Dancing at the Moma (Invite only; casual)

[yolanda7g]

Tag Irene, then Reed and Adrienne

Faustus' eyes followed her hands as they slid up his chest. Oh my goodness, this woman needed to stop playin'! She knew he didn't like getting teased like that, but damn, she did it so well! When she said that she came to get stared at and get laid, Faustus gave a suggestive grin. "Well you got one down," He said slipping his hands around her curvy waist, and pulling her closer to him. The dress she was wearing draped over those hips juuuust right. In a quieter, more discrete but mischievously playful tone, he added, "And later tonight, you'll have that other one taken care of, best believe it girl."

“ Shall we get a drink?"

Faustus glanced up briefly at the group he just left, seeing Tormei letting Penelope have it for being pretty much a dumbass. Yeah, that girl knew how to turn someone off, real quick. He was so done with her. Especially with Irene touching on him like that, he'd be an idiot to ignore her.

He looked at Irene with a grin. "I say we shall. Especially since you're my date tonight." He winked, and letting her go, leaving one arm around her waist, he led her over to another server holding drinks and passed her one before getting himself another. "I bet you didn't see that one comin', did ya?" He said smugly to her. He knew that was a bold thing to say but heck, if he was gonna get laid tonight, Faustus' style was definitely not going to be timid. Definitely not tonight.

He took a sip of his drink when he saw someone familiar just a couple of feet away. Tall and robust, that had to be no one other than Reed. "Mm," he said, swallowing his drink as he saw him, nodding over to Reed and his date, and he said to Irene. "Let me introduce you to my peoples. See that guy? Best lawyer in the business. I'm tellin' you Irene, Hector's bank is no joke. Its like powerful and rich people are just flockin' to me now, I don't even have to try any more," he laughed a bit and took another swallow. "Let's see what the big shot lawyer is up to."

He led her over to the couple. "Reed!" He called out as he approached. "I didn't know you rolled in these circles, man! It's been a while since that whole case, which - by the way - thank you again. Those folks didn't know who they were messin' with." To Irene, he said, "Reed, he was my lawyer for this mess I had against this publishing company, trying to con me out of the cash they contractually agreed they owed me for my medical journal." To the group at large, he said, "They were down for the count the minute this guy showed them to the door and showed me the cash." His grin was wide. "So how you been man?"

He noticed Penelope had some how mingled over to them, bumping into Reed's girl. Faustus rolled his eyes dramatically, and purposely ignored Penelope's presence, turning fully to Reed to hear his greeting.


(apologize for the godmods there Irene, I hope you dont mind and...edited because I didn't catch the altercation with Adrienne and Penny)

[JACK THE RIPPER]

For Cathy

Victor had seemed to forgive her even before she sputtered out the fragments of her apology; he let her talk through him with a small smile on his face, nodding like he already knew what she was going to say.

He doubted that someone who wasn't a whore would immediately take it that way, as he recalled what he had actually said to her. His wording hadn't been that questionable, as it sometimes was; when his wording was questionable, though, he always meant it to be. Was she automatically defensive of things like this? He highly doubted that she was getting paid for her services, but at least working girls were working-- people like what he supposed Catherine Earnshaw was provided them for free.

"You're very welcome," Victor said, smiling down at her once more. He took a small sip of his drink, and then added, "And it's really fine." He wondered whether she would be reassured by this.

With just a slight glance to his side, he noticed a splash of cherry red that he knew-- but there was no way in hell that she could be here! With a deep frown, Victor looked back to Catherine, trying to quickly get his mind off of it. He would have to investigate later. "You look very familiar," he lied. "Have we met?"

He was really just trying to see who he was up against-- was she important enough that anyone would miss her? She was intriguing, or at least her temper was, and he found that she wouldn't be unpleasant to kill at all. Again, something about her neck was very attractive.

I'd like to slit that open, he thought with a genuine smile in her direction. Even in public, where he was capable of acting like a perfectly normal human being, his thoughts were always turned to his work.

((Sorry it took me so long to post, Kuku!))

[rocky]

Tag: Reed, Penny, anyone

Adrienne was facing Reed, eyebrow arched as he murmured suggestively in her ear, when the redheaded woman bumped into her. She pivoted on the ball of her foot, reacting a little defensively, out of instinct -- such was the distraction of the red-headed woman that she missed the man calling out to Reed, she was too busy checking out her competition. She had half exprected Franny or one of her cronies, and when she saw the woman that had nudged her she was momentarily put off by the fact that it wasn't.

