crystals. on the topic of body shots but also board games.

[eviscerates]

FORM: crystal
SENDER: Ruby Lucas
RECIPIENT: everyone with a crystal
WHAT: The Important Questions. (About booze.)
WHEN: NOW.
WHERE: a crystal near you (but Ruby's in Halamshiral.)
NOTES: threadjacking encouraged! we're all terrible people, who knows what might happen

Hey, Inquisition. So I had an important philosophical question, but I figure important philosophical questions are kinda lame, so: who here is familiar with body shots?

Back home there's this... I think "tradition" is giving it a little too much credit. There's uh, this... ritual you can enjoy in the World Without Magic, where you lick some salt, take a shot, and then suck on some lime, or a lemon, many. Or you can enjoy the ritual by licking salt off someone's skin, taking the shot, and you grab the lime wedge from between their teeth. Usually you'd use tequila, some people are down with vodka, but I'm still working on finding out what a good Thedas substitute would be.

Anyway, I guess I was curious about whether body shots were one of those things that translated across worlds, because I know we sure as hell didn't have them back in the Enchanted Forest. I was also curious about whether your world - Thedas or others, for my fellow Rifters - had any fun drinking games to get into. Drinking rituals, drinking games, whatever.

And as a side note, I am also officially starting Scrabble club, at which I don't think there will be any kind of body shots, but we may have wine. I finally managed to figure out an approximate Scrabble boardish so if you like words and are anywhere from mildly to very competitive then you should totally join.

Comments

Crystal

[sunshinethroughgrey]

[Well this is the strangest sort of ritual Bethany's ever heard of. And it's not magical?]

All right ... so I've never heard of 'tequila' or 'vodka', but the Wardens sometimes make their own liquors - stuff we've brewed on the trail, that sort of thing. Potent stuff so you wouldn't want to drink more than a few tablespoons of it. Is that ... something like that?

Also, ah, when you say off their body, do you mean their hands? Seems a bit odd, licking someone's hand.

[eviscerates]

Kinda sorta? Vodka and tequila are made with some pretty specific stuff, but they're pretty strong. Not exactly something you sip daintily.

( And then she huffs out a laugh. )

No, not their hand, necessarily. It's kind of a flirting thing, or a... foreplay thing, honestly. Getting close and intimate, that kind of thing, in a slightly more wild and fun way than say... having a picnic in a field of wildflowers, or something. So you might lick someone's chest or their neck, for example.

( All said extremely easily, before Ruby takes a moment to sip some wine. ) Doesn't have to be sexual at all, but it's part of the fun.

[fledglingenchanter]

Ritual? That sounds like something a desire demon would encourage. [ Can take the mage out of the circle... ] Why would you-- wait. No. I think I know why. I'm sorry to say I don't know any drinking games quite like that. Most of the time if I was trying to get drunk, it was done as quietly as possible with very few people present.

[eviscerates]

I may have, uh, made it sound a little more dramatic than need me. There's no magic or demons involved, I promise. ( But probably it would be encouraged by a desire demon, yes. She doesn't say that. )

Ah. Do you prefer the quiet contemplation? ( Playfully said, and she is deliberately neglecting to ask or the solitary moping? because... no. )

[wontforgetyou]

What's the point of having a club for scrabbling for something? Would you not just go and do it if you need to?

[Because clearly this is the important thing here, not anything about body shots that he doesn't really know anything about. Not that he actually knows what Scrabble is either, but that's probably obvious given he's gone for another definition of the word.]

Although I'm not so sure you'd really need to do that all that often anyway, unless you were trying to avoid falling off a cliff.

[eviscerates]

( Oh, Jamie. Ruby grins, and it's in her voice even if it can't be seen. )

Well, absolutely. This is a slightly different type of scrabbling. It's this game where you have a bag of tiles with different letters on them, and then you shake it up and pull out randomised tiles, and you try to spell out different words for points. It's pretty great. No cliffs involved, unless it's like... extreme scrabble.

[easternseaqueen]

I've heard them called by other names, but I have absolutely done this. I'm told I make Rivaini rum taste even better.

