The doors were thrown wide with a stand of gold and silver balloons on either side; the usual low budget, mid-range decorations Gavin had come to expect from these DPD events. He wouldn't even care if there were no decorations. Less money spent on decor meant more money for food and drink. This hall was a little bigger than last year, with multiple round tables set up around the edge of a large dancefloor. Beyond the dancefloor was a stage where a DJ stand was being set up, and to the left was a bar with two members of staff bustling about behind it. Most people were currently sitting at the tables, but a fair few were still walking around and mingling in groups. It seemed they weren't quite the last to arrive as a fair few seats still sat empty.

The round tables were each covered by a white cloth, which was probably a poor choice considering the clientele. If any of those cloths were clean by the end of the evening, Gavin would eat his leather jacket. In the centre of each table was a pointless, fake flower arrangement. Gavin didn't know the type of flowers, but they were all white to match the cloth. Each place was set with a collection of silver cutlery, likely not real, and two drinking glasses. One for wine, and one for water. Two glass jugs of cold water had been set on each table, and many had already started pouring. There wasn't much space between the tables, which would be a little awkward for the servers later, and was even a challenge now for those wearing thick coats.

Every so often Gavin could see members of staff approaching those entering with offers to take their coats and store them, but many refused. Gavin didn't blame them. You never knew when someone might make off with your expensive coat or rifle through your pockets in the cloakrooms. As well as the hosts, there were also servers wandering the halls with trays of glasses. Gavin didn't know what they held, but it was probably some sort of cheap wine or champagne. That's how these things usually went. It seems androids had also been catered for. Some of the drinks were blue.

"Hey, you good?" Gavin stopped as Nines' LED span yellow and his brow pinched. To most people, he probably looked annoyed, but Gavin was used to reading his mannerisms by now. It was almost like he was in pain. They stopped walking less than a foot from the open doors and Gavin tucked a hand in his elbow to lead him to the side of the room. Nines' noise sensitivity was something he'd noticed back when they used to hate each other. Nines was always more snippy in a crowded room. The more crowded the setting, the more likely they'd fight. It had taken Gavin weeks to make the connection. He'd just put it down to androids being androids.

"I'm fine. It's just a little...overstimulating." Looking around, Gavin could see what he meant. Although the overhead lights were on for now, they were testing out the blinking, colourful lights on the dancefloor for later. The hall was pretty big. A large open space with a towering ceiling and not much on the walls to dampen the echo. There was no music playing yet, just a sea of voices booming in the large space. With so many people, it was impossible for Gavin to pick out a single conversation, but Nines' sensors were more sensitive than that. He could probably hear every conversation taking place with perfect clarity.

"Why don't you-uh, turn down your volume control?" Nines' lips quirked at that. It was an odd way of putting it, but Gavin was correct in that he could lower his audio sensitivity. With a nod, he did just that. The loud din softened. He dampened the background noise, focusing only on those in his immediate vicinity. With a sigh, he gave Gavin a nod. He was now ready to proceed. "Alright, now where are they?" Nines joined him in looking around, scanning the sea of familiar faces to find Tina and Chris.

"Gavin! Nines!" Tina's yell rose above the din, though Gavin couldn't see her. Nines helpfully pointed in her direction, and Gavin's eyes fell upon a vision in white. She was wearing a strapless dress that started with a sequined bodice and dropped into a flowing skirt that reached the floor. She looked stunning, like a summer bride. Luckily, she had a thick fur shawl over the back of her chair in case she got cold later. Miller was sitting beside her in a simple black suit, and he'd even managed to talk his wife, Jenny, into coming. Jenny had chosen a simple black dress with long sleeves that flared at the hips and fell to her knees with simple high-heeled shoes.

"Well, don't you clean up nice, Mr Ratigan." Nines raised an eyebrow at Jenny's greeting, but whatever the reference, Gavin understood it as he grinned and tugged at his lapels. Chris and Tina also snickered as they reached the table. Gavin leaned down and kissed Jenny's cheek while patting Chris on the shoulder, green eyes sparkling as he drew back.

"That's Professor Ratigan to you!" Moving across to Tina, he kissed her cheek and took the seat beside her, where his nameplate had been set. Scanning the table, Nines was a little relieved to find his own place next to Gavin. By the size of the table, he assumed most of their small department had been placed together. Fowler and his wife were sitting on the opposite side of the table, along with Collins, Pearson, and Pearson's date. The four seats beside Nines were empty, and he was curious to see that they were for Hank and Connor, plus their dates.

