Title: Life and Times of a Socialite
Author: Lady Eliza
Characters: All Characters
Rating: T
Summary: Total AU Rory and Logan Spoiler Warning
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of its characters.
AN: I am so sorry about the mix up guys. It seemed that there was a problem uploading the document. I typed out the chapter and uploaded it at 3 in the morning so I was half asleep that was probably when the mix up happened. I am sincerely sorry about the whole mix up. I just hopethis chapter was worth all the trouble. Please continue to review.
Chapter 16: Ball Gowns And The Waltz
The Friday of the Life and Death Brigade event was a bright and sunny day. The construction crew had started work at 4 am and were still at it when the rest of the household was waking up at 10 am. Logan and Rory have managed to avoid any confrontations or talks with either Jess or Dean.
Rory and Stephanie had appointments at a nearby Elizabeth Arden Salon on the Cape. They were booked for a two and half hour appointment so they left soon after they had breakfast at 8 am. The major event would take place on Saturday night so they girls had plenty of time to think about what type of hairstyles they would wear. Shira Huntzberger had flown in a selection of the Huntzberger jewellery and Emily Gilmore had provided a new tiara from Lorelai the 1st's collection.
Nobody had any idea what Logan had planned for today and the tomorrow morning. It seemed like he was keeping everything to himself. The other members of the Life and Death began arriving just after noon.
Jess noticed several foreign made vehicles start showing up around lunchtime. There were many drivers and cars as well. He knew that whatever event was to take place on the south lawn couldn't happen until tomorrow night, so why were these people showing up today?
Rory and Stephanie had arrived back from their salon appointment just a few minutes before the first brigadier had arrived, so they were around to greet the guests. There were many air kisses, squeals of delight and hugs to go around. To the untrained eye it would seem like these people hadn't seen each other in a few years but in reality it had only been a week.
The construction crew got a kick out of seeing the people arrive. There were many well-known faces and just as many unfamiliar faces. The unfamiliar ones probably had powerful last names for all they knew. There was one thing that the guys on the crew did recognize and it was that all the peopled assembled on the lawn were Yalies.
"How much do you think a kidnapper could get if they held this group for ransom?" asked Jim, one of the guys on the crew.
"I wouldn't say that out loud, big guy. This elite group comes with it's own secret service, if you know what I mean," said Todd, his friend.
Todd was correct in his assumption. For every person at the event there were two security guys to protect him or her. But you wouldn't see the security in plain sight; no they blended into the environment.
Jess watched in amazement as the front door to the Huntzberger Compound burst open and waiters in starched uniforms and white gloves appeared with trays and trays of champagne. There seemed to be people in gorilla masks running around the front yard. What the hell was going on? Jess thought this event was going to be a fancy dinner party attended by the whose who of Logan and Rory's friends not some carnival.
Jess continued to watch the events unfold in front of his eyes. Finn took centre stage and started talking to the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the event of all events. As you can see the main part of this weekend still hasn't been built but it will be by tomorrow. Now Logan has planned some things for us to do so I will pass the floor to him."
"Hello All, the theme for this particular event is called 'The Romanov's.' We will officially begin the celebrations tonight and your costumes and such are in your assigned quarters. Tonight we will have our festivities on the beach with our usual fun and games. You all will have free time to do whatever you want but before that let's have a toast."
Jess thought it looked peculiar, the fact that the group was assembled on the front lawn with champagne glasses in their hands and was now toasting to something.
"To the Romanov's," said Logan. "To the Romanov's," shouted everyone else.
The construction crew got back to work and the rest of the LDB members went inside to rest up for the festivities in the evening.
Jess felt exhausted after the day he had put in building the set. He just wanted to take a shower and sleep for two days. He was heading to the cottage the long way when he happened to see Rory and the other people that had arrived today.
Jess blinked thinking that he was seeing things, but alas it was the truth that before him stood many people in costume. The lot of them were wearing sailing outfits that rich people from the early 1900's used to wear. It looked like they were having a picnic of some sort and many people were also swimming in old fashioned swimming suits. Jess just wondered why the group decided to have the picnic at night.
Rory was having a blast at this event, but she always had fun where the LDB was concerned. She was speaking with Seth about the rumblings of a war, the Great War. You see they weren't just dressed as people from the early 1900's they were also supposed to be acting like people in the early 20th Century in Russia, accents and all.
