2019-10-22 - One Up Comics Halloween

One of the hosts, Ruby, is flitting around and talking to people. She's dressed like the comic book version of Medusa from Inhumans. Or at least the one version where she's slamming Iron Man into a wall and questioning him about Black Bolt. The silk dress is a lavender color and fitted with the silver stylized corset that draws her waist in. That mane of red hair she has is held back with the crown that Medusa wears. "Need anything?" she asks one of the patrons that's decided to stop in. The man gives a shake of his head and a smile, but doesn't say much.

Ruby's Costume: http://yayahan.com/images/made/uploads/images/Reference/medusa-ref2_1000_717.JPG

Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All who is laying on the counter is wearing his own little Doctor Strange cape and looking supremely bored with all of this noise that's going on in his shop.

Storm: https://gray-harbor.com/file/ruby/storm.jpg

August isn't exactly a comic book reader, so his presence at the party is maybe a little surprising. This isn't to say he's never read any; his nieces have made sure Nausicaa, Age of Reptiles, and similar works have made it into his hands. In fact his oldest niece is the one who advised his costume, and so here he is.

It could be mistaken for his own clothes, at least by the uninformed: black, leather biker jacket, red scarf, a pair of crossed, studded belts, denim jeans, black motorcycle boots. What makes the character apparent is the baseball bat he's got with him, with some fake, plastic barbed wire wrapped around it and a little red paint (fine, it's nail polish) to add to the effect. Doors he have any idea who he's dressed up as? Probably worth asking. He might not.

Someone that has come by to check the comic book store some, but probably kept in the background usually, comes along in a Gambit outfit. From trenchcoat to interesting purple shirt, metal rod that seems to be extenable, as it currently sit in a holster on his leg. Malachi does give August a thumbs up at his Negan outfit. Then looking inside a bit more properly. A small smile and wave to anyone inside as he moves a bit to the side.

Ruby gives a smile as others wander in and she waves August over, "Can I take your picture for the website?" she asks him. Then there's a wave and a smile to Malachi, "And you as well? I like to get all of our participants on the site so people can swoon." she grins brightly at that. "I'm Ruby by the way, I own the shop. Not just some weird redhead wanting to hoard pictures of strangers." she chuckles.

Stormageddon just sneezes when his owner laughs.

Apparently there's a theme tonight: Marvel Redheads. Julia is in a red and gold bodysuit with the icon of a phoenix across the chest, her own dark hair covere by a red wig. "I gotta say, Ruby," she remarks, a hand on her hip as she preens a little, "You got a way with a needle, chica."

Not your usual type of event he would attend, Everett hangs out outside for a while, finishing the last of his cigarette and enduring looks, honks and jeers while glaring back and wishing ill-will upon them. And when a double-beep signals from somewhere within his costume, the large man sighs heavily, deeply put upon, and slumps his shoulders along with his head. It's then maybe a minute more before his huge frame darkens the door before its pushed open and <font color="blue">BLUE</font> walks inside. Usually he ducks under door frames just to avoid hitting them. And this time is no exception. However, with the addition of two things mounted to his head he doesn't account for they are caught on the door frame. And while the thug stands in the door praying for a sweet merciful death, the left antenna energetically more so BOING-ing-ing-ings.

August gives Malachi an upnod for the thumbs up, and a small smile. Okay, he does know Gambit, but he's old enough that the 90s X-Men cartoon was a staple of his high school years. He has a copy of the Richard Feynman autobiography in hand, glances up from it at Ruby and wanders over to her. "Yeah, sure," he says. He glances around. "Anywhere you want us to stand? Or were you thinking group photo." He lifts a hand in a wave to Julia, eyes the other party-goers as they arrive.

Malachi does chuckle and nod to Ruby's question. "Of course." Not seeming to mind. The rod taken out to offera good picture. "Nice to meet you, officially. I'm Malachi." Offered to Ruby and August both. His outfit does seem to have some areas bought, and some made himself. Not amazing at making cosplay stuff though. But seeming close enough. Smiles and waves offered to those arriving. Seeming to appreciate their outfits. The Tick does get a grin as well. He will move to wherever Ruby wants them.

