2022-12-29: CSB Non-Denominational Holiday Dinner

From Super Robot Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search 


<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.


OST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu8DTD7GvQY Nobuo Uematsu - The Castle

        'Tis the season, and nowhere on Earth is more seasonable... than the North Pole.

        Let's go visit Santa.

        Out here in the frigid, snowy North, global warming hasn't done much to cheer the place up -- while the ice floes further South of here have become melty and all the more treacherous for it, it's a pleasant Winter's day at -30 degrees Celcius, out here. (That's -22 degrees Fahrenheit.) The land out here is punctuated by ice floes, which means that bringing a car is a fool's errand -- snow mobiles are the preferred civilian mode of travel, though some people still prefer mushing. Dogs, that is! They hook them up to sleds, and get where they need to go. Travel by boat will naturally require an icebreaker, and not just for the conversation to come.

        The Silent Castle is built on some of the Northernmost continental ground to speak of -- Kaffeklubben Island, an island off the shore of Greenland. Too inhospitable for habitation, the island passed into the hands of a private client through several Britannian shell companies earlier this year, and construction began soon afterwards. In the Summer, the ice around it will be blinding and inescapably bright. But now, deep in December, the sun will never rise: the only hint of light is at the height of midday, and even that is little more than a memory of warmth.

        It rises up from the island, impossibly huge for its recent completion, built for Meltrandi comfort as much as human needs. It is carved from fine and sturdy stone, and it is a fortress true, made to withstand war as much as to announce status. There are pylons on the walls, tipped with green, hard to make out when standing below. Beyond the castle gates lie the grand main doors, made of richest wood and wrought iron, and they are open.

        Welcome, welcome.

        The foyer of the castle is attended by servants who are perfectly pleasant, and not much for conversation -- they take coats, offer welcome, and escort their honoured guests to the dining hall. They have been just as placidly helpful in food preparation, with dull gazes and shallow hospitality. They're... probably fine.

        That dining hall is MUCH warmer in here than out there; vents carry warm air into the room, while a fireplace crackles, set into the wall. In front of it is curled a rather unique tiger -- with stripes of black and emerald green, rather than orange. He seems rather tame, and his fancy collar declares his name to be 'Sokrovishche'. The walls are decorated by lavish, bright hangings and drapes, and chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The chimes which dangle from them jingle with a cheerful tune. There are arcane runes, inscribed in emerald above the doors and windows. Those windows are large, and while they remain sturdy, their views are lavish and panoramic. From here, they can see the inner courtyard of the castle, a defensible hollow with a stable of mobile suits and something which... passes for a garden. A lot of Arctic poppies and purple saxifrage.

        Sokrovishche, who is of course the Kafim's pet tiger, lifts his head with a greeting-chuff when Yuliana Kafim steps into the dining hall. Her skin is darker than the shades usually seen, out here; her eyes are green, with a prominent scar running down the left, and her short teal hair is swept up to a point behind her head. Her pants, of Russian make, are quite warm -- and her sweater is ostentatiously red and green, with REAL BAUBLES on the Christmas tree knitted into it. Emblazoned around that festive tree is the declaration:

CHRISTMAS
HO

        In glorious, glittery stencil-art, all stitched in like stockings above the fireplace.

        It's absolutely hideous, and at least two sizes too big for her, to boot.

        (Her Christmas scarf is just as loud and obnoxious, but since it's only striped red and green, it's a little easier to discount.)

        The furniture of the dining hall, of course, is just as grand, and one long table in particular has been set up with all the fruits of Ujico and Regina's labour. On a setting with crystal plates and true silverware, candles burning for light and pleasant scents, the chefs have set up --

<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.


        Ujico's menu favors large amounts of fewer choices, but they are nice and festive ones, and everything but the chicken itself is vegetarian or vegan, according to the ingredients list posted up at the end of the buffet table.

        The chicken is enormous, brined and roasted and presented on a silver serving platter, with sprigs of rosemary and curled strips of lemon peel for the garnish. Roasted cauliflower-apple-pomegranate salad with a honey-tahini dressing. Chickpea salad, roasted asparagus with a creamy feta sauce. Mashed skin-on red potatoes with lots of butter and yeast rolls.

        There's a fancy cake stand with a cut-crystal lid hiding something beautifully golden-brown with a red-and-orange top.

        She did her best, and Regina was wonderful help in the kitchen, and if anybody is allergic to milk or eggs they should have mentioned it before she built the menu! Everything is labeled for a reason! It's not her fault if anybody dies!

        While the guests arrive, she's taking the time to wash up, remove her hairnet, and change out of her long-sleeved kitchen tee and pants into the prescribed Ugly Christmas Sweater and a rather shapeless black velvet skirt that comes down past her knees. The sweater has a gingerbread man smoking a 'cigarette', and proclaims 'LET'S GET BAKED'.

