(Rain's POV) We rode our thomas' to the man's mansion. You see, I kindly
let the little man ride Chocolate, while poor Midnight had to sustain
Vash's weights and mine. Of course my strong-willed thomas never even took
a break. I love Midnight; sometimes I wish I could be as strong as he. Well
Midnight had to carry us; Vash and I were crammed together on a one-rider
saddle. That wasn't too comfy.
Of course, I had to sit in front, because I don't trust anyone else steering my thomas. I have control issues, even with someone I admire so deeply.
The man led the way, and the reason why Vash didn't walk was because I insisted we both ride. So he finally complied after a while of insisting. I have yet to meet someone as stubborn as me. Except for Midnight, that is. I should've had him walk. I regret that...
You see Vash was sitting behind me and as Midnight galloped Vash kept involuntarily sliding into me and I kept getting my crotch smashed against the saddle knob, you know that thing you can hold onto in the front...
So I finally got so sore, I thought I was going to die; I forcefully leaned back on Vash.
"What?" He asked.
"You are fricken killing me! If that thing hits my groin one more time, I swear to god I will throw you off of this thomas at full speed." I angrily snapped. Vash looked surprised.
"Well why didn't you say so in the first place?" Vash asked. -- I felt like whacking him one. But he solved that problem... He put his arms around me and pulled me up against himself. "There now; you won't ride up against that thing anymore." He comforted.
So I wasn't hitting the damn knob anymore. But Vash was squeezing me so tight it was hard to breathe. I'm sure he really didn't mean to be so rough, but if I was him, I'd be scared of my threat, and I'd do my absolute best to make damn sure I wouldn't hit that god forsaken saddle protrusion.
I sped Midnight up, for the mansion was now in my view, so I raced the old man to the mansion, and we won, but I was glad to get off. My feet hit the ground and I fell to my knees in a sigh of relief. I looked up at Vash... Man is he tall... I'd say 6'9... I never really thought about it before but I pondered what magnificent figure Vash was hiding under that scarlet uniform that fluttered before me in the warm breeze.
I finally spoke up, "So, what're you wearing under the red dress?" I asked slyly, getting up. I bent down to lift the bottom of his 'dress' up. He pushed the fabric down, tapped my hand away and screamed like a girl.
In a girly mocking voice, he shrieked, "Ahhh! Don't look under my dress you big pervert!" The fat little man was mildly amused by Vash's drama.
"So you admit that you are wearing a dress, bro?" I asked, smirking. Before the spiky-haired drama queen could respond, I tackled him into a cloud of sand our combined body weight had spawned. In a craze, I tried to unbutton his coat, from the neck, as if he were a birthday gift. He grabbed my wrists, and although he did not hurt me at all, his grip was as strong as hard cement.
"You know, I'm not ready for that sort of relationship..." He smiled as the dirt settled.
"Hmph!" I uttered and he released me. I folded my arms like a disappointed, spoiled child.
"Let's make a compromise, shall we? I'll take off my coat, if you take off yours." Vash half-joked. And it hit me; he too had never seen the figure beneath the covering of myself. In a ruffle of cloth, I hastily whipped my coat off as I got up. I stood straight up, with my hands on my hips.
I wore a black sleeveless vest, with a large blouse-like collar. It was a V- neck with a silver zipper down the middle. I tapped my foot, expecting him to hold up the end of his own bargain.
Vash was in a possessed-like trance... He was scaring me, I felt as though he was going to attack me, ripping the zipper-pull down my torso exposing my bra. But I was quicker than his actions... He actually lunged at me, but I shuffled to the side and tripped him. He lay on the ground with his arm stretched out in a reaching position. He sighed and limply plunked his head onto the ground.
I laughed and sat on his back. "Your turn, slick." I again chuckled.
Vash sighed, "Yeah, you're right... My you look awfully beautiful in that..."
"That's nice, but you still gotta take your coat off..." I reminded. I rubbed my hands together... "It's the least you could do, you were squishing me the whole way to this overly large house."
"I suppose your right, but one thing..." Vash dawdled.
"Whaaat?!" I snapped.
"Could you get off my back, please?" He requested.
"Sorry." I apologized. I helped him to his feet. Vash proceeded to unbutton his coat. I tell you it was so exciting, like watching the end of a movie...
