<div class="floatleft">(https://78.media.tumblr.com/340353926d30224378a32e525b272a78/tumblr_oxxz9cXbTS1vxwaceo1_250.gif) </div><strong> Name: </strong>Claudine<br/><strong> Location: </strong>Banquet Hall<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Attire</div><div class="spoiler_body"> (https://78.media.tumblr.com/3878bda0143cedb7662109ca4f9ef34a/tumblr_oxtstwsgJu1vxwaceo1_400.gif)</div></div><br/><strong> Tagging: </strong>Markus/Open<br/><strong>Mentioning: </strong>Marieme, Isobelle, Elia, Hudson, Sebastion, Stephen<br/><hr/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><strong><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">I</span></em></strong></span>t was unavoidable, of course. To not hear the murmurs, whispers, and vocalized tones that blended with the music coming from the ballroom. Bits and pieces here and there as Spade worked on collecting a decent sized sample of various foods. Patiently. Calmly. Undisturbed. So unphased by the tremor that was being awoken. It was rather hard to swallow down a bubble in her throat that wanted to release a chuckle. Instead, she held a gentle though small smile, showing no reaction to the darkness that exhaled here this night, seeking to touch and stain every pulse it could. Perhaps it was because this was something she was intimately accustomed to that allowed her to be so, calm. The trouble that had befallen seemed as obvious as it did not. Was only a matter of how connected she willfully decided to allow herself to become, or not become.<br/><br/>To stop giving glances towards the two loners, Skeleton and Raven, as a hearty stew was poured into a bowl. To not even shift her gaze towards the owner of the words “<em>I’m a doctor.</em>” as she added some vegetables to her plate. To not even flinch under the manic tone of "<em>Does it look like we are alright?</em>" as a portion of meat strips was being set to her plate. To not sigh while green leaves and red tomatoes sprinkled with seasoning and shreds of cheese were deposited to a small salad plate. To utterly not react to any of it, only focus on her own plot of course. Which currently was finding herself some semblance of filling to ingest for energy and slow the pace of alcohol being absorbed. Apparently, in guessing by the flow of commotion around her, she would need some sense of wits and clarity to her mind. Especially considering the castle was sealed, allowing not one of them to escape while also allowing them the freedom to roam.<em>Finally</em>.<br/><br/>A sea of thoughts and whispers died within Claudine’s mind, no echo lingering as hairs tingled gently in knowing someone had moved in close. Stilling her arm, about ready to fetch some bread that was near the steaming dish of meatballs, those green orbs lazily rolled to the side. The Egyptian Deity returned in finding her. Invaded and mingled her small area of space with his own, not that she would complain after the passion of dance they had shared. Under his whisper, her breath hitched as she visibly shivered, the smile she had fading into its death swiftly. Softly swallowing, her hand twitched as though it considered trembling, all to abandon the idea altogether. Collected all the masked dancer had said, stringing it up in her mind like twinkling ornaments to behold how each one shimmered and shined in the individual definitions.<strong>Count. Dead. Blood. Ballroom. Witness. Countess. Castle. Locked In. Unlocked Inside. Killer. Loose.</strong><em>Masked, no doubt</em>, a piece of her mind offered before going silent once more.<br/><br/>The bubble before that she had popped reformed then, born from a stomach that rolled and a heart that quickened. Some much for retaining a calm and collected disposition as she hiccupped a trembling chuckle. Raw hunger transformed to nervous hunger in the span of a second not even. With it, the hand once more lifted, reaching again towards the unbalanced pile of displayed rolls. “<em>Senza senso,</em>” Claudine said, the spoken words of Italian for saying ‘<em>nonsense</em>’, letting neck muscles guide her head to drift side to side in slowly shaking her cranium. “<em>Surely it is an act, dear. A ploy to help us all embrace the influence of mystery and suspense that the holiday tends to awake in eager minds. To add a fire to our blood that has only a few ways to be soothed and extinguished. Besides</em>,” the hand moved now to the serving dish containing the meatballs he had remarked about. "<em>If this was all true as you say. The music still plays,</em>" she followed in an offering, straining to choke back any semblance of true unease she had in opposition to her projected words.<br/><br/>Paused but a moment, giving him a chance to consider her words instead of simply reacting to them. Using that moment, she added the circular-like wads of meat to her plate where she had room. "<em>Put your mind at ease. At least for now. Fill yourself with meatballs and more, wine, and my company before this supposed malevolent phantom decides to invite Death to paint the floor crimson once again,</em>" said with a lightly tinted nervous chuckle before she turned, gaze falling in dance over him with a hand to set of two fingers to his bicep nearest her. It was there, hiddenly so as it was, the faintest quiver to her voice in all her words. Had heard it, as did he no doubt. Calm and collected as she seemed behind her mental shield, there were a few cracks that were obvious that unveiled glimpses of truth. Nervousness. Perhaps even a touch of apprehension, as silly as she tried to make seem.<br/><br/>In the end, it would be his choice to make, not something she could demand of him. To join her or not. To feast from her plate or his own. Flashing him a wink from under the mask, eyes almost glinting in approval as they swept over him, slowly. Proved much on the dance floor about his physique and conditioning. Even his confidence in his awkward words from earlier. Altogether, he actually seemed rather a strange breed of charming in his own fashion that she was unaccustomed to. Beyond all that, if all was true, this was not the time to be bold and defiant even as she discretely licked her lips and turned away from him. Locked inside with a killer was a page torn directly from history, not to mention written tales of horror. Safety in numbers, only virgins survive, don't hide upstairs. That mess of dribble.<br/><br/>A final glance over her shoulder to him, Claudine wondered many a silent thing before looking away. Was all well and good to know she could most likely handle herself if one dared assault and attack her. The scars to her flesh were mostly gone. Money made sure of that but, the memory of how they had been gained remained. In her world and line of business, it demanded certain unsavory qualities of the mind to achieve all she had. All the same, it would sincerely be comforting to know she would have another at her side. Quite similar to the small group of elegantly decorated bodies that had herded themselves in fit together that she noticed in awareness while she found a place to settle. Chose a place where the light was dimmer, more private while also on display, somewhat. As if there were no secrets that needed protecting and hiding.<br/><br/>Abandoning her small platter, the glide of Claudine’s steps carried her towards the bar to fetch a drink.<em>No, make that two</em>, a voice within her mind purred. One for herself and one for the<em>Egyptian Deity</em>. That being if she was correct in that he likely not would choose a different path that was not her. If proven wrong, well. All the more for her, or potentially another who was masked in a mystery of secrets as they all were.<em>Though, who to trust</em>, she idly wondered as her hand slightly shook in collecting the filled wine glasses presented to her. Perhaps she even could and would be of fret and panic on the surface, later. For now, she was particularly hungry as she was thirsty. In various ways at that, finding her line of sight briefly flirted on the fancy Skeleton then the Raven before her back was turned on them, slipping back into dim lighting as she took the seat in anxious wait.<br/><br/>