"We cleared off the wall over here for pictures. Unless you want to pose with Bucky." Ruby tells August with a smile. Then she hears Julia and there's a soft clapping of her hands, "That looks fantastic!" she squeals happily. Oh yes, she was a happy one tonight. "Raul is still getting ready...or he's asleep somewhere." she muses. Then she sees the Tick and her eyes go wide, "YOU." she points. "Come over here if you will please." she asks with a smile. "Nice to meet you Malachi." she dips her head to him with a smile. "Pictures for the website are over here, come on over ladies and gentlemen." she looks in her element at least.

The quota of weird (and Marvel) redheads has apparently not been met, because in comes another one! A lot shorter-haired, though. With the brown romper, cropped jacket, and boots (all edged in shearling fluff), lighter brown tights and utility-belt o' pockets, not to mention the headband with little ears and most especially the big fluffy stuff tail, it can only be the mighty Squirrel Girl! And possibly also Rhys. He's clean-shaven, so, commitment! There's a little stuffed squirrel with a big pink bow around her neck on his shoulder, too, 'cause you gotta keep your sidekick somewhere. He glances around as he enters, looking quite cheerful at all of them, though Everett gets the biggest immediate grin. "Where's the jerk who calls himself the Tick?!" he greets the massive stranger, before catching sight of Julia and squinting slightly. Is that? Yes. She gets a hand-lift of a wave and an extra grin to go with it as well.

Another newcomer to the comic shop! Also not a familiar face at the comic shop, but that can be said of most of the town. Garrett enters in jeans and a dark hoodie that has definitely had a number of holes cut and/or stabbed into it, going for the Luke Cage. He doesn't immediately join the festivities, though, instead holding the door for a minute for someone to presumably follow.

"August," Julia beams, stalking over to give him a hug. (Look, when your heels are that high and they end at mid-thigh, stalking is the only word there is for how you walk). She does laugh when she sees the Tick, and at Ruby's beckoning, gives August a grin before sauntering in that direction. (Okay, sauntering also applies.)

Sparrow's costume may have been hastily thrown together, but there's at least some attention to detail which suggests it wasn't only chosen for how easily it could be pulled from pieces already in her wardrobe. The long black wig with its center part, for instance, is almost certainly a new addition, fitted well enough to hide every last hint of the glaringly neon red hair below. Her make-up is minimal, just enough to give some color to her lips and some might-be-intoxicated redness to her eyes. The black leather jacket she wears over her black tee shirt is just a little too big, but her worn jeans and black boots fit well. In one hand, she holds a bottle of Four Roses Yellow Label. With the other, she brushes Garrett's arm in thanks for holding the door. Looks like she might be aiming for Jessica Jones to his Luke Cage. Her newness, though, is easily spotted, surroundings taken in before people.

Ruby wanders over with those who needs pictures taken! She's going to be doing that and squeeing at costumes for the moment!

Nonplussed wouldn't be descriptive for a lack of want from the nigh-indestructible hero. Waves aren't returned while Ever-Tick clears the doorway and starts mulling around the shop as though it were his first time in. Because it is. Being called out causes the Blue boy to be a little startled and when he hears its for pictures, Everett rolls his green eyes upwards. With deep reluctance, he heads towards the wall with the others, to get lined up and hopefully shot, keeping to the far side. Far. Far side, so as to not be mistaken for being one of These People. And when he's addressed, Everett lifts his chin with a look of recognition and withdraws an iPhone from his waist. He plays on it for a moment, then reads from the screen with his deep tone, "I got a straw right here, buddy?" The Tick looks up from the phone uncertain, was that the right quote?

"August," he says to Malachi, dipping his head in a nod of hello. He grins at Julia, returns the hug. Heels or not, he still towers over her. Well, maybe that's only appropriate, given the costume. Another one he recognizes, too! "Excellent choice," he says, nodding his approval. He nods towards where Ruby is taking photos. "Shall we?"

Malachi smiles and nods to August. "A pleasure." The amount of people coming in has him a bit overwhelmed perhaps. TRying to take in each detail about each person and their appearances. Rhys' outfit get a grin and a small salute. Stepping back some as to not be in the way, but still here and near, waiting patiently about the photo taking.

Julia takes a few pictures with Ruby, even going so far as to do a couple od indulgent flashes a smile Malachi's way. "Julia," she offers, though tonight she's arguably the old school Clairmont Dark Phoenix. And then there's Rhys, and Julia lets out a little squeal of delight. "You look amazing!"

