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

OTAish

[uccellodifuoco]

[Despite his attempts to be the most precious wallflower ever... Ikki will probably end having to dance a couple of times, he finds it to be a perfect excuse to back off from a group conversation when one of the wives or girlfriends or whatever they are want to dance, but their partner doesn't feel like it. A polite offering of temporary escorting her finds both the woman and the man pleased at the solution, and Ikki stuck dancing with a stranger, though he uses it to the best of his ability to gather some information. Many people underestimate how much a wife actually knows about her husband's work and how much some men talk when having fun with their woman.

However, those are rare occasions so for the most part he remains as a wallflower, doing his best to keep his Cosmo and temper in check. It grows harder as time passes and he feels the festivities to be dragging on rather than to pass quickly so the real "fun" gets started. He's free to be asked or nudged at to get him to ask for a dance, but he does not accept everyone who approaches him preferring at times to remain as a wallflower.]

[song_princess]

[Hey! Hey Ikki! Here comes probably one of the last people you want to see. Leanne, walks up to him and holds out her hand towards him.]

Want to dance with me? It will help distract you for a little while.

[uccellodifuoco]

[With his current mood, she's indeed low on the list of people he would like to be with, not because of her but because of himself. Too many dark thoughts, too much anger and he's not sure if the barriers he usually uses will be enough to protect her from them. Still, she's a far better option than others and if he has brought himself to dance with some marine wives or girlfriends or sisters or whatever... He can dance with Leanne.]

You make weird choices regarding how to spend your fun time here, princess.

[Still he takes her hand reluctantly and speaks in a way casual enough to pass the title as an affectionate nickname of sorts.]

But I suppose we can give your theory a little try.

CONGA LINE

[fierybluebird]

[Try though you might Ikki, even you cannot resist the pull of the conga line. At least not when Marco drags you forcibly into it!]

[uccellodifuoco]

[Ah, no. Not this. This kind of thing is the most stupid piece of shit that has ever existed related to parties.]

What the hell do you think you're doing?

[fierybluebird]

Conga!!

[You cannot dampen his enthusiasm.]

[DANCE MAN DANCE.]

[uccellodifuoco]

No.

[And that's final, he tries to escape from Marco.]

I'm not going to do that stupid thing.

[It's not even a dance, it's the most basic proof of what a bunch of sheep humans are.]

[fierybluebird]

[YOINK. Marco is really not so easy to escape from.]

[And whispers quietly in Ikki's ear in whistles.]

The marine in front of you. Check his pockets for a silver watch.

[uccellodifuoco]

[He.

Doesn't.

Want.

To.

Do.

This.

Ikki fumes a little at Marco's hold and his frown doesn't relax even after the whisper. So that's the objective of this thing? Was it really necessary to do a conga line?

It has been years since he had to steal something, from a house or from a person. But it's not the kind of thing one forgets and now he is taller and faster. Much faster. He gets the watch in a question of seconds, initially placing it in one of his pockets, too fast and silently for anyone to notice that he even moved his hands. He doesn't say anything, though, slightly leaning his head back and turning it to eye Marco. "Now what?"]

[fierybluebird]

[Marco can't explain it yet, but his eyes sparkle cheerfully, and he holds up three fingers over Ikki's shoulder. Third on the list. Bingo.]

[uccellodifuoco]

[He should have said so earlier, suddenly Ikki finds that he doesn't mind this conga thing so much. He also takes the chance to make sure to memorize the Cosmos of the man in front of him, even if it may not be needed.

Still he may try to leave, or silently ask if he can leave, after a few more minutes. He may not mind it that much, but he still finds it ridiculous.]

[fierybluebird]

[Yup, so long as they stay long enough for pretenses, Marco soon hops out with Ikki and gives a silent brofist.]

[Good job!]

[uccellodifuoco]

[Sure, sure, he's just glad to be out of there.

Though before heading back to his wall Ikki stops and eyes Marco, a smirk on his lips.]

Up for another dance?

[Just joking.]

[fierybluebird]

[Laughs.] Want to tango?

