[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk8mGVPuKyU][img]https://i.imgur.com/Aph26qY.png[/img][/url]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/wrTpEBz.png[/img]
[sub][color=slategray]Featuring: [color=0073d8]Dixon “Just Juice” Piccoli[/color]
Location: The Helmsley’s Boat Party[/color][/sub]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/rBrsmlU.png?1[/img][/center]
[indent]Dixon had once heard people talking about how hell has multiple circles. He wasn’t totally sure of the specifics, as he was never a very religious boy — neither were his folks — but, he was quite sure that he heard someone mention that once before. He was also quite sure that the car ride he’d just endured was one of those circles. The worst one. How the fuck did he wind up in that position? A position… on top of a boy, in the backseat of a car. Jesus Christ, he still felt all sweaty because of it. Fuck Damian and his stupid ass speaker. And fuck Katie too for inviting him to this stupid ass party. And fuck Noah for — no, don’t fuck Noah. Definitely don’t fuck Noah.

The thoroughly pissed off boy boarded the boat with his fists balled up so hard in his hoodie pockets that they threatened to burst through the seams. To make matters worse, they had arrived ridiculously [i]early[/i] to this party. Why did he have to go and get a ride here with his not-brothers? He should have just been honest and got a ride from his Dad at a more appropriate time of arrival. No… he should have just stayed home, that’s what he [i]should[/i] have done. It was too late for that now, he’d have to find something to do to occupy his time. Hopefully something enjoyable. He sure as hell hoped he wasn’t expected to help out with set up, because he certainly did not sign up for all of that business.

While the rest of the car ride crew went about adjusting lights and ensuring that the boat was party-ready, Dixon went exploring. He had never been on the Helmsley’s boat before, and the thing was fucking massive. It was damn near the size of a strip mall and, if he didn’t have such a good understanding of physics, he probably would have questioned how the thing even managed to float. There were a lot of rooms, the more private ones had little signs posted outside them to indicate if they were occupied or not… Dixon was pretty sure those were entirely designed as fuck rooms. He could dig that. The most interesting place he found was the game room below deck. It had a pool table, air hockey, darts, tables for beer pong and other drinking games, and a bunch of couches situated around the video game station, which was mostly set up for [i]Guitar Hero[/i]. JD plopped himself on one of said couches and pulled out his phone.

The young teenager lost track of time as he sat there, viciously tapping at the device in his hands. Watching Jareth play [i]Fortnite[/i] earlier had inspired him to do the same. The best place he had gotten so far was seventh. Dixon was normally pretty ace at video games, but playing on mobile was a severe handicap to the gameplay. There were the sounds of people upstairs, lots of people, and there were even folks crowding into the game room itself, but JD paid them no mind. It wasn’t until his phone screen dimmed and flashed a “Less than 10% battery life remaining!” message that Dixon looked up from what he was doing.

Holy crap… this was a big crowd. JD sat up slowly, as if he was trying not to draw any attention to himself, and he slid his phone back into his pocket. He should probably preserve the rest of his battery life in case any emergency came up. Though… they were in the middle of the ocean, so he wasn’t sure what good a phone call would do if there was an actual emergency. Wait! They were in the middle of the ocean now, at least they probably were, it seemed like enough people were here! This gave Dixon an idea.

Wandering his way further into the depths of the labyrinthian yacht, Dixon finally found it. The control room! Better yet, he found it, [i]and[/i] it wasn’t locked. [color=0073d8][i]Oooh…[/i][/color] JD looked around at all of the buttons and controls with wide-eyed amazement, closing the door behind him. [color=2F4F4F][b]“You shouldn’t be in here, please return to the festivities. The captain’s room is off limits to party guests.”[/b][/color]

[color=0073d8][b]“Whoa!”[/b][/color] Dixon jumped as the sudden voice of the ship’s AI system filled the room. He looked around, and found that he was very much so alone, so the voice definitely had to be AI. [color=0073d8][b]“Says who?”[/b][/color] He replied.

[color=2F4F4F][b]“The captain.”[/b][/color] The feminine voice responded curtly.

[color=0073d8][b]“Well… I don’t see him around…”[/b][/color] Dixon tested the computer. He was going to try to convince her to let him drive this thing. And to keep it a secret.

[color=2F4F4F][b]“I [i]am[/i] the captain.”[/b][/color] She replied, the inflection of her tone indicating that he’d struck a theoretical nerve. A… circuit chip? He wasn’t sure of the name of the physical component that gave Assistant’s their ability to express emotions and have personalities. What an annoying part that was, AIs could be real dicks these days.

