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 Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 2:40 pm
It was inevitable at just about any party that Sylvia would need some sort of breather. She enjoyed conversations with people and even occasional dancing (though that was not looking like it would happen tonight), but it still took a lot of energy – especially when she was in a situation where she knew so few partygoers. The only good escape here was, unfortunately, to go out into the cold for a few minutes.
By the time she came back inside, Sylvia’s cheeks were well-flushed and she was looking for something to warm her up. There weren’t many options. As such, she resorted to what she had always felt was an overrated response – alcohol. She poured herself another small cup of punch and added a splash of rum she found with the harder supplies, then took a sip. The burn trickled all the way down to her stomach, but hardly touched her extremities. So be it; she would have to be patient.
She was surprised when she caught a glimpse of Misha off to the side of the party. The hostess had been making her rounds all evening, it seemed, visiting with friends and strangers alike, ever the social butterfly. Misha probably wanted, and needed, the time to herself… but Sylvia wanted to approach her nonetheless, and would rather do so before Misha got swarmed again. She waited a moment, making sure that Catwoman wasn’t headed for an exit, before wandering over to join her.
“You throw quite the party, my dear.” Sylvia gave her a wide smile, hoping her presence and compliment wouldn’t be too unwelcome.[ 266 words ]
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 10:20 pm
At Sylvia's compliment, Misha turned with an immediate and pleased grin. She recognized the other Aphrodite Chosen, of course, but they had only had brief contacts here and there. However, she remembered Sylvia helping Beth repeatedly and that meant bonus points in the Book of Misha's Good Opinion. This made for a definite inclination towards liking. She held out a hand and motioned for the blonde to join her in her little retreat. "Thank you so much!" The faint buzz of alcohol warmed her, the music moved her, the crowd's energy had her tapping her foot. Misha was feeling exceedingly happy and generous. Even if Sylvia had found her taking a momentary respite, she was still keyed into everything and everything was coming up roses. The compliment just confirmed it. However, she gave a little musical laugh and shook her head. "But it's not all me," she corrected. "I had helpers. Songtao and Brian were completely indulgent angels. Did you know that Songtao has a mind like a steel trap? She kept me in line because, bless him, Brian leaves me to corral myself."
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 1:27 am
Glad she didn’t seem to be intruding, Sylvia accepted the waved invitation and settled in beside Misha. With such a big party, she wasn’t surprised when Misha admitted to having help. She gave a considerate frown at Misha’s comments on her helpers, “No, I didn’t know that about Songtao. She does seem like the type who would be good at that, though.” She chuckled a bit, “And Brian does seem the type who would indulge rather than structure.” She could easily see Brian earning the badge of ‘too nice’. “Well, you all did a fabulous job.”
She took another sip of punch and nodded at Misha’s suit, “And I know that I already complimented your ensemble, but I would like to go further and say that I really appreciate the nod to your brief life as a cat.” Amusement danced in her eyes. If it wasn’t meant to be a reference, it was at least a lovely coincidence. She belatedly hoped that it wouldn’t be a sore spot.
“Had you been planning this for long, or were you inspired when we came back?” She could see it either way. Halloween was a big party holiday, but parties could be a good distraction from stress. Sylvia had even been considering arranging some sort of party or get-together before she’d gotten the flyer – not a Halloween shindig, but something to let of some steam nonetheless – so Misha’s timing had been lovely.[ 239; 505 total ]
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 8:32 am
"This old thing?" Misha managed to smooth her expression to a neutral sort of curiosity when she motioned to her very tight, very dark, very distinctive costume. Then a wicked twist appeared at the corner of her mouth. "Actually I'll let you in on a secret. It's a power choice. I'm taking back the idea of me as a cat and giving the middle finger to Circe... And, okay, I probably have a way more horrible sense of humor than most people realize." Then the brunette turned her head and gazed out over the gym at Sylvia's next question - the decorations, the milling people, the lights. She listened to the laughter for a moment and the music. A softer smile curved her generous mouth. "I love parties," she admitted, "and was kind of thinking Halloween would be fun but I hadn't done anything. Then there was that... Mess in the bayou." Her voice hesitated and hooked on the words a bit but she moved on as if it had not happened, willing Sylvia to play along. "Then we got back and everyone was tired and beat-down. I started putting the fliers up about, oh, twenty-four hours after we got back, I guess. It seemed like a good idea."
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 12:24 am
Sylvia’s grin widened at Misha’s admission, and she gave a nod of approval. “Love it. Very good choice.” Dressing as Catwoman was fitting anyway, and if ever there was a good reason to dress as Catwoman regardless, that seemed perfect. She also appreciated a dark sense of humor.
Sylvia watched Misha look over the party. There was something in her eyes, something about the way she took everything in, and the smile that curled her lips. Sylvia let the hitch in her words slip by – she wouldn’t get into that here, not now, and not if Misha didn’t want her to. But she nodded at Misha’s conclusion. “I think you were right.” She leaned back and smiled at the party herself. “I think we all needed to let off some steam.”
