2020-01-06 - In The Hall of the (Ski) Mountain King

She was filled with good humor and youthful enthusiasm the entire drive up and as usual, when the prospect of leaving Gray Harbor comes up, she had peeled out of the city limits, essentially, like a spastic bat out of hell. The fact that they even made it onto the main highway that would lead them to their final destination without incident was a miracle in itself, and while it is only for a weekend, the fact that she can embark on another trip is clearly one that puts her in the best of moods. Isabella Reede is a born traveler, inundated by bad wanderlust when forced to stay in one municipality for too long - and as she's fond of saying, if she gets bored, she gets into trouble.

And what trouble, indeed, when the last couple of weeks have been spent recuperating in 13 Elm, barely leaving the (uncomfortably) warm house save for a few quick errands and visits. But it seems that she heals quickly (in no small part due to rest, Alexander's fussing and Bennie's consideration), also and some of her usual mobility has returned just in time for this excursion. It is evident in the way she disembarks from her Jeep after parking it in the designated spot their reservations have assigned them - she had handed Alexander the printout as a guide - her snow boots crunching into soft powder underneath her feet. She's dressed, still, like an Arctic explorer; the unnatural chill from the deadly game they were forced to play with the shadow monsters has lingered in her bones and blood, albeit its hold has lessened to the point that she can move without a crutch, and or dressing like a penguin in a sleek black winter jacket with scarlet piping, pulled over black thermal leggings. There is a scarf and knit cap on her, her hair left wavy and free in tousled, dark chocolate streamers down her back and framing her face. She is wearing gloves and her hearing aid - she's still somewhat deaf, but she's well on the mend there, also, the device tuned into its lowest setting, and her steps are marked with just the slightest of limps on her left foot. What is important to her, though, is that Alexander was intact and whole again, especially if he wants to learn how to do any of these activities.

Color has pushed up from under her cheeks, whipped there by the cold, bright eyes turning to the investigator as she yanks her bag out from the back of the Jeep. She fills the air with conversation as they move within the chalet's proper to check in.

"I can handle it," she tells Alexander with a smile when they get to the front desk. "It's under my name. You can go ahead, I promise this won't take long."

"Right this way, sir," says the bellhop, gesturing for the man to follow him through the double doors at the end of the hallway.

Alexander is more wary; maybe he remembers how she drives. And, indeed, there may have been a couple of soft, incoherent sounds as they peeled out of the city, and a muttered reminder that police may be on these snowy roads, and it would be a shame to start their vacation off with a ticket. But, mostly, his wariness is just a little at the idea of leaving the town for several days, to an unfamiliar environment. Unlike his beautiful, headstrong archaeologist, Alexander Clayton is a man who craves routine and familiar - even if his idea of familiar wouldn't work for most people.

Still, the ride is a lovely one, and by the time they arrive, he's relaxed considerably, allowed a cautious sort of hope - and his relentless curiosity - to take over. He's also healed faster than her, since his wounds were less grave, so he hops out of the car first, and moves around to her side to offer her a hand out of the car. Maybe she doesn't need it, but it makes him feel better to fuss a little. He tries to make it gallant, offering her an arm like they were about to stroll a red carpet rather than acting like she needed the support.

They make their way to the cabin, and Alexander's eyes are scanning the unfamiliar surroundings with just a hint of suspicion. But, as she urges him to go forward he, he agrees, although he holds his hand out for her bag. "I'll take the bags, since you're sparing me the paperwork. Besides, all this snow makes me feel like playing pack mule for a bit." His eyes twinkle a bit. Either way, he won't fight much - whether she agrees or denies him, he'll follow after the bellhop in his hunched shoulder slink.

At the very least, she's charmed by the gallant gesture, and while she can always protest that she's fine and chastize him for fussing, there are some very good reasons why that isn't happening at the moment. Instead, Isabella takes his arm, pecks his cheek and grins broadly at him. "The nippy walk will put the color back in your cheeks," she teases him as she slightly limps towards the chalet with his help. "Really, it's like you've never been in a car moving in irresponsible speeds on top of snow and ice before."

The front desk seems to be expecting them - a sign of good customer service, but with pen in hand and her wallet out, the green-eyed brunette hands him her bag. He would find it familiar; it's the same one they took to Seattle, with the dust from various places she's been, and all the patches. It's a stroller type, at least, with a retractable handle. "Take this as a sign that I really like you, handling all the paperwork by myself," she says with a laugh, giving him a nudge from her hip against his. "Go on, get going, before the bellhop leaves you behind."

And when he follows....

Alexander doesn't scream. And he doesn't decide he's slipped into a Dream where all his friends are going to kill him and so start throwing lightning. He does visibly flinch and backpedal a couple of steps, eyes going wide before freezes, like a deer in headlights. "I-I-is this real?" His eyes dart from face to face and piece of party planning to piece of party planning, putting it together. He blinks. "Is this...a party?" A pause. "Why? What? I don't...hello."

August and Eleanor came up in August's car, with August alternating between napping and discussing what he can do at a ski lodge with his hand-eye coordination shot. Not that he could really afford to ski or snowboard anyways, but now sledding's probably off the table too. But Eleanor had an answer for that: hot tub. So that was something August was looking forward to.

He's in a snug fit, black, merino wool sweater with a dark blue, cable knit cardigan over it, denim jeans, and brown suede boots. He decided to leave off the scarf and gloves since they weren't actually helping and it just made him look weird. He's a bit tired and worn looking, but smiles and shouts 'Happy Birthday' with everyone else.

Erin is dressed in a pretty dress, fashionable and a pale aquamarine color. Her hair is down and she waits... As soon as Alexander walks in she applauds softly and announces, "Happy Birthday!" Along with the others, face beaming a smile. Surprises were fun, but she wasn't sure what Alexander's reaction would be. Seeing him take it in stride, she grins, remaining back a little to be able to just watch as everything happens.

Eleanor says, "Happy Birthday!" Eleanor chimes in along with everyone else. She's in a warm olive-green sweater and a black skirt with leggings and ankle boots, her long red hair loose. She is practically propping August up, for fear he will literally trip over his own two feet. Damnit Gray Harbor! She has brought a small wrapped box for Alexander for his birthday and it's on the gift table."

Anne and Patrick are here! Originally at the bar for some of that wine-and-hard-liquor, Anne drifts away to 'get into position' at the appointed time. Patrick stays at the bar, because well, he's an alcoholic. They've been here awhile, if the flush on the apples of Anne's cheeks and lack of winter wear are any indication - she's dressed in an off-the-shoulder cocktail dress of black floral lace and heels, hair left to fall in loose curls. She beams when Alexander comes in, chiming in with the rest of them - and coming close enough to shove her elbow into Patrick's side so that he yells out along with her: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Nicole is one of those people jumping up to yell, "Surprise!" to Alexander. She's wearing a cute, oversized cable-knit sweater woven with thick, soft yarn in a plum hue marbled with flecks of other colors of the rainbow. With that, she wears a simple pair of warm black leggings (like any real ski bunny would) and a pair of chunky black boots, complete with faux fur lining. Her hair has been 'fixed' since arriving, flowing in the luxurious summer blonde waves she is known to often wear. "Happy Birthday!" she adds on, beaming a bright smile.

It's a birthday party! Who doesn't love birthday parties! There's a thump thump thump of feet beating on the carpet in a run and an unmistakeable sound behind the Birthday Boy of Bennie's excited squeal. "We're late! We're late! We're late!" For a very important date. She bursts in through the double doors and pauses for a second, arms outstretched as she assesses the situation. "Shoot I missed the part where we all yell, SURPRISE, didn't I?" Missed it by -><- much. "Oh! But I have my own surprise!" She holds her arms out like Vanna White at the door for Easton, who was left to tote up their luggage as Bennie didn't want to wait for for a bellhop and risk being even further late. "Tada! A Wild Marshall appears."

Huffing it up the stairs with the bags after Bennie, Easton is hardly about to complain that 'coffee' was apparently code for escape to the mountains for a surprise birthday party with friends. But bursting in to the door late doesn't really stop Easton from bellowing out a far too late, far too loud, "SURPRISE!" of his own. He then stage whispers to Bennie, "Yea, I think we were too late." As for being a Wild Marshall, that doesn't manifest itself. He's fully dressed. There's no tie or lampshade on his head and not even so much as a beer in his hand. This is a very tame, quite sober Marshall. Let's see if that lasts.

Ruiz is definitely not leaping up with the others to yell SURPRISE. Nor bursting out of a cake or anything of the sort. Rather, the cop is standing somewhere if to the side while this all goes down, sedately nursing a drink. Because alcohol is about the only thing that makes social gatherings such as these, tolerable. He does curve a quick grin when the birthday boy appears, though. And shadows him a wink, if he manages to catch his eye.

"Erin. August. Eleanor." There's a startled blink from Alexander as he sees Anne and (is that Patrick?!) then outright surprise at the group. His mouth works a little, helplessly, as he recognizes more people, and although he notices Ruiz's wink, he's clearly too out of it to be able to return it at the moment. And then, when Bennie bursts in, he DOES scream, just a little. A yipe as he skitters away from the doors to let her come bursting through, and Easton behind her. "I...you...it's my birthday. Yes." Okay. That's a fact. He can build from there. "I...thank you. All." Ignore the fact that he's blinking rapidly. He's not crying. You're crying.

Lilith might have been all bundled up like a ski-bunny ready for the snow with boots and sweater and jeans on the way up to the planned Lodge for birthday surprise festivities, but when she got in with Byron to check to their room, they both took a time to get ready and of course, they look like they're showing to a party. Therefore, as she stands next to him to yell the SURPRISE and HAPPY BIRTHDAY at Alexander's stunned face (which she hopes gets a rise out of him, secretly, for kicks, but alas), she's dressed to the stylish nines to match her debonair dark-haired date for the weekend.

Her dress is a cream colored and sleek sheath dress with cutout back, set with a clasping wrap neckline. It's all cling and chic elegance with the skirt moving in pencil lines snug with fall at the knees. Her hosiery is sheer and shimmery along with her silver strappy designer heels and her hair has been straightened and arranged as sleek as the tailoring of her dress. And even though Alexander doesn't freak out, she keeps up a grin after the call out to see what else Isabella has planned for the man, as she seems to have went all out on this affair! Look at the showing! Her arm wraps around the small of Byron's back like the merriment is a contagion.

Surprise! Surprise! One might not expect the likes of Byron Thorne to be present at Alexander's birthday party. Or Alexander might not expect it. Either way, he's here and dressed in one of those expensive suits from his collection. Looking slick in a matching suit and pants ensemble in a dark sapphire with a faint grid pattern and a black dress shirt beneath, with an off-black, almost gray tie, Thorne looks as put-together as he tends to, with his hair slicked back and that shit-eating grin on across his lips.

