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

ELISSA DANCES - OTA, Especially those on her dance card!

[elissacousland]

Once at the party, Elissa wastes no time in making her way to the dance floor. If she isn't dancing with someone from the Navy, she is twirling around the floor with those who promised her a dance! Feel free to cut in, offer your promised dance, or ask for a dance.

Her goal for the evening is to dance with the highest ranking Naval officer who is present - and there may or may not be a wager riding on the outcome.

[fierybluebird]

Marco isn't actually an officer, but he is sporting the rank of a lesser lieutenant!

And he gives her a formal bow. "If I may have the courtesy of the next dance, your beauty has captivated me, and I wonder if your wit will as well, Miss."

There, see? EVERYONE EXCEPT ROBIN he can put on the charm. Robin though? Nope. He might as fall over his own tongue for all the knots. Oi. Oh wait, he can focus.

Sup Elissa? Having fun?

[elissacousland]

This man's voice is familiar, so Elissa lifts her head to curiously look at him through the holes in her mask. With a delighted smile, she extends a hand to Marco while laughingly saying, "Something tells me that you are one of my new favorite people as well as a man who has previously agreed to dance with me tonight. It only remains to discover your identity to be entirely sure."

[fierybluebird]

"It's most probably the case, though I'm quite flattered to hear you say so, Miss Elissa." Does knowing her identity in advance count? "I must say, that hat is a nice touch."

[elissacousland]

"Why thank you, ser. I am quite pleased with the efforts of my dressmaker," she admits with a small inclination of her head. "She exceeded my expectations."

The orchestra announces a tango as its next piece which brings an outright grin to Elissa's features. Lowering her voice, she murmurs, "You aren't Thatch, but something about your voice makes me think of him which means..."

She winks, "Marco?"

[fierybluebird]

"Aye," Marco grinned cheerfully, "Being linked to my brother is one of the best compliments I can receive so I thank you for that, eh?" He laughed softly, "Though if we were standing side by side, I'm not sure you'd still confuse us."

He took his place for the tango, lining up and helping Elissa grab her spot.

[elissacousland]

This dance was new to Elissa and made her just a touch nervous as it required more of a performance than mere participation. Still, she broadly grinned up at Marco and offered him a wink as the music started. "I do hope to meet him, later, but you were topmost on my list. The flower crown you sent to me was lovely. It is hanging upon my wall now that it has dried."

Step, step... she was in danger of focusing too much upon the movements of her feet and not her handsome partner!

[fierybluebird]

"I'm glad," he grinned softly, admittedly not focusing on the dance as much as he could have. He had a million other things on his mind, and the mention of Thatch reminded him that he hadn't seen his brother at the faire, so he needed to hunt him down at some point. "Thatch is the tall one with thatch-colored hair, of course."

He gently led her in the steps, ready to cover for any missteps with his own moves, and faintly wished his brother Izou was here for this. "And how about the rest of your ship. Are they getting promoted this evening as well?"

[elissacousland]

"You know, I am not entirely sure where they are. I have seen Dear H and danced with him, but none of us arrived together. In fact, before attending the faire, I procured a room at an inn where I might hang up my gown and comfortably prepare for the party," she confessed in amusement.

"I did find an unexpected friend and we had a laugh about the possibility that I have danced or flirted with others like us without realizing it."

[orderispeace]

Finding Elissa in the crowd was a simple enough task, few glowed quite as brightly blue when his special skill was employed. He singled her out, weaving his way through the sea of red tinged Navy until he was at her side.

"You seem to have a flair for dance, it's a pity none of your partners thus far have shared your skill."

[elissacousland]

Oh, that voice. She would know it anywhere, if only for the fact that it far-too-often caused her to physically react when pitched just so - a little frisson up her spine, butterflies in her belly, or even an uncharacteristic weakness in her knees. Such reactions should have been warning signs that she was growing far too attached to the speaker, but it was much too late for any warnings to be heeded at this point.

Tilting her head, Elissa turned to Haytham as her lips quirked into a teasing smirk. "Are you offering to show them how it is done?" she asked.

[orderispeace]

"I should be able to manage something more respectable than this lot has been capible of."

A statement dryly said but with no biting edge, in the end it was only a small jest. There were some fine dancers here and while fully trained in the art of dance, he was by no means a master of it. Still when the music began to play he held out a hand to sweep the extraordinary lady into a Waltz.

"You found a..."

The small ship on her head was given a look as the craft almost looked ready to unfurl its sails and drift out to sea.

"...interesting hat."

He had been told of it but to see the thing in person! Haytham leaned closer so that his words, a mere whisper, might still be heard by her.

"Doesn't it draw too much attention?"

