Havin' a Ball

[Tatiana]

Tatiana was finding it hard to believe she could be this happy. She tried to keep her mind on her job, but it was very hard. The only mental note she made was to give the inferior she had seen Douglas talk to, a break, poor girl looked dead on her feet. If there was going to be any of this wonderful food left, the servants would have their share if she could swing it, as was her usual custom.

She was about to thank him once again, for saying he would make time for her. No one in a very long time had said that to her. The young lady was afraid if she said the wrong thing, he might let go of her hand, which felt very good in his. Tati was going to speak when Doug asked her a second question.

A small amount of panic entered Tatiana's system. The King himself? She sighed, and forced herself to calm down as much as was possible. "Do you think, I mean, that he would mind? My boss always handles business with him. But it would be something I could always remember." She shyly smiled. Tati resolved to personally arrange any food that was to be sent to Doug from now on, even if she didn't deliver it. He would get the best from her.

[angel]

“And you never cease to flatter me,” she responded, her smile genuine and rare.

Her smile was as beautiful as the dawn. She said so little and yet did so much. Warren returned a smile that conveyed his short-term happiness. He had his business smiles, and dinner smiles, but actual smiles were few and far between.

"It's a shame we can't be like this more often." Warren said "Between work and more work, there is hardly time for a social life. It's a shame Scott hasn't taken the time to dance with you."

[Doug Ramsey]

Doug noted with pleasure that Tatiana's fingers had become comfortable in his own, curling themselves to now hold onto his. Whether this was a conscious decision, or involuntary reflex, he didn't know and personally, didn't care.

He did note that her hand clenched tightly when he had mentioned meeting the King, however, and a flash of panic crossed her otherwise radiantly pleasurable features.

Doug almost went into a state of panic himself. Had he gone too far...? Some folks were shy and intimidated by celebrity and royalty, failing to remember that they, too, put on their pants one leg at a time, and were just like everyone else in their base wants and needs.

But Tatiana was a catering coordinator... surely she had to meet with the clientele she worked for, to gauge what kind of level of service they required. She worked in the Castle, of all things, as well. Certainly she was no stranger to the high profiled people that wandered these halls on a regular basis... but then again, in the several years Doug had been here, he could not recall ever seeing her before.

Chefs were very territorial by nature, Creed, he could imagine, being even more so. Get a good sous chef, and never reveal who it is that makes you look good, that was the common practice in any restaurant. Why would Victor Creed be any different?

This line of thinking, however, made Doug question Creed's motivation for bringing her tonight, and allowing her to mix freely with the clients. Obviously, Creed couldn't have a bigger or more prestigious event than this, so he'd need his best coordinator to handle details that he himself couldn't directly oversee. Yes, one competent banquet director to call the shots with the waitstaff...

And yet, Tatiana clearly prepared food and arranged it as well. In fact, she took pride in her culinary delights she had prepared for this evening. So she was obviously his sous chef...

The conflicting data only seem to indicate two possibilities that would mesh.

1.) If something went wrong, Creed would have a convienent scapegoat.

2.) News, good or bad, is best delivered by a pretty face for maximum effect.

Tatiana was dressed to the nines, and was beautiful in her own right, regardless of the evening wear. The perfect sacrifice.

Creed was shrewd, indeed.

If Doug's momentary mind wanderings were at all apparent, he quickly recovered his focus with a reassuring squeeze of her fingers, if but to remind himself that she was still there.

"I've personally known the King since I was a young boy," Doug mused. "One would think that after 50 years of fighting the War of Ascension, that he would be a hardened, bitter and jaded shell of a man, but in truth, I've never met a more passionate and caring person, who's dedication and delight in the prosperity of his people drive him to stay the course, even though it has personally cost him so much, in the lives of some of his closest friends and loves."

Doug took her other hand in his and held them together, lowering his voice ever so slightly, and leaning in close, taking in her scent, allowing her to fill his vision.

"The man has been like a father to me, and I would storm the Nethergates into the depths of Hell before he would even ask me, if I knew he needed it done," Doug admitted, choking back heartfelt sentiment, his eyes, watery, lips drawn thin. "I fear for the Empire the day we... lose him... to the embrace of God."

Doug took a second, blinking his eyes hard, clearing his emotional outburst with a forced sigh. He smiled again at Tatiana, swimming in her eyes, pushing all other thoughts from his mind, before speaking again.

"I know that he would be pleased to meet the hardworking, loyal person who has made his Royal Ball such a delight to both the eye and the palate."

