GP - dreaming of a black christmas

[lcrpg_npc]

The repurposed railway arches that housed Beagle's bar and restaurant were decked in shades of black: black christmas trees glittering with sparkly and satiny black ornaments, black wreaths with perfectly tied bows, black garlands draping along the walls and bar, ribbons edging the long banquet benches in the restaurant dining room. A gentle snow seemed to fall from the ceiling, a specially designed lighting effect much more pleasant than the cold and wet that would've accompanied real snow. Christmas music played over hidden speakers, setting the mood without interfering with conversation.

The Kraken Black Christmas feast was a different spin on the holiday than you'd find most places, and yet, a christmas feast all the same. All the flavors of the season were there, both in the bar's specialty cocktails and in the feast itself, served banquet-style to those fortunate enough to get tickets - mulled wine, egg nog, roasts and stuffing and puddings, and so much more. Yet the food and drinks all shared the same theme as the decor, shades of black augmented with squid ink, charcoal, or black sesame seeds.

Guests had been encouraged to continue the theme with black festive attire, but it wasn't required, and spots of color could be found here and there along the table or mingling in the bar. There was one thing everyone could agree on, though. No matter how black the theme, the mood was anything but dark.

Comments

[wispofathing]

Even dressed properly--in something that fit well and was appropriate to the occasion--Curnen knew the two of them made something of an odd pair. She felt more like a child playing dress-up than anything, not that she was particularly self-conscious about that. She was grinning when she asked, "Ashamed of me yet?"

[willysilver]

"Not in the least, little one," he smiled warmly. "The black suits you, and I believe you will have fun here. It brings me great joy to see you smile."

[wispofathing]

"It's weird," but she was deeply amused, her energy and expression all wrong for the setting, but she just couldn't contain herself. It was funny! "Why would anybody do this to food? What did the food do to them?" Her life had been so dictated by practicalities that this kind of attention to aesthetics just didn't make any sense.

[willysilver]

Willy laughed softly.

"Well, because it is fun. Different. In all my time here I can say the mortals always like a good reason for fancy dress. Either costume or food or setting. Imagination is their greatest gift I think."

[wispofathing]

"Ah, well, that's true," Curnen had to agree. "Don't see that so much these days, but definitely in the past." These days, the Tufa and their human neighbors were all living hand to mouth. Music was a separate matter entirely, though. Music was their being.

[willysilver]

"It is tradition in London," he said. "There will be many parties. I and Fin will throw a party again this year and you must come."

[wispofathing]

"I'd love to," was Curnen's immediate and honest answer.

Though her mood changed when she bit her lip. Oh, what the hell. She didn't think she could ignore that she'd seen them talking and that it hadn't looked like a good conversation. "Is Fin okay, by the way?"

[willysilver]

"He is drunk and going home," Willy replied, then touched her cheek. "And, I think, jealous of you."

[wispofathing]

Despite the gentleness of the touch, Curnen looked uncertain. "Did I do something wrong?"

[willysilver]

"Not now, nor have you ever," he assured her. "I brought you tonight but he was under the impression I would come with him. It was miscommunication. I thought you would enjoy the party and I am not always certain of how he feels about me and so I chose with my heart."

[wispofathing]

"Oh," she said softly. It seemed strange to think that she could have that effect, only... well. She knew Willy and Fin were in a precarious place, and she supposed that could make sense just based on that. She also knew it didn't have to make sense. Feelings just... were. "I ain't aiming to take his place." She paused, then, considering how that could be taken she added, "No offense."

[willysilver]

Willy laughed warm and long while draping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.

"No offense taken, little bird. You are too much a sister to me to even consider such a thing , but I do adore you all the same."

[wispofathing]

Curnen on the other hand probably would consider such a thing, just she wasn't particularly bothered that it'd never happen. Even though in some ways, this was more complicated. She let Willy draw her close and settled against him easily like she had always been doing this.

"Am I?" she asked softly, thinking suddenly of her own sister an ocean away.

[willysilver]

"In truth you are better than any of my sisters. They have only power and beauty on their minds," he said.

[wispofathing]

Curnen looked down at her hands. "Oh. That kinda thing was never my lot anyway. That's Bliss." Though she wasn't speaking of the same sort of relationship at all. If anything, her tone conveyed a baby sister's blend of deep admiration and certainty of her own inferiority.

[willysilver]

"I would like to meet Bliss," Willy replied. "But until that day comes I shall enjoy your luminosity, Curnen Overbay. Now do not take my meaning wrong, you are quite beautiful...but my sisters are vain. Suspicious. Conniving. The palace intrigues of home never interested me. If you'd like to hear tales of them, though, I would have you talk to The Phouka who spent many years in service there."

[wispofathing]

Curnen nodded her understanding. She knew it was different, just...

"Truth be told, she'd prolly like to meet you, too." Like was a strong word, but Curnen knew that in some ways her sister would not be satisfied until she had reason to believe Willy didn't just see her as a momentary distraction to play with. Curnen couldn't even blame her for that fear exactly. Meeting him had been exactly the sort of thing Curnen had promised to avoid because of all the potential consequences, and yet here she was.

[willysilver]

"One day we will travel, then. Or invite her here. Either way money is no issue," he said, taking up a black napkin, crumbling it in his hand and opening it to reveal a hundred pounds note.

"Perhaps after the new year?" he suggested.

[wispofathing]

Curnen was never going to get used to that trick, she was sure. "I'll ask her what she thinks about that."

The idea of Willy in Cloud County would not stick. Even if the community decided to allow him in--and she imagined that'd get a rousing fuck no from the First Daughters and the Silent Sons--best case scenario he'd be bored in no time, she was sure. But...

She was sure something would be figured out, eventually.

[willysilver]

"I would be honoured to meet your family," he said. "Although I do not think you would care to meet mine. Not the Sidhe, nor the queen. However, other than them, I would be happy to take you home to the other side. We could see the sea of grass, the wyldwoods, wonderland, Winter's kin in the pixie village...there are many places we could visit and not meet my own kin."

[wispofathing]

The mere mention of his family was enough to make Curnen bristle with panic for a moment. It was more than not wanting to meet them, it was more that yeah, she couldn't imagine that not leading to what Bliss was afraid of.

But the tension left her body again almost as quickly as it had come. "That could be fun."

[willysilver]

"It could be a grand holiday. We will make a plan for spring when the Seelie lands bloom and ripen. It will be a delight," he decided.

[wispofathing]

"Would I even be allowed to go there, though?" she asked softly. She didn't know. And she was honestly a little afraid of finding out.

[willysilver]

"Do you think I care? You will be my guest, and what your kith and kin did so very long ago is all but faded from memory. It will be fine," he assured her.

[wispofathing]

For almost anything else in the world, that would have been enough to reassure her, to make her grin. But when she turned up her face to look at him, her wide eyes were almost pleading. "You may not," she whispered. "But I have to care."