Fly Away to a Cafe

[halfbread]

Who: Everyone who wants in!
What: The V-Day Café! (Yes, that's what we're going with, no, you can't make WWII jokes.)
Where: The Big House
When: Valentine's Day, mostly evening but various times
Warnings: I have no freakin' clue, it's probably going to depend on individual threads

At 6:00 sharp, the doors are officially open on the first ever Camp Half-Blood Valentine's Day Café. The two biggest rooms on the first floor of the Big House have been turned into dining rooms, one decorated in a much more traditionally "romantic" oeuvre for couples and the second into a relaxing place to hang out just among friends. Both rooms are serving the same menu, and both have a good number of tables set up to accomodate visitors. As people finish eating, the waiters and waitresses will roll around a dessert cart for people to make selections from. Enjolras will be incredibly reluctantly providing serenades in the romantic dining room with some assistance from Cosette, while Chiron's boombox has been borrowed and tuned to the local pop station for the casual dining room. Have fun, everyone!

Comments

[habitually]

R glances back at his table with a shrug. "He's all right," not even looking concerned. Ignore the red in his cheeks.

"Shame you have to miss out on the fancy dinner just to be our entertainment, huh?"

[impetueux]

"Just all right, huh?" she asks, her smile growing even wider. "That's a shame, maybe I should go over and get a second opinion..."

And here's Cosette's turn to look embarrassed, her blush growing as her eyelashes flutter shut. "Actually Courf managed to arrange a pre-dinner for us, so I got in my Valentine's Date before work." She's smitten, sue her.

[habitually]

"Hey hey," he said, grabbing her wrist and quickly letting it go. "Let's leave him out of this, he's full of shit." And other things, once R's through with him. Oops.

His face turns mocking to somewhat serious. "Oh, Courf is your date? Well that figures."

[impetueux]

Cosette just laughs again at his response, but she clutches her wrist unconsciously. "Oh, you're no fun. But don't worry, I won't rat you out to your date."

Her smile falters slightly at his tone. "Yes...? How does that "figure"?"

[habitually]

He grins crookedly to try and hide his cynicism.

"The alouette and the flirt? What a match made in heaven. It's like watching The Notebook all over again."

[impetueux]

Cosette still looks a little confused, like she's not quite sure what exactly he's getting at.

"What's wrong with Courfeyrac and me? He's actually been really sweet and attentive this whole evening, thank you." Yeah, Courf can be a flirt, but then what have they been doing this whole evening? It's charming.

[habitually]

"I'm sure he has, and I bet you were sugar sweet and oh-so-grateful," nodding his head appreciatively. He nearly bites his tongue, but he's never good at that-- and for some reason this sore spot feels unnaturally painful.

"You make it hard, you know; watching couples like you compared to the rest of us. Let me guess, he got you flowers and smiled with his pearly whites and told you how beautiful you looked in your little red dress."

[impetueux]

"Yes, I was grateful, because he literally got us a private dining table before I started work!" Her voice is rising slightly as she starts to get defensive. She tries to be patient with Grantaire; they've been friends long enough to know that he gets in these deprecating moods, but he's outright picking and it hurts her a little.

"Compared to who...? Grantaire, I just complimented you and Gabriel! It's not a competition, he's making...he's making me feel special and happy. Isn't that what you and Gabriel are trying to do for each other too?"

[habitually]

Once again, R can't hide a wince at himself for what feels like the dozenth time tonight. Going on a date with Gabriel was wonderful, but it's made him incredibly self-aware and left him on edge. He'd survived the conversation but he's still convinced it wasn't good enough. It wasn't what Gabriel deserved or probably expected. Because it's Grantaire-- no one should sit through an hour of stupid chit-chat with him.

"He's boyfriend of the year. I get it. I'm glad he's good to you," he says with a pained look, not really even sure why he's saying this anymore. He was happy two seconds ago, for the first time in a while, but for some reason he just can't seem to remember that now. "Anyone would pick Courfeyrac. Hell, even I'd say yes if he asked. I'm not blaming you for it."

[impetueux]

Cosette heaves a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment. "That's not what I'm saying. I wouldn't even qualify him as a boyfriend yet, he's a date, I'm not going to put that pressure on him right now when we're literally having our first date tonight..." She's running a hand through her hair, slightly frustrated. "I'm just...enjoying being with him right now. We're having fun, and I just...I like him." She turns a little pink, not looking him in the eyes.

"Then I don't under why you're so..." She trails off, not quite sure how to verbalize how he's acting, or even why he's acting this way. "...Did you like him? I thought you and Gabriel..."

[habitually]

That actually makes him stop being irrationally irritated and makes him look a little stunned.

"Courf? No, no, I like-- I don't like Courf. What made you think that?"

[impetueux]

"God, just, I don't know. Sorry, forget I said anything..." She looks a little frantic, running her finger through her hair.

"It's just, I don't know, you're acting weird. Have I done something wrong?"

[habitually]

Grantaire scratches his stubble, feeling bile (or is it guilt) rising up in his throat.

"No you're fine-- perfect as usual," he says bitterly, twisting his face. "You deserve to be happy tonight. Sorry for showing up, I know I nearly ruined it."

[impetueux]

Cosette still looks hurt, moving to clutch his wrist.

"You didn't ruin it, you're just...Are you sure everything's all right? I'd hate to think you'd feel like you needed to keep something from me. We're friends, so...I'm here if you need me."

She tries a smile, but it feels weak.

[habitually]

"I'm fine," he pulls his wrist away from her. "I have Gabriel. You need to get back to Courf more than you need to baby me."

[impetueux]

"I'm not trying to..." She trails off, her hand curling back towards her defensively as if she were shot.

"I...I guess I'll see you later then."