I only watched a few movies when I lived with Cain. But they made me sad. They had parties of all sorts, I had never experienced: Birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, New Years, etc. Out of all of them, if I had to have one before I die, I would want one birthday. Just one. Is that so much to ask for? I don't want much, just a tiny little cake and a friend or two, and we could hangout and talk... That's it... But truthfully, I have no idea when my 'Birthday' is supposed to be... Oh well, I get to hang with Vash. Is that not enough? I cannot ask for more. I am not that selfish, conceited, greedy, and self-centered, like Cain. To him, nothing is ever enough.
From this point on, I swear, Cain will be eradicated from any contact of my memory. I swear it.
I looked at Vash, and simply smiled, in a sighed kind of way, like a disappointment, but it wasn't toward him, it was just at the moment, I had other things on my mind...
"Hey, now! I did what you told me, I held up my end, why do still look so... discontented?" Vash questioned. I sighed,
"It's not you, brother... It's my..." I dallied.
"Your..." Vash rolled me on.
"... Rambling mind. I can't think straight, the mixed thoughts all trying to talk above each other, its unceasing and its driving me insane... BIG sigh" I explained. Vash had a blanked look on his face.
"Well, then......... Yes........ OK, well, you figure that out while both of us unpack. C'mon, we're gonna be here a week, so let's check out the place..." Vash suggested. That didn't sound like a bad idea either. He picked up his coat and put it back on and I just bunched mine up and threw it in a bag, which was situated on Midnight. I walked Midnight to the door and took my entire luggage off him. He shook like a relieved wet dog, and grunted.
"Ma'am, you're gonna have to leave the thomas' outside the house." The little man instructed.
"Alright... Sorry Midnight, sorry Chocolate." I apologized. Vash carried some of my luggage all through the house, while the two thomas' frolicked outside. The man introduced himself as "'Fillip' - With and 'F', not a 'Ph'." So Mr. Fillip it was then.
I slept in a room adjacent to Vash's. That little pervert... Vash, I mean. You see, the 2nd day we 'lived' there, he took it upon himself to open the bathroom door, when he knew I was taking a shower. Luckily, he knocked a hot blow dryer onto his hand, and in doing so, he screamed and I poked my head out of the shower.
You see, I am used to people creeping up on me when I'm taking a shower, so hearing someone scream, really didn't make me jump out of my skin and/or scream. I just calmly looked. It served him right. He ripped the dryer out of the socket, while he was frantically jumping around. He ran straight out of the bathroom. I went over and locked the door.
Well, in the third day, Vash and I were wondering why were we here again. We knew we where here to body guard, but it was just a big empty house. So we asked Fillip...
"Oh, how terribly rude of me! You see, I called for protection, because I will be having a birthday party in two days. I also got a note, which tells me something disastrous is going to happen, therefore, you two will wear these and be undercover bodyguards!" exclaimed Fillip. He handed me a silver dress, and Vash a tuxedo.
Vash looked very unwilling, neither one of us wanted to play dress-up. Plus we had to act as inconspicuous guests... Fillip told us that there would be at least 300 other guests; so blending in wouldn't be so hard. Nonetheless, we still didn't want to be inconspicuous. It felt like a dirty thing to do... Why couldn't we be his official bodyguards and stick around him the whole time?
What's worth more, your life, or social time? I think that's a little obvious. But I suppose when you are a lonely rich guy, you live for social events.
So Vash and I walked back to our rooms, except he came in my room a bit later. I was trying to find a place to hide my gun in such a simple, form- fitting dress? That was weird that Fillip knew our clothes sizes.
If I put my gun on my leg, there would be a weird looking, gun-shaped, lump, which is not by any means conspicuous. I could put it in my bra, but the gun is too big, and that is kinda sleazy. Lucky Vash, he got chest coat pockets. I held the dress up against my body in the mirror. I was getting frustrated, until broom-head waltzed in like he owned the place.
"Have you ever heard of knocking?" I asked, throwing the dress on the bed.
"Of course I have! But you are my sister, remember?" Vash asked.
"Cut the crap." I demanded.
"What's your problem, sis?" Vash doggedly asked.
"We took a body guard job, not a modeling job. We shouldn't have to dress up." I said.
"Well, we're getting paid aren't we? And besides, we're helping someone out, isn't that enough motive to dress up?" Vash sighed, unsure of himself. I threw a pillow at him.
