Attleton Guardian Team Office Party!

[melodiouspacifist]

WHO: Attleton Guardian team, any official healers or really anyone who happens to drop by.
WHAT: There's been some staffing changes, they need to mingle and get to know each other.
WHEN: May 4th
WHERE: Attleton Guardian Office


Presumably, Dorothy went home, or wherever it is people go when they're no longer in Genessia, and while that was sad, the vacancy had to be filled.

The idea of spending time getting to know one another was probably more appealing than really, really boring paperwork, and so it wasn't too hard to convince people to do that.

There was a small selection of juice and water, maybe even soda on a table and a few pastries, cookies and chips. A space vegetable platter may have gone mysterious missing, so it looked like there was only junk food around.

Music was playing from an mp3 player through some speakers, thanks to Demyx who was putting his Christmas gift to good use, however one could expect the music to swing from classical to rock on a dime, his tastes were a tad eclectic.

All in all, it was probably the best day to visit the Guardian office in Attleton.

Comments

[amygreycastle]

[Have a relative newcomer peeking in the door when she heard the music. She'd been out exploring all the cities once she'd gotten settled in, and was honestly curious about things.]

Hello? I heard the music and felt like cheking things out and all....

[priceofmagic]

Huwah! So much food!

[Satou is awestruck. She took the job expecting a strict environment, so this is unexpected... But in a good way. Her empathy is 'off' to avoid being overwhelmed, since her own emotions are enough of a handful right now. Just seeing all of that junk food and realizing she can eat it is making her emotional. She's spent so long being neglected, ignored, and treated like she doesn't exist.]

... Ah. I didn't bring anything to contribute!

OTA

[k2so]

Kay doesn't need to eat and drink and he's actually fairly sad that Dorothy disappeared. Because of all that, he's nowhere near the table, which is the place that seems to attract everyone, and instead he's holding his small Joltik, Stardust, in one hand and tickling his little belly with a finger.

Okay so, that's not exactly socializing or getting to know his co-workers but he will get to that later. Maybe. Probably. He sure won't ignore anybody who feels like coming near him or ask him anything.

[k2so]

[A face K2So doesn't recognize but if the woman needs help they can't ignore their duty, party notwithstanding.

The 7ft tall robot approaches moves to the door, shoulder slightly hunched.]

Hello. This is the Attleton's Guardian office. Are you in need of assistance?

[k2so]

[Kay's joltik, a tiny yellow creature named Startdust, had managed to find his way towards the table and is now sitting there munching on a piece of cake when he heard the girl.

He makes a chittering sound at her, as if to say that all the food is free and it's fine she didn't bring anything. Not like that's easy to understand when all Stardust can say are variations of joltik!.]

[amygreycastle]

[And cue Amy jumping back fast enough she loses her balance and falls on her butt outside the door, staring up at Kay with wide eyes.]

Wh-what are you?

[Forgive her, droids don't exist where she's from.]

[k2so]

[If Kay had eyebrows, he would be raising them.]

One of the deputies, K-2SO.

[He's used to surprised looks and extreme reactions by now. Kay offers her a hand.] And you are? Besides of nosy.

[priceofmagic]

[Maybe she can't understand words or direct meaning, but Satou understands the jest of what Stardust is communicating. She relaxes, though still red in the face with embarrassment.]

You think so..? I've never been to a party like this before. [She plays with her hair nervously. Maybe it's unfair to Joltik, but Satou has no shame being honest around Pokemon.] No one even knew I existed before. This is so amazing, I-I hope I'm being noticed properly..!

OTA

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Cassian hadn't been sure how he felt about a party when it was suggested, but everyone seemed to like the idea and Demyx was enthusiastic about it and... Well, they'd never welcomed new team mates with a party before. He'd thought about it before but life got in the way. If his Deputies would make it happen for real, why stand in their way?

So now here he is with a glass of a rich sweet juice in hand - they are still on duty, after all - lingering at the edges of the get-together, but looking as relaxed and content as can be as he listens to the music and watches over his team. As so often in the office, Bespin the Swablu is sitting on his head like a giant cottony hat and Cassian endures this with all the dignity of a man briskly ignoring that he looks ridiculous. ]

[captain_by_the_book]

There's no need for that, I believe Demyx has been quite happy to take charge of the snack selection.

[ Cassian is, indeed, eyeing the table, and his lips twitch a little as he takes in the suspicious absence of the vegetable platter he'd brought just to make Demyx pout. ]

Turns out he has strong opinions on proper party food... You're welcome to it. [ It's kinda her party, after all, but the girl looks overwhelmed enough so he chooses not to point that out. ]

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Soon, there's another man approaching her, a glass still in hand. ]

Hello, I see you've been talking to K-2SO already, but is there anything I can help you with?

Re: OTA

[captain_by_the_book]

Hey.

[ Cassian's not the best at being social either, and Dorothy has been so much more than just a co-worker for the two of them, so he doesn't hold it against Kay that he finds it hard to socialize. He joins him at the fringes of their small party, giving him a friendly shoulder bump. ]

It's strange, isn't it? People coming and going... There have been so many changes in less than a year.

[ Not unusual, with the high death rate they had in Intelligence, but then they didn't work day for day with these people before they disappeared. ]

[priceofmagic]

[Satou flinches at first, not immediately responding... Then remembers that oh right, people can notice her here! She turns to smile, though she's still caught between being shy and overwhelmed.]

