InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "i know what u did last summer"

paxnarrator (paxnarrator) wrote in paxletalelogs,
@ 2017-06-21 08:45:00

Entry tags:

ares, chernobog, coyote, event post, freyr, hades, hel, hermes, loki, maui, pan, persephone, tyr, uke mochi, xochipilli

hot summer streets
Who: EVERYONE.
What: Pax Letale pool party.
Where: Pax pool.
When: Wednesday, June 20; in-game time, 7 p.m.
Notes: Hey guys -- you know the rules. Tag/label your posts, ask for permission coming into threads, etc etc. Any questions, toss 'em at the the modbox.

Despite the mildly warm weather, a pall seemed cast over the planned festivities. All throughout the day, clouds had swarmed the skies, covering the apartment complex in shadow. The passing of the sun did little to aid in this, though as it grew closer and closer to the established party time, the pool area was made ready for its assumed guests.

A sickly green light emanated from the pool itself, the glow growing stronger as the darkness encroached. Strung lights hung from the covered sitting areas, their colors punching through the darkness without shame. Music scattered itself, blaring softly from a nearby boombox that was controlled by an unseen hand; nearby, a table was laden with as expensive of foods as had become expected from these types of social situations: shrimp cakes, lobster sliders, three-queso dip with accompanying chips, and more. Perhaps to the guest's chagrin, there were no alcoholic beverages to be spoken of, but those who decided to BYOB would not find it difficult to do so. Otherwise, a flavorful fruit punch was on hand for thirsty attendees.

As the hour grew nearer, people started to collect outside of the pool, helping themselves to food, some sitting at the pool's edge with their feet dangling in the water. The music, which had been alternating between old summer time hits and the latest pop ballads, began to croon out a familiar tune, though only those listening closely might have heard any true malice in the lyrics.

Hot summer streets
And the pavements are burning
I sit around
Trying to smile but
The air is so heavy and dry...

...it's a cruel, cruel summer...

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$Isobel Brandt \\ Persephone: plain faced$ Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m.

praxidike
2017-06-21 12:53 pm UTC (link)

Isobel clung tightly to Alice's hand as they walked out of the rec room doors to the pool area. She was impressed by the setting, but could not deny the butterflies in her stomach; at least she had a friend who could help her navigate this event, even as her mind continued to let her down. She'd all but pleaded with Alice to go with her to the pool party, wanting to attend mainly because she'd hoped seeing people might help jog her memory, or even give her back some of the shattered pieces. That, and she simply wanted to be reminded of everyone she was supposed to know.

She'd received phone calls and emails from someone named Sheila, and people handling insurance for a property named Spring Growth; after she'd been unable to answer questions, she'd finally simply admitted that she'd had some kind of nervous breakdown, and foisted everything off at length, trying to give herself some space and time to figure things out. Google searches had done little to help alleviate things, though they did mostly back up Alice's story about what had happened to her thus far. They did little to fill in the gaps of what Obed had offered, and Isobel was intent on discovering just what was being hidden from her.

"Um, you wanna get some food, first?" Without waiting for Alice's reply, she started to all but drag the slightly smaller woman toward the heavily-laden food table, releasing her only once they were close enough to pick up paper plates and start picking through the offerings. "I just...if you can point out people and give me names... That would help, a lot." She glanced at Alice, holding the empty paper plate between her hands as she hoped the other woman would be amenable to her request despite the fact that she'd already asked so much of her.

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Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m.

rosemary_thyme
2017-06-21 01:25 pm UTC (link)

Alice took in a deep breath and gave a nod. Clad in her cherry print bikini, shorts, her red hair in two pig tails, and dark glasses, she looked stylish and ready for the pool despite that she wanted nothing to do with it. Nursing a hangover (both physically and mentally) from the night before, Alice hadn't wanted to go to the stupid pool party, but as the day progressed and her headache went away she found she couldn't say no to her friend, particularly in her moment of need.

"I'll definitely point out who I know and tell you as much as I know about them," Alice said with a forced smile. "But let's get some food first, then we can grab some of the chairs to sit and eat. I definitely need more food in my belly."

She had only told Isobel the briefest overview of what had happened before--a lot of booze and a mistake was made--but she couldn't quite speak more of it, not yet.

