paradisalogs | Alcohol, taken in sufficient quantities

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felix harrowgate

Alcohol, taken in sufficient quantities

Who: Felix Harrowgate and anyone
What: A new years party
When: January 1st
Where: Chimera headquarters
Rating: Pg-13 for heavy drinking, at least

The central hall of Chimera headquarters is today taken up with a pair of tables, one covered with all matter of foods from finger sandwiches and deviled eggs, to salted nuts and chocolate-covered fruits, while the other is littered with nearly every beverage one might think of - tea, coffee, milk, punch, and fruit juices. It wasn't quite the expected spread for a new year's party, but that was because the castle had done them the favor of making any liquid carry the effects of the usual party beverages. A small table near the door, however, had at some point in the day appeared, carrying liquors and champagne for those who actually preferred their alcohol to taste as such. The ghosts stood sentry to keep whatever it was the attendees wanted flowing.

Most of that is likely forgotten near the end of the day, and the arrangement of comfortable chairs in the adjoining office begin to look far more comfortable a place to sit once the room starts to spin a little. Getting air on the balcony is an option, of course, but take care not to fall off of it.

((OOC:Feel free to set your tag at any time during the evening (though really, you know we're all here for the drunk shenanigans). Please see the link above for info on the layout of the area.))

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It probably isn't that surprising that Duke arrives with a book, and ends up settling in a corner with a collection of chocolate covered fruits and tea. Nope, he doesn't seem to remember that everything is alcoholic.

Or maybe he remembers when he gets really confused by his book, to judge by his expression.

Howl is pacing himself, for the time being, but he's got a decent buzz on by the time he spots Duke with his book. Which... isn't really surprising. He's really more surprised that Duke has shown up at all.

He wanders over and leans against a nearby wall, attempting to make enough noise as he does so to announce his presence.

"Escaped from the library, have you?"

"It was starting to feel hazardous again." With the amount of kissing he had encountered coming and going. Never-mind that it wasn't much compared to some people's seasons-

But he puts his hand elsewhere than on the page and tilts his head toward Howl. See, he can be polite at a party!

"Everywhere's been a bit hazardous lately, really," he replied with a laugh. "Especially when some people turn it into a competition."

He wouldn't be referring to their host at all, no. Of course not.

"I am glad you decided to come," he added, a bit more seriously. Even if they weren't what could properly be termed friends, he was glad to see him.

No, no one in this room would ever make it into a competition. "... Everything gets tricky then..."

And here is some blinking in Howl's general direction.

"... It.. has been some time since I have ... even attempted to function with a group." He settles again, a little uncomfortable.

"It certainly does," he replied, a bit ruefully. He'd gotten tricked, himself, though he'd thought he was smart enough to avoid it.

"You could use the practice," he chuckled, but he didn't mean it at all unkindly. "It's not so bad, is it?"

A slight twitch of his lips might have been a very short lived, tiny smile. He knows, Howl.

But that last bit, that makes his face go further back to the blank expression. "It isn't. Until people go home." Or die, but dying here was a bit trickier.

There was a pause, as Howl had never really given that aspect much thought. He was, admittedly, a bit shallow. But he could understand the sentiment, even if he hadn't exactly shared that experience.

"I suppose that would complicate things, yes."

Duke makes an agreeing noise in his throat, then there's silence from him as his mood sours a little. So he eats a few of the chocolate fruits, and offers his collection of them on a small plate to Howl.

"I don't deal with it well. Why I usually avoid joining a group."

"Ah. But I would think it would be better to have companionship for even a little while than solitude all the time."

Although even his ego has room to allow that not everyone might feel that way. It still seems a terribly lonely way to go about life.

"... It is debatable." Duke recognizes he's just going to get worse if they continue that topic though.

"... Have you found anything you like to eat here?"

.. Sure, that will totally steer the conversation away..

That was the most awful attempt to change the topic of conversation, and it was probably just as well that Duke couldn't see Howl's face.

"Not yet. I was focusing on the drinks, first."

He tried, okay. If he didn't try, he probably would have just fallen silent or walked off.

And why is he not terribly surprised by that. "Oh."

Duke goes silent for a moment or two longer. "... I'm still not very good at this." No, not at all.

"It shows," he replied, but sounded amused. "Don't worry. I doubt anyone is judging you for it. We can't all be social butterflies."

"There wouldn't be enough room for flying about, if that were the case."

Clearly the best sign that the alcohol is getting to him is that he made something that might be considered a joke.

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"Duke, this is a party, why do you have a book?" Vanyel asked of his silver-haired friend, though truthfully he was not that surprised either. Duke wasn't a very social man, was he? Still, it seemed a bit rude, bringing the book....

"Because there is food and people who are likely to understand why I am reading?" If there was anywhere he could get away with reading at a party, he was fairly sure at a party of mages would be it.

But Vanyel seems to be a little unhappy with that, so Duke puts the cover between the pages to mark his place and lifts his head toward him.

"I understand why, but still... It's nice to get to talk to you a little," he sat down beside him, a little flushed, but not much, wanting to keep a cool enough head with Tylendel around.

".. and was it so hard to get my attention?" Clearly the biggest clue that Duke has been drinking the alcoholic tea and it was affecting him was the almost false sounding curiosity to his tone.

He raised his brows and then he laughed.

"No, I suppose it wasn't. But it does make it seem like you don't want to talk to any of us," he sighed. "I suppose you only want to talk to me when I am making cookies..."

Duke's eyebrows go together. He may be a little tipsy, but he thinks he recognizes the tone.

"No. Your conversation is pleasant at all times..." Maybe not all times, because sometimes he does just really want to be left alone- "... and I try not to talk too much when cookie making." That could result in burnt cookies.

"You are to busy eating them!" he teased him, laughing at his own joke and patting Duke's shoulder.

Congratulations, Vanyel, for getting somewhat normal reactions out of Duke. ... The alcohol helped, but here is some startled staring.

"I did not eat that many!"

"I had worried you might turn into a pumpkin yourself from the amount you ate!" he continued to tease him as friends do.

"I am fairly certain that I could not turn from a human to .. some sort of human gourd crossbreed." And, Duke continues to react... moderately normally.

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