Sylvia sighed a bit, “I was thinking of throwing something together myself, actually. Still might. We’ll see how things go.” She took another sip of punch and raised her brows at Misha over her cup. She would eventually want to ask Misha about her plans, if she did go through with them – Misha and everyone else in the Aphrodite dorms – but for now she wouldn’t divulge unless asked.
“So, I realized that I know you’re also one of Aphrodite’s Chosen, but I haven’t really gotten to know you yet.” Sylvia smiled and leaned back towards the table, resting her elbows against its edge. “We never did get to talk much at the beach party before everything,” she waved a vague hand rather than recount the Circe issue again. She figured she would start simple with the small talk, at least, “Where did Aphrodite pluck you from to bring you here?”[ 281; 786 total ]
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:56 pm
Misha laughed and shook her head. The gesture was less a denial and more a signal of amusement at remembering the story. "It was late at night and I was messing around in a chat room. Totally goofing off when I should have been writing my column." She made a vague gesture with her hand as if to indicate an imaginary computer screen. Then she shot a sideways look at Sylvia and mischief sparkled in her eyes. "It was one of those late night chat rooms and Aphrodite tried to pick me up." She paused and then turned a new innocent expression towards Sylvia. "You know, I guess she managed to do that, after all." She giggled, rolling her eyes at herself. "I never thought about it that way but, yep, she fed me a very good pick-up line and I agreed and here I am. I guess I couldn't resist the combination of flattery and magic." She tipped her head to one side and studied Sylvia's face. "How about you?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 12:01 am
Sylvia smiled in anticipation and leaned in a bit more, propping her chin in her left hand. The mention of a column intrigued Sylvia, and she tucked it away for later conversation. A late-night chat room made her smile grow even before the sentence was finished, and she giggled a bit at the conclusion. She nodded along with the rest of the story before adding, “Well, if anyone knows how to lure people in, I think it has to be Aphrodite.” A teasing smile as she sipped from her cup again.
Sylvia took a deep breath before beginning her story, straightening slightly and laying her arms in front of her. “Well, I was taking my Friday night bubble bath and enjoying a glass of wine when I heard her voice. I wondered just how strong my wine was, but she assured me that I was not hallucinating, and then,” Sylvia made a small, sweeping gesture in front of her, “suddenly there she was, watching me from all of my bubbles.” An amused smile danced on her lips for a moment before she continued, “She said that she had ‘chosen’ me, and that accepting her blessing would mean a new journey, with magic, and,” Sylvia shrugged, “how could I say no? If it was the wine, no harm done; if it wasn’t… magic.” She lingered there for a moment, hand hovering in a gesture that seemed to hold onto that promise. Then her hand dropped, and Sylvia gave another little shrug, almost dismissive, as if to say, ‘Eh, what did I know?’ She smiled and leaned back into the table, “So here I am.”[ 273; 1,059 total ]
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Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 4:00 pm
"And here isn't too bad, really." Misha let the warmth of her smile shine out and wash over the other woman. She liked finding out these details about her fellow Chosen but some were so reticent that it made her even more curious. "But I'm really liking this idea about a Friday night ritual involving wine and bubble baths. There is nothing quite like a warm, sudsy bath to really relax." Misha leaned in a bit with a wink. "I might have a stash of Lush products and it might be a little on the big side. Oh!" She straightened with a soft gasp and a blink at Sylvia. "I'm so sorry," she said in a rush. "I promised someone a rose scented bomb in the Alps and I completely forgot. You just reminded me. I'll have to take care of that." She gave a sheepish laugh. "Though you are completely welcome to raid my stash, too. Do you have a favorite scent?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 11:05 pm
Sylvia gave a considerate nod, a playful smile returned to Misha, “Yeah, it’s alright so far.” Even she had to admit that it was growing on her. The other Chosen were good people, at least, which helped immensely. The missions were still a lot, but… well, that was all part of the deal she was trying to accept.
Sylvia’s mouth curled in a very pleased way, “Mmm, yes, I love my Friday night baths. Sometimes it’s tea instead of wine, but I always make sure it is the epitome of relaxation.” It was the one thing she made sure happened every week – the week in the Bayou being the only exception so far since college. There was something to be said about knowing what you needed for self-care and making sure it happened.
She shook her head when Misha tried to excuse her realization – there was really no need to apologize. A giddy expression passed her face when asked about bath bombs; she didn’t have a huge beauty regimen outside of her baths, but of course her ritual necessitated an excitement over bath bombs. “I try not to be exclusive, but I do tend to prefer lighter scents, like vanilla and honey, or floral scents.” She grinned and leaned in, a curious brow raised, “How about you?”[ 217; 1,276 total ]
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 7:26 pm
Misha nodded along with Sylvia's list in approval. She also compared it against the stockpile back in her room and those left behind in her apartment in Philadelphia. She felt sure she had at least one that would meet Sylvia's requirements should the need arise. She smiled, pleased. "I like all of those, too. I'm especially fond of jasmine. It's a huge weakness of mine. But vanilla is always heavenly when you get something that has that real vanilla scent. Not the chemical mess." She paused to take a sip of her drink, hip hitched against the table. Her light eyes studied Sylvia with growing interest. "Red or white wine? And what kind of tea?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 12:43 am
Sylvia gave a hum of approval at the mention of jasmine – if not too overwhelming, it was a wonderful scent. She adopted a very stern face about vanilla, “Absolutely. Natural vanilla or nothing – especially not the overtly saccharine imposters.” She scrunched her nose and shook her head in dismissal.
