“A challenge, hmm? I hope you know what you are in for.” “A waltz? I thought you were going to pick something difficult…”

He smiled for a moment and let it hang there and then replied. “ A challenge met is all the more enjoyable. Well, The music unfortunately demands a waltz. But if the night doesn’t give us something worth while then I suppose they might take a request.



“I hope you don’t take any offense at this, but we are at a mutant party, and you appear to be a mutant. What do you think I want to know?”


He began to lead her on the simply dance, it allowed them to find each others pace and to carry a light conversation..


“I personally, am somewhat hard to offend, particularly by a woman of your caliber. And you are being both blunt but polite, I appreciate your forwardness, it is those that are too afraid to ask and more



“What is it like? What can you do?”


“its empowering, for myself I don’t really have the option of blending in and I think that has made all the difference in the world, people know, I know they know and for the most part we leave it at that. As far as what I can do.” Venus looked around the room. “ I could more than likely lift this building and everyone in it with ease. But I am not the most talented of us.” He tilted her into a dip at the end of the dance and as he spoke lightly he subject and tone facing two fronts.” His tone was talking to her about something completely different while his word were attempting to quench her curiosity.

“So miss Kane, My I ask what draws your interest and or support?”

--

“The camps were hell”

Abyss nodded glumly, what a lovely reminder for her. HI lady…let me remind you of the worst experience of your life….stupid.


“Obviously it wasn’t enough to stop what was going on. I may take you up on that offer some time.”

“You cant feel too bad about that we actually all held them off for long enough to get the majority out the back door, and as far as coming out of that unscathed. it just wasn’t possible. I would be happy to see ya around, be sure to let Lisa know to let me know when you do.”


“If you did, I heal.”

“Nice.” Abyss complimented. And jotted it down for later.


“At least the music is decent.” “Who’s this?

“No. Idea but you are right. Figures, they would start something fun once we reached the top of the stairs.” Abyss was agreeing as he reached the top of the stairs his eye fell on a blending boy who had his eyes on Katrina. His brow immediately furrowed. He glanced around and upon noticing Calley his eyes immediately through out accusation and question. Who was he? And why had Calley not scared him off?
Mercury righted him self and fit scantily clad bimbos rolled off of him. He helped them right themselves and then got up himself just as they lights went out and the band began to play. Some of the ladies began pulling him in a direction and he wasn’t going to argue. He wasn’t going to be participating in anything so casual but he would go along to find out what if anything they were leading him towards..”
--
Mars Watched as Pluto and Charge entered the room…that son of a! How dare he? How did he?oh man he should have warned her. He didn’t get the chance though…and he wasn’t her keeper…she made that pretty obvious. He ordered a shot of something doubled and straight…at the bar. He took it quick. And then decided on simply chilling at the bar. The music had taken a less classical turn. unfortunately.
--
Saturn grinned for once as he turned around to find himself front stage for a great performance, the guitarist was quite respectable the vocalist was in tune with the guitarist the drummer needed a bit of work, but if this was their first show nerves could do it.

--


"Lost."
“Lost? How so? I guss that explains these schmucks though He tilted his head at the returning shin and the leaving Arielle.”



“ May, open it?”



"Uhu."

Jupiter Gently unwrapped the gift and was pleased with it even if he wasn’t a particularly avid reader. This was now his favorite book and it did have a rather nice title to it.

“Thank You Hymn! I love it.” You could tell in his eyes that he meant it. He quickly reeled in the moment of glee and emotion however. “ what would you like to do now? I will see to it that you don’t have to depend on the x-men to not get lost.”

He then glanced at Shin now speaking to Lori dressed as one of those sailor scouts? His mouth kind of hung there for a moment.

He looked to Lori. “ Whenever you get him back I want in on it.” He assumed that she wasn’t quite as lame as she was acting.

He then looked to Shin. “ He is my little brother. And from the expression on his face. He isn’t pleased with the other girl wearing the same dress.”

--
"Of course it's a statement! <3" "We want to show everyone that injustice can be overcome with love!"
“Peace and truth!”


"Are you a vigilante?"
"Oh no! I wouldn't go out like this normally, you know!"


