(OOC: Ok... let's be clear... this is a PARTY thread. There will be no fighting or combat in this thread. If insults starts flying and you feel the need to hit someone or something, post a thread out on the street and get your fight underway. Have fun... insult the enemy, but don't exchange blows here. Thank you.)

IC:
The building stood only ten floors high, but yet it housed one of the most important organizations for Mutant & Human rights. "Humane Treatment For Mutants & Humans Alike" was a well funded operation that reached out to all men, whether they were human or mutant, in order to help end the suffering and poverty that plagues countries all across the globe. Tonight they were throwing a Valentine's Eve Ball that cost $1,000 per ticket for humans and was completely free for the mutant community. Celebrities that wanted to show how open and friendly they were to all beings had come, along with plenty of politicians. The floors were packed and slowly the mutants were beginning to drift in.

********************************************

The lobby and first floor balconies were decorated to the hilt. Silver balloons, pink and red streamers, and more hearts than you could count covered the walls and balcony railing. The lobby had about eight to ten different round tables spread throughout the floor, each one covered with a different tasty hoerderve. Servers dressed to the hilt in tuxedos walked through the crowd, offering glasses of champagne, water, or red wine to anyone interested.

Back in the far corner of the room, a small stage had been set up and a five piece band played various jazz and contemporary music favorites. A large area of the room had been cleared for dancing if anyone was interested and chairs were scattered near the edges of the room in small groups to allow chatting and networking.

(OOC: Enjoy!)

Kasumi hurd alot about this ball. She ended up going her red hair is crules in a up due with some ringgits around her face. She has on light teal eye make up that brings out the color in her eyes. Her dres is a long tale green dress that is backless, it wraps around her body it is made of a silk with a light over lay it looks like she is almost floteing. Even with her matching high heals her feet can not be seen.

Her nails are painted teal green also. Kasumi falls kind of bear letting it all hang out her spots on her face and back can be seen. She feels her heart racing some as she takes a glass of red wine. Soon Kasumi walks to one of the balconies that has noone on it. She soon drinks half glass of the wine as she holds it. Kasumi wonders why she is here. She soon closes her eyes if she wonders if she should leave.

Raina had arrived with her group in style thanks in part to having Luke along. Arriving to any function in a limo was always nice. She was dressed for a ball- seemingly. Her hair was pulled back with bobby pins and she wore a flowing gray dress. Her nails were painted an off pearl and she wore a simple silver chain and silver small hoops in her ears. She had to admit part of her loved the idea of being at a Valentine's ball with Luke... except seeing deathstar there was a constant reminder she wasn't here for the fun. But it was easy to get lost in the delusion that upon arriving home from Paris she and Luke were sweapt away into a magical ball.

She approved of having live music and was only sorry that she was going to miss it. As she made her way through the crowd she took in the scene and took notice of what mutants were there, what humans. Did she know any of them? Could she remember their faces? She took notice of the exits-doors and windows while she mingled with familiar faces. She made note of the security guards and was pleasently impressed when she noticed one didn't seem to be at his post.

She looked to Luke and Deathstar and made hard eye contact, then shifted her gaze to the stairway. She waited a beat- just a beat- and started walking knowing they'd be behind her soon.

ooc: continued: theultimatexmen.proboards26.com/index.cgi?board=newyorkcity&action=display&thread=3683&page=1#68103

Calley was wearing a cream white suit with a red vest underneath, and gleefully clashing black shoes. Because that, friends, is style. And when one is escorting Katrina Dumonde, one positively must have style.

The party was just starting; many people were still arriving outdoors, and milling around, waiting on the celebrities. Not really knowing many celebrities himself, Calley had been a fan of going in to look at the pretty ball room before it filled to the brim with high-nosed city sophisticates who benevolently showered a thousand dollars worth of pocket change on philanthropic causes.

Naturally, the best place to do this was from the balconies overlooking the grand floor below. It seems like they weren't the only one with that idea. Calley caught a flash of teal nails and green silk, with dark tattoos like spots across back and arms; it was kind of a chic look, that was for sure. Like something out of Star Trek. Or were those spots the sort of thing that comes pre-made? Anything went, in New York City. At this ball, in particular.

"Don't mind us," Calley apologized, squeezing onto the balcony with the most well dressed thirteen year old in New York in tow. "Just makin' with the gawkin' before them high-class folks mossy on in. Hyuck," Calley added with a grin, for good measure. A young woman drinking alone on a balcony removed from where folks would typically gather. Not usually a good sign. It warranted an oblivious joke or two.

