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. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Maribelle," 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. "Here, let's have some hors d'oeuvres and enjoy ourselves." She sat down and looked around the room, content to just people watch and keep an eye on Alban.

@The Muse @Rekaigan

The cool breeze that gently flowed through the window calmed Kazu’s uncomfortable feelings. This was the best place to be as more and more people came through the doors. He really didn’t like crowds. He only came here because Amie was coming. But he still didn’t know where she was. He was also hoping to meet other people, but perhaps this was a bad setting.. Although..

Kazu didn’t expect anyone to approach him, especially not a woman in a beautiful dress. Her eyes were green, much like his, however they seemed to have more a sparkle to them? Perhaps it was just his imagination. She was quite beautiful, even though she had a mask on. He would’ve given her a smile in return, had his mask not been full faced. He merely nodded in agreement to her questions before bringing out his phone. He quickly typed out a message for her, showing it to her. ”Yes, the view of the stars is quite nice from here. Are you enjoying the party?”

From behind her mask, Maribelle raised a brow as the man pulled out his phone. “ Rather rude…” was her first thought, though she became purely confused once he offered for her to view the phone. To her surprise he had written a response. Was he unable to speak? Sick with an awful sore throat, perhaps? Why would anyone come to the ball while sick?

“ Well, I’ve just arrived but it looks quite nice.” She turned back from the window to look at the ballroom once again. “ Maybe he doesn’t speak English.. but can understand it?” Her mind kept going through a list of logical explanations as to why this man would not speak to her and instead used text messages. She turned her attention back towards him, her eyes scanning his mask. “ Have you come to the ball alone?” Suddenly she realized that may have been rude to ask. “ I-I… If you don’t mind me asking, of course. I’ve come alone myself.” Her cheeks flushed, feeling embarrassed at her own poor manners. “Well, sort of… I came with a friend. She’s… off somewhere.”

Kazu realized that he might have come off a little rude. He’d been told that people think it’s bad manners to bring out your phone when speaking to others, but it was his only mode of communication, unless they knew sign language..

He nodded slightly at her question before typing on his phone again. He showed her the screen again, ”Yes, I came alone. I was looking for a friend, but I don’t see them anywhere. I’m not too comfortable with crowds, so I came over here instead. I apologize if it seems rude for me to use my phone, but I am a mute, so I have little means of speaking.” It said in some length. He paused for a moment before adding something else to his message, ”Perhaps you would like to dance?”. The question seemed pretty out of the blue, but he didn’t want a lady to feel bored at a party like this. Also he was quite confident in his ability to dance. A change of pace.

Maribelle read over the message on his phone, suddenly feeling awful at her presumption that he was being rude, though smiling at his offer to dance. At least that meant that he hadn’t considered her as coming off rude to him. It had been at least three years since she had actually danced and it had been with her scummy ex-husband, unfortunately. “ Sure, let’s dance.” She lifted the edge of her dress and began walking out toward the dance floor, but a man’s voice suddenly resounded throughout the ballroom which made her pause.

“ Shut up, you’re making it worse!”

Maribelle turned her attention toward the voice just in time to see a dark haired man hoist the woman who had been making out in the middle of the dance floor with another man earlier over his shoulder and carry her out. With what sounded like a taser? People’s surprised gasps and watching them scurry out of his way confirmed that. “ Trouble in paradise?” She wondered, glancing back at her mysterious masked friend with an amused look on her face. “ I wonder what that was about…” She giggled, then turned back with all intention of going to the dance floor until a familiar voice broker her focus.

Kazu gave the woman a slight shrug as if saying that he wouldn’t have a clue. It was a little strange to hear a taser go off in a party like this, but he paid little attention to it. Something weird was bound to happen at such a big party and he wasn’t about to stick his nose where it shouldn’t be.

“ Hey, Mari! It’s so great to see you. You look great. And hello to you too!”

Alban, the father of one of her students whom she gave private lessons to. She smiled upon his arrival, the man’s joyful composure rather intoxicating. In fact, he probably was intoxicated.

“ Al!” She could recognize those blue eyes and mess of blonde hair anywhere. While Al greeted her new masked friend, Mari turned her attention to the woman at Alban’s side. “ Pleased to meet you, I’m Mari.” She was probably obligated to introduce herself to her client’s girlfriend, wasn’t she? She reached out her hand for a handshake, but instead of a hand Mari received a square piece of plastic. Looking down, Maribelle’s green eyes grew wide. A condom. In her hand.

“Practice safe sex, you sly succubus, you! ”

Maribelle face instantly flushed; even behind that rabbit mask you could see her embarrassment. She hadn’t had sex in at least a year! And she wasn’t going to have sex with this man she had just met! She closed her hand over the condom and quickly shoved it back into Alban’s hands. “ N-nononono… you’re mis-mistaken Al…” She laughed nervously. Was he always this way outside of the usual client/teacher relationship?

The exchange between the two, whom he now knew as ‘Al’ and ‘Mari’, was quite a cheerful one. Kazu gave the Al a slight bow in greeting, but didn’t attempt to say anything else. He had caught a glimpse at what was given to Mari. It was a small square packet, it didn’t really click in his mind as to what it was, since he only saw it for a second before it was shoved back into the drunkard’s hand. It was only when Mari had said ‘no’ about five times in quick succession, he realized what it was. Good thing his mask covered his now, slightly pink face. He turned away a little, his body trembling slightly as he tried to suppress a laugh. Not that anyone would hear it anyway.

After a few minutes, they had found themselves sitting at a table, the masked girl had picked up some food from a waiter that passed by. Kazu wasn’t particularly hungry, not that he could eat or drink to begin with. He followed rules quite closely. One of those being, that he couldn’t take his mask off until the party was over. Or something to that effect. Instead, he decided to relax a little in his chair. I guess we’re not dancing then.. Slightly disappointing, but it’s not like he could step between two friends just to get what he wanted.

Seeing a waitress pass by, Maribelle reached out and took a glass of pink moscato wine from her tray. “ I’ll be content with only a friendly drink, thank you.” She cleared her throat, trying to gain composure. “ Why don’t you introduce us, Al?” She nodded towards Alban’s uniquely dressed girlfriend, trying a distraction.

@Stern Algorithm@Viciousmarrow

@Verdaux



A smile never left Yutaro's face as the two of them were swept away by the music. Honestly, it was refreshing to have a dance partner as talented as Sabine. Whenever he danced with most girls they would either simply do the basic party dances, otherwise he'd have to watch the girl's feet as well as his own. The first song seamlessly transitioned into the next, a more lively piece with a certain quiet intensity to it that mirrored what Yutaro was feeling right now. He grew more brazen with his twirls, able to read Sabine's rhythm, adding a beauty to their dance that made it almost as enjoyable for onlookers to watch as it was for him to perform.

