Nessa Cordelia Lux's Belated Birthday Bash!

"Amalie?"

She had been standing in the aisle of the supermarket, dressed in casual attire for once. A white tank and jeans, not expecting to be recognised or bump into anyone that she knew. Yet it happened, whilst she was standing in the alcohol aisle of Taezcos, a basket full of liquor bottles hanging from her arm. The last woman she'd ever expected to see was there calling her name. She glanced over, and for a moment, she thought it was her mother. The long white hair and semi-simular features eying her with a smirk. Except this woman was younger, and a lot more bubbly looking than Amalie's mother. It dawned on her who it was and her mouth dropped open slightly.

"Aunt Antoinette?" She remarked with genuine surprise. Her mothers younger sister, a woman she hadn't seen in many years. Her aunt walked over to her, embracing the blue-haired woman in a tight squeeze. Amalie froze, not in any way prepared for the encounter, nor comfortable with it. the woman let got and glanced her over with a warm smile.

"Amalie dear, it's been so long. I almost didn't recognise you, you were just a teenager when I last saw you. You're so grown up!" She crooned silkily, it had been an awfully long time. Amalie didn't know her aunt particular well, from what she understood. Her mother wasn't especially close to her younger sisters. Although her mother never quite said why Amalie always found them quite agreeable. Even Cordelia, when she had been alive had actually been nice to Amalie.

"Yes it has, are you well?" She remarked stoically, not really sure what else to say.

"Oh you know, fabulous as always. But let's not talk about lil ol' me. I'm more interested in you. You finally made use of that magic power bubbling up in there huh? I told Lana you had it in you, and that she should let me train you but she wouldn't have it, what did I know right? Look at you now, I can practically smell it on you." Amalie blinked in surprise, she didn't know that. Her mother had always made her believe that her aunts wanted little to do with her. This was... news to the Articulation mage. "Are you getting ready for a party? Me too, I've just come back from a long job. You remember Nessa? Cordelia daughter. She turns twenty this week, she's grown so much too. Such a gem. Amalie, you should come, oh please,  Nessa would be so happy to see you!" Amalie remembered her, the small white-haired child that was basically a replica of the Blossom Twins. She had always been quite perky and followed Amalie around whenever they spent any time together. Although it had been sparse, she had only met the girl three times in her entire life. "Oh I don't kno-" She began, fully ready to deny the older woman. Antoinette, however, cut her off sharply, wagging her finger at her niece.

"Ah, ah, ah. I won't take no for an answer, you're family. I expect to see you there, you can bring a friend of course. Oh and do pass the message on to Lana if you see her. She doesn't answer my letters these days." She remarked, shoving an invitation into Amalie's basket before turning on her heel. "See you soon hun~" The woman called in a sing-song force before walking off, her hips swaying exuberantly as she walked. Amalie stared after her, still in a bit of shock. Then sighing, she reached into her handbag with her free hand. Pulling out her iLac, she dialled one of the only numbers on the phone.

"Sivvy... It's Amalie. What are you doing on the third?"


The taxi-carriage pulled up outside the stadium, Amalie climbed out of it, she was wearing a long loose maxi-dress and a beach hat. She glanced back at Sivvy. "I appreciate you coming along." She commented, relieved at least to have someone she knew there. going to an event full of relatives, wasn't exactly Amalie's idea of fun. But hopefully, most of them wouldn't even recognise or interact with her. After all, she was Lana's daughter.

She made her way inside the stadium, she had bought a bottle of Cherry Brandy with a bow tied to it. Mainly because if things got bad and there wasn't any decent alcohol, she could just swipe it back later. Amalie eyed the beach layout before her. Huh, so the theme was accurate. Shrugging, she put the bottle on the sand for a moment, plopping off the beach hat and dropping it on top. She reached down, grabbing her dress and pulling it up over her body and over her head. Revealing a navy blue bikini beneath. She reached down and scoop up the hat and present.

"Guess we should find my cousin." She remarked blankly, looking around the beach for the girl.

WC: 823

This was her very first birthday party she'd ever attended.

