Oh god, S)(E got into the liquor cabinet.

[The Signless]

He'd used every possible connection, every side door, and every clause of trickery he knew to gain entry. It was one of the most dangerous situations that he'd forced himself into, and not just because of the RESTRICTIVE DISGUISE, that he absolutely loathed with a passion. Except not really because that would be weird. He'd managed a set of very hard to come by, and very expensive contacts to hide his eye colour, and a set of darkened cerulean threads hand sewn by his lusus, of course.

It was the first public party that the empress would have been present at in... must of been sweeps, and Paralith wasn't going to miss his chance. That being said, the looming glares of respective seas dwellers, the rarer sane indigo bloods and their blue blooded consorts. He was stuck between a knife and a sharp place, the irony of his nubby horns aside, Paralith spent a large portion of the already drawing-on night close to the exit and peering over shoulders as the up-on-themselves 'high'bloods idly chattered in waiting for the empress. Assuming she'd actually decided to show up.

[Her Imperious Condescension]

(( YOU SPELLED CABINET WRONG ))

The Empress knew she was expected to be at a party, but she hardly knew the details. Whether it was one of those systematic get-togethers among highbloods or a celebration of any supposedly special event, she hadn't made a point of noting the circumstance. It had little to do with her own spectrum of important tasks and actions underway, and she would have preferred to distance herself from Alternia instead of visiting it for that one occasion. She had worlds to claim, havoc to wreak, lowbloods to cull.

So it was that the Empress gracefully entered the ballroom-esque hive by way of one entrance restricted to allow only her passage, nervous blue-blooded attendants in her wake. She had changed out of her usual uniform in favor of fancier garb to suit the occasion, the long skirt swirling around her legs in imitation of billowing, tyrian waves, golden jewelry and tiara encrusted with gaudy gems that mirrored her royal blood of the same. Of course, this manner of gathering was bound to have a fine selection of beverages, but she already held a goblet of her own, filled to the brim with one of her favorite wines. She wanted to get tipsy as quickly as possible; the party would end sooner, and she could return to her preferred activities in what would seem no time flat.

The Empress surveyed the finest of society, many of whom turned to look toward her, heads bowing respectively, but paid no individual any special attention. She took a long gulp of the beverage in hand, then made her way through the crowd, taking it for granted as trolls tripped over themselves to part a way for her. The first order of business would be to locate the refreshments table.

[The Signless]

The room quieted from its low hum of idle chatter as the empress waded through the crowd, after a few moments the higherblooded sea dwellers returned to their socializing while the lower castes followed suit in a cautious tone. It was highly unlikely that she'd bother killing anyone tonight, as long as the room stayed in line; it was only after this sank in that the room returned to the hustle of social banter. Only the highest would dare approach the empress though, with the lowest that would be publicly allowed in being the high-keeper of the brooding caverns, however, even she had to watch her tongue around the empress.

This was it, it had been long nights of planning just to get past the door-way, and Paralith had the empress in front of him, though he had several sharp eyed highbloods between her and himself. He hid in the crowd, a drink tightly in his clutch that he sipped at idly and a high quality eye-veil that was common-wear among sea dwellers and indigo bloods; it prevented lowerbloods from looking the higher directly in the eye. As he masqueraded as a navy-blood, the signless made sure to keep out of others way and being careful that his fake horns (which extended his nubs only enough to not arouse suspicion) did not get knocked from his think-pan by a simple bump with some highblood. Were he a more petty troll he'd work his way to the empress and wait for her to away from the party and assassinate her, but no. That wasn't what he was here for.

Finally, as the first moments of anxiety faded into the night, the mutant worked his way through the crowds which was a task much more easier managed among the highbloods... They actually moved out of the way and didn't need to be shoved for Paralith to reach the edge of the crowd. He became a wall flower, sipping at his drink and sticking close to the walls that made up the royal ball-room. Keeping his eye on the empress at the refreshments table as to not lose her. Then again, with horns like hers it wouldn't be hard to find her again. Though he hoped she wouldn't noticed him watching-but what reason would she have to? As fine as his clothes were, he was just another blue-blood for all anyone within the confides of the palace knew.

