Christmas Lunch

[adifferentlife]

The best way to celebrate any holiday is to share it with people that one care's about, Sybil is sure of that. It's why she's organised this, a luncheon for any and all that she's friends with. It's not something she's done before, and it feels very adult to be hosting a party within her own home. It's not something she ever imagined doing in such a small space, or without a staff to support her, or even before she was married with her own home, but those aren't things that are considerations here.

Instead she's let everyone know when to come and to bring something to share with the others. She's ordered in the main part of the meal, a roasted turkey instead of a goose and a roast of lamb as well. There's champagne and wine, and she has the record player Kaine gave her in the corner playing christmas carols by Bing Crosby. There's a small tree of real pine with strings of beads strung through its boughs and little elecric lights twinkling. Henri has helped her to decorate and do the cooking that she's tried, even if most of the cookies she made needed to be thrown our they were so burnt.

Once people start to arrive she relaxes, allowing herself a glass of wine once she's sure everything is in order and things are going well. At some point there is nothing else she can do, other than talk to her guests; her friends. It's nothing like a Christmas at Downton, but her second one here in Darrow and it feels like the Christmas it's supposed to be.

Comments

[badtotheclone]

"A drink would be great," I say, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically, but I think that would help. I still don't plan on staying very long though. As welcoming as Sybil is I know when I don't fit in.

"And I have something for you too."

[radicalize]

"Still, I appreciate it," Lucy replies, well aware that it's kind of a big favor, or at least what seems like one to her. She agrees, though, without question. She wouldn't have wanted to spend Christmas without her brother. "And the party's beautiful."

[radicalize]

"Yeah, we met when she first got here, actually," Lucy says with a nod, smiling slightly at the thought. That was a long time ago now, and thinking about it is more than a little strange, but she isn't one to mind that. If anything, it's nice, knowing she has friends who've stayed in Darrow all this time. "I guess people who come from times earlier than this just tend to stick together."

[adifferentlife]

The party is beautiful, in its way. She knows that what she's thrown is nothing compared to what she's been used to at Downton, but there's no comparison. This is hers and the people here have become her family. "Thank you. It was important to me. To do this for us all."

[adifferentlife]

If there's too much enthusiasm in his response, she doesn't notice it, immediately going to the table where the various wines and the like are set out. His announcement that there's a gift makes Sybil pause, turning to smile at Kaine. "Do you really?"

[jaimemieux]

"We are a motley collection, aren't we?" Combeferre said with a chuckle. "Well, on our hostess' behalf, thank you for coming. I hope Christmastide is treating you well?"

[jaimemieux]

"Yes, yes. Of course. Alors, but first-" Playfulness still dancing in his eyes, he caught her hand and pulled her towards him for a proper kiss. "Now you can go." He grinned.

[adifferentlife]

She laughs and smiles, squeezing his hand. Sybil is completely smitten, and she's sure all of her friends can see it as much as she can. "Thank you, my darling."

[fightyourcorner]

"Of course. I wanted to drop by and give you this," he said, handing her the neatly wrapped gift. "And to offer my apologies in person. I really can't stay long."

He'd promised T.J. that he'd go out, try and have a bit of fun, but no matter how good Thomas had gotten at faking it over the years, it seemed somehow inappropriate not to be honest with her.

[fightyourcorner]

"Hm?" Thomas said, turning toward the voice, his brow arched and looking only incidentally interested in having any sort of conversation.

"And yet, you seem to know my name," he said, with an expectant look, "You have me at a bit of a disadvantage."

[radicalize]

"I can't think of any better way to spend the holiday," Lucy says warmly, and it's entirely true. When there isn't really anywhere she fits now, she can't wish for home or the island. At least here, she has her brother and some friends, and that's more than she could have asked for.

[radicalize]

"We really are," Lucy agrees with a laugh, nodding. "And it is, yeah. Sybil let me bring my brother, so I really don't think there's much more I could need." These days, she knows how fortunate it makes her just to have people here at all. Especially around Christmas, it seems important to appreciate that.

