| A party is a place to meet different people and catch up with old friends. -On Ballroom wall in Alexandria Castle Chapter 73 � How do we get in? Everyone has an invitation.� [We have an invitation too,] Tiovex reminded him. [Just not on paper.] I nodded. [We can do three things: fly in, scale the walls, or swim in.] � Swimming is definitely out. Scaling would be too dirty. So I guess the only logical choice is to fly in.� Which is exactly what we did. Landing on the overlook, we paused to get straightened out before continuing. [Do I have to wear this stupid stuff? It must weigh two-twenty-five d-weight!] [Stop complaining. It�s what you get for being king.] We entered the ballroom, which was noisy with music, talk, and clinking dishes. Kuja stopped at the refreshment table while Tiovex and I just kind of slunk around, looking embarrassed and pissed at the same time. � Kiti?� I glared up at Steiner through my body-covering gold and silver scale chain mail. It fit over me like a rug, draping off me and jingling when I moved. The only thing that held it on was the straps under my head and tail and the attachments on the hidden side of the mail under my wings. � Yes?� I grated. � Why are you dressed like that?� � They drug Tiovex off to get him ready for the party and then they kidnapped me.� � Did you tell anyone you were going to be here?� � No.� I humphed. � Damn castle gossips.� � Why don�t you take it off?� � There�s a spell on it. It has to be properly broken before it can be removed and neither of us knows how.� I nodded at his attire, a suit fit for a lord (which was what he is). � What happened to you?� � Beatrix said I couldn�t wear my armor.� Amarant appeared, looking just as uncomfortable. � This stinks.� � You�re telling me,� I grumbled. Vanel stalked over, wearing regular chain mail. � I�m so sick of this I could puke!� � The party or the clothes?� Steiner asked. I shook my head. � I don�t think any of us have a problem with the party. I think it�s the clothing.� There were nods of agreement all around. Beatrix came over from somewhere, waving her hands back and forth in a dismissive manner. � All right, everyone. Break it up. Stop your muttering.� Tiovex and I continued on. We passed a fuzzy golden tail swinging slowly back and forth and I tried to nudge Tiovex to make him go faster, but it was too late. � . . . Kiti?� I glared at him. [Don�t you dare---] He sputtered, then burst out laughing. � Ha ha! Now who�s the embarrassed one?!� Garnet walked by to talk to someone, smacking the back of his head hard and cutting his laughter short. He rubbed his head gently. � Ow . . .� She returned a moment later. � Don�t be so rude.� � It�s only . . .� He drew back at her venomous glare. � Okay. I�m sorry.� In a more conversational tone, he asked, � Where have you been?� � Commiserating with Uncomfortable Attires Anonymous.� He rolled his eyes. � Oh, come on. It�s not that bad.� � This from the crybaby . . .� Tiovex uttered under his breath. I snorted. � You don�t have to wear fifteen pounds of metal until midnight!� � . . . Yeah, I guess that would kind of suck.� Garnet elbowed him hard in his ribs. � I mean, yes, that would probably be quite bothersome.� He frowned at the choppiness of his words. � It�s like learning another language.� � You�ll live.� Kuja appeared with a glass of punch. � This is very good,� he told me, letting me sniff the drink. � You should try some. There�s no alcohol in it, so you won�t have to worry about your brains being fried.� Garnet frowned thoughtfully. She was about to say something when Zidane brightened and said, � Hey, Kuja! Wow, what�d they do to you?� � Made me run off about five pounds dashing from seamstress to seamstress to check on their work.� Zidane plucked at the black sleeve. � Oh~h, custom-made. Very nice. Is that why you all went to Swiftwing?� � Yes.� � Did you like it there?� � Yes.� � How about some adjectives while you�re at it?� � Oh! Well, it looked spectacular from the outside and the inside was . . . the inside was astounding. The castle was marvelous and perfectly built against any intruders.� � Why do you say that?� � I got lost seven times.� Garnet looked surprised. � Is something wrong?� Kuja asked at length. We all turned to her. She shook her head. � No, not at all. I was just . . . I mean . . . You look so different I didn�t recognize you!� she blurted finally. Words came easier after the confession. � I didn�t know who you were! I mean, I knew I�d seen you before somewhere, but I couldn�t remember where exactly!� He paused. � Hm . . .� Zidane read his mind. � Hey, if you can fool Dagger . . .� Kuja began to turn. � Please excuse me, everyone.� He headed out through the crowd, reaching back with one hand to check the tightness of the purple ribbon that had been tied in his hair at the base of his neck. The stylists had been more for scales, not hair, but they had done their best. The ribbon had been the first thing they decided to put in and then they added some scale paint to put pastel blue streaks in strategic positions all over his hair to accent the natural violet highlights. Of course, that was only after they found out what he was wearing because they wanted to make sure everything matched as closely as possible. <--Part 72 Part 74--> |