Havin' a Ball

[dazz]

The dance wasn't bad at all. It wasn't great, but only for the stifling amount of tension between them once the reverie had broken, along with the slow-paced song. It segued into another song that was fast-paced and coarse compared to the romantic number preceding it. The new music killed the last of the feeling that lingered between them. They stood still, close, for a long moment before it was clearly too much for Bobby. He started to distance himself, sounding harried as he looked for an out.

"I need a drink. Do you want a drink?"

Ali faltered as Bobby pulled away from her and the prolonged contact was finally broken. She muttered an indecisive "sure" but didn't know what else to say. Bobby was acting all weird again, and she noticed that he wouldn't look at her again. Sighing, she decided on some damage control. Figuing out the tone she wanted, she spoke.

"Well, that was nice, but I prefer moshing. How bout you? Bet I could take ya out. And a drink would be great. Maybe somethin' hard. Or fruity. I don't know..." Another sigh. "Aw, screw it. I'm babbling now. Talk about awkward silence! Phew!"

Mentally, she was slapping herself in the forehead.

I sound ridiculous...

But, if real tension like that made Bobby act all weird. If it made her act all weird, she was ready to change the topic as abruptly as possible and move on like little had happened.

[Panthera]

“It’s one t’ing t’ speak unfavourably ‘bout a party y’re attendin’, but anot’er t’ing all t’get’er t’ insult de host,” ..... “Despite de t’ings he’s done and his views on ot’ers, I owe a lot t’ de King. He gave me a place t’ live an’ t’ practise m’ callin’. Few may see it, but he is a good man.”

Now Samantha had gone and done it. Her face began to warm as the embarrassment she just laid upon herself became more and more apparent. It was hardly her intention to anger the man of the cloth but nonetheless, it didn't deter her feelings towards the 'King'.

"Please reverend, I apologize for my mouth. I've been under a lot of stress of late. I was out of line to make such a comment", now with her head lowered. "You're right, please forgive me."

[Bobby Drake]

"Well, that was nice, but I prefer moshing. How bout you? Bet I could take ya out.”[/i]

Dazz was talking all fast and Bobby spared a glance at her. If it had been any other girl in the world he might have thought she was feeling all shy and awkward because she was into him or something. But not Ali.

”And a drink would be great. Maybe somethin' hard. Or fruity. I don't know..."

“I can do hard and fruity,” he said. Then his brows creased. That sounded...nah...

”Aw, screw it. I'm babbling now. Talk about awkward silence! Phew!"

Yeah, there it was. He’d used the whole let’s be friends with so many other chicks so many other times, that he thought maybe he could smell it. Well, he could have if he wasn’t covered in whatever perfume she was wearing now. Every breath he took reminded him of that dance, and thoughts like that just made him feel warm and gooey and that made him want to puke.

Maybe it would have been easier to not get to know her so well. Now he not only wanted to not do a story on her anymore...but he also wanted to protect her from anyone else who might do a story on her...and he wanted an unending dance.

Realizing that the silence had just been stretched out, Bobby shook his head and put on a bullcrap smile. “Sorry, I...” He looked out at the dancefloor. “I just wanted to say that was one hell of a dance. Did anyone ever tell you you dance better than a princess?”

Because Princess Katherine, or whatever? Some white girls can’t dance.

Swallowing the emotion of the moment, Bobby held out his elbow to her again. “Something hard and fruity?” Whether he meant himself or the drink was uncertain.

[Doug Ramsey]

Doug felt his shoulder get rudely struck, and turned with confusion and anger. Who the hell...?

If King Magnus Court were symbolic of the Deadly Sins, Magneto's Wrath unquestionably stepped away from him with cold unreadable indifference.

Yes. Doug nearly repressed the shiver that went through his body, before his eyes narrowed. Mustn't forget about the attack dog. Need to establish a much tighter leash for the insolent old wolf.

"Miss Grey?" he steeled his voice, darting his eyes towards her, completely missing the acknowledgment of his Hound by the deadly assassin.

[dazz]

Bobby put on a smile that could have fooled anyone. Well, not everyone. There were actually several people in the present company that could see right through it. Telepaths, the boy Douglas Ramsey, and one Ali Blaire. He put up a good face, but the vibes were all wrong.

