The long night was one of Genevieve's favorite times of the year, regardless of all the celebration it involved.  She adored the night, with its starlit silence, and always had.  She had heard tales of lands far from here where night lasted for days at a time, and sometimes shivered thinking of inhabiting such a land.  She supposed it was inconvenient, but had a romantic stir all the same.  Still, here in Elua the Longest Night was quite stirring itself, with all the city did to mark it.<br/><br/>Among the Adepts, the freedom to choose as you would was the most remarked on feature of the celebration.  And so it was considered a bit odd, she knew, among her peers that Genevieve had chosen to take a Patron on this night.  Perhaps it was simply that she took the motto of House Valerian so deeply to heart.  But somehow the right to choose paled against the chance to yield to another's choice.  Her Patron had offered such a large sum she knew that whatever was intended for her would be remarkable.  She didn't know that she could create any event of her own thinking that would rival what might come.<br/><br/>It was also likely to mean quite an addition to mer marque.  Her peers would suppose that was why she did it, they spoke enviously of how much she had completed.  But that was of no concern to her.  Especiall not tonight, not tonight in the revels.<br/><br/>Genevieve mingled through the crowd of the ballroom, a glass of joie in her hand.  Her Patron had said he would find her, and she knew many enjoyed the hunt.  So she kept moving, her movements as graceful and light as she had been long trained.  As all Valerian, she was tonight costumed as a fae creature.  Graceful wings of stretched silver and near translucent silk rode her back, obscuring her marque as was fit.  Her costume was a black tight dress, worn on one shoulder almost as a tunic.  But it was covered all over with decorations of autumn colors, leaves and jewels and chains jingling with each of her steps.  Her hair hang long in many braids, decorated as well, and her eyes covered with a mask of many colored jewels.  Her lower face was left bared, her full plump lips inviting to all who glanced her way.<br/><br/>As she enjoyed the revelry, Genevieve could not draw her mind away from the wonder of what would happen next.  With a secret smile she congratulated herself on her choice for the evening, this delicious mystery heightened her moments as no other plan could have.<br/>(http://www.123people.net/c/casta-laetitia/casta-laetitia1.jpg)<br/>