3 Kazoo - Adult Ballroom Social and Epic Kids' Game Night

[nutkrusher]

Who: Everyone
Where: Wardrobe, Gym Car, Music Car, Games Car
When: 3 Kazoo, Evening
What: The much-awaited-and-discussed Adult Ballroom Social (and children's side event)
Warnings: None

You've seen the flyers. You've heard the announcements. You've ordered additional party reinforcements if you wanted them. Some of you have even helped her to prepare. And now it's finally here - the Adult Ballroom Social that she's been planning these many, many week-and-a-half.

But you wouldn't know it only took that long to throw it together. She's gone all out for this one. Including the wardrobe that's been opened up, there are four cars that have been set aside for tonight. The main ballroom floor is in the non-training gym, which has been cleared and decorated for the occasion. The music is being piped in from the music car, where it's still playing for those who would prefer a more intimate and private setting. Meanwhile, the game room has been set out for the kids who would otherwise be left out of this adult and near-adult event.

Comments

[goingthroughaphase]

While Kitty liked talking with wallflowers, it was difficult to get to everyone. But she couldn't help noticing him. And as superficial as it was, she found herself thinking about - and missing - Kurt.

It was probably that nostalgia that has her approaching, though she uses getting some food as an excuse. "Hi," she says after a moment. "Are you having a good time?"

[yondu]

"Hm?" He rasps, before it registers. "Ah, yeah I'm fine. I was just thinkin'. Used to watch my crew whenever they went and had their good time, so I was thinkin' back on that. Never took up with 'em too much."

"What about you, you havin' a good time?"

[goingthroughaphase]

She nodded. "Oh yeah, I'm having fun. It's kind of nice, doing things like this once in a while."

She took a sip of a drink, her mind debating. Because while she didn't want to bother him if he didn't want company, she was also true to her namesake and feeling curious. "So you had a crew where you're from? Are you a captain?"

[yondu]

"Don't really do stuff all this fancy but... I dunno. Excuse to dress up, I reckon. First time for everything."

He nods to her.

"Yeah, I was. Had a ship in the Ravager fleet. Retired, now." Retired is a hell of a way to put it, but there's no nicer phrasing in polite company. "But I'll always be one in my heart." He taps his chest twice with his right fist in a Ravager salute, casual and easy-going with it though. No problem admitting outright that he's essentially a space pirate.

[goingthroughaphase]

She could kind of guess pirate just based on the name, but she still had to ask. "Ravager?"

[yondu]

"Think pirates with a code? With big ol' ships with huge crews. There are a few big interstellar governments where I'm from. Talkin' the real bad sort with propaganda and experiments and even slaves. And for the hefty number of people that don't wanna be a part of any one of 'em, best way to survive is as a Ravager or doin' business with Ravagers."

He nods at the little get-together.

"This is way fancier than anything my crew ever pulled. Hell, this is the most dressed up I've ever been in my life. Gimme five seconds and I'll get it dirty somehow."

[goingthroughaphase]

"Interstellar...? Oh wow, so you're a space pirate?" She isn't exactly a fan of pirates per se, but the fact he came from space was pretty awesome. "That sounds pretty exciting."

Looking back out at the crowd, she laughs a little. "There are some similar things like this back where I come from, but I've never been to anything as fancy as this. The closest thing I've been to was a dance at school, and even that wasn't as formal."

[yondu]

"I guess we did have some pretty good times." He's warming up to the idea that space wasn't all that 'ho hum'. Every time he's indicated it was boring, he's seen this look of disappointment. He's got enough guilt. He doesn't want to let down any more young people for a little bit.

"You know there's a big ol' spaceport in a dead Celestial's giant skull? It's called 'Knowhere". Big stuff like that out there."

Talking about civilizations in skulls. Totally setting appropriate.

"What are Terran schools like? I mean, my boy was Terran and I taught 'im the basics but he grew up out there with us."

[goingthroughaphase]

For someone who had never been to space, it would probably seem exciting anyway. And had it been a few years earlier, or even just when her powers first awakened, she probably would have felt a bit disgusted with the talk of skulls. But instead she just finds it fascinating.

"Oh wow, really? There are things that big that people can build a spaceport in its skull?"

It takes her a minute to realize he's talking about Earth, and another to figure out that he means that he had a kid. And the image of a guy adopting an Earthling was just kind of cute.

"It's okay. There are a lot of people, depending on the kind of school it is, but they just teach stuff that's only really useful on Earth."

[yondu]

"So, you got them sorta schools you live in or just meet in? It ain't so much a tag along thing?"

But about the Celestial.

"Yeah, lotta big ol' things out there. Little ones, too. Baby Flora Collosus? Cutest little twigs you could hope to see. Mean as hell if you piss 'em off though."

[goingthroughaphase]

"Well, there are both kinds. I actually attend both of them. There's a special school where I live with other people, and then during the day we attend another school."

She had so many questions about space, but she couldn't figure out which ones to ask about. So she focused just on what he said for now.

"They sound pretty cute. What do they look like?"

[yondu]

"They're uh... Bigguns are like, ten? Twelve feet? Little guys are like-"

He makes a space between his hands to indicate the younger Groot's size.

"Big eyes, big head, bark texture skin."

[goingthroughaphase]

She tries to imagine it, and she can't help a small giggle. "Aww. They do sound cute. Are they dangerous, though?"

Because she knows from experience that looks can be deceiving.

[yondu]

"Oh yeah, I've seen 'em throw a fully grown man. Strong, strong little cusses. But they can be real chill so long as you don't come at 'em. They're big patient trees. Best thing you can do is just kinda go around 'em.

"But they're about as common as Centaurians. Neither of us much go off-world."

Flora are considerably cuter and more unusual, though.

[goingthroughaphase]

"Ah, I see. So pretty nice until they feel threatened. Good to know."

She isn't sure she'd ever meet one, but it's good information just in case.

"So you're a...Centaurian?"

[yondu]

"Yeah, but I left home when I was real small. So I don't remember all that much about it."

He guards his language a little. He doesn't know what kind of world she's from, she's young, and it's hard to say to someone round about the age she looks that he was sold.

"We talked in whistles and clicks and grunts. I speak Kree and Xandarian now. I don't know what the hell the translators are makin' me sound like to y'all."

[goingthroughaphase]

She nods, though she doesn't ask about that any further. No matter the circumstances, leaving home at a young age could be difficult.

"I people just hear whatever language they know. I hear everyone speaking in English." She shrugs a little. "What do you hear people speaking?"

Even after that one time the translators broke, she'd never really thought to ask. But now that he's mentioned it, she's kind of curious.

[yondu]

"Kree."

Which is, honestly, real damn unfortunate.

"But makes sense since Galactic translators where I'm from don't do Centaurian. Turns out y'alls do, though? Real strange."

[goingthroughaphase]

"Do they?" Kitty honestly had no idea. "Probably other people's worlds, but I'm not sure if they do where I come from, though."