[color=0073d8][b]“Oh… well, in that case. I am sorry, captain. Can I please drive the ship?”[/b][/color]

[color=2F4F4F][b]“No.”[/b][/color]

[color=0073d8][b]“Come on. Pleaassseeee? There are definitely manual controls here. I promise I won’t fuck it up. Sailing a ship is on my bucket list. This is going to be the only party story that I will have to tell. I don’t drink or do drugs or anything like all of the other kids here are doing. This could totally make my night, so… please?”[/b][/color]

There was a moment of silence. Dixon raised his eyebrows curiously and looked around, as if there was going to be a physical manifestation of someone to talk to and convince. There wasn’t. But… after a few quiet seconds, there was a response. [color=2F4F4F][b]“Fine. You have five minutes, and I will act as co-pilot to counteract your inevitable human error.”[/b][/color]

Geesh, she didn’t have to be so rude about it! Either way, JD agreed to those terms and received instructions from the computer on how to manually pilot the ship. Truth be told, it wasn’t the most exciting thing in the world, the boat was hardly moving above a snail’s pace, but it sure felt cool to Dixon! His five minutes passed, and he thanked the captain for letting him do that before leaving her in peace. He heard the door click locked as soon as he exited the room. Clearly she didn’t want to have anymore non-Helmsley-staffed visitors. Whatever… at least he got to have his fun!

Now what? He should probably try to find Katie. She was the reason he came, after all. Well, her and her friend. It was more of the friend that did the heavy-lifting part in convincing JD. Noah wanted him to come, and he’d never really even talked to the boy before. He couldn’t really say no to that. Dixon chewed at his lip ring and decided that he needed a drink first. Not a [i]drink[/i] drink, just a normal one, because he was thirsty. Remy’s salty snack foods that Damian had pilfered, and Dixon had doubly-pilfered, were probably to blame for his thirst. 

JD weaved his small frame through the crowds of high schoolers with ease. Up the stairs, down the halls, passing the dance floor (and avoiding the dancing entirely), Dixon finally made it to the bar. The large male bartender looked at him directly and Dixon suddenly felt a little bit intimidated. [b]“What’ll it be, kid?”[/b] The man asked, wiping a glass with a linen cloth before stowing it away in a cabinet with others of its kind.

[color=0073d8][b]“Juice.”[/b][/color] Dixon responded coolly. That went much easier than expected. So he thought…

The bartender raised an eyebrow at JD, looking him over and not even bothering to hide the judgement in his eyes. Dixon felt each and every label that the man was tossing upon him: kid, street rat, troublemaker, punk. The list went on. JD stood his ground defiantly and kept his gaze locked on the bartender. [b]“Listen, kid. I don’t know what kind of party you think that this is, but there isn’t any jungle juice here. The Helmsley’s are offering up the best, and I’m under instructions not to card anybody. You can take your pick of anything. We’ve got top shelf,”[/b] he gestured behind him with his thumb towards the bottom row of bottles. He cast his thumb upwards again and again after the next two statements. [b]“And the shelf above the top shelf, and lastly, the shelf so damned high, it practically comes from the attic of a royal castle. So… what’ll it be?”[/b]

The green-haired boy stared at him dully. Was this guy for real? [color=0073d8][b]“Just… juice. Please. I like pineapple the most, but if you really want to make it [i]super fancy[/i].”[/b][/color] Dixon held out his pinkie finger, high and proud, mocking how a pretentious person might sip their tea. [color=0073d8][b]“You could put a splash of mango in it, a bit of club soda to make it fizzy, and a couple of cherries. I mean… if we’re being really fancy, you know.”[/b][/color] Dixon smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. He was proud as a peacock with his very extra request.

The bartender chuckled and shook his head. [b]“I actually think I like you, kid…”[/b] He remarked before turning and making JD’s non-alcoholic beverage. Dixon’s slowly dying phone buzzed in his pocket while he waited for his drink to be finished. He fetched the device and unlocked it with his finger pattern. It was Katie, and she was probably looking for him. Dixon supposed that was perfect timing.

[quote]From: [color=ba314c][b]Katie
i am in dire need of assistance and if you don't come i need you to have a very good reason[/b][/color][/quote]

Well that wasn’t ominous or anything. Jesus, what did she get herself into now? Maybe she actually murdered Scott this time, and needed help hiding his body. Good thing they were on a boat, the ocean makes for more than a decent-sized watery grave. The bartender slid the finished product in a glass towards Dixon, and JD politely thanked him without any of the sass from earlier, before he responded to the text.

[quote]To: [color=ba314c][b]Katie[/b][/color]
[color=0073d8][b]kk
where are you?[/b][/color][/quote][/indent]