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

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."]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If he thought that display was going to appease her, he was sorely mistaken.]

Oh, no, Luke, don't let me keep you from your very important...whatever it was you were doing. I'm sure that I can find Fon Master Ion or anyone else here who would be willing to spend time with me for a little bit.

I-I didn't say I wouldn't spend time with you!

[This was going downhill really fast. Luke let out a determined noise that sounded more like an annoyed grunt, before he purposefully grabbed her hand. Without pausing to freak out over whywashedoingthis, he marched out onto the dance floor with her, his mouth set in a determined line.]

[H-he was going to dance (even though he hated it) and she was going to like it!]

[She let out an uncharacteristic squeak as he pulled her through the dancing masses and took up a dancing stance she was vaguely familiar with. Inside, she was beyond happy, but she managed to keep a neutral expression on her face as she placed her hands on his shoulders]

Don't do it just because you think it will make me happy, Luke. I'm sure that there are those who are willing to be here with me.

I never said I didn't want to be with you! Geeze, quit putting words in my mouth.

[Ugh, here we go; hand on hip, holding other hand ~~oh god he's holding Tear's hand why~~, and taking the first step. Thank Lorelei it was a Waltz going on right now. Waltzes were easy; just three beats, it was easy to at least pretend to know he totally knew what he was doing.]

[...okay, so he knew a little bit. Natalia nagged him all the time to "remember" how to dance with her.]

[She had never been so grateful for all of those obscure lessons she and the other cadets had endured at the academy than at that moment. It was only the fact that she'd had it that she was able to hold Luke's hand and keep from stepping on his feet as they moved together around the room.

The feel of the long skirt around her ankles, his warm hand on her hip while the other held hers, the ability to follow his lead for once, made her feel—for just a second—that she wasn't stuck somewhere where they could die at any moment.

She flashed him a happy, pleased smile as they moved together. It was sort of close to the way they worked in battle, he moved and trusted she'd be there to help.]

Thank you, Luke.

[...it was kind of nice.]

[Luke probably would have never said it out loud, but dancing with Tear was a lot different from what he was used to. She wasn't yelling at him every time he set a toe out of place, or so much as thought of twitching in the wrong direction... Okay, maybe he was exaggerating (a little), but without the nagging it was... a nice experience...]

[Oh dammit, he's blushing again.]

F-for what?

[She stored away the feel of his hands for later, when she could process it completely. All she knew is that she wished to do this more often, with him, but without the reverse psychology that she was sure he'd resent if he understood how she'd used it on him.

What was she thanking him for? He was really asking that?]

For being here, for agreeing with little grumbling to escorting me. [For being yourself and not more like Asch or the other Luke. For...being willing to do this.]

[And... great. There was no way to prevent his face from burning at that.]

W-well... yeah. Of course.

[...help! Awkward o' clock! S-say something, Luke! Anything to make this less awkward!]

I-it's not like I'd do this with anyone else.

[...NOT THAT.]

[She smiled as his face flushed under the white and gold mask he wore to match his outfit, until he opened his mouth again.

Suddenly, all of her enjoyment of the moment was gone and she was ready to stalk off and find someone else, or return to her room, or anything else, just so he couldn't see how close his careless words had struck her. Unfortunately, he was holding her hand too tightly to get out of his grip without causing a scene, and that was really the last thing she wanted.

Instead, she let her girlish joy die and she slipped into cool professional soldier.]

Is that so?

[If Luke noticed the cold he missed it entirely. He was too busy trying not to pass out from all the blood rushing to his head.]

W-well, yeah... I-I mean, Natalia forces me to, but... y-y'know... i-it's something that... you know...

[WORDS. WHAT ARE WORDS?!]

[The more he talks, the more irritated she becomes. Really, was he so stupid that he didn't know that bringing up another woman while he was dancing with her was going to irritate the hell out of her?]

No, I don't.

[The Ice Queen Cometh for you, Luke.]

[He looked away, still blushing, barely managing a mumble:]

...s'umthin' to do with someone you care about...

[The frigid attitude that she had melts at those words, and if he's looking, he can see her entire face is flushed.]

O-Oh...

[She's not stupid. She can tell that Luke cares for her, but she's also unsure of how to proceed. But, this is enough for her right now and she can't help but eventually smile to herself.]

I-I agree.

[And some girl in a white mask with white wings has slipped on some fallen food and is coming right towards both of you, Luke and Tear!

What are you gonna do?!]

[O-oh god, Luke was burning. He didn't have to look to see that Tear was too. Hnnnnngghh...!]

Um... T-Tear, I--

[The only reason he saw the white winged klutz bomb barreling toward him was because he was looking in that direction, and not at Tear's face. Well, not yet; either way, he let out a yelp, pulling her close and yanking them both backward. It was a bit awkward with all of that skirt she was wearing though, and Luke ended up falling over backward, dragging Tear down on top of him.]

[She let out a squeak as she was yanked into Luke's arms. For half a second she though he might kiss her, before they started falling to the ground and she landed on top of him.

Her face began to burn even more, but she was worried about him. Why had he reacted like that?

She looked around and saw the blonde girl on the floor near them and could have screamed. So close and someone had to ruin it!

Tear looked back down at Luke and then sighed before addressing them both.]

Are you okay?

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Hope it's ok to hop in at this point!

This is so horrible. I love it. XD

Oh, yes, this is...