#katpost

Kat felt seriously out of place in this magical realm of bubbles and...magic. All throughout the dance hall, ball goers were casually mingling in their fancy attire, either on the dance floor or scattered around the vicinity. 

Compared to her, everyone looked so refined, bright, and many other captivating adjectives she couldn't form off the top of her head. She wasn't exactly sure how she got here in the first place. One minute she finds an invitation to a party and the next she suddenly finds herself in this world.

Kat stands off to the side as she watches everyone dance. She grips the skirt of her dress, not sure what to do. Should she dance? Should she go outside? CAN she go outside? Needless to say, Kat wasn't very good at partying. Especially at fancy galas such as this one.

Overtime, she catches glimpses of the 11 hosts who graciously held the party for the guests. There were some floating on bubbles, standing on chandeliers, and others simply overseeing the party from the balconies.

Occasionally they would start dancing with some of the ladies on the floor when a certain song from the orchestra began to play.

They all look so graceful, Kat thinks, trying her best to balance in her own shoes, makes me wish I took dancing lessons beforehand.

She looks up at the grand staircase to see if she can make her way to another level. However, her attention is drawn to the man leaning against the railing.

He is one of the hosts, Ren, as Kat recalls. Definitely one of the pretty boys of the bunch, alright.

His blue eyes scan the ballroom a couple of times before his gaze settles on Kat. He obviously catches her staring and throws a playful wink her way.

She bashfully looks away as to not be rude and leans against a pillar. Great, it totally looked like I was gawking just now, she thinks and pinches the bridge of her nose.

Kat looks up again at the staircase and sees that the host was no longer there. "I scared him off. Way to go..." she grimaces quietly to herself.

"Quite the opposite, my lady." A voice hums right beside her ear.

Kat nearly jumps out of her skin and whirls around to find Ren peering out from the other side of the pillar. She places a hand over her chest and exhales, "Ahaha...you scared me."

The princely host frowns, "My apologies, I didn't mean to scare you." He takes her hand, "I just had to come and rescue this lovely lady standing all by herself." Ren raises her hand to his lips and places a tender kiss on her fingers.

Kat gulps nervously and tucks some hair behind her ear, "It's fine, really. Erm, not being lonely I mean--about the scaring thing. Um...I was-I was daydreaming."

Ren releases her hand and smiles, "About what?"

She blinks, trying to think of an answer that would make sense, "The party...I think. How great would it be to dance so beautifully. The irony of handsome men being your dance partner." She laughs nervously at her last sentence, "Oh, I should not have said that..."

Ren's smile turns into laughter, "You're hilarious. But it sounds to me like you need to get out more."

Kat fidgets in place, "Well I--Yeah pretty much. I just...I don't know how to party...ballroom style."

She nervously looks back out at the dancefloor to avoid any awkward eye contact.

Ren hums in amusement before extending his arm, "Would YOU care to be my dance partner, lady?"

Kat's pulse quickens at the offer, "Oh I uh... I can't- I mean I can!" She reaches out and hooks her arm under his. He pulls her toward the dance floor for a moment until she recoils and jerks back. 

"But I suck!" Kat fumbles with her words, "I mean I-I can't move in heels that well and..."

Ren looks back at her in surprise before giving her a strangely devious smile, "I... never did ask for your name, lady~"

She blinks at the sudden change in topic, "Well, my name is Kat. I mean--unless you want my real name. Ah! But we just met. So uh...just Kat for now." Ahah kill me! Kat cries in her head, why am I so awkward!?

Ren's smile grows, "You're adorable. But I'll take that invite as a challenge."

Kat's eyes flash over to her strangely attractive host, "...You what?"

"I'll guess your real name. I'm confident I can."

"Tch, bet." She scoffs under her breath, barely hiding an amused expression.

"Alright." Ren chuckles.

Kat freezes, "Oh wait, I didn't mean-"

"If I guess your name before the end of this party, then you have to dance with me, in front of everyone." The idol says with a devious grin.

Kat feels her cheeks flare at the thought, "Oh no. I don't-"

"I won't force you." Ren's gaze softens slightly, "Not very gentlemanly of me to treat a lady as such. And everyone else will be minding their own business. But I do encourage it."

Kat feels her heart thud in her chest, "Why do you want me to dance so badly?"

