they've got all the right friends in all the right places

[sageprincess]

Characters: "Pandora" and the Tower populace.
Setting: Floor 82 - The Masquerade Ballroom.
Format: Party style - pick your poison.
Summary: As the lights begin to flicker and the month rapidly draws to its close, the mysterious "Pandora" has invited the residents of the Tower to a masquerade ball.
Warnings None as of yet.

"Between the noise you hear, and the sound you like..."

Well, now, that invitation certainly was mysterious, huh? Who is Pandora, and what's the occasion for this party she's holding? And what was that message on the back all about? Remember this: There will come a time when everything around you seems to be not what you thought it was, and you won't know what to believe about anything at all. At that time, look for something that is still true. In the wake of the chaos caused by those rumors written on the walls, perhaps it seems like a too-late warning. In any case, the ballroom on the eighty-second floor shimmers and shines exquisitely, awaiting the guests' arrival. The dance floor is open and spacious, and, as promised, refreshments line a buffet table on one of the far walls. While much of it has obviously been nicked from the cafeteria, there is also a variety of meats and seafood not otherwise available in this month's menu. Yes, this also means there is alcohol. Take care not to lose the mask that is placed upon your face the instant you step off the staircase, however. You don't want to be the single recognizable person in a crowd of anonymous dancers, do you? Who knows what you might hear from a masked stranger...

"... are we just sinking in an ocean of faces?"

[Description of Floor 82 from the setting page: "A masquerade party is taking place in this intricately decorated, expensive-looking ballroom, and you're going to have to participate. As soon as you step onto this floor a mask is placed on your face. Anyone wearing a mask is completely anonymous even to those with supernatural abilities. You can take off a mask, but anyone with their mask off is compelled to truthfully answer any question they're asked."]

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer doesn't know about the effects of this floor. But he does know to follow his nose and find the alcohol. He's just gonna hit the drinks until someone approaches him, or some anonymous dancer catches his interest.]

[chainsawn]

[ Guess who snuck into there too. Not that she's very recognizable with the mask and all, since it disguises everyone here and she didn't bother to take hers off.

But still, Urotsuki is at the table with the drinks either way. Yes, even at the part with the alcohol. In fact, she's especially there after she talked about alcohol with someone a while ago. And even with the mask she can be recognized as a little kid at least - too young to drink that stuff. Might want to stop her from grabbing that bottle there. Or encourage her. ]

Feel free to cut in! Replies can come from Anise, Ion, or both - just specify which you prefer. c:

[forhislegacy]

[There was no way that any Fon Master Guardian worth her salt would let her charge wander off to some mysterious masquerade just on the say-so of an invitation that had suddenly appeared in his mailbox, so it probably wasn't at all surprising that they were approaching the eighty-second floor as a pair. ...it probably wasn't at all surprising that Anise was practically dragging Ion by the arm, either.

They step onto the floor and Anise is suddenly aware of the weight of a mask on her face. She looks to her side, and the person on her arm has a mask, too - if she hadn't been pulling Ion a long, there would have been no way to know for sure, but...]

What do you think, Ion? Isn't it neat? [...She sure hopes that's Ion.]

[fragileprophet]

[And fortunately, it is! He's actually kind of excited for this. Worried, yes, a touch wary...it was a rather suspicious invitation, after all, and he wasn't quite sure how he felt about this floor (not that he had ever stepped onto it, mind you, only peeked inside while passing it)...but how bad could a dance really be? And it had been so long since he had been to any sort of formal occasion, he couldn't help but hope that it would do a little something to ease the tension of all that had happened in the last couple of months.

He smiles at--what he's quite sure must be Anise, and subconsciously tightens his grip on her arm, lightly.]

Yes, I quite agree. I feel a bit under dressed...but...ah, I suppose it hardly matters, given the masks.

[The Fon Master looks around the room, practically enchanted by the beautiful ballroom around them.]

Oh, look, Anise! It looks like they have refreshments. Maybe you can find a noble to intoxicate while we're here.

[It had been so long since Ion had teased Anise...or been light-hearted in any capacity, for that matter. Somehow, it was comforting. He couldn't help but laugh gently into his hand at the thought.]

