Party Time! [Open!]

[thezekeinator]

WHO: Zeke, Levi, Yang, and EVERYONE
WHAT: With how dark everything is getting outside, we need a little good cheer!
WHERE: Come on over to the NSO-adjacent areas that conveniently offer every PC a chance to attend if they so desire!
WHEN: Early February
WARNING(S): Rocking out.



On-Stage!

Zeke, Levi, and Yang didn't bring instruments. What they did bring was some sort of pressurized-gas machine set up to release bursts of something flammable with the press of a foot pedal. Needless to say, this filled no one who knew these three with any confidence whatsoever.

But then the three bent their talents: Yang's fires, Levi's electricity, and also Levi's electricity in Zeke's case -- to put on a show.

Crackling electricity and thumping explosions fill the air not just with their particular form of music, but static tingling and pulsing heat, just enough to amplify the sound of this little party-starter. And aside from the pretty flames and the crackling lightning, Zeke and Levi had the uncanny ability to move in perfect sync when they had their powers going like that, and they were both fantastic hams with their dramatic gestures and sentai posing and general ridiculous, good-time vibes. Tonight everyone needed to relax and have some fun!

Party On, Dudes

They couldn't keep that sort of show up forever, so in good time the three performers abandoned the stage to a giant projection screen set up for a Bash Buddies(tm) tournament (with a permanent ad for Levi's own channel down in the bottom corner). Food rolled up, some other less-exploiting-the-forces-of-naturey music started up from a laptop DJ mix, and the night got underway.

Aside from video gaming, a few other informal events started up -- a meta power exhibition for one, in which people could show off weird or bizarre quirks of their abilities (such as, say, music). This was a meta-positive night, after all! Elsewhere a poker table or three had erupted into fierce card-shark action, some folks were dancing, and there was always stuff to eat. Whatever you end up doing.... have fun with it! (Y'all need it.)

Comments

[fonewearl]

Though she lived extremely close by for various reasons, it still had taken a good bit of convincing (and maybe just a little bribery, a promise of extra snacks being brought on the next weekend's check-in visit) to get Mirys to come out for this.

She still wasn't terribly keen on interacting with anybody she didn't already recognize, though, so she initially largely kept out of the way, just watching the show and occasionally interfering with it by fiddling with the light generated by the fire and electricity, making it all change colors seemingly at random (but not so quickly that it would become a Problem). These changes were entirely visual and impacted nothing at all, though, so if it wasn't so distracting for the trio that they would want her to stop (if they even realized it was her doing; Yang knew some of what she could do, but she wasn't completely sure if Levi or Zeke did), the show itself had some unplanned simple lighting effects going on every now and then.

After the show itself ended, she thought about ducking out and heading back, but decided to stick around for the BB tournament, at least as a spectator; she was familiar with the game, but not exactly confident in her own ability to play it at the level that the word 'tournament' usually implied, though it wouldn't be impossible to push her into at least trying.

[thezekeinator]

Zeke caught up with her at last while she was watching the tournament, and somehow resisted the urge to use her head as an armrest. "Glad to see you made it out," he said, and meant it. Mirys had way too much potential to become a -- what was the acronym. NEAT? -- a shutin, let's say. "What'd you think?"

[fonewearl]

She half-expected to become an armrest when she heard Zeke, and was mildly surprised when it didn't happen.

Because he didn't do it, she had no trouble with turning a bit to look at him.

"It was interesting, I guess." That was her way of saying she kind of liked it. He probably knew that. "Which of you nerds came up with the idea?"

[thezekeinator]

Hey, he was trying not to discourage her from showing up! He'll save the Mirys-as-furniture routine for when he crashes her pad (it still counts as crashing even with warning, right?).

"Levi and I have always had a real knack for stuff like that." To put it mildly, considering their movements were basically identical when the pair wanted them to be. The choreography was almost more impressive than the pyrotechnics. "But I had the idea of pulling in Yang, of course."

[burndownforwhat]

[ freshly changed and hydrated, Yang dropped into a seat nearby Mirys all while balancing a plate absolutely loaded with food in her one hand, drink in the other. two burgers, some chips, and like a half pound of fries. ]

See, I knew the light was playing tricks on me up there. Was afraid it was the exhaustion kicking in.

[fonewearl]

Pretty sure it would have been more than just changing colors if that was the case. I mean come on, you knew it was me the minute it started happening.