The host glances at the dancefloor for what seems like the umpteenth time since the two began conversing, "Hm, I DO wonder why." He muses, "Maybe I see something hiding behind those pretty eyes." Ren leans in and gives her a pressing smirk. "Such as a secret desire to dance with the way your foot is tapping the floor." 

Kat purses her lips together in embarrassment before sighing, "You're right, I do." 

Ren holds out his hand, "Then we understand our little game. Besides," his eyes shadow over slightly, "You won't be seeing any of these people anytime soon after the party, so go with no regrets."

Kat oversees this expression and gives him a firm handshake, "You are a very persuasive man, you know that?"

Ren lingers his gaze on her with an unreadable expression before smiling, "I get that a lot. But for you," his voice lowers an octave with a strange yet exciting look in his eye, "it's a challenge. And I DO love a challenge."

His words send goosebumps up her arms. Dammit! He got me again! She screams at herself. Why is he so good at this?!

"To start," Ren chirps to change the mood, "why don't we take this somewhere a little quieter, eh?" Ren turns on his heel and leads his guest by the arm to the grand staircase.

Kat stumbles a couple of times as they go up each step, "Uh, where are we going? Hold up I can't keep...up..." Her voice fades when Ren releases her arm once they reach the top.

He walks towards a pair of double doors and opens them to reveal the night sky. Then he turns to Kat and beckons her to join him outside.

As if charmed by a spell, or by the gorgeous blue color in his eyes, she walks to him without a second thought.

She obviously wasn't doing a very good job hiding her flushed facial expression when Ren cups her cheek with one hand to prompt a reaction out of her.

"Well aren't you as red as a strawberry. It's a cute look for you, lady~." He says as she shyly averts her gaze. Ren chuckles amusingly and gives her head a small pat.

Why am I allowing this to happen? Kat questions, He's a total stranger but...I feel like I can trust him. I feel like logic has taken a backseat because of it.

The two walk out onto a spacious balcony, away from the bustling party and under an endless starlit sky. Ren turns to Kat expectantly, as if waiting for some kind of answer to a question he never asked.

She crosses her arms, "If you think I'm going to tell you my name just like that, you're sorely mistaken."

Ren shrugs with a smug grin, "Worth a shot, Katlynn."

"Nope."

He snaps his fingers in frustration, "Ah I'll get it at some point." Ren glances over towards the orchestra playing inside. Almost immediately, he gets that same scheming look on his face, "And I know the perfect way to start thinking about it."

Approaching Kat, he extends his hand, "Want to practice a bit before you lose, lady~?"

She raises an eyebrow,"You are awfully cocky, you know that?" The only response she gets is a wink, "Plus what about our deal?"

"I don't intend on losing. And I said in front of everyone." Ren slips his left hand around Kat's waist and pulls her close, "Out here, it's just you..." He gently takes her other hand in his, "and me. I promise."

Kat makes eye contact upon hearing the insistent tone in her escort's voice. 

Quite clearly, for the first time, his gaze comes across as earnestly kind and soft; completely the opposite of that flirtatious front he had on earlier. She almost feels compelled to do anything he says with a look like that. 

Something about him, at this moment, allowed Kat to trust him. She didn't know what kind of voodoo charm-like hypnosis Ren was using on her, but damn it! His tactics were working too well. In response, all she can do is nod in agreement. She places her free hand over his shoulder.

"I'll take that as a yes." Ren hums as he begins to sway her back and forth, "Don't worry, we'll take this nice and slow." He nudges her foot carefully, "This is typically the simplest kind of dance. Left, right, left..."

Kat's eyes drop down to her feet as she tries to follow Ren's instructions to the best of her ability.

"Now let's try turning in a circle." Ren guides her back as they advance from just stepping left to right, "Just go back and forth, like a rocking chair."

Kat sees the pattern rather quickly, however she fumbles in her heels and nearly trips over her dance partner. 

"Ah, I'm sorry." She abruptly stops their movement, "I just can't do it right in these shoes. I'll lose my balance."

Upon saying that, Kat starts noticing the growing soreness in her soles from standing too long.

"You CAN do it." Ren calmly places his hands on her shoulders, "Just without the shoes."

Kat blinks, "You want me to dance barefoot?"

"If it helps you, then yes."

Staring down at her feet, she slowly replies with, "Well, I suppose..."

"Do you want me to take them off for you?" Ren asks teasingly. He stifles a laugh when Kat sputters out her objections.

"I can do it myself." She huffs and kicks her shoes off. Immediately, the soreness in her heels almost dissipates completely. Her feet feel much better than before. In fact, she felt better in general...also shorter.