Sylvia smiled up at Misha, wondering if she was reading correctly that the other woman was, even if only in some small way, sizing her up. She sat straight in her chair, “Red at the time and overall, though I can appreciate a white when appropriate. As for tea, hmm,” her eyes glanced to the side, unfocused, as she considered the question and took another sip of her drink. She was finally warm enough that she didn’t need the alcohol, but that wouldn’t stop her from enjoying it. “Earl grey to wake up, green teas to refresh throughout the day, and chamomile for evenings.” She smiled back at Misha, “Though sometimes I go for something spicier on colder days or when I’m feeling unwell.” She had a stash of tea, but at least this was a decent generalization of her tastes.
Sure that Misha must have her own answers as well, Sylvia lifted a playful brow and turned the question back: “And you?” She took another sip while waiting to see whether or not their tastes aligned.[ 226; 1,502 total ]
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 12:42 pm
"Oh, I'll drink anything." Misha waved her free hand in a graceful gesture that managed to encompass the room and beyond, from the alcohol on the tables to the Hearth and onward. "I have to admit that I tend towards sweeter wines than dry ones. Add fruit in the wine and I'm sold." She chuckled. "Or, ooo, have you tried mead? That stuff is great. Hm, I wonder if Rob could get his god to hook us up with that or if that would be at war with the grapes." She appeared to give it some thought as she reached up and peeled off her mask. Even without the extra oomph of the black domino, her eyes still stood out in stark relief with, naturally, an expert cat-eye twist to her heavy liner; Misha could carry off a lot of war-paint and did frequently. She tapped the edge of the mask against her chin. Then she sent Sylvia a sideways smile. "I don't like strong black tea," she continued. "It's too much for me. I like green and white and herbals more. Earl Grey and Lady Grey are perfect for morning get up and go, though, if I can't have my coffee."
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2016 11:21 pm
“Mmm, sangria is a delight.” The mention of fruit in wine had made her think of it – which might not quite have been what Misha meant? But it was still relevant. Sylvia did not have much of a sweet tooth, and sweet wines could be cloying for her, but sangria was entirely different. She chuckled at the mention of mead, “I have tried it. It can be a bit sweet for a full glass, but I like a shot or two now and then.” For sustained sipping she preferred things like amaretto or brandy. “I’m sure Rob could swing something, with or without the help of his patron.” She didn’t know him well, but he seemed like the sort who would (and could) oblige such a request – especially if it came from Misha.
Sylvia smiled and gave a nod, “That’s understandable. Strong teas in general can be too much sometimes.” Even earl grey was mostly a learned habit from her father, who preferred tea to coffee. It was reinforced by nostalgia when she left for college. She didn’t drink tea every morning, but at least once or twice a week, and especially when she was in need of comfort.
Sylvia tilted her head in curiosity. “So, what’s your relaxation ritual?” She was fairly sure that Misha had one, given how supportive she was of Sylvia’s. If not one main ritual, perhaps she had a few smaller things she did to relax herself. [ 242; 1,744 total ]
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2016 4:20 pm
As if expecting the question, Misha grinned like the most mischievous of imps and lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. "It depends on what I'm relaxing from, really," she admitted. "Sometimes I need to dance off the nerves but then sometimes it's all about the quiet stretches. Baths are almost always amazing, though. Put some candles around the bathtub, some Norah Jones or something, a glass of wine or tea." Misha released an exaggerated sigh of contentment. Her eyes sparkled even in the dimmer light. "My mom got me a gift certificate to a spa during finals week my senior year of college. Now that is something I would be glad to repeat on a regular basis. We don't have any trained masseuses in this group, do we?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 12:05 am
Candles were a very welcome addition to the growing symbols of relaxation, and an approving nod was given. Sylvia giggled a bit, “Don’t I wish. I haven’t heard of any masseuses, at least.” Her eyes narrowed a bit and she shrugged, “That doesn’t mean we can’t take a trip off-site for a spa day, though.” She gave a self-satisfied nod, “I definitely think that’s worth looking into.” Who couldn’t use a spa day now and then? Especially after all they’d been through.
Another moment of reflection gave Sylvia the chance to wonder, and she cast curious eyes back at Misha. “You said you write a column?” It at least seemed like a much more interesting question than ‘What did you study in college?’ or ‘What do you do since graduating?’[ 130; 1,874 total ]
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