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Tweak says, "It burns It burns! It FREEZES!"

Dimitri Jules Baptiste (ardent_malice) wrote in haunted_roads,
@ 2008-03-26 11:50:00

Entry tags:

chloe, dimitri, juliette, justine

Week Four: Sunday
When: Night
Where: Old Town Towers; their condo
Who: Dimitri, Juliette, Justine, Chloe

A family dinner seemed a simple thing but for the Baptistes it was always turned into quite the event. Perhaps it was due to the fact that they rarely spent as much time together as they used to. Perhaps it was only because Dimitri had time on his hands and was able to put forth so much effort. Whatever the reason for it, the dinner proved to be quite grand. None of them had need to eat true, but that did not mean that they did not enjoy the tastes of food still. Dinner was more a sampling, small amounts of what each of them loved.

Dimitri had worked through the morning hours as he often did and though he had attempted rest it had not worked as he had planned. Thoughts plagued his mind and made such attempts to relax rather difficult. A curse of the family it seemed as they became that way when they were uncertain on any particular point in their lives. It made the timing for this event perfect in a way, giving them excuse, and means, to forget all else for awhile. A night to simply enjoy being among family..allowing the rest of the world to fade away.

Or at least that was the plan…how well that worked out for any of them was another matter all together.

With much of his workload seen to Dimitri took the hours before nightfall to help in preparation for the night’s meal. Though he rarely cooked he was actually quite skilled in it. A talent that he did not even realize he held till late in his life. It wasn’t exactly a hobby he put much time or effort into however, his attention and time were almost always needed somewhere. He made sure of that, constantly flooding himself with work and projects in order to keep himself busy. Dimitri wasn’t the sort that really enjoyed being still or lacking in something to do.

Though he cooked he wasn’t the only one doing so. Others aided as well as there was too much to make for one person to handle.

Towards the end Dimitri left the finishing touches to others while he checked on some last minute work. There was little else for him to worry on really. The home was always in pristine condition and the large dining room was already prepared. Set with candles and all around the home fireplaces added a faint warmth to the home. It was more for light then for that, as cold was not something any of them truly felt anymore.

Music of long ago also filled the air, music that they used to listen to before times became so struggled and their lives went off in various directions. It reminded him of home, a home lost to all of them but yet remembered well. For times beyond the pain. For smiles and laughter.

There was time yet before the others would begin to arrive, Dimitri took seat in the living room near to the fire…watching the flames dance and cast shadows upon the walls. To the table near to him was a glass of wine briefly touched and to his hand a cigarette held between the fingers that was nearly spent, a window near to him was opened just enough to drag the scent of such away.

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savageallure
2008-03-27 05:28 am UTC (link)

The family dinner had, all at once, become both a blessing and a curse. Obviously Justine was looking forward to time with her siblings, they all seemed to have such little of it anymore, but hiding the turmoil raging inside of her given the recent reappearance of her one-time fiance would prove difficult. The siblings were too close for things to remain hidden, should they go unnoticed at all.

Mikkos was not yet a subject she was willing to discuss with them...it was still a development far too new for her liking. Perhaps in a few days...weeks, when she'd had more time to process this latest turn of events. Until then she would simply hope it was an issue no one pushed too strongly.

When she arrived it was to find, as she'd expected, Dimitri already there and waiting. The table was set, cloaked in all its glory, the spread truly one to be coveted, especially when the family it was meant for would hardly touch it. The candles tossed shadows against the walls, casting an intimate glow around the table as if it was some beacon of light amidst an otherwise murky sea of darkness.

"You shouldn't smoke those, they'll kill you," she quipped, the hint of a playful smile tugging at her lips as she leaned down and brushed a chaste kiss to Dimitri's cheek. "I take it you helped cook tonight?" Generally when he was early for a family dinner it was because he'd been pitching in, assisting the staff in piecing together the entire puzzle that made up nights like this.

Justine moved to pull up the chair a few feet away, settling into a seat across from him as the pair waited for their remaining siblings to join them. "Whatever it is that awaits us tonight, it smells divine," she complimented, nearly positive that he knew the exact contents of the menu - he'd probably assisted in putting it together. It was a waste, really, to have such delicious foods given to those who could never truly enjoy them. But for whatever they were, for however long the enjoyment lasted, sometimes it was nice to feign normalcy again...even in this smallest of ways.

"And how have you been lately, dear brother?" the question was inevitable really, one they were each bound to hear a number of times tonight. Justine was merely interested in an early start. It had been far too long since she'd last spoken with Dimitri and that was a hole she wished to quickly patch.

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ardent_malice
2008-03-27 05:52 am UTC (link)

Justine had to know, of course, that the family would sense something amiss with her. But while there would always be concern for when such feelings were noticed...none pushed sore subjects if the other wasn't ready for it yet. More then once in all their lives there were topics best just left alone for a time. Ophelia, attacks, deaths...the lists did go on and on. Dimitri noticed when she arrived...but he did not question. If she wished to speak she would and he'd respect whatever choice was made.

Tonight, regardless, for him it was a night for family. Blood family. Not to be troubled with talks of their sire or of work or struggles that were abound in this life. For Dimitri this was a night to reconnect with that blood kin that he did not get enough time with anymore. It was the way of their lives though, back and forth, separating for great times and coming back together again.

But of course Dimitri would be there already. He had spoken that he'd see to all the arrangements and in that, it did require him being around before the time came for all of them to gather. Not always did seeing to the dinner mean giving a helping hand. But tonight it had, fixing dishes that perhaps cooks of younger ages would not be able to fully recreate. He did not think any of the time or work wasted upon his family. Though they did not need food to survive like humans did that did not mean they could not enjoy the taste. Like wine it wasn't always about what was gained from the food or the drink, but how one was able to enjoy it.

Small bites, no true full meal, just enough to taste and enjoy for all of them. Dimitri knew well how they all were. Which was why her words brought about the faintest of smirks to his lips. "I'll keep that in mind..." he bemused in return, snubbing out what little was left of that spent cigarette. He returned the kiss to her cheek, sitting up a bit from that lounged position. "A bit, more then normal but less then I could have." he could have cooked it all if he really wished it but he hadn't let his entire day become consumed by preparations. "Hopefully all the others agree." he had little doubt that they'd not; the food was made with all of them in mind.

Dimitri sighed faintly, picking up that wineglass to take a brief sip. "Well enough, keeping busy as it were." though not as much as he would like despite the belief of many that he worked too much. For Dimitri it was simply how he was. He did not deal with boredom or feeling stagnant. Such a need for movement. Even now he was rising to his feet to get his dear sister a drink to start her night with. Wine that would fit well with the food already presented to the table.

“And yourself?” he questioned lightly, though he did give glance to the door as he spoke it, feeling another sister nearing the door.