Banquet/Socializingof_frellAugust 13 2011, 00:20:27 UTC
[ Still a bit surprised that Hattie gave her any credit whatsoever for her work helping to arrange the party, Ella had slipped away from the party briefly (after Hattie spoke to her) and changed from her original dress into a new one. She wasn't venturing very far away from Hattie or even sitting down to eat with the others. Instead, she stood a short distance from her elder stepsister with a slight smile, watching and chatting with any of their guests who approached - but mostly keeping a sharp eye on those who approached her stepsister. ]
[He's actually not having a terrible time, which is a feat for him at parties. Perhaps it's because he finds little ways to get at Hattie using his powers. For example, if he should notice her about to sip her drink, he promptly uses his reiatsu to freeze the liquid inside the glass. He's not watching her obsessively by any means, so it's not a constant. But it happens. And since it takes no physical effort on his part -- or even a look for that matter -- it's impossible to trace the occurrence to him unless you know what his powers are, or sense reiatsu.
[While he can't be described as sociable, he's in a less cranky mood than he might have otherwise been, and he won't spurn conversation. For the foreseeable future, he might be almost agreeable. Or as agreeable as he gets, anyway.]
[ Really the only reason Ella wasn't starving was because Hattie had told her to go home and change. Once away from the party, Ella was free to grab something to eat. Even if it was a wedge of cheese and a slice of bread. Food was food. So spying familiar faces nearby she padded over to say hi. ]
Good to see you're back to normal, Hitsugaya. [ Ella is too. Look, rosy complexion and brown hair, rather than the pale white on white from before. ]
[He's noticed that Ella hasn't been eating, and wonders if it had something to do with some order that Hattie had given her. The thought doesn't sit well with him, but she seems to be doing all right.]
Likewise. [Seeing her like that had been so strange; she'd been even paler than him.] I returned to normal by the following morning.
[ Psh, a few hours not eating was a drop in the bucket compared to when Ella had to go three days without, when she and Hattie went to Finishing School. Well it still wasn't fun either way. She absently tugged a lock of her hair to make sure it was still brown. ]
I was back to normal this morning - just in time for Hattie's soiree, luckily. [ She didn't need her stepsister to make any more cracks about her "motherhood" and just... just..nggh. ]
It's a good thing you didn't have to suffer looking that much younger for more than a day though.
[Hey, he gets excessively concerned over his favourite people, okay? It's a thing.]
Tch. I get treated as a child enough when I look normal. Being that way only compounded things. And I don't think it was just physical. But it's fortunate for both of us that the effects wore off. [Because . . . Mother? Wat??]
Well - perhaps so, but it's less so now that you're back to normal, right? [ He's less prone to tantrumming right? ] Oh! [ She just remembered something. Reaching into her small purse, she pulled out a small black box. ]
This is for you. [ She smiled weakly. ] A gift for everyone who's come, on behalf of Hattie. [ You don't have to keep it Toushirou. It's cheap cologne. ]
[Far less prone. Think about it, Ella. In all the time you've known him, have you ever heard him yell as much as he did on Sunday? Or . . . at all, even?] Much less so. It's just an unfortunate fact of life for me.
[He eyes the gift for a few seconds before shaking his head. He can be diplomatic about this. Just watch.] Thank you, but it's unnecessary. [Such a very polite way of saying that he never wants anything from that witch, isn't it?]
[ Indeed - it was a bit of a surprise to hear him shout, let alone shout at her. The rejection of the gift is accepted with a mild smile - she didn't think he would have liked it anyway. ]
I understand. I'll take care of it then. [ By 'Take care of it', she means she'll tuck it back into her satchel. A glance around shows that Hattie seemed to be handling herself with the other guests well enough, but a slight frown passed over her face briefly. Too briefly, as she smiled again. ]
To be honest I don't think the gift would have suited you particularly well anyway.
[And the shouting at you was just out of frustration at the situation. Unlike others, you didn't mock him, or commit the almighty sin of telling him he was adorable.]
[And he wouldn't have accepted the gift no matter what it was. Because it came from Hattie.] Generic gifts would tend to carry that risk. [He doesn't get things for people he doesn't know really well. It just seems more logical to him to know what somebody would enjoy, first.]
[ She suspected that was the reason, which was why she hadn't gotten upset or offended. That and her patience was fairly long - had to be. ]
Truth, but it's customary to offer some sort of trinket to guests who attend social functions like this. At least it is back home. I'm not sure about the custom of parties here. [ She's thoughtful a moment, then dismisses the topic to nod, pleasantly. ]
Yes. Aside from a few rough mishaps, [like Hattie slipping on ice, her drinks freezing, and whatnot] it seems that everyone is enjoying themselves - and it's nice to be able to see my friends in person, rather than over the NV. It's convenient, but so impersonal.
[He just shrugs at all this talk of party customs. Hell if he knows what they are. He's not the type that usually enjoys parties. Most of the time, if he attends one, it's out of a sense of obligation. And those functions held by Soul Society nobility . . . Well, he'd rather not have to attend one of those things again ever.]
[He has to stop a smirk when Ella mentions everything that's happened to Hattie thus far. It's a good thing he has far more experience looking apathetic than he does looking satisfied, because he manages to pull it off perfectly. He's having a good time because of the so-called mishaps.] We didn't bother much with such devices in Soul Society.
