New Orleans, Louisiana [Thursday evening]
With the help of Andre's credit card, the Fandomites had been properly outfitted for their night at the vampire ball. And while Sookie had spent part of the day cleaning and had found something she'd not expected at all, everything that might be considered a weapon or otherwise incriminating had been hidden away. Wherever necessary.
Sophie-Anne and Peter's home was enormous and sprawling, with large iron gates and vampires stationed there. The guests were divided into lines by sex, with appropriate vampires to search. Inside was an elegant garden party, with bottles of Tru Blood and even some human food and drink visible from outside. Up on the steps of the porch sat the Queen and King, with Andre at her side. Peter Threadgill, a harsh-looking man, was speaking to a fearsome-looking vampire of Asian descent. Sophie-Anne was smiling, but Sookie had her suspicions that her nervousness was lurking just below the surface.
What the hell were they walking into?
Sookie
Sookie had made sure to get a dress that had straps and a skirt she could move in, because she was under no delusions that tonight would be without an opportunity to run.
That being said, she was sort of unused to showing quite that much cleavage. But her date would probably like it. And the queen. These things didn't hurt.
Bobby
Yeah, her date definitely didn't mind the cleavage. His own ensemble was much less with the showing of skin, because this wasn't that kind of party. Just a simple white tux and, because he thought they made him look sophisticated, his favorite pair of sunglasses.
Sookie
"Am I all blue?" Sookie asked, reaching up to tap one stem of his sunglasses.
Bobby
"It's a good look for you," Bobby said with a grin.
Sookie
"Good to know that if I ever get hypothermic, my looks won't go," Sookie laughed, trying not to fidget with her purse as they approached the vampires who'd be searching them. She was pretty sure she was going to be fine, but it wasn't as though she'd told anyone so they'd be able to provide backup.
Vampire
"Bag, please," the female vampire requested, holding out a hand to take Sookie's clutch as the male vampire began to search Bobby quickly.
Sookie
Sookie handed her bag over, watching as the vampire sifted past her compact and lipstick. She tried not to bounce on her heels or anything, schooling her features carefully.
Vampire
"What is this?" the vampire asked after a moment, pulling out a tampon and looking askance at Sookie.
Sookie
Well. She didn't need to wave it around like that. Good lord.
Though, all things considered, the fact that Sookie's blush was natural probably helped things. "It's...for feminine hygiene," she said, casting her eyes downward and thanking her lucky stars that this vampire was too old to have ever used one.
Bobby
Yeah, Bobby was just going to blush and shuffle his feet awkwardly here. Because really, knowing such things existed and having it waved around practically in your face were two very different things when one was a seventeen year old boy.
Kennedy
Kennedy could have gone with her usual bratty instinct and worn a tux anyway, despite being told in no uncertain terms not to. It was just that a different bratty instinct had won out instead, and she'd decided to prove that no matter how much she didn't typically like to, she could look fantastic in a dress, thank you very much.
Despite the hefty price tag on it, she had no qualms about ripping it when-- not if, assuming the track record held up-- things came down to the fighty.
Oh, and she had boots on under the skirt, because no power on earth was getting her into stupid dressy shoes when there was ass-kicking to be done.
Vampire
"Bag?" the vampire asked, eyebrow raised. "We have to search everyone. King's orders."
Kennedy
Kennedy handed over the tiny, practically useless little purse that matched her dress with an innocent shrug. There wasn't anything incriminating in there, anyway, just a powder compact she'd probably never use (except that the mirror might be handy) and lip gloss. Basic purse-type stuff.
"We're not talking airport-security type levels of searching, are we?"
Vampire
"Just a pat-down," the woman said, opening the compact to check her own makeup (and yes, she had a reflection.) "Can't be too careful, you know?"
Kennedy
...oh. Well, then.
"Yeah." Kennedy gave her the kind of smile she hadn't had to use since the last time she was at one of Dad's parties, the kind that meant, but didn't say, yeah, that's nice, can I go now? "I get that. Never know, right? Someone spikes the punch wrong, so much drama..."
Vampire
The vampire moved over beside Kennedy, patting her down quickly to check for any suspicious bulges, and in all honesty, it was probably disappointingly clinical.
"Punch. I haven't had punch in three hundred years," the vampire said with a fanged smile as she turned to search Tara. "You're free to pass."
Kennedy
Not that disappointing, actually; being patted down by a vampire in front of her girlfriend didn't exactly get Kennedy's engine revving.
"Yay, us," she said laconically.
Well, there went her one brilliant plan with the mirror. Damn different-universe's-vampires rules.
Tara
Tara couldn't take her eyes off Kennedy in her dress; she would have had the hottest date in the room either way, but that was just a little extra wow.
She herself had pinned her hair up in an elaborate mound of braids and was wearing something purple. The loose skirt made it easy enough to maneuver if she needed to, and she felt gorgeous in it.
