[closed] a little party never killed nobody

[spellslots]

who: The IPRE + friends
what: A dinner party!
when: Novemeber 18
where: Chez IPRE
warnings: some mild drug use (alcohol + marijuana)

Party time, motherfuckers. After sending out invitations, the IPRE (mostly Taako, because he's the most extra of the group) spends a significant amount of the week preparing for the party, making sure they have all the food, decorations, and wine necessary to put on a good evening. The whole point of this is to be a distraction from a shitty month, and to get everyone together, since they have a range of friends who haven't all met each other. They've been talking about doing something like this for months, so it's nice to finally pull it all together.

Upon arrival (and despite Taako and Lup's involvement) the decorations are minimal. Couches have been transmuted from their regular fabric to rich velvets, there's a little glitz and feathers here and there, but they didn't want to go too hard on the theme. It was just a way to have a little fun with the evening. The bar cart, on the other hand, is definitely in line with Speakeasy, featuring a lot of gin and whiskey based drinks, though anyone with a preference for wine or beer won't be disappointed. The start of the evening is dedicated to introductions and mingling, probably helped by the alcohol, though there's also cheese and antipasto plates set out, just in case anyone was worried about not being fed at something hosted by two chefs. As a way to break the ice, and to get people talking and having fun before the evening really kicks off, the brick wall of the small living room has been set aside as the designated backdrop for a 'photo booth', which mostly consists of a few instant cameras, including one that takes what are essentially magical gifs, so long as the button is held down for 5 seconds. There are a few props that match the theme of the evening - fur stoles, feather headbands, felt hats, long strings of pearls - to make the photos a little more fun. Once everyone is seated in the dining room, it's time for dinner. The food brought out for the main meal is warm and rich without being too heavy, slow cooked meats and roasted vegetables can be mixed with salads and lighter sides to avoid anyone slipping into a food coma before dessert has even begun. Everything is set in the middle of the table, for people to serve themselves, so they can pick and choose what they want to try. Lup has made at least one incredibly spicy dish, so be careful.

While there's no rush to leave the table, eventually plates are cleared away (by magic, so none of the hosts have to stop chatting) and everyone is ushered into the larger of their living rooms, where the small coffee table has been replaced by a seemingly floating table that's large enough to accommodate all the desserts. There are various pies (pecan, pumpkin, cherry), apple & maple cake, chocolate tarts, brownies and trifle. There aren't quite as many options as there were on the dinner table, but it's near a thing, especially when the section of the table devoted to cream, ice cream and sauces is taken into consideration. Dessert is an extended affair, pies will stay warm and ice cream will stay frozen for as long as they remain on the table, so people can return and try more even as the rest of the night presses on. And although the food is, really, the main attraction of any kind of event that Taako is involved with, that doesn't mean there aren't things to do other than eating. Once the dining room table has been cleared, (plastic) champagne glasses are laid out in what might be a familiar formation to anyone who went to college, especially when a ping pong ball is added to the mix. It's beer pong! Except it's actually prosecco pong, because this is a classy joint, not some frat. Or at least, that's the excuse. There are a few other things to do, mostly in the more generic range of party games, including a deck of Cards Against Humanity that Taako discovered a couple weeks ago and had been delighted by. He's definitely going to wrangle people into a game of Never Have I Ever, maybe Truth Or Dare, and anything else he can think of that requires drinking alcohol and saying stupid shit. What better way is there to get to know people? As things wind down, the backdoors open up into the courtyard, where a fire is set up, cushions and blankets placed outside for people to curl up with. The fixings for s'mores are available for anyone who somehow still has room to eat more food, and there's mulled cider just in case the fire isn't enough to keep people warm. It's a nice way to wrap up the evening.

Comments

lucretia ♡

[scholiast]

(Lucretia has come to the party with Beverly on her arm and it's clear to anybody watching just how happy she is about it. She's chosen a more simplistic, albeit masculine vibe for her outfit (though she has a little sprig of flowers sticking out of one of the breast pockets of her shirt, just to break it up a little), and is delighted to see how she contrasts with Taako and his usual glitzy attire. She spends the start of the party mingling, introducing Beverly to her friends and lingering by the fancy little table of glasses and various drink options, trying to decide on which note she'd like to start her night.

You'd think that somebody who has spent one hundred years (give or take) with two chefs would be accustomed to their cooking by now but Lucretia finds that Taako and Lup are continuously coming up with new ways to bowl her over. She'll be commentating on how much she loves everything through the span of the meal, unable to help herself as she angles to try a bit of everything... even Lup's incredibly spicy dish, hidden in plain sight in the middle of the table. That is one Lucretia finds she cannot comment on, but only because she has to keep her mouth shut so she won't start coughing. She's determined not to react and give Lup the satisfaction, but hopefully somebody notices she's struggling and can pass her a glass of something cold!

