"What did you do on your birthday?" "Got older."

[hermia-sophia.livejournal.com]

Evening of Thursday, September 10, Day 102
Garden behind the Whitechapel Inn

My twenty-third birthday.

Dear Valmont, he is trying so very hard to make this a happy day for me! Waking with a kiss (even though I could hardly sleep last night), flowers on the breakfast table. And telling me that I should take the day off to luxuriate, which was wonderfully tempting, but I had to go back to the library. I did not want to feel that I was being kept away, for if I were, then Lysander would be winning. And I had to make sure that the library would still feel tranquil to me after yesterday - I don't want to lose that peaceful place I have found there.

When I walked in and saw the chaos that Lydia had made, I laughed until I cried. Or possibly the reverse - it was rather hard to tell at the time. And then we straightened the books up, and when I was done, I turned around to find a little book of poetry that had not been there before on the front desk, tied with a bow, and my smile came back.

And then Valmont came to walk me home, and we have kept happily busy and distracted with setting up the party. Through some unspoken pact, we have not mentioned Lysander all day. The thought of what happened yesterday still makes me feel as if I am falling...but I will not fall,and I will not let it ruin today, for today is about my new life and all of the people who belong to it. Valmont. My new friends. And...well, some of those coming are 'people' only in a rather loose sense of the term. But I would not want to risk bringing ill fortune down on myself by not inviting my people's gods! And there's Chester as well, who I suppose doesn't exactly count as a person either. Ah, Excolo guest lists. There's something comforting in that very oddness, though. People, creatures, gods - they are all part of Excolo and my new life. My new year.

The lanterns dance in the trees; the light of the setting sun glints off of the wine bottles and glasses, and I wait in the garden, feeling a little bit of peace. Let today be free of unhappiness, please! Let me be safe in the garden on my own day...

[Open to party guests]

Comments

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

"Dorian's... been dealing with a matter of old friends. Think it's tied him down a little. Sure he'll be fine." Quietly slipping behind Glass and Wanda, I hear Dorian's name mentioned. Ah, Wanda's curious but Glass has the right notion. "He's quite busy but I doubt he'll keep you waiting for long, Wanda. As he tells it, you're one of his favorite customers. Give him another week, and if he's not come to you by then, I'll cheerfully distract his assistant while you sneak past and consult with him in the back." I give her a wink and grin at both women as I lead them to a table and settle close to my love.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"Consultation and taking careful measurements, I'm sure," I murmur, shaking my head a touch as I lean back into Iago, lacing the fingers of my hand through his. "Won't Winnie take that well--if she even notices, with your distraction," I add, following them and leaning light towards Iago as we sit down.

"Cariad, would you like my whiskey?" I'm thinking that 'til I'm sure we're done skirting the matter of Dorian, I maybe ought leave off drinking. There's a pleasanter topic easy to hand, though. "'ve you chosen a place or a time you'd want for it?" I ask Wanda.

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

Miao excuses herself to speak with Hermia, so I decide to rejoin my fiancee'. She, Iago and Glass are heading towards a table when I hear my girl complaining prettily that she can't find her dress-maker. Iago, bless him, tries to lighten her mood, and Glass switches subjects to get her mind off Dorian. "'ve you chosen a place or a time you'd want for it?"

Pull up a chair along side my girl and slide an arm around her shoulder, pulling her to lean into me which she does. Place a kiss on the top of her head, and manage a tired smile.
"I personally was thinking late October, when the leaves will match her hair... but since the buzz seems to be our wedding may be the social event of the season, it will be whenever she gets the details to her liking." I feel her laugh a little, and I take the whiskey from her and drink the rest.

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

Glass echoes the sentiment of consultations and I chuckle as she leans close, adding, "Won't Winnie take that well--if she even notices, with your distraction." I grin slyly, eyebrow cocked suggestively as we take our seats. "I'm quite the distraction when I set my mind to it, love. Fortunately for Winnie, my heart wouldn't be in it and she'd escape unscathed. Marriage seems to agree with me." I slide my hand over her knee, hidden by the table as my grin turns mischievous.

"Cariad, would you like my whiskey?" Turning to Wanda, my clever girl shifts the topic lightly. "'ve you chosen a place or a time you'd want for it?"

Nodding to my love, I take her glass in one hand as I squeeze the soft flesh of her thigh with the other. "Thank you, love," as I squeeze her once more as Lucien joins us, embracing Wanda as he sits down. "I personally was thinking late October... leaves will match her hair... but since the buzz... social event of the season... whenever she gets the details to her liking." Ah, another wedding and for friends as well. This is good news indeed and I smile genuinely as I say, "Congratulations to both of you and best wishes, truly."

