(Untitled)

[dive_npc]

Who: Open to All
What: Festival Costume Ball
When: March 21st (afternoon to evening)
Where: Tetha, Strahl Castle

Comments

[oni_no_ikkatsu]

He had to remember, as he had been doing as he adjusted the very wide brim of his hat, that he was doing this for Lillian. Otherwise, he would've never thought to come in a costume, let alone come to this ball at all.

That is, if she was even here. Part of him had to wonder if this was just another "plot" courtesy of the people he considered "friends" to get him out in the open doing something not like him.

"I can't remember the last time I saw you this tense," Kudamon remarked from around his shoulders, "Don't tell me you're having a social anxiety attack over this."

Satsuma sighed, most of it thinly laced with frustration. "Kudamon, this has nothing to do with social anxiety. I have no problem attending formal dinners or galas, but..." The DATS captain scanned the room before he finished, "...This is more like some sort of Halloween party than a formal gathering."

"That's still *a* form of social anxiety, isn't it?"

Satsuma never replied outside of an annoyed sneer.

[lillithmonlust]

"Rentarou!"

Lillian's voice called out, and suddenly, she grabbed his arm, grinning. The woman was wearing an almost exact duplicate of the evil stepmother's costume from Disney's version of Snow White.

"Hope I haven't been keeping uou waiting long..."

[oni_no_ikkatsu]

It would have to be that moment his face went red, then using his free hand to clear his throat and find his voice again. Kudamon, on the other hand, didn't seem convinced. 'An interesting choice of costume, it would seem.'

"No, of course not." Satsuma finally replied, even though his initial reaction merited giggles.

[lillithmonlust]

Lillian laughed, and pulled on his arm. "Then come on," she said, pulling him towards the dance floor. "I want to dance...!"

[oni_no_ikkatsu]

Satsuma was led along quite swiftly, and even though he seemed to put up resistance, it wasn't very much. Kudamon clung onto his shoulders and tensed up on the back of his neck to stay on, but still wanting to roll his eyes at just how goofy this entire situation really was.

[lillithmonlust]

Throughout the dance, Lillian seemed to lead Satsuma through most of the motions, as if she was pulling him into it. It could likely be blamed on boundless enthusiasm, but then again...

... Suddenly, the head of the band spoke up.

"At this time, we'll have to ask for all dancers to change partners..."

[oni_no_ikkatsu]

"Change partners?" Kudamon repeated, in the form of a question.

Satsuma looked oddly puzzled at the idea; after all, as far as he knew some of the other DATS members had made it to the ball, but he had yet to see any of them. And he certainly had no interest in dancing with anyone, let alone strangers.

"Lillian," Satsuma began, "Do you want to sit this next one out?"

[makinorumiko]

Lillian was about to answer, when... suddenly she was swept up and pulled into a dance by a rather... enthusiastic-looking young man. Lillian looked back, shrugging helplessly before getting into it.

"Your date get swept up too, Satsuma-san?" said an amused-sounding voice from behind him. It belonged to Makino Rumiko, who was dressed as the good witch from the Wizard of Oz.

[oni_no_ikkatsu]

It took Satsuma a few moments to recognize her, but after seeing a familiar-looking redheaded young girl sitting at a table not far from her quickly reminded him to who she was.

"It seems so...Makino Rumiko, is it?"

[makinorumiko]

Rumiko grinned. "So you remember," she said, smiling. "I want to thank you again for coming to my rescue..."

[oni_no_ikkatsu]

Satsuma couldn't help but smile in response, "I'm just glad you and your daughter were safe after all of that."

There was a quick nudge to one side of his neck, which he found out was Kudamon's hip. A quick look to the Digimon's face indicated that he wanted his partner to do something. Satsuma looked blank for a split-second before coming to a realization, then clearing his throat and extending his hand to Rumiko, albeit gingerly.

"I suppose you wish to dance?"

[makinorumiko]

Rumiko blinked. "... Ah, that would..." she smiled genuinely at him. "That would be wonderful, actually."

She took his hand, and then her other with hers... as the music suddenly transitioned to a slower melody.

[oni_no_ikkatsu]

Even if Kudamon felt more like an inappropriate passenger--and granted, he doubted any phantom would have a fox living around his shoulders--he couldn't help but have a far, far different aura of feeling from around the young tamer's mother. It just reminded him of how worried he often was around Lillian's presence, and even if Satsuma constantly reminded him of how much he was trying to "play" cumbersome, he often wondered just how much of an act it really was.

Satsuma seemed to act a little more natural around this Rumiko woman anyway... even the way he held her as they danced seemed like he was in the presence of another human being and not somebody he felt inclined to act in a certain fashion. Kudamon couldn't explain it, but...

Perhaps he didn't even need to.

[makinorumiko]

As the two of them danced, a female voice giggled, and... a tube-like body curled around Kudamon, lifting him off Satsuma's shoulders.

"Hey there cutie," said Seiko, grinning like the cat that got the cream as she hovered there with Kudamon in her coils. "I don't think we've been properly introduced~."

[oni_no_ikkatsu]

If there was ever a time Kudamon couldn't say anything, let alone even look anything other than slackjawed, it was now. He recognized her has a similar species of Kudamon, but...

"I..." was about the only word he could mutter out that was actually coherent.

[makinorumiko]

Seiko just giggled. "I'm Seiko, Rumiko's partner," she purred. "We met at Meria. And I must say... you are one fine specimen of Kudamon."

Siezing his upper body in her paws, she twirled her snake like body around, effectively spinning them both through the air.