2024-12-27 - Winter Ball: Ballroom Balcony

Jett needed a minute from all the crazy action on the ballroom floor. The steampunk goth outfit he's wearing is definitely hot and his finger is trying to loosen the cravat that's wrapped around his neck. He has a drink in hand but it's unlikely to be alcoholic since he doesn't have one of those wrist band things to mark him as being old enough to do that. He leans up against the banister and leans his forearms on it, drink held aloft and over the heads of the dancers. It's fine, he totally won't drop it or anything. His top hat is sort of skewed on his head a little as he juts his pelvis out and watches the activity with a detachment from it.

"Don't drop your drink."

A sweet hued voice comes from behind Jett, a blonde woman in a gold mask with draped chains, those same gold chains drape over her simple black gown making it something elaborate. It's finished by a pair of lace gloves. She does have a wristband and a champagne flute. "Or if you do," Artemisia begins, "Drop it when I've got my phone out to film. Don't worry. We'll say it wasn't you."

Who hasn't even been on the dance floor? Gabriel. They're leaned up against the railing with a champagne flute in hand, just watching from the side of the half face mask they can see out of. Wallflowering. Hard. They share a bit of that detachment, at least from what can be seen of their expression. After a minute or so, they glance over at the other person doing the same thing.

They look like they're about to say something when the other woman arrives and makes that joke about only dropping the drink when she has her phone out. That gets a huff of a laugh.

The bathrooms are in the balcony area right? Theo is seen coming out of the restroom and there is a look of debate in his features as wondering where he should go next. But here it is much quieter then what the ballroom floor brings and he can breathe and not try to figure out who's emotions he is feeling and what are of his own. An upnod to the trio found here. A small greeting. "Hey." There is no drink in his hand as he stands next to Jett.

Jett side glances to Artemisia though his hand remains fully secured around his drink while he does so. He starts to straighten up against the railing and the drink returns to a non-threatening position, sorta, as the bottom of the stem (they serve pop in fancy glasses too okay) balances on the top of the railing.

"We kind of match," he notes to the chains, black gown and gold chains. It's totally a surprised sort of compliment? Maybe. Hard to tell his voice is a little emo in itself, a sort of sadness in it but deeper. As for capturing it with the phone out, he notes with a slide of his hand to the crispness of his jawline (yes he is probably mewing gross right!?), "Make sure you get my good side."

Jett considers Gabriel too, once it's more apparent he wasn't the only one wallflowering from the bird view point. The huff of laugh earns a smirk cast to Gabriel and a level of assessment that reduces his own level of detachment.

It's when Theo steps up to him that he sort of pivots and leans his elbows on the railing, creating some space but noting to the birthday boy, "Hey. Did you find the cake yet? Shit. At least you get to DRINK tonight."

"Well, chains are very in," Artemisia says with a careful spin in her dress, holding her drink aloft. Her chains rattle cheerfully as she does, blonde hair slicked back except for a curl at the base of her neck which is oh-so intentional. "And more gallant souls - my word?" She fans herself (with an actual fan that she pulls out) and flashes a shamelessly cheery grin for someone dressed like an exceedingly slender femme fatale.

Picking Gabriel first, she extends her hand to them. "Artemisia," she reveals with a sunny grin. It's repeated with the others.

They might not be at the ball room proper, but Esme twirls around in her ballgown either way, despite whatever discomfort might come of these new heels. If Esme is feeling anything tonight it's EXCITEMENT for being at a masquerade ball of all things, who gets to go to these things?? Though it's hard not to be Esme even when you're trying to be all mysterious and incognito, especially when you're in the company of your friends who people know you hang out with!

"Did someone say cake? That sounds delightful!" For now, she's just buzzing around Jett and Theo and the area in general as she peeks over the balcony to view everyone dancing or mingling or doing whatever people do at these events! Eventually, she does rejoin the duo and exclaims merrily, "Isn't this soooo cool??"

Theo's upnod gets one in return, then Gabriel turns to look down at the crowd again, seemingly minding their own business or at least pretending to. From their body language alone it's easy to see that they are ~overwhelmed~. But still here. Dressed to the nines in white, even.

That's when Artemisia extends a hand. They glance down at it first, then turn to face her and give her a gentle handshake. "Gabe."

