And We Danced (Masquerade Overflow!)

[thespaceopera]

The Captcha is upon us, but the party isn't over! Feel free to continue your threads here, start new ones, and continue the dance party!

- Original Mingle
- OOC Post

[[OOC: Wait for Sections! Sections are up! Feel free to use the section prompts or make your own! We'd also advise against just linking back to your original mingle post for the sake of players with slower computers.]]

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Shinji Ikari | OTA + continuations

[astrobleme]

1. BALLROOM.

[Shinji arrives at the party's main event with two dates, believe it or not, which is more or less an accident on his part. A very awkward accident. He's often with one or the other or both of them, but there are times when he wanders away, trying to give himself the space to breathe. The glamorous ballroom offers plenty of opportunities for being a wallflower (does he even know how to dance?) or grazing at the snack table (yeah, he's eating his feelings).

Even now, he's nervously chewing through a handful of crackers. He feels distinctly out of place, distinctly visible, since he's wearing an outfit that feels too bold for someone boring like him. His yukata is the handmade product of a week's worth of out-of-control anxiety. It's in a dark blue fabric with vertical streaks of lighter colors, encircled by a golden yellow obi that he chose at the last minute. The mask is nothing special, though. Just blue on blue with a splash of glitter.]

It's nice of them to let us participate, [he says, mostly to himself.] And the free food doesn't hurt...


2. GREEN MUSEUM.

[Eventually, Shinji finds his way to the Green Museum after eavesdropping on a few conversations. He's really surprised with the green plant life and the dreamy insects; they give him hope, real hope, that the moon will be revived with enough effort.

He's less enthused when the glowing moths decide there's something attractive about him. A minute into wandering around, he notices a moth hanging out on his upper arm. He remembers the party representative's warning about not trampling the wildlife... and another moth flutters in, landing on his shoulder.] Uh...

[Before long, this boy is frozen awkwardly in the middle of the path, trying not to disturb the moths perching on him. His voice is quiet but panicky:] A little help... here? Please? Anyone? [The moths brighten with contentment.]


3. BALCONY.

[And, as expected, the growing excitement of the party is too much for Shinji to deal with all night. The nearest and quietest place for him seems to be the outdoor balcony. There are a few couples embracing each other in earnest--they get a flat-eyed look from Shinji--but for the most part, this is a good place to unwind. He approaches the railing and peers over the side... His LED-covered face mask flickers and chirps, beginning to filter out the poisonous air. He's tempted to rip it off, though. Long story.

The swirling fog in the distance catches his attention.]

That's not ominous at all, [he says bitterly, then hopes anyone nearby didn't hear him. His negativity can be embarrassing.]


4. WILDCARD?

[Hit Shinji with whatever you want, or leave a blank comment for a random, personalized starter. Shinji will be available throughout the party. He's very shy and hesitant around strangers, but willing to speak when spoken to. Feel free to ping me at glowmoss to discuss anything.]

continuation for Asuka.

[astrobleme]

(original thread.)

[astrobleme]

Gwah?

[It isn't a squeak, and not quite a splutter, but an intersection between shock and drop-dead embarrassment. Kissing in enclosed spaces is completely different from doing something out in public. When Shinji was a little boy--honestly, public displays of affection still gross him out, for the most part. Especially when it's the people who are shameless enough to make out in movie theaters and stuff. No one wants to listen to giggling and face-sucking when they're trying to watch a movie. At least a hasty kiss on the dance floor isn't at that level.

His face is so red and flooded with feelings; he ends up hiding it against Asuka's neck and shoulder, not wanting anyone to see him. His breath is warm and quickened, if noticeably uneven. There's a hint of humidity. He's no less holding tightly on to her, swaying with her, so he isn't running away, but...

Muffled, he says,] You could've warned me first...!

[interstices]

[He's embarrassed, which, instead of egging her on, only embarrasses her further. God, they must look like such a pair of kids out here on the dance floor, the fact that they're not yet stomping on each others' toes their only saving grace. But at least he's not letting go of her. At least he's not fleeing like an elementary schooler afraid of cooties.]

If I'd warned you, you would have backed out. I didn't want to kiss you on the nose.

[The song's about to end. There might be time for one more kiss, in fact, but instead, she pulls him in tighter, more like she's claiming him than hiding him. Quieter, she says--] Nobody saw, stupid. Don't worry.

[astrobleme]

[Drawn in close, Shinji does squeak this time, for real, surprised and then mollified. So few people want to be this close to him. Still, he's worried that someone is watching them--Kaworu is always watching him--but he isn't going to point that out. Asuka would lose her mind if she knew about... god, this is what he gets for clinging to them both...]

You--must have really liked the yukata.

[She's genuinely fawning over him. It's a weird thing to realize, but he can't complain. He won't. If anything, he likes how much she's supporting him from the waist up. The end of the song feels more comfortable and weightless because of it.]

[interstices]

[Of course Kaworu's probably watching, but for once Asuka is still in good enough spirits not to think about him too much. She's more concerned with how nice it feels to just be holding Shinji. It's not just the yukata. He knows that. It's asking her out, making it for her (no one's ever made her anything before), dancing with her. Making her feel worth liking. Twelve years later and she's still so hungry for that, so grateful for that.]

