An Open Invite

[Laurence]

“Elder Aurelia, whilst the choice between keeping your dress and a trivial boon is a hard one. I will happily accept the trivial boon in exchange for the tin of war paint.”

Laurence expertly slides the tin across the table to Aurelia, the battered tin coming to rest directly in front of her.

[Posh-Tim]

Keane thinks for a moment, when had he read cards? Oh wait, he was referring to the palm reading. Yes, he supposed, some of those readings had been ver-. If an Aura could blanch...
"Umm, yes I suppose they were." He says absent mindedly.
"Oh, now. You wanted to come. We're going to at least spend a little time here. But it won't be too long. I promise.
As to the others, I think everyone is enjoying themselves, yes. No one would get wasted though, of course. This is the Camarilla."
He says this last bit trying to sound sage but coming of as a drunk man defending his sobriety.
"Now, I wanted to see where this game goes. At least until anyone else arrives."

[alanwrotethis]

"Clothing then? Very well."

Niketas loosens his cravat, bracing himself for an early loss.

"Aurelia, what do I need to wager to get the same offer of the dress? Is there something you want from me that you're not getting yet?"

He smiles a challenge.

"Ancilla Laurence, you seem in better spirits than last we met, same to you Primogen Granville, have the fates been kind recently?"

[Jean-Jacques]

Jean-Jacques has played a few games over the years, though it’s been a few, he’s not only rusty , but the company is...dangerous.

he takes a glance at his concealed card, hmm lucky for me, not too good,

“I should like to remain with what I have, “

He looks around

“I have a seven to go with my ten, so seventeen”

He places both upturned.

And in anticipation, unbuttons his waistcoat.

[Lady Grace]

"Elder Dukes, thank you for asking. Things have been challenging but I feel I am weathering the storm a little better."

Grace turns over her dealt card, then sighs and laughs,
"Nope, that takes me over,"
She turns over her hand on the table and removes both her gloves as requested.

[Anton]

"I didn't want the party bit," Anton hushed urgently, looking worried. Helplessly, he scanned his gaze around the room, returning to land on Keane - his Obviously Not Sober primogen. So much for help 'to and from the venue Anton.'

But his eyes softened, and Anton's sigh was more an exhale than a real thing. "You're a big nudist and you're going to just watch everyone?" Anton paints on a bewildered look.

"Would you do a palm reading later? People liked it. And it would be tamer than..." Anton winces as even Dukes drags off his cravat. Oh dear. Well there went the last of Anton's hope. If the eldery wizad was doing it, there was no chance.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina, who it must be admitted is struggling a little to maintain decorum as a properly chaste maiden, swings her gaze away from her sewing and over to Anton's discussion with Keane at the words 'big nudist' and she smiles mischievously in their direction.

"Surely palm readings are only as tame as the questions people ask Neonate Kilner?" She asks, genuinely curious as to how that worked.

[alanwrotethis]

[Anton]

"I don't think so," Anton passes Valentina a look. "Never in all my life have I seen palm reading dissolve into an orgy."

"Wait -" he snapped back to Keane. "Please don't shatter that illusion. I really need it."

"Sheriff no -!"

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich again checks his card. And leans forward toward dukes.

In almost a stage whisper "I have an A, I should ask for a 3rd card right?"