MARCH POCKET PARTY!

[peckishmods]

pocket's galaxy express party!

what's up?

Pocket is throwing a party tonight and you’re invited! There’s about an hour after dinner to get ready for the big event, enough time for today’s steady rain to peter out and a thick, dense fog to settle in. It’s a surprisingly warm night, but students attending the party still have to trudge through mud to get to the cave behind the falls.

In groups and pairs, students pass beneath the mist enveloped falls and into the caves behind. Here, the fog is even denser than outside, thick billowing white clouds that swirl as students move through them. A great blaring horn rings out, and a robotic voice calls, “All aboard!”

Emerging from the mists and fog, students find themselves on a gunmetal gray platform, standing before a massive, strange steam engine train. The walls beyond the train are glass, overlooking a starry night sky. A shiny chrome robotic conductor rolls by, “Tickets please! Have your tickets ready, folks! We don’t want to delay departure.”

visuals!

Any regular text goes here.

how this works!

⬥ Welcome to Pocket’s party! Pocket always wants to hang out with the students of Peckenpaugh, and she uses her unusual magic to give them fantastic new places to play with her. This is Pocket’s domain, and she’ll block or (safely) eject anyone who is dangerously disruptive or threatens the safety or secrecy of the party.

⬥ Pocket Parties are pretty much old hat for Peckenpaugh's students, provided you've been here for a year. What's not old hat is the party itself. Pocket's parties are always reliably wild and imaginative, bending the limits of magic and reality!

⬥ The party starts at 8PM and stretches on indistinctly. Tonight, however something strange happens. After several hours of fun, the party ends abruptly, depositing students in the dark Elflock Falls caves, soaking wet. See the End of the Night section for more details.

⬥ The theme of the evening is Galactic Express, combining cowboys with space travel. Fittingly students arrive on the station platform in space cowboy attire. In addition to the slick new duds, you may find you’ve arrived as a robot or alien.

⬥ We didn’t roll matches for stb or 7mih this time but you’re welcome to post opens and scene under the kissing games header.

⬥ We have an RNG minigame where you can fight bandits on the roof of the train! Fill out the form and post it to the "PEW PEW" header to get a roll.

<b>NAME:</b> What's your name? <b>COWBOY NAME:</b> What your cool cowboy name? <b>NICE SHOOTING, TEX:</b> How awesome are you at shooting bad dudes in this weird fantasy world? <b>ANYTHING ELSE?:</b>

locations!

⬦ ALL ABOARD!: From a misty cave to a transgalactic railway platform! A massive steam engine ⁠— far, far bigger than a normal train ⁠— greets students as they emerge into this strange new world, each of them dressed in duds befitting a space aged wild west. Each of the (number) cars hooked to the engine combines the sleek shine of science fiction with the classic look of an old fashioned train. Faceless folks mill about, and a robot conductor stands ready to usher students aboard. How’re you feeling? What’s your look for tonight? Are you even still human? Hope you’ve got a six shooter handy in case the train is beset by bandits, but maybe leave the assless chaps at home. (This space replaces our typical WHAT’S UP section, filling the same purpose while also providing a space to scene on the train platform.)

⬦ PRIVATE CABINS: Students board onto a long and somewhat narrow hallway lined with sliding doors. Each one opens into a cozy private space that’ll comfortably fit six teenagers, but can certainly squeeze in a few more. Each private cabin has a single large window on the far side of the room for you to watch the Milky Way streak by. Two comfortable sofas sit on either side of the little room and a center table divides them. If you’re up for climbing and cramped spaces, above each couch is a bed tucked away. These spaces are perfect for having your own private party.

⬦ THE BRIDGE: Near to the Private Cabins, the bridge is the most plainly futuristic car on the train. Glowing holographic screens shine from sleek black surfaces, delivering maps and information in an alien language that looks a bit like Appalachian Mushkin. A faceless crew of humans, aliens and androids mills about, speaking in the mumbled language of dreams ⁠— you understand, even if you can’t quite hear. Something always seems to be happening up here, with frequent jumps to warp bringing the train into the orbit of gas giants, or dipping down into the atmosphere of sparkling ocean planets. Occasionally, a comm will open and a strange alien will speak about something or another. Here, every touch surface and screen is interactive, producing lights and sound with each press and swipe. It’s fun to punch out a tune.

