Quoted By:
Surveying your several, if not somewhat still limited, options, one partygoer sticks out like a clown in a herd of sheep: an impressively-tall woman wrapped in a black feather boa, a matching cocktail dress, and a wide-brimmed hat extending further than should be legal, you think. Despite her gaudy appearance, it takes you a moment to confirm whether she’s real or a trick of the light–though she trades a few polite greetings with the partygoers around her, you can’t help but notice something… <span class="mu-i">off</span>... about the air around her–like a mirage on a particularly toasty day.
You’re making a beeline for her before you know it. Sensing your approach from across the tent, she gives you a bemused grin from under her hat as she steals a sip from an amber drink in her black-gloved hands.
“Well now <span class="mu-i">this</span> is a welcome surprise…” she coos as you close the gap, “and just when I was growing bored, to boot!”
You respond to her greeting with a forced grin. That’s booze, right? Gimme a sip!
“Oho~”she replies with a sly grin, “Find yourself another glass, dear, and I’ll give you more than <span class="mu-i">that</span>...” Drumming her gloved fingers against her drink with a melodic series of ‘<span class="mu-i">tink</span>’s, the woman gives you an appraising look. “If I may be so bold, I doubt a mere drink will cure what ails you…”
You respond with a scowl–who does she think she is playing doctor, huh? You’re <span class="mu-s">peachy</span> aside from your ‘<span class="mu-i">Nodrinkitis</span>’ flaring up!
“Heavens, me, where <span class="mu-i">are</span> my manners?” She gasps, bringing a shocked hand in front of her agape mouth! “I’m <span class="mu-g">HAZEL,</span> dear, but everyone calls me <span class="mu-g">AUNTIE...</span> Not that I’m <span class="mu-i">THAT</span> old, of course!” She adds with a singular laugh. “Charmed, I’m sure.”
You’re not, but it’s a start, you reply with a growl!
“And you must be the groom’s sister <span class="mu-g">STANLEY…</span>” Continues Auntie Hazel as she takes another polite sip from her glass. That’s too good for a guess, you snap!
“That’s because it wasn’t one, my dear.” She replies, cocking her hatted head to the side. “We’ve met on several occasions in the past, but I doubt you remember many of them, if at all–You were rather young for most of them, you see.”
You shrug your pale shoulders–if you had a nickel for every relative who told you that today, you wouldn’t need to scrub bone dust for a living! Suspicions sated, but not wholly removed, you give the woman a sideways glance–say what you will about your other uncles and aunts, you feel like you’d definitely remember her!
>CONTD.
