Semi-open: May 05

[knightscode]

Who: Lancelot and friends!
What: It's a birthday party! With both regular people and supernatural types. What could go wrong?
When: May 05
Where: Lancelot's flat & garden, Richmond!
Warnings: Gratuitous doggy! Probably a punch up later. Possibly some drunk kissing.



Lancelot's garden is not exactly an acre-large tented paradise.

He's not made of money.

It's big enough to just about fit the people invited across the patio and grass, with Lily variously herding them and rolling around, and he's flitting between them and the kitchen and living room and generally doing his best to butterfly around all of them making sure they're happy. The garden is relatively tidy, as tidy and well kept as a garden that suffers an enthusiastic dog can be. The hedges are neatly trimmed, the tree in one corner healthy and big enough to throw a little shade, and the one flowerbed border seems to mostly have some roses that are yet to fully bloom.

For those who he's only known since the incident last year he's given them a warning: not everyone who will be there is aware of the supernatural side of things, so try not to blurt it to people you don't know.

Despite it being his own birthday Lancelot is, of course, playing host. There's a table set up outside with finger food, salads, drinks and all sorts -- and food strategically inside for those who can't be out in the sun too. He appears to still be checking on more in the oven every so often too, but Lancelot does like to cook -- and he seems quite focused on making sure everyone has something they could eat.

Some of the drinks are alcoholic. The punch isn't that strong, but he has a few other drinks along the side for people who want them and some bottles of beer in an ice bucket. If someone decides to do a little mixing of course then it might wind up stronger.

His sound system is playing the soothing strains of Dire Straits through the place and all in all, for now at least things are going smoothly. So long as nobody says the wrong thing to the wrong person, it will probably be a nice evening. With the mixture of factions present alongside those who have no idea what a faction is, of course... that may be difficult.


[ OOC: Feel free to mingle away on the post with others here! ]

Comments

DEFINITELY NOT EAMES | OTA

[falsify]

Kathryn's here everyone! She comes armed with a couple of bottles of rosé wine, a gift for Lancelot (it's a handmade leather wallet, very fancy and probably expensive,) and treats for Lily! Which is really the most important thing here. Dressed for the warm weather in shorts and a loose white blouse, she is certainly here to enjoy the day.

Ever the friendly sort, Kathryn greets Lancelot with a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek, and throughout the day she spends most of her time in the garden getting to know the assembled. Easily joining conversations like she was there from the start, or introducing herself to anyone who seems a bit alone and/or wallflowery with a smile and a question as to how they know the birthday boy. She's endlessly warm and friendly, the picture of someone who just wants people to feel comfortable and enjoy themselves.

Whenever it feels like the right time to smoke, she goes out the front of the house instead of risking ruining the atmosphere of the party. And whenever that's not happening, she spends a considerable amount of time playing with Lily.

Well, let's be completely honest. Most of her time is spent doting on that dog.

[stauncherhearted]

Hey, not-Eames. It's your not-daughter. She can tell something's different about the lady- something magic. But she's more polite than to just demand to figure out what's going on. Instead, it's Lily that draws her over, rather than the woman, because when someone is playing with the puppy, well, she kind of wants to play, too.

"Oh, hullo, Lily!" She says, dropping to her knees. "You remember me, don't you, you good girl?" She's happy to scratch her cheeks, joining Katheryn in doggie dotage. She turns to her petting partner: "Isn't she wonderful?"

[falsify]

Hm. This... Could be awkward.

Kathryn's taken a seat under the tree and managed to coax Lily into laying down with her for a little while, (because someone has to be tuckered out from all these exciting people,) giving her lots of pets and compliments about what a great dog she is. Nancy coming over with cheek scratches gets a couple excited tail thumps too, which Kathryn laughs fondly at.

"She's beautiful," she answers without missing a beat, "and so clever too, aren't you?" Any good dog knows when they're being complimented, and Lily certainly seems pleased with all the adoration she's getting right now. What a great animal.

DEFINITELY NOT

[knightscode]

He honestly hadn't thought she would come.

