8432/Happy Butterfly Day

Happy Butterfly Day
Date of Scene:	21 July 2019
Location:	Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Betsy celebrates a happy birthday at the Hellfire Club, completely disregarding liquor licensing laws!
Cast of Characters:	Psylocke, Iceman, Beast, Rogue, Sunspot, Magik, Shadowcat, Armor, Cypher, Emma Frost, Siryn, Spider-Man, Nightingale

---

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy Braddock's Birthday Bash and Alliterative Nightmare is an elaborate, lavish affair - and it isn't even a milestone. She's turning twenty-four, for goodness' sake!

New York's lavish branch of the Hellfire Club has been booked for just such an occasion, and pricey interior decorators have done their level best to transform it from a mere center of decadence to a physical representation of the confluence of worlds. Some rooms have been done up with ceramic sea-shells and streams of green Georgette to look like seaweed. Others hang with drapes of black and purple, representing the depths of space. Another room is a stylized representation of Hell (the Club may have already had that one). Various and sundry different rooms, and the gathering area is where the party comes together - all the different motifs seeming to come together in a singular clash.

On a raised dais a band plays - all covers because who wants to hear a party band's originals? Waiters and waitresses dressed as everything from astronauts to angels stroll about with silver platters bearing flutes of champagne while also taking orders for more complicated drinks.

At the center of it all, by a circular table piled high with gifts (odd, since most of the guests are still arriving) is Betsy Braddock - dressed like a mermaid. A shimmering skirt that shifts from purple to pink depending on the light clings tightly to her form, ending just above her waistline. Her modesty (precious little there is) is protected by a pair of ceramic seashells in true mermaid fashion. Her violet hair has been done up with long, spiralling shells in what must have taken hours to give the look of a crown.

Iceman has posed:
    "Baby, has anyone told you your ass is out of this world?" Bobby says while standing next to an 'astronaut' with a tray of hor d'oeuvres. The ice man has a small plate filled up with all sorts of different snacks from around the party and he's standing against a pilar while facing the waiter, though he's certain the full EVA look is actually a woman.

    Bobby wears a satyr look. His top half is shirtless and glistening in the cool lights of the party, while his legs are furry and hooved. Around his neck is a clip on bow tie that is light blue, to go with his theme of 'ice' and 'man'.

    "Yeah, I know, the hooves aren't easy to walk in, I don't know how... -HEY!" Bobby shouts, "Do we know anyone with hooves?"

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy could not resist. Being told of a costume party, he whips something up. Specifically, the costume comes in two pieces: a blue bandana tied on his neck, and a Stetson, with a band around it reading TWINKIE THE KID." He also bears a gift, wrapped simply, as he looks for where to put it.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue is dressed up like a old west cowgirl bandit. Short jean shorts, a tied off flannel shirt, a leather gunbelt around her waist, a beat up old cowboy hat on her head and some fancy cowboy boots on her feet, she's wearing a true to style old west leather duster to help keep people from brushing up against her very bare legs though, and her hands are gloved to help keep people around her safe too. When she walks, she makes little jingly spur-noises and she's on her way over to the presents table to set down her present to Betsy, its wrapped up in silvery-purple glossy wrapping paper with a red bow. If Betsy opens it, its a framed picture of Rogue, signed/autographed even! Its such a great present... and she put it in a awesome frame too. So thoughtful. Giving someone the gift of a picture of her, autographed! Its autographed, by her. Rogue.

Sunspot has posed:
Behold the Dreaded Space Pirate Da Costa. Although Roberto is not a fan of the Hellfire Club, he has put aside his grievances with the society to come to Betsy's party looking his best worst. He might have also been reading about the Starjammers lately.

The blood-red leather armor has the skill and crossbones in black on his chest. The blaster gun at his him look a bit like flintlock handgun. The boots are up to the knee. And of course he has a hat. Black, with a feather. And there is even an eye patch.

Magik has posed:
Illyana doesn't do anything to moderation.

her arrival is marked by the rippling black shadow of a portal opening from the actual realm of Limbo near the doors leading to the room decorated to resemble it. She is flanked by small demons, each of them holding satin ropes attached to small fabric loops at her wrist, chest, and upper arm as if they're dragging her out of Hell itself.

And she fits the image.

The wings of her gown are stretched out as if she's trying to take flight and a cushion of some dark mist has her feet off the lush flooring, one knee bent upwards and the other low, both sets of toes pointed down at the ground as she descends from her short, magical, levitation into a brisk step. The wings settle down to drape down across the floor behind her, drug along by her motion as both clawed hands snap out to send the smattering of demons scattering to every dark corner. Startling and delighting in equal measures.

Her tragectory is set, course laid in, walking purposefully through the crowds directly towards the Mermaid taking center stage for her birthday.

Iceman has posed:
    The Astronaut turns to face Bobby fully and lifts a thick white glove up towards the golden mirrored helmet and lifts the shield over the clear glass to show Bobby the pencil mustache of the waiter he's been flirting with. Bobby lowers his mood and his plate in a fell swoop.

    "Oh, um... sorry." Bobby says abruptly before turning around and starting to walk away while the Astrowaiter lowers the gold visor back down and goes back to work.

    Bobby makes his way over towards Rogue and frowns. His hooves clacking on the floor as he frowns while stepping in front of the cowgirl. "You and Hank planned matching costumes but not with me?!" Bobby pouts.

Shadowcat has posed:
The doors open and Chewbacca strides in. Though not normal Chewbacca. Shorter than usual, only about 5'6", and though fur covers the body, there is a distinctively feminine curve through the hips and waist. And her arms and legs that are bare down to furry gloves and boots belong to a toned woman rather than a man.



Female Chewbacca wanders in further, carrying a wrapped birthday present. She looks around and then makes her way over towards where others are congregating. Seeing people gathered around the birthday girl already, Female Chewbacca walks over to the Dread Space Pirate Da Costa instead. Chewie looks Sunspot up and down and then gives that familiar Chewbacca noise. Or tries to. It's a higher pitched, feminine version, and cuts out halfway through, giving rise to a coughing fit and then a throat clearing. "Whew, ok, worked that out," she says, giving Roberto a wave.

Psylocke has posed:
As the guests begin to arrive, Betsy makes a point of beckoning them over to the table already stacked high with wrapped gifts. She can't help but grin at all the costumes, clapping her hands together and laughing like the chiming of a bell. As Illyana makes a bee-line for her, she holds out an arm to hook through the crook of her elbow before raising her voice to address the crowd at large. As though to make sure she's heard, her voice seems to echo telepathically as well.

"Thank you all so much for coming! And in such wonderful costumes, too! Now, in keeping with the theme of 'other worlds' I thought I'd do something rather a bit different."

The violet mermaid turns on the spot, gesturing to the piled gifts with a flourish.

"I bought something for all of you, too. 'Tis better to give than to receive, as they say!"

She turns immediately around to the table, picking up a small black velvet box that she immediately hands to Illyana with a smile and a light kiss on the cheek.

"I think it shall suit you."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki is here! Her costume got some effort into it. She's wearing her hair in twin odangos, with long pigtails draped behind. White, sleveless blouse with blue scarf and a red bow, blue skirt, and knee high red boots. Tenatively, she walks over to where the gifts are... feeling like this is backward.

Magik has posed:
Illyana stops only once Betsy has looped her arm through the curve of a looped arm and steps purposefully, belongingly, up against the Mermaid. Cool blue eyes regard the box, reaching up first to lay a clawed hand against the Telepaths cheek when receiving the kiss on her own, "I have something for you, but it is not here." She murmurs quietly, wearing just the faintest of smiles and then accepting the black velvet box in both hands to pull the top free and retrieve whatever is within.

Two ringed fingers pluck out a silver bangle emblazoned with silver and black Dios de los Muertos skulls and flowers.



It's turned over slowly and then slipped upon her left wrist just above the lattice work of her cord armlet. Eyes cutting up behind fanned lashes at Betsy with a single clipped nod, "I love you." Matter of factly, palm to cheek again, "Happy birthday, Elizabeth."

Standing now as a statuesque dark shadow nearby watching wait-staff and guest alike with a bemused, if darkly so, expression on her heavily made face.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto was leaving his gift on the presents table (amethysts jewelry, of course) when Kitwbacca (or it is Chewpryde... no, definitely Kitwbacca) intercepts him. He grins at Wookie roar. "Better pronunciation than mine, but you should hear Doug's," he comments. "Hey, how are you?"

He waves at the known faces, shakes his head at Illyana's impressive arrival. "Didn't expect that from her," he mutters to Kitty. "She seems stranger than a couple years ago, or maybe she is not trying to fit anymore?" He asks, hoping Kitty would know.

When Betsy arrives, he steps back, watching quietly the exchange of gifts.

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy chuckles at Hisako's outfit, and gives her a bit of a ruffle as he finds his own gift. And, well, as he watches the others, he will slowly open his own up. "What a pleasant surprise, thank you to the birthday lady..." Noticing various costumes, he does give Rogue a thumbs up for their similarities.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue grins over at Hank and raises a hand up to blow him a kiss after she saw the thumbs up. She then looks to the birthday girl and offers her a wave. "Happy birthday, purple rain!" She shouts out to Betsy before going to find herself a drink and wander around a bit, looking at the decorations and fan-fare on display in this strange club that she's heard of... but never actually attended/been to before. Time to do some snooping around!

