Finn had spent all day preparing for tonights enormous party. With the help of his wonderful staff, without whom a mental breakdown would have been inevitible, the Signature bar had been charmed to be completely brilliant black, so that not a speck of the normal bright white peeped through. Small smecks of lights to look like stars [and some even in the shape of famous constellations] shone and glistened occasionally. Finn had designed the decor in association with the great hall ceiling - it was supposed to mirror the night's sky on the night of the great battle of Hogwarts.

Finn clapped his hands together as he looked around the room, extremely pleased with what he and his staff had accomplished in such a short space of time. Some of his staff were on door duty, some serving canapes and drinks, but all were suited and booted in white shirts and tails. Finn gave a nod to a man standing behind the bar, who quickly ran off and slipped through a door. Suddenly, music started to play through the speakers. Quietly at first, but gradually getting louder. Signature was known for its good taste in music - wide and ecclectic, but essentially good.

A couple of guests came into the bar, the first guests of the evening. Finn checked his watch - bang on seven. According to his sources, word of the party had spread far and wide, so much so that witches and wizards from all over the country would be making their way to the club that night. Finn smiled at the guests that came in. "Welcome." He raised his voice over the music. "Please, get yourselves a drink. Non alcoholic, of course." he winked at the two girls who were clearly underage.

This week hadn’t been easy for anyone, but when Fauna had found out that there was a party at Signature and that some of her friends would be there, she’d decided to go. It had taken much encouragement from her older sister, who had insisted that she wouldn’t feel any better sitting in her common room, moping about all the things that had gone wrong. Fauna had to admit that getting ready for the party with Saffron had been fun. She’d raced to the Ravenclaw common room many times this evening to get advice on her outfit and help Saffron with her hair, making the trip to the tower in various states of undress (nothing too scandalous. Mostly missing shoes) and leaving a trail of bobby pins in her wake. Eventually, the Ravenclaw portrait had gotten so fed up with her and her ‘interesting’ answers to riddles, that it hadn’t allowed her to leave the common room until she was completely ready. That had taken some time. After an hour, though, she and Saffron were ready to paint the town a sassy pink.

She smiled at her friend as they walked into Signature together. Immediately, she was impressed by the magnificent ceiling charmed to look like a starry night sky, and the dark décor that made her feel like she was walking in space. It was surreal. She’d never been to this club before, or many clubs actually, and Fauna wondered if it always looked like this.

“I think we might be kinda early,” she told Saffron, raising her voice a bit so she could be heard over the music. People from town were already here, but she didn’t see many students from Hogwarts.

A young man who Fauna thought might be Ava’s brother encouraged them to try some of the nonalcoholic drinks. She nudged Saffron and chuckled. “He must think I’m underage.” Fauna often got that reaction from people, looking and dressing younger than many of her peers. She also spent a lot of time with her fourth-year friends.

“Can I get the Selkie’s Shriek?” She asked one of the staff at the bar, smiling at the title and curious as to what exactly was in the concoction. “I’m seventeen,” she protested when the man gave her a skeptical look. “Here, check,” Fauna handed him her wand and waited for him to perform the necessary age charm.

As she waited she looked at the other people in the club, who seemed to be dressed much more sophisticatedly than she and Saffron. Then again, she doubted many of the club-goers had decided to dedicate their outfits to the wacky Luna Lovegood, which Fauna had done in tribute to Saffron’s role in the reenactment. She found that she actually didn’t mind the curious glances thrown her way. Her hair was piled up on her head messily, her dress was brightly colored with ruffles, and even her makeup was a little more colorful than normal. Fauna liked it this way, especially since Saffron was with her and they could be outrageous together. What else was a party for?


(Click here for outfit)

Saffie's party wear

It was official. Saffron loved getting ready for parties. Even running between the common rooms was fun, an adventure of a sort. Saffron had changed her makeup several times, sought Fauna's advice on just about every aspect of her get up, and attempting to tame her hair into quite the look she had been going for had been a challenge necessary of two. The Hufflepuffs had a really nice common room, Saffron had mused during the little time she'd spent trying to repaint her toenails hot pink over the neon orange they'd previously donned. Most of Saffron's ensemble was pink, actually, excepting the rainbow-chip cookie pendant that hung around her neck.