[Tatiana]

There was so much passion in his voice, such a shining dedication in his eyes. Tatiana was struck straight to the heart by Doug's impassioned speech. She felt a little sheepish about letting her moment of panic show. He needed to know how she felt about the King.

"I am sorry indeed if I seemed afraid. I know in my job I meet a lot of more important people. That is my job, to be the people person. But this is the King himself!" Tatiana tried to explain. "I am not really afraid to meet him, just more, a little intimidated. I hope you understand. You see him very regularly. I do not." Tati sighed, she was so afaid she had offended him. "Our King is indeed a great man, the greatest. And while I work in these kitchens, no food will be anything but the best, and the safest." Her powers to make food safe was probably her greatest asset in aquiring the job she now held. That fact made her smile with pride. No one else that the young woman was aware of could do what she did.

[Doug Ramsey]

It was almost amusing to Doug to watch her try to explain her fears. He understood completely. King Magnus was a most imposing figure. His very presence commanded your attention; his mannerisms, your respect.

"I don't doubt your loyalty to our Lord, Tatiana." Doug said softly, "Nor do I doubt your sincerity. I believe that you would let no foul deed come to befall him, if it was in your power to stop it. My job is to trust no one, and yet with you, I know that I can. Your... purity... shines like a star to me, in this room of masks and lies and deceit."

He reached up to her face and brushed a stray hair aside, letting him look deep into her... green...? ...blue...? Dammit, what color IS that...? eyes. "That is why I am unafraid to bring you to him, my dear, and why I know he will greet you with open arms."

Doug turned to the impressive display laid out before them, the smells wafting lazily up to entice and tempt them into sneaking a taste of their exquisite charms. Releasing one hand, he swept the table in a gesture, indicating all that was there.

"Our Lord is a most impressive man, but even he understands that tonight... tonight is your moment. To shine. To impress." Doug explained, "Although he invited everyone here, it will be this they remember most... and he knows that he couldn't have done it without you."

Doug chuckled, and then turned to her again.

"Well, he is a master of surprises... maybe he could have done it." Doug grinned, before his face returned to the same impassioned intensity she had seen before, when he was talking about the King, as his voice dropped lower, his eyes locking with hers, and his free hand reached up to cup her cheek, "but it would have been far less... beautiful."

[Tatiana]

"I see no reason to lie, or say anything that was even remotely untrue. Food speaks for itself." Tatiana replied simply. She was now beginning to see, just exactly what it was that made her attractive to this man, a master at his job of reading what people were really thinking. Her honesty. She decided to tell him exactly why it was her that dealt with the food, in response. "And I can prevent any harm that an enemy might think to give a person through poison. 'Tis part of my abilities, the removal of anything foul in food or drink, and the healing of those who have been dealt injury." Not that many people really knew what she could do.

She inclined her head, and almost purred with contentment when he brushed aside a stray lock of hair. Their eyes met, Tati felt like he was trying to read her very soul. Well, he would find only her true feelings there. The young woman could tell he had been lied to more than any person should be. "I would be more than content for a very long time should he grace me with even a smile."

Watching as he spoke of the food, and their master. Tati nodded in agreement. "You know, I think I would like to see him cook. Though he need never try." She stopped herself from giggling. When Doug put a soft hand to her cheek, Tatiana lightly tilted her head into his hand. "You are too kind, Master Ramsey."

[dazz]

Bite me once, shame on you. Bite me twice, shame on me. Yeah, that's right, walk away you #%^$% of a &$%^%ing %#$%#^$#!

Ali's mind drifted away into obscenities as she continued to glare daggers at the man in the smoking jacket. He had given up on her, but was totally unashamed of moving from one girl to the next until somebody would take him. She loathed that type of scum with a burning passion, because she'd fallen for it once. Granted, no one could take this charicature of a player seriously, but not all of them were so obvious.

"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. I think he's one of Carosella's boys."

The way Bobby phrased it made Ali think for a moment. Squinting at the man, pitying poor Tabitha as his current target, it clicked.

"Holy crap, is he that $^%#ing camera guy...?"

She made another disbelieving face, still tinged with digust. She didn't dwell on it much longer, for Bobby spoke again. Shaking her head, she didn't want to give that scum another moment of her thoughts. He sour mood didn't pass with it, however.

Looking up at Bobby, some of the anger left her eyes. He hadn't done anything wrong, at least not recently, so he didn't deserve to be the receiving end of her glares. Hearing his words, Ali nodded.

