It's Michaelmas!

[crimson_sugar]

In one of the larger suites of the Mansion, there is a table.  It's humbly set with an embroidered table cloth, and candleholders of bronze.  There are paper garlands on the ceiling, and there is a Christmas tree in a corner.   Sugar and Sophie don't have music playing - but they are both singing carols as they set the table.

Sugar opened her

Comments

[tinylittleonion]

Alyosha is fasting all day, from morning to midnight, no food, no water, and though he's done it before he feels light-headed now -- he stops quietly beside the Christmas tree, to rest listening to the song and the chatter, breathing in the scent of pine-needles and cooking.

[tomboy_22]

Anita is happy to see Alyosha. It's been a long, long while. She comes close, leans against the windowsill.

"Merry Christmas, Alex." She's smiling quietly, and is more subdued than usual, or perhaps more serene.

[tinylittleonion]

She looks particularly beautiful like that -- or so Alyosha thinks, and he gives a tender smile of his own.

"Merry Christmas, Nitya. Сhrystos rozhdayetsya. You look well."

[tomboy_22]

"You too, hun. It's been a long time." She opens her arms, for a hug. "I missed you."

She's still quiet, subdued, if serene, yes.

Seeing Alex is a beautiful present.

[moredangerous]

Aaron comes wandering by the room quite accidentally, probably practicing one of a Blood males favorite pasttimes - avoiding his wife. He does look uncharacteristically cheerful, though, and stands in the doorway, considering the room with gray eyes.

[crimson_sugar]

Sophie will notice Aaron, and tug at Sugar's dress to get her attention.

She comes to him with a smile, welcoming and open. "Well, Aaron. It's been a while."

[sceltwarlord]

Khary is always glad to meet new people! He doesn't have any gravediggers this time, fortunately, but does come cheerfully wandering in carrying a bottle of sparkling cider, which he sets down, grinning broadly. "Not every year I get two parties inside a week," amiably.

[sissy_queen]

After a warm welcoming from both Sugar and Sophie, he's invited to join the small group of people.

He's met everyone in it... except the boys, and Guinevere, who is sitting at the window in silence. She doesn't know anyone - she wandered in, and Sophie tugged her in, with a bit of coaxing from Robin and Niko, but her mind is elsewhere, tonight.

She could use some Khary time.

[ohmaiden]

Iphigenia's been wandering about the Mansion again, because she's a curious girl and likes to explore. She stumbles upon the party and is surprised and pleased at the same time--who knew there was so much to celebrate?

"Is this another party?" she asks timidly, as if the answer weren't obvious already.

[rob_fellows]

Robin stands and comes to greet her, interrupting the conversation - Nik and the good doctor were getting boring anyway.

"My beautiful Princess. Please, come." He offers her his hand. "It is a small gathering, but you are welcome."

[ohmaiden]

Her face flushes at the "beautiful" remark, but she takes his hand lightly and follows. "What's the occasion?"

[rob_fellows]

"They call this holiday Christmas, or Michaelmas. It came in existence after the time of Pan. Come. Do you know anyone here?"