Calley leaned out over the railing, blinking. "Wow. Those chandeliers are beautiful." His neck craned up. Oh yeah! Fully painted ceiling. And not 'off white' or 'beige': painted like a cathedral in Italy, painted. This, friends, was a high class establishment.

Calley was not a very high-class individual. He was an upper middle-class smog dweller from Newark, New Jersey who had spent two years eating rodents in alleyways. To push off any encroaching shame of his lacking social graces--and to clearly embrace his pride of the same--Calley turned a question to their fellow balcony dweller, with a pointed finger at her wine glass.

"Do you know if they have anything in non-alcoholic? Kinda got some underage things goin' on, over here." She looked a bit young herself, but then, a lot of people of their particular genetic make-up tended to be otherwise than what they seemed.

Dropping the 'g' off of your -ing's was the best way to embrace your pride, as a gawker at someone else's ball.

Kausmi almost jumps out of her skin as she moves to the side bowing her head, she is holding on tight to the glass that she has. She hears what Calley says "Yes they are nice." her voice is rather shy as she speeks. She down the rest of the wine that she has "I think they have water.."

Kasumi still feels her heart pounding as she leans on the realing. Her eyes looks at him soon her spots on her face is seen also. She soon runs her hand down the back of her neck at the least she has not stared making her poisons yet. She takes a deep breath of air as she turns around.

Kasumi looks down at the people as she speeks "I should not even be here." she is alone for one thing and she is not use at all to showing her spots. She feels so naked at this time her heart has not slowed down one time. Kasumis eyes are a dim green as she watches people start to dance. She does not speeks anymore as she keeps thinking about getting out of this place.

Society... glitz... glamour... alcohol...

Luke had spent more than enough time at these sorts of parties before he started working with the X-Men. He had never expected to have to go to something like this while on a mission. In fact, he would much rather have been out on the dance floor with Raina in his arms but that just wasn't going to happen today it seemed.

People knew him... people recognized him. Luke Jacobs would not be able to stay undercover in a party like this and while in one way that was a bad thing, in another way it was the perfect cover. Who would suspect a blind man of breaking into where he didn't belong? Who would expect a society man like Luke Jacobs of doing something like that?

Dressed to the hilt in a classic black and white tuxedo with one red rose tucked in his lapel, Luke carefully made his way through the growing crowd. A smile here... a word of greeting there... all carried out with the utmost charm as he carefully swung his cane back and forth and navigated through the crowd.

"Harold! Glad you made it. How's that beautiful secretary of yours?"

"Julia... you smell and sound as lovely as ever. Save me a dance?"

"Chris! I heard you got married. When do I get to meet the lovely bride?"

Even as he went about chatting and making small talk his sonar was focused in Raina's direction, waiting for the team leader to make her move. Finally he saw her glance in his direction and then a moment later begin walking purposefully toward the stairwell.

"Showtime." Luke thought to himself as he waited a few moments and then headed off in the same direction that his red haired beauty had taken.

(OOC: Continued At Mission Thread)

The ball was definitely out of Deathstar's comfort zone, wearing dresses, make-up and high heels was not Deathstar's idea of an x-man mission. She step out of the limo one foot at a time, showing off her pearly-white four inch heels while cameras flash at the big event. Deathstar stepped out of the limo wearing a strapless white knee length dress with pearls embroidered on the shear fabric, "Who design the dress ?, who's your date?, are you a mutie?" Deathstar slowly grew irritated by the obnoxious questions from the media, "no comment!" she replied pasting a fake Hollywood smile on face packed with make-up. She walked carefully on the red carpet, stopping every other pace to pose for pictures, her red ruby eyes scans the area for any suspicious activity, "OK guys! I gotta go!", she said to the photographers as she walk inside the ball.

This was the first time Deathstar had been to any event of this magnitude, she stops once she enters to take a moment to absorb the scene soon to notice Raina and a trainee she never met. She heads over to their direction before being stopped by Waiter, "care for a drink?" Deathstar eyes from the Waiter back to Raina, "um!, no thanks" she replied as she hurried over to her teammates following them up the stairway.

This was not a place for a raggedy, grey haired, newly appointed gravedigger in an old brown mafia style suit and fedora, but it had said all were welcome and mutants were free. Cadaver wasnt one to pass up good food, live music, and beautiful (with a capital B) people for a night of canned baked beans, a cd player and a drafty shack. ........ maybe i shouldnt have bought most of this suit at a thrift store, but thanks for the hat grandpa pasedyn........ He loved the hat. his father and great grandfather had both worn it. It was his most prized possession. He tipped the hat to the women, gave a brief wave to the men, and generally had a good time. He was being treated as an equal. .........i am LOVIN this.....

