[hr][hr] [center][h1][color=63142b]Millicent[/color][/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/fogYvWS.png[/img] [hr] [color=63142b]Location[/color]: Château de La Lune: Dining Room -> Cocktail Lounge [color=63142b]Skills[/color]: N/A [/center] [hr][hr] Once dinner had concluded, Millicent sat a moment as the la Lune family all got up periodically and left. This was more so because of how awkward things got. Surely that was not how they intended to leave things? When she was sure it was truly over she stood up and made her way over the foyer into where they would have after-dinner cocktails. She felt somewhat okay, though she had a few glasses of wine. It seemed odd to then mix it with more alcohol, but she supposed the day was nearing the conclusion and people would go to their rooms afterwards. She looked around to see who was nearby. She wanted to ask more questions but felt she had done quite a bit already. She doubted she would find out who left her that photo today. Instead, she was more interested in the other people invited here. She asked the bartender for a vodka tonic and as she waited she saw Ivanna stride into the room. That was someone she wanted to get to know more. Millicent waved her over. [color=63142b]”Just the person I wanted to see. Want anything more to drink?”[/color] she asked, unsure if Ivanna would want to consume more alcohol. Ivanna smiled when she saw Millicent. [color=910A1C] “Oh my god, hey girl! Yes, please, I need something non-fancy. Style queen, how are you?”[/color] Ivanna said as she sat by Millicent. Millicent ordered another vodka tonic, hoping that was non-fancy enough. She handed it over to Ivanna. [color=63142b]”Good now that I have a good meal in me with some nice wine. I’ll admit, I don’t go for the fancy stuff when I do indulge. Give me a decent bottle at the Aldi’s and I’m content. But it’s to be expected with a family in the wine business. Speaking of…what do you make of our mysterious benefactors?”[/color] Ivanna sipped the drink and grinned widely, clearly liking this more than the wine. [color=910A1C] “I haven’t had too much chance to talk to many of them, but the butler guy serves more than just the dinner. He is so slay. And it’s cool they included drag queens in their awards. And magicians.” [/color]. Ivanna sipped from her drink again. [color=910A1C] “This is so good.” [/color] Millicent grinned and felt a slow warmth within her. She was used to awards from magician organizations but this was something else entirely. One where she was on par with others that excelled in their fields. [color=63142b]”Yeah, it’s nice they are offering it to this many different people. I mean there’s a Youtuber personality, a ghost hunter, a preschool worker, a doctor, a pilot. It’s mind-boggling.”[/color] Millicent hid the fact she was sure that there was more going on. [color=63142b]”I spoke to Elenore at length a bit and got some more info from the gardener. Seems the family has far reach and Elenore likes to appear she holds it all together, but between you and me, I think she’s about to crack.”[/color] The glare she held to that one lady about the steak sauce, she was positive there was an undercurrent of malice. But was it really about steak sauce? [color=910A1C] “Crack?” [/color] Ivanna asked, [color=910A1C]“You think? She seemed…” [/color] Ivanna thought about it. [color=910A1C] “Maybe you’re right…magician intuition? [/color] [color=63142b]”More like keen observation. She seems well put-together, but oftentimes the ones who put on the bravest face are the ones who will break at the slightest inconvenience. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think someone is going to freak out over the course of this award thing and my money’s on her.”[/color] Ivanna leaned in, [color=910A1C] “Ooh, you think so? What do you think she’ll do?”[/color] Millicent gave it some thought. She figured if things got too hectic Elenore would just kick them all out and send them home. That would be the easiest thing. But Millicent got the sense Elenore preferred to keep things here rather than show the pressure getting to her. [color=63142b]”Might be a little bit dark, but hell, maybe she’d murder someone. That one guy who was homophobic would be my first target, though she seemed to have some animosity towards the two who used the steak sauce. I didn’t see it as a huge deal, but I got the sense she saw it as a slight.”