Let's partyyyyyyy! [open]

[livingdeadgirl]

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.

Comments

[itsnotaonesie]

Like-- right? It's weird, right? The only thing we know is that sometimes this... this thing happens, and then things just appear outside. The Whole Foods and the trucks and the zombies might not have come from the same place, or even the same time. Hell, they could be from completely different universes. A lot of us are, so it wouldn't be too far fetched.

[Peter is so invested in this zombie chat now, he just turns to face Carlisle fully and crosses his legs on the couch.]

[abheirrant]

[It's not hard to tell that this is clearly where Carlisle's interests lie, as that shy, avoidant demeanor is mostly absent when he has his mind focused on something else, especially if it's something he sincerely cares about. He doesn't cross his legs, but he definitely turns more in Peter's direction as well, leaning forward just a hair to better hear him over the noise of the room.]

That does make sense that they, too, could be drawn from different worlds and times, as we are. Though why we would be inside the Anchor and they would appear outside is puzz—

[His brow knits as something new crosses his mind.]

Wait, different times and universes? Could- could one... version of us be taken from a different time than another? Almost as if there were two of us rather than- rather than one on a singular plane of existence with linear time?

[That thought never occurred to him, and now that it has, it clears up the potential for how he has some entirely other life out there that people remember, but he doesn't. It might not have been him at all.]

[itsnotaonesie]

[Yesss talkin' nerd shit this is Peter's JAM. He looks more excited than he probably should, but shhh.]

Yeah, exactly. Like-- here's a thing that I've heard. So, back home I died, right? I was taken from the moment like right after I died and I was stuck in another universe for a year before I ended up here. Now, this guy from my universe just showed up, right, and he said back home I was brought back to life after five years. I mean, obviously it hasn't been five years for me here yet, but I'm gettin' some serious divergent timeline vibes.

[abheirrant]

[Wait wait wait wait back up—]

You died.

[And was apparently necromanced back to life later, but later than what he recalls. Is that what happened? Is that why he doesn't remember Hadriel - not because it was taken from him, but because he never lived it at all? That's actually comforting in some strange way, to think there's some other him out there doing better than he is now and that there's some time where Bear Den isn't a complete and utter mess, and maybe there's a chance he could go back to that and fix everything, but he really needs to meditate on that later because right now—]

You died?! Then how are you alive now, if you were not yet- not yet necromanced when you were taken? Why is it some people were taken when they were alive and others weren't?

[Would it have been better for the people of Anchor to suffer instead of Bear Den, had he initially died here instead? That's a terrible and unproductive thought, but one that crosses him all the same.]

[itsnotaonesie]

Oh, there was this whole thing with aliens and magic space rocks. No necromancy whatsoever. At least, I don't think so? I don't know how I ended up alive when I got to Hadriel, and I don't know why some people get taken while they're still alive. That seems to be more common, come to think of it.

[SHRUG, Peter's too buzzed to be worried about any fucked up implications]

[abheirrant]

[Okay, aliens and magic space rocks is a lot, but more importantly—]

Hadriel? How many people in this place came from there? Did you know me, too?

[Obviously not, or he'd have said so. Wouldn't he? He would, but Carlisle is just bubbling with some pent-up frustration now.]

[itsnotaonesie]

[Peter looks a little surprised by this, and leans in for a closer, totally not creepy look. But uuuuuh he's not sure if he recognizes him. Peter's met a lot of people, ok.]

There's a few of us, but... I mean, if we were there at the same time, we might not have talked much? I don't remember anyone with your like... whole get up, y'know?

[But now he's kind of figuring that this must have been who Poison was upset about not remembering her. Ooooh it's all coming together now.]

[abheirrant]

[Peter leans in, and after getting a scrutinizing look, Carlisle leans back, his brow furrowing.]

I didn't- I wasn't like this.

[And that frustrates him, his face twisting as anguish colors him. He lowers his voice, not wanting anyone else to hear.]

I have been told by two people now that I was there, that I had some impact upon them that I cannot recall for the life of me. I thought I had- that I had forgotten it all somehow, or had the memories stripped from me. Maybe it- maybe it wasn't me at all. The me I am now, I mean. Maybe it was some other... me from some other time. Another plane of existence.

[He shakes his head.] It matters not, I suppose, but at least that is one thing that has been vexing me potentially explained. One out of a long list.

[itsnotaonesie]

[Peter quickly leans back, realizing he's being a fucking weirdo.]

Sorry, sorry, I-- sorry.

[But yes he's going to sit like a normal boy and LISTEN.]

I'm sorry, man. This has to be super weird. I uh, I don't know if this helps at all? But I have met another me before, from a completely different universe. So-- so it's completely possible that the you that they met was a completely different you.

[abheirrant]

[Though he's quiet for a moment afterwards, Carlisle nods, his features turning up in a bare smile beneath his mask.]

Weird as it may be, that... is a relief, in a way. The thought of my memories having been stolen from me was near torture. I- I have no recollection of some events of my... life as it is, due to extenuating circumstances, and to know I'd been in some other world, having made a difference to people who called me a friend, but I could not remember their faces was... it was hard to swallow.