Cypher has posed:
Well you've got satyrs and goth princesses and Chewbacca -- but this is the Hellfire Club, and this is plainly a night for committing transgressions of one sort or another. And Doug does love him some cheesy movies.

Maybe he's dressed as Dracula, what with the black cape and red lipstick and all.

Of course, then he shrugs off the cape, revealing the corset, fishnets, heels, and pearls.

Well... he does love Rocky Horror. Doesn't everybody? "Here," He says, passing the cape off to a bemused-looking waiter, "Take this." Then he snags a glass of champagne with his techno-organic arm. "I can have one."

He finds a couch, and occupies all of it. "The language of costumes is so interesting. They really can change the way you feel." He says, to nobody in particular. "Right now, I feel like a canape." He grins at a waitress, and then winks at her.

Shadowcat has posed:
The female Wookiee smiles over to Roberto, giving him a side-hug. Kit-bacca tells Roberto, "I don't know, maybe not. She seems to just sort of be embracing being herself. She seems happier than I've seen her in awhile," she says after Roberto's comment about Illyana. "I'm doing really well. Great to see everyone out like this," she tells him. "Let me go deliver my present."

Kit-bacca leaves Roberto then to make her way over to the international fashion mermaid. "Happy birthday, Betsy!" Kitty-Chewie says, offering her a big hug when the moment presents itself.

Kitty offers over her the box she's brought, wrapped in purple shiny foil and looped around with a ribbon and bow that is a different shade of purple. When Betsy opens it, she'll find it is... the same framed picture of Rogue that Rogue had previously given her as a present?

No, wait! Lunging up behind Rogue in this photo, is Lockheed. The purple dragon is photobombing Rogue's picture! And instead of Rogue's signature? Down in the bottom corner is a dragon pawprint pressed to the photo in purple ink. "Happy birthday from Lockheed and I!" Kit-bacca offers with another hug.

Iceman has posed:
    Bobby stands there, holding out his plate as Rogue wanders off to snoop. He looks more dejected in his furry pants with shrug of his shoulders, Bobby turns around to meander through the party himself and takes his fingers to pinch a slice of wrap and devours it in a single bite.

    Bobby sneaks around and grabs a chute of bubbles and clacks his way through the hall towards the under the sea room and smirks as he half expects some dorky kid to jump on the fake stage and start to play Johnny B. Goode, but shakes his head of the idea before finding a secluded chair to call his own. For now.

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy's eyes widen a little at something Illyana says or does, although she doesn't frown and for a moment seems to smile to herself. She reaches up a hand to place it on the Limbo Queen's, opening her mouth to say something before Rogue calls out to her and her attention shifts.

"Thank you! Get your gift off the table, darling. It's the wooden one over there with the green bow."

As Kitty arrives, Betsy returns the hug with gusto and leans back with hand still on the Wookiee's shoulders to take in the costume.

"Star Trek, I love it," she says, before her face splits into a grin, "I'm just kidding. I feel like I gave Peter an aneurysm, wherever he is. Quick, take this."

Betsy reaches behind her on the table, picking up a silvery-blue box which she hands over to Kitty. Her gift.

"I mean that, by the way," she adds cryptically, nodding at the box. After a moment, her eyes follow Bobby wandering off down the hall. Her brow furrows and she places her glass down on the table, "I'll be right back."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki sits down, smiling up to Hank, before she very delicately openes up the ribbons tying the box together. Inside, she finds a card, reading it. And then a tea set. She sets it down carefully, to stand up and bow to Betsy. "Thank you very much."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue meanders over to the table to scan over the gifts for the party attendees and as shouted-to she finds the wooden box with the green bow. She spends a moment or so looking it over before she opens it...

A couple moments later and she's walking over to where Bobby is to stand beside him, while sipping from a bottle of kentucky bourbon. After taking a drink of it she coughs and struggles with the taste, before she exhales and places a hand over her chest. "Yowza..." The 20 year old says. She looks down at the bottle. "I like it. I need t'go t'more parties where they give me bottles'a booze just for showin' up."

Emma Frost has posed:
When she makes her own final appearance at the gathering, it's clear that this is not Miss Emma Frost, guest economics lecturer and occasional disciplinarian. For an event at the exclusive social club, she is nothing less than the true White Queen. And she dresses the role, appearing in her most classically memorable attire: which is to say, wearing lingerie and heels under voluminous and fuzzy white fur-trimmed cape. There are some elaborations to make it even more grandiose for this event: glistening crystals studding nearly every inch of material (not that there are so many inches of it), giving her an even more 'icy' appearance than normal.

She also dos not arrive with the string of other guests, but from deeper within the club, those ominous great doors at the back of the chamber swinging open to reveal her and a male companion: large, imposing, and in his own club standard frock coat and other accoutrements. The man does not accompany her to the gathering. Instead, they pause at the threshold, exchange a few words and a glance at the gathering, before she leans to kiss his cheek and then continues into the main room, hips swaying in rather exaggerated fashion as she walks.

"Betsy, oh there you are," she coos in greeting, locating the costumed birthday girl. "Oh, isn't this just darling. You know, if you'd told me you were going to be a mermaid, I'd have had them install a pool for you." She is probably not exaggerating.

"Well, no matter. Hello, hello dears. Oh look at all of you, how very imaginative. Douglas! My word, aren't you looking -handsome-." And no, the fact that he's probably dressed more similarly to HER than anyone else doesn't seem to interfere with her assessment. "I'm glad to see you getting away from the computer and living life a little, mm."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy grabs himself a refreshment, and slowly sits himself. Unwrapping his present, he goes wide-eyed when he sees it. Snickering, he finds a book. Opening it slowly, he pages through it a little. "You shouldn't have, Betsy. Thank you." The man in the cartoonish Stetson finds himself holding a first edition Darwin. "Let me introduce you to Biophysics sometime, though."

Magik has posed:
Illyana's pale-blue eyes fall on Kitty and another grin slides onto her black lips, "Ty vyglyadish' teplo, Ketrin.." Glancing to the side at Betsy with a nod as if silently agreeing with something unsaid and taking the moment where the birthday girl is reaching for a gift to offer her old friend a stiff, but genuine hug. Running her fingers along the inside of the bandolier', "Impractical. I am always thinking that carrying cartridges of compressed tibanna gas rather than armor was kind of counter intuitive, but I suppose it is looking good for action hero worship."

Watching, even as she speaks with Kitbacca, Emma make her grand entrance with a cut of her eyes in the White Queens direction. "Eto vyglyadit legko snyat'. Veroyatno, namerennyy..." Smirking slightly, glancing back to Kitty, "Is good seeing you. I should mingle, da?"

Iceman has posed:
    Bobby lifts an eyebrow slowly as his attention is drawn to Rogue and he blinks before he has to ask from instinct. "Did you just say Yowza?" The Ice-King says while seated on a seafoam couch that literally looks like it's the foam of a wave cresting upon the beach. Bobby takes another hor d'oeuvre off his plate and holds it up for Rogue. "You should eat something Jane." He says, his eyes looking down her costume. Much more elaborate than his brown hairy pants.

    A look past Rogue's shoulder causes Bobby to stand up and give a little wave to Betsy as she approaches but he whispers to Rogue, "I think I did something wrong." The ice man sayeth. Then even further there's a woman trying to copy his style... and this draws a third frown from the Cryotechnic.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto nods to Doug, trying hard to avoid face-palming at his outfit. Then again, this is the Hellfire Club. Likely Doug costume is in the tame side among the local crowd. Berto wouldn't know. In fact he expects no one among the Xavier folks would.

Except maybe Doug -did-. Okay, on a second though, that is a point to the blonde boy.

Pirate Da Costa re-adjusts his eyepatch while waiting for Kitbacca's return, if she is getting back. "At least no Miss Frost," he comments. And then of course the White Queen herself appears.

BUTIWASNOTHINKINGTHAT. He scrambles to put some kind of neutral thoughts in his head.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitbacca takes the offered gift from Betsy. "Aw, thank you, but you didn't have to," she says to her friend. Kitty returns the hug to Illyana, grinning over at her. "Well, you know what they say, if I can't wear fur I'm not going to wear anything at all," Kitty says. Before adding in a scandalous stage whisper, "So I should probably keep this on." She gives a knowing wink and then turns to the present

Kitty takes out the card and reads it. Whatever is said on it causes Kitty to stop and just look up at Betsy and give her a beautiful smile. "Thank you," she tells her. Kitty looks like she wants to say more but she chokes up a little. She covers it with another Kitbacca Wookiee sound. "Thank you," she tells Betsy again before checking what is in the box. She doesn't take it out, just smiles hugely and puts the top back on, tucking it away on her person with the care someone shows a treasured thing.

Cypher has posed:
Doug offers Emma a shallow bow, and then he reaches out to offer her his hand -- left, this time, his techno-organic right arm slightly behind his back, and then if offered, he takes her fingers and gives them a faint kiss, before he lets go. "Ma'am," He says, "I'm working on living again a little more every day."

He lets go, gamely, and then walks over to Roberto. "I like the heels." he says, "They make me feel taller." Since he and Bobby are the same height.

Then he looks around at everyone, and says, "The deals that are made in this room tonight are going to affect the way this city is run for the next five years. It's amazing how I didn't see it all before." He glances over to Roberto. "How're you?"

