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

Entry tags:

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

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. ]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ billy (and loki) show up not long after things get started, literally teleporting into the room in a shower of blue sparks that fade when they touch anything. billy, as usual in his civvie clothes, looks like what you'd expect a trendy gen z goth witch to look like, and at his side, loki is tall, sleek, and wearing a green leather jacket that looks like it might have cost a small fortune.

one might easily mistake them for a couple, considering the way loki tends to hang on or around billy while they're there.

billy also brought a gift, which is a series of what looks like small, decorative keys. if anyone asks about them, they're made to turn any door with a keyhole into a temporary portal directly back to this house. you know, so the residents can get home quickly in an emergency. he wasn't sure what else to get them, since he doesn't know any of them. ]

[ ooc; generic open prompt!! billy and loki came together, and you can interact with either/both of them here. ]

Moving In

[ Clad in dark jeans and an underground punk band’s t-shirt under a red jacket, Tim arrives about a half hour early to help with the boxes, as it seems like the nice thing to do in return for the open invite. He lingers near the truck for a few minutes, looking for Robin. Eventually, he’ll hop smoothly into the truck and grab a heavy box to carry into the house. ]

Anyone know where this one’s supposed to go?

Party?

[ Oof, an actual young person’s party. Tim hasn’t been to many, but he’s pretty sure this is more of a house party than a housewarming party. Housewarmings should have tiny sandwiches and polite chatter, not synths and a keg collection.

He’s found soda and is content to perch on the arm of a couch to watch the party. Truth be told, Tim’s more lost here than he is at a fancy shindig. He’ll gladly chat, but he’s usually the quiet sober one at parties like this. ]

[ Tim spies Billy across the room and does a sharp double take, surprised to see someone that he met in passing at Robin’s party. He doesn’t like it when different segments of his life overlap, even if it’s as innocent as the guy he met at a street market knowing the girl he met at group. It’s… messy, somehow, and Tim tries to head it off any strangeness by going to say hello. ]

Hey - don’t I know you?

[ He smiles warmly at the stranger and gives a tiny wave. ]

You were at that clothing stall in Central City a few months ago. You got me that shirt.

[ You magicked that shirt. ]

It’s Billy, right?

[ billy starts a little at the voice, turning to face-- ] Tim! [ it is tim. he'd made a coat for him, and they'd had boba. he'd been really flustered about the whole thing, hadn't he?

.. tim. how many slight guys named tim are there around here? would it be too much of a coincidence if this is loki's tim? the odds have to be pretty steep, but the odds of them meeting like this were probably pretty steep, too. and loki and billy are very steeped in magic, which is fond of defying odds.

hm.

instead of letting any of that show on his face, he smiles at him, easy and pleased, and reaches to take and squeeze his hands briefly. ] It's nice to see you again. Did you wind up settling in the area, then? Do you live with these guys?

[ Well, at least he’s not a hugger. Tim returns the squeeze - what else can he do - but takes his hands back at the first opportunity.

Confirmed that it’s the same guy, though. The name is a dead giveaway. ]

No, I live in Central City. I’m just here for the party. I know Robin, but I don’t know her roommates yet.

[ There’s no check in his voice when he says Robin’s name. Living in Gotham, he’s long since used to saying Batman and Robin in conversation without any hint of awkwardness. ]

But how are you here, if you don’t know who lives here? Just taking them up on the open invitation?

[ and one of the people who live here is named robin? too many funny little coincidences. ] Yeah, more or less. [ he blows a curl out of his eyes, head tilting faintly in consideration. ] My brother and I are probably getting a place here in Sunset Falls, so I figured I'd drop in to say hello and see the neighborhood while I'm at it.

[ .. should he ask? loki's so busy playing with the keys in the next room that he can't just grab his attention. he doesn't want to freak tim out if he really is an anxious vigilante.

oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, and he's really feeling nosy. ] Hey, not to make this weird, but your surname isn't Drake, is it? [ he jerks his thumb back in the direction of the room he'd come from. ] Loki mentioned a friend of his named Tim Drake. [ a 'friend'. ]

[ Tim doesn't find Robin lingering out by the truck because she's currently in the kitchen, carefully unwrapping, washing, drying, and putting away all their dishes, glasses, and silverware. They've kind of gathered a strange amalgam collection of different sets of plates and cups, mugs and shot glasses, big spoons and little spoons, but she's sorting everything as best she can.

