tampered | (no subject)

When; Sunday, May 31st
Rating; PG-13+ ~~HEY THIS IS VICTROLA~~
Characters; ANYONE AND EVERYONE
Summary; The Grand Opening of Victrola --you don't wanna miss it ♥
Log;

She loved this word decadence. As Verlaine said, it all shimmers in purple and gold. It suggests a soul capable of the most intense of pleasures. It is bursts of fire and the sparkle of precious stones. It is in the rouge of courtesans, the games of the Circus, and it is in the consuming in flames of people exhausted by their capacity for sensation. It was wonderful, she thought, this whole business of excess.

Victrola was pregnant with moving bodies on the dance floor, amplified sounds of conversations, dulled music on the side stage and the pungent smell of something possibly illegal (the people who need to know already do whereas those who do not, well, they don't need to). Going around the room were trays of decadent canapes and drinks. But for the more daring, a simple whisper to the waiter would earn you a glass of absinthe.

A burlesque show played out on the main stage, dancers in thick make-up and glamorous lingerie. They were a nostalgic piece, but one of great entertainment value. Surely you agree. Stare all you want, gentlemen, but do not touch the girls.

Blair stood away from the crowd and the stage, standing in the shadows, as hidden as she could possibly be in her Cavalli ensemble and a Vera Wang. There were no charts in her hand, no pens, no nothing. Gone were the days when she would be so busy checking lists of food and drinks and guest lists and entertainment list and more lists and only more lists. She was done with that. This was her party too, after all, she was going to enjoy it more than any of you would. At least, right after one hang up is resolved. Still waiting for your Prince, little girl?

[ooc; and get the party in motion! Indicate on your subject line if your thread's closed to certain chars, and keep your eyes out for a special entertainment coming 'cause it definitely won't be on GG. You like me to stare? ♥]

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It felt easier when she did not have to face him. It was easier to lie, she supposed, when you did not have to look into the eyes of the other person.

"Why do you ask?" She threw back another question. It was starting to grate on her that people had to keep asking. There was no right answer to that question. If she had told them that she was alright then she would be lying, but if she had told them that she was not then what would they do anyway? This was a mess she made for herself, and if she could not fix it up then how could they?

Still, she supposed they were just being nice, and she found that it was hard to be so curt to Caspian especially. "--The answer's no," she added finally. "But don't ask."

"I'm curious. I have not seen you in days," weeks, months even if they were to count her time returned to New York.

However he understood her answer without judging. He wanted to ask too but as a lady and his friend he couldn't bring himself to deny her request. So Caspian didn't ask about her mood or her feelings or what bothered her. But what he did do was hold his hand out to her.

"Would you dance with me, then?"

He had his own troubled thoughts too, all of which he kept at bay because it would be a poor sight to have both of them under the spell of low spirits. It was enough that Caspian managed to smile, and he would keep smiling even if she refused him.

When Blair finally turned to look at him, her face was no longer cold like stone. Hers were really just the face of a girl, all meticulously made-up but you could see right through that, couldn't you? She was someone who could get hurt just as much as the next person. She would be warm to your touch, and she would bleed had you cut her, but she would not cry if only because she would not let herself. She was not heartless, was she?

"Yeah," she whispered, giving him a meek smile. "Dancing sounds good." She took his hand. If only she knew that Caspian also wore faces.

Her acceptance really did bring a brighter smile to his face. He wanted to make and keep better memories, ones to remind themselves that even in the shadows one can always strike a light.

"It is my pleasure," Caspian said to her, even bowing half at the waist as he drew her closer to himself. Nevermind that the music wasn't what he was used to, he could count time and keep a beat, and he was very good at that. But more importantly was her smile and he hoped they could keep it, at least for a little while.

The smile grew into a slight laughter at his bow. That was just too adorable. There was nothing that made you appreciate the little things more quite like sadness does. She supposed that it was only when you realized you had nothing that every small thing mattered so much more. It scared her a little how soft that made her sound.

Blair thought it was funny how they were taking the position for something more like a waltz than for something like club dancing. But she did not mind. She placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping her eyes on his while letting him lead. He was definitely very good at dancing, and while he was not making saucy moves like the person next to them, he kept his beat and did not step on her toes. She gave him another smile, a reassuring one.

There was no more going down, the only way she could go to was up.