Disclaimer: I (sadly) do not own Star Ocean or any of the characters, places, or anything else related to it! And I don't own anything to do with Jack Daniel's either!
Chapter 2: Sophia's Birthday party
Peppita peeked out from her doorway. The coast was clear, no one in sight… and she could hear the sounds of people talking and laughing downstairs. She checked her watch. 10:35. "That's enough time for everyone to be occupied, but I'd better take a peek and see if they're all down there…" Peppita slowly crept closer toward the stairs, but just before she stepped around the last corner she heard two pairs of running feet, and ducked back around the corner.
"Hurry up Sophia! We're already late!" Urged Fayt in a rather worried tone.
"We are so busted! They'll figure us out for sure!" That was Sophia, she sounded even more worried.
"Just tell them a half truth… Shh, we're here…" Whispered Fayt, as the two practically flew past Peppitas hiding spot and down the stairs.
"Okay… what was that all about?" Wondered Peppita. "Well, that means everyone must be playing cards now. I'd better get to Rogers room before he starts being mean to me and saying I'm slow…" Peppita crept off to Rogers room, but she was still trying to figure out what Fayt and Sophia were hiding…
0o0o0o0
"Okay, now that the bets are in… This is how we're deciding who drinks what…" Said Cliff as everyone else was looking at his or her cards. Cliff, being the dealer, had a spare moment to lay down some rules. "The winner of each hand does one shot and if you get blackjack, you get the dealership and have to do three shots…" Cliff grinned. "This is going to be fun… I hope Mirage wins a lot, then maybe she won't be mad at me…"
"Okay Cliff, sure thing. Hit me!" Fayt declared.
"One more card, coming right up." Answered Cliff as he dealt Fayt another card. The game was on.
0o0o0o0
"Oh, come on Peppita! I was waiting forever! Even though we agreed to meet in my room, I almost came looking for you…"
"Roger! I told you, Fayt and Sophia were in my way!" Protested Peppita. "So what did you want to do anyway?"
"Oh yea! I almost forgot! I had a look around earlier and they have these bubbly pool things on the topmost deck! We should go swimming!" Roger, now having completely forgotten Peppitas lateness, said enthusiastically.
"You mean spa pools? Awesome! But… I don't have my swimming stuff with me… Its all the way back in my room." Replied Peppita, a sad note in her voice.
"That's okay! Because I'm a gentleman, you can borrow my swimming trunks!" Declared Roger proudly.
"Oh Roger! Don't you know anything? I'm a girl! I can't wear just trunks, I need a top too!" The ensuing argument was quite loud and it would have been heard downstairs except the sounds of a full swing alcohol, and cash fuelled card game were easily drowning it out, and someone just turned on the stereo too.
0o0o0o0
"Woohoo!" Screamed Sophia. "Blackjack! Give me that money! Give me that deck of cards Cliff!"
"Sure thing Sophia…" Cliff smoothly replied, and then he grinned and said. "And… Heres your three shots…" The game was in full swing and everyone seemed to be having equal luck, therefore, no one was broke and everyone was starting to get drunk.
"Okay Sophia, don't let that power go to your head." Replied Mirage, still as smooth as ever.
"True… But dealer is the best position, so I'm raising the bet…" Said Sophia with a gleam in her eye that would have put many a hardcore gambler to shame. It seemed there was a change in the atmosphere, playtime was over. Sophia was really pushing the game now, and very soon someone would be leaving broke…
0o0o0o0
"About time you got up here!" Stated Roger. "I've been waiting for hours…"
"No you haven't. Its only 11:05, and we last saw each other at 10:45! Did you go to Cliffs room?" Questioned Peppita.
"Of course!…" Declared Roger with a flourish. "I even got two big glasses for us and filled both right up!"
