[SEMI-OPEN MINGLE] Baby dive in, the water feels fine

[agoddessonce]

WHO: Storm agoddessonce and friends
WHEN: a weekend in July
WHERE: At the Xavier Institute for Mutant Education and Outreach - Poolside
WHAT: Ororo felt like arranging a small, private pool day (semi-open mingle log)
NOTES\WARNINGS: Alcohol will be served so some underage drinking might slip through the cracks (please know that Ororo Disapproves Though). If your character has ever interacted with Ororo, even once, then please feel free to assume she'd invited you over to come and spend the afternoon at her place. Swimsuits highly encouraged!

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the pool;

The pool at the Institute is sparkling and inviting under the sun, glittering under the shade of the old mansion. It's a shame to see it go to waste day in and day out, so Ororo has invited a few people she's already met through her months in Etraya to use it. The water itself is cool and refreshing, and though there's an impromptu sign at the edge that proclaims POWERS ALLOWED - BUT NO HORSEPLAY to discourage rough play, there's also a tall diving board set up at one end. Guests are free to use it as they will. If any injuries occur - there's a reasonably well-stocked nurse's station inside the mansion!

Ororo had also spent a couple of days visiting Kwik Trip to see what kind of floats they could get for the day. Various pool floats are available (donut rings, pool noodles, and a dubious looking tank floatie) for guests to use and share. Try not to bother anyone who's just trying to relax!

the food, the drinks;

Ororo has no plans for the day to turn into anything particularly fancy or rowdy; she'd just wanted something casual and simple, an excuse to take a swim with some friends new and old, and to get to know the people of Etraya a little better. What better way to help people feel more open and relaxed than with a couple of drinks? There are a couple of coolers sitting around, open and full of ice and snow, with soda, juice, beer and a selection of fruity, ready-to-drink cocktails for guests who might want a drink to help them relax or break the ice.

She trusts people to self-police, generally, but will still personally, stringently remind folks to keep the alcohol from anyone sixteen and under. Do not test her! :)

There's a grill going as well, with typical barbecue fare: burgers (both vegan and beef), hot dogs, chicken wings and roasted vegetable skewers. Ororo has probably asked a friend or two to take turns manning the grill, but anyone is welcome to cook their own food to their liking. Plates are available to one side, with a range of salads, snacks and sauces and dips. Guests can dine at various seating areas set up around the poolside and in the shade.

the poolside;

There are plenty of loungers sitting around, to share or to drag into a corner to use for yourself! It's a day to relax as much as it is a day to mingle. People are free to bring their food and drink over to them, or use the chairs to work on a sun tan.

There's a basketball court not too far off from the pool here people are encouraged to play a game or two. Perhaps something easy that doesn't need a team - Horse, or a game of one-on-one? Ororo doesn't know the exact rules, but as long as no one's bursting any basketballs, she won't be upset.

the mansion;

Tired of waiting under the sun? Need a bathroom break? A select few of the mansion's rooms are open to use - the kitchen, the nearest bathrooms, and the rec room for anyone who wants a nap. If you wander upstairs, there are numerous rooms that don't see much use - one wing houses old classrooms and study rooms, an empty library, some faculty offices. The other wing has some locked bedroom suites - only a few of which are currently, actually in use. Be warned that if Ororo or some other X-Men sense or catch you lingering up here, they'll gently (... or not so gently, depends on who catches you and how they catch you) redirect you right back downstairs.

The elevator and the sublevels are completely off-limits and impossible to break into, kept secure by a combination of private codes and mutant biometrics. Nothing to see here! Just carry on. ♥

The party will last til the evening, at which point Ororo will invite people to come into the large kitchen of the mansion to piece together some dinner, or dry off or take a quick shower. If anyone's too tired (or too drunk) to go home, she'll personally take charge of turning the rec room into an impromptu blanket fort for people to sleep on couches. It's fine, none of the furniture is actually vintage or antique around here. Probably.

wildcard;

Feel free to come up with your own starters for poolside shenanigans! If your character has threaded with Ororo even once, assume you've got a personal invite for them and a +1. Hoping to keep this mingle light and easy to foster a bit of CR before the mission log goes up next week!