[His brow knits with his nerves, but he offers Peter a more genuine smile, unable to express his full gratitude. It truly feels as though a weight has been lifted from his chest.]

Forgive me for burdening you and getting us off topic, lad.

[itsnotaonesie]

Oh, it's no problem at all, man! I'm glad my weird rambling was able to help.

[Leave it to Peter Parker to accidentally help people. It's one of his super powers.]

So, I don't want to pry or anything so you totally don't have to answer this, but you were having memory issues before all of this? Did something happen, or do you remember?

[abheirrant]

[Carlisle hesitates; in his eyes is a clear look of internal debate as he tries to figure out what he should, shouldn't, and is willing to say. As Peter has helped him, he's inclined to answer, even if only partially; however, he can never be certain what one will think of him should they know what he's hiding beneath all those layers. Telling people about his curse was bad enough; informing them that he's an animated corpse means admitting he's an abomination, something more akin to the shamblers at the Whole Foods than the rest of the people in Anchor.

And he's not sure he's ready to shoulder an acquaintance with that exactly knowledge yet, if ever. He manages some words so Peter's curiosity and kindness don't go unrewarded. Besides, maybe talking about it will help him process his own feelings toward the matter... or the subject, rather.]

Something happened. A being known as the Blight Heir appeared in my homeland. He was able to dominate the wills and minds of those around him -- and he did so for years.

[itsnotaonesie]

Like-- like mind control? I mean, if someone was literally messing with your head, I can understand why you'd have a spotty memory.

[He doesn't know anything about magic, but he does know that messing with people's heads is some serious shit. Of course he doesn't know everything going on with Carlisle, but even just this much is super concerning.]

[abheirrant]

Yes. A lot like that.

[Except he wasn't the one being controlled; his voice is quiet, hushed as though someone would hear him and punish him for his avoidance of the painful, horrible truth.]

I had but a few days of clarity before being brought here. Barely enough time to take in what he had done. Needless to say, it made the transition to this place all the more jarring.

[He fiddles with the glass in his hands again, still not drinking. Times like this make him wish he could, though. Alcohol always helped quiet his own mind.]

[itsnotaonesie]

[Might be kinda hard to drink with that mask on too, bro. Peter's not going to comment on it, though. It's none of his business, and besides, they're talking about some pretty heavy shit.]

And it's already hard enough transitioning to a place like this to begin with. I'm sorry, man. I know it sucks being here, but I hope things get easier here for you.

[abheirrant]

[Carlisle's expression softens.]

I appreciate your concern. It has gotten easier already, even in the short time since my arrival. The people who knew me before have been kind, even if I cannot recall them -- possibly because it was not me they met. I can only hope I live up to their expectations.

[itsnotaonesie]

I admit, this isn't something that I've really dealt with yet. My girlfriend, uh, Poison, though? She's... she's used to this sort of thing, so she understands that um, that these things happen sometimes. Like, people get it, and most of the people here are pretty cool.

[She'd been super bummed out about it, but at least she was used to it. Which wasn't really a good thing at all, but it is what it is.]

[abheirrant]

[His eyes widen just a hair.]

Your... girlfriend.

[Ah, young love. But more importantly:]

Poison has spoken to you about me.

[That wasn't really a question so much as a statement, though he clearly wants to know what, exactly, they talked about.]

[itsnotaonesie]

Yeah, well, she didn't namedrop you specifically, but I'm pretty good at putting two and two together.

[He can't think of anyone else off the top of his head who was new and from Hadriel but wasn't actually from Hadriel.]

[abheirrant]

[Oh good, she didn't mention him specifically, which means she might not have mentioned some of the more sordid details of his current state, either. That's good. That's very good.]

I see.

[He rubs at the back of his neck, careful not to push his veil too far aside.]

I am afraid I could not have left a good impression upon her when we crossed paths. She knew more about me than I did. She is quite the artist, too.

[itsnotaonesie]

[NOPE no undead zombie details here. Which is probably very good because Peter would find it absolutely fascinating.]

Oh yeah, she's incredible.

[HER ART, HER ART IS INCREDIBLE. well she is too. But also Peter might be a little biased.]

She'll be okay, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. She's a lot tougher than she looks.

[abheirrant]

[Carlisle smiles just a hair. He caught that, Peter.]

I can only assume, if we were close once. I am an acquired taste, at best.

[Let's just say "pedantic, religious nerds" aren't really high on anyone's top ten list for potential friends.]

[itsnotaonesie]

[Shhhhh]

Seriously? I think you're just fine, man.

[Peter's friends with Qubit, he can handle anything Carlisle can throw at him.]

[abheirrant]

[A dry chuckle, the kind that says he could use a drink - literally.]

With all due respect, lad, you have known me for all two conversations, and that's if we count the one where you found me huddled against a wall, overwhelmed by this new world around me.

[He gives Peter a sideways glance.]

And we might not count this one either, as you've had quite a lot to drink.

[itsnotaonesie]

[I mean Peter's got nothin' man]

...Okay, you got me there, man. Next time we talk, I'll be totally sober. I don't usually do this whole uh. Booze thing.