"You did make sure the bottle said whiskey? That's what Cliffs story was about…"
"Yea, yea. We drink the whole thing in one gulp right? This ones yours." Offered roger. The two of them put the glasses to their lips and hesitated…
"Lets get in the pool first." Said Peppita hastily, not wanting to back down from drinking it, but wanting to put it off. "Then we drink, ok?"
"Yea! Sounds good! Jump in." Both sat in the spa pool and looked at each other and the glasses. "Well… Since I'm a gentleman, ladies first?" Suggested Roger.
"Really? But I thought you would be dying to go first, being such a real man and all, I couldn't take the opportunity from you…" This definitely struck a chord with Rogers pride. And he instantly downed the whole glass of straight whiskey. Which caused a lot of coughing and choking. "Are you ok? Is it really safe to drink?" Peppita asked sceptically.
"Yea… tastes great… it's just a big glass, and it went down the wrong way…" Roger managed to cough out. Roger eagerly watched Peppita raise the glass to her lips. "If I had to suffer that, she does too… Have I got something in my eye? It's a little blurry…" Peppita had now copied Roger and was coughing much the same.
"Arrgh! That was horrible! Roger… Hey… Why don't you have the bubbles on…?" Peppita slowly said.
Roger went bright red and mumbled sheepishly. "I didn't know how to turn them on…"
"Oh!" Exclaimed Peppita. "Just push the buttons!" She jumped up clumsily and fell over, but landed right next the control panel. "Which one… Oh well… This one first!" She pushed the first button next to her and suddenly the lights all went out and the sound of machinery could be heard. "Whoops…" Then the roof began to split and rolled back to reveal a glass dome, and beyond that, a beautiful starry sky. Slowly, dim lights came on around the room, giving it a romantic feel.
"Wow…" Whispered Roger. "It's real romantic and stuff, no wonder this ship is called Moonlight…"
"Awwwww, Roger. You really are sweet…" Said Peppita, with more than a little bit of a slur evident in her voice.
Roger just grinned and returned countered with an equally slurry compliment. "Thank you Peppita… Now, I'll have a go at those bubbles!" Roger tried leaning over Peppita to press another button, this would have been tricky in a spa pool if they were both sober… Miraculously Roger got the button before falling on Peppita and plunging them both into the now very turbulent water.
0o0o0o0
"Well well well. I guess this rounds mine, five cards under 21. That makes this a sizeable amount of cash for me and a goodnight shot." Said Adray happily.
"What? You're leaving early, at 11:20, with that much of the money, maggot? Some of us don't have a lot left, fool. And you always preach about things like sharing…" Spat Albel in return.
"Always quit when you're ahead. Only at my age, do I understand the true way to play cards. Goodnight guys." Adray scooped his winnings into a small sack and tied it to his waist. A murmur of "Goodnights" Came from the table as Adray stood up to leave. As Adray walked behind Albel a claw stuck out and cleanly sliced the cord on the sack, then deftly caught the sack and hid it under the table. Everyone was either too busy or drunk to notice, especially Adray as he trudged upstairs.
"That maggot deserves it. Now I'm back in the game." Albel smoothly emptied some of the sack in front of him on the table and hid the rest of the bag in his pocket for use later. No one noticed the smooth action, yet it didn't take Cliff long to notice the new pile of cash.
"Hey Albel, where did that come from? Didn't you just say something about running low on cash?" Queried Cliff with a rather confused look on his face.
"Its called bluffing you fool. I thought a worm like you knew how to take advantage of this game." Albel shot Cliff a look that would have killed lesser men.
"Oh yea…" said Cliff slowly. A rather large grin appeared on his face. "You know Albel, you're my kind of Blackjack player, real serious."
"Whatever maggot. Who's dealer again? Lets get playing fools…"
The game had taken an interesting turn. Sophia had gained dealership again, had more than she started with and was a bit drunk, going clockwise, Fayt had a bit more than he started with and was quite drunk, Maria was almost broke and very drunk, Mirage had about the same as she stated with and was a little drunk, Cliff was on par with Sophia and the two were almost competing, next was Adrays empty seat, followed by Nel who was in the same situation as Maria, and lastly was Albel who had Adrays money and was almost sober, having one practically nothing.. Nel and Maria were hardly focusing on the game, and were staring at each other across the table.