"Damien has not stopped watching that movie, and he always asks for you when we watch it. Daddy, where's Ratigan?" Chris said, wrapping his arm around Jenny's waist as she laughed on his shoulder. Gavin folded his arms and leaned on the table with a snicker, accepting a glass of white wine as a server stopped by their table. Seeing glasses of thirium, Nines also grabbed one and set it at his place, but it looked different. Furrowing his brow, he let the others continue their discussion about whatever movie Damien was currently obsessed with and scanned his glass. Rather than a cloudy blue substance, the thirium was a lot clearer, and there were bubbles rising to the surface.

"Something wrong?" Gavin had noticed the yellow of his LED and how he was staring at his glass with a pensive frown. With a blink of his silvery eyes, an analysis returned. The drink was thirium based, but it was one of the new alcoholic beverages that just hit the market. Food and drink upgrades had started coming out three months ago, as had the stomach component upgrades to process such things. It was a feature Nines very much enjoyed where food was concerned. The component had improved his relationship with Gavin. Where before Gavin had skipped lunch or eaten alone so he wasn't being stared at, they now ate together. Gavin had introduced him to all sorts of food, including pepperoni pizza, which had become one of his favourite meals.

"It is alcoholic." Gavin wasn't sure if that was good or bad from how Nines said it. He was still staring at the glass, turning it this way and that to watch the bubbles in the light. Looking at his face, Gavin started searching the crowd for a server in case they needed one. It was harder than one might think. With so many men in suits, the servers were a little hard to spot, and there weren't many of them to begin with. Most were probably in the kitchens getting ready for food service, which would begin within the hour. If he couldn't find a server, there were people at the bar anyway.

"Do you want something else? I'm sure they have plain thirium." Nines lowered the glass and looked at Gavin, eyes softening at his concern. He was rough around the edges, but he was a good friend. Many people missed that sweet streak, but those in his inner circle saw it. Only those privileged few were allowed. Nines counted himself lucky to be among them, but it hadn't always been that way. During the first few months of their partnership, Gavin had despised him, causing more than a little friction. Simply looking at him had caused heat to flare in his chest, arguments always brimming just below the surface.

"No, I just haven't seen it before. I've been meaning to try it." Sixty had told him all about thirium alcohol the day it came out. It was no surprise that his more vivacious brother had already gone out multiple times and gleefully regaled them with tales of drunken folly. Connor had tried it too, of course, but only fleetingly. He lived with Hank, and though Hank didn't consider himself to be an alcoholic or in recovery, he didn't keep alcohol in the house and limited himself to three drinks a week. Connor was proud that he showed such restraint after less than a year. If he hadn't made the change from alcohol to coffee, they probably wouldn't be where they were now.

"Well, make sure you go easy on that stuff. You don't know what it'll do." Surprisingly wise words coming from Gavin Throw Caution to the Wind Reed, but he was correct. Just because he had superior software didn't mean the stomach component wouldn't wreak havoc on his systems. Having never tested his limitations before, he didn't know how his body would react. With that in mind, he took a cautious sip and immediately scrunched his nose in distaste. Champagne, it seems, was not to his liking. It was too bubbly and left an unpleasant tang in the back of his throat. "You want to get something else?" The twinkle in Gavin's eye suggested he was more than a little amused.

"I think I do." Leaning over to Tina, Gavin murmured something before getting to his feet and waving for him to follow. He led the way through the crowd towards the bar, nodding and calling greetings to those he recognised along the way. When they finally arrived, Nines wasn't sure whether he should be relieved or wary to see Sixty standing there with a few members of the SWAT team. It was a little late to do anything about it as Gavin called out a greeting and Sixty hurried over to meet them, hooking an arm over Nines' shoulders as he arrived.

"You're here! I was waiting for you!" He's been drinking. The slight sway of his body and the amount of weight being leaned on his shoulder was enough to confirm that. Nines looped an arm around his slim waist for support as Gavin rolled his eyes and shook his head, continuing on to the bar. "Have you tried the drinks yet? Aren't they great?" He was holding some sort of blue cocktail that was much cloudier than the champagne Nines had tried earlier and seemed to be mixed with some sort of fruit juice.

