Islington Nest Christmas Party, Dec 17 [Open to all Nest members and their guests]

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline has worked hard to put together the evening's event, which is not only a Christmas party but also hopefully a chance for the Nest to celebrate its new leadership. The room at the Angelo has been decorated with a winter wonderland theme which, while not exactly original, is quite lovely.

A string quartet is playing a selection of Christmas and other classical music. Any attempts to feed on the musicians will result in the perpetrator getting thrown out the party, or worse. But feeding on any of the hired help or performers should be unnecessary, since several varieties of "blood punch" are available to drink. There is also food and other drinks available for non-vampire guests and anyone else who wishes to partake.

There is a strict black tie only dress code and Caroline will tell anyone who is under-dressed to go home and change.



[The event is happening on Dec 17th but I wanted to get it up early so everyone had time to do get involved if they so desired.]

Comments

Beginning of the party [Open]

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline almost can't believe that the party is finally starting. She has spent the last couple of weeks working so hard to make sure ever detail is perfect and so far, it all is. All the food looks and tastes wonderful, drinks are ready. And the first guests are finally beginning arrive, just as the musicians begin to play.

The only thing about the night that was easy to play was Caroline's own wardrobe, since she is re-wearing her prom dress. Not that she plans on telling anyone that. There were some advantages to moving so far away from home - no one could tell when an outfit was recycled here.

With a smile that made her appear much calmer than she really felt, she began to mingle with the first arrivals.

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy made Cooper promise they'd arrive on the early side. She didn't want Caroline to host a party where someone she didn't actually know came first and they had to stay in complete silence. So she's there just as the doors open, her red hair half-up and curled. She's dressed for the occasion- she had a good number of rather nice dresses gifted to her by some of her wealthier johns. She was actually pretty sure the shoes she was wearing were from Cesare Borgia.

But that didn't matter, because on her ears and around her neck were the beautiful emeralds that Cooper had gotten her for her birthday. Each square emerald was surrounded by smaller diamonds, and the pieces were now by far her favorites.

"Caroline, this is beautiful!" She coos, already getting a drink. "And your dress-! You look absolutely stunning."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline beams when she sees Nancy and Cooper come in. A few friendly faces go a long way.

"Thank you, it's been a lot of work but so I think it was all worth it." She smiles, looking down at her dress - it really was Grace of Monaco hot, thank you Klaus. And far too pretty to only wear once. "You look great too, I love your jewellery."

[stauncherhearted]

Having rich boyfriends (or clients) was always such a wonderful thing. Pretty dresses, designer shoes, and now, indeed, Nancy's jewelry.

"If the party turns out to be as great as the decorations, I'm sure it absolutely is." She gives her a bright smile.

"Thank you! You asked what Cooper got me..." she beams. Goodness, she loves him.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"The party is going to turn out better, I'll make sure of it." Or at least, she intends to do everything she can to keep things running smoothly. And if she needs to appeal to more powerful people to help, so be it.

"I told you he was going to get you something," she said with a smile. "The necklace especially is stunning."

[stauncherhearted]

"Of that, I have no doubt." She laughs a little.

Nancy rolls her eyes. "I know, but I didn't want him to. Then he threatened to take them back." Only after he'd laughed at her until he was crying. Which, honestly, still stung if she thought about it too much. So she didn't.

She gently touches the necklace. "Thank you- I love it. I really wanted to show them off tonight. Can't blame a girl, can you?" She had other nice jewelry. Eames had given her emeralds before, Lord Coward had given her garnets. What she'd really wanted was a diamond from Bill, but he'd always thought the idea was laughable.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"I would never blame you for anything."

Caroline looks around the room, happy to see even more guests appearing. "So, is there anyone I should keep an eye out for? I know, I know, I should ask Cooper, but I'd must rather ask you. It's a convenience thing."

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy doubts that, but she lets the conversation rest there.

Nancy has to smile at that. "Eye out in which way?" The you're bangable way or the you are evil way.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"Well, first, people who I should know because they're important or those who are just fun to be around. Definitely let me know which ones I should say hello to once and then avoid for the rest of the night." She pauses, then smiles playfully. "And if you could find me a date, I wouldn't say no."

