Title: Starting the Party Off on the Right Foot

Series: Velvet and Leather Fantasy Ball

Written by: Vamps and Scarlet

Rated: PG

~*~

Angelina walked down the long hallway of Raven's Gate, leading the way to the HoloSuites. She could hear her family and the Menagerie family bustling along behind her and it brought a smile to her pretty face. Not that the smile had been gone at all since they started planning, because in truth, her face was a constant smile lately.

Stopping in front of a door that looked amazingly like every other door, Angelina grinned more widely, saying "Well here we are." Seeing the perplexed looks on the faces of the other family, she giggled then opened the door and led the way into the huge room that looked like nothing more than four bare walls.

"Computer?" she intoned, raising her voice slightly to be heard, "I need a 16th century castle interior, please." Frowning when nothing happened, Luc stepped forward and said "Sally."

"Huh?"

"The 'puter, named 'er Sally after the song, Mustang Sally. Was singin' it all day long and then I happened in here." At her teasing look, he shrugged. "Seemed like the right thing to do."

Shaking her head at the logic that was only possessed by Lucifer, she turned back around and nodded/ "OK... Sally, I need a 16th century castle interior, please."

The entire room seemed to hold its breath as suddenly they appeared to be in a totally interactive 16th century castle interior.

*Complete with a nasty draft,* she thought, shivering before giving Sally the command to regulate the temperature to a nice 70 degrees.

She watched for a moment as the families wandered around checking out the tangibility of illusion, grinning ear to ear at the exclamations of awe and wonder from the others.

"Chaos?" Angelina asked, drawing the dark haired girl’s attention. "Your turn."

Chaos's eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked around the room. Tapping her index finger to her lips, she pondered. "Hum...let’s see we need food, drinks, and… music, right?" she asked, looking at everyone.

"Computer, food and drink fit for a queen, if you please…"

When nothing appeared, the fae frowned. Sighing, she tried again. "Sally, food and drink fit for a queen, please."

Before their very eyes, a long banquet table filled with food appeared, while on the far side of the room, a bar and bartender in keeping with the theme became visible. Angelina had chosen the decor very well.

Chaos smiled at her friends. "Oh… I like this kinda decoration. Think we can get one of these for our place, Dee?"

"Don’t think so hun, but nice try."

"One of these left in Cae’s hands would be way…. too dangerous," Wolfe joked.

"Ya can say that one again, pooch," Bear replied, chuckling.

Snorting, the fae turned her attention back to the matter at hand. "Okay, so we've got the food and drink covered. Now, what’s next… oh, right, music. I’d say, what... two, maybe four rooms?"

"Four?" Dora questioned.

"Yeah, Pan. Something soft for you love-y dove-y types," Cae said, waving her hand in the general direction of her twin and the Love God, "And something a little more my style. You know- with a good beat. Something you can actually dance to…"

"Well, that’s two, Cae but what’s the other two?" Scarlet asked, leaning into Bear’s embrace a little more.

"Yeah, Sparkage, what else ya got goin’ on in that evil little brain of yers?"

"Wouldn’t you like to know, Great Pain."

Running her hand over the silken dark burgundy fabric that adorned a long banquet table, she went on. "I was thinking about an orchestra and maybe…. Some great music icon, maybe… one that we could resurrect?"

Chaos turned her attention to the red demon. "What do you say, Val, think that’s something you can conjure up?"

Val chuckled, stepping forward and taking charge in his usual flashy but totally unobtrusive way. "For you dolls, anything."

He took a minute to think, looking around the room at all the guests and home dwellers. "I think...." he paused, addressing the computer with a twinkle in his eye. "Sally, doll? How bout a little of the old blue eyes. Mr. Frank Sinatra. Oh, and a Sea Breeze for me."

As if by magic, Frank Sinatra appeared in the main room, complemented by a full orchestra behind him. They stood, frozen in time until the word was given to start the program.

The bandstand was made from rough hewn stone and the wall behind was draped in rich jewel toned velvet. Silver floor candelabras stood at each end of the platform, filled with flickering candles.

"That's definitely doin' it the classy route, even if he is an American," Luc said, grinning and grabbing Vamps around the waist to twirl her ballroom-style around the main floor.

Val raised his drink in salute to the dancing couple before going back to the task at hand. "Now, then... rock, huh? Maybe middle of the road, good dance stuff but not overly soft and not overly hard." He crossed his arms, thinking for a moment. "Cher? Nah..too diva. JLo? Uggg...too last year. Maybe a man...." He snapped his fingers suddenly. " Got the perfect guy!"

The big red demon grinned and addressed the computer once again. "Sally, doll? If you wouldn't mind... in the second room, a little Mr. Bryan Adams."

Angelina squealed and dashed off to the next, more cozy room to see if he was there, calling over her shoulder as she went. "Oh, Val! You are just about the greatest; I LOVE him!!!"

Val took the compliments from the crowd in stride as they all ooo-ed and ahh-ed over his choice, then put on his thinking cap again. "And you said an orchestra; right, Cae? Well, that can only mean one thing, if we're going to do it right. Sally, if you will... the New York Philharmonic in room 3."

He smiled a satisfied grin as the partygoers all filed into the last room on the left to see the orchestra there, all set up and ready to play, still exclaiming over his ideas.

"Now about the fourth room," Val glanced at the men of the other household. "Didn't I hear that you gents had a house band? Gods and Monsters? How about you guys play in there? I'm sure the girls would love it."

Angelina skipped over to Bear and the rest, putting on her best huge puppy eyes and almost begging. "Would you? Please, please, please?"

Bear chuckled at the bouncing bubble of joy in front of him. "Luv ta say yes, prime rose, but it’s not for me ta say." He waved his thumb in the direction of Wolfe, adding "gotta ask, ‘im and the other bloke."

