Scenario Entitled: Costume Ball - Part Deux!Characters:
Rooke, whose costume can be seen in the Part One log.
Smiles, whose costume can also be seen in Part One log.
Tenrai, ditto.
Hiro, who came as himself. Yay?
Kevlin, who also came as himself. Copycat!
Fenris, whose costume actually -can- be seen in this log.
Location: Freedom Hotel - Banquet Hall
Date: mid-Decrembe, 108 P.A.
Freedom Hotel - Banquet Hall One
A chamber of grand dimensions, this hall seems to be designed to hold as much as two thousand people comfortably, including all the necessary furnishings for such a number. The cream panelled, sea-green walls are sectioned every twenty feet by burnished, copper-plated pillars, and rise up approximately forty-five feet to curve inwards to a great ceiling. It glows with lightweight, dangling chandeliers that resemble giant, healthy bunches of green grapes. The floor is a broad expanse of highly polished pine, attractive shapes cut from various shades of the wood. A five foot strip of speckled blue velveteen carpet runs the perimeter for those who would rather rest their tootsies than jitter on the dancefloor.
The hall has been set up with circular tables just inside the wooden edge, running lengthwise along the right side of the room. Two tablecloths overlap and brush the floor, with buff-colored, cushioned seating tucked into eight places at each table. If the overhead chandeliers have dimmed for mood, elegant electric lanterns are available in the middle of each table for individual lighting. Across the room, three long buffet-tables are maintained by catering staff, serving excellently-prepared meals and fingerfoods to match the time of day. Nearby, a section of wall is devoted to a wetbar, for serving selections of wine and elegant drinks, nothing too strong of course. In the left hand corner nearest the double-doored exit, a semi-circular DJ's booth is set up, running wires along to speaker hook-ups at various strategic places in the hall. Beside that is a small raised stage, complete with podium and microphone, and a long welcome table, manned by friendly costumed staff.
{<<OOC>>: For more details, type +room.}Costumes
A good sixty percent of the population here have put in the effort to come in costume to the ball. The rest have simply come in their evening wear, to marvel the interesting sights, partake of food and dancing, and perhaps learn a little along the way. While most of the 'historical' outfits are not as elaborate or accurate as those put together by the NLF (Naiad Learning Foundation) or PAP (Pen and Parchment) staff, they are still strange and amusing sights to behold. Here, a Roman slave girl peruses the buffet spread with the Pope. There, a plumed Musketeer dances with Marilyn Monroe.. to The Smiths. The overall look of the past seems horribly eccentric, wasteful, and pretentious, compared to the rather utilitarian styles and practical manner of present day. And eager party-goers are enjoying it while they can.Kevlin enters the hall from the lobby.
Tenrai giggles as one partner begins dancing much more closely, she raises her hands almost as if to frame his face within her palms, but doesn't make contact before she makes a half-bowing retreat a step or two before she starts making her way back toward him. She spots her friend in his disguise, butt isn't able to identify him and thus, he's merely another face in the face-shifted crowd.
Kevlin enters the room and looks about cautiously. "Did I miss something?" he asks as he makes a ponderous face.
Smiles snaps out of his reverie and for the first time in some minutes notices his empty glass. He slides away from the table and starts cutting back towards the bar again. Atilla the hun--bump. Guy smiley--bump. Quaker oatmeal guy--knocks him down but he gets back up....the list goes on and on. He winds his way through the crowd with a fairly modest about of suffering, and has his water goblet refilled by a clearly displeased bartender.
Hiro moves ever closer to Tenrai, and places a hand on her shoulder, very gently. "Excuse me, ma'am," he says in a deep voice, none too convincing, but along with the face, it works decently. "Ahem, excuse me, Miss Tenrai?"
Tenrai stiffens a moment alooks over her shoulder as she pulls away, "Nani?" She asks, frowning slightly as her delicate hand alights on her just-touched shoulder, her ears lowered slightly. Some people's kids...
