2021-10-31 Electric Dusk Halloween Daikaiju Drive-In-athon!

Uni.exe Presents: The Electric Dusk Halloween Daikaiju Drive-In-athon!

Participants: Silva Clover Dragana Boricua Carver Lawrence Crane Damon Rachel Bennett Fortitude Mizha Indigo Merc

Location: Electric Dusk Drive-In

Date and Time: October 31, 2021 7:00 pm

Summary: The Cassidys invite friends, family, fans, and charitable souls to help make Glendale a better place to live, and they turn out in droves for the night's events!

Electric Dusk Drive-In pops a big movie screen up on the rooftop of the Sears building on Central Avenue. The nearby Hyatt Place facade towers over the rooftop. The concession stand sells Popcornopolis popcorn, candy, sodas, and water. Staff guide moviegoers to park their cars in neat, well-spaced rows, with smaller cars towards the front and larger cars towards the back. Movie audio goes to station 88.3 FM on the car radios. Some guests bring creature comforts like folding chairs, picnic blankets, and the like, spreading out next to their cars or in their popped-open trunks. Before each event starts, hosts like to offer a short and often humorous introduction to the movie that's about to play.

---<Silva>---------------

The air is alight energy. Halloween is a special time of year wherever you go; in Los Angeles, that energy practically clouds along the ground like a fog and boils like summer humidity. Everyone's in costume. The adults are chugging booze. The kids are chugging candy. The cops are chugging law-breakers, law-benders, and law-abiders alike to try and maintain some semblance of peace; but as the sun goes down, it becomes more and more clear in the dark how little control anyone has.

Which makes the scene at the Electric Dusk Drive-In all the more intriguing. Wedged between office buildings, restaurants, and a Spirit Halloween pop-up, a parking structure exudes its own energy. The thrills are high, but not as sharp. The sense of danger delights, but its height comes from bombast rather than genuine threat. Cars are rolling in to occupy every available space while the prep crew works the projector and the concessions stands get everyone set up. Boxes and boxes and coolers and coolers of non-alcoholic and non-drug refreshments are ready for everyone. Porta-potties have been set up at strategic locations all around the parking area, above and below.

Along with the cases of refreshment for the event, sets of secondary coolers and storage containers have been set up too. Looks like some people already opped in on paying for their tickets through donations rather than money, as a few boxes are already full of clothes and toys.

As the masses roll in, and the sun finally completely disappears behind the Pacific horizon, the clipshow playing on the big screen flickers and fades out. A spotlight set up flickers on, pointing out the Master of Ceremonies as he takes the front: looking positively royal in a lolita rendition of Princess Toadstool, Silva Cassidy beams at the gathered crowd and works his best Queen of England wave. No microphone - a discrete headset in a playful pastel blue to match his outfit.

"Oh. My. /Gawd/." He gushes. "The crowd! Clover, the crowd!" he exclaims to his wife just offstage. "Everyone, my heart's absolutely racing right now. I'm- full disclosure? Never run an event like this before? So I'm low-key trying not to have an absolute freakout right now. But! It's okay! Everything's gonna go great!" His voice is animated and playful, a non-serious warble of nervousness played up for effect. Even without the amp his voice could carry over the crowd, but with the audio setup he sounds almost omniscient around the moviegoers. "It's my honor to welcome you to the Daikaiju Drive-In-athon! Anyone who's seen any of my or my lovely wife's content will know we adore these goofy movies with all our hearts. The love that went into making them, the artistry of the effects, the score - it's so much more than the sum of its parts. If you're not already a fan, then consider tonight a love letter trying to show you what /we/ see in these old pieces of crap.

"But, speaking of being more than the sum of their parts - that's part of why we're putting on this event." His tone softens, less animated, warmer, weightier. His hands settle over his midriff, fingers interweaved. "Clover and I both are under no illusions about how things are going out there these days. I won't get into it, but I think we all know there's some room for improvement. But that's what makes nights like this so special - everyone here is making a choice to make an improvement. Every dollar, every thread, every can of food is going into the hands of someone for whom it will be world-changing. It might seem small with it being just us? But every person's attempt means something."

He holds his hands out to the crowd. "You all mean something. And the people you're helping by being here mean something. So I feel blessed to have you all here tonight.

"We're gonna be at this for a few hours. Like, as close to twenty-four hours as we can get. So we've got a /lot/ of good content lined up for you all. We've got movies, we've got shows, we've got music, and we'll be going around and checking in with all of you throughout the event. So I'm gonna shut up and let y'all do what you do best - look gorgeous in your /incredible/ costumes, and spend your night choosing love over hate."

---<Crane>---------------

Their costumes are a match, of course; they keep their outfits coordinated in their mundane lives, so one more night won't exactly break the routine in the lightest. Logically, with one of them being a German Sheperd, that's the one with the truly engaging aesthetic - a lion. Meanwhile, Crane is the one dressed as a freshly-mauled victim, slathered in layers of fake blood and gore, complete with an outfit suitable for the Serengeti, stylishly blended with a fake rifle over one shoulder, its barrel bent, scope in ruins. For the time being, they're playing it cool - and mundane. It's a party, after all.

---<Dragana>---------------

Andre Majorino's truck pulls up, but alas for all involved -- there's no Andre tonight. It's apparently Neil Gaiman's Death herself, everyone's older sister, behind the wheel. And a crapton of boxes of things in the back. Dragana's been comically-tragically low on funds since arriving in Los Angeles but she's apparently made it work one last time for Halloween, as evidenced when she hops herself out of the truck.

She's dressed in a simple thin-strapped black camisole over skinny black jeans, a wide black leather belt studded and buckled in silver, and an oversized ankh pendant in pure sterling that likely soaked up the very last of her lunch money. Red-black lipstick. A pair of platformed, buckled, mid-calf boots. Her right eye is painted wadjet-style ( https://tinyurl.com/yab4w478 ), her hair slightly blown out to a soft wild wispiness.

It's the costume of someone very much working with more or less what she has, but she did pay for two tickets despite that she rolled in solo /and/ she's brought donations, because goddamn priorities.

---<Clover>---------------

Bowser, typically so villainous, today has been focused primarily on helping people find which bins or volunteers with which they can leave their donations or to pose and be photographed for the Gallery of Ghouls; a four foot by two LCD stands near the donation table, giving guests a chance to show off their great costumes without the pressure of competition.

Bowser's voice is scratchy and on the femme register, a Texas twang making clear in concert who's under this studio grade costume. Happy to facilitate and ease proceedings as the Master of Ceremonies Silva works his magic, Clo often checks for the blonde Princess Peach cosplayer just to study him, to relish him in action. "Love you, baby!" He calls out as hubby kicks off events, cheering and clapping.

---<Rachel>---------------

Accompanying Death in the aforementioned truck, seated in the passenger seat, is a melancholy Sally, all stitched-together parts and stitched-together clothes and a general sort of stitched-together vibe going on. She even has the red hair, albeit perhaps a little more copper than the original. Clearly, she too is working from limited means, just enough to afford some scraps of the right patterns of fabric, some thread, a needle, spare time, and some makeup. Sure, she's the plainer of the duo even without taking their costumes into account, but this doesn't seem to bother her much.

---<Lawrence>---------------

Tonight, Lawrence has put together a costume for the occasion. That occasion being the Daikaiju drive-in. It's simple enough - a toga over one shoulder, reaching all the way to the ankles and trimmed with a green-colored square spiral motif. Sandals and a laurel wreath crown round out the outfit. Oh, and there's a literal amphora in the back seat. (And wine in a cooler, because amphoras aren't precisely stable in the back seat of a car.)

He pays for one ticket, then looks back to get the donations he... didn't bring. DAMMIT. To compensate, he chips in for a few more tickets, ensuring at least a couple folks might get in for free. Now let's see, in this sea of cars, is there anyone he recognizes...

---<Boricua>---------------

Dressed as the main character from her novel series the Terra Shade series her rendition of Terra Shade Darling absolutely spot on. From tight form fitting jeans to the tight tank top with a hooded jacket, the hood pulled up, perhaps in an attempt to keep her face somewhat hidden. She had paid for her ticket and gave an even larger donation a cause dear to her heart perhaps as she strolls up to a a refreshments.

---<Bennett>---------------

A car rolls up somewhere near the drive-in, and out of the backseat gets some guy wearing a pretty over-the-top kaiju costume - not quite a dinosaur or dragon, but definitely some sort of reptilian monster. The fake head of the costume is way bigger than his own head, and requires him to try a couple of different angles before he actually gets safely clear of the vehicle. He leans in towards the passenger window to have a quick word with the driver, then the car drives on for now. Then, Kaiju Costume Guy plods closer to all the proceedings, a big bag of candy in one 'clawed' hand, and an envelope in the other.

---<Boricua>---------------

Dressed as the main character from her novel series the Terra Shade series her rendition of Terra Shade Darling absolutely spot on. From tight form fitting jeans to the tight tank top with a hooded jacket, the hood pulled up, perhaps in an attempt to keep her face somewhat hidden. She had paid for her ticket and gave an even larger donation a cause dear to her heart perhaps as Boricua strolls up to a refreshments.

---<Damon>---------------

Damon arrives at the drive-in a 1967 black Chevelle super sport with the top down, He smiles a bit as he is here as Doctor Frankenstein, White Lab coat, overly large work gloves and steampunk goggles of course. the whole mad scientist motif going full bore, besides in the passenger seat is a number of large vials and beakers full of festival colored drinks. A cooler is in the back seat full of more of those vials and snacks! Best part of being at a drive-in. He hops out of a beautiful classic and walks over to his friends, "Hell of opening you two." He gives Bower a hell of a bro hug, a firm handshake is also give and a wicky little evil scientist smirk.

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana-as-Death is, maybe a touch uncannily true to the Gaiman original, quite cheerful and serene in herself as she helps Sally down out of the truck. "I told you they wouldn't start without us. Come on, I loaded the lighter boxes on the left, I'll take the right. And I found the most amazing candy I cannot stop eating so you have to eat at least half of it or I will get fat." Seems unlikely, she's physically quite vigorous, compact, lean. Also apparently partly hopped up on sugar already. They'll have those twenty or so boxes unpacked in no time. She's somehow remarkably, incredibly lucky tonight in that she found a parking spot more or less central to the movie-viewing area, clearly planning to make a long fun night of it.

---<Crane>---------------

Stepping out of the Uber, Crane looks to the driver and says, "I'mma get some snacks," and glances to the passenger in the back, nodding to the German Sheperd, who gives a quiet, muttered reply, "Yeah, popcorn and a chocolate.. thing?" The dog then gives a plaintive whine, gesturing with his muzzle to the driver. "Pete here is flying at about thirty thousand feet and climbing. Man does not handle his propofol very well, does he?" Then he gives a canine grin, to which Crane smirks and nods. "You're not well, Chris," he adds with a quiet tone, heading to the refreshment stand, ignoring the Uber driver's glazed expression and now-spilled cup of coffee from Dunkin Donuts.