His dark contrasts well standing next to Lilith's light with one of his arms snaked around her waist, his hand resting at the small of her back. "Surprise!" His voice joins forces with the others around him. Seemingly in good spirits, having just gotten over a bad case of hypothermia. So he's looking better today than he has been over in the days leading up to this event.

Plenty of surprises - if anything, Easton's presence here is going to startle even Isabella, followed by a tremendous cocktail of guilt later, because she didn't invite him and let Bennie decide on her own plus one. This is what happens in a divorce, Mom and Dad!

Eventually, the green-eyed archaeologist makes her way into the party proper, folding the hotel documentation and tucking it in the back pocket of her jeans. "What the-- ? Where the hell did all of these people come from?!" she wonders with exaggeratedly wide eyes and a look on her expression that suggests that she isn't surprised to see them at all. "It's like a few people decided to get together and construct some kind of elaborate conspiracy! Thanks for coming everybody, I hope there's enough booze, I'm relatively sure Patrick's testing that theory already." There's a glance to the Addington at the bar, and a beaming smile towards Anne and everyone else congregated in the large room. She sneaks another kiss on Alexander's cheek, because he's already looking teary. "Happy birthday, darling. I can at the very least promise there aren't any slideshows commemorating your forty years of life with embarrassing childhood photographs courtesy of your mother. I'm saving that for your fiftieth."

She reaches out around him to press a button on the audio system in the room. Now, there's music. It sounds....jazzy?

That's because...

The top of the cake opens and there are streamers that explode out the top and float down in colourful curly-q's. From inside there's the back of a blonde bouffant starting to rise out of the top with very muscled broad shoulders and a white Marilyn Monroe style dress on standing Contraposto. Turning slowly there's...Joey Kelly in a damn dress (yes it's stuffed and not well). He at least trimmed up the beard. Staring down Alexander he steps out and he...is still wearing his biker boots. If he wore the heels he'd die let's all be real about that.

He tweets his little purple New Year's noisemaker with a FWEEEEEET!!!

In what might be the best walk with those Zangief thighs, he's done anyplace no on the stage of the Platinum Cabaret he walks over slowly singing(?!) the happy birthday song in the style of Marge Simpson's sister with the 80 year old, raspy voice, and Christopher walk doing Spoken word.

"Happy birthday...t'you.
Happy birthday...to....you.
Happy..... birthday, Mistah President....
and/or you too Clayton.
Happy....birthday..>TO....you."

There's a pause as if he's fundraising based on how horrified he can make his neighbor, but lucky for Alexander he doesn't straddle him or do a lap dance. "Don't worry you don't have to go blow out my candle. Happy 40th birthday, man." Alexander gets a wink from one too long glitter set of false eyelashes.
We just learned never put money on a dare with Joey Kelly. He'll meet your bet. This is the moral of this story. Also we learned hey, a heart attack might be the gift that keeps on giving!

Eleanor watches the Marilyn cosplay gone so, so wrong with amusement and applauds wildly. "That was worth the price of admission," she notes to August with a grin.

August wasn't aware of the cake thing, but when it shakes, he realizes right away what's about to happen. (He wasn't even getting paid the time he did it, Joey's definitely got the right idea.) He laughs and claps, nods in agreement with Eleanor. "I hope someone filmed that." He looks around for smartphones held high.

Coffee was less a code word and more a sudden Decision Bennie made which included telling him they're rolling out in five marine! Pack, pack, pack! She's a little flushed from running up here, that turns into breathless bubbling laughter as Joey jumps out of the cake and starts singing. She pitches her voice up to add to the singing, clapping her hands and bouncing enthusiastically on her toes as Alexander does, in fact, seem surprised. And a little overcome with emotion. Good thing she and Easton are blocking the exit.

"Take it off!" Easton calls out in encouragement to Joey. "I guess Izzy spent all the money on the chalet because that is one budget stripper." Easton grins but doesn't wrap his arm around Bennie, he keeps a respectful distance of 'I don't know what this is yet but let me try not to fuck it up too badly'

Anne beams a smile over to Alexander and wiggles her fingers at Isabella before she books a hasty retreat back to the bar where Patrick is testing the limits to the amount of booze available. It is, after all, far enough away from the suddenly shaking cake to provide a decent viewing of what comes out of it. There's a burst of giggles at Joey Monroe, eyes glimmering with absolute delight. "I should've volunteered you to jump out of the cake," she murmurs to Patrick, sighing wistfully. If only.

Alexander twitches when the cake begins to shake, and when Joey pops out, dressed like that, his eyes go utterly wide. Pupils enlarge, and then contract. One day, maybe Alexander will laugh about this! Hell, it might even be an hour from now. As soon as someone gets the knife away from him. Because his hand immediately goes to the small of his back, and he draws a beautiful, sharp knife that August, at least, will immediately recognize and falls into a defensive crouch, the blade in a ready position before him. His face carries an expression that of those in the room, only Joey and Ruiz have actually seen. It's Alexander's 'how quickly can I kill you' face, blank and calculating. He starts backing to the door, trying to keep everyone in view, his breathing harsh and rapid. "You all...stay here. Don't move. Just...don't move."

Erin laughs outright, impressed with Joey's dress and singing. The celebration is full on.. until Alexander draws out a knife and shit gets real. "Uh.." That went south fast. She looks to Isabella, because that's probably the only person that can calm him down. As for her, she remains ready to help if needed, while praying she's not needed.

Joey points to Easton, noise maker held between two fingers like a cigarette, "Buddy, that'll cost ya extra. You get what you pay for ya stingy bastard remember that." ANd then... that. His stance shifts and his tone gets serious. "Bro, I will take off my earrings and take you downtown if you zap me again." Okay he's not wearing earrings, but it's the principle of the thing. The wig does come off though. He's got the room in peripheral and his head turns to square. What he does do, like any other predator in the wild... or a cake, is maintain eye contact. "Clayton..."

Byron is just as surprised as everyone else when rather than one of your run-of-the-mill regular strippers (not that he would've expected that either), it's Joey Kelly in a dress of all things popping out of the cake. There's a lift of his brows, perhaps he really needs a drink now, when he murmurs, "Budget is right." Once that is said, a smile might have started to creep across his lips, when the shock of it all (and Byron doesn't completely blame him!) seems to have triggered Alexander to act. "Woah. Hey there, cowboy." He says, slowly untangling himself from Lilith with both of his arms held out. "I mean, this is going to haunt all of us for the rest of our lives, not just you, buddy." He's trying his best to sound entertained and amused by this even if he is wary of what Clayton plans to do next.

It's all fun and games until Alexander yanks out the knife August got him for Christmas and starts to back towards Easton and Bennie at the door. He's not sure if he wants to laugh about the necessity of that bit of forward thinking or not. He tries to yank the knife from Alexander, but it won't budge, so he sighs holds up a hand. "Alexander. It's okay. This is real. It's not one of Their...things. How about you put that back away and we'll have a drink or six."

Lilith has a giggle fit, abruptly, outright when she recognizes that something isn't only coming out with the lie cake, but that it's Joey Kelly doing his best Marilyn (Simpsons) in that dress and boots. It is not a dry huff of amusement, or even one of her rowdy little built up true laughs, but she is literally giggling like a little girl and absolutely cannot help herself. In fact, she's so overcome with amusement and surprise herself, she doesn't really bother noticing how Alexander is reacting because after she catches on to realize and watch the show, she's looking at Byron like 'oh god I'm giggling' because she's usually a rare giggler and he's generally the only one that sees that!

She tries to staunch her giggle fit with a drink from her champagne flute, but only manages a meager drink because of it. But she finally kind of cools it when Byron disengages to step forward. Kind of. She should feel bad because Alexander is uh... freaking a little, but every time she LOOKS at Joey... this is fine, they'll calm him. She drinks again.

Having been the one to help Joey get ready, Nicole of course knew what was about to happen, so right after she yelled Happy Birthday, she pulled out her lovely Christmas present, a beautiful digital camera, to record what happens next. She whistles for Joey Monroe then pans over to see Alexander pulling out a knife. The digital video evidence of this movement will forever have her voice captured in a whispered, "oh... fuck... I did not think that was going to happen." And yet, she doesn't stop filming.

Eleanor, likewise, tries to duplicate her knife-snatching prowess of that ill-fated wedding, but Alexander is a slippery little bastard and she too fails. "Clayton! It was supposed to make you laugh!" she yells.

Clearly Alexander isn't pulling that knife because he suddenly REALLY WANTS a piece of cake. Bennie's eyes go wide and she instinctually takes a step towards Easton, as if he's still his duty and obligation to protect her. Just because they aren't sleeping together anymore doesn't mean...okay, just because they aren't dating anymore...okay, just because they aren't currently living together in sin doesn't mean she doesn't still trust him. You know what? She just steps towards him BECAUSE. "Everyone, just QUIET."

Patrick obviously has not been paying enough attention. "There's a cake?" He turns at the waist, trying to lay eyes on this cake - and immediately regretting it. Maybe it's the thing that jumped out of the cake, maybe it's the knife that the thing that jumped out of the cake prompted into appearing, but he'll just be ordering another round here, my good man. It's clearly one of those 'better to get black-out drunk and forget the whole thing' kinda parties.

Yes, there is probably a good deal of concern on other people's faces when Alexander pulls a knife. Easton just looks really sad. The reaction reminding him far too much of many men he knows that would react far worse in such a situation. He eyes the room and grits his teeth as he feels various attempts to de-escalate the situation ping about. He doesn't try to hedge Alexander in, or block the door. He guides Bennie away from it actually but does pull try to pull the knife away. It doesn't come cleanly though. "Clayton, sorry, I'm not trying to hurt ya buddy. We can punch this out later."

But he can't help himself from calling out to Joey. "See? That's what you get for jumping out of cakes in dresses. It's nipple tassles and a bikini Joey, how do you now know that?"

Because that would have made all the difference.

Alexander makes a low, snarling sound when he feels those tugs on his knife, resisting the first two with gritted teeth. The last, Easton's, is too much, though, and when the blade skitters out his hand, leaving a reddened friction mark on his palm, he jumps back and away from everyone, trying to put his back to a wall and looking around for another weapon. The scent of ozone starts to crackle around him. "This is...I got lost. Somewhere. You're not real. Please don't make me kill you. Please." His voice is rough and strained.

