h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*the scene is evening at the edge of the UFO Crater near the beach*
*At one side of the crater is a big stage with respectable walls of sound equipment. A catwalk leads from the stage to the general area, but two CLI securibots linger at the entrance to the catwalk. They supply the group with food and drinks, accept requests to ferry to the band, and turn away anybody who doesn't have a backstage pass. GR not only has a backstage pass but has complete authority over who may be issued with other passes.*

*At the catwalk entrance is a large tent with sides rolled up. There are long buffet tables and a bar here, with Ampton standing smugly behind the bar, ready to serve guests.*

*A ginormous pyre has been built in the middle of the crater in the shape of a wicker man.*

*Myriads of tiki torches ring the crater and line paths going to the beach and back to the gardens behind the atelier. Other torches light the way to paths in the wood. Tables, chairs and benches have been set up near the crater, at the top of the beach and even at a nearby clearing in the wood, halfway between the atelier and the aroma cafe (this clearing is known as Ground Zero, after a famous pyrotechnic event that occurred earlier this summer).*

*Inflatable squids dance high up at the end of tethers, waving and gyrating in the thermals set up by the tiki torches.*

*There will be several huge fireworks displays in the course of the party, to be set off from a cordoned-off area further down the beach.*

*The reconstituted Lynyrd Skynyrd, looking none the worse for disinterment, are onstage performing a sound check or asking the securibots to bring refreshments.*

*Lil looks around.*

I hope Affi doesn't mind that I hung tinsel off the tentacles of his squids, but it really is cool the way everything glitters! Everything looks ready. All we need is guests! What a shame Titania is in Helsinki...

*looks very impressed*

Goes and asks the band if they do requests, picking up a few nibbles on the way past.

Alright!!
*takes a chair, a drink and some snacks to Ground Zero and settles in for the fun*

Yes, Phil, they do requests!

*gets some tostado chips with salsa* I'll certainly be asking for Sweet Home Alabama...

Wow, this is really great! Are there going to be commemorative t-shirts available? And talk about trend setting... those squids really make a statement.

*walks over to Ampton*

Let me have a long neck Rolling Rock, please.

*Goes looking for the mixing desk*

*swaps background tape*

*Saunters back to where the others are...*

*comes lolloping into the tent*

Corona with lime, Ampton? Ah. Good man.

*goes lolloping out again, inspecting the decor delightedly, gravitating (naturally) to the giant pyre*
Used plenty of lighter fluid, l hope...three bottles' worth is a safe amount, l'd say

*in a childishly hopeful tone*
...l don't suppose you'll need any help with the fireworks?

*consults small notebook* You're in charge, actually. I hoped you wouldn't mind doing the fireworks *wicked grin* or that I put the staging platform a little ways down the beach. I reckon when the tide comes in your platform will be stilted in a foot of water. At least you can set off the very biggest dudes without worrying about setting any forest fires.

Speaking of fiery, try this salsa. I am learning to like green chiles, seeing as they are the state vegetable of where I plan to move to. Ampton, give me an OC beer please.

Thought I'd start the music off with some rock music. Ah yes, The classic Come As You Are currently being played by The King, off his Gravelands album. I don't think you can salsa to this Lil, but then again I don't think I could salsa to anything

I'll try some of your firey dip with those great lookinbg chips.

Nice!

*downs glass of beer very quickly*

*giggles evily*
Only too happy to oblige.

This will be fun. Yes. Yes, it will.
l knew l picked up that brick of C4 awhile back for a reason...

l'll wait til tide comes in, then, yes? Don't want a repeat of...um...various incendiary incidents. Not their ultimate consequences, at any rate!
Shall probably want to wait a bit for the guest of honour, too. Trust me, GR, it'll be a show...and audience paritcipation is welcomed, as always, ox

Hey Lil, when in Santa Fe did you happen to see the campus of St. John's College?
Their admissions staff has been contacting me lately in a rather odd manner. lf they genuinely want me to apply again, and l haven't just been inadvertently left on their mailing list, and their repeated efforts to contact me haven't been a form of taunting knife-twisting, l might be going to school out there at some point.

*snags some salsa*
Fiesta time.

*Odra's tongue begins smouldering*
Mmm.

*comes hungrily in search of green chilies*
Going to be a great party! Waiting for the tide to come in is a great idea-the fireworks will be magnificent mirrored in the water.

*pokes hand out from around the corner, wavinhg backstage pass*

*throws paper aeroplane at Lynryd Syknryd with "Freebird" written on it*

Hello Lil! Hello Joanna! Hello Phil! Hello ox! Hello Witty Moniker! Hello Odradek! Your souls are saved!

Evening all. Is that Twister?

Twista!!!

The verdict is passed. Let's play!

Happy birthday to you...
*Matina rolls in bearing chocolate cake with magnesium sparkler candles*

Right, that's the embarrassing part over with!
Have the live band set up yet? Nice tapes meanwhile, Phil. Witty M, I didn't see you up there when I last posted, hello!

*tears are spurting from Lil's eyes as she takes in too large a bite of the salsa* Mmm! *sniff* Matina made up all sorts of other munchies if people aren't into HOT. There are prawns tikka and cold roast beef, and hummus and all kinds of veggie things and, and ...

Odra that would be pretty amazing if we both wound up in New Mexico. But I think Los Alamos should be warned.

Oh no!! Twister! That game makes me laugh so hard that I always fall down.

Dr. Pepper for GR, Ampton, and an OCB for me.

Only DP for GR? Sadness . But at least there's caffiene in it

Ok, who'll play Twister then? I'd say the band are sorting themselves out. When they're ready to play, they'll play.

I'll take you up on a backstage pass if I can GR...Freebird! Lil, this is SO cool. I age another year on Friday and it's nice to be around everyone here.

Ooh, Twister. I'm never sure whether having six legs is an advantage or not.