Happy Birthday to You...

[stillplaying]

Who: The Everdeen sisters and whoever knows them (plus dates, if applicable)
What: Belated birthday party for Prim.
When: Starting Saturday evening (6/8), around 5 PM.
Where: House 43
Summary: Thanks to the spirit possessions, Katniss cancelled the original party she had planned. Time for Surprise Party #2!
Rating: PG/PG-13 if any fights break out?

She had gotten up early to make certain everything was perfect. Double checked that all the bedroom locks worked, moved all of the valuables out of the living area and into Sharpe's bedroom. And then she cleaned the house more thoroughly than she had in a long, long time.

Hours later, with Aang's help, everything seemed perfect. The inside of the house was decorated with crepe streamers. Though there was an emphasis on blue, she made certain to alternate with other colors: whites and greens and purples and reds. Balloons floated along the ceiling, interspersed among strings of twinkling lights. A huge banner reading "Happy Birthday Primrose!" hung across the space between living room and kitchen.

Food covered every available surface, bowls and plates and bowls of punch and other drinks resting on top of blue paper table cloths. Peppermints and chocolates and other sweets covered the dining room table, with a two-tiered cake in the center. It had been pushed against one of the walls to make space for dancing and talking. In the kitchen, various dinners - stews and roasted meats and an assortment of vegetables and starches - covered the counters. Snack type foods were scattered both inside and out, a mix of cheeses and crackers, vegetables and fruits.

Extra chairs surrounded a table in the backyard, which had been equally decorated. Balloons were tied to chairs and a mixture of streamers and lights hung over any tree branches that crossed into the yard. In one corner, a goat stood tied up to a poll with a pink bow around her neck. Space had been provided for a D.J. table if Teddy or Sabriel grew tired of playing.

Everything seemed perfect. She only hoped that Prim would love it, too.

Comments

[antivanleather]

[He has always been most comfortable with knives, no matter the job. Cooking, cleaning a kill, the odd slit throat or even whittling. His hands and blades simply fit like lock and key and any endeavor which required him to make creative use of them suited him just fine. It was habitual. Second nature. And to carve away at fresh fruit to make roses and flowers and anything else he could imagine.

The meal for the party is simple, as per Katniss' request, but making something simple something extraordinary takes but time, patience, a steady hand and a sharp blade.

He sets himself to it early in the afternoon to prepare platters for the party's guests, something else that is habitual from his years as a Crow. He's not being unsociable, simply focused and intent upon his task. Thin blade held in deft fingers he slices away at apples and oranges and melons to carve and arrange once they are finished.]

[greenjacketed]

...One party-goer is here to steal a prettified apple off its platter well before it's delivered out to the main room. A scarred and roughened hand darted in from the left, surprisingly quick for such a tall man. But perhaps still not quick enough for a Crow.

[antivanleather]

Even while busy carving a flour out of the side of a small melon, habit was habit and instinct was instinct. Zevran saw a hand darting in and reacted accordingly, flipping the blade in his hand away with a flick of his fingers and reaching over to clamp a slim, tanned hand over that wayward attempt at theft.

"Not just yet, my friend."

[greenjacketed]

The soldier's glare was pure antagonism. Petulant, almost. He'd grown accustomed to a meal-space that didn't judge him when he wanted to snack idly.

"Bloody hell, man," Sharpe grumbled -- aware that he was a friend of Katniss's and aware of his name, but aware of little else. Except that the man was apparently quick enough to catch the wrist of an old London pickpocket. Sharpe wrenched his hand free, dropping the apple in the process. "It's not like I'll get to have any of it once it leaves the damned kitchen."

[antivanleather]

Warning made, Zev let the man's wrist go easily, flicked the knife back into carving position and resumed his work on the melon. This particular cut was familiar enough that he could make it while looking over to the rather petulant not quite Fereldan. "With hands as deft as yours I am certain you could find one of the many apples set out to content you. Everyone else will be too busy staring at them to eat them."

[greenjacketed]

He made his sullen retreat, leaning his shoulder against the fridge door.

"God, no. I won't venture out into that lion's pit." There was a reason he was hiding out in the kitchen, after all. No hell or high water would move the Rifleman; however, either Everdeen sister might manage to implore him with some success. "Keep your sodding fruit."

Huff.

[antivanleather]

"Such gatherings are not agreeable with you?" Zevran cracked a smile. For once he would be in agreement with someone avoiding a crowd.

A thought occurred to him, even though it is, technically, the man's own kitchen if he was hiding while there was work to be done, he might as well find some use for the extra pair of hands.

"What do you think of a trade? Fruit for labor?"

[stillplaying]

[When she had told Zevran that she wanted simple foods like fruits and vegetables and other snacks, she didn't imagine that such a fanciful presentation could be made out of the foods. Even though she knew that she should be making rounds around the house and backyard, she couldn't help but stand in the entrance of the kitchen and watch. Admiring his skill with a knife, a skill she envied.

Eventually, though, she did speak up. And flashed him a grateful smile.]

Where did you learn to do this?

[antivanleather]

Mm?

[He looked up from where he was peeling the rind away from a small melon covered in flowers to Katniss, hands moving of their own accord.]

This? During a particularly long stint in a noble's kitchen while attempting to find the opportune moment to slip him poison. It was a thoroughly boring post, to be certain, but the chefs had much to teach and did not mind sharing their craft with a humble house elf.

