p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Various members of Fairy Tail approached the mansion, clutching neatly scrawled invitations in their hands. A former client of a job Erza had taken earlier in the year as a solo S-Class mission was throwing a party at his Magnolia mansion. To be more specific, he was throwing what one would call a "key party." The man had provided Erza with a stack of several invitations when he arrived at the guild hall earlier that week, informing her that her and several of her guild mates or friends were welcome to attend. Erza had turned bright red when inquiring about what a key party entailed; but not one to pass up the opportunity to experience new things, had indeed passed out the invitations to those she thought would be adventurous enough to partake./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Oh man, this party is hopping!" Natsu exclaimed as the group entered after presenting their invitations./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Now Natsu, I expect you to be on your best behavior," Erza chided as she too took in the sights of the mingling guests, a live band playing upbeat instrumental music down the hall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Don't be so formal Erza, it's a party!" a voice called to the group's right. A tall, slender man with dark hair and skin approached the group, hands extended in a greeting gesture for all. "Welcome! So glad you all could make it! And what a group! Loving the diversity!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Sir Evan, it's a pleasure to see you again. Thank you for inviting us this evening," Erza greeted, stepping forward to shake the hand of their host./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Evan waved her aside, "Enough of that formal business, Erza! Tonight, you are a guest at my party! Relax, mingle, and of course, enjoy yourself!" Evan left with a hug and a wink making his way back amongst the guests./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Guess we better do as he says," Lucy spoke up, shrugging her shoulders in an effort to push off the shy feelings building inside her. "Come on Levy, let's go mingle."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Levy nodded in agreement, "Sure, it'll be easier with another girl there."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Juvia is going to find something to drink," Juvia announced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"And with that, the group dispersed, working their way through the main floor of the mansion to mingle with the other guests. Several members noticed members of other guilds around – some friends, and some unknown members of unknown guilds – and several members of normal society. Sir Evan appeared to know quite a variety of people, but of course, that's what makes a good key party. The guests mingled for some time, and just before sunset, Evan began calling everyone to the main hall. Evan had the women take a seat on the grand staircase./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Once again, welcome everyone, and thank you for coming!" Evan called once everyone in the house had gathered. "For those new to my key parties, I shall give a brief explanation! Men, one by one you will fill out the address of your place of residency or where you will be staying for the evening on the cards on the table near the door. Then, you will attach the card to your key, and place it in the box before me, and find your way home." Evan turned to address the women. "Women, once the last man has made his exit, one by one you will step forward, and remove a key from the box. You will then go to the address written on the card attached to the key." He turned to address the group as a whole. "We are all adults here; we know what these parties are meant to lead to as a result. However! Each of you are a guest of my party, and I will not tolerate any business that makes one of the individuals involved here tonight uncomfortable in any way. So, if anybody tries anything against any of your wishes, please return to my manor and inform me; I shall take care of the situation. Now, without further delay, gentlemen." Evan finished off his speech by holding up his own key, making a grand gesture to show the attached card read "here," before placing it in the box, and disappearing down the hall to the left./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"One at a time each of the men filled out their card and placed their key in the box, small cheers and words of encouragement were heard by the women until the last key was placed in the box. The first woman to approach the box appeared to be a key party veteran, as she gently mixed up the keys within the box before selecting one. She smiled and held the key above her head as she exited the mansion, friendly cat calls and words of uplifting praise were heard from the women still seated. And then, it was her turn…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Oh man, this party is hopping!" Natsu exclaimed as the group entered after presenting their invitations./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Now Natsu, I expect you to be on your best behavior," Erza chided as she too took in the sights of the mingling guests, a live band playing upbeat instrumental music down the hall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Don't be so formal Erza, it's a party!" a voice called to the group's right. A tall, slender man with dark hair and skin approached the group, hands extended in a greeting gesture for all. "Welcome! So glad you all could make it! And what a group! Loving the diversity!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Sir Evan, it's a pleasure to see you again. Thank you for inviting us this evening," Erza greeted, stepping forward to shake the hand of their host./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Evan waved her aside, "Enough of that formal business, Erza! Tonight, you are a guest at my party! Relax, mingle, and of course, enjoy yourself!" Evan left with a hug and a wink making his way back amongst the guests./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Guess we better do as he says," Lucy spoke up, shrugging her shoulders in an effort to push off the shy feelings building inside her. "Come on Levy, let's go mingle."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"Levy nodded in agreement, "Sure, it'll be easier with another girl there."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Juvia is going to find something to drink," Juvia announced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"And with that, the group dispersed, working their way through the main floor of the mansion to mingle with the other guests. Several members noticed members of other guilds around – some friends, and some unknown members of unknown guilds – and several members of normal society. Sir Evan appeared to know quite a variety of people, but of course, that's what makes a good key party. The guests mingled for some time, and just before sunset, Evan began calling everyone to the main hall. Evan had the women take a seat on the grand staircase./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;""Once again, welcome everyone, and thank you for coming!" Evan called once everyone in the house had gathered. "For those new to my key parties, I shall give a brief explanation! Men, one by one you will fill out the address of your place of residency or where you will be staying for the evening on the cards on the table near the door. Then, you will attach the card to your key, and place it in the box before me, and find your way home." Evan turned to address the women. "Women, once the last man has made his exit, one by one you will step forward, and remove a key from the box. You will then go to the address written on the card attached to the key." He turned to address the group as a whole. "We are all adults here; we know what these parties are meant to lead to as a result. However! Each of you are a guest of my party, and I will not tolerate any business that makes one of the individuals involved here tonight uncomfortable in any way. So, if anybody tries anything against any of your wishes, please return to my manor and inform me; I shall take care of the situation. Now, without further delay, gentlemen." Evan finished off his speech by holding up his own key, making a grand gesture to show the attached card read "here," before placing it in the box, and disappearing down the hall to the left./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri; text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 32px;"One at a time each of the men filled out their card and placed their key in the box, small cheers and words of encouragement were heard by the women until the last key was placed in the box. The first woman to approach the box appeared to be a key party veteran, as she gently mixed up the keys within the box before selecting one. She smiled and held the key above her head as she exited the mansion, friendly cat calls and words of uplifting praise were heard from the women still seated. And then, it was her turn…/p