Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler! (:

[More than Music]

Kagayaki Aidou

“You're beautiful.”

Kagayaki felt something tighten in his chest. There was a sound of fear in Amane's voice, and he didn't blame her. Cassie was staring at them like... like...

Like how she'd looked at him after he told her he'd kissed Yumi.

'Don't do this, Cassie. We can be happy tonight, all of us. Don't say anything, please.'

"Erin-chan bit better, yah?" he asked, looking at Yukito, who nodded.

'Thank you.'

Then Cassie spoke up. "I think he said that she was. I haven't talked to her in a few days."

Her voice was still cold and angry. He felt like he had liquid fire in his lungs.

'Stop it! Stop! You're making everybody sad!'

“I'm glad she feels a bit better,” Amane said, cringing like she expected Cassie to hit her.

'Don't you dare, Cassie. No matter how I felt about you, if you hit my Amane, I'll hit you back. Just like I did your mother. And I'd do that if anyone hurt her. So don't even try.'

“Um..I think I saw some of my friends from school when we came in, so I'm going to go say hi, okay? I'll be back in a few minutes...”

Kagayaki's eyes went wide. "N-Amane..."

She looked at him, and looked like she was about to kiss him -- which he could use right now -- but she settled for his cheek. This was Cassie's doing, all of it, from that mean look she'd been sending Amane. It just wasn't right!

"Don't go," he whispered, but she slipped away anyway. He just watched after her in disbelief.

"It was nice talking to you," Cassie said, quietly.

Kagayaki put his hands in his pockets, feeling a numb feeling go through him as his eyes lost their focus. It wasn't right. It just wasn't right. But what could he do? Amane was scared of being hated. She always had been. And now Cassie...

Yukito said something quietly, but Kagayaki didn't look up.

"No, I'm not," came Cassie's angry voice again. "What are you doing? Why are you just standing there talking to her like everything's okay? How can you just forgive her for everything she put you through--everything she put Erin through? I don't get it, Yukito! I just don't!"

That was it. No one talked about his Amane like that.

Kagayaki turned sharply, pulling off his hat and mask. "STOP!" he yelled, dropping the mask heavy and pointing in her face. "You do things! You do bad things! No one talk you like that!" He felt himself shaking, and he hoped so much that it wasn't a seizure. But it didn't feel like a seizure. It felt very different. It felt like... anger. He suddenly felt like running, but he couldn't. No. He had to stay here and defend Amane.

"You talk bad of me? Is okay. Not Amane!" He shook his head. "You, Cassie, you not a good person."

He couldn't do this. He couldn't stay in here.

"Can't look you."

Kagayaki met Yukito's eyes. "I be outside."

Shaking his head with disgust, he kicked his hat and mask aside on his way out of the door. The air was crisp but not too cold, and he felt like he was inside of a heater. He opened his big black jacket, taking it off and setting it on a piece of sidewalk a good distance from the door. Sitting down on it, he sighed, putting his face in his hands.

'Why couldn't you just be happy for me? You expect people to get better, and to forgive, but you never do. You never do.'

He stared at the road as a few cars went by. It kind of didn't feel right to leave Amane in there by herself, but as he started to cry -- even though he didn't want to -- he decided it was better he didn't pull her away from her friends for this. She'd know he was here. She would find him when she was ready. It was better she didn't worry.

There were a lot of things he needed to fix about himself, and the things he'd done. Cassie was one of them, but he'd tried so many ways and nothing had worked. Now he wasn't even sure what they'd been, much less what to make of them now.

'Some people would say that, if I got killed now, you would be sorry you said those things. But, Cassie, would you? If I went away forever, you wouldn't miss me, would you? Even though I loved you?'

[GGJ5]

Alex Peirce

It took a little more persuasion than he would have liked, (and by 'persuasion' it was multiple boring mentionings of the party until she'd actually said she'd go), but nevertheless, they were still having a good time together. At least, he was enjoying himself. But it might have been because Alex felt a lot more at ease than the feeling Lilith was giving off. She looked gorgeous, sure, but she acted almost distracted. Not ditsy, just distracted. He took it in stride, though. Stuff happened. Anyway, he doubted this girl could actually pull of ditsy well. That would have made the whole evening a lot less fun....

He wasn't even sure if he should try to escort her the way he felt compelled to, with the vibes she was giving off. So he settled for resting his hand on her shoulder most distant from him as they walked inside. Lilith looked up at him and smiled through her dark mask that really did little to "disguise" her. “It's pretty,” she mumbled quietly. “I like masquerade parties..”

"Well, that's good," Alex replied, slightly thrown back by her obvious statement. "Because I don't think I have enough clout here to change that if you didn't. I wonder who else is here that we might know? You know, six degrees of separation..." Alex glanced around a bit, letting his hand fall to his side. Playing that game was just a bit harder when most people were in masks, makeup, and costumes. He gave a smile that read half-apologetic. "Yeah, nevermind... Hey," he tacked on, tone brightening at the prospect. "Do you want to see what's over....?" His question trailed off, relying instead on a gesture of his head toward one of the tables lined with sweets, treats, and probably over-sugared punches. Which was exactly why he'd wanted real food before coming... you could not survive off of those shrimp-in-bacon deals, no matter how many you ate.

Someone in a Phantom mask-- he'd had an English teacher in high school obsessed with the show-- stood nearby. The costume didn't match the mask, which kind of confused Alex a little, but he wasn't planning on saying anything. One hand slipped into his pants pocket, and he was reminded of how much he felt he was standing out. Bright purple, Mardi Gras or not, on someone of his height he was sure would make him a walking spotlight. And the idea was weird.... but maybe half-Phantom would detract some of that.

[Elda Forever]

Amane Ourmura

“Hello, Golden! You look great!” And he really did. She was sure she would never quite get over how beautiful he was, and his costume tried its hardest to emphasize that fact. Not to mention, he was quite an intimidating figure, towering over the others. She was sure it wasn't what his costume was meant to be, but she couldn't resist thinking of him as more like a Greek god than...who was he supposed to be? She wanted to ask but was afraid of sounding stupid. Expecting an equally gorgeous Greek goddess to be hovering behind him, she looked around before asking, “Are you with someone tonight?”

His face looked serious, but his mimicking her pose and the gleam in his eye hinted to her that he was teasing, "Yes, I am, Amane." A pause, as she looked way up into his face, then he added, "With you I hope!"

A smile broke across her face, and she was glad the mask hid most of her blush. There were appreciative stares on all sides of Golden, most of which seemed to pass by him unnoticed. He was just so confident in himself, so happy just as he was. It inspired her to be less afraid. Her lips parted and she gave an open laugh. She twisted her torso back and forth like a little girl eager to dance, her eyes gleaming as she told him, “That would be an honor, Golden. It really would. I would be the envy of most of the people in the room, but I'm afraid I am already taken...” She was now sure the blush would gleam like a traffic light, even through the mask, as she thought of Kagayaki leading her into the room, all gentleman.

"I hope you'll save a dance for me sometime tonight~at least one." She gave an energetic and fervent nod, and he turned his mimicking powers to feigning a waltz. "I have been told that I am an excellent dancer," he assured her, chuckling at his own antics, "nary a broken toe on my record~so far."

“You had better be. With just the height difference alone it'll be a challenge,” she declared boldly, then began to giggle hysterically, covering her face with her hands. “What is your costume? It reminds me of that one Greek god...the one of...oooh I know the name!” She found herself pouting in frustration as she tried to recall the name from class, then snapping as she realized, “Oh, Apollo! You remind me of how I always pictured Apollo!”

Golden glanced around curiously and queried, "And, who is escorting you to this grand event, Miss Amane?"

