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...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[While usually a party-going type, Dodger has been stuck inside recovering for a week from his last run-in with Ivar. This leaves him in a wallflower state, sticking out like a sore thumb both because of his general attitude and the fact that he didn't dress up for the occasion. He's mostly here to lurk, but Taako stands out and he figures he's worth talking to.

Dodger is limping as he approaches Taako, catching him while he's mixing drinks in the kitchen. He's gone a decent job of hiding most of his injuries, but he's got a gauze patch over his right eye and that's pretty obvious. What can you do.]

Hey there, Mr. Elf Wizard. [He pauses to take a long, hard look at Taako's body - obviously some mix of checking him out and sizing him up.] Or is it Ms?

[Taako doesn't really care that much about being checked out; he's pretty, it's just normal, but usually people are a bit more subtle about it and don't make him feel like a piece of meat.

The question kind of just baffles him, though.]

I'm a dude, if that's what you're asking. [If there's a rule about dudes not wearing skirts and make up he doesn't want to know about it, tbh] Is that what you're asking?

[Dodger's voice sounds familiar, but he hasn't quite placed it yet.]

Not gonna judge... the skirt suits you.

[And yet, somehow, he manages to make that comment sound like the most grinding sort of insult. Or, at best, a very sleazy compliment. More than anything, Dodger does in fact see Taako as a particularly catty piece of meat.]

Whatcha mixing up there?

[It feels like an insult, and Taako arches an eyebrow at it before eventually decided to shrug it off, he's just tipsy enough that he isn't going to pick a fight over some dude being an ass.]

Something called a moscow mule. [He'd come across it when he'd been looking up things to make for Illya, although he doesn't think this is actually from Russia.] You want one?

[Maybe this guy is a friend of Bryn's, it won't kill him to be like, the minimum level of polite.]

Wouldn't mind it.

[He would've agreed to it no matter what - alcohol in general sounds good. Though, while Taako is mixing it he'll move in uncomfortably close to watch him with that same intent gaze. He's playing around more than anything, not even making a real attempt to seduce the elf, but it would be interesting to see what's under that outfit.]

They got those back in whatever world you're from?

[It's easy enough to grab an extra mug and start making the second drink, although he might slice up the lime a little more definitively than strictly necessary, when Dodger gets up in his personal space.]

Don't even have a Moscow where I'm from, it was on some, uh, blog? I think that's the fucking word. [He's adapted pretty well, being used to hopping worlds, but he can't remember everything.] And I'm pretty into ginger and lime, great combo.

[That's about the answer he expected; a small chuckle escapes him when he notices Taako's irritation, but he's behaving just long enough to get his drink.]

Never know - great minds think alike, someone might've thought it up. I'm just happy to be in a world that's got whiskey and vodka at all.

[It really could be worse. He could be missing an eye in a world where he can't drown his feelings in booze. Or where he isn't reaching to touch a certain elf's waist unannounced like that's in any way acceptable behavior.]

[There's a comment on the tip of his tongue that would have been agreement with that assessment, because even if Taako isn't a heavy drinker, he'd Suffer in a world without any booze at all.

But then there's a hand on his waist and Taako steps back, shifting his grip on the knife.]

Hands off the goods, my dude. I don't even know your fucking name.

Edited (phrasing) 2017-06-01 05:35 (UTC)

Loosen up, I'm just messing around.

[Still, he removes his hand and holds it up in a loose, mocking sign of surrender.]

Name's Dodger, by the way. And you're the famous Taako, yeah? [At least, Taako's friendly enough that he's hear plenty of good things about him. Dodger's perceptive enough to know most folks he offends are generally nice people.]

Oh, Stockholm Syndrome.

[Which is apparently what he took away from his conversation with Dodger, now that the dots have been connected for him.]

Here's a pro-tip, most people go for the introductions before they start getting handsy.

Some people like the comfort of anonymity. Separates you from your actions, lets you do things you otherwise wouldn't because you can tell yourself the consequences won't affect you.

[More psycho-babble from Professor Dodger, it seems.]

You're more the two-dates-first type, huh?

If you're that worried about consequences, maybe it's a hint you shouldn't be doing the shit you're doing.

