[ open ] jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock

[lyingheart]

WHO: OPEN.
WHERE: De Chima.
WHEN: Saturday, December 13th, 2014.
WHAT: Earlier in the afternoon, there will be base-jumping in elf costumes. Later on is the charity silent date auction and different performances by USA celebrities fundraising for charity this holiday season. OOC information post here.
WARNINGS: None now, will update later. To avoid seeing all the silent auction threads, simply press on the (Hide ## comments) under the header comment for the auction section!

[ BASE JUMPING from TARTARUS TOWER ]
For those imPorts who volunteered to jump from Tartarus Tower, arrivals for fittings into their costumes begins at 2:00 PM sharp. Each costume comes with a name-tag attached, and make-up artists are on hand to help affix elf ears to participants and work on their eye make-up for the ease of the cameras catching all this live.

The jumps will start at 4:00 PM, and after all imPort elves have jumped and successfully reached the ground, they'll join the bus transporting presents and Malik to the De Chima children's hospital to deliver gifts to the children in the cancer ward (and elsewhere). ImPorts will then be transported over to the main facilities for the fundraiser event as a whole, invited to attend the Silent Date Auction as well as listen to any of the various performances occurring over the course of the evening.

[ CHARITY SILENT DATE AUCTION in DE CHIMA ]
Starting at 4:00 PM, the doors to the conference hall made available for the ImPort Charity Silent Date Auction will open. Live music will be provided, along with refreshments and catered hor d'oeuvres, and televisons displaying both the news stories and live coverage of the fundraiser events occurring over the course of the evening. ImPorts will be encouraged to attend any of these performances in person, but will not be required to leave the conference hall unless they wish to do so.

There is lounge seating available, and free wireless throughout the building. Different conference halls are hosting different events in this event center, and the largest productions are happening on a built stage outside. There's a massive lit tree in the central front courtyard of the event center, and many small stands selling hot drinks, good foods, and wares outside by the stage and surrounding streets, all with a portion of proceeds going to various named charities.

Please comment to this log with your own starters! Only the Auction Thread will be set-up under its own sub-thread, for ease of tracking. Auction Threads can be threaded in, but initial comments to those threads should be the bids that a character is placing on someone else (or themselves). Bidding will close OOCly by this time next week (or when a player states bidding is closed on their character - send me a PM to close that thread, or comment to close it on your own). ICly, all bids close at the end of the night.

Comments

[soldiarity]

[ Reiner sits back comfortably, moving over to make a little more room. He takes up more than his fair share normally, and it's probably better their legs not be crowded against each other. ]

That's too bad -- at least you're taking it in stride, though. I know I wouldn't care too much if someone had put my name in, but I'm not as quiet as you. Or self-conscious. Or... [ ... He's just making himself sound kind of boorish, huh. ] I guess that's progress, huh?

[anthropophagite]

Aha, sorry for being like that. [ yeaaaah kaneki really is like that. The description given about him by the auction wasn't that far off and thank God Nishi hadn't been the one writing it or it'd be something like "enjoys great meals" ]

But I'm trying to, yes. To be more social and less awkward. just talk to others, right?» [ like reiner told him to do ]

[soldiarity]

Don't worry about it! I don't mean it as a bad thing, all right? But it's true, so I don't mind saying it.

[ He nods, though. Maybe it's pushy of him to encourage Kaneki to be more social, but Reiner really only wants to help him stop feeling nervous around people all the time. He exhales slowly, to add: ]

You don't have to do something just because I told you.

[anthropophagite]

I don't- [ Kaneki touches his own cheek ] I think it helps me, to try to socialize a bit. it won't feel so lonely to be here in a whole new world with no one from mine.

[soldiarity]

[ Reiner's quiet for a moment, then nods in agreement. ]

As long as it does help... I'm not trying to give orders or anything. I know for me, meeting other people here did do a lot for any loneliness. The feeling doesn't go away, but you don't think about it as much.

[anthropophagite]

I know, I know. Please don't worry about it, I didn't take it as an order. [ he really didn't ] But you are right. It helps not to think about it.

