Chapter 27: Lysander's Party
"This place is... it's a lot fancier than the Hotel, that's for sure," Irvine stated. We were all wearing suits, well the girls weren't they had dresses. Rinoa was still in the Mansion for security reasons and we had to be on our best behaviour for this party. Well Caraway, we're not all like your daughter. Well the risk of Irvine and I getting drunk was there, but we're good boys; we can behave.
"Do well to stay on your guard," Caraway said. "And keep a low profile. We can't risk being spotted by acting suspect."
"So if anyone has issues or can't stand other people do try to stay apart," Lucifer added. He wandered off into the crowds to talk to people. The party seemed too upper class for my tastes. Just a load of twats drinking champagne and talking about how rich they are.
Everyone split off to seem less conspicuous. Irvine went to flirt with some younger looking ladies. Didn't pay much attention to everyone else. I would see them in the crowds occasionally but I saw little of them.
Dinner would be served later on and right now it was the general meeting with people and catching up. I'd be social, say hello to whoever talked to me, like some business man who had just made his way over to me. We went into the general chat about how the party was and the drink was a rather fine make. Alcohol is alcohol; if it tastes rubbish, I won't drink it but if it tastes nice, that's fine. Don't sit and tell me your wine tastes like pink rose petals and fresh cut grass.
"So, eh, what business are you in, boy?" The man asked. I'd found out he had a business in travel and his company's airline was the one the Sorceress would travel on for the peace talks.
"I'm studying at Galbadia Garden," I answered.
"Oh a fine school, I take it you're planning to join the army?" And fib time.
"Actually Martine insisted I be a guest of General Caraway," I explained. "Said with my skill I could be a bodyguard for the President. I'm one of Martine's best students," Seemed interesting enough. "He'd probably have a fit if I became just another soldier 'talent wasted', he'd say."
"Of course. Martine's never wrong about his students," He went off soon after. I found Irvine drinking at the side, a pretty girl just walking off and giggling to her friend. Lucifer was also chatting with an older woman and seemed to be getting the same effects.
"Fuck I'd rather be at home," I stated.
"Well I've just managed to get the numbers of two very lovely ladies," Irvine smirked. "Only a few years older. Always wanted to be with an older woman." I stared at him over my glasses.
"You are the most deprived man in the history of... desperate men," He shrugged and waved to the girl he was talking to earlier, scoring a dance later on tonight. "What about Selphie?" Made him guilty, there you go.
"I'm going to be working with her, I can't form a relationship on business," He answered smoothly. I knew better and drank my champagne.
"Is the great ladies' man Irvine Kinneas nervous?" I taunted in a friendly manner. "Does Irvine Kinneas not have the balls to pursue a relationship with a woman?"
"Fuck off, Ly," He said. "You know why I can't." I shrugged and finished my glass, getting another soon after.
"How can a childhood crush... how?" I asked. "You've not seen her for thirteen years and you're certain you can have what you never understood as a child? Honestly you're not sure it's just a youthful fondness?
"I just know," He defended. "If it was just fondness it would have went now, wouldn't it?"
"I just don't believe that kind of stuff," I shrugged. "Still if you believe then then I'm not going to stop you," We had been standing by a corridor with a staircase. There was loud footsteps and talking just as loudly. I tried to spot out several of our team. Caraway was glaring at an ignorant Zell and Selphie, who were dancing quite... well it definitely wasn't a waltz. Squall was being anti-social and hitting the booze, Quistis and Vanadium were doing well socialising and Dante was just floating about, going between groups, being polite, but not really staying in one place. Lucifer was still being very social and oddly charming to whoever spoke to him, like he was used to this lifestyle. There was still no sign of the President, the Sorceress or Antara.
Dinner arrived about half an hour later. We all sat together at one large table, talking about how we were getting on. A swing band was playing as the musical entertainment. Waiters and waitresses were serving food and refilling glasses and keeping busy as we had the starter.
"You know, I once saw a programme, you know the one where they all compete with dinner parties?" Dante began. "Some guy served this soup, this exact kind of soup. It was supposedly really nice but even still the other people thought soup was a cop out for a starter. Yet the President is perfectly fine with a soup starter." The soup was nice, ate the bread earlier. You only get one slice of crusty bread with soup. Suppose too much would be too filling.
"Well there's only so much you can do for a starter," Lucifer said in reference to Dante's conversation starter. Pun unintended. "They'd see a prawn cocktail as too retro. But soup and prawn cocktails are tried and tested and fantastic. Well I've had some pretty horrid soups but people serve them because you can rarely go wrong."
"Oh yeah I once saw one where the woman had fish in her starter and fish in her main course," Selphie added.
"People can be dead iffy with fish, though," Dante said. "Well chicken's too bland for everyone or too dry, steak has to be cooked to everyone's expectations, duck is 'too fatty', rabbit is strange, not seen a lot of venison, and then everyone gets really pissy when they're served vegetarian or vegan food."