It had been so long, and she'd stopped answering him, but now --

His face lights up at the sight of her, and Lancelot is by her side in an instant. With Lily, of course. Their expressions are similar too, both with that brown-eyed adoration. His arms come around her easily as she goes for a hug, and he can't help the surge of excitement. Maybe he can fix this! Maybe he still has a chance, if he can just get it right.

"Kathryn! I -- forgive me for it, but I feared you might not come. I know you've been busy, of course, so..."

So he needs to stop rambling, and get to the point.

"It's good to see you."

Nancy | OTA

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy's here, too, because someone needed a break from all that vote rigging. This break is only aided by the amount of alcohol she'd had to drink actually before she'd even come to the party, and what more she continues to drink once she arrives. Besides, she likes Lance quite a bit. Just don't tell the cops that have surely also been invited that she's a prostitute. Nancy's off-duty tonight and only wants fun.

For Lance, she's brought a gift, nothing to fancy, just a decent bottle of chocolate liquor, combining her love of all things chocolatey and alcoholic, and given their chocolate-feast of months past, Nancy was sure Lance would appreciate it.

Throughout the party, Nancy can be found with a drink in her hand, both inside and outside, joining conversations. She's young, sure, but it's almost easy to miss with the way she carries herself. Whenever there is a very happy Lily in her midst, however, she'll be on her knees playing with the happy puppy.

[knightscode]

Shameful as it might be to admit, Lancelot doesn't actually have a very high alcohol tolerance at all.

Chocolate liquor will probably ruin him pretty quickly.

He laughs brightly at it, reaches out to pull Nancy into a quick hug.

"You just want to get me drunk," he teases.

[outstandingbalance]

"Fancy running into you here," Natasha says lightly when she sees Nancy—inside, obviously. Of the people Natasha had met who she might run into at a party, it could have been a lot worse than Nancy. The smile she flashes is genuine.

"I wasn't expecting to see quite so many familiar faces."

Faolan | OTA

[reticence]

Faolan had been rather at a loss as to what to get the other man for his birthday. Not that he hadn't know about it ahead of time. He had probably had more advanced warning than most. But he had never been very good at this sort of thing, and Lancelot never seemed to be wanting for anything. Whatever things he came up with either seemed too extravagant or not enough to honor the friendship (and other feelings, for that matter) that he had with the man.

In the end he had wound up with something fitting, in his mind at least, even if people were probably going to give him odd looks. Lancelot was sure to like it, if nothing else. He hopes, anyway.

He's awkward, as he usually is in social settings. His eye constantly seeking the other man out, trying to determine where he is, what he's doing, who he's talking to. Trying not to show his jealousy as the other man's attention is called elsewhere. Knowing it's ridiculous, that the other man is host, that he is not here alone as he usually is. Trying to keep his own attentions elsewhere. And perhaps not paying as much attention to how many drinks he's had because of it...

[knightscode]

The mug is ridiculous, so of course Lancelot laughs. His arms tug Faolan forward into a thank you hug instinctively, and squeeze him for a long moment before he's set free.

"It's all true," he adds under his breath, and then: "Isn't that right, Lily? It is. But you're a good girl, aren't you little lady?"

She fusses around their feet, tail swishing up over her back excitedly. So many people! So much excitement today! Is Faolan here to play too?

[falsify]

Hey Faolan, it's your favourite woman ever, come to say hello. Because maybe Lancelot is not the most perceptive, but someone's perception is a key selling point of theirs. Whether he's just an overly attached friend or if it's something else, well... Won't it be fun to find out.

"Faolan, was it?" Kathryn comes over with a glass of wine and a friendly smile, putting a hand on his arm in that overly familiar manner of hers, "we met briefly at that dinner forever ago. I didn't know you knew Lancelot!"

This'll help with all those unresolved feelings, right?

[stauncherhearted]

It's a bit later in the evening, and it's safe to say that the youngest member of this party is drunk. Drunk, anxious about elections, and it's the combination of those two things that helps Nancy realize something.

Dubhan is here.

Except she knows better now. She knows that isn't his name- she's seen the posters.

Dress floating around her calves, Nancy waits until she decides it's a good moment to approach him. "You." She points, and takes a drink. "Who the hell are you?" He lied about his name. And he was on running for the council. Lance had been one thing- but this Dubhan? This Faolan?

He was going to have to explain some things.

