Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-26130256-20151030063516/@comment-26130256-20151109020348

(TFW you realize you need to reply to basically the entire thread...)

"No, Penina," Azzie shrugged, a little irked that she accused him of cheating. "According to ettiquette, whoever invited us all to this little shindig is the one footing the bill. No clue who that is, but it means we can splurge on the good booze.  If this meeting is what I think it is, I'm going straight for the--GACK!" The magician turned his head in a panic, then relaxed as he recognized Stahlfritz and Estellia. Since he had never fought with Penina before, this meant he had two and a half people he knew he could trust in this fool's venture.

"You got no idea how glad I am to see you guys," he smiled, returning the fist bump. "And don't give me too much credit, Stell.  It was one date that I successfully managed to not screw up.  Don't start picking out wedding presents just yet.  Unless you find a decent hip flask, I may need one when this Charlie Foxtrot is over with." No sooner had Azulius greeted his Eliminator friends than Nocte appeared to make his introduction.

"I'm just here, ace.  Brine's the one who's hosting this party.  But are you Nocte Sitis?  The same one from that TanookiCorp theft?  I've read the reports, and that was artful.  Glad to have ya here."

The conversations paused for a brief moment as the small crowd made its way to the private room Brine had reserved. As every one situated themselves, the magician was hard-pressed to take his eyes off of Violet and her suit-covered frame. Then she brought the glasses out, and his heartrate soon resembled Roaring Moxie's rate of fire. Confused, he touched his nose and felt blood. Azzie had met plenty of beautiful women over his years, but never before had one inspired him to bleed from his nose. Then, to his eternal frustration, she kissed a passing waitress, and the sad truth was revealed.

Such a pity," he mused, acting as detached as he could as he spun and twirled a playing card between his fingers.  "I've been told I'm pretty good with my hands."

Anyone who knew what to look for could actually hear Azulius's dreams dying. The noise was something like the whimpering of a puppy, but duplicated on an electric guitar, and that noise was then duplicated on a kazoo. Well, if she doesn't actually stab me like Fuschia did, I'm at least doing better than last time.  Closing his eyes, he grabbed at the scar on his chest with one hand, trying to block out the flood of memories from the first time he had been in a relationship with a woman, and how poorly that ended up. He stayed in that position until the waitress tapped him on the shoulder to ask him about his drink order.

"Oh, sorry.  Give me a draft of Bismarck, depth charged with a double of bourbon.  And depth charge the bourbon with half a shot of absinthe.  Preferrably not Dread Pirate, but if that's all you have, do it anyways." Once Amilianthor, Ravelyn, and Kaili, whom Azzie recognized as a fellow worker of mischief, had entered and sat down, he loudly shuffled his cards to get some silence.

"Well, folks, it seems like its time for introductions.  Since Kaili and Ravelyn started us off, my name is Azulius Cardoso, of Team SALT.  Beacon first year.  My friends call me Azzie, and what my enemies call me ain't exactly fit for repeating in mixed company.  Since I got here first, I found this note," he gestured to a piece of paper speared on the centerpiece, which he grabbed and read.

To my dear benefactors,

''Glad to see you all made it today. I have quite a bit of information to tell you, so I figured I'd get on all of your good sides with a free meal. Try not to go overboard on the alcohol, because I need you all sharp for this briefing. Well, sharp-ish. Enjoy the food, and I'll be in touch when it's time. Your partner in crimes, Brine.''