callipygos | holiday party post

Aphrodite's New York loft is done up to the nines.

The first good look as one enters is of twinkling Manhattan through the big windows, lights bright against a dark winter sky. The windows take up most of two walls; the rest of the space is largely empty, the star of the show a glowingly polished hardwood floor perfect for dancing.

There's a cluster of low-slung couches and chairs at one end of the room, velvet and leather and very inviting. They're situated by the fireplace, which lends them a cozy glow-- though it isn't cold anywhere in here, despite the windows.

Aphrodite is very proud of a few things about tonight:

1) The music, which spans a decent range of time periods and tempos, and will be playing for most of the evening.
2) The decorations, understated but quite lovely: softly glowing lights, silver and gold ribbons wound around columns and draped from the ceiling ... the occasional strategically placed bit of mistletoe.
3) Her dress.

And yes, darlings, there is a very well stocked bar and counter full of snacks.

That's what happens when you enlist the Three Graces to help you plan your shindigs.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"True, but it's a party hosted by a goddess in some nebulous time frame in some questionable version of New York. Surely that's got to count for something."

"Yes, I suppose it must," she says with a smile, finally conceding to Mike.

"When you put it that way, it's all rather a lot to take in."

"It is indeed. I keep waiting for the novelty to wear off, but...there's no sign of that happening."

"You sound as if you've been adventuring for quite some time."

"I wouldn't say a long time, but it has been a while, yeah."

"Any words of wisdom for the less experienced among us?"

"Don't panic. It's okay to be scared or angry or really any other reactionary emotion you can think of, but refrain from panic if you can manage it."

"I may not get accustomed to all this, but that I hope I can manage."

Panic is, after all, a lower class emotion. Ladies retain their composure.

"Well if the back of your head hasn't come flying off in fear by this point, I'm pretty sure you're good to go."

Mary reaches up to her neck, which appears not to be severed.

"What a gruesome prospect! But I seem to be safe. What a relief."

Hopefully her deadpan delivery doesn't completely mask the amusement in her eyes.

Not only does Mike recognize a good deadpan when he sees one, he's particularly impressed with hers.

"For both of us, and for a myriad of reasons."

Even a lady can possess a healthy sense of humor. It's almost a necessity in dealing with society.

"Indeed. But where are my manners? We haven't been introduced. I am Lady Mary Crawley."

"Hamato Michaelangelo," he says offering his hand to accept hers in such a way as to STRONGLY hint that there's a kiss in it for her.

He saw this in a movie once.
Chances are good it was on PBS.

Mary offers her own be-gloved hand in return.

PBS is not entirely inaccurate.

If one doesn't take his training into consideration, the kiss that he presses onto the back of her hand might just be the most proper thing Mike's ever done.

"But please, call me Mike. Where I'm from full names serve only one purpose: to let you know you're really in trouble."

It's oddly informal to call anyone besides a family member—or a servant—by their Christian name. On the other hand, it might be easier than deciphering a strange foreign name. Mr. Hamato? Mr. Michaelangelo? Wait...

"I believe I met a friend of yours on my first visit to Milliways, Lady Thayet. She spoke kindly of you.

"It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Mike."

Yeah...that's a genuinely surprising thing to hear.

"The pleasure is all mine," he says still a touched confused.

"Theyet said something nice about me?
...

Wow. That sounds bad," he covers quickly. "It's just, I mean she's great! I just didn't think, you know, that she paid me any attention, to be honest."

"Shouldn't she have?" Mary asks.

"She definitely called you a friend, which would seem quite an honor coming from a Lady such as herself.

She also told me you are the barman at Milliways. I confess I expected someone... different."

"Oh no joke, it's totally an honor. It's just one I didn't know I had until now."

He's looking awful chuffed all of a sudden.

"You were expecting someone taller, weren't you."