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Observer

"I don't know what you mean by that. I think he looks quite fashionable and charming. And I find this dress and mask to be quite... fitting of who I am." She froze, for a moment, however, when the ghost tapped her chin, because the sensation was strange, cool and unfamiliar. She wanted to flinch back, but part of her said 'No, lean towards that touch, that touch is wanted, desired, safe.'

When Resilience spoke, Observer was able to unfreeze, moving past the confusion of why she had the urge to react to this strange man as if he was Resilience, she looked between them, confused. The hand going through the wrist of the Strange Man was a little bizarre to watch.

And even more bizarre to see, given that when the Strange Man had touched her, she had felt it, physical and real.

She watched the interaction, confused for a long moment, unsure of what she should do.

Finally, she said "You keep giving hints, and you speak like you really, truly know me. Why? How?"

Observer

Resilience's response to her question had Observer turning to look at him, eyes wide and confused. "He did?" She paused at the correction from the Strange Man. "Does? She is? Can we meet her?"

It seemed strange, to Observer, that there was a chance that someone who... Was her? might be here, that this man knew her once, knew her now and somehow knew this her as another version of that her. She nibbled her lip a little, one of those nervous gestures she often made when something was overwhelming her just a touch.

But at the same time, she wanted to meet this other woman, who supposedly was here. It made her feel confused. There was a moment where she felt lost in her own skin, felt a sensation of not being feminine enough for Resilience... Or was it the Strange Man?

She had to resolve this, but she was not sure how.

The Red Prince

The Red Prince withheld correction; she could think that name was intentional. Ey continued walking in silence, burdened somewhat by the fitted pants and damask-patterned waistcoat. Over it sat a coal-black blazer, embroidered at the waist to mark the end of solid color and the beginning of striped coattails. Aiguilettes roped and wound and hid the metal corset, its opacity and shape lending em form. Most cumbersome, however, was the gilded cage of a mask that deprived em of drinking anything. Even speaking against it, ey felt eir hot breath echo back at him, like ey spoke intimacies to emself.

But the mask didn't fully obscure the boyish smile at her obtuse name. Magic was afoot here — whimsical, mischievous, and ubiquitous as ozone. Was it coded in the artifacts? In the drapes? Was it generated by each of them? Recombinant with their native magics and whatever force tailored them into formalwear? Was it the Wonder itself?

Were the more senseless guests talking to its old denizens, then? The thought roused gooseflesh. Ey swallowed the smile, gaze brushing the floor before looking out again to the butterfly spread over the girl's starseed, then to her.

"Instep? How fitting." She was polite cover. She kept up, played good sport to eir social inefficiencies. If she noticed what ey was, she kept it to herself. Perhaps she was Negaverse — if ey was invited, then there had to be more — or just distracted. Or the mask held a touch of magic that kept eir nature hidden, much like how the golden butterfly mask kept her hidden. Much like how the slim cut of her dress never hindered her as she kept up, willing enough for polite play. Gloved and clothed and groomed the part until her slim figure and vermillion hair were simple, but brilliantly executed, focal points.

Eir eyes flickered off of her with the subject change. "What do you think of them? Are they old, dusty things that find ways to crawl back into our lives or are they worth venerating like this?" Eir shoulders skewed with the burden of gesture, with one hand moving to hip and the other spreading out at the crowd. Decorated bodies stood in their line of sight. Eir lips pursed; ey vented a nonplussed snort before breaking stride.

The Red Prince passed between a couple, sidestepped the next, skirted a round gathering of sequins and silks and velvets and pearls. There the pedestals stood, as dissonant as the music and the venue, and on them sat many choices.

Zen

Zen quickly stepped into the gallery, after having gone up the stairs to grab a quick drink and taking advantage of the fact that they didn’t ask if one was of age or not here. He only took one glass though. He wasn’t going to get blind drunk tonight! That would be a terrible first impression! And he didn’t want to have the hangover later anyway. So, he carried it into the Gallery, and couldn’t help but whistle at the many artifacts on display and taking a sip of the wine.

The Gallery certainly was impressive and didn’t disappoint! Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to be labeled as to where they were from, which meant that they could only guess which ones belonged to who. And there were over hundreds of Homeworlds and Wonders, it would be a guess if they could actually figure out any of them!

