Invitations and Preparations

Luck was on the Blazing Guns' side. A week later, they'd stumbled across Humphrey's Peak while looking for a place to get supplies; it was easier to go into town for basic ones than to find where in the world Ryokman got to. They soon found out that the Maxwell Gang was also in town so Clive could see his family. Jessica found Virginia at the well drawing water for her canteen; Jet was standing behind her, but insisted that he had nothing better to do. It was now time to make her move and approach them.

"Good afternoon Big Brother, Virginia," Jessica called, "Guess what I've got for you two?"

"You'll agree to leave us the hell alone about our relationship from now on? Jeez Jessica, you know that Virginia and I are just good friends. We only danced at that party because she didn't want to deal with some strangers who only respected her for her title," Jet retorted. Virginia sighed; she knew that Jet would definitely sidestep the issue with his sister in fear of the constant teasing she threw out.

Jessica replied, "Nope! I've been talking to Alfred and Maya, and they've agreed to hold a party for the Festival of the Guardians on December 20th. We figured that would give the rest of us some time to get to our homes and spend the holiday itself with our families. And, the best part is that Maya agreed to let us use her big mansion for the celebration! So she asked me to go find you and spread the word."

Virginia, a young woman with braided brown hair and bright blue eyes, smiled at her friend. She had on a purple skirt and vest, dress shirt, leather boots, white gloves, a red headband, a leather apron, and a belt holding her duel pistol holsters. As Vincent's twin sister, she was the rightful heir to Doria's throne, and wore the Royal Heirloom, the Teardrop, around her neck. "Sounds like fun! I'm sure the rest of the boys will love to go. Won't you Jet?" She glared at her friend; Jessica's brother who was physically 21 years of age. He looked identical to his sister with silver hair and violet eyes. However, the young man had on jeans, a black shirt, leather fringed vest, a pair of green wristbands held tight with black belts, an arm guard on his right hand, leather shoes with a green belt over the top, and a leather belt with a machine gun clip attached to provide ammo for his special ARM, the Airget-lamh BV/2.

"Whatever," the boy muttered, "I could care less if we go to a party or not. But you'll definitely want to be there because you'll get to spend time with all your friends. Since I'll get dragged there by my scarves if I refuse, I'll just go ahead and agree." The scarves in questions, a ratty red one and an equally tattered white one, had been confiscated by Catherine Winslett to be washed and dried for the youth.

"I knew you'd see reason Jet. And Clive and Gallows will want to go as well. Thanks for the info Jessica. We'll see you at the Scroedinger's mansion in about a month then," Virginia replied. With a smile, young Jessica rushed back to find her friends and begin making her plans for the gathering.

S...S

She gathered a spring of fake mistletoe, since Filgaia was hard pressed to find it for real even in Doria, a long stick she'd discovered last time she returned home, and some clear string. Though Frisky wanted to take the string from her, Jessica simply tossed a small piece of it over to the other side of the gun room. Then, she tied the string to both the mistletoe and the pole, and began smirking widely.

Jessica told her pet, "This is just perfect! We just have to hang it over the heads of everyone at the party from the shadows, then watch them kiss. Perfect time to get my brother to pull the stick out of his butt and show Ginny some emotion. Danced with her so she didn't have to do it with strangers my ass! He likes her Frisky, I know he does." The tiger replied by running over with the excess string in her mouth and dropping it to the floor. She then let out a small whine. Sighing, the young girl grabbed it and began waving it in front of Frisky's face while the creature jumped for it like a playful little house cat.

As the tiger cub jumped for the string, her mistress sighed. "Sometimes, I wonder if you even understand what I'm saying at all. Then again, what does it matter? At least I'm not talking to myself or a wall when we have these conversations. I'm just talking to someone who isn't listening to a word I say."

S...S

The party began growing ever closer. Whenever Jessica was alone, she would grab her mistletoe pole and begin practicing hanging it to look inconspicuous. Though she kept having to throw string to Frisky to keep her out of the way; the animal never seemed to realize the importance of her mistress's mission. This was the only chance they might have to help Jet and Virginia. As well as Gallows and Laura, and Vincent and Lyla. Jessica decided it would be best to make this a multiple strike. After all, what good would it to for only two of her friends to learn what it feels like to fall in love?

"Playing Raftina is hard work," she muttered, "But worth it. I'll finally get to see Big Brother smile for once in his life. And Mom won't have to worry about him so much afterwards; she'll know that Virginia will take good care of him. Plus, perhaps I'll shut Laura up and make Vincent and Lyle happy together."

She tossed the pole again, letting the mistletoe hang over her usual chair just low enough to touch the top of any victims' heads. Smirking, Jessica drew back her line and put it away. That was enough practice for one day. The girl knew all she needed now was to keep her aim in check. Her form was good enough, but she couldn't fall out of practice. That way, her plan would work come the party.

"Filgaia to Jessica! We've reached land. Vincent is going to go into Laxisland to get his ARM upgraded and Lyla is going with him. As for me…I'm heading for the bar," Laura shouted in the doorway.

That got Jessica moving. She knew what would happen if Laura was left in a bar all by herself. So with a single pat on the head and another tossed string for Frisky, the young priestess rushed after her flirtatious companion. This was only temporary, she told herself. After the party, Laura would learn to be more reserved. Even though she'd vowed earlier in the year to hold her alcohol, she really hadn't made any improvements at all. But with a more committed relationship, that would force her to be set straight.

Teefa's Last Words...

The party will start on time in the next chapter as planned. I didn't go off track! That'sfor me for one. I've got too many deadlines this semester that I have to keep this fanfic to the minimum number of chapters; I would have wrote it over the summer but I ended up working on my La Pucelle binge. And for the readers who probably want to get right to the good part anyway.