semi-closed; cozy leisure time

[lapislazily]

WHO: Black Order members and anyone else they want to invite.
WHERE: Arcadia apartments, in the rec center!
WHEN: Forward-dated to 5/6
WHAT: While POKEGO fights over nerd shit, the Addams Family has a potluck.
WARNINGS: Language, but I'll update if there's violence over the potato salad.

[There are several long tables pushed together to accommodate a small crowd, and all are draped in crimson and gold tablecloths. Two are set up with enough space for all the dishes people are bringing. It should be an impressive spread, if only because no one wants Velvet to eat them instead of the food... There are plates and silverware on the ends, and napkins. For drinks: there's a quick boil tea kettle and a more traditional one for people who insist on having their tea a certain way, some kind of fruit punch, water, generic brand soda, and whatever else people decide to contribute.

The other two tables are for people to sit at. Someone has taken the time to fold extra napkins in a stupidly fancy way and set them as decoration. As for chairs, there are twelve and then some, just in case someone wanted to bring a friend. Unfortunately, the Black Order can't count so who knows if that will even get noticed.

It's not high class, but with all the food spread out... it sure looks tasty.]

[ooc: Threadjack away!]

Comments

[lapislazily]

[It isn't opulent. It isn't elegant. Even the word clean is a bit of a stretch for this space. It's just so... unremarkable. He would have much preferred to rent out the back room in that one buffet restaurant, but then the food would have been... not quite up to his standards. And he probably would have been overruled anyway, seeing as suddenly he's been accused of not really knowing how to handle money.

... Well, it wasn't so much of an accusation as the truth, but he has money. Somewhere. He just can't keep track of it in a manner that is acceptable to strangers. It's like everyone else in the Black Order had suddenly become a financial advisor overnight. What was it that people here had against comfort and quality?

Cooking is a great way to get to know someone, though, and he couldn't argue that. He's always open to new gastronomical exploits (spoiled as he is by Wanmin Restaurant's cooking), and so he's done his level best to set everything up for a proper potluck. No one can fault him for trying, though Fugo and Morgan have also assisted him with a great deal of the prep work (i.e., shopping).

Rather than a soup, he decided to bring Lion's Head meatballs. They sit nice and warm on a bed of perfectly-sliced bok choy, with the salty-sweet sauce in a nearby container ready to be scooped out. There's also Yangzhou fried rice to go with them. All in all, not a bad showing from a guy who prefers to cook things slowly and methodically—as always, it's in the preparation. None of it should be too spicy, either.

... He really would have preferred the restaurant, though.

Before everyone settles down and begins eating in earnest, Zhongli busies himself with making so much tea. He'll even pour it for people who want some. It's oolong today, his favorite, and it's uh... stronger than usual.

There's a reason for this. Because eventually, he'll be ducking out of the room for a second so that he can invite Xiao in to have a seat. He's hopefully not the only person who brought a guest, right? Right?]

Xiao, these are the people I've been working with recently. [And, as if it's absolutely routine, he continues:] Everyone, this is Xiao. Please treat my son well.

[✨SURPRISE!!!!✨]

[alatum]

[ social engagements are not xiao's strong suit, but for his father, he is willing to try and push through it ─ which is exactly why there is no pushback when zhongli goes to fetch him, only the slight slump of defeat after spending far too long trying to psych himself up for this. he breathes out, expression still as he looks over those gathered and bows his head in greeting; ]

Pardon my intrusion, [ despite being invited in there is a tiny part of him that feels as though he is intruding. ] It is a pleasure to meet you all.

[ SURPRISE, IT IS A MINI-ZHONGLI. ]

[gotbadblood]

[ ]

You have a kid!?

[lapislazily]

[Xiao is doing his very best. He must've rehearsed that like a hundred times... Zhongli gives a well-deserved nod of approval.

Go forth. Make some friends. There's other kids here who will understand you.]

[infezione]

Oh, it's not an intrusion at all!

[Is Fugo surprised Zhongli has a kid? Oh, absolutely, but that's not important right now. He can process that info later.

He smiles as he motions for Xiao to sit nearby.]

Patrizio Fugo. It's nice to meet you, too.

[awalkinthedark]

[One can practically hear the Wii shop theme play as Artorias tries to process this new information. After a moment though, he just kind of decides to roll with it, giving Xiao a smile and a little wave.]

Nice to meet you, cousin. My name is Artorias.

[crisantemo]

[ Oh, Zhongli has a son? Well, it's not the strangest thing she's ever heard and she's only met the man, so she can't really make any assumptions either.

Even if Zhongli looks pretty young. But anyway.

As someone also relatively quiet and awkward, she can understand Xiao's not having the easiest time. So she'll. Do her best to be welcoming!! ]

Pleasure to meet you too, Xiao. My name's Lapis. [ She hesitates for a second, before offering the plate in her hand - holding some of the egg custard pastries she's made. She did notice him trying it earlier, so... ]

Would you like some?

[ Food is always the best icebreaker obviously. ]

[eiternity]

[Congratulations, Zhongli! Your hard work has paid off. Ei has made it here, and she's even willing to interact with her coworkers.]

[Unfortunately, Ei has never been very social, even in her previous life. And double unfortunately, she has no excuse here. In Inazuma, one could argue that the Raiden Shogun had to maintain an air of aloofness in order to properly rule. Here, Ei is just an awkward PhD student. C'est la vie.]

I'm here.

[Is all she says to Zhongli. Aren't you proud of her? Really, she should get a gold star.]

[lapislazily]

[He offers her a fresh cup of hot black tea.]

So you are. Thank you for joining us, Ei.