"You don't have to apologize," she sighed with a wave of her hand, "You're right, though. I get a lot of guys like him and they all make my blood boil. I'm like the playa's challenge. If you can get me into bed, then it's like some goddam prize. That's why I don't freakin' date anymore. I hardly trust anybody when that's what they're after. Too much freakin' insincerity..."

It felt good to vent for a moment. Ali realized by the time she'd finished that she'd worked herself back up a bit. She didn't even realize she'd been gesturing with her fist, probably a bit to close to impact for Bobby's comfort. Closing her eyes, she took a forcibly deep breath.

"Ok...I'm better now... Sorry about that. I don't mean to unload this crap on you. I just feel like I can talk to you and you won't hate me for it or spread it like gossip, ya know?"

[Bobby Drake]

It might have surprised Bobby just a little bit that Dazz was this upset about the guy. There had to be something there that he didn't know about, though he did remember that she hated people that lied to her and stuff.

The thought sent a cold shock of sorrow down to the pit of his stomach.

"Holy crap, is he that $^%#ing camera guy...?"

Bobby nodded. He could only be as honest as possible from here on out. It didn't make up for the lie about being freelance, but other than that he actually had been truthful. Maybe it wasn't a big deal... He knew it was. "He's like a whole crew or something. The thing is, this isn't really what he acts like. He's got this power that somehow he like spurts out copies of himself. Each of the copies has some part of his personality, but not the whole...oh I don't know how the freak it works. He tried telling me the first time I met him and I didn't get it then either."

Bobby said he was sorry, though it was a thing he rarely ever said in his life.

"You don't have to apologize," she sighed with a wave of her hand, "You're right, though. I get a lot of guys like him and they all make my blood boil. I'm like the playa's challenge. If you can get me into bed, then it's like some goddam prize. That's why I don't freakin' date anymore. I hardly trust anybody when that's what they're after. Too much freakin' insincerity..."

"I thought that," he admitted with a nod, looking her in the eyes. "Still do think it would be a prize...but not in the same way." He knew what he meant, but couldn't explain it. "I meant in a good way...it might not have sounded good."

"Ok...I'm better now... Sorry about that. I don't mean to unload this crap on you. I just feel like I can talk to you and you won't hate me for it or spread it like gossip, ya know?"

Bobby swallowed a lump. Then he nodded. "Hate you, never." He shook his head. "And whatever I was planning on doing when I first met you with the camera and the tree thing...it's changed. I'd never spread your personal life around."

As a journalist he was getting the biggest insight into the biggest rock star ever. As a friend, he couldn't do anything about it. He couldn't.

And what it felt like was a confession that wasn't.

[dazz]

Ali listened as Bobby explained the camera man...er, crew's...situation. So he wasn't always like that. But this was still a part of him. What she saw really was just the charicature. He was otherwise subtle, just like every other guy his type then.

So remind me never to trust him as far as I can throw him...

Bobby then replied to her comment about insincerity. He would still find her to be a prize, but not in the same way. She gave Bobby a hard look and saw that he meant that. And not in the creepy way. In almost a romantic sort of fashion.

"I get what you mean. But for them, it's not even 'cause I'm famous or nice or anything. It's 'cause I'm hard to get and they want to make a fool of me."

Ali hung her head. Because that's what it always boils down to. Bragging rights for the guy and I'm left feeling like a complete idiot. She just wouldn't deal with that again.

Ali had regained her composure and apologized for venting. She didn't mean to sound like such a bitch, but that's how it came out and that was really how she felt. Sighing, she raised her head again and looked at him. She needed him to say something to make her feel better again. Maybe a joke or something. And while it wasn't a joke, Bobby didn't disappoint with his words.

"Hate you, never. And whatever I was planning on doing when I first met you with the camera and the tree thing...it's changed. I'd never spread your personal life around."

Ali could tell he was being truthful. Slowly, she smiled again.

"Thanks, man. I needed to hear that."

[Doug Ramsey]

"Doug," he murmured, then repeated louder. "Call me 'Doug.' Master Ramsey is how the servants address me, Tatiana."

Douglas Ramsey had an agenda and plan for this evening... and this certainly wasn't a part of it. He was rarely taken by surprise, and yet... in this moment, he felt swept away from the surprise and awe he felt. Most folks who knew who he was shied away from him, wrapping themselves up tight and trying desperately to conceal, unsuccessfully, their inner selves, their duplicity, their self-deceit and intentional outward deceptions.

And here before him stood one of the most unassuming, honest and open people he had met in ages, remaining so, even with the knowledge of who he actually was.

