The Festival

[Adrian Belrose]

A pleased expression settled on his face when Lynn took his arm. He enjoyed the feel of her light touch. It brought a certain warmth to his ancient heart. He was silent for a time, thinking of what to say. He heard some music start, signaling the official start of the festival.

"The performances should be starting up soon," he started, settling his gaze on her, "How long have you and Miss Noir known each other? You appear to be old acquaintances."

[Thomas Steele]

Thomas arrived to the festival a little earlier than expected. From the sounds of the music and the large crowd however, he wasn't too early. He silently cursed under his breath. He'd been ducking and covering his tracks all week so that Alavda wouldn't see him earlier than Lynn seemed to think necessary. He was more than a little miffed, but he was relieved that he could finally speak to Alavda and clear things up between them. He just had to find her...Lynn had said that she would be singing tonight, so maybe he would have to wait until after her performance.

As he walked through the pathways, admiring the set up and the general air the festival gave off -the vampires really outdid themselves- he spotted Lynn herself. Some expression he couldn't name tugged on his mouth when he saw her hanging off of Adrian Belrose's arm. He wondered if they were lovers and for how long. He would have to tread carefully in front of him. Thomas wasn't ready to leave the island yet, and he didn't want to upset one of the people who had some influence over how long his stay would be.

So he put on his friendly face and approached the couple, passing a fairy playing a lute on the way. When he got close enough that the couple could hear him, he greeted them both, "Lynn, Adrian," he nodded his head at each as he said their names, "I didn't realize you two were on such friendly terms," his friendly smiled turned a touched amused, "Lynn, I hope this plan that you've dragged me into, kicking and screaming, will work." after some hesitation, he added, "do you know where she is or must I locate her by my own devices?"

[Lynn Von Arx]

Lynn was enjoying all the sights, the one beside her and around her. She smiled happily as the music started playing and started to picture the time when Alavda and her would dance with only the light of the starts showing them their steps. She flashed back to reality when Adrian asked his question on how long her and Alavda had known each other. The smile came back to her lips as she looked up at him. "A few centuries at least, though it had been a few since we last saw one another.

She seemed pleased enough until Thomas came up to her. She listened to what he had to say and rubbed the back of head in embarrassment. "Well, how is a lady suppose to say no to a nice walk around the park, especially when he is such pleasant company." She tried to keep appearances as well as she reciprocated the friendly smile. When he asked if he would have to find her himself, she shook her head. "She will be second to perform, just, try your best to be discreet..." Lynn said in a hushed tone then looked at Adrian.

"They were old lovers, and there was a miscommunication, I wanted to make sure I was here just in case things got heated, but I wanted them to be able to reconcile a once passionate and beautiful love. I wanted to let you know so you would not feel the need to intervene, if you wanted to, without knowing the whole situation", Lynn admitted.

[Adrian Belrose]

Adrian was about to inquire further about Lynn and Alavda's friendship, or perhaps turn the subject to something else. Any chance he had, however, to continue talking with Miss Lynn was interrupted by a prominent member of the Steele clan.

He watched Lynn and Thomas converse, prepared to come to Lynn's aid again. It was well-known in the vampire community that Thomas Steele and Bladen Thorne were thick as thieves. Even though Thomas is reputed to be far more reasonable than his friend, experience has taught Adrian that he cannot be too careful.

"Lovers, you say?" narrowed his eyes at Thomas. If he didn't know better, he would have said that Thomas looked a tad embarrassed when Lynn described his and Alavda's love as passionate and beautiful, "Ah, Lynn, you're so kind to assist your friend and Thomas in this way. Truly, Miss Noir is lucky to have a true friend such as yourself."

Turning back to Thomas, Adrian could not hold back a puckish grin, "Lovers yes...Thomas? Could this be the girl that I've heard that you've been seeking for at least three centuries?" the momentary lack of composure that flashed on Thomas's face nearly made him chuckle, but he managed to keep it in. He had a feeling that watching Thomas and Alavda was going to be really funny. "Indeed, that IS a passionate, beautiful sort of love."

[Thomas Steele]

Adrian was poking fun at him, he just knew it. Struggling to keep his face from looking embarrassed, Thomas blurted, "We were more than lovers. We were betrothed." He raked his hand through his hair, suddenly feeling frustrated with himself, "I've searched three centuries for her. I can be patient and discrete a while longer. When is this entertainment starting anyhow?"

As if on cue, he saw a little old woman with white curly hair that reminded him of sheeps wool shuffle on the state. Someone lowered the mike for her so the mike would pick up her voice. After that was done, she introduced the first of the night's entertainment. He applauded with the rest of the crowd as a band started to play. He felt his heart beat a little faster in anticipation. Just this song, then hers...and he would be able to speak with her and clear things up."

[Jaylene Bennet]

"Yes, the crazy smoker," Jay tried not to roll her eyes, "Max is very nice you know. If you'd give him a chance, I think you'd see what a great friend he is." Even as she said this, she knew that Max's flirtatiousness and apparent womanizing was a major turn off for her friend. But Jay had pretty much grown up with Max, so it made her a trifle sad that Eve, who she thought of as her best friend, didn't like Max, who she thought of as an older brother.

Jaylene bit her lip when Eve asked her if she wanted her to leave so she could spend more time with her boyfriend. If she saw more of Eve, she would have said yes to her question. As it was though...she glanced at Matthias. Would she dare ask? Matthias didn't like her to split her attention from him when they were among other people. To ask him if Eve could stay with them a while longer...well, his possessiveness of her along with his dislike of Eve would just be disastrous. She would also feel awful if Eve felt like a third wheel.

