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((Cesc ==> food tables, still; Shep --> on the other part of the food tables))

There was a brief pause where Rhedefre was unsure of his focus -- Melisande had nearly asked him for something and then reneged, and her posture was tight although her voice was warm and friendly. She had been somehow unbalanced, put off her axis, and the stag was unsure exactly how. Melanie's question could not have so unnerved her, and besides, he had felt it come after that.

He remained by her side, arms entwined. Softly, a feeling came from his skin, subtle as perfume -- the calmness of dawn. He would have offered her a hug if he could, or asked her her troubles, but it was not the stage for such a gesture. All he could do was offer her support in the way he had been made: with the gentle reassurance and rejuvenation his aura gave.

The corner of his eyes crinkled and he let out a warm, pleasant laugh at Tatiana's scolding. He bowed his head in a genial apology, his ears flicking down as he did so.

"I am indeed Cesc, Tatiana, forgive me! And this is Melisande, or Pasha -- although I suppose I should let her introduce herself, if that pleases you more. I will forever now go to you for questions about yourself. It is a pleasure." He smiled with a true delight, pleased at her forwardness.

He turned his attention to the aurora, his eyes bright. "But Ren, you cannot be humble. You look stunning."

--

"Shepard Ryan," the Aussie said in return, balancing his plate to take the pilot's hand. His grin ran true and boyish as he heard Trox speak, pleased to have found a kindred spirit almost immediately upon deciding to mingle. He loathed both mingling and small talk, preferring to leave all the social niceties to Vivi or Cesc -- but this was different. "Yeh, it's a definite pop, mate, can't go wrong with a good orange. Suppose this means y'caught the 4-0 trashing on the Pens, then? What a coach Chief is, bringing them back from that start."

Small talk? Exchanging life stories, occupations, etc? Who needed that?

((Shepard -- at the food tables, yes, still))
As he was thwacked, Shepard instinctively reached for his side, ending up with one of the pamphlets in his hand. He turned only momentarily, seeing the pigtailed woman going to the other end of the buffet, and called after her: "Oh HOH, Big Time Party Planner, no time to chat with her old friends!"

Then he turned back to Troxel with a grin, all ears.

((Wasa Arriving => Food Table))

In truth, Wasa had been only a few moments behind Pasha, but the crowd came so quick and soon dishes were being ferried from one station to another and Raevans and Guardians were pairing up and pairing up again. This left the guardian-to-be standing quite alone and quite awkwardly off to the side with her whimsical offering of a watermelon with a pointed little fox face and dozens of fruit skewers stacked neatly in the hollowed rind. She shimmied along the outer rim of the party, ducking Cajuns and sliding up to the potluck spread.

She scanned the table for a proper spot and set down the plate, conveniently ending up across the table from where the cluster of Raevans had drifted. There was Pasha, of course, clinging to the arm of the frei she recognized as the lad she mistook for a server at that fateful garden party, and two teal winged beauties she did not recognize. She opened her mouth to slip her name into the introductions but sunk back on her heels as the sour notes reached even her oblivious ears. The hand that was lifted in preparation to shake a hand now plucked a skewer from the hedgehog's back. She always felt so awkward, being the first to break into the perfect mold of jello or take the first shrimp from an elegant spread. At least someone else would be spared that discomfort.

(( Mordekai → Kitchen, Shephard, Justin, Troxel, Camille; Duncan → Kitchen/Cafeteria area, Cruz ))

"Thanks, man," he offered Shephard as he beelined into the kitchen and out with the vat. He nodded toward Justin, as well, and pulled out a several trays of cornbread from the oven that he stacked one on top of the other, five trays in all.

"Put these next to those vats if y'can, please, sir," he called to Justin, "I got more where that's from fo'later, so I might call you back in an hour!"

Mordekai gave Troxel a once-over before grabbing some washcloth to hold the second steaming hot vat by its sides to offer it over to the pilot. Two other piping hot vats were on the stove already, but those were for later.

"Ain't nothin' a pilot cain' handle, ye'know. G'on, then, thank you," he watched as Troxel took his leave before focusing back on Camille.

