Havin' a Ball

[madrox]

The dupe was starting to get this one. Soon, she would be his, but she was different, classy, not like those other girls. He knew exactly how to woo her. Cyrano.

"And tonight when I, at last, God behold, my salute will sweep his blue threshhold with something spotless. A diamond in the ash which I take in spite of you; and that is my panache."

He bowed deep, and ventured to continue, something more worldly. The Bard, from Midsummer's Night.

"The lover, all as frantic,
Sees Helen's beauty in a brow of Egypt:
The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven;
And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen
Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name."

The dupe was on a roll, he supposed, and to finish it off, Romeo's monologue to his love.

"O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright.
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear;
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear."

He grasped her hand gently on the last quotation and began to lean down for a kiss upon her second knuckle.

Jamie Prime had just ran like a bullet train towards Tab and the Libidrox. He tripped awkwardly, and smashed his head onto the floor, consequently producing a small bump, and a whole other problem. The dupe was looking about rather quizically, and walked away rather calmly toward Doug and Tatiana, eyeing the food more than the happy couple. When Jamie looked up he saw Libidrox bending down to kiss Tab's hand, and another dupe about to eat a giant mouthful off of a plate of food that was clearly for the hig- up Douglas Ramsey and not himself.

It was, to say the least, a dilemma.

[Magneto]

As he passed through the room, Magneto was keenly aware of the guests. Something felt off, and Magneto was a man who had learned to trust his instincts.

Lorna and Wanda were always all too easy to spot. Wherever the loudest, most obnoxious noise was issuing from one of them at least would be the center. It was Katherine who always commanded his attention by her seeming inability to demand it of him. She was ever polite and refined and unassuming. It made him think of her as softer...more fragile...more naive than her older sisters.

And much more easy for someone to exploit. Her tendency to see the best in people was alarming.

For he knew she was his most important weakness.

That - along with the frustration of an ending so long in coming and so very, tantalizingly close - was at the heart of Magneto's anger at Guthrie. It was a reason he could never admit.

He strode along, nodding at guests on the fringes of the lane they opened before him. Many were surprised to find he acknowledged them by name. "Douglas", he returned, and he took immediate note of the young man's proximity to the caterer's assistant. He gave her the briefest of appraising glances but he did not slow his gait.

There were many doors at the far side of the room, many possibilities that might lead to his daughter but Magneto strode confidently toward only one of them. He raised a hand, reaching out with magnetic force and coaxing the metal locks on all of the doors. The one directly ahead of him was the one that responded. He didn't need to hear it. He didn't need to guess. By the time he reached it and pushed it open, he was certain it was the most likely place to look.

[meltdown]

Wow.

Despite the cheesy outfit and horrendous pick-up line, this guy was quite the charmer. The kiss on the hand was a a bit showy and dramatic but it was the classical cherry on top.

Tabitha allowed the man to stand up. He was awaiting an answer. "Impressive," she said with an approving nod.

She took his hand and shook it. "I'm Tabitha Smith," she explained and then grinned. "I'm dying to know; How does one find such an ...extravagant jacket as yours."

Nice hair. Nice eyes. Decent body, not a muscle bound gym-rat. Good. Sweet smile.

[Doug Ramsey]

"Douglas..." the King of the World acknowledged him, with a cursory glance at the lovely woman at his side.

"Milord, it would... be... my..." Doug began to reply before he realized that the King barely registered his presence. Whereas Magnus would have normally been at least a semi-social host, it didn't take an empath to register the displeasure and concern radiating from the man as he didn't even break stride walking past them, or the intent scanning of the room as he continued on. "...honor... to... *hmmmm....*"

He straightened up, tugging the lapel of the jacket and front of his dress shirt back into place, before his hand returned to Tatiana's back with a reassuring stroke.

"Well... that was..." Doug began, arching an eyebrow, his eyes following his King. "I think our Lord is not in a festive mood this evening, my dear. I have this sinking feeling that all your hard work may have been for naught."

[Tatiana]

Tatiana let out the breath she had been holding since almost before she and Doug had been a moment away from a sweet kiss. This night was going from lovely to stressful in no time at all. She shrugged. "If that is how he wishes it, then I will ask no questions. I have places for the food to go if it remains uneaten."