Ooof, there's a knife. Anne visibly winces as Alexander pulls out his sharp stabby instrument. She'll stay over here by the bar where it's safe, and it just so happens that Patrick's ordering up another round. "Don't mind if I do," she hums to him, taking the drink that was probably understandably his and smirking as she takes a sip. "We're all real, Alexander," she offers up to be helpful.

Easton seems to have things well in hand, so Ruiz just stays riiiight where he is. Drink in hand, half an eye on the situation, the other half on the hors d'oeuvres table. Because baby, they ain't gonna eat themselves.

There's laughter and there's applause. Isabella points from where she's standing towards Joey Kelly. "I stand corrected, good sir. You are the king of dares!" she calls out. And then the birthday boy starts backing up and draws a knife. She is also absolutely encouraging and basically joins in with Easton when he calls out for Joey Monroe to take it off, up until things do go south a little.

Good news - there's no lightning.

Bad news - Alexander has the wild-eyed look.

It would be easy at this point to lose her temper; she's certainly equipped for it. But with Easton taking the knife, she starts moving in that direction, removing her hands in her pockets. She pulls off her jacket, the rose wrap Lilith got her for Christmas, and she's already regretting it because the cold hits her like a sledgehammer, and she's not fully recovered yet. But it's necessary so she can roll up her sleeves and show him that she isn't armed. She takes a step that way slowly. "Alexander, it's us. And Joey in a dress. And if you don't think he's the type to do that, remember he's the same guy who does Amateur Night at the Platinum Cabaret for fun. Can you calm...down...now so I can put my jacket back on and stop freezing?"

Bennie doesn't stay still though, she's creeping forward slowly like she's attempting not to spook a cornered animal any more. "Alexander, look at me, sweetie. I want you to do something for me. Take a deep breath and read me. C'mon. Take my hand and give me a good scan, and then you'll know there's no danger here. We're real. And you don't want to hurt us. We're here because we love you and want to celebrate you."

Taking steps closer to Alexander, his hands still up in that 'calm down' position, Byron shoots a look over at Joey in the dress, making sure that the guy looks as non-threatening as can be. In the end, however, those hands lower as his arms cross over his chest and after what everyone else has said to Alexander to try and clear his mind, that grin returns to Thorne's face and he utters a loud and enthusiastic, "SURPRISE!"He might not be really trying to help things, but it is kinda amusing now that he thinks about it. And he expects one of them to crack into Alexander's mind, not mentally, but to set him at ease.

August lets Isabella and Bennie handle this part, settling for staying ready to, well, do the other thing he can do if Alexander tries to light things up. For now, though, he settles in a little closer to Eleanor, not because it'll really protect her in any way but because it makes him feel better.

"God, I hope he starts electrocuting people." Patrick just orders another drink, since Anne apparently stole his, and chin-props on the edge of the bar. He does all this over here, mind, at the bar. Some safe distance from where he hopes the electrocuting starts to happen. And where there are all the cocktails.

Joey leans to teh side and walks slowly forward. In D&D terms this move would be called entering the WTF zone. Still, joey's better up close and they've done this before, though he does ditch the wig and does not look lie he's going to hit him. "Hey, if you're gonna discharge that fist man, right here. Leave these folks alone. They actually like you." Yeah including Joey. Baffles the shit out of him too and here we all are.

"Don't be rude," Anne rolls her eyes at Patrick. "He's clearly having a hard time with this, but my gosh.." she takes a drink. ".. If they keep trying to take the knife out of his hand like that, there's gonna be a real problem here soon." The rest of the cocktail is dangled in front of Patrick. Here, Pat, take a drink and think about how the cake is going to come to life and eat us all.

Alexander backs up step by step, until his back is against the wall. He looks like a horse about to bolt. When Bennie makes that offer, his eyes flick in that direction. He doesn't take her hand, but a mental fist hammers at her mind...and bounces off. He shakes his head. His eyes flick back to Isabella. "Please stay where you are." A pause. "This is clearly not real." Another look at Joey in the dress. "Very. Clearly. So. All of you just...stay there. And I'm going to leave. And, and, I'm going to get unlost, and try very hard to forget this happened." He starts edging towards the door.

Eleanor grimaces and stays close to August. This was not the fun happy party they were expecting. But she's leaving it to those who know Clayton best to defuse the situation.

Biting her lip, Nicole decides to stop the video at some point and just be on alert, watching the situation unfold. She doesn't really realize she's backing up until the back of her thighs hit against the arm of a chair and she nearly falls into it, looking around with a small amount of embarrassment on her face, as if wondering if anyone saw that. Most eyes are on Alexander and Easton at the moment though. Exhaling, she tries to think calming thoughts. The more calm she can remain, the faster others will relax too, right? Maybe.

"It's real," Isabella says quietly - chalking this up to another mistake that she will have to correct eventually. "Alexander, sweetheart, please." But she does do what he says - she doesn't try to approach. There are plenty of capable people here, and true to Giant Snowball fight rules, she attempts to offer herself up as a distraction so someone more capable with the emotions department can neutralize the situation.

Wait! Are they not supposed to be armed?! No one told Easton! He looks a little nervous when people start talking about not being armed and he quietly admits, "Nope, totally packing." Because if he weren't then that might really send Alexander into kill mode. But then Bennie is creeping forward to talk him down and so long as she manages to not hug him right now, that's probably a good idea. He sighs at Alexander making a move towards the door, "Asshat, your girlfriend threw you a surprise party." It's a term of endearment! (in the marines) "Take a deep breath. No one here wants to kill you..." He surveys the crowd and narrows his eyes at Patrick who seems at least ambivalent about the possibility, "Probably." But Alexander has said that he fears falling into Dreams like this, so he tries to limit the wisecracks.

Patrick, in his best 'won the argument, so there' tone, "There's nothing rude about it. I didn't specify which people." He has (slightly sloshy) eyes on Alexander trying to leave and the people trying to prevent this. "But I could take a guess who's likely to get zapped first." Oh good, Anne's given him back his drink, and he's ordered another, so now he has two drinks with which to occupy himself. Happily intoxicated, he spectates.

Bennie face pulls into a wince at the onslaught as if she'd physically been struck, not the tentative mental outstretched finger she's experienced before with Clayton when he ventured into her mindscape. But she doesn't back down, "Please, Alexander. It's the only way you'll be able to know for sure. You're scared, we're all scared now. Try again."

Byron sees no real reason to try and calm Alexander down, especially once the man looks to be backing off and take his leave. He'll come back in and there'd be absolutely no change! So instead, he turns to Lilith before his eyes flicker over to the bar, "I think I'll pour myself a drink. Want me to get you anything or will you come with?" Alexander is given one fleeting glance, of course, because Byron is ever wary of his surroundings. "He'll eventually figure it out and we'll have a big laugh in the end."

When his eyes land on Joey in the process, he calls out, "Nice one, Kelly. We don't call you Trouble for no good reason."

While he?d been present somewhere, Jack has been his usual quiet self. In fact, given most of what is going on, he is probably chosing to be quiet and off to the side. When things start going where they have gone. He does come up to Erin, ?You okay?? Of course, Alexander might find it even more unreal that Jack is out and about, and at a party no less. But hopefully enough distractions that Jack doesn?t add to the oddities of the evening and he remains a quiet mostly wall lower except to talk with Erin as this unfolds.

Stood at the back of the room, and with some sort of concoction involving pate and sprigs of something green on a cracker, de la Vega seems to weigh the relative merits of wading in for a good few minutes. Finally, napkin dabbed at his mouth, he reaches for a cocktail shrimp and.. barges the fuck on in to Alexander's mind. Wouldn't be too hard to deflect, but possibly not before the link resonates with the particular flavour of his thoughtscape. <<Alexander. You're not in danger. I promise.>>

Lilith could be more sympathetic, but Alexander has quite a collective of people here who care about him and she is shook by a Kelly showing up in a dress like that. At least she stops giggling, though. When people are stepping toward him to do the soothing things, she wanders over to look at the snacks and drains her champagne flute while eyeing the scene with clear expectation that it will defuse and be fine once he catches on no one will be murdered by a faux man-Marilyn.

Besides, being away from Gray Harbor a good spell of distance doesn't have her thinking in terms of anything glimmery or strange so much-- she doesn't quite notice or catch on to the less obvious ways of trying to manage the situation in favor of little cocktail snacks. She does kind of keep a close watch on where Byron is, though, while poking in a little quiche lorraine bit of fingerfood to pad the champagne in her stomach and keep her from getting more giggles of the buzzed-with-drink variety. Then when he says he's going for a drink, she waves her emptied glass at him with a flash of smile in gratitude, and after another bit of food to carry, she ambles over to meet with him and drop her empty off while he orders.

August gives Easton a consternated, 'Inside voice on the inside, Easton!' kind of look.

Joey doesn't look at Nicole because he doesn't want Alexander's eyes to go that way. Nope, the lead brick tries to hold their buddy's attention. "Yeha, B, that's why I charged Izzy hazard pay. Lil, just have the band-aids and some ribs ready and I'll be fine. Clayton. Seriously. There's money ridin on this. That help you suspend your disbelief any?"

"I don't think we should be taking bets on which one of his friends he electrocutes first," Anne says to Patrick. There's a lean and a quiet whisper of conversation before she winks at him. That full glass he ordered for himself? She takes it for herself, lifting it up to Byron when he approaches the bar. "Hello Byron," she chirps pleasantly. "You should try the gin, it's delicious."

"We're gonna need booze in that hot tub," Eleanor murmurs to August.

Alexander takes a deep, shuddering breath. His eyes dart from face to face, lingering on Bennie, and then Easton. The 'asshat', gets the faintest flicker of a smile. Just a tiny one before he feels that touch on his mind. He's cautious, but not immediately rejecting, the knife-sharp edge of panic and fear sharp in his brain. His eyes dart to Ruiz. He stares at him for a moment. Then his eyes turn to Isabella. "This is real?" A long pause. His eyes flick back to Joey. "...it does. Yes." He relaxes, fractionally. "Okay. Okay. I--I'm sorry." In an instant, he goes from murderous to hunched and contrite. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have...drawn the knife."

Erin just watches as it all unfolds, glancing at Jack as he approaches. "Hey," she gives a reassuring look. "I'm fine, just hoping it all diffuses itself soon without the guest of honor taking off." She does offer a smile and hooks a hand at the bend of his arm while holding a champagne flute in her other hand. "Tomorrow, we get to go skiing, or anything if you want. Tonight.. is an adventure all its own."

With Lilith trailing behind him, Byron flashes a smile at Anne's greeting, "The gin it is then. Thanks." He raps his knuckles on the bar counter, his tall, lean frame leaning against it with one arm as he brings that smile back around Lilith's way. Though, what he says it uttered to the group at the bar as a whole, "Now, I expect a party to go this well somewhere on Elm." Before muttering, "Or Gray Harbor as a whole, but that's neither here nor there." Before he lifts a free arm to gesture at the lodge around them, "Not a place like this. But I gotta say, I am entertained."

