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

[wandandawolf]

"Hmm," Remus agreed. "He was always good value." His mum had taken him to see Olivier's Shylock at the Old Vic. That had been in 1971. "I can't quite think of anything mythological working now," he continued, changing the subject slightly. "People seem to think magic is so...serious," he added, twinkle in his eye.

[akatawitch]

That got a proper grin out of her. "Oh, it's a pity drinking games aren't your thing. There are so many terrible and not-at-all-serious fantasy movies out there."

[wandandawolf]

"I just don't get drunk very easily!" Remus protested. "It's not half as fun being the sober one, trust me." He sounded like he spoke from experience. "Still, my partner - Sirius, no, not a joke, that's his name, like the star - he enjoys a good drink and it's very amusing seeing him get drunk, so I may volunteer him and follow along to watch."

[akatawitch]

"We'll just have to get you something really, really strong," Sunny said with a sage nod.

[wandandawolf]

"It's been tried, but I have no problem with people continuing to try," Remus said with a smile. "In fact, you should meet Sirius. He's well keen to meet you, and could give you the list of alcohol he's already used on me. You may have even met him," he considered, the thought suddenly occurring to him: "Intensely pretty bloke, has a tendency to say flirtatious things that make you want to punch him?"

[akatawitch]

"Sounds memorable," Sunny observed with an arched eyebrow. "I don't think I've had the pleasure."

[wandandawolf]

"He does like being memorable," Remus mused. "But if you do organise this movie night of yours, invite me along and I'll bring him in tow. We used to say at school it was never a proper party until Sirius got punched in the mouth."

[akatawitch]

"His hands start following his words, I'll do more than punch him in the mouth," Sunny promised flatly.

[wandandawolf]

"If he gets handsy," Remus told her firmly, "I'll hold him down while you kick him. But it's only ever been his mouth that's a problem, I promise."

[akatawitch]

Sunny's eyebrow went up. "I'd be worried, if I didn't also have friends I can't take anywhere nice."

[wandandawolf]

Remus coloured a little. He'd said worse, far worse, about Sirius to his face. But that was different: Sirius and he knew what each other was about, and even when other students had said similar, well, they knew what Sirius could be like at his best. And they knew he was a Black.

Not for the first time, Remus was hit with just how insular Hogwarts had been, how closed and parochial wizarding society was. You tended to forgive people a lot when almost everyone was second cousins twice removed. "Well, he just...takes a bit of getting used to," he murmured, suitably abashed. "But it's hardly required. Still. do invite us, please: it'd be lovely to get to know more people."