Ringing the Dinner Bell [Closed]

Liseran looked over to Aeden and smiled brightly.

"I'm glad you think so," Liseran said. "This is the first time I've ever set up a dinner party after all. I'm just glad all of you could make it."

Her hand slipped down under the table to Cheshire's and she squeezed it affectionately. She looked up to him and asked, rather bashfully, "How is it?"

At the same time, Rory sat two seats from Aeden, worried about his hands. She was glad Lucina was here, hoping she could cheer him up. Rory looked back to Aeden and saw his mind was still hard at work. Rory's own mind was failing her. Instead, she turned to Sylvian.

"So, Sylvian," Rory said brightly. "Liseran tells me your an awesome fighter. Any tips for a girl from Signal Academy?"

"It looks absolutely delicious," Cheshire answered as he picked up the silverware with his free hand while the other squeezed onto Liseran's. "Thank you very much for inviting me."

Cheshire's ears twitched slightly as he glanced up at the other guests for a split second before looking back down. His faunus instincts gave him the strange that there was some hostility in the room but he made no comment or sign to reveal his wariness other then his habitual ear twitching. He simply took a bite of his food and gave a small smile looking at Liseran's direction.

"It tastes as good as it looks," Cheshire stated, "I would be a happy man if you cooked for me like this everyday."

Aeden glanced over to his side and saw Lucina looking beautiful in her dress. A twinge of pain shot through his heart as he knew he was deceiving her. He turned away trying to distract himself and noticed the unopened bottle of champagne. I NEED a drink. Aeden reaches over to the champagne and begins to open it. Aeden tries to hide his bandaged had but is only able to partially cover it. Depsite the problem the cork easily comes off. "Bring you glasses up. Its time for a toast." Aeden pours his own glass and then the others. "Cheshire I believe you would be the best person to make the toast.

"... Oh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention." In fact, Sylvian was stunned by the noble atmostphere inside the dining hall. And furthermore, she finds herself lost and isolated. Thus when Rory suddenly calls her name, that makes her startled a little. Sylvian tries to calm down, and goes back to her usual cold manner.

"Rory right? I'm Sylvian Silverhorn. Nice to meet you." She nods. "I don't know much about a warrior's life in Vale, since I've just started my training here in Beacon recently. I was living in Vacuo before that, and they put your lives at risk in order to train warriors-to-be how to survive. Is there anything different here in Vale?"

"I do not drink alcohol," Cheshire states as he takes a glass, "But... I suppose I can give a toast."

Cheshire stands up and pauses silently for a moment in thought before he spoke.

"Friends, family, strangers, we have all come here, gathered together by the most wonderful woman in the world. All of us may have come from each our own path and from different pasts and origins, but today those paths have crossed where we all now meet together for this lovely dinner. I know few of you and few of you know me, but what matters is that we are here now, together. For when one dines with another, there is no such thing as rank, wealth, pasts, futures, or unfamiliarity. There is only friendship and kinship. So as we enjoy our time here tonight, I'd just like to say, thank you to our hostess and my beloved Liseran and thank you all for dining with us tonight. So as we eat and drink, let us remember that this will forever mark our relation. We are no longer strangers, but instead we are friends, brought together by destiny. So whatever the future may hold, let us remember that we dined together. To the days to come!"

Cheshire raises his glass to the air before sitting down and setting it on the table gently. He looks to Liseran and smiles warmly but subtly.

"... Let the days to come bring us happiness... together..."

Liseran smiled brightly, a sight that wasn't very common in her times at the Dormirse Household. It even made her wonder how her cheeks were even holding up so much longer than usual.

"It's all I want," Liseran whispered to Cheshire.

Aeden had handed out the champagne but Liseran declined. She wasn't very good with it so she settled for juice. As Rory lifted up her glass, Liseran jolted.

"Rory, you're fifteen!" Liseran scolded. "No champagne for you!"

Rory frowned guiltily.

"Can't I at least try some...?" she begged. Liseran's face became as stern as a mother's and Rory sighed. She took her empty glass. "Pass me the juice then..."

Liseran smiled and poured her some. Rory turned back to Sylvian as she had been interrupted with Cheshire's toast. Though Cheshire's words were supposed to be moving, Rory just felt a bitter taste in her mouth, unsure if she could trust him. She smiled perkily at Sylvian to brush away the thought.

"On the field experience, huh?" Rory said. "Yeah, you could say Vale's different. Signal doesn't put you out on a field. We just have indoor battles and virtual reality stuff...Your dress is pretty by the way. That's one of the latest dresses. Are you into fashion?"

