darling, this place is a lovely oasis [forward dated to Thursday]

[honeyedtea]

[ It doesn't seem right to call for a party this week, not with this new incentive hanging over their heads and ticking ever closer to its deadline. Mielle's been trying not to think about it but she knows she's in the minority, compared to those who've been spending their hours doing nothing but sit around the meeting room. It feels like the fragile sense of stability they've managed to establish is going to come splintering apart and that frightens her. She'd talked about arranging something like this last week with Gaius, but... now seems like a good time to actually make it a reality.

At some point during the prior day, everyone will have gotten an invitation from Mielle – either in person or through notes left at their suites – to come by the restaurant around noon the next day for a little gathering. There'll be food and also a bit of a surprise that she'd like everyone to come and see.

Anyone who drops by at the time indicated will find that Mielle has set up a tea party in the restaurant. She's done what she can to wrangle finger foods and sweets and enough tea for everyone from the menu and there's a few tables set up for people to sit around chatting over tea and food.

There's also another table set up not with food, but handicraft supplies. There's beginner embroidery sets and more than enough supplies for everyone as well as some supplies and paper for flower pressing, if you're into that.

Mielle's hovering around, trying to look more like a confident hostess and less like a nervous wreck but with this week being what it is, she thinks they won't mind her slipping etiquette. ]

I'm not quite sure how typical this is elsewhere, but... in my own world, young ladies will come to gatherings like this to socialize and display their skill at these sorts of crafts. I know nothing can change the situation we're in but... I'd hoped that a gathering like this might lift our spirits, or at least take our minds off of things.

[ It's certainly not as formal as Jonathan's meeting from last week. But there's something earnest about it all the same.

Mielle will be attending, of course, and while she's here to socialize, she'll also be happy to help anyone who wants to learn handicrafts with getting started – she'll be surprised if any of the guys show an interest but she'll help all the same. Otherwise, feel free to mingle around and try not to think about the rapidly approaching motive deadline. ]

Comments

[dullshooter]

[From the floor:]

You’re keeping a journal?

[inaclearing]

Yeah?

[Like: of course, why wouldn't he?]

[dullshooter]

[Chinhands]

What’s in it?

[inaclearing]

Mostly just a record of what's been happening. Lists of the stuff we've found, in case we ever need it.

[Personal thoughts]

[dullshooter]

Oh. [He sounds disappointed.] I thought you meant something more personal. You know, like…“Dear Diary, I think Misfire is soooo cool it makes me so sad to wake up every day and know I’m not him. How do I even get close to being half as awesome as he is?”

[He did do his best to imitate Brett’s voice for that.]

But lists are good too. I guess.

[inaclearing]

...a record isn't just a list of factual events. That's not how you'd let anyone know what happened.

[Brett smiles, after a moment.]

I can talk you up a little.

[dullshooter]

I don’t know what you mean by ‘talking up’. This is indisputable fact.

[He grins.]

More than a little?

[inaclearing]

[Brett grins back.]

Oh, of course. You're the hero of the piece!

[dullshooter]

Busting everyone out, guns blazing, headshots all around…

[Not a single missed shot…]

And you’re…somewhere. Taking notes on my shoulder? Transcribing every pew pew?

[inaclearing]

Sounds like a dangerous place to sit. You need to shield me with your impenetrable steel skin.

[Is he made of steel, actually? Brett's not a science guy.]

[dullshooter]

[I refuse to go on a transformers anatomy lore deep dive at 1am. He simply glosses over the comment.]

You’ve got two options. One, I strap you to my back like a baby. Two, I hold you in my arms at the front, also like a baby.

[inaclearing]

[Brett laughs.]

A combat baby bjorn!

[dullshooter]

Fontaine would be quaking in his boots.

[inaclearing]

A grown man in a baby bjorn, being carried by a robot. It's the scariest thing in the world.

[dullshooter]

Absolutely terrifying. You know two guys willing to look that ridiculous mean business.

[inaclearing]

Obviously we'll just kill everybody who sees it anyway!

[dullshooter]

Exactly! We know it's going to be the last thing you see before you die, so we're making it count.