Abel Lazarus “I do, yes.” He notices just how tense Melvin is- and a moment later he realizes he could probably fix up parts of his outfit for him, couldn’t he? Did he use the right tie knot? It’s not a clip on right? God Forbid. “…” Okay maybe he’s fixating on making sure he’s wearing his whole outfit correct first because he is kind of squinting at him. Looking him over for any part he can adjust or fix.
Oh, god, that’s not good. Well, better Abel does this now than any of the denizens out there. A little bit of embarrassment at how much better put together this guy is (Outwardly. Oh my god Outwardly.) is better than a lot of getting mauled. Probably. That’s probably what would happen. Doesn’t change the fact that Melvin is Sweating under the scrutiny, but he did ask for this and at least tries to hold still. He absolutely has Not used the correct tie knot,
Abel Lazarus “… If I’m honest your stance already calls you out.” Well he isn’t saying this judgmentally at least. “Stand confident. Even if it’s false. You need to act like you… belong. It lets you get away with some things if you’re confident enough.”
Ah, hell.
He tries to adjust his posture to his best approximation of confident, something which does not at all come naturally. It mostly entails trying to do a vague impression of how the Abel that exists in his brain would stand at a party. Which is… a mostly passable improvement. The realization that it’s going to be nigh-impossible to keep that up for hours has not sunk in yet.
“It’s gonna be real obvious I don’t. This thing might as well be a clown suit.” It wasn’t like he’d never worn a tie in his life, but not even the specialest occasion he’d attended had been anything quite this ostentatious. Actually, the clown suit thing gives him an idea. Not a great one, considering the game it brings to mind is a little more murdery than was really appropriate, but it did offer the vaguest idea on hiding in plain sight. “But, uh. Noted. I can do that.”
Abel Lazarus “… There’s. Usually drinks. Be careful to not imbibe too heavily.”
Much as having the ability to drink the problem away would normally have been fantastic news to him, it’s a little daunting in the Be On Something Better Than Your Best Behaviour zone. Melvin groans quietly.
“Great. I’ll go easy on the stuff. Don’t wanna make an ass of myself or anything.” Or at least he’d try to. He likes the stuff well enough, but doesn’t particularly enjoy wine enough to be too worried about his impulse control losing against the stressful hyper-awareness of Literally Every Action.
Abel Lazarus “And then of course there’s the napkin and the utensils.” Oh he’s visibly far more comfortable again. “Don’t unfold your napkin until the host does- and start from the outside and work in with the utensils. Does this make sense?”
The napkin thing wasn’t going to be a problem. He was going to forget to do that until everyone else was prompted anyways. “Outside, uh, in. Okay.” He makes a vague pointing gesture that might sort of represent that idea. Associating the thought to an action would maybe help?
“Make sense? Nah, but I think I get it.” It was all too for show to make sense, but he doesn’t really have a choice but to put his personal distaste for the weird formal song and dance aside.