"I wonder if pink is really her natural hair colour… Its very… very… bright… and pink." Unbeknownst to Maria, Nel was thinking along the same lines…
"I wonder if Maria's natural hair colour is blue… It looks beautiful… and… very… blue…"Suddenly both girls went bright red and looked down at their cards, trying to fake serious interest in the game and their cash that was at stake. Because the same thought went through their minds simultaneously, "I wonder what other hair on her body is blue/pink..." Nobody else noticed the looks between them and that round they were both too distracted to play properly and went broke.
"What? Oh, I'm out of money… Ok, goodnight…" Slurred Maria unhappily.
"Me too…" Agreed Nel, with a dismal look on her face. "I'm not tired, want to do something else Maria?" Nel gasped inwardly. "Oh, Apris! I can't believe I just said that! After thinking those thoughts before… Awwwww, I can't back down now, maybe she'll say no…"
"Yea, sounds cool. I'm not that tired anyway. Uh, there are spa pools on the upper deck. Fancy a swim?" Replied Maria before realizing what she had said. "Oh no! NO! She's going to be in a swimsuit! I guess I just have to restrain myself…"
"Um, get changed and meet you up there in 10 minutes, about 11.40?" Coolly replied Nel, yet she was screaming inside about whether this was a good or bad thing.
"Sounds fine." Said Maria even though she knew it was anything but fine… nevertheless she followed Nel upstairs.
"Just the five of us huh?" Said Cliff to no one in particular.
"Congratulations, the worm can count." Said Albel bitterly as he moved into Nels empty seat, he needed some space. He really didn't want Sophia right beside him on a winning streak, his mood was bad enough.
0o0o0o0
Roger and Peppita managed to drag themselves up from under the water and out of the spa onto the surrounding deck where they promptly collapsed in a heap on top of each other. "Roger… That was soooo not cool…" Moaned Peppita, after coughing up a fair bit of water.
"Uh, yea… Sorry… I can make it up to you if you like?" Said Roger after regaining enough breath to talk.
"Yea, you better. But… How? I know you won't come shopping with me…" Thought Peppita out loud with a sad note in her voice..
"Yea… She's right. No way am I going shopping… But I've got to do something…" Roger looked over at Peppita and was struck with an idea. "I'll make it up to you right now."
"What are you…" Peppitas voice was drowned out as Roger covered her mouth with his. After about a minute Roger retracted his tongue and bought his lips away. "Wow, Roger… Um, we should get moving before someone comes up here… And get out of these wet things… Can I come back to your room for a… Towel?" Asked Peppita shyly.
"True, someone might come up if they go broke at cards… Its 11:38 now, so lets go." Roger started to lead the way downstairs, but thankfully his big ears saved them… "Wait!" He whispered and dragged Peppita behind a sunbed near the door. "I hear someone coming…"
"Hello? Nel? Oh, I must be here first…" Drawled Maria as she stumbled into the room. "Why is the spa already on? Oh well, I'm jumping in, its cold in this bikini. Why did I wear something so skimpy! Because I want her to take it off anyway… No! Bad thoughts! Get out of my head!" Maria climbed into the spa and started to warm up and relax. Roger and Peppita took the opportunity to not so quietly race and stumble downstairs and off to Rogers room, once inside, Roger started getting towels and Peppita fumbled with the door lock till it clicked.
"Roger… Come here…" Softly said Peppita and beckoned with her index finger, she was sick of playing around. "Cliff was right, that whiskey stuff does make good stories…"
"I've got you a towel." Offered Roger, holding out a towel to Peppita.
