(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

cw: drug mentions as usual

[hellahighwater]

[ Like last week, Chloe takes a little while to show up. It's probably no surprise what she's off doing, though she smells distinctly less like weed than she has...most of the week. Maybe she's learning some restraint, or maybe she's running out. Either or.

In any case. She has to pass through the lounge to get to where she really wants to be, so Chloe stops in for a little at the afterparty. It's...mostly to get some food, to breathe, to...maybe check in on a few people. She's been so in her own head these last few days. The selfishness... It sickens her to think about.

After, she spends much of her time in the art room, like earlier in the week. Contrary to that visit, she's quiet and thoughtful. She's...spending some time sketching, it seems? Getting some basic features down. They're all mostly familiar faces: Carmen, Shard, Adeline, Allenby... Just casual profiles.

The one she puts a great amount of detail into is of a girl you wouldn't recognize. Well, most of you. She looks sad while doing so. ]

lounge

[onlyyoucan]

[Sara won't notice her at first, just picking at her food. And yes, she's brought Emily to the afterparty again and has propped her up in one of the chairs. What do you take her for.]

...hi.

[She's trying?]

[hellahighwater]

[ ...Oh, jeez. She looks properly fucked up. But then, aren't all of them, in some way? ]

Hey, you. Gonna actually eat any of that?

[onlyyoucan]

[She pushes back the plate of crab macaroni and stares at it.]

Maybe. ...She didn't even realize, did she?

[hellahighwater]

[ Oh, boy. We're getting right into it, aren't we? ]

...No, I don't really think she did.

[ How lucid was she at the end there? How much of Allenby was aware that she was about to die? ]

[onlyyoucan]

Maybe it's better for her that way. ...It explains how she acted earlier, when I explained how a Mimic connects to your brain.

[hellahighwater]

[ ... ]

I'd rather she had a choice. Or...at least a chance to say something. To fight on her own terms, if she wanted to.

art room

[scythegun]

[Oh hey, Chloe's in here. Yeager comes in to take a look at what she's working on—]

Oh my, these are lovely.

[Look at those familiar faces... And one not-so-familiar face Chloe's currently working on.]

Do you mind if I join you for a little while?

[He likes watching you people do art, it's nice, okay.]

[hellahighwater]

[ Oh, well! She's not quite used to having...observers, but, uh. ]

Uhhh, sure, don't be shy, guy. [ She shrugs. ] It's just...something I been thinking of doing for awhile. They're not finished.

[ Her style, for the record, is incredibly realistic. The lines are solid and smooth. Everything seems well-defined. ]

[scythegun]

[Oh, how nice! It looks like she's been hard at work... Anyway, Yeager takes a seat nearby.]

They look excellent so far! Do you draw often?

[hellahighwater]

Just when I feel like it.

[ Chloe that doesn't...answer the man's question— ]

...Used to more when I was younger, but...there's not a lot to do around here, so. Why not?

[scythegun]

Oh, I certainly get that. I've been considering picking up some sort of hobby here...

[Which, from the sound of it, is Dreadful. He's never had a halfway sane hobby in his life and he doesn't want to start now!!!]

It seems relaxing to work on something like this. Data was painting earlier... he seemed to be having a good time.

[Not that Data would agree to that, though!!!!]

[hellahighwater]

That's art for you. Gives you an outlet, or...something.

[ She puts down her pencil and gets a good look at the more detailed picture of that unfamiliar girl. She lets out a soft sigh. No color, but... ]

...I started just trying to get Carmen or Shard down. Now... Looks like I'm gonna be doing more. Probably a lot more.

art room

[scouserer]

[Constantine eventually wanders into the art room, a cigarette held between his fingers. He might be burning through them at an alarming pace, but John Constantine has only ever done things in packs of ten. He tilts his head, watching Chloe work for a bit.]

Huh. Gotta say, you're a pretty good artist when you're not stabbin' the paper to death.

[He raises the cigarette to his lips, taking a drag. Exhales smoke out of his nose.]

Mind if I join you?

[hellahighwater]

What can I say? I've got range. [ Chloe doesn't look up from her work, but she does nod. ] Ain't my gallery. Go 'head.

[ It may be a little hard for him to tell, considering aforementioned stabbing...but the detailed picture has the same face as the one she was ripping to shreds, before. Just a bit older. ]

[scouserer]

[He pulls up a chair and sits down. Hope you like the smell of tobacco, Chloe. Constantine definitely eyes the picture, unsure of how to approach the topic.]

