nexus_sages | The Samhain Ball - Come as You Aren't

The Samhain Ball - Come as You Aren't

A woman strides through the Nexus, garbed in royal finery of a distinctly Elizabethan style. In the crook of her arm, she carries an ebony scepter shod and capped in silver. There may be something familiar about her confident bearing, her angular features, her mismatched eyes. When she pauses to speak, the cadence of her words might spark recognition--is this Schön?!

"People of the Nexus, friends, in the world from which I hail we stand on the cusp of a special day, a harvest-fest when the walls between worlds grow thin, when masks and costumes are worn to frighten away the wicked spirits--or to invite them in on more congenial terms. So on this day, I invite you, each and every one of you, to join me in a revel to bid farewell to Summer, and welcome with fire and song the coming dark! Join me, won't you?" Letting her gaze sweep the crowd, she raps the heel of her scepter once against something solid, vanishing in a flash and leaving a sparkling trail for the curious to follow.

A cool wind herds dry, crackling leaves through the gathering gloom. On the cusp between the parklands and the residential district, darkness and cloudy skies have been slowly coalescing for days around a stately house of Gothic style, ivy-encrusted and showing its age somewhat. A square tower stands vigil over the entryway, tall windows overlooking the flagstone drive looping around a fountain gone dry. The house’s angular wings stretch to either side, the windows dark save for occasional glints and gleams of colored lights bobbing within. A glow does creep over the line of the roof, however, and the faint throb of distant music hint at something happening behind the house. The door stands open, a silent invitation to every brave soul who passes by.

((Happy Halloween! Enjoy the festivities. All LOLs are optional. Threadhopping is encouraged. Backtagging is forever, so don’t worry about missing out: we’ll still be here when you get back from your more mundane ghosties and goblins.))

Playlist
Visualosity
The Entrance
The Ballroom
The Banquet
The Bonfire
The Corn Maze
Dark Corners
Costume Icon Requests
The Photo Booth

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I would like to." She wouldn't have mentioned how much she loves dancing if she didn't want to dance with him. When they're not at a big fancy party, she's going to have to talk to him about picking up on these things. "You won't embarrass me. And it's okay if you're not comfortable dancing in public. You can watch me dance with my brothers and a giant tree if you'd rather."

Of course he picked up on it, that's why he took lessons. He gives the Verichau a sideways glance as it's perched precariously on his shoulder, trying to scale up his head.

"Think you can behave and be a super good girl junior detective for a little bit? I'll give you something nice if you behave."

Verity gets a bashful smile.

"Shall we then? I practiced very thoroughly for this. It would be a shame if it went to waste." Really, he just hopes he can remember everything he was taught. but a chance to spend time like this with Verity is important.

Pick up and run with these things, then. They're both shy and they both suck at asking for things they want. Teasing her about it doesn't make her feel safe asking for anything. Feelings of safety about anything are in short supply for her right now.

Verichao nods enthusiastically. She will be the best! The best... whatever he just said. She can guard the cupcakes! She'll only faceplant into one of them while trying to eat it, honest. ...maybe two, when she stumbles away from the first one with a face full of frosting.

"Okay." She waits for him to put the chao down before turning back to the dance floor. "What kind of dancing did you learn?"

Oh Verity, you'll learn to trust some day. Teasing her is the last thing he wants to do. With the Chau on buffet abuse security detail, Katsuya is more or less free to take Verity's hand and pull her closer.

"Ah, a European style. Flamenco dancing, actually." He blushes pretty bad but he's going to lead her toward the ballroom. "I've practiced quite thoroughly for the last several weeks." When he found time to do that is beyond anyone's guess, but Katsuya is nothing if not determined when it comes to something he sets his mind to.

She knows how to trust. It's who to trust and when that's giving her most of her problems.

Oh, they're getting cozy? In public? Will wonders never cease. No complaints about it here. She's happy to be lead into the ballroom. "Flamenco dancing? Looks like you'll be the one teaching me tonight." Having to teach her can only make him look better, right?

He may have to make a special request of the band, unless he can flamenco to classic rock.