He listened as Sabine shared her story of how she learned to dance. It was quite touching to hear how her father let her use his gym like that, putting aside his own interests so that she could do what she loved. If only mine were so selfless, he thought, but then immediately shook those thoughts away. He was here to have fun and forget about that. "Your father sounds like a very kind man," he said, twirling her and then bringing her back in to continue the conversation. "And your cousin must have been quite a charming gentleman as well if he could win such a lovely heart as yours." At that, Yutaro realized that he was letting the whiskey do a bit too much talking; he was here to share a dance with her, not to woo her. No more flattery, He told himself.

Their eyes locked, trying to peel away one another's masks and see past those shadowy occlusions. In a way, Yutaro was grateful that the masks would have to stay on; if he saw those shining emerald eyes unobstructed by her disguise, then letting her go would be more difficult than it ought to be.

"You're not bad at all. How'd you learn how to charm girls like that, Yutaro-san, or am I your first?"

"I suppose you could say I've learned from experience," Yutaro replied, all kinds of witty retorts and compliments running through his head. No, keep it cordial, Ryoki's waiting for you. "I haven't really been in a steady relationship since I broke up with my ex three years ago. After a while, the introductions and the flirting just started to come naturally. I bounced around a lot, so I got quite a bit of practice. As for the dancing, took a class in it at the university to fulfill my Phys Ed requirement. Turned out to be pretty useful." He hoped those words would be enough to douse the fire that was growing between them. Bringing up his ex, admitting to being a player, and giving a lame story about learning to dance at school was sure to get him friendzoned. God, he never thought he'd see the day when he wished for that.

Yutaro gave Sabine one last twirl as their dance came to an end. He was panting a bit from the intensity of it, but was still smiling. Now came the crappy part; it was time to let her go. He brought her hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss, and then let go. "Sabine, it has been an absolute pleasure dancing with you. I'm sure you'll have no trouble sweeping some lucky guy off his feet tonight. I'll see you around."

@Delta44

The woman was indeed quite convincing in her impersonation. Shou was about to bow his head to her and apologise profusely, mentally scolding himself for letting the wines get to him and clouding his perception and-

Oh! So it really was Ryoki after all.
Crisis averted

"How could anyone forget, indeed..." her words made a blush blossom on his cheeks that he attempted to hide with a nervous little cough, and then a more easygoing smile again.
"Likewise. Your dress is enchanting." he commented, taking her cue of crossing her leg on top of the other as a sign of her ease. Cautiously, he took the seat just beside hers, about to say something about the last time they'd spoken,
"It has. How have you be-"

And then, the little lady with Ryoki spoke.
...the raven haired woman wouldn't have been the only one to spit her drink out all over the table at the assumption.

"Oh, no! Not at all!" the professor laughed, blush beginning to creep up again. Of course, there was very little that would have dissuaded him, or anyone else for that matter from being her boyfriend...

Her boyfriend, huh...

"Ah, yes." said Shou softly, shaking himself out of his train of thought. He only just caught the girl's 'onee-chan' comment, and looking the blonde over, was confused at best. As a man of genetics, dominant and recessive genes aside, this was...

He came to the conclusion that it might have been a friend who fondly referred to Ryoki as 'big sis', and not actually her sister. Silly professor...

She even acted nothing like Ryoki, demure and clad in white as she was...wait, an actual bridal gown?
"It's wonderful to meet you, too." Shou began, flinching a little when she introduced herself as none other than a Mochizukki. So they were sisters...

The man drew blanks for a couple of seconds, before it hit him. Adoption was a thing. It had completely slipped his mind.

"...miss Mokyu. I would call you 'Miss Mochizukki', but Ryoki has already claimed that title from me, hah."
Here he offered the much younger girl a gentle smile, and stood up, then bowed his head down low to greet her in respect.

Of course, happy circumstance happens to everybody. It was at that moment that two lollipops happened to dislodge themselves from his top-hat, landing right on the table. He had completely forgotten he was wearing actual candy.

...Alex would have laughed.

"Oh goodness! Forgive me." he chuckled, holding out the two lollipops, cherry and green apple, to the two ladies. "...here. A peace offering, Mokyu. I'm not horribly frightening, I promise. Just horribly clumsy, hah. You can ask my students from time to time."

As Shou went to answer Ryoki, out of the corner of his eye, a brunette in an elegant white dress had come and, looking quite miffed, taken a seat at their table. Perhaps Shou would recognise her as the woman who photographed him and Amie. Perhaps not...

"I came for the atmosphere," he admitted, honestly. "I also have always wanted to come to a masquerade ball."
Here, he told a little white lie. It was much more his romantic fiancée who dreamt it. He'd live her dreams till the day he'd die, though.
However, dressing up was a big plus!

"And you?"

He let his eyes wander. To the couples on the dancefloor enjoying the more upbeat waltzes, in particular a brunette woman with her darker haired partner.
And then to the stressed out woman who didn't look like she was even from the country. Maybe she was lost? Didn't know Japanese?

...she appeared to be fine. Anyone in designer clothes would always be fine, anyway.

"Appears we have company." his voice was down to a mischievous whisper as he sipped from his goblet. He looked at the two Mochizukkis in turn. "...who seems to be worried about something. I wonder what happened. I might ask."

...completely oblivious to the episode with the taser on the other side of the ballroom.

"Pardon me, miss." Shou spoke out to get the woman's attention. If she'd turn to him, she'd notice his silvery hair and brown eyes warm with concern. Nobody deserved not to be having a good time, after all.

"Is something the matter? You appear a little...correct me if I'm wrong, a little shocked about something..."

@BlueAjah

_{Collab with @The Muse}

After Mari nervously croaked out that he was mistaken after her relationship with the man next to her, Alban was guided over to a chair by Shizuka. He leaned back, relaxing his head against the crest rail. To the others, Al looked tired, as if he were about to fall asleep. Though the world was slowly collapsing into a blur, he heard Shizuka mention something about hors d'oeuvres and a plate slide in front of him. “As a kid I used to call hors d’oeuvres, whores-day-oovers.” he mumbled out, partly in English.

His swimming vision saw Mari grab a glass of wine, and his father’s words of wisdom echoed in his head: ‘If you'ré drunk, drink until you can't remémbair anytheng. Zen you 'ave an excuse fair all la dumb thengs you did befaire.’ Al whispered “Oui, capitaine.” in French, making a half hearted attempt to salute. Following Mari’s example, he also took a glass, swirling it in his hand before downing it all. Then he heard the voice of his daughter’s mentor ask him a question.

“Why don’t you introduce us, Al?”

Alban froze there for a second before he finally raised his head. The professor was gesturing towards Shizuka. “This is Shizuka and she is my…” The blonde man quickly began to shovel food in his face, trying to speak at the same time. Whatever he had attempted to say came out as garbled, incomprehensible mess.

