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

Qubit | ota

[superposition]

A. Raffle

[ Originally, it was Waltz that Qubit offered to put this raffle together for, but he hadn't heard anything back, so Ami's sudden announcement was a bit of a surprise. But when he asked her if they still wanted it, she eagerly accepted, so here it is.

He's set himself up at a table near the entrance, on which he's placed a box with a slot, some preprinted forms, and a handful of pencils to fill them out with. It's a little more old-school than he'd typically go with, but given the number of people he's met who are intimidated by all the machines, simplicity seemed the better option. And Ami was kind enough to make him an exuberant-looking sign proclaiming "RAFFLE!", so it's hard to miss. He mostly tries to catch people as they come in- ]

Evening! Care to participate in the raffle? It'll only take a minute.

[ ooc: Submit your raffle entries here! Replying to this toplevel isn't necessary, and they don't have to fill out the form completely if they don't want to. He's also more than willing to help anyone who has difficulty filling out the forms, or who needs help brainstorming what they'd want as a prize! Hmu if you want to handwave anything like that. ]


B. Workaholism

[ A little later, Qubit leaves the table and heads to the floor to do the things one generally does at a party. Grabbing a token amount of food, wandering among the guests, stopping to introduce himself to someone new or make light conversation, you know. The things adults do at boring adult parties.

What he's not doing, though, is relaxing.

He may not be working security in any official capacity, but keeping his eyes peeled for trouble has become a habit. On Earth-β, every such gathering of imPorts was a potential target, and the attacks didn't always come from without.

Everything he's doing here has a purpose. The raffle lets him size up everyone who comes in, learn something about everyone who participates. The wandering is patrolling, the chitchat is networking, and he doesn't touch the alcohol. If you watch him for any length of time, it's clear he's not letting his guard down.

Someone ought to make him do something fun, for a change! ]

A

[sleepyhollowed]

[The sign doesn't catch Kieran's attention as much as Qubit standing at a table with a lot of stuff on there. So he makes his way over, a happy little bounce in his step thanks to the lightened atmosphere and the overall chill nature of the party (so far). Something about Anchor's myriad of technological advances has piqued a curiosity latent within Kieran, and he's slowly grown wont to ask more questions.]

Hey, Qubit! Whatcha doin' over here?

[...Some of those questions are a bit more clear-cut than others, but it's the thought that counts.]

[superposition]

Kieran! Good to see you!

[ He gestures at his setup, even though Kieran's ... seen it, obviously. ]

Want to put your name in the raffle? You might win something.

[sleepyhollowed]

[Kieran looks over the table again at Qubit’s cue, taking in what he can.]

[He looks at the giant sign and squints, mouthing out the individual sounds just as Ben taught him. It’s slow going, but he’s able to make out the first syllable and fill in the rest based on Qubit’s greeting.]

Sounds like fun! W-What’s the prize?

[superposition]

[ Watching him mouth the sounds like that, it dawns on Qubit right away that... Kieran is not a strong reader. It's not something he knew about him, but actually not that surprising, given his historical context.

The prize is also written on the sign, in smaller letters. But there are several larger words in it, and he realizes Kieran's not going to know what the hell it means anyway, so. He starts by quoting it exactly - ]

"One consumer electronic item (small) of your choice."

That means a piece of technology roughly equivalent to what you'd find in shops, in my time. Small appliances, convenience items, and the like.

[sleepyhollowed]

[Kieran smiles in thanks for Qubit’s support, grateful for the clarification.]

So, uh, somethin’ like the stuff they have in the dinin’ hall? One of those small things fer cookin’?

[superposition]

[ Nods! ] Yes, like those. Or rather, including but not limited to those. There are plenty of others, I can help you brainstorm if you're looking for ideas.

[ And in fact he already has a few ideas! Ask him about his ideas, Kieran! ASK HIM ABOUT HIS I- ]

[sleepyhollowed]

Couldja make a toaster?

[WHOMP.]

[superposition]

Wha- of course I could, but-

[ THE IDEAS THOUGH??? ]

[sleepyhollowed]

Woah! That’s amazin’, Qubit! A real toaster!

C-Could I ask fer one of those, if I win?

[Ideas are neat, but toasters.]

[superposition]

I suppose, but don't you want to hear-

[sleepyhollowed]

Thank you! Thank you so much!

[Kieran reaches out for a handshake.]

I dunno if I'm gonna win, but if I do, I bet that toaster's gonna be incredible.

[HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ANYWHERE TO PLUG IT IN.]

[superposition]

[ ......... Well, that sure did just happen. He could have given you the stars, man! ]

It... certainly will, Kieran. It certainly will.

[ He totally misinterprets the gesture and hands him an entry form. Qubit you know he can barely read. ]

[sleepyhollowed]

[But toasters, Qubit.]

[Kieran stares at the entry form in his hand, only giving the briefest of thoughts to the rebuffed handshake. It’s not the first time that’s happened. It’s not the last, either, he’s sure.]

[He lays it flat on the table, leaning over the paper with both of his arms supporting his full weight as he tries to decipher the text. He can make out a couple of words here and there and get the gist of what it’s asking for: his name, his… something, and a few other somethings as well.]

Oh, uh, okay.

[Shakily and with the confidence of a foal trying out its legs for the first time, Kieran grabs a pencil and starts to write his name.]

[It’s taking a while.]