"Oh, damnit... Why girls' stuffs right now..." Hearing Rory, Sylvian turns her eyes toward Liseran while keeping her cold manner still. Obviously she is asking for help, and at the same time she doesn't want to embarass Liseran either. But what irritates her the most is that man named Chesire, as he took away Liseran's attention right before she did.

"Maybe acting cold should work..." Sylvian thinks, as she answers Rory without even looking in her eyes. "Well, I'm never really interested in those stuffs. A warrior shouldn't be too concerned about it don't you think?" She takes a sip from her hot tea, and hopes that Rory would change the topic, or else she'd be in troubles.

Rory seemed a bit surprised by the remark, but she only smiled more.

"Well, I guess," Rory smiled sheepishly, her wolf ears twitching a bit. "But still, it's necessary for a girl to have good clothes."

Rory examined the dress.

"Say, this is Liseran's right?" Rory smiled. "That makes you and Liseran about the same size. It's funny because you're also friends."

Rory tilted her head happily.

"Thank you for being a friend to her," she chirped. "In exchange, how about I show you a thing or two about fashion some time?"


Across the table, Liseran was stealing glances, pleased that Cheshire was enjoying the food. It was only then that she saw there was almost no salad. She stood up.

"I better go get some more," Liseran said. "But it'll take two. Aeden, mind helping me?"

By some sort of miracle Aeden was able to keep up his facade during Cheshire's toast. At least I can drink now. Aeden takes the glass in his hand and chugs its entire contents in one gulp. He pours himself another immediately after but is stopped by Lise's request. "Sure no problem Lise. I'm on my way." At least I have a chance to discuss things without Cheshire around. Aeden stands from his chair and quickly chugs his drink again before heading toward the kitchen following behind Lise. Hardly feeling the effects of the champagne, Aeden retrieves his flask and takes a long drink. That's stuff's got nothing on hard liquor. As they reach the kitchen Aeden's movements become a bit more uncoordinated. He stumbles a bit as he makes his way toward Lise. The alcohol begins to rush blood to his face making it appear as if he were blushing. As he nears Lise he stumbles one last time but manages to catch himself on her, accidentally embracing her. "Lise...I need to tell you something very important, and Cheshire can never know."

Liseran had been getting more salad and was holding up a wooden spoon to mix the dressing more. She was concerned at first when Aeden stumbled in, not looking really well, but she was more surprised when she caught him in an embrace and they were sort of leaning on the counter. Liseran's face turned bright red and the only way should could keep her distance with him was the wooden spoon spacing him by the tip.

Liseran's eyes grew wide with shock.

"W-wh-what do you mean??" she asked panicked.

Aeden steadies himself and looks at Lise with as serious a face he can muster despite the alcohol in his body. "Its about Cheshire. I'm suspicious about him. Before you say anything hear me out. A mysterious woman approached Rory and I. She knew about your situation. She even knew the riddle you told me. The last thing she told us was...was...that you were going to die." Saying those last few lines made Aeden remember how serious the situation was. "Lise she said that the one who would cause it would be Cheshire and to not bring it up to him." Aeden looks away from Lise no longer able to look her in the eyes. "Lise I'm sorry but I can't trust Cheshire. I think he's leading you along to make sure you don't get suspicious of him."

Liseran looked at Aeden, no emotion whatsoever on her face. She straightened up, looking at him intensely, but with no show of what she was feeling. She took Aeden's hand and dragged him out the back door into the open air. She faced him again coldly.

Whack! the wooden spoon came down hard on Aeden's head and it was soon followed by Liseran's free hand slapping across Aeden's cheek.

"How dare you say that," she said with an even tone. When Aeden looked again, Liseran's composure was gone. Every single part of her was trembling and no one would be sure if she was going to shout or cry.

"You don't know anything," Liseran said with a shaking voice. "Back on our mission? Cheshire went in front of a bullet for me. He almost killed a man in white rage for me. I know where my visions are going to lead me, Aeden and I know that...I'm going to..."

She couldn't say the last part. She breathed in.

"I know what path I'm choosing," Liseran said. "And the only reason Cheshire shouldn't know is because he might put himself in danger, too."

She glared at him.

"Don't stop me, Aeden," she said. "There is nothing you can say that will change my mind."

Sylvian isn't paying much attention on Rory's speaking, rather, she's keeping her eyes on Liseran. Right after Liseran made her leaving, a man seems to be drunk stands up and follows her to the kitchen. He is Aeden, if she recalls it right. An unsafe feeling rises, and Sylvian immediately stands up. "Excuse me Rory. I'll be back in a minute." Then she heads for the toilet, and silently changes direction to the kitchen when she gets out of everyone's sight...

