An Open Invite

[L .]

Checkmate Aurelia concedes, watching Aldrich over the lip of her teacup, her narrowed eyes glittering as she tries to stymie a laugh. A few seconds later, and she salutes him with said cup, taking a sip.

As the conversations begins to flow Aurelia turns to Keane as he addresses her. "You wrote to me?" She blinks. "Where to? Did you - ah. London?"

Aurelia's face scrunches in apology. "I have actually been staying in Bath lately, so I might have missed it. We'll talk after though -" because a new elder had walked in, one Aurelia vaguely recognised, from when they were transporting the cup.

She's about to make some cursory acknowledgement and nod of thanks to the greeting, before she'd clocked what the greeting was. Laurelia? Ha!

Aurelia painted on an aggrieved face, trying to look as hurt as possible. "Indeed, it is Elder Aurelia of the Duccess of Amber, of Mithras. You haven't even had any tea yet cousin, for that sort of slip."

[Lady Grace]

Grace and Jacques can be heard laughing long before they arrive in the doorway to the room.

Such surprising news from Jacques, her anger had quickly shifted to a plan and now with things smoothed over and orher plans in motion the celebration had started some time earlier.

Jean Jacques is more on Grace's arm than she on his. He says something in her ear and she giggles.
As they walk through the door she spots recognisable kindred and passes the bottle in her hand quickly over to Jean Jacques.

Another step and Grace stops dead, mouth open, looking at Aldrich.
Luckily she is sober enough that, 'Your on a boat!' stayed in her head and the stop dead can be converted into a a delayed curtsey to the room.

As she looks at the floor her thoughts are racing, 'Why is he here? Too many Elders! She'd been missing him as well the bastard, Too many Elders for this much Brandy!'

But many here she had talked to enough that they were better than strangers.

"Good evening," Then Grace sees Elder Lucius and her mouth stutters over the list of names she was about to reel off, there is a pause instead, "Elders! " Grace concludes with a broad smile, "And Ancilia Audley"

[Jean-Jacques]

Jean-Jacques rather too reluctantly separates himself from grace upon seeing the assembled elders of the domain...

“Oooh what anluvvery surprise”

He smiles at the room

“Young vex his face never said there was a party down here”

He spots the teapot, clocks aurelia, and grins...

“Oooh is that..... what I think it is?”

[L .]

"It depends - what do you think it is?" Aurelia asks roguishly.

"And good evening Primogen! Do join us."

[Manacledairman]

Aldrich smiles to himself and returns the tipped glass to Aurelia, he turns to Lucius and also tips his glass to him in greeting remaining silent however.

He drains the glass and goes to pour himself another from his hip flask which only produces drips, he places the empty flask on the table and reaches into his jacket for a second flask, pouring his glass to full once more, before replacing the second flask with a smile.

He sits back slightly and appears to relax. Watching the other elders.

As Grace appears his smiles widens.

"Unforeseen circumstances Lady Grace." his face flashes worry before he shakes it away. "Welcome."

He looks to Aurelia taking a sip of his drink "This one is a Lady" his grin extends to cheeky levels.

[Posh-Tim]

Keanes eyes look a little bit unfocused.
"Um, no actually. I was going to arrange to have it left at the Sheriffs house. I wasn't really sure where was better than that. I suppose it's lucky you came really, I would very much like to talk afterwards if we can."
He turns in a bit of a wobbly sweep and sees the assembled new kindred giving them a smile and nod of acknowledgement. He looks at the table set in front of Aldritch, eyes up the teapot but shakes his head, mostly to himself.
"This looks like a gambling table. Was that the intention?"
He passes out this question generally but it seems to land closest to Aldritch.

[Manacledairman]

[Lucius Servius]

Lucius glances at Keane. “Apologies elder Aurelia, I must have misheard the Primogen of Clan Malkavian. Permit me to more formally introduce myself, I am elder Lucius Servilus, of the line of Artemis and House of Manlia. I trust you have been formally introduced to my clanmate Architect Beaufort of the line of Mythras? If not I would be honoured to have the opportunity to introduce such a refined fellow.”

“Elder Keane may not be a gambler but I certainly am. Would you join me in a game Architect? Elder Aurelia would you consider it an insult to your sex, if I were to also request your company in this?

Looking up at the newcomers “Primogen Grace you look like someone shot your dog. Perhaps a game would improve your mood?”

[Jean-Jacques]

Smiling at aurelia Jean-Jacques moves to the gambling table near Aldrich, picks up the teapot and sniffs the spout suspiciously..

“Oooh wuverry!”

Jean-Jacques in the style of a basque drinking Rioja from a traditional bottle...but with none of the grace, pours some of the contents directly from the spout into his mouth, replaces the pot with an exaggerated gesture, swills the mouthful for a few moments, closes his eyes and swallows...

“Blissful”

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina, who, as ever, is entirely sober, watches Jean-Jacques with a scandalised expression of horror, quite forgetting anything she might have been about to say.