Things are just about to start ramping up, and V is Johnny tonight, bustling around a little to ensure all the last little details are all taken care of. There's a few folks lining up outside early, but the bulk seem happy to wait elsewhere, or in their cars, for the time being.
The moody Shadow is still Teagan, being a cat, laying on the couch. It's nice by the fire pit, and they've thrown away the box for their earlier pizza, but they're just not going to stop lounging unless someone makes them. Sleepy punk cat, laying on their stomach on the couch. Every shop needs a cat.
Ziv is out and about, in spite of the cold weather - but then again she is a Winter! Not that that helps. Neither does the fairly light clothing she's wearing, which currently consists of a cowl-necked but sleeveless jersey dress, knee-length athletic leggings and... well. No shoes. Screw that.
Her ears twitch as she enters and she tilts her head back, looking around before over in the direction of Teagan - then noticing Vorpal/Johnny after. Her lower lip is drawn in between her teeth, before she says, "Oh, hey. I'm... early, huh? Or..."
"Right on time, more like!" Johnny proclaims, holding the door open after Ziv slips in, letting in a slow but steady stream of the fitness focused and those just hunting the latest party. "Come in, come in! There's attendants back in the gym and the obstacle course, PLEASE do listen to them, they do have the authority to expel uncooperative visitors," he explains to those entering, before one of the employees switches him out to explain the scant list of rules for the event. "I'm glad you two could make it! Seriously, it's appreciated."
Yawning elaborately, Teagan stretches up to sitting once Johnny holds the door open. "Yeah, well. I gotta come support you. Besides, I was already here, and it's effin' cold out here." They roll up to their feet, shaking themselves out, and wiggles their fingers in greeting to Ziv, extending an arm out in greeting to her. "The party starts when you get here, Zee-bat."
"Oh... wait. Do we actually have to exercise?" wonders Ziv, going agog for a moment and her ears folding slightly back. She glances over a shoulder, casting a dubious glance in the direction of the actual -gym- area, not seeming very thrilled... But then Teagan's offering hugs, and she heads over there, curling her wings around the Darkling and giving a firm squeeze to her. "Hey, Teags."
"You don't HAVE to, but it's certainly what a lot of others are going to be doing," explains Johnny, welcoming a few more folks in. To be honest, with his mask up, he gets little more than polite attention. He has very little personal presence without the force of his Wyrd, not that it seems to bother him. It's the employees that do most of the crowd control and education, which seems to suit him just fine. He DOES get some few tentative stops from people who have that air of violence around them- those who have had it used against them, rather than those who use. He speaks to them quietly and sends them on their way with a smile and a pat on the shoulder after adding their name to a list on a clipboard under one arm.
GAME: Vorpal spends 2 Glamour
Wings all curled around them, Teagan wraps Ziv up in long arms and leans to kiss the top of her head affectionately. "How you do, Zeebs?" They lean comfortably, squeeze the smaller Winter in close. "Pfff, exercise. I guess," Teagan drolls, but they flash their even white teeth at Johnny, because they are -- always -- almost always -- only teasing. "I don't have anything but this. Oh, but I do have a new podcast to listen to. So that's cool. I guess."
Ziv is wrapped up! Therefore, Ziv snuggles in closer, nestling her head in against Teagan's chest and shoulder before looking over at... Johnny, curiously, where he's standing near the door, dark eyes vaguely curious. "Oh, right, New Music Friday?" she asks, glancing up at Teagan curiously for a moment. "I just... Wanted to be here. So... schedule clear for today, I figured I should at least come say -hi- and all..." she says to Johnny, with a small and lopsided smile.
"No, that one went down," laments Johnny, shaking his head as he moves closer to the pair. "I meant it when I said I was glad you came, Ziv, you don't have to explain it." He bends down and catches the little bat's chin, holding her in place for a kiss before sharing one with the Darkling holding her. "And hello to you, since you came all this way to say it! No, their new podcast is a little different, but I'll let them explain," Vorpal murmurs, caught up by another of the guests wanting their name on his list.
