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

cw: references to transphobia/homophobia

[inaclearing]

[That gives Brett a bit of pause.]

Oh - yeah, male clothing's fine. I've never really worn anything else.

[It would've been unthinkable to even be out, when he was Forrest's age. Dressing the way Forrest does would've been inconceivable. Even now, if he's honest with himself, Brett thinks there's some of that old reflexive fear at the heart of his response. And he'd thought...well, he'd hoped, maybe, that Forrest hadn't been from a world like that. There's dragons and magic, so why should they think about dresses the same way people on Earth do? Maybe that was optimistic.

Carefully, he adds:]

I didn't realize clothing was gendered that way in your world, too.

cw: references to transphobia/homophobia

[visiblepattern]

It certainly is. It's caused me a lot of problems, to be honest. Being male and dressing the way I do. Sometimes people get mad, sometimes they get violent. My father hates it; he spent a long time refusing to visit me, and even afterwards he called me...all sorts of things.

[He doesn't sound upset by all of this; it just sort of...is what it is.]

But I feel like it's important for others to see people like me. People who are different, and people who are proud of being different. It's how things change, and if I can help bring that around, then I'm glad to be the way I am, and to let myself be seen.

cw: references to transphobia/homophobia

[inaclearing]

[Brett doesn't really get outwardly upset either - certainly, he's not going to if Forrest isn't. But he does put down his work to listen more attentively. His brow does knit a little.]

I think that's a really admirable outlook. I know I wasn't that brave when I was your age.

[He probably still isn't, though he doesn't say so.]

[visiblepattern]

[He's quiet for a moment at that, just...kind of thinking. Not sure he wants to ask what's on his mind; deciding to go for it anyway.]

Are there people like me in your world? People that are different in the way that I am.

[inaclearing]

Yeah! Yeah, it's - it's a work in progress, everything is. But people are being more open about themselves, these days. We're all working towards a better world for each other, where everyone can...be who they are.

[visiblepattern]

Oh, that truly sounds wonderful - the idea of people being more open about themselves, and that other people are working toward accepting that... It's good to know. I'm glad to hear it.

[inaclearing]

[Brett smiles.]

I'm glad. It's already a better world than I grew up in - that's all anyone can ask.

[visiblepattern]

That's a sign that things are going well, I believe - that things are better for the next generation than they were for the one before.

That's the kind of world we're trying to build, too. The kind of world I'm hoping for.

[inaclearing]

That's great. I'm sure you're doing a lot of good - being as visible as you are.

[a gnc prince! one day to be a literal gnc king!]