“Are You?” Pluto turned the question back on the journalist.


"Do you fight crime?"
"Crime fighting is for policemen. We spread love and peace in the name of the moon! What? No, we're not starting a religion, why?"


“would you like to join?”



"Poor Tuxedo Mask had to had to blackmail a date into coming with him him. How sad"


“blackmail? I suppose if.” At that point he was cut off abruptly by a statement his fun new friend had made, she was taking this all in stride, he was half afraid she would break down and not get out of the car. Points for being ballsy.


“Oh! And you have a clone here that isn't red! I'll go get some drinks. Feel free to mingle, dear, I'll come find you after I greet the other Tuxedo."


Pluto was left at the door as soon as he entered it for another tuxedo mask no less…this was unacceptable. Not the leaving he expected that but the other tuxedo…grrr.

"When you're uncertain or worried, I'll be there for you. I may have no power, but you called me here to you. If you need me... ...I'll give you... the strength of my soul."

He hit her with a tuxedo mask quote before she left probably confusing her. and right he was going to let her get all the drinks. H found a table and began snatching drinks of this and that, always in pairs. He wasn’t too concerned with any one else here at the moment.

Jax let her body go, relaxing into dancing as she hadn’t been able to when she first entered. With a gentle smirk up at him, the height difference only slightly hampering her, she tossed her head like a filly with its first bridle, her spirited temperament shining in her eyes. “I do hope to meet your challenge then.”

Moving in the sway of the dance, adjusting for the new partner, she was caught off guard and a laugh seemed to bubble out of her unintentionally. “Blunt but polite…” She raised an eyebrow, but then couldn’t hold it as her face dissolved into chuckles. “Thank you, I think that is the nicest way it has ever been described.”

Listening to his powers, his explanation, made Jaxon wonder if that was the way it was for most mutants. Empowering; Jaxon wished she was as confident with her powers as he was. And if he could do what he said he really was empowered. “That is amazing. The whole building….” She looked around briefly, then back at him with admiration in her expression, though his tone was making her wonder what he was hinting at. “That is quite impressive. I can’t imagine what talent could top that.”

The dip he dropped her into at the end made her smile, she did love to dance, and it threw her off slightly so that she wasn’t quite prepared for his question. Her surprise showed on her face, and when she met his eyes she couldn’t stop the small panic at the possibility of being discovered. Quickly looking away, forgetting that it was just as much an indicator of hiding something, she shrugged and tried to make her tone casual.

“I am interested in interesting things. You are proof of that.” She grinned up at him, her composure almost back in place. Her tone changed to teasing, willing to poke fun at herself, while she tried to change the subject back to safer territory, “besides, what else would I do with my time if not for these charity events? What organization are you with?”

Jax was very much hoping that he wasn’t as smart as he seemed. Even an idiot would be able to tell something was going on, and he had shown himself to be far beyond an idiot.

Koga smiled at Kat and hopped down offering a hand to help her up. He nodded to Calley and waved at the other’s. Kasumi was here too. “I made you two Sssomething.” He reached into his pocket and present the little pink Kat and the orange tiger.

He froze as he was happily watching their reactions…hopefully Calley would abide by the no violence clause tagged on to this little field trip. He was trying to make an effort to get in good standing with Calley…He looked up as a woman and a man topped the stairs to the balcony she was awesome half lion, half human, all mutant prowess! She had a primal beauty to her that was effortless. A dangerous grace, yet somewhere in all that there was a touch of kindness that couldn’t be missed. He however was terrifying and giving him the same look that Calley cat had given him the first day. He would fling himself off the balcony and onto an opposite wall if he needed to. He was big, BIG and Red and buff beyond buff. He had muscles on his muscles…He wanted one of those x communicator things and he wanted to declare an emergency… That big red guy looked at him like he wanted him dead. His eyes wide he looked to Katrina for assurance. Basing his reaction off of hers. Could he carry her long enough to get her down from here? He would try if that behemoth made a move. If he had hackles they would have risen.

Somewhere in his mind, he wanted to rush the stage that actually was playing something modern, not that he didn't appreciate classical. but you couldn't rock out to a violin.

