better late than never

[charming_jerk]

Who: Everyone!
What: A week late Halloween celebration.
Where: The Observatory
When: Friday, Nov. 6, 7:00 PM
Warnings: The Heroes and a party. What could possibly go wrong?

On November 5, another letter from Johnny would go out to everyone reminding them of the costume party, and invite all the newbies along as well. Costumes are a necessity for entrance, except for the newbies, since they've only been here a little over 24 hours now.

The Observatory is in its usual party set up, but this time with an added stage area for any musicians who would like to perform. It's also the spot set up for the costume contest later on. The whole place is covered in festive Night of the 13 Moogles decorations, and as always, there's plenty of food and drinks.

[[This is just a general mingle log, and a good way for the new Heroes to meet everyone, so post whatever and have fun!]]

Comments

Sparks Nevada | open

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks isn't one to pass up a party, even if the Heroes did seem to have a lot of them. After last month, they were owed it.

He actually had time and money to spend on his costume, and even though he knew no one was going to know what he was - well, one person would - Sparks made the costume he really wanted. He's wearing a crisp black uniform with gold buttons, his laser pistols as his side. Around his wrist is cardboard mock-up version of what would be a wearable computer system. He's an otherwise perfect duplicate of a Troubleshooter from his own universe, righting the software wrongs on Mars. And anywhere else that needed it.

To Sparks, Troubleshooters were just the coolest.

Despite October being exhausting, especially dealing with the crystal statues coming to life, he was in a pretty good mood. Time to have some drinks and be sociable for the first time in a long time.]

Reckon this party was a good idea. Didn't want another Halloween to be as miserable as the last one.

[dragonflame]

[Bloom swirled her drink for a moment or two, a few thoughts passing by in her mind as she stood there. This party was fun after all, but she always stopped for a moment to think about everything that happened and her little promise to try and never let it happen again. Even if deep down she got the feeling it might again.]

It probably was a very good idea. I remember last year and how bad that was. So this makes a nice change... At least I hope it does.

[red_planet_blues]

This year wasn't exactly fun, but it was a walk in the park comparatively.

[He waves it off, though.] But whatever. For tonight at least, the past is past. And I know I probably say that at every party. Aaand every one we'll have in the future.

[dragonflame]

[She nodded slightly, but she knew deep down that what happened in the past helps them towards the future, so she knew she wouldn't forget anything that happened as it would help her.]

The past is the past, but it helps us toward whatever happens in the future, or at least I would really like to hope that.

[Bloom had quickly gone to pick up something to drink as she holds it up slightly.]

We should be thankful never the less for overcoming the dangers.

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks holds up his own drink.] Reckon I can drink to that. I'd day "here's to next Halloween bein' a quiet one", but I'm gonna go with "let's be home before next Halloween" instead. Seriously. Not another year here.

[dragonflame]

Let's be home before next Halloween.

[She could raise her glass to that honestly, she isn't even sure at this point what is even going on any more at home. Did they deal with the threat? Were they okay, were they even alive at this point? She had her hopes but those through continue to be in her mind.]

Or sooner than that even.

[red_planet_blues]

Darn right.

[Sparks did his best to not think about what awful things might be going on with Mars, or even Earth. And no manner of telling him he may never see home again would keep him down. He either had utter faith in himself, or was in complete denial about it. There's a fine line, really.]

So what's yer get-up? Anythin' particular? [He waved a hand to indicate Bloom's whole costume.]

[forcegalactic]

[There certainly is one person who recognizes that uniform - it's one that he helps dry clean every so often. Only here, it's not the real thing; his wife is home on Mars, worried about her missing husband, who probably will never find a way home. Palitutu is in hiding, Kalki won't give any clear answers as to why and how they showed up, and without her help or the Force Galactic, they won't find a way back.

Sparks is greeted with a stare from the Barkeep as he enters the room and walks over to the bar for a drink.]

Yeah...I'm hopin' it won't be miserable as...whatever happened. [He's already feeling kind of miserable.]

[red_planet_blues]

Hey Barkeep. Where were you hidin' during all of that? It was hard enough keepin' track of Heroes, what with all the crystallized folks comin' back to life too. Well. Kinda to life.

[He pauses a moment, waiting for the only guy he knows who'll recognize the uniform to say something. When he doesn't, Sparks presses on.]

So? Whatcha think? Not too bad for makin' it myself, huh?

[forcegalactic]

[In his saloon, of course. The one building with some fireproofing done to the walls so that the place doesn't burn down again.

But that's not important now.]

Y-yeah. It's great. [It's a half-hearted answer, said while not even looking at Sparks.] Reminds me of the real thing.

