Masquerade Mingle

[thespaceopera]

[The night has finally come--the Gravity Rush is nearly upon us! What normally serves as a large performance hall has been gutted, emptied of its boring furniture and rigged up into a fantastical mismatch of technology and old culture. No matter where you go tonight, you're encouraged to move around, dance, play games, whatever helps you sleep in late tomorrow morning.

If you aren't one for scurrying around a ballroom all night, there's always plenty of people-watching to do. After all, so many people are wearing extravagant costumes and elaborate masks. How can you even tell who is who? Get lost in a crowd of sequins, chatter with a sun and a moon, or try to beat the guy in the monster-mask at a game of cards. Meet your friends or make some new ones--this masquerade party has begun!]


[[ooc: All sections are up now, have fun! A related ooc post is HERE for any questions or plotting you'd like to do.]]

Comments

[huaaaaagh]

[Even without his enemy sense skill from SAO, Kirito has pretty good instincts when someone is watching him. It takes him a bit, but when he feels that familiar itch, he subtly scans the room until he notices just who it is that's looking at him. Crap. Crap. It had to be Nightingale, didn't it? One of the few people around and awake who've seen both avatars.

Hastily he turns to face away from her, grabbing a big glass of some sparkly liquid to hide his face behind. Nevermind, nevermind, just ignore the cute girl who is definitely not familiar in the corner...!]

[experiencepoints]

[... okay, this looks worth investigating. She approaches, though she's still not entirely certain.]

Excuse me.

[huaaaaagh]

[...Goddammit. Did he dig his own grave, or is it just his lousy luck stat?

He keeps the glass right where it is, eyes flitting very briefly to Nightingale's, then quickly away again, feigning shyness. His voice is very quiet when he responds, desperately hoping it won't sound like himself. The avatar does have a more androgynous voice, and while she's heard it before, it has been a while, so maybe...]

...Yes?

[experiencepoints]

I'm looking for a friend of mine. A boy with shaggy black hair, named Kirito. Have you seen anyone like that here?

[she thinks that's a good way to go about it. if she's mistaken, no harm done. if she's right, it's basically a good way to say 'YOU'RE FUCKING BUSTED'.]

[huaaaaagh]

[.....

.....

.....

Okay, now he has two choices. One, he could continue the ruse for as long as he's able until she inevitably sees through it - and let's face it, she's halfway there already if she isn't just playing him for the fool right now - or two...

...he could lower the glass and give her a look that's as exasperated as he's feeling, which is exactly what he ends up doing.]

Don't say it so loud, okay? I'm trying to go unnoticed!

[Get mocked now or later, is the logic, and at least now means he won't have the stigma of having lied about it. Girls don't like that.]

[experiencepoints]

... Oh, I was right.

[It's a good thing the mask is there, honestly, it's doing a good job of hiding her trying to hold back laughter.]

Is there a story behind this...?

[huaaaaagh]

[He knows she's laughing in his heart. Mostly because he's well aware that everyone he knows would.]

If you have to know, I lost a bet.

[experiencepoints]

[... well. okay. she is laughing on the inside, but also.]

You need some cover here?

[huaaaaagh]

...Cover?

[Wait, what? He'd expected teasing. Is this mercy he's witnessing!?]

[experiencepoints]

Well, yeah. It seems like you don't want to socialize like this.

[huaaaaagh]

Not... especially. Part of the deal was that I had to stay here, though. I can't just hide in the washroom all night or something.

[............he didn't bring a change of clothes for bathroom breaks, f u c k]

[experiencepoints]

No, but if you're already hanging out with someone, people will be a lot less likely to come bother you.

I can only stay until I find my date, though.

[huaaaaagh]

[Hey, he'll take small blessings where he can. And she's not company that he's ever minded, so that's a plus.]

You've got a date?

[experiencepoints]

Kitty set it up, but... yeah. I'm kind of hopeful.

[huaaaaagh]

Is it a blind date?

[He has heard about those. They sound terrifying.]

[experiencepoints]

Not exactly? We sort of talked already once.

[huaaaaagh]

Oh, that's better. Good luck, then, I hope it goes well.

[He has no idea what you say for this sort of thing? Is 'break a leg' taboo? Wait, it's not a performance... anyway.]

[experiencepoints]

Thank you. I'm hoping, even if it's just a one-time thing.

[huaaaaagh]

Who knows, they might surprise you. Did you at least get along when you talked before?

[experiencepoints]

I... think so? She's pretty stoic.

[huaaaaagh]

Stoic, huh.

[Those can be tricky.]

Seems like there's a lot to do here, right? I'm sure you'll find something that you can both enjoy.

[experiencepoints]

I hope so. If nothing else, maybe she's a fan of the games around here?

[huaaaaagh]

Sure, why not? Lots of people like games. And they sure have a ton of variety. Have you been playing them already?

[experiencepoints]

[Her face may not be visible, but the sheer level of smugness in her voice should probably give a fair impression of what her face looks like.]

I may have tried a few.

[huaaaaagh]

And done well with them, I'm assuming.

[Something about her tone is pretty telling.]

Hope your date's up for a good challenge, then.