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.

[what_big_teeth]

On the bright side, Eleanor very rarely knew what to do with herself, so at least that body language was nothing new.

But Liliana's warm greeting did help, and she smiled a little bobbing her head, before letting out a soft breath of a laugh. "I definitely think," she offered, "it's the sort of event that might help dispel some of those memories for more pleasant ones. But, really, it's such a lovely space that it even that doesn't seem that bad if you think about at least being somewhere nice for them."

In an effort to distract herself sometimes, she'd taken mental notes of various things to maybe utilize for her own greenhouse back home.

"But congratulations. I'm very happy for both you and Mr. Scientia."

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[deathsmajesty]

"Why thank you, darling," Liliana said. And, in a slightly softer voice, she added, "You were very brave, you know. I saw that many of those scenarios hit home for you in different ways. And yet, you kept showing up and participating."

Even when it would do nothing but cause more strife between her and her sister.

"I'm proud of you, darling."

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[what_big_teeth]

Well. There was the one day that she hadn't shown up, but that had nothing to do with the class and everything to do with the fact that there was luggage announcing all her sins to the world in clear, bold writing. It was one thing to have her sister constantly hounding her with verbal jabs and hints as they related to the scenario, and something else altogether when unrelated baggage was also chiming in and possessed not even Luma levels of discretion.

But the words, encouraging as they were, made Eleanor pale first, and then the strange sickly greenness of her mottled blush started to rise up behind her thin skin.

She still didn't know what to do with encouragement, especially when the last time it had been given to her so freely and openly was exactly what led to all that discomfort and supposed bravery.

"It," she started, mostly just to have something to say, but, as it so often was with her, once she got going, her voice rose up and continued without her input, "was difficult, it's true, but...I also think....it's important, you know? Especially when so many of them did hit close to...home," what an unfortunately specific colloquialism. "If I can look at a thing and figure it out, then maybe I won't make so many of the same mistakes again."

Then she let out a small bark of a laugh that she didn't really mean to let go.

"And Luma definitely wasn't going to pull any of her punches, either."

Nor should she have, either, in Eleanor's opinion.

Re: Arrive & Mingle - 06/27.

[deathsmajesty]

Yeah, but Liliana wasn't counting that Thursday for exactly that reason. She didn't blame anyone for staying home rather than letting all and sundry see their personal baggage. By rights, her baggage should have been in Dominarian, and yet, it had shown up in English and with Braille. Which was how she'd known it was just doing it for kicks.

"That's precisely what this class was for, though I'm not sure how many others realized that. I don't think your sister did, for example." Liliana had not missed Luma's growing frustration, no. "You already know how bitter and choking regret and grief are, the kind that accompany mistakes that you would give up almost anything to make right." Er, uhh, or so she'd heard. How would Liliana ever know what those feelings felt like, ahaha amiright? "But it's hard to learn how to not repeat them, unless you learn that your first instincts can easily mislead you. And it's harder still to learn that that which feels right in the moment may not be correct in the context of the wider picture."