Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

[hiken]

Who: Anyone going to the Corsair Island Masquerade Ball!
Where: ...IDK?
When: April 26th - 27th (Early AM)
What: The Masquerade Ball + Ambush (12am)
Warnings: D for dancing, V for violence, A for Ace, L for Luffy
Style: Action or prose.
Status: Open to anyone attending!

There are going to be two main threads. One for the ball itself and the other for the Ambush! There will be an obligatory third thread for FASHION. Just remember to tag your muse in the subject header and OTA or 'Closed to ???' as you comment.

Comments

[yatteyanyo]

It is not unlike some of the court events from my homeland, though decidedly more Western in flavor. -Something she had gotten a lot more used to since arriving in the world they found themselves in. She could even wear a dress like she was without too much discomfort at the level of bare skin.-

[yatteyanyo]

-Wow, she... hadn't really expected a compliment like that, simple as it was. Sure, their relationship had improved significantly over the last few months, but...-

Mm. You're looking quite dapper yourself.

[hoodwinking]

...those could be considered parties. This is more formal, though! More of a grown-up party! [even if she's not grown up...]

Oh, anyone who sees my dress and face and thinks it's fine to talk to me. Most of the officers here are boring, though. "I have a daughter at home your age", and blah blah blah. No wonder they're officers.

[breakfastmetaphors]

I'm not nervous, but this situation isn't optimal. I can't do my job like this.

[It's the truth. If he attempts to engage people in conversation, he'll be found out far too quickly. He can only blend in if he doesn't draw attention to himself. Once someone starts paying attention, they'll realize he doesn't fit in. Being able to convince someone that you belong somewhere you don't isn't a skill he has. Of his former squad, he and Q-Vier were generally kept as far from operations like this as possible.]

[breakfastmetaphors]

[A teenage girl. Another outsider for sure.]

I don't attend them by choice.

[He's only been invited to a handful as a guest, all of those within the last year on Module 77. He's attended more than that, of course, but only as part of missions. This one is no exception.]

[yatteyanyo]

You say that, but you certainly look nervous. Here, laugh at something I've said. -As a group of officers were passing, no less.-

[sun_goddess_sacrifice]

[Futo was uncomfortable, there were too many people, music that was strange and she couldn't find Link anywhere. She was growing overly aware that she was also not dressed properly for such a thing, not having had anyone to point out what was proper. It led to her wandering around until she spied Tojiko to the side.

...

Maybe if she turned back before the other noticed her.]

[yatteyanyo]

-It was too late for that. The timing had to have been some form of serendipity... or misfortune. Because at that moment, Tojiko turned towards Futo and for the first time since that fateful day at the pub... she locked eyes with her once closest companion...-

[sun_goddess_sacrifice]

[Futo was frozen for a moment, before quickly turning her eyes to a safer place, somewhere around Tojiko's nose. She didn't say anything, she couldn't think of anything appropriate to say.]

[uccellodifuoco]

[He's so tempted to just walk away and ignore this. After all Marco dragged him first into a stupid conga line.

Very tempted. But Marco had actual reasons to do it to him. And if the roles were reversed he wouldn't like to just be left behind like that, if it was a battlefield it would be one thing but... That's not the case.

So he moves and grabs Marco's hand before dragging him along with him.]

Sorry, kid, but he owes me something before he can do more dances in a line.

[Dragging away as fast as he can.]

[uccellodifuoco]

I'll enjoy it more once it's over, formal parties are not my thing, madam.

[The voice rings a bell, but he can't pinpoint it at the moment and he has heard enough people today to not be sure if she's another pirate or just one of the women he has had to talk with before coming for a reprise. Just in case that it's the later and to keep appearances, he does his best to be civil and formal enough.]

I hope that the same can't be said about you, it would be a waste if a lady wasn't able to enjoy this.

[myfayevalentine]

Really? What a pity. And here was me thinking you were waiting for a dancing partner...

*She smirks softly, teasing because she does recognise his voice, so knows he's here for reasons other than dancing*

Don't worry about us. Put a pretty lady in a room full of lonely men and we're bound to find some kind of entertainment...