Behind her mask Mari carefully watched Al, noting the way he stared up at the ceiling and muttered to himself. She had never seen him like this before; he was always so composed and cordial when dropping off his daughter for private violin lessons. Although the more she watched him, the more amused she became. However, her constant sipping of pink wine certainly helped in that department.

“ So your girlfriend then? I didn’t know you had a girlfriend Al! How long have you been dating?” She automatically assumed that the girl next to him had to be his girlfriend. She was trying to take care of him by sitting him at a table and offering food to the drunk, after all.

Taking another sip of her wine, her emerald eyes gazed over the wine glass and surveyed the ball room. Suddenly a deep chested laughed pierced her ears, all too familiar. Instinctively Maribelle turned her head toward the sound, eyes settling on an athletically built man sitting just a few tables away. Maribelle’s heart dropped into her stomach and for a moment it felt like all time had stopped. She stared at him, stunned, but he didn’t seem to notice. Despite his black mask, she knew his face instantly. She had gazed upon it for so many years with so much love, and now it had turned into nothing but horrible disdain.

Just next to her ex-husband was another person she could feel only hatred for. His lover, of course. The woman he had left her for. Ruined a happy marriage and cheated on her for. Maribelle had hoped that they would have broken up by now, but apparently-

“N-no, I don’t have a girlfriend! She's just a friend!” Al spoke in the midst of her inner turmoil, trying to make it clear he and Shizuka weren’t dating. It was way too soon to jump that shark. Strangely, as soon as he said that, Maribelle appeared to look at him with a wild stare. Was she really that shocked to hear that news?

“ WHAT?!”

Maribelle nearly choked on her drink, unable to stop her outburst. The woman next to her ex-husband had been wearing a black flowing dress, but it was easy to see that she was pregnant, and rather far along too. Heart racing, Maribelle turned her attention back on the table and suddenly downed her entire glass of wine in one giant gulp. “ Uhm.. Al, dear, would you mind walking with me to the bar?” She stood up abruptly, making it clear that he didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

Once he stood, Maribelle grabbed his arm and started marching with him over to the bar. “ Order me a gin and tonic, please. Make it strong… I’ll be right back.” She left Alban at the bar and disappeared in the direction of the restroom. Her hands were shaking from adrenaline; caused by a rush of nervousness and anger. She needed something to mellow her out.

As she reached the restroom Maribelle locked herself in a stall and rummaged through her clutch bag. Inside, where change would usually go, Maribelle had saved a few pills of Valium that her doctor had prescribed her inside of a zip lock bag. Popping one, she dry swallowed it and then made her way back out to Al. She would be feeling a lot better in about thirty minutes.

Alban was awfully confused as he stood at the bar. Maribelle had just led him over here, just to order her a gin and tonic? Or was there something more to this? He wasn’t really in the state of mind to question it though. “Hey, bartender, I need a gin and tonic. With um… 3 shots? Yeah. 3 shots sounds strong enough.” he requested, rubbing his forehead all the while. “No, wait. Make that a gin and tonic, and I’ll have some shots. Just lay em out with whatever, and I’ll just take em as you give them to me.”

As Al leaned against the counter and waited for the bartender to make the drinks, he overhead a silver haired man talking to "Su Long", the assumed mother of Lucille. "Is something the matter? You appear a little...correct me if I'm wrong, a little shocked about something..." the man was saying. The Frenchman let out a loud scoff. “I wouldn’t waste my time on someone like that, buddy. Your friend, Su, needs to pack her bags up and go back to Korea.” Al snidely commented, obviously drunk and trying his damnedest not to glare at the two. With all the noise around him though, he wasn't sure they heard him. Maybe that was for the best. _{@MyCatGinger@BlueAjah}

Finally, the bartender came with their drinks. A flight of shots for Al and Mari’s gin and tonic awaited them. Where the brunette had run off to, the blonde didn’t have clue. Why had she dragged him over here?

“ Al!” Maribelle lit up with a smile, clearly in a better mood than previously. “Thank you! Oh, shots too?” Not waiting for an answer, Maribelle took three of the six shots and threw them back one after the other. She giggled and cringed after she finished, “ Those certainly were strong. ” She grabbed the gin and tonic and turned to look over to where her ex-husband sat. Slyly, Maribelle slipped her arm through Alban’s and clinged to his side. There was no way she would allow her ex to see her dateless at a party like this.

“ We need something a little more lively to dance to, don’t you think Al?” She looked up at the taller blonde man at her side, eyes beginning to glaze over from the mix of alcohol and narcotics. Had he always looked so attractive? Somehow, she had completely forgotten about the two they had left back at the table.

Al blinked once and in a blur, Mari had taken shots and now had an arm laced through his. She was visibly very close to him, almost flirtatiously. Panic flooded his mind subconsciously, but physically and mentally he didn’t react. Instead, he picked up the remaining shot glasses and kicked them back, faster than she had. He would not be outdone by her!

Gagging, his visage turned to face hers, not noticing she was glaring at him quite intensely. “Yeah, you’re right. This music is way to slow. I gotta go fast right now.” Al told her in agreement, flashing a very intoxicated smile her way. His eyes searched the venue for DJ Dangermouse, and once they had been found, he marched off to get this party shifted into 5th gear, Mari practically attached to his hip.

“Hey, DJ! Get this show started, maaan! I can’t handle this slow crap right now. It’s making me lose my buzz!” he slurred out, waving his hands in the air. Right now, Al seemed more like a party animal rather than the usual composed man he was. Apparently, the piano man heard him and gave Alban an awful leer that was met by Al’s own deadpan stare. The shirtless DJ gave him and Mari a thumbs up though, and there was a transition from slow dance music to the bouncing bass of club music. Al was starting to get to the point of intoxication where he wasn’t exactly sure where he was, and he drunkenly put his arm around her waist... Mari, on the other hand, was just reaching euphoria.

@Stern Algorithm@Rekaigan

Taking deep breaths, Suzy slowly sipped the glass of water and focused her mind on tasks that needed to be done. Groceries needed to be bought, one of her deadlines were soon approaching, and she needed to upload the photographs from tonight. Creating lists calmed her down, helped establish the feeling of order.

Breathe in. Breathe out. She repeated these steps over and over again. Until a rather deep voice shattered whatever concentration she had gained in the past five minutes. Suzy turned to find the same chocolate eyes from her photos.

The one who had danced with...her

At the question of her well-being, Suzy’s face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. Did she truly appear anxious? Could anything possibly get worse? She hated not feeling in control or flustered. If she let her jumbled mind take control, she would be lost in a endless hole that only led to Wonderland. Everything needed a plan. However, when things like this happened, how was she supposed to stay perfect?

Breathe In. Breathe out. She reminded herself once again.

Suzy took a sip of her water one last time before responding to the man. She let her lips form into a smile. Before words could even escape her mouth, a slurring voice interrupted. Suzy’s sharply turned to find an absolute mess. Even from where she sat, she could smell the disgusting stench of liquor. The drunk called her ‘Su” and warned her to return to Korea. Suzy’s eyes widened with complete disapproval and bitterness.

