Havin' a Ball

[angel]

Warren saw her eyes close and her grasp tighten. It looked to him like she was trying to hide behind him and not be obvious. He was surprised at first, but concern quickly overtook. He immediately became prepared for an initial threat.

He noticed the King making his way to a set of doors.

“This is far from a fairy tale, Warren.” These words calmed him quelling his concern. She regained eye contact offered the best smile she could muster. “You know my abilities do not allow me to be care free...

Warren could relate with her on many aspects. Two everlasting blemishes in life's diamond.

...but I do appreciate the compliments. Are you always this charming?”

"That depends if it's working," Warren said with an empty smile. "If it is, then yes. If not, I'll have to try harder."

[Doug Ramsey]

Doug nodded in response to Deefer Mallone's salute [so much for not bringing a lot of attention to the matter...] and watched as she moved quickly to check the situation. Satisfied that she would carry out the orders, he went to resume his enjoyable evening with the caterer's assistant.

Guthrie excused himself, taking a dirty Corporal Summers with him. The man looks like he's been laying on the floor of the dungeon or something... Doug mused. Samuel's probably going to rip him a new ass for showing up on the main floor of the ballroom looking like he just cleaned the dustbunnies from beneath the furniture.

Tatiana gave a set of clipped orders to Amara, dismissing her with a nod. Something changed. Distracted. Something happened.

"Is everything alright, Tatiana..?" Doug asked, concern evident in his voice.

[scott]

The commander did not hesitate to lead Scott toward a quieter part of the ballroom. Standing near the wall, he turned back to Scott with a steely gaze. It wasn’t exactly concern that turned his brow downward, but it was probably the closest Commander Guthrie was known to show.

"What the hell happened to your neck?"

Not sure where to start, Scott jumped into the story somewhere in the middle. “Weapon X,” he said quietly. “He captured some girl and had her chained up in the dungeon.” His jaw tensed as he came to the part where he made the mistake. “She was very young and very scared.”

Behind the glasses, his eyes met the commander’s.

“And every bit as deadly as he is.”

[Tatiana]

Tatiana shook her head. "No, not at all." She smiled. "Sorry if my tone of voice distrubed you. But I have found in my large amount of time spent with the inferiors.." Tati paused after that word. "That some, like that one there, respond much better to simple commands and short sentences, than say, any kindness or pleasent inquiries."

She had seen the way the woman had shrunk away from touch. Tatiana tried to phrase things as nicely as she could to Doug. The last thing she needed was for the servants to be upset.

[Doug Ramsey]

Ah... that makes sense. She's jealous! Doug suppressed a smile, and let the seriousness of the moment hold. He took ahold of her hands within his own, stepping close.

"Tatiana," Doug assured her, "I understand your concern. It was unorthodox, and my apologies if it seemed... odd. I have known this inferior a long time. In fact, if you look at her personnel file, you will see that she was sponsored by myself and the Doctors McCoy personally for duty in the castle. She is very loyal and hard working, but suffers from serious personality disorders from...trauma... she had been a victim to in her younger years, which manifest as depression and self-destructive behavior. She is still recieving treatment from Emma for this, to help her acclimate to our benevolent treatment of her. She feels inadequete to serving in the castle, when in fact, she is probably the best servant in the building. All I was trying to do is reassure her that she was doing a very good job, because I can see that she is on the cusp of another relapse. We must reward those who serve well. Its good for morale, and proves the Resistance wrong in saying that we are monsters who must be destroyed."

He raised her hands up to his lips, and kissed them.

"Have faith in me, Tatiana." He raised his eyebrows, in an almost pleading manner. "What I do is not just for one lost little girl, but for all of us, that this war may end once and for all."

[janedoe]

So much was happening so fast. The King had returned, his anger having passed, and the majority of the guests joined him in his victory announcement, but not everyone was so happy. Scott had returned, she could feel his presence anywhere, and with a mere touch of his mind she found pain. He was injured.

He was speaking with Commander Guthrie on the other side of the room. Something was wrong.

”That depends on if it’s working. If it is, then yes. If not, I’ll have to try harder.

Still gazing up at Warren, her expression grew sad.

“It was,” she admitted, quietly. “Something is happening. Come with me.”

Taking his hand, she started through the crowd toward Samuel and Scott.

[dazz]

Jamie...er, one of him...took Ali's cue and moved for the unsavory version of himself who had been bothering Tabitha. He tripped midway, and then there was another one of him, running for the buffet. It was confusing as hell to follow, and Bobby put it well when he piped up.

"Man, some stuff you just never get used to."

"No kidding..."

Ali tried to follow the situation as the shmuck Jamie disappearend into the normal version, only to get a tongue-lashing from the chief intel teenager of the world. Normal Jamie didn't deserve that, but she didn't intend to get involved. Ali turned her eyes away from that situation.