There's a flash of embarrassment that crosses Theo's features when Jett comments about cake and drink. "Haven't found the cake. Haven't decided what I will drink first. Did see the champagne floating around." When Artemisia offers her name he does the same. "Theo." Pointing to his friends, "Jett and Esme."

Gabriel gets another look. "Oh, I know you! You and I were in a dream together!" Finally, a name to put with the face of the person he was fighting robot monsters with.

Theo does look on when Esme does that twirling and applauds her for it. "Just as if you were on the ice even here." Were they suppose to keep their identities a secret? He's already spoiling it even if he's still got his silver mask on. "I do think it is cool yes. We will have to do a dance eventually." This is extended to both Esme and Jett when he says that. Theo is feeling all sorts of things. Excitement and anxiety shows up the most.

Jett's emotions, well, careful not to trip on them - they spin like a carousel. At first a disassociated feeling, then a spike of restlessness with envious undertones, then surprise as Jett turned to look at Artemisia, followed by amusement and intrigue and curiosity as his gaze swung toward Gabriel, then awkward, resigned, and hopeful when Theo and Esme get there. IT's a GOOD thing people don't try to live in his head; you wouldn't make it out of there alive. Emotions are hard enough and all over the damned place, but outwardly, his expression retains an outward confidence that clashes with the interior. Artemisia; this guy is messy!

As for everyone else, welp, you are saved from the internal emotional hellscape that is Jett and he presents a light hearted smile on the outside. "Chains are definitely in," he is draped in a few of them as well, part of his attire as it were. When Artemisia reaches to shake hands with him he sort of fist bumps with his glass holding hand, because he's not a hand shaker, "Jett." He hears Gabe's introduction and nods toward them too. But then he's introduced by Theo and he sort of eye rolls, "Ever the Prince." He melts his back against the railing and lets his elbows more or less hold him up. SLUMPY.

"You're wasting time not drinking? Man, I have to go sneak that shit still and it's out there in the open for you now... Get on it!" He smirks and eyes Esme from underneath his dark mask, "Just don't go making it literally cool, Princess."

"Pleasure," Artemisia says, seeming to really mean it. She's a people person. She likes people. "I envy your whites," she admits to Gabriel with a tip of her blonde head. "I'd forever be afraid I was going to spill something on them. Black is forgiving. It hides everything. All sins. Except chalk. That'll catch you."

Sipping her drink, Artemisia smiles beatifically as the swirl of emotions wraps around her. It makes her feel a little drunk. "Don't be sad. I'm sure you'll be able to drink soon. The bubbles are nice, but I can only have a few," she admits to Jett solemnly. "You all look very beautiful tonight. It's a bit like a crazy dream, isn't it?"

The dream! Gabriel's eyes widen. They take a long sip from their champagne flute, seemingly unaware that they are one of two people here with a 21+ wristband. "Oh shit, you're right," they murmur to Theo. Overall their expression seems neutral though there's a certain edge when it comes to this topic. "That happened my first week here...I thought I made all of you up after eating too many hot wings." A beat. "You did well. I got my ass kicked."

With the introductions, they nod in greeting to Jett and Esme. Then Gabe points to Jett's hat and gives it a silent thumbs up.

"Thanks. This material is pretty hardy," they say to Artemisia. "Plus I emptied two cans of scotch guard onto it. Should keep me clean for at least an hour. Sins exempt."

Oooh! Introductions are being made, but people are wearing masks, so... Esme wonders if she'll even know who either of these people are when it comes time to meet them outside of the masquerade. She tries her best to memorize their posture, their hair, maybe, their voices and things like that. She certainly looks determined.

That's another emotion Artemisia might pick up! Determination!

And here it's Esme who rolls her eyes behind her mask. "Who is going to tell if we drink or not? There's an air of mystery to all of this? And besides, Theo can stand in front of us while we sip something!" That's her plan anyway for champagne... She might like it better than beer. However, once the dream is brought up, she looks even more closely at Gabriel now, "Oh, you were there too? Awesome!" And that's when she hears Jett, "I'll try not to. I'm sure rats aren't allowed in a fancy place like this right?"

Jett notes to Artemisia, "The after party is where it's at. No one usually cares at those things." Experience talking. YES. "I have connections," his eyes flick to Theo, "And I won't even have to ask the birthday boy. Though I do suppose that connection is a lot closer to home now, literally. Right, bestie?" Jett jokes toward Theo.

