Issue 1 Downtime

((Starting this now, since it's supposed to be a long party, and doesn't need to conflict with anything))

True to her invite, and subsequent invites that had gone to new people, anyone calling the provided number would be given transportation. They'd be taken to a little location outside London, where... frankly, there didn't seem to be anything.

They'd be led into a field, a fairly short walk, where there was a small cave that had obviously been conditioned for people to comfortably use. It would lead people down a short ways before things started looking out of place.

There was a marble doorway, leading into a room like something out of ancient Rome, with columns supporting the cavern, fancy stonework, and tapestries hung everywhere to warm up the underground surroundings.

In this first room, people would be informed of the dress code (namely, togas), and would be provided with clothes to wear and a suitably private place to change. They would, of course, see that everyone already there was thus dressed, making it seem... well, a somewhat apropriate choice of clothing.

There were three main chambers in the cavern. The first was the feast hall, where a long, low marble table was surrounded with red velvet pillows for lounging on while everyone ate. The food looked like it had been exquisitely prepared, and there was quite a lot of it (and more being brought in all the time), with an unbelievable selection.

The second chamber was the dance hall, with music (being played live by a rotating selection) of all varieties being played for people's enjoyment.

The third chamber was the gladiator hall. People in actual gladiator dress were doing combat for the enjoyment of the guests, although the guests were more than welcome to participate if they wished.

Victoria herself, draped loosely in her toga, reclined at the head of the feast table. The girls with her might be recognized (though probably not out loud) as a choice selection of the girls she got on best with at Xzotic, and suitably their togas (like Victoria's) were a bit more risque. Serving boys and girls, all scantily clad (though all decent) bustled about, serving people in whatever ways they liked.

Also true to Victoria's word, there was a smaller chamber off behind the feast hall, where comfortable bedding could be found, as well as more private chambers off of that one with curtains providing ensured privacy.

((Presuming that Meg was one of the 'new people'. If not, let me know and I'll pull her out))

With a day's worth of rest and recharge, Megan was closer to her old self. And her old self enjoyed a good party.

Though she had to wonder, as she saw the require clothing, just what she was walking into in the process.

Changed and feeling surprisingly comfortable in the toga, Meg was more than a bit surprised at just how expansive the party was. And the eye candy wasn't too bad to look at, on either side of the proverbial street.

"Mmm, welcome, darling," Victoria practically purred from where she was reclining on her pillows, a scantily clad girl's head in her lap and some lavish dish in front of her that she was eating leisurely. "What's your pleasure or your vice, however you'd like to look at it?"

"The night's young, love, so I'm going to take my time," Meg said, smiling. "Though I have to wonder just how much energy I'm going to have before the evening's out."

Victoria smirked. "Evening? Dear, this party runs straight through tomorrow. Beds are in the back if you need your beauty sleep. Or for whatever other purpose you might have."

Though she didn't utter a sound, Meg's mouth simply said "Oh", and a bit of a blush came to her cheeks.

Victoria smirked. "Don't worry. As far as I'm concerned, what happens here stays here. I'm like Vegas. Only classier."

"In that case, time for me to grab some food." She waved to Victoria, as she headed off to get something to eat. "Hail the returning heroes," she said as she walked off, grinning broadly.

"Awww, I missed your friend." Serena said, settling back down beside Victoria "She's cute."

Simon walked in with his arm around Chloe's waist, his chalk-white toga showing off a bit of his chest. It had taken a little while to get the thing on in such a way that his tail was given at least some token freedom.

"Wow. This is... this is what the inside of Caligula's head must have looked like."

"That she is," she agreed, patting the next set of pillows for Serena to join her. "Of course, I'm not lacking for lovely company."

"You never are." Serena said, almost pouting as she settled in beside Victoria.

"Yes, I should say so." Chloe said, blushing as she tried to pull the hem of her...um, dress, thingy a tiny bit lower.

Simon gave Chloe's waist a gentle squeeze, leaning over to kiss her temple lightly.

