[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/211206/2727061f105f332d7febaf86402dbfb8.png[/img][/center] [h3][b][i][center][color=e5e4e2]Five Hours Till Midnight[/color][/center][/i][/b][/h3] There she was. Midnight hair, dark eyes, dark red dress that seemed to flow over her like water. Jayce’s breath caught in his chest, but he couldn’t be sure why. She was certainly striking, beautiful even, but there was something more, some presence. He had felt it even from her portrait, but now, in the flesh, it was almost overwhelming. Avery Wilde looked little older than thirty, her dress clinging to her, and it was quickly clear that it was not only on Jayce that she had an effect. The band fell silent, the conversation died away just as quickly, and Jayce did not need to turn to know that every eye was turned towards the top of the grand staircase. If anything, Avery Wilde’s presence seemed to only intensify under the attention, one porcelain pale hand reaching out, stark contrast against the dark wood of the bannister. When the woman spoke, her voice was soft, and yet somehow all-consuming. “Thank you all for coming. It warms my heart to see so many of you here tonight.” Those dark eyes moved across the room, and Jayce could have sworn they settled on his face, met his own gaze. It was only fleeting, little more than a flicker, but Jayce felt it still, shooting through him. “Dinner will be served at the strike of eight, but until then, please, drink and be merry! Michael?” Somehow, Jayce managed to tear his gaze away from her for long enough to see one of the smartly dressed musicians straighten up, almost snapping to attention. “Yes, Lady Wilde?” “Let’s keep this party going, shall we?” “Yes, Lady Wilde.” - The musician, Michael, practically fell over himself in his rush to follow Avery’s instruction, but sure enough, the music sprung up once again, the attention seeming to shift away from Avery, the conversation in the room coming to life. For Jayce though, she still held his gaze. He struggled to believe that the woman at the top of the stairs was Avery Wilde. The Avery Wilde. The matriarch of the Wilde empire. The spider, with Wilde Hall as the heart of her web. Before Jayce could spend any longer watching the figure of Avery Wilde descending the staircase, he felt a gentle nudge against his arm, and turned to see that Mister Black was watching him, thin lips pulled back into a wide, almost unnerving, smile. “She is quite something, is she not?” [color=e5e4e2]"Indeed she is. I don't think that I've actually seen her in person. The closest that I've ever come is probably the painting in the hallway. I do not believe that there are even pictures of her in the outside world. So to see her physically here...is truly something to behold."[/color] Mister Black’s smile widened, somehow, too-white teeth catching in the golden light. The dark eyes didn’t leave Jayce’s face, and for a moment, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being seen. Truly seen. As if those dark eyes could see beyond Jayce’s mask. As if they knew him. Jayce couldn’t move. He could barely breathe. And then, finally, Mister Black looked away, and the spell broke. “You are in esteemed company, my friend! This - “ Black gloved hands gestured expressively around the bustling room, Mister Black becoming once more the accomplished showman. “This is the beating heart of Arkham.” Avery Wilde was coming down the stairs now, blood red dress flowing around her as she moved. Mister Black glanced upwards, towards her, before turning back to Jayce. His voice was low when he spoke, almost conspiratorial as he leant in closer to the other man. “Would you like to meet her?” Jayce's heart caught in his chest, the thought of meeting Avery Wilde had stirred something in him that he didn't think or want to occur happened. His heart sank like a star-struck schoolgirl and for a moment he forgot his nobility and stature. He couldn't help the twinge of excitement in his voice, [color=e5e4e2]"Y...yes I would."[/color] Mister Black barely seemed to wait for Jayce’s reply before he was turning away, as if he already knew what the answer would be. The tall thin figure of the man moved quickly through the crowd, leaving Jayce having to react, or be left behind. The crowd, dense and shifting as it was, seemed to part before Mister Black, men and women stepping aside, often without even seeming to know that the man in black was behind them. Jayce was not so fortunate, having to dip and weave his way through tightly packed bodies. Despite the movement of the dancing crowd, Jayce managed to avoid any collisions, although he certainly lacked the apparent presence of the man he was following. In a moment, they were at the foot of the stairs, and there she was. Avery Wilde. One pale hand still rested on the dark wood of the bannister, but the woman did not look like she needed support as she descended. Sharp, defined features softened into a smile as dark eyes settled on Mister Black. The hand left the bannister, and Mister Black theatrically took it in his own black gloved hand, stooping to kiss it, his voice like velvet. “You are a vision, as ever, Lady Wilde.” “And you are as charming.” Dark eyes turned to Jayce now as he reached Mister Black’s side, one eyebrow raising slightly, a look of curiosity, or amusement, crossing Avery Wilde’s face as she looked him up and down. “You, I do not know.” Still effortlessly playing the role of the showman, Mister Black’s gloved hand fell onto Jayce’s shoulder. “This is my adopted companion for the evening. The charming Mister Silver.” The dark eyes of Avery Wilde fixed on Jayce Brennaman. This close, the woman was truly striking, porcelain skin unblemished, midnight hair framing her face. Before he could turn his nose up at the cliche, the rest of the busy room seemed to fall away. Even Mister Black’s hand on Jayce’s shoulder seemed to fade. There was only her. Only this woman. Only Avery. When she spoke, her voice was like the soft tolling of a bell. “It is a pleasure to meet you then, Mister Silver.” [color=e5e4e2]"T...the pleasure is all mine Lady Wilde."[/color] For the first time in his life Jayce was awe struck, the incomparable beauty that was Avery Wilde was something that he had not expected when he began to concoct his schemes for the evening. Every fiber of his person was screaming for more of the inspiring matron but he had to contain his giddy demeanor, protocol is important after all. [Color=e5e4e2]"I look forward to a magical evening attending you illustrious souriee, Lady Wilde."[/color] Saying with a graceful bow.