tampered | (no subject)

WINTER GALA IS OPEN ~ !

Seen the sign? It’s everywhere.

And every little corner, and every little street, strident and glistening and snow everywhere. Statue here, statue there – North, South, East, West – they do call it the Square. There’s word they’re war heroes, or troubled hallows, or nothing of the sort. That might be ice they’re sculpted in – or the sliver in some champagne glass, because giants drink too, and the City knows things. The City doesn’t tell.

But the tap those statues once or twice, and tap them strong, and tap them well, and they’ll whisper a secret. The little Elf army scuttling about has seen better days for wear (mostly Thursdays), but they’re only three feet tall, and the silver powder on their cheek’s both rigidly applied, and rented. Kick’em. They’re fluent in seven languages, you know. They have a degree. Naghladi’gjamarai got a Nobel nomination last year; no one knows. The human reporter didn’t look down to his knee when he was interviewing. Humans, so damned righteous.

Like the lights everywhere can never go out.

Like they’re the first ones here, dancing all too merry.

Like it’s their celebration.

Like it’s not all coming out of their City taxes.

Idiots.

[ooc: OK, kids, as per Jesse instructions: please title your comment + replies in such a way that you mention if they're directed at anyone in particular. Free-for-all ball, enjoy ~ ! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She blinked, her arms clutching around the bag, startled again at his forcefulness. No, she defiantly had no idea who this guy was, and he was giving her gifts. He didn't sound or act like anyone she knew.

With a little frown she reached forward quickly, meaning to pull the mask off his face.

For a moment, Autor froze--she was reaching towards him, reaching a hand to his face...for...for what...?

And then, he realized what she was doing. He jerked back and to the left, gritting his teeth. That move had made him so unbelievably ANGRY. Was she an idiot?! Didn't she realize he was wearing this mask for a reason?? If she took it off and Joshua saw his face--

In his anger he grabbed her arm, jerking her forward, speaking into her ear in a hissing whisper. "Don't you DARE. We'll BOTH be in danger if you take off this mask!"

A scent hit Autor's senses as if he had run into a wall. She was so close...what was that fragrance? Honeysuckle, he quickly decided. Honeysuckle and...something smoky, like...gunpowder? It was like a fragrant contradiction. Sweet, but dangerous...rather like the girl herself, when he thought about it.

He wondered if he could get away with it.

...If he was quick...

Without another thought, he pulled her close and planted a quick, firm kiss onto her lips. God, he wanted to linger longer. He wanted to stay here and...

No. If that damned brother of hers had seen him--

What was he DOING?!

Autor pulled back quickly, hand over his mouth. He swallowed, gathering up his fractured thoughts. There wasn't any mistletoe to blame this time. No, he had nothing to blame but his own stupidity and the mysterious scent of honeysuckle and gunpowder.

"Don't open that package until after the ball!" he said, quickly and harshly, then turned and ran away, his heart pounding and his face feeling as though it must be on fire.

Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT--she'd be absolutely furious with him. And he couldn't blame her.

Even though he acted as though the entire world was beneath him, Autor knew the truth. He was the most foolish, most reckless human being of them all.

She hadn't expected him to be able to react that fast, and in but a few moments he had grabbed her arm, and yanked her forward, a yelp slipping from her lips as she stumbled on the heels, those words burning into her ear, and she franticly tried to think of WHO this could be, while also trying not to break her ankle in the process.

Before she could formulate a response, or even STAND properly, his other arm went about her and tugged her close, his mouth crushing against her's, firm and insistent.

Her mind went blank for a moment, save for the thought that the smell of him was familiar [and that Doumeki'd kill her, and Joshua'd kill him]. It wasn't like she hadn't been kissed before (she had been kissed more times since she had arrived in this city then she ever had in her life!), but to have a masked stranger suddenly bombard you with it-

And then, just as she was about to swing at him, he wrenched back, and shouted at her, looking just as shocked at his actions as she was, and made a run for it.

The poor girl stood there for a moment, panting, before she gripped her hair with her free hand.

"What the HELL was that?!"

(no subject)

Just for Autor--at least for the moment

Just for Rosette--at least for the moment

OPEN TO ALL