note for Sahaal

[i_am_your_host]

The next time Sahaal comes by the Bar, he will receive four bottles of strong German beer and a note written in neat, angular handwriting that reads:

Sahaal,

Please accept this small token of thanks for lending me the use of the hangar. I think the party was a success, if I do say so myself!

All the best to you in this new year,

MC

While the waitrats and Oompa Loompas have restored the hangar to its former condition, there may still be glitter confetti stuck in the corners...


[OOC: Millitimed to a few days after New Year's. Forgot to post this around then.]

Comments

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Oh, there very much is confetti in the corners. Thankfully, that's about the limit of the clean-up that Sahaal's had to do. Well, except for the nacho chips in the vents, but he's not even going to ask about those.

That's why there's patches on his shirt that glitter in the light as he comes up from the garage and finds the beer. He plucks the note off the bottles, and smiles as he reads it.

Then he folds it up, tucks it into his pocket, and goes to see if Emcee is in the Bar. Even with his rudimentary social skills, he knows that there's a few things you need to say thank you for in person.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee just happens to be curled up under a blanket on a couch by the fireplace. He's scrolling through the photos and videos he took with the smartphone Jay had given him, occasionally smiling and chuckling at them.

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Sahaal walks over to the fireplace, the beer in hand.

"Evening. Thanks for these, they're much appreciated. And, thank you for not wrecking the place."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee looks up at Sahaal with a smile and a bright laugh.

"Oh, you're welcome! I hope you enjoy it, it's one of the best brews from my country. And you must be confusing me with some other master of ceremonies, whose celebrations leaves destruction in their wake." He grins, his cheeks dimpling.

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

"I certainly will, don't you worry about that." Emcee has no idea about how much Sahaal loves the liquor selection in Milliways.

"No, it's just that I've seen enough celebrations to know of the usual aftermath. Your minimising of destruction is admirable." He pauses. "Do you mind if I sit?"

[i_am_your_host]

"I can't say I'm a proponent of property damage in the name of a good time," he chuckles. "A few spilled drinks and confetti everywhere are usually the extent of my messes."

He gestures at the rest of the couch and nods. "Please do. Were you there?" he then asks with a tilt of his head. "I oversaw most of the evening, but I'm sure I missed several guests. As much as I enjoy seeing who comes and goes, I can't catch everyone."

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

He sighs. "No, sorry. Something came up back home, with an old friend. I heard from several reliable sources that it was a very good party, though."

[i_am_your_host]

"Ohh, that's too bad," he says, disappointed but understanding. "I hope everything is all right now, whatever you had to take care of." From what he understands, Sahaal only ever goes back home if it's very important.

He then holds up his smartphone. "I took photos and filmed some memorable moments, if you'd like to see?"

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Emcee understands correctly. "It's all fine, now. Thank you."

He brightens up then. "Yes, definitely. I'd love to see what everyone got up to."

[i_am_your_host]

"I'm glad to hear that," he says with a nod, and then shifts a little closer so that Sahaal can see the screen of his phone as he scrolls through the gallery. "Ah, it was a grand time. There was lots of dancing and singing! In fact I'm particularly pleased at how many people jumped at the chance to perform a song."

Emcee flips through several cheerful selfies with people Sahaal may or may not recognize, such as Jay, Sinric, Eric Northman, Father Harman, Bonnie, and others. He plays a short video clip from a few moments after midnight, as the silver confetti snows down on the crowd. Other clips feature people singing at the karaoke machine, like a tattooed fellow with a beer in his hand (Emcee didn't get to talk to Cassidy but he was definitely aware of his enthusiastic presence), or playing the piano, like Guppy's children. Also, there's a large robot performing a Daft Punk song with Jay's drones. That's...definitely a highlight.

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Sahaal watches as the pictures flick past, a smile growing on his face. He doesn't recognise most of the faces, but there's a few familiar ones. Bonnie. Cassidy.

"Well, I'm glad you could use that old hanger for something good. It seems like everyone had a great time. Just be glad no one convinced me to sing anything."

That would not have been pretty.

[i_am_your_host]

"Why, is there no tune that you can carry?" Emcee chuckles. "I'm sure all you would have needed was a few strong drinks to convince yourself to pick up the microphone."

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

"Firstly," Sahaal says, "it would take more than a few strong drinks to get me intoxicated, and even more to get me to start singing. Then, there's the problem of my voice. I'm reliably informed that I sound like the cries of the damned."

There's also the fact that he only knows Great Crusade-era marches and 20th century rock music, but he's not digging himself deeper.

[i_am_your_host]

"Oh, come now," he snickers, lightly swatting him on the arm, "I highly doubt that anyone could sound as dramatically awful as that unless they truly were attempting to channel tortured spirits. And one doesn't necessarily need to aim for intoxication--more like...relaxation, and feeling comfortable where you are and who you're with. But of course, it's different for everyone."

[exiled_heir_of_the_eighth]

Sahaal shakes his head. "You would unpleasantly surprised. I wish I had a good reason for it, but I'm just naturally bad."

He shrugs. "True. You're right, it's more about recreation. I don't really know what happens at parties, I always assumed that the intoxication was the recreation."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee sighs. "Well, I suppose I could make an exception for the naturally bad," he says wryly, still not entirely convinced, but letting him insist so.

"Intoxication can be the recreation, or just part of the recreation. Not everyone was drunk at the party, but they still had a good time. Mostly I just wanted to create a space where everyone was free to lower their inhibitions, however much they wanted, so that dancing with strangers or singing in front of a group of people comes with no fear or judgement."

[imthepilot]

When Emcee next orders a meal, he'll find one waiting for him from Bodhi - a creamy poultry soup with a spicy after-taste and plate of vegetable filled dumplings.

The meal comes with note -

Thank you for a wonderful night.
Bodhi and Galen.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee is surprised to find this delectable meal waiting for him. He savors every spoonful and dumpling, before writing a reply note:

Bodhi & Galen,

Thank you kindly for the delicious dinner! And thank you for coming to the party.

A prosperous new year to you both,

MC