She didn't quite feel like herself, but it was in a good way. Tonight, she wasn't plain old Saffron Padmore. Tonight she was SAFFRON Padmore. And that included a hot pink dress with soft pink, embroidered daisies that swished and swirled in an imagined breeze. The dress was considerably shorter than most of the dresses in Saffron's wardrobe, but that was the point. Tonight was about taking the most out of life, really, truly enjoying it. An assortment of randomly colored bangles dotted one wrist, a fruit themed bracelet dotting the other. Bright pink star earrings hung from Saffron's ears and her face was done up in vivid pink shades. Really, Saffron felt just utterly, utterly pink. Her hair, curled and half-piled on her head was a bit different.

Black half-wedge, half-flipflop sandals completed her eccentric Luna Lovegood-themed outfit. It was a far cry from her Luna Lovegood costume, more in line with Saffron's tastes than Ms. Lovegood's, but the not quite tacky, not quite matching seemed to work. Either way, as Saffron walked into the Signature with Fauna, they got a bunch of weird looks. Her eyes lit up in surprise as she took in the starlit sky-ceiling and the utter glamour of the Signature. Saffron had never been in a club before, let alone this one. It was mainly due to her age, fifteen, and that her height had regularly contributed to making her look incapable of passing for seventeen without trying really really hard.

“I think we might be kinda early,” Fauna told Saffron, raising her voice above the music, which had just begun. Saffron nodded.

"Yeah, I guess so." she giggled, "I thought we we're gonna be late, but, hey, guess not, right?" Saffron bobbed her head to the music. "This is good music," she commented. "I wonder who it's by?"

A guy Saffron didn't quite recognize but looked vaguely familiar called out , encouraging them to try the non alcoholic drinks.

“He must think I’m underage.” Fauna chuckled, nudging Saffron. Saffron grinned.

"Well," she laughed, looking Fauna up and down. "We could be twins. Only two years apart." As Fauna engaged in attempting to secure an alcoholic drink, Saffron plopped herself down lightly on the bar stool, scowling at her not-quite-touching the ground toes and gazing around the club. As the man gave Fauna her drink, Saffron figured it was appropriate to order her own drink. Not really sure what to get, Saffron decided to order the first thing that came to mind. "Um, I'll have a cold butterbeer? But, coulda, uh, put it in a martini glass and-" Saffron stalled, straining to think. There was some sort of green thing that went in a martini glass, she knew it... "-and a lime piece? Please?" Saffron flashed the bartender her brightest smile and relaxed as he agreed.

"This is so fun!" she gushed to Fauna as she waited. "And it's barely even started!"

Neely stepped into the club looking as if she had skinned the most ferosh, green silk leopard in the history of green silk leopards, with the mask to match.

Oh, what? What was that? The masks were only for after hours? Well, Cornelia Heloise Woolfolk was going to soak in the fun while it lasted because frankly, sir, every Minister of Magic since the dawn of time had somehow decided that the coupling of under-seventeens, unsupervised magic, and an excess of moonlight was a safety threat. Who elected these lamewads?!

Noticing that the clumsy girl whose name she had forgotten twelve times now was sitting with her arch nemesis of the week, Saffron Padmore, Neely skirted their section of the bar and sat down on a stool at the far end, her legs dangling. She could always pretend she had never fought with the girl and play buddy-buddy if no one else showed up to entertain her. Long time, no see!

With her non-masquerade mask still intact, Neely was certain she could get away with any number of things, including but not limited to evading her unpleasant peers and requesting a drop or two of something she shouldn't be drinking. Although the latter was much trickier, and Neely was most probably pushing her luck, given her diminutive height and the inherent babyishness of that small bit of her facade not disguised by black material and smoky makeup. She scanned the crowd for fierce and friendly faces, someone who would actually understand if she chose to discuss the difference between pairing party dresses with stilettos or with chunky, square-heeled pumps. She couldn't wait to see what her fabulous friends spun out of their closets.

"Cocoa, please," she said to the man behind the bar, when it was her turn to order. "On the rocks." Neely shamelessly nicked an empty shot glass from a suave formation and held it out to request that he use it for the sweet mixture. It arrived looking frothy and perfect, with a cool fog coming off of it like one of those trendy, smoking shots from photographs of her mother's 'youth'. Neely took tiny sip of the chocolaty substance, reveled in it, and then asked with a clandestine air if the bartender could add a dash of something carbonated... much to the man's confusion or amusement. She was very unaware that nearby, Saffron was also trying to customize a drink.

