Today was not a new day filled with new things and Emily was not in a room full of strangers. At least that's what she would like to tell herself. The blonde had been working with these people for years now. She filed their reports, handed the higher-ups their drinks and organized many a lower-class member to their duties. The main building of City Clave's Government offices was not foreign to her, and its occupants were friends. At least, again, that's what she told herself.

Instead she felt like a male dancer who walked into a sports party: horrendously out of place.

It was a formal party for associates. Celebrating the... Emily blinked. She didn't actually know what they were celebrating. Ignoring the conversation around her, she instead grabbed her notebook and began flipping through its pages. Certainly there would be something in it about what this party was about. She was the head secretary of James Jr. Miguel, Vice President of Clave's Government and Military for crying out loud! There is no way he wouldn't have told her so why didn't she know?

"Emily Lestole," The voice of the very man she worked distracted her from her moment of terror and she snapped to attention, "We are currently at a gather, put that notebook down and join in already!"

The Vice President himself was dressed for the occasion with blue silk and jewels embroidered along the hat he wore atop his head. Even his cape looked finely pressed and if she hadn't known any better, he would have been glowing. As she assessed him, Emily struggled to find something to say while clinging to her notepad like a security blanket. He was dressed so nicely and she... well.. she mentally grimaced at the cotton fabric of her skirt and sweater. She hadn't owned anything completely formal for today and her employer's rich clothing only made her feel worse.

"I- I uh," She bit her lip and tried to respond as he continued staring at her placidly. "I just wanted to make sure all the plans for tonight were going smoothly and thought-"

"You thought wrong. Your notebook will have no information on the festivities tonight since I've made sure other people dealt with it." Reaching out, he grabbed the pages from her fingers and glared when she protested. "Try to have fun, Miss Lestole, you're not on duty." Far quicker than she could react, he turned and disappeared in the chattering crowd.

She felt as if he'd just torn her shirt off. Gulping, she glanced at her coworkers who suddenly seemed like strangers to her and promptly began a nervous tick she hadn't done in years: she began picking at her nails. The nicks and gouges that often covered her fingers during her old school days were never nice to look at and her notebook had been her replacement once she'd been hired. Now she was at a loss. Stubbornly, she glanced out the window towards the high skyscrapers of the city and watched the clouds.

She'd be damned if she walked out there now, feeling as ridiculous as she did. Emily was certain she'd make a fool of herself if she was already too nervous to even grab herself a drink.

As if someone was reading her mind, a glass of water appeared before her, swishing about as the hand that held it waved. Emily blinked and slowly accepted it with a frown. Did Mr. Miguel come back for another lecture?

Instead of blue finery, Emily saw a dusty brown flight jacket adorned in patches. Looking up, her eyes met with amber and she relaxed immediately with a soft sigh. She sipped the water offered to her and shook her head. "This is a formal gathering, you shouldn't be wearing your usual." Though it wasn't her employer, this person was far from a stranger.

Slay Valentine, childhood friend and coworker, smiled a rebellious smile and cocked an eyebrow. "What's yer' point, Emily? I don't see you in anything formal either, which is a shame. I thought I'd finally see you without the sweater for once."

Her automatic reaction was both shy and unbending with flushed cheeks and eyes that gleamed in annoyance. "I would have worn it anyway." She said simply as she returned the glass. "Thanks, but I don't really want to talk right now. I have lot's to think about."

He shoved the glass under her nose again and said teasingly, "Don't be like that, you think I want to be dressed up and talking about the architecture? The real fun isn't starting until later tonight anyway when the fireworks start up." That caught her attention and she whirled back to look at him again.

"... there's going to be fireworks?" Pursing her lips she asked softly, "What is this party for, Slay? I don't really know what's going on. It's not an important date, no major breakthroughs have happened in the Science Department, we haven't ended a war- what do we need fireworks for?"

"Obviously for fun," He said simply as he shrugged his shoulders. "That and the big man on top is out on vacation. James probably just wanted us all to unwind a little."

"That's Mr. Miguel for you, not James." She correct habitually, but he smirked unrepentantly. Placing an arm around her waist, the dirty blonde turned her from the window to face the room and motioned to the crowd.

"Always gotta act in control to hide your anxiety." He teased lightly while drumming his fingers along her side. "You're missing the important question of the night, though- it's almost disappointing."

Perplexed, Emily's heart jumped in her throat and she cast a horrified glance at Slay's jaw. "Wh-what are you talking about?" Surely she hadn't missed something that big had she? The party might have been unknown to her and she wasn't used to formalities of this kind and her only column of strength had been removed by the very man who paid. What could she have missed? It was practically unheard of that she'd miss something important, what could he have meant?! "What are you talking about, Slay?"

He smirked and kept glancing about the room, not answering and she almost gave into the urge to stomp his foot. "Slay, tell me what you're talking about right now!"

"Calm down," his voice was suddenly serious and his eyes were narrowed as he glanced about the crowd. Slay's body was tense and he looked almost as if he was spotting out some threat. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Emily grew concerned. She never did like it when he got serious, usually that meant something bad was on its way.  Listening to his order, she calmed down just in time for him to regain his cocky smirk and point someone out in the crowd.

"The important question, "He began as she noticed his best friend Stiller sitting across the room with a very pretty lady speaking with him. "It's a question my friend wants to know the answer to and only you can answer it for him."

Confused, Emily gave him an appraising look and tried not to grin. There was something up his sleeve, she could feel it. "....and that question is?" She prodded.

"What Stiller wants to know," He dragged on, pulling her closer as he grinned boyishly, "is if you think I'm cute," he winked for added effect, "You know how curious he gets."

She almost dropped her glass when she fell into uncontrollable giggles. Covering her mouth, she struggled to keep standing only to feel his arm tighten around her more- supporting her gently. Still laughing, she leaned on his shoulder and lightly smacked him upside the head.

"What was that for. Emily?!" He whined, grinning from ear to ear,"I was only trying to lighten the mood!"

"I hit you because you're a silly goof!" She closed her eyes and giggled some more. He'd always been good at calming her down and this was no different, she could already feel the discomfort from earlier draining away as he held her close. She supposed she'd have to feel grateful to him now that he replaced her notepad for the night.