MINGLE | The "Everyone's Tired and Hungry" Post-Mission Pizza Party

[groupiedrifter]

CHARACTERS: Everyone! A free-for-all general chill-out time, thrown haphazardly together by a mad scientist.
LOCATION: The Mess Hall
DATE: Sometime after the mission. Y'all know.
CONTENT: The Orb Crew tries to relax for a hot goddamn minute.
WARNINGS: Likely drinking or drunkenness, the usual party antics. Very mildly image heavy, NSFW for naughty threads, properly marked.

It seems the party has been properly set up for you all! But of course, there's an exuberant amount of 'Newton*' flair added to it, and people can find all sorts of random things — markers for drawing on the pizza boxes (which he distinctly requested, super important) cover the tables, and it's clear by the one designed like a Pikachu and a dinosaur that he's already began scribbling on them. He's also made... board games literally comprised of pizza boxes as well, including Chess and Connect Four, which is lovingly set up side-by-side on a table and done with intent to annoy.

They've got one deck of cards for games, no chips; you'll have to just make some of your own out of pizza box cardboard. The most grand of all creation appears to be a normal-sized Skeeball table, made of flimsy material, with oranges for balls. It may or may not last the night, but it sure works for now!

There's a very strong bottle of liquor from their last mission open for everyone, and, well, it will get you drunk quite fast if you're not careful. But it's also a Bring Your Own Beer situation; hope you guys asked Viv for some to plan for the party!

Lastly, there's classic bar rock playing from an iPhone rigged to a speaker that looks very very cobbled together, from loose bits and bobs from the lab's many boxes. If you go fiddle with that phone's playlist, you may be able to find a small collection of songs that aren't rock, but are likely from the 90's or early 2000's.

And yes, there is a couch with a sign on it, designated specifically for people who wish to nap. If they'd like. Don't be rude, let people lay down when they're sleepy. (Maybe Newton just put that there for him, honestly.) There are 50 pizzas total, which is practically a whole-ass pizza per person, so enjoy! (And thanks, Viv!)

Feel free to bring your own flair to the party, if you'd like.

These are just a few things for a m b i e n c e.

(*If you mention him, he will appear like a terrible omen.)

Comments

[winscenario]

I'm just saying— [ blatantly, shamelessly, ] That there's plenty to turn your attention to, here. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for reading and I love books, but variety's the spice of life, as they say.

[bijective]

What—?

[Looks left.

Looks right.

Looks right back at Kirk.]

I could’ve sworn that I exchanged pleasantries with the others when I arrived here.

[winscenario]

Oh, you're right. Manners. Sorry.

[ He extends a hand. It's not a trap, he swears. ]

James T. Kirk. You can call me Jim.

[bijective]

[He clears his throat. Unsure how that catches him off guard.]

Um, yes. Right.

[Now extending his hand to nervously grab Kirk’s.]

Doctor Hermann Gottlieb. [Offering a polite, brief nod.] P-pleasure.

[winscenario]

[ Well, that's a grab. Jim's a little gentler with his grip, giving Hermann's hand a squeeze, and answering before he lets go— ] It could be.

[ His pleasure, that is. Too blatant? Probably. But Jim likes flustered types, what can he say. ] A doctor, huh? What kind?

[bijective]

[He has another go at clearing his throat once more. Heavens, he thinks he might have a toad stuck in there.]

Engineering and applied sciences. [If there’s anything he doesn't bumble around on, it’s his scientific credentials.] Though my recent studies has led me into more abstract projects. Astrophysics and the sort.

[winscenario]

Engineering and astrophysics. Two of my favorites. I'm not an expert by any means, but I did study both of those while at the Academy.

[ And he's made a hobby of them since, too. ]

That's pretty neat. Plus, I like doctors.

[ No one ever tell Bones that, he'll never let him live it down. ]

[bijective]

Well, I am — um, to be honest, I am quite partial to astrophysics.

[If you look verrrrry closely, you can see a small grin on his face.]

The prospect of going beyond our own galaxy. I can’t think of anything better.

[winscenario]

[ Jim smiles wider at that, head tilting. ]

Well, I am very familiar with space travel, but beyond our own galaxy is still a little ways away in the 23rd century. The galaxy is a pretty big place, though, I'm sure there's plenty there that'd pique your interest.

[ And definitely keep him busy for the rest of his life. ]

[bijective]

I see. Colour me envious, Jim.

[Better than having to discover you have aliens hiding underneath the ocean via inter-planetary portal/breach.]

Makes me hopeful that the human contingency in our version of Earth expands their horizons on the exploration front. Albeit without having to board a space station intending to play a glorified game of scavenger hunt.

[winscenario]

[ Jim smiles; he'd say there's nothing to be envious about, but— yeah, there is. Even this place pales very much in comparison to where he's from. ]

I wouldn't say this is the ideal space exploration scenario, no. That said, with time I'm sure you'll get there in your world. In mine we first took to the stars in earnest, that is, beyond the solar system, during the second half of the 21st century. That was about two hundred years ago, for me.

[bijective]

I see.

[This is all a fascinating start to their conversation. But Hermann presumes Jim is only having a conversation with him out of pity. So he will do his best to break this off before it becomes any more awkward for the two of them.]

Well, let me not hold you any longer. [He offers a polite head nod.] I’m sure you have other peers more worthy of your attention.

[winscenario]

[ Jim's brows raise, and he huffs out a chuckle, somewhere between amused and confused. ]

Already trying to get rid of me, huh? Here I thought we were just starting to get along.

[ Then again, he might've made the guy uncomfortable with the flirting. Oh well. It's a hit-or-miss kind of thing. ]

I won't hit on you again, if that's what bothered you. Promise.

[bijective]

I don’t have the slightest clue what you’re alluding to, but I’m sparing the two of us any further superficial pleasantries.

[Hermann is sober enough to speculate when someone is trying to be polite towards them. Even if he cannot read the room.]

Really — your consideration is most appreciated, but let’s not make this awkward for the two of us.

[winscenario]

[ Jim just stares at Hermann, absolutely baffled. He’s seen plenty of clueless people, but this is a whole other level entirely. ]

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then I really don’t know what to tell you. I can’t be any more obvious than that.

[ Short of being crass, that is. Anyway, he sighs, shrugging and ready to move on. ]

If you ever change your mind, just hit me up. Even if it’s just to talk, I’m always interested in making new friends.

[bijective]

Your consideration is most appreciated, however, I’m here to fulfil my job as a member of this team. Not meddle around in social groupings. Now—

[Once more, he offers a polite nod. It’s best if things are left on a semi-professional level. There isn’t a need to make any friends. Simply focus on the task at hand. Nothing more, nothing less.]

If you’ll excuse me.

[And with that, he walks around Kirk and exits the party. He’s met his quota of social interactions for the evening.]

[winscenario]

[ Wowowow impressive that he can even walk around with that stick up his ass— ]