Comfort and Joy

[simplestgift]

Who: Come one, come all! ...In formal attire.
What: A Christmas ball, old world style.
When: December 1st, beginning around five in the afternoon and ending when the last person leaves.
Where: The rec center.
Summary: Earth's eighteenth-century peeps are throwing one hell of a party.
Rating: Well, considering no one is serving water? Probably PG-13 for alcohol consumption and the results thereof (there's coffee and hot chocolate!).

The recreation center has been utterly transformed.

The doors open to a host of candles and a warm, old-world smell and feel. The scent of food and spices hangs in the air—mulled wine, wassail, evergreen boughs, fresh bread and roast meat. Cream brocades, simple but elegant, are draped over the walls. Traditional red rugs have been thrown over the floor. Gone are the billiard tables, ping-pong, and foosball. It looks like a different place entirely, every table impeccably dressed with light linen cloths and set with fine china and crystal. At least one-half of the room is cleared and ready for dancers.

The tables are lit with candles, and five chandeliers have been temporarily added to the room for more light, giving the room a golden glow instead of the sterile luminescence of fluorescent lighting. On the tables, boughs of evergreen and holly surround the candles, and mistletoe has been hung discreetly here and there. In one corner of the dancing area, by a large and beautifully decorated fir tree (Buffy’s insistence), the musicians are set up to play, unobtrusive to the diners but essential to the dancers. Leading them is Frederic Chopin himself, and few here can say they have had anyone better play for their pleasure.

Things will begin with a grand dinner late in the afternoon, with a light supper (mostly consisting of cold meats, bread, and other lighter fare) at around nine o’clock. The selection of food on the tables is enormous. Most of it is meat-based and some of it is simply meat. Roast beef with mushrooms, goose in giblet gravy, herbed chicken, baked salmon, and a whole pig are among the choices. There is some hope for vegetarians, though, with spinach mixed with bread crumbs and cheese on small toasts, turnips (or rutabagas if you speak American), onions, carrots, parsnips, mashed potatoes, asparagus in breadcrumbs, and savory onion and wild mushroom pies. There is hot fresh bread and rolls with butter and heaps upon heaps of small mince pies filled with fruit, molasses, and yes, a little minced lamb. Moreover, there are fresh winter fruits like oranges and mikans and many different desserts, such as Christmas pudding, a rum chocolate dessert, and spotted dog with custard. Sit and help yourself. For a complete list of the food offered, take a look here.

Among the drinks throughout the evening are wassail, tea, hot chocolate (less sweet and much more intense than most modern characters would be used to, made with cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of cayenne pepper), coffee, brandy, wine both mulled and plain, port, sherry, and gallons of rum punch. Even though the food is fantastic, overseen by Jack Aubrey, the conversation is the point of the game, and who knows who they will wind up sitting beside. At the center of each table is placed a pineapple as a sign of welcome and wishes of prosperity.

There is dancing light as the music itself, with Archie Kennedy and Elizabeth Swann teaching the steps of each dance before striking up the music and letting everyone go to town with it. They are poised and elegant but relaxed and seeming to glide as they demonstrate the motions with an effortlessness that comes with years of practice. They were both raised on these dances and this sort of social function and seem completely at home here. The dancing begins after dinner with the minuets and continues after a light supper with some informal English country dances. Anyone unused to dancing like this may find that it’s harder than it looks, but when one gets used to it, it feels very graceful, beautiful, and…fun! The activity will only end when there are too few dancers left to continue, and will continue all night if possible. As dancers pass each other or move hand-in-hand, eye contact can be made, quiet words exchanged, subtle (or not) messages passed as they spin through the room, or perhaps the room spins while they remain still.

It might depend on how much they’ve had to drink.

Those who do not wish to dance have other activities to participate in. In one corner, card tables are set up with multiple decks of cards stacked up, and there is even a box or two of dominoes and a handful of dice. The tables themselves are round and made of polished rosewood or mahogany. This area is well-lit and on the opposite end of the room from the musicians and dancers, probably as a mercy to the tone-deaf Horatio Hornblower who loves cards but can’t abide music. Here, discreet (or indiscreet) gambling is inevitable. There may be no money here, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to wager.