"Hold it right there...!!" Sylvian breaks in, as what she has seen from afar was Liseran slapping Aeden's face from afar. "Have you no shame, you man of insolence...?!" She forcefully steps forward and pushes Aeden aside, making him tripped and rolled on the ground. "You alright, Liseran? Did he do anything to you?" Sylvian asks if Liseran was okay, as it looks like she is crying.

Liseran looked at Raj, trying to smile warmly.

"I'm fine," she said with a leveled tone. "I just slapped Aeden because he asked me to and was falling asleep."

She smiled even brighter, though deep down inside she felt extremely sore. She took Sylvian by the arm.

"Let's go get that salad," she told Sylvian. "Oh, goodie, you can also help me pick the desserts!"

She looked back to Aeden, her eyes full of apology, but no regret.

I'm sorry, she thought. I can't let a bad future happen to any of you.

Aeden takes a step forward considering talking to Lise again but the stinging in his cheek stops him in his tracks. Aeden looks down at the floor dejected. It happened again...I can't believe it happened again. Why can't I help a single friend! Aeden fixes his jacket prepared to head back into the dining room but stops when he feels his flask. He removes the flask from his pocket and stares at it for a moment. He grips the flask tight in his hand and moves to the fridge. After a quick search he finds another bottle of champagne. "Perfect." Aeden takes the bottle and heads out the back door, drinking deeply from his flask and preparing to open the champagne bottle.

Liseran showed Sylvian back inside the kitchen and enjoyed the warmth, but she was deeply heartsick at having confronted Aeden. She tried to keep a cheery face and as they got the salad ready, Liseran showed Sylvian the kinds of desserts.

"We have black forest cake..." Liseran said. "Cranberry pie...mousse...sorbet...anything you think you want for the table?"

And as she waited for Sylvian's reply Liseran thoughtfully remembered their morning training sessions together.

"I really am happy you could come, Sylvian," she said. "To be honest you're my first friend that's a girl, so I'm really appreciative of the time we spend together. I'm not a fan of feminine things myself, so I think that's another reason I was drawn to you as a friend."

She looked Sylvian up and down, remarking her dress.

"I never wore that," Liseran said. "But I guess it's a good thing since it suits you so well. And you're armor really makes it cooler, I think. I want you to keep it as my first gift to you as a friend. Will you?"

***

Rory wondered what was taking Aeden and Liseran long, but she was a bit relieved Aeden would have the opportunity to confront her. She didn't listen much as she was eager on taking a glass of champagne while Liseran wasn't there. Taking the bottle, she poured herself a glass and she looked at Cheshire and Lucina cheerfully.

"Don't tell on me, okay?" she chirped. She chugged it down, not knowing such things were supposed to be drunk slowly. The alcohol shot straight up to her head. Her face became extremely red and she began giggling as things moved around her.

"I...hic..." she slurred. "Am going...to the bathroom..."

Lucina looked at Rory with a worrisome look and told herself, "I should really stop her, but eh what the hell, let her have her fun."She smiled at Rory and said, "I won't tell a peep!"She watches as she drinks her glass and giggles as she the alcohol goes straight to its job, "Drunk already!?" She looks at Cheshire and shrugs saying, "So..."

"Oh dear...." Cheshire mumbled as he set down his utensils. The little faunus girl acted too fast and sudden for him to stop her and now this is happening. He stood up and announced, "I'm taking her to the bathroom. If Liseran asks just tell her Rory was allergic to something."

Cheshire tries to escort Rory to the bathroom.

As Cheshire followed the very tipsy Rory. She couldn't seem to get the door handle to open. As she saw Cheshire she looked at him, her eyes blurred out and her focus weak. Her face was extremely red and she pointed a finger at him accusingly.

"N-no!" she said half-shouting. "I...hic...don't need any help from you! It's...ugh I feel sick...it's bad enough Liseran's in danger because...hic...of you...gaah...."

She turned around and tried opening the door, but she was pulling without twisting the knob.

"I will kill you doooorr!" she shouted.

Cheshire pinched the bridge of his nose and grumbled, "Drunk banter from an underage girl with a cousin complex, just what I need..." With a firm steady hand on Rory's shoulder, Cheshire opened the door for her and gently pushed her in while making sure she didn't fall over or something. "You're a lot of trouble, do you know that?"

Lucina sighs as Cheshire helps Rory to the bathroom. She looks around at the empty room ten notices he champaign bottle looking nice on the table. She shrugs and takes the bottle putting it to her mouth, she regrets then shrugs again and begins to chug it. She stops halfway and puts it down and wipes her mouth on a napkin. She stands up and begins to walk to the kitchen. "More, napkins will be needed for the amount of wine I'm about to drink,"Her first napkin was already drenched and she needed more. She walked into the kitchen to find Liseran and Sylvian checking something out and she says, "Oh, hello you two, I was just getting some more napkins..."