I slide my hand further up, grinning slyly again as I shoot Lucien and Wanda a wink and a pleading 'don't give me away' expression before taking a sip of my newly-acquired whiskey.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"I'm quite the distraction when I set my mind to it, love. Fortunately for Winnie, my heart wouldn't be in it and she'd escape unscathed."

"I'd be hard-pressed to call your distractions scathing--" Feel the heat of his hand through the cloth of my dress and stop talking as I look down at the table for a moment, rest my hand up over the side of my face closest to Wanda as the blush threatens to rise. Sun's well on its way to setting, no-one's looking nor has a vantage to see----well, Chester might, but Mab has him right now. Calm yourself, Glass...

"...thinking late October, when the leaves will match her hair..." Compose myself and glance up at Lucien. "But since the buzz seems to be our wedding may be the social event of the season, it will be whenever she gets the details to her liking."

"May is rather understating it, I think," I say, measuring my voice out and keeping it steady despite the light weight and stroke of fingers against my thigh. "Sure it'll be lovely. Let me know if you need a hand." Feel somehow odd, saying that last, but I'm not minding it much at all... and then I'm really... well. What was I going to say...? "Best to both of you, indeed," I manage, my voice soundly remarkably level.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

Lucien is warm along side of me, and gods! This is the most time we've spent together since Tuesday morning.
It seems like a lifetime ago.

Iago offers to distract the new shop-girl so I can get to Dorian, and I smile despite myself. "Thank you, I may take you up on that is the bastard doesn't show his face by the end of next week." I grumble, taking my glass back from Lucien. Dammit, empty.

"But since the buzz seems to be our wedding may be the social event of the season, it will be whenever she gets the details to her liking." With a wry grin, I tickle Lucien right under his ribs, where I know it will make him squirm. "May is rather understating it, I think, Sure it'll be lovely. Let me know if you need a hand." Glass says, a little distracted. Oh, I hope the talk of another wedding doesn't grate too much on her, I know how she hated to plan her own. "That's kind of you... there's so many little details..." Wave my hand. "I'll find a week to close and figure it all out."

The already married couple offers their congratulations, and I smile and curl into Lucien's arm's more. "Thank you, truly." Smile and turn my face into Lucien's neck, inhaling the scent that is all his.
Oh my love, take me home soon....

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

My hand's made it to her upper thigh and neither Wanda nor Lucien have batted an eye. Glass, on the other hand, is lightly blushing through my distractions. "Best to both of you, indeed." I give her an innocent grin as I finish my drink, savoring the heat of her flesh under my hand. It's a grand party, made more so by the sweet game I'm playing. To be fair though, teasing Glass is my favorite pastime and I never tire of it.

Wanda talks of details and nestles into Lucien's arms while offering her thanks, "Thank you, truly." She's missed my look and encouraged by my small success, I lean close to Glass and hotly whisper in her ear, "Are you thirsty, love? Something besides whiskey, perhaps?" I shake my now-empty drink and look at her questioningly while maintaining my innocent expression.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, I may take you up on that is the bastard doesn't show his face by the end of next week." Takes her glass back from Lucien and finds it empty, and perhaps that's not all to the bad; I've only seen her drink as quick as she was doing at the table when upset. "That's kind of you... there's so many little details..." Nod absently--

(steady gentle stroke through my skirt, gliding almost painfully slow up my leg
(oh you incredible bastard, just wait until I get you alone--)

--and drag my attention back to what Wanda's actually saying. Time off, time to think... "Taking the week couldn't hurt, for planning nor in general," I say. Senseless, but I'm trying... Not sure it makes a difference, though, as Wanda curls into Lucien and I glance away to give them a moment. Reach for my--Iago's--glass and find it's empty and he's murmuring in my ear, and the heat of his breath is sending shivers all down my throat. And he's looking innocent as sunrise, blue eyes and the smell of cigarettes, and damn him for being able to do that...

"Something besides whiskey, perhaps?"

"Maybe something a little lighter, as we're still at the party," I say faintly, glancing around once more and spit and staunchweed, Glass, it's only one hand, but I'm finding it a touch hard to be steady, regardless. "I--what'd you suggest?"

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

Wanda all but climbs into my lap, burying her face into my neck.
Fuuny, second time today I've found myself in this position.

"Taking the week couldn't hurt, for planning nor in general," Glass says, and I nod, sliding my hand up Wanda's back to tangle in her hair so I can rub my fingertips against her scalp. She sighs contently, breath warm agaonst my collar. "Wish I could do the same but..." manage a wry smile.
"I'm lucky if I get a day's peace to myself. I'm afraid I'll have to leave the majority of the details to the bride to be here."

