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Crippling self-doubt was, really, an unfamiliar state for Ilmenite -- both in and out of uniform, he usually didn't have enough pride to worry about it getting crushed. Tonight, however, he found himself more than a bit uncomfortable.

His package for Tanzanite settled on the floor [it shifted a little in place, rocked back and forth and then settled, the bow flopping as it did] and another tucked in under his arm, the General found himself clinging to the edges of the crowd, dark eyes frantically searching for the reassuring flash of blue braided hair, an island in a storm, before he could relax. Even then, though, Ilmenite was quieter than usual, the brim of his hat pulled down over his eyes and hands awkwardly shoved into his pockets.

It had been a while since the promotion, since the drinking and uncertainty and finally the uncomfortable acceptance, and only two people beside his General-King had any idea. After going Captain, he'd been quick to appear in houses, on doorsteps, to wink at friends and to show off the new uniform. This one was even better, suited him more than he could have imagined, even down to the click of chain and lock around his hip -- and yet. He still hesitated. He still flicked nervous looks around the place like he didn't know what to do with himself.

Ilmenite had been closing himself off, and he only now realized, as he crept into the crowd with less swagger and certainty than usual, trying to decide if he should slide up beside Zink or let some space grow between them. He searched desperately in the crowd for another familiar face.

Catching the bus as often as he did was a sure way to catch any number of the airborn illnesses that cropped up this time of year. Well, merry ********' Christmas everyone. Bismuthite was happy to share his cold. And as a side note, teleporting while doped up on cold medicine was interesting.

And would probably be more interesting with alcohol.

He shook the thought off and went back to watching the on-goings while propped against a wall. He'd placed his gift for...whoever..where it was meant to go when he'd arrived. He honestly couldn't claim to know much about the others here, and quite frankly, he didn't ask around. So, his gift was a practical one. Something just about anyone could need. He figured that was safest anyway.

She was already on her second drink before someone paid her any mind- which was really quite alright with Titanite. "I have not formally met much of anyone." Was her speech slightly slurred? Not at all! If there was one thing Titanite could be proud of, it was that she would pass out from alcohol poisoning looking as sober as she had when... Well hell, when was the last time she'd been completely sober?

"A pleasure." She eyed the redhead appreciatively, admiring the (lack of) uniform before holding out the hand not clutching a drink. "Titanite." General Sassolite, huh? Well there we go. Someone I could definitely follow into battle. "How are you enjoying the party so far?"

She gestured, careful not to slosh the red liquid in her 'spare' hand.

It really was a shindig. Wasn't that what she'd been told it was? Shindig, noun. A party! Yep- this qualified as a shindig.

With Zinkenite's praise, Zircon's face visibly brightened, and though she tried to contain herself, she couldn't help but sport the smallest of smiles from the inside of her egg nog cup. "Thank you, sir," she nodded with a sip of her drink. "We've both been busy, but it's been mutually beneficial. After all, that's what these sorts of things are for, right?"

And just like that, Zircon's mood seemed to turn festive again, if in her own private way.

With other people lining up to greet Zinkenite, she bowed her head in a pleased goodbye, glancing out amongst the crowd of officers. It just so happened that a familiar pink and yellow caught her eye, and with her mood temporarily buffed by Zinkenite's compliments she found herself wandering over to General Serandite.

"Good to see you've returned, General," she said with an uncanny warmth to her voice, raising her glass in acknowledgement. "I assume your mission went well?" Her eyes travelled up, and then up some more, and then hesitantly she raised her glass to Ilmenite as well. "Greetings, General." After their meeting in the library, Zircon couldn't be sure how they stood, but he was a higher officer and would always be seen as such to her.

Uranophane's eyes idly followed Zircon as she left the group, somewhat disappointed at the loss of an comrade-in-arms of Christmas Sneer, and became all the more disappointed when the Lieutenant's path led her to none other than ******** ********>. Her demeanor soured more than her half-finished eggnog would have in a couple of years at the sight -- there he was, being a watchful wallflower, as if it were his own special duty to do recon at a party. Bah, humbug.

"Take a look at that," she muttered at Hematite, elbowing and pointing while their superior took a break from his wall-leaning to chat up Zircon and Wolframite. "Must be waiting for someone to disapprove of the decor." Their proximity to Howlite seemed to be no issue to her when it came to snide remarks about the leadership.

"Oh, ********," Hematite observed with a bit of a slur. Zinkenite. He looked to the now considerably inebriated and shade-wearing Hematite like a human-shaped piece of unfinished business. He took another drink of something - wine? Eggnog? He had stopped paying attention to what the youma brought a couple of rounds ago. Whatever it lacked in alcohol content could be made up for by just drinking as much as possible, pretty much nonstop. There were, of course, some... side effects. "Only 'cause I don't think he saw us yet."

"HEY!" There was quite a list of things Hematite was not good at, but shouting was, unfortunately for Zinkenite, not on it. "GENERAL-KING! ZINKENITE! HEY!"

Briefly he exchanged looks with Uranophane, giving her a suicidal grin before returning his attention to Zinkenite. This... was for what had happened to all of them in the traitors' chamber.

"WHY'S A GUY LIKE YOU HIDING IN THE BACK? THIS IS A NEGAVERSE PARTY, GENERAL-KING! EVEN YOU'RE UNDER ORDERS TO HAVE FUN!" He laughed, raising his half-empty glass, but there was a hint of bitterness to it. "OR DID ANOTHER GENERAL-QUEEN TELL YOU TO STAND THERE AND DO NOTHING AGAIN?"

If there was a problem between Ilmenite and Zircon, he was entirely unaware. Adjusting the wrapped package under his arm, he didn't reach out to shake her hand but instead flicked two fingers in a little wave. This was good. Add a long gulp of eggnog and he could relax more fully, offering the ladies a little smile.

"I, uh, wasn't quite sure what to expect from a party around here. Was thinking a little less booze and a little more, I don't know, boot camp." He cleared his throat and started to add something else onto that -- but Hematite chimed in. The shout of Zinkenite brought his eyes up, locking on Zink immediately, and the good-natured flash of smile fading out almost immediately. He wasn't amused by those antics.

Whatever else he'd been about to say died on his tongue, too thoroughly distracted.

One might have expected Uranophane to be surprised, or at least aggravated, but Hematite's sudden display of verbal aggression did not even make her bat an eye. Instead she rested her elbow down on an empty spot of the snack table, polished off the rest of her drink, and fixed a soupy, but smoldering glare on Zinkenite that broadcast the fact she was thinking every single word Hematite had just said.

"Hey. Nutmeg," she snapped her fingers, "another round over here. And mix up something special for our esteemed General-King."

Nithammeg tried to correct the officers on his name for the thirteenth time, but it fell on deaf and uncaring ears.

Apatite's shrill voice caught her attention before she could make any further smartassed remarks, fortunately, and it was with a somewhat begrudging air (when was she not begrudging) that she stepped in line. It would be a moment or so before she retrieved her own gift, but the monstrosities she saw some officers already unwrapping meant she had some expectations of what was to come.