Are you lingering at the dining tables, drinking and talking loud and laughing with friends, or will you shyly sit and watch the dancing and games and hope to be invited in? Are you sitting quietly alone and listening to the music as your foot taps on its own, or are you unable to sit still and ready to dance all night if they’ll let you? Are you playing cards with a few new acquaintances, or are you hanging on someone’s arm and helping them cheat?

Whatever you do, have fun.

Comments

[shadedsunlight]

It was through some combination of stubbornness and pride that brings Ginia out to the party. Though she'd only been able to help with the barest of decorations and had to bow out of food preparations entirely, she can still provide some piano music - it wasn't as if she looked at the keys anymore while playing anyway - and otherwise talk with friends and enjoy the night. Besides, even if she can't see a thing, being out is far better than being stuck in the apartment.

When she's not giving the other musicians a break by playing some pieces at the piano, she's otherwise seated somewhere safe, perhaps carefully enjoying a plate of food - food becomes so interesting when you can't see what you're eating - or having a conversation. She may miss her vision, but she's taking full advantage of her gift of the gab while she still can.

Secretly, she longs to dance, but unable to see where she's going, dancing with everyone else would be ill-advised. Perhaps someone will indulge her in a waltz for two?

And if there's mistletoe hanging above, well, best hope Giles isn't watching.

i felt this icon was appropriate.

[straightatem.livejournal.com]

It should be bad that Jack makes a bee-line for Ginia as soon as he spots her. He is a tad distracted by the shoulder line she presents but it makes her look all the more lovely he thinks. It is when she goes from the piano to her seat that he walks near her and smiles big - unaware that she cannot see him but he would smile nonetheless.

"Miss Ginia, how are you this evening?"

|Db

[shadedsunlight]

From the piano to the seat she's set for herself, Ginia carefully counts out the steps between, one hand slightly outstretched in case there's someone approaching. Her hand is on the back of the chair when she hears someone call for her, turning and smiling, blue eyes no longer bright, but dull and white.

"Good evening, sir." she responds, carefully taking her seat and giving an embarrassed smile. "You'll have to forgive me for not immediately recognizing your voice. I'm still getting used to this."

[straightatem.livejournal.com]

The surprise on his face shows quite easily....perhaps it's best that she can't see it. He, for once, is quick about solving what has happened. A voice for her sight. Now what in this world could possibly do that?

Jack does his best to sound as charming as he meant to be.

"Captain Jack Aubrey, at your service ma'am."

[shadedsunlight]

"Captain Aubrey! My apologizes for not recognizing you, but its a pleasure to hear from you."

She's all smiles despite the sudden shift of disabilities. It's something for everyone to adjust to, but right now she wants to enjoy herself at the party.

"I must say this is a wonderful party. I'm quite enjoying myself."

[notshadowfever.livejournal.com]

At some point during the evening, probably when Ginia is sitting alone, Eggman spots her and immediately makes his way over to her. She won't need to see him, since he'll make his presence fairly obvious before he even reaches her.

"Ho ho ho! Ginia!"

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia sits in her chair, listening to all the noise around her, picking out conversations here and there, enjoying the music. It's all very chaotic and almost overwhelming, but there's also something relaxing about it too. In her mind, she tries to picture things. The lights, the outfits, the food, she tries to piece it together.

When she hears someone addressing her, she snaps out of her thoughts and turns toward the origin. The voice is immediately recognized for how distinct it is and she smiles and bows her head politely.

"Good evening, Doctor Eggman. Are you enjoying yourself?"

[notshadowfever.livejournal.com]

Eggman stands behind the seat opposite Ginia, not sitting down yet. He grins at Ginia.

"Oh, indeed I am! Though I must say, I didn't expect to see you here! Even so, I, er-" Eggman looks about the tables nearby, hoping to find some flowers. Nope, he just grabs a bundle of evergreen and offers it to Ginia. "I got you these!"

It's okay, Eggman. She'll never know!

[shadedsunlight]

"Oh? Th-there was n-no need to do that," Ginia stammers slightly, though she reaches out for the evergreen to be polite. Her hand searches for a moment, finding the leaves and plucking the branch from his hand. Hmm, that festive evergreen scent. She laughs softly and lets the branch rest on her lap.

