[ME] one shot, two shot, coppertone-red

maybe smoking one more cigarette won't turn your lungs to ashes

Vesper's telepathic net is cast wide, taking it all in. From, Calypso ’s sun-drenched commentary, Nova ’s glitter-bomb of delight behind the bar, the way Sohalia leans in and scans the crowd with her ocean eyes. He tracks them in the mirror—reflections in dusk-light, shifting and layered—while his real gaze stays on Mateo.

But Maea ’s voice cuts through the din with a clarity that tugs his attention sideways.

"Tart with a chaser of regret, huh?" he drawls, glancing her way. He studies her expression like one might a new cocktail recipe—looking for proportions, bitterness to brightness. Without another word, he turns, grabbing a chilled glass and pouring a mix of elderflower liqueur, sharp lemon, and something dark and herbaceous. No garnish. No glitter. Just honest bite.

It slides her way without flair, but with precision.

"Don’t take it too fast," he says, not quite advice and not quite a warning. "She’ll hit you twice—once on the tongue, once in the chest."

His attention flicks toward the drink Nova just zhuzhed with sugar and sparkles, and he can’t help but smirk faintly. "Or you could steal that one," he adds to Maea with a nod toward his sister’s concoction. "Probably tastes like a rainbow and poor decisions."

Meanwhile, Kaisel ’s approaching, and Vesper clocks the way Caly’s light shifts—like sunrise through heatwaves. He doesn’t intrude. Just keeps his tone loose and low, letting the rhythm of the room settle around him as he leans over her shoulder. "Why don't I take over for a bit, mm?" And then, lower still he adds, "Why don't you go and play nice?"

But all it takes is gas to burn a city down with matches

Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3

No better version I could pretend to be tonight

Koa is not hiding. He's just... vibing, y'know? Taking his time. Nursing his drink. Working the perimeter.

Trying his damndest not to wind up in Flora or Sohalia's eyeline for too long.

It doesn't help that he's not entirely sure the open invitation extends to 'ex-boyfriend-of-the-hostess-and-her-bestie', a title Koa is pretty sure he's the only person honored enough to hold. But Kaisel had made him promise to at least show up, swearing up and down that there was no way Flora would stab him in the middle of her own party, and eventually his cousin's pestering had worn the Dragoon down. And so far, so good, right? He recognizes many of the faces, nods at Hadama and Remi and Ronin, raises a glass Mateo's way. Melita gets a flashing grin, but she's at the other side of the room, a threshold Koa's not yet ready to cross.

A threshold that holds Flora.

Flora's shining like a disco ball in the middle of an adoring throng, a queen holding court, her vibrant warmth palpable even from afar. The shorts that graze her ass leave little for the imagination, though Koa can feel his mouth dry as he does briefly imagine - or rather, remember - what hides underneath. Shaking his head, he downs the rest of his cocktail, needing those thoughts to go anywhere else. Their story is over: he doesn't want to go down this road, to let his traitor of a brain run away with dangerous thoughts. The attention lavished upon her does not cause an ache in his chest; he certainly isn't wondering how different things would be, if he was at her side instead of a ghost at the edge of the bar, already yesterday's news.

And then, of course, there's Sohalia.

Koa can't help the inhalation as he finally catches sight of the Luminary, a flash of silver and gold and grace he'd recognize among the largest crowd. He's suddenly very aware of his own appearance: the white linen button-down with a seahorse pattern and navy shorts feel woefully inadequate, and did he comb his hair correctly, or has the wind set it askew? He knows he has to talk to her, but the thought of it sends a flutter of anxiety coursing through his muscled chest. Besides, the seat beside her is swiftly taken up by Talyson, earning Koa at least a few more minutes to get his shit in gear.

