[Open - Communal] Meet 'n' Greet!

[winged_knight]

WHO: Anyone! Hosted by Wing, Vectorians especially encouraged.
WHERE: One of the larger upper platforms in Vector Prime's Quadrant.
WHEN: Now
WHAT: Mixer for Vectorians and general social gathering for everyone.
WARNINGS: None yet. (But there's booze so...at the very least there might be bad karaoke)

Upon entering Vector Prime's domain it's obvious that things are a foot. The typically serene atmosphere is enlivened with notes of music and the murmur of voices punctuated by the occasional bubble of laughter that filters down from the upper heights, a soft glow of illuminating one of the larger platforms with a structure built on it. Colorful streamers fly from crystalline light poles, marking the way through the various crystal bridges and small platforms, until one reaches the large terrace on which the gathering is situated.

A large pavilion-like structure, enclosed on two sides but otherwise open to a majestic view of the gorge and beyond, shelters the bulk of the gathering. Its roof is several stories tall, enough to accommodate their First Forged benefactor should he choose to join them, and what could be considered a dance floor sprawls off to the side. The platform edges have been lined with a railing here unlike most of the others, to waylay any highgrade assisted trips into the gorge itself. Along another wall, nearest the open area, speakers and other equipment have been setup to provide music and other entertainment. One of Vector Prime's Acolytes greets newcomers with a simple nod, and may later be seen looking after the replenishent of refreshments as needed.

Tables of typical Cybertronian height line one wall, where tapped cylinders of softly glowing energon, both standard and highgrade, sit alongside cubes waiting to be filled. Various pieces of make-shift seating suitable to the average mech are scattered around. Central to the pavilion is a wide raised platform, about waist height to the average Cybertronian, designed to allow the shorter attendees to converse with their taller robotic fellows at eye level. Human scale ladders allow access to and from the floor, and occupying the platform is a buffet table accompanied by several mis-matched chairs.

The buffet table is covered with an eclectic assortment of refreshments and serving implements more suitable to organics, mostly non-perishable pantry type goods, (you can be certain there's Twinkies!) along with a odd collection of various alcohols including a bottle or two of whiskey. At the end of one table sits an old refrigerator on its back, now tasked with being a simple ice box, filled entirely with chunks of clean snow and ice from Liege Maximo's quadrant. Accompanying it are wax paper cups and a pitcher of fruity syrup that smells reminiscent of Kool-Aid. (make yourself a snow cone!)

The pavilion is attached to a larger building, two doors at the rear of the pavilion each lead to two separate rooms. One that appears to be in use for the storage of unused supplies and materials while the other is filled with makeshift seating of various sizes, creating a more relaxed atmosphere. To the rear there is access to a second floor, the rooms of which appear to be currently unused.

Barricade and Soundwave have agreed to provide musical entertainment for the evening.

Miko may play some guitar for us if we can find a way to power her amp.

Wing will perform a traditional narrative sword kata with some musical accompaniment.

Vector Prime himself may make an appearance at some point as well.

((---This is COMMUNAL log and designed to be a mixer, so post to note your attendance and then tag around!---))

((If you'd like to do a game, performance or other activity feel free to make a post for it and let me know, then I'll highlight it here.))

((I tried to set a foundation for the scene but leave a lot of stuff open, so feel free to embellish where you like. We have access to pretty much anything that's mundane though likely it comes from the Junk Pile. Feel free to have your character bring something if they want.))

Comments

[lifepersists]

Aside from medical conferences, First Aid hadn't really been to any kind of social gathering for quite a while. It wasn't that he was particularly opposed to parties and such, he just was a mech who happened to fit in rather awkwardly at them. He couldn't dance, couldn't hold a conversation, and sure as hell wasn't interesting both physically and personality-wise.

So obviously copious amounts of highgrade was the answer to his social problems.

It wasn't really the thought that inebriation would suddenly make him a charisma wizard, it was more the idea he'd stop caring about embarrassing himself possibly. First Aid had a cube in hand, already half downed. It was a rare sight to see him with his mask open in public, but generally it kinda needed to be if he was going to drink himself to oblivion.

And he'll do himself a favor and keep away from the dance floor and instead just look for people he might know.

[inferiordude]

"You, my little dude, look like you could use some inspiration."

