gooseberryhigh | Post Traumatic Pool Party @ the Kowalski Residence

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Post Traumatic Pool Party @ the Kowalski Residence

POST TRAUMATIC POOL PARTY

It’s hot and humid enough to be a little hazy in Atlanta today. The sky is bright and cloudless. Cicadas are buzzing and a light breeze rustles the trees around Lucas Kowalski’s weird house. It’s a perfect day for a pool party.

The Kowalski residence is an old victorian, simultaneously too big for such a small family and too small for their spindle son, who has to duck under more than half the doorways on his way through. The house is all narrow hallways and small, crowded rooms. There are no less than three antique medical anatomy skeletons posed in arm chairs or hanging out in corners. One of them, Jarvis, is right at the front door, holding a basket of keys and other pocket stuff. The only parts of this place that don’t feel like a dark wizard’s supply shop are the kitchen - all bright and country - and the back yard (it’s worth noting that these were the only parts of the house Lucas’ dad had any input on).

Thankfully, the back yard is where the party’s at. An inoffensive-to-teens spotify station has been selected and blares from speakers. An array of pool floats is available for use, as well as a bucket full of miscellaneous pool toys - squirt guns, rings, a badminton set(????). Lucas’ mom is around long enough to run the grill (fruit, kosher hot dogs and burgers both beef and black bean), and also grill any of Lucas’ friends unwise enough to approach her for a chat. I hope you like talking about Science, kids.

Lucas asks that you keep the magic to a minimum, but other than that his parents seem to think that rules are more like guidelines. Swim, eat, explore and be sure to shout, “Hey guys watch this!” before doing anything stupid.

» Entryway: Arrival: Please say hello to Jarvis, it's only polite. Bathroom's on the right.

» The Back Yard: Swimming and Tomfoolery: The pool is prepped for a party. You can also wander into the wooded area and find the makeshift club house Lucas constructed when he was far smaller.

» The Living Room: Games & Stuff: In case you heathens want to play Truth or Hug or Dark Souls or something.

» That Evening: Sleepover: Members of the Babytrain and Lucas' chickabros have been specifically invited to spend the night, but anyone is welcome to crash.

» OOC - Questions, comments, concerns!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Edited (bad choice random icon bad choice) 2017-07-17 16:49 (UTC)

Bash skids himself in straight from work - neon green camp shirt possessing at least one painted toddler handprint that he missed, bag slung over his shoulder, and his mom's lipstick still smudged on his cheek. (Because she hates him and wants him to die alone.) There's also a Tupperware full of pasta salad. And another one with salad-salad? He actually has no idea. He just sort of nodded really fast when his mom handed him things and scrubbed his fingers through his hair to check for glitter. (Final Verdict: Acceptable amount of glitter present. No way to further salvage this situation.)

Utilizing manners that have pretty much been drilled into his skull using actual lasers, he drops off all of the food first and totally makes sure to say hello to both of Lucas parents. And Jarvis. But Jarvis doesn't need his salads, so it's probably a bit more important to say hello to Lucas' parents. Maybe. Though this action has somehow not become any less terrifying the more times he does it? Which is really unfair.

There's also a bottle of wine that he very nearly forgets about. Which induces a mild moment of spiraling panic about 2.4 seconds after he remembers that he's holding it. At which point he thrusts it toward Lucas' mom, going bright red. ("It's for you. Not for me! I mean, I don't drink! It messes with my meds? Um. It's - from my mom?") It's honestly tragic and someone should probably just put him out of his misery.

Jarvis greets Bash with a smile, because, as a skeleton, that's all he's capable of. Mr. Kowalski with something close to a smile...ish, specifically designed to make you wonder what he's thinking about you. Lucas' mom, though, greets him with a beaming smile and a "Sebastien! My favorite son!" The wine bottle nets an enthusiastic thanks and an eyebrow wiggle in Lucas' direction, to which he responds with a plaintive whine that says mother, please don't ruin this for me by getting day drunk.

Alice responds by transferring the salads to Lucas' hands and instructing him to get them set out on the table. While he's gone, she bombards Bash with all the typical embarrassing mom questions - how's your mother? your sisters? how's the summer job? are you eating enough protein? She ends with a well placed, "So when are you joining the family?"

