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+---- Thread: [ME] one shot, two shot, coppertone-red (/showthread.php?tid=11262)
one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Flora - 05-03-2025
A salty breeze curled through the palms as Flora yanked open the door to the Hanged Man, the “NO HEARTBREAK ALLOWED” sign flapping smugly above her head. It was noon and while the world beyond the tavern’s enchanted threshold was a molten, blinding mess—sun like a vengeful god overhead, sand practically hissing with heat—But inside, it was dusk. Always dusk. A soft breeze ghosted through the open-walled bar, rustling lanterns and fringe with a kind of lazy elegance that matched the beat of the live band already warming up in the corner.
The crowd was still thickening, the first wave of partygoers trailing laughter and glitter and the scent of sun-oil behind them, slipping through the transition from sweltering LongHeat to cool, violet-hued celebration. Flora stood in the centre of it all, a vision in a white corset crop top and denim shorts that barely deserved the name, red heels clicking against the bar’s wooden floor like a warning. And of course, her lips matched her shoes.
[say]"If anyone starts crying, I swear to gods, I will personally stuff their tears into a salt-rimmed glass and make them drink it,"[/say] she declared to no one in particular but loud enough to catch a few heads.
She smoothed her curls back, eyes sweeping the growing crowd—merfolk half-surfaced at the water’s edge, sailors and smugglers tossing back shots over games over cards, friends weaving between trays of fresh fruit and skewers and wildly themed cocktails (most of which were glittering, smoking, or both). It was chaotic, indulgent, gorgeous. Everything she needed it to be.
Even if she wouldn’t be able to come back after tonight.
Flora took a steadying breath. Then she grabbed two drinks from the tray of a passing server and tossed one.
Welcome to Flora's LongHeat party to celebrate the Marin triplets taking over the Hanged Man and to send Flora off (since she won't be able to enter the city after this). Free booze and food!
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Dantalion - 05-03-2025
[say]"Tear cocktails? Is that something new I should be thinking about stealing for the Dusklight?"[/say] Danta calls to Flora as he all but barges through the door to the bar. It's noon, they're on vacation, and his favourite guildmistress and fellow blonde chaos-maker is already inviting him to get wasted? Count him the fuck in. Snagging a shot from someone passing by with a tray of them, tossing it back, and then grabbing another, he raises the second in a cheerful toast to The Hanged Man's proprietress - at least for the rest of tonight, anyway.
[say]"I hope you're ready to get into a fuckton of trouble tonight,"[/say] he hums, then sinks the second shot as well. Dressed in a pair of pale denim jeans and a white string shirt that looks like it's been macraméd onto him personally and is at risk of unravelling at any moment, even though he has nothing to fear from the heat of the season, evidently that's no excuse not to dress for the occasion.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Calypso - 05-03-2025
“[say]Excuse me,[/say]” Caly says with a sunshine laugh to Dantalion in particular as he mentions stealing it. “[say]Think it’ll be a neat little addition here if anyone gets weepy after.[/say]” She retorts, slinking behind the bar to write it down in her own version of a journal that is reminiscent of Flora’s own, where she’s started writing down options for new drinks to join the ones Flora had already carefully curated over time that she'd made her own note of.
Looking back toward Flora as she focuses on making more drinks to go around – so that Flora doesn’t have to worry too much about bartending and can instead enjoy the night – she flashes her a sunny grin. “[say]Don’t worry babe, I’ll keep a tin free ‘n clear.[/say]” Lifting the copper toned mixing tin as if in threat to join Flora’s verbalized one, she makes sure the crowds see it for added emphasis before she’s setting it aside to finish making two more cocktails for the two that are waiting for their more specific order. Adorned in a short and glittering gold dress – it’s Safrin’s own that she boasts today, beautiful and glittering, yet not enough to steal the show.
Enough to say that when Flora’s gone, she’s in charge. A glittering, stunning warning.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Maea - 05-03-2025
She came bearing gifts. After hearing about Flora's infection and subsequent healing from Hadama, it hadn't taken her long to figure out what her rose had been used for. With mixed feelings Maea realized that it made her at least indirectly involved in the outcome of this daring venture, part of the reson - for good or bad - why Flora was throwing this party.
That kind of obliged her to attend, didn't it. Even if Liam hadn't invited her to go, even if she wasn't set on doing all the things she'd convinced herself that she couldn't, wouldn't, hadn't enjoyed before, likely she would have shadowed the doorstep of The Hanged Man anyway.
Approaching Flora with a large box in hand, wrapped up in a big colorful ribbon, the pale woman had put some more effort in her clothes than usual. Flowing wide trousers of a silky material ran like water down her legs and pooled around sandaled feet, while a cropped top of the same material left her midriff bare. Heedless of the heat, a long kimono draped over her shoulders and fluttered around the legs as she walked - like a moth gone astray into the twilight bar, drawn to the light of the revelers.