“Excuse me?” She called out loudly to the useless worm. “How dare you speak to me in such a manner? You should learn how to control yourself before divulging into the temptation of liquor and making such statements. I’m not sure who this “Su” is but--.” Before Suzy could finish lecturing the man, he simply stumbled away with a girl. Suzy sighed in frustration, she’d had enough of this preposterous party. Rising from her chair, Suzy turned to look at the man from earlier. It was a pity they couldn’t chat longer, she wanted to find more information about the psychotic creature that had attacked her but she needed to leave this party before she went insane. She smiled at the man one last time.

“Thank you, but I must be going.” She began to walk toward the exit to collect her things and purse, where she would send a very upsetting message to the host.

---

@MyCatGinger@Viciousmarrow

Ryoki's eyes trail as Suzy left, a smirk appearing on her face. "She didn't seem too happy to see you. What on earth did you do to that poor woman, Mister Matsuoka?" She teases, though without the intent to ruin the mood - a light-hearted and cheery act, it was. She had given both the lollipops to Mokyu, knowing how much she loved candy and sweets, and the young maiden began suckling on them like a baby to a mother's tit. It was actually rather remarkable to see someone so engrossed in the food in which they ate. "I came because my father got invitations, being one of the big-league rich people in Shine City. The family hasn't had a proper get-together in quite awhile, so we saw it as a good opportunity to all come together. I just hope I actually manage to get some sleep next year, because for the past month or so, I've had to pull a multitude of late nights in order to get work done."

Ryoki paid very little attention to the world around her. She was almost enthralled into the conversation, and, strangely enough, not with flirting. In truth, this was simply because everything else that was happening wasn't all too interesting; people had started to waltz, though she was more interested in the faster dances. She knew Kimasu was, too. Mokyu, however, wasn't much of a dancer...

"It seems like people have started waltzing." Ryoki points out, taking the time to stare at some of the dances. She could've sworn she saw Yutaro among them, though simply forgave this as creative thinking. 'Nah, that couldn't have been him... He'll find me, remember?' With a grin, she returns her complete attention to Shou. She certainly wouldn't deny him if he wanted to ask her to dance; that was out of both courtesy and curiosity to see if he could actually do it. "So, what have you been up to since our last encounter, if you don't mind me asking? I've noticed a serious lack of calls or texts. Then again, that may have been because I haven't had the chance to check." A cute giggle, followed by yet another matured, gentle smile. This person, though certainly Ryoki, was much calmer than she was before.

... Then again, she wasn't drunk this time...

@MyCatGinger

@The Muse @Viciousmarrow @Rekaigan

Shizuka was a bit flustered when Maribelle assumed they were dating, but calmed when Alban denied it; after all, they'd only known each other for a few weeks. He was just a customer she had who took her to a fancy dinner and they've been in contact since. Thinking back on it, it was a rather unusual circumstance, but they were just friends. But then, Shizuka saw a hatred in Maribelle's eyes, the same hatred she had seen in Alban's only moments before. Maribelle suddenly dragged Alban over to the bar, leaving Shizuka in confusion. Afraid that they would get into some sort of drunken trouble, Shizuka turns to Kazuma and bows apologetically, "P-please excuse me," she says before taking off after Alban and Maribelle.

Shizuka wanted to advise Alban that he should cut back on the alcohol consumption but it was already too late. By the time Shizuka catches up to the pair, they're already wrapped around each other and completely inebriated. Shizuka stops dead in her tracks for a few moments as a hollow sensation slowly grows in her chest. Shizuka begins to rationalize in her mind, "Of course, she's Lucille's music teacher so they've known each other longer. And we're just friends, he invited me here as a courtesy. I-it's good that he's seeing people, it means he's getting over Lucille's mother leaving him. This is good for him, zi should be glad he's in a relationship, and I should support him all the way." She sees the two completely enamored with each other walk towards the DJ and request a music change. "Still, he seems quite drunk, but he was my ride here. I at least have the responsibility to make sure he doesn't do anything dangerous like drive intoxicated. I-I should...stick around and...wait for him..." Shizuka thought to herself. A pair of dancers suddenly bumped into her, pulling her out of her thoughts. She realized that she had frozen in a very awkward and in-the-way spot. Bowing to the dancers who had already moved along, Shizuka quickly made her way back to the table where Kazuma sat, bowing to him again, "S-sorry for leaving like that."

Shizuka sat down and, with slightly trembling hands, pried open the mouth-guard of her helmet. She reached for some of the food that she had gotten and took a bite. It was surprisingly tasteless.

@Takashi

Sabine wasn't one to be so easily turned down. She knew Yutaro had a lady friend, but Sabine was closer to needing more than a few friends in Shining City. For one fact, Sabine wasn't sure if the Tiny Snowflake café was going to hold up against that Kettle place, and she was goong to need a lot of convincing to get past her past troubles.

She couldn't possibly lay her predicament on any one pers, be it Zac, Kyle, Vern, Yutaro, that one waitress...and most definitely not Nori, but suppose she got a little help from everyone...

Romance wasn't as much her objective as much as her sanity without drugs. Back over there, she had no family, no real friends to rely upon. All there was were drinks, unsafe sex, and stacks of cash to pay off for the next kilo.

Einstein said expecting anything different from the same routine was insane, so...wouldn't this be insane?

Would it be sane for a girl to pursue a man already taken?

"Yutaro-san, before we go..."

Inadvertently, she had gripped his shirt, and was quick to squeeze tightly so as to avoid letting him escape.

"...I...if you want to talk more, I'll be working at Mochavine. Don't be a stranger because of tonight, okay?"

@Stern Algorithm@Viciousmarrow@The Muse

Kazu wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but Mari's sudden outburst certainly caught him off guard. He wondered if she was seriously surprised at Al's response or if she was thinking of something else. He didn't make any move to go after the pair as they made their way to the bar. Kazu simply nodded in response as Shizuka excused herself from the table. He glanced around quickly in a slightly comical way, making sure nobody was looking. He lifted his mask slightly and took a gulp at the drink that he had taken from a waitress a moment before all this drama happened. After taking the satisfying gulp, he re-adjusted his mask. He had just put it back on as the shorter girl came back. He nodded at her in response to her bow. She seemed a little flustered? He could see her hands tremble as she opened her mask's mouth piece. How odd. He was jealous. He wanted a mouth opening too. Next time he comes to a party like this, he'll drill a hole into the mouth so he can sip with a straw. He nodded slightly at his own idea before focusing back on what was going on.

He moved a little closer to Shizuka, pulling out his phone, typing on it before showing it to her. "Is everything alright?", he was quite concerned about this girl, she seemed.. Troubled by something. Perhaps he should try ask her to dance? Maybe she doesn't want to dance.. Who knows.

