every thrill is gone

[Sylena Avant]

Maybe it was the need to get out of the house, or perhaps she was downright lonely, but Sylena was beginning to feel like the night was already dragging on and she had only been here for an hour at the most. She was regretting even attending because, although she loved to wine, dine, and dance, she wasn't entirely feeling it tonight. That, and no one really grabbed her interest.

She wasn't going to ask just anybody to dance, and so far, she most have appeared so uninterested since no one had asked her yet. That might've been for the best.

With a sigh, Syl mindlessly wandered; an arm wrapped around her waist as the other held a glass half empty with wine near those red painted lips. Bright blues peered out from behind the lacey black mask, boredly studying every person who came into her view. And, she would soon come to realize, that she wasn't the only one that was apparently bored with the festivities.

Her head canted, regarding the tall, young man who was standing at the far wall as though he were hoping he would simply blend in with the furnishings. Maybe he was hoping to disappear like she suddenly was. Still, something about it amused her, and a corner of her mouth curled up into a slight grin.

Taking another sip of her drink, she continued wandering the perimeter of the hall until she sidled up beside him; her attention not upon Iain, but the dancing couples in front of them. "You look absolutely delighted to be here," she mused, her voice laced with subtle sarcasm. Eyes drifted sidelong to him then in gentle amusement.

[ Iain Lee Frye ]

[Iain Lee Frye]

Iain did want to blend in with the furnishings and disappear. He didn’t want to be here, but apparently, it was his duty as a Lee Frye to make an appearance of some sort. What did it matter, though? He wore a mask just as everyone else did, would anyone even notice if he wasn’t there?

He had already eaten and had a couple of drinks, and he wasn’t much for dancing, so what was there left to do? He stood against the wall, arms folded over his chest as he stared off into the crowd, not really watching anyone in particular, but more so just zoning out in his own thoughts.

No one would be approaching him (or so he thought), and he would not be approaching anyone tonight. It was most likely--no, completely obvious that he didn’t want to be there. He felt so out of place and uncomfortable. He could have spent the evening doing something more productive than this.

So when he felt someone move and stand beside him, and heard the voice, he wasn’t entirely aware that the person speaking was directed at him. Still, he turned his gaze only slightly to find the woman beside him, speaking to no one else, as he was the only one by her. His lips twitched in the slightest of a smirk. “Do I?” He questioned her with a matching sense of sarcasm. He knew very well that he did not look delighted to be here, and this woman could obviously pick up on that.

Iain wasn’t entirely sure if she was going to make him feel bad about it, or if she felt the same way and was seeking company that held the same misery she did. He shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry--These sort of events have never been my thing.” He didn’t know why he felt the need to apologize, maybe because he almost felt bad that he couldn’t share the same enjoyment most of these people held. He had never been the socializing type, and it was frustrating when he had it forced upon him.

[Sylena Avant]

Sylena had a knack for zeroing in on the quiet, awkward ones, usually because they were her normal targets. Tonight, however, she wasn't looking to target anyone...she was simply here to try and enjoy herself. The problem was, she kind of forgot how to do that. She didn't know how to simply exist and be herself, and not have some sort of mission. It was strange, and she both liked and hated it.

Perhaps, she sidled up to the young Lee Frye because he was making her feel a little less awkward.

'Do I?'

Her own smirk remained upon her lips as her attention drifted back out to the crowd of dancers in front of them; that glass lingered near her lips. "Completely ecstatic," she murmured in jest before taking a sip. At his apology, however, she looked sidelong to him. "I used to enjoy these things...but then they got repetitive. Still..." she trailed off, once more studying the faces of the gathered guests. "A masquerade makes things...interesting."

Sylena shrugged a single shoulder and took another sip of the wine. She was getting low and would need a refill very shortly, or perhaps she would think about simply leaving for the evening.