entrancelogs | eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow the mansion could implode via magic

Entry tags:

eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow the mansion could implode via magic

Who: Michonne and other residents of Wonderland
Where: The garden
When: April 9th from 4 pm to ????? (probably around midnight)
Rating: Let's start at PG and adjust if necessary
Summary: Michonne throws a party outside because there's nothing prepared to eat her.
The Story:

[She misses it. The house in Alexandria full of people, enough that it spills out onto porches and front yards. No fear of something shuffling its way behind you to take a bite out of your neck or shoulder. Just conversation, the sound of crickets and cicadas in the summer, and booze that's been scavenged with care. That's what she misses, and the people too, but.

She has people here.

It's an epiphany that's come with time and conversation. Just because these people haven't been through her world with her, they've all been through some shit here, and more of them than not have taken care of each other. Maybe that was what it was about. What you'd do for someone, not where they came from. So, she's taken it upon herself to throw a party. Before the end of everything it was the kind of thing she liked to host, especially pre-Andre being born. After that her time was split between courtrooms and midnight feedings, but she'd still done her share of entertaining clients. Then things ended and it became more about sharing scraps of meet and jars of food when they could, hoping things would get better.

They can. They do. Even without her family, her people, she's made a new home, a different group. People she'd go out of her way to do a lot for, and today they get a potluck. Everyone has to bring something; she's provided the main meats and drinks, but the party is open to everyone who offers an item for others to enjoy whether it's food or booze. Everything is casual outside in the garden, with people coming and going from late afternoon through about midnight when Michonne's finally ready to pack it in.

You take moments like this with the people you care about any time you can get them. That's a far cry from her early ambitions in Atlanta to stay alone.]

(ooc: treat as gathering style, make top levels, tag around!)

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_{[A party with open invitations? Count Anders in! Curiosity at what's going on in the gardens prompts him to investigate, and once he finds out Michonne is planning on a gathering, his first impulse is to join in on the fun. He finally has a chance to spend his time as he wants and get to know people. Why not join in?

Bringing food isn't too difficult. It's a chance to share Fereldan cuisine with other-worlders, and he cycles through some easy recipes before deciding on spiced salmon in a pastry, something he'd picked up on the Amaranthine coast. His cooking skills are lacking, but with an abundance of food free for the taking, he's happy to take the opportunity to brush the rust off of them and whip up something a little more elaborate than porridge.

He even coerces Nathaniel to come outside and see what the fuss is about. A little fresh air could do them both some good.

Before the party is due to start, Anders approaches with Nathaniel in tow. Under one arm, he has a cat, and in the other he's holding the tray with the food.]}

Have room for two more? We have an entry fee and we're willing to pay.

_{[Hence the food. The cat's not for eating, though he's willing to share him around the table for pets if need be.]}

[Nathaniel does not want to be here.

But, Anders is a persistent man and his dogged insistence had worn the rogue down until he'd agreed simply to get him to shut up about it. He supposes, in the end, a little fresh air and company won't do him too much harm.

He left his own new kitten behind, curled up in a small beige and white ball near the bottom of his bed, but now and then he glances Ander's way as if weighing up whether or not he'll try to catch the food or the cat should the mage happen to trip on the hem of his ridiculous robes.

The brief look he shoots Michonne is verging on apologetic. Just for a moment.

Sorry about Anders.]

[Michonne's not turning anyone away, not if they brought food, and she looks at the tray of food, only pretending she's eyeing it warily. Glancing at both of them, she grabs two beers in cold bottles and swaps Anders, the tray for the drinks.]

Welcome to the party. Only requirement is to not try fighting anyone, no violence.

[Hence her katana hanging from a tree branch.]

Celebrating the fact nothing's gonna try and kill us today.

Don't worry, I'm a healer. If it makes anyone ill, I can fix that right up.

_{[Michonne's feigned suspicion prompts Anders to defend his meal choice with a smile before she whisks the tray away, returning with drinks for the two of them, which he accepts gratefully.

He spares a moment to read the label on the bottle. It's not a beer he's seen before. This is exactly why he'd wanted to take part--after all when in his life will he get to sample food and drinks from other worlds?]}

Thank you. I'm glad to see you've found a reason to celebrate. I'll drink to surviving another day! _{[He turns his head in Nathaniel's direction.]} This is Nathaniel. Don't mind him, he always looks this way. Dourness is his customary state.

[Nathaniel takes his own drink with a quiet 'thank you', distracted by it for long enough that Anders' mouth is free to run away with itself. Not that anything Nathaniel could do could ever stop that from happening. It's not a drink he recognises but it.. tastes alright.

He'll take it.

Anders' comment on his mood prompts a swift - if overly gentle - jab of one sharp elbow into the mages' ribs, and a polite smile to Michonne.]

You'll have to forgive my friend, his mouth has a tendency to run away with itself. Thank you for the invitation.

Well, looks you're both the best friends there ever were.

[She smirks as she takes a drink herself.]

Look, this isn't a forced mingle. But I don't mind meeting new people. And with plenty to drink, maybe it won't be too painful.

Ow! _{[Anders can't recall inviting a bony elbow into his personal space and he shoots Nathaniel a dirty look.]} Manners in front of the lady, please. Could your family not afford an etiquette coach with their piles of money?

_{[Turning back to Michonne, he smiles at her and carries on like Nathaniel isn't there.]}

I wanted to come! I think spending time getting to relax and get to know one another is a brilliant idea. Nathaniel's a little shy, is all--coming to terms with other worlds aside from your own takes some getting used to. We're from the same world, as it so happens. Thedas.

