Winter Wonderland - 12th Night Party!

[herr_bookman]

Father Christmas returns from the mountains this 12th night, leading the chained Krampus and his former captives. Some of them are triumphant, some hurt and limping, some are huddled with their friends who have been searching for them.

Those entering the bar today will find one corner of it decked out in a minimalist theme of white, silver, and blue snowflakes. Warm, enchanted snow drifts down from the ceiling, disappearing before it alights on the floor, but piling up on the window sills and mantle of the fire.

Snowmen dance outside on a glassy floor, circling and swaying in lines. Should one want a fancier change of clothes after an ordeal in the labyrinth, it'll magically be provided at the door.

[OOC: Welcome to the Winter Wonderland party! It's officially open through the weekend--hope you enjoy!]

Comments

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"Rae," he says, "just wait here for a moment; I'll be right back."

He nods, then steps away, hurrying towards the kitchen.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

The space - and the time - are appreciated. She sinks into the nearest chair and focuses on getting her shit together.

A few minutes later, she is looking much more her usual, calmer self. Except at the moment, Rae is wearing a blood-red dress she could no more afford than she could afford a new car, and a delicate circlet in her hair, instead of a colorful sweater, bright jeans, and a kerchief holding her hair back.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

And then, Hannibal returns with an absolutely perfect cup of tea, which he hands her with a smile.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

She manages a slight, brief smile in return, calmer but still faintly upset, as she accept the cup of tea. "Thank you."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"This is a lovely dress, though," Hannibal remarks, "which would fit any red carpet event, or a first night at the world's best opera houses."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

"It... is nice," she'll admit, breathing in the fragrant scent of the tea.

"Nicer than anything I have, really. Though the circlet's mine," she adds, reaching up to touch the delicate twists of silver adorned with golden leaves. "The dress is just... not the color I would've chosen."

At all.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"It suits you very well," Hannibal says, "but would work in a deep green as well, if not better."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

"I'd be much more comfortable, if it were."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"Less blood, more lush foliage," Dr. Lecter nods.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

Her smile is almost a wince. "That's part of it."

"The rest of it's a... a pattern I'd just as soon break before it gets started."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

He looks at her in question. "Pattern?"

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae takes a fortifying sip of tea before she answers.

"This is the, ah, second time I've been abducted and then put into a red dress against my will," she replies, murmuring. "Being stolen by Krampus was bad enough, but it was over - the dress brought everything rushing back again."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

Dr. Lecter nods. "Understandably," he says. "Do you want to get rid of it, to avoid the trigger? Let me find you something else!"

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

"It took took me by surprise is all," Rae smiles slightly, seeing the offer as kind. "I'll return the dress to the Bar, later. Thank you, though, for the offer."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"You probably want to enjoy your return, rather than worry about red dresses," Dr. Lecter points out. "Look at the Krampus giving us all the stink-eye from his cage, and we can all do the humiliation conga later."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae only glances at the thing in the cage. "It looks out of place, indoors."

And much different, in a cage.

"Does anyone know why it took us? You were taken too, weren't you?"

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"Yes, I was," Dr. Lecter says. "But nothing really bad happened to me. I traversed some strange places together with a very resourceful young lady. And it traditionally takes naughty children, as per a cautionary folk myth; I have honestly no idea why it would think so about us, though."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

"Naughty children?" she says.

"...Is it the one who sent the strange gifts at Christmas? I got a little plush stormcloud I didn't know who was from. Ichabod Crane received a toy ghost."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"I got a rather strange cookbook," Hannibal says. "So yes, apparently, there is a connection."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

"I hesitate to even ask how the cookbook was strange," Rae says, slightly wry.

"Thank you for the box of recipe cards, by the way. They'll be very useful."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"You rightly do hesitate," Dr. Lecter says. "The type moved around, vanished, and appeared, for one thing. And you're very welcome; I hoped they would be. I've got a box like that in my kitchen, too. Some things one simply doesn't want to do electronically."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

"Moving type isn't exactly useful when reading recipes," Rae smiles, amused, looking better as the topic shifts away from monsters and traumatic high fashion - however well it suits her in theme and look - towards something as safe as cooking.

"Usually I keep my recipes just... in my head. But the recipe cards will definitely be a boon to whichever of the baking apprentice candidates I choose."

And, unspoken, that it will be good that her recipes wouldn't be lost, if something were to happen to her.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"I am sure that apprentice will be suitably awed by that box, and hold it in proper regard," Hannibal smiles.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

"Their first morning shift on their own, as the early morning ravenous hordes descend, they will be thanking you under their breath, not knowing who they're thanking," the bakery task-master smiles back, looking - at the moment - nothing like a baker.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"Because otherwise, they would be expected to make all these things by rote rather than consult measurements, which are of course extremely important in baking," Dr. Lecter says, nodding agreement.