high_seas | Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

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Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

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.

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[Naesala stays off to the side of the room for the most part, observing. He's been to an event or two hosted by humans before, though this is the first time in attendance disguised as one himself, and it certainly makes it easier to put on the charm. In spite of earlier objections, he's starting to like this kind of idea. It's a moot point with laguz, of course, he can just pick everyone apart by scent alone, but sneaky things like this are right up his alley.

While he's redone his hair only to hide his pointed ears, Naesala continues to listen in on conversations around the room. He gives off a relaxed vibe, but human clothing and a restrictive cloak for his wings makes him a pretty uncomfortable raven otherwise. It doesn't affect his fake cheery disposition toward these fine upstanding naval officers and other associated nobility, though, so he keeps moving through the room schmoozing it up. Feel free to bother him.]

[It takes her a moment to get used to something this huge and grand. Leanne takes a moment to catch her breath as she has been catching the eyes of a few men here and there but those are not the ones she is interested in. She smiles at last as she catches Naesala's scent and weaves her way towards him with a small smirk on her face. Though whoooooa, he is look really fine right now. Please excuse her as she starts to check him out now.]

I hope that I am not interrupting you.

[He, too, catches her nearing him, but doesn't turn until she speaks up. Now, Leanne's a sight on any normal occasion. But there was something about her new dressing today that leaves him speechless for a minute.

Damn.

...Alright, reel it in. He can disguise the pause as just taking the time to check her out, himself. Though this being a masquerade ball and both laguz currently under mask, he decides he can have a little fun with it.]

Of course not, my dear. What can I do for a such a stunning beauty like yourself?

(Leanne tilts her head at the silence. Does he not like it? Is the silence a seal of approval? A part of her worries a bit before when he finally speaks. Oh, oh my, a giggle to show her amusement and a little pink tint to her cheeks appears .)

I ask only for your brief company before all of the dancing starts. (She now just semi-struts up to him to close the distance between them.)

Your wish is my command.

[Naesala gives a slight incline of his head as she walks over, a little too tired with human formalities to give her a full bow.]

Only brief?

It pleases me to hear that.

(Still smirking she moves in close enough to rest a hand on his shoulder.)

Yes, unless you can think of a way for me to stay in your company longer.

I could think of a few things... [trails off and leaves that to the imagination] But I wouldn't want to take up all of your time. I expect you'll be quite popular tonight.

[Only half-joking, really, but connsidering how high the stakes are tonight he'd be lying if he said he wasn't going to try and keep an eye on her when things got dicey.]

Oh do enlighten me on those things. [She has a couple of guesses but probably not the same as he is thinking.] I hope to be popular with the right people but hopefully be most popular with you.

[Oh yes, of some of the other party goers, Naesala is getting the looks of envy for this.]

Nothing that can be mentioned in company like this, I'm afraid. [shrugs nonchalantly]

[and then, as she says the latter, he leans in a little closer to her with a smile] Already done.

[Naesala relishes those looks like the smug bastard he is.]

I may have to fear then what you are plotting.

[She blinks before smiling even more.] I am glad then. [Making eye contact now as she smiles.]

I am surprise that there are not more women trying to chat you up.

Fear? My plans? Never. Don't worry about it.

[He gives the room a once-over before returning eye contact himself, giving another shrug to the shoulder her hand isn't resting on.]

Well, I've only just begun my rounds. I don't want to overwhelm the floor with my presence all at once.

Yes, fear them. You are hardly ever up to any good~

[Circling him a little, keeping a finger in contact with him as she circles.]

How gracious of you to be so considerate. [A small giggle as she stops her circling and just smiles up at him.] Try not to seduce any of the ladies here.

[Naesala just raises one eyebrow in amusement, tracking her movement. When she stops, he tilts his head to the side a little and puts one hand on his hip.]

As long as you try to keep from enamoring any of these men, hm?

[She quirks a brow at him.]

I do not know what you speak of. I don't see any here but. [Raises a finger to try and tap his nose with it.] You.

[Though now she glances towards the men now that has been watching her. Nope, there isn't one in the group that is catching her eye to use her own set of charms on. She lets out a small huff when one of them makes a gesture towards her to try and lure her towards him.]

[He chuckles, putting on a smirk for the man and walking out in front of Leanne to obscure his view. Yeah, don't think so, buddy. Move along.

