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

[socialgraces]

I don't miss mine either. I've heard more times than I can count that it's a blessing not to be haunted by memories of my past. I try to look at it like that.

[She looks back out at the room to give Buffy a little privacy.] Sir Lanston remembers much of his life before he came here, including the family he left behind. And because he has that to cling to, he refuses to move forward and accept this world for what it is.

[She pauses before turning back to Buffy.] You'll discover who you are all over again, and be all the better for it. You'll have the confidence of knowing that you chose to be this person, and you'll fight for the right to be yourself. Most people don't have that assurance.

[slays]

Thank you. [ She nods, reaching up to wipe the last traces of wetness from her eyes and giving a soft mirthless chuckle at herself. ] God, look at me. It's supposed to be a party, and I'm -- [ She takes a deep breath, centers herself, and she's okay again, smiling even -- more convincingly, now. ] Thank you.

[socialgraces]

Anytime. [She pauses, giving her an understanding smile.] I am sorry. I suppose this wasn't an ideal setting for such a conversation. [And she looks kind of guilty for making the other woman express such emotion in public. Luckily, she doesn't think anyone's paying attention to them.]

[slays]

Not exactly, no. [ She at least seems dryly amused by that fact. Particularly because no one seems to be paying attention, so she probably got off easy. ]

[socialgraces]

[Her face relaxes as Buffy's emotions calm. Her tone is more casual now, but it doesn't seem harsh or forced.] Well, now that that's settled, why don't you go enjoy yourself. I'm sure there's more than a few people who would love to buy you a drink.

[slay]

Well, as long as they're buying ... [ She smiles and gives a nod. ] I think I'll do that. Thanks again -- for, you know. [ She gives a nod, her pride refusing to let her further admit anything that just went on. Then, she makes a strategic escape. ]