---<Carver>---------------

Someone wearing a pretty hastily constructed Shadow/Blinky costume enters the drive-in on foot. Apparently rideless, the ghost has brought a small folding stool (the kind used for camping,) along with an old portable AM/FM radio. In somewhat of a struggle with his own costume (poor visibility), the red Pacman ghost makes sure to first and foremost find where he can drop off a donation check before proceeding to find a spot where he can safely set up to enjoy the night's entertainment.

---<Rachel>---------------

And, funnily enough, Rachel-as-Sally is also ... kind of Sally, in that she mostly seems to be sweet and shy and kind of a little glum. Not that this is going to keep her from enjoying the experience of being at the drive-in! She hops down and goes around back to help Dragdeathana with the unloading of the things, although she protests, "You ought to take some of the light stuff, too, to be fair. Er -- are you /sure/ you want to be stuck in a pickup truck with me hopped up on sugar for, um, five or six hours?" Even /she/ looks a little bit uneasy about this prospect. "Because, I mean, I *can*, but, um ..."

---<Lawrence>---------------

Lawrence looks right, looks left... looks right again, and gives an impressed nod of approval at Dragana's costume. (By sheer chance, he'd parked right next to her. Sheer. Chance. Not a deus ex machina or anything. Chance.) And he catches at least part of the exchange between Death and Sally. "Fancy meeting you two here! Looking good, both of ya." Unprompted, he starts trying to help with what appear to be boxes of donations or what-not. "Where do these go?"

+ROLL/+DICE> Silva: Perception + Alertness vs. 7 -> 1 success. (9 7 6 2 1)

+ROLL/+DICE> Crane: Perception + Alertness vs. 7 -> 0 successes. (5 4 2 2)

---<Silva>---------------

Once Silva's slipped away, the lights around the top of the parking structure go dark. All's quiet except for the hum of cars and passing traffic. The projector flickers to life. From radios all around, big, blaring brass horns start playing a melancholy tune. All is not well in this Toho classic. The ocean is thick with poison and pollution. The waste itself boils and bubbles up as teeming veins of muck coalesce, until glowing, red eyes can be seen breaching the surface... GODZILLA vs. THE SMOG MONSTER begins!

Silva's slipped over to join his wife in managing the concessions and donations, smiling brilliantly and sincerely to everyone that comes up. But if he's beaming already, it bursts into fireworks when familiar faces start making their way up. Damon's drawn into a tight hug between both Cassidys. "Is this even a costume for you?" he teases, squeezing his friend's shoulder. His eyes are doing an Olympic-level gymnastics routine across faces, bodies, costumes, vehicles, movie. He clocks a familiar pickup truck and points it out to Clowser before sliding over to take someone else's big garbage bag full of toys.

---<Clover>---------------

Clover brightly smiles upon the recognition of Damon and Crane among the revelers and guests, though some costumes he has to peer at a bit longer to make out and some? No clue! But his energy is intense, voice a bit big as he speaks from the diaphragm to ensure he doesn't have to say anything twice or lose momentum.

"Damon, hell yes, fucking excellent to see you," the redhead says with a grin, tending something behind his little costume shell for a moment, a hand squeezing the man's shoulder. "You look like you're ready for the first day of Flubber College, my man, and I'm living for it!"

Yet there are Avi and Chris as well, Clover's happiness to see them just as bright. "Well it's not a kaiju but it's definitely terrifying - Chris, remind me to show you Kujo some time, but then also show you Quigley to balance things out." Avi's given a firm handshake and additional shoulder grab as Clover notices the fair pair approaching, Dragana and Rachel eventually recognized and waved over for hugs as best that giant warhammer allows.

---<Crane>---------------

Startled and caught off-guard, Crane relaxes within moments after recognizing Clover. "Well, hi!" he says, and to this, Chris gives a soft murmur of a whine, thumping his tail loudly. "Talk about a lucky night for us. It seems that our driver friend has himself a small drug issue, so we're going to chill out for a bit." He gives a wan smile and shrugs, and for a moment, it seems as if the dog is going to mirror the motion, stopping at the last second to look away, rolling his canine eyes. "Meeting new people is always fun, though. Even when they're not strictly speaking 'people'."

+ROLL/+DICE> Carver: 3 vs. 6 -> 1 success. (10 3 3)

---<Bennett>---------------

Kaiju Costume Guy - namely Bennett, but he's so covered up that his face can't be seen anyway - leaves off his donations, then turns his head as he apparently eyes up some candy. Catch is, nobody left a proper mouth hole in the suit. So, suffering from that general lack of foresight, he instead plods back on his way, checking out various others' costumes. Then he spots Crane's dog and exclaims, with sheer, enthused delight, "Man, that has to be the best look going. Love it. Just love it."

Then he spots Rachel, complete with Sally costume, and offers up an easy, cheerful greeting, "Hey! Like the costume." Is he just looking for costumes with dogs as components? Maybe.

---<Damon>---------------

Damon looks to The Princess and Bower with a grin, "There is some one ups in my car from Grand Pappa special stash." He embraces the hugs of the Cassidy, When asked if this was a costume, his hand go sideways. "But thanks for having me out here." He seems as happy as a clam. "I was just working in the lab late one night.." He chuckles at Clover, "Flubber college couldn't afford me."

+GAIN> Carver regains 1 <redacted>.

+GAIN> Clover regains 1 Willpower.

---<Boricua>---------------

Boricua continues to make her way through the gathered assortment of folks grabbing a soda and some snacks. She hasn't come with a car, well that is to say she doesn't have one here yet. Her mind is reeling as she sees everyone else's costumes, slowly making her way to where Bowser and a group are shell get close but won't say anything at first content to not interrupt friends.

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana's not so busy hauling and stacking the heavy donations that she can't socialize. To Rachel, "If you get unruly you can sit on top of the cab. Actually .. let's both sit up there, good view of the sky tonight." Halloween was moonless this year, at least the last time her author checked the local +weather that day. "And I know you can. I believe in you. Tank up, my friend."

She blows two gorgeously sweet little air-kisses across the distance to Silva and Clover in turn, touches two fingers to just above her right wadjet-painted eye in mad respect for an already-successful event, and continues the physical labor with Sally and now Lawrence -- who she has to pause a moment to remember, with a grin of greeting: "Long time indeed, /love/ the costume," -- until every one of those boxes are out of Andre's truck. And then she's happily watching the social interactions drift far and wide, spends a few moments sweeping out the back of the borrowed truck leans her small self back against the still-warm hood of the vehicle and just watches. Movie, costumes, shared sentiments, all of it.

---<Rachel>---------------

Rachel gives Lawrence a wave hello when he greets them, saying, "Hi, Professor Stern. You're looking very classical tonight, or, well, you're looking what classical looks like in the popular imagination, anyway." Not always the same thing, is it? "Donations! Um, I think they go over there?" There're probably enough left for a helpful person to feel helpful. And there'll be greetings for Clover and Silva, and then, making her way back to the truck, she shoots Bennett a somewhat embarrassed look: "I think yours is honestly way more impressive, but thanks!" Is it time for candy? Yes, it probably is time for candy.

---<Lawrence>---------------

Lawrence finishes up lifting heavy and light boxes alike, and settles in to social conversing with those nearby. Namely, Dragana and Rachel (and incidentally the hostses with the mostses). All of the above get smiles, but it's the former two who he converses directly with. "It's indeed been a long time. Too long. You two mind if I join you atop the cab? The company will be nice." Glancing between the others' costumes, he adds, "There is more than one road to impressiveness."

---<Boricua>---------------

Boricua looks at her phone and curses under her breath. "Madre de Dios." She shakes her head and gives a wave to the hosts as she heads away finally lowering her hood.

---<Silva>---------------

Silva's in the middle of gushing about the out of this world costume Bennett put together when he catches Dragana's eye. His sparkling smile could be seen from across the distance, a quick bounce-bounce from foot to foot that sets his chest to jostling in the nearly-scandalous confines of his dress. "Bro, how are you even seeing right now?" he laughs. He gestures to the screen - past the trippy musical numbers ("Saaaave the Earth! (saaaave the earth!)")and the narration of sailors disappearing off shore, our atomic anti-hero appears, roaring mightily against a simmering-hot sunset. "Y'know, the monster designers always put the eye holes in the kaijus' necks in the Goji movies. S'why their necks are always so long. It's /so/ gorgeous though. I envy." He radiates warmth as he accepts Bennett's donations. The envelope has his curiosity, but he knows better than to just open it up right now.

Rachel and Lawrence get delighted greetings too. Silva adores when someone manages to make patchwork look just right and makes sure to tell Rachel so before she heads back to rejoin Dragana. A thought crosses his mind on her way back, though. From beneath the concessions stand he retrieves his bulky phone to type something up quickly, before it's back to donator service.

---<Carver>---------------

The person in the Blinky costume seems content to watch the films on the screen, as well as the costumed party goers, but otherwise doesn't do much to move out of their seat and socialize. Which is probably pretty far from the weirdest thing that is going to happen tonight...

---<Clover>---------------

Wow, that's a lot of donations to process - but to the credit of whoever their likely super smart and capable and hirable makeup artist was, that body paint isn't beading with sweat or rubbing off at all! Once Boiser's helped with the rather startling and lovely amount of donations he mingles among the crowd with a nice but not expensive digital camera on hand for anyone who'd like their costumes immortalized. This leads him near dino man and Blinky, rather obviously!

---<Bennett>---------------

In response to Silva's query, draws his hand up to a part of the costume that is indeed somewhere around the neck, to pull a mesh flap away, leaving his eyes somewhat more visible. He says, with a burst of easy laughter, "It's a real bold assumption that I'm seeing much! Just have to move real slow and then I figure if I walk into anyone I can just sort of, you know, roar at them and do scary stuff." For the sake of emphasis, he wobbles on the spot so that the vestigial extra arms, tail, and indeed head - flappy jaw and all - on his costume bounce around somewhat, and he extends his own actual arms along with it, his 'clawed' fingers outstretched. There's a lingering amused note to his voice even as he peeks up at the screen. "I'm not gonna say it was the *best* choice for anything with a visual part to it, but, heck, I would do it again."

Then he looks back along to Rachel and declares, "Loving all of it. As Halloween costumes go, man, these are some solid favorites, out of any I've ever seen. It's great."

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana immediately pushes back upright from her lean, does a sort of small deep dark dive into what's likely the glove compartment of that truck, or that one mystery bag Sally-Rachel had to share floorspace with on the drive over, and comes up with exactly three things. Two are hip flasks. The one she hands to Rachel is coppery with a cute little spiky-looking mammal on it, emblazoned with: CRAZY HEDGEHOG LADY. Her own silvery flask is obscured for the moment. The third thing is -- no fucking exaggeration -- a fully dedicated four-pound bag of mini Reese's peanut butter cups, which is already open and which she also hands to Rachel.

