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

[valdrin]

Is it working?

[slay]

Little bit. Mostly depends what you have in mind for the party out here.

[cabot]

I imagined we might play it by ear. [ and he gives a nip at her earlobe. ]

[slay]

[ without the memory of being burned by angel, parker, and riley, buffy melts under val'drin's wheedling. she exhales heavily at the nip and hesitates, eyes shutting briefly as she weighs the options. she's fairly certain she's got an idea where this is heading. decisively, she turns her face towards his and catches his lips in a heady kiss. ]

[valdrin]

[ there's no hesitation as he returns the kiss, and it's clear that he's steering it gradually and incontrovertibly towards a more and more passionate crescendo. his hands draw her hips closer as he pulls her along in the opposite direction from the castle. ]

[slay]

[ her arms slip around his shoulders and she fumbles to keep up, trying to both stumble after him, away from the castle, and stay near him for both body heat and contact reasons. because summers in england are still pretty cold at night. when she breaks for breath after a moment, she exhales a word full of confusion. ] Where - ? [ because he's obviously taking her somewhere with the way he's tugging her along. she draws back enough to meet his gaze and search his eyes. ]

[valdrin]

[ his eyes glitter and he nods towards a path that leads towards the garage, taking her hand and tugging her that way. ]

[slay]

[ she catches her breath and gives a nod of understanding, following him more decisively now. secretly thinking that if one more guy tries to show off his car to her she might yawn herself into a coma. ]

[cabot]

[ yeah, no, he doesn't even turn the lights on as he draws her in a side door, and towards one of the big, black luxury cars. he pulls open the back door and nods at the leather seats. hey, at least it's warm in here.

this is so classy. ]

[slay]

[ she stops and stands at the side of the car, staring into it for a moment, then looks at him, baffled and incredulous. ]

You're kidding, right?

[ because for one naive moment, she hopes maybe it's just because it'll be warmer in there than it is outside, but no he doesn't care about that, and it's not cold enough for her to actually be shivering or anything. this has nothing to do with it being warmer. this is just ... disappointing. there's no bear rug or wine or fireplace or anything. ]

[cabot]

We could always drive it somewhere.

[slay]

At this point? I'm not sure I trust you to drive it anywhere that's not a Motel 8. [ yeah that bad. ] Every knight in this castle lives on the grounds, shouldn't you have a ... room or something?

[valdrin]

I thought this was a bit more... adventurous.

[slay]

And it at no point occurred to you that maybe adventurous should ... Oh, I don't know, wait? [ is he for fucking real she can't even. ]

[valdrin]

I didn't realize you were so traditional.

[slay]

[ okay that stings her delicate self esteem because really this is the ONLY EXPERIENCE SHE REMEMBERS HAVING IN THIS, SHE DOESN'T NEED TO BE CRITICIZED, ASSHOLE. and it makes her extra defensive. ]

I just ... thought ... [ she shakes her head, searching uselessly for what to say. ]

[valdrin]

I'm certain we could find a room if you'd ... prefer...?

[slay]

I don't know. [ she stopped, looking small for a moment, then took a step back, turned around, and paced a little. ] I just -- [ she looked back at him. ] Is there a point? I mean, you're ... a billion years old, of course you'd be over ... it. [ she caged behind vague terminology. ]

But, I'm not. I mean, I can't even remember ever -- [ she held up a hand to gesticulate emphatically as she spoke, but stopped short in both words and gesture as she said that, eyes widening because it very clearly didn't mean to come out. ]

[valdrin]

... Of course you don't. How foolish of me. [ he'll... shut that door. ] I didn't mean to spoil the experience for you.

[slay]

[ the noise of the shutting door brings her out of rambly mode and she deflates a little, shaking her head and dropping her hands to her sides. ]

You didn't ruin anything. I just ... [ she gives a lingering look to the car door. ] Not like this.

[cabot]

[ he hesitates... then seems to make a decision ] Perhaps... some other time, then.

[slay]

[ cynicism bubbles in her chest as she takes that in what could be a very wrong way. she takes a deep breath and nods, avoiding his gaze, a sarcastic smile building. ]

Right. Because, why would you wanna - [ there are a million reasons for him to not be interested anymore. because he probably just wanted casual. because how good could she be if she couldn't remember ever doing it - if she had? inexperience just isn't attractive. neither is the fact that she's very clearly thinking more of this emotional connection than he is. she takes another step back. ] I should go. There's a party.

[valdrin]

I could walk you back.

[slay]

Do you really want to? To just ... walk me back? [ it's an honest question, though she does bristle as she asks it, because she expects the worst. she expects he doesn't want anything to do with her if he can't get casual car sex. ]

[cabot]

Well, as tempting it is to remain here in the dark alone...