[say]"Nice party,"[/say] she offered in way of a greeting, a bit stilted and stiff given Danta's presence, but fully intending to try for casual. [say]"Too bad about the reason for it... Do you prefer congratulations or condolences?"[/say] Maea offered out the present for the queen to take, echoing the last time they met here. [say]"Here. A housewarming gift."[/say] House-boating-gift? Whatever. Presents.
Within the box, nestled into protective paper wrappings, a ship's lantern of glass caught the light. The many panels had been fashioned into the shape of a star, the glass stained in pale hues of yellow, white and blue so that it shone almost like the real thing. It had seemed like the perfect symbol for a person who followed her own path... Flora didn't strike her as the kind of woman who needed any guidance but her own.
Maea's outfit
Ship's lantern
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Astaroth - 05-03-2025
He’s nearly lost the Maverick the second he’d barged through the door – trailing after him in a much nicer attire but still lacking his typical overwhelming sense. There is a waistcoat to be seen, but without the shirt or tie that would join it. Paired with the same slate color of pants, the butcher is mostly free of any additional attire – the scars on his chest, something he’d otherwise cover, are visible through the V of the vest. Because he is on vacation, after all.
Finally finding Danta through the crowd once he’d downed two shots already, he’s quite behind his lover when he snags a shot from a server passing by them. He downs it as his other hand finds the small of Danta’s back, careful to not destroy whatever it was Danta had deigned to wear that day. “[say]You look stunning, darling![/say]” He calls out to Flora over the crowd, sharp grin on display, one that surprisingly doesn’t falter with Maea’s presence, but allocates him a moment to completely ignore her otherwise as he snags another shot to try and catch up.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Mateo - 05-03-2025
Mateo arrives - cue the fireworks, air horns, t-shirt cannons, etcetera.
Is he already a little buzzed? (A lot buzzed?) Yeah, maybe.
Who cares, though? It's his little sister's leaving party for the place she'd raised up from the ground and there will be utter chaos and delight right up until the end of the night and perhaps even after that, if he has his way.
Wearing a cropped shirt that seems to be made out of tiny, jingling gold coins and a pair of neon pink yoga pants that leave his calves exposed, he's evidently come from quite a different sort of party to here based on the body glitter and bright, kaleidoscopic make-up. [say]"Sorellinaaaaaa,"[/say] he purrs to Flora, waving his hand in a wide arc despite only being a few feet away.
[say]"This place looks great! Let me get you a drink!"[/say] Or five. Or even ten!
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Vesper - 05-03-2025
Vesper's behind the bar, long fingers ghosting over bottles and copper tins like a card shark sizing up a deck. The white chambray shirt he’s wearing is more suggestion than garment at this point—unbuttoned low enough to catch a glimpse of his ribs when he moves, sleeves rolled up past his elbows, silver rings catching the bar’s warm ambient light as he moves. He doesn’t say much—he doesn’t have to. His telepathy is the better bartender anyway, already plucking the edges of intention from those drifting up to the bar. Something sweet. Something sour. Something strong enough to forget the night exists, blah blah.
A lemon twist coils beneath his thumb as he garnishes a drink with unnecessary elegance. At his side, Calypso glitters golden like a promise you’ll regret in the best possible way, and Flora—Flora is all white heat and red threat, the crown jewel of chaos. He watches them both in the mirror behind the liquor shelf when he isn’t watching the crowd.
Then Mateo appears.
Like a comet made of glitter and bad decisions, he swans in loud and bright and already tipsy, dragging Vesper’s gaze to him like gravity. Vesper doesn’t look surprised—but then, he never does. That doesn’t stop the sly flicker of something warmer from curling behind his eyes, a crooked kind of pleasure at seeing Mateo here, loud and gleaming and very much himself.
[say]"Careful,"[/say] he murmurs without looking up, already beginning to pour something dark and citrusy into a cut-crystal glass. [say]"You’ll make every woman here rethink their entire outfit."[/say] The words and drink are for Mateo, as is the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He slides the glass across the bar toward his sister with the ease of a man who’s used to moving pieces on a board.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Theea - 05-03-2025
The music spills out before I even reach the bar—low and dusky and alive, the kind that sinks into your bones and tries to convince you you belong. I pause just outside the open doorway of the Hanged Man, letting the scent of sea salt and fruit-heavy cocktails wash over me. The party's already in full swing: laughter bubbles like champagne, bodies sway to the rhythm, and light flares off the fringe of lanterns overhead. It’s… a lot.
