video;

[whatsupcroc]

So Vanadi's hosting the big Masquerade Ball later this month, and that got me to thinking...

( Collette starts ticking things off on her fingers. )

There's no age limit, everyone's going to be wearing a mask and in costume, there's no supervision, and one of the most common questions out of new people showing up here is "where's the nearest bar," so it'll also have alcohol. Lots of it.

( Collette leans forward, chin resting on her interlaced hands, elbows on the table. She grins. )

This is so much better than Prom would ever be.

Comments

video;

[aceordisgraced]

That sounds more like a college party that ends in tears.

[...Nick.]

Can I come?

[whatsupcroc]

Of course! Weren't you already?

( Her grin just broadens. )

[aceordisgraced]

I guess I was! Any chances I'll get grape juice there?

[whatsupcroc]

I'd put that vote forward to Vanadi if you want to be sure.

[aceordisgraced]

Thanks! Oh, but don't let Trucy know. She'll get mad at me.

[whatsupcroc]

Why, are you diabetic?

[aceordisgraced]

No, I'm perfectly healthy! But she doesn't want me drinking it.

[whatsupcroc]

Why's that?

[aceordisgraced]

Who knows? But a little won't hurt a guy, right?

[whatsupcroc]

It's grape juice. I think the worst it can do is mess with your blood sugars or make your clothes sticky if it spills and you don't clean up.

[aceordisgraced]

Trucy can be a worry wart sometimes. [He says it with the utmost amount of adoration. He loves his daughter, really, and he appreciates her concern. But he hasn't had grape juice since he got here, you know?!]

[whatsupcroc]

She's telling me that you drink grape juice and things go wrong. Is your life big on coincidences?

[aceordisgraced]

It is. Almost everything is a coincidence. Or it might be fate.

Who knows? If it was out of my control, it's all the same.

[whatsupcroc]

You've got a pretty relaxed view on events. I like it. Most adults get so tense and worried and stressed! Having things you can't change or control isn't the end of the world.

( Collette ends up smiling. )

Only the end of the world is really the end of the world, and even then, it'll probably outsurvive us.

[aceordisgraced]

I used to be really tense. I'd sweat buckets and my world would shake! [No lies.] I guess I grew up.

And hey, we're not hollow men; if the world's going to end, we'll end with a bang!

[whatsupcroc]

Hmm, you know, I can see you being a younger, sweatier guy. I like the current you, though!

Oooh, so we'll get a fireworks show!

[aceordisgraced]

I'm touched. I was worried what I'd do if you said you wanted me to revert back to twenty-seven. Haha...

And that's right. The last thing humanity sees will be history's best fireworks show.

[whatsupcroc]

Sounds like the best humanity can ask for, next to not ending at all.

[aceordisgraced]

And end will come to everything.

And even the bad things. So I'm hoping we'll end up going home from here one day, too.

[whatsupcroc]

I'm hoping everyone will get what they most need. Which I think is close to the same thing.

[aceordisgraced]

We're all closer to each other than we think, aren't we all?

[whatsupcroc]

( She laughs. )

I like you, Phoenix.

[aceordisgraced]

Thanks.

I like you too, Collette. I was pretty lucky that you found me when I first got here.