[Her Imperious Condescension]

On reaching the long table the Empress smiled for the first time since she entered the vicinity, lightly sloshing her wine in her goblet. The table was covered in all sorts of hors d'oeuvres and drink selections, meticulously prepared. Even to her high-end tastes, she considered it well stocked. So nice that they accounted for her attendance, but of course they would have been fools to skimp.

With overall disinterest the Condesce glanced to a dark violet-blooded troll who had approached to speak to her reverently, replying with an occasional "ah" and "mmhm" as she picked her way over what was available. She barely touched the food, favoring the alcohol, and on determining what she would choose tilted her wine to down what was left, then dropped the emptied goblet into his hands.

As she lay the small, ceremonial trident she carried against the table he almost dropped the goblet out of fear, and she gave him a flat look until he nervously returned to the throngs, after which she immediately busied herself with filling a new cup.

She took up her trident and turned to pace from the table again, sipping her new drink, and straight ahead of her she realized another troll seemed to be staring at her. It wasn't unusual, as she was accustomed to stares, and didn't especially mind them; she knew she was dazzling. The Empress twirled to observe the scene behind her, taking a few additional gulps of her beverage, then when she looked back around she glanced to the party-goers behind her as well, checking the ratio of statuses - and saw that the troll was still staring. Indigoblood, by the looks of him.

She sniffed, writing him off as unworthy of her further attention, and made her way back around the crowds to find a less populated area, somewhere she could relax between necessary disturbances. There were so many nobles who would want to speak with her, and she thought she wouldn't have to deal with as many of them over the course of the event while in the outlying rooms. Hopefully only the most important Alternians would locate her, not like that sniveling one from the refreshments table.

[The Signless]

Of course, out of nearly every other group of trolls in the room, her glance just had to drift over to him. He let out a small groan that drowned out into his drink as her eyes drifted away and he was dismissed from her attention. Paralith relaxed more before realizing that she seemed to be heading out of the main ball-room. He nipped at his own upper lip in frustration as her horns waded through the crowd, signaling her location.

The Signless couldn't simply stalk her through her own castle. Stalking the empress- that would surely get him noticed- most likely get him found out. He needed to already be out there when she left the room and he could not just rush his way out with the prying highbloods watching the empress from the corner of their eyes. No, that would surely get him caught. He had to think quickly, create a distraction that would last long enough for him to squeeze out the way the empress was going before she reached it. It needed to be loud, abrupt and the mutant needed it quick. In his flurry, Paralith stood with his back against the wall and well hidden from the majority of the crowd behind a large blue blood and tossed his goblet; still half filled with wine.

As soon as the cup left his hand, the Signless moved quickly and quietly along the walls, feigning interest at the cup flying through the air as if surprised by the goblet. He kept moving as nonchalantly as possible when the first cry out sounded, the wine had pattered onto a small group of sea-dwelling women that dotted their dress with the purplish substance and the smell of alcohol. Then the second impact happened, the weighty goblet had been launched to near the other side of the room where it hit some unknown highblood in the back of his head- the cup landed on the ground with a clank and rolled to an unknown location. The mutant let out a sigh of relief as he slipped out through the entrance to await the empress but stopped when he realized... that goblet was custom. It was one of a kind that the Signless had borrowed from his lusus for the night- and he just threw it clear into a highbloods think pan and even worse left evidence of his disturbance. Surely no one had payed enough attention to him that they'd know the cup was his- there was no way. More so, the Signless was certain that no one saw him slip out. Mostly.

[Her Imperious Condescension]

The Condesce had reached the adjoining area as soon as a commotion broke out behind her, and she turned to stare impassively at the source, not far from where she had been standing about a minute ago. It didn't appear as though a fight had broken out, but she could make out loud accusations and the trolls already in that vicinity clustering around the ones voicing their complaints.

"Hm... really," the Empress scoffed at the display, turning her back on the crowd with a disparaging snort, deep fuchsia skirts swishing around her legs. Again, she tilted back her cup, grimacing as she took yet another long draw from its contents. There were so many things she could be doing that were actually enjoyable...