"Whatever, you know as well as I, this isn't in our 'contract'." I snapped. Fillip walked in. We falsely smiled.
"Here, some shoes, and here is some small guns." Fillip handed us them and walked off. I got a pair of stiletto, strappy, silver, high-heeled shoes. 'Oh wonderful...' I thought sarcastically in my head. Vash got black dress shoes. The small silver little guns were almost a joke. There were 2. 'Still can't conceal 'em...' I thought.
The day of the birthday arrived. Some people came and did my hair and make up. I told them about my issue with hiding the guns. They thought of it as 'no problem'. They came back with a cream lavender sash. It was 8" wide and two feet long. They wrapped the stiff fabric around my waist, and tied a bow in the back. It was like wearing a kimono. I slipped the mini guns in between the sash and the dress, in the front. It wasn't conspicuous, finally, and it was in easy reach.
The shoes were as uncomfortable as being locked up in a box naked with Vash... Ok, maybe they weren't that uncomfortable, but standing up for too long was hell, I tell you. They did however give me a nice diamond necklace to put on my neck.
I walked to Vash's room... The moron was still sleeping! I remembered his request of how he would like to be awoken... I complied. Halfway at least.
"Vash, honey, it's time to get up, c'mon darling..." I shook him ever so gently. He cracked his eyes open. I went to go kiss him and he did not protest.
"I must be in heaven..." He whispered. I placed my hand on his cheek. Before our lips made contact I slapped him, and hard.
"Wakin' up time! Why the hell aren't you up?!" I'm already up! Get up you lazy good-for-nothing, loafing sack of crap! I am never late! Get up!" I shook him very hard. On a good day, I would've probably kissed him, but I was livid, about having to do so much extra work, and Vash wasn't helping our cause at all! What a blonde, contradicting moron. The last thing I wanted to do was to play dress-up and be spying body guards, the second I woke up, but I did, and Mr. 'we're helping someone out, isn't that enough motive to dress up?' wasn't pulling his weight and that pissed me off. I was mad about the other night, and this morning just added to my stress build-up. So Vash, I apologize.
Vash jumped right out of his skin and ran to the bathroom to put on his tuxedo. I moaned and put my face in my hands. I heard the shower start. I contemplated running into the bathroom as he did I, but I wasn't going to stoop to that level. But I really wanted to make sure he was getting dressed. I've been known to do that, get woken up, go to the bathroom, turn on the shower to make it seem like I'm taking one, but I'm actually asleep on the floor... Heh...
Knowing myself, I would've done that, so I wanted to make sure he was awake. No, I am not a pervert. I wanted to get the day over with as quick as possible. So I crept up to the door. The shower turned off, but the showers are automatic. They shut off after a while. I was skeptical. My shoes made it harder for me to creep up on him. They were killing me!
After a good 7 minutes (damn) I finally reached the doorknob. Ironically, it was unlocked, just as mine had been when he decided to be a peeping tom. I burst into the bathroom... Vash was fixing the collar of his tuxedo. He was fully dressed. I sighed in a relieved manner.
"Shall we then?" Vash asked in a deep mocking voice.
"Yes, let's." I played along.
"One second, darling, my hair needs to be done." He again mocked.
"What are we, some rich couple?" I asked as he picked up a comb.
"I prefer the term 'wealthy lovers'!" He bellowed. He began to spike his hair as he had always done.
"Darling," I said through my teeth, "If we are going to such an elegant celebration, you should wear your hair in a different manner, hm?" I took the comb from him. I ran it through his gorgeous silky hair.
You just can't stay mad at this guy! He's like a little abandoned kitten that just clawed up your sofa. It's so sweet and innocent and soft and loveable, you can't stay mad at it! You might scold it, but in a matter of seconds, it looks up with those big round eyes, and you forgive it, and cuddle it.
Ok, maybe that was a bit too dramatic, because Vash isn't a kitten, but he just as might very well be! I felt like petting him. I must have gone insane by that point.
I slicked his beautiful golden hair back. He was ranting about something, but I was lost in his cuteness... What am I saying? I must be still crazy.
He now officially looked like some stuck-up rich guy! I guess that would make me his bitc -- I mean his good for nothing, tea serving, wife. Vash took my elbow.
"We'll be off then." He said cheerfully.