Then her phone hums, which always seems to surprise her for some reason. She checks it, returns a quick text and smiles at something. "Get a good start on those, please," she adds to Rachel. Not the first time she's pressed over a pound of sugar in some form or other on the taller redhaired woman. "Back in a bit." Then she ambles off, more or less in the direction of the concession stand. Flask in hand.

---<Rachel>---------------

"Um," Rachel begins to answer Lawrence, "if it's okay with Ms. Jezic, it's okay with -- Ms. Jezic?" Because of course Dragana has given her the candy bag and flask number one and departed for the nonce, leaving the redheaded girl to -- gasp! shock! horror! -- make a decision for herself. "Well, um, sure, I guess, but, um, you have to help me eat some of these. Please. Otherwise I might seriously get a heart attack." There it is! Up onto the truck she goes. Carefully.

Bennett's comment occasions an actual, if fleeting, smile, and she admits, "People've come up with some pretty clever stuff, for sure. Isn't it hard to breath in there?"

---<Carver>---------------

At first, when Clover approaches with the camera, Blinky Carver seems totally engrossed in the film. When he finally realizes that there is someone standing near him, the ghost turns its head, "The scene where Hedorah approaches the party on Mt. Fuji was actually very foreboding..." he blurts out by way of greeting. When he realizes that Clover is offering to take his picture, he stands up a bit stiffly and poses in what seems to be a very uncomfortable pose, in the process shouting at the ground suddenly, "It's supposed to be campy! That's part of the charm!" He looks back up at the camera wielding lizard, "Um... sorry. It's just this damn cat. You understand, right?"

---<Damon>---------------

Damon slips away from the Cassidys for the moment and walks back to his car and hops in, His legs are crossed as he looks up at the movie from the classic muscle car, A soft smile on his face as he is here to support his friends. yet oddly he is alone.

---<Silva>---------------

How many movies could handle transitioning from live-action and exceptional costumes to hand-animation as smoothly as Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster? Probably very many! But we're watching Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster, so this is what you get! The titular antagonist leaves vapor trails of toxic air across the city skyline, fueled by the churning of factories as it passes overhead.

Silva keeps getting distracted by the movie between bouts of helping people out. But as the movie transitions into full swing, the parking lot is pretty well full up by now, and the people looking to buy and donate start to slow. It frees him up to slink away, though he's hardly stealthy in bright pink and platinum-blonde. Might as well roll with it. He doesn't slink, he /strides/ to meet his friend, Lady Death, a come-hither smile given to her as he leads her closer to the Cassidys' vehicle: a 1987 plymouth voyager in faded burgundy. Gloved hands swing open the rear doors to give the two of them sitting space, and pats the spot next to him. "You look /amazing/ in black, he offers."

---<Clover>---------------

"I mean it's fucking epic," Clover happily praises to Blinky. "Instantly recognizable and...hm...well I can't even tell there's a...cat." Boiser's head tilts and he makes a clear scan of the area for small animals. "Be mindful, one of our guests has a dog, probably more than one." After that he waves in Blinky for a good pic or three, one with his own head in the frame, out of focus and eyes googly.

Clo shifts his attention to spot Damon, no better half in tow this time, and starts to meander that way without any effort to shoo off Blinky; it's a social event, after all. He creeps near enough to be visible, to wave at Damon when he gets a chance and do that curious body language stuff, silently asking if he's good.

---<Lawrence>---------------

Lawrence grins at Rachel's sudden predicament of having to, oh noes, decide what to do with a bag of delicious candy! On Halloween, no less! Truly, ther is no greater terror than this. Not the kaiju fights. Not the highly-distracting go-go dancers on-screen. Not the funny ghost guy. But... REESE'S CUPS. (Ominous doom noises.) He hops up on the cab of Dragana's (Andre's?) truck with Rachel, not having to be told twice to pilfer some of those cups. "Sure thing Rainbow. So, how's things going in life? I feel like we haven't caught up in a while." A glance to Dragana meeting with Princess Peach. More than a little glance at Princess Peach, before turning his attention back to the movie. "And it's been more than a while with Dragana. My fault, there, been meaning to call her."

---<Bennett>---------------

Bennett wobbles a hand - paw? Clawed appendage? - as he answers Rachel, "I think as long as I don't need to breath *too much*, I'll manage. Just need to avoid any sort of exertion - running, climbing, walking at anything faster than a shuffle, you know? I can claim it's part of the look. I lumber rather than rush." He keeps at least half an eye on the movie as it goes on, even if he's out of a car, the head of his costume bobbling somewhat every time he turns it. He happens to spot Lawrence, too (he might very well have been standing near to him for a while but is so lacking peripheral vision that it hasn't registered yet) and lifts a clawed hand aloft in a wave.

---<Damon>---------------

Damon looks up to Clo and gives a thumbs up and a half hearted smile to his friend as he go back to the movie and slowly cracking open once of those vial as he watches the movie. His eyes do drift back to the other and he finally spot Rachel, giving her a friendly little wave.

---<Carver>---------------

"Thanks for the pictures..." the red ghost says to Clover before he moves on to the next party goer, a distracted kind of tone in Carver's voice. Sitting back down in his camping chair, he shushes the ground near his feet, "Be quiet, you are going to ruin the movie!" Before staring ahead silently once more.

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana gets distracted herself because that smog monster is both high camp and utterly convincing on the ecological concern front. While she's briefly paused, those in the know might register that she never, ever seems to wear entirely black and it's now thrown into rare sharp detail at a mostly white-shot bit of of the film, lighting up a bit of contrast around her features and along all the silver-toned metal accents. Maybe she's previously found it too on the nose, perhaps? But black suits almost everyone, and it's just a quick costume, and the moment passes.

Then there's another pause, another moment. Her look locks briefly onto one spot in particular slightly behind her over her shoulder, dark brown eyes quiet. Seeing.

Then that moment passes too, and she drops herself easily into the back of that burgundy Voyager. Hip flask in one hand -- this one has a ridiculously cute engraved little cartoon figure of Death, complete with scythe, and the words: SEE YOU SOON. To Silva, "I brought candy." Her other hand full of those promisingly addictive peanut butter cups.

---<Silva>---------------

"Oooh. Trick or treat?" Silva asks. Even in full princessly regalia, he looks totally at ease, not terrifically careful of smudges that might wind up on his dress as he sits in the back, legs neatly crossed in front of him.

Trippy, psychedelic rock blares as revelers dance around a bonfire in the middle of a field. It almost seems rebellious - but it could also be their way of dissociating from the chaos of the movie so far, judging by how it cuts to stark silence every now and then, to gaunt figures watching the party from afar. Eventually the quiet reality becomes impossible to ignore; a child at the party turns, and the music cuts again. The camera cuts to what he sees: Godzilla, breathing a ray of atomic energy across the sky. Hedorah the Smog Monster approaches.

---<Rachel>---------------

To her credit, sort of, Rachel is not stingy with Dragana's candy. She's happy to give Lawrence some, if he likes! But she /is/ a bit picky about wat happens to the wrappers, making sure there's a little trash bag, like, so they don't become litter. See, that would be a problem. "Um," she tells Lawrence. "I, um, I don't know. What, um, what was the last you heard? And how're things going with *yours*? I, um, I didn't know you guys knew each other. Or maybe I did and just have suffered a headinjury or something."

Nodding to Bennett, she admits, "I guess you probably aren't going to have to do *too* much of that running around stuff, so, well, it'll be okay. And, er, I'd offer you a peanut butter cup but I guess that might sound like I was being sarcastic. Hi, Mr. Vincente!" She waves, in return, though she does keep looking in the direction in which Dragana went, every now and then. And eyes the hedgehog hip flask thoughtfully.

---<Clover>---------------

Clover takes a post at Damon's vehicle, leaning in to ask at the window, "Got a cig?" A moment later he stops himself. "Don't answer that, tryin' to quit," then he leans in with a more curious expression. "But uh...what's in the test tubes, Doctor Drankenstein?" Clo's brows waggle, and only after the answer does he take time to scan the surroundings thoroughly. One might get the impression of a guard dog...guard...Koopa, from him, attentive and watchful over the crowd even as he mingles and co-manages.

---<Damon>---------------

Damon grabs Clover by the head and rest his forehead against his buddy, "What do you think is in the tubs my friend. Are you a brave enough soul." He make a creepy tone of a mad scientist, "Honestly, they are a few punch bowl drinks that I mixed up, some are adult favor and some are for kids that may show up." He moves a box in back and offer a seat if Clo wants to join in. "Plenty of room my frined."

---<Lawrence>---------------

Lawrence saves a good number of the Reese's cup wrappers so he can ball 'em up and continuously wrap them around each other to make a bigger and bigger wad o' wrappers. Not making use of the trash bag offered until it becomes clear the foil blob can get no bigger without risking disintegration. "Well. For starters, last I knew you and Mizha were still a thing, but apparently that fell apart? Hope the split wasn't too dramatic. As for myself, I'm planning to run off with Frank and leave our mutual companion behind. ...for a night. Or two. Maybe. We'll see what ideas Frank has."

---<Bennett>---------------

Chilling somewhere nearby - or, let's face it, sweating - Bennett bobs his head, and by extension the kaiju head, in a nod to Rachel. "Appreciate the thought. Realistically, though, you would have to just squeeze it in the eye slot and hope I was able to catch it in my mouth, and if I miss, well, it's not coming out for a while. You know. Maybe there's some zip stitched into this. I gotta..." He trails off, then plods off, patting his hand round the neck section of the costume, perhaps searching for something.

+ROLL/+DICE> Silva: Charisma + Expression vs. 6 -> 3 successes. (10 10 7 6 4 1)

---<Silva>---------------

In the dead of night, titans created by the apathy of man participate in mortal combat. The military watches and waits with a ramshackle plan involving building-sized electrodes, in hopes that the melee falls into a prime position. If they're lucky, they'll get both monsters at once.

Kids trot through the parking lot, some accompanied by parents or sitters that wanna stretch their legs. Some are screeching and roaring, playing the role of monsters in their own titanic clashes between skyscrapers that look suspiciously like parked cars. More than a few have to stop and stare at Bennett and Carver, wowed or afraid of the former, and intrigued by the latter. It's fleeting attention, though. Kids are fickle that way. They're off to the concessions to trick-or-treat.

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana's chatting quietly with Silva in the back seat of the Cassidy Plymouth, leaving others to sit on top of the cab of Andre Majorino's somewhat well-known truck for the time being. She's donated, she's offloaded the first four-pound bag of crack-addictive candy on the unsuspecting, and now she's unscrewing a hip flask which occasionally lights up from the movie screen projection.

