Hand in hers while his other was around her waist, slightly hunched over Bacchus grinned. “Despite me having to keep my clothes on yes, I am having a good time…” trying to keep his face as straight laced as he could he looked into her eyes and said in the best impersonation of Erica from back home, “This is my first ball and I wanted I to be oh so special!” he looked up trying hard not to laugh as he gave Isabel a little spin and pulled her back into him.

Looking back down at her with a bigger grin, “I happen to be slightly intoxicated at the moment, that's one of the reasons I am look like I am having such a good time.” Letting out a small laugh he continued, “That and I happen to be dancing with the best looking Sheila in the house helps a lot.” As he made the motion for another spin, he asked, “Don’t tell me your not having fun yet? I might have to pick up my fun levels a bit.”

Grinning and twirling Isabel for the third time Bacchus caught her and leaned over her and went in for a kiss as his muscles twitched slightly due to the slight loss of control due not only to the situation and the slight intoxication but rather his body was doing it out of protest. Looking from Isabel’s lips down to his body his face quickly frowned, “Looks like I lost the bet….” Said Bacchus as he stood up pulling Isabel up from the leaning kiss in the process. Looking trough the torn rags of clothes Bacchus picked up his belt flask and the two others he had stashed on his person at the time.

His eyes met Isabel’s as he said, “Think this means you won the bet…” from Isabel Bacchus’s eyes traveled around a bit as more and more people started to notice a seven foot tall man standing naked in the middle of the ball. “Damn…” was all Bacchus could say.

"God forbid you have to look decent in public," Isabel replied, rolling her eyes at his comment, though a grin had also broken out across her features. She had never met another person that held such disdain for clothing. He did keep things interesting though, she'd give him that much credit. And she found herself to be genuinely glad that he confessed to be enjoying himself, and she in turn was having fun now that the formalities of entering the party were over and done with and they were able to relax a little. A night not enjoyed was a night wasted, after all, and Isabel was one of the first people to seek out a good time. She simply chuckled at the 'oh so special' remark, wondering how long Bacchus could last without laughing himself before she was abruptly spun, her laugh morphing into a short sound of surprise.

Really, she should have expected it, especially with the whole dancing thing they were doing. However, with the exception of her eyes widening a bit and a slightly tighter grip on her dance partner's hand, her nerves were none the worse for wear and she was effectively able to regain her composure. "Is there ever a time you're not intoxicated, slightly or otherwise?" she questioned rhetorically as she refocused her attention on the Giant. She couldn't seem to recall a time when she'd seen him without some sort of alcohol nearby or already in his system. It couldn't possibly have been healthy for him. Perhaps she'd speak with him about it at some point.

She was more prepared for the second spin and therefore more readily went with the motion, her movement doubtlessly more fluid than her previous almost-stumbling attempts to keep up with the action. She heard the addition to his explanation about why he was having a good time, but she chose not to reply to it. It was easy enough to tell he was exaggerating, particularly when there were a handful of completely gorgeous women floating through the crowds. Many of them were celebrities that had made an appearance, most likely to boost their careers in showing the public that they were not opposed to the mutant population. However, that knowledge didn't seem sufficient enough in keeping her face cool, her cheeks feeling as if they'd turned a few shades darker, much to her displeasure.

"Is that a threat?" she asked, hoping to keep Bane's attention on the conversation, rather than on her face until she faded back to her normal color. "I'm not so sure these people can handle your kind of fun." She of course could handle it well enough. But why make a scene and cut the party short? She went with the third twirl that she was led into, her arm moving up to wrap around Bane's neck when a dip followed, attempting to keep her balance and find a sort of anchor for herself. She doubted that her companion would let her slip, but it was an instinctive precaution that she didn't bother to repress.

On the other hand, the instinct to punch him in the face for that kiss was a little harder to push down. The rules of the party, Abyss' cautioning advice, and her participation in the bet also kept her from taking a jab at him. She had promised to behave, and so she would, though it certainly wasn't for the Giant's sake. She couldn't really hurt him anyhow. It was a waste of effort, but in the least it always made her feel better. However, rather than settling on giving him a shove as was characteristic of her in these increasingly common circumstances, she instead did nothing. She made no move to get rid of him, but she also did nothing to encourage him, either. Perhaps a little shock on his end would confuse him into behaving. And this move had absolutely no connection to any feelings toward the Giant. She would place the blame on the holiday. Valentine's Day had the uncanny ability to turn people into piles of emotional mush. Isabel's feelings may or may not have been susceptible to such abilities, but she most certainly wasn't acting on them.

