one night of magic rush

[blyat]

WHO: Cain, Prompto, Hideki Maeda, and you!
WHERE: The popular Asylum club.
WHEN: Night of October 26.
WHAT: Cain and Prompto's joint birthdays!
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Beyond drinking/smoking, general wild party behavior, and fake friendship, there shouldn't be much. Will update as needed.


[Set deep in the downtown of New Amsterdam's entertainment district is Asylum, arguably the most popular club in the city. The exterior is cool steel beams and tasteful futuristic architecture with a long line down the corridor, suited bouncers posed at the entrance all armed with a virtual guest list. Its interior is fashioned with bright, colorful lighting dynamic to the music of the infamous DJ Semicolon, high ceilings and acoustic sounds to lend that feeling of a constant full-body hum. Any partygoers on the guest list for this event will be funneled toward the VIP section. They will have received an invitation a few days prior via their Cooltalk profiles. Jason is specifically blacklisted, sorry buddy.

DANCE YOUR HEART OUT. Nearly impossible to book without deep pockets or wide-reaching connections, Semicolon is at the top of their game mixing popular contemporary hits with Whitney Houston's classics. From song to song, Semicolon provides a unique and talented contrast of the slow to the energetic, so no matter your dancing style, you'll find something to move you on the dance floor.

DROWN YOUR... LIVER. Courtesy of the party's host, Hideki Maeda, the VIP section's private bar will provide an ever-flowing river of your favorite expensive high-proof alcohol. Pick your poison.

CHILL OUT. Tired on your feet from too much dancing, or just need a break from the packed atmosphere? There are plenty of comfortable areas where you can relax and take it easy until you're ready to get back out there. The lights around this area cycle through different colors in reflection of Semicolon's performance set, so a slower song might lend toward romantic shades of red while a faster-paced song is brighter blue.

SMOKE, EAT & MINGLE. Asylum will be serving real, fresh meat at this party, so enjoy that luxury while it lasts. There is also an outdoor area with a beautiful view over the city itself if you want to take your vape pen out there for a smoke, just get some air, or see who's around for a chat.]

Comments

[laozu]

[ the scowl on abel's face could kill a corpse, and seeing it - while not a shock - is still enough to force a reaction from wei wuxian. the cup of ice tucked into abel's hands, he reaches up to palm the man's face and turn it away from line of sight with 'that fellow'. even the brief contact is enough to spark blue between them: easy easy easy, it's a tender little thing from him, to abel. ]

You don't like him very much.

[ he doesn't need to be in contact OR a detective to know that ]

[adsero]

[Abel's irate expression smooths into surprise when he feels Xuanyu turning his face away. The flare of irritation flickers out almost immediately and is replaced with curious nerves-- he's not used to having his cheeks touched by someone other than Cain.]

[Looking guiltily into his cup of ice, Abel sighs.] I don't like people who use their influence for selfish reasons. I lived with that for most of my life, and while Hideki is nothing like my father, the idea is too similar.

[laozu]

Do you think he's really selfish, or just stupid?

[ were he a cat, he'd be accompanying that smug little expression of his with the flick of a tail; as it stands, he remains where he is, settled on the floor next to abel's knees, his chin resting on the seat alongside his hip, just watching and observing him readily. ]

Oh. Mister Abel... we're very much alike in that regard. If it reassures you any, he doesn't strike me as malicious - not in the way I've known young men in similar positions to his are. Likely still an annoyance, and frightfully easy to pick on.

[adsero]

Both.

[Abel frowns hazily at Xuanyu on the floor, looking very much like some kind of pet. It's cute, he thinks, and barely keeps his buzzed self from reaching out and patting Xuanyu's head.]

[His face flickers at the mention of 'young men in similar positions' to something a little guiltier and nervous.] I don't think he's malicious at all, I don't think he's smart enough to be. But that doesn't excuse him... going behind the bar and taking tips away from the regular bartenders. Motivation is important, but the end result has to be considered and I don't think he's aware enough to do that.

