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

OPEN!

[cherrybombpie]

[Who wants to ask Kodachi for a dance? You know you want to.]

[She's currently silhouetted against a tall cathedral-style window, waiting for a partner.]

[Come on over and say hi.]

[hiken]

[Ace returned from the powder room, fixing his collar. He had just gotten back from physically assaulting a man, tying him up and leaving him hidden in a supply closet. It was just the same as any of his other parties.

He bowed to Kodachi, his smile wide.]

I'm back. Sorry, I had to step out for just a minute.

[cherrybombpie]

[Kodachi laughed, dipping into a proper curtsy in response to his dignified bow.]

[And to be honest, she wouldn't have had any complaints if she knew what he'd been up to. She, herself, had put a Navy bloke to sleep and stuffed him beneath the banquet table after he'd tried to wrap a hand around her waist.]

It is good that you've returned; I've missed your company.

[hiken]

[It was a good thing he didn't notice that, or else he would have had to be deathly serious and laugh himself into a fit in the middle of the ballroom, utterly destroying his subtle presence in its entirety.]

You did? I didn't take you for a wallflower.

[cherrybombpie]

I kept myself busy but I was waiting for you.

[She had a drink or two (non-alcoholic, of course), partook of a few canapes, beat up a random Navy lech . . . you know, the usual.]

After all, you owe me a dance. ♥

Shall we?

[hiken]

I do, but you shouldn't let yourself get bored. [He assumed. Ace didn't know about the whole mauled noble lying bleeding under the table, anyway.

Though, as if avoiding protest, he slid one hand behind his back, bowed and waited for Kodachi's curtsy before extending his arm.]

You've got hours of time. Me, I've got boring reconnaissance to handle.

[cherrybombpie]

Oh, I wasn't; no need to worry about me.

[She glided toward him, slipping her small hand into his and dipping down in a bow before straightening up.]

That simply means you must have fun when you can.

[She paused, and then - ]

You have freckles. How cute!

[allendsmeat]

[this party is really boring. There isn't even any punching going on. Or cool music or dancing around a bonfire. The meat wasn't even very big. He goes to stand by the green lady in the window, munching a plate of small chicken legs.]

There should be a bonfire. [because what kind of party was it without one?] Or singing.

[boo]

[cherrybombpie]

[A bonfire . . . singing . . . why, if that wasn't the perfect scenario for a date.]

You know, that reminds me of the date that I'd like to have with a friend of mine.

[Kodachi smiled at Luffy, quirking her head to one side coquettishly.]

It would be nice to dance around a bonfire by the beach. The sand in one's toes, and the moon and stars aglow . . . Ah, bliss!

[allendsmeat]

[startles as he recognizes the voice and ]

Kodacchan?! [Peer peer. She looked a lot different than he expected and not like a fence at all! ...and she was talking about a date. With bonfires and sand and stuff. Which was exciting! But at the same time--

Wow it's weird his legs are all wiggly

He swallows.]

Um... We don't have to taste each other right?

[and he might be peering at you from behind a chair at this point]

[cherrybombpie]

[Only one person called her that, and she blinked before realizing precisely who it was that she was talking to. No wonder that voice was so familiar.]

Mr. Luffy!

[She beamed at him, clapping her hands together. How exciting to finally be able to meet a friend!]

I'm so happy to see you! You look nice -

[Pause.]

Why would we taste each other?

[What???]

[allendsmeat]

[he moves to sit on the chair backwards, still peering at her cautiously.]

Sanji says that's what people do if they date. [sort of. He may have mixed things around a bit] But I don't want to cuz it's kind of weird.

[curls his toes a little. Yes he still is wearing sandals, why do you ask?]

But I'm glad to see Kodacchan, too!

[even if it is a little scary. Sort of like Nami is scary but in a different way]

[cherrybombpie]

[Kodachi thought about it before recalling that Sanji-san was that chef who wanted to cook things for her day and night.]

Perhaps it's because he's a cook and he feels that people should exercise their sense of taste on each other. [Which is just strange, okay.] You probably shouldn't listen to him; he seems a bit strange. [Yes, that was the pot calling the kettle black.]

[She sank into a deep curtsy, peering up at him from beneath thick lashes.]

The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Luffy.

[rebellions]

[While Ragna claimed several times over he's not going to take care of Kodachi during the ball, he eventually makes an effort to seek her out among the guests to check up on her. Sure, she fits in this kind of place far better than the Grim Reaper does, and she can certainly handle herself quite well as she proved to him back on the Cahawba, but he'd still rather keep an eye on her just in case the hell breaks loose.

