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[survivalscost]

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[survivalscost]

"as long as you're enjoying it, right?" link was the wrong person to ask about anything alcohol related. the world ended before he was legally allowed to drink and he didn't have enough interest in the activity now to know what to order without some help from a bartender or friend. he nodded enthusiastically, "there's music, people enjoying themselves, and most importantly cake. if i wasn't enjoying it, i think there might be something seriously wrong with me." this was the sort of thing he thrived on, a room full of people he'd grown to care about in the last two years celebrating and enjoying a break from whatever worries and burdens that may have been following them around. "what about you, is the party everything you hoped for so far?"

open starter, currently accepting responses !

" i actually have no idea what's in this, " nyla confesses, tilting the glass in her hands. she knows very little when it comes to alcoholic beverages or how they're concocted, but she loves the fizziness. " maybe... vodka ? i just asked the bartender to make me something fruity and fun, i'll have to find them again to give my thanks. " she takes a small sip and her face contorts, lips puckering for a moment. the taste is definitely not one she's used to drinking. " are you enjoying the party ? "

[survivalscost]

link lit up like a christmas tree. he didn't play any part in putting the whole thing together, but it warmed his heart all the same to see the place he called home enjoy even a small moment of pure bliss. "omar deserves it either way, i can't picture this place without him." an argument could be made that he was just one person so his presence couldn't make that much of a difference, but link liked to think everyone who occupied the campus brought something special to it, something that would make the place feel not quite right in its absence. but maybe that was just the attachment and fondness that grew in the last two years speaking. "whatever brought everyone out tonight, it's nice to see. for a while there i wasn't sure if things would get back to this." he admitted, smile faltering for a moment. for years life seemed to revolve around survival rather than actually living life and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried that the infiltration wasn't going to force that lifestyle back on him. "if nothing else, it's a step in the right direction at least."

        me,  she  thought.  this  is  nothing  more than another day to me. jiwoo wasn't blind; she could see how important mr. williams was to every person here. all night she'd overheard people recounting fond memories they had with and of him. she bet her father had his own stories after knowing him for ten years. it made the knife twist in her chest. because mr. williams was a nice man, someone who had been nothing but kind to her since she'd arrived, but that was all he was to her. she shouldn't be here. ❝ everyone i've seen is having a good time. so it looks like you all succeeded. ❞   the corners of her lips moved slightly upward. jiwoo hated the stone of envy resting in her stomach. ❝ i'm sure. an excuse to drink must help too. ❞   she followed his gaze back to the group of people, talking and laughing, as if the world wasn't awful. she took a sip of her water in hopes it drowned the jealousy.

[survivalscost]

"hopefully not too long. doing double or triple the work around here doesn't really suite me." a forced laugh followed link's words before he chewed on the inside of his cheek, worry once more settling in the pit of his stomach. he cared about most, if not all, of the members of the community so seeing any of them sent out there to deal with the coalition to any capacity was hard. what was even harder was knowing that one of those people was his best friend.

before he could drive himself crazy by going over all the endless possibilities that would result in the group never returning or returning in smaller numbers, he quickly shifted into a more positive mindset. "on a serious note, i doubt they'll be gone for more than a couple days, if that. and i mean, if it is that long or longer, i imagine it's just because they're all being cautious. maybe even overcautious knowing a few of them." he tried to find comfort in his own words. they were all capable and could handle themselves in whatever situation they found themselves in, they'd all return with the missing scout among them, they'd all be in one piece — he repeated the reassurance to himself over and over again. "the real question is, will we throw another party? like a welcome home type of deal. seems over the top if they're only gone a say or two, but you know..." he trailed off, unable to comment on how much of a big deal it would be for them to all return alive and well.

Obviously Danny would've much rather caught some sleep, given that it was more practical to have him rested and ready for the next day. They would have to prepare for the arrival of the other group, make sure they had enough medical supplies if things got messy out there... and things were bound to get messy out there for sure. Not to mention how he would have to think of exercises to get the whole thing off of his students' minds. They didn't have to have school in such times, and parents had the right to keep their children home with them if they felt like it, but many of his students had a family member among the rescuer group, and he would make sure to keep them safe for as long as he could.

There was a level of exhaustion to him as the clock just went past midnight, and he pinched at his cheeks to get himself more alert while he nodded his head towards the direction of school's kitchen. "I can't wait 'till all I'm feelin' is the caffeine jitters!" He shot Link a tired smile before he started on the coffee. "How long ya reckon they'll be gone for?"