It was a sad realization objectively, being as old as she was and having never had experiences most people take for granted. Sivvy had never had a birthday celebration at all for her or her sisters, let along attended someone else's. In the days prior to the event, the rosy-haired woman had extensively researched birthday party etiquette, including proper behavior and expectations for a beach themed situation. Though she didn't know the person being celebrated, Sivvy carried a gift anyway. It was an impeccably wrapped box with an elaborate bow, but inside was something a bit....eccentric. Those few that knew the clone probably wouldn't be too shocked at her choice, but in a party full of strangers it would probably raise an eyebrow or two. Since she'd asked Amalie what she was taking and found out she was bringing alcohol, Sivvy had whipped up something with her metal talents that would go with it. At first glance it looked like a simple, scaly dragon's egg made of polished copper, but once 'cracked' open it would reveal twin copper dragons. Each end of the shell became a drinking cup, and the tiny dragons could be tossed in the freezer to serve as ice cubes to keep a drink chilled without watering it down, while also looking cool as heck. Dragon eggs might be an odd theme to go with for a complete stranger, but one book mentioned choosing gifts that perhaps the gifter could also enjoy. Sivvy adored dragon stuff, so she assumed her choice would be agreeable to anyone.

The next concern had been attire. Today was chock full of firsts, as the clone had never been to a beach for enjoyment before. Her swim training had been done in the laboratory's pool while nude, and any experience she had with beaches had been for only a couple of jobs that required setting sail from a port or ridding an area of a sea monster. That said, she hadn't found sand enjoyable, since in her normal outfits it got in places it shouldn't and chaffed horribly. Now that she was entering the stadium in more appropriate attire, she could see how these garments were better suited. Her simple navy one-piece hid nicely under her fluttery white cover-up far away from the sand, and the lack of fabric on her legs and simple sandals allowed the gritty terrain to simply slough away with simple movement. For the occasion her hair was in a french brain instead of the usual loose pigtails.

As was usual in unfamiliar situations, she was watching Amalie like a hawk. When the slightly older woman paused to remove her covering, Sivvy did as well, folding the garment and placing it into her new beach bag that also contained a towel...and snacks, of course. Lots of snacks...just in case there weren't snacks here at the party. Or in case there weren't enough. It'd be rude of her to eat them all because she was hungry... "I don't mind coming along, Amalie," Sivvy commented to her friend, picking up her present and following behind the bikini glad woman. Looking down at her own suit, she wondered if she should have purchased one like hers...but it was unlikely her, er, top half would fill it out as nicely. "I've never been to something like this, so the experience will do me well. Maybe I'll learn how to throw these for the members.." the pink-haired girl mused.


[586]

Was he truly ready? Aven tapped his foot impatiently on the roof of a nearby building, staring indecisively at the stadium. He'd been in the middle of training in the Courtyard of the Alveron Estate, when Lucy interrupted him with the delivery of a letter. The maid hadn't been especially happy about the identity of the sender, treating the envelope more or less like a dirty piece of laundry, but it was delivered all the same; even with her eccentricities, Lucy knew not to tamper with the Family's correspondence. He'd been in the middle of a set, attempting to push the limits of his new magic power, but still, he didn't receive many letters, so the occasion stood out.

Occasion, of course, was the key word, and a pit had formed in Aven's stomach, one that remained there to this very moment. Whether by choice, or by necessity, he'd abandoned his Team on a crucial mission, left them to fend for themselves without even a word of warning. He'd only been to the guild once since then, and it'd been mostly empty, his only encounter being a young woman named Valery.

Aven pursed his lips tightly. That was right; he had more to apologize for than just abandonment, didn't he? All that time knowing her, and all he'd ever done was toy with Nessa, errantly push the boundaries of what could have been a great friendship, devoid of the complications of 'man and woman'. Looking back, he wished he could take all of that back, and just be the friend Nessa wanted, the one that had promised to stay by her side.