Comments

awards rosie w/the worst influence badge

[hasitsthorns]

"Well, usually I don't wear them because I figure why waste time?" For what? She doesn't explain. It's fine. Moving on though, the woman does see the need for a minor correction at least.

"Oh, well- Sometimes, people might see them! And sometimes you want to impress the people who do, so. That's not a bad time to wear some nice, lacy lingerie that's fun for someone else to take off. Other than that though?" A sip of her spiked punch and sigh.

"Who needs 'em? They just get in the way."

give rosie a fucking medal please

[utinam]

Nuvia will agree wholeheartedly with Rosie about the idea of wearing undergarments was a waste of time. There was no point. Clothes are used to show off just like make up and accessories are. They are to make someone look prettier or more presentable.

At the description about lacy lingerie, Nuvia had....no idea what that was, but it was apparently used to take it off? By someone else? What? Nuvia will tilt her head curiously, "There are clothes for someone else to take off you?" She doesn't think she is wearing this lingerie. "Is there anyone you want to impress, Rosie?" asked Nuvia next wondering what type of person she should allow to take her clothes off. Or at least, this lingerie business. Who does she want to impress?

[hasitsthorns]

"There are!" she chirps cheerfully. After all, this is her area of expertise. "Well, it doesn't have to be but... I don't know. I just think it's fun to wear something lacy and pretty for someone else to take off. Unwrapping me like a cute little present, y'know?" She thinks it must be a universal thing; granted, a lot of her exposure was through media, the male gaze, and not actual women so she could be a little misled.

The question actually gives her pause though. Normally, she'd laugh and make a quip like 'anyone' but that's not exactly true anymore. Is it? Not here, at least. She wasn't undressing to impress as part of a job, she'd be doing it because she genuinely wanted to. Huh.

And in that case: "Oh, uhm. I don't think I know anyone here that well yet, actually! I mean, there are some cute guys who I wouldn't mind showing off for but, like, I haven't been able to tell if. Anyone's into me like that." Which is honestly bizarre and leaves her feeling like she's floundering a little bit sometimes but Nuvia doesn't need to know all of that.

[utinam]

Lacy and pretty? This lingerie was pretty? Nuvia will begin to look down on her hands, biting the inside of her cheek thinking about it. Would wearing lingerie and showing it to someone get them to compliment her? Will they think she's pretty? Those were good questions to ask, but....

"What does lingerie look like? Are you wearing one now?" she asked next, hoping her question doesn't come off....rude. After all, Rosie will only show off her lingerie to someone special and Nuvia wasn't special. At least, not in the way of romance or like her parents.

Noticing her slight change in demeanor, Nuvia will begin to grow worried. Where did her confidence go? She will continue to listen to her words while observing her all at once. Shaking her head, Nuvia will reach for her hands, "Don't think that way! Anyone would be lucky to have you as their special someone. If they haven't pulled any moves on you, either it's too early to, like you said, or are too shy to make the first move." Even her mama has spoken to Nuvia about courting and seeking out someone special for companionship. "Don't lose your confidence! You need it to attract that special someone. If they haven't made a move on you, then you need to take the first step to show them who you really are," added Nuvia next knowing it was easier said than done, but she believes in Rosie. She was wonderful!

[hasitsthorns]

In Rosie's completely unbiased professional opinion: yes, Nuvia wearing lingerie would get someone to compliment her and think she's pretty. The important part though is that it's someone she wants to do those things. In Rosie's case, she wants everyone to so she's not as picky but-

"Oh, no, this is just a swimsuit," she says, twisting her body slightly to look at her cute vintage swimwear. "I do have lingerie though! I can show you it sometime, if you'd like. Maybe do a sleepover?" That seems like a good idea, maybe. It'd be kind of fun to host a little girls night get-together and she hasn't had the opportunity to play host yet.

