The Most Wonderful Party of the Year

[lastfonmasterguardian]

Who: Anyone and everyone!
Where: Cuppa Kupo
When: December 23rd
Summary: It's time for Cuppa Kupo's first annual Christmas Party! The party details are in an OOC post here and an IC post .
Warnings: None! (At the moment, anyway).





[It's the 23rd of December, and, as promised, Kuppa Cupo has opened its doors for the first (and hopefully not last) Christmas/Starlight party!]

[The entire restaurant is decorated for the season, complete with a large tree near the entrance. The ceiling is covered in lights, and the tables all have matching red and green tablecloths. Near the wall, the catering table is packed with food.]

[Even the helper moogles are taking part in the festivities, with many of them wearing elf or santa costumes. Whether you came early to help set up, or arrived fashionably late, enjoy!]

Comments

Sparks Nevada | open

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks is standing by the food table, but not because he's antisocial. He's helping hand out food to anyone come up, as he's made a good portion of it - in particular, the large pot of chili he's filling up bowls from. This is his version of a Christmas present to everyone, and he's ready to share. He'll slide one your way if you come up to the table.]

Here ya go, eat up. Just the thing to warm ya up on a night like this.

[sullenstallion]

[Sparks, he's never seen you outside the holding cell he lived in for a month, and this is confusing him.]

This is...this is weird, right?

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks isn't in super-serious work mode right now, either. Though there's really not a lot of difference, really. The problem is that Sparks is always in work mode. He regards Dylas a bit skeptically, but tis the season for giving, or whatever. After a moment, he hands a bowl over to Dylas.]

Yeah. It is. But let's pretend it ain't for one day.

[sullenstallion]

Are you...

[He lets the start to his question hang in the air. Chili. It's been a long time since he's had anything to eat that he hasn't made himself or ordered from a restaurant.]

Good? Are you good?

[red_planet_blues]

Am I good? What's that mean?

[He starts to sound accusatory, but catches himself and reins it back in with a moment's pause.]

Yeah, I'm-- good. We're good. Everythin's good cuz it's Christmas, that's how it works. You gonna eat this? I'm not gonna stand here with it forever.

[He wiggles the bowl at Dylas a little.]

[sullenstallion]

Are you doing good? ...Well. Are you alright?

[He wants to die again. He hasn't seen this man since sitting in the cell. Staring down at him feels a lot different from watching him from the other room.]

Er, sure. Yeah. I'll try it. Thanks.

[He takes the bowl. He doesn't dig in yet, but he's not eyeing it with disgust or anything either.]

[red_planet_blues]

Good as things get around here lately. Now eat. 'S gettin' cold.

[He grabs a serving himself, and takes a bite of a spoonful, looking at Dylas flatly. See? He's not poisoned.]

Or do ya not like spicy stuff, or somethin'?

[sullenstallion]

No!

[He's quick to object to that idea.]

No, I, uh. It's just been a while since anyone's cooked for me. Even if it's not...really for me.

[Dylas is a bit worried about getting some on his suit (come on, he looks great), but he takes a small spoonful and eats it without complaint.]

Thanks.

[red_planet_blues]

It's fer everybody. You're part of everybody.

[And hey, it's pretty good chili, so that's something.]

'N it's nothin'. I know it ain't, like, a real Christmas gift or anythin', but I'm not great at picking out gifts anyway.

[sullenstallion]

[Ugh. It's being part of 'everybody' that's difficult.]

It's not bad.

[He'll take another bite, even! What a rare treat. At least it's not sweet.]

I haven't given a gift to anyone in a long time. Maybe I should've brought some fish or something.

[red_planet_blues]

Somethin' tells me that's actually praise out of a guy like you. [He knows. He's the same way.]

Ya might wanna get on givin' some out, if there's anyone here you think needs one. Our time here might be gettin' thin. [Really he should be taking his own advice.]

[sullenstallion]

Heh. You're not wrong.

[And that gets a little smirk out of him. See? He knows he's a difficult piece of shit. It's kind of funny.

The next comment is more sobering, however.]

Do you really think this place can be saved? You've been here longer than I have.

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks starts to say something, but stops, sighing lightly. Normally his ego is too big to admit defeat, but Crystallis has worn on him. He's tired.]

I think there's a chance. Not a good one, but I think we can do somethin' if we can manage to work together fer once.