"I just wanted to say that was one hell of a dance. Did anyone ever tell you you dance better than a princess?"

Ali smiled at the compliment, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. It was a sweet thing to say, but it just made her feel like crap inside. They'd just shared a moment and she was pretty sure she'd just killed it. And then danced--like a princess, apparently--on it's grave.

"Thanks, Bobby. And hard and fruity sounds great. I think..." she attempted to joke, but the face she made to go with it wasn't quite right either.

At Bobby's offer, she placed her hand cordially on his elbow once again. In the same fashion they'd entered the dance floor, they walked off it and back to the bar.

I...I made this weird, didn't I? I'm sorry... Ali wanted to speak those words, but while her mouth opened, they stayed in her mind. That dance was something odd. Maybe they'd crossed the friend threshold? Ali couldn't quite place it, and she didn't know how she felt about any possibility that came to mind. She just wished they could go back to sex jokes and then it wouldn't be complicated.

Sex jokes? Uh... An inappropriate thought came to mind. What am I, twelve?

The desperate attempt at making herself feel better worked. Outwardly, and for no apparent reason, the corners of her mouth twitched upward. She needed to say something. Anything. Anything but 'penis'... Though she had a feeling he'd laugh at that, or possibly think her the biggest hornball ever.

"You know Bobby, you're not a bad date. That was fun. Now let's not be silent, ok?"

[janedoe]

Jean had barely just brushed the mind of Rossovich when Scott’s abrupt departure broke her concentration. She should have known that he wouldn’t get that she had been teasing, especially when her tone had not portrayed it. So serious.

So lost.

Very rarely did she allow herself to get distracted, but this was one of those times. She had heard someone speaking her name but it didn’t quite register as she watched Scott’s retreating back. It wasn’t until he was lost in the crowd that she was able to regain her focus. Turning around, she was just in time to catch the acknowledgement thrown her way by Weapon X. Such a fascinating mind, but no time to dwell on that now.

“Nothing I can’t handle, I assure you,” she replied, turning a strained smile toward Doug. “Scott is merely feeling a little… neglected. He doesn’t seem to enjoy that I prize my work above him.”

[angel]

Warren continued to watch from the sidelines. He was growing bored from standing and decided to find a suitable dancing partner. He was momentarily distracted by an altercation between Victor, and Arkady and a woman. It was rather entertaining to see such a petite woman argue with two men that made other men quiver in fear.

He looked back over to the dance floor to continue his search. There were very few people not dancing, but one particular red head caught his attention. He straightened the collar of his jacket and stepped away from the wall. He tried to see who she was looking at, but wasn't certain. All he knew is that he didn't see Scott anywhere.

Can't keep the lady waiting.

Most men were generally afraid of telepaths, but Warren was only slightly intimidated. He had known Jean a long time, but through Scott he began to know more and the three became good friends.

Warren maneuvered through the crowd and approached her. "Hello, Jean. Would you care to dance?" He said with a shallow bow and his arm in a presenting fashion; the other properly behind his back.

[Doug Ramsey]

"That is because you are the best, my dear." Doug smiled at the alluring redhead. "But I have no doubts that Summers will get over it, even if it takes a little...persuasion." A dark skinned mutant with wings approached and interrupted the conversation with a request to dance.

Douglas gave the mutant a sidelong glance.

"I'd like you to accompany me on an inspection of SHIELD Headquarters at the end of the week." Doug said quietly. "Stop by my office in the Ivory Tower tomorrow for the briefing details."

He turned to the newly arrived mutant. "She'd be delighted to. I was just leaving to pay my respects to the good Doctor and his wife, anyway. Until tomorrow, Miss Grey."

[meltdown]

"I regret nothing, and my conscience is clean."

Pfft. Tabitha didn't want to get into that. Of course he wouldn't have qualms about murdering soldiers. Tabitha stepped on his foot once again. This blow was a bit harder than the previous ones. This blow also had a bit more malice behind it. Maybe she was being passive/agressive. Maybe he was trying to irk her. Him saying that he had a clean conscience was over the line.

Tabitha pulled away and said, "I think that dance might be the last one for a while. I think it is about time for to be sociable."

