meadowlarklogs | one night of magic rush

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one night of magic rush

WHO: Cain, Prompto, Hideki Maeda, and you!
WHERE: The popular Asylum club.
WHEN: Night of October 26.
WHAT: Cain and Prompto's joint birthdays!
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Beyond drinking/smoking, general wild party behavior, and fake friendship, there shouldn't be much. Will update as needed.

[Set deep in the downtown of New Amsterdam's entertainment district is Asylum, arguably the most popular club in the city. The exterior is cool steel beams and tasteful futuristic architecture with a long line down the corridor, suited bouncers posed at the entrance all armed with a virtual guest list. Its interior is fashioned with bright, colorful lighting dynamic to the music of the infamous DJ Semicolon, high ceilings and acoustic sounds to lend that feeling of a constant full-body hum. Any partygoers on the guest list for this event will be funneled toward the VIP section. They will have received an invitation a few days prior via their Cooltalk profiles. Jason is specifically blacklisted, sorry buddy.

DANCE YOUR HEART OUT. Nearly impossible to book without deep pockets or wide-reaching connections, Semicolon is at the top of their game mixing popular contemporary hits with Whitney Houston's classics. From song to song, Semicolon provides a unique and talented contrast of the slow to the energetic, so no matter your dancing style, you'll find something to move you on the dance floor.

DROWN YOUR... LIVER. Courtesy of the party's host, Hideki Maeda, the VIP section's private bar will provide an ever-flowing river of your favorite expensive high-proof alcohol. Pick your poison.

CHILL OUT. Tired on your feet from too much dancing, or just need a break from the packed atmosphere? There are plenty of comfortable areas where you can relax and take it easy until you're ready to get back out there. The lights around this area cycle through different colors in reflection of Semicolon's performance set, so a slower song might lend toward romantic shades of red while a faster-paced song is brighter blue.

SMOKE, EAT & MINGLE. Asylum will be serving real, fresh meat at this party, so enjoy that luxury while it lasts. There is also an outdoor area with a beautiful view over the city itself if you want to take your vape pen out there for a smoke, just get some air, or see who's around for a chat.]

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[There's a moment where a cloud passes over Abel's expression-- it could be nice to talk to someone, for once. Cain was always there, Abel never had any complaints and always felt heard, but... he's not here now. He's off 'working', and even that makes Abel worry.]

I wouldn't want to be a bother when you're here to have a nice time, Angel. It's fine, really, I'm glad Cain is having a good birthday.

[His face says otherwise. Abel couldn't lie if his life depended on it.]

Please, whatever it is that's on your mind, I've probably heard worse.

[ Like, a lot worse. There's no way Able can top Jack asking her in high definition levels of detail about how smooth things over when he displeased his girlfriend for the umpteenth time. She knows things she wishes she could un-know. ]

Er, that sounded bad, sorry. I know he's a friend from your world, but I'm guessing Cain is more than just that to you.

[Part of Abel agrees that it's probably true-- this isn't all that bad, really. He knows he's just mad that Hideki threw Cain a giant party and Abel couldn't do that. The other part is horrified that Angel has been subject to worse, apparently. He winces, trying not to imagine it and failing.]

[But as to what he and Cain were...]

Ah, you're right, we're partners. Military partners, the fighters we fly are a two-person setup, a Navigator and a Fighter. We trusted each other with our lives. [There's more to it than that, yes, but they haven't really defined anything so... what's he supposed to say? His sex life is nobody's business, and when that was removed from the equation he's left with trust and deep affection. Total honesty would lead to questions-- how they met, what their relationship was like, it could go as far as revealing what Project Thebes was and Cain's part in it. Someone who didn't know them wouldn't understand, they would think Cain was some kind of monster.]

[It's better to just keep it quiet. Fewer questions.]

Back on Earth, I was the son of an influential politician. I guess you could say my family was rich and connected, I could have had anything I wanted. [He glances over at Hideki pointedly.] I opted not to behave like that. And Cain getting mixed up with him is like watching him hang around some twisted version of me. I don't like it.

[ Ah. The jealousy in Able's voice is palpable, and while she has no personal experience in feeling replaced like this, she can understand where he's coming from. Put the pieces together and empathize with the bigger picture, help him find a solution. Problem solving was always part of her designation. ]

Partnered combat... is the VR program you were working on related? Regardless, having someone like that, who you can trust with your life, it's rare. I can see why you would be protective of it.

Sort of, but it wasn't a combat program. I built a road I used to drive my motorcycle on, when I felt frustrated or trapped. He said he wanted to see it, so I built it.

[He frowns and hunches over his drink, more sad than annoyed now.] I haven't shown it to him yet. I was going to do it today but then all of this started happening. I didn't want to rush him through it before the party, so maybe after but... who knows when that will be.

[Jealous, disappointed, he's running the whole gamut tonight.]

[ Angel gives a sympathetic smile. ]

Wow...that's a thoughtful gift. So much so, that the timing of when you show him likely doesn't matter.

[ She taps her bottom lip, thoughtful. ]

But... there's more than one way to skin a spiderant-- er, sorry, that's an old colloquial saying from my planet. What I mean is, there are ways to cause diversions to get him somewhere alone and quiet

[ She eyes the DJ, activating her implant to take stock of his equipment; smoke machine that seems to emit fragrances, an endless library of music. ]

Does he have music he particularly hates? Or smells that give him a headache?

A spiderant...? [He has an image of what that looks like. It is not a pleasant one.]

[Abel looks curiously at where Angel is looking, seeing the equipment and realizing she might be accessing the system when she starts the line of questions.]

