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

[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.

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick looks quite happy to be here as he strolls up to stand beside Jon, and it's only mostly an act. Learning about superheroes has been an interesting experience, but right now he's amused that Jon looks just as sour as he always does.

"You look like you're enjoying yourself."

[hellacold]

Jon just turns to him and raises his eyebrows, not saying anything.

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick smirks. "What, am I annoying you already?"

[hellacold]

Jon shakes his head and rolls his eyes, but he appreciates the attention.

"Is that why you're here?"

[thelittlemerman]

"To annoy you? No," he says. He looks around at the people milling about the party. "No, I'm here to meet people. Socialize. Not whatever you're doing, which is... lurking?"

[hellacold]

"How's that working out for you," says Jon flatly.

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick shrugs one shoulder. "It's alright. I'm still adjusting to this new environment, as you can imagine."

[hellacold]

Well, Jon guesses they're having a real conversation now. He nods.

"If you need anything, we can get it for you," he says noncommittally. 'Condor gives us money for food and supplies."

[thelittlemerman]

"Oh, don't worry," Finnick says dryly, "I've more than taken advantage of their generosity."

He has this nice new outfit to show for that.

[hellacold]

Jon has pretty much exhausted the things he has to say to Finnick, so he sort of half shrugs, half nods.

"I'm glad to hear you're settling in," he says. Is that even what Finnick is saying? Whatever.

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick sighs heavily. Talking to Jon is turning out to be quite a lot of work, and he's not entirely sure whether it's because Jon doesn't like him or because Jon isn't good at this. All Finnick really knows about him is that he's friends with Katniss.

"Are you? I get the sense you aren't thrilled about my arrival here."

[hellacold]

Jon was pretty glad to find out it was actually a friend of Katniss in CONDOR custody and not an evil agent of the dystopian future. He doesn't have a lot of other opinions about Finnick. It's true, talking to him is kind of uncomfortable. He's not really sure what he's supposed to say. This question, in fact, is a prime example. He gives Finnick a kind of skeptical look.

"Thrilled is a strong word," he says.

[squanderlust]

Meanwhile Severa just thinks the whole thing is dumb. She's been skulking around too, mostly keeping to herself and, at one point, spitefully eating a hot dog. Fancy meeting Longclaw here. She nods at him and slows to a stop. Maybe she'll hang out with him or something.

[hellacold]

He catches her eye and nods.

"Hey."

[squanderlust]

"Hey."

That's right, the peak of conversation going on here. She sidles a little closer to him, trying not to raise her voice too much.

"No weapons? I thought this was supposed to be fun."

[hellacold]

He ducks his head and laughs a little.

"The burgers are all right."

Good job Jon.

[squanderlust]

"I haven't had any. I'm already losing enough time in my schedule." She interlocks her fingers and stretches her arms upward. "I can't afford to do double time at the gym."

She lowers her arms and crosses them over her chest. "This seems like a terrible idea to you too, doesn't it?"

[hellacold]

He's not sure what to say to her remark about double the gym time--it's just a burger? you don't even have to eat the bun--so he's grateful when she keeps talking and chances on something easy for him to respond to. None of this shows on his face, which is helpfully mostly hidden. He furrows his brows above the bandana.

"They announced this all over town," he says flatly. "We make a pretty good target."

[squanderlust]

The bandana is at least good cover. She wishes she'd come up with something that simple. Instead she's in her Highlander uniform, which is really just lightly armored clothing that provides only somewhat more protection than her usual casual wear. Of course, the claymore is strapped to her back. Just because she can't use it doesn't mean she shouldn't have it.

"Understatement," she responds in the same tone. "Any supervillain worth their salt would take this opportunity. Especially with the Trailblazers here." She doesn't want to say it, but if someone wanted to eliminate a bunch of budding superheroes and send a powerful message, well.

[hellacold]

Claws aside, Jon doesn't have much in the way of weapons, but he does have some throwing knives and a small crossbow in his messenger bag with his bird. Given the company, he has to hope it'll be enough.

"Let's hope there are more of us than there are of them,"he says, lifting an eyebrow. "Any supervillain worth their salt would know better than to attack something like this on their own."

[squanderlust]

"They won't need much." she mutters, trying to keep her internal thoughts as private as possible. (The mutter is the best she can do.) She might sound pessimistic, but really, she and Longclaw could probably only handle one supervillain together on a good day, and that's only if that supervillain weren't ridiculously overpowered.

She sighs and uncrosses her arms. "May as well make the best of this. We aren't allowed to fight, which means sparring is out. What is there to do?"

[hellacold]

Jon's fairly confident in his abilities, most especially his ability to withstand most forms of attack, and he's pretty confident in his team. Still, there are kids here. They'll have to find a way to pull through somehow. He has more pressing concerns at the moment, like not embarrassing himself totally. He snorts, shakes his head almost imperceptibly.

"Barbecues are never as fun as they sound," he says. "We should have brought a slip-n-slide."

Jon is not remotely dressed for that, but he can't think of anything fun he ever did at a barbecue that didn't involve water somehow.

[squanderlust]

"Slip-n-slide?" she repeats, an incredulous look appearing on her face. She's familiar with the concept, of course. She wasn't raised in a ba—wait, her mom's a horse breeder, she's spent a decent amount of time in barns. But that's not the point.

"I can think of few things we're less appropriately dressed for." Especially if this barbecue does turn into a target. "Any suggestions that don't involve mingling? You're the only person whose company I halfway enjoy here anyway." It's a compliment. Really.

[hellacold]

He shrugs. Secretly he's very pleased she (halfway) enjoys his company, but he's determined to play it cool.

"We could ask King Triton to buy us beer," he nods at Finnick, presumably somewhere nearby.