[WALTZ OF THE MINDSNOOPS - Asch and Sheba]

[bloodyashes]

[[NOTE: THERE BE MIND READING HERE. Sheba's abusing Mind Read and since it shares across touch, as long as she and Asch are dancing together, he gets to see your thoughts, too. If you reply to them together in this comment, expect blatant invasion of privacy.]]

[It's been a long time since he danced. Years since the last time he went over ball etiquette, since he thought about going hand-in-hand through royal balls with his princess

This is hardly the kind of scenario he'd imagined back then - trapped in a tower full of horrors, a girl from a completely different world on his arm as they make their way through the masked crowd, picking up stray thoughts from whoever they pass. And yet he's smiling a little anyway, at the familiarity of it, a home longer lost than for the rest of the residents but suddenly the farthest thing from forgotten.

Forget the refreshments, forget standing on the sidelines - as soon as they're out on the floor, Asch is pulling Sheba along by their linked hands, spinning her into a waltz as though he'd never left the manor at all.]

[seekinganswers]

[She's not zeroing in on any particular mental voice - at present, it's more a light murmuring in the back of both their minds, though thoughts with significant conviction are a little easier to hear. She doesn't want to overextend too quickly, after all.

When Asch spins her out into a waltz, Sheba grins - a quick look into his mind had warned her it was coming, after all - and matches the footwork just the way she should. She doesn't stumble, she just falls into it as if it's natural. It's not as if this is the first time she's danced, after all. Colosso had been Lord Babi's big passion, but balls were a staple of any court, and for a good amount of time she'd been a part of his.]

You sure are light on your feet! [She smiles brightly, though the twinkle in her eye is somewhat obscured by her mask.] Though, I suppose I should have expected that.

[notagiraffe]

[Taiki hadn't known whether to go or not to this masquerade, but the note on the back of the invitation made him curious. He wasn't feeling too good but he decided to go anyways, Jasmine's words ringing in his mind, he had to do what he was good at.

And though Kirin couldn't fight or be around violence, he thought they might be good at knowing what was true.

More physically there was a high pitched sound ringing through his ears. He couldn't have Gohran out as he couldn't stand it and Taiki didn't understand why the sound had started or where it came from. He thought maybe that music and the sound of people would muffle it though.

It was sort of scary having a mask on, and all the people being unknown to him and he tried to stay on the outskirts, avoiding the dancing.]

[altitonant_emperor]

[ Hidetoshi, becoming a little frustrated with a particularly thick knot of guests milling about together and blocking his way to the refreshment table, walks to the edge of the crowds and nearly bumps into Taiki.

He catches him before running into him, luckily and stops. There's a heartbeat of quiet. Even anonymous, this person seemed too... small to be at a big masquerade like this. ]

Good evening.

[technologic]

[It's not exactly the kind of party April would typically go to, but she couldn't resist not going after receiving that invitation. Especially since there's alcohol here, which she takes a drink off for herself. The mask is weird, but she leaves it alone besides the occasional fidget with it, and she really isn't too bothered about the whole anonymous thing.

Even if it does make her more nervous about approaching people.

So for now, she's more content to just stand to the side and watch everyone dance, sometimes tapping her foot or humming along to the music.]

[alephbet]

You look like a wallflower.

[Aleph wanders over to her.]

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko, after her initial exploration of the lower floors, usually didn't wander down unless she really had to, since the lower you went, the more dangerous it got. So, she wasn't aware of this floors affects on everyone. She also didn't know where the group had gotten the idea to call themselves Pandora-even though she did appreciate the name-but she recognized the message on the back of the envelope. This was a ball for the resistance, and something that she couldn't miss out on. Something that she wasn't going to miss out on.

So, wearing a white mask, Tohko wandered around, trying to pick out who was who. She wasn't that good at dancing, but she didn't think anyone would ask her to. All she was worried about was finding the people who were in Pandora and making sure that she didn't give anything away to any Phantoms who had wandered in.]

[springserpent]

Excuse me, Miss...

[An unfamiliar voice begins, it's owner obviously female, though thanks to rather extravagant mask she wears it's impossible to gleam her true identity from sight alone. She approaches with wine in hand, an all too knowing and slightly familiar smile gracing her features as she strides confidently towards Tohko, each step bolstered with suavity and elegance that couldn't ever hope to be practiced. That smile of hers is familiar, but the voice, mannerisms and absolutely everything else are so unlike Mihli that it couldn't possibly be her... Could it?]