[survivalscost]

while there was no doubt link was having a good time prior to approaching the bar, his energy had only increased since his conversation with jack started. one of his hands flew up to his chest to grip it as if injured for nothing more than dramatic flare. "hey, now i'm doing the honorable thing here. completely shitfaced me would become the life of the party and steal omar's spotlight and everything. which we obviously can't have, it's not everyday a guy turns sixty, you know." whatever mock offense he tried to convey surely didn't make it through the wide grin on his face. "now when it's my sixtieth, we can go all out with the strongest stuff you can make." the tiny worry that something — or many somethings might happen in between now and then and prevent him from celebrating his own old age with many of the same people surrounding him now was quickly shoved down. with it being so far into the future, he couldn't justify worrying about it in the here and now.

instead he placed his attention back on the more trivial matter of what he'd drink for the rest of the evening. "after serious consideration," absolutely no consideration whatsoever was made in the matter, "i'll risk having to down a bunch of water in between a few stronger drinks. beer's one of those acquired tastes i don't think i ever gained." more importantly though, constantly returning to the bar, even just for water, let him celebrate the night with his friend even while she had to work. "now that that very important decision is out of the way, what are we toasting to?" his eyes studied the bottle, but he didn't give much thought to its contents before agreeing to the toast.

the  sight  of  link  often  makes  her  smile  wider,  the  chaos  quietly  simmering  somewhere  within  reacting  like  baking  soda  thrown  into  a  pit  of  vinegar,  as  if  it  knew  his  number  one  inciter  is  near.  this  time  is  no  different,  despite  the  narrowed  eyes  and  pursed  lips  the  answer  to  her  question  produces  for  a  split  second,  the  joy  in  jack’s  features  is  a  hard  thing  to  bend  in  the  face  of  her  people  having  genuine  enjoyment  after  all  this  time  ( after  all  the  pain ).  at  his  remark,  she  discards  the  — now  dried —  glass  to  a  side  and  reclines  over  the  bar,  eyes  drifting  to  the  pointed - out  picture.  a  soft,  content  hum  leaves  her  as  she  gets  lost  in  the  endearing  view,  in  the  utter  happiness  she  witnesses  that  induces  her  own,  snapping  out  of  it  only  at  the  renewed  sound  of  link’s  voice.  the  smile  on  her  face,  before  gentle  and  touched,  quickly  turns  into  an  impertinent,  derisive  one.     “ oh,  we’re  taking  the  tepid,  coward  route,  i  see ”     it’s  a  taunt,  one  she  doesn’t  mean  at  all,  of  course  —  she’s  seen  what  alcohol  abuse  does  to  people  too  many  times,  witnessed  it  in  too  many  foster  homes,  in  too  many  of  the  orphanage’s  other  kids’  bodies  to  forget.  so  she  winks,  smile  soft,  trim,  but  still  mischievous,  still  unwavering  before  relenting.     “ i’d  go  with  a  beer  in  that  case.  or  …  something  stronger  but  i,  uh,  i’d  sandwich  a  glass  of  water  between  one  and  the  next,  definitely.  first,  though … ”     she  prompts,  leaving  her  last  words  to  hang  in  the  air  while  she  withdraws  a  bottle  of  tequila  she’s  been  aging  for  months  now,  along  with  two  shot  glasses  from  under  the  counter.     “ i  need  you  to  toast  with  me. ”     the  cap  is  off  in  a  swift  move,  and  the  open  bottle  gets  held  mid - air,  jack’s  eyebrows  lifted  in  a  silent  question  that  looks  dangerously  akin  to  a  challenge,  waiting  for  link’s  blessing  to  fill  the  small  crystals.

[survivalscost]

the other's words made link take a pause from taking in all the sights and sounds of omar's party to ponder the future for a moment. "i guess i can kind of picture it, making it to sixty." ever the optimist even in a world so cold and callous. "i have a harder time wrapping my head around what everything else will look like by then." so much about life had changed just in the last decade to the point he felt like it was impossible to make any guesses as to what the next three would hold. would the world find a way to get better? would things get worse? would this place be left standing? would he still be here? as much as he hoped for certain outcomes, it was all up in the air.

his eyes flickered between familiar faces who seemed to be genuinely enjoying the present rather than worrying about what would happen next, at least for the time being. part of him wanted to envision them all older, alive and well, but maybe it was better to simply live in the moment. "i think the future is impossible to predict like that." he concluded with a small shrug. "i mean, i know they're just movies but back to the future and blade runner were way off. not that the latter paints a pretty picture, but the flying cars about four years ago would've been cool."

