Havin' a Ball

[Doug Ramsey]

It had once been thought that Warner Brother cartoons with their anvils and shotguns and wacky slapstick comedy inspired violence.

It had once been thought that action movies, regardless of sub-genre, with their over the top eye candy explosions and incredibly unbelievable heroics inspired violence.

It had once been thought that video games with their first person shooters and fifty-four hit super-combinations inspired violence.

Whether any of these factors truly inspired violence or not, fact is, Jamie "Libidrox" Madrox just pushed aside a young man who was raised on all of the above, a young man who held the intoxicating power within the Empire of making undesirables... disappear. Permanently.

Douglas Aaron Ramsey had been raised a mutant superstar, Magneto's boy wonder, priviledged and used to getting what he wanted. He didn't deal well with losing or having the best of him gotten.

He didn't know who this sleazy shmoozing buffoon was, but then again, by this time tomorrow loverboy here wouldn't know either...assuming that he was still alive.

Doug took a deep breath. I'll be kind, and give him one chance to do the right thing. It is the King's ball, after all.

"I'm sorry, sir..." Doug growled, eyes darkened, his face twisting into a hateful grimace as he placing a hand on Jamie's shoulder and pulled him back from Tatiana's face, "I don't believe we've been formally introduced. I'm Director Ramsey of the ISS and you, sir, are leaving. Right now, if you'd care to retain some semblance of dignity, instead of being carried out by security. It's definitely in your best interest to do so. I promise."

Doug extended his other hand, snapping his fingers for one of the human servants, turning to get the attention of one. "You."

...shit. He recognized Amara Aquilla, and dreaded the fact that it was her of all people to have been passing by at that very moment.

Doug had lived a blessed life for his 16 years, with few mistakes.

Amara Aquilla was by far his largest.

[magma]

In a room where the majority of sound was the garbled noise of too many voices talking at once, losing focus was easy. Amara stood alone, a solitary iceberg in an ocean of people, and as she could not immerse herself in conversation, the only thing to do was allow the hum to wash over her. It was like listening to some hypnotic track playing on repeat and it lulled her into a half stupor. Her mind was elsewhere, her body just going through the motions as though she had been programmed. In a way, she had. So often before she had done this that she no longer had to focus quite so hard on the task at hand. Besides, a servant with a blank face was preferred to those who looked too observant (it was suspicious); Amara found the best way to accomplish this was by thinking about other things and allowing the party to just be the backdrop to her thoughts. When her platter needed to be refilled, as it did right now, the change in how much effort it took to shoulder around the large, gleaming silver tray would clue her in.

Knowing that circulating with a poorly stocked plate was to be avoided, Amara had begun to make a beeline for the kitchens. Hopefully, they had not yet run short of the Dom Pérignon; it seemed to be the overwhelming favorite amongst the guests. Indeed, there were currently only three glasses left on her tray and Amara's fingers itched to take one. She had been working the room since the start of the party and due to what seemed to be an accidental shortage of servers, had not had so much as a minute off her feet. She wouldn't mind nearly as much had the room not been so crowded with people. The heat was beginning to get to her and the glasses of sparkling liqueur were rapidly becoming more tempting than her previous daydream of being dressed to the nines in something other than her stifling velveteen uniform...

"You."

The clipped tone of undeniable authority cut straight through Amara's musings and plunged her headfirst back to reality, a crimson blush of guilt spreading over her pale skin. For a moment, she was sure that she had been caught red-handed, her thoughts read. She would be punished for her fanciful wishes of the excess that she had no business thirsting for. But as she tentatively lifted her gaze, Amara's breath hitched in her throat. Working in the castle, she had long ago picked up all the names of the most important people in the world. Director Douglas Ramsey, the boy wonder, was one of those names. Heretofore, he had only been just that: a name and a fuzzy mental picture of what he looked like. Now, however, he was standing directly before her in crystal clarity. And all Amara could think was what he could possibly want that required him speaking to her.

"Y-yes, sir?"

Being addressed so unexpectedly by someone of such rank had sent Amara's nerves spiraling out of control, and the fact that from the look of things she hadn't stumbled into the most carefree of situations helped not one bit. As surreptitiously as possible, Amara briefly slid her gaze toward the other people clustered near the disgruntled director. She recognized Tatiana, who oversaw the evening's catering, immediately; the other man, however, was not a familiar face. But it didn't take an empath to feel the tension coursing between the two men.

With mounting dread, Amara waited for Director Ramsey to speak again. She could only pray that she would not be told to escort the brown-haired man off the premises. That would require more authority than Amara felt she could hope to muster.