She hears a familiar voice coming from the entryway and pops out to take a look, dish towel in hand. ]

Tim, hey! Thanks for coming. That's, uh... [ She comes closer to look at the scrawled handwriting on the box. ] ...I think that's Eddie's vinyls. You can put those by the stairs, I'm not sure if he wants those up in his room or in the living room.

[ Despite the fact that this was billed as a housewarming party, Robin wasn't actually expecting any gifts. So when she's presented with a fancy looking key and told that it will lead her directly back home, no matter where she is, she's honestly flabbergasted. ]

This is magic? It's a magic key. For real, actual magic.

[ he smiles at her enthusiasm, pleased in spite of himself. sometimes he forgets that magic is.. cool. ]

Yeah. I could probably-- I mean, ethically I probably shouldn't make it lead anywhere, but I could probably convince it to go a couple of other places if you have some regular locations you visit.

[ work or.. whatever. ]

[ Coincidence, hell. It’s impossible for this many interconnections to be random. Tim feels like he’s being set up, but he doesn’t know what for. He withdrawals inwardly, a little less warmth in his expression.

He replied to Robin’s post with his Tim Drake handle. No point in saying his name is anything other else; if Billy isn’t actually Loki’s friend, there’s still an easily identifiable source for the name. ]

Yeah, it’s Drake, and I know Loki. A Loki.

[ He doesn’t follow the gesture with his eyes. If Loki is here, Tim will find him later and … something. He can’t tell Loki not to talk about him at all, because he’s been actively talking to people about Loki. Maybe he can ask to know how many friends might ambush him like this or for a guidebook on what to say.

Tim wants to ask if Billy is the friend who’s returned, but his careful approach extends to protecting Loki’s privacy as well. ]

I don’t know the names of all of his friends, I’m sorry.

What? Oh, no, no, I wouldn't—

[ She wouldn't dare look a magical gift horse in the mouth like that. ]

This is already so much, I wouldn't ask you to do anything on top of that. That would be— I don't know how magic works, but there would probably be some kind of material cost involved...

[ She may or may not have been reading through Eddie's D&D rulebooks. ]

No, no! That's okay. [ he flaps his hands a little, apologetic when he notices the uncertainty. ] I haven't been back long, and he probably-- I mean, who likes losing people? I just wanted to introduce myself properly if you were him. It seemed like too much of a coincidence for you not to be, honestly.

[ he pauses, then indicates himself, smile tilting crookedly. ] I'm Billy Kaplan-Altman. Loki and I were teammates starting out, and we've been friends since then. He knows my husband, too.

[ not that the last part much matters right now, since teddy isn't here, but it feels important to say. he doesn't want tim to get any wrong ideas. ]

[ his smile ticks up slightly. ] That's not really the sort of magic I do. Keep it in mind if you think of a couple of places, I can always drop by to update the spell on them.

[ a pause, then he huffs a laugh. ] Sorry, I'm Billy. I don't think I said. I'm here with-- [ a glance back over his shoulder, indicating loki playing with one of the other keys. ] --that menace, Loki.

[ he turns back toward her, expression a little sheepish. ] Since I'm probably going to be moving into the area, I thought it might be nice to know some people here other than Dr. Strange.

[ Loki's background antics get an eyebrow-raised glance, before Robin turns her attention back to Billy. ]

Billy, nice to meet you. I'm Robin. One of the other housemates is also named Billy, actually. If you see the guy with the mullet and the cigarette permanently attached to his lips, that's him.

[ That's honestly the nicest description she could've given for Billy Hargrove. ]

Dr. Strange... That's the portal guy, right? [ She leans in, asking in a hushed tone, ] Is that his real name? Or like... His superhero codename?

That would explain why it weighs 40 pounds.

[ He manages the box well though and is chipper as he carries it over to the stairs. ]

Fun fact: a vinyl record weighs almost half a pound. Do you want help in the kitchen, or should I stay on box duty?

