Holiday Party

[Belle Sacramento]

-----INTERDEPARTMENTAL NOTICE-----

Happy December, Better Living!

These last few weeks have been trying, but the threat of the Vipers and similar difficulties have been successfully controlled. Thanks to the efforts of everyone at the company, the damage has been minimized, the city is safe once more, and wide-scale renovations are already in progress.

I would like to personally thank everyone who was directly or indirectly involved in the recent events, from the draculoids and Scarecrow agents on the front lines to the medical staff at the hospital. You are what keeps Better Living strong and able to continue helping those around us.

To celebrate the success of our recent endeavors, a company-wide party will be held in two days time, at the third floor recreation center of the main Tower. I highly recommend that you come and enjoy the complimentary food, drinks, and happiness boosting medication. Get to know your coworkers and relax after all your hard work. You deserve it!

Hoping you'll all have a Better Day,

Belle Sacramento
President of the Better Living Industries Neurological Development and Control Center

-----END NOTICE: EVENT IS MANDATORY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. IDENTIFICATION WILL BE CHECKED AND RECORDED. HAVE A BETTER DAY------

[Jonathon Orwell]

*I look in the mirror and smirk as I finish combing my bangs over and adding a bit of gel to it so the unruly mess will stay. I straighten my black tie with a arrogant smile then turn away, grabbing my sleek black shoes and sitting down on my coffee table to slip them on. I get up and pull on my suit jacket and leave my room, locking it behind me after I grab a white wrapped small box. I hesitate a moment before walking to Riley's office and knocking. I lean against the wall and toss the box up and down, smirking while I wait.*

[Max Griffiths]

*I sigh, glancing down at my watch. I'm standing by a window in the tower, looking towards the distant wall and the hazy desert beyond. Time to go...*

*I make my way through the halls to the designated recreation room. I see no reason to put on anything special, although I am wearing a clean white uniform. I lean against a wall as other employees start to file in, hoping this gets over with quickly.*

[Belle Sacramento]

*I'm having a pleasant evening so far; it's always nice to catch up with my acquaintances from other departments. The crowd dynamics are fascinating, of course. When I see a pair of draculoids walk past with holstered guns, however, I frown. I thought I told the event staff to make sure everyone was unarmed. Excusing myself from the conversation, I find one of the security heads and request that a few staff members go through the crowd; another is stationed by the door for those who are still arriving.*

[Max Griffiths]

*I accept a drink from a staff member circling the room with a tray; I have no idea what it is, but I have nothing better to do. I ignored the medication samples, as they wouldn't have had an effect anyway. When a short man with a name badge - "Steve", apparently - approaches me and asks me for my gun, I stare at him without replying. He doesn't leave, though, so eventually I sigh and hand it over. He writes my employee number on a tag, sticks it to the gun, and adds the gun to a box of similarly numbered weapons before leaving.*

[Volume Virus]

*I enter the room to a huge crowd. I see most, if not all, of my coworkers dressed merely in their uniforms. I'm way overdressed. I show my ID card to someone at the door and promptly slink through the crowd, heading for an isolated corner where no one will confront me on my lateness or overdressed-ness.*

[Rachel Mahoney]

*i get to the party with Ryan and after showing our IDs at the door he is called over by some of his coworkers. I immediately feel a little self conscious in the dress, especially since I rarely wear dresses at all. I wander around and try to find any members of my unit*

[rileywilson]

*I wash and change into my black suit, the one that almost looks like a tux. Hopefully it is classy enough for Aerith. I sit down to catch up on the daily reports and lose track of the time. I only look up when I hear a knock at the door. I look up and see the party has already started. I curse, grab my jacket, and open the door, hoping it's not Aerith. I relax when I see Orwell*

[redhavoc]

*I shift in the wheelchair as we ride the elevator, trying to get comfortable. I wish I didn't have to stay in the stupid wheeled thing, but I quickly forget any complaints as we get off on the ballroom floor. At least half of the floor, which is fairly high up in the tower, has been opened up for the party. Crystal chandlers shine from the ceiling and a orchestral music seems to come from everywhere. I look up at Sylvia, not sure if I want to do this*

[Kettu Jarva]

I stand along the edge of the crowd I feel uncomfortable in this large room with so many people. I nod at Ms. Sacremento s a greeting even though I doubt she would remember me and then fade back into the crowd. My hair is still its seemingly shaggy mess and my clothes though baggy are as always pristine. The nurses I saw the other day are staring at me once again. I wave at them and they giggle yet again. I will never understand the minds of women.*

[Belle Sacramento]

*A doctor off to one side nods to me and I smile back; he seems vaguely familiar, and though I can't quite place his face I feel that he had something to do with killjoys at one point. Then I remember - he's the sibling of the female killjoy who went by the name Sugar Queen. I make my way through the crowd towards him. I'm holding a glass but don't drink from it, and have already noticed the wide discrepancies between the various party attendees. Some are wearing elaborate suits and dresses, some more simple like my own high-necked white gown, and others in barely better than their day clothes.*

Hello, doctor. I'm sure we've met, but I'm sorry to say I can't quite remember your name.

[Kettu Jarva]

*I hold my hand out smiling at Ms. Sacremento* Kettu Jarva. *she shakes my hand softly* I am a Doctor I have recently come out of my retirement. It is alright if you do not remember me. I left shortly after i was done training Dr. Wilson and Dr. Brian.

[Belle Sacramento]

*I smile* Hello, Dr. Jarva, nice to meet you again. I'm glad to hear you've rejoined us. And I'm impressed if you were the one who trained Dr. Brian, he's a very valuable member of our staff. His efforts during the recent weeks have been exemplary. And Mr. Wilson is... very talented, as well. *I don't elaborate on Wilson, and though I'm sure Jarva will get my point there's no point putting it into words - it wouldn't be polite.*

[Kettu Jarva]

I am honestly ashamed of what he has become. He does not care for those who he is working with only with his own experiments and his own image. *I lean against the wall and sigh* But who am I to say what he does with his patients and coworkers? I am just a doctor.

[Belle Sacramento]

Please, doctor, don't blame yourself. I'm sure you did your best. But really, we shouldn't speak of such things. This is a party, after all. It's time to celebrate! *I smile and nod to a woman who passes by, quickly scanning the crowd. The doctor is interesting; I wonder if his feelings about Wilson are echoed by many others. I make a mental note to stay in contact with Jarva. He may have useful information about his former student*