Cadaver grabbed some red wine from a waiter and headed up to the nearest balcony. A lovely redheaded woman in a greenish dress was speaking to a regal man in a grey suit and his 13 year old friend. "good evening everyone!" he proclaimed in a joyful voice with a smile on his face "hope im not being obtrusive, just wanted a little break." He looked breifly into the eyes of every balcony dweller. Tipping his hat regally to the women. .......... chivalry is never dead.......

OOC: Cadaver's suit is not dirty or torn just old fashioned. In memory of my dead great grandfather Frank Pasedyn. Peace be with u.

Valentine's Day had finally finally arrived. With two “finally”s. Katrina had been looking forward to it for weeks. After Calley had asked her to go with him, it had taken the first week to get up her courage to ask for permission. It took another two days to convince her mother, Claire, that Calley was a valid chaperone, since he was eighteen and no, it wasn't a date so being eighteen didn't count against him either. It took another week to find the perfect dress, which had led to some quality mother-daughter bonding time in dressing rooms where they tried on every thing in the store with a sequence or a ruffle from skimpy to frumpy and hideous to elegant. In the end Katrina had fallen in love with a ruffled pink dress with a ribbon tied around the waist; it was the perfect color for a Valentine's outing. Then there was two weeks of crossing days off the calendar.

Of course, once the day actually arrived, there was more preparations. Hair had to be done, nails painted to match her dress, and makeup applied so subtly Katrina could have sworn her mom hadn't actually put any on her. Then there were pictures to commemorate her first ball. By the time Claire was finished fussing and photographing, Katrina had begun to wonder if the ball would be worth it.

One taxicab ride later, she knew it was.

She let Calley steer her up towards a balcony, presumably so they could gawk at people as they walked through the doorway below. Katrina got an early start on the gawking as he pulled her hand, twining them through the crowds as effortlessly as a cat. Here there was a woman with hair that actually looked like it was on fire. There was a man with three fox tails poking out beneath the twin black tails of his tuxedo. Up on the balcony was a young woman, elegantly dressed in a teal dress that matched the teal flecks in her almond shaped green eyes and complimented her flaming (but not literally) hair. Her dress was cut perfectly to show off the spots on her arms and back.

The thirteen year old took a spot next to the elegant lady and leaned over the banister to get a better look at the people below. She wondered if she would recognize anyone down there. Perhaps a politician that had visited her previous home when she lived with her Senator father, or maybe a mutant friend from the Resistance she hadn't seen in forever.

“It's so cool,” she breathed. “A year ago, this never would have been possible.”

>>>"I should not even be here."

Katrina looked over to the woman who shared their balcony, who was sighing wistfully. Her face was visible now with elegant spots sprinkled across it to match the ones on her back. They were pretty, Katrina decided. Maybe the woman was just feeling lonely, since she didn't appear to have come with anyone else.

“It's okay, you can hang out with us,” the teen illusionist offered. “We probably don't belong at such a fancy place either. I'm Katrina, nice to meet you!”

Letting out a small whistle as his car pulled up to the ball Sam put it in park and let the valet take his polished pearl white custom G-6 to the parking lot. Sure he could have taken a limo like everyone else but why convert to the norms? Looks more interesting this way. Sam after all did have a thing for attention he was all about it and this party was "Humane Treatment For Mutants & Humans Alike" so what better place for an X-men to be this was what they were all about after all right?

Walking to the entrance Sam smiled as the flashes of photographers started shooting at him and a few of the people behind him, ‘can’t see keep smiling keep smiling!’ thought Sam as he swaggered over to the side to make way for the ‘stars’ who were behind him almost pushing him out of the way. ‘What’s so special bout being rich?’ asked Sam to himself, ‘got more money then they do all together’ sighing and then bending over to tie his shoe.

He was wearing his fancy leather dress shoes that was only complete when it fit his custom made James bond looking tuxedo. Sam loved everything about it, especially the inside pocket that was pressed against his Ipod that fed to a wireless ear bud that reside in his ear that he hadn’t turned on yet but still might.

