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.

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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

"Spoilers, really?" She'd gotten several earfuls already and while, yes, some of it worried her. Seeing him at least somewhat as normal (the crooked grin making her heart light) as usual helped greatly.

When he looks off she can't help put her hand on his shoulder for a moment. More a friendly nudge than sympathetic touch, she still remembers when he'd been taller and far fluffier after all.

Oh, Sarah knows a topic change when she hears it but she gives him the benefit, as always. "It's been oh about ayear since I last saw you. Or well...the you I knew. With all the," She gestures to her head, "And that ridiculous scarf your older self is wearing." At least she guessed he was the oldest one, she hadn't really asked who was what age. Since it really didn't matter.

It was still The Doctor.

The Doctor smiles a touch more warmly at that touch... although he looks just a bit sheepish when she says when she's from.

"...ah. ...yeah, 'course, sorry, had a... thing, on Gallifrey, well, you know how it is, a year, though, everything's going well, I hope?"

He's at least obviously a bit pleased that she thinks fondly (if not necessarily very respectfully) about the scarf. He pauses just a tick, not quite enough for her to put an answer together for the first question and giving her a queer sort of look, then ducks his head a little closer.

"...and... you've been getting on well with Eyebrows?"

There was a tease ready but then he was a bit closer. She blinks a moment, "Er, yes. At least I think so? And don't call him eyebrows. They're not any worse than one's you've had before you know."

She wants to pinch his cheeks and mutter something about a baby face, but the question he'd posed is still ringing oddly in her ears. "Why would you ask?"

"Yes they are, they look like they're about to leap off his face and attack someone, they're attack eyebrows."

Really, he looks more plaintive than actually combative, like a teenager who just found out he was going to go bald, someday. ...and anyway, this face is maybe a bit biased in terms of eyebrow intensity. He pauses, though, at her question.

"What, sorry? ...oh. Well."

He pauses just a tick, weighing just how much he wants to actually say about it, glancing aside, then back to her again.

"...don't exactly know him that well, myself, well, I do, a bit, obviously, but-... well, y'know how it is, I know him well enough to know he can't exactly open up to me, can he, not really. Ev'rybody here that we know's from my time, or earlier, near as I can tell."

...of course, he's not about to flat-out say he wants to make sure his older self has friends. This is still the Doctor we're talking about, he's got a sense of pride, at the very least.

Oh no, that was ridiculous. Sarah bursts in to giggles and looks straight at his own eyebrows. There's a smirk in the corner of her mouth but she clamps her lips to keep it there. "Attack eyebrows?"

Another bout of giggles before she can nod at his somewhat answer. "Spoilers? Never thought you'd care much for those. Must be odd though. Having your past and future all smooshed together like this?" And there is concern, for him and his others. The Doctor was a wonderful man, but the universe had a bit of trouble handling him one at a time, she couldn't imagine three.

"Don't worry. I'll keep you safe from his eyebrows. And him safe from your baby face."

"Oi..!"

The Doctor just makes a face at her like the most offended nine-year-old ever, pointing an index finger at her warningly, like he might really super scold her if she keeps it up, when she gives that look at his eyebrows. Hardly the first time he's been a bit defensive, but this is maybe the silliest he's been about it... and maybe a rival to the silliest she's seen him, which isn't a small feat.

He does get just a shade more serious at that bit of concern, even if he's at the same time amused at her picking up "spoilers" so quickly.

"...ha, well... something like that, yeah."

He raises his eyebrows at that last bit, smiling one of those enigmatic smiles she probably hasn't seen on most of his faces that she's encountered--except maybe his older one. He can't really resist, though, given how long it is 'til the next time he sees her.

"...look who's talking. Anyway, thanks, I appreciate it, nice to know my future's in good hands."

Meaning hers, of course, because the Doctor can't just go complimenting himself across regenerations.

She giggles at the pointed finger, really that face could not scold a toddler and have it be frightened. Sarah shakes her head, "Don't worry, I won't ask. I know the rules."

She stands up straight, lowering her voice in attempt to match The Brigadier's, "And always stick to the rules, Miss Smith. No use going off without them." Then she softens and shrugs, "Can't remember the last time I listened to that." But if it kept things safe and to a relative state of normal, she'd try.

"Aw, that's sweet." Calling a woman young is a compliment so she's just going to reach up and lightly pat his cheek, "Now, it's been a few years for you but only one for me. So you still owe me a dance."

Aaa what a nostalgia trip it is, talking to her. He obviously gets who she's alluding to, and just as obviously has a little burst of fondness at the thought. Whatever else might have changed, he still has quite a soft spot for the Brigadier, and he chuckles lightly at the reference.

The nostalgic smile grows just slightly bittersweet at that gently touch, although any sadness fades (or at least is very efficiently tucked away) as soon as she mentions him owing her a dance, and he laughs cheerfully.

"Ohh, absolutely, yes, brilliant, I love dancing, did you mean right here?"

She laughs and takes his hand, "Of course, where else? Really, brilliant as you are you can be down right barmy at times." One of the few words she'd loved hearing from Harry. Mostly because it really did describe their mutual friend perfectly.

Sarah will wonder later about the sadness that lingers in the corners of his eyes. But those are thoughts for tea and dark windows, not parties and laughing. So she'll tug him a bit towards the floor, "Well then? You've probably danced with the real Cleopatra by now, but hope I'll do in a pinch."

