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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Erik Lehnsherr - overflow

[grandstanding]

[OOC: new and old threads welcome]

[It was touch and go, for a while, deciding whether to come to the masquerade or not. In the end, a change of pace and a chance to spend time off the ships and without a gas mask decided it for Erik. The opportunity to get some clothing tailor made was also hard to resist. For a masquerade, he's gone understated, wearing a fine grey suit and black turtleneck shirt. The mask however is a concession to flair, awrought metal affair with the embellishments picked out in dark red. He enters with Charles, but can often be found drifting around the edges of the ballroom. Any locals asking him to dance get waved off with a shake of his head - it's the scene he's observing, more than taking part himself. But he blends in well, moving through the crowd with the kind of confidence that would put a seasoned party-goer to shame.

Later on, he scopes out the snacks table. While he takes food occasionally, more often he's observing the staff guarding the punch, with rather more intensity than the poor men deserve. 

As the evening grows late, he takes up some darts idly in the games room. It starts idly, at least. It doesn't take long for others in the room to notice that all of Erik's darts sail straight to the bullseye, no matter how casually he throws them at the board.]

you did say new threads~

[pain_train]

[After spending some more time watching people dance, Wrath heads back into the games room to see if Charles is still there. Maybe they can play more chess or something. Instead she spots someone she doesn't know, throwing darts. Now that's a game she likes, though she has yet to ever play it sober.

And while she's good, she's not nearly as good as this guy.]

Holy shit, you're really good at this! That's awesome! Can you throw knives that well?

[grandstanding]

[He had felt Wrath's attention on him; could hardly fail to, so laced was she with metals. But there were a few such people around. His experience with the Vision had taught him that. The comment, however, was pretty endearing.

Erik glances over to her, a slight smile in place.]

I could, but I'd destroy these targets in very short order.

[pain_train]

You try out the range on the Iskaulit?

[Since obviously, even if he's amazing at this, practice is still a thing. That's how you stay in peak form on a skill.

And he's got a cute little smile. Not fair.

But since he's talking to her, she approaches, leaning on her cane. It's been a long night.]

I don't think I've seen accuracy that good in years. [Not since Sloth died on the Line.]

[grandstanding]

I exercise in there. Haven't tried the targets myself - I'm short of knives at the moment. [Not that that matters. He keeps metal items on him that he can turn into projectiles at any moment.

His gaze flicks down to the cane briefly. Odd; she felt more metal than flesh.]

It's not advisable for me to go too hard inside the ships, besides.

[pain_train]

Oh yeah, that's a problem a lot of people are having. I've been trying to find some decent swords cause there's several people on my ship that could use those more effectively than guns, and everything so far has been cheap shit that won't stand up. It's a major armory issue. I think we're just gonna have to build a molecular foundry on our own, and it'll take a while to do. But maybe I'll get my plasma blade back on the other end of it.

[She's not unobservant; she sees the glance. It's something she'd rather meet head on.] My back is FUBAR because I got thrown out of the 99th story window of a building back home.

How come?

[grandstanding]

[This is the third time now that someone has mentioned a lack of viable swords to him. It's enough to make him consider, again, whether making one himself could be worth trying. But then Wrath keeps going, and the thought barrels past with the chatter.] A molecular foundry? [He's worked a traditional forge before, but this sounds rather more advanced.

He doesn't apologize, though he is sympathetic.] From that height, I would expect it was a lucky escape.

I control metal. If I start puncturing walls, we might have a serious problem on our hands.

[pain_train]

Um, yeah. It's what we use to mass produce those kind of weapons because it mimics metal folding during forging to remove whatever imperfections were in the steel, I think? So you build the blade molecularly so it's got a perfect internal lattice built around the rare earth elements. [She knows the theory of how her weapons work. That's just good practice.] That's the only way to structure a blade that will properly channel plasma.

I'm lucky to be alive. Pulped my bones and stuff. So now all my bones are composite.

You do? THAT'S SO COOL.

