New Year's Eve - Dinner with the Baron
Dec. 31st, 2018 07:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsIn Beaumont-les-Bains, X-Force meets the town's patron, the Baron d'Rochefort. Dinner is had and toasts are made.
It was a bitter-sweet moment, knocking on the door of the Baron's manor and the same ancient handmaiden opening the door with her suspicious look. Amanda gave her a polite smile and said, in her best French: "Good evening, madame. I believe the Baron is expecting us for dinner."
"Madam Bisset, please show our guests in!" His voice carried across the hall and the old woman shot a poisonous look towards the back of the room before stepping to one side and gesturing them in. Charles Renardin, the Baron d'Rochefort appeared, looking as comfortable in his well tailored dark suit as if he'd been poured into it.
"Mademoiselle Sefton, it has been too long, my dear," he said, sketching an elaborate bow as he kissed her hand. When he looked up, he winked at her with his uncovered eye. "Shall we try to impress your friends, chere?" He whispered with a smile.
"Welcome, all of you, to my home. I admit, I am beyond curious to meet the associates of Mademoiselle Sefton. I expect the extraordinary with her, you know." He said, a smile on his face.
"Thank you again, for the invitation." Amanda's accent had slid into 'BBC English', and her answering smile was warm and genuine. "Everyone, this is the Baron d'Rochefort, Charles Renardin. Monsieur le Baron, this is Ms. Emma Frost--" She gestured at the statuesque blonde woman.
Emma inclined her head gracefully. "Baron," she murmured and then continued in impeccable French, "it is a pleasure to be invited to dine with you in your exquisite home."
"Any friends of Mademoiselle Sefton are always welcome here. Please, come in and have a seat." He gestured, pointing them towards a door into a formal dining room.
"Thank you for your hospitality." Marie-Ange said, as she passed through the door, in easy French. "Amanda has said all good things about you and your people." It was clear she did not just mean the house and his staff. "Many good things also about your vineyards." She added, with a teasing smile.
Wanda's smile echoed that of Marie-Ange's and, despite how tired and drawn she still looked to those who knew her, the smile was genuine. "From what we have seen of your home, it is breathtaking. We are all greatly appreciative of your offer to host us this week. Amanda has elaborated on the vineyards and your library, much to no one's surprise."
"Plonk and books. It's what I do." Amanda said with a shrug and a grin. "That's Marie-Ange and Wanda, and the rest are Felicia, Doug, Kevin, Artie, Gabriel, Jubilee, Natasha, Clea and Nor... David." She indicated each person as she named them. "Hopefully we won't eat you out of house and home."
”At least, we’ll try not to.” Jubilee’s tone was winsome, as was the smile she wore as she spoke in the accentless French Doug had spent so long teaching her to mimic. “You have such a wonderful estate, Baron. You must have a very talented team to take care of it all.”
"You're interested in my housekeeping services? That is not an area I am questioned about often." He said wryly, motioning them towards the dining room. "As for the food, I believe we will have sufficient quantities for you all. We most certainly will have enough wine." The table was already set with numerous decanters, all filled with ruby liquid.
"Thank God," Gabriel muttered. When he'd agreed to this trip, he hadn't realized how luxe this experience would be. He should have realized there'd be some white-gloved servants and talk of old European money. And he really should have expected he'd need to wear a tie at some point.
As they took their places around the dining room table, Gabriel pulled idly at the knot around his neck and held back a sigh. In another life, this manor would have been the kind of place he'd have loved to steal from. Plenty of baubles and the like. Maybe he still would. He doubted the Baron would miss one.
"This is my first time in France," he said to nobody in particular, before adding rather indecorously, "so who can tell me more about this country's famous booze."
"Well, Marie-Ange is the native..." Doug said teasingly. He had to admit, it was nice to get away from things and worry about nothing more than selecting a leisure activity during their stay. Given that the blood curse resembled anemia, he rather suspected his would involve a fair amount of dozing near a fireplace - despite wearing several tastefully done layers of clothes, his fingers felt like they were freezing. "I know a few things, but her or Emma is probably your best bet if you want to learn more than you ever knew there was to know about French wine."
Artie smiled slightly and settled in his seat, letting the talk flow over and around him, content at the moment, to let the conversation drift, rather than force his way in with powers or requesting that someone translate his signing.
"She started my education back when we were students," Amanda said with a snort. "There was a spot on the roof where there was a blind spot - at least until security got upgraded - and we'd go up there with a bottle of wine. Never got caught, either. Mostly because we were sensible about it and didn't boast on the journals about it."
Clea had also been admiring the different paintings on the wall before entering the dinning room. "Bonjour." Taking a seat at the dinning table before placing a napkin on her lap. She lifted the wine glass to her lips, "Legal drinking age in France is 16." Before taking a sip. "Delicious."