Another look is then given Alexander and the gang surrounding him and once his glass is poured, he lifts it up in the birthday boy's direction, "Hey, Clayton! Kick back, relax. Enjoy your party."

"It's alright," Isabella murmurs, her smile hooking faintly in the corner of her mouth, though she's still not moving to touch him while the line of his shoulders look so defensive. "In retrospect? Next time this happens, there'll be signs in gigantic red letters and a complete guest list sent to your e-mail two weeks in advance." Joey Kelly gets a grin from her, too, before she proceeds to retrieve her wrap and jacket because it's still cold in here and she needs it. "Bennie, totally glad you brought a professional bartender to the party." She pulls on her rose wrap, her new compass earrings (courtesy of Anne) swinging before the jacket returns to her shoulders.

August glances sidelong at Eleanor, though his eyes return to Alexander. "I can think of worse ways to spend the evening than in a hot tub with you and a whiskey sour."

As Alexander begins to relax, so does August. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. No one got hurt. We just surprised you a little too good, is all." And probably drew a bit too much attention to the Lodge, thereby ensuring it would be haunted or worse for the next forever, but them's the breaks.

A Patrick that is juuuuust about to cross over from tipsy into drunk laughs at the whisper, nodding into his glass. But then something apparently gets through to Alexander, and Patrick exhales. Not like he was holding his breath, but like he's a little bummed, sigh. "Oh well," is about the last even moderately sober thought he's going to be able to hang on to for a while. Eventually, he winds up on a mission to locate kosher dill pickles in this lodge, insisting he has a reason for it, but the reason never comes to light.

Eleanor grins at August and kisses his cheek. "I'm gonna get us a plate of hors d'oeuvres. I don't trust you not to spill them everywhere tonight. I swear I'm hand feeding you." She heads for the food tables.

Even as she says it to him, Jack sees said guest of honor shift gears. ?Seems to be better, good company,? that is, those that deat with the situation. The out of place mechanic stays as side item to Erin and stays in quiet converstion with her for the now. ?I?ll try, just no laughing if I bust my ass. Or don?t laugh much at east.?

"It's okay, Alexander." Bennie murmurs for her part, but suddenly she really needs to sit down. "Happy birthday!" She drags herself to one of those plush looking chairs, flopping into it and tugging up her legs to nest into one of the plush backed pieces of furniture. "And he also makes an excellent waiter, don't you E?" She comments with a small smile at Isabella's praise, hopeful he'll take the hint to grab her a drink. As she fluffs at her hair that's started to go back to its natural wave since her blow-out, she's giving a little glance at Isabella as if to ask 'you good?'

Lilith finally helps a little in that backhanded way by doing something completely calm and normal. There's little maple bourbon spare ribs on the hors d'ouevres table and Joey, as mentioned back over his shoulder, does like him some ribs. If he was a good sport and just in a dress instead of a murderer, he definitely would not be just standing and eating ribs. So she fills a small plate and detours while walking, bringing the Kelly some ribs fancy-style with a murmur of 'watch your dress' with dry, warm amusement. Then she's on her actual way to meet with Byron at the bar, claiming her new champagne flute he put on order to post up there with him and his gin.

Also with Anne and Patrick nearby, who she salutes with her newly filled glass before drinking, "Hello you two. Lovely dress Anne, really." Then to Patrick she tacks on with a bit of a grin "Sorry for snowball pinging you so hard. I get carried away sometimes." Understatement given non-snow contexts, but she's talking about snowballs, okay.

"I suppose you can take the man away from Gray Harbor, but you can't take the Gray Harbor away from the man," Anne replies to Byron with a small smile, tucking into her cocktail as Alexander finally relaxes. Lilith gets a broader grin from the Archivist. "It was fun! The snowball fight. I can take a hit," she promises Lilith, giggling softly as she finishes up her drink. She's going to wander around with Patrick now, and probably eventually go on the hunt for kosher dill pickles - not because she likes them, but because she really wants to know Patrick's reason for wanting them.

Alexander ducks his head apologetically at Isabella's murmur. "No. This is...this is nice. I just. I overreacted. I'm sorry. I didn't expect." He takes a deep breath, puts his hands behind his back like a child who's been told not to touch anything, and makes one of those strange, creepy smiles, like he doesn't quite know how all the pieces are supposed to go together. "Thank you." He clears his throat, and says it a little louder, to reach the rest. "Thank you. For the party. I will," a glance towards Byron, "relax." A look towards the cake, then to Joey, then back to Isabella. "Is...is there actual cake? Or is it all just Joseph in a dress? Because while he's a handsome man, I...um. Don't think any of us want him to be cake." His attempt at a laugh is more like a strangled cough.

August would dredge up a complaint about being able to feed himself, thank you very much, except being hand fed by your lover is actually pretty awesome, even if it's happening in front of God and everyone. "Okay," he says, returning the kiss and moving to find somewhere to sit. He's stiff as he goes, so he makes a stop by the bar for a drink to hopefully loosen his joints. Nothing especially strong for the moment, just a lager. The hard stuff is for the hot tub.

He gives Byron and Lilith an upnod as he fetches his beer, finds a spot that he and Eleanor can safely sit at without him tripping or running into something. "I sure hope there's a proper cake, or at least some cupcakes." He holds up a hand to Joey. "No offense, just, chocolate cake would hit the spot." 'After all that' he means.

The knife is picked up as Easton makes his way to the bar. He'll hand that back once he's at least 30% sure that Alexander's not going to stab him with it. He nods at Bennie and with a wink heads off to the bar to retrieve a glass of champagne for her and a pint of beer for him. He barely even looks at the liquor. As if sticking to beer will inoculate him from his poor decision making skills. He returns quickly and says, "Well we missed the surprise bit, but at least we didn't miss the part where he pulled the knife." Easton would have been really sad to miss that. "I'm going to go grab some of this grub, I'm starving." He hands her a drink and makes his way towards the food.

Eleanor returns with a plate loaded with treats and a glass of wine for herself, sitting next to August and offering him morsels from the pile in between eating her own. This will be a story for the ages.

Erin looks visibly relieved when the tense moment is over. "Good company." Looking around at those gathered. "You've lived in Gray Harbor all of your life too, do you know everyone? Or do you need introductions? I know you know Alexander. Isabella there," motioning towards the woman with Alexander, "She's such a great friend. I'll introduce you if you haven't met her." A smile plays over her features. "Oh I won't laugh any harder than you will when I fall."

Is there actual cake?

Isabella, in spite of everything and unable to help it, suddenly bursts out laughing, tension winding out of her stomach. She doesn't seem to remember, or care, that the man had drawn a knife in self defense, because once everything else is back on her, she throws her arms around his neck and shoulders. "Yes, there's an actual cake. And it is actually chocolate," she tells him, and everyone else in the room because August, too, is making noises about cake. Over one of his shoulders, she catches Bennie's inquiring look, and she nods with a smile that she hopes is reassuring.

"Erin and I will bring it out once people have had something." She attempts to nudge him further into the room. "Go, drink, have something to eat! Otherwise everyone else is just going to get drunk without you."

Byron is sipping his spirits while everyone is talking about cake, to which he just has to respond, his lips hovering near the rim of the glass, "Let us know again ahead of time, Bella, if you're going for cheesecake again." He then slowly begins to drain his glass. August is given a return nod, "Roen." He then remembers something and decides to bring it up, "Regarding that plot of land, the one from the auction, I'll pay you a visit and discuss on how to prepare for that, for the upcoming spring season."

He's not leaving the bar immediately. Not until he's finished this glass and has a new one poured, because he's already more than half-way through. Turning to Lilith, he says, after licking at his lips,"Once I get a fresh glass, we'll go poke around what there is to eat. Isabella's gone all out here."

Doing what he does best, Jack remains stoic but observant at least. The honorable guest calm if not constrained in ways, Jack nods at the thanks given to the group and lifts a finger in a salute towards Alexander. Whether or not he?s met Isabella, he raises a hand in her direction with a finger wave that in Jack speak is a hello, pleased to met you gesture. Even if she?s busy and occupied otherwise. ?Faces come and go around the shop, most I woud only know in passing as customers. I keep quiet.?. Overstatement. ?We have an understanding on laughing then.?. What?s this, Jack gives a hint of grin to Erin, out of character for the man.

August nods at Byron between caramelized onion and cheese tartlets. (He could eat 100 of these.) A drink of his beer, then, "Sounds good. I'll be at the shop, since I can't exactly climb right now. Just give me a ring or a text before you swing by, so I know. We can make some plans, get some things earmarked and ordered."

"Yes there is actual cake man. No it ain't in this dress. Not your cheesecake anyways." Okay hostile resting face really does clash with cheeky humor. "I'm a clean up and come back." He turns to head towards Nicole and stops to tell Ruiz, "You try to cuff me for soliciting I will fight you, hoss." Leaning over he gives Nicole a smooch. "Grab me some ribs and make sure he don't eat all the cake on me? I'm a go change up. The draft ain't fun."

Alexander relaxes further when Isabella bursts out laughing. His expression turns sheepish, but his next smile is more like a real one. "Oh, good. I do like chocolate cake." He sidles over to her, and attempts to press his lips briefly to her forehead. Although he's still keeping his hands out of sight, and the prospect of wandering into the center of things seems to daunt him. He does let out another brief laugh at Joey's quip. "I'd be, um, surprised if Isabella would bet you on whether I could be induced to eat cake out of your dress, Kelly. Kinda impressed?" A look that tries to be playful towards her. "But surprised."

Bennie takes the glass of champagne with a bit of a smile and a murmur to Easton of, "I never would have accused you have having FOMO." Yes, Bennie talks in acronyms sometimes, pronounced 'faux mo'. She gives Isabella a little toast with her glass that things are alright and starts rummaging through her purse to come up with a little package that looks like it was made out of an old man's dress shirt so in order to unwrap the present you just have to undo the buttons.

Eleanor is partial to the mini beef wellingtons herself. This is going to be a love, relaxing trip, now that the knife and horror show is over. She sips her wine and smiles to Byron. "You won the garden plot? Wonderful!"

"There's good mini-everything over there, I cheated since I was drinking and already stole a quiche without you." Lilith tells Byron with a rub of hand in against the front of his shirt and suit jacket once she's taken another drink of champagne, and she's eyeing him like a piece of birthday present for herself here at the Lodge to have her way with later, despite the fact their respective birthdays are in summer. Then after looking between August and Byron talking about the plot of land, she wonders, more conversationally after that lull of man-petting and eyeing distraction, "What are you going to do with the land? I don't think I can handle anymore spoiled surprises, honestly, if it's some posh luxury cabin you're having built on the sly."