The whole dream thing has him glitching out, in this case using the conversation as an excuse to sip from his glass. He notes the silent thumbs up and does one of those hand lifts to tip his hat toward Gabriel.

"I mean, he can get us drinks now..." Jett says with a hint of conspiracy behind his tone in alignment with Esme. As for rats he thinks, "I saw a check your pet at the door sign. I'm pretty sure you're safe unless someone dressed up as a rat. And by the looks of it," he shoots a glance over the railing, "Everyone is fancy AF. No rats."

That opens him up to a moment he can compliment, "I like your outfit too, Gabe. It's very clean and I'm not talking about the scotch guard." His hand gestures rolling down the outfit. For Artemisia's additional comment, Jett shrugs, "I don't know much about dreams."

As Jett's roommate there is a certainty that Theo has seen bits and pieces of messy. But at the moment he is staying near Jett and Esme as if they are his anchors. He's a performer and everything but social situations are hard!

"You should see me in my crown." This is muttered to Jett for his prince remark. He really does have a crown. For costume purposes of course. A grunt towards Jett when told to get to drinking. He does have a wristband. When the trays come around he does pick up a champagne flute and smiles at the server. Looking at Esme as he examines the glass. "Lots of bubbles." A glance around. "You can have first dibs and then I better claim it because I don't want either of you getting into trouble." That comment strays over to Jett when he says it towards Esme.

Theo looks like he is about to tell Artemisia how YOUNG Jett is but he leaves it alone. His roommate can speak for himself. Nodding toward the blonde woman at the talk of this being like a crazy dream. "Hopefully, with a better ending than the weird one that Gabriel and I experienced." A roll of eyes when Gabriel speaks of himself doing well. "Hell, you were surviving. I didn't know if they were coming or going."

The prince does stand in front of Esme if she is feeling extra daring with that champagne. There's a lot of folks here, it is chancy. A glance to Jett, "Oh besties are we?" Really, they are. People know this about these two. So different but yes Theo claims Jett as bestie.

"Why are there rats?" Artemisia asks cluelessly, blinking long lashes at the others looking confused. She takes a sip of her drink, quietly humming 'Once Upon a Dream' to herself.

Esme's awesome draws out a weak ehhhhhhhh sort of sound out of Gabriel. "It was mildly terrifying? We were being attacked by monsters and I went down like...twice." A slight downwards twitch of their mouth reveals they did not find it very awesome in the end. Theo gets a nod. "I'm just glad we didn't wake up with bruises."

To Jett, a small dip of their head in thanks. "Living out my Mon Mothma dreams." That's a Star Wars joke for anyone who gets it. Big outfit inspiration.

Esme is fine with this plan that both she and Jett are concocting regarding the using of Theo for drinks... She also looks quite relieved that rats are not allowed at this fancy event. She only said that to make herself feel better at first, but now that Jett has said so, it must be true.

At Artemisia's question, she is quick to state, "There are no rats! And people dressed as rats is nothing. It's the real things that are creepy and germy!" If Artemisia is still getting emotions from people, she may sense Esme's anxiety rising rapidly at the very idea of rats.

When Gabriel mentions their terror regarding the dream, she nods slowly, eyes turning to Theo again, but then Theo is pushing champagne at her and of course, she is going to take a sip. She takes a long sip, because this is a bit better than beer, but of course, she doesn't drink it all and hands the flutey glass back to Theo. "Thanks... That's pretty good!" Back to Gabriel though, she eventually frowns, "I'm sorry that those monsters hurt you. We need to figure out what we can do about that if it ever happens again."

Jett lifts up his top hat because OMG it's hot, heavy, and itchy. He scratches at his hair before he plops it back on, considering Theo about the crown, "I see it every day, Theo. Every. Day." He is being facetious of course and is talking more about the metaphorical crown. As for getting in trouble Jett nods and sticks with his drink. He side glances to Theo at the 'oh besties' part and Jett shrugs, with no shame he swirls his pop around in his glass, "When it's convenient for you to be, such as, when you're going to the liquor store for us."

Jett considers Artemisia and laughs, "Yeah, my pal Elmo has a pet rat named Freak. Pretty cute, actually."

