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

"That sounds rather odd." Having a nice day not being something anyone said in Poirot's lifetime.

"I could ask some of the nicer ghosts in my fiancée's world. They might have something."

Poirot proceeds to stare blankly. Instead of asking the obvious questions.

Yes, yes.

"My fiancée's from a different world from mine, ghosts are a thing there, they're not very much like the dead people here but they've got an entire dimension they go to when they're not making trouble in hers so they've probably got a way to welcome new ones."

"Ah. I see." Other realties and dimensions still perplex him. But ghosts? At least he knows what ghosts are. "If she can shed some light on the subject, it might useful."

Enzo nods.

"Anyway, I hope you're enjoying it here."

"Oui, I am. And this party is quite impressive."

"It totally is. Though I still don't really understand the holiday. It's the eleventh day AFTER Christmas?"

"If you wish, I could explain." For Poirot is a good Catholic (even though his player hasn't a clue, either).

"Could you? Actually, hang on. Minus— notetaking, dictation mode."

Minus fans out his tentacles, and a text window springs into existence near their tips.

Poirot is only slightly nonplussed by the hovering green seashell acting as some sort of recording device. He knows that sooner or later, there will be ways to make records and the emerging reel to reel tapes smaller.

And then he proceeds to explain about the importance of Epiphany, the edicts that extended the holy season from Christmas through New Year's Day and into the next year, and the fairly high number of sacred days on the Catholic calendar.

"Wow. Are there any days that aren't holidays?"

"Many of the days are only observed by the most faithful. And as I lived in a place where there were not many Catholics, it was long since I was aware of them. But Twelfth Night always kept its status even in England to some degree." He was usually at some sort of party, of course.

"Well, it explains the song."

"Which song would that be, mon ami?"

"The Twelve Days of Christmas."

"Ah, yes. A somewhat charming song of the English." He is not one for such silly little carols, but there is no need to say that.

"Yeah, until you realize that you're getting 364 gifts over 12 days, including 140 people, plus whatever the maids are milking."

That gets a small laugh. "You have spent too much time thinking if you have done math about a song."

"Not really. I'm a data sprite, remember? Math's a natural function for us. I figured it out the first time I heard the song."

He still doesn't understand, but he does know about math savants.

"That is a handy skill to have," is all he can say.

"It's normal at home. Arithmetic, anyway. Stuff like calculus takes special training.

"So, what do you do? Or what did you do, and do you still do it here?"

"I was a detective. And as I find little crime to solve, I think that I have earned my rest." He tried to retire once, and it didn't take. Maybe this time?

"Cool! There is crime here sometimes, or rule-breaking anyway, but most of it's not that mysterious. Just disturbing the peace."

"Nothing that would require my skills." And that suits him fine.

Re: Food!

a1enzo - 2017-01-16 01:28 (UTC) - Expand

littlegreycells - 2017-01-16 01:39 (UTC) - Expand

a1enzo - 2017-01-16 01:42 (UTC) - Expand