riverviewlogs | open: gold & glitz

open: gold & glitz

who: Bryn Zethir & Guests
what: A Gold & Glitz House Party
when: Evening of June 1st
where: Bryn's apartment
warnings: Alcohol, tobacco, and weed.

[Welcome to Bryn's apartment. The door is unlocked, and personal belongings can be tossed up onto the bed just at the top of the stairs. The party's theme is apparent at once. As mentioned on the network post, gold and glitz is strongly encouraged (though no one will be turned away for lacking either) in clothing, jewelry, accessories, or however creatively someone would like to incorporate it. Those interested in participating but lacking anything gold or glitzy will find gold glitter body gel to spread on their skin, compliments of the hostess.

There's a bar cart by the front door with a sign that reads WELCOME in gold script. It's laden with short shot glasses filled with what looks like liquid gold. When imbibed, however, it tastes like a faintly peach-flavored vodka. The rest of the alcohol and mixers can be found in the kitchen. Clear plastic cups feature labels that can be written on in gold permanent marker, then filled with any number of beverages. Really, there's no real rhyme or reason to what's available, as guests have been encouraged to bring whatever they like and add it to the kitchen island. For those who don't drink alcohol, there's a sign on the fridge indicating that non-alcoholic drinks and mixers are kept within. Anyone looking to fill their stomach a little between drinks will find platters of finger foods available throughout the apartment. Gold macarons, cheese and crackers, sliced fruit and vegetables are plentiful, but guests who are quick enough may find they can grab some of the thinly sliced beef arranged around a bowl of spicy dipping sauce. Of note, there is also a plate of gold fortune cookies for guests. While it's noted there's only enough for one per person, the fortunes feature not only a fortune but a party challenge. Dance with a stranger? Eat nothing that isn't fed to you? Try your hand at inventing a new drink? Why not try it and see what happens? Play a game of party jenga for that matter.

Beyond all this, anyone attending is encouraged to mingle and enjoy themselves. There's ample seating throughout the apartment for people to sit back and enjoy their food and drinks, including a plush rug in one corner covered in floor cushions and pillows around a hookah with a variety of flavors of tobacco. For those who are more inclined to activity there's space enough to dance to the music that booms throughout the apartment. With the windows open the space stays well aired out and comfortable, inviting any who attend to linger as long as they like. By the looks of things the hostess has no intention of kicking anyone out no matter how late it gets...]

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[ Gladio's really not in the habit of crashing strangers' house parties or wandering the halls of apartment buildings that aren't his own or the same as a client's, but he finds himself here nevertheless for reasons. Reasons likely stemming from social media and rumor that his favorite DJ and client might be performing here.

Said rumors might be inaccurate, but they also left out the part where he's supposed to be in gold. He's anything but in his Crownsguard Fatigues, which consists of a short-sleeved leather jacket and leather pants and boots with red soles, all black. Strangely, he doesn't wear a shirt with it. Apparently the rumor spreading on social media didn't include a dress code, and the surprise on his face is pretty obvious.

Absently, he picks up one of the containers of gold body paint and his brows lift even further. ]

Huh, well this is... extra.

[ He feels really out of place, what's he even doing here? Where's the DJ? Don't mind him if he just puts a hand on the nearest shoulder to ask you a bewildered question, he's looking a little lost. ]

Hey, uh... have you seen Otabek?

[If there's one thing this party will teach her it's that she has apparently hosted an event for all of the tallest people in this city. Even on heels they all seem to tower over her which makes things interesting as she's weaving her way around people making it from way to another.

The hand at her shoulder stops her at once however, and she turns to look up at perhaps one of the tallest people there. Even being used to it, he still gets a bit of a wide-eyed stare until his question registers with her.]

Otabek? [She blinks once, then a wide smile spreads on her face as she gives him a little offhand gesture with her hand hand. The silver bangle on her wrist doesn't go with her outfit but she doesn't appear to care about clashing.] No, not yet but his friend said he'd get him to come handle the music. Are you a fan of his?

[Just how good was this guy if people were showing up just to hear him DJ?]

[ Either Otabek is good or he's got a loyal fanbase. Gladio just wanted to support him in his endeavors as a client of his, plus he kinda liked it. ]

Yeah, I didn't mean to interrupt... but I wanted to make sure I had the right place.

[ He hadn't seen the invitation on the network, isn't dressed to fit the setting but instead looks more like some black hole by comparison. Everywhere he looks makes him feel like he should have invested in a good pair of shades. Everyone's really dressed up, huh? ]

Heh - Guess I'm a little under-dressed for the occasion. What's all this about, anyway?