Rory turned around and glared at him. It seemed to have brought her back to her senses, though her head still hurt extremely. She poked Cheshire in the chest.

"Don't you ever say that," Rory hissed. "Ever. Because I'm only protecting Liseran from you. Aren't you curious? Aren't you wondering? 'Cheshire. Chesire, no? Please, don't? Stop it?' That bad vision was about you. You're going to do something. And it's going to be Liseran's death. I know so."

***

Liseran smiled as Lucina walked in.

"Hi, Lucina," Liseran said. "We're just getting dessert ready. Thanks for getting more napkins in advanced. We're actually having a dilemma on what we're gonna bring to the table first. See any treats you like?"

Lucina smiled and looked at the choices for a dessert. She put her finger on her chin and thought for a moment. "I never thought dessert would be such a hard decision to make...that pie looks tasty...but that sorbet looks even better, oh and!" She stopped in thought and said, "The Black Forest cake sounds yummy...."She begins to walk over to where the napkins were held. She trips on her own heel and recovers. The alcohol was kicking in. "N-napkins...."

Cheshire stared blankly at Rory for some time before speaking. "Of course I want to know, but she asked that this night not be ruined and for everyone to simply enjoy and I will respect those wishes. Do not misunderstand. I do intend to get the truth from her eventually, but Liseran worked hard to make this night happen and I don't want that ruined for her. So for now, let's just leave things be and pretend we're just a big happy group." Cheshire looked sternly at Rory now with unyielding eyes. "But understand this. I've already suffered through the loss of someone I loved long ago. I would rather be damned then let it happen again. So if I find out that Liseran would die because of me... then let me show you my resolve..."

Cheshire lifted his fist up until it was hovering next to his face. Nothing happened for a while. Suddenly his hand disappeared from the wrist down. A few seconds past then his hand returns after moving to where his Bandersnatch was parked just outside of the house. This time though, it came back holding his gun Vladimir, the barrel poking right at his head.

"I mean everything I say... I'd rather be damned then let Liseran die."

"Don't push yourself too much, you've been working hard all day. Just let'em enjoy and have their own time would ya?" Sylvian puts down the dessert dishes she is holding at the center of the table where everyone can reach, then forces Liseran to sit down. "Stay still and rest. I'll take care of the remaining dishes." She says, and goes back into the kitchen after giving Liseran a drastic glance to make sure she won't go anywhere.

"Where's Rory? Was she mad at me?" Sylvian is thinking about her rude manner back then. A moment of distracting thought does her a little trip, and the last pudding she's holding are all over her armor's chest piece. "Damnit..." Sylvian then heads to the toilet to clean it up. And when she gets around the corner, she freezes upon hearing dreadful sentence: "... going to be Liseran's death. I know so."...

"What is the meaning of this? Liseran is going to die?" Sylvian confronts Chesire and Rory after fully hearing the conversation.

Rory stood still, unable to speak. The gun was right there and the look on Cheshire's face showed that he was willing to die right that minute. What she saw caused something in her she hadn't felt that much: fear. It was only then that Rory realized how much she didn't know. How much she couldn't do. How much fate was going to be messing with her mission to save Liseran. Her head dropped, her eyes unable to look Cheshire in the eye. And she didn't even hear or notice Sylvian.

"Okay," Rory said. "I understand. And I'll respect Liseran's wish for tonight."

With that she closed the door in front of Cheshire and turned on the faucets to get the water really loud. After that she sat by the door crying.

***

Liseran appreciated Sylvian's concern and she sat down while leading Lucina back to the table to see it was pretty empty.

"Where did everyone go?" Liseran asked. She knew Aeden was outside but she wondered why he hadn't come back yet. Was he upset with her?

She and Lucina sat down to enjoy some more.

"So," Liseran smiled. "Lucina, I never really got to talk to you before. I'm glad you came all the same. Aeden's a wonderful guy, isn't he?"

As Lucina is led back to the table she looks about the empty but still exquisite room. She looks around and shrugs. She says, "oh Aeden, he's wonderful, just don't give him too much alcohol or he'll get a bit crazy. Otherwise he's perfect. Nice, caring, everything a girl could want."Lucina could go on for hours but decided not to. To keep the conversation rolling she decided it would be best to ask a question. "So Liseran, Aeden's never told me how he met you? I want to know how he met the best hostess ever?"She giggles and smiles, impressed with herself at what she said.