CAUSE IT'S ONE TWO THREE STRIKES YOU'RE OUT

[jacksonian]

WHO: Mark and all imPorts!!
WHERE: The Washington Senators baseball stadium
WHEN: JULY 17TH, let's say the July 10th game got rained out, heh
WHAT: Come watch baseball!!!
WARNINGS: None! Probably!! Well, there might be cursing at the umpire. What good is a game if there's no cursing at the umpire?


[ Mark had promised a VIP experience when he'd advertised the baseball outing, and he definitely hasn't failed to deliver. The bus to the game leaves De Chima imPort housing in the early afternoon, and this is a party bus - leather-upholstered seats, free-flowing alcohol, snacks, music playing, entertainment all the way.

When it gets there, things don't get any less luxe: the imPorts are ushered by staff to the skybox, which has a pool table, TVs, a bartender, a buffet dinner, seats both outside overlooking the field and inside the air-conditioned room, the whole shebang. There are businesspeople waiting there, eager to mingle and take photos with the imPorts - this is how Mark is making his money, after all - but aside from that, this is actually a really fun experience: any interested imPorts get to go down to the field before the game to watch the warm-up, players periodically stop by, and it's a good tense game of baseball. The Senators - the home team - end up coming from behind in the eighth inning to win 4-2.

The bus is calmer on the trip home. It's late, so the music is quieter, and people can sleep if they want to. Of course, if people want to do some afterpartying, they probably can get it started in there. ]

Comments

Mark

[jacksonian]

[ This is technically supposed to be fun for everyone, but, well...Mark is a little tense. He's constantly fussing over something - conferring with business representatives to make sure everything's running smoothly, sitting on his phone firing off emails, checking on a dozen different things to make sure everything's in place. His hard work does pay off - the whole thing comes off seamlessly - but the strange little fat dude who organized all of this doesn't seem to be having a whole lot of fun. He doesn't touch a drink all night, and doesn't even really stop to eat, instead just constantly snacking on cheese filched off the buffet.

He does periodically approach people, asking - ]

Is there anything you need?

[dendarii]

[ At some point, Miles comes over to perch on Mark's shoulder. True to his word, he's been a kestrel the whole time - not speaking unless directly addressed, and even then quite coy about giving his name (if he does at all). This is Mark's show and he's trying very earnestly not to take it over. ]

How is everything going?

[jacksonian]

Well enough.

[ There's hardly any misery in Mark's face at all, and for once no undercurrents of hostility or wariness towards his progenitor - often present even at the best of times. He recognizes that Miles has kept his promise to not dominate this occasion, and Mark appreciates that. More, he's become aware that he looks fucking awesome with a falcon on his shoulder. Both of these things combine to keep him at peace with Miles. ]

We'll be turning a healthy profit off of this.

[dendarii]

[ Miles told you, jeez. Everyone needs a falcon. Miles preens a bit on his shoulder, quite pleased to see Mark happy in turns. It renews his resolve to be as good as gold for for the rest of the event. For now he turns and cocks his head up at his brother. ]

On top of the benefit of advertising, you mean?

[komarran]

[ The sport makes no sense to him. It's a lot of hitting a ball with a stick and then running while people excitedly cheer for the runners. The fact that this is referred to as the nation's 'favorite past time' is what brought him out here, a cultural field trip of sorts.

He's puzzling over what exactly he's watching when he hears Mark's question. The man is the other reason he's here, partially to keep an eye on him and to support this business venture in some small way. ]

Ah no, I'm fine thank you. Do you understand what they're doing down there?

[jacksonian]

Uh -

[ Mark looks down at the field, then reaches up to rub at the back of his neck. One of them is up at bat and swinging, and hits the ball, and so Mark narrates - ]

Yeah, that one there gets to run around the bases, and -

[ But instead of running, he walks off the mound, apparently out. ]

Oh. I guess that's not it.

[komarran]

[ Okay, so that's not quite how the game works. Duv peers more closely and frowns as he remarks, ]

That ball almost hit him. [ At least, from his angle. ]

And he's still not running.

