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

[hiken]

[He sighed and smiled, looking especially relieved when Chandra took his hand. Ace had briefly worried there would be some teasing involved, though he wasn't foolish enough to think that wasn't off the table entirely. There were polite moments to go ahead and do that.]

There you are. I can feel everybody out, but I'm too worried I'm interrupting everyone's work to ask for dances.

[theartofboom]

[She stepped in close, not really teasing, though maybe she's a fraction of an inch closer than necessary. She smiles warmly, genuinely, and without any trace of tomfoolery. for now]

Well you don't have to ask. I was going to come looking for you, anyway. I spent all this time learning to dance, so I mean to make use of it.

[hiken]

[A confident little 'humph' left Ace and he inclined his chin just a bit, beginning to step in the introduction to a slow waltz. Given Chandra had practice but was new--he didn't warn her that he'd start, but he did definitely neglect to worry about space.]

No, you gotta ask. It's all a part of the party's traditions, y'know.

[theartofboom]

[She follows the slow steps easily enough, letting him lead and happily pressing in close, as felt appropriate. Also, more fun that way, she decided.]

Well, fair enough. Then, as is traditional, I accept obviously.

[The dance comes fairly easily, with the practice she'd had and natural grace to boot, and she doesn't seem to have much trouble with it.]

Enjoying yourself so far?

[hiken]

[A thin, dramatic sigh left Ace as he looked away from Chandra--if only because breathing a sigh on someone's face was gross on top of rude.]

I am.

And, anyway-- [With a bit of a light flourish, Ace made motion to turn Chandra and dip her.]

Tradition isn't your thing. You'd dance with me, because you like me.

[theartofboom]

[Chandra twirled and dipped, arching her back and smiling up at Ace.]

You sound awfully certain of that, Ace. I'm not against tradition, I like my people's tradition's just fine.

[When he pulled her back up, she leaned up against him with a laugh.]

Not saying you're wrong on the second part though. I do like you. And you like me too.

[hiken]

I do. But, I still don't see it. [Someone who could be as volatile as Chandra couldn't have had any traditions she kept to, he thought. Anyone who made their own rules seemed to be the type to walk away from that sort of boundary without looking back.

He didn't dwell on it too much, though. Maybe Chandra practiced some weird traditions, after all. If anything, Ace was a bit more concentrated as he shifted his weight and lifted her, just as she leaned up against him.]

Ahhh, anyway--lookin' forward to later? [A loaded question, if he'd ever asked one.]

[theartofboom]

I'll share some of them sometime, then.

[She'd come from a village of pyromancers (and they had some bizarre rituals), and her time with other Planeswalkers had given her a sense of professional pride in following what few codes they did. The traditions were pretty simple, anyway, like 'Don't destroy an entire plane' or the traditional rules that govern Planeswalker meetings.

Being picked up like that elicited a laugh, and she couldn't help but kick her feet a bit. The question though...well, she smiles wickedly.]

Am I ever! Tonight's going to be the biggest show this plane's ever seen.

[hiken]

Well, don't get too excited. It might be dull, after all. I'd be disappointed if we made a big message out of taking down a weak base with skill-less chumps meeting us in a fight...

[Said so nonchalantly, Ace pursed his lips and huffed impatiently.]

Against fodder, we can't be proud. It's gotta be a big bout.

[theartofboom]

Well,...given what I've got planned? They'll remember it, fodder or not, for a long time to come.

[She chuckles and leans closer, resting her head on his shoulder.]

After all, they need the fodder to cover the bigwigs. We'll have to slog through it sometime.

[hiken]

Even then. [He smiled, a bit more sedated.]

It's not them I'm worries about. There're a few big names who made it clear they wanna get in our way.

And, they'll be a hundred times tougher than the Navy.

[theartofboom]

People you know from home?

[Marco had mentioned Kuzan and she'd talked to him, herself...]

[hiken]

Yeah. One of the three Admirals.

