by The Royal Mirage » Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:04 pm
((Spiff- I don't think I could add anything more to what's already been said, thanks for joining us when you did and best of luck carrying on <3
Zeena- no problem at all, feel free to join in whenever you have the time ^^))
Rich scents wafted all about her as Elia, ever calm despite the importance of the procedure, carved hunks of roasted spiced venison into perfectly matching slices. The deep red colour of the meat's interior was a stark contrast to the blistery brown exterior, an arrangement that was always pleasing to the nobles of the pack. She had been saving this particular cut of meat from a rare hunting opportunity she had come across in the last week, when she had traveled to the wild orchard of fruit trees and seen a fat doe preparing for the coming winter. The two roast haunches were what remained from that day, the meat's freshness renewed with the fire's heat and the flavor of fresh herbs. The gilded silver tray was placed next to an assortment of other meats, including a wild-caught boar, cuts from two lambs from her own flock and several chickens, roasted with sweet fruit and spicy onions to flavour the flesh. A thin layer of sweat had accumulated on her brow with the intense work of the last few hours, contrasting the citrine jewels of her earrings and necklace, the only ornamentation she possessed. But it was worth it, as this job would pay handsomely.
Grassy eyes shifted sideways to the table of vegetation that had been laid out, decidedly less ornate than the meats, but no less impressive in its contents; many root vegetables, which had roasted with the meats, were steaming on their own shining trays, some left whole while others were mashed to a pleasant consistency. Tiny orange roots, carrots, were her crowning achievement of the day - those had been pan-seared in a mixture of piquant spices and fine liquor to give them an oddly intoxicating aroma. Deep red beets had alternately been treated quite simply, roasted in a mixture of salt and fats which brought out their natural sweetness, and a bowl of deep leafy greens went completely untouched by the heat of her flames, seasoned with a simple dressing of egg and rendered fat mixed with assorted spices. Foraged mushrooms, roasted in oil and charred very slightly, gave off a wild scent that made one feel as though surrounded by hot earth.
Fruits of the sea were positioned on the next table, one Elia was not quite as pleased to behold; while many dishes including fish were enjoyed by her packmates, the sugary fae was less keen on some of the more traditional dishes. Entire glazed salmon glistened undisturbed on their trays, the scent of delicately cooked flesh bringing a slight grimace to her lips. But her mouth couldn't help but water at the thought of the seared eel, hoping desperately that there would be some left over when the night was done. Fillets of smoked fish of many different kinds were laid out with round slices of lemon and citrus as their only accompaniment, while freshly caught molluscs were arranged to be enjoyed raw. Shellfish like crab and lobster had been steamed whole, the bright red of their carapaces enticing to behold, their trays accompanied by ramekins of lemon juice and melted sheep butter, the only accompaniment such delicacies really required. She was glad that the funds to purchase the raw materials from fishmongers was reimbursed by her employer, for she could not have acquired such a bountiful haul on her own.
However, the table of breads was one entirely cultivated, collected, and created by the chef, an impressive assortment involving different textures and spices, breads with or without seeds and nuts foraged so carefully over time. One in particular, made from a fermented yeast culture and the most finely ground wheat she could manage, was an aromatic splendor, with a slightly sour scent that urged one to dig into its crusty exterior. The table was again adorned with home-churned sheep butter, but was also host to a variety of slightly tangy cheeses, each as distinct from one another as the breads. Cheeses were one of the pricier things to provide for a client, and Elia was ecstatic that the party called for so much of it. The stinky blue wheel that she herself was not fond of, to the creamy delight of a tangy brie; these would provide for her small, cherished family more than much of the bigger, fancier items that were laid out to be feasted upon.
A blur of movement caught the young fae's eye, glancing in its direction to find Hamish working on the dessert tray. His neckerchief had been replaced with a simple cream collar just below his jawline, and his unruly pelt had been thoroughly washed and combed into a presentable array. As he carefully adjusted one of their newer creations, a golden cream cake make from soft cheese, egg, and sugar, Elia watched a tiny wrinkle of concentration form between his brows and smiled. She was so blessed to have him with her, and as the pup straightened up, the elder sister saw for a moment a flash of the wolf he would one day become, a sturdy, if not overly shaggy, baron. She would make a thousand cheeses, and cook hundreds of salmon just to see that future come to fruition. "Hamish," she called out, straightening herself out and padding over to the pup.