[ Ah, so it is that friend. Tim does misinterpret the situation, but not in the way Billy’s concerned about. The comment about losing people, being a friend and teammate - Tim’s own experiences cloud his judgment, and he lands on Billy Kaplan-Altman being due to meet an unfortunate fate or maybe returning from one. It eats away some of the suspicion. ]

No, no one likes losing people. It’s always hard.

[ A mental string of red yarn goes from Billy to Loki to David Alleyne. Best not to mentally dwell on losing people. Does Billy know Bart Allen as well? Their circles are becoming a Venn diagram. ]

It’s nice to properly meet you. I didn’t mean to be rude. I wasn’t expecting to bump into anyone else I knew here, and, when you said you knew Loki and my name, it was like my adopted first-cousin-once-removed’s girlfriend spotting me in the supermarket and asking how the new job is going. Like, it’s good, but how do you even know that?

[ He wants to find an angle to ask what Loki’s said about him, but David’s warned him off explicitly trying to quantify Loki. Billy seems chatty, and Tim doesn’t want him to tell Loki that he’s been prodding for information. ]

→ moving in

[As promised, Steph arrives early to help with the actual moving process, something she's happy to do in exchange for being able to a) come to a party and b) show off a little bit. If she wore a tank top purely so her arms are on display while she hauls things inside, that's between her and God.

But she is helpful, both in lifting heavy things and occasionally getting into tight spaces when necessary. If a couch gets stuck halfway up the staircase, she can easily vault over it to figure out a better angle.

Or maybe she's just gently correcting someone on how to lift an item without accidentally hurting themselves, because safety is important.]

→ housewarming

[It's sort of a shame that Steph doesn't do bathing suits (side effect of being a vigilante and amassing a collection of scars), because she's worked up a bit of a sweat after helping get all the furniture and boxes inside, but at least she can take her shoes off, roll her pants up, and dangle her legs over the edge of the pool.

Later, she'll wander around for an unofficial tour, poking into various rooms now she isn't distracted by having an actual job to do.

If any sort of dancing happens, she'll be eagerly in the middle of it, but that's about as crazy as her shenanigans get. Any alcohol or drugs offered will be politely turned down, though she can be caught picking at the food (no baked goods, just in case). As the evening wears on, if anyone who did partake needs someone to hold back their hair or get them a glass of water, Steph will be there to lend a hand. She's been to enough teen-and-young-adult parties to know that someone occasionally has to play mom, and she doesn't mind doing stepping into the role. It's nice to be helpful in a way entirely separate from the whole vigilante thing.

For the most part, though, she's just looking to enjoy the party, chat to some people, maybe make some new friends. You know, normal people things that she doesn't get a chance to do very often. It's been nice, here, to have a little bit of a break.]

Moving In.

[Cass came with Tim and Steph and she's happy to help move boxes. In fact, she looks far more comfortable when she has something she's supposed to be doing.

Anyone who may question whether this small girl should be lifting various furniture on her own is quickly shown the error of their ways. Cass may be pushing 5'2", but she is shredded. And won't stop lifting things until someone tells her to.

She also was the (slightly unnerving) habit of swooping in the moment before
something is about to get dropped. Where did she come from? How did she move fast enough to catch it? It's truly a mystery.]

Housewarming

[Cass has only been to one party before, and that one was quickly crashed by a world-renowned assassin. She... isn't quite sure what to do here.]

a. [For a while she can be found standing awkwardly in dark corners looking unsure of herself. There's... people. Many people, and their bodies are loud-expressive-movement. It's overwilling-- no, overwhelming. So she lets herself just... watch.]

b. [Eventually the smell of food lures her to the kitchen. Her plate is stacked high with a staggering amount of pizza. An inappropriate amount,
considering that the food is meant to be shared among the guests. Cass has no understanding of her social faux pas.

When she does sit down, it's in an easily defendable place. Then she absolutely goes to town. The term "inhaling food" doesn't do it justice. This is professional hot-dog-eating-contest level stuff. The pizza is gone in an upsettingly short amount of time.]

c. [Eventually, Cass goes where the music is. She wants to move. Whether it's just a jumping around to pop or full-on moshing to metal, Cass dives in without hesitation. Gives herself fully to the beat of the song. Lets herself connect with those around her. Feels.

