The Masquerade!

[avibusraris]

Have you signed up to go to the ball? Not everyone is going, and they don't have to! But they are highly encouraged to. Whether they have a date or not depends on how they'll be getting there. If they do have a specific date then the car that picks them up will be a regular guard car, and they will be told to get into the back and be escorted that way. The guard's cannot be harmed in their car, there is a metal blockade in the car, so sorry! For those that don't have a date, they'll be expected to get into a limo, taking about six or seven inmates at once! You might find your friends in the limo on the way there, yay!

The guards will take the inmates to a secluded spot on an entirely different island than the main one the prison is on. It's a coliseum, one that's used for special events involving horses and other fun animals. The Warden special ordered a massive tent that covers the entire coliseum, and there are heat lamps scattered about within. It's cold outside, these are a must! Around the perimeter of the tent there are several guards with loaded guns. They're standing about, watching very carefully, and if anyone tries to attack another inmate or tries to escape they will be shot on sight, no questions asked.

Comments

[darkerearth]

He did when he was first with us. He did a lot of things - he wasn't himself, really. I don't know how to explain it.

[ another shrug ] Probably.

[sinspawn]

It must have been hard...

It's good he ended up in your family. He seems way different now from how you describe him.

[darkerearth]

Yeah, he didn't go to school when he was bad. Eraqus didn't want to enroll him yet, so he home schooled him for a while. And one day, he just...changed. He was friendly, nice, and happy.

I bet you heard a lot of stories about my family. I've heard them too. About the weird old guy that adopts older kids...

[sinspawn]

That's...does that really seem normal to you? People don't just suddenly change like that. It usually takes time.

Stories are just that. It's stupid to buy everything you hear.

[darkerearth]

I don't know. I don't know if maybe Eraqus had something to do with it or what. But he did kind of change one day.

Yeah, nobody had anything better to do than to gossip anyway. I know Aqua used to get angry when people would say something. [ he shakes his head, embarrassed again ] Sorry...for talking so much. I just miss them but I know that they're all okay.

[sinspawn]

Weird. I guess it's for the best, though. He seems happy.

Out of all of you, Aqua's the one I wouldn't want to piss off. [he looks at him.] Why are you sorry? I miss it too.

[darkerearth]

Yeah, Aqua is... She'll be sure to put you in your place in a heart beat. Believe me, it's happened a lot.

I know, but I don't want you to feel like I'm talking your ear off.

[sinspawn]

I've witnessed it first hand a few times, when some of the other members would suddenly think it's the greatest idea ever to provoke her. It's scary.

You're not. Just relax. I would've walked away if you were boring.

[darkerearth]

Oh yeah... It was worse when you messed with something of her's and she found out later.

Alright, I just wanted to be sure. What about you? Do you have any brothers or sisters? I don't think I've ever seen them or anything.

[sinspawn]

How many times did you mess up something of her's?

Nope, only child right here. [he gestures at himself, smirking.] It's probably for the best. You've seen Auron, right? And how old he looks? He looked a lot younger when we first met. I think he had enough just handling me.

[darkerearth]

Once. That was the last time that I ever did that...

I don't know, when you have siblings, it changes you. For a few years it was just me and Eraqus, then he adopted Aqua. I was mad but Eraqus told me that I needed to always look out and protect her because she was my family now.

Auron? ...Is that why you guys threw insults at each other every time he came to the school? I thought you both really didn't like eachother. I didn't know that he...took care of you. [ he probably hadn't been adopted so Terra avoided that. he actually looks really surprised ]

[sinspawn]

Took some getting used to? It must have been different, having someone new around. But from what I've seen, you've really looked out for her.

No, that's just how we talk to eachother. [he blinks. he wonders if that's weird. oh well, pretty much everything in his life is, so it's normal as far as he's concerned.] He's been my guardian for the past ten years.

[darkerearth]

Yeah, it was easy because she was so nice too. I think Eraqus really wanted a girl to take care if too, maybe we both needed a girl around.

Were you...in an orphanage before that? Or... [ he spoke quickly after that, raising his hands ] I'm sorry if I'm asking personal questions. If you don't want to answer, you don't have to!

[sinspawn]

Maybe. What's it like having a sister?

[he stared at him in surprise, but probably not for the reason Terra was thinking.] No, it's-- it's fine. I never had to go to an orphanage. Auron showed up about the time my mother was sick. He ended up becoming my legal guardian.

[darkerearth]

They're annoying when they're little. I think I met her when I was seven and she was five. She wanted to play dolls all the time and put make up on. But I had to be nice, Eraqus said so. He would give me candy or buy me a toy for playing with her dolls with her. When she got older, it was easier and she was always there for support, to cheer you on, or to listen when Eraqus couldn't.

Oh... I'm sorry. [ he figures that his dad had died a long time ago ] I... At least you got to stay with your family and you...weren't given away. I think that's the hardest part when you grow up in an orphanage.

[sinspawn]

That sounds nice, Terra. [he smiles faintly, before becoming more teasing.] Did she ever dress you up or put make up on you? At least Eraqus understood and rewarded you for it.

[he shrugs, his shoulders a little tense.] It was a long time ago. Yeah. I mean, I gave Auron a hard time, but I never had to move, or anything. Still...I don't think it was easy for either of us. But he never complained.

[darkerearth]

That's a secret. I told her to keep what she made me do when we were little a secret.

Guess it was fate that he took care of you. At least you had someone who could take care of you and give you a hard time back!

[sinspawn]

Oh, I see! That's an awfully convenient excuse.

I wonder if that's how he saw it... [he grins.] He has this way of spouting off annoyingly vague crap, but he's pretty cool.

[darkerearth]

An excuse? It's part of an agreement!

Would he tell you that you need to be strong when you get older? Sounds a little like Eraqus. He was kind of vague. Then you'd ask him what he meant and he would go find something else to do or something would happen to draw his attention away.

[sinspawn]

Nice agreement.

Something like that. But it was along the lines of, "in order to write your story, you must have the strength to run to it" and stuff like that. [he laughs.] That sounds like Auron! You know, I bet they could both use an old guy friend, they'd probably get along.

[darkerearth]

I thought so too.

Yeah, Eraqus says stuff like that all the time! [ he laughs ] He might be a little offended by the "old guy" remark, but I'm sure they would get along.

[sinspawn]

I'm sure you did.

Maybe they somehow know eachother too! But he is old. Socializing a little might be good for Auron.

[darkerearth]

Maybe. If Eraqus had friends he would've left the house more.

[ there's a long silence for a moment as he looks ahead at all of the people ] I hope he's okay... Aqua and Ventus too.

[sinspawn]

Or maybe they'd just hang out at home avoiding everyone...

[he puts a hand on his shoulder.] I'm sure they're all fine. I bet they miss you.

[darkerearth]

And read books or talk about...whatever they might talk about. Old guy stuff.

Yeah. I bet Auron and your "not-girlfriend" miss you too. Maybe someday they can come visit us before we die here.