genessia | [You'll Be Caught In The Night - After Life Halloween Party]

[You'll Be Caught In The Night - After Life Halloween Party]

Who: Everyone
What: Halloween Party
Where: Nova City - After Life
When: 4 PM October 31st to who knows how early of November 1st
Warnings: B for boos and booze. Also Gale is there so that deserves a warning in itself. Is spooky.

----

Welcome to After Life. The entrance of the Nova City nightclub has the additional illumination courtesy of a purple neon bat to welcome the party goers, which that little bat seems more inviting than the almost ominous fog coming out of the front doors. Just beyond the door are a variety of glowsticks, should one feel so inclined to equip themselves with them for the night. The varying colored glass tables are trimmed with fake cobwebs with little spider lights illuminating from beneath it while at each table's end has a jack-o'-lantern of different carvings with color changing LED lights inside. The club's colored strobe lighting reflects off of the club's crystalline walls to help lend to the atmosphere in an almost eerie manner, even adding additional color to the fog hovering over the floor.

As the party begins, Gale makes a special introduction to the ladies who helped make the party possible- Yang Xiao Long, Ayame Sasaki, Gwen Stacy and Mikaela Banes. He wouldn't let the party go on without the much deserved recognition for them.

Food and Refreshments

The bar area has a variety of different foods and snacks for people to enjoy. Brownies, cupcakes and truffles from local confectionaries and other, less sugary options like jalapeno poppers, mummy hot dogs, garlic bread snakes, deviled egg spiders, salsa and dipping sauces with bat chips, dragonfly sushi and spooky fruit monsters are laid throughout the table. At the far end of the table is a little animatronic black cat with glowing green eyes.

Looking for something a little heavier than just snacks to eat, in case you missed lunch? Available to you on another nearby table are shaped pasta with varying sauce options, monster burgers, four different bento boxes, and snake shaped calzones each labeled with different pizza toppings for the stuffing. Yes. A few have pineapple in them. Please do not start a war in Gale's club.

There are various labeled cauldrons of non-alcoholic drinks such as water, punch and soda are on the table while other available are drinks such as mixed soda and punch floats and milkshake shots are there. All of the glasses on the table all have googly eyes attached to them. Also on this table is Gale's Cubone, wearing a tiny vampire cape and patrolling around the cauldrons. Don't even think about trying something funny or trying to spike the drinks, because Cubone will smack the culprit's hand with his bone and start wailing to lure the host over. Just don't even do it unless you want thrown out.

Bar Area

Need a beverage of the alcoholic variety? You'll want to visit the local alchemist over here. Overhead of the bar where the drink glasses hang are little bat lights that occasionally flicker and the cobwebs are lined around the edges of the circular bar counter. A pumpkin with the carving of a butterfly sits on the counter top with a flickering purple light within it. Drinks from the bar will be served in beaker and vial glasses.

Dance Floor and Stage

That stage up there sure looks inviting, as if it's just waiting to have one of its musical guests come on stage and steal the show for a short time. In fact, it's very much encouraged to do just that. While the stage is without a DJ or other performer, a preset playlist of the club's usual music as well as a list of Halloween music will cycle through- just be ready for the Monster Mash to play several times during the night. A skeleton is set up near the speakers, and it seems to 'dance' in time with the music. Up above the stage is a web with an animatronic spider that comes down from its web occasionally with flickering red eyes.

If you look closely through the thin veil of fog on the floor, you may notice reflective decals of monstrous footprints leading to the dance floor, as if trying to hint and lead the guests out to get their dance on. But party goers beware, there may be an impromptu dance to Thriller at some point in the night, and your host may judge every single one of you if you don't get in on it.

VIP Room

The VIP Room is a little less rowdy than the main area of the club, and is meant for a more chill atmosphere compared to the rest of the party. The room has its own stage for anyone to take over separate of the main room, but beware, this stage may have its own different kind of horror: Karaoke.