The sudden loss of his clothes was unexpected. Casually she backed up a step of two as her position was righted and Bane inspected the damage. She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at his expression. This may have been the first time she'd ever seen him disappointed with the attention he was getting, especially when it was over his lack of proper attire. "Looks like it, yeah, Though I think I'll wait a while to get my prize," she commented, unable to keep from grinning at her companion. "Does this mean you'll be wanting to head back to the Sanctuary, or are you going to start flaunting yourself like you usually do?" she continued, ignoring the people around them that stared or whispered in nearby ears. She could probably help him find something to wear somewhere around the building. A coat would be easy. People left their jackets on the back of chairs all the time. It was the pants that would be the difficult article of clothing to procure.

Not changing his expression at all as Garret smiled at him and handed him a card, which Sam slowly read over and over again. The first thing he saw was ‘The Sanctuary’ then the rest of the info. Sam blinked looked up at Garret and smiled, “Didn’t know your last name is Wills…” grinning and patting Garret on the shoulder Sam said, “It's fantastic you found a job man…” the only thing that worried him was the Sanctuary in black letters at the top of the card, sure not all Sanctuary members were with the order but there was a lot of them in the extremist group that was supposedly about mutant peace.

Having mixed feeling about the Sanctuary Sam couldn’t say much seeing as he had visited the place once already. It was mainly to make sure he had a back up place to live but he visited them never the less. The fact that the sanctuary and the Mansion weren’t much different from each other didn’t help get Sam any more upset. He approved of the Sanctuary but not the group they were often affiliated with but Sam decided to keep his thoughts on the subject to himself seeing as Garret had an excited and happy look on his face.

Keeping his composure Sam nodded to Garret and said, “I visited there once before, and it wasn’t a bad tour, I think I wouldn’t mind stopping by again and coming for a visit.” Smiling and nodding, “Well I am glad you found your place, not everyone is as fortunate as you are.” Nodding his head once more he smiled to Garret tucked the card in his pocket and looked to the oncoming big red mutant.

Nodding his head to the oncoming mutant who he had seen quiet a bit throughout the ball but at different locations, “Name’s Sam,” offering his hand Sam decided not to be rude and offer up a greeting for the way this red figure was talking he wasn’t the same one as the one who tried starting something with him before.

“Because it can be ours, Be cause it is Ours.”

The red, jolly man wanted to share his birthday with her. She was happy and confused at the same time. She jumped up with her hands in the air and said:" Yay !" "What now?" She asked confused but in a nice way.

“Happy Birthday! after this, lets go get you a present.”

She was happily suprised by the sound of presents and cake. Two of her most favorite things in the world and she had missed those for a really long time. The red, jolly man ordered cake and continued the story. Cailyn couldn't sit still anymore out of excitement and happyness and she rocked back and forth in the chair next to the jolly red man.

Koga daftly maneuvered through the crowd of swaying hips and shaking bodies. He paused as he watched the red man put the table top into the trash can and he was near Katrina, his eyes flickered to the man's now subdued face, he was so going to to tell Katrina about the cigarette pusher. what a jerk, he might be trying to get Katrina hooked on nicotine now too.

The big guy shrugged and said something right before he arrived.

He paced calmly up to the Pair. "Hello Katrina." a protectiveness aparent in his gretting. and then a kurt and cold acknowledgment of the big red man. "Sir." He glanced at the big man and then back to Katrina, he needed a reason to get Katrina away from the big man. He pulled his shoes off of his shoulder that had been there since climbed up to the baclony, pulling the socks out of the shoes and then replaced them. After all of that he looked to Katrina again. "Do You want to dance?"

~~ “Perhaps the reason relationships become stale for you is that you fail to inspire her… After all a spark requires available tinder.”

