#astroevent001

[uf0parking]

who: open! where: outside the games area

since his twin had run off somewhere after the dunk tank and he hadn't tracked down any of his other peeps yet, jonah was occupying his time in the games section of astroland ( skee ball to be exact ). he was probably just going to go home and skip the fireworks after too long. to be honest, he's not sure he can get down with the noise of astroland, the extra screaming children, and loud explosions played to shitty overture music tonight. it was an overstimulation nightmare bound to happen. maybe the wolfe's den would be quiet, at least for a little while, until the show was over.

in particular jonah fashion, he was fucking around. juggling three skee balls while talking, not paying attention to who might be listening. "you know when i read children free on the flyer, i thought it meant there would be no five and unders, y'know? but here they all our," he shook his head ever so slightly, trying to keep stormy blue eyes on the balls in motion. "i swear the noise today is goin' to be the soundtrack to my fuckin' hell, that and anything by fucking puff daddy, am i right?" he snickered.

[uf0parking]

who: @inanuration ( nesrin ) where: a line dixie's 'attending' in astroland

the gum in dixie's mouth had gone stale. she was leaning up against the bar beside the gate to the alien swing ride twirling the cheap chewing gum around her finger, just for something to do. it was the most boring ride to attend because it was just swings in the air for a little bit. no exciting music, lights, or fast motions. and the fact that they are ufos does not change a damn thing, either. she was just there to make sure everyone walking in was tall enough so they didn't slide through the seat when they lifted the swings up.

dixie was fucking bored out of her mind.

that is, until she saw one of her main girls nesrin turn the corner. "oh my god, nesi get over here, right now!" she immediately opened her arms for them so she could wrap them in a big hug when they got close enough, then a kiss on each of their cheeks, of course. "i can't believe you look that good right now! seriously, i'm so jealous. come keep me company? they stuck me on the dumbest ride for the first part of my shift." dixie rolled her eyes and pulled nesrin over to the barricade to sit with her.

[probablealiens]

who : frankie terrell ( @fterrell ) ∘ where : astroland, near the water park

❝ what time are you off today anyway? ❞ the question comes out half-garbled by a mouthful of pizza ( courtesy of astroland management―as if a couple of slices and a generic can of coke are decent compensation for the chaos they unleashed in the park with this half-baked independence day celebration ) as jay leans forward against the picnic table in the outdoor break area.

it's quieter over here than in the heart of the park, the clamor of the crowd just a faint hum behind the crackle of the radio a few feet away. he'd suggested frankie bring jade and johnny back here for some free food and a chance to cool down before hitting the park rides again, more so he could have a few minutes with his best friend off the clock. his gaze flickers toward the kids briefly and then back to frankie, head cocked in a curious tilt as he tears off a piece of crust.

❝ i assume you're sticking around for show tonight? pretty sure i've seen your whole family roaming around by now plus some and it's only, what― ❞ jay pauses to glance at his watch. ❝ ―one? they're scoping out the place early. ❞ if the fireworks he'd seen in the supply closet earlier this morning were any indication, it was going to be a big display. he supposes he can't blame folks for their excitement, not really. jay half-wonders, though, if the park had enough foresight to have additional emts on hand if things happen to go awry. probably not. the only real silver lining? he won't be here to see it if something does go wrong.

❝ i gotta be at wolfe's, but i was thinking about trying to talk gabe into coming to see them anyway. ❞ there's an unspoken question behind the offered information. you'd keep an eye on him for me if he did? it should seem an outlandish request―his younger brother is thirty-one now, he's a grown man―but some paranoia just never really leaves. ❝ you could come grab a drink after your family heads home. i think dom's running cheap specials all night. ❞

not that jay doesn't usually slip him one or two on the house anyway.

[fterrell]

OPEN. // astroland independence day.

" jade, johnny, come on, no runnin' off, " frankie calls after his niece and nephew but he's pretty sure his voice gets lost in the noise all around them. with his entire family back in town for the 4th, frankie—despite kinda working right now—has been designated babysitter. he doesn't mind, he likes the kids, he'll take spending time with them over hanging with his brothers any day but they are testing him today.

when he catches up to them, they're queuing for the popcorn stand and already chatting up the person in front of them. " with what money are you guys paying for this, huh ? " he says and the look the twins give him is enough to make frankie take out his wallet. " one bag to share. one. you guys already had too much junk. and then we're gonna go wait for the fireworks, yeah? "

when the kids settle and start talking about stuff he knows nothing about, he turns to the person in front of them. " hope they weren't bothering you too much. they're at the age where they love lying and telling stories. " they take a step forward but the line looks like it's going to take forever. " anyway—enjoying this thing? "

[uf0parking]

who: @blvckhcles ( connie ) where: fireworks show

you would think with the turnout of family and friends santiago had come to the area he'd picked out ( and spent all day saving so it stayed available ) that he would be relaxed and enjoying it. however, he'd somehow become restless, trying to busy himself with tasks and fussing over everyone making sure they'd gotten plenty to eat. maybe it was just something in the air, because he found himself unable to sit down more and more lately.

