A Night to Remember

[Jonathan]

The blond couldn't help but feel that this was a very bad idea. He had been more dragged into it than talked into it, although he could think up more than a few arguments as to why his presence was not really needed. The joint efforts of Vaigan and the mayor would have nothing but the best, though, and at the moment, that happened to be him, despite the assurances that it would not be all work and no play. That fact didn't do much to appease him, but he knew better than to argue with people in such positions of authority. Still, having so many people around him, and having so many important supernaturals under one roof, was bound to trigger his ingrained paranoia and leave him feeling fidgety all night long.

Not that he would let any of it show. Outwardly, he was the epitome of calm and collected as he surveyed his reflection in the mirror in his quarters. Not long ago, he hadn't even been able to stand, but it hadn't taken him long to heal the wounds and fully flush the poison from his system. Only now was he starting to think that maybe he should have stayed ill and injured. Megeara had retreated to her own quarters to ready herself, and a smile flickered over his features at the fact that she had agreed to go to this gala with him. Neither one of them were much for social engagements anymore, not that he ever really had been. This whole event was stirring up long-forgotten memories of a life that he no longer lived. It was meant to be the official announcement of the unification of supernaturals and humans, and given the man in charge, it was the talk of the city and no expense had been spared to put it on. Jonathan could have done without the fancy dress, but he had to admit that the period officer's uniform he wore was comfortingly familiar. He had gotten used to the suits, but the military dress just seemed right on him.

Straightening the jacket, the blond gave himself one final assessment, then strode from the room and towards Megeara's quarters. There would be a limousine waiting to take them to the designated location, and it wouldn't do for him to be late. After all, he would be needed at least initially until all of the guests arrived and to ensure the perimeter of the building was secured. After that, he was free to do as he wished, as a secondary security team would be taking over. With only a hint of apprehension showing on his features and a suppressed memory of the last time he had arrived at the redhead's rooms to escort her out in public, he raised a hand to knock lightly on the door.

[Megeara]

The past week or so had flown by, with Megeara trying to keep at Jonathans side as much as she could while trying to juggle Kyah. All in all she was thankfuly that Jonathans recovery had gone smoothly, even though she loved the time they had spent together alone. Usually Megeara was left alone with their daughter while Jonathan worked, and so with him not being able to it gave them the chance they needed to talk. Megeara was elated with the fact that he had invited her to the ball to announce the unity of humans ans supernaturals, and a lot of her time since the invitation had been spent on deciding what to wear.

Thankfully a few days before the event her outfit had arrived, and now she stood nervously before the mirrors of the wardrobe in the bedroom. Her dress was simple yet elegant, a victorian style emerald gown to match her eyes, and her hair was loosely pinned up around her face, letting small red ringlets fall down. She rather liked the idea of being in fancy dress, and a masquerade ball was something of her time, something she could certainly go with. Spending just a moment to adjust the green gloves she wore she then turned towards the door, hearing the knock only a moment later. With a small smile she headed towards the noise, hands picking up the small green masquerade mask as she past it. Everything was ready, yet she had no idea that a limousine was waiting for them outside. Only a moment after the knock on the door she reached the panel and gently moved to open it, the smile on her face softening at the site of Jonathan in his costume. "Is this the time where i say i've always liked a man in uniform?" she asked, laughing softly.

[Jonathan]

"I do aim to please," the blond responded with a smile, small, but unguarded. The uniform he wore was a reproduction, but he didn't think it was important to mention that, like his prized weapon, he had the original, still in pristine condition and safely kept in his quarters. "Although I dare say you will be turning far more heads than I tonight." His pale gaze swept over the redhead appreciatively before offering her his arm. Perhaps the night wouldn't be a complete disaster after all. He had endured balls and the like before; it had been a couple centuries but he doubted he'd forgotten his manners in such situations. At least in this case, he would have Megeara at his side. Jonathan tried not to think about the last such party he had attended. The woman at his side then wasn't as far gone as he would have thought.

Pushing all thoughts of the brunette from his mind, the Englishman led the way first to the lift and then out of the building to the waiting limousine. Night had just barely fallen, but it was his job to arrive early to see that everything went smoothly. He just hoped the redhead wouldn't mind doing without him for a short time. The driver needed no instruction, knowing already exactly where he was going and how to get there. "Pray this goes smoothly," he muttered under his breath as the car pulled away from the curb, unable to keep thoughts of every other attempt at social interaction the two of them had had out of his head.

