vineleaves | Open: In a shout of joy at the only shrine where you come benighted and leave benign

Dark has come and gone again, which means it’s time to party.

In some ways the party is very similar to last year’s - same large banquet room in the mansion, a similarly large abundance of food and drink, and the promise of a night full of letting loose for everyone in attendance. It’s far from a direct clone of the previous party though. For starters, Dionysus has had Claudius help him in all of the planning (sometimes a god’s blessings come in the form of enrichment for one’s enclosure). They’ve gotten several of the mansion’s residents to agree to play live music during the night, and Dionysus was able to find some, ah, more widely appreciated CDs to play during the breaks between performers.

The room has been decorated to the nines again, but where last year he had green vines draping on the walls diffusing the glow from the twinkling fairy lights, this year he has strung up swooping vines of silver, glittering almost like tinsel. The large food tables have an almost ridiculous amount of things to munch on; there should be something for everyone there.

It should go without saying that the beverage tables are well-stocked, considering the host.

The festivities are starting a little earlier this year than last, out of respect for those who may or may not have earlier bedtimes. Come dressed in your finest, it’s a yearly tradition now!

Just as there was last year, there is to be an ‘after party’. If your character is part of the standard Orgy Invite Crew, they will have received another invitation to that half of the evening as well. Just like last year, this part of the event is to be handwaved, for obvious reasons.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

"I do appreciate it," says Susan, earnestly. Her gaze falls again to his glass of champagne and then studiously away. "It's lovely that so many people come out to things like this, don't you think?"

"It is nice," he says, and then, overcome by a sudden self-consciousness, he adds, "It's just the one drink. Since it's a special occasion."

Immediately he wishes he hadn't said it, hadn't drawn her attention to it and made excuses for himself.

Susan takes in the look on his face and says, at a volume slightly higher than the one she's been using all along - but not quite so loud that it would draw anyone's attention - "My word, it got loud in here, didn't it? I'm afraid I couldn't make out what you just said. Something about Sunny's party dress, perhaps?"

"Oh," faintly relieved. "She chose it herself."

"For the special occasion, was that it? It's charming."

"She really enjoys choosing her own things. And choosing things for us, too." He touches earrings.

"She's such a strongly opinionated little girl, isn't she? It's good that you encourage that."

"I want her to be have opinions," he says fondly. "And to choose for herself, as long it's not about knives."

"Is she a beast about wanting to use them, then? Lucy was awful for kicking up a fuss that she wasn't allowed to help with the ironing at that age."

"Oh, she's determined. She and Laertes argue regularly."

"I'm afraid that's a tremendously precious picture."

He laughs. "It's really charming, but you can't let her know."

"Oh, certainly not. One must never give ammunition to a young girl with a mission unless one should like her to use it."

"Exactly. Laertes has a hard enough time saying no as it is."

"And I expect childsafe knives must be too tantalizingly close to the real thing to open that particular can of worms."

"She has her teeth."

"My word!"

Another laugh. "I think she's also been forbidden from cutting up ingredients with those."

"Ah. Very good."

"Oh, yes, thou needst not fear for anything thou shouldst eat with us."

"I do appreciate it," Susan laughs. "I was just thinking, now that Dark's over, we really ought to have that dinner, don't you think?"

"We should. Especially when the days are so short -- I'm sure Lancelot hasn't got so much to do outdoors."

"I wouldn't say that," fondly. "He does tend to find a way. There's certainly less daylight time for it, though."

"Regardless. We always like having friends in the house."

"Then let's get it squared away. Perhaps early next week? We can bring dessert and anything else you like."

(no subject)

sagramore - 2025-07-10 19:10 (UTC) - Expand

quote_gentle_unquote - 2025-07-10 20:15 (UTC) - Expand

sagramore - 2025-07-11 13:28 (UTC) - Expand

quote_gentle_unquote - 2025-07-11 16:55 (UTC) - Expand