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Melody Klein // Costume -- Mask

"Yes, Zach, it is me. No I'm not a Pikachu and I'm not cold but I will let you know if that changes." His worry was sweet, though she found herself feeling a little self-conscious at how much skin she was showing suddenly. Not from his gaze but over all. She was going to have to have a talk with Dongmei about her costume later.

Then the guilt at not warning him where she was inviting him ate began to gnaw at her guts and she almost fell over with apologies. She didn't but she wanted to, had no idea that this would be such a shock to him, she kind of forgot that mansions and parties like this weren't... normal?

She was already trying to set aside some sort of plan to make this up to him.

"There's not that many people here, but I can see how it'd seem like it," she replied with a soft smile, trying to help maybe have him freaking out just a little less. "But yes, it is a mansion. And I'm not sure the price of the chandelier, it's never come up in conversation but I'm sure it does cost a bit? But that kind of comes with having a mansion."

Sweet, precious bean.

Taking his hand, she moved to lead him to the refreshment table. Maybe getting something to drink would help calm his nerves some. She didn't know if he was old enough to drink yet, something that had yet to come up in conversations between them now that she thought about it, but... maybe one alcoholic drink wouldn't hurt? If he wanted.

"Some people live in mansions, admittedly. I don't know what they do with all the rooms and such, my house is much smaller then Jada's and I know we don't even use all the rooms? But the space makes it easy to throw parties and such, like this one. Which is what we're here to do. Enjoy a simple... ish... costume party that comes with food and drinks and music to dance to."

A small pat to his arm. "And there might be some games or I think I heard a ride of some sort was going on as well? But we can just hang around and eat if you'd like." Less... stressful for him? Maybe?

Ciel - Dress - Mask

Ciel arrived a bit late to the party, she had run across a youma on her way that she had to dust. She had come mainly to speak to the chatelaine, Jada Chamberlyn.

She was hoping that the model might be willing to do a bit of work for her families company's fashion division. She was always trying to take some of the work off of her grandfather's shoulders.

But beyond that she did think this was a good chance to get out and socialize without being powered.

The scar on her shoulder was visible from the dress she was wearing, She hoped it didn't draw to much attention but at the same time she had long since decided to not hide any of her scars.

She looked around the party and eventually found the woman she was looking for.

"Pardonne-moi mademoiselle Chamberlyn. May I borrow you for a moment."The young knight said hoping she wasn't interrupting anything.

Pythia - costume

Oh, that was flattery at its finest. Pythia was no skinny twig model, but she was horrifically vain, and the sidelong compliment warmed the cockles of her cold, half-dead heart. She stepped briefly aside to let her fox companion slide past, considering the snacks while he loaded his plate busily. "You're right," she said after a moment, and began to pile her own plate again. "They'll probably just donate all of the leftovers, but how much of it will go bad? It's better to be eaten.By starving college kids, like me." Though Pythia was clearly not starving, the point still stood. She was hungry, at least. That probably counted.

Her grin to the fox was sharp and amused. "I can probably manage a little patience for such a kind fox as yourself.Chances are good we'll be able to manage without you stepping on my toes; foxes are nimble little creatures on their own. You'll have me to teach you." and what a playful little fox he was turning out to be. It amused her, and the woman finished loading up her first plate. "We won't want to take too much, if we're going to dance, however. A dance on a full stomach is just asking for trouble, and our plates would probably be snatched up and disposed of if we left them unguarded."

There were a couple interesting points about networking, and Pythia laughed. "Yes, the point typically is getting to know them and having them know me. But not everyone here is wearing a very protective mask. For example." she reached out and turned him, pointing into the crowd. "That over there is the mayor. And over there," another finger pointed, another direction, "she works in magazines, probably doing a write-up. Over there is an heiress to a local businessman, not unlike our hostess, just on a different scale. All of them want to be seen and remembered, or they would be nothing more than another phoenix, or a fox. Sometimes networking is just making an investment in future conversation. Observation."

Jack Burnett as a Fox

"'Kind'?" Behind his mask, thick brows rose and Jack could not hold back a laugh. "I assure you, young madam, that 'kind' is not really a word used to describe the likes of me. I appreciate the compliment, but obviously, this just means we must get better acquainted with one another."

He took a bite of a chocolate-dipped strawberry bat. Fruit bat, he thought, amused. "If by 'kind', you were referring to the observations I've made of you, I can assure you that kindness has nothing to do with it. I simply state what I notice and deduce. Also, I make a point not to lie, so you can be certain I genuinely mean every word I say."

Chuckling, Jack nodded in agreement with the suggestion of and reasoning behind why they shouldn't take too much food. "Fair enough. At least there's always afterward to help ourselves."

The young man followed the phoenix's gestures toward each person as she identified them. He smiled slyly at her when she finished. "Yes...but there's still the matter of you would get any of them to recognize you. Unless you resort to clever little slight-of-hand tricks like a business card slipped into an unguarded pocket."

Finishing the last of his hors-d'oeuvres, the fox disposed of his plate and swiped a few napkins in order to clean up the corners of his mouth and wipe off his hands. "Lady Phoenix...I'm going to go find the restroom in order to wash up," he told his vibrant counterpart. "When I return, I'll seek you out on the dance floor. But please, don't feel pressured to hurry; take your time. The night is young yet."

