Daebru stares down at the necklace, Bloodcrystal, but they said it wasn't much. Maybe the merchant didn't know how rare this type of stone is here. Not something I should wear for a performance though, especially since it seems to fit with the items from that strange dream. No, that wasn't a dream ... I have the items, I saw the banner... he closes the box up tucking it away into his bag, "It's far too precious to be worn for simple performances," he says at last looking up at Alinor

"Precious huh? I'm glad you treasure gifts, and I hope that you can truthfully call us friends someday."

Daebru raises an eyebrow at the man, "You think me not truthful with my friendship?"

"That's not what I meant, just that I hope we become precious friends rather than just passing ... friendly acquaintances ... that's all" he shifts from foot to foot rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"I think I'd like that" Daebru smiles and looks over to the others seeing they had all put on their costumes, which seemed to fit nicely, "Glad that I didn't get the sizing wrong on anyone, it seems."

Alinor nods, pushing himself off the wall, "Indeed, it is a skill to be able to state measurements so accurately without taking them. You have a very keen eye, Haaru."

"Sometimes I feel as if I pay too much attention to small details and not enough time just enjoying things," Why did I just say that?

Looking around the ballroom, Daebru couldn't help but feel underwhelmed. The extravagance and grandeur for parties seemed severely lacking to him. A stage had been set up towards one end of the room, and chairs were placed in front of the stage more like this was a common theatre, rather than a ballroom of the lord of the city. Preposterous, simply not up to standards. Militant woman with no one by her side to bring out the beauty of this place, the gothic structures, that grave woeful music, there should be draperies and a place for dancing among the nobles. Not some knock off theatre! This is such a disgrace to nobility all around the world! he huffed folding his arms over his padded chest, glouring at the stage.

"This is the stage where you'll perform, just after sunset is when you should be on stage," Galora Cromwell, an older woman that stood straight, almost seeming more statue like than living, as she talked about how the evening was going to go. Her hands were crossed behind her back as she regarded Daebru with the slightest of sneers, "I do hope you are up to task."

What the hell is her problem!? Noble my ass, you haughty piece of shit! He tenses slightly as Galora seemed to glare at him, "Of course!" he speaks cheerily, "I do hope that I don't let you down Lady Cromwell. It is not often I get the chance for patry performances anymore. It is a much welcome change of pace!"

"Yes ... I'm sure it is ... Lady Haaru was it? To which noble family are you part of to hold the title of Lady?" Galora turned towards Daebru as people started filing into the room and taking seats.

"My family?" his voice seemed to crack slightly, "They are no longer important" I ran away from their treachery and madness! Why can't I just leave them behind for good?!

"I see" her face seemed to soften for a moment before she turned away to greet her guests, "Good luck up there Haaru" and she was striding away shaking hands and nodding.

Did I imagine that softness? She seems so much of a hardass I'm sure I was imagining it ... but for a moment... Daebru shakes his head and looks over to the others here with him "Ready for tonight? We go on at sunset, so not too much longer, then we're free to enjoy the rest of the evening among the guests."

Gwen looks up from tuning his violin giving a nod. Alinor and Gorthan give broad smiles and thumbs up signs, knuckle heads, Daebru couldn't help but smile back. Draena on the other hand seemed to be taking inventory and going through a personal list, not really paying attention to the performances or anything really, "You alright?" Daebru put a hand lightly on her upper arm, "I know you said you've never done anything like this, but you'll be just fine, we've practiced this so many times I'm sure you'll be great!" He tries his best to assure her that all would go well.

Draena turns to Daebru, a soft smile on her face, "Yes, you are quite right that we will be fine tonight. I am not worried about the performance, my mind wanders to other things, ideas almost constantly. But I will be focused when the performance starts so you need not worry about me, young one."

"I'm not as young as I look" Daebru mentally bristled at looking like he might only be 12. He was 16, but told the lie that he was 22 so often that he believed it himself. Not that age ever mattered to him, it only mattered to others, and he had too much experience in certain areas of intimacy that others would find it hard to swallow that a 16 year old was more experienced than they were, "I could be older than you, ya know"

"If you are, it would not be by much," Draena, was a rather factual type of person, practical and precise.

Daebru moved up to each of them testing pieces of their costumes to make sure everything was secure and not going to fly off into the crowd while they performed. That would be the last thing Daebru needed was something malfunctioning and knocking out one of the guests.

Daebru moves up on the stage as the sun began to set over the horizon, the natural fading light catching off the crystal chandelier in the middle of the ballroom, I guess it can be beautiful. He moves to the back of the stage and sets his staff down on end, whispering a command. Soft music begins to rise up from the staff as he backs away his form becoming a silhouette to the crowd.

Gwen steps up on the stairs off to the side his violin ready to accompany. There was nothing but the music to Daebru in this moment, he hadn't really prepared a specific dance for it, but knew it's softness. The Violin rang true it's first note as Daebru began to move in languid, sensual movements. A dark fire against the light Peace... his mind thought of how at peace he was when dancing. The music pulling him to sway and spin, to dip low hands waving like serpents kissing the air.