North shot their young colleague an amused look as he slid glasses to Jubilee and Felicia before pouring another for himself. "À votre santé," he toasted, raising his glass to their host in appreciation of his generosity.
"Ah, someone who remembers the old days." The Baron raised his glass. "Allow me the first toast. To old friendships. To new friendships. To the opportunity to introduce you all to what is possibly a different world for you and is also my home. This is an old place but also one that needs youth;" He nodded to Gabe, Artie and Clea. "beauty;" Emma and Marie-Ange "legacy;" North and Wanda "New beginnings;" Natasha and Felicia "old friends;" Amanda, Doug and Jubilee, "and unless I mistake myself, former comrades." Kevin stiffened at the direct look but forced himself to unclench and nod. "In a house full of ghosts, the vibrantly living are always welcome as we brush aside the cobwebs of the past and look to a new year." He raised his glass and gestured to them all before taking a drink.
Crossing the room in an expensive staccato, Felicia brushed her hand along Sydney's shoulders as she passed. She picked up the drink North had poured her with an appreciative smile, and raised both it and her gaze at the Baron. "Bein dit. Santé!"
Natasha murmured her appreciation for the invitation and the lovely decor in flawless French as she followed the others in. Their surroundings were on a level she had enjoyed when she'd been undercover. Openly being in a place like this was a change of pace. She poured herself a glass of wine and breathed in the aroma before taking a sip. "Exquisite." She joined Felicia in raising her glass to the Baron.
Amanda drank to the Baron's toast, and then held up her glass for another. "I was directed to this place as a sanctuary of sorts," she said, voice hitching just a little as she remembered who had directed her. "The world's a bloody mess and I have the feeling we'll be feeling the brunt of it even more than we have so far. So I wanted to share my sanctuary with my team. You're welcome to it, any time you need it." And with that she toasted. "To sanctuary, and to my friends."
"And to Amanda's good taste in homes away from home, yes?" Marie-Ange had raised her glass to both toasts, nodding at the Baron, and then Amanda in turn. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the wine was exceptional, and the tension in her shoulders and face was finally starting to ease. "It is nice to travel and not feel the a little the tourist, for once."
"Ah, I do love epiphanies." The Baron said, as the plates of food started to come out for each of their places. "I don't pretend to exist in your world, but the thing the American represented to me was sanctuary. It is something we take very seriously here. So my second and final toast is that you've all earned a place here if you want it. It is the only bit of noblesse oblige I'm still allowed. You're now all citizens of my home, if you want it."
It was a bitter-sweet moment, knocking on the door of the Baron's manor and the same ancient handmaiden opening the door with her suspicious look. Amanda gave her a polite smile and said, in her best French: "Good evening, madame. I believe the Baron is expecting us for dinner."
"Madam Bisset, please show our guests in!" His voice carried across the hall and the old woman shot a poisonous look towards the back of the room before stepping to one side and gesturing them in. Charles Renardin, the Baron d'Rochefort appeared, looking as comfortable in his well tailored dark suit as if he'd been poured into it.
"Mademoiselle Sefton, it has been too long, my dear," he said, sketching an elaborate bow as he kissed her hand. When he looked up, he winked at her with his uncovered eye. "Shall we try to impress your friends, chere?" He whispered with a smile.
"Welcome, all of you, to my home. I admit, I am beyond curious to meet the associates of Mademoiselle Sefton. I expect the extraordinary with her, you know." He said, a smile on his face.
"Thank you again, for the invitation." Amanda's accent had slid into 'BBC English', and her answering smile was warm and genuine. "Everyone, this is the Baron d'Rochefort, Charles Renardin. Monsieur le Baron, this is Ms. Emma Frost--" She gestured at the statuesque blonde woman.
Emma inclined her head gracefully. "Baron," she murmured and then continued in impeccable French, "it is a pleasure to be invited to dine with you in your exquisite home."
"Any friends of Mademoiselle Sefton are always welcome here. Please, come in and have a seat." He gestured, pointing them towards a door into a formal dining room.
"Thank you for your hospitality." Marie-Ange said, as she passed through the door, in easy French. "Amanda has said all good things about you and your people." It was clear she did not just mean the house and his staff. "Many good things also about your vineyards." She added, with a teasing smile.
Wanda's smile echoed that of Marie-Ange's and, despite how tired and drawn she still looked to those who knew her, the smile was genuine. "From what we have seen of your home, it is breathtaking. We are all greatly appreciative of your offer to host us this week. Amanda has elaborated on the vineyards and your library, much to no one's surprise."
"Plonk and books. It's what I do." Amanda said with a shrug and a grin. "That's Marie-Ange and Wanda, and the rest are Felicia, Doug, Kevin, Artie, Gabriel, Jubilee, Natasha, Clea and Nor... David." She indicated each person as she named them. "Hopefully we won't eat you out of house and home."