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$Isobel Brandt \\ Persephone: fear to kill$ Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m.

praxidike
2017-06-21 01:30 pm UTC (link)

Isobel nodded, turning back to the food table to grab a second paper plate to offer to Alice. In contrast, she didn't have a bathing suit on; just a green tank top with black shorts, sandals on her feet; glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, giving her clarity of sight where her mind stumbled. Her hair fell loose around her shoulders, moving as she started to add a few items to her plate -- a shrimp cake, some of the dip and a handful of chips, followed by a cup of punch -- because her anxiety was killing her appetite. But she waited, patiently, for Alice to fill her own plate before leading them to a pair of green and white striped suntanning chairs in one corner a bit further away from the boombox.

Whatever had happened to Alice last night looked like it hurt, in several ways, but Isobel was grateful that the redhead was willing to help. She took a brief swallow of her punch before trying a different line of conversation that she hoped might make Alice feel a little more comfortable. "Maybe some of your other friends will be here? Um, maybe Rafe?" It was another moment that underscored her complete lack of knowledge, and inwardly she winced, wishing instead that she'd stuck to silence and food.

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Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

rosemary_thyme, 2017-06-21 02:50 pm UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

praxidike, 2017-06-21 02:58 pm UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

rosemary_thyme, 2017-06-21 04:30 pm UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

praxidike, 2017-06-21 04:47 pm UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

rosemary_thyme, 2017-06-21 04:58 pm UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

praxidike, 2017-06-21 05:20 pm UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

rosemary_thyme, 2017-06-22 12:45 am UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

praxidike, 2017-06-22 01:13 pm UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

rosemary_thyme, 2017-06-22 02:53 pm UTC

Re: Isobel/Alice - Food Table - 7:05 p.m. -

praxidike, 2017-06-22 04:23 pm UTC

Daniel/Chris - Rec Room Pool Entry - 7:15 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-21 12:59 pm UTC (link)

"You know, I totally could've gotten a wheelchair," Chris said, moving out enough from the rec room exit to the pool area and catching the door with his left hand to hold it wide so Daniel could angle through on his crutches. It had taken some doing, convincing his better half to attend the pool party -- ever since his accident, Daniel had been a little bit of a Debbie Downer, though Chris couldn't totally blame him (except, maybe he could, but he wasn't going to take his boyfriend to task over the fact that Daniel's setback was only temporary). After the strange event with Carver and his growing guilt over everything else that was going on that he couldn't talk about with anyone, Chris had worn Daniel down until he agreed to get out of his apartment and at least walk the 30 or so feet to the elevator, and then to the pool.

"I'm just saying, I wouldn't mind carting your cute ass around," he continued, his voice growing a little softer as they moved to where other people might hear him. Despite their newly-minted relationship status, Chris still felt compelled to keep things, at best, quiet. But that didn't stop him from simply appreciating the sight of the other man as they made their way out into the warm evening.

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Re: Daniel/Chris - Rec Room Pool Entry - 7:15 p.m.

thouros
2017-06-21 09:11 pm UTC (link)

"Fuck a wheelchair," Daniel muttered. "Bad enough I'm out here in a cast. You know these aren't waterproof, right? And there's no booze..."

Had it not been for his sullen attitude, Daniel might have cut a reasonably impressive poolside figure in spite of his injury. His black board shorts rode flatteringly low on the hard V of his hips; a thin silver chain gleamed around his neck, winking bright in the sun. Its shine almost matched his glitter-adorned cast, a fact he noted with no small dismay. He frowned more forcefully, and limped his way over to the nearest set of pool chairs. It took far longer than he liked to lower himself down onto the plastic mesh, and by the time this was done, he had no patience left for the rest. He simply tossed the crutches down to the concrete beside his chair, pulling his Ray Bans from their perch atop his mussed hair. Behind the cover of dark lenses he studied his assembled neighbors. He did not realize he was looking for BB, but he was; self-consciousness ate at him, even with only the crutches, and he could not seem to shake it. His shoulders slumped. He leaned back against the chair to try to hide it.

"Sorry," he said, nearly too quiet to hear. "I know I gotta get out and blah blah blah. Besides, maybe somebody brought a spare six-pack or somethin'..."

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Re: Daniel/Chris - Rec Room Pool Entry - 7:15 p.m.

coyoti
2017-06-21 11:19 pm UTC (link)

Chris followed at a small distance, using one foot to carefully brush the crutches back at Daniel's chair. He wanted badly to put a hand on Daniel's shoulder, his head, ruffle his hair, plant a kiss on his forehead as some reassuring sign that everything was going to be fine and to say thank you for tolerating his wishes. But the most he did was linger a little closer to the other man, looking down at where he was seated. Once Daniel was done complaining, through all of which Chris was hardpressed to bite back a smile, he spoke.

