Assault with a deadly fruit!

Jan held a plate in one hand and was patiently picking fruit off the serving platters near the chocolate fountain with the other. Only the best would serve his lofty purposes. Swiping one into the melted dark goodness, he deemed it not up to standards and ate it.

Once his plate was full of ammunition, Jan retrieved his wine glass and moved towards a table near the entrance, passing by the Tacharan table and giving Ellis a slight nod of his head and holding up the plate with a grin.

Seating himself behind the table, he set up his spoon catapult carefully checking the trajectory and looking for possible targets. He took careful aim and then made a successful launch.

Leaning forward onto the table, Jan covered the spoon with his crossed arms doing his best to look innocent.

((OOC: Open to anyone who would like to be pelted))

Claire made her way across the room with Dani at her side. It was interesting watching the little human woman take charge of people responsible for the security of a vampire. She wondered if the guards were human or not and supposed it didn't matter, if it was a situation that someone of Alfarinn's age couldn't handle then it was dangerous indeed. Still extra sets of eyes, no matter who they belonged to so long as they were loyal, was a good thing so she always believed.

Smiling at the Evenhet familiar, she amended her statement.

"You are quite right. I certainly did not mean to imply that you were in any danger here. We do try to be civilized."

Seeing a strawberry fly into the air and land on the back of man's neck who happened to be walking in front of them, Claire added.

"Most of us."

She looked around but did not see anyone who appeared to be responsible.

"So where would you like to go first?"

/ooc Dani moved with permission

Jan smiled at the nice clean arc and perfect landing. Excellent. It had been the one he was planning on eating later but oh well the chocolate helped to make it stick; too bad he didn't have more for the rest.

Wondering whether Ellis was going to join him, Jan smiled sweetly when a tall woman looked his way and took a sip of wine, raising the glass in her direction before gazing around in a bored fashion. Once she wasn't looking he began to set up for his next launch.

'Fire when ready!' He smirked inwardly. 'Bombs away!'

((OOC: These don't have chocolate on them, he only put chocolate on the one he ate in the first thread. So I guess Nicholae got a special one. Lucky guy ))

'Really Jan, playing with your food?' Ellis reached over and grabbed a strawberry and with a flick of her fingers, let it fly into the crowd. 'Fuck, I was aiming for that huge hair ball walking by the window.'

She snortled softly and joined Jan in the fun. She was letting loose tonight, not that she didn't do that in gigantic porportions every night (granted it involved blood and murder) but it was fun to kick up one's heels. Why not do it with fruit? Just then Ellis saw a waiter walk by with another potato spread and she snagged one quickly.

'Ten bucks to the first person who pelts an Anantya!'

Jan looked over at Ellis and smirked.

"In these get ups how can you tell the difference? They all look like stuffed shirts for the most part. Will this be payment upon clarification or are we just going by appearances?"

He lined up his spoon to aim at the taller woman who had just turned away to speak to her companion. Being tall had its disadvantages and right now it was making one an easy target for flying fruit.

Jan frowned as it hit her on the shoulder and got stuck in the cloak she was wearing. Quickly leaning back and moving the spoon off to the side he turned away looking at Ellis as if she had said something interesting in order to avoid looking guilty.

"Well, so.. how did you find this Addison guy. He's pretty cute. Yeah yeah, I know hands off the merchandise and all that. "

'Welpf', Ellis started as she chewed on some of the fruit they were using as ammunition. 'For a numbers man, he's quiet unique.' She shrugged, looking over at Addison in his kimono. 'He tastes like apples.' Ellis winked at Jan and looked again for another target.

She wondered where Alafrinn and his Anantya friend were.

Claire looked up as something hit her mantle. Another strawberry, picking it up by the leaves and looking around, she again didn't see anyone looking terribly suspicious. There was a teenager seemingly interested in something a dark haired lady said. He had been alone earlier and she suspected him but now that he had company surely he wasn't to blame.

"Appearance means little, you should know this by now." Claire sighed to herself for the assumption that the kid was at fault or even that he was a kid at all.

With a shrug, she bite into the strawberry and smiled.

"Gifts from heaven." She raised her eyes skyward a moment. "Merci"

His hands now lemon-y fresh and clean, Addison cluncked out of the men's bathroom, pausing to let another guy pass. One that did a double take and very nearly ran into the doorjam on his way past. Addison smirked, figuring they weren't all that used to people wearing skirts leaving the men's room.

'What to do, what to do?' Addison looked around that the various figures milling about and eating. The food did look good and he snagged a couple of o'devours from a passing waitress. He spotted Ellis with one of the one's that he'd just met tonight...erm...Jan?

Time to test his theory about being a social reject. Eyeing the two, Addison came up to the table and touched the back of the seat next to Ellis. "Do you mind if I join you?"

Jan looked up and smiled at the redhead and indicated a chair.

" Sure, have a seat."

With a grin he slid the plate of strawberries over where Addison could reach them and picked up his spoon again. While setting it up for the next launch, he explained.

"We were just practicing our aim and having a bit of harmless fun."

He passed a spoon over to the man, and smiled at Ellis.

"Apples, you say? Interesting."

Jan launched his next strawberry at the tall woman's companion before leaning over his spoon and grinning at Addison.

"You're turn."

At first, he thought maybe it was some clan ritual with the strawberries...Addison took the spoon slowly, not wanting to offend, but not sure why he was given a spoon. Well, that was until he watched Jan hurdle a piece of fruit in the direction of a couple standing a little ways away. He stifled the smile that threatened after seeing the seemingly younger man's antics.