The tables here also have cobweb and spider lights around them and the lights in the room are a little dimmer, to accommodate the rotating bulb that casts shadow creatures on the walls of the room. You may want to come here if you want to eat an actual meal in peace without all the buzz from the bar area.

Employee Lounge

VIP Room not calm enough? Asking Gale or another After Life employee will grant you access to the employee lounge so you can have a little rest on the couches. The only drinks readily available in here is water over on the counter. The noise from the main area is completely nullified in this room. The party goes on all night, don't be afraid to take a breather.

Guests under 16 will receive a small bag of candy for attending, while guests 16 and older will receive some drink coupons to use at any of the three Gale Force club locations.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Once Shinjiro finishes that beer, it'll be Scott turn to get him a new drink. It's only fair, so she can't say no. They have a lot of tickets they won't be using, anyway. Righ?

Back in the day, Scott had been on the streets for a bit.Then his powers showed up for real, he almost killed a bunch of people by accident, had to run away from an angry mob that wanted to lynch him...All that while keeping his eyes shut and virtually blind. Not a funny coming of age experience. Just thinking about it makes Scott want to drink, so he does just that.

Then he waits patiently until Shinjiro is ready, he would have accepted silence too. It has been a very personal question after all. What he gets is even worse than what he was expecting. It's also easy to understand now why Akihiko was so ready to go into the shadow world to find Shinjiro.]

I'm sorry. [ I was left there, no big deal ...sounds an awful lot like a big deal to Scott, really. He wishes he knew how to help. ] You all deserved better.

[Yes, Scott can see that Shinjiro is focussing on Akihiko rather than his own feelings but he won't call him out on it. Everyone deals with things differently and after what happened in that subarchway, Shinjiro is allowed to take as much time as he needs. Without a word, Scott leaves two of his tickets on the bar and motion to the bartender to serve them two more beers.]

If it matters any, I'm really glad you are all here. That you...are here and we met.

[ He'll accept that beer. It's not as if this cost real money, after all. Otherwise, he might have protested someone treating him to a drink, even a good friend.

And Scott didn't even know that Shinjiro had died, either, so. Yeah. Very understandable how desperate Akihiko had been.

He shrugged, peeling at the label of his empty beer, before it was replaced with another. ]

It is what it is.

[ Takes the third beer, but doesn't drink it right away. He looks at Scott, then down again. ]

... Thanks.

Considerin' the alt- well. I mean.

I'm real glad, too. That we're both here.

Edited 2017-11-02 01:17 (UTC)

[Spending real money wouldn't have bothered Scott either, he likes to treat his friends. He has a job and doesn't really spend the money he makes in anything but rent, books and whatever his dog might need. He's never had much, so he's never got used to spending things on himself. But for others, he did not mind.]

Yeah but sometimes 'what it is' just sucks.

[Boy doesn't he know that. not only on a personal level but for his people in general, mutant kind never had it easy.

When he looks up from his own beer, his smile is kind. Yeah, the alternative is much, much worse. ] My pleasure. I don't really have a lot of friends, you might have noticed, so I want to make sure the ones I have are doing well. Or trying to get better. You can tell me anything you know...I wouldn't judge.

[And now, perhaps a change of subject would be welcome.]

So...rumor has it you are working in the Attleton's Guardian office. How bad is it? Did you get a sprained wrist from all the paperwork yet?

[ Snort of amusement, even though it isn't funny. ]

That's for damn sure.

[ Really, saying 'it is what it is' was just a really mature-sounding way of saying 'life is really shitty,' but there you are. He drank more of his beer.

Looks at Scott, a bit incredulous. ]

I've gotta hard time believin that. You're a real nice guy. Maybe assholes back home wouldn'tve givin ya the time of day, cause of your eyes, but here? People've got stranger. Your ... everythin else should be enough to win anybody over, anyway.

[ Then, rolls his eyes ]

Not so much "working" as I've gotten roped into bein some kinda maid secretary thingy. Whatever.

