It was only moments after Bak asked that question that she heard strange sound. A rhythmic beating of blades chopping the air echoing over the school. Shadows flickered across the room as something streamed past the long windows of the council chamber. Bak looked over, pushing her way past Luigi as he was still trying to diagnose her and pulling open the window for a better look. Outside papers was fluttering down through the air, hundreds of them, from the door of a helicopter as it made slow passes over the building. The papers already coated the ground like a flock of white birds or a snowstorm that had decided to settle over the school. As she looked around she could see other windows being pulled open, other heads poking out curiously. Down on the ground floor some even ran out into the courtyard, taking any opportunity to distract themselves from this school. She reached out, snatching one of the fluttering pages out of the air and examining it. A worrying combination of emotions played across her face as she read. Bewilderment at first, then anger, sudden surprise, a moment of quiet happiness, contemplation, panic, panic, panic, panic... She turned back to the room, holding up the invitation they'd just gotten to attend a ball. She shakily pointed a finger at the name Lady Liselotte Castellan de Valois-Saint-Remy, a name she recognized from the tournament. A St. Laurels student. "How do these people [i]know where we live[/i]!?!" [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpiEHxgLN-E][center][h1] You are cordially invited too-[/h1][/center][/url] It was the talk of the Rhea, a little bit of sunshine in the midst of a dark mood. Some might have considered it in poor taste but none could deny the dedication that was being put into this little swarey, especially the marketing behind it. There wasn't a soul in the city that wasn't somehow informed, down to the lowest of the low. After all, it wasn't every day that someone saw fit to invite Mephisto's school for the wickedly inclined to anything. After how they'd acted during the tournament there were still a subset that suspected they had something to do with the masked men that had poured into the city, even with the witness testimony from survivors that they had appeared suddenly to the aid of both Alto and King. Add to this the way they'd nearly killed a fellow competitor and throw in Altos attempted assassination and it became a confusing, disjointed mess that didn't fit neatly into any narrative the media cared to spin. A more pressing matter to any of the students wishing to attend was this, though; what was a costume befitting a masquerade ball? That was just like a costume party, right? [hr] Bak had already decided to go. Even if it was a trap. especially if it was a trap! If she didn't walk into the trap that would be an unacceptable show of weakness on their part. Besides, who knew what the vigilantes and St. Laural's would conspire if they weren't there to put a stop to their sneaky schemes? Well, that was one reason. The other was, well...if they were conspiring than Alto, king of conspiracishus schemers, was going to be there. And if Alto was there than Vittorio wouldn't be far behind, she was sure. For the first time she hadn't been spending her nights at the school. She'd been going out, late. Gumshoes on television shows referred to it as "coming the streets." The city was more quiet at night, at least in the parts she could reach without taking the bus. People were out there, sure, but most of them crossed the street when they saw her coming. No one she met ever talked to her, and that was fine because she wasn't out and about for them. She'd hoped he'd stayed nearby, at least, but that didn't look to be the case. Sometimes she caught a glimpse of a tell tale ghostly glow, only to round the corner on a lit up sign or the glare of someones phone. Every night she worked up the nerve to range a little farther out, but it was impossible for a single girl to a single boy in a city this big. So in a way she had to go, even if the thought terrified her. If it was a trap, fine! She'd blow them all the pieces before they even laid a hand on a Mephisto. She could handle that. No, the thing that scared her so much was the idea that it might not be a trap. She might actually have been invited to a party. [hr] Katherine beat on the punching bag in her basement, taking out her anger on it. Recovering at home was in some ways a whole lot more restful than at Tobias's fancy apartment. Here everything smelled familiar. Here she knew every creak and moan of the old wood. She had her own clothes, and her own room, and her own stuff. it was...home. There wasn't any other way to describe it. She was home and it felt good. So good she never wanted to leave, apparently. Katherine hadn't left the house since she'd gotten here. She hadn't made any calls. She hadn't seen anyone but Christine. Because, you know, she wanted to surprise everyone. Katherine shows up, good as new, 100% back, no worries for anyone involved. Wouldn't that be such a surprise? The looks on their faces, it would be a real hood. Like Tom Sawyer. It wasn't that she didn't know how the rest of her school would react to her after the whole possession thing. She certainly wasn't looking over her shoulder for Clara