cyclicality | The White Swanfish Gala (Open to All, including party-crashers)

The White Swanfish Gala is this evening - A VIP-only event where invitations are only sent to the likes of the heads of industry, Mover stars, avatars, and their guests. The host is Wil Zan (Slade's affable civilian alter ego), and he is dressed in a fine white and blue silk nehru, smiling broadly and chatting with what seems like every patron there, one at a time. He has brought in the finest chefs to provide an unlimited stream of fine food and drink, popular musicians provide entertainment and lively music to dance to, and this gala is sure to be an event worth talking about for years.

Interestingly, Zan has set up some rather unusual security measures. Though your average riff-raff will be kept out, he has intentionally left strategic security gaps that can be bypassed by the bold and the cunning. Zan actually has men covertly watching these gaps, but instead of stopping these party-crashers, their instructions are to inform Zan. (This serves as a sort of test for potential apprentices that Slade may try to recruit in the future.)

((NOTE: This is an event log, so not every reply has to be toward Slade. Feel free to write what your character is doing at the party or how they snuck in, etc. "Zan" is likely to give you his attention, but others can too.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She was in the middle of finishing off a finger sandwich and had to swiftly remind herself not to talk with her mouth full. So she chomped down a few more times before swallowing.]

Are you not having fun? [Of course not. Probably about as much fun as she was faking having.]

Not as much as you.

[He said as he stuck his hands into his pockets and turned around so he could lean his butt on the table. His eyes flickered across the crowd behind her for second before settling back on her.]

There's a woman in a yellow dress with a jade hair pin behind you and to your right that keeps looking at you.

[Wan pulled one hand out of his pocket to take Nabooru's glass from her in the most casual 'we're totally here together' manner and get a sip of whatever it was she was having. He made a face at the taste before handing it back.]

Mostly at your... lower back area.

[Cough.]

Hmm? [When he took her glass she set the plate she'd been eating from down. Free hands were good, even when she was handed back her drink- and with a look that made her smirk. But it was mostly the comment that got a good laugh out of her.]

Is it too much? [She's considered it pretty conservative but maybe her tastes were... unconventional. There had been so many other dresses she thought she could have picked that would have been so much worse.] Or are you jealous, darling? [The sweet nickname tacked on as a couple passed by that were lagging along. She didn't think they were actually listening but just in case.]

Of course not. How could I be jealous when you're going home with me?

[He replied for the benefit of the passing couple, taking the cue Nabooru's 'darling' had given him. His actual answer was left until they were far enough away and he could speak a little quieter.]

I don't think so, but yours is the shortest one here. The next shortest is about a hand longer than yours. She keeps look at you, too, but mostly with glares. I'm not sure why.

She wishes she looked like me. [She'd remember this for next time. Floor length. ...same v-neck. That was appropriate, right? Anything she couldn't move in was no good but for the appearance of fitting in she'd just have to get over it.]

Or maybe she's the jealous one that I have such a handsome man on my arm. [Giving his suit a little brush with her hand along his shoulder.]

[Wan eyed the fingers going over his shoulder, but didn't pull away. As much as he wanted to, he'd realized fairly early into his forced stay in the city that the humans of this era were a lot more open to casual touches than those of is. And if he wasn't supposed to be pretending to be Nabooru's date, he could have gotten away with shifting his stance so she couldn't touch him. But in full view of the rest of the party? He had to put up with it.

He gave a smile and tilted his head away from her, looking a bit smug.]

Then she's still jealous of you, either way. You picked this out for me.

[The last thing she wanted to do was make him uncomfortable. She'd already pretty much stretched her favors thin by asking him to come with. Her hand dropped back to her side before she took another sip of her drink.]

You do clean up rather well. ...but I'd like to take some of the credit for that. [Another small snicker before she softened up considerably as well as dropping her tone.] You can leave way we came if you want. I can handle the rest of the night on my own.

[Wan shook his head, scooting closer and leaning in like he was saying something slightly scandalous, or perhaps romantically endearing to her.]

I'm not going to leave you. If something goes bad, I'm going to make sure you get out.

That's very sweet. [Eyes closing as she said so, with a wide smile on her lips- to the observer it looked like she was very in love with whatever saucy thing just came out of his mouth.] But if that's the only reason you're staying you should go. I promise I can take care of myself.

[Wan grinned back at her, as if continuing to sweet talk his date now that whatever compliment he'd given had her smiling like that.]

I'm not doubting you can, but I always watch my partners' backs. And tonight-

[His voice got a bit louder as someone came up to the table next to her to get a small plateful of finger foods.]

-that's you.

[But he cut himself off at that point. He wasn't sure what to follow up with and the way Nabooru flirted didn't come easily to him. If she wanted to do something like this again, he'd have to get some lessons from her.]

[She laughed a little to herself with a hum, half for show, half for real. She was amused and warmed at the same time. It was often that she'd ever encountered anyone outside her girls that cared about her. Even as a partner in crime.]

Well, thank you. I'll try to take it easy on you.

That means you won't ask me to dance, right?

[He said with a playful grin, more for the person still at the table - wow they take forever. five seconds should totally be enough for them to get their food and get out.

Wan felt every single second crawl by at a glacier's pace.]

Oh alright. [Said with a very long drawn out sigh. She loved dancing, but this kind was a little slower than she was used to anyway. And she was more than sure their cover might be blown if both of them bumbled around the dance floor.]

But if you agree to dance with some of those other women giving you the eye we will have to have words.

I swear to you, I won't dance with anyone tonight if I'm not dancing with you.

[A beat.]

But I am still holding you to your word that I don't have to dance tonight.

[Wan leaned in as he straightened, letting his shoulder brush against her. Just barely. Enough to look like it was an affectionate thing.]

I think I'll go find the bar and get a drink. Would you like me to refill yours?

[She gave a small shake of her head with a wave of her hand.]

It's fine. Go get whatever you want. Take your time. [Trying to let him know he could disappear wherever he wanted to go in the room and not have to keep up the charade for a little while. She had to think it was tiring for him.]

[Wan smiled a little wider and gave her a quick salute before walking off. He wasn't going to be leaving her, but he was happy he didn't need to keep hanging around and talking to her the way they had to so they didn't stand out.]

The White Swanfish Gala (Open to All, including party-crashers)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject