riverviewlogs | [closed] a little party never killed nobody

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[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.

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[ Cisco, completely falling for it, glances from the dog, to Bryn, to the dog again. Qiri, helpfully, barks. ]

Please tell me you can see that dog, or I'm gonna have to put this convo on hold a minute so I can find Taako and get him to lift whatever kinda whack puppy-seeing illusion magic he's put on me.

[ Because if anyone had done that, it would be Taako. Probably in collusion with Magnus. He wouldn't put it past them, the absolute scoundrels. ]

Would puppy-seeing illusion magic be so terrible?

[She grins, unable to commit to tormenting Cisco the way that Taako surely would, and reaches down to pick up Qiri who immediately wriggles in her grasp.]

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. How are you doing? What's new?

Maybe not. Illusory puppies need love too, I guess. Would make you look kind of like an idiot, though, petting thin air or whatever.

[ But then the mystery is solved because Bryn picks up the dog, and Cisco heaves a slightly overdramatic sigh of relief. Then he comes closer, lifting his hand to offer to give the - admittedly very wriggly - puppy a head scratch. ]

I'm doing good. Making tech, taking names.

[ Maybe that'll be a reference she gets? Who knows. But Cisco smiles, tucking his hair behind his ears and saying: ]

I, uh, decided I'm here for good. So. That kinda tells you how much I like the place. Except the ghosts. The whole 'month of ghosts' thing can fuck right off.

[Qiri immediately begins licking Cisco's hand, his wrist, whatever he can reach even while being pet by Cisco who, understandably seems relieved that Bryn was on joking about not seeing her dog.]

I did the same, actually. Decided that I'm going to stay, that is. Or at least, decided that I'm going to put down roots and build a life for myself here, regardless of whether or not the portal ever opens for me.

[After a moment, she settles Qiri down on the ground to let him sniff at Cisco's shoes.]

Blighted ghosts aside, tech was actually part of the reason I wanted to catch you. Any chance you'll let me grab you a drink and talk shop with me a little?

You too? Awesome.

[ Cisco is going to react as if this is good news: to him, it is. He doesn't know Bryn's reasons for making that decision, of course. Could be that terrible stuff had been going down in her home world and she wants to avoid it. But he's going to choose to react as if it's a wonderful thing to be celebrated, unless otherwise informed.

His eyebrows raise a bit when she says she wants to talk tech. It's a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. ]

Sure, I love talking shop. Hit me.

Drink first.

[Without a dog in her arms, she can link one with his, and lead him over to where drinks are being served. After all, if they get into it before they get drinks then they may get too caught up to ever get around to the drink.

No one wants to talk their mouth dry, either.]

What are you in the mood for, beer? Wine? There are some mixed drinks that are pretty good too. Strong.

[Not a bad thing in her opinion.]

[ Cisco is more than happy to let Bryn steer him through the party towards the drinks table. ]

Let's go with a beer. Don't wanna get too buzzed before the inevitable drinking games.

[ He knows Taako, he knows that is definitely going to come up during this party sooner or later, and he doesn't want to start off already tipsy. Cisco takes the beer that Bryn hands him, toasting her with it before he takes a small sip. ]

I gotta admit, the curiosity is killing me.

[ Seems as if she is maybe buttering him up a little - which is intriguing in and of itself. What could she want? ]

[Bryn obliges Cisco by grabbing beers for both of them, and when he says that the curiosity is killing him she grins, not about to drag it out too long. After a sip of her own, she decides to get right to the point.]

I discovered recently that I have powers here. I didn't back home, despite extensive testing from one of my fathers. Didn't realize I could have any here and then it just sort of...happened by accident. I've been training for the last several weeks to learn how to use them--elemental powers, by the way--but Taako's mentioned before that you're something of a genius when it comes to making gear for powered people. Thought I'd see if you were interested in a commission. Not sure that I need anything specific, but then again that's your expertise, not mine.

[She shrugs a little.]

I have an instructor who's helping me get a handle on things, so that part is covered, but I don't really have any gear that might be best suited for the sort of fighting I can do now.

Oh!

[ That was not at all the sort of talking shop that Cisco had expected, but it's clear from his expression that he's only too excited to help. Elemental powers... that's a new one, to him, though he supposes that's a little like what the Mardons could do. Before Bryn is even finished asking, Cisco is already thinking of what tests he could set up to measure extent of her powers, quantify their output, assess any potential side effects to her health or weaknesses they exposed her to while fighting...

He realizes belatedly that maybe he should actually give some kind of response to Bryn; looking up quickly he says: ]

Yeah! Absolutely, I can totally help you with that. That's like... my speciality. And it's totally cool if you don't know what you need yet. I'm not gonna know what you need, either, until I see what you're capable of. You got some free time next week to show me what you got, go through a sort of questionnaire about your powers and how they feel and any side effects or stuff that doesn't quite make sense yet? The more I know, the better I can tailor this stuff for you.

[This is the sort of approach that Bryn appreciates. The enthusiasm, the straightforward assessment and plan of attack, it's just what she'd needed. It's true that her magic is, well, magic. She doesn't get burned by fire when she uses it, not really, but that doesn't mean mistakes might not happen, or that someone could reflect her attacks back at her.]

I can make the time to meet with you. I'm training daily, so you're welcome to come to one of my sessions. You can see what I can do, and speak with my instructor. She understands all of this much better than I do, being from the world where this sort of magic is common, I guess.

