Roxanne had gotten used to @lachlan working all of the time. It had been understandable. The last event that had been held he had been unable to accompany her, but that hadn’t stopped her from going. Even with her upbringing in the orphanage the witch was a social creature and getting out was always an enjoyable experience for her. Especially now.

Just a few days before there had been an attack on the school and Roxy had had to rush in, helping to stand guard over the children as they came together in the Great Hall for a night. It wasn’t bad, but the way the Dark Mark had shone in the night sky was something else. Many of the younger kids were still upset. Her job had been tense ever since. Taking a night away from that was much needed and she was sure that Lachlan could agree to that.

Standing beside him the witch felt proud. He was handsome and she couldn’t imagine being with anyone else here tonight. “A drink sounds wonderful,” Roxy said with a smile, her hand resting easily in his.

Outfit

To say that @chet's words did little to calm Carys' nerves would be a bit of an understatement, considering her fears about seeming an idiot were almost doubled when he mentioned @nathan's prescence at the party. Her already nervous heartbeat sped up a little more at the knowledge and she swiped her hands on her bare legs to try to get them to stop being quite so awkwardly sweaty at the thought.

Chester knows Nathan then... Of course he does you dolt, they both play for the same team! Well there's no hope now I might as well just leave. You'll be fine as long as you don't ask about how his groin's doing after last time. WELL NOW I'M GOING TO ASK, AREN'T I? She argued in her mind as she smiled awkwardly and nodded at Chester, assuring him that she understood what he was saying.

'I... I'm sure that it'll be good to see them all,' she told him, trying to act as normally as possible. She'd told herself that she wouldn't go tripping around the place talking the ears off anyone tonight, so if she was going to stay then she should really limit her word count in case more people tended to think she was a bit crazy or something. It wasn't just Nathan she was nervous of, but to meet that many people who were no doubt the creme de la creme of Hogwarts and had remained the top of their game since? They were probably all just too cool, and she'd end up stammering at them or something.

'Hi Romilda!' Carys said, slightly shocked when the rockstar came over to speak to them and called her by name. It wasn't that she didn't remember having met the star, but rather that she was as unused to @ramilda actually remembering her as she was that @fenix had done the same. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. She told herself over and over again whilst she grinned down at the musician, her inner self jumping about as she held back a squeal akin to that of a fan meeting one of their idols... Which was what this party seemed to be coming to generally. 'Its lovely to see you too!'

If she met another person who she loved the music or work of or anything, Carys was almost sure she might faint or something... Well, probably embarrass herself to be honest considering she'd never fainted before. Thus, she found herself unconsciously wrapping her hand around Chester's bicep as she tried to hide her reaction, and blushed slightly when she realised, releasing it from her death grip.

Chester was engaged in conversation with a rather beautiful woman who she recognised to be another Quidditch player, and so Carys smiled at Romilda again, knowing that she was on her own with this one. Just be cool. Just be cool. Channel mum and dad and you'll do fine. Carys reeled off, slipping her arm from Chester's and nodding towards the waiters around the place.

'Drink?' She asked Romilda, knowing that there was little chance of the witch wanting to spend time with her at a party, especially when she was quite as uncool as she was, but hoping not to be abandoned as well. However, even if she was left along, if she could be in a position to escape to the kitchen when Nathan got there, she would be happy... Well, less inclined to make a fool of herself at least.

'I'm just going to get a drink, shall I get you anything?' Carys asked as she leaned in and whispered in her handsome friend's ear before stepping away and catching the attention of a waiter who was passing by.

When did Jaxon Cole turn down a party invitation? The full moon, NEVER! So, when he had gotten word of Fenix having a little get together, of course, he was going to attend. The only questions that really remained were: What to wear? And---Who to bring as his arm candy? There were no shortage of women (and men) that could be sent for. He kept his affiliations with others light. Even as there were repeated rendezvouses with those he enjoyed, he tried to keep everything casual. It made it easier to keep his secret without going without the companionship he was always craving.