"Apples, you say? Interesting."

'Apples?' Addison looked at the fruit in front of them, his brow knitting a bit in concentration. They looked like strawberries to him. Leaning over, he started to re-arrange the fruit based on size and quality, rolling them carefully so that they were arranged in rings on the plate.

"Official clan activity?"

'Darling!' Ellis ran her hair through Addison's red locks. 'Official clan activity involves the illegal, the fun and the deadly. Much like these potatoes should be, goodness!' She popped another into her mouth.

'I should add, darling,' she said pinching Addison's chin, 'You will never fetch my drink or wait on me hand and foot. You crunch my numbers, not my ice.' She gave Addison a quick kiss on the lips and continued on with the flinging of the fruit.

((OOC - yes I have been waiting to say that line to Addison since I forgot to say it in the tacharan thread HAHA ))

Elis was nothing if not extremely sociable. He had a mental picture of her being the life of every party...it just seemed that she oozed confidence. Addison smiled as she popped a potato something or other into her mouth and chewed it. He took an opportunity to steal away the odd piece of ammunition and take a bite, munching thoughtfully on the strawberry's flesh.

He would have objected to having his chin pinched like an insolent child's, but the kiss the followed made up for the minute detail. Addison beamed after the quick action, feeling quite pleased.

Finishing up the strawberry in his hands, Addison got the distinct impression that he was being watched. Something about the prickly feeling that one gets. Looking around slightly, he couldn't see anything amiss and only a few people were casting him glances, now that he'd been at the party a while. Turning back to Jan and Ellis, he leaned closer to his new mistress. "So, are you aiming for anyone in particular or just anyone unfortunate enough to happen by?"

Dani gave her head a little shake to show she didn’t take offense, that turned into a giggle as a piece of fruit sailed through the air and landed on some poor soul in front of them.

“Oh dear; when people in my line of work speak of playing with their food I usually think of something quite different.”

Another strawberry landing on Claire’s mantle stayed further thought on where they should go, and she looked around the room, wondering where it had come from. It seemed like harmless fun, and Claire took the whole thing with good humor. Probably someone wanting to stir up a little excitement, though she thought the ball was plenty exciting on its own.

“Maybe we should find the food before more fruit finds us.”

It was, perhaps, fortunate that she was so well covered in her costume; the strawberry hit her right on the cheek but was prevented from sliding down her top by the mantle. She gave a startled squeak before wiping at her cheek and picking up the fruit between her fingers.

“Okay, too late I guess.” She popped the strawberry in her mouth and scanned the room again. There was a dark haired woman giving a red headed young man…in a dress…a big smackaroo on the mouth, but then he appeared to be eating the fruit, not throwing it. Another cute boy was seated at the table, but things looked fairly innocent at that camp.

“Shall we find a table? As nice as it is to get such direct service I think I’d rather pick out my own fruit.”

Karl surveyed the room, pleased to see everyone enjoying themselves. The food was perfect, the music superb, the atmosphere classy…no, nothing could possibly spoil this beautiful revelry.

He clapped his hands together, enjoying that wonderful moment when everything seemed to come together.

And then he saw it.

A flying strawberry.

“Oh. No. They. –Didn’t-!”

Walking briskly with the palms of his hands parallel to the floor, he made his way to the kitchen and found two waiters loading up trays.

“Someone is throwing the fruit!”

Ignoring the fact that at least one of the waiters seemed to be having trouble keeping a straight face at this announcement, he continued.

“Find the person responsible for this…this outrage!”

He put the back of his hand to his brow, distressed.

“Unbelievable. –Honestly-. Who behaves this way at a ball! And do you have any idea how difficult it is to get decent strawberries out of season for an event of this size…”

Continuing his rant, he wandered back out to the ballroom to investigate.

He almost laughed, but was able to maintain a serious air, as he covered his mouth with his hand.

Nic had been watching the table where Addison sat, and had seen the woman sitting next to Addison send a piece of fruit flying across the room. He wasn't shocked...very little shocked him these days...but he did find it amusing. He was almost certain when he'd been hit the lovely lady was not in the room...in fact, Addison hadn't been at that time either. This then left the other young man who apparently was part of their group.

What caused Nic to chuckle was the look on the head waiter's face, when he'd seen what was being done with his food.

The frivolity that seemed to quickly spread through the room, lessened a great deal of Nic's earlier concerns. As he watched Addison toy with a piece of the fruit, he wondered if he would be the next to fire the ammunition, and suddenly wanted to play too. It had been a long time since Nic had acted the child...or at least on purpose.

Thinking no harm could come of a friendly 'hello', Nic meandered over to the table, and stood in front of Addison.

"Hey there little buddy...almost didn't recognize you...great get up...having fun?"

Nic wondered if Addison would be as friendly tonight, without the 'suggesting', as he had been when they'd met. He usually made it a habit of not using his 'talents' unless he and the 'intended' were alone, and even then only if he was truly hungry. Tonight neither applied, and he was curious to see how far he'd get on his on merits...Did Addison really like Nic?

A glance over at the Tacharan table revealed that everyone had moved on, and so Nova scanned the room, jack and coke in hand. She had a sense for trouble; it was just one of those things. A nice ability to have; finding trouble meant less work in making one’s own, after all. She grinned at the sight of a strawberry sailing by.

