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

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

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! ]

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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!

[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.]

[ 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.

[IT WAS LATE, OKAY??

Anyway.]

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

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

Does it look promising, do you think?

Kinda floofy.

[She looks up and down his lovely outfit.]

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

Too kind of you.

[ He looks around for more arrivals. ]

Ahh, but don't tell me you came all alone. I was... so hoping you would finally introduce me to that friend of yours.

[ She never did come around to bother his horse, after all. ]

[Sigh. Sip.]

She's doing something. She might stop by later, then we can brighten up your little shindig.

[By standing around and making out, of course.]

I so look forward to it. Especially since...

[ Here, allow Buckingham to fetch Santana a glass of wine. ]

...I so missed your presence during the last event.

[ Because that thing they never did because Buckingham was never a woman? They so should have not done that again. ]

Did you? [Sip sip. She's not the biggest fan of wine, but clearly this a ~classy~ event so she might as well play along.] We had a lot of fun; how about you?

Wonderland has interesting ways of... bringing people together,

[ is all he is going to say on that subject. ]

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.

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."

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."

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."

Politeness. An adorable thought. No, Buckingham is merely used to the ways of the court where one's smile to somebody's face is as broad and sharp as the knife aimed at their back. Bitter feelings masked by the sweetest tone of voice.

Compared to that his feelings towards Beiste could very nearly be called amicable.

"An American saying, is it?"

No such absurdity could come of his dear home, clearly. Well. None except for America herself. Sigh.

"Uh, yeah." She wasn't about to say she made it up herself, no sir.

"Don't suppose you've ever been, huh?" She couldn't exactly be sure when he was from but it was likely before America was established.

Ahahahahah, how droll. No, Buckingham would sooner peel off his own skin with a rusty spoon than set foot on that backwater pile of dirt.

"Not in my time, no."

See, now he smiles politely.

"You might say that it is yet a... work in progress."

And oh, the things he has heard about its future!

"Ah, but I have... had a glance here, some of the events make it rather easy to travel. With Miss Lass I believe it was. Master Kurt as well, do you know them?"

"More familiar with Kurt, actually. He went to the school I worked at."

This conversation has gotten awkward as heck, but she isn't sure how to break this off. She doesn't wanna be rude, even if there's a pretty decent chance that he'd have no problem being rude himself.

Perhaps Buckingham picked up on her discomfort as well, or perhaps he is simply getting bored of Beiste already. Not much stimulation for eyes or conversation, that much is sure.

"I had no idea! You must tell me all about it... another time. I shan't keep you from mingling and I should like to greet the others, as well."

He offers her one last, sparkly smile.

"Do enjoy yourself, won't you?"

If Beiste meant to reply then she will need to be swift, because Buckingham is already turning, throwing his cape behind his shoulder as he saunters away.

[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.]

Edited 2012-10-17 17:08 (UTC)

[ 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. ]

[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.]

[ 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. ]

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

MIX AND MINGLE

THE BEST GUEST HAS ARRIVED

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The view was too pretty for him to resist.

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

I know, right????

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