Escaping the Cocktail Party--Elsa & RC3
@iloveitxwhenaplanxcomestogether (RC3)
Mr. Knight standing in the corner and irritably pulling at his tie might find these fundraising parties irking, but Elsa can hardly see why. Certainly, an endless calendar of fundraising dinners, benefit galas, and charity cocktail parties can be a bit tiresome, but they also are part of operating non-profit organizations. The money has to come from somewhere, after all. They are also staples on her own calendar—one of the dangers of having a tremendous fortune in the bank and a familial history of philanthropy. She used to let Anna handle these kinds of events, but her dear sister was a bit too softhearted and free with her checkbook. She soon sent Anna back to PR parties for the company while she took charge of the charitable angles. Admittedly, however, this party is a bit dull. Though she is loath to admit it, this fact falls on the head of the Foundation’s venerable leader Devon Miles. A wonderfully charming and witty man in small groups and one-on-one conversations, he becomes a bundle of nerves when he has to deliver official speeches, resulting in slightly long-winded and rather tedious ones. Unfortunately for all of them tonight, the Foundation ias giving an overview of their work for the last year, and handing out several awards to various charitable endeavors in Southern California. That means poor Mr. Miles has had to make multiple speeches, and the rest of them have to listen to them. It made for an uncomfortable evening across the board. Finally though, the last award has been given and the last of the speeches have been made. A general air of relaxation moves through the crowd as they shift into the ‘cocktails and mingle’ portion of the evening. Mr. Knight promptly disappeared with Dr. Barstow, the two intently discussing something with their heads tilted close together as they vanish through a side door. Elsa finds herself moving into ‘small talk’ mode where she makes polite conversation with various familiar faces, is introduced to a few new ones, and starts plotting the opportune time to make her farewells. She probably has another hour or so here first though… while Mr. Knight can blow in and out as he pleases, a woman of her position can never appear to be rushed even if all she wants to do was get back to her apartment, slip out of her heels, and slink into bed with a good book. She makes her first circuit of the room, ending by the bar where she gratefully accepts a refill on her seltzer water. Spotting a new man leaning awkwardly against the bar in a tux he is clearly not comfortable in, she acknowledges him with a polite headtilt. As she greets the stranger, she spots another figure bee-lining toward her—one she wishes to avoid. Mr. Standforshire has been after her for months with an unsound business proposition that she suspects he is trying to use as an overture toward a romantic relationship. Desiring neither from the odious forty-five-year-old, she turns fully toward the stranger. “Hello,” Offering her hand politely, unable to fully hide a sense of urgency, she finishes her introduction. “I don’t believe we’ve met before. I am Elsa Arendelle. Do you work for the Foundation, Mister… ?”
