3 o'clock things

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

He’s been looking forward to this – especially with the snow outside that has made a homebody of him as was often expected of the Archon this time of year. And the House, for what it’s worth, has been bustling. Busy housing everyone for a warm drink, food, comfortable rooms that can be anything you want. It’s got all anyone could need to wait out snowstorms or to simply not freeze to death wandering around outside.

Luckily, though, today isn’t the coldest nor the snowiest. The snow has stopped for the most part, leaving the sky partially cloudy with the threat of more but never quite giving in as they drift across the sky. And for Sunjata’s part, he’s figured out the prime means of just how to introduce Niki to the variety of liquors he could get. Starting with the basics, of course.

They’d agreed to meet here for it, and Sunjata’s already claimed a booth relatively hidden from the rest of the House of Midnight but still within easy reach of anything else they might need. And he’s just heading back to that booth with the second flight of cocktails in hand as he takes a seat and arranges everything. The reception has been informed to guide Niki to this particular booth – so when the necromancer arrives, he’ll be brought precisely to this table.

It’s a comfortable spot near enough to the fire to stay warm but far enough away to not be overwhelmed when the liquor hits. And on the table sits eleven glasses. Six of them small, little tasters of varying colors, going from clear to dark. And behind those ones sits another flight, this time of five drinks in similarly small glasses already made up and ready to be tested. There’s a snack mix and a little menu for food so that it doesn’t hit quite as hard if the other man didn’t want it to, but for the Archon’s part, he sits there comfortably waiting with an ash tray closest to him and a cigarette half gone.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

Niki doesn't know how he's going to get back to New Haven after this, but it probably isn't on his own two feet. Either way, with a combination of magical signposts and carriages, he arrives at the House of Midnight at the designated hour, expecting nothing and everything all at the same time. Reception has kindly taken his coat, scarf and gloves to hang them up, leading him through the lounge and bar area to the booth in question.

Pretending not to be as distracted as he is by something happening in a neighbouring booth that involves a lot of hands and tongues, he blinks a couple of times as he arrives at the table, Sunjata sitting like a liquor prince with a halo of cigarette smoke hanging about his head. "Hello," he begins in greeting, before catching sight of the eleven (yes, he counted them mentally) glasses set before the Heartless, slate blue eyes widening considerably.

"You realise I said I did not have a high tolerance for alcohol," he drawls, settling himself in the booth opposite. "I fear I will be sleeping here before the afternoon is out."

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

He doesn’t have to wait long at least, before Niki’s arriving. The cigarette has only dropped down a fraction more than it was as he settled in, and to hear the Hello has him straightening up automatically, snuffing out the cigarette (not sure what his take is on it, at least, so he’s trying to be polite as can be). “Hey Niki. Glad you made it.” He murmurs with a bright smile as Niki takes his seat and takes in the liquor on display with wide eyes.

An accented laugh leaves him as he nods and leans forward. “Like I said, you don’t have to finish them. Just for tastes.” He twists a little in the booth, granting Niki his full attention as he goes to explain. “So, I figured we’d start with the basics so you can see what they’re like as their base versions. And thennn I have little cocktails made up so you can see how they play into each one.” Gesturing with his left hand to the smallest glasses in question with the base spirits, Sunjata starts to describe the order of them.

“We’ve got vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey, rum, and brandy.” Pointing to each one as he explains, Niki will notice the way they vary in color but that he’s organized them accordingly. “Vodka’s pretty neutral. Tastes extremely plain. Gin’s gonna be botanical. Tequila might come off a little smoky compared to the vodka and less botanical than the gin. Then of course, there’s the whiskey, rum, and brandy which are all going to be a little deeper flavored.” He explains before he sits back, reaching for a full sized glass of an old fashioned whiskey that he can sip on. “But we don’t have to dive right in immediately if you’re hungry or want something else to start with.”

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"You do not need to put it out on my account," Niki tells Sunjata of the cigarette with a wave of his hand. "I quit a few years ago, but I do not mind it." Settling properly in the booth and raising his eyebrows at the Heartless as if to ask if he thinks Niki stands a chance of sobriety even with just a sip from each cocktail, he nevertheless listens with interest as the other man explains.

