redshiftlogs | Let's partyyyyyyy! [open]

Entry tags:

Let's partyyyyyyy! [open]

Who: EVERYONE.
What: A meet-and-greet party for everybody in Anchor!
When: early October
Where: the VR room lobby
Warnings: none yet
Format: go wild!

[ The day before, a wild network post appears, from the username @aa : ]

hi everyone!
i just wanted to let you all know
the meet and greet party previously discussed in this space
will be held tomorrow afternoon!

it will take place in the vr room lobby
and of course everyone is invited
refreshments and games will be provided
but if you would like a little extra challenge
please feel free to bring something to share!

attendance is mandatory!
(lol just kidding)
seriously though i do hope to see all of you there ;)

[ She's also posted handwritten signs to that effect in the mess hall and several of the staircases. Just in case! ]

The day of, a party appears in the VR Room lobby area, as promised!

Though it's not brightly lit, the lights there are are brightly colored, creating a chilled-out evening atmosphere like you'd find at a club. Plush chairs and couches are interspersed throughout the room, and there's been a solid attempt to clean the place up, or at least do something about all the dust.

A shortage of conventional party supplies has forced Ami and Cho to get creative, so the tables and parts of the wall are decorated with paper flowers, and the buffet table is presided over by a number of ... weird, pink, glitter-covered, vaguely animal-shaped sculptures made out of spare plastic pipes and stuff. With googly eyes. If nothing else they're a conversation piece.

FOOD: The main offering is barbecue! There's a pretty wide assortment of meats, all of which Cho has certified safe for human consumption, and also certified delicious. Chips, dried fruit, and a few different desserts are available, including homemade chocolate chip cookies that Ami made herself (wich Cho's help). All the trays are helpfully labeled, including allergy information.

Any and all potluck submissions are welcome as well! Just set it down over here and make a little card of your own.

DRINKS: Sadly, the coffee machine is still out of order. But there is a cooler stocked with ice and a few different choices of juice and soda. Alcoholic selections are limited to two types of pre-mixed drinks, which are intentionally weak on the alcohol, but at least they're not tequila sunrises. If guests want anything stronger, they'll need to bring it themselves.

ENTERTAINMENT: In fiddling with the controls, Ami got the overhead speakers to play some music, but couldn't figure out how to modify the playlist, so it's just one song on loop. Maybe if she keeps the volume kind of low, no one will notice. No live music is scheduled, but if anyone wants to bring a guitar and jam for a while, they will be more than welcome to.

And most of the arcade games are online! Anyone for Fruit Ninja? Air hockey? Dance Dance Retribution? Virtual Billiards? Or perhaps you'd like to try out a full-simulation game in the VR Rooms proper? Now's as good a time as any!

Oh, and don't forget to enter the raffle! The winner will be chosen randomly and announced a few hours into the party.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Given that this is intended as a meet-and-greet, Ami's keeping an eye out for people she hasn't been properly introduced to. Not only that, but he's wallflowering it up something fierce. And as the host of this party, it's her sacred duty to at least try and make sure everyone has a good time!

His eyes are closed as she approaches, though, and she's carrying a plate of barbecue. Weird how that one smell's getting stronger all of a sudden, huh? ]

Hi! Everything okay over here?

[Carlisle probably shouldn't keep his eyes closed like that, because that's just asking to be spooked should someone actually approach him. He does notice the smell of the barbecue getting stronger, but he's not quick enough to pinpoint where it is in relation to him until he's already being addressed. He doesn't jump out of his skin, but he certainly does jerk, his frame stiffening as he looks around for the source of the voice. Left, right, then down. Then down some more.]

Oh, um. Yes. Yes, it's fine. I'm fine, I mean. Do- do you need something?

[ Whoops! She wasn't trying to startle him. Also, quit being so tall, you tall bastards. Ami shakes her head quickly. ]

No, no, you're good! I just saw you standing here all by yourself and I thought I should say hello. So, hello! [ She offers him a friendly handshake. ] I'm Ami! What's your name?

[He looks at her hand as though it'd bite him, flexing his stiff fingers as he considers whether or not to shake it. On the one hand, it's the polite thing to do; on the other, he doesn't have much going for him flesh-wise beneath his gloves, and he's afraid people will be able to tell that the second they give his hand a grip.