Once the kiss ended Sam pushed himself up and turned to Leila extending a hand to pull her up, “Come on, let’s go back to the ball, I promised Fausto I would cheer for him when he goes on to perform.” He kissed Leila once more and dragged her off to the ball entrance. Stopping short of the main entrance and away from the press Sam waited and said, “Give you a second to fix you make up,” Sam paused as he took his thumbs and wiped some of the mascara off of her cheeks.

Once Leila was ready Sam offered her his arm and said, “Ready to be the best looking couple in the papers?” Sam asked as he just realized that he probably gave the reporters his secret identity away. Okay maybe not secret identity but defiantly his identity. He iced up in front of them and showed his ice armor when he usually goes out and fights crime. He didn’t think anything big would happen anytime soon but he had a feeling it would be a problem later down the line.

Walking on the carpet Sam posed for a few more pictures with Leila at his side, ”What happened to the other girl?” Sam didn’t answer the press about Ghost he didn’t really feel that this business. ”Can we get a kiss?” one of the reporters asked as there was flashes everywhere, grinning and looking to Leila he shrugged and made an attempt to kiss her, he didn’t know if she was big on all the cameras but it didn’t really bother him. ”So are you like the mutant playboy of New York City? That's the second girl you brought here... Sam looked to the girl with the microphone that asked her and let out a small laugh and continued to pull Leila into the Ball.

Once inside of the ball Sam frowned as he heard Fausto was just finishing up a song and asking if the crowd wanted to hear another. Sam looked around upset he missed the first one he yelled, “PLAY ANOTHER ONE FAUSTO!!!!” feeling a large amount of heads turn his way as he entered with another girl, Sam turned to Leila and smiled and offered his hand to her so he could yet again drag her closer to the stage where Fausto would hopefully play again.

Smirking at his ‘dates’ threat Bacchus let out a even toned voice, “Aww Isabel, you couldn’t kill me even if you wanted to, which is why I think a relationship between the two of us would go so well, you sassy and dangerous, me charming and indestructible.” He grinned and followed her in and paused as the music played and finished, “Damn good!” said Bacchus as he was slightly memorized by the band and their lyrics of greatness.

He felt a hand on his sleeve as he felt himself being pulled by Isabel. He let her lead her to where every she was leading him to, he didn’t really mind being dragged by her. The atmosphere at the ball was an interesting one, love colors everywhere, reds, pinks and whites. Always an interesting color combo, a color combo he wasn’t a big fan of, everything was a little to ‘hey look at the colors’.

Never being one for crowds Bacchus felt like a bull in a china shop, he wasn’t as big as he normally was but he was still pretty tall. Six feet seven inches, he towered over a large portion of the crowd around him, which was fine it made things easier to find Isabel if he got separated from her, bows like hers for some reason stood out even if it was smaller than usual.

Getting a good look at the girl who was pulling him along he realized that she looked cute tonight, a dress, and her hair was different to. A ponytail instead of pig tails, “You look good tonight Isabel,” Bacchus said as he felt himself get pulled closer to her as he looked away feeling blood rush to his cheeks but he quickly thought of something else to prevent her or anyone else from seeing that Giant’s could indeed blush.

Grinning and going back to his old mentality, “What you don’t like my tricks?” he didn’t mind if he didn’t know anybody here he had his three best friends on his person, all happened to be stainless steel and 8 oz till he wanted it otherwise. “We are all over the place,” said Bacchus as he spotted a few red skins through out the ball.

Streak started to feel like he'd been stood up by all his friends because he didn't see them anywhere around. Most of the people he didn't recognize; however, there were some that you couldn't not notice. Like the big red guys that he'd seen when the mansion was under attack. He didn't see Sam, Ghost, or even Shin, who he was told would be at the party. His mood was lifted by the voice that appeared behind him. He wasn't exactly sure who it was but he knew that he knew her somehow. He spun around to face Arielle. She was looking good and he smiled when he realized it was her. Pulling the shades from his eyes he said, "Thanks, I made it myself." He winked and her and cracked a smile as he put his shades inside one of his suit pockets. "I didn't really make it but it suits me don't ya think?" Streak asked rhetorically.