As for drinking games, I know my share of those as well.

[eviscerates]

( Oh, Isabela. )

You should get that put on a sash or something. You could wear the words proudly.

And I bet you do. Any favourites?

[degenere]

If I tell you that I have never heard of this ritual of body shots--do I get to practice it with you, mademoiselle?

If it helps, I am an excellent student. Very, very studious. Very attentive.

[eviscerates]

Considering all the snow I got down my shirt because of you, monsieur, I politely decline.

( She says it with all friendly melodrama, promise. ) However, maybe we can do some body shot drinking tutorials. I'll draw diagrams and my students can all practice together.

( Ruby that's a horrible idea. But... at least she knows it's a terrible idea. )

[el_tybs]

I'm not sure what I should ask first.

Why do you have salt and lime with a drink? You lick the items off someone's body? What is tequila and vodka?

[Sorry Ruby he's going to be asking a lot of questions. He's been introduced to eating food items off someone but this something else.]

I have no idea what scrabble is.

[eviscerates]

For the flavour. And the fun, to be honest. You don't need to lick it off someone else, either, you can put the salt on your own arm and do it that way, but doing it off someone else can be kind of... I think it's a step beyond flirtatious, potentially, but you get the idea. And tequila is an alcoholic beverage made from the blue agave plant, and vodka is one made from potato. They both kinda burn, but in a good way.

( Phew, okay, and she laughs. ) I probably should have explained a little more when I broadcast this thing. It's a game.

[motherfucking_ghost]

What happened to just pouring a shot down someone's body and licking it up from there? That's obviously the only real way to do a body shot. Amateur hour up in here.

[eviscerates]

Oh my God I was breaking them in gently.

( such faux scandalisation, many tease, wow. )

[circleprodigy]

I can't speak on the issue of 'body shots', except to say that such rituals are not the sort I learned in the Circle tower. The Grey Wardens were similarly lacking, at least in my experience.

As for Scrabble, can you elaborate? It sounds intriguing, but I have never of this game.

[eviscerates]

I think... I may have made a critical word choice error with "ritual." It's more like a way of drinking that's very whimsical.

And I can, for sure. You basically have a bunch of tiles with different letters on them, and each player pulls seven at random from a bag. Then you take turns and try to write different words on the board, but they have to branch off other people's words. Different spaces on the board win you different points. It can get very intense.

[justice_is_blond]

Adding salt to their skin first? Or just the natural salt? I've listened to the others talking so I think I've got the rest.

And I'd be interested in word games.

[eviscerates]

Add it, usually. Oh, you can do it with sugar, too. Depends what you're taking shots of, I think.

Oh, that's good to hear. Unfortunately cat related words aren't allowed.

( c: c: c: she's the worst friend ban her )

[universal_charm]

I will be very surprised if anyone has heard of a 'shot' here. I think their only drink sizes are "pint" and "drinking all of this might kill you".

My world has plenty of drinking games though. Practically a right of passage for every college kid - King's Cup, Waterfall, Never Have I Ever, Beer Pong, Spin the Bottle... the list goes on.

Also, I would like in on Scrabble if there's room.

[eviscerates]

Arguably "drinking all of this might kill you" is exactly the kind of drink they should be using for shots. We can make it happen.

( And then a sound of quiet horror, a gasp that's almost lost to laughter. ) No, oh my God. These people deserve so much better than King's Cup. Everybody deserves so much better than King's Cup.

( Trying to sound very serious despite being very amused: ) If you promise not to introduce King's Cup to Thedas, you're in.

[samahl]

We might want to make this a tradition if humans don't already have it.

[eviscerates]

So far, so good. At least, it doesn't seem widely known enough that it's a real tradition. I think we can claim it for Thedas as of today, Cyril.

[youwonscience]

I don't know, body shots are pretty traditional in some cultures.

Also, you can make vodka out of anything, I'm shocked they haven't worked that out in Thedas yet.

[She must be feeling better.]

[eviscerates]

I'm not going crazy, potatoes are totally what it's made out of, right?

