it's my party and I'll cry if I want to

[palfriday]

Who: Gal Friday + YOU
What: Icebreaker party
When: 3/13, evening
Where: Rischie
Warnings: TBA

[the morning announcements alter daily now, by the second week of the month. one week until the party. four days until the party. the party is tomorrow.]

The new cruiser get-together will start at 9PM tonight at Rischie! Remember: The dress code is cruise elegant! Hm? [there is a sound like a crackle and pop of static.] The Captain says he won't be attending, but he'll be paying extra special attention to everybody who does!

[if that's a sufficient enough bribe.

"but we don't have cruise elegant clothing," you cry. but you do! have you not checked the top drawer in your room's dresser, where at most two perfectly suited formal outfits are located? you have? but they weren't there before today? don't ask questions. just get ready for the party.

the house lights in the club are at full brightness, giving everything the sort of uneasy liminal feeling a room gets when used for something opposite its intended purpose. booths line the walls, and small tables and chairs sit between them and the dance floor, which is empty except for one table, holding a series of "HELLO, MY NAME IS..." nametags and sheets of glittery stickers. Friday is there, of course, standing by the table. she's even dressed up! and if your character hasn't corrected her previously, their name tag will have their true name. there are also a few buffet tables with refreshments on them, and trays bearing canapes and flutes of champagne float by. (deftly avoiding minors! excluding Jinx, but only if Venti is within close proximity. welcome to parenthood, barbatos!)

once everyone is settled in, Friday will clear her throat (??) to get everyone's attention and explain the rules of the night. it's an altered version of twenty questions: every person in the room must answer ten questions about themselves, asked by their fellow passengers, collecting stars for every answer considered acceptable. when they have 10 stars, they're allowed to leave!

oh, yeah, the door to the club shut about five minutes ago. it doesn't seem very eager to open back up again.

time to break some ice! breaking ice and cruises always go well together, after all.]

Comments

[lightconductor]

"Rin, dear fellow." Watson is... moderately cheerful. Not that he's a fan of this game, because he's not, but it's good to see a familiar face. Also, the champagne helps. "You seem... very low indeed." And then, because he's attempting to ask questions where he might not otherwise, he adds, "Have you... been to many parties, before?"

[serialskiller]

It needs a moment to figure out how to answer.

"I have never been a guest at a party before. But occasionally planetary survey teams I've worked for have thrown parties in their habitat that I have been present for."

[lightconductor]

"Not quite the same thing, I suspect," Watson says. "Here." He hands over one of the gold star stickers. "One star closer to your freedom. I do what I can."

He shrugs, because honestly this is ridiculous.

"I admit this is not the best introduction to the concept."

[serialskiller]

"I don't like being in crowds of people, and I don't like having to interact with them. But there doesn't seem to be a choice. We're locked in here."

It glances toward doors, frowning. "Have you been alright overall since last time we talked? No one and nothing has tried to harm you?"

[lightconductor]

"I've been fine," Watson assures it. "I'll admit I haven't exactly been going about unarmed, but I've been met with no trouble. Why, have you been threatened?"

He hopes not. It would be the first serious issues he's heard of anywhere on the ship, after all.

[serialskiller]

"No, but if anyone did threaten you, I would take care of them for you." Somehow, for some reason, it's decided Watson is worth protecting. That's just how it works, okay? Okay.

[lightconductor]

He blinks, taken aback by this. It is, after all, quite the declaration to hear. "Would you, then? I daresay I haven't done anything to deserve that, but thank you. I will have to try to be worthy of that sort of trust. You may equally rely on me."

Is that the right response? Probably. He's not used to being on the receiving end of that sort of thing.

[serialskiller]

"Thank you, Dr. Watson." Not that it expects to need defending, but...but there's other things it might consider asking the human for. It does believe the offer is sincere.

[lightconductor]

It's very sincere, absolutely. Watson is rarely anything but sincere.

"If I'm quite honest," he says, conversationally, "I'm not always entirely comfortable in this sort of situation myself. Possibly that's why I'm over here bothering you. At least there are refreshments. Do you... do you need to eat at all?" He asks, because suddenly he realises he has no idea.

[serialskiller]

"My body is self-sustaining. I don't need to eat, drink, or eliminate any byproducts of those processes."

It glances over to the refreshment table. Yes, it's curious about the champagne. No, it would not be a good idea to drink it.

[lightconductor]

"Convenient," Watson says thoughtfully. "And yet, a pity. Food can be such a pleasure."

He pauses. "Do I owe you another sticker for that? I'll give you one, if you want it. I'm attempting to be very free with them."

[serialskiller]

"I will accept another sticker. I think that counts, as me answering that question counts for you."

It offers Watson one in turn.

"I've heard food is a pleasure. If I had the opportunity to eat any one meal, what would you suggest?"

[lightconductor]

Stickers exchanged, Watson gives this some thought, but it's not a very long pause.

"Oysters, I think, with a couple of woodcock, and a nice wine to go with it," he concludes. "Something a little elegant, if I'm choosing any meal of my choice."

[serialskiller]

"I've never even seen an oyster. Or a woodcock, I don't think." Then again, a lot of its time has been spent in planetary surveys, seeing the fauna of alien worlds.

Sometime seeing that fauna very, very up close, while trying to rescue scientists from it.

"But I know chicken is something that is often synthesized for meals. Would that be similar?"

[lightconductor]

"Synthesized?"

He raises an eyebrow. That sounds incredibly unappealing.

"Chicken is... reasonably close, I suppose, but woodcock is smaller, and as it's a game bird, the flavour is different. Chicken is perfectly good, of course, but woodcock would make for a special meal."