prince arlo rattray 🔧 prescott (
halligan) wrote in
stateofdecay2024-11-17 12:40 pm
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surprise party for court 🐮
WHO: Prescott + Beau, Bunny, Carter, Duke, Emmett, John, and Nat (& "folks who might not know court but would think she's extremely cool" – Beau). However, anyone can join — OOCly, it's open to all.
WHEN: Sunday, November 17. Evening.
WHERE: Prescott fire house's kitchen.
WHAT: A surprise birthday party for Court! Planned here.
WARNINGS: I made AI generate the main image and it's horrifying.
WHEN: Sunday, November 17. Evening.
WHERE: Prescott fire house's kitchen.
WHAT: A surprise birthday party for Court! Planned here.
WARNINGS: I made AI generate the main image and it's horrifying.
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
And he squints at Arlo, noting Arlo’s gritted teeth and generally (albeit mildly) tense demeanor. My hat is threatening him, John thinks sadly. But he’s not about to take it off, not when he got it from Zelda and it’s his only tie to the theme of the celebration. That’s the way of things, he observes, masculinity is a prison of one’s fears. And tiny hats. He learned this in a free lecture at the University of Washington.
“Did you cook everything yourself? Or most everything? You are very talented.”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
"Only the burgers 'n dessert." He should say something else to this person who wanted to flaunt the whole hook-up situation at him — he knows this, but he doesn't want to brag. Even if a tiny part of his mind's all They're Court's favourite kind and– "Definitely wasn't born with a talent, had to work on it growin' up when I realized Duke wouldn't get nowhere if all I fed him was like... Cheetos and pilk."
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
A large swallow, then, politely: “What is pilk?”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
Another thoughtful bite of his veggie burger. “Very kind of you to throw this for Court.” He looks around the room, casting about for something to say. “And thank you again for inviting me. I didn’t know you knew I knew Court.”
He squints, going over the repeating words in his head, then nods, satisfied. “Yes.”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
Re: INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
She didn't know the details of who had invited whom, but it still has her thinking of what Nat had said and how there definitely was some amount of guilt (far past the point of creeping in) that her ex was being kept in the dark about... whatever it was she had going on with John.
Someone nearby makes an exclamation of jolliness, but it's enough to startle Court who'd been watching the two men intently - while at the same time attempting to appear completely unaffected - and she shrinks back into herself. Into that drink she takes another long swig from before forcing herself to interact with the party once more.
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
“Ah,” he starts, trying to imbue his tone with the feeling of friendliness, of not being a threat. “Likely she wants to maximize the number of presents Court receives.” John does believe this. “Although mine is not as good as yours.”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
Because while he may be an idiot, somewhere deep down he knows that getting fussy over who Court may or may not be banging is a one-way ticket to a shitty party vibe. After plenty of time to stew over it yesterday during his outing to their old home—and for the stewing to simmer and finally into actual thinking—he knows he's more annoyed with his own ability to form new connections after their divorce than he is with John for being... what, a friend? She needs friends. She deserves friends.
He just really wishes the guy would shut the fuck up about the bunkhouse because every time he mentions it, Arlo's hackles rise. But John seems otherwise friendly???
... He doesn't get John at all.
Arlo reaches down to where he'd taken off his sparkly cowboy hat (similarly tiny on his big ol' head) and picks up one of the Duke-fashioned party hats he'd stuck on top. "I mostly only gave her stuff that's already hers so I was returnin' property." He fastens the hat to his head and it slides down to a jaunty angle. He needs to change the subject from what used to be his favourite one (back then, said subject was still married to him). "Your bike ride go alright?"
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
“Exhausting.” John’s careful, watchful expression turns into a self-deprecating smile. He’s not embarrassed to admit this, though—gratified, rather, to offer up another point of comparison between them that weighs in favor of Arlo, who seems more physically capable despite his recent bite. “So today I drove. Also to pick up Maggie.” He turns, searching the party for her, and points her out. “She was discharged today.”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
“The children are very happy Maggie is coming back. She is the one that attends to them when they are not feeling well. Undoubtedly they associate her with the notion of care, that someone is watching over them and can make them well.”
John blinks, a new, troubling thought occurring to him, connected to his memory of how agitated Maggie seemed while Niko and Court discussed their plans of health checks. “I am sure most of us feel this way about her. Though perhaps we do not express it much. Or at all.” He looks at Arlo with a serious expression. “It is good to tell people how you feel about them.”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
The responder's being all big and good about things but he also doesn't want to agree in a way that inspires John to do, or more accurately say... anything. To anyone. He knows he should feel worse about how selfish he knows that stupid little thought is buuut he's not.
"The teacher's your sister, right? Raisin' kids was hard enough before, must be a pain in the ass now."
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
“It is challenging,” John agrees, sounding uneasy. “But I am sure she would say there is a particular kind of joy to be felt in supporting the future. I feel the same way.”
Conditional statements, John reminds himself.
“Or she might say that there may be a joy in supporting the future. Who can truly know.”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
He shrugs. “But who knows.”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John
“If we do not see each other again before the Summit meeting, be well, Arlo.”
INTERACTIONS: Arlo and John