(too late) you're at the party

[scouserer]

[Well, it's safe to say that trial fucking sucked. Therefore, some sort of afterparty is in order. Constantine is admittedly not good at throwing parties without some sort of liquor or other drug involved, but that's where Data and Sylvando guide him.

First order of business--invites. Upon returning to your rooms, crumpled pieces of paper have been taped to the doors. Written in poor handwriting is the following:]

meet at the lounge
bring whatever you want
[Simple, but effective. The lounge itself has been livened up a bit with Sylvando's help. Some nicely patterned fabric has been draped around on the tables to liven up the place a little, and snacks from the café and vending machines have been placed out for people to peruse.

A few supplies from the first aid room have been gathered, as well, for those who may need it. But perhaps the help is unnecessary, as tomorrow will likely bring another New Years Eve. And with it, another week of despair and frustration.

But for now, they can forget about that and pretend that all that matters is the present.]

Comments

[scythegun]

[Contrary to how antsy and distracted he's been through most of the week, Yeager's doing fine today. In fact, he seems to be back to his usual levels of cheer despite everything that just happened - but he's at least not inflicting himself on anyone at the moment. He'll be in the lounge for awhile, watching everyone come and go. Feel free to come join him if you'd like, but otherwise he won't be seeking anyone out here today.

Later on, Yeager moves to the café. He's going to be messing around with mixing drinks in here for awhile to see what he can create, and if you enter the room, he'll hold up a hand in greeting.]

Would you like me to make you something? I can't guarantee it'll be great, since I'm still learning.

[...at least he's honest about it?? You could always ask for some normal tea or coffee, he can at least manage those.

Come nightfall, Yeager's out on the lower deck, leaning on the railing and looking out at the ocean. It doesn't matter just how late at night you're out, he's still here. He doesn't seem interested in returning to his room any time soon... but if things go as we expect they will, he'll end up back in there at some point with no memory of how it happened.]

deck

[hypnowhip]

[Now that the gathering is over, Sylvando's making his way to his room when he comes across Yeager.]

We've got to stop meeting like this.

[He winks, his joking on the subdued side. He can't help but feel concerned, though. Yeager seemed fine at the gathering, but...well, Yeager did find him under similar circumstances last week.]

Mind if I join you, honey?

[scythegun]

[That gets a soft laugh from Yeager and he inclines his head a bit; he doesn't mind, feel free to join him.]

I never mind when it's you, you know.

[It's light and a bit more subdued than usual, though.]

[hypnowhip]

Aw, I appreciate that.

[He formally joins Yeager at the railing, looking out at the ocean in silence for a moment before turning to him.]

Are you up for talking tonight? You really look like you could use it.

[He wants to do what Yeager did for him last week. He can worry about unpacking his returned memory later.]

[scythegun]

...Do I really seem that badly off?

[That's actually a genuine question, given the startled look. He thought he was doing fine?? Admittedly, he's been a nervous mess since the motive, but that's. fine. Don't worry about it.]

[hypnowhip]

[He breathes a sigh at that, but remains gentle about it.]

Yes, honey. Yes you do. To me, at least. You can chalk it up to my intuition.

[scythegun]

[...]

Well, I suppose your intuition isn't wrong. I didn't exactly handle the motive all that well this time around.

[That isn't a secret; if you were present in that meeting, then you saw him being the quietest he's ever been, so at least half the boat probably has some inkling of that.]

But things are better now that I have that memory back!

[hypnowhip]

Are you sure...?

[Yeager still seems a little out of it to Sylvando. But...]

If you would rather not talk about it, that's okay. But I do understand. This motive was absolutely awful. Taking something away, just to make us worry if it's real or not...and then having to relive what you had hoped wasn't true.

[His expression falls as he speaks about it.]

[scythegun]

...It sounds like my experience was a bit different from yours.

[Hoping it wasn't true, only to remember it... That does sound awful, honestly.]

I knew it was true. For me it was... Well, everything else more or less confirmed what the Captain's note said. So I never doubted it, it was simply... not knowing, I suppose.

[Which makes it sound like it wasn't all that important in the end, which... isn't right. Not at all.]

cafe

[sivard]

[Zaveid has been here before, but he hasn't done much besides make himself some very basic teas or coffee.]

