The Phantasmal Ball

I show my face here because it is a custom that has never been avoided. The woman at the door though I know her wings are tucked away beneath her flesh is a Euphoric. She is lovely and even behind her mask I am charmed by her resilience. I bow my head to her and move out into the chamber. It is a faint smell but I do not miss the smell of death lingering here.

Negumi.
He touched the wine glass to his lips and watched the agile figure he knew so well enter into his line of sight. "Imagine that," he chuckled, "she showed up afterall." The music and atmosphere of the ball suggested only friendliness was allowed in this place. It was certainly a chance to get close to the typically venomous viper and he pushed back his chair and rose from the company of his guests with polite smiles and kind whispers of apology to approach the lovely "Mystery woman" extending a hand to take hers and press it to his lips fondly, yellow eyes glittering through the eye-slits of his mask. "Good evening."

Amber slipped past the intricate doors into the brilliantly lit room, taking inventory of her surroundings before putting caution to the wind and turning her senses off. "this place....is beautiful."


This was just what she needed, a night away from the fear of death...... constant rememberance of her loss. She bowed her head, a single tear slipping from her eyes as she remembered the first time she wore this particular outfit, dancing in the emerald wood with her love....... She had even changed her hair color with what little magic she could muster in this world, the nostalgia of her situation oddly comforting.

I allow the gesture to sink in past the triggers of my defenses and accept the elegant hand being offered. This person smells sweet and looks beautiful. I am charmed and for the moment, in this atmosphere of peace and beauty accept his offer. It does not cross my mind that he could be friend of foe hiding behind that mask with eyes I refuse to recognize for the night. I do not wonder what his intentions may be or suspect treachery. Tonight is a night of allure.

I step up to the batting field and... Home run? Strike out? Meh, I'm here, I'm in a dress and ready for this Ball. I'm already not enjoying it. All this make up, and this dress. Its cute and black, but... Time to get my High Society routine on.

"Amber!" I say a little louder then normal room volume to catch her attention. I run up to her as best I can in my high healed classy boots. I giggle slightly and tug on her arm.

"Amber, I never expected to see you here!" I exclaim at the sight. Amber looked troubled to be here never the less. "How are you?"

"epiph. hey." She looked the girl up and down, snickering at her inability to walk in heels. She looked.....wrong. It was like she'd never dressed so formally, not that amber could speak. Her own outfit was regal solely because of the air of simplicity. the black half cloak that winded up her chest, the small pale white shorts that matched perfectly to her skin tone, and the random straps that wove across her body seemed to put her flawlessly into the crowd, her imaige barely standing out against the masses though the attire seemed so different. It was the look in her eyes.

"Boo." He sighed to himself from the rafters. He hadn't been able to find something formal and wouldn't be able to really participate in this year's phantasmal. It was sort of a loss for him since Quin loved to dance and chat. But as it was he looked down to find that guy already picking up on his girl. What a snake. The people who seemed to approach his Negumi were all venomous little imps who were only after her goods. He poked at the shadowy side of his lasting companion, a four legged Horror whom he confided all in. "What do you think?"

Getting this eerie feeling, I think about Quin. "Jeez, Quin never showed back up last night or the night before. I was going to ask him to come to the ball with me... I figured I'd get him a nice outfit for this since I know he's a bit troubled with money." I say to Amber, not exactly sure if she knows who I'm talking about.

I wanted him to be my arm prize, as shallow as it sounds, so I found him a matching outfit with mine, but since he never showed up and I left it in the Winmei. I sigh and shrug.

He picked up on the familiar ring of him name amid the drone of the crowd and zeroed in on a conversation being held in his honor. Upon hearing the new bit of information Quin glances over to his Horror counterpart and nods to the beast. "Ori, fetch." While the Horror dissolves into the rafter and slinks off to obey his demands the runt finds himself rather happy with his new friend. She's a thoughtful person and it gives him pride to know he was on her mind long enough for her to even think ahead to affairs like this.
He stands on the rafters and shamelessly begins to strip down anticipating Ori's return with his special wardrobe. It doesn't cross his mind to wonder if it'll even fit.

A flurry of shock crossed his face and turned it a rather vivid red as Quin struggled to untangle his hair from the wicked clutches of a very affectionate shirt. Eyes wide and bulged in the fluff of his messed hair and knotted shirt halfway off his bare arms with his stomach exposed and his fly down, Quin waved sheepishly at the thing staring up at him. It was a Euphoric right? He bite his bottom lip and stored the image of the man's face away for days after the ball.

