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[color=ADDBD8]“Good to hear,”[/color] Isaac replied to Ashe’s comment on the ride up, grinning. [color=ADDBD8]“The scenery is my favourite thing about this place. Up here, it’s as if we’re the only spot of civilization in the world.”[/color] He tapped his own translator. [color=ADDBD8]“And as for the technology, you have my brother to thank for that. I usually can’t make heads or tails of it myself, but he’s just as eager to invest in the newest toys as he is to flaunt them. You should have seen him when we had the hologram projectors installed,”[/color] Isaac chuckled warmly, glancing in his brother’s direction. [color=ADDBD8]“He claims he’s not a cat person, but he seemed to be enjoying himself when he had mine going crazy chasing holograms, so I have my doubts.”[/color]

He kept his eyes trained on Ashe as they continued, though a slight benevolent smirk settled over his features as their awkwardness became apparent. [color=ADDBD8]“We’re doing our best to hold in our pride until later on,”[/color] he reasoned, though he looked again at his brother across the room, busy looking pretty impressed with himself. [color=ADDBD8]“Or, I am anyway. We’ve had this event in the works for [i]years[/i], you see. I’m reluctant to count my chickens before they hatch, but if things go according to plan then I can honestly say I will have never been happier.”[/color] 

[color=ADDBD8]“But, I can see you’re getting tired,”[/color] he added gently, not so much an observation as it was a discreet offer of an out. [color=ADDBD8]“I’m sure all that travel took its toll. Luckily, the guest houses should be ready to settle in any minute now.”[/color]
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[color=DBADB0]“The pleasure is all mine,”[/color] Raphael replied, stooping from his towering height to kiss Varia’s hand. [color=DBADB0]“After all, it isn’t every day that we get a visit from [i]nobility[/i].”[/color]

As he straightened, he put on a much more familiar smile. [color=DBADB0]“But I can understand if that’s not the role you want to play this week. If you’d prefer, you can leave that all at the base of the mountain and start fresh, just another Fragmented here to take a chance. I’m sure you wouldn’t be the only one shedding their old self for the week, after all.”[/color]

He looked a little alarmed when Varia jumped, watching after the woman who touched her with a hint of a frown as she left. He took a moment while Varia was preoccupied to put a finger to his ear and murmur something unintelligible, finishing and putting his smile back on in time for Varia to look back. 

[color=DBADB0]“It is a beautiful dog, isn’t it?”[/color] Raphael offered. [color=DBADB0]“I think there’s at least one other guest with a dog here, too. My brother wasn’t terribly pleased when he heard, but I’m sure he’ll survive.”[/color] He gave Varia a cheeky grin, clearly not too concerned. [color=DBADB0]“So long as they leave his cats alone, anyway.”[/color]
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As she walked away from Alex, Alicia let her smile remain, looking down to Balder at her side and glancing between him and the black band on her wrist. [color=baa7c7]«Nothing yet,»[/color] she signed to him, holding out her wrist as proof, [color=baa7c7]«But we’ll find them, don’t worry.»[/color]

For emphasis, she smiled down at the dog, clapping her hands excitedly. Balder picked up on her mood, tail wagging and shifting from foot to foot, much to her delight. Dignified and poised as he always held himself, it was fun to see him get excited. 

[color=baa7c7]«We’re gonna have fun,»[/color] she assured him, scratching his head when she finished signing and taking a moment to re-adjust his collar, setting his little bowtie just so. Maybe Alex was right; she didn’t have to Reunite tonight. Sure, sooner would be preferable to later, but… what exactly was the rush? What, was she going to just go home as soon as she found her soulmate? Surely it would be a waste of a perfectly good - well, exquisite really - vacation to spend the whole thing tunnel-visioning on her goal. Besides, by the way the security guards were eyeing her… maybe it was wise to take a break. 

[color=baa7c7]«Think they have Fireball here, Baldy?»[/color] she signed to the dog, giggling at her own antics. She really needed a better ‘signature drink’. Maybe she could get it on the rocks in a nice glass and [i]pretend[/i] it was classy. That’d probably work!