"No, my Amanda used to do that, but she has like... a million jobs, so she stopped doing that." Teagan shrugs a little bit at that, but clearly they're a little disappointed. "I do miss it, we used to flirt with each other through the show. No, it's, uh, something about like, weird local stuff. This guy Boyd who came by earlier does it, he set up the iTunes on my phone so I can listen to it. He avoids local Stories though." The capital S is very audible in the words they say. When kisses are delivered, Teagan leans back a bit to let one be given to Ziv, before taking their own from Johnny. They smile thereafter, and there's a slow, feline blink as that smile's turned to Johnny, then down to Ziv.
Ziv's ears fold back a bit and she chirrrs for a moment at the kiss, returning it to Vorpal, but still keeping in mind the discussion going on as her mottled tongue passes over her lips. "Oh. That does sound pretty interesting... I'll have to check it out and... y'know... actually get a decent phone instead of the really old one so I can use speech to text and all of that." She flicks an ear again, then leans up to give Teagan a smooch as well. Gotta close the circle!
Vorpal curls his lips in a grin as Ziv rolls upwards to plant one of her own kisses onto Teagan herself, mostly occupied with reassurances towards the rather harried young woman that there'd be security and safety guaranteed at some class or another. She thanks him profusely before skirting her way out as fast as she can, and he shuffles off to make nice for a bit while the two figure out their smooch situation!
"He's a young pup, that Boyd. We'll introduce him to the good people." Teagan might have said more, but then Ziv turns to close the circle after licking her lips. Surprise flickers briefly across the Darkling's face, but not displeased surprise: the kiss is returned in the moment. "Well. Thank you, Zeebat," comes their murmur. A flicked glance after Vorpal as he sidles off, and that casually-degenerate smile of theirs slips across their face before one kiss becomes two. So there.
The kiss is returned, Ziv's eyes partially closing as Teagan takes their turn in doing so. Then, she's looking over at Vorpal while he attends to the guests. "Do you need... any help?" She's not an employee, though. She knows nothing about this. A curious glance is given up to the Darkling then, after, and she wonders, "How new? I don't think I've met him... but I'd kinda like to."
Vorpal turns back towards the pair and blinks at Ziv's question, shaking his head with a smirk. "Not a chance. That," he explains, gesturing towards the two. "Is new, and this, is boring. Important, but boring. I'll handle this- you two handle each other." Pause. "You can duck upstairs if said handling gets spicy. This IS technically a public place." Not that either of them is likely to forget that, but he's trying to be responsible, bless'im.
"I am surrounded by a glorious forest of enablers," laughs Teagan at Vorpal's response to Ziv, shaking their shaggy-mopped head in amused delight. The Summer's Mantle crackles and pops, and they keep their arms wrapped around the batling. "Oh, Boyd's ... like, new. Like he's been back in town -- back in his life -- a couple months, he said? He needed kind of a walk-through of some of the ways things were organized around here, like, pretty basic." One hand casually pets down Ziv's spine, public-okay, at least. Comfortable and affectionate: apparently Ziv sets the pace and tone. Not surprisingly, as Teags is the non-binary Regent of Consent.
"Ummm... I don't... know about that," says Ziv, her ears turning red while she looks over towards Vorpal still - but does lean into the pettings, ever affectionate. At the explanation about Boyd, and she gives a nod in agreement to Teagan, chewing at her lower lip again. "Oh, I... see," she says, shifting her jaw a bit. "What's his podcast going to be about?" Her ears twitch curiously, at that.
Dielle comes down from the 2nd Floor Loft.
The night's gotten started, and there's a good lot of mortals spread between the lobby, gym, and courses out back. Not many are willing to brave the exterior in this weather, but there's plenty on the inside obstacles, and more just milling around and talking, making connections. A few of those connections come from folks with the air of having been hurt, who stop to speak to Johnny- as he is at the moment, his Mask fully in place and strengthened to resist the power he holds. A growing list of names is on a clipboard under his arm, but save for those few interactions, he's mostly ignored but for niceties sake- his personal presence is absolutely minimal without the force of his Wyrd behind it. On the couch near the firepit, Ziv and Teagan are tangled, discussing podcasts and new arrivals whilst snuggling and staying warm- Johnny flits about where he's needed.
