The Age of The Masrui

"Maybe. Or just... sitting out this year. I don't know yet, no need to decide is there?"

“No, no… so what’re you gonna do with all your spare time then?”

(( Sorry I will not through the heat of the evening and then my posts will be better. Be back in a few hours ))

"I don't know yet." Cain chuckled. "Full of questions you are."

“It’s about time I assumed the nagging wife role.”

Cain just shook his head dismissively.

Mila finished her glass off then.

(( Do we want any drama at Sebastian's thing? ))

((What were you thinking?))

(( One of the guests could make a move on Mila and Cain could lose it? ))

((Sure, can you post first?))

"I have no idea what we are meant to do at parties like this," Elliot grimaced, leant back against the bar as he sipped at his drink. "We don't get invited to these family things much, yet alone something with literal agents of celebrities."

---

"You're going to do fine Mila," Tesni promised as she met her sister-in-law at the door as guests poured inside, passing her a glass of champagne. "This though is definetly going to help settle those nerves of yours. I've triple checked your list, everything that needs to be set-up for the night is."

---

Sebastian was in one of the side room, sat on the chair in the corner and staring straight across at the door as he listened to the noise of the room filling up outside. Anxiously picking at the skin around his fingernails as his guitar leant against the wall beside him.

---

(( Altair and Marlowe could kiss there too, that could upset some people? ))

"I have no idea what we are meant to do at parties like this," Elliot grimaced, leant back against the bar as he sipped at his drink. "We don't get invited to these family things much, yet alone something with literal agents of celebrities."

---

"You're going to do fine Mila," Tesni promised as she met her sister-in-law at the door as guests poured inside, passing her a glass of champagne. "This though is definetly going to help settle those nerves of yours. I've triple checked your list, everything that needs to be set-up for the night is."

---

Sebastian was in one of the side room, sat on the chair in the corner and staring straight across at the door as he listened to the noise of the room filling up outside. Anxiously picking at the skin around his fingernails as his guitar leant against the wall beside him.

---

(( Altair and Marlowe could kiss there too, that could upset some people? ))

“Thanks.” Mila murmured nervously as she adjusted the strap of her dress, taking the champagne flute and downing the contents. “Had like five of these already and my hands are still shaking. I’ve felt sick about this all week and now it’s here I feel like I’m going to pass out.”

---

“We don’t get invited because they don’t see us as family.” Erin snorted as she raised her eyebrows. “We just enjoy the free bar, the free performance of someone tipped to be mega famous in six months time and then sell the story about the experience when the hounds come sniffing.” She teased.

---

“Posing for all those photos tire you out brother?” Rex grinned, flashing Sebastian a smile as he passed a drink over to him. “Surely you can have just one before your debut?”

((Yeah!))

"Tes does," Elliot answered with a relaxed shrug, scanning the crowd and wrinkling his nose. "Do you think Robbie and Charlie are going to show? I know they were working tonight."

---

"You've done all the hard work getting Sebastian ready, making sure the music ready. Tonight is your chance to show it off, it's a celebration rather than a test."

---

"Only water - anything else messes up your vocal chords. You know that, Rex." Sebastian grimaced, wiggling the glass slightly to watch the alcohol move around inside of it. "I'll have this afterwards though, thanks."

(( Awesome! Who specifically do you think? So we can set up who is there ))

“Everything is a test. It’s all a test.” Mila shook her head, grabbing another champagne flute from a passing waiter and downing it.

---

“You need the courage Bash, clearly. You’ll be fine, don’t know why you’re stressing so much. You’ve performed a thousand times.”

---

“Not sure, Charlie’s been really busy at work the last few days so I’ve not really had much chance to speak to him.”

((Who do you think?))

"Not in front of people in the industry, not like this. It's normally just a joke if I fuck it up, this is like career stuff." Sebastian offered him a smile then. "I'm okay. I'll be fine, it's just.. nerve wrecking."

---

"Stop downing, start sipping. It's going to hit you like a tonne of bricks and that isn't going to help you feel better. It's meant to be for courage, not being flat-out  smashed."

---

"How is it going with him?"

(( Maddox or Archer from yours - whoever is more likely to be there? Uhhh.. and maybe someone a little less obvious from mine. Who though, who... ))

“Everyone has bad lives sometimes. You’ll be fine. Stop stressing.”

---

“I’ve been the trophy wife since me and Cain got married. Nobody accuses you of marrying your husband for the money or the status. You have a job you’re proud of, a career. I’ve had every outfit I’ve worn in the last five years scrutinised because there’s nothing else interesting about me. I need tonight to go well to show everyone I’m not just some lazy stay at home housewife clinging onto my famous successful husband. I need people to see that I can do stuff too and I’m more than just a hanger on who Cain married because he pitied her.”

---

“It’s… going? I guess. I don’t know how you’d describe it. Never done anything like it before…”

((Probably archer from mine))

(( I don't know who from mine. Faye? ))

Elliot gave a small nod of agreement, "It's weird isn't it? I feel like I am constantly waiting for something to mess it all up."