[She gives him a little smile.]

Thanks in advance. It's kind of a lot to deal with, even weeks after the fact...

I'll do that.

[ No reason to make her change her schedule just for him - and besides, he feels like he might get a more accurate view of what she can do if he sees her during her usual training. And that way, he can stand back a bit, take notes, come up with questions he needs answered, without feeling like he's neglecting her or being awkward. ]

Who's teaching you, anyway?

[ Cisco knows more than a few magic-using women in the Quarantine but he's sure there are many many more he hasn't met; still, be good to know the woman's name before he turns up one day. ]

Yeah, how you doin' with all that? That's gotta be a real head trip. No powers one day, powers the next. You got anybody you can talk to about it? How'd you find out, anyway?

[Grinning, she gives Cisco the name of her instructor, a woman who says she hails from a country called Elona, but she doesn't expect the name to ring a bell.]

It's a head trip, to be sure. Honestly I thought it was something Taako had done at first because I found out when I slapped him. I mean, yes, the sparks hit him instead of me but still. One of my fathers can use magic. Asarian, specifically. We're not related by blood but he had me tested for all schools of magic just in case. Came up with nothing.

And elemental powers are...highly prized where I'm from. So to go from nothing to an abundance of riches has been incredible and a little intimidating all at once. Not that I would trade them for anything. of course.

[ Cisco turns quickly, to glance at where the host of the party is off, fluttering around and being sociable. He looks back to Bryn, eyebrows raised as he asks: ]

Why'd you slap Taako?!

[ Sure, he has his moments of being insensitive; Cisco knows that perfectly well. But Bryn hadn't struck him as someone who hit people without significant provocation, so whatever had happened must have been fairly serious, right? Only not too serious, because here she is at his party. And if that was when they first manifested... ]

Are your powers tied with your emotions? I'm just asking 'cause it sounds like maybe tempers were running a bit high, when they first got triggered, and that's the kinda thing I need to know about if I'm gonna make you effective tech.

[ There is one thing that's clear: she seems happy, to have these powers. There's precedent for them, in her society, in her family even, and she seems to think of them as a blessing, rather than a curse. For a moment, Cisco feels a tiny twinge of jealousy over that, quickly squashed. ]

[Bryn, perhaps surprisingly for Cisco, let's out a little laugh. She can find the humor in the situation now that it's passed.]

I don't think they're tied to my emotions exactly. It was during uhm, that holiday. Dragosta? Taako and I were on our way to get some half-price drinks and got caught in one of those bubbles where you have to kiss to get out. We were joking around and then Taako got the upper hand and got me flustered. And then when he kissed me he turned himself into a frog.

[She gives Cisco a look. Like yeah, that happened.]

The bubble dissolved, and I kicked him a good twenty, thirty feet in the air in frog form. He then collapsed on the ground laughing. I nudged him with my foot at first but when he didn't get up I started lightly smacking his face and then whoops, there were the sparks.

We hit up Gramyere after that. Found a tutor not long after that. What would my emotions have to do with the tech you create, however? It might have come out during a moment of annoyance but I've been using them find with a cool head, or while worked up.

Oh!

[ Well, that definitely explained things, and sounds a lot more in tune with Taako and Bryn's personalities, as he's observed them, than what he'd been imagining. Not a misunderstanding or a fight, just some teasing that had happened to include a little light face-slapping. ]

Yeah, that sounds like Taako, alright.

[ It's exactly the sort of joke he'd pull, turning himself into a frog after kissing her. But since the slap was not intended to hurt, and not an outpouring of frustration or anger, it seems that the context might be unimportant. ]

Oh, well. It's not common or anything, but a few of the metas I've worked with have certain emotional triggers for their powers.
Like... say, fear, for example. So if I was making tech for somebody in that situation, it'd be important to incorporate ways of using their powers in any state of mind. But it sounds like you're not in that category, so. Makes my life easier!

[ And no, of course he's not talking about anybody specific when he refers to 'a few metas'. Definitely not himself, no sir. ]

Anyway, I'd be happy to help you out. I'm gonna put a reminder on my phone right now, so no matter how faded I get at this party I don't forget to stop by and see you training.

[ Cisco does, indeed, whip out his phone and type out a reminder to himself, in all caps, that he promised to make tech for Bryn's powers, and that he should go and observe her at such-and-such time and place. ]

[It all makes sense, of course. She's well aware of powers being affected by emotions, stunting them or making them grow out of control. Them being triggered by emotions...she's heard of that also. Her father spoke to her at great length about such things growing up. It seems that some things are the same no matter what world you're in, and hearing it come from Cisco only reinforces her belief that he's the right person to come to now with regards to building her some gear to work in.

The last thing she wants is finding out she might accidentally set her own clothing on fire if she's not careful and going up in flames before she can summon some water to stop the burning.]

I'll put a reminder on mine as well so I don't forget to hunt you down to compare schedules.

[It doesn't take her long, but she enters in a quick note into her calendar, taking into account that she expects to sleep in late tomorrow, and then tucks it away once more into her purse.]

So now that business is out of the way, why don't you tell me what you've been up to, hm? What sorts of trouble have you been getting into here in town? Or have you been venturing past the perimeter at all?

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[closed] a little party never killed nobody

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