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]

"Eleanor, help," Arden groaned, coming up beside her. "I just complimented the air in here."

She was an absolute disaster sometimes.

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[what_big_teeth]

There was a sigh of relief from Eleanor, who had been about two seconds away from making her way over to Arden to just sort of....all but attached herself to her for safety.

"Well," she offered, giving Arden a smile that was half encouragement, half gratitude, "I feel like if there's anyone here who'd be an expert at that, it's be you, right? And it is pretty nice air. You're not wrong."

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Still, it's the weirdest thing to say, at least for anybody who doesn't know that I'm--" She gestured to herself in lieu of finishing that sentence. "I just got so flustered that I said the first thing I could think of. Which was that."

Because it really was good air in here. Barely like being inside at all!

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[what_big_teeth]

"I'm sure it's fine," Eleanor assured her further. "That's not even all that embarrassing. One time I came here, I pretty much just knocked on the door and cried at Miss Vess the whole time. I'd take blurting out compliments on the air over that any day."

Sure, the crying thing had had a lot of other things going on at the time, too, but that was beside the point.

"And now you're past it," she added, "and you can just hang out with your friend sand eat all the really good food and admire everyone's nice outfits."

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"You...cried? At Professor Vess?" Arden looked over to the woman and back to Eleanor. "Like, she made you cry?"

Because that made way more sense than you'd gone looking to her for comfort, Eleanor. Just like. So much more.