[tearmeanewone]

"You've got a bit more color in your cheeks this time," Elizabeth comments with a bright smile as she sidles up to Faolan with a cup of punch between her hands. She's taken note of the fact that he looks a little stiff and awkward, and she sympathizes. The fact that she knows close to nobody at this party is making her extremely nervous. She can't monopolize Lancelot's time, obviously, and Lily is busy scavenging, so she's defaulting to the only other person she's had some interaction with.

"It's a nice party!"

Look at her and her small talk.

Closed to Lancelot

[reticence]

Faolan has had far too much to drink to be appropriate for a birthday party at this point. He really should have cut himself off a while ago. But every time he told himself he'd stop there and switch to water, there was something else that drove him to drink. A wink, or flirtatious glance. A coloring on a certain face in response to a comment, or a shy response given in turn.

And then there had been his interactions with Kathryn, awkward and stunted. And Nancy, angry and bitter. And after that, Faolan isn't sure that he shouldn't just excuse himself from the rest of the festivities. Instead he finds himself sitting out in the garden where he'd absconded to after his showdown with the young witch, sitting on the stairs and trying to cool his head as the air around him begins to cool as the sun sets. At least most of the people left in the gathering seem to have left him well enough alone, and he's managed to (scare everyone else away and) claim this corner of the party as his own.

[specifiercity]

Arthur almost feels bad for Faolan when he spots him. The man is visibly uncomfortable here. Arthur's never seen him in this kind of setting before, and he didn't exactly expect him to be a social butterfly, but he didn't think it would quite be like this. On top of that, their last conversation wasn't exactly friendly, so he hesitates but eventually walks over to him and catches his attention.

"Hey," he says, a little awkward himself, "I guess I should have expected to see you here."

Natasha Romanoff | OTA

[outstandingbalance]

Who would be inside on a day like this? There's an obvious answer to that, if you think about it.

Natasha sits inside near the food, keeping an eye on the other guests. She engages with them briefly, smooth and pleasant, but she didn't try to keep most of them inside. She enjoys watching well enough for the most part. The fact Lancelot invited her at all, even if she recognizes that it was as a courtesy because they ran into each other the night before, made it worth coming.

That and seeing his dog again, of course.

There's a small wrapped box next to her, waiting for when she can steal the host. Otherwise, she's content to fade into the background.

[reticence]

Faolan is rather awkward in this gathering, being familiar with the setting but not used to having to share it (and the other man) with anyone else while he's there. He'd been bad enough at the Christmas party, and only Lancelot's closest work friends had been invited to that. Never mind this.

So of course he finds himself nursing a drink. Again. He's definitely not stepping inside to keep an eye on Lancelot as he flits around the kitchen, fussing here and there over his guests. That would be silly...

"We have to stop meeting like this," he says. If he said that he didn't spend all of his days drunk and grumpy, would she believe him at all at this point?

[knightscode]

Lancelot is flitting around the flat and garden trying to make sure everyone has a drink, food and is generally enjoying themselves. It may be his birthday, but Lancelot enjoys hosting -- enjoys fussing over people, really. Lily switches between shadowing him around and rolling about to soak up attention from the guests. When he finally loops back around into the house she's beside him, though, and as he drops down beside Natasha Lily is there to come invade her space. Hello, Natasha! Hello! She remembers you!

"I'm glad you came!" he says, reaching out to gently tug Lily back an inch in case her crowding of Natasha is not entirely welcome. "Forgive me for taking so long, can I get you something? There's punch, beer, something stronger if you like -- plenty of food."

He almost asks if she's allergic to anything, before being struck by the odd fact that he isn't even sure if a vampire can be allergic to things or have food intolerances. Aren't they technically... dead, undead...?

Arthur | OTA

[specifiercity]

Arthur's not really here because he's one of Lancelot's close friends. They met once months ago and then ran into each other at the supermarket a couple days ago and Arthur found himself invited to a birthday party. If anything he came just to drop in and scope out the network opportunities.

Yeah. Super fun at parties.

No, really, he's perfectly amiable once he arrives. He nurses a drink and strikes up conversations with people quite easily, asking them about themselves and how they know Lance, introducing himself as an accountant more often than not. Even with people who he determines are supernatural, it's better that they don't know he's a hunter right off the bat.

