housewarming ✿ open

[hymnals]

Who: Adra and all y'all
When: About a week after the dungeon; in the afternoon and going on until evening
Where: Adra & Gil's house
What: HOUSEWARMING MINGLE come eat the enchanted food
Rating: this is a family log

✿ THE HOUSE ✿ Adra's house is a cozy stone cottage on the outskirts of Caissa, close enough to the sea that one can hear the breaking waves throughout the day. This afternoon, there's light, cool rain falling intermittently, tapping in a rhythm at the windows and roof. Fortunately, the kitchen is warm, bright, and welcoming. Its counters and tables are covered with freshly prepared foods of all kinds, and there are plenty of chairs for visitors who might like to sit and relax. A door from the kitchen leads out into the garden, which is not quite yet fully landscaped, but which boasts a promising array of flowers (orchids, roses, lilies, tulips, etc) and herbs. Adra's also cultivating strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, and so on; the strawberries and cherries in particular are ripe for picking. Adra has strung enchanted, floating fairy lights all over the garden; they cast a soft, ethereal glow over the paths and carefully tended patches of greenery. At the garden's center, there's a clear pond filled with red and pink lotus blossoms. Back inside, a visitor might like to rest in the den. There's a roaring fire in the hearth, and sitting near it for a short while offers a boost to the weary spirit. Soft, plush chairs and couches fill this room, making it ideal for lounging. The tables are covered with books borrowed somewhat indiscreetly from the library; they deal largely with the magic and history of Enprise. Adjacent to the den is Adra's study. In here are half-empty bookshelves and antique rolling desk covered with neat stacks of papers, boxes of quills, and numerous pots of ink, each one in different, brilliant colors. His journal is somewhere here, too ... Finally, down the hall one will find a half bathroom and, across from that, the door to the second bedroom--belonging to one Gilgamesh. The master bedroom, belonging to Adrasteius, is at the end of the hall. There's a full bath in there, but this room is definitively locked. ✿ THE SPREAD ✿ As usual, Adra's gone over the top in his preparations. For drinks, there's a sweet, refreshing punch; delicately pink and decorated with sprigs of flowers. There are pitchers of sparkling ice water, jugs of wine and spiced mead, and plenty of glasses to share. Though Adra does not eat meat himself, he prepares it ably; there's a honey-glazed, roasted turkey in the center of the table, right beside a carving board heavy with seasoned, hand-carved slices of fresh beef. Red potatoes, bright with paprika and salt and glistening with pats of melting butter, are arranged in wedges around the turkey. There are woven baskets of steaming rolls, flaky and soft; platters of carrots and broccoli and asparagus; enormous bowls of belly-warming soup filled with thick wheat noodles, sliced egg, and shredded cabbage. At one end of the table, there's a plate of burgers, along with small dishes to fix them--bacon, crispy onions, sauteed mushrooms, and all the necessary condiments. He has plates of savory pies, filled with beef or pork or chicken; steamed and fried dumplings stuffed with meat and spring vegetables, plump and perfectly shaped. The desserts are similarly extravagant: he has a plate of meticulously crafted flower and fruit cakes; some look like ripe, blushing peaches, others, he shaped into red orchids, lotus blossoms, or golden roses. He's made a chocolate tart so dark that its smooth, sugar-dusted surface shimmers reflectively in the overhead light. Cupcakes of all kinds are scattered here and there, as well as an extravagant, multi-tiered confection dripping with fudge sauce, encrusted with sliced strawberries and vibrantly colorful, fondant flower petals. There are loaves of warm banana bread; fruit tarts glittery with rainbow sugar crystals; and, under glass, an assortment of flavorful macarons baked to look like something plucked right from the starry sky. But the most important thing about Adra's lavish banquet is this: all of the food is enchanted, laced with magic meant to inspire feelings of comfort and security. Eating it may conjure up familiar, welcome sensations or memories--nothing sorrowful or painful, and only as specific as you'd like. It could be something as simple as the feeling of a fuzzy blanket on a cold day, or as complex as a particular soothing memory. In all cases, the intended effect is meant to inspire calm and ease.