Even if the ball full of vampires aspect made her stomach twist, it was fun getting dressed up. She smiled nervously as she waiuted for the attendant's search.
Kennedy
Could Kennedy stare at her right back? Even if the answer was no, she'd do that; she had the hottest date in the room as far as she was concerned.
"It's cool," she murmured sotto voce, leaning closer. "We'll be fine; we look too damn good not to be."
Tara
"I know," Tara agreed, equally softly as she tried to pitch her voice below what even vampiric ears could pick up. "Just ... not exactly our usual scene, you know?"
Kennedy
Kennedy chuckled. "Not so much, no. Constance is probably cursing my name in a really dignified way right now. I'm mostly focusing on the part where we look really good. 's easier that way."
Which was to say that yeah, she was kind of nervous herself.
Tara
"Much easier," Tara agreed, fiddling a bit with her shawl. "Did you tell Constance where we are, for real?"
That surprised her, though she supposed it shouldn't.
Kennedy
"Tchah, like I gave her the details?" Kennedy idly reached out to trace a fingertip along Tara's shoulder. "But the way she sighed when I told her we were heading here again..."
Tara
"Just because we get in trouble every time we come here..." Tara's tone was indulgent as she reached up to tap that fingertip. "Um. Except this time. Because this time everything will be fine."
Kennedy
Kennedy gave her a look that said oh, please don't have just jinxed it.
"And here I was hoping for more of the usual," was what she said instead. "Just in really fancy outfits instead of the skankalicious look we usually end up rocking when we're here."
Eric
This was fairly standard for a party this fraught with peril political, so Eric was very good about not rolling his eyes as he took his suit coat off and prepared to get patted down.
Vampire
"Evening, Sheriff," the vampire at the gate said, straightening slightly.
Eric
"Evening," Eric replied, giving the man a tiny nod. "Looks like a full house."
Vampire
"You were lucky to be allowed to bring your humans," he said with a little smile, reaching out to pat down Eric's coat.
Eric
"They caught the queen's attention," Eric said blandly. "It's wise to keep her happy."
Vampire
"So soon after dear Hadley's death?" he asked blandly, moving to swiftly pat down Eric's back and front. "I'm glad the queen has found solace after her child's passing."
Eric
"Not in a way that would the marriage contract, of course," Eric added.
Jessica
Jessica was wearing green like Sookie, but a darker shade. She'd never been to a fancy party before, and she had been more than happy to abuse Andre's credit card.
Vampire
"Are you Sheriff Northman's child?" the vampire asked with some interest, her nostrils flaring a little as she took in Jessica's youth.
Jessica
"He ain't my Maker," Jessica replied. "But we're real close. And I work for him."
Vampire
"You could find worse employers," the vampire noted. "I've always been fond of him."
And by 'fond' it was possible she meant 'I slept with him some hundred years ago.'
"What do you do for him? Work in his bar?" she added, gesturing for Jessica to hand over a bag if she had one, or prepare to be patted down.
Jessica
Jessica didn't have a bag, but she did lift her arms for the search. "Yeah, I work in his bar," she said, choosing to omit "not Fangtasia, the other one," since questions about Fandom might be problematic.
"This is kind of like going to the airport now, ain't it?" she giggled.
Vampire
"You're lucky we don't have metal detectors," the vampire replied with a faint smile as she patted Jessica down. "Or those machines that see through your clothing."
Jessica
"Well, that'd just be rude," Jessica said.
She leaned in close to whisper conspiratorially, "So, do you got anything better than that Tru Blood here to drink?"
Vampire
The vampire raised her brows, dropping her voice. "Didn't your maker teach you not to ask that kind of thing?" she tsked, though she added, "There are plenty willing. The trick is finding one who likes you."
Jessica
"My maker sucks," Jessica complained. But Eric would probably lecture her later if he overheard any of this.
But she beamed at what the vampire said next. "I'm sure I won't have any problem. I'm real likable."
Raven
Raven -- shockingly -- was not wearing black. Instead, she'd found a burgundy gown to wear.
As she waited her turn to be searched, she tried to calm herself, though she was certain every vampire in the building could hear her pounding heart. She didn't want to be touched by a vampire, but at least she knew there was no way any of them would be able to know about anything she might have hidden in the netherverse.
Jono
Jonothon was a half-step behind Raven, feeling a touch uncomfortable in his suit, with white silk wrapped up over his face where black leather usually went. He was well aware that they were going to have to be patted down one after another, but that didn't mean he was going to dare stray very far.
He didn't say anything, but he did push a whisper of comfort her way, inviting her to take however much she needed from him for the remainder of the evening.
He wasn't too certain that he'd clear the pat-down, himself. But then, he was putting about as much effort into feeling solid to the touch under that silk as he was into being comforting. It was tiring, but at least that much, he'd only have to keep up until he was through the door.
Vampire
"I like your scarf," the vampire said, eyeing it suspiciously. "Why are you covered that way?"
