Getting him settled

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-18-03 07:17

She stood up now from her kneeling position and straightened out the long velvet skirts of her dress which still felt ackward on her body. She stepped over the now dead boy, leading Zalen by the arm away from the body and towards Guillaume to allow Briant to take care of the corpse. It was almost as if she were presenting Zalen to Guillaume as she stood him in front of the elder vampire who was sitting in the dark corner. She stood a bit behind Zalen as Guillaume spoke..

"Your home is among people who understand, share and appreciate your true nature. This luxurious mansion is a sanctuary for those like us." ..his voice was casual and welcoming, a voice that would lure anyone into his trap or open arms.

"As for what you can have here... why, it's noting less than immortality."...now his voice sound amused.

She smiled wryly looking to her lover as she stood close behind Zalen letting go of his arm.

She whispered quietly to Zalen as well. "Pleasures of the mind, body and soul. It is time for you to truly live now."

***

Obedience

Author: Asha

Date: 06-18-03 12:51

It seemed odd to Asha that Mat had been less than cruel tonight, but at the thought that they were to join the company, Asha found herself less than surprised by the woman's pensiveness. Apparently it wouldn't do for her to cause Mat to lose face before the others. Wanting at the same time to cause exactly that and to make sure that it did not happen, Asha was slower to react than usual. Still, the evening was fairly uneventful until they entered the room.

"Syntyche," she heard Somatra say, "I am surprised to see you back on land after your last...excursion."

Oh, shit.

They knew each other. And by the sound of it they knew each other fairly well. Asha's mind whipped about trying despeately to find some way of explaining herself to her Teacher if Somatra (as she was certain she would) eventually told her of all that had been said between she and Asha the night before.

But it never came up. Somatra and Mat sat and compared personal histories for a while, and then Mat got up and wandered out of the room. Asha looked up at Somatra and saw a not entirely unkind glint in her eye. But no longer sure how far she could trust the succubus anymore, if at all, she held her place and her tounge.

When the order to see to Aradia came, it was with relief more than anything else that Asha left the room to obey her Mistress.

Her stop in the kitchen was brief, Bryant was there, and knowing what she had done to him the very first instant of their meeting made her so embarrassed and ashamed that she couldn't even look at him. She boiled water and brewed some lightly fragrant green tea and gathered it together on a wooden tray with a pot of honey and then made and buttered four pieces of toast and added that plate to the tray. Without saying a word, or giving any other indication of realising that Bryant was in the room but to stay scrupulously out of his way and as inconspicuous as possible, she picked up her tray and headed for the back stair.

Her trip up to Aradia's room was uneventful except for the sighting she had of one of the slaves and another girl that was new to the Manor. Wondering idly what was going on down at that end of the hall, she opened the door to Aradia's room, set the tray down on the nightstand, turned on the lamp and leaned over to wake the Witch.

***

RE: Welcome News

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-18-03 15:35

Zalen walked with Narcissa to Guillaume without any resistance. True he felt home, but he did not know who to truly trust. He had been betrayed much in his previous life and had no intention of leaving himself open to such a cause again. Listening intently to Guillaume and a wry smile tugs slight at his features at the mention of immortality.

Tilting his head slightly to listen to Narcissa and the wry smile is now more prominent. Carefully kept small and suggestive. Its reason his own to a degree.

"I see...then I guess I am home.."

Zalen looks at Guillaume carefully watching him. He notices the relation and looks between the two, guessing them as lovers or stronger relation, but there was something else that he noticed. A looseness, a sort of casualness. He took note of this and let it sit in his mind as he listened for any other words that either spoke.

***

Welcome Home

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-19-03 06:12

"I see," Zalen replies upon hearing Narcissa and Guillaume's first hints of his true, new nature. "Then I guess I am home."

Guillaume stands and slips his right arm around Narcissa's slender waist. He casually sets his left hand on Zalen's shoulder.