"So anyway, here’s my plan. We kind of make the rounds, maybe have another dance if you’re into it...hang out for about half an hour or so and then split this scene. I mean, it’s okay as far as the whole Royal ball crap goes, but I think we could have more fun doing something else. Like maybe skinny dipping in your pool or something. Just a thought.”

Turning her baby blues to Bobby, Ali replied with a smirk.

"You have a lot of thoughts, you realize that?" Skinny dipping? Yea right. Maybe in his dreams. Actually, Ali was quite confident that it had been in Bobby's dreams on at least one occasion. "But aside from your thoughts, that sounds like a good plan. We haven't been too social yet, so it would be a good idea to make the rounds, put on a good public face. At least, I haven't. I've talked to three people and totally stole you from your date, so...my bad."

As if on cue to the tune of being social, the King joined the party and finally spoke. His voice boomed with confidence and immediately the room fell into respectful silence.

"My friends. We celebrate our impending victory."

It was a short announcement before the King made his way into the crowds. Now Ali had to pay attention, because he was mingling. She would have to be sure to pay her respects before ducking out. To fail to do so would be an insult to the grace of her host. And that would be a suicidally stupid thing to do. As the voice of the SHIELD commander followed, Ali raised her champagne glass respectfully but said nothing.

[Sam Guthrie]

"Weapon X," he said quietly. "He captured some girl and had her chained up in the dungeon."

He doesn't seem to be that sort...Oh well, to each his own...

"She was very young and very scared."

Highly irregular. Weapon X did as Magneto commanded, and why would Magnus want a young girl chained up in the dungeon.

Why?

"And every bit as deadly as he is."

Samuel's eyes widened slightly. What was Summers inferring? That she was...another Weapon X?

"Summers, are you insinuating that someone...replicated him.." Samuel said, his arms crossing, "Or at least duplicated the process..."

This was bad. Very ,very bad.

[madrox]

Jamie looked over to the Libidrox. It was a shame really, if things had gone differently, it would have been the first time either he or any of his dupes got laid. He brought one of the girls from work home once. He fell asleep. It was a real shame.

The Libidrox had noticed Tab's look behind him, and turned to see what was there.

Ballocks, he thought, that prude of a Jamie Prime will just interfere with a good thing. I gotta get this chick gone, along with me too.

He looked to Tab. He smiled and touched her hand again.

"Hey, do you want to leave, maybe, I dunno, find a more private place? I gotta split, if that guy catches up with me, this rendezvous is as good as over." he said, lacking the sugary slick tone. He has to rush the words, Prime would be upon him soon.

[scott]

Despite his intentions and a very strong resolve, Scott was beginning to feel the effects of the loss of blood. The bandage on his neck had been soaked through, and it looked as if he might actually be in need of medical attention after all. One hand touched lightly at the wall next to him for a little support.

"Summers, are you insinuating that someone...replicated him.." the Commander said as he crossed his arms in front of himself thoughtfully. "Or at least duplicated the process..."

Scott had to think about that one. He shook his head. “There were similarities in appearance, but...I can’t say one way or the other, sir.” He swallowed, which was a painful thing to do. “Weapon X returned for her. He was somewhat in a hurry-”

His eyes locked on to Jean and Warren approaching hand in hand, like lovers. Jaw tightened for a moment as he looked at them, and then the precedence of his duties took hold, as did his need for the support of the wall.

“Sir, I know Weapon X works on his own, but what are your orders?”

[Bobby Drake]

"You have a lot of thoughts, you realize that?"

Bobby hesitated. It almost sounded like she was surprised.

"But aside from your thoughts, that sounds like a good plan. We haven't been too social yet, so it would be a good idea to make the rounds, put on a good public face. At least, I haven't. I've talked to three people and totally stole you from your date, so...my bad."

Bobby decided it might be pushing it to ask if she wanted to come over to his place and make love on his karate mat.

Remembering AJ, Bobby looked around for her. At first scan of the crowded room, he found nothing. “Okay, one,” he said raising his glass at the same time as hers, to the king’s words, “she definitely wasn’t my date. Not my type at all. And two, the only person I would allow to steal me from a date would be you.”

He looked her in the eye, but for some reason it was more difficult than he would have imagined to hold the look.

“So. Who looks like they need a little Bobby-n-Dazz the most?”

[Sam Guthrie]

"There were similarities in appearance, but...I can't say one way or the other, sir....Weapon X returned for her. He was somewhat in a hurry-"

Jesus. Summers may have been mortally wounded and yet he still chose to report to him first. Such dedication.


"Sir, I know Weapon X works on his own, but what are your orders?"

"First things first, you need medical attention, that wound looks bad Summers.." Guthrie replied, "Hang tight here, I'll grab Dr. Smith...."

He couldn't afford to lose any soldiers. Especially not Summers. As annoying as his insubordination was, the man was a brilliant soldier.

