bullshit.

I FORGOT TO HIT SEND

[whiteshroud]

"Relationship bullshit"?

[Well, he supposes that it is close to Valentine's day]

Could you elaborate? Is it specific relationship bullshit?

[drewthetower]

Disconnected, different ideas of a relationship, shit's out of balance, stuff like that.

[whiteshroud]

I see...

[...]

Are you sure that just doesn't mean we're all gonna be dateless on Valentine's Day? Because based on everyone I've talked to on Libra, it wouldn't surprise me if that's a common problem....

[drewthetower]

If that were the case, we'd all be getting Lovers reversed [which he pulls out of the deck without even trying, which. that's a thing??] or something, and no one's even gotten that card upright. [A beat.] Also, like. Have you seen some of the people on Libra? There are way too many hot people on that app, there is no way they're all gonna be dateless.

[It may only be a one-night-stand but like. Come on.]

[whiteshroud]

[That's some impressive card pulling!]

Oh, there's actually a lovers card? I always thought the Ego series just put that arcana in for the canon girl...

[Yes. All of Jun's tarot knowledge might in fact come from this world's version of persona]

I mean, I guess they're good looking. But the personalities of some of them are... [Well, disastrous]

[drewthetower]

Fucking Ego!

[Oh, that was a voice crack. In the kitchen, Marianne starts cackling and calls out for everyone to stand back, "the little bird's pissed!"

(The Villareals are a family of love.)]

The games are fine. They're fine! They're JRPGs and that's fine! But for the love of everything, I hate them. Haaaate them. Do you know how many people have accused me of being a fake because their reading has zero major arcana? [Mockingly, with much gesturing:] "How can this card mean love, it's not the Lovers!" "Ooh, Devil, that's the sexy card!" "What's with these cups and swords? I don't think this is a real deck!" [Normally, but still with much gesturing:] I. Fucking. Hate. Ego.

[As he's gesturing, he loses his grip on the card in his hand and the card goes flying.

And starts glowing a weird purple-black.]

[whiteshroud]

[Oh that set him off. Jun's a little surprised, but also it is funny. He's trying real hard not to laugh-]

August, c'mon-

[Oh nevermind cards are flying all over. Jun sees the glowing his reflexes react, moving out of the way of the card flying at him--

-- And into whoever was walking behind him]

[nonmagical]

[Mirabel WAS going to check on her uncle - only because she knows that he might be feeling overwhelmed right now.

The card hits her, which wouldn’t be a problem… except she’s floored by a sudden burst of energy. She lets out a yelp before face planting on the floor.]

[drewthetower]

--what the fuck.

[The card falls to the floor, still glowing faintly, but August cannot be bothered right now as he sets his deck down and rushes over to Mirabel.

Julian, however, goes to that fallen card.]

What the fuck did I just do, are you okay?

[whiteshroud]

Mirabel!

[Oh this is bad, he didn't notice her walking behind him. He'll kneel down next to Mirabel. Sure he could point out what happened, but Mirabel is the priority here. That can wait]

Are you alright?

[nonmagical]

Unh….

[She’s not dead at least! She starts to push herself up, but there’s a throbbing pain there like she got blasted with something.]

I’m… okay…

[drewthetower]

Shit, fuck--uh, Cat, can we get some ice and the ibuprofen from your purse?

[His aunt nods and rushes to get all of that while August helps Mirabel sit up.]

Gods, I am so sorry, that has literally never happened before...

[whiteshroud]

Those cards were infused with magic energy. It must be why your tarot readings have been strange lately.

[Which means congrats August! You got powers! He looks at Mirabel as August helps her sit up]

Yeah, sorry Mirabel. I didn't see you behind me when I dodged.

[Jun the better solution wouldn't have been you getting hit instead you weirdo]

[drewthetower]

...that would do it, yeah--what, Julian.

[Julian hops onto August's head with the still-glowing card in beak, dancing a little and gesturing to Mirabel with the card.]

Yeah, I know it hit her and it hurt her--no, it's not going to help.

[A muffled caw!]

[nonmagical]

I got hit with a magic card…?

[That makes… about as much sense as anything else here she supposes.]

[whiteshroud]

Yeah, it'd seem that way.

[Jun meanwhile eyes Julian, who really seems insistent.]

...I think we should try what Julian is suggesting. He might know something we don't.

[He is a magic bird after all!]

[drewthetower]

Yeah, dunno what happened other than that.

[August gives Jun a "are you serious" look but sighs and takes his card from his bird, waving it in the bird's face.]

Okay, what do I do with it--oh.

[The glow turns into a stream of light, going from the card to Mirabel. Julian caws triumphantly! That should help!]

[nonmagical]

[The pain recedes, and Mirabel looks less like she's going to fall over.]

I feel... better?

[whiteshroud]

[Jun watches, blinking a couple time]

So the card hurts a person....then heals them?

[...]

Feels like your deck can't make up its mind what it wants to do....

[drewthetower]

You're telling me.

[What the fuck, man.]

I'm going to need to find someone who won't mind getting the shit beat outta them to test this...

[nonmagical]

Not me.

[It's said jokingly. She doesn't think August would actually do that to her.]

[whiteshroud]

[ 💧 ]

Mm, it's a tempting offer, but I'll pass too...

[Mirabel seems to be doing better, so he'll stand and offer her a hand up]

Are you alright now?