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 Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 9:02 am
Who: Anastacia and Cesc
When: April 24th, 2015; early evening
Where: Royal Casino; Isle de Gambino
Weather: Warm and pleasantly spring-like
It had finally happened. Well, two things had finally happened. One was that she had finally reached her fifth birthday, a milestone in itself. The second was that on this momentous occasion she was finally having a birthday free of her Guardians.
Cesc, who always just seemed to know these things, had invited her out tonight to a soiree of sorts. Anya's words, not his, when telling Zeke and Brad her plans for the day. The vet had seemed a little crestfallen at first - he always had something planned - but when told the time of her departure, perked right back up again. They still had time to celebrate her birth and they most certainly did; going on a whirlwind of a morning out that extended into the early afternoon and ended with Anya several jewelry, dress, and craft materials richer.
She chose to wear some of those newest pieces tonight in fact. Her top was perfect for a warm spring evening. Light in color and fabric, it exposed her shoulders and left her wings free of any containment. The only downside was that the scar she had been given in the jungle was on display, but the mark was blessedly small and did not have that shiny, eye catching quality that a burn had. She accented with freshwater pearls - a bracelet on each wrist and drop earrings to match - forsaking a necklace due to the high collar and ribbon her top bore. She even took the chance to try something new and wove a strand of them into a braid before spinning the whole thing into a high bun. The end result was a look she had greatly enjoyed to behold, although she couldn't help but fiddle with the black ribbon at her throat.
Now where could he be?
Her gaze dipped to the clock on the side table next to her bed. Cesc wasn't anywhere close to late, but she couldn't help but feel a tiny bit anxious all the same. It was a big night ahead, there couldn't - shouldn't - be any kinks just yet!
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2015 6:52 pm
Cesc hoped it wasn't too much of an imposition on Zeke to let Anya have a night out with him. He knew the vet loved to be involved in the spider queen's life, especially on her birthday. Hell, Zeke seemed the kind of guy who probably kept all his clients' (and their owners') birthdays on a calendar in his office and sent them all birthday cards on the date.
At any rate, this had been too good an opportunity to pass up. Vermillion sent a massive amount of petit fours to a charity casino night, sponsored by a local tech giant whose events manager came by the bakery about four times a week. As such, they had all gotten an invite to the event -- and, perhaps most excitingly, gotten a comped $100 chip to play with for the evening.
Vivi and Shepard already made their way out to set up the goods and promised to stay out of the stag and spider's way throughout the night.
Cesc had wrestled his curls back with a comb and some product Vivi'd lent him, put on a crisp white button-up and a black blazer, and tied on a black satin bowtie (it had only taken him three youtube videos and six tries!) He put in a soft pink pocket square, purchased a wrist corsage for his not-quite-date, and stood outside the Farris/...someone-else house.
He pressed the doorbell, ready to go.
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 1:54 pm
Anya was out of her bedroom before the chime even began to fade. From the kitchen Zeke began to cry "I'll get it!" but she was quicker.
"...Or not." Her Guardian's voice came from behind with a laugh, to which Anya had to address with a turn of her head to see the man standing there. Zeke gave a wiggle of the fingers on his raised left hand, grinning from ear to ear. "Eager, are we?"
She did not verbally reply to that question, instead letting the pout her lips formed when pursed speak for her. This only made the vet laugh again, but this time that sound was shorter, cut off and replaced with a cry of protest when he was snagged from behind and pulled away from the kitchen doorway. Brad appeared for a brief moment, leaning back past the frame with ease and nonchalance that only a big man such as he could pull off even with holding a squirming boyfriend at bay.
"Have a good time, Anya. We'll leave the light on for you."
He gave her an easy smile and vanished behind the wall that separated the kitchen from the rest of the house, although Zeke's verbal protesting still carried until that too was silenced. Anastacia shook her head but was grateful all the same, now turning her attention back to the door and the Sigel who was most certainly behind it. She reached for the knob.
"Good evening," she began as the door swung inward. When Cesc was revealed, any further greeting died then and there. She wasn't certain what she had been expecting Cesc to wear - even her own ensemble had come with some second guessing on account of not knowing what one wore to a casino - but to see that the Stag had turned the dapper dial to eleven and that they had unintentionally matched to boot? She couldn't help but marvel.
"You look..." The words came after a moment's pause when the Virus Frei found the Dawn Sigel's eyes with her own human pair. Again she shook her head, but this time it was out of amusement. "Are you making it a trend to surprise me every time you come over, Cesc?" She lofted a brow to add poignancy to her question. First he grew, now he looked the part of a suave gentleman caller. "If so, please continue."