"Ah, so all of the important food groups," he remarks as Sunjata lists off the base liquors, amusement dancing in his eyes. It's a very clever way of going about it, he can't deny that much, and eleven drinks or not, he nods gratefully to the other man for his consideration. "I am fine to begin," he assures him; this seems more experiment than social lubrication now, and perhaps that's why Niki is relatively at ease as he picks up the small shot glass of vodka.

"So I just...?" He's seen other people do shots, after all, Niki tipping the glass back in one smooth swallow that he immediately regrets. "I thought you said it was plain," he hisses, his throat prickling as he winces back the clean ball of fire settling in his chest.

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

A group of Speaking Squirrels bursts into view, chattering excitedly as they scramble over roots and stones. Tails flick wildly as they wave their little paws and shout in unison.

“Come!” one calls, racing ahead a few steps before stopping abruptly. “Follow!” another adds, pointing in a direction that leads directly into a dead end or an entirely unremarkable patch of ground.

They regroup quickly, whispering among themselves before trying again, utterly convinced of their own usefulness. Whether they ever manage to lead anyone anywhere is doubtful, but their enthusiasm never wanes.

---

Speaking Squirrels Areas Found: Hollowed Grounds, King's End, Greatwood — Common Appearing like a slightly larger version of a common ground squirrel, the speaking squirrels - as their name suggests - can speak. Or they appear to. Their vocabulary is limited to "yes", "no", and "follow me!" Though it is entirely unclear whether or not they understand actually speech and the words they are saying, they nonetheless will answer questions and will lead wayward souls further astray. Calls of "follow me!" have led a number of victims to their death, as the squirrels have absolutely no idea where they are going. Challenge Rating: Easy HP: 38 | To Hit: +30 | Dmg: 9 Movement: Scurry 30 ft.; Climb 30 ft.; Leap 15 ft. SPECIAL SKILLS Limited Speech: vocabulary is only “yes,” “no,” and “follow me!” and it’s unclear they understand the words; Misleading Guide: will confidently lead wayward souls astray without any sense of direction; Chorus Echo: nearby squirrels pick up the cry, creating a misleading chorus from multiple directions; Gap Squeeze: slips through holes and hedge tunnels too small for most pursuers

TRAITS Slightly Larger Ground Squirrel: looks like an upsized ground squirrel with bright, curious eyes; Tree & Wall Climber: agile on trunks, ruins, and hedges; Hedgerow Local: nests in the twists and hedgerows, popping in and out of tiny gaps; Fearful but Curious: skittish at noise yet drawn to travelers and their shiny gear ACTIONS Chatter Reply: answers any question with “yes” or “no,” regardless of sense; “Follow Me!”: darts a few bounds, stops to look back, then scurries on, luring travelers deeper; Tail Flag: flicks its tail to signal others or draw attention to a false turn; Dart & Vanish: bolts up a trunk or into a hedge-gap, reappearing on a different branch a moment later

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

“Phew.” Sunjata murmurs, flashing the necromancer an amused smile as he reaches into his pocket to produce the pack of cigarettes to draw a new one out and lights it with a match. Dragging enough on it to make sure that it stays lit, the Heartless shoots Niki a small smile. “People are usually really judgy. But… It’s comforting sometimes.” He’d quit before too, but lately with the realization that it probably wouldn’t kill him unless it learned how to drown him somehow, he figures it can’t hurt to have a little bit of comfort now and then.

But he delves into explaining the base spirits and the plan he has, gaze lifting up to look at the necromancer and see how he takes it. “You can stop at any time, too.” He murmurs as Niki lifts the first glass – the clear vodka sitting in the taster like a small little bomb. He nods encouragingly to Niki’s question, watching with unhidden surprise as he takes the shot like someone that’s been doing it for a while, and with a low hum of just how impressed he is, his smile shifts a little lopsided as the fire hits his throat and he hisses and winces.

Sunjata grimaces slightly in apology, sliding the glass of water from the side closer to Niki in case he needs it. “Yeah, well.. Plain like.. neutral. Not like water.” He admits, just in time for a scratching at the glass to happen that distracts almost everyone in the bouncing environment of the House of Midnight. It’s a speaking squirrel scratching at the glass, appearing to look into it towards the booths (and Niki, he supposes), with a loud squeaky Follow Me! like it’s trying to help the necromancer escape.