"I don't get the fussy vegetarians," Irvine joined in. "They're already limiting their diet, they don't need to restrict it more by being fussy."
"Yeah and I don't get the scoring they do," Zell piped up. "They could say the food was rubbish and then score a seven, or say the entire night was great and only give a five."
"It's because once they go home all they're thinking about is the money," Lucifer nodded. "Could give everyone a goody bag filled with the love and attention they craved for in their childhood along with serving a unicorn steak seasoned with pixie dust and have it served in a magical forest and still only get a two," Everyone just laughed at Lucifer's vision of a dinner party. "But honestly, when money's involved no one likes anyone's food but their own."
After the food had been finished everyone went back up and began dancing and talking again. Everyone seemed to be fine and a lot more friendly after getting food. Still no sign of our targets.
"Once again I can only apologise on the President's behalf," That voice? Passing me out the corner of my eye was the President, the Sorceress, Antara and Persephone. They were all wearing formal attire. Persephone wore a fitted champagne coloured cocktail dress, backless and with tall champagne heels. Her hair was in a ballerina's bun and on her neck was a silver necklace with a pendant that had the Roman numeral for the number six on it. "He did want to attend, of course, but you should understand how demanding his job can be."
"Of course, I can only sympathise," The President responded. "I trust you'll be taking his place in the peace talks when he's unable to attend?"
"I will be," She nodded. "I worked closely with the former President of Esthar and they saw it more fit that I can deal with Hyne's Descendants more easily. Of course I mean no offence, Edea."
"I'm sure of it, my dear," Edea replied. A blonde man approached them, joining in. "Oh, I must introduce you to my Knight. This is Seifer Almasy, he'll also be joining me in the peace talks," Persephone bowed politely to him. "Seifer, this is the Estharian Ambassador, Persephone Thorburn."
"An honour to meet a Knight," She smiled. "I'm sure we'll all get to know each other much better in the peace talks."
"Well we can all deal with business when the time comes," The President stated. "Enjoy the party, Ms. Thorburn," She smiled and left, walking outside for air but bumping into Dante and eventually dancing with him after some conversation. "She's a charming young woman. Her reputation from the war betrays her now."
"I'd watch her," Antara hissed. "Is she worked with the Sorceress then she may just be as bitter as she was."
"Now Antara, I doubt she will be able to defy our goal," The President assured him. "Now, enjoy the party. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Antara, Edea, Seifer." I watched them as they split off. Edea said something to Seifer and he nodded, heading off down a corridor. I looked back at the Sorceress, then spotted Dante passing through the crowds and going down the same corridor as Seifer had.
"I suppose you don't want to dance?" Persephone. I turned to her, sighing and walking back with her to the floor, dancing with her. "I didn't suspect you'd be here."
"Why?" I asked. "Because I'm so unlike this lot I couldn't possibly get to one of these parties without being a waiter?"
"Well, when you put it that way," She shrugged. "That blonde friend of yours, he's very... very distracted, no?"
"What makes you think we're friends?" There were three blondes. Who was she talking about?
"I spied you talking at dinner," Ah true there. "He's not a charmer. In fact one would say he's a little disturbed."
"When you look at the blondes I know, it could mean any of them," She laughed at that, even though it was true. "Look, you mentioned Shakespeare. Don't try pretend to me you're from round here."
"That information is not for now," She said firmly.
"Why do you have red eyes?"
"You're observant," Her eyes were staring at me hard. "But you can't put me on the spot and expect me to reveal all. Especially in the company we keep," Before I could ask she roughly, and subtly, moved me round. I saw Antara. "Him. Talbot. He's more dangerous than you can fathom," She then spins me again; I see Lucifer getting up on the stage with the band. He's not drunk in the slightest. "I know of him. He's charming, too charming. He's a man be adored and feared," Then the last man she showed me was Vanadium. "He's a good man, but I'm sure you knew that already," She pushed herself away. "I must be off. I seem to have forgotten my medication in my hotel room. I will see you, Mr. Adams."
I watched her leave. As she went out the doors she gave me a glance. Her eyes were softer but not apologetic. She left soon after and I found Irvine heading outside. When I followed him he was throwing up in the bushes.
"Shit man are you hammered?" I exclaimed. He choked and stood up, getting a napkin to wipe his mouth. He looked sober enough. "Irv have you seen a ghost or something?" He didn't answer. He looked really pale and... horrified. "Irvine? Irvine talk to me, mate, what happened?"
"I... I'm going back to the Manor," He walked quickly past me and pushed past the crowds to get to the door. At that point I saw Dante walk back to the big hall looking disgusted and upset. Vanadium, who I had scarcely seen all night, was approaching me.