"Ha," she half-laughs at the sudden pep talk. While she wasn't expecting it, it is sweet and... reaffirming. Showing them who she really was, unfortunately, was just a recipe for disaster. No one needed to know that. So: fake it until she made it with the confidence she was known for. Sure, she could do that. "I appreciate it! I just think, yeah, I'm still new and- It's different here, y'know? That kind of thing isn't people's priority, I get it."

[utinam]

Nuvia will continue to observe the adorable swimsuit Rosie was wearing with a small smile. It was a really cute swim attire. When she suggests the idea of showing it to her over a sleepover, Nuvia's eyes will begin to shine excitedly at the idea. She knows what a sleepover is! "Really? I mean, are you sure...? I don't wish to burden you," she'll say next remembering her manners.

Listening to Rosie explain the situation was different whenever it came to finding someone special, Nuvia will begin to wonder remembering her charm when they first met. Could it be that...? "What do you mean by different? Were you really sought out back in your world?" she'll ask next hoping to get the opportunity to learn more about Rosie and her world without sounding like an interrogation.

cw: discussions of sex work

[hasitsthorns]

"Oh, psht!" she can't help but laugh at the mention of that. "It's not a burden at all to throw a fun get-together." Oh, no, anything but a social commitment...! Thankfully, Rosie isn't bothered in the least by the notion. Honestly? It'll be a nice little something. Obviously, this pool party was a hit so why not try her own hand at doing something fun like a sleepover?

"Yeah, I was," she mentions, as she debates mentally how much to get into or give away. She isn't ashamed of the sexual aspect of her job; really, the farthest thing from it. But as she mentioned: here, it doesn't seem like as much of a priority or something a lot of people get into. "People even paid for the privilege to be with me. So, I was used to that desire, I guess, after a while! Since that was my life, I guess I kind of forgot it's not really the norm in a lot of places. Including here, apparently."

[utinam]

Nuvia’s eyes widen slightly, her admiration clear. “Wow, Rosie, that sounds impressive. It must be quite a skill to have so many people interested. I’m genuinely impressed—it sounds like an art in itself.”

She smiles warmly, a hint of nostalgia in her gaze. “I’m really grateful for the chance to have a sleepover with you. My last one didn’t end on the happiest note, so I’m hoping this one will be a nice change. It’s nice to think I might get another chance to enjoy one of those moments.”

[hasitsthorns]

The woman does beam a little with pride at the praise. It was impressive, wasn't it? Well, she supposes that's the key phrasing here: was. It seems like without the right audience and influence here that she's destined to just... be another unremarkable woman. Mm.

"Oh, no?" she questions, glad to shift her thoughts to the idea of a sleepover instead. "Then, hey, we'll definitely make this one fun! Everyone deserves to enjoy a nice get-together like that." They can't all be winners, she knows, but she does want to try and give people more positive experiences than anything.

[utinam]

If Nuvia's skin telepathy was active while Rosie was having these sorts of thoughts about being unremarkable, then with conviction Nuvia would remind her that she was remarkable regardless of the circumstances or choices.

Nuvia's eyes sparkle with excitement at the thought of their sleep over. "Should I bring anything to the party? Like a snack, a gift, or just anything you'd like in particular?"

[hasitsthorns]

Even if she's made some pretty awful choices? Since, you know, she'd argue that she has. It also seems like without her sex appeal being able to be used to its full advantage here that she's falling short in quite a few ways. Not that being unremarkable was necessarily a bad thing, really- She just wasn't used to it yet.

"Just bring yourself! Snacks are always welcome, yeah, but your company is what's important."

we can wrap it up at this point right?

[utinam]

Nuvia felt a warm sense of honor at Rosie’s words, thrilled that her presence alone was valued so highly. The thought made her even more excited about the upcoming event. Nodding eagerly, she smiled and said, "I won’t miss it for anything, I promise. Just let me know when you want to have the party—or else I might just camp in front of your room every day until it happens!"