City of Oasis

[I think I am here. he/him]

“Where’s the banners for the southeast entrance? Southeast entrance! Are the mics up and running? Lights functional? Hey, what do you mean the glitch from the speakers continued? I thought we got that underling to fix that! Rusting children, they are!”

As stressed out organisers and decorator ladies swarmed backstage, making sure everything was perfect, as it inevitably was every year, Mr. Itiah took a few deep breaths, jumped up and down to warm himself up, and looked at himself in the mirror. Yes, he still had it. The shiny smile. The likeableness, the charming personality that had led the higher ups to choose him as tonight’s master of ceremony.

“No, I said southwest banners, not southeast! And those banners are supposed to be in alternating ascending order. Alternating ascending!”

Despite all the backstage commotion, Mr. Itiah tried not to let himself get stressed. Jumping up and down one last time, giving himself one more look in the mirror, Mr. Itiah smiled and tried to parkour his way past all of the miscellaneous messes that laid the backstage hallway. As he walked he consulted his notes, a scribble of terrible handwriting only decidable by his eyes. In brusque dot points was listed all who would be promoted, and the current festivities for the night.

Six months after beating that blue-faced creature and his invasion, he thought as he dipped under the golden curtains and onto the stage, getting a glimpse at the hall that would soon be so full of live and people. About time we celebrated.

Stepping forward to centre stage, he took a while to appreciate everything the decorators had done, hands on hips contently. He saw someone else on the large stage. An underling, it looked like. There was no one else, and Mr. Itiah waved.

“Hey there! I recognise you, you lead that underling team, right? Guns n’ Ninjas?”

@Sorana

——-

Wes found it irrational to think the streets were any darker than they had been before. No, the streetlights were exactly the same luminosity that they always were. It was just, looking at the glowing beacon of the awards hall, light spilling from the building onto the neighbouring alleys, that in comparison everything else looked dark.

Walking ahead, Wes couldn’t help but suppress a stab of anxiety. Such a big place, no doubt soon to be filled with large crowds and laughing, dancing, of course loud blasting music and flashing colours. All those people, all of that cheering and sound... Wes shivered. So many people, and he’d just be a small underling in an ocean of colours.

It made him a little sick just consulting the thought, but he had gotten a personal invite. An invite to the party! And in addition to that letter from Mike, and there was no doubt in Wes’ mind he would be attending this event. Even if it meant enduring a party of such giant proportions, he thought to himself as he jogged to the guards were, in what he thought was the main entrance, cloak flapping close behind him.

[+Sorana she/her]

6 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

“Hey there! I recognise you, you lead that underling team, right? Guns n’ Ninjas?”

Mike looked up, when he heard a familiar voice.

"Yes sir, Mr. Itiah sir."

He replied and hastily walked closer. Neither Wes nor Seom were here yet, so he had no good excuse to pretend he missed him calling out for him. Wolf stirred at the thought of the other members of their squad and Mike pushed him away.

"I mean, you never named me leader, sir, when you had us pick the name. You named nobody leader."

Hopefully he wouldn't be angry that Mike corrected him, but to assume a position he'd never been given. No it was better to stick with the truth.

[I think I am here. he/him]

11 minutes ago, Sorana said:

Hopefully he wouldn't be angry that Mike corrected him, but to assume a position he'd never been given. No it was better to stick with the truth.

“Ah, I see.” Mr. Itiah rolled his tongue around the inside of his mouth in thought and raised a flat palm. He moved the side of the palm down on one of Mike’s soldiers, then over his head and onto the other soldier. It looked like the Queen knighting someone, except without the sword.

“Well, congratulations, you’re officially the leader. M... Mike, right?” He smiled and looked down at his notes.

“Ooh, you might want to stay until the awards and promotions section.” He looked up and winked at Mike.

[+Sorana she/her]

6 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

“Ooh, you might want to stay until the awards and promotions section.” He looked up and winked at Mike.

"Thank you sir."

Mike grimaced slightly. Leader. Now Wes would be back to calling him sir, Seom. He sighed Seom most likely hated him for leaving her like that. He never wanted that position, never had aimed for it. He had enough problems already. Still snake gloated at the compliment and  he smiled slightly in reglection of her pride.

"Do you know if Wes or Seom will attend, sir?"

He asked carefully, tried to come up with some good reason to stop talking to him. Mr. Itiah wasn't as nice as he seemed. He owned him a lot and yet, it was better to stay outside of your superiours attention.

[I think I am here. he/him]

5 minutes ago, Sorana said:

He asked carefully, tried to come up with some good reason to stop talking to him. Mr. Itiah wasn't as nice as he seemed. He owned him a lot and yet, it was better to stay outside of your superiours attention.