---<Clover>---------------

Clover decides Damon's vehicle makes a fine perch to keep an eye on the safety of the crowd, the film, the staff, the MC and of course the brews they protect. He can't not sample one, careful to not smudge that stage makeup in the process, and he coos contently. "Installing the black lights was a nice touch, brings out the color in your potions so nicely, doctor!" he cheerfully says to Damon, lifting a drink in cheers. "I'm glad you made it. Your costume and rig is amazing, bro." He peeks to Bennett, to Carver, to a pack of kids being chased by tired but smiling parents. Things seem alright in Glendale tonight, ain't that nice?

On the big screen, Godzilla VS Hedorah just wrapped up in all its psychedelic, warning glory, and after that rolls a short and thoughtful piece on Godzilla as a metaphor of mankind's power and responsibility.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha comes late, as herself, because costumes? Who has the time. Bessie is unmistakable toward the back, vintage mint-and-white VW bus; somehow she's clambered up on /top/ of it. There's a silk scarf knotted around her throat.

---<Rachel>---------------

Up on the truck, Rachel, who's talking with Lawrence, winces just a little. "Geez," she says, "you had to come right out of the gate with *that*, huh? No, it's okay, and, no, I wouldn't say it was, um, dramatic. I could think of some other words, but not dramatic." She unscrews the hip flask that Dragana left with her, complete with Crazy Hedgehog Lady graphic, and takes a big swig without even testing to see what it might be, which ends up making her eyes water. Coughing, she says, "Uh, well, I mean, good luck to you guys with that, and considering all the people I know you can forgive me for not being sure whether you're serious or joking, right?" She eats another few of the mini peanut butter cups, muttering, "It really /is/ hard to quit with these."

---<Indigo>---------------

Deep in the shadows...where he belongs, god damnit, stands Indigo Jones, on foot. Looking like something out of a bad Noir Detective novel. Slacks, penny loafers, white dress shirt (wrinkled) and a loose black tie with a duster about his frame. Just missing the fedora. He sighs heavily as his eyes sweet the Drive-In, his lined face taking in the scene with a critical eye and then from his pocket a silver flask of his own is retrieved, a long draw for the nerves...it's just medicine, he swears... before stepping from the shadows into the 'light'...so to speak.

---<Fortitude>---------------

Fortitude arrives much later than he intended, but as the saying goes, business over pleasure, and at least he does show up. He also remembered to come bearing a donation of candies, most of the Asian in origin, to add a bit of variety on top of what most of the attendees are likely to contribute. After stopping to drop off several heavy bags, Fortitude maneuvers his car over to where the rest of his friends are gathered, having recognized the Majorina-Cassidy-Vincente bloc from afar.

"Sorry for being late! Unexpected disaster to take care of that turned out to be not so much of a disaster as someone complaining to me over video hangouts for over an hour," a slightly flustered Fortitude tells the group as he gets out of his car. He sucks in a deep breath to center himself, then folds himself into a smooth bow. "I hope that I didn't miss too much."

Maybe surprising to some, Fortitude is actually dressed up. He's wearing a high-collared, black wool coat with silver buttons that fits snuggly over his torso. It flares slightly at the waist down to where it falls mid-thigh over a pair of tight black pants tucked into calf-length black boots. The left side of the coat's collar sports a silver sword pin, while there's a gold-and-red dragon pin on the right. All the glints of silver on his person matches the silver of the reading glasses perched on his nose, along with the filigree decorating the pommel of the sword sheathed at his waist. The sword's -probably- fake.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha seems more intent on tracking new arrivals and the movements of people, really, than on watching the movie screen.

---<Bennett>---------------

Bennett - well, Kaiju Costume Guy, really - ceases his quest to find a way to get the front part of the costume open any further. He will just have to have candy later. He shoots Clover a quick claws-up in response and replies with some easy enthusiasm, "Thanks. Loving all of them here. Heck of a sight. Loving the Mario stuff too. They ever make a Spooky Mario Bros?" Then it so happens that the epilogue to the film rolls, and he queries of anyone within comfortable earshot, "Do they all have reflection like that?"

Then Bennett hears, rather than spots, Fortitude. The costume doesn't allow for luxuries like peripheral vision. He gives him a good look over and enthuses, cheerfully, "Awesome costume, man. I mean, could just be a whole new alternative look, but I'm gonna go with costume."

---<Lawrence>---------------

Lawrence totally converses more, even if his narrator is too tired to explain what that conversation entails.

---<Indigo>---------------

Outdoors, that means. Yes. Still separated a bit from the cars, he pauses. A wrinkled, saggy, sweat stained cigarette is pulled from behind his ear and placed between his lips. Zippo pulled from the inner coat pocket, flicked... Hands cup around the flame, the flickering light casting sinister shadows. Inhale, lighter closed, redeposited. Fingers grasp the coffin nail, remove it from between lips and then exhale. Eyes fall on the screen, narrow a bit, before they slide off it. Moving between cars, the back of the fingers of his left hand brushing against mirrors, hoods...as he passes. Feeling...something.

---<Damon>---------------

Damon grabs Clover and just pulls him into the car, then waves to Fort, "Adult vial." He winks to Clo, "Just like grand pappy used to make." Clearly a inside joke as if this could be some evil vial of death or suffering, is it green and bubbling?!?!

---<Fortitude>---------------

Why does the Kaiju's voice sound familiar? Fortitude blinks and squints. "This is definitely a costume. I don't dress like this every day or even once every week. I'm not emulating any specific character, but it's supposed to correspond to the uniform of a group in an old fantasy series that I enjoyed reading growing up," he explains while clearly trying to figure out who he's speaking to the entire time. Finally, he just poses the question directly. "May I ask who's under that costume? It's such a bold and impressive look to go for."

---<Silva>---------------

The analysis of Godzilla is a brief one, thoughtful and thorough. A good cooldown from the ride viewers just went on through the seventies. But enough serious shit! It's time for clean, kid-friendly rock and flashing lights! Keeping in theme with the environmentalism angle of the first feature, the media transitions into the pilot episode of Power Rangers: Wild Force! Primordial spirits reach into the modern day to empower a crew of teenagers with attitude, to save the natural world! Also there's this really hot caveman guy who looks pretty good frolicking with CGI animals.

The parking lot is nearly full by now. As the first movie ends and this one begins, some are taking the opportunity to slip out and take their Halloween partying elsewhere. That's just fine - makes more room for new arrivals!

+LOSE/+BURN> Indigo burns 1 Willpower.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha sits on top of the van, crosslegged, a large disc-shaped case to one side of her and a beaded messenger bag leaning against the opposite hip.

+ROLL/+DICE> Indigo: Willpower vs. 6 -> 2 successes. (9 7 5 3 3 2)

---<Indigo>---------------

A faulter in his steps as he passes the 60's era Van. A wrinkling of his nose. Fingers barely brush the frame of the metal and he lingers but a moment as his eyes move back to the screen and 'focus' on the movie. Yes...so interesting...what's on screen. Look at Indigo watching the movie.

---<Clover>---------------

Clover's dragged into the ride, meaning there's probably gobs of awesome costumes and people he's gonna miss at least for a little but. On the other hand, hot cave boys on screen, tinctures to sample, a fine vehicle to enjoy and the general positive vibes of the area are all Clover's to enjoy. So he does his best to fit in with that big dome of a turtle shell on his back, basically sitting on one hip and to a side to make space. The warhammer has to dangle out a window.

"So this is pretty awesome, man, I'm glad so many people made it. God if I don't wanna sample the Grampa variants, but I'm kinda doing security, too...more like I can't ever turn the security part of my brain off." He smirks and shrugs, but it's not really an apology. "Even lookin' like this," he adds with a chuckle. Clover reaches out to nudge Damon's shoulder. "How's the lady? How's home? How's you?" Yet even as he listens Clo can't help but peek out the window, sample the sights, the sounds, even the air itself.

---<Bennett>---------------

Kaiju Costume Guy, i.e. Bennett, bobbles his head, or rather the costume's head, complete with its loose, flappy jaw, as he listens to Fortitude. Then when he's asked who's under the costume, he gives like the vaguest answer ever, "Oh, yeah, sure. We met in the zoo that one time, you were taking some pictures. And the costume's going well. I was gonna try pinpoint it, wondered for a moment even if it was like, some real world thing. Looks kind of formal in a way."

---<Rachel>---------------

Seated up atop the absent Andre's truck, Rachel chats with Lawrence for as long as he remains present; then, after he departs (no doubt on some academic emergency) she remains where she is, eating WAY too many of those little chocolate sugar peanut butter things for her own peace of mind. She'll probably start vibrating in place before too long, since she's definitely going to have trouble sitting still to watch the movie.

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana's Serbian-inflected laugh sounds out of the back of the Plymouth. She'll have a hard time hiding in any crowded venue unless she just completely shuts up, the accent is unmistakeable.

---<Silva>---------------

The Unicorn's laughter rings out along with Dragana's, the sound infectious. He's in a similar boat to Dragana - too memorable for his own good, the pair of them manage to stand out even when they're trying to keep it low-key, a delightful contrast of Death to Princess.

Sibling-like reverie makes a perfect accompaniment to the high-energy, low-stress action playing out onscreen. The five teens, empowered and armored, do battle with a monster that looks like three jet engines squashed together. Together, they can defeat anything! At least that's what the red ranger says. He sounds like such a jock, it's hilarious. They all sound like jocks, actually.

---<Indigo>---------------

Shit...Finger jerk back off the van as if he was stung by the machine and his eyes can't help but snap to the woman on-top of it. Yeah...same woman.

---<Fortitude>---------------

"The zoo...?" Fortitude's eyes widen slightly and he suddenly bows to the Kaiju again. "Oh! It's you, Mr--" he starts saying in a slightly flustered voice. He barely manages to stop himself from uttering a name, probably realizing at the last second that perhaps the person under the costume would like to remain incognito. "What a surprise to run into you here. I thought for sure that if I did run into you, I'd find you dressed up in a costume from your work, although now that I think about it, that might be too much on the nose." He glances curiously over to where Rachel's slaughtering an entire population of peanut butter cups, trying to see whether the direction of this conversation brings any reaction out of her.

---<Damon>---------------

Damon looks to Clover and sigh as he looks to his phone, "Ok.. I am going to trust you bud.. with something I value more then my wife.." He hands Clover.... THE KEYS! "I got to tend to some business with my bar, apparently a truck got stuck and it is in walking distance. Be good to my car or you will be responsible for replacing it."

---<Mizha>---------------

If Mizha's watching the movie at all, she isn't enjoying it. There's a sadness about her, something that colors her posture even though her expression can't be seen, really, from down there. She's watching that group: the redhead, the young man in the black coat, the scholarly-looking man walking away.

