My robot brain needs beer

[kinaesthete]

It's a party! Cathy and Liz had their first real honest live-fire people-are-trying-to-kill-us-but-we're-alive deployment at Nora, and not only did they successfully not die, they even helped save the day! Setsuko likewise had her own professional debut in the field of not-dying during the hostage rescue! Good Idea Bear Cathy of course decided this calls for a night on the town. The Star Rose! Tourists, socialites, and Nora refugees looking to celebrate their own not-dying! Dinner! Drinks! Dancing! Young adults in high-risk professions bonding!

1. [semi-locked to invitees]
Setsuko seems the skittish sort, so Cathy's easing in to this with a simple meal in a nice restaurant - there are plenty of those in a location like the Star Rose! She's found a moderately classy Indonesian place, but not so classy as to throw off the mood for the rest of the evening she has planned. Of course, the more's the merrier, so she's sounded out a few other of the soldier types of drinking age in the Unity Group to come along!

[Please ping me if you want to be one of the people invited! Of course, you might still run in to the group regardless, here or in the second prompt.]

2. [free for all]
Food's good and all, but its real function is to give soakage for drinks and energy for dancing! Do you stick with the group as they hit the bars and clubs, or run in to them there?

3. [point and laugh]
The morning after the night before! Well, morning by the clock, anyway, even if they kind of blended together. Whoever've lasted through the night are making their way home, some with some practice, others stumblingly. Are you among them, or up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed to mock their debauchery?

[Let's say this takes place after the Symphormers mission but before Macross. Continuity is flexible, so you can still be hungover for the latter, or not.]

Comments

[smileys]

Only two? You wound me.

[Someone arrives kind of late as well, but hey, this for Setsuko too, so she can't miss it.]

Sorry about that, Corporation business.

[tiger_ken]

You know, if you keep flirting like that, you'll waste so much time that noone has dinner.

[You know, even if he's not brought it up directly to anyone... the high school clothes probably mean Ken shouldn't really be here. In fact, given he wasn't invited, where'd he come from?]

T-Though... its not that much of a hassle if you have an extra, right?

[He suddenly turns quite sheepish.]

[a_linear_mind]

I only have two arms May.

[Which he quickly wraps around May and Cathy's waists to escort them into the restaurant. He has his priorities straight here. Ken's presence is either not noticed or it's not being acknowledged. Never get between a man and his flirting.]

I guess I'll have to leave Setsuko to you Toby.

[glorystargo]

Let's go. I need to act as a chaperone, you never know with this guy around.

[star_of_sad]

Umm... are you sure you are old enough to drink, Ken-kun?

[kinaesthete]

[Cathy raises an eyebrow at Willis' arm, but is more amused than anything else.]

Are you so sure you're entirely safe yourself, Lieutenant Watson?

[glorystargo]

Don't worry about me!

I'm engaged.

[kinaesthete]

!

[Well... shit! Has Cathy misread this situation entirely? Are all of her half-formed matchmaking ploys doomed to failure? In that case...

...Well, in that case the evening just becomes a chance to have fun with some new friends, which as failure modes go is pretty acceptable.]

I should have known someone would have their eye on you already!

1/2

[tiger_ken]

[Since Setsuko seems to be the only one who's noticed his presence...]

Well... depends on country, I guess...

[Answer: Not a chance.]

B-But I don't have to. I just... saw you guys were having an evening together, thought I could... maybe join?

2/2

[tiger_ken]

...N-Not that it matters much.

[kinaesthete]

The more the merrier! The wine isn't mandatory. But I should warn you, I don't think Willis can be won over with one dinner. You'll have to really work on him if you want him to notice your feelings, I know his type.

[smileys]

That sounds about right. Maybe hand him the keys to a Ferrari on top of everything, too.

[Whether she's being honest here or not is up in the air.]

Then again, the last time that happened, he didn't know what to do with it.

[star_of_sad]

[Setsuko focuses on Ken. A bit too noisy to follow all conversations at once. Besides, she knew about Toby already.]

I suppose it is alright, if you stick to just food and juice.

[glorystargo]

That's right! There's a kind girl waiting for me back home.

This is where I'd show her picture around or talk about how testing Virgola is my last job before we get married - if I didn't know any better.

[kinaesthete]

Fast cars for fast men, huh? But whoa, I didn't know mercenary work paid that highly.

[Clearly, Willis doesn't know what he has - literally - gotten himself in to the middle of. Unless snark sandwiches are his style, which is pretty plausible.]

And where is home, Toby?

[glorystargo]

Quiet town in the midwest. "Nothing exciting ever happens here", you know the kind.

[tiger_ken]

...I-I... What...

[Ken is... flabberghasted, but the kind of things these people are trying to infer...]

A-Anyway! What do they have here exactly? C-Can't be a good celebration if the foods not good, right?

[kinaesthete]

Ah, so you enlisted for an exciting life filled with explosions, fast machines, and beautiful women! That worked out pretty well for you, I guess.

And, well, they do a bunch of stuff! Apparently the satay chicken is particularly good. You're not allergic to peanuts, are you?

[She did check for the people she invited along; this is what you get for showing up at the last minute, Ken!]

We can order a lot of different things and try a little each, so don't worry!

[star_of_sad]

Satay chicken sounds good, actually. Let's go try it out, Lt Watson.

[Setsuko proceeds forward, dragging a stupidly grinning Toby behind. Who was supposed to escort who here, again?]

[a_linear_mind]

[It wouldn't be the first time that he's gotten between two women who did nothing but snark at him.]

Hey, I figured out how to drive that thing after the first hour. I'll also have you know that I'm very withdrawn during the first date. I'll try to open up on the third or fourth date.

My fast car days are behind me though, that was a different time. In my old age it's best to take it easy.

[kinaesthete]

Oh you will, will you?

[Somehow, the tricky process of seating three people where one of them is trying to hold on to both of the others at once is navigated. Cathy pays particular attention to how Willis manages this.]

Not too easy, I hope. I want to see what you can do on a dancefloor without worrying about your hip giving out.

Old man.

[a_linear_mind]

Of course, if we have some free time again you can find out for yourself.

I make no promises about my hip lasting on the dancefloor though.

[Willis navigates this tricky problem with the utmost skill. This is a man who's mastered the art of being a pervert. His movements are precise and somehow their seats are pulled out in an instant, and with another quick move he's holding up May and Cathy's hands.]

Ladies first.

[glorystargo]

That sounds like a challenge! We can't not dance now, you realize that Setsuko, right?

[star_of_sad]

Umm... do I?

[tiger_ken]

I'm pretty sure there's no law saying she's required to just because some dandy laid down the gauntlet.

Besides, isn't there the whole matter of 'food' first?