Location: Table at the Ballroom at the Plaza

Interactions:EVERYONE

---

---

Noemi paused her conversation for the announcement and clapped her hands in excitement. Finally, they were to meet their pairs. She gulped down the last of her drink, ordered one more, and bid goodbye to her chatting companion. She made her way over to the table and plopped down in her seat. She set the glass before her and found she was one of the first people at the table.

The table was both extravagant and simple. The table cloth was mostly white but with blue embroidery around the edges. The plates were similar, appearing of true china with little depictions on the plate centers. This was only at their table as all others seemed to have their own theme. The silverware gleamed brightly and the blue napkins were folded like swans upon the plates. The centerpiece was made of beautiful, yet obviously fake flowers.

Once everyone had arrived, she beamed brightly at them all. "Hiya, I'm Noemi and am just thrilled to go on grand adventures with you all. I hope you are just as excited for this evenings to reveal." She bowed her head slightly, her loose curls falling over her shoulders and a petal falling from her wonderful crown. "How about y'all? Names? Jobs? I am a mortician myself." She pressed a hand against her chest briefly before sitting back and awaiting the conversations about to begin.

It was clear that Barbara had not done this whole socializing and dating thing for a very long time. She had barely got a word in edegewise as she looked to the people at the bar like a deer once again, this time stopped in the headlights of what appeared to the oncoming truck of loneliness. "You are pathetic, kid." Barbara mumbled to herself as she downed TWO more drinks. Needing to snap out of it, she excused herself to the bathroom for a moment. The seal had been broken, and she hoped that her negative attitude would be flushed away as well.

Walking back into the grand room just in time for the announcement, Babs found herself at the table with a great looking group of young adults. Some she recognized from the bar, and others she had not the privilege to meet yet. A beautiful woman who she had chosen to sit directly to the left of spoke up with a lovely beam. Barbara was a little jealous, but felt comfortable with the conversation at hand. Waiting for her to finish, Barbara took the initiative and replied to the question first of the group;

"My name is Barbara but my friends call me Babs. I work as a cashier right now, but I'm going to school for photography." she smiled, she felt good about her answer. She also felt good that she had finally got over the initial hump of first time nerves. A little liquid courage started it off, but her natural personality took over. "A mortician would be too dope of a job, I bet that is kind of exciting." she nodded towards Noemi before she began to look around the table to see who would introduce themselves next.

Gaia could not just seem to relate to what the girl was saying. However, she also did get not being used to the glam and glitz so maybe they were a small bit alike. She sipped a bit more on another drink as they talked and almost jumped back, spilling the liquid when the girl bowed at her. She hadn't been anywhere outside of her home town before so she supposed the bow was just something done in the girl's home place.
"Err, hey Naoko. My name's Gaia. Gaia Bradley. It's nice to meet you." She responded, deciding not to go for a handshake if it would make everything weird. She tipped her glass in Naoko's direction instead. As they both smiled quite timidly at each other the announcement was made and Gaia nodded as she listened. She turned back to Naoko.
"Well, Naoko. It seems like we have to head to the table now. It was nice to meet you though, you seem pretty nice." Gaia smiled warmly at the girl. At least she'd made one friend here. Placing her empty glass back on the bar she waved a hand and walked towards the table where she had left some of her stuff earlier. She sat back down in her seat and watched as a bunch of other people filed in, not paying too much attention to individuals as she was too busy trying to keep herself calm and sociable. She listened as people introduced themselves, all attractive and definitely more pleasant than she was. By this point Gaia was pitying the person she was going to have to be matched with.

The first girl to introduce herself was pretty, cute and gave off major cheery, outgoing vibes. She was probably the dream girl for a lot of the people at the table and Gaia's ears only perked up when she announced her career, something interesting!
The next girl to introduce herself was someone Gaia felt she could get along with a bit more easily. She seemed a tiny bit shy but seemed to push back that shyness more easily. As the woman gazed around the table looking for someone else to introduce themselves next Gaia decided to speak up, she might as well get it over with.
"Well hi, I guess I'll go. My name's Gaia. I'm an archivist at a university and I like spending my time in the stacks. This isn't really my scene but I thought I might as well try it out." She shrugged and smiled a tiny bit, fiddling with the threads on her dress and shimmying around a tiny bit, uncomfortable. Man was this really not her scene. But somewhere inside of her heart she still felt that initial longing to find her someone.

Lee was waiting to find out what Yvonne did for a living but before she could answer, the music stopped. The actor turned his head towards the stage and watched the balding man deliver his announcement. Dinner would be served and then an announcement from the CEO, the long awaited event for everyone was finally gonna be starting. "Let the festivities begin," he said, finished his beer and then stood up. "We should catch up again sometime," he gave Yvonne a grin and then waited for her to walk ahead of him before he headed towards his own table.

