SUPER BARBECUE SUPER BARBECUE SUPER BARBECUE [open as heck]

[hugling]

Who: SUPER HEROES!!!!!
Where: Ernest E. Debs Regional Park!
When: Sunday!
What: SUPER BARBECUE
Warnings: Superheroes...



It's a pleasant evening at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, just a couple miles from downtown LA, which can be seen through the haze. Late March means spring is just arriving in LA and the trees are just starting to bud. Unfortunately, the grass is still kind of dead and dry.

The barbecue and picnic area isn't too busy, though the park does have the usual assortment of joggers, dog walkers, and cyclists. There are some balloons tied to picnic tables, and strung between two trees is a very homemade "SUPER BBQ" banner, courtesy of Hulkling and Starbreaker. There's still glitter glue on Milly's apartment floor. There's another posterboard with the rules written on it in big bold sharpie letters nearby, just in case anyone forgets:

• Don't be a jerk!!!
• Keep your weapons holstered please.
• Do not trash the park!
• ABSOLUTELY NO FIGHTING
• Anyone caught fighting will be asked to leave!
• Really don't be a jerk!

[OKAY GUYS!!! mingle! have fun! maybe some THINGS WILL HAPPEN, whoooo knows!]

Comments

[hugling]

Everyone's favorite big green alien is currently crouched in front of a barbecue pit, swearing at it. It turns out it's a lot harder to get charcoal to catch on fire than the internet made it seem, and Teddy is really wishing he'd bought some lighter fluid, even though it's totally cheating. He was a cub scout, damn it. Why is this so hard?

Teddy stands up with a sigh, brushing his hands off on his pants.

"Is anyone here better at starting fires than me?"

[scribes]

Was she allowed to be here? Disciple wasn't really sure she could be regarded as a super hero. She had no powers of which to speak, nor any special equipment. Yet technically she was a part of a team now that she had joined up with Vanessa.

It was nice to be here. Outside in the nice weather, surrounded by people who all seemed to be having a good time. This was the sort of gathering Di liked--casual, informal, friendly.

Disciple can be found all around, approaching familiar and new faces to say hi, playing Frisbee, lounging in the shade against a tree or sampling some of the food.

[alienheroes]

Ben's first response to hearing about the superhero barbecue was to get excited, because superhero barbecue. Then he remembered the time limits on the watch and realized that that may not be a possibility, which was disappointing.

Then he decided 'forget it' and went anyway.

Throughout the evening, each one of Ben's different alien forms can be found wandering around at different times, chatting with anyone who wants to and probably eating a lot.

Every so often, whichever alien he is at the moment will need to leave unexpectedly for reasons that probably have to do with the flashing red hourglass symbol that they all display, either on their chest or their shoulder, and a few minutes later the same one will show up, or maybe a different one, because Ben is utter garbage at subtlety.

[I guess let me know if you have any preference as to who you want to encounter him as, either in the subject line or through narration. He's going to use pretty much all of them at various times. Even the eyeless bear-hyena-thing that can't speak English.]

[nailsandglass]

Matilda had a costume.

She was probably more excited about this than she should be, but it made her feel validated somehow, it made her feel like she was part of a group. She had Ana to thank for that, mask and all. When she heard about the barbeque she was certain that it would be something only for the older folk, so she was ecstatic when she had been brought along.

Getting a chance to see so many other superheroes was like a dream and it made Matilda realize that she actually could be one herself once she got older. She had never actually considered what she might want to do with her life but perhaps getting to know some other heroes could give her an idea if this was the right path for her.

Of course that would actually involve her having to talk to others and that was easier said than done. If she wasn't sticking to Ana or Tommy she was just kind of lurking off at the perimeter of the festivities.

[superiormind]

Some people, if they've been around before the last couple of months, might recognize the woman with the long blonde ponytail and the big grin. Irene Adler's not an active costumed hero anymore, but in the spirit of the event she broke out the old uniform she used in New York, though without a mask it doesn't do anything to hide her identity. Well, it's not like she's kept it much of a secret anyway.

There are things to take care of at the gallery (and things to take care of with some jobs Moriarty's been contracted for lately), but who can say no to a barbecue, especially as a way to celebrate being home again?

She shows up right on time with food for the potluck and a beach ball to toss around if anyone's in the mood. She'll be easy to find for the duration of the afternoon, hanging around the food, playing games if anyone's up for them, and generally mingling as much as she can.

FOR ONE TAKER ONLY:

[sufferist]

Meanwhile, there is a troll camping out in the bushes/trees nearby. He's hidden pretty well, so coming across him won't be easy, but it's his persistence that will most likely give him away. He seems to be stalking two of the other trolls at the gathering, but has made no move to approach. He's wearing a form fitting black body suit and his hair is raggedy and unkempt.

Sometimes, his eyes glow in the shade. What the fuck.

[thelittlemerman]

Well, Finnick is here. He's not particularly thrilled about it, but he does have to spend at least a little time socializing with people who aren't sixteen or he'll break something, so here he is in his brand new hero suit. It's a very tasteful looking thing - complete with golden scale armour that serves to protect and look good. It still feels a little silly, but it's not too bad now that he's with other costumed heroes.

That was another motivation for showing up to this thing. He's only just beginning to grasp this entire culture of superheroes and he figures throwing himself into the middle of the whole ordeal will help him adjust.

