A Party to Remember

[Caru]

Caru blinks, already halfway across the floor and about to grab a cup.

"Oh. Ah - all right."

So I'm not getting a drop?

The small thrill of dejection's gone pretty swiftly, and Caru pads over to the group that seems to be forming.

"Oooh, are we playing guess what's under the kilt?"

[Eric Lunaris]

If what Constance had recently explained this reality as Prime, what Lunaris was experiencing was most certainly Prime squared.

What happen in reality mattered little to Eric for a small while. The wolf was certainly part of his imagination. So must have been the pushy buzzing noise he mentally swatted from his mind. The possibilities of what could happened formed and unformed. Patterns formed from the madness into inspiration for creation. Wonders that could be created in another time.

Not that any of it mattered.

Prime reasserted itself in the mind of Lunaris as Constance began speaking to him. His previous thoughts shifted back into their proper places allowing him to remember why he was up here in the first place. Now it mattered little as no one seemed to care, and it was impossible for an imposter to mire Constance's reputation, she didn't care for it after all. He came out of his entrancement laughing. A long laugh. Two seconds longer than socially accepted.

"Oh, well, I figure it ain't gonna be a mystery for much longer up 'ear," Lunaris jokes back in his excitable self, "though if it's a game, ain't there meant ta be a prize?"

[CFlaubert]

On recovering something of her wits after the momentary unpleasantness, Constance turned to Reggie.

"Always exactly the right vintage to turn a party into an experience Reggie." she grinned.

"Caru, you should absolutely take Reggie up on his offer, he is quite the most considerate party companion. He lacks nothing in fortitude either. " she says mischievously.

Not bothering to dress, as this didn't seem to be the kind of place where one did such things, Constance turned to Eric.

"Eric, what prize do you propose should go to the man or woman that can guess what's under the kilt? After all, you're the only one who knows what it's really worth" she winks.

"I won't be joining in this competition, but I'll merrily serve as an adjudicator if required." she adds

[Reginald Verity]

"Thank you Constance as always for your generous words. Indeed the evening is just getting started and there is plenty of time to get acquainted."

Yes, the salon seemed to be back on track after the earlier unfortunate events. Idly he wondered how Valentina was progressing with her endeavours on the second floor before returning to the matter at hand.

"Oh Mr Lunaris, there are always prizes to be given and received. This is the beauty of such an evening where the lines surrounding preconceived perceptions may be blurred. I can assure you either will be quite fulfilling." He paused briefly letting the words sink in.

"Now which is it to be, Francesca" he raises his empty right hand, "or Sebastian?", his left. "Both rewards may be personally delivered by myself to one so deserving. After all, one would hate to be considered inattentive to our guests" Reggie ever so slightly and subtly licked his lips.

[Eric Lunaris]

Eric began to think of an appropriate prize, a gpod suggestion from Constance though a shame she didn't partake, before Verity started to speak. Previously Eric knew very little about Verity except he was pleasant, very Toreador, and even more not quite right. Eric knew he should be enjoying himself, and the ideas wanting to spring to life were testiment to it, but the uncertainty was building being under the gaze of someone like Verity.

Eric laughed, his own nerves showing through, "n' why not both?" he joked happily enough. Hopefully it would help satisfy what curiosity kept Verity's attention on him. "Though it all depends on whats in their mind, n' I've learnt names are little to go on."

[Caru]

Oh no, thought Caru, this always happens. Something offered freely then becomes the subject of a prize.

"Oh, well. I'm not very competitive, so I'll probably bow out." Caru grins, and hunts around for the errant Fred. "I need to find that ghoul; she has my clothes. As much as I want to stay naked, and probably will once I come back up, I need to catch a couple people before this all descends into group play. If you'll excuse me? I will of course share the good news about Mr Lunaris' kilt, and the prize for guessing what's beneath it."

[Erika Leroux]

"I heard a rumour that it's where he keeps his rocks."

Erika has appeared at the top of the stairs, and cannot resist the interjection. She smiles, barely bats an eyelid at the nakedness in front of her.

I spent far too much time in theatres to be startled by mere bodies, she thinks, recalling Katherine's hasty exit with a slight amusement.

"So, pray, when and where will this delight of a game be taking place? I fear the lovely Miss Daye is somewhat startled by the...ah...subtleties and unsubtleties upon this floor, but I felt that she wouldn't like to be left out of such amusement, so I came to...enquire." Her perfect lips are turned up, and her eyes are sparkling with mischief. It's possible that she is drunk simply on the ability to mask her foul visage, or the heat of the earlier arguments. There's even a slim possibility that she's drunk on the feeling of giddy happiness for the first time in far too many decades.

[Lady Leverson]

Gwen stretches back whilst listening to Valentina, her gaze wandering about the room, her hands busy in her hair fishing out hair pins.

Gwens head snaps around to follow the path of the wolf as he passes, her form tensed for a second but relaxed again as she dismissed any threat.

As the last of her hair falls around her shoulders free she see's Katherine scuttle down the stairs,

'Oh now that is a shame, poor Katherine leaving so early, the third floor, from what you describe Valentina, is really not the sort of place I would have expected to find her, and with a wolf no less!' the last part added with a mischievous smile and a giggle.

As if suddenly remembering something Gwen stands up, 'my dears I have brought drinks with me!' she looks around the room before locating the wooden box she had carried in. With a flick of the latch it undoes, the lid folds back and the sides open up. Inside there are a variety of bottles, all spirits, all obviously of quality and crystal glasses. 'Ladies what can I get you? I have most things, brandy, whiskey, rum, gin? vodka? Obviously I have brought a little something to mix it with which you are also very welcome to, or do you have a preference for someone here?'

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina laughs at Gwen's comments on Katherine. She wonders what happened with the wolf, but suspects she'll find out later, from Reggie or Constance so she doesn't rush to head upstairs and find out for herself.

At Gwen's mention of drinks Valentina considers. Normally she doesn't partake, but this is a party, Francis, Segarus and Reggie all have good reasons to want her kept in one piece or at least avenged and so it's probably a risk worth taking.

"Gin please darling, and whilst Valmont's herd are delectable I've a mind for someone new please" She smiles sweetly at Gwen, though mischief sparkles in her eyes.

[Christine Daye]

"Maestra, did you mention a game?"

Christine has followed Erika up the stairs, and stops at the top, blinking slightly in surprise. There's a moment of mental gear clashing as she sees the various states of undress of the group, but she shrugs it off. She too has spent too long in theatres to be concerned with mere nudity.

Reflexively she bobs a curtsey to the group, her eyes wide. Then she slides her hand into the crook of Erika's arm, smiling at her happily, even if her gaze is characteristically unfocused and fae.

"Shall we play this game? What are the rules?"

A faint frown mars her brow and she tightens her grip on Erika's arm slightly. She whispers in the other woman's ear.

"Maestra... am I dreaming...?"