Alcohol, taken in sufficient quantities

[lord_wizard]

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.))

Comments

[fuckelves]

Thorin swishes the liquid in the mug before taking a gulp. Then dark blue eyes glanced to his new companion.

"Checking for poison," Thorin was honest. There was no point in lying. "Where I'm from, a man can't be too careful with these matters...especially with so many Elves running around..."

Thorin turned to face his companion more completely.

"Who might you be?"

[radiantwingedone]

"I would have said so many humans." He's a little vaguely amused sounding, still searching for where the chocolate covered fruit went. This searching involves a lot of tapping the sides of containers and taking snacks from bowls to taste.

"Duke." Duke tilts his head a little more toward the voice, trying to show that he's paying attention. He's attempting this polite thing. "And you? I don't recognize your voice." ... And has drank more of the alcohol than he usually does, because he normally doesn't mention how he recognizes people.

[fuckelves]

Thorin gives a slight chuckle. He doesn't mind men, but he's suspicious of them. But Elves...those are the bane of his existence. There are no words to describe his hatred for them.

Thorin tilts a brow at the statement, and at how his new companion has taken to tapping the containers of snacks. He takes a long slurp from his mug.

"Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, and King Under the Mountain," there has never been a point in his life when Thorin has not introduced himself with that full title. After the turbulent life he lived back in his world, he had earned that title and he was damn well going to use it.

[radiantwingedone]

Duke has personal reasons to not like the rest of humanity.

He's silent for a moment, partially because he did find the chocolate covered fruit, and partially because he was deciphering that.

"Your name is Thorin Oakenshield, and you are King Under the Mountain. Or am I insulting you by not including your.. father and his father?" He frowns for a moment. "... Its a bigger mouthful if you include them. For introductions, then?"

[fuckelves]

Thorin, surprisingly enough, gives a slight chuckle at the statement. It is indeed a mouthful, but he's earned each part of that title. To not use the whole thing would be lose part of himself.

"No, you pay me no insult, rest assured," Thorin waved dismissively. "It is indeed a long title. You may call me simply 'Thorin,' if I may call you friend."

He's not really asking permission, more so just stating fact: His friends and those he finds favor with may call him 'Thorin'. But that is not to say that he couldn't find friendship in his new companion.

[radiantwingedone]

"... If you want to." Duke says it a little heavily, frown tugging down a bit further. "I am out of practice at being one, however."

He isn't particularly comfortable with having friends, even after being here, rather than home, for two years. The death of the few close to him left a heavy mark, and he decides to drown those thoughts by taking a cup of the drink nearest to him and draining it.

[fuckelves]

Thorin nods solemnly - this is a concept he can sympathize with, but one that he will never admit that he is guilty of.

"Many are - don't think yourself the sole culprit," Thorin assured him.

Thorin can understand that concern. He's only been here a matter of months, and yet he's seen many friends come and go. Bofur and Bilbo, most recently. He's the only one here from his world now, aside from Galadriel, but he would hardly call an Elf 'friend' - his pride won't allow it.

"But this is a happy celebration, is it not? No need to dwell on the unpleasant."

[radiantwingedone]

Duke aims a thin, rusty smile perhaps just a little above where Thorin's head actually is. He's confused by the depth of the voice and where it seems to be coming from, so he keeps thinking that Thorin is taller than he is. But thank you for not telling him 'but you should want more friends' or something of the like.

"It ought to be. It sounds like it is." The secondary problem of not having many friends is that Duke has no idea how to make simple conversation.

"... Other than the obvious problems of arriving and possible problems with company, how have you found the castle?" ... He's trying for something to talk about, okay.

[fuckelves]

Thorin tilts a brow, curious as to why his new companion keeps looking over his head. That, and the first comment has the Dwarf king curious.

"The castle is...not totally intolerable," Thorin nods slowly. "I enjoy having whatever I wish given to me at my whim. But the punishments..."

He shudders, recalling the brief time he had been turned into a baby dragon.

"I can do without those..." Thorin sipped his ale again.

He glances to Duke, royal blue eyes flickering up and down the other man a moment, and he can fight his curiosity no longer:

"I must ask: Can you not see?" He asks no forgiveness, not even for asking the question so bluntly. But in his mind he needs none; it was not asked out of malice, nor mockery. He is simply curious.

[radiantwingedone]

Different sorts - Duke enjoyed being a dragon, although he had been one of a size to get stuck in doorways and that hadn't been terribly fun.

"Accurate. Hairballs are as uncomfortable as cats make them sound." And he would know because he's been one of those a couple of times.

"Here, yes. A reason I, perhaps, will always be displeased at the castle." He pauses after that.

"I've been off about something, haven't I?"

[fuckelves]

The worst part had been that others had told Thorin that his dragon form had been cute...

He was a king of Dwarves - 'cute' was not a word meant to describe them!!

But Thorin nods, acknowledging his new companion's sacrifice - what had been taken from him in exchange for the 'privilege' of dwelling in the castle. Thorin would have gladly traded his sight for what had been taken from him...

"I am sorry to hear that..." Thorin's tone was legitimate and sincere.

Still, he couldn't help but chuckle a bit at Duke's question.

"Aye, I'm afraid to say you have been," Thorin glanced up. "You've been looking up for a man who's not there - I'm a Dwarf, lad. Thus I'm much shorter than I'm assuming you've imagined me."

Though he did appreciate that he gave off that air!