He pulled her out onto the floor and spun her with the gentle guidance of his hand over her head she was a vision indeed. He wasn't mad at that dress either. Bringing her back to him, Vostal was daring enough to rest his hands on her thin hips and lead her through the motions of a modified waltz. The music was inspiring as though it wove magic through the room and made enemies allies and hate into love. Infact, he was amazed to find that even under the pressure of the event he didn't want to smoke at all.
Laughing with true mirth he swept across the floor with his lovely partner and forgot the worries of the world.

"quin?" The name seemed vaguely familiar, but she just couldn't put a name with a face. A date. It occured to her that these kind of events would be more fulfilling with a significant other to prance around with, which only reminded her of anne. Not that anything she thought did or say didn't lead to a thought of the blonde.

"i'm just thankfull that i still had these clothes..... my ex picked them out for me some time ago..."

"Well, your ex must have had a grand sense of fashion." I say trying to boost her confidence. "Maybe you could grab a dance with that fine gentleman over yonder, when he's completed his first waltz." I say pointing at Vostal, but not knowing who he is.

Still ever hopeful that Quin will show up. If I don't get my first dance with him, I'm going to break something off of him, I think violently for the moment.

I am not surprised that the man is light on his feet nor am I terribly weary of him. However, when the dance is over I bow myself away and look for my interests elsewhere. There is an odd smell to the building now and I suspect foul play. For a second my alarm shoots through the roof. "He could not dare to be here with that ghastly thing," I mutter as I shift by another pair of masked figures. If my suspicion is confirmed the ball will be drawn to a terrible halt. I will spill his blood if indeed Quin has come to so peaceful a place with poor intentions.

I stopped just within the door and stared at the masked woman greeting everyone. She was a pretty thing--well, what little I could see of her. Looking onward I stared down at the dances being hosted by the couples who seemed to glow like gods and goddesses in their fine clothing. I did not have anything to wear and wasn't able to venture much further. If Ill...no. I couldn't think about him yet. Not without that weird tightening in my chest and a boil of fury. Instead I sat on the steps outside the door and listened to the music. It was the most I could do and even still it brought me a little fragment of piece to be able to "attend" the ball.

"him? heh. he's not my "type"" She almost snickered at the initial thought but she supressed the action, remembering how little the people of this world knew of her....situation. She had so little contact with anyone, and she hadn't indicated any gender to the girl initially. It was probably for the best that she not come out and say it, she thought. Not unless she was asked.

Quin patted Ori on the head when the Horror returned with his new clothing. He'd been freezing ontop of the rafters is nothing but crown and skull print boxers for the past ten minutes. He flapped out the fresh wardrobe and crinkled his nose with a sigh. "Aw! Ori! You chewed off one of the sleeves!" He glared down at the Horror. "Terrible! She's gonna think I did this!" He really didn't have time to complain. The runt jumped from his hiding place while tugging on the wig and coat. He was impressed! It not only fit! It suited him well. Now that he looked it over he guessed the munched sleeve was a nice characteristic too.

"Well, What is your type, if your so picky about who you'll dance with?" I said cutting straight to the point, now curious. Whats the worst she could be, Lesbian? But wait, if she is, how much distance do I need to put between us? I think to myself without looking like I'm in deep concentration.

"well my type is just a little shorter then me, generally long hair, ive got a thing for blondes. with eyes you can get lost it......oh right. and breasts. im sorta.....gay." She waited for the inevitably priceless look to pierce her friend's gaze, cutting her off before she freaked out.

"and my heart goes out solely to the love i lost. so dont worry. i wont try and go home with you. " Her smile was odd, almost forced, but the meaning behind it shown perfectly. she had tried to lighten the mood.

My face never changed when she said it, nor did I react funny to what she said. "Well, you know what you like, and that is all that matters." I say, trying to sound wise. "If Quin does not show up any time soon, I'll dance with you." I end up saying to being kind.

Ah ha!
He put his index fingers and thumbs together in a frame and swung his hands around until his partner was well in sight. "Gotcha!" Like a fool Quin bounds over to her and hooks her arm with a wide grin completely oblivious to her company. "Hey! Look what I found!" He chuckles proud of her good fashion sense and secretly admiring her beauty in the customized gown she's wearing.

"no you wont. you'll look around for any reason to get out of the awkward endeavor. though i do appreciate the sentiment.I'm here simply....." why was she here? Something in her mind screamed at her to be in this place at this time.

"to enjoy the safety."