As he made his way to the table, he heard several people calling out his name. Turning his head, he gave those people smiles and acknowledgement nods, thankful that they were all grounded on their chairs in preparation for dinner. He didn't want a reprise of the earlier events. He also passed by the table with the woman from earlier sitting beside two other females. As he walked by, he could feel her sharp gaze on him. Another person he was glad not to be sitting with. A look of disappointment was on her face when he walked past and he heard a loud, exaggerated sigh.

As he neared his own table, he was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was the same table Yvonne stopped at. Apparently, she was seated in the same table as he was. He had no real problems with conversing with people but it was always nice to actually know someone in a table full of strangers. When he heard her tell the group what she did for a living, he gave a small nod of appreciation. He had always thought artists were interesting people.

He watched Yvonne take a seat and then let the pretty Japanese woman introduce herself before he spoke up. "Hi! I'm Leon Walsh. Some people might know me more as Ethan. I'm an actor and a model. It's a pleasure to meet you all." He made a plain introduction and then gave the current occupants of the table a friendly smile before taking his seat.

---

Micky had failed horribly to meet and greet with anyone around him. He knew how to socialize but flirting was not his thing so every time he tried to talk to someone he quickly snuck away before a conversation could start. Why had he decided to come here? No one wanted to spend time with a bumbling buffoon when they could have someone charming them off their feet.

He slowly roamed around the floor listening to the various conversations as he passed by. He couldn't find any specific one that he'd want to join in on. Micky breathed a sigh of relief when they were told to make their way to their seats. This way he couldn't slip away from talking and would be able to force himself to talk with someone.

Micky listened as the table went around introducing themselves. It was quite a cast of interesting characters. It finally came to Micky to speak up and he reflexively mimicked the guy right next to him by standing up. "Oh uh HI! Umm, my name is Micky, I mean Mitchell Woulfe, but I am called Micky by everyone. I'm a musical theatre student at college and currently work at a music store. It is a pleasure to meet you all. I look forward to any future adventures with you all." Micky smiled and after realizing he was still standing slowly lowered himself to his seat. Well, that was out of the way. Hopefully, everything else would be easier.

Gaia watched as everyone made their introductions and nodded as they spoke, some of the details becoming more blurry as she thought about how much this all was going to suck. She noticed Naoko had been seated at the same table as she was though, so she was happy...kind of. Her fingers tapped at the champagne glass in front of her, an impatient yet lazy and languid movement. As the CEO of TAP stepped up onto the stage she turned her head and watched as he spoke. The words coming out of his mouth sounded even crazier as he spoke them. Indicators...in their icecream? Now that was way too overdramatic. Gaia shook her head to herself but tried not to show too much of her disbelief. A tiny sliver of her still wanted to find her match and so if everyone saw her disregard for the whole program...well, that would not allow her to get what she secretly wanted. God, did she sound nuts. Gaia pushed back a lock of her glossy brown hair and clapped softly as Vance finished his speech.

The flutes full with bejewelling colors circulated around the room, a light pastel purple ice cream with white swirls being placed in front of Gaia. She twirled the small parchment label with the edges of her nails before she pulled off the string and dipped a spoon into the ice cream. She lifted the spoon into her mouth. Grape sorbet? Or something like it. She pushed her spoon back into the desert before she felt it hit something hard. Retracting back the utensil and furrowing her brows Gaia used the spoon to try and uncover what was inside. Once she had gotten it out, still fairly coated in icecream she realised that it looked a hell lot like a ring. Gaia grabbed a tissue and quickly cleaned off the object before holding it up to the light. It was a ring! And was that... she looked closer at the gem set into the ring and smiled. An amethyst. She'd always liked amethysts. Quietly she slipped the ring onto her finger and held it up to the light before she finished off the rest of the ice cream. She didn't want to be the first to call out finding her soulmate. This time, maybe, someone had to notice the girl in the back and find her.

After carefully listening her table mates introduce themselves, Barbara felt overwhelmed with a slight tinge of excitement. Every one had interesting careers and lives. Babs in comparison had felt like hers was just starting, barely in her schooling career. She was intimidated slightly by this fact, but knew that it just meant that she was more flexible. She reassured herself, she was quite the catch or so she thought.

When the lights dimmed a smile formed on Barbara's lips as she turned slightly in her chair. The founder of TAP introduced himself as the round of applause erupted from the crowd. Babs found herself clapping as well, giving a small cheer to the mix. It might have been an inappropriate thing to do at such a formal event, but the mix of other people doing the same made her feel more comfortable. Vance concluded his speech as the wait staff came through the side door, scurrying around with several tall flutes of ice cream.