Dielle comes from the private door, wearing jeans, cowboy boots, and the kind of sweatshirt that has the single pocket with double holes. At the moment, both of Dee's hands are in her pockets, because she's got the perfect handwarmers in it. The back of the (black) sweatshirt has four menacing-but-cute unicorns on it, the Four Unicorns of the Apocalypse. It's not surprising because hands, but the pocket of her sweatshirt seems to be moving from the inside.
Casually wrapped around Ziv, Teagan seems amused when the batling blushes, her ears going all red. Bright, even white teeth are bared, and used to tug on one of Ziv's ears, the gesture followed with a peck. It's about as spicy as the Shadow cares to get in public, perhaps. They're fully-dressed in their coat still, not ready for exercise, which shouldn't surprise anyone who knows that Baby the Machete is hanging underneath that coat and that long hoodies. "It's about urban myths and weird stuff. I think it's a misdirect as much as it's anything else. If you want, Zeebs, I'll help you pick a nicer phone and get it set up? I had an iPhone, but I broke it, and then the guy at the store last week helped me get a Samsung set up, and I like it pretty good. I might get another iPhone when this one breaks though, I like Siri. She's the digital assistant." Casual chatter. The arrival of Dielle has Teagan extracting one hand from around Ziv to wiggle their fingers at her.
The blush only deepens, which is really only visible on Ziv's ears - maybe her nose. Because, black fur. Dark skin. The ear flicks in retaliation, hitting Teagan's chin, but then Ziv is nodding with the thing about urban myths and phones. "I'd... I'd like that, I think! I keep putting it off, because I don't know what I'm looking for, and..." And then Ziv's phone is ringing. Frowning, she extricates herself and then says, "Excuse me."
Jon was built like... well he was a meathead linebacker. He'd found one of his Boston GOllege Football shirts and stretched it over himself with his gym shorts, and sturdy but worn in shoes. The Jotun's long hair was pulled back in a low pony tail and he looked like Dielle's damn security detail. In his case usually the guy holding a hand out for them to stop and warn them they're about to make poor lifechoices so Dielle doesn't have to break stride and beat up any stupid harassing her. Really he was there as deterrant and a warning, she was her own enforcer, and that is why we love her. "Vee. Sup buddy?" He was huge, and hulking but his steps were thought out and careful as if acutely aware he may damage things and was consciously respectful of that.
"Hey, there, Jon, DL. How you two doing?" Vorpal greets both pleasantly, as if it isn't paramount weird to have him be so normal, have his -eyes- visible. He flashes grins their way and drifts over, showing them the clipboard. "Check this out. Got a half-dozen signups for that self defense class already. A total wash, monetarily, but we knew that. I'm not sure whether to be glad we got so many interested, or dismayed we got so many that need it."
Dielle says, "Hey, Johnny!" to Vorpal. "That's freaking awesome, though! Because signups for classes lead to signups for memberships!" She sees Teagan and beams at her, really big, and snickers as Ziv leaves. "I bathed and everything! Just ask this big lug behind me!" She pulls one hand out and waves, and a kitten's head pops out, while said kitten's paw bats after Dielle's lost hand. "Jeez, Fluffbutt, I'm /sorry!/" She sticks her hand back in and resumes petting, while heading over towards the people she knows.
The deepening blush only makes that smile of Teagan's, that casually degenerate look of theirs that's so common in Teagan's expressions, even though the Mirrorskin's face slides and slips, picking up aspects of the mortals milling around, and of Jon, and Ziv, and and and... Mirrorskins, man. As Ziv heads out, Teagan releases her, smacking her backside as she goes. "I'll text you," they assure the batling, then slip their hands into their pockets. They tip their head toward Jon and wrinkle their forehead up questioningly at Dielle, even as they're greeting her: "Oi, Dee." A shrug as Ziv goes. "Oh, it ain't you. My swagger can be overwhelming at times."
Jon rolled a shoulder replying to Vorpal, "EEeeh about to push my father's Ford over the brakewall." He snort laughed, "Whiiiich is why I am not in Boston right now." To say the least. A finger followed through the gather and dropped on Teagan looking at them. "Sup. Jon." Looking to Dielle and the difficulties witthe kitten he sighed and sacrificed a frozen finger to teh cause for the little guy to gnaw on.