The first conundrum for the party was resolved by an ensemble by Dolce and Gabbana. From shoes to undershirt, everything he wore was by the brand. He had a bit of a thing going with one of their lead designers--and it kept his closet full of the most fashion forward pieces the line had to offer. As for who to bring, he had just the witch in mind. They had seen one another on two occasions thus far. Neither had disappointed, with their second liaison showing her to be the exact sort of companion he favored--and, Merlin, was she gorgeous! A floo call later, the seeker had conferred with a stylist friend who had dispatched an entire ensemble to one @odessa. The package had been accompanied by a handwritten note, signed with a large masculine J. The missive's message had been simple: "we are going to a party tonight. wear this. be at my cabin by 9."

The redhead did not disappoint either. The witch had arrived on his porch at nine o'clock. He'd been sitting outside, watching the river fall over the cliff and enjoying the spring night in his little haven away from society. "Hey there, darlin'," he drawled as he stood and approached the witch. His hand took hers and he spun her around to look at the outfit he'd had sent to her. Prada heels accentuated her legs and the dress was the perfect fit--it was an exquisite mix of femininity and temptation. "You are breathtakin'," he drawled as he pulled her to him. A kiss followed the words and was forceful, carrying memories of their last rendezvous with it.

Though the temptation to take the witch inside and have his way with her was very strong, Jaxon resisted the urges that would inevitably lead to the ruining of the dress that fit the ginger so sensually. Pulling her to him, the wizard disapparated the two of them from Devon into London. The spot they landed was in a purely magical area, but meant a short walk to Fenix's house. Jaxon kept his arm around Des as they walked--his gait was the embodiment of confidence, broad shoulders swaggering alone. It was very clear to any passerby that he would not take well to lingering looks at the woman.

The werewolf opened the door into the wrockstar's elaborate home, allowing Odessa to enter before him, though his hand remained on the small of her back as he followed his date into the house. "Welcome to the home of the one and only @fenix. Let's say hello to our host." With that statement, the seeker guided Odessa over to the wrockstar. "Good to see ya again, Fenix. Thanks for the invite. This is Odessa Cunningham, she is an associate at Susan Bones's firm." He provided her place of employment to give his host the knowledge that his companion wasn't an entertainer or athlete as were many of those in attendance this evening.

Outfit

This internship was proving to be beneficial in more ways than one. Not only had it granted her a proper excuse to be out of the castle, but it had resulted in this… arrangement? She wasn’t exactly sure what to consider it; it didn’t need any kind of title though, not in her opinion at least. It was what it was, and she had been enjoying it thus far. Of course, the Quidditch player also didn’t know that Odessa was still at Hogwarts, thinking that her internship was her job, but she hadn’t seen a reason to correct him on that just yet—if ever. She was of age and interested, and she didn’t think that anything else was of all that much importance. Jaxon didn’t exactly seem like the type to get torn up by an age difference… though she didn’t know how old he was either, now that she thought about it. It just wasn’t all that important.

She had been out of the castle today, one of the days that she spent at the law office, thankfully. It was far better to spend her time there than stuck in Hogwarts, but she hadn’t exactly been expecting mail while she was at work—she rarely got mail bloody at all to begin with, particularly while at the law firm. She truly hadn’t expected the contents of said package… but at the mention of a party, and the temptation of Jaxon Jameson Cole and what that would bring, she wasn’t exactly going to say no. The problem being, of course, that she was meant to go back to Hogwarts when she was done for the day. But years of being perfect and unassuming had been for a reason—not this reason, she could admit.

It was a risk she shouldn’t have been taking, but one that she wanted to take nonetheless. So instead of going back to the castle after her workday had ended, she had headed to her uncle’s instead. Her mother wouldn’t approve of the risk, or she didn’t think she would at least, but her uncle could prove quite the cover. Family emergency—something like that. As a last ditch excuse. She wasn’t even sure they would realize she wasn’t in her dorm room. She was always studying, or flying, or something. Why would they ever think she was absolutely gone, though? Particularly when Hogsmeade was the next day and it would be all too easy to slip back into the castle. Hell, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

Her uncle had to go out anyhow, so she had been able to get ready at his apartment with no problems, even though she was entirely unused to… anything as nice as the contents inside the package. She usually had to transfigure what she wore to make it look even remotely acceptable, but she told herself that him buying her this wasn’t at all charity. It was just an outfit… and just nice, and if he had told her that they were going to go to a party, she wouldn’t have had a damn idea what to wear if he hadn’t helped her out. With that thought in mind she’d headed to his cabin, and it was exactly nine o’clock when she approached the porch and saw him get to his feet. “Hey,” she answered, with a smile, laughing slightly as he spun her to look at the outfit.

