Comfort and Joy

[simplestgift]

Who: Come one, come all! ...So long as you're appropriately dressed.
What: Luceti's second annual Christmas ball, old-world style.
When: December 1st, beginning around five in the afternoon and ending when the last person leaves.
Where: The Battle Dome.
Summary: Earth's eighteenth-century peeps are throwing one hell of a party. Again.
Rating: Well, considering no one is serving water? Probably PG-13 for alcohol consumption and the results thereof (there's coffee and hot chocolate!).

Upon stepping into the program at the Battle Dome, snow crunches beneath your feet. Great flakes of it drift silently from the dark sky above. And ahead...





The chill in the air is penetrated by the promise of warmth and light within the castle. As you approach, the music and festivities from inside reach your ears--tambourines and laughter and the clink of china dishes.

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--and you're only in the entryway.

Inside the dining room, cream brocades, simple but elegant, are draped over the walls. Traditional red rugs have been thrown over the floor. The single long feast table is impeccably dressed with light linen cloths and set with fine china and crystal.

The tables are lit with candles and chandeliers, giving the room a golden glow. On the tables, boughs of evergreen and holly surround the candles, and mistletoe has been hung discreetly here and there. In one corner, by a large and beautifully decorated fir tree (Buffy’s insistence), musicians are set up to play.

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.

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, 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.

In the ballroom, 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! In fact, it's perfectly acceptable to goof off during these dances, as long as you're charming enough that people aren't irritated with you when you mess everyone up. 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 quiet room, 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 quietly away from the ballroom, 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.

This being a castle, there are other rooms to explore. Up in the towers are bedrooms, nooks and crannies, and a large private library. Sneaking back to the kitchen between meals for a preview or stolen taste of supper to come is not out of the question, either.

Are you lingering in the dining room, 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? Are you content to enjoy the presence of people, or are you exploring the castle with a special someone?

Whatever you do, have fun.

Comments

[antivanleather]

"For choosing to live as he likes rather than catering to your sensibilities. Terribly arrogant, that." He didn't have the patience to help Saleh stand. Zevran simply slid his hands into his pockets and did his best not to glare down at him.

[mountain_sage]

"No...for sorely underestimating my ability to survive. He should know better by now..."

It became obvious that Zevran wasn't going to help him up, but that was fine. He wasn't going to ask for it.

[antivanleather]

"...did he wish you dead?" That sort of took a different spin on their entire conversation.

[mountain_sage]

Saleh opened his eyes, staring off in a random direction.

"He has made many...many threats. Gruesome ones at that. Mostly involving...tearing my head open."

[antivanleather]

"Perhaps it is because he wishes to be left alone. I am no great expert in personal matters but usually when someone tells you they wish your head split- I would let them alone."

[mountain_sage]

"I tread where I please, and he treads where he pleases. It is merely coincidence that our paths cross so often. Although...I don't suppose you are aware that he recently frightened a young lady named Belle? Behavior like that is...despicable...regardless of the reason. If he tries to harm anyone...I would not stand for it."

[antivanleather]

"You could always turn aside. Or do the most sensible thing- Ignore him. Continuing to pursue conversation when none is desired only leaves a bitter taste in both of your mouths." Ah, yes. That incident. Zevran was aware, and he knew where he stood on the matter. "Oh dear. A young woman that poked about a tiger's den was swatted at. No blood was drawn, I see no reason to lay judgement upon him for acting in his nature."

[mountain_sage]

"Precisely why I set the matter aside, but have not forgotten it. I have given Belle her due warning after the fact. Ignoring Isaac is easier said than done, lest he may actually draw blood one day..."

It's hard to ignore Isaac, knowing he may very well stab the sage in the back one day...

[antivanleather]

"If blood is drawn it is because he, like anyone else in this place, was provoked into it. For all his threats he is no fool, nor should you be so simple as to assume he would act in such a manner." Zev nudges Saleh with the toe of his boot. "Comfortable, are we?"

