defenderofdesmoines: (annie - maybe we're winning?)
Annie Hargreeves ([personal profile] defenderofdesmoines) wrote2022-12-02 07:35 am

MHA #2 | Friday Evening and probably onwards - the THIRD ANNUAL Christmas Rager!!

It was a Christmas miracle: an even tackier, way-too-early ugly sweater party.

With way, way too much alcohol, and a kinda ridiculous number of activities.

There were, of course, the ubiquitous plastic snowmen haunting (almost) every corner of the apartment, and one out on each of the Smokers' Balconies for good measure. There were strings of lights lining the ceiling, as well as tracing the edges of each window. There were cookies to decorate (and eat, because you definitely should eat, and there were moddable snacks aplenty as well.) While there was, of course, Christmas music playing, those with keen eyes (or at least, enough wherewithal to look around an apartment before you started potentially drinking heavily in it) might spot a karaoke machine that would come out later. One particularly tinsel-y corner had an abundance of Santa hats and reindeer antlers and wearable strings of lights to wear while taking photos, and in the guest room -- of course -- there was a much-fabled craft table, where you could make an ornament that didn't have to be in an immature shape, but definitely could be.

There was also, hovering slowly through the party, a drone with mistletoe dangling from it. A Mistle Drone, one might call it, even.

And, because this was the Christmas Rager, there was alcohol. There was so, so, so much alcohol. The kegs of Christmas ale had once been reordered, there was a Make Your Own hot chocolate and coffee bar, and while Annie would never argue that Summer's shot table wasn't the star of every party...this year was a little different. Mostly because of how they'd decided to serve Annie's punch: in a freestanding bathtub, just slightly off-center from the room.

Welcome to the third annual Christmas Rager. Hope you wore a sweater, because the hostesses both have glitter cannons in case you didn't show up festive enough!

[please hold for way too many threads and we're off! open to literally every single adult on the island -- students are welcome to attempt to crash, but they'll be busted.]
stykera: (a little unhappy)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-02 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll go to see him if I don't hear anything soon," Stark said. "It's fine."
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (unsure))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-02 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you're certain?" Steven said. He tried to think of something else to talk about. "Party is quite impressive, isn't it? I think I've lucked out and escaped being shot."
stykera: (awkward)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-02 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"They're always impressive parties," Stark agreed. "I'm glad you found a sweater so you didn't have to be shot. My stylist provided my shirt."

The last comment was followed by a quick glance in Summer's direction. She'd also told him to wear the leather pants and he wouldn't want to disappoint her.
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (casual))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-02 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"There were actually loads of options," Steven said, looking down at his jumper proudly. "But once I saw this one I knew it was perfect. Yours is nice as well. Summer doesn't steer you wrong with clothing, does she?"

Steven still remembered Stark's outfit for the wedding.
stykera: (little smile)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-02 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"She hasn't yet," Stark confirmed. "Only sometimes with food. I think she enjoys it. The terrible food and the nice clothes, both."
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (casual))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-02 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"She did a great job with the jellies," Steven said. "It's nice how she always makes something I can have as well."

Though probably as the evening went on the other party goers wouldn't be very picky about the type of shots provided so long as they contained alcohol.
stykera: (unsure)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-02 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"She's good at thinking of other people," Stark said fondly. "I should have more of the jello. Or maybe the punch in the bathtub?"

He didn't sound terribly sure about that option.
hasaknightjob: Steven having a friendly conversation (Steven chatting (light))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-02 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"The jellies seem good," Steven said, if that helped the decision making at all. At the very least they seemed more sanitary.
stykera: (awkward)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-02 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"They always are," Stark said loyally. "Except the ones that aren't meant to be. Like the fish."

Which had been his fault.
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (unsure))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-02 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"I felt a little bit guilty I couldn't try that one," Steven said. Not guilty enough that he had one, but still.
stykera: (Default)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-02 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I felt guilty that Steve and I made her decide to make them," Stark said. He even looked guilty right now.
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (unsure))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-02 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Now Steven was confused. "Why would you ask her to make them if you didn't want to try them?"
stykera: (whaaaaat)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-02 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, Stark was giving him such an affronted look right now. "I didn't ask her to make them! We said she hoped she wouldn't make them so then she decided she had to make them."

It was really very sound logic.
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (casual))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-02 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I see," Steven said. "She took it as a challenge. Suppose that makes more sense. At least there's no strange jellies this time around?"
stykera: (serious talk)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-02 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"She takes a lot of things as a challenge." That was really a large part of Summer's charm.

"I haven't tried all of the jello but they all seemed fine tonight. I think usually for this sort of thing they are. It's Wednesday where you have to worry."
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (casual))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-03 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
"She's been kind to me there as well," Steven said. "Having a vegan option available even if I'm not always able to make it."

Of course this might mean that at some point Summer would take on the challenge of finding vegan options that were terrifying.
stykera: (Default)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-03 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't think she wants you to be left out."

But best not to even hint about the idea of terrifying vegan jello.

"And everyone can have the vegan ones."
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (casual))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-03 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
"It's very kind of her," Steven said. Then, because they had spoken of it being a concern, "She's been nothing but nice. Maybe I imagined there were problems. I do sometimes have a hard time reading people."

It didn't help when you couldn't necessarily remember every conversation you ever had with them. Summer being one notable example.
stykera: (Default)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-03 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
"She's always been kind to me. Even times when I probably didn't deserve it."
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (unsure))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-03 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
Steven looked puzzled. "Why wouldn't you deserve it?"
stykera: (awkward)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-03 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Because sometimes I don't."

Sometimes Stark had issues with his sense of self-worth.
hasaknightjob: Steven chatting (Steven chatting (unsure))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-03 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
Well now Steven looked cross. "Who says that about you? It's not true, I can tell you that right now."
stykera: (in profile)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-03 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
"You haven't known me that long," Stark pointed out. "Sometimes I say it. It's fine."
hasaknightjob: Steven serious chat (Steven chatting (serious))

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] hasaknightjob 2022-12-03 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
"No it isn't," Steven said. "I won't have anyone say horrible things about my friends, even themselves. You're kind and thoughtful, Stark. Not awful at all."
stykera: (Default)

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

[personal profile] stykera 2022-12-03 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
"I didn't say I was awful. I said sometimes I don't deserve the kindness I'm shown."

Re: Arrive & Mingle | 12/2/22

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