[grandstanding]

[A heightened type of manufacturing... creating 'perfect' weapons. He understands the thrust of it, though the molecules and plasma elements are more suited to Hank's expertise, he thinks. He'll always prefer metal, himself.] Do these foundries work with anything other than this plasma?

[And wow, that was loud. He does nod.] So I've been told, a few times. [By lots of teenagers.] And that would explain it. I have a general sense of the metal around me, as well. [This includes her body, which is now a bit more understandable. Nothing like the Vision at all.]

[pain_train]

I don't know? The only reason I know about the manufacture at all is because I had a plasma sword. But without the plasma generator on, they were good as regular swords too.

[And now by a 42-year-old woman. Moving up in the world, Erik?] Wow...

So you could like. Rip my bones out of my body if you wanted?

[grandstanding]

I could. [A beat.] But I don't have a reason to.

[pain_train]

[If he's expecting some kind of normal human afraid of the powerful mutant reaction, he's not going to get it. Wrath just grins.] Oh, that's so cool! What a useful ability. I'm glad for you!

Wow. Man, I wish we'd had you in the City War. You would've been like a fucking platoon of one. [He wouldn't have had quite as much of an overwhelming advantage on the Line. Dysthropes didn't come with metal weapons.]

My name's Wrath, by the way. What's yours?

[grandstanding]

You're not the first person to say you wish I'd fought a war for you. [In a way, it's flattering. But in another, he's dismissive of it. He has no interest in fighting any wars other than his own.]

[It takes him a moment to answer, just shy of hesitancy.] It's Erik. [He'd told Charles he would move away from using Blade as a name. He may as well begin.]

[pain_train]

[A little squint.] No, that's not what I meant. With, not for. That's a big difference. [There's an implication of sending other people out to die in a fight you lack the conviction to have that she really finds repugnant. She's a soldier, first and always.]

[Erik... that's familiar. Oh!] Erik as in Charles's partner Erik? [Sunny smile. Is it that common of a name in the Fleet? Not that she's noticed, but she's not that observant.]

[grandstanding]

[The only response he gives is a light hum. People who exclaim over his powers and their prospective uses in their own battles - maybe that's not what they think they're saying. But it's what he hears. His talents could end wars with droids, as Kenobi said, or best a lot of foes like Wrath is implying. What else is it, other than imagining what could be done with him as a weapon?

The mention of Charles lightens the mood, however.] Oh, dear, my reputation precedes me. Or my partner does, at least.

[pain_train]

[Hmm if her own.] ... Though I guess you would have been as proper fucked as the rest of us when the dysthrophy hit so I'm really glad you weren't there.

[Anyway. Yay, she was right!]

Charles is so nice. And kind. He taught me how to play chess tonight. And said he wouldn't bullshit me. So you're very lucky, you have a cute partner and so does he.

Re: Erik Lehnsherr - overflow

[bloodbiter]

[given the mask, she doesn't quite recognize him - all the same, she approaches him as he stares at the workers at the snack table, dressed up and with a slight smile below her mask]

Is everything quite alright?

[grandstanding]

[Erik, conversely, recognises Adelina with ease. He tips his mask back from his face, removing his attention from the staff for now.]

Yes, everything's fine. Enjoying the party?

[bloodbiter]

—Oh! I didn't recognize you, my apologies. I am. How are you finding it?

[grandstanding]

[He smiles a bit.] Not to worry - I believe that's the point of it all. It's a bit glittery for me, but that's more the attendees than the setting.

[bloodbiter]

You don't seem the type for this kind of formality, it's true.

[a glance back at the servers, though. now she's curious.]

May I ask why you were observing them so closely?

[grandstanding]

Ah, that. I wasn't expecting there to be guards on the food. [This may be a clue as to what his intentions were.]

[bloodbiter]

[a nod of understanding]

It would be nice if we could bring a portion back to the ship with us, wouldn't it?

[grandstanding]

[This is why he likes you, Adelina.]

Definitely. I'm rather disappointed.

[bloodbiter]

I do hope the next planet we visit will have food that we can purchase. It would be a welcome change.