( And, a musing hum. ) By the way, I don't even want to talk about I would do for skittles vodka right now. You have no idea. It's the weirdest craving.

( Curse Ruby knew how to party like it was 1983, let me tell you. ) Is the culture it's traditional in San Franciscan, or?

( Ruby is feeling obnoxious, apparently. )

[unsullies]

[ "Body shots?" Dany blinks, politely curious, and listens to the description with a measured expression. It certainly isn't anything the Dothraki would be interested, given the... simplistic nature of their coupling, but she imagines some parts of her own world might be interested in such a thing. ]

I've never heard of body shots. [ beat ] Or of Scrabble. How is the wine involved?

[ Ruby had said that there would be no body shots involved in that second piece, but she's still imagining it involving people drinking wine from each other. ]

[eviscerates]

( NO SMOL SWEET TINY SISTER PERSON
Ruby probably should have considered the potential audience more carefully, and she is sitting there in quiet horror for a moment as she tries to consider how to reply.

Listen, okay, she may be from a world that is more horrifying than it first appears, but she also spent the last thirty years operating with a very strict no underage drinking policy at the diner. )

Well.

( Any time now, brain. Any time. ) I think maybe body shots can wait. Until you're older? Like, say, twenty-five.

( Sure that'll work. Moving swiftly on: ) Wine and Scrabble is more just social sipping, but I... think you might enjoy the Scrabble more than the wine. Like orange juice and Scrabble would also be wicked awesome.

Crystal

[petitchiot]

[ She didn't see the need to respond, opting to simply observing the other rifters on the crystal than make much contact up until now. But at hearing the possibility of wine... That might have changed her mind, but she assures herself it's more that engaging with the others might prove useful in the future, and scrabble seems like a good way to get to know the others without it becoming too personal. Maybe it was a bit of both. ]

To answer your question, yes, I had body shots back in my world as well. Although I won't be of much use with providing you much knowledge on other games. [ Call her boring, but she was never that into them. ] Secondly, I'd like to join this club of yours. It would be... [ A pause. She can't say useful, that'll make her seem questionable. ] Fun.

[eviscerates]

Awesome, to both. You should definitely join the club.

( Ruby considers a moment, before adding. ) I don't think we've spoken before. I'm Ruby Lucas. Are you new?

private to ruby

[heda]

Why do you need the salt and fruit?

[ She should probably re-introduce herself. She also's never heard of vodka or tequila and has never seen a lime, though she's familiar with the concept. ]

permaprivate.

[eviscerates]

I think the origins of it are making really cheap tequila taste better. And... there's still that, but also it's just kinda fun.

( How could Ruby forget the person that encouraged Ciri to take a nap in a catapult? She grins. )

Hey, Lexa. How've you been?

crystal;

[obi_wanmanshow]

[Drily] Some people enjoy philosophical discussions.

[eviscerates]

( deliberately obtuse: )

Really? Wow, they must be super lame.

( :D :D :D HI FRIEND )

[hattergonnahat]

This is what we're bringing to the world of Thedas? I can't decide if that's brilliant or embarrassing for us.

[eviscerates]

I tried to explain Bowie, one time? It didn't go so well for me.

GOSH I'M SO LATE

[bookish_lioness]

[This is Hermione, pointedly avoiding that really long preamble about body shots. Because *nope*, she wouldn't know anything about that and isn't in any rush to learn, especially in a place where people don't shower on the regular. Ew.]

You actually went through with building a Scrabble board? Can I come by and look at it sometime? Or would I need to fill out an application to join your club beforehand?

NEVER 4GIVE NEVER 4GET

[eviscerates]

( It's not Ruby's fault that she has certain expectations about hygiene before she even considers licking anyone, wow!

Devastated as she is by this unspoken judgment (not at all, she's not at all devastated, this narration is a lie), a smile can be heard in her tone. )

I did. I whittled, I carved, I did a really bad paint job and had to start over. I feel like a stronger person for it, you know? Very salt of the earth.

( Shut up, Ruby. ) You definitely can. We can make revisions to the board, maybe? And you are like, the vice president of this club, so I think you're okay. I'll let you get out of the application process.