hugtopia_logs | Gladio's Birthday Weekend [Open to Invited and Uninvited Guests]

Entry tags:

Gladio's Birthday Weekend [Open to Invited and Uninvited Guests]

♥ Who: Varies but mostly open!
♥ Where: Regis' House
♥ When: April 2- April 4
♥ What: Partying it up Tony style! Gladio's going to love it!
♥ Rating: PG13 for language, alcohol use/ drunken behavior, and general Tony-ness? I'll add CW
♥ Note: Please note that any who know Tony will notice he's looking about five years younger (Icons have been updated)

The intention had been to keep this party small and limited to Eos' favorite boy band and their groupies but with everyone helping out with the bar and the good mood he'd been in... Tony might have accidentally invited more people. Like.. a lot more people. Okay, so he invited everyone. In his defense, who would want to miss out on an official Tony Stark Bash™?

Starting the middle of the afternoon on Friday, the neighborhood surrounding Regis' house would notice an increase in activity as people arrived. By that evening, the windows were open, the music was blaring, and booze was flowing. Someone might have used just about all their extra they'd earned on making tonight special for someone.

So come one and all over to the King's house and let the King of the party pour you a fresh homebrewed beer from his keg, grab some Ignis and Pyra treats, enjoy a slice of delicious red velvet cake with strawberries made by Tony, and drop off a token of appreciation for the birthday boy and keep our fingers crossed he'll show up!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Among the presents was an invitation for Gladio, Noctis, Prompto, and Ignis to enjoy a brand-new VR game, courtesy of Pyra. There's a security code to unlock the game with a note that afterward, the game will be available to anyone. There's a warning that the game could potentially be long so they might want to set an alarm for breaks. The owner of the VR cafe they are asked to go to has been given an explanation on what's going on and paid to hand over four gift bags with their name on it upon arrival.

The gift bags include- a black t-shirt with golden lettering 'Camping or Bust', a large plastic bottle filled with water, cherry flavored rock candy, a fresh apple, homemade granola bars, trail mix, and two 'smores'- (graham cracker cookies with marshmallow coated in chocolate, each part homemade). Enjoy!

The game itself is a meticulous combination of the hiking and fishing game with added elements of a laid back campsite. The scenery from the trees, the creek, the skies are all of Eos. It's not perfectly Eos, but it's A for effort Eos, like someone using photos and other reference pictures as well as some stories.

There's a timer in the game that has the daytime switch to night and lets the stars come out. Fortunately, no daemons to worry about here! For those who might know and/or notice, the constellations have even been considered. The stars aren't completely random as some of the most favorite ones from Ignis' past are represented- again, not perfectly, but close. Either way, go fishing, hiking, lay in the grass or in a sleeping bag, roast marshmallows over the campfire, and listen the sound of bugs, birds, and wind in the trees.

Gladio still hadn't used the VR sets, this was his first time. And it was... strange. The 'goodie bag' was strange and the set up was strange, but he was giving it the benefit of the doubt.

He'd needed help to get set up, but before long he was inside the game and looking around.

It was night. The sky the clear, the air crisp, he swore he could smell water on the breeze. Gladio's eyes closed and he listened to the sound of life all around him, behind him was the crackle of a campfire. He gave a low laugh to himself and opened his eyes. It wasn't exact, but it was as close to home as he had been in the last six months.

In comparison, Noctis is a veteran of the VR games by now, so he settles in with ease. Once he's in he does a curious walk of the perimeter, checking out the limits of the site, looking at the haven runes that glimmer in the dark. It doesn't feel like magic the way the real thing does, of course, but he hadn't expected it to. Just seeing it is strangely comforting, even so.

"This is... pretty good, actually."

He'd heard someone walking around behind him, but hadn't looked to see who it was. He was just enjoying the 'feeling' of the cool night air on his face.

"How the hell does this even work?" He asked quietly, once Noct spoke to him. Gladio finally opened his eyes and looked over. "How do I feel this? And how the hell did she make home without even being there?"

"Can't answer most of that one, sorry. I don't get how the tech works, only that it does." He shrugs. "As for how... Prom takes really good photos, and I put a haven on Iggy's wall back in February. She had help."

He assumes, at least. She lives with three people who she can ask whatever question she wants about their world, so her opportunities for detail are plenty.

"And here I thought you knew all." Gladio teased, grinning over at Noct. "But it makes sense. She had more than enough inspiration." He paused to look away and up at the night sky, at the stars. They looked so familiar and yet... Gladio had a feeling some liberties were taken on their placement, but he could forgive that.

"I'm warning you now. I'm gonna be hugging your girlfriend. She might even get a kiss. On the cheek. But definitely a kiss. And maybe I'll bake her some cookies. Does Pyra like cookies?" He needed to show his gratitude some way.

"Pyra loves cookies. And hugs too, I hear." Noct's tone is amused. Everyone ought to know that by now. "She'll be happy to know it turned out well. I'm sure she worked hard to get it done this fast."

"Good. Hugs and cookies then. Best way of saying thank you." Gladio decided, pleased he now had a method to do that.