[He's terribly curious if she remembers anything from her past life, but that would be invasive, and he doesn't exactly want to bring it up around people who don't understand who and what they are... It might cause some alarm.]

You should try a bite of everything. I think you'll quite enjoy the different dishes people made.

[eiternity]

[Ei is...terrible with people on a good day, but when the social is literally in her own building, even she can't find a good enough excuse not to attend. Besides, Zhongli said that making a good impression on her coworkers was important, right?]

[So, she's doing her best. She shows up with approximately 30 big macs, two cartons of fries, and sixty chicken nuggets. Surprisingly, they're all actually still in doordash bags, despite the fact that Ei doesn't doordash. She's also rocking a lavender sweatsuit.]

[Despite the lack of care put into her appearance, she's strikingly beautiful. It might be tempting to think that, holding her copious amount of calories at the corner of the room, she's aloof. The actual answer is that she's never been to a potluck before and isn't sure what to do. Please help.]

[gotbadblood]

[She doesn't recognize this woman, but as she grabs a couple big macs she starts to put together the pieces. Junk food, looks like a shut in...]

Ei?

[eiternity]

[Ei nods. In a different life, perhaps, she would be better dressed. But in Kaisou she dresses for comfort, and if that means a sweatshirt and sweat pants, so be it.]

[At least someone is enjoying the food.]

Correct. Zhongli told me I should attempt to make a good impression on my coworkers.

[medicgunner]

[Eunie doesn't have a fucking clue who this is. She doesn't even know what Ei sounds like. She just sees this girl roll in with a track suit and a load of Mickey D's like the most unfitting image in the world.

She is REALLY pretty though, but Eunie will help this totally mysterious person find the right way.]

You in the right place, love? Rec center's booked out for the night.

[eiternity]

[Ei merely nods, and offers a big mac to Eunie. If nothing else, it is the food of her people.]

Yes. You are Eunie, are you not? I recognize your voice.

[gotbadblood]

[Despite her griping, Velvet actually does come. Like she said she would, she brings a bowl of delicious and well seasoned Potato Salad. Not only that, but she also went ahead and made one of her signature quiches. Both of them would be extremely good- she really did mean it when she said she used to be in culinary school.

But curiously enough, her own plate is rather lacking. She sits at a spot a bit away from everyone else, and just grabs a couple the big macs to pick away at. Why waste the better quality food on the person who can't actually taste it, right?]

[lapislazily]

[... This is an extremely good quiche. Now, he's had all sorts of quiche since first setting foot in France a few hundred years ago, when quiche Lorraine was just born and making its way through the culinary world, but Velvet really has a talent here.

He's... not entirely sure why she's over here supporting Ei's fast food habits. Maybe she's allergic to something? He leaves his son to the wolves pours a cup of herbal tea and takes it over to her.]

[gently] If you're feeling uneasy, tea might help to settle your stomach.

[gotbadblood]

[She'll look up in brief surprise when she's addressed, relaxing when she realizes it's Zhongli. Silently without thanks, she'll take the tea and hold it in her hands]

....It's not that. I lost my sense of taste when I became a demon.

Seemed a shame to waste portions of the good foods on someone who can't taste it.

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis, as she promised, is here with dessert - it's not healthy, but it's still food and still good. She may have stressed baked more than once, back in Italy...

But she arrives to the potluck with two offerings; Torta Barozzi, a dark chocolate cake with coffee, peanuts and almonds she skipped the rum this time and Pasticciotto leccese, little pastries filled with egg custard. All made with care, and with an attempt to keep the number of people here in mind. There can never be too many sweets, after all!

As for Lapis herself, she's a very... docile-looking woman, despite her reputation; all long, white dress and cute heels and accessories. She is also helping herself to coffee that she brought along too, because she may just have a caffeine addiction. ]

[gotbadblood]

[She'll glance over the food with curiosity. She'll hold back becuase she can't taste anything so she rather the others get a sampling, but-]

Didn't know you baked.

[crisantemo]

[ Lapis blinks over at Velvet, before she hums softly as she finishes arranging everything. ]

I did it a lot, between missions. It was something I could focus on.

[ So, a distraction. ]

Plus it meant I could eat it afterwards.

[lapislazily]

[Those are quite the offerings. Zhongli takes a little of each, enough to savor. There's so much food here, there's no way he can justify having more than that.

After a while, he ventures:]

You seem quite the practiced pâtissier, Lapis. Thank you for bringing all of this.

[crisantemo]

[ The thanks gets a blink, almost owlish in the surprise - or the closet thing she can show to it - before she gives a faint nod of her head. ]

Oh, you're welcome, but I'm just glad people are enjoying it. It's nice making food for others.

[ Now when she stress bakes she can feed everyone else!! ]

[switchaxe]

[Look, it was Ash's idea to have the potluck so goddammit, he's coming to at least drop food off. He might bolt the second he sees someone he does not want to deal with right now, but he's at least bringing (and snagging) food.

So yeah, he comes in with three large pizzas (one vegetarian friendly, just in case) and a couple of liters of soda.

He's a teenager. The hell did anyone expect?]

[infezione]

[Listen, Ash is valid as far as Pat's concerned.

Excuse your bestie, Ash, he's absolutely snagging a slice or two of one of those pizzas as soon as he gets a chance.]

[infezione]

[Fugo, for one, was excited at the idea of a potluck. It meant he could put the skills he'd been learning to use, after all!

So, he'll be cheerfully bringing in stuffed shells (some with bits of sausage in the filling and a meat sauce, the rest just with cheese and regular marinara), as well as the much harder to screw up Caprese salad.

Man. No wonder he'd asked about the tomato thing in the chat.]