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

[ecclesiophobic]

I was indescribably bored and you were occupied with your new career in matchmaking! [And also slightly short on funds due to having bought perhaps more poisons than he needed, considering they're not his specialty. Being deprived of his swords has made him more paranoid than usual.] Are you saying you disapprove?

[passingthrough]

Next time I should invite you along when I decide to start a new career. [She smiles at him and steps closer.] I only disapprove if it comes off on me when we dance. [Because dancing is a must.]

[ecclesiophobic]

I'm hurt that you didn't think to invite me in the first place. We Darkholmes are skilled at that sort of thing. [Not at relationships they aren't. Kurt grins and holds out a hand for her to take.] To tell the truth, I don't know that its going to come off at all. We'll see tomorrow, I suppose. Speaking of, should I expect you to be using the showers at this suitor's ship?

[passingthrough]

It was very spur of the moment. When I decide to make it a career you'll be the first name on my lips.

[Her hand moves to his as they gracefully arrange themselves for dancing.]

You don't get my hot water ration that easily. [Have a bit of a pause before she decides to admit this, but obviously his mind is already there, so what's the harm?] He's actually coming home with me tonight. [Which may be a little odd since he has the better bed situation, but he hasn't been to the Windrose yet at all and she just likes the idea of him being there with her.]

[ecclesiophobic]

Not as a client, I hope. My love life is complicated enough on its own, thank you. [Not that he intends to have one here; he's widowed married, after all.

Even after their years apart, coordinating his movements with Kitty's is still second nature. The only difference is on his part; twinges around his knees and faint complaints from his feet of being shoved into boots. All easily ignored in favor of grinning, wicked and shameless.] Oh is he? And am I going to meet this young man before I run into him come morning?

[passingthrough]

As if I would know how to find anyone good enough for you. [It may sound like teasing, but of course she feels that way. He's Kurt. He's too important to be with just anyone. And there is possibly just the smallest undercurrent of possible jealousy when it comes to his time. She wants more of that as it is.]

You should meet Winn though. [Which is code for Winn being someone important to her even if she's still struggling with admitting that to herself.]

[ecclesiophobic]

Don't you mean bad enough for me? I'm not the Kurt eligible for sainthood, an angel wouldn't last long with me. [He gets the gist of it, and flashes her a softer variation of the smile that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. He finds himself a little jealous of her too, even when his actions have contradicted that.

It would behoove him to make certain he's tired enough not to dream tonight. No sense in ruining Kitty's date, especially when the man makes her smile like this.] I should. After this dance, perhaps?

[passingthrough]

Okay, someone appropriate for you then. [But Winn seems kind of like an angel to her and she's not sure how well that's going to work either. She won't worry about that right now though. There are dances to be had and fun and people to enjoy and no war or genocide or irradiation. Poison, sure, but we can ignore that for the moment.]

Sure. I'm sure he'd like to meet you. But you're all mine for this dance.

[ecclesiophobic]

Well, don't worry yourself about it, I can ta--I have plenty else to keep me busy. [Horrible phrasing crisis averted! Even if it would've made her laugh, she might not have been able to keep dancing and Kurt's enjoying it far too much to ruin. He actually has a partner he know he can show off with and they be able to keep up.

The smile turns into a smirk, mischief lighting his eyes.] All yours? My my Ms. Pryde, you're being terribly possessive of the men in your life. Greedy of you.

[passingthrough]

[What were you about to say, sir? Have a suspicious sort of look, before she lets it pass. Dancing before all else tonight!]

I do run around calling you "my Kurt" all the time now. [It beats "older Kurt" or "red tattoo Kurt" or "less punny Kurt.] It was only a matter of time before I got possessive. I'm sure there are plenty of other people around here that can be shared. There won't be a shortage.

[ecclesiophobic]

I could say something, but it would be highly hypocritical of me considering I do the same of you. That may have lead to a slight misunderstanding about the nature of our relationship. [And then he whirls her, because that is the perfect time for a move like that. Also perfect: laughing and moving on with the conversation instead of explaining.]

So are you telling me that you intend to start yourself a harem? Is that what you're implying here?

[passingthrough]

[Wow, a spin is not a mental reset, buddy! She spins but he is getting a look when she stops again.] Who got confused and you wish there was a harem. You just want to wear the costume.

i am going to regret trying to german when i'm tired i just know it.

