HOUSE WARMING PARTY! [SEMI-OPEN!]

[blondferret]

WHO: Derek and Friends (if you know Derek and think's he's a cool/nice person, you're invited. If you are friends with one of Derek's friends and get dragged to the party, you're invited.)
WHERE: Derek's NEW APARTMENT in Viea Village
WHEN: June 8th, 2018
WHAT: House Warming Party!
WARNINGS: Alcohol consumption with minors around

It took Derek about a week, but he was finally able to get his huge ass apartment looking decent and ready for a party. He had tried contacting people to invite them, and even put a post on the app asking people to RSVP, not that he got much of a response. Sorry, Kenta, Derek is throwing a party and he doesn't know who all is coming...

Derek set up his kitchen with drinks for all ages. There are both bottles of Butter Beer for the minors and Fire Whiskey for the over 21. There are also many home made finger sandwiches (come one he's English) and chips. There is plenty of seating to go around since he does have TWO FURNISHED LIVING ROOMS and two balconies that you can walk out on to see a great view of the city, specifically Tribunal Terrace. Don't mind the owl that periodically flies onto his perch on the balcony and eats a mouse or rat he's found. He's very friendly.

The cat on the other hand, will occasionally slink around but mainly stay out of the way. Please don't touch him or he will surely scratch you (unless your Kenta or Mariko).

Derek will be mingling with guests as they come in. Drink, have fun, listen and dance to the music, sing Karaoke (Derek has a Karaoke machine), and take your mind off the fact a bunch of people are missing and Retrospec is behind it!

Comments

[flametheif40]

[He thinks about it a bit, extends his hand and seems to be counting off the number of siblings he has, a slight frown can be seen on his face before dissolving back to a conversational smile]

If I'm not mistaken, there are seven of us in total, every single one adopted annndd im pretty sure every single one is mad at me

Anyway...

How about you? Do you have siblings? and do you generally tend to get along?

[invocate]

I have an older brother. He is actually much older than me. Twelve years. And yes, we generally get along.

[Li-Na glances down at her glass]

Although, there was a time I was very angry with him. What happened was not his fault, but I was a child. We repaired our relationship after some time.

[flametheif40]

[Al gets closer, they are almost touching shoulders, his body pointed toward the city but looking at her with curiosity and empathy]

How...How do you do that? What happened?...If you don't mind talking about it of course...cause...well

[He sighs and shakes his head, what is getting to him?]

I've done stupid things and other stuff I'm not proud of...and it carries with me wherever I go...

[invocate]

[And as Al gets closer, Li-Na pulls back, because holy cow boy personal space. Not to mention this is a fairly personal topic she hasn't talked with many people about. But Al is saying some rather personal things too, so it seems only fair to reciprocate. So while she puts a good six inches back between them, she doesn't turn away from him.]

Our parents died when I was eight. My brother was still in university and he could not take care of me. Our relatives suggested I go to stay in China.

[she runs her fingers over the glass in her hands, tracing the contours over and over]

It made sense. I would be cared for and my brother could focus on his studies. He did not know they would treat me badly. He did not know they would steal the money he sent for dance classes. Or that I would be bullied at school. That I would stop speaking.

[she looks up at Al, her expression serious]

It is very hard to like yourself after everyone treats you like you are nothing. It took me years to forgive him for something that was not his fault. And even longer to feel like I deserve his love.

[flametheif40]

[He nods his head slowly and sadly]

Im so sorry...but at least its, better now right? I can understand...

[He takes a big gulp of butter beer]

Seems like fate loves us orphans, puts a "kick me" sign when we are down.

My parents were shot, so I had to fend for myself, I was already stealing to try to help Mom...apparently I didn't steal enough though, otherwise she might be alive...and I wouldn't have to get adopted by a family that never believed a word I said, not how my dad was a mob boss, not how I would see my dying mother from time to time, or had to survive by myself.

All they would say was I was an "ungrateful brat, looking for attention"...when they started beating me, that's when I ran away and ended up here with the Mathews...who I also tried running away from....

[His eyes swelling this entire time]

Cause I felt so guilty that they were giving me so much...and...I couldn't love them back like they were. I figured I should run before I turn them bitter somehow or ruin everything again...Derek tracked me down and forced me to come back...

Jury's still out about weather that's a good thing or not, but, the whole family is mad about that, and failing school one year, so who knows, maybe I might have to try again...would be a shame though...I actually like Mr and Misses Mathew

[invocate]

[Wow. That... is a lot. Li-Na blinks for a moment as she processes everything Al has said.]

That was not your fault, what happened to your mother. Or that the family who took you in were unkind. Those were the choices of others. Sometimes things are out of our own control.