Might I have the honor of a dance?

[culbutiri]

[Nesir frowned at the invitation, but it was too interesting to pass up on, and so she made her way to the eighty second floor. She was used to masquerade parties at least, the temple had hosted an annual one in honour of the god of justice.

It had been one of Nesir's favourite celebrations, the idea of anonymity fascinated her. And something that was needed at the moment, the mask covered the scarring on her face, she was quite worried about it coming back after her death; that had never happened before. But at least it had finally stopped bleeding.

She knew the floor by now, so dressed in the dress she had gotten as a reward and the mask she had been given on entering she weaved her way through the crowd. Worryingly she couldn't recognise anyone, not from body language or clothes... She suspected some kind of tower enchantment.

She headed for the alcohol, and watched, she could still listen even if she didn't know who anyone was.]

[warriorscribe]

*There's someone at the refreshment table, nursing a glass of wine and looking rather relaxed. He sees the young woman approaching the table, and his free hand goes for an empty glass to offer to her. He'll fill it if she accepts it.*

[savedbyasong]

[Argh, dancing. Dancing mostly brought back painful memories of his home and of Rat, but it was also something Shion wasn't that practiced at. He was quick on his feet, had more coordination than before Reno had gotten hold of him, but it didn't stop the fact that he was being dragged round the dance floor by some anonymous figure.

Someone help him?]

On the staircase

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku got the invitation and was worried, after all it had only been a few months ago he had had to rescue someone from this floor, he hoped whoever had organised it knew the dangers.

He remained on the staircase, figuring someone should be nearby in case anyone needed pulled out.

He stood watching the entrance to the floor, watching for danger of any kind.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid stops next to Suzaku on the staircase on his way down to the floor. Diarmuid is both curious about the invitation he received and worried, especially since thanks to Tohko he knows for a fact where the words on the back of the invitation come from.]

Not going in, Suzaku?

[undroppedeaves]

[Well that was an odd note to get, but Sam went to where this masquerade ball was to be held regardless, and was surprised to have a mask put on his face. The ball was fancy and Sam spent most his time looking around in awe, every time he thought he had seen everything this tower could throw at him he discovered something new.

He also spent some time at the food table, sampling the different dishes.]

[sageprincess]

[A woman in a golden mask is among those first on the floor, and could possibly even be mistaken as the host of this soirée by those who arrive early enough. She'll deny it, however, and flit off to the next person with a curtsey. She appears quite sociable, blithely spinning on the dance floor, visiting the buffet table, and even approaching a few wallflowers if they look unoccupied enough.

The woman underneath the mask is not so carefree, however. There is an ever-present swell of anxiety in Zelda's heart, even as she dances with some mysterious stranger, afraid that this plan could go horribly wrong somehow. They need to get the word out - the high pitched whining those with sensitive ears might hear is a good thing, honestly - but it's not as though they can just say it outright. This is the only plan she could think of that would keep the identities of those helping her safe.

All she can do now is hope they only say what's necessary.]

[dusknoir]

[Now, most of the time, Morty is a good boy and doesn't drink alcohol in the slightest. There's no reason to do such a thing except on festival days, where such gluttony can be excused by the celebratory nature of the event. Sure, he was contemplating facing the bar floor many times over the past couple months, with no festivals around at all... well, it's okay to have one drink, isn't it?]

[He's been watching the one woman move around the floor for quite a while. Granted, watching people is what Morty does best even when not at a social event where he can show off how dreadfully awkward he is, but there's something quite magnetic about that one; perhaps it's that she seems to be taking this whole event in stride. He eventually spots her in a moment of rest between all the shenanigans, and walks over with an amiable smile and two glasses in his hand; one for her, should she choose to accept it. That's what you do for people, right? Give gifts? Yes. Definitely. He's totally got this.]

Good evening.

[sokasm]

[He might not usually be one for balls and dancing (or at least, he would not admit to being one for balls and dancing) but Sokka's curiosity is just too strong for him to ignore that mysterious invite.

