Great welcome makes a merry feast

[hermia_sophia]

Friday, October 16, early evening
Valmont and Hermia's apartment

It is not a party. Of that I was absolutely adamant.

Valmont teased me about it, but only a very little and only very gently, for he understood, even if it's an absurd superstition on my part. I haven't had a party in Excolo that's gone well. So I won't call this a party. It's a

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[valmont_vicomte]

I don't want a party, Hermia said, and so I was careful to phrase the invitations without the dreaded p word. Valmont Laclos and Hermia Stephanides cordially invite you to an evening of good wine and good conversation in celebration of their engagement. Supper will be served. The dining area is almost entirely filled with tables and chairs; I had to borrow two more tables in order to provide enough room for all our guests. Hermia's floral arrangements look lovely.

I step over to Hermia, who is petting Nestor.

"Will I do?" I say, smoothing down the lapels of my jacket. I have chosen to wear a deep navy suit tonight with a pair of diamond cufflinks; I feel the outfit complements Hermia's ring, although I doubt anyone else will notice the connection. The ring winks on her finger in the candlelight, and I smile. We looked at a lot of rings, but this one just seemed right. I take her hand, running my finger across the stones.

"Apparently the sapphire is the symbol of heaven," I say. "Which seems a good sort of omen." I smile.

[hermia_sophia]

"Will I do?"

Valmont's voice takes me by happy surprise. I look up - oh my, it's the navy suit that becomes him so well. I've chosen the red dress - its little jacket is perfect for the evening chill, and there's something that pleases me about wearing what I wore for our first trip to the carnival.

"You look wonderful," I murmur, holding Valmont's hand as I rise. I watch the flash of candlelight on my ring and the little diamonds in Valmont's cufflinks, white light against blue - I can't resist the vanity of turning my hand to and fro to catch the light.

"Apparently the sapphire is the symbol of heaven," I say. "Which seems a good sort of omen."

"I can't think of a better one," I say softly, smiling up at him. "Heaven and stars." I slip a little closer, sliding my arms around Valmont. "Do you like what I did with the flowers?"

[valmont_vicomte]

"You look wonderful," says Hermia, and I smile.

"So do you. I've always liked this dress," I say, touching the collar of the jacket. "It reminds me of doing this," I add, and I lean in and kiss her, remembering the feel of the cool air above the carnival, sitting in a ferris wheel. It feels like yesterday and like a lifetime ago all at once.

"Heaven and stars. Do you like what I did with the flowers?"

"They are beautiful," I say, looking down at her with a smile. "Speaking of stars, let me show you what I did in the garden," I add, opening the French doors. I show her the path to the gate, through which I expect our guests will come. I have lined it with tealights; in the deepening twilight, they do look a little like flickering stars. "To guide our guests to us," I say, and I smile.

[chester_excolo]

I'm a corner of the garden near the path waiting for others to arrive so I can enter politely. I see Valmont open the door and trot out to the center of the path.

"Hey, there Kiddo. Valmont. Congrats to both of you."

[valmont_vicomte]

cont here

[kateohara]

I tug at my skirt a little nervously, making sure it is smooth, and pause at the gate to Valmont and Hermia's home. It feels strange being on Silk Road at night... But at least this is a respectable party.

"Ready to go in?" I say to Tess. She does look pretty, I think. It took me ages to pick my outfit tonight; I'm not sure why. It's a supper party rather than a party with dancing, I think, so the white dress I wore to Eris and Lugh and Ares (may he rest in peace)'s party didn't seem quite right, but I didn't want to wear a stuffy sort of suit. Eventually I settled on a black satin dress I've had for a while. I've put on a string of pearls and made sure my hair is set nicely. "Oh look," I say, pushing the gate open. "How pretty," I add, looking at the candles lighting a path up the garden.