[soldiarity]

All right, all right. I'm over it.

[ Reiner laughs mildly, sitting back in his seat and taking another sip of cider. He shouldn't get so worked up over nothing.

He breathes out slowly. ]

It's too bad it doesn't get any easier. But you get more used to it.

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki shakes his head ] I'm used to it. [ being alone. Back home he had ONE friend. He misses him terribly here, but Kaneki is indeed used to being alone. ]

Uhm- would you rather be in your world, Reiner?

[soldiarity]

[ Reiner pauses, frowning slightly -- it's the question he never knows quite how to answer. Did he even have an answer? ]

Sometimes I would. I think about seeing Bertholdt, or finally going home again... but the truth is it's not a good life we'd be returning to. It'd be better if he was here.

It's useless to think about, though. You're right about that.

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki nods softly. He sort of understands both positions, though annie was more on the side to stay. In any case, he understood the desire to want a new life just like he understood the desire to see the ones they've left behind. ]

Yes, I guess you are right. it's not like the Porter will listen to our requests.

[soldiarity]

[ It's not a point of contention between Reiner and Annie, but certainly a vague... conflict, in a way. Reiner isn't opposed to staying while he's here, but forever? That depends on so much else. ]

Not so far, anyway. [ He sighs in mild frustration. ] In the meantime, we might as well make the best of the situation.

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki looks back at Reiner and smile wider, nodding after. ]

Hm! I have been trying. [ given kaneki's terrible life, he sure has! ] Though dates aren't exactly what I had in mind.

[soldiarity]

Hah, me either. But better here than home, maybe -- at least as far as I'm concerned. There's more opportunity for downtime now.

[ And where he's from, many don't consider dating a priority when their lives are all on the line, when surviving even to 25 isn't a given. ]

So dating can't be that bad.

[anthropophagite]

[ that's because your date never tried to eat you Reiner. ]

Ah, I wonder. [ kaneki touches his own chin ] It does look like you are comfortable with it. <small<[ a hell lot more than kaneki is ]

[soldiarity]

[ Not as far as either of them remember, at least, but one of their friends tried once. Water under the bridge, though. ]

Ah, well... I figure, why not, right? I didn't get to much before, so I won't reject the idea. But I'm not really going out of my way, either.

[anthropophagite]

[ you've got the best friends

Kaneki certainly isn't going out of his way but he is apparently going on dates because the universe hates him and wishes to embarrass him the best it can.

Kaneki just smiles, a bit awkwardly since there is no way he'd go "WHY NOT" ] Well, I hope you'll get many dates, then. Even if you aren't going out of your way. [ he is polite, always ]

I think I prefer to focus on other things. [ reading. Maybe he could visit america. Maybe. Travelling isn't his thing but he might as well ] Maybe travel...

[soldiarity]

[ Reiner looks a bit uneasy at that, laughing and rubbing at his neck. ]

Well -- thanks, I guess. But listen, I don't need to go on dates to be happy. I was just thinking that there's no harm in getting to know people...

[ He could be a player, but he just isn't. Despite being good with people, Reiner's been avoiding the whole "making friends" thing for a while; it makes it easier not to worry about falling into old habits, not to feel guilty all the time about letting people believe he's someone they should think of as a friend. But nothing here is permanent, he also needs to remember.

He nods. ]

Traveling would be nice, though. I keep wanting to visit the mountains again.

[anthropophagite]

Ah-I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything bad with it. [ Kaneki isn't good with people at all, and honestly he has lived without ever being good with people. He only had one friend until recently, back in his world. And proof of how awkward he is, is how he feels like he probably said something stupid every time he talks to someone ]

Mountains? [ Kaneki blinks. he'd imagine the ocean was a bigger deal, after he spoke to Armin. ]

[soldiarity]

Oh, don't worry -- I know you didn't. It's not like I'm not upset or anything, but I wanted you to know I'm not some kind of heart-breaker either.

[ He smiles reassuringly, sitting up a bit straighter. It's not a big deal to him, but he's always directed his attention very specifically. Narrowly, one could even say.