Spying the silhouette of someone interesting, familiar, or both, Neely popped down from her seat almost as quickly as she'd taken it. Holding up her perfect little shot to show it off to the world, she used her free hand to dig through the glittery clutch under her arm, and plucked a shiny galleon from its depths. She slid it across the bar before impishly carrying her alcohol-free concoction right over to the mystery person she had spotted a moment prior.


outfit

Having had avoided anything her Aunt hadn't forced her into, Arielle was actually looking forward to the masq. She finally had an excuse to be someone different for a change. Usually Arielle wore comfy clothing, and this outfit would rock her Aunt's world, heck both of them would be shocked with what she had come up with. Out of her element but it was a learning year for her and she was changing little by little. Not that it would snap over night but she was enjoying some girlier things, however she still felt more comfortable on a broom than in heels, but that was another story all together.

Putting together a dress she swore she would never wear, some old wings from a Halloween costume years ago, a mask she found that would match her dress and her usual jewelery Arielle had been planning this outfit longer than most of her essays for class.

However she decided to give the dressing up a second chance she put on the outfit and wrapped herself in a dark black cape so no one would see her sneaking out of their house. If they couldn't see it they couldn't comment on it. Her shoes in one hand she wore a pair of old tennis shoes which she planned to shrink and stick in her hand bag when she got to Signature.

When she arrived she slipped off the tennis shoes and made short work of them before slipping on her heels. She stepped into the club and looked around stunned at the decor it was beautiful. They really pulled out all the stops there and she was very impressed. "Wicked," her voice was almost breathless as she walked a little farther in.

The down side to not telling your friends you are going means that you shouldn't be surprised when none of them are there. Looking about she moved to a comfortable place to stand as people poured in around her, she must have looked like quite a sight to anyone who truly knew her.

Arielle's Outfit

If there was a party, Jordyn was going.  There was no doubt in her mind that it was going to be wonderful, and though she hadn’t exactly talked to Devlin about it, she assumed he would have no problem.  After all, they weren’t really dating because they actually liked each other (though, she had to admit – he was a very good kisser), so he couldn’t stop her from going out, especially when her parents had bought her a fabulous new satin dress. 

It was very grown up, in Jordyn’s opinion, and though she had to do a few mending spells here and there, it had fit initially.  She thought this was a good thing, as she was growing into the adult she was supposed to be, and then got the silver shoes she was sent and her jewelry.  She had, inadvertently, inverted the Slytherin colors.  Rather than the dominant green and supportive silver, she wanted to take those and play with it.  Her mother had even sent her some very expensive earrings to complete the ensemble.  The splash of green against her ears was just right in combination with the green clutch.  The outfit, she thought, was an overwhelming success

When she entered the party, she already felt like she owned the world.  Despite the simplicity of her outfit, she felt like she could turn heads just by her presence and flashed smiles here and there, wherever she saw someone she thought she might know.  All of these people were people she’d come into contact with again, after all, and though the light was rather dim, she could tell a few of them from the crowd.  Truth be told, she was looking for Neely or Brodie.  Whichever one she could find first would be fine, then the third would come up at some point. 

Her eyes did not betray her when she spotted a green leopard coming toward her.  It was hard for her to mistake the identifiable chin of her friend and Jordyn grinned broadly, laughing as she stood back.  “Ms. Woolfolk!” she laughed brightly, “Fabulous as always,” her eyes followed the line of her arm to her hand which seemed to be holding something that looked quite delicious.  “And what is that?” she asked with a quirked brow, trying to get a better look at it. 

“I do hope you haven’t been batting your eyelashes to try and get drinks…” she giggled, “…but if you did, you’ll have to explain to Brodie and I who you got it from!” She couldn’t help but giggle and wink.  She could already tell this party was going to be absolutely amazing, even if they had to leave at 11:45.  It didn't seem fair, but they would make the best of it.

outfit

Neely should have known immediately that it was Jordyn whom she'd caught a glimpse of across the room. Very few people could rock a silver dress so expertly; Jordyn was an eye magnet. Neely sighed in admiration even before she reached the dark haired girl, whose knack for attracting the attention of sixth years could never go unnoticed, and most particularly not now.

From behind her black kitten mask, Neely's eyes widened excitedly, and almost too much for the mystifying constraints of the eye-wear. No sooner was she standing in front of her friend, when she propped the guise up at an angle, like a decorative hat or headband, to give her face a full range of expression... it was equally chic, of course, even if it meant betraying her identity to the other, less beautiful people in the room.

