sixteenth labyrinth | Party because I can

[lord_wizard]

Who: Felix Harrowgate and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Málum
When: Today-ish

[It's largely boredom that leads Felix to this decision. Either in the Mirador or Paradisa, he'd been fond of finding any reason whatsoever to get a few people together for food and drinks. The company generally meant more than the setting, though of course it was far easier to arrange things at a snap of his fingers than it was here. Still, he manages it within a few days of the fleet's time adrift.

That morning, he addresses the network.]

Hello again, dear fleet. Felix Harrowgate of the Goldstone here, if we haven't yet met. I've put together a little soirée this evening, at Málum. Consider it an appreciation of our time of peace and quiet...or the beginnings of spring. Whichever sounds best to you. It isn't much, admittedly, but there is food and drinks and hopefully people. May as well enjoy things before something else explodes, hm?

Oh, and semi-formal attire would be appreciated, not that I intend on turning anyone out at the door. I'm sure many of us have a little something in our closet that doesn't much get to see the light of day. [Well, not so much in his case, of course, but the point stands]

See you all tonight. [He closes the feed with a smile]

[That night Málum is - not transformed, exactly, but - altered. The stark furniture softened with simple white tablecloths, with centerpieces cobbled together from wine glasses, candles, and flowers from the garden. The neon, for the night, has been switched off. Even the galaxy of lights on the dancefloor have been changed to project the shape of flowers.

The food laid out is fairly basic but fitting the bar's wheelhouse - meats cooked inside puff pastry, thin stacks of sauteed vegetables, and mini quiches to name of few. The finale sits in the form of the lemon cake (commissioned, likely, from the Melting Pot). Some of the flavor is even real lemon!

Drinks are free within reason and music plays softly in the background, for anyone that feels like dancing. Felix would have preferred more classical selections, but all of this is a case of working with what you have.]

[EDIT: If you wait too long Sansa will have stolen most of the cake]

((ooc: This is essentially a mingle, so feel free to make your own top levels and have some fun!))

Comments

the OTHER Felix | ota

[scanninggaydis]

[Strictly speaking, Felix isn't a party person. He makes exceptions - like celebrating not being eaten by cannibals - but on the whole they are not his preferred venue. Except that he's gone about the last month or so being an unintentional hermit and his credits are low and he'd noticed that the last part coincided with a spike in his ratings. (Maybe that was asking Gil to dance. Maybe. Anyway.)

Anyway, he'd enjoyed the last party and he doesn't hate this other Felix so...why not? His effort towards 'semi-formal' is just a nicely tailored (if plain) suit.

As always with parties in the Fleet, he hovers near what's functioning as the dance floor for at least some of the party.

Otherwise he tries to avoid being a wallflower as much as possible, whether that means approaching people he already knows to catch up or making new friends. Possibly by commenting on the stripper pole because hey, it's an easy conversation starter.]

[hollystrike]

[Katie's over by the stripper pole, sizing it up as if she's seriously considering a change in career.]

I hope none of Crowley's non-existent strippers are allergic.

[Mildly.]

You dressed up, I see.

[scanninggaydis]

[Felix strolls up beside her, cocking his head as if also in serious contemplation. Although...probably not as if he has any real intent of doing anything with the pole.]

That would make performing any kind of routine pretty difficult. Although I think the flowers even being there probably does that too.

[As if he has any idea how easy or difficult it is to pole dance. Spoilers: he does not. Her second earns an easy shrug.]

Well, he did ask. And I had the suit on hand.

[He doesn't make any comment about her not dressing up, though.]

[hollystrike]

[Katie views this event less as a soiree and more of a who decided to have an uppity party during my drinking hours.]

And is this event the sort of thing you're used to?

[scanninggaydis]

[He contemplates the question, and then shrugs.]

Kind of. I guess. I mean, I definitely didn't go to them all the time back home, but enough of them.

What about you?

[The answer might be easy to guess, but Felix will ask anyway.]

[hollystrike]

Oh, I was invited to these all the time, but I never quite fit the dress code. My regular job doesn't pay enough to foot the bills for such pretty dresses.

But I suppose the etiquette for them was drummed into me early enough in life.

[scanninggaydis]

Yeah?

[Felix looks curious. He saw a little of Katie's childhood in calibrations, but nothing to suggest a life where the etiquette for fancy parties would be necessary. So, he's interested.]

[hollystrike]

[She grins at him.]

Did you know I'm a knight? Technically, I suppose it's Sir Katie.

[Or okay, Lady Katie, but she likes the sound of Sir better.]

[scanninggaydis]

[...That is interesting. Felix continues to look curious.]

I didn't know. How did that happen?

[One day. One day he'll know about not asking direct questions....]

[hollystrike]

Valiantly destroyed a nest of vampires that were attempting to blow up a hospital. It was all very dramatic.

[Yeahhh... well, there was a vampire involved at some point?]

[scanninggaydis]

...Sounds dramatic.

[Okay, now he looks...surprised? He probably shouldn't look surprised. It fades pretty quickly.]

[hollystrike]

I lead as dramatic a life as I can possibly manage. [She grins.] Occasionally, I get punished for it.

