le reveillon

[cardsharked]

WHO: French people and you
WHERE: The restaurant complex industrial kitchen floor/a random ballroom and entertainment floor
WHEN: Nebulously between Christmas and New Year’s Eve
WHAT: The Who Pudding Cook-Off Le Reveillon dinner
WARNINGS: Alcohol and boozing; maybe there will be an actual physical fight over the food? Mistletoe shenanigans possible. Let me know if I need to add new warnings.

ALLEZ CUISINE

Anyone interested in contributing food to the dinner will have a place to cook in the giant industrial kitchen. Just a few weeks ago, sentient shadows were stabbing unsuspecting guests in the back here, but today it’s lively and bustling. There may even be a handsome, empty-headed blond vampire wandering around to kick off each round of oven preheating with a hearty catchphrase. Before hopping into the fray, consider grabbing an apron or team varsity jacket from the wardrobe hanger. The old staples are there – “Kiss the Cook,” “I Love You a Latke,” “Sugar and Spice” – but there are also some unusual standouts, like jackets with an extra sleeve attached or aprons that have fashioned the lyrics of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” into death threats.

The kitchen has been incredibly well prepared and stocked, and anything necessary to cook a fine holiday meal is available. Of course, some ingredients may have been shuffled around during the procurement. Maybe cooks need to cross team lines to borrow a cup of sugar, apples will be in the onion basket, or paprika will mysteriously pop out of nowhere in a cloud of spice. Working together is the easiest way to make sure the meal goes smoothly. As a reminder, anyone is welcome to throw a dish or two into the mix regardless of their national cuisine of choice. Get cooking!

FRIENDS AT THE TABLE

Here to cook, or a cook who’s finished their rotation in the kitchen? An adjacent ballroom space has been furnished to hold the dining party, with decorations and ambiance supervised by Sumina. As for the food, there's a plethora of options, with Team France(?) alone providing traditional staples like roasted quail, braised oysters, acorn soup, fennel salad, foie gras and pate with crusty bread wedges, creme caramel, and buche de noel. Menu placards at each table list the dishes on offer, but the full menu information can only be unlocked by answering a discussion question over appetizers – “What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Why? How can we help?”

Alcoholic and virgin bubbly drinks are available for all guests. The effervescence of these drinks is contagious! These drinks have a slight, but pleasant, uplifting effect. Drinking one might make attendees chipper and outgoing enough to chat more openly than normal or literally light on their feet, allowing them to float an inch or two off the ground. No one will be forced to experience sensations or feelings they don’t want to; they are purely opt-in, like the joy that comes from smelling a warm homegrown memory.

In addition to any other decorations, Polaroid-style pictures dot the wall. These snapshots contain representations of happy memories of guests throughout the previous year but can only be viewed by people who want to see them, and only memories of people who are willing the share them will appear. Otherwise, they might contain potential futures, hopes, dreamscapes, aspirations, or other talking points for those who are willing to see them.

SMALL BITES

If anyone truly wants to turn this meal into an epic showdown, feel free to start a rousing debate over different dishes or fashion a scorecard out of the menu placards. Golf pencils are mysteriously available for any and all ranking needs.

Though it’s only nebulously New Year’s Eve, guests who stick around until midnight will see the ballroom dim to a warmer, soothing color, lights twinkling down a countdown the last few minutes to the end of the day. As the time ticks over, guests can hold on to indoor-safe sparkle fireworks or take the floor to give a toast to the upcoming year. Insert other preferred New Year's traditions at will.

The mistletoe is still rumored to be out and about, so take care when mingling.

If asked about any of the weird dinner happenings, Odette hasn’t got a clue. She’s just here for the food. Must be more hotel shenanigans, or maybe someone else put their twist on things.

Comments

[airdnd]

Hmm?

[ She follows the motion of his gesture, and... Oh. That's them! And - a few other photos of her with her guests, too, actually...? Maybe? ]

Oh! More of these photographs... That's you and I when we were playing together, isn't it? Ahaha.

[crimsin]

It is. From what I can gather, these are precious memories from the last year or so. A good way to ring in the new one, oui?

[airdnd]

Ah...

[ It's... heartening, that Nico would consider a memory shared between the two of them as a precious one... Especially since she feels the same way. ]

A good way, indeed! Ushering in a new year usually calls for a bit of retrospection, hm? [ She chuckles. ] I told my grandfather about you, Mister Nico, when I was visiting home a few days ago. He's a bit beside himself that I've found someone to play the piano with who's been at it for even longer than he has.

[crimsin]

Oh, did you? Did you tell him that he is an excellent teacher as well? We should play again sometime.

Thank you, by the way, for the sheet music. What a delightful gift!

[airdnd]

Ahaha, I... I would love that, Mister Nico. And you're welcome.

[ She's... Trying to make room in her life for things like this. Perhaps having someone to play along with would encourage her, at least to start.

The thought of which seems to spark something in her mind; it brightens her features with just a hint of cautious, tentative excitement. ]

Actually, there's a piece I'd like to try to learn. Would you be open to helping me do so?

[crimsin]

[ Nico doesn't know that Sumina needs to make room for such things, but if he did, he'd be encouraging her all the more. But even not knowing, he nearly claps his hands with excitement, remembering at the last moment that there's a wine glass in his hand. ]

Would I! Of course! I would be delighted to help you however you need.