[adifferentlife]

"Thank you," she says as she takes it, her brow furrowing when he says he can't stay. Sybil holds the box to her chest, more concerned about Thomas than any gift. "Is something wrong?"

[adifferentlife]

Sybil hugs her friend, whispering in her ear as she does. "Could I ask you something? Personal, that is, there's nothing wrong."

When she pulls back her usually pale cheeks are pink and flushed. "Only if you don't mind."

[jaimemieux]

“Oh, yes? That must be very comforting, having your brother here this time of year.” Across the room, Henri spotted a young man with blond hair and passingly similar features that he guessed to be the brother in question. “And I cannot imagine Sybil refusing such a request. She is delighted to have so many people here."

[jaimemieux]

"Of, of course. My apologies." Henri smiled crookedly, ignoring Thomas' terseness for now, keeping his hand politely outstretched. He could appreciate a fellow being uncomfortable in a room full of strangers. "Henri Combeferre. I am a-" he stumbled over the word, realizing he wasn't sure what to call himself. "Ah, I'm a friend of Sybil's."

[badtotheclone]

"Of course, it's Christmas," I say. There aren't a lot of people I would get gifts for by Sybil was at the top of my list for people that did. Not that it made finding her a present any easier. I'm pretty terrible at picking out gifts.

[radicalize]

It's a little unexpected, given the setting, but Lucy has no real reason to object. She shakes her head quickly, a slight crease between her brows. "No, of course I don't mind," she says. Whatever it is, she's sure Sybil has a good reason for asking. "You want to step into the other room or something?"

[radicalize]

"It really is," Lucy says, nodding. Especially around the holidays, she's more grateful for that than ever, something she wouldn't have it in her to try to downplay. "I hadn't seen him in a long time before we both got here, so yeah." She still sometimes feels as if this is bound to be short-lived because of that, but now is hardly the time to dwell on that. "It really is nice, isn't it? Everyone getting together like this."

[jaimemieux]

"It is. Sybil knows just the right way of doing that, doesn't she?" A terribly fond smile flickered on his lips, and he chuckled and shook his head. Someday, perhaps, Henri would find a way to pass five minutes without showering Sybil with compliments, but not today. "Ah, can I get you anything to drink, by the way?"

[adifferentlife]

"Thank you," she says sweetly, telling him to stay where he is and to help himself to whatever he'd like. She hurries to the tree, picking up a rather large package and bringing it to him. "I'm afraid it's entirely practical. It's something I thought... With what you do."

She looks around, not wanting to say more. "You can open it. It's all in a backpack so won't look amiss."

[adifferentlife]

"Thank you. Yes." It's a good idea, and Sybil is glad Lucy's suggested it. She hasn't meant to ask here, but found herself unable to stop herself from doing so. A hand in her friends, she leads the way to her bedroom, closing the door behind them.

"I- that is to say, Henri and I, we did things." Her face is burning, she's sure red as a berry. She's hoping desperately that Lucy won't judge her on this, is praying for it on some level. "Only I don't really know anything. About sex that is. More than we learn as nurses."

[forthedog]

He laughs, both soft and wry. "Yeah, took me a while to really get my head around that. I wasn't... I wasn't ready for it."

Not that he ever has been.

"I hope your Christmas morning was a little more relaxed."

[adifferentlife]

Her cheeks burn and she can't help a quick glance toward Henri for all that she wishes that she hadn't. His staying over isn't something she's ready to share, yet, at least not with most. "It was very nice, actually. Until I burnt the cookies."

[toanend]

"Mm-hmm," Katie says, nodding. "I started back home, and I was almost done, but... well, it turns out you can make a lot of medical advances in thirty years." She grins, not minding too much. It's extra time and work, but it's interesting, too, and it means they can do so much more than in her own time. She would've had to learn even if she'd arrived a doctor anyway.