More Like The Kingdom of PARTIES

My, there were quite a few here-!

Pride greeted each with nods and murmured hellos, and a gentle nudge to closer family--to the cubs and half-primates Mercurius had spawned, as much his own children to him as his actual stone-and-magic. When they seemed to have settled, introductions mostly complete, he spoke again.

Mischief flickered through his voice and eyes; Mischief herself, his familiar, perched atop his back.

"So, this is a very important meeting," he began, with a glance at Temperance. "Temperance wants to hold a party--a happy gathering for family and friends. I'll let them go over the details, but they were hoping to organize it themselves; to offer out tasks for planning to any volunteers, and to ask what else you all might want to see, there, or suggest. Temperance?" he asked, stepping back.

He'd let the cub take it from there: to go over what they wanted to see, and what ideas they had, and who might be invited--whatever they saw fit to address. Pride had been there merely to gather and introduce the idea: this would be Temperance's party to arrange.

This was... a lot more people than Temperance was expecting to see. As more and more people showed up, his ears went further and further back, and he found himself half-hiding behind Pride's legs as more people arrived. However, most seemed more concerned with introducing themselves, so he had a moment to calm himself down.

He did feel rather afraid as Pride put the attention all on him, and he balked for a moment, blanking.

"U-uh- h-hello," he wheezed, "I-I just... I just thought a party would um... would..."

Come on, words! Work!!

"Dad and I-I were talking a bit ago and we both through that a party w-would be nice for both o-our family and for the Seven," he said, "And because it would be a good place t-to meet new people."

He swallowed and looked towards the siblings he'd so unfortunately been avoiding, his tail flicking gently as he tried not to cower, "A-and I thought that... that maybe you all would like t-to help. Like with decorating, or making food, or inviting g-guests. We could invite friends and family from other groups or spread the w-word in case there are people who want to join the Seven. I think that meeting more people would be good for a-all of us, too."

"Tobie?", he asked softly, the one family member aside from Pride who he'd gotten the courage to connect with, "Wh-what do you think? And everyone else, too! What would be fun for people? A-and do any of you have i-ideas?"

Temperance was proud of himself for not sounding like as much of an idiot as he thought he would. He looked up to his father briefly, hoping for some reassurance and encouragement.

James was rather surprised at the gaggle of children that arrived, clearly of both Pride and Mercy. Though the wolf was an outlier, a child of whose parents he could not identify. Perhaps a stone given life by someone else to be raised by Pride and Mercurius. But again, who was he to judge, seeing as he himself had a peryton, alien-swan creature, and a wolf that were not of his magic or stone either.

He really ought to stop being so judgmental, seeing as both he and Pride, to one another, suddenly had whole families that the other had no idea of. But that was something to talk about later, also.

"Kibou!", James exclaimed, slightly startled by his son's enthusiasm, though he very quickly warmed up.

James whickered softly and nudged the peryton affectionately, lifting his head and fluffing up his feathers as he turned to Isolde.

"Forgive me," he said, "I think I was so excited I forgot to explain. A party is a gathering of people, generally for fun! I believe that this is only a gathering to plan a party, so we are bringing our ideas together to plan a day of fun and happiness for all who come. If you are overwhelmed, my dear, you do not have to attend. That goes for everyone."

James turned to each of his children to ensure they heard before perking up as Temperance spoke. He felt sympathy, as before having children (and having to suffer through many an awkward moment before he became immune) he was just as bad if not worse with his anxiety.

"I think this is a wonderful idea," he said softly, "Hm... I would happily help out with decoration. My wings allow me to get up high and so hang things easily, so that could be useful, as well as certain spells I have that can make lights and such. Though if you'd prefer for me to fetch people and invite them, I can do so as well, I am very fast."

Several gembounds began to introduce themselves. Casimir's ears twitched this way and that, swiveling to catch names that he then struggled to memorize to faces. There were so many... tall creatures, that towered over Casimir and his young littermates. It was hard not to feel crowded, even in the modest group that they were.

His attention was distracted by Tobias telling him that he looked nice, though. His fur prickled, as his darker blue eyes stared wide-eyed at his sibling for a moment as the compliment wormed its way from meaning in his brain to feeling in his heart. Embarassment struck. The pale hair around his face did little to hide the warmth that rose to his skin.

Flustered, he reached his nose down to his chest and ran his wide, rough tongue over the fur in his chest a few more times. "Thank you," he murmured. "I'm glad."

From there, the meeting began a bit more proper, the announcement of a... party. With food, guests and friends, family, and. Wince. Temperance suggested the whole more-the-merrier, "good for everyone", but unfortunately that sounded particularly bad for Cas. Already this many people was a lot to keep track of, and for all of Tobie's compliments, his pelt twitched where a tangle still lived by his haunches. Surely everyone else was staring, wondering about the dirt in his fluff.

While he was thinking about how many people would be staring at him, suddenly Tobie was in the limelight, standing before everyone and offering his thoughts. How Casimir's baby brother could be so... brave... it was awe-inspiring, for Cas, who sat a bit taller with pride as Tobie rattled on about his thoughts for the party.

Of course, Tobias would love a party. That was why Casimir came: for his fathers, and his brothers, who wanted him to be there. Then came the paw waggling, and when Tobias gestured to him with the suggestion of magic tricks, he stiffened. Did he know how to do tricks? He knew some magic, sure, but-- oh, jeez. He was relieved that Tobias moved quickly to Pelly and his athletics.

Casimir lowered his head a touch, and let everyone else talk. The last thing he wanted was the spotlight.