♤ 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

[seeingscarlet]

"Don't get excited," she says flatly, tone at least restored to a normal response to teasing. But it's a few seconds into her response before she can properly look at Tony again. "When we left the Drift Fleet and Vision and I decided not to go home, there were people I thought I was never going to see again. I wish I could have said goodbye to Sansa this time but at least I know she is okay at home. Last time I just had to hope. And I am glad to know Billy and Tommy, even if we have to say goodbye when this is over."

She exhales, something just short of being called a sigh, before turning back to Cayde. "If it isn't the Agra 10 Special, your bar still needs a signature drink. Do you think this could be it?"

[deal_me_in]

Cayde smiles that lopsided smile of his as Tony turns another question towards Wanda. Her response has him looking down at his glass again in awkward silence. It's not exactly what he expected to hear, not that he knew what to expect. He didn't know that they'd had options to leave or stay from their last venture. And while he supposes it's no surprise that there should be an ending to things and everyone should just get shuttled right back to where they're supposed to be, the thought leaves a bit of a hollow feeling.

"Huh?" He looks up when he realizes Wanda's talking to him again. "Oh, I dunno. I think a signature drink needs to be a special mix, don't you? Think that one was fine as it is."

[in_extremis]

The metronome of the bottle Tony offered slowed to a stop as Wanda spoke, not expected such a heavy answer either, which Tony realized was pretty unforgivable at this point. He thought himself a much faster learner than that. He did know from Steve about the choice that group had been given, but hadn't really processed that this could have meant Wanda also chose to stay--two for two, so far. That was what had him glancing to Cayde, then also down at the bar, staring blankly until he realized maybe he should have been doing something like maybe finding another glass. The Wanda he knew probably would have made the same choice, he was at least more confident about that than being blindsided by hearing it from Steve, but only because she had already kind of made that choice, hiding wherever she was from all of them. It was getting more difficult not to think this pattern was very much Tony's fault.

He poured his glass of the next mystery drink, hoping very much that he could trust Wanda's confidence in Sansa going home, and raised it to the other two this time instead of offering it to either. "We'll have to keep experimenting," he suggested to Cayde, then more loftily toasted, "To impossible unions, and bittersweet goodbyes."

[seeingscarlet]

Wanda glances between them and fidgets with her rings. It was an honest answer but she's gone and killed the mood...again. And this time it's entirely her fault. She could have, should have, made up some other answer. "I'm sorry, I...don't do this often."

Obviously. Though surprisingly not because of accidental killjoy tendencies.

"What's in that one?"

[deal_me_in]

The apology is waved away, and Cayde makes believe that he's dispersing with it the gloom that keeps tending to try souring their conversation. "A party," he replies to Wanda's question with a wink.

He picks up his empty glass out of reflex, raising it to Tony's toast with an amused arch of his brow and a quirk of his jaw. Personally he'd like to think that he hadn't chosen any bad drinks. He supposes it's all a matter of personal taste, thus it's with a bit of an expectant look that he waits for Tony to drink.

[in_extremis]

"No--I mean, it's fine, it was a good answer, you're working on another level, different wavelength, we're both just devastated that you're not drunk enough yet to admit to your crush on Cayde. We'll get there," Tony said, twirling his free hand in the air like this was a forgone conclusion. At least he wasn't totally out of groove with Cayde and could tap their glasses together with a nod of encouragement and a weak smile of thanks for playing along, but that was about as far into this game that Tony could get. He stared down into his drink for another beat, considering very seriously that it would be totally fine as long as he took the exit through the window and then it wouldn't be a problem for anyone anymore, then returned the glass to the bar abruptly enough that it clattered and splashed across the wood.

Flicking his hand dry, Tony took a step back, very aware that he was sweating and the strange pressure of the water at his back. "I, uh, gotta go. Tried some new berries for lunch, you know, they're definitely coming back on me, I'm thinking that was a bad call, I'll keep you posted."