Woah, hang on Angel! I don't want to give him a headache or disrupt the party, you're right! The timing probably doesn't matter!

[This is some intense problem-solving if Abel ever saw it.]

They're about as awful as their name implies.

[ Problem solving was a skill of hers but a skill amidst a planet and corporate war that thrived on chaos so...

She waves her hands, an attempt to calm Able's sudden worry. ]

It wouldn't be anything extravagant, just an inconvenience. Enough of one that when you approach him about moving elsewhere for a break, there would be no reason to stay.

Sure, and that's one way to do it but... Angel I...

[Abel looks conflicted. He doesn't want to hurt Angel's feelings, but he can't have her interrupting this party, Hideki would be irate if he took Cain away for an hour. Potentially more if the aftermath got involved, so to speak.]

I'm. I wish I could have given Cain a birthday like this, if I interrupt it and make him focus on me, I'll feel worse. I don't want to show him what I've worked so hard on feeling like this, it doesn't feel right.

Oh.

[ Angel blinks the implants overlay away, looks down at her hands. ]

Sorry, I'm unused to dealing with someone so....considerate. Things rarely worked that way back on Pandora, and never for the man I directly answered to. I should be more mindful.

[ She considers her next words, the best way to help, to ease Able's troubles, without causing more in turn. ]

Sometimes grand gestures can be small, and visa versa. This party may be opulent, but your gift sounds like it has a lot more meaning.

No, no, you don't have to apologize. [Though Abel does look mildly distressed that Angel, an apparently sweet woman who only wants to be helpful, isn't used to dealing with people who aren't 'considerate'.] You didn't do anything wrong, you were being very mindful. I haven't had someone offer to do something like that for me before, honestly. [Not without some kind of ulterior motive at least. Nobody except...]

[Abel finds Cain across the room, picking some other boy up and swinging him around laughing. He wants to be over there, not here, but Cain shouldn't have to babysit him when he has to focus on his mission. This is an opportunity for him, Abel can't threaten that.]

I hope he likes it. I've given people gifts before but, I really want this to be appreciated... [He gives Angel a guilty look.] Is that too selfish of me?

Angel isn't entirely sure how to react to what's proving to be a constant with Able. Being forgiven- no, not even having to apologize constantly, to take all accountability regardless of the size of a miscalculation. Visibly, she relaxes a little at his reassurance. ]

No one has offered to sabotage a deluxe DJ system for you before, you mean?

[ She misses as Able averts his gaze, busy signaling the barkeep to bring her something non-alcoholic, but she's laughing- an involuntary giggle- at Able's question before she's even taken a sip. ]

Ha- sorry! I'm sorry! It's just...I've witnessed selfishness, an overabundance of it, and this is so far from anything like that.
So long as you're not doing anything short of air-locking Cain into space because he won't prioritize your request for attention...

I think you are a good person, Able. And a good friend.

[ That bar probably seems absurdly low to Able, but it was the norm on Helios, on Pandora, its what Angel was used to mostly seeing in people. Especially those closest to her. This kind of genuine care, seemingly without ulterior motive, is as refreshing to her as it is foreign. ]

That too.

[He turns when he hears her giggling, automatically assuming he's hit the nail on the head and he's looking for something absolutely impossible and ridiculous.]

[But apparently not.]

Air-locking him?! I'd never!! [He watches Angel's drink come with a healthy dose of absolute fluster. The mere idea of doing anything to hurt Cain is just purely upsetting, especially for something as ridiculous as not paying enough attention.] Who does something like that? Plus Cain pays attention to me all the time, the idea is just...

[Well. Cain's not paying attention to him now, and Abel seems to be struggling with that. It's not the best argument.]

Um, lots of people? It was fairly common on the space station, I'd see it happen at least twice a week.

[ Angel shrugs, violence in her neck of the woods so prevalent it barely phases her at this point in her life. ]

Is Cain as...enthusiastic? About you?

Twice a week?

[Abel stares, openly and wide-eyed, at Angel. Wherever she came from, it's too hideous for Abel to even consider. He signals to the bartender too for another Moscow Mule. That's the only thing that's going to help him process this.]

If you're asking if I think Cain would air-lock me, I'm happy to report he's only threatened to throw my computer in it when I've worked late.

That's corporate culture for you.

[ Able's reaction to this information isn't great, regardless of how used to it she is, it'd probably do her some good to keep in mind most others came from more diplomatic environments. Their companies probably had workers right, unions even.

She raises her hands in front of her at Able's next remark, placating. ]

What? No, no that isn't what I was suggesting...though I'm relieved to hear Cain isn't the type. Just because it was a common occurrence does not mean I thought it was the right course of action.

What I meant was that if Cain has even a fraction of feelings you seem to have for him, then I don't think that the timing of your gift will really matter. I know it's un-ideal, but he will recognize the care you've put into it.

My fa- erm, former employer was a man of grandiose gestures, you know. He gave his last girlfriend an entire town, once. But I know she enjoyed the smaller, more personalized gifts more.

[God. If that's 'corporate culture', Abel's happy to be working in the public sector. Well. Sort of, at this point.]

[But despite how truly bizarre some of the things Angel describes are though, the sentiments are the same. This is the city Hideki built for Cain, full of flashing lights and booze and endless music. The thing Abel has built isn't real, but he's put his heart into it. Maybe that makes it real enough.]

I'd give him a town if I could, if I thought he'd want it. [He smiles and pulls his drink over as the bartender sets it in front of him.] Maybe the difference is that I know he wouldn't.

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one night of magic rush

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