D'Angelines' housewarming / Phedre's birthday

[loveasthouwilt]

The sun was going down, and the house was finally ready for guests. I stood in front of the mirror in Joscelin's and my bedchamber, surveying myself one last time before returning to the main room where already, Karolina, Bill and Mohinder were helping the preparations. My dress was one I'd loved for quite some time, a long low-backed gown of black

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[loveasthouwilt]

The night was still young, but I thought I could say for a fair certainty that it was a success. I had a beautiful room, guests who were enjoying themselves, and an abundance of food and drink to keep them occupied. For that matter, I had a drink of my own that needed refilling-- the Starks' hard cider was delicious, and I felt myself in need of another cup. Standing at the cask with the ladle in hand I sensed someone behind me. "Wait your turn," I teased, half-turning my head to see who it was out of the corner of my eye.

[misanthrope_md]

"What if I'm here for you and not the booze?"

House stood behind her, a strange mix of well-groomed and haggard. Despite the fact that it was clear he was freshly showered, and the shirt underneath his sports coat was free of wrinkles, he looked as if he hadn't slept in days.

[loveasthouwilt]

"Then I would still say wait your turn," I replied, a smile curving one side of my mouth. "The cup was here first." I set the ladle down carefully next to the cask, taking my time turning to face him. He had taken care to dress well, and indeed I still found him as attractive as I ever had; but that did not stop me noticing the exhaustion lining his eyes. I was not about to speak on it where others might hear, though, so instead I held the cup out to him with a smile and got another for myself. "Your hands are empty; have you heard nothing of how D'Angelines throw a party?"

[misanthrope_md]

"Oh, I could make a pretty good guess how you guys party," House admitted with a small smirk, but handed the cup back to her anyway. "I'm not planning to stay long, and probably best if I keep my wits about me."

[kaleidoscopeyed]

She's been excited all day. Planning, setting up, and baking with Phedre to put her pretty party together. Phedre makes everything look effortless to her eye even though Karolina knows how much work has gone into make everything look this way.

She's cleaned herself up and is walking around in a light blue party dress, her hair left long and only held back away from her face by a clip, the rest of it hanging down her back. She talks, she laughs, and helps Phedre where she's needed, but mostly she dances and enjoys herself.

[loveasthouwilt]

I met Karolina at the table as we both found ourselves with empty cups and looking to remedy the situation. "I can't thank you enough for all your help," I told her, slipping my arm around her waist in a brief hug. "This would truly have been a different evening altogether without you." Gesturing at the bottles, I asked, grinning, "What are you drinking this evening?"

[kaleidoscopeyed]

Karolina returns the hug one handed, balancing her glass in the other. "It's been such a fun day. It's hard to believe that there isn't more work to do now though. We can just sit back and enjoy your party." She grins at Phedre and then shakes her head. "Something red. I honestly don't know what I'm drinking half the time. Is that bad?"

[loveasthouwilt]

"Here, most of the time 'tis probably to your advantage," I said, making a little face. "I would never have thought myself a drinking woman before coming here, but in truth, I could live the rest of my days on mangoes and boar meat if only I had decent wine to wash it down with." I gestured to the table and the bottles I'd bartered for. "Here, at least, you may be assured of good drink, thanks to Helen's good business sense."

[intrinsicworth]

Glen ambled in looking dapper. He'd left Kojak in Nick's care although he'd tried to coax his friend into coming along with him. Glen though he might still show and that would be fine, just fine in his estimation. He knew that Nick and Phedre taught together and that might be impetus enough to get Nick out of the hut. But who knew.

Glen greeted the folk he knew as he came in, nodded to those he didn't and made a noisy circuit of the room, talking to anyone who would bend an ear.

[kingshit_lloyd]

How he'd ended up being Cuthbert's plus one, Lloyd wasn't too sure (he had a feeling Bert and Al hadn't fully grasped the concept), but as long as it scored him a free ticket to a party, he didn't mind.

It was a really nice place, and it was one of those respectable, well-behaved parties (or Lloyd assumed it was, anyway, since he'd never actually been invited to that sort of thing before) which made Lloyd feel a bit on the self-conscious side. He steered clear of the alcohol for now, just in case.

