A Night in West Egg

[professorlionface]

WHO: EVERYBODY OF ALL AGES
WHERE: The Xavier Institute
WHEN: The night of June 16th, all night!
WARNINGS: Who can really tell anymore? Probable language. Possible violence. Copious dancing.
SUMMARY: PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM PROM
FORMAT: OPEN

The guests into an auditorium transformed. Through the magic of papier mache, the room has been decked out like a speakeasy, the refreshments laid out on a very makeshift bar that will not stock alcohol as long as they can prevent it. The whole room is cast with a cool blue light, and a jazz band's been hired to take the stage for an hour before leaving the rest of the evening to the DJ.

It was time to get this party started.

quick-links!
DANCE FLOOR
REFRESHMENTS
SIDELINES
OUTSIDE

Comments

open;

[professorlionface]

[He's supposed to be chaperoning, but Hank finds himself eyeing the snacks instead, helping himself to a slice of pie or two. It doesn't take much to satisfy him.]

[bests]

[ carol scoots up behind him at one point early in the evening to grab a cookie and say hi. ]

You look dapper tonight.

[professorlionface]

[He adjusts his monocle and actually stands up straight for once, which just makes him kind of tower a bit, holding his lapels in quiet dignity.]

Well, someone made the suggestion and I just couldn't ignore it! Just between you and me, I'm nearly half-blind with this thing.

[bests]

[ oh, hank. it's really hard to keep a mostly straight face with a confession like that. ]

Maybe we should get you some contacts.

[professorlionface]

[He winces.] I've tried them before. I don't like sticking things in my eye.

This [Pointing to the monocle.] is the absolute limit.

[bests]

Well, if you can stand being half-blind, that's your choice.

[professorlionface]

[He pats his pocket.]

Well, I have my glasses stashed, just in case.

[bests]

Oh, good thinking.

[professorlionface]

We don't all have the benefit of a quick-change on the molecular level! The rest of us have to use pockets.

Sometimes pouches, but isn't so gauche to be seen in too many.

[bests]

Have I ever mentioned how glad I am that I more or less missed most of the pouch phase a few people went through?

[professorlionface]

Well, you've never had much need for extra equipment anyway! Given that I generally end up charging into battle with either a pack or a satchel, I can see what may lead someone to believe it would be practical.

Forge made it work, I think.

[incywincyhero]

[And here's Peter, who's taking a break from the punch to avail himself of other consumables.] Hey, Hank! Looking good. Mind if I steal a slice of that pie you're guarding?

[professorlionface]

[Hank steps to the side to let him in.] Be my guest! Just remember, if you like it, all compliments should be directed to Shirley Bennett at the Pie Hole. Lovely little place, but they could certainly use the business.

On an unrelated note, nice hat.

[incywincyhero]

Oh, really? [He doesn't waste any time sampling the goods.] Mmff -- oh, wow. [Mouth still slightly full:] "Compliments" is definitely the word of the day. I'll have to check this place out!

[Swallowing.] And thanks. I thought I'd play against type and dress up a little, just for once.

[professorlionface]

Here I have... [He picks a business card out of a little tray he'd left with the pies and hands it to Peter.] There, that's the address. Maybe you could treat Carol sometime. [He winks.]

You pull the look off successfully enough, maybe you should try it a little more often!

[incywincyhero]

[He chuckles and tucks it into one of his pockets.] I'm sure I'll need to butter her up at some point, eh?

[Touching the tip of his hat in a salute.] I dunno, Hank. You've got the dapper look down, but it's not really my style. Plus I'd probably lose it in all of a week, and that's if I'm lucky. [Crime doesn't always wait for you to stash your fedora in a safe location, after all.]

[professorlionface]

[He tips his own hat in return.] It wouldn't have to be every day! Maybe once a week or so.

Could go some way toward that buttering up?

[incywincyhero]

[Pausing with a forkful of pie halfway towards his mouth:] Uh, I guess? [He's not really following.] I mean, Carol's pretty laid-back herself...

[professorlionface]

[He contemplates his own cookie.] Granted. Though there's no fault in the occasional grand romantic gesture.

You simply have to avoid allowing it to become old hat.

argh notifs :(

[incywincyhero]

But the hat is old -- I thought that was the whole point of this party! [He pops the pie into his mouth, then waggles his fork.] Sorry, bad joke.

wow why are they so rude

[professorlionface]

[He smiles broadly with a chuckle.]

Oh no, I walked right into that one, as though I'd left it hanging over my head. [He straightens his hat.]

let's say he told him!

[incywincyhero]

[Peter laughs obediently enough, but his mood's shifted. He looks down at his plate, making a few desultory pokes with his fork but not taking another bite.]

Listen, uh ... change of subject. I really appreciate you not being weird about -- you know. [He glances around to check if anyone's listening.] What we talked about the other day.

okay!

[professorlionface]

[He's feeling a little fuzzy, trying to recall just what Peter is talking about. It's embarrassing that he's drawing a blank, especially since it was barely more than a week ago! He'll play along to save face, of course, patting a hand on his shoulder.]

Peter, you're my friend! Not to mention that I have a wide experience with the weird. Nothing you tell me will be more than I can take.

[incywincyhero]

[He shrugs underneath Hank's hand, though not enough to dislodge it.] Kind of a bombshell to drop on someone after two years -- or more than ten -- of knowing them, though.

[professorlionface]

[Ten years? That doesn't make any sense at all! How big a thing could it possibly be that he's forgetting? If he was embarrassed before, well, it's far worse now.

The kind of "there is no way I can actually say I forgot" kind of forgetting.] Yes, well...you know, these days do happen from time to time. You can't be expected to disclose everything about yourself to a person when you're not comfortable.