Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aruna smiled warmly and returned the hug from Aberdonia, pleased to see him in higher spirits than the last time they met up. Quirking a brow at him curiously as he bestowed a favor to someone. She wouldn't pry, but if he wanted to tell her, she would listen.

Linking her arm with his, she led the way over towards Blarney, waving cheerfully at him but almost frowning as he turned to walk away. Did he not want to see her? No, no, she was overthinking again. Had to be. Before Blarney got too far, she let go of Aberdonia's arm and hurried over towards him, catching his sleeve lightly. "Hey!" The smile she gave him could light up any room with ease.

Returning the hug with interest, Nis grinned down at Joy and nodded. Well, she didn't mind being kept waiting in the wings. She'd get to be useful soon enough judging by all the people still arriving. But her grin widened in reaction to Joy's delight that she and Ekstrom were acquainted. And much as she would have liked to monopolize the Earth Knight's time, she knew better. Instead, she gave Nail a cheery smile and wave, spared him a moment of pity for having to endure so many strangers at once and then dipped down slightly to plant a friendly kiss on Joy's cheek.

"Yeah, it wouldn't look great if the hostess didn't at least try to meet everyone, huh. Go have fun, honey."

Then, turning to Ekstrom and laughing at the offer of pie, she shook her head slightly. "That's sweet of you and I'll try some later. I just finished lugging a damn big pot of vegetable soup and some cornbread, so the idea of eating right now isn't a good one. But gimme an hour and I will eat all the pie." Honestly, at the rate people were bringing food, she was wondering if her stomach was going to be able to try everything. Hopefully so. Dismissing the thought for the moment, she instead fell in beside Ekstrom, slinging one arm around the other woman's shoulders in a half hug.

"I feel just fine. I've been figuring some things out, cleaning up my Wonder. You know, normal things. How about yourself?"

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Spying the knight that he'd been eyeing, Xibalba veered course slightly, aiming to put himself and Chariklo within her path so they could at least pay their respects. Of huge interest was the faint shimmer that followed her, though it was probably rude ot ask if she had a ghost up here. As he lacked a ghost of his own, he found the idea fascinating.

Clearing his throat when the lady knight would be close enough to hear, his voice rumbled, though he concentrated hard on keeping his accent in check. "Ah, y'r pardon, Lady. Are you th' one we should be thankin' for this shindig? If so, Xibalba o'Mars at your service." A courtly bow followed the introduction, though it was ruined slightly by the exasperated and amused glare he gave the senshi at his side when she let out a giggle. "An' this," he said, voice thick with mock suffering, "is m'wife."

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She couldn't help giggling, she really couldn't. She so rarely saw her husband in formal mode. And really, given that they'd originally met because he'd dragged her black out drunk a** home and then given her a tongue lashing the next night for her excess, it was difficult to see him in a more polished light. Still, for his sake, she reigned in her laughter and tossed her white blonde hair over her shoulder before smiling at the Knight. "Chariklo, Senshi of Seagulls," she offered. "This place is beautiful. Thank you for allowing us to visit."

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Watching Maus carefully, Orcus raised at eyebrow at his culinary escapades before asking quietly, "That for you or a 'friend'? Because, either way I have concerns. And mice are cute. I like mice much more than rats."

When he asked about her cousin, she smiled. Honestly, this little get together was a blessing in disguise. Shaking her head, she said, "I didn't bring her, but she assured me that she'd come. The invite mentioned musical instruments and nothing would do for her but to sit down to clean and tune her guitar. Don't worry. I told her about you and she'll be very discreet. If she doesn't find us first, just look for a tall airhead with silver hair that looks like a rainbow threw up on her." It was, perhaps, an unfair assessment of Ogygia, but Orcus meant no harm. If anything, she was only mildly annoyed that her cousin had not thought to prep the guitar sooner.

She glanced again at the plates before sighing. "Give me one of those. Preferably the one you haven't doctored. I'll help and you can introduce me. I am remarkably bad at meeting people." Left unsaid was the detail that she wasn't good at it because she sort of hated people and didn't entirely trust herself to behave.

