Fancy dress & count down (Pregame 1 EN Storage)

[GM Yuusha]

(Open to all. This is an optional large get together. You can join this thread or make another in the same area to enjoy the party.)

It was now less than five minutes to midnight. Everyone kept glancing up at the clock. Conversation was becoming slightly quieter as anticipation was building.

The music was a steady background beat through the storage room now. A lot of the drinks had been taken. The blackjack tables had been cleared up and a winner declared. A lucky junior technician who had won a bottle of champagne and a fully paid for pampering day for two abroad the jumpship, with 1000 C-Bills as spending money in the shops there.

[Alex Kovac]

After dinner, Alex moved around the storage looking at the people. Rico moved closer to Alex and whispered. "You lost a bet... I am squeaky clean." Alex looked at Rico and smiled. "The night is not over my friend." Rico glared at Alex and they kept tabs on each other. "Touché Alex... Touché." The sargeant chuckled. "I know you want to see me in that little red dress..." Alex winked playfully. Rico chuckled. "I'll leave you be." Rico headed to the gambling tables. Alex just hung to the wall as the wallflower that Alex is.

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori was quietly standing on the ceiling sipping from her sippy cup like a damn psycopath. The 2nd lieutenant was dressed in what appeared to be a traditional samurai costume complete with impractical headwear. Anyone who approached her was given a short printout outlining the names of the different clothing items and a short note as to their uses.

The fact that nobody else seemed to be doing this confuses Yori.

((Feel free to approach but ping me if you do!))

[John Slaktare]

People waited around in anticipation of the moment. Butcher waited around in anticipation of people calling it quits for the night. If there was any joy at the celebration for John it didn't show.

Spider gave him a nod, as he drifted by, but the lance commander just gave a dismissive wave. That wave seemed to say, Go have fun. I'm not fun.

(PM/quote if approaching)

[Yoko Lee]

Feh, years...



For her part, Yoko floated staring out the window to the universe beyond; Years and time weren't a big deal to her, and just felt so hollow and arbitrary so removed from where she grew up. The stars didn't care someone far away had decided one second would be called different than the previous one in a bit, nor did her wallet.

At least she'd had the wherewithal to back off the wine, deciding on nothing more to drink the rest of the night. Besides, it was hard looking dignified and cool drinking in zero g with everyone and their drinks kind of floating aboot.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei twirled upside down somewhere near the ceiling looking mildly annoyed about something and tugging at the hem of her dress.

[Richard Winter]

Mei twirled upside down somewhere near the ceiling looking mildly annoyed about something and tugging at the hem of her dress.

Richard quietly floated over to Mei and put a hand on her shoulder, saying softly "Here's to a new year, huh?"

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

After dinner, Alex moved around the storage looking at the people. Rico moved closer to Alex and whispered. "You lost a bet... I am squeaky clean." Alex looked at Rico and smiled. "The night is not over my friend." Rico glared at Alex and they kept tabs on each other. "Touché Alex... Touché." The sargeant chuckled. "I know you want to see me in that little red dress..." Alex winked playfully. Rico chuckled. "I'll leave you be." Rico headed to the gambling tables. Alex just hung to the wall as the wallflower that Alex is.

Spinning slowly lengthwise, a familiar redhead just as small as said wallflower comes close and collides with the wall just a few feet away.
"Heehee, ow!" The slightly intoxicated young Sergeant giggles and turns slowly around to rest with her back against the wall, while she gives her flushed cheek a ginger rub.
Pink bottle in hand, she raises the translucent straw sticking out of it up to her lips and takes a small sip. Tasting the sweet beverage, Catherine looks blankly at her fellow Mechwarrior at first, but her expression quickly lights up with smile, when recognition sets in.
"Oh, Alex! Hi!"
The smile is very familiar, but maybe unexpected. Catherine hadn't smiled like that for a year now, ever since Toland happened.

[Tessa Wentworth]

Snip

"Yooookooo!" Tessa calls, floating over with a drink and a big smile. She had her makeup on for a change and she was wearing a delightful cowgirl outfit complete with tall cowboy boots and a lasso attached to her belt. She even had six shooters in holsters, although they were clearly fake. The red end bits gave it away.

"Having fun?" She asks merrily. She was already buzzed from a few drinks.

[Lakshmi Kaala]

Snip

At the same moment another cheerful soul drifts over to John.

