The Lounge's Autumn Escape

[Essie1]

I think you'll find the Duchess made these pastry delights with her own Tiny hands.

Nibbling delicately on another delicious slice of fruit pie.

So nice to be amongst the company of good friends. And pastry.

*honk*

And a swan called Beryl

 

[DesEsseintes]

How charming - did she really, Essie? Like dear Marie Antoinette and her sheep. It can be fun to do without the servants for a while. Last weekend I dismissed all but a pair of undergardeners, three kitchenmaids, a pastry chef, two cooks, the parlourmaid and my valet acting as an impromptu butler. I dined almost alone, with only a dozen close friends for company, and we stuck to just six courses.

It made me understand what life must be like for ordinary people. At one stage I even had to fetch my own canapes.

 

[prettyserpentine]

I love swan!!

Here, I brought this to the party. Did someone say there was a swan kicking around here? I never noticed one...

sits down to have some delicious pie

Mmmm. It tastes vaguely of royalty with just the hint of sadism.

 

[TinyDuchess]

Mon Dieu! My dear DesEssientes, however did you survive?! You are a brave man, that is for sure. To dare to live life so carefree, it's admirable.

Dear Essie is correct though, I did manage these lovely treats all on my lonesome with my own tiny hands.

*whispers* By the way Essie, that's the trick to the latticework ... a very delicate pair of hands.

I'm so glad you all enjoyed them, including you Miss StarryEyed.

I do apologize for missing tea.

 

[StarryEyed665]

I love swan!!

Here, I brought this to the party. Did someone say there was a swan kicking around here? I never noticed one...

sits down to have some delicious pie

Mmmm. It tastes vaguely of royalty with just the hint of sadism.

._.

D=

I . . . I don't know what to say.

I've never not eaten a pie before, though.

Reaches hand out with morbid curiosity and guilt.

 

[TinyDuchess]

I do believe you have outdone my efforts Pretty Miss. I suppose I should not be too disturbed by such competition as yours is a savoury offering.

You will excuse me however for not partaking, I fear that it would be grievously offensive on my part to do so in the presence of Essie's new friend Beryl.

 

[prettyserpentine]

I do believe you have outdone my efforts Pretty Miss. I suppose I should not be too disturbed by such competition as yours is a savoury offering.

You will excuse me however for not partaking, I fear that it would be grievously offensive on my part to do so in the presence of Essie's new friend Beryl.

Oh I understand. Essie knows I just like to tease when it comes to all the little animals that frequent the Lounge.

Your pies looked incredible, by the way. I'm tempted to go and pick one up before nightshift tonight... But if it sits in the kitchen at work I might be too tempted to eat it!

 

[DesEsseintes]

Oh I understand. Essie knows I just like to tease when it comes to all the little animals that frequent the Lounge.

You're telling me. When I ordered foie gras in the pool area, under the eyes of that duck, I was made to feel so uncomfortable I could scarcely finish my fifth portion.

 

[Essie1]

Munches on her fruit pie quietly, pondering how it's strange that all manner of predilections and peccadilloes pass without question around these parts but mention one imaginary swan or one comforting little bear and it's game on... hmph...

 

[prettyserpentine]

Munches on her fruit pie quietly, pondering how it's strange that all manner of predilections and peccadilloes pass without question around these parts but mention one imaginary swan or one comforting little bear and it's game on... hmph...

Ahem.

What?

 

[TinyDuchess]

Awww don't sit there all red-faced Essie. You'll call forth early crinkles upon your brow, and no one wants that.

Besides I like Ted, and Bubblequack ... and of course now Beryl.

 

[thestruggle]

Trundling down a path, she pushes a cart laden with pumpkins in front of her. Her pace is a little awkward - her burden basically dwarfs her - but she makes do. She should have done this earlier. Who shoves a cart into the forest and hopes for the best on a Wednesday night? Um. Well. She does. The daylight's gone, the night's bearing down, and all of the autumnal scents that mix together in the middle of every September are creeping through the trees. There's a bite in the air: not enough to deter her, but just enough to make her glad about her sweater.

This is Halloween, everybody make a scene.

Her singing turns to humming, even though that ghoulish holiday is still a ways off. So what? Time to break out the arrays of orange and red, wrap a scarf around that pretty neck. She shoves the cart into place by a cabin with a final heave and studies her surroundings, brushing her bangs back with a fingertip or two. Mm. Pie. Woodsmoke. She inhales and gleefully hops up the steps, opening the door and stepping into a place of warm light. Cozy, compact, and just perfect for her needs. She leaves the door open while she starts unloading stuff from her accompaniment, and launches right into a whistled rendition of "Jack's Lament."

 

[Essie1]

Quite right, Duchess. There is a clear blue sky here. Not a cloud to be seen. The water looks.... well, cleaner than it has been at any rate so I do believe it is time for the first seasonal cannonball...

Brushes crumbs off hands, jogs down to the moss & leaf blanket, strips off and runs along the jetty, yelling GERONIMO at the top of her lungs and cannonballing neatly into the water, sending up a joyful splash

 

[TinyDuchess]

Dear me , she's in the water again.

*Leaning against the door frame, watching as Essie splashes about, before turning to give Tess a friendly smile.*

What's in the cart? And do you need any help bringing it all in?

 

[prettyserpentine]

You know what I think game on is?

Irrelevant.

Essie, I think it's a little rude how you happily socialise with non-player animals and yet ignore real life people. I asked you a question and twice you've ignored me. I apologise if you think I'm being mean but I'm being honest.

I'd appreciate if you have something to say to me you can say it.