"Not really..." Nines wasn't sure which question he was answering, but so far, it was true of both. Gavin seemed set to change that as he asked what thirium options they had available. Upon seeing the list, Nines wasn't sure which to choose. It seemed they had thirium counterparts to most beverages, which made the list quite extensive. He must have seemed like a deer in headlights as he looked at Gavin because he was soon leaning in beside him to read the list. Nines could measure the exact temperature of his skin as their arms touched since Gavin had removed his jacket. Looking at him, he could tell Gavin was putting a lot of thought into his choices.

"Well, you're not really one for sweet things...Maybe a whiskey?" Nines followed his lead with a nod and allowed him to order a neat shot, which was soon delivered in an oddly shaped glass. It was vaguely square with a diagonal slope of ice in the bottom half, but the ice was locked within the glass itself, not touching the whiskey. The design was rather clever, ensuring even cooling and maintaining the drink's integrity. It was a clear blue liquid, but without the bubbles of the champagne. Gavin joined him with a similar beverage, only his was amber. Sixty and Gavin both watched as Nines sniffed his drink with an air of distrust. It smelled better than the champagne, at least. There was a rich, almost woody scent to it.

"Try it!" Sixty urged, still hanging over his shoulder with a grin. Nines took a small sip, barely letting the liquid touch his lips. It was certainly a lot better than the last drink. It was rich and flavourful, with a spicy heat that made his tongue and throat feel warm. The fact his LED remained blue, and he didn't make a face, suggested it was a success. Huffing a small sigh, Gavin sipped his own drink, pressing his lips together at the strength as he swallowed. "Where did you guys end up? We're all over on that table." Sixty pointed to the tables across the dancefloor, where they could just see Captain Allen talking to an older looking man that was probably his boss.

"Homicide is that way." Gavin nodded towards their table, somewhere in the middle section. It seemed Hank and Connor had arrived while they were away, along with their dates. Nines had met Agent Richard Perkins on various occasions, but he didn't realise Connor had met anyone. He did a double-take at first, believing it to be Chloe, but he knew Chloe wouldn't cling to Connor so intimately. Gavin was also confused, and seemed set to head over there to give Connor a piece of his mind until Nines' hand landed on his shoulder.

"It isn't Chloe." Gavin looked bewildered, as if the idea of there being another RT600 had never even crossed his mind. To an extent, he was correct. Chloe and her two spare bodies that resided with Elijah were three of a limited series, but there were a few others. Mostly collectors' items. Nines wasn't sure how many of them were even active at this point. There were also the ST200s to consider. Those were physically identical to the RT600s, but lacked a few of their more advanced abilities. A commercial adaptation of the first android.

"Hm? Oh! That's Cleo. Connor met her at the coffee shop when he went to meet Hank a few months ago." Nines was almost insulted. Why had he told Sixty and not him? He knew Connor and Sixty were close, but he'd thought he shared in that closeness, too. He and Connor worked together every day, sitting barely three feet apart. "Don't take it personally. I met her by accident when I ran into them on the street." Perhaps that made it slightly better, but he still could have told him. Then again, what would he have done with that information? Not being in a relationship, it wasn't like he could offer Connor any advice. He didn't know the first thing about romance. A strange thump made his thirium pump stutter as Gavin's hand settled in the crook of his arm. Such contact still surprised him, even after all this time.

"Let's go and say hi!" Nines followed the gentle pull and allowed Gavin to lead the way through the crowd. Sixty had other plans, it seemed. Rather than following them, he patted Nines' shoulder in farewell and returned to the rest of his team mingling around the bar. At the table, Hank and Richard were already deep in conversation with Fowler, while Connor and his date were leaning across the empty chairs to talk to Tina. "Hey, Tin-can. Nice suit." Connor had abandoned his Cyberlife uniform, which was his usual choice for work. Instead, he was wearing a pale grey suit and tie with a white shirt, looking immaculate as always.

"Thank you, and you look...better than usual." Gavin snorted as he took his seat.

"I'll take it." Cleo smiled politely, but Gavin could tell she wasn't Chloe from the start. She was a little more awkward and outwardly cold. Her blue eyes softened for Connor as he looked at her, but she was wary of the newcomers. She seemed relaxed enough around Hank and Richard, so he could only assume she'd met them a few times before. Taking the silent cue, Connor wrapped an arm around her and sat up a little straighter.

"This is Cleo. She works at the coffee shop we go to for lunch." Sixty had already told them that much, but Gavin and Nines greeted her and introduced themselves anyway. Nines seemed wary as he sat, unsure what to say or do with himself in such a lively setting. He wasn't exactly the life and soul of the party. His social programming was different to Connor and Sixty's. It wasn't exactly less advanced, just more geared towards interrogation than social niceties. Trying to build his own program was a lot more complicated than he'd like, especially considering his first few antagonising weeks with Gavin.

