We're gonna party like it's the end of the world! [Semi-closed]

[excellentviolet]

Who: All of Platinum Phoenix Enterprise (formerly known as Violet Systems) and their choice of guests.
When: December 21, 2012
Where: Platinum Phoenix's humble building in Sector 8, not far from Grant Stadium.
Summary: Lee throws a little thanksgiving party to his staff, allowing them to bring a guest of their choice. Things happen!
Warnings: Drunkenness? Intrigue? Shenanigans? People standing in corners??

((ooc: I've posted this tagged all the current employees I can remember for now. If you feel like I've missed you or if your character is no longer part of the company, just let me know :3 ))

While Violet Systems used to have its company parties in its posh SERO-owned building in Sector 2, the new home for the new company is but a simple office structure on the outskirts of the industrial sector, only two floors high and with a rather old-fashioned look to its fascade.

That doesn't stop Lee Chaolan from throwing a good party, though. It pretty much goes to show how much he won't pass up on throwing a celebration. And besides that, this serves as a kind of holiday party for his team. There's no gift-giving, but there's beer from a neutral microbrewery and champagne from a local neutral vineyard. True to his word, the CEO had gone all-out in his support for newcomer-owned and true neutral businesses. Who said that corporate responsibility ended when work was over?

With all the little details aside, Lee hoped his employees could have a good time and take the opportunity to mingle. This is especially true for his newest additions to the company: Claudio, Jade, and Aoko.

He raises his glass of champagne to the party gathered before him:

"A toast to Platinum Phoenix Enterprises and whatever lies before us!"

And with that, the party begins.

Comments

[theshortestbird]

"Ahiru has good taste," Tim was able to get out, mind racing between Ahiru helped and Crowley didn't say she was a hooker? So that was good? He went for another drink of champagne, trying not to laugh into it.

"Awful. Really awful at this," He laughed, hiding his face with the arm in a cast as he laughed. "I'm sorry. The last time I did this was... I don't know if I remember the last time I did something like this. Asked a girl out and went out with her." Maybe he could remember. He'd never really asked Tam out, though he'd thought about it. Steph, he'd dated, until she died, and even when she came back, it just could never be the same. Which is what he was worried about, though he could put it in the back of his mind for now. Worried about something happening to her. Because of him.

"But I really mean it, even without the awkwardness. You look great, tonight, and I'm really glad you said yes to coming. I was worried you'd be worried, because of who we are and what we do. It's a little weird, I know," He leaned against the wall, becoming co-conspirators with her as he leaned in a little. "Guess we both come to this with a lot of uncertainty."

[worldhaditsway]

"She has good everything," she moved away from the majority of the crowd in an attempt to get to a power private corner where she wouldn't be concerned with some of the more exuberant guests interrupting. "I mean it. I don't think I would have kept it together as long as I have without her."

But that was less important than their spectacular failure at flirting. Now in a slightly more private area, maybe they wouldn't be so flustered... or would be more flustered, but there wouldn't be nearly as many people to point and laugh at them. It worked out either way.

"I haven't so much as looked at another guy sideways since before I... left home." She drummed her fingers on her glass. "So we're in the same boat, I guess." She laughed out loud. "At least it's mutual. It would be super weird if one of us was confident that everything wasn't going to explode and the other was a wreck. This way, we get to pick up each others' pieces when we inevitably fall apart."

[theshortestbird]

"Yeah. She does. I'm really glad to be able to be around her... sort of selfish to say, I guess, but I'm grateful for everyone on the team," But he followed her, glad for the little amount of privacy they could get. Some kind of first date type situation, huh.

"And you've been here for awhile, too. So, pretty long?" Not really a question that she needed to answer, and he didn't expect her to. But he gave a smile. "Relationships can be difficult. It's even more difficult to get the nerve to actually bring it up. So, you're right. This way, we can be mutually awkward, and try to figure out where to go from there."

Another drink, because he'll have to figure out where to go to from there. "So, we can try this... slowly, thing," He paused, and then shuffled his glass to the crook of his arm, so he could hold out his hand. "I'm Tim Drake. I'm the lead developer in Platinum Phoenix Enterprises, and I run an after school group activity." That came with the cheekiest smile ever. "I'm from Gotham, originally, and I have two brothers and an adoptive dad. I like playing tennis, working with computers and inventing things, and pepperoni pizza is my favorite. And one time a fell asleep on a roller coaster."

His little smirk on his face and a tilt of his head said it was her turn, now.

[worldhaditsway]

"Over a year now. It's still weird to think about." She stopped drumming, allowing that to sink in, because while she was absently musing on it being weird, the fact remained that it was weird. And she hadn't left once, while others came and went all the time.

But that's not nearly as weird as the fact that he's talking about relationships and her heart starts beating in her throat and she knows she's gaping like a fish for longer than she should before she snaps herself back together. "Yeah. Go from there."

