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

[hoasen]

[Don't worry, Saber, a cheapass is here now. She spends a lot, but she also budgets like crazy which means she saves plenty.]

There is, you just need to strategise how to minimise spending. Also building up rapport with the shop keepers help too.

[She's shy, but she also likes her DOLLARS just as much.]

[armorial]

[ There's a thoughtful hum as she considers all of it. It makes a lot of sense, but she can't picture herself doing it. ]

That sounds like a lot of effort invested... Being a conversationalist and general communication servers a large role.

[ Which she also lacks. She has charisma to lead a country, but not like... persuade a vendor to sell her an apple for half price.

She would just buy it as it is. ]

[hoasen]

[Don't worry #2, even royalty will look GREAT bargaining.]

I suppose it does. A different kind of battle. [Somehow she's managed to master it despite her preference to spend time in smaller groups.

Besides, charisma to run a country vs charisma to sell an apple for half price? Same kind of war, sometimes.]

It will take some practice, but I believe it falls into the same category as negotiation.

[armorial]

I see. Usually, I have my council to support me in negotiations between kingdoms. [ Big talk from a small girl, but she can't imagine doing it by herself. She can... She's well-versed in the ways, but not when it comes with haggling. It's a different category entirely.

She stays quiet, snack daintily held between her thumb and index finger. She's contemplating while staring at Vietnam with this unnerving stare. Saber has always been one to not let her presence be known, never to bother others even with her concerns.

... But maybe she can learn to depend on others avidly while she's here. It's something she has done a couple of times now, but there's still some reluctance. ]

If you would... And if you ever have time. [ Her voice isn't shaky nor is it quiet, but it's still stalling in some ways. ] I would like to learn.

[ Very much like when Vietnam taught her how to swim, she will depend on her a second time. ]

[hoasen]

Oh? Are you royalty? [There has been a number of people with job names, like Assassin and Berserker, but she didn't think Saber was a job name. Weapon names sound cool as names, she can think of a few in her own language. And it doesn't matter if she's small! Not just Vietnam, but all the women she knows back home are small. Female countries aren't big women.

Royalty can still do to have other skills. Vietnam knows there's still many things she herself doesn't know. If Saber was able to learn how to swim, then this should be fine.]

Anytime, of course. Whenever I go shopping and you are free, would you like to come with me?

[armorial]

I was once a king. [ While identity was something she had to hide from others, it's all different here. In a way, it's a little sad, but she's one to easily move on. She's not looking for subjects to bend to her will, anyway. ]

... Yes, I would like that.

[ She nods a couple of times. While there are many opportunities to go "shopping", Saber hasn't really took initiative herself. She doesn't cook. She doesn't play dress up, either.

Just trains.

And eats and sleep. ]