Because he was happy. This was amazing. The temptation to run off and explore was almost unbearable, but there was also an equally strong desire. And that was to turn around and drop down into one of the chairs around the campfire.

"Really is amazing how fast she got this done. Is this just... a one time thing?" He asked then. "Or can we come back here again?"

"Uh, maybe. Usually the cafe only lets to add programs if they get to keep it after, but I don't know what the deal is with this one. I'd guess we can come back whenever, though."

There'd been some negotiating when they were adding King's Knight to the system, but one of the things they'd been firm on is ownership after the fact. It's a safe assumption to make.

"Sounds good to me." Gladio grinned, pleased that they'd be able to come back again.

"Heard there was fishing in this too." He tipped his head to look up at Noct, smile widening. "Think night fishing is a thing here too?"

Well, if you wanted his attention...

"Seriously? There's fishing? Where?"

He's looking for a lake or something now. Where! Fishing! He wants to go fishing! Where's the gear, where's his rod!? Please let him fish, he needs to empty that head of his ASAP.

Gladio was laughing even as he pulled himself back up to his feet.

"I heard running water over that way." He nodded off in a direction and then gestured for Noct to follow him, they'd go and find it together. "There's no menu or something we can pull from here? It's a game, right? Maybe it'll be waitin for us?" Who knew? Gladio sure didn't! All he'd been told was there was fishing and a camp and they were supposed to have fun. And seeing Noct's excitement... he really, really hoped there was fishing gear waiting for them.

"Oh, I didn't even check. Let's see..."

He starts after Gladio, swiping a hand through the air in a gesture he's done dozens of times before, and sure enough a little pop-up HUD appears in front of him, and he's able to pick through some options. When they reach the water's edge, on the side of the dock there's a tackle box and a rod waiting for him, and he brightens again.

"Hey. yeah! It's just like the fishing VR game here. You can pick whatever you want from the options and it's there."

He was watching what Noct did and after a second or two he mimicked the gesture and made a little sound of surprise when the same pop-up appeared for him.

"... That's cool." Okay, he was officially impressed. Gladio wasn't sure what he was doing but he was pretty sure he'd selected a rod for himself. When they reached the water he was pleased to note that yes, he had. Unless Noct had picked two and he'd failed. Whatever the case was, there where two and he was going to fish with his friend.

"Handy." He grinned and continued walking until he could look down into the water. Then crouched and reached a hand down to touch it. "... Looks so damn real, it's freakin me out!"

"It got me too, the first time. Though back then the VR wasn't even as fancy- it's just gotten better since last year." Noctis laughs, picking out one of his favourite lures and jumping right into fishing, content to cast the first line. "Getting the fish out can be tricky, but it's not too hard with practice. Kinda like the real thing, yeah?"

It'd taken plenty of failed attempts and broken lines until he'd mastered it back home, too. This game wasn't that much different.

"Then how bout you teach me the ropes?" Gladio asked as he pushed himself back to his feet and took a step back to watch what Noct was doing. Clearly Noct was used to the whole thing, moving with a practiced ease that made him smile.

"Show me how to play the game?" Because this was his first time. So please be gentle, Noct!

"Yeah, sure. It's not super complicated."

And it isn't! It shouldn't take very long at all for Noctis to walk Gladio through the steps of working the reel in-game. By the time a fish snags his line for the first time, he should have all the info he needs- all he has to do is practice it.

'Not super complicated' to Noct didn't always translate to the same for Gladio, but he watched closely to what Noct did before doing it for himself.

He messed up the first time, cursed under his breath and tried again. The line was cast and Gladio grinned. It didn't take long to get a nibble. The joy of this being a game and real life he supposed. "So I just... do this?" He asked of Noct as he began reeling in the fish.

"Yeah, just like that. Turn the rod with the fish and keep pulling it in, unless the rod's got too much tension, then you wait it out. Feels real enough, right?"

It isn't quite on par with reality, but the vibe is surprisingly genuine. A strange mixture of video game and the real thing. It's fun, at least.

"Reely real." Gladio laughed and carried on trying to catch the damn fish. At one point he was afraid he'd pulled too hard and the line would break, but after a little panicked moment, the fish was pulled from the water.

It was tiny.

It had Gladio laughing all over again.

"Small in size, but put up a good fight. I can appreciate that."

"Remind you of anybody?"

They know a few people like that, for sure. Noctis gives Gladio's back a casual pat, congratulating his first catch.

"You?" Gladio laughed. "Iris. But hey, do I toss this thing back? Know they're not actually alive but..." That was the done thing, right? If you weren't planning on eating the fish, back in the drink it went. And the poor thing was too small to grill anyway.

"Hey." Noctis scoffs and elbows him playfully. "I don't know if there's a rule in this game, but you can do either. The fishing minigame has you keep them and ranks you when the timer runs out, but there's no timer here."

He gestures around them- the game doesn't seem to have HUD, and no indicator of a time limit.

"Toss it back if you want, it's all virtual anyway."

April 4th, VR Camping Trip: Closed to the original Eos boys

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject