The Party - Part 4 - Friendship

[nohalation]

Outside, night has fallen. It's been a couple hours since that took place. People are traumatized and shocked to learn that more than half of City Royale's high society perished in a strange zombie attack caused by an electrician who killed then reanimated the guests with the power of LIGHTENING.

Slot, quite literally, dragged said electrician out of the ballroom, and with some rope that was found, the prisoner was tied up. Slot has them set up a small distance away and is waiting for him to regain consciousness. They're far enough away that there is some sense of privacy, but close enough that they're within eyesight of everyone else and should something happen, they can jump in.

The grunt remains out cold. That lightning he sent to himself did him a number.

Also unsettled by how that ended, but also somewhat resigned to it, Juno stays quiet and lets other party members make The Big Decisions.

Cinderella, the ball's host, was not able to find her butler at all... is what a local who understands morse code translated. However, several witnesses recall the way she fell still as she observed what was left of her butler's corpse.

Cinderella's new butler, the butler's cousin who looks exactly like the butler from before, has quickly joined her side.

As she stands before you, she taps several long series of patterns, of which the butler eagerly translates in a way similar to the previous butler.

"My lady, she says 'I am sorry for what took place, yet I can't appreciate what you have done for me. H-A...' Oh, she means ha, um! 'Ha, to think I have humbled myself so quickly when I was tempted to turn you to ash. I have decided... whatever you need from me, I will assist. If you were not present, it could have been much worse.'"

Dusk slowly bows her head a little. "Sorry your party got ruined. It will be best for everyone if we just went home I think, we don't need anything else."

Clima looks to Dusk for a moment, and then back to Cinderella. That isn't exactly wise, but. . . . well, in any case, he tilts his head. "Dusk, you won't ask her?"

Dusk looks over to Clima, blinking her eyes like "???" Am I forgetting something?

Clima lifts a hand up, reaching to tuck a lock of hair behind Dusk's ear. "After all, Cinderella lost many friends just now, in that fire."

"Didn't you come here to be her friend?"

Primrose Hisses.

There is a noted EXPRESSION on Dusk's face, but it passes and she ssssssllllllllloooooooooooooooowly tuuuuuuuuurns back towards Cinderella. Looking oddly SHEEPISH.

Cinderella solemnly nods at Clima's comment, and the butler gives Primrose a confused look.

However, Dusk makes them both tilt their heads.

Slot pokes the grunt. Wake upppppppp--

"Well...." Dusk probably kicks a pebble or something. "If she wants, I guess . . . "

The grunt snores.

Cinderella inclines her head again. You almost get the sense that she would be smiling, if she could. Another series of tapping her heels follows.

"My lady says, 'I would be overjoyed to have a friend like you.'"

"Hey, wake up," Slot says, poking him again. He's frowning in annoyance. God, he saved you from the ballroom, the least you could do is wake up!!

There is a sudden sense of a Ruler who seems happy (maybe surprised) and she nods really excitedly!!! "Nuh uh, I'm happier!! The happiest!! You can come visit anytime you want if you want, and then we'll have fun and sing and dance!" Pause. "Ah, we might have some business to take care of first, but we'll write you letters!!!"

Clima gives a soft huff, almost a sigh, and there's perhaps a look of contentedness on his face - his expression doesn't change, he doesn't smile, but there's a little kind light in his eyes anyway as he watches Dusk and Cinderella.

...finally, the grunt cracks an eye open. He just kind of stares at you, Slot. Maybe he's used to waking up tied up.

Cinderella is a little overwhelmed... despite being a person of fire, she's very cool and collected!! Mostly. This display of friendship confounds her, just a little, but she isn't pushed away. She taps her heels.

"My lady asks why it was so important that you attended her ball. She has gathered that you're a Ruler, from Halation, thanks to your conversation with the woman of ink. You never explained yourself.'"

"Oh.." Dusk pokes at her cheek trying to think. "We were trying to get directions to go home cuz we got kidnapped and we didn't know where we were and then Early said that maybe you might know and then I tried to go inside and I got hit in the face so then we went to the casino and then somehow we got in anyway. Also cuz balls are fun."

"Oh, good, you're awake!" Slot says. "Now, I hope you don't mind answering some things for me~ After all, my song did knock you off your feet!"

It's as though Cinderella's eyes widen. At least, the butler looks shocked.
"Kidnapped...?"

Cinderella taps her heels.

"My lady says she will help! But for now, please come to her manor to rest. From there, we will find a way to get you back!"

Early, who was also along, very quietly sitting by Juno, sighs in relief.

Meanwhile, with Slot...

"Ah. Yes. You made that... shitty song..."

He goes out cold again? I'm sorry, Slot, this guy can't keep his eyes open.

Slot sighs and guesses he'll just continue to drag him along.

Dusk looks at the others and then seems to RESIGN, “Uh huh, I guess we should rest...”

Early smiles at Dusk, laughing nervously.

"Rest sounds... nice."

You can almost feel Cinderella smile as well. And so, you're all lead back to Cinderella's manor. It's actually a beautiful castle. Who knew she could be... humble?

You're bed is warm. As soon as you rest your head on the pillow, your eyelids fall heavy.