interstellar5555 | 007 ✽ Bubbles in the Wine

Who: Luce and practically anyone that's had CR with her
What: On another side of town, it's a different mafioso's birthday.
When: March 14, in the evening
Where:
Warnings: None planned

Since the start of the month, those who know her even faintly will find themselves contacted one way or another to let them know that they were invited to a birthday party on the 14th. There's no pressure, of course, and there's no need to bring gifts.

Luce finds that she'd be perfectly content just seeing all the people she hasn't been able to see for ages now.

Today is finally the day, and the location? The top floors of the exclusive hotel Sol, which is quite an impressive feat. When the invitees step inside, they'll see why. It's taken Luce constant persuading for this for months now, inbetween everything else she's had to do lately, but goodness knows if she isn't willful. On various tables that are kept carefully restocked, one can find various rice and lamb dishes, plus plenty of piping hot bread including some that's stuffed with all manner of delicious things. Fortunately for Luce's continued existence, she didn't make all of it.

...Besides the cookies. Those she made. And the cake? That'll come later, of course.

There's more than just food and conversation, however. Everyone who comes in will be invited to participate in a little game. Somewhere hidden in the party are various small golden eggs. If you bring one to Luce, you get a prize of some sort. Feel free to note that "bring" is the key word and not necessarily "find". Take that as you will.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Koumei wasn't going to get in anyone's way-- not with everyone bustling around as they were. Instead he'll keep to himself and make small talk on the sidelines, when he wasn't subtly looking for eggs of all sorts hidden amidst the decor.

There had to have been a significance of golden eggs and origami eggs, as well as a reason why they were so different, and it was an interesting puzzle for him to ponder over.]

Have you had any luck finding the eggs?

[ Ivan spots Koumei and decides to see if he needs any help with the egg hunt. Too bad he left his ninja plush at the penthouse. He'd hide him too. ]

[With a quick little smile, Koumei reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his findings so far-- a single golden egg and a couple of paper ones.]

A little. It's a clever little trick to keep the guests entertained, I have to admit.

You found the origami golden eggs already? I might have to work harder on hiding the rest.

[ He tried to make it a challenge, but maybe he's dealing with someone who knows where to look because he thinks about where he'd hide something in a room. ]

[That earned a soft chuckle from Koumei.]

I just like puzzles, that's all. The others will have a harder time finding the rest, I'm sure!

Are you sure? It's no fun if there isn't a little bit of a challenge.

[ He wants people to have fun! ]

No, it's still plenty fun. Knowing that there's another part of this puzzle that I can't just resolve is part of it. [He gently waved one of the little paper eggs, for emphasis.] I'm trying to figure out what they mean-- aren't flowers part of your band's motif?

Maybe you should ask Luce that. She wants people to bring the eggs to her.

[ Ivan has a feeling there's a reason she picked these, but he's not entirely sure. ]

Is that so?

[He glanced down at the eggs in his hands, clearly thinking.]

Even the paper ones?

I...

[ A puzzled look crosses Ivan's face. Luce had encouraged him to make and hide the eggs once he suggested it, but he didn't know if his counted for her game. ]

The paper ones can... get something from me at least.

Perhaps just a drink?

[Koumei smiled sympathetically, feeling a little sheepish for putting Ivan on the spot.]

Don't worry if you don't have anything prepared-- it was just conversation.

If you'd like, I-I could get you something.

[ He looks around, seeing who's around. No one's really paying much attention to Ivan. His natural tendency to be overlooked is still going strong. ]

I... could also talk more with you about stuff, if you want. There's been a lot of weird things going on in Virgo.

[Koumei himself is a very self-effacing, almost unnotable person despite his vibrantly auburn hair. It was a facet of his personality-- nobody paid attention to those who preferred to keep to the background.

He only hoped it would remain that way here.]

There's strange things happening all over. Where would you like to go so we can talk in private?

[Because surely no one would notice if two men who maid a point of being unnoticed disappeared from the party for a short while.]

Um... How about over there?

[ Ivan points to where a water fountain bubbles away. It would help mask their voices, and the hanging plants would help hide them. ]

[Indeed, between the fountains, the music, the sounds of the party, and the cover of decorations and foliage, it looked like an excellent spot to talk.]

It looks like our best option-- and there's no one there, either.

Perfect.

[ He nods. ]

Let me get some drinks, and I'll meet you over there. Any requests?

[ He's serious about getting him a drink for finding the egg. ]

Only whatever you're drinking-- go ahead and surprise me.

[He had honestly been joking a little with that suggestion, but he wasn't going to turn down the offer and make Ivan feel bad.]

[ Leaving to go get their drinks, Ivan will arrive at the designated spot with a pair of glasses of iced green tea infused with some fresh peaches. ]

Here you go. I hope you like it.

[Koumei will bob his head appreciatively as he accepts the drink.]

I'm sure I will-- it's hard to go wrong with tea.

Thanks, Ivan.

[ Taking a seat on the railing surrounding the fountain, Ivan takes a long sip of his tea. It buys them a little time before jumping into the heavier topics. ]

How are things in Pride? Things have been... rough in Virgo.

Hmm. Things have been rough in Pride as well, [Koumei intoned, mulling over his drink before taking a sip of the sweet, cold drink himself.] But, with Lesedi Santiago as CEO, some of that might go without saying. The woman plays rough and everyone knows it.

[ Ivan is about to commiserate about Blanche being similar, but then he stops. It doesn't really feel like Blanche in control... Juno is the one doing everything.

But that's not the point. ]

... What about things that aren't exactly under her control. Something... well, super... natural...?

007 ✽ Bubbles in the Wine

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/high fives for the tea drinking icon o/