Nobody there seems to know how to fill out a form, it's crazy. Either that or they ask me cause I'm free labor.

Oh yeah, I'm a real catch. Until my glasses go flying by accident and suddenly your house has a skylight. There's a reason I don't play basketball. [Ah, self-deprecating humor. How much it helps Scott to get by.] The eyes are one thing but then there's also all the baggage. You know how weird my life is and I only mentioned what happened when I was 8 years old.

[So much more happened after that...ain't nobody got time to deal with that level of madness.] Besides, unlike you I'm not mysterious and interesting. People used to call me a boy scout back home. I'm as boring as white bread.

[Scott has made eace with that too. He knows he's boring, reliable...but it also makes him steady and level headed when it counts. After a pause, he takes another sip of his beer, still not fully liking the bitter taste but enjoying the warm feeling it's leaving in his stomach.]

No one? I thought Mr. Andor and his boyfriend were part of the military in the past, I would have expected them to be able to fill a report. The free labor thing, I'd believe it. Are you allowed to breaks and free coffee at least?

[ Snorts ] Yeah, well, between your baggage and mine we could open our own luggage company.

Least you came out well adjusted.

[ And then, Scott gets an outright laugh. It's easy, when it's laughing at himself. ] Some people say 'mysterious', other people say 'rude, antisocial, creepy asshole.' Really, your mileage may vary.

You're kind, and you're nice to people, and you don't immediately start the sarcasm if someone tries to be vaguely friendly. If that's borin, then I guess most people really like boring, and you ain't got nothing to worry about.

[ Drinks more. The beer is easier to drink the more you do it, and plus. It's making this conversation thing a lot easier. ]

I think they're used to computers, or somethin? Either that or they're real good at pretendin to be bad at it so I'll do it. Really, the just had t'ask.

[ Shrugs ] Maybe on the free coffee. Considerin it's my punishment, I ain't gonna take a lot of breaks and slack off on th'job.

Maybe we cancel each other out. Wouldn't that be great? Two negatives making something positive. [He scoffs and offers an incredulous, almost self-deprecating look.] Right...well adjusted. Me. Sure, why not.

[When Shinjiro laugh, Scott has to hide his own reaction with the back of his hand. He looks down with shyness a genuine grin spread across his face.]

Then I guess rude assholes work for me too because I think you are perfect just the way you are. And I also know you are more bark than bite. You care so much about people that you don't want anybody to get hurt, even strangers.

[His cheeks grew hot and Scott decides to blame it on the drinks. He's a lightweight, it's a fact. And it's easier to blame the alcohol than admit how the warm feeling in his chest is very similar to the one he felt when he shared a dream with Shinjiro.

It makes no sense, he's no longer an incubus, these feelings shouldn't happen. But it's almost as if he could tell Shinjiro the worst parts of himself, of his life, the darkest corners and the ugly truths...and the other man would be just as accepting. As if what makes Scott it isn't a mess of broken pieces badly put together to resemble a functional human being.]

Could be their way or handling the issue, being a little petty. I don't think they would be cruel on purpose. I talked to Cassian and Dante the most, they don't seem too bad.

[ Two negatives making something positive? Shinjiro smirks. ] Sure, 'cause that's how it works.

[ But then Scott said he was 'perfect' and he was ... blushing ... which meant now Shinjiro was blushing, too. He was also a lightweight, and was a full beer ahead of Scott.

And. Well. He liked him. He was honest when he said he was kind, and a good guy, and that he thought most people would want to be around him and friends with him. And. He flushed deeper. Because he liked him - ]

... I ain't perfect, Scott, far from it.

You've got glasses 'cause you got hurt when you were a kid, but - I lost control of my powers for basically no reason. It's what I saw in Attleton. It's not a matter of if it'll happen again - it's a matter of when.

[ Well, maybe he didn't 100% believe that, all of the time. He was slowly getting better on the forgiveness front. But being drunk made him a little maudlin. ]

I'm dangerous. Maybe somethin in me is broken.

