MINGLE | The "Everyone's Tired and Hungry" Post-Mission Pizza Party

[groupiedrifter]

CHARACTERS: Everyone! A free-for-all general chill-out time, thrown haphazardly together by a mad scientist.
LOCATION: The Mess Hall
DATE: Sometime after the mission. Y'all know.
CONTENT: The Orb Crew tries to relax for a hot goddamn minute.
WARNINGS: Likely drinking or drunkenness, the usual party antics. Very mildly image heavy, NSFW for naughty threads, properly marked.

It seems the party has been properly set up for you all! But of course, there's an exuberant amount of 'Newton*' flair added to it, and people can find all sorts of random things — markers for drawing on the pizza boxes (which he distinctly requested, super important) cover the tables, and it's clear by the one designed like a Pikachu and a dinosaur that he's already began scribbling on them. He's also made... board games literally comprised of pizza boxes as well, including Chess and Connect Four, which is lovingly set up side-by-side on a table and done with intent to annoy.

They've got one deck of cards for games, no chips; you'll have to just make some of your own out of pizza box cardboard. The most grand of all creation appears to be a normal-sized Skeeball table, made of flimsy material, with oranges for balls. It may or may not last the night, but it sure works for now!

There's a very strong bottle of liquor from their last mission open for everyone, and, well, it will get you drunk quite fast if you're not careful. But it's also a Bring Your Own Beer situation; hope you guys asked Viv for some to plan for the party!

Lastly, there's classic bar rock playing from an iPhone rigged to a speaker that looks very very cobbled together, from loose bits and bobs from the lab's many boxes. If you go fiddle with that phone's playlist, you may be able to find a small collection of songs that aren't rock, but are likely from the 90's or early 2000's.

And yes, there is a couch with a sign on it, designated specifically for people who wish to nap. If they'd like. Don't be rude, let people lay down when they're sleepy. (Maybe Newton just put that there for him, honestly.) There are 50 pizzas total, which is practically a whole-ass pizza per person, so enjoy! (And thanks, Viv!)

Feel free to bring your own flair to the party, if you'd like.

These are just a few things for a m b i e n c e.

(*If you mention him, he will appear like a terrible omen.)

Comments

good lord xichen

[soups]

❰ she takes no offense to being bumped at all, but especially not when she realizes that the culprit is lan xichen — and then even less so when she realizes the predicament he's in. she's not totally sure why zewu jun is standing before her, obviously drunk, when the lan clan is so against the practice of consuming alcohol. even with secret consumption, there must be a point to not be so openly drunk in public, no?

but jiang yanli has all the pity in the world for him. for those not so used to liquor, the choices they've been given aboard the ship are devilish and strong. they trick you, bringing your manners to their knees. she was in a similar position the last time they had a party, and there's still a ghost of shame in her chest that she was seen so without her principles. ❱

I've been here for some time, Zewu Jun. ❰ she speaks to him softly, despite his raised voice. her gaze remains level, even though she's both bemused and bewildered to see someone of such a high authority in such a state. ❱ Would you be interested in sitting with me?

❰ perhaps in some chairs in the corner? or not in this room at all?? ❱

it was supposed to just be juice!!!

[calmness]

[there is certainly a point about not being public and lan xichen has never been in this predicament before, where his mind has not caught up with the fact that he is indeed intoxicated.

what he'd consumed had been juice, after all. had it not?

no, clearly not. he'd already considered that. he blinks slowly at jiang yanli, unsure how to proceed when the world sways so. or is he swaying? he's not sure.] Lady Jiang! [still loud, excitement in his voice when he gathers himself and is sure he's standing straight.] I think there is something gravely wrong with the beverages of this world! [which does not answer her question but is of great concern.]

[soups]

❰ the non-response elicits a chuff of laughter from her, incapable of hiding her amusement at this. how rude of her; jiang yanli presses a hand to her lips quickly as she tries to dim the laughter from her eyes.

it's especially hard when she has to move her eyes from side to side to follow his own. he's standing as if he was on a rocking ship. ❱

What have you had to drink, Zewu Jun? I think every beverage at this party is something you would imbibe.

[calmness]

[what had he had to drink.

honestly, xichen isn't sure. which is foolish at best. before he'd arrived here, he would have been much more careful. before guanyin temple, even. now, well, it is foolish not to know but part of him doesn't care. ] I don't know? It was blue.