[The Ice Man. Even Ace had trouble with Ao Kiji and his base element was fire, Ao Kiji's major weakness. On top of being a veteran, Ao Kiji had enough combat experience and mastery over his will to make even Ace cautious in a fight with him.]

Not somebody I want you guys to fight.

[theartofboom]

Marco mentioned him. I talked to him on a journal myself.

[Chandra pulls back and looks Ace squarely in the eyes, her own flashing with a cold flame.]

You're not going to stop me if he comes after us, Ace. I don't want to, and you may not want me to, but you're more than a friend to me. You're my nakama. [The first time she's used the word that keeps getting thrown around.] I don't let my nakama take on enemies like that alone. Not now, not ever.

[hiken]

Not in the first fight. [Ace shrugged, hardly feeling the intensity of the situation. His caution lent him a distinct sense of promise when it came to the Admirals.]

He's an ice man, but even with that weakness against me, he can hold his own with his will. Until everyone gets a glimpse of that kind of fight, I don't want anyone giving him a hint of their presence.

'Will users' are the scariest thing on the seas.

[theartofboom]

[Chandra snorted and shook her head, almost insulted.]

There are times when I wonder about you, and just what goes on in that empty head of yours, Ace.

[hiken]

Huhhhh. What do you mean?

[He wasn't sure if he said something weird or not.]

[theartofboom]

What do you think magic is? [She resists the urge to flick his forehead or something.] It's will. That's where it comes from. And if you think for an instant that I've never seen a battle of wills between superpowered weirdos, you pretty much know nothing about me. That's what a Planeswalker duel is.

[She forcefully takes the lead in their dance now, muscling in on him while he's a bit unsure.]

I'm not from your world, but that doesn't make me any less capable, or weaker. Hell's Bells, I've got more versatility in one finger than you do in your whole body.

[She pitches her next words lower, practically a hiss.] And if I say that I'm going to stand up for someone I care about, I mean it. I thought that's what that whole Nakama thing meant, people who help one another? Or did I use that word wrong?

[hiken]

Here I was, thinkin' I was quick to take to feelin' insulted. [Ace followed along without missing a beat, hardly noticing the shift in the stride of their waltz.

He smirked, shrugging.]

If you want the title of captain, take it from me.

[theartofboom]

[Chandra? Touchy? No...never...]

Not what I meant. I don't want to be in charge and I don't need to prove I'm stronger than you.

[She dips him this time, her grip not loosening.]

But I'm not going to hide if there's trouble.

[hiken]

It sounds like you wanna prove somethin'. [If that dip hadn't been an indicator, Ace was actually grinning like a madman as a number of others dancers were giving the two sudden, odd looks.]

But, that's fine. I get what you mean.

[theartofboom]

I can break continents with my will and make men weak in the knees when I walk into a room. I don't have to prove anything.

[The anger is replaced by a grin of her own. And as she pulls him back up from that dip, she yanks him closer and gives him a quick, rough kiss unless he tries to squirm away, completely ignoring the odd looks. If they're staring may as well give them something to remember.]

And I'm glad we're on the same page, you big idiot.

[hiken]

[Ace was surprised by that, to which he found himself just sort of pushing up so he could get his balance back. He pulled away from Chandra in a less-than-graceful sort of way, his hands held up.]

What're you doin'? That ain't part of a waltz!

[His gentlemanly powers were fading!]

[theartofboom]

[She chuckles, and holds out her hands. Flustering him was almost too easy. She drops into a curtsy, obviously still intent on messing with his gentlemanly powers.]

Well, you'll have to excuse me. I'm merely an ill-mannered, course and unrefined peasant girl. Come show me the proper way, milord, and I'd be ever so grateful.

[Or, y'know, leave your hot crewmate to find some other guy to dance with. There are a few onlookers that seem interested...]

[hiken]

[Not at all sure what on Earth just happened, Ace took a few moments to let things process. When he did, he straightened himself up and tipped his hat a bit to Chandra, finding the nerve to smile.]

Jeez, I was beaten so easily. I think I'll spare you the rest of my act, Chandra. That was the best I could do.