Everyone raise your glasses!

[thenormalsquint]

When; Evening of Tuesday, August 13th
Rating; PG-13, at best. Angela's on her best behavior tonight.
Characters; It's Ginny's birthday party and everybody Ginny knows was invited. Let's handwave that and just show up. BTW, IT'S BLACK TIE. PUT ON YOUR SUITS, BOYS.
Summary; There's no legal drinking age in the City, but who says we can't party like there was one anyway?
Log;

This party was four years coming. The restaurant has set aside a large room just for this event and on short notice too. The food is plentiful and of various cuisines, with even a large selection of vegetarian options for those who prefer that. But of course, there is more alcohol than one has ever seen because Angela knows the people she invited and knows quite a few of them have liquor in their veins instead of blood. Rule of thumb: more liquid than solids every time.

Everything's set and ready for the birthday girl to make her appearance, so for the time being, Angela's flitting around the place dressed in more subdued colors than usual, choosing black because no one gets to stand out more than Ginny tonight, and socializing with the few guests that have shown up already.

Sadly, there are no strippers. Ginny nixed that one hard.

Comments

[affectioning]

[ No judgment here. Scott doesn't completely know what that means but he knows what it kind of means. ]

So, are you hungry?

[lefthandedgenius]

Starving, actually.

Apparently being spontaneous transported to a chronologically transfixed pocket dimension really makes a girl famished.

[affectioning]

Funny how that works.

[ He starts to go but stops. Wait. He's a gentleman. And she is his date. So, he offers her an arm. Is this too much? ]

[lefthandedgenius]

[It is not too much. It is gallant, and Lydia appreciates it. Though as they walk,]

You know once I've got me a little something, if you want to do your thing, talk to your friends, I can manage on my own for a bit. I should say hello to the birthday girl, maybe get a feel for the party. And you have people to say hello to as well, right? Just check on me after a little bit, or I'll come find you. I don't have to anchor you down all night. I'm a big girl.

[affectioning]

[ Lydia, why do you read people so well? ]

You sure? Cause, I can introduce you. I good at it. [ But, he also know she can handle herself at a party. She's in her element. ]

[lefthandedgenius]

[There's an exasperated roll of her eyes, except there's also an enormous difference in how she does it. Last year that eyeroll meant contempt and dismissal. Now? It's a familiar, friendly, "oh, YOU" kind of thing, like laughing with someone instead of at them.

Yeah. The last year has certainly worked a great many changes in Lydia Martin.]

I'll be okay, honest. I mean, this is where I live, okay? Though I won't say no if you want to introduce me around. But don't feel like you have to treat me like a baby duckling all night.

[affectioning]

Okay. I won't treat you like a baby duckling. [ Who treats anyone like that. ] But, I'll eat with you? [ The first time. ]

[lefthandedgenius]

Sounds like a plan. Fetch me a nibble.

[And there's that smile again.]

[affectioning]

[ So, he'll hand her his glass before leaving her side to grab two plates and fill them conservatively. Well, Lydia's. Salad. Some vegetarian options. Some sort of... meat. But, it smells good. He brings back both plates and points out a table. ]

[lefthandedgenius]

I had no idea you were such a gentleman, Scott.

[She takes her seat, lifts her glass, and toasts.]

There but for the grace of werewolves, kaminas, and hot twins go I.

[Slyly, because it's Lydia and she has to]

Alison really didn't know what she was giving up, did she?

[affectioning]

[ He looks away, blushing before pushing his jacket out from under him and sitting down. He knows he shouldn't sit on it. Oh, they're toasting. He can toast.

He smiles, something he keeps doing, before taking a sip of his champagne. Swallowing, he sets his glass down. What does he even say to that? ]

She didn't give me up. [ She had stuff. And then he had stuff. ]

[lefthandedgenius]

[Everybody has stuff. Jackson had stuff and moved halfway across the freaking world.

Lydia is getting tired of people not living their lives the way they should because of stuff.

But this is a party and it isn't fair to bring this baggage here. She smiles, instead.]


You really can't take a compliment, can you?

[affectioning]

[ He just gives her a smile, his lips pursing together. He just ] You know what happened with Allison - with Gerard [ The fact that her father still doesn't love him. ] - I mean, thanks.

[lefthandedgenius]

You two. [There's a shake of her head. It's not a mess she wants to get in the middle of too much; Alison and Scott need to sort out their own stuff.]

You're welcome.

[affectioning]

[ He begins to cut into the meat, tasting the juiciest piece he's had in weeks. This is restaurant quality. ]