simplestgift: (Just a little idle talk of this and that)
Archie Kennedy ([personal profile] simplestgift) wrote in [community profile] lucetilogs2011-11-30 10:14 pm

Comfort and Joy

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.

i felt this icon was appropriate.

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-01 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
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?"
shadedsunlight: (Know that I am the luckiest)

|Db

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-01 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
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."
Edited 2011-12-01 06:16 (UTC)

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-02 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
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: (Smile like you mean it)

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-02 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"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."

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-09 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm deeply honoured that you are enjoying yourself, Miss Ginia. The turnout is a surprise!" A snicker.

He bows, nice and deep even though the sentiment is wasted on her. It's the thought that counts, right? Jack takes the back of a chair in his hand and pulls it back, a little noise made. "May I sit? I promise I'm not bad company."
shadedsunlight: (Life is way too short  to be unhappy)

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-09 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
A wasted sentiment, but the gesture is always appreciate. Ginia beams and nods her head at him.

"Of course! Company is always appreciated. Selfishly, I enjoy a bit of conversion now that I can. Oh, I'm sorry I didn't get to help out with the food. Food, that is absolutely wonderful and will ruin my waistline."

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-10 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
"As long as you're here to eat it, I shan't be too upset." A jibe.
shadedsunlight: (Everything about you resonates happiness)

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-10 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
"I must have some of the recipes sometime. I'm especially fond of the puddings. Wonderful drinks too, I've never had wassail before. What goes into it?"

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-10 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Orange and apple juice with cinnamon. Best mulled cider to have for a Christmas celebration says I."

He chuckles a little. "As for the recipes; I require some service to compensate for my secrets. Assisting with the cooking at the next gala we attempt would do just fine. If you're able."
shadedsunlight: (A firefly caught my eye)

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-10 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll have to keep that in mind. Is it difficult to make?" bartender that she is, the gears are already turning in her head.

"Of course I'm willing to provide adequate compensation. At the next gala, provided I am able, I am yours to use as you see fit."

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-11 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not at all! I could show you when you'd like to learn it."

And he smiles and taps his knuckles on the table, unwittingly in time with the music. "I'd be glad of that. To have a woman's help, at least."
shadedsunlight: (That woman she's got eyes that shine)

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-13 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
"We'll have to discuss this again once my vision is back."

She smiles a little as she hears the tapping moving with the beat of the music. "My help is no different than the help of anyone else. By the by, will you be playing later?"

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-15 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Indeed, I wouldn't want to pass the opportunity up."

He busy thinking of the next time there would be a chance to host such an event where a large amount of food was required. It would be a good time to demonstrate, he reasoned. At the subject of music, his attention is back to Ginia and the conversation at hand.

"Yes I believe I shall be. There's a tune or two I know for the holiday."
shadedsunlight: (It's just a shimmy and a shake)

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-15 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
There's always New Year's. They cycle may have changed over in October, but they can still celebrate the start of another twelve months. The gears in Ginia's mind are already turning.

"Wonderful! I can't wait to hear." Ginia grins. "I suppose I'm thankful I still have my hearing. How tragic would it be to miss out on all this beautiful music?"

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-17 07:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"That would be horrid, absolutely! I pray it never comes to that!"

Jack is very much serious; to not hear music after a lifetime of appreciation would be...ghastly.
shadedsunlight: (Know that I am the luckiest)

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-19 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
"I hope so as well. Though to be blind or to be deaf... I don't know which one I'd rather be. To miss out on all the beautiful sights or to miss out on all the beautiful sounds."

She muses on it a little more, then shakes her head. No, today is not the day for such thoughts.

"I'm sorry, I think too much. I shouldn't do that, especially at such a wonderful party."

[identity profile] straightatem.livejournal.com 2011-12-22 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thinking is a noble thing, my dear. Never apologize for having a mind of your own."

That is....highly revolutionary talk from him.

"Why if I had smarts enough I'd be philosophizing every hour of every day!"
shadedsunlight: (Default)

[personal profile] shadedsunlight 2011-12-22 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll never apologize for having a mind of my own; I quite like it. I can apologize for thinking depressing things at such a happy event."

She laughs lightly and gently places a hand on his arm.

"I think you're smart enough to be able to philosophize as much as you want."