"One, I did say we could wrap your cast up with a plastic bag. Target's making them pretty fashionable these days. Two, you're damned lucky that you're adorable when you're whining. And, three, don't count your chickens before they hatch. I'm gonna go get us some plates, OK?" At the very least, somewhat before he could stop himself (or so he would later claim, that his body moved of its own accord), one hand reached out to tap Daniel under the chin in a chiding motion. Then, before Daniel could stop him (see: attempt to) or talk against his suggested action, Chris was moving away and around the pool toward the food table. It was a long, slow journey, but he did it uncomplainingly; despite the heat, he was still in jeans (no way he was wearing shorts that might expose his brace, and he'd laugh at anyone who suggested he bring his cane) but alleviated himself a little via a black wife beater. Sneakers clad his feet.

He made quick work of his chosen mission, filling two plates with a little of everything, and balancing those on one arm. The other hand was used to carefully haul two three-quarters filled cups of punch back to Daniel; the whole process was fairly impressive.

"Mark of a waiter," he commented. "Summers at my grandparents' restaurant. Kinda like riding a bike, you never forget it." He held out one of the cups toward Daniel, and then passed him a plate. His own plate and cup went on a seat next to his significant other, followed by a motion that pulled a small, silver flask from his pocket. "Vodka pairs pretty well with fruit punch, don't you think? Though, wait, you're on painkillers, right? No heavy machinery for you." He waggled the flask in front of Daniel, waiting for the other man to take it.

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Re: Daniel/Chris - Rec Room Pool Entry - 7:15 p.m. -

thouros, 2017-06-22 01:27 pm UTC

Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

coyoti, 2017-06-22 04:09 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

manaiakalani, 2017-06-22 04:22 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

thouros, 2017-06-22 05:17 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

coyoti, 2017-06-22 05:55 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

manaiakalani, 2017-06-22 06:02 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

thouros, 2017-06-22 08:48 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

manaiakalani, 2017-06-23 01:59 am UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

thouros, 2017-06-23 11:25 am UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

manaiakalani, 2017-06-23 12:05 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

thouros, 2017-06-23 01:44 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

manaiakalani, 2017-06-23 02:12 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

thouros, 2017-06-25 08:17 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

manaiakalani, 2017-06-26 12:50 am UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

thouros, 2017-06-26 07:02 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. -

manaiakalani, 2017-06-26 09:02 pm UTC

Re: Daniel/Chris/Kal - sitting area - 7:30 p.m. (closed/complete) -

thouros, 2017-06-28 04:28 pm UTC

Nish/Jocelyn

nishka
2017-06-21 01:32 pm UTC (link)

Nish had decided to go on her own, despite her earlier argument with Jocelyn. She'd cooled down somewhat from the encounter, and with the pending visit of her brother she had other things to worry about.

She hadn't actually physically seen him since she moved to California, so part of her was nervous about reconnecting, but there was also his doubts about her sobriety, mirroring her own. He was right - people don't just stop being an addict overnight. Texting with him had slapped her in the face with that, despite the fact that she seemed to have beaten the odds and made it through the 19th sober this year. But nagging her in the back of her mind was the fear that it was only temporary, and that when she finally crashed again, it would be much, much worse.

These thoughts were flitting through her mind as she lay back on a lounge chair, wearing her bathing suit and a sheer coverup, despite the lack of sunlight making it through the clouds. The fact that they were having a pool party on a cloudy day was darkly humourous to her, and rather appropriate to her mood. She took a sip of her tall glass of punch and set it on a nearby table, settling back on the chair and closing her eyes to the world.

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Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30

tohelandback
2017-06-21 06:19 pm UTC (link)

It had taken Jocelyn a bit to work up the nerve to go to the party, but in the end, she decided that after she made such a big deal about it to Nishka, she better go. Even if she did end up being 'fashionably' late.

When she walked out into the pool area, she was wearing her swimsuit, with a navy blue and white sarong wrapped around her waist, and her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She strolled around the area, nerves still too tight to think about food or drink, watching the rest of the residents mingle in their cliques.

Eventually, her wanderings brought her to the pool, and she sat down on the edge, dangling her legs into the water and watching the reflection of the lights dancing across the rippling water. If she knew that she had sat down within close range of Nishka, she showed no sign of it.

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Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30

nishka
2017-06-21 06:49 pm UTC (link)

After fifteen minutes give-or-take of not-sunbathing, Nish opened her eyes behind her sunglasses, pushing them up into her hair to look at the clouds that seemed to actually make her happy. She’d always prefered cooler weather over the heat, and the fact that she was comfortable here probably meant that the others thought it was too chilly to swim.