The whole dream thing he cannot contribute too but at least he smirks at Gabriel, "You kind of blew it out of the water. Where's Perrin?" He wonders just at that time when the air fills with a frequency of electricity, a sort of energy that makes him look up toward the lighting and then squint around them. "I'm not even drunk..." he looks at the pop in his hands with a sudden suspicion.

"So there should be no familiars here tonight?" Theo questions. "Elmo commented that he may show up. Fair warning." This said more towards Esme and Jett. Telling Artemisia, "Elmo has a rat for his familiar. Elmo and Esme are roommates." There is a nod of agreement towards Gabriel at the mention of no bruises.

Theo tips his head to the side as he looks to their surroundings as if he is feeling something. "Huh." But really that is all he really says about that feeling. If there was emotion behind that electricity he might have picked up more. Theo tries to give Esme a reassuring smile when she looks at him once again as he claims his glass.

STARE. Yes, a STARE is given to Jett and Theo huffs loudly for that comment. He is quick to finish what was left in his glass and he comes up sputtering after wards. Alllll the bubbles in his throat and now in his stomach. Oh what a feeling.

"Oh." Artemisia blinks at that, clearly processing for a long moment.

Then, she asks excitedly, "Will Freak the rat come dressed up?" Because that Artemisia wants to see, a spiel of giggles escaping her like champagne bubbles at the sensation of seasonal warmth. Then, she looks very certainly to Gabriel. "Would you like to dance?" Then she looks to the others. "I think we should all go dance."

Jett interjects right after Artemisia, "You jumped in line like that!" There was totally an invisible line and he had been working up to the FRONT of it okay, so then he laughs, with a little more confidence onw that Artemisia already asked, "I would like to dance too." With who? WITH WHO. He was looking at Gabe when he said it but then he's inclusive and lets his eyes roam around everyone else. They have to decide among themselves until he flaps his elbows, "I have two spots."

"Hopefully it will skip me next time? I'm not as much of a fighter as most of the other people in that dream were," Gabe says to Esme with a slight huff. "Have you been caught up in one too?"

"Back in the corner where he belongs," Gabriel smirks to Jett.

Then there's that magical something or other which has them pausing to look around, then shrug. Just in time to look over at Artemisia when she asks to dance. "Oh," is their initial surprised reaction.

And then Jett jumping in. "Oh." Look, thank god for this mask or they'd fluster into oblivion. From what can be seen of their face, they're doing a big ol' think which ends with them chugging down the rest of their champagne and handing the flute off to a passing waiter.

"Sure." To WHOMST? All? Probably. Everyone can figure it out in a second.

Ah so Artemisia does know the Freak. Theo tells her, "Elmo commented about coming in with a rubber werewolf mask." He puts his empty glass to one of the serving trays that comes around as he looks down to the ballroom floor. "We can hear the music up here. Let's dance here." He suggests.

He is also game to dance with all in this little group even if it's not waltzing. His hands come out for any who wants to grasp them. Shaking his head and smiling as he does that. Jett and he must share the same brain.

"Just like you have that dark cloud over your head Every. Day. Jett?" Esme asks peering up at the tall lanky steampunker for the evening. "And does it matter if Theo has a princely aura or not? Some people just got it." And she nods her head confirming this to herself once it's spoken. Though at some of the other things spoken between besties, that gets a raise of her perfectly arched brow and she looks between roommates but says not a thing.

"Freak is not cute. It looks like it's full of germs" Esme is quick to say with a frown and a shudder, but then she sees Theo's reassuring smile and it calms her some.

Okay, maybe dancing will help take her mind off of Freak.

"The waltz, it's so elegant and beautiful and what you would expect to hear at an event like this..." Esme sighs, "And what they constantly play for you out on the ice." Oh yes, she is very used to music such as this. Though when she's asked by Gabriel if she's ever been in one of these dreams, she just looks at him with her big blue eyes and shakes her head, "Not as of yet... but if my friends are in trouble, I hope that there's a way to go in there and help."

Seeing as Theo is standing right there, she'll take up his hand for this waltz, but not after offering up a curtsy beforehand.

Very loudly there's the buzz of a phone and a bubbly pop tune. "Crap," Artemisia says, flashing Gabe an apologetic smile. "Raincheck? I have to take this. It's my mother." She doesn't say much more than than when abruptly, she starts speaking Korean punctuated with English as she slips into the shadows.

