Edwin couldn't help but smile at the way Charles grimaced at the liquor, just patting his shoulder in something like consolation, "Well managed, Charles." The gin and tonic wasn't as strong as he remembered gin punch to be, but it was still pleasantly so. Though it didn't much help with taking the sharpest edges off senses that seemed to be assaulted at every turn, from the number of people in the space, to the crash and wail of the music, that seemed to vibrate into his very bones, to the glycerine fog that he caught the smell of only in snatches, finding it to be something sickly sweet rather than the char of smoke or the bracing damp of actual fog.

He was fine, right up until the band started in on what was apparently one of their popular songs, given the way people in the crowd began screaming along to what he could only assume were the lyrics, it was all too much, as he'd been afraid it would be, and he knew he needed to get outside, even if it was only for a few minutes.

Unfortunately Crystal was the only one he was able to catch, with Charles already apparently having the time of his life on the dance floor, and while Edwin did want to stay and watch that -would always want to watch Charles enjoying himself- he knew that the memory of the moment would only be soured by his own overwhelm if he did. He managed to reel Crystal in, letting her know that he needed some air, and if Charles asked, he'd be back in a minute or two.

He made sure that the neon orange wristband that had been strapped on him on the way in was still in place before weaving his way back around the edge of the crowd and up the stairs, only realizing once he was actually outside that he was shaking, barely managing not to collapse, just perching on the low ledge of a planter in front of the next building as he took a few moments to force his breathing to even out again.