She did the little girly spin again with her torso, her hands clasped behind her back as she demurely replied, “My boooyfriend, Kagayaki...He's around here somewhere. I left him to talk to some of his old friends for awhile. “ She gave a little shrug, that bashful smile still there, “He's very sweet to me. I still can't believe it. He looks like one of the Three Musketeers, and that's what he reminds me of!” She let out a giggle at that, looking around and spotting him. Her face fell as she found his eyes. His mask and hat were gone, and he looked livid. Not far behind him, she saw Cassie and Yukito, not looking exactly happy themselves. Worry written in her eyes, she looked back at Golden, then at the doorway where Kagayaki stormed outside. “I'm...I'm sorry..Something's wrong. Please excuse me, Golden?” She offered him an apologetic smile, “It's really good to see you. I'll be right back, alright?”

~~

Yukito Maki

Things had taken a quick turn for the worse. What had started as an innocent encounter with friends quickly became a battle for who would avoid the enormous white – probably masked – elephant in the room. Several people nearby shivered from the iciness in Cassie's countenance, and Aidousan looked almost petrified in worry. Amane, her eyes concerned, somehow picked up on things quicker than the rest of them, and excused herself to go wander into the crowd. Aidousan looked heart broken as she left, and Yukito wondered at just how close that relationship had become in such a short time. Once Amane was out of earshot, Yukito looked at Cassie in disbelief. He knew it had to be complicated to see an ex dating someone else, but he couldn't gauge who exactly she was angry at here.

“Are you okay, Cass?” he queried, and got an immediate snap in return.

"No, I'm not,” instead of wounded, her voice sounded reproachful. He couldn't decide if that was a front or just blunt honesty. ”What are you doing? Why are you just standing there talking to her like everything's okay? How can you just forgive her for everything she put you through--everything she put Erin through? I don't get it, Yukito! I just don't!"

“You don't have to-” he was cut off by Kagayaki tearing off his mask and hat.

"STOP!" he yelled, dropping the articles and pointing accusingly at Cassie, "You do things! You do bad things! No one talk you like that!" Yukito said nothing, only observant for the time being. But he noted the way Kagayaki seemed to tremble in fury. It wasn't an easy thing to accomplish in the easy-going nature of Aidou Kagayaki. "You talk bad of me? Is okay. Not Amane!" He shook his head. "You, Cassie, you not a good person."

Here he tried to interject, opening his mouth to calm the situation down – or at least try to, but Kagayaki then added in a solemn tone that spoke volumes through three simple words, in his broken English that understood more than it could express.

"Can't look you."

“Aidousa-”

Kagayaki met Yukito's eyes, stopping him mid-syllable. "I be outside." He stormed off, and Yukito watched him go, knowing the distance needed, and the time Kagayaki would need to cool off. Yukito turned to Cassie, not sure what to say but knowing he would have to throw his opinion into the pot eventually. His mind backtracked to her comment that had set Kagayaki off, and he shifted uncomfortable in his costume.

“Aidousan...” he frowned and corrected, “Kagayaki...he isn't as simple as he seems to be. Well, actually, he is simple. But he's not stupid. He's the type that wants to be loyal to you to the end, though he's not very good at it. He has a talent for forgiving people. People who treat him like crap.” He gave a little solemn gesture to himself at this, then gave a sad shrug. “He would rather be stepped on than to be alone. And Amane is like him in that sense. You have a point. She's done a lot of things wrong. But we all have our histories.”

He paused, then added, “If you were one to fight with everything you have until the end, in anything you do, wouldn't you want someone next to you who feels the same? It wouldn't work if they only want to go 'just so far', or if they wanted something different altogether. We all just want someone with us, don't we? Who wants the same things in life? And if Amane and Kagayaki are able to be together, if neither of them could ever feel smothered by the other, but not neglected and alone, shouldn't we be happy for them?” Another pause, then more tentatively he added, “Or are you finding it hard to let them be happy?”

He gave a shrug. “I forgive her because I have been forgiven. It's as simple as that.”

~~

Lilith Eytinge

Alex held his arm around her shoulders as they entered, but she could barely feel it. She was feeling increasingly numb the closer they got to Cassie and her group. Alex doesn't deserve this. He's being very amiable through all of this So she sent him her best attempt at a smile and mumbled, “It's pretty, I like masquerade parties..”

"Well, that's good," Alex replied, "Because I don't think I have enough clout here to change that if you didn't. I wonder who else is here that we might know? You know, six degrees of separation..." Alex glanced around a bit, letting his hand fall to his side. As his hand fell, her heart went down with it. I wish Trent were here. Alex is a good friend, but... She watched Alex looked around the room, trying to place someone he knew. He gave a smile that seemed half-apologetic. "Yeah, never mind... Hey," he tacked on, tone brightening at the prospect. "Do you want to see what's over....?" he punctuated his question with the tilt of his head toward the tables of goodies. That's where I usually go when I feel the most lost. Maybe I take comfort in food. I don't know. I don't make sense to myself anymore.

“Sure,” she told him gently, following him there and finding a treat there that was probably a local snack but that she didn't recognize, nibbling at it as she glanced around the room. “To be honest, I think you have the purplest suit in the room...” She turned back to him and smiled, “I guess the zoot suits haven't caught on again quite yet.”

“So is anyone you know likely to be here?” she questioned, taking a bit of her snack and finding it burning the insides of her mouth, sending it into steams and rolls of dry burning hypocritically against her wet tongue. Giving a hiccup, she pointed accusingly at the tray and gasped, “What is this? Geh...” After a moment of dramatically fanning her mouth, she started to giggle, looking for something less likely to boil her insides and more likely to subside the last 'treat'. "I think they dumped a whole bottle of Tabasco in that one little bite somehow...Louisiana is suicidal."

[issie]

OOC: Sorry I haven't found an outfit picture for her yet, hopefully I'll have it soon! BIC:

Liv Aldis

Liv beamed as she stepped out of Chance's truck, the many feathers on her dress tickling her skin. This whole experience was exciting and frightening at the same time. Mainly because she was never really allowed to go to many parties, especially ones where she was allowed to dress up. And she never would have imagined herself going in an outfit like the one she was wearing then. She had never seen so many feathers on clothing before... She was dressed in a Babette the Feather Duster costume from the movie Beauty and the Beast. And of course, it was Chance's idea. He always had the craziest, best ideas for events like this and she was just odd enough to help him carry them out and enjoy herself as well.

Slowly, she walked to the front of the vehicle to meet him. The excitement and slight fear she felt then had her small frame shaking ever so slightly, her heart racing like it always did when she was nervous. Dropping her arms to her sides, Liv grabbed small hand-fulls of her dress and swished the cloth around slightly, like a child in her first princess dress. She loved the way the feathers tickled her skin at even the slightest movement. And oddly enough, it had a calming effect on her. Her head was tilted down, but there was a definite grin on her face. She actually felt beautiful, like a princess or a model.. even though she was technically a feather duster.

"I'm... nervous." She muttered in her heavy accent, looking up to meet Chance's eyes with her own electric green ones. Liv knew that there was no real reason to be scared, but parties and large groups normally did that to her. It was just something she doubted that she would ever be able to control. Which is another reason she was happy to have Chance at her side, he was definitely a people-person and he was good at holding conversations with everyone, so things weren't so awkward when it came down to meeting people.

She could hardly believe her eyes when they stepped into the main party room, people were dressed up in all sorts of masks and outfits. Her eyes darted all around her, taking in the scene and realizing that every outfit made her wish that she had brought her sketchbooks with her.. Even if it didn't go with her outfit or concept at all. Everyone looked so casual and so extravagant all at the same time.

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

“Are you okay, Cass?” Yukito's question was simple and softly spoken, but Cassie knew there was more behind the words than any of them cared to admit. How could he even ask something like that? Wasn't it obvious? Why were all of them pretending that everything was okay?

"No, I'm not," Cassie snapped, looking at him sharply. "What are you doing? Why are you just standing there talking to her like everything's okay? How can you just forgive her for everything she put you through--everything she put Erin through? I don't get it, Yukito! I just don't!"

“You don't have to-” Yukito began before he was cut off by a shout from Kagayaki that made Cassie jump in alarm.

What?

Now unmasked and looking enraged, Kagayaki pointed to Cassie. "You do things! You do bad things!"

Cassie's eyes flashed behind the mask. "Like telling the truth?" she hissed.