Rhys looks up -- way up -- at Everett's expression, and just looks more amused, lips pressing together to suppress most of the grin but none of the snirk at the huge man's delivery of that line. "Lose a bet?" asks the sole dude here dressed as a chick, with far more amusement in it than sympathy. "Good voice, though. Most important thing to remember is probably 'Spoon!'" He lifts a finger, adding, "With feeling," before he grins again, continuing more toward where people seem to be congregating.

The grin remains, approving, along with an up-nod, in return, to Malachi's salute, and Julia's squeal makes it actually tick up a notch. He makes a one-spread-hand-to-either-side 'ta-da' sort of gesture to her remark before replying, "So do you! Make a surprisingly good redhead. We might let you have an honourary card."

Raul arrives dressed in black leather and black spandex. One might think it was something kinky a dad-bod in black but the mask of a wrestler with white and black accents mark him as a less muscular, less hairy Bane from batman. He walks in from the back part of the comic book shop. He has a bit of a gut but from the confident swagger and the sun-tanned skin he is at the very least authentically latino with his stride carrying him in Ruby/Medua's direction as he pitches is voice into a rumbly growl, "Senorita, I've come late but only because I brought this..." the last bit a confident declaration as he produces... A chocolate cupcake with the face of her comic book character medusa in frosting on the top. He even laughs triumphantly 'bwhahahaha' it's painfully... Almost cringeworthy corny.

"Shit," Sparrow 'Jessica' Jones mutters on the wake of Julia's squealing to no one in particular, "everyone looks amazing." The wonder in her eyes isn't particularly well-suited to the character she's portraying, but at least the grin is crooked and the gait is casually confident. Still, despite all the over-the-top color and fluff on display, it's a small detail which holds her focus for a few seconds longer than the rest, the book in August's hand getting a curious stare and a quiet, "Huh." She checks him out for a couple of seconds before looking back to her 'Luke' and encouraging him to follow her toward socialization with a tip of her head thattaway.

August gives Rhys' outfit a curious look, like he's trying to sort out who he's supposed to be. Then it's picture time, and he even breaks out a devilish smile for the shot. then he's moving off to grab a Coke to drink and check out the other costumes, even take a photo or two for the nieces. They'll love all of this. It's nice being a 'cool uncle'.

He gives Raul a very approving nod for his costume choice. "Well done," he says, without a hint of irony. He doesn't seem to have noticed Sparrows scrutiny, and pauses to set down the Feynman graphi novels and flip through a copy of the Kindred hardcover on display.

Nodding downwards, so many downwardes to Rhys, The Tick confirms the little man's susicions. Of course, nodding only makes the antenna bobble to-and-fro all the more not unlike they have spring cores. Because they do. Trying a second time, he holds up a blue glove, thumbing down his list until he finds something. Then, again with the bass cadence, The Tick offers Rhys, "Justice is here, and it's wearing ... udders?" Everett seems confused by the end of the sentence, like he hadn't read the whole quote through, pursing his lips with dismay.

Ruby's been over taking pictures, commenting on costumes and she's in Glee. "Miss Jones, Mister Cage. Sweet Christmas you guys look awesome." she grins to Sparrow and Garrett as she's taking their pictures for the website. "Squirrel Girl is looking amazing as well." she grins. Then there's a Bane approaching and she stares at the man in the mask for a few seconds and then giggles as he offers her a cupcake, "Hello my love." she muses as she takes the cupcake and then leans up to kiss his cheek, "Maybe I should have gone with Ivy." she teases him. "Bane darling, we have guests." she grins to him.

Malachi smiles to Julia and offer, "Malachi." Though clearly dressed up as one of the favorite scoundrels, and the former king of thieves, Gambit. Posing some for the pictures that Ruby takes before moving to let others be photographed. Taking in all the cool costumes that people are in.

"Oh, you think?" Julia's been a little bit of a peacock, doing a little pirhouette so Rhys - and well, everybody - can check out the whole costume. "Ruby constructed it, and she did an amazing job. I thought the wig would look kind of awful but I'm pretty happy with it." Raul comes in and she chuckles. "Clearly there needs to be a Latino imprint."

