entrancelogs | [OPEN] We'll Take A Cup of Kindness Yet

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[OPEN] We'll Take A Cup of Kindness Yet

Who: EVERYONE, but especially you!
Where: Wonderland Ballroom
When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG - PG13 (will change if applicable)
Summary: New Year's Eve Party
The Story:

[The morning of December 31st, all residents will receive a handwritten invitation slipped under their door.]

You are cordially invited to attend a party
celebrating the New Year

Wonderland Ballroom
8 pm - 1 am

Semi-Formal Attire
Buffet & Bar
No RSVP Required

All Ages Welcome

For inquiries, contact E. O'Connell

[Punctuality in planning is important: the ballroom itself will only be ready for guests at exactly 8 o'clock, bedecked in glittering golds and the red-green of Christmas' vestiges, still clinging to the old year. Dining tables surround a central dance floor, bars and buffets dot the edges of the room and both holly and mistletoe are expressed liberally through the interior.

Mingle, dance, eat and be merry! The New Year will come in at midnight - the band will play and the drinks will flow for long after.]

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[She knows full well that he's right. She even knows that if she has to stay cooped up in this room for much longer she's going to scream. She was back to hiding like the authorities were after them only this time she didn't have to. She just wished she could have left the room in something other than a dress and heels.]

So you want me to talk to drunk people and hope they tell me things.... [Tone dry as she shuffles about in the bathroom.

At this point she's practically ready, she's just second guessing everything and doing it twice.]

Or we can trap ourselves in here for another week. Does that sound like a good time to you?

[If there's anything that will get her to hurry up, it's probably that. Richie is pretty sure he'll go crazy if they go that route.]

Who knows, maybe you'll even have fun.

[The door opens just enough for her to look at him, Kate's features drawn into a half-formed scowl. It's difficult to argue with every point he makes when she knows he's right on every front but she's nervous. Rather than admit as much, it was easier just to be difficult.

Her make-up is done, her hair spilling down her shoulders in loose, thick curls but she's holding an arm across the top of her dress, keeping it up. The scowl slips away, poorly masked uncertainty taking its place and finally Kate has to say something to him that isn't a complaint.]

I can't... Could you help me with the zip, please. [Not much of the dress can be seen with the door mostly closed but she would have to come out if she wants his help.]

[Richie very clearly remembers the day he met Kate Fuller, first saw her floating in that pool, dressed in a tiny bikini that didn't exactly leave much to the imagination.

He'd been attracted to her, of course, urged by the voices in his head and the coy smile she wore in his hallucinations. But that hadn't been what drew him to her after that brief encounter. It was the things he saw within her that really affected him, the things that he knew were real.

He'd also never seen her like this, dolled up and looking less like a girl and older than she'd ever been, and he can't even really see the dress other than what color it might be. He clears his throat before he nods.]

Yeah, sure. I think I can handle that.

[Kate watches him through the gap, face guarded, half expecting some form of reprimand; for taking too long, for too much or not enough make-up, for hair that made her look too young, too old, too... not like herself. Knowing that Richie had never criticized her before should have told her she had nothing to worry about but she was pushing her own doubts onto him.]

Thank you. [Holding the dress against her chest with one arm and pulling the door the rest of the way with the other, her gaze falls away as she emerges from the bathroom, Kate holding her breath as she turns her back to him, the zipper several inches from the top.]

Is it... too much? [Continuing to watch him in her periphery as her head turns to the side.]

You're welcome.

[The words stick slightly in his throat as the door opens the rest of the way, revealing the floor-length gown that's draped over her form. It's a perfect color, gentle but unique, and he's not sure he could have picked anything more suitable for her.

His brain has to restart before one of his hands reaches for the zipper, the other resting against her waist to hold the fabric in place so he can drag the metal tab upwards, closing the fabric over her smooth, pale skin.]

No. You're fine. [This is probably the first time she's worn anything like this, it occurs to him. That causes all of this procrastination to make a little more sense. That and the fact that he's basically her....date, if you can even call him that.

Everyone else will.] You look beautiful.

[That's what he's supposed to say, right? Not that it isn't true (it is), but this isn't exactly something he has a lot of experience with either.]

[The gentle brush of his fingers against her bare skin, forces her to fight the shiver that winds down her spine, Kate painfully aware of his every movement as he finishes the zipper for her.

The dress hugs her in every way that it should, allowing her room to breathe without risk of falling down and she can feel his eyes on her as he takes her in, a carefully crafted mask slipping into place as she fights against the urge to rush back into the bathroom and change back into jeans and a t-shirt.

She'd been pointedly avoiding looking at him until he called her beautiful, Kate immediately looking for the lie in his words, unsure if he was saying it simply to be nice or hoping the compliment might get her moving.]