Pulling up beside Kaisel, the Dragoon lets his attention focus on his cousin, his back to the exes who haunt his dreams. "That's quite the look," he drawls, raking his gaze up and down Kai's body before settling back to his face with a lifted brow. "Your lipstick's smudged," Koa points out, smirking slightly at the implication. He'd missed the smooch that planted it there, which is just as well - the last thing his already fraying nerves need is the sight of his ex kissing his cousin, playfully or not.

k o a

the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now

Flora's delight is warm against his shoulder and he can't fight off the grin that responds in turn. Her fingers readjust the wig with expert attention and he freezes to ensure her fussing isn't squandered with a poorly timed head turn. "Oh?" he asks as she finds him lacking, thinking perhaps he needed more sequins or maybe should have gotten a spray tan. Instead she smooshes his cheeks together, puckering out his lips for a pressed peck. He squirms away from her, sputtering at the aftertaste of her rum cherries. Though each kiss she's given him as of late has snuck closer and closer to a real one, that one doesn't beckon his traitorous desires, too heavy on the playful. He drags a thumb across his lip, as if to wipe her teasing affection away, but catches a smear of red. "Thaaaaaanks," he rolls his eyes, but she's already flittering away like a drunk butterfly.

If he's wearing lipstick, he definitely needs to be drunker than this.

His attention swings fully to that glimmer he caught behind the bar, and he sidles up to the counter before Calypso, strapped nipples settling along the edge. He tosses back some of his faux hair, the yellow of it no match when compared to her. She called him babe. "Your name, to start," he asks unabashed, a lazy smile of smashed red greeting her. "I'm Kaisel. Let me buy you a drink, I'll have whatever you're having." A pause, to consider, if she even can given that she's working. Though, this event doesn't seem the type to be too strict on the rules. Vesper's lean and whisper to her seems to suggest something though, and Kaisel tries to combat the confusion with a tilt of his head. "If you can that is." If not? Her shift had to end some time.

Koa's appearance beside him sets Kaisel's face alight instantly with uncontained joy as he turns to him. "YOU CAME!" he grips both of Koa's shoulders, shaking his cousin gently, grinning broadly. "Thank you, it felt suitable." Kaisel tucks both hands beneath his chin and strikes a pose of batting eyelashes and duck lips. As Koa points out his lipstick, Kaisel reaches up to rub it, pulling away a newly red finger. "Better?" he asks with even more smudged lips.

Glancing back over at Calypso, he points Koa out to her, "This is Koa! He needs to get drunk as shit!"

Kaisel

everybody come hang, let's go out with a bang

Mateo

"If you cry, you are breaking your own rules," Mateo trills as Flora brings him in for a hug, the botanist giving her a warm smooch to the cheek before drawing back. "And I could never outshine you, little sister. Nobody can - and you must never forget it." Blowing her a kiss and peeling away to the bar, his eyes are already roving on a certain lanky young man who has perfected the art of seeming disinterested.

"Well, if they do, then that is entirely their decision," he croons to Vesper as he sidles up, shimmering and jingling in his coin shirt like an invitation. He accepts the drink - made by the demigod and slid to what he can only guess is his sister - and raises it in a cheers of gratitude, tilting his head to Calypso. "Very well said," he purrs his point, tipping her a wink and taking a very healthy sip of something velvety and citrus with one helluva burn.

It's at that point that Flora 2.0, aka Kaisel appears, with Koa in tow, and Mateo just about has time to lift his drink again in a greeting for his fathers as they arrive - and to spot Everest shooting his shot - before he's caught up in the chaos of it all. Reminding himself to find his best friend later and ensure he's alright, the botanist watches as connections are made and broken, leaving Vesper manning the bar and Koa needing to get drunk as shit.

"I am an expert at helping with that," he says, beaming and beckoning the Dragoon over. "I do not suppose you are allowed to take a shot with us?" This he directs to their demigod bartender.

if anything could fall at all, it's the world that falls away from me

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

// ships are launching from my chest
some have names but most do not //

Fashionably late, that’s what he’s going to call it. Is there fashion involved? Hardly, though truthfully Sunjata doesn’t have to try most days. Today, he’s in all of his rugged charm, a dark mauve sleeveless shirt, done up most of the way and leaving his tattoos on display, the Flood sweeps into the room and keeps his attention mostly on those he thinks he can get away with, without the flicker and flare of the Void ruining his night.

Snatching up a shot from a passing table, he realizes it will do very little to him, but it’s mostly just for show anyway. He carves a path through the crowds toward no one in particular, but he fights against the flicker of void across Flora's face as he spots her speaking with Dantalion and Astaroth. Raising his shot glass to her once he catches her attention, the Flood knocks back his shot and sets it on another passing tray, before he takes in the crowds before him.