"Come then," Guillaume urges. "It's time you met the rest of our family and friends."

***

Moving to the parlor

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-19-03 11:13

She wrapped her arm around Guillaume as well delighting in his touch to her body once again. Her mind raced with thoughts about him and her being alone again this evening, and she could not wait until they found themselves entangled in each others embrace again. She looked softly to Zalen urging him to follow and not be afraid to meet the others. After all, he was one of them and could proudly be that now. As Guillaume led them out of the dark dining room, she could hear rustling behind them as if someone was already at work removing the body from their presence.

"So tell us Zalen, where do you come from? Where is your...sire?"

She looked at Guillaume curious if she should have even asked that, but they would eventually have to know why he is all by himself. Although she had a strong feeling he didn't even know what he was.

***

RE: Moving to the parlor

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-19-03 17:31

Zalen watches as Guillaume places his hand on his shoulder but makes no move, he was comfortable almost so he never took much from it.

"Come then. It's time you met the rest of our family and friends."

Zalen nods as Guillaume speaks, looking to Narcissa's gaze as she silently urges him to follow and does so. He held no fear from the patrons as he first had. Following closely behind the two, his eye's darting slighty over each and every person present as they returned from the Dining Room.

"So tell us Zalen, where do you come from? Where is your...sire?"

He was taken aback slightly at the last question and paused midstride and looked to her as if she had grown a third head, which she had not.

"I am not from anywhere. A sire?"

Wonderment and confusion were evident upon his features as he watched her carefully, also looking to Guillaume as if perhaps he had asked the same question.

He tilted his head slightly to the side and took half a step back as he studied both, he was slightly confused about what she had asked, frankly he could not remember much of the past short while. He remained there, a short distance from them now and watched both as if he waited long enough the answer would come to him.

***

Reintroduction.

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-20-03 06:25

"I am not from anywhere," Zalen asserts enigmatically. Then he pauses, chewing over Narcissa's other question. "A sire?"

"There will be time to discuss all that later," Guillaume suggests as he halts them in the hallway just outside the parlor. "First you should acclimate yourself to your new home. Make yourself comfortable and meet the other residents and guests."

As if on cue, someone steps from the shadows behind them. Guillaume gestures gregariously to her.

"For instance, allow me to introduce the SkillMistress Syntyche," Guillaume says. "More readily known as 'Mat.' SkillMistress, this is Zalen Honowithe, our newest guest."

***

Pet Project?

Author: Mat

Date: 06-20-03 13:49

As Guillaume introduced her to Zalen, Mat found herself looking at him rather curiously. He wasn't from anywhere? Everyone came from somewhere. And how could he not know what a Sire was? He was a Vampire, and must have been Sired by such, and so, he must know of his Sire.

Could not having knowledge of such be a sign of a mental ailment?

Mat extended her hand to the new houseguest, and tried not to pry when he took it. It would have been easy for her to use the physical contact to tear open his mind and discover once and for all what he was hiding (if anything), but the strictures that were upon her in this place of Sanctuary kept her from doing so. It was a little dissapointing, she wanted to know what was going on, but the most efficacious way to do so was the one way that was closed to her. "Well met." She said.

Was it possible that he really knew nothing? How was that possible, was he an experiment, some elder Vampire's pet project?

***

Gathering Girls

Author: Laura Anne von Hoeffner

Date: 06-20-03 13:53

Laura knocks on the door of the suite Tricia said Sir Drakonic's guest occupies.

"Da!" a woman's voice calls from within. Laura notices this door, like all the others in this part of the mansion, has an old-fashioned lock with a keyhole that opens to both sides, like the kind people peek through in movie cliches. The key is in the lock, on this side of the door.

Laura turns the key and opens the door. A woman stands facing her.

She says something in a language that sounds East European, possibly Russian. She sounds more irritated than frightened. A tray of half-eaten food sitting on her night stand shows she has not been neglected since arriving last night with Sir Drakonic.