It was that moment that she blinked, realizing that the same troll she had caught sight of at the other side of that spacious area she had just exited was now ahead of her. While appreciative of attention and admiration, this was going too far if he was purposefully trying to place himself where she was.

"You! What are you doing here???" she demanded, voice edged with distrust, striding toward him purposefully despite the room's slight spinning doing its best to guide her otherwise. Anticipating impending violence by the Empress' calling out the 'indigoblood,' the number of other trolls nearby made a point to look away.

[The Signless]

He heard the loud rumbling of the crowd in discord from the exit and Paralith took a moment to try and calm himself, it seemed that no one saw him throw the goblet. He was safe for now, and so he check his disguise that it would still be passable and -"You! What are you doing here???" haha fuck.The mutant took small calming breath as to not seem nervous as he turned to face the empress, her eyes alight with skepticism and mistrust. The troll paused as the empress approached, his posture sturdy and his expression remained steadfast- he broke into a soft, greeting smile that would match that of anyone speaking to another party goer for the first time. Though he wouldn't seem nearly as nervous as anyone she would have talked to so far, the elegantly suited Signless nodded slightly as the empress had addressed him.

"I was enjoying the party, but I stepped out when the commotion broke out." Paralith said, keeping his inviting tone to fight back the highbloods sneer, he had to play it cool... he couldn't fuck this up, he couldn't break into his normal tantrums. Not like she'd do anything that would get him too mad, right? She may be the empress but she must have some civility. The mutant was sure that the stories he'd heard were just those to instill fear into those lower on the caste than her, yes she held her power for a reason. The light of the ball-room glowed softly through the several entrances to the exit chamber that Paralith found himself in with the empress, no guards would dare disturb the empress after such show of ill-refinement from lower castes. Signless was sure he could hear the faint growls of several trolls being removed for causing the noise, even if it was justified. The cup that could place him as the instigator was still rolling about in the ball-room, assuming no one had picked it up by now Paralith assumed that his identity would be safer... ironically, with the troll who no one would dare disturb. Though, Paralith has gone and disturbed her, as apparent by her frustrated demanding questions. Not quite sure if the smell of alcohol was from her, or the soon to be vacated party goers.

"Is something wrong?" Paralith asked, sounding unconcerned with his unconventional confidence that he held while speaking to the empress.

[Her Imperious Condescension]

The Empress wasn't sure what to make of this individual's manner. She almost felt she should be offended that he didn't cringe away from her approach, considering that reaction was so common among everyone else she spoke to first, that being especially true with her more belligerent confrontations. Dubiously, she raised her glass again, sipping steadily as she stared at him.

"Do you know how many trolls I've culled in the last several hours?" she asked, now almost conversationally, lowering her beverage just in front of her face. Her eyes narrowed in dark amusement, and at her side she angled her trident, raising the prongs an inch higher. "Perhaps this culling fork is just for display. It is pretty, don't you think? Not as effective as my usual, but... if for any reason I think you want to make this function any more unpleasant for me than it already is, I would love to see how it compares... I'm skilled enough I could make it work. Repeated stabbing is a bit barbaric, of course, but maybe I could make it cleaner, swifter. Yes, that would be preferable.."

She downed the rest of her alcohol, then laughed, just a bit too loud, shoving the emptied glass in his face, and giving it a small shake to emphasize its need to be refilled. "I might be able to forgive your missteps thus far, if you hurry to bring me more. But if you make a bad choice, I won't be very pleased at all. Heheh.."

[The Signless]

The smell of the alcohol was clear and thick on the glass held in front of his face, the Signless kept his composure at the infuriating behavior of someone who was supposed to be high classed. The mutant took a sharp breath in, and the fumes started to burn the inside of his nose- he paused to see if the empress had much more to say, and at the cue of the silence Paralith lifted his hand calmly and removed the cup from her grip. He took the moment to examine the cup. It was a jewel encrusted goblet, rather weighty for a simple cup, though none of this was out of the ordinary for a high quality goblet- the Signless turned the cup flip-ways to check the bottom, making his ears twitch at the sound of the final droplets of the alcohol pattered against the floor; he noted the lack of name or any real identifying symbols.