"I try to dress to impress and judging from the cameras out there it worked." He said glad to finally be away from all of the reporters. "You look amazing." Shawn replied to her. "And I'm looking for friends. It seems as though one has found me, which is even better 'cause now I don't have to look anymore." He wanted to keep an eye on the big reds as much as he could but he doubted there would be any trouble with them or anyone else at the party. Man paranoia's a bitch. he thought as he tried to calm himself down and enjoy the newly found company. "So. Did your date ditch you or what?"

"Ah yes. Silver is no doubt your color. And it's good to always dress to impress. Gotta keep a good reputation." Arielle replied, blushing slightly as Shawn commented her looks. "Amazing? Thanks, I try," she laughed finishing off her sandwich. "No, my date didn't exactly ditch me. He's down there macking it up with Sailor Venus right now." Arielle said pointing below to the first floor to where Shin or rather Tuxedo Mask and the mysterious new Sailor Soldier of love and beauty were located.

"I should ask you the same question though. Where is your date? Don't tell me you arrived here all by yourself," she said with a smile. "If that's the case, then I'm glad I found you before any other girls could try and dig their claws in you. Care for a dance?"

Leila rolled her eyes at him, knowing that whatever had happened tonight would eventually come up again. She was still angry, after all. "Fine," she said, being pulled up. The two of them walked together towards the entrance again, only to stop again. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot." she said, pulling out her small, purse-sized mirror. It took about two minutes, and then she was as good as new, thank god. How in the world would she ever have been able to live with herself if her picture was in the paper, when her make up looked like what it used to.

"How does this look?" she smiled sheepishly at him, taking his arm. "Oh yeah, let's bring chills to New York!" she said, hoping he'd gotten her little joke. Chill... he was an Ice elemental? She released his arm as he iced up, so as to not get frozen along with him. Unlike Sam, she would probably freeze if she was covered in so much ice. The coldness however, she didn't care. She took his icy arm again, leaning against him as the two posed. He looked as if he loved all this attention.

Then came all the questions. 'Can we get a kiss?' was really the only one she took real attention too. She smiled at the crowd, knowing exactly what was coming. As she turned her head slightly, his face was closer then she'd expected, and their lips met: his cold and hard, but still very kissable. Her arms moved around his neck, and soon she realized this was going to far for the public. She let go of him, clearing her throat slightly, her cheeks redening.

Leila rolled her eyes as Sam tried to tug her over inside. She fallowed him, but when Sam wasn't looking at her, she looked backwards the the woman who'd been asking about him being a play boy and held out her tongue at her. Who cared if that hit the news stands. "You may be a play boy, but you're my playboy." she said, leaning in him again.

Leila could hear the voice singing inside, and it seemed familiar. Was this Iron Mouth? She'd forgotten what his real name was. Was it Fausto, the guy Sam had mentioned earlier? She laughed softly as Sam started cheering for him to play a second song, and Lei was about toLeila joined in, only to be dragged closer to the stage. Lei8la smiled as she looked in the Ice Man's face... "Hey, there's Shawn and Arielle!" she said, glancing at them.

"Why don't we go say hi? I haven't had the chance to really talk to Ari tonight."

Isabel didn't bother responding to Bacchus' little 'indestructible' comment, nor the mention of a relationship that preceded it. Sassy and dangerous she certainly was. However, she hardly though that he was as indestructible as he boasted. Everyone had a weakness. His just didn't happen to be getting stabbed through the heart, which was fortunate for him considering her temperament. And the charm she would continually say was up for debate. Most of the time what he labeled as 'charm' she called nothing but a large ego and a cocky attitude. As for a relationship, she wasn't even going to consider such a thing at the current moment. She was still dealing with the unpleasant results of the last one she'd attempted.

She did appreciate him doing as she wanted, though. Even if it was only following after her when she tugged at the bottom of his sleeve. She was used to him resisting what she told him to do, much like she tended to ignore whatever he tried to get her to do. With the exception of a bet, of course. She never could seem to stay level headed enough to decline them when they came up. His second comment concerning her looks didn't go unheard, either. It wasn't anything unusual for him to make such a remark, though the lack of smartass additions and a smug tone made it stand out from the others. "Well you don't look half bad yourself, Bacchus," she replied, offering a small smile to the Giant before turning to look for one of the Big Guys he'd gone on to mention.