Jono
Jono just gave a roll of his eyes at the question. He really had no idea how the vampires here would react to him shoving a psionic voice at their heads, but reaching up and tracing his fingers along one of a myriad of burn scars that vanished under his wrappings would probably at least indicate that whatever it was he was covering, it wasn't pretty.
Yes, he was absolutely going to play mute, for the time being.
Vampire
"Burn?" he asked, almost wincing. Few things were actually frightening to vampires. Fire was one. "I understand. Being stared at does get old after awhile. I have to pat you down, all the same."
Jono
Jono had a sneaking suspicion that a vampire couldn't possibly understand just what it was like to have people stare at him just because he was something decidedly less than attractive, but he wasn't about to say anything along those lines. Playing mute worked much better when you didn't employ words, after all.
He did, of course, hold his arms out to the sides for the obligatory pat-down, furrowing his brow slightly as he concentrated on keeping his power under firm enough control to mislead anyone into thinking there was a nice, solid mass of flesh underneath his shirt. His power could be used for concussive blows, so it wasn't impossible, but maintaining a shape this way took a touch more focus.
Vampire
The vampire, of course, didn't notice anything amiss, because he was too busy feeling sadly for Jono. "Well, your silks are very handsome," he decided as he finished patting Jono down. "Go enjoy yourself!"
Jono
Well. That wasn't so terrible, then. Jono at least had the good grace to give the vampire doorman a courteous nod of thanks before stepping into the building, glancing around again for Raven.
He'd take a moment more before slouching a little in relief. At least long enough to be certain that the vampire was busy giving some other guest their patting-down. He'd just discovered some sort of freakish equivalent to holding his breath and sucking in his gut for the span of a few minutes, and now he wanted little more than to spend the next few minutes slumping bonelessly against things.
Ah well. He was in, at least.
Vampire
"Excited?" the female vampire asked her with a fanged smile. She could, indeed, hear Raven's fear, though she was chalking it up to terror in the face of vampires.
Raven
"I have never been to a vampire ball," Raven said, forcing her voice to remain steady as she handed the vampire her clutch, which had little more than a compact and eyeliner inside.
Vampire
"You have made friends with Her Majesty, though," the vampire said with a little quirk of a smile as she peeked in the bag, opening the compact as she had with Kennedy's. "You have found a fine occasion to make a debut."
Raven
"She requested our presence here," Raven said with a short nod. She could have refused and stayed behind, but she wasn't going to let her own fears get in the way of being there to provide healing or a fast exit for her friends if something went wrong.
Vampire
"Then you will be fine," the vampire said, indicating for Raven to prepare to be pat down. "We don't bite, dear. Unless asked."
Raven
Raven flinched despite her best efforts, and her pulse quickened. "I am not asking," she said.
Vampire
The vampire patted her down quickly, quirking a non-fangy smile when she was done. "Pity, that. You're free to go in."
Raven
Raven managed a quick nod of thanks, somehow managing to be polite despite the fear that was taking her voice. She stepped quickly away and moved to Jono's side, his nearness allowing her to relax. A little.
Squall
Squall politely and wordlessly handed his tuxedo jacket to the security guards, and then stood with his arms out and legs apart. Pat-downs sucked.
Rinoa
Rinoa handed over her clutch purse and held her hands up. Though she did plan on giving anyone a Look if they got frisky.
More so if they wrinkled her dress.
"I'm not used to seeing you in a tux," she said lightly.
Most formal events, he stuck to his SeeD uniform.
Squall
Squall shrugged. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" He gestured at his suit and turned a little so Rinoa could see. "Do you like?"
Rinoa
"I like," she said, holding out her arm so he would take it. "Very classy. Now you're supposed to tell me how nice I look, and then we go into the ball."
Squall
"Didn't I already tell you how nice you look?" Squall asked. They'd had the whole journey over here. He must have told her at least once, right? Probably?
Rinoa
"You should say it again," Rinoa decided. "Just so I know for sure."
Princess, Squall. Princess.
Squall
Yeah, princess. He knew.
"You look gorgeous in that dress," he told her. "It's very pretty."
Rinoa
"Thank you," she said primly. "Shall we?"
Squall
He nodded and offered her his arm. "We shall. Be on your guard."
Warren
Dressing up was something that Warren excelled at. He'd gone with the most expensive suit he could find, and quite stubbornly paid for it out of his own wallet. Going that particular route had meant that this was going to be a tucking-the-wings-in sort of day, with them folded carefully under his shirt and jacket, flight feathers tucked in down the legs of his pants, but he'd decided for himself that this was probably the best course of action. Simply hiding them with his bracelet wasn't going to stop people from running into them, if this place was too crowded.
He wasn't too antsy by the time it was his turn to step up to the door. A pat-down? Why should a pat-down bother a Worthington? He had absolutely nothing to hide. Truly.