No, no that won't do. It has to be right. He'll politely request a song from the band and wait for that. He's not confident enough to dance to anything, not when he's still counting the beats and the steps Ulala taught him in his head while he leads.

The first snap of his heel against the floor makes the tension ease from his shoulders. He'll move behind Verity, guiding her gently through the steps. Every now and then she'll hear him counting under his breath as he guides her, intent on doing this right.

Ulala had been right about the costume--it worked quite well for the purpose at hand. Whether it entertains anyone else or not is inconsequential. He really just wanted to be able to show Verity a good time at the party.

Verity doesn't mind waiting and watching the other dancers. Every now and then there's a flash of a chao. Some are dancing, some are playing with other people's costumes, one has made a game of riding people's feet while they dance.

She's seen a little bit of flamenco dancing so she's not caught entirely unaware when his heel snaps against the floor. A deep breath is drawn and released, and she relaxes, allowing him to guide her through the steps with little resistance or hesitation. They're both concentrating too much to make conversation, but her smile says enough for now.

She's enjoying herself immensely, once she's figured out the pattern to the dance and can move through it without feeling helpless.

He's not quite good enough to spin her quite so fast or switch positions with her on a dime; they'll both have to practice this much more clearly. But after Verity's got it down they're able to move about the ballroom floor more or less in sync.

Katsuya is string enough to toss her and dip her though, so if she ever wants to try that kind of thing, he can at least catch her no problem.

The next song is a slow dance and even Katsuya can manage that with little guiding. He's glad for a bit of a break after the last.

"Not terrible?" He finally asks, smiling truly and honestly happy he managed to do it properly.

Practicing means he'd have to dance with her more. Is he sure he wants to make that kind of offer? She might start expecting things, like dancing, and then where will he be?

Tossing... that should wait until they're both more comfortable with the dance. Dipping would be fine. That doesn't require her to either be caught or land in these shoes.

"Not terrible," she confirms when they've settled into the slow dance. "You didn't really think I'd laugh at you, did you?" She's a little scared he did.

Swaying in time with the music, his hands around Verity's waist....this is the sort of thing he could do all night. It's less to keep track of, and he gets the double benefit of practically hugging her.

She's welcome to expect dancing, because why else bother to learn if you don't use it?

"I feared I'd be bad enough to warrant it." Katsuya chuckles. "There's a difference. One is malicious intent, and the other is sheer humorous levels of ineptitude. I did not think so low of you. Don't worry."

Maybe now he's starting to see the appeal of dancing? It's a really lovely way to spend time with someone. The height difference makes it a little hard for her to get her arms around his shoulders, but her hands folded together just below the back of his neck is nice too.

The explanation doesn't quite square with what he said. It sounds good, but. He'd never let a suspect get away with that sort of answer. "I wouldn't invite you to do something with the intention of embarrassing you. Even if it's supposed to be a joke, it isn't funny." She doesn't want to fight, but she doesn't want him to keep saying things that hurt her feelings, either.

He enjoys spending time with Verity in any capacity, but seeing how much she enjoys dancing, he could definitely get used to the activity. Maybe one of these days he should play his guitar for her.

That he at least has confidence with.

But, ah. "I see. I apologize then. It was a poor attempt at humor to hide my nerves. I wanted to come, otherwise I would not have worked to get the costume and my dancing up to snuff. I wanted to see you. To spend time with you. To show you I can learn and adapt too." He isn't aware of how much she's trying to learn about his language and culture, but he has noticed it somewhat. He's trying to reciprocate.

"Will you forgive me?"

Yes, he should absolutely yes play his guitar for her yes. Also, yes. She would love that.

She nods and sighs in relief. That's what she needed to hear. It gets him more than forgiveness, it gets him a hug. "Yes. Of course. Thank you."

That's getting easier, which is a good thing. Maybe there's hope for them yet. "Spending time with you is the important part. What we do together is open to negotiation, okay? There are plenty of nice options, after all. And it's more fun if we're both enjoying ourselves."

"Of course." Hugs are good, and it doesn't even interrupt their dancing.

"Mhm. Tonight, however, I intend to show you a good time as your dance partner." Forehead bumps are his way of bringing a bit more intimacy to their hugs.