He continues mulling over that as his glowing eyes flick back to her.]

Carlisle. I was just... enjoying. The party. [The smells of it.]

[ Fortunately, Ami spares him having to make the decision; when he doesn't take her hand within a few seconds, she awkwardly withdraws it. Poor guy, he's shy.

Also, she's just noticed his eyes are glowing. Ooh! How delightfully spooky! Hope you don't mind that prolonged eye contact, Carlisle, she just wants to look at 'em. ]

Well, I'm glad to hear it. Do you want a drink or anything? Something to eat? We've got plenty to go around.

[In good news, she doesn't take his hand; in bad news, she continues to stare at him. He averts his eyes, trying to dodge the awkwardness; they continue to glow behind his glasses, doing little to hide what magic animates him.]

Oh, oh no, I- I don't need anything, thank you. I, ah. Ate already. And drank. Drank all I possibly could.

[Can his mask help hide how bad he is at outright lies? He sure hopes it can.]

Edited 2019-10-05 20:29 (UTC)

[ It doesn't really, but Ami tends to take what people say at face value anyway, for better or worse. So she doesn't catch that he's lying, but she does pick up on the anxiety, which ... was already super obvious. But, y'know, if he doesn't want to eat, she's not gonna force him to. ]

Ah, okay! That's cool.

[ But she tilts her head slightly, sympathetic. ]

You seem kinda nervous.

[His gaze returns to her, brow knitting with obviously defeat.]

I am nervous. Social events are not my forte.

[ Aww. Yet he came to the party anyway... that's really nice. She'll take it as a compliment. And hey, maybe she can help! ]

If you want, I could introduce you to some friends of mine?

[His brow knits even tighter.]

I cannot imagine how you would introduce me. 'Hello, here is a fellow I just met who was lingering along the wall, minding his own business. You two have so much in common.'

[He sighs almost immediately, realizing that was kind of harsh even for him, especially when she meant no harm, and is clearly just trying to make him feel welcome. He arcs his neck away, avoiding Ami's eyes.]

All right, that... was unkind. I apologize.

Edited 2019-10-07 01:40 (UTC)

[ Far from being offended, Ami laughs. Look, she voluntarily hangs out with people like Karkat and Lalli, she can handle a little cantankerousness! ]

It's okay. I mean, you're not wrong! I would pretty much be going, "Hi there, adult male human, here is another adult male human for your perusal."

'Perusal' makes it sound as though I am a ware to be purchased, as if I should have my name, skills, and hobbies on display to make myself more marketable.

[His eyes flick back to her.]

That isn't what this gathering is about, is it?

Haha, no, no. That's more like speed dating.

[ Speaking of which, get on it, matchmaker bot! ]

This is just... you know, a casual block party. I wanted to give everybody an opportunity to meet their neighbors, make some friends... have a good time, in between all the craziness. That's all.

[And back to the party his gaze goes. There is what appears to be a construct interacting with music-blaring machine; a man in a terrifying mask is speaking to a woman in a bright dress across the room, and they could not look more like an odd couple; he recognizes Peter on the couch, Qubit by the door, Reynor hobnobbing with individuals Carlisle doesn't know. Ah, yes. Adult human males, nice and alive. They have so much in common, he thinks bitterly.]

And what craziness is there to be found in this place? What could be stranger than being spirited to another world entirely?

[ Ah... you must be new, huh? No, seriously, she hasn't seen him around much (because he's a hermit), and certainly not at the community meals, so she's not sure how long he's been in Anchor actually. He could be new-ish, for all she knows. ]

Um - well, you know. There was the big fungus outbreak a few weeks ago, and the robots go kind of nutty sometimes. And then there's been all the stuff with whoever was spying on us in our rooms. And I guess also the "Redshift", which... makes a bunch of weird crap show up outside, sometimes? I think that's how it works. Like the Whole Foods full of zombies, for instance. That whole thing just appeared out of nowhere one day.

[ Should she go on, dude? Because SHE COULD GO ON. ]

[As she explains, Carlisle's quiet disgust creeps across his face; it narrows his eyes and wrinkles the skin at the bridge of his nose.]

