Meet and Greet

[Taneaka Kalforovich]

Taneaka smiled at the turn-out. There were people she knew here and people she didn't. She had noticed her son had already gone out, most likely for a cigarette or to talk to a young woman he just met, Taneaka simply smiled at his antics. When he needed to be, Markov was an amazing boy, he was just being rebellious and learning his place in the world. She wouldn't get in the way of that.

Taneaka decided it was time she actually found out who the people she didn't know were. She walked up to a random person, one she hadn't met or invited, and smiled. "Hello, thank you for coming. I am Taneaka." She grinned. The masks were great, they added anonymity to people who just wanted fun with no strings. She was a huge fan of fun with no strings. That was how little Andie came to be in this world after all, and possibly Markov as well.

 

[Rue Undersee]

Rue had been quietly minding her own business, sipping some kind of fizzy drink, when Taneaka started to talk to somebody. Rue whizzed around, almost spilling her drink in the process, with a bewildered look on her face. 'Me?' She asked, a little stunned, and then forced a nervous smile. She didn't bother telling her she already knew who she was, as her friends had informed her of this the moment she had entered. 'That's ok,' she replied, 'I'm Rue'. Rue held out her hand to shake Taneaka's, before realizing that perhaps this was a little too informal, and turned it into a stretch of her arm. Then, rembembering just in time, Rue whipped out a small parcel, which contained a small box of chocolates. 'Happy birthday', Rue added with a real smile this time, before turning to one of her friends who seemed eager to show her something. Interested, Rue looked in the direction she was pointing, and the groaned. 'Fine, go chat him up', Rue said, laughing, before turning back to Tanaeka. 'Sorry. Are you enjoying your birthday?' She asked politely.