"That's very nice of you," Gabriel offers to Esme when she says she'd help her friends if they were in trouble. There's a hint of a smile for her, then they look over towards Artemisia. They stop short of offering Artemisia their hand when her phone goes off. "Sure. Do what you gotta do."

Which leaves them glancing over at Jett. "You know how to waltz?"

There is surprise that registers on Theo's face when Esme defends him against Jett. He simply smiles wider at her. "I think I need to make sure I don't make you really angry."

When she curtsies at him, he does a formal bow. Someone has had training. "Highness, our dance awaits." Yes, he'd call her that because she is Ice Princess and as Ice Princess Highness goes along with it.

Later, Theo might have a gossip sesh with Esme because she is his person and he already sent her a rambling text of things. But right now is not the time to do it.

When there is a break from the music for the next bit of music of the waltz to start again that is when Theo leads Esme to the dance. A wink is offered to Jett and Gabriel as the two move along. He hums the music to himself as if that helps with his steps.

"That's a perfect idea Theo; dancing up here will save the embarrassment of tripping over my feet," which suggests that Jett does not know how to do fancy dancing.

Esme's retort to him has him fold his arms across his chest, rolls his eyes and notes, "Some people prefer storm clouds over sunshine." Okay it's not the best counter argument but he watches as Esme goes to curtsey to Theo and he is over here trying to fit into an outfit that's far too regal for him. Where are the threadbare clothes at? He pivots back around to look toward the dancers on the floor though, doing the railing slouch again because five people leaves an odd man out and he was that odd man. He was accepting his FATE. Then Gabe has to go and poke at the wallflower fate, and pop his gloomy little bubble.

"No," he glances back at Gabe, "Not a clue. Sorry. I can try my best to pretend... but you might find," that's when he realizes that Artemisia left and he blinks, "Oh. Well, I can pretend. Fake it until you make it right?"

"I'm sure you dance perfectly well, Jett." Esme says pointedly, though she'll make sure to watch Jett's every move now to ensure that she is correct in her assumption of his dance moves. She can do this even while waltzing with Theo, she's sure.

Heels are not the blades of her ice skates. In fact, heels are not terribly comfortable, and she can wear her skates all day, but you'll never know, because she's good at hiding her discomforts for the most part!

Then she backtracks to something Theo had mentioned just earlier, "I'm sure that you would react in the same way if you ever needed to come to defense of your friends."

"Exactly. Fake it until you make it." Gabe then glances over at the balcony railing. "And if you step on my white shoes, I'll make your fall look like an accident."

A JOKE.

Like. An actual joke. In Gabe-Speak, of course, so delivered straight faced and in a neutral tone but an attempt at humor nonetheless. They hold up a hand and wave Jett over. "Come over here and pretend to waltz then."

"I have a good idea every now and then." Theo drawls out towards Jett. His North Carolina accent shining through as he says that. He offers a smile to Jett and a thumbs up when Gabriel encourages him to dance.

"Everyone needs a little rain now and then. It can't always be sunshine and rainbows." He now pays attention to Esme and tells her, "If those heels are bothering you take them off and put them by the railing. I will try and not step on your feet. Unless you are worried about the germs on the floor." Trying to offer a solution. "I will always come to the defense of my friends, you included, Esme and even for Storm Cloud over there." Hazel eyes drift over towards Jett is. "Sorry Gabriel, just getting to know you better but yeah I'd fight for you too." He has sort of proved it in that weird dream they shared.

Jett scoffs at Esme, "I can dance, just not your fancy dancing. Like, head banging... throw your body into other body... kind of dancing." He thinks, then makes an addendum, "Also like sexy dancing."

Then Dark humor.

Jett's brow lifts up at the threat made with such a straight face, appreciating the Gabe-Speak joke with a wry smirk pulling on the corner of his mouth. "Ahh, a kindred spirit," he notes with continued amusement, "And bossy." He side glances at Esme and Theo, "Take notes!" His amusement before he puts his glass down and steps over toward Gabe with a confidence that does not match his previous declaration. Then again, he said fake it until you make it right?!

His arm sweeps around Gabriel's waist and the other picks up Gabriel's hand. Apparently this guy who doesn't know how to dance is taking the lead? He's putting the actors to shame at the moment! He does the first 'Swirl' from his observations, not the box step of the waltz, but a dance swirl... with Gabe having to tolerate being spun around in a more two step turn than anything else. It's something! "How's that?" He totally avoids squashing anyone's feet for now!