╰ * starter ⧽ open to anyone !

the music is almost deafening,   dances around her with a beat that’s dizzying,   beckoning her to move along with it,   perhaps even to join those already dancing.    nimble fingers are allowed a gentle tapping against her glass in time with the song,   while her eyes scan the crowd in silent appreciation.    she hasn’t witnessed this amount of people in joyous celebration in many years,   too many years,   and it seems foreign,   bizarre    —    still,   the happiness is infectious,   even when a familiar shadow within her chest whispers that it will one day end.    a shake of the head and such thoughts are vanquished,   for tonight is not the moment to entertain them.    tonight,   she can let herself forget the cruelties of their world,   she can pretend there are no losses,   no pain.    tonight sorrow melts away.    taking a bite of her food,   she notices her drink practically gone.    maybe,   the alcohol she’s consumed by now makes her a little more sociable,   or maybe she stupidly wants a chance to explore whoever she would’ve been in a different life,   one she dares to entertain for a short while.    whatever the reason,   she turns to the person next to her,   a small smile curling her lips:      ❝      sixty is a crazy number,   isn’t it?    i can’t even imagine making it to that age.      ❞            

[survivalscost]

while link would have preferred navigating the rest of the party without his shirt soaked from the contents of his now empty glass, he was not going to make a fuss at what was supposed to be a celebratory event, especially when the community was in dire need of it. "eh, no harm, no foul. you know, i'd actually be surprised if this is the only spilled drink tonight. i don't envy the unlucky suckers on cleanup duty." dark eyes surveyed the crowd, trying to gauge how carried away the other partygoers had gotten at this point in either their celebrations or attempts to quiet the pesky worries that lingered from the infuriation. naturally he hoped everyone fell in the former category, but the body language of the familiar face in front of him told him that was not the case. "you think it's a volunteer thing or...just based on whoever can still stand upright at the end of the night? I guess the responsibility could fall on the bar staff, but that almost feels cruel after they all the work they're already putting in." it wasn't the most riveting or birthday centric conversation to have, but his rambling did prevent him blurting out anything about not getting hung up on past mistakes — something he would firmly state was in reference to the spilled drink and definitely not a cryptic second thing that was not supposed to be discussed within earshot of anyone else.

— open starter // opening event // the bloater

sora had always emphasized with the community who is restlessly recovering from the desecration caused by the coalition, and essentially the hands of her own father. from exchanging understanding smiles in passing to diligently treating injuries and illnesses of them and their loved ones as if they were her own. however, she couldn't shake the feelings of guilt and estrangement that started to surface as she stepped into the brimming sorority house that hosted a celebration for the most cherished member of the community. i don't deserve to be here she thought as she scanned the bar, the hallways, the staircases, all vibrating with the lively energy the university has been missing since the infiltration. she had always convinced herself she was somewhat responsible for all the pain and destruction left behind, there was so much more she could've done. she was certainly no stranger to suppressing her emotions, though there were times like this when it was all just a little too much. she felt sick to her stomach as she started to step back into the direction she came in at before colliding with someone walking behind her, "shit" she cursed before quickly turning around, "sorry, i wasn't paying attention."

[survivalscost]

while link was thriving on the energetic energy inside the bloater, even he needed a small break from the crowded space after a while. as he stepped out, his eyes landed on the group jiwoo's attention had been on and considered wedging himself into their merry conversation. instead though, he stuck to striking up a conversation with the person nearest to him. "hmm? oh, i said it's been a good turn out huh. i swear i saw even the most party averse people in there for at least a moment or two." this time he spoke up a bit louder to avoid having to repeat himself again. "then again, it is omar's birthday, can't think of anyone who wouldn't want to help make the day special." the older gentleman was someone link had a lot of respect for. through all the horrors and cruelty, the other never lost his gentle kindness, something that gave link hope. "an excuse to party is probably a small factor too though." his eyes, free of judgment, flickered towards the group once more. if nothing else, they seemed free of their worries for the time being.

open starter     ››     open to anyone. location ›› just outside the bloater.

        the  music  still  pounded  in  her  ears even sitting on the steps outside the bloater, but at least here she wasn't constantly bumping into people. envy quietly festered in the pit of her stomach, how nice it must be to set aside the horrors and play pretend for an evening. her gaze rotated between staring up at the sky and watching a group of people, clearly drunk or close to it, talking loudly on the lawn. in between the clashing noises, jiwoo heard footsteps approaching, expecting them to pass her by, but even when they didn't she didn't react until       ❝ sorry, what did you say? ❞   head turned toward them. whatever they'd said lost to the music.