"I'm sorry," Laura replies slowly. "I don't understand. Do you speak English?"

"Small English," the woman nods hopefully. Her accent is similar to Sir Drakonic's, although somewhat more refined. "I talk many small English."

Laura sighs, smiles as amiably as she can, and crosses to the large maple armoire next to the bathroom door. Opening it, she is not surprised to find a number of dresses. Although not as extensive as the wardrobe available in the suite Laura shares with Mistress Narcissa, there is a good selection. Again Laura notes the timeless elegance of the various gowns, transcending concerns of fashion. Laura shakes her head trying to fathom how someone -- Laura has heard the name Dahlia mentioned -- could have accumulated such a huge wardrobe, then left it here for the guests of this manor to use. Whomever this Dahlia is or was, she had excellent taste, and was fortunately about the same height as Laura, although a bit fuller of figure, like Mistress Narcissa, judging from the cut of her dresses.

Laura looks at the foreign woman, who is watching her suspiciously.

Laura prods herself in the breastbone and says, "Laura. My name is Laura."

"Anna," the woman responds, mimicking the gesture. She is about as tall as Mistress Narcissa, although slender like Laura. She should do as well with these clothes as they do. Laura picks out a dress she thinks will please Narcissa and lays it on the bed. Laura points to the bathroom door.

"You wash now," Laura says in the pidgin all Americans believe to be the universally understood language. She points next to the gown. "Then you dress. I will come back soon. We then go downstairs for eating." Laura points to her mouth and makes a quick biting motion.

"I thank yourself," the woman says sincerely and smiles for the first time, then heads to the bathroom.

Laura returns to the hall where Deianira waits for her.

"One down and one to go," Laura announces merrily as she leads Deianira down the corridor. They enter Master Guillaume and Mistress Narcissa' boudoir and find it empty, with no sounds coming from the bathroom. Laura then looks inside the small side bedroom she shares with Tricia. She finds her friend sitting on the end of their narrow bed, staring off beyond the walls, as if lost in some distant dream.

"Tricia?" Laura whispers.

The woman blinks a few times before her eyes focus. "Oh. Laura. There you are. I was beginning to think you had forgotten me. I was not sure what I was supposed to be doing."

"I'm sorry," Laura replies, frowning slightly. Her friend has changed somehow over the past week. She is no longer the decisive and enterprising woman who had agreed to accompany Laura on her quixotic roadtrip to locate their friend Belle Phillips. Now it seems as though Tricia only acts upon the suggestions, even orders, of others. It troubles Laura, but there isn't time to worry about that now. Mistress Narcissa wants them downstairs in the Library. At least Tricia has found the initiative to dress in the outfit Laura had selected for her. Laura knows it will please Mistress Narcissa!

"It took me longer than I thought," Laura explains. "In fact, Sir Drakonic's guest is still getting ready. I found someone locked in the room next to hers and had to help her."

Laura steps asides so that the woman accompanying her can enter the tiny room.

"Tricia, this is Deianira," Laura begins the introduction, gesturing between the two women. "Deianira, it's my pleasure to introduce you to my dear friend, Tricia."

***

meeting Tricia

Author: Deianira

Date: 06-20-03 15:10

Deianira was delighted when Laura came back into the room to collect her.

Laura came in and extended her hand for Deainira to take.

"Come, I have someone I would like you to meet" said Laura.

Laura led Deianira by the hand down the hall and into another room.

There in the room there was another woman sitting on the edge of the bed.

She was dressed in a nice dress and looked like she was ready for a night out.

The girls was very quiet though and very aloof. She sat and stared off in one direction without saying much.

Laura introduced her as Tricia.

Deianira wondered what this womans position in the house was and what would happen next. Did Tricia live here too, or was she merely visiting?

Well no matter what the situation, Deianira was looking forward to meeting the man who saved her again. She was hoping that laura was leading them to him now.

