The Night After The Party We Don't Talk About

[Madam Zaragoza]

“Oh Dukes my dear your reputation is utterly destroyed but I assure you that that is a good thing.”

[L .]

"No," Aurelia blinks, in response to Valentina. "Circinus Raife Black, and his sister, Calista. They both went missing a few months ago, but now I know Keane has one of them. But the other one is gone of that sibling pair. I don't know Calista's full name, I think they all name after stars or constellations or some rubbish. Wonder what happens when they run out?"

"Isn't Narcissa yours?" she asks of the Toreador, frowning. "I actually don't know where she fits into this, another branch House, but a dead one - last of its line there. I know she was raised in England with the main House, but that is as far as my royal intel goes for Britain. I am much more familiar with Spainish nobility, and French. Did her parents die young?"

As Dukes intercepts however, she falls silent.

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina nods in affirmation, her aura pulsing happily at the thought of Narcissa, but in respect to Dukes ending the conversation on the Blacks she doesn't comment further on her childe.

Instead she smilingly says to Dukes "I believe your reputation greatly enhanced Sheriff."

[Laurence]

Laurence looks over at Keane and shrugs, a small smile still twisting the corners of his mouth upward.

“If I remembered Elder...I would be more than happy to tell you. I do remember putting my trousers at least back in before I left.”

Laurence shrugs, once more teaching under the shelf and dragging out his second shoe. Carefully placing gem together in a location he won’t miss on the way out.

[Posh-Tim]

Keane picks up on the one thing Aurelia says.
"When they run of stars in the sky?"
He shakes his head.
"But as the Sheriff says, perhaps another time. Right then"
He stands and lifts the sheaf of sopping paper, sees his bead is not under there, sees what is, and drops it back down again wiping his hands on is robes.
"Bugger"

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina winces in sympathy at Keane's having touched the filthy paper.

[Posh-Tim]

Keane turns and notices Valentina wince.
"Ah, actually, Ancilla Audley. I was wondering if you could help me with... This." He gestures about himself generally at the muddied and now slightly bloodied robes he is wearing.
"I have heard it said you are a master seamstress, one of the best. I don't suppose you could make me some new robes in time for the next Elysium could you? Would a minor boon be appropriate?"

[alanwrotethis]

Dukes speaks softly to Aurelia.
"You don't need to silence yourself on my account, I'm just trying to be pleasant, I'm not as skilled at it as you are."
Back to Keane.
"You and I will need to have a proper discussion, I think, about a few things that you need to know, and that I need to know. Best to map the world now before something disastrous ruins it."
A flicker of seriousness back on his face, he shakes his head, it is gone.
He stands up, seeing the spoiled parchment Keane was handling, his nose wrinkles.
"Oh for f-" he mutters, returning again to the counter, opening a drawer and locating a tablecloth. He brings it to Keane's side, using the cloth to gather up the leavings from the night before without touching them directly, and tying the fabric into a bundle.
"That's Durham's present wrapped then," he says, before returning to his seat.

[Madam Zaragoza]

Hermina wrinkles up her nose at the parcel. “So that part of my dream was real too? I should have guessed it was .. I mean Durham was involved.”

Hearing Keane speaking about Valentina’s dressmaking, “Ancilla Audley,” she says this carefully,”makes the most beautiful dresses. She made me one for last Valentine’s soirée in fact. It had some wonderous effects.” She smiles widely.

[Valentina Audley]

"I'm afraid I couldn't manage before the next Elyisum Elder Keane." She says regretfully.

"The order books are a little too full right now. The Elysium after perhaps?" She asks hopefully.