[madrox]

Libidrox turned to Doug, feeling his hand grab on to his shoulder. He looked at him in the eye. He hated talking to guys like Doug. Didn't they recognize when someone was trying to get a little action? What a prude. Now Jamie had said something like "don't let it...something something...at work.".

Whatever that meant.

"No dice then? Sorry, I'll just hit the drinks then," the dupe clicked his tounge and gave Doug the "double finger and thumbs-up/snapping point". They were cool now. He kept right on moving on. He started to make his way toward a mojito with his name on it when he caught a glance of a smokin' blonde from across the room.

Meow, he thought as he walked towards Tabitha.

"Hello...was it me you were looking for? You look dejected, which amazes me, because you also look smashing in that dress." he said smoothly.

[Doug Ramsey]

It could be counted as most fortunate that Douglas Ramsey was using technology that rendered him invisible to the telepathic and empathic communities. Riptides of emotion, ranging from the joy of speaking with Tatiana, to the dark anger of speaking to this shmoozing buffoon, were now joined by dread and regret and surprise in equal measure as the now all too human Amara Aquilla stood subservient before him.

My god... she is absolutely stunning in that maid's outfit... why, Amara? Why did it have to come to this...? Why couldn't you just have... He crushed the thought, before it threatened to consume him.

"Bring one of the security officers to me," Douglas managed to get out, keeping himself in check, "please," he added, softly, afterwards, uncharacteristically for the commanding Director, his eyes betraying his repressed sympathy for the near fear that she was displaying.

He has no sooner asked her to do so, when 'Leisure Suit Larry' decided that it was the right time to move on. With a cliche 'hep cat' gesture, the man moved on... right to Commander Guthrie's companion for the evening.

Talk about from the frying pan into the fire. I would have at least made it quick and painless. Not that lucky when Guthrie is involved.

Doug composed himself, shaking his head in disbelief, and turned back to Tatiana.

"My, that was random," he said laughing. "Now, where were we?"

[magma]

For someone who valued sensibleness, to be thoroughly convinced that she was rapidly losing hers was highly distressing. Because the moment she had sworn Director Ramsey had actually said please, to the likes of her nonetheless, had also been the final straw. Why, the last time someone had spoken that word to her...she couldn't even remember! And that only proved just how out of touch with reality she was acting that night. Between frittering away energy with daydreams about things she had no use for and now hearing words that hadn't been said, Amara could only wonder how long it would be before she managed to convince herself that something as preposterous as her being a mutant or a princess was true. Fortunately, she had yet to come to that point and if she had any say in the matter, she never would. Life in the castle, even as a servant, was good. Life in an asylum...not so much.

It was final. If she couldn't keep her wits about her, she would revert back to her old ways of focusing only on her work. No more stray thoughts. They simply caused too much trouble; in retrospect, she shouldn't even have allowed herself to go down that path. Lost in her thoughts, she had managed to be caught off guard by the director and as a result, had come across as a stuttering imbecile. Servant though she was, she still retained a sense of personal pride and would prefer to present herself in a more positive light.

But she had to put that bumbling mess behind her and concentrate on the present. Right now she had more important things to think about, like locating a security officer as Director Ramsey had requested. For a moment, Amara wondered if that was still necessary as the brown-haired man had drifted away, but as she had not been told to the contrary, she decided to follow through on the order.

Realizing then that she was likely lingering by the director's side far longer than was necessary or appropriate, Amara respectfully bowed her head and murmured, "Yes, sir."

Not that Director Ramsey seemed to notice; already he had turned his back to speak to Tatiana. Amara, in stark contrast to how she handled being addressed politely, however, was accustomed to this kind of treatment and was not rebuffed. Instead, she allowed herself to once again be engulfed by the crowd and began to search the room for the nearest guard. Spotting a short woman dressed in a crisp uniform, Amara made her way toward Deefer Mallone.

"My apologies for the interruption, Officer, but Director Ramsey has asked to speak to a security personnel. Will you follow me, please?" Amara asked, indicating that she would escort her to him.

[Tatiana]

Tatiana just blinked in surprise. Then she too laughed. "Wow, thank you for rescuing me. If you hadn't been here, I may have embarassed myself and slapped that man." She smiled. Tati knew what she had heard Douglas say to the servant. He must be a nice man if he would say please to an inferior.

She turned her head to look at the food behind her and think. "Well, besides completely loosing my train of thought, I think I was telling you about the foo....." Tatiana had turned back to Douglas and seen who had just entered the ballroom. "Oh my, the King has arrived."

