Gumball Wishes and Taxicab Dreams

[thespaceopera]

[On today's episode of the Drift Fleet:

The cargo holds are full of mysterious crates! The crews are filling beyond capacity with new faces! Official alerts are informing the passengers that they are signed to contracts that they've never agreed to! They are docking at the dazzling FS Starlight, but are flat broke!

What are they going to do!? Stay tuned to find out!


...Meaning, this is a kickoff mingle for you all to enjoy the beginning of the latest plot setting. This is a convenient place to start threads relating to the first week of the event-- meeting new crewmembers, reacting to the mysterious cargo, arriving on the station and discovering that you're all broke, etc.

Tag around, start whatever you'd like, have fun. And, as always, feel free to make your own posts and mingles from here on in, as this will be the only mod-posted one for this event!]

Comments

D

[save_the_souls]

[Allen hadn't come here with Clay, so much as come here out of curiosity. It wasn't often he got to see nightclubs like this. All and all so far..he's just been sitting by the bar, feeling pretty bored, when he spots Clay in the crowd dancing]

[Well, looks like his evening just got more entertaining.]

[He'll watch and wait until Clay comes by the bar for water or something. Then, trying to look as suave as one can while wearing a big dork grin (since man he's always wanted to say this)]

Hey. Can I buy you a drink?

D

[geonomy]

[Clay certainly knows how to move to the beat, so Allen's treated to a pretty good show there! But yes, water. Water is good. Water is also free. In these trying times, you must make sacrifices.

But before he can order that, there's a voice he recognizes and, while a bit faint due to the music, it's enough to make him turn with a bright smile. Yep, white hair (though it looks all different colors now due to the lighting), dorky grin, that's his boyfriend.

Though he instantly looks happy to see him, he'll let that turn into something more playful as he crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow.]

Trying to cozy up to me, stranger? [Which the music is loud, Clay can easily be heard over it. The benefits of having loud voice powers.]

[save_the_souls]

[He gives a little giggle as he tries to flirt back loud enough- a bit more of a struggle, he's not as naturally loud]

Maybe! You did catch my eye when you were dancing! Like a bright star!

[geonomy]

[Allen has the advantage of being his boyfriend and thus knowing the right words to say. And judging by the way Clay lays a hand on his chest and looks dramatically flattered, he definitely said the right thing.]

How can I say no to space comparisons? Fine, you win! Drink's on you!

[save_the_souls]

[Ah yes, victory!]

Haha- Alright! Order what you like!

[Yeah, he's feeling more relaxed about money now that he's had the chance to regain it back through jobs]

[geonomy]

[Now that Clay's slid into the seat beside Allen, he grins as he leans against the counter and looks at the menu on the board. He doesn't like alcohol, so he'll skip over that part, and when the barkeeper comes over, he'll look up at him to order.]

I'll have the Mango Limeade! He's paying!

[He leans over to nudge Allen's shoulder as he says that last part]

[save_the_souls]

[He'll nudge him back]

Yeah, make that two.

[geonomy]

[And the bartender is quick at making the drinks, but before he finishes, Clay leans over to talk normally near Allen's ear]

So what are you doing here, stranger? You don't look like the clubbing type.

[Except in LA he so would be the clubbing type look but that's not the point]

[save_the_souls]

[He'll grin at him]

I don't know- I've actually never been to a club like this! I thought I'd check it out.

[geonomy]

[He leans around so that his back is against the bar - just as the bartender serves them their drinks. With a nod and a "thanks", Clay holds his drink as he gets back to the conversation.]

First time clubber, eh? What do you think of this one?

[save_the_souls]

[Allen will take the drink and take a sip of it- oh it's yummy]

Well...it's hot, and loud- and very crowded. [Which is why he's kinda to the side at the bar. Going into the middle of that crowd just stirred all sorts of anxiety] And they wouldn't let me come in without an "X" on my hand, because they refused to believe my age.

[Jerks. But he'll give a sly smile]

But getting to see you dance makes it all entirely worth it.

[geonomy]

[He sips at his drink too - Mm, yeah, that is good! And familiar, too! A lot of the other drinks were ones he'd never heard of before with entirely unknown ingredients, so seeing something he knew was a nice surprise.

He smirks a bit at that "X" comment and glances down at Allen's hand, and - yep, there it is, probably one of those ones that only shows up under a black light or something. Though that means he probably shouldn't drag Allen out to the dance floor, if he didn't like the crowded part. But the part about seeing him dance makes him stop drinking, then start to tilt the cup back and forth a bit as he fights the urge to swipe at his nose.]

Really, you saw that? So, ah, what'd you think? [Keep it cool and suave Terran don't be shy]

[save_the_souls]

[And that sly little smile remains on his face. Since, honestly? It had been fun to watch, what with Clay telling him before he didn't like dances. Not to mention, very attractive.]

It was very fine.

[geonomy]

[Keep it cool and suave, don't be -

Gaaah, though. He feels his cheeks heat up at that, and he quickly drinks up again as a result while glancing away. When he's about halfway done with the limeade, he lets out an "aaah", then looks at Allen with a grin.]

Well, I am pretty fine. [There is definitely still a blush on his face, though]

[save_the_souls]

[Oh he sees that blush and it makes him chuckle a little]

Yes, you are. I'm very lucky.

[geonomy]

[Still blushing, Clay leans over a bit to get closer to Allen without falling out of his chair.]

Well, I'm lucky to have such a fine audience member watching me.

[save_the_souls]

[He grins a little]

Flatterer.

[geonomy]

[And he returns that grin]

Just finishing what you started.

[save_the_souls]

[He'll snort and continue drinking his drink]

So do you come to these places often? I thought you didn't like dances.

[geonomy]

[With that bit of flirting done, Clay gives a light little laugh and leans back to his chair, sipping on his own drink as well.]

Not as often as I used to. And even then, I didn't go much.

[And so, "not as often" means "never", at least after he started to really get into his studies and training to become an astronaut. His social life kind of took a dive after that.]

It feels different out there from other dances. [He looks out at the floor again, where everyone is moving and grooving to the beat.] It's dark out there, and it doesn't feel so much like a popularity contest. It's like... everyone's focused on the music and how it flows through their body more than how they look to everyone else, or who's wearing what, who's dancing with who. So... I don't know. It's different for me.

[Sure, he still has to close his eyes and not look at anyone, but it still doesn't freak him out as much as doing so in any other setting.]

[save_the_souls]

[He considers what Clay says, looking around the area]

Mm...I could see what you mean. There's a certain amount of privacy in a crowd like this. Everyone's sort of in their own little worlds with the music.