Never in her life had she worn something this nice… any of it—she didn’t even want to know the price tag on some of it, and hoped that ignorance would be her bliss in this situation, or she would feel worse about the money he’d dropped on it. “Thank you…” She replied, though his lips were on hers before she could say anything else. As she kissed him back, her hands moved to his shoulders, her heels giving her a bit more height, enough to do so easily, though he still had probably about half a foot on her. The kiss made her question just how important this party actually was, but he was pulling away before her thoughts could wander too much further. “And you didn’t have to buy me anything, you know—but it’s lovely.” She just wasn’t exactly used to nice things, though she supposed he didn’t actually know that.

They were apparating after that, and while she knew that coming to this party when she shouldn’t even be out of Hogwarts was a bit of a risk—but a worthwhile one. Besides, she had been perfect for six years at Hogwarts, she was sure she could talk her way out of trouble easily. She’d be more put off that Jaxon found out she was still a student than any punishment the school would have in mind for her not coming back after her internship. She had never been in an area as nice as this one—that was the thought going through her mind as they approached the house, though she tried not to look around too much and make it bloody obvious. The same could be said when they made it into the house. She felt he was observant enough to notice if she was too much in awe over wealth she wasn’t used to.

But she couldn’t help but look around a little when they’d made it entirely into the house. “Nice place…” She said, unsure if she was talking more to Jaxon or herself, but she stopped herself from looking around any further after a few moments. She nodded in response to his words, knowing that she would probably at least vaguely recognize @fenix. As everything else in her life went, Odessa calculated her façade down to an infinitesimal amount—and that meant knowing famous people and music and keeping up to date on all of that. Though she had to admit she wasn’t exactly all that focused on it, considering everything else she did. So she recognized him as they approached, and a smile formed across her face at the introduction. She could do charming, when she needed to. Practically her entire life was based on it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fenix,” she said, offering him her hand before continuing, “Thank you for having me.” She added.

Outfit

Amberly walked down the streets of London, she had apparated from her apartment but had ended up somewhere totally different than her destination. She walked through the streets in her high heels, she was quite used to walking in heels by now as she wore heels every-time she went out, sometimes even to work. She has been invited to the party at the Fenix Octurias's house, her short skirt clung to her legs as she walked, when she finally reached the house, she walked inside.

She noticed a few people already there at the party, she recognized a few of them, some of them worked at the Ministry along with Amberly, though they were not from her department she knew them, there were also a few Quidditch players around, she had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes at them, she hated their arrogance and attitude. She wasn't sure if her co-worker would be there or not.

Amberly stood there leaning against the wall, she ordered a Long Island, she looked around as she waited for her drink to arrive, she took the drink when it finally arrived, she then began sipping on it, taking small sips. Amberly looked at @fenix , he was busy greeting others, but she walked towards him anyways. She gave him a slight wave as she walked towards him with a small smile on her lips. 

Outfit

Nathan didn't say no to a party... that was just how he always was. He was more himself in a big crowd than he was when he was on his own, and it was just a hell of a lot more interesting. Of course, there was also nothing wrong with just going to a bar or club, as he always amused himself plenty on those nights as well. But it was something about parties... there was rarely a place he'd rather be, except perhaps the pitch, and it didn't matter if it was a practice or a game. He was either flying, or out drinking. It seemed to be his two current states of mind, and he liked it like that. He still made time for his family, but they were all rather busy as well.

Even though it was the off-season, which he hated, they were still busy with practices and trainings, and he was glad for that or else he didn't even know what he'd bloody do with his time. They were getting prepared for the regular season to start, thank bloody Merlin that it was approaching quickly, and this was particularly necessary since they had to train up their new seeker. It had been a damn loss that Jaxon had gone to Puddlemere, but since the bloke was his friend, he was glad he'd been offered the captainship there. It just put them into a bit of a tough spot for a bit, though their new seeker had plenty of potential. It just certainly kept them busy with practices.

But never so busy that he would not head over to a party when he had a chance, and tonight was no exception. He'd asked @holly to go with him; she had been a friend of his back at Hogwarts. They had shagged on a regular basis back then, no strings, but now they were very literally just friends. Even though he told her that shagging was always on the table... jokingly, of course. He liked coming to things like this with a date, or a friend that looked like a date, in case there was anyone there he'd rather avoid. At the very least, it guaranteed a good time, though he had a great time bloody anywhere he went. He also knew several of his friends and teammates would be there as well. They never missed an opportunity to drink or have a good time, just like him.