...She has her hunches, but she'll remain quiet and have someone surreptitiously return the branch to its home when he's not around.

"Th-thank you."

[lostinmyway]

The moment Grune spots Ginia on the sidelines, she makes a beeline for her. Suddenly, the ball just got that much better.

"Hello, Ginia!" she greets her friend as she sits down next to her. "Isn't this such a wonderful party?"

[shadedsunlight]

There's a voice Ginia will never fail to recognize and she smiles as well, turning slightly toward her friend.

"Hello, Grune. This is! The music is beautiful and have you tried the food? They did a fine job cooking everything."

[lostinmyway]

"Oh, yes. It was delicious! Did you help make the food?"

She knows that Ginia always love to help, and she's very good at baking. It unfortunately hasn't occurred to her that baking is significantly more difficult when you're blind.

[shadedsunlight]

"N-no, not this time. I would have liked to, but it's a little hard when you can't see what you're making. I helped with some of the decorations though! A-and I can still play the piano."

Because even blind, Ginia is never content with just sitting around and looking pretty at a party.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

"Ginia!" When she recognizes the girl seated off to the side, she separates herself from the dance floor to hurry over. "You made it."

[shadedsunlight]

Her voice recognition is getting a bit better over the days - listening to old entries and responses, focusing on all the little idiosyncrasies found in each voice, it's becoming an interesting little challenge and a good way to keep herself occupied. So when she hears Jilly, she smiles and offers a nod of her head.

"Hello, Jilly. Christmas party like this? I wouldn't miss it. Besides, I promised I'd help out with music and I hate going back on my word. Though I did have to back out of cooking. Enjoying yourself?"

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

"There's more of a need for people to eat than cooks, at this point," she said with a laugh. "We could possibly feed the village for a month on everything here."

She took a seat beside the other woman, carefully shifting her skirts as she did. "It's not what I'd usually picture, as far as parties go, but I couldn't ask for a better way to celebrate the holiday. It's wonderful."

[all7seas]

"Mistress Ginia!"


There's mistletoe hanging above. Please please let Giles not be watching.

[shadedsunlight]

And there is a voice that will always be recognized. Ginia smiles and turns her head until she can pinpoint Jack's relatively position. Her eyes are dull and white, but her spirits are quite high, her voice crisp and Italian-accented.

"Captain Sparrow! Enjoying the party?"

[all7seas]

He steps quite close, peering into those whitened eyes. "You're blind!






And you're talking!"

Give him a moment to let those two things register.

[talontrot]

Kazooie's not surprised to see Ginia here, though of course she has no idea that her friend is blind. So when she approaches Ginia at her table, she tries the foolish idea of essentially gesturing a wing at her to get her attention.

Naturally, that doesn't work, so after a moment, her familiar raucous voice starts up.

"Ginia! Hey, Ginia!"

[shadedsunlight]

The wing wave is obviously ignored, though Ginia does hear the light rustling of feathers and a small breeze. It catches her attention, but it could be anything; a person passing by, any number of flapping wings.

Only when she hears the voice does she sit up, pinpointing the location of the voice, one that's very easily recognized.

"Oh! Kazooie! Hello, I didn't know you were here!"

[talontrot]

"I guess it's 'cause there's a bunch of people!" Kazooie says merrily, still not connecting the dots... until she gets closer and sees Ginia's eyes.

They are a very odd, milky white.

"... What the heck happened to you?!"

[i_am_not_cute]

Here comes someone who might take Ginia out for a dance.

"Hi, Miss Ginia!" Pao-lin greets, taking a seat next to her. She caught Ginia's latest journal post a little too late to be of any assistance, so maybe she can make up for it here by keeping the woman company.

[shadedsunlight]

Oh, Pao-lin! Ginia recognizes the voice and turns toward her general direction and offers a smile.

"Hello, Pao-lin, are you enjoying the evening?"

A pity she couldn't see the girl's attire; she'd certainly approve of it.

[i_am_not_cute]

"Mmm-hmm! I've never been to anything like this before. There's so much good food here!" So predictable, Pao-lin.