"Hey, just relax and have fun, okay? If things get too weird we'll leave, I promise."

"Oh, and this should be interesting," she added in an undertone to Serena. Then, her voice rising again, she smiled to greet the new arrivals. "Chloe! Simon! Lovely of you to join us tonight. Come have a seat, enjoy the food! It all meets my approval, and that ought to say something!"

"Hi, Victoria." Chloe said as they walked over "Thanks for inviting us, it seems like a lovely party."

"Good evening Ms. Valentine." Simon grinned, bowing just a bit to the empress. "Yeah, this place is amazing."

While his spoke his tail wrapped around Chloe's thigh, the tip teasing just at the hemline of her skirt. Just because she was in front of others.

"Oh, it will be," Victoria said with a gleam in her eye. "Now... what can I get you? The wine is especially good." The servers approached, all of them exceptionally lovely, almost etherial in the light they were in, all bearing various refreshments.

"Well, when in Rome." Simon gave an almost apologetic look to Victoria, knowing how often she would be hearing that tonight. He took a goblet of wine from one of the servants, thanking them softly.

"Some mineral water would be fine." Chloe said, trying to avoid squeaking as Simon's tail drifted into into not entirely appropriate places.

Meg wandered into the music room, a wine goblet in hand. Though it wasn't her normal preference for music, it was still something that attracted her attention. She settled down to listen while sipping her wine.

"Are you going to introduce me to your friend, Simon?" Elizabeth asked from her seat near Victoria.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Simon said. "Serena, this is my girlfriend Chloe. Chloe, this is Serena. We work at a bar together." It wasn't quite the truth but far from a lie. He'd just chosen to leave out some key details.

"Nice to meet you." Chloe said, waving awkwardly at the other girl. "You didn't mention that you'd gotten a job." she said to Simon.

Victoria quirked an eyebrow, smirking slightly at Simon.

"Well you've been kind of busy lately. And you know, saving the world and all.

"I'm working as a bouncer at a bar. It's just until I get enough cash for Will's bachelor party."

"Oh." Chloe said "You didn't mention. But thats nice of you, to help out Will like that."

"Simon is such a sweet heart." Elizabeth purred "I don't know what we'd do without him. All of the girls at work just adore him.

Victoria just reclined on her pillows, watching the situation developing.

"I didn't?" Simon tilted his head. "I thought I did. I meant to anyway."

"Its ok." Chloe said "I'm glad you get along with the people you work with. What was the name of the bar, again?"

And, as if on that note...

"C'mon, Sara, it's just a piece of clothing," a voice came from the back.

"No it's not. It's a tablecloth." an annoyed voice answers. "It's silly..."


Nevertheless Sara's wearing one of the togas as she follows Will into the main room a few moments later.

Will was still a little shiny--no longer, like, reflective, but enough to make him look quasi-oiled up just walking around.

He was acting very comfortable with his surroundings, like he was there all the time. It was a GOOD act, but Victoria and Sara could probably both tell that it was just that.

"Good afternoon, Victoria," he said, smiling.

Victoria gave Serena a little peck on the head, then snapped her fingers for one of the muscley servers to help her to her feet. "I'll be back shortly, you three just carry on." Smiling, she flounced over to the entrance. "Will! Sara! Lovely of you to join us tonight!" she purred.

"We figured dropping by for a bit was the least we could do. This must have taken a lot of effort to organize." she smiles, although it doesn't take a genius to see that she's not entirely comfortable in her skin right now.

"It's VERY impressive," Will said, very impressed.

Victoria smiled. "Well come in, then. Sit. Eat. If you're feeling up to it, dance. Enjoy life, enjoy company, that's what this day is about after all," she said, ushering them in to piles of pillows up near the head of the table. She snapped her hands again, and help hurried over to help Sara down to the floor without taxing her tenuous balance in her ready-to-pop state.

Sara lets herself be helped into the pillow-pile without much objections, although she is somewhat thankful for it.