[airdnd]

[ Enthusiasm like Nico's really is quite contagious... That, she thinks, is admirable and a talent in and of itself. ]

Wonderful! Then I'll reach out to you to coordinate sometime... Is there anything you'd like in compensation? I know coin and currency isn't quite standard here, but if there's a favor you'd need or anything of the sort...!

[ She'll make it happen! But besides that, Sumina can't help but glance back at the wall, taking in the sight of the polaroids in earnest now, both ones that seem to show him with fellow guests, and those of him with those who are unfamiliar to her, and in an unfamiliar place. ]

It seems you've had quite an eventful year and stay here thus far, Mister Nico. I'm glad.

[crimsin]

Please, you do not owe me anything! The joy I get from sharing music with someone is more than enough for me.

[ He follows her gaze back up to the pictures, smile softening as he looks them over again. ]

I truly have, oui? But that is part of why I am here, to enjoy it to the fullest. I hope you are also having fun?

[airdnd]

I, ah...

[ Sumina falls into a brief, but contemplative silence. If he'd asked her this question months ago when she'd first arrived, she might have honestly answered no, because to her, this had been about business. But these days... even if she does still feel like there's much for her to learn and do to return as a better innkeeper than when she'd first arrived, she can at least admit that she is also hoping to return a better friend and person all around, too. And she can admit that as part of that, she's... ]

...Yes, I'm having fun. More than I thought I would, to be honest, ahaha.

[crimsin]

Merveilleux! I am glad to hear it. There is so much to see and do here, is there not?

[airdnd]

Well... More than anything, I think it's our fellow guests who make this place special, Mister Nico. Don't you think?

[crimsin]

Ah… they really do. Everyone I have met here has been exceptional. Yourself included, of course.

[airdnd]

[ Even against her best interests, Sumina can't help but laugh. ]

Ahaha... Yes, of course. Right. I'm quite flattered you would think so, really.

[crimsin]

Come now, what is that laugh? Surely you do not think I am pulling your leg or some such? You are delightful!

[airdnd]

No! [ Of that, at least, she's certain at this point. ] I don't think you're joking. I just... I'm learning to not think myself so plain, Mister Nico. Please forgive me if I seem resistant to your kind words.

[ A beat. ]

I've not told you much about my life before staying at this hotel, have I?

[crimsin]

Ah, I see. In that case, I will have to help you get used to such things by telling you how delightful you are at every turn!

[ Sorry, this is just How He Is. ]

You have not, but I would love to hear of it.

no i lost this notif 😭

[airdnd]

[ If he'd said as much even a month or two ago, when Sumina had first arrived, she might have outright shrunken away from such a notion, but... as she is now, she simply smiles appreciatively and nods, accepting her fate as Recipient of Compliments. ]

My family established and runs an inn that isn't too unlike this hotel, although on a much smaller scale, and with far less reach. It's called the Elderflower Inn - a place that is neither here nor there. I, ah, took over its operations as soon as I was able to, and ran it for ten years until my cousins saw fit to release me from duty for the time being and to go on a vacation here.

[crimsin]

[ She is well worth complimenting! As he's sure many others would agree. ]

Oh, I see! How exciting! Then you are quite used to crossing paths with people from all walks of life, are you not? No wonder you appreciate the guests here so much.

[airdnd]

That's right! Though I admittedly... Ah, kept a certain distance, for the most part, for the sake of professionalism. Besides, it's incredibly rare for guests to be able to come back consistently with a few notable exceptions, so...

[ The time it takes to properly appreciate her guests... it's hard to come by. ]

[crimsin]

Ah, so you are learning to appreciate things in a whole new way, too. That is a good thing, oui?

[airdnd]

[ She nods. ]

It's been wonderful. I'm learning a little bit about myself, too. That's all thanks to everyone here.

[ With a warm smile, she glances back over at the photos on the wall. ]

I'm hoping that whenever it comes time for us to be granted our wishes and perhaps return to our worlds, that I'll be an even better innkeeper than I was before.

[crimsin]

[ He follows her gaze, smiling to himself. ]

Perhaps it is just enough to strive to be a better person than before, non? The innkeeper part will come hand in hand with that.

[airdnd]

[ The way he frames that notion for her seems to resonate, as Sumina is left with a thoughtful expression for a few long breaths. That's right. Even having made the decision to better herself, she's still rather prone to falling into a line of thinking that it's for the sake of becoming a better innkeeper. But Nico is right, and reminds her: if she betters herself for herself, then the rest shall fall into place.

She really needed that reminder. ]

Ah... You're right, Mister Nico. [ She huffs a laugh, only a little self-deprecating for how she lost sight of it. ] You're so very right.

[ Then, shaking her head at herself, she gestures at his photos. ]

But that's enough about me, yes? I'd love to hear more about your photographs here.

[crimsin]

[ Nico is very much of the mind that personal growth helps all else, and he’s glad to see that it has struck a chord with her as well. He waves off the thanks, as he clearly doesn’t think it necessary, and turns back to the pictures. ]

These are all friends of mine. Some I have met here, as you can see, and others are from my home. They are all quite precious to me.

[airdnd]

Yes, I recognize Miss Figue and General Jing Yuan...

[ Her gaze roaming over the photos of those she doesn't recognize as their fellow hotel guests, she asks: ]

Have you thought of returning to see your friends from your home, Mister Nico?