"No one talk you like that! You talk bad of me? Is okay. Not Amane!" He shook his head. "You, Cassie, you not a good person."

Cassie's mouth fell open, every word like a blow to the stomach. She wasn't a good person? She who had done nothing but point out what everyone else had chosen to ignore? She took a step back, almost frightened of the way Kagayaki seemed to shake with anger. This was too familiar, too similar to how he'd reacted at her birthday party...Cassie moved closer to Yukito as he tried to say something, half-wondering if Kagayaki would try to hit her just like he'd hit her mother.

Tears glittered in her eyes now, and she was more grateful than ever for the mask to hide behind. "I was just--"

"Can't look you."

She stared in disbelief, too shocked to even reply. Her heart skipped a beat as more tears threatened to spill over. I didn't...

Yukito, stupid, ever-logical Yukito, tried again to calm his friend, but with a grave "I be outside," he left them alone, leaving his mask abandoned on the floor. She gazed after him, mouth still agape, shaking herself now. "Kagayaki..." she breathed. "I didn't..."

Yukito turned to face her, and Cassie steadfastly avoided his eyes, knowing that the worst might still be yet to come. Kagayaki might eventually forgive her for her coldness to Amane, but Yukito could hold grudges for years. If he chose to be angry with her for scaring them away, things would never be the same between them.

Shockingly, though, he didn't seem mad--confused might have been a more accurate word. “Aidousan...Kagayaki...he isn't as simple as he seems to be. Well, actually, he is simple. But he's not stupid."

"I never said he was," Cassie whispered, still not looking at him.

"He's the type that wants to be loyal to you to the end, though he's not very good at it. He has a talent for forgiving people. People who treat him like crap. He would rather be stepped on than to be alone. And Amane is like him in that sense. You have a point. She's done a lot of things wrong. But we all have our histories.” He paused then, and Cassie looked up at him ruefully. “If you were one to fight with everything you have until the end, in anything you do, wouldn't you want someone next to you who feels the same? It wouldn't work if they only want to go 'just so far', or if they wanted something different altogether. We all just want someone with us, don't we?"

She turned away from him completely, hugging her arms to her chest. She would not cry in front of Yukito. Not now. Not over this. Not when they finally thought she'd healed, that she was over Kagayaki, that she wasn't broken anymore. She would not let herself cry.

"Who wants the same things in life? And if Amane and Kagayaki are able to be together, if neither of them could ever feel smothered by the other, but not neglected and alone, shouldn't we be happy for them? Or are you finding it hard to let them be happy?” She ignored his question, staring at the ground. “I forgive her because I have been forgiven. It's as simple as that.”

"But there are some things that don't deserve forgiveness," Cassie finally said, still not looking at him. "I've tried and tried, but I can't forgive her for what she put us all through, for being so creepy, for acting like the victim when you and Erin were the ones who were victimized. I can't forgive her..." her voice broke a little, "and I can't forgive Kagayaki for forgiving her. I don't see how he can. I don't see how you all can just pretend that what she did was okay. And I can't see how he can justify dating her, even if they are so similar...I can't be happy for them like this. I can't..."

[mystmoonstruck]

Golden Hunt

Golden gloated as she seemed to enjoy his playful teasing, and he watched curiously as she did a cute little twisting movement, rather like a much-younger girl excited about something or even hiding a secret. “That would be an honor, Golden. It really would. I would be the envy of most of the people in the room, but I'm afraid I am already taken,” she confessed, giving him the opportunity to look tragic, which his bronze mask allowed him to show. He was too much of a ham to hide behind a solid-face mask for very long.

"I hope you'll save a dance for me sometime tonight~at least one." Her nod gave him hopes that he could borrow her for a little while, and he pantomimed a waltz just to see her smile and laugh again, promising her that he would not tread on toes. He was being very truthful, having been the dance partner for his sisters to practice with far too many times.

“You had better be," she retorted. "With just the height difference alone it'll be a challenge,” she stated firmly before bursting into giggles, covering her face with her hands. Adorable, he decided, absolutely adorable. “What is your costume? It reminds me of that one Greek god...the one of...oooh I know the name!” She went pouty, and he found himself envying her boyfriend and reminding himself that he was passing through. He watched her puzzling over his identity and wondered if he was being a meanie for not solving the mystery. “Oh, Apollo!" she decided. "You remind me of how I always pictured Apollo!”

Golden grinned at her identification, wondering how to break it to her. "Thank you for guessing Apollo," he began. "Looking like a Greek god isn't too shabby, is it? Only, that's not quite it, but I can understand why it would be tough. I didn't carry bow and arrows, and people are used to him being a chubby child. I'm Cupid, the Roman god. The Greeks called him Eros. Without the love weapons, I can understand why it might be difficult to guess. I suppose at a future masquerade, I could do without these wings and say, 'Yo! Apollo!'" Then, he had asked, "And, who is escorting you to this grand event, Miss Amane?" Surely this coquettish charmer must be accompanied by some stalwart youth since he couldn't imagine her on her own even though she had been solo for their first encounter that day at Baskin-Robbins.

Golden watched almost adoringly as she did the swingy thing again, her hands clasped behind her back, very little-girlish. “My boooyfriend, Kagayaki... He's around here somewhere," she said. "I left him to talk to some of his old friends for awhile. He's very sweet to me. I still can't believe it. He looks like one of the Three Musketeers, and that's what he reminds me of!” Golden chuckled and smiled yet again at her rippling giggle, then he noticed her noticing something then looking somewhat distressed. Turning back to him, she said, “I'm...I'm sorry. Something's wrong. Please excuse me, Golden? It's really good to see you. I'll be right back, alright?”

Glancing the way she had looked, he wondered just which one was her suitor. He hoped he hadn't gotten jealous over a big, lummoxy blond guy with wings. "Alright, Amane," he assured her. "I'll be looking forward to it!" Giving her a wave, he watched her hurry off. Well, he was going to have one dance on his imaginary card. What he needed was to find a damsel in need of a partner, if even for once around the dance floor. Again he found himself curious about the redhead in turquoise though he also had glimpsed several other potential partners, including an exotic-looking brunette in a black dress that certainly set her apart from the rest.

Once more, Golden continued his journey, the pale eyes watching for a show of interest in return.

[Elda Forever]

Chance Savege ~ Outfit

He slipped out of the truck, swinging the key around the tip of his finger twice before putting them into his pockets and reaching into the bed for his candlesticks. ”I'm...nervous.” Liv said from the other side of the vehicle. He looked over to grin at her. Liv looked so cute all dressed up in her feathers and her hair done. Chance skipped over to her side, wrapping his candlestick arm around her waist and laying his forehead against hers.

“But you look adorable, doll!” he crooned happily, staring into her eyes before planting a kiss on her and leading their way to the party. “Just stick with me and we'll be the life of the party, Livy-love.” Once they entered the main hall, they both stared around, in awe of the décor and the amount of people who had piled into the room. Colorful costumes, deep or bright voices, laughter or solemnity. Chance's mouth fell open as he stared around the room, and he turned to nudge Liv with his head, grinning.

“Well, blow off my wig and make me eat it,” he declared in a terrible British accent, “This is pretty cool! Let's go meet somebody new!” Chance gripped her hand and rushed over to a really tall man dressed in a toga with wings, grinned up at him and shouted, “Hi! I'm Chance, and this is my girlfriend Liv. Could you do me a favor and tell her just how cute she looks tonight?” In a stage whisper behind his candlestick, he added, “She's a little nervous, you know?”

~~

Yukito Maki

When Kagayaki had raced out of the party, Yukito turned to see Cassie standing there. She wouldn't meet his eyes, but he couldn't tell what her expression was like from behind her mask. Slowly, he said, “Aidousan...Kagayaki...he isn't as simple as he seems to be. Well, actually, he is simple. But he's not stupid."

"I never said he was," Cassie whispered, still not looking at him. But you do.

