forward-dated to actual halloween!

[golemcam]

The Dressing Room's Halloween Party
2011Welcome, to the Halloween bash of your life! --You didn't want to attend, you say? TOO BAD you're attending. Now come enjoy the festivities

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placeholdeeeeeeeer

[fallforthesky]

[She knew things wouldn't stay quiet for long. This year, the DR has outfitted her with something... slightly cruel and for that, she's huddling in the shadows in the corner of the room, clutching a cocktail in hand.]

[besomeothername]

[But it is that costume which catches Lavi's eye from halfway across the room. People from his particular spot in the timeline are an exceedingly rare breed now; enough that Lavi occasionally goes actively looking for them. So upon seeing Lenalee, Lavi picks up his own glass of punch and hops enthusiastically over to where she is sitting (or huddling)]

[When he crouches down next to her, he can tell who this Lenalee is though. A bit of a headtilt as he notices that her scars from being an Akuma are missing. But there's no mistaking her for any other Lenalee. Smiling he unwinds the scarf from around his neck and tries to drape it over her shoulders]

Sure you don't want to come join the rest of the party?

[fallforthesky]

[Lavi, you're being left behind in the passage of time, and it may actually be better that way.

She's more or less sitting perched on a chair, plucking at the skirt to the uniform she'd almost forgotten about- it'd been so long ago, and wasn't it just the other day she'd been thinking about how fast things changed since then? But the sudden drape of bright fabric in her peripheral vision makes her look up, and- oh. She hasn't seen him in so long.

On an impulse, she reaches out and pulls him close while he's trying to put his scarf round her shoulders. A clumsy hug, given the way she's still clutching the cocktail glass in her free hand, but no less genuine.] This is fine.

[besomeothername]

[Lavi's not really liking that look in her eyes. Kind of haunted just from touching the fabric of her past. He feels a bit guilty to be honest. Like maybe he should have sought her out after that dream just to make sure he hadn't been imagining things instead of sending her on a dinner date with the person who had been haunting her]

[Tugs a little at the scarf unconsciously, reaching around to hug her back and place a light brush of lips against her temple]

Welcome back.

[fallforthesky]

[It's funny how their uniforms can stand for a lot more than just a bullseye. There was a lot of resolve she hadn't found it in her to have back when she wore this version full-time. ...It's a little weird.

It's been nearly six months since those dreams, though. Maybe not... linear months, but certainly almost six months between here and home, and the pain she felt from them has faded. Even most of the 'date' has mostly become background noise in her memory, blotted out by bigger, harsher events.

She squeezes him a little tighter when he kisses her, pressing her nose down against his shoulder. Everyone's welcoming her back, and it's... also weird.] I missed you.

[besomeothername]

I missed you, too.

[Reaches up to stroke her hair, pulling her just a little bit closer. He missed you, too, Lenalee. Missed his fair cousin so very very much. Missed the happier days, the lighter days. Heck, he even missed the days where she would be staring off into the sky and he would just talk at her, not really sure if what he was even saying made sense]

[Chuckles, trying to make this moment not so heavy and awkward as it could get]

The think the red looks better on you with that hairstyle. You should tell Johnny he has very good taste.

[fallforthesky]

[...those days didn't last very long, did they? But surprisingly, she isn't lingering long on bitter thoughts like that (which may or may not be in part because of the drinking she's been doing) and is more concerned with hugging him for as long as he'll let her (also possibly thanks to the drinking she's been doing). She haphazardly sets her glass on the floor nearby and wraps her other arm around him, too, almost as if she were attempting to fuse them both into one person.

With the faintest traces of something maybe a little homesick, and muffled into his clothes:] Johnny always has had an eye for tailoring.

[besomeothername]

[How long will Lavi let a hug last? Probably forever if the human body didn't need pesky things like food, water, and rest. He melts into the hug, abusing it for a few moments to chase away some of his own demons before the hand in her hair starts moving again. The arm around her waist pulls her a little closer if there is any room left to spare, and he starts humming something cheery. Faint, under his breath so that Lavi himself can barely hear it]

[Are things okay back home? He really doesn't need to ask the question, does he? And he doesn't want to open up that can of worms yet (if at all)]

He sure does. [Slightly wider grin] I met an Exorcist Johnny in the Dressing Room once. He was probably the most fashionable Exorcist I ever did meet. Always had the latest and greatest uniform.

And speaking of clothes, if you're not a fan of yours, Lenalee, I could always try to make an impromptu ghost costume for you. Or maybe whip up something to look like Number 65.