@Verdaux

As Yutaro turned and began to walk off, he felt something tug on his shirt, and he had a pretty good idea what it was. Perhaps he was delusional to think that it could have been an easy goodbye, just two strangers sharing a dance and parting ways. But Yutaro had felt it while they spun about in each other's arms, and he couldn't blame Sabine for pursuing it; were he not already starting a relationship with Ryoki he would have pursued it as well. He let out a quiet sigh before he turned and faced her, hearing what she had to say.

"...I...if you want to talk more, I'll be working at Mochavine. Don't be a stranger because of tonight, okay?"

There was a strange tone in Sabine's voice that Yutaro wasn't used to hearing. It wasn't flirtation or infatuation, nor was it the timid bashfulness that was so common in more modest women. There was a sad ring to her words, as if she were desperate, as if she couldn't bear to lose the tenuous bond that the two of them so briefly shared. Yutaro mulled over his response for several seconds before answering, then decided that, for better or worse, he was not cruel enough to sever all ties with this woman. "Well, I visit Mochavine pretty often," he said, "so I'm sure we'll see each other again. And..." Yutaro knew he would regret this next part, but the subtle distress that he saw on Sabine's face and felt in her grip invoked a kindness in him that he hoped he wouldn't regret. "...I work as a dealer at the casino. Feel free to drop in and say hi."

Dammit Yutaro, you already have a girl. Why are you inviting another one into your life?

It's alright. Nothing's going to happen. She'll just be another friend, like Yumeno.

Are you sure she's thinking the same thing?

I told her I'm with somebody.

But you also shared a dance and invited her to see you at work.

I invite lots of people to see me at work. Everything will be fine.

It better be...

"So, Sabine, instead of saying goodbye, I'll say see you later, alright?" Yutaro gave her one last smile, hoping that answer would suffice, and then turned away once again. No more thinking about her tonight. Now it was time to find Ryoki. He slithered his way around the dance floor, but didn't see anyone that look quite like her, so he turned his attention to the tables. Maybe she was waiting for him before she started dancing...

It was a crazy situation. What else was I supposed to do?

Apologize to the stranger, and look for your girlfriend.

He shook the guilty thoughts away. OK, maybe he took a bit too much liberty in the way he interpreted their deal; he certainly hadn't mistaken that woman for Ryoki, and he probably shouldn't have danced with her, but it was over now. He'd spend the rest of the night with Ryoki and that would be that.

Until Ryoki sees you talking to Sabine at work...

@Delta44Yutaro didn't want to continue that line of reasoning, and fortunately, he didn't have to. He finally spotted Ryoki sitting at a table socializing with a couple other people. It was pretty obvious now that he saw her; she was wearing the same dress that she had on their date except she adorned it with her signature scarf. He was somewhat relieved to see Ryoki chatting with another gentleman; the relief from guilt overpowered whatever small amount of jealousy might have otherwise crept up. However, sitting with her was an unfamiliar girl. A friend of hers? A mischievous grin crept across Yutaro's face. Why take the direct approach when he could take the fun one.

Without making eye contact with Ryoki, Yutaro walked over to Mokyu and gave her a gentle tap on the shoulder. "Excuse me Miss," he said, disguising his voice so that it sounded deeper; hopefully Ryoki wouldn't see through it right away. "I'm trying to find somebody, and I was wondering if you saw her. She has long black hair, beautiful eyes, and from what I've heard, she's very good at poker." He spoke loud enough so that Ryoki would be able to hear him, hoping that his last clue would be a giveaway, telling her just who the stranger bothering her friend was.

@Stern Algorithm@Rekaigan

_{Collab between: @BeastofDestiny and @lovely complex}

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While Kyle was in Liam's room cleaning himself off, Amity was in her own bathroom staring at her naked body in the mirror. The world was moving ever so slightly. The alcohol was definitely starting to kick in but this was only just the beginning of one fun night. Before she jumped in the shower, she thought to herself...

I wonder what Kazu~ is doing.

She hadn't known him for long but she really did enjoy being around him. It would be nice if he could come over and spend the rest of New Years Eve with Kyle and her.

Giving into temptation, she picked up the phone and went to the contact Kazuzu~. The idol knew his full name was Kazuma Watanabe but it was just too much fun adding a "Zu" to his name instead of a "Ma". Amity couldn't help but be a little childish sometimes.

Knowing very well he won't be able to respond to her, she listened quietly to the ringer. When he did pick up, but only silence was his response, she chirped happily, "KAZUZU~" Her eyes stared at the mirror, looking at her body up and down. And yes, her words may be a little slurred but it was still very much comprehensible, "I had to leave the party earlyyy. I WAS IN A DISGUISE like a white ninja! Either wayyyy. You should come over! I'm with my bestie and we're gonna play some games. If you're with anyone, bring em too! I'd love new friends. EVERYONE CAN SLEEPOVER! I have the house to myself and it's so exciting. Don't worry about packing, I has all the things! Okay~ I see you soon! I go showerrrr now." @Rekaigan

Hanging up, she looked at her small chest and sighed, "I'm so tiny."

With that, she put her phone in her bathrobe pocket and then went to her bathroom's music system and pressed play. Conveniently her "DANCE DANCE MUSIC" was the most recent playlist she listened to.

The playlist started with one of her favorite songs about:

Her bathroom door was cracked and the music resounded out and into her bedroom. The volume was high enough to even reach the hall. The idol began washing the salt and long night off her body. Amity loved showers and baths. It wasn't odd for her to wash herself multiple times a day if she had time. That was part of the reason why she had both a pool and a Jacuzzi. Being in water and just water against her body gave her a feeling of tranquility. This also explained why she smelled like some type of flower or fruit all the time. Her favorite scent was Sweet Peas!

Finishing up, the idol put on her bathrobe and went back to the mirror. Staring at her skin, the idol grumbled, "Man, Amity, you need to get more rest." Touching her face, she grimaced hating the fact she had dark circles under her eyes. Soon after, Amie applied face wash and scrubbed thoroughly, finishing everything off with a *Splash*.

"I cannot possibly allow myself to sober up!" The idol had to hurry and get ready so she could get more alcohol in her. Scurrying to her closet, she dived to the section where her pajamas/nightgowns/and sleepwear were at.

With a puzzled expression, she bit her lip, "Well, I invited Kazu over..."

Suddenly, there was a personal dilemma the idol needed to leap over. Why was choosing a outfit so hard? She usually never had this hard of a time choosing an outfit... ESPECIALLY with sleepwear.

Kyle would get mad if I wear something like this... but I get hot so I don't want to wear something like that... it's almost the New Years... I could be a little festive... I wonder if Kazu would think this is cute on me...

After a long debate of what was appropriate or not, the idol decided to wear her kimono-like nightgown. She thought it was appropriate for New Years Eve and hell, she wore worse things on stage for her fans. Plus, Amity was a cutie no matter what she wore. Under her kimono, she'd wear light green, lace undergarments.