Karla
Much like Raven, Karla had eschewed her usual color choice and gone for something a little different. The slit in the skirt would come in handy when the inevitable fight happened and, well, it had struck her Black Widow fancy far to much to ignore. Her Sapphire had a sight shield over it; no reason to let more vampires know it existed that necessary. Rather than present a bare throat, however, she'd chosen something simple. Just a slim black ribbon choker.
Well, simplish maybe.
"Kiss kiss, darling," she murmured, sliding her hand through Warren's arm as they stepped into the doorway. "Ready to have fun?"
Vampire
"Do you have a bag?" the female vampire asked Karla, eyeing her quickly.
Karla
"I don't," Karla said, with the bored carelessness of someone used to talking to menials. "This is a party. I have better things to do than hold something all night."
Whatever, vampires. Karla still outranked you--and had a boyfriend that might need a distracted pat down.
Vampire
"Keep your hands free for other things," the vampire said mildly, though she smirked just slightly as she gestured for Karla to hold out her arms.
Karla
"Well, it is a party," Karla pointed out, glancing up at the vampire from under her lashes. "I'm here to have fun."
It was an unspoken invite that she had less than no intention of following up on, but it wouldn't hurt anyone to have people thinking Karla was just a bit of brainless fluff.
Vampire
She grinned back, flashing her fangs briefly. "And indeed you shall," she said, patting Karla down quickly. "No one throws a party like Peter Threadgill."
Vampire
"Who made your suit?" the vampire asked curiously, giving Warren a distracted once-over.
Warren
"It's a Valentino," Warren replied, with that aloof, confident air that came when you were a man in a very expensive suit, who had paid for it himself on next to no notice, and who could probably afford several more just like it for the rest of the days of the week. "I would have preferred a Fioravanti, or perhaps a Caraceni, but there wasn't nearly enough time to book an appointment back in New York once we'd gotten the invitation."
Of course.
Vampire
The vampire arched a brow. "You're a man of taste," he said, indicating for Warren to hold his arms out to prepare for the pat-down.
Warren
Warren simply inclined his chin, looking every bit the confident Worthington while he obediently held out his arms.
He did not feel terribly confident.
"I'm a man who can afford taste," he replied, because it was a matter of course. "It would have been a sin to arrive at an event like this one wearing anything less."
Vampire
The vampire quickly patted Warren down, distracted enough by the fabric of the suit to even really check his back. Warren's lapels were so finely made. "I think," he said conspiratorially, as he finished, "that this may be finer than the king's. He'll want to know where you got it."
Warren
Oh, wow, saved by the suit. Warren gave the vampire a crooked little grin, trying not to look too relieved that he'd only gotten a half-assed going over, and nodded.
"I can refer him to better," he noted, pulling his wallet from his pocket and producing a card for one of the few designers back in New York that his father frequented. It was amazing just what a handful of those little pieces of paper could get you through. "They're appointment only, of course, and perhaps a touch out of the way, but I'm certain that somebody as resourceful as your king would be able to work around such trivialities with minimal fuss."
He was pulling this out of his ass like a madman, yes.
"Now, I wouldn't dream of detaining you from your duties any longer."
Emma
Emma had caved in to her sense of whimsy, and gone with a gown of historic fashion inspiration. Surely vampires could appreciate the classics in a way her classmates usually did not.
Her hair had been swept up into a chignon, with a few pieces framing her face, and fit of her dress made it rather obvious that she wasn't carrying any weapons. Still, she handed over her weetiny clutch, which only had a fake ID and lipstick, with a smile to vampire attendant.
Vampire
The vampire peeked through the purse, picking up the ID with interest. She glanced from Emma to the card before replacing it. "You're not going to fool many here, dear," she said, gesturing that she was about to begin the pat-down, "but you're partying with vampire royalty. That grants you alcoholic immunity, I think."
Emma
"Oh, it's not for you," Emma admitted freely, holding out her arms to accommodate the other woman. "I'm not stupid enough to try that, although Northman might find it amusing."
"It's self-protection. I don't feel like having my information on anything an overzealous," by which she meant asshole, "-police officer might ask for, when he sees a young lady leaving a vampire ball."
Or, you know, anyone in Emma's world - or Sookie's, or Bobby's, etc. It was easier to convince someone telepathically that what they were seeing was real when they had something physical to hold.
Vampire
"Smart girl," the vampire murmured as she patted Emma down swiftly. "You can't be too careful. Even here, in Vampire's Paradise, USA, the law is all too wary of our kind -- and the humans who associate with us."
Emma
Emma gave her a bright smile at the compliment. "So now I'm an associate," she laughed, tilting her head. "My, how scandalous. My parents would never approve."
Vampire
"All the better," the vampire said. "I never did like parents. You're free to go on in, dear."
Emma
"Thank you," she replied, reclaiming her tiny clutch. "I hope they send someone to relieve you, so that you get to enjoy the party as well."