[Bobby Drake]

The moment lingered on somewhere in the ‘weird and awkward’ kind of place for a little longer. Bobby tried to make light of it with his comments, but Ali was acting all weird now too. She was trying to make jokes and smile and all that...but it just wasn’t coming out too believable.

"You know Bobby, you're not a bad date. That was fun. Now let's not be silent, ok?"

He thought about it for a split second and then smiled with another nod. “Gotcha,” he said. And he escorted her back over to somewhere that they could get a drink. “You know, someone like me might be looking at this as a photo opportunity.” He looked over at Ali with a grin. “Wondering who your new boy toy is or something...”

A servant passed by and Bobby grabbed a couple of drinks off of his tray. He handed one to her.

“You don’t seem to be one to mind a little scandal though...it might even fortify your rep as a rockstar.” He was totally kidding her.

[janedoe]

Only sparing Warren a quick glance to silently ask for a moment, Jean kept her attention on Doug while he spoke. He was right, of course. Whatever Scott was feeling right now, she could easily make it not even a memory. Hopefully she would get chance to ‘persuade’ him tonight if she was going to be detained the next day.

Her smile became a little tight lip when Doug then proceeded to answer Warren’s request for her but she said nothing to argue. Those were the same words she would have used herself had she been given the chance.

“Until tomorrow, Mr. Ramsey,” she replied in kind before turning to face Warren. When she did, her smile was much warmer than it had been just moments ago. “Apparently I would be delighted to,” she said, holding out her hand to him.

[Gambit]

"Please reverend, I apologize for my mouth. I've been under a lot of stress of late. I was out of line to make such a comment", now with her head lowered. "You're right, please forgive me."

“Dat’s usually a request I hear in m’ church,” the priest replied, the warmth returning to his voice. Reaching toward her, he gave her hand a comforting pat

“Y’ can tell me anyt’in’ an’ I won’ judge y’, m’ child. Dis was more o’ a warnin’ dat many people y’ talk t’ here t’night couldn’t honestly say de same t’ing. Be careful who y’ share your opinions wit’.”

His tone was quiet, caring, and not lacking in concern. With so many soldiers and telepaths gathered in such close proximity just inside the door that they sat so near to, it was almost a crime to even think anything unfavourable.

[Creed]

"What good would that do you? You may be able to fill out some places, but I think you lack some other...components."

The bounty hunter's command of the English language was even sketchier than his choice in fashion. Not that Victor Creed claimed any authority with either.

"Oh, it ain't fer me, hotshot", Creed retorted. "Jus' took a look at that ponytail an' figured mebbe yer 'life partner' had a suit jus' like it." His eyes scanned the room.

Suddenly, Creed looked like he might have spoiled a secret.

"Or are you on a 'manhunt' right now?", he asked in a loud and mocking whisper.

[arkady]

Arkady had heard that endlessly flawed insult thousands of times. It often only escaped the minds of his prey: the stupid, lowlife inferiors.

"I am not seeking, unfortunately for you I am sure. I keep no relationships at all, aside from professional. The company of womanly lust and male comradery is fickle, both genders would rather kill in the name of money than take a bullet in the name of fellow man. You yourself seem like the type to jump the other direction, as a matter of fact."

He looked to the little girl who was still standing between him and Creed.

"I would keep different company, if you value your life little girl." he soaked the words with faked sweetness and false worry for the frustrated girl.

[Doug Ramsey]

It seemed that the confrontation between the famed bounty hunter and the catering staff wasn't going to end peacefully without some sort of intervention. One might have expected one of SHIELD's Imperial Guard to have stepped in, but with their Commander enthralled with getting his foot trampled repeatedly, it appeared the rest of his staff was going to follow suit and ignore the situation as well.

*sigh* Would he ever get across the floor to speak with the Doctors McCoy?

Standing not much taller in height than Tatiana, Doug stepped into the chasm between the two testosterone laden mountains of aggressive flesh.

"Victor Creed," Doug nodded, "Again, you have outdone yourself. No one can compare when it comes to balls, sir. Truly outstanding. I will assume that some of this is a result of your new lovely assistant, of whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting." Doug smiled a charming grin and nodded at Tatiana.