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Looking around shyly, Ogygia wandered a little aimlessly upon arrival. She hadn't brought food, but she had her guitar. Besides, judging by the repast already laid out, no one would be likely to miss her lack of an edible contribution. She did, however, peruse the array of favors before picking one up that made her smile. Absently fiddling with the guitar strap slung over her shoulder, the tall Cosmos Knight watched people closely, looking for faces she knew. Her cousin, of course, but she'd met a lot of people over the years. It would be nice to play catch up if a chance offered itself.

After a moment, she caught a glint of silver hair and moved towards it. Then smiled to see her cousin talking with an Earth knight. Going by what she saw and what she'd already been told, she assumed that this would be the one who'd made his escape from Chaos. And if she was right, she hoped to be able to find a quiet moment to be able to really talk to him. Poor thing, she knew how long it sometimes took to feel like the metaphorical ground under you was stable.

Catching her cousin's attention with a wave, Ogygia hurried over, all smiles and golden retreiver energy. "Hello! I told you I'd make it! Introduce me to your friend, please."

"But the bugs here might be interesting," Kua'kua objected, but not very strenuously, and with a sheepish smile. She got the feeling that if she didn't give it her absolute all, Grieve would take her to task for it. While she was sure that Grieve could teach her more than a few things, she had absolutely no desire to learn them in such a way that would leave her with bruises. So she resolved to fight as hard as she could, then pinned Grieve's

Her eyes flicked back over through the crowd to Maus once more - he had promised coffee, mysterious substance that it was, but it seemed he had been waylaid by more people, two beautiful people, looking to Kua'kua's untrained eye to be Earthling females. A Scout and a Knight, by the looks of it, though from this distance she couldn't tell from what court the Knight hailed. They both had silvery hair, which made Kua'kua wonder if they might be sisters. It seemed he had far more friends than he thought he did.

"I don't think he's is coming back with your food."



"Oh!" Blarney beamed right back at Aruna, momentarily disentangling himself from Green Chapel in order to give her a hug. "I was wondering when you'd roll up. This," he said quickly, turning back to Green Chapel, "is Eternal Transcended Sailor Aruna, of Landslides," Blarney said, giving the scout in question a big, proud smile. "She saved my butt--and introduced me to the magical world. Kept a big ol' ugly Youma from turning me into a McYouma Happy Meal," he said with a grin. "She's the reason I'm even semi-competent at this whole magic thing. Or at least--one of the reasons," he amended, thinking of everyone else who had helped him in his Page-hood.

"And this, 'Runa, is Green Chapel, brand new Page of Earth! She awoke with Edam!" Blarney beamed again, a proud pseudo-Papa of not one but two little Pages. "Who, speaking of, totally got yoinked by that Chibi Senshi I met during StarFest, did I tell you about her? Senshi of Courage, and she's this tall," Blarney said, gesturing with is hand to somewhere around his knee, which was not true, but was very funny. "So M--Edam saw a kid and immediately switched into Concerned Caretaker Mode, aaaand now I have no idea where she is." Blarney squinted past Aruna, trying to pick out his sister, but the place was really bumping now, and he didn't have a chance. She, apparently, wasn't even the only one with horns coming out of her head, which - two nickels.

“Might be tasty, too,” Grieve nodded thoughtfully. “Earth’s boring as ********, but it does have some good food.” She didn’t recall it being that great really, back when she’d first visited, but it’d come pretty ******** far. Not really the best exchange for losing ******** magic and Mautech and all that. But she couldn’t say she didn’t enjoy the modern results. Pizza mattered.

Though speaking of food, Grieve’s eyes slid over to Maus, slowly getting surrounded and narrowed her eyes. “********’ squib better bring me some food or he’ll be on the carving table tonight.” Which was, she thought, probably a joke. But also not an impossibility.

Looking around the area she picked out some familiar faces. Fightin' chibis were in the mix, which she always liked to see. There was Tempesti being a glowy a**, along with Joy, and ah yeah, there was Aruna. Running after a couple Earth knights. By Cosmos’ overworked kidneys, there was more and more of them these days. Grieve tsked, even for a short a**, the eternal could do better.

Looking back down to the short a** at her side, she warned Kua’kua, “You gotta get at least a hundred points for me, got it?”