The young woman turned back to face Douglas. She decided to speak before the silence became too long. "I am sorry we did not get the chance to speak with our King, mayhap another time." Tati paused and tried to think of something clever to say. They had been interupted at a most unfortunate time, and she was all out of sorts and not thinking clearly.

[madrox]

Jamie got up and looked either direction. He bit his lower lip in worry, trying to discern the worse situation. Over to one side, he saw what was apparently the only dupe that chewed with his mouth open, about to bother Doug Ramsey, the guy who could easily "disappear" him. On the other end, he saw a rather nice scene of his raging libido charming a girl that was apparently rather charmed. Jamie was willing to play along until the dupe got hurt, which meant he had to reabsorb that horrible sensation.

Surprisingly, he chose to not bother the Libidrox.

"I'm Tabitha Smith. I'm dying to know; How does one find such an ...extravagant jacket as yours."

The Libidrox smiled. He smooted the velvet on his smoking jacket.

"This, milady, is the finest crushed velvet, suited to cradle and caress my slender body. You've surely noticed that? It is a conisseur's item, only the most stunning for, well, the most stunning."

He surveyed her gorgeous body once again and gave a rather smooth and smarmy look to her eyes.

"Tell me, what idiot of a man would abandon such a lovely lady? And if there is no man..." he paused, for effect, "then why not?"

Jamie had walked gently and as stealthily as possible over to the area around Doug, Tat, and his unsavory dupe. He snuck up on the dupe and quickly reabsorbed him. He looked over to Doug and Tat, and hoped they weren't too busy to hear him out.

"Sorry about that, I hope he wasn't bothering you."

[Sam Guthrie]

Nevermind then....Samuel thought, as he stopped right in proximity to Douglas and his new lady friend. Magneto didn't even acknowledge his request to serve him.

Samuel's already foul mood was growing worse and worse. First Douglas's smarmy self, then Anna's choice to avoid him all evening, then Magneto's rejection.

He snatched a glass off a passing waiter's tray, not caring at all about it's contents and downed it. It burned like fire as it ran down his throat.

It just wasn't fair. He was doing everything he could to stop the human menace....

Well....he had a few radical ideas, but nothing concrete at this point.

His grip tightened on the glass.

But still, his lord could at least acknowledge his efforts. He would have to try harder. He'd have to make more arrests. He'd need that extra something to keep his head above water.

But that might not even be enough.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice all the pressure he was putting on the glass. He still was oblivious that he had cut his palm when the damn thing shattered all over the floor.

[Doug Ramsey]

"I am unsure what is bothering him," Doug shrugged, although he had his suspicions. Magnus always had that look about him concerning his youngest daughter, the idealist... whom Doug now noted had not returned since her little choking incident. Her father would find her, wherever she scampered off to, and bring her back, chastised. Nothing to be bothered by.

And then Doug saw him again, standing right by them. Oh, he may have changed jackets [thank goodness for small favors] but it was definitely the schmoozing schmuck he told in no uncertain terms to leave... or else.

Where the hell did Amara go to get Security? I swear, strip their memories and make them human, and they lose all sensibilities! Doug fumed, his face scrunching up into an angry scowl again. He moved between Tatiana and Madrox.

"Sorry about that, I hope he wasn't bothering you." Jamie said to them sheepishly.

"Mister... I'm not the one bothering her. You are." Douglas pressed a finger into Jamie's chest. "I warned you. Since you refuse to take the easy and dignified solution, we'll do this the painful and embarrassing way."

Douglas noticed Commander Guthrie standing very close to them, and judging by the look on his face and his stance, he was wound tighter than a drum, and prime for just what Doug had in mind. A very dark and disturbing smile crossed his face, but only for a moment.

"Commander," Douglas barked, "This... guest... has been being a nuisance and harassing many of the party-goers. He needs a lesson in proper etiquette and manners," Doug smacked a fist into the palm of his hand and smiled, "and I think you're just the person to give it to him."

[meltdown]

The milady comment was once again, dramatic. This guy was pouring it on thick.

"Tell me, what idiot of a man would abandon such a lovely lady? And if there is no man..." he paused, for effect, "then why not?"

"My escort, Commander Guthrie was called away to duties that would pre-empt any social function," she explained. "He's..."

Tabitha scanned the ballroom to point out her escort. She found him. Samuel was not pleased about something. A grin tugged at the edge of her mouth. It was then that something else caught her eye.