---<Indigo>---------------

Indigo reaches into his pocket, pulls out the silver flask again and takes a longer drink this time before shaking his head out, leaning over and spitting onto the ground. He straightens takes another long drag of his cigarette. Eyes the woman some more and then...looks away. "Fuck me...not my business..." He growls in his gravel filled voice, damaged from too many years of smoke and booze. He takes a good two steps, a falter, a third...and now stands next to the hood of the van. He growls again and stuffs his hands into his pocket before looking up at her, limp cigarette dangling from his lips. "Dig the...techno...bird...pyramidy block uh tattoo you got..." He says, looking up at Mizha.

---<Bennett>---------------

Bennett shoots Fortitude a quick thumbs/claws-up, bobbling his head again. "Got it exactly. And, nah. I mean, this is even more on the nose in some ways, considering there's been Godzilla going on in the background, but then, heck, it seemed like it would be fun. I'm real glad we're outdoors though, because I'm pretty sure I'd melt in anywhere heated." He twists around when Fortitude looks towards Rachel, having to turn that bit further due to his limited vision, then looks back, asking, "Cool Sally costume, right? The dog with the pumpkin nose is a fun touch."

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha's attention snaps away from that group at least a few rows up, and dark eyes focus on Indigo with an intensity that might be unsettling to most people. Something in her posture, the lines of spine and head, suggests the prideful raptor: hawk, eagle, falcon? What /is/ that image supposed to be.

"I'm sorry, *what*?" she says, tense, alarm bells ringing.

---<Clover>---------------

Clover looks actually touched and instantly more attentive when it becomes clear he's being trusted so. "Damn, like, for real. Damn, sure! You got it!" Proud even, Clo slips out of the vehicle to stand beside it, after hiding the keys somewhere in that shell storage, and with his might weapon at hand he stands guarding the vehicle like a stage boss. Nice chance to keep an eye on the crowd, too. "Be safe and check in with me if you are gonna be a long time," Clo says to Damon, giving him a gentle bro-grab, so as not to smear any of that paint on the man's fine costume.

---<Rachel>---------------

Rachel doesn't seem like she's picked up on the conversation that Fort's concerned about; she /is/ on top of a truck, after all, and she's focused on the movie, and, heck, she may not even have noticed Fort's presence yet, much less been able to follow whatever it is he and the kaiju costumed-fellow are talking about. No, she and her little ghost dog just sit and watch and drink and eat more chocolate and drink more and every once in a while something on screen makes her laugh. Or smile, even if briefly.

---<Indigo>---------------

Indigo screws the cap on his flask and stuffs it away even as Mizha looms from the top of the van. He reaches up, pulls the cigarette from his mouth and takes a breath studying the woman, flick of the ashes and he coughs into his hand. He doesn't answer her question. Instead he leans on the vehicle next to Mizha's and frowns, glancing at the ground, rolling his foot back and forth over the soil. "Life is hard, it's not fucking fair. We're just...like kites, floating in the winds without being attached to /anything/...buffet by the winds, having our ribbons torn...collecting pain. We bleed our pain onto the world, it's stained with it..."

Another breath and he blinks wearily as he looks back up. "You should find something to put your pain into, other than yourself."

---<Fortitude>---------------

Fortitude turns back to Bennet when he sees no reaction from Rachel. "The effort that she made puts mine to shame actually," Fortitude replies while chuckling softly. He gestures down at his own outfit and gives the other man a wistful smile. "I already had most of this packed away, since I've worn it before when I was younger. The only thing that I needed to do was tailor it to fit me as I am now, since a few things have changed over the years, even if height isn't one of those. Or lack of height, rather."

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha's fierce eyes narrow at the pontificating stranger. Her jaw tightens for a moment before she returns her focus to that distant group. Princess, Death, Sally, Dragon, Kaiju...

"You don't know me," she says flatly.

---<Indigo>---------------

"Mmmm...No of course not. Not you, but I know people..." He says and follows her eyes to the group she's looking at. "Three hundred thousand years of human history. One hundred and seventeen billion humans to ever live...and yet, people still think they are unique, that their special. That out of all those numbers, they're the really, real ones. Nobody knows me...I'm /me/..." He laughs bitterly. "Naw, there have been curmudgeonly assholes like me before...probably hundreds of thousands of me's have walked the earth, each sparking off a little bit of themselves to the next /me/..."

He blinks and shakes his head digging his way out of the hole of thought he was digging before he looks back up. "Well...I lost where I was going with that. It's not important. I said what I said. You'll forget me in a day. Just...a passing dickweed who was too familiar for his own good." He shrugs. "Life is life..." And flicks the cigarette off into the distance. "I'm just here to fuck it up..." Before he starts to move away.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha watches him the moment he moves, intense focus almost a tangible itch on the back of one's neck.

+ROLL/+DICE> Silva: Perception + Awareness vs. 6 -> 2 successes. (10 8 5 4 3)

---<Bennett>---------------

"Yeah, man, but you put the effort into it anyway - wait, do you do your own sewing and fitting?" Bennett replies to Fortitude, his curiosity suddenly piqued. And even moreso as he continues, inquiring, "Okay, I really gotta ask, what was the occasion to wear it before? Like, other Halloween stuff? Conventions?" It seems a pretty earnest question. He shuffles on around in his big clawed feet to take a look up towards the screen for a moment.

+ROLL/+DICE> Mizha: Perception + Awareness vs. 6 -> 3 successes. (10 8 6 5 4 2)

---<Clover>---------------

Since the audio's piped in via wireless, Clo doesn't have to compete with big speakers to keep his attention on the crowd and its movement. He doesn't leave the car more than a dash out of reach but he does meander some, every sense extending through the group not just for the sounds and sights but the moods, the subtle shifts, the gut feeling. He can't not steward.

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana opens her side of the Plymouth, stepping out of that back seat in full Gaiman Death costume -- which is just all carefully, effortlessly curated black with one wadjet eye, an oversized sterling ankh pendant and a serenely cheerful affect, her lipstick perfectly unsmudged -- with a hip flask in one hand and a handful of gold-foil candy wrappers in the other. And she seems quietly pleased or amused or entertained or like she's done a good deed or just had a really good conversation with someone. Or maybe all of the above.

Her attention, and that eastern-European accent, drift immediately over to the white truck upon which a certain redhaired someone is sitting. "Did you save me any?" Seems directed at Rachel.

---<Silva>---------------

A double-feature of Power Rangers episodes transitions seamlessly to more Tokusatsu flare. No bright lights and daylight battles with faceless henchmen in colorful costumes here, though - grimy city streets at night. A scientist running for his life with a briefcase, from a gang of flamboyantly-dressed goons. Their prize - the strange, bio-organic-looking device in the case - can't be taken. The scientist stands his ground to protect it, his body twisting into a monstrous, fish-like form - only to get swatted down easily when the group's leader does the same. Also, Mark Hamill's here for some reason! It's The Guyver!

The Princess and Death emerge from the back of that cozy van, conversing quietly on their way over to that redhead and the truck. "Hey, Sally. Enjoying the festivities?"

---<Fortitude>---------------

"New York Comic Con," Fortitude tells Bennett. He tugs gently at the hem of his coat and shakes his head with a mild hint of embarrassment on his features. "I'm not -that- good with a sewing machine. I took a pre-existing coat and adjusted it until I ended up with the exact look that I wanted. I doubt that I'd be able to create one from scratch, since that requires several sewing skills that's too complicated for me to pull off. Adjusting what's already there is much easier, since the starting piece is already structurally sound."

---<Mizha>---------------

With an exasperated sound, Mizha slings both bags onto herself, straps like crossed bandoliers, and clambers down the ladder. She walks fast to catch up with the stranger. "Hey," she calls out.

---<Rachel>---------------

"Oh, plenty," Rachel-Sally says to Dragana, when she return, and willingly passes over, or at least /offers/ to pass over, the bag of mini-peanut-butter-cups, of which there are at LEAST three-quarters left, thank you very much. She is perhaps a little more wide-eyed and quick in her movements than she usually is, but hey! These things happen. The way her hand kind of shakes in midair when she gives Silva a thumbs-up, not so much. "It's a fun time! Makes me wish we did stuff like this more often."

---<Indigo>---------------

He doesn't walk fast, the kind of slow saunter reserved for either the really drunk, or the really introspective sorts. He stops and turns to regards Mizha as she approaches. He raises a single eyebrow and waits for her to walk up to him, then looks around as if to say... 'Who...me'....though what he actually says is. "Hi again. What can I help you with?"

And for most people that's just a polite saying, but coming from this mans lips it sounds like...he really means the question.

---<Dragana>---------------

Death-as-Dragana pulls a long swallow off her little flask. Which is silver tinted, engraved with a cute little cartoon Reaper and the words "See You Soon!" catching the headlight someone forgot to turn off as she wanders back to the white truck. She eyes Rachel, quick and critical, seems satisfied with something. "Good good," she says, tossing the empty wrappers into a bin somewhere before taking back the now-three-pound bag of Reese's miniature peanut butter cups. And she'd greet Mizha, except that Mizha looks busy just now. So she simply hops up onto the cab alongside Rachel, dangles her buckled black boots over the side and tucks into the candy for a few minutes while trying to figure out what, precisely, the hell is playing on the screen now.

---<Bennett>---------------

"Never been. I mean, not like I've spent that much time in New York either, so kinda a given that I've not made it to Comic Con," Bennett comments in an aside to Fortitude. Then he continues, chatting easily away, "For not that good, it still comes out as a good look, I think. Sewing's not my thing. Don't own a machine anyway. Someone helped out with this costume. Or, you know. Did this costume because I asked." After a glimpse up at the screen, he remarks, "I've not seen some of this stuff before. Figure I'll give it a watch at home some time where I'm focusing better."

---<Carver>---------------

There's a man wearing a red slapped together Pac Man ghost costume (Blinky to be specific.) Apparently sans-automobile, he has decided to attend the party anyways, subbing in a foldable camping chair and a battery powered AM/FM radio for an actual ride. Occasionally, the ghost will suddenly look at the ground and shout (though hopefully not loud enough to ruin the film for anyone else) at something that apparently only he can see. Things like, "No, it's not derivative of earlier works!" or "I will finish writing it when I feel like it! I'm allowed to have a life!"

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha's chin lifts the tiniest bit, and those intense eyes focus on the weathered man. "Doubtful," she says.

Then she tugs something from a pocket of her jeans... don't worry, they might be held up by a belt just now, but there is not enough room in /those/ to hide even a Derringer.

Nope, it's a small leather sleeve holding business cards. She tugs one out and hands it to him - kraft brown, with only the image of a black-tipped feather and a non-local phone number. "Call me, if you get in trouble."

