"This is Mr. Smith, an old family friend. This is Miss Burr, whom I have the honor of escorting tonight."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Smith."

Please let Nigel not have told his brother the name of his beard. Please let Nigel not have told his brother the name of his beard--

"I believe I've already made your acquaintance. My brother speaks highly of you."

Goddammit.

"Right, Nigel's brother! Yes, we have. He speaks highly of you as well."

Michael looks at her very suspiciously. "You must be very disappointed that he couldn't escort you."

Simone is going to DIE.

She shrugs, effortless and elegant. "I always enjoy spending time with him, but conflicts happen, it isn't such a tragedy to miss one night."

"He was so disappointed to miss it but his poor stomach-- It seems to happen every year."

"I've already promised to tell him all about it." This isn't even untrue. Not that Simone objects to outright lying but in this case at least that is not what she's doing.

"I like his new art. I'm glad he's pursuing something traditional, not like all of this--" His gesture is broad and indicates all the degenerates on the ground floor.

"Traditional art is valuable," Sano says smoothly. "I've always thought so in my collection."

Caught in the sweep of Michael's gesturing is Elsie Waters, the skull Simone painted on her face before the party slightly smudged, as she does something which is certainly not flirting with a girl dressed up as a Greek goddess. "Indeed," she agrees.

"Still, there's always space for exploration," Sano says mildly. "The best of old and new. --Simone, would you like to speak with someone else? Perhaps go down and dance, it's been a while."

Oh god was it really that obvious. Fuck.

"I'll be on the dance floor if you're looking for me," she says, and -- elegantly, without being obviously on edge -- flees the scene.

When they're in a quiet corner he says, "My deepest apologies for the awkwardness, Miss Burr."

"You couldn't have known." Apologetic smile.

"I will certainly keep you separate in the future. Foxtrot?"

More genuine smile, now. "I'd love to."

The band plays a lively mix of waltzes, fox trots, polkas, and valetas. The servants of the ball whirl and spin around the dance floor. Everyone has gone all-out with costumes: Simone sees a mime, a Sun King, and even a man entirely covered in balloons. The queans are taking the opportunity to wear women’s clothing where everyone can see. Even those who aren’t really trying are wearing brightly colored, glittery masks.

Inaaya Sinope is cheerfully doing Indian folk dancing to foxtrot music.

She's dressed as Athena.

Her... partner?... Simone doesn't know enough about Indian folk dancing to know how this works... is dressed as Artemis and is dancing with less experience but good grace.

Sano is, of course, an excellent dancer. One of the best Simone has ever danced with.

Simone's danced with a fair number of people; when she makes that statement it means something.

They accidentally run into Inaaya.

"Oh my god, sir, I'm so sorry."

"Please don't mention it."

Inaaya does tarot readings for cash. She's enormously frustrated by how much of the London occult scene is scams, but hasn’t figured out how to find the non-scams yet. She's weirdly skeptical for someone who professionally tells the future. Her girlfriend is Joan Kramer.