[survivalscost]

if the link from a few years ago caught wind of any of the troubles that would befall the small group that called this campus home, he would've stayed clear of them, kept going his own way before inevitably jumping between even smaller groups. things had drastically changed from then though, and he was now one of those who called this place home. more importantly, he cared about those here enough to stick with them through thick and thin instead of bolting at the first sign of trouble. it was normally a comforting thought, that love, but in light of recent news, it did a number on his nerves and twisted the pit of his stomach uncomfortably. any and all conversations, including those that circled around the topic, felt like welcomed distractions from his own mind at this point.

"i feel like i might regret it when i have to wake up tomorrow morning," despite the world stopping news they got, they all still had their responsibilities to tend to here, "but on the other hand, i doubt i'll be getting much sleep anyway." he thought through the question aloud. "i'll have some. probably better to stay alert enough to lend a hand than toss and turn in my bed all night, right? and i can always have more coffee in the morning to get through caring for the animals." and then more coffee later that night to stay productive, repeating a tiring cycle until the other group made their return or he was found passed out in one of the stables from exhaustion — whichever happened first.

open starter

Danny was chewing on his lower lip, a bad habit he still didn't grow out of, not even after a decade. He hated the tightening knot of worry in his stomach, but he hated the fact that he had to watch half of his community leave and march into certain danger a lot more. He could only hope that they had some sort of a plan. And a backup one, too. And maybe a backup for the backup. He just really needed them to play it safe.

While the other group was gone, he had a bunch of kids to take care of, probably going to be sitting by their desks in the morning, in a somber silence that would be unlike them. His heart squeezed at the thought already.

He sighed heavily, willing himself to think... well, if not positively, then at least less negatively. "There is... absolutely no way I'm 'boutta sleep after this, so I'm gon' make myself a cup of coffee. Anyone want some?"

[survivalscost]

with all the merriment radiating off most of those who occupied the crowded bar, link's attention hardly remained on any one thing for too long. one moment his gaze sat on omar enjoying his big night, the next it was pulled toward an eruption of laughter from a small group. he briefly considered joining them before a familiar voice reminded him why he had gravitated toward the bar in the first place. "undecided." a smile of his own was returned. "they sure seem like they're having a good time." he motioned toward a few unsteady partygoers dancing to the music — slightly off beat, but joyous all the same. "doubt they'll remember much of it come tomorrow though." the thought was one that kept him from getting carried away with some of the others around him. even though he clung to the hope that there would be plenty of happy memories still to come, he'd rather not forget the vast majority of this particular night. "is there something between completely shitfaced and taking it easy?"

*     OPEN  STARTER       ›       INSIDE  THE  BLOATER .

an  incessant  thrum  — coming  from  the  speakers,  from  the  corner,  from  outside  the  windows,  too —  vibrates  through  her  veins  like  a  tingly  caress  while  her  hands  dry  a  recently  washed  glass.    everything  around  her  is  loud  cheers  and  loud  talks  and  bliss,  and  the  smile  omar  offers  her  from  the  middle  of  the  bar,  where  he  is  surrounded  by  people,  ignites  one  of  her  own,  warmth  erupting  within  her  chest  like  a  balm.   eyes  drifting  away  from  the  celebrated  man,  jack sighs,  content,  realizing  how  much  she  had  missed  this  just  now,  the  moment  she  has  it  back,  and  the  soft  upturn  of  her  lips  is  still  there  when  she  turns  around  behind  the  bar  and  faces  the  owner  of  another  empty  cup.     “ hello,  pretty  face,  what  can  i  get  you ? ”     her  charm  seeps  from  her  lips  like  honey,  soft  and  enticing,  and  her  previous  gentle  smile  becomes  slightly  playful,  causing  mirth  to  shine  in  the  brown  of  her  eyes.     “ are  you  on  a  mission  to  get  shitfaced  or  are  you  taking  it  easy  tonight ? ”