[What was Harriet doing now? Would she be alerting the Sparks and Red from his universe? Where they all searching for him? It's been half a year since he disappeared. Six months since he last saw Mars, since he last could use the Force Galactic, and here he is, living a dangerous life on an unfamiliar planet.

He jerks his head back up when he realizes he's spent a while reminiscing silently.]

Anythin' I can make for you, Marshal?

[red_planet_blues]

[And Sparks, of course, is oblivious as to what's up with Barkeep. Other than the fact that something seems up.]

Just the usual. Say, what's the deal. Reckon you'd be tickled pink with another party to host.

[forcegalactic]

[Crystallis rotgut, brewed as closely to the flavor native to their universe. His pouring is less animated than usual.]

What? Oh. Nice costume, Sparks. Reminds me of the real thing.

[Sigh.] Here's your drink.

[red_planet_blues]

Thanks. [Said in return for both the drink and the half-hearted compliment.

Sparks takes a drink, and thinks on this for a moment. Oh. Ooooooh. Awkward.

He sets his drink down, clears his throat, and isn't sure what to say.]

I guess, uh. I guess a little too much. Like the real thing.

[Dangit. The one guy who should appreciate it is instead depressed by it. That was not how this was supposed to work.]

Re: Sparks Nevada | open

[shinra_dog]

[The Marshall. Reno didn't think he would end up liking the other man, but Fate had a funny way of stepping in it would seem. Now, even though he had no idea what Sparks was supposed to be at this party, Reno had an otherwise positive opinion of the gunslinger.]

As miserable as the last one?

[Reno's face twisted into a nervous smile -- obviously trying to be polite, but with no joy in it.]

This sorta evil-possessions, destroy-the-city shit happen annually?

[red_planet_blues]

Uh, yeah. I mean, this one was hardly a space picnic, but last year's? It involved some Heroes gettin' real sick, then brainwashed, and then some pretty bloody fights.

[And Sparks was one of those brainwashed Heroes. He doesn't really want to talk much about it.]

So, y'know. Crystal Heroes goin' rogue and a giant marshmallow moogle just seems like another day here in Crystallis. The good news is, considerin' all those culprits are now dead, we shouldn't have to put up with this moogle king resurrection nonsense anymore.

[shinra_dog]

[All those culprits. Shit. With everything that had happened at the hospital, with Yuffie and Kyo and Yuki, Reno had nearly forgotten.]

What happened to Cloud?

[Did he sound worried? He was worried, but he hoped he didn't sound excessively so... Stupid embarrassment.]

[red_planet_blues]

He took a lotta hits, but he made it. Reckon he's probably takin' a break... Or maybe's too embarrassed to show his face yet.

[Seriously, what was the deal with that dress?]

Not sure if he's at the hospital or at home, though.

[shinra_dog]

[Reno exhaled, noticeably relieved.]

So he's okay... Good.

[He lowered his voice for Sparks' ears.]

I know we went t' the hospital -- an' I don't regret it -- but... I really thought Sephiroth was gonna kill 'im.

[And he still wasn't sure if it might have been a good option, but he felt better knowing it didn't happen.]

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks's eyebrows raise at the mention of Sephiroth. He keeps his voice somewhat low.]

Ya really think so? Ya really think he'd up 'n kill another Hero like that?

[He questioning doesn't sound very surprised, though.]

Re: Sparks Nevada | open

[unyieldingspirit]

[K'pandolu tips her own drink towards Sparks for a moment in acknowledgement, ears up.]

And here's to hoping this month will be a good one!

[and with a little bit of a chuckle]

I rather feel you're outclassing a lot of us, Marshall.

[red_planet_blues]

It better be. But I know better than to hope for that. I'll just let myself be pleasantly surprised if'n it is.

[He stands up a bit straighter and adjusts his collar, clearly pleased by the compliment.]

All in a day's work. Well. Several days.

[unyieldingspirit]

[her mouth twists in wry acknowledgement]

Not a bad idea, in this place.

[she beams]

And worth every single minute of it, I should say! Is it made after something in particular?

[red_planet_blues]

Well, it's not somethin' most folks here'd recognize. Actually, only one folk would. It's the uniform of somethin' called a Troubleshooter back home. Those who right the software wrongs in the galaxy. And they are just, like, the coolest.

[unyieldingspirit]

A… Troubleshooter? Software… [she chews on her cheek for a moment] That's… something about the inner workings of technology?

[and a chuckle]

I think I can believe that! [they certainly seem to have made such an impression on him, after all.]

[red_planet_blues]

Exactly. Like the computers we got here, only, like, a hundred thousand times more sophisticated. Artificial intelligence and starships and all kindsa stuff. This planet is pretty backwards technology-wise.