Cometh the Big Crying Wheel

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 15th
Location: A refurbished castle on the outskirts of Exsilium.
Characters: Anyone at the party!
Summary: Vanadi hosts a party that goes very poorly.
Warnings: Violence, probably! Let a mod know if we should update this.


It’s a lovely night for a party!

The venue at the outskirts of town is, unfortunately, a bit drafty — and actually rather sparsely furnished, as well. In fact, party goers are encouraged to mingle, drink, and enjoy themselves in the courtyard, as the castle itself wasn’t able to be renovated in time, and has proven to be a little bit architecturally unsound. Any explorative guests might find a small hail of dust and pebbles on their heads if they venture too far in — and who knows what else, if they continue on.

But the drinks and snacks both are plentiful and delicious, and the large canvas set up from castle wall to castle wall keeps off the sprinkling rain. The weather could even be described as warmish and pleasant, if one were feeling generous. A group of Exiles plays classic instruments in one corner of the courtyard, having been paid enough to even smile at any Transports that wander near.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a good night. Until about 10 PM, that is. Come 10 PM, the Misery rolls into town, tearing down the canvas, nullifying powers, and crying corrosive blood everywhere. That’s the cue for all hell to break loose, as the final wave of mind-controlled characters snag their victims and make for the hills — or at least for the UE. The mind-controlled characters will also have the backup of a squadron of 20 of the Masked, the UE's special ops force. The Masked's main goal is to grab those on their list and get away, but they're certainly not above shooting to kill at anyone that gets in their way. They're also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat and physically enhanced by their suits, so they're a good bunch to try to avoid.

But do have a wonderful time until then, won’t you?

Comments

[quackery]

[She grins in turn.]

Careful with that, you might jinx it!

[crocodilesmiles]

Oh no! What if it's just our apartments that get super haunted? We'll never sleep! Our shoes will never stay organized! All our milk will curdle!

( Ghosts can probably do all that right??? She tries not to laugh as she lists off absurdities. )

[quackery]

[She laughs.]

The milk is too much! I'm short enough as it is.

[crocodilesmiles]

It's okay, there'll still be cheese! Can't curdle cheese. It's already met mold and loved it! Though hey, how tall are you?

<,small>( Scientific curiosity ok ok. )

[quackery]

It's been a while since I measured... I think I was five foot two the last time, but I might be off.

[crocodilesmiles]

One more inch, and you'll be as tall as Caesar! Two and you're taller! Three and Oz might start having to get nervous, if his growth spurt doesn't hit soon!

( All this she says with a wink. Short people: it's a life. )

[quackery]

I don't really think Oz is the type of person to get nervous about something like that!

[crocodilesmiles]

He'd joke about it.

( Collette says with a laugh. )

And I guess you haven't seen him pout around Gilbert! Boys like to grow. Id on't think he'll ever stop feeling a little competitive with Gil, probably ever, but it's... anyway, they're funny together!

[quackery]

[The smile fades for a second before she nods and it resumes, exactly the same as it had been before.]

Maybe not! But Gil's a lot older than him, so that doesn't really seem very fair. It's probably, like, joke pouting! But then I guess I don't know Gilbert very well, so I couldn't say what they act like around each other.

[crocodilesmiles]

( Collette gives a noncommital shrug: that age gap that only came about later is part of what fuels it, she knows. Still, that's Oz and Gil's to share or not, something she only restrains herself on for not knowing who she's even allowed to think these things around.

Gosh, she bets Oz never counts on psychics just knowing all of that no matter what he does or doesn't say! )

Joke pouting is totally something all of them do, but man, wanna know who's the worst about it?

( She leans toward Ahiru and stage whispers: )

Xerxes Break.

[quackery]

[She shakes her head, but the smile stays.]

No, he's just weird! Even the way he talks is weird!

[crocodilesmiles]

Break is pretty weird... and a sugar freak, on top of it! And he's terrible to Gil, but Gil's bad right back. It's kind of fun to watch.

( Tense at other times. Gilbert and Break are not the most restive people to live with, perhaps, but Collette loves that. It's much better than the quiet that used to find her home here so often. )

Like people watching here is fun.

[quackery]

Do you do it a lot? What kinds of things have you noticed about people?

[crocodilesmiles]

All the time!

( She says, flashing Ahiru a grin. )

It's all sorts of things, really. How they talk, how they act, when they're happy or sad, who lies, how they do, when things matter to them, when they don't. People say a lot without ever saying anything.

[quackery]

[She tilts her head.]

How can you tell if someone's lying? I mean, unless they're really bad at it.

[crocodilesmiles]

( Collette smiles. )

How do you know if someone's telling the truth?

[quackery]

Well - I mean, they seem natural. Not forced or anything. But if they were a good liar, they could seem that way even when they're not telling the truth. I guess sometimes you can't really tell. You have to just assume.

[crocodilesmiles]

Or believe.

( She says agreeably. )

People do all sorts of little tells, though. You get used to them among friends. Like, say, one friend bites their lip when they fib, and another has a habit of playing with her hair. Others smile when they don't exactly mean it, or say something general when you wanted something specific. It's something you get a knack for, or if you don't with everyone, you tend to with the people you're around most!

( For one, she bets most the people she's around can tell when she's giving them an outright lie. Thankfully, it's not often -- or the lie is meant to be comically obvious. Other things were held close for a reason. )