[hider][quote=@Viciousmarrow]
Alban was a bit surprised when he saw Shizuka enter the car with a modest kimono coupled with a replica of the cybernetic ninja's helmet from the critically acclaimed Iron Gear franchise. It was tacky, to be sure, but he couldn't help admire her courage for trying something so unique. [color=6ecff6]"I love it! Silver Fox is my favorite character from Iron Gear actually. I've always wondered she looked like outside of her suit... Guess I know now!"[/color] he told her with a chuckle, silently wondering if that last sentence sounded vulgar or not. Before he forgot, he reached into the backseat and grabbed the tickets from the bag his mother had given him. Alban slipped them into his pocket without really looking at them and hit the gas pedal.
[hr][h3]8:30 PM[/h3]
The duo managed to make it to the party, albeit slightly late. Finding a parking spot was rather difficult, which forced them to make a short hike to the front door. Alban didn't mind it though, it was kind of nice just walking with Shizuka and chatting about their holiday experiences. Neither really appeared to be going to a formal masquerade, but they were in this together, even if it looked like they were making a guest appearance at an anime convention. 

At the front door, they were asked to present their tickets. Obliging, the Frenchman pulled them out, although, much to his embarrassment, four condoms fell out from his pants' pocket and spilled onto the ground. The door greeter tilted their head at him, definitely judging him. Al's face went red with embarrassment as he quickly bent over and threw them into his pocket. Shizuka probably thought he was a creep now. [color=6ecff6]"I... give these away at parties, so people practice safe... well, you know."[/color] he lied, trying to save his hide. He didn't mean to lie, it just slipped out.

Somehow, Alban managed to keep his cool until they were inside, trudging through the crowd. First things were first: the bar. He lead the way over to the busy area, flagging down the bartender. [color=6ecff6]"Can I get some drinks over here?"[/color] he asked, trying to decide what he wanted. Before Al could ask for something in particular, his eyes caught the sight of a scuffle on the dance floor. A young man with glasses had just pushed a very familiar looking woman out of reach from a brunette woman, who was obviously irate for one reason or another. Alban wasn't concerned with whatever drama was happening there. Instead, he focused on the young woman that had been pushed away, the lady that he presumed was Lucille's mother. A sudden flurry of anger flushed through him. What the hell was she doing here?  

"Uh, sir? What can I get you?" the bartender asked him, dragging Al back to reality. Without reading anything, he randomly chose what seemed to be a bottle of some light blue substance, assuming it was juice. [color=6ecff6]"I'll take a tall glass of that, and whatever she's having."[/color] Al told the man, his eyes going back to leering at the Korean woman from far away. The bartender glared at the Frenchman like he was crazy before doing as he was asked. Al had planned on taking Shizuka onto the dance floor, but with that bitch out there, there was no way that was happening. Huffing, he finally detached his leer and gazed around the rest of the room. Another familiar figure stuck out in the corner, near a window. Though she wore a bunny mask, he could recognize her figure and hair anywhere. She was conversing with a dark haired man, trying to make the best of her experience. [color=6ecff6]"Hey, it's Lucille's violin instructor!"[/color] he ecstatically told Shizuka before downing his entire glass of "juice." Again, the bartender looked like he was watching an insane man. 

With that, he grabbed Shizuka's hand and led her through the chaos. [color=6ecff6]"Her name is Maribelle. She's one of the orchestra professors at the academy, and she's an absolute sweetheart. You'll love her, I promise."[/color] Alban reassured Shizuka, trying to get over the fact Lucille's mother was in the building. Waving over to the brunette woman, they closed in. As they got closer, a sudden feeling of euphoria hit him, as if he'd had 5 shots at once. [color=6ecff6]"Hey, Mari! It's so great to see you. You look great. And hello to you too!"[/color] Al greeted Mari and the other man, an increasing amount of joy in his voice. Whatever he had drank, it was making him smile exceptionally goofy now. Without letting them respond, he reached into his pocket and gave Mari a condom, giving her a wink and nudging Kazu. [color=6ecff6]"Practice safe sex, you sly succubus, you!"[/color]

The drink he had was hitting him [i]hard[/i] now, and Alban subconsciously knew it. He hadn't expected that drink to be this strong... Silently, he prayed Shizuka wouldn't be too appalled by the drunk side of him.
[/quote][/hider]

As Shizuka entered Alban's car, she felt a twinge of regret that she wasn't familiar with the character whose mask she wore, though she was glad Alban didn't find her getup unacceptable.  Relieved, Shizuka chatted with Alban during the drive, noticing that the mask distorted her voice slightly.  As they were entering the ballroom, Alban dropped some condoms while taking out his tickets.  At first, Shizuka wasn't sure what they were, having seen them so rarely, but Alban's 'explanation' that he handed them out to promote safe sex confirmed what they were in Shizuka's mind.  She was a little startled and wasn't sure whether what he said was true or not, though she figured that maybe it was just an extreme safety precaution.

But when they reached the bar, Shizuka noticed something in Alban that she hadn't seen before.  He was staring at a woman on the dance floor with what Shizuka could only identify as hatred.  "I-I'll have the same," Shizuka said, unsure what had come over Alban.  As if to distract himself, Alban noticed 'Lucille's violin instructor', and dragged Shizuka along with him to greet her.  Shizuka went along willingly, glad that this took Alban's mind off of whatever was bothering him.  [color=a187be]"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Maribelle,"[/color] Shizuka said, being polite.  When Alban handed Maribelle a condom, she believed what he had said earlier, though she blushed, wondering if he was being less than tactful, even though he was promoting public health.

As she put the cocktail to her lips to take a drink herself, she caught a strong scent of alcohol and suddenly it hit her; Alban was drunk.  Shizuka quickly put the drink down without touching it and held Alban's shoulders, directing him to a seat.  In a way she as relieved, she didn't know how to dance and now she probably wouldn't have to make an attempt to do so.  Though she didn't drink much, she remembered some advice from her father, who enjoyed his beer, about ways to suppress drunkenness, one of which involved getting food in the stomach.  As a waiter passed by with a tray of food, Shizuka quickly went over and grabbed two small plates, putting them on the table that she and Alban now shared with Maribelle and Kazu.  [color=a187be]"Here, let's have some hors d'oeuvres and enjoy ourselves."[/color]  She sat down and looked around the room, content to just people watch and keep an eye on Alban.

[@The Muse] [@Rekaigan]