Slipping onto a barstool next to Sabine, Zac chuckles and says, "It's no problem. I'm just glad I finally found a familiar face...so to speak. I wanted to thank you again for letting me crash at your place awhile back, anyway."

Seeing her looking around, he realizes she was probably looking for a waiter. He takes a few moments to look around before turning back to her, opening his mouth to ask if she was okay, when he heard a sound he never would have thought he'd hear in a place like Shine City. In fact, a sound he never thought he'd hear, period.

[i]Was that...a gunshot?[/i] he thinks, turning back around.

He quickly scans the crowd as screams fill the ballroom. Between the people crowded on the floor, he catches glimpses of crimson amidst the sea of black and white, masks barely concealing the looks of horror on the guests faces. [color=007236]"EVERYONE VACATE THE BUILDING IN A ORDERLY MANOR! STAY AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS AND ASSIST THOSE WHO NEED IT IF YER ABLE!!"[/color] a bellowing voice sounds above the horrified clamor of the party-goers.

Knowing the two of them wouldn't be any help, and that he honestly didn't know what he could do, Zac rests his hands on Sabine's shoulders and, gently guiding her toward the exit, he says, "Come on...let's, uh...let's get out of here..."

[@Verdaux]