[ open: all arise! ]

[vorbratta]

WHO: you. yes, you there. you're invited
WHAT: Sonia is throwing a big party, because everyone needs an excuse to get good and drunk together right now. And dancing. There is always dancing.
WHEN: Justinian, shortly after the return of the jungle crew
WHERE: The suite at the top of the mage tower
NOTES: ♫ have some party jams ♫

The month in the jungle was a long one, made longer by the total lack of any alcohol to mitigate the experience. Utterly unthinkable. Sonia is addressing a public need by throwing a grand party -- a public service, even. Besides, it's what she does. When was the last time she got to plan a party, anyway? Granted, this is not a Denerim soiree for the young nobility, but the venue doesn't matter. Only the people and the drinks, and Sonia is assuredly rich in both. It is also a fantastic excuse not to think about any of the bad things that have happened since she was last in Kirkwall.

The decoration in the residential suite at the top of the mage tower would be best classified as improvisational -- one of those drapes tacked along the wall for ambience may be a bedsheet -- but it's the spirit of the thing that counts. One makes do with what one has. In one corner are a few tables laden with spirits, some provided by Sonia, others by generous partygoers. There are a few Barra vineyard vintages in the mix, highlights of her personal collection, a testament to the celebration she considers tonight to be. There's a small selection of food nearby, mostly for snacking to go with the drinks, though guests are free to bring whatever they like to share.

And there is, of course, music. Someone here has brought a fiddle or a flute or a bunch of pots masquerading as a drum set. Maybe you've brought your very own a capella choir. Whatever the accompaniment, there's something to dance to. Sonia makes sure there is dancing.

Tonight is not for licking wounds or swapping grisly stories of terror and survival. Tonight is for feeling alive, getting properly and delightfully drunk, and having a good god damn time.

Comments

jenny lou | ota

[windyvoice]

i. E'ERBODY IN THE CLUB GETTIN' TIPSY

Holy shit, she's missed parties. And okay, it's not really anything like the parties she's been to. For one thing, they're in a building and for another, it's not a condemned building. The booze might also be better, though it's not exactly hard to top the kind of shit rowdy teenagers get their hands on.

Either way. It's a party and she's drinking, already loose limbed and mellow from the mild buzz. When she happens to catch someone's eye, she winks. "Hey babe, wanna dance?"

ii. A LITTLE PARTY NEVER KILLED NOBODY

There hits a point where the alcohol and the music really hit right and a manic energy lights up Jenny Lou's whole being. Which is when she slams (another) shot and turns to look at the person next to her with a wild grin.

"Dude. Fire pit."

iii. Wind down

Jenny Lou is the type to show up early and stay late. Old habits die hard and also she's hitting the not super sure about the walking thing stage. As the room starts to empty, she starts looking for flat surfaces to lie on. Like a table. Or the floor behind one of the fancy couches. Where she will be stretched out on her back, her arms behind her head and whistling an off key tune that stirs up a soft breeze, swirling around her.

ii

[highborn]

Vanadi is feeling it too, he has to admit. It's been a while since he's enjoyed himself like this, since he's let himself enjoy himself like this, and it's got him in a good mood. That is, until there's this child at his elbow, demanding fire. Vanadi blinks, some of his blissful comfort wavering into confusion.

"I beg your pardon?"

[windyvoice]

"Fire. Pit." She wiggles her fingers for emphasis. Picture flames. Wow. Awesome. "We should totally have one."

[highborn]

Do I look like a pit-digger to you? nearly makes it out of his throat — or perhaps Oh, yes? In whose sink would you like this fire pit?

Neither of them make it to speech, though. Vanadi's instinctive air of wary distaste and preemptive offense fade as he reminds himself where he is and how much he's had to drink. Finally he even drops his perfectly straightened shoulders with a sigh.

"And where shall we have this fire pit, hmm?"

[windyvoice]

Neither of his first impulses would've worked anyhow, so really, it's best he accepts this.

Jenny Lou thinks for a minute and points, "I haven't figured that out yet. But we're gonna need a shovel. And wood. And booze."

[highborn]

"I have — " He pauses very briefly to consider the appropriateness of a joke here, but, really, she is quite young looking. He mentally amends the answer before it can lead him astray, knocking two down to one. " —  One of those options available for you. I'm afraid you're on wood and shovel duty."

[windyvoice]

"Rad," she says with a wide grin, patting his arm, "Don't worry, dude, we can find a way to use your dick to start a fire too."

[highborn]

He grimaces at the mental image, but permits this pat of his arm.