Flinching only slightly to see those among the mix, the spots Everest immediately and starts to shy away, only for the realization to dawn that the man looks normal again after the initial flicker of melting skin and too many eyes vanishes. Gaze focusing on him, he decides that the Aviator looks quite alone and likely back to how he had been, and maybe – just maybe – the Flood can help in some amount.

Approaching Everest, he keeps his voice low but steady enough to allow the Aviator to pinpoint him without surprise, all while lifting a hand to hopefully block his face in case Ever doesn’t take his advice immediately. “Hey Everest, don’t look at me just yet, just focus on the floor.” Comes the accented instruction, keeping his hand there and glancing over at the man in case he does turn to look at him. “I’d keep your eyes away from a few others too, but you gotta promise me you won’t look at them when I say their names.” There’s a little boon of honesty and Everest's best interests in the attuned bond as he aims to send a calming atmosphere over toward the attuned, hoping it might help relax him.

the flood

// if you find one, please,
let me know what piece i've lost //

// sun comin' up on a dream come around //

With pride, affection and just a bit of lust trilling through him to see Astaroth master his initial shock and deliver a rebuke worthy of, yes, drama novels, Danta is smiling quietly up at him as he turns to draw closer. Maea steps away and the Maverick doesn't glance after her once he knows she's going for the bar rather than persisting, and he relaxes the tension that had been climbing into his shoulders. "Will you take that tone with me later?" he asks, the words a quiet purr for the butcher's ears only. "I liked it."

Of course, by then they're halfway to their little cooldown table, and Flora pops up like she's been listening all along, as dazzling and delicious as any of the cocktails on display. Speaking of which, Danta is ordering several pina coladas from a server as the Doubletake leans casually against his shoulder, and he shoots a smirk in her direction. "Maea attempted to force an apology before Asta was ready for one," he tells her softly, long fingers strumming absent affection against the small of the other Ancient's back.

"So he reminded her of that fact. And now we are drinking to forget any of that ever happened. Want to join us?"

Dantalion

// one hundred years from the empire now //

// you've got your finger on the trigger //

He watches as his words sink in and she slinks away, and some satisfaction burns like oil for the fire in his chest that had grown to hear her voice through what should be a beautiful party for Flora. So his arm tightens around Danta’s and they slip away, and when his lover’s voice hits his hears it’s with a huff of a surprised laugh that his fingertips press in a little against Danta’s side. “I am fairly certain I can manage that.” The butcher hums, the alcohol giving him all the bolstered indulgence he needs for the moment as they find their seats.

They aren’t left alone for long and while the Maverick orders several pina coladas (he loves you for it, Danta), the butcher peers over at the woman of the hour as she slides in beside them. Shifting so that he’s closer to Danta, pinning him in between the butcher and Doubletake as he leans in to offer his very vibrant conspiracy. “Darling Danta told me not to ruin your night.” Comes the accented hum, but the look in his gaze is one surprisingly full of mischief and playfulness, fully ignoring the fuckery that just occurred so he can drown it out with the promise of pineapple, rum, and coconut cream. “So let us celebrate you instead, yes?” He asks, an additional bolstering request to the want to join us that had left the Maverick’s lips.

Astaroth

// but your trigger finger's mine //

why icarus thought he'd find his place a little higher

Only distracted briefly by Nova to flash her a golden grin, the young attuned’s attention flits back to hear Vesper as he offers Maea a drink while she shamelessly preens under Mateo’s purred appreciation. Handing a glass to Vesper as he finishes up Maea’s drink and turns his words low for her ears to hear, the golden Marin triplet smirks up at him with a wink from the eye with the star tattoo. Don’t have to tell me twice.

It leaves her in the perfect space to give Kaisel her full sunny attention, her bright smile curving a touch playfully. “You’re sweet. It’s Caly.” She hums at first with a twinkling laugh, before she slips out from behind the bar to join the crowd. “Sure I can. I’m gonna run it after tonight.” So she’d be able to make the rules, and the rules right now say that her brother and sister has it handled. “Two mojito’s, V.” She purrs to her brother, before she’s suddenly swept up in Koa’s approach and Kaisel’s vibrant excitement.