With that he strode, rather quickly, (but not so to attract attention) over to Dr. Smith.

"Tabitha, I must apoligize..." He said, "But there's been a situation that requires your attention"

He couldn't say it out loud, so he used hand signals.

Officer Injured. Unidentified Bogey. Emergency.

[meltdown]

So, Doug had her glances. By reading her body language Doug would know that she was concerned about this strange set of twins. She raised her glass to her lips and nodded slightly as if to say they were on the same wavelength.

Hey, do you want to leave, maybe, I dunno, find a more private place? I gotta split, if that guy catches up with me, this rendezvous is as good as over."

Tabitha nearly choked on her drink. She cleared her throat and blinked her eyes a couple of times. This guy was wanted to move things along...alone. What were his motives. And why was the "other him" after Jamie. In a more secluded area Tabitha could find out these answers. She was about to answer when she was cut off by Samuel who had reappeared.

"Tabitha, I must apoligize..." He said, "But there's been a situation that requires your attention"

She read the hand signals. She had been trained in this military sign language when she had first been taken into SHIELD. Apparently, there was an emergency. Someone was hurt. Hurt here at the ball.

"Of course, Sir," she replied. "Excuse me, Jamie."

She added as an after thought for Sam's benefit. "If I don't see you again tonight, I had a wonderful time." She gave Jamie a glance over her shoulder as she walked with Guthrie.

[angel]

“It was.” Warren was a surprised that she admitted being wooed, but mostly because she looked quite sad. "Something is happening. Come with me.”

Without question he followed Jean as she took his hand and led him through the crowd. She was leading him to a more secluded part of the ballroom. As they drew nearer he could see Commander Guthrie and Scott who appeared to be in pain.

"...returned for her. He was somewhat in a hurry-” Drawing close missing half of the conversation Warren, however, did not miss the blood soaked bandages covering Scott's neck. “Sir, I know Weapon X works on his own, but what are your orders?”

Weapon X?! Damn! Warren immediately grew worried. Just the name was enough to strike fear in the toughest and wisest of men. But it wasn't Weapon X they were talking about. It was a girl. A girl very similar and just as dangerous.

Commander Guthrie quickly left to get Dr. Smith.

"The situations we get ourselves into," Warren deadpanned. It wasn't so much as a joke, but more like a statement about the life a soldier lives.

[madrox]

Snubbed. Damn. Well, he had a chance still, the Libidrox looked toward Jamie Prime who was gaining on him quick. He turned to face him.

"Wait, stop, right there."

Jamie was used to this. He would let this go a while. If his dupe's answer was anything like 'don't be lame', he would just keep going.

"Why should I let you go? You got me into a lot of trouble there! Twice!" Jamie was trying to remain...not hysterical. It was a mammoth effort.

"That Tabitha, she is something special man, nice face, great body, and a Doctor! The whole package man. We could work this out."

"Fine. Let me talk to her." Jamie thought he could pull this off instead.

"No. She ain't into Jamie Prime. She wants me. She said she had a wonderful time."

"Oh for the love of...did you see Guthrie talking to me? He could break open my skull and eat my brains! He wants you and me out!"

"Doesn't he understand love?" The dupe tried.

"You aren't in love! You're pure sexual energy!"

"Then say you are!"

The conversation was getting ridiculous to Jamie.

"I'm not in love, I've never met her!"

The dupe smiled, and Jamie thought he caught on.

"You have met her. I met her, so you met her, and since I'm you, you are, at least, attracted to her."

It was confounding logic. Jamie had seen Tab. She was good-looking, and apparently intelligent.

"I dunno, smart chicks...?"

"Relax, she doesn't get too...what's the word...something like...'smart.....' who cares, she's gorgeous!"

"Well, then I have to absorb you."

"No! You'll mess it up! You can't talk to women!"

"Thanks for the confidence boost."

"Listen, If you have to go, go. I'm sticking around. Maybe I can hide somewhere."

Jamie didn't like this at all.

"I already got threatened twice. You seem to be the one who's gonna mess things up. How about this. I won't absorb you, but we still have to leave. You go, I'll stick around long enough to tell Tab we want to meet somewhere else. Hopefully, until then, we can both stay...not dead."

Libidrox couldn't pass up a chance to stay independent. He bolted out the door. Jamie was still uncomfortable. Guthrie appeared to have gone off somewhere less visible, so for now his only danger was Ramsey sending security guards over to boot him out. He decided that he would look more natural in a group. Bobby. He would help him out, make it seem like he was there innocently. He walked briskly over to him and Dazzler.

"Bobby, I need to talk to you guys. Doug Ramsey and that creepy Guthrie guy from S.H.I.E.L.D. are trying to kick me out, but I need to stay long enough to ask this girl out for my libido because I promised I would do it as long as he left." It was the most ridiculous sentence to ever be uttered.