Richie's Third Not Therapy Session [OTA Mingle]

[mrsklover]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: The Deep End!
WHAT: The Third Not-Therapy Therapy Meeting!
WHEN: After all the candy is dropped off
WARNINGS: Probably nothing but CW your threads

The message is going to go to everyone all at once. Richie's face fills the screen as he holds up one of his white chocolate candies next to his beaming smile:

"So! Who is ready for our next group meeting at The Deep End, eh? This time I wanna make sure everyone knows they're invited, even if they're not gonna get wasted. Although like...after that shit show I think we all have reason to want to, right? Uh. Unless you're a minor. I guess. There's a fucking lot of you, now. Which means I should probably not curse, too. But what-the-fuck-ever! Someone lost a fucking hand! Shit's dark! Welcome to Agra 10, bitches!

But at least we have candy?
"Which is actually my point, here. This meeting is gonna be a candy exchange for everyone. Come in like an hour and bring whatever sweets you haven't eaten yet and let's have some Trick-or-Treating fun. I think we deserve it, guys. So. Yeah. Candy time! See ya there!"

And that's it. The grand invitation from Mr. Tozier is to bring you to the Third Definitely-Not-Even-A-Little-Therapeutic Group Therapy session: Candy edition. He's gonna have tables set up with little bowls and one set off to the side with a sign poking up he made himself; a bright pink set of cartoon-ish testicles covered with a giant, red 'X'. It's the 'No Nuts' table, if you didn't get the crude joke. But of course you did. Richie is a professional comedian, guys. That was classic. People paid good money for content like that and you just get it for free!

But that's beside the point. And the point is CANDY SWAPPING! So let the Not-Therapy begin!


[This is a mingle post for you guys to share your candy! Make your own top-levels and have a good time! RIP my inbox!]

Comments

OATS

[deal_me_in]

Cayde's left the decorations he'd put up last month just before things had gone sideways, mostly consisting of strings of glowing dodecahedrons in blue, purple, gold and green (pictured in the background) that hang along the edge of the bar counter and the lanterns along the wall. There aren't too many but if there was any guess as to where he'd spent his Replication allotments last month, it was more than obvious.

The Exo himself happens to be behind the counter, ready to offer drinks as might be requested (it is a bar after all!) but he's set his own little sack of candy there on the counter, ready for anyone who might want to trade.

Just Here to Mingle

[hashtagparkerluck]

Peter finds the place with ease, feeling a little out of place because he's definitely a minor and there's absolutely no pretending like he's not. He may hate being treated like a kid but he's well aware just how young he actually looks. He's hanging around the back just watching everyone.

Parties and/or large gatherings have never been his thing so he'll keep as far away from the spotlight as possible. Besides, he still needed information and there was no better way to get that then to sit back and watch people interact.

[small_compromise]

It might be kind of funny what with Peter being cautious and feeling as he is about being at a bar, and then seeing a girl who looks much younger stepping inside as though this establishment were no different from any other. True that she's no stranger to hanging out in bars, albeit usually it's because of her brothers, but even she would say that this place is far nicer than the one she's familiar with.

She makes a beeline for the fish tank to peek at it before drifting over towards the candy bowls to inspect the offerings before she fishes out her own bag of treats to dutifully add some to the mix.

Natasha Romanoff — Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — OPEN

[obmanchivyy]

Natasha's candy is cube-shaped, caramel-flavored milk chocolate. She brought most of it to share, only having had a few pieces when it first showed up. She probably won't go too crazy on the other candy, since she'd rather just show up to share what she got. So, don't be surprised if she just greets you by handing you a fistful of candy.

Eventually, she considers the drinks.

“What's the best drink this place has to offer? I'm open to suggestions.” She asks the nearest person.

[kyley_b]

"I dunno, but I'm hoping I go blind for a while and then wake up months from now."

Yeah, someone isn't as cheery as he usually is, and he seems to realise it a moment after he speaks.

