New Year Party at the Safehouse

[returnher]

On the West Coast, it's not quite New Year yet, but Locke is hanging out at the Safe House with a few packs of Kirin Beer and hanging out. It's not the biggest deal for him, but it's kind of fun to watch the fireworks go off and this way he doesn't have to dodge drunks who might run him over or worse, compel him to punch the shit out of them. Right now he's pretty much drinking and watching football. If anyone asks, he's totally old enough and Shinji clearly doesn't give a shit.

Comments

[lyrids]

In past years, Misora celebrated the coming of the new year at home with her mother, in what was typically a quiet but warm affair. This year, she doesn't much feel like celebrating at all. Staying cooped up in her room for too long leaves her feeling restless, though, so now she's just sort of milling about the safehouse.

She pauses to offer Locke a small smile and a wave as she passes by.

[returnher]

Locke waves. "Headin' out?"

He holds up a beer can with a "want it?" look on his face.

[lyrids]

Misora merely blinks mutely for a moment, both at the question and the proffered drink, then shakes her head, looking a little sheepish.

"Oh, no. Just, um... stretching my legs? I think I'm going to stay in tonight..."

[returnher]

Locke sets the drink back down on the table. "Nothing wrong with that either. That's my plan too, honestly. Too much hassle, having a quiet night seems nice."

[lyrids]

Misora smiles and hums in agreement. There's a pensive note in her voice as she replies, "Yeah, it can be."

[megacurious]

While he has plans to go out and celebrate New Year with his family, Augustine decided to stop by at the Safe House to see the others. However, one thing that ruined the mood of celebration was Locke and his careless attitude with the celebration.

"So this is your way to celebrate the New Year, huh?" He said as he approaches him with a stern expression.

[returnher]

"Figured getting punched by cops could take the back seat for a night." Locke's smile is flippant as he stretches on the couch and tosses back a beer.

[megacurious]

His careless attitude was tolerable, but not caring about the Safe House's mess was enough to give the drunken man a glare.

"Do you even care about your family or anyone for the last day of the year? The least you can do is to visit them and join the New Year countdown or dinner."

[returnher]

Locke's expression darkens a bit and his response is decidedly neutral.

"Not gonna give 'em trouble."

[terraburning]

Terra could have maybe gone home for New Year's, done the whole filial piety thing and spent it with her grandfather...

Yeah, no.

So here she is, watching large muscular men fight over a ball on TV in a criminal den of iniquity.

She pretty clearly doesn't understand what's happening in the game at all.

[returnher]

Locke, meanwhile, has been crunching on some chips and watching the game with at least mild interest. Seeing Terra, he holds up the bowl - spicy Doritos by the look of it.

"Want some?"

[terraburning]

Blink blink.

"...okay."

Terra reaches out to the bowl and selects a single chip, inspecting it carefully.

"So this is...a Dorito?"

[returnher]

"Yep. Careful, it's a bit spicy."

[conquerorofwaves]

The phone rings, it's likely just a telemarketer, but there's others who wouldn't be in the safe house on this night for reasons, like Sinbad - calling while his mother was in the kitchen cleaning up the dinner. When someone picks up, he immediately greets them.

"Hey there, I half-expected nobody would be picking up tonight."

[returnher]

"Dude, we have cell phones for a reason."

Locke regretted picking it up to begin with, now he is regretting it even more. Did he just get drunk dialed?

[conquerorofwaves]

Sinbad makes a sound, and hangs up. A few minutes later the phone chat rings.

TomorrowKing: Sorry. You know how GenXers go on and on about our faces getting glued to the screen, yet got no problem talking on the phone for the same time - actually would get less attention by calling, go figure.

[returnher]

TreasureHunter: Dude it's 10 pm on New Year's Eve who is calling a landline?

[pragmaticblood]

The approach of the new year meant nothing to Leo. It called for another string of 12 months in which he would uphold the reputation of his father's company.

...He really shouldn't be complaining, not when his older siblings were forced to carry more strain.

Leo does not want to overstay at the Safe House in the last few hours of the night. Despite watching the flickering screen, football never struck an interest in him.

[returnher]

Locke holds out a can of beer.

"Want one? It makes it a lot more interesting."

[pragmaticblood]

His eyes narrow, but not necessarily in frustration.

"I'm underage," he responds. "Thanks anyways, I suppose."

[returnher]

"Hey, me too. Don't tell anybody."

Locke's tone very much says he doesn't care if Leo tells anybody.

"That aside, we've got snacks and stuff too. Trying to low-key it this year. Feel free to change the channel if you want, I'm only half-watching."

[katsufemmefatale]

With the climate of racism out there right now, Yuuri doesn't feel that safe even in his apartment in Little Tokyo. He's not normally one for parties, but this place is relatively calm and there's food to go along with a quiet corner if he needs to have a panic attack or something.

So he fills a plate with snacks, grabs a can of Kirin, and plants himself into whatever seat isn't too close to other people. Now and then he sets the can on the closest flat surface so he can rub his left knee. Between physical therapy and grocery shopping, he definitely overdid it. Even the brace isn't helping as much as it usually does and that puts him in a somewhat sour mood.

[returnher]

From the TV, the announcer yells "TOUCHDOWN!"

From the couch nearby, Locke explodes.

"BULLSHIT! THAT WAS BULLSHIT! WASN'T THAT BULLSHIT!?"

I think he means you, Yuuri.

[katsufemmefatale]

Yuuri almost jumps, almost spills his beer, definitely fires Locke a withering look.

"I don't know, I never paid attention to American football. Wrong sport for me."

Surely most people here recognize him, he's been on TV enough times. Lucky him. At least no one's asked him how his knee feels, he's grumpy enough as it is.

"Did you have any trouble on the way here?"

[returnher]

Locke settles back down.

"Define 'trouble', I've been personally maced by at least a quarter of the cops in this area."