i reach out to touch you:

[capemods]

WHO: ImPorts in Venezuela
WHERE: Mérida, Venezuela
WHEN: October 19th 10AM to October 20th 10AM.
WARNINGS: Strong language is likely. Potential violence.
SUMMARY: Welcome to the twenty-four hour masquerade! Refreshments will be flowing throughout the hours, and while entertainment is provided (both musical and theatrical), don't let that deter you from inventing your own mischief. Remember, there's only one rule: while at the masquerade, you cannot remove your mask!

As the levity hits its high notes, however, beware the dark figures scheming in the shadows, those poisoners with swift hands. By 12AM October 20th, the imPort-only virus will be exposed and infecting the masqueraders first, before spreading outwards.
FORMAT: Whatever you'd like.


Masks of all counterfeits paid tribute to the color spectrum that soon poured out into the confetti-strewn streets that morning. The flood of spectacle drowned away any groans of the mundane, and once ten o'clock stuck then did intrigue ascend to the hazy plateau of status quo. Bodies moved like whispers against each other, some seeking friends, while others hoped to fool foes. The air sung with sticky excitement: mischief was welcomed here, as long as you did it honestly. As long as you wore your face over your mask.

Comments

[osreborn]

Certainly not. There's too much at stake, isn't there? It would be a shame if anything happened to ruin what we have here.

[ Behind the mask, Norman's eyes gleamed in shadow, washed out from all the purple. One narrowed briefly in a twitch. ]

I had business. You should have said something if you missed me, Nygma.

[enigmaestro]

I would, if I had missed you. [Edward folded his arms and took a step back -- not backing away, of course, he needed the space to circle Norman. His glance was predatory.] But I seemed to have endured, Norman.

Now, you on the other hand? [A delicate smirk.] You seem preoccupied with more than just a little business.

[osreborn]

[ Norman's eyes followed Eddie without missing a step, still hidden in the depths of the mask, gleaming faintly in the dark. His mouth stretched tighter, the skin at the corners the only hint that he was still smiling. ]

Enduring seems to be a talent of yours. No matter what you get yourself into, somehow you always survive.

I'm not that different, you know. I'm a survivor myself. You could say I've been getting in some business and some pleasure.

[enigmaestro]

Oh, I know. [He pauses his circling, standing right behind Norman, his eyes wishing to penetrate the other man.] Trust me, I know.

[And that juncture, Edward reached out and gently, carefully, placed his hands on Norman's shoulders.]

Don't make a scene, now. That would be so unfortunate, wouldn't it?

[osreborn]

[ Norman's muscles tensed under Eddie's touch, refusing to relax for several minutes following. He exhaled slowly through clenched teeth. ]

Mm.

[ It was a soft noise, punctuated by a chuckle. ]

I don't know what you're expecting, Nygma.

[enigmaestro]

[His fingers clenched against those shoulders. And then relaxed. Edward repeated the movement, his eyes narrowing behind Norman's head.

Any observer would have assumed, surely, that one mask was giving another a shoulder rub.]

I'm expecting what any intelligent person would of a psychopath with your noted cunning, Norman.

[osreborn]

That could be a good many things, if you're calling me a psychopath. They tend to be a bit unpredictable, you know.

[ Norman exhaled again, arms crossing over his chest impatiently. His shoulders, however, relaxed more, and he chuckled again. ]

And speaking of, you're getting a bit familiar.

[enigmaestro]

Trust me, I always consider all possibilities. [Another squeeze of those shoulders, this one much more aggressive.] Am I? I do hope you're not made uncomfortable by the motion?

[osreborn]

Do you. We'll have to see if circumstance proves you right.

[ Norman hissed sharply. He rolled his shoulders under Eddie's touch, leaning into it slightly. ]

Uncomfortable? Of course not. It brings me back some rather fond memories, as a matter of fact. [ He paused delicately. ] Fond indeed.

[enigmaestro]

[He clenched again, harder this time. His knuckles turned white.] Isn't that just the case with you, Norman? So nostalgic. [But he knew the remark would have less impact, spoken through his teeth like so.]

You always did like the tactile control, didn't you?

[He leaned closer, hissing.]

I truly await the day they put you back in your padded room.

[osreborn]

I have plenty to be nostalgic over. And I won't pretend that a beautiful nurse rubbing my shoulders is some kind of an unpleasant memory. It's such a delicate, intimate gesture.

Loving.

[ A memory with baggage, certainly, but Norman couldn't help but spare Kolina a favorable thought when he did think of her. It had been... a complicated time, all around, one that sat in the back of his mind filled with more holes than swiss cheese. Pieces missing. His teeth bared, and he turned his head slightly with one eyebrow arched. ]

You'll be waiting a long time. Rest assured.

[enigmaestro]

I'm a patient man, Norman. [Eddie paused his finger motions.] As you well know. [But he didn't dwell on that topic, nor did he spend much more time on amassing a series of sharp retorts. Norman's apparent nostalgia seemed independent of the instance Eddie himself was referring to.

Which made it weird, to him.

His fingers hesitated.]

Not quite the parallel I was angling to draw.

[osreborn]

Patience does no good when what you're waiting for has no future. Really, you don't think I'll be making the same mistakes I did a year ago, do you?

[ Most importantly, leaving any of his power accessible to Eddie's grasp. No matter how useful he'd been at times, the payoff was certainly not worth the convenience. Still, his grin grew sharper. ]

Are you sure?

[enigmaestro]

Oh, Norman no, I don't think that. I assume you're going to make brand news mistakes that I'll eagerly play opportunist off of.

[That merited another squeeze.]

I'm so very sure.

[osreborn]

No. Even more, I won't be giving you any opportunities to benefit off of whatever supposed mistakes you're concocting. Don't get comfortable.

[ His mouth tightened and his eyes narrowed. ]

So perhaps you should take your hands off me.

[enigmaestro]

No offense, Norman, but your advice is so rarely angled to benefit me, isn't it? [He squeezed to accentuate the words with his tone.

He leaned forward, his smirk a salacious cut under his mask.]

Unless you want something other than hands on you.

[osreborn]

You might think so, but I have always had your interests in mind.

[ Not his best interests, perhaps, but Norman would sooner see Eddie back as a villain than as a Deputy mayor. ]

I don't go for public displays of affection.