New Year's Eve Feast (Pregame 1 LA Cafeteria)

[GM Yuusha]

(Open to all. This is an optional large social gathering. Please join this thread and have a seat if you wish to eat.)

Very soon now the vessel would be without gravity. It, and the other dropships, would be on approach to the jumpship now. That offered a final window for a new year's eve feast. The cafeteria's displays and serving counter were full of hearty and fresh food. It was a little bit like a second Christmas. There was toast and pate, soup, roast meats and vegetables, slices of cake, a nourishing (and more importantly, warming) stew and those wonderful mini-sausages wrapped in bacon. Someone had also prepared a vegetarian curry with plenty of rice and nan-bread. All the Angels and off duty dropship crew were welcome and a brief announcement had gone around the ship reminding everyone about the feast.

The only ask was that all the trays were returned and leftovers disposed of in the bins provided. The cafeteria could not afford for food or drink to be left out when zero-G kicked in. It would be coating the walls. A food fight would be less destructive than that.

Amusingly, a few senior Angels were helping to serve the food. Sosanna looked like a natural as she chatted to folks while easily serving. Eric was much more stiff and uncertain. A far cry from his deft piloting. Meanwhile, Steffen was behind the bar in the cafeteria rather than the officers' lounge for once and there was some low potency wine available. Not too bad. Enough to put people in good spirits.

The stream of folks heading in was growing. Soon the tables would all begin to fill up.

[Alex Kovac]

Alex and the penguins dressed to impress. They all had their fancy tux on. Alex looked about and smiled brightly knowing it will be a good night. "Try not to mess the clothes guys." Alex reminded the group. "Rico, especially you... I know how you can be under 0 G." Rico shook his head. "Oh cone on boss a little fun won't harm anyone." Alex glared at the tall man. Then they both laugh. "Reconnaissance mission, let's scatter." Skipper just voiced. "Yeah, have fun guys." Alex nodded dismissing them to their antics.

//quote or pm if approached.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Mori you are going to be the only nurse there who isn't a sexy nurse, I'm pretty sure that's actually a crime."
"Well, Tsuge I don't have a sexy nurse outfit. Seems like something you'd use more than me."
The two bicker in good spirits while Torashirō and Yori eat quietly next to them at the table.

"Lieutenant?"
"Sergeant?"
"Can you please pass the salt?"
"Yes."
Salt is passed, the silence continues for a few more moments until Yori looks up.
"This is... not objectionable, us all being together to celebrate a holiday."
Her sergeant grunts "No, it is not."
More silence until this time he's the one to break it.
"The party tonight is fancy dress."
"It is."
Oh yeah, this was Yori he was talking to.
"Do you attend to wear it and if you do will you be wearing fancy dress?"
The Lieutenant nods "I have procured a suitable old earth costume. I was not sure how to make it sexy though, Mori and Tsuge provided opposed advice."
"I believe the sexy rule is a convention rather than an actual law."
"...I see, I was having difficult locating where it was codified."

Sergeant Torashirō and sighs taking a deep swig of beer.
"If you're attending I'll probably have to go."
"The pirate costume?"
"...I knew I should have bought something new."
"It is not wholly ridiculous."
"...Yori, it makes me feel pretty damn ridiculous."
The lieutenant almost smiles as she nods.
"I believe today...we're allowed to be a little ridiculous."

((Feel free to approach but quote or PM if you do!))

[Ezmeralda]

Ezmeralda arrived with her lance in tow. The rookie was looking at everything with curiosity while the other three focused on getting their food and securing a table.

"The curry looks nice," Foxtrot said taking a look at her plate.

"Maybe the Captain's?" Sierra said as she took a bite, "Hmmm."

[Aleksandr Korolov]

Tempest Lance arrived with a a rush of chatter and energy. Alek was his usual loud self joking with Whip as they walked in.