Thank you... [Kate wishing she'd worn more make-up, now. It might conceal the color that crawled up her cheeks.

Turing to face him, she smoothes out the fabric of her dress, busying her hands and trying to steady her nerves.]

And you look... [A hint of a smile plays across her lips as she takes him in because he looked impeccably put together; as if dressing up for him was effortless.] Like you always do.

[Because he always looked good. Soaking wet, covered in blood? He just always looked good. It was kind of intimidating sometimes.]

[He wouldn't have wanted her to wear more makeup than she had on already. She didn't need it much at all really, but what she did wear played up her features without weighing them down.

Kate was not Santanico, but that wasn't a bad thing.

He smirks at her comment, taking a step back to finish buttoning his jacket.]

Come on, even I'm cleaned up a little more than usual.

[Except...not really...by much.]

If you say so. [The corners of her mouth lifting despite her attempts to hide her smile.

If anything, it was a compliment but she wasn't sure if Richie would realize that.]

You look, very nice. [Kate almost telling him that he looked handsome but thinking better of it.] But you always look good in suits.

[He stands up a little straighter, his smirk spreading into a more genuine grin. When was the last time anyone complimented him on anything, seriously? Regardless, it's not an expression that most people have ever seen.]

Why thank you, miss. [His tone is teasing.] You might even say they....suit me?

[That... Was the worst joke she's ever heard and she's going to work hard at not laughing because that will only encourage you, Richie.]

You should stick to looking good. [Not. Laughing.]

So... how are we supposed to... do this? Will we have like, a signal or something? [Seth was right. She's been reading too many crime novels.]

You-

[He goes to the desk to grab his gun, checking the magazine before shoving it into the back of his pants and covering it with his jacket. Then he retrieves hers and hands it to her so she can put it in whatever bag she's carrying.]

-are gonna stay in my line of sight at all times.

I'm sorry...

[Oh she knows what he just said but foolishly she thought after their conversation in the caves, that things were going to be different with her and Richie. A partnership, not him hovering over her like an overprotective neanderthal.]

What?

We don't know any of these people and you're a terrible judge of character.

[He leans against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest.]

Besides, if we need to make a quick exit, I need to know where you are.

[She really shouldn't look so affronted by that assessment, he wasn't wrong, but despite all evidence to support his argument, Kate's arms fold across her chest as she stares him down.]

Really. [Rather pointedly raising her eyebrows at him.]

Or, you could just trust me to be able to get myself out of there? [What a crazy thought.]

You really want to be separated if the shit hits the fan? Really?

[His eyebrows lift expectantly, because if she says yes, than she's just being stubborn. Also stupid.]

I'm not trying to be controlling here, Kate. It's called strategy. If I can see you, you can see me. We're working together. [There's something more behind his eyes, though. Something intense and private, something pleading and fearful.] Work with me, here. Please.

[Sighing, Kate holds the answer in for several long moments, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of her answer until she's sure she can't think of a response that wouldn't make her look reckless or foolish.]

No... [The truth, but she clearly wasn't happy about giving it.]

Strategy. [A skeptical edge to her voice. Had it not been for the look in his eyes, she might well have continued to push back and while she wasn't entirely sure what she was seeing, it was at least enough to allow her to believe him when he said, this wasn't about control.]

Okay... [Still not enthused, but at least, willing.] Just - [She's so ready to put conditions on this, to wrestle some form of control back but she can't look at him right now without feeling like, maybe this was one argument she didn't have to win.] Okay.

I just want to have a plan, even if it's a loose one.

[This is what he does. Even if he doesn't always follow it when things get crazy. <.<

He just needs to make sure they don't get crazy.]

You ready?

[His eyebrows lift expectantly.]

[ She bobs her head, unable to argue that logic, even if she wished the night didn't have to be quite so... planned.]

Ummm... [Kate looks back towards the bathroom, lips pressed together, the desire to go back and check her appearance, causing her to hesitate.] I... sure.

[Maybe she'd kept him waiting long enough.]

As I'll ever be.

Then let's go.

[He offers her his arm, chin lifted in an ever so proper manner.]

And don't worry. There's nothing wrong with being fashionably late.

[When in doubt, always act like you 100% know what you're doing.]

[Her eyebrows crawl up her forehead, Kate doing little to mask her surprise but she only eyes him for a moment before a smile settles in place and she steps forward to link her arm through his.

This would do little to make people believe they weren't more than... friends? If they were even that, but she didn't give it too much thought for now.]

You're the expert. [Look she really thinks he is. She doesn't know the suit obsession came from Uncle Eddie.

And do de dooo off they go.]

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[OPEN] We'll Take A Cup of Kindness Yet

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