Hiro clears his throat. His stern face shifts ever so slightly to a frown, looking almost like a liquid as it moves. "Pardon this interruption, ma'am, but I'm from the police department, and we'd appreciate a word or two with you."
Smiles ignores the rather nasty look from the bartender--who cares as long as he's still pouring. He begins towards the fireman and the Knight in cardboard who are parked way towards the back. Uh oh--looks like the spluggie is going that way too.
Rooke is fortunate enough to find a woman with a full sewing kit on her for just such an occasion, and manages to secure her cooperation in sewing the tear in her blouse closed. Yup.. no more of that twisted disco stuff for her.
Kevlin looks about him as he strolls confidantly toward the moving throng. His eyes dart from person to person, face to face, evaluating each and every one. Some faces he pauses on longer, as though he were trying to recognise them. Most he simply ignores. Eventually he manages to make his way to where Tenrai seems to be enjoying herself, and stops beside Hiro. "Hey." he murmers to the cop nonchelauntly, a noncommital greeting.
Abe Lincoln...bump....Curt Kobain...bump......Willy Nelson....ouch.......Muhammad Ali...Smiles give him a wide berth...That kid on the Life cereal box.....who knew that kid hit so hard?......Archie bunker, William shakespeare, Harriet Tubman, Cookie Monster, they all seem to have it in for the poor bandaged kid on the four posted cane. Three cheers for wine.
Tenrai pouts for a moment, then gets a notion, smiling smugly as she taps her temple with a forefinger she says, "Is kostoom party, yes? Think have wrong drinks?" As she points to Hiro, she nods to her conclusion, proud of her intellect for saving her from falling for someone playing a prank.
Rooke thanks Mary Poppins, looking just a bit freaked as she moves away. "Where does she get off, telling me how to take my medicine," she mumbles bewilderedly, scratching at her nose again. To tell the truth, this whole olden-times freak show is really getting to her.. she decides to take up a post near the egg salad and guard it with her life. Her post, not the egg salad.
Smiles spots the his um...friend....or well that sploogie moving towards his um other friends. He makes a hard right and cruises towards empty tables against the wall. sumo=ouch spaceguy=hurt drunk olive oil=ducks quickly and painfully, but avoids the floor. Old lady who wants his joss stick splif=Smiles just hands it over. there's no way he's gonna go out back with that crone. With a sign of releif Smiles slumps--carefully slumps--into a seat by the a wallside table as the woman makes a bee-line for the bathrooms. Boy is she EVER going to be sorry. Alien chewing tobacco ground into powder and smoked? Smiles has never had the huevos to try it. He just shakes his head and laughs. Painfully.
Hiro gestures for Tenrai to follow him out of the sprawl on the dance floor.
Kevlin continues to glance about and spots acquaintance, Tenrai, and moves to her. He glances at the man talking to her but, not recognising him, ignores him completely. "Hey, Tenrai." he says with a small lopsided grin.
Tenrai folds her arms and 'Hmphs' before turning back to her former dance partner, who still has a perplexed look on his face. She bows to him, "Gomen" she apologizes nervously, then turns again as she hears her name "Ohayo, Kevlin-san!"
Rooke holds a dazed post beside the left end of the buffet spread, guarding the egg salad jealously. Father, forgive her.. she knows not what she does.
Hiro clears his throat at the catwoman. He reaches down into his pocket and pulls out a police badge, which he flashes quickly at Tenrai. "Police," he says, in low tones, and then adds something, very quietly, and incoherent.Fenris' Costume Desc
Standing at over seven and a half feet is a figure garbed in steel and darkness. A Black hooded cloak hangs low over the face of the being, billowing over his wide shoulders and clasped with a broach of iron crafted in likeness to a dragon. Thick black trousers blouse out from burnished steel greaves with rounded spikes on their knee guards. Long black sleeves are tucked into a pair of burnished steel braces etched with heraldric griffins. Steel scales comprise a surcoat with a black lion at the center of the chest. The feet which emerge from the bottom of the greaves are comprised of silvery metal and segmented, the hands which might just be the same way are hidden withing thick black gloves. A simple sword is peace knotted into the leather scabbard at his hip, the weapons seeming puny compared to the figure's mass. From within the shadows of the hood comes a red glow from two large 'eyes' that reflect upon the surfaces of the metallic skull that those same shadows only partly conceal.Fenris arrives into the gathering with a stride like someone kicking the jack out from under a car, some gasping at the apparition that has entered the festivities. Hmm... not quite the reaction he'd planned... well, not really. Especially when Aunt May faints.
