WINTER WONDERLAND GROUP LOG

[holynights]

When the happy confirmed couples are ready to venture out of their honeymoon suites and experience more that the Winter Wonderland lodge has to offer, they'll find that they're basically staying as some of the only guests in an exquisite, all-inclusive winter resort. Think Sandals, but with snow instead of beaches. While the honeymooners will be whisked away to the camp retreat for the middle week of the competition, there's plenty for them to explore when they return!

As more couples transition from Mistletoe Manor to the resort itself, everyone may run into each other during the day while in search of activities. They might have breakfast together at the buffet, head out on a skiing adventure together, visit the pool without having to worry about cameras zooming in on wardrobe malfunctions, or simply hang out together and enjoy some live entertainment during one of the occasional ballroom concerts. If none of that is particularly tempting, they can entertain themselves by putting together their own events.

Most activities and entertainment are likely available, at least sometimes, at the resort. The only real limitation is that participants aren't allowed to leave the show's general domain - they can't find a nearby town or book a flight out of here, for example. Travel between honeymoon suites and Mistletoe Manor is freely available, and while honeymooners are expected back in their shared beds at night, there's no one really doing nightly checks.

If anyone would like to invite other honeymooners back to their suite for a spell, all they have to do is request an extra key (tell Shay and she'll add the new person/people to the filter)

Comments

Mingle for the girls!!

[hallowdiscourtesy]

[He and Dominique have been here a week now and it has been a very exceptionally lovely time. Although, quiet... Quiet is not something he's ever minded terribly but after the rambunctious lodge the silence is a touch deafening even for his liking.

But now there is a new match staying here. A match that includes Miss Nagiko who is certain to liven things up.

While they haven't done it too often it makes sense to head downstairs for the buffet breakfast and see if the newest match is down there as well. Early risers as the ye oldes are, they're already seated with at least their tea. (And maybe some breakfast depending on how long it takes for the girls to come down.)

The table they happen to be sitting at has two extra seats in case the young ladies would care to join them.]

[zuihitsu]

[ is it good or bad for baromi that nagiko is here now? time to find out!

in winter, it is the early mornings that are most beautiful, so she is up and at 'em! too often has too much energy to spare. it won't be hard to hear her come barreling into the area; she makes no effort to keep her actions muted. ]

Barobaro! Domichin! How pumped are you?

[ she beelines for one of the extra, empty seats. ]

[hallowdiscourtesy]

[He casts Dominique a silent look, lifting his cup before Nagiko approaches so when she seats herself down with any force it all it won't slosh his drink around. He feels fairly used to her gallivanting after seeing her about in the house.]

Miss Nagiko. [He greets politely, setting his cup back down.] We had such heartfelt goodbye only for you to arrive yourself shortly after.

I did not get a chance to congratulate you properly. [Once the restriction of proper clothing came into effect for that party he did head out.] But you do have it. I hope the reveal itself allowed some joy even if may take some figuring out.

[Conversations to be had and more things to learn. It can't all be done in a few weeks but the time here certainly helps.]

[zuihitsu]

[ nagiko doesn't have to eat, but she does anyway. it's familiar, and eating with people you like promotes warmth and camaraderie. it's also because she plain likes eating. she'll get food from the buffet in a second. ]

Thanks! I'm always happy to learn more about people and make more memories. [ there's a beat of hesitation. ] As I told Acchan, I'm gonna try my best and we'll figure it out, one way or another.

[ whatever they happen to figure out is still up in the air, but they have a few weeks yet. ]

[hallowdiscourtesy]

Such things do take time be it friendship or otherwise. The weeks away from all the others will help to sort things out as well. The one on one time is important or so I've found.

[He takes a sip of his tea not wanting to keep the girls from getting their breakfast any longer and he won't deny he's rather peckish himself.]

Come, let's grab our meals first. [As he stands he offers his arm to Nagiko to take so they can head up there together.] Dominique can keep Miss Ai company for the moment.

[dominooo]

Nagiko...