---<Clover>---------------

Boiser? He's on wide patrol around the Damonmobile, the rather low risk feel of the night, and though there are kids around so it's not a good idea to go swinging willy-nilly, Clo does pull off a few balance and other dexterity tricks with his hammer, and as before he's happy to capture anyone who'd like their costumed image preserved in the Gallery of Ghouls. After a bit the redhead's phone comes out and he types a few things quickly before hiding it away once more.

On screen goons try to attack the newly upgraded Guyver and it goes poorly, the yellow-bandana'd gang of alley punks no match for even the newly hatched bio warrior. At one point all the bad guys taunt him by laughing in perfect unison but that seems to only worsen their fates. Guyver is, in this moment, representing community safety measures that don't involve the police. What a...type of role model?

---<Silva>---------------

"I'd /love/ to do this more often," Silva agrees. While they're posted up on/in the truck, Silva just stands right outside it lookin' hot and Princessly. "Maybe once Clo gets ROCKET set up and they start pulling in work we'll have more fun money to blow on events like this. This beat my wallet's ass."

Mark Hamill is on the trail of a macabre murder mystery. Meanwhile, a teenage martial arts novice is navigating the compexities of growing up a white boy in Cali trying to learn martial arts, while getting his ass beat by a multicultural gang comprised of at least one member of his martial arts class. Ah, youth! Don't you hate it when the bizarre alien device from earlier latches onto your face, and takes you through a body-horror transformation into a cyborg superhero? It's never as embarrassing as the first time.

"So." Silva leans against Dragana's side. He takes a conspiratorial look this way and that, maybe a little playful in the gesture, but he's enjoying himself, so why not be? "If I wanted to hire your services, what's the protocol for making that happen?"

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana's attention settles contemplatively on Blinky, her borrowed truck a row or two behind that empty spot Carver is seated in. She twiddles a wave over at Clover, maybe hoping she and Rachel and Silva can get their photos taken. Something to show Andre later, maybe. She drains whatever it is in that flask and seems none the worse for wear, maybe just a touch softer and warmer about the eyes. It's a good evening, and she's quietly enjoying every moment.

Aside to Silva, "Just ask. Pizza is always accepted. And don't mention it."

---<Indigo>---------------

Indigo is suddenly hesitant, he studies the card and seems to be considering something. He takes out the flask again and for a moment just holds it before letting loose a thankful sounding sigh. He puts it away and takes the card. He flips it over, studies it from both sides and pockets it away, coming out with his own. He holds it out. Yes, Indigo Private Investigations, specializing in missing persons, unsolved crimes, nothing about the seedier side of P.I work, most seem to advertise hard on. He holds it out. "Mmmm, if I did that...you'd be getting a call from me regularly. Trouble just..." He gestures vaguely. "It's life." He nods to the card he handed over. "But likewise."

---<Fortitude>---------------

Fortitude's brows lift in surprise and he leans closer to Bennett as if to hear the other man better. Or to make sure he's interpreting what he's hearing correctly. "You've -never- been to any Comic Con? I find that rather surprising, considering what a fan you are of the fantasy and sci-fi genre. There's one in Los Angeles too, although I can't confirm it's quality, having never attended. I do intend to go to the next one, assuming that work and personal matters permit. You should definitely try to attend as well."

He pulls back and grips his chin with his right hand. "I do have to say that whomever you asked to do your costume is amazing. I know that there's personal satisfaction in being capable of work on one with your own hand, but there's no shame in commissioning pieces. People do that all the time and if the outcome is like this, I'd seriously think about it as well."

Fortitude smiles wryly towards the screen and nods. "I know what you mean, Mr.-- Ahem. I'm just partially paying attention. I'll look up any specific movie that truly looks like it's my cup of tea when I get home..." His voice trails off as he glances over to where Carver's talking to himself. Genuine oddball or affectation? That question is clearly written in Fortitude's expression.

---<Mizha>---------------

It's not really a smile so much as bitter agreement, but one corner of Mizha's mouth tugs up a tiny bit as she takes his card. One glance down, a narrow-eyed look back at him, and she says, "Real bad trouble, then."

---<Clover>---------------

As the evening stays calm, Clover grows a touch more brave, straying further away from Damon's ride long enough to get some pics of his friends, in a group, in pairs and solo, Forty, the fantastic mister kaiju as well, at least for each who'd like and allow it. This does leave him nearest Bennett whom he checks in on with a cheerful, "Enjoyin' the flick?" He's got a Texas twang, a sweetly femme register and a scratchy aspect to his voice, and his tone is sweet in the way of someone comfortable navigating curious crowds. "I'm part of the staff, so if you need a thing, just let me know."

---<Indigo>---------------

A moment passes between them as they gaze at each other, her with that narrow-eyed look and him with a kind of, defeated acceptance about /everything/. "I drink a lot too and I don't hit on people when I do" a snort. "Or ever..." He shrugs "...if you want a drink, that's a good reason too. Might be useful ta get a little time to feel each other out before we call out when we're in 'real bad trouble'. Don't have to, but the offer is on the table. Indigo Jones...don't judge me, judge my parents." And another steadying breath, hand held out for a shake. The flask said it was ok for now...

---<Rachel>---------------

Sally/Rachel glances momentarily across at Silva and Dragana, but she doesn't say anything; just turns her attention back to the screen and the goings-on there. She's too far ahead, and her attention too far forward of /that/ to have much chance of catching what Mizha and Indigo are talking about, or even that they're talking, or even that they're there. And while by now she's probably picked up on Fort's presence, she can see he's in conversation, and isn't likely to call out to her or wave or even look his way for too long lest she interrupt.

But there's movie to watch, and her stitched face is lit up and made still paler by the light scattering back off the screen.

+D10> Mizha rolls 1 D10's: 6

---<Bennett>---------------

Bennett shakes his head side to side. Or, rather, he twists so that the costume's head can shake, because otherwise Fortitude wouldn't be able to see a whole lot. "Nope, not at all. Like you say, maybe something I should try to fix. Probably been missing out. Just happens that I've been busy when they've come around, I guess? Anyway, yeah, if the costume was with my own hand, I think I'd have had a hat with like a stick lizard painted on it and... Yup. That would be about it." He follows Fortitude's gaze off towards Carver, then turns again to look back up at the screen.

---<Dragana>---------------

In the understandable absence of a fourth party to oblige, Dragana takes out her own phone, takes her own pictures. She's pretty lucky with the selfies most nights and gets a few rather charming shots of herself with Rachel, herself with Silva, one at a rather forced angle that captures all three but manages to make the scene look more raucous than it actually is.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha hesitates a moment before the handshake. "Mizha," she says, giving him a guarded nod.

---<Fortitude>---------------

"There's nothing wrong about a hat with a lizard stick figure stitched on it," Fortitude laughs, the sound just carrying a hint of a teasing note in it. "It's a rather good thing that you're so busy, considering how difficult it is to make it big in your industry. The more projects you can add to your portfolio that you're proud of, the better, right? And then maybe at some point, you can take a break to take some sewing and costume design lessons. On the subject of Comic Con, I bet that you can convince the people you work with to schedule a visit as a work trip. Plenty of people in your industry does that."

His expression brightens when Clover approaches. He immediately opens up his arms to offer a hug. "Great event, Clover! You and Mr. Cassidy must be so proud. Is that a camera?" He turns to the Kaiju, now slightly nervous again when he asks, "Would you be alright to take a picture together with me in your costume?"

---<Carver>---------------

"You know I never saw this movie in the theater," Blinky hisses at his invisible friend. He looks over both shoulders to make sure he isn't being loud enough to disturb anyone else trying to watch the movie, "You know I wasn't... around... when it came out. Now you are just being obtuse." There is an ugly sneer in his tone that sounds like genuine hatred, but it shortly turns to pleading, "Please, just let me enjoy the movie and then we will go do something that you want to do..." Whatever voices are in the man's head seem to finally be satisfied with that promise, and he resumes his near statue like enjoyment mutants being eviscerated with elbow blades.

---<Indigo>---------------

Nothing, the flask never lies. Still, a quick shake and the hand is released. No lingering. Back into his pocket. His brushing of the cars done with. He wasn't expecting the Van and that gut punched him. He nods. "Nice."

He looks back to the screen, then back to her for a moment. "Catch you." Then he's turning and continuing his line down the cars...in fact, past all the cars to wards the screen, eyes on it. From behind his duster and lanky frame probably cast a dramatic image. He stands there a moment. Neck craned looking up at the screen before he turns and walks back towards the car, cutting a wide path away from the van. Gun shy.

---<Silva>---------------

"Not money?" Silva counters. Arms crossed under his chest, he glances from one woman to the other and back again. "You're the professional, but like, I wanna make sure that quality work is compensated properly, y'know?" He's more easygoing than Clover, but a mix of personal responsibility and natural curiosity have his eyes surfing the crowd while he and Dragana speak. His attention hitches on Mizha, speaking to the sullen-looking stranger, but she doesn't seem in trouble, so he keeps moving.

Newly empowered, our protagonist is learning to harness his powers. As The Guyver, he battles a gaggle of vaguely animal-themed monsters - a bunch of emotive dudes in frankly high-quality monster suits. S'not super great that the one played by a black guy looks like /that/, buuuuut...

---<Silva>---------------

Also, hell yeah he gets in on selfies! The one he gets with Dragana alone has him with his tongue out, eyes crossed. For the group pic he sorta half-clambers into the cab with the other two, so his face might be a little cut off in the corner but he looks delighted to be there.

---<Bennett>---------------

Bennett bobbles another hugely exaggerated nod in an aside to Fortitude, doing some serious compensation through the medium of moving a kaiju costume about at this point in lieu of having, say, facial expressions available to him. "Yeah, it's a good thought about the convention. Bet I can make time for it. Not sure sewing's ever gonna become some strong point though, but, hey, maybe I'll give it a shot sometime. Maybe. Really big maybe."

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha watches the stranger for only a few seconds before pocketing his card and moving. She doesn't return to Bessie, but heads for someone she recognized from her perch. Silva, most likely -- among the most visible of targets.

+LOSE/+BURN> Indigo burns 1 Willpower.

+ROLL/+DICE> Indigo: Willpower vs. 6 -> 3 successes. (10 9 8 6 2 1)

+ROLL/+DICE> Indigo: Dexterity + Stealth vs. 4 -> 1 success. (10 8 6 1 1)

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana's given up on trying to pick up a plot. She takes one last selfie of herself and Rachel, exchanging a quiet something. Then she says to Silva with a small smile, "Death doesn't charge for her services. And I only ever get paid by rich tourists and government agencies. Some things, you just don't, you know? But I do like anchovy on my pizza." Date night with Dragana must be a challenge sometimes. She catches sight of Fortitude and twiddles a fingertip wave at him, regardless of whether he's looking her way. Crams a peanut butter cup into her mouth, mindful of the lipstick. "Holy hells. What do they /put/ in these things."