[She takes a glance at that plate. Only a half-pound of fries? That's not nearly enough potato.]

[burndownforwhat]

[ this won't be her last plate. there's always room for more potatoes but the problem is if she goes for it all at once all she'll be doing here tonight is taking a nap. ]

Haha, yeah I had a pretty good idea. Glad you could make it out tonight. Pretty wild, right?

[live_mass]

[A]

Ryoko loves a good explosion, and while she's not much for classical music, she has to admit that played this way, it slaps. So she's the loudest, most supportive audience member, hooting it up and clapping. Tell her to calm the fuck down?

[B]

She also loves an opportunity to drunkenly dance. She's gotten into the sauce and while she's clearly red faced and occasionally hiccuping, it doesn't seem to have affected her balance. Her limbs move in sweeping spins, her tail swaying in time. Even in the confined space she's not particularly careful about whether she's likely to hit somebody...but that's only because just before any collisions, she'll phase right through.

[C]

With a sheet tied around her and over her head in imitation of a robe, she might look a bit silly when she takes the stage, but having had basically no time to prepare for this, she's determined to have fun with it. She holds up two toy beam sabers and a black motorcycle helmet.

"For this one, i'll need a volunteer!"

C

[thezekeinator]

Zeke was on-stage almost before she finished speaking. Half out of the anticipation of good fun, half because the girl doing the asking was cute, and half because he thought he might be sparing anyone else suffering. Of course it's three halves! Zeke von Chaos was too brilliant and powerful a soul to settle for a mere 100% of a motivation!

"I'm in!"

[live_mass]

Not bad, the guy who wants to help is kinda hot. He's no Tenchi, but he'll do, and he doesn't look like he'll get tired. Ryoko hands him one of the toy beam sabers and the black motorcycle helmet, smirking like an idiot.

"For the next two minutes, wear this and try to hit me with this."

She means to reenact a certain piece of classical stage combat.

[thezekeinator]

"Oh ho ho. Try, she says." Zeke took both props, then with a dramatic flourish spun the helmet around on his palm before plopping it onto his head. "You made a fatal mistake taking on the Zekeinator!"

[burndownforwhat]

[ so a Himbo, a Theymer, and a literal Flamer walk into a bar—

wait, no. tonight might as well be the punchline to a joke that starts off like so, but though Yang had some hesitations in getting all this put together, once Yang was on, she was On. when she's done having a (literal) blast, she's almost literally glowing from how much fun it was to cut loose with her powers for fun, for once.

Yang started off the show wearing a pair of long shorts and a tank top because she knew she would just sweat through absolutely anything she had on from the effort. but after sneaking off to change into a fresh t-shirt and jacket and jeans, she's back to mingle, to challenge people to a few rounds of BB, or just chat them up while recovering her energy levels. that means lots of food, and lots and lots of water. ]


(ooc: this is more or less freeform and I'll roll with w/e but if you want a more specific kind of prompt just hmu and I'll give you one!)

[thezekeinator]

Hey, bring back the shorts. [Flashing his conspirator in musical crime a wink, Zeke also tosses her a wireless controller to go with the one in his other hand. ] Or just bring it on!

[burndownforwhat]

[ Yang catches it with a laugh. ] They are rank, my dude.

But I'm still fresh, so you'd better be ready. [ even if this specific game isn't her main one, Yang's no slouch when it comes to fighting games. being tired out might dull her reflexes a bit though. ]

[thezekeinator]

I'm not ready. I am Zeke von Chaos! That's better than being -- aaah!

[With one dramatic and overzealous gesture, Zeke accidentally changes his character selection from Byron the Legendary Swordsperson to... Balloony. And locks it in.]

[defencive]

[Weiss is there when Yang comes back after her part of the show, watching the video game part of the night from a distance. She hands Yang an unopened water bottle without saying anything about it.]

That was...impressive.

[burndownforwhat]

Thanks! [ Yang takes the bottle with a smile. ] And thanks. [ give her a second while she pops the top and guzzles half the thing in one go, finishing off with a satisfied sigh. ]

Glad you could make it, Weiss. Didn't think you'd stick around if I'm honest.

