Party time and more [Action]

[idkmybffalfred]

[In a ballroom at Central City.]

The auction was done and a hefty pile of wealth had been gathered to help pay for the reconstruction of Amestris in the wake of the devastating undead invasion. All that was left at this point was the after party, and EVERYONE has been invited. The majority of the party has moved to a huge ballroom, complete with an in house orchestra, several tables of light snacks and drinks, a large dancing area, tables around the edges of the room, and servants with trays of drinks making sure no one goes long without a glass. Brag about your newest acquisition, seeth with jealousy at the guy who bid more on the piece you wanted, enjoy fine food and drinks from across the empire, get drunk, dance, have fun. Mr. Wayne is footing the bill tonight.

[Elsewhere, later that evening...]


A dark figure edges close to the tall wall surrounding the manor belonging to the mysterious man known only as The Major. It produces a grappling hook from under its cloak, and is perched atop the wall in short order to get a better look at what it has to contend with here.

Comments

[kyosukenanbu]

Not far behind her was Kyosuke Nanbu, also representing Britain. He was wearing a suit and was very stoic about the whole affair.

[fox_of_sawayama]

"Y-Yagami," Mitsunari sputtered, somewhat startled. He'd been so engrossed in keeping an eye on Bradley (using the reflection in his wine glass, of course - he couldn't let himself be caught looking in the Fuhrer's direction!) that he'd completely ignored what was going on near him. By the looks of it, he'd missed a lot. Since when had Yagami been so popular with the ladies?

"Not as much as you have, I'll wager..." he began, looking from one girl to the other, wondering if his advisor had brought one for him as well. Or did he intend to spend the evening with two beautiful women? Once again, Mitsunari was outclassed by his own subordinate.

[genuine_human]

Wherever there is food, the Major is sure to be there as well, indulging however he can. He's sitting down at a table with a plate of most meats that the caterers have to offer. The man preferred those over most of the other food groups anyway. With steak, duck, tripe, and sausages with surprisingly, a little bit of sauerkraut, decorating his dish, he eats to his heart's content with a glass of champagne just next to it. But as he eats, he always takes the time to wave at those who catch his interest, say... people from kingdoms Amestris is fairly unfriendly with or those he personally knows.

Re: So, my place or yours?

[hair_dress_accent]

Kallen Stadtfeld was representing her father all the way out here... Much to her obvious chagrin. At least her dress was reasonable by most accounts this time... Still, she was notably avoiding the food and drink.

Yours.

[idkmybffalfred]

Bruce Wayne, in his impeccable black tux, made a bee-line through the crowd towards Excellen and Kyosuke.

Okay lets be honest, towards Excellen.

"Well, I think I can count this party a success already if it let me meet a lovely lady like you."

[fox_of_sawayama]

"...Major," Mitsunari greeted cooly, all the while racking his brain to remember what the Major's actual name was. If he even had a name. Amestris was so dominated by the military that Mitsunari wouldn't be surprised if its soldiers had thrown away their names with the rest of their humanity. "How nice that you were able to take time out of your busy schedule to attend. I'd have thought you'd have started another war by now."

It won't be the first or the last time, Mitsunari

[justasplanned]

I admit I enjoy parties such as these. I haven't had much time to socialize of late with how busy I've been. Have you spoken with Master Wayne? Crystal and Sarah here were telling me that he's quite the philanthropist, and some business ventures with Wayne Enterprises could prove quite profitable for Sawa.

[hair_dress_accent]

As the panel opened and Batman moved through it, a shadow that seemingly wasn't there a second ago shifted. The form wore a large, claw-like device on one forearm, and a black uniform.

While it was good for Kallen that this masked shadow had noticed a path of his own... She couldn't have him grabbing the information she was coming here for.

For now, however, she simply followed, several steps behind, each step quieted by careful movement - hoping not to draw his attention.

[genuine_human]

Once Batman climes down the staircase and through the basement, he would enter Millennium's laboratory. The laboratory is a wide, winding hallway without walls, but steel bars lining through the pathway. Batman would come across multiple desks and tables with several notes scattered about. Inside the cages are numerous operating tables with yet more notes scattered below them. The entire floor seemed to be covered with paper. Further in, they would notice corpses hanging from the air by the nooses around their necks. They have signs hanging from their necks detailing patient information. This isn't the end of it. There's much more to be seen. The smell of decay mixed with various different chemicals linger in the air and they only grow stronger further into the laboratory.