To which Lucas, emerging from outside, interjects a horrified, "Mom."

"He's going to put me in a home," she confides to Bash.

"Yeah," Lucas agrees, grabbing Bash's arm and trying to lead him away. "But first I'm going to go to an out of state private college and major in Philosophy."

"Oh shit, Luka." Lucas' mother grasps her chest like she's sustained a terrible wound. She also snorts in laughter.

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-18 00:13 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-18 02:50 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-18 03:26 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-19 21:54 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-19 22:37 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-20 02:12 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-20 02:46 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-20 03:59 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-20 11:15 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-20 13:47 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-20 22:14 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-20 23:14 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-20 23:30 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-21 00:27 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-21 00:47 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-21 01:30 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-21 02:20 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-21 02:54 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-21 03:12 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-21 14:19 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-22 02:14 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-22 02:24 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-22 02:39 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-22 03:13 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-22 03:44 (UTC) - Expand

Bash Lacroix was raised properly. Somehow.

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-22 04:27 (UTC) - Expand

Jade was sent here with a pretty bouquet of summer flowers from her Vancouver grandparents to reward the Kowalskis for taking their beloved grandchild off their hands for the day. They're going to take naps and ponder changing the locks. Jade tries to be on her best behavior, for the first five seconds. She hasn't been in too many fully non-magical homes, and isn't sure what to expect. She carefully tucks her wand away as soon as she's done apparating, though. She remembers that. She's smart enough to try for moderately good behavior.

Unfortunately, there's an immediate chance that she'll offend whoever opens the door. She ignores them completely in favor of a soft, genuinely awed gasp. Because there's a skeleton butler. Her hand darts out to touch his, but she stops short, because that's rude. The flowers fall to her side and Jade looks around like she's a Disney princess about to burst into song. She even does a little spin to make sure she's seen all of the foyer, shoving her too-large sunglasses up into her hair. Forget swimming. She's already thinking of five ways to duck into one of those side rooms.

It's beautiful, and for once in her actual life, Jade is speechless.

Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-18 03:08 (UTC) - Expand

Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

odder - 2017-07-18 17:39 (UTC) - Expand

Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-19 21:44 (UTC) - Expand

Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

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Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

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Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

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Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

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Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

odder - 2017-07-22 01:45 (UTC) - Expand

Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

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Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

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Re: Jade finds Heaven, Lucas makes an introduction

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Fern arrives wearing the disinterested gaze of someone who has practiced that expression a lot, despite having promptly rsvped to this party. She can't quite keep it in place when she's met with a posed skeleton (is that a real skeleton?). "Is this shit for real?" she asks to herself.

Fern is too cool

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-18 02:57 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Fern is too cool

nothalfplaid - 2017-07-18 14:00 (UTC) - Expand

Fern is too cool

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-19 21:22 (UTC) - Expand

Pippa blinks a little at the skeleton in the entrance, but wizarding decor doesn't faze her, even if this house does have shades of Knockturn Alley. (Not that Pippa's ever set foot in Knockturn Alley. But she's heard stories.) She hopes all those stuffed animals and preserved bugs died of natural causes, though.

She's carrying an ice box full of homemade fruit lollies and dairy-free ice cream, because a good guest never arrives empty-handed! And also because eating ice cream is really good therapy, which is probably something these babies could do with after their recent trauma.

Pippa brought ice cream

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-19 21:14 (UTC) - Expand

Pippa brought ice cream

orangepip - 2017-07-21 19:14 (UTC) - Expand

"DUDE, NICE," Jeffy announces LOUDLY and ENTHUSIASTICALLY as he tries to high five Jarvis. Jarvis does not seem to be picking up the complicated steps to this high five, but Jeffy has faith in him. His eyes are still on his new bony buddy as he takes two steps in and immediately smacks his head. Not even on a doorway, he just tried to take a corner without looking.

"Dude," he says to Jarvis. "You shoulda warned me."