[defencive]

Naturally, Weiss had to be dragged away from her work. It didn't take that much dragging, though. She's been feeling a bit helpless and confused since last month, which means she only put up a token resistance to going somewhere and watching weirdly stylized natural violence on stage. It's oddly relaxing, in a cathartic way, and she can't help but compare it to more classical styles in the same vein, whether from the 19th century with cannons or the 20th century with less meta-biological pyrotechnics.

Her being a huge nerd aside, though, she doesn't voluntarily join in the video game tournament afterward, preferring to watch and float from activity to activity, occasional snack in hand. She looks a little stiff for this kind of party, like she always does, but it's not hard to strike up a conversation. She'll also eventually settle down for card games and probably lose more money to a bad pokerface than she wins from her memorization of odds tables, and if someone plies her enough, might even put on a little ice doll show with her Meta powers. She's a little bit better using them for art than fighting anyway.

[thezekeinator]

Zeke kept circulating after his stint on stage was done, hiding a careful insistence on keeping people happy and enjoying themselves under his usual chaotic goofiness. (Which definitely wasn't to say the chaotic goofiness was any sort of ruse. It just had the happy side effect of making it easy to hide deeper stuff.) Which gave him the perfect chance to spy Weiss and wander thatway.

"What did you think? Most jolly amazing performance in history, right?"

[defencive]

"It was...interesting," she says, noncommittal but voice light. She had enjoyed it, she just doesn't want to do too much to feed Zeke's ego. "Obviously I didn't come out here for the music or technical proficiency, but you're all very passionate about your pyrotechnics."

[fibrillate]

Levi and Zeke might have made a perfectly matched pair on stage, but as soon as the show was over, Levi found themself needing to head off to the side for a bit, separating themself from basically everyone to let their body start regulating things a little better again. Discharges like that are exhausting to maintain for too long, even if it only takes a little bit of energy to get things started. Maybe once they cool off (and they're dabbing their forehead with a towel while they rest) they'll join up in the other, video game-related festivities.

When someone approaches, though, they're pleasant and almost excited. "Thought we could stand to liven things up in a good way," they say with a grin. Their glasses are resting on a nearby table, and they've got themself down to a tank top and jeans look to help cool down. It's not as fashionable as what they usually wear, but it's comfortable and they're liking it. "So what's next for you now that the show is over?"

[burndownforwhat]

[ of course it would be Zeke that somehow managed to rope the two of them into a project together. at least it felt more natural than being invited to the same swanky party. or being caught together while under lockdown. or the other half dozen coincidental meetings of the past several months.

bless his heart, he did this for others, to have a good time, to keep spirits up, and he knew well their limits... but that didn't mean it wasn't still physically tiresome and mentally straining. Yang knew when Levi was putting on a brave face, because it's what she was doing herself. and her own powers didn't take nearly as much, or as swift, of a toll on her body as theirs.

Yang waits for whoever else they were talking with to move on before approaching, a pair of water bottles in hand. she offers one up, concern worn openly on her face. ]

How're you feeling?

[fibrillate]

[Levi reaches for the bottle and takes a drink, then lowers it back to their side and gives a little bit of a wearier smile. they've still got some walls up, but it's more than obvious when they're tired out and they know Yang can see through it no matter what.]

I'm getting back to normal. That's the good thing about draining myself like that. [the grin gets a little more self-directed, and they close the sentence with a dry laugh.] If I start freaking out about it, it only makes the electricity build back up faster. So I'm totally gonna be fine.

[thezekeinator]

The handy thing about Zeke's power was that it cost him next to nothing. The handy thing about Zeke was that even when he felt like he was lagging a bit, he could just crank up the intensity three notches to compensate. Which meant Levi had all the time in the world to recover while he drew the more energetic people his way.

Of course, he wanted to enjoy himself too! And while he wasn't hardly miserable keeping this party going, spending time with a friend was no thing to skimp on. So after a little bit, Zeke wandered Levi's way with a lazy grin. "Oh, I've got to win a game tournament later, charm some folks, and then sleep so late tomorrow it might as well not exist. Nice look, by the way."

[fibrillate]

"I know," they say, flipping their hair with one hand before they decide to let that ego drop and smile at Zeke. "This was a really good idea, putting all of this together. I think we needed something good where nothing too dangerous happened, especially after the Heroes II release last month." They're smiling and even though they're exhausted, they're still pretty happy just to be here.

"What game are you gonna totally pwn some noobs in?" they ask, laying it on as thick as they can and grinning big.