OPEN ♔ I WISH I COULD SAY IN JUST ONE SWEEP WHAT YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU MEAN TO ME

[socialgraces]

♬ Silent Shout - The Knife

WHO || Anyone and everyone! [OPEN]
WHAT || Francesca's birthday party
WHERE || One of the big parlor rooms on the castle's second floor.
WHEN || [Backdated] July 11, Evening
HOW || Actionspam

 

[Earlier in the week all DRAKENET devices received a message announcing Francesca's birthday party, courtesy of Sir Bancroft, to be held the evening of July 11. No RSVP needed. It's especially good timing now that many mission groups have returned to the castle, at least for the time being.

As the guests make their way in, it's clear the party's been well stocked with food and drink. There's plenty of room for mingling and some music in the background. Gifts are completely optional, but welcome. Come in and get comfortable.]

(OOC: Feel free to make your own threads/threadjack, etc.)

Comments

[slay]

[ that gets an actual laugh out of her and she just nods it off, because okay that's enough serious business talk. ] And he's funny, too. Careful, I'm beginning to think you lack for faults.

[valdrin]

Good heavens. I can't have you figuring that out so soon.

[slay]

Feel free to prove me wrong at your earliest convenience. [ she glances askance at the gifts table, considering. ] You know, I have it on good authority that the castle truancy officer's too busy policing the party to be all lurky fun-sucker outside. [ she looks back at him. ] Wanna get some air?

[valdrin]

[ his eyebrows hike up, and he glances that way, conspiratorially dropping his voice, and leaning his head closer to hers ] Is that so?

After you.

[slay]

[ she brightens a little at that, sliding her hand into his and turning to tug him towards the doors to the outside. ]

You do owe me a moonlit walk.

[valdrin]

[ his hand is warm, and he gives hers a squeeze as he allows himself to be tugged, a playful smile tugging equally at his lips ] I certainly hadn't forgotten. It's rather pleasing to hear you hadn't, either.

[slay]

Guess five months is longer for me than it is for you, huh? [ truthfully, she didn't think of him when they were out on the mission, but being back made her reflect on her time in the castle, and it all came back like a reminder. but it wasn't exactly polite to say so. she navigates them out the doors, smiling when they stepped outside. it was still brisk, because it was england after all, but only 60 or so. much better for wandering around the grounds than it'd been in winter. ] Weather like this and I'm thinking maybe it's a good thing we got delayed.

[cabot]

I wouldn't say longer, but it might be a question of perception and preoccupation. You had an intriguing long-term mission to keep you focused elsewhere.

[slay]

Also, looks like a lot more time when it's all the time I remember instead of five months out of five hundred. [ five hundred is an estimate, but it's probably ... a lot more than that. the point is you old, bro. ] Being happy you hadn't forgotten is my line.

[cabot]

Five hundred? And here I thought I didn't look a day over two.

[slay]

Months, not years. Don't worry, you haven't lost your looks yet. [ she nudges him lightly in the ribs, a smile cracking at his indignation. ]

[valdrin]

Shall I assume you're a fan of them, then?

[slay]

[ she stops in her wander-y walking, turning in a lingering way towards him, and raising a brow. ]

Careful. Some girls might think you're digging for compliments. [ her attempt at suppressing her smile fails and it widens. ] You're definitely easy on the eyes.

[cabot]

Perhaps I was merely accounting for taste. [ he looks pleased, nevertheless, and his eyes slide over her quickly ] Although a compliment from a woman who possesses such charms is no small boon. I can't say it isn't worth digging for.

[slay]

Oh, I'm charming now, huh? Coming from the guy who still talks like he's been excised from a Jane Austen novel. [ she bites at her lower lip to try and temper the smile. and since it's ~worth digging for, she'll be less cagey about it and just outright assure him; ] You're a total grade A hottie.

[valdrin]

You know, personally, I think Jane Austen might have done with more outright usage of the word 'hottie' herself...

[slay]

[ that gets a laugh and she gives him a light, playful shove as she begins to meander again, keeping her gait slow. ]

It's nice out here. You know, I'd almost forgotten what quiet sounds like. The team's been staying in cities so long ... Castle out in the country's kinda refreshing.

[valdrin]

I imagine privacy's been a rare commodity as well. Let me guess: sharing hotel rooms, late night study buddies, forced conversations on airplanes if you don't keep those earbuds firmly in place...

[slay]

Or even if you do keep them in place and radiate "don't talk to me." May or may not have decked a teammate over that one. [ she chuckles, shaking her head and glancing aside at the idk gardens and shit. ] Things definitely got tense for a while there. The break was ... is nice. [ she glances back over at him shyly. ] And also means catching up with people we do wanna talk to, of course. That's a bonus.

[valdrin]

I certainly hope I don't disappoint after so long.

[slay]

Haven't so far. [ she suppresses her smile, gaze flickering up ahead. ]

[cabot]

[ he slows to a halt, keeping her arm to pull her gently backwards from her intended step forward ]

You look beautiful, by the way. Perhaps I failed to mention that inside.

[slay]

[ she stops and turns to face him more fully, eyes wide, flattery evident. she gives a little roll of her eyes to try and deflect. ]

It didn't exactly come up ... [ she looks down at her outfit, shrugging, then back up at him. ] Thank you. Just wait, one of these days, you're gonna see my outside Party Town, U.K., and the sweatpants will completely crush the illusion. [ oh she's sure babbling. quick someone stop her. ]

[valdrin]

I look forward to it. [ to seeing you out of that dress, gurl.

i mean what. ]

[slay]

[ her nose crinkles in amusement. ]

You look forward to sweatpants? [ weirdo. but adorable. ] I mean, sure, you say that now, but ... [ she seems to think on it for a moment, then moves to half-hold his hand, fidgeting with it some. ] We could always ... make plans. Non-party plans.