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

[ The dog wholeheartedly agrees that he is good--great, even--and he flops down on his back to better facilitate the full range of petting and scratching. He thumps his tail against the ground, panting excitedly, his big pink tongue lolling out of his mouth. When Hana's attention turns from him, he stays where he is, legs up, eternally hopefully. ]

Oh, he's just a ham. Aren't you, darling?

[ A soft, chagrined bark. ]

Learned it all from me, of course.

[ Hana can't help the smile on her face at the dog's timely response. She wants to ask what the doggo's name is, but it occurs to her that she's never actually formally introduced herself to Rin. So— ]

I guess I'll see how accurate that is, huh? I don't think I ever introduced myself - my name is Hana! I'm friends with Taako.

[ She holds her hand out for a shake. ]

[ The dog rolls onto his side once he realizes that further petting is not immediately incoming, but he keeps happily thumping his tail against the floor. Rin sighs, but it's in a fond, indulgent sort of way.

He takes Hana's hand, bowing his head, and presses a feather-light kiss to her knuckles. ]

Yes, I remember your prodigious swimming talent.

[ A deliberate hyperbole, but he's speaking with apparent sincerity--too smooth to tell, either way. ]

I'm glad Taako has so many charming friends. I'm Rin.

[ The hand kiss just sort of garners some squinting on Hana's end, completely unused to any sort of those gestures, plus she's trying to figure out his angle with what he'd said. Not that it matters; after she pulls her hand away, she's going right back to petting the doggo on the floor. ]

And I'm glad I finally get to meet Taako's boyfriend.

What's your dog's name?

[ He's cheerfully oblivious to any suspicion on her part--or seems it, anyway. He looks down at the dog, who is very clearly and genuinely having the time of his life right now.

He murmurs. ]

Yes; I'm ever so lucky.

The dog's name is Brantz. Not my decision, understand--he picked it himself.

[ A bark of affirmation follows. ]

[ She looks up at Rin with an incredulous look on her face, though in no way does it slow her petting of the dog. ]

Huh? How can a dog pick his own name?

[ Wink. ]

He's very smart.

[ The dogs bark in assent. He IS smart! ]

[ Hana moves her hands to frame the dogs face so she can look into his eyes very, very seriously, and ask: ]

What kind of elf magic did he do to you, Brantz.

[ don't worry she's just joking ]

[ In response, Brantz just licks her face--a big, sloppy dog kiss.

Rin feigns offense, one hand over his heart. ]

Such accusations! I have no talent for magic at all.

[ She turns her head and levels a flat, skeptical look at Rin, even as the dog licks the side of her face. ]

There's no way Taako would go out with someone who isn't at least a little extraordinary. What's your deal?

Well, I am extremely attractive.

[ Said without even the slightest trace of irony.

Brantz has stopped his licks, but he's presently just pushing against Hana instead, nuzzling at her shoulder like they're best friends. Pay attention to me, he seems to say. I'm far more interesting. ]

But I'm afraid I have almost no other practical skills or use. I am--or was--a mere traveling merchant.

[closed] a little party never killed nobody

good choice

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