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 5:40 pm
Cesc was happy for the beat of silence -- even happier that Zeke hadn't answered the door and thus had been witness to this particular moment -- because he had little to say back. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. His lips stretched into a smile and he let out a laugh as she beat him to words, his ears flicking upward in a show of mild self-consciousness.
"I extend you the same invitation, Anya," he said with a little laugh, holding out the wrist corsage -- two miniature roses flanking an orchid the same color as her hair -- as a gift to her. "You look absolutely stunning."
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 10:55 am
His reply made a wave of delight overcome her and she couldn't help but reach up to touch some of the pearls she had interwoven with her hair. The action could almost be called shy and it wouldn't be a stretch to assume the Widow would have had some pink to her cheeks, had she been able.
"Thank you, Cesc. I--" He held out the prettiest corsage she had ever laid eyes upon. Her own lavender pair widened a touch as she took in the rose and orchid blossoms and before she could stop herself, she was holding out her wrist to him. "It's gorgeous."
The words were breathed in awe and it was hard to pull her gaze from the flowers and lace. She managed to, however, and when she focused on the Stag again, her whole look had softened considerably.
"You didn't have to."
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2015 10:54 pm
"Nope," amended Cesc with a grin, tying the corsage to her wrist with gentle motions, his fingers deft over her skin. He'd gotten a ribbon that was without dye for her skin, knowing her tendency to stain. This way, she could enjoy the flowers without worry. He looked up at her and his smile was in his eyes. "I did have to. It's your birthday, you should feel as special as you are."
He then straightened and held out his arm to her. "Shall we?" he offered.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 11:15 am
"You flatter me," it could have been a chide if she didn't sound so pleased. She watched him tie the corsage on and the fit ended up being snug and secure without being tight or chafing. She had to admire it once more now that it was on her person, but that look ended up being shorter than the first one. From the depths of the house - the kitchen, to pinpoint it precisely - a scuffle meant that Zeke was close to or...no he had broken free. There was a laugh of triumph from the vet and a strange sound from the man who had up until now had a good grip on him. Their combined footfalls were heavy on the floor but where Brad had muscle, Zeke had speed.
Anya completed the trio with dexterity. She whipped around and grabbed the knob, locking eyes with her Guardian for a heartbeat's length of time. She shut the door before he could even get his camera up, cutting off a cry in the process.
"Yes," she turned farther to once again face her date, ignoring the heavy thud that came from the hallway behind the door as two thirty-somethings hit the floor. Cesc had held his arm out to her. She took it without hesitation, starting up their journey to the night that awaited them. "We shall."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 11:57 am
Cesc couldn't help but laugh at the scene. He had expected a grand to-do with Zeke being around, acting like Anya's own personal paparazzi while she looked as lovely as she did. But the vet's boyfriend and the spider queen had their own say about that, and Zeke was neutralized.
Poor guy. Cesc made a mental note to bring him home a picture. At the event, he knew there would be plenty of photographers...
-------
It wasn't long before Cesc and Anya's cab deposited them at The Grand Hotel in a particularly opulent part of the Gambino Island. The resort hotel was surrounded by palm trees and a private beach, with tailed-tux-wearing valets opening doors with gracious murmurs. The doors were all gold and glass, and a violet carpet had been rolled out for the event.
It was like stepping into a Bond movie, Cesc thought as he opened the car door on Anya's side. There were glamorous-looking women everywhere, on the arms of salt-and-pepper haired men and young tech executives, everyone's mouth curved into a smile. You could practically smell money in the air.
As the two approached the doorway, more than a few heads turned to look at them. They were strange-looking, made of magic, which was rarer and more beautiful than money, Cesc knew. And Anya -- well, he may as well tell her what he knew to be true:
"You're the most beautiful woman here," he laughed. "Looks like everyone's noticing."
Almost on cue, an event photographer snapped a picture of them. An attendant held the door open to the event, letting the noise from within pour out: the chime of slot machines, the hooplah of those winning and losing at roulette. It was like they had landed on a different planet than their usual corner of sunny, quiet, beach-bum Gambino.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 1:23 pm
From the moment she stepped from the cab, Anya was wide-eyed. Her only knowledge of casinos came from movies and tv shows which, of course, made being in and a part of the real thing dizzying. She took in everything she could see and here and there did a double-take at a decoration or an evening gown.
They had only been out of the cab less than five minutes and this birthday was already going down in the history books as 'the best one ever' for her.
"And you the most handsome man," she finally replied, the Stag at her side keeping her grounded with his words and easy laugh. As they passed she gestured to a small group of young looking men clad in tuxes, all but two with a woman on his arm. "See? You're the only one here with a crown."
