Neil was high on Emmaline's gleeful joy, smiling like she was and wrapping his arms around her as she snuggled up to him. Her effervescence was addicting to the ne'er-do-well. He did his best not to mess with her hair, trying to keep her curls out of his mouth as the carriage jumbled and bucked. He could peek out the window and spy the occasional aristocratic carriage passing them by or turning down a side street. Neil had blatantly wanted to be there fashionably late, so the horse cantered at a leisurely pace. 

"No, it's a surprise..." he teased, lips by her ear. "You'll like it, girly." 

He hoped he was right, but he remembered the first time he saw the Glorious Griffon, he was slack jawed. Sitting comfortably in the center of a square between Altestadt and the Griffon Gate, it was a three story establishment of grandly hewed marble. Twin beacons lit the entrance where one could ascend three large steps and pass through yew doors with pewter handles. The inside glowed like gold. They waited for a few minutes as others were let out. Neil recognized a Count Vilgefortz stepping out of the carriage in front of them with an Arabyan beauty at his side, who was very much not his wife back in Marienburg. The count had fled the city a year after Neil had left due to some business going awry, and the young thief Edwards had always joked amongst his friends he would steal from the man. Not that Vilgefortz knew who Neil was. And there would be no theft tonight, of course. Things were expensive enough, and Emmaline was worth holding off on a dare for awhile. 

Next, Neil untangled himself from Emmaline and straightened his suit as the door was opened for them by jaunty driver, who took his hat off as Neil stepped out, feeling very out of place but not uncomfortable with the part he was playing. Reaching out, he took Emmaline's hand and helped her down onto the cobblestones, leading her inside with all the grace of a gentlemen, though his grin was anything but. Within, the walls, side barriers and stairs were made of the finest mahogany, rich and red in the firelight. At the center of the establishment were short walls that surrounded a pit on four sides where a collection of ornate braziers stood, the outsides made of steel and wrought in the shape of Magnus and his loyal followers, so to all who looked they appeared as if the flames of all the empire were within their hearts.

"May I announce you, sir?" A cultured and crisply posh voice declared, drawing Neil's attention from the splendor. 

"Hmm? What?" 

"You are Lord and Lady...?" The chauffeur asked expectantly. He was an elderly gentlemen, and like as not he could claim to have introduced the emperor during his childhood if he worked here as long as Neil theorized. 

"Erm, I am Baron Neil von Hresvelg, and this is my date for the night, Lady..."