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

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

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!

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The Cavalry Has Arrived

What’s a party without rum? If he’s not the host, he’ll be a good guest and bring the right stuff. He arrives in a Hawaiian shirt and a pair of shorts and sandals, but he’ll shed all of those into a pile under a beach chair for his speedo. It’s daring, but not any more risqué than his usual swimwear (nothing). He’s in good shape, relatively speaking. He’s lean and muscular still, even in his middle age, though this amount of undress reveals dozens of battle scars. He’s not too self conscious about those, though his hand passes over the greying of his petrifying skin. It covers much of his left arm, especially his shoulder and collects at his joints and scattered over his body. It’s a sign of the curse, the disease, far advanced.

But as far as he could tell, no one here knew what it meant, and so no one would really care. It did not hold the same sort of stigma as it did back home. So… He lets it go. And to make sure he does, he takes a healthy shot right from one of the liquor bottles. It’s fine.

He sets the bottles up in the ice, though the one he’d already opened he pours into the punch, summarily spiking it.

For Ororo

Cid finds Ororo easily enough in all of this, bravely sauntering up in his skimpy little purple speedo, yet he feels like it’s the most in spirit for the occasion… And his general intents.

“Beautiful gathering you’ve put together, my lady,” the words would sound hokey coming out of anyone else’s mouth, like as not.

“I hope I’ve chosen something appropriate- I do feel well supported in this, I must admit. Ah- I brought a stronger refreshment, if you’d like to share it with me.” Cid is a man who cannot stay still. Like the electricity that courses in his veins, he is unable to stay still. He moves rhythmically, easily, like he can always hear music others cannot.

Edited 2024-07-13 03:45 (UTC)

Poolside

[Barnabas is only here because of Cid. Ordinarily he would avoid such mingling as this, especially without it being strictly linked to any such mission they are currently expected to undertake, however there was something about Cid's goading that spurred him to arrive. Perhaps some truth to the underlying and unspoken sentiment of needing to better know the others for future endeavors. Of course Cid didn't say as much as that, something more along the lines of Barnabas being in need of some sun and socializing because he's such a gloomy bastard, but that hardly matters.

In the end, Barnabas is here, manifesting into existence in a swirl of black and red mist, clad in little more than a small black speedo, which leaves...very little to the imagination. Barnabas is a muscular man, years of battle and training chiseling his physique into the sculpture of power that it is. Yet, despite all those decades of war and fighting, he bears but a single scar upon his body: a diagonal streak which stretches from his clavicle near his shoulder, down to just before his sternum, resting over his heart. A curious thing, for someone otherwise so unmarred as he is.

More curious still is how he simply does not join in the shenanigans in the pool, nor does he take interest in the food that is offered. As far as basketball goes? Well, he does not partake in that either, but to be fair to him, he is wholly unfamiliar. Instead, he simply chooses to observe, standing off to the side as he keeps an eye on everything happening. Which is... a little unnerving, to be honest.

In fact, it's very possible that if you feel eyes on you, it's because you are indeed being watched, and should you turn to meet his gaze, he does not break it. Is this a challenge? Maybe he wants something..? Or he's just exceedingly off-putting and weird. It could be all of these things, in truth.

Who invited this gu—oh, right. Cid.]

Edited 2024-07-13 03:48 (UTC)

[ Ororo has used the pool herself a few times before today, so she isn't clamoring for the water. Instead, she lingers at the edges and plays hostess. That means she's everywhere, from flitting back and forth from the grill, plucking empty beer bottles to set aside and discard later, watching the pool because there isn't, actually, a lifeguard (but that's okay, she knows how to do CPR!) and using the wind to pull over any wayward floaties that look like they've collapsed and need a little extra air.

Anyone else would look rattled, but she's long mastered the art of keeping cool under pressure - plus she enjoys multi-tasking. It's something to keep her occupied and busy instead of anxious about home, about being stuck here for months and whatever waits for them next. Anywhere and any-when else, she and a team of heroes would have solved the mysteries of Etraya by now - and yet, here she still is. Here they all are.

She's interrupted by a splash that gets to her feet, prompting a laugh and a smile from her. She can't be too mad, not when it's so refreshing to hear the mansion come alive with people and chatter. Whatever it is your character is doing, she joins them with a warm look. ]

I hope you're enjoying yourself? I thought we could use the break. [ From, you know, everything. ]

"Cid." She's happy to see him around. Ororo had missed his arrival, hadn't seen that he came in some actual shorts. But the current swimwear he's sporting gets a quick glance at best, and a lingering little grin of amusement that lights up her eyes.

"But-- stronger refreshments..." she arches a brow at him, looking back at the nearest table where the punch sits. She has her suspicions, but...

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about how those may have been shared among the other guests through the fruit punch, would you?"