Miles

[dendarii]

[ True to his word, Miles is Sir-Not-Appearing-At-Mark's-Event ... but a funny little kestrel is here, hopping on people's shoulders and enjoying head scritches and generally being a perfectly tame little falcon. He is very careful not to speak until spoken to - he promised, after all, and he is absolutely determined not to interfere with his brother's party.

... "Interference" doesn't include occasionally swooping down to steal bits of food, right? Because he is doing that. And at the behest of the guests, he's happy to do little tricks in midair. Loop-de-loops and suchlike. ]

Dorian Gray

[brushoff]

[ SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS

EVERYBOOOOOODY

Because really, Dorian gives minimal damns about baseball. It's not proper footie, which is the sport that he pays attention to because he's British, or hunting, which is the sport he actually knows how to do (even if Dorian's rifle knowledge is a hundred or so years out of date.) But if he's going to do this, he's going to get in the spirit: he's wearing a Washington Senators baseball jersey and has already picked up a ridiculous baseball hat that he's going to give Toby back home. He spends just as much time mingling and kissing ass with the businessmen as he does watching the game...however, he can't deny the fact that he doesn't really care too much about baseball (though he's doing a good impression of someone who knows what's going on, clapping and cheering when people score) and so is resorting to alcohol.

Hence, shots. It's the start of the seventh inning after a slightly drunk Dorian forced as many people as he could into "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" despite knowing only about half the words...and Dorian's just pouring vodka shots, where exactly did he finds all those shot glasses to begin with, the world will never know. Pouring shots and applying massive doses of peer pressure as he practically pushes shot glasses onto everybody in the box. ]

Come onnnn, they're losing! This way we'll at least be happy and pleasantly sloshed if they utterly lose.

[jacksonian]

[ And Mark favors him with a smile as a reward for being the life of the party. Not a big smile, but a sly, small one. ]

I'm staying sober. Do an extra one for me.

[brushoff]

Oooh you shouldn't have said that! [ Dorian teases, as he gave Mark a big grin of his own. Because he's taking one of those vodka shots and expertly knocking them back. ]

Hopefully I can get some of these businessmen sloshed, [ he adds in, under his breath, almost conspiratorally. ] Drunk people are always more liberal with the checkbooks.

[jacksonian]

[ His sly smile turns slyer-and-also-more-grateful. He gives a little nod. ]

Yeah. If you can, do it. Not least 'cause I want them writing big checks to the baseball team, too. [ He makes a little motion with his finger. ] If the team profits from this, I'll be able to negotiate down a better rate on another event like this in the near future.

Junpei

[homerunning]

[It was both a matter of luck and being-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time, but Junpei had soon found himself on a bus leaving De Chima (with poor Yukari in tow, no way was he going to this without her) only to end up in a skybox overlooking what looks to be a rather heated Baseball game. ]

Yukaricchi! Did you ever DREAM you'd get to do something like this?

[Probably not. But hey, that's what friends are for, right? Getting dragged to the thing only you care about?

She's a real trooper.


But Junpei, a fan of the sport to the very end, Junpei's like a five year old as he presses his hands against the glass, eyes as wide as dinner plates and making soft little coos of excitement. You'd think this was his Christmas gift, the way he tilts his head to and fro to try and get a better look (despite having one of the bet seats you could potentially ever have at one of these shenanigans) at the game, making small comments to the person next to him. You couldn't get him interested in that pool table if you tried. They're here for the game guys, get the hell with it!]

[protects_the_small]

[Sitting just as close to the glass is Kel, perfectly happy to listen to any small comments because they help with the most common question she keeps asking-]

And what's happening now?

[homerunning]

Well THAT-

[He starts, pointing down to the positions of the players on the field.]

-is what we call 'bases loaded'. It's when all the other players are ready to run and score. No openings at the inn, if you know what I'm saying. It's a pretty bad position for the field players, you know? That's a potential four points that could go to the other team, if this guy gets a home run-

[Stop him now, Kel.]

[protects_the_small]

So it's a good strategy to fill the bases as quickly as possible?

[Better to break in with pointed questions at key moments than let him get on a roll, else there will be terminology she can't keep up with in no time...]

Looks like the colors we're supposed to be rooting for are at a disadvantage.

omfg junpei pls.