"Vodka, sir," this from Finn who refused to have a Russian accent because he stated his Aussie accent was exotic enough.
"Vhat these is good, no?" asked Robert who was really getting into it.
Everyone else was too hammered to try to participate in the talk of an upcoming war or unrest of the Russian people. Rory got into an argument with a brigadier named Mattie after discussing the pros and cons of Capitalism and Communism. Seth and Robert were discussing the fine points of absolute monarchy and how it was a shame that it was all but extinct in modern times.
Jess couldn't believe all that he was hearing. It looked so odd to him to see all these people acting like they were actually in the early 20th Century. He looked at Rory and she seemed to be in her element with all these people arguing her point.
Jess left his hiding spot behind and old elm tree. Before he could leave something caught his eye. From his vantage point he had a perfect view of Logan's bare back. It looked like there was something written on it and…yes it was the exact same tattoo as the one on Rory's back. Logan's was located on his right shoulder blade.
Jess found himself seeing that exact same tattoo on the rest of the assembled group as well. He didn't understand what the initials could stand for. He was too tired to ponder that question so he went in the direction of the cottage.
The next day was looking like it would be just as hot as the day before if not warmer. The brigadiers were preparing themselves for the event that would take place outside on the south lawn. The construction crew was putting the final touches to the set and was awaiting the approval of Logan and his associates.
Just after 11am the members of the Life and Death Brigade started filing out of the Compound in pairs. Each member was a prominent member of the Romanov family. Rory and Logan were dressed as Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra. The event was a costume ball like the one that was given in the Winter Palace in 1903 by the royal couple, but the LDB would dress like the Russian royalty dressed when attending court.
The men looked handsome in their military regalia and the women looked gorgeous in their larger than life ball gowns. The woman also had outlandish looking fans and old-fashioned binoculars to see what anyone was saying from any vantage.
Dean was shocked beyond belief it looked like they had travelled through time with all the people dressed up in old-fashioned clothes. He found it odd that several people had on gorilla masks; he didn't understand the meaning of that. Then he saw a huge bell being wheeled out by the servants and he realized that he was in a totally different world.
Logan walked up to Tom and shook his hand and said a polite thank you. It seemed that that was the cue for the construction guys to leave but everyone wanted to see what was going to happen next. Logan had known that the sight of the entire group in their outrageous outfits would catch the attention of the construction crew, so he and the gang had decided that they would be allowed to watch some of the festivities. So the crew went and sat on the lawn chairs that were there for their benefit.
Jess just watched the preparation these people put into a party and shook his head. The amount of money spent on the construction alone would have been someone's annual income, but these kids spent money like the rest of us used toilet paper. Rory looked gorgeous dressed as Alexandra Romanov and it probably helped that she was also related to the woman whom she was portraying. Jess couldn't believe that Rory was actually wearing a crown on her head and it sure as hell looked real to him.
Dean sat beside Jess and said, "Can you believe this. They just spent all that money to play dress up."
"Well I guess if you have too much money you would spend it on frivolous things like this," stated Jess matter-of-factly.
"Do you know why they are doing this?" asked Dean.
"No idea," replied Jess in a curt manner.
Jess watched again as waiters, looking starched and pressed, brought out glasses of champagne with white gloves on their hands. The glasses were quickly handed out and Colin stepped into the centre of the group who stood facing the construction crew. The people in gorilla masks were randomly dispersed and two of them were at either side of the rather large bell.
Colin started speaking, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome you all to the 108th assembly of the honourable Life and Death Brigade. I would like for you all to raise your glasses with me and say In Omnia Paratus."
"In Omnia Paratus," said the rest of the LDB.
Jess watched mesmerized as the paired off members of the group drank from their partners glass like the bride and groom would at a wedding. Rory and Logan locked eyes and smiled a secret smile. Then the large bell was hit with a huge mallet.
Jess wished with all his might that he could erase the way the two of them looked when they drank from each other's glasses. Jess now knew what the initials LDB meant on everyone's tattoo. It stood for the Life and Death Brigade; he just didn't know what the function of the LDB was.
The members of the Brigade spread out and went towards the makeshift bow and arrow section, or the sword fighting section, or the vodka shots section, courtesy of Finn. Speaking of Finn it seemed that he had disappeared somewhere because no one had seen or heard from him for a while.
