exitium.starters

"Don't touch that, thank you" Keelin scolded as she removed a particularly expensive heirloom from the wandering hands of a guest and pointed down the hall, "the ballroom is that way. This part of the compound is off limits." Klaus had willingly let the vultures into their home; a home that she had once shared with her wife and their children. No life remained within the walls now, instead it was just bricks and mortar. 'Are you kidding me' was hissed beneath her breath as the sound of footsteps approached, to which Keelin raised her voice, "I thought I told you, this room's out of bounds."

Now Juri wasn't the type to get exhausted easily. But the bartending was getting to him. Not because he thought it was beneath him, but because bartending while deaf was probably equal to juggling while blind, it's not impossible but it's a hard task. Juri did manage it though. As he turned around he placed the sticky notes to the newest customer.

"Just write what you would like to order and we'll see what we can do. ^^ Heads up we are out of bourbon for the next hour or so. "

He grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing server as he finished dancing with someone before handing one to them. Turning when he felt like he heard his name, he brushed it off as him hearing things. Turning back to his dance partner, though, he found them gone. "Well damn," he said with a sigh, "now this is awkward"

she had sneaked away from the main party to find some peace and quiet for just a moment. it was odd to think that just a year ago she had felt so unfamiliar with the compound when she would visit it or drop charlee off. it was even more odd to think just a year ago she had been leaving in a trailer and now she lived in this compound. someone entering the room she had been using as her hiding spot gained her attention, a brow raising in jest at them. "you really shouldn't be in here, you know--" peyton said it, but she could care less about where the guest roamed as long as they didn't find the room with the kids in it.

She sat at one of the many tables, lucky enough to get one that was vacant - which surprised her seeing as how many people were here. “New Orleans parties are one hell of a thing,” she mused to herself, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. “God I hate being single,” she groaned, “it’s so… boring”

Despite it being over a year after the last party, he couldn't hold back the slight amount of nerves that had crept up on him. He had gotten better with controlling his emotions, but it was one of those nagging feelings eating away in the back of his head. "Anyone seen a girl this high," he said, hovering a hand to the height of Saphira, "goes by 'Saph' - short but spicy?"

He sighed, wondering why he was being brought into this petty argument and why it had anything to do with him. Right, his eyes - one of the most trademark features of his. Most thought he wore eyeliner but in actuality his eyes were just... they were like this. "Wanna know how I do it?" he asked as he leaned over to one of the people, "I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you afterwards," he said with a kind smile, gently patting them on the shoulder before beginning to walk off. "Idiot" he murmured before leaning against the bar. "I keep forgetting how annoying these things are"

after making a few rounds, her plans to be a wallflower for the rest night was going quite well. standing back and soaking in everyone and everything until it was time to silently make her exit. there were two people she had yet to see, her lovely daughters-- she could not wait to see what beautiful ensemble they'd dressed themselves in; she told herself once she spent some time with them and with rebekah she'd call the night be a success. "oh, yes please." the vampire gushed in a soft sing song voice to the waiter, her eyes scanning the tray of assorted confectionery, dipping a finger in one of the frosted items to get a taste.

Ellis was absolutely using the masquerade as an opportunity to snoop around the compound, even securing himself a cloak room hook-up to pass the time and save himself from forced conversation. However, despite the very clear inference on the invitation for the future of the city and the OEA moving forwards, he had no intention of bending the knee to the tyrant hunters of New Orleans. 

“I suppose nothing screams a party louder than cocktails and coercion” he grumbled abandoning his search and admiring a tapestry hanging on the wall. "As psychotic as they might be, I can’t deny that they have impeccable taste.”

Everything about the facade that had been orchestrated by the OEA and now by the Mikaelson's felt false. From the moment he'd stepped into the hall of the compound, the atmosphere had been palpable, as if everybody in attendance was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. And whilst he knew that his father wouldn’t be amongst those attending; far too intelligent to risk it, it didn’t stop the unpleasant thoughts of 'what if' from plaguing Asher's subconscious.

The entire evening was going to be testing out those new skills he'd acquired in therapy, but he wasn’t going to allow for his anxiety – nor his obsession with locating his father rule him. Instead, he knew that he had to remain alert.

Despite the intention to remain alert, he figured that one glass of champagne wouldn't hurt and as he took a sip, he kicked himself for what he was about to say, "shit, this tastes more expensive than an entire months salary."

"I look stupid" Andreas grumbled, tugging at the top button of his collar just so that he could breathe. His grumble however was interrupted by the presence of a waiter offering appetizers; instead of just taking one the dragon pulled the entire tray from their grasp and began shovelling them into his mouth four at a time. "Yo" he spluttered, chewing obnoxiously "you gotta try this shit."

It was the same people who once told him they felt caged by the OEA... but they, in return, had been caging him. Maybe he understood their perspective now, but... now he wanted to strike back. With every nerve in his body, he had to prevent himself from striking first. He had half a mind to spike the guests' drinks with vervain or wolfsbane, but he knew he had to save face—play along with Klaus's orders. Refusing would give suspicions he couldn't afford.

He hadn't picked a side back then, but now his choice was as clear as ever, and despite appearances, it was not Klaus to whom he remained loyal.

TJ approached the guests with a forced smile. "Would you care for a refreshment?" he offered.

@exitiumstarters

Stepping inside, she scoffed at the sight. OEA members and the supernatural, occupying the same room like nothing was wrong. Like their very existence hadn't been threatened. Davina moved towards the bar, cutting through the crowd and flagging the bartender down. "Glass of pinot, please. I'm not getting through this sober."

She had been radio silent in the last year, her daughter being the only person she ever reached out to whether it was wanted or not aside from Aliyah and now that she was back in New Orleans she had to admit there was a small out of nerves built up within her frame. She'd never show it, always maintaining that level of control and confidence she always had but also the tranquil meditation she had picked up on her travels making it easier to stay more in control of herself. Still stepping into the Mikaelson compound brought with it a slight thrill, knowing she was more or less wanted in New Orleans, hood covering her head, mask concealing her identity and a grin slowly crept across her features as she approached the bar, digits rising to gently pull the hood back. "Whiskey neat please," Eveleigh requests from the bartender before turning the person beside her. "The Mikaelson's sure do always impress with their outrageous parties, don't they?"