"And before you ask, yes, I'm rather enjoying myself."

Sometimes it's like neither of them know what they're saying. 'Show her a good time' indeed. And then not kissing her. But the forehead bump is nice, in its way, and she'll take it for now.

She'd just been opening her mouth to ask that. Sneaky sneak, making such a lucky guess. She sighs and gives him a rueful smile. "Okay then. Too late to get out of it now."

Verity's idea of acceptable touching in any kind of context, especially platonic and in public, is skewed. Sorry, dear, Katsuya isn't quite comfortable making out with her on the dance floor. He finds the slow dance itself incredibly intimate, considering how close they are.

"You act like I'm regretting that decision." He laughs so softly it could be a sigh and sways with her a bit more. "I feel incredibly lucky right now. Being here with you."

He was warned that she's no good at these things. But, be fair, a quick little peck is a far cry from making out. And she isn't pressing. She hasn't brought it up, she isn't teasing him about it. There's only the quiet longing for things she can't have, and that's so familiar it's almost comforting.

He might regret it later, when his feet are hurting and she still wants to dance. "I'll take lucky over regretful any day." She glances down at the chao hopping around nearby. "I think they're trying to dance like you."

"If you taught them how to dance you'd be unstoppable. The sheer cuteness at your beck and call would overwhelm any opponent." The officer's laugh is quiet and though he spares a glance for the cuties, his eyes are on Verity.

When the music picks up again he'll move with it, more comfortable now adapting his style to what is being played rather than requesting specifically.

"I'll keep that in mind next time someone at the market is giving me a hard time," she agrees with a laugh. She's American, and she's not shy about laughing. She may not do it much, but when she does, it's something to share. "Still, they're pretty cute hopping around like that."

Luckily for Katsuya, dancing to rock music doesn't require knowing a lot of fancy footwork. Just find the beat and sway to it. "Naugus said some of them might end up bonding with other people too."

"Considering at least one has taken after you, this doesn't surprise me in the least." He hums along with the tune then looks up suddenly. "Oh dear. I left that one alone at the banquet. Will it be alright on its own Verity?"

He hasn't immediately run off to go deal with it, which is progress in controlling his spasmic anxiety. Rather he gives Verity a guilty look and glances down.

"I'm sorry..I should have been more careful of the time."

"Just the one so far." Unless something's changed since she got to the party. She tries not to play favorites, so she's not sure how one particular one bonded to her. "I'm sure she'll be fine. Someone will put her down when she wants to go play somewhere else. Schön's given all the waitstaff strict instructions to cater to the chao's demands. And I'm sure people have been feeding them all kinds of things, so I've already planned to spend tomorrow nursing their tummy aches."

She is glad he's willing to wait and listen instead of running off. It's much better than being stranded on the dance floor and made to look like a fool.

Her reassurances seem to ease his nerves, and when she says it will be alright he stops glancing off toward the banquet hall like he's set the room on fire. An legitimate, if not highly improbable, threat considering his skillset.

"Alright. I won't worry overmuch about her then." He nods and pulls her back in close for dancing.

Nobody's set any room on fire, in whole or in part. The only things on fire are the fires that are supposed to be on fire. And possibly some sick burns, when Naugus shows up.

"How about not worrying at all? Do you think you can do that?" She'd be very impressed if he could. Dancing with him is wonderful, but it would be better if he relaxed.

Jim doesn't know what she's talking about since he's burning up the dance floor with Harrowheart a ways over. But nothing is actually literally on fire that shouldn't be, yes.

"Hm." The officer pretend to think hard about the request, eventually giving her a small smile. "I can only promise to try. but I will try my best." And that is the truth. As the song ends he'll grab two of the champagne flutes from a passing waiter and hand one to her.

That's commitment to his promise, Katsuya drinking in any capacity.

Nobody knows what she's talking about since she isn't talking.

"I can live with that." It's obviously hard for him, and the effort is appreciated. She'll find some way to thank him for it later.

She's halfway to sipping her champagne before... wait... yeah, there she goes, figuring out what's going on.

"Um. Katsuya? Have you been in the magic candy?"

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