A Winter Masquerade Ball (social)

Nessa's eyes widened as Markus's explained that from his perspective, it hadn't been four months, but rather several years. She couldn't believe it, all that time he hadn't been around, it had felt like forever, but yet almost as though only yesterday that they had been in that hotel room. However for him, it was different, so much time between them, yet he hadn't forgotten her. She felt a small sense of a relief at that. With her about him being unable to love him, his response dragged the sense of relief she felt and washed over her with a sense of bitter acceptance. So she was right, he hadn't been lying. There was no chance of love from him. Well, that was fine. Life without love was better, wasn't it? Because the last time her heart broke, Nessa hadn't done so well. This way, it wouldn't happen again at least, not with Markus. He agreed to at least, happily work alongside her, at the very least she would get one thing. His friendship.

Nessa was looking at Markus when she heard the commotion towards the entrance of the hall. Nessa turned to look; she couldn't see much over the ground. But the sudden tension in the room, accompanied by the horrified gasps from some people in the ball, did not leave her with a good feeling. She glanced back to Markus, "Sorry Markus, please excuse me for a moment." She told him in a serious tone. She released her grasps of his neck and stepped back, offering him a small nod before turning away. One hand lifted her dress off the floor slightly so that she didn't tread on its hem. She quickly made her way through the gathering crowd, moving over to way Adalinda, one of the West Fiore Trading Company's presidents that she had met at the beach social a few months back. She would see that the woman was addressing two individuals. Nessa stepped up, "Is everything okay?" She asked, her question directed at the dark haired woman. Before getting a closer look at the people with her, one of them, seemed to be babbling nonsensically. While the other was... plagued. Nessa gasped slightly, eying the repulsive boils and disease that covered his skin. "Oh my goodness, do you need a doctor?" She asked she had seen some of the medical documents her father had on skin conditions and irritations. She didn't know as much as her father, but even Nessa could see that this wasn't natural. "Can everyone step back please and give us some room?" She ordered to those standing a little too close, it was a little firmer than she would've liked, but whatever this guy was carrying, it could very well be contagious.