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

Re: OTA - Early Evening

[alwaysgrumpy]

"Nice dress," Akira said, looking like he was sipping casually from a glass of wine as he spoke to her, "Think you could have cut it any lower? You'd better hope you don't catch anything on some guy's cuff-link, or there's gonna' be a wardrobe issue. Hear anything useful?"

[myfayevalentine]

"Akira, why would you say these things? I've had nothing but glowing compliments all evening." But she grinned at him, only teasing and far from being annoyed.

[alwaysgrumpy]

"Someone has to keep you anchored, so your inflated ego doesn't pull you into the ceiling," he snorted, trying to focus his hearing, "This party would happen when the moon is just at a sliver. My hearing is a little dodgy, now. Hope you're havin' good luck."

[myfayevalentine]

"Well, I appreciate the kindness you're doing me. "The moon can make you deaf? Or is your hearing just not as good as you like. And I'm having plenty of luck." She nodded towards the small pile of coins she has amassed.

[alwaysgrumpy]

"It's a werewolf thing. My level of ability waxes and wanes along with the lunar phase. In a day or two I'll be pretty much human."

[myfayevalentine]

"Aww, that's a pity. You'll have to be boring like the rest of us." She raised a brow towards his glass of wine, "But looks like you're making a good start. You'll be grabbing a girl to go dancing with next."

[alwaysgrumpy]

"You wish. The alcohol doesn't affect me right now. It would take a hell of a lot more than this, I wager. Even if I am somewhat diminished," he said, turning his head slightly to get a better bead on a distant conversation, "Man, these guys can blather on."

[myfayevalentine]

Faye motioned to her other side, where a collection of full glasses of champagne are lined up. "There's plenty of alcohol to keep you going if you're interested." She'd had a fair few drinks from admirers after all. "Mhm, they're rather chatty." Here she turned to give a Navy officer a small smile and waved back. "It'll be useful though, I hope."

[alwaysgrumpy]

"I think I'll just continue nursing this one. I've seen enough people make fools of themselves with alcohol flowing."

[myfayevalentine]

"A good idea too, considering events that might take place later this evening."

[alwaysgrumpy]

"Might is the operative word. I have no idea WHAT will happen, but I know it'll be something bad. Something could probably bite us all in the ass. I suggest you and your crew have a quick exit strategy in place."

[myfayevalentine]

Faye grinned and shook her head slowly, "For starters you might want to keep your voice down. We're all here to have a pleasant evening, remember? And you needn't worry about my crew, or me."

[alwaysgrumpy]

"I always worry, and I'm usually right to. I can't help it, I've got a sixth sense for bad situations."

[myfayevalentine]

Faye smiled and placed a hand lightly on his shoulder, "That's very sweet of you. But I can hold my own, and so can most of us here, I imagine."

[alwaysgrumpy]

"Everybody thinks that, powers or not. Then things go to Hell and there's no back-up plans," he huffed, "Why is everyone so bull-headed about dealin' with the Navy? It'd be better work on ways we can avoid 'em, entirely."

[myfayevalentine]

Faye took a quick step forward, standing very close, but she needed to be so that she could lower her voice and still be heard, "Be that as it may, I'm not sure the middle of this ball is the right place to be talking like this." Her eyes scanned the room for anyone who might have listened into their conversation.

[alwaysgrumpy]

"I know how to keep my voice low enough to avoid detection, Faye. This ain't the first time I've had to sneak around. It's just us, trust me."

[myfayevalentine]

Faye took a step back then, since it was unnecessary to be so close. "Can't be too careful, though. You never know who is listening in.."

[alwaysgrumpy]

"If it makes you feel better, I'll speak a bit softer."

He shifted his position, switching to her opposite side and sitting down. After he ordered some snacks, he made a show of looking like he was just enjoying the food, while speaking under his breath near her.

"Better? Is this more covert?"

[myfayevalentine]

Faye laughed as he came and sat next to her, then took one of her nearby glasses of champagne. She sipped at it slowly, tipping her head towards a group of rather upset-looking men nearby. "Did you know I declined to sit with those men several times, and you've just come and taken their prime spot?"

[alwaysgrumpy]

"If they have a problem, they can come talk to me about it. If a guy isn't willing to fight for his territory, it ain't really his spot."

[myfayevalentine]

"Fight for your territory, hmm?" Faye grinned as she quoted him, shrugging as she took another sip. "Guess for now it's your spot, unless someone comes to challenge you."

[alwaysgrumpy]

"Look at these goofs," he muttered, turning on his seat to look out over the dance floor, "People shouldn't dance drunk. It doesn't seem to help with coordination."

[myfayevalentine]

Faye leaned closer to Akira as she looked past him and onto the dancefloor, "No, they shouldn't. It's not classy. What about you? You wanna go up there and show them how it's done instead?"

[alwaysgrumpy]

"Sorry, never much learned that sort of thing," he shrugged, "I'm not exactly a big socializer. Never much saw a need for it."