Open: In a shout of joy at the only shrine where you come benighted and leave benign

[vineleaves]

Dark has come and gone again, which means it’s time to party.

In some ways the party is very similar to last year’s - same large banquet room in the mansion, a similarly large abundance of food and drink, and the promise of a night full of letting loose for everyone in attendance. It’s far from a direct clone of the previous party though. For starters, Dionysus has had Claudius help him in all of the planning (sometimes a god’s blessings come in the form of enrichment for one’s enclosure). They’ve gotten several of the mansion’s residents to agree to play live music during the night, and Dionysus was able to find some, ah, more widely appreciated CDs to play during the breaks between performers.

The room has been decorated to the nines again, but where last year he had green vines draping on the walls diffusing the glow from the twinkling fairy lights, this year he has strung up swooping vines of silver, glittering almost like tinsel. The large food tables have an almost ridiculous amount of things to munch on; there should be something for everyone there.

It should go without saying that the beverage tables are well-stocked, considering the host.

The festivities are starting a little earlier this year than last, out of respect for those who may or may not have earlier bedtimes. Come dressed in your finest, it’s a yearly tradition now!




Just as there was last year, there is to be an ‘after party’. If your character is part of the standard Orgy Invite Crew, they will have received another invitation to that half of the evening as well. Just like last year, this part of the event is to be handwaved, for obvious reasons.

Comments

[futaille]

"You know, I'm not entirely sure. It can't be that much, though. Look how small the cups are! Plus it needs to have enough gelatin in there to... gelatin."

[timebethine]

"That's true," Laertes allows. "And it cannot be too strong, else I would taste it." In this, he is confidently wrong.

[futaille]

"And I'm doing quite all right, besides." This is, in fact, also his first experience with jello shots and therefore he is not deliberately helping to mislead Laertes, but nevertheless.

[timebethine]

"Ay, but thou art a more experienced drinker than I am."

[futaille]

"That is true. That does have an effect. But it's not... I've also had other things to drink so that might balance it a bit?"

[timebethine]

"Would there were a way to know with precision how drunken one is, and compare it with another!" says Laertes. "Alas that it's a matter known only inwardly."

[futaille]

"There should be one. I'm sure there has to be some way to devise one."

[timebethine]

"Would it not be like unto measuring and comparing happiness, or grief? Such things cannot be done."

[futaille]

"Maybe. Is drunk an emotion?"

[timebethine]

"Nay, I think it more a medical condition, like unto a fever or a chill," says Laertes thoughtfully. "And fevers can be measured."

[futaille]

"So they can. Although temperature is straightforward. I don't know how you'd measure drunkenness."

[timebethine]

"Perhaps ... the ratio of alcohol drunk to the mass of the body?"

[futaille]

"Ah! Yes! It would tell you how much of you is alcohol at any moment!"

[timebethine]

"But some may better bear the same ratio than others," says Laertes, plucking up a purple jello shot as he works through the problem in his head. "Lan Wangji, for example, can little bear the shock of liquor, although I doubt not he outstrips me for mass--and perhaps even thee, although he carries it differently."

[futaille]

"That's true. Acclimatization probably has some influence, but I'm sure there are other things. Maybe the makeup up of the body. People with drastically different shapes can weigh the same, after all. I wonder if anyone's already studied this."

[timebethine]

"Perhaps Susan will know. She has a tremendous gift for figures."

[futaille]

"She might well!" Does he think at any point to consult with probably the mansion's foremost expert on alcohol who he is engaged to? Not at all.

[timebethine]

As Laertes surveys the room, though, his gaze is drawn to the shining beacon that is Dionysus, and he adds, "Dionysus may have some innate sense which defies measurement."

[futaille]

He's downing another shot of his own when Laertes floats the suggestion. Grantaire's own gaze immediately shifts to Dionysus as well and he noticeably brightens. "Oh, yes, most likely so! He's brilliant when it comes to his domains. Well, he's always brilliant, but especially then." He waves a hand to indicate the party itself as another example, and then one more addition. "I make plays for him, you know."

[timebethine]

"Oh? I knew not that the reach of thy talents extended so far! What manner of plays? Tragical, comical, historical, pastoral?--pastoral-comical?"

[futaille]

"Oh, not exactly. You see, he's always aware of a play being rehearsed or performed, audience or no, no matter where he is." He grins and grabs another jello shot. "So I take shameless and wanton advantage."

[timebethine]

It takes a moment for full understanding to hit, but when it does, it's with the force of a piano dropped from a height. "Wanton!" says Laertes, eyes wide. "Are these monologues, or hast thou a partner in these plays?"

[futaille]

"Simply monologues. So far, at least."

[timebethine]

"Should thine ambitions grow, only let me know; I ought to learn better how to act a part, ere my performance in The Wizard of Oz."

[futaille]

"Oh, I'm certainly interested in expanding my repertoire."