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[Steph has been to some of the nicer clubs on Leith, thanks to Rhys inviting her along to various outings as his pilot-slash-friend, but nothing could have prepared her for this, and she's incredibly glad that Rhys decided to treat her to a) hair styling a b) a mani-pedi because she feels out of place enough as it is. Her dress is a knock-off, but it looks almost Qreshi, and with Rhys in Kendry colors they'd figured that no one would question it.

So far no one has, but she's gotten a few slightly judgmental looks from some of the other party-goers and had slunk a little closer to Rhys in response, as if his aura of royalty could protect her. Mostly, though, she's trying not to give a shit about what anyone else thinks, which normally comes easy to her, it's just that she's completely out of her element.

But there's expensive hokk and free food (ridiculously good food, but in tiny servings and weird combinations; she's pretty sure she ate something that was made entirely of foam and bubbles), and really, she's enjoying herself.]

Quick question, what the hell is that?

[She's pointing to a glass cloche filled with green smoke; it's probably some kind of fancy alcoholic vapor because like, what the fuck rich people?]

[ That's...probably not far off from the truth, honestly. ]

What, you've never had vape-cake? [ It's not actually cake. It's just what Rhys calls it, mostly because he can. He's also never tried it himself either but he wants to seem Capable and Confident in a situation he's finally suited and adapted for. He may be the odd one of his family out, but he's been raised with pretentious assholes since birth. These are his people.

Which means he knows how to play the "smile but actually I wish you were dead" party game, which he does with stunning fashion and finesse as he stays at Steph's side. Ass he may be, but he isn't about to ditch her when she's his...uhh. Friend--his friend, for the evening. Company? Company friend.

That. ]

[boi]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and tell you that I've likely never tried any of the food here.

[It seems a pretty safe bet to make, considering Heston Blumenthal would be jealous of the fare that Qreshi royalty can serve when they're partying hard.

But seriously:]

Is it like, cake flavored mist?

What?? No, why would you think that? [ Because you called it cake, loser. ]

It's--you inhale it and it relaxes you. Kind of like a blueberry-scented sedative? Only it lasts for like, twelve hours. Great for exam period.

You called it cake!

[It seemed like a reasonable guess to make based on the information she had at hand, and honestly, it sounds like the better option.]

But I'm gonna pass on that one. [yikes!] What's the nicest thing here? That isn't drugs.

[The clarification seems important.]

[ Honestly what doesn't have drugs in at this partyyyno I kid. Qreshi like their recreation, but it's not like the place is filled with them. Rhys inclines his head to one of the servers at the party and nods. ]

Well, depends on what you're into. That guy there has some eel-egg pâté with champagne sourdough. That's pretty good?

[That sounds kind of horrible, but she's trying to be Adventurous and also to trust Rhys a little, so she's gonna roll with it.

Which means hooking her arm around his and dragging him towards the eel-egg pâté jesus christ.]

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?

[She grins with the question, figuring it's going to be an interesting answer.]

Pureed Andromeda squid brains served on Sannakji.

[ Rhys smirks proudly. Because: ]

Vomited that everywhere. Allll over my uncle's suit.

[ In case you're wondering what Sannakji is, it's raw octopodes. ]

Edited 2017-02-08 12:37 (UTC)

No...

[It's a statement of both disbelief and denial, like she not only can't believe it, but would refuse to even if she could.

But also she's trying not to laugh.]

I don't blame you for hurling, who comes up with this stuff? Are you guys really that bored?

Beats me. Apparently it was "fine dining." [ He shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head, obviously pleased with her reaction. It's much the same one he had he was first told to try it, and there's something nice and bittersweet about that. ]

Grosses thing I've ever eaten, hands-down.

The pâté actually is...good though. The bread too. [ See watch, he'll even wave the guy over to take up one for himself and one for Steph, holding it out for her like the total gentleman he is. ]

I take back what I said about going to a 12 course meal.

[It seems like a terrible idea now, if that's the sort of food they serve, although she's enjoyed everything so far. Maybe just for the novelty, but she figures that counts.

She also appreciates him being a gentleman, giving him a haughty little smirk as she accepts the offered pâté & bread and then totally waits for him to eat first since she isn't sure of the correct protocol for eating fancy bread.]