That –had- to be her brother’s work, or she was an Anantya.

Grinning, she spotted Jan at last, along with Ellis and the new guy, Addison, and decided to join them. Walking over to the table, she plopped down by Jan and began inspecting spoons for an appropriate catapult.

“Hi guys. See the guy in the Godzilla costume?” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “So how’re we scoring this?”

It seemed some other guy had decided to join them, and Nova looked up at his choice of endearments for Addison.

“’ello Skipper…where’s the Professor and Mary Anne?”

Jan looked over at Addison and smirked watching the accountant organize the fruit on the plate.

"I bet your house is a bastion of order, isn't it?"Â?

He smiled and waved a hand in dismissal in hopes of letting Addison know that he didn't find anything wrong with that. Surprisingly, Jan wasn't a messy artist, not a neat freak by any means but there was not the 'artistic clutter' of empty bottles of coke or coffee, pizza boxes or whatever else some people ate and drank while the muse was upon them. Perhaps it helped to be a vampire and find all that stuff unnecessary, during bouts of creativity Jan was likely to forget everything else so it was a good thing that he didn't need to eat but about once a week or so.

Watching Ellis's strawberry hit the shorter woman, he grinned.

"Good shot!" Turning to Addison he said " Targets of opportunity unless there is someone here that you feel a personal need to pelt. If that is the case then I'd say go for it; one should not keep pent up need to fling food trapped inside. Be open, be free, be one with the fruit. Or just, you know, launch it."Â?

He looked over at the guy who came to stand behind Addison. It was a walking Calvin Klein add, who seemed to be on familiar terms with the new member of Duibne, if one could call the title "little buddy"Â? familiar. Jan was sensitive about his height so perhaps he was biased but he'd not be appreciative of a nickname that sounded like you were speaking to a four-year-old...or Gilligan.

It would appear from Nova's comment as she came to sit down beside him, that she was of the same mind, at least on the later part. He'd not express the other lest she tease him about his height, no need to give her any more verbal ammunition than she already had.

Sitting back in his seat, he folded his arms over his chest in amusement and asked.

"So Addison, you going to introduce us to your friend?"Â?

'Yes...' Ellis' eyes narrowed slightly and she let it affect her smile. 'Please do introduce your friend, Addison.'

He was clearly new. She looked at him, from his expensive shoes to his expensive haircut. Seemed to be a friendly sort, but with her new familiar. No, that wouldn't do.

Ellis wondered if maybe Addison wasn't going to put a damper on her evening. Then she remember why she stopped wearing this gown, as beautiful as it was. It put a crimp in her style when disembowling.

She sighed and waited.

"Hey there little buddy...almost didn't recognize you...great get up...having fun?"

Addison stopped his discreet Ellis-watching when he heard a semi-familiar voice. Turning and looking up, he tucked a strand of hair behind his ear and smiled politely, trying to act blase. "Nic...good to see you. Get that bike yet?" He was curious...he didn't feel that....insane need to crawl over this guy like he had the last time. It reiforced the idea that he had been plastered or well on his way the last time. However, Nic was insanely attractive, but... Addison cut a quick look over to Jan as he spoke. Oh shit....a human in the precense of vampires. Nic was probably not at all safe.

'Yes...' Ellis' eyes narrowed slightly and she let it affect her smile. 'Please do introduce your friend, Addison.'

"Sure..." He eyed Ellis, who was examining Nic. The red head scooted closer to his "boss." What had that look meant? Carol had said he was allowed friends. The possibility that Nic was a vampire too never crossed his mind...after all, he'd called Addison during the day...which meant he was awake during the day, so voila! "Nic, this is Ellis and Jan..." How to describe if he couldn't say - I belong to this one and that one is in her clan... "...Ellis is my boss and Jan is a coworker." There...that worked. "Jan, Ellis...this is Nic. He's new to town and an art afficianado looking to purchase a motorbike."

Had the name Ellis not struck to his very core, Nic would have felt slighted at the tone to which Addison had addressed him. That, and the way Addison moved closer to Ellis...and the fact that Ellis was his boss...only served to make Nic nauseous.

He nodded at Addison, but the loud rushing noise in his ears shut out all other sounds from reaching his brain. He saw Addision's lips moving, but nothing was registering. He looked to Jan furtively, and gave the same look to Ellis; however, with Ellis he skipped over her eyes, and went directly to her mouth.

FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK! The only words he could form in his mind. He was almost certain Ellis was the head of the newer clan...Tacharan...and that surely made Addison her familiar...and Nic now realized he'd committed an unpardonable sin.

"Nice to meet you both, and Addison...good to see you again. Bike? No...haven't found anyone who sells them yet...still looking...but hell, I didn't mean to interrupt...just came by to say hi, and tell you how hot you look in that outfit."

He had to get out of there...he had to gather his wits about him...he had to find his Evenhet brethren and let them know what a huge pile of shit he'd pushed himself into.

The only bit of information he had to save him from expecting his immediate death at Ellis' hands now, was the realization that Addison must not have told Ellis about Nic. And for that Nic felt almost religious.

"I'll let you all get back to your fruit toss, and see you around Addison."

And though it would have been nice to have taken the time to get to know Addison better, Nic was just too selfish. He valued retaining his own life, ever so much more so.

He turned and walked towards the entry doors, and out into the night, as if his feet had wings.

