A spot of brandy;; [open]

[Duke Lucian Briscoe]

<sup>The soon to be night air was like a lover's touch. Cloaked in mystery, beckoning with promise, sweet at times but quickly cloying. And underneath it all, rotten to the very core. The moon was but a mere silver whisker as it grew stronger against the afternoon light, enshrouded by the billowing heaps of slate clouds as they wept their dismal way across the otherwise desolate expanse of heaven and space.

No fitful company either yet. No constellations to gaze and decipher at. No eerie calling of the night owl to summon the little forest animals to fright. Absolutely no sounds as of yet. This is how everyday life should be. Melancholy and dim, dark and deprived, dull and mundane. Just a perpetual life of black and white, and shades of grey.

There was a distinct dimness in the lighting, like dying ember or soothing candlelight, and a lazy, drugged atmosphere that complimented the club's rustic ambience. The incessant reminder of the previous nights intimate whispers of midnight lovers twisting and entwining limbs and legs in the far shadowy corners of the room only added to the seductive vibe, yet at the same time charmingly mellow, electricity of the cozy club.

His fingers laced around a crystal snifter of brandy; three fingers full--just how he liked it. Taking a sip, he allowed the burning liquid to slid down his throat while he remained seated in the back of the main room. Lucian enjoyed his privacy..no one really dared invade it either. Everyone at the club knew that this young Lord didn't tolerate anyone uninvited to come to his habitual table; hence why at the 9th hour of the evening, Lord Brant sat in the shadows.</sup>[/sup]

[Stephen Connelly]

The door of the bar opened, a soft wind blew in, ruffling the papers on the rack near the door, a shadow entered, he wore a cloak.

The man's name was Stephen, he walked slowely up the the bar, looking around, he took his cloak off and watched the inhabitents of the bar.

"Hello Mr Stephen" the bar man said.
"Hello, a beer please." Stephen muttered, the man went to serve him one then came back, "thanks." Stephen muttered and went to sit down at a table, close to a figure sitting alone, Stephen glanced up at the man, Stephen was in this part of town to be photographed by a photographer, he was to arrive at the studio at 8 o'clock, the photographer was a women, Stephen was dreading up, but he couldn't say no.

He sat down and drank some beer, watching the man, his young face lit up by the light.

[Duke Lucian Briscoe]

<sup>On any other occasion, Lucian wouldn't have taken notice if someone entered the club, but his eyes moved to the door as it was opened; a gust of wind accompanying it. Good God, why hadn't the weather been more kind as of late? Downing the contents of his snifter, he pushed it further across the table; quite bored with the liquor.

And as the younger man came to sit near him, the Duke slanted him a glance, a few words murmured on his part. "You don't seem old enough to be drinking." Lucian commented, mildly uninterested in whatever his retort might be.</sup>[/sup]

[Stephen Connelly]

Hearing a voice behind him, Stephen turned to the man he had been looking at, he tried to make out what he looked like as the shadows were hiding him.

"I'm 19." Stephen said shortly and turned to face the man, he looked at him, watching his every move, it was cold outside, very cold. He pulled his cloak tightly around him, even in the pub he was cold.

He suddenly said, "I havn't been in this part of town before, do you know where..." he pulled a card out of his pocket, it had details of the photographers on. "Miss Lida Fox Cotton photographers is?" he asked, looking at the card for a minute then back to the man.

[Duke Lucian Briscoe]

<sup>That was the point of shadows. One could hide their thoughts within the darkness, their facial features, and the smirk now dancing across his lips. It was the best place, Lucian supposed, to dwell in solitude, few people had a tolerance for the lack of light like he did.

"Just barely of age.." He murmured, fingers toying with the now empty glass. "And traveling on your own." The Duke added, noting his lack of company and/or servants as well. He himself traveled without companions simply to avoid the clash of attitudes his help had; for such well paid people, they didn't exactly follow his train of thought..not that he minded, a lot of them were worthless in several aspects.

As if he hadn't already assumed that this younger man wasn't from the area, it all made perfect sense now. "Lida Fox Cotton.." He repeated trying to piece together any face he could from the name given to him. "Let's see, I'd say she probably lives around the shopping district; it's worth a shot really. Most photographers keep their shops there."</sup>[/sup]

[Stephen Connelly]

Stephen listened, he couldn't see the man but by the sound of it, he was older then him. He then said after the man had stopped talking.
"Yeah, I don't have any servants..." he trialed off, "thank you very much." he said in thanks to the kind peice of information that the man had given him, "I need to get there by 8, I am modelling for her...but I exspect she would want more then modelling..." Stephen shrugged, "I'm Stephen, Stephen Connelly." he added.

[Duke Lucian Briscoe]

^{"No servants? Quite the..simple person now aren't you? Traveling alone, no servants, young. Experiencing life as it comes along..how very interesting." There were very few people that Lucian could think of who held the same mind set as the present young man. "My pleasure, always in the mood to help someone." Ah, note the sarcasm..the Duke was never wanting to help anyone aside from himself, selfish yes, but you never really got anywhere if you didn't think of yourself. "Modeling..A very odd profession, do you do it often? And most women are always wanting something more, a greed bigger than vanity itself." Those terrible creatures...women..can't live with them, can't live without them. "Duke Lucian Briscoe at your service."}[/color]

[Lady Eleanor Mckellen]

:: A lady entered the club, she was a lady dressed in a long layer was concealing his face, his face was hiding to be protected from the cold. Only when one of the butlers they approached her to help him to take the layer from themselves, his authentic beauty was discovered. It was dressing with an impressive white, long muslin ´s dress , which when it was walking seemed that his figure was floating, as if it had proper mind::

:: His blue eyes shone when they gave him the strong light of the club in them, it even had to blink several times to get accustomed to the light on having come from the dark street of London::

:: She bring over slowly up to one of the tables, thanks to the servants who led her up to her. When walked next to the gentlemen, did an elegant inclination and a radiant smile went out of his sensual lips that were red as the blood:: " Good night gentlemen "

[Stephen Connelly]

"Nice to meet you Duke." said Stephen, smiling, "yes women...are strange...” he said smiling.

Hearing a voice behind him, Stephen turned and saw a beautiful women standing there, the first thing he noticed about her was her lips, they were amazing, red lips that seemed to shine in the dim light of the pub.

He heard her speak, her voice was lovely, "hello madam." he said, smiling up at the women.

[Duke Lucian Briscoe]

<sup>From his position in the darkness, Lucian had noted the enterance of a young woman quite elegant compared to most he had seen enter White's. For a top notch club, he doubted it held a good view of what was fashionable and what was simply false. "Believe me Stephen, the pleasure is all mine." He muttered under his breath in a slightly unamused tone. He had very little patience for those far younger than him, and Briscoe supposed he had over a decade on the one before him..not exactly something to be taken into light consideration. "It all really depends on your view of a woman.."

He trailed off as the mysterious woman had come to pass, his eyes sliding over her without so much as a second thought. When one gave oneself time to think about their actions, they severly missed out on the finer aspects of life. Slowly inclining his head, Lucian gave her a diminutive smile, "Evening.."</sup>[/color]

[Lady Eleanor Mckellen]

" Evening Gentlemens. Excuse me, but I can enjoy his company? "

:: Elisabeth asked approaching a little them without eliminating the smile of his lips::

" I believe that it is the best thing that can happen to me this evening. To be with two polite English gentlemen "

:: The bartender approached the lady asking her that was going to take::

" I would like tea with lemon please ":: Answered Him with extreme courteousness.