[Patrick Grove (Katherine)]

Patrick had been one of the first to the buffet line, but in seeing there was hardly anyone in front of him felt a bit like a pig and allowed a group of older women in front of him, which turned into a pretty young girl and her mother, and then another few people, until he had been pushed to the very back of the line. His stomach growled. Damn good manners to hell. He cursed, trying very hard not to look a fool while squished uncomfortably between two groups of tittering girls, holding the ivory plate he'd picked up at the front to his chest.

He glanced suspiciously about the room, looking half like a lost child and half like a man about to punch a wall. He could really use someone to alleviate the awkward of this situation, however his sister was nowhere to be seen and neither was Neil. Stupid sister, stupid best friend. What was the point of having them if they were never around! He heard his name whispered among the girls behind him, followed by ruthless giggling. He hated girls. No, that was a lie. He loved girls. He hated those girls.

[Susannah Hutchinson (Amy)]

OOC: Hope you don't mind my throwing Miss Hutchinson into the mix here. I've been wanting her to meet Patrick ever since he was introduced as a character.

It was difficult for Sukey to fathom the variety of food on her plate. Considering that this was a private home, and not even a ball where the guests might dance up a suitable appetite, the fare looked and smelled like a vision of culinary paradise. Especially tempting was that small flaky roll of pastry dough that wrapped protectively around an unknown delectable treasure--what was it? Cheese, meat, vegetable? Sukey had to find out, and, after a quick glance around the table to see how others approached it, attempted to stab it with a fork. To her dismay, the pastry proved denser than anticipated, and the tidbit leapt in a flaky flurry to the floor, rolling to the foot of a gentleman still awaiting his repast.

Sukey jerked her chair backwards in horror, only then noticing that the other guests (save the gentleman in question) seemed entirely oblivious to the incident. More quietly, she slipped from her place and nervously eyed him. Could she retrieve the mystery morsel unobserved by the seated company, perhaps with the cover of retying the laces of her shoe? Still concocting a plan, she made an embarrassed apology.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir. I seem to be a bit clumsy this evening." That, she reflected, probably understated the case. She added, almost to herself, "I was so eager to taste whatever that was."

[Patrick Grove (Katherine)]

((Aww yay! No, it's definitely about time they met))

Another unsettling rumble let loose from the deep caverns and chasms that were Patrick Grove's stomach. He sniffed, the aroma of the freshly cooked buffet wafting unkindly to his ever so polite position behind several (incredibly slow moving) guests. He began imagining the tastes of those delectable little treats just a few tantalizing feet away. He fantasized about the tenderness of the meats and sweet juices of the fresh fruits. He wished he could move the table closer, if only with his mind. Perhaps if he just hoped hard enough...

Thump. He stared down at his feet in surprise. Had he wished that hard? Confused, he suspiciously tapped the bit of cake with the toe of his boot, cautiously, as if it may contain some sort of dangerous materializing-pastry magic.

A girl appeared next, apologizing in hushed and breathless tones. He clicked in and grinned. "No trouble, no trouble, I'm a bit clumsy myself really. Never was the graceful sort." He said, attempting to put the lady at ease. He bent down and swiped the bit of bread off the floor. He examined it and wrinkled his nose a bit. "Are you quite sure you'd still like to taste it?"

[Susannah Hutchinson (Amy)]

For a moment, Sukey stared at him agape, feeling a trifle stupid. Did she still want to taste it? Of course not! He must be joking, she soon realized, and smiled broadly. The hushed laugh that accompanied this smile, she promptly turned into a cough.

“Given its current state,” Sukey replied, “I fear I must deny myself. But thank you for retrieving it for me, nonetheless.” She glanced around and considered what might have happened to wayward victuals at her own home. “If there is a dog in residence, I am sure it will not be wasted—but perhaps in London scraps are thrown out of doors for strays?”

She was genuinely curious, but in all probability, this was not appropriate dinner conversation and would be dubbed eccentric. Sukey shifted from her left to her right foot and back again. Really, she supposed she should escape to the table as soon as an opportunity presented itself, as she did not yet even know this gentleman’s name. But she had no more wish to appear awkward and unsociable than she did to seem awkward and loquacious. None of her options, feared Sukey, avoided that unfortunate descriptor, “awkward.”

[Patrick Grove (Katherine)]

Patrick's brow furrowed, pastry still aloft, as he pondered her suggestion. Well, he was sure he didn't know. He just ate the food that appeared for him, he'd no thought about where it came from or where it went after. "I'm afraid I haven't the foggiest. It seems your idea the most probable solution. May I escort you to where the strays may be Miss Dainty-Dropper?" He grinned and handed the dainty she had dropped back to the small, bright-eyed girl in front of him. He offered the crook of his elbow. Why not? She seemed a very pleasant sort. And he did like pleasant sorts.

