so sue me if i'd like to live on island time for a change (OTA)

[ex_mettacrusher33]

CHARACTERS: Mettaton + Open
DATE: 3rd day of the festivities, before the party bus departs
WARNINGS: They're watching RHPS again, so someone might honestly get Time-Warped too hard.
SUMMARY: It's the beach party episode.

The chill one. The one where everyone sits around a fire, eats snacks, and watches movies. Don't get too rowdy, now.


Maybe the main party has far too many people. Maybe Mettaton can't go for any length of time near another celebration without making one about himself. Maybe, even after two days of recharging, laying listlessly in his bed, and doing absolutely nothing else, Mettaton is still tired from the horrendous experience that was that last mission and every single event within it, and decided what he truly, desperately needed was to be surrounded by the joy and love of people who did not yet hate him.

Whatever the reason, anyone in good standing with the robot has received an invitation (plus 1) to the training room for "a night of movies and relaxation."

Tucked in a quieter corner of the simulation is a bonfire and a large amount of towels for laying on. A table is set up with simulated food and drinks, ACTUAL food and drinks (obviously pilfered from the banquet), and a selection of dishes Mettaton himself has put the effort into making for his wonderful guests. There are ingredients for s'mores and hot dogs (actual hot dogs, sorry, Sans) and cooking sticks to roast them over the bonfire (that is... simulated. He didn't think that far).

The host himself is set up on a towel in his humanioid-form, wearing an opened, soft pink button-up shirt, black shorts, and a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses. He plays relaxing music from his magictek as he lounges and waits for more guests to arrive. Once he's satisfied with the outcome and everyone has settled, the movies, projected from his jewelcomm and onto a large gray rectangle he's summoned over the ocean, will begin to play.

The movie list is as follows:
The Princess Bride
Clueless
Homeward Bound
The Breakfast Club
The Goonies
Beetlejuice
The Truman Show
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Rocky Horror Picture Show

Anyone who isn't a friend doesn't need to worry about crashing the party: so long as they're respectful of the host, the other guests, and the mood of the party, the more the merrier. But if they start to act up or, god forbid, have already insulted the host prior to crashing, he has no problems tazing and escorting people out first and asking questions never.

So relax. Take a seat. Have a few drinks. Enjoy the show with your friends and neighbors. Try not to scare anyone too bad during that sandworm scene.

Comments

PERIDOT | OTA

[slapfight]

a. BONFIRE

[Peridot remembers Steven roasting the confectionary puff rocks over a fire while they were hunting the corrupted gem. It seemed simple enough, even if she can't eat the result. Of course, the fact that she can't eat the result means that she's been holding a marshmallow over the fire so long it's turned black and disgusting and inedible. She doesn't seem to care. The act of holding it over the fire surrounded by people she enjoys seems to promote a sense of belonging and comfort.

She quite enjoys this bonfire thing.


b. MOVIE TIME

[Of course the films are Peridot's favorite part of the evening, and she stays absorbed in them for most of the party, occasionally bothering her neighbors to ask questions about the plot. Clueless and The Breakfast Club seem to particularly elude her, because she still barely understands "school" despite living through it in Woodhurst and can't imagine why anyone would watch films set there.

The plot of the latter, however, does resonate with her once she gets used to it. ("Oh yes, these people are like gems of a different caste coming together despite society's demands that they not mingle!")

You might also catch her getting a little choked up at Homeward Bound and by the end she's in shouting hysterics about them having to leave Shadow.

Or you might watch her staring blankly through the entirety of Monty Python, never cracking a smile once, her expression puzzled, only to have the movie end and for her to murmur "I don't get it" under her breath.

And when the party is winding down and people have started to relax, you will definitely catch her delighted shriek as RHPS starts and she sings and dances along to it like an overzealous child. IT'S A GOOD MOVIE, BRENT.]

b

[ex_mettacrusher33]

It never fails to surprise me that you learned all the lyrics in one sitting.

[Over the course of the movie (that he specifically put on for her, yes, she's welcome), Mettaton had grasped the edges of his towel and tugged it, with himself still on it, over to her. There are tracks in the sand. And now, he watches his tiny friend with a hand on his chin, half in a state of impressed, big-brother-like pride and half in half in a state of... perplexity. Adoring, proud perplexity.]

You know, if you keep looking at the doctor like that, you're going to make someone jealous.

[slapfight]

Peridots are capable of memorizing patterns with minimal effort. Lyrics are exceedingly simple compared to more complex equations and formulas.

[She says it all with manic glee, pinwheeling her arms enthusiastically, only to stop midway through and fluster.] Are you joking me? Feferi has nothing to worry about. But the doctor's confidence is so... so... entrancing.

[She leans forward a bit.] Even if they were a little too, erm... Intense for Earth. It could have been different.

[ex_mettacrusher33]

Haha! [Oh, Peri. That indignant look on her face is worth it every time.]

You mean if everyone were to simply stop dreaming it instead of neglecting to be it? [He's turned onto his side, elbow on the towel, hand propping up his head, and leg stretched up at a 90 degree angle.] ...maybe. But their death is all the more tragic then, isn't it?