He frowns as the mask is placed on his head, but doesn't remove it, wandering around the place a little before he spots the buffet. And it has meat! Lots of it! Much better than what is on offer downstairs.

Yep. Worth coming for this alone. He'll just be here, leaning against the buffet table and snacking.]

[dusknoir]

Don't you think you've had enough of that?

[Cue one highly amused Morty walking out from the dark shadows of the buffet corner. Sure, he's been wandering around this floor all night doing assorted things (mostly involving the avoidance of other people's invitations to dance), but every time he looked over this person has been eating. Every time.]

It's rude to just sit here and eat.

Open! Responses may come from Luke or Tear or both.

[sacred_flamer]

[Unfortunately, mask or no mask, the whine that comes from the entrance by a certain red head in a white and gold mask is pretty identifiable. Luke had an obvious disgruntled expression on what part of his face could be seen, letting out faint notes of complaint as his companion half dragged him into the room. He kept picking at the dress clothes said companion managed to find from... somewhere; he didn't know and he wasn't going to ask. All he cared about was that they were just as damn uncomfortable as his dress clothes back home, and he kept pulling at the collar in an effort to not be strangled.]

C'mon... why'd you make me do this again?

[There is nothing but full on long haired whining going on. Prepare your eardrums.]

Re: Open! Responses may come from Luke or Tear or both.

[mysterical]

[Tear turned to face her redheaded companion with the long-suffering sigh of one who was very used to dealing with this sort of behaviour. All she'd wanted to do was enjoy as much of the night as she possibly could with Luke at her side and in a pretty dress, before things got totally serious. Was it really too much to ask of him to indulge her this once?]

Because, Luke, I want to go to this. I want to have fun for even five minutes.

[Blue eyes blazed from behind the lavender mask that perfectly matched the dress she'd made from fabric and a pattern that were both just laying around the workshop. It had taken her the better part of the past day to make the simple, but pretty dress. However, when it was done, she knew it had been the best idea she'd had since she'd arrived. Who knew that picking up sewing to repair one's clothes while traveling would have come in handy during her imprisonment in the terror tower?]

And, if you like, you can go back to your dorm room. I suppose I can find the other Luke or perhaps someone else to dance with me tonight.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

[Dressed in his best clothes and with a bandage wrapped around the lower half of his right arm, a long silk cloak wrapped around his shoulders, Legolas quietly made his way to the eighty-second floor. As he stepped onto it, he was given the addition of a gold and green mask with leaf designs covering it. He held himself straight and proud, a feeling he had lacked over the course of the past few weeks, steadily rebuilding himself.

The prince moved quietly between people and to the refreshment table, picking up a glass of wine before moving on to socialize. There's an obvious sense of discomfort from the now anonymous elf though, nothing he'll explain but there are some who will understand it. And nothing that he can't overcome.

Something like this though is natural for him. It takes him back to celebrations in Mirkwood, singing and dancing and feasting with his own people. For the time being, all his cheerfulness returns. He's laughing with some people, inviting others to dance with him and even asking if they'd share a drink with him.]

[tohko_amano]

[While Tohko was mostly here for information, that didn't mean that she wasn't going to enjoy herself, even if she was bad at dancing, or compliment other masks that she saw. So, when she saw the green mask that this man wore, she couldn't help but smile at him.]

Good afternoon! I couldn't help but notice your mask. It looks wonderful, like something Peter Pan might make.

[ghostytrainer]

[Though John doesn't know exactly what the invitation in his mailbox is about, the note on the back, along with the location is more than enough to pique is interest. Having been on a date on this floor before, he has somewhat of an idea how the floor works. Sure enough, the minute he steps off the staircase a mask appears on his face and he has no idea who anybody else is, just like last time.]

[Earlier, his Zoroark had been whining and covering his ears in the dorms, as though able to hear something that John couldn't. But what was really strange was the fact that his Pokégear appeared to be picking up on a network signal. Granted, he couldn't do anything with it but the fact that it was even registering was something. He's choosing to take it as a result of the chips doing their job. Just like how he's choosing to believe that this dance is somehow related to both...]