"I don't care, I didn't really want it…" Said Peppita as she pushed the offered towel away and pushed Roger onto the bed then leapt on top of him. "You're mine now…"
0o0o0o0
"Maybe I should pretend I fell asleep… It's not too late, I can go back to my room." Despite trying to talk herself out of it, Nel was still walking up to the spa deck. As the spas came into view at the top of the stairs Nel could see Maria leaning back in the spa with her eyes closed, her knees felt weak. "God she's beautiful… I just want to… No! I have to keep it together… I'll just pretend this is a mission of some sort or something…" Nel walked over to the spa and slid in next to Maria. "Hi…" She said a little nervously.
"Hm? Oh, Nel, it's you. This is soooo relaxing, I was almost asleep…" Maria replied dreamily, and then she looked at Nel and blushed. Nel blushed back, and right then they both knew that they were thinking exactly the same thing…
0o0o0o0
"Damn it! I'm out! Flat. Broke." Complained Fayt, becoming quieter and sadder with every word. He stood up and looked at all the other players. Cliff was trying not to laugh; Mirage was wearing her serene smile. "That smile has never annoyed me until now…" Sophia looked sad that Fayt was leaving. And Albel… "Albel… That jerk… How much money did he bring to this game? Its like an endless stream, and he keeps losing… Stop smirking you bastard!" "Okay… Well, I'm not tired yet either, so I'm going up to the spas with Maria and Nel… Night guys." He shot Sophia a look which said: I'll see you later, in your room, ok? Sophia winked back at him.
"Tough luck kid…" Said Cliff, unsuccessfully trying to keep the amusement out of his voice, as Fayt disappeared upstairs
"Oh well, its only money… And Sophia will be waiting for me later. At least I can relax in the spa… What's the time?" He checked his watch, 12:03; "They should still be up there. I'll just get changed and head up." Fayts mood was rising at the thought of just hanging out with Nel and Maria while relaxing in the spa. He tried to hurry to his room, but started stumbling worse. "Man, I am pretty sloshed… Sophia can definitely hold her alcohol well… I wonder if this really is her first night drinking… Well, Everyone's going to be feeling it tomorrow…"
0o0o0o0
"I hate to say it guys… I really do. But, we have no more Jack Daniels..." Sighed Cliff, and indicated the five empty one-litre bottles around the room. "Shall we just call it a tie?" Albel instantly stood up and started scooping his winnings up, it was more than he bought to the table, but less than what he 'borrowed' from Adray.
"Alright maggots, I'm bored anyway. I'm going to bed. Any fool that wakes me up will suffer…" Snarled Albel as he stormed upstairs.
"Hehehe… He must have been having fun, he stuck around, but he's still so angry huh?" Asked Sophia. "But tonight it really doesn't bother me! I'm 18! I'm rich! I'm drunk! And its 01:08! Not too mention I probably won't remember this…" "And Fayt's probably waiting in my bed right now…" She went weak at the knees just from thought.
"Agreed!" Slurred Cliff. "Well, except for the 18 bit… You didn't get very drunk or win or lose almost anything Mirage…" Cliff looked at Mirage in a perplexed manner.
"Well, Cliff…" Said Mirage with a sly smile. "I have neutral luck I guess… Anyway, Can I have a word with you in the kitchen? Night Sophia." Mirage dragged Cliff into the Kitchen, but not before Cliff had gathered his newfound wealth.
Sophia flicked off the music, "Funny? I hardly even noticed the music…" Then went upstairs looking forward to an already warmed bed. "This is like the best birthday ever! I'm coming Fayt! Well, not literally. Not yet… Haha!"
Little did the gang know that very few of them would wake up feeling very happy in comparison to how they felt before the memories of the night became completely clouded over by alcohol. The Moonlight had that reputation…
A/N: I hope that was IC... Reviews appreciated, no flames, tell me mistakes, and i will fix them. Had to have Albel do something evil. Wait for the morning chaos... If my computer keeps it together expect an update before friday.