[Megeara]

"Oh i highly doubt that..." she muttered softly, though her face flushed with a slight blush at his words. She wasnt used to compliments, and coming from Jonathan it sounded so strange, and yet she loved it. Saying nothing more on the matter the red head gently took the arm offered, moving out of the room with Jonathans lead. Carefully her free arms reached to close the door behind her before they moved out and into the corridor. The night staff ghosted the halls, and as they moved through they recieved some strange looks. Megeara merely ignored them though, she seemed to have her confidence when Jonathan was around, and right then he was all she needed.

As they reached the door which lead to the outside Megeara caught sight of the londe black limousine, and with a sharp inhale of breath she glanced towards the blonde. "I cant believe you've ordered this, i've never rode in one before..." she spoke, stepping out into the cool night air as he eyes reached the black car once more. For once the outdoors didnt scare her, her mind was wirring with different things, most of which centred around the fact that at that moment she felt like a princess.

[Jonathan]

"If I'm going to be forced to spend a night of frivolity in a small space with a large number of other people, then I shall at least enjoy myself on the ride over," he responded with a smirk. Megeara was fully aware of his opinion on social gatherings, and so he felt no need to elaborate. "Besides which, I am not about to be outdone by our employer. If he is willing to go out of his way to ensure a spectacular evening, then so shall I." They both knew this had nothing to do with competition. Jonathan didn't truly care what anyone else thought of him, but seeing as he couldn't drive himself, he would have had to order a car either way and it seemed only right to arrive in style. It wasn't as though he couldn't afford it. Vaigan paid him well and he had very little occasion to spend the money he earned.

The blond fell silent as the driver maneuvered the car out into the flow of traffic. There were far more cars on the road at this time of evening than Jonathan was used to, but for the most part, he could ignore the world outside of the tinted windows. It wouldn't take long to get to the venue, he knew, but he deemed the luxury of the limousine well worth it even for a short ride.

[Megeara]

The red heads smile widened as she listened to Jonathan speak, her tilting towards him in amusement. "I rather thought you'd be looking forward to the frivolity of the night..." she replied softly, shaking her head. Over the past few weeks, with feeding, the weight she'd had lost a while ago was starting ti build back up, and the sparkle in her eyes had returned. Something truly had changed and she certainly knew what. Jonathan was giving her a new lease of life, he was her foot hold within the world, and she now couldnt be without him. "I'm sure that no one would be dissapointed if you hadnt have gone to all this expense, but i am certainly greatful that you did..." the red head continued, eyes glancing around the limousine as she did so, appreciative.

Across the city the celebration ball was an hour from being able to go underway, everything had been set up and they just waited for the security team to give them the go ahead to allow everyone in. Vaigans demon sat silently in the corner of the large ball room, watching various humans and supernaturals make the finishing touches while his thoughts whirled in his head. It had been over a month since he'd emerged and had full control of his hosts body, and yet he still hadnt done what he'd set out to do. He still lived with Hyde, and though he in no way treated what they had as a relationship, he was still no closer to getting his revenge for what the Japanese vampire had made him endure.

[Jonathan]

"In all of our time together, when have you ever known me to welcome a social engagement?" the blond chided with a slightly melodramatic tone of incredulity in his voice. It was true, he was practically married to his job, and over the last few weeks, had, in his mind, been kept away from work long enough. Granted part of the evening he would be doing his job, but hardly in the capacity he was used to. The rest of it, he dreaded to think, would be spent making small talk over the punch bowl. "There is always something more pressing in this city to be done than snacking on hors d'oeuvres," he added, the petulance in his tone making him sound the age he rarely acted.

Across town, the singer stood watching his lover from across the room, a slight frown on his face. Things had been different the past month, but part of him had tried to rationalize it as a natural reaction to what had happened. Vaigan had nearly died, it was only expected that he should have a hard time coming to terms with it. Wasn't it? In front of Fallon, it had been like nothing had changed, but when they were alone together, Hyde was well aware of the tension and at times, the Greek had been downright frightening. Maybe once the stress of putting on an event like this had passed, things could get back to normal.