[ecclesiophobic]

[Clearly he didn't do it right, then.] Are you trying to tell me I wouldn't look good in an outfit like that? I know I've gotten old on you, Katzchen, but surely I'm not that out of shape.

haha

[passingthrough]

I didn't say anything like that. You already know you'd look good in it. You showed up here shirtless. [She brings her hand down from his shoulder to tap his bare chest pointedly.] You're evading the question.

[ecclesiophobic]

And if my chest proves as magnetic to other ladies' hands as it does to yours, this old man is going to have a good night indeed. [He's thirty. Also grinning shamelessly, a silent challenge to her accusation.]

[passingthrough]

[She shakes her head and wraps her arm back around him.] Kurt, you don't look a day over forty. [She still sees him in his twenties, but it wouldn't be them if there wasn't teasing.]

[ecclesiophobic]

Forty?! [The look of outrage on his face is only half feigned, bless his vain soul. One of his hands comes up to grasp melodramatically over his own heart, the hint of a grin still lingering on his mouth.] You cut me to the quick, Kitty. My own team-mate, betraying me so!

[passingthrough]

[She's laughing and generally enjoying herself very much. She has a dance and her Kurt. There's even a Winn not far away not to mention some foods that almost resemble food. What more could she ever want?] You're ridiculous. [She rises up on her toes and leans in to give him a kiss on the cheek.] Come on, let's meet my boyfriend.

[ecclesiophobic]

Oh, now you want me to meet the boyfriend, now that you've opened a wound on my heart. [But she gets a warm smile, because she looks beautiful and so happy. A part of him wishes she'd died like this instead, full of joy and ignorant of her fate. He smiles more widely to dismiss his thoughts and offers her his arm, to properly escort her off the dance floor.]

[winn]

[ said boyfriend is found by the punch bowl, filling up his cup. he smiles when he spots kitty and - ok the color's off but he's pretty sure that's the same guy he saw when he wasn't too nervous to open his eyes on the marsiva - and waves at them. ]

Hey - drink?

[passingthrough]

[Smiling at Winn while she still has her arm linked with Kurt.] You know me so well.

Winn, this is my teammate, crewmate, and friend from home with the open wound in his heart because of my apparently cruel light-hearted banter Kurt. And Kurt this is my Winn. [It's a shorter descriptor, but a fond smile comes with it. Sorry, you already missed her dropping the "boyfriend."] He has punch access.

[ecclesiophobic]

[There's a tiny curl of jealousy when she refers to Winn as her's that Kurt ignores without examining. He's always been far too possessive for his own good, and for what reason? He's no lover of her's, he's widowed married after all.]

Light-hearted? [As he offers his free hand for Winn to shake, he accompanies it with a look of disbelief. He doesn't hesitate despite the innate strangeness of his three-fingered hand, but he is keeping a close eye on Winn's reaction.] You hear this woman? She tells the son of an unaging woman that he looks older than he is and doesn't expect that to cut to the quick? She's brutal, Kitty is.

[winn]

[ he'll take being hers. that is more than good enough for him.

oh right, hand shaking - looking for a place to put down his glass for a second gives him a beat to recover from the instinctive weirdness of his hand. it's just enough, because kitty did prepare him, and he shook hank's already. he puts down his glass and gives it a friendly shake. ]

And then she judges me for shoving puppies.

[ shaking his head at kitty, who's the real monster here! ]

Great to finally meet you, Kurt. I've been hearing a lot of - monstrous lies about you.

[ he may trying a little too hard and falling flat on his face - he just really wants kurt to like him. ]

[passingthrough]

[As far as Kitty is concerned Winn is doing great. It was important to her to see how he reacted to Kurt and she can tell he's a nervous but trying and still adorable.]

I have high standards, boys. You'll just have to get used to that if you want to hang with me. [As if they have to do anything. They are her favorite people here.

Now she just really hopes Kurt likes him.]

[ecclesiophobic]

[The boy's nervous. He could be a sensible man, or he could have issues with inhuman looking people. Time will tell. Until then Kurt smiles broadly at Winn, letting his hand go after a firm shake.] Monstrous lies, hmm? Probably should believe half of them.

[Chuckling, Kurt relaxes his arm enough so Kitty can go to her boyfriend without phasing. The comment about high standards gets a snicker and an eyebrow raised right at his team-mate.] Oh, yes, such high standards indeed, once we convinced you neon was not a color. Took us at least a year and I still think I have dark spots in my eyes from some of her outfits. [The last is an aside to Winn, with an impish look on his face. This is why he always wanted to have a little sister; embarrass the hell out of them.]