[she offers him the napkin he'd offered her earlier. there's still some dry spots on it.]

And I do not think they were mad. I think maybe they are worried about you. Derek would not bring you back if they did not care.

[flametheif40]

[He takes the napkin and dabs his eyes to prevent some tear drops from falling, for once, he doesn't hate himself for being open like this]

Thank you, you are...kind,to say that...but I'm not exactly innocent, most people focus on the stealing part and judge me on that, my 1st adopted family did, Derek does, the Matthews would probably judge me too if they knew how far it goes...I think your the 1st one to look past all the stealing stuff...

[Despite trying to fight back tears, more fall anyway, it is quite evident that he is trying to keep a strong front, the tears however, tell the story of long suppressed feelings trying to come back up]

[invocate]

I am not looking past it, I am just looking over it. It sounds like you feel a compulsion to steal, but that does not make you a bad person.

[but for real Al, get some help for that]

[flametheif40]

[Al's face turns into surprise]

That is something that's not usually put together "you steal, but your not a bad person"

Ya really think I'm not that bad?

[invocate]

Well, I imagine you do not break into peoples homes or knock them out when you steal, right?

[at least, he'd better not, or her opinion of him will drop]

[flametheif40]

OH HELL NO! I'm a pick pocketing kind of thief! And I have rules about it!

[invocate]

[That gets a curious look from Li-Na]

Rules? What kind of rules?

[flametheif40]

[He sighs]

Okay so there are some people I REALLY like to NOT steal from...

1) Mothers with children
2) Happy couples
3) Sad couples
4) depressed people

However, there are usually 2 exceptions...

1) The asshole tax...I become freaking robin hood...after a small finder's fee...and if i feel like it...point is if they are an asshole, I don't tend to care who they are at that point

2) If im desperate enough I might do it...I hate it but if I have to....

and of course, don't steal from children... OH and I USUALLY don't rob people of EVERYTHING they have, I just want some money, not wreck their entire life

[invocate]

[That... seems overly complex. Relatively thought out, but overly complex.]

I can understand why you might steal if you were in a bad situation... but the Matthews seem like a nice family.

[granted, she only knows Derek and Amanda...]

[flametheif40]

[He blushes, how to explain this part...]

Well...yeah they are, considering what I put them through, Mr and Misses Mathews are so kind...and...loving...I'm...I'm scared...that maybe, maybe I screw up again and lose another family...or maybe fate might take everything away from me again

Why let the one skill I have that can keep me alive go to waste? If tomorrow, everyone were to suddenly just walk away from me...I would be hurt...but at least I could steal and survive

[He cries hard, the wall he had up all these years crashes down]

I don't want to be all alone and hurt on the streets again, wondering around, wishing each day was a nightmare...and worse of all, not being able to stand on my own two feet...and cruel fate keeps whipping me with my greatest failure...not stealing enough to let mom rest for that one day...

[invocate]

[Li-Na tilts her head as Al talks... then rests one hand on her waist]

You worry and worry about losing the Matthews, but I do not think you are even opening yourself up to them. If you keep trying to protect yourself from bad things, then you prevent good things from happening too.

[TBH this is a little rich coming from her, as she tends to open herself up to people much too easily, but at the same time doubts their affections for her.]

You should not blame yourself for not being able to help your mother. Just like my brother should not blame himself for not being able to help me.

[though she knows he still does]

[flametheif40]

[Is she a freaking angel or something? Why...is she doing this? For a stranger, a thief no less...]

[Unsurprisingly, tears still pour down his face, he takes a deep breath]

I...I suppose that's true...after all, I'm open to you right now...and...and nothing bad happened right? And...you think I'm a good person, yet you know I'm a thief...

You were angry with your brother...and you forgave him after some time...cause...he probably never wanted you to be so hurt...like how I never wanted Mom to die...so...mama would probably forgive me by now, even if she were mad...right?

Neither one of us could have saw that coming...and someone we loved was hurt...and both of us would have given anything to go back and change it...but we can't...

[invocate]

[Because she really is a genuinely nice person. And Al really doesn't seem like a bad guy. A bit burdened and a bit fixated on his past, but not a bad guy.]

I do not think she would have been angry with you, and I think she would want you to forgive yourself. She would want you to be happy, right? That is what mothers want for their children, to be happy and have good lives.

[flametheif40]

[He clenches to his chest, where his heart should be...it starts to click in his head, his heart? not so much]

Yeah...that sounds about right...up here anyway...

[He taps the side of his head, and takes another breath]

I've just had this for so long...and the nightmares don't help either...

Like, how do I just let myself off the hook?