(Untitled)

[bennet_beauty]

It was only fitting, Jane believed, that she would hold this party upon such an eventful day. Five years ago, she had arrived upon the island and her whole life had changed. She was no longer the young girl that she had once been and was no longer trapped in the confines of a time when her options were greatly limited. Though the date coincided,

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[stormweathered]

Castle was delighted that apparently a committee of gods-on-high had been listening to his list of demands. More fancy-dress (or costume, whatever people called it these days) parties was right up there with monkey butlers and 'condo on my moon property'. Since he didn't think the rocket technology was anywhere near getting him to the moon and he couldn't seem to find any monkeys willing to wear suits, fancy dress was going to have to do.

He was moving through the crowd with as debonair a smile as he could muster, wearing a tuxedo and acting like he was James Bond. And really, truly, in his head, a part of him really did think like that. He smiled at the next passing guest, thinking that now was as good a time as any to begin socializing more. "Castle," he introduced himself. "Richard Castle. Would you like a drink?"

[ffyddlon]

The name's familiar if only because Kate's mentioned it and Gwen can't help but nod. She's uncomfortable with the dress, yes, but parties are something she's always enjoyed and a drink might help ease some of the tension that she's got about being so dressed up.

"Love one, actually. Two, if you've got it."

[stormweathered]

"Two for you? And why the double-fisting?" Castle wondered, but still handed her two drinks because when a beautiful lady requests something of you, you do it. "Is it the fancy dress? I know my mother compulsively drinks when she's dressed up. Something about flights of whimsy and fancy."

[ffyddlon]

Gwen laughs and bites at her lower lip lightly before nodding. "I've never been very good at being traditionally girly," she says, figuring that explains most of it. "Last time I wore a dress this fine, I was getting married. Think that just about explains everything."

Leather and boots are a lot more comfortable in this juncture of Gwen's life. She's not sure how that happened, but shedding that skin to don this one has proven difficult.

[stormweathered]

"And is the lucky husband here?" Castle asked as he reached back to find a drink of his own, now that he had given up both of them in the face of desperate-needing.

[ffyddlon]

"No," Gwen says and while she thinks it should feel strange, it sort of doesn't. She's spent so much of her life hiding things from Rhys and protecting him from what she does that this place...she doesn't miss him as much as she should.

"I think he'd hate it. He's not the island sort."

[stormweathered]

"We are a choosy sort," he agreed with a debonair grin, going with it. "With all our dinosaurs and our parties, not to mention our random gifts and physical affectations. Is he not a fan of being made to tell the truth? Because if not, definitely right. Not the island sort at all."

[ffyddlon]

“No, Rhys is probably the most honest person you’ll ever meet,” Gwen says, laughing a little. “It’s me you have to worry about. I’ve always been a cool lie. Sort of half to be, considering what I do.”

It’s easy enough to talk to him, though, and Gwen wonders if that means she’ll be spilling her secrets like she did that morning in the kitchen. She doesn’t fear it as much as she used to though she thinks maybe Ianto would forgive her for it, at least as long as she keeps it on the island. Jack, she’s reasonably sure he will too.

[stormweathered]

"And what is it you do?" Castle ruminated curiously. "Circus clown? No, wait, let me guess. Gas station attendant. I've always known they were rife with lies. You can see it in their eyes when you ask for the bathroom key," he said, absolutely dead-serious -- in the way that his eyes were half-crazed.

[ffyddlon]

"I...used to be a PC. What you Americans call a police officer? What I do now is classified, I'm afraid," Gwen says, but she couples it with a smile so he knows she isn't being deliberately rude.

"And you?"

[stormweathered]

"Classified," Castle mused, toasting his drink to her before taking a few sips. "I take it that means I'm not that far off the mark with the gas station attendant. I, however, am a famous author. I say that with complete immodesty because my book sales attest to it."

[ffyddlon]

Gwen can't help but giggle at the idea of pumping petrol and she shakes her head. "No, no, I work for a government agency."

It's more or less true, after all.

"Wait...you're Kate's boyfriend, then, aren't you? The writer?"

[stormweathered]

"I am Kate's boyfriend, the writer," Castle confirmed with a charming grin. "Otherwise known as the giant pain in her ass that she started to like so very much earlier than she'd have you believe."

[ffyddlon]

Gwen laughs. "She seems fond of you, for what it's worth. Nothing but positive words on this end, anyway. She practically gushed over you the first time I met her."

[stormweathered]

"That's because I wasn't around," Castle said knowingly, tapping his finger to his nose. "Trust me. The minute I arrive, I can guarantee that suddenly I become the scum of the earth. She has a reputation to maintain and all."

[ffyddlon]

"A reputation of not liking you?" Gwen asks, amused by the whole thing. "Can't imagine why that would be the case. You seem perfectly charming to me, as far as that goes."