"Oh! Um -- that's all right," Adrienne said, and scanned the girl for any sign that she might be a threat. She registered at once her pretty heart-shaped face, her slender figure, and the stunning, floor-length dress she was wearing and began at once to feel inexplicably territorial.

She nudged Reed with her hip, ostensibly to urge him to make some space -- but it was an intimate enough gesture to claim him. She took a sip of her champagne and gestured vaguely at the woman's dress.

"I love your dress," she said pleasantly, and then went on "I'm Adrienne Heart and this is Reed Armstrong."

It was then that Reed's ... friend? Arrived, and Adrienne glanced between them expectantly, feeling suddenly like she was only there for decoration. There was a moment's hesitation as she wondered how he would introduce her. She had deliberately avoided using any possessive adjectives, but she was posturing towards him in a way that was clearer than the word 'boyfriend' would ever have been.

[kuku]

Tag Victor

She smiled, still ready to be defensive if she needed to. These days she was always ready. She had to be. With the recent resurfacing of Heathcliff, and his new found prominence, she never quite knew what was going to come next. She hated that and loved it at the same time. What Cathy wanted was to be out of control as long as she could regain it. Most of the time that task was fairly easy, but with Heathcliff it never was that easy and never anything near simple. Maybe tonight shouldn't be about him. This was a party after all and those were like a second nature to Cathy. She had been born into this world. This was the closest thing she would ever have to a real job-to see, be seen and project the image she needed for herself and her family.

Breathing a sigh of relief that she had managed to charm her way out of that uncomfortable situation. Cathy knew that she was good at this sort of thing, but she couldn't stop herself form smiling at just how well that had apparently gone. Except for her saving grace started to slip from her fingers. But she would have bee offended if she had gotten through the whole conversation remaining entirely anonymous. If anyone was determined to at least try to have her cake and eat it too it was Cathy.

"I don't think so. But I'm around a lot." she studied the man for a moment. "I feel like you would be memorable too, if we had met..." She wasn't entirely sure what she meant by that really. A compliment on the surface, but she felt like this was a man who would not allow himself to be easily forgotten. Not if he wanted to be remembered.

Cathy found she quite liked that. She felt that by surrounding herself with memorable people she would become memorable herself. She built her life around what she "should be". Everything was picture perfect on the surface and for that accomplishment she felt it gave her every right to tear what she wanted down and act like a child as long as it didn't affect the image that mattered.

[mabs]

Tag: Adrienne and Penny, then Faustus and Irene

Reed was vaguely aware of the stumbling lady, something he was accustomed to at the type of events. Young, careless deubtantes and trophy wives tended to get carried away at places like these, though the woman didn't look so desperate as to fall unceremoniously in that category. It was Adrienne's nudge that sent his look straight to her, and the look of pure feminine territorial stance wasn't unnoticed by him. He laid a hand on the small of her back and gave her a shielded wink before turning to the woman again.

"Ah, so now you're making my introductions for me, my dear?" he teased at Adrienne, jovially in front of the new woman. She was pretty enough, but it was hard to notice much else besides his own date when Adrienne was so classy, yet scandalous in her dress choice. "It is a pleasure to meet you, regardless of the circumstances." And Reed offered a quick hand before turning once his name was called.

Reed spotted Faustus, and a devilish grin crossed his face. It was rare that Reed took a liking to the money clinging business men that Reed represented. Most of them had all cash and no brass, or too much bastard-like qualities to be much more than robots in their field. Faustus was just as selfish, indulgent, and purely ridiculous as Reed was, which made them instant kindred spirits it seemed. Reed released his hold of Adrienne for a moment and took to giving his friend (as close of a friend as he claimed) a hug.

"Ah, Faustus you selfish dog. Looking dashing as usual. And talking enough for everyone, as usual," Reed prodded jovially, and shook his head. "You just like me because I made you money. But then again, I made a pretty penny off of you as well. Therefore, we're automatically the best of friends, isn't that right?" Reed laughed and reached for Adrienne, spreading the circle of acquaintances so as not to exclude the woman they'd just been acquainted with, as well as include Faustus and his date.

