[D7 LE] Information Event: Night of the Dread Pageant RP thread

[Usagi Rei]

The Stormclad Dragon froze . . . straw almost up nose . . . and watched Hare-amoro. You could almost hear the gears turning, before the orochi mask was lifted and it's denizen could drink properly. A little lock of blue hair was visible before the mask went back down.

Grinning, Rei gave the dragon an approving nod. And his eyes lit with understanding when he saw the blue hair. Oh, that made so much sense now.

Rei tilted his glass to show it was empty. Then he made a show of looking around. Then he looked at Hinata, shrugging. Then he was filled with the sudden fear that this simple pantomime would be indecipherable to Hinata.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

Oh hey, that must be Koyuki over there. Is Rei here too I wonder...? Yakumo was keeping her attention divided between everyone else in the room and Mineichi, but she wasn't that good at multitasking discreetly so the Magistrate did get up with most of it. She knew she probably shouldn't flirt with someone possibly dangerous, but... the fact that it was dangerous was part of what made it exciting.

At least her mask covered her cheeks, so the beginning pink color of a blush wasn't that easy to spot. Unless you were perceptive or up close to her.

"Well, I am a Princess... so I like to think I have set the bar high for anyone else to compare to me tonight." Some of her haughtiness from being the peacock was still there. And was probably always there. "That sounds like a fine suggestion to me - a chance to taste the finest World of Dreams has to offer."

Why yes, she was talking about the food, of course.

Meanwhile Mineichi was doing similar calculus, frowning for a moment when he recognized his Lord Executioner at the party, the mangled woman having dressed up as an oni - rather fitting, all things considered. With his attention divided, he missed her blush, perhaps not quite aware how far his words had reached. World of Dreams, famous for its excess, had several districts dedicated to pleasures. While Mineichi was hardly associated with any of them, he was known to occasionally indulge himself. "I would like to think so too." he quipped back, lowering his voice as if to make sure that only she would hear his words. "You do absolutely look ravishing."

"Very well then." Mineichi nodded, pleased that Yakumo had accepted his little wager. Now all they had to do was to wait - so that they could see whom would treat the other.

Sometime later, music started playing, slowly and somewhat dramatic, beasts and monsters at the ball coming together. Swan princess danced with a rogue kenku just as lord of ravens took prince of the night to the floor. Somewhere in the corner of the ball room, a Togashi monk made a fool of himself, a Scorpion woman giggling as she refused his advances.

"Would you like to dance?" Mineichi asked, turning to Yakumo.

[Kuni Sumie]

Senshuken cannot help but laugh with the introduction and approach in awe of the gaming spirit within this one. "Lady Beatrice! You look magnificent tonight!" She greets her and offers a bow. Not a normal Rokugani one, but the way the gaijin of the old days supposedly did it.

The gothic lady would snicker at the compliment proudly as she returned the bow in kind with a curtsey. "Of course, you'd think so! You're awed! I'm clearly the most majestic and eldest presence here. Everyone should be grateful to have me around! Unless you have Integrity 8 or greater, which I doubt!" She cackled.

[Asahina Hinata]

Grinning, Rei gave the dragon an approving nod. And his eyes lit with understanding when he saw the blue hair. Oh, that made so much sense now.

Rei tilted his glass to show it was empty. Then he made a show of looking around. Then he looked at Hinata, shrugging. Then he was filled with the sudden fear that this simple pantomime would be indecipherable to Hinata.

The Dragon/Orochi looked on disapprovingly . . . as that was the only look it could give with it's fixed disapproving stare, yet somehow the little tilt to one side and then absolute stillness radiated confusion . . .

[Usagi Rei]

The Dragon/Orochi looked on disapprovingly . . . as that was the only look it could give with it's fixed disapproving stare, yet somehow the little tilt to one side and then absolute stillness radiated confusion . . .

Rei rolled his eyes, but smiled as he did so.

Then he waved the Dragon/Orochi/Whatever over.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Meanwhile Mineichi was doing similar calculus, frowning for a moment when he recognized his Lord Executioner at the party, the mangled woman having dressed up as an oni - rather fitting, all things considered. With his attention divided, he missed her blush, perhaps not quite aware how far his words had reached. World of Dreams, famous for its excess, had several districts dedicated to pleasures. While Mineichi was hardly associated with any of them, he was known to occasionally indulge himself. "I would like to think so too." he quipped back, lowering his voice as if to make sure that only she would hear his words. "You do absolutely look ravishing."