~*~*~*~

Exit to the Ballroom Dance Floor

Jada // Outfit - Hair

Genevieve might notice the little ways Jada spoke when confronted with business. Shoulders went from relaxed to straightening, down and back stiffly, smile sharpening and warming. A professional demeanor, almost half at odds with the fairy wings fluttering behind her. Movements went from wild and haphazard to slightly restrained, careful.

"A pleasure to meet you, Ciel." Now that she had the woman's name, she could remember... and Beaulieu rang a bell as well. "I'd love to speak with you sometime." she reached out with a manicured hand to take the card, flashing the shorter woman a smile. "I can give you a call in the next day or two to set up a meeting to discuss?" The card was on good stock, carefully made. Elegant, simplicity. She'd have to research some more on the designs that they did, and cleanup from the party would certainly keep her busy tomorrow. "More likely, Ms. Karpusi, it will be the day after. As I'm sure you can imagine, corralling the staff and an overexcited hostess will be quite the chore."

Her smile was quick, a flash of teeth. "I'll make sure to pass along your compliments to Giulia. She worked very hard planning. Please, enjoy." she watched the other woman slip away, turning back to Genevieve and tossing her a small wink. "Now, let's go plan girl's night and see if we recognize anyone."

"I worried it might be. It is for Halloween and not everyone dresses up so much, even though you used the word masquerade in the invites." Which to her meant something more...elaborate and less out of the bag, or from a costume store like Party City. It meant something a bit, or a lot, nicer and fancier. Smiling down at the older woman, Genevieve was comfortable in the others arms as she stood there, glancing about the area. "Mmm, I'm glad you don't mind. I figured you'd understand. This isn't her sort of place." Not like it was Jada's and her own sort of scene. This was what they were used to and enjoyed even.

"Then let me know and we can arrange a night at my place. Whenever you can arrange for your wards to be watched. We can even try some group home world travel." The last part was whispered into the others ear, she didn't want other people to hear it. "Christa likes it a lot. We can have fun there." And explore and try and start cleaning. It was a whole planet...there was no way to clean it all. But the main house she always arrived in...maybe they could slowly work on that.

"Ph! That's a good idea and so sweet of her!" The mention of charity of course had her attention, how could it not? And it was such a good cause too! "I'll donate and help - it's a good cause. That's cute though - wanting to hold her first charity. She'll be hosting big events by the time she's our age." She was starting young, as far as she was concerned...and it was a good thing. She'd become a good hostess and planner.

"Mmm, that is true. So I guess there is no job for you here than. No wish for a prince from me."

Turning her focus, and stepping away from Jada a bit, her own dark blue eyes landed on the pale haired girl. She was so short and it made her cute. Her costume though was lovely, it wasn't over the top like her own as the girls was playful with all the stars and such on it. It was nice.

"Oh! Don't worry you aren't interrupting." Waving a hand about, smiling brightly at the white haired girl. She had noted the changed in Jada and she took a few steps back to allow the two to talk. But she kept close, she was curious and honestly. The group name mentioned...she'd heard it before. It wasn't one she knew much about though, hardly anything really.

It was when Jada mentioned clean up that Genevieve laughed softly. "I think I can help with the clean up. I'm sure having both of us handling things it'll get done faster. I'm certain after helping to host this event and arranging it all...a helping hand would be more than helpful - you must be tired. It'll also be a good time to plan a girls night at my place." It would be the perfect time actually.

When the night had come to an end, as all nights had to, Genevieve was happy to see the little hostess - she was adorable. Listening to her yarn and talk and mispronounce someones name...it was all cute, but also spoke to how tired the little girl likely was. Genevieve herself had donated a good amount of money - it was a good cause. She was happy to have won a basket, though happier to have helped with raising some helpful funds, the dark haired female went to find Jada and offer to help in whatever way she could tonight. Maybe she'd leave with some left overs for Christa as well....she'd like that - right?



(Finishing post for me.)

((Editing))

She felt a little bad, hearing him call himself a poor boy. It may be true, she hadn't thought to ask ever because it hadn't mattered as far as their friendship was concerned, but she felt bad that he felt so out of place. Taking his empty cup from him, she sat it down on the table and took his hand.

"Wealth doesn't matter, you know. Not on a night like this." Not in her life period, though she was lucky in the fact that her family could take care of her if need be. "This is supposed to be fun and different and well I guess it is different, just not in the way I had thought."

She should have mentioned something before hand, she really should have.

Thankfully there was a bit of a distraction at the reminder of the ride, though she didn't recall if that was up and running yet. Still holding his hand she moved to lead him that way, in hopes it was.

"I did mention some sort of ride, yes. Though I don't recall if Giuila or Jada said it was running yet. We should go find out~"

When he leaned close and asked about his costume, she giggled good naturedly and made sure to keep her voice low in case others could hear.

"According to Dongmei, my work friend, you are a Dusknoir. Which is a Ghost type Pokemon." Fitting she felt considering his senshi side. "Though it's more of a humanoid type take on the Pokemon?"