♤ Network || Log - Raise a Glass

[deal_me_in]

WHO: Cayde-6 and erryone
WHERE: The Deep End (Orange-13 on map)
WHAT: Cayde doesn't like dwelling on negative things so HEY Bar Grand Opening come drink away your sorrows and stress and enjoy company in general
WHEN: 'bout a couple of days after the storm's passed, time flexible thereafter
WARNINGS: N/A will change as necessary
NOTES: Use whatever format you want

[Network - Video]

[The image starts out crooked but the Exo's actively adjusting it before he steps back and gives someone a thumb's up off-screen.]

All right, so good news? Nothing sprung a leak despite prior circumstances, surrounding area's a little damp though, but all in all? Everything's pretty much how I left it. Even got some supposed cyanana booze that's been uh...going through this still since before we left for space. -okay I'm not exactly sure how that might taste? So in the meantime, I've got a backup plan.

[He seems to remember something then, coming up close to the communicator.]

But Cayde, you say, what's all this about anyway? Excellent question! I was so excited I forgot to say. Ahem. So, some of you- a good number, actually, might be aware that I have been in the process of putting together a bar-slash-common gathering area type of hangout...thing. It's pretty much been done, just not stocked- but now that we're finally back from...all that and then some, I've got a selection of fine drinks for your...uh... drinking pleasure. Also some non-alcoholic stuff for the non-drinkers and the under-aged. Oh, and there's tea and coffee too.

[Fishing around in his pocket, he holds up a map he's drawn up, the location circled.]

We're right down here, southeast sector, past the lake- I'm working on getting some kind of a landmark but this place is fresh out of neon signs. Anyway! I'll be around. Come as you please, even if I'm not- don't trip up the stairs, help yourself and uh, don't mind if the fish stare at you.

---

Making the network announcement had helped to fully kick his mood back into a semblance of normal. Truth be told, he just wanted to gather up people together, real people, and settle in with an ambiance of more pleasant times and warmer company.

The backdrop of the water-filled courtyard that made up the center of the nest of buildings had been something Cayde had at the time thought whimsical. During the daylight hours the light that filtered through the large window was a wavering green-blue, offset by the small sconces along the wall and a few individual lanterns at tables and flanking the bar area adjacent to the makeshift aquarium.

Cayde had set up the various bottles of drinks he'd acquired from their planetary pit-stop and scavenged from the cafe on a somewhat crooked shelf behind the bar itself. He'd been trying to go for rustic like those Old West saloons but in the middle gave up and just let things shape itself as he found them. The glassware is just as mismatched as the furniture, but everything's clean and ready to be made use of. If there's anything he really wishes he had, it would be an old-fashioned phonograph player or some kind of music source just to drive off the quiet that filled the space when no people did.

Comments

[in_extremis]

The first time Tony stood in the lobby of the building Cayde had claimed, he knew immediately that this was a bad idea. The residual effect of the storm had him feeling like an exposed wire already, dangerously raw, and he had barely earned his hypothetical thirty day chip since he was forced to dry on the Agrii ship. This was not the time to walk into the bar. The energy went out of Tony then, and he glanced around the mouldering room like he might find any kind of support, anything to convince himself that he would be fine and could go up to just see Cayde and that wouldn't immediately be enough to make him have another breakdown. He should have been able to congratulate the Exo on finally pulling this together, and deliver these grand opening gifts, and not be miserable about it.

The first time he went in, Tony left the guitar propped against the stairs, and a bag of stamped coins behind it, all of them marked with a target on one side and the tipped star of a sheriff's badge on the other. Someone would find them eventually. For now, Tony had to get back outside to take a deep breath of fresh air, then look behind him up at the dark windows of the abandoned monolith. What Tony could really use was reinforcements, and it sounded like Cayde wanted a place that was full and lively, anyway, so, really, this was for Cayde. Trying to explain exactly what the problem was to anybody, though, sounded like a nightmare.

Steve would already know what the problem was. Wanda, too, right? Tony might have been a bigger disaster than the Tony they knew, but that had to mean that the other Tony just handled the program well, had a decade under his belt already, actually made his amends. First to one, then the other, Tony sent a text, still staring at the building and not really anticipating getting an answer anyway.