Comments

[showsnopiety]

That would be suicide.

[Her nostrils flare.]

And are you being efficient?

[hymnals]

[ He balls his hands into his fists against his thighs. ]

I am managing. And really, it isn't anyone else's business, regardless!

[showsnopiety]

Oh, you're managing so well that you're coughing up blood.

[She barks out a sharp laugh.]

If this was another person, you would have beat them over the head with this. Don't pretend otherwise.

[hymnals]

[ He stews for just a second before admitting it. ]

I would.

[ But. ]

But it's not.

[showsnopiety]

But it's not? Not what?

[hymnals]

[ Through grit teeth. ]

It's not another person. It's just me.

[showsnopiety]

Oh, so you're special. You're the one who can push himself to the brink. You're the one who can hurt himself and hide it from everyone else who has grown to care about him.

I thought I was supposed to be the cruel one.

[hymnals]

[ THIS IS EXACTLY WHY HE DIDN'T WANT TO TELL HER ]

Slings and arrows, Caren. I know what I'm doing. I take enough.

[showsnopiety]

Somehow, I doubt this.

[But now she knows. Long game, huh?]

Why are you so desperate for control, Adrasteius? Was it taken from you once?

[hymnals]

[ god damn it

well, it would have come out eventually, anyway ]

That's definitely not your business.

[showsnopiety]

[Considering who she is, and the people around them?

Yup.]

Nothing is my business. It wasn't your business to learn about the cup either.

[But he would have learned about it anyway.]

[hymnals]

That information was shared with me freely.

[ He shakes his head. ]

You know all you need to know.

[showsnopiety]

[She frowns at him.]

Stop that.

[hymnals]

Stop what?

[showsnopiety]

Stop pretending I am whoever it is that hurt you.

I know you're not stupid.

[She eyes him.]

Mostly.

[hymnals]

[ He makes an agitated noise in his throat. ]

I'm not confusing you for --

[ He stops, and tries again. ]

For anything. But tell me: would you share sensitive history with yourself?

[showsnopiety]

I've already done that. More or less.

[She offers him a lazy shrug.]

I've accidentally caused some distress in some cases.

[hymnals]

Accidentally. Of course.

[ He rolls his eyes. ]

You already know more than I should have said. The question is: what do you plan to do about it?

[showsnopiety]

You have too much faith in my capabilities.

[Her eyebrows raise, before she shrugs.]

Nothing. While I could force your hand, it would do nothing for me in the long term, and nothing for you. You'll just have a noisy, nosy pack of people hounding you to take care of yourself as you should.

[She starts to raise to her feet.]

However, I will tell you this. Should you need any form of mana exchange and don't want to worry those around you with the blood? You know how to find me.

[hymnals]

[ He folds his dirty hands in his lap. He mutters. ]

I have too much faith in too many people.

[ But she's right, of course; on all counts. Then again, people have to know what's happening to take him to task over it, and he's not keen to share. ]

... all right. I hear you.

[showsnopiety]

Misplaced faith in the wrong area. For me, perhaps.

[Her voice is very dry. Oh she could tell. But she's already thought of the consequences. There are better ways to get what she wants.]

Good.

[But on that note.]

You might want to rinse your hands and mouth quite well. You have more than one predator in your house.

[hymnals]

[ He laughs weakly, exhausted and miserable all at once. ]

He doesn't really want anything of me. Nothing more than his usual.

[showsnopiety]

...You speak of the golden archer?

[Well well. She knew that he knew him, from their last conversation but...hm.]

[hymnals]

I assume you're referring to him. He does live here, after all.

[ caren pls they are literally living together ]

[showsnopiety]

...ah, I thought he was acting like himself.

[Hey she didn't get into his bedroom yet, she has some class.]