[Megeara]

"I know, yet i cant help but tease..." she chided jokingly, looking to the other with a small smile. "Besides, this is one of the biggest events the city has ever held, i thought you would be looking forward to heading the security team on something like this, you are afterall the best in your field..." she commented, unable to stop from smiling. She hadnt been truly happy for a while, and even though she still had large steps to take to get her life back on track, for now she was happy with where she was. Jonathan was the only thing she was focused on right then.

On the other hand, Hyde was the last thing that Vaigans demon really wanted to think about that, but even so as the singer looked towards him he caught the others frown, meeting him with a look of pure cold. There was no love in his eyes, only resentment, and the demon was slowly planning getting rid of that. Without saying anything he stood and moved away from the singers line of sight, busying himself with something other than trying to play nice.

[Jonathan]

"Hm, perhaps if it hadn't been made abundantly clear that the top priority tonight is the public image of our kind and that the vast majority of my job tonight is to engage in idle chit-chat in an attempt to impress the mortals and show them that we are not simply blood-thirsty heathens," he responded, seemingly unaware of the fact that he himself had to do very little in order to impress. He may not have preferred social interaction, but there was no denying that his very presence had a dramatic effect on a room. It was the effect that had given him a reputation among Vaigan's employees in the first place, though his isolated nature did nothing to dispel any rumors that may have arisen. All of his complaining over the situation they were about to enter into would cease the moment the car door opened, and no one would be any wiser that he didn't truly wish to be there.

Formalities weren't Hyde's strong point either, and unlike Jonathan, he hadn't been brought up in this sort of environment. Granted, he had had a rigid childhood, but all of this was far beyond what he was used to. Any parties he had attended in the recent past had involved his band mates and copious amounts of alcohol. At the look he got from the Greek across the room, he almost wished it was that sort of party. With a sigh, the Japanese vampire tried to make himself slightly useful, waiting for the right moment to pull Vaigan aside and figure out what was bothering him.

[Megeara]

"Alright spoilsport, you dont want to go, but think of it this way. Your going to have a nice evening with a well mannered lady..." the red head replied with a chuckle, daring a glance at the other. She had become quite confident around the blonde when it came to teasing, and for the most part she was comfortable with him. He'd done a lot for her, and she had no reason to no trust him, infact he was the only person that she did trust at all. "You'll enjoy it, i'll make sure of it, afterall we cant have you going back to the hospital sulking now can we? the red head continued, trying to keep the mood light so that they didnt start the evening badly.

Thankfully the limousine moved quickly through the streets, though hit a small amount of grid lock within the city centre. Not half an hour later though they had reached the large building which was host to the gala, and leaning forwards the red head took in the sight of the brightly lit building and its invitations, grand entrance and security gaurds. "It feels much like a movie premier doesnt it..." she spoke, revealing that she had at least kept up to date with some things modern. After a moment or so the black limousine pulled up at the grand entrance, and sitting back Megeara took a deep breath. Going out to somewhere like this was being extremely brave for her, but with Jonathan at her side she could do anything.

[Jonathan]

"A well-mannered lady? Will we be meeting her at the hall, then? Have I ever had the pleasure of meeting her?" the blond teased in return. He managed to keep a straight face, but only because he had centuries of practice removing all traces of emotion from his features. Even so, he couldn't keep the spark out of his pale blue eyes. For all of his reluctance, he had to admit that there was the very slight chance that the evening would go without incident and that he might actually enjoy himself. Times had changed a lot since the last time he had been to a function like this, and although the night would no doubt still be quite formal, it was far more relaxed than galas of the past.

Glancing sideways at the redhead, Jonathan let himself settle into the leather seating of the limousine as it carried them towards the party location. Even with the evening rush traffic, they arrived with plenty of time to spare, time enough for the blond to complete his actual work before most of the guests arrived. He couldn't help but smile slightly at Megeara's reaction to the grandeur, although her reference was completely lost on him. He had never actually taken the time to watch a movie, much less the pomp and circumstance surrounding their premiers. The car came to a halt and he shook the thoughts from his head, sliding out as the driver opened the door for them and then holding out his arm for Megeara to take once more. There were few others that had arrived yet, but that was no excuse for a lack of manners.

