The Drunkening

[legionnpcs]

Who| Open to everyone!
What| A night on the town
Where| Galaxic, the hottest new club/bar in New Metropolis
When| After all the galactus stuff
Warnings/Notes| Almost guaranteed to have drunken children

The line outside Galaxic went around the block but all the Legionnaires had to do was flash their flight rings and even the people waiting in line wanted them to be allowed in first. As promised by the management, they were allowed in without a cover charge, and they would also find that every drink and food order was free. The United Planets as a whole definitely knew how to show their appreciation for the Legion.

In the 18+ side of the establishment, there were two sections. One was a more standard bar, decorated in a way that made it a perfect blend of classy and glitzy. The blue lighting and organically sculpted wall sconces gave it a bit of glamour, but the bar, the floor, the chairs, the padded stools, and all the tables were made from a smooth, dark, lacquered hardwood. The menu had a nice array of food from a variety of cultures, and alongside synthehol (like Silverale), the bar had made a daring (retro) decision to serve a few varieties of actual alcohol, for the adventurous and/or old-fashioned to try.

In the other section of the 18+ side, there was a dance floor and music, and the soundproofing was good enough that the music couldn't really be heard in the main bar. Deeper in the dancing area, it turned out that the adult side had its own anti-grav moon bounce, too.

In the 14-18 side of the establishment, everything was a little more hip, and it was split into a multi-floor club. The first floor had a massive dance floor, with multi-colored neon rave lights, and patterns projected in high definition on the dance floor. The dancefloor had a lounge area around it full of poofy purple couches and chairs for people to rest in. There was a seating area with tables there as well, opposite the side of the room with the DJ. While this little area looked like nothing more than a cafe with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, it was also a bar and synthehol was also served here (though alcohol wasn't). Some of the drinks glowed in the dark or looked like swirling galaxies.

The first floor had an open ceiling that allowed club-goers to look up and see the other two levels of the club, and allowed the music to be heard on those levels, too. On the second level was an arcade, filled with very futuristic games, including Simroom suites and other virtual reality festivities. The third level held a massive room with a high ceiling and an anti-grav moon bounce, where club-goers could bounce off the walls and floors and floating bounce pads to dance around and mosh to the music.

Both the adult and younger side of the club served synthehol, which was non-addictive and hard to taste when mixed into drinks. While it was possible for someone drinking it to get very, very drunk, no matter how much they drank it wouldn't cause any harm to their bodies or cause them to throw up or black out.

The club/bar was filled to the brim with sentients of many species, all hoping to have a fun night on the town.

[ooc: Players can feel free to make up details about the food, drinks, and games.]

Comments

[fourstars]

Gohan could not feel more awkward if he tried.

Granted, watching people eagerly wave at him as he walked into the bar was a nice feeling. But at the same time, it only highlighted how uncomfortable he felt in the spotlight. It was the reason why he had a secret identity, the reason why he didn't mind that Mr. Satan took credit for killing Cell. He liked to put his powers to good use, but... it was already difficult enough for him to have a normal life, and this didn't help.

All the same, everyone was excited about having some down time, and he didn't want to just hole himself up. So he decided to come, against his better judgement. He tried to dress up a little nicer than usual, wearing a yellow suit, dark blue tie, and a pair of comfortable dark brown slacks. All the same, it did nothing to hide how uncomfortable he looked as he walked up to the counter, and took a seat on one of the stools.

"Um, hi..." He said to the bartender, offering a sheepish smile. "J-Just uh... just water, for now..."

[notwithoutafight]

For once, Videl was starting to feel a bit more comfortable outside the Legion World. The crowds, the screaming fans, the endless paparazzi-- it all felt like home for her. The big difference was that there were a lot more people cheering for her than there used to be. Oh yeah, she was used to being mobbed by the press at every turn, but usually it was so they could ask about her father, not her. Her fame had always been in proxy to Mr. Satan; having her own limelight was notably (but not disparagingly) different.

Videl could tell right away that Gohan was having the opposite experience with the Legion's newfound fame. She was almost amazed at how much of a shrinking violet he could be when they entered the club. (It had taken all her nagging to get him to go out to the club at all.) He looked more like he was dressed for school picture day than a night of fun and Videl had been struggling valiantly not to laugh at the sight.

She came up beside him at the bar as he ordered. "Come on, Gohan, at least try one of the drinks." She picked up a menu from the bar, opening it to a veritable rainbow of mixed drinks (a few of which actually were rainbows). "Hey, I want to try this one," Videl shouted to the bartender, brandishing the menu at him and pointing to one of the rainbow drinks.

[fourstars]

"I-I uh... I'd rather not..."

Gohan had never really been that interested in alcoholic drinks. Nevermind the fact that it seemed like a good way to kill brain cells; it also just smelled gross, and seemed to bring out the worst in people, if Master Roshi was any indication. It was something Gohan had absolutely no interest in trying out, especially in a future where he could barely tell any of these drinks apart.

... All the same, he couldn't help but peek at Videl as she got her drink.

"So um... what'd you get?"

[notwithoutafight]

Videl didn't bother to hide her disappointment at Gohan passing up the opportunity to try a drink. Though the subject of drinking had never come up between them, Videl wasn't surprised that Gohan acted exactly like she expected him to: total hesitation at something socially normal. What kind of teenager didn't want to try alcohol at least once in their life? Videl had fond memories of swiping a can of her dad's beer for a sleepover with Erasa when they first started high school. The taste of beer was absolutely revolting and they ended up pouring most of it down the sink, but the two girls boasted loudly of their drinking prowess during their freshman year.