What, puking up your dinner doesn't sound like a night of fun to you? [ The correct protocol is definitely, 100% clinking it together with hers like they're fine dining glasses filled with wine.

Followed by a lifted brow and an expression filled with amusement because yes, he's dorking around. Steph looks like she could use some of that. ]

[She's so glad that the waiter is probably well trained enough to not even raise an eyebrow at two dumbasses clinking pieces of bread together.]

Not a big fan of puking, in all honesty. Does that make me weird?

[There's a fuzzy memory there, rushing to the bathroom in early morning light, but she isn't sure if she wants to deal with that now.

So she's just going to take an actual bite of the bread, trying to copy the delicate way she's seen the other ladies eating.]

You might be in the minority. [ He's joking of course, but he doesn't mind because Steph's finally starting to look less edgy beneath the seams, and that's the point of all this in the first place: a night out to have fun. They've pampered and primped and now they get to enjoy themselves.

Starting with cheesy hors d'oeuvres clinking. ]

[People from Qresh are so weird, but she has to admit, they do know their food when they aren't trying to get too crazy with it. She looks kinda impressed by the time she's finished her mouthful.]

Not sure what I was expecting, but that's pretty good. I should probably start trusting you on these things, huh?

[Not that he's steered her wrong so far, so you know.]

[ What can he say? He's not a great person, but...he's a pretty okay friend. And in this instance he really does want her to let loose and have a good time. Even if it is with a bunch of stuck-up Qreshi. ]

Uhh, yeah? I do know a thing or two about stuck-up parties. It's the rich person equivalent of learning to ride a bike, which I...incidentally cannot do. B-but that's not the point. [ Rhys shakes his head and recovers flawlessly. ]

You're in for the night of your life Miss Brown.

[There's a whole lot to unpack there.]

Two things. [She's gonna hold up a finger with each point in case Rhys can't count to two.] One, I'm teaching you to a ride a bike. Two, should I ask what I have to look forward to or just roll with it?

W, wa-wait, ride a bike?? Why's th, hah, I don't need to learn that, I mean...who even rides bikes nowadays? [ Rhys focuses in on the most important of those two points, clearly. Because he is not coordinated enough for that and also it's gonna be like that one time Kramer and Niles learned to ride bikes on Fasier. ]

[That reaction alone is enough to make her want to do it, regardless of whether she thinks it would be hilarious or not, but look, she can be a little bit nice.]

What about a motorbike? People definitely still ride those.

[Something tells her she knows how, even if she can't remember ever learning, even if it isn't on her file.]

A motorbike...? [ That...seems marginally doable, actually? He's probably not completely coordinated enough for it but if Vaughn can ride one in a death rally so can he right???? That's how that works? ]

I...guess. I mean, maybe? Those go a lot faster than a bike though.

That's why they're fun, Rhys.

[God knows where she's going to get two bikes, although, well, Rhys could probably just buy them,]

I promise it's not that hard, I'm a good teacher.

[She has no innate sense of whether or not that's true, so they'll just have to find out.]

[ Rhys could probably buy his own chain of them tbh... ]

Really. You, a teacher. [ Rhys can't see it.

Not that Steph isn't amazing at her job in basically five million other ways that Rhys actually looks up to her in, but he just can't picture her imparting knowledge to someone like him for some reason. That seems...mature. And they're not most days. ]

[Speaking of mature, her oh-so-reasonable response to that comment is to give him a gentle little shove.]

Why is that so hard to believe?

[So rude!!]

[ It's okay, it only totally endears him to her and gives him a doofy, but confident smile. He doesn't shove back because he is a Refined Qreshi Royal but he will lift an eyebrow like a total dork. ]

Well I'm not saying you can't or that you're not qualified or anything but...I mean, come on. Look at you. You look more like the gunslinging engineer-type than the "sit down class, open your screens to history 23-C." Hehe, you know?

[ Because we're all raised with holoscreens and fancy elite schools ]

[The problem with Rhys is that he seems to have some horrible affliction where he gives her perfect set ups without actually realizing. The not-realizing part is what makes it extra fun.

Steph grins up at him, all cat-that-got-the-canary.]

Maybe I prefer a little hands on teaching.

[Aim: get him to either blush or trip over his own words.]

party hard

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