I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Open)

[youwonscience]

WHO: Cosima Niehaus, any Riftwatch personnel who have not been banished from the Gallows
WHAT: A chill birthday/dance party
WHEN: March Drakonis 9, evening
WHERE: Fourth floor of the former mage tower

If they weren't hosting company, there probably would have been a sign or two. Cosima is not, however, entirely clear what the Chantry thinks of dancing. As it is, Cosima makes a point to tell those she's friendly with, as well as the entirety of the Research Division; she also makes it clear they should feel free to spread the word, that any Riftwatch agents who want to stop in are more than welcome. That word is: A quiet party with dancing, Drakonis 9, a couple hours after dinner.



Arrival

As Cosima currently has the fourth floor to herself, she hasn't set up in her own room, but rather the one across the way. She's pushed the furniture toward the edges of the room to make a larger dance floor and requisitioned some plates and cups (that she has promised very seriously to return all of). She has placed her approximation of an iPod shuffle in a bowl to attempt to amplify its sound a bit, and it's jauntily playing whatever random song it has decided to play at the moment. There are no real decorations to speak of, but she's thrown some extra cushions on the beds to encourage their use as makeshift couches.

For refreshments, she encouraged people to bring anything they wanted, but she's provided a good quantity of wine and one unfancy but large lemon cake. These she's purchased with her own funds, rather than begged from the kitchen.

The party is late enough that anyone other than those on particular assignments (or guard duty) should be done with work. The music is unlikely to get especially loud under the circumstances, and Cosima isn't looking to throw a rager anyway. She mainly wants to rope some people into dancing with her, and she's not going to be put off by claims of being bad at it. Those who arrive early are especially vulnerable to being grabbed by the hand and given a good-natured tug.

Later

For those who stay late (or arrive late), things chill out in the early hours. In addition to the wine, there's some smoking, and Cosima is inclined to conversation, curled up on one of the beds pushed against the wall. The music is still playing, but someone needed the bowl for something else, so it's necessarily even softer; the candles have burned down, giving the room a warmer glow.

If someone seems hesitant to come join her, Cosima's quick to wave them over with a languid loop of her arm, unwilling to see anyone left out even as things get mellow.

Comments

[grindset]

"Just the frames," Viktor says as the lid lifts, in a bid to mitigate any possible disappointment. Not that he isn't content with his work—these spectacle frames are as finely wrought as he could manage with the tools available, in that same decolike style. Touches of dark brown enamel on the arms and upper rims. A hint of cat's eye to the shape.

"They'll need to be fitted to you."

He fully eyeballed them from observation; at least some of the notes he's taken in department meetings were estimations. (The measurer's eye he refused to give up.)

"A bit presumptuous, I know, but..."

[youwonscience]

"Not at all. It's incredibly thoughtful, thank you." She inspects the frames with open pleasure. "We can talk about fitting whenever you like, but this ... such a lovely gift, thank you so much." She looks up at him, to let him see how much she likes the gift.

"You're sure you don't want to come in, just for a little? I promise, it's a pretty chill situation, mainly just cake and wine." She doesn't intend to push him, but just a little encouragement in case he's on the fence.

[grindset]

By the time Cosima looks up, a smile has surfaced. It's a modest little dart of a thing, but true enough. This, the look on her face—this is why he does what he does. In this case, it's a response to his memory of her in the temple chamber, suddenly denied that which is so easy to take for granted. Next time she might lose them for real. There's a need; there are plenty of hours in the day; why wait? (He's been working on them for a while, so it's very convenient of her to have a birthday now.)

He doesn't quite duck his head away from the invite, but the way he tips it, the restless sway, they're like hints to an old reflex.

"Ah, no... I'd better not." Snipping off this pause well before it even thinks about becoming awkward, "The lenses will be tricky. We may need the Provost's input, see if he knows any local, or semi-local, eh... anyway. If a bear steps on the ones you're wearing, you have options."

[youwonscience]

"The Provost may already have some ideas; I mentioned it to him when I agreed to come on as his assistant. We can check. But truly ... thank you. This is so thoughtful, I really love them already." And, a thought: "If you want to get a drink another time, celebrate more quietly, just let me know. But either way, thanks for stopping by."

She really is quietly moved.