Video

[deadclumsy]

[It's been a while since Tonks has made any sort of broadcast. Truthfully, she's been trying to deal with the idea that she's probably trapped here for a good long while. It might be why she has latched on so hard to the idea of Valdis' masquerade: it's something positive about this place, something that might help her forget for a while that she has a home and family that she might never see again.

She's smiling, albeit awkwardly. For all her swagger, this is somewhat outside her comfort zone. It's much easier to be a tough-talking Auror who can hold her own than it is to be...well...a girl.]

There's a masquerade coming up on the 30th. Valdis, nice girl, she's planning it. I thought I'd - well, seeing how I haven't got anyone I'm with, and I don't know many blokes who're single, I thought maybe someone might like to escort me. Was hoping, really.

[She spreads her gloved hands almost defensively - or perhaps consolingly, lest someone get the wrong idea.]

As friends, of course. Not asking too much, there.

[And more to herself than the viewers:]

Merlin, this sounds pathetic...But I really can't keep moping in my room. Not going home anytime soon, right? Right. Might as well have a little fun.

[Anyway! She picks up the thread with renewed cheer:]

I'm not much of a dancer - I'm dead clumsy, really - but I'm great company, and I'm quite easy on the eyes, if I do say so myself. And I can make my hair match your tie. Bonus!

Comments

[edgeoftheknife]

Valdis is planning a masquerade?

[He sounds tired, and surprised. Totally not letting on that he's in on the whole thing. One thing Erskine is, is a fantastic liar.]

It doesn't sound pathetic, though. I have it on good authority that moping doesn't do much good at all.

[Says the king of moping.]

[deadclumsy]

She says as much. [A flicker of concern passes through her expression when she hears how tired he sounds.]

You all right, mate?

[edgeoftheknife]

Hm? Oh, yeah. Fine. No burning anything down this month, yet. [He smiles] I feel like I need one of those little Alcoholics Anonymous tokens, 'sober for this many days.' 'Haven't committed arson in this many days.'

Anyway, I... I'm not sure if I'm going to go to this thing or not. Save me a dance just in case?

[deadclumsy]

Of course. I'd be disappointed if I didn't have one dance with you.

[After a pause, she continues in a more serious tone:]

You know, it's not...really that uncommon, where I come from for people to do what you did. Mostly accidents. We just have better methods of putting a stop to it before it gets out of hand.

You shouldn't be so hard on yourself.

[edgeoftheknife]

Maybe I'll actually make an effort to go, then.

What's not uncommon? Starting fires or going completely off your rocker? Because if it's the latter I have some serious questions about where you come from.

[He's joking. Mostly.]

video; dead clumsy? i see what you did there

[wrathfulkhan]

There's a lot to be said for brooding up in one's room. Not moping, though. Moping's a bit too maudlin.

video; alas, if only it were my joke and not something she actually says about herself

[deadclumsy]

I've never been good at brooding.

Does that mean you're not going?

video;

[wrathfulkhan]

Well, it's a skill that comes with practice, really.

And no. I don't do parties.

[He really doesn't.]

video;

[deadclumsy]

No one "does" parties, Gene.

Look, I'll tell you like I told Tony: I need a gay best friend at this party. It's imperative. I'm feeling down, I can't get home, I haven't got a boyfriend or a respectable job, and who knows what that awful combination might lead me to do at a place where everyone's wearing masks?

I need someone snarky and unlikely to take advantage of me. Also, someone who looks a little cool. You're a fixer-upper.

video;

[wrathfulkhan]

I am uniquely ill-suited for the position of 'gay best friend', to wit: I may be gay, but I am a terrible friend.

...what do you mean, I'm a 'fixer-upper'?!

[Hey! Tony likes him, so he must be a catch! (However, Tony also likes anchovies. Tony's judgment is perhaps not the greatest.)]

video;

[thaumatophage]

If we go together, we can match each other! [She cycles through hair colors.]

video;

[deadclumsy]

Ohh, I like it. I do like it indeed.

Even better? Contrast. One of us does orange, one does black. One does pink, one does green. Switch off doing it to keep everyone on their toes.

video;

[thaumatophage]

You! I like the way you think.

video;

[deadclumsy]

It's an innate genius.

video;

[thaumatophage]

I'll say. Meanwhile, I'm not trusted to color-coordinate my own socks!

[highprofilerichkid]

I already have a date, but I can save a few dances for you, if you want someone who's even worse at it than you are to make you look good.

[deadclumsy]

Oho, did you convince Gene that brooding in his bedroom is the least productive use of his time?

[highprofilerichkid]

Not exactly. [He doubts he'll ever convince Gene that brooding is not the highest and best use of his time.] But I'll get him there somehow. Maybe I'll steal all his shampoo and take it with me to lure him there.

[deadclumsy]

Tell him I require a gay best friend to keep me from making terrible mistakes. Two, in fact, because two is always better than one, particularly when they're representing both sides of the emotional spectrum. So, both of you.

Also, I have it on good authority that stealing his shampoo is not necessarily a good idea.

[If he's anything like Snape, he might not notice. Or have any to steal.]

[highprofilerichkid]

Technically, you'll only get one and a half. [Sorry, Tonks, he is extremely bisexual, and also has zero sense of either fashion or good judgement.]

But you're right about the shampoo. [Beat.] I should take his conditioner, too.

[Are you kidding? Gene's hair-care routine is practically his religion.]

THREADJACK

[wrathfulkhan]

I'm not going.

[highprofilerichkid]

[Yes you are, Gene.]

Why not? It'll be fun. And I can't go to a fancy party without you. [Significant others are required to attend fancy date-requiring events together. That's in the Official Relationship Laws. Look it up. (Otherwise the only conversation he'll have all night is various iterations of "where's Gene? he didn't come with you?" and having to make excuses for him.)]

Anyway, you have to help me dance. I've never done it before. [Not fancy-party-dancing, anyway. Rocking out to Metallica when he's alone in the lab probably doesn't count.]

[wrathfulkhan]

Sure you can. You can go, and I won't. It'll be fine. [Awkward questions: not his problem.]

I can't help you dance. Given that I...don't.

[deadclumsy]

Sorry, mate, but I don't think you have a say in this one. Two against one.

[wrathfulkhan]

My participation in social events has never been determined by democratic debate.

Or by fiat.