it might seem crazy what I’m about to say

[waiting]

WHO: Residents of #006 and assorted suckers friends.
WHERE: House #006
WHEN: Saturday, June 21st, late morning to early evening.
WHAT: School's out, so it's time for a good old-fashioned pool party.
WARNINGS: Probably nothing ... there are little kids around, after all.

It's officially summer, so it's as good a time to finally make use of the pool they've got in the backyard -- something Bradbury is still perplexed that they even have. In any case, it's certainly probably the most well-guarded pool parties the neighborhood's ever seen: between Bradbury, Ace, the raccoons and (however reluctantly) Terry, as well as some of the invited parties, would-be gatecrashers aren't likely to have an easy time of it.

Still, it's a nice day to spend out, now that school's finally over -- and for those who plan on participating in the game tomorrow, it might be a much-needed break.

Comments

SETUP

[waiting]

[ Maybe you're a little early or maybe you agreed to help out with some of the setting up. Officially, the party's pot luck, with a table designated for food, but more is better than less, and Bradbury knows better than to count on other people's culinary skills where kids are involved, so a helping hand in the kitchen is always welcome. ]

[thanatophobias]

[It's around the time when arrivals start ringing the door, and Cole's the one who runs on over to say hello and welcome them in. He's got swimming shorts and a t-shirt along with some flip flops, and he gets to put on a small smile to greet the newcomers.

Unless you're Lucifer I guess]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Hey, Cole.

[Jacob gives the boy a broad smile when he shows up. He's already wearing his red swim trunks with a white t-shirt, and carrying a cooler of contributions to the barbecue.]

Good to meet you in person. Thanks again for the invite.

[fridgeflower]

[ Laurie made deviled eggs, pretty tasty and hard to mess up. She also brought store-bought soft cookies, because she's not sure Cole would be down with deviled eggs.

She's actually not sure she's ever been invited to a party, specifically, so she tries to be properly enthusiastic when she arrives. ]

Hi. Thanks for having me.

OPEN

[glassbox]

[ As a one hundred percent responsible adult, Lil Crawley arrives early to help Bradbury manage what sounded like it might be a lot of young people. Or a lot of imPorts. In one place. Both were questionable situations for one man to handle alone. Besides, they'd always been a good team before, so it seems like the friendly thing to do.

She might have mentioned something about a plus-one to Bradbury. But Lil is noticeably solo when she says her hellos and heads into the kitchen. She's okay when it comes to cooking -- strictly simple things -- but snack foods she can manage. Now if only she could find where all the plates and utensils are.

It's probably not her best manners, to be opening up every single drawer and cupboard looking for things, but. Well. ]

[waiting]

Second drawer on your left for the silverware. Plates are still in the dishwasher, but they're clean.

[ bradbury speaks up from behind her, having just come in from outside. he's surprised to see lil here early, but he appreciates it -- at the moment, he's holding a recently-inflated pool toy in an eye-searing yellow under one arm, and he raises a brow. ]

You're here early. Weren't scared of getting lost, were you?

POOLSIDE

[waiting]

[ Here it is, the main attraction. It's not actually that big, and with eleven eight-year-olds splashing and yelling, it's even smaller. Still, there's a deeper end where adults can enjoy a dip and a couple of lounge chairs for those just looking to get some sun. A grill nearby provides a steady source of sustenance for anyone feeling peckish, though anyone looking for drinks will have to head for the fridge themselves. ]

[ifnotloyal]

[ Ace has ended up lingering by the pool. He's sprawled out by the edge of the shallow end, keeping a watchful eye on the kids. There's more than a few instances where they try and call him to join them in the pool, but he's managed to stay firmly on dry land thus far.

Bradbury said no dogs in the pool. Ace is a dog. It'd be so much cooler in the water, sure, but he has to at least make some attempt at setting a good example for the other dogs around! So, he's there, hanging out in the sun, mouth agape and tongue lolled out so he can quietly pant, all while idly guarding the pool and its various swimmers. ]

[thanatophobias]

[Cole's sitting with his legs in the water, ruffling the ears of one of Ace's dog friends. They're so many, all sorts of sizes, all of them friendly - but maybe he should be paying a little more attention to his classmates. Welp.]

[fridgeflower]

[ Laurie hasn't actually encountered Ace, and so she doesn't assume he's anything apart from your normal canine companion. If asked, she might admit that he seems rather smart, as concentrated as he is on his role here. She'd more easily gush about how cute he is, unprompted.

Here she comes now, matter-of-fact, bending to experimentally pat his head and scratch behind his ears. Cue the obligatory cooing. ]

You are just too precious. Definitely the cutest guy at the party.

OPEN

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob has volunteered to help out by taking on grilling duties for a bit. He's standing in bright red swim trunks behind the grill, sunlight glinting a bit off his skin. Considering how much of what's produced by the grill ends up being devoured by Jacob, one might suspect him of ulterior motives in volunteering. Biotics need their food, and Jacob likes his hot dogs.]

[ifnotloyal]

[ And while he's at the grill, Ace will peel off away from the small pack of dogs that have been running around the party to go and sit by him. He won't say anything. He doesn't think he has to for this! Why use words when there's the age old tactic of looking up at the person with the food expectantly and wagging one's tail?