After the shoe was tied Sam brushed his suit and rand his fingers threw his hair, which was spiked up. Sam waved to a photographer that was focused on him, You a Mutant? nodding to the man Sam raised his hands up like he was about to give a grand performance only to point his hands at the ground forming a life like swan sculptor made of ice it stood no less than three feet tall but it did it’s job. The reporters and photographers were eating it up.

Questions were flying left and right as Sam looked around just smiling and waving, after attention getting Sam pointed to the swan which began to lift it’s wings up and down which in turn made it lift off, once in the air it circled Sam once then flew higher and higher to the point it was almost out of Sam’s range. From there it turned to a snow like dust and was carried with the wind giving the area above them a white glittery look.

Grinning to the crowd who loved the performance Sam gave a small bow and then spotted his ‘friend date’ for the night. Giving a big grin and walking her way Sam tried not to attract anymore attention as he walked closer to her, “Hey, still think you should have let me drive you here!” said Sam as he extended his arm all gentlemanly for Ghost to hook on to. He grinned at her and gave her a small wink noticing her aqua colored dress, “You look fantastic!”

Koga had been told that he could go to the ball if he was on his best behavior…what had he done to deserve such a trouble making reputation…He knew but still it was a far cry from his human life of 4.0 gpa, Ap classes, Gymnastic scholarships, first chair violinist….here, he was the kid that he had to be watched. They said that he didn’t have to go if he didn’t want to but it would set a good example. The real reason he went however was because he saw the beautiful Katrina in a pink number and she was being escorted by the tiger….he had mad origami gifts for both of them. he at first only made one for Katrina but thought better of it considering her keeper was about. The first was a .
pink simple kitten for Kat it was cute. The tiger was cute as well but it was not at all from the same place. It was odd to see Calley in human form an d know about all that was hidden under the young man’s flesh.

He however found him self faced with what most males would gawk and drool over, Koga might even have let a appreciative glance run across her, but now that she was talking to him it felt weird. Angelina Jolie was talking to him casually about all the children she had adopted as if warming him to a subject… Had he not joked with his friends that she thought orphans were pokemon, and she had to catch them all. The wind up and the pitch.

“so Ryuichi, I was just thinking that, if you wanted to, Brad and I could find you I nice room in our homes and show you the life that you deserve.”

“With all do ressspect Mrs. Jolie, I am very happy at the ssschool, though I am sssure that our school founders would not turn away any donationsss you might care to make to the ssschool, I am after all one of many young mutantsss in my sssituation. I alssso find that Xavier’sss isss the bessst place to learn to help improve this world and sssucceed, I am ofcourssse flattered.”

“Well, aren’t you just precious. You can tell your founders to look for a check in the mail, dear.” Angelina put a finger under his color changing chin and smiled at him. “You are a beautiful young man, don’t let anyone tell you other wise. Have a good night Ryuichi.”

Koga’s cheeks flared into embarrassment and he nodded speechlessly. This had however made him loose complete track of the pair he was trying to catch. He glanced around and scanned every where for Kat and Cal. He wondered who all else got dragged into this lovely event. His eyes caught sight of seven large men entering into the building and it was exactly what they had talked about and been warned about. Would they behave or would they wreak havoc? These men were known criminals and fanatics; just before he had arrived at the mansion they had been involved in a giant brawl on the lawn. He didn’t see anyone else around so at the very least he would hang around Mrs. Jolie, to make sure he would at least offer her time to escape.

Sara’s feet were Bare, but the rest of her was clothed quite well. Thanks to some picky pocket money, Sara had a managed to put together a nice outfit. That’s right out fit. Not gown. Not skirt. Sara had never warn one, and she didn’t plan to start.

She slunk her way onto the seen of the ball in dress pants. Sara had selected a pair of silky pants that were loose around her legs. They flowed around Sara’s legs as she walked, like water or wind and one could only tell that the pants were pants, if Sara’s strides lengthened wide enough, in shimmering navy black. Sara’s top was cut with the same flowing elegant design. The hem of her shirt fell in four corners that reached down to Sara’s mid thigh. A thick V shaped belt repeated the v shaped angle of Sara’s neck line, and gave her slender elongated frame, some shape the way it was warn high on her waist. A barrowed gold necklace accented Sara neck, and she’d groomed her fur smooth. Her hair had been simply brushed and left down around the shoulders of her sleeveless top.

Sara chose not to walk down the carpet. She ended up approaching the party from behind the photographers, and she waited till the majority of people were paying attention to a flying ice sculpture to step over the rope near the door, and ducked into the room, while the attention still hadn’t focused on her.