[superposition]

[ While Qubit belatedly wonders if maybe that was supposed to be a handshake (whoops), he quickly realizes that yeah, maybe a weak reader is also going to be a weak writer, huh? For an awkward moment, he's not sure whether he should offer to help, but... he also doesn't want Kieran to be stuck here all night. ]

Ah. Do you - would you like a hand there? [ He holds a hand out for the pencil. ]

[sleepyhollowed]

[He glances up to Qubit and then back down to his name. He's pretty proud of himself, he managed to get through it with no errors and even if the letters are a bit offset and wobbly, at least he's managed to do it on his own.]

[But it did take time, and Kieran doesn't want to take up too much of Qubit's. So he offers a sheepish, disarming smile (one that he uses whenever he isn't sure if he upset someone but wants to play it safe).]

Y-Yeah, if you could.

Sorry.

[superposition]

[ You did great, Kieran! You are a treasure and we are all so, so proud of you. Qubit smiles sympathetically as he takes the pencil and paper. ]

Quite all right. Everyone has to start somewhere.

[ And then they'll just... GO THROUGH THE QUESTIONS I GUESS, with Qubit taking dictation. When they're done, he folds it neatly in half and feeds it through the slot. Ta-da! ]

... and that does it. I'll be choosing the winner at random in a couple hours, so I hope you'll stick around.

[sleepyhollowed]

Don't worry, I will! I ain't about to miss a party like this fer anythin'.

[Kieran grins and grabs Qubit's hand. This time he's not giving him a choice when it comes to shaking it.]

Thank you again fer yer help. I really hope I win that toaster!

[superposition]

[ The contact shoots a spike of pain up Qubit's wrist that he wasn't braced for, and he perceptibly flinches - but he forces his reaction down and stiffly returns the handshake. ]

No trouble at all...! Have a good time.

[sleepyhollowed]

[When Qubit flinches, Kieran does the same in return, albeit more out of sympathy than actual pain on his end.]

S-Sorry!

You alright? D-Did I do somethin'?

[superposition]

[ Qubit holds up both hands, embarrassed. ]

No no no! It's just - direct human contact causes this sort of a - a burning feeling. It's not you, I promise.

[ God, he hates when people notice. It always makes things weird. Please don't make things weird, dude. ]

[sleepyhollowed]

Oh.

[That's rough, buddy.]

I-I had no idea. Uh, s-sorry.

Did that always happen to ya?

[It's his somewhat tactful way of asking WHY ARE YOU SO WEIRD]

[superposition]

It's really not a big deal, Kieran.

[ Translation: yes, this has always been a thing. ]

[sleepyhollowed]

I-If yer sure...

[He feels bad, okay!!!]

I'll make sure not to do it again! I promise!

just here for my records

[livingdeadgirl]

As the party gets underway, Ami soon winds up at the raffle table herself. She's here to get to know people, after all, and Qubit is technically a people.

"Mr. Qubit?" she says, a little shyly. "Um, I just wanted to thank you for putting this together. Sorry that it was kind of last-minute."

Qubit shrugs and shakes his head. "Quite all right. It's not as if I did much to follow up, either." He gestures to the entry forms. "Are you going to put your name in?"

"Can I?" It hadn't really occurred to her that she could, since she's the hostess and all, but... "Sure!"

She spends a minute or two filling one out, thinking about what she should actually put for powers or an interesting fact. Right now she's only got the ghost vision, though, and she's not sure when her other powers might return (though she's pretty sure they will sooner or later). When she's done, Qubit holds out his hand for the form, and without really thinking about it, she hands it to him rather than putting it straight in the box.

He looks over her answers briefly, then raises his eyes to her, concerned. "You're fourteen?"

Ami frowns, worried. "... Yeah? That's not a problem, is it?"

Qubit shakes his head, though. "No, not as such." He folds the paper and sticks it in the box with the others, then intertwines his fingers on the table. "Ami, how have you been doing through all this? Is there someone who's been looking after you?"

Ah... so it's that. Ami shrugs, averting her eyes a little. "Yeah, kind of. Like, I don't live with anybody, but Peter and Ben have been helping me through some stuff. And Kieran's teaching me how to fish." She looks up - "I'm doing fine, really! You don't need to worry too much, I can take care of myself."

For a moment, Qubit just eyes her in silence, as if working out whether he should believe her. But then, with a sigh, he relents.

"All right. That's good to hear." He pauses. "Still, I'm sorry you've been put in this situation. No child should have to go through this."

He seems really sincere, too, which surprises her a bit. She smiles. "It's okay. I mean, I won't say I've been through worse, but I have been through more than you think! And I've done all right." She pats her chest with a fist. "I may not look like much, but I'm actually pretty tough!"

Qubit smiles back, wryly. "Are you, now."

Ami nods firmly. "Yeah. So don't worry, I'll be okay."

"Hah. Well, if you say so."

A somewhat awkward pause follows, but it's broken by a bit of commotion at the video game machines - apparently, somebody is kicking some serious ass at Fruit Ninja. Oh man, she has to see this. Making overtures toward moving in that direction, she glances back to Qubit. "Uh - hey, I gotta run. Good talking to you. And thanks again!"

Qubit waves, amused. "Sure. Have fun." But as she heads off, he interjects, "Oh - Ami!"

Mid-scamper, she stops and looks back, questioning.

"If you ever feel unsafe, for any reason, promise me you'll ring one of us, all right?" he says.

Ami nods. "Yeah, I know." And then she's outta there.