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

[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.

[sokasm]

Enough?

[He looks up at the other with a frown, mouth full of food. Giving an almighty swallow, Sokka shakes his head.]

Hey, don't worry, I'm not taking it all. There's plenty for everyone. See?

[He indicates the food filling the tables, and indeed there is a lot there. Though Sokka has clearly taken a good portion of the meat dishes.]

[dusknoir]

Yes, but if you have too much you'll get sick and miss the festivities.

[The food... does look good, though. He casually eyes it beneath the mask.]

[sokasm]

Me? Non-poisonous food doesn't make me sick! Besides, the only festivity I see is dancing.

[And he doesn't really want to dance. It's something he might have done with his girlfriend back home, and he doesn't like to think about that.]

[dusknoir]

Well, you never know. They might show up with something else later in the night.

[Shrug. Morty himself wasn't one for dancing either, mostly because he hardly even knew how to talk to other people, much less dance with them. But watching everyone else have fun was totally fun for him.]

[sokasm]

Maybe. If they wanted a good party, they should have some quality entertainers here!

[A pause.]

And probably lose the masks. There's no telling who you're talking to here.

[dusknoir]

I think the masks might be part of the appeal.

[Shrug!]

At higher class parties, as far as I can tell, they add a sense of mystery.

[sokasm]

Who needs more mystery in a place like this?

[It already has way more mystery than he likes to deal with.]

[dusknoir]

Well, this is good mystery, I think.

Fun mystery.

[tohko_amano]

[While Tohko couldn't taste the food, it would be rude and a bit suspicious if she danced and didn't eat anything, so she wandered off to the buffet to eat some of the fares. While she put some meat on her plate, she smiled and nodded at the boy nearby.]

Good afternoon! How are you enjoying the ball?

[sokasm]

Oh, hi!

[He gives her a smile underneath his mask.]

This isn't half bad. Have you tried the meat here? This is much better than the stuff they serve at the cafeteria.

[tohko_amano]

[Tohko's mask was just a plain white thing. It covered her face, but beyond that, it was pretty unremarkable. However, that didn't stop her from commenting on other people's masks.]

Oh, I haven't yet! But if it's better than what they have at the cafeteria, then that probably means that someone hunted for it, or used the restaurant.

[Hopefully they hadn't, but it was always a possibility around here.]

This is a bit off-topic, but your mask is really cool! I know you didn't get a say in what you got, but it looks like an old mask celebrating an ancient wolf god..or something of the sort.

[sokasm]

There's a restaurant in this place?

[Huh. He hasn't come across that yet.]

Hey, thanks! It is pretty cool! Me and my dad and the other water tribe warriors used to wear something a little similar for battle back home...

[He smiles, a little sadly, thinking about it.]

[tohko_amano]

There is..but I wouldn't recommend getting anything there. You have to find a random object in the Tower, and if you can't, they take a body part from you.

[So, it was really best that was avoided by everyone. However, when the person mentioned his family and tribe, Tohko couldn't help but smile and think about her own family.]

I see..I'm sure you'll be able to wear that mask with them again someday.

[sokasm]

They take body parts?

[This part just gets weirder. He pauses, then nods, trying to be at least somewhat positive.]

Yeah. Maybe. I hope so.

[tohko_amano]

[At that, Tohko sighed and nodded.]

As horrible as it sounds, they do. I've never used it, but I've heard it enough that I know not to even try it.

[forhylia]

[Link may be slightly nervous about this entire ordeal, but he isn't going to let that stop him from having a bit of fun while he's here.

And of course he's going to enjoy the food. When he notices that Sokka has been at the buffet table for quite a while, he wanders over.]

You seem to be quite the food enthusiast... Any suggestions?

[sokasm]

[Sokka looks up from the pork chops he's piling on his plate.]

Oh, well, all the meat in this place is great!

[He points to the few pork chops he left.]

Those especially!

[forhylia]

[Link goes immediately for the plate of pork chops on the buffet table. Thank you, fellow meat enthusiast.]

I would ask your name, but that does not seem to be the nature of this celebration...

[Link doesn't really get the point of a party where everyone had to wear masks. It's nothing he's ever heard of before.]

[sokasm]

It's Sokka!

[Sokka does not really see the use in staying hidden. He even lifts up his mask, giving a smile.]

It's kinda weird, with the masks and everything.

[forhylia]

[Link gives a light laugh, lifting his own mask.]

Yes, it is an odd tradition. My name is Link.

[Here's hoping poor Sokka has not met one of the Tower's other resident elvish folk by the name of "Link."]

[sokasm]

[Unfortunately, Sokka had indeed already met another Link. Though this one seems... different, even considering the mask.]

Oh, Link. Uh, haven't we... already met?

[He frowns at the other.]

[forhylia]

[Oh dear... Link maintains a good natured, understanding smile as he launches into what feels like his 10,000th time explaining this.]

I am afraid not... There are multiple young men here by the name of Link. I know, it can be rather confusing.

[And they all wear green. And have funny pointy ears. Sorry, Sokka.]