Before she could say anything one way or the other, she heard the sound of guitars from the stage. She let out a happy noise as she pulled Matthias's arm toward the music, "Oh! they started! Let's go over." she reached out to tug on Eve's arm, too but stopped before she thought Matthais would notice. His jealousy really was too much sometimes.

[Sam Emrys]

Sam looked up from her business when the music started. She had always loved music...and it wasn't terribly busy at the moment...So she tucked her wares away and walked over to catch the show. Honestly she knew only someone who really needed it would steal a cookie. The crowd was already packing in when she got over to the stage, so she just lingered in the far back. She thanked her height for near uninterrupted view, despite the distance. 

[Evelyn Connor]

Eve listened to Jay's comment about Max and sighed. "Well, if you can make him a bit more approachable, I will give it some thought, but until then, I think I will continue to keep my distance." Her cat-like behaviors showing through as she stretched a bit, as if she was trying to get a bit more comfortable. She then saw the nervousness in Jay's eyes, which made her glare at the source, which was obviously her pathetic excuse for a boyfriend. When she got excited about the music, Eve took advantage of it and when Jay went to tug on her arm, Eve lopped her arm into Jay's and ran towards the concert area. "Don't worry about that wet dog, I'll have some fun with you and put that famous Jay smile back on your face." Eve's actual personality showing through for only her best friend as she weaved in and out of the crazy crowd.

[Lynn Von Arx]

"It is her..and I really do hope that I can help them see eye to eye again." Lynn admitted. "I miss those two together, and I want their magic to exist in the world again, even if it may only be for a brief moment." Lynn admitted as she then saw the sheepish old lady pass by and go towards the stage. She smiled and then looked at the two men. "I am greatly sorry, but you will have to excuse me for a second, I need to tell Ala that this is going to be a night to remember." She then bowed to the two and excused herself to the backstage where she knew that Alavda most likely was, doing last minute touch-ups and vocal stretches to prepare.

[Cole Harper]

Cole had been at the festival for hours, watching the filthy supernatural scum set up. He peered through the fog that was cursed to surround him until his death. Where was the supernatural that he was supposed to meet with? He had, at last, managed to find an "inside man" as it were. Cole only knew this person to be a mage of some sort. He had no clue what else...really, he needed to hire more competent people.

He spotted someone tall lurking at the edge of the crowd. That must be him! He approached and said the secret phrase that only the informant would know the rest of.

"Twinkle twinkle little star..." Cole murmured, totally unaware that this was a children's nursery song. He really did need to hire new people.

[Jaylene Bennet]

When Jay got tugged on by Eve toward the music, she lost her grip on Matthias's arm. She missed his mad grab for her arm, cartoonishly missing it as she slipped away. She missed that he ground his teeth and counted to ten, reminding himself that he promised his Alpha that he would NOT cause trouble today. As she giggled at her friend's sillyness, she missed the enraged glare that he sent in her direction.

"Eve! You really are too much!" she laughed as they made their way toward the stage. It was some sort of rock band playing. They were really good, she thought. She started to dance along with everyone else. She bumped into Eve to encourage her to dance too. Then she realized that they lost Matthias.

"Uh oh." she breathed, suddenly stopping what she was doing. She looked around the crowd for him, but couldn't find him through all the people, "He's going to be so mad at me..."

[Alavda Noir]

Alavda was backstage, trying not to nervously fidget with her clothes or hair. It probably wouldn't be such a terrible thing to do, but she was taught growing up that a lady doesn't fidget, so she resisted the urge today. She was up next, and she knew that she would sing well...she had done this very thing hundreds of times before. Nervousness never seemed to want to go away though.

Her vampiric hearing picked up the sound of footsteps over the music. She turned and saw Lynn. She smiled and approached her, "Are you checking on me?" she laughed, "Don't worry about me. You should be out there enjoying the music!"

[Sam Emrys]

Sams focus on the show was interrupted by a man walking up to her and only saying the beginning of a phrase. It just didn't seem right to leave it unfinished, so she took it upon herself to finish it.  "Oh how I wonder what you are-" Sam replied with a small smile, finishing the childish rhyme. "...Interesting choice of conversation starter." She said, glancing over to the stranger. She brushed her hair out of her face to see him better. "Can I help you?" 

[Cole Harper]

Ah good! He had found the person that he was supposed to meet. He resisted the urge to rub his hands together in a dastardly fashion. He wasn't quite sure about the comment about it being an interesting conversation starter though.

"Ah good," he said just loud enough to be heard over the music, "yes, good idea. We must keep up appearances..." that's what the comment was about, he was sure of it!"

"I, as the leader of FASA, greet you" he started formally, "My last minion was getting sloppy, so I came myself. I was told that you would have some inside information about the island that I would need to know about. Has anyone new shown up? Anyone that FASA would be interested in?"

[Sam Emrys]

Sam paused. Wait...what the heck did she just stumble into? She glanced over at him, trying to think quickly. She wanted to get this man away from the citizens...so she did the one thing she could think of. "...I don't think we should be seen talking here" She said. "Come with me" 

She looked around momentarily for any of her friends, but didn't see anyone. Sam wasn't sure they'd be able to help, but honestly something about this man seemed...wrong. she didn't want to be alone with him.