Title: Greetings and Salutations

Series: Leather and Lace Party

By: Toga

Date: April 21, 2004

Rated: PG

~*~

 

“Look at you!”

“No, look at you!”

“Fabulous!”

“I was going to same of you! Snappy, sunshine. Tell me, where’d you get?”

“A little place down in West Palm - secluded. I’ll have to take you…”

“And they don’t mind the horns?”

“Of course not! It’s West Palm! You could have fairy wings and they wouldn’t blink an eye with cash in hand…”

And they’re off to the races. I try not to laugh at Valmont and Kermit, but it’s pointless. They couldn’t be cuter together if they tried. Will shares the same sentiment as me as we share a knowing look. And, as always, there’s that momentary loss of breath. Still, even after all this time, he gets my heart to skip a beat by merely being. Beautiful, deep, sky blue eyes filled with such earnest affection for the world, full, curling lips that lighten any room with their smile and waving, lengthy locks pinned by a single black ribbon - a wet dream off some romance novel cover and so not my usual type.

On the outside. Inside, however…let’s just say, Will and I are quite compatible. And let’s leave it at that before I make the kiddies blush.

The glazed look on Glover’s face is enough to make the kiddies blush.

“Mister Valmont, I am William Wolfe and this t’is my mate and beloved, Toga.” He presents the redder than red greeter with a card. Great, he’s going all out on this Victorian party thing. Lovely. I smile at our host and wave my finger tips.

“Ah, yeah, thanks, buttercup. Listen, I can take your coats and you can put your bags - “ Mister Red Genes pauses as he looks at our hands. “Where’s your bags?”

“We’re suppose to have bags?”

“Stay for the duration?” Green eyes blink back at me.

“We plan on sleeping?”

Valmont smiles. “Point.”

Resuming from the interruptions, Will steers to the side. “And you have made the acquaintance of Kermit and Glover, the proud owners of their own catering company with Miss Panic.”

Gracious as I’d imagine, Vamps’ Host shakes hands with his fellow demons. Kermit and Glover smile and chatter a bit about this and that, but realize that my mate’s waiting. They move off, holding hands, to wait for the opportune moment. Giggling, Lina and Poison come up next.

“This is Lady Chalina and Poison.” My mate positively beams at his friends. I swear his chest gets a little bit bigger with the pride he has when he sees her. “Milady owns and operates as the only professional witch.”

Handing over her own card, she grins into the rather surprised face of our host. “It's Lina. All you need to do is call if you need anything.”

“But there’s no phone number.” Valmont turns the card over to make sure he didn’t miss anything.

“Oh.” Blinking for a moment, she fishes out a pen from her bag and writes a phone number on the back. “Call or…call.”

I try again not to laugh as she flashes our host a bright smile and marches into the mansion. And the look on Poison’s face tells me she enjoyed that as well. I give her a wink as they go by.

“And last, but certainly not least, I present Mister Logan.” Will waves to the Wolverine as he shuffles up. A bit confused, he runs his hand through his hair and attempts to smile politely around the cigar in the corner of his mouth. He shakes Valmont’s hand and then shoots a glance to make sure he’s doing it right.

I smile. He’s going to be just fine, I know it.

“Well, help yourselves to whatever you want….there’s food and drink in side. I'll show you the way in a sec." With a rather overwhelmed smile, Valmont waves us in before closing the door behind us. “The Menagerie and The House of Blue’s already in there.”

“Yay!” I bounce and beam up at Will.

Chuckling, he bows. “Mayhap, once your obligations are finished, we might converse.”

“Yeah, that’d be nice.” Valmont blinks again and nods a little bemused grin on his face as he thinks to himself, a bit proper but a man with a tushy like that, who the hell cares? Raising an eyebrow, he looks over the newest guests. He offers his arm and a wicked smile to me. "Shall we?"

Poor man, I’m sure we’re all quite something to deal with. But I think he’s going to do just fine.

But I follow my mate into the mansion on the arm on Valmont as well. It’s gonna be one hell of a party, that’s for sure.