A Fishy Dinner (Closed)

[The Selkie]

"If you'll allow me the honor, I'd like to do it." Xan volunteered raising her free hand.

Faye smiled as she handed the torch over - Xan was not the first one to call dibs, but the closest to her.
"Favouritism!", a student remarked with an amused glint, prompting a laugh from his pals and Faye, as well as a shrug of hers. "Alright, alright..."
Faye handed her girlfriend a lighter as well and made a step away from the pile of wood that would serve as their fire tonight. Contained within a bowl of iron, secured by stones, wood was stacked up to at around knee-level in a form approaching a log cabin, dried and pure logs for a good grill fire, tinder fungus inside of it, past the 'door', to serve as igniter.
There were, besides the fire extinguishers, several more logs of wood and tinder fungus ready to be used tonight.
"Go ahead.", Faye whispered to her girlfriend.

[AHSCA]

"Thanks" Xan holding the flame close enough to her hand to keep the flame steady but not burn her hand either knelt down and lit up. A few puffs of air from her breath helped fan the minuscule ember to a slowly building fire.

[The Selkie]

"Thanks" Xan holding the flame close enough to her hand to keep the flame steady but not burn her hand either knelt down and lit up. A few puffs of air from her breath helped fan the minuscule ember to a slowly building fire.

There was a bit of applause around the assembled people, as well as a cheer, as the fire slowly grew.
It was abruptly silenced by the Doctor, who waved his hand once, strictly. Silence descended, as he breathed out, looking to Faye. The Selkie nodded.
"Then now, my friends, students...", the Doctor began in an almost priesterly tone, "Let us thank our gracious Hostess for her hospitality, let us thank our gracious Hostess for her invitation, and let us thank the Great Guardian for bringing us all together." He let a beat pass. "And let us ask the Great Guardian to bless our gracious Hostess and her love to a woman from neither Selkie nor Lutetiian Shores."
His students lowered their heads and in a melodic, fluent language, a short prayer was spoken, then a second.
The Doctor looked to Faye as they finished.
"My gratitude for your well wishes and blessings, my friends.", she said and took Xan's hand, softly squeezing it, "May Ladra and Lodan Lir grant you steady winds and calm seas, with fish in the plenty." Doctor Soarelli bowed his head in gratitude, as Faye grinned. "Three volunteers to get the soon-to-be-grilled stuff out of the fridge!"
There was another round of laughter.

[AHSCA]

Xanthe nodded along with Faye's blessing and the warm comfort of her dear girl's hand in her own made it all the better. "Well allow me again to be of service!"

[The Selkie]

Xanthe nodded along with Faye's blessing and the warm comfort of her dear girl's hand in her own made it all the better. "Well allow me again to be of service!"

Faye grinned as Xan volunteered, and so did Maria and a rather strong looking chap from the students, as well as the one, who had looked at Maria with adoration, all of which she waved along, having not three, but four volunteers. The others began to assemble in a few smaller conversations, as well as one pulling out a deck of cards, assemblying a few people for a small game.
The massive fridge, in which everything was stored, was in the small kitchen, the materials being pulled out by Faye with a heave - they were heavy. The strong-looking chap carried his load alone, Maria and her admirer, who blushed heavily, got another load, Xan and Faye the last.
It was not only fish, but also fruit and a good chunk of the Sea Snake from the day before, some filets marinated, others unmarinated and with sauces aside for those, who wanted them. It smelled delicious.

[AHSCA]

Xan had a glint in her eye upon seeing the adoring stare of what was no doubt an admiration "Heee," She grinned and tapped Maria on the shoulder "Pretty strong, huh?" Xan picked up what she could carry along

[The Selkie]

Xan had a glint in her eye upon seeing the adoring stare of what was no doubt an admiration "Heee," She grinned and tapped Maria on the shoulder "Pretty strong, huh?" Xan picked up what she could carry along

"Si.", Maria replied with a smile, hefting the freight with her partner, before she looked back to Xan and Faye. "You two aren't weak either. As expected from a Selkie and her girlfriend!" Her admirer nodded, but not only on principle. "But don't you underestimate Angelo and me!"
Her admirer, now revealed to be Angelo, blushed at that.

[AHSCA]

"Ah if there's one thing I've learned in life, you can never underestimate anyone. They'll always surprise you if you do!"

[The Selkie]

"Ah if there's one thing I've learned in life, you can never underestimate anyone. They'll always surprise you if you do!"

Maria grinned, as did Faye, while Angelo smiled slightly.
"Indeed they will.", Angelo said in a low, but sweet voice, which didn't, but yet did fit the young man. He sounded like he wouldn't even be able to hurt the world's most annoying fly. "It's in the human nature... and that of animals as well. A wise man, who lived in Alto Mare for a time, once said, that Overestimate someone and they will disappoint you, underestimate someone and they will overcome you."
"Shane Bunaitheoir of the Tribe of Wicklow.", Faye said from Xan's other side, earning a grin and a nod.

[AHSCA]

"How profound." Xan replied "My papa would feel the same. He also always told me, positive things happen to positive thinkers. It made me think how I can overcome anything. It's also how..." She blushed red again "I came to be with Faye. How we overcame that storm and I had the courage to really express myself to her."

[The Selkie]

"How profound." Xan replied "My papa would feel the same. He also always told me, positive things happen to positive thinkers. It made me think how I can overcome anything. It's also how..." She blushed red again "I came to be with Faye. How we overcame that storm and I had the courage to really express myself to her."

While Angelo listened with rapt attention, Maria smiled.
"There's no need to feel embarrassed, bambina.", she said with a smile, petting Xan's cheek like an elder sister would, "You overcame great hardships together, be proud of that. You got yourself a wonderful woman, or vice versa, which is a wonderful thing. I can see her love for you in her eyes." She smiled. "Don't be embarrassed."