[fallforthesky]

[Forever sounds nice right about now. With half the people she'd been accustomed to hugging gone (for one reason or another), and being sent on a near-constant stream of missions besides, Lenalee can't remember the last lengthy hug she'd given anyone. Not besides when Allen- ...ah, well, she really shouldn't be thinking about that, anyway. She exhales slowly into Lavi's shoulder and closes her eyes, content for the moment to simply hold onto him and listen to that quiet humming. If her brother were to see them now, Lavi would probably have to make a speedy exit, given how closely wound they've managed to get, but that's fine.

Three months ago, Lavi disappeared... are you going to live the same path?]

An Exorcist Johnny... [A soft laugh.] He must have been very happy to be able to protect everyone.

[Thinking on Johnny, though... All the effort he put into protecting everyone with his tailoring skills. She tilts her head to look down at her first uniform 'costume', then shakes her head, laughing again beneath her breath.] ...No. I

[besomeothername]

[Luckily (or unluckily) Komui is a rare finding in these parts, leaving Lavi to flirt and be overly affectionate freely. Like now. Lavi relaxes the hug to bring his fingers lightly through Lenalee's hair, grinning a bit]

[He is a forever flirt. Mumbled absently:] I like this length and the style. It's adorable on you.

[Oh boy. ...Probably? Thanks to a couple other Dressing Room residents, Lavi's come to a very unpleasant conclusion that most of his handsome redhead cousins are going to be having tea and crumpets with the Noah for a while. He is not looking forward to that. Maybe it's better that she doesn't know...]

He was a little spitfire. He and Yuu-chan used to burn through so many prototype uniforms to make them stronger, yeah. It'd be kind of endearing if not for the collateral damage.

[Just smiles at the more when he hears her laughter. She should laugh more, really. For her sake and everyone else's. It was such a lovely and musical sound]

[fallforthesky]

[It's lucky for the majority of the DR, but obviously less so for Lenalee. But if she made it nearly a year without her brother at her side once before, then she can make it again! Humming vaguely at the sensation of fingers through her hair- it seems she might have been drinking for a while before he found her.] S'nice to finally pin it up again...

[LAVI why. Your lives are pain. She's so worried about her own, so it probably would be best if he didn't mention to her that pretty much every Lavi he knows goes through the same paces.] There's always collateral damage when Kanda's involved.

[There's a sort of questioning note, though, because 'Yuu-chan' is a bit. Odd to hear.]

[besomeothername]

[Lavi glances back to the cocktail on the floor. It still had some alcohol in it, and despite appearances, Lavi didn't think that Lenalee was that much of a lightweight. Just hadn't built up enough tolerance yet. But if she like hair ruffles, Lavi will be more than happy to continue them. Guilty pleasure of his own and all]

Agree with you on that one. Makes you look- [Healthier is what he wants to say. All the Lenalees with their hair cropped short usually had a lot of weight on their shoulders (not that all Lenalees didn't have weight on their shoulders). Probably had to do with the whole Ark mess, the bandages on their legs, and the Innocence that wouldn't cooperate. Yes yes, Lavi likes the long hair much better] Taller. More like a princess.

[Secret is safe with him then. He's living in denial himself anyway]

You're right. We lose more nice courtyards that way. [A pause] But Yuu-chan was a bit special, yeah. Little fourteen year old... [Pause] I guess he was sixteen at the time ... grump so very jealous of his older

[fallforthesky]

[NO ALCOHOL TOLERANCE whatsoever. It's a bit sad, really. But mostly she just gets dozy when she's drunk, so no harm, no foul. The hair ruffles are nice, though- it reminds her of Marie.] I'm not a princess, though...

[Being likened to one reminds her of the Noah twins. It's not so pleasant. Fortunately, what Lavi goes on to say about Yuu-chan distracts her from bad memories of the Ark and everything that had happened on it.] 'Was'? He went home...?

[besomeothername]

[Said a bit distractedly:] Yeah. Long time ago. Been what? Almost two years now, I think. He left on Christmas day.

[Lavi finally unwinds an arm around her, giving her a little bit of space as he leans over and tries to reeeeeeach for her glass. He barely brushes it with his fingertips before hooking it and pulling it closer]

Do you at least raid the good alcohol?

[fallforthesky]

[Two years... She frowns to herself, mouthing the words. At the moment, she can't remember if he ever told her exactly how long he'd been in the Dressing Room, but if two years is how long it's been since a good friend of his left, then...

It has to have been a long time.] How do you tell good alcohol?

[besomeothername]

[He sees that furrowing of her brow and chuckles a little] Oh, don't worry. You won't get stuck here that long. I'm one of the few exceptions, yeah. Can count the number of people on one hand who've been here as long as I have.

[And then he shifts his position a little as he turns to sip a bit at what she was drinking. It burns down his throat, a pleasant burn, and it's just a little bit on the sweet side, but that's how he preferred his drinks anyway] Depends on why you're drinking. Are you looking for taste or the fastest path between sober and waking up in a courtyard wondering where half your clothes wandered off to?