#baronyofthesilverwolf

Meanwhile, Nadeen finds a garment box set out upon the foot of her bed...

Nadeen looks at the garment box, and sees the suggestion, not so different from an outfit she had in reserve, and mixes them. Then, skillfully, she applies the make up like Sylvi taught her. Really, the Davidson daughter is a wizard with the stuff.

and soon she checks the mirror

A second wardrobe bag hangs on the closet door, but this one has not been opened.

"mmmph" She goes to fetch it "I bet I know who this is for." And opens to see if she is right

A decidedly male outfit, velvet and silk, black and white and red, a vampire lord

Cut to provide quite a striking figure next to a winter queen

"Mmm normally I find vmapire outfits tackey but this is really top tier"

And, there, perhaps is the signature from the one who provided - a small packet of skin glitter!

"Oh Bluebell.." An eye roll, and she goes to see out her consort and co ruler.

but she takes it with her

She finds him, brooding over a pile of paperwork with a glass of wine, that he seems to be drinking rather in frustration than enjoyment.

He is refilling his glass as she enters, and he stops mid pour, taking in her outfit....

"I am sorry , Love. " She looks at him "This is a time for thinking of the dead, and both of us have lost those who became dear to us. Is that what hurts you so?"

There is the soft sound of bustling in the hallway behind Nadeen, and the door is softly closed behind her by a thoughtful boggan hand, giving them a bit of privacy as Marigold works.

He clears his throat a few times. "Perhaps a bit, but more... looking into the future. There is so much to accomplish, and so much has been thrust upon you... corners may have to be cut, and I dread it being thought of Silverwolf as being beggared by the loss of one Chancellor." Though he leans Unseelie year round, Samhain itself seems to have brought a somewhat fatalistic bent to the Lord's demeanor.

"Cast your omens and portents if you must, it is a fine night for it, but the loss of Calanthe is actually somewhat praised . She was cluthing in demands for tribute, it turns out, or so Dame Gladiola told me. THough I.. dislike her source's kith, that does not change the fact it appears to have merit."

"What use for portents when dire straights may be seen clearly before us writ upon ledger and account? The Auction was a fantastic success - but shall we hold such annually, we no longer are hosts, but beggars."

"THAT Is nonsense... we were not hosts before... but hermits, recluses... and that is not a shameful thing. Rather though we became a gatherpoint twice over. You yourself, love, have opened a connection with the baroness Coradel by means I fully don't know, but you did that, and the auction gave us the excuse to make deeper contacts. There are Ailil there, Dame Claire for one. Sir Sergei and I have.. talked. We are not beggers, we were 'the event'... favors were traded, secret alliances made possible."

He looks over at Nadeen, and as pessimistic as his mood is... he cannot but feel uplifted by his lady's firm resolve. Aiden's expression lightens, and he smiles at her. "You look lovely, my queen."

"And your words are filled with wisdom."

"THank you. There is an outfit for you as well. ..if you wish. Bluebell i suspect. Come now, I am glad to point out your victory, OUR victory but I like you better at my side"

"Mmm." He goes to check the door... and finds it locked. He jiggles the knob... and there's a voice from the other side, Dolph. "Now sir, you've been of a mood all week. You stay in there and buck up, son, else the door's not opening." A chuckle. "What's that... oh, yes, yes. Miss Bluebell also says you've only to come out when properly attired, as well."

Aiden looks astonished, and affronted!

"Oh dear... Bluebell has fallen to winter, the Hottentots have run amok" She offers over the costume "Try this on, love"

He sighs... and looks her over once more. "I suppose it would be terribly gauche for me to muss your own costume..." Clearly he wishes to, though, from the expression on his face.

"Oh, you would, I am told, enjoy my Turkish delight" Her eyes simmer a bit

he starts to remove his shirt, unbuttoning it one at a time, but without dropping eye contact. Perhaps there will be a bit of a delay before he is fully costumed....

"I'm tempted to bite your neck" A lusty purr or is it a growl in the back of her throat

"Try me." His eyes flash!

"Perhaps the vintage will be to your taste..."

He has has a couple glasses of wine - certainly not drunk, but... a little loosened, and now that he's been directed away from maudlin...

"Love... we really should..." A glance to the wine, and him "There are...ceremonial roles." Still tempted "Though it IS fall, meaning in a tie... you win... mmm"

"You are right. I win." His eyes flicker with flames of desire. A sweep of his hands, and the paper he previously had worried over are unceremoniously dumped upon the floor. "I will take my prize." Poor Julius, to have to sort them... but later. Much later.

That make up she prepared earlier...? It's going to get mused

She finds herself posing on the bed, tempted to play Coy, twirling blue finger nails along the bed sheet, figure eights, an a challenge in her eyes "Careful, Slavic roses have thorns" But she sseems to have lost her own sense of priority. This could be a most pleasant prison for an hour she tells herself

An hour, yes, that would do. It shan't be ALL the dallying Samhain has to offer, surely, but at least a preview. After all, passion BEFORE duty....

Yes, one must honor traditions

After a time... there is the sound of knocking on the door. "Hellooooo. Haaaallooooooo! We have guests, please ensure that you are quite appropriately costumed!" Marigold sounds very amused...

"Mmph? OH.. oh ah.. yes one moment we're just finisng up our.. conference" She makes sure she didn't leave a hickey on her vampire

Luckily, there is that hooded collar!

The sound of giggling and feet moving up and down the halls... wait, didn't the children already head out with Julius?

"Dress me up"

"If I must..." He obliges, and even helps hold the mirror and angle the lights so that she can touch up her makeup...

"I swear you must use Chronos, somethings were very pleasantly... extended" She touches up her make up, then tends to his outfit "No wonder you like magnificent stallions... being one yourself"

He allows her to straighten his cravat, even as his hands are tempted to wander again, and then, to the door, just in time for a knock. He shakes his head, "Marigold...." and opens it...

Only to find himself face to face with a trio of medium sized children! A tiger... no, that's a Hobbes! A cardboard robot, and a mermaid... the mermaid shrieks, "AHHH! Vampire!" And they dash off, shrieking in horrified glee!

A spattering of glamour left in their wake, like soft rain in autumn, fresh and pure as childish laughter.

The halls of Silverwolf have been transformed into a Haunted Mansion! Simply changing the lighting did much of the effect, but clearly both boggans on staff have been using their gift to put quite a lot of work into the transformation. Spiders crawl along the ceilings, draped tapestries darken doorways, skeletons lurk in the corners, and flickering candles add to the mood... and a touch of magic does the rest.

Aiden is wide eyed, and looks to Nadeen, questioning... "...Children?!"

Though shocked, he doesn't seem quite upset... startled, mostly!