xp_logs | The Party: Pixie Dusts

Julian discovers Pixie accidentally-on-purpose providing free "party-favors" to the guests.

The dance floor was crowded, filled with young socialites ground against each other in an alcohol fueled dance frenzy- Julian circled the outside, too busy to enjoy himself with the several young women who'd tried to drag him onto the dance floor. Dismissing a security guard with an update on several people who were not to be admitted under any circumstances, the party's host took a moment to look across the floor of the main room. The party was going well and he was pleasantly buzzed, helping himself to a cup of coffee to help keep him awake as midnight ticked by on the clock. A fluttering movement caught his eye near the far wall, the familiar form of one of his friends.

Megan had a relatively clear spot at the edge of the dance floor, dancing near the wall and couches, where people were relaxing and enjoying the euphoric effects of the slight amount of dust she was giving off. Her wings were out, which was why she had a small space around her, glittering with rainbow colors. One hand was in the air like she just don't care and she had the biggest smile on her face. She spotted the party's host and her closed-lipped smile split into a grin. She waved at her friend from across the dance floor.

Julian finished his coffee, setting the empty mug on a passing tray and making his way across the room to check in with Megan. On the way he grabbed a couple bottles of water from a couch-side cooler and popped off one of the tops to take a large gulp. Finally arriving in the Pixie Zone, he felt a slight euphoric wave pass over him and made note that several off his guests looked to be high. With a chuckle he approached Megan and held out the bottle of water.

Megan looked at the label on the water bottle for a second. A star on the label design was sending out copies of itself into the air in a slowly spiraling pattern. She took it from Julian wonderingly, then realized it was just the effects of her own dust. She hadn't been this happy in a long time - she'd forgotten how potent her dust could be when her emotions were very elevated and positive.

"Thanks!" she said. "Hey, great party!"

"Thanks," he said, noting the spiraling star too and blinking several times to try and clear his vision. "You should be careful," Julian shouted, "some of these people may ask you to their parties in order to have you use your dust on them again." A grin crept over his face, with only the slightest hint of wickedness, "If they do, make sure they pay you up front." After the words left his mouth he realized how much that made her sound like a prostitute, "Ah, sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

"This is love, and love flows freely among friends," she replied, too happy to take offense. She made a heart shape with her hands put together. Heart shapes spiraled out as she danced, slowly changing color until they faded to nothing. "I couldn't dance with strangers."

He shook his head again, "You're certainly make me feel something, Pix." Julian knew most kingpins didn't sample their own stuff- this seemed to be a prime example why. He looked around the dance floor and penthouse, "Where's Artie?"

"I just saw him in the living room, before I decided to come dance," she replied, touching her lips as if remembering a kiss. "Your living room [or whatever room] is absolutely gorgeous. But very welcoming, too."

Julian smirked and held out his hand, "Thank you- I'm going to be modeling my place after this one, less the pool of course. Come on, maybe we should go find your boyfriend." And get you home went unspoken; he took no joy in stopping someone from having fun, but he had a responsibility as host to watch out for his guests.

"Boyfriend?" She took her friend's hand but kept dancing. "You mean Artie? Are we going out?" She slowed as the DJ transitioned to a new song with a slower beat. "Oh, that's nice. That explains a lot," she decided, allowing Julian to guide her away.

Those she was entertaining didn't seem to miss Megan's absence as Julian began to guide her back toward the living room by the hand. He shouted to be heard over the din of the party, "How has your painting been going?"

"A bunch of my stuff got ruined at the art fair. It was lame," she said as loudly and clearly as she could. "But then it actually inspired me to start new projects. Still didn't quite finish the one big one. But, it spawned new ones."

He'd been filled in on the incident at the art fair, "That's unfortunate about your paintings, but I am glad it hasn't stopped your creative spirit." They made their way toward the front room, "Would you still be willing to do a piece for me?"

"Could I? I'd love to." They wove around groups of partiers. People raised glasses, or came up with hugs or greetings for the host. The journey to the front room was slow-going. "Your new place will be similar to this? I have some ideas. I'll make some sketches."

Julian fended off the well wishers with warm smiles and returned hugs- but hurried his pace, knowing that Pixie was likely dusting every one of them. "I'd love to see them, perhaps you and I can get lunch sometime this next week at Catseye's place?" He spotted Artie across the room and loosened his grasp on Megan's hand, not wanting the younger man to get the wrong idea. "You really didn't know you were going out?"

"I had an idea but wasn't really sure," Pixie explained. It wasn't quite as loud in this part of the apartment. "At first, he was just pretending to be my boyfriend so we'd seem more like annoying college kids, and less like dangerous mutants to the cops, when they questioned us at the art fair. It just sort of went from there." She smiled. Maybe Julian's world was more organized, with a sit-down meeting for this kind of arrangement. "Meetings are helpful," she continued the thought aloud. "I'll make some sketches and we'll meet. Cats' is good."

Julian let go of her hand and gave her a little push towards Artie, "I will text you to set up an appointment." He clapped the residual dust off his hands and made a note to hop in the shower...or the pool, whichever was closer. "Have fun, Pix!" he shouted after her, making another mental note to call an exterminator for the pink, shimmery unicorn infestation the rental penthouse seemed to be having- completely unacceptable.