Tonight was the War Games party, and tomorrow was the war games. My team was expected to be the top tier, but with Majestic, Sigma, Trident, even Zeta could be a problem. I sighed as I crashed face first onto my bed. Why was everything so hard?
I rolled myself over, looking at the ceiling as I threw an arm over my face, groaning in frustration. I suppose I'd have to get up now too. I lost myself in my thoughts, the sound of my breathing droning out in the silence of my room. I just laid there, thinking and breathing, until the mechanical sound of a door opening made me tilt my head enough to see the opening.
"Hey, party starts in an hour." came the lightly accented voice.
"Thanks Jordan." I replied.
He cleaned up nice, I had to admit. I didn't recognize him at first, hair slicked back in combination with the military issue dinner dress uniforms. He'd left out the bowtie, good choice in my opinion. I turned my eyes back towards the ceiling as he turned on a heel and walked down the hall, the door sliding back into place. There was no place in a ballroom for me, really no place on a fireteam, not to me anyways.
I forced myself off of the bed and to the closet, where a fresh suit had been delivered at my request, god I'm glad they didn't give me a dress. Or even worse, a skirt. Now i just had to put on this stupid get up, and survive the party for 2 hours. And now not only was it a party, but, I guess, maybe… was it a date now? All of this was too much to think about for me.
I shook my head and turn to grab my toiletries. Everyone else would probably be putting the final touches on their outfits, either that or they were in a rush to get ready. I sighed softly as I headed to the bathroom.
I passed Kat on the way, her hair was pinned back and her uniform was spotless. Only a small portion of the medals she'd earned decorated her chest. Not that any of us could blame her, if we tried to wear all our medals we'd be dragging at least one shoulder on the ground and crawling along. Neither of us spoke to the other, too preoccupied by our thoughts of the coming night.
I looked at Jasmine's room, wondering where she was and what she was doing, but I shook the thought from my head as I entered the bathroom. I would be able to see her later tonight. I looked at the mirror and took the comb from my bathroom kit. I ran it a few times through my hair before deciding that would do. I shook the thoughts fluttering in my head away and washed my face before heading back to my room and stripping.
There were fifteen minutes before the ball began. I might as well go see Jasmine, I wonder what she'd look like when she's scrubbed up and not constantly glaring. I paused at my door and chuckled softly. Well it'd be interesting to see what she's like when she's scrubbed up.
I was still smiling when I walked across the hallway that divided our rooms and knocked on her door. She didn't answer. I waited a minute before knocking again.
"Jasmine, there's ten minutes before the ceremony." There was the sound of movement behind the door but it didn't open. "Jasmine."
"Sam…" Her voice was a lot different than it normally was and I had to hold back the urge to bust her door down. "Would you do me a favour and kick Commander Palmer in the shin for me?" Her voice was soft and she let out a long breath.
"Jasmine what's wrong?"
"Promise me you won't laugh?" Ah, that's what that tone was, she was embarrassed.
"Jasmine, I swear on my rank I won't laugh at you."
There was silence for a few seconds before Jasmine sighed softly. "Okay." Her voice sounded like she was making a mistake, even as the door slid opened.
The first thing I want to know is how can she ask me not to laugh when I can't even speak. Jasmine's black hair was pinned in an intricate design, there was no way she could have done that herself. Was she wearing makeup? Her eyes were gently shadowed and her eyelashes were longer. Her scar was less defined, but it still stood stark across her face. Her lips were painted a dark red that reminded me of blood.
"I refuse to believe that you know how to do makeup that good or your hair like that." She looked startled before she let out a relieved laugh. A small, shy smile curling her lips. Well, maybe I'd be able to see her without the glower more often.
"You're right." She looked away shyly and I felt the urge to grab her and spirit her away. Pushing that urge aside I looked her over. She was in a beautiful crimson dress that matched her lips. "It was Commander Palmer's idea to have at least one girl from every squad in a dress. I got the short stick for ours."
She shifted under my gaze and I realised I was staring. "Jasmine." My voice was serious and she looked up at me, I could see the worry in her multicolored eyes and I hesitated slightly before placing my hand on her cheek. "You are beautiful, and I could never laugh at you."
She relaxed a little, her lips slightly parting and it took everything I had not to kiss her in that moment. I sent her a small smile and remove my hand from her cheek. She looked disappointed as my hand left her cheek but I grabbed her hand instead. "Come on, we're late, and it's time for a stir to be made at the ball." I winked at her and she blushed faintly.
"My lady." I bowed to her playfully and she sent me a glare. So much for not glowering.
"Don't do that." She's so cute when she's embarrassed. I chuckled softly and held my arm out to her. Her hand was soft and looked very small as she took my arm. The hallways were a lot more empty than normal, but were still busy. Marines and engineers were still moving about, making sure the ship ran smoothly or moving from post to post. The sight of two dressed up SPARTANs was enough to stop most of them. Jasmine was receiving a lot of looks from stunned soldiers and crewmen.