[baisant]

Jean-Claude is of course making his own appearance to this gathering of Caroline's. Of course it has his blessing as well. He does not really have an opinion of Christmas one way or the other -- he's too old to feel any sort of charm around the holiday season as one might claim otherwise. But he is of the opinion that any excuse for a party is a good one, especially a formal get-together like this one.

He smiles at her as he approaches. He is dressed up himself, in a red brocade vest and deep red velveteen jacket. The white shirt underneath the vest is the same gaping, unlaced poet's shirt that he's usually got on, as are the leather pants and thigh-high boots, but he's obviously gone through efforts to gussy himself up. Even his hair looks nicer, dark curls spilling expertly across his shoulders in turn.

"Mon amie," he says, by way of greeting. "This is quite the event you have put together." His eyes slide along the line of her dress for a moment before he glances at Caroline herself again. "And you, yourself. You are exquisite."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline can't help but stare a bit when she catches sight of Jean-Claude. He's always been handsome - she may have even told him as much once - but tonight is just ... damn.

"Thank you," she says, hoping her cheeks aren't colouring too much. "You look very exquisite yourself."

[baisant]

Jean-Claude smiles in response to her compliment, looking down at himself before offering her a slow sweeping bow in return.

"I thought I might dress for the occasion," he offers. "It is not so often I am invited to celebrate the season as this. And I already had these things made, so I thought to myself. Why not?" His smile quirks wider at her as he offers, "I am glad to hear that you approve though, mon amie."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"Oh, I definitely approve," Caroline says with a laugh. "It's also refreshing to find a man who isn't complaining about me making them dress up all fancy. Clearly they think we should all just be wearing sacks or something."

are we still having him notice her drink? c:

[baisant]

Jean-Claude laughs softly, shaking his head at her as he does. "You will never find me complaining about dressing up for a party, mon amie," he replies. Though he adjust his smile, his eyes twinkling mischievously as he adds the thought, "I would not complain so much if we were to have another party with less clothes than this though. As I am certain you are all too aware."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

She can feel herself blushing again. "I suppose something like that could be arranged. Do you have any other wishes for it, Your Grace?" She's not sure is she's actually supposed to call him that but she wanted to do it at least once.

[baisant]

Jean-Claude crinkles his nose slightly at the title, shaking his head and raising his hands in gentle protest.

"Please," he reassures her, gently. "My name is Jean-Claude. I invite you to address me by it. Such titles feel..." He waves his hand slightly, as if searching for the right words to explain himself. "They feel beyond me, I suppose. I am no one's grace. I have simply made something of myself because someone had to."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline laughs. "Aw, but titles are so ... they make me feel for a moment like I'm in some classic English literature. But if you insist."

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

Spotting Caroline, Thomas approached her, smiling. "Your dress is amazing and this party is exquisite. Although, I think next party Islington has should have a non-existent dress code."

Granted, there were the raves on Halloween that didn't have a dress code, which Thomas had taken full advantage of by wearing a loin cloth and fairy wings. That didn't really count in his opinion, though, since he'd spent it fighting Raymond's followers.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"Every great party in the history of parties had a dress code," Caroline replied with a grin. "But maybe the next one I throw will be a little more relaxed. Though it would deprive me of the opportunity to see how all you men clean up."

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

"Are you sure about that? I seem to remember a great many great parties without one. Besides, with a dress code you miss all the amazing and scandalous outfits I might come up with."

And Thomas was certain that that would be a far greater opportunity for anyone to be able to see than a mere chance to see him cleaned up.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline thought about that for a moment. "You make an excellent point. Okay, no dress code next time. Be as scandalous as you desire. Though," she added, looking him up and down, "you do clean up well."

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

A grin spread across his face as he imagined just what he could wear to the next party. "I'll have to take full advantage of that, then."

He glanced down at his suit when she commented about him cleaning up well. "Oh, but of course. I always look good in whatever I wear...or don't wear, for that matter."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"I would expect nothing less."

She laughed. Thomas certainly wasn't lacking for confidence.

[loveconquersdinosaurs]

"And yet, at the same time, I suspect that you expect so much less."

Less clothes, that was.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

She's going to die laughing at this rate. "Just be careful you don't raise my expectations too high."