Then she clicks her tongue a few times and if Alexander is embarrassed, well, she's taking a turn embarrassing Byron now with some starry-eyed boasting that's utterly rooted in fondness, telling August and Eleanor and anyone nearby at the bar, "You know, aside from the carriage ride to the New Year's Eve affair, this one here woke me up with piano on Christmas morning to sing to me... right under some clever mistletoe. I think I almost passed out with a terrible case of the womanly vapors. I didn't know a Santa hat could look so good on someone, at that."

In the end, Isabella honestly can't take the credit for the spread - a lot of it are Erin's recommendations, born from years of experience attending and planning Addington soirees. There's the standard fare: crispy prosciutto wrapped asparagus stems, dates stuffed with goat cheese and bits of bacon, beef wellington slices, and the like. Next to the platter of cheese and onion tartlets that August is busily demolishing are assorted crostini, and even a station where one can assemble one himself, laden with other ingredients - different cheeses and spreads, honey and jam. There are even oysters in a half shell from the coast, and shrimp cocktail, as well as plenty of booze.

Honestly, there's so much booze. So much, you guys.

But the star attraction is definitely a splurge by the archaeologist, who seems to always have an unfailing love for Spain and all of its bounty: on a stand is a leg of jamon iberico, complete with the thin, sharp knife with which to cut it in thin slices, to be eaten on its own or with the crispy pieces of baguette rubbed with tomato and garlic. No question as to what Isabella is eating first, but there it is. And if that leg survives tonight, she is taking it home.

There's a smile at the brief kiss to her forehead, but with him lingering, she puts a hand on his elbow and gently steers him to the food and drink and gifts table should he be inclined. Jack gets a jaunty salute from where she's standing, brows lifting towards Erin in silent inquiry - because she doesn't recognize him. "Dark chocolate ganache from Vydal's," she tells him. "And look, more presents. It's like Christmas came to you twice, I'm jealous."

"If you'd like to save our backsides and sled down to the village instead, we could do that. Unless you wanted to try the zip lining. We've got the weekend, through Monday if you like. We could have all sorts of adventures." Catching the look from Isabella, she winks in return. "Let's go wish Alexander a happy birthday and introduce you to her?" It's an offer, certainly he doesn't have to.

"It's not that big," August asides to Lilith. "They're only about eighty to three hundred feet square. Byron has one of the bigger ones, so he could definitely do a mix of vegetables and fruits with flowering plants, if he wanted, or a small tree." Eleanor can deal with getting them some of the cured ham, August is content to make suggestions and be waited on. It'll be his turn sooner or later, after all; that's just how Gray Harbor works.

He raises his eyebrows at Lilith and and laughs. "Not bad," he says. "Do you play?"

?I?m along for the ride,? says Jack with all the muster to indicate he knows he?s out of his element. ?I?m good for trying anything.? Except all the fancy food and offering. If there are BBQ smokies, he?ll eat, otherise room service later. As for all the options on drink, well, he is a Washington man. If its not a can or bottle that reads Rainer on it, he is probably not drinking it. ?Sure, I?d like to meet your friends.?

Eleanor hands the remains of what's on the plate to August. "I'm going to get us some of that fancy Spanish ham and baguettes. Back in a bit. If I don't return, I probably stole it and am running down the ski slopes holding it over my head like a trophy of war." She gets up and heads that way.

"I heard that, Ellie, I thought we were friends!" Isabella cries from her side of the room.

Easton watches the plates go by as he makes his first pass at scoping out the food and he feels the distinctive mark of an Addington party in it. He raises up to look and find Erin giving her a small nod of approval if he can catch her eye. He however is not distracted by the crostini or even the ribs because there is that gorgeous slab of jamon iberico calling his name seductively. He makes up two quick plates before anyone tries to wrestle the knife from his grasp (Just try it!!) and stopping only to stuff a piece of baguette topped with it in his mouth he makes his way back to Bennie, easily carrying the two ladden plates of bread, cheese and ham and his beer. With a blissed out look on his face he apologizes, "I originally got a plate for you but now I'm eating all of this myself and there is little you can do to stop me Oakes."

Bennie abandons her purse to the side of her chair and slips the present onto the table in front of her. "May I remind you that we're at a ski lodge, where the woods are literally right there, and that means there are SO many acres of fluffy winterland forest where I can hide you body, in teeny tiny little bits if necessary, Marshall." She makes grabby hands at the plate, content to hide out here in her chair instead of mingling like a normal person.

Alexander allows himself to be nudged, his eyebrows going up appreciatively at the mention of the chocolate ganache. He moves towards the food and drink tables, giving the gift table a bewildered sort of look. He reaches out to try one of the little bits of hors d'oeuvres, and pops it in his mouth. He makes a pleased sound. "This is very good." The ham is given a curious look, but he clearly does not recognize it as the meat treasure that it is. As Easton fills plates, he does manage to sidle a little in that direction and and say, "Nice to see you back." A glance then as Easton heads towards Bennie. He watches them fixedly for a moment, then snickers at Bennie's comment.

She is, in the end, ready to do battle with Eleanor for the privilege of more of the ham, only for Easton to steal away the first two plates. "That's a thrown gauntlet if I ever saw one, Marshall!" Isabella calls out with a grin. But she does spin the knife around with her fingers once she gets to it, and starts cutting strips slowly so she can fill her own plate. After situating it with a couple of the tartlets before August eats them all, she winks at Byron and Lilith nearby, then turns towards the approaching Jack and Erin. "You're a gem," she tells Erin, leaning in to buss the air next to her cheek. "Honestly, you're a godsend, I wouldn't have been able to know where to start were it not for you, I feel like all I really contributed in the end was the ham. And the Joey cake." To Jack, she extends a hand. "Isabella Reede."

"You're not getting me in a hot tub if you make off with that ham," August warns Eleanor. He winks at Isabella. 'I got this,' his eyes say. He can't do much else right now, but he can for sure threaten Eleanor's hot tub time for the sake of the ham.

To Eleanor's inquiry, Byron laughs with a nod, "Yeah, that was me." He then responds to Lilith regarding the garden, but could be talking to anyone associated with it or August or who has any curiosity at all on what he plans to do with the land, "Growing fresh vegetables is always nice. Or flowers. Either way, I'm leaving my options open and will consult with the expert on what's best to do with the plot and its location." At what Lilith says about a posh cabin, that brings out another laugh, "I... I don't think that's in the contract. It's a garden for growing things. Not building things."

Now that his drink is finished and being refilled, his chin lifts to scan the finger foods on the table across the way, just when Lilith brings up what happened on Christmas morning. He can't help but grin ear-to-ear, looking slightly embarrassed that it was even mentioned. Just slightly! It was a well-thought out plan. Pushing off from the bar, he takes his newly refilled drink and slinks a hand behind Lilith's back, "Let's poke around. You already got a a preview of what's being served. So you can lead the way."

As he is over in the area, Jack remains away from the food ongoings. He does however take the offered hand, in a down to earth grip. ?A pleasure, Jack Wellinton.?. BUt otherwise lets Erin do the introductions as he listens.

Joey wades back, jeans, t-shirt, and blue plaid flannel shirt. He wades back in and stops to find his lady with his food, and looks around, "Lilith, You welcome." Truly. He murmurs, "Surprised my eyelids are still attached. Those things are fucking gluey. "Isabella, thanks for inviting us, and for having them bake that damn cake before I climbed into it."

Alexander looks at Erin, from where he's snagging another bite-sized treat. "You helped plan this, Erin? Thank you. It's really lovely." When Jack approaches, he offers a brief smile. "Hey. It's been a while. How are you?" A flick of his eyes back towards Byron and Lilith. "Gardening? You're taking up gardening, Thorne?"

"Oh? Really Reede? You're going to make taunts at me tonight? We're having mother-fucking words later." Easton's laughing but there's a bit more vulgar sting in those words than he usually would level on Isabella at a party, and sober too. He then is threatened by Bennie and with a narrow eyed gaze he relents and hands over a plate, as if that weren't a forgone conclusion. The fact that he's at home at this kind of event and knows how to get to the best food before it's absconded with strikes him when looking at Bennie. "Just trust me. The other plates are just a distraction.." Obviously sticking to safe conversational topics like the food and the party is a good idea. And he's even refrained from chugging his beer.

"Goodness no, I don't play a thing, I just cut a rug here and there." Lilith says with a partial half-laugh at August's casual curious inquiry, head shaking in brief to break the moment of fawning eyes over Byron. She catches Isabella's wink from nearby while playing intro and hostess, chin tipping toward the sweater cardigan with eyeing silent approval and slight grin for the clear appreciation of the gift. Erin and her date get a flash of that smile as well while nearby, "Erin, do you smell pretty? I bet you smell pretty!" She might have a reason for asking that, roundabout making sure what was sent to that house was liked! Fragrances are kind of a personal thing, so she's double checking, roundabouts.

Then she nods solid to Byron's instruction as he guides her over with a walk to survey the food, picturesque duo with his hand guiding her back. And in utterly doting fashion, once near to let him look and comment on what looks good between conversation in the room, she sends him with her champagne flute to have a seat by where Bennie and Easton are eating, "Here, I'll make us both plates, go nab us a spot with the drinks as place holder." Then a little lower and personally, she murmurs, "... are they still broken up? Look a little chummy over there."

August gets a wink back, before Easton calls her out in front of all these people. Yes, they are going to have words and Isabella has a good grace to wince openly before she laughs again. "Plenty," she tells him with a smug curling of her lips. "We have a wager to settle, too. But we should probably wait until we're really destroyed before we set the terms, to make things even more interesting." To Jack, she curls her fingers into his, her own grip solid and secure, but warm. "Jack Wellington...Wellington...why does that sound familiar?" she wonders, eyes fixed on the man's face in an attempt to place him.

She releases his hand, though, because hanging onto it would be weird, and Joey's approach has her turning to him. "You are," she says, and if allowed, she slings her arm around his shoulders. "Officially a national treasure, and I will fight an entire crew of patissieres if they actually tried to bake you in it. Seriously, between you and me? You look a thousand times better in that dress than I ever could."

