HOMECOMING! where i post with Theo since he's not coming.

[sanctusdei]

Who: Everyone who feels like it!
When: Friday, Oct. 14, starting at 7PM
Where: Mayfield Rec Center. Let the drones have their party at the school.
What: A grand American tradition, Mayfield homecoming!
Warnings: Underage drinking. Pranks a-plenty. Spiked punch x1000. Also the Major is coming.

Comments

[hardhat_truckie]

(Well, Engie just got here when he heard about the Homecoming Dance. Curious to see how it would be done in this town and because he missed his own, you have a 37-year old man dressed in simple clothes just watching the crowd and smiling at how much fun the kids are having.)

[ooeeooahah]

[ A woman walks up to him, handing him a glass of punch ]

Enjoying yourself?

[hardhat_truckie]

Well, thank ya kindly ma'am. Nice of you to look out for this old coot. (Engie smiles and gives her a polite nod of the head as he accepts the drink.)

I am, actually. I never got the chance to attend the Homecomin' in my town, so I thought I'd just pop by and see for m'self how it's done. Gotta say, it looks like one heckuva fun time.

[ooeeooahah]

When those of us who are aware tend to gather for a big party, it's rare that it's limited to a single age group.

Work groups and friends from home sometimes might get together for small dinners or cocktail parties that are limited in number, but every now and then, getting together like this lets us check up on each other.

Is the punch spiked yet?

[hardhat_truckie]

Gotta agree with you there, thought a barbeque would be more of my kinda thing. A bit of meat on the grill, a beer in one hand, and mah guitar in the other...those were the nights that I remember the best with my friends.

M'sorry, ya had ta listen to me ramble. And I haven't even introduced myself. The name's Engie; well, it's more of a job title really, but you can call me that all the same.

(He extends a hand to shake.)

Not this batch, saving that for the others.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She takes his hand; firmly, but not a contest. ]

Ilsa Higa. I was a psychiatrist back home, but here they have me as a secretary.

OMG, just remembered that she is a psychiatrist, one day Engie will have to see her!

[hardhat_truckie]

It's a pleasure ma'am.

A psychiatrist, huh? Does that happen to be one of those folk who talk to ya while ya lie down on the couch?

(He doesn't say this in a negative way; he's genuinely curious about the job.)

Could be a good part of the practice.

[ooeeooahah]

It can be. There's been some broadening of the venues for counseling. One of my classmates is also a bartender. [ She chuckles, ] It paid his way through med school, and now he's licensed to counsel while mixing drinks.

[ Ilsa smiles, shrugging. ] Whatever's most comfortable for the patient, and gets the job done.

[hardhat_truckie]

Now that's somethin'. But then again, drinkin' and talkin' bout your feelings tend to come hand in hand.

(With that, he takes a sip of the punch before he turns back to her again.)

I hope you don't mind me askin then ma'am, but why are you a secretary here then? Woman of your skill should be at the hospital or somethin' like that.

[ooeeooahah]

It's the way the town is set up, this isn't how it was in real life at the time, mostly how television executives thought the world should look.

[ She manages to say this with only the slightest trace of bitterness. ]

That doesn't mean I won't treat anyone who needs it, but I won't take money for it, just to stay nominally on the side of the laws here.

[hardhat_truckie]

Now that's a crying shame. Women should be treated with respect and dignity at all times; it's not right to lock'em out of the workplace when they can do a better job than others. But it's just swell of you to help out others for free. Never let others stop you from your passion, that's what mah momma told me.

(He stares at his drink thoughtfully, before he turns back to Ilsa.

A man can hope, but I don't think you're from the 1960s, are ya ma'am? Cause I know a few good people who could use some help.

[ooeeooahah]

No... the last day I was home was 15 April 2032. My world is a little bit different from the others I've heard tales of, but then again, I'm not ruling out anyone from home coming here... though I really hope not.

[ She frowns, scanning the dance floor. ]

Part of the reason we don't exclude anyone who is aware from attending these "school dances" is that we need to be together for good things, so we can work together through the bad times.

[hardhat_truckie]

You got that right. I've seen plenty of teams fall apart simply because they don't hang out with each other when they can.

[ooeeooahah]

[ Something about that statement catches Ilsa's attention. ]

You're familiar with some teams that go by their jobs rather than their names... and colors?

[hardhat_truckie]

(Engie gives her a raised eyebrow with a surprised look on his face.)

You know about RED and BLU?

[ooeeooahah]

A little, from some comments I've heard here in Mayfield. There's a few of each team here already, and there seems to be a truce... though I don't think anyone trusts the spies.

[ She waits for his reaction before going on. ]