He took a seat on the edge of the roof, one foot dangling off the side. Knowing what he did now, there was a small hope inside of him: it was possible that all of this was just a one-sided drama, just an Aside to the audience of the grand Stage Play he was performing in, and when he turned back to Nessa from the crowd, she would be none the wiser. That could be best, he thought, if what Nessa truly wanted was simply a friend, and Aven knew what could happen if the two of them crossed that line of companionship. He was a man of his word, it's was the Alveron way, and to even entertain an action that could force him to break his promise; it was almost unthinkable. Almost... he clutched tightly at the silky white button-down draped over his shoulders. That word hurt to ponder, but the pain was no greater than the ache in his chest, as he resolved to bottle up his feelings.

Strength, he knew, came from a clear mind, and thus, he fought to purge his thoughts of doubt. Aven would keep his promise, not just because it was his oath as an Alveron, but because it was the most he could do for both Nessa, and himself, to be a good friend. After all, in less than a month, he would be twenty-four years old: it was about time he let go of the past, and forge a better future. A few pats to his cheeks did the trick as he stood, skipping off the roof and onto the cobble below, only meters away from the Stadium, a small tuft of light escaping the bottom of his foot as his magic shielded his body from the impact. The breeze wafted past, causing his shirt to wave backward like a misshapen cloak, revealing the numerous lines of Radiant magic that wandered wantonly over his toned chest. He glanced down, a smile beginning to form. He hadn't been to the beach since his encounter with Grim Heresy, and now was as good a time as any.

The venue was just as spectacular as he'd imagined, a number of wizards already congregating for the festivities. Glancing around, he saw a surprising number of familiar faces; Little Arcadia was there, Mura and his spirits, even the Guild Master of Silver Wolf, Leona Jarnefeldt! The light pulse of his Radiance lines grew steadily quicker, in response to the level of concentrated magic power in the area: whether intended or not, this was a gathering of transcendentally powerful Wizards, the energy from Leona far greater than he remembered from their Duel. He smiled a bit brighter at the thought of a rematch, someday.

As his gaze and senses shifted, the surprises didn't end. Over by a large pile of presents was none other than Samira Nasaar, in the flesh. He'd never seen her in person, and admittedly, she appeared much more slender and beautiful than he'd imagined someone with such a monstrous magic presence to be. Perhaps, a few months ago, Aven would have frozen in place, stunned at being so close to the pinnacle of magical achievement: however, his stride was unbroken. He stood nothing to gain by being timid, nor shying away from strength. Perhaps, he would introduce himself later; there were any number of things he could learn by speaking with a Wizard of her caliber.

The next patron he spied, however, did give him a small bit of pause, and for good reason. It was Amalie, the wizard with a stare as icy as his mother's; or, at least, what his mother used to have. Drani Alveron had lost a bit of her edge, as of late, a detail easily lost on Aven. He walked onward, a bit wary to keep his gait at a pace to stay clear of the wizard. He was here to attend Nessa's birthday, after all, not feud with a cranky middle-aged woman. On the same token, he stealthily sneaked behind a few of the awnings of the beach area to avoid the other dangerous middle-aged woman in the vicinity. Getting spotted by Antoinette would be more trouble than he wanted to deal with at the moment, when he still hadn't found Nessa in the crowd. She'd eventually sniff him out, but for the time being, he was careful to bide his time. Mr. Lux was cooking up some food, as well, he'd definitely have to make a stop for a burger or something, as directed by a short rumbling from his stomach.

There were several other wizards present that he didn't recognize, all of which he made a point to introduce himself to later. It would be useful to know as many Wizards as possible, and this casual party setting was a great place to make new friends and allies. Finally, of course, he spotted Nessa among a small gathering of guests, and as they parted, Aven strode forward. His smile was different now, somehow: the gentleness that had been his signature for so long was less prominent, an air of confidence now equal in measure. Nevertheless, it was a bright and friendly as ever, perhaps even more so as he met her eyes.

"It's been a while, Nessa, Happy Birthday; and just when I thought I would've caught up to you, you've gone grown even more." Aven shook his head in mock shame, glancing at Sebastian. "Wasn't it your job to keep her small and cute forever, Sebastian? She's growing up, what happened?" He settled for making a few jokes; here was no reason to damped the mood of the party with an apology, he wanted Nessa to have a great time at her party. Maybe, some time later, they could talk, but for now, he was going to enjoy himself.