The way she moves is... hypnotic. Movement is a language-- her language. She's in complete control of her body, but never comes across as stiff or forced. She just... flows.]

[Cass is equally lost. The only other party she's been to was Brenda's and that ended with Slade Wilson burning the neighbor's house down. This is... a little beyond her.

What isn't beyond her is Tim's reaction to seeing the tall guy in the green jacket. And the tall guy's reaction to Tim.

So it's to be expected when Cass manages to sit on the on the back of the couch, slightly above Tim's place on the arm, and steals his cup from his grasp.

She takes a big sip. This is hers now.]

So... who's that? [She gestures very obviously at the boy Tim has been carefully not-staring at.]

[Oh! A Loki. She knows the Loki(s), nominally, in that she dated a version of their brother. That's about the closest she's getting to "fitting in" at this party, though, because Jane Foster is neither young enough to be at a kegger nor enough of a party animal to make the fact that she's 35 not matter.

You can take the girl out of the lab, but you can't make her socially adept.]

Oh! I didn't know you had a boyfriend.

[Case in point. Is being kind of a himbo a prerequisite for wielding Mjølnir? Maybe.]

[Jane's feeling kind of overwhelmed herself. She's really, like, not young enough or social enough to be comfortable at a party like this but well. Darcy's always telling her that she has to get out more and she really wants to meet literally anyone not from Asgard right now. There are so many Lokis running around.

Point being, Jane is sort of wallflowering too. Eventually she looks over at Cass.]

So, um. Do you know the hosts? I just saw that this party was happening on social media and thought it would be a good way to meet some people.

[Cass has noticed this woman's not-comfort. It is... familiar. Relatable.]

No. [She only knows Stephanie and Tim.] But I was promised pizza.

[This woman is trying to be friendly. Cass is... not-good at friendly (she's been told). But she tries.]

Are you... having... fun? [An attempt at small talk. Barbara would proud.]

[ he laughs, shaking his head. ] It's okay, I knew asking it that it was going to sound pretty sketchy. I almost didn't, but.. you know, I figured we'll probably spend time together eventually. Especially since Loki came with me today.

[ he doesn't know if tim's open about his sexuality or that he's dating(?) loki, so he carefully doesn't imply he knows any of that, especially out here in the open like this. it's definitely on his mind, though. loki certainly seems to have a type these days, and it's slim, dark-haired, awkward, nerdy guys. (he remembers the monty python reference.) ]

Loki's a lot like a magpie, [ he adds after a moment, thoughtful. ] He likes what he likes and he's possessive of it. [ a beat. ] Not in a dickhead way, just-- He wants all the things he likes where he can see them. [ he rolls his eyes fondly. ] On the other hand, he doesn't want me to scare you off. Which, like-- [ he spreads his hands in a gesture to indicate how harmless he looks. ] Really? First of all, I'm a delight. Second, Loki can be so charming and so overwhelming that he should be grateful I can tell you some embarrassing stories about him.

[ his brows shoot up at the mullet comment. these guys really are from the 80s. ] I guess it's a good thing mullets are sort of back in style. [ in general, 80s aesthetic is really back in style, so these guys could probably do some kind of influencer thing if they really wanted.

his small smile blooms into a delighted grin at the question. poor stephen, he's sure he gets this question a lot. maybe it's a good thing that billy's here to answer it instead. you know, give the good doctor a good opinion of this group starting out. ]

It's both, technically, [ he says with a breath of laughter. ] His name is literally Stephen Strange, he's a doctor, and he also does magic. He doesn't really have a codename, but "Dr. Strange" is unusual enough that people assume that's what it is.

[ Billy and Eddie already have their social media influencer careers taking off... This house was 90% funded by Billy's OnlyStans account. Even Chrissy and Robin are starting to get small Instagram followings, Chrissy with her cute cheerleader poses and Robin with her trumpet covers of various 80's songs.

She furrows her brows and gives a distant sort of nod. ]

Right... I'm not sure what I expected, but that definitely wasn't it. [ Can you tell she has little to no experience with actual superheroes? ] I thought there was some kind of taboo about using your real name as your superhero name?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 9

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

billy kaplan-altman & loki

Tim drake

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

moving in

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

steph brown

no subject

you knew it was coming

no subject

housewarming a

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject