The Honorary Ball

[Diego Stanton]

Deo was sure he had gotten the dance moves down perfect in his mind when he felt a vibration on the table.

huh? Oh, Van decided to rejoin him.

"That was completely awful..." she said dejectedly, face buried in her hands. Deo grabbed one of her arms, causing her head to plonk down on the table. Deo didn't seem to notice.

"Hey, hey no lame seeD has the authority to say no to a dance with my Van," Deo said concernedly, thinking that someone had turned down his friend for a dance, "Besides I'm your date whether you like it or not. So.... we're gonna dance!" Deo jumped up from the table and made a beeline for the dancefloor, tugging Vanesse with him excitedly. He was ready to try out his dance moves!

Just as he was setting himself up to dance, he saw something that made him come to an abrupt halt and cower behind Vanesse.

"oh, shit, hide me!!" he hissed to Van, "I... I... I think I see Signe over there!"

Not for the first time today he felt his body run cold with dread. He could imagine Signe running over to them and yelling at him for being a lazy bum and not contributing to the team and making him wake up before 3pm. His grip on Vanesse's arm tightened. All sense that told him that Signe was dead had left him. After seeing Lawric come back to life he was now afraid for his life that the same thing had happened to Signe and Able.

[Stella]

Stella stiffened in Bastian's arms as she saw the little scene with Jax and Van. She was just about to head over there when Van stammered an apology and moved away.

"You've got some interesting friends" Bastion purred, her lips very close to her eyes. Her attention slammed right back into his arms and she took a deep breath.

"Well honestly, I hardly know them... and now that the mission is over I may never" she said with a little smile looking back up into his eyes. He gave her a very warm smile, his eyes practically glowing.

"What will you do now then that Adel is dead?" he asked twirling her around again.

"I don't know... Maybe transfer back to Galbadia" she said with a little shrug.

"Mmm...I doubt that will happen... I have a feeling that you're going to have plenty of things to take care of here..." he whispered to her sending a shiver down her spine.

[waterlily43]

Rayden took the haughty hand the girl had offered to him, bowing exaggeratedly with a flourish and a smirk on his face. He was so smarmy and smug with himself for easily slipping into the mode that he was the most accustomed with, the one that glided among girls the way a butterfly flitted among pretty flowers. He was done with Awkward and Defeatist Rayden, which was almost what he'd been just a few moments ago when he stalked away from the Trin table and brooded at the bar.

In a way, this girl had revived him by appearing beside him just at the right time. And Rayden understood very well how important correct timing was, he had it at the tip of his fingers.

He pulled her to the dancefloor, stopping right in the middle where they could be seen from every point of the ballroom.

The perfect spot for the perfect performance.

/Performance for whom, I wonder/

Everyone of course.

/Oh reaaaaaallly./ Aria had that 'I-am-omniscient-goddess' tone, and it exasperated him to the point that he tightened his grasp on the girl even more, pulling her into his embrace snugly, while still moving in rythm to the music.


"You still haven't told me your name." He brightened his playful grin, moving his ears so close to her ear he could almost brush them with his lips. "Or do you think I'm not good enough to know it?"

[Zacke]

LMAO Deo XD

---

Zacke was looking out at the ballroom, watching the couples swirl around eachother. Lots of colors...

"Zacke do you want to dance?" He looked at Jun. "We're just sitting around doing nothing."

"Sure," he grinned and stood, offering her an arm. As they moved for the dance floor, he realized the way she had put it...

They came together, he with one hand on her waist and the other holding her hand. "Err, well now I pretty much feel like the lamest date ever." He laughed. "I'm sorry Jun, I didn't realize it, if you were bored... "

/Oh, Zackery... / Iris sighed. /Just because you have a short attention span doesn't mean everyone else does./

"It's weird," He ventured, ignoring Iris--as per usual. "Thinking that after tonight, the whole 'Trinity' things is over. It's obviously cause for celebration, but it also makes me kinda sad... you know?" He looked at her. Maybe he was the only one.