<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa's Christmas Menu has posed.


Brined roasted chicken: chicken, kosher salt, water, honey, rosemary, thyme, parsley, black peppercorns, lemon, garlic, bay leaf
Chickpea salad: chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, soybeans, rosemary, garlic, red and green peppers, cranberries (vegan)
Roast asparagus with creamy feta: asparagus, whole milk yogurt, feta, lemon juice, kosher salt, pepper (vegetarian)
Mashed potatoes: skin-on red potatoes, milk, butter, kosher salt, and pepper, chives (vegetarian)
Yeast rolls: wheat flour, milk, salt, sugar, yeast, egg, butter (vegetarian)
Cauliflower-apple-pomegranate salad: cauliflower, apple, pomegranate, olive oil, paprika, cumin, chopped almonds, lemon juice, arugula (vegan)
Honey-tahini dressing: tahini, honey, lemon juice, olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper (vegetarian)
Citrus upside-down cake: cara cara orange, blood orange, pineapple tidbits, satsuma, flour, baking powder, kosher salt, butter, sugar, brown sugar, thyme, orange zest, eggs, vanilla extract, buttermilk (vegetarian)

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.


Elisa Kafim is also here, of course, in her micronzied form so as to better mingle with her guests. The bright hangings and drapes of the wall help to keep the place warm, and a nice sweater helps to keep her warm. Not that she needs it, but she has been persuaded to wear the sweater regradless. It is prmarily red, with green and white accents, in a woven pattern and marked with the sign of a cat wearing a Santa hat.

        SANTA CLAWS

"Welcome!" Elisa enthuses, "Welcome all!" She is... mostly present. The look in her eyes suggests she's paying at least some attention to her surroundings, probably.

"Ah, what lovely scents. Truly, Yuliana, this feels more home-y than ever, don't you think?"

She is also wearing slacks and four inch heels. No scarf, though.

"Yes, a wonderful meal..."

<Pose Tracker> Tieria Erde has posed.


         Tieria Erde, as usual, is in the corner, sulking. Celestial Being was an organization with a purpose above this...social nonsense. And these sweaters...these sweaters...THESE SWEATERS. They were an affront to decency! What is wrong with a plain cardigan, one has to ask. The Innovator has to wonder if these cockamamie parties were just an excuse to dress him up and get under his craw.

         As usual, Miss Sumeragi had tasked herself with dressing the Meister, draping him in a sweater one size too large with a knitted gingerbread man across the front, sporting an expression as sour as its wearer's and a bite taken out of its head with the text

         BITE ME

         emblazoned along the bottom.

         The minute Tieria had entered the castle, he had helped himself to a plate of chicken, found a chair far away from everyone else, and engaged Do Not Bother Me Mode.

<Pose Tracker> Liu Mei Wang has posed.


        Liu Mei, ever the fashion icon, is perhaps the only person to arrive without some form of tacky Christmas sweater - for she could not have forseen that the suggestion for a sweater would entail this type. No, she has arrived instead in an immaculately coordinated set of pink and blue furs and sweaters, festooned with an impeccably stylish and matched striped scarf hanging asymmetrically upon her shoulders. For the first time in recorded human history, this tasteful sense of accessorizing might actually be grounds for slight ostracization in present company.

        She arrives in what could only feasibly be called a 'snowmousine', a machine that is most certainly snowmobile-like in form and function, with the skis and tracks and everything - and yet, it's certainly quite big, and spacious, and luxurious on the inside, and Liu Mei's definitely being escorted out by attendants!

        A glass of wine, a plate dominated by vegetables, and a sliiiightly stiff smile are in Liu Mei's possession. Oh, and naturally, she is quick to meander towards Sokrovische, masterfully striding at just the right speed and confidence in her gaze to be able to provide a single pet to the tiger's head without risking her life.

        Immediately failing intentionally ignoring Tieria's isolating aura, Liu Mei settles not a few feet from the Meister, swirling her wine and sipping away, and asking the important question: "...Do remind me what the deal is with this huge castle as deep in the icy wilderness as you could find?~"
 

<Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.


The end of the year is fast approaching, and at Ujico's urgings, members of Celestial Being have gathered together... to share a meal. A holiday gathering... it is, in Regina's memory, the first time she has been invited to such an event. It's a strange feeling, to be invited into the home of another. ...Particularly when said home is a grand, voluminous castle. That is a whole other thing to unpack, but now is the time for unpacking single things at a time if she is to avoid overwhelming herself.

She had volunteered to help with the cooking, and she goes through with it. Due to her lifestyle as a solitary traveler, it's a skill she had to pick up quick and early and... it's nice, to be able to contribute in a manner beyond violence. She works with a quiet focus but ultimately seems satisfied with her work, and pleased to do so alongside others. She is, indeed, quite the helper - her skill with her hands show itself in how deftly she helps prepare and separate out ingredients.

