open-ish / it's never too late to get down and party

[morns]

🧙 WHO: Kate & her adult CR (and anyone they might want to invite!) / people who work at the Roost?
⚔️️ WHAT: It's Kate's birthday and she wants to make the most of it, so the obvious solution is to rent out the Phoenix Roost for a night of getting drunk.
🕒 WHEN: 15th August
🗺️ WHERE: Phoenix Roost
⚠️ WARNINGS: Probably excessive alcohol consumption, hopefully some sinning.


( have you met Kate? are you over the age of eighteen? then, at the beginning of the month, you'll receive the following text; )

Party. 15th. 9pm. Phoenix Roost. Wear what you want. Bring who you want.

( yeah, that's about all the details you're getting. so why not grab a friend, a significant other, or your worst enemy, and find out what's going on?

the Phoenix Roost is as it ever is, except for the fact that the only people there have heard about this party in one way or another. there's nothing to suggest that this party is for reasons other than Kate simply wanting to host one, but if you're here, you might know her well enough to guess that to be untrue.

but, hey, does that matter? there's alcohol flowing freely and music playing, so grab a drink, talk to a stranger, make bad choices! just try to avoid murder for a night, thank you. )

( ooc; I might be busy on the 15th, so I've thrown this up now! It's a mingle log, you know how this works. Post your own top levels, warn for anything that needs warning, be good to each other. If you're not sure whether your character would be invited, just poke me at exits / exits#8071 and we can chat! )

Comments

rei.

[groundzeroes]

[As Phoenix Roost's proprietor, it's no surprise to see Rei around the place. He's technically here as a guest, but he may as well be the host; he looks right at home. He didn't get hit with the animal mage magic like so many of the other attendees, but dressed in one of his trademark obnoxious as fuck outfits he looks no less flashy.

The Roost has hosted parties before, but this one is distinctly more adult than the last one (a teen's birthday party): namely, the bar is fully open. The music is also open for requests, if whatever dance number playing doesn't suit your fancy.]

bar

[The great thing about owning the establishment being used is that everything is to your taste. Rei is sat at the edge of the bar, set up with a drink and watching the party. It feels the tiniest bit lonely-- the two people he usually drinks with are out of the picture-- but Rei is used to giving things up.

And maybe you, whoever you are nearest by, will make for a good conversation in the meantime!]

You know, I saw the funniest curse happen to a guy in a bar recently.

bird

[ Rei's familiar and the Roost's eponymous Phoenix-- technically a hou-ou-- is in attendance. Unlike the cafe floor there aren't usually any bird perches in the basement, but Princess is anxious to keep a close eye on the partygoers and wouldn't stop fussing so Rei is setting one up for her near the stage supports. She's sitting on his shoulder and supervising the process.]

...Stop that.

[She started preening him...]

wildcard

rei is pretty much Around anywhere--go ham :)

bar;

[cooperatively]

[Free alcohol might just be the best kind of alcohol, and Kitten finally sees the appeal. They’re pleasantly buzzed, so they’re more than ready to make conversation with shady older men.]

What happened?

[They take a sip of their - they’re not even sure what it is? But it tastes good, so that’s all that matters.]

He didn’ fuckin’ die, did he?

[groundzeroes]

Now, that's a bit much for a punchline! [Still, he laughs. Rei is certainly flippant, but (unlike half the people in here apparently???) he still has some basic moral standards.]

No, he got slapped with a drinking problem. [True to form, this wording is a bad joke.] Guy didn't figure it out until he was wearing this third beer.

[cooperatively]

[They suck in a breath, before letting it out slowly.]

Wow.

[They shake their head, huffing out something that might be a life.]

I’m not sure if I regret askin’ or not.

[groundzeroes]

[Kitten might not have enjoyed that, but Rei sure did. Clown Division looking ass...]

Hahaha! What a waste of money, right? The drinks too.

[Rei is chuckling into his own glass at this point, recalling the memory. (Sorry, Hijikata....)]

That, and everyone laughed him out of the bar. That kind of thing might not be a death sentence, but it's pretty effective, right?

