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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Stark wasn't sure about garden party attire but he had a pale blue shirt under the jacket of his favorite suit.

He was feeling a bit out of place, wondering if he ought to just bolt sooner than later, but he was going to try.

"Ah, Stark, darling, you made it," Liliana said as she glided over to greet him. "Important question for you, darling. Have you decided if you're teaching next session? And if yes, what? I'm still debating both questions myself."

"Hello, Liliana. Congratulations."

She was quite possibly the only person who ever had or would call Stark darling.

"I probably will, Again. It's better for me when I try to stay at least a little busy. I'm not sure if it will be the same thing again. It might be. Are you thinking of something different?"

Something without glowy aliens signing up for it perhaps?

Why in the Abyss would she do that? If she didn't want Stark signing up for her class, she'd just say, 'Stark, don't sign up for my class,' without breaking a sweat.

"I haven't decided yet," Liliana admitted. "I don't think I want to reteach something, but I'm also not yet coming up with any good ideas."

"It can be difficult," Stark said. "Trying not to just repeat things. Though I've done it, of course."

When in doubt, default to cupcakes.

"Have you thought of teaching with someone? Working together?" He was not looking at Summer right now and honestly deserved a gold star for that.

Liliana's brow wrinkled. "I...well, no," she admitted. "Darling, I'm not really the 'working together' type."

"Just a thought," Stark said. "Not even really a suggestion. It can be enjoyable though."

She could just order someone around, that might be fun.

"Are there classes you've taken, before, that you particularly enjoyed?"

Oh, darling, she could do that regardless.

"Many," she said with a smile. "But I don't think the administration would appreciate me teaching the students hands-on necromancy."

Although, hmm...

"Though, I wonder if some of my old Strixhaven classes could be cobbled together into something feasible. Couldn't teach the magic aspects, but perhaps something in Lorehold...I did work as a pastraiser, after all..."

Of course she could. But if she had a minion to teach with she'd get paid for that fun!

Stark was going to let the necromancy comment pass. "Lorehold?" he asked. "What's that? And a pastraiser?"

He asked her about classes she'd taken! Obviously she had taken necromancy classes! Her education had been both thorough and excellent, thank you!

"Lorehold is one of the five Colleges that make up Strixhaven University, my alma mater," Liliana said. "The other four being Prismari, Witherbloom, Quandrix, and Silverquill. Lorehold is the college that studies history and how it relates to societies and civilizations, founded on the contrasting principles of order and chaos. Pastraisers binding willing spirits into the monuments that bear their likeness to learn about their inspiring deeds. Some of those spirits are content just to speak to students when they're called upon, others teach actual courses, at least until they decide they're done and would like to be released. Huh. I wonder if Golwanda the Bloodspiller is still there, terrorizing the second years."

That Liliana stressed that the spirits were willing made Stark smile faintly.

"Ghosts that teach classes? We had one of those here. His name was Bob."

"And...the monuments sound interesting. Are there many?"

He'd have to tell Liliana about the peace memorial someday. Not at a party. It was not a party story.

"Strixhaven is si--seven hundred years old," she said with a smile. "Oh yes, darling, there were many."

Ignis was incredibly proud of himself for being able to hold back an instant grunt of irritation upon hearing Stark's name. It helped that he'd been prepared for such an occasion, enough so that he even managed briefly, fleetingly, minisculely a twitch of a smile.

"Stark," he said, head nodding in acknowledgement. "Thank you for joining us for this celebration. I do hope you enjoy yourself."

There. Simple. To the point. Hopefully checked off enough boxes on the Good Host list to be done with it.

Now to just wait and find out how Stark still managed to fuck it all up.

Stark deserved that italicized 'do' and he knew it.

"Thank you, Ignis. Congratulations."

That was enough conversation, right? The less he said the better. He knew that.

"Stark," Rey greeted him. "How are you doing today?"

"Doing all right."

As long as he didn't do anything stupid like try and have a conversation with Ignis he'd be fine. Probably.

"And you? You look very nice."

"You do too," she said. "I'm good. I'm adjusting to my first garden party."

The dress. She meant the dress.

"Is it that different than other parties?"

People were definitely more dressed than they'd been at Summer's beach party...

"I'm not sure I'll stay long."

The Ignis of it all, you know.

"It's... nicer," she said, which mostly meant she felt kind of fancy. Took some getting used to. "Why wouldn't you stay?"

Edited 2025-06-27 22:29 (UTC)

"I don't want to bother the host," Stark said. "More than I already do. I may stay. I don't know."

Rey frowned a little. "Were you not invited?"

"No, I was," Stark said. "Ignis and I...we no longer get along. He has his reasons. Good ones. Liliana and I get along well enough."

"If you were invited then I'd think there are enough people that you'd be all right," she said. "But it depends on your comfort."

"I'm not worried anything will happen..."

Besides Stark inevitably saying something wrong.

"I'll see. Maybe I'll stay for dancing."

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

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