Emma's Tea Spot, Baltimore, Maryland, Thursday Afternoon

[mustbeawitch]

It was Lydia's twentieth birthday in a few days, which she very much doubted anyone remembered. She was trying very hard not to make a fuss about that, though it was very difficult. Look at her, maturing or something. Still, as the birthday girl she felt she was allowed a few liberties, such as moving Supper Club to the afternoon so they could have afternoon tea, a lovely English tradition she thoroughly predated but had been introduced to on the school trip to Canada. She did so hope everyone would enjoy it.

She had included in the message letting their usual suspects know about the time change and location a note that it might be fun to dress up a bit (she herself was wearing her newest dress, but that wasn't mandatory. Probably. Look, you had all met Lydia, right?

Welcome to Supper--er, Afternoon Tea Club, everyone!

Comments

Arrive and Mingle

[mustbeawitch]

And get your hands on a cup of tea as soon as possible, or maybe that was just Lydia.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[thatwaslucky]

Rey's clothing was either sensible (but still pretty cute in a GFFA way) outfits that she could move in, or things she'd wear when she went to NYE, or a wedding or something. There wasn't any in between aside from one pair of jeans. So THANKS LYDIA.

But she did have a pair of flowy black pants that looked dressier, and did a nice v-neck work? Of course in black because a girl liked her monochrome.

Anyway! Tea!

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mustbeawitch]

Lydia supposed it would do, but black was hardly festive, was it, Rey?

Then again, Lydia hadn't told anyone about her birthday because she wanted them to somehow just notice organically, so that was really on her. Look, sometimes she was genuinely silly.

"Miss Skywalker! Good afternoon!"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[thatwaslucky]

"Hello!" Rey greeted her. "I'm sure you're shocked this will be a new experience for me."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Well, Liliana could hardly complain about someone wearing the hell out of one color, and black was hardly the worst color one could choose. (That would be orange, or certain, more neon, shades of green.) And if you tossed your hair and called it a signature, then people had less to complain about.

"Rey, darling, don't you look lovely. That's a good neckline for you. I think you'd also do well with a keyhole, or a sweetheart, darling, if you're thinking of diversifying your wardrobe a little."

(Hint, hint.)

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[thatwaslucky]

"I'm thinking about it," she said. Seriously, it was very obvious the last few weeks that she needed it. "A little."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[chef_chocobro]

Ignis always dressed impeccably regardless, but he would hardly pass up an opportunity to spruce it up a little.

Especially if it was for tea.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[thatwaslucky]

"Good evening," Rey greeted him. "Have you done this before?"

She could make a guess.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[chef_chocobro]

"Oh," Ignis said, with an almost casual consideration, and a wave of his hand, "here and there. I've found that each place seems to approach their formal tea slightly differently, and it's those differences that keep it an endlessly fascinating experience, in those subtle changes and adjustments. What about yourself, Rey?"

He could make a guess.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mustbeawitch]

"Professor Scientia, good afternoon," Lydia said. "I trust all the preparations are in order for your upcoming party?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[chef_chocobro]

"Oh, I should certainly hope so," Ignis said, with a faint smile and an ironic tone that did well to cover any underlying anxiety over such a thing,"or else I am about to have a very distressingly chaotic morning tomorrow. Everything should, gods willing, run as expected, though. Quite looking forward to it, and I do hope our guest have an excellent experience."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[fears_no_one]

"Mister Scientia," Flint said with a nod of his head. "This will be new for me. Normally I just drink tea as quickly as possible."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[chef_chocobro]

"Hopefully not while it's still piping hot," Ignis noted, with a faint chuckle that settled easily into his now much more present soft smirk. "I'm afraid you'll find this to be quite the novel experience indeed, as the whole conceit is built around taking one's time, the tea a mere vehicle for easy socialization, to impress guests, and to quell that unruly peckishness that might settle in after lunch but before tge arrival of dinnertime."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

And here was another excellent reason why Liliana might be leaving early. Or, at least, so those tiny brushes of her fingers over his tie and down his vest were suggesting.

"You're so lucky to be here," she said with a smile.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[chef_chocobro]

"Mmmm," Ignis hummed, and if he'd been pushing his luck with the bold suggestion that they make their Supper Club appointment that afternoon, then surely it was now teetering on the edge with that hum accompanied by that smugness his grin had adopted far more frequently these days, "you know, there are some who say that luck is little more than preparation meeting opportunity..."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[fears_no_one]

Flint could put in an effort when one was required of him, even it made him look a bit like an escapee of a Renaissance fair with a middling understanding of period wear.

"Good evening, all," he said, nodding in greeting.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[thatwaslucky]

Yesterday had been awkward. So today Rey was giving him a sort of nod of hello.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[fears_no_one]

"Miss Skywalker," he said formally, hiding behind politeness.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mustbeawitch]

"Captain Flint, hello," Lydia greeted him with a bob of a curtsy. "Can you believe that it took until well after either of our times for anyone to think of pairing tea with delightful little cakes, sir? It is most unfair."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[fears_no_one]

"It is indeed," Flint agreed, "though Nassau wasn't exactly a tea and cakes sort of place to begin with."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

"Flint, darling, hello," she said, giving him a merry grin. "Oh, hmm, is there something in your pocket, darling?"

Well. There wasn't yet. But if he let Liliana slip a silver flask into his coat, there would be.

Look. Sometimes you needed a drink. For, err. No reason. And sometimes, you shared said drink because you are a kind and generous soul.

Or something.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[fears_no_one]

"How strange, but there is now," he said. "What a miraculous occurrence."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana had debated coming at all after Hannibal's class with so much work still to do before the party, but had decided that a nice cup of tea would be quite lovely. Thoooough whether or not she'd stay the entire time - you know, all that party work still - was up for debate.

As was whether Liliana wore her dress because Lydia had asked them to dress up, or if this were just a normal day that ended in -y for her.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mustbeawitch]

Well. Way to make Lydia feel underdressed, Liliana. "Miss Vess! I'm so pleased you could join us when I know you must be busy." Lydia knew from watching her mother how much work hostessing was.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[deathsmajesty]

Sometimes, when you were stuck dealing with...feelings...you know, about...things...you had to put on as much armor between yourself and the world as possible. Like a pretty gown that made you feel powerful (check), and a flask of something, ahh, 'restorative' (also check).

"Oh very much, darling," she said airily. "I sadly cannot promise to stay, but I did at least want to settle in and have a cuppa before getting back to it."