I couldn't really blame them, but still, Jasmine looked uncomfortable with all the attention she was receiving. I twisted slightly and sent a glare their way. They all quickly went about their business. Jasmine lightly gripped my forearm in thanks and I smiled at her.
We reached the ballroom, luckily we were only a few minutes late. We managed to slip in without causing a stir and I was able to look over every other female SPARTAN wearing a dress. I smirked as I looked at Tedra. She was dressed in a sky blue dress and was talking with a naval commander. She had a few medals pinned to her front, drink in her hand, though I couldn't tell if it was alcoholic or not.
There were a few more SPARTANs littered around the room, one or two girls from every team in a dress. I turned to Jasmine and smiled. "You really did get the short stick. But everyone else got a shorter one because no one looks as good as you do."
I watched her face turn crimson and she looked straight down. I laughed softly and shook my head. "Red is your colour." She looked up, the red fading from her cheeks. I opened my mouth to say more when Palmer stepped on stage and everyone went quiet.
"Welcome, Ladies, gentlemen, Officers and SPARTANs. As you all know, tomorrow the selected SPARTAN teams will be sent into the war simulator to survive against the wild and each other. The last remaining team at the end of the week is crowned victor of this year's War Games." There was polite clapping and that seemed to be it for the moment. The music started again and people were lead onto the dance floor. Servers weaved their way in and out of small groups of people.
I looked at Jasmine, she seemed to be deep in her thoughts as she looked at the ground. I wondered what she was thinking before I blinked. Palmer was signalling me over. I hesitated and Jasmine looked up. She raised her brow before she shrugs slightly.
"I'll be here, then I'm going to get out of this gown as soon as possible." I chuckled softly and left her side. Heading over to Palmer, I noticed from the corner of my eye a woman heading over to Jasmine.
"Sam, good, now that you're here. I'm sure you all know each other. But for those of you that don't, this is Sam, leader of Fireteam Crimson; you all know Paul DeMarco, Leader of Fireteam Majestic…" I tuned out what she was saying as I saw Jasmine stumble out of the corner of my eye.
Her eyes were wide with alarm as a body hung from her neck and drew her down. She placed her hands on the figure's arms and blinked at the person. Jasmine was a tiny SPARTAN, but the girl that was currently hugging her and talking in an excited voice that was drawing nearly everyone's attention looked like a child in comparison.
"Jasmine, I missed you so much." Jasmine, unlike the girl clinging to her was aware of the eyes turning to look at the display. She spoke too softly to be heard and the girl looked around sheepishly.
She lowered her voice and tugged on Jasmine's arm, Jasmine looked like she was protesting before she was pulled off.
"Samantha are you listening to me?"
"Don't call me that." I looked back to her and nodded to her question with a small sigh. I knew Jasmine could look after herself, but I still worried about her.
The meeting of team leaders ended shortly after and we were dismissed back to the party. I was pulled into conversation with a captain and politely conversed with him, all the while I was looking around for Jasmine. For a girl in a dark red dress, she was very good at hiding. I made a tiny noise in my throat.
I was about to excuse myself when the captain asked me to wait a moment. There was noises from the stage area and the small band that had been playing was being given new music sheets.
"Care to dance?" I looked back at the captain in surprise and shook my head.
"No thanks, I don't dance." I declined his offer and was about to move away when the girl that had pulled Jasmine away leapt up on stage with a microphone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Officers, Spartans and fellow crewmen. I have been able to get a very reluctant special guest up here and we would like for you all to relax, even if it is for a few hours while we entertain you!" She sounded overly hyped and excited still. I raised my eyebrow as I looked around for Jasmine again. "Please feel free to use the dance floor for its intended purpose." She chuckled and the band struck up a tune. Well one member anyway. Seated at a piano, delicate hands dancing over the keys, Jasmine sat, her eyes were closed as the other girl began to sing softly.
I blinked blankly as I watched Jasmine, how much free time did that girl have on her hands? The band joined in as the girl came to the song's chorus. It was a dance song, and many people took to the floor. But I was frozen listening to the words.
It may have been a new pop song, but it had a very dark message under the soft vocals and fast beat. There was a short instrumental. Jasmine's hands were resting on the keys but not playing. She took a deep breath and began to sing.
Her voice was firm and confronting, she stood from the piano, voice ringing out and making not only me but others all around the room spellbound. She opened her moments, her voice nearly sad as she let her eyes wander over the crowd. She reached her second verse and the music had nearly stopped as she sung.
I let out a long breath as she sat back at the piano and played a few more keys for the over excited girl. The music picked back up as their voice harmonised and they sung their last lines. I let out a long breath as Jasmine looked to the girl and said something. The audience began to clap, the first stunned onlookers coming back to their senses.