[laozu]

You really are a nice man.

[ it might not be a glowing accolade, but the attention that abel gives to the little people and their needs and lives is, in part, why wei wuxian likes him so much. he has a good heart, it's in the right places, and it's going to get him hurt one day. it likely already has, for all he knows, but who needs to relieve the past? ]

It makes me feel bad for picking on you, but only a little. [ and he jostles the side of the cup he's handed abel, pointedly. ] You're always thinking of so many people, just don't forget to care for yourself. I'm sure it's a moot point, but it begs to be said. Call it reflex.

[adsero]

[Yes, his big, trusting, loving heart has already been battered quite significantly. Unsurprisingly, he still shares a bed with ground zero. He's chosen not to see this as asking for more pain, and instead as a chance to rebuild something truly honest and strong between himself and Cain. But, he still gives Xuanyu a smile like he's been told a funny joke. He may be head over heels for Cain, but he's definitely not smart about it.]

[He looks at the cup and squints, eyes going between Xuanyu and the spot on his shirt.]

Wait, did you...?

[laozu]

[ bolting upright, onto his toes, he moves in a fluid motion from kneeling at abel's side to standing above him, expression alight now that the other man has noticed what devilry he's been up to. he crows, delighted and wildly playful as he claps his hands together, voice prideful: ]

Of course it was me! I couldn't let them pick on you, strangers would only upset you.

[ he remembers. abel, the sheltered son of a family, had explained by his own words that he was not used to being teased. ]

I was going to put them on your nipples, but a cold belly button is way worse! I wish I'd done it now though, it'd look like a silly little face on your shirt, like this!

[ and he pushes his cheeks together with his palm, mouth open and eyebrows raised. it's emulates edvard munch's "the scream", if the screaming gentleman was shaking with barely-contained giggles. ]

[adsero]

[Abel's response is to, of course, wrap his arms around his chest to protect his nipples. And turn very red.]

I would have been upset either way! Don't...! ['Don't touch my nipples, Xuanyu.' Yeah no, he may be not completely sober and he's exhausted, but even he knows not to say that.]

Don't put ice on me anywhere, alright?

[laozu]

[ too cute, too cute! ]

I only wanted to be a little mean to you, mister Abel! You looked so vulnerable while you were asleep!

[ and he pushes his palms against abel's cheeks, squishing them softly ( jovial, delighted, innocent in intention their connection informs ) before he's on his toes again and holding hands out for abel again. he's tired, he's drunk and the idea of the party has clearly upset him. it must be between his fighter and the gentleman at the bar, the one they'd written off as "friendly but spoiled". ]

If you want, we can go somewhere else and get you something filling to eat. It should help with all the alcohol.

[adsero]

[It's only that brief link that saves Xuanyu from Abel totally icing him out (anxious, injured, he wants to go somewhere safe) but he still looks fairly sullen with his face squished like this. Regardless of the prank though, he does wish he could accept the invitation.]

That sounds like a good idea but... I'm waiting for Cain. [Because they're going to go home together after this. He starts trying to clock his partner, not really having much luck.] And I... don't have many credits to my name right now. Have you seen him lately?

[laozu]

I spoke with him earlier, actually.

[ which might account for why he smells vaguely of cain's electronic cigarette, having spent some time out on the balcony with him. it had been quite a conversation, long enough to take him away from the party as a whole. he hadn't been able to make any connections, the way he'd wanted - instead beelining for cain's navigator the moment he'd seen a cup of ice come into play. ]

If there comes a time when you change your mind, I've got enough to me to buy for you at a little noodle place I was able to find. It's cozy, and warm, and filling.

[adsero]

Oh? Well I'm glad he's actually talking to people who he knows instead of all of these... followers.

[He still doesn't see him. Abel drags himself out of the booth, maybe he can get a better look if he's standing.]

Yeah, it sounds really good, I just don't want to abandon him on his birthday. But another time? [The case of the missing Cain has apparently knocked the prank to the back of Abel's mind.]