You are cordially invited

[time_goes_by]

Who: OTA!
Where: The Keller house (A large Victorian House)
When: Evening

Janie wasn't surprised when Phillip asked her to do something in addition to her list of things to do regarding the campground incident, including helping in the lab, getting set up for shooting lessons, and getting supplies. He wanted to throw a dinner party for something he'd done at work. He asked that she hire a catering service and send out invitations.

After getting more information from him, she discovered that his company had discovered a way to make cheaper transitior radios. They would sell for $29.95, and the company was certain that would increase sales.

She thought the party was nice, but knew that part of it was to alleviate some of the mystery of the place. Phillip's family had once been rich and well-known, but over the years they had begun to fade into obscurity. When Phillip's pretty wife died sixteen years ago, he closed off the mansion and was rarely seen until several months ago.

Hours that could have been spent learning how to kill things, or studying so she could understand more science were spent cleaning, closing drafts, and giving out invitations. She was sure to give Mr.Chow one, since she was rather fond of the grumpy old man, almost begging that he come to the party. There was the bridge club, because they were her best friends, and all of the high society people, since Phillip insisted on it. She also invited Gloria and the people she'd seen around Rev.Templeton's church. Lynn was instructed(against Phillip's wishes) to invite as many friends as possible.

She was told not to invite anyone from the Texaco, so of course, she did. It would be a lively party, and she hoped to get her friends alone for at least a few minutes to talk about things.

Comments

[vito_marchese]

Vito had dressed up for the occasion. He had dragged his tuxedo out of the back of the closet; it was navy blue with matching bow tie and cummerbund, and his shoes were shiny patent leather. His hair was slicked back in what he hoped was a presentable 'do, despite the greaser duck's-ass shape of the whole thing. He drove to the Keller house in a new acquisition, a red 1954 Ford Crestline convertible coupe. Nica sat beside him, chomping on a piece of bubble gum and looking out the window, humming a little to the Ella Fitzgerald song on the radio.

"This is going to be a little weird," Vito said as he pulled up at the curb outside the house. "Then again, it's been nothing but weird for weeks ... "

He opened the door for Nica and they headed up to the front door, Nica in a black satin dress with a full crinoline skirt and a little French handbag. Her hair was in an up-do and she had gone easy on the mascara.

Vito knocked, and waited.

[time_goes_by]

A sour-faced butler opened the door, and let Nica and Vito into the house. They were led through the impeccable home, to a large room on the first floor. A serving staff walked from guest to guest, offering hors d'oeuvre,s and the sound of a piano could be heard over the chitter chatter of the few guests that were there.

Lynn walked around in a fluffy pink dress, while Janie walked toward Vito and Nica, smiling.

"Hello, I'm glad you could make it." she smiled "I didn't cook."

[vito_marchese]

"So, I don't have to go home and get a lasagne for the guests?" Vito cracked, and gave Janie a little bow. "Everything looks wonderful, Miss Janie."

[time_goes_by]

"No. They're not going to serve something like that here. Not tonight, anyway." Janie said "He told me not to invite you."

[nica_hepcat]

Nica smiled at Janie and promptly headed off to find Lynn.

"So many people are here, this is amazing. That's a nice dress!"

[aint_got_time]

"Hi Nica!" smiled Lynn, glad to see someone that wasn't an adult. "I have to be on my best behavior tonight, which means I can't do any of the pranks that I planned. Can you do them for me, please?"

[nica_hepcat]

"I'm under the same orders," Nica grumbled. "Doesn't mean we can't have any fun, just that we have to be each other's wingman and make sure the other doesn't get caught. Whatcha got in mind?"

[katherine_the_great]

Finally that damnable bridge club had been useful for something, Chester reflected, adjusting his suit jacket. He was at least passingly familiar with the family history of the house, and if Katherine's acquaintance with the servant girl meant they had an in to the high society party, he was determined to make the best of it. As long as Katherine didn't embarrass him.

"Chester. don't fret so much, and remember to be polite," Katie admonished as she leaned forward to ring the bell. As usual, she was dressed in a lovely evening dress, deep green with matching high heels and purse; Chester had practically insisted she wear it tonight, perhaps because of the sloping neckline.

[max_ine]

Maxine stepped out of Eric's car, and took a deep breath. For once, she was wearing a dress - and a pretty one at that, if a bit old-fashioned. It was a classic style, she supposed, even if it was from the 40s. One she hadn't had much call to wear since Joe had died. The deep blue color of it suited her. Though it had been let out a few times over the years, it was well-tailored and had been rather expensive in its day.

A smart little hat and gloves complimented the outfit. And coming around to her side of the car to take her arm was Eric. Having a date to this fancy party (and to Founder's Day for that matter) made her stomach flutter with butterflies.

In spite of everything bad going on in the town, what was going on with her and Eric definitely seemed good. She smiled as he took her arm and they headed up the driveway.

"Oh hey, it's Katie... and Chester."

[lancaster_industries]

Eric nodded politely to both of them. "Evening, folks. Lovely night for a party, isn't it?" His concession to the formality of the evening was a nice, well-pressed suit and well-combed hair that made him look unusually clean for someone who spent most of his time wrists-deep in engines.

[time_goes_by]

A sour-faced butler opened the door, and let the small group into the house, leading them through the impeccable home and to a large room on the first floor. A serving staff walked from guest to guest, offering hors d'oeuvres and the sound of a piano could be heard over the chitter chatter of the guests that were there.

"Hello!" Janie smiled, glad her friends could make it. She was not dressed like a maid, but instead in a gold evening gown. "I'm very glad that you could make it tonight.

