Let's Have a Party!

[runs_on_batteries]

Who: Everyone!
What: Throwing a party
Where: Gym carriage
When: Early Evening- early morning, Apple 28

It was three days after the incident with the train and right at two weeks since they'd been allowed to get off this train and roam a new world. Sure somewhere in there, they'd had a brief reprieve involving a new platform and mess of newcomers, but that had hardly counted as a break from the train. So, the point was, they needed a chance to blow off some steam. What better way than organize a party and roll out the last of his ale to share?

He'd recruited Sarai and Maglor to play their harps and/ or sing for music; Ignis, Ash and Evie to make hors d'oeuvres, Dread and Peter to bring in some chairs; and rigged a lamp and some cloth to make a disco ball-like display in the room (which he made Peter to promise not to touch).

Now he just had to get the guests on the dance floor... to harp music? He misses 'regular' music. Sigh.

Comments

[runs_on_batteries]

Ding ding ding! Manabu figured it out! He'd had all sorts of fun while everyone else had been trudging up a mountain. He'd hate a party, gotten drunk with Dread, slept with Albany, fixed a bunch of her equipment, stole her tools.. it had been great fun.

"Why the long face? Come on, lighten up. You're getting to party on a train through the Void. How many people get to cross that number off their bucket list?" He pats Manabu's shoulder and let go of the fellow. "I hadn't either. Besides being annoyingly filling, it's not bad. If I can just find something that would work for my glass jar component I'd get to finish that still and we'd have all sorts of spirits available." They had plenty of potatoes for vodka, grains for whiskey, sugar for rum, and whatever gin's made out of. It tasted like Christmas trees so probably something alpine-y.

[siriusly]

While Tony speaks of other alcohol opportunities and bucket lists, Manabu gives the drink a sniff and grimaces. He's not sure what he was supposed to smell, but he sure smells it! Man. People sure do put a lot of nasty-tasting stuff into their bodies with the expectation of getting buzzed. He's still not fully convinced it's as good a time as all that, but he can definitely get behind the better-tasting stuff.

Annoyingly filling? What the heck?

"You really went all-out, huh..." Which he also probably can't knock; while Manabu's been sulking and scowling for want of purpose, Tony's out here making something. Productivity for productivity's sake?

[runs_on_batteries]

"Yes, well.. if you're going to do anything, might as well do it right."

Tony watches Manabu's reaction to the ale and rolls his eyes. Again, without asking, he takes the cup away and goes to set it down near the barrel. He fills another glass with the cider he knew Manabu liked and came back with it. He passes it over to the younger man with a slight air of 'you're drinking this, deal with it'.

"Better? We can leave the ale for those who actually like it, hm?" Others like Tony and 'real' beer drinkers.

[siriusly]

"I was going to give it a try," Manabu utters, shooting Tony a Look as he takes the cup. "But thanks..."

Damn kids and old folks and their "fun."

[runs_on_batteries]

"Really? Because the look on your face said I'd just giving you used bath water to drink," he retorts, with a slight curl to his lip on one side.

"I just want you to have a good time. It doesn't matter to me if you drink the ale or the cider. Besides, maybe the cider will loosen the vice grip you have on that rod in your ass."

[siriusly]

The Look morphs into a proper scowl as his nose crinkles at the suggestion. How dare! With a hmph puffed through said crinkled nose, Manabu throws back the cup outright in three large gulps, shoving it lightly back at Tony while his face screws up with the assault of cidery spiked nonsense.

"Ghahhh--" He shakes his head and sniffs. "There. Happy?"

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony huffs a laugh and takes the glass. He didn't know why it was so amusing to see Manabu in a tizzy like this, but god it was! Still.., his goal wasn't really to make the young man mad.

"Manabu, come on. What's wrong?" His smile fades a little as he realizes the other man might be upset with him legitimately for something. "Are you pissed about something?"

[siriusly]

Man, it's not like he has allergies on board a train, but if he did, that fast swig of alcohol cleared his sinuses anyway! He shakes his head a little as he gulps against the aftertaste. Thank goodness the cider's got actual flavor to savor compared to, say, vodka...

"What?" He blinks. Pissed? He looks surprised to be asked that, as if he hasn't been cranky from the onset. He goes a bit pink in the face just at the implication.
"N...No...Sorry, did I...look like it?"

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony does look a bit concerned as he watches the young man's face. When he sees the embarrassment, an eyebrow raises.

"Yes, you do. You look like you'd rather be eating fire ants than be here. This might not be your scene, which, you know, is your perogative, but at least have some food or something. Some of them went to a lot of trouble to make this happen." He gives Manabu a look before it vanishes into a grin. "Or maybe you're just one of those dorks who don't know how to have fun at a party. If that's the case, let's get you another glass so we can get you dancing."

[siriusly]

Wow. How many times can one guy be shamed for being a party pooper? Manabu's got some sort of record spanning three different universes at this point. What's the prize for that one? Guilt? Feels like guilt. He's pretty sure it's guilt for raining in on everyone's--

"Wait, what?" He cuts off his own train of thought to double-take at Tony's last remark. He's kidding, right? "No way. I, I don't do dancing. Thanks."

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony wanted to chide Manabu for his attitude, not beat the point to death. So once he sees the guilton the young man's face, it was time to turn the focus back on the fun.

And yes, that included dancing.

"Well, let's hope you can learn fast. Let's see who we can get you paired up with." He glances back at Manabu. "You into guys or girls?"

He was guessing girls, but you never knew and he didn't want to assume.

[siriusly]

"I'm--!"

He flushes, an eyelid twitching. His nostrils flare with some alcohol-boosted indignation while he rocks back a step, folding his arms.

"I'm into not dancing," he reaffirms stubbornly.

[runs_on_batteries]

Wow. Just.. wow. Peter acted this way sometimes when they talked about dating too. What was it with kids these days? He didn't understand. He might have been Peter's age when he graduated college, but he was already interested in girls by then.

Tony looks at the other man, very obviously confused by what's going on. "Why not? What are you being so anal retentive about?"

[siriusly]

"It's not being...anal!" he protests, nose crinkling. "Does everyone on your planet dance or something?"

[runs_on_batteries]

"The fun ones, yes. It's how you enjoy a party and get ladies- or men- to go home with you afterward. That and alcohol. I used to be notorious for partying in my world, so I do admit I don't understand your reluctance at all. Are you worried you'll look foolish? Think you'll accidentally fall into a relationship? What's the deal here? Peter usually acts the same way but now he's all head over heels for Gwen." Hint hint.

"And might I point out, there are a number of attractive young women on board who might enjoy some company? Not physically, necessarily but companion-wise. For instance, have you met Lightning over there? Or Ash?" Tony sort of wondered if the carpet matched the drapes (or the ears) on his roommate. "So, stop getting all squeaky and just help me out here."

[siriusly]

Manabu pinches the bridge of his nose, muffling his annoyance and obscuring his embarrassment. This really is like being back with Sirius Platoon -- David used to egg him on like this all the time!

"I'd rather not," he utters, grimacing as he realizes he's glancing where Tony gestures and huffs, looking down.

"I don't dance. I don't want to dance. It's not fun, okay?"

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony looks at Manabu and sees the young man is dead serious about this. It didn't make the slightest bit of sense to Tony, but then again he'd never known shyness a day in his life. Perhaps, that's what this was? He didn't know.

"Suit yourself."

So he tosses back his ale in his glass and goes over to Ash to dance.