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

[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.

[abheirrant]

You don't usually, or you don't usually do this much of it?

[Those are very different things.]

[itsnotaonesie]

[I mean that's a fair question. Peter can't even complain.]

I don't usually do it at all. But it's like, a party, and everyone's like hey Peter, you should relax for once but I'm like kinda high strung all the time and alcohol is a depressant. I figured a little bit this once couldn't hurt.

[A "little bit" he says. It's not his fault the drinks are super weak okay.]

[abheirrant]

As someone who is often high-strung, I understand fully.

[He leans back along the couch, his eyes returning the party-goers. There are people playing some kind of technological game, others chatting near the drinks, Qubit trying to coerce people into entering his 'raffle.' So many faces Carlisle doesn't know, and plenty he doesn't really want to know, but admittedly, he's grateful for the noise, as it drowns out his own, crippling thoughts. His doubts are back the second he focuses on them though, and he has no discreet way to drink them into oblivion. There are many perks he will miss from being alive, and being able to drink himself into a stupor to avoid the overbearing weight of his own guilt is one of them.]

Sometimes, it is easier to drink than to consider one's troubles. I cannot say it is the wisest course, but it is one with which I am familiar. And honestly, just this once is unlikely to hurt you, especially here in this place.

[itsnotaonesie]

[Oh good, he gets it. Now Peter doesn't feel completely awful for it.]

Right, like, I know it's not smart, but it's also not something I'm planning to make into a habit. Helps that there are... uh several people here that would probably nag me relentlessly if I did. Like, the good kind of nagging.

[abheirrant]

Well, I will not be one of them.

[He reaches into the pouch at his waist, a small one almost entirely hidden beneath his sash, and retrieves a small, silver flask. On both sides are engraved images, one prominently featuring a family crest with some kind of bear/tiger creature with massive claws. It's clearly an expensive piece, and one he offers Peter to inspect.]

There is much I could nag one about, but I haven't room to talk when it comes to imbibing as an escape.

[itsnotaonesie]

[Whaaaaaaaaaat this is a neat lookin' little flask. Peter turns it over in his hands, fingers tracing over the engraved images.] Fair enough I guess.

[He glances up, noting the fact that Carlisle hasn't exactly been hitting at least his current drink like, at all.]

Y'seem pretty sober to me.

[abheirrant]

[It is a neat flask, okay. And one he cares about very much. He looks a little rough, given the bags under his tired eyes, but that flask? It's pristine, despite the years of use.

He turns his glass around in his hands idly.]

I am. Painfully so.

[itsnotaonesie]

[It's a super cool flask and it's in way better shape than you are, bro.

Peter looks kiiind of confused, glancing between Carlisle and his glass like, bro, you're literally holding the solution to your sober problem in your hand. Or, maybe he just has juice. Could be a juice problem.]

Uh. Well. The drinks aren't very strong, but a few of them might fix that for you?

[abheirrant]

[Carlisle sees Peter looking from the glass in his hand to him, connecting the dots seconds before he says anything.]

Oh. Oh, ah. Perhaps, though what I have had hasn't been nearly strong enough.

[Had prior to Anchor, anyway. He sets the drink aside on a nearby table, suddenly self-conscious that it seems to be drawing more attention to the fact he's not drinking than making it look like he was.]

I have dwarven blood in my line. It gives me more of a tolerance than most.