{Le Château du Seul.}

Isabelle

Isabelle stopped, staring hard at Joshua, Her lips puckered, as if she had just eaten a lemon. Isabelle glanced distractedly around the ballroom, then back to Joshua.

"I think I need some air," said Isabelle pointedly, giving Joshua a hard stare. "Care to accompany me?"

Joshua raised his eyebrows slightly, then nodded. Isabelle spared him a moment's glance before marching away across the ballroom. The crowd seemed to part instinctively, allowing Isabelle to pass through. Isabelle paid them no heed. She kept her gaze locked on the two great oak doors.

She stepped out of the Chateau, her shoes clicking softly on the stone stairs. She stepped down, onto the lawn, and set off toward the edge of the wood. Heavy footsteps behind her told Isabelle that Joshua had followed.

Suddenly, in the middle of the lawn, Isabelle spun around to face him.

"So," she said, her tone clipped.

"Isabelle - "

"After all of your protests about the 'inappropriateness' of a lady not having a male escort, you see fit to abandon me?"

"That's not - "

"Furthermore, you leave me to greet the guests alone, a duty Hester assigned both of us to?"

Joshua remained silent this time, waiting for Isabelle to interrupt him again. Isabelle glared at him. Her gaze raked his face, looking for any hint of an expression behind the mask. Isabelle turned away irritably, then spun back around.

Isabelle could take it no longer. She couldn't figure Joshua without seeing his face. It was driving Isabelle mad.

"Take off that mask," she ordered suddenly, an almost wild look in her face.

[Tash M. Grevette]

"That's hilarious!" I passed around a bottle of champagne, filling mine back up to the top.

I looked back, then around the ballroom, a little frown of worry. Where's Isabelle? The question raced around as I made my way out of the little crowd I had formed. The glass slipped from my hand to an unexpected guest's, freeing me from carrying the sticky liquid.

"Isabelle?" I whispered, glancing around. "Hey, have you seen--"

The question dripped down unfinished as I reached a window. I cupped my hands around my eyes and looked out: two people. One had to be Isabelle... and obviously Joshua, the other.

"Tash! Come back!" someone called from behind.

I waved them off, stepping out onto the outdoor stairs. Mouths were moving between the two, but I couldn't tell what was going on---till Joshua's hand flew up to his mask. I sat down on the steps and leaned against the wall. I caught Isabelle's eyes come to me, and I waved.

Joshua

"Take of that mask," She had said. And so he did.

His hand reached up silently, and pulled the mask off gently, for once he did, he understood that he was bearing every emotion, every inside thought to her. And as soon as he took it off, he felt the sullen feeling of being alone in the world once more, of being different that everyone else, of truly being a monster.

He wasn't even like the others, with their dark black eyes with no emotion, the rest of their faces barely out of the ordinary except for minor details. He was different, put aside. His eyes shown brightly in the faint lights from the window, bright purple, taking in every aspect around him, sharply and in perfect detail. A scar ran across his face from ear to above the nose, the connecting just a little bit below the other ones. The bottom part of his face was peach skin, and beautiful lips. The upper part of his face was divided in two again, this time vertically, outline each with a different skin tone, grey white skin, and the other an olive tone. Each scar, outlined with stitches that were never removed.

The pain it caused him to be bare towards the world. Knowing his was different and alone. A gentle breeze blew back his red hair slightly. He was cut into pieces and thrown into the gutter, just to picked back up again and sown together, chemicals burning his eyes. This was the true carnage of his 'Forgotten Revolution'.

"Are you happy now?" He asked simply, resisting the urge to hide his face with his hands.

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Did you guys set that up against me or something! That seemed to work perfectly against my character! I shake my head at you!

Also, just to let you know, I know Joshua's mutation is different, but I had it that from the beginning and LaReina claims she doesn't care!

~Incognito

William

Get your act together, Will, he thought to himself, almost bitterly. He had to find Joshua, and crumpling up in the middle of the ballroom was not fixing anything.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" Said a woman from above his shoulder, eyes staring down at him through a ivory mask.