This one definitely looks like you spent more time on it.

[Idly, he grabs a pen and starts doodling on a scrap of paper. Nothing concrete--just random spirals and shapes.]

Take it that you remembered what the Captain took.

[hellahighwater]

[ Tobacco? Oh that's nothing for her, she's fine with it. The subject matter, however...

The grip on her pencil tightens. ]

I'm gonna skin that fucking asshole alive until he cries for his mommy.

[ ...Yeah! ]

I never... I never wanna think those things about her again.

[scouserer]

[Yeah! Violence!]

Mmmm.

[Constantine falls quiet for a moment, resting his chin against his hand.]

You want someone to listen, or you just want a distraction right now?

[It's just...you know. It seems like the right thing to do, punk-to-punk.]

[hellahighwater]

I would swallow a whole pint of hot sauce for a distraction right now.

art room

[paucipan]

[Plumeria's honestly been looking around a bit for Chloe, just kind of sweeping the ship hoping to find her--she's not sure if the girl's usual haunts even on the best days, but it seems like she was even closer than Plumeria thought, considering where she's been hiding out herself.]

Oh, there you are! I've been looking for you all over.

[...Hi, Chloe. Plumeria's words are blunt as ever, but she has at least been looking for Chloe in particular for a bit. Even so, she doesn't seem angry or even really bitchy as ever, she's actually pretty level as she tips her head a bit.]

Do you have a few moments to talk, perchance? There's...something I'd like to say, if you don't mind.

[hellahighwater]

[ oh god she almost ruins the picture of allenby she's trying to detail— ]

Uhhh hi to you, Plum. [ ...is that- she's not even thinking, really- ] Fire away, I'm a multi-tasker.

[paucipan]

...P--Plum?

[Plumeria kind of just. Blinks, trying not to sputter at that but um--okay this is happening, great. Plumeria doesn't bring it up any further, though, opting to glance away and cross her arms.]

Anyway, I...wanted to thank you. [Plumeria's tone is actually much more awkward now than she intends, please don't call her out on this--] You know, for earlier, when you...helped me protect Lady Freyja. I didn't think that...well, anyone else would.

...If there is anything that I might be able to do to repay such a kindness, let me know. I don't like the idea of being indebted to a human, but...I'm willing to make an exception, for your actions.

[hellahighwater]

[ Chloe is very used to nicknaming people so she doesn’t think anything of Plumeria’s reaction. She gives a slight grin and a shrug, and then just listens.

Oookay... Well. First of all you don’t have to repay it. I didn’t really think you had your hands full or anything but, with how all that fucking chaos was unfolding? I didn’t wanna just sit on my ass and watch. You’re not... I did it ‘cause I wanted to. Freyja’s been nice to me. Even when I’ve been...kind of a bitch. So, I wanted to help. Nothing else to it.

[paucipan]

[...That does make sense, honestly. Plumeria does listen, just kind of looking briefly frustrated with herself, but--]

...I am simply glad that you were willing to do so; most humans tend to be rather selfish beings, from my experience.

[And yet, strangely enough, today's...kind of putting that into question. So many of them jumped into the fray to take on Allenby, without even once considering what could happen to them. It's...

...Well, it's a different side of humanity than what she's used to.]

...And all be told, I worried that my capabilities would not be enough, should that girl have decided to target Lady Freyja or myself. If nothing else, I...insist that you accept my gratitude, if nothing else. I am thankful, that you elected to...not sit on your rear and watch.

[She despises the idea of admitting weakness, but she did lay all cards on the table when speaking of her capabilities. At least with Chloe around, Lady Freyja had more of a chance to escape unscathed.]

...I take it that you had a pretty tough week, then?

[She certainly hasn't heard anything but pretty kind words from Lady Freyja about Chloe, so that is Plumeria's first guess, admittedly.]

[hellahighwater]

[ She holds up her hands, just kind of murmuring: ] Okay, okay, I accept your gratitude, or whatever. [ ...And then...clears her throat, unable to keep from glancing at the portrait she's finished and detailed, the one of the only unfamiliar person. ]

...Yes, you could...very much put it like that. [ With a...slight grumble. ] I...forgot something that kind of...helped make me less of one of those...selfish assholes you've seen humans as.