---<Indigo>---------------

As he approaches the edge, where the shadows sit...He steps into them, pulls the flask out, takes a sip and turns to look at the party. A sigh is given...and then, he's swallowed by the shadows as they grow outwards, deepen and he continues to walk into the night. Secure in his own mind that he's not followed or seen. Paranoid enough when in public to try and mask his movements.

---<Rachel>---------------

Rachel is happy to go along with selfies, and she flashes the V-for-victory sign at the camera for each of them: but fundamentally her concentration is on the screen, at least for the time being, although she has an exchange in an undertone with Dragana that results in a momentary smile flickering across her features.

---<Fortitude>---------------

"Start with something small. Mend some rips in your clothing or add an extra pocket to your jeans. That's how I started and picked up the basic skills. I took a home economics class in high school later, which also helped a great deal. Unfortunately, that class didn't do much for my ability to cook..." Fortitude tells Bennett after they finish posing for Clover's picture taking. He sees Dragana waving at him and happily waves back. "Do you want to go to meet some of my friends. Obviously, you've already met Rachel, but I don't believe that you've met the person who's with her."

---<Merc>---------------

Merc arrives on a motorscooter, with a full helment and goggles, blending in to the crowd where hcan see the picture, having intended to come but finding out that he had overstayed reading several fascinating things at the same time. He parks the bike, dials the helmet radio into the AM audio for the movie and heads to get some popcorn, awful hotdogs and soda.

---<Bennett>---------------

Bennett's pose for the picture taking mostly just involves curling his fingers up to really exaggerate that they have (rubber) claws on. He replies easily to Fortitude, "Sure, man. I'll be here for another little while, then might take off, do some partying without the costume. Or maybe still with it. Not really decided." He doesn't so much comment on the matter of repairing clothes or cooking.

---<Silva>---------------

Silva takes on a crooked sort of smile - he might not agree, but how's he gonna argue with that? "If you're sure," he finally concedes, then pantomimes texting. "I'll tell you more in a bit, or in like, twenty-one more hours. Whenever you're around!

The movie's nearing its climax now. The Guyver was seemingly destroyed, but was reborn by having a piece of his body swallowed by a monster only for him to regrow inside the beast and burst out of it! Some of the parents in the crowd are starting to second-guess bringing their kids to this. The college kids are loving it, though. The Princess excuses himself from his friends - intercepting Mizha on her way in his direction. He beams at the woman, hands seeking hands to hold on his way. "Hey! I gotta go get ready to do a thing. Let's catch up after?"

---<Clover>---------------

Boiser - that's Clover as Bowser as a busty babe portrayed by a guy - is patrolling with a heavy armor look, shiny armor instead of the normal bowser style front shell, and a big warhammer slung over his shoulder. He's helpful and cheerful to any in need but content to otherwise stay back and patrol with the keenness of a professional. He looks proud of the event, his husband the MC and his own Hollywood-grade look as he surveys the crowd with satisfaction and the faintest smile.

When Merc arrives, Clo will definitely take time to swing by and give him some friendly attention, catching him up on the wild pop culture and Hollywood overlaps that brought this film into existence.

---<Merc>---------------

Merc gets popcorn out and blinks that he missed so much of the movie but is determined to see the whole thing. Plus there are late showings if he needs to. He moves and returns to the bike with a veritable cornucpopia of snacks, the line short due to most people watching the movie. He waves to Clover and smiles and listsns to all of the obsure details like a veritable sponge, making note to steam it later.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha's attention flickers past Silva but only briefly; she tangles fingers with his and raises both brows as she looks down briefly from his face. When she focuses on his eyes again, archly, she says, "Great costume."

---<Carver>---------------

It's strange that no one sees the man who was wearing the Blinky costume leave. One minute, he's sitting there, still as a stone. But some time during the end credits of the film, he surely must have removed the costume and left the Drive-In. Because by the time the next film starts, there is only the camping chair, the old AM/FM radio, and a cut up red sheet, motionless except for when stirred by the wind. *SpooOOooOOoky*

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana was recently perched on the top of the cab of a white truck -- Andre Majorino's truck, to be precise -- with Rachel. She's dressed as Gaiman's Death tonight because of course she is. She is also visibly a little hopped up on Halloween candy just now, but maybe that energy is countered by the evening's alcohol content. She now drops off the side of the truck, fishes something out to refill her flask because it's /that/ kind of drive-through movie event. She seems content with mostly just her own company now, which is just her own native vibe.

---<Fortitude>---------------

"This way," Fortitude beckons to Bennett as he moves closer to where Dragana and Rachel are parked. As soon as they arrive, Fortitude folds into a bow towards the two women perched on the truck. "Rachel, Dragana! Your costumes are amazing. We're going to have to take some pictures together before the end of the evening, so that I can keep a memento of this evening. And you have to show me where you got them or who you commissioned them from." He half turns to gesture to the Kaiju. "I'd also like you to meet Mr.--" He suddenly pauses at a lost for words. "Uhhh..."

+ROLL/+DICE> Mizha: Perception + Alertness vs. 6 -> 3 successes. (9 7 7 4 4 2)

---<Bennett>---------------

Bennett's pace is kind of plodding. Like, he can't see all that well out of the costume and there are kids about that he probably doesn't want to walk over, so he lags behind Fortitude slightly. Still, he gets there, and when he's introduced, he chuffs out a soft and amused noise, and goes ahead to fill in, "Mr. Monster." Totally a convincing and plausible name. Then he offers a wave up to Dragana - which has the side effect of causing the vestigial fake arm set below it to go bobbling around too - and says, "Pleasure to meet you, Dragana."

---<Dragana>---------------

Death-as-Dragana, now on terra firma, looks all the way up that kaiju costume, tries to figure out where the true eyes actually are, and smiles politely at a point somewhere in between her two best guesses. "Hi, Mister Monster. And wow, how do you go to the bathroom in that thing? Fortitude, are you making friends with strange monsters when the veil is this thin? Well done."

+ROLL/+DICE> Silva: Charisma + Expression vs. 4 -> 3 successes. (9 9 8 3 2 2)

---<Clover>---------------

Clo posts up so he can keep an eye on Damon's ride and stay at Merc's side while the rest of his friends are able to keep an eye on one another, with flasks and candy and god knows what else. "Yeah, so, Merc, drive-ins like this used to be a deluxe way to watch movies. You could go with your family, didn't have to sit near people you didn't know, you could sneak in friends and snacks if you were crafty. You could get a little cheap radio and watch for free just by parking nearby sometimes, depending on if they were paying attention to how poweful the audio transmission was. So it started this whole generation of like scamps and teens getting into movies. The kinda movies they could get were often cheap, poorly made, strange or otherwise hard to market in mainstream theaters, so this made drive-ins the place to go see wacky stuff. This only increased the interest from scamps and bored teens. it was a real phenomenon for a long time, but by the 1980s television had made movies much more convenient. After that people kinda looked at theaters as places to see a spectacle, but not places to see all movies."

---<Fortitude>---------------

Fortitude gives Dragana an amused look. "I'm starting a new hobby for the days when I'm not busy with other obligations. The next time you see me, I might not only have one monster trailing me, but an entire battalion. You better catch up if you want to stay on even footing with me." Her question to the Kaiju draws a wince out of Fortitude, who looks the costume over in a knowing manner. "I do hope that it's not as difficult to take off as it appears or that there are hidden mechanisms in the way that it's designed..."

---<Merc>---------------

Merc says "That is an entirely plausible expalantion that of course is totally what happened." It isnt THAT far from the truth if sone stretches the definition of a few things here and there. He listens and nods as Clover talks, "Sounds very plasuabiel...and Id o indeed thirst for all things pop culture."

---<Bennett>---------------

Dragana's question elicits an abrupt burst of laughter from Bennett, Kaiju Guy. "Oh, man, I just got reeeeally prepared and made sure to drink nothing whatsoever before I came out. But there's gonna be a point soon where I gotta take off. Probably getting closer all of a sudden, somehow. But, uh, yeah. So, hey." A moment passes. "Yup. You know." He twists to look between Fortitude and Dragana both. "It was good to talk, and to meet you, but I think I ought to take off. Should find some time to hang out soon."

---<Dragana>---------------

A small child -- a little boy dressed as a Power Ranger, whichever the red one is -- running around like a little candy-fueled hummingbird smacks squarely into Dragana's flank, falls back onto his butt. She promptly crouches to make sure there's no harm done, gives him one of her little miniature peanut-butter cups and sends him on his way with a warm look. Then she stands, nods to the kaiju beast. "Drive carefully. Mind the little ones." To Fortitude, "I bow to your superior .. well. Everything."

---<Silva>---------------

Silva cocks his hip, shimmies his shoulders, gives Mizha a knowing little grin as he squeezes her hands. "Great scarf," he counters. "I made almost all of it myself. It was a close call, but we made it. Always do.

"Don't disappear," the Princess urges as he steps past Mizha, lifting a hand to kiss her knuckles as he goes. The Guyver stands victorious as the credits start rolling, and that intense music plays over them. The earpiece is in again as Silva takes up center stage, a spotlight alighting to put the focus on him.

"I don't think I remembered how body horror-y The Guyver gets," Silva concedes. "Or how hot Herbert West was when he was young. Lawrd. Thank you! So much! Everyone! For being here!" Silva opens his arms to the gathered audience. Cars start honking, people clap, kids squeal. The people handling concessions and donations hoot and holler from behind the stands as well. "Thank you so much for donating! You're doing incredible things right now, just being here for this! I don't think people realize- it's so easy to think about homelessness, like, conceptually? And just balk. What do you do about that? How do you feed everyone that's starving? How can /you/, just one person, help the the impoverished stay warm at night? It's- it's just too big, right?

"You'd think! But you're doing something about it right now. It's a complex issue, but it's not impossible to tackle. I sincerely believe that every single one of you is incredible. You're strong, your able, and you're just getting stronger. So I think that, what, a hundred strong, able people? Making the choice together to make a change? It's a force amplifier, y'all - we lift these burdens /together/, so no one gets crushed. We're strong for those among us who can't be right now, so they can be strong one day too.

"That's not super connected to what's coming on next, but it's a running theme in a lot of kaiju and superhero media - people from all over, joining hands and achieving the impossible together. Accomplishing things you could only dream of. But this isn't a dream, is it? You're all here, right now, working a miracle together. And I couldn't be more proud of my city."

Silva practically glows as he looks through the piercing spotlight at the crowd. More applause replies to his praise, more honking horns, more turnover as some leave and others arrive. He looks like he could say more, but seems to think better of it, and just waves to them all as he steps down again. Deep breath, rubbed eyes, fixed hair.

