Cosette Fauchelevent (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lark_in_flight) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
milliways_bar2017-01-05 11:32 pm
lark_in_flight) wrote in milliways_bar2017-01-05 11:32 pm
Twelfth Night Party, Pontmercy style!
You -- yes, you, whoever you are -- got an invitation to the party. All of Milliways is welcome!
If you choose to come, you'll find Bar directing you to a big round tent that went up this afternoon on the lawn outside the bar. Marius and Cosette and various friends spent a lot of time this morning ferrying decorations in, and the waitrats spent a lot of time in the afternoon ferrying food in, but the doors won't officially open until close to sunset.
But this isn't a cheap white plastic tent, oh no. It's warm and domed and made of thick fabric, something like a very large yurt. A bit of magic keeps out the drafts, making everything extra cozy.
There's a fire in the middle of the floor, with a low screen encircling it but also magic meaning that this fire puts of warmth but will not actually burn anything, even if you step right into it. The floor is wood -- great for dancing, if you feel like it! There's a piano over against the wall for anyone who wants to make some music.
Everywhere there are garlands of European evergreen branches and herbs, studded with bright dried fruit and sparkling ornaments. (Mistletoe might very well be among them, though the Pontmercies haven't thought to supply that as an intentional party game.) There are candles and lanterns everywhere, and a big chandelier. There are no electric lights at all -- it's all fire -- but a good number of them are magical, so that nothing's going to get set on fire or covered with smoke. The general intended impression is of genteel, welcoming festivity, in a very French and very early 19th century European way.
There are food and drinks galore. Come in and enjoy the party!
[OOC: Party-style post! Subthreads for various categories and activities, etc. Open from now until whenever!
Edit: As of Joly's arrival, Cosette now has a mini-polaroid camera. Fear, Milliways. Feel free to assume that she's popped up to take a candid picture of your character(s) at any point, as long as they're not doing or wearing anything scandalous! She will happily give the resulting picture to your character if they want; it probably won't be a very good picture, in terms of composition or focus, but it will be cheerfully enthusiastic.]
If you choose to come, you'll find Bar directing you to a big round tent that went up this afternoon on the lawn outside the bar. Marius and Cosette and various friends spent a lot of time this morning ferrying decorations in, and the waitrats spent a lot of time in the afternoon ferrying food in, but the doors won't officially open until close to sunset.
But this isn't a cheap white plastic tent, oh no. It's warm and domed and made of thick fabric, something like a very large yurt. A bit of magic keeps out the drafts, making everything extra cozy.
There's a fire in the middle of the floor, with a low screen encircling it but also magic meaning that this fire puts of warmth but will not actually burn anything, even if you step right into it. The floor is wood -- great for dancing, if you feel like it! There's a piano over against the wall for anyone who wants to make some music.
Everywhere there are garlands of European evergreen branches and herbs, studded with bright dried fruit and sparkling ornaments. (Mistletoe might very well be among them, though the Pontmercies haven't thought to supply that as an intentional party game.) There are candles and lanterns everywhere, and a big chandelier. There are no electric lights at all -- it's all fire -- but a good number of them are magical, so that nothing's going to get set on fire or covered with smoke. The general intended impression is of genteel, welcoming festivity, in a very French and very early 19th century European way.
There are food and drinks galore. Come in and enjoy the party!
[OOC: Party-style post! Subthreads for various categories and activities, etc. Open from now until whenever!
Edit: As of Joly's arrival, Cosette now has a mini-polaroid camera. Fear, Milliways. Feel free to assume that she's popped up to take a candid picture of your character(s) at any point, as long as they're not doing or wearing anything scandalous! She will happily give the resulting picture to your character if they want; it probably won't be a very good picture, in terms of composition or focus, but it will be cheerfully enthusiastic.]
Re: Meet and Greet
Wink.
Scandalous enough?
"Paris, though! I adored Paris. I used to spend weekends there with friends, such adventures we had. And might I say, how incredible it is that just a little over a century separates us in time. I am from the year 1934."
Re: Meet and Greet
(It might be too scandalous for someone more worldly, who had a better idea of exactly how scandalized she ought to be by a flirtatious cabaret singer. But Cosette isn't, and all her understanding of such things is very tame -- and anyway, she's someone who wants to get along with everyone.)
"1934! Oh, monsieur, that seems unthinkably far in the future to me. There must be such marvels in your day!"
yeah um guess who hasn't gone reading about the future and significant dates in it
"I'm so glad you've had good times in our city. I wish I could say the same back, I wish I'd seen Berlin, but I've never been to Germany at all. My husband can read it, you know, he translates. But I've never left Paris yet. But Berlin, I've heard that it's beautiful."
Re: Meet and Greet
Also, that giggle is precious.
"Go, visit Berlin," he urges her sincerely as one who does indeed still love his city. "Even in my time, there are still buildings that are centuries old. We have such grand cathedrals, monuments, museums, theaters--oh, yes, I think you would enjoy it. Do encourage your husband to plan a holiday some time."
The while you can, however, is left off.
"And of course, there are indeed marvels, as so much progress happens in industry and technology and all facets of life, really, between your time and mine. Such as-- I can't help but notice-- is that a camera you have there?"
Re: Meet and Greet
She's never left Paris's general area, as far as she can recall. But they're going to Italy for her father's health soon, and her father always reads books about travel, and her Marius is a genius with languages (in her opinion), and they have money, they have health -- why shouldn't they travel to grand cities, exciting places? Berlin's far, but certainly achievable.
