Ebony surveyed the bar with a certain scepticism. She had only arrived half an hour early, to give herself a chance to scope out the venue, as it had been a number of months since she had last frequented it, but she found herself quite bemused. Half an hour until entry, and yet there was no sign of waiters, doormen or any other kind of staff. She doned her mask regardless, took the dress carrier from the boot of the taxi and waved a far less than fond farewell to the cabby, who she was sure had been peering down her top the entire drive as she wrestled the the carrier in the boot. She was only able to do so as he was missing the parcel shelf to his car. It was rather inconvient as her dress had been leaking out of the end of the bag.
Ebony was lucky in that she was related to the owner of the bar. By related, well, it was more that they had once been "involved" with each other, and whereas that had long since lost it's magic, they parted on good terms, so each ball, he left a key for a room behind the bar for her, to allow her to arrive early, as was her custom, and change in private.
A doorman appeared as she reached the threshold and she whispered quietly the password which had been scrawlled in a beautiful hand painted calligraphy into her invitation. She didn't know quite why she whispered. Each password was unique, however, she did whisper all the same. She handed over the invite for scrutiny and smiled brightly as it was handed back. If her editor would allow her to run a report on this ball, she could at least mention the helpful nature of the staff - although she doubted that she would mention it, even if she were allowed to write the article.
The corridor into the main room was still the same. It was lined with a thick faux black fur that smelt of smoke and sick, even though it had been illegal to smoke in the bar for a number of years. She never understood why Danny hadn't replaced it, or even just had it cleaned, but that, she remembered, was typical Danny. Any expense that it was possible to spare was spared. It was part of the reason that their "relationship", if you could call it that, fizzled out.
The main room had been rearranged, although, mostly, it was still the same. The darkened alcoves were still off to the left, framed by high backed velvet sofas, the stairs were still spiralling off to the left and the bar was still straight ahead, although it wasn't centrally alligned with the door, it was off to one side a little, although it was impossible to decide which side it was off to. The main floor had changed only slightly. There were more scratches caused by graceless teenagers in stileto heels, who have no head for drink.
Across the bar, the code names were displayed in silver, with black card backgrounds. Each invitee had their own name card on a lanyard; a small momento of the nights events. Under Ebony's, marked with the words Eastern Tiger, was a small silver key, with which she could let herself into room 203. In the whole place, their were twelve rooms: 101, 102, 103, 104, 201, 202, 203, 204, 301, 302, 303 and 304, but Danny always left her the key for 203. She guessed it was his attempt at sentimentalism. A relic of their past together. She wandered up the two flights of stairs, let herself in and hung the dress from the cross bar of the four poster bed. Dropping her bag to the floor she sank into the luxorious sofa and let her consciousness fade as her awareness zipped through the many memories she had made in that room.
As she opened her eyes, she heard the buzz of voices downstairs, and realised people were beginning to arrive, so she ran for the bathroom, shedding her clothes as she ran.

Jeze was nervous. She had never been to this side of the country before, and she wasn't sure she was going to like it. Looking around she saw many of the Yamaguchi-gumi that had been sent to watchover her, each with the tattoo displayed on their palms. She ignored them, adjusting her mask. If Kaz, her step mother, had sent anyone to search for her, a salute to the men would surely give her off. That is why she had chose to be branded on her back instead of her chest like a traditional Gumi woman.
Jeze looked out the window as her Limo passed rows upon rows of old buildings, so old and damp they seemed to have morfed into one. Moments later her Limo pulled up to the hotel. She didn't know why her courtsmen suggested she be choufered by Limo, she found it unnecissary, and keenly suspicious in this case, since she was of course alone. The limo driver stepped aside as he opened her door, and she stepped out with her dress in tote. her heels clicking against the worn out pavement. It took her a moment to find her room 303. "Third floor to the left and down four doors" The driver said to her before he dissapeared.
Jeze climbed the numerous flights of stairs until she had gotten to her room. Unlocking the door she waws pleased that it was a fairly decnt room, for a free room. She decided to lay down for a quick nap.
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Moments had passed when she heard the murmer of voices coming from below her. She quickly stood from the bed and began to change into her dress and adjusted her mask, her Teal eyes showing through the slits.

Ebony's dress missed the floor by several inches, but she still felt the compulsion to pick the skirt up as she sailed down the stairs. She was used to wearing heels, even though he husband had never allowed her to wear them. He was a good few inches shorter than her without them, so with them he looked the height of a child beside her. The room was buzzing with waiters holding trays of drinks, hors d'eauvrs and heavy smiles, dishing them out with pleasantries to their unreceptive audience.
Everyone just needed a few martinis inside them to calm down and loosen up a little. For most, the problem was that they were on their pre winter diet, something that only occured amoungst the young and rich. True, everyone latched onto the brand new diet fad at Christmas, but Ebony had noticed that all the slender women who looked barely bigger than a tooth pick had to diet at more times of the year than that, and one of these was the pre winter. After all, new fashion lines would be emerging and someone had to be superhumanly thin enough to model them on the catwalks.
It was definately true that Ebony openly disapproved of models. When Ebony had learnt that her ex-husband had designs on marrying one she quickly ended the relationships by threatening to remove her sons from his care and severe all ties. It was true that she could be cruel, however she didn't want her sons to be as disillusioned as most people were about the shape and size of women. She believe that being her size ten self was good enough, and the only people that thought it wasn't were the twigs.
Ebony left the stairs and surveyed the different spirits stocked behind the bar. Even she was impressed by the expansion of the collection. She walked up to a waiter she recognised and requested a cosmopolitan. From the vantage point of the raise bar she could see the rest of the people in attendance and pick out who would be her next ... victim.

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Danny had a habit of turning up to events late, but for once, he was the first to arrive. There was probably something in the fact that he owned the bar where the event was being held, but he was still impressed. Already dressed he approached the bar and searched for his name badge to pin onto the front of his tux. He noticed that Ebony had already removed hers, along with the key he had left underneath of it. For everyone else, rooms came at a price, but his past with Ebony left him no choice but to allow her one free of charge.
It made him feel better that she didn't know he was in the masked crowd. She never had known. She never seemed to think he would attend the private function which was held in his bar. For an intelligent woman she could be undeniably stupid. He spotted her in the crowd, her flawless form floating higher than the heads of any other female in the room. How no one else knew who she was was a mystery to him. He concidered approaching her, but instead let a message with the barman to signal when she had had at least three martinis. She was quite the featherweight so it wouldn't be long before he could strike up a conversation without the irksome inclination she might have figured out who he was.

Kitty looked at her dress "perfect." she murmured as she placed her mask over her eyes then adjusted her hair to look like the photo. she twirled "complete!" she raised her fist in the air then walked down to her taxi. "hello Kitty going were I think your going?" I smiled I knew this Taxi driver anywhere.
"hello James and yes you do." he laughed and began to drive to the bar when he arrived he looked at me
"you remind me of Lily." a tear left his eye, Lily was his dead daughter who died around my age. "now don't let anyone hurt you or touch you." he treated me like i was his daughter but I didn't mind.
"I wont." I said as I left the Taxi "come back later." he smiled and tilted his hat has he drove away. I entered the bar and sat on a chair watching everyone else as she gave a brilliant smile to attract more people.