Someone has to go make sure Cayde isn't producing nerve gas.

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve got the message and squinted at it a moment before recognizing it as the invitation it was. He'd heard about the bar but hadn't made it around to visit, yet. He should, he knew, but there was a lot to clean up around the town and he also wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to be around a bar after the mess that the last storm was. Everyone was a little on edge after going through that. Still, he should go and Tony likely could use company. He texted back a very quick:

On my way over. Let me know if anyone passes out and I'll grab meds.

And then he made his way over, only pausing when he saw Tony outside the door looking a little green. He frowned, figuring he might know why, and jogged a little the rest of the way.

"Hey," he greeted with a hard clap on the shoulder and a smile. "You head in yet? Any signs of dangerous gases or liquids?"

[in_extremis]

That Cap was so quick to respond, and didn't hesitate to join Tony at his vague prompt, was reassuring. The sight of him slightly less so, the differences in what Tony expected suddenly thrown into sharp relief again after seeing so much of the Captain America his bones were familiar with during the storm, but maybe that was good, that was better, it made him less sure if he had seen this one die and the dissonance less jarring.

"Winghead," he greeted in response, patting the hand on his shoulder before scratching up the back of his neck with a thoughtful pout. "Don't know about him yet, but I'm still working some up. Do you think he's got burritos up there?" Trying this joke was something of a mistake, because Tony immediately dropped his hand in dejection to ask, "God, do you remember Mexican food?," which might have been slightly unfair. Steve had been working this problem for a lot longer than Tony. Maybe he had developed some shareable coping mechanisms for that kind of thing, though.

[seeingscarlet]

Wanda can't help but feel initial surprise that Tony's reached out to her. At home they were eventually able to work together but they definitely did not 'hang out.'

She knows their worlds are so very different - even now, she still feels inadequate compared to the other Wanda. It's not fair to paint this other Tony in another man's mistakes but it's still jarring to respond like she's actually considering the implied invitation.

Sundance might need a hand. Are we volunteering?

[in_extremis]

Honestly, getting a response that didn't sound like a very delicate rejection was outside of Tony's expectations, too. As much time as he had spent together with the Wanda he knew, she probably wouldn't think much about 'hanging out' with him, either, without a healthy buffer of Carol between them. Too fast, thrilled to have not been immediately rebuffed, he replied, 'She doesn't have any hands at all, severe disadvantage', considered apologizing, then tried salvaging it with another invitation, 'I'm outside his place now, if you're not doing anything.'

That did kind of sound like a date, and Tony didn't quite scrap the second apology, but was sending yet another message is rapid succession while he lingered at the side of the desolate road, 'That's only a come on if you want it to be. Is that weird? It's a little weird.' There was probably a good reason she always made sure she had a girlfriend around him.

[doubled_speed]

Bar? Of course Tommy is so fucking there. Gotta celebrate life, man. And the moment he came in and saw Stark... Well, guess what? Guardian fucking angel who is already a fan of stealing Tony's drinks. Maybe not the emotional support wanted, but definitely the sort he's getting now.

"What up, Mister Stark?"

[in_extremis]

Given his pick of Avengers in this situation, Pietro would rank among the lowest, so that blur of white hair before it properly resolved for Tony, not yet used to Tommy's fast track upgrade, immediately got Tony's hackles up and ready to be defensive about whatever myriad of things Pietro was going to blame him for. That tension wasn't quite released in a sharp exhale as Tony caught up to Tommy, because he had to ask, "Are we there again, do we have to go through this again? It's Dr. Stark, please." Tommy wasn't likely to lay in to Tony for not getting Wanda home faster, but he might be just as likely to get on his case about the drinking, if Tony was remembering anything about the beach correctly. It was hazy. But it left him watching Tommy warily.

[tricksterofasgard]

An Asgardian enters the advertised bar. It's a slow entrance, very much deliberate and observant to the setting he is stepping into. He has seen plenty of bars to see that this one is a bit of a patchwork project.

But he has seen worse.