Cid bites his lower lip for a moment as he takes her outfit in. It’s… A lot, for a man like him. He manages to keep it together. He watches her look at the table, he chuckles and scratches his stubbled cheek.

“They’re near enough neighbors, aren’t they? Something was bound to spill. What’s the matter?” He shifts his weight as he crosses his arms, aware that he’s probably about to be scolded, yet confident that he can weasel out of the ire.

[Cid can feel the eyes on him. Well. There was one person here who knew what all the petrification on him meant, and he was currently just fucking staring at him! Cid sighs, chats with others, and eventually meanders over to Barnabas as if it’s a casual matter. He presses a cold beer into his hand.]

Try to look like less like a guard who hasn’t noticed that he’s been robbed completely bare, eh? Socialize, for God’s sake. Whichever one you like best. Slab like you, standing about like he’s taken a hit of something he shouldn’t have is bound to scare the other guests, eh?

Edited 2024-07-13 05:09 (UTC)

[Enjoying himself? Well, not quite, but it is not a matter of this party being subpar or anything. Barnabas just has issues. He eyes Ororo, steel blue eyes scrutinizing her with stoic neutrality, though in truth he recognizes her. Not because they have met, they haven't, but because he had seen her talking with Cidolfus before. At Roxx's here recently, even, having taken notice of them but keeping to the shadows.

His eyes linger for a moment, before he casts them towards those in the pool, as if his interest is with them. It isn't.]

Indeed. [As he speaks his voice is soft and slow, carried by a Scandinavian accent.] Frivolity oft sustains morale for those which require coddling.

Lounging Poolside~
[When he had gotten the invite for the pool party he was admittedly a bit thankful.

As weird as it sounded pool parties were something he went to often in Hell. Cause as it turns out there IS water in Hell, it's just not iced.

But there was always a sort of expectation that he fit a certain look, acted a certain way, and partied just the right amount so that whomever had paid him to be there was completely satisfied with their services and even now that the reason he felt that pressure was entirely removed there was a nagging feeling that he preform just right and look simply gorgeous. Which he did in a black bikini with silver glitter spider webs laced across and light boots with ribbons all the way up to his thighs, making his already long legs appear longer, and are tied off with spider pins. He also has a matching lacy sun hat with spider webbing adornment for a whole 'beach goth' look.

He grabs himself some liquid courage anywhere he can and moves to find a place to camp out. He will not be going in the water thank you very much, but he will take a moment to lounge outside with everyone because, well, he needs this. Eventually he finds a chair not so close to the water to avoid getting splashed accidentally.]

Is this seat taken?

Kiss the Cook~
[One of the benefits of having multiple arms is that it makes cooking a breeze. So when there's a general request that people help out with that sort of thing Angel figures the least he could do is offer since he actually enjoys cooking.

If anyone dares to come get burgers and dogs from him they'll be treated to a bit of a show as he easily flips burgers with one hand, toasts buns with another, applies various cheeses with even another and offers to take your plate from you with the last. Because he's wearing a bikini it will be easier his sixth set of arms as well, which are currently unoccupied and folded up in a pair against his spine.]

What'da'ya want and how'da'ya like it?

Hm. Is it frivolity if it is needed for morale, and morale is so important?

[ She looks at him steadily and curiously. What a choice of words - it sounds almost as if he didn't want to be here at all. ]

She takes that as a confession, basically, and starts heading for the punch table. He's free to stay right where is is or to follow, of course, but she may expect the latter as she walks and talks.

"Nothing was going to spill if I were just keeping a closer look." So she's taking this as at least partially her own fault.

"There are children about, and I don't want them getting into any alcohol. That is not what this party is about."

[Barnabas looks down at the beer as it is pressed into his hand, his eyes narrowing, but he does take it all the same. Then his gaze returns to Cid as he speaks.]

And to what end would I converse with them? [His gaze shifts to the people in the pool as they splash and play, as if that makes his point, before looking at Cid again.

Then his eyes trail to Cid's shoulder, and the corners of his mouth tug slightly into a frown.]

...Ever impetuous and irresponsible in equal measure.

"Children?"

He looks around, palms up, arms spread trying to spot what he pictures when someone says children. Which would... be anyone visibly under 12, really.

"I didn't know we had little lads and lassies about! I wouldn't have worn this had I..." thank goodness for the first two impressions cause this third one was going great. He fails to spot anyone he would consider a child.

"What children?!"

Edited 2024-07-13 05:37 (UTC)

Well, I don't know, Barnabas. Could it be that we're stranded at our mercy on a hostile foreign realm? Now's the time to make friends. You used to trust my advisement.

[He follows the other's gaze and shrugs.]

You know me. Can't help making mischief.

"Laura is about eleven or twelve," she responds, pausing to hover her hand at an approximate height for the girl. "She is one of the residents of the Institute." Usually. Sometimes. Ororo was working on getting her to stay in the mansion more often, but there's only so far she could go without being too intimidating, and the last thing she wanted was to scare her off.

