Title: Going and Coming

Series: Leather & Lace Fantasy Ball

Author: Tisienne

Summary: The rest of the HoB arrives...

* * * * * * * * *

She stood in the living room, gazing happily at her Mates in their party clothes. Not that they were that different from their regular clothes, but still... there was something about going out that made everything look bright and shiny, for some reason.

Grim was the almost the only one whose attire could have truly passed for formal, but then again, that was parr for the course, as he was well aware of how he looked in fine, tailored clothing. The subtle pleats at the top of his trousers were pressed almost as sharp as the knife like creases on both pants legs. His black dress shoes shone almost mirror-bright against the rug, and the pearl-grey shirt he wore gleamed with the sensuous shine of fine silk.

"You look wonderful, baby," she said, kissing his cheek gently. "Don't forget to save me a dance, okay?"

He chuckled his dark and deep chuckle at her wink, then nodded. "It is perhaps wise that you choose to request such at this time, Spice, for if you are correct in your appraisal of my appearance, my dance card may be quite full."

Marcus snorted, his eyes rolling just a bit. "Yah, Glarey, because yer goin' ta 'ave so much time, what with the band playin' an' all." He crossed his arms over his black fishnet shirt, frowning just a bit when one of his heavy silver rings caught in the stretchy fabric. "Oh, bloody 'ell..."

"Tha's wha' y' ge' f'r play'n' 't all sexy-like, mate." Sully smirked, demonstrating how his own jewelry didn't catch in the smooth expanse of his own shirt, silk like Grim's, but tighter and a deep blue. "Y' shoul've been all... subtle-like f'r a change."

"Right, mate, like yer not screamin' sex every time ya take a step." Marcus snorted again, carefully pulling the fishnet away from the metal.

"Course I 's, Cloney. Bu' I's no' ge'n' all caugh' up 'n m' own clothes, is I?" He shook his head. "Nah, bloke. Wh'n m' shir' ge's ripp'd, 's go'n' be b'cuz some stunn'n' li'l chit can' keep 'er 'ands offa m' own sweet se'f."

Tis laughed, stepping between her two Spikes. "If you two can't behave, you're going to have to stay home."

"It is amazing, Spice, how the threat of missing out on this event is such an effective deterrent for Sullivan and Marcus. I will have to remember that."

She grinned into Grim's warm eyes and nodded. "You do that, baby. Now, are we ready? No more outbursts that we need to take care of before we're around people who don't know what you two are like?"

Sully and Marcus pouted at her raised brow, finally nodding their agreement.

"Good. Because I love you all, and I want everyone else to see what good... um, bad and dangerous... boys you can be. So BEHAVE!"

She deliberately ignored the fact that she'd just contradicted herself and smiled even more as the other formally clad member of the family swarmed his way down the stairs to join them, along with his best friend and the newest arrival to the family.

Jes stood at the foot of the stairs looking a little bit uncomfortable in his jeans and t-shirt. His eyes darted around the room, resting momentarily on each of the people there before dropping to the floor as he shifted from foot to foot.

"I think I may be underdressed," he said, his voice sounding as tentative as he was trying not to look. "Maybe I can just stay here and..."

"Don’t think so, mate," Marcus said with a smirk. "Ya been spendin’ too much time ‘oled away by yerself. It’s time ya got out an’ met some people. Ya never know– it might ‘elp."

The Lindsey clone frowned slightly, his gaze rising to spear at the black-haired Spike. "I don’t need any... help, Marcus. No matter what you might think."

"Yah, an’ y’ likes be’n’ all ‘lone, does y’, mate?" Sully rolled his eyes at the new bloke. "Don’ both’r t’ ans’r, Jes. Don’ nobudy wan’ t’ be ‘lone ‘s much ‘s y’s been."

Jester’s face hardened a bit and he swallowed quickly, but any reply he might have made was stopped as the wolf pup sat up on his hind legs, little pink tongue hanging out happily as he displayed his special bow and tag.

Caleb’s tail wagged happily and he yipped a few times as Munchee joined him by displaying his own party clothes.

"Okay," Tis said, trying very hard not to giggle as Munchee and Caleb both showed off even more, "I’d say we’re ready. Huddle up, guys..." She waited until they were standing close together, Munchee and Caleb held by Jes and Grim, respectively. She smiled at Sully and Marcus, taking their hands and stepping to them and drawing everyone into a tight huginto the tight hug.

"All right, loves... here we go..."

A small mental exercise, and the gate was ready, forming on them and shifting them through the ether to their destination.

**At Raven's Gate**

The haze of green mist dissipated quickly as they arrived, still in their clench. Not that they leapt to end it quickly, but after a few moments, Tis pulled away and smiled.

"Well, we're here, guys... ready to have fun?"

Grim nodded, smiling a bit uncertainly. "I believe myself to be prepared, Spice. I look forward to performing this evening, in any case... and to our dance."

"Suddenly not so sure of yer overwhelmin' appeal, are ya, Glarey?" Marcus chuckled, eyeing the tall Rak-bot. "Wouldn't worry much, mate. I's sure Sparky and Rose'll give ya a turn, even if they's the only ones what's willin'." He winked, obviously teasing.

One brow arched in annoyance. "I believe you will be lucky to have even Spice choose your company this evening, Marcus. Of course, you may well be able to catch flies or some such thing with your... shirt.... in the copious amounts of free time you will have."

