Shout At The Devil! [Halloween Party] Band members and friends invited

[bangingthe_hellouttayou]

Zack had decided that he wanted to do something for Halloween now that he'd gotten his new costume and being a Spider-Man fan he'd gone for a Spider-Punk costume straight from his comics. He'd gotten it at a local comic store down on the Strip and couldn't wait to show Damien because he knew the Dog didn't have comics or anything fun back in Hunger City. Zack now pleased that he'd arranged a Halloween Party for the band members, their friends and family to attend inside the communal area of the apartments. It was the biggest space and there was a bar all stocked up with spooky drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike.

It would be a blast!

There were even spooky snacks with crisps and chips shaped like bats, ghosts and pumpkins. There were even actual pumpkins on a table for those who wished to carve a pumpkin alone or with friends. Zack had tried to make it accessible for all, those who wished to party and get drunk and those who wanted to do non-boozy activities too.

As for costumes---they were optional but preferred.

"Ok, I think that's it. Everyone should be arriving soon."

Zack looking around the room and hoping everyone would like what he had set-up with help from some of the others of course.

Comments

[itmeanstruth]

“Oh man…” that did not sound pleasant at all. He felt a sharp pang of empathy for his koibito. And also for Rekker.

Unfortunately, anything Isamu might want to know would have to come from Rekker. And Minoru wasn’t sure he wanted to bring it up, even if Damien did say it had been improving. And even if it might get Isamu to stop ignoring him.

[hungercity_hellhound]

"It makes me respect Rekker." Damien mentioned on a better note, maybe it was better. The fact that the ginger was keeping himself together in the kind of mental condition that even made an ancient Anthean, like Thomas, run was a feat on its own.

"The hell someone like Rekker would cause the Ministry would be a sight to see." Damien thought about all that mind control they used in the prisons and someone like Rekker not only would tear that to pieces he would probably tear the people to pieces after. It was something to consider though he wasn't about to speak more about that darkness here.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru sighed. It wasn’t that he didn’t also respect Rekker.

“Isamu kind of has the opposite problem. I’m not sure what he feels like to Antheans - he and Ziggy don’t really get along - but to him, Anthean empathy just doesn’t exist. It’s like he’s completely deaf to it.” He explained. “He’s been trying to figure out why for years now. But can’t find a way to study it.”

It went without saying that was one of the reasons Isamu and Ziggy didn’t get along.

“He’s been all worked up over something lately. He didn’t even want to come to the party! But I thought maybe if I found a lead, he might stop giving me the cold shoulder.”

[hungercity_hellhound]

Damien listened and was curious since he was often talking to Ziggy about how to test himself to see if any of the Anthean abilities passed on with his genetics.

"Is he the opposite of Rekker?" Damien asked then clarified. "Too focused, and clamped down on his emotions?" It made sense that someone who isn't effected would be the opposite of someone who overloaded the system. "Maybe he's too mentally organized or something?"

He was speculating and then frowned at the revelation. "I was wondering why I have not seen him in weeks. He'll be missed, I think."

[itmeanstruth]

“He’s something like that, I guess.” Minoru shrugged. Isamu was the biochemist and the one who actually understood how brains worked. “I don’t know if there are people like him in your world, that can’t be affected like that. I mean, If Rekker could make a real mess of the Ministry, maybe the other extreme could too.”

Aarne might be able to talk some sense into his brother if this didn’t pan out.

[hungercity_hellhound]

"I don't know. Jack doesn't have or can't remember the abilities." Damien pointed out.

"I don't think their tactics would work on Rekker. I was trained to implement thier tactics and I think he would brush them off. I don't know about Isamu. He'd be a boon to the resistance but if he was born like me and given unlimited power, I'm not sure."

[itmeanstruth]

“I don’t think he could be born like you.” Minoru scratched his head. “Have any Anthean traits, I mean. They don’t work on him, not sure how they’d work IN him.”

If the Ministry experimented with Anthean genetics, did they also experiment with the opposite? Maybe, maybe not.

[hungercity_hellhound]

"I meant born into the Ministry or close to thier holds." Damien knew that anyone might get sucked into their propaganda and it was hard to break free. It took torture for Damien's programming to break.

[itmeanstruth]

“Oh…” he nodded. “you think their tactics would work on him? Even though Anthean empathy doesn’t?”