Will nodded, wiping some of the tears away from his face before standing up. He thanked her quickly and then bolted again, knowing that he had to find Joshua even just for a second. Joshua was everything. That was the only truth.

Finally, making it towards the other side of the ballroom, he found himself staring at a flight of stairs leading to the outdoors. To his dismay though, he could barely see anything from behind his little black mask, so quickly bolted down at the stairs.

"J-Joshua? Josh-ua?" His voice suddenly stopped, eyes widening in shock and surprise. There stood Joshua, his mask pulled away from his face revealing a truth that made William feel both sorrow and happiness. "Joshua... you're a mu-mutant?"

sorry I'm dropping out

Isabelle

Isabelle jaw slackened. She blinked, then swallowed. Joshua made to replace his mask, but Isabelle grabbed his wrist.

"No. Don't."

Joshua raised his eyebrows, the scars contorting from the motion. "Does this not disgust you?"

"It's," said Isabelle slowly. "different. But that's not the point. You hide behind that mask, Joshua! I swear, you use that mask to disassociate yourself with the rest of us! And it's not fair."

Joshua opened his mouth to reply, but a strangled cry came from behind Isabelle. Isabelle turned.

"Joshua... you're a mu-mutant?"

"William," murmured Joshua. Isabelle's face hardened.

Mikael

"Are you a mu mutant?" I turned around looking for the source of the cry. A boy was standing looking out into the gardens. I turned away and headed straight for Hester.
"Good, sir it is to you i believe i owe gratitude for this most wondeful ball." Hester turned and faced me. I could almost feel him judging me with those timeless ageless eyes.

William

"Joshua... I..." William stared down at his boots, fingers pulling at his sleeves embarrassed. "Would it be wrong of me to say that I am glad?"

"No, I wouldnt say that," Joshua turned his head gently. "I told you to stay in the foyer."

"But I had to follow!" William's voice rose slightly, eyes wide. "I was afraid that I had done something wrong..."

"Sorry if I'm interrupting anything," Isabelle scowled, before turning to leave.

"Isabelle, dont be like this!" Joshua turned his eyes towards the girl now.

"I-Isabelle," William murmured softly to himself. "Do you not like me?"

"Will, this is not the time to be asking such things," Joshua cut him off, frustrated.

"But... but why did she run away from us? Wh-what did I do wrong?" William asked, lips quivering. "If I d-did anything t-to make anyone upset t-then I am s-sorry..."

Joshua

He looked painfully between the two. He did not think about the turn in the conversation, he was still puzzled on William saying he was glad. The thoughts came through, but the answer evaded him, but then trulyhe remembered a small fraction of the conversation he had before with William.

"My eyes have changed colour."

"William!" Joshua turned to him, a smile broad on his face. He grabbed him into his arms. "You are one of us!" But it was then, turning towards the door, that he noticed Tash, sitting there on the stone step, a small smile a light on his face.

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~Incognito

[Tash M. Grevette]

"I never would've guessed," I murmured, "I can't believe he took it off,"

"Tash, what are you doing out here?"

Isabelle's frown deepened as she stopped before the door, her hand gripping the handle. I tried to give a slight smile, but it faltered as hers had. There weren't any footsteps behind us meaning Joshua and William weren't coming yet.

"I'm sorry," I sighed.

Confusion fell onto Isabelle's face. "For what?"

"I don't know," I replied, trying to smile again, "I just thought maybe it'd take that scowl off your face-"

"Isabelle, wait!"

I turned to see the two behind us coming, and I shoved my hands into my pockets. My hand flew up to my mask as a hard wind blew in. A russle of fallen leaves and picked up and Joshua strode closer, calling out the word 'wait.'

"Hey," I turned to Isabelle, holding her arm for a moment, "How 'bout that dance?"

Isabelle

Isabelle bit her lip, throwing a glance toward Joshua. Bitterness welled up inside Isabelle. TIme and time again she had been shunted aside by that William. Perhaps it wasn't Joshua's fault, but Isabelle was still irritated at the both of them.