The waiter placed a very bright blue scoop in front of her, her eyes widening behind her glasses frames. "Wow!" she cooed, looking to her table mates various colors and most likely flavors of ice creams. Barbara looked at her name tag and noticed the beautiful handwriting, she wanted to take it home and keep it forever. "Let's dig in guys." she exclaimed with a smile, as she looked around the table before taking her spoon and taking a healthy bite.

The familiar flavor of cotton candy swirled around her tongue. Playful and light, and awfully sweet. Barbara wondered if it would be okay to ask for seconds if she finished hers too quickly? Her second bite came with a surprise. A hard piece went against her teeth and she was thankful she hadn't swallowed. Pulling the object from between her lips she revealed a OPAL ring. The iridescent of whites and other speckles were something she hadn't really seen before. She promptly put the ring on her thumb and took another bite of her ice cream as she looked around the table frantically to see who had gotten their ring out already.

Lee watched as waiters and waitresses paraded into the ballroom carrying flutes of ice cream neatly placed on serving trays. The application form he had filled out had been extensive and detailed, including his favorite flavors and so he expected that he’d be served with his preferece. As a flute of light brown ice cream was placed on the table in front of him, he smiled. So far so good. He took the spoon and tasted it. Salted caramel. Perfect.

As he dug into the treat enthusiastically, he found his own ring at the bottom. Scooping it out and wiping it off with a napkin, he noticed that the rest of the people at the table were doing the same thing. The ring that had been given to him was a pale green band inlaid with gold. A jade ”Nice,” he murmured, appreciating the simple yet elegant design.

”So, I guess our pairs would have the same ring, right?” he asked more to himself than to anyone. His eyes automatically fell on Yvonne. Perhaps it was because he had gotten a little acquainted with her earlier, he was curious if he had somehow been paired with her. When she saw that her ring wasn’t similar to his, he felt a slight disappointment. He looked around the room. ”Jade, anyone?” he asked with a grin.

Location: Table at the Ballroom at the Plaza

Interactions:EVERYONE

---

---

If Noemi was the sort to feel out place, she would have. All of her tablemates seemed to be artists in some way or another. Except for the guy who was a jock. Still, none of their jobs involved the dead. She didn't think on it all that much in the end, she was far too distracted by the handsome and elegant man on the stage. Indicators? Just what on earth did that mean? All of a sudden wait staff came about and placed flutes of the desert in front of each person. Her own was a bright green. Lime.

She dug into it, enjoying the flavor. Each spoonful she placed into her mouth was allowed to melt slowly on her tongue before swallowing. Around her final bite, there was a hard object inside of her mouth. Her eyes widened in surprise and she pulled a gorgeous silver and jade ring from between her lips. She held it up to the light to inspect it as Lee called out his own being jade.

No way.

The young woman raised her ring up a bit further with a bright, cheerful smile on her face. "Me!" she replied before slipping it onto her pinky finger. Others around the table were discovering their matches and she thrilled. The looks of confusion and then shyness as they began to discover each other. She pulled her arms around herself, the chill of the ice cream causing her to shiver a bit, as one of the girls stood and offered her hand to her partner. Noemi placed slim fingers against her lips. The scene was too adorable. Like some sort of drama.

Brown eyes slid to their corners to find Lee again. She wanted very much to approach him and say something. There was far too much activity at the table though and Noemi was feeling a bit out of sorts. For once in her life, she simply didn't know what to say. How strange of a match was it that she should be paired with an actor. An actor and a mortician. She quickly looked down at her plate again as daydreams started to fill her head.

---

Micky sat back as the CEO of TAP took center stage and began speaking. The man spoke with the skill of someone who had been doing this for years. He didn't take long to get to his announcement. Soon an army of waiters came out with delectable looking ice cream for each of the attendees. Micky looked at the desert being laid before him. He wasn't sure but it looked like it may be Rocky Road. He listened to Mr. Polk as he finished his speech. Apparently, there was something hidden within the dish that would indicate the one which TAP had picked to be his partner. On that word Micky gulped. Because that person sat at the table with him and other than introductions he hadn't spoken with any of them and instantly they'd start with knowing they were quote-unquote soulmates. This was nervewracking.

Micky stared at his ice cream. Honestly, he was too scared to even search for the indicator. They do say ignorance is bliss so maybe he should just take things slow and enjoy not knowing. However, everyone around him was one by one revealing the rings which had been given to them. Decided to bite the bullet he started digging into the treat occasionally eating some of it looking for the ring. He notices that yet again it seems he will be the final one to do something at his table. He doesn't try cheating to see who matches with who focusing on finding the ring. That's when he discovers it. Using his spoon he removed the chocolate covered ring from the flute. Grabbing a napkin he began cleaning it so that he may know what color he got. Once he cleaned it he could see the dark purple mineral inlaid into the titanium colored ring. He wasn't entirely sure but he believed it to be amethyst.