“Wes or Seom,” Mr. Itiah repeated, trying to remember the names. He knew the Wes one from somewhere, but he couldn’t recall where, and Seom, he definitely had heard her name mentioned once or twice. Some sort of Ferring. Frowning he shook his head at Mike’s question before replacing it with a smile. A smile a day keeps the nightmares away!

“No idea, though they would’ve gotten an invite, I’m sure. Oh, is that one of them?” He pointed to someone climbing onto the stage from further behind Mike.

—-

The stage was big, Wes realised as he tried to climb up it. And it was way harder to get onto than he had originally thought. Unbeknownst to him, there were stairs near the other side of it, but in his haste he hadn’t seen them. He’d spotted Mike, and some other man he didn’t care about, and he’d jogged to make his way to them.

“Ugh,” he said, flopping onto the stage and getting up, looking at the two people. Mike, and, and... and.

Wes paled. Quickly he jogged up to Mike, hiding behind him, making sure Mike was always between Mr. Itiah and him.

“Hi,” he whispered.

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Seom strolled through the streets of Oasis City, looking around, taking it all in. It was beautiful, the half-rebuilt houses a promise of completion to come. She smiled, and lifted the hem of her open trenchcoat with her foot, making it swirl as she walked. Then she turned toward the center of the city, where the ball would be. She'd worn her best clothes: a blue and orange vest, a white undershirt, leather leggings, boots, and her trenchcoat. She fussed with the cuffs of her trenchcoat as she walked, even though she knew that she'd just take it off as soon as she got to the ball. 

Never been to a ball, she remarked inwardly, wondering what it would be like. Her father had told her about the grand balls the Final Empire had hosted hundreds of years ago, and she'd found those stories only a little less fascinating than the tales of the battles. Always been a bit less of a girl than everyone else. 

She found the bouncer, showed him her invitation. He let her in, and she looked around, raising her eyebrows. Well... it wasn't bad. It was pretty, and bright, and sparkly. She probably would have loved it if she hadn't grown up to love the smell of horse and dog and hay and cows. It was splendid without a doubt, though. She felt a little sad to have it all wasted on her like this. Any other woman would be excited, awed. But Seom only felt a faint hint of that. Mostly, she was wondering if she'd find Wes and Mike. She hadn't seen either for a while.

[+Sorana she/her]

21 minutes ago, I think I am here. said:

Wes paled. Quickly he jogged up to Mike, hiding behind him, making sure Mike was always between Mr. Itiah and him.

“Hi,” he whispered.

"Hi."

Mike turned around, a happy smile spreading on his face when he looked at his friend.

"Wes, you're here. You came."

He wasn't sure if Wes would be alright if he hugged him in greeting, so instead he simply nodded, then nodded again. It helped to see a friendly face and Mike was surprised how much it helped. How much it soothed his inner conflict.

"I'm glad you are here."

He whispered and waved at Seom who had just entered the room. turning back to Mr. Itiah he put himself between Wes and the man. He still didn't know what was wrong with Wes, but if he was scared, then he could help him hide.

"Is there anything else I can do for you sir?"

@Sherlock Holmes

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Seom jogged over to Mike. "Hi, Mike. How you been doing?" She concealed her irritation at him under friendliness.

[+Sorana she/her]

5 minutes ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

Seom jogged over to Mike. "Hi, Mike. How you been doing?" She concealed her irritation at him under friendliness.

"Seom."

Mike swallowed, forced a smiled on his face. She seemed friendly. That was good. Maybe. Women were... confusing.

"I'm good, thank you."

He lied and cursed himself for not bringing any flowers for her. He'd dumped her, and they both knew.

"How are you, anything special happened during the last months?"

He asked instead nervously and laced his fingers together.

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

5 minutes ago, Sorana said:

"Seom."

Mike swallowed, forced a smiled on his face. She seemed friendly. That was good. Maybe. Women were... confusing.

"I'm good, thank you."

He lied and cursed himself for not bringing any flowers for her. He'd dumped her, and they both knew.

"How are you, anything special happened during the last months?"

He asked instead nervously and laced his fingers together.

"Got some sword training," Seom said, rolling her shoulders. She cocked her head at him, noticing that she was even taller than him now. She'd grown another two inches, her Koloss blood was helpful that way. She also noticed that he was nervous. Makes sense, he did ignore a date I asked him on and he said yes to. "Say, why didn't you just say no?" she asked, cocking her head at him again.

[+Sorana she/her]

1 minute ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

"Got some sword training," Seom said, rolling her shoulders. She cocked her head at him, noticing that she was even taller than him now. She'd grown another two inches, her Koloss blood was helpful that way. She also noticed that he was nervous. Makes sense, he did ignore a date I asked him on and he said yes to. "Say, why didn't you just say no?" she asked, cocking her head at him again.