He walked into the party with Holly, casting an amused glance in her direction. "Hope you're prepared to save my arse tonight... I'll make it worth your while." He was exaggerating, a bit, because he didn't commonly care if he ran into fans, rabid females or not, but he knew that Holly thought he was full of shit anyhow when he'd asked her to come with him for that precise reason. It was then he saw a few of his friends, and while he obviously wanted to say hi to them, he didn't want to assume right off the bat... not that he thought Holly would have any problems conversing with just about anyone. "I see a few people I know... mind if we say hi? Then we'll require a trip to the bar, I imagine." He added, with an easy grin.

Once she answered, he headed over in that general direction. He saw @chet , with some blonde that looked to be his date, as well as @ramilda , who he had met a while back, and @raellyn had joined them as well. As he reached them, he realized that the blonde looked familiar, as she started to step away from the group. A hand moved very briefly to her back to alert her to his presence, because he didn't want to startle @carys-- though he promptly moved his hand away when he remembered that it seemed like she was here with Chester, even though the touch had been innocent. "Well if it isn't my favorite healer," he said, with a grin, before his attention diverted to the rest of the group. "Evening everyone... this is Holly," he added, by means of an introduction, as he had left enough room for her to join the group as well. "Holly, we've got Chet-- teammate, not half bad, I suppose... Raellyn-- my favorite Harpies player, Romilda, and Carys." He explained, figuring it was best to get introductions out of the way immediately. "We miss anything exciting just yet?" He asked, curiously.

Chet smiled at @carys, looking away just as a familiar face approached them. He grinned at @ramilda when she greeted them. She wasn't really a friend, more of an acquaintance, but they got along nicely in his opinion. They'd never slept together, though he didn't mind that fact and it didn't seem like she minded either. 

"Rom, good evening! You look lovely." He greeted the wrockstar, keeping in mind that he shouldn't be as forward as he usually might have been. At any other time he might have gone as far as kissing every one of the gals he knew on the cheek as a greeting, but now he was acutely aware of the lovely lady he'd brought with him.

Before he could do more than smile at Romilda, @raellyn approached, and he let Carys and Romilda continue the conversation without him. The smile he directed at his Quidditch friend was grand and had the warmth he always had when talking to a fellow player. Quidditch players were a different sort and he felt most at ease among them, so while they may not be on the same team -and Raellyn caught so many of his shots sometimes that he wanted to punch himself in the face- he considered every single one of them to be friends of his. He would certainly help them with whatever they needed whenever they needed, no matter how long they may know each other. 

"Rae, lovely, how are you?" He grinned. "You're looking great, love, great and deadly. But you always look great."

As they were talking, Carys turned to ask him about drinks. "Oh, I'll have a martini, but please, ladies, let me get the drinks. Carys, Raellyn, Raellyn, Carys." He introduced them with a grin, completely oblivious to the fact that in all the years he'd been a Quidditch player he'd never taken anyone to parties with him, always preferring to pick someone up there. "What'll you be having, Carys? Rae, Rom?"

He was about to wave down a waiter when @nathan arrived, a lovely lady on his arm, and approached them. He chuckled at his teammate's greeting of Carys before smiling at the other man's date. "Hello Holly, it's splendid to met you." Then he turned to Nate with a mock-hurt expression. "Not half bad? Reynolds you wound me, we've been teammates since you joined! I want my friendship bracelet back."

When Lady heard about the party being hosted at some band leader's place, the first thought that ran though Lady's head had been, Will the booze be free? followed shortly by, Do I need a new mini-skirt for it? The answer to both questions had been a resounding yes, of course, and the matter of whether she was going was a moot point. Lady always attended parties, even if she didn't know a single person there. Delphi had--grudgingly--agreed to watch Berry again, though Theo had also offered. While Lady wasn't about to deny him the right to see his daughter, she still didn't quite trust him not to steal her away, which was why she'd had Delphi keep an eye on them both. So she might be slightly paranoid, but really, who could blame her?