Kevlin's eyes turn to his side as he realises just where he's standing. Obviously beside a cop. He steps slightly to the side and gives Tenrai a concerned look. "Are you ok?" he asks quietly, largely ignoring the policeman.
Tenrai blinks at the cop. Twice. Three times, that covers her mouth with her hand as she begins giggling like a toddler on nitris. She waves that hand dismissively at the officer as she looks to Kevlin, "Hai, Hai, Man drink much punch, think fool Tenrai. Funny, ne?"
Hiro clears his throat again. And again. He looks over towards Kevlin, and frowns at him. "Please, convince her?" he pleads.
Smiles pops two authentic 1997 excedrin, a bottle of which someone with a little too much punch and a little too much cash dropped by the bar; that stuff never goes bad. He washes it down with watery wine, and makes a face. Well, maybe it gets a little stale. The fireman, dragging the poor newsie behind her, fight their way through a diverse assortment of glam rockers. Tamra seems to be digging her heels, arms crossed protectively over her chest. The fireman, however, simply is not taking no for an answer. Smiles sees them coming, but too late--despite his shielded eyes, it's pretty clear he's NOT taking no for an answer. There will be apologies. There will be reconciliation. He considers pulling Oprha Winfry along with him, but she's had a little too much to drink anyway. Smiles grudgingly makes room for the two of them at his table.
Kevlin coughs slightly. He's seen enough real badges. "Yeah, he must be drunk." he lies. "Probably got himself kicked out of the bar." he says as the dubious 'cop's words fall on deaf ears. He clears his throat and bites his lip during consternations, and then offers, "Would you like to dance?", his words followed by a mischievious glance toward the man with the badge.
Rooke rubs her eyes before she can think better of it. After she realizes that she's smudged her carefully applied make-up, there's nothing to be done except to take her leave to re-powder her nose; or better yet, head back into the real world where things are so much more sane. The tall cloaked figure gets a glance as she approaches the exit.
Fenris turns just in time to get a glimpse of the Councilor approaching, as well as to accidently loose a black cablebanded in gold from beneath the hood. Blast, so much for that rubber band. He bows to the woman and whispers something as she nears.
Tenrai holds her arm out to Kevlin, "Be honor, Kevlin-san, Arigato." her smile like the sun coming up. She refrains from poking her tongue out at the officer. That would be immature.
Ex-Councilor, thanks ever so. Rooke draws back slightly, tipping her head back to confront the 'stranger' as he appears to try and headbutt her. But the voice and the gold-capped lock of cable fix things up right nice. "Fen-ris!" she beams, forgetting about her smudged-up face. "...I don't know. What -is- it?" She takes a fold of the cloth and tests it between her fingers.
Hiro takes a step back from the flourishing 'couple,' a frown on his face.. as it very rapdily begins to decay. As ectoplasm that hid his facial features evaporates into physical nothingness, Hiro brings his hands up to shield himself from the view of others until it is complete, and once it is, he speaks in his normal voice... in Japanese, of course.
Kevlin takes Tenrai's arm and loops his own through it, slowly turning her from the majority of the crowd and attempting to guide her toward the back, away from prying eyes.
Tenrai stops. Dead. Turns.... and looks the officer in the arms a moment then toward the floor in front of her. She says nothing.
