“I know, right?” Elizabeth replied to Mariusz’ explanation of their lack of contact up until this point. It was just like any school, really. You were never going to know everyone in it. And the Mansion doubled as a form of hotel, sanctuary, apartment building, and hostel all wrapped up into one nice, free package. Anyone could be living there and there was no way for Liz to even possibly get to know every one of them.

Then the conversation’s mood seem to switch. Mariusz looked serious. he seemed to be getting into a thinking position, what with the touching fingers and all. That was alright, but the way he seemed to be staring at her was starting to make some red flags and flashing lights appear. Although her smile remained in place, her eyes seemed to lose their warmth. Instead of warm, delicious chocolate, they resembled cold, vampiric mud. It wouldn’t be the first time a creepy guy had approached her. At this exact coffee joint, too!

But as he began to talk, warmth flooded her expression again. Okay, okay, okay. This guy was harmless, even if he was rather forward. He was just....odd. He reminded her of a prince from a European fairy tale, in which he absolutely had to have a companion for a ball and managed to find a girl who was singing alone in the woods somewhere. Liz didn’t really get the creeper vibe from him. It seemed too straightforward, matter-of-fact for that. Like....oh it was just a wee bit too difficult to explain.

Even though she didn’t know him, the thought of a party threatened to entertain her. Well, perhaps if she just got a little more information before making up her mind.... “What kind of party is it?” she queried, keeping her voice level but spiced with some interest. She didn’t want to seem bored and rude, but she didn’t want to come off as overeager, either.

"It is a masquerade ball at the Waldorf Astoria here in New York," Mariusz replied, making a few sort of vague gestures with his hands. "I am given to understand that my father has rented both the Grand Ballroom on the bottom floor and the Starlight Lounge at the top of the hotel, apparently this is going to be a large party to need that much space." Mariusz paused before continuing.

"I also imagine he will pull out all the stops for something with a bit of Old World flair. A chamberlain to announce everyone as they walk in, a wide array of adult libations, a spread that will likely be fit for a king. Women in elegant gowns that sparkle like many colored jewels, men attired equally as elegantly. Dancing and possibly a bit of singing. And, of course, the chance to mingle with some of the most politically and economically powerful people in the world. A great chance to network for someone who is just beginning in life."

Elizabeth made all of the appropriate noises and facial expressions as her question was so thoroughly answered. In short, it was going to be the swankiest party that she could imagine. Her eyes were suitably wide and blinking. It sounded like a dream, but the taste of the tea kept reminding her that this was no fantasy. This was too good to be true. It was just about every girl’s dream, just about, to rub shoulders with the rich and famous!

But Liz really wasn’t just about any girl. First of all, she’d never even heard of the party’s location. Secondly, the “Old World flair” sounded really formal. Getting announced and having food fit for a king? Well, it sounded nice, but it was way too fancy for the likes of her. And as for Mariusz’ descriptions of what people were most likely to wear, Liz didn’t need a blood test to know that hers wasn’t nearly blue enough for that kind of party.

Besides, she wouldn’t know anybody. Not even Mariusz! And to be surrounded by all the people who would most assuredly know right away that she didn’t belong there? Well, it would be easier for street-clothes Aladdin to just walk into the Sultan’s palace and ask for Jasmine’s hand in marriage than for Liz to ever fit in. The metaphor was doubly effective because it seemed that Mariusz was absolutely used to that kind of life. He said his dad was throwing the shindig, right? Well there you go. The prince didn’t really need to have a pauper-princess for his “acquaintance” at the party.

Liz set her tea down on the table. By this point, the crow had finished devouring her pretzel so Liz gently wave her hand at the bird and began slacking off with her emotional support. The ebony beauty quickly flew away with no need for further encouragement.

“As wonderful as that sounds,” she began, “I fear that such an event would be too high-class for me. It isn’t really my cup of tea.” She smiled at him, to try to lessen the rejection. “I mean, I’m flattered you'd ask me to go, especially since we don’t really know each other, but I’d only end up embarrassing you or something.” And now for a bit of blush to work its way into the smile. It might be a little hard to hear, but they didn’t know each other, so their essential anonymity should protect Mariusz’ ego from getting crushed. And hey! She didn’t say, “It’s not you, it’s me.” So there’s that, at least.

"Oh, I doubt you would do anything to embarrass me," Mariusz replied, making a dismissive gesture with one of his hands. If he had been concerned about that he wouldn't have asked the girl in the first place. Still, he wasn't the sort of person to try and twist her arm into going if she didn't want to go. There was no need to be rude about if even if time was rapidly running out to find a date to the party. Surely there would be something that would come up. Or, worst case scenario, he could hire that bodyguard person that Tses had given him contact information for.

"If I thought you would embarrass me I would not have asked if you wanted to go," he continued with a smile. "Still, if your mind is made up I will not try and cajole you into changing it. After all, we live in the same place so if you decide later that you would like to go all you need to do is track me down at the Mansion and ask."

Elizabeth made sure that no little snort of laughter rang forth from her lips. Mariusz sounded so certain that Liz might go to the party with him. She could not fully hide her grin. This guy--what a character. Suave, rich (based on his father’s party plans), and exceedingly confident. She couldn’t embarrass him? Well, he was most likely completely wrong in that regard, but it wasn’t like she was going to go to the party anyways so it didn’t matter. She’d let him have that little bit of pride.

But still. The whole thing was just too unreal. Like, this kind of thing didn’t happen in real life. Especially not to people like her. It was certainly going to go in her journal. Dear Diary. Today I got asked to go to a fabulously fancy party by an extremely-cultured gentlebirdman. What a story that would be for her grandkids.

She neglected to tell Mariusz that she would not be rescinding her answer for the party, because he’d probably want a reason and she didn’t want to say it was because she had a boyfriend and as such she couldn’t really go on a date with another person. Even just as friends. The problem with that, though, is that Liz was potentially guilty of stringing Mariusz along, what with asking for more particulars about the party. She didn’t think it would polite to mention Carrick at all.

But she also couldn’t think of anything else to say, so she slowly nodded at Mariusz once before bringing the tea back up to her lips.

Mariusz sat in silence with Liz for a few moments longer. When she failed to speak and he could think of nothing more to say either, beyond the general banal chit chat of questions such as 'what is your favorite color?', he decided that perhaps it was best to wrap up this little meeting. Pushing back in his chair he rose to his feet and worked his wings around in small circles, similar to the way a tennis player would work loosen up their arms prior to a match, to get ready to take to the skies again.

"If there is nothing else you wish to discuss, dear lady, we seem to have reached a conversational impasse and so I will take my leave of you," he said, stepping a few feet away from the table. "If you should change your mind you know where I might be found. Rozloučení*." With that he sprang into the air and took once more to the skies.

[Exit Thread]

*Farewell in Czech. I think.