Vorpal grins to DL at her excitement, but reminds, "True, but those are more for the self-improvement they'll spur than the cash flow. I hesitate to call those charity cases, but they're literally for their own good." He ROLLS his eyes as the Lieutenant and the Squire banter over who drove off the cute little bat first. "Are you saying you're frustrated? Or that you've got someone trying to conscript you for heavy labor?" He seems... genuinely lost in translation, even as he's sidelined for yet another sign-up.
Dielle turns to check Jon for a moment, but there's a finger. Wait, that's too low. She takes his hand, lifts it up and gnaws on his finger a bit. Then she makes a face. "Garlic sausage?" she asks, before lowering it down so the kitten can gnaw on it. "And what IS going on with your father?" She turns and does that thing at Teagan when you're trying to wink, but you can't close just one eye, so it's a crinkle-eyed blink that looks kind of wrong. "Your swagger is immense, it's true. I'm almost intimidated, myself."
"How often do you roll your eyes at me when I can't tell you're rolling your eyes at me, Johnny?" Teagan's smile, flashed at Vorpal, is affectionate, easy, amused. Their hands stay in their pockets, but their chin tips up at Jon. "Teagan," they answer. Their Mantle is a dead giveaway which Court they call their own: it's a broiling Summer heat with the smell of sun-baked asphalt and the distant crackle of radios, begging for medics, never answered. 'Urban warfare' totes a thing. "... how many cats are in your tits, Dee?" And then laughter. "It's an immense, world-spanning swagger."
"You've no earthly idea and that's for the best," soothes Vorpal as Teagan questions his eyerolling frequency. "Those are tumcats, not titcats, they're in the pocket, not her bra," laughs the Dawn, shaking his head after signing up the most recent applicant. His eyes flick up at Jon as well, curious as to this answer about dear old Daddio.
Jon snorted, "That was for- nevermind. Yeah got new chips. Season's out so carbs are in." He answered Teagan deadpan, "SHe's got three sweater kittens. It's like Total Recall all over again. It's crazy." His mantle was not as strong but it carried that urgency, that faint hint of adreneline, and that faint sense of anxiety like the whistle's going to sound and the offense is going to collide head to head with them at any moment. All of it screams 'think fast'. Looking back to Dielle an eyebrow went up, "Same shit. My cousin's workin for him now. Called me."
"He pissed that it ain't you? If so, I have a dick he can suck. It might be plastic, but what the hell." If Dielle rolls her eyes any harder, she'll pull a muscle or something. She points at Vorpal and says, "What he said. Because I don't have three sweater-kittens. I got five. Unless Jon's tryin' to claim two of them. Or something." She pulls her sweatshirt out. "Nope, just two in there." She lets the sweatshirt go back and adds, "The other four aren't as well behaved in pockets, I didn't want to bring 'em."
The joint is jumpin', but while there are mortals swarming the place, all the Lost are in this one area. And Vorpal's being Johnny, hiding his insane Wyrd under that mortal guise.
GAME: Vorpal spends 10 Glamour
"Another beautiful lie," drolls Teagan back to Vorpal, the corner of their mouth curling up just so as Vorpal soothes them -- or tries to, in any case -- as they stay well out of the whole family business as if it makes them itch. When they bring their left hand up to rub through their hair, it glitters. There's a ring there, and it's new, for Dielle's edification. Titanium with a diamond set flush to the band. "Titcats and tumcats sound like some sort of adorable stuffed animals you'd buy on Etsy." They're standing casually by the fire pit, chatting with everyone. "It's cute."
Glitch comes pushing his way in, looking around the lobby at the arena crowd. He quickly zeroes in on the gathering of Lost and shuffles his way over towards the group, hands in his hoodie pockets, pixellated face peering out from under his hood. He approaches Teagan first, though there's a glance and a nod to Dielle and "Johnny" too. "Hey."
"Does she sell stuffed animals?" blinks Vorpal, puzzled at the Etsy reference. Dielle's comment about what Jon's uncle can suck on leaves him chuckling, though it flattens a bit at the beautiful lie line from Teagan. Glitch is immediately welcomed with a firm nod and a wave towards warm seating with Teagan, and a quick glance towards the door. Gotta be sure no trouble followed, when there's mortals about, after all. "Hey, man, welcome to the party. Gonna work out? Or socialize, like everyone else?"