[Reese]

Reese and Stardust stepped into the ballroom, their arms loosely linked. He had to pause for a moment and get a hold on his resolve. He had left his hat behind, and now missed it very much--if only for it being something he could hide underneath. The bright colors and loud music, the sheer amount of people... He glanced down at Stardust anxiously, who--while she didn't seem thrilled to be here--she didn't have that usual scowl on her face either.

Is eyes remained on her for a moment longer, and despite all his discomfort with the situation, he couldn't help but smile a bit at the fact that he was the man on her arm. Her usually disheveled hair was combed and styled neatly. Her makeup was applied sparingly, but she didn't need much anyway. And her attire... He still couldn't get over it. Unconventional? Everything about Stardust was unconventional, and he loved it. She looked amazing--and it had to have been the thousandth time tonight he had thought that.

Her presence was reassuring beyond words.

"Where do we go?" He asked quietly, his eyes returning to the ballroom.

[Lawric]

Lawric let himself be pulled along by Jaime, frowning down at her slightly with an amused smirk playing on his lips. Schoolgirl swooning reaction? What's gotten into her lately? Granted, she was just teasing... but it still didn't sound right, coming out of her.

He shook off the thought as they approached Deo and Vanesse.

"oh, shit, hide me!!" Deo hissed to Van, "I... I... I think I see Signe over there!"

Lawric frowned and looked in the direction Deo was looking. Sure enough, there was a girl over there that bore a striking resemblance to Signe. He smiled sort of sadly and looked back at Deo. "Signe's definitely dead. I don't think you have anything to worry about, Deo." He laughed. "Unless she decides to haunt you. That leaves you with a lot to worry about, actually... "

[jaimelewis]

Jaime reluctantly let go of Lawric's hand when they reached Van and Deo. There was no reason to hang on to it without appearing suspicious. And it felt curiously empty now...well she wouldn't dwell upon that. She had other thoughts on her mind.

"Deo, that is definitely not Signe!" Jaime exclaimed, turning to look at Calliope Trepe. "If it was Signe she'd be coming for you and ranting at you as soon as she spots you!"

Jaime whirled back, smirking at Deo's horrified expression.

"And if she knew you mistook that woman for her she would surely go after your neck! HAHAHA!"

[Lex]

Brooke allowed him to whisk her off to the dance floor, flashing a dazzling smile as he moved her in closer and lead her in the dance. She was graceful, an obviously practiced dancer.

"You still haven't told me your name." He bowed his head, his lips almost brushing her ear. Forward. Impressive. Someone on her wavelength? "Or do you think I'm not good enough to know it?"

She pulled back and let out a laugh. "My name is Brooke." She smiled. "And if I didn't think you were good enough to know my name, I wouldn't even be talking to you--much less dancing with you. Handsome."

[junkuroki]

"Relax Zacke, you don't have to apologise for everything." Jun laughed softly. "You've been apologising a lot lately, give it a break. You don't have to act all prim and proper around me."

She flashed him a warm smile to show that she meant what she said.

"It's weird," He said, the smile on his face gradually disappearing. "Thinking that after tonight, the whole 'Trinity' thing is over. It's obviously cause for celebration, but it also makes me kinda sad... you know?" He looked at her.

She nodded, pausing for a while to collect her thoughts before answering.

"Of course you would feel sad. I'm the same too." The arm on his shoulder gave a reassuring squeeze. "Because after this Ball is over, it's the end of what brought us together. This mission gathered all of us on the same team, for one sole purpose. Granted, we've only been on the mission for only a few days, even lesser for me. But we covered each other's asses, and now we're standing here all well and all limbs attached. "

She stopped, was she talking too much and boring him to tears? Jun had the tendency to become too long-winded, but Zacke didn't look like he was yawning, so she took it as a sign to continue.