[myfayevalentine]

Faye had danced round the hall a few times now, each with a different member of the Navy. One or two had seemed reasonably nice, though boring, while the other was just such an arrogant idiot. So Faye was done dancing for now. With a glass of champagne in hand, she wandered along the edge of dancefloor, greeting others with playful smiles. At this rate, she had spoken to the majority of the men at the ball. Though there was one trying to blend into the wall, it seemed, so Faye made a beeline for him and stood right next to him, "Enjoying your evening?"

[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?

[uccellodifuoco]

[Even if he wasn't here for other reasons, dancing would be something he would only do due necessity. However, he says nothing, instead keeping an eye on her, by her words it doesn't seem like she's one of the women he has talked with already. Her question ends confirming it though Ikki doesn't even flinch at it and he answers naturally, even if the fake words still leave a bad taste in his mouth.]

Oh, but, of course, madam. Several members of the ship I'm assigned to have been invited as well, I heard that a couple of them are even getting a medal in honour of their performances in the recent battles. I'm not one of them, though, for better or worse.

What about you, madam? Is there a lucky man who got to enjoy your company when coming here?

[myfayevalentine]

*She listens to his little spiel, then turns towards him, throwing a look that is a Are You Serious? kind of look. Still, she plays along and pats his chest lightly*

Hmm, who knows, you might have a battle rather soon, and a cute medal to go with it too*

*She smirks at his final comments, and there's an expression on her face that suggests she's trying not to laugh*

Well... I did always think I wasn't old enough to be a 'madam'... But sadly, yes, I've arrived without a man. I haven't been without the company, though.

[uccellodifuoco]

You think so? I can hardly wait though medals aren't something I actually long for.

[The only medals he needs are the number of enemies he has downed. And hopefully, by the end of the night, the knowledge that some of those assholes won't be able to have a peaceful dream ever again at the very least. A smile is painted on his lips at the thought, but he makes sure to pass it as just an answer to her words.]

I would have been shocked to hear otherwise, it's already a surprise that there's no one to properly escort you. But I suppose it's a vain worry, after all, there are nothing but rightful members of the Navy here.

[He has to pause as to not actually laugh at his own words.]

I apologize though, I didn't pretend to insult you with the way I addressed you. Would milady be better?

[myfayevalentine]

*Faye turns so that she is facing him, rather than standing beside him, and attempts to give him the flattest stare she can from behind her mask. A couple of men walk behind her so she gives a laugh and responds to what was just said, just to be sure that their conversation seemed normal*

Oh, you're a darling. And I'm surprised you don't have yourself a lady friend with you this evening!

*When the coast was clear, she pressed herself against him so that she could whisper, but to everyone else it might just look like flirting*

You realise that you're talking bullshit. You can cut the crap with me. Besides, it doesn't suit you.

[uccellodifuoco]

My love is only for justice, milady.

[He chuckles with light amusement and an apologetic tone mixed on it.

He tenses when she presses closer, and his eyes gleam dangerously, not appreciating the act. But he also realizes that it's needed so she can whisper and he can hear, so he doesn't step back. Besides, it would probably look weird and attract attention to them if he suddenly stepped back or something. So he forces himself to lean towards her as if flirting back or something in order to answer with another whisper.]

I realize it more than you do, milady. I've had to say things like that several times now, but there are ears everywhere tonight as well as many eyes. As much as I would like to, I can't cut the chase short just yet.

[myfayevalentine]

*Faye does eventually stand back from him, noting that unlike most men, he hadn't attempted to touch her in anyway, not even a hand on her shoulder. She had listened to what he had to say, and realises that his problem is maybe not so much his acting skills but that he doesn't know how to speak nicely to women*

You can tone it down a bit, and you'd still fit in fine.

[uccellodifuoco]

[He doesn't know how to speak nicely to anyone, period. And his acting skills are non existent anyway, because he has never really needed them.]

You were the one who started asking about if I had come with someone. Should I have replied negatively?

[myfayevalentine]

Not negatively, but an idea of who you might be allianced with might be more useful?

*Faye spoke quietly, as though she was having to really spell it out for him. She just wanted to know what crew he was with, really. For no real reason other than her own curiosity*