Jon looked around and muttered, "Naw Dee, that ain't t. Christ on a Cracker there's enough of us here to form an 80's knock off band Johnny! Jonni! Johnne!" Looking up to Glitch there was an upnod from the chillaxin linebacker. "Sup, dude." To Dielle there was a squint, Fluffernutter's pretty cool about sleeping in the hood of my sweatshirt. He don't climb too much."
Dielle says, with a grin, "Titcats sounds like it's gonna be the next big weird-ass trend, since bare-tit sweater reindeer were a thing this year. Tumcats sounds like somethin' out of Alice in Wonderland. And we ain't even covered hood cats. Which sound ghetto as fuck, but that ain't bad. Heya, Glitch, how're they hangin'? This is Jon, he's my "boyfriend who lives in Canada." She's wearing a hoodie-type sweatshirt with a kitten peeking out of the pocket, chewing on Jon's finger.
"What?" Teagan, of course, doesn't know the mermaid, and just gives Vorpal sort of a blank look. When his look flattens, Teagan raises an eyebrow at him, their broken-mirror eyes glittering softly. They don't say anything, though, just press their lips together, and shake their head a little bit. "I could make titcats work," Teagan asserts. "It'll go with my swagger." Their hand reaches out for Glitch, then. "Hey, Player One."
Glitch squeezes Teagan's hand firm as he looks to those present, and takes the offered seat next to the mirrorskin. "Hey," he offers to Jon, face flickering around his far-off eyes a bit. "Just coming to say hi I guess," he murmurs. "I have business but it's a dumb thing to talk about here," he beeps, in addition...
"If you've got business, man, we can get whoever you need to talk to some private space to chat. Or if it can wait, this'll all be done eventually. What's your pleasure, man?" Teagan's eyebrow raise prompts a quiet, apologetic grimace. The headshake seems to be a faint touch of reassurance, and he moves past it. "I'm going to personally blame each and every one of you for any of these trends that somehow manage to take off. Titcats, indeed," snorts Vorpal. The influx is dying down, and most of the socializers have either moved to exercise or filtered out. The event, as it is, is dying out towards something closer to the end of a business day.
Jon looked to Glitch who was, mildly, unique. "Your own business? Baller. That's actually pretty swanky." Pleanant in tone, the Render still did not offer and disinclined handshakes for all of the obvious reasons. When one balled a security door like in foil, one didn't care much for the careless endangerment of others. That's right kids Ogre responsibility is everyone's responsibility. Stay in school.
Dielle watches the Ogre go and grins as he does. Then she turns back to the group. "How's everyone doin'? Aside from having horror shows about bras filled with kittens instead of tits?" She finds a seat near Teagan and since there are less people, she coaxes the fluffbutt out of her pocket.
Jon gnawed on Dielle's head and murmured something to her and actually kissed her on teh top of the head... but kicked her chair. Ogre love was complicate.
Jon goes up to the 2nd floor loft.
"He needs to get Equipment, and I don't know who to refer him to." There's a capital E on that which is audible. "That's definitely a conversation we wanna have, like, not here." Teagan's hand stays easily knit with Glitch's, and they smile back at Vorpal when he grimaces and shakes his head. "You can blame me for any bad trends that start, that's sort of my role, to be a harbinger of terribleness." A flash and glitter in their broken mirror eyes. "I'm good, Dee. Did you see the ring?" Their hand turns up, showing the titanium and diamond. "No, I'm not getting married for a year, and yes I'm still a stray cat and this was Amanda, not me."
Glitch pushes his hand firmly into Teagan's without fluster, fingers twining theirs reassuringly. He nods at Teagan's assessment of his situation as well, looking to Vorpal to confirm. The talk about cats, he...mostly ignores.
Dielle is distracted for a moment by the kiss, which kind of surprised her. It's in public. But then she sees The Ring and she /squeals/ and the kitten claws her. She apologizes and says, "Congratulations, Teagan, that's fuckin' AWESOME!" She looks delighted and gives the other Lost a one-armed hug. "I'm so happy for you! That thing's PURTY." If she's a bit envious, it's hard to tell, she's too busy being happy for the happy couple. Nor does she comment on the hand-holding, other people's relationships are too complicated, she'll just be happy. It's easier.
