If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks...

[coldsong]

It's customary to have a Wake after the subject thereof dies. Even Loki knows that. But this is a special occasion. Ego-death is coming to his alternate, and the idea of letting him go off to perish alone, uncertain he will even be mourned, is too dark a proposition even for a flawed and callous person to contemplate.

That, and this Loki has been in a melancholy mood since speaking to the spirit of Frigga. He anticipates a dark choice of his own, sooner or later, and where the fates will send him after that, he can't know. Maybe oblivion, although even at that rate there may be worse places.

What's important right now is that no one dies unremembered. And honestly, any excuse for mischief a party. The first text rolls out to Harley, an innocent enough invitation to join them for milkshakes. Cricket is next, because it occurs to him that Cricket has plenty of liquor, which is good for a reckless celebration.

Things snowball from there.

As long as they don't destroy too much property, they'll call the night a success.

Comments

[lovesuwithknives]

Far be it from Azwel to be the sober one at a party... that he kind of crashed. Still, this is clearly just what he needed.

Good job he's one of those happy drunks, laughing at everything. You see, he loves everyone. No, I mean, he loves everyone even when sober. It's just now, he's much more apt to say so.

[magpiemythos]

This guy is great! Loki is feeding off the cheery energy of his strange drinking companion, a beaming smile on his own face.

"Hey, can you still feel your face?" If the answer is yes, guess who's sliding Azwel another drink?

[lovesuwithknives]

Oh, there is a lot of energy to be had from this fellow, let me tell you,

At some point, he'd removed the gauntlets and hung them from his belt, which is a good thing, as he'd probably put his own eye out if he'd been wearing them right now as he pats his own face a couple times.

"Yes. Yes, I can."

Another drink? He won't say no! "Ah, and here's the solution!"

[magpiemythos]

Probably a good idea. Loki himself has removed his horns too, after almost putting someone's eye out in a hug. And he can't resist but reach out to pat his friend's face, with a thoughtful look.

"Definitely need more drinks I can still feel your face too!"

[lovesuwithknives]

At least he has a nice, soft, well-kept beard. Really, he was blessed with Good Hair Genes, as there wasn't exactly such thing as beard balms and hair goop where he's from.

He doesn't mind this in the slightest. In fact, he nods with the kind of mock solemnity one can only see in a drunk person.

"Indeed. It's entirely far too... there. More drink is required!"

[magpiemythos]

Loki can't help but gasp when he discovers this Very Important fact.

"Your beard is incredible! What magic is this?"

What were they doing? Because the trickster is entirely caught up in petting the man's beard at the moment. It's entirely possible that this might be morphing to a beard-braiding session but it's up in the air.

[lovesuwithknives]

They're both approaching that level of plastered, aren't they?

"I'd never thought to try using magick to groom it," Azwel chortles. "Thank you, though. I grew it myself!"

Oh, boy. We're getting into nonsense answers, now.

His beard is already braided, but there's nothing stopping anyone undoing it and braiding it up again differently. As long as drinking is not impeded. Because there's new things to try, like something called 'Scumble...'

[to_the_wolves]

Happy drunks are okay, so long as they stay in their corner of the bar, which is clearly something Azwel isn't doing. As such, Marie is trying desperately to avoid eye contact with him while taking a sip of her alcoholic drink. She's not completely inebriated yet, mainly because it is stupidly fun to watch other people get drunk.

The question is, does he want to approach this sulky, mysterious woman?

[lovesuwithknives]

Oh, no, he definitely doesn't stay in any kind of corner. Ordinarily he wouldn't notice Marie, but when someone is desperately trying to avoid eye contact, it's hard not to.

Eventually he makes his way over to where she's sitting, weaving only a little. He is very bold, indeed, pulling up a chair and sitting on it, regarding her with what he can only hope is a friendly smile, though he can't entirely be sure, now.

"I noticed," he said, "that you're trying very hard... not to look at me." He tilts his head. "Is something wrong?"

[to_the_wolves]

Well, seeing the drunk man take up next to her makes this encounter unavoidable, as she turns to face him politely. Or as well as she can. At least he seems nice enough and alcohol certainly helps...

"I'm trying not to look any anyone. I wasn't really invited to this party knowing anyone, so I'm just the wallflower." She takes a sip of her drink, managing a smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to seem rude."

[lovesuwithknives]

"Hah!" is Azwel's amused reply. "I wasn't invited, either!"

He's strange looking, but so... oddly personable. Like an over-the-top villain who steps out of his volcano lair on his days off to unwind and party. Ming the Merciless off-duty.

"If they let me in and welcomed me... then I'm certain you're just as welcome, if not more so," he points out, his words only slightly slurred.

[to_the_wolves]

"Well, glad to know I'm not the only one sneaking into these kind of events. Any excuse to have a drink is fine by me."

He does strike her as the overly happy villain, with his hair style and clothes. But as long as Azwel isn't trying to harm her, then whatever. He isn't going away anytime soon, so Marie gestures to the chair next to her.

"I didn't mean to offend you earlier. Socializing with new people has never been my strong suit." She extends one hand to him. "Marie. It's a pleasure to meet you."

[lovesuwithknives]

"Exactly!"

No, he definitely isn't going away any time soon. And, really, even a villain knows not to attack people at a party.

"Not to worry, it takes rather a lot to offend me," he answers. He shakes her hand and it's a good job he's taken those gauntlets off by now, as gloves are a little more comfortable for this sort of thing, aren't they?

"Call me Azwel. I'm told drinking helps make socialising a little easier. Thus, clearly, the answer is to drink more." You know. Drunk logic.

[to_the_wolves]

Unless the villain wants control of the party! So far, it doesn't seem like anyone here has an interest in that, so here's to more celebrating. His attire is simply fascinating, but it would be rude to ask about it. "Nice to meet you, Azwel. Can I buy you a drink?"

She hardly doubts he'll say no, already flagging someone down to get another drink for herself. "So, tell me a bit about yourself. Have you been in the Nexus long?"

[lovesuwithknives]

"It'd be rude to refuse such an offer! Thank you!" Well, then. He'll have some more of that moonshine.

Oh, dear, she asked him to talk about himself. The good thing is, in this state he's easily distracted, so maybe she'll come out the other end of this with her ears still attached.

"I have not. I only just arrived in this Nexus through an astral rift--in hindsight something that one should expect when chasing after said phenomenon. I've been hunting them for a while, now, you see, as their energies are instrumental for my research into the Evil Seed and its effects on human beings..."

Oh, dear....

[to_the_wolves]

She's not a big man of moonshine, too strong for her tastes, but something like wine or a fruity alcoholic drink is something she won't pass up. After acquiring another glass of wine, she keeps her eyes on Azwel, listening to his explanation carefully. On a non-drunk day, she'd probably make more sense of it, but tonight, she's nodding along in agreement, only getting bits and pieces of it.

"Portal research. Not a story I usually hear people telling." Evil seed? Whatever. That isn't important. "Are you from Earth or a different realm?"

[lovesuwithknives]

"I am, indeed!" He leans closer with the kind of exaggerated gravitas of the truly plastered. "And I found out... there are many, many Earths! This is a new idea for me, but it is fascinating!"