Wallflower
Moving lightly and quietly through the crowd, Alec headed to the far side of the buffet table. From here he'd be able to watch the entrances in all of their authentic glory without being too obvious about his people watching...though that was the point of masquerades, was it not? Also, it would allow him to investigate some of the hors d'oeuvres...of stunning variety and composition. "Hm...I'm not sure what that one even is...and here I thought I was well tutored in polite culinary foods."
Skirting to the bar, he slipped himself a glass of plain mineral water, wishing to avoid the potential awkwardness that sometimes ensued when you only want the barest portion of what is offered. The waitstaff here seemed well trained, but there would always still be that initial look of wondering what the hell was wrong with the person...heh. If they only knew.
Having resumed his wallflower position, Alec sipped at his water, watching the flow of humanity and inhumanity through the doors, taking in the costumes.
"Alec, Ginnie, this is Mai. Mai, Alec and Ginnie."
Turning to Alec and Ginnie she smiled apologetically. "Please excuse me, I came here to meet Mai's friends, so I must do just that. Perhaps we'll get to talk again later." She gave Alec a friendly wink. "I wouldn't want you to be papering that wall all night."
Facing Mai once more, and having hopefully excused herself as well as she could, she said, "All right, let's meet these friends of yours, please, Mai. Lead the way."
The oddness of the entire situation was not lost on Aishe, but she found it best not to ask questions for the moment, and simply go with the flow. Perhaps someday she'd look back on the absurdity of it all, but then again, maybe it was best not to dwell on it for now. She reminded herself to keep moving forward, in more ways than just the obvious.
Good to meet you, Miss Mai. You look resplendent in your kimono...and if I may say, you smell lovely as well.
Turning back to Aishe, Alec handed his card to her. A pleasure. Enjoy your pending introduction, and perhaps I will see you in the future. If you'll excuse us?
Turning again to Ginnie, taking her arm, he said
Well, shall we?
Alec and Ginnie head toward the close end of the table for the serving of the meal.
((OOC: Alec and Ginnie out - permission to move Ginnie))
Giggling at his statement, Mai sniffed experimentally normally accostumed to tuning out her own scent in order to better sense others. Fuji flowers, leather, her weapons and the oil used to clean them and.. Her nose twitched again.. the make up for tonight's event.
Mai squeezed her eyes shut repressing a sneeze and holding up a red sleeve to her face until it passed.
"Domo Arigato, Alec-san."
Smiling, she sensed him step back and take the other woman's hand. Tilting her head up to Aishe, Mai now tugged on the girl's arm.
"Come come, you must meet Ba-di-kun and Alfarinn-san."
She really shouldn't call Thaddeus by such a nickname in public but Mai was happy to see him again and wanted to go find him and let them both know she was here. She was certain he would forgive her such a breach of etiquette, he was very kind like that...besides he didn't hear her say it. Her face lit up with a small impish grin of one who had gotten away with some small prank without anyone knowing.
((OOC: Mai the impatient out))
Ba-Di-Kun? Alfarinn-san? Her command of Japanese just wasn't strong at all, but if she remembered properly, san was something like 'sir' and kun was... brother, perhaps? She mulled that over while they made their way through the crowd.
((ooc: Aishe out, permission granted to Mai to push, pull, poke, tug, prod Aishe in whatever direction necessary over the course of the next thread or so.))