I was always far more interested in other things, but I did learn that the best method of teaching is firm and immediate correction. [He replies amicably, giving Michonne another quick smile and a short bow.]

Though Anders seems intent upon not allowing me to speak for myself, allow me to make an introduction - Nathaniel Howe, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[Shy, indeed. He can ignore that by proving entirely otherwise, but he's not intending to continue engaging in childishness.]

Perhaps we can talk later on. I swear, he will eventually run out of things to say.

[He leaves them to their conversation, melting into the crowd in the way most rogues are adept at. No doubt they will catch up later.]

[Michonne raises an eyebrow, especially as Nathaniel is gone before she can say much else, and she turns her attention back to Anders.]

Lot of this is because I miss my people. Miss even having people who'll rib me like that.

[She smirks a little, taking a sip of her beer.]

Thanks for comin'. And bringin' the rabble, apparently. [She's just teasing about that last part, but still.]

You're just proving my point, you know!

_{[He calls this at Nathaniel's retreating back. Fine, fine. Run away, Howe.

But Anders can't complain--it gives him the chance to speak further with Michonne. Seeing her like this, laid back and smirking, is a vast improvement on the last time he'd seen her with a drink in hand.]}

Well, I'd recommend spending time in Nathaniel's company. If it's ribbing you want, you'll get plenty of it and then some.

_{[The cat tucked in the crook of his arm looks on curiously as he twists the cap off his bottle, and he lets his feline company sniff the rim at the scent of freshly cracked beer.]}

It's no trouble. It's good what you're doing, calling a ceasefire at the meal table--everyone needs this sort of thing. Since it looks as though we're in this thing for the long haul, we have to make our moments when we can. I swear this rabble will be on our best behavior.

[Michonne eyes the cat.] You got one too, huh? I still haven't named mine.

[Then she gestures over toward some chairs, just the basic lawn variety so they can sit and talk if he wants. At least, she's going to sit for now.]

I figure, we've had it pretty good here lately. Won't last long, and I'd rather have a good party before hand, while we're all feelin' okay about life.

[It's not exactly pessimism, it's making the best out of knowing something shitty has to be on the way. Right?]

Two, actually. I felt like I should take in more than one to be fair. But you took one, too? That's great news. If you need name ideas, I'm your man.

_{[Anders is pleased to enable people where he can and he sits in one of the proffered seats, still smiling. Michonne picked a good cure for loneliness. Drinks make poor company, but a cat is there to sleep on your chest when you need one.

Setting the tabby down so it can explore the perimeter of the lawn chair, he takes a drink from the beer. It takes thinner and sweeter than his usual fare.]}

I'd hate to think we're due for another around of crazy. I still haven't shaken the feeling that my emotions are spinning like a dial on a compass gone out of control.

That one sucked. [She’s in full agreement with him on that, and she looks over.]

So, you didn’t turn them off? Your emotions, I mean.

[She had, if only to be able to keep a clear head in case there was more to tell with that couldn’t have her emotions clouded.]

Yes, it was certainly an experience...

_{[Anders' hedges his answer. He's quick to talk about most things, but feelings--namely his feelings--don't make for the best conversation. Too thin and bitter, like a tasteless broth.]}

If there was a way to push them to the back of my mind, I wasn't in a state to figure it out. _{[He laughs, a sheepish puff of breath, and smoothes his fingers over the cat's head.]} And there's something about having the choice to deaden your emotions that gives me the creeps. We have something like that where I'm from. A means to separate someone from their emotions permanently. It's used as a punishment, and the end result isn't pretty.

_{[If his feelings aren't any prettier, they're still his. Doing a lesser version of the Rite of Tranquility to himself doesn't feel right--what if it hadn't gone back to normal? Being divorced from everything that makes him him is the worst thing he can imagine.]}

[This isn’t the first time she’s heard about emotions being taken away as punishment in other places. Well, Regina’s was the whole...heart thing, which sounds messier. Still.]

I couldn’t figure out which one was worse. So I just locked myself in my room to keep everything to myself. Healthiest way to cope? Probably not. But no one got the full extent of what I’m like when I’m emotional about shit. But I can see why you just...why you wouldn’t turn them off.

Nobody can fault you for that. I'm not sure what the healthy way to cope is when an outside power fans your emotions into an inferno, if there is such a way. You probably did yourself a favor, avoiding temptation. _{[A regretful sigh marks his next sentence.]} In hindsight, I wish I'd been that smart.

_{[Things had gotten... messy, for lack of a better word. So much so that the simple act of sipping a foreign drink in a chair with a potential new friend strikes him as the best gift in the world.

There's nothing like being put through the wringer to make you grateful for the small things, after all, and he throws her an easygoing smile.]}

Pulling up a seat in the tavern didn't do much to take the edge off this time, eh?

[She gives him a sidelong glance at that, because that hadn't been her finest moment.]

It's not typically how I deal with things. Just let the worst of a bad situation get to me. The bar with friends, that's for good times, usually. But I will say some drinking did happen in that room to pass time.

_{[He doesn't doubt her fortitude in that regard. Anyone who manages to keep their head screwed on straight between events has some mettle, he's sure.]}

I'll tell you a secret...

_{[He leans a little ways over the arm of the chair, then allows a sheepish, laughing smile.]}

It happened in mine, too. That's hush-hush, I have a reputation to uphold.

[Michonne laughs, pretty delighted by that before toasting him with her bottle.]

Well, here's to drinking for better reasons, in good company.

Cheers! I'm pleased to be here and I couldn't agree more. It's good to have friends in strange places, especially the kinds of friends who let you partake in free food and drink.

_{[He'll drink to that.]}

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eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow the mansion could implode via magic

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