Morning all. I hope your first full week of the new year is going swimmingly. I am slowly clicking my plans for this year into place. and am happy that so far they are working as planned. Admittedly it is only the sixth, but at least I have gotten off to a good start instead of being torpedoed at the start. So that is a good thing. I will add as the past few years have not always gone to plan I did at least learn to build in contingencies. But for now, let’s just kick off the morning writing prompt. So timers set for fifteen minutes and lets get going.
I don’t have many details about where this is going but I like the contrast of Aria to the others and the fact that she doesn’t really want to be part of the glittering throng. Kind of makes me want to delve a little deeper.
Tuesday, January 6th: She didn’t quite fit in.
She didn’t quite fit in. ‘That’s putting it mildly,’ she thought trying not to look directly at those around her. She tried not to feel self conscious about her clothing. They were technically appropriate for the venue but they were older, well worn garments instead of the bright sparkling new ones those around her wore. She didn’t think the age showed too badly, but she suspected others would note the lack of designer labels.
There hadn’t been time to get anything new. ‘Not that I would have gotten anything similar.’
While high end clothiers were not in her budget in general, or at least hadn’t been, it was more than the designer that set her apart. Everyone here seemed designed to dazzle.
Their colors were rich and bright, their gemstone accessories sparkling. They each held their head high and seemed to be trying to draw the spotlight to themselves.
By contrast, she was the shadow to their light. Her dress was a deep green and while the amber details were in their own way eye catching, they didn’t sparkle like the cold and diamonds around her. Despite following the dress code, Aria seemed to have dressed for an entirely different gathering.
She behaved differently as well. Others were laughing chatting and sipping from their glasses. Reminded that she needed to at least look like she was enjoying herself instead of trying to calculate how long she needed to stay, Aria edged closer to the table and picked up a glass of her own.
She smiled politely at those who looked their way and received smiles in return for the most part. On many there were small frowns as they tried to place her but couldn’t. Since this was her first time in their world, she took no offense from the confusion.
‘At least no one is directly telling me I shouldn’t be here.’
She lifted the glass up. She sniffed and decided not to drink. There were elements in the beverage she couldn’t place by scent and there were no cards at the table. With her stomach already in knots introducing an unknown would be ill advised.
‘Of course with security it is doubtful I snuck in,’ she thought. Her invitation and identification were checked thoroughly before she was allowed past the guards.
She glided around the outer rim of the gathering, watching, identifying the groups, looking for cliques, signs of possessiveness in couples, anger or upset. Not knowing any of them she wanted to at least try to figure out something about those around her.
She managed to identify several groups and spotted what looked like at least three different troublesome conversations before she spotted Gregson. She breathed a sigh of relief. Once he spotted her and noted her presence, she would be able to leave. She marked his position and slowly eased her way in his direction.
Ten til Midnight 