[posted early in the hopes that maybe I won't spam the flist that much. Preplayed with all those people from before, la, and coded by angelo_wings. NFB, NFI, OOC welcome.]
Sophie-Anne and Peter's home was enormous and sprawling, with large iron gates and vampires stationed there. The guests were divided into lines by sex, with appropriate vampires to search. Inside was an elegant garden party, with bottles of Tru Blood and even some human food and drink visible from outside. Up on the steps of the porch sat the Queen and King, with Andre at her side. Peter Threadgill, a harsh-looking man, was speaking to a fearsome-looking vampire of Asian descent. Sophie-Anne was smiling, but Sookie had her suspicions that her nervousness was lurking just below the surface.
What the hell were they walking into?
Sookie
Sookie had made sure to get a dress that had straps and a skirt she could move in, because she was under no delusions that tonight would be without an opportunity to run.
That being said, she was sort of unused to showing quite that much cleavage. But her date would probably like it. And the queen. These things didn't hurt.
Bobby
Yeah, her date definitely didn't mind the cleavage. His own ensemble was much less with the showing of skin, because this wasn't that kind of party. Just a simple white tux and, because he thought they made him look sophisticated, his favorite pair of sunglasses.
Sookie
"Am I all blue?" Sookie asked, reaching up to tap one stem of his sunglasses.
Bobby
"It's a good look for you," Bobby said with a grin.
Sookie
"Good to know that if I ever get hypothermic, my looks won't go," Sookie laughed, trying not to fidget with her purse as they approached the vampires who'd be searching them. She was pretty sure she was going to be fine, but it wasn't as though she'd told anyone so they'd be able to provide backup.
Vampire
"Bag, please," the female vampire requested, holding out a hand to take Sookie's clutch as the male vampire began to search Bobby quickly.
Sookie
Sookie handed her bag over, watching as the vampire sifted past her compact and lipstick. She tried not to bounce on her heels or anything, schooling her features carefully.
Vampire
"What is this?" the vampire asked after a moment, pulling out a tampon and looking askance at Sookie.
Sookie
Well. She didn't need to wave it around like that. Good lord.
Though, all things considered, the fact that Sookie's blush was natural probably helped things. "It's...for feminine hygiene," she said, casting her eyes downward and thanking her lucky stars that this vampire was too old to have ever used one.
Bobby
Yeah, Bobby was just going to blush and shuffle his feet awkwardly here. Because really, knowing such things existed and having it waved around practically in your face were two very different things when one was a seventeen year old boy.
Kennedy
Kennedy could have gone with her usual bratty instinct and worn a tux anyway, despite being told in no uncertain terms not to. It was just that a different bratty instinct had won out instead, and she'd decided to prove that no matter how much she didn't typically like to, she could look fantastic in a dress, thank you very much.
Despite the hefty price tag on it, she had no qualms about ripping it when-- not if, assuming the track record held up-- things came down to the fighty.
Oh, and she had boots on under the skirt, because no power on earth was getting her into stupid dressy shoes when there was ass-kicking to be done.
Vampire
"Bag?" the vampire asked, eyebrow raised. "We have to search everyone. King's orders."
Kennedy
Kennedy handed over the tiny, practically useless little purse that matched her dress with an innocent shrug. There wasn't anything incriminating in there, anyway, just a powder compact she'd probably never use (except that the mirror might be handy) and lip gloss. Basic purse-type stuff.
"We're not talking airport-security type levels of searching, are we?"
Vampire
"Just a pat-down," the woman said, opening the compact to check her own makeup (and yes, she had a reflection.) "Can't be too careful, you know?"
Kennedy
...oh. Well, then.
"Yeah." Kennedy gave her the kind of smile she hadn't had to use since the last time she was at one of Dad's parties, the kind that meant, but didn't say, yeah, that's nice, can I go now? "I get that. Never know, right? Someone spikes the punch wrong, so much drama..."
Vampire
The vampire moved over beside Kennedy, patting her down quickly to check for any suspicious bulges, and in all honesty, it was probably disappointingly clinical.
"Punch. I haven't had punch in three hundred years," the vampire said with a fanged smile as she turned to search Tara. "You're free to pass."
Kennedy
Not that disappointing, actually; being patted down by a vampire in front of her girlfriend didn't exactly get Kennedy's engine revving.
"Yay, us," she said laconically.
Well, there went her one brilliant plan with the mirror. Damn different-universe's-vampires rules.
Tara
Tara couldn't take her eyes off Kennedy in her dress; she would have had the hottest date in the room either way, but that was just a little extra wow.
She herself had pinned her hair up in an elaborate mound of braids and was wearing something purple. The loose skirt made it easy enough to maneuver if she needed to, and she felt gorgeous in it.
Even if the ball full of vampires aspect made her stomach twist, it was fun getting dressed up. She smiled nervously as she waiuted for the attendant's search.