Her gaze ticked up to meet Cesc's own before going a little farther to look upon the Sigel's antlers. She was also not without her own regalia - her crown had interwoven easily into her hairdo and was frozen wide with the residual eddies of shock that Anastacia still felt at being at such a fancy affair. "We're royalty and they know it."
As she said that, the camera flash went off, momentarily blinding her. She blinked, but for the four on her brow, the white spots would linger for a short time thereafter. It was no bother, not now. Not when she was out and about with one of her favorite people at an affair that even in her wildest dreams she'd ever imagine attending.
When they passed through the doors the room before them was another feast for the eyes. Even in the blurry reaches outside of her field of view, the casino was a glorious swath of color and finery. A massive chandelier hung from the ceiling, glittering in the light it cast over the area. There were more people in here to be sure, and so many things were obscured, but even above the din of voices Anya could hear slot machines whirring, roulette callers crying out the winning number and color, and even the clink of glasses and silverware from the buffet.
She squeezed Cesc's arm and leaned in to be heard over the noise. "What did you say this event was for again?" And immediately on the tail end of that question, in a rush of eagerness: "What shall we do first?"
There was hardly a moment to pause, not when there was so much to see and do and, perhaps, even win.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 1:31 pm
It was hard not to smile when Anya referred to them as royalty -- referred to his rack as a crown -- and so Cesc didn't bother trying, his expression easy and earnest and happy. Anya seemed to already be enjoying herself, and for that Cesc would have paid anything. She deserved a good, an easy night out. And she deserved to feel regal.
"Why thank you, my queen," said the stag, dipping his head. He looked around the room, at all the attractions and the different stops. The lights glinting off the chandelier's crystals all seemed pink and lavender, giving the room an almost dreamlike quality. In the background of all the sounds was a live jazz band playing old standards, a crooner's voice setting the tone for the night.
"It's a charity event for a tech company, Omniventure Industries," said Cesc. "I think they're raising money for children in need. I'm fairly sure everyone here has deep enough pockets that this will be a success no matter what."
He dipped his hand into his tux pocket, pulling out a green chip that had $100 printed neatly over its top. He held it over to Anya. "This is for you, to play whatever you want tonight. I have another, in case our luck goes bad." Cesc grinned. "The marketing manager is a big fan of the bakery. We do a lot of their events' desserts -- you can see the croquembouche we made for this one over there, at the dessert buffet." He gestured toward the side of the room, where there stood an impossibly tall puff-pastry spire beside a champagne glass tower.
That gave him another idea, popping up in his head like so many champagne bubbles, thrilling and light. "We could always start with a birthday drink, if you'd like. Survey the room and decide what you want to play?"
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 2:27 pm
"I think you're right." She didn't have to look far to see any one person who didn't look like they were swimming in cash. Even the attendants and casino employees were dressed to the nines tonight.
She took the chip when it was offered, flipping the faux coin over in her fingers to view both sides of it.
"You are going to play too, right?" She lofted a brow at him and a corner of her mouth quirked. "Or will you stay to the side and blow on my dice for luck?" $100 to spend on games? She would have to make it last in order to try everything. If either of them went home with even a little something, she could call the night a success.
From there her attention went to the tower of pastry Cesc pointed out, but the table was far enough out of the way that it too was part of a colorful blur. She squinted a little, but it didn't do much to help make out the croquembouche from everything else in that general vicinity.
"Oh I don't--" she started to say when Cesc mentioned drinks, but Anya stopped herself there. Human food was never something that interested her, be it the sounds and smells of cooking, the sight of cooking or prepared food, or even the thought of eating. Human drinks fell into the same category - although some of the drinks Zeke made at home proved to be very pretty - at least until now. It wasn't a sudden occurrence of 'hey I really want a drink' but rather a case of 'why not?' for Anastacia. She was five years old now after all. Why not have a drink to celebrate the milestone? She was in a fancy place where champagne was akin to water for the rich. Why not have some and pretend she too was high society? And, as Cesc so plainly pointed out, it was her birthday. What reason did she really have to not have one? None, so why not?
"Actually...Yes. Let's."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 9:15 pm
A soft chuckle left Cesc. "I haven't decided yet," he said with a laugh, lifting his shoulders gently. "I think it depends on how lucky we're feeling, or if we both want to play at once."
He looked around the room, at the games. There were several card tables, roulette, craps, slots. The dealers shuffled the cards in a way that could only be described as mesmerizing, each working the deck as though they meant to do magic with it. The floor crawled with suited waiters holding trays of hors d'oeuvres and drinks. People set their plates aside on any surface they wanted, and waiters came by and whisked everything away. It was all deeply decadent.