"That we will, dearest." I felt tension leaving me for some reason. I felt like cream... That is the best way I can describe the wave of sensation; cream, just creamy. We strut to the ballroom, where the party was being held.
Of course, I had to sit in front, because I don't trust anyone else steering my thomas. I have control issues, even with someone I admire so deeply.
The man led the way, and the reason why Vash didn't walk was because I insisted we both ride. So he finally complied after a while of insisting. I have yet to meet someone as stubborn as me. Except for Midnight, that is. I should've had him walk. I regret that...
You see Vash was sitting behind me and as Midnight galloped Vash kept involuntarily sliding into me and I kept getting my crotch smashed against the saddle knob, you know that thing you can hold onto in the front...
So I finally got so sore, I thought I was going to die; I forcefully leaned back on Vash.
"What?" He asked.
"You are fricken killing me! If that thing hits my groin one more time, I swear to god I will throw you off of this thomas at full speed." I angrily snapped. Vash looked surprised.
"Well why didn't you say so in the first place?" Vash asked. -- I felt like whacking him one. But he solved that problem... He put his arms around me and pulled me up against himself. "There now; you won't ride up against that thing anymore." He comforted.
So I wasn't hitting the damn knob anymore. But Vash was squeezing me so tight it was hard to breathe. I'm sure he really didn't mean to be so rough, but if I was him, I'd be scared of my threat, and I'd do my absolute best to make damn sure I wouldn't hit that god forsaken saddle protrusion.
I sped Midnight up, for the mansion was now in my view, so I raced the old man to the mansion, and we won, but I was glad to get off. My feet hit the ground and I fell to my knees in a sigh of relief. I looked up at Vash... Man is he tall... I'd say 6'9... I never really thought about it before but I pondered what magnificent figure Vash was hiding under that scarlet uniform that fluttered before me in the warm breeze.
I finally spoke up, "So, what're you wearing under the red dress?" I asked slyly, getting up. I bent down to lift the bottom of his 'dress' up. He pushed the fabric down, tapped my hand away and screamed like a girl.
In a girly mocking voice, he shrieked, "Ahhh! Don't look under my dress you big pervert!" The fat little man was mildly amused by Vash's drama.
"So you admit that you are wearing a dress, bro?" I asked, smirking. Before the spiky-haired drama queen could respond, I tackled him into a cloud of sand our combined body weight had spawned. In a craze, I tried to unbutton his coat, from the neck, as if he were a birthday gift. He grabbed my wrists, and although he did not hurt me at all, his grip was as strong as hard cement.
"You know, I'm not ready for that sort of relationship..." He smiled as the dirt settled.
"Hmph!" I uttered and he released me. I folded my arms like a disappointed, spoiled child.
"Let's make a compromise, shall we? I'll take off my coat, if you take off yours." Vash half-joked. And it hit me; he too had never seen the figure beneath the covering of myself. In a ruffle of cloth, I hastily whipped my coat off as I got up. I stood straight up, with my hands on my hips.
I wore a black sleeveless vest, with a large blouse-like collar. It was a V- neck with a silver zipper down the middle. I tapped my foot, expecting him to hold up the end of his own bargain.
Vash was in a possessed-like trance... He was scaring me, I felt as though he was going to attack me, ripping the zipper-pull down my torso exposing my bra. But I was quicker than his actions... He actually lunged at me, but I shuffled to the side and tripped him. He lay on the ground with his arm stretched out in a reaching position. He sighed and limply plunked his head onto the ground.
I laughed and sat on his back. "Your turn, slick." I again chuckled.
Vash sighed, "Yeah, you're right... My you look awfully beautiful in that..."
"That's nice, but you still gotta take your coat off..." I reminded. I rubbed my hands together... "It's the least you could do, you were squishing me the whole way to this overly large house."
"I suppose your right, but one thing..." Vash dawdled.
"Whaaat?!" I snapped.
"Could you get off my back, please?" He requested.
"Sorry." I apologized. I helped him to his feet. Vash proceeded to unbutton his coat. I tell you it was so exciting, like watching the end of a movie...