But with the meal itself ready, it's time to get prepared to sit down with everyone... and, she is introduced to the most unusual tradition of wearing festive sweaters with strange phrases written on them. She has not brought one herself, as this is her first introduction, but if offered one she will earnestly put it on over her turtleneck and body armor vest. Her cloak, of course, has been briefly set aside.

"...Thank you. For hosting us." Regina says with a grateful nod to Elisa and Yuliana, as their gracious hosts. She doesn't do so well in large groups but she makes an effort, at least, to position herself near everyone.

<Pose Tracker> Li Yao has posed.


        What would a holiday party be without a jolly old fellow making an appearence, it is unfortunate however that the Celestial Beings have not recruited that is considered both jolly and old to fit this definition so instead they have to settle for Li Yao. Wearing a rather heavy looking red cloak and trudging along ice and snow up to the door, he gives the door and really the castle a hard look before he scoffs, "Of course the Ice Queen would have a castle made of ice." Taking a moment he gathers up the fortitude one needs for a office christmas party before he steps into the castle.

        His cloak is taken revealing a burlap sack filled with wrapped objects, and of course the obligatory sweater. Yao's sweater is a trio of colors, of red, gold and green, horizontally striping the sweater. Overlayed ontop of the rows it reads:

A
REAL
CHAMPION

The words stacked in the shape of a christmas tree. On a closer inspection one would be able to see that not only is it a bit old, but also hand made.

         Walking into the main lounge where the party is gathering he smiles towards the owners of the castle, " Thank you for welcoming me into your home on this day." Taking a moment he sets the sack of presents in the corner by Tieria and looks from Tieria to the rest of the room and then back to Tieria, "Did you insult the host and get put in the corner? " The old man grins at his joke before he walks towards the fire to warm himself.

<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.


         Romilly, being from one of the driest, sunniest and consistently hottest places on Earth, is dying out here. The snowmobile might as well have been an alien spacecraft at first. Bundled up in layers, including flannel, a green sweater and a lined brown barn jacket he'd forgotten he'd even had, he kills the engine and hurries through the cold to the main doors.

         "Oh, thank God," he murmurs through a scarf wrapped 'round his face, brushing the snowy detritus from the brim of his rawhide cowboy hat. When that fails to do it, he briefly removes it, raps his palm against it. With the sudden increase in warmth, he feels comfortable enough hanging up his hat, coat and scarf, before spotting the tiger. Tame though it might be, it is still a tiger, and before he can stop himself, he utters a startled invective. "Shit fire and save matches," he hushedly spits, flinching for a moment before he realizes the animal is fine.

         Shrugging an insulated backpack off, he sets it down. "Them potatoes could wake the dead," he says, sniffing the air with clear and present appetite. Unzipping the backpack, he procures a dish wrapped in tin foil, which, unwrapped, reveals a generous helping of deviled eggs. Some unfortunately seem to have turned over due to his artless driving, but most are intact and none have been rendered egg-cicles. Stuffing his gloves into his pocket and setting his offering wherever there's room, "Thanks for having me over, y'all. I couldn't think of no presents on the short notice, but I hope you like my granny's recipe, at least."

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna F. Seiei has posed.


         Setsuna, as he promised, is here. And dressed for the occasion, though it seems he's only dressing appropriately in a begrudging sense, as his outfit doesn't really scream festive. A white jacket with a black sash and some black pants is more neutral attire than anything, with the only real 'christmasy' part of his attire is a red scarf that's loosely wrapped around his neck.

         At the very least though, it's not his pilot suit. Given the boy's serious nature, it feels like that's what would have been expected.

         He's very quick to make himself scarce, however, grabbing a plate of pigs in a blanket and immediately joining Tieria and Liu in the corner to... Not sulk, but just be really intense as his face seems to be stuck in a permanent scowl.

         He looks at his fellow Meister to acknowledge them, before turning to his plate to eat. He doesn't need to say anything. Tieria clearly doesn't want to say anything, and neither does he. Liu probably does, but until she's directing a sentence towards him, he's not interested in a conversation.

         Overall, Setsuna is just having a natural reaction to a forced family get together, really.
        

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.


        Yuliana, of course, was the one to persuade Elisa. She has a terrible sense of humour, entirely separate from all the other myriad ways she is terrible. It's probably lucky she habitually wears suits most of the time. Can you imagine the kind of slogans she'd wear?

        She enters the room with her hands laid on Elisa's arm; thanks to Elisa's heels, Yuliana's the shorter one of the pair, though her 165 centimetres is a perfectly average height. Elisa handles the welcoming; Yuliana smiles, warm, and she looks perfectly engaged with the setting. "Yes! Isn't it wonderful?" She enthuses, to her wife, as she steps over to examine the menu. "And so thoughtful," she adds, gaze tracking down the ingredients.