"I'd simply love to," growled Isabelle, snatching Tash's arm. She dragged him back into the ballroom and onto the dance floor. Only then was she able to collect herself enough to allow Tash lead her in the slow waltz that was playing. The music was most unhelpful.

"So," asked Tash quietly. "Things not going well for you and Joshua?"

Isabelle shot him a glare. "For your information, we never were more than a lady and escort. And that was only because of you, I might add."

[Tash M. Grevette]

"I didn't tell you to let him be your escort," I retorted, "I would've loved to be your escort if you simpley asked. Now, please, quit frowing at me,"

Isabelle laughed a short, one-note laugh, "Or what?"

"This,"

I let go of her side and jabbed it. A smile broke out across her face, she stumbled back laughing. I held her shoulders to help her steady and watched as her face grew a bright shade of red. People around us stopped to see what was happening, and I began to spin again.

"Don't be mad," I whispered, laughing, "You smiled, so I'm off the hook, right? No more little frowny faces?"

Isabelle

"That was very improper, sir," chided Isabelle, a reluctant smile spreading on her face. "You dance well, by the way."

Tash grinned. Isabelle met his eyes briefly.

"As do you,"

Isabelle gave an absent smile. Isabelle didn't understand it. A minute ago, she had been only too eager to get away from Joshua. Now, though, after she had calmed down a bit, she found herself anxiously scanning the ballroom for any sign of his shining, auburn hair.

"Is something wrong, Isabelle?" asked Tash, concerned.

"No..." murmured Isabelle, turning to Tash finally. "Nothing is wrong. Absolutely nothing."

Bit it seemed like she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince Tash.

Joshua

He watched as she was whisked away, and he made no move to stop her. William was at his side, gripping his arm. Joshua looked at her longingly one more time but then turned back ouside and placed his mask back on elegantly, to hide the hurt and pain evident on his face. To hide the scars and the feeling of abandonment.

"I am sorry Joshua." William said looking up at him, his face hidden by his black mask.

"There is no need to apologize. You did nothing wrong." Joshua said, still gazing off into the darkened night, watching the trees gently sway in the breeze, the small lake out lined beautifully by the moonlight.

"I don't think she likes me very much." William sounded crest-fallen. "I think that was why she was getting angry."

"It wasn't you." He said nearly automatically. But then it came to him. William was one of them. William could stay here, with him, for as long as time allowed. "William!" Joshua said turning to him eagerly.

"Uh... Yes?"

"I want you to meet some people." And with that Joshua tried to drag William back into the ballroom.

"But I want to return to the piano." The blonde haired boy stated blandly.

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~Incognito

[Tash M. Grevette]

"Don't lie," I looked around the ballroom, too, for that man, and the little blonde boy who stood with him. My eyes fell down to Isabelle, then the words stumbled out, "Are you sure Joshua wasn't more than an escort? I wouldn't want to be out of place,"

"No, no! He wasn't,"

The music picked up a little bit and I quickened my footsteps; the world around us a came into a jumble of colors. I tried to smile while we danced, but the questions kept nagging at my mind: Is she lying? Am I supposed to be here?

"Tash, you're quiet,"

My eyes, once again, came to Isabelle's. A slightly sad smile broke out across my face as my unsure feeling welled farther up, a lump in my throat. "Nothing's wrong. Absolutely no--" I caught myself before I finished. It was just what Isabelle had said.

She smiled slightly and I couldn't help but chuckle back. I pushed out of the other dancers, still spinning, and stepped up the stairs. Isabelle's eyes widened as she struggled to keep from tripping on a step. I started back down and leaned, then let go of Isabelle.

The dark-haired girl fell backwards and let out a small yelp. I caught her and spun around again, laughing. Isabelle held my arms so tightly I could feel the nails. Slowly the music came to a stop along with the other guests, and only the two of us were still spinning.

We finally stopped and I looked to Isabelle, "I wasn't going to drop you," I said confidently, tapping her hands to remind her of the nails. "Should we do something else now?"