(Nic out)

'Interesting bird.' Ellis murmured. Now, Ellis was many things. Charming, elegant, psychotic...but an obvious trait, a rather painfully obvious one, was that she was territorial. Someone had been sniffing around her familiar. Someone she was not familiar with. Someone she suspected knew who she was and made haste when he realized it...and that someone would more than likely be a vampire.

A vampire that knows Addison, her familiar.

No, that would simply not do.

'Addison darling, did we say something wrong? Nicholae seemed to leave in a bit of a hurry.' Her voice was syrupy but commanding. Ellis was quite annoyed now, with this situation but more with her dress. She'd have to find Nicholae later and properly introduce herself.

Addison smiled at the compliment, pleased, but unsure why Nic was looking so...antsy now. "Thank you, but it wasn't my idea..." The kimono was surprisingly comfortable, however...except where the sash was prassing into his back against the chair. He scooted forward on the seat to fix that, hoping the bow wasn't completely smooshed.

And....then Nic was leaving. He looked...peculiar and nevous even. Nic was certainly in a hurry to get out of his company.

'Addison darling, did we say something wrong? Nicholae seemed to leave in a bit of a hurry.'

"Hnnn?" Addison realized he had been staring in the direction Nic had taken off in, a perplexed look on his face. "I'm not sure. I don't know him all that well...we met at the museum the other night. He seemed fine then...maybe he caught the cold I had...." The possibility of that was great. They had been in close contact, so perhaps Nic just took a little longer for the symptoms to show up. A long-shot, but it wsa better than the alternative that was flittering around in his head...that he was a social reject tonight.

The accountant turned and sniffed lightly, wondering if he had some particular offensive odor or something. 'Nope...just that light smelling cologne stuff.' "I seem to be repelling people today..."

Dani looked around for an available table to escape from the flying fruit, and in scanning noticed that Arin and Thaddeus had just walked in with a woman she wasn’t familiar with. They made an interesting trio, she thought; representing a spectrum of cultures and times and apparently arranged by height.

“Oooh, look who it is! Let’s go say hi!”

/ooc Dani out, Claire out with permission

Simon walked back into the convention hall and just missed getting plowed down by a man making haste out the door he came in. He gave a glance back at the man but he disappeared behind another crowd coming in.

Straightening his armor and running a frustated hand through his hair, he looked around for Ellis. She wasn't hard to find. He saw her, Nova, Jan and Ellis' familiar Addison sitting by the fruit arrangement. As he approached, he watched Ellis casually fling a strawberry into the crowd.

'Nice, we're throwing fruit now are we? Let me know when the monkey poop flies and I'll call for the car.' He laughed, albeit a forced one and grabbed a drink off a passing waiter's tray, downing it quickly and stopping him before he could go again. He grabbed another drink and shooed the waiter on.

Nova raised her eyebrows at Nic’s introduction before going back to getting the slightly squishy raspberry centered on the spoon. A motorbike eh? That was cool. She eyed up her target, judging the trajectory and gauging the amount of force it might take for the fruit to burst on contact, but the weirdness of the situation brought her attention back to the table. Ellis seemed a bit dangerous and Nic…huh, well Nic seemed to have gone all squirrelly on them. Addison seemed to find the behavior equally odd.

Maybe there was trouble brewing! Satisfied with the possibilities, she let the raspberry fly.

“Meh, it’s just crazy with all these people here tonight.” She tilted her head to one side. “You know, you don’t strike me as the Gilligan type. More of a Ginger.” Grinning, she continued. “What with the hair and all.”

She looked up when Simon waltzed by, downing his drink in a fashion that put her to shame.

"Hey, we're still a -little- civilized here."

'At ease, Cadet.' Simon grinned and drank his champagne. He looked at the empty glass and frowned. 'What is this swill? I need something stout.' Simon grabbed the shoulder of a waiter passing by and ordered something much heavier. The waiter gave him a snotty nod and left.

'So what did I miss?' While I was out, baring my soul to the only woman that I might come close to loving. Who happens to be my lover's familiar, for which we can both be killed for.

Simon closed his eyes and wished the waiter could come faster.

Jan waved as the introduction was made but noticed that Addison's friend seemed a bit distracted. Seeing the look on Ellis's face and being plenty familiar with it, he could totally understand the guy wanting to get out of there as fast as possible. It did make Jan wonder just how friendly this Nic guy got with Addison in order to light out of the room like his ass was on fire just after greeting them. Course he might not have known Ellis was so protective of her property but he wondered who in the vampire community didn't know that the leader of Tacharan was notoriously possessive.

He settled more comfortably in his chair and reached a hand out to his leader and placed it on her arm

"Anything you want help with just let me know."Â?

Jan loved Ellis's attitude; it made him feel like he belonged and like he was wanted. He was a part of Tacharan, they were his family and Ellis led them all. She had the right to be possessive and protective of any of them in his opinion and he'd not go against that for a second, in fact he'd help her.

His attention was turned back towards Addison when the redhead replied to his friend's departure. Remembering back to when Addison joined them made him realize they had all left shortly afterwards.

"Hey, no, it's nothing like that. We're just known for wandering around seeing where we can stir up trouble. I think some of us had behaved for about as long as we could stand it; no reflection on you, promise."Â?

Smiling at Addison, he then glanced over at Nova and gave her a thumbs up for the flying raspberry. He did make a face at Simon's comment and thought to toss a strawberry at him but something about his father's expression suggested now would not be a good time to harass the man.