He wasn't much of a jewelry person but the ring was so elegant that he couldn't help putting it on. Finally, though it was time to attempt to discover who his partner was. He looked up and looked at each person's ring until he saw one that had a similar color to his. The person he saw which had the same ring color as he had was Gaia. Micky had to admit she was beautiful and had a pretty name. All he knew about her though was her first name, that she was an archivist, that she apparently liked her job, and that supposedly she was his soulmate?

What now though. Micky was good at making friends. Better than the rest of his family, but this was a whole other thing. He barely knew her and instantly the first thing that popped to mind was that they were fated to be together by TAP standards. How does one go about talking with someone whilst that was in the back of their minds? The young man opened his mouth to speak but no words came out as he had no idea what to say. It was like a horse was jammed down his throat so that nothing could come out. Deciding that awkwardly staring was definitely worse than awkwardly not talking he smiled at her and gave a slight wave.

Lee's eyes immediately turned towards the voice that answered his question. They landed on a girl that he had seen earlier at the bar. She was pretty in her Bohemian dress and a flower crown on her head. It looks like she was dressed for fun, her choice of ensemble so very different from most of the women in the big ballroom. Not bothering to be discreet, he studied her, noting the ring she had placed on her finger. Although of a different design, it was no doubt decorated with the same stone as his. Watching her for a few more minutes, he noted how she seemed to study him from the corner of her eyes. She did it discreetly that he wasn't exactly sure if she really was studying him. He found it cute. When she looked down on her plate, the actor decided to get up and introduce himself properly to his designated soulmate.

With long strides, he was by her chair in a matter of seconds. "Hi...," he greeted casually, taking a quick glance at her nameplate on the table just to make sure he didn't make a mistake addressing her. "...Noemi. Seems like it's you and me. I'm Lee Walsh, by the way," he said with a smile as he introduced himself, well aware that there were some people who had no idea who he was. He always thought it rude to assume that everyone knows him just because he appears in the big screen. For a few seconds, he puzzled about what to do. Since he had never been in such a situation before, he had no real idea how to go about dealing with the announcement that this person was his soulmate. At the back of his head, he worried that she'd be like some of his exes, interested in him only because he was an A-lister. Though, she looked nice enough. Thinking he was being to judgmental, he shook the thought out of his head. He joined TAP to have fun. If he ended up romantically liking the person he had been paired with then good. If not, he would have still gained a new friend and be on a well deserved vacation. It was a win-win situation.

Steering his thoughts back to the present dilemma, he pondered what he should do. Should he offer his hand the way Naoko did? That would probably be the normal and probably the expected thing to do. Thinking that the uniquely dressed woman might appreciate a non conventional approach, he veered into a completely different direction. "It'd be strange to be paired together yet sit so far apart. I can't really imagine talking across the table," he gestured to where he was seated right opposite her. "What do you think of moving your chair by mine so we can chat while we have dinner? Or maybe we can ask the other people here to switch chairs?" he suggested.

Gaia noticed some movement in the corner of her eye and looked quite apprehensively towards the direction of movement. The amethyst ring glittered on her finger and she fiddled with it before she caught a man's eye. She think he had introduced himself earlier as Micky (what a name!), a student with what seemed to be quite the passion for music. Personally, she thought he looked not at all like what she would've expected from a soulmate. He seemed excitable, young and active whereas maybe sometimes she would've preferred someone more mature, calm and refined. But who was she to choose, right? She was a handful enough and it was still a godsend that she'd gotten at least someone who would prove as a good friend at the very least.

She frowned, unsure of how to proceed before lifting herself off the chair and smoothing down her dress which had gotten a bit wrinkled. She walked back over to where Micky was seated and stood awkwardly beside his chair, heels sinking into the lush carpet before blinking and opening her mouth to speak, her glossed lips sticking together slightly before she pried them apart.

"Hi." Gaia almost pinched herself when the single syllable greeting flew out of her mouth. God, was that awkward and definitely not helping with the situation. She quickly tried to get over her mistake by sticking out her hand and hoping that he would take it. Even though she wasn't as impressed as she should've been with him (damn her close mindedness) she didn't want to seem rude or make him not like her. He seemed like a decent guy, but maybe not her guy? Gaia didn't know.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Gaia if you didn't notice me earlier. Um...I really don't know how to hold a proper conversation so you'd have to excuse me on that, as well as any underlying tones of sarcasm. I don't deal well with all of this." She waved her hands around, making a vague gesture about the whole situation before she felt the heat rise in her cheeks. At this rate she was imagining Micky already starting to stand up, demanding that he'd be given a new soulmate. Of course no one would want to be paired with her, and all the mess/baggage she carried. Gaia tried to straighten up but grimaced as she tried to push the thoughts out of her mind.