[cooperatively]

[Things could always be worse, at least. He could not be as flashily dressed, which is like 80% of his appeal.]

Well, depends on who remembers this besides you. Otherwise it’s just one embarrassing night you can sweep under the rug.

[A pause.]

…Unless the curse hasn’t been broken yet.

[That would be pretty funny.]

[groundzeroes]

That I don't know. I advised the guy on how to break it, but whether or not he actually believed me is another story.

[A hah hah.

Finishing his drink, Rei gives Kitten a piercing, appraising stare. Between the death and the curse evaluation...]

You're a vicious kinda kid, aren't you!

[cooperatively]

You the guy that cursed him?

[They give him a considering look. They’re well aware of dark magic, considering they got saddled with it themself, but still.]

Vicious? Might be just about the first time someone’s called me that to my face.

[They’re not offended, though - they actually laugh, seemingly delighted.]

But I guess so. Comes with the territory.

[groundzeroes]

[Rei is NOT, in fact, the guy who cursed him! But he opts not to answer except with a smile, leaving it open ended.]

"The territory," huh. [Rei's eyebrow quirks, and his assessing look turns into more of a once-over. Perched on the barstool in that outfit, this brat has a sort of crackling energy to them. Charismatic, but capricious.] Do I even want to know what that means, exactly?

[cooperatively]

[Hmm. Cryptic.

Kitten’s gonna work with the assumption he’s definitely the guy that cursed him.]

Depends.

[They prop their head on their hand, staring back at Rei. He’s a curious old man, isn’t he?]

How well d’you wanna know me?

[groundzeroes]

[you got him in one, kitten!]

Ha ha! Well, I won't pry. [Rei waves to the bartender to bring him another drink-- Kitten too, if they're finished with the current one.] But it's your turn to regale us with a bar story. How about that?

[cooperatively]

A bar story…

[Hmm.

They’ll take another drink, though! Maybe it’ll help.]

One bar a friend of mine used to frequent, he invited me out. It was open mic night, and some demons decided they were gonna show off on stage, but their tails got caught in the wiring and they ended up pulling it all out. Best performance of the night.

[groundzeroes]

Hmmm. I see. Some demons.

[Rei's amused tone of voice makes it very clear that That Is Not Normal Where He's From.]

That happen often?

end of the night because i can do what i want.

[morns]

( when the last few people filter out, Kate's still in the basement, hopped up on the bar with a glass of water in hand. not that drinking water is going to counteract the amount of alcohol she's had tonight, but all things considered, she'd rather not throw up until the morning. thankfully, the drink mats are also quite useful in stopping her ass from sliding all over the counter in this satin jumpsuit, so her choice in seats isn't about to land anyone in the hospital despite it all.

it's been a good night. a change of pace to her usual ones in Avalon, and even the ones back home. when's the last time she was the one to suggest and host a whole bash like this, as opposed to letting Ainsworth sort the whole thing out? she's not sure she ever has been more than just the attendee, willing to participate but never actually initiating such things.

her eyes — far from their usual brown, instead matching the rest of the cat features she's been cursed with this month — are relaxed, half-lidded and following Rei as he does whatever he's doing. she taps sharp nails against her glass and crosses one leg over the other, resting her elbow against her thigh. )

Need a hand?

( ... probably not advisable to say yes, really. )

[groundzeroes]

[Rei's got staff on hand for most of the cleaning-- does he look like a man who would do all that himself?!-- but he's still putting things back together here and there, resetting the music system, rolling up extension cords and such.]

Not from the birthday girl, I don't. [He might have overheard a thing or two earlier... and holding onto information until he can drop it at the most opportune time is so terribly Rei.

He looks pleased with himself, but the smile he gives when he pauses in his movement to address her is at least halfway genuine despite it.]

How was it?