Ignored for the most part, the rest of the House of Midnight gets back to it and Sunjata snorts a little as he drags from the cigarette and waits to see if the squirrel loses interest.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"Judgy?" Niki seems surprised at that. "A shame. I found it a comfort as well, especially on nights when I could not get to sleep. Too much of a comfort though, in the end," he admits with a crooked smile. A chain-smoking eighteen year old who is already frail had been laughable even to himself, and so here he is, smoke-free for the most part. (Everybody gets stressed from time to time, okay?)

I know, he might have drawled at being able to stop whenever he pleases, but by that time the vodka is trying to burn a hole clean through his throat and it's with a quick, breathless laugh that Niki accepts the water to take a few very necessary sips of it. "I am starting to understand the difference now, yes," he says. "Do you want me to try the cocktail now, or shall I continue setting fire to my lungs first?" he asks, gesturing to the rest of the flight of liquor and the more innocuous tasters sitting behind them.

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

“Yeah.” Sunjata says with a soft laugh, relaxing a touch into the booth as the smoke curls around his face with the smoky exhale. “Most good things are.” The Heartless points out with a twitch of his lips, quirked up despite the gnarled scar that tries to keep it down.

Ah, but then Niki’s reeling at the first shot and Sunjata slides over the water like it’s some boon that might help prevent him from descending into the trenches of being drunk earlier than anticipated. At the question, though, he realizes it probably would work better if he tests out the cocktail first if only so he has a fresh reminder of the liquor in it.

The cosmopolitan is slid forward with an air of smoke as Sunjata leans forward. “You can if you want.” He murmurs, glancing down to the pink hued drink. “This one’s gonna be fruity and sweet, though, so keep that in mind.” He pauses before his smile twists positively feline. “It’s no blue torcher, at least. Maybe we need a ranking system where the ‘will get you absolutely fucked’ is the blue torcher?”

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"I will drink to that," Niki says with a smirk, before a quiet laugh escapes him. "Though perhaps not as enthusiastically as that last one." If he hammers back shots at this rate he'll be passed out under the table before he can spell the word brandy, let alone taste it. A few sips of water, though, and at least the fire in his chest is subsiding, though every breath feels brand new after that. "You know, I did not dislike that, once I got over the shock."

Vodka is a winner, evidently.

Reaching through the haze of smoke for the cosmopolitan, he raises his eyebrows and gives it an experimental sniff, before sipping at it (much more slowly than the shot, it should be noted). "...It is as you described," he agrees with a gentle nod, setting the cocktail down and seeming neither offended nor enthused by it. "And I agree. Should anything hit the way the blue torcher did, I will be the first to let you know."

Potentially by throwing up all over Sunjata's shoes.

Already feeling warmth spread through his limbs that has him sighing out a deep breath and rolling his shoulders a touch, Niki smiles and nods towards the next in the flight. "And this is gin?"

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

Laughing lightly as Niki says he’ll drink to that and quickly amends his words, the Heartless flicks some of the ash from the cigarette into the ash tray before taking a sip of his own cocktail that does next to nothing compared to this little experiment he has with the necromancer. “That’s good to know.” He hums, over whether Niki disliked the vodka. He slides the cocktail over, though, and watches as he takes a sip of the pink liquor, with the most bare bones kind of answer he could have expected from the other man.

So for that, he makes a mental note that anything fruity and sweet will probably not quite hit the mark with the other man, which he should have assumed based off of his coffee preferences. “Good. I’ll be surprised, but I guess it could happen.” Sunjata admits as he glances down to the variety of cocktails on display.

As he gestures to the gin, though, Sunjata nods and shoots Niki back a lopsided smile. “Yup. There’s a bunch of different kinds, but this one is the most common one found. It’s also relatively neutral, but it’s botanical. So you’ll prolly taste some juniper berries or pine.” Or both, honestly, as Sunjata often did. Felt like drinking a holiday whenever he managed to down a gin drink (though it wasn’t often his first choice of liquors). As he watches the other man take the shot of gin, he slips the cigarette back between his lips, an almost perfect image of studying him.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

"Is that because the blue torcher is not a real cocktail and more of a monstrosity conocted for Flora's birthday party?" Niki wonders idly, the smile on his face already seeming easier and more playful, even if his wit is as dry as ever. Sunjata ought to enjoy the necromancer in a mildly buzzed state, because based on how many liquors he still has left to try, he's not going to be this way for long.

