Party rock is in the house tonight

[heiroglyphs]

WHO: Penelope Raban and College Aged Friends
WHERE: Penelope's House
WHEN: 9/1 and into the wee hours of 9/2
WHAT: A Labor Day/Back To School/We're Alive/Welcome to Retrospec Party
WARNINGS: Language, Drinking (Potentially underage), possible mentions of violence/sexuality, stupid college shenaningans.





In the wake of the general nightmare that was August, the addition of new Retrospec users in their age bracket that a lot of them knew, and the general holiday + back to school rush, a party seemed like a good idea to Pen. Conferring with Vera and others, Pen decided to make it happen, setting up her place for more than just the usual drinking and shenanigans. They all deserved it, after all, for Balancing School, Life, and Retrospec, sometimes these sorts of things are all that keeps you sane!


I. Afternoon

It starts early, as these things often should. By late afternoon, Pen's backyard is filled with the smells of grilled meats and roasting vegetables. A table is set up with condiments and buns for the, burgers, hotdogs, chicken, tofu, all that good stuff plus chips and chili to go with it. Coolers of beer and spirits, tea, soda, lemonade, and some Japanese soda abomination Pen found called Ice Cucumber Pepsi that seems to have been left there for the truly adventurous.

There's a cornhole game setup, and tables and cups for beer pong and other party games if people feel inclined, as well as an elaborate outdoor speaker system set up by the host herself playing a mix of music ranging from classic rock to low-key pop hits of today. Enjoy!


II. Dusk

Night's approach heralds the arrival of the bane of all parties: mosquitos. Everything mostly moves indoors, with snacks and leftovers in the kitchen and seating set up all over. Drinks still flow and games come out.

Pen's got things set up for people to play Super Crash Brothers and Dario Cart and things like that in one room, and what party would be complete without Never Have I Ever and Truth or Dare? Someone even thinks it might be a good idea to set up Two Truths and a Lie...


III. Night

It's getting on in the evening, but Pen has one last little surprise for everyone set up. Just like the 4th of July, there's a rather nice fireworks display set up! She's actually taken the time to sobor up too, so it goes a bit more smoothly. Firecrackers, sparklers, and other such things are laid out for anyone with an interest...and citronella torches line the back yard like soldiers, forming a shield against invading insects.

This is the time to take a moment, relax, pull someone special aside and have a moment. Nobody is looking, and even if they were, nobody'll judge. Everyone needs a little peace sometimes, to enjoy the simple things. After the last month, it's clear that nothing is permament, and everyone should take time out to appreciate nights like this. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

Comments

[mincingminuet]

"Maybe a little. I can always use more big monsters too." Tongue out, razzing at her.

"I'm grateful though, you know. It isn't like I'd ever forget you, but having a piece of you near will be nice. Necklaces are...well, they always wind up near the heart."

[belligerentwarrior]

It isn't like I'd ever forget you. That sends an odd sliver of anxiety through her. Freya tilts her head forward, resting her forehead against Pen's hairline.

"That's the goal." More and more, it seemed like a terrifyingly real possibility. "I'll treasure those tags, don't you worry."

Freya couldn't exactly meet Pen's parents, so this was probably the next best thing, unless her brothers magically turned up again.

[mincingminuet]

Pen beams, and it takes a concerted effort of willpower not to just turn around and kiss Freya right then and there. She has taken every precaution she can regarding memory, though, with dozens of video recordings all over everything. Just in case. Specifically about Freya, many of them.

"I know. I do. I hope you won't need their luck, though."

[belligerentwarrior]

Freya wouldn't mind. Hell, she didn't particularly go out of her way for PDA, but she wouldn't bat an eye at making out around the party-goers. They didn't matter, not right now.

"Right. Here's hoping all's quiet for a while." Freya sighs quietly, memorizing the weight and feel of the tags in her hand.

"...Before I head out, there's something I want to show you."

[mincingminuet]

Pen usually didn't, not unless she was a little tipsy. She isn't, not now, and after how a few things had gone tonight it wouldn't be okay, not to her.

"Yeah?" Pen asks with a wry smile. "I do too, actually."

[belligerentwarrior]

"That so?" Freya straightens up, tilting her head curiously. She's been putting this off, because she's still trying to figure what to make of the thing, but...

She shrugs. "No time like the present. Unless you wanna wait until everyone's gone."

[mincingminuet]

"Nah, it's cool." Pen shrugs and shifts a little, calling up the Tomato and sending it scampering into the house for what she needed.

"He'll go get my thing. So...what's up?"

[belligerentwarrior]

Freya catches Pen's hand, tugging her back towards the house.

"Guess we're followin' him in, then. I don't have it on me. It's a picture. Found it back in that hell mansion."

[mincingminuet]

"That's fine," Pen says, moving after the little guy.

"Mine's in the spare bedroom in a closet. Kinda weirded me out so I rolled it up and put it there. It'll still take him a minute to get it. But I hope your thing isn't too freaky?"

[belligerentwarrior]

"Guess it depends on your definition of freaky."

She leads them to Pen's room, over to where Freya's been keeping her stuff for this past week.

"Findin' it in that run-down murder house didn't help any." She releases Pen's hand to dig through the duffle, pulling out a small, flat object wrapped in a spare shirt. Freya unveils it, and hands the ancient, weathered and sun-bleached picture frame to Pen.

"Haven't been sure what to make of it. Still even has blue in it, like Mina's spear's got green."

[mincingminuet]

Pen goes to rummage around in her own stuff, digging through a drawer until she found a large, rolled up piece of parchment.

Turning, she blinked at the picture frame and reached out, running a finger along the old photo.

"Definitely unusual. The girl's cute, too. But that tattoo isn't yours. Must be something from that other world."

[belligerentwarrior]

"Yeah. Don't doubt it."

Her eyes darted over to the parchment curiously before settling back on the picture.

"I've seen her before. Not a damn clue who she is."

[mincingminuet]

"Well that's eerie. Actually...kind of the same sort of eerie as my thing," Pen said, handing the photo back.

"I like both of their outfits, too, btw. Very...I don't know...aboriginal? I hope Retrospec drops one off for you."

She wasn't sure how else to describe them, so she took the rolled parchment and unfurled it against her desk. On it was a map drawn by hand. The writing is all in her handwriting, though there are odd flourishes and other things that set it apart.

"...So I drew this. Or, She did. Other me."

[belligerentwarrior]

Freya arches an eyebrow, silently questioning that statement about other-her's apparel. It just seemed kind of weird, to her.

She settles her hands on her hips, photo and all, and leans over Pen with a low whistle. "Hell of a drawing. That wasn't done overnight. Any of those names ring a bell?"

[mincingminuet]

"A couple," Pen nods. "The Deadlands sound familiar. And the Sandsea. I've definitely seen the Sandsea, and it's cool as fuck. It's like...a desert, but the sand there is so loose that it looks like water. And it flows in currents, too. I don't know how, but I think it's awesome."

She points out the two names.

"The rest? Not yet. But it's definitely some sort of navigation chart. And other me definitely is a navigator on some sort of air ship."