riverviewlogs | [closed] a little party never killed nobody

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That's cool, he can totally wait.]

Oh, for sure. I'm gonna toss up a manor like I did for the masquerade? If you got any special requests for your room, put 'em in now.

[ Real friends wait for their friends to finish chowing down on pie, it's true.

Her face lights up at what Taako says, though, because she was totally thinking she would just crash on one of their plush couches or something and getting to crash in a magical mansion is, like, at least a hundred times better. So her face lights up with all the possibilities of Her Perfect Room to Drunkenly Pass Out In for a few moments. ]

...Huge, huge bed with a canopy, lots of blankets and fluffy pillows, pink, and soft robes to sleep in and slippers and lots of junk food for snacking on in case I get the munchies, maybe a TV with video games in case I can't sleep and it should probably have a bathroom too with a nice tub—

[ please stop her or she'll keep going ]

[No, no that's fine, he actually gets out his phone so he can make a quick couple of notes, because he's a good host.]

I can do all of that shit except the robes and slippers, clothing isn't part of the spell and I'm too lazy to fuck with it. [He had for the masquerade, but he'd also had help.] Ask Lup to borrow some PJs if you wanna, someone should teach her how to share.

[Honestly he'd offer his own but he's not sure if that's weird?]

[ Taako is literally the real MVP. Hana's excited to see what this all ends up being like. To the pajama conundrum, though: ]

Eh, if I can't get pajamas somehow I can always just sleep in my underwear.

[ s h r u g as she spoons in another bite of pie. ]

[Taako, who is several decades Hana's senior and also fucking gay:]

Hot.

[He's being a shit.]

[ Hana, who knows that Taako is ancient and also very fucking gay:

winks and fingerguns at him, saying, ]

That one's for the single people at this party!

[ and then shrugs. ]

Though there's not too many? If I'd known most of you guys were going to have dates I would've brought someone.

[ She sighs, although she absolutely does not mind flying solo. ]

[Taako laughs at those fingerguns.]

I did say you could bring a plus one, could've just been a friend. [But - he also waggles his eyebrows.] Magnus didn't bring a date.

[Did he hear about their date from Magnus? From Cisco? It's a mystery.]

Yeah, but I was like "eh, it's cool, I'll solo this one." But then I walked in and realized I probably should've at least brought a friend.

[ She says all that, but she's still smiling. Honestly, none of the couples around have made Hana feel awkward about coming alone at all, so that's pretty cool. She quirks a brow when she sees Taako's own brow movement because that can only mean something mischievous is afoot—

Ah.

Cisco, you big blabbermouth.

Hana just rolls her eyes and shakes her head. ]

He didn't, huh? So maybe I should have a sleepover with him then?

[ she's— totally joking ]

[Taako could point out that there are a few folks who aren't in couples - Lup, Bill, Peggy, Jyn and Cassian are friends but as far as he knows not any kind of romantically entangled - but he'd much rather tease her about Magnus.]

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind one bit, and but fair warning, Lup will have a field day with you tomorrow.

[Not in any mean way, she just likes to tease.

Taako would give her more of a hard time, too, but he's not sure if it's weird that he's slept with Magnus and now Hana is apparently into him???]

I think I can handle some teasing.

[ Can she really, though. ]

Anyway if I'm going to get to crash for one night in a super awesome magical mansion with an awesome room for myself, I don't know if I'm gonna want to share!

Admirable, but you have not seen Lup at her worst.

[She's a monster. It's amazing Rin hasn't been subjected to a shovel talk yet.]

But that is a real good point, cause I'm not about to do that sorta thing again anytime soon. Unless we do something for Candlenights, I guess.

[ That is duly noted in Hana's mind...

She does squint, though, suddenly unsure what Taako's talking about. ]

What's Candlenights?

Oh, shit, it's like... the kinda catch-all winter holiday? Cause there's about a million fucking religions and cultures in Fearun, so you just do Candlenights for everyone, then go do your own shit whenever it's supposed to be done.

[It's the equivalent of saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"]

Oh! [ she snaps her fingers for extra effect. ] That makes sense, actually. So, should I get you a present for Candlenights? Is that a thing you guys do for it?

I mean, there's a gift-giving component, but you don't have to get me anything.

[He already has something in mind for Hana, but he doesn't expect a gift in return.]

What about you? I know uh, a lotta Earth seems to do Christmas?

[ She waves a hand dismissively. ]

I'm totally getting you a present. You're my friend, there's no way I'm not going to.

[ Especially since she also already has something in mind for him. ]

But - yeah, we do Christmas where I'm from, too. You know, I used to hold a special Christmas program, I wonder if I should do that here...?

That's real sweet of you.

[Taako hasn't really had a Candlenights outside of the IPRE, so he doesn't really expect gifts from anyone but them. He's gonna have to get his hustle on to make sure he has stuff for everybody.]

You should absolutely do it, I'll even guest star, just for you.

[He has no idea what a Christmas program really involves but he can ask the internet.]

No problem, it's what friends do! You're gonna love my present.

[ She looks super excited, now. Her favorite part of the holidays, more than receiving mountains of presents from fans, is giving presents. She also looks excited for the idea that pops into her mind when Taako volunteers himself as a guest star. ]

Oh! That's so perfect, we can do a little segment of us baking Christmas treats together!

Well shit, now I'm gonna spend the next month wondering what it's gonna be.

[This is, frankly, rude.]

You're gonna have to give me a couple ideas on like, Christmas appropriate shit, but we can whip something up together for sure.

[closed] a little party never killed nobody

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