"This, my dear friend, is Miss Adrienne Heart. She's condescended to be my date for tonight," Reed offered with a crooked grin. "And even ore, she's taken the unfortunate occupation of being my girlfriend." Though there was a smile to Reed's words. Reed kept making slight glances at Faustus's companion, thinking that somehow her face was familiar, but he couldn't quite place a finger on it.

"Who's your lovely companion?" Reed asked curiously, reciprocating Adrienne's territorial posture with one of his own.

[PENELOPE LAFONTAINE]

Penelope smiled at Adrienne. "Thanks. It cost me almost a month's salary, but it's definitely paying off. I'm Penelope LaFontaine. You can call me Penny."

She looked around and, spotting a passing tray, grabbed another flute of champagne. Tonight was getting...interesting to say the least. Damn she thought to herself, I need to start making my rounds and see if I can't get any of these snobs to part with some of there money... She turned back to Adrienne, still smiing, and began to strike up a conversation.

"Fancy party tonight. I feel a little...unqualified because I'm just a plus one. I hitched a ride hoping I'd be able to mooch donations for my friend's compaign to reclaim the slums - you know, to help the people there get some restitution for all the crap they've been subjected to over the years." She smiled sheepishly, until she spotted Faustus coming over to chat up Adrienne's companion.

"And it looks like my date finally stopped ogalling that blonde of his - Hey Faustus, did you forget you brought me with you tonight? Lucky for you I found better company, though that's not hard when I only have you to cmpare them to." She smirked at him, placing a hand on her hip.

[IRENE ADLER]

Irene was suddenly lead to the group, her eyes going wide as she saw the man Reed. She had stolen things from him before. But he was sure not recognizing her now. A smile creeping on her lips, her bottom lip licking as she cocked her head until she heard the girl start to talk about Faustus. “ Maybe he was your date, but now then again would you kindly stop being a brat .” she teased and pressed into Faustus arms.

A thorn can be more beautiful than a rose, if we understand, “What it actually is”, and perceive its inherent objective, that very objective of shielding a rose from the sinner’s grip. Thus I feel a thorn is as beautiful as the rose, for it is the thorn that defends the rose and allows us to view the rose from an intuitive perspective.

She said to the girl, her smile never leaving her as she started to wonder what her insult would mean. She spoke about a lot of things, most of the time she said them to spite and make people hate her. But others she just spoke the truth. A girl who showed so much rudeness through talking was indeed a woman who needed a lesson in manners.

By how she had been surrounded from a very young age with these kinds of people, she guessed that it was just natural that she would suck like a sponge their qualities. Sipping some more of her drink, she sighed and relaxed.

Another afternoon were it was well worth the time of her coming to a party , to a man who she had slept before and also to find out that she had missed all of it.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Tag: Hector

He'd debated whether to go or not. He thought it best not to, considering his feelings towards Hector at the present time. But if he didn't go, it was sure to reflect badly on him. Although Richard refused to believe Hector was inviting him out of kindness he came to realize that attending rather than not would be best.

The event was well attended by the city's high class and elite, many of whom Richard recognized and knew well. Unfortunatley these people weren't here in support of him, and he recieved his fair share of accussing and downright hostile looks (this and a few confused expressions to boot) as he made his way through the museum.

It was then that he spotted Hector, man of the moment, standing by himself. Richard was surprised at this but glad of an oppurtunity to talk with him. Sticking to the fringes of the crowd as he used to (in the days before he'd been recognized and simply an add on to Edward's entourage) he approached his rival.

"I must say I'm surprised," he said, in a somewhat measured tone. "I didn't think it was protocol to invite one's rival to a get together like this."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Tag: Richard

Hector took another measured sip of his beverage, his gaze tempering as it switched from glaring angrily after that...that...girl to regarding Richard cooly. "Hello Richard. I'm surprised that you chose to attend, what with your silly obsession with this imaginary rivalry. We're friends who happen to be on opposite politcal sides, not mortal enemies," Hector resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Really, sometimes Richard was so dramatic.

The man belonged on a stage, not in public office.