"Oh my golly, Jordy!" She squealed, bestowing the usual succession of air kisses. Neely twirled left and right and back again to show off her loud ruffles while she reveled in her friend's compliment. And then it was her turn to take in the silver stunner. "That color is so perfect for your hair. You look old enough to get away with sneaking into the adult party without a mask!" It was the epitome of compliments, in Neely's opinion. What she wouldn't give on nights like this to be less girlish and 'cute', and more mature and 'sexy'. Puppy pouts and fake tears couldn't break down all doors.

Giving her shot glass a tiny brandish, her face broke into a grin. Neely carefully replaced her mask, took a sip, and shook her head. "It's just cocoa," she admitted. "Well, fizzy iced cocoa--" It sounded and looked way cooler that way. Iced Neely Lattes, anyone? "Way delish. But I'm up for spiked party punch if you and Brodie are!" She looked toward the bar again, where she'd seen Saffron and the Hufflepuff toasting each other's visual eccentricities, or some other nonsense. Neely's head was now racing with ideas, each naughtier and less honest than the next. If a legal wizard's wand was all it took...

Well, they might have to give it time. A carousing crowd was more easily manipulated. It was yet another reason why the curfew sucked remembralls.

"By the way, have you seen Ava's brother?" she gushed in a loud whisper. The club's owner was looking particularly poster-worthy that evening. Neely sometimes (a.k.a often) totally regretted not being older.

Ava hadn't spent all that long getting ready for the party. Her outift consisted of a simple blue dress, a sequined silver bolero with matching shoes and bag, and a silver bracelet and crystal earrings. She didn't want to go too over-the-top, and considering what she had heard some of the girls in her common room say they were wearing, she didn't think she had any problem on that front!

Finn had very kindly opened up his club Signature to the general public on the last night of Remembering Week. Free drinks, free food. What better way to round the week off? A very interesting week, by all acounts, but a memorable one at least - and surely, that was what Remembering week was about? Ava made her way with a throngs of dressed up students from the Hogwarts grounds up into Hogsmeady village. She saw the lights outside of Signature, lighting up the sign displaying the name. From the outside, Signature looked plain and not at all like a club should look. Everything was silent except for the excited chatter of the students as they anticipated the night's events. Ava grinned with glee as she followed a group of seventh years from her house through the entrance, and the atmosphere suddenly changed. It was dark, with small specked lights everywhere like stars. Ava looked up and saw one shoot across the ceiling - a shooting star. How appropriate. The sound was phenomenal, too. A heavy baseline was coming from somewhere above, and as the groups of students ascended the stairs, the baseline got heavier.

A member of staff clad in black opened the door into the bar area for the students, and Ava saw the crowds of guests already there, some with drinks, chatting loudly over the music, some dancing...some doing things that Finn would never want to see his sister doing. One girl from Gryffindor was already on a table top dancing, with a member of staff frantically trying to persuade her to come down.

"She's not even drunk!" Ava heard one of the girl's friends say to a guy next to her. "She's been drinking butterbeer all night!" The girl shook her head and turned her attention back to her extrovert friend.

Ava looked around for someone she knew. Atticus wasn't there yet, he had assured her he would be but he had other things to sort out first, and would be there as soon as he could. Ava made her way to the bar and ordered a butterbeer for herself. The barman nodded, headed for a fridge and returned swiftly with a foaming bottle of butterbeer and a glass. Ava poured the liquid into the glass and took a sip as she looked around at the people around her, hoping to find someone she could at least have a decent conversation with until Atticus arrived.

This was not his cup of tea. What he wanted to do was go back to where he had been painting and sketching all day. However making a promise to one of his more social friends always seemed to get him involved in things he would rather pass up for lack of interest. Ava was one of those very people who loved to drag him about like a puppy and has been that way since they were kids. Always longing to be the center of attention in some respect, which was why he forced her to wear a certain bald head.

With Ava he could do something like that. Nicola might have threatened to beat him into the ground if he had offered her up for some role in anything without her consent. It was of course just the dynamics of their different friendships. Atticus had known the pair separately since he was younger. All being from around the same age and having the same sorts of families had bonded them at an early age. Atticus's father and mother had even muttered something about either girl from time to time which he waved off as foolishness since they were friends and that was all. If they wanted to run lives they had two other sons for that, they could leave Atticus out of their schemes and planning.

Entering the masquerade he wore a pair of dark slacks, a dark button up shirt and green under shirt. The mask he wore however only covered half his face. It looked artistic to him when he had chosen the look. Atticus of course had no idea what to expect when he got there. In fact he was already later than he had intended having gotten caught up on his drawing and rest before heading out for the day.