[morns]

( well, he wouldn't want to break a nail, right? p.s. don't eavesdrop, that's rude.

unfortunately, the word eavesdrop is a bit too much of a tongue twister right now, so instead, Kate settles for a simple, single-finger gesture to accompany the narrow eyed glare she tosses his way.

besides, by now it isn't technically her birthday any more. not that she's sober enough to consider that point, either.

she drains the last of the glass of water as he asks that question, handing it to one of the guys cleaning behind the bar (and likely not too happy with the fact that she's treating it like one of Princess' perches, cat hair probably getting onto the surface from the sleek grey tail which curls around her) before her fingers fiddle idly with the ends of her hair (it's not as poker straight as it had been when she got here, but eh). )

... Different. ( not bad. but that's certainly the first word to come to mind. different. another reminder that this isn't home. not just because it was her job to get this shit together, but because she actually likes the people who turned up (well, that Kitten kid... they're a new and strange presence).

how long has it been since she could honestly say that? )

Haven't been out like this for a while.

( which is a true enough statement to leave it at. )

[groundzeroes]

Oh yeah? Here I thought you went out all the time.

[Kate paid more than enough for the right to sit on the countertop, it's fine. As he finishes resetting the sound system Rei will join her, claiming a bar stool at her side.]

Though I guess... [He lights a cigarette, thinking aloud.] ...it was a bit constructive, on your part. Is that it?

[morns]

( she does, wym. )

Nah. Never do that.

( that's a first. feel #blessed that she chose this place for it, Rei. )

Since I've been out with more than one person.

( she's definitely had nights where she's run into multiple people, or made one off bonds with equally drunk strangers, but a big group of people going out to get drunk together?

(the feast doesn't count, that was mostly about the food.) )

[groundzeroes]

You don't say. [Rei is a little surprised, actually! Kate seems the party type-- and judging by her reaction here... maybe she still is? Knowing what he knows about her.. maybe Kate has just never had a chance before.]

You should do it more often, then. [and, because Rei cannot give genuine advice without ruining the atmosphere:] I wouldn't say no to taking more of your money, anyway.

[morns]

( you really think she's going to put party hosting effort in for the hell of it? no. that's way too much like telling people she likes spending time around them. easier just to let Ainsworth drag her into big nights out.

besides, you've already talked her into spending money on a business license, don't try to wheedle out more. )

I'm skint.

( close enough, anyway. go chainmail curse some cash out of people instead, old man. )

[groundzeroes]

Too bad, too bad. [Rei laughs easily at her rebuttal-- and laughs more at the way her cat ears twitched to match.]

Still. [He puts his free hand on her knee, giving her a brief, friendly squeeze.] Glad to see you having fun instead of just biding your time for once.

Definitely not throwing you tags while in the queue at kfc, nah

[morns]

( if the twitching ears make him laugh, the irritated flick of her tail that accompanies the jerk of her knee when he squeezes it might just be hilarious.

platonic touches are still strange territory, honestly. )

... Did you?

( she could argue that she has fun, sometimes. but instead she asks a question, one with a tinge of genuine interest as opposed to her usual, flat affect. as though the answer actually matters on levels beyond simple curiosity and silence filling. )

kate fried ctags

[groundzeroes]

What, me? How nice of you to ask after an old man. [Okay, even Rei can admit this joke is trite deflection. His smile softens just slightly.]

Yeah. It was good.

[With all the tenseness between Rei and his teammates, it's nice to focus on something else--someone else-- for a change.

That said...]

You know quite the group of people, Kate-chan.

spray emoji

[morns]

( well if Rei prefers, she can just kick him for being a prat. but he thankfully gives a real answer before she does. and while she has wondered just what became of whatever had him in such a mood on the roof a while back, that's something she won't ask about just yet.

partially because that last sentence leaves him way too open; )

Includes you, y'know.

( she shifts slightly on the bar, folding a leg under herself and rocking back onto her hands. )

Everyone's weird here.

( that's been her experience, anyway. must be necessary if you're going to save the multiverse or something? )

[groundzeroes]

Me, weird? I don't know what you're talking about.

[Riiight. scam artist/business owner/rapper, totally not abnormal at all.]

Guess it's good for something, though. If we've all got that in common...