With a firm nod to Balder and a tap to her leg to bid him to follow, Alicia had made up her mind, weaving through the crowd - without touching anyone this time - toward a less-occupied bar along the wall. Sliding onto an available stool, she instructed Balder to sit and ordered her [i]very[/i] fancy shot of cinnamon whiskey, still practically giddy at the incredible efficacy of the translators they were given. She was very used to her usual method of speaking through a speech-to-text app, sure, but getting to bypass all that and talk to [i]anyone[/i] as if [i]everyone[/i] knew ASL was incredibly convenient and more exciting than she would have imagined. 

[pre]There you are Miss, one cinnamon whiskey on the rocks.[/pre]
[color=baa7c7]«Thank you!»[/color] Alicia signed her thanks and pulled the whiskey to her, holding in yet another laugh at how the translator transcribed things for her. These glasses really were something out of a scifi movie, seemingly projecting peoples’ words out beneath them for easy reading. Real-life subtitles! It was definitely too cool to be true, but there it was. Shame it was all in her glasses though, she would have loved to be able to take a picture of it and send it to her family back home. 

Swiveling in her seat so she could lean her back against the bartop, Alicia surveyed the party for a moment, taking a sip of her whiskey. The familiar burning sweetness kept her smile on her lips as she watched people wander to and fro, following one guest decked out in a sequined blazer to where he disappeared from view behind a man next to her at the bar. When she saw him, she almost did a double take; he was absolutely stunning, with perfect skin and shiny brown hair, not to mention an adorable little beauty mark under one eye. He was sharply dressed too, definitely a point in his favour, and he was alone. Maybe…

Her hand was reaching out before she even realized what she was doing, a lifetime of being just [i]maybe[/i] a little too touchy getting the better of her. She yanked her hand back a little too late, having just brushed his hand before she inwardly scolded herself. Not everyone was her siblings and friends, she had to remind herself, and even at a party [i]where the whole point was to Reunite[/i] there were still people who didn’t like to be touched. Especially by strangers. Crap!

[color=baa7c7]«I’m sorry, force of habit,»[/color] she apologized, though she did glance down at her wrist when she was done. Nope, nothing. That black band was right where it always had been. She offered the man a sheepish smile, tapping her band before she added, [color=baa7c7]«Worth a shot, though. I’m Alicia, it’s nice to meet you.»[/color]
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All at once, a clicking noise sounded through every guest’s translator, pausing any translations in progress so a monotone female voice could relay a message.

[color=a2798f]“Good evening. We the staff of The Winds are pleased to inform you that your guest houses are ready for occupation. When you wish to retire, simply speak to an attendant at any door, corridor, or in the gardens, and you will be guided to the house assigned to you. We invite you to take advantage of any and all amenities provided and welcome you warmly to The Winds. Have a pleasant evening.”[/color]

Another click sounded in the ear of every guest and conversations resumed, though a few of the less party-savvy guests did make their ways to the exit. Those who did were led through the gardens surrounding the house toward a gate on the side, leading out into the darkness. Beyond the gate, a path lined with charming little floating orbs of light on either side jutted out, leading directly across the middle of the property before diverting to the right. They weren’t clearly visible from the gate, but the path appeared to lead to five well-sized buildings set at different heights on the opposite side of the mountain, lit up warmly with ground lighting shining up the walls. 

Many of those who stayed at the cocktail party a bit longer did linger to chat in the foyer, but a few handfuls had gravitated farther into the mansion as well. Three corridors led out of the foyer; one directly beneath the stair landing, running straight across from the front door and ending in darkness, and one at the foot of each staircase. The corridor beneath the landing and the one leading left at the foot of the stairs were each blocked by security personnel, but the corridor to the right was open; down it, guests would find a few formal sitting rooms of various sizes on the right, all outfitted with luxurious leather furniture and bookcases. On the left was a single door, leading into a larger room outfitted with a few billiard and card tables as well as an impressive collection of games lining shelves along the walls.
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