"How is your evening going Richard? Well I hope?" Or not so well. Hector wouldn't begrudge harm befalling somebody sometime during the eveing. Penelope (Hector couldn't even think her name without cringing inwardly) had brought out the sadistic bastard he had so carefully burried.

[yolanda7g]

"Ah, Faustus you selfish dog. Looking dashing as usual. And talking enough for everyone, as usual,"

Got that right! One thing was for sure, when Faustus walks up in a party everyone's heads turn to him - cause he's got the good looks and when he talks, people listen. Hell, Faustus makes them listen, even if he has to scream at them. Shoot, a brotha's gotta do what a brotha's gotta do.

"You just like me because I made you money. But then again, I made a pretty penny off of you as well. Therefore, we're automatically the best of friends, isn't that right?"

Faustus laughed. "Maaaan, you speak nothin' but the truth. You tell it like it is, and you don't mess around - thats why people run scared when you're in the courtroom."

"This, my dear friend, is Miss Adrienne Heart. She's condescended to be my date for tonight. And even more, she's taken the unfortunate occupation of being my girlfriend."

Faustus grinned back and addressed Adrienne. "Nice to meet you, and hey - I'm tellin' you, you got yourself a catch. You know how many people are probably jealous cause you nagged yourself a hotshot lawyer who can get you into places like this? Not bad, girl, not bad at all!"

"And it looks like my date finally stopped ogalling that blonde of his - Hey Faustus, did you forget you brought me with you tonight? Lucky for you I found better company, though that's not hard when I only have you to cmpare them to."

Faustus eyes snapped to the annoying voice that he tried to ignore, glaring at her. And then Irene spoke up and Faustus had to grin. He knew there was something more than just her booty that he liked about Irene - she was feisty. "Yeah and-" he added. "Let me get one thing straight - you stopped being my date the minute you started actin' like a natural fool." He put a hand to his his chest and spoke only to Reed and Adrienne, emphasizing the sincerity in his voice. "You guys didn't see it, but Hector Tormei, the man hostin' this event had to tell her off."

To Penelope he wanted to say 'take yo' sorry ass on' but there was a time and place. Instead he said, "I only knew you for a split second and you didn't even want to come here with me anyway so why don't you just shut your mouth and take your sorry ass on." Much better.

He turned to the couple in front of them and pulled Irene close to him. "I'm sorry, before I was rudely interrupted I was about to introduce you to my actual date Irene Adler."

Then in the corner of his eye he saw another similar face among the throngs of people. The Mayor. Who in their right minds invited him?!

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Tag: Hector

The look on Hector's face, that look of cool calm, irritated Richard more than he would have imagined. He tried to keep his own expression similarly free of his true feelings, but couldn't quite manage it, instead looking decidedly grumpy. Hector's words didn't help any.

"Hello Richard. I'm surprised that you chose to attend, what with your silly obsession with this imaginary rivalry. We're friends who happen to be on opposite politcal sides, not mortal enemies,"

"Silly obsession with imaginary rivalry?" he repeated, clearly irritated. "Hector, you know full well what this position means to me and, by trying to wrest it from me, your status as my friend is somewhat diminished."

He used the term 'friend' very loosely, as he assumed Hector did. The fact Hector has even used the word at all both surprised and, admittedly, amused him.

"How is your evening going Richard? Well I hope?"

To this Richard made no reply, presuming Tormei would have enough to say concerning his previous statements.



ooc: 'Really, sometimes Richard was so dramatic. The man belonged on a stage, not in public office.' I loved this! :3

[PENELOPE LAFONTAINE]

Tag: Faustus and Irene; then Hector and Richard

Penelope glared at Faustus and his blond, Irene. They were both driving her up the wall, Faustus especially.

"Well, excuse me for not enjoying the way everyone patronizes me. And Tormei did not have to "tell me off". He could have spoken to me nicely. Instead he dragged me away and went on a tirade. And all because I was joking around little. Who new people could be so touchy. I guess that's what I get for not being one of the privileged." She shrugged her shoulders and smirked, knowing well enough that she had gotten a little out of line with Tormei. Admittedly, she enjoyed irking him just a little too much.

It was then that Penelope caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye: The mayor, of all people, was here. She stifled a chuckle and turned to the group. "Excuse me," she announced as politely as humanly possible, "But I need to use the ladies' room." With that, she floated away from the group and quietly moved towards Tormei and Plantagenet.