Speaking of which, he listens at the description of the gin, eyebrows raising gently to hear talk of botanicals, and he hums appreciatively. "We shall see," he says, raising the shot in a toast before - knowing better this time - sipping at it to begin with. It's still strong, leaving his lips a little numb and his tongue alight, but he can in fact taste the notes of juniper Sunjata mentioned. "That is pretty good," he announces, celebrating the fact by knocking the rest of the shot back as well.

"I think I could drink that one quite a bit," he adds, already reaching for the associated cocktail with an arch of a brow, as if awaiting his smoke-shrouded barkeep's introduction of the drink.

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

“You might be onto something, Niki.” Sunjata murmurs with a cheshire smile at the idle musings about the blue torcher being crafted specifically for Flora’s birthday party. At any rate, it was strong and punchy and he totally understands how Niki had such a violent hangover the next day. Hopefully with these and the water that Sunjata keeps within arms reach of the necromancer, that tomorrow might feel better than it did after Flora’s party.

He watches now as Niki lifts the taster of gin to his lips, taking a small sip at first and doesn’t recoil as violently as he had with the vodka and for that Sunjata’s lips brighten a touch. “I’m not much of a gin guy myself but I do prefer it to vodka.” He admits, watching as Niki reaches out to snag the gin cocktail, looking there clear and innocuous with a toothpick speared with an olive sat in the base.

Sunjata drags from the cigarette before he explains what that one is, dropping his hand back down to the ash tray to flick into. “That one’s just your bare bones martini. Not sweet at all, in my experience.” Which, according to the logic Sunjata has in his head means Niki will likely like that one a lot.

And while he tastes it, Sunjata conjures some water to refill Niki’s glass and keep it topped off.

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu

this world is a wasteland where nothing can grow

Niki is not as optimistic when it comes to the water cancelling out his diminishing sobriety or the likelihood of a hangover, but considering that he'd agreed to basically poison himself to help Sunjata with a quest, he'll take it. (Besides, only one shot in and more is already feeling like a great idea, so maybe it'll be fine). And with gin as the next contender, the necromancer is already well on his way to tipsy as he clears his palate with a sip of water.

"A bare bones martini?" he repeats with a raise of his eyebrows and a wry smile. "It seems to suit my aesthetic quite well already." Reaching for the martini, he brings it to his lips for a slow sip that suggests he's suddenly interested in tasting every note of the drink. And when he lowers it, perhaps most telling of all, he keeps it on his side of the table.

"That," he announces, "is the best thing I have tried so far." Gesturing to the rest of the flight, he scoffs. "I do not know if these are even necessary now - but of course I will still try them. I would not want to disappoint you."

Niki

i used to have strength but i ran out of hope

relive who i've been at my worst,
every single night, looking for a distraction

Not even realizing the joke he’s made, as Niki repeats it in the drawl of his dry humor and wry smile, it hits Sunjata with a smoky laugh, one that has him conceding the point and tilting his head slightly. “Yeah, guess it does, doesn’t it?” Almost a little put off at himself for having not realized the joke when he made it, he promptly drowns out the thought with a long slow sip of his old fashioned as Niki takes a sip of the martini.

It’s telling, really, because for as basic and not sweet the cocktail is, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s his favorite so far – and likely would be compared to the rest of them with how much he knew about liquor and cocktails. “You can’t disappoint me.” He points out with a soft laugh, dragging on the cigarette. “Though I’m pretty sure you won’t like the rest of them. Next up is tequila.” Bouncing his brows, he straightens up again to put out the cigarette that’s now down to the dregs. “With what they call a ranch water. It’s basically just tequila, a little bit of sweetness, lots of lime, and tonic.” Also bare bones nad not that sweet, but refreshing if one didn’t mind tequila.

But he eyes Niki and tries to gauge his inebriation at the moment, lips twitching to hide the wider smile that wants to bloom. "You can also stop whenever you want to, or eat a snack to help it not hit so hard."

the flood

waiting for the sun to rise
pretty sight for some hollow eyes

totally sniped from odd ilu