AFTERPARTY III: Never Have I Ever Been Quite This Drunk

[mirrite]

[There's absolutely nothing celebratory about this drinking party. "Party" isn't even the right word, not really-- it's more like a "drink until you forget and/or black out" session for anyone who wants to participate, and even the bartender isn't immune from that much. Please forgive him if your drink isn't mixed quite right; he's trying his best under the circumstances.

There's food, too, if anyone wants to attempt to stave off a hangover tomorrow, or just get something in their stomach after the events of the day: stirfry from Makoto, vegetable soup from Nageki (mediocre, but hey, a genuine effort was made and that's what counts), and some tea for those who would rather abstain from the harder stuff. (Is that even many people tonight? Probably not.)

Come on by the bar if you're hungry or want a drink, or even if you just don't want to be alone right now. That much, at least, is something that can be guaranteed tonight.]

Comments

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto is his comrade in that, though the smell clinging to Makoto is perhaps fainter since he hasn't been chain smoking like William probably has. The lack of coffee grounds and the smell of the kitchen floor is evidence enough that he also changed clothes, though that was probably a while ago at this point. ]

Really? I pictured you as a connoisseur somehow.

[ A pause. ]

I'm sorry, by the way.

[mathodical]

[ the chain smoking can and should only be a one off thing, HOPEFULLY-- the occasional cigarette is fine, but any more than that would probably pollute the lungs. ]

I don't have to be the picky one when my brother is particularly obsessive about what wines he keeps in stock. Knowing what he keeps in stock makes it easy to pretend to be a connoisseur.

[ he sounds faintly amused, but he's going to use makoto's pause to, you know, time it such that he takes a sip from his glass. ]

What about?

[edamamepon]

Think you can tell which one is better?

[ Makoto gestures to the bottle, to be clear. Really, he isn't much of a wine drinker. But if Hamelin likes it, then he might as well start making stock of the best he can and figuring it out. Desire week certainly didn't help Makoto on the smoking (or drinking) front, though with the nature of this place it may only get marginally better in the future. ]

It was so close even though I knew it wasn't you.

[ That's Makoto's cue to take another drink. He's unsure if he really managed to do enough at the trial. He'd swayed Tenn, he's sure, but it's hard to say who else. ]

[mathodical]

If they're vintage bottles, probably. Anything beyond... 1875, I'm afraid that would be where my knowledge ends. It's all trial and error from that point.

[ a wry smile follows. when the margin had been that small, when it had only been down to two people who had made the difference--

maybe to makoto, it doesn't seem like it's a lot, but it could have made the difference between who's sitting here talking with makoto right now. ]

... If anything, I should be thanking you for your faith in me.

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto sighs, tilting his head at the bottles to try and unlock their secrets.

He blinks, wouldn't really call it faith. A part of him may unknowingly find William interesting, but his gravitation is wrapped up in the logic of keeping the smart ones closer. He waves a hand dismissively. ]

It didn't makes sense for it to be you. Though now I guess to frame you, all someone needs to do is leave even less evidence. [ Or maybe this is the time for William to murder if he's going to. The Yor Effect of guilt might prevail when the seemingly inevitable next trial comes around.

He's not giving him any ideas, though. ]

The point is, we still need to get better at this. [ It feels like his idea failed, though he will never phrase it that way if he can help it. Makoto tries for polite, but determined, when he looks back over to him. ] How much do you think you can teach me?

[mathodical]

[ the bottles, at the very least, hold fewer secrets than they're keeping to their chests, that's for sure.

also, now my plan to do a murder this week has been foiled. curses. ]

I did apparently pioneer the idea of the perfect crime, if some people are to be believed. I wouldn't leave it down to just the evidence, really.

[ he's maybe a little grudgingly impressed by lucifer's attempts at framing him for murder. maybe.

another pause, another sip of his wine, and there's a certain unreadable expression that crosses william's features for a split second when makoto asks him that question. ]

... That would depend on what you want to know.

[edamamepon]

[ Makoto watches, foregoing the pretense of pretending he isn't paying attention through the hazy warmth of alcohol. ]

You're used to crime scenes, murder. And you know how to handle a sword. That's probably more useful here than me knowing my way around a cup of coffee, don't you think?