Jasmine looked to the crowd before back to the girl and shook her head before she was once again nearly tackled by the over energetic girl. The look of horror that crossed her face as she spoke quickly said volumes about what the girl was doing to her. Her voice was heard by the microphone by her head.
"Okay! Okay, Jen. I'll sing one more, just don't do that." She sighs heavily and shakes her head, trying to decide on the next song she was to sing while the girl, Jen, leapt around happily.
"I haven't heard you sing in ages, it's really surprising someone as grumpy as you has such a beautiful voice."
"I'm not grumpy." By the tone of her voice most people could be forgiven for mistaking her for grumpy.
"You were like this in training as well. It's nice to know you don't change."
"Jennifer." Her tone was a warning growl and Jennifer paused before looking at the audience sheepishly again. Jasmine let out a long breath and the band turned their music sheets over. She gives them a cue and they start to play. Her voice soon joins the mix, more haunting this time than spellbinding.
Another dark song with a happy beat, knowing Jasmine that wasn't surprising. What was surprising was the fact that she liked music, she looked like she liked it a lot too.
Jasmine had finished singing as I'd stood, dazed by her voice, Jennifer was right, for someone that normally growled her words or didn't speak at all, she could sing beautifully.
How was I meant to take this though? And who was that girl?
As the next song kicked up and Jasmine and Jennifer left the stage, Jasmine nearly scolding the child-like figure, I walked over to them both. Jasmine was too busy looking down at Jennifer and whispering that she didn't notice me until I'd cleared my throat from just in front of her.
She looked up, obviously expecting someone else, the scowl on her face soon changing to a surprised look, forming on o shape with her lips. I smiled back, ignoring the smaller girl's presence.
"I never took you for a singer." At this her face flushed nearly as red as her dress, causing her to look down and place her hands behind her. She nearly looked as childish as Jennifer.
"Hey, come on, let's get one dance in before the night is over." I extended my hand to her, the comment making her look up, face flushing again.
Jennifer suddenly butt into the conversation, "Jasmine, who is this? Hmmmm? Seems she's asking you for a dance." I couldn't help but chuckle as she looked back down, hand slowly finding its way to mine.
My fingers curled around hers as I pulled her towards the dance floor, Jennifer's childish calls echoing behind us, a chuckle emanating from my throat as I drug her through the crowd, the music slowing down as this song faded out and a slow song started in just as my dress shoes touched the floor, turning to face Jasmine as I backed onto the floor.
"I'll lead."
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
"No idea." And I did, It's just much more fun to watch people act surprised afterwards.
I pulled on her hand, drawing her closer as my hand wrapped around her waist, the other moving both our hands down to about shoulder height, my hand twisting over to interlace our fingers. With all this she let out a squeak, making me chuckle as I begin to move along to the beat, spinning us both around as Jasmine's feet tried to follow mine, but she just simply didn't know the moves, in all honesty she was doing good for a first time.
About halfway through our dance the doors opened once more and a nervous marine cried out, "Admiral on deck!"
On instinct we all turned to face the general direction, at full attention, Lasky's "At ease." the only thing to change the room, music still playing in the background as he walked through the crowd, smirking and shaking his head. He seemed to know where he was going as well.
The crowd separated as he walked by, letting him through until Palmer stood, all the way at the back of the crowd. She'd definitely been a wallflower there for a while.
"Commander Palmer."
"Sir."
He smiled and sighed looking at all the eyes on the room on him, sticking out his hand, "Would you like to dance?"
A hush fell over the room, everyone seemingly awaiting her answer, and after about ten seconds she broke character, sighed, and smiled, taking his hand.
The room erupted in cheers and claps, Lasky laughing alongside Palmer as he drug her to the dance floor. Seems that seeing the commanding officers be a bit more… human. Was a popular sight among the crew. Even me and Jasmine clapped, me eyes turning to Jasmine before I turned and dragged her from the crowd, from the dance floor, from the ball itself. I dragged her all the way back to our rooms on Crimson hall and huffed.
"Thank God, I couldn't wait to get out of there." Jasmine pulled at the strap on her dress to emphasize her point.
"Well, we're out of there. And more importantly. We're alone." I said with a smirk.
"W-What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, obviously nervous as I pushed off of the side of the hallway I had been leaning against, taking about two steps toward her and running a thumb over her cheek.
I took a deep breath and took one more step, forcing her back to the wall, her face flushed red and breath hot. I swallowed once and leaned down to lock our lips, Jasmine's hands gripping at the collar of my uniform, pulling me closer to her. My hands moved from the wall by her head to beneath her thighs, pulling her up to my height, her legs wrapping around my hips of her own accord as her back was pushed to the wall.
I have a feeling that tomorrow's War Games will be a lot easier than originally expected.