"Just the fact that there are so many people I can trust my life with makes me happy, and after this, who knows when we'll ever be on the same mission again? So, yeah...that's why we're sad." She grinned. "I hope you're not regretting getting stuck in this dance with me. You were doomed to a preachy session when you asked me to be your partner."

[Jax Ridean]

What a night...

Jax was standing on the edge of the balcony, tie loosened, hair slightly disheveled. Reaching into his pant pocket and he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Lighting one up, he took a long drag, holding the smoke in his lungs until they burned, and then finally exhaling a lovely plume of smoke.

"JAAAAAAAAAAAAXX!!!!"

He groaned and flicked away his cigarette butt. Turning his head towards his "companion" who actually standing less than a foot away from him. He tried hard to smile. "What can I do for you?" He was working hard not to stare at her face, which was now stained with goopy mascara tears and smeared eyeshadow.

Clown paint...

Then again, the girl had been crying for the last half hour, moaning hysterically about her ruined evening.

So in less than an hour, he had gone from handsome date to Little Miss Princess's bodyguard. Calliope, after having one too many strangers mistake her as a dead person, insisted that he provide her protection for the rest of the night, less someone else should "assail" her. Thus, here he was, waiting on her every beck and call.

"Jax," she sobbed, "Could you get me another martini?"

That would be her 8th drink....

"Um..." he hesitated. "I think you've had enough-----"

"I SAID GET ME A MARTINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Jax pulled out a handkerchief and slowly wiped off the droplets of spit that had landed on his face.

Never hit a woman...never hit a woman...

Donning another one of his fake smiles, he excused himself and re-entered the ball room.

By this time, most of the Trin couples had made their way onto the dance floor.

Hmmmm I wonder what's taking Gemma so long?

Going up to the bar, he found an open seat and sat down.

"Hey Horace, could I get another drink? Yeah, yeah. It's for the same girl. You know, in fact, gimme a scotch too."

He was going to need some extra encouragement if he was going to survive the night.

[Gemma Ridean]

Sitting on her bed, Gemma was strapping on her high heels that Stella had picked out for her that afternoon. Actually, Stella had really chosen everything for her, in addition to doing her makeup and hair. But she trusted the woman. After all, Stella always seemed to ooze style and sophistication in a way that seemed effortless.

She glanced at her watch.

9:40 pm.

Grabbing her clutch, she stole one more look in the mirror and opened her door, gently closing it behind her.

---

Sorry for the short post. I gotta head to class!

[stardust]

Stepping inside the Ball with Reese, Stardust looked at the dancing couples on the dancefloor. She had thought of attending in a dress too, but realized that she didn't have the heart to look like that. It was just ridiculous.

/What you're wearing right now IS ridiculous./ grumbled Diwata. /If I were you, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing pants in this romantic gathering./ She rambled on.

Romantic...? Stardust scowled, the only feeling she was getting out of this place was awkwardness. She didn't even want to dance. The only reason she was here was because they were required to. Also...to show some respect for those who died. A week ago, she wouldn't even care about them, but now...She was having a change of heart.

She heard Diwata sigh. /Amazing what Adel's death can do to a person./

"Where do we go?" Stardust broke her train of thought at the sound of Reese's voice. Reese Amaerick. His and their testimonies had just pushed DoTNA officials closer to their graves. As a result, Garden allowed him to freely roam the premises until his fateful trial--which would be held in a month or so. Zacke was supposed to keep an eye on him since Reese was still in probation, but Stardust knew that the blonde was no good, so she might as well take Reese around herself.

"Sorry," she said out of the blue. "The training center would've been a better place...but since we're required to be here and you just recovered...." Her stern face turned apologetic. She slowly broke their linked arms and grabbed his wrist instead.

"Over here." She pulled Reese along the sea of swirling couples. Atleast she knew where they were supposed to be sitting. It was strange how there was noone sitting in their designated table.

