The Ballroom

*Juliette's Perspective*

Juliette Wei flashed a toothy grin at the sinewy man, Remi, that stood across the room. He lifted his gaze from the booze orbiting around in his wine glass, meeting the eyes of Juliette and smiling himself. Juliette made her way over to Remi, embracing him in a giant hug. "You look ravishing," she said through gritted teeth as she looked at Lucky in desperation. Her eyes told him she was craving to escape her partner's obnoxious presence. 

As Lucky walked away, she shot him a look that told him they wouldn't be going on that date next week. Remi Seingold looked his way, but Lucky had already faded into the sea of red dresses and suits of the high-ceiling ballroom.

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*Lucky's Perspective*

Lucky's crimson suit flattered his gelled-back blonde hair, and his bright blue eyes lent a final embellishment to his already seductive ensemble. Perched on the marble step beholding the blood-colored ocean of gowns below, he couldn't take his eyes off Juliette, in her own red costume, dancing with Remi. Damn, why can't that be me?

"Ladybird," Lucky's codename hissed in his ear as he stood.

His head swiveled, forgetting about the com chiming in his ear. Sense returned to him and he whispered into his earpiece in the most sarcastic voice possible,

"Romeo," Juliette's code name spilled smoothly from his mouth, "What have I done now?"

Juliette looked up at Lucky on the steps and he saw her lips move as her syrupy-sweet voice streamed into his ear,

"Lucky, every time we take missions together you end up shooting someone and everything goes to shit, try not to do that tonight. That's why the Obsidian Mercenary's Board sent you to that Zen retreat two months ago. Godamnit, Ladybird, if that didn't fix your problems, I don't know what will." 

Lucky didn't want to think about the place the Obsidian Mercenary's Board, the board of rich and cruel people he worked for, had sent him to. 

"You know violence fills the gaping chasm of emptiness in my soul, Juliette, I can't live without it."  Lucky groaned. 

Her green eyes rolled and she continued dancing with Remi as he joined the conversation.

"Lucky, maybe we should reschedule the date for you and me instead of Romeo here." He grinned, lively brown eyes locking with Lucky's.

"For the last time, Sunset, I'm not homosexual,"

"Not too late for a straight-to-gay arc," Remi insisted with a smirk.

"She's here, you little gay arseholes. And she has an entourage," Romeo hissed.

Her exasperated smile sunk back into a resting bitch face, and she frowned at the raven-haired woman, whose posse consisted of two muscled, tall men and two strong, scarred women.

"Oh. And they have guns. Guns are fun."