⬦ PARTY GAMES: Ordinarily it might be odd to see a bunch of teenagers milling about a starship bridge, but this is Pocket's world, baby! Nothing's stopping you from giving the faceless crew a hard time, and a group of kids have done just that, setting up shop in the middle of the room. They're spinning a bottle, playing kissing games, much to the chagrin of the crew. Pocket, in the captain seat, seems amused, though. If you want to get a round of 7 Minutes in Heaven in, there's an elevator to nowhere that'll carry you up and then back down in a journey that takes exactly seven minutes. Convenient.

⬦ DINING CAR: Exit the far side of the private cabins to arrive in the Dining Car. Spacious and richly decorated, this car is equal parts high class honky tonk saloon and Enterprise mess hall. The warm dark wood is accented in greens, a nod, perhaps, to the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The room’s large windows look out into the void and it’s easy to lose yourself in watching stars and comets whir by. From here, it seems the train is traveling through a cluster of rocks, and there’s plenty to look at outside. Pleasant music fills the room, all danceable pop hits from the last thirty years rendered on a player piano. There’s ample places to sit, both at large round tables and the bar. A robot with a handlebar mustache literally made from handlebars is mixing drinks, all of which are served in squat saloon glasses and garnished with a ton of lucky charms marshmallows, because Pocket is pretty sure St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of the Lucky Charms mascot. All the food is really bizarre, strange shapes and colors, definitely alien.

⬦ WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SNAKES?: There’s hay on the floor of this dimly lit car, which contains two large crates, both just brimming with snakes. Looks like someone saw Last Crusade.

⬦ OBSERVATION DECK: Getting past the snakes brings partygoers to their next challenge. The first step into this strange room finds no ground. Here, it’s as though you’re stepping out into space, but upon closer inspection this car is simply a massive orb of glass. There’s no gravity here, and you float freely. A rope extends the length of the room, allowing easier passage from one side to the other. This car may as well be its own miniature galaxy, full of little glowing stars, planets and moons in orbit. There’s a tiny replica of the train rocketing around, as well as comets and little flying saucers. Every once in a while, an asteroid hits a planet with a loud pop, or a star explodes in a bright flash of light and … pop corn? Closer to the edges of the room, there are bars to anchor onto, so you can stare out into the actual void. On these edges, it’s quite romantic. A good place to cozy up and share a quiet moment.

⬦ TOP OF THE TRAIN: Access the roof of the train by climbing up a ladder and through a hatch in the caboose. Somehow, despite being in the void, you can still breathe here. It’s quite the view out here, but there’s not much time to enjoy it. What’s more, it seems the train itself is under siege! Bandits are running across the cars. Grab a laser gun and help fight them off!

⬦ END OF THE NIGHT: It feels like the party has stretched on for hours, but where usually students are able to leave at their own pace, tonight things end with a bang. Wherever you’re standing, whatever you’re doing, everything flickers, blurs and pulls long. A glitch like a brownout that shakes this fake reality Pocket’s built. Things dim and snap back three times total, before everything abruptly melts, transforming into water and soaking everyone. It’s 10:45PM and students are left standing in the Elflock Falls caves with a confused-looking Pocket, who insists this must be a bit of bad luck, given the date. Pocket bids everyone goodnight, and they’re left to head back to their Houses.

⬦ OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

Comments

ALL ABOARD!

[peckishmods]

ALL ABOARD!: Gemma & Open

[sparkling_gem]

Gemma is wearing a dress patterned with a purple and blue nebula, as well as bedazzled cowboy hat and boots. She is delighted by this. "How-dy, pard-ner," she says to the robot conductor, making jerky robotic movements. "This. Is. Awe-some."

ALL ABOARD, Armani!

[teratophilia]

Armani's in something like this (sans mask) but in a lighter pink to match these boots. He brought Pocket a box of pastries to thank her for hosting. (And maybe also as an excuse to try to talk to her.)

But there's no time to be distracted! -- Not until he takes a look at everything, anyway, searching for clues. Time to touch things!!!

ALL ABOARD!: Maisy

[dareyouto]

Maisy's in a metallic leather fringe jacket, definitely working the retro-futuristic western aesthetic. She's in much better spirits than she has been for the last few weeks. Nothing can stop her from partying.