The one of seven up on the balcony was of course the easiest to spot, as well as the feline mutant by his side. Isabel easily recognized the young cat woman from both the Raid on the Sanctuary as well as the Camps, though she preferred not to think of the reasons behind knowing Sara. "I don't like your tricks when they land my face in the paper," she commented, much preferring to make her own news. News that didn't involve pairing her up with someone over a stolen kiss. "Come on, let's go this way," she continued, giving his sleeve one last tug before letting it fall from her grasp. She didn't think he'd have much trouble following after her. He was tall, but he wasn't the only large mutant attending, and the other party-goers seemed to be doing fairly well when it came to giving each other as much room to pass as they could.

Heading over to the large staircase, she carefully made her way toward the top where the balcony was, trying to be careful of the other individuals going up and down the same stairs. She could care less if a human or an X-Nerd should take a tumble, but not every mutant was as easily spotted as the two she aimed to greet, so she was trying to be considerate for her own kind's sake. Once or twice she glanced back over her shoulder to make sure Bacchus was still with her, not wanting to lose him in the crowd and end up accidentally leaving him on his own. "Sara! Long time no see," she called, stopping at the corner of the railing where the stairs and the balcony met, not wanting to push too far into the crowd that was admiring the view below. "How have you been since I last saw you?" Absentmindedly she made sure there was enough room for Bacchus to step up with her should he want to, allowing just one more glance in his direction as if reassuring herself one last time that he was still with her. "Hello Abyss. You look very dashing tonight. I love the suit," she continued, greeting one of her oldest friends in turn, and paying little mind to anyone else in the group. "Oh, this is Bacchus, by the way. He's the one that dragged me all the way down here," she added with a grin, giving a small gesture in her companion's direction, more for Sara's benefit than Abyss'. She assumed the Big Guy had met the Giant at some point by now.

Shawn smiled at her. "Thanks I thought it suited me also." Once Arielle pointed in the direction of the tuxedo man and a young woman, whom he could only take her word for was dressed as Sailor Venus. He'd never seen the show so there wasn't much he could compare it to. "Oh ya I see 'em." He replied as he looked in the direction of her pointing. "Well I'm not sure if you'll be disappointed at the answer or not. I didn't come here with a date." He wasn't disappointed that he didn't have a date. He knew that he could find someone here to enjoy the night with and here she was. Arielle was as good of company as any tonight.

"Sure let's dance." He took Arielles hand and started making his way down the stairs and onto the dance floor. His happy mood seemed short lived as he noticed the tow that walked by. The green bow on top of her head and the giant that was trailing in her wake were unmistakeable. The smile faded from his face as he followed them with his eyes where they were going. If there was going to be trouble it would probably start with them. Those two were obviously the ones that he'd fought at the mansion and things didn't go so well for either party involved in the fight. He continued scanning the crowd and once again came across Arielle's face which brought his thoughts back to the party. It was time to enjoy himself. If they were going to start something then he would deal with it later but not right now.

"Sweet." Arielle smiled as Shawn took her hand in his and led her back down stairs so that they may have a dance. While she wore a wide grin on her face, Shawn's seemed to have faded when they passed by a couple. Some chick with a huge bow and her date and Ari guessed that the Silver wonder wasn't that fond of the couple. That still didn't stop Arielle from giving the Giant's Bane a wink and a small wave, though she made sure to keep it discreet so Shawn wouldn't notice.

"So um...you know those two back there?" Arielle asked Shawn about Isabel and Bacchus. There had to have been a reason why he frowned when he passed them. Waiting for a reply, she paused once they had reached the dance floor and she started to get in dance position by putting one hand on Shawn's shoulder and keeping the other in his hand. Looking over, she saw Sam and Leila again and removed her hand from Shawn's shoulder to wave to the dolphin shifter and Ice man.

Kasumi looks at Peter as she blushes some "Just the colors pooped into my mind you are brown and I am green. Made me think of tree." she giggles some as she shakes her head "My mom always said that I had another power." Shakes her head "It seems to work on everyone"

She pulls some of her hair behind her ear. The lights go down she smiles as she looks at the band she knows one of them. Kasumi jumps up and down as she waves. Yet the song starts to play. She closes her eyes form the song soon she starts to sway to the song.