”At least, we’ll try not to.” Jubilee’s tone was winsome, as was the smile she wore as she spoke in the accentless French Doug had spent so long teaching her to mimic. “You have such a wonderful estate, Baron. You must have a very talented team to take care of it all.”
"You're interested in my housekeeping services? That is not an area I am questioned about often." He said wryly, motioning them towards the dining room. "As for the food, I believe we will have sufficient quantities for you all. We most certainly will have enough wine." The table was already set with numerous decanters, all filled with ruby liquid.
"Thank God," Gabriel muttered. When he'd agreed to this trip, he hadn't realized how luxe this experience would be. He should have realized there'd be some white-gloved servants and talk of old European money. And he really should have expected he'd need to wear a tie at some point.
As they took their places around the dining room table, Gabriel pulled idly at the knot around his neck and held back a sigh. In another life, this manor would have been the kind of place he'd have loved to steal from. Plenty of baubles and the like. Maybe he still would. He doubted the Baron would miss one.
"This is my first time in France," he said to nobody in particular, before adding rather indecorously, "so who can tell me more about this country's famous booze."
"Well, Marie-Ange is the native..." Doug said teasingly. He had to admit, it was nice to get away from things and worry about nothing more than selecting a leisure activity during their stay. Given that the blood curse resembled anemia, he rather suspected his would involve a fair amount of dozing near a fireplace - despite wearing several tastefully done layers of clothes, his fingers felt like they were freezing. "I know a few things, but her or Emma is probably your best bet if you want to learn more than you ever knew there was to know about French wine."
Artie smiled slightly and settled in his seat, letting the talk flow over and around him, content at the moment, to let the conversation drift, rather than force his way in with powers or requesting that someone translate his signing.
"She started my education back when we were students," Amanda said with a snort. "There was a spot on the roof where there was a blind spot - at least until security got upgraded - and we'd go up there with a bottle of wine. Never got caught, either. Mostly because we were sensible about it and didn't boast on the journals about it."
Clea had also been admiring the different paintings on the wall before entering the dinning room. "Bonjour." Taking a seat at the dinning table before placing a napkin on her lap. She lifted the wine glass to her lips, "Legal drinking age in France is 16." Before taking a sip. "Delicious."
North shot their young colleague an amused look as he slid glasses to Jubilee and Felicia before pouring another for himself. "À votre santé," he toasted, raising his glass to their host in appreciation of his generosity.
"Ah, someone who remembers the old days." The Baron raised his glass. "Allow me the first toast. To old friendships. To new friendships. To the opportunity to introduce you all to what is possibly a different world for you and is also my home. This is an old place but also one that needs youth;" He nodded to Gabe, Artie and Clea. "beauty;" Emma and Marie-Ange "legacy;" North and Wanda "New beginnings;" Natasha and Felicia "old friends;" Amanda, Doug and Jubilee, "and unless I mistake myself, former comrades." Kevin stiffened at the direct look but forced himself to unclench and nod. "In a house full of ghosts, the vibrantly living are always welcome as we brush aside the cobwebs of the past and look to a new year." He raised his glass and gestured to them all before taking a drink.
Crossing the room in an expensive staccato, Felicia brushed her hand along Sydney's shoulders as she passed. She picked up the drink North had poured her with an appreciative smile, and raised both it and her gaze at the Baron. "Bein dit. Santé!"
Natasha murmured her appreciation for the invitation and the lovely decor in flawless French as she followed the others in. Their surroundings were on a level she had enjoyed when she'd been undercover. Openly being in a place like this was a change of pace. She poured herself a glass of wine and breathed in the aroma before taking a sip. "Exquisite." She joined Felicia in raising her glass to the Baron.
Amanda drank to the Baron's toast, and then held up her glass for another. "I was directed to this place as a sanctuary of sorts," she said, voice hitching just a little as she remembered who had directed her. "The world's a bloody mess and I have the feeling we'll be feeling the brunt of it even more than we have so far. So I wanted to share my sanctuary with my team. You're welcome to it, any time you need it." And with that she toasted. "To sanctuary, and to my friends."
"And to Amanda's good taste in homes away from home, yes?" Marie-Ange had raised her glass to both toasts, nodding at the Baron, and then Amanda in turn. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the wine was exceptional, and the tension in her shoulders and face was finally starting to ease. "It is nice to travel and not feel the a little the tourist, for once."
"Ah, I do love epiphanies." The Baron said, as the plates of food started to come out for each of their places. "I don't pretend to exist in your world, but the thing the American represented to me was sanctuary. It is something we take very seriously here. So my second and final toast is that you've all earned a place here if you want it. It is the only bit of noblesse oblige I'm still allowed. You're now all citizens of my home, if you want it."
