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Tweak says, "This ain't no disco"

Aureliana Abercrombie deserves a drink (perfectmother) wrote in neeps,
@ 2017-12-21 14:33:00

Entry tags:

! ic/ooc, ada olivier, ainsley galbraith, alasdair buchanan, alasdair maddock, anais bolduc, angus campbell, aureliana abercrombie, charlotte brand, desmond parkin, dunbar oglethorpe, elektra yaxley, elspeth macfusty, ernie macmillan, florinda mcgonagall, fraser macmillan, gabriela mcgonagall, georgi draganov, graham urquhart, jamie abercrombie, janine miracle, kal sharma, kenna mcleod, lorna macfarlane, madeline savage, maggie macdougal, melchior yaxley, mg mcgonagall, micah savage, peggy urquhart, sebastian cavallero

WHO: Everyone! IC/OC
WHEN: Thursday, 21 December 1999
WHERE: The Manor House, Macmillan Park
SUMMARY: Mid-Season (Christmas) Party hosted by the Montrose Magpies at Macmillan Park, cocktail dresses and blazers suggested.
RATING: Low

The Macmillan Family welcomes you to to Macmillan Park for the Mid-Season Yule party for all of Scottish Quidditch (and then some).

The Manor House is decorated for the season, with each room on the first floor having a display of its own. The public areas of the garden are also decorated and kept at a comfortable temperature (as long as you are wearing a cloak) with plenty of warming charms. Christmas crackers are available on all of the tables for all of your paper crown and terrible joke needs.

Finger foods and drinks (alcoholic and non) are plentiful. Eggnog can be made either way and if you want a hot chocolate with a splash of whisky, nobody is going to bat an eye. Entertainment is provided by the Tomnahurich Quartet and the Calanais Singers throughout the night in the main hall. A selection of seasonal songs in the muggle and wizarding traditions were planned, but both groups will take requests. They will be performing both together and separately.

For any children who joined their parents in the festivities, they have their own party going on upstairs in the rarely-used nursery (think very large and extensive playroom with bedrooms nearby and a schooling area). There are kid friendly foods, including sandwiches, personal pizzas in seasonal shapes, a Hot Chocolate Bar, and cherry flavored fizzy drinks. There are, of course, plenty of sweets to be had as well.

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Re: Arrivals, but first Raasay Island, Inner Hebrides

keptinreserve
2017-12-22 02:59 am UTC (link)

The ghost gives him an appraising look, the efficacy of which is somewhat diminished by the fact that he's got his head through the bloody door. "And you must be the Mr Fraser that Miss Ainsley goes on about. Somehow I expected-"

"Cecil!" the scandalized cry comes from inside, followed by the sound of someone rushing toward the door. The ghosts head pulls back inside just as it opens, revealing Ainsley shooting an angry glare as he floats toward the back of the house. She turns back with an apologetic smile, smoothing a hand down her skirt. "I'm so sorry about him. It's still early days, and we're still working through basic modern manners. You look amazing."

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Re: Arrivals, but first Raasay Island, Inner Hebrides

razorfraser
2017-12-22 03:30 am UTC (link)

"Nice to meet you, Master Winterberry!" Fraser calls after the departing spirit.

"I'm now left wondering what he did expect, but not enough to chase down your houseghost."

"Thank you. You look fabulous yourself. I hope this party can stand two stunning people such as ourselves." He took out his wand and cast "Orchideous!", producing a bouquet of flowers that contrasted perfectly with her dress. "For you", he said, handing the flowers to his date.

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Re: Arrivals, but first Raasay Island, Inner Hebrides

keptinreserve
2017-12-22 03:50 am UTC (link)

Ainsley shoots another withering look over her shoulder, and shakes her head. "There's absolutely no telling with that one- although, if he does choose to tell you, expect to hear about it at great length and possibly in the form of a Pindaric Ode."

She grins at the flowers, and takes one out in particular, transfiguring it slightly into curl into the fabric of her dress, while the rest are put into a hastily conjured vase with some water. "Thank you, they're gorgeous. Shall we go stun your party?"