“Nice t’meet ya Koa. I’m sure we can get ya somethin’- or many - that’ll do the job.” Her nose wrinkles as she grins her pale smile toward them and Mateo in turn, inserting herself into the little party and very boldly winding her arm around Kaisel’s shoulders to guide him in to join them. “Let’s get this party started, huh?” At least the mini one, while the rest of the party rages on behind them. The mental note to the shots in question to Vesper behind the bar scream to do the Marin flights.

Calypso

it's curious, the flame of the fire

Theea

Yla

My small starts small, but flowers into something bright, a little stunned at how much it actually means—watching Flora tuck away the drawing like a treasure in her pocket. My hands fidget at my sides, suddenly unsure what to do with them.  Hearing her say she’s keeping it, seeing it pressed to her chest like that with so much sincerity—it loosens something up in me. "I’m really glad you like it," I say, and I mean it.

And then somehow, just like that, the pressure of bare skin doesn’t weigh quite as heavily. I’m still quite aware of that breeze brushing with salt-air kisses along a toned stomach, aware of my legs and how shapely they are. And holy shit the breasts. Definitely the first time with those so well displayed. I’ve never thought of myself as homely in any way. But I’ve never really thought about how I look to anyone else either. It’s become a lot harder to ignore.

My smile stays warm, and I nod. "I still haven’t had one," I say. "Like I promised. Just don’t disappear yet?" I squeeze her arm as I start for the bar and she spins to face another of her friends.

I wave at Sohalia as she waves at me, giving her a quick, grateful smile at the recognition—knowing so few people is nerve-wracking. Of course, lucky me, there’s only one real way to fix that. I slip to toward the bar, weaving between partygoers and getting dusted with ample amounts of glitter, smeared with tanning oil and sunscreened skin alike. I finally come to a stop in front of the bar, before two strangers I’m almost sure I should know by name.

"Hi," I say, squaring my shoulders and letting the nerves slide off with a breath. "You must be ones taking over?" My bright blue eyes land on Calypso. "I’m Theea. Flora sent me. Said I needed to start with a... Torchline Float? With extra pineapple." My tone lands somewhere between confidence and sheepish humor, dry at the edges. "Figured I’d better not argue with her."

occupation: aspiring beam of light

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

With Flora suitably entertained, Sohalia was content to hover by the bar and watch her best friend. She'd always admired the way that Flora could be the life of the party, lighting up every room she entered - even more so tonight, when she was trying very hard to celebrate rather than fall victim to despair. Soh watched her without a hint of jealousy. She drummed her nails on the counter as she waited for a drink, collecting it gratefully when it came and taking a healthy sip.

Then a familiar form slid into the seat beside her, and Soh sat her glass down to fling her arms around Talyson with a squeal of excitement. She hadn't seen him in ages, and they hadn't had time to truly catch up for even longer. "Tal!" she cried, laughing as she pulled back. "It's so good to see you!" Then she considered his question, her grin fading slightly. "Do you want the long answer or the short answer?" she asked with a grimace. So much had happened recently that she was no longer sure how she was, and Tal was a good enough friend that she didn't feel the need to pretend around him.

Then Koa arrived, and the breath left Soh's lungs as her gaze caught on him. When their eyes met briefly across the crowded bar, Soh couldn't help the little flutter in her chest that she knew had no business there. He'd rejected her, after all; by all rights, she should be furious. And yet... she'd said she'd wait, and she was trying her best to do that while respecting his space. Even though she knew she needed to talk to him about Noe - and soon.

But for now, Tal was here to talk to, and Koa was across the bar, and that bought her a little time to get her nerves under control.

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again

The hug caught him a little off-guard, but Tal blinked in surprise only for a moment before he grinned and wrapped his arms around Sohalia in return, giving her ribs a brotherly squeeze before they separated. "It's good t'see you, too! Boreal's gonna be so mad she missed you!" His own grin had just flashed brief and bright in his tanned face before Soh's faded and he was still sober enough to catch the hint of something probably not great in its dimming. As it shifted to a grimace he waved for one of the bartenders - Vesper? Nova? - and pointed at her current drink before holding up two fingers - one for him and a second for her.