Sure. Why don't you make some for both of us?

[It's been a while since he's sat down and talked to his roommate about things.]

[scythegun]

Ja, certainly. Tea or coffee, and how opposed to it being sweet are you?

[...this is mildly ominous considering how many syrup pumps are back there.]

[sivard]

[Oh that is super ominous.]

I don't mind a bit of sweetness here or there.

[scythegun]

["A bit" he says...]

Noted! I'll get to work, then~

[And so he will! You're free to come watch him if you want to make sure it isn't poisoned, since you know. We did bring that up today... But not to worry, this is definitely some very regular iced coffee! Or at least it would be if he didn't decide to add raspberry syrup to it?? Okay, Yeager.]

[sivard]

[Yeager, please don't poison him with sugar.

Don't mind Zaveid being a bit paranoid and hovering a bit, though he's not all up in Yeager's bubble or anything like that.]

I can't get over how many strange contraptions are on this ship.

[scythegun]

They're delightful, aren't they? There are so many of these things I wish we had in Terca Lumireis... Like laser tag!

[Aaaaand here's some vanilla syrup as well?? Sure. Here you go, one drink that will probably not kill you immediately, but will be just a bit too goddamn sweet.]

[sivard]

Unfortunately, I think my desire for laser tag has been dampened considerably.

[And he just sort of. Stares at the coffee for a moment before tentatively taking a sip.

Oh.

Oh dear.]

It's, uh... you like a lot of sugar in your coffee don't you?

[scythegun]

Not really, actually.

[i am so sorry, zaveid. he just inflicted this terror on you because he could.]

cafe

[scouserer]

[Constantine seems to have decided that now was an appropriate time to start smoking again, as right now, he's sitting at one of the tables in the café and lighting up one of his precious cigarettes. He glances towards Yeager, raising an eyebrow.]

Sure, why not? Surprise me.

[He flicks a bit of ash into an empty paper cup.]

'sides, I could use somethin' else to think about.

[scythegun]

[Honestly, that's entirely fair, Constantine.]

Right away, then~!

[...you're probably going to regret this, because Yeager has entirely too many pumps of sugary shit back here and he will absolutely make use of all of them. You're welcome to come over and watch what he's making if you don't trust him not to poison it, but he'll make enough for two so he can suffer through his godawful creation with you.]

[scouserer]

[He's already regretting this once he sees Yeager start pumping all that syrup into his drink. He blinks, getting up and meandering his way over towards the counter.]

Do you even have experience in barista...ing?

[He squints at whatever awful concoction Yeager is brewing up.]

[scythegun]

[Hope you like sugar, Constantine!!!]

None at all.

[great!!!!!!]

But I've seen some people making drinks here and it seems entertaining, so I want to see what sort of horrid thing I can make. You said you wanted a distraction, ja?

[......i'm so sorry.]

[scouserer]

[He doesn't like sugar at all, thanks Yeager! <3]

I guess consuming my weight's worth in sugar is something. Even if it his revolting.

[....Hm. An idea hits him.]

If you make an identical one of those drinks for yourself, I'll drink the whole thing. No skimping on sugar, mind you.

[scythegun]

[constantine this is a dangerous game]

Absolutely~! I promise I'll find it just as disgusting.

[So yep. He's absolutely going to create a second abomination?? There isn't even any hesitation. We're both gonna die.]

[scouserer]

[He's an aging punk. He lives on the edge. He watches Yeager in rapt attention as he works. Once he's finished, Constantine takes his cigarette between his fingers, reaching out with his free hand to take the drink. Even from this distance, the smell of sugar is utterly overpowering.

...Well, it's not like he's going to get cavities from this, anyways, what with the time loop.]

On the count of three, then.

[He waits for Yeager. He is absolutely waiting for Yeager to take the first sip so he can laugh. But maybe that's what Yeager is also counting on?]

[scythegun]

[Sometimes you just want to watch the world burn, or you know, shotgun pure sugar because it won't matter in a day anyway.]

Would you like to do the honors, then?

[...yep, that's exactly the plan.]