as written by Script
Élisabeth's eyes narrowed at Celeste, and before Jimmy could get a chance to reply, she cut in. "Oh, honey, what happened?"
She crouched down to offer the girl a hand, "Did you drink something weird? Come on, let me help you up." Letting the other girl support her weight Élisabeth helped her up and led her a few paces to one side.
Only once they were what she judged as out of Jimmy and Malcolm's earshot did her tone change to one of icy cold disdain. "Listen, hun. I don't know if you think dropping to your knees in front of a boy is 'flirting', or if you're just more of a tramp than I took you for. But let's get one thing clear. It's not because of some ridiculous excuse like a werewolf fetish that a guy's not interested in you. You just need to learn to take a hint. I mean..."
She glanced down at Celeste's outfit with obvious amusement. "Look at you. You don't have the figure for that outfit, and you look so uncomfortable in it it's actually making me sad for you. I'm not trying to be harsh, but you're embarrassing yourself. I just want to save you that misery later. You'll only regret it when you're sober."
Élisa smiled at Celeste in much the same way that one might smile at a pet or a small child when dismissing them. "It's probably for the best if you try to avoid the boys up here tonight, so you don't make any more of a fool out of yourself. You might have better luck out there, with everyone else."
The way she said 'everyone else' she might as well have phrased it as 'riff-raff'.
It was small and cruel of her to tear Celeste apart so viciously, but those were two words that Élisa was no stranger to. She was still wound up that Arien had paid this girl so much attention earlier.
____
Arien watched Celeste's fall and following rant with a bemused expression, glancing across at Pierette. "You spiked her drink?" he guessed, "Your sister?"
That was something that had even him raising an eyebrow. "Well, I suppose she did need to let loose a little. Nothing too strong, I hope."
He smiled, shaking her hand. "I'm Arien. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Though it wouldn't be obvious to Pierette, Arien was very much just going through the motions as far as being pleasant to her went. She didn't interest him, much as the dozens of other party-goers were little more than footnotes in his designs for the evening. He put no particular effort into being sensual or directing his magic onto her, beyond the aura infecting the entire rave.
He watched Celeste and Élisa's exchange with interest from his seat, though he couldn't hear what they were saying. He could guess, however, that despite her apparently smiley exterior, Élisa was being anything but kind. He'd told her to play nicely with the proselytes, but he supposed that she couldn't contain herself completely.
He sighed inwardly. Another hurdle to cross. He'd have to avoid getting the pair of girls' wires crossed again, if he wanted to keep them both strung along. It had probably been a mistake to invite Élisa along, but he'd needed someone to keep the attention of the more straight-edge males amongst the proselytes while he worked his subliminal charms.
Still, at least it was keeping the both of them away from Nox. For the time being.
____
The twins exchanged a subtle glance, as Alveré made certain that Valère wouldn't be uncomfortable with renewing interactions with Aurelie. Upon confirming from his brother's eyes that he had no issue with it, he smiled and stepped to offer her a hand.
"Mad? No," Alveré smiled, "It was just a misunderstanding, is all."
"But," Valère swept forwards to the other side of her, "we wouldn't want to outnumber you. We ought to pluck at least one other to join us." His eyes wandered to where Rei and Inarin stood, and he smirked. "Perhaps we should reclaim Inarin? The other girl can come along too, if she wants."
Alveré grinned in turn as he followed Valère's gaze, and made brief eye contact with the young proselyte as he and Rei were returning, causing Inarin to hurriedly look away. "I spied him watching us a moment ago, Val. I think he enjoyed it."
"Not that he'd ever admit it," Valère noted.
"Oh, I don't know," Alveré hummed quietly for a moment, "I think if we try hard enough, by the end of the night, we might be able to coax it out of him..."
As Rei and Inarin passed them on the way to reach the scene transpiring around Malcolm (that both twins were studiously ignoring on principle), Valère stepped over to intercept the latter as he trailed behind. "I hope you don't mind if I cut in," he murmured, smiling conspiratorially.
Inarin blinked in surprise, "Oh... no, it's okay, we were just going to..."
"I was wondering if you wanted to join me and my brother to dance?" Valère interjected, directing Inarin's attention to where Alveré was waiting with Aurelie.
"Uhm ..." Inarin hesitated. He'd never danced before, and he couldn't imagine himself being any good at it. It seemed like the exact sort of thing that he was doomed to be awful at. Like driving a motorcycle. Or finishing a sentence without stopping to 'uhm' anywhere. There was a significant part of him that definitely did want to go and dance with the twins, but another part that didn't want to look bad in front of them. Or any of the people here tonight. "I was talking to Rei... I mean, I shouldn't just ... I'd like to, but ..."
Valère shook his head with a tut, turning around to catch Rei's attention, "You don't mind if we steal him back, do you?" he queried playfully. "In wants to come dance with us, right?" He leaned in closer to murmur in the younger boy's ear. "Don't worry about being good or bad. It's not complicated. And you'll find me and Al are good at taking the lead..."
Though he hesitated again, his cheeks flushing bright red, eventually Inarin managed a meek nod.