Amalie turned her gaze to the rose-haired woman accompanying her, she nodded as she explained she didn't mind attending the event with her. It was admittedly a relief to the Articulation mage. She hadn't ever had someone she could invite to anything before, but then again she'd never had anything to be invited to. If she went anywhere in the past, it was always as Wyatt's guest and nothing more. Things certainly had changed, for Amalie to have a fellow female companion that she could be comfortable around. It was surreal but also kind of pleasant. Women had always hated her for reasons she couldn't understand; jealousy, spite, or whatever unhealthy grudge they lingered to. Amalie never quite understood nor cared to ask why. But Sivvy was different, she was easy to be around and she didn't seem to respond the Amalie's cold, direct manner the way most women did.

"Me neither, I've always wondered what a beach looked like." She would glance around, it was prettier than she expected. She'd seen pictures in magazines and the like but the closest the woman had ever come to a vacation was her honeymoon. Which had involved a rented cottage in the mountains with a fireplace and hot-tub. It had been nice, scenic, but not much of an experience. It had also been the first time Wyatt had ever shown her his true nature. As she scanned the beach, she laid eyes on a twenty-two-year-old girl, with long white haired that trailed down her back and violet eyes. "Oh there she is..." Her cousin was, as pretty and perky as Amalie remembered. Like a mini Antoinette, she had certainly grown since Amalie last saw her. The last memory she had of the girl was a bubbly little six years old, following her around their grandmothers garden, holding the back of her dress in an attempt to keep up.

It was then that Amalie's gaze fell on someone making their way towards them, it took her a moment to realise who it was. Because quite frankly, she almost didn't recognise him in those clothes. Amalie arched a brow, the grin that split across her face was too immediate to prevent, she brought her hand to her face covering her devilish grin. Johann was walking towards them, greeting them most amicably, dressed in khaki shorts and an open Hawaiian shirt. The woman couldn't help herself, the sight of him dressed like that wholly amusing and well, kind of adorable. The always so serious man dressed like a retiree, Amalie took a moment to contain her amusement. Clearing her throat, "Good to see you too Johann, nice shirt." She said with a wink. Before glancing around to seek the answer to his question, "I think the drinks ar-"

"Amalie."

The name was spoken so suddenly and sharply, that it took her by surprise. Cutting her off as she spoke, the smile immediately faded, she glanced around to see who it was. Although she knew instantly who it was. Her eyes fell on a woman in her sixties, with white-haired pinned tightly in a bun, wearing a summery dress. Amalie stiffened slightly at the sight of her.

"Aurelia." She replied in a short tone, the woman tilted her head back slightly to sneer at the younger woman. The was no warmth between the woman, in fact, the air felt very tense all of sudden.

"That's no way to address your Grandmother, still the insolent brat as always." She would turn her gaze to Sivvy and Johann for a moment, the woman's eyes were ice blue, much like Amalie's, except her gaze was considerably cooler. "Are these your guests?"

"Yes, well actually Sivvy here is. Johann is um... Nessa's guest?" She turned her gaze to the man questioningly, wondering how it was that he actually knew her cousin. It was a small world it seemed. "This is my Grandmother, Aurelia Blossom." She told them, Amalie returned her gaze to Aurelia, who was no longer paying any attention to Johann and Sivvy.

"What happened to that's lowlife husband of yours?" Amalie's fingers curled into tight fists, she gritted her teeth, feeling her temper beginning to rise.

"He couldn't make it." She hissed, Aurelia wouldn't miss this, her eyes narrowingly dangerously.

"Don't take that tone with me, Amalie. Tch, you really are Lana's daughter, I had hoped you wouldn't turn out the be the disappointment that she was. Alas, here we are." Amalie bit the inside of her cheek, the normally calm, collected woman could feel herself creeping towards the edge of her tether. She may have been a little calmer had this been a private conversation, but she was doing this all in front of the two people she considered herself closest to. Her face split into a smirk and she chuckled softly.

"Well, better the daughter of a whore than the mother of one right?"

CRACK!

