Welcome to Gaia! ::

((If you can think of something awesome to tie your pokemon in with N's partner, then let me know and we might be able to roll with it. But it has to be awesome.

And Hexum is still cool! Or at least he would like to believe you think so.))

The setting sun lowered behind Reid and Henrietta as they walked to the banquet, warping their shadows. He only looked ahead, not really knowing what proper dating etiquette was either.

"This banquet is supposed to be a chance for Team Plasma to inform the public of their mission statement and answer questions people might have. Have you ever heard any of their rallies?"

****

At 8 o'clock, the sun was finally done setting. Night had fallen over Castelia, but the many bright lights in the city kept the energy alive. The line into the Plasma Building was wrapped around the block, and it was clearly the most popular building on the street.

Fortunately for Jump and Salieri, they could bypass the line thanks to Interpol's perks.

The Interpol Agent parked the car and got out. His normally undone waistcoat was buttoned up, and his white shirt was tucked in. The small things made him look much classier.

"Alright, you gotta get out of the car."
"Uh, let's wait. Until everyone's gone."
"It's a party, the point is to be there before the people are gone."
"Okay, okay!"

The other car door opened, and Salieri stood up onto the street.

Her slender red dress almost reached the floor, barely showing her flat yet decorative ankle length sandals. A slit up to her mid thigh showed off a lot of leg and the top of the dress had one shoulder. Golden triangles adorned the dress in floral yet geometric pattenrs.

Sal's hair was in a Chinese Bun, held together with crossed chopsticks. Her side bangs were held to her head by circular golden hair clips. "This outfit is problematic."

"What? Shuddup, you're a knockout."

Salieri huffed as she walked across the street with Jump. "It's too long, too loose, I feel like a China Doll. And you can't say things like that when we get inside, people will think this is a date."
"Ugh, don't even joke about that. The last thing I need to look like is a creeper."
"Hey, I might be sixteen!"
Jump clapped his hands over his ears. "I'm not listening lalala, still not legal lalala-wait, did you say maybe?"
The Battle Girl looked away, seemingly embarrassed. "Er, I don't really know my birthday. You know how it goes."
He shrugged. "Eh. Not really."

The Interpol Agent flashed his badge to the bouncer at the door, who kindly opened the door for the duo. They walked inside, following a red carpet that led past the ordinary yet large lobby into the ballroom.

The ballroom was huge, the ceiling of it stretching from the first to second floors of the building. Many different tables were set up near the entrance and on the sides. On the far side of the room was a stage with a panel set up, as well as caterers and a bar ("Oh snap, found the bar!" Jump yelped, literally snapping his fingers) near the windows. The center floor, which was a polished durable wood, was cleared up for future dancing.

Two large chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and a balcony that could be accessed by stairs in the room lined the inside perimeter of the second floor space. The rest of the second floor could only be accessed by a set of doors guarded by bouncers, since the elevators had been shut down.

Jump and Salieri went to claim a table. "Alright, I gotta go make a call. Sit tight, okay? If you bounce-"
"Yeah yeah, no deal, no deal," Salieri grumbled, sitting down and folding her arms. She was one of the first people inside and didn't know anybody there. It was going to suck.

The Interpol Agent left the Battle Girl, walking over to the bar. As he did, he dialed Zack's number on his xtransceiver.

((And now, the big reveal!

Next post.))

Henrietta shook her head. "No, I haven't." She turned her head to look up at Reid. "Why did you ask me on a date?"

Reid pondered how he would answer that for a moment. He looked down at the ground.

"You see very concerned with the well being of your pokemon. I thought you would be interested in what Team Plasma had to say about themselves and their feelings on pokemon."

The psychic paused. "Besides, I needed a date and you seemed very willing to help me." He tapped his index and middle fingers to his temple. "I suppose my methods were unorthodox. I apologize."

****

In the Plasma Building Main Lobby, a receptionist picked up the phone, answering Elysia's call while a steady stream of guests trickled in through the doors.

