The night was still young, so Urs proposed a toga party (of course).
“What did you have in mind?,” asked Tyrel.
“I’ll be back in an hour with 50 guests. Cool with you?”
“Um, sure, why not.”
Aengus called in his piggy-back ride as they set off, back to Shalako, to collect their guests. Criteria for receiving an invitation? Anyone good looking and down to party was in. Urs convinced Galin to provide drinks and for the musicians to entertain.
Hoping to improve Mason’s spirits, Aengus extended an invitation to him. They talked about the terror of the previous night, the skeleton, and his vices of alcohol and gambling. Intent on turning over a new leaf, Mason asked Aengus about his god, wondering if Moradin provided guidance to non-dwarves. Aengus couldn’t deny a potential convert, so they prayed together, asking the All-Father to watch over Mason. As they finished, Urs offered his own pitch for following Balador, telling Mason he could drink, party, and kill all who got in his way to earn Father Bear’s favor. Some aspects of this proposal were more tempting than others, but for now Mason seemed more interested in Moradin.
The guests returned to the ranch, and the party was lit. With Aengus watching out for him, Mason managed to avoid drink and still have a good time. Knowing Aengus’s type, Urs talked up his dwarven friend’s endowment to a pair of cougars and sent them his and Mason’s way. Though Aengus was obliged to politely decline their invitation to “get out of here”, Mason may have gotten lucky that night at the Lucky Y.
Urs tried to make his own moves on Heidi. She resisted his irresistible animal magnetism and insisted that she could not sleep with her son’s friend. “Perhaps in another life, but hear me well: This will not happen as long as you are you and I am me.” Any onlookers would have seen the wheels turning in Urs’s head as he reconsidered his prohibition against the use of Reincarnate to bring him back from the dead.
Meanwhile, Vara and Drusilla joined Tyresha at Kitty Korner for their pajama party. Many truths were shared under the bond of girlfriendship, and with the aid of a truth serum willingly imbibed. Vara told Tyresha about Gladys’s prophecy that she would eventually hook up with Mason. Tyresha was horrified and more adamantly than ever implored Vara make sure Desmond returned home in one piece so she didn’t need to turn to his brother to help raise her child. Vara also received some well intended advice on thinking carefully about what you are going to say before you say it.
As 4 o’clock rolled around, the toga party wound down, and all finally got a long rest.
Days since Aengus sent his letter: 1
Days since Aengus used Divine Intervention: 2