Steven Grant / Marc Spector (Fandom High)

It had been close to two months since Steven and Llewellyn had hosted a gathering for the residents. Not two months exactly but someone was rudely going to SDCC next week there was no real need to be that much of a stickler for dates. Particularly as the hope these days was that the events were regular enough that it made it easy for people to join if they were able without it being a stress.

Of course, regardless whether or not the choice of date was a stress was completely separate from whether Steven stressed. This particular gathering was meant to be potluck. The summer weather made it ideal for a barbecue and, well, it wasn't as though Llewellyn and Steven would be the ones supplying meat burgers for that sort of thing.

(Also Steven was absolutely the kind of Brit who thought there was no difference between barbecue and grilling. Those who did know the difference might be in need of a support group after the fact.)

Regardless, Steven and Llewellyn had spent the day preparing. In the outdoor space outside of Midnight's dining room a place had been set up for everyone to gather and enjoy. There were paper streamers, tables with tablecloths, chairs, and all manner of disposable cups, plates, napkins, and silverware. Thanks to Cal's efforts with the outdoor speakers there was a moddable playlist of summer music adding atmosphere. Fairy lights had been hung up to help set a fun mood. Candles to lure bugs away had also been set out as the outdoors was wonderful but also entirely out of the reach of Midnight's abilities to provide illusions or protect them.

For drinks, there were moddable soft drinks and beer. For food, Steven and Llewellyn had provided vegan veggie burgers, as well as pineapple tofu skewers, and lemon orzo pasta salad. Llewellyn specifically had also baked hamburger buns, cinnamon rolls, a blueberry pie, and a raspberry pie. Of course there were also moddable platters of cut vegetables, fruit, chips crisps, and dips. All the food was laid out along one set of tables for just that purpose, with plenty of room for people to add what they'd brought.

The grill was fired up and ready to go. The music was playing. The view of the beach was incredible. All that was needed was the guests.

[for thems who live in Midnight Manor. Subthread free, go nuts!]

It was the second night of Hanukkah, and regardless of whether or not one celebrated why not share food?

As such, a handwavey message had gone out to the residents of the Midnight Manor Boarding House that there was going to be food available that evening for anyone who wanted some.

Steven was involved, so of course even in spite of anyone else's efforts there was far more food than was needed. But it was at least somewhat reasonable in its offerings.

There were latkes with traditional toppings of sour cream and apple sauce, but also options like wasabi, honey, and marmalade. There were also stuffed mushrooms, garlic hummus, falafel bites, potato knishes, tostones, and malanga fritters.

Steven had not worked alone, however. So thanks to Llewellyn there was also a selection of soft pretzels, loaves of challah which were braided much more neatly than the same attempt at last year's Hanukkah gathering, freshly prepared matzoh ball soup, and a small selection of wine bottles complete with handwritten notes as to which wine paired best with each offered food item. The notes were in Llewellyn's handwriting, though, so it would be understood if anyone who wanted a drink needed to actually ask for help to know which to pick.

And it was possible that someone who lived in the building had added an order of brisket sliders to the mix, but he'd deny it if you asked him.

For dessert there were the traditional sufganiyot with jelly, but also versions with vanilla cream or lemon curd. There were also Cuban style buñuelos covered in anise caramel.

All of the food was set up as a buffet in the dining room of the boarding house. Where possible, there were vegan and non-vegan options for everything complete with signs indicating which was which, along with ingredient lists in case anyone needed to be aware of allergies. The majority of the food had been catered, so there was also moddable typical party fare though given the nature of the event nothing like bacon wrapped scallops yanno?. There were also moddable non-alcoholic drinks available in addition to the wine.

There were plenty of plates, cups, and silverware set out, and of course napkins with an adorable happy sufganiyah on them because why wouldn't you use those again if you had the opportunity? Look at how cute it was!

There might also be mistletoe floating around. That had nothing to do with the food, that was just Fandom being Fandom.

Steven, for his part, was fussing over the presentation far more than was necessary. He was currently adjusting the position of a sign he'd written which said Free food with no costs or obligations, nor expectations of a return. Help yourself! He'd yet to find a place he felt satisfied with. It was possible he never would.

Other than getting Steven to stop worrying, all that was left was for the residents of the boarding house to stop by if they cared to.

[for the residents of the boarding house to stop by if they care to. up early for SP justice!]