‘Cause a Halloween party’s a rad excuse To put your body through mad abuse | OPEN

[heatmetal]

Who: The Stranger Things cast
What: A Housewarming Party hosted by the gang & Settling in to their new haunted home
When: Late October - Early November
Where: Private Housing, Sunset Falls
Content Warnings: probably drugs, drinking

Moving In.

[ It's not quite the joyous occasion they were hoping it would be. The disappearance of one of their own has left a heavy air over the group, but they're determined to try to make something of the situation. And so they proceed with the move, their belongings loaded up in the back of a teleporting truck.

Neighbors are welcome to spy the new arrivals. A perfect collection of unlikely friends that look like they belong in a horror movie cast. You'll get a drink for your trouble - or something a little less legal (or more legal, if you aren't) if you offer to lend a hand. Evidentially, some among their number are not terribly well equipped to do heavy lifting. Damn sticky nerd arms. ]

HOUSEWARMING PARTY is written in slanted block print on a piece of cardboard, staked just outside the newly purchased manor seated near the edge of town. It is a utterly ridiculous piece of architecture, and the gathered teens have more space than they know what to do with.

So how better than to fill it with a house party?
There's a stunning indoor pool just begging to be cannonballed into. A classy lounge for enjoying a little existential angst and ennui. There’s enough guest bedrooms for anyone who wants to crash, though be warned: few are furnished. Some rooms are off limits, for your own sanity rather than theirs.

The music pumping through the place alternates between 80s metal and pop, with some newer tunes sprinkled in there for flavor.

There’s food, a legion of kegs and, well, that less than legal stuff is making the rounds too. ]

Comments

[eggplanting]

Right? At least I don't have to worry about growing an extra limb.

[Between all the various chemicals that end up in the water around Gotham, there's a high chance of extra limbs being grown.]

You're a man after my own heart. [Free food is her primary motivation.] It makes hauling all those boxes inside worth it.

[robintohood]

Definitely. I think we got our strength training in for today.

[Jason reaches for another slice of pizza]

[eggplanting]

Thank god for that.

[Things Steph could do: get her own slice of pizza.

Things she chooses to do instead: steal a piece of pepperoni off Jason's slice.

Once she pops it in her mouth, she gives him a look, though it's mostly for show. Her tone isn't annoyed, and there's a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.]

I've got a bone to pick with you, by the way. You upset my best friend.

[robintohood]

Hey!

[That was his pepperoni, damnit]

This is about Cass then?

[Granted, Jason is used to having people being mad at him but he can't imagine anyone else Steph would call her best friend]

[eggplanting]

It's not about Tim, you can upset him all you want.

[It's fine, she's fine, she's just having complicated feelings about seeing him date someone else. Don't worry about it.

The important thing is Cass.]

You made her feel like you were using her. Like she was just a tool.

[Steph is capable of being delicate when a situation calls for it, but she doesn't think Jason will benefit from her beating around the bush. Best to just lay it out.]

[robintohood]

[Jason had steeled himself for her to mention his last conversation with Cass but it's still not great]

Wasn't trying to. I just wanted to know if she could help.

[eggplanting]

I know that, but I don't have the baggage she does.

[This is a sensitive topic, and Steph has already made sure no one is paying attention to them, but she's still being careful. There's a lot of history that isn't hers to share.]

It's sort of like... all you cared about was that she could teach you how to hurt people. [Kill, specifically. But that doesn't need to be said. They both know it.] Not about her as a person, you know, with feelings and stuff.

[robintohood]

[Jason quietly takes that in and thinks. He's aware of Cass's past, or at least part of it. He also at least has a partial understanding why she follows Bruce's code.

Then there's how he felt like he was arguing over the No-Kill rule again, except for once it wasn't with Bruce]

I guess we accidentally triggered each other's buttons.

[eggplanting]

[Steph appreciates the fact he actually takes time to consider the situation instead of just going on the defensive. But she does also give him a look that says glad you've finally caught up.]

You sure did! [It happens, though, which is why she's not actually annoyed with Jason. He never meant to hurt Cass, it was just poorly thought out.] But I got her to see where you'd been coming from, and now you get where she was coming from, so we can make sure it doesn't happen again.

[It's clear that this is her primary concern; protecting Cass from being hurt will always be important.]

[robintohood]

Hopefully. Both of us got a lot of baggage. Wouldn't be hard to set either of us again off with some of that.

How upset is she?

[They've occasionally seen each other in the BatGym after their fight but neither have been willing to actually talk to each other]

[eggplanting]

And if it does, you and Cass know to take a step back and make sure you're not just accidentally pushing the wrong buttons.

[Steph knows she isn't like, the height of maturity or emotional intelligence, but she'd like to think she's got a decent handle on things.]

She's not that upset now that she knows you didn't mean it like that.

[robintohood]

[Finally some guilt sets in for Jason for how his last conversation with Cass ended]

I'll try to talk to her soon. Try to see some things her way. I know she's not exactly like him.

[eggplanting]

Thank you.

[It's genuine gratitude; she even lightly punches his arm to communicate her appreciation, because they're Bats, and that's how they show affection.]

Unlike B, Cass is mostly a stickler for rules when it's about her. She isn't as judgemental as he is.

[Cass draws very firm lines in the sand for herself, but she seems to understand that those rules aren't for everyone.

The same can't be said for Bruce.]

[robintohood]

[Jason nods and lightly pushes Steph back as a sign of affection]

Yeah, I get it. Actually, the first time we met was pretty nice. Even got to patrol together for a bit. And she did make it clear she already knew who I was.

[A corner of his lips quirk]

Of course she made sure I stayed in line too.