Or send a message in a bottle tied around a duck's foot, whatever works.

In addendum, I am sorry to Brit for saying this in her thread but I'm sure at some point later I'll edit it out with a picture of a duck billed platypus.

 

[thestruggle]

Dear me , she's in the water again.

*Leaning against the door frame, watching as Essie splashes about, before turning to give Tess a friendly smile.*

What's in the cart? And do you need any help bringing it all in?

Looks around from where she's settling a rather bulky pumpkin on a rough wooden table.

Oh, hi, gorgeous! Well...

Wanders back over through the door and peers into the cart's basin.

Pumpkins, gourds, carving stuff, candles... Various crafty things to make decorations, for a future haunted house.

She grins at Duchess and gestures to the still-full wagon. Her breath comes out a little frosty, but her manner is warm enough to dispel any puffs of chilly fall air.

I'd love some help! We can set it up wherever. I just hope Brit doesn't mind my craft mania. Also! I'm about to reply to your message. I'm floored, it's absolutely incredible. Birdie is perfect! How are you otherwise?

Blows a kiss to PS and lugs another armful of junk before shuffling back to the cabin.

 

[AsianGirl93]

Essie, I think it's a little rude how you happily socialise with non-player animals and yet ignore real life people.

Animals are less complicated, right ?

 

[prettyserpentine]

Animals are less complicated, right ?

I suppose. If you want to be exclusive and not talk to people, sure.

Also hi. I don't think we've met.

 

[Britwitch]

wanders in, jeans and boots, a flannel shirt over her vest and a broad smile

Well, look at it in here. I love the pumpkins, Tess, they'll perfect for the party next month!

waves to all the new faces and familiar ones

Hello, hello, hello!

let's out a sigh and looks around

Ok, I'm going to say this once and then that's it. I like it when everyone feels welcome and included. I don't like unnecessary tension and/or fighting. I'm creating these spaces with conversation and communication in mind.

I know everyone can't possibly talk to everyone who comes in but the polite thing is to acknowledge those who acknowledge others. It's pretty clear when someone has come in here to have time alone, and obvious when others come to mix and mingle and be.

I will not tolerate sniping or intentional ignoring of others in here. We're adults, we can at least act like it for the duration of our stay in here.

I love that people are developing the setting in here to fit them, that's great, but not at the expense of others please.

Now give me a pumpkin, please, Tess, I feel the need to carve something!

grins and sits down

 

[AsianGirl93]

I suppose. If you want to be exclusive and not talk to people, sure.

Also hi. I don't think we've met.

Hi, I'm new. See my small post count?

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

Hum hum hum, hum hum hummm...

The heavy sole of boots crunch over the leaves on the ground, his voice casting out in front of him as he approaches as an unintentional announcement of his arrival. The cuffs of faded jeans fall over the tops of the boots he wears, a simple grey t-shirt and dark cardigan keeping him warm enough against the cool night air. From his shoulder down towards his hip, a black fabric strap runs across his chest, holding the guitar against his back, the tipped-up head hovering in the air a little behind his knees.

The area is surprisingly populated when he arrives, and he stops short with a little laugh, surveying the scene for a moment. With a grin, he shakes his head at Tess and her various autumnal paraphernalia, tossing a wave to all that are about.

"Evening, everyone!"

 

[thestruggle]

Rubs her hands together with relish after depositing several items around the cabin and on the table. She holds up a finger as though a genius brainstorm has come to her, and scurries back out to the cart. The selection is respectable, but she has the perfect one in mind. With a little grunt she tugs a pumpkin out, its rounded curves resting against her sweater as she carries it back to Brit proudly.

Here is one of the prettiest pumpkins in the whole patch for the prettiest Witch! Let's pledge this carving kick-off to fun times and pumpkin-y community. Or something.

She sets it on the table with a flourish and kisses a freckled Witch's cheek before going on back to unload some more. On her way, she spots Ruffles and considers her pumpkin supply... Well, she'll just set a gourd trebuchet up later.

Gonna regale us with some autumnal tunes? Ode to falling leaves?

 

[TinyDuchess]

*grinning happily at Tess, rushing to the cart to gather more than an armful or two of things and then carrying them inside and placing them on the table.*

OOOOH how fun! We don't have Halloween here so I've never had reason to carve before - pumpkin is for soup or curry and sometimes pelau in my neck of the woods. I've never even dressed up or been to a costume party before either.

*Looks over at Brit, smiling shyly while looking hopeful* Is the party going to be a costume party?!

Evening Scuttles!!

 

[thestruggle]

Inspects the full table and wonders if she should start piling stuff up on the counter. So much to organize! She nods enthusiastically at Duchess.

Yeah! Whatever you'd like to carve, I'm sure I've got some stencils around here to help... I usually just wing it, myself. And pelau! I had that a few times when I was living in Texas, it's not something that you can find around here unless you find a Trinidadian family that cooks for the university international festival. That hasn't happened in awhile, though. Those are all excellent uses of pumpkin!

She picks up a kettle and flits away to fill it with well-water, before coming back and setting it over the fire. Who knows if it's really that rustic in the cabin? Not her! But why not?

Some tea, I think. It's chilly! And yes, it will be a costume party! Do you know what you'd like to go as?

 

[TinyDuchess]

*Lights up brighter than a Christmas tree and resists the urge to hug Tess for her knowledge of Trinidadian food. Humming happily and assessing the pumpkin in front of me before considering the question*

I'm not really sure, I suppose I'll have to give it some serious thought.

Do you know what you want to go as already?