video | un: mulberry

[fanoperator]

[Here’s Huaisang sitting on the edge of a park fountain, wearing trousers for once.]

Greetings Lunatia! I’m Nie Huaisang.

I’d like to invite you all to attend my birthday party coming up next week. I’ll be renting an event center for it, and I hope that it will be a very grand event. There will be dancing, drinking, a buffet, a lottery, games and competitions.

Please dress as extravagantly as possible, whatever that means to you. I’ll be wearing a ball gown. Even if we haven’t met before, please come! Bring a date. Or two.

Gifts welcomed. See you there!

((OOC: Party log to be posted on or around May 20th.))

Comments

text | username: absterge

[downswing]

You do not owe a sect fete here.



( No peasants of the Qinghe Nie villages to feed here...! )

[fanoperator]

hanguang-jun

i'm pretty sure we've been over the concept of 'fun'

i know you still don't believe it exists but i hold it in high value

[downswing]

Your fun invites extravagance.

[fanoperator]

yes that's the idea i'm glad you've caught up

[downswing]

Indulgent.

[fanoperator]

also yes
i'm so proud that you understand

[downswing]

But do not endorse.

[fanoperator]

but will attend because you're a good friend

[downswing]

Fleetingly.

[Video]

[beitangmoran]

How lovely, Nie-gongzi! It will be a pleasure.

[The truth is, Moran only moderately likes these types of gathering, but he will make an appearance and bring a gift because it's only polite and also a good way to mingle and meet people, as well as honoring a friend.]

So you were born under the sign of the Taurus. That is interesting.

[fanoperator]

Thank you! I hope it will be a very grand event.

A torus? [He shapes his hands to describe a circle in space, confused about what Lord Beitang could possibly mean with this statement.]

[beitangmoran]

Ah, my apologies. I forget it seems we do use the same astrology. I mean the constellation of the golden bull.

In HuangDao, the year is divided into thirteen periods that are aligned with one constellation. Each of these is governed by a Star Master, and the people born in that time period are their people.

I am the Star Master of the Aquarius, from mid-January to mid-February. If your birthday is next week, that would put you as being born under the Taurus constellation.

And since we usually assign some character traits to people respective of their star sign, I do wonder how well you match yours.

[fanoperator]

[Huaisang remembers Beitang mentioning some of this about his world of star masters, but he didn't realize how different it is from the astrological systems he knows.]

Oh, I see. We divide the stars into twenty-eight houses. Astrology is determined through a complex system of day, year, cycle.

What traits are mine? what if people don't like the traits that are assigned to them?

[beitangmoran]

The traits are general and of course would not describe every single person completely. There is also the case of people like you, born on the cusp of two signs and tus potentially exhibiting traits from both. You are on the cusp of Taurus and Gemini, the sign my husband is Star Master for.

In general, people born under the sign of the Taurus are practical, loyal and trustworthy, but they have a tendency towards laziness and self-indulgence.

[Do you feel called out yet, Nie Huaisang?]

They like stability and enjoy material comforts such as good food. They are also extremely committed and focused, both in their endeavors and as partners. They are also creative and appreciative of the arts or good artists themselves.

But that can also make them fearful of change and obstinate at times. However, for one such as you, born on the cusp of Gemini, the air sign would counterbalance this a little and make you more mentally agile and able to adapt on the fly, while also very resolute and determined to never give up.

[Do you see now why he finds you interesting, Huaisang?]

[fanoperator]

[Huaisang suddenly acutely wants his fan, but reaching for it after being described with such thorough accuracy would be far too obvious in front of someone as perceptive as Beitang Moran.]

How interesting! I suppose it's more accurate than not. [Huaisang tips his head and considers this as if Beitang's words had painted a very broad picture rather than hitting the target with precision every time.] It's true that I'm lazy and artistic.

So does it simply describe likely traits, rather than prescribing expected behavior?

[beitangmoran]

Horoscope is not a life manual, Nie-gongzi. You may want to see it as a sort a broad psychological profile. Your actions are still your own and you are responsible for them, not your star sign.

I am the Star Master of the Aquarius. From your world... Lan Wangji was born under the sign of the Aquarius. I suppose it is no wonder we do get along quite well.

[fanoperator]

Is he? Though I suppose the significance of this astrology doesn't really apply to persons from our world.

[He taps his chin thoughtfully. What a pleasant but mostly-inaccurate little form of analysis! It definitely doesn't apply to him, nope.]

Or maybe it is simply too broad. After all, Lan Wangji is most of the traits you just ascribed to taurus, isn't he? Practical, loyal, trustworthy. He's a musician, so that's his art. Committed, obstinate...

video; un: withfries

[protecttheweak]

Happy birthday. I hope it's a wonderful year for you.

Don't you have anyone willing to assist you with the cost of the party? [You're not supposed to throw yourself a birthday party. That's a gift from your friends.]

[fanoperator]

[What a concept. Huaisang can't imagine any of his friends hosting a party for him, aside from Wangji's offer to bring longevity noodles to the next-day-hangover private celebration.

He blinks a couple of times, then gives the screen a friendly smile.] If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself! [Or the ancient Chinese equivalent of such a saying.]

I'm more wealthy in Chroma than most of my friends, and I'm by far the best party planner among them.

[protecttheweak]

Good points I suppose.

[She still couldn't see throwing herself a party even if she wanted one.]

Although, I don't think it's supposed to be about how much it costs or how extravagant. Or even how good it is.

[fanoperator]

What's it supposed to be about, then?

[Earnest curiosity. He loves birthdays and parties in general, and is always eager to discuss them.]

[protecttheweak]

Spending time with family and friends. Just being together and happy to have had the previous year.

[She wishes she could have explained that to Alice. Simple things did a lot to make her happier.]

Mine always seems to be about my friends making sure I take the day off work. Then we spend the day out shopping or visiting a temple or park we haven't been to in a long time. After my father takes me to dinner.

[fanoperator]

I think I'd rather have the lavish extravagance.

[One of his friends already made the suggestion that perhaps he should have a small, private celebration with family. Huaisang would rather keep everyone safely at a distant arm's reach when it comes to emotional vulnerability.]

[protecttheweak]

[It's absolutely possible to keep emotions out of relationships. Or so she thinks. Then again, most of her relationships are with people whose emotions are suppressed. ]

It's your birthday. You should celebrate it in whatever way makes you happy.

[fanoperator]

I will. You should come. Then we can meet in person. [Huaisang smiles cheerfully at the screen, always eager to make a new friend.]