Summer 1 - Welcome dinner

[kollomods]

[ It's the very first dinner on Norrhamn and the kitchen staff (???) has really gone all out. The counter is covered by a variety of the finest cuisine Sweden has to offer — sandwich cakes of every variety, from the classic salmon and shrimp to ham and horse radish or more modern, vegan varieties with avocado and cherry tomatoes. There's a smaller table set out with strawberry and cream cake, and the traditional spread of seven different types of shortbread cookies. Of course there's coffee and tea by the bucketload, along with other drinks such as elderberry or lingonberry squash. The community center has been decorated for the occasion with bunting and strings of lights leading out into the garden. It's still early summer so the nights are mild and surprisingly bright — the sun has yet to fully set by the time the celebrations kick off. Better get used to the light, it's not getting darker anytime soon. ]

Comments

Olivia, to start with :-)

[forever_jack]

The administrator had been busy talking to someone else when he'd disembarked earlier on so he'd made do with a smile and a nod, but when he sees her here tonight he heads on over to make his introductions.

"Hi - Olivia, isn't it?" he says casually, with a charming smile. "Captain Jack Harkness. Pretty wonderful place you've got here!"

;)

[norrhamn_residents]

Her posture and expression shifts the moment she notices him approaching, from something mildly relaxed to full-on professional. She's working tonight, and as relaxed as this is she can't let her guard down for too long.

"Yes - that's me." She greets him with a smile, smoothing out her dress. "And thank you. Are you finding everything to your liking?"

[forever_jack]

Oh, Olivia, don't go making this all about business! It's a party; he just wants to chat!

"Everything is pretty much perfect," he assures her expansively. "I've no idea how you knew we all needed somewhere like this, but I'm really glad you did!"

Gently probing her for information? Surely not.

[norrhamn_residents]

But business is good! She understands business! Business is a very familiar type of awkward!

"Oh, we have our ways!" She giggles, attempting for charming but landing somewhere in dorky. "I'm glad you like it. It's such a wonderful island, we're lucky to be able to do something worthwhile with it."

[forever_jack]

A little dorky, perhaps, but he thinks it's kind of cute.

"It's certainly very generous of you to make it all available to us like this, and at no charge too. Must be costing a fortune!" He quirks an eyebrow, grinning. "Or a lot of magic?"

A few years ago, he wouldn't even have considered the idea of magic being real, but his view of all the possibilities of the universe has certainly been expanded by meeting so many people from worlds different to his own!

[norrhamn_residents]

There's the faintest hint of a blush on her cheeks, creeping up towards her ears. It's not that she didn't expect some of the visitors to figure out the nature of this place, but a guy like this catching on so quickly? She's not equipped to handle this.

"There's... a lot going into it, for sure. We have some benefactors-" Financial and, well, magical. "-but that's nothing you need to worry about! Just relax and enjoy yourself!"

[forever_jack]

Definitely cute. He feels a bit bad for pressing her and decides to relent, since she's more or less answered his question as much as he expected anyone to, anyway.

Frankly, he still finds the idea of magic rather incomprehensible, but he can't deny any more that it exists. And, really, isn't it rather wonderful that there's even more to this amazing universe than he was originally taught?

He grins. "Oh, I intend to!" Dark eyebrows arch upwards. "I don't suppose I could entice you to dance with me at all?"

[norrhamn_residents]

The blush grows a bit deeper and honestly, she probably should've expected as much from this guy — she read his letter after all. That's also why she gives him a bit of an apologetic smile.

"I'm not sure that's such a good idea. I'm technically still on the clock, and... well. Perhaps you should give yourself some time to... grieve?"

[forever_jack]

He was about to argue that even if she was still on the clock, surely dancing with the guests could be considered a part of helping them feel at home, but the reminder that she knows why he came here and has her own opinion on how he should handle that brings him up short.

"We all have our own ways of dealing with such things," he says, flinging her a disarming grin to try to hide the fact that walls have gone up all around him. "Mine happens to be to get out and party!"

He glances out towards the music coming from the garden, abruptly wanting to get away now that he's been reminded of everything he's been trying not to think about. "I should go, get on with that plan. Catch you later, Olivia."

[norrhamn_residents]

There's some mixed emotions when she sees him close up - relief that she doesn't need to dance, but even more so regret that she handled this in what was clearly the wrong way. She'll be thinking about this when she goes to bed, but perhaps not for the reasons he'd like her to.

Expression apologetic, she gives him a nod.

"Enjoy your night, Captain."

[forever_jack]

Aww, he'd be disappointed if he knew!

As it is, he's sure she means well, but she's just managed to put a damper on his evening from which it's going to take a little while to recover.

He nods in response and tips her a casual salute before turning on his heel with a rather dramatic swirl of his coat.

He'll probably go out into the garden and be aggressively cheerful and flirty with someone.

Or maybe dance with Martha.