Sparrow lifts her bottle--just enough of the bourbon gone to suggest someone's done a little pregaming--toward Ruby after the picture is snapped, tipped in her direction. "Not bad yourself, red." Of course, she's not sufficiently comic-book-literate to know who the shop owner's dressed up as, but that doesn't make the costume any less impressive. She tells Garrett, "I'mma--" but finishes the sentence with a gesture over toward the shelves toward which she promptly heads. Specifically to pluck up that book August just set down, bottle tucked beneath her arm while she pages through it curiously.

Garrett just sort of takes everything in for a while, not certain where to go besides not in front of the door. At least until Ruby approaches and Garrett smiles, looking faintly relieved as if concerned people might not have realized who he was supposed to be. "Thanks! Looks like you've got quite the turnout here," he says, looking about, London accent not fitting for Luke Cage at all, but such is life. And then he's offering a little wave and smile and following Sparrow close enough for him to have at least a vague sense of security.

London accent? That seems to pique Julia's interest as she turns around. "Oh, hey Garrett." She lets out a wave, noting, "Abuelita made some extra flan for you - want me to drop it off tomorrow?"

August looks askance as Sparrow and Garret approach, the former intent on the Feynman book. He smiles, nods his head towards one of the displays. "There's a few more copies over there, too," he says. "And the 911 Report, if the non-fiction graphic novels are your thing." It's an odd look, Negan flipping through Butler's Kindred, but here we are. His expression says he doesn't recognize their costumes, but he nods in admiration of them anyways.

Raul stands beside Ruby looking at Garret through the white eyes of his white and black Bane mask. After handing off the cupcake, his arm slips around Ruby/Medua's waist. "It is a good turnout, aye. I don't think we've met before Luke Cage. Different franchises and all." he says with a chortle of a chuckle, his shoulders giving a little rock as he really leans into the laughter. "I'm Bane, the shop assistant and scourge of Batman. If only because everyone wants his comics." then he holds out a gloved black hand to him. "Thanks for coming out." only to ear Julia's splash of spanish and turn his attention to her with a nod, "Hola." he says in perfect spanish!

"Thank you guys." Ruby gives a genuine smile to Sparrow and Garrett as they compliment her. Then she gives a smile as she sees people wandering and looking over things. "Don't forget your gift bags, they are just little tokens of our appreciate for people coming out tonight and wanting to be involved with the shop." she tells those that are gathered. "We'll probably start judging for costumes in about fifteen minutes. Everyone is eligible...except for Bane here." she states. Then she tilts her head to look up to RaulBane and gives him a frown, "Sorry love." she kissy faces at him. He'd get over it!

Rhys looks pretty amused by Raul's entrance, but it's Everett's perplexed delivery that has him laughing. "Just watch out for any suspicious hedges," he advises, "Sometimes they're ninjas." He gives Ruby a little bow for her compliment, and Julia's pirouette gets precisely the moment of serious focus it requires before he finds a place to settle in for the moment. "She does good work," he says, with a nod, and looks everyone over again, thoughtfully. "I think I know everyone and no one right now," he remarks, and since Gambit's close enough that he caught the name, even if it wasn't him it was thrown to, he gets a "Malachi? Rhys. Nice coat."

"Not exactly," Sparrow answers August. She only looks up after, and that's to look back to Julia curiously, the prospect of home-delivered flan difficult to ignore even if she isn't the dessert's intended recipient. She feels obligated to advise Garrett, "Don't say no," just in case he might get some fit of manners which might insist on politely declining. When her attention turns to the man perusing Kindred, she explains, "I'm reading Six Easy Pieces right now," though it's followed by an upward roll of her eyes and appended with, "Theoretically." As she lets the book close, she wonders, "They got any other science bios like this?" with a glance in the direction he'd suggested.

And then people are acknowledging him, pulling Garrett away from his little safety anchor. He smiles readily enough, though. "A pleasure, Bane. I'm Garrett when I'm not busy being bulletproof," he introduces himself, then is turning again, first to Julia, then to Sparrow, then back to Julia. "My attorney has advised me to say yes, that would be lovely. How are you?" he asks, giving Sparrow's shoulder a little squeeze before moving towards Julia.

Spending a few moments alone with his smartphone, the look of confusion on what portions of his mask allow for expressions to pass doesn't subside. He gives Rhys a thoughtful sound using a little difficulty scrolling with gloves on. When he finds another quote that might seem appropriate at the moment, firing it off with, "When you get into bed with evil incarnate, it always takes the covers." It one Everett can actually understand and he shrugs a massive shoulder, while pursing his lips after delivering it before his attention is caught by the hostess, then mention of mementos of this evening. Grunt.