"Hello, this is the Team Plasma Building in Castelia, how may we help you?" she asked, sounding interested even thought she was painting her nails.

(("You put out," said Reid, his eyes opening wide with enthusiasm.))

Being ex-government had its perks. Skipping block-long queues wasn't one of them. In a strange twist of fate that involved scaling the building opposite and jumping into Plasma's side gardens when nobody was looking, Zack had begun his infiltration of Plasma HQ.

There was a party atmosphere, he could feel it hanging around the front gates like a cloud. From what he'd seen, most people had just thrown on a white shirt and called it formal, but Zack was dressed in a tailored black suit, red shirt with black tie. It was a shame that nobody was going to see it. Or if they did, they'd at least assume he was a lost party-goer and not trying to rob the place.

With the dulled sound of eager voices on his back, Zack stole around the side of the large building, into its shadow. There were patrolmen skirting the grounds, but owing his early years to government training meant Zack knew how to avoid them. Then his Xtransceiver started vibrating.

"Son of a b***h," he muttered, answering Jump's call, "What?"

((Ten year olds out of bed at 8pm?! CALL THE POLICE! wahmbulance

dramallama

That said, when I was about that age my friend had a 7.30 bedtime))

((Jump and Richy being cousins involved some retcon, and at the end of the day it didn't work because we made it happen. It worked because Red made it happen. Because he's that badass that he actually retconned his own family line.))

"Irkwill, huh?" The secretary looked at the log book for tonight's events. Once all the guests arrived, dinner would begin to get served and there would time for dancing. And then afterwards, Ghetsis would give his speech and answer questions from the public. Rounding that off, dancing would resume again until the banquet was over.

"I can pencil you in for a tentative 8:30," the secretary told Helena's manager. It was the end of the first dancing block, before Ghetsis went on. "Will she be ready in fifteen minutes? We need time to prep her."

****

The question was a guard breaker. Reid remained composed while the question racked his brain. Still in his psychic stance, he scanned the people on the street for answers. It wasn't easy to find what he was looking for.

"We get to know each other first. No one holds hands with a complete stranger," he told her, smirking a bit. He added in a light laugh to ease the mood, and although it didn't sound fake it was. "I take it you've never been on one before."

****

Jump owed some of his early years to government training as well. It did not stop him from calling his friend's cell while Zack was on a mission. "I told you dude," Jump grinned, speaking into the phone while sitting down at the bar. "So much wine. The bar is stocked. When are you getting here?"

A hulking man arrived, opting to stand rather than sit. Probably so he didn't break the barstool. Jump had seen large people before, so it didn't really surprise him. Although he was a little surprised that the man had a suit to wear. Wonder how much he needs to drink to get drunk.

The Interpol Agent turned away slightly and leaned forward into his xtransceiver. "Cause the party only just started. Ghetsis goes on after 8:30 for a speech, you've got a half an hour before security gets real tight and they close the entrance doors."

****

And Salieri still sat by herself. She looked at her xtransceiver. Only three minutes had passed? The Battle Girl groaned and leaned back in her chair. A waiter approached behind her with a tray full of glasses.

"Champagne-"

Sal grabbed a glass and downed the entire drink, putting it back on the tray while taking another. "Thanks," she mumbled. The waiter blinked a few times, and then left. Salieri sighed and held up her glass while looking out the window.

"Here's to...red tableclothes, I guess? This party can suck it."

((kenta is 11 thank u very much =3= lol))
"oh, um, yeah, sorry about that, mister" kenta said as the two took lukas hands and stood back up. "are you arite sasha?" he said now looking at the young girl. she nodded and smiled. "thats good" the boy said with a smile. "anyway, were sorry about that, she got alittle over excited and well... you know the rest" sweatdrop

"huh?" kenta wasnt sure what to say." um... she dosnt realy talk, no. she um..." kenta looked at sasha. she smiled and put a finger to her lips. kenta smiled back. "she is mute. its kinda hard for her to do signs but i can usually tell what she wants to say"