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy smiles at Kitty as she steps away from the group, giving her shoulder another affectionate squeeze. Once apart, she returns the bow to Hisako in a motion that is likely borrowed from memories not entirely her own. Nevertheless, it seems fluid enough and she smiles: "You're very welcome."

As she passes Hank, she pats him on the shoulder, "That's just physics with more chaos, isn't it?" As she does, she scoops a gift up off the table and tuck it under one arm.

Emma's arrival elicits a grin from the violet woman, "I can fly. Who needs a pool? Also, the little white box on the table is yours." She gestures at the table piled high with gifts for the guests.

Then she disappears down the hall to poke her head into the undersea room, frowning at Satyr Bobby Drake: "Party pooper." She holds out the small blue box to him, telekinesis carrying it across the room.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue just flashes a light grin at Bobby. "Yes, I said yowza." She offers him the bottle then. "You sip this and tell me its not the go-to-word that you'd use t'describe this stuff." She then tells him before she hears his hushed-word and her eyes narrow at him, she glances around at everyone else, taking in the arrival of Emma (or part of it anyway) and smirking at the Wookiee, knowing who's inside that furry costume... "What'd ya do?" She asks of the Ice Man.

Siryn has posed:
Theresa Cassidy hesitantly makes her way toward where there were familiar faces hoping all the while that she doesn't stand out too much like a sore thumb in this fancy place. Though she'd dressed up a bit with a nice off-shoulder blouse, she still favored a nice pair of leather pants and boots for the rest. It wasn't precisely creative or high fashion as she feared she might run into here. "H'lo," she randomly greets with a little clearing of her throat. "Where's the birthday girl run off ta?"

Iceman has posed:
    Bobby standing as Betsy arrives in the room and corners him with flying presents, frowns as the box levitates from the birthday girl's hands and towards him. "I'm not a party poop! Though leaving a bomb in the hellfire club might be a bit cathartic..." Bobby says with a devious smile as he puts his hands upon the box and smiles towards Betsy. "Thank you, and happy birthday. I'll--- I'll open it later if that's okay?" The ice man asks for permission.

    With a look back to Rogue and a shrug of his shoulders. "Just thinking Yowza is more of my style than yours goober. Maybe I'm rubbing off on you." Bobby says setting his present down and trying to take the bottle from the underage x-man.

Magik has posed:
Illyana raises a brow at something Kitty says or does and glances down at whatever resides in the box Betsy gave her, "This is story you will tell me? Not now, is party, but sometime... We do not talk enough anymore. I wish this to change." Stepping back to her old friend, the great and powerful Kitbacca, can return to the party. Likewise the Queen of Limbo is spying out across the guests until she locks onto one Doug in fishnet and high heels...

"Excuse me." Brushing a hand along Katherine's shoulder as she makes her way towards him, dragging wings and gown out behind her as she approaches Berto and Doug, giving both an appreciative look over as she joins them. "Doug. You look..." Word, what is the word she wants? A claw taps against the center of her black lips, pursed, trailing gaze up and down his attire, "Good. Great maybe. Alive. I am glad." A pause, "Can I hug you? I will not bite."

Armor has posed:
Hisako Ichiki tries to get a drink, but ends up being given something non-alcoholic. With a smile, she sits again, and takes in the band for a bit. Though as she does so she very carefully examines every piece of the gorgeous tea set she received.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma looks suitably impressed with Doug's manners, offering her hand as he requests it. "That's wonderful. I'm very glad to hear it. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask, hmm? The club is very good at catering to one's whims, and you - all of you - really ought to enjoy it to the fullest while you're here." Though, she can't help but give an airy laugh overhearing the last bit about the advantages of heels. "Right?" Then she's off again. In passing, Illyana's observation earns... is that a wink? She definitely makes a show of giving a little flip of her shoulder, and the cape with it, showing off a little of what little she wears beneath.

Shy, she's not.

With Betsy, she offers a quiet 'pssshh.' "Just because there's any easier way to do something isn't any reason not to take the more lavish and ridiculous route on occasion, especially for something like this. Oh well. You really do look lovely." Directed to her gift, she takes it and examines the box. "Well, they are a girl's best friend, no?" Compare to some others, she immediately takes the diamond-studded bracelet from its box and slips it over her wrist. She's wearing enough bling already, why *not* overdo it?

"Of course, I have something for you but..." She considers the table dubiously. "Well, let's just say this won't do for presentation. But it can wait!"

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto directs a skeptic glance to Doug's heels. "Indeed," his pirate boots might have an extra inch too, as the Brazilian is aware of the importance of height in social gatherings of certain kinds.

"Maybe not five years, New York is too volatile," he points out with a small smirk. "And seriously, I don't like to make deals here. Feels like, ah..." speaking of the devil. "Yana. Looking great tonight," he offers to the Russian. "As always," he adds diplomatically.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue holds up the bottle of bourbon and shakes it a little at Betsy, smiling to her to show her how much she likes the gift, and then takes another sip from it and it has about the same reaction on the girl as the first did. But she still likes it all the same. As she lowers the bottle down again, her eyes look about the room to the others and then she glances over to Bobby and smirks at him. "You wish you were rubbin' off on me." She responds to him, in a very 'her' sort've suggestive fashion, lacing the comment with a quick grin before she looks back to Kitbacca and points at her. "You guys are wearin' almost the same thing, but you couldn't aford the top half." She then adds to the Ice man.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde grins over to Illyana. "Most definitely. We need to get together, there is a lot to catch up on." The Wookiee grins at Illayana, and checks out her bandolier, grinning and nodding in agreement with the earlier statement on that too.

Kit-bacca moves through the crowd then. Seeing Emma's entrance doesn't have quite the effect it normally would on Kitty. She just moves on past with only a brief glance. "Doug, you look fabulous," she tells him with a laugh. Kit-bacca smiles to Roberto again and then looks around. "I love costume parties. They should be a monthly event," she says.

"Hisako, that looks amazing. Can I drop by tea for some night and help you put it to use?" she asks the Asian girl. Kit-bacca then notices Therea moving in the background. "Theresa, hello! How are you? Come get a drink," she says. And then she realizes she doesn't have a drink herself. "Roberto? How do you let a lady Wookiee stand here without a drink?" she asks, putting her hands on her hips.

Cypher has posed:
"Well." Doug says, "Ripples in a pond." He looks over to Illyana and says, "'Yana, just assume the answer is yes." He opens his arms, and his embrace is warm. That black and gold arm he's sporting is neither cold nor cruel, it's warm and alive. He hugs, warmly, and then deftly lets go. "I thought about what kind of costume to wear for awhile and then I decided to dress for the venue."

He asides to Bobby, "You may want to make a pitch to Emma about investing, but I don't know if this is either the time or the place." He gestures to Kitty with... his ruby-red fingernails. "Thank you, pal. I feel fabulous."

Psylocke has posed:
"Open it whenever you like," Betsy tells Bobby assuringly, smiling and making room for Rogue to slip into the room as she continues to hover in the doorway, "Just don't forget it - and thank you for coming."

She gives a sidelong glance at Rogue, raises her eyebrows at Bobby from behind the Southern Belle where the latter can't see and makes an 'Ooo!' face.

"I'll leave you two be. Don't try to embrace the spirit of the place too wholeheartedly."

That said, she departs the undersea room and heads once more to the gathering area. As she once more emerges, she sweeps over to Theresa to give her a polite smile: "I'm glad you could come! Come on, I've bought gifts for everybody because, well, I felt a backwards birthday party might be a bit of fun. Give gifts rather than receive and all that."

She pauses at the table, looking over it for a moment before gathering up a green box and handing it off to Theresa, "Now, it's Scottish, I know. But Celtic pride can span a narrow sea, I'm sure. Besides, for the price I'm sure you'll appreciate it regardless."

Magik has posed:
Illyana's hug is neither warm nor loose, it's stiff and kind of short, but it's genuine. Both her hands rest upon his shoulders a moment after, mostly while she regards his golden arm. "That is different." Touching it with the end of a claw ring, leaning in close to get a much better look.. but only for a second and she's straightened and turned towards Berto. "I am not always looking great. I am always looking present... but I appreciate you saying so." Looking down at her own attire with her arms out, fanning the black feathered wing slip in the pinch of her fingers so it flutters down onto her back, "Tonight, I am looking great, but its Betsy's birthday."

Iceman has posed:
    "Maybe we were supposed to be a wookie-taur and she got mad at me! You don't know." Bobby says, being offended on a level that is irrational with what Rogue was saying. So he's playing it up and trying to click his mind into having a good time. Bobby then steps closer to Rogue and tries to take her gloved hands into his so he can take the bottle of booze out from her grasp and give himself a pull of the hard liquor.

    Coughing, Bobby hands the bottle back. "Holy SHIT! That's horrible!" He coughs and doubles over trying to get the burning out of his throat. Then catching his breath Bobby stands up straight to drag Rogue back to the main room. "We're gonna dance!~"

Siryn has posed:
Theresa Cassidy flashes a grin toward Kitty in greeting giving the wookie-girl a nod. "Ah, a drink, well I..." She tapers off only to stare at the sight of Betsy in her own attire. Somehow, seeing a Wookie Kitty didn't seem all that 'out there' to her. Something something nerd culture.

"Oh, well a reverse... I guess this means that I ought not give you this?" She asks lifting a hand to show off the little gift bag dangling from her fingertips. It's not overly large but seems to have some heft to it. "It's not much but I thought you might like it."