---

"Not a bad career debut, that can't happen. I'm not stressing, I'm not." Sebastian mumbled, putting the drinks to the side and putting his head in his hands. "I just need to focus Rex. How is dad, have you heard off him tonight yet?"

---

"Seeking other people's approval isn't going to make you feel better about yourself Mila, only you can do that. Relax, that's all I'm saying."

“In case you haven’t noticed I’m feeling very shitty about myself at the moment so I’m trying to cling to literally anything that will bring even a sliver of self worth.”

---

“He’s here somewhere, just like everyone else is mulling around. Big venue, what’s-her-face went all out for you mm?”

---

“Robbie adores you. He’s smitten. I don’t think anything will ruin it for you.”

---

((That would make sense yeah))

"You shouldn't leave him alone, Rex. Get back out there, he's still adjusting to noises and shit.. he shouldn't. Shit why did he come here?" Sebastian groaned. "Why can no one take responsibility other than me?"

---

Tesni rolled her eyes, mumbling a quiet; "Whatever." before walking away and heading to the bar to see Erin and Elliot. "Hi you two, I knew an open bar would get you here."

Elliot offered Tesni a half smile, "Of course."

---

"So, what am I right now?" Scarlett asked Archer with a raised eyebrow as she hooked her arm through his and leant into him once she had stepped out of the car. "What am I attending this event as?"

---

"Please?" Faye whined, staring longingly at the champagne glasses that went past her and her mother. "You can't bring me to something like this and not let me have a drop."

"Yes I can, and your only here as no one can watch you tonight. Behave yourself, Faye. I'll be telling all the staff not to let you have a drop."

“My plus one?” Archer offered as he took her arm and entered the venue. “I, that’s what it was on the invite, Archer and a plus one…”

---

“He’s here because he wants to be here because he’s proud of his son? Daisy and Kat are with him, relax.”

---

“The moral support brigade right here.” Erin grinned. “We know how much you hate parties.”

---

“I’m sure one glass won’t hurt her?” Altair hummed quietly as he kissed Astrid’s cheek. “A small one, for the toast?”

---

“Hope you don’t feel thrown into the deep end meeting like half my family at once.” Wren whispered softly to Nathan as she sat down at their table, passing him over the drink she went to the bar to.

"Despise them," Tesni laughed humourlessly. "It's the worst part about being a King, other than the threat of kidnap and things like that; the obligation to go to so many parties. Speak to so many people."

---

"No, no. Not at all- well, maybe a little bit. A miniscule amount." Nathan chuckled, taking the drink from her and having a sip of it. "At least everyone is going to be distracted though, with the up-and-coming star performing."

---

Marlowe wrinkled her nose, looking between the two of them before her expression softened. Sighing; "Fine, one. Only for the toast though, and you don't move from my sight until you pass the glass back to me so I know you got it from me and only m-"

"Seriously? That's so stupid!"

"Is one not good enough, Faye?"

---

"Stop telling me to relax." Sebastian groaned.

---

"Plus one. Right, okay...."

“Free bar though. The guy performs, we can get wasted and your husband can attend to the sprogs in the morning. Sounds like a good time to me.”

---

“Sorry, sorry.” Rex grimaced. “Just wanted to say good luck. We’re all here, rooting for you.” He checked his watch before clapping his brothers shoulder. “Good luck.” He hummed before disappearing.

“Five minutes.” Mila hummed nervously as she found Sebastian. “Everyone’s here that should be. Not a clue where half of them are, lights are dim and the place is big…”

---

“You would’ve had mom and dad and Tobi to bounce off of but she’s ended up with food poisoning so dads stayed back to look after her which means Tobi has to look after the kids and… yeah. This is why I told you my mother is a terrible cook.” Wren laughed softly.

---

“Learn the art of compromise.” Altair advised with a grin.

---

“Was that the wrong answer?”

"No, it's fine." Scarlett kissed his cheek then, squinting as they stepped inside - vision skewed as her vision adjusted to the change in light.

---

"Shut up." Faye hissed at Altair before storming off, pushing her way through the crowd to try and get away from them.

Marlowe shook her head, "Sorry, she's just antsy because Theo's little one isn't sleeping through the night. Faye's never dealt with lack of sleep."

---

"Five minutes? Shit." Sebastian groaned, getting to his feet and beginning to pace the room then. "What if I mess up? What if I forget the words, or where the notes are on the guitar, o-or I freeze. Shit."

---

"I can't remember the last time I got drunk." Tesni mused quietly then.

"That means it has to be tonight." Elliot grinned. "Shots? Let's get some shots."

“Bartender!” Erin grinned as she spun around to face the bar. “I’ll just have a bottle of tequila, like four or five limes cut up and some glasses on a tray - we’ll use the same ones don’t worry - save you the cleaning.” She said sweetly.

---

“I have a room booked for us at the hotel round the corner later on.” Archer ducked to whisper in her ear, kissing just below it.

---

“You’ve never forgotten before. You’ll be fine. I believe in you.” Mila assured, reaching over and patting his arm gently. “You got this.”

---

“Ah, that newborn brain drain where you’re running on twenty minutes sleep over three days. I understand.”