[slapfight]

Mm. [It seems like a very bad time to confess that she sees a great deal of Mettaton in the doctor, which plays some part in why it resonated with her. Well, that and the colors, the boldness of it all, and the fact that it's about aliens and their conflicting views about Earth's potential.

But this slightly melancholy turn for the conversation only serves to remind her of that fact even more, and without preamble or the restraint to not push, Peridot says, abruptly] Mettaton... You've been... strangely subdued lately. It's hard to explain- I'm still not very good with emotional nuance, but I do know when I'm being shut out.

[She was roommates with Lapis once upon a time. It's a whole thing.]

a

[digiorno]

. . . That's a very on-fire marshmallow.

[The way he says it is somewhere between amused and approving rather than chastising. Look, setting things on fire is a very hooligan thing to do, plus sweets are awesome. He's more of a chocolate kind of guy, but you do get chocolate in s'mores, so he can't be mad.]

[He and Danny plop down ungracefully next to Peridot by the fire as Giorno continues to examine her technique.]

You like them well-done?

[slapfight]

[She pulls the marshmallow out of the flames and examines it gently burning even blacker on her stick.] This isn't how they're supposed to be...

[She's genuinely concerned that she might not be doing this right, but she's momentarily distracted by Doge, and, honestly, maybe the act of ] Your, erm, pet- [yes that's the word]- isn't afraid of the fire?

[because Pumpkin is terrified of it and that is why she isn't here. maybe it's a vegetable thing.]

[digiorno]

[Well, he'd clarify that it's not a bad thing to like your food differently than other people like theirs, but--they're talking about Danny now. Danny, the man of the hour. Dog of the hour. Giorno blinks down at him.]

No, not really. He seems not to be scared of very much. He probably likes it near the fire because it's warm and smells like food.

[Danny looks at Peridot and begins to slowly, ponderously wag his tail back and forth. Hello, New Friend.]

[slapfight]

[To be fair, it's not like she eats anyway, but dogs. Only dogs now. And a marshmallow that is back in the fire burning itself into oblivion, while Peridot studies Danny.] That would explain why Pumpkin doesn't like it. She technically is food to some people.

[Though it is a bit strange to see her little gourd dog's mannerisms in something more decidedly doglike.] ALASTAIR decided I needed a living vegetable as a companion.

A

[fintastic]

[ Meanwhile, Feferi has not had the honor of ever really participating in a campfire before. Yes, she knows what a fire is, and why it burns, but there weren't a whole lot of them under the sea, and even fewer marshmallows. It's only natural that she's going to cozy right up to Peridot, but as she flops down next to her, she's briefly distracted by... whatever that thing is, on the stick. ]

What's that? I think you burned it.

[slapfight]

It's a confectionery puff rock. I think the point is to just hold it in the flames like this.

[She sounds Very Certain of this, especially because she's of the opinion that it's very emotionally rewarding to be able to explain an Earth Thing to someone.] I'm not sure why, but it is strangely soothing.

[fintastic]

Confectionery...? So you're supposed to eat it? I mean, if you eat it, you definitely don't want to-- oh. Right, you don't eat, huh?

[ Feferi laughs, finding it more amusing and charming than weird, and holds out a hand. ]

I guess there's nothing wrong with burning stuff for fun. But I want to eat one! You take that one off, and let me try.

[slapfight]

[Peridot pulls the burnt husk of sticky sweetness out of the fire and peels it off the stick with a wince. It would've probably burned a normal person's fingertips off, but for her, it just stings a little. And gets melty goop over her fingers, though she uses that as a example.] See? The stuff on the inside is mostly fine- only the outside gets burnt. It's fascinating.

[She reskewers the stick with a marshmallow and passes it over to her, leaning in close to observe. Because this is clearly a delicate matter that must be watched closely. Or maybe she wants to snuggle. Or both.]

B - MONTY PYTHON

[bladefaire]

[ Don't worry, Peridot, he didn't get it either. All Lon'qu can do is stare in bewilderment as the credits roll. Never mind that he's never seen the technological wonder known as a 'movie' before, the plot of that whole thing was just ridonkulous. ]

What sort of sorcery was that knight employing to be able to continue battle without all four of his limbs?

[ This doesn't make any sense?? ]

[slapfight]

I know. His form should have at least dissipated after losing two.

[Not many gems actually lose limbs in combat without, you know, just poofing immediately, and she's aware enough of the squishiness of humans to know that IT DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY, but maybe he wasn't human.]

Maybe it's an Earth joke...

[bladefaire]

[ He's not sure he's heard her right, even if the agreement's welcome. (Not many people on this team have agreed with him regarding anything so far, and it's honestly getting quite tiring.) ]

Dissipated? That doesn't make any sense either. Where would all the blood go?

[ This is a very legitimate question?? ]

[slapfight]

[THAT IS A VALID POINT.] Oh. Right. [she rolls her eyes.] Stupid organics and their fluids. If they need them so much, then why aren't they more concerned about keeping them in their body.

Mettaton | OTA

[ex_mettacrusher33]

i: MTT-brand Generic Sad Prompt

[This is not the usual MTT-brand experience.