[AHSCA]

"Aha embarrassed? Well I hope my face would flush red for just thinking of how wonderful and beautiful she is. But I guess I'm still kinda shy. But I feel special that's for sure."

[The Selkie]

"Aha embarrassed? Well I hope my face would flush red for just thinking of how wonderful and beautiful she is. But I guess I'm still kinda shy. But I feel special that's for sure."

"You are special.", Faye said from the other side, a smile on her lips, "I'd show you how special and especially to my heart, but we are in polite company." Maria laughed, Angelo sporting a small smile, as Faye continued. "Come, let's get this outside!"
As soon as the first food-carrier, the massive guy who single-handedly carried one of the large and heavy boxes, left through the front door, cheers welled up.

[AHSCA]

"Ahaha" She laughed "Plenty of time for that later indeed, for now let's enjoy good company!"

[The Selkie]

"Ahaha" She laughed "Plenty of time for that later indeed, for now let's enjoy good company!"

"Then avanti!", Maria said as she and Angelo took position before them, greeted with cheers as well - the most cheers were received by Faye and Xan, though, the former of which smiled.
"Later.", she whispered to her girlfriend and looked forward to it. "For now..." She raised her voice and smiled at the assembly: "...let's eat!"
Above the crackling fire, the students brandished collected sticks, which Faye had put aside earlier and decided to do this as their ancestors did, with the addition of small wooden boards as plates. Some decided to get their food roasting first thing, their hunger unbearable, while others decided to chat a bit before the first run was over, then getting their food, but for Faye, it was all the same.
She squeezed Xan's hand and left her with the food decision, it would be rude for her as host to take from it first - what she didn't expect was to be roped into a conversation with Doctor Soarelli not even the blink of an eye later.

[AHSCA]

Xan helped herself to one fish after it getting a good fry "Looks delicious"

[The Selkie]

Xan helped herself to one fish after it getting a good fry "Looks delicious"

"It is!", someone chirped from the other side, after he already had a good taste of it, before he added, "Interested in joining us for a game, bambina?"
The taste was indeed delicious, flavourful, sharp, on the point, but also a true wave of taste before the hotness of the marinade hit home with the tender flesh of the fish.
'Us', however, in the case of the young man, was a group of three sitting in a semicircle with the backs to the fire, a few others taking peeks every now and then. In front of the three was an assortment of coloured balls sitting in front of them. They were preparing for a game of Bocce.
The three were conversing and filling their stomachs before playing and needed a fourth player.

[AHSCA]

"Ah I'd love to! If you'll indulge me and teach me how to play." she stood up from her seat giving out a stretch and pushing aside her bright red hair which glowed with the fire light.

[The Selkie]

"Ah I'd love to! If you'll indulge me and teach me how to play." she stood up from her seat giving out a stretch and pushing aside her bright red hair which glowed with the fire light.

The young men were surprised by the beauty of their hostess' girlfriend - none of them would lay a hand on her, no question asked, but they did note her beauty.
"Of course, bambina.", the oldest of them, scratching thirty and being everyone's cool older brother, and a good looking man as well, told her and began to explain the rules of Lutetiian Bocce, which didn't differ that much from the rules of Italian Bocce, with the difference, that it could be played basically everywhere, not only asphalt or natural soil, but also on beaches like the one they were currently on, and by there being more balls, six for each player.
They also followed it up with a short game to demonstrate, including certain throwing techniques.
At the end, the cool older brother asked Xan with a smile: "Any questions remaining, bambina?"

[AHSCA]

"I believe I understand everything, thanks."

[The Selkie]

"I believe I understand everything, thanks."

"Alright, then.", the oldest of them said with a smile, "By the way, I'm Mario. Those are Luigi..." He pointed to a tall and lanky person, with a moustache, brown eyes and a friendly smile. "...and Waluigi."
Waluigi scowled at Mario, which did away with the perpetual frown he seemed to have etched onto his unbearded face, his green eyes and overall shortness only further serving to show, that he was Luigi's opposite, Waluigi - although that was not counting in the difference between the more iconic Nintendo-characters, who looked slightly different.
"I'm actually named Luigi, too, but he's with the Department longer then I've been, so I became Waluigi.", he stated, his voice trying to be friendly, but coming out as a sneer.

[AHSCA]

"uuh.." She tried to keep up with the names but eventually she just smiled and nodded with a polite "It's a nice pleasure to meet you"

[The Selkie]

"uuh.." She tried to keep up with the names but eventually she just smiled and nodded with a polite "It's a nice pleasure to meet you"

"The pleasure is ours.", Luigi said in a smooth tone, before he clapped. "Now, then - let's get this show on the road!"
Xan got the half dozen balls in dark red handed to her, as well as the jack, the black ball being the target.
The three men made way for her to place it via throwing it downrange, smiling in two cases and eating in Waluigi's case, watching her. They would only have time for a few rounds before the fire's light wouldn't suffice.

[AHSCA]

Xan threw the first ball giving it a pretty good distance down, any harder it might have flown off into the darkness.

[The Selkie]

Xan threw the first ball giving it a pretty good distance down, any harder it might have flown off into the darkness.

The three young men nodded.
"Not bad for a first throw.", the oldest remarked and motioned for the other team to begin throwing their own balls, smiling to Xan. "Let's see, if the two of them can match."
And that they did, one throw of each of them established, that they were not bad at this game, but not quite perfect. During it, though, came the main attraction point of the game...
"So...", Waluigi sneered, most likely while trying to sound friendly, which let his shoulders sag a little bit despite his well measured, yet slightly off-target throw. "...how did you meet Miss Donn, if I may ask?"