All right. Plenty of craziness, apparently. And yet, here we are, having a party as if this place were normal. As if we were normal.

[ Oof. Crankiness she can deal with, but that was kind of a deep cut. Ami draws back a little under his withering glare. ]

It's not - hey. Don't -

[ ... No. You know what? He's wrong, and she's going to tell him he's wrong. She straightens up, defiant. ]

Don't act like I'm not taking this seriously. I am! But if I tried to be serious about everything, constantly, I'd just be exhausted and overwhelmed and sad all the time. Maybe some people can live like that, but I can't, and I don't want to. Okay?

[Her defiance cuts right through his disdain; his spine stiffens, his attention rapt as she defends herself. Her argument is admirable: she doesn't want to be exhausted, overwhelmed, and sad, which are three things that often describe his state of mind. He is perpetually exhausted, existing well after he should have died, even now still living as an abomination; he is overwhelmed by the shift in his abilities, having gone from healing the flesh to rotting it away, from mending the wounded to commanding the undead. Being sad is very much his natural state, given how seemingly nothing has gone right in his life.

But if he had his choice, he would not be that way, and there is something to be said for those who actively work to change their circumstances. He cannot help but envy those who are successful, though perhaps he'd find more success himself if he weren't so self-defeating. He's cognizant enough to realize that.

He averts his eyes, apologetic.]

R- right. You are right.

[Please stop looking at him like that.]

[ He backs down so quickly that for a second she wonders if she was too forceful - she doesn't think she was, but it's still a little weird sometimes, sticking up for herself like that. (She's more accustomed to being passive-aggressive.) Either way, though, she's clearly made her point, so she backs off too. ]

... I know Anchor is a lot sometimes. Especially right at first. It's not easy to stay positive. That's really why I wanted to do this. I may not have a lot of skills, but if I can brighten somebody's day a little, that's sort of like pulling my weight, you know?

[Pulling her weight -- now that's something Carlisle can relate to. He was so delighted to find he had a talent for healing because it meant he could be of use to his family -- find his place within his lineage by doing some good, pulling his weight both in Bear Den and his with bloodline. He was never a perfect cleric, nor a perfect healer, but he did what he could for those who needed it. He used to take such pride in that.

Perhaps the fact he ended up as an undead is what has changed his mind about what scraps of pride he had, but he shouldn't take that from others. He should find his own way to stay above water rather than dragging everyone down around him.]

My grievances aside, you have clearly done well. Look how brightly everyone shines, enjoying themselves despite the circumstances. That is something to be commended, and I apologize for doing otherwise.

It's okay. And thanks.

[ Ami smiles, albeit a bit self-consciously, since she wasn't trying to get a compliment. But as she looks around the room at her guests, they're all smiling, playing games, socializing, making friends. The event has been going off without a hitch. ]

To be honest, I was kind of nervous throwing a party this big. I've never really tried it before.

[Carlisle seems surprised, his brows rising beneath his silver crown.]

Really? I would not have guessed, seeing how well this is going, though I suppose there are only so many ways a party can fail.

[And he can think of them if he really puts his mind to it, but he'd rather not.]

[ Ami can also think of a lot! But then, a lot of the things she was worried about would not actually be party-ruiners. Like, she's been to a party where half the guests were already injured, and like an hour in, Zoro fell down the stairs with his pants down and literally everyone got an unobstructed view of his ass - and even that didn't ruin the party. ]

Well, Cho helped a ton. She made most of the decorations, and cooked most of the food, and ... did most of the work in general. If it weren't for her, we'd just be standing around bored eating corn chips.

[Today in Incidents at Parties Carlisle Does Not Want to Hear About for Fear They Will Happen to Him: that one.]

But at least people would be here. Were it not for your notice on the network, I doubt many would have known there was anything happening at all.

[Says the man who was enticed to make an appearance based on smells alone.]

[ Hmm... he's got a point. Not only that, but she made all the physical signs advertising it, too. And actually, the party wouldn't even have happened if she hadn't had the idea and decided to make it happen. So... yeah, it is technically thanks to Ami that there's a party at all! ]

Hm... touché, good sir! If nothing else, it's something I can embellish on my resume.

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