Sully laughed loud and long. "Punkin'-'ead's go' y' ther', mate! Tol' y' tha' shir' w's a bloody m'stake..." His voice trailed off as his eyes found the door and followed it up... and up... and up. "Uh... luv...?"

"Yeah, baby?" her expression was curious at the awed tone to his voice.

" 's... 's y' sure we's 'n th' righ' place, luv? 's sodd'n' 'uge! Y' sure y' di'n' bring 's t' a bleed'n' museum...?"

Her eyes, and the eyes of her other mates, followed his gaze, each reacting in their own unique ways.

Tis blinked a few times, then chuckled.

Marcus paled a little, then blushed, muttering something about being underdressed, himself.

Grim simply stared, head cocking to one side as he did so. "The architecture is impressive, Spice."

"Tha's a sodd'n' unnerstatm'nt, mate... s' bleed'n' brill'ant, 't 's."

Jes gazed speculatively at the huge, almost sculpted edifice, then nodded. "Definitely structurally unique. The upkeep on this place must be into seven digits per anum."

Tis blinked one more time, then laughed. "Okay... I think we can call ourselves surprised, guys. And yes, Sully, I'm sure we're in the right place. It looks just like the description, after all."

"Yes," Grim agreed, taking her hand and starting towards the front door. "And as it is so, we must announce our presence to our hosts."

Marcus rolled his eyes as he and Sully followed them. "Never use one word when sixteen will do, 'ey Glarey?"

"It's sodd'n' 'UGE!" Sully said, still stunned by the little bit of Raven's Gate he could see.

"Nnnnhhhnnnnnngggggghhhhhh...." Munchee looked at the house, his eyes wide, then appeared to exchange comments of some sort with Caleb right before the two of them took off across the grass in front of the house, Munchee being careful of his party finery.

Tis was laughing as she knocked on the large door. "Guess they’ll be along soon, then. And Sully, Marcus... remember. You guys promised to beha..." She shook her head at herself, then rephrased. "Just... try not to piss anyone off, loves, okay? Not even each other!"

"It would be a crying shame if they did, wouldn't it? Might get them all mussed up, and that would truly be a tragedy, what with as fine as they're looking," came the voice as the door opened. "Not that I think anyone would mind seeing them that way, but still... flawless, as is." Val winked, raising the martini glass of pink liquid in their direction. "Welcome to the party, stunners."

He stepped back, striking a pose Tis thought was designed to show off his Gucci. Smoking jacket, satin lounging pajamas, matching slippers and a cravat-- all black, except for the cravat.

"Ohhhh... looking good there, cupcake," she said with a grin. "That scarf really brings out your eyes. So green. Like a... lime snowcone."

Val's free hand went to his hip and he tried to look haughty. "Snowcone? I think not! And it's a cravat. All shexxxxxhhhhy." He grinned, arching one brow in his best Sean Connery expression, to go with the accent.

Tis giggled and reached up, pinching his cheek. "That it is, cupcake; that it is. Of course, it's on you, so how could it not be, hmmm...?"

Marcus snorted yet again and crossed his arms over his chest, being careful of his rings this time. " 'ope ya aren't thinkin' of 'ittin' on me, bloke... yer not rightly m' type." He frowned a little, then grinned. "Nice ta meet ya, by the way."

"Cutie, I'm everyone's type. They just don't know it yet." Val winked and stood back a little further. "Well, come on... I don't have all day. And not to worry. I’ll leave the door open for the little furries. I’m sure they’ll be along any time now. They’ve yet to experience the wonder of me, after all."

Grim chuckled as he and his Mates followed the Lorne-alike through the foyer. "I believe him to be remarkably self-assured, Spice."

"Yah, 'e's a sodd'n' rock, mate." Sully grinned. "Thin' y' two 'as a lo' 'n comm'n. Why don' y' talk t' 'im whils' I fin's m'petal?"

Tis laughed and shook her head. "Could you be a little more transparent, baby?"

"Not even if 'e was soddin' invisible, Sally-luv," Marcus said, grinning again. He looked at Sully from the corner of his eye, waiting for some sort of snappy come-back, only to frown when the older Spike ignored him.

"Think he’s got other things on his mind, Marcus," Jes said, a tiny smug smirk playing at the corners of his mouth to disguise just how... unsettled he was at walking into this place that was going to be filled with people he didn’t know.

As for Sully, he barely noticed that Marcus had even spoken because they'd just followed Val into what appeared to be the main room of the party and... there amongst all the glowing candles and gleaming surfaces... amidst the truly stunning assortment of food and drink... "Petal!"

Tis, Grim and Marcus stood laughing as Sully ran off across the floor. "Maybe he'll find some time for the rest of us later," Tisienne said, smiling.

Jes chuckled and shook his head. "Hope springs eternal, huh, Tis?"

Val's eyes widened ever so slightly as he looked from the four still with him to the Spike who'd just run across the room. "Okay, I thought he was your mate. Did I miss something?"

"No, you did not," Grim replied with a chuckle. "Sullivan is rather... fond of Clover. As are we all." He nodded, then started across the floor himself, although with more dignity than Sully had displayed. "Come," he said simply, "It is time we greet the rest of our hosts."

Tis grinned and trailed after him, pulling Marcus and Jes with her. "You coming with, cupcake, or are you stuck on door-duty all night? Because that truly would be a tragedy." She grinned more, then winked at him playfully.

~ tbc...~