Loki takes a moment to take in the entirety of what the- What exactly is the person he has seen on the network anyway? Loki has no idea, but he feels mildly intrigued. Another one of Stark's armors, perhaps? Do those run bars in this place? He referred to himself as Cayde...

Well. Maybe Loki comes across that one.

[deal_me_in]

The place isn't very posh, or uniform, so sue him. Still, it looks like it could be cozy if given the chance.

Cayde is indeed in at the time, looking a little bored where he sits behind the counter. He's got his chin propped up by one hand, the other absently plucking the strings on the guitar laid out on the counter beside him. Not far from him hovers a starlike construct of sorts, gray with a stripe of red going down its face, top and bottom-most points crowned with a gold band to frame the blue-lit core. The Ghost turns, vertices twitching in curiosity at the newcomer, and the Exo in turn has lifted his head to look as well.

He fumbles a bit with the greeting he'd been about to spout, blue optics squinting. "-you're new," he ends up saying instead before shrugging and going back to his original tactic. "Welcome to the Deep End! It's...well, kinda slow I guess, but people probably have a lot on their minds so can't really blame 'em."

He sets the guitar aside at the farther end of the bar, moving more like something organic than the machine his face and voice otherwise suggest. "Anywho, name's Cayde. This here's Sundance. You here for a drink or what?"

[tricksterofasgard]

Spotting the only other being present hasn't been difficult. The difficult part remains figuring out where to place this... Machine? The Asgardian will have to find that bit out, it seems. At least the owner of the place happens to be present, which puts an easy smile to Loki's face.

A smile that widens into a bit of a grin upon being referred to as new and Loki spreads his arms and hands a little in a presenting manner before adding a slight bow of his head while covering the remaining distance to the bar.

"I am Loki. And I appear to be unable to hide my most abhorrent secret." Loki introduces himself and picks a place at the bar. "I got curious by your little advert, so I decided to stop by." He gestures casually with one of his hands, the other idly on the counter. "Any suggestions for a drink?"

[on_repeat]

Some time passes before another patron arrives at Cayde's newly-opened, cobbled-together bar, and he announces himself by gently setting his white weathered helmet down on the counter if not by his obvious presence alone.

Although Echo's weariness is palpable, there's still a glint of curiosity in his eyes as he takes in his surroundings. Honestly, he has no idea where to begin with the decorations, but he figures there has to be some kind of rhyme or reason to it.

But he can concur that there should be some other sounds in here. Not that he minds the quiet, but a little distraction wouldn't hurt none.

If the Exo is in the bar, the clone nods his way. "Nice place you got here, Cayde."

[deal_me_in]

"Hey, there's an Echo in here!" Of course it needs be said. The Exo grins, sweeping a hand out in welcome.

The place is far from what Cayde had envisioned, but it's something, and he's still proud that he's managed to cobble together as much. What he would have loved was more wood, actual wooden furniture and tables. He unfortunately has no idea how to make the things, and it doesn't seem like any of their number has any skills in carpentry.

"It's a work in progress. Thanks for coming by. Kind of on the quiet...empty side but hey, gotta start somewhere, right? Drink?"

[on_repeat]

Echo's nose wrinkles, the corner of his mouth quirking despite the frown he outwardly shows in regards to Cayde's little joke. "'Course there is," he snorts. "Had a fine time tryin' to get here, thanks to your map."

Which is to say, he's relieved to have this kind of interaction again. Given the fact his soldier tendencies rein everything in, these feelings would have bled out a lot quicker if he relaxed too much.

"Quiet is right, but it's still progress," he adds with a nod, taking a seat as he does. "A drink sounds good. What would you recommend?"

Lauri-Ell | OTA

[kree_soldieress]

It is probably for the best that there wasn't a music player present at the bar, mostly because it would have stopped the Kree woman at the door as she entered. Music was, after all, not a part of modern Kree culture. She would not know what to do with it.

She was here because drinks had been offered, and she had enjoyed trying this human 'coffee' creation. This brought the woman to the bar to look around. And clearly, from the moment she entered, she looked lost.