        "I'm glad you all could come," she smiles, gaze tracking over them -- even Tieria, over there, in the loner's corner. (There are places to sit back there, too. It's fine.) "Though -- oh! Please allow me to offer you raiments befitting the occasion!" This, she exclaims as she looks to Liu Mei, Setsuna, and Regina -- so, clap-clap, she summons one of the Silent servants. He disappears, only to reappear a moment later with some folded ugly sweaters to hand out to the people who failed to bring any.

        Weird thing to prepare for, but okay.

        Yuliana, herself, gathers some chicken, roast asparagus, Romilly's devilled eggs, and -- "Oh, you really must try the salad," she asides to Elisa, eyes glittering at the combination as she herself puts some on her plate. "Please, don't worry at all," she assures Romilly, smiling to him. "It's gift enough that you've managed to make your way out here, with life as it often is."

        And once she sits down and tries the eggs, she adds: "These really are delicious!" Romilly's Granny's Recipe is, in fact, an appropriate gift.

        Meanwhile, Sokrovishche chuffs -- a sound a little like a huff, which sounds reasonably friendly, as far as tigers go -- when Liu Mei approaches to give him a pat on the head. He is blissfully unaware of any alarm over his presence, because he is a cat. He subsequently rises up on his big tiger paws and pads on behind Liu Mei to sit in the increasingly populated sulking corner.

        He stares at Tieria and his plate of chicken very, very intently.

        o_o

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.


Elisa Kafim does not, strictly, need to 'eat'. But there's so much nice food here!

Like the salad. Yuliana assists with sweaters and Elisa beams at her. "Isn't she terribly thoughtful?" Elisa says, obviously smitten. It's lovely. But for her part, she chooses the brined, roazsted chicken and roast asparagus to start, with a side of the chickpea salad. She is not particularly vegetarian, as it happens. Just a note.

She also tries an egg. "Yes," Elisa agrees, "Wonderful."

She doesn't go bother any of the antisocial types. She focuses on those who have come to see her! Like Romilly, "A family recipe is so precious." Then to Li Yao, "You are indeed quite welcome. We are glad that you have attended." She does have a castle of ice and stone, though.

And Regina, "No, thank you for assisting!"

<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.


        Cooking is Ujico's longest-lasting hobby, going on nearly a year now. What she lacks in deep culinary lore and technique, she makes up for with access to Allrecipes and Youtube. Plus, the chef at her 'other' job agreed to be her sounding board and made a few suggestions about the recipes she showed him.

        'Anybody can cook,' he'd told her once. 'If you want to learn, just keep asking questions.'

        She ties the laces on her oxfords and tugs her ponytails out of the neck of her sweater before leaving the guest bathroom. She comes back downstairs just as Romilly arrives bearing gifts. "Thank you! I can't wait to try them. I've never made deviled eggs before."

        Regina gets a not-very-covert thumbs up - another thanks for all her help. Ujico was as good as her word, and didn't engage in a lot of small talk while they worked. (She did, however, occasionally hum or sing a couple of notes.) Setsuna and Tieria made it - good, she's got wrapped plates put together for the Ptolomaios crew that couldn't make it, if they'll agree to take them home. Li Yao, dispenser of sage wisdom and ass-kickings, brought... a sack. And thank goodness Loomy is here, because someone needs to plow through the ice and Ujico can't do it.

        But first she approaches Elisa and Yuliana. "Thanks again for agreeing to host the whole thing," Ujico smiles, rubbing her fingers together in the cuffs of her sweater.

<Pose Tracker> Tieria Erde has posed.


         Tieria glares at the addition of Liu Mei and Setsuna to his corner. Granted, the Exia's pilot made acceptable company as he knew better than to not initiate the dreaded small talk. Liu Mei, however, was nothing but small talk.

         "I believe this estate belongs to Verdiska and her bride. I suppose their generosity in providing such a suitable locale should be commended."

         And ah, here comes the Tweedledum to Liu Mei's Tweedledee. Answering his joke with an icy glare, he pops another bite of chicken into his mouth, turning to notice the tiger that has come up to him.

         You can't be serious.

         "Shoo. Shoo. Pspspsps. Shoo!"

<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.


         "What's with that face?" Romilly asks Setsuna with a grin.

Not like we gotta put up with a crotchety ol' fool-headed uncle or nothing.

         He gladly accepts a sweater more suitably ugly for the occasion, his own being just 'muted' and not truly loud or garish enough for true Christmas party spirit.

         "Dijon mustard's the trick," he asides to Yuliana and Ujico. "Gives it that little bit of tang. Hardest part is the patience in gettin' the shells off the damn things, but it's worth it."

         With his plate loaded up--potatoes, chicken, asparagus, chickpea salad and a pair of deviled eggs, he digs in.

         "Y'know," he says to Tieria, "Cats have got this sixth sense for who don't want 'em near, and damned if they don't cozy right up to 'em anyway." A nervous glance towards the tiger, then back to his hosts.

