Ayshela stood by the doorway awaiting the later arrivals, wistfully alternating her gaze between the dance floor and a nice safe section of wall she could almost feel hugging her back. Conflicting desires were ever present, with her, but somehow that never left her less frustrated with them.
Her thoughts were pleasantly diverted from the tangle they'd woven themselves into. Parmenion appeared before her stylishly dressed in the softest of silks. He too brought a thoughtful gift, self tanning lotion for days the rain seemed never-ending and she missed the sun so much.. she was so touched by the gift she stumbled over her thanks. "You will of course save me one dance tonight won't you?" he asked? "But of course, i'd be delighted!" Ayshela replied, with beaming smile, as he strolled on into the room.
As she stood watching the dancers, Ayshela heard a crash in the room below. Cocking her head to one side, she listened closely, but heard nothing more. She considered going to investigate, but lost the thought as Salinye and Gyrfalcon approached Tamaranis. They conversed briefly, then there was a growing darkness and a sudden blinding flash of light. Ayshela instinctively threw up her hand to block the light while squinting to try to see if everyone was still all right. The light disappeared quckly, showing Gyrfalcon and an upset Salinye, but Tamaranis was gone. Salinye turned and walked toward the tables. Ayshela slowly approached and gently laid a hand on Salinye's shoulder. "Are you alright? Is there anything i can do to help?" she asked. Salinye was answering that she was fine, and no, when the doors burst open and in flew...
A couch? Ayshela spun and looked curiously. Of all the many beings she'd invited, she was *quite* sure she hadn't invited a couch. As a few of the guests approached, the center cushion flew up and out popped Big Pointy Stick. She might have known, such an unusual entrance could only be dreamed up by him! She laughed, welcomed him, and suggested he move the couch over by the wall to clear the dance floor.
In all the hullaballoo of Stick's entrance, Xaious had slipped in *almost* unnoticed. Hearing him murmuring about being able to get in easy with all the attention on someone else, Ayshela had to laugh. "No you can't, not if you talk that loudly!" He turned to look in confusion, then recognized Ayshela and swept her into a hug that nearly cracked three of her ribs. Setting her on her feet again, he asked about the sugar storage. Noting the time, and deciding she could leave the door for a while without worry, they set off on a brief exploration - destination, sugar! Having found it, Xaious escorted her back to her station at the door.
Once there Ayshela turned to make sure all was well and clumsily bumped right into a stylishly dressed stranger! Oh, how awful! She was about to stammer out an apology when he apologized as if it had been his fault! "Oh! Oh, no, that's quite all right.." she said, uncertain how to put him at ease.
He had brought a gift also, though he seemed somewhat uncomfortable in giving it to her. Taking the lovely box, she opened it and gasped in surprise as a spark rose from it to the ceiling and exploded into a thousand beautifully scintillating tiny stars. "It's called a Star Seed," the stranger explained. "Oh, it was certainly beautiful!" Ayshela said softly, still staring in awe at the beautiful effect. She had almost recovered her poise when he asked her to dance, and swept her onto the dance floor for a lovely and very welcome waltz. She thanked him warmly for the dance, and returned to the door as someone else entered.
Someone else, indeed.. he strode in before she had gotten all the way back to the door and did not stop to speak to her. Watching closely, she noticed the movement, the motion, was familiar.. white and silver, hints of gleaming gold, where had she seen him before??? He moved like.. and then he turned and she saw - Tamaranis!!! By all the gods and goddesses, *that* was something she never thought to see! As he stopped to speak to Salinye again, Ayshela's attention was drawn by the approach of Peredhil and Regel.
Peredhil presented Regel with the utmost of Regal Dignity, as if Ayshela had never met him before. With a small giggle she played along, giving a deep curtsy and happily accepting the request for a dance. Regel lead splendidly, making the Mirror Dance a much more enjoyable experience than usual, then lead her to the refreshments table for some much welcomed punch.
While at the refreshments table she almost literally bumped into Degenero Angelus. With a soft cry of welcome, she hugged him warmly and told him how glad she was that he had come, then left him to his singleminded preoccupation with the table.
Wending her way back toward the door she kept one eye on the developing fiascos between Wyvvern and Wrenwind, and Gwaihir and Zariah. Sighing and shaking her head she wondered briefly what, if anything, she could do.. the drawback to being the hostess - the everpresent question of whether any attempt to help will only make the embarassment worse. She continued on her way, still trying to decide.
Partway around the edge of the room, she neared Peredhil and Elladan, just as Yui stepped from the shadows beside them. Oh! Wonderful! Ayshela stopped and left them to their greetings. She stiffened suddenly as there was a burst of Power, and spun in place, scanning quickly to locate the danger to, or from, her guests. Reaching full circle, having seen nothing, she saw Peredhil and Elladan, and felt the surge of Power fade. mmm. With narrowed eyes she scanned once more, then with a short nod decided that whatever the situation was, Peredhil had it well in hand. After a brief moment she continued on her way, stopping only briefly to drop a curtsy and a warm welcome to Yui.
By the time she reached the door she had almost regained her equanimity. This was probably a good thing, as the next guest to arrive simply rapped on the ballroom door. Curious. Ayshela stepped to the door and opened it, then realized that this guest could not possibly have opened the doors. "Good evening, Crow, please come in! I didn't expect to see you without Nyyark, nevertheless, please do enjoy yourself." Crow entered and made her way over to Zariah, who appeared to have been headed toward the door. As they stopped and returned toward the refreshments table, Ayshela sighed in relief, hoping that Crow could help Zariah feel a bit more comfortable.
Vincent Silver came in while Ayshela was distracted, but made his way to her, apologizing for being late. "Oh, no, you're not late! At least, not TOO late." She smiled brightly to ease his mind. "There's lots of time yet, people to dance with, refreshments to be had, i'm glad you're here. Come in and have fun!"
As Vincent made his way toward the crowd, strangely haunting flute music began to sound throughout the room. Ayshela saw Tzimfemme and Gwaihir begin to dance.. somewhat strangely, as were DoomGaze and Lady Celes. Ayshela's attention was drawn by Regel, who had brought her a glass of punch. She was drawn into conversation by his uncertainty, and discovering that it concerned his role and purpose at The Pen she assured him both that a private conversation would be in order, and that his role at that moment was simply to meet people and enjoy himself.
Turning back toward her guests, to make a point, Ayshela was deeply appalled to find Wyvvern had a whole horde of SNAKES invading her ball! SNAKES!!!!!!! Any who saw immediately lost all doubt as to her ability to scale walls, climb trees, and perch on limbs, as Ayshela (high heels, formal dress, and all) immediately used the nearest table as a springboard to a crossbeam and hauled herself up as far away from the snakes as she could. Flipping her skirt up just far enough to reach her throwing knives, she perched on the beam, balancing knives and determing the most effective target. Wyvvern? Well, maybe, but probably not a good idea. Maybe sic Melba on him, though.. (Where WAS she, come to think of it?) Hordes of snakes and a limited number she could take out.. what to do.. what to do..