Jeffy immediately hits his head

bubblewrapped - 2017-07-19 21:17 (UTC) - Expand

Samantha and Solomon had spent the entire summer together so far. Immediately after they left the school, her parents had come to pick her up and she flat out refused. Nope, she was not going to go be hover-parented and be pulled away from the person she literally had just risked her life to save. She was not about any of that, and getting somewhere completely away from it all sounded like the best recovery. So, Honduras it was. Solomon's parents were nice enough to let Sam crash there for about two weeks where they spent most of the time sun-bathing, cuddling, not sleeping, and attempting to recover.

This last week, they'd been spending in New York. Museums, sight-seeing, a bit of pot and alcohol on occasion, philosophical life discussions, and a continuation on their recovery. They'd spent a lot of it isolated, so when the invitation to come to Lucas' pool party showed up - well, how could Samantha resist a party? Even though the very thought of a pool party made her heart race, the idea of her friends being there definitely calmed her nerves. She wanted to see everyone, she wanted to feel more normal. Solo didn't need much convincing, and the two came together.

Stepping into the Kowalski's home, Samantha is immediately welcomed by a skeleton which makes her grab Solo's hand and squeeze - before realizing it's not a ghost or anything spooky like that and she snorts a laugh, shaking her head. It was over. Done with. She had to keep telling herself that. "Do you think everyone is out back?" She asks, brow raised slightly.

Gabi is in the pool. It somehow doesn't matter what time you show up: she is in the pool. Somehow, she managed to arrive, say hello to everyone (including a prolonged formal greeting of Jarvis which included a curtsy,) explore, and still be in the pool before anyone else.

She is magic in this way.

At any rate, any time anyone comes anywhere near the pool, she starts cajoling them to come swimming with her. She's not actually, you know, a Siren, but it's possible there's some blood in her somewhere at this point.

(Not really. Still.)

Gabi & open to everyone

professionalcorpse - 2017-07-19 22:37 (UTC) - Expand

Gabi & open to everyone

humansunshine - 2017-07-19 22:57 (UTC) - Expand

Gabi & Bash

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Gabi & Bash

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Gabi & Bash

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Re: Gabi & Bash

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Gabi & Bash

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Re: Gabi & Bash

humansunshine - 2017-07-20 11:57 (UTC) - Expand

Gabi & Bash

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Gabi & Bash

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Gabi & Bash

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Gabi & Bash

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Gabi & Bash

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Re: Gabi & Bash

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Gabi & Bash

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Re: Gabi & Bash

humansunshine - 2017-07-21 01:11 (UTC) - Expand

Gabi & Bash

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Re: Gabi & Bash

humansunshine - 2017-07-21 11:27 (UTC) - Expand

Todd and Cash don't swim, but they want you all to play chicken so they can take bets on who's gonna win.

Fern & ? vs ? & ?

nothalfplaid - 2017-07-19 00:40 (UTC) - Expand

Fern & Jeffy vs ? & ?

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Re: Fern & Jeffy vs ? & ?

nothalfplaid - 2017-07-19 02:28 (UTC) - Expand

Pippa can't swim. She's wearing a swimming costume that she bought just for the occasion, because that seemed like the thing to wear to a pool party, but she's got a dress on over the top.

She hovers far back enough from the pool that no one could accidentally knock her in, but she keeps shooting glances at the water. It looks cool. It looks refreshing. She's still scared of getting in, but maybe she could get up the courage to sit on the edge and paddle her feet.

After all, if slogging through a twilight world for a week to save her friends from dying hasn't made her brave, what will?

Fern spends some time lounging poolside, watching her former classmates through dark colored sunglasses, wondering where they'll all go to school next year.

Of course, it's not a proper pool party if no one is rough housing, and they're being too peaceful. Fern wades into the water to try to playfully drown one of her friends.

Samantha is definitely dressed for a pool party, her suit is even underneath her clothing. She just... can't get in the water. She knows there's nothing in there, obviously watching everyone else swim and have a good time is testament to that. However, she remains several feet away, enjoying the sun instead.

Random icon button is doing me dirty today. Post ur party games here.

Ariadne shows up late and very portkey-lagged after saying she couldn't make it. She's a bad house guest. After thoroughly investigating all of the Kowalski home's oddities, she settles down in the living room with everyone else. There happened to be a deck of tarot cards in her bag, leftover from her now bygone divination days, and she'll do a tarot reading for anyone who wants one.

Results not guaranteed.