[ Action ] (open to all)

[anotherdid]

Who: Everyone is welcome, children and adults alike.
Where: First floor, ballroom.
When: 01/21, from about 9:00 PM on.
Rating: r;
Summary: Formal ball.












[The ballroom's vaulted ceilings are taller than is possible within the realms of reality, and towering, wide windows let in sunlight during the day; at night, chandeliers and wall sconces light up with so many candles, it's hard to believe the light isn't from an electric source.

There are lights strung up around the entrance to the ballroom, and music can be heard playing from within. At the door, Vanessa, with the assitance of the lovely William Whele, will be waiting to meet as many guests as they can. They'll hand each person a small silver box with one of these gifts inside; Wonderland's sense of humor is evident here.]



[Tables line every side of the ballroom, a carefully organized plate setting at each chair with little trays of cookies placed here and there.

One table, set center, is piled high with desserts, Ned's pies, hors d'oeuvres brought by Dr. Lecter, and all manner of food provided by Tohru, Seta, and the diner staff, as well as assistance from Calista, Rebekah, Evelyn, and Lydia. There are numerous drinks available, champagne (thanks to Kol), and liquor, beer, fruit punch, among other beverages, thanks to the closets.]

[Thank you cards will be slipped under the doors of Rebekah Mikaelson, Kol Mikaelson, Tohru Honda, Evelyn O'Connell, William Whele, Hannibal Lecter, Calista, Seta Souji, and Lydia Martin the following day as a way of Vanessa showing gratitude for all of their help.]

Comments

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji is here for the same reason Tohru is; he helped with the food, so he came to the thing. It seemed like the right thing to do. He even wore a tuxedo, but he just feels like he's wearing a more formal version of his school uniform.

He's also feeling a bit on the nostalgic side, like Tohru is. It started with the temptation to take off his jacket and carry it over his shoulder like his uncle always does, but that just made him think of his uncle and of how excited and nervous Nanako would have been about getting dressed up for something like this.

Then he sees Tohru and the nostalgia gets that much stronger because she is a grown up Nanako. But kind of a sad-looking one, and that won't do.

So he goes over to her and offers a small smile.]

Everything came out perfectly.

[The food, that is.]

[breakthecurse]

[When Souji comes over, it seems to be enough to pull her out of her thoughts a little, so she smiles his way.]

It did! We did a good job, and it seems like everyone really likes it...

[So she she should probably be happier than she is, but she can't seem to pinpoint exactly what's wrong, so she tries to just. Not think about it. That will help, right?]

Um, you look really nice tonight, Souji! It suits you.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods to her in thanks.] You too. It makes me think of what my cousin will probably look like when she's our age.

[Is it weird to say your friend reminds you of what your cousin will look like in ten years? Eh. Souji doesn't care much.]

[breakthecurse]

[It doesn't seem weird to Tohru. Or if it is, she's not offended by it. If anything, it just means that Souji's thinking about home right now too.]

Really? How old is she now?

[eatsyourscience]

She just finished first grade. She'll turn eight the year I get back.

[breakthecurse]

Aw! She must be adorable then! I wish I could meet her!

[She pauses though, when she realizes how that must sound.] N-Not that I would ever wish someone that young to Wonderland, of course! That's not what I meant. I only meant that it would be nice to meet her.

[eatsyourscience]

[He smiles.]

I understand. I think you'd like her. She's really bright and sweet.

[He likes her more than cats.]

[breakthecurse]

[That's pretty impressive, knowing Souji.]

I think I'd like her too. She sounds precious. I don't know any children that young at home, but she sounds very cute!

[The youngest she knows are Kisa and Hiro, and they've both hit double-digits already. The thought gives her pause though.]

...You must really miss her while you're here. [Just like she misses the Sohmas.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods.]

I miss everyone at home.

[Even Adachi.

Adachi.]

You must, too. [It's not a question. He knows she does.]

[breakthecurse]

Mm...I was just thinking about my friend Kyo.

[Tohru glances down a little, but then she gives a very tiny breath of a laugh.]

He would really hate parties like this, I think.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji thinks about his own friends and smiles slightly. What a disaster that would be.]

What kind of thing would he like?

[breakthecurse]

Hm...maybe something like a martial arts tournament!

[That isn't even remotely related to the event they're at now, but the point still stands.]

[eatsyourscience]

[This was making Kyo a bit easier to imagine, though Souji's first thought is of Daisuke. It's not quite on the mark, especially because more than hating this kind of function, Daisuke just wouldn't get it or know how to behave.]

I have a friend who'd like that much more, too. [Now he's not thinking of Daisuke, but of Chie, who would like nothing more than such an event.] She's really into kung fu.

[breakthecurse]

Really? That's amazing! She and Kyo would probably get along really well. He's been studying martial arts ever since he was little.

[Though, it would be a little tricky to introduce them with the Sohma family curse, but Kyo gets along just fine with Uo and Hana so maybe not? It would probably be fine.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji smiles to himself.]

Chie isn't really trained. She just kind of jumps around her house kicking holes in the shoji by accident. She's strong, though, so it must have paid off.

[breakthecurse]

[Okay, even Tohru can't help giggling a little at that. The more she hears about her, the more she actually reminds her of Kagura.]

She sounds like she must be a fun person. And I'm sure it paid off really well!

[eatsyourscience]

She is fun. She's actually the only person from my team who hasn't come here since I arrived.

[Which is pretty disappointing and it almost makes him miss her more than the others, since he got to see each of them for at least a little while.]

[breakthecurse]

[It's a delicate situation. It seems rude to hope that maybe she'll pass through Wonderland one day, since so many terrible things have happened, but Tohru knows what it's like to miss someone terribly. She smiles sympathetically.]

I hope you're able to see her again soon, Souji.

[Whether that's in Wonderland or at home.]

[eatsyourscience]

There are people you want to see soon, too, right?

[It's an invitation to tell him about them, if she wants.]

[breakthecurse]

[She nods, and for once she takes that invitation.]

Mm. Hana is the only person I've seen here from my world, so there are a lot of people I miss. We have another friend too, Uo. She would be worried sick if she knew we were gone.

[But she doesn't, and that hurts in a different way that Tohru can't quite explain.]

And Kyo too, of course! And Yuki, and Shigure...I miss all of the Sohmas. They've been so kind to me, and they're like...like family to me.

[eatsyourscience]

It sounds nice. [A whole family. So they'd adopted her. Or she'd adopted them.]

How did you meet them?

[breakthecurse]

Well...after my mom died, I went to live with my grandfather. But then, his house needed to be remodeled so the other side of his family could stay there. He asked if I had anyone I could stay with until it was done, but...I didn't want to bother anybody, so I tried to make it on my own for a little bit. I bought some camping equipment and figured that I could just live in the woods until his house was finished.

[It...admittedly sounds a little silly looking back on it, but she still stands by her decision and her reasoning.]

The woods I had been staying in belonged to the Sohma family though, so...apparently I was trespassing, but they were very kind about it. They asked me to stay with them, and I earn my keep by cooking and cleaning for them. And even when the renovations were finished, they still allowed me to stay with them. I've been there ever since.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji's expression is one of fond exasperation as she explains her living situation pre-Sohma.]

How long is that now?

[breakthecurse]

A little under two years, not counting any time here in Wonderland.

[If she could count Wonderland time, it would be almost four now.]

[eatsyourscience]

I'm glad you could find that with them.

[It's not easy to find that "place where you belong" especially--he imagines, at least--after something like losing a parent.]