[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

[scholiast]

(Lucretia raises an eyebrow, amused.)

Oh absolutely take your shirt off, that will more than do the trick.

[worldsaway]

I'll do what must be done. [He sets the ball down, looking gravely at Lucretia before he starts to slide his vest up over his head.

Nothing can stop this train, the vest is on the floor, Thor is unbuttoning his shirt and slipping it off.

Now he's standing here, shirtless, wearing Lucretia's glasses. He picks the ball back up and holds it at her.]

I believe in you.

[spellslots]

[Taako, somewhere in the background:]

[scholiast]

(Note to self: her particular brand of sarcasm doesn't work on Thor. Kinda like Magnus, he just takes everything at face value. That's okay.

Lucretia looks at the ball, then at Thor, and squints.)

No, I believe in you. You're my trick shot. I'm... pretty sure the rules will let me get away with that.

[worldsaway]

[Sarcasm is undetectable to Thor when he has an idea in his head.

Thor raises a brow, but there's only so much he can protest before he really starts to feel completely hopeless.]

As you wish.

[Thor turns and positions himself, he's confusing himself trying to regain his perspective so he decides instead to take vision out of the equation entirely. Thor closes his eye and inhales through his nose, throwing the ball forward and waiting a moment before he opens his eyes.

He did it. He's actually a little surprised, so give him a second before he throws his hands up.]

Yes!! [He reaches out to clap a congratulatory hand on Lucretia's shoulder.] You're welcome.

[scholiast]

(There is so much going on here.

Lucretia watches as this man, who, had just asked to borrow her glasses for the sake of making this stupid shot, closes his eyes as he lines up the ball. She sighs, throwing both palms up when she shrugs, but-

hey, he actually gets it in, against all odds. Lucretia stares, mouth twitching in a tiny smile when he throws both hands up into the air in celebration of the feat. When Thor comes back to clap her on the shoulder, she reaches up to pluck her glasses off the end of his nose.)

... Not bad. (You got her Thor, she's impressed.)

[worldsaway]

[Thor leans in to facilitate the removal of her glasses, blinking his eye now that his perception of the world has changed once more.

He straightens up, grinning.]

I told you I knew what I was talking about. [Did he?

It was all luck, but he's not about to say that. Thor reaches down to pick up the shirt he dropped before.]

Do you think you'll manage alone, now?

[scholiast]

(Lucretia raises an eyebrow but says nothing, snorting as she pushes her glasses pointedly up her nose. )

Uh huh.

I dunno, Thor, you're the expert. Do you think I'll manage? You're welcome to stand back there and keep shouting at me if you'd like.

[worldsaway]

I think I've taught you everything I know. [Which is nothing, apparently.

He steps back and nods.]

I'll leave you to it.

[scholiast]

(Her sarcasm just bounces right off of him, huh. Incredible. Lucretia shoos him away with one hand.)

Bye. I'll shout if I need you.