... I really don't know why the hell you hang around with me. You're just. So ... just ... who wouldn't want t'be 'round you?

[ Aaaand there goes like half of his third beer in one gulp. Whelp. ]

Ey, it's a certified science fact. Just ask Mr. Spock.

[He drinks too because otherwise his face will crack and he will laugh at his own bad joke. Yes, Shinjiro is ahead fo him when it comes to beers but Scott is that much of a lightweight. He's feeling more relaxed now than ever, which should be a warning sign that something's not quite right because Scott is never relaxed, his own head in a too loud place for that, and yet...

Oh. Shinjiro is blushing. Or is it a trick of the lights? No, that's definitely a blush. How cute. But Shinjiro is also saying words and Scott really needs to focus and pay attention to them. When he does, his smile falters a little.]

That was an accident, not something you wanted to happen. Not something you would ever repeat on purpose. I know a lot about losing control. And it sucks, and you can never stop feeling bad about it but...[He waves the hand that doesn't hold his beer out in front of him,.]...if we don't forgive ourselves first, who will?

[Scott leaned in slightly, close to Shinjiro, now fidgeting ith the bottle in his hands.]

Don't say that. Maybe we are both broken but I haven't met anybody who isn't, even a little bit. I like to hang around you because of I...it's...it's nice. I like to listen to you talk. I want to help, I want to know more about you. I feel comfortable because we don't always have to fill the silence with words. And you understand If I'm weird and unfunny or I don't make much sense...like now.

[Way to make an idiot of yourself, Scott's mind provides, as he feel himself blushing too.]

I'll forgive ya first, if you won't. [ That part of what Scott said, at least, he could answer easily enough.

Shinjiro leanded in also. They weren't quite touching, yet. This wasn't like the dream. He just ... didn't want to shout out personal stuff to be heard over the party's loud noise, that's all.

He looked away, but at Scott's hands, rather than his own, slowly peeling off the label on his beer. ]

I. Uh. Like hangin round you, too. Might not need your help, but.

Um.

... I do feel like you understand. More than just, shared histories, I guess. And if you're weird, it's a nice kinda weird. Just ... you try even harder than I do, looks like, to do good, y'know? You try so damn hard.

Wish you'd be a little nicer to yourself sometimes.

[ Because Shinjiro was a giant hypocrite, of course. ]

Edited 2017-11-02 16:33 (UTC)

You might not need it but you can get it if you want it. [Scott's voice was a whisper and then he paused, blinking and blushing further.] Ah...the help, I mean.

[Smooth, so very...not. The looks he gives Shinjiro after the compliment is on the side of sheepish, he can't help it. Trying too hard isn't exactly a very endearing trait but somehow Shinjiro makes it sounds like it is. Something fluttered in his stomach and yet again Scott blamed the drinks.]

I could...try. [Yes, that sounded very convincing.]

[ That sounded like ... Shinjiro was beginning to wonder if he's had too much to drink. Or not enough to drink. Of course Scott was only talking about needing help. He flushed deeper. ] ... Uh. Yeah. The help. I'm, um, fine.

[ ... This nice feeling in his stomach. He couldn't blame it on the incubus thing, not now. And, he knew the difference between being drunk and feeling nice around other people. Usually, when he was drunk, he was more depressed about others, instead of feeling ... hopeful nice.

... Shit.

Scott was a nice guy, and Shinjiro wasn't. Shit.

He looked away from Scott's hands, to his own. He was very quiet. ]

You should. I ... I really think you deserve th'best stuff, Scott.

[One of Scott's biggest problems, and it's one that the adult self still had, is that flirting is beyond him. On the very, very rare occasions it's aimed at him, he doesn't realize it's happening because he never expects people to actually be interested. In the even rarer occasion when Scott is the one doing it...he actually isn't. Or rather, he does it without realizing that what he is saying might be interpreted that way.

