The Night After The Party We Don't Talk About

[Valentina Audley]

Again, Valentina can't quite stop the wince at Vortigern's name. She unconsiously hunches in on herself a little.

[alanwrotethis]

Niketas nods at Aurelia's criticism.
"Apologies... it was my error, I will offer prestation to our beloved Architect. I..."
He exhales sharply.
"I misspoke. Vortigern's casual use of that technique offends me. That is all."
He sits back... wrestling with a tension in his mind, a flicker of fear at the mention of Amaranth.

[L .]

"But even Vortigern has not done that..." Aurelia blinks, suddenly remembering where she was. "Ahh.. That I have researched."

She searches Dukes face. "Where on earth do you hear these things?"

"Thank you," she sits stiffly, on mention of the Boon. A small look to Keane. "I am sure no offence was meant."

[alanwrotethis]

Niketas flashes Aurelia a worried look.
"You're right... it's not a topic to talk about here. I am genuinely sorry."
He rubs his eyes.
"I hear too much... all the time... some of it might even be true-"
His eyes suddenly crease and he laughs.
"Did you just call me a shit-whore? I call myself that whenever I say something stupid."

[L .]

"No I didn't," Aurelia's eyes crease worriedly, but now more for his atrocious Spanish. "I called you nothing. I think I said shit and fuck and then I asked what the fuck you were thinking, but I prefer not to smacktalk my lover. Least to his face."

[alanwrotethis]

Turning to Aurelia.
"It's alright, you don't have to be gentl-"
He pauses, smiles, gives her hand a squeeze.
"You're very sweet, thank you, and I am up to my eyeballs today."
He sits back, making a determined, driven effort to appear relaxed and casual.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina has by now more or less given up and is sitting, somewhat hopelessly, her eyes fixed staring down, aura subdued and panicked. Not even the insults and subsequent apology (well, she assumes it's what apsses for an apology) between Dukes and Aurelia get her attention.

Foolish, foolish, foolish! This is why Dyonisia wants you to stay home and stop getting into trouble she reminds herself.

[L .]

"I am not being gentle..." Aurelia frowns. A new, slightly wild look enters her eyes. "Are you saying you don't believe me? Because of your shit Spanish?!"

[alanwrotethis]

He remains leaning back, closing his eyes.
"No, I'm saying you're split between tough love and not wanting to hurt those you care for. It's a difficult scale to balance, but I see you doing it."
He smiles.
"And if you need me to repeat last night's words in any other language, I will, at length."

[Madam Zaragoza]

Hermina watches the interplay between Dukes and Aurelia with a smile. Sometimes she thinks that she should use her Spanish more, confuse her lovers.

I should go... do something useful with my night. But for now this seat, this hip flask and listening to others seems enough.