Virtual Hallucinatory Birthday Bash (VHBB)
Party, Party, Party  (VHBB 13/17)
By Lana G. Soward, Unaffiliated
Day/time:  Tuesday, August 6th, 12:01am
Location:  Diane's room at the hospital

Hallucinatory Time : 11:05pm

Once the factions had gotten used to being in the same room with each
other during a war.  The party started in full swing.  LaCroix had even
released Lisa from her confines, by promising the bartenders that if she
got a hold of a single Zombie Beachcomber that he'd have them all for
breakfast. 

He told Will that he could come out of the straight jacket only if he
could find someone to undo it for him.  Unfortunately for Will, everyone
he asked took one look at LaCroix and hurriedly declined.  He managed to
have a good time, although dancing without arms tended to upset his
balance and he had an even more difficult time of getting someone to
accompany him to the, er, you know. 

****

Even Dianne and Maureen sat down for a chat.  Maureen, still suffering
from the after effects of her reassimilation, had trouble restraining the
snide remarks about her recent trial, but she managed. 

"I've got to keep order in the ranks," explained Dianne.  "We can't have
all think they can defect anytime they want?" 

"Defecate?" shouted Maureen above the pounding music.  "Why shouldn't they
get to defecate whenever they want?  That's just the..." 

"DEFECT!" screamed Dianne in Maureen's ear.  "We can't have them all
DEFECT any time they want." 

****

Nick wandered up to Diane who was chatting with Janette about where the
other unaffiliates had gotten the chic black dress for her. 

"Would you like to dance, birthday girl?"  he asked, smiling down at her. 
Diane gaped in surprise.  She'd never expected him to come ask her to
dance.  She set her drink down on the bar and allowed Nick to lead her to
the dance floor. 

****

"Look he's dancing with Diane." said a Knightie.

"Well, after all it is her birthday," said Perri reasonably.

"Gee, I hope he'll dance with us next," sighed another.

"Don't count on it," said Catherine.  "I think he's afraid we're going to
dogpile him again.  Even though it usually is for his own good." 

****

Vachon gracefully cut in on Nick and elegantly swung Diane away across the
dance floor. 

"You're a wonderful dancer," marveled Diane.

Vachon, his hair trimmed very short as a the result of an unforeseen
incident, smiled.  "I've learned a step or two in my lifetime."  he said. 
"I'm quite well-versed in the social graces." 

****

"Hey Bonnie.  Look who Diane is dancing with."

"WHAT?"

****

Maureen caught LaCroix eyeing her.  The amount of alcohol she'd consumed
had given her a batch of Dutch courage. 

"What are you staring at?"  she demanded.

"Your hair," he admitted frankly.  "They really did a remarkable job with
the red dye.  You really did have blonder hair that mine." 

"How did you know that?" asked Maureen horrified.

"Oh Maureen," said LaCroix.  "Did you really think that the Mercenaries
would dye your hair blond and not take any pictures.  It's out on the
world wide web under http://www.mercs.com/maureen_blond.gif.  It's really
quite an amazing picture.  Excuse me.  I must go claim a dance with the
birthday girl."  He moved off through the crowd and Maureen stood gaping
after him.