[Megeara]

Jonathans return teasing wasnt missed, she simply didnt speak for fear or stepping to far on the teasing front. As it stood they where comfortable with what they where doing, and the last thing that the red head wanted to do was step to far when their relationship was so fragile. Instead of speaking she simply allowed the limousine to pull over and then stepped out casually as the driver opened the door. She knew how to be a lady, and at the offered arm from Jonathan she took it gently within her fingers and took a step forward away from the limo. "Am i right in thinking this is going to be huge?" she muttered to the blonde as they moved forwards and through the entrance. Big crowds made her a littler nervous, but she was sure she would be fine tonight.

The demon which now controlled the blonde was growing weary, and his patience was growing thin. He had no idea why his host had organised such an even, humans where cattle and simply food, so the unity of the different species was beyond him. He had plans though, it was down to him to make sure nothing went right. Afterall he had no other way to enjoy himself until he unhooked the line from his mouth, also named Hyde. For now though he just had to wait until the ball got started.

[Jonathan]

"Quite," the blond responded as he led the redhead towards the grand entrance, his eyes flickering across the surrounding area as only one who expects attack can do. There was nothing there save a few potted plants, clearly no threat to them, and so Jonathan continued inside, giving an abrupt nod to the doorman as they passed. For the moment, there were few people around but he knew that would soon change. Still, perhaps it was best to let the redhead get used to things before everyone else showed up and the hall began to get crowded. It was a large enough space, but he knew that to someone who had gone through what Megeara had, it would seem terribly close. He could only hope that Vaigan would be done with him before that happened, wanting to keep close to the redhead once everyone had arrived to try and prevent any panic that she might be inclined to feel.

As the pair stepped into the grand ballroom, the blond couldn't help but frown sightly. There was something off about the space, a feeling that made him slightly uneasy, but something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He would liken the sensation to being in close proximity to one of their kind in full demon form, but it would have been fairly obvious if any of those were here; they weren't exactly known for their self-control. Shaking the feeling off as nothing more than his own apprehension over the event, Jonathan caught sight of Vaigan across the room and approached, casually enough to keep from dragging Megeara along behind him but quickly enough to signal that he had switched into 'work mode'.

[Vaigan]

The place was grand, a lot larger than events she had been to in the past few years. They had just been social parties, and even then they where few and far between. This was so different, and it gave her an uneasy feeling. As they stepped into the larger hall, Megeara felt a familiar chill creep up her spine. For a ment it made her step falter, but she quickly fell into stride again beside the blonde, following him with only a small frown towards Vaigan. The feeling she had gotten didnt leave her, but she didnt say anything on the matter and simply stayed at the blondes side, happy to let him to his buisness when he needed to.

Vaigan on the other hand wasnt so happy to be arrpoached, but his face kept up its mask of calm, trying to not let the emotions toiling inside him out. "Evening..." the demon tested, still trying to act the part, though he couldnt believe how gullable some people could be. "Have you managed to get everything you need for tonight?" he continued, not once glancing at the red head.

[Jonathan]

The pair might not have shared the same kind of bond that others in the group did, but Jonathan was still very much attuned to the redhead at his side. He could feel her step falter just slightly as they stepped into the wide room, and his grip tightened just enough to reassure her. Everything was still brightly lit while the final preparations were made, but the blond knew that the lighting would be dimmed considerably for the event itself. Not a problem in the slightest for their kind, but it was what mortals considered "mood lighting". He had seen the room as it would appear later that night, and couldn't help but appreciate what the decorators had done to the otherwise somewhat boring space. It was a bit like stepping back in time, only the lighting would all be electric and not candle light.

For the moment, though, he had work to do. As he stopped in front of Vaigan, he got another twinge of the warning sensation he'd experienced earlier, and his eyes narrowed just slightly as he looked at his employer. Vaigan showed no outward signs of being anything less than in control of himself, though, and he knew it wouldn't be appropriate at all to call his superior on something that was little more than a feeling in the first place. Still, it was something to keep an eye on, and he tucked the note away in his mind to do so. "Everything should be in order. Once all of the guests have arrived, the building will be secured, at which point the Mayor's security force will take over."