[hungercity_hellhound]

"They worked on me." Damien pointed out. "The brainwashing they do first works on stroking people's egos and praise."

Damien sighed. "I know how it works because I used to choose who went to what kind of evaluation and reprogramming, before i was the target."

[itmeanstruth]

“Well, if that’s how it works, he’d be toast.” Minoru’s shoulders fell and his head drooped. Isamu had quite the ego, that much was more than obvious. “…I think I’m glad we don’t exist in this world. Or yours…”

This wasn’t a lead worth following. Not when it could get his brother into more trouble.

[hungercity_hellhound]

Damien gave Minoru a gentle hug. "I'm glad he is terrified of my world. It keeps him safe."

[hellfire_andfury]

"You think so? Maybe you're fucking right. The string feels a bit weak and needs to be stronger."

Viktor had tried to attach his bombs using other means but had failed so far. Maybe leather straps or something else? He didn't want a bomb to slip and smash onto the floor wasting the fuel inside. That, or catching the place alight.

"Oh yeah? Want to take me on, ginger? Do it."

[hungercity_hellhound]

"We carry moltovs sometimes." Damien could definitely get the punk a better method given a few days.

Jack shrugged and Damien just stared at Viktor because this wasn't going to end well. Jack got a drinking glass and filled it to the top with vodka, one for himself and one for Viktor. He offered one to the Brit.

"Here." Then Jack drank the whole glass of Vodka like it was a shot. "You better catch up."

[hellfire_andfury]

"Fucking decent. I don't go anywhere without them, mate."

Viktor touched a few of his bombs around his belt and grinned before focusing on what Jack was giving him. Right, a drinking contest. Fucking cool. The punk did know things might end up getting crazy, so he removed his molotov belt gently and placed it down just in case he fell.

"I don't want to end up smashing my bombs if I fall down drunk."

Not that the punk would let that happen. Of course not. Drinking with Ziggy's brother would be fun with Viktor now downing his vodka the same as Jack.

"Let's do this."

[apocalypsejack]

Damien offered to take his bombs and keep them safe until Viktor was sober enough to handle them.

"Damien, you may want to get Gloria." Jack mentioned and this time poured them both shots. He knew a human could get very sick if they went too fast.

"You're not the first to try this."

[hellfire_andfury]

Viktor nodded to Damien for keeping his bombs safe for when he'd get sobered up after getting drunk with Jack. How much could he drink anyway?

"What? I don't need a fucking nurse, mate."

The punk snorted and cracked his neck as he got ready to down the next shot.

[apocalypsejack]

"You will." Jack giggled and downed his shot, then poured another.

"Have you ever drank with Ziggy or Tommy?"

[hellfire_andfury]

"I'm a big boy."

Viktor just shook his head, smirking, as he downed his shot, keeping up with Jack. The punk wondered about Ziggy but Tommy, he'd not even spoken to the man.

"I've not drank with Ziggy much and Tommy I've never met."

[apocalypsejack]

Damien went off to find Gloria so that she knew to check on Viktor later when he was very drunk.

"Then this will be an experience for you." Jack kept pouring shots. "Tommy drinks even more than I do."

[hellfire_andfury]

"An experience? I've drank loads of blokes under the table before."

Viktor was just showing off with his ego and didn't want to lose. As for this Tommy---he would be the next to challenge then.

"Maybe I'll challenge this Tommy bloke at some point."

[apocalypsejack]

Jack started to giggle even more. "I'm not a bloke or a lass."

Jack commented and shook his head at how quick the shots were going.

"Good Luck. He put me under the table."

[hellfire_andfury]

"It's all about bodyweight, mate. The bigger you are, the more you can put away. At least that's what I've found drinking and staying standing."

Viktor's bandmates often said the punk was full of shit and Jack was about to find this out.

"He did? Must be a fucking good drinker then."

[apocalypsejack]

"Well, you are shorter." Jack teased with a grin.

"He drinks it like water." Jack confirmed. It was wild how much Tommy could drink.

[hellfire_andfury]

"Maybe I am but I can hold my drink."

Viktor could feel himself getting drunk but knew there was a way to go yet. Did Jack get drunk? Surely, he had to.

"Must have a high tolerance then."