[Taako has done a lot of pretty awful things, but he's willing to own them, because they were necessary for whatever situation he found himself in. He's very rarely purposefully done anything that he feels guilty about, even almost getting Antonia, Rowan and Sterling killed doesn't weigh on him that heavily.]

I'm more the I'm seeing someone type, if you wanna get specific.

[It's not a card he's used to playing, but he's willing to pull it out now.

Even as he slides one of the drinks across to Dodger, because it's made, it might as well be drunk, even if Taako isn't a fan of this guy.]

Never stops me. Consequences, or seeing someone.

[Dodger's had attachments in the past, who generally just accept that he'll sleep around whether they like it or not. But he's got no reason to force Taako's hand, so he moves just barely out of his personal space to enjoy his drink.]

Your boyfriend anyone I know?

[Taako rolls his eyes at that.

Do you have any other slogans from like Hot Topic, Dodger.]

His name's Eddie. [Boyfriend isn't really a word they've used, but he's not about to correct Dodger on that. Instead, he points to where Eddie is chatting with someone.] Blond, kinda tall.

[He could be smug about it, Eddie is a handsome dude, but he has a feeling Dodger would just be gross if he was, so he keeps his tone kinda bored and vague.]

[Dodger has to stifle a choking noise as he sips his drink and picks Eddie out of the crowd. Oh, that's fucking fantastic. He's been creeping on the boyfriend of the cop that caught him stabbing a crippled kid. A+ What a small world.]

That uh... that so.

[The only reason he's not moving further away is because that would betray his discomfort. Instead he's just emptying his mug in one motion, and continuing the conversation.]

Someone like you, seems like you could do better - he's pretty average.

[Bit of a weird reaction, and Taako's eyebrows creep up again as he glances between Eddie and Dodger.]

Have you two met, or are you making a shitty snap judgement? Or like, are you just really bad at trying to come onto people?

[He's heard "you could do better" once or twice before, and usually the implication that whoever's saying it is the better option.]

Bit of the first two. I'm not gonna lie and say I've got any interest in keeping you around after sunrise.

[He clears his voice awkwardly, but... at least his strong suits include analytical rambles.]

I'm talking looks. I mean, you've got this whole... androgynous, mystical valley girl drag queen thing. You pop out. You get people's attention. He's just some no-name cop, same haircut as every officer on the force. He's boring.

Charming.

[Oh no wait he means the exact opposite of that.]

And not that literally an-y-one asked for your opinion, but I happen to think he's handsome. And this whole thing is rich coming from some asshole with one eye and some shitty scars.

[He can be rude, too.]

Edited 2017-06-01 06:38 (UTC)

[Hey, he accomplished his goal. Which was side-stepping the fact that he knows Eddie. Taako's comment even gets a sarcastic raise of the brow from him.]

I like to think they add character. [He shrugs.] And hey, I stand out better than Mr. Blond and Kinda Tall.

Listen, I was gonna go for Mr. Really Great in Bed, but you struck me as the kinda dipshit to take that as some kinda fucked up challenge.

[So he kept it vague.

Ugh, this guy is worse than Jenkins, at least Jenkins wasn't skeevy.]

Wouldn't pick him out as worth fucking, from the look of him. You've got a real diamond in the rough there, huh. Or surprisingly low standards.

[He lets out a low chuckle, glancing back at Taako to look him over. He seems honest enough, not the type to take advantage of Eddie for anything. How novel.]

[He feels like a cat that's been petted the wrong way, and somewhere in the apartment there's an unhappy mongoose with it's fur sticking up on end.]

If you're trying to pick a fight, you could put a little more effort in that just insulting the guy I'm with.

Relax, I'm just making conversation. If that's what you're into, that's what you're into.

[He's pretty sure this conversation is going well. He doesn't have a black eye or a broken nose yet.]

[Meanwhile Taako feels like this conversation is going terribly; mostly because he's a little unsettled and off balance. He's just tipsy enough that he's not as sharp as he could be with some asshole giving him shit, but not so drunk that he's at the point of not caring.]

You're pretty fucking bad at making conversation, I will say that.

Hey, you're still talking to me. Must be doing something right.

[He moves to fill his mug with the first bottle he touches - vodka, nice - and sips it casually.]

Besides, I could be shooting up the place. That might have gone worse than this. [Maybe.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject