“May I have this dance?”
Even with a mask covering his face, Danielle could easily tell who it was, but she didn’t mind. Against her better judgment, she took his hand. “You may.”
Upon taking hold of her waist, Danielle stiffened slightly (though it was not an involuntary reaction, as she wanted him to believe). She did not want to give in to his gentle touch, nor the subtle smell of vanilla that gently drifted from his body. It was almost annoying; it had been surprising that she’d broken up with him in the first place.
He spun her once, and as she expected, he murmured, “Having fun yet?”
She smiled a bit at his wry sense of humor; it was probably written over her “face” (being covered by the mask, she couldn’t really count that) that she would rather not be there. Upon dancing with him, she remembered why she’d accepted his offer in the first place. Dancing with him made her feel at home. “Maybe.” She answered coyly, and though her back was against his, she knew he was smiling behind her.
He spun her so that they were facing each other for a moment, and she tilted her head, staring at his decorative black mask with silver trimmings, mirroring his stare as his eyes fixed on her and her elaborate black and gold mask before they both turned away.
“…why?” Soshi asked, and she suddenly stopped.
Why? She already knew what he was asking. “Because your morals and mine do not mirror each other.” Danielle answered stonily.
After a pause, he said, “My job and your job have nothing to do with ‘us’.”
“They have everything to do with ‘us’.” She retorted frigidly. “Do you think I know nothing of what you do to prisoners? You take out frustration on them instead of punishing them properly. It’s unjustifiable.”
He stopped suddenly, his hold on her wrist tightening minimally as he whispered, “Don’t play games with me, Danielle. I know who you are. I know what you are. The Scarlet Titania does not exact justice, she takes vengeance. If anything, she should end her own life to condone the lives of the many people she’s killed. Do you really think that every man or woman or child that commits a crime should be killed? You don’t have any concept of mercy, do you?”
Eyes flashing with anger, she snatched her hand away from him- for she was far stronger than he- and whirled to face him. Once their gazes were locked, she narrowed her eyes and stated, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. An evil for evil…and a life for a life.” With that, she spun away from him and attempted to storm out of the ballroom- much to Buriel’s, from the balcony above, vexation.
Shogo had different plans.
At that moment the lights went out, and one single shot entered all of the party-goers’ ears. Though no one had actually been shot (Shogo had been sure to exact the position on the wall with his night-vision goggles and a bit of simple math), multiple screams were heard, especially because of the absence of light. However…
Shogo blinked and furrowed his brows. No, that had not been what he’d planned. The lights were to go out and then he would make an elaborate show for them- all in good fun, of course. At this rate, someone may be trampled and his little light show wouldn’t happen at all.
Shit. Why did I just…
Realization dawned on him as his wide- albeit furious- gaze flickered to his gun. I gave away my position.
For the sake of your humanity.
He almost shrieked.