Coming upon a familiar figure standing there he nudged her as if too pass her. "Oh I'm sorry I'm looking for a friend of mine perhaps you have seen her she is dreadfully short and has a cloud of self worth that seems to float about her like a blanket," smirking at Ava he flashed his teeth in that grin. "Never mind I think I see her," he turned around and looked back, "There you are Ava," Atticus chuckled and ordered a butter beer for himself. "You're rather um... shiny this evening what's the occasion?"

Atticus's Outfit

Jordyn always admired the fact that Neely could wear anything and make it look good.  She always felt so awkward in exceptionally bright colors or flashy prints.  She was far more clean cut, seams all down the side, streamlined like a professional already.  Neely was the one with flair, Jordyn was the business.  Looking at them, one could easily tell who played what role in the friendship, if only Brodie had been there! Then they would be quite the little group, making a stunning entrance to such a fabulous party.  Jordyn was taking note of everything – perhaps party planning was in her future.

“Why thank you,” she smiled smugly at the assertion that she looked older.  She always looked the older of the two, perhaps Brodie looked older than either of them because she was taller, but whatever the case, Jordyn was quite pleased with herself and everything else – typical for the Slytherin. “I’m sure if you smiled at the right people they’d let you stay too,” she giggled softly – a devious glint in her eyes.

She would never actually break the rules like that – she had too much to ride on, and the idea of even trying to get spiked drinks made her mouth dry.  Rather than betray her nervousness, Jordyn laughed and shook her head.  “Neely, I’m sure they’re not even serving spiked drinks at this party,” she nodded, trying to justify her own anxiety, “since there are little ones here,” naturally she did not include them in that category, but she couldn’t help but be skeptical about the whole situation.  It was really the last thing she wanted.  “I would love one of those fizzy cocoas, though,” she looked toward the bar – seeing some classmates toasting – they were definitely not as pretty as the two girls in the middle of the floor.

As Jordyn took the other young witch’s arm and moved toward the bar, Jordyn laughed like a socialite, head back, mouth open, eyes bright, and nodded. “How could I miss him?” Jordyn replied with a bit of a bite, glancing discreetly over her bare shoulder at the owner of the club – who was simply gorgeous, but woefully older than they.  “I think the words my mother would use would be ‘prize Abraxon,’ agreed?” she giggled and slid as best she could onto one of the bar seats, patting the one next to her for Neely and then crossed her legs – trying to appear like a pro at this.

From the outside, it might have looked a little forced, but Jordyn liked to think she was cool as ice.  Tossing her hair, and smiling at the bartender, one could see in her face that it was truly what she believed.  “Iced cocoa please, with seltzer,” she ordered smoothly, forgoing the addition of whipped cream – though it had almost come out.  She really needed to make sure she watched those unnecessary calories.  Glancing to Neely, she smiled. “I’m impressed.  Aren’t you?”

Neely almost squealed at the idea of getting away with staying for the midnight party. Jordyn's words were often things she took for gospel. Even if they wouldn't actually attempt it (though that was debatable in Neely's opinion), it was still a fun theory. Perhaps she could slip into the lavatory between now and curfew, and give her frock a bit of friendly enhancement. Signature seemed like a place in possession of very durable toiletries.

"Awww," she sighed, swishing her red stained lips toward one cheek. Her current favored brand of disappointment sounded more like fawning over a baby than regretting virgin cocktails. In truth, as much as Neely loved sneaking a sip of Daddy's whiskey here and there just to prove that she could, the taste was awful and the burn unbearable to her throat. She would have to drown any bit of alcohol served in a sugary accompaniment. But even the high rollers mixed their drinks. "Well, I guess there's loads of time for trying things in the summer," she resolved, tapping her chin. Jordyn's logic was always highly persuasive, even if Neely didn't always understand the intricacies. As far as she could determine, there were apparently a bunch of little five-year-old brats darting around and ruining their fun. As usual. Still, she grinned at the dark-haired girl when the cocoa was mentioned again. Cocoa and suave Grosvenors, that is.

'Prize Abraxon' was the most clever thing Neely had heard all week, and she would have to repeat this new, automatic 'it phrase' to whomever she was next trying to impress. Covering her mouth, she echoed her friend's giggle and ducked around a man in bright red to join her friend at the bar. "That's so naughty when you think about it," she gushed admirably, her mouth slightly open and eyes widened in delighted wonder. "I bet Ava would totally introduce us, Jordy. He has to see the silver minx before we get chaperoned back to the castle. Devlin will be so jealous." She almost groaned at reminding herself yet again that their good time would end prematurely, but was still curious as to what the male Grosvenor would do when he saw Jordyn-- and, of course, Brodie and Neely. They were the best Azkaban Bait in the British Isles, to be certain. And Neely always loved when boys got riled up. It was so romantic.