Not that she'll hear him admit as much.]

Having fun?

[Full disclosure: he's definitely NOT here to ask her for a dance.]

[cherrybombpie]

I am, indeed.

[In fact, Kodachi looked very much like the star of the evening; she curtsied and smiled and danced as though she belonged in this sort of world. Which, in fact, she did. And the chaos that was to follow - well, that was part of her world too.]

[She smiled up at him daintily.]

Are you worried about me? ♥

[rebellions]

[Figured as much. She does appear to feel pretty damn comfortable here, and the Grim Reaper can't help but think this is what they call "life of the party," only more... dignified than the usual definition. Oh well, nothing wrong with it as long as she's enjoying herself.

"Worried"...? He wouldn't say so; there's nothing to worry about for now. The worst that could happen would be some shady pirate guy being a pain the ass for her, but the man's sure she could deal with that on her own just fine.]

... Not really. You seem to be into that kinda nonsense.

[Unlike Ragna, who, having spent half of his life in a church and the other half on the run from the law, has never even had a chance to participate it stuff like this.]

[cherrybombpie]

[She knew that for Ragna to be worried about her was laughable, but she still pouted when he said otherwise. A lady liked to be fretted on - though, of course, Ragna was the complete opposite of a gentleman.]

I was raised into such a life, and I do enjoy it.

[Kodachi looked up at him, tilting her head to one side in thought.]

Have you ever danced before?

[rebellions]

[The day Ragna frets over a girl will most likely be the day the Earth stops turning. He doesn't seems to notice or understand the girl's reaction, either.]

What, you're a nobility or some shit?

[The actual answer to Kodachi's question is "Yes, five minutes ago and it was terrible," but there's no way Ragna is gonna say that.]

... Do I look like the type who'd dance to you?

[cherrybombpie]

I am, indeed. However, you don't care about things like that, do you?

[Kodachi didn't mention it because it was a mundane piece of trivia as far as she was concerned. There were much more interesting things about her person that she liked to put emphasis on, like the fact that she was a martial artist.]

[She raised a brow and looked him over.]

You look deprived of dancing, that's true.

[She held her hand out to him.]

Shall we?

[fierybluebird]

[....]

[It's a problem.]

[He can't tell if it's the right girl or not without hearing her voice, and he doesn't actually feel like wasting a dance on a stranger, but after seeing her handle the D brothers without much trouble, Marco's pretty sure it's got to be Miss Black Rose.]

[So he goes over and gives a sweeping bow.]

May I have the honor of the next dance, Miss?

[Please don't kill him Robin, he just wants to talk up Ace, honest!]

[cherrybombpie]

[Well, well. If that wasn't a familiar voice. She was still growing accustomed to the fact that he wasn't as chipper as advertised, but my, he was gallant.]

You may, Mr. Marco.

[Kodachi sank into a graceful curtsy, peering up at him from lowered lashes.]

I should have perhaps worn the flower crown you gave me. I'm keeping it fresh; I do have a way with flowers, if I may say so myself.

[fierybluebird]

[Grins as he leads her out to the dance floor.]

As expected from someone with the name of Black Rose, eh? It's probably just as well though, not too many of the noblewoman wear real flowers these days.

just got off hiatus and ready to tag once more! o/

[cherrybombpie]

A pity, I think. I believe that a woman of repute such as myself would know their horticulture.

[She slipped her hand into his and smiled up at him ever-so-daintily as she moved into position for a dance. Kodachi then flawlessly moved into the steps of the waltz, as though she was born to dance - which, in fact, she probably was.]

Do you dance often, Mr. Marco?

\o/

[fierybluebird]

They ought to, but such nature is often viewed as more common among farmers or workers than the leisure class, sadly.

[And Marco is relieved. Even dancing with Robin, she was so on guard thanks to the navy around them. Kodachi, on the other hand truly seems to be enjoying the dance for the sake of the dance.]

Unfortunately I rarely have much opportunity for it at sea. And even more rarely do I have such an experienced partner. One could easily take you for a professional dancer, Miss Kodachi.

[cherrybombpie]

[Indeed, she was. Life just wasn't right without dance, as far as she was concerned. In fact, she danced everyday; she danced when she cooked, when she prowled the ship's masts, when she did her laundry, and so on, and so forth.]

You flatter me, Mr. Marco.

[Kodachi let out a trill of laughter, twirling around gracefully in his arms.]

How long have you been a sailor?