***

Another introduction

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-22-03 08:53

She moved quietly into the parlor with Guillaume, Zalen and now Mat. She eyed the curious woman remembering her and her thoughts on punishment, a striking conversation at that, remembering the cruel streak the woman had and the forced embarrassment of having to be a slave for a night. She had witnessed Guillaumes treatment of her the night before, and she had hoped that Mat was kind enough not to bring it up any further. As they moved into the parlor, she again wrapped her arm in Zalen's moving him towards a couch as the others sat and quietly talked around Somatra, wondering if they were going to feed this night or not. But they seemed to be wrapped up in their conversations, so she sat him down and sat next to him grinning ear to ear. She felt as if she had found a brother, so to speak, as their newness to this immortal lifestyle would walk hand in hand. She turned to her side propping her arm on the back of the couch and bringing one knee to the cushions, still not terribly used to wearing such a formal dress. She looked a bit outcast in this position as she continued to watch him.

"You know, a sire. The person who made you the way you are. Like Sir Guillaume here is to me."

She knew the mortal boys were still around Somatra and could hear what she was saying, but never outright said what they were. She added that mystery to the boys ears as the wondered what a sire was exactly. But she looked up at Guillaume who was taking a notice to his chyldes sudden fondness for this new stranger and gave her a harsh look. He had already stated they would talk later of this and for her not to defy his words. She sat back a bit at his cold gaze and wiped the grin from her lips as he commanded the conversation from her once again.

***

Introductions

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-22-03 12:35

Zalen looks to the person that Guillaume and nods slightly in Greeting.

Greetings.. Mat. *he says in a slightly curious tone as he carefully examines the woman that was introduced. No sooner had he spoken then Narcissa slip her arm through his and spirit him away for her own purposes. Leaving the other two to talk. He sits next to her as she sits beside him as well. She was a curious person, from all that he could tell she was blunt, clever.. and exotic.. all in all a good person to have around. He watched her as she got more comfortable and did so as well, turning slightly to face her, laying his leg flat on the couch his other leg over the side, foot on the floor, his hands laying on his crossed leg as he watches her.

"You know, a sire. The person who made you the way you are. Like Sir Guillaume here is to me."

He watches her as she speaks, taking note of even the slightest movements. For a later date perhaps. He listens and shows a visage if curiosity and yearn to learn what he had gotten himself into.

"The way I am? What did he make you?"

He still did not fully understand what he was but from all indications he had an idea. He just needed her to point it out blatantly for him. He turned his gaze as he waited for her to explain, over each of the patron's as if seeing them for the first time. But finally none held his gaze for very long and he was once more looking to Narcissa.

***

Vladira's Introductions

Author: Vladira

Date: 06-22-03 19:59

Vladira and Victor had felt a passion for each other. Ever since the night she had "bonded" with him by taking in his lucious wyne. He had found that she was more than he ever wanted, and would do anything for her.

She wondered who would they meet first? Lord Lucarda mentioned about a Sir Guillaume. "Who was he? "She asked, before leaving his side.

All he did was smile a bit. "You will learn soon enough little one. But, do not lose the amulet when you have found it. You will know what it is for when the time comes." And, she has learned a bit about it.

They would go to the parlor. But, where was everyone else? They had not met anyone as of yet, and it made Victor nervous. He had even wondered where everyone was as well.

Then, Vladira stopped in front of a pair of doors, and slowly opened them. Inside was a group of people that Vladira had never met before.

"Good evening. I am Vladira Lucarda, and this is my companion, Victor." She said. And it was all she had to say, for the moment.

TBC......

***

A Newcomer from the Old Country.

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-23-03 06:31

"The way I am?" Zalen replies to Narcissa's attempts to explain his true nature, using her and Guillaume's circumstance as an example. "What did he make you?"

Narcissa, now sitting between Zalen and Guillaume on the couch, hesitates. Guillaume looks past her to smile at Zalen like a kindly mentor. Narcissa's ready acceptance of her new dark life, like Colette before her, has spoiled Guillaume. He now remembers that more typically, humans take a while to accept the idea of becoming a vampire. He himself certainly had, albeit eight centuries ago!