[She shakes her head at once when he apologizes for interrupting, and once more at his claim to be under dressed. He's not interrupting in the least and while there's a theme for the party there's hardly a hard-and-fast dress code.]

It's the right place but you absolutely aren't interrupting and you're not under-dressed, I promise. The party is just for the sake of a party and having people over, I promise.

[She grins, trying to put him at ease. Her body language is open and welcoming as she tries to usher him deeper into the apartment. An unspoken invitation to come in and enjoy himself.]

I picked a theme for fun, and because most of the time I usually dress to head out into the jungle. Figured I could switch it up tonight, you know? But if you feel out of sorts I've got some body paint? Could put a bit on your cheeks or something, and I promise it washes off easily.

[ Why she'd felt that her best move after coming off of a hard mission out in the wilds of the quarantine was to come to a party full of people she wasn't even sure she knew, she wasn't sure. Maybe it was an excuse to see if someone was giving out free booze that she could have a little of as well as scouting out the other people of Riverview. She had,distinctly, a lack of anything gold to wear but..

Hell with it. She'd come anyway. The whole thing wasn't quite her style, but it was very much her style to linger on the edge of a place and take in the people for future reference. Plus, eating food they'd come across in the bush... she might just have lost a few pounds and was out to put them back on with some party food, if possible. Still, she finds herself more than painfully out of place, even in a spot where many people seem to be meeting more than half those in attendance for the first time, lingering in a place that's glitzy but.. almost a little too much so for her tastes.

Granted, Re-L as a whole is almost Victorian in the ways of decorum and decoration - which is why she's turning rather quickly at the hand on her shoulder, already ready to fire off something short about touching her before she recognizes the voice, at least. ]

I don't know who the hell Otabek is, so no. I was just about to cut my path out of here, actually, so I don't know if I'd ever be able to tell you. [ She pushes her hair behind her ear, taking a look around before explaining : ] It's all.. very not my style.

Not very becoming to stay around to people watch when I have an apartment to lounge in.

[ It had to have been a tough trip - even if the facilities they were visiting were good enough to sustain scientists, it's still probably a far cry from the comfort of home. And if they're abandoned? It's worse than camping. At least, this is what's going on in Gladio's mind when he sees her - she's been on that mission for the better part of a month after all.

And she owes him a drink. So forgive him if that tug on her arm becomes a bit more insistent, then released a few seconds after he speaks. She's right though, all this gold and glitter really isn't his style, either, but he's endured it out of an abundance of courtesy. Plus he... kinda crashed this party after all. ]

At least stick around for a drink.

[ Hang on, apartment? ]

Wait, you live in this building?

[ There's no way she's expected to see him here in this glitzy, glittery party, if she's honest. Of course it wouldn't be unheard of - he's social enough to ask her for drinks after a few conversations, so why would he not show up? At the moment she's thanking the stars for the fact that she wears blue eye shadow - dark circles from too many nights out camping were easier to cover if you're already using blue over blue. If she disappears for the next couple of days... she's probably sleeping and eating and doing not much else in an effort to get back all the hours of sleep she'd missed out on.

Both due to the wildlife beyond the walls and, well.. her own obsessive mind keeping her awake from time to time. ]

If I only have one drink that may put me to sleep too quickly to climb a stair case or two. [ And not by any choice of her own, either.

His question is met with a coy little shrug, a half smirk. ]

Maybe. Meeting more people in the building doesn't have to involve a party like this every time, though, I think.

That'd be a little exhausting and I'm definitely not holding one.

_{[ This guy has a lot of leather maybe that's why his username is leatherdaddy, we just don't know and that's definitly a +1 in Karamatsu's book. He, too, is usually clad in leather but not this go around. It doesn't take him long at all to recognize this guest, as well. They hadn't exchanged names and he couldn't remember his username, but.. it's hard for Karamatsu to ignore somebody so tall and buff in comparison to puny little him. He remembers him. He's jealous, but he doesn't make that obvious-- he can't do that. Not yet, at least.

Standing a whopping 5'2", Karamatsu asserts himself towards Gladio as he analyzes the gold glitter. He's never heard of anybody named Otabek, so the conversation doesn't interest him-- what he's interested in is the glitter that Gladio is obviously perplexed by. ]}

Surely you want to use this so that you may shine so radiantly such as your very soul does, hah?