I only watched a few movies when I lived with Cain. But they made me sad. They had parties of all sorts, I had never experienced: Birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, New Years, etc. Out of all of them, if I had to have one before I die, I would want one birthday. Just one. Is that so much to ask for? I don't want much, just a tiny little cake and a friend or two, and we could hangout and talk... That's it... But truthfully, I have no idea when my 'Birthday' is supposed to be... Oh well, I get to hang with Vash. Is that not enough? I cannot ask for more. I am not that selfish, conceited, greedy, and self-centered, like Cain. To him, nothing is ever enough.
From this point on, I swear, Cain will be eradicated from any contact of my memory. I swear it.
I looked at Vash, and simply smiled, in a sighed kind of way, like a disappointment, but it wasn't toward him, it was just at the moment, I had other things on my mind...
"Hey, now! I did what you told me, I held up my end, why do still look so... discontented?" Vash questioned. I sighed,
"It's not you, brother... It's my..." I dallied.
"Your..." Vash rolled me on.
"... Rambling mind. I can't think straight, the mixed thoughts all trying to talk above each other, its unceasing and its driving me insane... BIG sigh" I explained. Vash had a blanked look on his face.
"Well, then......... Yes........ OK, well, you figure that out while both of us unpack. C'mon, we're gonna be here a week, so let's check out the place..." Vash suggested. That didn't sound like a bad idea either. He picked up his coat and put it back on and I just bunched mine up and threw it in a bag, which was situated on Midnight. I walked Midnight to the door and took my entire luggage off him. He shook like a relieved wet dog, and grunted.
"Ma'am, you're gonna have to leave the thomas' outside the house." The little man instructed.
"Alright... Sorry Midnight, sorry Chocolate." I apologized. Vash carried some of my luggage all through the house, while the two thomas' frolicked outside. The man introduced himself as "'Fillip' - With and 'F', not a 'Ph'." So Mr. Fillip it was then.
I slept in a room adjacent to Vash's. That little pervert... Vash, I mean. You see, the 2nd day we 'lived' there, he took it upon himself to open the bathroom door, when he knew I was taking a shower. Luckily, he knocked a hot blow dryer onto his hand, and in doing so, he screamed and I poked my head out of the shower.
You see, I am used to people creeping up on me when I'm taking a shower, so hearing someone scream, really didn't make me jump out of my skin and/or scream. I just calmly looked. It served him right. He ripped the dryer out of the socket, while he was frantically jumping around. He ran straight out of the bathroom. I went over and locked the door.
Well, in the third day, Vash and I were wondering why were we here again. We knew we where here to body guard, but it was just a big empty house. So we asked Fillip...
"Oh, how terribly rude of me! You see, I called for protection, because I will be having a birthday party in two days. I also got a note, which tells me something disastrous is going to happen, therefore, you two will wear these and be undercover bodyguards!" exclaimed Fillip. He handed me a silver dress, and Vash a tuxedo.
Vash looked very unwilling, neither one of us wanted to play dress-up. Plus we had to act as inconspicuous guests... Fillip told us that there would be at least 300 other guests; so blending in wouldn't be so hard. Nonetheless, we still didn't want to be inconspicuous. It felt like a dirty thing to do... Why couldn't we be his official bodyguards and stick around him the whole time?
What's worth more, your life, or social time? I think that's a little obvious. But I suppose when you are a lonely rich guy, you live for social events.
So Vash and I walked back to our rooms, except he came in my room a bit later. I was trying to find a place to hide my gun in such a simple, form- fitting dress? That was weird that Fillip knew our clothes sizes.
If I put my gun on my leg, there would be a weird looking, gun-shaped, lump, which is not by any means conspicuous. I could put it in my bra, but the gun is too big, and that is kinda sleazy. Lucky Vash, he got chest coat pockets. I held the dress up against my body in the mirror. I was getting frustrated, until broom-head waltzed in like he owned the place.
"Have you ever heard of knocking?" I asked, throwing the dress on the bed.
"Of course I have! But you are my sister, remember?" Vash asked.
"Cut the crap." I demanded.
"What's your problem, sis?" Vash doggedly asked.
"We took a body guard job, not a modeling job. We shouldn't have to dress up." I said.
"Well, we're getting paid aren't we? And besides, we're helping someone out, isn't that enough motive to dress up?" Vash sighed, unsure of himself. I threw a pillow at him.
"Whatever, you know as well as I, this isn't in our 'contract'." I snapped. Fillip walked in. We falsely smiled.
