#location: mayoral ball @ cfcc

[oliferbrooks]

It was a small victory, one that caused Olifer to smile inwardly, which subconsciously worked its way onto his lips. Esra's laugh was one of the best he'd ever heard, and although he didn't really hear it...it was there, the fact he saw it less and less these days...however, some things just weren't his place to involve himself. Not unless directly asked, and by the look of things...he didn't expect she ever would. The hand, which lay against his chest, had his eyes flicking down. It took only a moment for him to find his feet again, walking as he kept his gaze on the torch and where he was placing his feet. Too many dresses, too much expensive fabric, which had his brows furrowing in concentration.

"With my luck? This is jus the universe getting another laugh at my expense. Wouldn't be the first time." Olifer snorted a laugh, although it didn't last all that long until he pointed overhead. "I think it's this way? Look familiar?" he asked, looking over his shoulder to realise he couldn't see shit. "There could literally be an issue with the grid, they'll have people working on it, and if not...then I guess you're stuck in the Apocalypse with me...the joys." flashing a grin he was sure she couldn't see. In all honesty, he was trying to keep his nerves at bay, the way his hand shook or the uneven beating of his thundering heart.

Without even thinking about the movement, Esra felt the back of her palm collide with his chest. "Olifer." A cautionary gesture done to mask the immediate flicker of amusement that crossed her features before she managed to suppress it. Not a wrong assertion though, but perhaps she would've phrased it more politely. Once upon a time her reservations were slim and that sort of commentary might've been worth joining in for a little laugh. Now she had to maintain appearances. "Yeah, noted." Her fingers slid across various apps out of habit, fully knowing that they wouldn't yield any results. "It's not even storming. What gives?"

[oliferbrooks]

Lips pursing, he took a step closer to where he believed the voice was coming from. "If cell phones are out, it's wider than just here." his fingers mindlessly tapping against the pocket where his phone was tucked away. His nerves were showing, and if this had been before his accident -- he would've been fine. But Olifer hadn't been the same since, far more jumpy, not so calm or clarified.

"Yeah, I'll lead," humming something closer to discontent with the ordeal. Honestly, he was over it already. The attempt to inject some confidence into his voice failed disastrously. Yanking out his phone, he turned on the light, grimacing in response. Looking out into the darkness, where nothing by a few steps in front of him was visible — other phones followed. Enough to guide the way, somewhat. "That bit was easier than I thought it was going to be," he joked as he began to move. Still, his hands brushed against the cool surface of the wall as he made it to the outskirts — trying his best to orient himself. He could feel Noah close behind him, the other man's presence in the oppressive, all-consuming darkness that encompassed them.

"The bar or kitchen might have something — you know, for when they have birthdays and stuff. Or center pieces for Valentine's day or some shit." Just a money-sucking holiday, or so he told himself. Now it made sense why all his advances to celebrate it the last couple of years had been brushed away. He'd once loved that holiday. Looked forward to it, even. How times changed, he thought. "It's over here...I think."

A chill ran down his spine as Olifer voiced his own concerns about the situation. The darkness seemed to press in on him, making the air feel even thicker. "Yeah, you're right," he agreed, his voice a bit tense. "This feels off. A generator should've kicked in by now." He paused, considering their options. The idea of candles was appealing, but would they have any? "Candles sound good. I just don't carry them around." He wasn't trying to be funny. Although, to some, they might think he was trying to do that. "Let's look for those candles," he decided. "You want to lead the way? I'll try to keep an eye out for anything we could use as a light source," he said. His eyes had begun to adjust to the darkness, but he still felt uneasy. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right about this situation. 

[oliferbrooks]

The party had been happening, and then it wasn't. Olifer's eyes dilated, trying to make sense of a room cast into unending darkness. Not even the signs above the exits were alight — instead, he turned on the spot in which he stood, the sound of Italian soles screeching against marble. His hands reaching out to touch anything that might've been within close vicinity. What the actual fuck was happening? As an ex-seal, his first thought was to spring into action. But the worst part of it all? He hated himself for it, his mind instantly thinking of her. Was she okay? Was there anyone with her? Was she…scared? Gulping thickly, he shook his head. There were some habits that died hard, he guessed. And no matter how much he told himself that he was getting over it, just another lie told to keep himself propelling forward. The unending pain that had embedded itself into his soul was doing its best to override his nervous system. But instead, he steeled himself. Dug his heels into those overly expensive shoes and reminded himself of his TTPS: Tactical, technical and practices. The seals had always been taught to consider it in any situation where the circumstances were unsure. Always be prepared for anything.

When the woman's voice broke through that earth shattering inner monologue, he remembered to breathe, looking toward...nothingness before he reached for his phone and tapped the screen. Nothing. Fuck. However, turning the screen off as he pocketed it, in order to conserve the battery — he realised the woman beside him was still talking...a lot. Not that he'd ever tell her that, funnily enough, he found it somewhat comforting when there was nothing for him to see. Silence would've only made it worse. But he realised, only a moment later, he was silent himself. "I'm, uh, sure you look beautiful. I'd give you a breakdown if I could see." he wouldn't. But he was trying to ease the nerves they were all feeling. His leg, unable to stay still, jigged on the spot. "I'm fine." He wasn't, darkness...he wasn't fond of. "Just a little claustrophobic, at times." reaching up to loosen his tie. "Are you? I'd remove the heels now, before you hurt yourself or someone else." If she even had heels on.