After her nightwear was fully decided (and she changed into it), she began blow drying her hair and applying product to her curls so they wouldn't frizz up.

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Hot water rained and drenched his entire body, his head was pressed firmly into the cool tile of the shower wall and he just let himself feel the water as it came cascading down his back and into the drain below. Steam rose up all around him, the scalding water a soothing mercy to his skin and muscles, he really did enjoy hot showers and at Amity's mansion, he literally didn't have to worry about it ever running out of hot water. He remembered a time when he had taken a two hour shower at her place back in the States...he also remembered Liam not being amused at all about it. That thought made him drunkenly giggle a little, Liam was way too serious tonight, hopefully he had a good night with his date...speaking of which...

Kyle's eyes opened to watch the water swirl like a vortex down the drain and his thoughts wandered to his and Amie's conversation earlier, about Nori and how he should keep fighting for her. He sighed, but smiled, he wanted to forget about her tonight and yet he ended up talking about her instead and still couldn't forget, despite having achieved the same drunken state back before having to drag his friend away from the ball. He decided then and there to at least let her know that he was thinking of her.

Stepping away from the wall he immediately stumbled back to the other end of the shower and his back pressed against the opposite wall. Reaching out for a towel he dried his hands before reaching his phone, conveniently placed on the shower railing. He didn't particularly care about water damage and fuck it all if his phone dropped in the water at this point, he just wanted to get the message out there.

'Hey, hope you're having a good night. Left the ball early, hanging out with a couple of friends, call or text if you need anything. And in case I'm too drunk to say it later....Happy New Years.' @Narcotic Dollie

The part about hanging out with friends was a bit of a lie, he was hanging out with Amie, but he didn't really want to tell Nori that, unsure of how she'd feel about it. Sighing again he placed the phone back on shower railing and reached down for the bottle of peach rum he had brought with him, bringing it to his lips to take another swig before putting it back down and resuming with his shower.

---

Kyle had found a pair of checkered black pajama bottoms among Liam's things. Coupled with his t-shirt and green wool hat, he was fairly comfortable. He decided to grab his clothing, not wanting to bother Liam in the morning if and when he decided to leave.

Walking down the hall he could hear the music blaring from Amity's chambers, the door itself was open so he knew it was at least safe to walk in. Looking around he saw that her closet door was open, approaching it he knocked a couple of times, before he stepped inside.

"Yo," he said, hand raised high in the air before he side stepped and leaned back against the door frame. He eyed her up and down, her pale legs were quite revealing in the cute outfit she was wearing, he didn't want to think on that too much. Taking another swig he asked the young idol, "So what's the plan for the rest of the evening, bud?"

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After she was done blow drying her hair, Amity put down the machine and jumped up happily when she heard her friend's voice. Giving him a twirl, she grinned, "This fine? I had the hardest time of my life! But I think this is pretty New Years-ey, don't you think? Plus, I just have too many pajamas." She huffed at the thought of her struggle.

Walking to her friend, she took the bottle away from him, "I'll take that." and brought it to her lips. Then with a little flirtatious tone, she joked, "Oh Kyle, we've indirectly kissed so many times tonight." Her eyes were seductive, though it was purely her being a tease to her friend.

Rolling her eyes at the thought, she took the bottle with her and drank some glorious rum. Going to her heavenly bed, she shrugged at his question, "Drinking games, that's what we're doing." Handing him back the bottle, she bent over and opened her nightstand, her upper thighs were definitely revealing. She pulled out a card deck and slapped it on the bed, "I was thinking we play Kings and maybe beer pong, but that's if you want to go downstairs. We can always bring a fold up table up here. Hm... Truth or Dare. There's just so much we can do!"

The little idol got excited at the possible prospects for night that she didn't realize she hadn't told Kyle she invited Kazu over. Most of these games were better in groups and he probably thought his friend was insane just offering it to the two of them. They'd get stupid drunk - real fast.

Taking in his expression, the idol jumped up on top of her bed in surprise. Looking down at him, she exclaimed, "Oh yeah! I forgot! My friend is coming over."

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"Yea I think you're fine, its cute," he shrugs. She takes the bottle, taking another drink of it before making a quip about indirect kissing, were Kyle's face not already flushed from all the alcohol he had consumed, his blush might have been more prominent.

"Christ, Amie, do you have to say it like that?" He scratched his head as he accepted the bottle back from her, it was unsurprising that she wanted to continue their night with more of the rum and other bottles. He followed her over to her bed, averting his eyes as she bent over to retrieve something from her nightstand. A pack of cards was tossed onto her bed and she rattled off suggestions for them to do things. Now not that Kyle didn't want to get drunk really quickly, but all of the games she was suggesting were more meant for multiple party members and even though it took two to tango, he wasn't sure if his liver would enjoy that much drink all at once.

His eyebrows squinted in concern, wondering if maybe she was more drunk than him, until she suddenly jumped onto the bed and exclaimed, "Oh yeah! I forgot! My friend is coming over."

"Your friend?" he raised his eyebrow curiously, "Who?"

Zac normally wasn't one for such formal affairs. If he could avoid it, there was no way he'd wear a tuxedo. However, after seeing that invitation, he had decided, 'Hey, this could be fun. Not like there was anything going on tonight, anyway.' And, if he had to be honest, he was having a pretty good time. After all, he did enjoy times where a bunch of people were gathering, whether it be at a ball or a party like the ones his old friends were famous for.

Being the friendly guy he is, it didn't take him long to easily strike up a few conversations with some of the other party-goers. As he chatted with a few, he couldn't help but find himself glancing out toward the dance floor, to the young woman in the black mask. There was something about the way she moved that seemed familiar to him. After thinking for a few moments, it dawns on him who she was.

After she and her dance partner parted ways, Zac watches the woman walk off before turning to the pair he was speaking with, having turned to watch the woman while the two he was chatting with spoke among themselves. He apologizes and wishes them a good night before turning around and disappearing into the crowd.

He wanders for a bit, occasionally stopping to talk with a person here and there. He made the mistake of asking if they saw a woman in a black mask, to which the person he had asked gave him a strange look before telling him to be more specific. After a few minutes, however, he finally finds her. Walking up to her from behind, he gently taps her shoulder and says with a smile, "After seeing you dance at the club, I didn't expect to see you waltzing, Sabine."

@Verdaux

He moved a little closer to Shizuka, pulling out his phone, typing on it before showing it to her. "Is everything alright?", he was quite concerned about this girl, she seemed.. Troubled by something. Perhaps he should try ask her to dance? Maybe she doesn't want to dance.. Who knows.

