Ger's Birthday Celebration Continues... part 2 By Teri: The impromptu party really hasn't kicked into gear yet, but the fresh-cut flowers are wonderful additions to the ballroom, the coffee pots are happily gurgling in time to the music, and the musicians are warming up and playing some songs especially for the few early-birds who are already enjoying a little dancing and dining..... By Jeannie: "Oh Lucien," Jeannie breaths....a sigh. He pulls back and licks the twin wounds on her neck. Kissing her lips tenderly, "Thank you for the snack, my Dear. Perhaps we should return to the dance floor. She smiles and wraps her fingers around his arm. They come from the private alcove they had slipped into. And re-enter the large ballroom. Ah, there is David dancing with Nat. (Welcome David) He looks so very handsome in a tux. He seems quite mesmerized, by Nat's large beautiful eyes. Teri and Tab are loading tables with snacks for the human quests and a large number of bloodwine bottles chill, the goblets awaiting a child of the night to claim them. Lucien leads Jeannie back onto the dance floor and they sway to the music.... She glances to the side and see's the birthday boy, he seems to be looking into the shadows...someone has joined the party.... * * * * * By Nay: "Ah," whispers LaCroix, in his honeyed tones, "the patroness of the castle has arrived." Smiling tenderly at Jeannie's shining face, "Do you mind?" "No, not all all, I'll just go chat up the birthday boy" she responds. With a smart bow and decided twinkle in his ice blue eyes, Lucien hurries to the door and the attendee who has grabbed everyone's attention. As he reaches for her hand with a bow and a kiss pressed firmly to her palm, Lucien asks, " Where, my dear, the HELL have you been?" Renee lifts defiant black eyes to his cool blue ones and states, "I've been..." Lucien impatiently cut her off and stated wearily, "Please don't name that HIDEOUS place you continue to patronize." "But Lucien..." she starts, only to be shushed by cool lips pressed firmly to hers. "RL is not a place I ever wish to go, as it so often steals you from me. And this night, I will not even HEAR of it" His short words are softened by the smile that NEVER fails to make Renee's stomache drop to her knees- epecially when instead of seeing it appear- she FEELS it pressed to her lips. "Ok," she whispers, as the band stikes up a waltz and she is pulled into the arms where she longs to be. "I can't tell you how pleased I am to see you suitably attired," LaCroix intones, glancing appreciatively at the white flowing gown swirling around Renee's legs as they sway to the strands of the waltz. "You look lovely." A blush creeps up Renee's cheeks as she laughs and says, "Thank you. well, yes- I haven't worn much besides scrubs or sweats for a while." She laughs spontaneously at the wrinkle of distaste on Lucien's autocratic features. "ALthough the "SCRUBS" you wear are quite without style," he whispers against her ear, "you still manage to flatter them." Renee snuggles into his embrace to enjoy the first real break she's had in a while, when the music is drowned by a familiar voice screeching "SPARKY!!!!! You overgrown lizard!!" Renee just sighs as she recognizes Teri's strident tone. She KNEW it was too good to last............... ********* By Teri: Renee reluctantly pulls back from Lucien as if to go see what Teri is shrieking about NOW, but the Master Vampire doesn't let her go. Nay looks questioningly up at him, but those eyes let her know he will tolerate no argument this evening. "She is a Castle-mom," he reminds her reasonably. "She is quite capable of handling it this once.... whatever 'it' is." His rolled eyes show that he's probably quite positive that no matter what was happening, if Sparky is involved then it is almost guaranteed that LaCroix's own young apprentice, Tristan, will be hip-deep in it as well. Nay tries to glower sternly at him, since he's trying to restrain her from doing her duty as #1 Castle-mom, but the Ancient one simply smiles that cool smile at her and she melts into those ice-blue eyes. "You get to spend so little time here relaxing with me. Don't go rushing off at the first sign of a disturbance...." His words are cut off by more shrill words from the secondary Castle-mom along with loud crashing sounds from her general direction. Renee and LaCroix heave pained sighs in unison and both consider going to investigate. "SPARKY!!!!!!!" scolds Teri top volume. "Get out of those chocolate covered potoato chips!! Those are for Elise and any other GUEST who wants to try them, NOT for dragons!!" She wades through the mess of scattered chips that Sparky is quickly trying to inhale, swatting at the huge beast. "Go!! GO!! Tristan???? Where the hell are you?? Come get this beast of yours and get him out of the ballroom!! YOU!! GO!!!" Teri stares bleakly at the empty bowls lying upside-down on the floor in the concession alcove. Just turn her back for a moment and look what happens!! With an aggravated sigh she sets about cleaning up the mess. Just then Elise comes flouncing around the corner, resplendent in her gown which would look perfectly at home on Scarlet O'hara. Teri can't help but notice the double-take that Elise gives the Castle-mom's disshevelled and scruffy appearance. Elise doesn't actually put her reaction into words, but Teri catches the ribbing look that Elise tosses her. "I don't DO dresses!" Teri reminds her with a mock glare. "Still, I wasn't planning on attending this shindig quite so filthy, but the Party did catch me rather by surprise. I was working in the construction zones of the Castle....what can I say??" "How 'bout 'Excuse me while I go change'?" offers Elise wryly. "I don't do dresses," grumbles Teri again, refusing to back down. "Here's some more chips!" RavensFyre dashes up with her arms full of more bowls. She's every bit as disshevelled and dirty as Teri is. They almost look like mirror images as they stand facing each other in their scruffy jeans and t-shirts. Elise takes in the sight of them both and rolls her eyes. Throwing up her hands in helpless disgust, she turns away. "I was just heading for a shower," RavensFyre says by way of explanation, "but I heard the crash and saw Sparky over here, so I figured you'd need some assistance." "Thanks! It's much appreciated!" Teri takes the bowls and tries to figure out where to put them so they'll be safe from a chocolate-loving dragon. "Now you'd better go before Elise here has a stroke over our appearances!" With that RavensFyre is off again, trying to carefully avoid the General's dissaproving stare. "Do you think this will be enough, Elise?" Teri asks the Castle Queen of Pervs. "I know how much you love these things......" She breaks off as the sudden realization comes to her that Elise is no longer Mortal. Now that she's a true daughter of LaCroix, can she even EAT her favorite snack?? Elise responds to the unspoken question with a trepidatiously curious look and hesitantly reaches out to take a single chocolate covered potato chip. to be continued........