Still, she saw a few people milling about the pool, though very few actually in the water. One figure almost directly in front of her lounge chair looked far too familiar, even in her long sleeved two-piece. With something between a groan and a long-suffering sigh, she pulled herself up to sit, taking another sip of her drink and then taking it with her to pad barefoot over towards Jocelyn, sitting herself down beside her and slipping her legs into the water. She cradled her drink in her hands, carefully keeping the cold glass from touching her skin, and looked over at her.

“So...I’m here,” she said with a slight smirk, hoping that attempting humour might break the ice that had formed between them.

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Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

tohelandback, 2017-06-21 07:04 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

nishka, 2017-06-21 07:33 pm UTC

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tohelandback, 2017-06-21 10:56 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

nishka, 2017-06-22 01:48 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

tohelandback, 2017-06-22 02:06 pm UTC

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nishka, 2017-06-22 02:22 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

tohelandback, 2017-06-22 02:44 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

nishka, 2017-06-22 03:06 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

tohelandback, 2017-06-22 03:54 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

nishka, 2017-06-22 04:54 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

tohelandback, 2017-06-22 08:54 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - by the pool ~7:30 -

nishka, 2017-06-22 09:02 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - an isolated table ~7:45 -

tohelandback, 2017-06-23 06:32 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - an isolated table ~7:45 -

nishka, 2017-06-23 07:28 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - an isolated table ~7:45 -

tohelandback, 2017-06-23 08:11 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - an isolated table ~7:45 -

nishka, 2017-06-23 08:26 pm UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - an isolated table ~7:45 -

tohelandback, 2017-06-26 04:20 am UTC

Re: Nish/Jocelyn - an isolated table ~7:45 -

nishka, 2017-06-27 03:08 pm UTC

Rafe/Gabe - Cabanas - 7:45 p.m.

freyr
2017-06-21 01:53 pm UTC (link)

Rafael lounged beneath the gauzy awning of a cabana, a drink—mostly gin—in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The smile on his face was as beautiful as it was unnatural. Earlier he had found his spirits flagging, brought down by undue contemplation of recent events. So in the quiet of Alice's bathroom, in between stripping down and donning the small black trunks he now wore, he had bolstered himself with a few fine lines of white powder. Now, as the gathering slowly grew, Rafael felt increasingly certain his decision had been a good one. He was able to greet those who came within his orbit, to smile and offer conversation to those who lingered for any length of time. And as his second drink began to disappear, he found it easier to even reach out, to wave as he saw newcomers arrive poolside, and pretend that all was well.

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Re: Rafe/Gabe - Cabanas - 7:45 p.m.

xochipilli
2017-06-21 02:44 pm UTC (link)

Gabe made his way downstairs after he realized he was late -- or, rather, he'd taken a break from writing and, after seeing the clock, realized it was past time for the party to have started -- and was pleased to see the attendance as he walked out through to the pool area. Most seemed broken off into pre-established cliques, a thing he could begrudge no one, so he focused on helping himself to a drink and taking the lay of the land before deciding on who to approach first. That was how he found Rafe, reclining in a corner all his own.

He had not spoken to the other man since Eshan's brief but sudden appearance in Pax Letale -- he'd since gone back to his own apartment downtown, though their visits were frequent and outside of their living quarters -- and he hoped that Rafe wasn't mad at him. He knew well enough Rafe wouldn't be mad, necessarily, but Gabe still wanted to check in on him and make sure he was doing all right.

Holding his drink, he padded quietly around the pool area, smiling and nodding at the people he passed as he made his way over to the cabana where Rafe had ensconced himself. His approach was half hidden simply because of the shading cabana walls, so he paused just outside of it in case Rafe needed or wanted an escape.

"Hey," he started, keeping his voice level as he raised his drink in Rafe's direction. Then he motioned to the chair next to him. "Mind if I sit?"

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Re: Rafe/Gabe - Cabanas - 7:45 p.m.

freyr
2017-06-21 05:08 pm UTC (link)

Rafe's broad smile split wider still at the sound of his friend's voice. He raised his glass in returned toast, turning slightly in his chair to better watch Gabriel's approach. Quite pointedly his gaze did not linger anywhere in particular, flitting over Gabe's form only briefly before solidly fixing on his face.

"Of course not," he said. He sat up a little straighter, scattering ash to the lounge chair and the ground in his wake. "I'm glad you could join us. Where's your plus one? Or were we not allowed those..."

He ignored the ache in his chest at his own words, the hurt he still felt, filling both voids and his traitorous, yammering mouth with a generous sip from his glass. Eshan's unwelcome face retreated from memory as his varied forms of intoxication crept back up.