It turned out great! Demyx is so kind. I can't believe I get to work with such kind people. Thank you for letting me help out!

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Cassian takes note of the flinch, frowning slightly in concern. ]

Well, you are working for free.

[ Wait. Is that too blunt? Too rude? He takes a sip of his juice to distract himself. ]

What I'm trying to say is, we appreciate having you here. I'm sure you'll be a fine addition to the team... and I do pride myself on ensuring we work as a team.

[priceofmagic]

I really don't see it that way, so no worries. I'm working for the faith and safety of the people in Attleton. I can't buy that with money anyway.

[She's also just generally not sure what to do with money. Satou has never had much money to spend, or a reason.]

Then I'll do my best to get to know everyone. Teams work better that way. [Aaand she's reaching for one of the cookies, picking it up like it's delicate and sacred.] This building is nice. I can feel nice emotions here. Your team must be really amazingly tuned in with one another.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Cassian's eyes soften as they wander over his team. Demyx, who used to take cruelty from superiors for granted, Dante with the brother who would sooner see him dead, Kay who had had no more value than a talking toaster to the Empire that built him... ]

We're very different. We shouldn't even get along. But we do. [ He straightens, and there's pride in his voice. Recent months have shown him good teamwork is not something you can take for granted, even here in Genessia. ] I have absolute trust in everyone in my team, and I hope they know they can trust me, too. I hope we will get there, too. It takes time but... I'm hopeful.

[priceofmagic]

[Her smile flips to one of total confidence. She may not know him well, or all of the details of this team, but she can tell that the Attleton team is special. It's like something right out of a comic book.]

I trust you. Anyone who devotes so much energy to helping strangers, who are even from other worlds, is definitely special. [Satou nods, determining to herself:] I'll explain all of my abilities to you when it's not a party. No secrets!

[captain_by_the_book]

[ He blinks, momentarily stunned. Cassian slowly ducks his head, a hint of a smile on his lips. It's unexpected, leaving him with a feeling of warmth for his new Deputy. ]

Thank you. I appreciate it more than you know. [ It goes beyond his eternal need to gather more information on everyone - it's hard for him to trust, and this will make it much easier. ] I will share with you as openly as I can, too. If you have questions about me or Kay, I will do my best to answer. But you're right, that's not party talk.

Did you meet Stardust yet? Not Kay's Joltik, but the AI in our computers. Former Deputy Mobius left her with us. Better stay on her good side, or she'll put embarrassing things into your browser history...

[k2so]

Ey yourself.

[Kay's attention goes to Cassian and Stardust makes a small, chattering sound as well come before running up the droid's arm to sit on his shoulder. He's glad is Cassian because he doesn't have the energy to fake happiness and his boyfriend would understand that.]

Strange and unpredictable I tried to run calculations, make theories and I came up empty. I don't like it.

[k2so]

[Stardust nods his tiny head and makes another chitering sound before munching on the cake. K2So, who wasn't exactly near but posses audio receptor that can pick sounds at a certain distance, turns to look at the table form his position at the other side of the room. A few minutes alter, he's by Satou's side.]

Sorry, is he bothering you?

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Cassian hums a little in acknowledgment. His fingertips brush against Kay's elbow in a small gesture he hopes to be comforting. For whom? For both of them, in truth. ]

There's no... Things change so fast. Even faster than at home. And we can't do anything about it. Being good isn't enough.

[ He frowned. At home they'd at least some control over their fate. Be smart enough, be fast enough, be ruthless enough, and you could improve your chances to make it home again. Here... it's just roulette. ]

[k2so]

[It is comforting, Kay appreciates it even if he wants nothing but to pull Cassian into his arms and never let him go. But they're at work and this is not the time or place.]

No is not. But Dorothy was alive in her world, she had someone she cared deeply about. At least she will be able to see them again.

[Kay raises his free hand to brush a finger against Cassian's cheek in a soft caress.] We still have each other.

[captain_by_the_book]

We do.

[ His eyes flutter shut and he leans into the tiny caress, giving himself a moment to bask in the tenderness. If they were at home he too would want to hide in his arms but he does have to keep an air of professionalism as Guardian. Tiny touches, it is. ]

She will finally be reunited with the people she left behind... though they didn't all appreciate her as much as they should.

[k2so]

And we had this conversation before. Let's not think too much about it now, we have a new deputy. I don't want her to get the wrong impression.

[Not like seeing them cuddle instead of being sad won't give an impression. But almost everyone in the city has seem them already due to their accidental video. Kay moves close to Cassian and Stardust takes the opportunity to jump into Cassian's shoulder.]

They did not but that could change. The future is unknown for those who have one.

[captain_by_the_book]

Hmm... It is. And we can only hope that subconsciously, some of what we have given her will return with her. [ He pets Stardust the Joltik, smiling a little when the tiny pokemon chirrs happily. ] Before things turned sour between us, Marco told me that people would find another time and again in the multiverse, that they are never lost for good. And Chirrut kept saying the Force is with us all... It's probably silly, but I want to believe some of us we had here will still be with the people who returned home.

[ And now he's still being somber. He sighs, a little annoyed with himself though he knows it's not easy for him to shake off melancholic thoughts once they've gripped him. ]

But you're right, we shouldn't be mourning today. That's unkind. And I don't want Satou to feel like she isn't truly welcome.