         "He don't bite, does he?"

<Pose Tracker> Li Yao has posed.



        Yao stands close to the fire as everyone else gathers for the meal and moves to make himself a plate before finding a spot at the table, that keeps him close to the fire. " The time and effort that went into all this shows. It truly is a wonderful event." Glancing over to the large kitty trying to will Tieria to give it food Yao has to turn his head to hide his smile. Instead he looks towards Yuliana and Elisa, " Does your cat have a name?"

         Slowly he begins to eat his meal, starting with the greener side of things with a salad. After a bite he looks at Setsuna and Tieria in the corner, "Young ones, please make sure the cat doesn't get into that sack of mine. I would hate for the presents to get damaged. Appreciate the help."

<Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.


Companionable silence while cooking, Regina thinks, is something she can get used to. It's nice - the occasional humming or singing from Ujico breaks the thrum of activity in a way that isn't bad.

And upon her entrance into the dining hall, Regina is offered... an Ugly Sweater! She accepts it gratefully.

"Thank you. I would not wish to be improperly garbed." She replies, dutifully equipping it. On it goes, as predicted.

As for the meal, Regina tries... a little bit of everything. She has never been a particularly picky eater, and she's quite the big eater whenever she can afford to.

Ujico's thumbs-up is met with a polite nod, and as Elisa thanks her, Regina nods to her, as well. "...Then, you are welcome."

She'll immerse herself quietly in activity... and, does not seem to mind at all the presence of an Actual, Real-Life Tiger as a dinner guest, somehow.

<Pose Tracker> Liu Mei Wang has posed.


        A little pouty purse finds Liu Mei's lips as Tieria tries to shoo away the cute, innocent tiger - how can anyone say no to a hungry face like that? (it's very easy actually) The single slice of chicken that was on Liu Mei's plate is oh so generously offered to the hungry feline.

        "Hopefully you're eating well, you two?" Liu Mei pesters to Tieria and Setsuna. "After all, everything here might outclass the usual high-efficiency rations you might be accustomed to, and it's got to be healthier to boot. ...I can't believe Ujico made so much of this, so very talented~ Maybe the two of you ought to give the art of cooking a try, fufufu."

        Her plan to turn the Introvert Sulking Corner into the center of festivities clearly goes without a hitch, though she needs to rope in Regina, somehow, as tricky and elusive as she knows the girl to be... A little swirl of wine once more, followed by a slow retreat to the fireplace, staring into its flames balefully. "Well, I suppose it's more homey than I expected a gigantic castle in the Arctic to be, so perhaps it's just a very lavish retreat~ I definitely wouldn't pick a place like this for the views or amenities, mind...but maybe getting an island is just woefully hard these days..."

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.


        "And thank you for your hard work," Yuliana smiles, to Ujico, before her gaze tracks to Regina. "And you, as well. You've done marvellously." Of course Yuliana and Elisa agree on this fact! And on many other facts. "It would be awfully terrible for me to leave you without the customs of the holiday," she adds, to Regina, smiling to her.

        "My darling Viridesca," Yuliana mentions, across the way, to Tieria. Viridesca -- that is, Elisa -- is already a known quantity in Celestial Being, of course, but Yuliana loves taking the opportunity to mention her. She, too, is entirely smitten. They're newlyweds!

        She laughs, fingers fanning up over her mouth, as she sees Sokrovishche lurking beside Tieria when she looks over to speak to him. (The tiger's ears perk up when he hears 'pspspspsps', and it has entirely the opposite effect -- he pads closer on those giant paws.) "Sokrova, behave!" Yuliana calls out to him, bright and warm, cheerful laughter still in her voice.

        "That's our little treasure, Sokrovishche," she adds, to Li Yao, and she even has a smile for him today. (If one speaks Zaftran, they might notice that the tiger's name is, literally, 'treasure'.) Taking up a forkful of asparagus, she assures Romilly, first: "He's very well behaved. He'd never eat an honoured guest! But he does so like chicken..."

        Liu Mei learns this when Sokrovishche chomps the slice of offered chicken right out of the air. He makes another entirely chuffed noise through his nose, and licks his chops, settling down to lie on the floor now his hunger has been sated.

        Of course, he's still RIGHT by Tieria's feet. Does this mean Tieria is the offiical Tiger Minder for the night? Is Tieria going to have to make sure Sokrova doesn't get into Li Yao's mystery sack?

        Yes. obviously yes.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna F. Seiei has posed.


         Setsuna looks up from Teira to Yuli. Then at the servant. Then at the sweater. Then the Tiger. Then Romilly. Then Liu. Then, back to Tieria. He loops his gaze around several times as a palpable, extremely awkward tension begins to form, before he silently takes the sweater and slips it on over what he was already wearing.