[tess_thiess]

Bin lots 'a news from town. Anushka Voronin dyin', her house burnin', the man Johnny said was a god dyin' too... well. I was a bit sad t'hear 'bout Lady Voronin. Her family's bin in Excolo fer ages. Johnny seemed pretty shaken by it. He did say he's made a friend in town though. I plan on meetin' him soon, so I can make sure he ain't like Johnny's last 'friend'. He dint tell me much 'bout Conley, but the boy sounded like trouble.

I bin feelin' better, lately. Kate's taken real good care 'a me, and we've bin spendin' time chattin' and such. I still ain't sure if I should tell her how much I like her, but otherwise it's bin lovely. I ain't too sure 'bout this party, but I dint want her t'have t'go by herself, neither. And, well, I dunt exactly object t'goin' with her either. Even if it ain't like we're goin' together. And I should meet some more folks in town

[kateohara]

"That dress really is lovely on you," I say as we walk down the path. "The colour suits you much better than it does me," I add, and it does - the orange sets off her hair just beautifully, whilst I think it made me look a little sallow. I want to tell her she can keep it, but she might think it was charity. I smile and wave at Hermia and Valmont at the end of the path, but frown a little when I see Chester. Not because I'm worried about seeing him, but I am a little worried by what Tess will think - is she ready to see a talking cat? Well, I suppose there's no time like the present to find out...

cont here

[mistresswanda]

Isn't this odd?
Going to an engagement dinner for a couple who were engaged after Lucien and I, but we have had no formal announcement or celebration.
Some days, I think we shall never see the day...
But still, I cling to the hope. Even with my growing attachment to my dark, quiet Kent, I hold out hope that everything will be alright between Lucien and I.

That's why we are attending the party together, even though we have never felt further apart. Arm in arm, me in my red dress Dorian made me, and Lucien in a black suit and maroon shirt, we enter the garden walk, right behind Kate and a young woman I recognize from market, I believe.

"Is everything alright darling?" I whisper to Lucien, looking at him slightly concerned. He is very quiet tonight. "We don't have to stay long." I offer, thinking maybe we could go to the tavern for a drink.

[docconstantine]

I am still unsure why I am even attending this, let alone why we are attending together. It's bad enough the rumor mill has me abandoning Wanda for 'the Asian whore', and that I abuse her mentally if not physically (I've heard both), but the latest? That she's now been seen running about with a laborer?

Something we will have to talk about, I think.

"Is everything alright darling?" Wanda's lyrical voice brings me out of maudlin thoughts, and I look down into her eyes. "We don't have to stay long." For as broken as we are, she still puts others above her own wants. I pause for a minute and cup her cheek. "Just miss you is all..." I sigh, kissing her forehead. I smile a bit more when she leans in closer to me.

"Come on pretty lady, lets go be social."

[hermia_sophia]

We step outside into the growing dusk...where Valmont has set up dozens of little candles to line the path, as if fireflies had landed on . "It's lovely!" I breathe, and squeeze his hand tighter. "Oh, they do look like stars! Thank you

[valmont_vicomte]

I smile at Chester.

"Thank you," I say. "It's good to see you," I say, and I can say it quite sincerely. Things have been easier between us since the duel, I think.

Kate O'Hara comes into the garden with a young woman who looks vaguely familiar, and Wanda and Lucien are not far behind.

"Welcome one and all," I say with a smile. "If you want to come inside, we have plenty of drinks before dinner." I give Hermia's side a little squeeze and then let go so we can both attend to being hosts. Hermia turns to Kate and her friend, and I smile at Wanda and Lucien.

"Wanda, you look lovely, as usual." And a little tense, although I don't say that. "And Lucien, you do continue to be one of the handsomest men in town. Good looking and a doctor - no wonder the Wilsons seem keen to have you over to dinner," I tease. "Would you like a drink, either of you? We have a couple of different wines, and soft drinks of course." I think we will keep the hard spirits off the table tonight... Wine seems less likely to result in discord.

[glass_beddau]

Only dinner, not a party, and count me bloody glad of that. I've only just gotten up again, an Excolo party would be a little much