[OPEN MINGLE] Movie Night, We Meet Again...!

[groupiedrifter]

CHARACTERS: Everyone! Post some top levels and mingle.
LOCATION: The Mess Hall / Kitchen / Sunlight Room
DATE: A few days after the mission conclusion!
CONTENT: Movie-watching, eating, drinking... napping...
WARNINGS: There is alcohol present! Other than that and the potential for underage drinking depending on our obnoxious teens, there shouldn't be anything too alarming in here. Please mark your threads for anything that needs warnings!

Already that time of the month, huh? Well, welcome to any newcomers who have yet to be visually assaulted by the sight of whatever is happening in the mess hall a few days after their return from the mission — that is, Newton at work to create a new scene for movie night. This of course means the usual: bugging poor Viveca for supplies, scavenging in the item drops for things people hadn't nabbed yet, and dragging some of you all to help in the endeavor of making foods, setting up ideas, and the like. This time, though, Newton has hung up very helpful signs written on colorful poster board:

Let's investigate each space, shall we?


Firstly, the food table (or THE GRUB ZONE, as the sign suggests), is fully replenished with goodies that had come specifically from everyone's last questionnaire list. There are honeycakes, baked and ready — and true to his word, Newton has supplied a large cache pile of American junk foods for Rand to try — and a sort of peach dessert for those who want something a little simpler and less chemically terrifying than whatever it is Newt has in that junk pile. But not just snacks, of course! For options of meal, there's an earthy stew for those who prefer something a little more timeless, as well as ochazuke and sukiyaki for those potential homesick Japanese fellows aboard the station. The drinks are typical of what's found around the kitchen — and as for booze? We'll get there eventually.

Just beyond the food table, the UPDATED BIRTHDAY POSTER hangs.



The space with different activities and the projector set up, lovingly titled THE CHILL ZONE, is where you'll find movies playing! This time around, we've got a few to show — first and foremost, the movie Clue! And then secondary on the roster — and Finn may be shocked to find it here — the film from his world titled Heat Signature; careful, it's a horror movie of some kind! Super intense. The night rounds out with James Bond, or more specifically, Thunderbolt; Newt isn't actually sure if this is a good Bond movie, but by god he has it.

But the movies aren't the only thing over here; we've also got a little stockpile of comics — mostly western, though there is absolutely manga sprinkled into the mix, including the comics Rosinante had left to Newton, all about a marine sailing the oceans of his world. It's particularly gripping! And of course, none of these western comics include any characters aboard the station... unless you want them to. There's a place to enjoy some boardgames as well, of course, if you're not in a movie-watching mood! The actual boardgame of Clue is available to play, as well as some good ol' shogi puzzles on a pretty nice board.



And there's also the XIMILIQUOR ZONE. It's a dreadful name, but it's there, and it's not going anywhere. This is where the booze comes into play for all you grown ups (and teens, if you manage to swipe any of it without someone ratting on you). There are a number of random liquor bottles, a lot of them half-full from the last movie night — and some canned, disgusting, delicious beer, too. What? Sometimes you just want the stuff that's so bad it's good. Wine is obviously the better, more classier option, and you look a lot more distinguished holding it.

There is also the resident pool table that had been from the last few get-togethers, ready for use, though the real activity seems to be the casual poker games that have formed around the area; there are chips involved, but what does it actually win you? Well. Uh. Nothin'! Nothing but some chips to shove into your pockets and pretend you're rich with while you're sipping on Bud Light.



The final area is saved best for last, for good reason. Whether you're plumb exhausted from the mission still, feel like you can sleep away your thinly blanketed, bubbling trauma, or you just drank way too much of that Bud Light (and god, what a choice that is), the REST FEST is essentially a place made specifically for what's on the tin: napping. Or deep sleeping if you're a dedicated sort. It's located in the Sunlight Room (that connects to the Mess Hall), and is a place to get away from the loudness of everything else. Calming ocean sounds fill the neighboring area, where mattresses have been dragged in and deposited in one concentrated space; pillow piles have been formed, and a handful of comfortable hammocks (built from scratch, it looks like) hang off trees or bases only a manic man in a lab with scrap metal could make.