@Viciousmarrow @The Muse

At first Shizuka wasn't sure that Kazuma was trying to communicate with her since she was somewhat lost in thought, but when he kept his phone's screen pointed at her for such a long time it dawned on her that he wanted to show her something. Shizuka wondered if he communicated in this way because the music suddenly got really loud and it became hard to think, let alone hear, but she read his message. "Y-yeah..." Shizuka said, but then wasn't sure if he could hear her so she raised her voice slightly, "I-I'm fine...just...I was just worried for Alban is all, he seemed pretty drunk, but at least Maribelle is with him..."

Suddenly a row started on the dance floor, causing Shizuka to turn to look. Alban and Maribelle were slinging insults with another couple. Then Alban and Maribelle stormed off. Shizuka got up again, feeling a slight desperate annoyance at having to get up and run around twice on account of Alban. "I-I'm so sorry..." Shizuka began apologizing to Kazuma for leaving him alone at the table for the second time today, but wasn't sure what she was going to say or why she was even trying to follow Alban at this point. She ran after the two drunks, out the door, calling, "Alban, wh-what happened? What's wrong? W-Wait!!!" but the music was too loud and Alban was too intoxicated by both the alcohol and the company of his current partner to hear Shizuka. Before she could catch up to them, Shizuka tripped and fell forward onto the hard marble floor. By the time she recovered from the shock of falling and lifted her head, she saw Alban and Maribelle enter a cab and leave. She just lay there for a bit, completely bewildered at having been abandoned. She could rationalize Alban dancing with Maribelle, she could rationalize that there was nothing going on between herself and Alban other than a simple friendship, but she had a hard time rationalizing that he'd actually forget about her and about the fact that he had driven her here. She hadn't really paid attention during the drive here and wasn't sure what part of the city they were in. She could make a guess and she could use her phone's GPS, but she didn't know if walking to the academy was a viable option. She could take a cab, but at this point, in a numb daze, she simply didn't want to think about anything. Picking herself up gingerly, Shizuka absentmindedly straightened her dress and walked back into the building. As if automatically, she wandered back to Kazuma's table and sat down wordlessly. Right now, she was glad her ridiculous helmet covered her entire face.

((Collab with the charming @BlueAjah!))

He embraced the fresh air as it lapped over his cheeks lovingly when he stepped out the door that the two stoic faced (masked?) doormen held open. His hands were thrust into the pockets of his suit trousers and he shivered against the cold, but he was outside, at least. It was beyond refreshing.

As he was there, he noticed the brunette woman from earlier, standing out in the cold. Gentleman as he was, he was inclined to approach her, and to put his coat around her shoulders but refrained. He'd rather apologise to her, first.

And so he would.

“(...hello.)” he said, in English this time, lithely crossing the distance between them. He stood before her as to not startle her, and held his hands out in a ‘wait!’ gesture. His words were lightly accented in Japanese, but he tried damn near hard to make his speech at least comprehensive to a non-native. “(I'm sorry.)”

Little did he know who he was speaking to, of course. She wasn't just any rich foreigner, that was for sure.

“I'm sorry, I really am.” he repeated in his mother tongue. A lot less awkward, and a lot less stumbling over his words in his inebriated state. He must have looked like an idiot.

“I'm sorry for anything I did, Miss.” he mumbled, eyes shying away from hers. He was usually a lot less inhibited when buzzed, but something about this woman demanded his respect. “I did not mean to ruin the evening for you.”

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All the way to the guest area, Suzy managed to stay calm and collected. With everything that had happened, she just wanted to snuggle up behind her covers and sleep. Screw the Near Year, if this is what she had to deal with for the next two months, she couldn't wait until it was over.

The moment her petite fingers hit her phone though, an email describing the events of the night was sent to the mysterious host of the party. Clutching her camera and purse, Suzy made her way to outside of the party.

A startling gust of wind made her shiver but she immediately ignored it. The warm comfort of her car was just 50 steps away. As her high heels clicked against the pavement, a familiar voice called out to her from behind.

Once again, it was the handsome man who she had taken pictures of. He walked up to her, and began blabbing about an apology in English. Raising her eyebrow, Suzy found it a bit funny he was trying to communicate with her in English. Of course she knew Japanese though, why else would her photography company send her here? Normally, Suzy would have been annoyed at the ignorance of the man but she found it to be quite cute for some reason.

It had been a long time since someone had actually cared even to apologize to her. If someone did, it would be either obviously fake or an attempt to get on her good side. This man’s plea however, felt genuine and sincere. She couldn’t help but smile. Replying in Japanese, Suzy said, “It is not you who ruined my night, I can promise you that. That woman you danced with earlier, do you recall her name?” She asked politely, hoping to get some information on the chaotic girl.

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At her smiling at his attempt in English, Shou only dug his gloved hands further into his pockets with a nervous little laugh. She seemed to be scrutinising him, with her deep, dark brown eyes. She even seemed a little amused…

“Ah, you can speak Japanese…!” he sighed in relief, evidently easing up a little and releasing a breath he didn't know he had been holding. “...I should have expected, hah. I-I'm really relieved to hear that.”
He genuinely was. Now, he could stop mentally beating himself up over being the reason someone's New Year started horribly. He could finally look this woman in the eye properly, more of the man he usually was, if a little blurry eyed and on the route of heavy intoxication.

She wasn't much shorter than him, but with the unforgiving clack-clack-clack of her presumably designer heels against the ground, he guessed she would have stood a little shorter. It was endearing in its own way…

Focus, Matsuoka!

“A-aah, you were...watching us.” his cheeks, already warm, went a little hotter. Which finally made him realise how cold it really was outsi-
And he was holding up this woman in the cold. How uncouth.

“Forgive me.” he apologised under his breath, reaching for his suit jacket and - despite any protest she may have had - reached around her shoulders. Intentions innocent, he draped the jacket over her small frame. It hung off her, courtesy of being too large, but it was definitely warm. He immediately shoved his hands back into his pockets with a little nervous cough.
“I-I realise...it's quite chilly out here. Forgive me; I won't allow you to catch a cold because of speaking to me, Miss.”

“Anyway…” he reached up to scratch the back of his head with a bashful smile, cheeks and nose still pink against the cool air, even more due to the alcohol in his system.
“Her name was Amie. I...haven't seen her since the dance, though. She told me she had to be right back, I got us drinks…” he trailed off.
“...mm? Why do you ask, Miss?”

“My name's Shou, by the way. ...sorry for keeping you out here in the cold, heh.”

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She watched curiously as the man’s shoulders relaxed when she spoke his language. It was another reassurance as to why she spent endless nights staying up late to learn Japanese. Language was her one way into getting information in foreign places. It was also quite fun when people talked about her, not knowing she understood their every word.

A breath of wind brushed against her skin again, causing her whole body to shiver. The man must have noticed for he swung his jacket off and carefully placed it across her shoulders. Any form of resistance was ignored, try as she might. Part of her was a little surprised. It had been a long time since anyone has genuinely showed her a speck of kindness or a form of concern. Whenever she opened her mouth, people tended to flee. Sighing, she pulled the jacket against her tightly, grateful for the new form of warmth.