As the spotlight gives way to silver screen again, Mount Fuji glows in a dynamic red against a bright, blue sky. Energetic instruments give way to a quirky little song, distorted subtly in its efforts to give more depth to what sounds like two or three guys singing along. The opening credits play along to an accompaniment of constellations, as THE X FROM OUTER SPACE begins.

---<Merc>---------------

Merc munches popcorn and watches the movie when not listening to Clover explain the whole thing. He certainly enjoys the crap special effects in particular and how not like the Umbra it is.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha watches Silva, her eyes bright with what might be pride. There's a tiny curve on her lips that might be a smile.

(it was here that Clover and I briefly disconnected, missing a single post from Fortitude)

---<Mizha>---------------

Once the movie starts, Mizha resumes course, heading for Death and... Sally? And the whatever-it-is that costume is supposed to be, and Fort. Most of her open admiration is saved for the first and the last; her eyes are bright as she gives Dragana a smile. "Love it."

---<Silva>---------------

Silva makes his rounds through the crowd, checking in with everyone. At some point he managed to appropriate a bag of candy from behind the stands, and he's in the midst of passing out its contents to kids he finds around the parking lot when he returns to the crowd of familiar faces. A puffy shoulder nudges Mizha's, offering her her pick from the bag. "Trick or treat?"

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana offers a friendly smile. "Ms. Peltier. Thank you, I just read through them all. Maybe too easy a little on the nose, but it's .. comfortable. Good to see you."

---<Bennett>---------------

Bennett sees himself out with all the speed he reasonably can. Not all that much. He vanishes round the corner, kaiju costume and all, where there's a car waiting for him - he hops (awkwardly clambers) in, and away he goes.

---<Merc>---------------

Merc noms popcorn and enjoys the movie. He watches and listens to EVERYTHING.

---<Fortitude>---------------

Fortitude offers both Silva and Mizha a hug when they approach, careful to adjust the position of his sword so that the hilt doesn't dig into them. "At least you didn't go for the easy option and you look amazing," he tells Dragana with a grin. "I'm just reusing an old costume that I adjusted to fit me again. That only took perhaps a single day, which isn't much effort at all when you think about it."

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha bumps Silva right back, looking over to him. "I didn't wear a costume," she points out, and then she adds, quiet and serious, "You did great."

She gives Dragana a quick, half-smiling look and says, "Hey, work it if you got it." The not-smile wavers, but only a little, when she adds, "Hey, Rachel. Yours is awesome too."

---<Rachel>---------------

While Rachel-Sally is nearby -- close enough to wave hello to Mizha when she arrives -- she is also not really close enough to be part of the conversation to any degree, being perched up high, and, to add to that, kind of focused on movie watching. Not that she's /rude/, and she's certainly paying enough attention that someone trying to involve her more deeply /can/, it's just not her default right this instant.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha's hug with Fort is brief, but she /does/ murmur, "You look kickass."

---<Silva>---------------

Silva leans right into that hug, beaming at those gathered and still abuzz from being onstage. He bounces from foot to foot, giggling his delight and helping himself to some of the sour stuff in his bag. "Guess you can't pull any tricks then," he counters Mizha. "Fort, you look so hot in that. It's so sharp, gawd!"

---<Merc>---------------

Merc chuckles as he watches the others have a good time, nomming popcorn on the movie and them.

---<Clover>---------------

Clo offers Merc a chance for a pic together their first movie night as pals. "Silva really went all-out. You know he's doing this because he wants the neighborhood to feel more comfortable around each other, as families and as individuals. He wants us to think we can hope for good from one another. We live and work out in this part of the city, and if that man of mine gets his wish, he's gonna change the whole place. Then the city. Then the nation. Then the world." Clo's love for Silva is clear, but it's as much an exhortation for Merc to keep his eye on a rising star.

---<Merc>---------------

Merc says "It is a worthy goal to aspire to which is what...we should do, collectively, kind of our role really." He sips poopcorn and smiles, "May you both succeeed in your wish/quest thing." He munches more oppcorn"

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana glances down at herself, flicks a bit of chocolate off the hip of her jeans, and promptly unwraps another. She has it, she's working it. But her expression drifts for a moment. Not lost, exactly, but running one hand over the hood of the truck in a way that suggests her mind is temporarily overseas somewhere while she chews on chocolate. She attends the exchange between Merc and Clover, obviously curious but not interrupting.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha gives Clover a smile, and a tiny nod of agreement. Her gaze strays to Rachel for a moment before, deliberately, she looks at Fort. "Is it Wheel of Time or something else?"

---<Fortitude>---------------

Fortitude glances down at himself and lifts a skeptical brow at Silva. "I'm wearing one of the least elaborate and creative costumes around here. I appreciate the compliment, but I know that this is as plain as plain can be. Well, perhaps one notch up from that." He does smile and give an extra one-armed hug. He grins at Mizha in surprise. "Yes, I'm an Ashaman today. I didn't realize that you've read that series before. I feel that it's not as prominent these days with so many newer authors on the market."

There's a quiet beep from his pocket and he draws out his phone to check the message on the screen. "Ah! One of my more reclusive friends just asked me what I'm doing tonight. I'm going to give her a call to see whether she'd be able to join the festivities. I'll be back shortly!" He brings the phone to his ear and does a quick jog over to a relatively quiet spot to hold the conversation.

---<Silva>---------------

Silva's sure to shower Fortitude with more praise on his way out, before departing just long enough to dispense the last of his candy and get rid of the bag. Merc gets a gentle shoulder squeeze as Silva passes him by, and a pleased smile. He's off to rejoin the others then, arms crossing loosely. "So, any luck digging up any dirt on those fuckheads in Bristow Park?" he asks Mizha.

---<Dragana>---------------

The way Dragana offers her bag of peanut butter cups to Silva at the same time eyeing Silva's own bag of candy suggests she's up for a trade of some sort. "What a perfect party and I appreciate everything you said up there. My mothers would approve, we used to ..." She trails off. Starts again. "Do we do this often? We should do this often." Her use of the 'we' seems somehow all-encompassing. Then she leaves it at that, as Silva's now talking shop.

---<Mizha>---------------

The Kha'vadi's expression closes down at the mention of Endron, and she gives a little shake of her head. "I gotta talk to Min, see if she knows any city people. I wish we still had Donovan around, even if he was only local council... at least he'd know how to *get* info." Mizha rubs at one arm. "You heard anything new?"

---<Clover>---------------

"On the other hand," Clo says with a tone that's obviously setting up a joke, "He's really raising the standard. I'm the Executive Director of Charity and I gotta compete with that? But hey, it's good, keeps me honest and hard working." The weapon's set aside and he tries to help himself to a little of Merc's snack for something to enjoy.

On screen the alien is finally revealed - looking like some kind of bladed salamander with glowing red eyes, standing upright, it is perhaps even a bit scary until the full body comes into view, arms so puffy, femboy hips big and round, chubby, chubby thighs and ruffles on his leggies. Clover cackles happily with surprise. "Amazing! I should dress as that guy next Halloween! Woooo!" Yeah, he's cheering for the movie, and clapping.

---<Silva>---------------

The blonde shakes his head, sympathy in the frown he gives her. "Not yet. It just takes time and a lot of trust." He extends a hand to brush the back of his against hers. "We're gonna get shit done, don't worry."

Dragana's words draw his attention then, his head cocked curiously. Clover's cheering nearby brings such a smile to his face, the disappointment of moments before gone in an instant. "I'll settle for regularly until I'm pulling in more cash. Clover and I both wanna start doing things like this around Glendale. Charity shows like this, first-aid classes, book fairs. I'm sure we'll come up with cleverer stuff the longer we think about it." Silva gestures to the people around. "It's all about teaching people to rely on themselves and each other, not the system, y'know? They want us to stay helpless."

---<Merc>---------------

Merc liistens with rapt ttention quite curious and nods, "Sounds like a good screen. I think the alien might win, opefully it does, I think it was misunderstood. And time and trust are good. Charit is good." He munches more popcorn.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha almost smiles at Silva's conclusion. From time to time, her focus shifts to Rachel.

---<Dragana>---------------

Dragana leans back against the truck, careful such that her studded belt doesn't scrape Andre's paint. She sips in a slow rhythm from her flask, more into the plot of this movie than the others despite the earlier bizarre inter-astronaut sexual tension over unsipped glasses of cognac in a lounge on the ... moon. Which maybe she's still processing. Mention of Glendale draws her attention back, and a bland smile. "It's a good venue for it, certainly." Without looking, she lofts the bag of chocolate up and back over her head to Rachel.

---<Clover>---------------

"You know, you'd make an excellent consultant, your perspective being away from so much junk media like this would be invaluable." Clo smiles to Merc. "I'm sorry I am just stuck in make-the-studio-work mode, I need to chill...this is party time." He chuckles a bit. "Picked a hell of a time to stop smoking."

---<Merc>---------------

Merc nods and agrees with Clo, "I ....appreciate the insight. I hadnt thought of it but you are probably right. Chilling is good, isnt that what wea re supposed to be doing now?" He blinks and never took up smoking but..wouldnt worry about it

---<Silva>---------------

"Best city on the west coast," Silva agrees with Dragana, totally unbiasedly. "Best city in the world if I have my way. Are y'all alright on food? Drink? Need more candy?" He looks to the group at large. "We've got more candy at the stand, I'll go grab some?"

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha lets out a swift breath, and looks from Rachel to the sky for a moment before turning her attention to Clover and Silva. "Can you guys like... fill Dragana in for me?" she asks quietly. "I gotta run."

---<Rachel>---------------

Although somewhere nearby, Rachel is out of direct earshot for the moment, although she'll definitely catch the candy bag, because /of course/.

---<Merc>---------------

Merc listens with more interest and has finished the popcorn but goes itno candy at this point

---<Clover>---------------

Since Merc hasn't stopped him, Clo occasionally nabs some candy when he can, an elbow on the guy's shoulder for a friendly lean while they enjoy the now almost mystical bent of the movie, elements and willpower necessarily combined to drive the thing back to its home world.

Mizha's rolling, Clo's eyes on her, and the request is met with a firm, "You got it. Let us know when you're home safe, please." If she passes by him, she'll get a hug, too.

---<Mizha>---------------

Mizha pauses long enough to hug Clover briefly and whisper, "Good job, both of you." Then the Dreamspeaker heads for Bessie.

+ROLL/+DICE> Silva: Stamina + Style vs. 6 -> 0 successes. (9 7 3 1 1)

---<Silva>---------------

Silva spends time checking in with friends and fam until all the friends have come to their senses and realized they can't spend 24 hours in a fucking drive-in. Once they're gone it's time to get back to checking in on everyone else. Candy, food, water, people managing, stress defusing - he and Clover soldier through it. His poor costume doesn't fair as well as he does, but that's what emergency costume repair kits are for. Call them battle scars, earned for a good cause.

---