theresalwayshope | meet the (grand)parents...

Allison felt a little like she was going insane.

She started out just planning to invite Aramis and Porthos over to meet Jason. Dinner and drinks, nothing big. Then she realized she didn't just feel obligated to invite Athos, she wanted to. So, if she did that, she obviously had to invite D'artagnan, and she really wanted to meet Constance...and she'd promised Grey a chance to help her bake a cake, so if she did something more than dinner, she could let him come over at some point...

The small family dinner became a small dinner party, and with a few more additions morphed into an impromptu potluck for the whole building...or anyone that wanted to show up. She told the family about it privately, asking Porthos and Aramis to make sure the others at least stopped by (with a subtle warning that Jason would be there), told everyone else she knew in the city, and for the rest of the building she posted a couple of handmade fliers: one in the elevator, and another in the laundry room announcing that, with either a main course or appetizer offering, an invitation to the holiday celebration taking place in apartment #39...dressy casual to formalwear welcome, bring your favorite Christmas CD as a bonus.

And, of course, she told Jason...and told him her family would be there.

By the night of the party, Allison was ready...she just felt a little like she was going insane.

She kept her outfit cute, but simple, and took care of dessert by baking some cupcakes, gingerbread cookies, and a two layer chocolate cake which she invited Grey over to help her bake. With a little careful scheduling, she also managed to contribute to the food on hand with her second ever attempt at beef bourguignon: rich, hearty, and sort of impressive under the right circumstances. By party time, she had her front door standing open, some Trans Siberian Orchestra carols playing on her stereo, and while she didn't yet have a tree, she'd gotten some cute plastic holly garland to hang around the apartment, and for fun had ringed her whole living room ceiling in multicolor Christmas lights for good measure.

The party was good to go. The place smelled good, the food came out okay with more to come...the evening was good to go.

And when Jason showed up, her family would show up...and they'd all meet each other...

While she waited for her guests, loved ones, and boyfriend to start arriving, Allison puttered around in her kitchen, swore to herself she was not hiding, and tried to pretend that she wasn't having visions of someone either drawing a sword or a knife by the end of the evening.

Tonight had to be perfect.

(HOLIDAY GATHERING POST! Treat it thusly. :P Front door's open, come and go as you please, anyone in the Bramford Building is welcome, and if you know Allison even remotely she told you about the party. Gather at will, and leave a call for Allison in your subject line if you want to play with her directly! Open eternally, will probably be linked near the end of the month. :D)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If Lord Akeldama had had the ability to transform himself into female form, Biffy thought that she would have looked something like this. The woman seemed vaguely familiar, in the way that one might recognize someone they had first encountered via the society papers rather than in person. Her carriage, too, suggested the flamboyance of someone used to attention, an actress perhaps.

So impressed was Biffy that he straightened his cravat and made his way over at once.

"Good evening," he said, brightly. "I must give you my compliments."

"Thank you!" She smiles her brightest smile and preens a bit. Blooming as she always does when complimented. "And you're looking quite handsome yourself."

With a raise of her eyebrow she leans in, "It's so rare to meet someone in this city with a true eye for fashion." A fact that never ceases to depress her.

"But where are my manners? Effie Trinket. I live here in the Bramford but I don't recall seeing you around. I'm certain I would have remembered."

"Sandalio de Rabiffano," he said, bowing the way he preferred when indoors and without a hat. "But everyone calls me Biffy."

Truth be told, in Victoria's England, he'd been rather grateful for Lord Akeldama's Anglicizing of his name. He wasn't French, thankfully, but being Spanish made it a near miss.

"And likewise, I must regret that I didn't meet you immediately. Your ensemble is a dream!" he flattered. "I've only just arrived a few weeks ago and I've been set to work rather quickly--I mean, if you call being a personal shopper work." The last he said with the appropriately playful laugh.

No need to add he'd been completely indisposed come the full moon.

Her eyes go wide at his bow and she doesn't bother trying to contain the short, pleased laugh at his display. It's utterly delightful. More people in this town should have such impeccable manners.

"I'm so glad you like it." Smoothing the skirt, she lowers her gaze in the kind of false modesty that's expected when someone is so effusive with their praise. "It reminded me of the beautiful ice sculptures that were always part of the winter festivities in the capitol. But I'm sorry, did you just say personal shopper? Please tell me I didn't mishear."

"I did indeed," Biffy said proudly. "I'm employed by the store to shop for their best clients, meeting with them to find clothing to their advantage and taste."

And often, he found he needed to improve their tastes. Why oh why had waistcoats ever gone out of style?

"Oh!" She practically squeals with delight as she moves a bit closer to him, laying a hand on his arm. "Well isn't this a fortuitous meeting. Remind me to thank our host later."

Draining her glass, she glances around for John but he looks to be quite involved in conversation elsewhere. "Is it only menswear you work with? I have someone I would love to send your way."

All the fashionable verve of Alexia with the vibrant enthusiasm of Mrs. Tunstell. He was in for quite the conversation, that much he knew already.

"I am adapting on the job," he admitted. "Women's wear has changed significantly from my time. Menswear as well and I must admit terrible vexation over the removal of waistcoats from everyday fashion."

She gasps and lays a hand on his arm, expressing all the relief she's feeling at finally meeting another person in this city who actually understands her pain.

"You could not be more correct. And believe me, everyone's wear is changed significantly for me." She lowers her voice and leans in. "It's as though the people here are afraid of fashion. Afraid to take risks! I'll never understand it."

It was quite a forward gesture for his time, but Biffy could see only a kindred spirit in this woman and he nodded enthusiastically. His own relief–and delight–were clear on his face.

"What is fashion like in your time? Are you from the past as well?"

"The past? No, no. Given how frustratingly primitive most of the technology is in this city I assume I must be from the future, but to be honest I'm not entirely sure. For all I know, I might be from a whole different universe or something. It's all quite beyond me."

She and John had spent some time trying to work it through, but she knows so little of what came before the disasters that it was impossible to be certain of anything. Even if she assumes that what she was taught was true.

"As for fashion, well, let's say we in the Capitol could be quite...extreme."

"Extreme?" he asked. Trying to form a picture, he took a step back from Miss Trinket to get a better idea from her outfit. Perhaps this was tame to her and that just made her even more curious at the same time as it made him homesick once more for Lord Akeldama.

"You must tell me more. Please," he said, gesturing to the food table, "let me refresh your drink."

meet the (grand)parents...

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