"As for a drink," she asides to Kitty and whoever might be carrying some over, "I'm trying not to--" Curiosity gets the best of her as she opens the green package from Betsy. "Oh holy mother... Thirty? Forget what I was saying get me a glass."

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto glances at the table and finds an envelope with his name. A brief glance and he pockets it, nodding at Betsy in grateful acknowledgement.

"I think I better have that business meeting at Xavier's," he replies to Doug. "Walls have ears. Not that I am going to be able to keep the X-Corp plan within our circles for long. But even a few days might help smooth some unavoidable obstacles." As will Betsy's envelope.

"And duty calls," he adds when Kit-bacca makes her request, "it is not wise to upset a Wookiee," he quotes, leaving to find a bottle of good wine and a few empty flutes. Fortunately, it doesn't take long.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue flashes another smile to the birthday mermaid before she looks back to Bobby and lets him have a pull from the bourbon. She starts to chuckle at his reaction to it and slowly nods her head. "Yowza, right?" She says back to the teacher of--whatever it is he teaches, math or something. When he takes hold of her hand and tugs her out toward the main room and speaks of dancing her eyes go huge. "Woah woah woah... lets not get crazy here. I'm still havin' nightmares about that flash mob the other night! Its kept me up more than the sentinels have!"

Cypher has posed:
Doug walks over to the table, and scans the boxes, before he lays his alien hand on one that's done up in the same colors. He tilts his head, and then moves to open the card. He raises an eyebrow, before he carefully opens the box, peers inside, and then closes it again, before he laughs. "That is so keen!" He says. He tucks it under one arm. "I'm just going to go... take this out to the car, lest I give in to the temptation to start flipping through it right here." He doesn't seem to pay much heed to how he's dressed. Maybe it's the corset, it just makes you confident.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Oh, I don't know. If the Hellfire Club *isn't* the place for the one percent of the one percent to discuss how to further pursue even more grandiose ambitions, I don't know where is," Emma is happy to point out over toward Doug and Roberto, even as the latter seems to reject the idea of it. When is it EVER a bad time to talk about money with her? Really now. Also, this suggests she's either eavesdropping or... fancy eavesdropping, maybe. But how is that news? "Still, there's no rush I suppose. Pleasure before business, tonight. Have fun, dears."

Beyond extending this vague invitation, she seems content now to turn to general enjoyment of the festivities. The first step is waving over a likewise skimpily dressed waiter, whose attention is... rather hasty and overly polite once he realizes who it is hailing him. "Thank you dear," she murmurs, reaching to take a champagne glass from his tray, and running a gloved fingertip over his bare arm as she turns to depart. "Mm, when did we hire that one?" she wonders, mostly to herself.

Magik has posed:
Illyana returns to where Betsy is loidering and brushes a shoulder against the telepaths on her way to a seat. After taking one, she brings one leg up to cross the other and rests her fingers along her knee with her shoulders back, head held up, and... a general malignancy to her stare that lingers too long and shows little to no sign of expression when gazing upon people who pass her by.

Iceman has posed:
    Still dragging Rogue, Bobby gives the former avenger puppy eyes as he pouts. "C'mooon, I'm not some weirdos dancing to some creepers fourty year old pop music." Bobby tries to reassure Rogue as he points towards the party band that Betsy has hired, and though they are playing cover songs, Bobby hasn't really paid attention to them yet.

    Walking past a few fellow mutants Bobby points his finger guns at them and gives a wave before he double takes, "Was that Doug in Remy's clothes?" Bobby asks to no one before he steps past the dais with a wave to Illy and he asks, "When are we getting more creepy plants?" On his way towards the dance floor.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty's eyes widen for a moment. "Oh, shoot," she says. The Chewbacca-girl wannabe excuses herself from Doug and Roberto for a moment to head over to Theresa. "Hold that for me, Roberto?" she asks.

Kit-bacca walks over to Siryn. "I'm sorry Theresa, totally forgot. Want a soda, or they can probably grab some fruit punch or something?" Kitty offers. She glances towards the box that Theresa is holding. "Tell you what, why don't see if we can switch that out for one of the other gifts?" Kitty asks Theresa softly, her tone supportive.

Kitty glances towards Betsy. Thinking hard her direction.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto wouldn't be surprised if Emma already knows about the X-Corp, after all she has access to Xavier's school. And if Xavier trusts her... well. Maybe someday Roberto will too. A bit.

But there are many other troublesome folks in this club. In fact, most everyone. Hopefully Betsy didn't invite too many to her party.

He serves Kitty a glass of wine and then glances at Theresa, sensing something there. "Good to see you, Terry," he greets with a smile. "I couldn't ask you before, so... are you back as a student or joining the school staff?"

Magik has posed:
Illyana holds her hand out to Bobby with her hands, and the attached claws, turned upwards in a cupping fashion. A writhing, horrible massive teeth, lips, ears, eyeballs and fingerstick stalks creep out of the shadowy portions created by her threaded arm lattice. "You are wanting one, Bobby? I am having thousands.. this can being yours?" Wiggling her fingers expectantly, pale blue eyes fixed on him.

The Hell Plant vanishes in a clinched fist and Magik slips off her chair in a fluid motion pointing her directly at Kitty and Theresa, "I am thinking maybe we are getting our gifts mixed up." She murmurs, pulling the skull and rose embroidered bangle from her wrist as she approaches, "I am notorious for my loving of 30 year old alcohol. Like time I am drinking apple cidar... good ol days, da?" Palm out, arm extended, "Besides, you are not goth enough. Never is enough goth."

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy's eyebrows raise at something unheard, turning her attention immediately back to Theresa and giving her a gentle smile.

"It's not even Irish," the telepath offers, looking at the bottle with a tsk and a shake of her head, "Pretty inconsiderate of me. Typical English. Can't tell the difference, right? You don't have to accept that swill. How about a -"

She peers critically back at the piles of gifts, mental gears furiously clacking back and forth. She scoops one up, holding out a purple envelope to Theresa with an apologetic sidelong glance at Kitty: "Ever wanted to go to -"

But then Illyana swoops in to save the day, and Betsy sighs before turning to look at the Russian in a silent thank you. She quickly gives the purple envelope to Kitbacca."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy does something very quiet. He ducsk out of the party just for a moment, but returns with a bag. Very discreetly, well as discreetly as the wide blue man in the Twinkie the Kid costume can manage, he starts slipping blue twinkies to everyone, with an ENTIRE BOX set where Betsy will find it later.

Siryn has posed:
Theresa Cassidy stares rather reverently at the bottle of 30 year Glenfiddich that was inside the package Betsy had given her. Digging her teeth into her lower lip she's already about to twist it open when Kitty appears at her side. For a moment she's jolted out of her thoughts, tongue darting out to wet her lips, and her eyes lock onto the Wookie femme. "Nah, just... Just one wouldn't hurt, innit?" A deep breath is taken and held for a second to steady her nerves. Lawd she was so thirsty.

"We can all share it. The rest." Dropping her voice some she adds, "Might be good to have a drink for a *good* reason instead of bein' upset for once. But the rest gotta be shared." So she doesn't risk the entire bottle. Of course, she's not holding on so tight which makes it exceedingly easy for Illyana to snatch it away. There's another sigh but it's hard to tell if it's from relief or dissapointment. "Right. Mix up," she mumbles before Roberto draws her attention away with an entirely different topic. "Bit old to be a student at this point, but I'm not sure what I'd be good at either. Just wanting to help out where I can."

Magik has posed:
Illyana winks at Betsy and nods. She does snatch the bottle held loosely by Theresa, but steps up close to slide the bracelet onto the Irish-woman's wrist. "There, now you are being appropriately goth." One clawed finger hand lays against her cheek for a second, no warmth at all in her eyes, and then she slips backwards to let Kitbacca do damage control thereafter since she's returning to the birthday Girls side. "I am going to go putting this with my things at apartment." Leaning over towards her to whisper something else, kiss her cheek, and slide backwards. "Happy birthday. I will see you later, da?"

Cypher has posed:
After a little while, Doug comes back. He stretches out, with his arms up over his head. "Mmmmnnnnah." He says, before he rolls his neck, and then waves off a glass of champagne, and he says, "I try not to drink too much at one time... do you have any ginger ale?" He says, before he watches Illyana, and then muses.

Earlier, Bobby noted that he was surprised some dork didn't jump on the piano. Well, he's eyeballing it now. He click-clacks toward it, seats himself, and then bends the mic toward his mouth. "Check, one two." Wow, this Steinway has ivory keys.

"This one's, for the lady of the hour. Something to remind her about the way all her friends feel about her." Those piano lessons he always hated as a child combine with his own innate power to comprehend and communicate all forms of information come together, here. It starts off slow, and then turns sprightly, before bursting outward in a kaleidoscope of sound.

Who doesn't like the Rolling Stones?

"She comes in colours, evry'where!

She combs her hair!
She's like a raaaaaaainbow~
Coming, colours in the air! Oh, ev'ry where!
She comes in colours! La la la, la la la la...~"

He's no Dazzler, but he has unbridled enthusiasm and perfect pitch.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde's eyes go over to her long-time friend. If they could speak, they'd tell Illyana how much Kitty loves her. She takes the glass from Roberto, giving him a grateful look though holding it down and away for now as she talks to Theresa. "All sorts of positions available, not to mention things working around the facility rather than actually teaching classes," she offers.

