I walk away from negative talk

Every party has a kitchen, and at some point in the kitchen somebody starts taking apart a person who is not in the room. It is genuinely enjoyable for roughly ninety seconds. Then something turns, and everyone can feel it turn, and nobody quite knows how to leave.

The move is unglamorous: go and get a drink. Ask someone about their dog. No stand needs making and no verdict needs delivering. The conversation only continues because people stay in the kitchen.