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The Charity Benefit (2) - The Charity Benefit has drawn a social crowd and they seem keen to make conversation as well as friends. The room is full of compliments and kind words and every now and then it looks like you're catching someone's eye and one person in particular seems to be paying more attention to you than the others. The stranger lingers by a display table showcasing some of the donated auction items. They look familiar but you can’t quite place why. If you try to approach them, the stranger suddenly seems to disappear before your eyes. It might be easy to assume they got lost in the crowd, but any examination of the room makes it hard to tell where they’ve gone. More than that, it seems like sometimes you catch a glimpse of them in one part of the room only to see them disappear in the blink of an eye and immediately appear across the room in a different spot entirely. It’s impossible to get close to them, and the sensation of eyes on you never really fades.
Ilse wasn’t really a ‘charity’ person, although her family would contribute donations from time to time, not necessarily for altruistic reasons as much as publicity. However, a ball was a ball, and as both a socialite and someone with a vested interest in making her name known in general, Ilse felt an obligation to attend- though one of the local high end jewelry stores donating some of its collection for the purpose being sold off in the silent auctions was an added benefit that attracted her to the event. Formal attire was the dress code for the benefit, and Ilse dressed the part, wearing a custom ball gown with off the shoulder sleeves, that was accented with detailed lace and pearls and in a light blue color that, when combined with the natural waviness of her hair, made her almost look like a mermaid walking on land, in a sense of speaking. It was stunning for certain, and attracted the attention of more than a few people for certain, which was good for both Ilse’s own ego as well as the very distant reminder that her family was still expecting her to find an acceptable suitor for marriage.
(Admittedly, at the same time, they weren’t too hard-pressed on her marrying, if it wasn’t what she wanted- traditional as they were, Ilse’s family wanted nothing but the best for her daughter, and she did arguably still have to complete her education, as Ilse herself had pointed out.)
Passing by the display tables where the items up for auction were showcased, Ilse’s gaze settled upon an exquisite necklace of aquamarine and diamond, one of the pieces of jewelry she had had her eye on for bidding. It seemed she wasn’t the only one whose attention it had attracted, however, as Ilse soon noticed a familiar-looking figure standing nearby, whose gaze soon met Ilse’s.
… Wait, familiar?
Ilse couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was that made the stranger seem so familiar to her- were they a family friend, or perhaps a former roommate from Crystal? Whatever it was, it was maddening enough to where Ilse moved to get a closer look, but before she could, the crowd shifted, and then the familiar stranger was gone. Baffled, as well as slightly frustrated, Ilse scanned the crowd, but couldn’t figure out where the other girl had gone. The more she looked around, the more maddening it became, with the occasional glimpse of the mysterious figure, who never seemed to stay in one spot for too long before vanishing once more. Ultimately, Ilse tried the ‘ignore it and it’ll go away’ approach, but couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched.
Ugh, she liked attention, but not like this. Giving up on finding the stranger, as well as figuring out what it was about them that was giving off an air of familiarity, Ilse finally gave up, and, clutching her purse close, turned and left the room. It just wasn’t worth it, in the end.
