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

[chef_chocobro]

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! ]]

Comments

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Excuse you. Arden was a great name, thank you. Her parents had named her that and it was just fine.

"Uh, yeah! I mean, no? I mean--" Doing great, Arden. "The food is great and I'm fine. I'm really looking forward to taking a walk in the flowers, too. The air in here is really good."

She winced. That made perfect sense to her, because, y'know, the whole 'air elemental' thing, but to everybody who didn't know - which was pretty much everybody - that had probably sounded like the most inane comment ever.

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[chef_chocobro]

It was an exceptionally good choice on their part to not spell it with a Y, that was for certain. But you know how it could be with names. All it took was one immortal asshole to ruin it for some people, or sometimes one place where it had magical properties that could occasionally lead your bed to catch on fire at the most inopportune time....

Ahem.

There was a slight lift of Ignis' eyebrows when Arden said no amid all of that, because of course that would be the word to resonate with him enough to make him wonder if they had somehow missed some detail, and wouldn't he spend a terrible amount of time fretting over it now, but, thankfully, she did continue enough to at least tamper down that initial urge to excuse himself and go seek out what needed improving immediately.

And it did help that commenting on the air was a good indication of nerves. He did, after all, speak Prompto fluently, so his concern settled into a small, consolatory sort of smile.

"I'm rather fond," he said, "of the air here myself. Good robust, healthy plants. The occasional suggestion of floral in one area, and the seamless suggestion of herb and spice in another. It's rather amazing, isn't it, what a difference they can make?"

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Yes!" Arden said, grabbing onto that lifeline immediately. "So, like, did you put a kitchen garden in here, too? I was wondering, because I could smell rosemary and sweet Thai basil and sage, and I wasn't sure if those were all ornamental, or if you harvested them in here."