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

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Simon Tam

[pompous_today]

[Even though he'd arrived and was there for the duration, Simon still wasn't sure if going to this party was the right idea. Part of him wanted to forget his old life as much as he could, as he knew that he would never go back to it, and going to fancy parties was definitely a part of that life. He'd gone to so many as a child and a young man, though, it was also old hat... and he definitely had to get out more.

So there he was. He'd occasionally lurk on the edges of the party, but every now and then he might ask a lonely-looking lady for a dance, or even teach people steps if it looked like they were stumbling.]

For Nami

[pompous_today]

[Continued from here.]

Yes. I- grew up rather privileged, so when I was a child, I attended a lot of balls and masquerades like this.

[namisan]

Ah. No wonder they're so old hat to you.

I'm kind of the opposite. We grew up poor enough it was all hand-me-down clothing and my mother going without food so we could eat. [She's not saying it to be judgmental. Nami sounds more fond than anything else.] But it was a good life despite that.

[pompous_today]

[Simon crossed his arms, glad she didn't seem to be judging him. Lord knew he often judged himself for how naive he'd been, once upon a time. Even if he had no reason to think his government was all that bad.]

I can hear the fondness in your voice. Sometimes, you don't need a lot to be happy. The crew I traveled with was like that- they wore old and patched clothes, they often didn't have enough food, but they had a family-like closeness I envied.

[namisan]

Right? [She smiles.] Don't get me wrong. I love money, and parties are fun. But I'd give them up forever if it meant I got to keep my family.

[pompous_today]

I feel that way about my sister. My parents and I... have drifted apart. [He bit his tongue.] Irreconcilable differences of opinion, you might say. It's a long story. But my sister... I would give up everything for her in a heartbeat, as long as we got to be together.

[namisan]

She was here for a while, wasn't she? {She vaguely recalls him saying that right at the beginning.]

I'm sorry you don't get to be together.

[pompous_today]

Yes, for several months. ... I am sorry, too. She was the center of my universe for a while, and without her it sometimes feels like I am drifting, with nothing to achor me.

[namisan]

[...]

I love my own sister, but I haven't seen her in years now. Going out to sea was in my blood, and she stayed home to look after the orchard. We parted on good terms-- this bracelet was her last gift before I left. [She taps the gold bangle around one wrist.]

I miss her a lot. But I know that when we get the opportunity, I'll sail back home and see her again.

I guess... you could try thinking of it the same way. It's just an extended trip.

[She'll be waiting for you at the end.]

[pompous_today]

[Simon smiled a little at the memento.]

I am glad to hear it was a good parting, though. Not everyone is meant for a life of adventure... and someone does have to be the one to watch home and grow the food. Both are good paths, I think.

[He sighed, then nodded.]

And at the very least, I know that no time is passing back home, so she won't have to be without me. [He hesitated, then added slowly-] River is severely mentally ill, and I am her primary caretaker. Being separated from me for so long would be... difficult for her, to say the least.

[namisan]

[...oh. She can see why it would be so much harder for him, and her smile is a little pained.]

Time not passing at home is a great saver for a lot of us. In this particular case... all the more so. I'm sorry.

[pompous_today]

[Simon smiled ruefully.]

Thank you. In all honesty, as unhappy as I am about being trapped here, at least Atroma does do us that much of a courtesy. It's not much, but it's definitely a burden off my mind. River would be able to survive without me, but... it's much easier for her when I am around.

[namisan]

I've no doubt you make a good brother to her.

Did she like space?

For Qing

[pompous_today]

[Continued from here.]

[Simon smiled quietly, not sure whether he'd been addressed or not, but responding anyway.]

We're not really used to crowds here, hmm? When we're confined to our ships, any group larger than 10 or 12 can seem huge.

[shoujoreject]

[Oh. He looked up as Simon spoke, offering a soft smile and a little laugh.]

I'm not really... unused to crowds, myself. You get used to them working in a restaurant. But even the largest gatherings seem to be made pretty small compared to these.

[pompous_today]

[Simon nodded.]

I attended a lot of parties like this when I was younger, so I'm a bit more used to it. At least people seem to be having fun here... dancing how they like, dressing how they like.

[shoujoreject]

Did they not normally, where you came from? Things like this - though the dancing isn't... nearly so sophisticated anymore - are fairly common where I come from, too.

[His head tilted, a strand of beads on a string fluttering off toward his shoulder.]

Though, I suppose I've only been to one or two of those, myself. To cater it. [Why people ordered Chinese for party catering he had no idea, but whatever.]

[pompous_today]

[Simon laughed.]

I grew up wealthy, so there were a lot of, shall we say, social rules. People were expected to have the finest in the way of gowns for the women and waistcoats and tuxedos for the men- all custom-made. I don't miss it, honestly. It could feel a bit stifling.

[He then nodded soberly.]

I think I would have much preferred that sort of role. Being able to blend in and blend out as needed.

[shoujoreject]

Ah. That's still popular among the wealthy, as I understand it, but a lot of what I dealt with was more... people trying to have fun.

[Not unlike this group, in that. He looked over the group again, a chuckle on his lips.]

It's strange... people think of caterers like that, but sometimes, I found myself the subject of people's interest much more than strictly necessary. [Nothing like being looked at as a pretty piece of eye-candy to make you dislike catering.]

[pompous_today]

[Simon raised an eyebrow.]

Really? That had to have made your job quite a bit more difficult. In my experience, people like cooks and caterers... well. The partiers' eyes tended to slide over them as they were too busy competing with one another.

[shoujoreject]

Oh, that happened a lot, too. [With a nod, he sipped his drink.] But in America, when I'm from, people are... well, many minorities are considered an exotic commodity.

[pompous_today]

America? You must be from Earth. [He let out a sigh.] I am most likely from quite a while into your future, and while I'd like to say those kinds of things have disappeared... truthfully, some sort of treatment of people like they are an other remains.

[shoujoreject]

I am. And I can't say that surprises me - humans don't change, as a whole, if history is to be believed. [He spoke like someone who simply understood it as truth, really.] Are you... ah, from a space ship, then? Or a colony, perhaps.

[pompous_today]

In some ways, but not in others. [He swallowed.] Well, I was born on a planet, but I currently travel with a cargo ship as their doctor. Space travel is very common by my time.

[shoujoreject]

Ah, I see. It seems a very different time to be alive. [He took a sip of his drink, tilting his head thoughtfully.] Do you like that better, then, than a wealthy life? Helping others?

[At least, he likes to think of doctors as helpers.]