She joins in on several of the games. While she's never been much of a party animal, she's more relaxed around good company and it reminds her too much of mucking about on the Starblaster for her to decline any invitation to play. Cards against Humanity only makes her feel guilty for laughing so much so that game may have to be swiftly abandoned; she's rubbish at prosecco pong, but hopefully gains points for trying; and Never Have I Ever is a sleeper hit because while she may seem like she hasn't a lot to offer, she has lived a full century of shenanigans with some of the craziest people she's ever known. She's drinking a lot more than one might expect.

Eventually the evening winds down and Lucretia retreats to the coziness of the fire, nursing a half-filled mug of mulled wine (her favourite). She couldn't possibly spare room for s'mores, but she's more than happy to sit back on the fringes of the gathering and watch her friends quietly talk and enjoy themselves. This is one of her favourite things in the world to do. She's very content and relaxed, much more so than she has been in a very, very long time.)

[tutee]

[ It's always awkward, seeing someone you've dated with a new girl on her arm. Even if Bill wasn't interested in Lucretia that way anymore, it still stings a little to see her happy with someone else. She's happy for her, really. And it isn't like she doesn't have Heather waiting for her on the other side of the portal. Still, Bill isn't sure what to say to Lucretia when she sees her, ducking out of sight for the first half of the party rather than face the elephant in the room.

It's only when she sees Lucretia struggling after taking a bite of Lup's spiciest dish, that she leans over and quietly offers her glass. It's a cocktail of Kahlua, Baileys, coffee and milk. ]

Here, the milk will help with the spiciness.

[scholiast]

Thank you– (she manages, giving Bill a grateful look as she takes a long, measured sip. While it doesn't immediately solve her problem, it does at least take the edge off the spiciness. Lucretia exhales, making a face as she props her elbow up on the table so she can fan herself with her hand.)

Jeezy creezy– uh, don't touch that one in the middle. It's dangerous.

(Oh, was that Bill's drink she just helped herself to? She passes it back with a slightly embarrassed smile.) Sorry– here.

[tutee]

[ Bill can't help herself, she laughs. ]

It's alright. I'll steer clear.

[ She takes her drink back and tries to come up with something to say. ]

Are you-- having fun?

[scholiast]

(Bill's laugh makes her relax; she sets her cutlery down to better talk to her.)

I really am, actually. It's good to catch up with everybody in less dire circumstances.

You?

[tutee]

I am, yeah!

[ She only really knows the IPRE contingent of this party, but she's been socializing and enjoying herself. ]

It's nice to meet new people.

[ Which may or may not be a loaded, "so tell me about your new girlfriend," complete with a glance over at Beverly. ]

[scholiast]

(Oh boy. Lucretia can't help a flustered, nervous smile.)

Yes. Have uh- have you met Beverly yet?

(She's not entirely sure of the protocol here. It's cool for her to talk about Beverly to Bill, right? Despite it all? Bill seems to be asking though, so she'll play it by ear.)

[tutee]

[ The way Bill figures it, if they both act like it's fine, then it'll be fine. ]

I haven't, no. She seems... nice.

[scholiast]

(Cool, because Lucretia can act fine into the heat death of the universe.)

She is– I met her at the friend dating event, back in... oh, June? Something like that. We had a lot in common, and we clicked.

[causational]

[Considering his history with Taako, Eddie felt a little awkward attending the party as Cisco's plus one, but the truth is, these are Cisco's friends, his closest friends here, and so he needs to start reaching out, awkwardness be damned. So he finds a nice zoot suit complete with hat and chains and saddle shoes, dresses up, and comes to the party. After going around the party a few times arm in arm with Cisco, they finally split up to mingle, and Eddie's on his own.

So the first place he goes is straight to the drinks for an icebreaker. It's there that he sees Lucretia and recognizes her. Smiling, he looks over the drink selection.]

Man, I haven't had gin since college.

[A little grin as he looks at her.]

Lucretia, right?

[scholiast]

(It's funny that the most she's known of Eddie has been through Taako, and now Cisco. Only ever through significant others. Lucretia smiles too, hands in her pockets.)

Yeah– Eddie? You look nice. (She likes the suit, though he's very brave to have worn something white.)

Unfortunately I've had gin fairly recently. Can I get you something?

[causational]

[The truth is, Eddie's always had kind of a hard time making friends. Unfortunately, Riverview hasn't been much different - it must be something about him that does it. Still, he offers her a bright little smile.]

That's me. Sorry, I know we've never officially met, but Cisco pointed you out. I thought I'd come say hi.

[Eddie hasn't forgotten how Cisco told him she reminded him a bit of Eobard, but he doesn't let that get in the way of being genuinely interested in her, because he's heard a lot of good things about her too.]