[knightscode]

Lancelot flits between letting people in, handing people drinks and trying to variously rescue people from Lily and Lily from other people. He hadn't expected Arthur to come, in truth, the man was a little standoffish, but the fact that he has is a pleasant surprise. He grins as he finally loops back for Arthur, reaches out to pull him into a quick hug.

You can't escape the hug, it's a normal sort of greeting for Lancelot.

"I wasn't sure you'd come -- please, let me get you a drink! Beer, punch, something stronger?"

He pulls back and Lily bounces around their feet, tail swishing up over her back. Hello, hello new person! What is going on? Are you here to play too? She lifts her front paws and drops them repeatedly, desperately fighting the urge to jump up but wanting greet Arthur. He is so tall, so high! Can he not come down so she can say hello?

[falsify]

Arthur's a weird one to see in social situations. It's really easy to picture him as an awkward recluse who hates everyone and can't talk to people, but that's clearly not the case.

She lets him be for most of the day, since it's a little unfair not to actually let him enjoy himself before coming to ruin his fun, and it's that point in the evening when people are starting to peel away and head home when she wanders over to say hello.

"Hey," her smile is, as always, broad and friendly, "I've been getting to know everyone here, and I realised I haven't spoken to you yet-" and she offers a hand in greeting along with her name, "Kathryn."

[stauncherhearted]

Oh Aaaarthur, time to say hello to your pint-sized problem. When Nancy spots him, she makes a beeline for him, holding a drink in one hand.

"Arthur!" It's been a while, and she stands up on the tip-toes of her wedges to give him a kiss on the cheek. Look at her, out of the hospital and looking pretty decent. "How are you, love? I didn't know you knew Lance, too. Or are you just here for his dog?" Everyone knew Lance, gosh, he was popular. But Lily even more so.

[outstandingbalance]

Natasha says inside out of necessity, which on a sunny day limits her options some when it comes to circulating. Nothing wrong with that. She didn't really come to make new friends—but she didn't come to sit on her own either, or force Lancelot too take time away from his other guests because he's worried she's not entertained.

So strikes up conversations here and there when people wander in, eye contact and a smile before she meets them.

She'd be very bad at her line of work if she couldn't mingle.

"I don't think we've met," she says, just a hint of an accent on the words. "I'm Natasha."

Elizabeth || OTA

[tearmeanewone]

Elizabeth has never been invited to a birthday party until now, and she's so excited that of course she automatically says yes.

Once she gets there, she realizes this is going to be a little trickier than initially anticipated. She doesn't know the majority of these people, and while she can talk if people engage her the terrain is quite unfamiliar to her. Meaning who was supernatural, who wasn't, who didn't want to talk to anybody, who would back her into a corner and show her every picture of every strange growth they'd ever had...

Social engagements are still a little difficult for her. Which is why for the most part, she's spending her time tossing toys for Lily to fetch and making sure the punch bowl doesn't sprout legs and walk away...

[protagonized]

As far as he can tell, Simon is still in the doghouse. The incident with Maria is still mostly unresolved, and he knows that his overreaction to the situation hasn't done him any favors lately. He'd debated about whether to actually even go to the party, but Lancelot is his friend and eventually he decides to slip in a bit late with his present (a Waterstones gift card and a bottle of wine), stay long enough to present it to the birthday boy, and then make a hasty exit.

Well, that was the plan anyway.

He's stuck making awkward small talk with a stranger about how he knows Lancelot (apparently "we work together" had been a bad answer) when he spots his salvation. He quickly makes his excuses and makes a bee-line for Elizabeth, who's over by the punch bowl playing with Lily.

"Save me," he mouths to her as he walks up.

[knightscode]

Lily is absolutely happy to keep Elizabeth company, bouncing around her feet doing little twitchy jumps where she shakes her head and excitedly resists the urge to bark.

(Barking, she has been taught, is bad. Why, she does not know. Barking should be good! She likes to bark!)

"Am I interrupting?"

Lancelot grins as Lily vaults over to him once he walks up, reaching a hand down to ruffle her as she fusses around his feet.

"You're doing a good job of tiring her out, she'll sleep well tonight."