Circe's Manor THE NEXT

[AmbushCat]

((OOC: More than a year at this place without activity. Let's fix that, shall we? ))

Time: Early evening, April 2017

*The sound of excited breathing and rapid footsteps echo in the hallways. After a minute, the source of both---the maid Drew---slows to a stop outside the entrance to Circe's quarters.*

Drew: *calls out* Hey, lady boss! You in there? *knocks on the door*

[Ookalf]

(Activity? Here? Unheard of!)

Ugh... *Drew hears the sound of Circe moving around the room for a moment before she answers the door.* What do you want, Drew?

[AmbushCat]

*The maid has a look of excitement on her face, akin to someone discovering a million dollars beneath their bed.*

Drew: You gotta get over to the 1st-floor banquet hall, ASAP! The Harrison kids are here, and they're loaded with FOOD! They're getting things set up for a party, like, five minutes ago!

[Ookalf]

*Circe actually looks fairly surprised by this.* Really? I hadn't heard about that... *Without another word, Circe heads down to the banquet hall to see what's going on.*

[AmbushCat]

*Several things of note. First, Drew charges off ahead as soon as she's confirmed that Circe is on her way. Second, the nearer she gets to the banquet hall, the more she starts hearing background music.*

*Finally, when Circe gets there, she finds Abby Dubious seated on a chair near the doors. The staffer is staring at the doors warily, and she seems visibly relieved when her boss arrives.*

Abby: *stands up and pulls open the doors* Thanks for coming this evening, my lady. Everyone's expecting you.

[Ookalf]

Right... *Circe enters the room, wondering what exactly she's about to see.*

[AmbushCat]

*A large chunk of this shift's off-duty maids are already present, whether they're eating at the tables, standing around and taking in the sights, conversing in their own ways, or other things. One of the more technologically-minded staffers is operating a hastily set-up DJ station at one side of the room, from which the music Circe heard is playing.*

*As Drew said, there is a long line of tables upon which food and assorted drinks are being carted on over from outside the banquet hall. Several other maids are busy hanging streamers and balloons to the walls, while still others are placing stacks of plates, silverware, napkins, and paper cups close by.*

*The Harrison kids are all present and accounted for. Eebon is sipping from a cup of fruit punch and chatting it up with Joni (who appears to have undergone one of her Iridescent-based shifts); Echo is sitting in one corner, eating what's likely Fancy Feast while his ears are turned in mild annoyance at his surroundings; Elk is standing atop a maid's shoulders as she wheels food into the room, pretending to be a look-out; Ellen has started up a game of Bridge with three of the party-goers; and finally Ezekiel, currently in the form of a male felinoid...*

HUGS!

*...has decided to greet Circe as only he can, attaching himself to one of her legs when she walks in. Those closest to the scene have a collective facepalm.*

[Ookalf]

Ack, let go! *Circe lifts her leg and tries to shake Ezekiel off.* Does someone want to help here?

[AmbushCat]

Drew: *from where she was getting something to drink* Don't look me; I'm not going anywhere near that kid!

*From where she's playing Bridge, Ellen overhears the commotion. Sighing, she lifts her free hand and utters a few words in sequence, her arm glowing with power. The words are too soft to be heard over the noise in the hall.*

*Several things happen at once: #1: Circe is suddenly seen at the food tables, a cup of grape juice in her hand. #2: Drew is now standing where Circe had been just a moment before, an overly good-natured child stuck to her leg.*

Drew: *alarmed* What the--- HEY! What am I...! What's that kid doing?! *struggles violently to pull Ezekiel off* Leggo my leg, you little brat! *drags him out of the hall*

*So, um... problem solved?*

[Ookalf]

Ah, thanks, Ellen... *Circe glances back to where they left Drew.* So, that was some sort of location-swapping spell?

[AmbushCat]

Ellen: *half-distracted by her game* ...Yes. Needing to repeatedly pry Ezekiel off of people was getting tiresome, so my magic teacher helped me find a countermeasure. ...After she was hit with a weapons-grade glomp, that is.

[Ookalf]

Heh. Whatever the motivation, it certainly does seem useful... But more importantly, why exactly are you all throwing a party at my house without telling me?

[AmbushCat]

Ellen: *shrugs helplessly* ...Ask Eebon. She could explain it better than I could.

[Ookalf]

Right... If you'll excuse me, then. *Circe sets aside the drink she got from Drew and approaches Eebon.* So, Ellen tells me you're the one to talk about why all this is happening?

[AmbushCat]

*Joni excuses herself when she sees Circe approach, returning to the party. As for Eebon herself, she seems to have a grown a bit more since the two of them last met... which in all fairness has been a while. Her fur seems a bit glossier and neatly brushed.*

Eebon: Eh-heh-heh... yeah, there were a lot of leftovers after Callista's big party, gaw. She'll probably take some to you directly at the other place, but that still left behind no less than ten tons worth of fully cooked everything.