"Hey, thanks for all your help tonight."

[Alex Kovac]

Spinning slowly lengthwise, a familiar redhead just as small as said wallflower comes close and collides with the wall just a few feet away.
"Heehee, ow!" The slightly intoxicated young Sergeant giggles and turns slowly around to rest with her back against the wall, while she gives her flushed cheek a ginger rub.
Pink bottle in hand, she raises the translucent straw sticking out of it up to her lips and takes a small sip. Tasting the sweet beverage, Catherine looks blankly at her fellow Mechwarrior at first, but her expression quickly lights up with smile, when recognition sets in.
"Oh, Alex! Hi!"
The smile is very familiar, but maybe unexpected. Catherine hadn't smiled like that for a year now, ever since Toland happened.

Alex smiled and nodded. "Hi Cat...Seems you are enjoying yourself." The Penguin lead chuckled. "It is nice to see you smile but you should ease on the drinking." It is a melancholic time for the Penguin some times misses those who are no longer there.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Goo gave me this." Catherine waves the pink bottle and offer. "It tastes like strawberriesh. Want a sip?"

She nods at the warning. "Goo told me to drink it slowly, so I've been taking really extra small ships." There is just the hint of a slur in her speech. "She may have a fresh bottle too. Goo had a whole crate of shtuff with her."

[John Slaktare]

"Course captain. Easier if I'm working and not actively ruining folks nights," he says with a nod. Where others might greet with a salute or other respectful gesture, Butcher just gives a slight wave.

[Lakshmi Kaala]

Snip

The slight wave seemed to be more Lak's style so it was fine.

"Well, it's appreciated." She smiled more.

"Thank you." (Japanese)

She moved to hover beside him, just watching the crowd. Three minutes to go.

"Looking forward to 3050?" She asks.

[John Slaktare]

"Just 'nother year. Stars and planets don't care what we call it or how we measure them," he replies, giving a noncommittal shrug. "We'll mess some jack-offs up like most years, and get paid for it. I'll do my part and try to not become a smear on the ground."

Spoken like someone with nothing to really look forward to other than the fight. And then the socially expected return question.

"Got anything you're looking forward to?"

Perhaps surprisingly, he looks to her when he asks. Either a legitimate attempt at engaging, or a legitimate attempt to seem like he's trying to engage.

[Lakshmi Kaala]

"A few things. I'm due an upgrade on Lucky Strike now the Major and Steffen have had theirs. The Sergeant Major said hers could wait. Aside from that, ano, seeing how my company does. Cat's in better spirits again, after... you know." She didn't mention the deceased man's name.

"How are you feeling about our target?" She asks more cautiously, meeting his gaze as she took a slow sip from her cup.

[GM Yuusha]

Snip

It was just such a moment someone like Usov lived for.



Effortlessly, he strongly pushed off the floor and turned around in the air to land beside Mei with his feet on the ceiling.

"Hey beautiful, need some company?"

[John Slaktare]

He nods at the mention of Cat and the upgrades. He was only really peripherally aware of the young girls situation. She tended to avoid John, much like her father had. "Good for her. Don't need so many people moping around here over dead parents," he says, completely straight faced, and referencing himself as well as others. It was a rough life sometimes and losing people sucks. Some people move past it, others like himself got stuck. And he apparently knew and accepted it.

"Our target? Their mechs'll break, their pilots'll die, and AFFC's cash'll spend. My only people are you people. The planet you grow up on means nothing when you can travel between stars really. Pick your home."

[Lakshmi Kaala]

She had similar sentiments. In fact, she wasn't that keen on her home at all. She'd still be there otherwise.

"Yeah, this is home now. I mean, ano, we're going to be stuck on ship for a couple months." She grinned suddenly. "Try to stay out of trouble. Use your words Butcher. Save punches for a ring or the enemy, ok?" It was a little strange for her to play big sis to someone so much taller than herself, but she was giving it a go.

[John Slaktare]

"Doing what I can," he says with a shrug. "I'd say you don't have to worry about it, but we both know that isn't true."

He doesn't seem broken up about it either.

"Hopefully you didn't come over here to make sure I ain't looking to start a tradition of throwing a punch at midnight," he jests, deadpan. "Though a midnight brawl might not be a bad new years tradition in my opinion."

He takes a sip from his sippy cup. There is absolutely no smell of alcohol coming from him. Apparently even tonight it was water only as usual.