"Is this your goblet?" Paralith asked in casual curiosity, following quickly with "It doesn't seem to have anything identifying it as yours, that is-" the mutant paused turning the cup back over and placing it back into the sea dwellers palms with a coy smirk of friendly banter, saying "Don't tell me you're murdering for cups and cutlery, now.''

With his hands free, Paralith adjusted his eye-veil fairly sure that the empress would take it as a sign of respect, seeing as it should be seen as him trying to hide his lower blood from her view; which was exactly what he was doing technically.

The room that they both had exited moments ago seemed to calm down now, no one missed the hidden mutant and surely no one would dare ask for the empress' audience or risk being culled, a risk Paralith was taking right now. He however had his plans set, if she attacked he was fairly certain he could out maneuver her at least, if she called for the guards Signless previously had a secret entrance prepared for a quick and silent exit. If worse came to worse he could always battle his way out, but he would use that as a last only resort. Along with this, the empress seemed a little 'off' - probably already tipsy, but Paralith wasn't sure if that would work for him or against him.

[Her Imperious Condescension]

The Empress blinked as her cup was returned to her after his perplexing examination of the object, and still empty. She narrowed her eyes on him for what could easily be taken as disrespect to her authority, but fortunately for him did not move her trident any nearer toward him despite her blatant culling threats. He didn't seem to mean any disrespect, judging by his tone and body language, but it was insult enough that his response amounted to a refusal to do as she ordered. "The Empress of Alternia doesn't need a reason to murder," she declared in a low voice, pointedly enunciating each word. "If the mood strikes her to cull, she will cull."

She glared down at her emptied drink once again, and inwardly questioned why she was still giving this dirt her attention. Bluebloods, as he seemed to be, were not worth more than a few seconds of the privilege of speaking to her -- if that. She had given this troll much more of her precious time than he deserved. "If you were indeed enjoying the party, before happening to put yourself in my way, maybe you should get back to doing just that," she suggested, feigning interest in the goblet in hand if only to avoid looking at him, one hand placed on her hip. "You have companions here, do you not? Go mingle. I have better things to do than listen to you talk about what is and isn't mine. As far as I'm concerned, it's mine if I want it to be mine, and that is that."

She didn't look back to him after speaking, fully anticipating him to hurry off to do as she told him. Her 'better things to do' apparently consisted of standing in that spot she had assumed, gazing blankly at the goblet's design, waiting for him to leave her presence. At another party she might have culled him by now if only to amuse herself, but now, did not appear to be in the mood.

[The Signless]

Unable to help but quirk his eyebrow as the empress turned away, the Signless stood in his spot for several seconds with silence falling over the small chamber they found themselves in, only the bustling of a party crowd in the ball room next-door could be heard. He stood for several seconds waiting to see if the seadwellers curiosity would make her turn around, or at least acknowledge the hidden mutant once again. Paralith took a long, quiet breathe as he ran his hand up over his face, lifting the eye veil up momentarily and running his hand through his hair; more or less to keep himself composed before he tried speaking to the empress again. He was kind of hoping she'd thought he had somehow silently left.

The mutant finally took a step forward, breaking the silence as his show tapped against the floor, he spoke with a sharp witted, confident tone " I'm really not sure what to address there first, honestly, Empress. That you thought I implied you needed a reason to murder- or that the important things you have to do involve staring in drunkenness at a goblet that is apparently of no real value to you...".

Paralith paused his train of thoughts, taking another steady step forward, before realizing that he'd coincidentally loosened his horn extensions when he'd brushed his hair back- the Signless caught a quick glimpse of orange before he realized that the extension was near to hitting the ground. He took a quick step to the side and fumbled his hands to manage at catching the fake horn before it hit the ground, though the quick rustle would be audible. The now poorly disguised mutant now rustled to get the horn attachment back on in time before the Empress payed enough attention to him. He managed the extension back on and stood straight as before, clearing his throat and taking another casual step forward. Unsure if the sea-dweller witnessed the muck-up, he looked up now to check....