And I’m definitely not dressed like myself.
My travel clothes are gone—washed and tucked away. I’m in a gray bikini top and a white wrap skirt that slits too high for comfort unless I walk very carefully in the sandals that wrap around my ankles. I'd never thought of myself as modest before, but gods, I miss the weight of my jacket. And my backpack. I feel naked without it, like I’ve left a piece of armor behind.
I step further inside, arms tight at my sides and trying not to look like a kid who wandered into the wrong party. Everyone here looks so sure of themselves—like they were born into saltwater and starlight. I try to fake it. I even manage big grin at someone.
In my hand, I’m clutching a piece of rolled parchment—probably hard enough to crumple it. A charcoal drawing, smudged slightly in the corners from my overthinking fingers. It’s Spice—Flora’s dragon—perched and preening like I remembered her in the Greatwood, wings flared and catching the light like a mirror. I’d signed it in the corner, which suddenly feels… personal. Presumptuous. I don't know if it's the right kind of gift. I don’t know if Flora’s the type to like drawings. I don’t even know if she has anywhere to put it.
And now she’s leaving.
I hadn’t realized until now just how comforting it was, having her close. Knowing she’d be somewhere in the city if I needed her. The pit in my stomach tightens as I scan the crowd for her—curls, red lips, impossibly short shorts.
There she is. Surrounded, of course—people laughing, calling out to her, offering drinks and gifts, offering congratulations and goodbyes. It makes sense. She belongs to this place. To these people, her people.
And I don’t know a single one of them.
So I hang back, still clutching the drawing, heart fluttering a little too fast in my chest. I can wait a minute. Just long enough for the knot in my throat to loosen. Just long enough to convince myself I’ll know what to say when it’s finally my turn.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Flora - 05-03-2025
The music swells, dusk-tinted and decadent, as Flora turns with a cocktail in one hand and a grin already blooming across her lips.
As Dantalion arrives like a sunbeam that knows it’s too bright—barrelling into the Hanged Man with the force of someone who’s never asked permission for anything in his life.[say] "If you steal my cocktails, at least give them a hotter name than ‘Tear Shots.’ You can’t make people cry and then not give it better branding."[/say] Flora laughs, tossing a wink. [say]"And I was born ready for trouble. Just make sure you’re still standing by the time the moon’s up, hmm?"[/say]
Not far behind him, Astaroth materializes like a storm dressed in slate. Flora clocks the waistcoat with interest (and the lack of anything under it), her red lips curving in open appreciation. [say]"You’re both giving me heatstroke,"[/say] she drawls, just loud enough to be heard over the band. Asta’s compliment earns an enthusiastic twirl, her heels clicking as she turns in place.
Behind the bar, Calypso gleams gold and efficient, a blade disguised as a beauty queen. When she brandishes her own copper tin with a wink and a grin, Flora lifts her glass in surrender. Caly’s presence behind the bar is both comfort and command—when Flora’s gone, she knows exactly who’s in charge.
Maea ’s entrance quiets Flora’s mind just enough for clarity to slip in. The box catches her attention before anything else, the pale ribbon a beacon. [say]"Ooooo,"[/say] she breathes as she accepts it. The star-shaped lantern inside draws a genuine, radiant smile from her, soft around the edges in a way few get to see. [say]"This is beautiful. Maea. You really didn't need to get me anything."[/say] But the delight on her face suggests she's very pleased that the ancient did. [say]"Oh pfft. What I prefer is flirting, cocktails, and not going home alone."[/say]
Then: Mateo . Gods. Flora actually laughs aloud the moment she sees him—a glitterbomb of body glitter, gold coins, and pink. [say]"You’re going to make me cry,"[/say] she warns, pulling him in for a hug with one arm still holding her drink. [say]"Also how dare you show up looking better than I do at my own party??"[/say] Her voice is warm, teasing, and affectionate.
Wait, did her brother and Vesper know each other?
Before the Doubletake can investigate, her eyes catch on
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Maea - 05-04-2025
Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, Maea returned Flora's smile with a warmth that would have been impossible only a season ago. [say]"I wanted to,"[/say] was her simple response, glad to see that it had been a good impulse to follow. [say]"And I hope you get everything you want out of this party. I'm looking forward to some cocktails myself."[/say]
With her hands free of one burden and the Doubletake swanning off to greet her other guests, Maea turned to the other figures crowding around the queen. Feeling a bit more at ease, she inclined her head towards Dantalion with a soft [say]"Hello,"[/say] like a white flag or a peace offering.
Then her gaze moved to Astaroth, whose silence was so poignant it may as well be a scream. The thought of asking him for a word in private registered and was immediately discarded; instead she simply said what she needed to right then and there. She was beyond pride anyway, unable to sink much further in the eyes of these men.