“Oh, really, haven’t had that complaint before. Quite the opposite in fact.” He said gently, matter of factually, just because the truth happened to sound boastful, it didn’t mean it wasn’t the truth.

~~“And wild cat …tame as I like…”

“I see. Though, while I must say a collar around your neck does sound appealing, I can’t see you keeping it there.” He smirked at her, she was giving him lessons? Oh, the audacity of youth.”

~~“And I did preface my comments about your brothers with a warning.”

“True, it wasn’t offense, ofcourse. Merely agreeing on some of the points you made.”

~~“I believe it is your turn to tell me what you have learned…”

“A test so soon, I think I might need more thorough tutoring before I pass any tests, I will say that teasing you has taught me that I appreciate the way you think. However, I also think that all this theory and Insight might be as much directed at yourself as it is to me. After all, I don’t see a male guardedly protecting his pseudo claim to you, eh wildcat? I mean you can’t expect me to believe that you honestly wish to be a tamed little kitten, while you come baring proof of the exact opposite. More so, not to question your moral, but you didn’t seem so chaste in the other room. I think perhaps I might need those lessons after all. Bring a ruler?” He lifted her into the air by her waist and rotated at a quick pace after she caressed his chest to the quickening tempo. He liked a challenge and didn’t want to sway her to thoroughly either way. She seemed to take more than enough offense to one singular glance that this one, might be as much trouble as she was worth, not too much but just balancing out to as much pleasure as pain.



~*******~


~~“Well, thanks I guess. I was up on the balcony. I failed the first attempt to do that; I guess there were too many people watching. I think I figured out how to send a message like that so only one person can hear it, though. I have to practice some more, since I'm not sure exactly how it worked,”

“Impressive, I suppose it is because I think of illusions as visual, it is neat to see you using the vocal part of it as well. You are a dangerous young woman you know that?

~~“Oh. Ryooichi? He climbs walls and changes colors. I'm not sure what else he can do. Maybe he has telekinesis or phasing abilities,” she added a shrug to punctuate the end of her sentence. “Why do you ask?”

“I was messing with him,” he bagan and then defended. “Just a little!?” and he backed him self up with either the best bluff I have ever heard, or the kid is dangerous in a very serious way, a way that makes m want to pick you up and keep you away from him.”

“guess it doesn’t matter, if you trust him, he is probably pretty decent and just nervous around me.” He shrugged and then saw the young man walk up. “speak of the devil.”

~~"Hello Katrina." "Sir."

“Oh, I am sir now hmm?” Saturn laughed at the change in the young man. maybe he wanted to pick up kat and run for more then one reason.

~~"Do You want to dance?"
~******~
“Name’s Sam,”

“Well met Sam.” Abyss said calmly, not wanting to start getting the near explosion of his temper started on mere speculation of whether he was a mutant or not.

“ So, How are you gentlemen enjoying the Ball? I have to say they pulled out more stops then I would have thought..”

~****~
~~" Yay !" "What now?"

“Happy Birthday! after this, lets go get you a present.”

After the cake arrived, Jupiter smiled, dog eared the corner of the page very slightly and as they ate he considered what to get her. Perhaps something fun, or maybe he would just take her shopping, that had promise. If they treated birthdays the same way the place he grew up in, then she could use some catching up.

He finished his cake pretty quickly. “So, where do you want to go to shop?” He knew she was excited at the near inability to not jump up and run around. He should lighten up more often.

Laughing at the subtle bragging, Jaxon started to speak but then stopped. “I meant…” She chuckled, and shook her head. It didn’t have anything to do with that. It had been Jaxon’s experience that the fires in romance died when people stopped taking care of them. It didn’t matter how hot or hard someone sparked if there wasn’t a receptive place to grow.

With an arched eyebrow she couldn’t help but give him a smile. “I won’t tame myself…”

She couldn’t help the burst of laughter that brought a few glances their way. Ignoring them, Jax rolled her eyes. “Who would be guarding me Venus? The businessmen my family works with? Or their bratty sons?...” With a soft sigh and a smile, more inwardly directed because Jaxon knew she had a long list of requirements that very few men could meet, she added “The wild are not tamed by the mild and the strong do not surrender to the weak… And social climbers are not to my taste.”