"You look wonderful," Erin tells Isabella as she approaches, returning the gesture, blushing a little at the compliments. "I did this for my grandmother for so many years. It was a joy helping out for a friend. You did so much more and everything turned out perfectly." Erin watches as the two introduce themselves. "My two best friends right here. This is Jack, I've known him forever. He works on my car when I need. And when people who play around in the sewer need rides," she teases playfully, casting a look towards Alexander. "Thank you for the gift, Isabella, so much." (Jack had to afk a bit for RL)

Ruiz had to step out for a little while due to a phonecall. Must have been important, going by the look on his face. He returns some time later, phone in the process of being shoved into his pants pocket, tie adjusted with two fingers wiggled under the knot. Tug, tug like it's practically choking him. He gravitates back toward the bar and puts a hip to the counter while he requests - what else - tequila. Then turns away to take stock of who's still here with a critical eye.

"This is masterfully constructed, Easton. I especially like how there is no filler." Or vegetables. But whatever. Bennie pokes at the plate, piecing off a bit of the ..what is this, ham? With her fingers and popping it into her mouth. She wiggles happily at the taste, but doesn't savor it. Swallowing quickly so she can say, "Alexander, open my present before I get so excited I pee my pants." That actually might be a legitimate concern.

The smile to Jack is met with a nod. ?Good to see you bud,? he offers to Alexander, ?Mostly good. The crows have been quiet.? As if that meant something, there certainly was weight in the words from Jack. An ah moment about the sewer comment from Jack. ?Hey it was work. Might be familiar if you?ve had work down on your car near Spruce.?. First in response to Erin, the latter given as he turns to address Lilith?s comment his way. But a brow lifting for her, as that may not place his name or its famiiarity and he sees if recognition dawns.

Alexander ducks his head again when Erin mentions the sewers. He clears his throat. "I'm sorry. That was a cruel thing to do to a lovely car." He offers Ruiz a quick, bright smile when the man returns, and looks like he might go over to speak to him. But he pauses when Bennie speaks up. He blinks at her. "Oh. Um. Presents. Yes." A pause. "I should open those." He eyes them with a combination of curiosity and wariness. He moves to take up the small package that's Bennie's, first.

"Taking up gardening?" Byron asks, turning to Alexander when he asks that, "I guess you can say that. I've dabbled in this and that growing up, but," He shrugs, "It's definitely one of the auctions that caught my eye and as I don't have a back yard of my own and only a rooftop terrace, I thought a bit of land for gardening might be useful." He then pause to observe the other man before his attention is brought back to the food table. "Why, you have an interest in gardening?"

Then he's handed Lilith's glass and right before he reserves them a table, those dark eyes of his studies Easton and Bennie from afar, "From what I've seen in the surveillance cameras," The ones in the hallways, elevator and lobbies, alright! Not, like, in Easton's private rooms, "It sure looks like it."

At the compliment, Isabella glances down at her leggings and jacket before she laughs. "I'm not even really rocking the snowbunny chic today." She doesn't even know what that entails, but this is why she calls Erin and Lilith. "And I'm desperately trying to prevent myself from trying to find another coat to steal. I'm glad you liked the present, August helped me pick it out and it was his recommendation because...uh. I know nothing about plants and he knows almost everything about plants, I figured I should probably rely on an expert. I'm so glad the two of you were able to make it though, I thought we'd have to dig our way out of Gray Harbor."

"Lilith, thank you so much, and yes, I smell beautiful. I am wearing it right now. Jack even complimented it the moment he met me at my room to escort me down." Erin gives Lilith a warm smile, then one for Byron as well, "I am looking forward to the landscaping as well. Thank you both. My thank you notes are late being sent, but they are coming!" She introduces them though, "This is Jack Wellington, he's lived in Gray Harbor all his life, Jack this is Lilith and Byron." He met Isabella now. A reassuring smile is given to Alexander. "I would do it all over again Alexander, anytime you need. I promised you that and I mean it. Happy Birthday."

"I like to garden," Alexander admits, with a shrug, towards Byron. "Although spending time with August sort of upped my game," he admits, with a look in that direction. "He's like...garden Yoda." As he speaks, he unwraps the present - and oh god, he's one of those people who actually unwraps it carefully, bit by bit. But when the needlepoint is revealed (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/03/f6/2b/03f62be8cde5a92d0a46e2f2fdac428f.jpg) he blinks down at it, then burst out laughing. A real, deep laugh. "I love this. It's murder I can hang on my wall!" That's probably more enthusiastic than it should be.

"Please." Easton intones with mock-seriousness in urging Alexander to open Bennie's gift. He glances back to her but can tell she's a bit too amped up and possibly feeling out of place to enjoy the party or the food. He looks at the needlepoint with a grin and then back to Bennie. He laughs, "Aww, murder art." He bumps her with his shoulder, the small amount of physical contact he's allowed himself thus far.

August lifts a shoulder at Alexander. "Eh, Obi-Wan. Yoda's more like my adviser in grad school." He smiles, letting Alexander pick if he's Luke, or Anakin.

He grins at the needlepoint, shakes his head. "God, Bennie," he murmurs under his breath.

As he had been doing, when he is given the names of Lilith and Byron, Jack lifts a hand to almost shoulder height. A small two finger wave that is hello and how are you all wrapped into one. "A pleasure," he says to them as well. Then back to Erin he gives agreement, "Still do, I like that scent.". And not one to compliment much, its a mean what he says comment. "Happy Birthday," he throws in as Alexander turns to presents and he settles into just observing for the moment again.

While Lilith is making a plate, she tips her head to Erin with pleased satisfaction and more of a smile before saying, "Good! It smelled like... confidence and luxury and everything lovely for your new way in life, so I figured I'd risk it. I'm glad picking a fragrance worked out! And nice to meet you, Jack. I think... well, I was gone a good decade or so until this last spring, so of course, everyone I haven't kind of reacquainted with or ran into tends to look familiar. But good to meet you all the same." She squints a little at Jack through her smile as if trying to place where she's seen him, then gives up because she catches onto Joey's comment of 'you're welcome' with some delay. It sets her into the giggles again while she's making her and Byron food, so she looks a little special, just standing giggling there over shrimp cocktail.

But after a clear of her throat, she composes herself and finishes doing up the plates to carry over to where Byron has posted up with table seating and placement for their bar drinks, laying his out with a leaning kiss on the cheek before putting hers down to settle to chair. Then when seated, she looks between Bennie and Easton for a moment, but she doesn't have the blurts yet, as she's only second glass on champagne and playing pretty tact tonight. Instead of flat out asking if they're together again or being gossipy, she says, "Hey you two. Staying all weekend or just a brief drive up?" Subtle!

She isn't wearing the scent Lilith had given her, but she is wearing one of the items she got from her. Isabella smiles faintly at the sound of Alexander's laugh from the gifts table, before moving to retrieve a glass of scotch. With Ruiz somewhat to the side and as her fellow brunette pokes at a curious development, she wanders towards the police captain's direction, nudging his shoulder before leaning against the bar next to him. "Thanks for making the drive," she tells him quietly. "Though.." Her more mischievous smile turns up at the corners. "If I gave you an excuse to drive the Charge for three hours, maybe you should be thanking me," she teases.

"Hey! I gave serious thought to the blood spatter!" Bennie's piping up with a bit of laughter, and as Easton bumps her, she rocks amicably enough. The question from Lilith gets a bit of a deer in the headlines look and a sudden stutter from Bennie who normally has no qualms about putting two words together no matter how inappropriate. "I ...am staying. I think...Easton is still? Undecided?" Or they, together, are undecided or haven't had a chance to talk about it yet, thanks LILITH.

When Erin and Jack come to join them, Byron flashes a smile at the happy couple, "People tell me," Alexander, "That I'm a difficult person to shop for, but I felt the same about you. But since you got a new house with a garden, I thought you'd like some help with that. Either garden care or if you wanted a special addition to your garden. Glad you like it." His attention then goes to Jack, "I know Jack. One of the best mechanics in town and I have a pretty baby to take care of." His Rolls. "I like knowing who specializes in what when it comes to keeping the Wraith in tip top shape."

He's not surprised to learn that Alexander has some interest in gardening, so to that he'll nod. However, he does catch sight of the needlepoint that's being unwrapped right before he heads to his table. A look is then given to Isabella "You did that? Impressive. And very fitting." An upnod is then given Alexander, "Happy Birthday and everything."

Once settled down, he's all smiles partially leaning into Lilith's kiss, but more importantly, visually feasting on what she'd brought for him before physically feasting.

"What? No!" Isabella calls out, quick to correct her childhood friend, green-gold eyes turning Byron's way. "I can't make anything to save my life, as these holidays clearly decided to teach me. And no, definitely not getting into detail. Just...take my word for it. Please. For the sake of your sanity."

With some liquid courage to bolster him, Ruiz is about to peel himself off the bar and go rustle up some smalltalk in order to be socially acceptable. Then Isabella wanders on over, and he pauses, and flickers her a smile. The cop's tucked into a tailored suit this evening; charcoal, with a pale silk shirt, light blue tie, and those designer leather boots that probably cost a pretty penny. "You're aware that I still have to obey traffic laws, yeah?" he replies with some amusement, glass tipped to his mouth as he regards the brunette sidelong. "Thanks, though, for inviting me."

Nicole has been milling about this whole time, probably... being social... maybe. She made Joey a plate of food as he requested and walked it over to him when he returned, making some comment about eating cake on him or something something. She snaps pictures here and there, now that no one seems about to go all murder hobo at their own party. Perhaps the surprise tension took more a toll on her than she thought. She isn't usually the one to be the life of a party anyway, tends to be more the quiet wallflower when there are a lot of people around, even her friends... but she still wears a smile at least.

Easton raises eyebrows at Lilith as she sits in a friendly silent greeting as Alexander is still unwrapping things. Fine, Easton is too busy shoving the delicious ham and cheese topped baguette into his maw to make English like noises. The question causes him to try and swallow the entire mouthful down without choking, which thankfully his terrible table manners have prepared him extremely well for. He is still holding up a finger when Bennie fields that question though and it leaves him looking to her a bit uncertain before he nods, "Yea. Uhm. Not.. sure?" His eyes move between Bennie and Lilith before he gives up and just drains his beer. Now with a built in excuse to flee, he asks Bennie, "Can I get you another?" Because he really needs another.

"Thank you, Jack," Alexander tells the man, with a flicker of a smile. "How've you been?" A glance towards Bennie. "The blood spatter is magnificent," Alexander assures her, with a grin. He doesn't miss that question from Lilith, and he attends carefully to the answer, eyebrows going up. But, amazingly, doesn't comment on it. Instead, he mutters to Byron, "You are hard to shop for." And this is his story and he's sticking to it. He carefully rewraps the gift, and laughs at Isabella's immediate response. "You did fine, Isabella. I mean. The scarf was colorful! And well-loved." By the cat. He grins at her, but even as he does, he reaches for the leather cuff with its bright blue stones at one wrist, and touches it gently while trying to hold her eye for just a moment. Then, his head ducks, and he pokes curiously at the other gifts, picking up another one and unwrapping it. "Oh! A knife!" Blame August for that one - a beautiful chef's knife.