Congratulations.

[ Ah, right. This energy. She remembers this energy. She's just calmly sipping her tea in response, as though she wasn't flustered as hell to end up here in the first place. ]

[zuihitsu]

Thanks! It looks like you settled here nicely, huh? Are you getting more comfy with Barobaro?

[dominooo]

Well, it's... certainly less awkward than it was initially?

[quitherdayjob]

[ Hayasaka makes coffee before joining them, but she does sit down. A bit more calmly. ]

Have you been lonely out here by yourselves? Or taking advantage of the privacy?

[hallowdiscourtesy]

The quiet has been nice, admittedly. [There's no denying that. There's a lot of loud individuals back at the lodge but he did make some friends there and they are rather missed.] But so much silence can be rather stifling.

[He sips at his tea before continuing.]

There is no lack of things to do admittedly... We've gotten to watch the television for the first time which has been a unique experience. They show court cases on the screen which are--[He takes a moment to chose his descriptor carefully.] --interesting. Though from my understanding such things are not all that new to either of you, correct?

[quitherdayjob]

That's right. In modern days almost no one watches things on actual television... It's all about Youtube. Seems like there are still no laptops or smart phones here, though.

[ Which Hayasaka is still a bit antsy over, honestly. ]

[hallowdiscourtesy]

[He doesn't know what a Youtube is and... he doesn't think he needs to ask. Smart phone however, after spending any amount of time with Nagiko, he does know though.]

Miss Nagiko's camera can also show the television shows?

[Why can one common object do so many unique things?]

What year is it that you come from again?

[dominooo]

You could say it's a bit of both. We've found ways to keep entertained, of course.

[ But she smiles at her, warmly. ]

Congratulations, Ai. How are you feeling about this?

[quitherdayjob]

Ah... It's still a little overwhelming.

[ She wraps her hands around her mug. ]

I wasn't expecting to be here this soon. Or maybe at all...?

Week 5

[quitherdayjob]

[ After morning activities and some lunch, Hayasaka gets changed into a very different outfit than usual. If you are Nagiko, you can see her putting in contacts and fixing her wig and makeup after explaining that she wants to have a little fun with the people still back at the lodge.

Barok or Dominique may run into her(??) as she prepares to travel. She looks the part of a handsome young butler. ]

It's convenient that things are meant to shake up a bit this week anyway.

[dominooo]

.... I'm sorry, you're...??

[ HELLO??? ]

[quitherdayjob]

Good afternoon, my lady. My name is Aiden.

[ She bows slightly. Her lips also curl up slightly.

She's speaking in a lower register, and her outfit is well put together, but it's still possible to tell it's her if you're looking. ]

WEEK 6 COOKING CLASS

[holynights]

[The honeymooners will also have a chance to create a dish alongside this week’s challenge for the participants! Since the winning couples have already found their matches, there won’t be a competitive component to their cooking. Instead, everyone will be offered a couple’s cooking lesson, after which they can pair up (or work together as a full group) to make a dish that will also be brought to the potluck-style match discussion this week!

The cooking class will go over some basic techniques of the modern kitchen and introduce all the participants to a few local traditional specialties. Feel free to make something up or have them go with a dish that is significant to one or both of them. The class probably goes over some finer points, like drink pairings, suggested desserts, and historical anecdotes to keep the experience French.

They’ll be able to share their dish at the community dinner later this week, through the magic of modern food preservation and regular magic—so even if they don’t normally attend those gatherings, perhaps they’d like to stop by to share a meal this week!]

For Dominique~

[hallowdiscourtesy]

[Barok sits next to Dominique during the lesson and, admittedly, does not absorb much of what's being told to him. He's not going to be cooking after this particular moment. He can already imagine the aghast expressions of his house staff if he set foot into the kitchen with the desire to do anything of the sort. They'd probably think he was finally losing his mind. Ten years of grief finally doing him in.

But it is something nice to do together with Dominique and that is not something he'd ever pass up. Not to mention it's something a bit more involved than eating breakfast or lunch with the other couples. And they can't just spend all their time cooped up in their room watching the latest dramas on the television.