"Yes, this is us being quiet and demure like you asked. You will note there has been no bloodshed yet, right?"Â?

He saw the godzilla costumed person, that Nova mentioned earlier, at the bar.

"I'm guessing the giant lizard is one of ours?"Â?

((OOC: headed out again, will be gone until later Ellis feel free to smack him if you like, wanted to reply before leaving so I wasn't holding anyone up.))

“Anything you want help with just let me know.”

Ellis looked at Jan, Simon's ever so mischevious child. Her smile widened as she looked at him and considered his offer. Just how old was Jan, she wondered. About 500 or so years? Well, she would've preferred middle aged at least, but she was willing to build up to a finally. I bet he'd look smashing on the beast, steel trappings and all.

She grinned and nudged him. 'I might take you up on the offer, darling.' She reached for a drink off of a passing waiter and snapped up a martini. She picked the olive out and used her white teeth to snap it off the stick. Ellis then looked over at Nova. Bah, too young. She chewed her olive slowly, thinking her deep, evil thoughts.

With his familiar on his right arm as he walked to a now empty table, Cyrus was quite surprized to see a raspberry flung at the people in front of him. Carefully he stepped around the juicy mass that had landed on the floor. Keeping his senses sharp in the direction it had come from as they made their way from the bar to a table.

As a large strawberry zoomed at him, Cyrus shifted his spear and gently directed the projectile to land upon one of its spikes at the base of the spear head. With no fruit mess upon him or Suki, he turned toward the offending table.

With a pointed look at the fruit and them then, he made an abreviated bow of his head before continuing onto their destination. Interesting idea, but Cyrus prefered to either pounce or let his pray go by unaware of his presence.

((Cyrus Out, just wanted some delivered fruit.))

Oh and there were more stopping by. Addison repeated a name or two in his head just to make sure he got them all straoght. It didn't look professional if you forgot the name of a person in your "company." Simon happened along and Addison had to wonder...could vampires get drunk? If so, would it take a lot more, cause the way Simon knocked that one back, made the red head think that he was out for a purpose...Not that there was any thing wrong with that...perhaps Ellis' companion didn't like social settings. A smile and a "hello" in his direction and Addison turned back to Jan.

'Cute kid,' he thought, then immediately shook his head. This "kid" was probably older than his own parents. "Thanks...one has to wonder when people make haste to leave when you arrive." He winked at Jan, feeling much better about the whole thing. So, he was now assured he wasn't making those around him horribly disgusted. That was something in his favor. But the whole "I can help you out" thing to Ellis made him confused.

Turning back, he did some people watching, grabbing another berry and popping it in his mouth. "What about that one? The one with the metal head gear. Think you could get a berry to stick on the little protrusions on his helmut?" That would be something to see.

Grinning at Simon, she considered just how to answer his question while wondering why, if he had wanted a drink so badly, he hadn’t just asked her to get him one when she went to the bar. And where had he been, anyway? Shrugging, she dismissed her natural inquisitiveness and knocked back a little more of her own drink.

“Not a lot, just chilling.”

While she had no idea who was under the Godzilla costume, she was more than happy to claim him.

“I hope so; be pretty weird to find a fossil or a tree hugger under there.”

It seemed Addison didn’t take kindly to the Ginger remark, though Nova couldn’t understand why; who wanted to be Gilligan anyway, after all? Was it the ‘chick’s name’ thing? Nova dismissed that theory…the guy was wearing a dress, after all.

Then again…maybe he just hadn’t heard her. It wasn’t like her to dwell on whether or not she had offended someone for long and usually the thought didn’t bother her all that much even if she did bug someone a little. Still, she felt it was probably safe to assume Addison’s concerns over repelling people didn’t apply to her, and, draining her drink, stood up.

“Gonna go say hi to Alec and Ginnie; catch you guys later.”

/ooc out

Following Cyrus a bit slowly, Amberelle was lost in thought. ''There is no point in dwelling on things when you're at a party, so start having fun!" she told herself firmly. Spying a tray of champagne headed her way she stopped to down the rest of her wine then swapped it for a glass of bubbly from the passing waiter.

Taking a sip, she started to look around to see which direction Cyrus had disappeared in when suddenly she felt something cool and wet brush her chest. Her eyebrows shot up as she looked down to see a strawberry nestled in the middle of her bosom against the dress. Dumbfounded at the sheer audacity, the blonde looked up with a faintly shocked look and tried to find the source of the errant fruit.


(( OOC lololol... anyone can claim it as their shot if they like ))

"I hope so; be pretty weird to find a fossil or a tree hugger under there."Â?

Addison looked away from the remains of his fruit to look over to where the reptilian person was standing. A slow blink and smile as he suddently felt like he was dressed more normally....more normally than a godzilla suit. But that person had to have a sense of humor. Godzilla looked to be currently facing the bar. A shame, cause Addison was now curious.

As the one with the cool name wandered off, the red head looked back over the crowd then back at the berries. He re-arranged so that there wasn't a break in the circles before taking one that looked to the odd one out. He'd never ever thrown food before, his parents finding the habit below them and it was greatly discouraged. But when in rome... Addison loaded the berry on to his spoon...or the catapult, as he preferred to think of it. Looking around, he spied a blonde and took aim... well, if taking aim was to squeeze one eye shut and let fly in her general direction.

