milliways_bar | 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"A selfie is a self-portrait--a picture taken of yourself using your own camera," he explains cheerfully as he takes the camera and looks it over. "I once borrowed a smartphone from Madame Bar, and it was such an incredible little pocket-sized device that could also take pictures. It had a screen, though, so you could see the picture you were about to take before you took it. With this camera-- well, we will need to take a chance on what we capture, but I think that is half the fun." He grins.

"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.

Standing close to a roguish German cabaret entertainer is pretty scandalous, and Cosette probably shouldn't.

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.

Emcee has been very polite! On his best behavior, really. But it doesn't pain him to be, which makes all the difference.

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.

It doesn't at all occur to Cosette that he might have put his arm around her, but the mun sincerely thanks Emcee on her behalf for his restraint.

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!"

Emcee is a professional. He could maneuver through every stratum of society if necessary.

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?"

"You know, I don't know. I haven't decided yet. I certainly can't bring them home! There's nothing at all like this, anyone who saw them would be amazed. I suppose I might hang them up, or make a little scrapbook of them."

Pressed flowers and polaroids!

Edited 2017-01-11 07:20 (UTC)

"Oh, a scrapbook is a splendid idea," he says encouragingly. "Mementos of your very own Christmas party at Milliways. I should think that will be very special for you and your husband to look back on."

"Yes, I think so. I think perhaps I'll do that."

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?"

"It sounds like a pleasant project to occupy your spare time," he suggests.

"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?"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry to hear of your injury!" she cries, in immediate warm sympathy. "How awful. I'm glad you're recovering, I hope you're quite well very soon. The doctors here are wonderful, you know. When my father was very ill, M. le docteur Joly worked wonders for him. But oh, I am glad you came, I'm so very glad if my party could be a comfort to anyone."

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.

Oh, goodness, she really is the most precious thing. Emcee didn't think it was possible to be doubly charmed by her, but it happened.

"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."

"Oh, no, it's terrible!" she cries, but she's laughing aloud, entertained rather than distressed. "Your poor ear, your poor chin, entirely gone! What a butcher I am, oh dear."

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.

Twelfth Night Party, Pontmercy style!

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