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

[lostinmyway]

"Oh, yes, I'm sure it would be! Maybe we can have one soon."

She couldn't really participate, since presumably her piano lessons haven't been going all that well, and more likely than not she would drift away long before the end, but the thought makes her happy all the same.

[shadedsunlight]

"I'd have to talk to Frederic about that to see what he says. I wonder if the music classes would want to put something on?"

Ah, there Ginia goes again, making plans when there are so many planned plans that have yet to become more than mere plans. But it's a happy thought and could be a nice evening for all. Music is good like that.

[lostinmyway]

Music is very good like that. And even if Grune couldn't participate musically, she'd still help where she could.

"I'm sure they would. It's nice to make music for other people, isn't it?"

[shadedsunlight]

"It is. My mother always said music was something meant to be shared with everyone. A pure expression of feelings that can be felt by so many people in different ways."

She pauses, smiles a little as she thinks about her mother.

"My mother was a wonderful singer and piano player."

[lostinmyway]

Grune watches her, smiling gently. "It must have been very nice to listen to her."

[shadedsunlight]

"It was. She was... she was very talented."

[lostinmyway]

Grune doesn't remember all of the details from that day in Luceti Land--or even most of them--but she does remember what's important. And she knows here is a place to go gently.

"Do you have a favourite song she used to play?"

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia thinks on the question, hands gently fiddling with the skirt of her dress. There were so many songs her mother sang over the course of her life and Ginia cherished so many of them, but one stands out in particular.

"Scarborough Fair. Wh-when we were young, she'd sing it to us."

[lostinmyway]

"Maybe you should learn how to play it on the piano," she suggests.

After all, Ginia doesn't think she'll be able to speak and sing forever, but she'll always be able to play the piano. Then, she can remember her mother with a smile.

[shadedsunlight]

"I had her teach me when I was younger. It's a simple song, but very beautiful." She laughs quietly, old memories returning to the forefront. "She taught me a lot of the songs she knew."

[lostinmyway]

"Will you play it for me? I'd love to hear it."

And maybe she can learn to sing it, since it means so much to Ginia.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia smiles and nods in agreement.

"Of course. Um, remind me sometime and I'll play it for you. I just need a piano."

[lostinmyway]

Grune looks about, and her gaze lands on where Frederic has been providing the accompaniment for the evening.

"There's a piano over there."

[shadedsunlight]

A wave of shyness suddenly washes over Ginia. While she's certain she can still play the piano even without her sight - she barely looks at the keys these days anyway -, she had a very set list of songs to play that would be appropriate for the party. Not that Scarborough Fair would be unwelcome, but it's different.

"Oh, I don't know, Grune. Perhaps another time."

[lostinmyway]

Grune doesn't understand appropriateness--or shyness, for that matter--but she does have her own personal logic, which says that since the piano is busy, that's why Ginia doesn't want to play right now.

"Oh, all right. I can't wait to hear you," she says with a smile in her voice.

[shadedsunlight]

"Sometime, I promise. I'll play it for you. M-maybe sing it too, I remember the words. It's a story, you know. A man setting forth a list of impossible tasks for his lover, and if she completes them, he'll take her back."

...Upon reflection and saying it that way, the song suddenly doesn't sound so nice.

[lostinmyway]

Grune both looks and sounds puzzled by that. "Doesn't he want to be with his special someone?"

[shadedsunlight]

"He does, but it's like a test. A test for love."

...

"It's still a pretty song."

[lostinmyway]

"Oh, I'm sure it is," Grune says with complete confidence. "I'm sure you'll do a very good job with it, Ginia."

[shadedsunlight]

"Do you... um... do you want to hear the song? I mean, I know the lyrics at least."

[lostinmyway]

Immediately, Grune exclaims, "Oh, I'd love to! Thank you, Ginia!"

She settles in, all ready to listen her best.

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia blushes a little and sits up slightly, clearing her throat.

"Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
Remember me to one who lives there,
For once she was a true love of mine."

[lostinmyway]

Grune smiles as Ginia sings. The melody is lovely, and she has such a beautiful voice; even if it's only hers for a little while, it's a real pleasure to listen to her. In a way, that her voice will be here for such a short time makes listening to her even more special.

[shadedsunlight]

In many ways, singing is easier than she thought it would be. Sure, there's the occasional flat or sharp note as her untrained voice falters a little, but she moves along smoothly, recalling the notes, the melody, the way her mother would sing it to them when they were fussy children who wouldn't sleep, or how she'd hum it as she did the dishes or cleaned the house.

When Ginia finishes singing, she blushes and ducks her head a little, glad no one else could hear over the music and chatter of the party.

[lostinmyway]

Grune beams and applauds, absolutely delighted. "That was so beautiful, Ginia! Thank you!"