When he turns back to her, though, he momentarily drops the flirting in favor of a serious look.]

Promise me you'll be extra careful tonight.

[Oh that earned a glare from the man. Oh no no no. You are not gonna deny him that.

Leanne however watches Naesala's movements before blinking at the sudden seriousness.]

I promise, Naesala. But I will have to try and mingle with the nobility and high ranking officers here..... [She doesn't quite like that thought but she had to no matter what.]

When the time nears I will try and get away from them. But you too, promise me that you will be careful as well.

[Find someone else to bother, guy.

Naesala sighs at her words, but does give her a little smile.] I know. But I trust the nobility here about as much as the beorc nobility on Tellius. If anyone gives you more trouble than you can handle, please whistle for me. Or Marco, or even Thatch.

And don't worry about me. I'm always prepared in the event things go sour. [he nods] But I, too, promise. Alright?

[He will just watch and wait till she is all by herself before advancing.

Leanne listens to his words before leaning up tog give him a gentle kiss on the cheek.] Do not worry, I shall do just that. You will be the first that I shall whistle for.

I know but I still cannot help but to worry about you. Thank you for promising that to me.

Good. [He'd be relieved, if only there wasn't so much danger involved. Now he just has to make sure she gets out safely during the ambush...] I'll make sure to keep one ear out just for you.

[In response to her peck, he reaches up and grazes the side of Leanne's cheek with his hand, under the guise of shifting some of her hair to better hide her pointed ears.]

Hey, I've been putting on fake smiles and pleasantries with beorc nobles for years. I've got this well in hand. [there's a fake smile now, aimed at a passing couple who had the audacity to eye the two laguz] Come to think of it; for your first time, you're not doing badly at all.

I shall pray that the need won't come.

[She goes to smile warmly at him at the graze, letting out a soft chuckle.]

You have been interacting with beorc nobles? [Well yeah duh, Leanne. She blinks at how dumb that question sounded.] I mean beyond what you did. You think so?

[She pauses as the passing couple walks by, offering them a small smile of her own.] I am worried that they may find out that my wings are real. [And really, she should have chosen a better disguise then this one.]

I do a lot of things, Leanne. Some of them involve beorc. [He shrugs, intentionally casual, not outwardly showing how "what you did" bothered him.] And of course; I know a natural when I see one.

[As she changes topics to her wings, his own itch underneath his cloak. Neither of them must be comfortable.]

The thought most likely won't cross their minds. [Not when laguz, or even winged individuals, aren't prevalent in this world, he thinks. But, frowning, he notices how she's bound hers.] They don't hurt like that, do they?

I see. Perhaps you can teach me some of your tricks then. [She goes to drop the subject with a small nod.] I am glad to have your approval then.

[For once, she is gonna be glad of Ace's plans if it means to get her wings out of it's bounds.]

I am glad to hear that and they do a little. [They hurt more then that but she tries to brush it off.] What about your own wings?

[except...] Ah, but I'm quite sure you're the one with the greatest trick of all, tonight.

Only a little? [sneaking suspicion she's downplaying that, but he won't make a scene] Hm. We'll see if we can't get get this night over with quickly. Mine are only held hidden by keeping them tucked flat; it would have been smarter to bind them. Still not the most comfortable.

[He's sure he's strong enough to keep them from quivering until The Reveal.......but he does grimace a little upon eyeing her bindings.]

[She blinks before giggling.] For tonight, yes I do.

Yes, a little. [She doesn't want him to worry too much about her wings.] I shall pray that we will. [She frowns and gains a worried expression on her face.] Perhaps next time there is a ball... We should have one for just us so we won't have to worry about our wings.

[She blinks and sees that grimace, she reaches over to cup his cheek with a hand.] Don't worry, it won't be all night long.

[Naesala glances around, glad they're speaking hushed enough.] Perhaps. We did have a chance to stay back with the other...non-beorc, and their little get-together.

[He just couldn't pass up the opportunity. And Leanne...he's still not sure why Leanne offered her services, to be honest.]

I know. Doesn't make it any easier though, hm? [He manages to smile under her touch, to dispel her own worry.] If it gets to be too much, we might be able to find a secluded spot for an intermission to stretch them.

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Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

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