Juliana managed to pull herself back to the way she was before, fighting a split in her mind. And fighting against the voices that were threatening to comment. For once, she managed to suppress them all, but her will was stronger than usual, too. "Oh, wait... how do we tell the other when we've found out something? It'd be odd if we questioned, then went off on our merry way..." There was a slight impatience in her, the part that really wanted to dance with the mystery man before he found another to dance with. "I guess we'll just figure that out on our own. Good luck with your search, Richard." And with a small curtsy, the red head made her way to quiet man leaning against a wall.
She curtsied as she came up to him, fighting her extreme nerves at not only initiating a conversation, but with a *man* no less. "G-good evening..."
He smirks a little, obviously finding her nervousness amusing. "Good evening to you, too. What brings you to my quiet little corner?" For a second, she manages to glimpse his eyes in light. They're mainly green, but get a hazel hue around the pupils.
"W-Well..." *Should've thought this through!* She chastised herself, annoyed at her stupidity. "I thought you may be a bit lonely. It *is* a ball, after all..."
He chuckled quietly and gave a slight nod of the head. "You thought wrong, though. I'd rather stand and watch."
*And leave it to me to pick out the most difficult!* "W-Well... would you mind one dance with me? But I warn you, I'm not too good..."
He chuckled once more and shook his head. "You're rather backwards." He takes a step back, and for a second, Juliana worries she's lost him. But then he bows, and holds out a hand. "Good evening, I am Vaughn. Would you care to dance?"
Though she tried fighting it, Juliana couldn't stop the blush from creeping onto her cheeks, contrasting sharply against her pale face and black mask. Since she couldn't manage a word, she just takes his arm, and he gently pulls her close. The two begin to waltz, and she's surprised that she isn't stepping on his feet. "I-I'm just warning you now, I'm not very good..."
Once more, then man chuckles. "You're doing perfectly fine. Just follow my lead."
He twirls her a little, and she finds herself closer to him. "I'm Juliana..." she mutters, just now realizing she hadn't introduced herself.
*Smooth move.*
*Shut it.*
"D-Do you play...?" He gives her a questioning look, and she feels her blush spread. "Th-the double bass. It's on your mask, so I was wondering if you play."
"Ah! So you know what it is!" He exclaims, smiling widely, his green eyes shimmering. "In fact, I do. I had originally been asked to come and play, but as soon as I arrived I was told that I was no longer needed. So I was given a mask and told to enjoy myself."
Another twirl, and the two are a little closer. "But isn't that rather rude of them? To ask you to come and play for the ball, but instead telling you that your talents are unnecessary?"
"I suppose, but... I'm glad they did." He gives her a small smile, and again, she feels the blush spread a little. "Your eyes... are they naturally purple?"
"A-Ah... yes. I was born with them..." *Since this man is obviously from this world, and contacts are probably unheard of. Boy, am I glad I know there actually *are* naturally purple-eyed people.* Then her mind strayed to a song she heard when she was younger that had something to do with a purple people eater... She brought herself back, knowing she'd have to pay more attention now.
He watches her a bit, and she begins to feel uncomfortable. She'd kept her mind occupied with the mission, but now that it had gotten to this... "You were called to play? By whom?"
It's his turn to feel uncomfortable, and Juliana can tell. His dancing becomes a bit more tense, and his moves don't feel as fluid. "I don't know much... the Master of this dance had requested me to play. He hadn't said anything else."
Knowing that she wouldn't be able to get much more out of the mystery man without having to explain herself, Juliana dropped that route and went back to the drawing board.
The duo dance for a little more, before Juliana finds that he has led them to the garden door. Vaughn separates from her and holds the door, bending slightly. "Would you like to enjoy the garden with me?" He asks with a small, polite smile.
Juliana smiles in response and surveys the dance hall quickly and inconspicuously, hoping Richard would see her leave in case he found something important. And, she needed to know where he was.
ORP: And, the writer needed a reason to stop writing. XDDD