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

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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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"Steven!" Liliana said, sounding delighted. "Hello, darling, it's lovely to have you. I wasn't sure we would. How have you been?"

"What?" Steven looked briefly confused, then remembered the time. "Ah, yes. Llewellyn had to work, you see. And next week we're on holiday. But of course we wanted to wish you and Ignis well. Congratulations and all that. Everything looks lovely, by the way. Yourself included."

"And I can imagine that after a shift, he might want to go right home and relax. I know I generally do."

Because, you know, her very stressful one afternoon a week where she-- *checks palm* --did exactly what she wanted. Truly, a terrible burden.

"I'm so pleased that you both took the time to come out, though. And thank you, for both the congratulations and the compliment. That shade of blue makes you look rather dashing."

Steven drew himself up proudly. "Cheers. Hopefully it's all right? Wasn't sure how to dress for a garden party. Never been invited to one before."

"Light colors and light fabrics is really the only thing to follow," Liliana assured him, gesturing to her much lighter lilac gown than her traditional deep violet. "And you have both. And, really, we just wanted to do something a little different, you know? There are so many types of parties, seems a shame to limit yourself only a few."

"Kind the way people have them," Steven said. "Looking forward to the dancing here. Love a good dance. Food is thanks to Ignis, I imagine?"

"Entirely so," Liliana said. "I know he made several vegan options, too. The little rolls are delicious."

"I saw that!" Steven said, brightening up. "Very thoughtful. Looking forward to trying them. Since they're Ignis they'll be proper posh I imagine.

"Any idea of when the big day is?" Steven asked. "The wedding?"

"Oh sweet Serra no," Liliana said with a laugh. "Haven't even begun to talk about it yet. I'm sure...at some point..." She said a little vaguely.

Look, she was in no real rush. Something something, all the time in the world, something something.

(And, more relevantly, she was still getting used to the idea of herself being married. Taking it slow was the way to go, most definitely.)

"Enjoying the moment?" Steven guessed. There was a brief look of wistfulness on his face but he tried to hide it. "Very exciting, I imagine. Taking that step with the one you love."

Sorry, darling, but Liliana had caught that look. "Is such a step coming up in your future soon, darling?" she asked quietly. "You and the Detective have been together for as long as I've known you."

"I - it's complicated," Steven explained. He stepped closer so he and Liliana could have more privacy. "The nature of Marc and me. Makes it difficult for such arrangements. It - it's not a lack of wanting on my part, I can tell you that."

"But why, darling?" Liliana asked. "You already live together, your lives are already fully intertwined. Why should your nature matter? It's not like he doesn't know, darling."

Steven shifted uncomfortably. Not due to any fault of Liliana's questions. More his own thoughts on the matter.

"There's the legal of it," Steven said. "That - that gets complicated in our world. I have paperwork but push comes to shove... it's Marc."

Liliana gave him a confused look. "Does Watts have legal standing here?" she asked.

"I - " Steven looked uncertain. "As much as you do, I suppose? We've paperwork for him back home. Er, Marc and my home. Forged, but authentic enough for government as they say."

Steven might have looked guiltily in Captain America's direction even if it wasn't the Steve from his world. Just felt weird admitting to illegal activity in the same room as one of the more wholesome Avengers, even if he couldn't hear you.

"That's far more than I have, darling," Liliana assured him with a smile. "I don't recognize kings or governments or whatnot, so I couldn't care less about this document or that. But, if he can get false papers, what's to stop you, darling? And even if you can't...so? Do you really care that much about the legality of it all?"

"I - " Steven looked around, his eyes lingering on the various couples. "I can't give him everything. Not like you can with Ignis."

"Well, that's patently untrue," Liliana scoffed. "You give him all of you. Are you not his everything?" Because that also sounded patently untrue. "You may not be at the forefront of every minute of every day, but when you are, you give him everything you have. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good, darling, thinking of the things you can't do. Don't be afraid to trust him when he says he'd rather have you for some time, rather than someone else for all time. You might still be struggling to accept the reality of your existence, but I'm certain that Llewellyn Watts is simply grateful that you do exist, in whatever form that might take."

"Never thought about it that way," Steven admitted. "That's profound, isn't it? I'd certainly rather have some of him than all of anyone else. Er - no offense to present company."

"Oh, darling, I'm not in the least insulted," Liliana assured him. "We wouldn't suit at all. Whether or not you like peaches doesn't mean I'm not still delicious." She waved a hand. "I know you have some idea of what the ideal marriage looks like, but I think you're forgetting that all it really takes is him."

And if she were to be glancing at someone right now that wasn't Watts, well, Steven would surely understand.

"I have never cared overmuch about marriage. When you take away all the things that it's for - property, children, religion, civil authority, chastity - what's left? What's the point of it? That's what I thought for a very long time...and then Ignis asked me to marry him and I realized that I was wrong. Marriage isn't meaningless. The meaning is him." She looked back to Steven, her violet eyes deep and fathomless and full of the weight of two centuries. "Don't let someone else's definitions take what you could have away from you, Steven."

Steven nodded along with all that. And not only did he understand her look towards Ignis, he seemed happy about it on her behalf.

"I had ideas of marriage growing up," Steven admitted. "Partner of some kind. Home. Children. It's been something to adjust to whether I could still have those things. Maybe not the way I imagined. But perhaps different.

"Suppose that's a lesson you're teaching us all here in a way. You never know when or how happiness might come. Can't predict what it'll look like. But hold on to it when you find it. Best you can."

"That's for certain," Liliana said quietly. "Did you know? For the longest time, neither he nor I thought it would last. He thought I would get tired of the fling and flit off for something new, leaving him behind, and I thought for certain he would leave when he got to know more of me. You may be surprised to hear, Steven, but I am not a particularly good person, and I'm quite happy with the way I am. But Ignis is so...very good. But I stayed. And he stayed. And here we are."

"I worried about that with Llewellyn," Steven said, with sympathy for Liliana's concerns. "Early on he told me how he loved to travel, didn't care for staying in place too long. I worried he might wander off and I'd not see him again. 'course now we travel together. I like that part very much."

"Then it sounds like you're already experienced in finding ways to make the things you're afraid will drive him away work for you," Liliana pointed out.

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