Hope stood in the corner of the ball room. She had been invited to attend this. She was growing just ever so slightly nervous, as those she came with appeared to be elsewhere.

"My, my, aren't you shy as ever?"

That voice... Hope could never forget that voice.

Druitt toward over the teenage girl. His smile warm, but Hope knew better then to trust that.

She backed up against the wall, her whole body shaking in terror, which she didn't even try to hide. She bit her quivering lip to keep from balling her eyes out right then and there.

He stepped closer to the blue eyed girl. His hand found her shoulder as she just stares at him in horror.

"I-I...I..."

"Why don't we go somewhere more private? Last time I checked you didn't like crowds...."

"Last time I checked she didn't like you either,"

Hope looked up, smiling a little when she saw Snake, along with Bard, Finny, and Meyrin.

"Yeah. what Snake said," Bard stepped real close to Druitt, getting in his face. "So why don't you bug off before we have to cause a scene?"

"And you don't want us to deal with you," Meyrin told the man. "Trust us on that much."

"So do as Bard said and bug off," Finny added.

Druitt huffed with annoyance, not wanting to cause a scene so he walked off.

Meyrin took one step close to Hope, holding a hand out, smiling in relief when the girl took it. She gave it a small squeeze of reassurance.

"Are you alright, Lady Hope?" Bard asks.

"Y-Yes," Hope nods. "Thank you all very much."