Raven paused at the head of the staircase, looking down at the sea of people beneath her. It was quite possible that all of the many colors of the rainbow were represented in the gowns and tuxedos milling around in Tristan's anteroom, and the edge of a smile curved Raven's lips.

A pair of dark brown eyes, cast upwards, met hers. A man who looked to be in his mid-twenties, with hair a shade lighter than his eyes, inclined his head to her. A faint, lopsided smile tilted his mouth, and his face struck a note of familiarity. Raven frowned slightly as he turned away and disappeared into the throng, memorizing his features and filing them away for future reconsideration.

She turned towards the staircase, one hand holding her dress above her ankles and the other trailing along the railing as she descended. Every motion was practiced and executed to perfection, a mysterious smile pinned firmly to her carmine lips.

Heads turned as she stepped onto the carpeted floor of Tristan's anteroom, whispers flitting from actresses to millionaires to singers and back again. Raven ignored them all, the crowd of elites parting grudgingly before her as she sauntered into the ballroom.

Tristan glimpsed her several moments after she stepped into the enormous room, beckoning her over to where he was standing under a massive glass chandelier. Next to him was a young man with slanted eyes and dark skin, a woman who looked to be a year or two older, with identical features at his side.

"Raven, meet Aaron and Acacia Lily," Tristan said with a grin.

Shaking first Acacia's hand, then her brother's, Raven turned the full force of her smile upon Aaron. "So, you must be Tristan's new boy toy."

Frowning slightly, Tristan glanced reprovingly in Raven's direction, but Aaron grinned, unperturbed. "That I am." He turned to Tristan, whose frown melted as he smiled back.

Raven's smile became something softer as she watched the pair of them. She and Tristan were... well, the word 'friends' came as close to describing their relationship as any other would, and it was not beyond her to be able to appreciate the happiness that he had found.

She directed her attention to Acacia, lips parting in an engaging smile. "How long have you both known Tristan?"

The other woman's features were reserved, bordering on taciturn. "We met just under a year ago, at the Met Gala."

"How nice," Raven responded with another smile; her cheeks were beginning to hurt. She turned back to Tristan and Aaron. "I'm going to go get a drink--does anybody want anything? Scotch, Tristan?"

He grinned. "You know me. Aaron?"

Aaron smiled at Raven. "Make that two scotches."

She nodded, flashing back a smile of her own before turning expectantly to Acacia.

"Nothing right now, thank you," the other woman answered.

"All right, then. I'll be right back," Raven said cheerfully, before turning and disappearing into the throng of people.

*

*

*

A/N:

This chapter is a bit longer than a lot of the past ones--I hope you like it! It may seem fairly vapid and unnecessary, but I promise it has its uses ;D vote and comment if you liked it (despite its seeming vapid, unnecessary cant) and have a wonderful rest of your day/night!