"Because it would have been a lie."

Mike stuttered slightly, looked to the ground.

"I wanted to go out with you, but then Porcupine died and Fox and Snake took over and I had to get away, had to leave all of it behind for a while."

Wincing he closed his eyes. He had been afraid, afraid what she might say, when she saw how he lost control, how they dragged him down. For they did. Fox was there, always there, always present.

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Just now, Sorana said:

"Because it would have been a lie."

Mike stuttered slightly, looked to the ground.

"I wanted to go out with you, but then Porcupine died and Fox and Snake took over and I had to get away, had to leave all of it behind for a while."

Wincing he closed his eyes. He had been afraid, afraid what she might say, when she saw how he lost control, how they dragged him down. For they did. Fox was there, always there, always present.

Seom nodded, grave. "That makes sense. I wouldn't have gotten irritated if I'd been told, though." She managed a sly grin. "And does that mean you still want to go out, or no? I still think you're pretty nice, as short guys go." 

[+Sorana she/her]

1 hour ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

Seom nodded, grave. "That makes sense. I wouldn't have gotten irritated if I'd been told, though." She managed a sly grin. "And does that mean you still want to go out, or no? I still think you're pretty nice, as short guys go." 

Yes.

Yes, of course I do.

Mike stayed silent. He couldn't. Not as long as he wasn't in control of half the things he did during a day. Not as long as he was on the verge as loosing it completely. Quickly he shook his head, hugged himself and looked to the ground. He had to leave Seom out of this. The spikes were his problem, not hers. That he couldn't control them, was his problem as well. It was better if Seom stayed away from them. She was safer that way.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Sorana

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

1 minute ago, Sorana said:

Yes.

Yes, of course I do.

Mike stayed silent. He couldn't. Not as long as he wasn't in control of half the things he did during a day. Not as long as, he was on the verge as loosing it completely. Quickly he shook his head, hugged himself and looked to the ground. He had to leave Seom out of this. The spiked were his problem, not hers. That he couldn't control them, was his problem as well. It was better if Seom stayed away from them. She was safer that way.

Seom raised an eyebrow, then hugged Mike. "You're nice. I believe in you." That's all she could figure out to say. She didn't know what was going on, so she couldn't say anything more specific or helpful. She sighed. At least I got to go on that date with the southside kid.

[Truthless of Shinovar he/him]

Tels was finally back in the Alleyverse. It felt good to be back in this crazy world, as his trip to Taladin had been boring without any immediate life threatening danger. Hopefully, this party would have some of that. 

As soon as Tels has stepped in through the gates, after handing his invitation to the guards, his eyes went immediately to the food. Gourmet dishes from every planet and culture you could think of lined the table. Steam rose gently from some platters, while others seemed to be freezing cold. Being a thief didn’t always make a lot of money, so Tels had to make the most of opportunities like this. He bee-lined to the food, and began to load a plate up.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Truthless of Shinovar

[That Violin Guy he/him]

Vio Lin walked into the main building looking awed. He was honored to be the violinist that was playing at this ball of balls. As he walked in he felt the sudden urge to play, after all he needed to know the acoustics of the room he was to play in. He quickly unpacked his violin and started playing a quick lively tune to the hall soon getting lost in his music. 

[+Sorana she/her]

2 hours ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

Seom raised an eyebrow, then hugged Mike. "You're nice. I believe in you." That's all she could figure out to say. She didn't know what was going on, so she couldn't say anything more specific or helpful. She sighed. At least I got to go on that date with the southside kid.

Mike hugged her back, clung to her for a moment like someone about to drown might cling to a piece of wood. She believed in him.

"Thank you."

He whispered and then finally let go of her.

"I need to sort some things, and then I will ask you out. If you are still interested, then we can."

But he knew, that he would never ask her. It wasn't his destiny to ask her. His path had been chosen, had been chosen when Ark sent him into that Alley so long ago. The light that had been his future had been snuffed out.

"You are a great person, Seom. I am honored I met you."

He added belatetly and then swallowed, looked back to Mr. Itiah, waited for his response.

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

13 minutes ago, Sorana said:

Mike hugged her back, clung to her for a moment like someone about to drown might cling to a piece of wood. She believed in him.

"Thank you."

He whispered and then finally let go of her.

"I need to sort some things, and then I will ask you out. If you are still interested, then we can."

But he knew, that he would never ask her. It wasn't his destiny to ask her. His path had been chosen, had been chosen when Ark sent him into that Alley so long ago. The light that had been his future had been snuffed out.