Basically, relax. Enjoy the little sign with the pussycat on it that says CAT NAP ZONE. Newt's been probably saving it for a good cause.

The music throughout the night is yours to choose between: a playlist of Newt's top music, opera music, or traditional guzheng music.


(Click for youtube playlist/videos.)

Comments

[drawsblood]

Hjorunn was the oldest, but he and I never got along. He wasn't much of a big brother to any of us. Brigette came next, but she was one of the Chosen and so she was always distant. Then I was born, then Karl. He and I were close and I helped my mother look after him. And Astrid was last. She was always sickly and we doted on her.

[morethan084]

[Daisy smiles softly, listening as he talks about his siblings. She always wanted a family growing up, siblings to play with. And while it sounds like his family had its challenges, he still had one.]


What do you mean by ‘the chosen’?

[drawsblood]

One of the girls chosen to go to another clan so we aren't just marrying our relatives. They're taught that they belong to another clan so they don't form strong attachments where they grow up. That is why I've not seen her in a long time. Once she was old enough, she left and was chosen by another clan to live among them and marry there.

[morethan084]

[Unsure how he feels about that, Daisy tries to not pass judgment.]

If she’s married now, are you allowed to reconnect?

[drawsblood]

I don't see why we would.

[ In his mind it makes perfect sense why they wouldn't. Even though they're siblings by birth she was never kind to him because she saw no reason to be. One day she would leave and find her real home. ]

[morethan084]

[Because she’s your sister. Daisy wants to say, but she know it would be wildly hypocritical on her part.]

Are only women chosen to go to a different clan?

[drawsblood]

Yes. It's a great honor for them. My mother was one as well.

[morethan084]

How are they chosen?

[drawsblood]

Their mothers choose them for it.

[ He honestly didn't expect her to have an interest when it was just mentioned offhand. ]

[morethan084]

[Daisy has mixed feelings about the whole thing, but it’s not her place to cast judgement. Every culture is different.]

Is there some kind of ceremony?

[drawsblood]

There is a festival where elder women choose girls for each clan. I don't know the intricacies as I've never attended, but it all works out evenly.

[morethan084]

Which clan are you a part of?

[drawsblood]

Vængrskr. In the old tongue it means "wing-like." It represents how we live up high in the mountains, like the birds in their aeries. And the song I sang is one of the legends about how we descended from birds.

[ He smiles faintly. ]

Though few of us actually believe that.

[morethan084]

Are you one of those people?

[drawsblood]

No, I'm not. Why? Do I sound like I would be?

[morethan084]

I mean, after everything we’ve seen, does descending from birds sound that impossible?

[Daisy’s teasing him, of course.]

[drawsblood]

[ He rolls his eyes. ]

I know I have a big nose, but it's not because my ancestors had beaks. Sometimes a story is just a story.

[morethan084]

I have alien DNA in me. So a bird? Not that weird.

[Surprise?]

[drawsblood]

You say that like I'm supposed to know what DNA is.

[ Surprise checkmate! ]

[morethan084]

[Daisy opens her mouth to reply, but bursts out laughing instead. This whole topic sounds so silly when she stops to think about it. After a few seconds she says,]

Genetics.

[drawsblood]

[ He looks at her like she has three heads, then rests his head back and rubs at his eyes with thumb and forefinger. He really doesn't want to fall down the rabbit hole of asking her what every little word she says means. ]

Never mind. Let's talk about something else.

[morethan084]

[Daisy can’t help but smile at the confused look on his face, pulling her hand back from his hair when he rubs at his eyes.]

Okay, like what?

[drawsblood]

I don't know.

[ You're asking this man to think? ]

Anything you want.

[ He finishes rubbing his eyes and tosses his arm above his head. ]

[morethan084]

Just gonna leave me hanging like that?

[She teases, trying to think of a topic.]

Okay, um…

Do you have a favorite food?

[drawsblood]

Stew.

[ Which she may have noticed was one of the things being served at movie night. He'd put it in his birthday questionnaire for Newt. ]

What is yours?