Jack pauses a moment as Lilith ponders him with that look, maybe glad the party is more drawing attention then reconition of him. There is a hint of grin once more to Jack's features when Byron mentions his vehicle. "Its not ford, but its a beauty." Those who know him woud know his preference in cars. And while he jokes little, he may kid a little about others preference in vehicles. That reminds him, he looks back to Lilith, "Yours found the tree right, nothin we coud do with it." Then, a look to Erin, "I guess I do fit in a little.". As he gets to talk cars, a little at least, and that comment most likely being a tease to her. Others may miss the jest in his dry, stoic manner.

"I'm good." Bennie tells Easton, with the requisite hand gesture over the top of her glass to indicate no refill is necessary. She just cuddles back into her seat and watches Alexander open the rest of his present.

Playing tactful and subtle doesn't always mean Lilith isn't somehow bringing the hard-hitting questions to know what she wants to know for the sake of knowing. Also she's curious about whether the ring-meddling she did was responsible for some of the chummy, but she at least doesn't say a damn thing or ask about that. She does, however, look between Easton and Bennie with each of their respective unsure responses before casually tacking on in that smash-together-but-no-pressure kind of way with suggestion, "Well, I ask because I know Byron and I have both had our dose of cold and snow already and probably won't be playing outside too much, despite where we are. So!"

She watches Easton rise with a bit of a smile while offering the refill to Bennie while finishing her suggestion, and that, at least, puts her in a position with Byron to serve as middlemen excuse and buffer if the pair decide they do want to hang out, "We'll be around the Lodge and our room and the lounge and bar a fair bit. If you guys want to catch inside drinks or play cards or take turn being black jack dealers for each other with stakes to entertain and lounge while we're up here, just ask for our room on the phone line." There. It's an invitation for a double date OR trying to hang out with others as a test run. At least she's helpful and social while being roundabout with the awkward.

Then, after setting into her plate to eat some actual food, she looks over at Alexander to call with a fond look at Isabella, complimenting the spread and backhanded passing sentiment to Alexander for his birthday, "Happy Birthday to you is happy birthday to all of us, food like this. My stomach sure is glad she loves you. I bet you're glad too."

Settling against the bar Easton has chosen his spot wisely so that he can shoulder bump Ruiz 'accidentally', "Gunny." He doesn't look at the man in greeting but orders himself another beer and only once that is in his hand does he turn and ask, "No Itzil?" He does another visual sweep but he's pretty sure he wouldn't have missed the lanky Jewish mechanic.

Alexander flips the knife in his hand, testing the weight and balance. And, by his expression, finding it good. "I bet you could go right through bone with this," he murmurs to himself, quite pleased. A bright smile towards August. "Thank you!" Then he repackages and rewraps it carefully. The next one is a flash drive, and Alexander ponders it, glancing towards Eleanor, then back to the drive. This one, after a moment, goes into his pocket rather than be rewrapped. And it's only because he loves you all that he doesn't immediately skitter off to find a computer. Then he reaches for another, and his expression softens when he opens it. A leatherbound book with sketches, drawings, and lots of Italian writing. Oh, and a card. He opens it, traces the...shape?? inside, and looks back towards Isabella. Total heart eyes. "Thank you," he says, softly.

"It's for cooking," August says with a stern expression. It might not even be an exaggeration. "Chef's knife, should take care of anything a paring knife won't." Is that the next knife Alexander gets? Probably. "Happy Birthday, old man," he adds, raising his beer in a toast.

He and Eleanor remain through to the cake, but after that, August is hauled off for some hot tub time. (And if they get pulled into a Dream while in the hot tub well that'll just be par for the course.)

"Sure," Isabella allows, her grin growing visibly. "But I also know you're equipped with an emergency siren. Not that I'm suggesting anything..." The last said in a sing-song voice. Taking on a lean against the counter, she seems content with keeping the captain company, watching Alexander surrounded by his friends and opening presents - a memory that she attempts to burn into the jealous, endless galleries of her. Her expression is unreadable, though not due to the dearth of emotions, but an overwhelming abundance of them, each battling the other for dominance.

It's a beautiful knife, that Alexander manages to unearth from his small mountain of loot. "Okay, who keeps arming my boyfriend?" she wonders out loud. "....if so, thanks. I mean it. No, really." Anything to protect him out there.

The words about the scarf have her balking for a moment when he expresses his approval for it, and she groans comically. "Just because the cat loves it doesn't mean that it's fit for human eyes," she tells him, though finally, a more affectionate twist to her smile flashes visibly over her lips, gaze falling on the cuff on his right wrist. She holds his gaze only briefly, but she does toast him from a distance, her dandelion bracelet flashing in the light with a flick of her wrist, letting the beloved charms clink against one another. With her own gift unearthed, she grins, faint and fond. "Better you than me, love. I don't think I'd be able to read it for the life of me. But maybe you can read it to me, someday."

With Easton wandering over to her and Ruiz, she furrows her brows. "Huh? Who's Itzil?" She may have started the party, but she is often late to the other ones.

Joey chirps at Byron commenting about the pretty baby to take care of, "Aww, Lil, he calls you the nicest things." Really he knows half the room. Is Joey a talker? Naw. He's generally not paid to do that, but Nicole is going over the pictures she's got of the resort and he's happy to listen to her and everyone else. There might be convinging her to get pics of Alexander too without his awareness or telling for Izzy later. This is weirdly how he looks out for people sometimes. "Easton, Lil, either of you comin snowboarding later or what?"

Rosencrantz is indeed hard to miss. The swagger, the nonstop talking, the nose. "Cap," replies de la Vega in a low key grunt, and returns the favour by also not looking over as his fellow ex-Marine sidles on up. "He's out of town," explains Itzhak's absence, chased by a sip of his drink. "Business trip." Mmhm. Because the guy's real business-like. "How're you and Bennie doing?"

To Isabella, "You know I'm not actually allowed to do that, yeah?" He might be amused, but it doesn't show on his staid expression. Then he clarifies who Itzil is by offering after another gulp of alcohol, "Itzhak." Its-HOCK.

Couple is a strong word. Erin and Jack are great friends! "I look forward to the spring when I can get the garden just like I want it. Now I can have professional advice. I'm happy about that, thank you so much." A smile is given to Jack at her own denial about the whole couple thing, "Though Jack does make some mean Christmas cookies. He was teaching me how. I now know how to make the easiest fudge ever." She smiles at his comment, he certainly was a Ford man, she heard it all the time while he was driving her car.

"Yeah, sure that sounds amazing!" Bennie says with her usual enthusiasm back to Lilith's offer, even if she's flying stag to these 'couples' activities, but is that a hopeful glance she's giving over to Easton's back? Maybe. She gives an open an airy laugh as Isabella makes the comment about arming Alexander and she slips from her seat, snagging up her glass of champagne and wandering away a bit to look at the view.

"Mostly it's August. Who's arming me. It's very nice of him," Alexander says, immediately tossing his friend under the bus. Or maybe not, when Isabella thanks him. He nods to Isabella with another of those warm smiles, then rewraps her gift carefully, putting it with the others. And then rearranging them so that they're in nice, neat little lines. He stares at the packages for a long moment, then retreats, almost hastily, back towards the bar, to hastily order a beer. His hands are shaking just a little.

His gaze drifting over to Bennie and Easton, listening to Lilith talk to them both, he considers things for a moment. Perhaps, this may answer Joey's question as well, "It'd be a waste to come all the way out here and not do a little skiing though." He will admit, smiling over at Lilith. Byron likes his sports well enough. "I'm sure we'll catch an hour or two of wintry fun, but yeah. After the past week or so, I'm ready to just relax. Rest in a hot tub and just dread the morning where we need to pack up and head back home."

From out of the corner of his eyes, he watches Alexander open up various gifts and this is when he reaches into his suit jacket pocket to retrieve an envelope; one which he hands to Lilith, before downing the remainder of his second glass of gin. "Shall we?" He even begins to slowly rise to stand, buttoning up his jacket as he does so.

The comment about a business trip causes Easton's brow to briefly dip but he just nods. "We're.." Easton starts to answer the question but glances over at Bennie mid-way through and admits with a small laugh, "I don't even fucking know." But he's smiling like an idiot across the room at her so it's not like he's terribly hard to read.

"I will definitely give it a shot." Easton manages to tell Joey somewhere in that mix about the snowboarding. It'd be the first time for him back on a board since the accident, but it shouldn't be too bad, right? Sure.

After a bit more small talk, Easton pushes off the bar and passes by Isabella to mock-glare, "Words, Reede. Words." There is at least a smile at the corner of his lips though.

Coming back to Bennie he leans down to whisper something in her ear before helping her to her feet. They slip out into the night air, maybe just for a smoke or a chat. It's not quite the badly covered 'They going to do sex' exits of yore, but it's something.

"Yep," Isabella tells Ruiz, unapologetic in the fact that she clearly knows that he's not allowed to do that, but that isn't stopping her from enabling some cut-loose behavior, winking sidelong at the police captain. When he manages to supply Itzhak's name though, she tilts her head a little bit, expression slightly befuddled. Why was Easton asking Ruiz about Itzhak's whereabouts? Did their rivalry in the field of snow battle extend that far?!

Someone is very late to the gossip wheel.

With Easton moving past, she grins. "Look," she tells him seriously. "This is what happens during a divorce, Dad. But yes, we have to talk." She stresses the last word, implicative that whatever she has to talk to him goes beyond her glaring social faux pas.

With some bodies converging at the bar and Alexander nearby to order a beer, eyes fall to his shaking hands. And while she doesn't call him out in front of everyone, her concern starts to bleed through her casual mien. She shifts just enough to nudge her shoulder against his in an inquiring fashion, looking up at his profile.

A slight look is given to Erin by Jack at the mention of cookies, "A man's got to eat." To expain why or how he knows about christmas cookies. "Its like a car, a recipe is a blueprint. You follow the directions and if it doesn't it, you hit it with a wrench." Dry, but not serious. Cooies may get the wrench, the guy wouldn't beat up a car like that though at least.

Of course Nicole is getting candids as well, of Alexander and others... even Joey, little does he know. She's also talking to him about their own plans for the rest of the weekend. "So... a, I going to get you skiing? Snowboarding? Is there sledding? Or are we just going to hot tub and enjoy the fireplace?"