[He's keeping mostly to the edges of the dance floor, smiling idly and occasionally waving at anybody who makes eye contact. Though every once in a while he makes a break for the refreshment table because damn is he glad to be able to eat without worrying about poisoning...]

[tohko_amano]

[While Tohko was mainly here for information, she couldn't help but appreciate some of the more intricate masks that she saw, and John's, for better or worse, fell into that category.]

Pardon me, but I couldn't help but notice your mask. It looks really cool! I wonder if you could play the notes that it has on it?

[silencetoreason]

[A man in an extravagant mask walks around with a little stiffness in his joints. Normally, he would prance around like he owned the place, like he hadn't a care in the world. But today, France is hesitant, at least for a little while.

Getting killed by a stuffed bear will do that to a person. He's trying not to think about it, but it takes him a while to warm up to the party. He'll throw himself in completely later, drown in the sea of dancers like he normally does when he comes here, but right now, he sticks to walking around and greeting people with a nod.]

Hello, dear. Hello. [Everyone he looks at gets a kind word, a light touch on their shoulder or their arm.] How are you?

[He may be stiff, but he's no less friendly than he was before.]

[alephbet]

Recently killed by a stuffed bear and turning to dance for comfort.

[Aleph shakes his head ruefully.] But what about you? Are you all right?

[doctor_dismemberment]

[Among the guests laughing, chatting, and having a good time, there's one person in a plain brown mask who looks painfully out-of-place. He walks through the room with his arms hugged to his chest, taking care to sidestep people and avoid touching them as much as possible.

As one might imagine, the best place for a ballroom guest who hates human contact is at the edge of the room, back to the wall. It's a good thing that the Tower renders everyone anonymous, because if it weren't for that, Richtofen's mannerisms combined with his voice would make it a dead giveaway as to who he is.]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch leaves behind a previous dance partner, walking to the beat of the music and generally seeming as if he's having a good time. He approaches the wallflower over there, of course unaware of who it is he's approaching. His smile slowly fades as he draws closer. This person looks a lot more tense than they do simply shy...*

You look uneasy. Are you all right?

[alephbet]

[The alcohol is appealing, but Aleph's more interested in the dancing. He's masked, of course, and offering a dance to anyone who approaches him - there's no way he can tell who's who and he doesn't feel like bothering.

If anyone can tell who he is by the fabulousness of his dancing then props to them.]

[turntechtrainer]

[It's not your average sort of deal. The invitation with it's careful and vague layers hinting at something yet unknowable. The meaning here, is confusing. Had it been given to him back in the game, he'd have understood it. Dave descends the tower staircase and the moment he steps off, a mask appears on his face. It matches his red gear shirt, while the black suits his jacket and pants.

He scans all the masked people about him, aware that any of them could be recognizable, but none are.] Great way to make it all confusing on top of cryptic.

[He steps forward, intending on stepping into the crowd with his hands in his pockets.]

[planetcrusher]

[Yo Dave, someone nearby might actually catch your attention in the sea of bodies given they're all too casually sitting on the snack table, platter full of grub in their lap. As you pass, she flashes you a thumbs up.]

Yo! Bitchin' mask. This is some shindig, innit?

[ambassadorasshat]

[Luke hadn't ever set foot on this floor before, though he'd briefly poked his head in to check it out a couple times. So the sudden appearance of a mask was a bit weird and surprising, as was the inability to tell anyone apart. He's taken it off a couple times since he arrived, briefly, not knowing it's made him not-anonymous.

He can be found on the sidelines, either hanging around the refreshments table or on the sidelines, watching the crowd and trying to figure out if anyone he knows is there. Dancing isn't an entirely foreign concept to him, but he's not going to voluntarily seek anyone out to dance with. But feel free to grab him and drag him onto the floor.]

[forhislegacy]

[Anise is having quite a good time, dancing with Ion - she almost feels like she's a princess at a ball in Auldrant, with a dashing young man at her side and-- is that a solid gold mask?!

It sure looks like one, and while she feels a little bad about cutting it short, she's sure Ion will understand. With a bright smile and an "Ion, we should go say hi!" she takes the Fon Master by the hand again and pulls him over to Luke at the refreshment table, and almost immediately, she sidles up there.]

Hey, there... what's a nice guy like you doing in a place like this? ❤

[...Bro!Luke, Ion, I am so sorry.]