"Doing alright. Glad tonight was as big a success as it is- glad everyone here is doin' pretty damn well- looking forward to some of the changes coming up this next season thanks to the new management." Vorpal nods firmly, grinning at Dielle's explosion of squee, keeping an idle eye on the nearest bystanders, down to a scant handful. "As for Equipment, I know some providers, it just depends on whether you need wholesale hardware or comission work. We can discuss that a little later, if it's sensitive in nature."
They use their spare arm to hug Dielle, lopsidedly smiling. "Thanks, Dee. Honestly, Amanda just... I mean. I have some History, but she just like... Decided, and that was that. I don't mind it. She keeps me tethered." Considering the other influences in Teagan's life, Godlings and aspirant-Gentry-fighters in the Digital Boy alike, that's probably a good thing. "Thanks. She got something that even I couldn't destroy. I'm impressed. And like. She got me a beater car that isn't as bad as the one I had. I'm a spoiled shadow." A bit of silvering along their cheekbones. Maybe that's how Teagan blushes.
Glitch squeezes Teagan's hand and lets go of it for the moment, so they can properly hug and celebrate with Dielle. He looks over to Vorpal with a firm nod. "You seem like...you'd be the one to talk to about it," he murmurs, studying the masked human form of Vorpal with pause, if not exactly concern. "Somewhere else. And I'm fine not sticking around here," he beeps, fidgeting in place. "I mean, I'm cool to hang out, but. You know."
Dielle nods at Teagan and says, "I swear, it's like most of my friends are either engaged or recently married. It's pretty amazin'. How do y'all do it? I've kinda figured out if I wanna nail Jon down, so to speak, I'll probably have to buy HIM a ring." She grins as she says it. She's probably not joking.
Johnny drifts quiet under the conversation topic in question, taking a few moments to check in on the last guest or two remaining here in the lobby. He gets back in time for Glitch's comments, nodding his way through them. "I'll be happy to share what I know. I think things are quiet enough that the staff can run things at this point. We could relocate, or head upstairs if Dielle approves." He snorts laughter at the idea of proposing to Jon, and nods- sounds about right.
GAME: Glitch recovers from all damage.
"Well," comes Teagan's answer, letting Glitch's hand go so that they can show the ring to Dielle properly, "I mean, all things considered, Amanda Green is definitely the femme in our relationship. And she's the one who got down on one knee and asked me to be handfasted with her and marry her in a year if it all works out. So... you know. Like I said, she steamrolled me. She decided she wanted this, with all that it comes with, and... so, like. Do it. If you want it." What, like Teagan of all people was going to tell Dielle to hang on to gender roles? CINNAMON ROLLS NOT GENDER ROLES.
Glitch glances over to Dielle and gives her a comically awkward shrug. "Nathania proposed to me," he beeps out loud. "Women propose all the time, when they're player characters." He sort of just stares off after saying that, letting everyone else decide how to react.
Dielle nods at Teagan and says, "Yeah. I just got no clue what kinda ring to get him. What he really wants is like a Superbowl ring, but that ain't somethin' I can get." She gives Glitch a weird look, not really knowing how to respond and nods at Johnny. "Be my guest. Thought the third floor was yours, anyhow." Never mind the visitor, that no one really knows about. Maybe she's in Johnny's Hollow or something?
Maybe she is! Who knows. "Sounds good to me. Honestly, I'm about drained. This has been- uniquely exhausting. I've got about enough energy to listen to what sorta stuff you're looking for, and make a note to start hunting down someone who can make good on it. Let's head upstairs and hash this out so I can get myself home and in bed, if that's amenable to all involved." Johnny's trying very hard to neither interact with nor stifle talks of marriage. W
Which is hard, in a group comprised of a married man, a newly engagedish person, and a lass in a long-term relationship.
"Aight, let's blow this popsicle stand, or whatever the kids are saying," Teagan agrees, and gestures to Vorpal. "I have no idea. Anyway, lead on."
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