         He's not about to start a scene over something as pointless as this. It's not worth it. Picking and choosing one's fight is part of being a Meister, after all.

         "The enemy tiger will be neutralized if need be. Do not worry."

         Setsuna assures Li that the tiger is, indeed, under his watch. What does he mean by neutralize and how he's going to even neutralize it is anyone's guess though, but he probably means it, given that his tone is anything but joking.

         He picks at his food as Liu mentions their rations, and he finally feels the need to talk to the woman.

         "The rations are fine and all we need. If they were not, we would not be eating them."
        

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.


        "You had best not neutralise my dear Sokrova!" Yuliana adds, to Setsuna, with a pout. "We're not enemies here, are we?"

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.


"It was a lovely idea you had," Elisa--Viridesca--says to Ujico. She then lets Yuliana speak of the name of their tiger. For her part, she instead looks to Regina for a moment, and smiles. She is pleased at this terrible sweater. Apparently.

And suddenly she is near Liu Mei, instead of only next to her wife, as she hears the talking of the gigantic castle in the Arctic.

"It is so nice to be away from the masses, isn't it? Out here, where we can consider best our plans, and act in safety and comfort..."

An island, "Islands are so prone to... visitors. Don't you think?"

Elisa strides back to the table.

"He will not interfere with gifts. He only bites those I dislike! And we are all dear colleagues."

<Pose Tracker> Tieria Erde has posed.


         "I suppose I will endure the beast's presence as long as you haven't trained it to speak human at me." Tieria pokes his foot out and uses it to gently pet the tiger, his expression not changing in the least.

<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.


        "[Dijon]..." Ujico echoes, fingers itching to write it down in her notebook. She'll just have to hope she remembers! Or ask Romilly later.

        The notebook in question is on the kitchen counter, outside the [Party Zone].

        --And then Sousuke assures Tieria that the enemy tiger will be neutralized. "Setsuna," Ujico speaks up, frowning, "He's a pet. Not an enemy." Sure, it's kind of scary to be in the room with a great cat that weighs four or five times what she does, but look at his precious whiskers. And he's so well behaved!! And then, she has an idea. "If you want to make it an ally, you should feed it chicken."

        Yes! Setsuna will give chicken, and receive Sokrovee-- Sokrish-- Sokrova's loyalty.

        With this idea in mind, she fills her own plate with a few things - she's really happy with that chickpea salad, for one - and a few extra pieces of meat, before having a seat at the closest end of the table. "Loomy, come sit down with us!" she offers, making a beckoning motion.

<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.


         "Well I'm awful glad to hear it," Romilly nervously laughs, nodding graciously at Elisa and Yuliana. He's probably warming up at least a little towards Sokrovische, though, looking over at the tiger like a man weighing the possibility of petting it. He can't resist spoiling a pet for long, and never could. "If you don't," he says to Setsuna, chiming in after Ujico, "Maybe I will."

         Elisa's mention of a place out of public eye gets a nod from him, but it's soon followed by a thoughtful frown. "'The masses' are pretty stirred up after that Khushrenada put out his little message," Romilly sighs in agreement with Elisa. "Ain't it funny how violence is only violence when it comes from underneath?" He spears a piece of chicken rather aggressively, before shaking his head. "I know I'm preaching to the choir, but that really burned my ass. Even if I knew it was gonna come from -somewhere.-"

         "What's next, anyway?" he asks, looking around the table. "I ain't much good at planning, but you ask me to jump and I'll ask how high."

<Pose Tracker> Li Yao has posed.


        Yao nods his head, "Such a pretty kitty Sokro, vish,che is. " The pauses are added as the old man wiggles a finger as if he is making sure he hits all the enunciation of the name, its a bit of the a mouthful. "Perhaps I will stick to Sokrova, it is a fair bit simpler." He finishes his salad and moves on to the chicken that even the tiger is raving about.

        After a few bites he swallows and continues to try to include some of the corner people in conversation in a way only an old person can. "Setsuna, those rations are missing the one thing that any living person really needs. They need a taste that makes it enjoyable. If you weren't having this meal with us here right now I would ask if you had ever had a decent meal before." Yep insult ones opinions and substitute it for his own, old man conversation technique #4. Looking over at Romilly, Yao deploys old man conversation technique #2, sarcasm, " I believe traditionally after the dinner meal, one has dessert."

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna F. Seiei has posed.


         "We are not enemies, no. I will leave the pet alone and Li will have to handle it himself."

         Setsuna's delivery of this line is the same as the promise to neutralize the tiger just moments ago. It's very obvious that despite the clear down time where everyone is opening up a little (sans Tieria), the boy still remains just as serious as he is at work. It might be the only speed he has, honestly.

         "You can pet it and feed it in my stead if you want. I do not think anyone is stopping you."

