<Zappo, looking all studly in his tuxedo, sprints down the path to catch up to Sophie, a bottle of Perrier-Jouet and two flutes in his hands and asks. . .>
May I join you? It’s a lovely evening and a baloon ride sounds like great fun.
<Zappo, looking all studly in his tuxedo, sprints down the path to catch up to Sophie, a bottle of Perrier-Jouet and two flutes in his hands and asks. . .>
May I join you? It’s a lovely evening and a baloon ride sounds like great fun. **
[/QUOTE]
Of course you may join me. Studly tuxedo’d men may always join me.
Anyone else, or will this be a ride for two?
::hardygrrl finally emerges from the Velveteen Rub room, wearing a robe.
Euty can be seen in the room, laying semi-conscious on a table. ::
I’m so thirsty. I think I’ll get a glass of lemonade.
Damn. I missed the fun. Again.
Ginger slinks off to the library…
Sophie said:
"Hell, I’ve never been a good dancer, anyhoo. But I am a very good passenger and I do love hot air balloon rides. I would also hate for this here lovely dress that celestina picked out for me to go to waste (I went with the diamonds, dear. Thank you so very much).
Hey Sophie, it was my pleasure to help you out. I know you look just stunning in the diamonds.
While Sophie and Zappho go for a balloon ride, celestina finds Cartooniverse and Abby on the front porch, and much to her surprise Cartooniverse has laid out quite a spread for dinner. He’s provided Beluga caviar; jumbo shrimp; pate; cold salmon; Brie and other assorted cheeses; fresh fruits and vegetables; and to wash it all down, a few magnums of Krug Brut Champagne Collection 1964. YUM. celestina is beside herself, she’s so excited at the prospect of the delectable feast in front of her. She gives Cartooniverse a bear hug, and then wastes no time in fixing herself a plate of caviar and shrimp. Abby and Cartooniverse also help themselves to the food, and Cartooniverse pours himself and the ladies glasses of champagne. They toast each other and get down to the serious business of doing justice to the food. celestina eats her fill, goes gets dressed, and then goes to see if the dance is still going on.
You bet Sophie looks stunning, celestina. I don’t know which sparkle more; the diamonds lying demurely around her neck and glistening on her ears, or the stars.
Now that we’re aloft, I open the champagne and pour us each a glass. We toast the beautiful evening and enjoy a midnight supper as we float along wherever the evening winds take us.
Ooh, Zappho. That sounds lovely! Floating along in a balloon under the stars. I’m glad y’all are enjoying yourselves. 
I’d be having more fun if thinksnow, Dynosaur, and others would come dance with me. 
I want to tango, waltz, and stuff.
Tell me about it, sister. I was promised dance lessons and here I am, dolled up, smellin’ good, and STILL waiting on my dance instructor.
Hi, Nice house you folks have got here . .
Did somebody mention alcohol?
And music?
And flashing lights?
And nekkidness :eek:
sounds like my kind of party 
Zappo! A man after my heart!
I say we float our way along this river until we find an ocean, and then we keep right on until we find more land, and then we will, undoubtedly, find the Greek Islands. Once we’re there, we can take a vacation from the Duplex. Life there was just exhausting, don’t you think?
For now: it’s a little chilly up here with the moon. Good thing I brought a blanket.
Let’s kick our shoes off and have that strawberry shortcake. If you don’t mind, there’s a CD player next to you; I brought Ella Fitzgerald, Lyle Lovitt, and Peter Gabriel’s new album, but if you have something else, I’m game.
<French doors open and briskly, ts enters wearing Matador pants and a flowing white shirt, open to the navel.>
<From across the floor he nods and the music starts. Bright, energetic music, powerful and full of life.>
<With a finger, BunnyGirl beckons him closer and he strides across the room. Purposefully, he steps. Each movement a precise gesture flowing in time to the rhythm.>
<He circles her, as a hunter would his prey, drawing closer until he has but to reach out and touch her as the music climbs in timbre, and suddenly…
…they are dancing.
Grand sweeping steps, arms firm yet relaxed, ts leads her and draws her attention from the initial staccato of her feet with the sheer intentness of his stare. She matches his movements, feels his lead and begins to understand the music, feeling it through her body as she spins once and twirls back, caught tightly and released again. On and on they go, for what seems like hours.
The music climbs again and the serious and concentrating visage that is ts’s face hardens more and more until…
<…a dip, so deep Bunny is sure she is mere inches from the floor. His face suddenly soft and warm, ts reaches behind him and with his free hand produces a white rose, which we lightly touches to her lips before lifting and spinning her out and dashing for the door.>
“Where are you going?” she calls after him.
I have to change for the next dance, is his reply.
“which we lightly touches” is, of course, supposed to read “which he lightly touches” and I’m certain it did until I hit the Submit Reply button. <sigh>
Anyway, who’s up for a Waltz?
[sub]nice job, eh?![/sub]
:Bunny sits down in one of the velvet chairs, flips out her black lace fan and fans her flushed face furiously:
“Good heavens, that was a dance!” is her only reply.
Where’s that waiter with the champagne? I’m simply parched.
** Space Ghost ** comes stumbling out of his bunker.
“He, did the House just shrink! I knew it! The truth is out here!”
celestina holds out her hand to thinksnow. Sweetie, would you care to waltz?
Good grief, I’m thousands of feet over the earth and that dance is making me sweat.
Ella Fitzgerald sounds fine to me. And then perhaps some of Mr. Sinatra’s musical stylings? “Fly Me to The Moon” seems appropriate here.
<cues up CD while ducking Sophie’s playful swat with her high-heeled shoe>
You’re right. Life at the SDH is a bit hectic, what with all those naked orgies and paintball fights. A few weeks on the beach with you sounds like just the ticket. Good thing I tucked my wallet and passport into my dinner jacket.
<passing over the strawberry shortcake and topping off our glasses>
Y’know, it is a bit breezy up here, but it’s nice. You’re chilly? I don’t doubt it, what with those [sub][sup]flawless, silky smooth and perfectly shaped[/sub][/sup] bare shoulders and [sub][sup]heartstoppingly gorgeous[/sub][/sup]exposed neck. Here, wrap up in my jacket and get under the blanket. I’ll be right there. . .
He’s good at that, isn’t he? 
I knew I should’ve quoted Sophie’s post. I meant think, of course.
[sub]rassin’ frassin’ no-thinkin’ postin’…[/sub]
How could I have overlooked such an obviously perfect musical selection? Ah, thank you for remembering the fabulous Mr. Sinatra.
Zappo and I sit together on the bench in the basket, a blanket covering me from neck to toe and just enough of Zappo to breathe warmth into this situation. Zappo’s arms are stretched out along the back of the bench, just so I can rest my head on his shoulder.
The lights of cities come and go beneath us. The moon is moving across the sky too quickly, and I fear this night will end before I’ve had a chance to see the Statue of Liberty from the balloon. Surely we will make it there by sunrise…
“Zap, sweetie,” says I, “what does that halo around the moon mean? It’s big enough to hold the entire Straight Dope Compound!”
“Speaking of that,” Zap replies, eyebrows raised at the mention of the Compound, “do you think they’ll rent our rooms out while we’re gone?”
I look over and catch my companion’s profile against the enormous moon. I sigh.
“Who gives a damn? I think we should just travel from now on, anyway,” I say. “What with my inheritance and your good looks, we could rule the world one day!”