sixthiterationlogs | [ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

WHO: Tony Stark
WHERE: South Village Forge
WHEN: January 8th
OPEN TO: Smitherns (Thor, Brigitte, Annie Cresta, Siefer), Plus Ones, Passers by, and Friends! Anyone, really, come on down.
WARNINGS: Language, discussion of canon typical violence probably, drinking?

THE HEARTH

With the bulk of the work and chores done for the day, the heart's banked down to a tolerable level rather than steel meltingly hot, positively cozy. Tables are cleared of metal filings and shavings, the floor is swept, extra chairs and seating or overturned crates serve as places to kick back and enjoy the warmth. A large kettle of tea is kept brewing all night, another of coffee, and a jug of cool water for those thirsty with no real requirement RE flavor. There's a rack for coats and scarves when people don't need to be quite so bundled up, and space cleared enough for milling about, tossing ideas back and forth, or simply relaxing. Arguments happen at The Debate Wall, not by the fire.

THE FOOD

It's an eclectic spread- a pot of stew, some crusty bread, frittatas, a few large, simple cheese pizzas, bottles of wine, and whatever other food the Smitherns or their Plus Ones chose to bring. It's a bit of a potluck, food spread out on one table for perusal, plates waiting and a bin for dirty dishes. Tony will scrub up at the end of the night. By the fire there's a waffle iron and as many toppings as they could find for waffles- jams, zalpaca butter, dried fruit, preserved peaches. Serve yourself or sit and sample!

THE CHILL OUT CORNER

For the more introspective or anyone taking a break from The Debate Wall, there's a comfortable chair tucked in the far corner where the light isn't as bright, the sound not quite so loud- and in this chair sits a young Peacat, a smaller pot for tea, and a few books. Elton's a friendly sort and will chirrup to lean for pets or simply sit on a lap and purr, offering calming, quiet company.

THE DEBATE WALL

Scrubbed clean for the night, the wall opposite Tony's Scrawled projects, equations, rules and definitions- currently marked only with a few notes RE proper charcoal use 'It's for the wall, not your hands, not anyone's clothes', the large space cleared for marking out or drawing out- well. Games, hangman, tic-tac-toe, sketches, or debate points. The only other rule listed is 'If you're going to pick a hill to die on, cite your references'.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Malik... actually laughed at that, because it's all fairly absurd seeming attempts at insulting him.

"It is funny, because you and your associates from home are not the only ones here who were raised as such." He replies blandly, raising an eyebrow. "If I wanted to, as you say, 'get my rocks off' I would have plenty of choices available to do so. Sadly, I am still grieving the loss of my wife so it is very far down on my list of concerns at the moment. I simply enjoy a lively argument as a distraction from such. Altair could have a harem of bedpartners and it would not change such a thing, my love for him has stood through far worse circumstances than these."

Well, at least Nida got that in one. And trust him, he knows Altair could have a harem of bed partners. He'd be in that line if possible.

But for now he's left standing there, staring at Malik.

"There is truly something wrong with you," Nida said after taking a calming breath. No. He will not fight this guy. If only because even if he did win ~~and he isn't foolish enough to assume that he would~~, he knows the guy has killer aim, and he doesn't want something thrown at his head. Concussions can't be easily cured with spells here. "You get a sick sort of pleasure out of this, and really, I don't think it's healthy to spend time around a person like that. I didn't come here to deal with you. I did for my brother. Take your stupid point that wasn't the point in the first place, beat it like a dead chocobo. I don't care."

And to get out of his head about a personal issue. But that's something else.

"Then walk away." Malik said calmly, shrugging.

"You have that choice and still do. I have been called worse than wrong and sick for enjoying a lively if ultimately pointless debate. You did not stoop to those things, and it is respectable."

"What point is there in calling you worse?" Nida asked, unable to help the slightly philosophical answer. "I mean, your insult was insanely creative, and you didn't rise to the whole 'you got replaced' so... Don't know enough about you to manage a suitable insult."

At least he's calmed back down. Sorta. More like keeping the anger better controlled.

"I am from before the invention of television, Nida. We made insults and heated debate with people in to an art form." Malik replies, more amused than anything. "As far as the point... why does anyone insult those with injuries like mine who has not bowed their head and submitted to being told they are inferior by society?"

Yeah, television doesn't really mean much to Nida, so that didn't help all that much with his point. And to turn heated debate and insult into an art form, Nida would have had to, you know, have lasting interactions with people in the past. Which wasn't really a thing.

"There's nothing I, or I expect anyone, could say to your injury that you may not have considered turning on yourself in the past. Or which would not have been used against you. Besides, aiming for something like that only serves to show that you can't come up with something better. Something more personal. Insults are like compliments. Going for the obvious leaves no lasting marks unless the person has been bludgeoned with it so much that they just assume they will receive the comment."

Basic instruction, really. People fluster better when you tailor things a bit more deeply to who they are.

"Calling someone an idiot is the most basic thing one can do." Malik sighed, shaking his head. "Even if something does not work it still gives you information, how someone retaliates to something, no matter how they do it, gives you more than you had before. It is like any sort of a fight, only there is generally less bloodshed involved and it is allowed in far more places than weapons."

"And you're clearly not an idiot, and therefore it wasn't an option. Neither of us would have bought it, and without conviction and insult is little more than a blunted sword."

What is even happening? Even Nida doesn't know. Here he is, debating insulting someone. Clearly his mood is just unpredictable today. Maybe he needs to go find a nice peakitten, sit down, and forget his problems that way.

[ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

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