         Setsuna is quick to thrust that duty on Romilly the moment he speaks up on wanting to do it. Not out of not wanting to do it himself, really, but because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter who does the task so long as it's an 'ally'.

<Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.


"I appreciate the thought. I am... unfamiliar with this tradition." Regina admits with a nod - and another, in response to the compliment. She does want to be a part of things, even if she isn't quite willing to place herself right in the middle as some others do.

She is, as of yet, unaware of any Plans in place to drag her into schemes, instead working on her dinner while listening to the conversations around her. She thought it'd be a little much, but it's actually nice somehow. Huh...

<Pose Tracker> Tieria Erde has posed.


         As Tieria continues to pet his new tiger...acquaintance, he looks to either side of him, making sure the others are distracted by conversation and...

         feeds him a slice of chicken.

         "If only more people were like you, huh."

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.


        "Zaftran can be a little difficult if you don't speak it," Yuliana allows, graciously, to Yao. "He answers to Sokrova, so don't worry!" As much as they're clearly rivals, he's her guest tonight, so he's under her protection.

        She isn't even sitting next to the Newtypes. Such is the sheer degree of her hospitality.

        Sokrova rumbles something which is probably happy in tiger language (not human language!), as Tieria gives him a one-footed pat. He's entirely content to chill. He's a very chill tiger, and, it seems, entirely bribable in this environment.

        Maybe it's because he's green. Or maybe it's because he's Yuliana's pet. They do say that pets take after their owners, which might also explain why no one is stopping them from bribing him.

        Of course, Yuliana isn't the world's most bribable cop in this setting. She's fighting for peace and equality!

        "It's from France, originally," Yuliana tells Ujico, helpfully, when she notices her focusing on Dijon mustard. "If you're ever about Burgundy, I do believe the area still keeps up production." Food facts! Yuliana's full of 'em.

        "Personally," Yuliana adds, "if I never eat one of those generic tasteless Meal Squares again, it will be far, far too soon." She looks over to Romilly, and adds: "There'll be plenty of time to worry about our actions when we're not eating, don't you think?" She could talk about Denver, but... she doesn't! Instead, she chomps a bit of salad. "Delicious," she adds, aside.

        Sokrova lifts his head, sniff-sniff-sniff, and covertly jaws the slice of chicken. He only chomps it once Tieria's fingers are safely away, because he is very well behaved, and he answers his statement with a pleased tiger noise.

<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.


Elisa, having acquired her food, finally takes a seat. She smiles over at her tiger, and absolutely doesn't hear what Tieria is saying, because she's distracted by both food and dissociation. But she does see him looking so content by Tieria so that's nice.

"I was also unversed in this tradition," Elisa says to Regina, "But my darling assures me that these sweaters are 'fun' and that seems nice, doesn't it?"

"Dessert! We do have dessert, I believe," she says of plans and at Li Yao's statement, "But I believe it isn't qutie there. Though, if you wish for instructions..."

She smiles at Romilly. "Try the chicken."

She considers though. The 'masses'... "it is true," she admits. "I am displeased by it," she admits.

And she says of Meal Squares, "it is fascinating to see how much nutrition one can pack into as little flavor as possible, of course. I once knew someone who studied exactly that. But I prefer a proper feast."

<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.


         Yao's dad joke has Romilly throwing back his head to bark a raucous laugh. "Yep, that tracks," he says, gently clinking his fork on his nearly-clean plate. "I do," he says to Yuliana. "Appreciate you pullin' me back, too," he adds with a grateful bow of his head.

         As he brushes a lock of blonde hair from his face, there's just the helping of chickpea salad left on his plate. This is pursued with no less enjoyment. "I reckon I might just have room for that dessert, too!"

         True to Setsuna's suggestion, he does, once finished, briefly rise from his seat, to gently and slowly pet the tiger as one would a cat. The timing means that Tieria's secret is safe.

         He returns to his seat and helps himself to more chicken at Elisa's behest--she doesn't have to tell him twice. Casting a wry smile Setsuna's way, that kind of expression one has when they know the answer: "What do you do for fun, partner?"

<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.


        "Mister Yao is right," Ujico nods, and shoves an entire asparagus into her mouth before chewing. "Mmf. It's--" She remembers her manners and swallows before continuing. "It's time to enjoy ourselves right now. But... it's good to know people are willing to be part of the mission." To do the right thing, even if it's hard to know what that is.

        And besides, she was so worried about that cake turning out right.

        "I heard that," Ujico nods in response to Yuliana. "But I didn't know what part of France - or even that there was just a part famous for it. ...I don't mind the Meal Squares, I guess." Energy is energy, when you're working.

        But once again, the conversation meanders towards work. It can't be helped, maybe, because of their natures. "I heard the news that hostages were taken to ensure compliance, and left to starve."

        Sometimes it feels like there's no end to the evil in the world. To the evil in [humans]. Ujico reaches up and rubs idly at the base of one of her horns, before dedicating herself to finishing her vegetables.