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	Re: Arrivals, but first Raasay Island, Inner Hebrides razorfraser 2017-12-22 04:56 am UTC (link)
	Fraser laughed and put his arm around her waist. "Not the adventure that midnight surf lessons were, but let's go!" Fraser apparated the two of them to a spot quite close to the house, a few steps from the front door. The lights and sounds of a christmas party clearly coming from within. Fraser led her inside lets her take in the grand hall. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Arrivals, but first Raasay Island, Inner Hebrides

keptinreserve
2017-12-22 01:08 pm UTC (link)

If Ainsley had stopped to think about exactly who Fraser was and his connection to such an illustrious family name (even outside of Quidditch circles) for longer than two seconds, she might have psyched herself right out of going to this party. But she hadn't. So arriving at the Manor House and seeing the grand hall was a bit of a reality shock.

She couldn't even fathom growing up with this level of opulence- not that she lacked for much of anything in her own childhood- but her mind helpfully shunted those thoughts off to one side to ponder later. For now, she took in the gorgeous room with an appreciative gaze, and felt pathetically grateful for Fraser's grounding arm around her waist. "It's breathtaking. Thank you for inviting me."

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Re: Arrivals

razorfraser
2017-12-22 01:32 pm UTC (link)

"It can be a little bit like diving into the water so that you take the hit of the cold all at once." He offered her his arm to show her around. "The best way I can explain it is that we are the caretakers and custodians of the place."

"It's also part of the business, but luckily the Holiday Party is really friendly to people our age. You've been around the league, so you probably know most of the people here already Let's greet our hosts and then you can have your choice of food, drink, music, dancing or mingling." He smiled and looked to see if she was overwhelmed. He hoped not, but Macmillan Park had that effect on people. "Or we can sit outside in the garden when you need to process."

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Re: Arrivals

keptinreserve
2017-12-22 02:15 pm UTC (link)

"Quite a responsibility." It's really all that she can seem to say, because processing was a thing to be done later. Ainsley smiled over at him, giving his arm a squeeze. She very carefully didn't let herself slip into Press Face, but it was a close thing. "I feel spoiled for choices. But, please, lead the way. I'm looking forward to meeting your family."

And didn't that send a shard of sheer nerves plunging straight through her stomach. But she could and would do this.

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Re: Arrivals

razorfraser
2017-12-23 12:38 am UTC (link)

"They're hard to miss." Fraser took her by the arm and led her into the mix. He took her towards a middle-aged couple who were in the middle of the room, and they smiled as he approached. The lady wears a tartan sash that matches the gentleman's kilt. Fraser nods towards them and introduces his date. "Ainsley Galbraith, may I present Cuthbert and Arugula Macmillan, our hosts."

"Ms. Galbraith, a pleasure," says the Arugula.

"Indeed," says Cuthbert, "I saw most of your performance against the Arrows and of course I heard about your Ravenclaw shutout back in '89. How are you enjoying playing for Portree?" Cuthbert's voice is immediately familiar to any long-term quidditch fan. He was the voice of the WWN's quidditch coverage when Ainsley was a girl.

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Re: Arrivals

keptinreserve
2017-12-23 12:58 am UTC (link)

And now there were doxies doing the highland fling somewhere in the vicinity of her navel. Ainsley almost curtsied. She was beyond thrilled when her voice came out warm and friendly as she returned their greeting, and even managed a genuine smile to both of them, though it grew into a delighted expression when she recognized the voice.

She offered a delicately diplomatic response to his question- they're certainly an effectively different team- but thanked him for recalling her own successes, as bygone as they are. She also complimented them on the lovely home and beautiful decorations, and then waited while Fraser conversed with them as well. It's only after Fraser led them away, and they were well out of earshot, that she requested a drink (and maybe food, so she didn't seem like a complete lush).

Ainsley might have looked a little overwhelmed at this point, but she felt like she was handling it nicely.

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Re: Arrivals

razorfraser
2017-12-23 01:40 am UTC (link)

Fraser and his mother spoke briefly-- which cousins were here, but she quickly excused the young couple, encouraging them to go enjoy themselves.

He led her towards the "Sorry to drop them on you unexpectedly, but I didn't realize they'd be front-and-center like that. I should've guessed, though. Da is a walking quidditch encyclopedia and he loves meeting players."

The food is plentiful, and ranges from "made of air" to "filling", and the drink ranges from "refreshing" to "refreshingly high in alcohol."

There are waiters with glasses of champagne and other drinks, or she can ask for anything she wants.

Fraser puts a few mini-haggis appetizers on his plate, and offers some to Ainsley.

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Re: Arrivals

keptinreserve
2017-12-23 02:54 am UTC (link)

Ainsley smiled at him. "Sometimes it's better if you don't see the Bludger coming. They were lovely, your parents- I was a huge fan of your dad's growing up. Still am, really. Feel a bit star struck, if I'm honest."