The Oz- bot laughed, "And let me say yes before you turn those big puppy dog eyes on me, Angelina. That is, if it’s alright with you, Dev?"

"For Cae and Ang,? You bet. Just let me give Grim and the rest of the fam a call, okay, bud?" Dev said with a nod as he pulled his cell phone out to call home.

Making their way back out in to the main room, Pandora giggled happily. "This is going to be so cool…"

Scarlet nodded, smiling at her friends and family. "It’s gonna be great, sweetie. I just know it. Now, do we have anything else we need or want to add?"

"Princess, if ya can find more stuff ta add, ya gotta be a magician. Think we came up with a right good party for all of us."

"Ohh…. We still need to decide what we’re wearing! Anyone else up for a little shopping?" Dora asked, grinning from ear to ear. Grabbing Angelina’s arm, she dragged her off, chatting about all the places they’d have to hit.

"Gods and Goddesses," Chaos sighed. "If we let her loose in LA we might never have a party."

At that, the rest of the Menagerie laughed, all of them knowing what Pandora was like about clothes. She was just too damned funny. Any and every excuse to go shopping; that would be Dora.

"Nah… I don’t think Ang would let that happen. But just in case, let’s go keep an eye on them. What ya say, Vamps? Chaos?" Scarlet asked, arching her brow.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Amid whistles, hoots and hollers from the men, Angelina and Vamps walked out into the main living room first. For the festivities, Angelina had chosen a simple black silk slip dress- vintage Dior- that brushed the tops of her spike heeled sandals. She'd chosen to keep her hair long and wavy, drifting in a silky cloud around her and down to her waist.

Vamps had opted for a deep blood red sheath with delicate spaghetti straps and a pattern of a jet black chinese dragon that twisted around her body from between her breasts, around her waist and down the back to her lower calves. She had chosen matching red spiked heels to go with the outfit and wore her hair up in a messy twist at the back of her head. Around her neck hung a coin on a satin cord, in a deep pewter color.

Anu and Luc moved to their ladies, wearing matching black tuxedo pants and black dress shirts. Anu had tinted the tips of his hair black to match Ange's outfit and Luc's tips were a deep red to match Vamps' dress and shoes. Their eyes lit up as they beheld their ladyloves.

"Smashing, luv," Luc whispered into Vamps' ear, making her smile and shut her eyes as if savoring him.

"Simply delicious," Anu likewise complimented Angelina, brushing a kiss against her lips and wrapping her up in his arms.

Vamps draped her arm through Luc’s and turned to the other men lounging on the couches. "So, are you guys ready to see your ladies?"

Bear smirked. "If they look anythin’ like ya two stunnin’ pets, fire and brimstone, I’s think the whole west coast is gonna be in trouble."

Laughing, Wolfe spoke up, too. "What he’s trying to say is, you two look beautiful and we can’t wait to see lupa and the twins."

"Don’t have to wait long, baby." Scarlet smiled, stepping through the door first. Her dark red velvet dress hugged her curves, and with its plunging neckline and open back, the dress left little to the imagination. She felt a little unsure of herself in something so reveling and blamed it on Cae’s influence, but when she saw Bear's and Wolfie’s faces light up she knew it had been the right choice.

As she walked, the color of the rich material appeared to change, her movements creating shadows and highlights. A long slit up one side revealed herpale skin, a pair of black high heeled sandals and the ankle bracelet she always wore. Her jewelry was simple, yet tasteful- a garnet and diamond pendant and a pair of matching drop earrings she’d gotten as gifts from Crimson and Tigger. The deep red stones shone even brighter with her hair pulled up and piled on her head, with only a few tiny tendrils framing her face.

On either side of her, the twins stood. Pandora was in a classic, deep sapphire blue strapless evening gown. Her hair was done in similar fashion to Scarlet’s and simple diamond and sapphire jewelry completed the elegant look.

Chaos was in stark contrast to her twin. A red leather corset encased her upper body, and her skirt seemed to be made out of thin leather strips. She and her sister had dressed quite differently; in fact they looked quiet opposite, much like their personalities. Someone would have to be very close in order to tell that the skirt wasn’t leather at all, but red licorice whips.

Laughing at the expression on the guys faces, Cae informed them "We had Jean Paul Gautier design it today. Vamps thought that it was quite fitting; don’t you?"

"Well it suits your personality, babe; that’s for sure," Dev agreed. Stepping forward, he twirled Dora around in a circle before pulling her back to him and wrapping his arm around her. "You look wonderful as always, Pandy, " he said, kissing her softly.

"Ya look good enough ta eat, Sparkage," Bear joked with good humor. "Think it’s right fittin’ for ya." After kissing her on the cheek, he moved to Scarlet’s side.

Their other mate stood across from them, smiling. Wolfe had decided to go with a simple pair of black dress pants and a black silk shirt since he was going to be playing with the band for a good part of the night, whereas Bear had decided to be a little more out there, in keeping with Scarlet choice.

His black leather pants clung to his lower body, forming a second skin that rippled and moved in all the right places. The sheer burgundy shirt matched perfectly with color of his mate’s dress. It was becoming second nature for the three of them to know what the others were doing and thinking without even having to concentrate anymore. Coordinating outfits hadn't even required an effort. It had been almost second nature.

"Ya know ya look pretty damn edible there too, princess," he purred, kissing Scarlet. "Think we better get our time in with ‘er before the rest of the blokes in the family arrive, mate," he chuckled, kissing Wolfe as well. "She might just come up missin’ after they get ‘ere."

Breaking way from Pandora, Dev laughed. "Better hurry then, buds. They’re on their way…"

TBC…