Kennedy
Could Kennedy stare at her right back? Even if the answer was no, she'd do that; she had the hottest date in the room as far as she was concerned.
"It's cool," she murmured sotto voce, leaning closer. "We'll be fine; we look too damn good not to be."
Tara
"I know," Tara agreed, equally softly as she tried to pitch her voice below what even vampiric ears could pick up. "Just ... not exactly our usual scene, you know?"
Kennedy
Kennedy chuckled. "Not so much, no. Constance is probably cursing my name in a really dignified way right now. I'm mostly focusing on the part where we look really good. 's easier that way."
Which was to say that yeah, she was kind of nervous herself.
Tara
"Much easier," Tara agreed, fiddling a bit with her shawl. "Did you tell Constance where we are, for real?"
That surprised her, though she supposed it shouldn't.
Kennedy
"Tchah, like I gave her the details?" Kennedy idly reached out to trace a fingertip along Tara's shoulder. "But the way she sighed when I told her we were heading here again..."
Tara
"Just because we get in trouble every time we come here..." Tara's tone was indulgent as she reached up to tap that fingertip. "Um. Except this time. Because this time everything will be fine."
Kennedy
Kennedy gave her a look that said oh, please don't have just jinxed it.
"And here I was hoping for more of the usual," was what she said instead. "Just in really fancy outfits instead of the skankalicious look we usually end up rocking when we're here."
Eric
This was fairly standard for a party this fraught with peril political, so Eric was very good about not rolling his eyes as he took his suit coat off and prepared to get patted down.
Vampire
"Evening, Sheriff," the vampire at the gate said, straightening slightly.
Eric
"Evening," Eric replied, giving the man a tiny nod. "Looks like a full house."
Vampire
"You were lucky to be allowed to bring your humans," he said with a little smile, reaching out to pat down Eric's coat.
Eric
"They caught the queen's attention," Eric said blandly. "It's wise to keep her happy."
Vampire
"So soon after dear Hadley's death?" he asked blandly, moving to swiftly pat down Eric's back and front. "I'm glad the queen has found solace after her child's passing."
Eric
"Not in a way that would the marriage contract, of course," Eric added.
Jessica
Jessica was wearing green like Sookie, but a darker shade. She'd never been to a fancy party before, and she had been more than happy to abuse Andre's credit card.
Vampire
"Are you Sheriff Northman's child?" the vampire asked with some interest, her nostrils flaring a little as she took in Jessica's youth.
Jessica
"He ain't my Maker," Jessica replied. "But we're real close. And I work for him."
Vampire
"You could find worse employers," the vampire noted. "I've always been fond of him."
And by 'fond' it was possible she meant 'I slept with him some hundred years ago.'
"What do you do for him? Work in his bar?" she added, gesturing for Jessica to hand over a bag if she had one, or prepare to be patted down.
Jessica
Jessica didn't have a bag, but she did lift her arms for the search. "Yeah, I work in his bar," she said, choosing to omit "not Fangtasia, the other one," since questions about Fandom might be problematic.
"This is kind of like going to the airport now, ain't it?" she giggled.
Vampire
"You're lucky we don't have metal detectors," the vampire replied with a faint smile as she patted Jessica down. "Or those machines that see through your clothing."
Jessica
"Well, that'd just be rude," Jessica said.
She leaned in close to whisper conspiratorially, "So, do you got anything better than that Tru Blood here to drink?"
Vampire
The vampire raised her brows, dropping her voice. "Didn't your maker teach you not to ask that kind of thing?" she tsked, though she added, "There are plenty willing. The trick is finding one who likes you."
Jessica
"My maker sucks," Jessica complained. But Eric would probably lecture her later if he overheard any of this.
But she beamed at what the vampire said next. "I'm sure I won't have any problem. I'm real likable."
Raven
Raven -- shockingly -- was not wearing black. Instead, she'd found a burgundy gown to wear.
As she waited her turn to be searched, she tried to calm herself, though she was certain every vampire in the building could hear her pounding heart. She didn't want to be touched by a vampire, but at least she knew there was no way any of them would be able to know about anything she might have hidden in the netherverse.
Jono
Jonothon was a half-step behind Raven, feeling a touch uncomfortable in his suit, with white silk wrapped up over his face where black leather usually went. He was well aware that they were going to have to be patted down one after another, but that didn't mean he was going to dare stray very far.
He didn't say anything, but he did push a whisper of comfort her way, inviting her to take however much she needed from him for the remainder of the evening.
He wasn't too certain that he'd clear the pat-down, himself. But then, he was putting about as much effort into feeling solid to the touch under that silk as he was into being comforting. It was tiring, but at least that much, he'd only have to keep up until he was through the door.
Vampire
"I like your scarf," the vampire said, eyeing it suspiciously. "Why are you covered that way?"