Before they can get to the food, Ainsley had grabbed a random drink from a tray and tossed it back neatly. Whatever was in it- really, she'd drunk it so fast that she wasn't sure what it was, other than a little on the strong side- helped with the continued jolt of nerves she kept feeling. She took one of the appetizers upon being offered it, but didn't get any of that particular offering for herself when she put together her own plate.

"Show me around? Maybe point out who you're not related to here?" she teased. "Might be easier."

She paused for a moment as a thought suddenly struck her. "Hang on- and bear in mind that I don't actually care about this in the slightest- but I've just realized that I'm a Lion in a nest of Magpies. I know your dad didn't seem to mind, but are you sure we're not being set up for some kind of Romeo and Juliet nonsense? I mean, I like you, but I'm not sure if I'm quite to the level of I'm-going-to-drink-poison-for-you just yet."

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Re: Arrivals

razorfraser
2017-12-23 03:22 am UTC (link)

"Should've thought about that before you threw back that Hemlock Gimlet, then.

"But I expect my cousins Graham and Agnes and their children to be here, including your teammate David. My father's old friend Sebastian Cavallero hasn't missed one of these parties in years, and one of Portree's chasers is dating our reserve keeper. I can also point out a passel of Parkinsons, but you're not with Wigtown anymore. I love the rivalry, but behind the scenes, the families are all pretty close. If we weren't all friends, we'd be pretty lonely, and there would be three smaller and less-well-attended Yule parties. "

"As for Da, his only flaw is that since he doesn't forget a detail about a Quidditch match he's seen, he'll ask you details about a match you don't remember from a decade ago and not quite get that you don't recall it as well as he does."

"My cousin Mel will point out that when he was nine and I was six, he had to explain that the Gaelic word for 'wizard' didn't mean 'cousin'. But I have a lot of them, it's true. Given the number of wizards in Scotland, it's sort of inevitable."

I'm not a great tour guide, but I'll do my best. This is the library, we use it because keeping books everywhere is untidy..."

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Re: Arrivals

keptinreserve
2017-12-23 03:00 pm UTC (link)

Giving him a somewhat elegant shrug, Ainsley smirked. "Ah, well, live and learn. Or die and learn, in this case. Don't worry, I'll come back and haunt you until your dying day, and then I'll go be best mates with Cecil for all eternity. Sounds like a win-win to me."

She blinked at him. "Would you like a basket for all those names you just dropped?" she teased, though she filed away the information that he seemed to know about her career- which made sense, since he was the Commissioner, and didn't that just set her ratchet up her nerves another notch- to examine more closely at another time. "I never really attended the parties in my Wigtown days. I was still trying to get my legs back under me at that point." Literally.

Ainsley laughed about his dad, delighted, and then harder when he told her about Mel. "I'm not going to lie- that's absolutely adorable. I can't work out whether having that many regional familial connections would be a good thing or not. The Galbraith magical lineage starts exactly with my dad, and mum's is predominantly English- a Fawley- so no ties there, I'm afraid." She shot him a wicked grin. "Far less chance that we're related, which suits me just fine."

Entering the library, Ainsley felt like she was in Hogwarts again; even the smell was the same. But there was a crowd there, which was not the same, and it took her a moment to realize that they were- for the most part- standing around a wireless that was playing- "The Winter Solstice Race," she breathed out with a blossoming grin. "Do you mind if we stay for a bit and listen?"

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Re: Arrivals

razorfraser
2017-12-23 04:29 pm UTC (link)

Fraser grinned. "Sounds like you've got a solid plan."

He shrugged back. It might not have been as elegant as hers. "They're related. I work for Graham and Aunt Una and Sterling Parkinson. It's all the fun of being on a team with three coaches, when all of your teammates have their own different coaches. But social time is sacred. We rotate the Christmas party so that each family only has to hold it every three years."

"While there's nobody in Nott's dumb book that isn't related at some distance, I don't know of any Fawcetts in my first or second cousins, so I think we're safe. Besides, I'm the scandal of the family. Mum's a Fraser, which is how I got my name."

"I'd be happy to. It's nice to have a sporting event that I don't have to be personally professionally involved in. Jason's racing today and he and I were in the same year at Hogwarts."

Fraser will also introduce her to anyone who's around the radio that she doesn't know.

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