Title: The House of Nice Arrives

Series: Velvet and Leather Fantasy Ball

Rated: G

Summary: Val takes the fam on the tour.

~*~

 

Val puts his hand over the smaller one of Toga’s and starts in with the grand Cliff Notes tour of the place.

"Ok, taffy-bits, here we are in the front foyar." He winks at them all to show he's kidding around. "From here, it just gets bigger. But....and remember this well, if you ever get off the beaten track, just ask the invisible staff which direction to point you in, they'll get you back."

Lina grins as she asks, "There's invisible staff?"

"If they’re invisible, how d’ya know they’re there?" Logan mutters under his breath.

Val pauses for a moment, the story to good to let pass. "The first week we were here, we didn't even notice. Well, until Luc started bellowing about socks and whatnot dissapearing and all." He chuckles, "Then, Angelina came up missing for 3 whole days. Poor Vamps and Anu were beside themselves. But do you know that we found her? Happy as a clam in the kitchen making a cheese sandwich? Said that the invisible staff had brought her food and then helped her get back. Little tart decided to go exploring and didn't even tell anyone. I don't think she was able to sit for another 3 days after Anu got through with her."

Val laughs a huge smile on his face, "So anyways, to answer your question, sugar plum, invisible staff." His eyes twinkle as he resumes his little synopsis of the house and starts them on their way again.

"So the main rooms are, this one aptly named the games room." He chuckles as he pushes open the double doors leading to the first room off the main hallway. The expressions on their faces priceless as they take in the 42" liquid plasma TV, the old fashioned stand up arcade games ranging everything from Pac Man to Asteroids and the huge collection of DVD's with titles from old to new in every language.

"Bet they don’t go out much," Kermit whispers to Glover, who only nods and chuckles in agreement.

Val taps a keypad set in the oak paneled walls and a hidden panel slides to one side revealing every kind of video game console you can imagine and every type of controller to go with it. Next to that is every type of game to make even the staunchest of game enthusiast drool.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Lina squeezes Poison’s hand as they share a knowing smile. Boys will be boys.

Tapping the keyboard again, the wall shifts back into place. "The number is easy it's 69. We like to make it a memorable one." He winks, "So feel free, anyone, to use whatever you like in here. Or anywhere in the house. There are absolutely no restrictions - well, maybe except for paisley and checks."

He shudders before gathering himself. "Onward, my little chickadees."

"Geez, there’s more?" Eyes opening wide, Toga gasps in surprise.

"Shush, beloved," her mate soothes. "I’m sure all t’is quite wonderful."

Val takes them down the main hall showing them the meditation and relaxation room with its huge floor to ceiling salt water fish tank and soothing deep blue and green satin pillows strewn on the floor and low comfy couches and chairs. Incense burners and candles are placed strategically about, and on the opposite wall set into a bookcase intricately carved to look like a tree growing from the wall, books. Ancient, new, romance, poetry, mystery, magical, everything and anything to read.

The sun room - with it specialized glass so no one gets burned but all can enjoy.

The indoor sauna, pool and Jacuzzi, looking like part of a remote cave and complete with waterfall. "There's the outside pool too, but I'm sure you'll stumble across it."

The restrooms on the floor, cause when you gotta you gotta.

And finally, the holos - each door, a different color, designed to look like something from an Arabian Nights Tale. Each a different color. All in jewel tones with real gold-leaf on the edges. The ceiling in this part of the hall painted to resemble a night time sky with twinkling stars and the promise of a new moon. Huge palm trees sit in pots reaching for the sky and life sized stuffed animal camels graze among them.

Val stops again and speaks up to be heard over the noise at the end of the hall. "Ok sweets, this is the holo hallway. Well, the holo part of the hall. Each room is exactly the same inside. Each door is painted a different color so you remember which one you were in. You can make your own programs and download them into each computer."

He shows all of them the controls that reside next to each door way. "These rooms are only limited by your imagination. When you go in you just say, ‘Sally? I'd like a shrimp cocktail,’ and voilâ.....you get a shrimp cocktail. So, if you want to be a captain of a frigate in the 1800's," He grins at Will just imagining the nummy man in pirate garb, "and you want to save your ladylove from your enemies? You can."

Raising an eyebrow to his mate, his smirk teases. She snorts and gives him a look as if to say, "as if." Will chuckles and nods appreciatively. "Thank you, sir, for the delightful suggestion."

Val looks at Lina and Poison, "Want to be explorers of uncharted lands on forbidden planets out of a book? You can do that too."

"A book?" She grins up at their host. The witches eyes twinkles. "Oh, but reality is much more interesting…"

"Oh, depends on the book," Poison nudges her with a tease.

He rests his gaze on Logan quirking an eyebrow for a minute, "But remember you CAN get hurt if you turn the safety protocols off. They are there for your protection. Everything is still a real as you and me, including food, clothing, dress, fighting and all that, you just don't get killed. Got it handsome?" He winks at him playfully.

"Doubt anythin’ you got can do that," he growls, puffing out a bit smoke. Though, for a moment, softness crosses his eyes. He turns them down, studying his books as he suddenly shoves his hands in his jeans pockets.

"But otherwise, Vamps and the family fully expect that you will enjoy these suites and make your own programs. You are always welcome to come back whenever you wish and use them. Just let us know you're here in case you need anything, ‘cause I don't know bout you all, but I hate having the heebie-jeebies scared out of me when I don't know someone's about."

"And finally," Leading the merry party towards the wide open last set of doors in the holo section, "The party rooms."

Val leads the family into the castle interior, waving to the occasional passing movie star or rock musician, and weaving through the eclectically dressed party goers with a grace seemingly born of years of talent until he finally reaches his destination.

"Mistress Scarlet and Mistress Tisienne, the house of," wrinkles his nose for a minute and then looks at Toga, "Um, sweets, where did you say you're from?"

Toga grins, "The House of Nice but they already know that."

Val blushes a faint shade of purple before patting her hand, "But of course they do, pita bread." He looks back at Scarlet and Tis trying not to laugh at him, "The House of Nice, and if you all will excuse me. I still have door duties to attend to. Very nice meeting you all and I will be back." With a flourish of his hand and a twitch of his hips, he's off and running again.