Douglas Ramsey was standing near the buffet with a man that looked identical to the one trying, well he actually was, to charm the doctor herself. Ramsey looked like he meant business. There could have been a good reason.

"I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name..." Tabitha asked frowning slightly.

[Bobby Drake]

One minute, standing there talking to one of the Jamie’s, another minute and the dude was running off and pulling some kind of Napoleon Dynamite move that sent him tripping and falling and multiplying all the way across the room. Bobby just watched him go, and shook his head.

“Man, some stuff you just never get used to,” Bobby said to Dazz. Some stuff, you just never wanted to get used to.

“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.”

[madrox]

"I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name..."

"Well, I apologize. I'm James Madrox. I work for Guido Carosella."

Libidrox didn't mind stealing Jamie's name, as long as he wasn't as hopeless and boring.

Jamie, meanwhile, was extremely hopeless, but certainly not boring. He regarded Commander Guthrie. He was the scariest man on the planet. Doug may have been able to make you go "bye-bye", but Guthrie wasn't above making you look like you got run over by several trains, a bus, and a feral ape-buffalo hybrid. He gulped loudly.

"I...I...uh, I, um, well, I don't think we've met? I'm Jamie. Jamie Madrox, I work for Guido Carosella. I, uh didn't mean to bother you, in only...ten seconds. Have...have you met," Jamie glanced across the room towards Libidrox, who was still keeping a fairly civil conversation with Tab, "that gentleman there?" He pointed at the dupe.

[janedoe]

"This is an opportune moment to let one's cares free. What place is more suitable than in a ball inside a castle. Fairy tales dream of moments like this which we are living. You make Cinderella green with envy and Snow White pale to be here in your stead. Take every advantage available of such moments for they are seldom."

Technically, tonight was her night off, but being in a room full of people like these, Jean found that she couldn’t ignore her duties completely. Even if she wasn’t constantly scanning all their minds, she was on high alert for anything particularly out of the ordinary.

It was how the appearance of the King had her closing her eyes and clutching on to Warren just a little tighter. He was worried, but more than that he was angry, and it seemed to cause a chain reaction. Samuel Guthrie, Douglas Ramsey… she didn’t even need her telepathy to feel their anger, but it certainly enhanced it.

“This is far from a fairy tale, Warren,” she replied, her voice strained. Looking up at him again, she tried to smile. “You know my abilities do not allow me to be care free, but I do appreciate the compliments. Are you always this charming?”

[Sam Guthrie]

On any other occasion, Samuel would have taken Jamie outside, black bagged him and dropped him into the holding cells, not that it was personal. When a higher up commanded something of you, you did it. Even if that higher up was a....

Well, even if he was Douglas Ramsey.

But when he looked to where the Offender was pointing, he smirked. In fact, if his mood hadn't run so foul, Samuel would have burst out laughing.

Douglas had just asked him to apprehend Jamie Madrox, a known duplicator with little control of his creations. How embarrassing!

"Mr. Madrox, please assimilate your duplicate, or I will escort the both of you off the premises..." He said, holding back a full grin, "I'd hate to rob Mr. Carosella of his best stagehand..."

[Deefer Mallone]

((sorry everybody!))

Deefer was actually slightly impressed by Kenny's dance moves, though she could practically feel his lack of confidence, even if he did manage to pull them off - it was that sort of hesitance that meant he did so badly at work.
Once the song had finished and they moved off to the side, she smiled slightly "That was enjoyable." she complimented "You're better than you gave yourself credit for."
Before they had chance to go for another dance, one of the servants approached her

"My apologies for the interruption, Officer, but Director Ramsey has asked to speak to a security personnel. Will you follow me, please?"

She glanced briefly at Kenny, once again he was being left out, but then, she asked to speak to a security person, she just happened to be one of the few in uniform, it was no wonder she was the one approached.
Shaking it away, she nodded slightly, turning to Kenny "Excuse me a moment." she smiled.
"Lead the way." she told Amara.

[Kenny Orion]

As he watched Deefer walked off by request of a servant for something a smile formed on Kenny as he watched her. He felt very good for himself after Deefer complimented his dance moves, course one of the many books he reads was a book of ballroom dancing which seemed to work.

"I''ll be waiting Deef, I'll be waiting" he said as the young man began to head to the punch bowl for a drink now that he was confident that nothing bad was about to happen to him.