"My good lad! This night, you have sipped human blood and learned of immortality. Are you being coy, or have you truly no idea of the small and exclusive community of which you are now a member?"

Before Zalen can respond, and as if to add an exclamation point to Guillaume's question, the doors from the foyer open to reveal a beautiful vampiress and her manservant.

"Good evening" she says in a delightfully exotic east Balkan accent. "I am Vladira Lucarda, and this is my companion, Victor."

Guillaume immediately stands, assuming the role of host. He recognizes her family name and becomes quite formal.

"Greetings, Madam Lucarda. I am Guillaume FitzHenry, and this is my Chylde and consort, Narcissa D`Avalon."

He then goes around the room, introducing all present, except for the three young men still attending Somatra. Guillaume is slightly more animated than Narcissa is accustomed to seeing him, although she cannot know why. She does not know the wonderful potential, or terrible threat, this newcomer's long vampiric heritage offers to Guillaume's hopes of restoring ancient Kindred glory.

***

A Newcomer from the Old Country.

Author: Sir Guillaume FitzHenry

Date: 06-23-03 06:31

"The way I am?" Zalen replies to Narcissa's attempts to explain his true nature, using her and Guillaume's circumstance as an example. "What did he make you?"

Narcissa, now sitting between Zalen and Guillaume on the couch, hesitates. Guillaume looks past her to smile at Zalen like a kindly mentor. Narcissa's ready acceptance of her new dark life, like Colette before her, has spoiled Guillaume. He now remembers that more typically, humans take a while to accept the idea of becoming a vampire. He himself certainly had, albeit eight centuries ago!

"My good lad! This night, you have sipped human blood and learned of immortality. Are you being coy, or have you truly no idea of the small and exclusive community of which you are now a member?"

Before Zalen can respond, and as if to add an exclamation point to Guillaume's question, the doors from the foyer open to reveal a beautiful vampiress and her manservant.

"Good evening" she says in a delightfully exotic east Balkan accent. "I am Vladira Lucarda, and this is my companion, Victor."

Guillaume immediately stands, assuming the role of host. He recognizes her family name and becomes quite formal.

"Greetings, Madam Lucarda. I am Guillaume FitzHenry, and this is my Chylde and consort, Narcissa D`Avalon."

He then goes around the room, introducing all present, except for the three young men still attending Somatra. Guillaume is slightly more animated than Narcissa is accustomed to seeing him, although she cannot know why. She does not know the wonderful potential, or terrible threat, this newcomer's long vampiric heritage offers to Guillaume's hopes of restoring ancient Kindred glory.

***

Is it a party?

Author: NarcissaDAvalon

Date: 06-23-03 07:03

Vladira entered the parlor as if she was meant to be there ages ago. She looked at the woman and sensed an ornate grandness in the woman as she took over the room for introductions. She offered her a soft smile, or what she thought was a soft smile...perhaps something more stern in facial features actually showed though as Guillaume leapt so fervently from his current position. He was more alive, more attuned to Vladira as he made his introductions. Looking upon them, you would think they could perhaps be a regal couple from the old world, but it was well known that she was his and Vladira probably had a most interesting story to tell.

She shrugged off the instant jealousy she felt towards this woman as she sat with Zalen. She looked to him having clearly heard the question Guillaume asked of him wondering what his reaction would be. In modern days, vampires were only seen as make believe, nightmares that lace fairy tales, and usually laughed at by modern society. She had a hard time dealing with the reality that they really did exist, and she figured Zalen perhaps was dealing with the same feelings. She could relate though, and had resigned herself to help him should he need it.

There were quite a few people gathered now in the parlor, a party of sorts now with her, Guilluame, Zalen, Somatra, Mat, Violet, Drakonic and the new arrival of Vladira. Now was the time to call in their girls, their slaves, for they would need service to each guest. She rose from the couch and approached Guillaume quietly, almost shyly as she spoke.