Come on, dude. Hook a dog up with another (edible) dog. ]

[waiting]

[ Bradbury isn't sure whose friend this guy is, exactly, but he doesn't mind having an extra pair of hands around to help. Now if only it didn't feel like the guy came attached with a few extra stomachs, too... he comes back over to the grill, having moved off to attend to other refreshments, and he raises a glass of lemonade in offering.

Just don't ask about the pink bendy straw, it's the only kind they've got. ]

Thought you might be thirsty, after all of ... uh, that. It's Jacob, right? [ Basic introductions were made at some point, he'd just gotten distraced. ]

OPEN

[foreshadower]

Shade, of course, showed up for Cole. The kid had invited him, and Shade liked him, so of course he'd stop by, and make sure that this went well. Of course, Shade wasn't exactly dressed for a pool party. In fact, he was in his usual attire, the heat didn't bother him anyway.

In fact, the way he looked, cool as a cucumber, complete with his usual coat and frock was surprising, but there he was, in the sunlight, relaxing by the pool.

He even had a book tucked under his arm, a gift, actually. Something he thought Cole might like. ]

ayyy

[thanatophobias]

Cole was a little weirded out by his attire, but - honestly, the more he thought about it, the less he could see the Shade wearing anything else. It had apparently slipped from him to be the one to greet him at the door, but as soon as he saw him he made sure to at least offer a hello. It was a pleasant surprise to see he'd accepted the invitation after all.

"Aren't you hot?"

open!

[acclimatized]

[ john is one of the friends bradbury enlisted into doing grill duty. dressed in a short sleeved shirt, khaki trousers and sandals, he is responsible for the first batch of food served up. it's a shame his marriage hasn't improved his cooking skills, because the sausages are charred beyond recognition and a bit too pink on the inside. it's edible though – definitely edible!

to his credit, he improves with the second batch. sometimes his power isn't that useless. ]

INDOORS

[waiting]

[ For those with an aversion to sunlight or children shrieking, the cozy interior of the house provides a welcome refuge, though half-wet kids are ever underfoot, running between grabbing snacks at the kitchen counter and right back outside. A radio provides a quiet stream of music, interspersed with occasional news bulletins.]

OPEN

[viced]

[ It really shouldn't be surprising. Even though Mitch was invited, he spent most of the time inside, awkwardly hovering, like he was waiting for that telltale sign that maybe he could leave. He was here as a favor, for a friend, after all. One he probably honestly shouldn't have even indulged in something like this.

He was busy, after all. He had work to do, and this was just a little bit too much extra time spent idle. ]

sorry mitch

[ifnotloyal]

[ Well, the party sure explains why Rick was asking if Ace could hold himself back from mauling Mitch. It's been an effort to do so and he's done everyone a favor by keeping the normal dogs from inside, too, up until now. But Ace is a husky. He had to come indoors out of the Florida heat eventually.

That's when Mitch will find his awkward hovering intruded upon by a low growling from somewhere behind him. Thankfully that's as far as it goes this time, but still. Awkward. ]

[waiting]

Good to know the pigeons didn't peck you to death before you got here.

[ That's one way to greet your best friend, anyway. Bradbury comes in from outside, brow raised, apron stained from where he's wiped his hands off. He's still moving a little slowly, but he's not favoring one leg anymore. He pauses to give Mitch's outfit a once-over, before he purses his lips. ]

Thought Lil was supposed to get you into something you could actually swim in.

[glassbox]

[ So he does come along after all -- and truthfully, though she'd known that Rick had invited Mitch, Lil hadn't necessarily been banking on that, all jokes aside. Pool parties just didn't seem like Mitchell Hundred's kind of thing. Not, of course, that it seems like he's actually spending much time around the pool. When she finds him, he's inside, appearing for all the world like he wants to make a run for it.

She approaches, clapping him on the shoulder. ]

Y'lookin' for an escape route or somethin'?

AFTERPARTY & CLEANUP

[waiting]

[ All of Cole's classmates have finally been sent home, and now there's only the cleaning up to do -- exactly how can kids create this much of a mess jut by being in one place?? Anyone who's actually stuck around this long gets a free beer on Bradbury, unless they're a minor. In which case, they just get a Shirley Temple. ]

OPEN

[demonspawn]

[ Thank God it's all over. There's nothing Terry loathes quite the same way as he does fun in the sun. He can feel the skin on the back of his neck and shoulders is already tender and warm -- the telltale signs of a sunburn. Hopefully his demonic powers will kick in and heal that right up before he starts to peel. Ew.

Now that things have quieted down, he wanders around the house picking things up and sticking them into a trash bag, occasionally reaching behind himself to itch at that budding sunburn.

Exhaling, he gives a typical, disgruntled little ugh. ]

[waiting]

[ and here comes bradbury, with a six-pack of beer in one hand, one of the cans already tugged loose from the plastic in the other. because he's a bit of an asshole, he saunters up behind terry, and reaches out to press the cool metal against the nape of his neck. ]

Cheer up, kiddo. The worst is over.

[viced]

[ Mitch was still here. Why he was still here, he didn't know. He shouldn't be here, he should be leaving, but he was still awkwardly hovering, like this was a thing that was going to get better. Like he was waiting for a sign that he was ready to go.

Or maybe the right moment that he could leave, and not feel like an asshole.

Like that was going to happen. And like hell he was going to help, but Terry looked a little miserable too, and he hovered, awkwardly off to the side, smoking a cigarette, now that all the children were gone. ]

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