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

[thesamurai]

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!)

Comments

ota;

[thesamurai]

Prep work

[Michonne begins hauling food, plates, tables and chairs around two-thirty out to the garden. Decorating is an after thought, and at the last minute she gets some of those tiki-torch things from the closet, just using a room downstairs (now that she's moved to the 8th floor) that's vacant to get everything. She takes care of a lot on her own, but a helping hand would never be turned down.]

Party in full swing

[There's music playing, not loud enough to drown out conversations, but enough to have a pleasant background beat going. She manages to eat a little bit of everything, calling for shots with people every now and again. There's so much food, and enough people that she can talk to different people all night with different things in her hands as she does. She has her katana, never leaves home without it, but for right now it's hanging from a tree branch, right where she can see it, but not immediately on her back. Today's for fun, and she just wants that. She's smiling, more than most people have probably seen her do in a while, and she's a little drunk around ten, but it's all good.]

Wrap up

[Michonne's losing steam by 11:15, sitting back, lounging a little with her final beer in her hand. It's a little warm, the bottle getting sipped slowly, and the music is a little quieter now, the din of noise quieting as the crowd thins. When she speaks, it's to no one at all in particular.]

This was good. This was really good.

Paaaarty! (Zombie style)

[luckynumberthree]

[ Simon and Jo had both made food for the potluck, but Simon had let Jo transport it down in favor of showing up with a very particular potluck necessity in hand.

Which is why he strolls up to Michonne with a smirk and promptly hands over a bottle of tequila, an unopened can of baked beans, and a can opener. ]

Here. For nostalgia's sake.

[thesamurai]

[For a second, Michonne just stares at him, then lets out a laugh.]

You've gotta be shittin' me.

[She takes the can and the opener though, then gestures behind her.]

You're comin' with me then. We're starting a fire, and we're cooking these, and then we're eating them. Roughin' it style.

[luckynumberthree]

Do I look like I'm shittin' you?

[ The answer is yes, Michonne, definitely yes, because he's got the biggest shit-eating grin on his face right now. ]

I didn't expect anything less. It's not a party without them, right?

[thesamurai]

[She starts leading the way, back a bit and away from the main party.]

You shoulda brought the frank 'n' beans. Processed meat is really what it's about.

[Once she decides they've gone far enough, she begins working on a fire, pretty good with rudimentary items now, not even bothering with a lighter.][

prep!

[backpacking]

Okay, I'm no good at this stuff, but...

[ Hey, Michonne. Have one (1) Ellie, carrying a fairly-precarious plate of brownie-cookies. The girl flashes a grin before setting them down with a sigh, as if she's relieved she didn't drop the plate on the way. ]

This is awesome. [ The party, or picnic, or whatever it is. Ellie glances around, clearly in a good mood and looking forward to the event. ] What can I do to help out?

[thesamurai]

[Those look damn good, and Michonne'll have one in a little it but for now she looks around.]

We need one more table. Just gonna use a closet on the first floor, could use a hand carrying it. Then? Time to cook the shrimp.

[Because hell yes she's actually grilling, she's not missing the chance.]

[backpacking]

I can do that. [ The table bit, anyway. Ellie isn't so confident in her ability to cook shrimp. ... She isn't even sure she's ever had shrimp. ]

You look like you're having fun.

[thesamurai]

Do I?

[That's a tongue in cheek question, and she shrugs a little.]

Guess I decided that I can't let this place keep me from having moments like this. Shit may hit the fan tomorrow, but so far, today's lookin' pretty good.

party

[bruvva]

[ True to his style he finds the katana hanging from the tree branch. He's like a little kid with weapons. When Harry showed him the weapons room when he first joined Kingsman he almost lost himself. Like seriously. Fucking lighters that aren't lighters, but are secretly grenades? Proper fucking cool. He's left the gear he arrived in back in his room for now. Thankfully. He's dressed down. He ditched the alcohol he brought on some table. Trust the young delinquent chav to bring the liquor. ]

That is proper fucking cool. [ He says staring up at it. It's obviously someone's so he doesn't try to take it or anything. He's not a moron or drunk enough to start believing weapons grow on trees. ]

[thesamurai]

[She's very protective of her katana, and when she sees the admiration going on, she lets it, takes a sip of her beer as she eyes him. He doesn't touch it, which gains him points right away, and she makes her way over.]