"He's the type that wants to be loyal to you to the end, though he's not very good at it. He has a talent for forgiving people. People who treat him like crap. He would rather be stepped on than to be alone. And Amane is like him in that sense. You have a point. She's done a lot of things wrong. But we all have our histories.” He paused then, and Cassie looked up at him. Eye contact. “If you were one to fight with everything you have until the end, in anything you do, wouldn't you want someone next to you who feels the same? It wouldn't work if they only want to go 'just so far', or if they wanted something different altogether. We all just want someone with us, don't we?"

At that, she turned away from him, her arms crossed against her chest. He found it curious how she would so obviously try to put a wall to him. She was kind of like a little kid. But she didn't have to believe him, it really shouldn't matter...Erin was her best friend, anyways, not him. Why should he even get involved? This was Cassie, soaking up in grudges and not wanting to give.

But he was still going to try and get her to see. Besides..she hadn't walked away, even if she disagreed or didn't understand the viewpoint he was trying to clarify for her.

"Who wants the same things in life? And if Amane and Kagayaki are able to be together, if neither of them could ever feel smothered by the other, but not neglected and alone, shouldn't we be happy for them? Or are you finding it hard to let them be happy?” She made no answer at this, though he waited for her to. “I forgive her because I have been forgiven. It's as simple as that.”

"But there are some things that don't deserve forgiveness," Cassie finally said, her back still turned to him. "I've tried and tried, but I can't forgive her for what she put us all through, for being so creepy, for acting like the victim when you and Erin were the ones who were victimized. I can't forgive her..." her voice broke a little, "and I can't forgive Kagayaki for forgiving her. I don't see how he can. I don't see how you all can just pretend that what she did was okay. And I can't see how he can justify dating her, even if they are so similar...I can't be happy for them like this. I can't..." Yukito's expression hardened. He walked over to stand at her side, facing the same wall she faced.

He, too, crossed his arms over his chest in a defiant way, leaned over toward her and reasoned coldly. “We forgave you.”

Yukito pursed his lips together hard, a cool line of expression on his otherwise masked face. “You don't have to agree. And you don't have to understand. But it makes a world of difference if you stop trying to make people agree and try to love people precisely where they are at.” He looked across the dance floor and added, “The day Erin and I were back together again was not the same day I apologized to her. The day we got back together, she told me something like, 'if you truly love someone, you love them just how they are, but since you love them, you hope the best for them, and hope that they become better people'.” He gave a shrug, “Any way I think of it, it makes sense. So love Kagayaki. Or if you don't love him, then let us love him as he is, and for who he will be. He has grown up a lot in the last few months.”

His gaze was then drawn across the room, where a candlestick and a feather-duster entered the room. He was sure the girl was familiar, but it was too far away to tell...

~~

Amane Ourmura

She spent several long seconds trying to put the name to the costume she imagined Golden was wearing. He continued to watch her, his eyes gleaming with amusement and pleasure as she puzzled, finally declaring, “Oh, Apollo!You remind me of how I always pictured Apollo!”

Golden grinned, and she wasn't sure if that meant she had gotten it right or couldn't be further off the mark. "Thank you for guessing Apollo," he began. She let out an “Awww!” that she had guessed incorrectly. "Looking like a Greek god isn't too shabby, is it? Only, that's not quite it, but I can understand why it would be tough. I didn't carry bow and arrows, and people are used to him being a chubby child. I'm Cupid, the Roman god. The Greeks called him Eros. Without the love weapons, I can understand why it might be difficult to guess. I suppose at a future masquerade, I could do without these wings and say, 'Yo! Apollo!'"

She giggled at that. “Cupid? That's cute! But you are the furthest thing from being a child or chubby...” At that, she was surprised she had spoken, and she clasped her hands over her mouth again and gasped. That must sound like I'm hitting on him! Uh-oh!

Then, he asked, "And, who is escorting you to this grand event, Miss Amane?"

Giddy as punch at the memory of her 'escort', Amane swung again like a schoolgirl, her hands clasped behind her back as she half-sang, “My boooyfriend, Kagayaki... He's around here somewhere. I left him to talk to some of his old friends for awhile. He's very sweet to me. I still can't believe it. He looks like one of the Three Musketeers, and that's what he reminds me of!” Golden chuckled and smiled yet again at her rippling giggle. Golden would get it. It was nice to be able to amuse someone so easily and talk to someone while she was so happy. But when she looked around to see if Kagayaki was free to introduce to her shimmering giant of a friend, she found her boyfriend storming out the door without his mask or hat. Her face falling, she turned to Golden and said, “I'm...I'm sorry. Something's wrong. Please excuse me, Golden? It's really good to see you. I'll be right back, alright?”

He gave a glance in the way she had been looking, but Kagayaki was already out the door. "Alright, Amane," he assured her, making her smile gratefully, "I'll be looking forward to it!"

“Thanks, me too. I'll be back!” She waved goodbye and raced off as fast as her shoes would allow her to, finding the door and yanking it open to try and find him. She didn't get far when she spotted him, sitting on his jacket on the ground, staring off at the road as though looking for some answers. Amane had always thought that Kagayaki had such a child-like face, but seeing him now, serious and steaming, she noticed how much older he looked. His profile was stern and withdrawn, the angles standing out against its surroundings. Once he had been spotted, Amane's fearful run slowed to a timid creep, slinking up to his side and stopping a few steps away from him.

“Kagayaki?” she breathed, pausing before coming to sit next to him on the jacket. She had to be careful how to sit in her dress and was careful not to get it dirty. She wanted to stay pretty for him a bit longer. Her eyes wide, she looked up into his face, wanting to know... “What happened?”

[The Phantom of Paris]

OOC: Mild language alert ahead. You have been warned. My apologies. BIC:

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"We all just want someone with us, don't we?"

She turned away from him, unable to look at him when he was being so reasonable, so fair, so...so stupidly Yukito about all this. How could he reason everything away like that? What gave him the right to judge her for hurting, for not being willing to forgive just yet? You think you're such a saint. Because Erin forgave you for what you did--for all the stupid, selfish things you did--and because you've forgiven others for God knows what. You think you're so perfect but you know what? You're not! And I can't be like you, Yukito. I can't see the world the way you do. I don't even know how you do it, because I can't. And I can't just pretend that my heart doesn't stop every time I look at them, like I don't want to shove Amane's stupid face into a wall every time I see her...yeah, that's how I feel. Can you handle that? It's selfish and childish and stupid, but that's how I feel.

"Who wants the same things in life? And if Amane and Kagayaki are able to be together, if neither of them could ever feel smothered by the other, but not neglected and alone, shouldn't we be happy for them? Or are you finding it hard to let them be happy? I forgive her because I have been forgiven. It's as simple as that.”

"But there are some things that don't deserve forgiveness," Cassie told him, still refusing to look him in the eye. She couldn't. If she did, he'd see the tears threatening to fall behind her mask, see the way her lips trembled and her face contorted in pain. "I've tried and tried, but I can't forgive her for what she put us all through, for being so creepy, for acting like the victim when you and Erin were the ones who were victimized. I can't forgive her...and I can't forgive Kagayaki for forgiving her. I don't see how he can. I don't see how you all can just pretend that what she did was okay. And I can't see how he can justify dating her, even if they are so similar...I can't be happy for them like this. I can't..."

Yukito moved behind her then, coming to stand by her side as he leaned towards her, forcing her to look him in the face. Gone was the sympathy that she'd hoped he would have for her, replaced by a shadow of the cold indifference she had just shown Amane, who was now nowhere to be found. “We forgave you.”

Cassie whirled to face him, her eyes enraged. "For what?" she hissed, glaring daggers at him. "What the hell did you need to forgive me for, Yukito?"

Yukito pursed his lips together hard, a cool line of expression on his otherwise masked face. “You don't have to agree. And you don't have to understand. But it makes a world of difference if you stop trying to make people agree and try to love people precisely where they are at. The day Erin and I were back together again was not the same day I apologized to her."

Cassie let out an exasperated sigh, turning away from him again. "Of course," she said mockingly. "Because you and Erin are obviously the poster couple for perfect relationships, and everyone should try to follow your example! How could I forget that?"

