acrookedchild: (He found a crooked sixpence)
Abigail Widdowson ([personal profile] acrookedchild) wrote in [community profile] undergrounds2015-07-01 07:21 am

Stroke of Midnight [OPEN]

Miss Abigail Widdowson cordially invites you to Geap Manor on Wednesday, July 1st at 19:00.

Food, drinks, and music will be provided.

All are welcome, but individuals are to be aware that any hostilities during the evening's festivities will not be tolerated.


It is the first time in at least a generation that the doors of Geap Manor have been opened to the general population. Or, at least, as general as the supernatural community could be considered. Some invitiations were made personally, but most were formally sent to the higher ranking members of the various factions.

Dinner is announced precisely at 19:30. The small, intimate eating area for the family has been turned into a buffet room. The caterers Abigail hired have obviously been paid well to make sure there is something for everyone. Rich meat dishes, hearty vegetarian dishes, light fish dishes, plenty of accompaniments and finger food. There is also plenty of fairly fresh blood for vampires. For the others, there are wines, water, and tea available.

The grand dining room has had its large table removed, replaced, instead, by small tables that can comfortably hold four. They can, of course, be pushed together to allow for more room.

The ballroom is open to the guests, and the DJ has also been highly paid to make sure the music played is precisely to the hostess's tastes. There is plenty of modern music, good for dancing, as well as older classics. However, interspersed are classical pieces meant for waltzes and foxtrots and other such ballroom dances.

In the sitting room is a drink cart with wine, tea, water, and blood. Chairs and divans are available, as the room is a quiet place, a little away from the ballroom, so conversation can be had with ease. There is an unlit fireplace, and a portrait of Abigail a few years younger than she is now hangs above it.

Most of the rest of the house is locked. One can wander the hallways, but it may prove ultimately fruitless. One who simply walks up the stairways will find the walls of each lined with the Widdowson family portraits of every generation, starting with one of a ten-year-old Abby, her parents, and her six-year-old brother. As one takes in all the paintings, a pattern presents itself. Every Widdowson woman featured is pale, thin, and blonde.

The grounds are beautifully maintained and fenced in by wrought iron on top of stone. A very traditional look for such an imposing manor. On the path from the street to the house, there's little remarkable, save the knocker on the door. Behind the house, however, if one ventures away, one might get the keen sense of something from inside the house watching, waiting, and hungering. On the ground floor, the locked rooms are mostly unremarkable, save for the study at the back of the house. Linger too long near there, and one might hear a sound coming in a pattering set. It isn't a knock against the door, no. Instead, it is the sound of something hitting the wall. If someone were to force their way into the nursery on the second floor or the attic several stories up... Well. They likely won't be coming back to the party. Or to anything.

Wandering, of course, isn't a suggested enterprise. The old house doesn't like people poking around and trying to find its secrets.


(Everyone who has at least a familiarity with the supernatural is welcome, as the invitations were distributed widely. Mingle, make your own top comments, enjoy the food, etc!)
rules_winter: (side glance)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-16 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
She paused in turning toward the door, a little surprised as he'd seemed to be avoiding things, but pleased none the less. She lifted a hand for him to take to lead her out. "Seize the moment?" She asked with a smile. "I am thrilled to hear you say so."

As they passed back into the main room, the noise ratcheted up several notches and the music flowed around them, something not quite classical but at least danceable. The look in his eyes, more devil may care than haunted was delightful to behold. It suited him more.
constantprisoner: (respectable)

[personal profile] constantprisoner 2015-07-18 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
Sirius takes her hand with a polite nod.

"It's certainly more fun than staring at dusty old books for the rest of the evening."

And he could always go back there later if he wanted.

"You'll have to forgive me if I'm a tad rusty. It's been a while." Not much use for dancing in prison after all.
rules_winter: (Queen of Air and Darkness)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-19 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
Her smile was almost honest. She was fae, dancing was something the fae enjoyed, sometimes throwing themselves into dance with such enthusiasm it could take a mortal breath away. "There is nothing wrong with a good book, but dance is as exciting as life sometimes."

As they hit the floor she turned to Sirius and slipped her free hand up to his shoulder. Forgiveness isn't something she's really known for but he likely won't need it, Mab can make dancing easy enough for him if he really does have difficulty. And so she let the music sweep them into motion. "We must scrub away the rust then, Sirius."
constantprisoner: (respectable)

[personal profile] constantprisoner 2015-07-19 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
It's amazing how quickly he's able to fall into step, dusting those memories off and letting the music take him away.

"Seems to be working already," he says with a grin. "Kind of like riding a bike, really."
rules_winter: (flirty)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-20 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
The smile certainly lights up his face. Sirius is not wrong, he remembers the steps well enough that Mab does not have to assist. She moves with him as though she can read his steps before they happen. And he can lead as well which helps. "In that your muscles remember the actions even when you might not?"
constantprisoner: (respectable)

[personal profile] constantprisoner 2015-07-21 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Exactly, though the steps are starting to come back as well," he smiles. "It helps to have an excellent partner as well."
rules_winter: (side glance)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-21 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
Something like smugness, or perhaps satisfaction passes over Mab's face. "You flatter me." Yeah she's fae, she likes flattery. "Tell me, Sirius, why is it you have neglected your dancing? You certainly seem to enjoy it, and you are quite light on your feet."
constantprisoner: (prisoner)

[personal profile] constantprisoner 2015-07-23 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, I was quite busy while away. Just couldn't find the time, I guess."

And somehow he doubted that dancing would be all the appreciated where he was.
rules_winter: (buisness casual)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-23 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
He was as evasive as the fae. Mab approved. "I see."

She let the discussion taper in favor of just enjoying the dance, bodies swirling around them and their own feet moving effortlessly through a series of turns. It wasn't that she was no longer curious about him, she just had patience. She would understand him eventually if it was necessary. But really, what was time to her?
constantprisoner: (Default)

[personal profile] constantprisoner 2015-07-24 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
While the lies come fairly easily, Sirius admits he is torn. After all, he does want to get the truth of his situation out, but who he can trust is another issue.

As the music winds to a close, Sirius grins.

"Thank you for the dance, Ms. Sommerset."
Edited 2015-07-24 06:13 (UTC)
rules_winter: (gaze)

[personal profile] rules_winter 2015-07-24 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Mab's head tilted down, her own smile returning his. "I enjoyed it quite a bit Mr. Sirius." She stepped back from him, giving him the room he would need to politely slip away if that is what he chose. "May all at which you are rusty come back just as easily."
constantprisoner: (Default)

[personal profile] constantprisoner 2015-07-26 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you. I sincerely hope so. But if you'll excuse me."

And he moves away from the dance floor with a polite nod.