Then the door burst open and Finn ran out dressed in drag. Colin chocked on his champagne when he saw his buddy run out in a dress. "Finn what in the name of god are you wearing?" asked Colin.
"A'llo Cooolin, Do you like what you see?" asked Finn in a high-pitched voice.
"Finn is that a red wig you're wearing?" asked Rory.
"Ror- Your Imperial Highness Tsarina Alexandra, how do you do mamon?" asked Finn in the squeaky voice. It appeared he was trying to sound like a girl.
"I sorry did you just call me mother?" asked Rory who was quite amused at the situation.
"Yes mamon, do you not recognize me?" pouted Finn.
"Anastasia, I presume. My youngest daughter?" asked Rory.
"I'm glad you recognize me. Now which one of you fine gentlemen would like to take a turn around the dance floor with me," asked Finn batting his eyelashes with some sort of come-hither look.
"It looks like cross dressing runs in the family," whispered Robert to Rory who promptly nudged him in the stomach.
Since no one wanted to dance with Finn he just grabbed the nearest man to him, which just happened to be Seth. Poor Seth gave everyone a pained expression then had no choice but get dragged off by Finn. After that everyone continued doing his or her activities.
Jess had been watching the whole time and was amused by Finn's escapades. It seemed that wherever he went Finn was always doing something outrageous.
The musicians that had been hired for this occasion had finished setting up and started playing. Rory and Logan started off by waltzing. They made a beautiful couple and they fit together so well; they looked magnificent when they took a turn about the dance floor on their own. Logan was a strong lead and they looked like professionals because they made it look so easy. Soon other couples joined in.
Jess watched as lady's flitted their fans and gossiped behind them and men enjoyed a cigar now and again. He watched as some of the merry makers found their way to the activities while the others just stood around mingling. Jess noticed some of the ladies take their miniature binoculars out of their reticules and watch an event unfold several feet away. It seemed so surreal.
Rory must say this was her all time favourite LDB event. She felt so alive here and she couldn't wait for the main event. She grabbed Logan's hand and pulled him off to the side. "So are you going to tell me what the main event is or do I have to wait like the others," asked Rory.
"Darling, patience is a virtue and the main event will happen when it happens," said Logan vaguely.
"Come on. Give me a clue, honey," Rory begged.
"Nope you just have to wait and see like the rest of them," said Logan.
Rory pouted she hated when Logan kept secrets such as this from her. She just couldn't wait for the main event to happen. She pretended that she was mad at him and faced the beach and its clear blue water.
Then Rory noticed something out of the ordinary. There appeared to be two helicopters coming towards the direction of the house. She knew that Mitchum had several helipads on the property for when business associates flew to the Compound instead of coming by car. She just didn't know why two of them were heading towards the house now.
"Umm…Logan why are tow helicopters coming towards us?" asked a confused Rory.
"Ace, have a little faith," said Logan.
Logan grabbed Rory's hand and dragged her in the direction of the helipads and Colin and Stephanie were a step behind them.
Dean watched Logan drag Rory off in the direction of the woods and assumed they wanted some time alone to do god knows what.
Jess also saw the direction the couple was heading towards; he also noticed Colin and Stephanie sneak that way. He got distracted when he noticed two helicopters head towards them but at the last moment change direction and head towards the woods.
When the two couples got to the helipad they saw the helicopters waiting for them. Rory looked at Logan and asked, "What exactly are we going to do, Hun?"
"Yee of little faith," replied Logan.
Logan grabbed Rory stepped into the helicopter and sat in the seat that was provided for them. He turned to Rory and said, "Do you trust me?"
"Yes, of course," she replied.
"Then let's get this show on the road," said Logan.
Jess watched the LDB replenish their glasses of champagne and stand in a clutter awaiting something, but he didn't know what. Then he heard the helicopters again, but this time it headed towards the clear water of the beach.
Jess watched in amazement as the helicopters stopped over a section of water with space between the two vehicles and two figures appeared to be in each of them. When the LDB had their glasses raised and were uttering their motto In Omnia Paratus Jess realized with a sinking feeling that the two figures in of the helicopters were Rory and Logan and Stephanie and Colin.
Jess watched in horror as the LDB chanted their motto: In Omnia Paratus, In Omnia Paratus, In Omnia Paratus. Finally on the last chant both couples jumped from the helicopters and into the water.
AN: Please, Please, Please Review