"Sorry. I mean. Cayde can make a martini, I think? If you're classy or whatever." He holds up a bag.

"You want a coffee lollipop?"

[noch]

Parties and/or large gatherings aren't really Merrin's thing either—six years spent in effective isolation will do that to you. So she sticks to the back too, mostly just observing and listening, which makes it fairly easy for her to spot a new face and then slink around to approach him.

"You're new to this place," she says without any preamble whatsoever, her pronounced Dathomiri accent sounding very similar to Russian. She doesn't even bother trying to hide the way she studies him, her gaze curious as it sweeps over him, even if the rest of her expression gives very little away.

[plate_builder]

"Oy, brotha!"

Mini was through the door before Reeve was, the doll racing forward and waving eagerly at him. Once near the counter he was trying to clamber up on a stool.

"Ya needta get uh setta stairs for meh," Mini observed as Reeve entered. Soon the man was there to lift the doll onto the counter. "What did ya get? Reeve got pillow candies."

"He's certain it means the Agrii think I need to sleep," Reeve smiles at the Exo. "How are you doing?"

[deal_me_in]

"Mini! How's my favorite talking cat?"

Cayde watched as the little doll clambered on up, chuckling. "What do I look like, a carpenter? Maybe that furniture store has a stepping stool, although given how leggy the Agrii are, that might just be a regular chair to cut down again. Heya Reeve. Been better, been worse. You two?"

He nudged over the sack of candy for Mini's inspection. "White chocolate bark. Not bad, really." He grinned then. "Pillows, huh? Well, would they be wrong?"

[plate_builder]

"Do ya know otha talkin' cats?" Mini asked with a smile.

"We've been fine enough," Reeve offered to Cayde. "I wasn't happy about getting separated from everyone last month. But the Iron Bull is here now, and it's nice to see a familiar face."

Wait, what? Reeve looked to the sack while Mini opened it.

"Chocolate bark? But chocolate doesn't grow on trees."

[deal_me_in]

Ah, that whole mess. Cayde grimaced a little at that, giving a slow nod. "Yeaah, that sure was a thing." He paused. "Oh, you pals with him?" He hadn't talked too long with the big guy but he was always happy to promote his bar.

The Exo snickered then. "What, they don't have chocolate trees where you come from? A very rare delicacy! You have to de-bark 'em before they start peeling off themselves, otherwise they go bad."

[obmanchivyy]

Nothing to apologize for as far as she's concerned, and offers a half smile. “Oh, I can pretend to be classy.” She replies in a way that leaves vague if she's serious or not.

“I'll try one, thanks. Regular coffee or a super sugary kind?” She's had coffee desserts that go both ways.

[kyley_b]

That pulls a smile from him in spite of everything. "Pretend, huh?"

"Regular, but it's got like sour sprinkle stuff on the outside. So it's weird at first." He offers up the bag with one hand. He keeps his other arm close to his body, his sleeve pulled up over the end.

"I guess I should welcome you to the Ginger Solidarity Club. I'm Kyle."

[plate_builder]

"The world that had me before this, the Iteration... He was there. Or perhaps another him, as there is another Tony here than there was in that world," Reeve noted with a shrug. Bull was still an important friend to him though.

And Mini huffed at the thought of the world 'friend.'. Reeve sent him a mental chide and continued to listen to Cayde, looking at him in shock. The man was a sentient robot of his own accord, from space. It was believable.

"Truly? That is an interesting thing to hear. Are there orchards of these trees?"

[deal_me_in]

Cayde laughed. "I'm kidding! They just call it bark because I guess it kinda looks like it. Why people like naming food stuff after things that aren't particularly appetizing, I have no idea."

He gestured to the bag. "Give it a try though."

[plate_builder]

Oh! Reeve flushed a little in his embarrassment from having taken Cayde literally. That had been a mistake, clearly.

"Uh, alright," he said, trying to push aside the redness of his cheeks as he took up a small piece. "Though cinnamon is, in fact, bark. I thought I should note that."