It's not just the yukata I like.

[astrobleme]

[... Shinji can't tell if right now is the best or the worst time to bring up Kaworu. At first, he thought Asuka was just angry about having to share him with Kaworu, but there's something else going on. Something a little more dire than that. She's been giving Kaworu these ugly yet inscrutable looks all night.

He doesn't want to give Asuka a reason to stop smiling.]

Is that a confession? [he asks, then, nuzzling into her hair.] You know, you never did confess to me properly... [Like in a shoujo anime, or those sappy daytime dramas about growing up. Dramatic, tearful explosions behind the school. Sakura petals swirling everywhere. That kind of stuff.]

[interstices]

You're greedy enough as it is. [Her face drops into a mostly put-on pout. Mostly. Opening herself up like one of those stupid soap opera actresses would be dire. It would give him more power than he'd ever deserve over her, and worse, she'd be ashamed of herself immediately afterwards. Even I like you is too much to admit. I want you is better. Less damaging.]

[But she can't hold that pout long while he's nuzzling against her, making her think warm, idiotic things. Shinji means too much to her, more to her than she means to him, but in short bursts, that's okay. That's almost just fine. Now that the song's over, she's still standing there, unsure if she should ask him for a second dance or just lead him back to his preferred snack table.] Always making me do all the work.

[astrobleme]

[It takes Shinji a little too long to realize that the song has ended. There's a natural lull where the band is preparing for the next one; other people are milling around; he can hear the shuffling, laughing, distant conversations. It takes him a little longer to realize that he's without any amount of personal space. Suddenly, he feels very weird, very vulnerable, like he's woken up in the middle of sleepwalking. Is this the kind of person he is now? Someone willing to be touched without cringing? Without trying to pull away? More than that, Asuka is right about him: he's being greedy. He's sponging up her attention when he hasn't done anything to deserve it.

His meandering thoughts can be condensed down into,] I like you, too, [and he says as much against her shoulder.] M'sorry for all the crap I've put you through...

[interstices]

[Asuka wasn't expecting an apology any more than she was expecting a confession. The combination leaves her at a loss. It's just not fair, how easy it is for him to stir her up, make her feel things she thought she'd given up on. Make her feel really, humiliatingly young and actually enjoy it.]

[If he's being greedy, and Asuka's sure he is, then she's being insatiable, for all that she could take that single I like you to the grave right along with her rag doll. She reaches around as if she's going to play with his hair only to tug a small handful of it instead.]

Don't be sorry, stupid. Just don't leave me for another fourteen years.

continuation for Ahsoka.

[astrobleme]

(original thread.)

[astrobleme]

[Shinji can't believe this branch approach of Ahsoka's is actually working. He thought that he'd be standing here forever, or some hyperbole like that, waiting for the moths to tire of him. But as soon as it's safe to, he sets both of his feet on the ground. The moths along his arms decide to follow their friends, while a few more stay scattered on his head. They're much more manageable, though. One of them seems to appreciate the curve of his ear.]

Thank you.

[He peers at the moth-covered branch. The moths are already migrating elsewhere, glimmering like a cluster of stars.]

You... can't talk to moths, can you? That didn't take long at all.

continuation for Padmé.

[astrobleme]

(original thread.)

[diplomacme]

I am. The locals have put a lot of care into this.

This is really your first party? Well, that means it needs to be a good one, doesn't it?

[astrobleme]

I know that's weird... [and pathetic...] But it's my first one, and it's definitely going well. I like looking at everyone's beautiful costumes. And the music...! [Shinji is a little bit enthusiastic about the music. He tries to soften his tone:] Live music is like a luxury to me. Way better than recordings.

[diplomacme]

I can feel the energy of the music much better when I hear it live.

[astrobleme]

Yeah. [Looking over at the band, Shinji says,] When you can see the performers, you can see how much they're enjoying it, too. It's... more personal that way.

[diplomacme]

[ She follows his gaze. ] It's hard not to get swept up in it, isn't it?

[astrobleme]

[A firm nod.] I've never been to a concert, but it's probably a lot like this. It's a good feeling.

[diplomacme]

It's infectious-- I haven't seen the natives here smile this much since we arrived. Even in grim circumstances, people can find things to celebrate.

continuation for Ino.

[astrobleme]

(original thread.)

so late ;; i'm so sorry!

[ino]

Uh -- [ She laughs. ] Not really, I don't think. But I guess you never know what could happen.

... If you wanted, though, you could probably charge people to make them stuff.

please take all the time you need!

[astrobleme]

Charge people? [Shinji's voice climbs an octave within a few syllables.] You mean actually getting money from people because of something I made? [That's exactly what Ino just said, but he's having trouble wrapping his mind around it. Bear with him, please.]

N-No way. There's no way I'm that good.

[ino]

[ Meanwhile, she just looks baffled at his surprise. ]

Well, yeah. That's pretty standard for when you make something for someone else. Especially in a place like this where money has a purpose.

What do you mean, not that good? It looks fine to me.

[astrobleme]

[Shinji can't be comfortable with a compliment. Just looking down at himself, he sees all the flaws in the design, the stitching, the choice of fabric. He worked very hard, yeah, but effort is meaningless if the execution sucks.]

... Do you really think so? I never would've thought of selling stuff.