So he'll be milling about, inconspicuously observing and striking up conversations whenever he feels comfortable enough to do so. Pretending he belongs, looking a lot more happy to be here than he actually is, the whole song and dance.

[pullingamiko]

Superhero barbecue meant lots of superheroes in one place, and there was no way Miko was missing out on that, what kind of journalist would that make her. She kind of wishes she has an actual camera, but since she still hasn't bought a new one after her old one was lost to cyborgs, that isn't really a possibility for now.

Instead, she hangs around near the edge of the picnic area, snapping occasional pictures with her phone and waiting for anything especially interesting to happen. If anyone she recognizes gets close enough, she may try to interview them. Officially this time, she has her notebook with her and everything.

[starscheme]

Who the fuck let this creepy guy in here.

Oh that's right, Breadkdown's pet Alternian did. How he'd let Sollux convince him to come to this shit was a mystery even to him. But, here he was. In avatar presence, anyway. Looking extremely out of place in a nice suit and a sour expression amongst all these happy superheroes.

Mostly he seems to be interacting with the same group of similarly strangely out of place people, but he at least seems to be behaving himself for now.

[hellacold]

Jon does not trust this barbecue idea at all; even if it is legit and not a trap it is still a huge target for any enterprising supervillains. Also, it is difficult to eat with a bandanna over your mouth. He lurks around the edge of the party area, eying the festivities suspiciously.

[superball]

Eusine's -sorry, the Mysticalman's - contribution to this giant barbecue party is bread. Loads and loads of bread. Real bread he'd say, if anyone asked him, because he'll happily indulge the hon hon hon baguette eiffel tower stereotype if it means his sausages don't end up in one of those disgustingly sweet rolls.

Of course, it might be more convincing if his bread loaves weren't weirdly lumpy and slightly burnt on top. They kind of look like they were made by someone absolutely inept at cooking but who tried really hard, which is - surprise! - exactly what happened. They don't taste bad, at least, which is a pleasant surprise.

He's not just here for food though. He can be found pretty much all over the place, strutting around as if he were a human-shaped peacock. Someone starts a group activity? Yeah! Team sports? Yeah!! Imposing himself on people who obviously don't feel like being approached? YEAH!!!

[bombsheltered]

Milly's there in her full Starbreaker costume, all up in that superhero socialization. Thrilled to have Hulkling back on the planet again, she's bubbly and energetic, flitting all over the place to help with the cooking, chatting up any familiar faces, and making sure the balloons don't come undone and fly off. It's been a weird couple of weeks, honestly, so she's happy for the chance to decompress and rub elbows with some superhero types without anyone's lives on the line. She can be found starting up a game of frisbee too, although anyone without the power of flight might be at a disadvantage.

[neonmonstrosity]

Chris is there in full Neon getup, (read: the neon clusterfuck of clothes that he calls a costume,) a little - but not too excited to rub elbows with some of the other hero types. He's bobbing around the park, usually with a cigarette or a beer in his hand - nothing illegal though (aside from the underage drinking,) he knows better to do that shit in an open area full of capes.

He's kinda taking stock of all the costumes and trying to remember names, but more than that one can rely on him to a) join in any fun looking games, b) be kind of bouncing like there's music playing even when there isn't, or c) showing off his fancy robot arms to any children who happen to stare. Where are the children? Not in the park but on the street? Did Chris leave the party just to go show a kid his arms? You betcha. And he probably gave them a balloon too.

[liberaition]

Kit is hanging out at one of the less crowded picnic tables, sipping a hard lemonade and resting her leg. It's definitely bothering her, and after this she has to make it all the way home. Still, taking painkillers could affect her reaction times, which is not ideal. The boozy lemonade helps though, and for now she's content to sit and observe the barbecue, occasionally recording interesting eavesdropping tidbits on a tiny camera embedded in her hand.

[thanksoptimus]

Orion has broken away for the moment, trying to get a closer look at the gang of hoodlums surrounding the large man in the spiky cape. He's not sure if he's just more invested in his perceived observation than he should be, or even if he's hoping that's who he thinks it is. There's no reason to want him there, even if it was reasonable. That is foolish nonsense. Stupid.

From the outside he just appears to be a jadeblooded troll woman stalking some human guys, looking kind of awkward and embarassed.

[10thingsihateaboutme]

Karkat is, presently, lurking. (This is pretty easy to do when it is dark and your uniform is black and grey, but the bright orange horns do give it away a little.) He figures it's only a matter of time before some piece of shit supervillain shows up to wreck everything (he has his suspicions about the dude with the spiky cape), and he doesn't want to be the last person to know when they do.

[crotcharrow]

Tommy is hanging around the picnic table, looking squirrelly. He's extremely torn about being here in the first place--there are so many people here who could arrest him--but the prospect of home cooked, not stolen or cold from a packet food is too hard to pass up. He's dressed in a tight fitting green cycle shirt, and long legged cycle pants, combined with a bright green backpack and goggles for running. He'd normally stick out like a sore thumb, but he's not even the most outrageously dressed here.

He's keeping an eye on things though, making sure Matilda doesn't talk to anyone she shouldn't or Aña doesn't get herself into trouble (since she's the one who dragged him here) and just helps himself to copious amounts of food. Probably more than is humanly possible for a guy that skinny to put away.