"Oh, but yes!" She displays it for him. "Isn't it sweet? A dear friend of my husband's gave it to us, wasn't that kind of him? It makes the most amazing pictures on little slips of paper. I suppose things like this must be old hat to you, but I never imagined such a thing. It's really quite astonishing!"
Re: Meet and Greet
"In my time, cameras take photographs on film that must be developed in darkrooms, with special chemicals, and it is quite a process. But here at Milliways, I have learned about digital cameras, which can show you the image you took on a little screen, and those images-- well, as I understand it, there is a method of printing them onto paper, using a computer-- somehow. The technology is beyond me! But this camera? I would like to see how it works, if you would demonstrate...?"
Re: Meet and Greet
Cosette hasn't really learned yet about things like giving people warning to strike a pose if they want, or counting down or saying cheese, or the fact that some people don't like their pictures taken. So with no further ado, she lifts the camera, fumbles a moment to find the button, and snaps a picture of Emcee.
And, ta-da! A small polaroid spits out the top. It's all black right now, but she tugs it very carefully out, and comes round to Emcee's side to hold it out so they can both watch the shapes fade into view.
Re: Meet and Greet
He then witnesses the photo being produced right there out of the top of the camera. And when Cosette shows it to him, he waits with delight to see what happens.
After a few moments, a pale form on the left side appears, almost ghostly. But then it becomes sharper, until it's clearly Emcee's face, mugging with a comical yet still photogenic look of surprise. So it may be off center, it may be a little too close, it may be a little blurry, but the colors are warm, and it manages to capture the festive glow of the party. Emcee adores it, and he giggles brightly, musically, almost childlike.
"Oh, this is wonderful! Would you mind if I tried it-- Oh! We should take a selfie!"
He became obsessed with taking selfies when he borrowed a smartphone from the Bar that time...
Re: Meet and Greet
"Of course, not at all! Please feel free, please do. But what's a selfie?"
Re: Meet and Greet
"So! Shall we try?" He holds up the camera in his left hand at arm's length with the lens facing them. "Now, come stand close to me, Madame, if you will."
If you dare, might be what he teases out of his words, but he certainly doesn't wish to cause any more scandal than necessary if standing close to a roguish German cabaret entertainer is going to do that.
Re: Meet and Greet
But this is Milliways, and her husband is right over there, and her father and mother in the room too, and it's a party, and he's showing her how to take a futuristic selfie, and he's been quite polite the whole time.
So she doesn't come quite up to his side, and her hands are clasped in front of her, but she does come to stand next to him and look gamely at the camera.
Re: Meet and Greet
As she stands next to him, he even folds his arm behind his back, curbing his gregarious reflexes that would prompt him to put it around her waist or shoulders. But though he isn't that tall, he does scrunch down a bit to make sure that both their heads are in the shot.
"Ready? One, two--big smile, Madame--three!"
He presses the button. Selfie accomplished! The camera spits out the result, and Emcee gives it to her as it develops.
Re: Meet and Greet
However, she does smile brightly for the camera! It's entirely genuine, nearly a laugh, and she does laugh with delight as she watches the picture start to fade into view.
"Oh, what a cunning trick! Look at us both!"
Re: Meet and Greet
The photo shows off Emcee's apparent skill at taking selfies even without a screen, as both their faces are framed nicely and with no blur whatsoever. Lucky shot, maybe, but he's had practice.
"Yes, there we are," he chuckles. "And you look positively radiant, Madame! Although of course, the photo hardly does you justice in reality."
He hands the camera back to her with a charming little smile that might be flirtatious if tweaked just so.
"What do you intend to do with all the photographs you take tonight?"
Re: Meet and Greet
Pressed flowers and polaroids!
Re: Meet and Greet
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And then she can make it super pretty and decorated, and flip through it and bask in happy memories!
"But if anyone wants a picture of themselves, I'll happily give it to them too. Would you like either of these, monsieur? Or to take another -- what was it, a selfie?"
Re: Meet and Greet
"And-- thank you, I suppose I would like a keepsake from this evening. I-- if I may be honest with you, Madame, I actually have not ventured out of my room here for a while after recovering from an injury, so-- finding your invitation at the Bar tonight was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits. And I thank you for that."
He smiles warmly, sincerely, with a little bow of his head.
"So I think another selfie is definitely in order-- taken by you, perhaps?"
Re: Meet and Greet
And she is, she is. She wanted to cheer people, give them a lovely evening, give them a little treat. Cosette always wants everyone to be well and happy.
"I don't think my selfie will be half as skillfully done as yours, but yes, certainly, let me try. Here, like this?" She holds the camera out at arm's length, with only a little trial and error to hold it so the button's handy.
With a teasing dimple, she mimics him: "Smile, monsieur! Three, two, one!"
Their heads will mostly be in frame.
Re: Meet and Greet
"I do so appreciate your concern, Madame," he says with another gracious little dip of his head. "I am indeed feeling better thanks to the care I received here, but while the body has healed, there is still work to do on the soul--which, I think, has been already greatly improved by the prospects of an enjoyable evening, and of course, the pleasure of meeting you."
Ever the consummate flatterer!
As Cosette holds up the camera, Emcee positions himself beside her in much the same prudent way as before, uttering a bright chuckle at her instruction just when the shutter clicks.
"Oh, I'm sure that was a perfectly good shot!"
The photo fades into view, revealing Cosette's dimpled, teasing expression and about three quarters of Emcee's laughing face. The rest of the photo shows the fire just behind them, blazing away in a warm glow.
"Ah, you see, it is! You've captured the moment quite nicely. Thank you. I shall indeed look back at this and remember this night."
Re: Meet and Greet
If she tries again more or less the same thing will probably happen. It takes a certain amount of practice to get good at selfies without a screen.