<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/61/EmilieAutumn.jpg)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Lulu Bennett -</strong> <em>Following Paul to the elevators...</em></span></div><br/>She didn't even have a chance to entertain the idea of owning the picture for very long. In a mere few minutes it'd been sold at $375. While she could have probably tried for $400, Lulu wasn't willing to go<em>that</em>far yet. She had quite a bit saved away in the bank but it'd taken her<em>months</em>and it'd meant cutting back on various things to stash away just a little bit extra cash. Blow it all in one go? Probably not worth it. Or was it?<br/><br/>That thought would probably nag her for the rest of the evening.<br/><br/>Dammit.<br/><br/>As Paul's hand gave her knee a light squeeze, she just smiled back. After all, what could she say? She took the proffered hand and was helped up - wouldn't want to trip when trying to make a sneaky exit now - before following quietly back through the doors to the elevators. Lulu had the passing thought of wondering whether Ronin's armor would start clanking as he walked...but that stuff wasn't real metal was it? It shouldn't clank...she hadn't paid enough attention to come to a solid conclusion.<br/><br/>Just as they reached the doors, the room quieted at the announcement of Shawn staking his claim on the ninth (http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/9e/Asturianinatelarana.jpg) piece for a thousand dollars. Wait, what? It seemed the rest of the room was going through a similar reaction as they processed the bid. Obviously Shawn wasn't kidding around, he really<em>wanted</em>that piece. The person at the podium seemed a little shocked as well but soon recovered to stutter and proclaim the piece sold to Mr. Pierce before the tenth (http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6a/Zmaitri7.jpg) piece was soon displayed as well. Even with a passing glimpse, Lulu realized that it was the photo Kitty had entered into the auction.<br/><br/>Though as the bidding began, she and Paul were outside the doors and in the small waiting area for the elevators. Ronin still seemed to be inside, but the elevator hadn't arrived yet anyway. Her eyebrow raised at Paul's comment and it took her a moment to realize what he meant. "Ah, that music video! I hadn't even thought of that. I'm not sure how well I'd do a Gwen Stefani impression without my Harajuku girls present and accounted for, but I'm sure I wouldn't mind seeing your Shaft." The play on words dawned on her after the sentence had already left her mouth and she blushed ever so lightly.<em>Though I wouldn't mind seeing his <span class="bbc_u">other</span> shaft either...</em>The thought caused her blush to deepen so her cheeks reddened to a pleasant rosy pink.<em>Dammit Lulu! Mind out of the gutter!</em>Even in the midst of reprimanding herself, the other part of her mind blamed it on the auction.<br/><br/>