"I doubt she would drink anything spiked - her nose is a little too good at sniffing out suspicious drinks - but I did ask her to invite some friends." Their ages would have been anywhere from her age, to perhaps fifteen or sixteen. Still children, to Ororo's mind. She frowns at the thought.

"I don't want any of them to drink something they ought not to, especially if they're not even aware of what they're having."

[Angel happens to sit just as he begins to light a cigarette down wind from the rest of the party. Until someone comes and tells him it put it out, at least.]

Not at all, make yourself comfortable.

[He's pretty loose at this point, decently liquored and starting to tan further on his bespeedoed body. He offers the other his open pack of cigarettes.]

Smoke?

[If the other takes one, he will then light it with a flame from his finger tip ]

Edited 2024-07-13 07:08 (UTC)

"...Then I apologize," he murmurs, scanning the area for a girl of that height and feeling suddenly exposed. His own little girl was eleven, and it leaves a heavy feeling in his chest. He rubs his forehead.

"Is it any trouble to replace it? Maybe we ought to put that out of the children's reach... I can be back, quick as you like."

[That's because he doesn't exactly want to be anywhere, but that simply is not in the cards, is it?]

A matter of perspective. [He keeps his eyes on the people in the pool for a beat or two, then looks to her.] Morale is important for those in need of it, this I will not deny. Though, I see not what else one might name this—[as if on cue, someone in the pool dunks someone else, resulting in a splash fight,]—if not frivolity.

I am open to suggestions.

She shakes her head as she picks up the entire punch bowl. A little sniff tells her that it is, indeed, probably not just fruit juice in there anymore. Hopefully not a lot of kids have had a drink of it yet.

"No, I should have been clear about who was coming to this affair." She was clear, or clearer, when she discussed it with the other X-Men, but not with the people she'd invited. It's not like there was a guestlist or anything. Well, whatever the case, she feels responsible, and she's going to fix it.

"It's not too much trouble. I believe we have something to replace it in the kitchen, but I'll likely have to set this aside for... Well, for others' consumption, I suppose. Away from curious hands, at least."

[Barnabas just shakes his head, his nose slightly scrunched as he casts his eyes away from Cid. Both the idea of making friends and how Cid chose to downplay his curse as simple mischief is...annoying. An odd feeling that pulls at him, while all other feelings typically die before they reach his becalmed heart.

Troublesome.]

All of that blustering and for what? Defying me? You chose to waste away in a cave, slowly turning to stone, all for some foolish notion...

“I should have been more mindful. I didn’t think such a place would… involve children. Naive of me, certainly,” he says with a sigh. He decides to follow and accompany her to wherever the punch is going. He seems to be taking this plenty seriously, at least.

“…There’s half a bottle of rum in there,” he mutters, as if it’s secret knowledge. “Goes great with the fruit, I admit. And I usually drink it straight or with a bit of lime.”

What was he, a sailor? Well…

“I hope I didn’t cause any harm. I only saw some lads take cupfuls, but they looked old enough to enlist by the width of their shoulders,” he muses.

[Cid pats him hard on the shoulder.]

Yeah, and you ended up exactly the same place as me. So mind your tone, eh?

[Cid takes a sip of his beer, pressing the cool glass to his own neck.]

[Barnabas gives him a withering look, then eyes the beer in his hand. He does not want this swill...]

Insufferable till the last.

[He lets his gaze drift to Ororo who is busy with something else at the moment.]

Tell me—who is she to you?

[If Cid looks at him, he'll tilt his head towards her.]

Edited 2024-07-13 06:53 (UTC)

I am who I am.

[He knows who he’s referring to without looking, but it’s in his nature to follow another’s gaze. His eyes lock back on Barnabas. He frowns.]

A friend. Something you’d understand the value of if you took the time. Why?

Friendships are meaningless, such bonds are but shackles.

[Barnabas offers coldly, because Cidolfus was the one who showed him that, yet he doesn't voice it. Nor does he answer why he asked. Frankly, that isn't any of Cid's business.]

Hmm. A break, is the word I used. [ You know, when she first came to stand next to him. Belatedly, she wishes she'd brought a bottle of something to sip at, too. His rectience would be easier to navigate if she had something to soothe it down. ]

Someone once told me that a warrior who does not rest can only die. So this... is a chance to rest our hearts and minds. [ She looks at him. ] But if you must be productive - it is also a chance to network. It's a little easier to work with people if you know who they are.

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

Cid Telamon | open + closed | Will match style cw: Cid is trying to mack on the ladies

Barnabas Tharmr | OTA | Will match style!

Ororo Munroe | ota | hosted this thing because it seemed like a good idea

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Angel Dust | ota | these are general starters feel free to ask for other options!

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Oh No, he's a literal daddy

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oh yes he isssss. A daddy through and through

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