[closed] And when the ball's over, we go to the feast--

[roleholders]

[ Characters ] Adachi Tohru, Altair Ibn'La-Ahad, I-no, Larxene, Oz Vessalius, Reno... Tir Mc Dohl eventually
[ Location ] The Rose Maze, Castle Hearts
[ Date/Time ] The Day of the Ball, 10:30 PM
[ Warning ] violence and murder
[ Content ] This dance displeases Us. Off with your heads.

[Everything is ready. Everything has been prepared for. A

Comments

Adacchin, when youre done maiming the poor boy

[disharmonyscale]

[There was so much to say about wilted flowers. Or flowers in general, really. Damp. Covered in dew. The smell was overbearing. She wouldn't be here if it weren't for that message.

She went deeper into the maze, feeling the dew drops stick to her skin. Really, there were so many things that could be said about this. Disgusted, she decided to take the easier route. She jumped onto one of the hedges to look for the way to the meeting place.]

[nowheresman]

[You might be distracted by a rather unpleasant sound, I-no. There is someone bent over in one of the corners of the maze, sounding like he's in the middle of a severe bout of nausea. Hopefully it's dry retching.]

[disharmonyscale]

[Suave, Adachi. Totally suave. You know most people would wait until after the date before they get wasted and vomit.

She's going to stay on top of the hedges and wait for you to finish. Not without a bit of taunting, of course.]

My, surprisingly lightweight, are we?

[nowheresman]

[If only he were as lucky to be nauseous from the drinks. At the sound of the voice, Adachi jumps a few inches into the air, whirling around. He looks like he's just seen a ghost, even before he glances up at I-no. His eyes narrow warily. This one...was she like that kid?]

...My, surprisingly nosy- oh wait, sorry, forgot you women were just like that.

[Doesn't mean he's spooked enough to lose that bite, though. After a second glance, he straightens a little, right hand gripped around a pen so tightly that the fist trembles.]

Heh, I recognize that outfit. Didn't think I'd see you here.

[disharmonyscale]

[A pen. A man and his pen. She laughs.]

Those gunshots I heard, was that you? [She makes a grab for her guitar and sets it on her lap.]

[nowheresman]

Do I look like I have a gun on me?

[But he still averts his eyes.]

[disharmonyscale]

You have a shifter, don't you?

[And she grabs a guitar pick from her hat.]

[nowheresman]

[It's almost a grimace, this smile.]

...Heh. This place...the hedges just grow behind you, y'know? Spooked me. I might've fired off a shot.

[It had only taken one.]

[disharmonyscale]

Oh, those mean, mean bushes. How dare they scare a man like you. [Condescending? Nah. She hops off from the hedge.]

So, what's a man like you doing in a place like this? [She keeps her guitar close. There's nothing wrong with that, right?]

[nowheresman]

[Adachi doesn't answer immediately. He's too busy looking at her hands, her feet - wherever she could be hiding her shifter. His mouth is quirked into a smile, but there is hardly any amusement in it. Too much of it is being overtaken by the fact that he looks so shaken.]

Needed some fresh air, you know? All those brats and dresses were stinking up the air in there. It was getting crowded. How about you?

[His pen goes click, click, but the sound is too soft to be anything but swallowed up in the night.]

[disharmonyscale]

[Hide? She doesn't wear much, Adachi. The shifter couldn't be less obvious. her hat. She tilts her head and watches him, how he played with his pen. Oh, he looked so scared.]

It was boring. You've seen one Ball, you've seen them all.

[And she adds, with mock concern.]

But what happened to you? You look sick and you reek of blood. That time of the month?

[nowheresman]

[A sneer. With every bit of antagonism, Adachi regains a bit of his composure. This is familiar, this he can do. This isn't out-of-the-ordinary, like shooting kids barely older than Nanako-chan in the middle of their foreheads.]

Not unless you've been leaking while jumping around up there.

[With mock gratitude.]

But thanks so much for the concern. I don't need it. So scram.

[disharmonyscale]

[not-so-mock hurt] Oh my. That hurt. I was only caring for you like a woman should. How could I ignore you? You were shooting all over the place.

[she smirks]

Come now, don't tell me you're always like that after a kill.

[nowheresman]

[She gets a snarl to that this time, and though it's slightly out of her view, the pen shifts into a gun in his hand.]

Ugh, shut up. You women never stop talking. It's none of your business what I should be like after a kill! Go tell some other sop what to do! There's tons of them at the party.

[disharmonyscale]

[She laughs. And laughs and laughs.]

No.

[She holds the guitar by its neck and swings it to one side. She licks her lips as it shifts, feeling the neck grow harder beneath her touch. It was cold, sweet metal, her shifted guitar. It was power. It was almost like she were with Marlene again.

Only not quite, which was what pissed her off.]

I've been told that there was going to be a better party and it starts right here!

[nowheresman]

No, you dumb cow.

[There was a snicker of his own. Things were beginning to piece together - the letters, all from different senders, the message, all lies, this maze, meant to separate and divide them, the spontaneous confrontations, the uneasiness in the air. They'd all been led into this death trap by their own masters, like dogs into dog fights.

How was it that he always wound up in situations like this? She would've laughed too, Adachi thought, but not of I-no.]

Don't you get it? We're not the ones that say when the party starts.