"The day we got back together, she told me something like, 'if you truly love someone, you love them just how they are, but since you love them, you hope the best for them, and hope that they become better people'. Any way I think of it, it makes sense. So love Kagayaki. Or if you don't love him, then let us love him as he is, and for who he will be. He has grown up a lot in the last few months.”

"Well, good," Cassie said petulantly. "It was about time. I don't even know why I bother. He obviously doesn't need me to love him anymore. I can't even handle this. I do hope the best for him, can't anyone see that? God, I hate this!"

[issie]

Liv Aldis

”I'm...nervous.” Liv had said with a mixture of excitement and fright. And of course, it wasn't long before Chance was at her side, his candle-stick arm around her waist. There was that grin on his face again, that one that made her blush a little every time she saw it. He laid his forehead against her's for a brief moment, which she guessed was meant to comfort her. But it didn't help as much as his smile did.

“But you look adorable, doll!” he stated happily as he stared into her eyes. She stared back, she loved looking at his eyes. To be entirely honest, she had drawn them before, a whole page of just his eyes, how they looked when he laughed or when he used a playful expression, or even kinds that she was accustomed to seeing. Liv smiled into the brief kiss he gave her before he led her to the party. “Just stick with me and we'll be the life of the party, Livy-love.” Once inside, she was stunned at how many beautiful people there were. All the outfits she saw were inspiring, some extremely detailed and others beautiful in their own simplicity. She smiled.

“Well, blow off my wig and make me eat it,” he declared in an accent she didn't recognize. Her eyes widened, because that day she had learned that a 'wig' was the thing he was wearing on his head.. Why would he want to eat it?

“This is pretty cool! Let's go meet somebody new!” Liv didn't protest as Chance gripped her hand and rushed over to a complete stranger. She immediately slumped her shoulders ever so slightly, silently wishing she could away from sight by instinct, not meaning to be rude to her amazing boyfriend or the man she she didn't know. The man was tall, dressed in what looked like to her as a sheet wrapped around his body. She had seen pictures of things like it in history books, but she didn't care to remember what they were called. Also, he was sporting wings, which she managed to glance at before Chance started with the introductions. “Hi! I'm Chance, and this is my girlfriend Liv. Could you do me a favor and tell her just how cute she looks tonight?” Her eyes widened once again as she looked at her boyfriend, wishing that she had understood all of what he had said. She knew he was asking a question, as well as it being something about her. Slowly, she focused on putting it all together in her mind. In a stage whisper behind his candlestick, he added, “She's a little nervous, you know?”

She understood that. A blush came to her face as she fought the immediate urge to either hide behind Chance or poke him in the sides. Or both. But she couldn't be rude, so timidly, she gave the stranger a wave and smiled at him. She straightened her shoulders, trying to be brave like the guy she loved.

[mystmoonstruck]

Golden Hunt

No sooner had Amane hurried off with a promise to return than Golden found himself confronted by two more people, these quite oppositely attired from Amane's pristine white. It was to his credit that film buff aka movie mad Golden immediately recognized the characters confronting him, and he smiled beamingly at the cute couple.

“Hi! I'm Chance," the youth announced, "and this is my girlfriend Liv. Could you do me a favor and tell her just how cute she looks tonight?” Golden chuckled and nodded, noting the girl's obvious surprise at what was transpiring. “She's a little nervous, you know?” he stage whispered with a candlestick-hand, making the taller youth throw back his head in delighted laughter.

"Why would she be nervous?" he asked teasingly, placing hands on hips and cocking his head to one side. The pale blue eyes studied the two youngsters, and he suddenly felt practically elderly though he was capable of acting just as exuberant as the boy. "After all, all you did was bring her over to a stranger in a toga and wings and ask him to... OK." Bending slightly at the waist, he tried catching the eyes of the shy-acting girl, finding that they were a very pretty green. "I, Cupid, do verify that Liv is extremely cute, especially as Mademoiselle Babette, accompanied I see..." as he transferred his gaze to the other youth. "... by Monsieur Lumiere. I applaud you." And, he did, enjoying the imaginative costumes that echoed one of his many favorite musicals. In fact, for one masquerade, he had become the Beast. Yes, it had been very hot and quite heavy, but he had felt mmmagnificent! Of course, he had been 10 years old and, though tall for his age, not quite as impressive as he had envisioned. His sisters had suggested he be Simba instead, which he had resented as he admired himself in the mirror. Ahhhh.... Childhood memories were the best, weren't they?

"You both look wonderful, Liv and Chance, and I hope you will enjoy yourself. It looks as if you have a good start. By the way, my name is Golden, yes, Golden."

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"I've tried and tried, but I can't forgive her for what she put us all through, for being so creepy, for acting like the victim when you and Erin were the ones who were victimized. I can't forgive her...and I can't forgive Kagayaki for forgiving her. I don't see how he can. I don't see how you all can just pretend that what she did was okay. And I can't see how he can justify dating her, even if they are so similar...I can't be happy for them like this. I can't..."

While she would have remained facing away from him, her eyes unseen and her voice the only indication of her distress, Yukito moved forward to stand at her side, his arms crossed behind his back as he leaned closer to her ear and hiss, “We forgave you.”

Cassie whirled to face him, her eyes enraged. She really thought she was so perfect, didn't she? Cassie was the type to see fault in so many, save herself. Oh, she'd never admit it, and come up with some shadow of a shortcoming. But it was never quite the same as admitting that you couldn't have been more mistaken, that your motives in something were selfish. Which was what everyone did from time to time. "For what?" she seethed, glaring daggers at him."What the hell did you need to forgive me for, Yukito?"

His lips pursed together in a smooth expression of disapproval. The following response was spoken quickly and off-handedly, with little emotion to it. “You are Erin's best friend, and your words hurt her even more deeply than anyone else's. Hearing you blatantly disapprove of her moving in with me hurt her, and hurt us. While you don't have to approve of it, you don't have much room to talk because Aidousan lived with you even before you knew him on the level Erin and I know each other. It's a hypocrisy like your mother would create. Sometimes when Erin needs a friend you are more of a mother to her, and she won't tell you because she's not that way. You broke trust when you carried around for months the things with your mother and with her boyfriend. You broke the heart of my best friend. You're full of yourself and see no pain in your words that you say, and words that you don't. You complain like you're the first one to ever feel the way you do, and you refuse to pick yourself up. You're waiting for someone to take care of you, the way you obviously feel the need to take care of others.” And only an idiot thinks themselves free of fault and with no cause to ask forgiveness. It's all a lie, as much as they would like to believe it.

He pursed his lips together again, irritated that he had let loose his words so easily. Trying to soften the blow at least a little, he added, “You don't have to agree. And you don't have to understand. But it makes a world of difference if you stop trying to make people agree and try to love people precisely where they are at. The day Erin and I were back together again was not the same day I apologized to her."

Cassie let out an exasperated sigh, turning away from him again. "Of course," she said mockingly. "Because you and Erin are obviously the poster couple for perfect relationships, and everyone should try to follow your example! How could I forget that?"

Her jealousy was so obvious it was like a snake bite, the rattling and hiss still hanging in the air. And what does 'poster' mean, here? Rather than admit he didn't fully understand her context, he moved past it to her general statement. "I will never couple the word perfect with myself, Cassie. I'm not an idiot.” he let out a sigh, adding while he still had some semblance of her attention, “The day we got back together, she told me something like, 'if you truly love someone, you love them just how they are, but since you love them, you hope the best for them, and hope that they become better people'. Any way I think of it, it makes sense. So love Kagayaki. Or if you don't love him, then let us love him as he is, and for who he will be. He has grown up a lot in the last few months.”

"Well, good," Cassie said petulantly, in a tone and manner he sadly recognized as one he had used with his parents when he felt he was beating a proverbial dead horse. "It was about time. I don't even know why I bother. He obviously doesn't need me to love him anymore. I can't even handle this. Ido hope the best for him, can't anyone see that? God, I hate this!"