So when it's their turn to cook there is a general sense of anticipation even if he has no real inkling in regards of what to do or make.

He has come to this lesson divest of most of his adornments leaving him in only his dress shirt and vest (and cravat, of course). The white sleeves of his attire rolled up just past the elbow to try and keep his clothing as unsullied as possible with their current activity. Barok is currently idly flipping through the pages of the cookbook which features some of the things they were shown. Having been given the general guidelines it is up to them to decide just which dish they'd like to make.

France is known for much of its cuisine so perhaps they should just make something that she's familiar with. He flips further into the back finding the desserts, the pages flopping over to something he's a bit more familiar with. Christmas plum pudding...

He has not had one of those since Lady Baskerville and his brother were still alive. Which creates the dawning revelation that he will not be spending Christmas alone. In fact... should things continue to maintain their positive trajectory he will not be spending any more of these holidays alone. He wasn't really going to this year anyway, he thinks. Iris will surely have invited him over at least for some part of it. But there is something uniquely special about this in particular.]

Might I make an indulgent request in regards to what we might make?

[dominooo]

[ Dominique is definitely not attired heavily or fancily. Just pants and boots, without her jacket, sleeves similarly rolled up to her elbows, hair pulled back in a single braid to keep it from getting in the way of any cooking shenanigans they're about to embark on. It's oddly domestic, but there's something comfortable about it, she finds. She and Barok have gotten much more used to existing in each other's space.

Now, she glances at him curiously, expectant but open-minded. ]

You don't tend to ask for anything indulgent... so why not?

[ As though she would have even remotely considered saying no. ]

[hallowdiscourtesy]

[A habit he'd like to continue as far as asking for things goes but this feels a bit special. He gently taps at the recipe in the book.]

This is a Christmas plum pudding... It's a staple for the holidays back home. The last time I had partaken in it my brother and his wife were still alive. [He hesitates for just a moment debating just how much he wishes to open up about such things. But if he's managed it with both Lord Ferdinand and Lord Roland then he should, naturally, be free to do so with her. It's imperative even that she knows these sorts of things about him.] This will be my first Christmas in a decade not spent on my own. More importantly it would be my first one with you.

Pray forgive the selfishness of the request but it would mean a great deal to make this particular dish. I can't speak of its complexity having never made anything of the sort before but should it prove simple I would like to make something dear to your heart as well.

week 5 (for tatsuma!!)

[gallpal]

[the idea of teaching something actually doesn't concern Sena as dumb as she is, because if it's something she's good at, like smashing things really hard with a hammer, then that's not a problem at all. but the note in the envelope specified that this must be something she's unfamiliar with... and "challenging", to boot.

how the heck is that supposed to work??

but the resort is sprawling with plenty to do, and offers more than enough inspiration. and this is how Sena ends up giving herself a 2 hour crash course on How To Ski through peer grit, determination, and trial and error.

lots of trial and error.

but hey, all the snow in her hair's melted by now!]

[after a quick explanation of what she'd been up to all morning and what her letter told her to do:] So? What do you think? It's really fun— and don't worry, it doesn't hurt much when you fall, since the snow cushions most of the impact!

[that's meant to be encouraging!!]

Re: week 5 (for tatsuma!!)

[strawberrypunch]

[Eh he's been stabbed and slashed plenty of times before, what's a few falls in the snow.]

Sounds fun. I'll be in your hands.

[gallpal]

Then I'll be sure to take good care of you! [tbd........

she'll lead them over to the equipment rental shop, not far from where the lifts are.]

First things first, we gotta get you your gear. I thought there'd be more to it, like, maybe some armor? But apparently all you need is a helmet, aside from the boots.

[she did not wear a helmet when test-driving the slopes, ftr.]

[strawberrypunch]

[He trusts in her fully, surely there is no way this can go wrong!!]

And cold weather clothes...?

[That's the only other thing he can really think of.]