"Here, some shoes, and here is some small guns." Fillip handed us them and walked off. I got a pair of stiletto, strappy, silver, high-heeled shoes. 'Oh wonderful...' I thought sarcastically in my head. Vash got black dress shoes. The small silver little guns were almost a joke. There were 2. 'Still can't conceal 'em...' I thought.
The day of the birthday arrived. Some people came and did my hair and make up. I told them about my issue with hiding the guns. They thought of it as 'no problem'. They came back with a cream lavender sash. It was 8" wide and two feet long. They wrapped the stiff fabric around my waist, and tied a bow in the back. It was like wearing a kimono. I slipped the mini guns in between the sash and the dress, in the front. It wasn't conspicuous, finally, and it was in easy reach.
The shoes were as uncomfortable as being locked up in a box naked with Vash... Ok, maybe they weren't that uncomfortable, but standing up for too long was hell, I tell you. They did however give me a nice diamond necklace to put on my neck.
I walked to Vash's room... The moron was still sleeping! I remembered his request of how he would like to be awoken... I complied. Halfway at least.
"Vash, honey, it's time to get up, c'mon darling..." I shook him ever so gently. He cracked his eyes open. I went to go kiss him and he did not protest.
"I must be in heaven..." He whispered. I placed my hand on his cheek. Before our lips made contact I slapped him, and hard.
"Wakin' up time! Why the hell aren't you up?!" I'm already up! Get up you lazy good-for-nothing, loafing sack of crap! I am never late! Get up!" I shook him very hard. On a good day, I would've probably kissed him, but I was livid, about having to do so much extra work, and Vash wasn't helping our cause at all! What a blonde, contradicting moron. The last thing I wanted to do was to play dress-up and be spying body guards, the second I woke up, but I did, and Mr. 'we're helping someone out, isn't that enough motive to dress up?' wasn't pulling his weight and that pissed me off. I was mad about the other night, and this morning just added to my stress build-up. So Vash, I apologize.
Vash jumped right out of his skin and ran to the bathroom to put on his tuxedo. I moaned and put my face in my hands. I heard the shower start. I contemplated running into the bathroom as he did I, but I wasn't going to stoop to that level. But I really wanted to make sure he was getting dressed. I've been known to do that, get woken up, go to the bathroom, turn on the shower to make it seem like I'm taking one, but I'm actually asleep on the floor... Heh...
Knowing myself, I would've done that, so I wanted to make sure he was awake. No, I am not a pervert. I wanted to get the day over with as quick as possible. So I crept up to the door. The shower turned off, but the showers are automatic. They shut off after a while. I was skeptical. My shoes made it harder for me to creep up on him. They were killing me!
After a good 7 minutes (damn) I finally reached the doorknob. Ironically, it was unlocked, just as mine had been when he decided to be a peeping tom. I burst into the bathroom... Vash was fixing the collar of his tuxedo. He was fully dressed. I sighed in a relieved manner.
"Shall we then?" Vash asked in a deep mocking voice.
"Yes, let's." I played along.
"One second, darling, my hair needs to be done." He again mocked.
"What are we, some rich couple?" I asked as he picked up a comb.
"I prefer the term 'wealthy lovers'!" He bellowed. He began to spike his hair as he had always done.
"Darling," I said through my teeth, "If we are going to such an elegant celebration, you should wear your hair in a different manner, hm?" I took the comb from him. I ran it through his gorgeous silky hair.
You just can't stay mad at this guy! He's like a little abandoned kitten that just clawed up your sofa. It's so sweet and innocent and soft and loveable, you can't stay mad at it! You might scold it, but in a matter of seconds, it looks up with those big round eyes, and you forgive it, and cuddle it.
Ok, maybe that was a bit too dramatic, because Vash isn't a kitten, but he just as might very well be! I felt like petting him. I must have gone insane by that point.
I slicked his beautiful golden hair back. He was ranting about something, but I was lost in his cuteness... What am I saying? I must be still crazy.
He now officially looked like some stuck-up rich guy! I guess that would make me his bitc -- I mean his good for nothing, tea serving, wife. Vash took my elbow.
"We'll be off then." He said cheerfully.
"That we will, dearest." I felt tension leaving me for some reason. I felt like cream... That is the best way I can describe the wave of sensation; cream, just creamy. We strut to the ballroom, where the party was being held.