Now he feels as if all her insecurities are written across his face and there's nowhere to hide. But he doesn't exactly regret the offering and Shinjiro doesn't look too mad at him.]

People are always saying things like that. About what others deserve and what not. Maybe we should all focus on what we need and what we want instead.

[He's starting to have a very clear understanding of what he wants and of course, it's something he can never have. Before anything else can be said, there's a cold snout nudging at Scott's leg and he looks down in time to see his dog rest his head on Shinjiro's thigh. Someone was getting bored, apparently.]

Oh, Horatio...I forgot I brought him with me.

[ Shinjiro just plain didn't bother with flirting. If he noticed people directing it at him - well, usually, just thought they were making fun. Having a joke, teasing him. Of course, that's if he noticed.

And, of course, the very last thing he was, was mad at his friend.

Maybe he could find someone nice to set Scott up with. There were a lot of really good people in Genessia. And, he had friends already, didn't he?

Never mind that the idea was like a cold knife in his gut. This - he wasn't a nice guy. It'd be fine.

Shinjiro chuckled, trying to find some humor in all of this. Probably best to not start brooding while drinking. Focus on what you need and want, Scott says? ]

You first, then.

[ Looks down at Horatio, surprised, but then his face relaxed. ]

... Poor guy.

Does he need t'go outside, y'think?

[There are plenty of other sincere reasons to flirt with Shinjiro, Scott could give him a few...if he were that sort of person. Alas, he was too shy for that and too awkward.

Shinjiro, no. What sort of terrible plan is that?

There's a reason why Scott rejected Jaune's advances, even if he wasn't 100% sure of why at the time.]

What? Me first? What I want you mean? [Oh no, no he's not opening that can of worms. he's not even sure. Horatio interrupting is almost a blessing.]

Poor thing. Are you getting sick of being inside? [Scott reaches out to pet the dog's head and scratch him behind the ears. Then he looks up at Shinjiro, a smile on his face. Scott's still feeling oddly relaxed thanks to the drinks.] Yes, I think it will be better if we went out. Usually he's sleeping near my bed at this hour.

[ Aw, poor dog. Shinjiro was about to pet Horatio when Scott reached down, scratching the dog's head. While it was on his thigh. That was. Really close? ~~Not as close as they'd been when he was an incubus, but~~ Shinjiro blushed again. He played with the label of the empty beer bottle, awkwardly.

He nodded. ]

Yeah, he's probably hungry, too.

Though. I've got some treats on me, if he ain't on any particular diet.

[ Dogs were easy. Animals were nice. Better than most people, really.

Well. Most. ]

Edited 2017-11-02 22:28 (UTC)

[Scott is naively unaware of what he did, he just wanted to comfort his dog and doesn't realize that his hand is so close to Shinjiro until he spots the man's blush from the corner of his eye. He pulls the hand away after one last scratch, color blooming on his cheeks too.]

Ehm...I give him mostly dry food but he's allowed to treats when he behaves. And he's been a very patient boy tonight, so he deserves some if you have them.

[Scott pauses for a second, looks from Shinjiro to Horatio and then smiles.]

Horatio...shake.

[Immediately, Horatio raises his left paw towards Shinjiro. HI-Five!]

[ Maybe if neither of them mention the blushing aloud, nothing ever really happened to begin with?

But, when Horatio obediently performed the trick for Scott, Shinjiro was completely distracted. He smiled a little, and took his paw. ]

Aw. What a good boy.

D'you think good boys get a treat?

[ Scratches Horatio's head with one hand, while he reaches into his pocket with another. Deftly, well practiced, he gets into the plastic baggy with one hand, fishes out a single treat, and offers it to the dog. ]

Yes they do. Good boys definitely get a treat.

[ .... If it were anyone else, Shinjiro would be embarrassed about this, later.

