[GP] Réveillon & New Year's Eve & Check-In

[st_rangepalette]

Emma had said, during Winter's Crest, that she missed a tradition from home called réveillon. She seemed also to miss her cousin, as Lillith missed hers. Since she wished both to learn to cook and to be of comfort to her friend, it had been decided they would make a réveillon dinner for New Year's Eve.

Yet when Emma began to lay out the courses -- oyster soup and potato & leek soup, salad, a gumbo, venison roast, cheeses, and creme brulee, plus several hors d'ouevres not yet decided -- Lillith quailed at the size of the undertaking. Surely she would wish someone to assist who could contribute more than roasted rabbit, wheat or potato flour dumplings, and koláč.

Since Sunny likewise missed her family and would certainly wish a distraction, when she entered the cafe where they were planning, the other two seized upon her almost at once. Sunny could hardly resist their dual entreaty, even had she wished to, and Lillith thought she seemed even more ready for company than previously. Of course Sunny had offerings of her own: jolloff rice, peppered chicken, and fried plantain.

Between they three, the planning and the cooking were very nearly merry, and Lillith kept them liberally supplied with champagne (her personal favorite), too. By late afternoon of the eve of the new year, they had begun lining tables with dishes, and enlisted the help of other friends to make the evening event widely known.

Of course, in addition to the réveillon feast that took over the steakhouse, alcohol flowed freely, lights sparkled brightly, the nightclub had music for dancing. And at some point the Inn or Caroline or Regina hung mistletoe from several of the primary entrances and exits so that unless one wished to or was unaware of the tradition, no one (not even any new arrivals) need greet the new year unkissed.

Comments

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_artliving]

"No, Earth is lovely!" Xavin's protest was in earnest. "Full of strangeness and difference. So much to learn! When I left I was sad to think I might never see it again,"

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_unaligned]

"Why'd you leave?" Bo decided, from meeting so many people here who traveled, that when she got back to her world, she would go traveling too.

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_artliving]

"I... took my fiancée's place in prison, with her people. She deserved to stay with her family on Earth, and she had done nothing wrong." Briefly, Xavin shifted to Karolina's shape and back again to her more familiar female shape. "It was better that I go. And now I am here."

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_unaligned]

Bo looked a little surprised, but only because she hadn't been ready for it. She didn't look surprised at the fact Xavin could do it. "Wow... That's.." It was sad and wonderful at the same time. "You must really love her."

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_artliving]

"Yes," Xavin agreed. Rather than being bitter or sad, she was peaceful, despite the conviction that she would never see Karolina again. "But do not misunderstand. It was the only viable option. Had I allowed her to go herself, perhaps thinking to rescue her later, it would not have worked. Our group tolerated me only for love of her, I would have been equally alone while she also suffered. My choice simply limited suffering and solitude to myself."

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_unaligned]

That sounded really... sad. Bo tried not to frown because she never liked it when she made other people pity her. Still, it was hard. "Well, you won't be alone here, so maybe we can work on that 'solitude' thing for you." A smile was offered.

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_artliving]

Xavin returned the smile easily enough, though a little sadly. "I have made friends, I think. It will do. Humans have difficulty with me."

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_unaligned]

"Humans have difficulty with a lot of things." Bo could see how Xavin might weird some people out. "Have you met Odo?"

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_artliving]

"I do not think I have." The name was not familiar, anyway. "Why?"

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_unaligned]

"He's the first person I met who was from space. Maybe you guys would have something in common?" She smiled. "But, for the record, you're not doing half bad with me."

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_artliving]

"I will keep my eyes and ears open," Xavin promised. The odds weren't good that this 'Odo' was from the same place as she was, but meeting someone else 'from space' would have to be a relief of some kind. Someone who understood about not necessarily being planet-bound. "I have tried very hard to build social skills. They are far better than they were."

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_unaligned]

"I've met people with way worse." Some Fae were really bad with their social skills. "You can feel free to practice any time on me if you want." Which was Bo flirting a littler since Xavin wasn't hard on the eyes either.

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_artliving]

"I have had very good teachers." And given how effortlessly Bo had started and carried on a conversation with Xavin, who knew herself to be rather difficult at times? "I do not doubt you will be one such, as well."

Re: Xavin - OTA

[st_unaligned]

That made Bo smile widely. Somewhere in the world Trick was facepalming.

"I should get back to my post. Lots of people are going to want drinks tonight." And somewhere Sam was waiting for a midnight kiss and it wasn't going to be something appropriate for the hotel to witness, though she personally wouldn't care.

"I'm usually at the bar or in the cafe if you ever want to find me."