Suddenly embarressed of his action, Addison dropped his spoon with a clatter to his empty bread plate and looked the other way, flushing guiltily. "Did I hit anyone?" he asked Ellis, not daring to look.

(OOC: Claimed)

Her eyes were drawn towards the loud clatter of silverware on china she'd just heard. Glaring, she frowned at a table not too far away that looked most likely to be the source. Carefully shifting her champagne flute to the hand with her mask, her other gloved hand came up and with just the tips of two fingers she gingerly plucked the strawberry up by one of its leaves. With her face carefully neutral, she walked up and glanced around the table.

Did umm one of you here loose this?

Jan looked at the Asian man with the spear and smiled innocently, thinking that was a nice catch so he would be generous and not launch another.

Listening to Addison's suggestion and looking at the head gear in question, he said.

"Oh I have no doubt I could manage it."

Jan launched another strawberry aimed towards the armored fellow with the spiked helm and then used his telekinesis to guide it into place. The guy didn't even seem to notice, so much the better. Sitting back with a satisfied smirk, he turned to the redhead.

"Good suggestion, we'll make a trouble maker out of you yet."

As Jan started setting up for the next launch, Nova stood up and proclaimed she was going to be sociable again. Again? She needed to get out more if she was going to be this chatty.

"Well tell them "hi" for me."

He personally thought Alec should come join them in fruit tossing; it was far more entertaining than simple conversation.

Seeing Addison with a berry on his spoon, Jan held off his out launch to watch. He grinned as the accountant barely took note of where it went and then turned hurried away from the scene looking about as guilty as you could get and blushing a nice red to match his hair.

'Hell, Ellis picked a fun one this time.' he thought as he listened to Addison's question.

He raised an eyebrow at where it landed and then turned to Ellis.

"You owe Addison ten bucks for hitting an Anantya...and nice shot by the way, cleavage is a daring move. "

Jan doubted it was intended but the result was amusing. He smiled up at Amberelle as she walked over.

"Nope, I still have mine. See?"

Jan pointed down at his spoon with the strawberry still in it.

"So uhm... enjoying the ball?" He winked at her and then made a quick introduction.

"Ellis, Addison and Simon, this is Amberelle. Care to join us? You know this is more fun than actually behaving."

Godzilla came stomping over from the bar to the assembeled group, Daquri in hand, crazy straw disappearing into his mouth..

he stopped to look at each person there, paused then pointed at Ellis's cleveage and Roared "GODZILLA LIKE! YUMMY BOOBIES!!!"

Ellis was about to comment on Ambrelle's choice for clevage decoration when the Godzilla party goer stomped over. With a roar and a declaration of his preference for her breasts, Ellis smiled. 'That must be Winter underneath all that glorious lizard skin. Darlin', very cute ensemble.' She shrugged her shoulders, giving him more clevage to roar about and gave him a wink.

Under the head piece of the suit winter smiled.
'good ol' El Diablo, never surprised' he thought
He gave Ellis a deep formal bow, which in that suit was quite a feat.
he stood and then began to do a little soft shoe dance.

After a quick glance over the table's occupants Amberelle had focused in on the red faced and embarassed looking redhead. She was about to offer him his fruit back with a rather scathing remark when she heard a familiar voice. Her brows furrowed slightly and she turned to see where Jan was.

It took her a couple seconds to recognize him. The blonde had to bite her lip hard to keep from bursting into laughter at the sight of Jan in his period finery. Her shoulders shook from the effort but she managed to keep a straight face until... "You have to be joking.. Godzilla?" Pressing the back of the hand holding the strawberry to her mouth she snickered and snorted softly, shaking her head.

Umm.. I guess I am, it's pretty boring so far but I haven't been here long. And I guess I could be spared a few minutes from the cousins waiting for me.. She felt a twinge of guilt at not joining them right away. After all she was going to show Darius around. "But I can still do that, no reason not to spend time with a friend first.."

Ignoring the banter between the beautiful brunette sitting with Jan and the walking lizard, she slid around and took a seat next to her Tacharan friend. She smiled and leaned over to give Jan a kiss on the cheek.

Ellis looked over the pretty blonde. 'Just wait, I'm sure something will happen. My money is on an explosion of some kind.' She gave a side wink at Winter. 'So who are your cousins, dear? Share!'

Ellis wasn't familiar with this one, although she wagered that her 'cousins' were of the fanged variety, especially if she knew Jan. She was beautiful, this one...Ellis wondered how old she was.

Setting down her glass and the glittering cat mask, Amberelle wondered briefly at the explosions remark from the brunette in the red gown. 'Damn what were those names Jan said again.. Allison? Simon and.. Ellie.. no, Ellis. Ellis!' Her amber eyes widened a second and to buy herself a moment she took a large bite of the strawberry she held. Chewing it slowly, she thought over the few things she had heard about the Tacharan elder. None were particularly good. If this was indeed that Ellis, 'And why would there be more than one?', she had better be very careful.

After finishing her bite she set down the berry's top and beamed a smile at Ellis. A couple of gentlemen, Cyrus and Darius.. both new to town. Glancing around, she found the table Cyrus had claimed rather easily. 'Marking his territory, how fitting...' She leaned a little closer to Ellis and discreetly pointed.

There, the roman and Mongol with the belle. Both apparently my elder by a great deal. Leaning back she turned to Jan and smirked. As are you too apparently. Tell me you really didn't used to dress like that. I mean the tights are sexy but.. fur and gems.. She wrinkled up her nose at him with a little giggle. Leather suits you so much better.