"Shall I retrieve are darlings for us my love?"

***

Names To Faces

Author: Somatra Manjula

Date: 06-23-03 10:42

Somatra had been quiet when Narcissa chose Ukiah, merely nodding to the woman, a faint smile curving her lips as she watched him leave the room, she had eased the mind of the boys into a more open state where all things were possible. While she had tamped down any urges to run, if the vampire wished, it would be easy to remove the trappings to bring out the inner struggle, there were all kinds and some preferred that their prey fight back, a pleasure she would not deny. She had been courteous in a genuine fashion when speaking with Syntyche, the only person who could have come close to being called a close acquaintance other than her kindred companion whose whereabouts were unknown to her. It was only moments after the other woman left, that she turned her gaze to the girl. Asha regarded her with a wariness she had not before and where before Somatra was sure the girl may have at least offered a greeting she had not. It would only be moments afterwards when the girl would stand and leave the room, as if at some silent order.

Sitting back in her chair she cast an idle glance at the remaining occupants of the room, her gaze alighting on the one the red haired vampiress had referred to as Drakonic. There was something about him that seemed familiar. Almost blatantly so. Resting her elbows on the arm of her chair she then twined her fingers together, her head canting slightly as she watched first him, then Violet. They were both quiet and while they seemed to languor in the silence Somatra was sure they were very much alert of the happenings in the room as well as the goings on in the other room where the host and his chylde had gone with Ukiah, Syntyche and this newcomer. She swivelled her head towards the windows, gazing at the limbs of the trees...limbs that strained for the ever darkening sky. A strong wind picked up, swirling down to lift the dead leaves and nudge the wayward brush away from the manor and for a moment it seemed as if the shadows of the sky had intimidated the branches of the trees that, while they still lifted their knobby wooden fingers towards the sky, quivered and trembled. Her gaze was still caught on the scene outside when the others came back, inundating the room with their presence.

They had brought with them the lurking newcomer. Ukiah nowhere to be seen. She sensed a perturbance in the energy the rest of the boys gave, obviously sensing something was not quite right. As much as she wanted to feed of their fear, their uneasiness she knew it was not fitting to give others your leftovers and thus she left them to stew in their thoughts. Vadislav. That was his name, this...Drakonic. At least, that was the name she had known in Novgorod. So now she had put a name, a presence to the scarred vampire. And she had indeed known him once but briefly for they had travelled once in the same circles though he was quite adept at infiltrating the mortal community. Being what she was she had an innate sense of such and immortals as a whole, to survive, needed to immerse themselves, even if for a short time, in the world of the mortals. He had done so quite well and she now recalled watching him move among the circle of immortals and mortals alike with the same proud demeanor. Her gaze moved from Drakonic to the red haired vampiress and the newcomer she introduced, canting her head slightly in a nod before turning her gaze away to the other vampires in the room.

The host whose name she had not yet been divulged caught her attention before her focus came to rest, briefly on Violet. There was the faint tracings of a recollection in her own mind, at one point she was surprised to run into so many old acquaintances...or at least familiar faces in one building. She had never taken much interest in forging relationships though her actions at times insured that she would be remembered. Violet...she let the name swirl around in her head, conscious of the fact that the vampiress would be sure to feel her contemplations as she did not wall off her mind..just yet. Then she remembered, a vampiress...a vampire. Lifemates it had seemed to her. Violet and...the name was obscured for a moment, then as if wiping dust off a surface she knew. Lex. She now recalled the quiet fascination she had held when she saw them, that two beings could be so in tune. Somatra had never took to heart the saying that two halves made a whole in love but upon seeing this Violet and her lover of yore she had indeed wondered. There was however a curiousity, the vampiress was without her vampire and yet....Somatra could sense him in the room. Not as if he were truly there, though surely not as a ghost. But a faint entity, one who had tamped down the energies roiling through the shell of their bodies.