"Pretty well, considering." Julia replies, explaining to Sparrow quickly, "We're neighbors. My grandmother has a habit of feeding the neighborhood." The Velez family is deeply connected to food in the town, so maybe this is not a surprise? RaulBane is regarded with cheerful curiosity. "Hola, eres nuevo en la ciudad?"

"Not science biographies, but," August shuts Kindred, eyes the rack, "she's got March, and one called Neurocomic that looked pretty cool--The Best We Could Do, Boxers and Saints..." Fine, so he doesn't really read much in the way of conventional comics. When you live in the forest for 10 years that's sort of how things go. "Not sure I know that one, 'Six Easy Pieces'. What's it about?" He flicks a grin at Julia for the comment about her grandmother's flan.

She takes a deep breath, steadying herself. This was easy, she'd done it before. Well for cons... With friends. She didn't really have any here, but... here goes. Pushing through the door, Abitha's eyes dart around the assembled partyers. She was in a fitted jumpsuit of some kind, almost armored looking, with thin yellow stripes running along the seams. A pair of metallic bracers cover her arms, but leave her fingers exposed, and she had given her hair a soft wave, making it fall just above her shoulders. The costume was pretty well made, cosplay level, and her face actually wasn't too far off with a little makeup contouring as well. She pauses inside the door, taking stock, eyes almost drawn toward the drinks.

Abitha's costume: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/1f/76/8c1f7690ea9b361d9f4e333f1134e37d.jpg

"My brother's a pastry chef," Sparrow offers to Julia in exchange, some shared experience with the whole free dessert from awesome relatives thing. Nevermind that her brother's more accurately a culinary student who works at a pastry shop. Details not worth going into at the moment. The wide-eyed interest with which she watches August as he suggests alternative suggests she's never heard of those titles, but also that she might snag one or two. But then there's the question. Blink. "It's by Feynman," she explains of Six Easy Pieces. "Not a comic. Kinda a primer on physics' core concepts. Kinda nerd one-oh-one." In case she hadn't already outed herself by simply being here, she sets the book down so she can lift her empty hand and say, "Hey," to mark herself a nerd.

Ruby gives a grin to RaulBane when he goes off to talk to Julia and then she's looking around the room over everyone, her eyes scanning things. Then Abitha enters and the woman makes a beeline towards her, more like a bumblebee line, she has to dodge things and people. "Welcome to the party, Quake!" she greets her. She does not invade the womans space though. "Come on in and have a drink. We'll be handing out prizes here in a few and there are little gift bags from us." she smiles.

Stormageddon gives another sneeze and then meows in a bored way. Like he's saying he needs to be entertained.

Julia's briefly distracted by Sparrow. "Oh, are you Corey's sister? I actually arranged his introduction to Vyv. I'm glad he was able to get the job."

August ahs, nods. "I will freely admit I only grabbed the Feynman autibiography because he was on the Rogers Commission, and had some very interesting things to say in the final report, so when I saw this I thought," he lifts a shoulder in a shrug, "why not see what kind of life a guy like that's lead."

He gestures at himself. "Plant nerd, really," he admits. "Only had to take a year of Physics for my major. But I'll look that up, sounds interesting." He glances from Julia to Sparrow, seems to make note of the various names. His gaze shifts to Ruby when she announces Abitha's character, and though he has no idea who it is, he smiles none-the-less. A high quality costume is still a high quality costume.

Everything that is <font color="blue">blue</font> tucks his smartphone back into the waistline of his costume after a few more moments of looking, or studying of his lines. A questioning glance down at the diminutive follow near the large man can't help but make Everett think that Rhys picked the wrong animal totem. "Hmm," his attention turns away, antenna wobbling on his crown while he starts looking around the shop again, looking with his eyes and not his hands.

"Right, Julia was kind enough to make the big official welcome to the neighborhood to me," Garrett explains. "It was a very Norman Rockwell moment. I thought going and meeting the new neighbkrs was a plot device, not a thing people really did." Pause. "Not that I'm objecting, of course." He, too, glances at the latest arrival and offers a vaguely impressed nod and polite smile in that direction, but not even a little recognition.

