Gathering: Halloween Gala

[concierge]

A large, decorative sign situated prominantly in the lobby reads:

The Nexus Hotel
proudly presents its
ANNUAL HALLOWEEN GALA

Formal Reception
Nexus Dining Hall
6 PM - Midnight

Monster Mixer
Nexus Basement
8 PM - 2 AM

Masquerade attire recommended for all guests

Most of the chairs have been removed from the Dining Hall to allow for ballroom-style dancing to the orchestra set up on the far end of the room. A polished cherry wood open bar is aligned along one wall. The adjacent Bistro is open for the duration of the formal reception, serving gourmet hors d'oeuvres.

Downstairs, the basement's largest storeroom has been converted into a spooky nightclub, complete with DJ, dance floor and cocktails.

Comments

[malachai]

"Bigger than you can imagine," Nick laughed fully, head back and eyes bright with it, and toasted her with his glass. "Maybe I'll flash them for you one day," he added with a wink for good measure.

It was still almost anathema to him, joking about the part of him that had once been a source of near blinding rage and fear.

[legendthatwas]

Martha couldn't help herself--she snorted a little in laughter, smiling down into her cocktail because she couldn't keep a straight face with it any longer. Though, to be honest, she wouldn't entirely have minded if Nick was serious.

Serious either way, for that matter.

"I'd like that. Though it's probably a smart choice to keep them under wraps," she said, and brushed her cape back from where it had shifted too far over her shoulder. "Being in public and all."

[malachai]

"True. I start waving them around and everyone will start wanting rides or something equally taxing," he replied, losing the same battle she was with his smile. "And who in their right mind would want anything like that?"

He might have been taught from the cradle to keep his eyes on a woman's face at all times, but he'd also been mostly human once. And shoulders were...well. He only glanced once. Briefly.

[legendthatwas]

"I'd totally go for a ride, not gonna lie to you," Martha said, nearly sporfling into her drink, though she was half-serious. "But you probably wouldn't be interested in giving them to all and sundry. You don't seem like the type who'd put up with it."

She was totally lost in the innuendo now, she realised. Oh well, there wasn't anything else for it but to play along.

[malachai]

"No, you're right about that. I'm very, very particular about who I show them to, much less who gets a ride. I give priority to anyone with bad sparring form and a track record of running like hell."

He was going to fuck this up sooner than later, he knew that, because in what he called the human part of his life he'd insulted more women than he'd charmed, but damn if he wasn't going to enjoy this while it lasted.

[legendthatwas]

Martha grinned again, down into her glass this time, before looking back up at Nick. At least when she blushed like mad, no one could really tell. "That's the first time it's ever really gotten me that kind of elite status. Well, maybe the second, but that was before I learned how to do it properly..."

Flirting, she decided, was an excellent way to spend time, and she wasn't certain why she'd let herself forget as much. The Tom thing, perhaps. Or The Year.

[malachai]

"I don't know if I'd consider it elite," he smirked, adding a wink over the rim of his glass, "but I'm modest as demons go. Though I'll say there's something to say for not doing everything perfect the first time around. Sometimes the practice is almost as much fun as the success."

[legendthatwas]

"To be fair, I've never met or hung out with a demon before, so I figure it's classy enough," drawled Martha. "And you're not kidding. Practice is usually far more entertaining than doing something perfectly the first time--and there's nothing like the satisfaction of finally getting it right."

She couldn't help but laugh at this, because seriously, taking innuendo to a new level. "Can I buy you a drink?"

[malachai]

"In some realms, I think you're morally obligated to buy me one after that kind of comment," Nick laughed with her, indicating she should precede him. He settled his hand at the base of her spine as they walked towards the bar.

Then, because why the hell not, he leaned way down close to her ear and whispered. "So do you just flirt with demons, or do you dance with them, too?"

[legendthatwas]

Martha snorted and cocked an eyebrow. "Consider it my nod to cultural diversity," she said, "though in my realm? Just a sign of having a good time." Among other things that she knew he knew.