Realizing he wasn't going to get anywhere, Yukito held back another sigh from escaping and recrossed his hands behind his back, clasping them there as his fingers tugged at the fabric of his cuffs, white and delicate, the strange bumps throughout the lace like a sort of Braille he couldn't decipher. “I can imagine,” he muttered darkly, not wanting to put up with her annoying jealousy any longer. He had never been able to understand jealousy in this sense. Wanting someone but not being able to have them was one thing. Refusing to admit it even to yourself was another. He had made no secret that he regretted letting Erin walk away from him on Halloween when unspoken words had all been pulled out of their throats. But as much as he was jealous of Erin's smiles and innocence and endurance, he hadn't tried to make those traits out as negative things to cover up his jealousy, the way Cassie did with Aidousan. Making his dedication into obsession, his attentiveness into smothering, his apology into a complaint. There wasn't an excuse for Aidousan's faults in the matter, but at least he had shut up with weeping about them. If he was honest about it, Yukito would say Aidousan's standing up to Cassie and her snide comments was one of his strongest moments. It was those moments that made Yukito realize that Aidousan had never been as airheaded as he liked to pretend.

It was also in moments like those that Yukito realized that – somehow - he had forgiven Aidousan, after all.

“I've got to go make rounds,” he told Cassie coldly, “We can dance later, if you still want to.” He was fairly certain she wouldn't, but he knew that any suggestion in comment or attempt at a last parting word would be met with her own retort, no matter what he said. She knew they'd work it out later, as insufferable as they could be to each other at times. For now, however, Yukito headed off among the crowd, slinking through the masses like a watchful ghost as he checked up on all the corners and found no problems so far. But no Aidousan or Amane, either. He wondered if they had left. He spotted Liv, and Chance, but they were conversing with a giant of a man with blond hair, so instead he hovered around the drinks near a quiet guy in a strange blue get-up, as well as a couple in purple and black. One thing Mardi Gras can claim is a variance in color.

Chance Savege

“Hi! I'm Chance," he declared, having to look upward at the golden-haired guy, "and this is my girlfriend Liv. Could you do me a favor and tell her just how cute she looks tonight?” The man gave a warm chuckle and nod. Liv, however, practically shrunk her whole soul until it was all collected into her eyes, making her look almost like an anime character. She's so cuuuute.. “She's a little nervous, you know?” he stage whispered behind his candlestick. It was a good sign that the guy was at least humoring them, but Chance gave a proud beam at being the cause the young man's boisterous laugh. He even threw his head back to do so, as though laughing was something that took more expression than just opening your mouth and letting it out. He's just a funny foxy-man, isn't he!? Liv looked like she wanted to try hiding behind Chance's wide golden collar as she offered a teeny wave.

"Why would she be nervous?" the angel-dude asked teasingly, placing hands on hips and cocking his head to one side. "After all, all you did was bring her over to a stranger in a toga and wings and ask him to... OK."

“Who could go wrong with a toga and wings?!” Chance queried in a giddy voice, holding out his candlestick hands as though he were at a loss. The man then bent down at the waist, trying to meet eyes with teeny-tiny Liv, who looked a little like a baby bird next to the Greek guy. "I, Cupid, do verify that Liv is extremely cute, especially as Mademoiselle Babette, accompanied I see..." he looked over at Chance, who sent him a cheeky grin, "... by Monsieur Lumiere. I applaud you."

“Wooooot!” he crowed purely from happiness at being dressed up and 'accompanying' the cutest girl there, doing a little dance then giving a dramatic bow, crossing one candle over his waist and the other behind his back. In a terrible French accent he said, “I thank you kindly sir!”

"You both look wonderful, Liv and Chance, and I hope you will enjoy yourself. It looks as if you have a good start. By the way, my name is Golden, yes, Golden."

“Golden? Really?” Chance was positively beaming with pleasure at that, “It fits you better than peanut butter fits jelly. And you make a stunning Cupid, might I add!”

[GGJ5]

OOC: Not gonna lie, I have NO idea whose turn it is... I am thinking it's mine, soooo... if I am wrong, let me know; I will edit/delete/etc.! BIC:

Alex Pierce

To be perfectly honest, Alex had never been to an official Mardi Gras type fest like this. Usually it was a movie marathon, video games, and good food at someone's house the whole day, and maybe a parade if they weren't in the crappy part of town. The fact that everyone was dressed to the nines and there were actual dances and well-known people walking about was making him act dumber than he was, and Alex was acutely aware of it. 6 derrees of separation? Who does that? In masks? To cover the blunder, Alex resorted to the food table. That's why they put them there, right? To distract you. Poor Lilith.. stuck with upper-class-socially-awkward-zoot-suit-man. Haha... "Hey, do you want to see what's over....?" He punctuated his question with the tilt of his head toward the tables.

“Sure,” Lilith replied softly. Alex had the suspicion that she was looking for someone in particular and hadn't seen them (well, him) and was feeling a bit down. Or he was projecting these thoughts onto her. She wasn't usually this... way, whatever way it was... was she?

Lilith picked up something from the table and began to nibble it, like she was afraid of getting caught with her mouth full. “To be honest, I think you have the purplest suit in the room...”

Alex laughed aloud at that. "Yeah, I noticed that.... Doesn't make me stand out at all, right? At least I'm not fat to boot, so I don't look like I'm costumed as a grape... That Dionysus look-alike over there would have a field day." He gestured with his eyes over to someone dressed in a toga. It was probably Caesar or something, but whatever. It was still funny...

She turned back to him and smiled, “I guess the zoot suits haven't caught on again quite yet.”

"Yeah, well, at least not the purple ones... I think it's that Beiber kid ruining the color for everyone...."

“So is anyone you know likely to be here?” Lilith asked, biting into her snack. Alex was about to answer that there was always somebody he knew floating around somewhere, but he was stopped by Lilith's sudden burst of, “What is this? Geh...”

"Um, Lilith... that's food, I think," he joked, reaching out for the nearest cup of something to give her. The lemonade would have to do, he guessed, offering it to her as she fanned her mouth. He raised an eyebrow, trying not to show his amusement.

"I think they dumped a whole bottle of Tabasco in that one little bite somehow...Louisiana is suicidal."

"Or everyone else is just too weak," Alex jested, taking the same thing that had caused poor Lilith's tongue to fall off. He chewed it, enjoying the flavors, then declared, "Yep. Just weak." He cracked a smile and offered Lilith his hand. "Want to attempt a dance? The height difference is not going to make this more of a challenge to me at all, by the way. Expert Dancing With the Stars watcher here."

[More than Music]

OOC: Haha, sensei, I think the order has been thrown out the window. xD
BIC:

Kagayaki Aidou

Cassie had ruined everything.

Amane had wanted to be part of his friends. To just be accepted because she was sorry for how she'd been. Amane was different now... older, more grown-up, and smarter. She wasn't the way she'd been when she'd hurt them. Anyway, she hadn't hurt them on purpose. He'd been in Amane's place. He'd hurt people he loved because of a way he'd been. And they'd forgiven him, right?

Well, once again, it seemed like Yukito was the only one who'd really forgiven, and he was the one they'd done the most wrong to.

This just didn't make any sense.

Hugging his arms to himself, Kagayaki rocked back at forth. Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn't Cassie do what he'd worked so hard to do.... move on? It hadn't been easy, no, it definitely hadn't, but he was happy now, and all she could do was be angry.

'You're being childish like we used to be, Cassie. We have to be bigger now. We have to be older now, and take care of ourselves better. You just need to grow up too. You have to.'

He didn't hear her come up until her footsteps got close and stopped. Turning, Kagayaki saw Amane's glowing face, but it was filled with worry. He'd worried her. Scared her. Hurt her.

'I... I was just trying to protect you, kanojo...'

He let his face fall, buring his face in his hands. Cassie wasn't the one who'd ruined everything. He'd helped. He'd gotten angry, he'd gotten upset when he should've just stayed calm. Kagayaki knew there was a fine line between saying too much and not saying enough, and it was so hard to find the difference... But this was Amane. He was defending Amane, the girl he loved. Could he really say too much? Could he? This was so hard!