God, just keep it together. He likes you. Don't screw it up. She shifted her own glass and took his hand, smiling in a manner both confident and cheerful. "Christina Nickson. I'm a waitress in school to be a counselor." She couldn't quite match his cheeky smile, because she ended up blushing and looking down before she could collect herself enough to be cheeky back. "I'm adopted and the man who raised me is a really successful businessman in Manhattan. My bio-dad is Lucifer, my actual mom had a bit of a crisis knowing that my bio-dad was Lucifer, and I have freaky powers that can level an entire city, but I prefer to use them for good these days. I enjoy the beach. I love pasta. And I'm really competitive."

[theshortestbird]

Tim gave a nod. It was the same for him. He'd been here a little over a year now, and while it was beginning to be home, it still wasn't. And the one relationship he'd tried, well. He tried. Sometimes, it just felt like he was trying at everything. Trying to make sense of it all. Trying to be normal. Trying to be whatever he was supposed to be.

He didn't feel like he had to try with her. All they ever did was try. Maybe he could stop trying. But her list of things, her background, it was all difficult for him to keep a straight face with. So he didn't; he wasn't laughing at her. Just laughing at all of this.

"Nice to meet you, Christina Nickson, waitress, student, potential therapist. Well, we have the adopted part, that's the same for both of us, right?" He smiled. "I don't share anything up until the phrase "use them for good these days"." That was definitely a joke. "I love pasta. I also like Asian fusion, going to that little food market near the center, the one that's an old fashioned Chinese market? To be honest, I just love food in general."

What else, what else. Now wasn't the time to bring up big problems, big things that had happened. Couldn't really go into being Robin, since not everyone here knew about that. So it was slightly difficult, figuring things out.

"I'm not really competitive, but I respect those who are. I have a power from the Core, but I don't know what that is, yet. I live with Blaine and Kurt and my cat. He's a flying cat," A laugh. "I named him Alfred. He's pretty cute. I'm Blaine's best man at his wedding, so that's taking a lot of time to get together. I could probably use a haircut. I'm spewing out random facts, when really, I should be listening to your random facts," He smiled. "Or ask you to dance."

[worldhaditsway]

"And it's nice to meet you, Tim. And... I'm a pretty big fan of eating," she laughed, nodding along with him. "I'm starting to think maybe I came on too strong with the Antichrist thing." She bit down on her lip, content to listen to him list thing for a minute. It's only just occurred to her how little she knows- about him, about everyone. Her best friend was a duck and she only just found that out.

"Well, I live with Crowley and his hellhounds. And assorted other pets. Castiel used to live there, but then he got amnesia and moved out, but I'm hoping he'll come back one day. I've always wanted to skydive. I don't mind living here and I think the Darkness, as bad as it is, is a part of the city that one day we'll understand and won't have to fear anymore. And I'd really, really love to dance."

She held out a hand for him to take.

[theshortestbird]

"Oh, I don't think so. If it's a part of who you are, you shouldn't have to hide it. Unless you want to, in which case, you should do what you want," Tim grinned. Tim was used to knowing too much about people. Files upon files of everyone, and it was nice to hear things from someone, rather then make bullet points for each thing.

"I've never been skydiving before," He took her hand gently, leading her out onto the dance floor. The hand covered in plaster went to her hip, the other going into the classic ballroom dancing pose. He knew how to dance. "But I picture it like falling when the grapple doesn't connect, and I don't really like falling." A pause. "But I like your concept of the darkness. Not too many people agree, but I don't think it's something to be afraid of. Something worth studying, but at this point, I just see it as something here. It just... is."

[worldhaditsway]

"I used to, but I'm getting comfortable with it. We're not really the sum of our parents' parts. I'm not Anne's doomed human daughter and Satan's little princess." She rolled her eyes in a slightly self-deprecating way. It was nice to say that, to stop thinking her entire life revolved around being one or the other. She could be both and, more importantly, she could be just Christina.

"And I've never danced with a boy wearing a cast. Slightly less terrifying experience, I guess." She was unable to hide a teasing giggle as they got into position, but considering how long it'd been since that particular light had been in her eyes, some teasing was just necessary to show her good spirits. He knew how to dance. That was a point in his favor. "Everyone's got a little darkness in them. Sometimes it's not as obvious. Like me. I guess that's why I like it. It's home and nothing's felt like home in a long time."

[theshortestbird]

"Absolutely. I think you hit the nail right on the head with that one. We're definitely not the sum of our parents' parts. Even if others like to point that out repeatedly," His face hardened just a little bit, thinking of Damian. The new Robin. He didn't think he'd ever like him. Tolerate him, maybe, but there was always the reminder of how things had gone, and Damian enjoyed reminded him of it almost every day. Tim slid it away into a folder for later emotions, face brightening once more.

"Well, if it helps ease your mind at all, I know how to dance without the cast, too," His face brightened even more at her smile. It was a long time since he'd seen her... he'd seen her happy. But content. A little more at peace. "I've heard a lot of people call this place home. It's not too bad of a place to call home."

Tim grinned. "But I like your darkness," On second though, that came out like an awfully cheesy line. Like something Dick would say. Damnit. His face burned a little. "That came out weird."