Saturday night, post-graduation to late night

[sharp_as_knives]

All the graduates and teachers had been handwavily because I had a brain-fart invited to dinner this evening, and Hannibal had gone all out. Which, to be fair, meant one of his usual parties.

There was an actual cloth banner stretched across the entrance to the grand salon that said CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES. There were little gift baskets of food for each of the graduates; the ones he knew had their favorites included. If Sparkle's was a little larger than the others, Hannibal would surely be forgiven.

In lieu of a formal dinner (this was a celebration for teenagers, after all), he'd gone with small-plate appetizers and hors d'oeuvres. Placed around the room (and being circulated by a few very discreet hired hands) were:

Oysters with mignonette ice
Horseradish croquettes with turmeric and jasmine
Beef tenderloin with garlic and merlot jam
Beef sashimi and foie gras
Honeyed olives
Pumpkin and carrot soup "shooters" with coconut cream
Beef tongue and carrot antipasto
Golden foie gras of duck with apple crumble and strawberry gelatine
Orto
Amatriciana in a glass
Parma ham with figs
Apple trifle with mascarpone cream
Hot chocolate galettes
Champagne sorbet
Meringues with ganache

There were very good coffee and a variety of teas, plus club soda and flavored syrups, as well as several wines that went with the food and the requisite champagne. Hannibal had also opened his liquor cabinet, but only people who appreciated it would be allowed near.

He'd left the music to Jono as being better acquainted with the students' preferences.

[OOC: Open post! No OCD. Graduates and teachers would've been invited (plus-ones welcome), but crashers are welcome OOC; IC Hannibal may raise an eyebrow.]

Comments

[myownface]

Hey, there was food. And... you know, a chance to say goodbye to people, here. Sparkle wasn't planning on sticking around for long now that he'd graduated, but he had to at least do this much.

He showed up with a little, kind of bittersweet smile on. He'd deny that there was any 'sweet' in it, and vehemently so, if anybody called him on it, though.

The beef sashimi was getting a curious look from him, too. Huh. Why not?

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal made his way over to Sparkle, smiling. "Now that you're not dripping with water and gelatin, let me say again - congratulations." He held out a glass of champagne.

[myownface]

Ooo, champagne. Sparkle grinned as he accepted the glass, giving Hannibal a little nod.

"Thanks," he replied. "It's still kind of weird, you know? I mean, not bad weird. And it'll be weirder once I'm back in Toronto, I'm sure."

[sharp_as_knives]

"I imagine so." Hannibal lifted his own glass in a toast. "Are you leaving immediately, or will we have your company for some time yet?"

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Sparkle? Wasn't going to expect this, but she was going two for two here today, and it had nothing at all to do with being sentimental and that she was going to miss him terribly even if tonight wasn't the last time they talked.

Shut your face.

But that was Karina, a perfectly coiffed and dressed Karina, who was going to sidle up to him to kiss his cheek.

"You call me soft for that, I kill you," she said sweetly.

[myownface]

"Bah, soft. That's totally a strong and mighty kiss on the cheek, right there. That is a warrior kiss. That is a kiss from one killer of dragons to another," Sparkle decreed, turning around and, with a grin, pulling her into a brief, but tight, hug, unless she managed to dodge it. Because, look at them. They'd made it. "God, we did it. Weird, huh?"

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Definitely no dodging going on there, not tonight. She returned that hug and grinned at him.

"The weirdest," she agreed. "But I don't think they can take it back, though Atton tried."

Which had been hilarious.

"Did the dragons hurt you?"

[glacial_queen]

They'd get a curious look from him for as long as they lasted, anyway. Karla loved beef, the rarer the better and she was going to help herself to several on her way over to congratulate Sparkle.

Of course, she was helping herself to a lot of things, so it was entirely possible they'd get lost on her plate.

"Congratulations, darling," she said, tipping her champagne flute in his direction. "And to think you doubted yourself all those years ago."

Admittedly fewer for him than for her.

[myownface]

"Heh, is that what it was? Self-doubt?"

It was absolutely self-doubt, and Sparkle wasn't even going to deny it as he raised his glass right back at her.

"I guess I did it, though, huh? Shit, that was easier than I thought it would be."

He'd only died a few times along the way!

[glacial_queen]

For Fandom, that wasn't half-bad!

