"Is this what rich people do in their free time? Wear fancy costumes? Eat fancy food? Stick their noses so far up in the air they can't-OW!" Moon yelps as her hand slaps down on a spot on her side, a dreaded pin had pricked her and it was by no means an accident.

"Mother! What was that for?" She cries to which her mom only shakes her head disapprovingly.

"You better watch your mouth of yours at the ball young lady," she tsks as she continues to pin the pink dress in multiple places. "It's not everyday someone of our...class...gets invited and I swear on your father's grave if you mess this up there's going to be a lot more where this came from."

Moon feels herself deflate at the threat. Her mother had a point, that she couldn't deny. But she did not want to get married off for a hefty sum. Not now, not ever! Because those men, Moon internally groans, had nothing more than their pockets to speak of their character.

"Why are you selling me off, Mother?" Moon asks, breaking the concentrated silence. Her nimble hands stop in place as she peers up at her daughter. A sigh escapes her as she sticks the pins back into a cushion. Her hands coming up to caress her daughter's face.

"I'm not selling you off, Moon. I just think you deserve more in life than a house that's falling apart, and a table that never has enough food for us all."

Moon looks at her mom's dreary eyes, her weathered skin.

Her mom deserved so much better too.

"But you picked happiness over money," Moon whispers to which her mother laughs.

"And now I have to raise a rebellious daughter to show for it." Her hands release their hold as she quickly pats Moon on the cheek. "Money can't buy happiness, but it sure can bring security. And besides," she chuckles, "you might find someone you like."

"Gladion! Gladion get back here!" Gladion hears Lillie whisper through gritted teeth as he begins walking. He knew Lillie could spot his black and gold embellished jacket from a distance, but that didn't stop him from swerving in and out of groups of masked guests as he made his way to another portion of the ballroom.

After a good amount of time, he stopped to catch his breath at the top of the staircase. He figured Lillie had lost him. He couldn't see her white dress anywhere until he felt a small tap on his shoulder. He turns around, wide-eyed, only to see his sister in front of him with an immense pout and tightly crossed arms.

He lost the game.

"You can't just run off like that, brother! Mother would kill you," she quickly scolds, but he's one to brush off the warning.

"Lils, I'm tired of being a pawn for mother. She just wants to marry us off to the richest people here for her own social gain," Gladion says as he watches his sister's face fall. She knew he was right, but at the same time…

"Gladion, you don't even believe in love."

A scoff escapes him as he rolls his eyes. His sister's arguments now falling on deaf ears as he scans the crowd below. Hundreds and hundreds of guests, all hidden behind a mask of power and money.

Except for one person who stood out.

A soft pink dress cascades behind a figure and it's her lack of elegance that draws his eye to her. She was getting cornered and he could see her shoulders lifting as she tried to keep herself small as another guest places a hand on the wall next to her head. And the mask, although covering half her face, did nothing to hide the annoyance in her features. Furrowed brow, pouty lips, an aggravated look towards the stranger.

"And unlike you I actually do want to marry for love," he hears his sister murmur, "so maybe you can do me a favor big brother. You, for once, could dance with someone, instead of making me do mother's bidding!"

Gladion walks past his sister, ignoring the call of his name, as he finds himself walking down the stairs with a purpose.

"Just one dance," the masked man begs as he leans in, only to see Moon's hand on his chest holding him at a distance.

"I would rather not," Moon responds as she feels her back hit the cold wall, the eerie smile on his face growing as he notices the predicament they were in.

"You don't have much of a choice, now do you?"

Moon lifts the hand pushing the guy away and places it gently on his face. "Listen," Moon begins with a sly smile before leaning in. "I'll always have a choice," she whisper sultrily as she digs her nails into his cheek and kicks him in the shin. An audible yelp escapes the man as his arm flings up, allowing Moon to escape, as all eyes fall on her and the commotion. She curtsies, flashing a confident smile towards the nosy onlookers as she turns on her heel and is met with a flash of black and gold that settles into blonde and green.

Deep, vibrant, emerald green eyes only emphasized by the ornate black mask that sat on his fair skin.

Moon's mouth fell agape, her mind became blank, and she felt her senses ignite as she felt his hand grasp onto her wrist...only to note how quickly the warmth began to fade as he let go when she regained her balance.

Behind him, two much larger men, escorted the annoyance from before much to his complaint as he kick and screamed that "the devil woman should be kicked out as well." The nail marks on his face made Moon snicker but she stops when the blonde glances at her again.

"Sorry for the distress he may have caused," he recites with a business-like disposition, but the tone did nothing to distract her from what he was suggesting.

"I am not a damsel in distress, but I suppose I could thank you Mister..." Moon's snarky attitude fades, unsure of how to address him, but then she sees the corners of his lips turn just enough to see a semblance of a smile.

"A newcomer, huh? No wonder you stand out like a sore thumb," he announces. The nature Moon judged as cold quickly melted away into something more...coy, and Moon felt herself grow slightly defensive at his claim.

"Excuse me," she scoffs, "who are you to assume my class at a social gathering such as this one?" Her response was loud, and it beckoned the attention of people once more. It didn't bother her one bit, but she could see him eye the crowd.

A flash of worry overcame him.

A furious blonde girl was approaching them.

So he leans in to whisper: "No one of importance, but you searched for a name, and that's a dead giveaway."

Moon opens her mouth to deny his claim, but he leaves before she could even get a word out. She watches his back disappear into the crowd when she hears a huff and stomp of a heel on the marble floor.

"Please tell me Gladion asked you to dance," the girl asks through labored breaths. Had she been chasing him all evening?

"Gladion…?" Moon repeats with a curious intonation.

"My brother, the blonde you were t-ah" the girl's eyes grow wide as she slaps her hand over her mouth. "I'm so sorry. Pretend I said nothing!," she quickly sputters before disappearing leaving a now enlightened Moon.