The slap had been too fast for Amalie to avoid, Aurelia's hand hit her cheek hard, causing her face to whip to the right. Amalie took a second to digest what had happened, quelling the instantaneous rage that had threatened to rise within her. She took a breath before raising her hand up in front of Sivvy. A message for her not to react, as much as she loathed her Grandmother, she didn't want Sivvy to drown her in the sea.

"You dare speak to me that way, you abhorrent child, after everything I did for you." Amalie dragged her gaze back to the woman, her expression blank. She really wanted to tear her down, expose her for the rubbish she was spouting. She opened her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by another voice joining the fray. Interrupting Amalie before she could say anything.

"Gran, What are you doing? What's going on?"

---

Sivvy walked along with Amalie, taking in the sheer amount of people at this party. Was this the average level of attendance? Or was this Nessa person just so amicable that this many would go out of their way to celebrate the anniversary of her birth. The whole idea was still foreign to her, since she'd never even celebrated her own birthday before, let alone have others get this excited for it. Despite the unfamiliarity, Sivvy couldn't deny that she wanted to run out into the water, or perhaps bask in the warm sand like a salamander. Her thoughts were jarred as a familiar greeted them both and she turned to bask in the unfamiliarity that was her mentor, Johann, right now. Carmine hues blinked a few times, taking in the man she'd never seen without one of his uniforms or the rare work-out outfit, let alone what he was sporting now. She looked him up and down, then tilted her head slightly to the left. "You should have let me pick out your shirt, sir," Sivvy commented flatly, eyeing the garment with something edging close to distaste, though it was hard to tell with her normally stoic expression still in place. However, while it might seem she thought the pattern too garish, in fact it was the opposite. If he'd let her pick it out, it most definitely would have been brighter and somehow covered with more flowers, possibly even textured ones since that was her 'style'. If he was going to go for it, he should have gone all the way. This coming from someone wearing a rather reserved navy once piece...if only because she hadn't been sure of herself in the swimsuit before. Maybe she'd add some flowers to it as the party went on. If Johann and Amalie were looking for drinks, she imagined they'd be here for quite a while.

The levity of the whole event was rapidly extinguished as an aging person approached. People could say what they wished to her and about her, but speaking in such negative tones so obviously hateful that even someone like Sivvy could pick them up didn't sit well with the metal slayer. It became clear that this surly raisin was Amalie's grandmother, which shattered her image of what a person with such a title should be like. This lady was nothing like the squishy grannies from the books she read, trying to feed everyone and doting on them. There must be some mistake in her understanding.

"I believe your tone is a bit rude for a party, Mrs. Blossom," Sivvy commented to the elderly woman, expression edging slowly into the cooler side of emotionless even as her words were ignored. The small smile she normally sported to seem friendly was now quite the opposite. The small frown was just barely there, but paired with frigid sanguine eyes, the new expression was quite startling. How dare she speak to her friend in such a way. Sivvy had always thought about what it'd be like to have a normal family with a mother, father, grandparents, and such. It'd been a nice day dream she never spoke of and periodically wondered about. How would her life had changed if she had such people in her life? She'd assumed for the better, but this old lady was quickly changing he perception of it all. If this is what family was, she'd much rather remain a test-tube baby with no relatives. Much less complicated and infuriating, especially when you couldn't apparently kill relatives like you could random offenders. It was a very good move to Amalie to hold her hand up in front of the clone, because one second later and she'd have been giving grandma a sea burial. Even though she didn't act per Amalie's unspoken request, that didn't mean her body language was any less threatening.

Somehow potentially more frightening was 7's ability to seemingly flip a switch and turn off her dangerous, arctic expression and immediately return to the non-threatening little smile she normally had. As soon as the grandmother was removed from the situation by the birthday girl herself and the clone found herself being greeted, Sivvy acted as if the whole thing had never happened. "It's nice to meet you, Nessa. Happy birthday," the young woman said, reaching out to offer a handshake to the snowy headed girl. "I'm designated 7, but my friends call me Sivvy. You may as well, if you want," she introduced herself politely, though now seeing the perky girl, she actually felt anxious that her gift would be a flop.


[1354]