PRIVATE CABINS

[peckishmods]

Aris & Open

[arisahn]

Aris has never had a problem with motion sickness on a real train, but maybe space trains are different. This is the only explanation that his intoxicated mind can come up with as he wobbles his way up the corridor looking for a vacant room. It definitely wasn't all of the drinking followed by gravity-free Quodpot and gunfights and all the rest. He's definitely feeling tuckered out and a bit light-headed because of space train motion sickness.

Just gotta chill out and let it pass!

Finally finding an open compartment, he slips inside and drops down on the sofa. The galaxy speeding by outside the window is surprisingly soothing. In the same moment that he hears someone passing by in the hall, he sees a shooting star cut through the darkness outside the window and begins pointing excitedly. "Ooh! Ooh! Did you see it...?" he calls to the possible-stranger cheerfully, "Make a wish!"

THE BRIDGE

[peckishmods]

Trudy & OPEN

[themurderbird]

From the moment she arrives at the party, Trudy is looking for the Party Bug herself. She makes her way through the train, stopping students and characters of the make believe world alike to ask about her whereabouts. The Captain, she is told, is on the bridge. Of course. 

It doesn't take her very long to get there, and once she arrives, it's more or less what she was expecting. It's all delightful, to be honest, and she has to remind herself not to get distracted — is that a group playing spin the bottle? nevermind — as she continues her search. She unceremoniously shoves one of the alien characters (or maybe a freshman in costume, who knows? who cares?) out of the way to step towards the command seat. 

Captain Pocket (Open to Laszlo + 2 More Threads)

[peckishbeings]

Pocket looks mostly like herself today, which means she fits into the weird alien aesthetic quite well. Wearing an outfit that's halfway between Starfleet officer and a human character from Thomas the Tank Engine, she occasionally gives commands to the random crew members, and the fact that she's wandering around with a bright green drink full of lucky charms marshmallows makes her look particularly absurd.

She seems happy to mill about and engage party-goers in light conversation, but sometimes excuses herself and disappears without warning.

PARTY GAMES

[peckishmods]

7MIH/STB

[pageantree]

Is looming mystery and danger any reason for a bunch of teenagers to stop swapping spit? Heck no!

TRUTH OR SHOT OR SLAP

[quodpotted]

This is a stupid idea.

DINING CAR

[peckishmods]

Maisy & Audrey

[dareyouto]

Maisy is a little fascinated by this bar-tending robot. While she didn't grow up completely isolated from muggle culture, she did miss most of their great Sci Fi hits vis-a-vis TV and movies, so the concept is novel to her.

"Y'know what we should do?" she asks Audrey, after watching the bartender fill a few orders. "Make up some real silly nonsense drink name and see what it gives us."

Merlin v. The Rainbow (Open)

[merlinpletcher]

Admittedly, telling a confused robotic bartender to surprise him had been a miscalculation, but after the disappointment of the snakes that spoke English instead of Parseltongue, Merlin had been doing more huffing than thinking. Now he has six rainbow-colored shots lined up in front of him made from nothing but strong vodka and dissolved Lucky Charms marshmallows. He eyes the concoctions begrudgingly. But the longer they all sit untouched in front of him, the more they begin to feel like a challenge.

Does the bartender think he can't handle this? Because he can handle this. He might be small, but he's not a lightweight!

"Fine," he grumbles to no one in particular, "Do your worst." Then he moves to grab one of the glasses (the green one) and downs it in one quick motion. Then he grimaces. Because this tastes even worse than he'd expected. But he won't give up this easily.

WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SNAKES?

[peckishmods]

WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE A QUACKENBUSH? (open+++)

[circuitree]

There is, somehow, at least a dozen snakes curled up in Cedar's ten gallon hat. They took it off long enough to fix their hair and now this is their life.

"Uhhhhhhh." Their voice is stuck in limbo between a forced calm and unbridled panic. There will be no compromising. As soon as they pick a direction, they will go all in, and it'll probably be panic. "Heeeeeeelp?" Cedar looks around, then up toward the roof. Is there a fight going on up there? A sport game??? Do they need snakes????? "Soooomeooooone???"

Merlin (open+++)

[merlinpletcher]

Merlin has never been scared of snakes. Even before learning to transform into one just a few weeks ago, he'd read a lot about them and he'd handled his fair share in the wild, always approaching them with deep fascination and reasonable caution. Now that he's one of them (...sort of) and because he's still curious to find out for himself whether or not a serpentine Animagus can learn Parseltongue, though, the creatures are especially quick to grab his attention at the party.