He still remembered the angry growl of Gavin's voice as he'd asked what the fuck he was doing at his desk. How he'd stormed into Fowler's office to argue and almost walked out straight after. Connor had sheepishly claimed it would get better, sharing his own experiences with Gavin. Though Gavin had softened to tolerate the RK800s, they were by no means friends back then. That hadn't come until later; after Nines and Gavin had found their rhythm. Nines was a little jealous that Gavin found socialising so easy.

"So, was it love at first sight?" From the way Connor flustered at Gavin's question, Nines assumed the answer was yes. It was curious; though Cleo remained facially indifferent, the hand on Connor's thigh stroked and squeezed as if she were anxious. Connor's arm tightened on her waist, fingers stroking her hip in reassurance.

"I-in a manner of speaking." Hank chuckled as he heard that.

"He knocked three drinks off a table when he came in because he was so busy staring at her!" The thought of Connor experiencing such a lapse in coordination and spatial awareness was actually quite concerning. Cleo's lips pulled into their first small smile of the evening, her cheeks darkening a shade at the retelling. Gavin laughed loudly and continued as Hank went on. "He felt bad for making more work for her, so he cleaned up and asked her to dinner as compensation." Gavin's eyes widened, clearly impressed.

"Damn, that's smooth!" Connor didn't seem to think so. He'd pretty much hidden his face in his hand, clearly embarrassed. "I bet he paid for fresh drinks, too." Tina was also amused, though she swatted Gavin's arm as a sign to stop teasing. Hank chuckled and nodded his agreement at that.

"Drinks and damages." That sounded like Connor. At that moment, an announcement went up to have them all return to their seats as dinner was served. Nines had never experienced this sort of dining before, so he followed Gavin's lead. Apparently, it was customary to go through the cutlery from outside to inside, starting with the smallest fork for the fresh fruit starter. Grapefruit and orange segments, all skinned with a dusting of lemon zest. A refreshing choice. It was relatively quiet as they ate, and the chatter increased as they finished. A sign the servers took to collect their plates and serve the second course.

Next was a secondary starter. Some people, like Gavin, chose mushrooms cooked in a light garlic butter with crisp garlic toast. Nines had ordered the vegetable soup with bread rolls. The soup was good and thick, with chunks of carrot, potato, and green beans inside. The bread was also warm from the oven, which melted the butter nicely. He even got to try one of Gavin's mushrooms as Gavin set one on his side plate with a small square of toast. The flavour of the mushroom almost made him regret choosing the soup it was so rich and buttery, and the toast was perfectly crunchy with a strong kick of garlic.

Their third course was supposed to be a fish course, however many of those around Nines' table had opted for the alternative of fried tofu salad instead. Gavin didn't seem too keen either way. He didn't like fish, and the tofu was quite bland, but he ate it to be polite. Nines had gone with the menu and tried the fish. It was a white fish, lightly fried with some sort of citrus sauce. It was most agreeable, but he couldn't tempt Gavin to try it. When he tried Gavin's dish, he had to agree that the tofu itself was quite bland, but the light sauce had a little flavour.

Fourth was the main course, and Gavin seemed most eager for it to arrive. Nines couldn't blame him. It was by far the biggest course and the grandest. Gavin had ordered a slow cooked lamb shank in a red wine and rosemary sauce. There was a bed of mashed potato and seasonal carrots, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts. It looked very good, and the meat almost fell apart as Gavin teased it with his knife. Nines had ordered the roast beef, which was served with similar vegetables, but the potatoes were roasted and the sauce was a rich beef gravy.

The final course was what Tina had been waiting for. A steamed treacle pudding with ice cream was brought out for some. Gavin had also ordered the sweet dessert, but not liking sweets as much, Nines had ordered the cheese board. There were various crackers and biscuits, five different cheeses, and a side of grapes, nuts, and olives. He gave the board a mixed review. The olives were foul, and two of the cheeses churned his stomach component, but he enjoyed the lighter cheeses. Gavin had similar tastes in cheese and generously allowed Nines a bite of pudding to chase the taste of blue cheese away. Though he couldn't eat a whole pudding, Nines had to admit, it was a pleasant dessert. It was almost more pleasant as his sensors picked up Gavin's DNA on the spoon, which brought up his biological profile in his HUD.