Jono
Jono just gave a roll of his eyes at the question. He really had no idea how the vampires here would react to him shoving a psionic voice at their heads, but reaching up and tracing his fingers along one of a myriad of burn scars that vanished under his wrappings would probably at least indicate that whatever it was he was covering, it wasn't pretty.
Yes, he was absolutely going to play mute, for the time being.
Vampire
"Burn?" he asked, almost wincing. Few things were actually frightening to vampires. Fire was one. "I understand. Being stared at does get old after awhile. I have to pat you down, all the same."
Jono
Jono had a sneaking suspicion that a vampire couldn't possibly understand just what it was like to have people stare at him just because he was something decidedly less than attractive, but he wasn't about to say anything along those lines. Playing mute worked much better when you didn't employ words, after all.
He did, of course, hold his arms out to the sides for the obligatory pat-down, furrowing his brow slightly as he concentrated on keeping his power under firm enough control to mislead anyone into thinking there was a nice, solid mass of flesh underneath his shirt. His power could be used for concussive blows, so it wasn't impossible, but maintaining a shape this way took a touch more focus.
Vampire
The vampire, of course, didn't notice anything amiss, because he was too busy feeling sadly for Jono. "Well, your silks are very handsome," he decided as he finished patting Jono down. "Go enjoy yourself!"
Jono
Well. That wasn't so terrible, then. Jono at least had the good grace to give the vampire doorman a courteous nod of thanks before stepping into the building, glancing around again for Raven.
He'd take a moment more before slouching a little in relief. At least long enough to be certain that the vampire was busy giving some other guest their patting-down. He'd just discovered some sort of freakish equivalent to holding his breath and sucking in his gut for the span of a few minutes, and now he wanted little more than to spend the next few minutes slumping bonelessly against things.
Ah well. He was in, at least.
Vampire
"Excited?" the female vampire asked her with a fanged smile. She could, indeed, hear Raven's fear, though she was chalking it up to terror in the face of vampires.
Raven
"I have never been to a vampire ball," Raven said, forcing her voice to remain steady as she handed the vampire her clutch, which had little more than a compact and eyeliner inside.
Vampire
"You have made friends with Her Majesty, though," the vampire said with a little quirk of a smile as she peeked in the bag, opening the compact as she had with Kennedy's. "You have found a fine occasion to make a debut."
Raven
"She requested our presence here," Raven said with a short nod. She could have refused and stayed behind, but she wasn't going to let her own fears get in the way of being there to provide healing or a fast exit for her friends if something went wrong.
Vampire
"Then you will be fine," the vampire said, indicating for Raven to prepare to be pat down. "We don't bite, dear. Unless asked."
Raven
Raven flinched despite her best efforts, and her pulse quickened. "I am not asking," she said.
Vampire
The vampire patted her down quickly, quirking a non-fangy smile when she was done. "Pity, that. You're free to go in."
Raven
Raven managed a quick nod of thanks, somehow managing to be polite despite the fear that was taking her voice. She stepped quickly away and moved to Jono's side, his nearness allowing her to relax. A little.
Squall
Squall politely and wordlessly handed his tuxedo jacket to the security guards, and then stood with his arms out and legs apart. Pat-downs sucked.
Rinoa
Rinoa handed over her clutch purse and held her hands up. Though she did plan on giving anyone a Look if they got frisky.
More so if they wrinkled her dress.
"I'm not used to seeing you in a tux," she said lightly.
Most formal events, he stuck to his SeeD uniform.
Squall
Squall shrugged. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" He gestured at his suit and turned a little so Rinoa could see. "Do you like?"
Rinoa
"I like," she said, holding out her arm so he would take it. "Very classy. Now you're supposed to tell me how nice I look, and then we go into the ball."
Squall
"Didn't I already tell you how nice you look?" Squall asked. They'd had the whole journey over here. He must have told her at least once, right? Probably?
Rinoa
"You should say it again," Rinoa decided. "Just so I know for sure."
Princess, Squall. Princess.
Squall
Yeah, princess. He knew.
"You look gorgeous in that dress," he told her. "It's very pretty."
Rinoa
"Thank you," she said primly. "Shall we?"
Squall
He nodded and offered her his arm. "We shall. Be on your guard."
Warren
Dressing up was something that Warren excelled at. He'd gone with the most expensive suit he could find, and quite stubbornly paid for it out of his own wallet. Going that particular route had meant that this was going to be a tucking-the-wings-in sort of day, with them folded carefully under his shirt and jacket, flight feathers tucked in down the legs of his pants, but he'd decided for himself that this was probably the best course of action. Simply hiding them with his bracelet wasn't going to stop people from running into them, if this place was too crowded.
He wasn't too antsy by the time it was his turn to step up to the door. A pat-down? Why should a pat-down bother a Worthington? He had absolutely nothing to hide. Truly.