Bert was chatting to the hot tattooed chick (at least Lloyd remembered her name, which he couldn't say about the other two Frenchies), and Lloyd stuck to the side of the room, doing his best to avoid sticking out like a sore thumb (which he was pretty sure he ran the risk of, despite being dressed for the occasion).

Well, it could have been worse. He could have been Sandor.

"Hey, Glen," Lloyd greeted, cheered to come across a familiar face. "So whose date are you?"

[intrinsicworth]

If there was one man who seemed to turn up like a bad penny, it was Lloyd Henreid. The fact that Lloyd himself might have described himself that way only emphasized the idea. Glen turned his head at the sound of the man's voice, somehow unsurprised that he was here.

"I'm here stag, Lloyd," Glen said raising an eyebrow. He turned to fully face Lloyd and crossed his arms. "Whose date are you?"

[saikamai]

Phedre's kiss still burning like a brand on his face, Cuthbert glanced around after she'd walked away to a greet a newcomer and saw Lloyd and Glen talking on the other side of the room. He hastened over, carrying with him three cups of wine balanced carefully between his fingers, excusing himself in the crowd.

"Gentlemen," he greeted happily, offering a glass to either man, and when one arm was free, he flung it around Lloyd in a comradely fashion and grinned at Glen.

[theunascended]

"Bon anniversaire, nos vœux les plus sincères
Que ces quelques fleurs vous apportent le bonheur
Que l'année entière vous soit douce et légère
Et que l'an fini, nous soyons tous réunis
Pour chanter en chœur : "Bon Anniversaire !"

Daniel's voice wasn't the best. He usually left the singing to Jack or pretty much anyone with a voice better than his, but it was Phedre's birthday and he was pretty sure she wouldn't mind too much if he butchered the song.

[will_you_see]

Once Phedre had thanked Daniel for the well wishes, Alcuin approached him with a smile and greeted him with a kiss on both cheeks. "Bonne soiree, Daniel."

[theunascended]

Daniel smiled when he realized who it was. There were only a finite number of people who actually spoke French regularly to him after all, and both people happened to be at the party. "Alcuin. How are you?"

[will_you_see]

"Well. Exceedingly well. Have you seen Phedre? She is radiant. This is as much at home as I think she has ever felt. And it is a blessing to be surrounded by friends."

[poison_lipstick]

Saffron was very pleased with the deal she'd struck with Phedre that left her out a few bottles of liquor but up one waitress. Slowly but surely, they were making their way towards enough staff for two full shifts.

She had on one of her flirty little black dresses for the party, and Warrick as her date, who looked so damn sexy in the black jacket, button down shirt and jeans she'd chosen for him that she was definitely looking forward to taking them off of him later that night. He was off getting them drinks, so she mingled among the guests, looking for others she knew as well as the hostess.

[alaspoorwarrick]

I nod to Grayson on my way to get drinks. He and Drake are about the only people I recognize so far. Helen says Abs'll be here, and that's cool. Been awhile since I had a chance to hang with that girl and I doubt Helen'll mind me giving her a little love.

If she does, I'll make it up to her later, 'cos damn my girl looks fly in her LBD, y'know what I'm saying? I slide my hand around her waist when I come back with her drink and tell her so. "Girl, you're wearing the hell out of that dress," I say real soft against her ear.

[poison_lipstick]

She smiled, pleased, and turned her head slightly towards him. "Thank you, honey," Saffron replied, pausing half a heartbeat before the last word when she almost slipped up and said baby. She covered any irritation from the near slip by giving him a smirk - what Lloyd might have referred to as a 'shit-eating grin'. "Whoever picked your clothes tonight is clearly a genius, because you look especially handsome."

[alaspoorwarrick]

"Aww, yeah. Girl's damned hot, too, redhead, wicked curves, mouth like you wouldn't believe." I make like I'm looking around for her, lift the glass up to my forehead to shield from the glare, nod my head to the imaginary girl across the room, then bring it on back. "Shit, there you are girl, I've been looking all over for you." I bend my head down to kiss her once, quickly, so we don't get into it right here, then hand her her drink.