The dance was full of life, and lust. Other breaths seemed to heighten around him being caught up in his movements. He wasn't trying to seduce them, that was simply the way he moved, the way he was trained from youth. Seduction and wit his weapons and his shell, something to hide behind, to not be truly seen, Cristoff!? He stared into the crowd as the music came to an end, his eyes had slowly opened and a moment of panic at a figure that looked familiar in the haze, no, it's not him...

"Now, if my companions will join me on stage, I have also prepared a theatrical rendering of a battle that is usually forgotten," his voice carried, sounding a bit breathless over the crowd. He could see whom he had pulled into the dance with him, giving them a sly smile before continuing, "This battle took place nearly 130 hundred years ago, in a land to the north," he raised his hand up to the windows behind him, "The night had just fallen and the blood moon had given rise high into the sky"

Alinor came onto the stage then, wearing samurai like armor made of shimmering fabric and leather, a stage armor, "Behold, I ride for the morning sun! I seek my vengeance upon the tyrant whom enslaved my beloved!"

His voice projects well, if he were not a fighter I would suggest the stage as his true love, Daebru smirks watching him move about. The story had been repeated many a time, so his mind wandered in and out of the performance. A lesson about love and loss, in a time where very little was actually recorded. It was a story of a man whom had taken out armies with his dark arts, to find his beloved. The story itself had given Daebru mixed emotions when he first read it in his mother's library.

The man had used alchemy to become stronger. He had turned to the alchemist whom was riddled with madness wanting to find a cure for death. Draena was playing the alchemist, since she was one, though the true alchemist in the story had been a man. She made the part more believable knowing what ingredients would have been offered here and there. The story played better through her parts than it had on paper.

The Dragon, played by Gorthan was a key part, for the dragon had guarded the beloved so fiercely, the dragon was actually a gem dragon, so Gorthan was covered in glitter, much to his dismay. He played up the part, spouting fire out over the heads of guests. As the story came close to the end, there was a part where Daebru had asked for a bit of smoke from Draena to be released somehow. Daebru was to step on and break open a small orb as he came on stage. His part was the beloved, and the reveal of what Alinor's character had done was to take place in a swamp.

I'll step on this, we'll argue, he'll bite and kill me, for he has become a vampire in the alchemists experiments to cure death, and he is maddened by the scent of his beloved's blood, he takes a deep breath and brakes the orb. Green smoke starts rising up from the orb under his foot. He steps away and his vision blurs, What the? he felt himself lurch forward and arms wrap around him. He made out guests falling over in the crowd and heard an explosion, What have I done!? I'm so screwed for failing this...

What the? What am I doing out here in the hall? "Alinor?" Daebru puts his hand on the man's chest looking up at him through foggy vision, "What .. what happened?" I feel sick, and dizzy. What did they do? Are they trying to steal me!? No... no, no, no "L-let me go..."

"Haaru it's okay, do you feel okay?" the older man's hands rested gently on Daebru's shoulders as Daebru push against him, "I don't want you to fall over again, so please. Tell me how you feel."

"Dizzy ... nausea..." He tries to focus, not trying to steal me away then... that's good, but his vision blurs in and out as he looks around, "Draena?" He couldn't see her at all among them, did she act alone?

"She took off, we should catch up to her. I just wanted to make sure you were okay first. I'm sorry we didn't tell you anything Haaru," Alinor looks rather worried with that fact as he leans down to look into Daebru's eyes.

A couple of figures round the corner and stare at them, everyone frozen for a moment, "Really disappointing, Haaru," the voice familiar through the illusion. Patches, one of the tailors that had worked on their costumes, "Seriously, you couldn't wait ... and you really need to hide your scarecrow friend better. Our kind are illegal you know!" his hushed voice carried over them and Daebru looked over to Gwen for a moment, "Get done with whatever it is you're doing quick," Patches took off heading for the front door, Stitches right on his heels.

Daebru pushes Alinor away, "Galora's going to kill me for ruining this party of hers! You...!" may have just given me a death sentence with The Order as well! "Fine may as well join you since she already thinks I'm with you... where are we going?"

"Down, we're looking for something she stole from someone else," Alinor gives a light blush thinking of the other person.

"So... we're retrieving something for your booty call?"

Alinor's eyes went wide, "No! She's just a citizen that's been wronged by Galora's militaristic bullshit!"

"Right..." Daebru wasn't sure if he believed him on the matter, but he'd let it go for now. He pushes off the wall and gestures down the hallway, "lead the way"

Alinor lead them down the hallway, pausing at intersections to try and avoid guards rushing about. Daebru had to keep his hand on the wall to keep from falling over again, his head still hurt from whatever was in that smoke, his ears ringing slightly from the explosion.