As she watched the two men talk, she knew she was going to have to be careful of what she said, or be on the receiving end of Tormei's rebukes again, only worse.

"Well, it looks like I have to take back what I said about not inviting one's opponents, don't I?" Penelope chirped from behind them. She smiled, head cocked to one side, as she held a hand out to the mayor. "Penelope LaFontaine at your service." She said, introducing herself. She then turned to Tormei and gave him a knowing grin, daring him to watch her being completely and totally polite.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Tag: Hector & Penelope

It seemed to Richard that Hector wasn't about to reply. He was mulling over this development when another person spoke from behind them.

"Well, it looks like I have to take back what I said about not inviting one's opponents, don't I?"

Richard started; he hated people sneaking up on him. However, realizing how he acted tonight would reflect on him for better or worse he tried to remain cordial.

He looked from the woman to Hector and back again; it seemed her question had been intended for him.

"Penelope LaFontaine at your service."

As Penelope held out a hand, Richard took it with his good one and shook it briefly before letting go.

"A pleasure, Miss LaFontaine," he replied.

He said nothing else, his gaze returning to Hector, wondering what to make of this change in events. What did this woman mean by what she'd said and by grinning at Hector like that?


ooc; Sorry if you planned to post first Kay. D:

[rocky]

tag: Faustus, Irene, Reed

Adrienne wasn't sure what to make of the 'just a plus one' stance on things, she supposed that she was, as well. She was still rolling the idea of it around in her head and debating mentally how defensive she was supposed to feel when Faustus spoke up. She hid a smirk behind her glass of champagne, but couldn't help herself as he spoke to her about Reed:

"I hope you don't think I like him because he's a lawyer," she said breezily, pretending not to be insulted that he had essentially decided she was only there to schmooze. That thought, however, raised the uncomfortable question of what she was doing there. With a man she had agreed to be exclusive with, of all things. A man she could barely carry a conversation with without getting upset.

She watched as he dispatched with Penny, eyes narrowing a little. She didn't like the notion that women needed to be told off for having a dissenting opinion. She didn't much care about Hector Tormei either.

As Penny left to see the mayor, Adrienne greeted Irene with mild disinterest -- then arched her eyebrow at Faustus.

"Told off? What is she, five? How many women did you bring to this little get-together?"

Christ, no wonder they weren't behaving. It was bad enough with Reed's wife lurking around.

[mabs]

Tag: Adrienne, Faustus, and Irene[/right[

The whole evening seemed to grow more complicated by the moment, but Reed kept on with his air of total ease about him. The only notion that he was beginning to dislike the tension in the room was the shift in his demeanor, as he shifted his weight to one hip and plunged his hand deep into his pocket, taking a deep drink of the champagne.

Something irritated him about insinuating that Adrienne was just there to be a pretty decoration and rub elbows with the elite and upper class, but Reed kept that to himself. He was better off allowing people to assume their expectations than to do anything about it. Then tensions ran high as the Penelope woman confronted Faustus, and Reed stifled a grin. It wasn't the first time he'd watched his friend get into a problem with women. Hell, Reed himself had gotten into similar issues at parties like this. That was just par for the course.

"Faustus, my friend, I'm pretty sir the only thing she enjoys about my profession is the tailored suits I'm forced to wear everyday," he offered with a deep chuckle. Reed's ability to push through the tension unabashed and unrelenting made him what he was in the courtroom: a formidable opponent. And a good conversationalist. "If anything, I'm just the escort tonight. Low profile, if you know what I mean," Reed offered a nonchalant glance to the corner of the room possessing Franny and her group of sharks. Bitches.

As he turned from his casual glance of the room, Reed noticed the incumbent mayor approaching Hector Tormei. Well. That was interesting. Reed wasn't sure how much more of the fanfare he personally could take, especially if the two candidates were about to start crawling all over each other's platforms and intentions in false cordiality. Plus, there was something uncomfortable about being around Miss Adler. Something that made him wonder where he'd seen her before.

"I think the party just got a little bit crowded," Reed offered as he finished his champagne. Reed gave Adrienne a pointed look, with a nonchalant nod of the head toward accompanied by a wink. Leave?

[[ooc: Sorry for the delay. My life has recently blown up. :/ ]]