Reiner glances away for a moment, debating on how to elaborate. ]

Yeah. My hometown was up in the mountains, so it feels good getting out there even if they're not the same ones.

[anthropophagite]

[ Kaneki laughs sheepishly ] I didn't think that-

[ he really didn't, he probably just used the wrong words.

but they can change the subject now, yes. Kaneki waits for the answer and nods softly after ] It's a good reminder of home, at least. I... know your world was difficult, but even so, I'm sure you miss it. Your hometown, I mean.

[soldiarity]

Ah, relax -- you make yourself too easy to tease, you know that? It's really not a big deal.

[ Reiner smirks, waving the protest off. His reactions are cute and all, but Reiner isn't out to get Kaneki flustered -- or overthink things for himself, either. Apologies aren't necessary. ]

Ever since we began our mission, going back home has been my main priority. It's been years, but I won't give up on that. [ But it's complicated. ] Where would you want to travel to?

[anthropophagite]

[ reiner will find out Kaneki apologizes over and over again. he also feels flustered about everything too. As matter of fact his cheeks gain some color as he whispers softly ] D-don't tease me, please... [ seriously he is 18, he shouldn't be teased by a 16 years old (that looks like a weightlifter and hella older than him) ]

I hope you can make it, Reiner. [ he smiles softly. He may not understand much of the other's world - or rather, he turns a blind eye to it because he does like Annie and Reiner - but he hopes they can be happy somehow. ]

Uh- well.

... [ okay now he really is blushing because what he wants to see it's nothing as nostalgic as Reiner's suggestion ] ... bookstores... there are some bookstores considered the places were intellectuals and writers meet, like Books & Books in Coral Gables and Miami Beach. Or City Lights in San Francisco, John King Used & Rare Books in Detroit and- [ Kaneki seems to be getting excited yes he is planning to visit all of them ] - and there is also The Bookstore in the Grove, and they have night readings from the authors of the books, which is-

[ and he finally realizes he is just rambling on about books, oops. ] Sorry, I got excited-

[soldiarity]

Well, since I like you, I'll try to resist.

[ Yeah, Reiner, don't give your elders such a hard time, you should respect them or something. But really, it's just a habit of his: Reiner's instinct is to lighten the mood when he's able to, which often means a little lighthearted or crude banter will be in order.

But Kaneki has gone ahead and made that less necessary anyway, with his answer. ]

Thanks -- I hope so too. I guess here it's easy to imagine anything being possible, huh?

[ He laughs lightly, trying to let it roll off his back. Nothing he could do about it now, after all; no sense in worrying overmuch. Instead he sits forward slightly, leaning his elbows on his legs as he listens.

Ken really is similar to Bertholdt. Although even Bertholdt, Reiner imagines, wouldn't think of a bookstore first when it came to places to travel to. ]

You really do like books, don't you? [ Another mild laugh. ] When's the last time you were at a bookstore?

[anthropophagite]

[ gosh Reiner, look at Kaneki blushing a bit thank you for that.

So he won't answer to that, but he will nod. And he knows that reiner's world isn't easy, so it makes Kaneki smile to know here he has a chance to do more and be more than just a child soldier who turns into a titan.

Kaneki hums, thinking ] I work at one, but it's pretty small. All bookstores here are, nothing grand, memorable or anything... It has been a while since I saw one of those-

[ and last time he went to a big bookstore... Back in his world. before he got into his accident and before he was turned into a ghoul. kaneki shakes his head ]

My father used to read a lot. I guess I started liking books because of him. [ in a way. It's not like Kaneki remembers anything about his father, but books were the only connection left ]

[soldiarity]

[ You're totally welcome. Reiner's good like that, right!

He listens, leaning his chin on one palm. He can understand that in a disconnected way -- he has no concept of family by now, not the kind that comes with mothers and fathers, but thinking fondly of something because it was important to someone important is something Reiner knows well. It isn't books for Reiner, of course, but the point stands. ]

Yeah, I bet. I haven't seen any like that either... not really big ones. Maybe Bertholdt visited one, but he never mentioned anything. [ Hmm. ] Is it all books, or do you have favorites?