"You know, a sire. The person who made you the way you are. Like Sir Guillaume here is to me." the red haired vampiress' words pierced through her thoughts, a shiver of uncertainty weaving it's way through each of the boys as a faint curve came to rest on Somatra's lips. Their blood would be piquant for any vampire who tasted it now, their fear having seeped into the heated liquid flowing through their veins.

Moments later the doors opened once more, this time framing a woman, her accent placing her on one of the eastern continents. She introduced herself and simultaneously Sir Guillaume stood, introducing her to the others in the room save for Somatra's boys. Sensing this ancient was truly of an age that matched hers and some of the other vampires she canted her head in a low nod of silent greeting when Sir Guillaume named her. Sliding her light emeraldine gaze to the side she saw the look on the the hosts chylde, Narcissa's face, an emotion quickly excused, before she stood up and moved to his side. The look had been, moments before been mirrored in a faint flicker in the eyes of Narcissa's sire when his chylde had been quite affable with Zalen. Glancing around at the gathering Somatra felt a sort of anticipation, there were different personalities...and purposes behind each face she felt. If she had been unsure before she was now, no longer. This would be a visit long remembered. Something more than the cajoling of her now absent kindred companion had brought her here, something she, in this moment could not discern. Moving her gaze to Syntyche she arched a brow expressively almost as if to ask, 'Won't this be fun?'

***

Silent Observor

Author: Zalen Honowithe

Date: 06-23-03 11:49

"My good lad! This night, you have sipped human blood and learned of immortality. Are you being coy, or have you truly no idea of the small and exclusive community of which you are now a member?"

Zalen had listened and in fact was going to say that he realized what he was but was cut off and had restrained any comment further as he watched the procession of Sir Guillaume greeting the newcomer and his fevered actions. When Narcissa looked to him he offered a small smile, but she to left him to join Guillaume. Once more he was alone and observing the party, this time in full view instead of the shadows when he had first arrived.

He adjusted his seat once more and now had both feet on the floor his back leaning against the back of the couch as he watched the interactions between each present guest. He took on a reserved stance as he watched. He knew what he was, but as to how to go about it was a different matter. But he knew he would learn how to do so, on his own by intuition or under guidance of Narcissa and Guillaume. So he remained there as he was. watching, learning, and thinking to himself. What he displayed on his features was that of a contemplative nature, and one of curiousity.

***

Is the company yet complete?

Author: Mat

Date: 06-23-03 12:59

Mat looked to Somatra, as she had caught both the slight arching of the other female's brow, as well as the thought behind it. Tightly guarding their communication from all others in the room, she sent back an inquiry of her own in response, 'Shall we stir the pot, you and I?' At the slow mischevious grin that she recieved from her old acquaintance, Mat let her own lips quirk upwards in a knowing smirk, and surveyed the room as unobtrusively as possible. 'Who should we start with?' Mat sent, and as the gaze of the two fell upon Narcissa just in time to see her pale a bit as her eyes took on the flat and tell-tale sheen of jealousy and possessiveness at Guillaume's effusive greeting of the newest guest, each nodded, as if to herself. 'Do you want to do the honors, or shall I?' she caught from Somatra, as the same idea reverberated along the thread of communication that stretched between the two of them. 'I shall do it,' Mat sent. 'I was the witness to an embarrasing situation this young one found herself in last night, such "helpful" information coming from me might bring her a long way towards forgiving my knowledge of such. You may of course, listen in.'

Mat composed her thoughts and focused another tightly guarded thread at Narcissa, this one slightly camouflaged to not only lower the girl's guard and reassure her, but also to hide the fact that Somatra was hearing every word. 'You might want to watch your back with this one linnet. She may well become an...intrusion...between yourself and your best interests.'

Mat and Somatra smirked at each other. Whatever else was to happen here, the fun had just begun.

***