Score one thing, at least, that Shinjiro felt comfortable enough around Scott to do, without getting embarrassed and shy. ]

[There's technically no blushing if none of the participants acknowledge it. Sounds like another scientific fact. It's a good thing that Shinjiro is distracted with Horation, Scott thinks to himself because he's probably smiling like an idiot at the view.

Horatio let out a happy sound when he was offered the treat and then licked Shinjiro's hand.

It's almost a fact that you should trust a dog when they don't like a person and you must be suspicious of someone who doesn't like animals. With Shinjiro, it seems like his most gentle nature shows up around them and it's very nice to see.]

He knows plenty of more tricks and commands, I could show you some other day when we are not in the middle of a party. If..if you want, of course.

[ Shinjiro looks up at Scott, still scratching the top of Horatio's head, no longer smiling like he was, but his expression still soft.

... He did want to visit Horatio, at least. And. It wasn't like he wanted to stop being friends with Scott, or anything. It was just. Well.

He'd focus on just being friends. ]

... Yeah, I'd like that.

[ Then, something occurs to him. ]

If he doesn't mind other dogs, I could bring Princess 'round, too. I wanna make sure she's well-socialized.

Great. [He isn't sure why the prospect made him so happy, it just does. Scott's expression sobers up slightly too, even if his chest was still feeling all funny.]

He's trained to be around other animals and crowded places. [Scott wouldn't have brought the dog to the party if that weren't the case.] But we can be careful while introducing them.

Just...who is Princess? is that dog from Ash you mentioned time ago?

Yeah, I can see that. He's a good dog.

[ The last part was directed right to Horatio, so the animal knew they'd be referring to him. Plus. Shinjiro liked to see that eager tail wag.

He blinked. He completely forgot that he hadn't mentioned her name before. ]

Uh, yeah. I got 'er back from Ace not long after we talked.

I got a photo on my phone, actually. Uh.

[ He fumbles around a bit. After a few moments, he pulls up a photo for Scott to see. She's got a bit more fur, now, but it's coming in in clumps and patches, making her even more ... special-looking. She's also wearing a pink breakaway collar. Whelp. ]

That's her.

I got lucky, I guess.

[Shinjiro is not going to be disappointed then, Horatio is clearly showing his enthusiasm with his tail. When it looks like the boys are talking again, Horatio sits back on his haunches properly, standing near them as a guard dog of sorts.

When Shinjiro turns towards him to shim the picture Scott suddenly can't remember if they were sitting this close form the beginning or it happened gradually. Either way, he gets distracted by the picture because that's one...interesting looking dog. Certainly, one who could use more love so Scott gives Shinjiro a polite smile.]

Ah. You are taking good care of her. I don't think there will be any problem with our pets.

[ Scott really was fortunate.

Because ... yeah, as much as Shinjiro loved animals, he could recognize that Princess was a pretty "special" dog. Well, she was still a creature who deserved love and care, in his book. He wasn't going to abandon her just because she looked a bit frightening.

He kind of felt a kinship with her, really.

Shaking his head, wrly, he took back his phone ... and then realized. Yeah. They were sitting kind of close for 'just friends', weren't they?

Time to fiddle with his beer again. ]

... I'll uh. Take her to visit you guys in Attleton, then.

You got better parks.

[Scott knows all too well that scary looking doesn't mean evil or wrong. Just because something's out of the norm, you don't have to judge it.

That was the case with a lot of mutants in this world. Scott looks human, eyes-problems aside, and can pass as a normal teen without much difficulty. Not everyone had it so easy.]

Attleton citizens might be a bit nosy sometimes but they're very polite and welcoming. Kinda feels like living in a classic Hollywood movie. If you visit, we can go to the parks that don't have a lot of people or dogs at first, it could be better for Princess.

[Scott glances down at Horatio, missing Shinjiro's awkwardness by pure chance.] What do you say? Would you like to hang out with a friend? [The dog wags his tail in response, brushing his nose against Scott's hand and making him smile.] Heh. I guess that's a yes.

[You'll Be Caught In The Night - After Life Halloween Party]

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