"Well maybe next time you won't try that take down on someone twice your size!" He said patting an annoyed looking teen on the back

"Well it's not my fault you're so freakishly huge!" Whip bristled "and you didn't have to throw me." She finished with a grumble

"But then how would you learn!?" Alek retorted with a laugh clapping her on the back. The young girl huffed and went to get food as Alek and Nado chuckled together and Hammer sighed.

"You could go easier on her." Said the older woman.

Alek took a breath "Ah she'll be alright. Good for her to learn her limits." Alek replied with a touch of warmth as he watched Whip throw things on her plate

The rest of the Lance followed the youngest member and starred making plates.

-------------------
Please feel free to engage. Quote or PM if approaching.

[John Slaktare]

The command company battle lance was present and enjoying the party... except for their leader. Lawrence, Han and Takeguchi all sat near each other and other mechwarrriors of the command company, socializing and having a great time. Made easier by the lack of Butcher not being immediately present undoubtedly.

And he was not immediately present because he was in the kitchen volunteering for cleanup duty. Parties were definitely not his thing and he would only bring down the mood. So scrubbing dishes worked better for everyone. As folks delivered dishes he took them with his permanently unamused expression.

(PM if approaching)

[Mary Macharu]

Mary arrived at the feast sans lance. Not being bonded at the hips, her lancemates were doing one final precautionary check of things before knocking off for the festivities. But as their lead, Mary was expected to attend and represent, not pack herself away in a shipping container until deployment. Not too many years ago, Mary would have been really looking forward to such a gathering...but these days it promised to be painful and unpleasant and getting worse as the evening progressed.

Looking over the food on offer, she opted for the curry and naan as the least likely to cause problems, and then looked for a place where she could eat and listen in on the most sociable crowd without bothering them over much.

[Richard Winter]

The ex-Starlight Knights Lance entered the cafeteria.

Old John almost pushed the three mechwarriors in front of him: "Now don't be like that, sometime you have to get to know the others" he said loudly and sternly.

"It's alright Alpha, we're going" Thomas lamented, "Scarlett is there anything from the buffet that is particularly good?"

"Well," replied the young woman with a strong Spanish accent, "the stew is always great, but try it out, our cooks are great. I'm going to mingle with the others," she answered and said goodbye.

Richard nodded to John and pointed something at Thomas, John nodded affirmatively and the two were also drawn to the buffet.

Richard himself looked around the room and someone aroused his interest.

Sgt. Macharu, she must've been a beauty before whatever happend to her

"Greetings Sgt. Macharu" Richard performed a small Salute. "I've been informed that you're part of the scouting company, is that right?"

[GM Yuusha]

"Maybe the Captain's?" Sierra said as she took a bite, "Hmmm."

The Captain couldn't cook many meals, but the few she could cook were good. Her curry was delicious, but she wasn't known as a vegetarian. Perhaps it was a collaborative effort between Laks and someone else?

Meanwhile a somewhat lanky intelligence officer was going around with a tray of party hats, poppers and fortune cookies.



"Anyone for a popper or a party hat? Fortune cookie?"

Snip

She stopped by the large man and his group. "M-Master Sergeant, erm, would you like a fortune cookie?" She lowered the tray so all of the group could say. "Or some party poppers?"

[Mary Macharu]

The ex-Starlight Knights Lance entered the cafeteria.

Old John almost pushed the three mechwarriors in front of him: "Now don't be like that, sometime you have to get to know the others" he said loudly and sternly.

"It's alright Alpha, we're going" Thomas lamented, "Scarlett is there anything from the buffet that is particularly good?"

"Well," replied the young woman with a strong Spanish accent, "the stew is always great, but try it out, our cooks are great. I'm going to mingle with the others," she answered and said goodbye.

Richard nodded to John and pointed something at Thomas, John nodded affirmatively and the two were also drawn to the buffet.

Richard himself looked around the room and someone aroused his interest.

Sgt. Macharu, she must've been a beauty before whatever happend to her

"Greetings Sgt. Macharu" Richard performed a small Salute. "I've been informed that you're part of the scouting company, is that right?"