The Doctor doesn't resist one bit, following along with her, not the least shy about getting tugged along by the hand.

"Well... yeah, now and again, but don't worry, she's no Sarah Jane. I've found I've liked the make-believe ones better, anyhow."

Of course, there's no way she'll get that reference, but he's come to like inside jokes more and more the older he gets. As soon as he steps onto the dance floor, holding her hand, he twirls her about as if they're about to tango, or something...

...and then, instead, goes right into the most ridiculous, gangly sort of dancing one could ask for, completely at odds with that perfectly-executed twirl.

Really, did she think it was going to be normal people dancing?

And she can not help but laugh. To the point where she is torn between covering her mouth and holding back giggles, to wrapping her arms around her stomach so she can breath proper.

"You've grown." And she grabs the gangly arms, swinging them a bit and trying her own version of it, "But you're still the same, aren't you? Sad gleams and everything."

"Haha, whot, grown? Y'think so?"

He's pretty sure he doesn't tower quite as much as he did back when she saw him last, but it has been a while... he grins at her trying to join in his totally carefree, totally ridiculous dance, and raises his eyebrows at that question.

"...well, who else'd I be?"

"Well, you are minus a few inches without the curls, but that's not what I mean."

She stops her attempt as he dance, swaying instead with the music. He might be able to wiggle about, but he wasn't wearing heels now was he?

"You look so different and I always have this tiny little bit of me that worries. But you'll always be you." She pats his cheek before reaching up to take his hands and finish the dancing lesson from months(ages) ago.

"Well, yes, I should hope so!"

He's mostly just answering that way to be a goof, and because from his point of view, it's as obvious as if she'd said the same about a human... and really, it was just before the party that his older (and yet newer) self had, intentionally or not, reassured him more than a little bit that it would hold true in the future, as well. He's mostly amused and just a little bit bashful at that cheek-pat, and smiles fondly as he gives her another twirl... although there's definitely more of a grandfatherly quality--a kind of distance, or worldweariness--that he certainly hadn't had in his teeth-and-curls phase.

"Don't you worry, though, not. One. Bit. However many years, however many faces, you'll always be my Sarah Jane. Cross my hearts."

After all, he's already seen how true that is on her end.

There had always been some sort of distance. He was an alien, and while he was her best friend she still kept that in mind. Save for a time or three when her temper flared, but mostly it was remembered.

His Sarah Jane. She couldn't help a small, almost sad smile at that. Because, while he was The Doctor, capitals and everything, he wasn't her Doctor. He looked so young but had that sort of gleam in his eyes that she saw so often in the Brigadier or Benton.

"Your Sarah Jane. I suppose it goes without saying, doesn't it?"

Somehow, in spite of her answer, it seemed as though she had some doubts, there; or perhaps misgivings about how she felt, herself? In fairness, she was barely removed at all from the incarnation she'd traveled with, and he knew it could be... jarring for his friends to adapt to a new regeneration. Perhaps when he'd seen her with his previous face, distance in time had made it a little easier for her to accept, or at least given her more time to process her own feelings.

He returned the slightly bittersweet smile. After all, if she felt things had changed, he knew it without a doubt. But whatever it was that had changed, he'd meant what he'd said... and he had mixed feelings about prompting her about that trace of apprehension, so instead he reiterated.

"Absolutely. For me, definitely, I know it does for Sandshoes--been in his head, after all, used to be mine--and I haven't a doubt, for Old Man Time, either, not about that."

He nods in the general direction of his older self, at the "Old Man Time" bit. Whatever he's unsure of when it comes to that regeneration (and there's quite a bit), he's 100% certain that the way his friends stick in his hearts doesn't go away from one face to the next.

She snorts, "I suppose the names will do for now." Sarah glances at Twelve and she shakes her head before smirking playfully up at Eleven, "But I am glad there's still a bit of silver up top again."

There were no doubts. She'd had a year to sort things out, plan and react. It was easier, somehow, to meet the face after the regeneration. So it wasn't a face change, it was something...oh something a little bit deeper than that.

"I think I prefer Eyebrows to Old Man."

"Euhh, don't really miss it, myself."

The Doctor makes a face at the talk of silver up top. He's got no intention of turning old again any time soon.

"...not to say I've no... nostalgia, mind, or fond remembrances, but..."

He trails off, just sort of half-grimacing.

"Oh don't do that. Nothing wrong with nostalgia. S'long as you don't go and get buried in it and forget what's on now or what's ahead." She does laugh at his face and gives him a much softer smile, nearly like the one's she shared with Four and Three once upon a time.

"Just remember when you can, right? Don't forget and look ahead. S'what I do. Unless I feel lazy or Harry's something else planned."

He huffs a little at her admonishing him for being down on being an oldy-oldster, but brightens quite a bit at that fond smile--then a bit more at the mention of Harry.

"...ohh, Harry, blimey, now there'd be a face to see, here, eh? Just think, he'd be so... perturbed."

...well, not much has changed in terms of the Doctor's mix of fondness and urge-to-noogie-furiously, when it comes to Harry. He shakes that train of thought off and flashes her a smile in return, even if there's a hint of a bittersweet quality about it.

"And don't you worry. One thing I never do, forgetting, not a moment."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

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