Perhaps pink. It was quite good. [he looks down at his hands.] I don't know where it went! [is he panicking? yes, yes he is. oh no! the distress!]

[soups]

❰ the sudden distress shakes her from the bemusement, and now jiang yanli's eyes are as wide as his are. if it was an important scroll or his sword, she could perhaps understand the urgency — a drink? hmm. ❱

Zewu Jun! If you've sat it down, I don't think you could distinguish it from any other...do you want another one? Please take a breath!

[calmness]

Oh! Another would be delicious! [The urgency and distress shifts quickly, like the whims of a hyperactive child and there is excitement and hope instead.

Xichen looks around, back at the drinks table.] We should acquire more! [he turns back to lady jiang then, hopeful and swaying on his feet.]

[soups]

❰ that was certainly a mistake. lan xichen snaps into a different emotion and jiang yanli tries to her best to keep up with him. ❱

Maybe in a moment...I think— ❰ she wracks her brain, thinking of any way she could get him to focus on not...running amok. ❱ Zewu Jun, I don't think I'm feeling well, suddenly.

❰ a hand going to her head, her shoulders slump forward, gaze unfocused. she's sorry to feign ailment, but if it will give him something important to settle down over. ❱

[calmness]

[which triggers a different emotion all together. the part of xichen that's an older sibling himself, drunk as he is, snaps into place.

concern returns, and though he's not sober, he is swaying less as he stands. he takes a deep breath.] Do you need to sit, Lady Jiang? Or air that is--- [well, there's no fresh air on this vessel.] Fresher than this room? [he asks as he moves to help steady the now ailing young woman. with him swaying, it may not be the best of ideas but they manage not to fall.]

[soups]

❰ being closer to lan xichen's orbit is actually more disorienting than she was previously, but it's not so bad that she actually does feel ill. it just cements how affected by alcohol he actually is. ❱

Yes. Both would be nice. I don't know what's brought on the dizziness suddenly...

❰ she trails off with a swallow, unsure how morally...wrong this is, to lie to the zewu jun. but it'll be for his own good. ❱

[calmness]

[xichen watches her for a moment and nods, carefully reaching for one of her elbows and remaining close.] Have you consumed anything this evening, Lady Jiang? From this party? It could be that?

[soups]

❰ okay, they're now moving with purpose — this is good news. she makes her shoulders go a little more limp, legs stepping forward shakily. ❱

Only a little, earlier. I've been just fine until now, so I'm not sure what's wrong suddenly.

[calmness]

[the worry only grows as xichen glances back at the food and beverages.] Perhaps the pizza?

[but that does not matter, really, in the grand scheme of things. the problem is that now he's supported her, he's forgotten what he was meant to be doing though it was equally important.

he glances down at where he's supporting her elbow, brows furrowed.]

[soups]

❰ this is quite alright. anything that's not running around like a drunken fool is a win to jiang yanli. she's doing this for you, lan xichen. for your honor and image. ❱

Yes— Did you eat any of it? It was so. ❰ a hand is to her mouth, eyes closed in 'pain'. ❱ I fear it has gotten the best of me. I must sit for a while.

[calmness]

[later, when he is no longer drunk, lan xichen will appreciate this. a part of him right now is disappointed though.

he glances at lady jiang and then the pizza, frowning at it as if it's cause them offense.] I did but not a whole slice. [he shakes his head, trying to steady his thoughts before the drift. he looks around the room, spots two seats not so close to the others. they're near the doorway, the closest thing to fresh air so he starts to guide her there.] This might be the best for now? Though the Sunlight Room may be better if you are in need of fresh air. [your plan is working, yanli. congratulations!]

[soups]

❰ it's actually somewhat surprising to her that this is being pulled off — she's quite used to having to stifle real feelings, replace them with faux ones. but channeling it into trickery has never been something she's considered. at least it's all for the good of saving lan xichen embarrassment; she would hope someone would do the same for her if she were to become foolish out of turn. ❱

Air...air would be greatly appreciated. ❰ the hand that is drifting near her mouth falls to the base of her throat, putting gentle pressure. jiang yanli's face scrunches slightly, and she sniffs the air. ❱ Can you smell that, Zewu-jun? The cheese ❰ a difficult swallow, as if the air itself is choking her ❱ in the air?