[say]"Asta?"[/say] Perhaps she should have used his full name; too late now though. [say]"I'm sorry. For the way I've treated you, and the things I have said about you. I was wrong, and I won't do it again."[/say] Hovering in place, she didn't expect anything - not even to be acknowledged. She lingered anyway, just in case; waiting for a punch in the face, a cue to leave, or whatever scorn he desired to heap on her.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Dantalion - 05-04-2025
[say]"Tear Shots?"[/say] Danta wrinkles his nose. [say]"Never."[/say] Already he's considering potential names for the cocktails he's definitely not going to steal, besides. So far in his mind he quite likes Don't Be Salty or Childhood Dreams for a moniker, but then he's distracted by putting his empty shot glass on a passing tray, and the skim of warm fingers against his lower back. Smiling over his shoulder at Astaroth and turning to face him, he only quickly gets a glimpse of Maea and everything that's going to fucking mean, before lo and behold, she's approaching them.
With his jaw feathering - because like it or not, the pale Ancient definitely chooses her fucking timing, and obviously they're going to be a lot less likely to cause a fuss at a friend's party than they otherwise might be (though the jury is never quite out on that) - Danta lets a hand smooth across Asta's chest and hook around his waist, as if to hold him back from anything he might decide on a whim.
His smile is brief and tight-lipped towards Maea, because however white the flag, he isn't the one who has been truly wronged here, and so his reaction will always be guided by the man at his side; a man he leans in to murmur something to, lips ghosting across the shell of his ear, fingers flexing against his hip. Punctuating the remark - nothing more than a whispered reminder that this is Flora's night - with a gentle graze of teeth against the soft, scar-free skin beneath his ear, he nods towards a quiet little table in the corner where they might get their bearings.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Melita - 05-04-2025
Melita wasn’t certain if she’d be celebrating the entire shindig, after all, it was sad that Flora was missing out on something pivotal in her life, but the Honeybee figured at some point she’d find back in her own hands again. Whenever they thwarted the whole dumb Family shit.
But the demigod also wasn’t going to offer any tears, just her Cheshire grin as she shimmied in, snagging a skewer of fruit on the way by, waving to Flora and then scanning the crowd.
Asta…Danta..a couple others she didn’t recognize, Maea (oof no), before just beelining back over to the bar. [say]“Got this for you!”[/say] she shouted to Flora, before plonking down multiple ducks – one clearly meant to be the Doubltake in skyboat captain form, one as a bartender, and then an odds and ends assortment, before skipping off to some chairs.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Isla - 05-04-2025
NO HEARTBREAK ALLOWED - that's what the sign says. And Isla has always more or less been a follower of the rules. When it suits her anyway, and tonight it absolutely does.
Stepping into the Hanged Man with her golden hair left to tumble in loose curls around her shoulders, wearing a white bikini and a pastel pink wraparound skirt that suggests she's just come from the beach (she has), only the shimmer of glitter on the tops of her shoulders and her décolletage and the carefully applied makeup suggests further preparation.
Beaming to Flora and raising her hand in a wave, her gaze dances across those she knows - Melita, Dantalion, Astaroth, Maea (the latter three seeming in conversation, and so she opts not to interrupt), the Remedy reaches out to grab a margarita from a server with a tray, thanking them quietly. Mateo is difficult to miss, but whilst she'd like to snag him in a quieter moment to ask about Everest, that moment absolutely doesn't seem to be now.
And so, leaving the revelry to continue and taking a healthy sip of her drink, Isla takes herself off to a table to relax and people watch as party-goers continue to filter in.
RE: one shot, two shot, coppertone-red - Ronin - 05-04-2025
[say]"I remember the last time The Hanged Man had a party this big,"[/say] Ronin says, far too casually, as he steps into the tavern and holds the door open for his husband to follow, ready to slip an arm back around him. From his touch Remi will glean the exact details of said party, flushed golden and scarlet with mirth and lust. An out of the way table in the corner (a table that is currently empty, in fact), a lot of drinking and gossiping amongst themselves, and some quite damning claw marks in the wall out at the back of the building.
[say]"Hopefully this time is just as enjoyable,"[/say] he purrs, grabbing a couple of drinks that are offered to them and raising one in a cheerful toast towards Flora. He can't say he's thrilled to have his daughter sequestering herself outside the protection she's worked so hard to put in place, but at least she won't be alone or without people to look out for her. Not if they have anything to do with it.
Tilting his head at Mateo's vibrant antics and nudging the Bastion as if to ask if he wants to go and risk a hello, if he's not feeling quite so brave, Ronin does direct them casually towards where Isla is sitting, as if to suggest a safer bet.