[/color] Ivanna gasped. [color=910A1C] “Murder?” [/color] She whispered, [color=910A1C] “You think she’d have it in her to do that? At her own…awards…thingy…what’s it called…competition?”[/color] [color=63142b]”I don’t know. Wasn’t there a famous quote that said something along the sides of everyone has it in them you just have to find the right motivation? Only speculation. And who knows about the other family members? I didn’t know they all had a nomination pick. It doesn’t seem like they all get along well with each other.”[/color] [color=910A1C] “I mean…I guess if that guy who called me a fake woman killed someone that’d be…not that surprising…wait, is that who nominated us? The family here?” [/color] [color=63142b]”They said so at dinner. Elenore had final say but some members got to nominate someone. They wouldn’t say who, of course. But Elenore is the matriarch and she got to dictate who comes.”[/color] [color=910A1C] “I guess I was distracted by…stuff.” [/color]. Said Ivanna, [color=910A1C] “It was really someone here…” [/color] She smiled big and excited. [color=910A1C] “But then…that doesn’t make sense…or does it…” [/color] Ivanna set down her drink. [color=63142b]”I mean, I think it does. The award seems so random. Usually if there’s an award there’s a reason behind it, like awards for movies or for charity, whereas this one seems wildly different. Each the best in their respective fields, but there’s so many random people here, so I think it makes the most sense that the other family members had a say.”[/color] [color=910A1C] “Yeah…” [/color] Ivanna nodded slowly, [color=910A1C] “I thought I knew who nominated me but maybe I was wrong…uh! Anyway, sorry, I don’t…um. How…how’d you learn to do all those magic tricks? It’s so cool.”[/color] Millicent looked over to Ivanna. She seemed….unsure of a lot. Distracted. Millicent wanted to pry, but out of everyone here so far she felt the most connected to Ivanna. [color=63142b]”Practice mainly. There’s your standard tricks that all magicians know like disappearing the rabbit or showing your card, but every time someone comes along you need to be different and set yourself apart. It’s hard, especially as a woman. In the magic scene, women are still viewed as lesser, more suited for the role of “lovely assistant” despite those assistants being just as talented, if not more so, than their male counterparts.”[/color] Millicent paused to take a sip of her drink and allow herself to cool off. [color=63142b]”It takes a lot of time, but it’s worth it when you’re on the stage in front of everyone. I imagine it’s the same for you?”[/color] Ivanna smiled. [color=910A1C] “Drag is so much work, but yeah, it’s so worth it…when you get up there with the glitter and the makeup and the wig and you’re just free to be whatever you feel inside…it’s the most amazing feeling. I just want to be good at it.”[/color] Millicent felt a warmth within her. Ivanna was definitely someone she wanted to remain in touch with when this was all over. [color=63142b]”Absolutely. I’ll have to come see a show. And, of course, you’re invited to mine. When we get through this award ordeal, of course. Promise not to hate me when I win?”[/color] she asked in a jokey tone. Ivanna smiled at Millicent for a few moments. [color=910A1C] “I’d be elated if you won. You’d totally deserve first place, you have the fashion of a queen, and the heart of one too. Break a leg with all this. But don’t hate me if I win either,” [/color] she laughed, then went quiet for a few moments. [color=910A1C] “Would you really want to come see one of my shows?”[/color] [color=63142b]”Of course! I have been two a few drag shows and have enjoyed it every single time. Never a dull moment and everyone having a good time.”[/color] Millicent liked her chances, but her mind still raced back to that photo. [color=63142b]”Well, whoever wins, I’m glad I met you.”[/color] [color=910A1C] “I’m glad I met you too,” [/color] Ivanna said, [color=910A1C] “I’ll catch one of your shows later for sure…I don’t know much about magic tricks, but it looks so cool. You’re cool too.” [/color] Millicent blushed slightly. If this whole thing did become what she feared, she was pretty confident Ivanna would be a good ally. She was unsure of the others, though. Especially Evelyne. There was something about her that worried Millicent. After all, there was still a blackmailer on the loose.