“Kagayaki?” Her voice was so quiet. Scared. He hated making her scared.

"Hm?" he said, giving up to lay his cheek against his knee as she sat next to him on his jacket.

“What happened?”

He shrugged a little. "Cassie been mean. I get mad. I yell. I go here." Kagayaki met Amane's eyes a little tearfully, but he didn't really feel like crying. His eyes were just sad. There weren't enough tears there to cry. Wrapping his arm around her, he sighed, laying his head against hers. "Will be okay. I okay." He kissed her cheek and nuzzled into her neck. It was warm and safe there, hidden between her hair and the folds of her shrug, and he liked it.

Tilting his head a little, he sighed again. "I love you," he whispered. "Very very."

'And nothing's going to make me let you go. Cassie can say all she wants. I love you, Amane-chan, and you are very special to me.'

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Jordan "Jodie" Watanbi -- Costume (minus the mop, lol) ~ Mask


Alright, he was definitely late. Hiking up his skirt a little, Jodie let some air out of his lungs as he came inside the building. They never disappointed, that decorating team. He'd heard that Steve and Connie were on that team... that would explain the green not being as big as last year.

Looking around, he recognized a few uncovered faces, which made it all a little less fun. He recognized some Asian eyes, which he guessed was Yukito Maki, by the Captain Hook-ish outfit and the musical notes on the mask... Where was Erin Spenser, his lovely little bolt of lightning? Oh, she was sick, that was right. Alright, well, it could be excused.

And there was some curly red hair and a fancy dress, which was probably one of the Wright sisters. Cassie. Shelby would've been with that fine young man, Preston Brailsford. And he didn't think Shelby planned on being here tonight, anyway.

Well, Jodie couldn't blame her. He'd be doing the same.

Over there was Golden Hunt, that gorgeous blond giant, showing off his gorgeous blond giant body. Oh, it gave Jodie chills, making him smile so wide he had to adjust his mask a little. He wasn't really wearing much of a mask -- and Jodie had thought his mask was on the scanty side -- but no one would be looking at that, would they?

There was that Raiu Wahei, wearing a Phantom-esque mask and a samurai-ish costume. He was the cousin of Clarence Morgan, the nerd/jock-turned-army-guy with the baby girl. And there was that Easy character, lingering in the back with his cat-ish mask. Oh, how wonderful this party was.

Alex Pierce was with Lilith Eytinge... wait, what? Jodie turned on his heel -- which was smoother than usual, and made him half-smile -- and stared at the two of them. They were both gorgeous, oh so gorgeous, but they just didn't look right together. Jodie sauntered backwards, leaning over to Yukito.

"That's Lilith Eytinge and Alex Pierce, over there, isn't it?" he whispered, conspiratorially, eyes narrowed. He glanced over, rolling his eyes. "I don't know, it just looks so wrong, I mean, they're just totally not meant for each other." Sighing, he looked at Yukito, arms crossed. "Well, someone has to do something, don't they?"

So he started going over to them, but he bumped into a lady on the way. He squeaked, jumping back. "Oh goodness! I'm sorry, honey!" His felt melted a bit in disgust as he took in her figure.

'Ew, she's so old.'

[Elda Forever]

OOC: *sings* Heeeeere we go, people! Missiles being shot! I have Issie's permission to use this otherwise NPC character. =3 But the jokes wearing thin, let the audience in, let my opera begiiin! BIC:

Amane Ourmura

He was so much older than her, in his twenties, but he looked so young sitting on the ground with his long, black cloak-thing removed. So vulnerable and sad. She sat down on it next to him while he buried his face in his hands. Unsure if she should just stay away or come nearer, her voice lost any power it might have possessed, “Kagayaki?” Why do you look so sad? You're so handsome when you smile and hold me. I want you to smile, from your heart outwards, no matter what..

"Hm?" he said, looking her way, his cheek propped against his knee, making his cheeks looking even rounder.

“What happened?” she asked, genuinely concerned for him.

He shrugged a little, reminding her of Yukito. Kagayaki had grown up so much, hadn't he? He'd come out here to deal with it on his own. "Cassie been mean. I get mad. I yell. I go here." He looked up into her face, her eyes widening as she saw the mournful look in his eyes. You still love her, don't you? That's a stupid question...he'll always love her. You don't just stop loving people. Kagayaki's arm wrapped around her, warm and strong as he pulled her close, laying his head against hers and letting out a sad sigh.

I wish she didn't hurt you like this, Kagayaki. I wish I could just erase her words from your mind, so you wouldn't be so sad. Yumi..Cassie...they just make you love them and then drop you. Aren't you sad of being dropped, Kagayaki? I just wish you would never let me go. I want you to keep holding me as long as you need to, until we both believe we won't be dropped. "Will be okay. I okay."

He gave her cheek a kiss and nuzzled into her neck, reminding her of Momo and making her smile. “Of course you will be, Kagayaki,” she said cheerfully, hoping to make him smile and at least try to believe her. Amane lifted her hand to touch his cheek gently. I want to fix this for you.

Tilting his head a little, he sighed again. "I love you," he whispered. "Very very."

A grin came to Amane's cheeks as she flushed. Leaning closer into his face, touching her nose against his cheek. “Oh, Kagayaki,” she breathed excitedly, “I love you, too. No matter what.” Amane pulled back a little, until she could meet his eyes squarely, a determined gleam in her eyes. “Kagayaki, don't let her pull you down. Whatever she said..it's not the most important thing. If she's angry at me, I don't mind..” Amane's lips curved up into a soft smile, “She's just upset because she sees how happy you make me. And I can't be mad at her for that.” She jumped to her feet, giving a little hop in her heels and grinning at him. “Let's go back inside, Kagayaki! I want to dance!”

She had moved forward to grab his hands and pull him to his feet when a sudden thunderclap interrupted her merry attempts at cheering him up. Amane felt as though someone had raced up and slammed a hammer into the side of her head, whipping it to the side and throwing her onto the ground. She couldn't even scream, her hands leaving Kagayaki and leaving her trembling on the ground as she felt her hair and ear getting wet. Her hands flew up to her temple as she realized what had happened. The woman who had been hovering nearby for the last few minutes had stepped out onto the sidewalk. She had shot Amane. Blood poured freely from her hands and her mouth opened in a silent cry that she had no air for. Indescribable pain ravaged through her wildly, making her spin and twirl among the shadows in her head as all she could see, all she could hear, was the pain. Help...

A woman's voice, slurred, angry, and unmistakably drunk. She was muttering about mistaking Amane for someone else. Please...help...Kagayaki... Amane now felt herself gasping for air like a fish that had been tossed upon the sand. She could sense Kagayaki was nearby, but she couldn't feel him or see him, as she struggled to breathe, struggled to scream. Strangled sounds escaped her as she writhed around, blood staining the white on her dress, her hair getting sticky and entangled. She had to find Kagayaki...he would help the pain stop. “Kaga...y'ki..”

~~

She'd shot the Asian girl by accident. **** vision was too blurry to see anything straight. But she had to find that little wench. Liv knew better. She'd always known better. Couldn't the stupid brat tell the difference between right and stupid? But no matter. She had come to take Liv home. In whatever condition. She was in no mood to deal with her stubbornness tonight, the little weasel. Like father, like daughter, as they said. Irene's discolored lips twitched into a smile. Her father was stubborn, too. Luckily, she had finally shut him up. She didn't know what they'd been smoking tonight, but it had been good. It had been liberating. If only his stupid, stubborn voice could have shut up, she would have been fine and dandy. But he'd kept yacking, kept whining, kept wailing out in that terrible voice of his, singing about the people he'd seen die and the kind of loyalty he remembered in the navy. Well, she was tired of his wails. So she'd found his own pistol and had shot him down, until he'd been wriggling around on the ground, like the little girl was now. Then, she'd made sure he was packed away, good and quiet.

Like a good housewife. I keep the house clean. Her lips twitched madly again, her unkempt hair still stained with his blood. But they'll come take us now. They'll take me away. But I'm taking the wench with me. She won't get off so easy. If I have to run, so will she. She's the only one who listens to a **** word I say, though even then she's such a twit.