[deal_me_in]

Cayde looks up from where he's been playing poker with his Ghost. At a glance he would've taken the blue-skinned woman for an Awoken, save that she didn't have that creepy glow that swirled across an Awoken's skin like some creature alive beneath its surface. He vaguely recalls her from the network and something about Kree, which only further confirmed she wasn't someone from home.

"Heya," he greets, tossing his cards down on the counter. He'd been losing anyway. Sundance says nothing, but the little Ghost does seem smug as her vertices twitch about her glowing core. "Take a seat wherever you like, or don't- you can wander or whatever. Don't got much rules here. Drink preference?"

[hulkintraining]

Teddy is seated on the other side of the bar when Lauri-Ell enters, a drink already in-hand. But his attention switches immediately from gulping down his beverage to the blue skinned woman who looks like she's feeling out of place. The fact that she's a new face peaks his curiosity and he slides off his stool and approaches.

Her appearance screams Kree to him, but the multi-verse is a big place, and he could be wrong about her origins.

"Hi. I don't think Cayde's gotten around to having any menus made, if that's what you're looking for."

[heeeyadora]

This place reminded Catra a bit of the set up in the Crimson Waste. It brought a bit of her old swagger back as she found a place at the bar, and attempted to swipe a drink from the person nearest to her, sniffing at it and making a face.

"Ugh- what's wrong with this?"

[kree_soldieress]

What was wrong with it? The large, very large, blue woman looks at the new arrival and frowns.

"It is coffee. According to Cayde it is 'black'. Which seems weird. It's clearly a dark brown."

She doesn't know that you can put things in coffee.

OTA

[itsamysterio]

A bar seemed like the ideal place to forget about the trauma of that storm, and hopefully make some real connections now that everyone was back and he wasn't been haunted by Peter. Hard to pull of the hero thing with the kid giving the plot away.

He approached the bar, really wishing he had a change of clothes at this point, trying to look perfectly at ease in the cape and armor as he ordered a drink.

"So, you all finally made it back, mm?" he noted, tipping his drink in congratulations.

[beholding_archivist]

The arrival of the stranger doesn't go unnoticed by Jon, who has finally gotten himself to pay a visit to Cayde's bar and is enjoying a drink himself. At least for once he isn't actively trying to get drunk.

He raises a single brow at the question, then inclines his head at the other man, not failing to notice his odd attire. "We did. And- Right into a storm." Jon replies, then frowns. "You were brought here while everyone was gone?"

[tempredmental]

"Looks like it."

Keith wasn't usually one to hang out in bars, but there wasn't much else to do in his downtime on this planet. He'd already done most of what he could do for the day.

"I'm guessing you arrived while most of us weren't here," he said. "Glad to see you did okay. I'm Keith." He held out his hand in greeting.

[the_tailor]

[Oh, sweet. Lance has never been a heavy drinker, but back on the fleet, he and Jim had frequently gotten together at one of the bars there to hang out and chat over a couple of drinks. It's been a long while, and his alcohol tolerance has probably gone to crap, but there's no time like the present to have some social fun and libations again.

It's late afternoon when he heads in, giving the bar a lookover. It's a hodgepodge of furniture to the extreme, but that in itself makes the place really charming. Props to Cayde.

Lance sits down at the bar, ordering something that ends up tasting pretty darn good, sweet but not overly so. He has no idea what it is, but as long as he doesn't drop dead from it, all's good.]

Oh man, kinda miss this... Was fun chatting over drinks.

[itsamysterio]

You a big drinker back home?

[Beck gives him a teasing once over, not exactly how old Lance is, but he looks young enough for the question of whether he should even be in a bar to be a valid one. He smiles then and tips his drink at him.]

There is something about it, isn't there? Easier to just pick up a conversation with a stranger in a place like this.

[tempredmental]

As long as we didn't have too many.

[Hangovers weren't as much fun... though, suffering through with Lance wasn't as bad as going it alone like he did for his first one back in the Garrison.]

[doubled_speed]

Chatting?

[One second there was no one there. The next, there was a guy with snow white hair was there at Lance's side, reaching over the bar to grab a glass and pour something from a bottle into it.]

Helps to have someone around to talk to if you intend to chat.