A waiter in a Roman toga comes past and Kitty stops him. "Could we get a nice fruit punch or something like that?" she asks. He nods and disappears off, and will return before long with the drink for Theresa.

Kitty motions to the Dread Pirate Roberto. "Roberto is working up some things to help out Mutant Town, amongst other places as well. If something like that might be to your interests?"

Kitty grins as Bobby is heading out to the dance floor. "No icing it over, Drake!" she calls to him. "I'm going to be out there soon." Kit-bacca makes another loud Wookiee call.

Iceman has posed:
    Bobby slowly grins to Rogue as he looks over at Kitty and gives the hairy woman a thumbs up. "I have the worst idea." Bobby says to Rogue in a whisper. As he says this he makes a pair of ice sculptures, one of him and one of Rogue in the middle of the dance floor. "I have /got/ to snoop around a bit. You in?" Bobby giggles to himself before hoping his copy will be enough to fool people long enough for him and his cohort to get away and get into some stuff they shouldn't.

Emma Frost has posed:
Though not immediately involved in the exchange with the newly-arrived Theresa, Emma either notices enough of what is going on to put the pieces together or... No, let's be real, she's obviously reading some thoughts. Probably not even intentionally, when it comes to this level of emotional turmoil and barely avoided drama. But she does notice, and let it not be said that the woman doesn't have a heart. Ok, it's probably said a lot, or at least that it's made of ice. But she tries.

In this case, it amounts to a subtle gesture to get one of the waitstaff's attention, whereupon presumably they also put two and two together and then relay the order. Or... again, possibly she just telepathically commands every one of them. They're not guests or peers so there's less need to be delicate. The important point is, from then on, none of them will show up next to Theresa with a tray of drinks that aren't ginger ales and club sodas. She may be all for corrupting the occasional youth, but preying on that sort of afflication is... low class.

Thereafter, she finds a comfy couch and settles in to listen to Doug play.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue watches Bobby create two ice sculptures in their likenesses and it just makes her grin and glance between him and the one he made of her. She raises her hand up and points at hers. "Hey, those look way bigger than they're suppose t--" and then he's pulling her gloved hand and she's moving away off of the dance floor with him. "Hey, this is the Hellfire club." She tells him then. "I was told neve'ah t'even come in here by... Jean? I think?" She looks around then. "Jean's not here though, unless she's also in a Star wars costume and I just haven't noticed'er yet." She follows after him and raises her bourbon gift up for another swig from it before coughing yet again because its so... liquory!

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy looks sheepish - a strange look for someone usually so upright and confident in her own correct behaviour. As Illyana departs, she leans over to give her another light kiss and nods her head: "I'll see you later. Can you take the twinkie box, too? I don't want Henry relenting and taking it back. They look delicious."

As the music begins to play, Betsy turns her attention now to Doug on the piano. Her eyes narrow for a moment as she tries to place the opening bars of the song, only to immediately widen as she recognizes it. She claps her hands before herself, beaming up at the piano on the dais.

"Woo!" Yes, she woos.

Siryn has posed:
Theresa Cassidy is at least suitably distracted by the change of topic. There would be time later to dwell on that very near miss, and the desire to give in. For now though she very thankfully takes a non-alcoholic drink from one of the waitstaff to chug down, then take another of the same to sip in a far more lady-like manner. The bracelet dropped onto her wrist by Illyana earns a smile. "Goth, eh? Guess I can be goth. Got the coloring right. Pale as death." She wasn't precisely prone to suntanning.

"I might help around the facility a bit then. I can look into other things to do if it comes to it."

Magik has posed:
Illyana grins at the sheepish expression, thumb claw brushing Betsy's nose, "I will see you later. Have fun tonight, da?" As she makes her way out, which means teleporting, she grabs the box of twinkies... turns them over in and dumps one out into her palm. She holds it up to her nose and sniffs it, shifts the box beneath one winged arm, and peels it open as she vanishes.

Iceman has posed:
    "Don't look too close!" Bobby commands of Rogue as he tugs her away from the dance floor towards that large doorway Emma came into the room through. "I think Jean's rules are out of the window as we're already in here, so I'm gonna see as much as I can and find out just HOW evil these people are." Bobby says with a stern look to Rogue as he puts his hand on the door and tries to push it open and sneak into the depths of the hellfire club.

Cypher has posed:
Doug looks up at Betsy, and winks, before he continues--

"...Have you seen her all in... gold?
Like a queen, in days of old?
She shoots colours all around,
Like the sunset, going down
Have you seen a lady *fairrrrrrrrrer*?

She comes in colours, every where, she combs her hair..."

By the time he finishes the song and leans back a bit, he wipes a strand of blond hair off his forehead, and says, "Whew! Okay! ...Any requests? I request a diet soder..."

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto nods to Theresa, "absolutely. I am starting something in Mutant Town soon, and I need help. Doug is already in, and Sam... well, he gave me the idea, indirectly." He is a bit vague, but still... "we can talk tomorrow, if you are up for it. Right now I rather enjoy the party."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde takes out her phone and turns on the light, waving it in the air for Doug in lieu of having a lighter. She sings along with him, making it about three lines and then doing her poor-woman's Wookiee sound.

Kitty smiles to Theresa and says, "All sorts of things that need doing. I don't know if you like decorating at all, but some of the student rooms are in dire need of upgrades after years of people living in them." And treating the rooms as hard as teenagers do.

Kitty glances at the dance floor and a Wookiee-sized eyebrow goes up. "I don't think you're doing the dancing thing right," she says to the stationary ice statues. No, she doesn't think they are real, but Kitty turns back to the others.

Kitty sees Betsy not swarmed for the moment and moves over to give her a shoulder bump, a glance at those she was talking to inviting them along. "It's a great party. I hope you're having a good birthday. Also, I couldn't be happier for you, as well," Kitty tells Betsy.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Jean's lovely," and THAT is someone being very diplomatic, "But she has an excessive inclination toward being far too much of a mother hen to all of you, whether or not it's required. And what's so bad about this place? Is anyone trying to kidnap and molest you? Making you do anything you don't want? Please." All of this, of course, is spoken as Emma has abandonned her post to quietly sashay up behind Anna-Marie and Bobby, appearing like a scantily clad ghost.

That said, Emma doesn't act as if she's caught them doing something terrible. "Do you *want* a private tour?" she wonders. "Very little evil back there either, although some of it is a little... well. Adult? Not that you two aren't. Looking to have a little more fun than dances and artistic licence with ice statuary allows?" She totally saw that.

Spider-Man has posed:
"Not gonna be late... not gonna be late..." Peter is just now finishing up the last touches on his costume before a standing mirror in his apartment and grabs a purple gift bag from off one of the side tables beside a computer, "Twenty minutes to get across town .. I can do that." Checking his watch with a little nod, fighting the over powering desire to vomit at how awkward this whole situation could end up being. "Say a few nice things, happy birthday, hand gift... find Kitty.. look adorkable. This is doable.." One last glance, straighten his cut off bloodstripe shorts, and trot down the stairs for a change.

Only for a cop car to rush past his apartment complex on the heels of a black honda weaving dangerously through traffic. "Not going to be late.. not going to be late..." He grumbles, glances at his watch... then sighs, head hanging backwards and arms dangling down at his sides.

As he trots backupstairs, he shoots off a text to

'Hey Kits.. I'm going to be late.'

Two hours later! Peter is changing out of his Spidey costume in the dirty bathroom of a subway stop near the Hellfire club. Hoping around from foot to foot, he accidentally drops one down in the toilet with a loud splace. "Why are you like this?" He chides himself, turning towards a knock on the stall, "Occupied.." Banging around. There's another knock, "DUDE I SAID OCCUPIED... there's six other stalls, don't be a jerk.. or pinch it off, you're an adult!" Freakin New Yorkers, man.

When he arrives at the Hellfire Venue, Pete is wearing a now very wrinkled Han Solo costume complete with sleeveless vest, sweat stained white shirt, and cut-off blue shorts with a blood red line down either leg. He's also carrying a crumpled purple gift bag and a backpack, since he left the car he borrowed from Aunt May back at his apartment and had no place to put it that he'd trust anywhere near this god damned place. Seriously, is the Hellfire Club up to city ordenances? It has to be right? Who knows, there's enough telepaths associated with it that it certainly doesn't HAVE to be.

'this is not the sin of debauchery you are looking for'

Pete does one last check in a mirror, buttons the last button of his shirt and tries to make his sweat damp hair look like he just took a shower rather than having been wearing a spandex mask for the last two hours in New York City heat. "Classy... so very classy."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue is alongside Bobby when Emma finds them and she lets her eyes go huge. The White Queen is an intimidating form, after all. She stands there in her bandito cowgirl costume and glances over at the Ice man, then over to the Ice Queen and she just starts to grin. "Now you're just makin' it sound like something we can't 'think' about doin' and instead have t'make it inta something we 'have' to be doin." She then tips her bottle of bourbon over toward Emma. "Wnat a sip?" She has NO IDEA its a 1,000 dollar bottle of kentucky brewed bourbon though, she's not that savvy when it comes to alcoholic beverages and their 'lore'.

Rogue glances to Bobby, then back to Emma. "How much is the private tour? Do we gotta pay upfront or can I give you a solid 'I Owe You' card?" She uses her free hand to pat around on her hips over her baggy western jacket. "I think I left my wallet in my car..." She's a little tipsy.