[elissacousland]

Strangely enough, this dance was so much like one from home that Elissa was at ease with the steps. She followed Haytham's lead without faltering, mouth curving into a smile at his whispered question. Perhaps she danced a little closer to him than was strictly respectable, but no one could fault her when her partner cut such a dashing figure in his Naval uniform.

"Only of the best sort," she murmured in amused reply. "Several men were convinced it was portraying their actual ship - though they were each from a different vessel. There are whispers that I might be an admiral's daughter or even a Navy captain in disguise despite my apparent youth."

[orderispeace]

"I trust you will be careful? Even that sort of attention could prove dangerous."

Perhaps even more so than the threat of arrest. There were many Naval men here, many were drinking and while most were behaving themselves as a proper gentleman should there was always the chance the drink would eventually go to their head. It could certainly go to hers.

"I'll not be here the entire time."

The style of dance called for him to step a few paces away, a moment in which the hushed conversation ended, before they were rejoined for a slow spin across the dance floor.

"There is some business in town I must see to, but we've a few hours until then."

Conveniently Waltzing behind one of the pillars supporting the upper balcony the brief hidden moment was seized to pull her close enough for his lips to lightly brush against her cheek.

"You do look stunning. It's little wonder you have become the belle of the Ball."

[elissacousland]

How could she not smile at that compliment and his little detour behind the pillar? "I have had many compliments tonight, but your's is the only one that truly matters," Elissa whispered in response. "Tis a pity you are so busy. I should like to try a tango with you, if possible. Do you know it?"

Through the slits of her silvery mask, her grey eyes were twinkling as Haytham led her through another graceful circle. The skirts of Elissa's costume were far more suited to a sweeping dance like the waltz than to something like the tango.

[orderispeace]

One of the odd quirks of being pulled to this world from such an early era, things commonplace to others are new and unheard of to you. So it was with this 'Tango' of hers. Haytham was from 1755 while the dance would not originate for another 138 years.
He had to shake his head and plead his lack of understanding.

"No, I am afraid I have not heard of it. Is it a dance from your world?"

[elissacousland]

"No, but such dances are on tonight's list. Twas one of the dances I learned for the ball," she confessed while giving his shoulder a little squeeze.

"Will you let me teach it to you in the future? It would be very entertaining, I'm certain." Elissa turned her head as she tried not to grin. "Tis almost like courting on the dance floor."

[arcadiasailor]

[Harlock watches as Elissa dances with a Navy Captain who's swapped out his fancy hat with a Fez for the night.

He waits for the song to end before approaching the pair.]

I'm sorry but I believe I owe the lady the next dance.

[elissacousland]

Elissa offers a deep curtsey to her current partner before he offers her hand to Harlock with a little bow of his own. "Thank you, ser. It was a delight."

Then, to Harlock, she tried to suppress a grin. "I am flattered you remembered."

[arcadiasailor]

"I did give you my word." Harlock was the type to keep a promise or die trying. He bows as he's watched other men do as he takes her hand. "I'm not quite sure how I'll measure up as a dance partner."

[elissacousland]

"You are not being held to any sort of standard," she quietly laughed just before the music began. "Shall we agree to mutual forgiveness in the event we step on each others' toes?"

Elissa was comfortable enough with the waltz, but the other dances had been learned so quickly that she feared she wouldn't properly remember them.

[thatched]

He is not quite as high ranking as Marco though getting out there to dance is something of a hassle. There is nothing about his seven foot frame that doesn't draw attention but it's nearing time, about an hour or so away, so he doesn't mind standing out a little. He spots Elissa sailing along with her glorious hat and makes a soft bow to her.

"If I could have the honor of a dance, sweet lady. I swear you'll not regret it."

[elissacousland]

Elissa looks up... and up, finding herself somewhat astounded by the sheer physical presence of the man who has asked her to dance. She begins to smile, however, pleased by the well-mannered request as well as realizing she might actually know his identity.

"I would be delighted, good ser," she responds as she lifts her hand to him in offering. "Pity they have not played the Hokey Pokey."

[thatched]

"Aye, it's a tragedy." He slips a hand against the small of her back and leads her into the dance, his movements graceful. "But I suppose that's only the sort of dance they'd play at a real party. Not this political nonsense." And then, because he couldn't resist.

"Nice hat."

[elissacousland]

Her response to that is a growing grin and a flirty, "Nice shoulders." Thatch is even bigger than Sten, but he moves with the light grace of Zevran. Elissa is duly impressed. Her swishy skirts flow well with the dance and the weight of the stolen trinkets hidden in her overskirt keep it safely close to her body so as not to give her away by smacking too heavily against a partner's legs. Still, at this point? It is a wonder she's not jingling.