[center][color=CFD3C6][img]https://i.imgur.com/QxwohJt.png[/img][/color][/center]

It was a few days before the ball, and word had spread that it was going to be a festive costume party. Rurik did not have a costume. He'd decided, however, that he wanted one.

He found himself at a small, tacky party store that had just started stocking more spooky paraphernalia. There was just one problem.

[color=CFD3C6]"You've got to be fucking kidding me."[/color] "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

He knew the person behind the counter. It was one of his "friends" from before Mephisto's. One of the friends who'd gone and gotten arrested while Rurik had been too scared to join in, unknowingly saving himself from sharing their fate. He'd... never actually run into them since that day.

Until now.

[color=CFD3C6]"Well this is awkward."[/color] Rurik sighed, arms laden with his chosen supplied.

"Rurik," the guy said, apparently remembering his name. That was... nice? "You look like shit." Or not.

[color=CFD3C6]"You... too?"[/color] Rurik raised an eyebrow. [color=CFD3C6]"Nice to see you again."[/color]

"It's really not." The guy crossed his arms. 

[color=CFD3C6]"OK, well, I'm just gonna get this stuff and go."[/color] Rurik rolled his eyes, already done with this encounter. His "friend" rang up the items, wracking up a small sum that was still somehow more than Rurik cared for it to be. 

"That'll be 100." 

[color=CFD3C6]"That's literally three times what the machine says,"[/color] Rurik narrowed his eyes.

"We both know you owe me."

Rurik took a deep breath, [color=CFD3C6]"Do not be that guy."[/color]

"Oh, I'm gonna be that guy."

[color=CFD3C6]"Trust me when I say life has already more than evened things out,"[/color] Rurik told him.

"As much as that warms my heart, it doesn't really do [i]me[/i] much good. Come on, man, just... do the right thing. You'll feel better."

Rurik just stared at him, but then sighed, [color=CFD3C6]"Yeah, you're right."[/color] Rurik suddenly reached out, putting his hand on the guy's shoulder. [color=CFD3C6]"I'll do what'll make me feel better."[/color]

"Wh-" And suddenly Rurik grabbed the back of his head and slammed his face into the counter. He didn't hold back. It took a solid thirty seconds for him to regain his senses and by then, Rurik had hopped the counter. 

[color=CFD3C6]"So, tell me, those cameras real or for show?"[/color] Rurik asked him.

"F-fuck... you- GAH!" Not giving the desired answer, Rurik stomped down on his hand. "You're fucking insane!"

[color=CFD3C6]"Yeah, Mephisto's'll do that to a guy. Now, cameras?"[/color]

"Th-they're fake! OK?!"

[color=CFD3C6]"Cool, where's the computer that stores the footage then? Back there?"[/color] Rurik meandered into the room behind the front counter. A few moments and a lot of explosions later, Rurik walked back out, dusting himself off. [color=CFD3C6]"Well, it's been real. Say anything, you're dead and all that shit. Bye." [/color]

Supplies in hand, Rurik vacated the store before anyone else walked in. He supposed picking the shittiest, cheapest store had its merits.

[color=CFD3C6]"Huh... he was right. I do feel better." [/color]

[b]. . .[/b]
[@Gentlemanvaultboy][@Hammerman]

Arriving at the ball, Rurik took a moment to contemplate the fact that there were absolutely no festive decorations considered the number of costumed people in attendance. Oh well.

Despite all those people, it was not hard to find a familiar face. Bak sort've stood out.

A devious smirk spread across his face. She was gullible, and this would probably be mean... but damn she was just so gullible.

[color=CFD3C6]"Bak..."[/color] Rurik choked out after sneaking up behind her. He grabbed her shoulder, and looking at him would reveal... that he was covered in blodd with half a dozen knives sticking out of his body. [color=CFD3C6]"Help... I need... help..."[/color] He raised his other hand, a knife held in it. [color=CFD3C6]"One... fell out. Can you help put it back? Just to the right of my sixth vertebrae should do,"[/color] he spoke with a manic grin, acting as twitchy as possible.

. . . OK that was probably enough. 

[color=CFD3C6]"So, spooky ghost huh?"[/color] He asked, letting his act drop before he gave her a heart attack. [color=CFD3C6]"Actually I'd say it works for you."[/color] That was when he noticed something amusing. She had her arms linked with Yuuto. [color=CFD3C6]"Shit, don't tell me you have a date and I don't?"[/color]

It was supposed to be a joke. The suggestion was ridiculous. Not because Bak was what she was, no, but because Yuuto was what he was. OK maybe it was a bit of both.

It was supposed to be a joke, but... where [i]was[/i] Christine? His phone had been annihilated and his family couldn't afford a new one yet. He was kinda glad he'd robbed the costume store, it would make saving up for a new one a little easier. Point being he hadn't heard from or seen Christine since that day and... maybe just maybe he was getting a bit anxious.

Well, he wasn't too worried, what were the chances she'd show up [i]now?[/i]

Life decided to tell a joke of its own at that moment. "That's so indecent!" "You can practically see her rear!" "No, you literally can!"

[color=CFD3C6]". . . you gotta be shitting me."[/color] Rurik let out a low, stressed groan. Scanning through the crowd, he indeed spied her. Them. Despite their reversed roles, Rurik could pick out Christine easily enough. She had her own unique mannerisms that Rurik could recognize. Christine was distinctly Christine, and Katherine was distinctly awful.

Christine's dress was also distinctly Christine.

[color=CFD3C6]"Hey Bak, can I just... hide behind you for the rest of the night?"[/color] Rurik's entire form seemed to wilt. Nope, he couldn't do it yet. He'd just put it off. Kick that can right on down the road. The last time they'd seen each other, he'd been beating the shit out of her sister while she was bleeding to death.

In Rurik's defense, he hadn't known she was bleeding to death.

He didn't care, of course not. If that was that, then honestly it had lasted longer than he'd expected.

But it was party! Why deal with that shit at a party!? Why deal with [i]Katherine[/i] at a party? Wasn't it supposed to be a happy occasion? Itdefinitelyhadnothingtodowithanyanxietyhemayormaynothavebeenfeelingaboutthematter.