Whereas First Aid suffers some social awkwardness and how to interact with others, Soundwave does not seem to understand the meaning of shy or social incapability. No, as a matter of fact, he's sliding himself smoothly from the dance floor, sliding over a chair, and plopping himself down not far from First Aid at all.

Right. It's not as if he's unaware of how he looks and the confusion it might bring First Aid, but he tends to forget it. It's just never been a problem at home. Even Cliffjumper got used to him.

"S'up! Yer not gonna play wallflower all night now, are ya?" he cheerfully inquires, toying with the ends of his headband. He can at least expect that this First Aid is not going to be anywhere near psychotic as the one he's more familiar with.

[lifepersists]

Oh, he must have been overcharged quicker than he thought. Where had his tolerance gone? He doesn't feel all that overcharged yet, but he could have sworn Soundwave just called him 'my little dude' and swaggered on over to him.

Wait. Soundwave?

"Soundwave?" First Aid gasps, jerking slightly, immediately reaching for a pistol that he didn't have on him currently. It had seemed a little rude at the time to come armed to a party. He was feeling a little bit more sober now and-- What was he doing?

"I-- Can I help you?"

[inferiordude]

On one hand, he's sort of used to that reaction. Kind of a bummer, but who is he to hold that against First Aid? It's not as if they've been properly introduced and the little guy hasn't gotten used to him yet.

On the other hand, he's sadly used to someone pulling a weapon on him -- or trying to. Or at least calling him names or whatever.

Ah well. It's not their fault they have a nasty impression.

"Jus' sayin' hi." One little mock salute and a warm chuckle are given. "Easy there, dude; dunno if it helps, but I'm not, uh. Exactly the Soundwave you know. I'm not another dimension."

[lifepersists]

That explained everything. Alternate dimensions. Okay.

First Aid had to put his hand against a table to keep himself from getting dizzy from the sudden jolt in his Spark. He takes a deep drink from his cube, and just kind of settles into acceptance. He really had no other choice here.

Besides, he couldn't exactly picture the Soundwave from his dimension saying 'Dude'.

"Hello." Weird Alternate Dimension Decepticon. "Just saying hi?"

[inferiordude]

"Yep! I mean, c'mon."

Soundwave shrugs a bit in his seat, wiggling a bit in it. Sitting still is something he's terrible at.

"You're sitting by yourself at a party, drinkin' your energon. Not really talkin', walkin', or whatever." He props his chin into his hand, kicking his legs slightly. "Not that I'm criticizin'. Just figured it might not be so fun being a party of one, yeah?"

[vandalization]

Vandal herself had already made it through a good portion of that bottle of whiskey that she didn't have to share with anyone else. It tasted like ass, but it was whiskey, so what can you expect? She's not going to snub it over quality. She's just grateful Wing had somehow managed to get it at all.

Everything is going by in a nice, not-thinking-about-Titan-Station-haze. Ratchet hadn't come to hunt her down yet, and Drift was a gigantic enabler, so no worries.

That is until she sees First Aid.

Now there, is definitely someone who might tell Ratchet that she's here. So she does an awkward, stumbling U-turn. Navigation suddenly an issue more than when she was just wandering aimlessly.

"Fffffffffuck."

[lifepersists]

You know, he might not have noticed her if she didn't try scurrying away so ungracefully like that. But, fortunately for Vandal, something smaller and moving so unsteadily in a hurried way away from him tends to grab his attention.

"Vandal?"

He leaves his post near the table, his drink sloshing as he hurries after her.

"What are you doing out of the medbay?"

[vandalization]

"Shit-" She mutters under her breath, noticed and on top of it, she has to stop moving because her head is swimming.

"Wh- nothing. I'm just."

God, what kind of excuse could she even make?

"I'm. Getting exercise. It's good for me. And Wing had whiskey, which is also very good."

A beat.

"For humans."

[lifepersists]

Doesn't take much for First Aid to catch up with Vandal once she stops. The staggering and such doesn't really fill him with confidence and such. He narrows his optics, glancing between her face and the whiskey bottle.

"Is it now?" He looks at the bottle again. "What's whiskey?"

[vandalization]

"This," she raises the near-empty bottle, "Is whiskey."

She leaves it at that, deciding to smoothly change the subject.

"Soooooooooooo you actually have a nose and a mouth under that mask thing. Pretty nice looking. Why cover it?"

