mock after party!

[waitforit]

[ WELL THAT SURE WAS EXCITING, WASN'T IT. Barney is entirely too normal for any of this shit and he pretty much lacks the, uh, emotional gumption to really process it in a healthy way so instead how 'bout some denial?

Seeing as how he was the first to run out, Barney somehow finds plenty of time (and paper?) to write up a sign in the living area that says:

What: A Party
Where: Holo Deck!
Who: YOU! (Duh.)
I don't have to tell you to suit up, so just. If you don't wanna be alone maybe stop by? Please? Just. OK?
It's gonna be legendary!

[ Upon arrival to the holo deck, you will find an ooc-ly familiar setup. The holopgraphic projections have been set up like a strip club: indistinct music, dimmed lights, catwalk, cheap booze and cheap seats all around. This is escapism at its finest, and doesn't everyone need a little escapism in their lives after that mess?

Feel free to grab a seat and enjoy the show, or maybe have a fake drink and try not to cry too much. Either way, there's probably plenty of reactions to be had in here, so why a strip club? Why not?

Of course, if the strip club isn't for you, you can always reprogram the room to your fancy, Barney will only be a little put out. Truth is he just wants to forget this whole day happened, thanks. ]

Comments

[waitforit]

[ Barney is enjoying the holo strippers (ladies and dudes, you're welcome) in full force. Maybe too much force? He's in full-on denial, and it's a great day for it, oh boy! Feel free to rain on his parade or perhaps join him at the bar. Otherwise he's gonna keep enjoying the wide array of holographically-projected, scantily-clad dancers while trying very hard to forget that two people were murdered today.

And one of them was kind of his fault? Don't even talk about this, please. (I mean, do.) And please ignore the fact that he's looking kind of pale and his eyes are kind of red? But everything is fine! Everything is awesome. ]

Man, I can't believe I had a holo room and I didn't plan a strip club on day 1. Talk about lame, am I right?

[ Please talk to him, he's so alone. ]

[have_a_heart]

[Kanade looks at the room, frowns a bit, and immediately crosses the expanse to the controls.]

This is inappropriate.

[have_a_heart]

Why would you? I do not understand.

[waitforit]

Because strip clubs are awesome, duh!

[ He responds automatically, before noticing who's actually asking him. Crap, it's that kid. ]

Look, just... I'll throw in some child safety settings or something if you want. What do kids like besides laser tag? Unicorns?

[have_a_heart]

...Something appropriate. I am not sure. I have not gotten out much.

[semperperatus]

[Don't mind Shepard, he might have a ring of red around his eyes as he sits down. Must be going around.

Speaking of, he might have changed the setting of the holodeck. Still got the bar, but now its on a tropical beach with some really big surf, surrounded by sand.]

I don't know about that.

[There's still some girls on the beach here!]

[semperperatus]

[Don't mind Shepard, he turned the place into a beach. The fake sun is about to set, the fake waves are breaking perfectly, and the fake drinks are good and cold. And there's a surfboard nearby for the evening sport.

It would be paradise if it was real and two people weren't dead.]

Hope no one minds for now.

[voltrounds]

[For about five before Shepard starts messing with the settings, there is now a small girl in this strip club. Granted, she's older than she looks, but maybe the sight will encourage thinking through the choice of setting a little more next time?

If she's bothered by any of this, she doesn't show it, instead going and sitting on the now-a-beach by herself. She has a lot on her mind.]

[stitch_in_time]

[Really? Really.]

Freud'd have a field day with you, he would.

[have_a_heart]

Thank you. This is less... that.

[semperperatus]

[This is why he changed the settings. There are kids here Barney.

He sees her sit on the beach and walks over to her.]

You doing ok?

[have_a_heart]

...Hello.

[semperperatus]

Can't go wrong with Tahiti.

[He tries to shrug it off, but the red around his eyes probably give it away.]

How are you holding up?

[have_a_heart]

I do not understand. They have no reason to be as cruel as they are.

[stitch_in_time]

[You know what, Barney can keep his strip club. Most of the other Champions can probably do worse than just reprogramming it away would.]

[The Doctor's just going to alter the scenario a little, materializing a brightly lit door at the back of the club.]

[Anyone that decides to follow him through, or just wanders through on their own, will find a city street busy with holographic people. The Doctor's just sitting quietly on a bench, brooding watching.]

[voltrounds]

[TECHNICALLY SHE'S OLDER THAN BOTH OF YOU PUT TOGETHER

It's a moment before she responds.]

This is how it's going to be, isn't it?

[voltrounds]

...Hi.

[semperperatus]

...Only if we let it be that way.

[He looks at the waves, then to her.]

The Overseers want us to kill each other, so we don't give them that satisfaction, no matter what.

[have_a_heart]

[Kanade steps through the door and looks around.]

This is more in line with rules about propriety. Though the space station does not seem to have any.

[have_a_heart]

I am sorry.

[She did help suggest the handwriting check.]

[voltrounds]

She had someone she wanted to protect. They found the right incentive, and she did what they wanted.

[She's not making anything like eye contact.]

[damnfourthemerald]

[help i am 12 and what is this Shadow is a little...yeah. He's not sure what to do with a strip club. He's considering doing his own bit of holo-fiddling, but, yeah, no? No, too many eyes, too...personal a place for it.

There's a door, bright, obvious, and that intrigues him. It's somewhere to go that's out, and out it certainly goes--big city street--Westopolis? Central City? Station Square?--and so many people.

It's momentarily a new version of overwhelming, even if these people aren't real. It takes longer than he'd like to see and recognize the Doctor, and at last he relaxes enough to...wonder if he should approach.

At least he's clean.]

Am I intruding?

[semperperatus]

...Would you have done what she did?

[Oh...]

[voltrounds]

You didn't do anything wrong.

[have_a_heart]

Many people are where I was because of people as cruel as the Overseers. Even so, I did not know it would come to this.