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

[tsunderebunny]

That's right. [Barnaby, equally surprised, glanced away for a brief moment before returning his gaze.] Both him and Samwise Gamgee. They've both been more than kind so far.

Are you a friend of his?

[technologic]

I haven't met Samwise yet, but yeah, Aleph is really kind. [Then his question gets a blink and April starts to turn red as she coughs awkwardly.]

Ah, um, y-yeah, I'm a pretty, erm, c-close friend of his.

[tsunderebunny]

I see.

[It wasn't the first time that he's seen such a reaction since entering the Tower, and it was all the answer that he needed.]

Regardless, he's helped me understand the nature of this place a little better. It's all been hard to accept, honestly.

[technologic]

[April just still gets tongue-tied over saying that she's dating Aleph. It doesn't help that she can sometimes be easily nervous, but any nerves quickly start to vanish as she nods.]

Yeah, i-it's... a lot to take in. T-to be honest, there are still some times where I-I can't believe this is all real and n-not some weird dream...

[tsunderebunny]

[Barnaby didn't mind one way or the other about their romantic life. He respected Aleph, and appreciated him as a roommate that he could rely on. It wasn't hard to assume that anyone Aleph was on good terms with was probably someone to trust.]

I haven't even been here for a month and I'm still not sure about some things. But, it's starting to get hard to deny the reality here.

[technologic]

[And April does do her best to be as reliable as possible.] Yeah... To be honest, most of my disbelief was about the different worlds. My world is such a contrast to where everyone else was from that it was... hard to take in, at first.

[tsunderebunny]

[Barnaby's gaze, and his thoughts, drifted elsewhere as she spoke. Her words touched on a sore point.]

I've learned to keep an open mind about people, but my reasons for disbelief are very different from yours.

[technologic]

I wasn't thinking they would be the same... [She notices, however, and frowns in concern. She sounds rather guilty when she speaks again.] ... I-I'm sorry, this probably a bad topic, huh?

[tsunderebunny]

[It wasn't her fault. There were some memories-- and the knowledge about the problems there-- that were going to take a while for him to work through.]

It's recent. But, then I found myself here. I wonder if it's too much to ask for anything to stay simple.

[technologic]

[April nods a few times and rubs the back of her neck.]

Y-yeah, I agree with you there... Sadly, I-I don't think things will get any less hectic here.

[She can sense the chips, so she's aware something is going to happen soon. She just doesn't know what, exactly.]

[tsunderebunny]

[Barnaby sighed, still absorbed in his own frustrations at this point.]

Honestly. It seems like I can't retire peacefully at this rate.

[technologic]

... Retire? Is it all right if I ask what you worked as before?

[tsunderebunny]

[Good question. And it's good thing that neither are wearing masks, and the fact that Barnaby wasn't aware of the other effects on this floor!]

I protected the peace of the City of Sternbild as one of it's Heroes, along with my partner and six others--

[He stopped himself, eyebrows lifting in surprise. 'Public Service' was what he wanted to say. Irritated, he glanced sharply at April.]

What's going on here?

[technologic]

[Blink. And then April slaps her forehead with a groan.]

Shit- It was the truth telling effect of the floor. I-I'm sorry, I should've told you, b-but it slipped my mind! Put your mask back on, i-it'll stop then.

[tsunderebunny]

[Barnaby just stared and removed his glasses.]

Of course. I shouldn't be surprised.

[He put the mask back on, still amazed that it worked despite it's similarity to his partner's trademark. For now, it was better not to question something that served it's purpose.]

Forget I said anything. There's a reason why I retired, and why I'd prefer not to return.

[technologic]

[She looks incredibly apologetic now, and she almost seems to hunch into herself.] S-sorry, and I promise I'll try to forget, and I won't pry either.

[tsunderebunny]

Don't apologize. [Barnaby sighed. How was he supposed to explain this one?]

Actually, I think Aleph suspects the same. My partner was here some months back, and Aleph knew him, at least a little. The old man is exceptionally loud, so I wouldn't be surprised if some information got out.

[technologic]

Sor- [She cuts herself off mid-apology, and instead just nods at what Barnaby says.]

... Mm, I see... I, um, hadn't heard of anything like that before, to be honest.

[tsunderebunny]

As I said, it was some months ago. I don't mind if people know about my career, I just don't want to be asked to go back into the field. Not right now.