❛ ☾ ◟━ LOCATION: carriage falls country club / mayoral ball

❛ ☾ ◟━ TIME: during the blackout period

❛ ☾ ◟━ STATUS: open to those in the vicinity

One moment, it was nothing but chatter, laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses all around as the vast majority enjoyed the celebration. The next it was darkness all around with worrisome partygoers and brewing chaos. It didn't help that alcohol was served and surely enough would mean future injuries to come for those who had a little too much and weren't careful. Did she even hear some glasses break? At this rate, Kimberly's heart sank completely as soon as the blackout took place. To see her and her team's work go to ruins as she wasn't sure what to do next brought her anxieties to the forefront as she immediately reached for her phone to see if she was able to get signal for any news or incoming messages. Instead, she was met with nothing.

"Shit." she said outloud to whoever's next to her. "Okay don't panic...Surely there's a generator that needs to be up and running right? Why did it have to happen now!? I spent all day getting ready and I did not look this cute just for all this to not be seen." She used that as a front since it pained her to even comment on her and her team's hard work at this point and she was doing her best to not be on the verge of complete tears. "Like I'm sure you look cute too, but I can't even see shit to even determine that. And no, the phone's flashlight doesn't even count especially since it has crappy lighting and we should be conserving battery. Anyways, are you okay though? You didn't like trip over your own feet or anything like that?"

[oliferbrooks]

Right now, the panic spreading across the room like wildfire in a drought had lulled, but only momentarily, he was certain. The more time passed, the more anxious people would get. Olifer was telling himself the same thing on repeat — attempting to the calm the trepidation that was working its way through his veins and to his heart. Calm the fuck down. But no matter how much he told himself this, it didn't seem to work. Noah's agreement of the heat was enough to have him puff out his cheeks and blow out one long, slow breath. "I hate not being able to see what's going on around me," he began, looking around him in a circle. "This place has to have candles, right?" Or was that a fire hazard? Oh, who gave a fuck.

However, turning his now wise gaze back to...darkness and a voice, he shook his head — remembering only a moment later, the other person couldn't see. "Uh, nah, it doesn't feel right." His gut was usually on point. "Outage means no service, we can't call for help...a generator, maybe." but that would, or should...kick back up on it's own. "We could go and look for candles and wait this thing out?"

He really, truly, hated the dark.

continued from here.

Recognition immediately hit him once he heard the voice. It was Oliver, his chess buddy. Noah felt a wave of relief wash over him, grateful for a familiar presence in the unsettling darkness. He nodded, despite knowing his friend couldn't see him in the darkness.  "Thanks for checking," he replied, his voice steady despite the unease churning in his gut. "And yeah, it does feel a bit stuffy in here." He pocketed his phone, his mind racing. The lack of cell service was troubling, especially given what had been happening around town lately. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a simple blackout. "You thinking what I'm thinking? This doesn't feel like a regular power outage. Any ideas on what we could do to help?" As he spoke, Noah's thoughts drifted to Zephyr and Lyra. Were they safe at home with his parents? He pushed the worry aside, focusing on the present. If there was trouble, he needed to be clear-headed. 

[oliferbrooks]

Tonight was important. In fact, he was pretty sure he'd heard those words used in every conversation, in every other sentence that night. It was like the people in the main room needed to remind those who were working here about their importance. So it might boost their already fragile egos. He was here by some luck of fucking god; he guessed. An invitation extended to him because of his time served. Every time he came, he wound up at the bar, six drinks deep, wishing he was anywhere else. And yet, somehow...through all of this — he'd ended up here. "You know your boss? The person that keeps lending out the generator? The thing that would've probably saved our asses right now? Wisdom is chasing him, but he moves faster." He grunted, turning the torch on his phone on, as he pointed it towards the ground. "No point, we're too far out to get service. Kinda makes me miss cellular." Warzones, battlefields. He shook off those thoughts, pushing them down.

Who: OPEN

Where: Mayoral Ball at CFCC (post blackout)

"A generator? Yeah right. With the way that thing gets borrowed, you'd think it was a library book." Wilmington's splendor and folly existed in how generous people could be when citizens found themselves in need, which unfortunately led to catastrophic hiccups like tonight's rolling blackout. Had the machine still been stationed behind the country club, perhaps this evening could continue–– albeit with slightly less enthusiasm than before. "I'm sure the city will get things back up soon. Everyone knows how important tonight is." Although even as she spoke, Esra felt her heart drop slightly at the lack of signal on her phone. "Fantastic."

[oliferbrooks]

Olifer had already rifled his phone from his pant pocket the second the lights had dimmed into nothing, and gasps echoed across the ballroom. This? Not good. Not good at all. And the notification of zero service told him everything he needed to know. There was an irrational part of him, the one that set his fight mode into gear. The Navy Seal awakening in him, even if he hushed it off to sleep. Reminding himself he was no longer in a warzone. It was small things, even smells that could send him tumbling off a cliff, sprialling...and even as he felt his heart kick up, he steeled himself. Centering, just as the group had told him too. He'd thought it dumb at first, but right now...it was doing its job. The voice cut through the calm, the darkness siezing him for just a moment longer before he spoke "Nah, I checked already, man. Nothing." And that did little to ease that panic. He knew he was equipped to deal with this, had experienced worse. And yet... "Is it warm in here?" he asked, loosening his tie, as he picked up his drink blindly and downed it.

OPEN STARTER

capping at (0/4) location: at the mayoral ball

Noah tensed as darkness engulfed the ballroom, his brows creasing into a frown. He fished out his phone from the inside pocket of his tuxedo. The screen turned on, but there was no signal. Frowning, he turned to the silhouette beside him. "Excuse me," he said. "Do you happen to have any cell service?" He waited for a response, straining his ears against the rising murmurs of confusion. His mind raced, thoughts of Zephyr and Lyra at home with his parents flooding in. Were they safe? What was causing this blackout?