And then he took a little bite. Not bad. Not half bad at all.

a pair of drunk and sloppy losers (closed)

[respirations]

( All things considered— this could be a whole lot worse. After all, Eddie can't remember the last time he got drunk, let alone this drunk and it probably shows.

Currently he's got a hold on of one of Richie's hand and is staring intently at his palm as if studying his fucking lifelines. That would be ridiculous though which is just about as ridiculous as what he's actually doing by comparing the size of their hands by resting their palms together. )

You're such a fucking bastard. Why are you so big? ( He huffs, pressing their hands together more and ignoring how close they're pressed together— shoulder to shoulder and now hand to hand. Instead he looks up, eyes narrowing and frowning. ) Your shoulders too. It's like Bigfoot fucked a muppet.

[mrsklover]

[Richie can't help but lean closer and use his big hand to grab around Eddie's tight. Near him, his bag of candy is spilled out and he keeps picking one up at a time to eat. His full attention is on Eddie, though.

And yeah, okay. This might be taking advantage a little, but Richie misses being able to have an Eddie he can touch. Sue him. ]

You only think that because you're an actual little muppet. Look like Bert with the polos and your fluffy hair. About the same size, too.

[respirations]

I'm not a muppet. I'm average you piece of shit. ( It's said not unlike a feral cat hissing but he ultimately pausing and lacing their fingers together, frowning more. ) I'm like the average height in most of the world!

( In the end, Eddie just huffs again and looks at their joined hands. )

You'd think those stupid glasses would help you realize that but I guess they're just for show, huh?

[deal_me_in]

"But it's called cinnamon," Cayde countered, still grinning. "So the Agrii can manage flavors outside of peanut butter and jelly after all!" He reached over to pick one of the candy pieces from the bag, popping into his mouth.

[plate_builder]

"It's possible that the chocolates are something they didn't acquire here," Reeve suggested as he considered the bag of 'chocolate bark'. "There are many things we receive here that don't seem to be theirs. Like my materia."

And the droids. And many other little things.

[deal_me_in]

The Exo tapped his fingers on the counter, nodding. "Yeah, you've got a point. I mean, I got some pre-Golden Age movie disc once! Maybe they beam up random stuff on search just like they do people."

[mrsklover]

An average member of the lollipop guild, maybe.

[Their joined hands makes Richie's whole body warm. From habit, his thumb starts to brush against Eddie's in soft strokes. He doesn't even realize he's doing it. ]

And I'll have you know the glasses are the only reason I can see you at all. Magnifying glasses! Otherwise you'd be too tiny.

[respirations]

Fuck you, Big Bird looking piece of shit.

( And for good measure, he sticks out his tongue because clearly we're gonna be twelve again in this moment. Either way, Eddie might just be glad for the alcohol because it hides the flush of color that comes alive on his face once he notices Richie stroking his hand with his thumb and how much he just likes the feel of that. The safety of it. )

Beep beep, Riche. I swear to God that's all you have is short jokes and mom jokes. Is that all I am to you?

( He has to laugh a little as he says it because, no-- this isn't a serious question at all! )

[mrsklover]

[ All he was to him? God. If Eddie only knew.

He squeezes Eddie's hand and pulls him closer by it. The alcohol in his system is making him bolder than he otherwise would be. That and maybe just a little bit loneliness. It's been awhile since Eddie from before left. The longing in his chest every single time he's close to this Eddie can only get so intense before he bursts.]

You are way more than jokes to me, Eds. You have no idea how much more. From the day we met to right now? Don't ever think you're a fucking joke to me.

Ever.

[respirations]

( The squeeze to his hand gets Eddie's focus briefly before he looks back up at Richie with a small purse of his lips. The closeness, something that seems to just be so much than it was a moment ago, doesn't go unnoticed as he's pulled in but he doesn't make the move to pull back. )

Yeah, well... are you sure? You're actually saying that to me and its not the me that was here before?