<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/ac/Eikichi_Characters_44.png)</div>Name: Stephen<br/>Location: Ballroom -> Banquet Hall<br/>Tagging: Isobelle<br/>Mentioning: Elia, Hudson.<br/><hr/>It didn’t take long for word of the counts death to reach him; naturally thanks to the fact that the bulk of people were now gossiping about the murder and who the murderer could be. Regardless of the fact that the murder had occurred in the same room as him Stephen simply wasn’t interested in the matter. It didn’t matter if the spectacle was a rarity or common occurrence to him the very idea that such a scandalous murder could occur was simply, a bore. Others might have been frightened or even intrigued by the new event but he had no reason to be intrigued. At worst an unsavory character had entered into the party and was now removing the heads of those that were unworthy, the best-case scenario was that it was simply the plot of the countess to rid herself of a troubling husband. Though, considering the looks the two of them exchanged even when they were apart it seemed unlikely that either of them would be troubled by the other but then again what happened behind closed doors could be anyone’s guess.<br/><br/>Regardless of the commotion that had been caused the Lord continued to simply pick at his soup, taking small portions of soup in between the cuts of beef. He’d only taken a few sips of the wine, just enough that he’d experience some light buzz later. Under normal circumstances he wouldn’t have been so gingerly with the drink but just because he was indifferent to a killer stalking the party it didn’t mean he’d willfully constrain himself by getting drunk. Yet receiving some inhibition, or at least a stronger buzz, was worth taking a few odds sips now and then. It was while he was still enjoying his meal that the group who’d just walked past now stopped to address him. He didn’t immediately address the statement she’d given him, instead he brought the spoonful of soup in his hand to his mouth before it became cold. While he took that last bite of soup his eyes wandered over the strange pair of women and their suitor. Under normal circumstances he would have simply rejected the offer and finished is meal before venturing off alone through the halls; they were a large enough group that he wouldn’t need to concern himself with the fact they were wandering around.<br/><br/>It was the fact that the group were blatantly venturing off to explore, while carrying a bottle of whiskey and happily asking strangers to join them which really irked him. If they were so willful about their intentions to burden themselves with drink and unabashed about inviting others along, it really would be wrong to simply leave them to their own devices, no matter how many there might have been. He eased the spoon from his lips and set it down beside the bowl, all while rising to his feet and pushing back the chair behind him.<strong><em> “I’ll join you though..</em></strong>He stepped around the table, pushing the chair into it while taking the cloth that had been in his lap and draping it over the dishes. Once he’d made his way around the table he gave a slight gesture toward the entrance out of the banquet hall.<strong><em> “.. Don’t be surprised if I decide to wander off on my own. Not that you’ll notice if you plan on taking chugs of this.”</em></strong>He reached up, bringing the tip of his index finger to the mid-section of the bottle and lightly tapping it.