Your sister is going to hear about this!

[fox_of_sawayama]

Is that what you were talking about with them? Business ventures? "I... I've spoken to him before, yes, but our paths haven't crossed yet tonight. Excuse me, Miss, um, Crystal, and Miss Sarah."

Mitsunari pulled Light aside, just out of earshot. "Yagami! Whatever happened to Miss Archer!? I don't think Hayate would approve of this kind of behavior..."

[excellenbrowning]

And as always, he was the strong and silent--very, veeeeery silent--type. All throughout the party he was like this. How could such a pretty face be such a total stick in the mud. "Say, Kyosuke," She started, putting a hand on her hip, "Are you just going to stand there and not do anything? This has got to be the party of the millennium, the least you could do is mingle a little bit."

[gothamsknight]

Batman stopped in his tracks when he realized what he was looking at. He had been expecting some hidden filing cabinets with orders, maybe a weapon smuggling operation at most, but this...

In the silence, he heard the slightest ruffle of cloth and a tiny creaking of the stairs. Someone had followed him down here! He grabbed a batarang from his belt as he spun around to see how in over his head he was.

Oh good. I just put on the black satin sheets~

[excellenbrowning]

Saying that she had not had an eye on Mister Wayne would have been a complete lie. All eyes had been on him the entire party, but hers were there for a wholly different reason. So to have him come to personally greet her came as a bit of a surprise, and she gave him a somewhat coy smile. "Unfortunately I'm here because Lady Arturia is sick, but I have to admit." And she locked eyes with him, a bit of a twinkle there. "Being able to meet you as well, Mister Wayne, well. I suppose if something good had to come from it, it might be that."

[hair_dress_accent]

... If there was one thing Batman was NOT expecting to see... A girl half his age, obviously as thrown off by what she was seeing as he was, would probably qualify nicely.

However, the woman raised her claw, obviously ready to fight... If that was what he decided to do.

[genuine_human]

"Please. I am a soldier. Our job is to fight in wars, not start them That has always been the job of civilians and politicians alike, very much like yourself," the Major says with his smile not once faltering at Mitsunari's remark. He takes a sip from his champagne and approaches Mitsunari by about four, short steps before stopping. His eyes narrow. The leader of Sawa is, unexpectedly, still just a boy. A naive one too at that in ways.

"But if I was given a war to fight in, I would enjoy it to the fullest, reveling wholeheartedly in the whirlwind of struggle. That is the kind of celebration that I much prefer over any mere feast."

I am a firm believer that EVERYONE looks good in black

[idkmybffalfred]

"It could get better though. Perhaps if the lady would share her name?"

[excellenbrowning]

"Excellen Browning, acting commander of the ATX team."

[gothamsknight]

Woman? Ha! The girl raised her claw. Her outfit wasn't even remotely similar to The Major's, though, AND she appeared to be someone from the party. Some nobleman's daughter or something, he'd look into it when he got out of this. "Put that away and get out of here before you hurt yourself. This is no place for children."

[fox_of_sawayama]

"I suppose that's why Amestris skips the dreary business of actually declaring war and simply attacks," he shot back, anger burning through his icy tone. "But you left the party too soon back in Ringford, Major. The flames hadn't even died down."

Mitsunari downed his flat champagne without tasting it. If he had his gun, he'd put a bullet between this man's eyes, "peace" and "diplomacy" be damned.

[idkmybffalfred]

"I never would have guessed that dress would be a military uniform."

[hair_dress_accent]

Kallen looked directly at this oddly-dressed man, but did not lower her weapon

"So you're the other one in the rumors, then. Don't get in the way of my collecting some evidence, and we'll be fine."

She didn't move, however. Better to hide her ace in the hole until it was time to use it. The evidence here... She had to gather it. The potential value for the Black Knights here was beyond immense.

And if that meant a fight, so be it.

[excellenbrowning]

She laughs a bit at his comment. "Standard issue, it turns out. I certainly can't complain."

You wouldn't dare!

[justasplanned]

Ms. Archer? How does she factor into this?

[kyosukenanbu]

"Century." Kyosuke corrected. "And I am doing something."

[excellenbrowning]

She pauses for a moment before making a face. "Whatever. Who cares about old sayings anyway. What I mean is you should be living a little! I mean, what could you possibly be doing just standing there like a statue, really?"