That Party is Overdue (open post)

[cleverest_woman]

Marguerite spread out several notebooks on cushions and small tables in the main lounge. She wandered between them, reading a snippet here, making a note there. Eventually she stopped to survey the room, chewing on the end of the pen.

"Why am I so behind?" she lamented out loud. "This is long overdue."

Then she shrugged to turn back to her notes.

Comments

[johnny_rockfort]

Johnny wanders in, and observes the lady - he remembers her for a quite pleasant game of cards. The fact that her bustles sways attractively probably helps jolt his memory as well. He's looking nonchalant enough, but there's a friendly light in his eyes.

"Well hello there. I see you're not playing cards any more."

Meh, forgive his lecherous tendencies, it's just the way he is. Also, I'm going to be sporadic today, but I do keep threads going, so... yeah. Just bear with me, plz? ^__^

[cleverest_woman]

"No, I'm not. How are you doing, Johnny isn't it?" She made a few more notes, then straightened. "I haven't seem many souls around while I've worked on this, then I decided I needed the air and moved out here." Marguerite always had a gracious smile for a young man.

[johnny_rockfort]

He smiles back. "Yeah, it's been quiet. We've had a few card games, but that's about it on this end as well. There's a couple new arrivals, though." He pauses to light a cigarette, without asking. "Did you notice?"

[cleverest_woman]

"I've been distracted, hardly out of my room until now," she murmurs. "I'm sure Armand has though. He likes meeting new people." She did as well, but she'd bee busy lately, so busy. She dreamed about lists at night. Planning parties never used to be so difficult.

[johnny_rockfort]

Johnny smiles, which may or may not be indication that he met Armand, as threads are still ongoing. "Hardly out of your room? That's not very healthy," Johnny comments. "God, now that I get a chance for air and sun, I'm barely ever inside. What kept you so busy?"

[cleverest_woman]

Marguerite indicates the notebooks with a vigorous waving of both her hands. "All this. Party planning. I used to do this as easily as breathing. It seems I've gotten out of the habit."

[johnny_rockfort]

...

"Lady, this is suppose to be fun. You're making it sound like a job..." Which, you know, is kind if eeeek, for Johnny. "What do you have going on?"

And I'm having a really hard time not making a Mrs. Dalloway reference.

[cleverest_woman]

"It's for a party, a garden party. I was hoping to be ready by my brother's birthday, but that's long gone now." She didn't sound desperate or anything like that, merely tired.

[johnny_rockfort]

Well that's sweet. He smiles, a bit more. "You need help?"

He wouldn't normally be so forward, but he likes Margot, and he likes Armand. So.

[cleverest_woman]

"Yes, I think I do. You see, I want to include everyone, but more people keep arriving..."

[johnny_rockfort]

Johnny raises a rakish eyebrow. "What are you suggesting, M'am?"

[cleverest_woman]

"I don't want to exclude anyone, but I can't even complete the guest list." Her voice sounds genuinely anguished, but there is just a chance she's pouring on the pathos. She is a very clever actress, after all.

[johnny_rockfort]

"You actually need one?" Johnny shrugs. "What about flyers and posters? If your thing is open to everyone, you don't need a guest list."

[cleverest_woman]

Marguerite blinks. "Posters, like for a political rally? Do people do that for parties?"

[johnny_rockfort]

Johnny laughs. "Who said a party can't be political? But yes. They do that where I come from."

[cleverest_woman]

"Parties can be political, but I don't want a political party on a ship where one hopes there are no politics." She frowns in thought. "Well, I could do that then. Do you know how to write one?"