[Susannah Hutchinson (Amy)]

Dainty Dropper! What a droll title, Sukey thought. If only she could think of clever things that quickly. “Indeed!” she acquiesced, taking the arm he offered. “And my thanks to you Mr…—but what should I call you? Mr. Pastry,” she began hesitantly, “Preserver? Mr. Rescuer of Rolls? Of…Rolling Rolls?” The laugh she had stifled earlier escaped now. But then she caught Ben’s eye and noted how his reserve had returned since their performance. He had to be extremely careful to make a favorable impression, she recalled, or risk the censure so often applied to people in trade. And the same could be said of her. How awfully silly she was being! Her cheeks turned slightly pink with embarrassment. And yet, it was terribly unfair that the rich could act virtually however they wanted and maintain their positions in society, while respectable middling folk struggled to be recognized as genteel. She always behaved as she ought in all the ways that mattered; why should she feel so self-conscious?

“I shall laugh whenever I like,” she affirmed defiantly, not to Ben but to the world. Though her words were hushed, Sukey had not really intended to speak aloud at all.

[Patrick Grove (Katherine)]

Patrick chuckled as well, leading the pretty girl upon his arm to an open double doorway which seemed to lead out to a lovely little veranda. A perfect place to drop some unwanted pastries, he should think, if he had ever done such a thing before.

"I shall laugh whenever I like." The bold little proclamation came as a surprise to him. He did not realize he had given the impression of not wanting her to laugh. He glanced down at her face, this Miss Dainty Dropper, and found the stubborn chin utterly appealing. "And I shall make you laugh whenever you like." He agreed with a nod. "For we cannot have any lack of frivolity, now can we?" He smiled and leaned over the intricately carved railing. "Life is an amusement in itself, I for one laugh at life all the time." He grinned and handed her the bit she dropped. "Will you do the honors?"

[Susannah Hutchinson (Amy)]

He responded. Good heavens! It was only with some difficulty that Sukey shut her dropped jaw after realizing that her comment had reached strange ears. She turned wide eyes on her companion, expecting, despite his words, to see shock and dismay. Instead, his evident agreement relieved her fears. Her comfort restored, she joined him at the railing and began to turn over his statements in her mind.

“Life certainly can be an amusement, if we choose to laugh at it,” concurred Sukey after a pause. “But some have the privilege of laughing more than others, surely. Unless life is meant to be God’s amusement, and not our own.” Hmm. That was a thought that begged for further attention, but perhaps now was not the time? “Anyway,” she concluded, putting aside deeper philosophizing, “it must be good for us to be light-hearted when we can.”

As the gentleman passed her the wayward pastry, Sukey curtseyed low and accepted the morsel like a treasure, in outstretched palms. “Thank you sir,” she acknowledged. Extending one hand over the railing, she addressed the darkness below, where she could indeed hear sounds of movement. “Beasts of Berkeley Square, I welcome you to the first annual Dainty Drop. Tonight, one of you will leave this place privileged, having received from my hand the ceremonial whatever-it-is. Who will emerge triumphant? I leave it to Fate to decide!” Dramatically, Sukey flung the pastry up in the air with closed eyes, opening them again to watch its descent. A dull thud arose as it landed, swiftly followed by the shrill squeal of a cat and a great deal of scuffling.

Sukey frowned. “Oh dear! I hope I haven’t hurt it.” She leaned as far over the railing as she could without endangering her balance. The toes of her slippers barely scraped the stone veranda as she searched among the dark grey shapes in the street for any signs of a cat suffering blunt trauma.

[Patrick Grove (Katherine)]

Patrick laughed aloud, a deep jovial sound, at his companion's antics. Her worry for the street animal below was the most amusing of all. "I am sure it will be fine. If anything, better off than it was, with a full belly of whatever it was." He smiled his reassurance and offered his arm to escort her back into the warmth of the house.

"May I inquire as to your real name, my dear?" He asked raising his brow, "For I fear calling you Dainty Dropper may be a little upsetting to the ton."

[Susannah Hutchinson (Amy)]

With one last glance over her shoulder, Sukey took hold of the gentleman’s arm again and allowed him to escort her inside. “Of course you may,” she responded, “but I will be sorry to lose ‘Dainty Dropper.’ It’s much more refined than the real thing.” Smiling, she introduced herself. “My name is Sukey Hutchinson, and I am in London with my brother, Ben.” She gestured towards her sibling, who looked relieved to see her safely returned from the balcony. Her face softened with affection, and she turned to her companion to explain. “Poor Ben probably thought I had been abducted. Might I know the name of my captor, please, that I may assure him all is well?”