Let your body move into the doorway, to the disco inside your head.

[karina_vb]

Karina and Maryk's home,
Evening of Day 83The house is clean, as it always is, but there are candles about, all lit up and bringing a warmth to the house that you can only get from such things. Lena has cooked all day, things we couldn't possibly get from Edmund. There was an order from Edmund, too, which has already been picked up and set out on

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[maryk_graeb]

The house looks great. Candles lit all over the place. Lena's been in the kitchen cooking all day. I picked up the order from Edmund's so that he wouldn't accidentally give the cake to Lean or Karina. It's in the guest bedroom right now and I'm hoping neither of them will go in there.

Karina settles onto the couch, some fancy vintage-looking thing, probably nearly as old as the house. I know Lena did something to it to fix it up after we moved in. Reupholstered or something. I sit down next to her, but it isn't long before a knock at the door brings her to her feet, pulling me up beside her.

I smile.

Time to be sociable.

[valmont_vicomte]

I walk briskly to Karina and Maryk's home. Maryk dropped by yesterday to let me know that it was Karina's birthday, and so if I felt like marking that at the housewarming party, then he could hardly stop me. I smiled at that and told him that I looked forward to the party even more now I knew that we had two things to celebrate

[kateohara]

Karina is having a party. I felt a little reticent about going, because I am not sure how well I will get along with Karina's friends in general, but Maryk told me when he came in to buy cloves that it's Karina's birthday, so of course I have come out.

I have seen quite a bit of Laurence lately, but I am not sure if he is invited to this, nor if he would want to come. I left him a note at the smithy to let him know where I'd be tonight in case he was planning on joining me.

I smooth down my skirt and ring the doorbell.

[karina_vb]

Valmont enters and I feel a pang of...something. Nostalgia, perhaps. A longing for what once was and what never shall be. I push it down to where I keep all the things I don't wish to dwell on.

"Thank you, Valmont. I hope you are well," I say with a smile as I playfully knock Maryk's wrist with my knuckles. "They are beautiful." Lena comes to collect the fabulous roses and place them in a porcelain vase on the mantle. "Do come in," I bid him as the doorbell rings. Lena moves to answer it but hesitates and moves away as I cross to answer the door myself. I open it with a smile and find Kate standing there. My first two guests and they are quite opposites. Hopefully they can both behave, but since Valmont is attached perhaps he will not grate on her too much. "Kate!" I say with a grin. "How are you, Darling?" I ask and step forward to give her a hug. My eyes sweep the air behind her as I realize she is alone. "No Brother Laurence this evening?"

[kateohara]

I smile at Karina, though I feel a flush of embarrassment that already people are assuming that Laurence will be where I am.

"I haven't seen him today," I say, "but I left him a note at the smithy." I reach into my bag and bring out a small box. "Happy birthday for yesterday," I say. "I asked Edmund to whip these up for you." Inside the box are a dozen dark chocolate truffles. "He gave me one to test," I smile, "and I can tell you that they are very good!"

[tereixa_zann]

Well, hey, it's a party, right? And it's not too far into town, although really, I think I might go even if it was, just ask Lou to come along with me or something.

And a housewarming, too, so I brought windchimes. Everyone oughtta have windchimes, or something like it, bright and shining and neat and spinning... Wrap it up in red paper, and tuck it under one arm, and head out in clean jeans and a plain black T-shirt.

I see Kate from the General Store that Larry took to the Marks party heading in, and I slip in behind her. Couple of guys I don't recognize, but Karina's there; fixed her computer, I remember that. Hope she doesn't miss the elevator too much. "Karina--Miss Bathory! Hi!" Grin at her and bounce up, and she's all pretty in white lace, almost like something Anushka'd wear. "Thank you for inviting me."

[karina_vb]

"Thank you, Darling," I say with a smile. I file away my thoughts on her blush at her beau's name, saving it for later. It's a strange thing still, to be so friendly with Kate, though it also feels as if things have always felt this way.

Zann comes bouncing through the door and I smile at her.

"Hello, Zann. Thank you for coming. Have you met Kate? She owns the general store."

[tereixa_zann]

"Hello, Zann. Thank you for coming."

"Awh, I'm glad to. It's a lovely house," and it is, it really really is, even if it doesn't have an elevator. I guess she's still got the computer though, and that helps a bit... Hold out her present. Hope she likes it, all brass chines and polished rounded glass. "Really did mean what I said at the Carnival that time you and Kaeli were there," I add. "You can come down for a Carousel ride, honest."

"Have you met Kate? She owns the general store."

"Just once, I think," I say, smiling and holding out my hand. "Hi! How've you been?" Karina said something about Laurence, don't ask about Larry, don't ask... Oh, she owns the general store, right on Mina, know what I can ask about. "How's the Saturday market working for you? I love it, I really really do... I--er. I kind of bought a pet, actually," I add, blushing a bit. "There aren't too many cats in town, are there?"