But then she'd learned that Liv, tiny, mouse-like Liv with her stupid drawings and big eyes that reminded Irene of a dog, had gone out to a party tonight. With her boyfriend. Two things that had been strictly and firmly forbidden. This rule had been repeated, with firm beatings to keep it in her thick skull. But she'd done it anyways. Just like her father. Stubborn. Wants to have her own way.

She didn't linger by the bleeding girl outside, instead re-cocking the gun with a loud snap, her eyes locked on the scrawny boy nearby. Her paranoia told her he might be the boy, but she didn't think so. These two were probably heading off to do the sort of things she'd done when she was their age. No matter. Let him clean up this mess. She was tired of playing housewife.

Irene walked proudly into the party, the gun held casually at her side. Everyone was preoccupied with the party, and didn't even see her. Irene's brow furrowed. There were too many people here. They looked too happy. If she had to run from them after killing her husband, they weren't allowed to keep smiling and chattering while the fancy music played. Irene couldn't find Liv this way, anyhow. They were all in ridiculous, ugly costumes. Costumes she'd never been allowed to wear. They were for the stupid people, anyhow. She lifted her gun to a nearby costumer, a strange boy wearing a maid costume. A maid costume. The world had no place for such things, for such creatures. Screams erupted as people realized she was there, that she had a weapon. That she had power. Power she had lost years and years ago, and was always trying to obtain again. She'd regained it tonight, at the end of an illegal handgun her husband had gotten to shoot the neighbors' dog in a moment of frenzied delight. The smoke had cleared, to her dismay. But she brought it back again. She shot the stupid maid-boy, then stepped into the center of the room as people flew all around her, like she was the wolf stepping into the midst of a henhouse. She smiled grimly, liking the feeling. She caught sight of her daughter.

“There are, Liv,” she half-sneered, half-slurred, her English bad and heavily accented normally, and now she was high enough to hit the sun. “It's time go home.”

~~

Lilith Eytinge

She turned back to him and smiled, “I guess the zoot suits haven't caught on again quite yet.”

"Yeah, well, at least not the purple ones... I think it's that Beiber kid ruining the color for everyone...." Alex joked, making her smile.

“Hey, I like it!” she assured him, tugging a bit on his purple sleeve. “So is anyone you know likely to be here?” She bit into her snack to busy herself while he opened his mouth to answer, but instantly she jerked as though an electric shock raced through her, pulling a face as her mouth was suddenly set on fire. “What is this? Geh...”

"Um, Lilith... that's food, I think," he joked, holding out a cup of lemonade to her, raising an amused eyebrow at her idiotic attempts to fan her poor, boiled tongue.

"I think they dumped a whole bottle of Tabasco in that one little bite somehow...Louisiana is suicidal,” she declared, perhaps a little too loudly. A boy in a maid cosutme that had just entered was looking their way, as Lilith sipped at her lemonade, resting it on her tongue to cool it off. She could practically hear the sizzling noises. Gah!

"Or everyone else is just too weak," Alex teased, and she sent him a pout. Just to playfully rub it in, he took some of the same stuff and chewed it thoughtfully, testing the flavors as though he was at a judge at a contest for mouth-scalding snacks that look innocent. "Yep. Just weak."

“Pfffft...” she blew him a raspberry, crossing her arms on her chest and glaring at him, before giving his shoulder a little shove. Her smile never left her face. “You're mean to me.” Then in a light accent, with a little wave of her hand as if to brush off his comments, she rolled her eyes and said, “I am more accustomed to Parisian cuisine.” Flippantly, she added, “Fantaisie et délicieux. J'ai un palais délicat.”

He cracked a smile and offered Lilith his hand. "Want to attempt a dance? The height difference is not going to make this more of a challenge to me at all, by the way. Expert Dancing With the Stars watcher here."

Lilith giggled at that, taking his hand and following him out. “No kidding! Me too! But I missed last episode. I was enthralled by the History Channel. They had a show going on about Attila the Hun. But ah, well. You have to lead anyways, right?” Her tone was playful and flippant as she abandoned her lemonade – who would watch it for her, anyways? - and went out onto the dance floor. They started in on a dance, one of the few couples out there, when Lilith turned to Alex and said, “You're a great guy, Alex. Did you know that? I think that--”

Suddenly a gunshot ran out, making Lilith jump out of her skin. She turned to see a woman, a raggedy-haired woman who looked like she'd just crawled out of a gutter to save her life, wielding a gun and looking like she wasn't aware it was a deadly object. A few feet away lay the body of the boy that wore the maid costume, and Lilith's eyes widened in horror. “Oh my--!” She fell to the floor, glued to Alex's side. She just shot a kid! She just SHOT a kid! Right in the middle of the party!

[GGJ5]

Alex Pierce

When Lilith still proved she'd yet to adjust her taste buds to Southern-style and Alex noted the weakness, she just responded with an equally-playful little pfffft of a raspberry. He chuckled at that, shaking his head and taking another hors d'oeuvre in a silent jest.

Giving him a little shove, Lilith protested, “You're mean to me.”

"That's right. I'm so thug," Alex agreed, eying the brim of his hat.

Then in a light accent, with a little wave of her hand as if to brush off his comments, she rolled her eyes and said, “I am more accustomed to Parisian cuisine.”

"Does that come with the Parisian attitude?" Alex teased back, mimicking the light accent pretty well, if he did say so himself.

At that, Lilith rubbed it in by rattling off something in French. He'd taken French all the way through high school and couldn't remember a lick of it. So he pretended he'd missed the whole comment. "Want to attempt a dance? The height difference is not going to make this more of a challenge to me at all, by the way. Expert Dancing With the Stars watcher here."

Lilith gave a little laugh, accepting the offer. He really didn't hold much weight in his ability or lack thereof to dance, but Lilith probably wouldn't care anyway. “No kidding! Me too! But I missed last episode. I was enthralled by the History Channel. They had a show going on about Attila the Hun." Alex raised an eyebrow at that. "But ah, well. You have to lead anyways, right?”

"Hey, I'm all for equal opportunity," Alex tacked on, just in case he slipped into following Lilith instead of the other way around. They were one of the only ones, which just meant he was less likely to accidentally bump them both into someone. Even so, he stayed pretty close to the long buffet-type table, like it provided some safety in case he got absolutely terrible and began tripping her or something.

“You're a great guy, Alex," Lilith said mid-dance, making him raise his eyebrow again. What was that about? He hadn't thought he was a bad guy, so it was good to have confirmation, he joked privately. "Did you know that? I think that--”

A sound like a giant balloon exploding in his ear suddenly cut everything off, making Lilith jump into the air and Alex turn rigid like he'd been sent into an Arctic blast. His eyes found the source, someone looking half-deranged but acting it out fully. Oh, my god. Fleetingly his eyes moved to the figure on the floor, and too many dots connected together.

Despite her being the more fluid one, Alex had maintained his grip on her. Finally breaking free of the frozen spell enough to talk, he whispered in a strangled voice, "Get under the table." His eyes didn't move from the intruder, but he repeated to Lilith more emphatically, "Get under the table." With as minimal movement as possible (an instinct to avoid catching attention, he thought later), Alex tried to conceal Lilith behind the table's long cloth. If she didn't see Lilith, she couldn't hurt her, theoretically, but... not everyone could fit under the table... and his heart was beating like a massive bass drum inside of his chest. Alex felt it was like a huge red flag calling out to the psycho, saying, "HEAR ME MAKING THIS LOUD NOISE SIGNIFYING LIFE?!?!!" He began moving sideways, away from Lilith was in case he did attract attention. And hoping meanwhile he wasn't leaving her vulnerable. Compulsively Alex reached into his pocket for his phone. Someone's got to call 911 on this freak.... but suddenly again he felt like molasses, like his fingers couldn't press the buttons down if he tried. He lifted the phone from his pocket and stared into the screen, finally getting the number 9 pressed. Then a frantic 11 managed to escape, and he made contact. It was ringing. Answer...!!