"Of course!" Esme pipes up at this talk of rain, "And even the rain can be pretty. Just like when your hair falls into your face the way that it does." She says to Jett. "Like it's full of drip." But when she's asked about her heels, she quickly shakes her head, "Oh nono. I'm fine!" And her voice sounds far more cheerful than usual when she says this.

Then Jett mentions her fancy dancing, "Why is it my fancy dancing? I like pop music." But then he mentions sexy dancing and that has her curious suddenly.

Okay, maybe it kind of is her music. She hums along to the melody, because she's heard it so often during training and rehearsals. When she's told to take notes due to what Gabriel had said, she has this shocked look on her face, "Of course you make it look like an accident! You don't want to Tonya Harding things, okay, sometimes you do want to Tonya Harding things, but that's besides the point." And here, she just lets out a sigh, "Fine! Noted."

"Oh hey, thanks. I appreciate that," Gabriel says to Theo with a huff of a laugh. "And likewise. Though I hope it's not in a dream since we know how that went. But if it's against a tourist or whatever, I've been told in the past that I can make people cry by staring at them? Not sure it's a compliment?"

Narrator: it was not a compliment.

As for being bossy, there's nothing to say for that other than the half-smile plastered on Gabe's face. Are they expecting proper arm placement? Nope! Their brows shoot up in surprise but they settle in soon enough, seeing the lead being taken. One hand goes to Jett's shoulder while the other clasps his extended one more securely. "Well, okay then. Guess you're a liar too," they laugh as they get swirled around. "You can totally dance."

Esme's Tonya Harding joke gets a guilty laugh. They know they shouldn't but it's still funny.

"Dude. I need to see this sexy dancing." Theo remarks as he and Esme pass Gabriel and Jett as they waltz along. "I don't believe you." Another stare at Jett through his mask when he says that about taking notes.

A snort when Esme says drip. "Esme, you are perfect just the way you are. You don't have to listen to Jett, you know that, right? Tonya Harding and all."

A grin to Gabriel when he was doing that passing, "Hey, that is magic right there. Tourists can be ruthless. You have the power now!"

"It's full of drip," Jett repeats because, "That's the fucking greatest thing ever. I'm going to steal that!" He will absolutely steal it going forward. He in fact starts to laugh over it because it's utter perfection. His hair is absolutely FULL OF DRIP. Description will be updated. Full of drip.

He doesn't actually explain what he means by fancy dancing because he's got Gabriel in his arms... and he's also still back there amused over DRIP.

"I am," Jett says with a deadpan, "You can't believe a thing that comes out of my mouth." He is at least faking it until he makes it, successfully. "I can totally dance," he starts to do a little head bob weave like he was listening to R&B and not something like waltz music, before his head does a sudden twist and lead, like how you would do so in a Flamenco, giving a bit of a leg kick before he stomps them around in a mock boxy way.

"Sexy dancing?" He looks at Gabriel with some apology, "They don't believe me. Maybe you don't either. Here comes the sexy...!" He warns Gabriel at least and does the whole... SWOOP a dance partner low in a dip and follows Gabriel so he's sort of leaning over like he'd probably kiss them if he knew them more. With his mask and top hat on, it was sexy right?! He then swoops Gabriel back up without throwing anyone or stepping on toes, "That's one move. You probably won't be able to resist me if I do anymore, so I better not, as we just met."

Oh good! Theo asked about the sexy dancing, so Esme doesn't have to. She will merrily dance along, now that the question has been posed and thus the pressure is put on Jett now. Go big or go home!

Eavesdropping Esme turns to look on Gabriel now as she and Theo dance side by side to Gabriel and Jett, "Like you're giving them the Evil Eye? I tried that once and that person just pat me on the head and moved on. It was pretty humiliating." She then adds on to what Theo says, "Right! One tourist beamed Elmo in the eye and it left a bruise. I swear, when I found out, I wanted to take vengeance for my roomie! I don't care if the kid was 10." She actually doesn't remember how old that kid was.

And then Jett goes big with his sexy dancing and Esme just observes while still dancing. "Hmmm. Not bad at all! I'd asked Lucien to dip me lower that one time for the photoshoot. That was a difficult position to hold."