Jaxon smiled again when she was lifted and set again, the music picking up pace. “It is a harsh world and we must be tough to survive- As wild as we need to be. Like I said, I want to choose if I am tame or wild, or chaste… not have my hand forced by the lack of someone strong enough to provide the safety of a choice.” Jaxon could feel the tone of the conversation tilting in a more somber direction, deepening to a point she wasn’t comfortable reaching with him at this moment. He had managed to make her forget the setting and the watchful eyes around them, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. And the moment she thought about it, sure enough she became aware of the eyes and whispers.

Almost immediately her posture changed. “Your lessons will have to wait, unfortunately. You can direct as much theory at me as you like, if you figure me out I welcome the knowledge…” The soft smile she gave him now was one of awareness of her surroundings, less free than before. Venus had done a wonderful job of distracting her, but it had faded.

Katrina scowled when Saturn called her dangerous. “I'm nothing of the kind.” She would never hurt anyone, and she'd prefer it if she wasn't ever forced to do it either. If her powers were strong enough that she could be called “dangerous” by a man who could probably move mountains if they got in his way it only provided further reason to keep those powers on the down low. Actually the thought that she might be dangerous scared her just a little.

“There's nothing dangerous about turning invisible,” she finished lamely in case anyone had been listening in on the exchange.

Saturn earned himself another scowl for messing with Ryuichi, even if it was just a little. “I don't think he's dangerous either. So there. The only dangerous thing around here is your cigarettes.”

The young teen tried to wipe the scowl off her face before her red skinned lizard friend reappeared, but it was hard. The storm clouds just seemed to keep gathering around her. Perhaps she had just stayed too late at the ball and was turning back into a pumpkin. She glanced up at the big golden-lit clock. It wasn't that late yet, she was just starting to feel like it was.

>>>"Hello Katrina." ... "Sir."

The look in the young boy's glittering black eyes when he said 'sir' matched the look in Saturn's eye when he had threatened to scoop her up and run away with her. Was that protectiveness, from both of them? Something in those black eyes seemed to click, as if he'd made a decision, and he started putting his shoes back on.

>>>"Do you want to dance?"

Katrina's eyebrows unknit themselves in favor of an arched position.

“Oh.” She was a little surprised, but not against the idea. “Sure. I'd like that.” She started walking toward Ryuichi and the dance floor, then turned back to give Saturn a hug quickly before leaving. “You behave now, mister.” She used her best serious voice. It indicated that if he didn't listen to her he'd be in big trouble. Calley had been in that position once; he could attest that it wasn't a good position to be in.

With her stern warning out of the way, Katrina was ready to head to the dance floor. She turned and saw... no she didn't see anything. There was no bare backside of a seven foot tall man standing in the middle of the dance floor. She couldn't believe that her imagination would create such a thing, nor could she believe that something like that could be real. Therefore it must not exist.

Exist or not, Katrina turned her head away blushing. “Err, maybe over there would be the best place to dance,” she pointed in the opposite direction of the indecency.

>>>"I'm glad... to at least dance once at a party like this."

Sebastian nodded, “I'm glad as well.” He swung her around, liking the way his tail swished one way around the circle and her skirt swished the opposite way like a yin yang. They were both quiet for the first few minutes while they found the rhythm of the dance. Ghost was concentrating on his wispy white chin hairs, but it didn't seem like she was really inspecting his goatee, more like concentrating on her feet. She seemed to be getting the hang of it.

A moment later she stepped forward instead of back by mistake and ended up tumbling forward into Sebastian's chest. He caught her and helped her right herself again. “Are you alright,” he asked in a gentle voice, “Do you want to try again?”

The white haired girl repositioned herself with a chuckle. At least she wasn't too self conscious about it. The the unicorn man placed his hands back in their appropriate places, one on her side and the other holding her hand, and they began again. This time she decided to talk, perhaps trying to stop herself from over analyzing her footsteps. If it helped her relax, that would be a good thing.

Sebastian considered her question carefully, “I'm not sure that I have a favorite color. Certain colors bring back memories for me, though. Sometimes they are happy colors and sometimes they are sad ones, and sometimes both. For example, the color of your dress. The Mediterranean Sea was exactly that hue the morning my granddaughter Akana was born. It rained later in the day, but only a light sprinkle. It hardly ever rains in Egypt, you know. It was such a strange feeling day, I remember. We mourned and rejoiced all at once; we lost my daughter but gained Akana.”