Smiles now speaks quietly with his two companions. Or rather to the girl, who he has decided that indeed perhaps he just might want to consider thinking about apologizing to. The fireman sits close behind, perhaps to make sure neither of them bolt? Tamra starts off well, I guess unresponsive is the word. There is spittle involved. But with time and heartfelt pleas, she begins to come around. Smiles is not sure at all that this is a good thing.
Hiro smiles ever-so-slightly. "You're a hard person to fool, Tenrai. Did you like my costume?" he says quickly, attempting to salvage the situation before Tenrai launches into one of those kill-the-Oni moods again.
Fenris leans down to make the reach easier, "A lord from several of the old tales of your knights. I was not sure what I should have done about my face, but I remembered at least one having features not terribly unlike my own so... I left my mask in my pocket."
Tenrai looks up at Hiro, an odd look in her eyes as she avoids looking him in his own. She speaks softly in her native tongue.
Kevlin quickly steps between Tenrai and Hiro, and immediately decides he's gone and made another mistake. "Isn't it a bit early in the morning for cop-games, Hiro?" he asks wryly.
Indeed, Tamra is beginning to look more like her usual, chipper (read: obnoxious) self. Smiles now looks off with a pained expression towards the door. At least, until he sees the hottie with Dr. Doom. Now that's interesting. Tamra is not amused with this change of attention.
Hiro waves a hand, as if to blow something off. He speaks back to Tenrai, and then regards Kevlin with a warm smile. "Ahh, Kevlin. Its never too late for cop-games."
Rooke reaches up to draw away a fold of the hood, smiling faintly as she traces Fen's metal jawline. "It's wonderful," she affirms, and arranges his errant lock back into the hood. "I'm sorry I wasn't around for the past few months.. I had to split town, you know.. just got back 'bout a week ago." She drops her arms by her side and cocks her head. "I'm all messed up, aren't I? My face..?" she asks, frowning.
Hiro says something in an unknown language.
Fenris chuckles softly, one of his gloved hands reaching out almost to Rooke's cheek, "A touch... Were you going to care for that??" he inquires, passing his luminous gaze around the crowd.
Tenrai turns slightly to face Hiro more fully, her hand patting Kevlin's arm, her head tilts, "Hai?"
Kevlin's head also tilts toward Hiro as he pulls himself to his full, though modest, height. "Yeah, hi?" he says, aping Tenrai.
Smiles attention is retrained on Tamra thanks to increased spittle flow. He wipes his chin carefully. Now he is not amused--she's all happy again now that he's paying attention to her. He stands up and slowly begins making for the door. Tamra, ever the sarcastic sycophant follows him, cooing and apologizing about the spittle. Apoligies like "Oh, did I get you all sloppy Ro? Huh? Oh that's too bad. I'm REAL sorry about that one." Smiles ignores her and continues for the door. The fireman gives up and makes for spluggie and the knight. At least the status quo was restored.
Hiro 's eyes drift about the throngs of people around the dance floor, getting their groove-thang on. He seems to be searching for a needle in a haystack, but he's looking for a metal detector. He responds to Tenrai, almost inquisitory in tone.
Hiro says something in an unknown language.
Rooke nods, brow furrowing as she replies plaintively, "It's this place.. everyone here... it gets too, I dunno.. weird." 'Weird', Rooke's all-purpose word for all things not normal, apparently. "I.. don't understand most any of it.. an' when people try to explain," she sighs. "I just get confused... and, dunno.. scared, somehow." She affects a weak smile for Fenris' benefit. "Oh, I'm just being silly, I suppose. I really should tidy up now.. please excuse.. I'll find you later, hey?"
Fenris stoops down, ignoring the dramas between injured men and tagalongs, and the cat girl and her suitors. He whispers something for her ears only, though with moder science and supernatural hearing... what can really be kept a secret anymore?
Tenrai blinks and shrugs, answering in her native tongue.
Rooke nods as she listens to whatever Fen has to say, leaning in close. Awww, toe tweet. "I'll save you a dance," she promises, then withdraws to the open doors, turning away to exit past the security gangsters.