"Very well then." Mineichi nodded, pleased that Yakumo had accepted his little wager. Now all they had to do was to wait - so that they could see whom would treat the other.

Sometime later, music started playing, slowly and somewhat dramatic, beasts and monsters at the ball coming together. Swan princess danced with a rogue kenku just as lord of ravens took prince of the night to the floor. Somewhere in the corner of the ball room, a Togashi monk made a fool of himself, a Scorpion woman giggling as she refused his advances.

"Would you like to dance?" Mineichi asked, turning to Yakumo.

What the hell is Hinata doing? Not that Yakumo had seen that the Dragon was Hinata, but when she saw the antics of stuffing straws up the nose of the costume, she just somehow knew it had to be the derpiest Crane that ever lived. Somehow Doji Hanahime looked as clever as a 5th grader next to Hinata. A whole rank up from preschooler.

So lost in her own mind over the antics going on, she almost missed his offer. "... Dance?" she said, the slight distortion of her voice because of the mask concealing her surprise. "If the Rabbit does not mind a partner that needs to be shown a step or two to get the hang of it, the Princess accepts."

Somehow Yakumo had a feeling that this was not the type of dance she learned from the Crane.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

Meanwhile most of the Scorpion present pretended to pretend that Hinata did not exist, while in reality several of them had already snapped a picture of him for their personal collections - so that they could tell a story of 'that time that one Crane'.

"Princess assumes that the Rabbit is any better." he replied with a chuckle. "I might be able to dance at the dojo, but we aren't exactly on tatami, nor am I holding a blade, yes?" Mineichi smirked as he offered his hand to Yakumo, the extremely slow dance resembling an ancient Merenese ball, though with the dancers a little further apart, their hands still linked. Occasionally the steps would take the pairs closer to each other, allowing ample time for quiet chatter. "It's not that hard, is it?" Mineichi asked after a while, both of their toes still intact. "Besides..." Mineichi draw small circles on the back of her hand. "...this lets me play with you a bit."

[Miya Nishida]

After his pompous appearance in his costume and having had enough chit chat for the evening with lowly functionaries and vices, Nishdia went to the bar for a quick drink. It was hard to do with a plague mask on, but here's to straws!

--
PM or Qoute plz

[Asahina Hinata]

Rei rolled his eyes, but smiled as he did so.

Then he waved the Dragon/Orochi/Whatever over.

Even in the superb costume of the stormclad orochi, the way he traipsed across the floor was pure Hinata and even a Shosuro Butei would be challenged to copy it exactly.

"Oh hi, Rei-Rei-Daddy!!!!"

He grinned under his mask, absolutely not realising the possible consequences.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Meanwhile most of the Scorpion present pretended to pretend that Hinata did not exist, while in reality several of them had already snapped a picture of him for their personal collections - so that they could tell a story of 'that time that one Crane'.

"Princess assumes that the Rabbit is any better." he replied with a chuckle. "I might be able to dance at the dojo, but we aren't exactly on tatami, nor am I holding a blade, yes?" Mineichi smirked as he offered his hand to Yakumo, the extremely slow dance resembling an ancient Merenese ball, though with the dancers a little further apart, their hands still linked. Occasionally the steps would take the pairs closer to each other, allowing ample time for quiet chatter. "It's not that hard, is it?" Mineichi asked after a while, both of their toes still intact. "Besides..." Mineichi draw small circles on the back of her hand. "...this lets me play with you a bit."

Linking the hands was a bit of a challenge, given the ornate nail-guards she wore, but she managed even if Mineichi could probably notice the tension in her hands. The billowy fabric of her hanfu however worked excellently for such slow ballroom dancing, given the turns and twirls. It covered up for her lack of agility and instead complimented her technical skill with dancing.

And Yakumo just had a way of being alluring.

"Your time in the dojo probably does help you, I should probably get some pointers there someimt. You do make it look easy," she chuckled, complimenting his ability to move on the dancefloor. Violet eyes looked down demurely for a moment. "Ah... I should've known a rabbit could be a trickster in disguise. Toying with an innocent princess, hm?"

In her mind, she felt like there were a few warning bells going off. Or maybe some screeches from the angry spirits.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

Linking the hands was a bit of a challenge, given the ornate nail-guards she wore, but she managed even if Mineichi could probably notice the tension in her hands. The billowy fabric of her hanfu however worked excellently for such slow ballroom dancing, given the turns and twirls. It covered up for her lack of agility and instead complimented her technical skill with dancing.

