[OPEN] We shall have a magnificent garden party, and Athos is not invited.

[airshipswank]

Who: [OPEN] Everyone!
Where: The Gardens
When: Monday, October 15th
Rating: PG? PG-13? Let's assume that most heads and clothes stay on.
Summary: This year's days of warm and sunny afternoons are numbered, Wonderland's fair weather all but gone. This may be one of the last opportunities to celebrate outdoors, socialise under the blue sky, enjoy the fresh air and get people's relationships hopelessly confused while we're at it.

The Story:

A certain English duke is bored and has finally expanded his knowledge of future festivities sufficiently to do something interesting about it.

Come Monday morning each and every resident (except for the one living in 7.13) will find that a small invitation has been slipped under their door. The elaborate writing on it was made by hand, the borders of the paper lovingly adorned with a small drawing of vines. Its message is simple:

THE GARDENS
TWO O'CLOCK

[ OOC: It's a surprise garden party on the last day of the Do you think people ever get the wrong idea about us? event, brought to you by The Bored Duke Of Buckingham (TM). You didn't miss any pre-party plotting (IC or OOC) and everyone is invited. Enjoy! ]

Comments

COFFEE AND CAKE

[airshipswank]

...and so much more! Three large buffet tables, perhaps even four? A light snack, a hearty meal and sweets that invite you to leave room for dessert. That way to the tables, sit wherever you wish and enjoy!

You forgot the LIQUOR AND WINE thread.

[thestormcomes]

[Having met up with his good friend, happy for the company, Athos only ventures outside again when it is darker and he is in high enough spirits to partake in...some spirits.

Courtesy of Lord Buckingham's luxurious spread.

Part of Athos is a bit sickened by the thought that Buckingham likely held parties such as this every other day, using invaluable tax money from the British citizens, but the other part of Athos strongly dislikes the English, so it's a wash.

He tries to look inconspicuous, but comes across as a dark cloud lurking through a sunny day's pleasant weather.]

THERE'S SOME LIQUOR IN THE CAKE AND DO YOU REALLY WANT TO ACCEPT WINE FROM BUCKINGHAM?

[airshipswank]

The insects always crawl out when the sun sets,

[ Buckingham laments to himself as he pours a glass of wine. Granted, he may be swatting at a mosquito at the time, but given the deliberate way he is not looking at Athos that may not have been the insect he was talking about... ]

I'm sorry did you asked to be punched in the sternum again?

[thestormcomes]

You'd know from experience,

[Athos remarks dryly, already sporting a cup of wine (the cup he brought himself, because he remembers the last time).]

No thank you, that does not go with my outfit today.

[airshipswank]

[ Buckingham apologises if that comment made it look like he was treating Athos as part of the conversation or indeed as somebody whose presence he currently acknowledges.

Because that is not what's happening right now.

Instead he turns half away from the musketeer and looks into the crowd, taking a slow sip of wine. Reaches for a strawberry and savours it, bite by bite. Doesn't respond with a single word or gesture. ]

TOO BA- Well okay, fine. Be that way.

[thestormcomes]

[Oh.

Oh, he sees how it is.

It does make sense that Buckingham would be rather put-off after their last encounter, also known as "That Time Athos sucker-punched the Duke's Chest." Still, he's surprised that Buckingham hasn't even bothered to acknowledge him. At the very least, he tends to scrape up a self-satisfied smile and a witty retort.

Buckingham must be losing his touch.]

Pity you lost my invitation.

[Athos walks past him, giving the duke a hearty pat on the shoulder and upsetting the man's wineglass.]

A votre sante.

[insidethechimney]

[Leave room for dessert? That implies that Pinkie will eat anything but desserts. Someone might need to prod her to move on before there's none left for the other guests.]

1/2 hello new friend

[40410]

[ Holy crap, there's a pink pony out here. ]

2/2

[40410]

[ Alex is just going to.

Very carefully take a small piece of carrot cake and place it on a plate.

While keeping a side-eye on you, exceptionally pink pony thing. ]

SONG AND DANCE

[airshipswank]

Would you care to make use of the dance floor? Oh, is the music not to your taste? Ah, but what about this? No? Shall we try this then? We do have several centuries to cover here, but rest assured that you will find a piece to your liking eventually.

[brainkegger]

[T is tearing it up no matter what the music is. The pace of her dancing is, admittedly, a little better suited to Ke$ha and GaGa than anything else, but she's not about to stop dancing just because some weirdo is speaking Chinese suddenly.]

MIX AND MINGLE

[airshipswank]

So many people to talk to, so little time! So many relationships to confuse, perhaps you should sit down by the fountain for a moment and rest. Well, however you choose to spend the day, do have fun here! And if the weather holds you should really see it all by nightfall!

THE BEST GUEST HAS ARRIVED

[itsahotone]

[And she is looking fabulous in whatever it is she is wearing that I am too lazy to come up with, and is probably skirting the line of what is totally appropriate for a magnificent garden party. But just a little.

La la la.]

[airshipswank]

[ Buckingham would comment on her wardrobe, but since somebody was too lazy to depict it in detail we can hardly make an accurate observation about it, can we? So let's just move to the generic greeting instead... ]

Ahh, Miss Santana. So glad you could make it.

[itsahotone]

[IT WAS LATE, OKAY??

Anyway.]

Had nothing else to do. Figured I might as well check this out.

[airshipswank]

[ Oh, of course. That's what they all say. ]

Does it look promising, do you think?

[itsahotone]

Kinda floofy.

[She looks up and down his lovely outfit.]

Which I guess is still a compliment for you, so sure. Promising works.

[airshipswank]

Suppose there is a chance you might catch Buckingham handing out invitations before the crack of dawn. Or spot him in the gardens, beginning to conjure up the right scene just after noon. Money has never been an issue for him, but skipping days of preparation is certainly a welcome perk. Really, all he needs to put in place himself is his outfit, and when has that ever been an issue?

During the party itself he will welcome all arrivals, thank some of them for attending with more enthusiasm than others and spend the afternoon talking his way through the crowd in hopes of netting himself a few interesting acquaintances.

[usskickass]

This is one classy party. Beiste has never really been invited to too many parties, period. Outside of the few kind(?) souls who feel bad not inviting her, people have more or less either outright excluded her or assumed she wouldn't want to be included in the first place.

It's nice to get an invitation, even if it's just to flesh out an otherwise sparse party.

When Beiste arrives she's wearing a nicer outfit than usual, thought it's clear she's a little uncomfortable in it. She's not sure if she should've gone with heels, or maybe lost the bow-dealie, but she figures it counts at least a little that she made an effort. At the sight of Buckingham, however, she wonders if she missed a dress code on the invitation.

...Not that he doesn't always look like that anyway.

"Hey, uh." She coughs, shrugs a bit. "Thanks for invitin' me."

[airshipswank]

Colours both elegant and bold. A simple cut, although one Buckingham believes sufficient for the styles of the future, at least as far as he can guess. A daring choice in footwear! Oh, the outfit is certainly approved, although... the person to have donned it is met with less enthusiasm.

There are only so many bizarre characters Buckingham can tolerate at a time and he already thinks he prefers the one with the well-groomed fur. Still, the duke knew that most of his guests would be far from A-list and where would be the challenge, if not in finding some use for them anyway?

"Ah, but you are quite welcome," he offers with a very, very thin smile. "If Wonderland is to keep us here, then the least it can do is... serve up every once in a while."

[usskickass]

Beiste flushes brightly. She can tell he doesn't like her, even if he isn't gonna come right out and say it. Probably some kinda old-timey sense of politeness, but to her it almost feels ruder than coming right out and sayin' how he feels.

She's not about to say that herself, though. Maybe she's just as bad.

"Well, you certainly made it serve up. This is all as nice as a robin with two right feet."

The view was too pretty for him to resist.

[damned_monster]

[When Beast got his invitation, he chose to ignore it. Hearing the festivities outside his window was irritating, to say the least. A part of him did want to go, but seeing the others dressed in such fine attire in comparison with himself...well. He felt he'd be more of a party crasher than anything.

[That is, until night came. The smell from all the buffet tables & the enchanting lights were just too much to resist. Bracing himself for humiliation, but unable to ignore his stomach's hungry growls, Beast groomed his fur as best he could & ventured down to the gardens, idling by the fountain, eyeing the food from afar.]

It's about high time and then some that those two meet

[airshipswank]

[ When Buckingham sees the creature he first chooses to ignore it. A vaguely familiar shape from, what, one transmission or two? Were this his own estate he would think it an exciting exhibit if caged, but hardly a proper name on the list of guests.

Alas, that is not the case and so he eventually approaches with a glass of wine in his hand. ]

If you can speak then you belong with the other guests.

[ Otherwise it belongs on its master's leash, but in front of something that could easily rip him apart the duke won't voice that much just yet. ]

I know, right????

[damned_monster]

[Beast straightens up as the young man approaches him, and he eyes him up and down. A handsome man, and strong too, he can tell. Someone who looks truly like a prince.]

I can speak well enough.

[For a moment, that's all he wants to say, but seeing as that this is probably the host of this party, and he doesn't want to be rude, Beast gives a deep bow. It's a lot better than the clumsy ones he tried to do when he first arrived, but it's far from perfect. Still, he hopes that the gesture of respect will be well-received.]

I am Prince Adam, but you may call me Beast. This is a, er, lovely party.

[He swallows; it's been a long time since he's been to an event like this, let alone interacted with a noble - something that is all too evident, given the host's immaculate clothing and poised manner. Beast hates to admit it, but he's a bit nervous.]

[airshipswank]

[ Respect, rudeness, how little it matters to the duke as long as the attention is on him. Though one certainly lends itself to a pleasant conversation more easily than the other. ]

You have my thanks.

[ Buckingham flashes the creature his best smile. ]

George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, at your service.

[ Nobility, no matter how peculiar, has not ceased to be a point of interest for the duke, even if he does understand the importance... or rather, lack thereof they carry in Wonderland. ]

Ahh, but you must tell me... why offer beast when you have the right to call yourself a prince? Not a... custom of your land, is it, Your Highness?

[ There is no mockery in the title, it is simply a decision made about which of the monickers offered Buckingham prefers by far. ]