Once inside, Sara lifted her head to look around and take in the different smells and scenes. There was a balcony and the feline side of Sara drew her straight for the height. She started making her way up the stairs.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Another Valentine's Day spent alone. She frowned, Nunally had debated over and over in her head to go to the Ball. She had no mutant friends and never had the gall to speak to a boy with romantic intent. And yet, here she was, riding a taxi to a ball that she snuck out of the boarding school for, she hoped that she'd be able sneak back in.


She wore her frizzed hair in a ponytail, held back with a elaborate band with false, gold colored, gems. Her dress was the same color; a fancy party dress her mother got her for her birthday that flattered her legs making them appear longer. Mother of pearl earrings adorned the four holes in her ears as she played with the gold chain her roommate donated to her. Her flats were cream colored complete with a matching shawl that gave her limited warmth. "Stop here, please." Nunally paid her fare and walked slowly towards the building. She turned to the blank space where the taxi stopped. Her narrow escape plan was thwarted. She pulled out a small compact from the white purse she brought, and she examined herself. She never felt so...feminine before.

She never wore stockings or light colored dresses, she didn't feel like herself. Her makeup was natural, a bit of foundation and clear lip gloss. She sighed, Nunally forgot to remove her eye contact. It was only way they were going to know if she was a member of the mutant community or not. She removed it and quickly placed in the small zipper part of her purse, revealing a glowing, purple colored iris. She sighed. "Showtime."

As she entered the building, she quickly went to the buffet area, she forgot to eat lunch in the mess hall earlier and she was STARVING. As she voraciously stuffed a shrimp in her mouth, she looked around and quickly regained her ladylikeness as she began another one.

Abyss was in a interesting mood as he approached this ball, they were making an entrance today and they were to be on their best behavior…better than their best behavior. At least up until the point that someone started trouble with them, he had given the speech to his brothers and they were supposedly following the rules.

He wore his best today black with red pinstripes. Platinum pocket watch, suspenders, tie, black and red wing tips, He brothers were dressed to suit, except each was wearing a different color replacing Abyss’s red with blue, purple, green, gray, white. Abyss flew up to the red carpet on his custom sports bike. It had to be built to work with his body. He stepped off the bike and pulled off his helmet. He tossed the helmet into the air and opened a void to catch it. He then picked up the Motorcycle and placed it into the void as well. He then opened five voids and his dashing brothers stepped forth, Jupiter handing Abyss his fedora. Pluto was still coming from the sanctuary, he had bussines to attend? And the six proceeded to make steady pace into the ball, they attracted plenty of attention but the journalists were well aware of who this was and didn’t risk asking the wrong question.

When they made their way into the ball the crowds still seemed to surge out of their way.

Abyss turned to the others. “Have fun tonight and remember, words are speaking louder than action tonight.” His eyes were on Jupiter the whole time he said the sentence. The group spread out and began exclusively talking to other mutants and enjoying the crowd. Was their talk still of the pros of being mutant and the cons of being human certainly.

Ghost arrived earlier than was typical to dodge the media. She smiled and chatted with the early arriving humans, but for the most part she faded into the tapestries. Everything was glitz and glam and no amount of new dresses or makeup or fancy hair-do's would make her feel as glorious as all the celebs and rich people. But she stood by her 20's thing. She'd always wanted to try it with her white hair.

She even got to shake hands with some of the celebrities. Not that she really knew what names went with the faces. The most embarrassing was Jon Bon Jovi. He rattled on for a bit about their cause, and only when Ghost got the courage to ask who he was did he laugh and introduce himself. Oops. She still didn't really know who he was, but she nodded and smiled.

Loitering by the foot of the red carpet, Ghost smiled when her friend drove up in a car that matched her hair. She would have to ask for a ride later. Although the smile ended there. She wasn't exactly impressed with the display. Not that it wasn't an impressive display, it was that he was playing to the cameras.

At least he calmed down a bit before he joined her at the doorway. A man drove up on a motorcycle and the cameras descended upon him. Ghost almost felt sorry for the guy. At least there wouldn't be a lot of pictures of her.

“Hey, still think you should have let me drive you here!”
"What? And ruin all your eligible ice bachelor pictures? No thanks." Sam graciously offered her his arm and she accepted. It was nice to have an arm to cling to for a Valentine's Day shin-dig. It would have been miserable to stay home alone.

“You look fantastic!”
"You're not half-bad yourself, Dapper Dan. Time to boogie?" If there was one person who could make a drab party lively, it was the mutant at her elbow.

And there were so many people to meet!