We've got stars directing our fate, and we're praying it's not too late. [Party-Thread]

[bloodrunsdeeper]

[[OOC: Okay, kids. Have your Christmas Ball. ^^ Given that 'tis the season for traveling and holiday stress, you can probably expect the whole kaboodle to be slowtimed to Hell, but the important thing is that it's here for you to throw your kids in. Mix and mingle, make new friends, and have fun! Remember, this takes place on December 24, so any

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[egyptiansoldier]

Coming through the main door are two men with identical faces. Daniel managed a rush order of the proper military parade uniform from Egypt, and even though it's slightly off from the uniform he's used to wearing, it fits him like he was born in it. At his side is Eloi, blending in much better in his formal tux. It's vaguely possible someone may confuse the two, or mistake them for identical twins, especially given that Daniel is wearing contacts instead of his glasses tonight.

Daniel smiles at the sight of the crowd. It's been a while since he's had to go to a formal gathering like this, and he's sort of missed it. The fact that he doesn't have to suck up to anyone really helps.

[paranoideloi]

Eloi, on the other hand, is visibly nervous, straightening his tie out of anxiety. He's generally not social and crowds make him very uncomfortable. He's got his wings hidden for the moment, and has to resist the temptation to let them out, which they always seem to want to do when he's anxious.

He glances around, giving Revan a nod as he spots her over by the food. He then glances over to Daniel and says, casually, "I wonder how many people will mix the two of us up."

(Or mistake them for identical twins.)

[egyptiansoldier]

Daniel's no psychologist or anything, but the casual act is fooling no one. Still, it seems like it would be less humiliating for the angel if he just went along with it rather than call him out, so he just lets out a quiet laugh. "Care to keep a tally?" he half-jokes, and decides to stick close to his guardian angel for the night. He can totally do the intimidating bodyguard thing if necessary, which is totally backwards but he doesn't really care. Eloi is one of his people, or close enough.

[paranoideloi]

Eloi lets out a nervous chuckle. "Sure, why not?"

He doesn't have his sword. He doesn't like not having his sword. But dammit, it's a peaceful occasion, and he won't be the one to start something. And he has to fight hard to keep the thoughts of ohGodohGodsomething'sgonnagowrongIjustknowitwill from invading his brain.

Paranoia sucks, doesn't it?

[please_see_me]

Dusty is in a very simple white dress. She disappeared into the bathroom shortly after arriving and seeing all the angels with their wings out, and had to work herself up to letting her own Scarlet Macaw's wings out in their brilliant blue and red and yellow. But, finally, she emerges and tiptoes into the ballroom with her wings folded against her back, wide-eyed and looking very much like the wallflower attempting to break out and not exactly managing it.

Would anyone like to ask her to dance?

[scorching_black]

"Cor, Dusty, you look lovely."

Sirius atcher elbow!

"Care for a dance?"

[please_see_me]

Dusty blushes and ducks her head, her wings ruffling a little. "Thanks. I feel kinda silly, all... colored like some little kid's picture book."

She hesitates and then shrugs. "Dunno. I haven't ever really been to a dance before."

[scorching_black]

"No, it suits you, really," Sirius assures her. "I could teach you, if you want...or we could just stand here and say nice things to each other if you'd prefer!"

[kineticmachine]

Arlin is being a very inconspicuous wallflower. A very inconspicuous wallflower so much as he can be in a very fancy tux -- best Chicago's tailors could offer -- complete with tails. He's sipping the drink in his hand mostly for something to do with his hands, cane draped over one arm. He might be shifting about the room, nodding politely but never really engaging in conversation with anyone, observing. And pointedly always being on the opposite side of the room as a certain spunky half-psychic.

[cookiesandhugs]

Oh Arlin. You're not as inconspicuous as you think. Particularly with Gladys being on the hunt. She's baked cookies, you know. Which means people should look the fuck out for the crazy old lady zooming around the room.

Literally. She's making airplane noises, then train noises, pulling to a stop next to Arlin with the tray of cookies she's baked (they're fresh!). "Woo-woo!" she cries, shoving the tray at him. She's wearing a most hideous of flower print dresses, and a striped sweater over that.

"Hello dear!" she cries, a giant smile on her face. "Have a cookie! Dance! I would offer to dance with you, but I've got two left feet myself, so that wouldn't be very fun for you."

Here, Arlin. Have a Gladys to the face.

