[ 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

[windyvoice]

She does startle a little when Athessa seems like she's about to face plant off the window, but settles. Anxiety is a sharp little zing that's smothered under smoke in her lungs.

"Fuck yeah we should. Why have an all access pass to our coworkers if we don't exploit that shit for research or whatever?"

[sulahnan]

"I mean exploit is kind of a strong word but yeah. Research or whatever," she nods, digging the idea. "My handwriting is trash, how's yours?"

[windyvoice]

"It's pretty good," she says, giving a double thumbs up, "Chicks dig cute handwriting."

[sulahnan]

Well if it's picking up chicks at stake--

"But what better excuse for hand-holding than asking for help with penmanship, eh?"

WINK.

[windyvoice]

The look Jenny Lou gives her suggest Athessa has just unlocked the greatest unsolved mystery.

"Oh shit, that's so slick."

[sulahnan]

She's clearly proud of that, and beams, and reminisces without realizing.

"It's pretty good, right? But I can't even compare to how slick Derrica is," Athessa looks over the party, thinking back to another time. "She's got that healing magic so she literally kissed my bruises better back when Eshal was here and ran a fight club."

Another lungful of smoke gives her something to do to keep from looking too bummed about that memory. It works, and by the time she breathes it out through the window, she can put on a smirk and scoff lightly. "Mages, right?"

[windyvoice]

"She's got that magic touch, yeah?" Just the biggest grin. "Gods, Derrica is so freakin' pretty though, dude. Like I'd fuckin' die if she did that." And then VERY belatedly, "Uh, are you guys going out?"

[sulahnan]

"Out where?"

[windyvoice]

"Ya know like..." She gestures. How the fuck do you even- "Ya know... Like Laura and Matthias."

[sulahnan]

"Oh! Oh. No, uh--" She tips her head side to side, weighing her words. "We used to fool around a bit but we called it quits. It's complicated." She tacks that last bit on in an attempt to stave off the inevitable why? that would follow if she didn't.

[windyvoice]

"Oh. Oooooooh. Shit, okay." Wait. "So... Is she still super pretty or?" What level of breakup are they talking about here.

[sulahnan]

Athessa looks at Jenny Lou like she just sprouted a second head. "Um? You've seen her, right? Of course she's still fucking gorgeous, that hasn't changed." It's just her own stupid feelings that fucked everything up, it's fine.

"We're still...friends, ya know," Sort of.

[windyvoice]

"No, yeah, she's beautiful, but ya know, I'm just sayin' it's friend code, yeah? Like if your bro breaks up with somebody, they're not hot anymore." It makes sense.

"But if you're still friends, that's cool. Like way cool. Bad breakups suck." Allegedly.

[sulahnan]

Allegedly.

"Sure, cool," she agrees, nodding. And not really selling the agreement, either. It's not cool, and Athessa's the reason it's not cool. Athessa nudges the edge of the nearby rug with her toe and hands the joint back to Jenny Lou.

[windyvoice]

Okay, subject change subject change.

Jenny Lou takes another hit and at a total loss of anything else to say, grabs a glass off a nearby table and tosses it high in the air.

[sulahnan]

Oh, good, a diversion. What happens next is something like hackey sack but with something made of a harder, more painful material. So she only bounces the glass off of each foot once before jabbing a hand out to catch the glass on the flat of her palm, balanced carefully on its rim.

"Ow."

[windyvoice]

"Damn, that look like it hurt," Jenny Lou says, helpfully, "You've got really good reflexes even when you're wasted, ya know?"

[sulahnan]

"Yeah, it's that like... muscle memory shit," She turns her hand over and catches the glass again before it falls, then sets it back on the table. "My fighting style is flashy and sloppy but you gotta be good before you can be sloppy and still win."

[windyvoice]

Jenny Lou gives her an impressed whistle and hands back the joint. Topic change successful, she adds, "I guess that's something I still gotta figure out. Fighting style, I mean."

[sulahnan]

"It's important stuff, yeah. I could show you some stuff, maybe. Nothing with swords or magic, though."

[windyvoice]

"That'd help a lot. I kinda know how to fight like that anyhow. Kinda." A little bit. She gave Heather Luarie a bloody nose Freshman year, so that counts. She makes a face, "I still gotta figure out that magic shit."

[sulahnan]

She nods. "I dunno anyone who has magic like yours, but there's bound to be like... overlap in the way people here learn how to control their mage-ness."