The young brute, previously lost in concentration, looked up at the sound of his sister's voice, less so a response to his name as it was a reaction to the familiar tone that she used only for him. "Did I do okay with the cheesecake?" he asked as she came over, glancing back to the confection to see if he had missed some crucial element. His questioning was put to rest by his sister's familiar yet rare chuckle, the true sound one that was low and warm, as he felt a paw reach to the constricting piece of cloth around his neck. Hazel orbs met his sister's as she straightened out his collar, perplexed at her gentle smile as her own unusually clean paws worked with a tenderness not lost on the youngster. A cautious smile began to curve at his own maw in return, before the opening of the kitchen door disrupted the familiar atmosphere.
As the silvery brute entered the kitchen, one of the two senior deltas who were hosting the party following at his heels, Delano's gold-flecked gaze landed first upon the two wolves inside, though he quickly looked away as the pair seemed to be having a moment. What may have made him ache to roll those glittering orbs in a sober state of mind had the beta instead focused on his own family, an unwelcome thought. He let his eyes, like those of his companion, rake over the vast array of food laid out on rolling tables, each looking more appealing than the last. "Guests will be arriving soon," he said, glancing back to the pair when he was sure they'd had enough time to compose themselves. Sure enough, the fae who seemed entirely too young to have prepared such a banquet stood at the ready, her fur combed in an immaculate yet subdued fashion; she was not showy, but by no means plain either, and her sturdy figure was still rounded with a bit of baby fat. The kind of fae Delano had discovered to be quite rare in his new home.
His companion, quick to agree that guests would soon be there, urged the two to begin moving the savory tables out into the main room - the desserts would come out later. Delano tuned out the brute's jabbering though, instead moving to help the young fae and a few other serving wolves with the task. He ignored the questioning gaze of those around him, too pleasantly buzzed to care as he gave his muscles a much-needed stretching. An unnaturally tall black brute carried the other end of the table, the tips of his ears and slope of his back dotted with snowy white, and Delano caught the other's caramel gaze gratefully when the table of food was placed in the banquet hall. "I've seen you around the pack before," he mused, voice not quite as gruff as it usually was as the brute pressed for conversation.
Aron felt slightly uncomfortable as the beta addressed him so casually, still recovering from the shock of being helped by the brute directly. Since joining the pack, Delano had always been rather... different from other high-ranking wolves,
but even still this new side was one the warrior had yet to encounter. "Yes sir," was his automatic response, glad his mouth seemed to at least be responsive while his thoughts tried to catch up with his surroundings. While Aron himself was simply adorned by small tiger-eye studs in each ear, his fur combed simply, the brute across from him was completely the opposite. A dark plate of armor adorned the other brute's chest and bracers of the same material were worn about his forelegs, both pieces inlaid with delicate gold filigree. Yet as polished as the beta's adornments were, his fur was still rough, appearing to be clean but swept up haphazardly in a windy embrace. He was still wild. A moment from the past flashed in his mind, of his sister trailing the brute one evening, and he wondered if Melanie was handling herself alright.
As the forest gaze continued to meet his own unflinchingly, Aron felt pressed for more information. "I'm providing security for tonight's festivities," he added belatedly, watching as the scruffy baron nodded, as though pleased with the information. "There's no need to worry about troublemakers, everything will run smoothly," he assured, though of course there was no way to guarantee such a thing. A gruff laugh cracked through the beta's pointed fangs, and he reassured Aron that he had no worries about such things, before simply leaving without excusing himself as the other tables were set up. It left Aron wondering just what had the usually morose brute in such a relaxed mood, though not for long as other servers and guards began rushing to position themselves. It wouldn't be long now.
((Okay, I am wiped out. But we can now start posting in the party - for some reason I was feeling particularly inspired to write about the setup, but feel free to write as though the party is already taking place. I would have started with Opal and Phaed as well, but... it's almost 3am and I just need to give it a rest for the night))