Language warning on multiple characters.
Cheri shook with a rage so absolute that she didn't register what she'd done until she felt the blood on her claws. At that, she went white, and somehow managed to spit out "You...you don't...how dare..." So much for poise in dealing with Orabel...that was as out the window as...Cael was leaving, and the girl he was apparently with was following all too eagerly. She was caught off guard by how deeply that bit, even in the middle of her wrath and horror. Who was
she? The suddenness of it gave her just enough of a distraction to be angry at Jack all over again, even though she winced when she saw the damage she'd done to his face.
"Don't ever talk about Felicity like that again. How dare you sink so low..." she growled, the sound almost turning into a sob. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Noir moving to wrap her arms around Red, and caught her in a glare so harsh the other girl froze and then ran off. Good, sweet Prim...you take care of him, you little darling. Cheri herself had to do something quick before she retched from all the stress. Gray, Mari and Izzy came to her rescue then, albeit totally by accident. She just stood there, numb, already overtaxed from earlier, and tried to get her bearings. The whispered insult from Orabel didn't even faze her at this point, and normally she would have fired right back...
Red was just so done. Done with Jack, Arachne, Saggio, Noir, fuck 'em all. He'd just wanted a little time with a friend. Was that too much to ask? Instead he got some wonderful, hellish walks down memory lane, which the entire night seemed designed to bring up, and to watch as the boat to Becketville and Snowflowerland sailed majestically into the swamp of shitfuckery. He wasn't even really hearing what was going on around him, and longed for some whiskey he could just chug straight from the bottle like a man dying from thirst. But no. He was babysitting some damn kids. SHIT. And right now his only lifeline to sanity was...Primrose fucking Aster. Awesome. Part of him just wanted to shove her aside and leave. A huge part of him. But he didn't, because the other part saw just enough of his sister in the way she was pleading with him now to turn, gather her up in a hug, and pat her head. "I'm fine. Thanks, kiddo." he mumbled, giving her a weak, half-assed grin. There, now she wouldn't blubber all over him. Man was he a shitty liar.
Ki watched in near disbelief as Gray lunged for Jack, and was stopped by some guy she'd never met before and his...date? Maybe, who knew anymore. As if Cheri going totally feral on him wasn't crazy enough. Shit, Jack looked smug about it, too. That couldn't be good. Sure, he might be cool and collected on the outside, but he had to be damn mad right about now, and that look could only mean one thing. Gray was about to get his ass handed to him in front of everyone. Time to put on the big girl pants, this had to stop.
"Alright, you know what, everyone shut the hell up! I think we're all messed up right now, and this is just one freaking huge misunderstanding!" she shouted, striding forward and wrapping herself around the wolf faunus so that he'd have to throw her down to keep going. "Jack, I love that you're watching out for me, and I know you think I can't take care of myself, but just stop! You're being an ass, Gray's done nothing wrong, and we all fucked up big time! Miss Arachne, I'm sorry I ruined your night, and I hope when you cool off, you can talk to Gray again. And now we're both leaving before shits gets any worse!" She began moving off away from the party, dragging Gray by an arm. "Come on, let's go. You are
not getting your ass kicked for me!"
Marianne nodded and took Cael's arm again. The past few moments had solidified one thing in her mind: she wanted nothing to do with these people, in any way. Even Miss Chanson was being beastly. "A walk would be lovely. Perhaps later we can find Miss Roux and her gentleman friend, they seemed...reasonable people." A heavy scowl darkened her gentle features, and she wished to be as quickly away from all this madness as soon as possible. Thankfully, her escort's pace fit the urgency of the situation. The dark girl who had accompanied Jack running along crying a moment later only seemed to bring home the ugliness of it all. How did Marlon stand it here?
Contrary to popular belief, Jack was having the time of his life. He'd put Red in his place, gotten Cheri to freak out in public, and now Arachne was whispering in his ear. He'd even managed to pull Ki out of danger. Sure, Cael, some other chick, and Noir had left in a tizzy, and he would have to give Prim a talking to later, but still... It was awful hard not to crack the biggest grin right now...Seeing that the mood had swiftly changed, he played right along with it. "You know what, Ki's right. You too, Miss Beckett, and thanks for the save, Skaos." he said, giving that total freakjob loser a smile and a thumbs up. "I'm probably taking things too far. Red, Cheri, sorry, I got a little heated. I just can't stand to see such wonderful girls treated like dime-a-dozen toys. Really gets under my skin, you know?" he explained, his face completely serious. "Which is why I'll deal with that shithole Gray
later.." Leaving everyone else, including a very confused and concerned Blanca, to their hurt feelings, he turned and put his arms around Orabel again, just as the last slice on his face healed over. He would have liked to stay and savor the moment, but he had work to do.
"I like the way you think, Miss Arachne. I was wondering...you
did put yourself together so magnificently for a night out..." His face took on an almost shy expression, allowing him to look suddenly vulnerable as he moved a hand up her shoulder, across her cheek, through her hair, and brought his fingertips brushing gently all the way around one of her horns, right to the tip. "I was wondering if I might show you off to everyone tonight. The friends I brought weren't my dates per say...and..." His wandering hand came back down underneath her chin..."After all, you deserve to be treated well above all else, especially after this. Call me arrogant, especially looking at you right now, in that dress, but...I think I might be able to pull it off." His voice had gotten lower and softer as he spoke, and he'd brought himself in closer to her with every word, so that now they could easily feel one another's breath. His eyes had never once left hers, barring a few coy downward glances. "And to think, what a perfect revenge it would be..." he added, his smile turning impish.
Inside, the revelers continued, blissfully unaware of the unnecessary and convoluted drama playing out just beyond the doors.
Verdant forgot herself and hugged the silver-haired woman, overwhelmed with joy. "Oh, I don't know who the hell you are, but..." she paused when she realized she was about to blow the perfect cover this savior had set up for her, and brush against her with a wet dress covered in piss and now lemonade. She shied away, and more sedately mouthed "Than you!" to this new arrival, and stood beside her confidently, as if nothing was wrong. "Do you know where I can get a change of clothes? It doesn't matter what kind, this feels really gross. And again, you saved my life!" she whispered, her eyes lighting up. What kind of person just helped out an embarrassed stranger that way?
Meanwhile, Victoria, Honoria, and Carnadine mingled happily with the other students, taking turns showing random fortunates a good time on the dancefloor.