[kateohara]

I smile at Zann. She is not as fancily dressed as she was at the Marks party, though I get the impression jeans may be more of her usual wear.

"Hello, Zann," I say, taking her hand. She seems like the kind of person it's hard not to smile at. "I'm quite well. How are things at the caranival?"

"How's the Saturday market working for you? I love it, I really really do... I--er. I kind of bought a pet, actually,There aren't too many cats in town, are there?"

I laugh a bit at Zann's abashed expression.

"The market brings in lots of new trade, so I'm happy! The only downside is that I haven't had much of a chance to look around it for more than a few minutes myself. Cats? Not a lot, no... Some of the farms keep them as mousers, but they are outdoor cats rather than house pets. Did you buy a cat? Or maybe something a cat might want to eat?" I suggest, tilting my head.

[kaeli_whyte]

I was slightly confused when I received the invitation for Karina's housewarming party. Somehow since I have been back, either I hadn't heard or had forgotten she moved from "The Boy". I knew she was running for mayor naturally but there are signs all over town reminding me of that. I guess that's what I get for being oblivious to town gossips. I did begin to worry once Cain filled me in though, I know how much her business meant to her and she was good at running it too. Gods! It seems like ages since I've seen them, too long.

Besides small visits and school, I haven't been around many people all at once and I'm a little nervous and excited too. After settling on a dress, Cain and I walked over to Karina and Maryk's house and for the first time in awhile, it was actually nice to be outside in the evening again

[cain_excolo]

Kaeli and I arrive at Karina's new home. It is the Carpenter's old place, a house that is probably only matched in age in this area by the Voronin Estate.

"Zann's here and Kate, and Valmont too."

Indeed, I do see Zann, the girl from the Carnival that observed my staff training. Valmont is off to the side speaking with Maryk, who does not seem as uncomfortable as he has at previous social gatherings that I have seen him at. Of course, this is not a wake for a coworker and her killer. Nor are there any gods here. I know it is futile, but I hope it stays that way, regardless.

Karina is currently greeting Kate and Zann, so we hold back a little and wait.

"It has been a while since you have seen either of them, has it not?" I ask Kaeli.

[karina_vb]

"Hello, you two," I say to the big man and his...girl friend? There really must be something in the water, for Cain to be interested in anyone. "Welcome."

[cain_excolo]

Karina comes over to us and greets us. Eris and Lúgh come in after us but leave us be, moving over towards Miao instead. I'm very thankful for that.

"Karina, you look lovely and this house has never looked so nice."

Carpenter never had the place so well decorated or warm feeling.

"How has the transition been for you and Maryk?"

[glass_beddau]

Thought about not coming--nothing personal, just a long tiring week--but was feeling so much better after I woke up this afternoon that when evening sifted in I put on my brown dress and wandered over to watch people for a bit. Can't hurt to do that, at least.

Candles. Well. That's a nice touch. And the air's warm and smells lovely, sauces and spices and meat and bread. Maryk's chatting with Valmont, and Karina with Kate and a whippet of a woman I don't recognize, and Kaeli with Cain. Suppose Miao or Wanda or someone of the like'll be along later; meantime I'm perfectly happy to stand back and watch people move quietly about.

[ella_kessler]

I told Daddy 'bout the party at Karina's an' he told me I should go. He seems real happy that I'm meetin' more people an' gettin' away from the farm more an' more. I get ta Karina's house an' walk up ta the front door. Some tall fella and lady go in ahead'a me an' I follow in behind 'em. I wave ta Karina but don' interrupt her since she's movin' 'round ta talk ta her guests. I'm sure I'll get ta talk ta her soon.

I set the basket I'm carryin' next ta a sofa and see Glass standin' nearby.

"Hiya, Glass. How've you been?"

[glass_beddau]

...oh, it wouldn't be an Excolo party this summer without gods. Well. I turn over the idea of leaving the plant by my feet on a table somewhere and slipping out to the Miskatonic to watch folk, but decide I'll wait a little yet.

"Hiya, Glass. How've you been?"

"Evening, Ella," I say mildly. "Well enough. Getting back to the habit of working at the store, mostly; it's been quiet of late. Yourself? How's the farm passing?"

[ella_kessler]

Glass looks over at the couple that walked in ahead of me before she looks ta me an' says, "Evening, Ella. Well enough. Getting back to the habit of working at the store, mostly; it's been quiet of late. Yourself? How's the farm passing?"

"It's doin' well. The market's helped a lot. I'm good, too, thanks. I'm gettin' inta town more often. Kind'a evidenced by tonight. You known Karina for long?"