Written Wonderland

Belledor colored immediately at Serio's description of the play. Was that... was that why he had invited her? Because it was relevant? But, surely he genuinely wanted her to be there--with him--or he wouldn't have offered. Unless he felt guilty at having mentioned it? But, no, that felt like convoluted logic. Was it so difficult to believe that her manager just wanted her to hang out with him and his friends?

Yes.

The blush deepened, but Belledor took a breath to get it back under control.

Sarah wanted to make some comment about the relevance of the play, but Serio continued before it was appropriate to do so. She was, however, amused at his suggestion. Sarah had visited the Black Butterfly on a couple of occasions but not recently. Finally, something she could actually talk to Amelia about. Not to mention an excuse to leave Belledor and her manager alone again. It seemed relatively harmless, going to a play, and with the way Belledor was blushing, it might do the girl some good to get out.

"I may have to return my attention that direction," Sarah said. "I'm sure Belledor will tell me all about Sally, so I won't miss a thing." True to her protective--if flippant--nature, Sarah wanted to make sure that Serio knew Belledor would be missed if anything happened. She imagined that Serio was a discerning enough gentleman to catch her drift.

"May as well ask dear Amelia now before the fancy leaves me," Sarah said with a slight flourish of her drink as she stood up, curtsied a little off balance, and left.

Belledor wasn't sure what to make of Sarah's behavior. Was she condoning Belledor's interactions with Serio or not? She had left them alone, which Belledor could only hope meant approval. What would Sarah say later? At least Sarah wasn't a gossip--Belledor knew the very thought bored her--so maybe Belledor had no need to be worried.

"The play sounds perfect," Belledor said, trying to steer the conversation back on track. She bit her lip to prevent herself from asking if Serio did actually want her to go. "I have a couple favors I could call in for the purpose." By the end of her sentence, she managed a shy but full smile, still feeling like the ground was unsteady beneath her.

But then a sudden rush of sensation around her bladder made her acutely aware of how much she had been drinking, and her blush deepened again. She didn't want to leave this conversation now. Perhaps she could wait.

Serio raised his glass to Sarah as she departed, and then shifted his gaze smoothly back to Belledor. He let his smile warm and widen as she commented about the play and calling in favors to see it.

"Wonderful. We'll be attending with two friends who are back in town after traveling and another local friend of mine, should be a fun time. I'll confirm details and get them to you later this week."

With that he took a sip of his drink and then moved over to the chair Sarah had vacated a moment before. He let out a soft sigh as he settled in, perhaps hinting at how glad he was to get off his feet--or, perhaps just hinting at how comfortable the chair was regardless.

"For now, we can bring ourselves back to the present."

His dark eyes watched his glass while he swirled it lightly, before returning to Belledor intent with curiosity.

"What's been your favorite experience at this party so far?"

Belledor was certainly surprised that Serio took up a seat next to her. Here she had been beyond flattered that he had paid her even passing attention, and now he was settling in for further conversation. Would she be able to keep his interest? Didn't he have more important people to be talking to? But then again, the last thing she wanted was to push him away on accident, so she smiled shyly and looked down into her lap momentarily.

She looked up and over at her manager again when he spoke about coming back to the present, and she adjusted in her chair--sliding further back so she was no longer on the edge of the seat and leaning gently into the backrest while keeping the perfect posture the dress demanded--but caught sight of Serio's swirling drink, sparkling in the light as it moved, and another splash of urgency moved up from her bladder. To offset it, Belledor clenched her muscles, which elicited a shiver she failed to fully control. She hoped Serio wouldn't notice or, if he did, that he wouldn't think anything of it.

What's been your favorite experience at this party so far?

The rather-too-obvious answer was saying that it had already been talking to him, but she had no intentions of fawning over her manager. No, she would need to think of something else. To collect her thoughts, she looked around the room. She could say that she enjoyed the food, but perhaps that would give Serio the wrong idea of her. Besides, was that really her favorite experience? The people had been interesting, even if she had already forgotten several of their names. And then there was the whole I'm-not-supposed-to-be-here excitement that certainly played a role in the experience, but Serio already knew that. Belledor looked down at her hands again.

"This might sound odd..." she began, "but I'm actually really enjoying wearing this dress. I don't know when else I would have ever had the opportunity." It was a perfectly innocent and honest answer. Here was hoping Serio didn't think that was too banal.