She'd dressed in her usual party attire of mini-skirt and a tight top, red and black was a classic color scheme that suited just about everyone, and Lady especially. Lady sauntered into the bloke's home, having forgotten his name somewhere between receiving the invitation and deciding to attend--a span of barely a second. The presence of a few other Quidditch players didn't escape her, and she contemplated approaching, but decided to get a drink first. Something good and strong to start, as usual. Straight Irish whiskey on the rocks sounded heavenly right about then. Drink in hand, she surveyed the crowd.

Outfit

Playing Quidditch for a living was perfect. The off season left a lot of time for partying outside of training and conditioning and so most of the players knew one another. Hell, most of them were all friends. It was hard to socialize so much and not be. “@nathan, I would be flattered but you say that to all of us,” she said with a laugh before turning to his date. “@holly, I don’t know what it is you did to wind up stuck with this oaf, but make sure you keep him in line, yeah?” she teased lightly, laughing as she spoke.

“Thank you, @chet. You don’t clean up half bad yourself. @carys, how many times did it take him pleading with you while you patched him to finally say yes to accompanying him out?” Lynn always teased the guys. She didn’t mean anything by it, but it just seemed to be her way. Any women that were going to be around would have to get used to it.

Finally the witch turned to @ramilda. While they didn’t know each other well, they had seen each other around the various parties and nightclubs. It was hard not to spot the other consistent goers. “Romilda, I love that outfit,” Lynn said honestly, offering the other witch a smile. She needed a drink, but that would have to wait until after the socializing.

Carys was still trying to smile at @ramilda without blushing too much or looking like a fan who'd wandered into the wrong place and ended up in front of some of the most famous people in the magical world... Which you are... So when @chet offered to get the drinks instead, she found herself fighting to keep her smile from breaking and showing just how nervous and unwilling to be left alone she was. Carys might not have looked as if she was shaking, but on the inside, a war was being waged between the side which wanted nothing more than to run away from the social situation, and the one which ordered her to stay at least long enough that she wasn't impolite.

@fenix had asked her to go to his party, by far the coolest she'd ever been to already, and so she couldn't leave just when she'd got there. This wasn't like the time she'd been invited to a party in seventh year and then turned up to find herself locked alone in a room for five hours until she was rescued/caught by the caretaker. No, this was real, and she was here now and she would act cool godammit-

AH FUCK! NATHAN! She thought as she jumped another time that evening, all thoughts of being cool flying so quickly out of the window that they probably broke a few panes of glass on their way, all because he'd pressed a cold hand to her back, and dear Merlin, but he's here and its Nathan! DO NOT ASK ABOUT HIS-

'Hey @nathan !' She said with a slightly shaky grin, ignoring her brain as she tried to pull her reaction back to something more normal. '@holly ! Haven't seen you in years, how're you doing?' She asked, forgetting for a moment that the former Gryffindor would most likely not have remembered her at all, let alone been able to recognise her as she was. Merlin, even she'd had a bit of a hard time recognising herself in the mirror sometimes after her complete image overhaul, so there was no way Holly would be able to get it right.

Carys listened as the beautiful Quidditch player Chester had been talking to, @raellyn, began to talk to Nathan and Holly as the two shared comments with Chester. There was something about the two newcomers to the group which she was sure she shouldn't mention, but she couldn't for the life of her remember what it was... Something from when they were at Hogwarts for sure.

'Oh, I didn't...' Carys replied, nervously realising that she had been included in the conversation as well. Carys quickly decided that she liked the woman and her teasing of the men around her. 'I'm pretty sure he only asked because we were both coming here anyway, right?' She asked this last to Chester himself as she smiled at him.

'How're you doing by the way Nathan? You look different now that you're standing up again and actually have clothes on! I realised that I never really checked in to see how your groin was since last time I saw you. I mean, I know I can be a little rough, but I hope with some ice and rest it's okay now? You're not limping and you're fully clothed again, so I guess your arms and muscles are working again now, at least?' She asked genially, not quite realising what she'd actually said until she'd said it, when she could have slapped herself for doing what she'd told herself not to and mentioning his groin out of context.

Given the choice of rambling on about Nathan's groin and embarrassing herself some more, she'd choose the second option which was to fake an exit and run. 'If anyone needs me, I'll be in the kitchen for some reason, not mentioning peoples' crotches.' She sighed, giving up before she could dig the hole any deeper and beginning to make her way over there.