Yes, there's the pomp and circumstance and fruity drinks. There are campy, fun movies playing on a giant screen he projected half with ALASTAIR technology and half with his own magic. Yes, he's thrown plenty of fist-fulls of glitter into the bonefire. Yes, he's spent a large majority of the time in overly practiced modeling poses (he spent fifteen minutes during The Princess Bride with his legs delicately held in the air, crossed over one another, as if he were sitting in an invisible chair that just got flipped over and just decided to watch the movie from the floor, upside down). It's all very, very much the usual Mettaton.

It's only when he thinks that no one is watching that anything changes. His smile disappears. He twists the Claddagh ring around his finger, back and forth, as he stares past the sand or the waves or the fire. Every unnoticed action is tinted with a sort of mourning, but clearly not for George. It's tired. Quiet. It's not the Mettaton he presents to anyone at all.

It's in the middle of this zoning out that he twists the ring on his finger a little too hard - it bounces right off the thing and arches majestically into the air toward

oh no it's about to hit someone in the head, oh no.]

ii: MTT-Brand Behind the Scenes Coordinator.

[Of course, the life of a host is always busy. There are complaints to funnel, beverages to refill, (literal) fires to put out, movies to switch... It's work! It's nowhere near as much work as managing an entire resort plus studio single-handedly, but it wouldn't be Mettaton if he isn't up for the challenge.

So it shouldn't be surprising to his guest when he calmly walks over to them and points at them with a large spike, dripping with fruit punch.]

You did this.

iii. Wildcard, bring it

i

[catphishing]

[It's about to hit Oliver in the head as it happens.

He was busy with a mouthful of marshmallows (he's had a difficult time recently, okay?), but the sharp flick of metal on the back of his skull has him turning, looking around to try and figure out who just threw something at him.

He looks kind of offended.]

[ex_mettacrusher33]

[Of course! Of course he'd ask for a set of rings and IMMEDIATELY lose his own, of COURSE that would happen to Mettaton because--]

...................

[Oh god it hit Oliver.

Mettaton is smiling, but his face has completely blanched. He just hit the man with a crush on him in the head with a ring whose entire purpose is to state that he's taken.]

F--... FANTASTIC catch, Ollie!! [THAT WASN'T INTENTIONAL.] Beautiful, thoughtful, and talented as always! KNEW I could count on you! [FOR WHAT??

He's desperately leaning over and pawing at the sand to reclaim his ring before the other can spot it. As far as Oliver knew, it was a spring!! A loose screw!

...that he doesn't HAVE in this form. DETAILS!!]

[catphishing]

...that wasn't really a catch.

[His brow creases, not sure why Mettaton's acting so weird. Whatever he hit him with it was just an accident. It couldn't have been big. He crouches down in the sand, trying to look for anything small that he could have lost.]

What was that?

giorno giovanna | ota

[digiorno]

[Giorno doesn't really do casual. It's pretty much the opposite of his thing. But he does sort of know what to do at the beach. Having this at a beach, even a fake beach, is actually a huge relief, because it feels like a vague facsimile of home. Why his life can't be a neverending criminal beach episode is lost on him.]

[Anyway, the point is he's not wearing a suit (this time). He's wearing normal person clothes that normal people would wear to a beach party, even. What is potentially even more unusual is that his plus one is not Fugo. It's . . . a puppy. Whom he has conscientiously walked for about two hours before bringing him here, but honestly who doesn't want a puppy at their party? Fools, that's who.]

[Giorno plops Danny down on a blanket at the outskirts of the Party Zone, just in case he has to get up and go to the bathroom later, and watches with perplexed fondness as the puppy immediately falls asleep. His own Gucci eyebags are out in full force today as well, so maybe it's contagious? At least he's in a party-ish mood, if somewhat quieter and more somber than usual. But look, a puppy!]

[Whose still-mostly-closed eyes are later covered by a sniffling Giorno towards the end of Homeward Bound.]

This is the worst!

[bladefaire]

[ Lon'qu joins the party somewhere near the middle of Homeward Bound, and honestly has to wonder if he's missed some world-ending plot because of it, from the way everyone around him seems to be tearing up. They're watching a few talking animals (??) run around, surely everyone's seen that before.

He does at least manage to hold his tongue through most of the movie, though he finally caves near the end.

Flatly: ]

They're just animals.

[ He doesn't get it. Please educate him. ]

[digiorno]

[Wow? Giorno goes from covering Danny's eyes to covering his ears. Don't listen to this slander, Danny.]

Animals are better than people, it's hardly "just" anything. Besides, look how loyal they are!

[SHADOW IS PURE OF HEARD, LON'QU, GET WITH IT.]

[bladefaire]

[ Poor Danny, his innocence ruined so early in life by a churlish boor. A churlish boor disdainful of Giorno's words, expression hardly changing even as Giorno extols the virtues of the amazing animals on screen. ]

Most animals are good for food and nothing else.

[ This blasphemer. Though, as he looks back to the screen, he grudgingly adds: ]

Though I admit the loyalty displayed by these animals is quite impressive.