revivalproject | You are invited:

Who: Janet Van Dyne, Tony Stark, OTA
What: A party to celebrate the approximate 4th of July and one Steve Roger's B-day
When: The 4th of July
Where: Temba Beach
Warnings: TBD, Drinking, Creature Attacks

The beach had been transformed, perhaps not to the level Jan was used to back home, but still fairly impressive. A number of newly built beach pagodas littered the purple sands, sheer white draperies shifting with the breeze. There were tables and seating provided in each, for more intimate conversation, a larger buffet style table laid out for people to browse from. In addition, there was a table for special themed cocktails (and mocktails) for the guests. Jan had been very proud of finding local alternatives, but some of them may come with some…unintended side effects.

Jan had found a collection of opalescent conch like shells, and scattered them about liberally to serve as decorations. She and Tony had been working in secret for ages to pull this together for Steve, and the pair were dressed in white, a request she’d made of all the guests as well, but no one would be turned away if they couldn’t manage.

A dancefloor had been built, and Eddie had been offered something that must’ve been pretty damn valuable, because the metalhead had been talked into playing Disco for the party.

When the time came for cake the hosts got a little bashful. Jan had always hired out for this, but she had been sure it couldn't be all that hard to make a cake. It turned out she was wrong. But it was the best they had, and so it was presented rather sheepishly to the birthday boy and to be shared amongst the guests if any were brave enough to try it. It doesn't taste great, but at least there are no mystery side effects to go with it.

As the sun set, a host of glowing necklaces, wands and bracelets were passed out, and once it was truly dark the light show began. Rather than the more traditional fireworks, they had a series of drones lighting up the sky in a dazzling display.

However, something unexpected comes from this. As though awoken from the light, the shells Jan had so proudly decorated with were not as abandoned as she’d thought. Little legs slid free, and the creatures began to head for the nearest light source, whether that be the drones in the sky or any of the heroes with their glowing attire. And to make matters worse, there is a large SOMETHING in the water, shrieking with a sound that shakes the beach. What could it possibly want, and what does it have to do with the little shell creatures??

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The drinks/effects: (All effects will wear off)
Truth (cocktail): Can only speak the truth
Justice (mocktail): Temporarily Blinds Drinker
Liberty (cocktail): Extreme Excess of Energy
Fireworks (cocktail): Loss of Powers or Granting of One (1) Not Game Breaking Power
Mr. President (mocktail): Causes Short Term Amnesia

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The distraction is welcome. He isn't ready to admit it's over yet.

"What? No. It's just a school. It doesn't need a name."

Richie frowns. "What school doesn't have a name? You kidding? That's a whole thing." He considers and tries again. "Glad's Grads? Agra Academy? Hero House? I am really leaning into this alliteration thing, if you didn't notice. I think it works."

"Then call it the School. That's a name," Gladio dismisses. He doesn't care. He also doesn't need his name on it.

But yes, he noticed the alliteration.

"Is that a joke guy thing?"

"Comedian. Yeah. But you needing to ask doesn't mean I am doing a good job at it, honestly."

He considers again and tries to approach the name from another angle. At least to get Gladio engaged and thinking about something else. "How about... Our School. Eh? I mean, most people here are either gonna be helping with it or attending so it's ours. We can even call it The OS for short! Really confuse the tech folk!"

"Actually, I'm finding a far smaller amount of engagement and volunteers than I would have hoped for. The adults aren't as invested in the youths here as I would have hoped," Gladio sighs. "But I've got to take care of them."

They're all he has right now.

"You know what OSes are?"

Richie rolls his eyes. "We do have computers back in my world. I actually watched them sort of become the sleeker, cooler things they are now during my lifetime. Not that I know a shit ton about it."

He nudges Gladio a little more. "I could have asked you the same question, you know. Swords and muscles aren't usually paired with tech."

Gladio doesn't know a lot about them too, but the only thing he knows about Richie's time is that childhood arcade. It's not shocking he is intrigued.

As for the comment he rolls his eyes.

"Are you kidding? We have plenty of technology. Including smart phones. These comms are annoying, the lack of games on them."

"Computers were 'nerdy' when I was growing up," he explains. "You were a dork if you used the internet or anything. Now, everyone is online. You are just a freak if you don't use a computer or email. But still, there's this idea that computer people are pale, weak nerds. Gymbros are too busy getting those gains to worry about what an OS is. They just look up their macros or whatever the fuck."

Were they? They're just ubiquitous to him.

"Did you just imply I'm a gymbro?"

Because he's going to snicker over that.

"Your muscles are the size of my abandonment issues, dude. Yeah, I am calling you a gymbro. If we were evacuating the planet I am pretty sure your first bag would be filled with weights."

Gladio chuckles. Of course Richie could make jokes like that. Which was what Gladio needed right now.

"Weights would be foolish to drag with me. They are replaceable. People aren't."

"Yeah, that's true. And worse come, you could just use us as weights, I am sure. How many Richie's can you bench press?" He likes the smile and laugh he got out of Gladio. Maybe he could keep that shit up for at least a second.

Use them as weights? Gladio laughs, shaking his head. What a weird ass thing to say.

"I could probably bench press two of you. If you grabbed a bar and wrapped yourself around it.

"Gladio, please. No dirty talk in public." He laughs and elbows his friend in the side.

"Two Richie's. Think I can use that as an excuse to ask the Agrii for a clone? They'll probably send me a clown instead and I'll go into a fear-coma. But imagine the comedy sets!"

Seriously? Gladio laughs. He doubts the guy's partner would appreciate that teasing, but who is he to say?

"Yeah, clowns don't sound very useful here."

"I could say the same about comedians, but who am I to judge?" He glances back at the party and at Reeve before looking at Gladio again.

"You sure you don't wanna come and chat about clowns and shit over with the gang?"

"You can help morale," Gladio points out. Which is more useful than what a clown could ever be considered to do.

But he shakes his head. No. He doesn't want to talk about clowns.

"That sounds like a way to get too busy when I should be cleaning the apartment while I wait for Noctis to get back."

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