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

OTA

[thatched]

[he's standing in a corner with his arms folded, watching the comings and goings and not in the most impressive of moods. Still, he'll talk friendly enough if anyone chooses to engage him but he's watching, always watching]

[fierybluebird]

[Sneaks up on Thatch and plays a game of GUESS WHO by covering his eyes and testing his reflexes.]

[Suicidal?]

[For another person perhaps, but with Marco, he's testing Thatch's haki too.]

[thatched]

[jumps about a mile and already has his hand on the hilt of his cutlass before he realizes who it is. Damn.]

Hey, sweetheart.

[why, yes, he is sounding casual about this. It's possible you won't notice]

[fierybluebird]

[Lmao, nope.]

[Marco notices and burst out laughing before giving Thatch a hug.]

Sorry, eh. Couldn't resist.

[thatched]

Heh.

[ruffles Marco's hair before going back and folding his arms. He should probably say something more than that, though and absently chews on a toothpick he got from one of the bacon wrapped things]

Enjoying yourself?

[fierybluebird]

[He could swear something's off, but he's not sure what, and a week away from Thatch might be throwing him off.]

Aye.

[Grins.] I'm surprised you're not dancing or surrounded by a dozen ladies, eh. [Aha, that could also be it.]

[thatched]

I'd stand out too much. [waves a and] I'm surprised you're not spending more time with your date.

[fierybluebird]

Believe me, I will be, but I've gone a week without my favorite brother, you think I'm going to ignore that?

[thatched]

Time and place, brother.

[and this was neither. He had to work. To mark. To spy. To try not to think of the inevitable fallout and idea that kids were kids and that in the end, maybe you could only trust your nakama.

The sudden thought makes a edged smile cross his face before he can contain it and he tries to calm himself somewhat]

You sure you wouldn't prefer to hang out at the after party?

[fierybluebird]

[Slowly an evil grin spreads across Marco's face.]

I will.

But you better not get so caught up in work, eh? It's a party. Enjoy yourself.

[thatched]

I refuse.

[he wants to hold onto the darkness as long as he can. Moreover he needs to do this. He needs to work. He doesn't have his division here and he needs to make this as seamless as possible with Ace behind the charge. Anyway, he's not interested in enjoying himself with the navy.]

1/2

[fierybluebird]

[No.]

[Something is definitely wrong.]

Outside. Now.

2/2

[fierybluebird]

I need a cigarette. [It's a feeble cover, but he's dead serious despite the instantly casual grin.]

[thatched]

[weren't you paying attention to a word he sai-- thought? Why can't you just let things be for once, damn bird.]

I'm fine. [but he shoved his hands in his pockets and went out anyway because otherwise Marco would pester him and an order was an order.]

Give me one, too, you unbasted turkey.

[hiken]

[Ace didn't mind cornering Thatch at all. He set one hand against the wall with his normal thuggish posture, leaning in a bit so he could talk all hush hush.]

Hey, Thatch. I'm feelin' a little bit guilty.

[thatched]

[you know you lose a lot of intimidation when you are not only much shorter than him but he's seen you...for so damn long. He sighs softly]

What did you do now?

[forgive him if he sounds a little long suffering. He's not in the best of moods]

[hiken]

Well, it's cause-- I dunno. We're messin' up this party, so it shouldn't be a big deal, but so far it's a lotta fun. [Even if it was mostly spying, dancing just to get better looks at people and plan to ruin it at the end.]

But, everybody on the Moon's left outta the big show 'cause they couldn't blend in or don't like what we're up to.

We should have a big party when we're back.

[thatched]

[he sighs again and tries to calm himself. Honestly, it wasn't the kind of party Namur would want to go to. As for those who were against it...]

Aye, agreed with the party...

[he glances at Ace before looking over the party]

It's not going to be the last time, you know. Unless of course you decide to take a different course.

[would he say no to Ace softening around the edges? No... But it would be hard to follow and there was no telling what Marco would say or do. But he could work in the shadows if need be. It wasn't anything he hadn't done before]

[hiken]

Hmmm. [Ace made a noise, a bit curious. He smiled at Thatch all the same, reached over to lightly punch the older man's shoulder.]

I wouldn't do this if I thought it would be the last. If I thought this would all end here, I'd never want to come to this thing.

[He reached up to take off his hat and roll it on his fingertips.]

I'm taking the course I feel like being on, Thatch. As far as I've come--no one's getting in my way, again. From here on out... [Ace reached up to set his hat back on, beginning to walk back towards the party.]

We're looking down at them from the summit.

[thatched]

[he'll let you have your moment because damn he's proud. Though he'll say]

Aye, Captain.

[at your back because at that moment he can really believe it. Believe all that Ace can become and more. Maybe he won't be Pops. Maybe no one can be Pops but Pops, but for now, Ace was the next best thing. The new generation. Thatch was caught between watching him go and smooshing his freckled cheeks between his hands.]

[hiken]

Gahhh-- [He expected it and didn't expect it. Part of Ace wanted Thatch to just shed a tear and let him walk off and the other half of Ace knew Thatch was a jerk and couldn't let him get away and look cool for even a second.]

[thatched]

[no, he's going to let you get away with it. Partly because he feels you've earned it and partly so you can be wondering whether or not he's going to do something about it. Trolling is a fine art and Thatch is a master.]

[hiken]

[He paused and turned.]

Wait, do you want any food? I can bring some up.

[thatched]

[that made him laugh]

If you can actually get food from the table and back here, I'll be impressed. [he folds his arms and grins] You can't cheat and bring back vegetables either.

[hiken]

[Ace paused and stared at Thatch.]

Why?

[Aside from the obvious eating everything ever.]