Sparrow snorts a laugh, nodding at August. "Yeah, I'm in my obligatory physics class right now. Chem nerd. You should definitely check out 'What Do You Care What Other People Think?' if you're interested in his role in the Rogers Commission. Not a personal recommendation, mind, cuz I haven't read it beyond the back cover blurb when I was snagging the other one from the library, but." Well, there's relevance, probably. Hopefully?

She follows his attention to the newcomer, but the costume doesn't ring any geeky bells for her, not even with the name supplied, and so it's right back to Julia and Garrett. "Sparrow Jones, yeah," might confirm her relationship to Corey. "Is Vyv someone he works with..?" Cuz she certainly doesn't know. Pointing the top of her whiskey bottle toward Garrett, she tells him, "Ash just wandered right the fuck on into our place while we were moving in." Is that another example of meeting the new neighbors? Who knows.

Raul/Bane peers after Julia as she is distracted by Sparrow and while one cannot see his expression he takes a command pose with feet apart, fists against his metallic belt, elbows out quite the pose as he awaits her to turn her attention back to him. He might also be doing so for a photo opportunity, who knows it's a little goofy.

"Thank you for the recommendation, I will," August says to Sparrow with a nod. Though he knows Julia, for Garrett and Sparrow's benefit, he adds, "August. Roen." Vyv he's met, but only met, and in the context of 'drinking after a hellacious experience in the cemetary', so he glances at Julia to see how she fields that one. He grunts about people wandering in during moving-in proceedings. Well, that sure sounds like Gray Harbor.

Ruby's gown flows when she walks over to the huge black cat that's laying on the counter, "Alright. I hear ya." she muses as she heads behind it and then sets his water bowl on top. Spoiled cat! She then gives a look over things and there's a smile, "I'm going to announce the first prize of the evening." she states. "Our categories for the evening are Best Couple's Costume, Best Costume and Best Gender Flip Costume." she smiles to that. "The best Gender Flip will be going to Rhys here with his version of Squirrel Girl." she grins. "He gets a thirty dollar gift card for the store." she states.

Then she looks over to where RaulBane is and snorts a little. What was he doing?

Julia grins. "Viv is the man he works for. The owner of the patisserie. Corey came by my family's fish shack one evening, and we got to talking. I told him about the patisserie and gave him Vyv's name and number." She's genuinely pleased it worked out well. "Vyv's kind of bougie, but he gives credit where credi is due. And an incredible artisan. Corey will learn a lot from him." When she hears about Rhys' win, she claps her hands, calling out, "Way to go, Welshie!"

"...that definitely sounds like Ash," Garrett says with some amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth before giving Julia and Sparrow each a little nod and smile. "Gonna go nose around a bit. Talk to you both later," he promises with a smile, then breaks off enough to go see what there is to see. The first announcement gets a look in the direction of Ruby, then Rhys, a polite applause offered to the night's first winner.

Abitha was quick to thank Ruby for the welcome before she goes off to hosting again, and wanders over to find herself something to drink, returning looks with cautious smiles. She pours herself something probably way more boozy than needed and holds in both hands, watching the announcements quietly and hiding behind the cup for a sip. Liquid courage, first stop.

"Good advice," Rhys says as seriously as he can to Everett, inclining his head appropriately to go along with it, and possibly did pick the wrong animal totem, since the next time he turns he manages to bump a display with it. His eyes widen and he stifles what was probably a word his grandmother would frown at as he spins to try to catch the thing, and ends up looking as though he's just invited it to tango. On the upside, only one book actually falls off of it, so-- success? "...later, cherie," he mutters to it, and he's just finished righting it and is leaning to pick up the fallen book when the announcement comes.

"Woo!" he exclaims, lifting his arms (and the book) in (kinda) triumph, "First out of one is still number one!" He sweeps an unnecessarily dramatic bow, and sets the book back where it belongs. "Thank you. I thank you, Wales thanks you, Squirrels everywhere thank you." And everyone else can give thanks that's as far as it goes!

Malachi is still here, wandering around some after finding something to drink. A smile and wave to Abitha as well. "Quake." Offered with a smile. Moving along not to take up her time too much though, unless stopped. Looking around as he find a spot to stand.

His path times him around the store and then over towards the consumables. There's a long long towards the food, pursing his lips with the consideration. However, nothing seems to tickle his fancy and EverTick continues to peruse through until he comes across to see the large black cat on the counter just as the hostess is announcing prizes. A suspicious glance either way is given by The Tick before he shuffles as inconscpiously as all six and a half and antennas of him can towards the cat to let the feline sniff a stretched out forefinger encased in glove. When Rhys is announced as a winner, Everett politely appaludes.