"Oh..." That one word was quite deflated. How had something as simple and innocent as 'what is your favorite color?' turned into something so very mournful? Especially this color. It was her favorite and now she would worry to wear it around the man.

Never the less she tried to rally on. This was a party after all. "Is it always that way? Colors make you remember something bittersweet? How is it that you smile with so many vivid hues around all the time?" She knew how she smiled all the time. Practice. Maybe some of it was genuine, but a lot of it was practice.

Ghost finally trailed her eyes up to meet Sebastian's ice blue irises. There had been something too intimate about being this close and looking into Sebastian's eyes before, but she was honestly curious now. To see his eyes meant that perhaps through his eyes she might be able to see what he was really thinking. For that it was worth the closeness and familiarity.

Her feet danced on, now entirely unhindered by her mind. A flash of light snapped in their direction. A picture. They must look like two old fogies dancing their own slow and sweet waltz off on their own. Only one of them was actually old, but the matching white hair and old-style clothing told a different story.

“Happy Birthday! after this, lets go get you a present.”

Presents where always good, unless they exploded or something. And if she would be getting some nice presents that would be good too. "Thank you." She said all happy and excited. The things that ran through her head now where definantly pumping her up. She never had birthdays in the asylum and the only gift her father ever gave her was the mask, which was quite handy from time to time. Eventually the cake arrived and Cailyn took a piece. She raised the mask she wore a bit so she could eat. She only took a small piece of cake seeing as excitement made her not hungry.

He finished his cake pretty quickly. “So, where do you want to go to shop?”

The jolly red man could eat like a jolly red man should. very fast. She however wasn't so fast and her piece was smaller. "I don't know." She said. She liked puzzles so she suggested something. "Puzzle shop?" she asked.

Soon her eyes are looking into Shin's. Kasumi can feel her cheeks growing warm into a light blush as she smiles. She nods speeking in a happy soft voice "Alright." She did not want to stop looking into his eyes. His eyes are always soft and gentle. She does not know why he always had such soft eyes she can feel her heart raceing some it seems like the only the two of them are here right now. She nods to the dance idea and smiles "That will be nice." Soon she hears foot steps Shins hand leaves Kasumi's chin. She looks at Alex as she smiles "Yeah hey you look nice." Kasumi speeks in a happy voice.

Soon her eyes looks at Shin she nods and smiles still "Yeah." She is acting cool yet she is still blushing a little bit. Kasumi does not know it but she is very beautiful on top of that she is so sweet. She has so much going for her yet she does not see that. Yet it seems that others is seeing that. She does not stop smiling she can not stop smiling when she is around Shin. She is so happy when she is around him.

Oh. Oh. A smile crept up on her face as she realized she had been walking on something. How did she miss that before interrupting? Shin holding Kasumi’s chin, both staring into each other’s eyes deeply, the blush on Kasumi’s cheeks… The smile grew even larger when Shin retracted his hand with ninja speed, the usual calm and relaxed tone so specific to him now replaced by a rather nervous one.

Her eyes turned to Kasumi as she had spoken, the smile continuing to glow on her face. “Why thank you Kasumi. You look amazing yourself.” she complimented eyeing the girl then turning to Shin. “You look amazing yourself, Shin.” she continued with a wink in the Asian’s direction.

Alexandra took a seat at the table, and graciously sipped from her champagne glass before placing it down. She sighed and her attention returned to the crowd just as Shin was asking Kasumi to dance. Well, she would be alone again but she couldn’t blame the two for seeking intimacy…sort of. After all, she had been interrupting something.

She was still looking around, her hand finding the glass again and sipping from it when a sudden commotion from the centre of the room got her attention. If there was a normal person causing it all she probably wouldn’t have known why. But since there was a naked seven feet tall giant she figured it out quite quickly. Snorting, Alexandra found hard to decide on what to say. Men… or Mutants… Or maybe both.