"The trick is not to try to do it," Gabriel offers probably unhelpfully to Esme and Theo. "It just comes out of that dark part in your soul." That might be another deadpan joke again.

Gabe and Jett are pretty matched in height, so Jett shouldn't have any problem maneuvering them around. "I'm sure," they say in that flat delivery though amusement peeks through in the upward curve of their lips. It starts off as a head bob, then a twist, then that leg kick. "Wow," they laugh, along for the ride.

Then there's the box stomp, which they try their best to keep up with.

And now sexy dancing. They blow out a puff of breath and shrug a shoulder. "Alright, might as well. We've done everything else at this point." Oh it's a swoop. Their eyes widen at the shift in posture, hanging onto him more tightly and now trying desperately not to laugh. They can tell that look is meant to imply kissing but they can't help the giggle that burbles out.

"Sorry. No. Yeah. That was so sexy. I mean, look at me, I'm swooning." Gabriel's full on laughing now. Hey! It's something! First proper laugh of the night. Once upright again, they break formation to gently tug Jett's hat down into his face. "You're fun. I need a drink though."

They glance around to the group. "I'll be back in a bit."

Once the dancing is done and Gabriel is looking for a drink Theo looks to the two left here. "Want to find cake?" His attention split when he says that as he calls to Gabriel before he truly leaves. "We will be on the hunt for cake if you want to catch up to us!"

There is also applause for the dancing that Jett and Gabriel do. It is entertaining for one. His roomie did prove him wrong in what kind of moves he can make. He and Esme didn't even get that close.

"We do get paid to entertain the masses, Esme so we probably have to sort of behave." Theo laughs as he tries to imagine Esme going after the kid that hurt Elmo. "I wonder where Elmo is anyways. I want to see him in his mask."

Jett keeps a very serious expression during the twist and leg kick okay! Even up against the laughter that shoots out because of it. Jett side glances to Gabriel and winks at them through the mask for the wow that's a clear sign of Jett winning.

Jett's look is utterly SMOLDERING (he's seen actors do it okay) down at Gabriel during the sexy part of the dance. The giggling though causes Jett to roll his eyes upward behind the mask as they straighten out.

His hands release Gabriel when they are full on laughing and Jett stands there as if laughter isn't happening and remains firm in his cocky I have been sexy stance, which includes a proud chin lift and his hands on his sides. At least until the hat is tugged down into his face. That's when he snorts and pushes his hat back up with a mild sound of protest, "But I made you swoon... you can't leave like that!"

And then Gabe is off to get a drink.

And Jett is left trying to fix his drip hair and he says to Esme and Theo, "I'm going to get some air. This shit is hot." He complains and then notes, "I'll try to find cake when I come back around."

"I'll be back," Gabriel calls out to the group, then pauses to peek back up from the staircase. "Especially on account of the cake."

They disappear again shortly, in search of a drink that isn't champagne.

Esme claps when Theo claps. She's all for a good dip! And though she'll constantly say that she is NOT A PAIRS SKATER, she does like the artistry that comes with pairs skating, it seems. So this is something she can appreciate.

"I... would... love to find cake." That statement was unnecessarily drawn out, but there it is.

She then looks to Theo with a curious tilt of her head, "You'll have to show me how low you can go." With the dip. It's like she has dipping standards suddenly.

Once Gabriel announces their need for a drink, she waves on over to them, "It was nice meeting you!" She then looks to Jett, "Jett, you can make many a-heart swoon. There's a lot of people who like the bad for you bad boy types out there. Even ones dressed in old timey outfits. But! We'll catch you at the dining area, I'm sure. We'll even save some," food, "For you!" <3

Jett side glances at Esme and Theo when he overhears the 'how low you can go' and he decides THAT was a good time to leave, because he'd probably be inappropriate otherwise!

Esme's comment on making many hearts swoon has him takes his hat off because his hair is literally starting to drip. Then he remarks, "You'd never find your Prince Charming without the bad guys." He puts his hat back and and then knocks it back with a clunk of his knuckle, "I'll be outside."

"Theo..." he looks toward his roommate, clapping him on the shoulder, "Happy birthday." Theo should know that Jett made a considerable effort to show up.

Then he swaggers off with a nod and puts his hands in his pockets as he finds the best way to get lost in the crowd.