Really? You only dealt with souls - nothing for entertainment?
[ Souls ... oh that reminds her. ] Say, you don't... sense any souls or ghosts here do you? The gentleman I rented it from didn't say about it being haunted but... [ She glances towards Hattie briefly. ]
Devices, Ella. Like the NV. Dealing with souls is the job, but there are things to do outside of it.
[He's glad that she looks away for a second, because he can't stop the smirk this time. Even so, he takes a sip of his own drink to further hide his amused expression. By the time she looks back and his face is visible again, his expression is back to the norm. He actually does cast his senses about, just so this won't be a lie:] There are no ghosts here.
[ That's a relief. That there were things to do outside of the job, that is. It just seemed awful if all they did was work work work. ]
What did you do outside of your job, then?
[ So so oblivious to that smirking~! SO oblivious. But she does relax a bit at hearing that there were at least no ghosts. Or, well, no malicious ones. ]
Maybe she offended an ice spirit or something. [ She shook her head. ] I didn't think there were any here, but it seems harmless enough. [ And to change the subject, she grins again. ] Still I'm glad that some of her friends have shown up. And it seems she's rather taken with Byakuya.
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[While he can't be described as sociable, he's in a less cranky mood than he might have otherwise been, and he won't spurn conversation. For the foreseeable future, he might be almost agreeable. Or as agreeable as he gets, anyway.]
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Good to see you're back to normal, Hitsugaya. [ Ella is too. Look, rosy complexion and brown hair, rather than the pale white on white from before. ]
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Likewise. [Seeing her like that had been so strange; she'd been even paler than him.] I returned to normal by the following morning.
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I was back to normal this morning - just in time for Hattie's soiree, luckily. [ She didn't need her stepsister to make any more cracks about her "motherhood" and just... just..nggh. ]
It's a good thing you didn't have to suffer looking that much younger for more than a day though.
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Tch. I get treated as a child enough when I look normal. Being that way only compounded things. And I don't think it was just physical. But it's fortunate for both of us that the effects wore off. [Because . . . Mother? Wat??]
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Well - perhaps so, but it's less so now that you're back to normal, right? [ He's less prone to tantrumming right? ] Oh! [ She just remembered something. Reaching into her small purse, she pulled out a small black box. ]
This is for you. [ She smiled weakly. ] A gift for everyone who's come, on behalf of Hattie. [ You don't have to keep it Toushirou. It's cheap cologne. ]
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[He eyes the gift for a few seconds before shaking his head. He can be diplomatic about this. Just watch.] Thank you, but it's unnecessary. [Such a very polite way of saying that he never wants anything from that witch, isn't it?]
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I understand. I'll take care of it then. [ By 'Take care of it', she means she'll tuck it back into her satchel. A glance around shows that Hattie seemed to be handling herself with the other guests well enough, but a slight frown passed over her face briefly. Too briefly, as she smiled again. ]
To be honest I don't think the gift would have suited you particularly well anyway.
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[And he wouldn't have accepted the gift no matter what it was. Because it came from Hattie.] Generic gifts would tend to carry that risk. [He doesn't get things for people he doesn't know really well. It just seems more logical to him to know what somebody would enjoy, first.]
You're having a good time?
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Truth, but it's customary to offer some sort of trinket to guests who attend social functions like this. At least it is back home. I'm not sure about the custom of parties here. [ She's thoughtful a moment, then dismisses the topic to nod, pleasantly. ]
Yes. Aside from a few rough mishaps, [like Hattie slipping on ice, her drinks freezing, and whatnot] it seems that everyone is enjoying themselves - and it's nice to be able to see my friends in person, rather than over the NV. It's convenient, but so impersonal.
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[He has to stop a smirk when Ella mentions everything that's happened to Hattie thus far. It's a good thing he has far more experience looking apathetic than he does looking satisfied, because he manages to pull it off perfectly. He's having a good time because of the so-called mishaps.] We didn't bother much with such devices in Soul Society.
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[ Souls ... oh that reminds her. ] Say, you don't... sense any souls or ghosts here do you? The gentleman I rented it from didn't say about it being haunted but... [ She glances towards Hattie briefly. ]
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[He's glad that she looks away for a second, because he can't stop the smirk this time. Even so, he takes a sip of his own drink to further hide his amused expression. By the time she looks back and his face is visible again, his expression is back to the norm. He actually does cast his senses about, just so this won't be a lie:] There are no ghosts here.
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What did you do outside of your job, then?
[ So so oblivious to that smirking~! SO oblivious. But she does relax a bit at hearing that there were at least no ghosts. Or, well, no malicious ones. ]
Maybe she offended an ice spirit or something. [ She shook her head. ] I didn't think there were any here, but it seems harmless enough. [ And to change the subject, she grins again. ] Still I'm glad that some of her friends have shown up. And it seems she's rather taken with Byakuya.
[ Snrk. ]
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I visited family.
[He has to fight off another smirk here.] Perhaps she did. [Or she offended an ice spirit's partner.]
[He almost rolls his eyes when Hattie's blatant attraction to Kuchiki comes up.] How unfortunate for the both of them.
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