He wandered around the place for a bit, just looking at all of the things on display, when he came to something that made him feel a twinge of familiarity. He was… sure he had seen this piece before! It looked as though it were the human body… but instead of being solid objects and the right colors, it was as though it were modeled off of the universe instead. As though the universe was just one large system…

He took another sip of the wine and suddenly felt a little light-headed. After shaking his head, trying to get rid of the dizziness, he could swear that he saw the lights in the Gallery… changing? He looked around but could swear that he was taller. And those within the Gallery… were they in the Gallery? The people that he could see seemed to suddenly switch between how they looked now and… something else.

What could possibly be going on?

((Zen is open for interaction, under the effects of the wine))

Observer

Observer blinked at his hesitance, and was going to respond, but then... Resilience seized the day, and basically pulled her off. She looked back at the ghost of her, and maybe his, past, confused but waved, with an apologetic look on her face for the rude leaving.

When they got a ways off, she turned to Resilience, frowning and said "I don't like being hauled around, you know." She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, and then opened them as she looked up at him. "I get that you were uncomfortable, but that does not mean you should be rude, or hauling me off at the first chance. I was trying to learn things, find out more. Your possessive and protective instincts are something I adore, but you can't just make decisions for me like that."

She took another breath, before saying "I want to find her. Let's go." She began to search through the much fuller crowd, hunting for someone who she felt seemed to be familiar to her, someone who would call to her.

She noticed a telescope, and was about to pause by it when she saw a ghostly figure, and once again, had that feeling of familiarity, and this time, some unease, though it did not anger her. The woman wore a black dress, had her hair in curls tamed by careful pinning and ribbons. Observer paused, just for a moment, and then approached her.

"Hello?"

The strange but familiar woman turned and her eyes went wide as she looked at them both. When she saw Resilience, a look of warmth, but also maybe pain and regret, crossed her face. When she looked at Observer, it was warmth and curiosity and reserve. "Well well. Hello. How everyone has changed..."

Resilience

He frowned still despite having expected her reaction almost to the letter. All things he knew and was fully aware of, but still he couldn't help himself so he simply bowed his head apologetically and waited for her to make her decision on whether she wanted to try and find that her. When she did, he nodded and followed along, eyes wide open as he skimmed through the faces in the crowd.

It'd gotten bigger, he noticed, what with the ghost presence becoming more and more...well, in the present.

Every now and then he would glance around for Observer, being careful not to lose her, too, and eventually when he looked her way he saw that she saw...someone. And he followed her as she approached that someone.

Black dress, tamed curls...a pretty face, though in truth he could only see the bottom half. But it wasn't hard to tell. What he saw on her face was similar to The Man's, though there was warmth in her gaze.

"You must be..." he started, then paused given he didn't know her name.

Observer

Observer was mildly annoyed that he did not even verbally respond to her, because it felt like he was avoiding it, because he would do it again if it came up again.

She really hoped not, because if it did, that would likely be an argument between them, and they had mostly avoided serious ones. This would be serious.

There was no way it would damage them long term, but it would be hard on both of them.

Observer glanced between them both, a feeling of confusion growing over her. Part of her regretted finding this woman already, because she was so out of place. The rest of her said this was what they needed, because maybe the woman would give them answers that they needed. Observer noted the Cosmos colors in the woman's hair, and her eyes widened.

"I must be...?" She asked, quiet and with a tilting head, an action similar to one Observer often made.

"We met a... man. He was seeking someone who I think was you. He knew us. Said that I have always been beautiful, and that he knew me, then and now, and... Implied that you are me..." Her tone was plaintive, and confused, and the other Her, something she began to be more and more sure was true, studied her silently, then gave a slow nod.

"We are the same, though I am but a pale ghost of the past. You are the future." Her eyes turned back to Resilience, and she reached over to place her fingers under his chin, something that was far less of a reach for her then it was for Observer. Observer stayed still, as the other studied him, then turned back to Observer, the sadness in her eyes even deeper. "Be wise, be careful, and... He is as handsome as ever, and I am glad you found him."

She turned her hand to touch Observer now. The cold fingers slid through her face, and Observer froze, getting flashes of the feeling of longing, a strong arm around her shoulders, the Man from before holding her close. Then the fingers withdrew, and the Other said "I must find him... I think it is best if we not seek each other out again this night... But there are others here who you might have know, if you wish more." She slipped away, giving the telescope one last look, a smile of pride on her face in that moment.