[mountain_sage]

"I am not so 'simple'. I keep an open mind. He may harm others, or he may not. One can never be too careful, especially when lives are at risk. Had I believed without a doubt that he would murder someone, I would have struck him down already..."

He takes the protection of others very seriously, doubly so with people he cares about.

He takes another slow, deep breath on the floor, but cringes as the elf nudges him.

"For now...yes..." He relaxes, exhaling slowly.

[antivanleather]

"An open, arrogant, judgmental mind. Truly the best of all worlds." At the last, well, he can't help but crack a laugh. That, now, that was rich. He hasn't seen much of this man but of what little he's noticed, and what very little he has been told, Isaac fears nothing of him. If he's not worth noting, he's not worth fighting. "You? Really. I sincerely doubt you would be able to strike a child down, let alone him."

[mountain_sage]

Saleh lifts his head, squinting in a pitiful glare. "I beg to differ on who is being judgmental here..." Noting how the elf seems to be judging him right now.

"Striking down a child would be far more difficult, as my conscience would get the better of me. But if my hand is forced, I will strike down my foes."

[antivanleather]

"Ah, but I have never pretended to be anything else." He was honest to a fault- no matter the subject. It did not always lend itself well to conversation, but it was true enough.

"So you say. I find it hard to believe. You hardly strike an imposing figure on the floor."

[mountain_sage]

"Nor have I. I have never claimed to be perfect. I am human; I have my flaws."

He shudders at the last comment, perhaps a pitiful laugh. Even under normal circumstances, smiling, let alone laughing, is a rare thing for him.

"I've no need to strike an imposing figure. A docile figure can still be quite dangerous..."

He's never tried to intimidate anyone, though he often does inadvertently...also due to his lack of smiles.

[antivanleather]

"You are human, and that is a flaw in and of itself." Normally Zevran held no inherent ill will against the taller race- but when they seemed to wish to do what they thought best for others regardless of how those acted for truly desired? Then he took issue with them. It starts small, it always starts small. Not that he was under any impression it'd go more than drunken rambling at this state.

"I've fought worse things than you, my friend. One man is nothing to fear."

[mountain_sage]

"Perhaps. What about you?" Perhaps that time may have come to ask what an elf is.

"It was not my intention to scare you...I'm merely being honest. Take it as you will."

He'd be surprised if anyone actually feared him, really. Or the words he spoke. After all, they're just words.

[antivanleather]

"I'm an elf." He motions to his pointed ears, highlighted by the fact his hair was entirely pulled out of his face for the evening. "And as such know when it is assistance is wanted- and when to step aside. Something most men would do well to learn."

"To be equally honest, I've yet to meet a drunk that was anything less than truthful."

[mountain_sage]

"But...what exactly is an elf? I would hardly think that the ears would be a significant difference."

He lets out another sigh. "I feel far more ill than drunk..."

[antivanleather]

"Magical creatures that see into the heart of men. We live on rooftops in little nests, much like birds, and when men are not looking we steal their wives. Or we steal their husbands. Whichever strikes heir fancy."

[mountain_sage]

"You see into the hearts of men, do you?"

Saleh has a hard time believing that, given all the inaccurate assumptions he's gotten tonight.

At the last comment, he raises an eye, his voice uncertain. "I see..."

[antivanleather]

"Some see into men's hearts. I tend to see into their pants."

[mountain_sage]

"Is that so...?"

That actually makes more sense, strangely terrible though it may be.

"There's...not much to see there..."

[antivanleather]

"In your case? I should say so." Zevran gave a faint snort, lips twisted into an unkind grin. "Nothing at all, truly."

[mountain_sage]

Is that an insult? Well, it matters little to him. He'll just treat it like a simply strange comment instead.

"It would be true in every case..."

[antivanleather]

"If that helps you sleep better on the floor, think what you like." And this has fast become fairly dull to Zev. With one last warning nudge to Saleh's ribs with his toe he turns to make his way back to the drink table. Let the drunk be someone else's problem.