It was annoying... not finding anyone familiar for the most part, there were mutants here sure. And a ton of normal humans who wanted some dirt on her life. Luna wasn't used to being hounded with attention so she felt kinda scared and annoyed at the press for bothering her twelve year old self... Man these guys were like ravenous sharks! Edging away out of sight of a nearby camera she ducked behind a snacking table her bows peeking over the white cloth for the table.

When the cost was clear she darted between older and taller people in hopes of escaping any media. Feeling safe she sat on the other side of the large room watching as some mutants hogged up the limelight. It disgusted Luna that people liked this '15 seconds of fame' However she endured i and sat at a coffee table just hoping for this day to get better and NOT worse...

~~“I meant…” “I won’t tame myself…”

“Ah, I see.” He nodded knowing full well what she meant but hoping to draw the playful tone that had earlier achieved.

~~. “Who would be guarding me Venus? The businessmen my family works with? Or their bratty sons?...” “The wild are not tamed by the mild and the strong do not surrender to the weak… And social climbers are not to my taste.”

“I am feeling so inclined. I thought that you might have a bit more exotic tastes.” The corners of his mouth edged as they continued to claim the immediate territory around them in a wide enough birth that they had more then their fair share of the floor.


~~“It is a harsh world and we must be tough to survive- As wild as we need to be. Like I said, I want to choose if I am tame or wild, or chaste… not have my hand forced by the lack of someone strong enough to provide the safety of a choice.”

“The world is what we make it. Have I mentioned that one of my abilities is to lift mountains, how strong of hands do you require?”

“Your lessons will have to wait, unfortunately. You can direct as much theory at me as you like, if you figure me out I welcome the knowledge…”

“You my dear, aside from what we have previously discussed thirst for more than mom and dads bank, all the money in the world can’t buy happiness as they say, you thirst for adventure, yet when it comes to you, you are a little bit afraid. You want to embrace it but hesitate. It beckons you and you resist. You prefer control when your soul wants chaos. Cut loose, let go of what you think you know. Embrace all the things you are bound to learn anyway. Jaxon you have the tools to defend your self against any harsh realities at a thought of your mind. You know you are strong yet you fear you are fragile, a riddle, that can only solve your self.”

He paused as he poured out what he saw in her and smiled. “ I will be more than happy to be by your side while you straiten things out and find out that your hands are more than strong enough to protect yourself. Until then will these do?” he squeezed at her hip and hand ever so slightly.

~ ~ ~
~~ “I'm nothing of the kind.”

“Fine, potentially dangerous.” He replied exasperated. Not knowing how he managed to get reprimanded by two fledgling teens tonight.

~~“There's nothing dangerous about turning invisible,”

oh He added in a more convincing tone. “oh sure nothing at all, not fooling the most defensive sense we have, Sight. Nothing could possibly be dangerous about that.”

~~“I don't think he's dangerous either. So there. The only dangerous thing around here is your cigarettes.”

“Oh he certainly seemed to think he was. And all boys are dangerous, particularly on valentines day.”

Saturn’s eyes narrowed at the young man in questions return.


>>>"Hello Katrina." ... "Sir."

Saturn cleared his throat as if repeating the last line about him being dangerous, but sure that it’d only push her toward him.

>>>"Do you want to dance?"

“Oh.”. “Sure. I'd like that.” “You behave now, mister.”

“I’ll behave if you two do too.” He replied almost sulkily .
~ ~ ~



"I don't know." Puzzle shop?"

He slid the book into his inner coat pocket.

“Hmmm. Ok sounds like a good plan.” He stood up offering his crooked arm for her to hold. And off to the puzzle store they would go.

“Actually I don’t know where one is,” glancing around he spotted a man on a lap top at a nearby table probably a journalist. “Could you do me a favor? Look up the nearest, Puzzle shop or two shop?”

“What? No, Pal I don’t” the little man looked up as he was speaking and the river of words ran dry. He tried to wet his mouth with little success. “ near to hear? Sure.” He began typing with one eye on the pair.

“Your in luck. There is one pretty close by.” He was in luck. “One block left when you exit and two blocks down on the right, Bixby’s treasure box. And that’s if you exite through the main entrance.” Not if you pummel through any random wall he thought to himself.


(shall we start a new thread Hymn?)