And Yakumo just had a way of being alluring.

"Your time in the dojo probably does help you, I should probably get some pointers there someimt. You do make it look easy," she chuckled, complimenting his ability to move on the dancefloor. Violet eyes looked down demurely for a moment. "Ah... I should've known a rabbit could be a trickster in disguise. Toying with an innocent princess, hm?"

In her mind, she felt like there were a few warning bells going off. Or maybe some screeches from the angry spirits.

___________

"I never took the Spider to be big on fashion." Mineichi smirked when the steps brought them close. "But you've proven me wrong." They were parted again, the slow music dictating the pace, the Herbalist skilled enough to give Yakumo a direction, even if his steps were far from perfect. Other pairs around them followed the same slow rhythm, pairs coming together only to part once again, the steps slow, the dance resembling more a choreographed walk than anything else. "It is not that different from this." he murmured as the dance brought them close together again. "You just have to know where to be and when." Again they were parted for a moment until the ebb and flow united them again. "Usually that means being somewhere where they aren't." Mineichi stepped behind Yakumo, close enough that she could feel his breath on her skin for a moment. "Who said anything about toying, Princess." he tsk-tsked, her ghost still eerily quiet.

[Akodo Reki]

From her vantage point, Reki does a double take at the Crane's comment.

She catches the eye of the Hare and smirks, mouthing Rei-Rei-Daddy? at him.

Tonight had at least one good thing.

[Usagi Rei]

Even in the superb costume of the stormclad orochi, the way he traipsed across the floor was pure Hinata and even a Shosuro Butei would be challenged to copy it exactly.

"Oh hi, Rei-Rei-Daddy!!!!"

He grinned under his mask, absolutely not realising the possible consequences.

From her vantage point, Reki does a double take at the Crane's comment.

She catches the eye of the Hare and smirks, mouthing Rei-Rei-Daddy? at him.

Tonight had at least one good thing.

Rei greeted Hinata with a smile, one that suddenly turned dramatically crooked as Hinata used Airi's language.

Quickly, he looked around, trying to see if anyone... yep, there was Reki, looking at him. Despite his embarrassment, Rei couldn't help but smile back. long story he mouthed back.

Then he turned to Hinata. "Asahina-san... I think... " How to explain this? Oh. "You and I haven't known each other as long as Airi and I have. I think perhaps we should stick to formal names." He considered a moment, then relented. "Or you may call me Rei-sama, if you wish."

[Asahina Hinata]

Rei greeted Hinata with a smile, one that suddenly turned dramatically crooked as Hinata used Airi's language.

Quickly, he looked around, trying to see if anyone... yep, there was Reki, looking at him. Despite his embarrassment, Rei couldn't help but smile back. long story he mouthed back.

Then he turned to Hinata. "Asahina-san... I think... " How to explain this? Oh. "You and I haven't known each other as long as Airi and I have. I think perhaps we should stick to formal names." He considered a moment, then relented. "Or you may call me Rei-sama, if you wish."

Oblivious to what he'd said and the Lion reacting to what he'd said, Hinata just carried on.

"Oh Sure, Rei-samaaa, if you call me Hinata!"

Which totally blew his 'stay anonymous' plan out of the water! Not that it was his plan anyway.

"The Scorpion sure like these balls with costumes!"

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I never took the Spider to be big on fashion." Mineichi smirked when the steps brought them close. "But you've proven me wrong." They were parted again, the slow music dictating the pace, the Herbalist skilled enough to give Yakumo a direction, even if his steps were far from perfect. Other pairs around them followed the same slow rhythm, pairs coming together only to part once again, the steps slow, the dance resembling more a choreographed walk than anything else. "It is not that different from this." he murmured as the dance brought them close together again. "You just have to know where to be and when." Again they were parted for a moment until the ebb and flow united them again. "Usually that means being somewhere where they aren't." Mineichi stepped behind Yakumo, close enough that she could feel his breath on her skin for a moment. "Who said anything about toying, Princess." he tsk-tsked, her ghost still eerily quiet.

Dismissing her concerns for now, because life is too short to be worried, Yakumo let herself go in the dance and be in the moment. "I've not spend a lot of time in the dojo, but perhaps I should correct that..." she mused idly out loud, though her voice shuddered slightly with the sharp intake of air as she could feel his breath on her skin when he moved behind her.