[kineticmachine]

Arlin was really hoping the crazy old bird was just going to zoom on by, and he'd briefly considered veering away except for that pesky crowd of people that got in the way (and, you know, the wall on the other side of him). So he's faced with the crazy. Why is he always faced with the crazy?

He just stares at her for awhile, then at the tray of cookies. "No, thank you," he says finally, the 'thank you' being more polite than sincere. "And I'm perfectly fine not dancing."

[cookiesandhugs]

Ohhhh, Gladys doesn't give up that easily. "Just one," she says, brandishing the plate like it's a weapon of some kind. "For an old woman." She puts on her best pouting face, which might work better if she didn't look to be in her mid-sixties.

No one wants Grandma pouting at them.

[duology]

Mostly Dev just wants a warm place to stay for a few hours. He isn't liking the Conrad all that much--neither of them like crowds at all. Which is why when Dev steps into the Grand Ballroom, he almost immediately turns and walks back out.

Then he notices the free food.

"Oh, well that's not all that fair, is it?" He heaves a sigh and glances to the side, catching his reflection in a wall mirror. He's not looking at himself, though; he's looking at the blonde girl who is also reflected there, just to the side and behind him.

"Well, Ace?"

{Free food. We're hungry.}

He smirks. "Can't argue with that logic," he says, and he makes his way toward the table of food.

[allmydiredreams]

A table of food which Babel happens to be at, methodically demolishing a small plate of fancy cheeses and crackers. It takes her a moment to notice them, sure, but once she does -- hey, they're interesting, and it's been a long time since she's hung out with a multiple. Even if this one is a special Chicago-brand one, and therefore slightly different, that matters not. More than one bodybeat in a single body! Double the fun, or danger, or whatever.

"The miniature sandwiches are wonderful," she comments, moving closer to Dev and pointing. She gives him a bright smile, as if to say 'look at all this wonderful foodstuffs!' "Might as well take advantage while you can."

[duology]

Dev looks up at the sound of someone's voice and smiles at the young woman next to him.

"Mini sandwiches usually are," he says. "Especially if they're--ooh, and they are cucumber. This place might win my heart yet."

He gathers some sandwiches onto a plate and smiles again.

"I am Devin, though you can call me Dev. It is very nice to meet you, Ms., ah...?"

[allmydiredreams]

Babel inspects her own sandwich for a moment at Dev's mention of cucumber. "I think my favorite were the weird peanut butter ones over there," she says, pointing. "There might have been banana slices in them." Because peanut butter and banana are two tastes that should always go together.

"I'm Babel," she replies. "Just Babel, none of that Ms. business, I belong to myself." Except for the way she really doesn't have much control over her own fact of existence -- or hadn't had much, pre-Rift. But she doesn't think about that much at all.

And right now there's a more pressing, or at least interesting, matter. "Where's the other one?" she asks. Because dammit, she can feel two people.

[devilsblueroses]

Nero's not terribly happy to be here. If it weren't for a few people around the Conrad telling him he absolutely had to under...penalty of something vague, he would have skipped this crap all together. Especially since he'd been told to leave his weapons at home. Well, he's dressed the same as usual. That much couldn't be helped.

Now he's leaning against one of the walls, making sure everyone who looks in his direction knows just how bored and uncomfortable he is to be here. Stupid boy.

[sevendoc]

There's a tall, lanky man in a blue suit wandering around the ball. Or at least he was wandering around, before he decided to park himself on the wall next to Nero for no apparent reason.

"Well. That's interesting, then," he says, with the sort of tone that suggests that someone, somewhere probably finds it amusing but that hypothetical person may or may not be present among their number.

[devilsblueroses]

Nero looks at the tall man for a moment, then goes back to not paying attention, hoping that with some pointed ignoring, he'll go away. When he doesn't, he finally sighs and decides that he'll bite, readjusting his sling so that it didn't bite into his neck so much.

"What's interesting?" he asks, trying to seem more interested in the sling's strap than whatever the guy has to say.

[sevendoc]

The Doctor - yes, another one - lets a small smile show.

"Oh, you know, angels, demons, wanderers, mingling, it's a bit like sitting on the edge of a caldera, though I imagine that if this decides to explode it'll be less an explosion and more..."

He considers for a moment.

"...a small, localized World War Three? Honestly, I'm surprised this world is still at two, the way things are."

Smile.