That she was as excited and nervous as he to make this discovery of a connection, unexpected, unlooked for, and unplanned... it was overwhelming him emotionally. He wanted to continue to touch her, talk with her... do ANYTHING to keep this feeling going...

But he also knew that they both had duties to attend to, her more so than him tonight. He took comfort in the fact that they would see each other again, after this night... even if it felt far too distant at this time.

Slowly backing away from her, despite the incredible gravitational pull he felt tugging him closer and closer to her lips and her eyes, he kept his fingers hooked on hers, attempting to draw her along with him.

"Shall we pay our respects to the King now...?" he winked.

[Tatiana]

"I'm sorry, Doug." Tatiana ventured. She smiled, a little in embarassment. "I am not a servant, but am required to show respect to others, being a caterer and all. Takes a little getting used to, not being formal and everything." A little explanation came from her. It was the truth pertaining to her job.

Her job, right. Tatiana's mind came back to reality with a screeching realization. She sighed. Did this wonderful interlude have to end? It was assuredly going to resume, but Tati didn't want it to end all the same. Her eyes skated the room, checking that everything was going ok. Thankfully it was. Well, with the exception of the wannabe ladies man hitting on another guest. But Doug was taking care of that. He took care of everything so perfectly.

Tatiana could tell he was thinking almost the same thing as she. Doug began to back away, but keeping ahold of her hand. At least there was still that sweet connection for now. He asked her if they should continue on, and she shyly nodded. "Aye, perhaps we should, before duty calls us away."

[madrox]

The dupe was looking deeply into Tabitha's eyes, searching for the part of her that was mad, and hoping it wasn't at him. This one, she was to fine to let go.

"Oh I am quite serious, and might I say...I've never seen a set of eyes quite so...defined, and serious. Has someone made you angry? I'd like to think I know how to make that all go away. Hmmmm?"

Jamie had finally gotten to the ball. He had rushed to get there, and was wearing his pajamas. He was in a red velvet robe, and he had on his old favorite set of pajama clothes on under them. He used to really like them, the silk was extremely soft, but one of the dupes had mixed it with the red clothes and it was a slightly pink color. It resembled an elegant smoking jacket, but with an odd Hugh Hefner twist to it. He glanced around and saw Dazzler, a girl who he knew had worked with Guido before, and Bobby.

Bobby! He knows about the dupes, I can get him to help me find my libido! he thought.

He walked up to the area where he was, but noticed that he and Dazz were in rather deep conversation. He stood, and waited for one of them to notice his presence.

[Bobby Drake]

"I get what you mean. But for them, it's not even 'cause I'm famous or nice or anything. It's 'cause I'm hard to get and they want to make a fool of me."

Bobby nodded as he listened. She was probably mostly right. Guys were pretty simple when it came to this stuff actually, the motives were pretty clear and straight forward. Because she was hard to get? He could see that. In fact, it had probably been somewhere in the back of his mind on that first encounter with her.

Bragging rights? Totally. Nailing a hot babe? Definitely, all part of the equation with why some guys did that to her. But to make a fool of her? He wasn’t sure if that one was actually one of the motivators. Sadly enough, most guys were just too selfish to even consider that.

But Bobby was for whatever reason unable to even be a selfish guy around her anymore. Alone at night he might consider the possibility that it was some kind of chick voodoo spell that she cast on him. But whatever the cause, he was ruined, and he let her know.

"Thanks, man. I needed to hear that."

Bobby just nodded. “So to quote you, ‘Cheer the #@*! up already!’” He suspected she needed that. Then he looked around. “How long do people have to hang out at these things anyway?”

[Magneto]

Magneto gave Sam the glance. He scanned the room again, giving Sam only an ounce more attention than he gave anyone else.

Something else was on his mind.

"Commander", he asked in a low and official-sounding tone, "have you seen my daughter?"

[janedoe]

It was sad how little Warren smiled lately. Angels should not be so solemn. But even with the cold, metal wings and matching personality at times, he was still an angel to her with beauty unparalleled.

"It's a shame we can't be like this more often." Warren said "Between work and more work, there is hardly time for a social life. It's a shame Scott hasn't taken the time to dance with you."

Her smile threatened to falter, but she forced it to remain.

“You know Scott,” Jean replied with a strained chuckle. Scott had wanted to dance, but it had been her that could not take the time to give him her full attention. Despite this knowledge, she still found herself upset with him for not understanding. “I’m not certain he could relax long enough to dance. It requires a sort of ‘looseness’ that he simply might not be capable of.”