"You will?" There was a note of pleasant surprise in Cesc's voice as Anya acquiesced. He lit in a smile and held up a finger. "Then two seconds. I'll be right back."
He went quickly to the champagne tower and held up two fingers to the barman. In a flash, the champagne was poured, the soft bubbles rising to the top of the golden liquid. He returned to Anya's side, scanning the room as he did so. No sign of Vivi or Shepard as of yet.
"For the birthday girl," said Cesc, offering the glass to his companion. "May you have a glorious year ahead of you." He lifted his own glass. "To your health."
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 11:15 pm
Perhaps they would have to find a game they could both play.
"I will." She nodded to confirm her words, her expression mild but with some amusement shining through at the pleasure in his voice. Then he was off - curiously quick she had to note - and back in less time than he had said he would be. She took the glass he offered her, inspecting the liquid within. Lighter in color than ginger ale and yet more golden too, with bubbles that floated freely throughout. And while the light was soft in pinks and purples, the champagne and its tall, shapely glass still sparkled.
She had to admit - it was a pretty drink.
"And to yours," Anya raised her glass to her companion, "for everything. Even if the night is still young and there's more ahead, this is already the best birthday I've ever had."
Anya touched her glass to Cesc's with the slightest clink ringing out on contact. She pulled it back slowly as to not spill the contents, lingering on a moment's hesitation before pressing it to her lips to take her first sip.
The bubbles hit her before the flavor did. They shot right to her nose and felt as if they were going to come right out of it, making the Virus Frei raise her free hand to her face to cover the bottom half just in time to cut off most - but not all - of a surprised squeak. To add to the oh so regal visage she had leaned forward in her shock while her eyes, crown, and wings widened more than just a touch. She found herself staring down the fizzy drink before looking to Cesc to ogle the Sigel as if he too would have been so comically affected.
Of course, he was quite the opposite.
"It's...Good. Really good!"
Straightening, the spider queen slowly dropped her hand as the bubbles had left by some way other than out her nose, she tried to draw his attention away from the fact she had just made a complete spectacle of herself.
"I think I like it..." Anastacia trailed off into another sip, which went far better than her first by leaps and bounds.
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:52 pm
Cesc's smile went wide at Anya's initial reaction, but managed to mute the reaction before she caught it. He didn't want her to think that he was laughing at her -- just the opposite, really. It was nice to see her try something new, something strange, and like it.
For him, the first taste of alcohol had been bitter liqueurs that smelled amazing but tasted horrendous until they'd been added to other baking ingredients. Then it had been sips -- sips of beer, sips of Vivi's cocktails, sips of whiskey and cokes and mistaking vodka for water. It wasn't until he was older that his palette began accepting the taste of alcohol, and it wasn't until he gained a stomach that he began truly, truly enjoying it.
But champagne, and rosè, those were different. Those were easy to love, drinks for two, drinks for celebration. It was hard not to like those.
Especially in this light, and with this company.
"I'm glad you like it!" Cesc said with a smile as he watched her take another drink. "It's an elegant drink, it looks good in your hands."
He nodded toward the tables. "Why don't we start with something that doesn't take two hands? The roulette table, perhaps?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 9:58 pm
When Cesc said that, it was impossible for Anya to not show amusement. A tilt of her head, a light in her eyes, and even a slow spread of her lips was his response at first as she went about looking at her glass and swirling the contents in its glass.
It was indeed an easy to love drink now that she was expecting the carbonation. The taste was mild and a little sweet, with an edge of something to it she had no words for. And it was cool rather than cold which made it go down all the easier. Watching the golden liquid settle again as she stopped her motions she was suddenly asking herself why she had put off such a thing for so long. Perhaps human things weren't really all that bad...
"Sure," she said when he brought up roulette. She shifted the drink to her opposite hand and held the newly free one out for him to take to lead her there.
The tables weren't too far from where they had been, so the trip through the crowd was quick despite being filled with dips and sudden turns. When they neared the closest table Anya took the lead, curious as she was to their first game of the evening. She has seen a roulette wheel before - thanks in part to one movie or another - but the whole kit and kaboodle that came with it was something entirely unexpected. In fact, the very scale of the roulette table was something to ogle alone!
Bets were closed for the round so it was perfect timing to watch. The croupier gave the wheel a spin and immediately procured a small white ball to set reeling in the opposite direction. Anya watched the ball lose its momentum, eventually falling into a slot beneath a bright red 12.
"Red 12 wins!" And a murmur rose up - largely unhappy but still laced with some delighted voices at the call. Anya looked around and found Cesc, floating next to him and frowning as she had to admit one crucial thing:
"I don't think I know how to play this."
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