I wait patiently for a reply from my Wanda as Iago and Glass speak of getting more to drink, when I realize her breathing is soft and even, and the hands around my waist are limp and relaxed. Laugh softly and turn fy face to kiss the top of her head. "She's out cold, isn't she?" I whisper to the couple across from me, smiling.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

I know the conversation is moving on without me, I even get that I am being teased lightly by Lucien...
but my eyes have closed of their own accord, and I can't be troubled to open them again.
"She's out cold, isn't she?" Lucien's voice, soft and wonderful, comes from somewhere far off, and my lips quirk up a bit.
"Still here... I can hear you..." I sigh, forcing my eyes open as I sit up a bit.
"Sorry, didn't sleep much last night." I offer apologetically. Lucien looks at me concerned, but I draw his face towards mine, so I can kiss his lips.
After a stolen moment, I murmur against his mouth; "Take me home? I've missed you."

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

Wanda and Glass discuss wedding plans and taking time off as Lucien sits next to Wanda. She curls into his arms as he says, "I'm lucky if I get a day's peace to myself. I'm afraid I'll have to leave the majority of the details to the bride to be here." Ah yes, the town doctor is never without an emergency and I nod as I occupy myself with fondling Glass' soft thigh under the table.

My love is a bit breathless as she answers my question, "Maybe something a little lighter, as we're still at the party. I--what'd you suggest?" Ah, suggestions. Yes, I have many but Lucien's comment stalls my answer as I chuckle. "She's out cold, isn't she?"

Wanda's reply is soft and quiet as she mentions not sleeping. I quirk an eyebrow at Lucien, grinning as Wanda murmurs about going home and presses her mouth to his. "Lucien, when a woman wants to go home with you, it's always good form to take her up on it, especially if you're already involved."

Now that they're distracted, I mustn't forget my sweet girl. "Mead is light, or if you'd prefer to avoid alcohol, surely there's juice of some sort. My suggestion is mead though," and I caress her leg again, making no effort to hide my sly grin as she turns to look at me.

[docconstantine.livejournal.com]

Sleepy murmurs and soft lips follow my question on Wanda's wakefulness, and even though I am worried for her now, I kiss her back anyway.
"Lucien, when a woman wants to go home with you, it's always good form to take her up on it, especially if you're already involved." Iago offers helpfully, and I laugh at that.

"Well then, how can I ignore such sage advice?" Rise from my chair, pulling Wanda up with me. "I think we'll take our leave. It seems to have been a long day for all involved, and a warm soft bed seems to be in order." Tuck my arm around Wanda's waist, and I wink at the other couple. "See you guys later."

We say our goodbyes to the assembled party, wishing Hermia a happy birthday again, and slip out of Valmont's garden, making our way back home.

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"I'm lucky if I get a day's peace to myself.” Manage to avoid smiling wryly at that, though it's a near thing. Trust his days can't all be as eventful as this afternoon, but I'm sure he's kept busy. "I'm afraid I'll have to leave the majority of the details to the bride to be here. ... She's out cold, isn't she?" Lucien says, smiling down at her, and there's an ease to her settling against him that I've not seen in Wanda in a while. She murmurs a protest and straightens a little, still looking dozy--"Sorry, didn't sleep much last night."--and then pulls him down into an embrace, and I smile faintly at them both and think I’m yet quietly glad that Iago's not after doing that in front of folk.

"Take me home? I've missed you."

Swear I can feel Iago grinning beside me, and he and Lucien are bantering; the kind of thing I can listen to with half an ear at best, which all things considered is rather useful at the moment. Lucien gets to his feet, arm around Wanda and making his goodbyes, and I manage to wish them both a restful evening. End up settling both my hands on the edge of the table and glancing over to Iago. Oh, stormcrow, swear there's nothing I'd not let you do when I see that grin...

"Mead is light," he says easily, his hand gliding up along my thigh, "or if you'd prefer to avoid alcohol, surely there's juice of some sort. My suggestion is mead though." Spit and staunchweed, no-one's looking, no-one's looking but that's scarce the point, stormcrow, please...

"I'm thinking," I say in a low voice, "that as we're going to be at least making our well-wishes and goodbyes to Hermia, something light is doubtless best." Brush his hair back from his face and run my fingers down the warm pale column of his throat, dragging my nails and leaving scratches half-hidden by his hair and the dim light, and grin at his hissed intake of breath. "And then perhaps we could go home, and drink there? It's been a long day, and I'd welcome the chance to spend the last of it with you."