With the shoes, the heel portion added 3 extra inches to Kat's overall height. Now, she had to slightly crane her neck up to look at Ren.

"You are...tall..." she mutters.

"You forgot exceedingly charming." He replies before resuming the dancing position they were in before.

While Ren continues to lead, Kat significantly notices her dancing becoming more fluid and confident. Much better than that stagnant stilt dance she was doing earlier. Not to mention, she was...also enjoying herself.

After a moment of silent dancing, Ren clears his throat, "My lady, I know you are trying to watch where you step, but try looking up at me."

"I don't think I'm confident enough to look away yet."

"I won't step on your feet." He pleads.

Kat keeps her eyes glued to the ground, "I know YOU won't."

Ren let's out something along the sound of a whine, "Please? I won't be mad if you do."

After a bit of prodding, Kat pries her eyes from the ground...and nearly ends up bumping foreheads with her dance partner. She yanks her head back, face completely flushed, "Ah shi- I'm sorry! I wasn't concentrating."

But all he does is smile. "Don't be," Ren spins Kat out gracefully, "I'm quite the fan of-" he pulls her hand to reel her flush against his chest, "close proximity."

"You know the flirty remarks you keep making are only throwing me off." She mutters through gritted teeth.

"Oh? Would you like me to stop, Katrina?"

"No that's not it either. I mean No...maybe? It's complicated."

Ren stops their dancing, "How so?"

I should have kept my mouth shut, Kat thinks as she clicks her tongue, "I uh, well..."

"Again, if my nosy-ness rubbed you the wrong way, I'm not forcing you to admit anything." The host responds, removing his leading hand from her back. 

The second he let go, Kat could feel a cool spot spreading in place of his warm fingers. Honestly, she wished he hadn't done that.

C'mon, be bold for once, she urges herself, adrenaline now, breakdown later. Her left hand lurches forward and catches Ren by the retreating arm.

"No, you're okay!" She blurts, allowing her brain to block off any feeling of regret she might have later. With a nervous gulp, she looks up into her captivator's eyes and tightens her grip on his arm. "I just, I tend to take flirts rather seriously and if that's not the kind of guy you are I don't want to assume-"

"But I am being serious."

"But why me?" Kat fires on instinct, "What makes me so special? You're this," she gestures to his entire body, "beautiful hunk of a man and I'm...I seem like a nobody compared to you."

"That's just it, lady." Kat feels the warmth of his hands place themselves on her shoulders. Ren squeezes them lightly for reassurance.

"That's the reason we held this event. At this party, no lady or gentleman should have to feel like a nobody." He lifts a hand and smooths down flyaways on her head, "You're always somebody to someone, regardless if it's here, or where you come from." One of his hands travels downward to cup her cheek, "And tonight, you're someone to me."

Kat feels a strong pang strike her heart, a feeling of affection. She forces it down by enveloping Ren in a hug and buries her face in his tuxedo.

"I...didn't think I'd need to hear that from someone like you." She mutters, voice slightly muffled through the fabric, "Thank you."

Ren's arms wrap themselves around her shoulders as he returns the embrace with a squeeze. "When we go back in and dance, I'm going to make it look like I'M the nobody compared to you."

"Now let's not get ahead of ourselves." Kat pulls away with a hard-to-contain smirk, "Bear in mind you are still far more attractive than I am."

"Au contraire," Ren notches a brow and bends down to meet her at eye level, "I have to argue that you are even lovelier than what you say about me..." He leans into her left ear and says a name. Her name.

Kat's mouth goes agape with confusion. But before she can question anything, Ren darts forward and plants a kiss on her cheek, "Mwah!" He vocalises so she can be extra embarrassed.

Kat's cheeks flare like fire, "Ahaha...how the-the...my name...wha...??" She chokes out, completely flustered beyond comprehension.

Ren pulls out a small placement card from his jacket pocket, "I saw the table you sat at, before I met you, I happened to take a glance."

"So you were just...PLAYING with me?" Kat's flushed face snaps to shock, no longer embarrassed. Traitor! "Well then what was the point of this game?" She exclaims.

"Nothing, I just wanted to spend more time with you. You're fun, Kat." He smiles gently, "And I want to get to know you more."

Kat shifts awkwardly, "I assume you decided this after I neglected to dance with you."

Ren shrugs, "Like I said, I do love a challenge."