Is there any beer? I know it's not on theme, but...well. You know.

[scholiast]

That's alright- we had to meet some time.

(She wonders distantly how much Cisco has talked about her. The budding friendship ruined by opening her canister, what he found out about her from Taako, the shared memories and dreams. It all adds up to a lot of ugly back info about her and Eddie isn't any ol' acquaintance. He's the boyfriend.

Lucretia shifts uncertainly, but doesn't let the smile drop from her face either.)

Sure. (Lucretia is less of a beer expert, so she just... takes the nearest bottle, uncaps it with mage hand and passes it over. Hopefully you're cool with a pilsner, Eddie.)

So, you and Cisco, huh? Tell me more.

[causational]

[Pilsner will do, in a pinch. He's drunk worse. Taking a sip, he hums, his eyes sinking shut for a moment, and then looks back at Lucretia.]

Oh, you do that magic hand thing too, huh? Cisco told me you were really strong with magic. Sorry, I'm...probably using the wrong terms, but I could never quite wrap my head around the differences in types of magic and stuff. You probably heard from Cisco that magic isn't a common thing where I'm from.

[A little shrug, and another sip, and when she asks about him and Cisco, his expression softens a little, his smile warm.]

Oh, yeah, we've been together a few months now. I knew him from home, but we never really connected there. Then here, with only each other from home, we connected a lot more, and after Taako and I split up, it kind of...accidentally happened.

[scholiast]

(Lucretia could start a group with the amount of people she's impressed by using mage hand in front of them! She grins fleetingly, trying to hide her amusement.)

That's okay. It would seem stranger to me that you don't have magic if I hadn't seen and heard about the technology Cisco uses to make his suits. (Because that is like magic, just... different.

Eddie's expression when he talks about Cisco is almost exactly the same as the one Cisco makes when he talks about Eddie. Soft, admiring. It's sweet.)

I'm glad you could come together like that. It's a lot easier to weather this place with friends and loved ones than no one at all, huh.

[causational]

[That makes Eddie genuinely grin, his head ducking, his mouth curved into a warm smile.]

Right? The stuff he does is amazing. It might as well be magic, you know? It's so far above my head, I don't even understand half of what he does, let alone how he does it...

[A little laugh, and he shakes his head again.]

Yeah, it is good. I mean, Cisco and I barely knew each other back home, we were kind of on the same team, but we never hung out...I'm really glad we came here together so I could get to know him the way I have.

[Glancing up at her, he shrugs a bit.]

You too, huh? It must be nice to have so many people.

[scholiast]

Agreed. He hasn't shown me the full scope just yet but he's explained a little bit and even that went over my head. I'm not much of a technology person.

(Mostly because she hasn't had much of an opportunity to get stuck into it (bar knowing more about the inner workings of the Starblaster) but it's a moot point. She smiles, still charmed by the way Eddie's feelings clearly show through whenever the topic of conversation shifts to Cisco.)

It is nice. (It's funny that Eddie has cherished spending time with Cisco here because he didn't back home, whereas Lucretia has spent a century with her people and this just feels like... bonus time. A holiday from her plans, and the slow broiling disaster waiting for her back in Abeir Toril.) I don't know what I'd do without them.

[umbrastaff]

[What was that? You think her dish is too spicy?

Lup is giving Lucretia a look, trying to read her face with a smug grin.]

Did you try the chili, Luce~?

[scholiast]

(Oh goddamnit Lup.

Lucretia nods sagely, popping one hand over her mouth as she chews. Her eyes are starting to water.)

[umbrastaff]

[She's trying so hard to not laugh, biting her lower lip slightly.]

My goodness, is it so good that you're crying? I must make it for you every time you come over.

[scholiast]

(Lucretia shrugs a shoulder, makes a little oh, you know gesture, and swallows.)

No, (she croaks, and immediately reaches for her glass of wine,) that's fine, thank you.

[umbrastaff]

No, no, I can see how much you love it. Gotta know your favorites, after all!

[Teasing aside, she swipes the wine from Lucretia and hands her a roll instead.]

[scholiast]

Lup- (she makes useless grabby hands for the glass, frowning at the roll Lup passes her instead.)

I don't love it, that was hell on earth. What did you put in it?

[umbrastaff]

Bread helps better than water, you should know this by now.

[She smiles sweeter than she has any right to.]

Five different kinds of chilli peppers.

[scholiast]

I know, but I want to double-fist. Give me that-

(She snatches the glass back off of Lup as she takes a bite of the bread. Because she has both hands full she can no longer flip Lup off so she just gives her what she thinks is the expression version of a middle finger.)

Goodness, Lup. Do you ever know when to stop?