Events at the Parnassus estate were considered the must-attend for the local and area-wide elite, as well as the many fires Parnassus irons rested in. Nothing less that pristine preparation and detail was acceptable, down to the schedules of the family itself. There could've been slaves tasked with taking Richard and Ella further into trance during the party if all hands weren't needed on deck. Decadence never got in the way of their appearance and power, which made Elowyn Parnassus's appearance in greeting their first high-powered guests minutes before their arrival quite the stirring moment. She walked to the main foyer in her usual socialite gait, noticing Delphine present and near Tennyson Sr.'s side. Elowyn wanted to pull the young women off to the side and chew out whomever had brought the slave resembling a younger Elowyn there, but the elegant state she stood in plus the snide look on her husband's face to her it was his decision.
"I'm glad you made it dear; it was so close to me getting to chastise you for once about 'on-time being late.'"
"And I see you wasted no time in dressing up an inferior replacement," she uttered without looking in his direction.
"If any guests were to find you absent, at least Delphine could represent you in spirit; arguably a more energetic one."
Tennyson Jr. laughed at the comment made against his mother, enjoying her uncharacteristic arrival leading to a very characteristic exchange between his parents, making his mother use practiced restrain not to slap her son hard across his face.
It was later into the party that Elowyn still quietly seethed at Delphine and Tennyson Sr. walking the party, greeting the important members amongst the invited peons of lower wealth, making for a versatile evening, and effective window-dressing. Each Parnassus family member reached out to speak to their direct investors, and court new ones. This gathering was especially important for them for the sake of promotion, and quelling concerns over competition, and effective usurping entrepreneurs. Whispers circulating mentioned someone the Parnassus clan hoped they'd never hear at the party, a figure calling herself "the Matron," who according to rumors had a nasty habit of poaching and converting victims, even already-made slaves. Elowyn was happy to take down a direct threat like a Quant keenly interested in them, but competition like the Matron could easily cut into familial profits if they weren't careful, and didn't sell their services well. Elowyn had the most diplomatic touch of the trio, the velvet glove to Tennyson's iron fist, while Junior had perfected an arrogance his father never corrected and his mother tried to banish from him over the years, unsuccessfully. With this party and venture though, the roles had reversed as Tennyson Sr. was playing salesman to his peers, with Elowyn ready to play silent enforcer if need be. She would've been the front-runner, pitching the family's endeavor, if not for the arm candy around the male host's arms that was the product being invested in, or rather, the end goal.
To those in the know in the proper circles, the Parnassus clan had cornered the market in brainwashing techniques, making the willful into willing given enough time and utilized tactics. Delphine was one, as she was paraded around the party, carrying old photos of herself pre-plastic surgery, cheerfully recalling old qualities as if they were from another life of an entirely different kind of woman. Junior carried two like her around his arm all night, only they were more the docile models, literally meant to smile and soothe the ego of their owner. The potential male investors watched just short of drooling, and their wives loved the idea of brainless supplicants, servants, and even surrogates. Elowyn gave the strongest effort in pitching methodologies she didn't fully believed in, despite the results strewn about the room as companions and caterers.
Her diplomatic mask hid the surrounding disdain very well for most of the night, but it faltered a little bit at the sight of a new arrival. Turning more than a few heads, oblivious yet acknowledging garnered looks, the young woman strolled through the party like a new queen bee casually drawing drones close. Her appearance wasn't too dissimilar from other women; she sported short hair, immaculately-done makeup, dressed in a burgundy, spaghetti-strap dress and wrap, very much favoring pearls with earrings, bracelets, and a multi-stranded necklace. It was the way she moved through the party, no one's plus one, a striking-enough difference to the submissive Dolls walking around, an additive changing the party's tone slightly. She made casual conversations with interested parties, politely excusing herself from one man or group to the next. Elowyn watched her carefully, keenly aware that she was not idling the party; more than likely she was hunting, for something or someone.
"Elowyn," someone called out, making her turn to a familiar face.
"Edward," she smiled and moved to give him a light embrace. "It's so nice to see a member of the Yearwood clan attending."
"You mean besides you," her distant cousin commented with his own smile. Elowyn's regard for Edward extended further than most of her biological relatives; she saw or extended invitations to them every other event or holiday, mostly for the sake of appearances and alliances. Married off to Tennyson Sr. by the Yearwood and Parnassus clans before she finished college, it rated more business merger than marriage, despite the fact that Tennyson's wealth and status gradually diminished over time, old money or no.
"I can't claim that name anymore; I am truly a Parnassus now."
"The Lioness Parnassus, if what I'm hearing across the grapevine is correct. Nice to know you haven't lost your...headstrong tendencies."
That rumored nickname wasn't one she encouraged, but neither was it disavowed. She certainly approved of it from her cousin's lips. Edward was a staunch businessman, the kind whose contributions kept the Yearwood's coffers filled, but there was at least semblance of respect for her compared to others that had forgotten their relative or sibling altogether.
"As it would be nice to hear the Bishop of Yearwood found an additional successful venture to add to your reputation."
"I certainly hope the same; we're certainly talk again soon Elowyn," he excused himself with a friendly handshake as another associate flagged him down. Elowyn kept her feeling of niceties close while scanning for the target she'd lost sight of, who'd seemed to find what they were looking for across the room.
From across the room, calm, albeit hawkish eyes caught Tennyson Jr.'s visage, and had yet to look away. Once her eyes caught his through a bobbed cut of ash brown hair, the glance they shared lasted long enough for him to forget the two forgetful woman around his arms. Junior was the first person of interest this new arrival walked up to meet.
"You must be one of the illustrious hosts, the Parnassus's youngest, is that right?" She extended a gloved hand for him to kiss, that he dutifully took. Within the time of a slow, passionate gesture, his usually-sly mind cycled through memories to see if this was one of the dozens he'd bedded, or hundreds he'd flirted with; her cultured European accent wasn't something he could readily place, but it helped her stand out from the many that crossed his path and bed. Coming up empty in his memory banks, he began turning on the charm designated for first meetings.
"In a sense, 'youngest is correct.' My father is Tennyson Sr, but you can call me Tennyson."
"Very nice to meet you, Tennyson. I am Hypatia, Hypatia Alexiou; it's a pleasure to meet such an esteemed man."
"The pleasure is mine, Hypatia," he finally gave her her hand back, smiling at how she didn't seem to mind. The way she regarded him while not giving the women next to him a single thought intrigued him, he loved that in a woman.
"Alexiou, that sounds like a prominent last name," Junior inquired. "French?"
"It would be Greek, dear," Elowyn interjected from out of nowhere, "As in the famed family from Greece."
"I hope it doesn't carry any caveats with it across the Atlantic," Hypatia admitted, turning to acknowledge Junior's mother.
"Not at all, the name is well-regarded with all that I know," Elowyn confirmed with a smile, extending a hand that Hypatia took graciously.