[half_elven]

[The ball is a welcome distraction from mulling over what had happened to him the day before, and then the fact he had woken up as if it had never occurred. Dressed in his fall-colored coat and robes, they were matched nicely by the wood-toned bird like mask that the floor had given him upon stepping out into it.

Weaving through the crowd to the refreshment table with an ease born of much practice, he claimed a glass of wine from it and turned to observe the room from a place near a wall not too far from the table.

Given time to deal with overcoming the headache that had been steadily growing since his waking, he will leave the wall to mingle among the people present, and seek to properly enjoy himself at this ball.]

[marchwarden]

[A look of uncertainty crossed Haldir's gaze once he seen this familiar face. Of course the elaborate Ent-like mask did hide most of Elrond's features, but Haldir could tell well enough who that elf was. Reclusive by nature and twice more mysterious, Haldir never expected he would see the Lord of Rivendell cross into this realm. It was somewhat unsettling to see the Halfelven here, especially when Haldir was more than convinced that their realm of Arda was dead.]

Suilad.

[ Haldir said with a polite bow once he managed to cross Elrond's path. Dressed in magnificent silks dyed a pale blue, Haldir stood before the Lord of Rivendell with a polite smile. Like everyone else attending this masquerade, Haldir wore a silver mask adorned with hits of blue painted carefully around the eyes. It was little fancier than Haldir would've liked, but the mask fit him well.]

[littlelifeforms]

[ The second officer of the USS Enterprise could not have missed this. Not only was his curiosity picked, but maybe something interesting could be learnt and he was quite fond of these kind of gatherings humans appreciated so much.

Data was obviously masked as everyone else, even though his mask was of a somewhat older design. Data could be found walking around, with much interest particularly granted to the dancers. Maybe he should make efforts to become a better dancer himself. ]

[half_elven]

[Having overcome the headache which had kept him from mingling previously, Elrond was now moving about the floor himself. It was the design and appearance of Data's mask that caught and held his interest.]

An interesting mask.

[greyerrant]

[ A huge figure in white robes and wearing a massive wolf mask http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/001/b/d/wolf_mask_by_afiriti-d31zdg7.jpg stands just below the stairs, his expression well concealed behind the fairly elaborate affair. He seems... aloof, and quiet. The silent wolf is inclined simply just to wait. ]

[great_king_of_evil]

[ Mysterious gathering obviously meant to protect secrecy? That was something Ganondorf had to attend no matter the cost, and he would walk in right as most of the others people were coming in.

The King of Evil was wearing a mask that ensured none could recognize his, alas, infamous face. However, as he was one of the tallest if not the tallest resident of the tower, before attending this reunion he had tried to slightly shift his general build using magic (miserably, really not his sort of magic), but at least he appeared of a much more average size.

The Evil Overlord would walk throughout the room and sometimes stop by the buffet, acting as any other normal person in this room and even being courteous. ]

I should be sorry, yet, I am not.

[tohko_amano]

[While Tohko was here to mainly find out information, that didn't mean that she wasn't going to compliment people on their masks and ask them to dance, even if she was terrible at the dancing. So, cheerfully, she spoke to the man.]

Good afternoon! I really like your mask! I know we don't get a say in which one we pick..but yours looks like something that came from my world.

[It was almost hilarious how polite she was being to this person.]

[justabignobody]

[Riku has to admit, he doesn't like the feeling of this room - the fact that apart of the tower's general feel, the only thing he can 'smell' is an unrecognizable blur of everything and nothing at all. Being down a sense (involuntarily that is) - especially this sense - always has a way of putting him into a tense mood, even though he suspects that whoever had called for this party meant him no ill will.

In the end it isn't really like he can do anything about it, so he'll just have to work with what he has, and that are still five sense left all.

As his usual for this gatherings, he has settled back against the wall in a more quiet spot, sea-green eyes searching for familiar faces, or well... otherwise recognizable clues from beneath his black-silver mask.

...Though. Maybe with this kind of set up actively participating in the mingling might work a little better after all, he thinks after a while, sighing as he reaches up to rub the bridge of his nose before he moves back into the crowd.

Oh well. As long as nobody asks him to dance...]