You got a thing for sharp weapons?

[bruvva]

Not really sure if it's just sharp weapons specifically. I do like them though.

[ It takes Eggsy a moment to realize that saying that might actually make him sound like a serial killer or something worse. So he turns directly to Michonne and shakes his head. ]

Not a like--murdery way, but just--wow that's a nice sword. [ He gives up trying to explain because he's just going to talk himself right into a bloody corner. ] Is it yours?

[thesamurai]

[It’d be easy to mess with him, she knows she can have a stern expression, a ‘you’re fucking with the wrong person’ demeanor, but she’s too relaxed - has had too much to drink - for that, and instead one eyebrow raises.]

Yeah, it’s mine. Good to know it passes muster.

[She pauses for a second before shrugging.]

I stole it. No idea if it’s considered ‘quality’ or not. All I know is, it works.

[circlejerked]

<sub>[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.]</sub>

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.]}

[noble_son]

[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.]

[thesamurai]

[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.

[circlejerked]

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

<sub>[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?]</sub>

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.

Wrap-Up

[lightgunhustler]

[Jo smiles as she pulls up beside Michonne with her own beer in hand, inviting herself to sit and settling in beside her with her knees spread, leaning forward to rest her weight on them.]

It was good. Think a lot of people needed this, somethin' good to look forward to.

[Of course, there's more to it than that. The world Michonne came from, this kind of thing was unheard of nowadays.]

How do you feel?

[Relaxed, she hopes. Michonne's had it harder than most lately, with visits home, and finding friends here only to lose them again. Jo's determined to make sure she doesn't feel alone in spite of it.]

[thesamurai]

[Jo’s always welcome company, and Michonne stretches out just a little more.]

Feelin’ pretty good.

[She hands over a plate with four brownies on it.]

These are filled with pot. Jo. Definitely eat one.

[lightgunhustler]

[Jo raises both eyebrows, a smile pulling at one side of her mouth.]

Pot brownies, huh?

[Makes her feel like a high schooler again-- pot usually doesn't blow her skirt up, but she's definitely not against special brownies. She grins, reaching for one.]

You really do know how to throw a party.

[thesamurai]

Wish I could take the credit. Wasn't my idea. But, since they're here, and we're here, and this is a damn party, then I'll relive some college days for a night.

[She raises a brownie and 'toasts' it with Jo before taking a bite.]

Party!

[abelmedic]

[Maxine has done her due diligence. She has brought a dessert. She has done her best to help with prep. And now, even outside, even making as much noise as they are, she is doing her best to ignore the background tension of we are all going to die any second now and drinking steadily.

The drinks help a fair amount with turning that tension way, way down. And by the time eight rolls around she spots their hostess on the way back from the cooler and grins, raising her bottle in a toast.]

This? Was genius.

[thesamurai]

[It’ll probably be like they’ll all be dead or dying by this time next week, but still, it’s not tomorrow yet. She grins at Maxine before taking a swig of her beer.]

I do, on occasion, have a damn good idea.

[abelmedic]

Damn good ideas that don't involve disaster preparedness, yes! I'm seeing that.

[She drinks to the toast and releases a deep, easy breath, settling in next to her.]

Oh, I missed this. Just- [She gestures around, at not only the gardens but everyone in them, the whole setup for the potluck.] All this noise, and, you know, smells, and relative lack of weapons . . .

[thesamurai]

[Michonne nods enthusiastically, agreeing completely.]

It’s the noise I miss most, I think. Even when we were sittin’ around eating whatever we could find, when things were good and we were happy, it was that...constant chatter, you know? Being able to look up, see people smile instead of grim lines across people’s faces. Shit, I missed that here. No one does it, no one just...relaxes for a second.

[And maybe they can’t for too long, but they can for a few hours. A few hours out of days on end of living on edge and wondering what fresh hell the mansion would pull next.]