In the low lights her spots seem to almost glow yet that is the way that her skin shines. Kasumi spins around as she dances so grasefull as she dances. Her hips sway softly as she dances she seems to be made for this. She opens her eyes and looks at Peter she has no idea why she is having so much fun with him.

Maybe it is because of the song. Kasumi runs her hands down her neck and sides. She is dancing in sexy manner yet she does not look like a slut doing it. Kasumi is just so grasefull as she does so. She seems to stand out a little bit as she dances yet she does not mind.

((I will respond with the others as the responses come in for now all ya get is Venus.))

Venus couldn’t help but appreciate the toss of a woman’s hair it was in a man’s instinct to pay attention to that, just look at every single shampoo commercial. A woman will fling her head to show you how nice her hair is.
“I Believe You will and are.”

“Blunt but polite…” “Thank you, I think that is the nicest way it has ever been described.”

Defiance and then giggling. Yum, the woman could take honesty.
“ oh my dear you are being abused if someone has said anything less then polite things to you.”

“That is amazing. The whole building….” “That is quite impressive. I can’t imagine what talent could top that.”


“there are those out there, some quite a bit more useful on the day to day basis then epic lifting.”

“I am interested in interesting things. You are proof of that.”


“Oh, calling us things is a bit of a faux pas, Some of the others I am sure are much more sensitive, just a friendly pc lesson of course.” He smirked at ensuring to let her know he wasn’t even slightly offended.


“besides, what else would I do with my time if not for these charity events? What organization are you with?”


Rock music began to blare for the first time tonight and he could neither twirl her around the room nor could he seduce her in the racket.

“Um. Perhaps we could find somewhere a little more quiet and private? I think our dancing has been temporarily interrupted.” He wasn’t at all disappointed by this turn of events in fact it was a nice opportunity to speed the process of getting to “know” her up. He pulled her up from the dip that he kept her in for long after the finish of the song.

Jaxon was quite enjoying herself with this man. He was different and gave as good as he got, which was more pleasant than watching people sputter. This actually stimulated her now that she had to think on her feet, and come up with a response. As he held her in the dip longer than necessary, she lowered her lashes in an appreciative flirtatious expression, indicating that she heard his compliment. He was meeting her challenge as well as she seemed to be meeting his.

With a sway of her head that had her hair nearly brushing the floor, she seemed to push away the thought of others with only a slight touch on the subject. “Oh they are polite, just old fashioned... Besides, do I seem the type to be abused?” Her question was both rhetorical and playful, needing no answer and indicating a minor threat to the person who might try it.

Shrugging at his own dismissal of his powers, she tilted her chin upwards. “And some far less useful, I’m sure.” The hand on his arm tightened briefly, the dip seemed to be a wonderful use of such strength, the squeeze ending with a teasing tone while her eyes showed the thought.

Her eyes widened when she realized that what she had said could have been an insult. Despite his smile she felt the need to apologize and started to, “Oh I am so sorry, I didn’t mean…” only to be interrupted by the loud music. With a soft expression of apology, her words probably unable to be heard, she hoped he didn’t think she meant mutants.

Her head turned to look at the stage while he pulled her up and asked his question. For a moment, she couldn’t resist the lure in the music, almost an impulse that she couldn’t ignore. But once she got a mental hold on it, she was able to turn away, and nod in agreement, feeling mute for a moment.

Once she found her voice again, the music’s effect fading slightly, she spoke in a quiet beat. “Yes, I agree. Though, you have me so entertained that I never got your name… I'm not sure I should leave with a man when I don't know his name.” Placing her hand on his arm, she tugged, guiding him off the floor and to a hallway that she knew led to several places, including outside. “That’s better…”

((ooc: Tried to write myself out of this thread a few days ago, but it apparently did not post. The post was basically "Calley went down to the dessert table and started glutting himself, please ignore him from here on out." Sorry!

*ducks ungracefully from thread*

PS: I <3 you all, but this thread has just been very hard to keep up with for me!))