Much to Tamra's sadistic delight, the plague of attacking historical figures continues to descend upon Smiles's weakened frame. Mozart=sticks him in the teeth with a conductors rod. Lasse growls. So does Timmy--that's bad. Smiles makes tracks as best his hobbling body can muster. Gene Simmons sticks his tongue out...well okay that's just paranoia. Smiles, now more than a little creeped out tries to pick up the pace, nearly lays himself out on the single step up to the dance floor.
Hiro frowns, looking Tenrai in the eye and rattling off in Japanese.
Tenrai's lip quivers slightly as she asks something of Hiro in Japanese, chin lifting slightly. Just a sprinkle of indignance and a touch of hurt.
Hiro shakes his head fiercely and returns to Tenrai, in soft, apologetic tones.
Kevlin looks back and forth from Tenrai to Hiro, and upon feeling Tenrai's grip tighten on his arm, his brow furrows. "I hate when you guys talk like that."
Hiro turns to glare upon Kevlin. "Do you have something against Japanese, Kevlin?" he asks.
Kevlin scratches his head. "Is that what it is? Well it's confusing."
Smiles, now persued by both Tamra's demonic laugh and the old woman who unsteady approaches from behind claiming in a muffled, that she can no longer feels her extremities, now hobbles, hunched over with maximum velocity (1.5 mph?) on his four legged cane across the dance floor and down the other side towards the door. 'Badumbum badumbam badmum' a quiet repetition of the cane taps against the floor. The old lady gives up and decides to sit down until she can feel her toes again. His hunched, damaged form is almost too much for Tamra to handle as he scurries. She just has to stop and hold her sides laughing for a while.
Tenrai's turn to look between the men in her proximity, face growing more lost with each passing sentence.
Fenris makes his way further into the hall after the whispered valedictions between Rooke and himself. He spies the injured man amongst the throng, thanks to the wonders of advanced bionics and makes his way hastendly toward his path, some of his limbs making a touch more noise than the others as they operate.
Smiles stops dead in his tracks, some 15 feet from the door. Oh...my...god.....if Dr. Doom bodychecks him there is NO HOPE for attending classes at any time in the next six months. A solidary bead of sweat makes it's way down his chin. A solitary tear winds it's way from beneath his bandaged eye. He closes his eyes tightly and prays quietly. Gripping his cane tightly with two hands, he whimpers a single word, "mother". It's like watching the semi come at him all over again.
Hiro turns his attention back to Tenrai, still using the same, gentle and apolgetic tones as before. He smiles thinly at her, in the dire hopes of salvaging his relationship with her.
Kevlin looks from Tenrai to Hiro and back, emits a little sigh of what he hopes will be relief, and clears his throat. "What's going on? You ok?" he asks Tenrai, specifically. "I can't understand what you two are saying."
Tenrai sighs and looks to Hiro, smiling gently, absently patting Kevlin's arm once more. "All good, Kevlin-san, all good. Mistake is all, Hai, Hiro-san?"
Fenris comes to a slow halt upon noticing the man's reaction and he shakes his head, crouching down some, "My apologies for alarming you, sir, but are you in need of assistance?" he asks, keeping his voice down so as not tointimidate the man further, and extends a hand.
Hiro nods, with a faint grin. "Hai, Tenrai-san," he mocks slightly. He looks towards Kevlin. "So.. not joining up with the Force?"
Kevlin grins wryly and pulls himself closer to Tenrai in mock-protection. "Naw..." he begins to say to Hiro. "I may someday, but I've been on the wrong side of the tracks for too long, ya know? Gotta keep it clean for a while."
Tenrai smiles and even begins to purr softly, "Friends are friends now... much better, ne?" she asks, looking hopefully into the eyes of her two compaions in turn.
Hiro raises an eyebrow quizzically. "Are you implying that being a cop isn't clean work?"