"Well," Kat exhales, "You did it, that's for sure. So…"

"So…?" The host repeats with a teasing undertone. She knew what was coming next so might as well get it over with.

"So I'll hold up my end of the deal." She throws her hands up and makes her way to the door, "Whisk me to the dancefloor, good sir."

Ren moves in front of her, momentarily blocking her from going inside, "You don't sound too enthusiastic about it. What about our dance lessons together? Didn't they help?" He asks, surprisingly worried.

Kat stops abruptly from maneuvering around him but doesn't look at his face, "No they did! And I'm so grateful you helped me. I'm just...nervous. But I don't want your lessons to be for nothing. So…" Her voice catches, "I want to get out there with the confidence I have right now. Before I burn out."

Kat gulps and clutches Ren's arm, "Tonight, if I don't dance, then I have a feeling I will regret it for the rest of my li-wah!!"

Before she can get the last syllable out, Ren kicks her feet up and catches her in a bridal hold. "Then I suggest we get to the dance floor before it's too late. Are you ready, lady~?" His face holds a fiery look of determination.

"I'm going to have a nosebleed with all the stunts you are pulling, I swear." Kat wraps her arms around his neck, "But, yes. As I'll ever be."

Ren smiles and moves briskly towards the staircase. Before Kat can question why he wasn't slowing down to descend the staircase, Ren hops onto the railing and slides down with her balanced on his arm.

Kat inhales sharply and tightens her grip around Ren's neck, not noticing that she was also pressing her bosom right into the side of his face. But HE wasn't about to tell her that.

When they reach the bottom, he places her on her feet with a slight pink hue over his cheeks. "That was fun." He says while dusting his tuxedo from the back.

"I think my soul just left my body." Kat squeaks hysterically.

"Oi! Ren, don't be playing extra with the guests!" Yells another host, the one with silver hair. Kat kept forgetting names.

Off to the side, a host with blue hair, Masa...Masa-something could be seen rolling his eyes at them.

"Don't listen to them, I'll go all out to impress a pretty lady~" Ren retorts, pulling Kat to the dance floor where other people could be seen mingling and dancing to the orchestra.

They stop in the center of the dance floor and face each other. Ren bows to her with a smile and proceeds to hold his hand out expectantly. "May I have this dance?"

Kat takes his hand without hesitation and does an awkward, yet rather adorable curtsey to Ren, "Just like we practiced, right?" She asks, voice trying to hold steady.

"Just like we practiced." He repeats, taking her by the waist. This prompts her to position her hands appropriately, and then they begin to move. 

For a while, they do simple back and forth movements to get Kat comfortable with the setting. Then, she notices something horribly wrong...and lacking.

"Ren, I-I forgot my shoes!" She whispers frantically, trying to stop their movement. But Ren doesn't budge.

Instead, he pulls her hand to his lips and presses a sweet kiss to the back, arm tightening around her waist. "Kat, you don't need them." He says reassuringly, "Just look at me, and only me. Don't worry about anything or anyone else."

Kat's cheeks flush for about the billionth time, eyes helplessly locked on to his blue ones.

"This...may be selfish of me," Ren says hesitantly, "but I wanted you to show me, and only me, that special side of yourself. The side no one gets to see." They carefully switch into a swaying dance when the music changes, arms wrapped around each other's neck or waist. "I want you to be mine, just for a moment." His forehead comes into contact with hers, a warm spot that brought comfort with their slow dance.

As their faces come dangerously closer to each other, Kat mutters out, "Ren...thank you. For everything."

Ren shakes his head slightly, "No, thank you. For giving me the opportunity to dance with you…" His lips press themselves against hers. Gently, Kat can feel a soft yet passionate feeling embed itself into their kiss. She loses all awareness of her surroundings, even after they part.

Kat, utterly entranced by her prince of the evening, reaches up to stroke his cheek and searches his eyes. Then she realizes something after a moment,  "I-I'm not going to see you after tonight, am I?" She asks quietly.

Ren nuzzles into her touch with a sad look in his eyes, "I am uncertain…time works strangely in this realm. And that's what makes me long for more of it. With you..." His eyes suddenly turn fierce, "But I'm NEVER going to forget this night. The night I got to spend getting to know you."

He presses a kiss to her forehead gingerly, "It's time to go, my princess. Let's meet next time in a dream."

Kat envelops him in an embrace, "Stay like this...please. For as long as possible." She whispers with tears in her eyes.