"Étouffée kribich e y'Kreyol se da-she-nen, boy! Yeesh, y'coonass!" his smile didn't fade as Camille explained his situation, and Mordekai gestured for the veteran to sit at the table counter. He slid him a bottle of IPA.

"S'all I got in the kitchen here f'now, beer's outside in those coolers." Mordekai leaned against the counter and smiled a little calmer at Camille, and shrugged, "Ain't askin' nothin' of you other'n some good fun here, yeah? Jes' tell me if I can do anythin' to help with the hell y'leg's givin' you other'n hoppin' you up wit' beer."


Duncan managed to walk back into the kitchen just fine-- he greeted Mordekai and his passing company with small 'excuse mes' and went to the mostly vacant area of the cafeteria tables and pulled out his phone. He looked over at Cruz with a curious raise of his brows.

"Cruz? Are you waiting for the crowd to settle before going outside?"

((Xiu ->Arriving (with Lazarus) -> Food tables))

The white Sigel sat patiently while the other continued fuss, protest and generally list down several reasons why he should not attend the party downstairs. Xiu nodded sympathetically and even afforded a shocked look when Lazarus flared his wings in emphasis.

“Those are all very sensible reasons Lazarus...,” said Xiu as he placed a hand onto his sullen friend to calm him. “But I am sure that the Doctor would like you to join the party; if only for a change of air. You’ve been with him for months now. Surely you could spare several moments with your fellow raevans and guardians? I’ve heard that they have even taken the trouble to accommodate the dietary needs of us raevans,”

What hung unsaid in the air was And it is unlikely that Dr. Kyou would coincidentally wake up when you have finally decided to join the party .

“Besides,” said Xiu nodding to the large platter of fresh fruits he had brought earlier. “Those belong to the food table downstairs. You could help carry them if you want,”

And before the fiery Sigel could protest, Xiu had already placed the fruit platter onto Lazarus’s lap and unlocked the door leading to the festivities downstairs. “Well then, come on,” urged the Sigel.

Upon reaching the food tables, the Sigel gingerly shifted several plates and dishes aside to make room for the fruits. "Over here, Lazarus," called out Xiu.

((Xiu-> observing Lazarus -> Food table -> bonfire ))

Xiu watched as Lazarus gloomily placed the fruit platter onto the table. The white Sigel was worried. Ever since the “Evil Eye” incident which left Doctor Kyou comatose, Lazarus had taken to being a recluse. Shut away from the rest of the raevan community, Lazarus had tended to and watched over the unconscious Doctor. While honourable, Xiu had his misgivings; particularly about his friend’s mental health.

...

At least Lazarus seemed to be attracted to a rather lovely mango and was helping himself to the flames. Perhaps this event could (if only for a little while) distract Lazarus from his depression.

Settling himself beside Lazarus, Xiu curiously read the note addressed to him before cautiously lifting the covered basket. Duncan was right. There were several vials of fresh looking blood labelled with the names of the various animals that had contributed to this rather interesting repast. To be honest, the Sigel had never actually tasted the blood of any of the mentioned animals. Dr. Kyou had always supplied him with the human variety...

Uncapping a slender vial, Xiu took a quick whiff of rooster blood. It smelled different and tasted horrible! The Sigel hastily capped the vial before placing it into the basket. Despite its freshness, the blood tasted...wrong. Xiu could almost taste the fear in the blood. There was all that hormonal imbalances associated with a fight or flight response in its aftertaste. Whatever its fate, the donor of the blood was most definitely an unwilling participant.

“So how is your fire?” asked Xiu as he watched his friend feeding off the sizable flame close by.

[ Luka > > Arriving > Ren, by extension Cesc, Pasha and Tatiana]

Setting down the large platter of deviled eggs on the table near the rest of the appetizers, Luka took a moment to see just who exactly was here so far. He could spot the familiar figures of Cesc, Domevlo and other friends. He would have to remember to greet them later, for now, he was more interested in meeting all these new people.

Amber orbs flitted through the different groups of people currently shaping, it wasn't long before the Satyr decided to approach the gaggle of Raevans that included Ren, Cesc and two unknown friends of theirs.

Floating behind Ren, Luka placed his hands over her eyes. "Guess who?" The warmth of the summer sun carrying through his voice.