"You are a great person, Seom. I am honored I met you."

He added belatetly and then swallowed, looked back to Mr. Itiah, waited for his response.

Seom nodded and let her arms fall to her sides. "Well. Let's hope it doesn't take too long." She grinned and shrugged. "I do have a life to go forward with." She looked at the older man Mike had turned to.

[kenod]

Mari walked into the hall, nervous about the amount of people around. Unconsciously she hid her emotions, face becoming expressionless. She walked to the side of the hall, trying to find a place where she could easily view the whole hall. She wondered why she was even here. The answer was simple of course, it was because she had been told to attend. Still, she disliked it. The large crowd made her feel as if she should constantly be looking behind her, while the atmosphere made her feel extremely out of place. Letting out of soft sigh she walked to one of the tables with food, taking a small amount.

[That Violin Guy he/him]

Avalon walked into the main room he knew what was going on but he didn't like it. He knew that whenever the "fun" started Nila would take over. That was the problem. If she came out... well things would not be good for the Ghostbloods. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Vio Lin stopped playing and entered the main hall. He walked up to the stage passing many people as he went. Once he got to the stage he started playing again.

[Truthless of Shinovar he/him]

3 hours ago, kenod said:

Mari walked into the hall, nervous about the amount of people around. Unconsciously she hid her emotions, face becoming expressionless. She walked to the side of the hall, trying to find a place where she could easily view the whole hall. She wondered why she was even here. The answer was simple of course, it was because she had been told to attend. Still, she disliked it. The large crowd made her feel as if she should constantly be looking behind her, while the atmosphere made her feel extremely out of place. Letting out of soft sigh she walked to one of the tables with food, taking a small amount.

“Oh, fwhello,” Tels said around a mouthful of food, when he noticed the woman approaching the food table. His plate, held up by ribbons of sand, was stacked high, and there was a surprising amount of food that had been fit onto the plate. Swallowing, he continued. “It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who appreciates the food here. Anyways, I’m Tels, and I assume that you’re a fellow Ghostblood. Think you’re going to get any kind of promotion tonight?”

[kenod]

22 minutes ago, Truthless of Shinovar said:

“Oh, fwhello,” Tels said around a mouthful of food, when he noticed the woman approaching the food table. His plate, held up by ribbons of sand, was stacked high, and there was a surprising amount of food that had been fit onto the plate. Swallowing, he continued. “It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who appreciates the food here. Anyways, I’m Tels, and I assume that you’re a fellow Ghostblood. Think you’re going to get any kind of promotion tonight?”

Mari heard someone speak to her and turned around to look at him. Really? She thought with annoyance when she saw all the food, though she was careful not to let it show. Doing that would be a sure-fire way to cause trouble. "Mari." She said, nodding at him. "Don't think so," she replied, making a poor attempt at small talk. "Don't see the need for it either. Can't see any benefits to a promotion."

[Truthless of Shinovar he/him]

5 minutes ago, kenod said:

Mari heard someone speak to her and turned around to look at him. Really? She thought with annoyance when she saw all the food, though she was careful not to let it show. Doing that would be a sure-fire way to cause trouble. "Mari." She said, nodding at him. "Don't think so," she replied, making a poor attempt at small talk. "Don't see the need for it either. Can't see any benefits to a promotion."

"Well, there's always the fact that you'll have more authority. You can get things done the way that you want to, or need to, in most cases, not have to rely on orders from others. Besides, I've heard the pay is great!" Tels said.

[kenod]

4 minutes ago, Truthless of Shinovar said:

"Well, there's always the fact that you'll have more authority. You can get things done the way that you want to, or need to, in most cases, not have to rely on orders from others. Besides, I've heard the pay is great!" Tels said.

"I see," Mari replied with a short nod. "Still, pay doesn't matter much, I have too much already, and I already work solo most of the time."  Of course, she thought to herself, it would allow her to stop doing assassinations. Her mind shied away from that though. Thought like those were dangerous.

"Are you getting a promotion?" She asked, trying to distract herself.

[Truthless of Shinovar he/him]

3 hours ago, kenod said:

"I see," Mari replied with a short nod. "Still, pay doesn't matter much, I have too much already, and I already work solo most of the time."  Of course, she thought to herself, it would allow her to stop doing assassinations. Her mind shied away from that though. Thought like those were dangerous.

"Are you getting a promotion?" She asked, trying to distract herself.

“Oh, I’m not for sure,” Tels said. “I’d love to get one, but I’m not for sure if my actions during the whole Ajax crisis qualify me for a promotion. Nothing serious at least, I’d assume.” 

Pausing for a moment to lift a waffle to his mouth, Tels then continued. “Any stories? About being a Ghostblood?”