[aerospacecommander]

Unfortunately for First Aid, Starscream managed to spot him and made his way over as the seeker usually picks targets that were smaller than him.

They were easier to torment and otherwise harass.

"Aha, lookie at what we have here. Going to switch from being a nurse to being a waitress for the night? It does look like they could use some extra hands."

He leaned down slightly to bring himself closer.

"Then again, no one likes you so I'm surprised they invited you here anyway."

[lifepersists]

Also unfortunately for First Aid, he tends to notice when a Starscream wanders on over to him. He's kind of hard to miss. Even though he wasn't really the one from his dimension, the similarity was... well, pretty uncanny.

He freezes, glancing around to find a quick exit. Not exactly quickly enough, since he found himself cornered by the seeker fairly quickly. He looks up, optics wide. He's not really overcharged enough for this.

"It was open invitation."

He's trying hard to sound a bit more stern than he felt.

"I have the right to be here as much as you."

[aerospacecommander]

"That's merely what they want you to believe. By the way, I'd avoid any dark corners or places -- accidents tend to happen, you know. And what would we all do without our favorite nurse?"

Luckily for First Aid this was all a bluff and random harassment because Starscream had no intention of harming the smaller Autobot ... aside from verbally tormenting him.

[lifepersists]

Unfortunately, First Aid still feels threatened. He tenses up, glancing around him, his hand tightening on his cube. Definitely a very nervous response. His intakes hitch a bit, his other hand curling into a fist.

"It would seem unwise to try anything here."

[aerospacecommander]

He smirked. That was exactly the reaction he was going for.

"Who said I'd be the one trying anything. I was just giving you a fair warning."

This was far too easy. If Starscream had any sense of pride he should have been ashamed of himself. But his maturity was about on the level of a middle-school bully. So.

[sword_redemption]

Drift should be drunk. He wishes he were. But he's not doing so hot keeping regular energon down--the last thing he wants to risk is high grade. Still, he should say something.

Erm. Something.

What would Wing say?

"Glad you could make it.". Somehow that sounded lamer than when Wing said it. He feels awkward around the nurse -- the last time they'd been in the same place Drift had been rusting all over everything. "having a good time?"

[lifepersists]

That's quite alright, since First Aid will make up for all the drunk for two of them. By the time Drift gets to him, the nurse is pretty well on the way to wasted. He practically is vibrating just at the sight of a familiar face. Super cheerful!

"Drift! Good to see you!"

He squints his optics in a big smile that just takes up his whole face.

"Yep! I haven't been to a party in a very long time.

It's pretty obvious why.

[sword_redemption]

"I imagine there weren't a lot of reasons to celebrate on Messatine."

Which is probably a terrible thing to bring up right now. Party. Happy. Right.

"Never saw you without the, uh, the mask thing before." He drops his optics, quickly. It's like your face is naked.

[lifepersists]

"There wasn't really anyone around to have a party." Except when the emergency ward was full.

First Aid notices the way Drift drops his optics, and the reaction is pretty much immediate. He jumps slightly, as if remembering his face was exposed, and then the mask snaps shut.

"I'm sorry! I forgot."

[sword_redemption]

"I...uh...it was fine. I just wasn't used to it." Drift steps back, flustered. "Please. You were just kind of...._cute."

[littlecrowgirl]

Hahaha First Aid you're trying to be a person. Kay spots your awkwardness and approaches, a drink for herself in her hand. She's never seen you before, so obviously she's doing the smart thing and introducing herself first.

"Hey! I like your red. You're the same colour as my friend's car!"

Great conversation starter, Kay.

[lifepersists]

Oh, another human. After meeting Vandal, First Aid had decided that he considerably liked humans. They were small and soft but generally interesting and friendly.

Not sure what to say to that, though.

"That's some kind of Earth vehicle, right?"

Made of metal, tended to have some nice, shiny paint jobs. He'd seen and worked on some of the Autobots with Earth based altmodes. They had some interesting advantages.

"Was it a nice car?"

[littlecrowgirl]

"Yeah! We use it to drive around town and stuff, since walking can only get you so far."

She tilts her head.

"It was the prettiest. Really expensive too."

[lifepersists]

Well, that made sense. Using an altmode was definitely quicker than walking. Not that First Aid had that option.

"Oh. At least my paint is pretty?" He hoped that's what she was insinuating.

"I'm First Aid. You're a human too, right?"