chef_chocobro | The Far Less Creepy and Far From Abandoned Mansion in the Woods; Friday Afternoon/Evening [06/27].

When the guests arrived, they would, of course, be instructed to find their way to the garden conservatory; the subtle decorations both inside the mansion and through the exterior gardens would guide most people to there, and, barring that, the steward was naturally on hand to provide and escort. There, they would find a scene that seemed almost a stark contrast to the dark and brooding decor of a necromancer, a place filled with light and life, with plants both decorative and functional, colorful and aromatic and useful, and, of course, no lack of the expected gothic or Victorian touches here and there. Somewhere, some cleverly situated water fixture babbled steadily along with the light, inobtrusive music that set the atmosphere: something elevated just slightly above casual, that slight touch of pretentiousness that was gentle in its demands for propriety and decorum and class. Comfortable chaises and chairs were arranged here and there sociably, a gathering a wrought-iron bistro tables and chairs as well, but the set-up seemed to suggest the kind of floating interactions of butterflies among flowers, drifting from one to the next with an airy regard.

And, of course, the spread of food was exceptional, lighter fair, but plenty of it, things that could be enjoyed while fluttering about with the other guests in one hand, while the other held a glass of fine wine or sparkling water garnished with fresh fruits or even a robust coffee or a floral cup of tea. Small sandwiches and crostini, bruschetta and other variations, but there were also empanadas with a chimichurri sauce, paella with scallops, pomegranate pork kebabs...

Spring rolls, summer rolls, smoked salmon cucumber rolls...

And of course, desserts, which would include alfajores dulce de leche, coffee truffles, fruit crostini, and key lime mini pies.

Needless to say, no one should be wanting for food. Just be careful not to fill up on treats too much if you plan to stay on later; there was still plenty of dancing to be had, once the party moved itself to the awaiting ballroom.

[[ ~~naturally, ocd incoming~~ ocd is up! Come and celebrate with us! ]]

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Yeah, like Summer was going to miss this. She'd been waiting on this fucking engagement to actually happen for, like, what? SIX MONTHS, maybe? Probably actually way more than that. Whatever the actual time frame had been, it seemed like it had been way too long between when Ignis dragged her out to actually get the ring with him.

She was wearing vaguely pinkish off-white, but perhaps she actually should have been wearing all black, in mourning for the death of her ability to hold 'waiting for the perfect moment' over Iggy's head like she had been.

Especially since she couldn't even say anything about it now without him being smug about having actually found the perfect moment, that snooty asshole.

Perhaps he had simply gotten tired of putting in all that OT at the excuse factory...?

"Hello, Summer, darling," Liliana said, sweeping an approving eye over her ensemble. "You look positively elegant today. Have you always had that tucked away in your closet?"

Summer gasped with offense, a hand flitting to her poor, affronted heart. "Liliana, please," she said. "Like I would just pull out something from the back of my closet for your party! The shade!"

But, also, like, a compliment was a compliment, so the faux shock faded pretty quicly into a pleased smile.

"But thank you! I was originally going to go for something a little more fun and flirty, but it's you guys, so more sophistication was definitely the name of the game. And you look stun.ning., of course, but you hardly need me telling you that."

"Oh, but you know I do love to hear it," Liliana said with a laugh. "Speaking of new clothing, I was talking to Rey yesterday and it seems she intends to go clothing shopping sometime soon."

She thought Summer might want to know about this development.

There was...a slight pause at this information, perhaps not quite the reaction Liliana might have expected, as Summer tilted her head and seemed to consider that (or perhaps just her response) carefully.

"...by herself?" she asked, somewhere...warily.

"Not if we want her to come back with actual color," Liliana drawled.

Black was a color! White was a color! Various drab tones were not.

"I told her I knew of several reputable places to shop, should she be interested, but this might be a prime time for you to mention the need for a shopping trip as well."

"Summer." Ignis greeted her coolly, though there was clearly something twitching upward at the corner of his mouth, which, after a nod, he let smooth out into a faint grin after all. "Would you like to take a few minutes more to get it out of your system now right out the gates, or are you actually going to be decently sufferable for a change?"

"Go for insufferable, darling, he deserves it," Liliana urged.

Summer had to snort at that. "I honestly don't think I'm physically capable of being anything but insufferable," she informed them both proudly, with a lift of her chin and a toss of her ponytail and a smug, smug grin. "But I will say, thank god, it's about goddamn time, but don't think you're off the hook because now I get to badger you about when you're going to actually seal the deal."

That smug grin turned particularly sweet, with a flutter of eyelashes that Ignis no doubt could hear.

"Serious, though," she said, returning to neutral. "So glad I don't have to keep that damn ring a secret anymore."

"I love it," Rey told her, figuring Summer could figure out what she meant when Rey always ended up complimenting her event outfits.

Like, obviously, it was a party. Complimenting each other's outfits was just what you did in the arrive and mingle thread right off the bat!

"Thank you," said Summer, taking a moment to preen a little and prose a little, with all the regalness that this kind of dress practically demanded, before she could properly turn her attention to gushing at Rey similarly. "And you! Rey! Is that...dare I say it?....color I see?"

"I spent a really long time looking up what sort of thing to wear to these, and it seemed to fit." White would fit the garden party aesthetic but not if it wasn't her engagement. She knew that much. "I actually have a favor to ask."

"Hi," Stark said softly when he approached.

"You look beautiful."

He thought she always did and she knew that but that was fine. "New dress?"

The Far Less Creepy and Far From Abandoned Mansion in the Woods; Friday Afternoon/Evening [06/27].

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