"Look at all that learning and growing you did to make this all possible," she teased before adding, "Seriously, though, Sparkle. I'm proud of you. Fuck anyone who ever tried to make you believe you weren't good enough. You'd stood neck and neck with Queens and warriors and held your own. Never forget that."

[glacial_queen]

Hannibal was cooking. Even though Karla had a child to care for and a Territory to run, she was going to stay a little bit longer and indulge in the gastronomical delights he had whipped up.

Maybe she could take a plate home to apologize to Warren with. It would be an excellent apology!

...If it, you know, made it all the way there.

[Super social and busy weekend, SP is gonna be a thing.]

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal smiled and leaned in to kiss Karla's cheek. "I'm pleased you could make it. Warren and Kayla stayed home?"

[glacial_queen]

"Everyone Warren knew has graduated already," Karla said, returning the kiss. "And Kayla's been extra fussy recently. A growth spurt and a few more teeth coming in all at the same time. So they got to stay home and let me come and say goodbye to the few faces I still know."

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

"I heard you during the ceremony, Footmot," Karina greeted dryly.

They were the names that would never die. Ever.

[glacial_queen]

Why should they die? They were the very best of names!

"I meant you to, Headwiga," Karla said, laughing. "How else would you know someone was there and cheering their very hardest for you?"

[furnaceface]

Jono was wearing that jacket again. Karla probably knew the one. He was also walking over to her wielding a small platter of the beef tenderloin, entirely because he thought she might like it and not at all because he wanted somebody to eat it so that he could sample it himself.

Honest.

//Evening, luv,// he greeted, offering her said platter. //Managed to weasel out of Queen duty long enough to celebrate our newfound freedom from teaching these ruffians?//

[glacial_queen]

"Jono, isn't there a rule about approaching me with beef while wearing that coat?" Karla asked, plucking a tenderloin off the platter and stringing up a link between them without even thinking twice. "I mean, there should be, unless you want Hannibal jealous and Warren terribly sulky."

Oh god this was good. The meat practically melted in her mouth.

"Of course I did. And I was supposed to leave half an hour ago, but Hannibal promised me food."

So here she was, not unlike a teenage boy.

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

Well, hey, she was a graduate, which meant, okay, fine, she'd show up to the grad party.

Which, Karina was happier than she wanted to admit, now that she'd showered and changed, and was even feeling a bit sentimental.

Which was really why she'd shown up, but as if she was going to admit that. She looked around curiously, having never been here before.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Ms Lyle," Hannibal greeted her. "Pleased to meet you; please, come in. You're a friend of Sparkle's, aren't you?"

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

"Dr. Lecter," she said, smiling at him. "Thank you for the invitation. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Karina had excellent manners--when she was placed in a situation where using them was the smart thing to do. Since she couldn't remember if she'd met this teacher, and the party was at his place, being polite was definitely the way to go.

"Yes, I'm a friend of Sparkle's." Her grin widened. "Anything he's told you about me is a lie, unless it's only good things, in which case it's the truth."

[furnaceface]

//Congratulations,// Jono said warmly, giving Karina a nod from where he was standing nearby. //Good to see you here tonight, luv.//

No, really. It was. Jono was familiar, by now, with Karina's distaste for the island. He had been half expecting that she'd take off and not look back at the first opportunity she had.

[notacokeperson.livejournal.com]

No, no, that was... probably tomorrow, once she was over her bout of sentimentality.

"Well," Karina said, smiling slightly. "I had to make sure Sparkle was okay. Figured he'd be here."

That right. All his fault.

"And thanks. It still doesn't feel real."

[furnaceface]

Of course Jonothon was here. Somebody had to make certain that the playlist of this party didn't consist entirely of dead men named Myaskovsky and Stravinsky. And, truth be told, he sort of wanted the chance to see the handful of his own students that had graduated this semester off in style.

Minus the dragons.

Hell, he'd even dressed up for the occasion, at least somewhat, in that grey jacket that he was so fond of. It was his one concession to the fact that this was a fancy dinner and that he was capable of sometimes dressing appropriately for such without resorting to brocade and coattails.

[sharp_as_knives]

Stravinsky was a perfectly valid choice! But yes, Jono could play what he wanted tonight.

Hannibal raised an eyebrow at the jacket. "That's quite nice. It would seem you have been holding out on me - you secretly can dress yourself," he teased.

[furnaceface]

//In a completely unexpected plot twist,// Jono agreed, amused. //I have some clothing I've bought for myself without adult supervision that you might even not be embarrassed to be seen in public around.//