"That's our spot." She walked over to it.

They still haven't arrived yet? Stardust concluded they were late. She thought it was unbecoming of them. She sat on one of the tables and asked Reese to do the same. If someone complained, most likely Blaze, then Stardust would just deal with whoever it is. It wasn't a problem.

She looked up at Reese as she waited for him to sit down. "You wear it better than Zacke," she casually said. She hadn't told this to him yet, but Stardust liked what they did to his hair. He looked different. "That suit he lent you, I mean. You wear it better."


--------------------
I kind of explained what happened to Reesie in this post accdg. to my knowledge XD Tell me if this is okay, Lex

Lex: It sounds good to me! I just had to edit one thing: his trial date. You said it'd be "in a day or two." It really needs to be, like, a month from this time--maybe more. But that's it!

[Hadrian D'arcell]

Hadrian stared back at Blaze. It was amusing. There was something about confused people that amused him. The way they wrinkle their forehead, the way their eyes focus on him, and the way they get lost in their thoughts, he had always been fond of it. It was because in that exact moment of time, their attention was noone else but his.

"Don't think so hard about it." Fondly, he patted Blaze's head for a few seconds, then quickly withdrew his hand afterwards. He felt another murderous intent around him. "Backing off. See?"

He glanced at the people coming in. Maybe it was a good idea if they came in already. "What does that got to do with Deo?" he reiterated her question. "All right, listen carefully." This was the only thing that didn't make sense to him. It completely clashed with the information that he had. If his hunch was right, Blaze would have to know who Deo was by now. However, she seemed to have no clue on what he was to her. If she didn't recognize Deo when she first saw him, then, maybe he was mistaken. He had to make sure.

He led Blaze around the dancefloor to get to their designated table. "That woman in the picture. She had a son named Diego." He stopped and looked back at her. "Diego Sanaku," he stated. "That's your older brother's name, isn't it?" She must've known that. She should.

[Reese]

Reese stared at the vacant table as Stardust took her seat. Our table? It wasn't his table. Not at all. Slowly a heavy, leaden feeling of anxiety started creeping it's way into his gut. All of the horrible things he had been saying to himself lately only seemed to be amplified in his head tonight. He shouldn't be here. He wasn't welcome. What the hell was he doing? This was how it was going to be for him all night--and it was only going to get worse when they showed up.

He looked at Stardust when she asked him to have a seat also, and mutely complied, pulling out the chair next to hers. Just listen to her. He told himself. Don't let yourself slip into that mood. Stay calm; follow her.

"You wear it better than Zacke," He looked back at Stardust. "That suit he lent you, I mean. You wear it better."

"Thanks," He smiled slightly. "But I didn't borrow this from Zacke. He rented it for me in Balamb. He didn't have anything that would fit me correctly."

He placed his hands in his lap and looked down at them. She seemed sort of distant. It was... not like he remembered. Not like Fisherman's Horizon. Of course she's distant... he thought. After everything that had happened with him... of course.

His lifted his gaze to the ballroom. "I like the ensemble you chose," He looked at her, smirking ever so slightly. He spoke quietly. "You haven't lost your flair."

He looked away.

[Zacke]

"I hope you're not regretting getting stuck in this dance with me. You were doomed to a preachy session when you asked me to be your partner."

Zacke lifted an eyebrow. "Preachy?" He laughed, pulling her closer and into a hug as the music died down with the end of the song. He pulled back. "Meh, you just like to talk. I recognize that trait! I suffer it too."

The orchestra began another tune. Blue Sky.

"You know," he ventured as they repositioned, he starting to lead her in the steps. "If I hog you for a whole 'nother song, I'm going to attract the envy of every guy in this room... " He flashed a mischievous grin. "So are you down for the drama?"

He laughed.

"Nah, in all seriousness though, Jun, you look wonderful. You're outshining me, and it's not an easy thing to do." He winked.