Open Finished And it started with a party

Mathos nodded, his lips pursed. Of course, Levina was right. His other guests were as - or more important - than his sister. Or his grandfather for that matter.

"Let's mingle," he told his assistant. "We will worry about them later," he conceded as he flagged a passing waiter and told him to bring him a drink as well as ordering one for Levina in the process.

---

"Alright, let's make our way over there. I am extremely curious to see what their whiskey tastes like," she admitted as she looped her arm agreeably in Stefan's as they made their way across the room, stopping twice to say hello to people she knew.

Once they were among the spirits table, Zora gave Stefan's arm a squeeze before letting go. "How are you holding up?" she asked with a smile, very aware that these types of events might seem either exciting and cool or overwhelming to someone who didn't go to them that often.

Taking the drink from the waiter, Mathos paused and scanned the room and his guests with a sense of smug satisfaction. It was a very good turn out. The party was going better than expected actually.

"Let's greet our guests and then make our way towards the whiskey section," he stated evenly as he gazed at a beer table and its occupants, pretending not to have noticed his sister and where she was now.

---

Zora grinned widely at the drunken shenanigans comment. "It's early, believe me, give it time. Society folks are no different at their core... they are just more expensively dressed," she laughed.

"I bet that, by the end of the evening there will be either someone, who's drunk, suggesting karaoke, somebody in drunken tears, or somebody suggesting we grab some bottles of whiskey and go swimming or clubbing, or ... "here she lowered her voice, and whispered in amusement. "or participate in some questionable group activity."

Levina was right, Mathos did not make a fuss when she took his arm. Partly because they were at a party that he was throwing and he didn't want to cause a scene, and partly because, the unexpected familiarity, suited his plans well.

"Come. Mr. Wraithwight is here," Mathos told Levina as he caught a glimpse of one of his distributors.

After a short conversation which amounted to how the beers were being received by the public, Mathos steered his assistant towards where his sister was with her date.

"Miss Del Bosque?" Mathos said, as they approached, a warm, charming smile on his face as he greeted his sister.

"Mathos Sandoval," he explained as he gave the man with her a cursory glance, and then focusing his attention on her again.

"Mr. Sandoval," Zoraida remarked politely, immediately getting a weirdly evil vibe from the man, but pushing it to the side as she often did. The island was full of people that pinged and yet were completely harmless.

"It's nice to finally meet you."

Catching sight of Felen when he repositioned himself, Zora felt a very unexpected rush of relief flood through her. She could not say why she was anxious though. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Yes, Mr. Sandoval pinged as evil, but so did a few others in the room.

"A pleasure, Ms. Cromwell," Zora replied as she politely shook Levina's hand, taking the blue-haired woman's apparent over-eagerness in stride.

"This here is Stefan Jogstad, my significant other," she explained as she looked warmly at Stefan as she introduced him to both Levina and Mathos.

Hearing Zoraida mention that the young blond was "her significant other", made Mathos tighten his grip on his drink while he clenched his jaw momentarily as he quickly hid his disgust.

"Welcome Stefan, I hope you and Miss Del Bosque are enjoying the evening?" Mathos enquired evenly as he kept his tone cordial and welcoming.