feast & after-party ♔ empty my heart | i've got to make room for this feeling

[wynn]

♬ Can't Take It In - Imogen Heap

WHO || Wynn, the new Squires, any and all Knights
WHAT || Squiring Ceremony Feast & Afterparty
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Dining Hall & Ballroom
WHEN || February 9th, 2012, 7:00PM / 9:00 PM
HOW || Prose OR Actionspam

While every dinner served in the Knights' exceptionally large Dining Hall manages to have a sense of occasion, given the sheer quantity of food necessary to serve the hundreds who take their meals there, the 'feast' Wynn's ordered for after this squiring party outdoes the norm. It's not a problem to produce so much food at the drop of the hat when mages can magically summon up entire banquets, and so the room teems over with the smells and spices of hundreds of unique dishes. Centerpieces built with peacock feathers and sweet smelling flowers dot the table at intervals. A silver cage in the very middle of the table includes several live birds, their feet and tufts each appearing to be silver as well. A banner hangs from the top of the cage, with the Knight's symbol of a black dragon on a silver field.

The food has a distinctly medieval flair to it today, which several of the older Shadowkind Knights express their boisterous appreciation for as they dive in. The first course consists of a civet of hare, a quarter of salted stag, a stuffed chicken and a loin of veal, the latter two covered with a German sauce with gilt sugar-plums and pomegranate seeds. At each end of the table is an enormous pie, surmounted with smaller pies, which form a crown. The crust of the large ones is silvered all round and gilt at the top; each contains a whole roe-deer, a gosling, three capons, six chickens, ten pigeons, and one young rabbit. Serving as seasoning or stuffing, a minced loin of veal, two pounds of fat, and twenty-six hard-boiled eggs, covered with saffron and flavoured with cloves.

A second course follows: aroe-deer, a pig, a sturgeon cooked in parsley and vinegar, and covered with powdered ginger; a kid, two goslings, twelve chickens, as many pigeons, six young rabbits, two herons, a leveret, a fat capon stuffed, four chickens covered with yolks of eggs and sprinkled with spiced powder de Duc, and even a wild boar.

Next came wafers and stars; a jelly, part white and part blue. A fourth course of cream with Duc powder, covered with fennel seeds preserved in sugar; a white cream, cheese in slices, and strawberries; and, lastly, plums stewed in rose-water.

Besides these four courses, there's a fifth, entirely composed of wines, and of preserves, which consist of fruits and various sweet pastries in the shapes of dragons.

---------------------------

Following this, assuming anyone is still capable of moving at all is the after-party: a black-tie affair in the lavish, opulent ballroom, every new Knight's chance to mingle and meet some of their new brothers in arms. Per usual, a couple hours are provided following the feast for everyone to change, do hair and makeup, and choose from the vast array of formal attire in the closets of the balcony "dressing rooms" located at the top of spiraled staircases on either side of the ballroom. A separate dressing room exists for men and women, and they include full bathrooms (with, thankfully, very modern plumbing).

The squires are usually among the last to arrive, and the ballroom is full to the brim with a fancy array of people, of all shapes, sizes and species.

Hope none of you are shy. They're all here to meet you. 

All open feast threads should be made under the FEAST heading below. Any other threads below will be for the after-party. Feel free to make your own open threads for people to come congratulate your newly pledged knight.

Comments

[slay]

It's overwhelming. But ... the people here. They're good people, doing what they can to help others. [ She looks around, then back at Myril with a smile. ] Plus, getting put up in a castle at zero cost doesn't hurt.

[witchwoman]

Nothing's ever truly free. [She says, her eyes drifting around the lavish room.]

[slays]

Maybe so. But, I'd say the cost being employment is a low one, considering the work they do.

[witchwoman]

Perhaps. [But her voice doesn't sound hopeful. Unfortunately, Myri doesn't have the most optimistic of outlooks in situations like these.]

[slay]

Well, you'll find out one way or another. And, they aren't exactly keeping us here. If you wanna get all assimilate-y somewhere else, they'll help. Being a knight isn't a prison sentence.

[witchwoman]

[Amaranth butts his head against her.]

Be nice. [He chides into her mind.]

I'm sure it'll work out fine. Things are still new, that's all. [She gives her best smile.] You've enjoyed it so far, I take it?

[slay]

I guess I have. Well, I mean, I think I have. B-But, maybe I should be withholding judgment more.

[witchwoman]

[She tilts her head, confused.]

Perhaps a week is not long enough to know for certain. But it's not as if this one conversation will be the last that you can speak on the matter.

[slay]

[ A week feels long enough when it's the only week of her life that she remembers. When she feels at peace and like the last few chapters that she's forgotten are over with and she doesn't need to sweat them. Despite the lack of sleep from Slayer dreamsomnia. ]

Guess so. Just hard to realize it's only been that long. Kinda starts to feel like you can only remember being with the people here.

[witchwoman]

[That won't be hard for Myri to achieve, since she's been on her own for the greater part of 13 years. The only one by her side that entire time has been Amaranth.]

Perhaps they're the only ones worth remembering.

[slay]

Could be. Castle this big, you're kinda bound to find somebody worth it.

[witchwoman]

Hmm. [Myri hums in agreement. She's not especially good at making friendly with new people. For the most part, she usually keeps them at arm's length for her own safety.

As if knowing that Myri is about to bolt, Amaranth makes his way over to Buffy and nudges her leg with his head, looking up with his big violet eyes expecting a petting.]

[slay]

Awww, hey, kitty. [ Gross to be at the dinner table or not, it's adorable. So, Buffy leans down and scoops the cat up, putting him in her lap and petting behind his ears. ] Aren't you pretty.

[witchwoman]

[Amaranth nuzzles into her hand, purring loudly. Myri cannot help but smile down at him.]

He's been with me for as long as I can remember. I'm glad he didn't get lost between worlds.

[slays]

It's pretty lucky. Most people don't bring anything with them -- or anyone. I think you and Arthur and Merlin are the only ones who brought friends.

[witchwoman]

Are there people you miss? From before?

[slays]

Not really. [ She gives a smile that's very awkward. It's because she doesn't exactly remember any of them, but she's not saying that. ]

[witchwoman]

[To which Myri will return a smile, one that tries to convey that she understands- or at least she thinks so. Before all this squire nonsense started, Myrilandel was all on her own. Perhaps Buffy lead a similar life?]

A blessing in disguise, perhaps? If we are without anyone to miss, there is nothing to hinder us from completing the goals set before us here. [Optimism!]

[slays]

Right. I mean, if we're not worrying about being there with them, we can focus on the present. Very ... present-oriented.

[witchwoman]

Precisely.

[And just as Myri looks as if she may say something more, Amaranth bounds off into the crowd. With wide eyes, she turns quickly to try to find him.]

Amaranth..? [She looks to Buffy with an apologetic smile.] I should... Excuse me. [She steps away, but turns back.]

It was lovely to meet you.

[slay]

Right. Stray animal in the dining hall and all. [ She gives a smile. ] Nice meeting you, too. Good luck with your -- [ She gestures after Amaranth. ]

[witchwoman]

[She smiles one last time in thanks before dashing off to find her familiar before he gets himself into too much trouble.]