Karla
Much like Raven, Karla had eschewed her usual color choice and gone for something a little different. The slit in the skirt would come in handy when the inevitable fight happened and, well, it had struck her Black Widow fancy far to much to ignore. Her Sapphire had a sight shield over it; no reason to let more vampires know it existed that necessary. Rather than present a bare throat, however, she'd chosen something simple. Just a slim black ribbon choker.
Well, simplish maybe.
"Kiss kiss, darling," she murmured, sliding her hand through Warren's arm as they stepped into the doorway. "Ready to have fun?"
Vampire
"Do you have a bag?" the female vampire asked Karla, eyeing her quickly.
Karla
"I don't," Karla said, with the bored carelessness of someone used to talking to menials. "This is a party. I have better things to do than hold something all night."
Whatever, vampires. Karla still outranked you--and had a boyfriend that might need a distracted pat down.
Vampire
"Keep your hands free for other things," the vampire said mildly, though she smirked just slightly as she gestured for Karla to hold out her arms.
Karla
"Well, it is a party," Karla pointed out, glancing up at the vampire from under her lashes. "I'm here to have fun."
It was an unspoken invite that she had less than no intention of following up on, but it wouldn't hurt anyone to have people thinking Karla was just a bit of brainless fluff.
Vampire
She grinned back, flashing her fangs briefly. "And indeed you shall," she said, patting Karla down quickly. "No one throws a party like Peter Threadgill."
Vampire
"Who made your suit?" the vampire asked curiously, giving Warren a distracted once-over.
Warren
"It's a Valentino," Warren replied, with that aloof, confident air that came when you were a man in a very expensive suit, who had paid for it himself on next to no notice, and who could probably afford several more just like it for the rest of the days of the week. "I would have preferred a Fioravanti, or perhaps a Caraceni, but there wasn't nearly enough time to book an appointment back in New York once we'd gotten the invitation."
Of course.
Vampire
The vampire arched a brow. "You're a man of taste," he said, indicating for Warren to hold his arms out to prepare for the pat-down.
Warren
Warren simply inclined his chin, looking every bit the confident Worthington while he obediently held out his arms.
He did not feel terribly confident.
"I'm a man who can afford taste," he replied, because it was a matter of course. "It would have been a sin to arrive at an event like this one wearing anything less."
Vampire
The vampire quickly patted Warren down, distracted enough by the fabric of the suit to even really check his back. Warren's lapels were so finely made. "I think," he said conspiratorially, as he finished, "that this may be finer than the king's. He'll want to know where you got it."
Warren
Oh, wow, saved by the suit. Warren gave the vampire a crooked little grin, trying not to look too relieved that he'd only gotten a half-assed going over, and nodded.
"I can refer him to better," he noted, pulling his wallet from his pocket and producing a card for one of the few designers back in New York that his father frequented. It was amazing just what a handful of those little pieces of paper could get you through. "They're appointment only, of course, and perhaps a touch out of the way, but I'm certain that somebody as resourceful as your king would be able to work around such trivialities with minimal fuss."
He was pulling this out of his ass like a madman, yes.
"Now, I wouldn't dream of detaining you from your duties any longer."
Emma
Emma had caved in to her sense of whimsy, and gone with a gown of historic fashion inspiration. Surely vampires could appreciate the classics in a way her classmates usually did not.
Her hair had been swept up into a chignon, with a few pieces framing her face, and fit of her dress made it rather obvious that she wasn't carrying any weapons. Still, she handed over her weetiny clutch, which only had a fake ID and lipstick, with a smile to vampire attendant.
Vampire
The vampire peeked through the purse, picking up the ID with interest. She glanced from Emma to the card before replacing it. "You're not going to fool many here, dear," she said, gesturing that she was about to begin the pat-down, "but you're partying with vampire royalty. That grants you alcoholic immunity, I think."
Emma
"Oh, it's not for you," Emma admitted freely, holding out her arms to accommodate the other woman. "I'm not stupid enough to try that, although Northman might find it amusing."
"It's self-protection. I don't feel like having my information on anything an overzealous," by which she meant asshole, "-police officer might ask for, when he sees a young lady leaving a vampire ball."
Or, you know, anyone in Emma's world - or Sookie's, or Bobby's, etc. It was easier to convince someone telepathically that what they were seeing was real when they had something physical to hold.
Vampire
"Smart girl," the vampire murmured as she patted Emma down swiftly. "You can't be too careful. Even here, in Vampire's Paradise, USA, the law is all too wary of our kind -- and the humans who associate with us."
Emma
Emma gave her a bright smile at the compliment. "So now I'm an associate," she laughed, tilting her head. "My, how scandalous. My parents would never approve."
Vampire
"All the better," the vampire said. "I never did like parents. You're free to go on in, dear."
Emma
"Thank you," she replied, reclaiming her tiny clutch. "I hope they send someone to relieve you, so that you get to enjoy the party as well."
[posted early in the hopes that maybe I won't spam the flist that much. Preplayed with all those people from before, la, and coded by angelo_wings. NFB, NFI, OOC welcome.]