_{[ He gestures to the glitter again. Please put it on your body. If not, let him have it. He loves sparkling. ]}

[ For the record his username is @gladio, maybe mistakes were made... Maybe he should have picked leatherdaddy, but he would never call himself such a thing. ~~only human garbage like the player would do this~~

Gladio notices someone is standing a bit too close to him, it's something he doesn't get right away because he's been craning his neck to look over the party for signs of Otabek or anyone he would recognize but when he does turn his attention to Karamatsu, he looks down, not intentionally down his nose at him but he's well over a foot shorter than he is. His smile is warm, at least. ]

My soul? Listen to this joker, just what are you suggesting? [ Maybe it's because he doesn't think he'll do it, maybe it's just him trolling for a reaction, but Gladio leans his head to the side and asks in a flirtatious, challenging tone: ] Is there something you wanted to do with this canvas, small fry? Don't you know you can't improve on perfection?

_{[ He's accustomed to talking to a certain slimeball that is taller than him by a good amount-- though he doesn't know Gladio well to make the judgment of if he's a slimeball yet or not. We will see.
Gladio's tone changes, and it's a little intimidating. Back home, especially when he was a child, he had his five other identical brothers to gang up on people. They were (and still are) weak individually, but they use their sextuplet uniqueness to their advantage by both number and look-alike.

He's the only one here, though, so it's kind of impressive he hasn't backed off already.

Karamatsu doesn't take Gladio's tone as somebody flirting with him, but rather, he takes it as if it's some kind of line in a movie. He thinks Gladio is trying to pick a fight--? Somewhere in his delusional mind, that makes sense. Karamatsu takes the glitter, though, and unscrews the cap. ]}

Hmph. You may show perfection on the outside, but how perfect is your heart?
_{[ Oh. He doesn't realize his knees are shaking. ]}

[ It sucks being by yourself when you're used to having people to rely on who had your back. Karamatsu puts on airs - worse than he's ever seen, if he's honest - but he made a valiant (???) attempt, his knees practically knocking. It's kind of funny - They're at someone's party though, he's not really going to start a fight.

Karamatsu on the other hand seems to be responding to his approach as if he is. His smile widens, showing more teeth. This probably doesn't help. ]

What's inside is even better.

[ Gladio puts his hands on his hips, he might be enjoying making this guy squirm just a bit, but he's no bully. He'll give him a break... ease off eventually. In the meantime, it'll be interesting to see how far this little dude is willing to go. ]

If you're trying to imply something, spit it out.

_{[ No way, this guy is a good guy and he's good looking? God, why are people so perfect. He was actually really confident! This isn't fair. Karamatsu decides to step up his game and unscrew the glittery ca, dipping his fingers in it. ]}

--Heh. Everyone has something they could improve on. For you, we'll start by making you more glittery for a glittery party, non? May I?

_{[ HE WILL.. ]}

...Seriously?!

[ Okay, he has to hand it to him. That's ballsy af to offer to paint body glitter on a dude like him. He's... kind of impressed with his chutzpah. After some consideration, he almost rejects him outright.

And then sighs, starts pulling off his leather jacket. He is not getting glitter on that. He's... pretty sure he's going to regret this. ]

Sure, knock yourself out.

_{[ Karamatsu can appreciate all of the leather-- he's a leather junkie himself so he lets Gladio take his time, keeping his expression firm. He closes his eyes, almost as if he's giving Gladio some privacy but that isn't the case whatsoever-- he's just nervous meeting new people! Especially somebody who has a lot of features that he wishes he had.

Once Gladio is ready, Karamatsu folds his free hand over part of his face and then peers at Gladio, absolutely posing. ]}

Once you have offered your body to me as an endless canvas, you'll realize how perfect you can actually become when you trust others. You'll understand that you cannot rely on yourself for perfection-- you'll see..

_{[ His hand dips in the glitter and-- ]}

_{[ He just slaps a big hand print on Gladio's core. ]}

A-ah, art.
_{[ stop. ]}

[ Gladio snorts with amusement but that stern look asserts itself on his face. He's waiting, watching as he realizes the more he interacts with this guy just how much of a show-off he is. It's kind of adorable how hard he's trying.

And then he slaps the front of his torso, leaving a hand print in gold glitter. And that's it.

He should have trusted his own instincts, he has a little bit of regret, but not so much as to drown out the potential entertainment value. He levels a look at Karamatsu and forms his sentence to be as pointedly confrontational as possible. ]

...Was that just some excuse to touch me?

[ stop... ]

_{[ with the straightest face ever: ]}
—You should feel honored the hands of this fallen angel have blessed you.

_{[ ?????? though Gladio sounded kind of mad, so Karamatsu tacks on a brief apology. ]}
..A..ah, was I not consensual enough? I'm sorry.