And then there was that silence again. No voices. And the worries were kicking in again. She turned to face him, perhaps a touch more hastily than the dance required of her. "... I still need to learn how to know where to be, and when." Yakumo hoped he wouldn't notice the unease that was coming over her.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"I am sure you would look just as fetching on tatami..." Mineichi began, smiling beneath his mask. "...as you looked on my pillows." The dance took the apart again, leaving Yakumo time to think a moment or two even as Swan Princess and Prince of Dragons swirled past her. "Princess does command an impressive presence, no matter where she steps into."

"Princess feels at lost then?" he asked Yakumo as the steps made him walk past her. "Or she would rather be somewhere else?"

[Kuni Koyuki]

Senshuken cannot help but laugh with the introduction and approach in awe of the gaming spirit within this one. "Lady Beatrice! You look magnificent tonight!" She greets her and offers a bow. Not a normal Rokugani one, but the way the gaijin of the old days supposedly did it.

The gothic lady would snicker at the compliment proudly as she returned the bow in kind with a curtsey. "Of course, you'd think so! You're awed! I'm clearly the most majestic and eldest presence here. Everyone should be grateful to have me around! Unless you have Integrity 8 or greater, which I doubt!" She cackled.

Koyuki wasn't as direct, but she was nearby still. Having of course seen Sumie's entrance (I mean, who wouldn't have directed their attention toward that?) she was a little slack-jawed at it all. A situation which did not improve as the others filtered into the event following Sumie. Rei's entrance getting a groan from the poor socially battered woman that was this particular Kuni. Still, her ultimate goal remained steady and she definitely needed someone to help distract her from the thoughts that plagued the mind.

Sumie was perfect for that. They'd met before, almost certainly. Hard to be two active Kuni working out of the same institution and never meet. However whatever brief moments those were probably weren't long considering their almost certainly different attitudes toward the work they were doing. Still, a familiar painted face in a seat of people who were far above her own weight class in this place was a reassuring enough site.

Even if that entrance still had her gawping a bit, the anxiety suppressed giving an almost glower effect to her own expression that was easy enough to misread. She didn't approach right away, but she stared. Koyuki was never too ashamed to stare. Even while Sumi was joined by another.

[Usagi Rei]

Oblivious to what he'd said and the Lion reacting to what he'd said, Hinata just carried on.

"Oh Sure, Rei-samaaa, if you call me Hinata!"

Which totally blew his 'stay anonymous' plan out of the water! Not that it was his plan anyway.

"The Scorpion sure like these balls with costumes!"

Rei considered. "Or maybe, tonight, you can call me Hare-amoro-san. Get it?" Rei wasn't even sure why he asked.

But he went on anyway. "They do. It's one of their favorite sorts of parties. But it makes sense, don't you think? So many of them wear masks already. This just extends that a bit further."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I am sure you would look just as fetching on tatami..." Mineichi began, smiling beneath his mask. "...as you looked on my pillows." The dance took the apart again, leaving Yakumo time to think a moment or two even as Swan Princess and Prince of Dragons swirled past her. "Princess does command an impressive presence, no matter where she steps into."

"Princess feels at lost then?" he asked Yakumo as the steps made him walk past her. "Or she would rather be somewhere else?"

Facing away from Mineichi for a moment as they parted and he moved once more behind her in the intricate dance, Yakumo praised the fortunes for a mask partially concealing the current emotions on her face. Confusion was certainly one she felt, mostly because of the mix of other emotions.

"No," she murmured, turning her head in his direction to follow his voice, gliding to the side as part of the dance, and this time coming more controlled to turn him compared to last time. Still she was doing her best to keep him in her line of sight. "Right now, nowhere else I'd rather be than here." Violet eyes faced his head on this time as she reminded herself to not be easily intimidated by his presence.

Even if she had a hunch she should be scared.

[Asahina Hinata]

Rei considered. "Or maybe, tonight, you can call me Hare-amoro-san. Get it?" Rei wasn't even sure why he asked.

But he went on anyway. "They do. It's one of their favorite sorts of parties. But it makes sense, don't you think? So many of them wear masks already. This just extends that a bit further."

He'd heard the intro and not got it. He still didn't get it now.

"Oh OK Hare-amoko-samaaa! Oh you came in after me, I'm Stormclad Dragon of the Depths tonight!!!"

The disapproving mask bobbled . . . happily.