From alt.pub.dragons-inn Sat May 13 11:59:32 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8426 Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!psuvm!asg102 Organization: Penn State University Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 22:49:50 EDT From: Night Owl Message-ID: <95131.224950ASG102@psuvm.psu.edu> Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [Party] Setting The Table Lines: 76 "Luthor, I don't see why you're so nervous. You've had two other parties here before and they went okay...well, except for that incident with the berserking druids." The woman smiled kindly at her housemate. She pulled her long auburn hair back into a loose pony tail and tied it off with a piece of gray cloth. On the other side of the rounded wooden room, her companion paced, re-reading a checklist that he had gone over a hundred times this morning. His BLACK cloak moved about him freely like smoke which flowed without caring which way the wind was blowing. "Serene, the first two years, I had Erik and the 'Raelfs and ar'Elyas helping. This year, it's me, you, and Mista...and she's still in diapers." "True, but this party should be quite a bit smaller. Besides, we'll only have to do some of the cooking since everyone is bringing something to eat. It won't be so bad. Didn't you have parties like this in your old family's estate?" Serene rolled up the sleeves of her gray tunic and began scrubbing the tops of the wooden tables. There were a dozen of them arranged in strategic places around the room. The tables would make the food accessible without blocking the movements of the guests between the rooms of the large house-tree. Luthor looked up from his scroll. "Yes, but I always had servants to help set up and Rachel handled everything else. She was so good with details." Luthor's piercing blue eyes twinkled with fond memories of his wife. "I'm just afraid that I'm leaving something out." "I'll make a deal with you. You clean these tables and start on the stuffed mushrooms. I'll take your list into town and buy what we need. I'll take Mista with me. She could use a walk in the fresh air." Serene put the scrub brush back in the pail and wiped her hands on her loose trousers. Luthor chuckled. "Serene, we live inside a tree. The air doesn't *get* any more fresh than this." He handed the list to Serene and grabbed the scrub brush from the pail. "Well, Mista could use the exercise anyway. I'll stop by the fish market and pick up some swordfish or maybe some salmon, if it's fresh." Serene noticed the sour look on Luthor's face. "Listen, you may be a good cook, but not all of us *want* to be vegitarians." Luthor shrugged. "Suit yourself. I just don't see how you can eat something that smells that bad. Just make sure you scrub the counter with lemon juice when you're done. I don't want my kitchen smelling like the docks all night." Serene laughed and shook her head. "Relax Luthor, everything will work out." She disappeared into the adjoining lobby and reappeared a moment later with a two-year-old girl in her arms. "Okay, we're off. See you in a couple of hours." "Good-bye ladies. Bye-bye Mista." Luthor waved to the sandy haired child who smiled and waved back. -+-+-+-+-+-+-+- By the time Luthor and Serene had finished setting up for the party, the Nexian sun had nearly reached its zenith. They stood for a moment and surveyed the dining room from its front entrance. Every dish of food was filled. Every plate was spotless. Every napkin was carefully folded into the shape of a bird or beast. Serene put her arm around Luthor's waist. "Well, it was a lot of work, but we managed by ourselves. Your list is checked off. the food and drink is ready. The musicians are preparing their instruments. It's time to have some fun." Luthor sighed. "All we need now are some guests." ADMIN: Okay guys, the doors are open and you're all on the guest list. Write me if you have questions, need approval, or whatever. Love and Peace and Anniversary Parties, -The Dreamer-