Never knew an angel's hands could be this small. [ Gladio, stop teasing him. He's already seen his knees knocking and now he's stammering out an apology, he should at least feel a little bad. But nah, this is kind of funny. ]

Is this really your 'art'? [ He pointedly stares at the hand print. Then his looks at him, and grin. All teeth. He's thinking a little payback is in order to the tune of drawing in glitter on this guy. ]

...Heeey, maybe I am feeling inspired after all. C'mere.

[ Gladio reaches out to grab him. Time to relive his happier times camping with his friends with some good old fashioned hazing. ]

If it isn't to your liking, perhaps you should acquire better taste.
_{[ ... this guy. ]}

What do you mean inspired? Ah, was it that easy?
_{[ needless to say, he doesn't struggle, but his feet seem braced because he isn't sure if Gladio is just gonna pick him off the ground, or something. ]}

What are you doing?

Is that so...

[ Acquire better taste, huh? Well, he now knows just where to put into practice his sudden fit of inspiration. So to answer his question as to what he's doing, Gladio seizes him by the shirt and hauls him close - and also, about an inch or two off the ground. ]

Getting artistic on your ass.

[ Why yes, this big burly man is going to attempt grappling you (relatively gently) and wrestling you into a compromising position, Karamatsu, for the sole purpose of drawing what looks to be a gold... ostrich? Anyway, it's a Chocobo. In glitter. ]

Edited 2017-07-10 02:33 (UTC)

Oi, what are you--!

_{[ Karamatsu is quick to grimace once he is seized, and one interesting thing he does is he reaches towards his hip.. almost as if he is going for a weapon (really? him? of all people?) because he doesn't know what Gladio is doing. He's been through a lot on Eluvio, and one thing he learned was not to trust people as easily as he used to.

Though, his expression relaxes when he realizes what Gladio is doing, and he probably feels his entire body wilt from simmering down. ]}

O-Oh, aah, I see.. it's.. roughhousing, isn't it? Is this how somebody like you becomes artistic? How fascinating.
_{[ He's so confused. Did he really have to do that? ]}

Sure, kid.

[ It'll be later, when Gladio realizes that warning that briefly sounded in his head a high and discordant pitch was sound on his part. He certainly was reaching for a weapon, but he had dismissed it once he realized there was no belt, no holster, nothing to be alarmed about. He's a Shield, they're trained all their lives to be constantly vigilant for any sort of danger.

Karamatsu, however, seems harmless. He'll think again once he pieces things together, connects the dots of Eluvio. So far Karamatsu was not on his list of those to look out for.

But he does notice the speed with which he seems to become suddenly... docile? It's odd. It's like he bears his neck the second he thinks he's defeated. That's... kind of weird. It makes Gladio ease up on him after the work is done, beam a dazzling smile at him as he hands back the tube of glitter. ]

What do you think? What does your keen eye for design tell you of my attempt to follow a true master of the arts?

[ Don't mind him, he'll just smooth over any wrinkling of your ego by claiming he only learned it from watching you, Karamatsu. ]

_{[ He becomes docile once he realizes he isn't in any danger, though honestly, it's more like he becomes docile once he thinks he could be somebody's friend, even if it did put him in danger.
He teeters back to his feet, his skin glistening from a small sheet of sweat that surfaced on his face. He swallows thickly and looks down at the picture once he is questioned. ]}

I think.. that your object of choice is one that captivates people's hearts.
Especially mine.

_{[ a beat. ]}

I love chickens!
_{[ He loves eating chickens, but he won't clarify that. ]}

[ Gladio stares at him a long time, resisting the urge to bop him on the head. He might render the guy unconscious if he does after all. Also? He just wrestled a stranger to apply body glitter on him, he has a reason to check up on him. That's kind of AGGRESSIVE, you know?

In any case, no harm, no foul. ]

It's a Chocobo.

[ For the love of the Six, don't eat one. That's nasty. That's like saying you eat horse. Which is... actually a thing but don't talk about it!! ]

Oh, I see. A Chocobo. It's..
_{[ He studies the picture of the longest time, trying to ignore how his skin burns from being wrestled with so suddenly. But yeah, it's strange how instantly he sprang back, isn't it? Now he's chatting it up with Gladio just like nothing happened. ]}

..delightful! I decided that I love it.

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leatherdaddy - 2017-07-10 10:42 (UTC) - Expand

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glitterpants - 2017-07-12 14:00 (UTC) - Expand

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open: gold & glitz

Gladio

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by all means let me know if NOT OKAY

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) do whatever you want

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