"Thank you for the inclusion," he says, "But I'll pass on that part. Did you miss my careful restraint?"

[windyvoice]

"Nah, I caught it, but I decided to ignore it cus we're drunk and literally why wouldn't we talk about dicks?" She's very sincere about that. Everyone talks about dicks while drunk. "Where's a good place to build a fire pit?"

[highborn]

As great as lighting something on fire sounds, Vanadi takes a moment to fix her with a loftily quirked brow. "Dicks, yes, certainly. My dick -- " He lifts his glass for stern emphasis. "Off limits, if you please."

[windyvoice]

She is unperturbed by the lofty brow. She is teenager, fear her. Actually what she does do is snort and wave the stern emphasis off, trying to swipe his glass in the process, "Nooooo worries, babe, this is some strictly platonic dick talking. The only wood we're getting is gonna get set on fire."

ii

[inkindled]

You had him at fire. Matthias' eyes had been previously and complacently dulled by drink--but of course, as he's been enjoying himself, and so what?--isn't enjoyment what a party is for, and so far he's not vomited on any knight-enchanter's boots, so not bad, all things considered. Now his eyes light up.

"Where?"

He looks around the room, seeking a likely space. Wait, room: they're yet indoors. That's bad.

"Courtyard?" he suggests, and points off in a direction that he thinks a courtyard might be. He is still holding a glass, and the enthusiasm of his gesture slops alcohol down his wrist.

[windyvoice]

That's what she's talkin' about!

"Courtyard!" Jenny Lou agrees, loudly and lifting both hands in the air. Fuck yeah, bonfire! Don't ask her why fire and alcohol go so well together, they just do. "Fuckin' genius, bro. Let's go light shit up!"

[inkindled]

Having only just licked the alcohol off his own wrist, Matthias thoughtlessly raises his hands both into the air as well, echoing Jenny Lou. He is still holding his glass, so the jerk of the movement slops more alcohol over his wrist and down his arm. Who cares.

"Yeah. Let's just do it. Right? Everyone will know when they see it. C'mon, then." He can do this staffless. Yeah? Yeah. Maybe. Did he bring his staff. "D'you think I-- I mean did you see, I've got a staff, normally. Is it," and he reaches behind his own back, intending only to gesture. Instead Matthias pats himself on the back. Which means the staff isn't there.

[windyvoice]

She squints at him until comprehension dawns and she snaps her fingers, pointing.

"Oh yeah! You need your stick! Staff. Rod." She makes an illustrative gesture that is absolutely obscene, "The magic one. Where's it at?"

[inkindled]

Not so much shocked as surprised by the gesture--he's a sixteen year old boy, he's seen all the gestures, done all the gestures--but it's still unexpected, and it startles a laugh out of Matthias, drunk and dumb and broad.

"Yeah," he manages, after he's recovered a little, "the magic one. Not the," and he falls into a snicker. It's not a new joke. It's still funny. "Oh, shit. Erm. Yeah. The staff. My staff. I had it... stood up against a wall, I think. Er, I'll-- find it, and you... look too and then we'll meet by the, the door? All right?"

[windyvoice]

To be fair, it's a hilarious joke and Jenny Lou snickers right along with him. Then gives him a dutiful thumbs up.

"Hell yeah, leave it to me. I'm the fuckin' rod finder." She'll head towards the wall, not stumbling, but swaying a little. Her searching method is patting along the wall as she goes, on the off chance the staff is hidden.

i.

[justashotaway]

"I am not good at dancing." She's also not nearly as tipsy as Jenny Lou, though that's far less a concern. One of Laura's hands smooths down the black skirt of her gown. "I have only done it once."

[windyvoice]

"Don't worry about it," she says, bumping shoulders with Laura companionably, "This isn't the kind of party where you gotta worry about being good at it. And anyway, I've never danced here like ever, so you already know more than me."

Rolling around on a stage in brightly colored tights while belting an alternate universe's version of Cats doesn't really count.

[justashotaway]

"I only have once." And that was with Matthias, and the entire experience had been rather...fancier. This party is still full of fine things, but when she's not a spy among masked guests, it doesn't have quite the same cachet.

As subtly as she can, she tries to get a sense of what the other guests are doing in order to dance. It looks as if a hand is required on one's waist, and another at the shoulder? So Laura does just that, her hands settling on Jenny Lou's clothing.

[windyvoice]

"Still more than me." She grins as Laura gets settled, her hands going to their appropriate positions and then she tugs Laura into the edge of the dancers. "See? You totally got this."