[snipers]

[ you know, at first yukari balked at the idea of coming here, but after thinking about it (two seconds, girl's a quick thinker), she realized this could be an opportunity. meet more people, get out of the house and see more of this world.

after all, there's only so much she could have seen before, so any opportunity she can be afforded to look around now is good in her book.

still!! she can't hide the fact that junpei's excitement is infectious, and even she feels like she's getting into the spirit of the game. that won't stop her from reaching over and pulling the brim of his hat down over his eyes, though. ]

Yeah, yeah, Junpei, calm down for a sec, will ya? You'll burn yourself out before the end of the — ... innings, right?

[homerunning]

[Quick-thinking: Something Junpei only uses when his dodge rate is up in Tartarus.


But no, truly he's really glad that Yukari's here. Not just because of the event, but just HERE in this world. Something he's going to tell the world about as soon a he can--when there's no beach party or baseball game or event in Philedelphia that he has to attend. No matter. Look out world, because Junpei's going to be telling you about his biffle one of these days.

But this day? This exact day? It's all about baseball, with the bases and the balls all at the same time.

He stops when she speaks looking over at her and...just taking in that there isn't an empty space there anymore. That this time when he turned to say something to her, she was actually there, with her pout lip or creased brows or the way she held that fist close to her chest in a pseudo-protective way, looking warily.

It was normal. It was....normal.]

Heeey, you've been reading up on this stuff, haven't you?

Don't tell me it was for lil' ol me...

[snipers]

[ and on that day, regardless of her outward feelings, she will be greatful for the opportunity to meet en masse most of junpei's friends. it helps when you've got a social net to jump into, and the more people she knows, the better. that's her opinion.

the look she gives junpei is complete with that creased brow and slanted lips, eyes disbelieving of his excitement before — shifting completely into something surprised. ]

Wha—, no! [ she didn't have time!!! but, really, she would have, if only so that she could be Knowledgeable about what she was experiencing. ] I've just picked stuff up while I've been here. [ sheesh!! ] It's not that difficult to figure some stuff out, ya know.

[jacksonian]

[ Mark isn't exactly a smiley sort of person. His expressions range from glowering to funereal with only the occasional smug smile to lighten him up. But even he can't resist the sheer enthusiasm in front of him. Thoroughly against his will, he lets loose a single, awkward smile, and then gets control of his expression again. ]

It's a pretty good game today, right?

[homerunning]

[Aw Mark, he's sure your smile's just waiting to peek out through that stoneface you call 'default'. Junpei's smile spreads as he turns to look at Mark, fingertips pressed against the glass as one juts out to point out a specific...dot on the field.]

You kidding? It's already heating up and it's only the second inning!


You've been watching?

[jacksonian]

[ He shrugs, sticks his hands into his pockets, trying to look cool. ]

I've been listening to discussions of the game.

Kel

[protects_the_small]

[Kel mostly stays seated next to the glass, watching the game. She's finding that parties that she doesn't have to serve at tend to be boring if she doesn't know everyone there, and Junpei's excitement is more entertaining.

Occasionally, she does wander over to get a plate refill, and smile awkwardly at the locals who have come to rub elbows with imPorts. She'll even try to be polite at some of the more POINTED questions]

No, I'm sorry, I'm not privy to that information, oh I believe that's-

[And she's tapping your shoulder, quick exit like]

[brushoff]

[ The person she's tapping is Dorian who's just got done kissing ass with somebody else. Thankfully he's smart enough to realize that she's trying to use him as an escape from the conversation.

Unfortunately, he's a bit sloshed and can't actually remember Kel's name. Time to wing it. ]

Oh, there you are! I was looking to talk to you about— [ what the hell did Kel do, Dorian's got no idea, time to bullshit even more. ] —a new direction that my next album might take. Pardon us, gentlemen.

[ Dorian flashes the locals a winning smile, the smile of someone who is 100% accustomed to kissing ass as he lightly takes Kel by the arm and attempts to lead her to a less secluded corner of the room. ]

[protects_the_small]

[Kel blinks a bit at the taking of her arm, but allows it until they're well enough away. In a small community like the imPort one, she can't help but know Dorian's face, especially when it's one that consistently annoys Kitty and Lucy.

Reclaiming her arm, she nods, politely.]

I thank you for the assistance. The usual excuses don't seem to work.