[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=b8860b]Reginald Keystone[/color][/b][/i][/h1]
[img]http://33.media.tumblr.com/76ca11af5771405a055ca9291e9e4b2b/tumblr_nvhilyU39J1qcxymno4_500.gif[/img][/center]
[hr][center][color=b8860b][b]Location:[/b][/color] Qasr El Nil Barracks (Officer's Club) [/center][hr][hr]

	Reginald became very aware, all of a sudden, that the conversation had gone quite past him as he sat, seemingly lost in thought. It must have been frightfully rude to the others assembled before him; here he was, their host, staring off into space as if he were caught raptly by some manner of quiet seizure. 

	[color=b8860b]"Ah, dear girl. My sincerest apologies for the conversational hiatus. I was just now exceedingly curious as to what the great Michelangelo would have done with this ceiling, proper. Artistic musing, you understand."[/color] Every so often, the Lord Major thought himself somewhat hilarious. He gave a wink in Lauren's direction following his statement, partially to indicate that he was indeed joking, and letting her know that he understood that he had displayed a lapse of hostly etiquette. Mostly, it was to cover the fact that he felt a bit foolish. 

	[color=b8860b]"I have indeed heard of this "Moonshine", madame. A fancy name applied to quick brewed grain alcohol; the lads in the Highlands have been known to make very young whiskies that, to be quite transparent, were not the most sophisticated of beverages. Yes, a good snort of that stuff might be just the thing to exorcise the flavor of sour haggis from one's palate, but by Jove, the cost one paid for an antiseptic gob was high, indeed. Now, some gentleman from the Colonies I had served with insisted that, like with many things, you have The Good Stuff, and you have The Frightful Stuff. I do not have the experience to select one from the other. Pity, that. I fear my education involving intoxicants has been rather slight in that regard."[/color] 

	He raised his glass to the young lady, and drained it. After pouring himself another, he poked about his plate of goodies for a bit, satisfied in the quality of the breads, meat, and local fruits. [color=b8860b]"Yes, yes of course, you are all welcome to stay for as long as is needed. I can have diplomatic rooms readied in a quarter hours' time. And it should go without saying, but I shall do so anyway - The food and drink of this Officers' Club, indeed this Barracks, is intimately at your disposal. Or as you Yanks so ineloquently phrase it, "Dig In", Sirs and Madames."[/color]

	[color=b8860b]"Now... Miss Tarek, Miss Ridgeway, Lord Captain, Retired Sergeant Walsh... The night is quite young yet, so all are, of course, welcome to continue the festivities. Indeed I would be most grateful for the company and good cheer. But, if some or all of you feel the need to pursue other venues, or even go so far as to end your evening early (by means of your own lodging or what can be provided here), then I should prefer to have us all take a toast."[/color]

	[color=b8860b]"To our continued health, well being, and inevitable success in our forthcoming mysterious adventure! May it be educational as well as profitable, and may we all come back to this place to toast our fellowship when it is done, wiser and stronger for it."[/color]