[Bobby Drake]

Bobby wanted to pull Jamie aside and let him know in no uncertain terms that he was ruining everything. And he didn’t really mean that the way he thought he would have just a few short days ago. In fact, he secretly hoped Dazz never found out why he had been stalking her in the first place.

And he was pretty sure he could play it off so that she never did find out. He was way tricky like that.

To be honest, Bobby was only slightly more concerned with the possibility that Dazz might be taken in by whatever it was that Jamie was laying down. She didn’t seem like the type to be swayed by that kind of cheese…but the fact that he was even concerned in the first place was telling in the way that he didn’t really want to think about.

”Excuse me, Mister…?” Oh damn, Bobby could tell by the tone in her voice that this was going to be good. “I don’t seem to recognize you.” Bobby was already grinning. It was subtle, but she was pretty much saying, ‘Who the @#!**@! ARE YOU??’ Bobby knew her well enough already to think that he could read her thoughts. “I’m afraid I’m not familiar with your fanbase.”

BURN!

”I’m quite comfortable with my seat here, actually. And while it’s kind of you to offer me a drink, I’m set. And they’re free. Translation: ‘You’re a cheesewad. Piss off.’

DOUBLE BURN!

Bobby was actually smiling. Until Jamie spoke again.

”Your loss.” No he didn’t. “I guess you’ve really grown to like Mr. Drake then. Be careful with her Bobby-boy. She’s…spicy.”

Bobby watched him walk across the room, knowing what inevitable questions that would be coming shortly. He jabbed a finger at the retreating back of Jamie and made a face that said ‘lookit this guy’.

Then he raised his brows at Ali. “You were holding back.” Bobby grinned and then shrugged. Taking a peek around her side, his smile broadened. “Well…I’m quite comfortable with your seat too…”

[meltdown]

Tabitha and Samuel had been walking across the ballroom. She was going to ask him who a certain dignitary was across the room when he rushed away. "Sir?" she asked slipping back into formalities.

King Magnus had entered and Guthrie had rushed off to lick at his masters heels. She would think what she liked about the soldiers but she knew more than enough to keep her thoughts about the king guarded.

Tabitha was left alone in the mass of people. She looked around to someone that she knew. Large crowds like this made her feel a bit uncomfortable. In college she much prefered to stay in her room and study while her roommate was the social butterfly. Tabitha always had her priorities in line. She quickly snatched up a drink from a passing waiter.

"Hello...was it me you were looking for? You look dejected, which amazes me, because you also look smashing in that dress." he said smoothly.

Tabitha turned around to find some...goon in a smoking jacket oogling her. A smoking jacket. How had he been invited to such a formal event.

Tabitha looked him up and down with a cocked eyebrow. "You're serious, aren't you?"

[Doug Ramsey]

Doug had not missed the fact that Amara paused and lingered for a few seconds longer than were really necessary, the scent of her leisurely torturing his olfactory senses, her stunning appearance still held in his peripheral vision, as he attempted to regain that moment he had been savoring with the attractive and delightfully pleasant caterer.

Tatiana's laughter was just as he had imagined it would be; light, pleasing and infectious in its quality. How he would love to hear it more...

And then it was confirmed. The universe was indeed conspiring against him, denying him its simple pleasures. His Lord Magnus, King of the World [Long May He Reign], entered the ballroom. Had Doug not been so enraptured by Tatiana, he himself would have noticed long before now, since the entire room seem to shift its focus from smaller interactions to a quiet hush directed towards the man who was their benefactor.

"Yes, I believe you are right, my dear..." Doug refrained from sighing in quiet frustration, "Which means that you should probably return to your duties, as much as it pains me to say so. May I suggest offering Our Lord one of the tenderloin selections? They have a higher iron content, and thus may be more pleasing to his palate, even though the Poached Shrimp is visually stunning."

He felt awkward and foolish, nervous and frightened... as he reached his hand out hesitantly, curling fingers around her own hand, his thumb rubbing a small circle on the back of her fingers, tempered by the hard work in the kitchens.

"Perhaps," Doug said a little sheepishly, "you would be interested in delivering personally one of those lovely meals that you send for me? We could continue our conversation with a beautiful view of the city and castle, and I would greatly enjoy your delightful company."

[Panthera]

The room was almost in reach to her eyes. The shining object sat there untouched sparkling under the moonlight drawing her towards it like Aurora to the spinning wheel. The array of colors that shot from it's tip glimmered above onto the ceiling with a show of spectacular animation. What is it? It's so beautiful, almost like it wants me to touch it. Her grace across the floor continued silently until she was only a couple steps away from entering the room. Surely, the door could be quietly shut behind her so she take in its wonder alone. One more step and she could see what it is that made her heart pound a beat faster.