There was a nearly unnoticeable twitch as the robotic eye focused on the movement of the lieutenant faster than the human one did. She rose and brought a burnt and scarred hand to her burnt and scarred face returning the salute.

"yes sir, that is correct sir." she said, her voice not rising to the volume that any drill instructor would approve of, but there was likely some damage to her throat as well.

[Tanaki]

"Well, Tsuge I don't have a sexy nurse outfit. Seems like something you'd use more than me."

"Your assuming any outfit your wearing doesn't count as a sexy outfit, mechwarrior" The words come from behind Mori as Tanaki passes by, not even looking at her and moves to a seat further down the table.

[Richard Winter]

"I hope it is not a problem for you that a stranger suddenly stands above you in rank? I've always hated that about the AFFC and I don't want to give the impression that I'm stepping over anyone." he asked quite sincere

[Mary Macharu]

"I hope it is not a problem for you that a stranger suddenly stands above you in rank? I've always hated that about the AFFC and I don't want to give the impression that I'm stepping over anyone." he asked quite sincere

There was a brief look of confusion, at least in one eye. The bionic one held no such emotion.

"no sir. that is simply the way of things, sir. she replied.

She wasn't quite sure if the second lieutenant was looking to chat informally or was simply checking on readiness. She was fine with either way, but had to rely on the lieutenant to guide the conversation.

[Aleksandr Korolov]

Meanwhile a somewhat lanky intelligence officer was going around with a tray of party hats, poppers and fortune cookies.



She stopped by the large man and his group. "M-Master Sergeant, erm, would you like a fortune cookie?" She lowered the tray so all of the group could say. "Or some party poppers?"

The Lance turned to look and Alek looked down at the tray grabbing a party hat and putting it on his head the string stretching to its limit "Don't mind if I do!" He bellowed grabbing a popper as well. Some of his lancemates shrugged and did the same taking things from the tray.

"You alright? Seem a bit on edge for a party eh?" He asked looking at the woman.

[Richard Winter]

"That's good, I hope we will get along well and work together." he said with a smile, "How long have you been part of the OA, if you don't mind me asking?"

[GM Yuusha]

"You alright? Seem a bit on edge for a party eh?" He asked looking at the woman.

"N-no, nooo, no, no. I'm fine."

Iria was being her usual self. She waved her free hand left and right.

"Have a nice me-meal ok?"

[Mary Macharu]

"That's good, I hope we will get along well and work together." he said with a smile, "How long have you been part of the OA, if you don't mind me asking?"

Mary glanced down thinking back to her joining the angels, her bionic eye following the real one. It had been.....scarring, but this was her life now. But a lieutenant would probably appreciate a more literal answer.

"it has been two...no, two and a half years, sir. she replied, looking back up at the new lieutenant.

[Richard Winter]

....

"So you've already had good experience with the OA's. Is there anything I should look out for?"

He looked at her curry

"And can you recommend the curry?"

[Mary Macharu]

....

"So you've already had good experience with the OA's. Is there anything I should look out for?"

He looked at her curry

"And can you recommend the curry?"

"the curry....is decent, sir. it will....be remembered fondly as the campaign progresses, sir. she said answering the second request first.

She worried her lip a little bit at the first question.

"ah...i'm sorry sir. i don't....know enough about you to give you the intel you are looking for, sir. beyond what you can see with your own eyes and your briefing....what are you looking to be warned about, sir?" she asked having no idea what he was asking for. It wasn't like there was a serial killer loose among the halls, or a trick button that ejected lieutenants into space.

[Richard Winter]

...

"Oh, um, hang on" he said.

Richard went to the buffet and got some of the curry, came back and sat with Mary.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to, um, well,,." He stammered a bit. "What I was really getting at was if there were any traditions or relationships to look out for. Like, I don't know, the CO always sits in a certain spot in the cafeteria, for example, or certain people go out of their way or somehow secretly, but also not secretly have something going on something like that."