"Whichever answer y'need t'get off your--" He was in the middle of turning back to her, just in time to catch her breathless gaze towards Koa, and the courier cut himself off. He looked at his dear bud and back to his good pal and drew in a deep breath before making a frantic gesture behind his back to the bartender on duty - make his a double.

"Right, long one it is," he said firmly, making himself comfortable and leaning close enough that he could hear her without anyone else listening in. That he knew of, at least.

Tell the tales of the trail of dead
Lovers learned from slower hands

Liam arrived alongside Maea, but it wasn't long before they parted ways in the crowd, however briefly. The soldier waited for a lull in which to greet Flora, and at some point managed to find his way to her side. "Flora," he said cordially in greeting, holding out a small box for her to take. It was plainly wrapped (Liam was a soldier, not an artist), but inside, there was a beautifully crafted sailor's compass. "So you can always find your way," he offered of the gift, feeling perhaps a bit awkward in the throngs of partygoers. And when the queen had finished with him, he made his way to the bar.

He found Maea there, accompanied by Hadama, and as the soldier didn't know many of the people at the party, he slipped into a chair beside the Ancient and offered a smile to the king. "Do you mind if I join you?" he asked the pair, holding up a hand to grab the bartender's attention. "Whiskey sour, please." Having missed the interaction between Maea and her fellow Ancients, Liam was content to sit and listen - provided that his friend and the merking allowed him to do so.

Losing self in myself
And my demons make demands

Liam

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

If Soh noticed Talyson 's frantic gesturing to the bartenders, she didn't let on, instead staring moodily down into the drink in her hand for a moment before forcing lightness into her face and turning back to her friend. She wasn't going to mope at Flora's big party. Nope, this was a day for celebrating her best friend.

Buuuuut Tal had asked, so...

"Okay, well, there was the whole almost dying in the tundra thing," she said, ticking off a finger, and then another and another as she went on, speaking quietly so that no one else would overhear. "I can't go home because I'm pretty sure that the Family might try to kill me. I'm living in Torchline for now, which is lovely, because I'm close to Flora and all, but it's not home, you know?

"Then I went to the Greatwood for a while and ran into my sort-of-ex-boyfriend, which was actually going really great for a while except then he wanted to be more than just friends, but then I guess he changed his mind? Because, you know, not only is my other ex living with him and his sister in Stormbreak, but he also dated my best friend, and it's all such a tangled mess that I don't know how to begin to unravel it.

"Oh, and before that, his sister is apparently - er - unwell?" She lifted her brows, hoping that Tal would catch on that 'unwell' in this scenario meant 'infected.' "And I got a quest from Vi to help with that, and now I've finished it but I don't know if we're even on speaking terms. So... that's the long version. I guess the short answer is that it's complicated." She downed the rest of her drink, studiously avoiding looking in Koa's direction.

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again

The drink hadn't arrived yet, but Tal wasn't going to let that stop him from supporting the hail out of Sohalia. So first up was the Tundra, and Tal winced but nodded, having heard about it from Alys and Zavien, both. "Sorry 'bout that," he mumbled, reaching up to rub the back of his neck, but trying not to interrupt too much as she continued on to the second problem, which--

Okay, yeah, fair. He didn't linger much around Stormbreak, either, beyond making his deliveries. He nodded in complete understanding and commiseration, at least until the sort-of-ex-boyfriend was mentioned. Then Tal got a funny look on his face like he wanted to ask a question but wasn't sure which one to start with, and anyways Soh was on a roll. Which only got more confusing as she kept not naming names and Tal was left to flounder in the wake of being horribly out of touch with all the Cool Kid™ gossip.

"Wait, Jude has a sister?" Tal asked, looking more utterly lost than he was used to being, given his multitude of compasses. "Or d'you mean--" He glanced back over at his wingman, then back to Soh with pale eyes going wide. "Y'mean Noe?" He hissed in an aghast whisper as several clues tumbled into place and thank Mort he was still sober enough to begin hastily assembling the leftover jigsaw pieces of their conversation.

But Sohalia was here in front of him and there wasn't anything he could do for Noe at the moment. Not when the Luminary had already-- "Does he know that y'went questin' for her?" he asked, more to buy himself time to figure out where the rest of the edge pieces were before he started smooshing the middle ones together.