Phillip Kellar walked over to the small group, and eyed Janie for a moment, since she was not supposed to invite some of the people in that group.

"Hello. I'm Phillip Kellar, it's nice to meet you. I assume that you are Chester Wilson?" asked Phillip, to Chester. He seemed to ignore everyone else, mostly because he'd really only wanted Janie to invite Katie, Chester, and that woman from the university.

Janie snagged a tray of drinks from a waiter, and offered them to her friends.

[katherine_the_great]

"You assume correctly, Mr. Kellar," Chester said with a polite smile, offering a hand to shake. "A pleasure to get to meet you." Katie accepted the drink with a smile and a nod. "Thank you, Janie."

[drkenison]

Gloria had been excited about the party until she realized she didn't have a nice dress. After asking around Judith's mother let her borrow a beautiful dress. Her hair was down in large shoulder length curls and a couple of bobby pins holding the sides back and in place. Gloria then proceeded to become nervous that she had overdressed for the function. By that time she had parked and it was too late to worry about it.

Tentatively, she knocked on the door of the address she was given. The house was gigantic and that only made her more nervous.

[the_survivalist]

Fred sauntered up behind Gloria - for a change, he was actually dressed in a black suit and red tie, with his hair well-combed and his beard trimmed evenly. "Well, hello ma'am," he said with a cheerful smile. "They in there?"

[drkenison]

Hello, sir. She shrugged at the man who came up beside her on the stoop. I've knocked but no answer yet.

[time_goes_by]

A somewhat rushed server answered the door, and let them in.

"The party is just this way." she said, "Did Janie invite you? She's in there. I'm sorry, the butler is busy and I'm just a server. Please don't try the grasshopper drinks."

She led them to a large room, where people mingled in small groups. The sounds of a piano playing classical music could be heard in the background.

"Hello!" grinned Janie, when she saw Gloria and Fred "Feel free to eat whatever you want, and have fun."

[the_survivalist]

"Well, howdy, miss Janie -- quick question. What's wrong with the grasshopper drinks?" Fred inquired.

[quen]

Quen snagged a drink from a passing waiter, then made his way through the crowded dinner party looking for a quiet place in which to relax a few minutes. He'd come to this society party on the behest of Albee, who insisted it was something that might help the station get a new benefactor. So he'd come with the Sunshine Dairy milkmaid on his arm, and she'd gone off to talk to the ladies some time ago leaving him to hobnob with the gentlemen.

After a few hours of talk about transistors and business transactions, his eyes were starting to glaze over. It was with some relief he found himself in a little alcove in which he could be alone with his thoughts. Only it would seem that someone beat him to that idea.

"Why hello, friend--"

[queen_tinatin]

Elene had been very disappointed that she hadn't been able to find someone to escort her to the party, but she didn't let that stop her from going. She'd saved up for a trip away, but once she discovered that her host family had no intentions on letting her travel, she spent it on fabric. Tonight, she was dressed in a deep blue gown, which she'd sewn to look like the pictures she'd seen in magazines. Her curls were tamed as best as she could, and pulled back into a bun.

When she arrived at the party, she grabbed a glass, and once she realized it was champagne, she tried to find a place to dispose of the glass. She found a nice plant, and once she'd watered it with champagne, no one seemed to bother her. That is, until Quen showed up.

"Hello, Mr.Mystery. I am sorry, I... there are many people here"

[joseph_kendall]

Oddly enough, Joseph was more in his element than most at things like parties. Of course, part of the issue with him being so comfortable at parties was because he was so comfortable with drinking. He was on his...third (?) glass of champagne, making the rounds of the party, when he spotted Quen and the young woman he was talking to.

"Oh hello! Nice to see some friendly faces that I hope aren't all business tonight." Quen wasn't the only one who was starting to lose interest in all of the business talk tonight. He gave a slight bow to Elene. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

[quen]

"Not at all---"

Quen gave a bright smile to both parties. "Have you two had the pleasure? Joseph, this is the lovely Miss Elene. She's from--- where were you from again, my dear?"

Whether or not he really couldn't remember, or was just easing them into conversation was a matter of speculation. Either way he was smiling, pleased to be in the company of friends in a quiet alcove where no one was likely to talk about the business of buying or selling things.

[joseph_kendall]

"I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Miss Elene yet, and I see that as a tragedy," Joseph said, smiling to her and giving a slight bow of his head. She looked like a bit of a shy one, so he figured that if she felt up to shaking hands, he'd let her offer.

[allstarpitcher]

Rex tugged at his tie one more time and then donned his best smile. He walked into the big front room as though it were full of people who wanted to talk to him. This wasn't his usual sort of party but more public exposure was good; he thought of it as practice for the future when he'd be required to do interviews on the state of the sport and how he felt about his equally-popular teammates.

There were a LOT of people already there -- one of the drawbacks of being fashionably late. He took a moment to scan the room for any familiar faces.

[aint_got_time]

"Rex! You're here! Hi!" said a grinning Lynn, who rushed over to him. She was in a fluffy pink dress, and had something hidden in her hand. "You're not supposed to drink the champagne but I bet they'd let you do anything. This is my house. Do you like it?"

[allstarpitcher]

"Whoa! Nice house, Lynn! Sorry I'm late! How do you not get lost all the time? I guess it's different if you live here, huh?"

Rex had never actually been to the house before as his own activities kept him pretty busy. He'd noticed that whenever the subject of life at home was mentioned, Lynn would clam up. He hadn't pressed her, because parents can be strange.

"Pink is a really nice color on you, I have to say."