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

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!

[superposition]

That's not - you don't have to - [ He sighs, starting to get exasperated. ] I'm telling you, it's fine. I don't want you getting the idea that I'm made of tissue paper, all right?

[sleepyhollowed]

[Oh. Oh no he's upsetting Qubit.]

[Kieran freezes. Then, with a quick nod, he finally says:]

Okay.