stateofdecay | END OF THE WORLD PARTY

4 Days Until the Horde

Everyone in the Quad is deep in preparations for the massive horde coming from Danforth when word goes out from Whitney Field Depot: you're all invited to the Lobby tonight for one last(??) big shindig before we all die(??)!

At 7 PM, the theater troupe presents a one-hour episode of Supernatural, which any true fans will soon realize is Tegan's AO3 fanfic and not an actual episode. Brothers Sam and Dean Winchester (Evening O'Leary and Bo Bloodgood) team up with the angel Castiel (Odyssey) to investigate a series of ritualistic murders meant to kickstart the apocalypse. After Sam is captured by Lucifer (Blythe Ferry), Dean and Castiel must work alone together and discover that the murders are the work of John Winchester (Edgar de Leon), now evil and resurrected by demons. Featuring: Sexual tension! Casual blasphemy! Daddy issues!

From there, everyone's invited to return to the Lobby to drink, relax, make new friends and plan for the horde if you absolutely must do that.

Guidelines

⚾ Tonight's Theme: The apocalypse!! Again!!!

⚾ Hot Weapons: Firearms, ammo and explosives must be checked in at the gate and will be returned to you when you leave. Cold weapons (blades, bludgeons, crossbows) are fine to take inside.

⚾ Drinks: One free drink per hour, whether that's mystery punch (moonshine, water and whatever mixture of powdered drink flavors they have on hand, which today is blue-green in color) or non-alcoholic punch. Water is available any time. Other drinks are on the menu but must be traded for.

⚾ Cannabis: No free samples tonight, but it's in stock at the trading post.

⚾ Overnight: Four (4) beds are open in the guest quarters in the sublevel, going to whoever claims them first, and the rest can camp in the outfield. There are enough sleeping bags to accommodate everyone, but only six (6) small tents. Up to you where your character ends up tonight!

Locations

ARRIVALS

Check in if your character attending! Are they in a partying mood or here against their will? Dressed like it's 1999 or just wearing whatever they had on hand? How do they feel about the approaching horde?

THE LOBBY

The bar serves alcohol and water, and a few other options if you've got merit or items to trade. The trading post is open if you need to stock up on essentials. A table is set up with snacks, including a big charcuterie board with bread, cheese, dried fruit and meats, and honey.

THE REC ROOM

Formerly the gift shop, now stocked with books and board games, and tables and chairs. There's also a pool table and a foosball table!

THE OUTFIELD

Step outside for some fresh air or a bit of quiet. The community garden is a nice place for a walk.

✨ THEATER

The stage is a cobbled together collection of wooden pallets in the parking lot, plus portable stairs that seem very rickety whenever an actor jumps on it. What did you think of the show?

MONARCH OF THE APOCALYPSE

If the one drink per hour limit isn't doing for you, you're invited to join the drinking contest. Whoever's still standing at the end gets 3 merits and a tiara!

END OF THE NIGHT

Last call is at 2 AM. Are you headed back to your community, or staying overnight at Whitney?

OOC CHATTER

Questions, comments, requests for scenes?

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And Nat clocks it fairly quickly, startled as she may have been into opening her eyes to find the other woman.

"Oh hey," Nat offers back carefully, assessing Court's mood. "Needed a break?"

Court forces a smile and it's half as bright as what she's capable of. "You could say that..." A long moment where she stares down at her drink before deciding that's rude when trying to hold a conversation, instead setting her sights on Nat.

"Who knew the end of the world would be so annoying and loud?" An attempt at a joke that isn't really a joke at all, so much as a peeved observation. "I'm not bothering you, am I?"

"No," Nat says simply, unsure whether it's Court who actually needs and wanted the solitude and it's Nat who should perhaps be leaving her to it. "You never bother me. By annoying who are we talking about exactly? Or is it that entire room back there, because that's unfortunately on me. Sorry."

There's some part of Court willing to throw out a shit-eating grin and a "challenge accepted" at the proclamation she never bothers Nat, though there really isn't the social capital needed to see it through. Just enough to shake her head, "Nobody in particular."

There's a soft, almost out of place smile as she continues, "And no need to apologize. It's not anybody really, just something is off and I can't put a finger on it past obsessing over this horde. Like, if I had the motivation I'd be working on a red string wall as we speak."

"Murder board," Nat cracks an almost wistful smile, like she herself made them in a past life like some haggard conspiracy theorist instead of just watching far too many detective procedurals.

But Nat shifts so she can better make eye contact with Court, not wanting to be dismissive of her low mood. "It's not the stress and uncertainty of impending changes to the lifestyles we've all adapted to because of trauma for the sake of collaboration or the fact that everyone is pretty clearly burnt out and struggling, which makes a 10,000 strong zombie horde really bad timing?"

She sips at her water.

Despite herself, Court cracks a momentary smile at this new phrase that would certainly enter her every day vernacular, well, if there were that many more days left.

"Yeah. Yeah, that might be it." Tucking a foot underneath her, she turns towards Nat and hesitantly draws her eyes to the other. "And how there isn't much we can do about it... if we can all even agree on what to do that isn't just one suicide mission or another." A beat before she lifts her glass out. "Cheers."

Their glasses clink when they touch, but Nat's hovers in the air as she frowns instead, contemplative.

"I'm not worried about it," she admits honestly. "Obviously we should all be concerned, but there is something we can do about it. Will do about it. We're calculating risks with our options right now, and maybe I should be worried that a majority decision might not actually be the most sensible or risk averse, but it feels futile to at this stage. Whatever we do decide, we'll plan this out properly," she concludes confidently.

Not for the first time since meeting, Court is more than a little in awe of how level-headed and logical Nat was. How the other woman was able to break things down without seemingly letting her own turbulence color the results; like chum thrown in water to rouse sharks.

"Can you teach me how to be as cool as you, Nat?" Court chuckles into her glass, though that isn't all she has to say on the subject. "...what do you think we should do? You're smart."

Edited 2024-11-06 17:14 (UTC)

Nat's laugh comes out as a short, disbelieving bark. "It's the jacket, it's deceptive," she says into her water as she takes another long drink. Cool? Hardly.

"And what I think is that you should try not to think about it tonight," she reaches over and squeezes Court's wrist, smile a little apologetic like she knows it's a ridiculous statement. "Easier said than done," she cuts Court off lest she say it first, "I know. But there's nothing to be done about it tonight. Let it go, just for tonight, you already carry too much as it is."

"Gotta get me one of them jackets," Court stage whispers, just tipsy enough to find herself amusing for a moment. The denial of the obvious only makes her think Nat even cooler.

There's a long, slow exhale as the other speaks, Court nodding along and trying to remember to breath. It was true, what Nat said was far easier said than done, but Court had to at least try. If nothing else, even if it was stupid to continue on, she'd always keep trying until her last breath. "Is there a way to carry you around in my pocket and just pull you out when I need some good advice?" A chuckle.

"...you make some good points though. Thanks, Nat." Nothing is magically solved, but the outside perspective was helpful.

END OF THE WORLD PARTY

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court

THE REC ROOM: Nat & Court