"oof, manita, i don't know about you but i cannot wait for the sun to go down and this show to get over with." he looked around a moment to make sure there was no trash he could pick up or food he could cover to avoid any bugs flying into it. "do you think nora would want to go on some rides or play some games? i wouldn't want her to get bored." though he knows for a fact she's probably rode every ride she fit on and played all the games many times by now. "we could go walk around and see what else is going on, i'm sure linds will hold down the fort for us. if you want?"

[uf0parking]

who: @astrostellcr ( javier ) where: fireworks show

astroland had long stopped trying to stop santiago from bringing in outside food and beverage ( he could also bribe security with a plate anyways ), so he had prepared a full on feast in two oversized picnic baskets complete with sides and dessert ( along with adult and everyone beverages in a rather large cooler ). he arrived at the park with everything early so he could push some of the picnic tables together and save a spot for all of his people. a good spot to see the fireworks and still be as secluded as you could be at an amusement park at least half full of people.

"hey! there's mi hermano!" santiago's face lit up when he saw javier approach. "i wasn't sure if linds was going to convince you to take a break," he held out his arms for a hug but didn't wait to pull his brother into his arms for a tight squeeze and pulled away to give javier a hearty pat on the back. "i hope you haven't eaten yet, we have all sorts of things left. please help yourself. how are you? are things very busy?" santiago's warm gaze worried over his brother for a moment, checking if he was okay. "are you taking time to rest?"

[probablealiens]

who : gabe osorio ( @astrostellcr ) ∘ where : the retro rocket diner

❝ you going to see the fireworks tonight? ❞ it's an honest question, even if jay half-suspects he already knows how his younger brother will answer. working at astroland might have been an osorio family tradition for decades, but all of that seemed to fall apart after―well, jay's sure he can't be blamed if he doesn't actually want to think about it right now. if he doesn't want to think about him. he's still got one brother right here to worry about, right in front of him. once their dad retired, jay was the only one left working at astroland. and the only reason he went back was because they needed the money ; if he could've found a better job somewhere else, he would've taken it. he couldn't. ❝ you could get in for free if you wanted to. i've got to be at wolfe's den later or i'd go with you, but i know who's working the turnstiles tonight, i could make a call. ❞

jay glances toward the window to the kitchen behind the diner counter and then to the clock on the wall above it. he's got to be at the bar in less than an hour, actually, but he tries to check in with gabe as often as he can. it's still not as often as he'd like, but he is trying. weeks like these where he's scheduled to work double after double, he tries to meet him for coffee or, in this case, dinner. the food at the diner's cheap enough, anyway, and if his regulars tonight are feeling generous, he'll make more than their meals' worth back in tips before long.

❝ what are you getting? ❞ jay asks after a moment, turning the conversation back toward easier territory. safer. ❝ i think i'm gonna get a burger. ❞ as if he ever orders anything else.

[uf0parking]

who: @probablealiens ( judah ) where: astroland

"don't you think about coming near me unless you're coming back from them emts judah fisher!" dixie scolded him when she saw him approaching. "i ain't fixin' to get some disease during this lame ass fireworks show, i'll watch it with someone else don't even play around right now!" truth be told, she'd been waiting for him in particular the last twenty minutes because she wanted to go climb up on the ufo statue with him and get cozy for the fireworks. however, that didn't mean she was going to let him walk around with some infected gash on his finger.

ew.

she worked the day shift just so she could watch the show and why wouldn't she? it's rare she gets to see anything fun and exciting around there anymore. at least this was something outside the norm, right? "good," was all she said when he got close enough for her to see the bandaged injury. "now let's go get something to eat and a mixer for this. i'm tryin' to have a good time tonight." she flashed a peek of the flask on the inside of her bombers jacket. it was just some mid-shelf vodka she'd swiped from the club but it was good enough for tonight. "can we go up to the ufo?" dixie asked, though it wasn't a request she expected to have denied.