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy remains standing front and center at the stage, clapping her hands and cheering for Doug's performance when it's over. With a flick of her wrist she plucks a flow of silky purple fabric from her costume, nothing vital, and flings it onto the stage atop the piano - cheering all the while.

As Kitty bumps her shoulder, she glances over at the dear wookiee and smiles, "It's wonderful. I made a bit of a dent in the bank account paying for the gifts, but the space came relatively cheap as a perk of membership. Besides, I wanted to make it special."

She glances at the purple envelope she handed Kitty earlier, glancing up as a familiar telepathic 'signature' passes across the transom. She looks in Peter's direction and then back to Kitty: "That gifts for both you, by the way. I got the impression you could use it. All my travel budgetary needs are seen to for the foreseeable, thankfully."

Iceman has posed:
    Bobby audibly shrieks in fear at being 'snuck up on' by Emma, and with Rogue responding mostly for the two of them, Bobby tries to quietly giggle but fails. It's a loud girlish giggle, he's even turning red in the cheeks. "You carry I owe you cards in your wallet? Carlyle, you were an Avenger." Bobby says trying to then stand up for Rogue to Emma, "We... ahem- We Miss Frost, mean to say, we'd LOVE a tour but we're not exactly liquid right now. But we can both do you a /solid/ before you blow hot air and walk away gasseous." Bobby then winks. Oh, he nailed that science joke. For. Sure.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty claps for Doug's performance, and brings her fingers to her lips to whistle loudly. She's grinning as she turns back to Betsy. Kit-bacca doesn't even realize she's still holding the envelope that Betsy gave her, having been distracted in helping Theresa get some other beverage.

The motion towards it draws Kitty's attention back there. "You are so amazingly sweet," Kitty tells Betsy. "I'll wait for Peter to arrive to open it. He texted he was running-" Kitty follows Betsy's gaze across the room, revealing a just-entered Peter Parker wearing his Han Solo costume. The Wookiee-girl's face lights up visibly, even with the fur covering it. "-late," she finishes, then looking back to Betsy and laughing as Betsy's advice on Peter's punctuality did indeed prove prescient.

Kitty waves over to Peter Han Solo, until she gets his attention. Yes her. The girl in the Wookie costume. She waves him over to join. Whenever he makes it, she grins to him and says, "Great costume. Though if you're running late, I'm guessing you didn't come in the ship that made the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs?"

Kitty asides to Betsy, "That's a unit of distance, not time. George Lucas," she says, sighing and rolling her eyes at the last part. Kitty shows Peter the purple envelope. "From Betsy to both of us," she says, passing Peter the envelope so he can do the honors, though leaning against him to see the contents too.

Spider-Man has posed:
Peter was already looking for someone... technically a pair of someones.. and as luck would have it they're standing together! How very fortunate! How very ostentatious of fate! His smile never flickers, but his brain does. No way can this get awkward! His path through the guests, some he knows, a lot he really doesn't, is beset on all sides by villainy! "Rogue.... Rogue are you..." Walking backwards a few steps to squint in her tipsy direction, "Bobbo!" Fist-bump, "scantly clad blonde woman!" Wave to Emma as he spins on a foot to finish up his traversal of the globe that the Hellfire Club...

To stand infront of... a Mermaid and a Wookiee. Peter Parker this is your life. He looks to the Mermaid, smacks his lips, and holds out the crumpled purple bag, "Happy birthday." One finger held up, "There's more, but first..." Turning raised finger into a point at Kitty, "... this is not the Princess Leia slavegirl costume I had in mind... why are you a Kitbacca? I had images, Kits... IMAGES..." Truly, this is devastating on a viscerally mental level.

Emma Frost has posed:
There is a bit of an artful eyebrow raise as Rogue offers Emma a pull from the bottle. It doesn't matter the year, there's simply no amount of prestige or price that can make taking a swig straight from the bottle look dignified. "If you want to share a drink, dear, I'll get us some glasses. Also, I wouldn't wave the bottle around like that - it's expensive. You really ought to send Betsy a thank you note." Then her lips curl into what approximates a smile for the chill Miss Frost. "If there was a price for a tour, you definitely couldn't afford it."

She waves a hand. "It's more the simple fact that I really hate dealing with such... simplistic stereotypes. We certainly cater to a certain clientel here, and no doubt, with the amount of wealth and power that sometimes gathers here, a sinster deal or two may have been struck under this roof. But there's nothing terribly special about that. You could say the same thing about City Hall, for instance, or the MET."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue looks over at Bobby and just shakes her head. "Why pay someone when ya can just give'em one'a those cards and make them feel like you'll pay them later. Much better t'save your money like than, than just throw it away all willy-nilly'n such." She then looks back over to Emma, then down to the bourbon and she raises it up to try to find a price tag on it anywhere... but, with no luck she smirks and sighs sharply. "You don't know what I can and can't afford, Emma Frost." Rogue quietly quips back to the White Queen, but she's still showing a hint of a grin because she's always enjoyed Emma's snootiness. Its fun, in a ridiculous sort've way.

Her eyes glance to the entrance to the 'rest' of the club, and then she looks back to Emma. "So we can go in then?" She asks finally. "My curiosity is at an unbearable level now that you've built up the hype, Frosted Flakes." She now shoots Emma a big grin before glancing back to Bobbert.

Iceman has posed:
    "Sounded like an invite to me." Bobby says, taking Rogue's hand once more as he turns away from Emma and pushes into the door and starts to gawk and point and walk around as though they were in some sort of zoo of wealth. "Whoa looK! They have tiled floors! This is beyond money Carlyle." Bobby says teasingly hoping Emma either follows or is close enough to hear his sarcastic remark.

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy reaches into the crumpled gift bag once it is offered to her, looking over the contents and laughing. She lifts out a purple bottle of purple ketchup, turning it in her hand to read the label.

"Funky Purple? You always were one for the nicknames." She then reaches in to pull out a plushie, hugging it momentarily and wrinkling up her nose in a smile. Satisfied, she deposits it back in the bag and settles the bag on the gifts table.

The Slave Leia talk, however, elicits a raised eyebrow from the telepath: "Do I need to leave you two alone?"

But then she nods at the envelope Kitty is holding, "Open that, Spider-Features."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty gives a big grin as Peter comes over. She leans against him, sliding an arm about his waist, the fur-covered hand landing on his far hip. "Glad you finally made it," she tells him.

Wookiee eyebrows go up at Peter's comment about her costume. "Wait, what... you didn't say Slavegirl Leia," Kitty tells Peter, pulling her arm back to put her hands on both of her hips. "What were your words?" she asks Peter, giving him a chance to think before she supplies the answer, "Let's go as Han Solo and his one true love. So... Chewie," she says, motioning to herself.

Kitbacca gives a soft sigh. "Damn, I would have totally rocked that Leia outfit too," says the girl who is in the most phenomenal shape of her life. Kitty grins over to Betsy and says, "Ah, no, but I know what we're wearing next costume party," she says. Kitty motions to Peter to open up the envelope, she wants to see what's inside.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon knew she shouldn't be at a club, not at her age. But still, it was Betsy's birthday. Perhaps if she behaved herself, and stayed out of -too- much trouble, then all would be well. But a costume party? That was going to take some doing on short notice, and would be a test of her skills as a seamstress and costume designer. She had little to work with on the quick, but managed to effectively improvise a white Doric chiton, laurel wreath, and ribbon-laced sandals with what she could scrounge up from her own supplies, as well as bits and bobs from around her. The end result was the look of a classical painting of an angel, with no need to hide given the nature of the party. In one hand, she carries a simple gold lamé drawstring bag, about twelve inches square, which has a tag attached to it. But now, how to find the birthday girl, when she did not recall having ever met her? And how long would she be able to get away with being in this place, before being tossed out on her ear?

Cypher has posed:
Doug continues noodling at the piano, picking out other tunes. He does a very respectable 'clair de lune' and then an energetic 'Well-Tempered Clavier', before getting a little cheekier and playing a Rowlf the Dog classic, 'Show me a rose'.

Spider-Man has posed:
"No, wait... that's not what... way to make it awkward Betsy." Peter grinds his fingers into the back of his skull, up nodding and taking the envelop as if he's reminded of its existance! Yay, diversion! Those are great for a fella what eats his foot more than a toddler learning about their toes. Then Kitty is there with an arm around his waist, his elbow comes up and circles around her furry neck, turning to kiss a furry temple. "I don't know whether to be kind of offended... or even more impressed... I'm going with the second one because I still have IMAGES..." He squints jokingly at her and slides the tip of his finger through the closed section of the envelope.

From within he slides out a pair of first class bording passes to Paris. Blinking several times... first at the gift and then up at Betsy and then over at Kitty, turning them so she can see what he's holding. "Betsy..." There's also a note, which he reads so that Kitty can also see it and goes to blinking again. "Thank you." Simple for the usually motor-mouth.

Peter's senses are tingling! Kitty has said something about Slave-girl Leia costume! Belay all that sentimental stuff, "Is it too late to plan the next costume party for ..." Absent glance at his watch, "Like a little while from now?" Teasing, he releases the Kitty just long enough to reach out as if he's going to hug the telepathic birthday girl, "Happy birthday, Bets." Then return to his lean against Kitbacca. "I left the Millenium Honda at my apartment." There needs to be a popculture joke.