to take another shot. She wasn't afraid. [hider=Cassius Message 1] H-hey uhhh, sorry for blowing up your cellphone. Umm, n-not literally. Err, sorry... that's... A-anyway, uh, I remembered I had your home phone so... I guess I'm blowing up this one now. Errr... not... OK bye. [/hider] She wasn't afraid of anything. [hider=Cassius Massage 2] Hey. It's me again. Cassius. I guess I didn't say that last time. I'm not sure why I keep calling you like you're avoiding me or something. At least... I hope you're not. Um, I guess what I'm trying to say is... don't forget to let me know when you get back... from... wherever you are. [/hider] She would go out when she was damn well ready! [hider=Cassius Message 3] Hey, Cassius again. Uh, I know it hasn't been that long, but I figured I'd try again....... dammit, this is stupid. I'm gonna- [/hider] The last impact send the bag flying across the room, a ragged hole burned right in the center of it. She stared at it for a minute, then scoffed and walked upstairs. She hated being reminded. Unfortunately coming up from the basement put her face to face with the phone. Cassius's calls hadn't been the only ones that had messed with her when she'd finally played all those messages blowing up the machine. [hider=David's Message] Hey Katherine, it's David. I don't know if you remember much from the other night, but I was the guy in the park who came to try to save you. Keyword try. I want to apologize. I said I'd help you but I really let you down. If your friend hadn't came to your rescue. I don't know how things might have gone that night. The offer still stands though. If you need any help just call me. You can reach me at 555-856-5352 or 555-TOP-MINE. If that's easier to remember. It's my work phone. I always answer. I uh... Hope to hear from you. K bye. [/hider] She only had a vague outline of who that guy even was, and that was just from what her soulmate had described to her. Ever since she'd gotten that message the demon had been suggesting they call back, as the boy "held value" in her own words. Then there were the ones for Christine. [hider=Celestine's Message] Christine, get in contact with us ASAP. Bak is on a rampage and Rurik is somehow more apathetic than his usual self. [/hider] That had been the understatement of the year. Bak must have been that ugly one from the apartment because she recognized her stupid accent. That girl was on a rampage all right, because most of the messages were from her. Checking in on Christine, trying to get in contact with Christine, telling Christine what homework she had missed, calling to tell Christina that thrice damned Clara was going to call. One just thirty seconds of silence followed by a quiet "I am sorry." He'd been right about Rurik too. She was actually surprised by how pissed off she was that he [i]hadn't[/i] tried to get in contact with them. There was just nothing! It made her want to kick his teeth in all over again, which made her a fucking hypocrit, which only pissed her off more! She wandered into the living room an flopped down in front of the television she had left on, flipping through channels to try and take her mind off things before landing on a commercial for the great Lady Liselotte's masquerade prom extravaganza! It was just so...like...this was the reason guillotines were invented. Like literally the exact reason. It was frustrating. [i]"Then why not go?"[/i] Katherine say up at that. "What?" [i]"You want to go and see your companions, yet refuse to. That is the only source of your frustration. Be aware girl, a heart in turmoil is said to be a demon's plaything."[/i] "Don't even joke!" [i]"Face this fear with your head held high, my girl. It will only temper the fire in your heart."[/i] Katherine held a hand to her chest, then sighed. "I hate it when I agree with you." [hr] Nasearphe stalked through the halls of the Church of Candles, late on the uptake yet again. He had been distracted, buth with his training and the shiey new car that was parked out back that he now owned after an impressive argument with Wulf's woman. He couldn't even drive it but she couldn't very well take it back to her home or else it would expose her web of lies. He had attempted to explain this, and the fact that you did not just have the right to take back a gift. Eventually he had managed to yell consistently louder, thus securing flawless victory and winning the car in a fair contest of skill. All that mattered right now was that he was the last person to learn about this party they had all been invited too, and this news resulted in his furiously searching out one Vigilante in particular. Ria trailed behind him, slightly limping and smiling like a cat that ate the canary. Finally he found her. "Andras." he called out, approaching her clearly intent on important business. "I have come to understand there will be some form of large mask festival happening in the near future." He looked back at Ria, who nodded an encouraging confirmation that, yes, all of this readily available information was correct. He nodded to her and turned back with utmost seriousness. "Would you be averse to accompanying me to this mask festival?" [hr] [@Crowvette][@Crazy Scion][@supertinyking][@CavnderOHeart][@Dezuel][@Scarifar][@Bartimaeus][@KillamriX88][@rawkhawk64][@Hammerman]