        "--Oh, uh," she adds, "There's no ceremony about the cake or anything. I just put them lid on it to look fancy and help it stay moist. Whoever wants some, just get some."

<Pose Tracker> Regina Everhart has posed.


"Yes. There is... merit to it. Wearing something for the purpose of amusement and companionship, rather than strict necessity." Regina considers, with a nod in response to Elisa.

But conversation turns to work and she frowns, just slightly. She goes quiet. ...It's unfortunate, truly, that she can't be everywhere at once. But what can be done...?

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna F. Seiei has posed.



         Setsuna stops picking at his plate to look at Romilly as he asks a very simple question that is clearly meant to just be small talk. 'What does he do for fun?'

         At least, it should be a simple question. Setsuna just silently wracks his brain for a moment, before ultimately coming up with an answer.

         "Nothing."

         It's short. A bit depressing. But it's truthful. Setsuna's position does not afford him the luxury of doing things others would consider 'fun'. And honestly? He doesn't deserve to.

         "If you have another question, please get straight to the point."
         The Meister gives yet another flat delivery, though this time instead of the sentence being inherently threatening, this time it should come off as condescending. It's an earnest question though, as far as Romilly can tell.

<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.


        "They're very fun," Yuliana assures Elisa, warmly. "You're so fun, darling!"

        Elisa's also so thoughtful, Yuliana thinks, telling Romilly what he should do next. Isn't she nice? Yuliana thinks that's nice.

        She's managed to chomp her way through her servings; her plate was full and now, mysteriously, it isn't. Yuliana is very talented at clearing plates. "We're just not here to focus on the work," she smiles, to Romilly. The hollow void about her is less friendly, but -- again, she's keeping the Awakened at arms' reach. "The state of the Sphere is horrific, of course. But don't forget that we're people," she carefully side-steps specifying 'humans', "too. We can enjoy something as simple as a holiday get-together." Even people like Tieria and Setsuna and Regina!

        "That's something all of us can do," she asides, to Regina, on that note -- but she's not going to push her.

        It's another little kindness. She's expending so many of them. She is making an effort, here.

        Her smile grows a shade fixed, for a moment, though she smooths over the expression quickly enough. "Married to the work, no?" She asides, to Setsuna. "I was much like that, before I met my dear Viridesca. I hope you'll at least enjoy the change in dining! These two worked very hard." She gestures, to their chefs, Ujico and Regina.

        "Ah, and speaking of that hard work --" Yuliana stands, to go over to the cake, and fetch some plates. "We really must try this cake, since you mention it!" She says -- that last part, to Ujico -- and Yuliana will even carve out slices for everyone.

        The terminal warriors also get cake.

        And luckily, Tieria should be able to keep his new friend distracted long enough for Yao to hand out his presents, once everyone's full.

<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.


         'No ceremony' is all Romilly needed to hear, to help himself to a slice of cake. "About what I expected," he says to Setsuna between bites.

Hah. Wound up tighter than a Fed accountant's rear-end.

         "Yeah, I know," he humbly replies to Yuliana. "I get worked up sometimes, is all. Maybe it's the pot calling the kettle black, for me to ask him a question like that, when I'm still getting used to letting myself have stuff like this," he says, gesturing in a circle with his index finger, before holding out his gifted gaudy sweater to peer smilingly down at it.

         Looking back up, he glances towards Setsuna again. "The point is, one day, we'll be finished with all this," he says, pausing to savor a bite of cake. "Mm," he asides, "Ujico, this cake is heaven. Where'd you learn to cook?"

         Turning back to Setsuna, "Might be when we're old and gray, might not be until we croak. But the point of fighting for a better future is so that somebody can live in it. No question as such, I guess--just that you ought to think about what you'd do, if we're fortunate enough for them somebodies to include 'us.' Me, I started learning to sing and play guitar. It feels nice to have something I can do and say it's mine."

<Pose Tracker> Ujico Issa has posed.


        It must be nice to be a newlywed. Elisa and Yuliana are both shining so brightly tonight. Maybe one day Ujico will meet someone that she'd like to shine with, too.

        Wouldn't that be nice? The idea is still a little foreign, but not nerve-inducing.

        She gets her slice of cake and cuts into it with her fork. The fruit layer separates easily, and the juices permeated the bottom layers -- now the top layers -- of the cake itself. It worked!! She makes a pleased noise. "Thanks, everybody. "My other job is at a restaurant. Chef said he would teach me if I wanted to learn." She cuts a bite and eats it, exploring the texture and flavor. "...It would be nice, if everybody could be kind like that." She glances over at Setsuna and Tieria, and considers.

        Maybe it's something you [have to learn].

Retrieved from "https://srtmoo.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=2022-12-29:_CSB_Non-Denominational_Holiday_Dinner&oldid=5599"