[stillplaying]

[She wondered briefly what happened to the noble, then opted not to ask. His past was what it was. Much like her own. Neither could change it, make up for all the lives that they had taken.

And, really, that melon he was currently working on was far more interesting.]

Were fruits like this common?

[antivanleather]

The melons, I must admit, are a bit different than what I am accustomed to. The berries, apples, and oranges? I have worked with their like before.

[He cut shallow lines into the rind that he'd peeled, flicking away bits to form neat little windows.]

You are absolutely certain I may not paint gold leaf onto any of the fruit?

[stillplaying]

I'm sure.

[But she said it with a smile and a little bit of a laugh. If he decided to sneak in one or two gold leaf fruit, she wouldn't complain. She doubted that anyone would chose to eat them - too beautiful to touch - but she could just picture how lovely they'd be to see.

Picking up one of the discarded pieces of melon, she chewed on it slowly and thoughtfully.]

This tastes good.

[antivanleather]

Keep me from my true art. How terribly cruel of you.

[He sniffed and finished filleting a bit of fruit from the next line in his carving, all wounded pride and sad, mopey eyes.]

It is called 'watermelon' for how moist it is. That does make the carving a bit tricky but the color and the flavor is quite enjoyable. Try it with a bit of honey.

[prims]

[ Prim's not there early on, since she was off being occupied until the party starts - but when she gets back, she might just be in time to catch a few of the last designs. If not, she's perfectly happy to admire the platters, almost afraid to touch any of the fruits displayed - or perhaps a tad regretful. ]

They're too pretty to eat, really. [ She sounds genuinely impressed and awed about this; these things are beautiful, and she's never quite seen the like. Prim feels like a little girl with her hands pressed to the glass of the bakery, peering in at fancifully frosted cakes and thinking how much she'd like to touch one.

She could reach out and build a plate of fruits to eat now, but it seems almost a shame, even though Prim realizes that's silly. ]

[antivanleather]

They are as lovely as the girl they were made for.

[Zev offers Prim a soft smile and finishes the last cut on a strawberry he had been twirling on a stick, brushes it with a bit of honey'd glaze to give it a shine and offers the fruit rose to her with a flourish.]

And they are meant to be enjoyed. As much as I enjoy hearing how lovely the are, I enjoy watching others taste them just as much.

[prims]

[ That gets a laugh, flattered as much as Prim is amused - a bit of a different instant reaction than her sister might have had, at least whenever she'd met this man.

She accepts the fruit rose and, to match the flourish, gives a silly little bow. She's only just fourteen, and she's always been capable of focusing on happy things, of being just a bit silly and a bit free. ]

Where did you learn all this?

[antivanleather]

[For the first time he's somewhat twisted, by guilt, reason, or some manner of wanting to keep the ugliness of his history far, far away from someone so bright and joyful, Zevran lets a lie trip off his lips while working away at a relatively honest bit of work.]

I was apprenticed to a master chef for a royal family one year. Apparently it displeases a princess to dine on fruit not made into something lovely.

[prims]

[ Prim has no reason to suspect this might not be the truth, so she accepts it readily - although with wide eyes. Royalty?

It's strange, too, to think that people could be so picky so as to not eat fruit unless. Or to not eat anything unless something. When you went without...

Well, it was hard to picture. ]

So are you a chef back at home, then? [ It sounds nice. ]

[antivanleather]

I was, and am, an elf of many skills and trades. Cooking, carving, painting, writing, dancing, singing, crafting, sewing- I have done many things to earn my way through the world. Here your sister sees fit to profit off of my knowledge of the kitchen and my desire to show off.

[thebellthatbinds]

[Sabriel's only dropping off a jug of honey-lemonade before she heads out to the backyard to get her violin tuned and ready but she stops at the sight of Zevran's handiwork. Giving a low whistle of appreciation she steps up beside him to get a better look at the carved fruit with her good eye.]

Those are beautiful.

[antivanleather]

And quite delicious as well.

[He turns a slim slice of carved fruit on a spear and trims it to look a little more like a leaf before offering it to Sabriel.]

Alas, I am not permitted to cook anything too fanciful, but this I am allowed.

[thebellthatbinds]

[Setting the jug aside by the other drinks in the kitchen Sabriel accepts the slice with a smile.]

For occasions like this simple is better, it helps you appreciate the people around you.

[She almost feels bad eating it but there's really no point in letting it go to waste. No matter how lovely the carvings were, fruit is fruit.]

Mmm, where did you learn to carve these?

[antivanleather]

I suppose that might be the case.

[He crackles a soft laugh and starts carving away at another melon, leaves and petals spiraling outward bit by bit.]

I had a long post at a particularly dull kitchen where the chefs did not mind sharing their skills with an elf.

[thebellthatbinds]

If the cooks back at Wyverley could see this they'd scramble to hire you for school events.

[Popping the rest of her slice in her mouth she slides her violin case down from her shoulder to rest against her leg while she leans against the counter watching the leaves and flowers blossom across the fruit.]

Are you the designated cook for today?

[antivanleather]

That I am. This way Katniss is able to enjoy the party as much as everyone else, I get to feel useful and stab things without getting sad faces from my husbands.