[Her Imperious Condescension]

The Empress was finally feeling calm and relaxed again, allowing the alcohol in her system to take deeper effect, not even bothering to look after the direction that other troll would have taken to leave her... and then he spoke again, still very much beside her, if not closer. Too close. No one was supposed to stand so near to her unless she moved into their space first. The corner of her mouth twitched, and the Signless might have noticed her hand tighten around her goblet, each miniscule gesture serving as a red alert that she was not going to tolerate much more from him. She had culled on less serious affronts, and his failure to leave the room was not something she took lightly.

"I didn't ask... for your opinion..." the Empress practically growled. She whirled on him then, wielding both ceremonial trident and goblet as though they were each her preferred weapons, but then just as soon halted as the troll before her appeared to be re-affixing his horn to his head. Uncertain whether she was seeing things or she had drank more alcohol than she thought, the Empress frowned, leaning in toward him to give him much more attention and scrutiny than she had bothered initially. It was possible an accessory had come loose, but the longer that she thought about it, he was acting more strangely than anyone else at this entire affair. "Why are you still here?? I believe I ordered you to leave me," she reminded him heatedly, tensing arm suggesting she was a few seconds away from smashing her cup over his head.

[The Signless]

Paralith cleared his throat, his stare remaining on the empress, and his stoic intensity holding strong as his glance went over the woman's brandished weapons. The mutant readjusted his collar and eye-veil, trying to stay composed as he was threatened. Finally, the Signless took another step forward and let out a long breath before finally responding to the tipsy-fish-troll, speaking over the uproarious gala taking place just in the room next to them.

"It's fairly simple really, I'm still here because when am I ever going to get another chance to speak with the Empress of Alternia?" He said with a vacant smirk, trying to use subtle compliments to calm her down as he took another step towards her. "Despite the threats, and all the things that have been said about you- I don't feel afraid and really i'm not going to pass up this opportunity." he said with a final step, now too close for the woman to have good use to draw back and stab him with the culling fork. Paralith looked towards the doorway he entered before looking back to the Empress... "Would you?"

[Her Imperious Condescension]

That rising suspicion abated by degrees with the flattery, although she must have been aware it was just that. "Quite a few things are said about me. It's idiotic to believe it all," she validated, tersely. With the other troll's emboldened approach she rolled back her shoulders, straightening taller, resenting when lower trolls stood over her.

Someone laughed loudly, too close for her liking, and she took that as an excuse to look away from him and steadily pace across the room, forgetting the order she had given him as she located the next nearest refreshments table. She didn't check the drink selection this time, instead grabbing the bottle that was closest and refilling her emptied goblet. Should he have been watching Paralith may have noticed her hand was unsteady.

"So what have you thought of this opportunity? Meeting me... Up close and personal." It was meant to be a jeer, but that tone was lost as she took another long draw from her newly filled cup, and passed him at a slowly idle stroll, thoughtlessly giving him permission to accompany her to the next room as her gaze slid back to him.

[The Signless]

With shoulders lowered, and muscled relaxed the sober Signless followed cautiously, trying to be aware of any dangers present- aside from the ones he'd put himself in front of anyway; not like deciding to stay around a murderous empress wasn't deadly enough. The mutant eyed the alcohol in her hand, slightly worried about her intoxication and mostly for the lives of whomever could and would interrupt their conversation, Paralith was confident of his own ability to escape death if the empress' impaired judgement turned violent. However if the situation became dire he wasn't sure if he'd be able to stay to aid whatever or whoever the empress would unleash her wrath on.

"I'll say as much that we've been close enough for you to impale me and smack me hard enough to knock my think-pan across the room..." the Signless paused as he continued to follow, keeping his wits about him as he answered the rest of the question idly "I wouldn't go as far as to call the meeting... personal, though." The word 'personal' came out slightly hinged in the sentence, hesitated momentarily as Paralith took a moment to examine the room he was lead into before looking back at the entrance, and finally back to the empress to gauge her response; still a little nervous from the horn fumble a few moments ago.