Sparrow echoes, "August," approvingly, a faint thread of almost certainly undue familiarity in her tone. Like maybe they both belong to some secret club of People Whose Names Are Also Normal Words. She chirps a cheerful, "Nice," to Julia, approving of that helpful hook-up which got her twin his job. "You should see all the fancy shit I find in our fridge," might be a lead in to something more, but there are announcements being made. Bottle tucked beneath her arm again, she applauds and, needlessly, whistles, calling out, "Looking good, Squirrel Girl," to Rhys... Even as he accidentally dances with one of the displays. It was a fairly graceful recovery! With Garrett taking off, she puckers her lips to blow him an airborne kiss and notes, "Pretty sure I'm picking up a few things before we go." She almost certainly has a mental list already running.

August bobs his eyebrows at Sparrow, sharing in that familiarity. He knows more than a few people with names like his. And hey, fringe benefit: no one says them wrong, spells them wrong, etc. He claps for Rhys, because he might not really know who Squirrel Girl is, but he can appreciate a good costume and trusts Ruby's opinion. He sips from his Coke, watches the proceedings with the copy of Kindred tucked under one arm. He smothers a laugh at Rhys' unexpected pas-de-deux with the display, distracts himself by saying, "Same," to Sparrow in an aside.

Ruby hands the envelope over to Rhys with a smile and a laugh, "You did awesome on the costume." she tells him. Then there's a look around, "Next we'll be doing best couples costume." she tells them. "Both of them get a fifty dollar gift card to the shop." she states. "Our best couples costume goes to Miss Jessica Jones and Mister Luke Cage!" she announces as she claps for them.

"Not surprised," Garrett calls towards Sparrow of her shopping list forming, and finds himself drawn towards food, because it's as natural a place to gravitate as any... at least until the next announcement is made, and he's drawn back towards Sparrow as only seems reasonable, wrapping an arm around her waist and offering a little wave to the rest of the party, trying and mostly failing at keeping a huge smile in check.

Resuming his glove muted applause, The Tick looks up to see who it is that they're applauding for this time while he joins in. Then his attention returns to the kitty, now that introductions are over, giving the cat a few long pets.

"Thanks," Rhys says again, this time specifically to Ruby and more quietly, as he accepts the prize and tucks it into one of those pouches on the belt. He settles in -- carefully -- to watch the rest, and both applauds and returns Sparrow's whistle of approval when she's declared half the next winning pair.

"You're to blame," Sparrow asides to August with an accusing arch of her brows, softened by uneven grin which accompanies that look. When the announcements start again, her attention returns to Ruby briefly, tracking toward Garrett before the prize is announced. They've got an edge, being the only costumed couple in attendance. But there's no shame in winning by default, and she moves to meet him, to mirror his position as she gives her whiskey bottle a little waggle and mutters a faux-grumpy, "Yeah yeah," which her smile fails to sell. She winks toward Squirrel Girl for the whistling even as she mutters to her Luke, "Told ya it was a good idea," even if coming had been his idea in the first place.

Raul/Bane abandons his power pose as the Luke Cage and Jessica Jones combo wins, giving them an applause and calling out, "Pick her up and put her on your shoulder for a pose!"

"Ooh, there you go!" Julia applauds for Sparrow and Garrett, nodding her approval.

"Gambit," Abitha returns with a smirk, letting Malachai move on, unimpeded, and simply settling to people watch again. She tries to quietly listen in on people, for lack of much else to do, eyes downcast unless people were overly boisterous. She starts to wander and look about the walls of the shop.

Without apology, August says, "I'm an enabler, it's true," and nods at Sparrow. He claps for her costume win with Garrett, adding, "See? Now your shopping spree is even funded. It all worked out."

Ruby is looking around and there's a bit of a smile to Garrett and Sparrow as the come her way, "Thank you guys for coming out tonight and for the costumes. You did a good job." she tells them. Then she gives a look to Raul who suggests the pose and there's a chuckle, "Please don't drop her if you do." she muses. "Alright, now the moment we've all been waiting for..." she gives a little shimmy. Waiting for things to settle. She looks to Everett, "That's Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All." she smiles to that.