*Faye glances around the room then back to him - she still doesn't know who he is or who he's with*

Comr here with...others that you sail with?

[myfayevalentine]

"Usually even the biggest loners have been dragged onto the dancefloor." In so saying, Faye linked up his arm in hers and stood up, attempting to pull him up with her.

[rebellions]

[Ragna considers that for a short moment, glancing around. Seems like his ungentlemanly behavior and sudden movement earned him a number of displeased looks from other guests. Feeling their glares on him doesn't make the Grim Reaper any more comfortable, but at least he appears to have realized he might need to forget about his usual habits for the evening.

The man lets out a sigh, scratching the back of his head a bit.]

... Right. Sorry, I'm not good with that kinda thing.

[He doesn't specify whether he's talking just about physical contact or the ball as a whole. To be honest, it's probably both.]

[alwaysgrumpy]

He jerked to a stop when she grabbed him, his whole body stiffening up in response. His normally calm demeanor shatered, eyes going wide as his free arm grabbed the bar top.

"Wh-what the hell are you doin'?"

[uccellodifuoco]

Yes, a lot of royalty. And a lot of monkeys dressed up in silk who think they can pass as royalty just because of that.

[This time his tone is even lower almost just a mutter, as he disguises it with taking a sip from his drink. He smirks after that, focusing on Marco again.]

I bet that you have a full dance card for tonight, don't you?

[fierybluebird]

[His eyes spark in amusement.]

Guilty, yoi.

This kind of thing is like a battlefield, but with lesser stakes and greater rewards.

[myfayevalentine]

"Trying to give you an education, if you wouldn't be so stubborn." It was difficult to drag himaway when he was standing so still like that. "Turns out wolf boys are heavy."

[alwaysgrumpy]

"My body is fairly dense. Part of what makes me durable, you know? It's hard to have super-strength if your bones and muscles aren't tough enough to handle that much force."

Eventually he relents, letting off a sigh as she gets him off the chair.

"Alright, I'm up. ALRIGHT. Stop tuggin' on my arm."

[thetruehistorian]

[Oh yes, she's seen his little corner of darkness. She finds it strange how the room just seems a bit dimmer wherever he happens to be, but after awhile Robin needs to let her hair down, so to speak, and he seems as close to a friend as she's likely to find. If nothing else, his dour expression will serve as an excellent deterrent for others looking their way. She moves herself into the hall his darkened doorway leads to and presses her back against the wall, letting out a soft, tired sigh.]

I hope you don't mind sharing your corner for a few minutes.

[myfayevalentine]

"Then you should be using that super-strength body for some dancing, shouldn't you?" Faye grinned when finally he stood, because she's mostly just pleased she is getting her own way. Then, out on the dancefloor, they she pulled them among the other slow dancing couples. "Just don't stand on my feet and you'll be doing alright." Next, Faye stood closely in front of him and lifted his arms to wrap them around her waist, then put her own arms around his neck. "See? It's not so hard."

[thetruehistorian]

[Robin curtsies, and though her dress isn't cut right for a proper bow, the low neckline sits at just the right angle to flash a rather enchanting view- at least to those with the disposition to be enchanted.]

My Lady. How could I be anything less than jubilant to find myself in such excellent company?

[thetruehistorian]

[If possible, her smile grows brighter.]

Indeed. I hope you're faring equally well.

[alwaysgrumpy]

"I'm pretty diminished right now, admittedly. Plus, I figured you'd keep needlin' me until I gave in."

As they settled into a pace, he was still somewhat awkward with the arm placement. His arms seemed to hover right over the fabric, not really making contact with her. He turned his eyes skyward.

"Y-yeah, whatever."

[myfayevalentine]

"Those are your excuses for wanting to dance with me?" She smirked and shook her head, but only slightly, not wanting to ruin her hair style. Faye slowly moved her hips in time to the music as they danced, and tilted her head as though trying to catch his eye. "Are you scared of me or something?" To rectify the lack of contact, she laced her arms tighter around his neck, pulling herself much closer to him.