Emma Frost has posed:
"Well, you can't just wander around willy-nilly. It is a private establishment and the members do demand a certain... order to things. But I would be happy to show you a bit of the place. As my guests, you won't be obligated to sell any organs to pay for it." Isn't that nice! But aside from whatever little digs she might take, Emma's mannerisms do seem perfectly friendly, and lacking in any kind of sinister intent. Just what she'd want you to think! Glancing between the other woman and Bobby, she finally gestures a hand ahead. Of course, what lies ahead is mostly... a hallway, even if it's a pretty fancy one. So, nothing truly shocking to reveal there.

"There are a number of private lounges of varying sizes, of course," she explains, gesturing beyond some door- and archways that are open. One of the rooms definitely has a sex swing in it, but at least it's not occupied (thank heavens for small favors!) nor does Emma pause to explain what it's for. The room she actually leads them to first of more interesting substance is a large hall filled with gaming tables of various sorts. "This is one of the more popular venues, I even see Warren in here from time to time. There's something about having a great deal of money that inclines people to being even more risky with it. You seem the sort as well," she tells Rogue, offhandedly. "What are your hobbies, Robert?"

Rogue has posed:
Rogue is just all kinds of grins as the tour begins. "Its a nice hallway, at least." She says, keeping up with Emma and trying not to stray. "I'm not lookin' t'ruin someone poor sod's evenin'a debauchery back here." She assures the White Queen. "I've just never been here, and I've been hearin' about this place for like the past two'n half years... so I'm just, ya know..." She trails off as they pass the room with the swing. "Oh my god..." She says in a calm and serious voice.

But she moves on with the tour and follows Emma. "So this place is just for adults t'come and what, pay for a 'good time'?" She's a bit naive about this stuff. "Isn't that only legal in Las Vegas?" She then asks further before reaching the gaming room.

"Oh... so this -is- Las Vegas, all wrapped up inta one, shady club." She grins then as Bobby detaches himself from them and starts to wander on his own. Bobby responds to Emma's question before going though, with some distracted comemnt about 'ghouls, little green ghouls' (which is an Always Sunny in Philadelphia reference if we got any Charlie fans around!).

"I'm not much of a gambler." Rogue says to Emma then. "I've tried t'get better at Poker. I got a friend who's big inta it." No, not that one. "His name is Stilts. He likes me t'go t'his games so I can distract the other players at the table for'im." She seems proud of this and shows it with a smile.

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy waves her hand at Peter and Kitty, shaking her head as though it were the simplest thing in the world barely worthy of notice let alone thanks.

"Please, it's the least I could do. I'm genuinely happy for the pair of you, and if I figured you might believe me when I say it but a gesture like that should well and truly seal the deal. You fit each other like puzzle pieces. Very fit puzzle pieces."

She returns the hug gratefully, turning around to sweep her eyes across the rest of the party before beckoning Shannon over, "Stay away from the waiters with the alcoholic drinks, you, and come get your present!"

Cypher has posed:
"Anyway," Doug says, "I think I'm gonna go take a break." He gets up from the piano. "Also, these heels are KILLING me, I don't know how people do it." He slips off the stage, to get another ginger ale and make himself inobtrusive. He's pretty good at that.

Nightingale has posed:
     Oh, damn. She'd been spotted. Well, that was the point anyways, wasn't it? Mustering as much dignity as she can, Shannon makes her way through those present at the party, keeping a smile on her face--albeit a slightly nervous one. She'd never met the birthday girl, and guessed that the striking woman addressing her was Betsy. She dips her head in lieu of a bow or anything more formal, somehow not losing her laurel wreath in the process. "Happy birthday!" She offers the gold lamé bag to Betsy; if accepted, it is fairly light in weight, but somehow no less substansial for its lack of heft, and whatever was inside felt... ridged? Oh, my. "Thank you, but I couldn't without you opening your present first. I had no idea what to get you... so I made you something instead."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty's mouth falls open, without any Chewbacca noises coming out this time, as she sees the tickets. "Oh wow. Betsy, that's just... thank you so much!" Kitty says, blown away by the gift. And it's Betsy's birthday, not theirs!

Kitty will wait for Peter to complete any hugs, before moving into give Betsy one as well if allowed. "Thank you so much," she says, grinning warmly to the mermaid.

Kitty looks over to Peter and laughs and gives him a swat. "We can talk about that later. For now you're going to need to grab a drink. And maybe take me dancing. Because it's not wise to upset a Wookiee," she reminds him with a grin.

Kitty looks over, seeing Shannon and flashing a smile. "Great costume Shannon," she says to her.

Emma Frost has posed:
"It's a social club. A place for the wealthy and powerful to gather, socialize, and yes, to 'play,'" Emma explains, her tone quite simply and (seemingly) forthright. "Though bear in mind, while I assure you there is nothing so terribly sinister going on... well, there are lesser lines of morality to blur, aren't there? Gambling laws are certainly quite strict in New York State, for instance, and a whole the practice is seen as a great vice by many. So perhaps that is a sort of evil? Certainly, it is the kind of thing that encourages the club to be cautious in its exercise of various legal loopholes."

All of this leads her to echo the other woman's conclusion with a slight nod. "So yes, somewhat like Las Vegas, on a smaller scale and with less tourists in garish shirts and old ladies glued to slot machines. I won't preach to anyone about whether such things are excessively sinful, but personally, I do not see much harm in it. Especially when those participating are all quite eager - and able - to pay for the privilege, rather than the poor being encouraged to gamble their paycheck on a lottery ticket or a video poker machine."

"Poker is an excellent game and one that teaches some very useful skills. Unfortunately, they rarely let me play any more." She makes a bit of a pouty face here. Though Rogue's admission of her particular talent at the table does lead Emma to another thought. "I don't tell many people this, but I actually started here as a dancer. You could do that, you know. You get to enjoy the place free of dues, and the pay is actually quite good."

Then, just as abruptly, she makes a briefly dismissive sort of wave, as if she wasn't being too serious. "Now, I have to go speak with someone. You can look around here or in the first hall, but don't wander any further - I'll know if you do!" Whether that's a jokey threat or an actual threat, who can say! "Tah, dear."

Psylocke has posed:
"Douglas, come over here," Betsy calls, beckoning the impromptu musician to get back up off his feet even after he just got off of them, "I want you to open your gift. I'm afraid I'm rather insisting that you do."

She gestures to the yellow and black box on the table, giving Kitty a warm hug as she does so, "You really are very welcome. Like I said, my travel expenses are all taken care of for the foreseeable future. Why take a plane when you have an Illyana?"

She then turns her attention back to Shannon, taking the bag and looking into it with a beaming smile: "Oh, it's wonderful - you made it yourself? You've certainly got one up on me in the craftsman department."

Betsy reaches into the bag, pulling out a pan flute which she blows into experimentally. Toot.

Spider-Man has posed:
"It never crossed my mind." Peter says with a genuine smile at Betsy as telepath is inclosed in a Kitty hug. His hand rubs along the back of his scalp, brushing his hair forward, then back as if he's unsure what the hell to do with it. At least it's dry now? Seeing Shannon, "Hey!... wait..." Furrowed brow, turning around to glance at some of the other guests, "Do they even ca- you know what-" Hands up, "-I'm off duty."

With Kitty back beside him, he turns his hand over, "Just don't tear my arms off, huh? I need them for stuff..." He brings a hand up to finger wiggle wave at Bets, "I'm going to get this lovely wookiee drunk and step on her toes on the dance floor. Enjoy your birthday! Oh... uh.. May said for you to call her later. She wanted to come, but... well you know.." Motioning around, "Anyways.." An Illyana? Nope, none of his business!

Pete steps back and away towards the dance floor, snatching up the first drink from a tray near him, whispering an aside to Kits, "So, funky chicken or you going to show me up with your fancy dance moves infront of all these people?"

Cypher has posed:
Doug looks up, and then sighs. "I peeked," He says, "But I was going to save it for later." He takes off the heels though, and makes his way over to open the box the rest of the way, and pull the dictionary out. "It's keen, Betsy. It's really keen." He gives a bright smile, and says, "I'll treasure it." He looks down and flips through it, carefully. "It must be worth a fortune... I'll have to put it under glass."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue grins to Emma and the dancer question, or was it an offer? She didn't know. "I'll think about it." She tells the White Queen before she sees the woman making an exit. "Good luck, thanks for the tour and information." She says then, her eyes tracking Bobby... he's apparently joined a card game of some kind.

So Rogue keeps wandering, and she's definitely going to wander where she was told not too. She's not the kind to be held to RULES and BOUNDARIES!

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon turns flame red and smiles. "Turned out it wasn't difficult to make. I'm sorry there wasn't any time to decorate it, but perhaps simplicity is best after all?" Oh, she was going to be stubborn about presents, was she? Well, there was no sense trying to duck out of it--after all, everyone had their own ways to celebrate their natal day. And when she does get to her present, tugging the silvery-white ribbon free and opening the box, her jaw drops. "Oh my god... is this what I think it is... a first print, too?" She doesn't dare take the aged volume from the box. "American Cookery"? That's... wow. Thank you! But this is meant to be -your- birthday!"

Kitty gets a smile and a wave, and she can't help a giggle at that costume. "Speak for yourself, that costume's incredible!"