Stormageddon gives a look up to the Tick and there's a bit of a moment where he doesn't know what to make of him. But he's worshipping so he flops over and allows the large man to love him.

Sparrow gives Garrett a warning look at Raul's suggestion, the sort of look that reminds that Jessica Jones is at least as strong as Luke Cage and she may well be prepared to prove it. She can bask in how well-funded her comic-shopping is after the threat of playing pretty parrot has passed.

Garrett laughs at the suggestion from Raul, eyes Sparrow's warning look and bends down.... but only enough to pick her up enough for a quick spin before he places her firmly back on her feet. "Looks like your choices are taken care of, now," he whispers to her, before smiling wide at Ruby. "Thanks," is all he manages, but it's sincere.

Ruby gives a smile to the two and then she's giving the last envelope a wiggle. "Our Best Costume prize is a hard one to give out since everyone looks amazing." she states. "I will add that no one came in dressed like the instant win character. That would be the Winter Soldier." she muses. "Our top prize is a one hundred dollar gift card to the shop. You can use it to by books or games. Works for everything we sell." she tells them with a smile. "Our first prize winner is The Tick!" she grins.

"Now, we've had this night planned out for a bit so no one should feel empty handed going home. Those that didn't take home top prizes get fifteen dollar gift cards for being fantastic sports and for continuing to support our little venture here. So thank you all so so much. Comics take up about one hundred percent of my life given I run the store and I also have my costume creation business." she admits. "So every thing is genuinely appreciated." she gives a little bow to them.

Raul applauds for the group of costumed party-goers and adds to Ruby's declaration, "And don't forget if you ever want an excuse to dress up in costume we enjoy our customers cosplaying whenever they come in. Event not needed."

With the cat flopping over, Everett gets closer, and for the first time this evening, puts on a small smile while changing from long body pets to scratching under chin then petting belly. When other people start applauding, The Blue lifts his hand from StormieMcStormButt and appauldes politely along with everyone else, without taking his eyes off the kitty, only to return to petting the lackadaisical cat on the counter unaware he's won anything.

Rhys applauds for the Tick as well, though he's used up his whistle for the evening. Which is a shame, since the dude doesn't seem to realise he's won. So Rhys leans over helpfully stage-whispers upward, "Hey! That's you!" In a normal voice, "Go on, I'll make sure the cat survives until you're back."

Ruby gives a look to Tick and then to Storm, "Hey Tick, you won." she chuckles as she slides the envelope over to him since she's behind the counter. "Your costume is really great." she adds.

Storms eyes almost go black when those dangling antennae get closer. The Maine Coon swings one big paw at the blue object and 'BOINGS!' it. Looking all too pleased with himself.

August claps for Everett, aka the Tick, and goes to pick up a few things, including gifts for the nieces and friends. He winds up leaving with a very full bag, some early Christmas shopping taken care of, and a handful of fun photos to send the nieces. Win/win.

Sparrow sneaks a quick--and almost certainly entirely inappropriate--squeeze of Luke Cage's behind before slipping away, calling out, "Spoon!" as she applauds for the big blue guy who doesn't seem aware of his victory. She snorts a laugh as the guy dressed as a rodent takes up cat-petting duties, but she's off to go blow her whole gift card in one night. She snags her own copy of that Feynman bio along with The Imitation Game by the same author, the suggested cool-looking Neurocomic and some Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis to round out the haul. It almost certainly shoots past the $50 prize, but it's worth it.

With Rhys and Ruby's prods, Everett is startled back to looking around and then points at himself. He scratches where an ear out to be and murmurs, "Uh. Gravity is a harsh mistress," before he accepts the recognition. A nod, almost a bow, sets his antenna wiggling again. "Thank Christ I can take this off now." Peeling the cowl off, and the bathing cap under it with it to keep his volumous hair at bay, Everett gives his head a shake to let his hair out, then scratches his scalp, "Ahh," his cadence hasn't changed. "Wait until Andre sets his eyes on this," Everett adds, looking at the envelope.

Rhys blinks, looking from cat to Everett at that last comment, and laughs again. Not even at one of the Tick lines, this time! Suddenly things just make so much more sense. Once the cat's been safely passed on or defused, he gets to snagging his own party favours and making short work of his prize as well, and possibly a little bit extra. Isn't that always how it goes?