Nowadays, as a mature eighteen year old woman, Videl knew that any alcohol worth drinking was a brightly colored mixture containing juice and sugary syrup. The drink that the bartender presented to Videl was exactly that: a vibrant rainbow spreading out in a wide martini glass with a soft-light hologram projecting a laughing cloud raining multicolored liquid into the glass.

"It's called a 'rainbeau,'" Videl answered as she lifted the glass and took a delicate sip. The drink tasted like a combination of cotton candy and fireworks, somehow tasting exactly like she would expect a rainbow to taste. She set it down with a pleased sigh, then turned back to Gohan.

"Do you want to try some of mine? It says right here that the synthehol ones like this are non-addictive and don't have any harmful side effects." Videl pointed a short paragraph on the menu that explained the difference between traditional alcohol and the outrageously popular synthehol that even minors were allowed to drink.

[fourstars]

Gohan's face scrunched up a bit at Videl's offer. Not exactly a frown, but still a clear sign of hesitation on the half saiyan's behalf. Even if it looked plenty colorful, Gohan wasn't sure if it would've been a good idea for the both of them to be drinking.

Still, that didn't mean he wasn't at least curious about it.

"Um, what's it taste like?" He was curious about that part specifically. From what he remembered, beer just... smelled absolutely gross. "It's not like beer, is it?"

[notwithoutafight]

"Ewww, no way." Videl grimaced at the mention her dad's foul favorite beverage. One sip of beer was more than enough for her, and all the fruity drinks in the world wouldn't be enough to wash the memory of that taste out of her mind.

She pushed the rainbow drink toward Gohan, turning the glass so that the smudge left by her lipstick was on the opposite side. "It tastes kind of like cotton candy," she mused. "There's a little bit of a kick to it too, but not gross at all."

[fourstars]

Gohan couldn't help but hesitate as she nudged the drink over. A part of him nervous that it wouldn't taste as good to him as it did to her. Sure, the fact that it didn't taste like beer made him a bit more curious to give it a try. But all the same... the hesitation remained.

Still, if it was non-addictive, and even kids could have it, would it have really been that bad? If it was alcohol, yeah it would've, but this synthehol was supposed to be a better alternative, right? So... yeah, a small sip wouldn't hurt, right?

"... Alright, I guess I can do a sip." He grabbed the drink, and took a small sip. Very small, just in case it didn't taste like Videl said. There was definitely some strong taste in there though, it was the first thing he noticed. But otherwise... "... Huh. It's kind of sweet."

[notwithoutafight]

Videl giggled. "See? It's good!" She took the glass back and raised it to her lips again, taking a longer, slower drink this time. "Geez, it's like candy. I could have five of those."

She looked around, grateful that the barkeeper was out of earshot and wasn't actually making five more drinks for Videl. Past the dance floor and opposite the DJ were a number of high-backed booths lining the wall. Each booth was half moon shaped, the semicircular seat wrapping around the table. In the center of the table was a little round holo-pad and a small computer; people at the table could simply order food and drinks through the computer and receive them on the holo-pad.

"C'mon, let's go sit over there." Videl nudged Gohan with her elbow and pointed out the booths, several of which were empty. Maybe he would relax a little bit if he was away from all the other clubgoers.

[fourstars]

Gohan couldn't help but keep thinking about the taste, even as Videl went back to drinking it. How the strong taste came first, before the sweetness came afterward, and sort of... lingered. It was so strange, unlike anything he'd ever tasted before. And he wasn't exactly sure if he liked it, or if he just... didn't hate it.

"Huh?" He snapped out of it, glancing at the booths she was pointing out. Realizing she wanted to move somewhere else, and immediately offering her a sheepish smile. "Oh um, yeah, sure."

Even if he seemed anxious about all of this, he genuinely did like the idea of sitting over there. Sitting at the bar felt too open, whereas the booth felt more... secluded, like he wasn't directly in the public eye.

[notwithoutafight]

Videl returned his smile, picking up her drink and the menu with one hand and Gohan's hand with the other. She weaved him through clubgoers, around the dance floor, and over to the booths. Setting her stuff down on the table, she carefully tucked her skirt under her and slid into the booth.

"I thought you might want to sit somewhere more quiet," Videl said as she scooted along the cushioned seat toward the center of half-moon. "It's really noisy next to the bar."

Waiting for him to join her, she fiddled with the little computer in the center of the table. "I think we can still order more stuff with this thing."

[fourstars]

Honestly, the whole club was too noisy for Gohan's tastes. If it were up to him, he would've liked to go back to Legion World and just find a a quiet corner to read a good book in. At the same time though, he told himself he'd go out and celebrate with the rest of the Legionnaires. And darn it all, that was what he was gonna do.

"Y-Yeah, it's um... better here." Gohan said with a stammer, chuckling sheepishly. It was still too loud for Gohan, but all the same, he wasn't lying. Comparatively, it was better.

[notwithoutafight]

If anything, it seemed to Videl that Gohan might actually be more awkward at the booth than he was at the bar. She scooted back along the seat again until she was right next to Gohan, her shoulder brushing against his arm.

“You really are out of your element here, aren't you?” It came out one part tease, one part sincere question. She was starting to wonder if Gohan was completely miserable at the club and just putting on a nice face for her sake.