[scanninggaydis]

[For a half-second, he's concerned. Even if Katie is smiling. But then he figures it out, or thinks he does.]

Punished by having to attend fancy social events?

[Because to be honest, sometimes that is a punishment.]

[dandyofawolf]

[There's something about this man that has drawn his attention. Perhaps it's the suit that is so plain yet so tailored to him. Perhaps it's the way he hovers near the edge of a crowd without being part of it. Perhaps its...

No, it's the entire package. This isn't his Beta but there is so much that is like him. Enough to make Sandlio long for the other and enough to make him move closer to him at some point. He's not sure why he wants to talk to someone who makes him long for someone he loves so much but he knows he doesn't always do things rationally. He's always had too much heart to him.

It's what makes him such a good wolf honestly.

With a smile to light up the room, he only hopes the trace of sadness can't be found in his eyes.]

It's nice to see someone else dressed up for this as well.

[scanninggaydis]

[Felix glances away from the dance floor as he hears someone approach. When it turns out to be someone he doesn't know, he looks curious but welcoming.

(If he hadn't spent a few years around someone from the 15th century, Biffy's clothes might have surprised him a little. As it is, he takes the suit and cravat in stride.)

The comment about his clothing gets a faint smile. Considering the girls - and the host, and Biffy - that's probably a little kinder than he deserves. But hey, he'll take it.]

I figured it would be rude not to respect the host's wishes.

[dandyofawolf]

[You are getting points for reminding him of his loved one, Felix. Definitely take the points.

He laughs gently at that.]

It is typically wise not to be rude enough to disrespect the host. It was wise of you to do this, in my opinion.

[He holds out his hand for a handshake. Always one for manners yep.]

I am Sandalio de Rabiffano. It is a pleasure to meet you this evening.

[scanninggaydis]

[Felix takes his hand, shaking it.]

Felix Gaeta. Nice to meet you.

You're pretty new, aren't you? [Felix doesn't end up responding on the network all that often, but he does make the effort to at least look through messages on a regular basis.] How are you finding things?

[dandyofawolf]

I am new, Mr. Gaeta. I take it you saw my broadcast not that long ago?

[He feels it is a fair assumption to believe that is what would come to that conclusion. Certainly safe enough to guess it at least.]

Thus far I am finding things rather...informal. There has been a surprising amount of encouragement for me to be so before I have the opportunity to know anyone.

[scanninggaydis]

[The assumption just gets a nod. That's absolutely what happened, yes.

...If he was expecting any sort of commentary on life in the Fleet for someone new, it really wasn't...that, though. Felix tilts his head, the look on his face curious.]

Informal? I mean, I guess things are kind of...pieced together.

[It's a life lived as they all can get it, because they don't have a lot of control over anything.]

[dandyofawolf]

I actually meant I come from a very polite and civilized society. One does not simply address another without it. Yet one can easily find any number of people asking me to abandon formality.

[He might let out a little huff now.]

Not to mention a surprising amount of people telling me I need to relax.

[He is just fine. Thank you very much. Just...really feeling the emptiness of not having his pack (especially his Beta) here.)

[scanninggaydis]

Huh.

[That's honestly...a perspective he hadn't really come across before. Juan had been old-fashioned to an extreme, but to his memory he can't remember him ever complaining about this issue specifically.

...Felix thinks about commenting on the fact that Biffy is maybe implying that the rest of them are less that civilized, but he doesn't. No real need to be argumentative.]

I can see where that could cause some friction. They're probably just uncomfortable with the level of formality too.

[...If, you know, Biffy really needs to be told that.]

[dandyofawolf]

[Probably for the best that you didn't, Felix. Probably for the best.

He sighs lightly.]

Though I can understand their concerns, I am also uncomfortable with immediately rushing into the sort of closeness being suggested to me before I have had the chance to really know...anyone.

[So, basically, he's being stubborn and he knows it. But he's going to be stubborn darn it! Because right now he doesn't have his Beta around to tell him to chill out.]

[scanninggaydis]

[Felix hums in acknowledgement. Not a problem he's personally ever had, but at least he can see where it might be disconcerting for someone. Even annoying, if it happens too frequently.]

Sure. Makes sense.

You could make some sort of announcement over the network, if it starts getting to you. You know, a friendly etiquette lesson.

[He's kind of serious about the first part of that suggestion. The second half is...well, not completely insincere. He's just not sure how good a suggestion it is and the tone of his voice conveys that. It's a lot more light-hearted.]

[dandyofawolf]

I suppose that I could. However, I would hate to make a poor impression by doing so. It is something of an awkward situation to find myself in but I suppose I will have to manage.

[He does happen to look thoroughly amused at the etiquette lessons though.]

You know, I could make an effort to study various cultures and give lessons on etiquette for them. I am certain plenty could use those.

[He's only sort of joking.]

[scanninggaydis]

You'll have to find something to do with yourself, anyway. Sometimes things get...exciting...around here but a lot of the time we just, you know...drift.

[Felix smiles, though it's small.]

It's not the worst idea.