And Madame Ellis I must say that I heard you were beautiful.. I wonder if everything else I heard has true.. She paused and glanced about before admitting, My sire has spoken with much admiration of you. Rather odd for an old fashioned relic such as him, but.. Amby shrugged unknowingly.

Studying her, Amberelle had a feeling Gustav's opinions were probably quite fitting. There was an aura of danger, an electricity in the air around Ellis. "Or maybe that's just your nerves.. Trust that psychotic sadist to admire a woman after his own heart.."

((OOC Ellis' "aura" with permission ))

Did umm one of you here loose this?

'Wouldn't you just know it...' The first time he's ever done something like that before, and he gets caught. Kharma was not with him tonight. He grinned and turned to the blonde, putting on his best innocent expression....funny how he could get away with anything financially, but nothing like this.

Ah....but Jan was saving him from responding. Addison quickly tucked his empty spoon away on his lap and up under one sleeve. There...no more incrimating evidence in visual range.

"GODZILLA LIKE! YUMMY BOOBIES!!!"

Planning his great "no, I didn't throw that berry" cover up, Addison missed the large reptile making its way over to their table until it bellowed about his mistress' boobage. Addison rolled his eyes at the strangely dressed person, trying to ignore the fact that Ellis didn't seem at all insulted by Godzilla's crass manner. However, he wasn't that bad of a dancer, impressive...especially in a suit that size. Addison grabbed a flute of...whatever ...it looked bubbly and light colored, from a waitress stopping by.

He'd entertain himself with people watching and discreetly listening in on the conversations around him for now.

'And Madame Ellis I must say that I heard you were beautiful.. I wonder if everything else I heard has true.'

'I suppose it would be customary for me to ask if what you heard was all good,' she took bite out of her strawberry and smirked, 'but it usually never is.' Ellis gave the blonde beauty a grateful nod for the compliment and then noticed something quite perculiar behind Ambrelle.

Alfarinn and what appeared to be a new blonde trophy holding his hand. 'My word,' Ellis chuckled to herself . 'You'll have to excuse me, I see an old friend who needs to share some gossip. Very nice meeting you Ambrelle.'

Ellis casually separated herself from her table guests and whispered to a passsing waiter for a cigarette. The waiter was smart not to mention the no smoking signs on the wall. He handed Ellis a cigarette and lit it for her. With a deep inhale she winked at the waiter. She looked back and nodded to Simon to follow. He politely excused himself and followed as she made her way across the floor to Alfarinn of Evenhet.

((Ellis and Simon out.))

Jan smiled at the kiss on the cheek and returned in kind. Still leaning close to her ear he said softly.

"You're not looking for another song are you, Mademoiselle? You are looking lovely enough to inspire a few of them"

Leaning back, he stretched his arm over the chair and looked over at the table were she indicated the 'cousins' were sitting. His eyebrow quirked up at the spear stuck in the center of it. With a little chuckle, Jan looked back at the blonde.

"It would seem the cousins are leaving their own mark on the ball. "

He looked sullen for a brief moment at the remark about his clothing but then grinned at her.

"I am afraid I have had an occasion to where such a thing more than once but I felt it better than coming as a street urchin. I don't think the waiters would have appreciated the dirt necessary to make that costume authentic. "

Jan watched Ellis and Simon get up and smiled briefly at Addison. The redhead seemed lost in thought and no doubt this whole situation made him uncomfortable. With a slow smirk, he turned back to Amberelle.

"I do believe you're right about the leather though I hear I look so much better in nothing at all. Perhaps I should have come in the nude. It was technically how I was created. Think anyone would have minded terribly?"

Looking up at Winter and his fruit drink and crazy straw. Jan grinned.

"I think though that Winter wins the best costume award. So have you terrorized downtown Nachton yet?"

Winter watched the group disperse with a frown.. 'just when it was getting interesting they all run off' Godzilla shrugged and continued his little dance, that is until...

"I think though that Winter wins the best costume award. So have you terrorized downtown Nachton yet?"

"Moi?!" his voice muffled, though he still somehow managed to sound innocent..

"terrorized, not quite, but don't worry.. I wont disappoint" he said with a lunatic laugh..

he then spun, wapping amberelle in the legs with his tail and stomped out onto the dance floor..

"Ohhhh! GODZILLA LIKE WALTZ!!" and thats when Godzilla started breakdancing...

Addison blinked, an unreadable expression on his face, as he watched godzilla-man move off and start dancing...but he looked twice - he could be having a seizure. Hmmm....maybe he should call someone to help? but Jan didn't look concerned, so perhaps not. "Well, it was nice meeting you Jan...everyone else."\

With a nod to the young man a couple of seats down, Addison stood and left.

(OOC: Addison out)

Looking around at the suddenly empty table, Amberelle gave Jan an appologetic look. She was relieved that Ellis had left but suddenly she felt guilty for obviously interrupting.

I'm sorry I didn't mean to run everyone off like that.. I guess I should have stuck to my own kind, huh?

'Stupid! There are reasons the clans don't mix.. I wonder what kind of faux pas I did tonight. The last thing you need is to make the elders here mad, then where will you go?' The blonde looked over at the table where her fellow Anantya had gathered. She sighed. 'I should probably go over and pay my respects before I show Darius around.' It was just... They all made her feel so.. young. In a bad way.