[sullenstallion]

[He looks tired. Then again, Dylas has seen him at work. He knows Sparks is about as lively as a rock sometimes.]

I guess we can't just punch something until it stops. What a pain in the ass.

[unyieldingspirit]

[K'pandolu accepts the bowl, sniffing curiously at the contents.]

I'm sure it will. What have you put in this? Or should it stay a surprise until I've tried it?

[red_planet_blues]

What, dontcha trust me? Don't they got chili where yer from, either?

[He folds his arms in a serious gesture, but he's only jokingly chiding her.]

Ground beef, beans, tomatoes, peppers, 'n my secret seasoning mix. Chili's a lot better when yer cookin' it out on the plains 'a Mars, but what can ya do.

[unyieldingspirit]

[she grins, head tilted and tail curling.]

Oh, I'd never think to say that. It's simply not a flavour I'd thought to taste now- but perhaps that will change now. Though I imagine the seasoning must stay a secret- a family recipe, or a mix of your own?

[she laughs, and nods decisively.]

There's just something about being out in the field that adds to the taste. But this is better for being able to take your time, too!

[red_planet_blues]

Mostly my own. The Nevada family ain't really known for its cooks, but my mom's not half bad. Not a lotta time for cookin' when yer working and living on a star ship. But it's kinda necessary when yer livin' out out the plains, 'less ya want to starve.

[Sparks grabs a cup of it for himself while they're there.]

Think I've learned more recipes while livin' here than I ever have on Mars, but sometimes, ya need some comfort food from home. Or, ya know, the next closest place.

[He's started to notice how often he unconsciously refers to Mars as home, lately.]

[unyieldingspirit]

No, I suppose not. You'd have dedicated cooks there instead, wouldn't you? [she nods] That's more or less why I started cooking- well, to take the burden off the others, too.

It brings back… a little of the feeling of being there, doesn't it? Gods know I've missed my aunt's cooking often enough… [she hums, one ear flicking, a little bit of a conversation with Barkeep a good while back coming back to her.] You moved there, didn't you?

[mm, time to taste this chili. She pops the spoon in her mouth and stops for a moment, clearly surprised, before swallowing and grinning.] That is hot. [but good, by the way she's going in for another spoonful.]

[red_planet_blues]

A little bit, I guess.

[He doesn't know how to answer that other question, though. Admitting to Mars being home felt weird, for a number of reasons.]

Well, yeah, a few years ago but... it was for work, y'know? Originally, I'm from Earth.

[So he likes to say often.]

Besides, I've been on Crystallis half as long as I lived on Mars. Still ain't comfortable here, and doubt I ever will be.

[So he says.]

[unyieldingspirit]

[so she's heard, and she nods.]

Earth is- another planet, isn't it? How far away is it?

No… [well. she doesn't want to be, honestly, and she takes another spoonful before speaking again.] Nowhere's ever quite the same as home, right?

[red_planet_blues]

From Mars? Right next door. In a manner 'a speaking, I guess.

Mars is still relatively new to bein' colonized, so it don't bare much resemblance to Earth. [Unless you look to the American west around 1200 years before Sparks's time, but his history isn't that good.]

I didn't like this planet when I first got here. Then... I thought it was okay. I got used to it. Now I think it's crummy again. But, y'know, we're tryin' to un-crummafy it, maybe it'll work out. Still needs more lasers and AI though.

[unyieldingspirit]

So- very close. [that's… probably a decent way of putting it, really.]

Is that so? Which means… different crops, and different foods? What else?

Mm. [she nods, ears flicking for a moment.] There's been enough similarities that I've thought, sometimes… maybe it's not so different. Maybe it could be all right… But it's not the same, and… there's a lot I left behind. [she makes a bit of a face.] Do you think so?

[red_planet_blues]

Different landscape, different weather, different natives... It's kinda like a desert on Earth, but all over instead of just one part.

[He nods at that.] Yeah, me too. Everyone else I'm sure, too. I mean, if I had to stay, I guess I could deal with it at this point. It's been two and a half years now. But I still really, really wanna get back to my job.

[Sure. Just his job.]

[unyieldingspirit]

It sounds a little like Thanalan, then. [she lifts her chin, looking interested.] What kind of people are the natives?

Mm… I'd say the same, given enough time. [she shakes her head, though.

At that, she tilts her head, eyebrow raised.]

Just the job? I'd think you'd be glad to see friends and family again as well, yes?