Well, you know, if Isabella isn't up on precisely why Javier might be knowledgeable about Itzhak's whereabouts, he certainly doesn't seem inclined to enlighten her. In fact, with a few people filtering out already, and a glance at his watch, he seems to decide it's an opportune moment to make his own escape. The remainder of his drink's knocked back, and he stops by Alexander momentarily to murmur something low to the man, before prowling off for the outside deck. Maybe just a smoke, despite the chill in the air.

"Yes, I'm the one that lost the battle with the tree!" Lilith says to Jack with some delay given occupying all around the room and with her food. She is almost finished eating, but she's following Byron's lead somewhat unwittingly with keeping up on drinks, too and puts her fork down when the envelope comes out. She favors draining her second glass of champagne about the time he's done with the gin, tipping her emptied glass with the man's answer about outdoor activities to Joey with a bit of a grin like a silent 'it's on'. Then she murmurs, "Oh, I forgot about hot tub, somehow. Lovely thing to look forward to."

Then after pulling the napkin out of her lap, she rises up with a bit of a side-eye on Bennie and Easton leaving the room, takes the envelope passed her way from Byron, then approaches where Alexander is with him, "Alexander. We... well, mostly Byron, but... here. Got you something." She passes him the envelope to open and look at the notations about accommodations at a Seattle hotel for a three day, two night stay with an open book date for his choosing. There's also arrangement for dinner paid at one of the lovely restaurants in the city, passes for the large ferris wheel, as well as a double pass to a driving range/mini golf/go cart track kind of excursion for a certain lady to possibly compete him into the ground when he takes her, and... there's Escape Room tickets! Which is no doubt the highlight of mystery solving kicks made for Alexander in that envelope (theme depending on date chosen).

Alexander straightens and smiles at the bump on the shoulder from Isabella, raising his mug to her. "This was very kind. You and Erin did an amazing job organizing, and I can't believe you got people to come," he admits, with a chuckle like it's a joke. When Ruiz brushes by him to murmur, he murmurs something back to the man, and even reaches out to very lightly touch his shoulder. Then Lilith is approaching, and there's a surprised double blink. "Oh. I...thank you." A glance that encompasses Byron as well. He reaches out and takes the envelope, opens it, and smiles. "Oh wow. This is amazing. The ferris wheel! And ooh, an escape room. I've never done one!" He grins, shows them to Isabella, before turning back to Lilith and Byron. "Thank you. Really. I...just, thank you."

"Oh of course, and cookies are the way to go. Or little out of the way seaside places." Erin smiles at him warmly. "I tried making the no bake cookies and they didn't set, so never depend on me to make food. The fudge though, you can't go wrong." She releases his arm and gets another champagne glass that has a strawberry garnish on the side. She takes a bite of it and follows with a drink from the glass. "Are you sure you don't want another beer, Jack?" Offering to get him one, basically.

"Forty's a milestone," Isabella tells him simply with an exaggerated sniff. "Like hell was I going to let it pass without incident, and Erin happened to agree." She lifts her glass of scotch to toast Erin and Jack from where she's leaning against the counter. "And it wasn't hard to get people to come, it was literally a single mass text message to your friends and they got to decide who to bring as their plus ones. A three-hour drive, Alexander. In the snow. Between you and me, I think you've got some great ones." Her smile gentles there. She stops, however, when Lilith brings over their present and she scrutinizes the passes and documents with interest. "Wow, an escape room? I don't think I've ever done that, it sounds like fun!" The prospect of competing? Gets a devilish grin, brows winging upwards at the investigator, before she takes a step closer so she could give Lilith, and then Byron, a warm hug.

"I'm so glad to see you guys so soon after the holidays," she murmurs. "Maybe next time we do this, it should be someplace warmer and sunnier, yeah? What do you think, Erin and Bennie?" she calls from across the room. "Obligatory beach island episode?"

WIth a look to Alexander, "She was twisting my arm when she said it was for a friend, but I was willing when I knew who this was for." Jack offers that much at least to help him believe people came for his b-day surprise. "You did fine assisting with the cooies, not an easy task. I'll take a Reiner.". He could get it himsef, but he can't refuse the offer either, that woud be bad manners. Jack crinkes his nose as he sniffs the air, hand lifts with curled fingers to scratch his beard. No comment on the next one being at a beach, but a glance towards Erin to see if she takes to that idea.

Joey stands after finding a place for his plate and gies over to Alexander, "I couldn't wrap you a present because if I bury Duarte alive in a box, ya know, he complains. but in a few weeks when you are ready to break ground on your back yard to get your garden set up and stuff, we're gonna come over and help you get things graded and shit."

Looking to Nicole and then Byron both eyebrows go up interested in not causing trouble unless one is a snow hill or a bunny in teh wrong place wring time. "Yeah man let's go suit up and fight some trees." He would have to put it that way wouldn't he? he waits for Nicole to catch up and head on up to teh room to get changed. to go out there for a while muttering something about how he should ask Lilith if there's a tiny windshield wiper for her lenses or something.

"Forty. Huh. I guess I am," Alexander admits, ruefully. "Maybe a beach would be nice. For your thirtieth, Isabella." A flicker of a smile for her, which then is transferred to Jack. "That's kind of you to say. Um. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm sorry. About the knife." And then a sidelong look at Joey. "You...are?" He looks perfectly confused. "I. Well. Um. Thank you. That's a very kind gift." A pause. "Sorry. About the knife. You looked nice in the dress. Really. Just." A long pause. "Unexpected." Speaking of which? Alexander frowns. "...Easton took my knife. I liked that knife."

Byron graces Alexander and Isabella with a proud enough smile as he stands somewhere behind Lilith when she present the gift to Alexander. "There are a lot of different themes for those Escape Rooms. Hopefully, when you both decide to go, it's a theme that suits you. Admittedly, I'd only done it once. In L.A. and with the different themes and storylines, I'm sure these experiences are all new and different." His arms open up for Isabella when she offers up a warm embrace, "We thought you both would love it."

His arm draped over Lilith's shoulders, pulling her in close, to Joey's incredibly enthusiastic suggestion, he nods, "Some time tomorrow, alright? For now, though," He looks to the group as a whole, or those who remain, "It's been quite the journey to get here, so we're going to freshen up some and get some rest. Warm up and all. Enjoy the rest of the party. We'll be down later for a bit of dessert, I'm sure before it's all cleared up."

"Nope," Isabella says saucily, mischief gleaming in her eyes as she looks at Alexander, tilting her chin in that stubborn, defiant angle. "I decided that I'm going to stop aging at twenty-nine. My thirtieth year will thus become the first anniversary of my twenty-ninth birthday, the year after that the second anniversary of my twenty-ninth birthday, and so on, and so forth. Twenty-nine. You heard it here first, you guys. Forever twenty-nine." She's clearly jesting, but perhaps only half. It is not beyond her to keep celebrating the bigger milestones of her own birthday for the rest of her life in this fashion.

Byron's open embrace gets him a squeeze, some of her relief at seeing him alright after that ridiculous hypothermia episode bleeding out when she grips him in her arms, though when she kisses his cheek, she doesn't make contact. Stepping back, she waves when people start filing out. "Later, Joey. You win this evening. I'll have to make it up someday! Later, Nicole, thanks for coming!"

Lilith hugs a warm squeeze on Isabella that she kind of rocks back and forth in, then reaches to grab Erin into the same after a pleased smile at Alexander's reaction, "We should do a girls breakfast or lunch or something while we're here, play catch up on natural girl fronts, things of that nature. This was all fabulously arranged, though, I cannot believe you talked Joey into that, Isabella." Erin may be responsible for the menu and some decor, but she KNOWS who asked a Kelly to dress up, somehow. Then she's right back under the drape of Byron's arm, waving to everyone present, "We'll catch you guys later tonight or tomorrow after we go and unwind with drinks and the..."

She sends a hopeful look up at Byron, "Hot tub? Hot tub." And he's been laid up and miserable for a good while, but right now, he's gin soaked and she's champagne happy, so she orders two more drinks for them to carry out with them when they go. And when they turn to go, she's practically purring against him with anticipation of alone time now that he's hale and healthy and... looking like a magnificent bastard.

Alexander gives Isabella a long look. "I think you'd make a stunning thirty-year-old. There's nothing wrong with being thirty." He gives a quick, warm smile to Lilith and Byron. "Thank you, both. For coming. It was very kind, and I love the gift. I think Isabella will, too." His smile becomes just a moment of playful as he tucks the envelope away in his jacket. Then he takes a deep breath, one that shudders slightly. "Perhaps we should...do we have a room? Or a cabin?" He no longer knows WHAT the plan is supposed to be, clearly.

"No blood no foul," offers Jack on incidents invoving knives for which Alexander offers the apology. Sports done the way as he grew up with them, no telling which sport it was that involved knives however. He quietly waits as most seem ready to part or have already left. Erin mentioned getting a drink, he kindly accepted. He's good where his feet are planted.

The long look has Isabella staring at him for a moment, before she lets out a laugh - the attempt to play it off is there when she turns her face and rubs her fingers on her cheek to prevent the flush of color from reaching any degree of visibility. "Oh, darling, if I can actually control time that way, I'd be a formidable creature, indeed." Doesn't mean she won't try though, no matter how impossible the prospect. At the question about the room, she nods. "Uh..." She pushes off the counter and suddenly finds the other side of the room very interesting. "Erin, she...sort of insisted that we take the penthouse suite, so we have that." She gives him a sidelong look, a small smile on the corners of her mouth. "Though after what happened tonight that does mean I have to discard my other plans, because I was definitely going to try and seduce you in a Teddy the Logger costume."

And Lilith's remarks about Joey Kelly gets her a sheepish grin. "There was a discussion," she affirms to the woman before she goes. "But I'll tell you all about it during brunch." With that, Isabella blows Lilith and Byron a kiss as they depart, and a wink to Jack and Erin as they, too, prepare to go.

Alexander blinks. Then chuckles to Isabella. "Don't drag me into your mascot fetish, Reede," he says, lightly. Then sidles over so that he can offer her a kiss on the temple. "That said...I think I need to," find a quiet place and shake violently for a few hours, "wind down a little before seduction of any sort. I'll help clean up, and then we can head to the, uh, penthouse suite." It's like, RIGHT on the tip of his tongue to start asking how much all of this has cost, but he manages to refrain. It's still there, a little, in his eyes, the question and worry.

The evening was indeed coming to a close and Erin finishes off her champagne with plans to meet up with the girls tomorrow for brunch before Jack decided what he wanted to do for the day. "Are you ready?" Tilting her head back a little to look at Jack. An impressive feat with her own height, he had her beat a little. She also bids everyone goodnight, a smile and a wave for the birthday man and her bestie.