Who cares about pretend space and drinking games when there are boxes of snakes?

Sitting cross-legged on the ground a distance away, he observes the creatures thoughtfully and turns his wand around in his hand idly. He doesn't expect that Pocket would leave anything venomous or even particularly dangerous in here with them, but still. One should never be careless. He tries to listen for words in their hisses and furrows his brow, just waiting for a moment of epiphany.

Willow & Adrian

[pageantree]

Some sounds, whether by design or by experience, immediately send the mind into a panic. The Jaws theme. The rattle of a snake's tail. And, in this cause, the loud voice of a ginger sophomore calling out, "HEY! ADRIAN!"

OBSERVATION DECK

[peckishmods]

Space Quod (OPEN+++)

[quodpotted]

"Okay, we got two teams. The, uh," Wyatt screws his face up, trying to think of something appropriately space themed, but also cool. He definitely should have asked Eddy to name the teams, but too late now. "Star Raiders and the Moon Outlaws," he finally announces. Those are definitely things in space. "Then we got the quod." The ball he holds up is actually a bright yellow sun, warm but not uncomfortably so, and a little bit bigger than a quod. "Rules are your standard american high school quodpot rules. Pots at either end of the field." He gestures to two silver cauldrons on the far sides of the sphere, neatly divided by the rope. Instead of pursuing whatever mystery seems to be happening around them, Wyatt had asked the Party Bug for sports gear. "'Cept, no brooms. No gravity. Should be fun. Who wants in?"

Tybalt Dives Into A Void? (OPEN++)

[princeofcat]

Of course, eventually, Tybalt is drawn like a moth to the one space on the train that he's at all likely to fall into a void. He knows he probably won't, Pocket magic has always made sure he's safe before. He isn't so drunk that he's worried he'll fall, or anything, so it becomes a game to creep closer, closer to the edge, holding on to the bar for support and peering out, maybe trying to grasp at the popcorn. His toes curl on to the platform, and he leans forward, only a few fingers holding on to the bar.

This would be a perfect opportunity to just give a little push and be rid of him forever, and possibly, he knows that. Maybe that's why. There's something thrilling about being inches away from floating away forever.

TOP OF THE TRAIN

[peckishmods]

PEW PEW!

[peckishmods]

Post your forms here to get a bandit fighting roll!

END OF THE NIGHT

[peckishmods]

END OF THE NIGHT: CICADA HOLDERS

[peckishmods]

The slap of water against stone signals the abrupt end of Pocket's party tonight. A whole lot at once dumped on every party goer as their surroundings dissipate. For some, this means more than for others:

• Bijou did not bring her cicada, and she's just soaked.


• Chanel brought her cicada. When drenched with water, it warms faintly and crusts over with lichen which quickly flakes away from contact.


• Eddy did not bring his cicada, and he's just soaked.


• Imogen brought her cicada. When drenched with water, wherever it's stored on her person, it grows warm. A thick coating of moss grows over its surface, and when Imogen touches it next, she gets a feeling of deja vu.


• Jupiter, Claudia, Lionel or Xenia brought that cicada they're co-parenting. When drenched with water, wherever it's stored on their person(s), it grows warm. A thick coating of moss grows over its surface, and when one of them touches it next, she gets a feeling of deja vu. (I made the executive decision that they haven't gone off on their cicada burying spree yet.)


• Lionel brought his cicada. When drenched with water, wherever it's stored on his person, it grows warm. A thick coating of moss grows over its surface, and when Lionel touches it next, she gets a feeling of deja vu.


• Ramona brought her cicada. When drenched with water, wherever it's stored on her person, it grows warm. A thick coating of moss grows over its surface, and when Ramona touches it next, she gets a feeling of deja vu.


• Wyatt brought his cicada. It is now wet, covered in moss and Dorito dust.

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET CHECKED IN BELOW you can still do so!

OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[peckishmods]

OOC - CICADA OWNER CHECK IN

[peckishmods]

HELLO CICADA HOLDERS
BIJOU, CHANEL, EDDY, FITZ, FREYA, IMOGEN, JUP/CLAUDIA/LIONEL, LIONEL, MERLIN, RAMONA, SKIP, WYATT

You all have cicada shells!

PLEASE CHECK IN HERE LETTING US KNOW IF YOU HAD THEM ON YOUR PERSON FOR THE PARTY.