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]

A slight chill raked through Thorin, feeling Ashura's fingers in his hair. He gives a soft, cocky smirk though, glancing Felix up and down.

"You'd be interested in Dwarf jewelry?" It's hard for him to believe. "What for?"

[lord_wizard]

Felix managed not to look perturbed by this, though the intensity of his stare is a bit too sharp to be friendly.

"Ashura and I often have similar tastes in our amusements, though not always to same degree, obviously," he gestured vaguely at the four sets of simple golden rings in his ears, though the slight implication was for more than just ear jewelry, "Sadly I arrived in Paradisa without my wizard's rings."

[fuckelves]

Thorin tilts his head a bit, glancing to the golden rings in Felix's ears. Piercings for Dwarves were ways to honor and remember fallen loved ones. Not everyone expresses this same practice, but it's the first thing that comes to his mind when he sees them.

"Wizard Rings?" Thorin tilts a brow. He's heard of the rings of power forged ages ago, one of which had been given to his father. But the wizards of his world received none. "And what are those?"

[lord_wizard]

In a way the rings could stand for such things. He'd seen far too many friends die before he was even a man, but the real for them was actual simple vanity. "Many wizards in my world use rings to help focus their magic. A full set of ten, though the metals and stones vary from person to person."

Felix casually flashed his bare hands, palms down and fingers spread slightly. Trailing tattooed vines in gold, crimson, azure, and emerald wound their way over the top of his hands and disappeared underneath the frill of his sleeves.

[fuckelves]

Thorin tilts a brow at Felix's explanation and glances down at the wizard's hands when he displays them.

Though he soon forgets the rings as he studies the tattoo. Tattoos also, in Dwarf culture, had a great deal of meaning - and Thorin is curious to see if there are any similarities...

"And the tattoos, there," Thorin points. "Is there a significance to them?"

[wishmadeinfire]

Well, this was going a bit better than expected. At least they were not at each other's throats for one reason or another, yet. Ashura kept sipping from his cup quietly, listening to them go back and forth. He knew the reasons, but he felt it would serve no purpose if he butted in now. He remembered spending days admiring those tattoos, having always liked them...

Oh, no, don't drift, he needed to be here, in the now, ready to jump in in case something went sideways.

[lord_wizard]

It was funny that the first time he had met Ashura, his tattoos had also become a subject of discussion, which may or may not have been an unfortunate thing to recall at the moment. Thankfully, he couldn't entirely resist a reason to talk about himself, as long as the subject was as neutral as his wizardry.

"There is. They are marks of loyalty and a badge of office, so to speak, taken as part of my oaths and induction into the Cabaline school."

[fuckelves]

"Interesting."

Not so different from his culture, in Thorin's opinion. He nodded slowly in understanding and appreciation. Tattoos were usually worn by fierce warriors who had lost loved ones and comrades, hence why Thorin was always interested in them.

Most of Thorin's tattoos are on his arms, fingers and chest, mostly hidden by his clothing, not that he had any shame in wearing them.

[lord_wizard]

Felix was glad that Thorin's tone was a bit less stand-offish for the moment, and decided to continue the topic. Even though he wasn't sure if he wanted to like the dwarf, he could not control his genuine curiosity on the matter.

"And what about yours. I see you have some as well."

Sorry for the delay!! Moving was HELL!!

[fuckelves]

"Indeed," Thorin glances to the tattoos that he can see on his arms and fingers.

He actually takes a moment to clench and unclench his fingers. Just admiring the movement of the ink on his skin.

"Memorials," was the simple way of putting it. "For fallen friends and loved ones. Each tattoo, each piercing, the pain is meant to make us remember those we have lost that much more."

Thorin felt a phantom sting in his ear - the gold hoop in his earlobe pierced to remember his brother.

[lord_wizard]

"Pain fades like everything else," Felix said, though not dismissively. He did not mention that his own tattoos did not, nor would ever, fade, because of the magic imbued into them. He didn't think their presence was what made him remember his vows. They certainly had not stopped him from side-stepping them when he needed to.

"I could imagine you running out of skin if you chose to stop and remember everyone that has died in your war..."

[fuckelves]

Thorin doesn't take too kindly to this brushing off of his custom - intended as an insult or not. His lips press together, clamped tight to keep him from getting too loud even as his annoyance bubbled into anger beneath his skin.

"Then we get more piercings," Thorin growled.

He knew a Dwarf who had shaved his head to make room for more tattoos, so it was not unheard of for a Dwarf to indeed run out of skin after losing too many treasured comrades. Still, it wasn't something that happened frequently.

"We do not do this in honor of every Dwarf who falls in battle - only those whom we treasure dearly."

[lord_wizard]

Felix notices the shift in mood, though is still not sure if he cares. He spoke the way he spoke and he wasn't apt to change it to suit some temper temperamental dwarf.

"And how many are you counting?"

[fuckelves]

Thorin bristles a bit at the question. Oh no, many things he has no trouble sharing about - but that is no one's business but a Dwarf's.

"It's not a number to concern yourself with..."

It was a fair enough guess that it was more than he could count on his fingers.