Draining her own cocoa shot like an older and dangerous witch, Neely pushed it delicately toward the bartender and cupped her chin in her hands, smiling in lieu of asking for a second. "It's amazing," she agreed-- high praise coming from someone who could be easily disappointed by window displays of thousand-galleon shoes. "I can't wait until we've graduated. It seems centuries away." When their cocoas arrived, Neely whirled around on her stool and resumed studying the crowd like a masked hawk. Er, cat. "I bet those things in pink thought Mr. Perfect was actually talking to them," she said with a flair of 'yuck' in her tone.

Arius knew there was a party later on in the evening for the adults, but for lack of a better thing to do and knowing that he might find an interesting person or two there he headed off for the earlier festivities intended mainly for the students. Of course matters where aided by the idea that he would have many adoring fans there who would love to see him make an appearance. Thus he had set off in hopes of finding someone there that could entertain him before the adult party started and all the kiddies cleared out. Not to mention the seventh years in whom he might find a budding talent.

He entered Signature and swept the room with his eyes, noting the obvious lack of adults in the room aside from the servers really. He was amazed that none of the professors had shown up or offered to chaperone, in his time at Hogwarts an event like this would surely have drawn chaperones. As he began to make his way through the crowd he heard a familiar voice, of course he would be there. Turning towards the sound he made his way over to where he stood.

"I hope you can still get something alcoholic if you aren't one of the young ones," he said to Finn. "Otherwise we will get excessively bored drinking pumpkin juice or virgin cocktails all night." Signature had been done up nicely for the occasion and Arius was sure that Finn had spared no small detail for the perfection that he had achieved. Even the turnout was magnificent, and who knew, some day these could be patrons of the club. "An excellent contribution to the festivities, you do know how to organize a party."

"An excellent contribution to the festivities, you do know how to organize a party."

"And you sound surprised." Finn retorted, holding his tumbler of whisky up so that it was plain for Arius to see. "Do you honestly think I would host a party where I couldn't drink?" Finn waved a hand to a waiter who promptly brought over a tumbler with an amber liquid in to rival his own. The waiter held it out to Arius. "Drink, drink and be merry, my friend." He proclaimed, draining off the last of his glass. "The real fun will start later, but the preliminary celebrations are....satisfactory." He nodded his head as he scanned the room which was quite full with giggling girls and embarassed boys.

"What's made you come at this time, anyway? The legal girls don't arrive until later." Finn cocked an eyebrow at his friend, knowing full well that he wasn't here to enjoy Finn's company.

"Oh I'm sorry I'm looking for a friend of mine perhaps you have seen her she is dreadfully short and has a cloud of self worth that seems to float about her like a blanket,"

Ava didn't even bother herself by looking at the owner of the voice. It was Atticus. She didn't need to see him to know that it was her childhood friend. She simply ignored him and took a sip of the bright red concoction in her glass.

She couldn't keep quiet at the 'shiny' remark. "Shiny?" She shot at him. "Shiny!?" She made a 'pfft' sound with her lips that signified her disappointment. "I think what you're meant to say is 'Why Ava, you look simply stunning tonight.' " She paused. "Then you should go on to say that I always look stunning, and you had never thought I could look even better - but that I have defied the laws of magic, physics and any other laws that exist, and I do." She nodded resolutely.

"But everyone knows you have the social abilities of a sloth." she paused and made a disgusted face. "Not to mention the hygiene of a skunk."

"I simply didn't see this as your scene, but anything to remember our fallen heroes, eh?" Arius took the glass of whiskey and raised it in a mock toast. "One never knows what you are capable of. So if you wanted to surprise people you might." Arius shrugged, it was true Finn tended to be unpredictable, even with his being one of the only adults here. Perhaps he had purposefully planned it that way. Finn was right, Arius thought, with another sweep of the room, this was satisfactory for a child's party.

"I thought you might need a date. Sorry I forgot my lipstick." Arius blew Finn a kiss and winked before giving the real answer."It should be obvious that I'm here to appease my fans," Arius said, throwing a smile at a swooning girl that walked by. "You know, public appearances look good on my resume. Besides, some of them are already seventeen or will be seventeen sooner rather than later. You know I love to discover new talent." Yes, new talent indeed.