Looking back at Jan she marvelled at how he'd been able to stay so playful and 'youthful' for hundreds of years. She envied that ability and wondered if it was something that was just a part of him, or more of an influence of Tacharan. Either way it was a far cry from what she had seen from her own clan, so far.

Giving her friend a faint smile, she asked, So, want to go meet my people? Then if they all run away I will know I have B.O. or something..


((OOC Jan's actions / personality purely from her own perceptions, and may be wrong! :) ))

Jan smirked at Winter's talented display of movement considering what he was wearing. He looked up and waived good bye to Addison as the redhead wandered away.

Turning back to Amberelle, he shrugged .

"Not at all, Addison isn't quite one of our kind anyway so I think he's feeling a bit out of place and Ellis... well, she's just Ellis."

Jan looked over to where the Tacharan leader was standing in the middle of a group of people. Seeing her lean flirtatiously towards a tall blonde who must be the afore mentioned Alfarinn. He noticed the man looked familiar as did his friend. Well what do you know? He had met the esteemed elder of Evenhet without even realizing it.

He grinned at Amberelle and shook his head.

"Looks like Nova is headed back this way. I'll see what trouble my sister wants to cause."

Leaning in close to Amberelle's neck, he barely let the tip of his nose brush her skin before sniffing delicately.

"Nope, I'd say you smell just fine, quite nice actually."

Jan leaned back and gave her a raised eyebrow and a smile.

"If the cousins give you any trouble just let me know. Though as I recall you can handle yourself just fine and have a habit of looking for fights."

((OOC: Nope, that's pretty much the truth. He says its the cartoons. Sniffing Amberelle *gasp* without permission, she might slap him! ))

Still making a litany of chicken noises, Nova approached the table just in time to see Jan...woah, what the hell was Jan doing? Oh...sniffing...Amberelle. She'd almost thought he was going to do something very different.

“Hey Jan, Amberelle.”

She flopped down in a chair and watched the crowd for a moment.

“You have fun tonight?”

Admittedly, Nova had enjoyed herself for the most part. And who gave a shit whether she danced or not? Certainly not her.

Nope.

-She- wasn’t some airhead whose entire life revolved around how many stupid guys asked her to dance. And if she wanted to dance, she could just ask someone.

Yep…she sure could…just…ask…

“Holy shit, is that Arin Bjorn?”

Jan raised his eyebrows at the noise Nova was making as she walked over to the table.

"Are you trying to call another helping of dinner? I'm sure if you're -that- hungry a waiter would get you another helping just so you'll stop."

He shrugged and smiled at her question.

"Its been better than I expected."

She flopped down and immediately looked over towards the blondes. Jan turned back to look at them and noticed they had moved over to the dance floor and Ellis and Simon were no where in sight.

Alfarinn...Arin.. He wondered if Nova made the connection. It was better not to tell her if she hadn't; she had a 'thing' for Arin Björn and talked about him on occasion when she saw him on the news and such. Nova claimed there wasn't anything to this crush of her's and if she did any more than smile goofily every time his picture appeared he hadn't caught her at it.

"So... there he is. Go ask him to dance."

((OOC: Nova's "thing" for Arin known with permission. *snickers* ))

Nova snorted at Jan’s suggestion and shook her head.

“Yeah, right. And after that I’ll just hop in a limo to go to my photo shoot for Cosmo.”

That matter settled, she looked around for a waiter to bring her a drink. Seeing one headed for the kitchen, clearly intent on getting things wrapped up for the night, she shouted out to him.

“Oy! You! Over here!”

The waiter rather reluctantly walked over, tray in hand, and Nova browsed the glasses presented to her. Frowning at the lack of the whiskey she –really- needed, she grabbed a glass of wine and knocked it back in one go, putting the glass back on the tray before the waiter could escape.

Turning to Jan, she rested one elbow on the table and shook her finger at him.

“First of all, he’s dancing with a…what the fuck…he’s dancing with a dude?”

Could he be...? No way…Arin Bjorn was a pillar of heterosexual masculinity. Still...he and that little blonde pretty boy looked awfully comfortable with each other.

“Anyway, he’s dancing with someone, and besides, he’s famous and shit. He’s not going to dance with a normal person like me.”

Well, to be fair, saying she was a normal person was giving herself a lot of credit…but that wasn’t the point!

"Damn...he looks even taller in person."

She kept the wistful sigh out of her tone, though she -really- wished she had a camera.

The Ari Grrrrls were -never- going to believe this.

Jan rolled his eyes at her and stood up.

"Don't make me go over there and do it for you. You may not embarrass easily but I bet I can manage to accomplish the task."

Looking thoughtfully at the couple on the dance floor, he said.

"I tell you what. You go ask Alfarinn to dance and I'll keep his companion occupied."

Jan smirked at Amberelle and Nova and headed around the table.

"You better come with me or you'll be sorry...."

((OOC: Jan out))

Nova started to laugh at her brother’s very funny joke…only Jan apparently wasn’t kidding. Scrambling gracelessly out of her chair, she went to grab his arm to stop him and collided with the table.

Cursing, she righted herself and caught up with her brother, leaning forward and speaking in a loud whisper.

“I’ll be sorry? –I’ll- be sorry!? You are –so- going to get it.”

Of course, her brother very well might get a big wet kiss on the cheek for talking her into this…all depended on how things went, she supposed.

“And his name is –Arin-. You drunk, adding extra syllables?”

/ooc Nova out