Nick's breath was warm against her ear, but not unpleasant, and she felt a spark run through her. Hopefully, she figured, she was doing a decent job of not giving it away like some kind of fresher on a club night. "I dance with them, if they're interested. And they don't mind that I'm not that great a dancer."

Unless dancing is only a metaphor, she mentally added, but couldn't bring herself to say.

[malachai]

"I can only imagine a few species blind enough to not be interested, but speaking for my entire line? Definitely interested."

He leaned back down again. "If you dance as well as you fight, no matter your protests to the contrary, I don't think I'll be complaining a whole lot."

[legendthatwas]

"I'm not entirely certain if it's a good thing to have all demonkind interested in me," Martha replied with a wink, sidling up to the bar and waiting for the staff to get to her. "But one of them I don't really have a problem with."

She turned back a little, murmured in Nick's ear, "I'm English. We're required by law and common creed to protest our own talents."

[malachai]

"They're not all death and torture, some of the demonkyn are almost cuddly," Nick quipped, "relatively speaking, but you're probably right to keep them at arms length. Better safe than sorry leads to leads to less time running like hell."

The return whisper, and the soft warmth of her breath on his skin, had no real effect on him at all. Which was a complete lie, but he tried to at least keep from showing that his pulse had spiked.

[legendthatwas]

"So I've found," Martha replied, finally coming to her turn and ordering another round for the two of them. She turned back to Nick after she was done, and said, "This is the point where I'm drunk enough to ask if you're almost cuddly but not drunk enough to not be embarrassed."

[malachai]

It could have been a trick of the light that flipped his eyes from blue to silver, but after a second they were back to blue. Nick took no notice of the change. "Under the right circumstances," he said in the same teasing tone, "I put stuffed bears and bunnies to absolute shame, I'm so eminently cuddleable."

[legendthatwas]

"So am I supposed to figure out these proper circumstances via trial and error, or are you going to give me any hints?" asked Martha, her smile turning to just a faint smirk as she passed Nick his drink. Her fingers brushed just barely when she handed it over.

[malachai]

He felt the brush of her fingers against his like a hum through his whole body. After another micro-sip of the beer in the glass he leaned even closer to her ear. "I'm not adverse to a little hint here and there. For starters, you haven't even come close to anything like an error yet."

[legendthatwas]

Martha sipped her own drink (not liquid courage, Jones, she had to remind herself, you're doing damn well), not too fast but not slow either. "You've not made any either. I'd say we're bucking the average, so it's either quit while we're ahead or carry on with reckless abandon. I know which idea sounds more fun."

[malachai]

"I really, really hope that reckless abandon is winning that race," Nick admitted, "because that's my preference. At least until I end up completely reverting to form and getting slapped. Even then, it'd probably still be worth it."

[legendthatwas]

"It's definitely winning, let me reassure you," said Martha. "Though I'm slightly concerned about this slap thing--I tend to go for a more direct approach when I'm, uh, displeased. But you're doing okay, right now."

[malachai]

"By 'direct approach' are we talking about a right hook to the jaw...or something that would result in a drastic change to my singing voice?" Nick asked with a raised eyebrow and a strong urge to cover his groin with his hand.

[legendthatwas]

"I tend to go with my gut instinct at the time. Also what's more convenient," Martha replied cheerfully. "But, as I said, you're doing damn well so far." Her smile was so, so cheeky. She'd probably think she was being utterly shameless, in the morning.

[malachai]

"I'll keep that in mind, given that I'm not just protective about the wings," he said. Then, feeling a little reckless, he reached over and drew a finger down her cheek. Better to find out now than later that her knee was primed for his groin.

[legendthatwas]

Martha didn't slap Nick, or knee him in the groin. She did, however, raise an eyebrow at him. "You did mention something about dancing," she pointed out, tilting her head a little so her cheek pressed lightly against his fingertip.

[malachai]

"I did. And I think they're playing our song," Nick added, continuing the line of her jaw to her chin before dropping it down to offer it to her, palm up.

In truth, he had no idea what song it was. Popular music had left his notice a long time ago - before the island, before his Dark Hunter days. He only knew it wasn't one where he'd had to reveal his lack of rhythm on too grand a scale.