Smiles slowly begins breathing again. He peers up at death with his one good eye. Never one to turn down a helping hand, he eases his weight between the aluminum cane and the megadamage arm. He slowly musters up a smile...oh hang on...oh okay here...here it comes....he smiles. In a wow I'm not dead way. "Thanks you very much. I'm trying to get to the door without dying. Oh, and if you could kindly moosh the brat on the dancefloor..." He grins lopsidedly for real now to show he's joking. He moves his cane forward, thankful for his new escort. "I'm, ah, Roland. Thanks very much for bailing me out. If that sumo got his hands on me again...well it wouldn't be pretty."
Kevlin laughs softly in response to Hiro. "I meant I need to keep it clean BEFORE I do anything like that." He nods to Tenrai. "Everything is fine for the time being. But I've gotta get outta here. You going to be ok on your own?"
Fenris chuckles softly, "I'm afraid I cannot help you with that, Roland. I am Fenris Te'akane', it is a pleasure." The Councilor hath spoken. He reaches an arm around to try and give the poor man some additional support, given his injuries, Folks clear the path once they see who's coming. Of course, Doc Doom could get that reaction, couldn't he?
Tenrai smiles and nods, "hai... but kevlin-san know owe Tenrai dance soon, ne?"
Kevlin smiles back at Tenrai. "Hai." he says, mimicking the word he seems to hear flashed about. "I will remember."
Looking up into the hood, his eyes widen with surprise as he realizes the fame of his escort, then relax has he watches the swathe this iron giant cuts through the assorted costumed wights. Sumo--gets out of the way Mozart--drops his stick Quaker Oat Guy--oh don't even think about it buddy. For this first time in his life Smiles considers bionic conversion. "It's a pleasure to meet you, councilor" Of course, it's also a pleasure to not to be getting smooshed, but who keeps score at a time like this.
Kevlin releases Tenrai's arm and backs away, slowly at first, before turning and making his way to the door where he stands for a moment and takes in the morbid scene.
Smiles notices the seedy looking, inappropriately dressed fellow make his way towards the door--kinda looks familiar actually...oh well he's bushed. And he's only got one eye. Who knows about these things.
Hiro waves to Kevlin as he departs. "Later," he says dryly, before turning his attention back to Tenrai. He speaks in Japanese to her; a preferred language betwixt them.
Who said anything about morbid? Just because Fen looks like armoured death warmed over and asking for seconds...? As for the conversion... that's a tale best left for another time, though it can be found in dilluted or corrupted form amongst some of the citizenry. "We are almost there, sir, how are you holding up?"
Tenrai pouts and asks in a near whisper, a query in her native tongue.
Hiro nods sadly, and replies to Tenrai in very soft tones.
Tenrai looks floorward and nods, "Hai..." She rather it not be so late, but, "Party last more, see again, soon?"
Smiles shakes his head quickly yet wearily--the last ouces of nervous energy. "I think I'm going to make it, thanks. I really shouldn't have let myself get dragged along to this little ball. But you know how the womens is--" he gestures with his head derisively towards the woman on the dance floor, who isn't laughing any longer. He chuckles weakly. "What a brat. Anyway thank you very much for helping me out like this--" he notices the arm covering him from behind and the steady scan of the room from beneath Ten's hood. "Have you done this before?" He asks.
Hiro nods to Tenrai. "Absolutely. I've got a bit of paperwork to take care of... but I'll be here tomorrow, if you'll be?" He glances over to the door, and begins moving towards it. He turns around away and waves to Tenrai.
Fenris chuckles again and looks down toward his charge, "For some time, yes. When I was a Bouncer for the Succubus, and you are quite welcome. I'm glad to be of aid." he replies with a deep nod as he lets the man slowly support himself fully.
Tenrai smiles and nods, "Will be after work." She sighs and waves, "Baibai Hiro-san."
Smiles shifts his wight carefully back onto his cane, and gets ready for the last ten feet to the elevator. He turns and waves to his newfound guardian. "Thanks again councilor. You've been a big help."
Fenris bows some, "My pleasure, Roland, I wish you a swift recovery and restful slumber." Formal sometimes, isn't he?
Back to the Archives
Back to Main Page