In! Now to shut the...... As she turned, her attention was drawn away by a smell and a voice. The voice shot up her spine like knives as she listened. Him! The effects of whatever was in this room gave Sam a dizziness, almost euphoric. She shook her head a little placing her hand over her forehead. The alcohol was almost out of her system, so it couldn't be that. She took a step back out the door....

[Tatiana]

The young caterer nodded as Master Ramsey advised her on what selections the King might prefer. She didn't think she personally would be speaking to the King, but if he happened her way, Tati would definately use that advice. She still could not believe how kind Douglas Ramsey was being to her. Try as she might, she could not imagine what she had done to deserve this preferential treatment. But she welcomed every minute of it.

Tatiana opened her mouth to say thank you, when out of the blue her hand was taken and an offer made. Shutting her mouth quickly and failing to stop from turning bright red, Tati simply smiled. "I, well, of course I would love to." So he enjoyed her company? And she hadnt thought this night could get any better. He even seemed a little nervous. Surely not as nervous as her.

Trying not to stutter, Tatiana bashfully turned her head towards her shoulder, while still keeping her eyes forward. "All you need to do is tell me when you have some free time, if that is possible."

[Gambit]

That had not gone as he had intended. He had not meant to chase her off, but simply to warn her to be careful who she expressed her opinions too, especially when they involved speaking poorly of the King.

Rising to his feet along with her, Remy bowed slightly as she turned away. It was only after she was gone from his sight that he realised he had never asked her name. He might not know her name, but surely he would not forget her face. Such beauty was hard to forget.

Taking a deep breath of the crisp night air, he looked around the silent gardens. It was tempting to retreat now back to the sanctuary of the church; he was already so close and there were few inside that would miss his presence. Tempting, but there were still people he hoped to talk to. After all, it would be rude to leave the party without thanking the host for the invitation.

Letting out his breath in a long sigh, he took his time walking back to the patio doors to rejoin the party.

[dazz]

A sickly sweet smile was plastered on Ali's face, but her eyes were staring daggers at the shmuck in the smoking jacket. The smug look never faltered as she calmly, but surely, told him the $%^$ off. Her eyes were staring daggers to accompany every word she uttered.

But the man was unfazed.

"Your loss. I guess you've really grown to like Mr. Drake then."

Merely shrugging at the small upset, he looked to Bobby and offered a cool warning to the paparazzo.

"Be careful with her Bobby-boy. She's...spicy."

Ali was taken aback. He was acting like she wasn't even there! By the time she was glaring at him, the guy had turned and moved on to easier prey. If looks could kill, the man would be dead on the floor before he'd made it across the ballroom.

"You were holding back."

Bobby's comment made Ali snap out of her death glare, turning to look at her friend. Instead of replying to his comment, Ali had a question for him.

"You know that twit? Eugh..."

Ali gave him an incredulous look, mixed with an air of disgust. She didn't even cheer up when Bobby took a glance at her ass. Instead, she just rolled her eyes.

"Haha, thanks, funny." She responded flatly. She was still fixed on the guy that had walked away. "I mean...why?"

[Bobby Drake]

Woah. Ali was like pissed off or something. Not something Bobby ever wanted to see focused on him because as well as she did the rocker kind of angry thing, the real deal was even scarier.

"You know that twit? Eugh..."

He sort of knew this was coming, but still wasn’t entirely prepared. “Well, yes and no. I’ve met him once or twice, though he’s sort of a split personality, so I don’t know who I met.” All truth so far. “I think he’s one of Carosella’s boys.”

Bobby could see that she was still pissed about the whole thing. “I’m sorry,” he said softly under his breath. “You probably gotta deal with crap like that all the time, huh?”

[Doug Ramsey]

Doug watched intently as he invited her to join him for dinner one night. Her skin turned crimson, her eyelids engorged becoming heavy even as her pupils dialated, her smile... the corners of her mouth nearly curled... all the while, her breathing had become quickened and light, and a slight trembling... not of fear, but nervous anticipation... coursed through her fingertips like electric current. It was nectar of the gods to Doug.

"I, well, of course I would love to." she had said, but Doug knew this before the words even left her lips. She was positively radiating her pleasure. Tatiana bashfully turned her head towards her shoulder, while still keeping her eyes forward. "All you need to do is tell me when you have some free time, if that is possible."

Now...?

"Milady, I would make the time for you," Doug bowed his head. The fact that their hands were still entwined did not escape Doug's notice either. "Would you like to meet the King?"