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde grins to Shannon and says, "Thank you /so/ much. I appreciate it. Spent quite awhile on it." Kitbacca reaches up, making sure the hair is staying on her face. She looks to Peter and teasees, "And not a single comment about I need to use my razor more."

Kitty sets aside her wine glass that was almost empty anyway, and follows Peter out to the dance floor. "Oh, we're going to dance alright," she confirms to him. "Ok twinkle-toes, I know you've got the moves," she says, wiggling towards Peter's feet. "Why is one of your shoes wet... um, you know what, never mind. I probably don't want to know." Kitty glances towards Betsy. She's learning fast.

Spider-Man has posed:
"You definitely do not want to know... but Imma tell you later because I still want to tell you." Peter jokes with Kits as they back up a bit onto the dance floor, "You'll definitely make me wash my feet though." He waits for a new song to start, swinging his arms in the dorkiest fashion given his Han Solo costume, then he's flossing. Uh-uh... switch... slower.. Running man.

New song!

Pete brings his hands up onto Kitty's furry hips, moving backwards in a simple as hell two step like he can't tear this floor up like paper fresh out of a facet. "I'm still kind of floored by the tickets..." Which he's tucked into his backpack, double strapped, to keep it from moving around too much as he starts to spinning them around in a small circle on the dance floor.

Psylocke has posed:
"My father knew a rare book dealer in New York," Betsy explains to Shannon with a shrug of her bare shoulders, "He loved to collect them. He may be gone, but his contacts still remain. I'm not too much of a voracious reader myself, but I find books make wonderful gifts. What's the saying? Never lend a book? Anyway, with all the cooking you do I thought you'd love that."

She then glances towards Doug with a smile, "That ones from the library back home. It was going unappreciated, so I thought it best to give it a new and more enthusiastic home."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde laughs at lets Peter lead her in the dance. She knows he can do far more than he is, but really? She just wants to dance with him. She moves in close, resting close and letting him guide her about the dance floor. "I know, those are amazing aren't they? We'll have to figure out when we want to go? Maybe before school starts? Or when does your internship start up?" she asks.

Kitty reaches into a pocket in her costume and pulls out a box, wrapped as a present obviously. She opens the lid and shows Peter the contents. "I know it's not quite fitting for Leia's outfit, but I bet I could pull it off," she tells him, smiling and letting him look at the contents as long as he likes before she puts the lid back on and puts it away.

Cypher has posed:
"I'll treasure it, Betsy." Doug says, before he tucks it back in the box and under his arm. "In the meantime, I think maybe I ought to go somewhere quieter. All the ambient conversation is starting to wear me down. Too much input, you know. It gets to me, after awhile. Is there a quiet room where I could go sit and decompress for a bit?"

Spider-Man has posed:
Peter doesn't make as grand a show of things as he could, but he's still unafraid to impress a little. Nobody ever said dorky meant cumbersome, afterall. While Kitty fiddles with the box, Pete twirls her on the tips of his toes, not terribly unlike a Ballerina, and sets her back down to gaze down at the contents shown him. "Wow... Betsy really out does herself sometimes." He smiles warmly, forst over at the mermaid, but then with the expression sliding into his eyes when he looks to the Wookiee with whom he's dancing.

"technically... it's already started." He nudges her hip a little with his palm, "It was just a clever way to cover up my coming and going since I don't want to go public with everything." Of him being an Avenger, etc, so on, so forth. Then he's humming quietly, shuffling backwards, little cha-cha motion in his steps, "We could definitely go before school starts. I've got vacation saved up at the Bugle.... I sure... since I've never taken one, ever. Really, whenever you can would be fine. I'm easy."

"To plan around."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon smiles warmly and nods. "Thank you. This will definitely be put to good use. It might be an interesting experiment to try and re-create some of these recipes. Especially the chocolate cake." Oh yes, there were bound to be some good times ahead, some trial and more than a few errors, but hopefully a few successes too. "Perhaps by the next birthday, I'll know better what to get you." She keeps her arms wrapped protectively around the box she was gifted with, backing away slightly to let others have their chance to talk to the birthday girl. But where to go from here?

At least there was -something- familiar--her ears had not deceived her. Where Doug had recently vacated his spot, Shannon now perches on the piano bench, out of the way but close enough to the festivities to still be somewhat sociable. Whew. Safe!

Psylocke has posed:
"That's alright, Doug. Maybe the undersea room? I hadn't seen anyone in there since Bobby and Anna-Marie went off to play Scooby Doo. It should be quiet enough."

That said, Betsy turns her attention now to the dancing couple on the dance floor. She smiles a self-satisfied little smile for a moment and then turns away, moving out and into the party to mingle as a hostess should.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde and Peter are talking quietly on the dance floor. "Oooooohhhhh," she says as Peter explains the 'Stark Internship' to her. "Right. I got it now. I thought you were... well I know too many people who work there," she says, laughing warmly.

Kitty lets Peter guide her around the dance floor, spinning beneath the guidance of his hand, moving back to him gracefully. The young woman has the dance skills of a professional, and the grace of a ballerina. And at the moment she's inspired by her dancer partner.

So basically? That Wookiee can dance.

She grins as she moves back into Peter's arms after he spins her out and brings her back. "Before school starts would be fine. Catch Paris at the end of summer. It's such an amazing gift really," she tells him. "I'm so glad she's happy for this," Kitty tells him. The Wookiee leans over to nuzzle a quick kiss to Han Solo's cheek.

So wrong.

Spider-Man has posed:
Somewhere a nerds dreams are dashed when Kitbacca kisses Pete Solo's cheek.

Or maybe the interplay of various media owned by the Disney corperation is just the right amount of nerdiness to get them over the mountain? Who even knows... The internet is weird.

Peter grins warmly, but he doesn't glance back up after Betsy since she's gone to play hostess like a professional party planner. "Seems kind of like a fairy tale, huh?" He muses, catching her spinning back towards him with an arm around her waist and a hand in hers up beside their shoulders. "I think Shannon is playing the piano." Hard to know if he doesn't look, but he's pretty sure that's what he heard was going down right now.

His thoughts are on Paris, a skilled dancing display of one Katherine Pryde, and a little slice of the dance floor in the Hellfire Club.

Which probably does not pass business inspections, telepathy be damned. Shannon is SIXTEEN YEARS OLD YOU DAMN HEATHENS..

"Me too." Nodding to Kits, back stepping in a quick circle without glancing over his shoulder to see where he's going, "It means a lot coming from her." For obvious reasons, "I'm still kind of having images of this Leia costume, though... if I'm being completely honest. Maybe it's the single sip of wine I had... maybe it's the fact there's toilet water on my shoe.."

Nightingale has posed:
     Age notwithstanding, Shannon somehow manages to keep out of trouble, the costume adding a little bit of maturity to her overall appearance, while somehow retaining a hint of innocence that is the very antithesis of this den of iniquity. And oh yes, the temptation of a piano was a little hard to resist. What could playing one or two tunes hurt before finding a way to extricate herself from the place? She sets the box carefully down on the bench beside her, cracking her knuckles and resting her fingers on the keys. In deference to the couples dancing on the floor, she chooses a gentler tune, if no less romantic for its source... 'All I Ask Of You'.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kit-bacca laugh as she dances with Peter. He always has a way of bringing out grins from her, it seems. Well, up until the toilet water part at least. Kitty covers up her Wookiee-face with a furry glove. "Oh god I just knew that's what it was," she says, shaking her head. "I guess telephone aren't really any option anymore are they?" she asks him quietly.

Kitty moves back over to continue the dance, trying to ignore the squishing noise of the wet shoe as Peter moves. But it's one of those things that once you start hearing, you really can't unhear it. But she doesn't let it spoil the dance, moving closer as Shannon takes over for the band.

"Wait until see you what I have on under the fur," she whispers to Peter, and then gives him a small wink. "So, I think by now people may have guessed we're seeing each other," she says, glancing around at the number of people from the school. "And the fact we both still have heads should probably answer most of the questions about whether Betsy is ok with it."

Spider-Man has posed:
Pete perks a brow at Kitty, "Wait, we're seeing each other?" He steps back as if he's going to move away from her, then comes right back with hands on her flanks, spinning her up all Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing because he can. "Yeah.. I guess we're not very good at subtly... hard when I can't stop staring at you, I guess." There are dozens of people around him, some of them he probably SHOULD say something to, but instead he's focused on just one of them. Not really looking like that bothers him much at all by the grin on his face.

Glancing down at the costume Kitty's wearing, then back up to her brown eyes, "I really want to ask what it is.. but A. I don't want to ruin the surprise... and B. I feel like I'll have to run over there and ear-muff Shannon. HOW did she get in here? Can you answer me that? Do these heathens not appreciate the sanctity of innocense? Do we live in such troubled times that an impressionable youth is allowed to dance about the debaucherizing of adults like Tinkerbell at a Burlesque?" He's playing, of course, and pulling Kits closer as he spins... likely long after one song has ended and a new begun.

"Want to get out of here? My foot is starting to wrinkle and it's wicking up my sock... it is not pleasant."

Nightingale has posed:
     There's no sense pushing her luck. As soon as her song is finished, Shannon slides off of the piano bench, scooping up the box from Betsy to carry with her. Thankfully, she's not the only one slipping away from the party, so she catches a ride back with someone else from school, ducking out of harm's way, thankfully before any trouble even has a -chance- to happen. It was getting a little crowded in there for her taste, anyways... but oh would she have tales to tell!