“Amie? So the two of you are not married?” Suzy had some doubts to the girl’s claims but now it was justified. She had been lying all along, typical of a crazy psychopath. The only question she couldn't answer was why the woman would possibly want the photos. “Well, this Amie left in the hands of a mysterious American a while ago.”

Suzy carefully watched the man’s reaction. What was their relationship? For some odd reason, she desperately wanted to know. “How do you know her? If I were you though, I would stay away from her,” She paused, unsure how to word the next piece of information without sounding odd. Instead, she chose to ignore it and let him continue the topic if he wished to.

“Ah, Shou. It's a pleasure. Fill free to call me Suzy,” She gave him a slight smile and snuggled against his jacket.

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“Married?” Shou repeated, his eyebrow quirking at the woman. Truth be told, the fact that she did look just like Alex made him want to shout and cry ‘Yes, I love her, and I'm the luckiest man alive to be married to her!’. Unfortunately, his heart sunk instead, and he forced a melancholy chuckle, “No...we aren't. We must have looked that way when we were dancing.”

At the mention of her leaving with someone else, Shou couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. His cheeks went warm again and so did the tip of his ears, as he uninhibitedly swore under his breath. “...I see. I did not know she was such a woman.”
Somewhere he felt cheated, lost and abandoned. She had lied to him, only to go home with someone else. Shou did not possess her, certainly, but he thought at least…
At least…

His sunken eyes seemed to suddenly find the floor very interesting, for his head remained droopy following the revelation. He only looked up again when the young brunette spoke again. “To be honest, I just met her at this party tonight.” he admitted. It was a little embarrassing for sure. Shou felt like a schoolboy, having been made fun of by the entire class for some small reason.
He froze, however, when she continued. Something about her words was oddly...ominous.
“I would do well to avoid her…? I can imagine why now, but did something happen between you and her, miss…”
“...Suzy.” he offered her the same melancholy smile from earlier, fawn-brown eyes betraying his feelings, glossy as they were.
“You definitely are foreign, hah. Which is odd...are you a friend of hers? I...please, do tell me. Is something going on with Amie?”

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The moment Suzy’s mouth spoke the truth, Shou instantly reacted. He completely deflated, letting his shoulders shrink and his eyes darken with despair. Shou’s head even fell to the floor. It was like someone he had loved passionately had walked out of his life.

Suzy couldn’t understand his reaction at all. He cared about Amie, enough to feel upset at her disappearance. It was troubling, really. They had danced one time and he was already head over heels for her? What sort of manipulation did she possess? If she was being honest with herself, Suzy felt a tange of jealousy that Amie could get one man to love her with a single dance.. Suzy couldn't even get a man to smile without keeping her mouth closed.

Shaking her head, Suzy reminded herself to focus. There was a task at hand that needed to be accomplished. Who is this Amie? She wasn't married but she was psychotic, insane, and a liar. From her clothes, it was obvious she was from a high up class and was extremely wealthy. How rich though? Obviously, the girl had some mental issues if she could turn into such a feral beast yet she was able to hide it from those around her. She made a note to check mental conditions with such symptoms when she returned home.

She directed her attention back to Shou, almost forgetting he was still standing beside her. It was hard attempting to tell him the incident. What would she say? “Your lover tried to taze me” would go real well….

“Shou, I'm not sure how to word this so I think I'll let you figure it out on your own. I can promise you that I am by no means, this woman’s friend. Perhaps you could call me the opposite.” It seemed relatively fitting that she found an enemy within the first weeks of staying in Shine City.

“It doesn't matter. I'm afraid, this girl who has captured your eye is not all as she seems. If you wish to remain safe, you'll take my advice and never come near her again. Wherever she is, I'm sure she's fine. However, you won't be if you go too close,” She gave him one long look before deciding to leave. It was truly time to go. A well-deserved, hot shower was waiting for at home.

“Thank you, Shou, but the night is late and I must be going,” Suzy handed the warm jacket back to the man and began her trot to her car waiting within the parking lot.

---

“I...see.” he repeated solemnly. Enemies, huh…

“Wait, Suzy, wha-” he began, flinching at her lingering gaze and the look in her brown eyes. Something told Shou that this woman was being pretty genuine. He therefore wanted to know more, needed to know more.
She was already walking away when the jacket was thrust back into his hands and he was left speechless.

“At least let me drive you!” he called to a Suzy too far away. He was drunk, though conveniently having forgotten…
Perhaps it was better she ignored him.
It didn't leave a good taste in his mouth though. Sadly, he watched as she entered her car, and his head drooping again, he made his way back to his own.

...the emotions Shou felt were far from positive. Frustrated, upset, betrayed, frightened…

Who are you really, Amie…?
...and what did you want with me?

@Stern Algorithm

Truthfully, he didn't hear much of her response as the music got significantly louder, thankfully he was good at reading lips. He wasn't entirely convinced that she was alright, but he decided not to push any further than he already had.

His gaze followed Shizuka's, settling upon a rather drunk couple who had started to shout at another slightly more sober looking couple. It was Al and Mari having a go at the other couple, for what, was beyond him. Even if he did know what it was about, he wouldn't want to get involved. His image of Mari's respectable character cracked in his mind. Perhaps she was more unrefined than he had initially thought. Although, he knew that alcohol did all sorts of this to people.

He got up from his chair as a reflex when Shizuka chased after the drunken couple that had left in quite a hurry, but he stopped mid action as his phone rang. It was Amie. He felt confused, but happy at the same time. What an odd time to be calling him. Why would she call him? He wasn't able to respond to calls anyway. Kazu shrugged slightly and answered it while Shizuka was gone.

"KAZUZU~" A cheerful, energetic voice went off into his ear. He jumped slightly in surprise, almost dropping his phone. "I had to leave the party earlyyy. I WAS IN A DISGUISE like a white ninja! Either wayyyy. You should come over! I'm with my bestie and we're gonna play some games. If you're with anyone, bring em too! I'd love new friends. EVERYONE CAN SLEEPOVER! I have the house to myself and it's so exciting. Don't worry about packing, I has all the things! Okay~ I see you soon! I go showerrrr now." And with that, the line went dead. He could tell that she had been drinking quite a bit, her voice was slightly slurred, but it was still the same Amie he'd met at the park. Maybe a little more chipper? He tapped the phone on his chin in thought. I'm not with anyone tho- His thoughts were cut off when Shizuka made her way back to the table.

He quickly typed out another message, showing it to her when she sat back down. "A friend of mine invited me over to her house for tonight, she said I should bring someone with me. Would you like to come along? She said we're going to play games and sleepover." He flicked his mask up momentarily, giving her a kind smile and a nod. As if to encourage her to come along. He knew it was a little odd to invite someone he didn't even know, but he felt like it'd be a nice end to such a strange night.

@lovely complex