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

[maskedtyrant]

[Oh--such a gentleman! The Tyrant allows herself a few seconds of unrestrained giggling before she gathers back her composure, closes her eyes in a polite nod, and curtsies in response.]

Evening. [She holds out her hand, expecting Ace to take it.]

[hiken]

Having fun? [Ace raised himself up smoothly, taking the Tyrant's hand when offered and moving into the introduction of a waltz all in one clean gesture. It happened that he was a pirate as well as a smooth operator.]

[maskedtyrant]

[Smooth operator indeed. The Tyrant follows suit, although her waltz isn't quite as polished as his probably is--she's working off of observation and limited practice, but at least she knows the steps and is able to keep up.]

Having more fun now, certainly. [She grins and squints, calculating. Is this guy a pirate? He seems a bit too formal for a Navy officer...but also not quite formal enough. Hmm.] You?

[hiken]

None at all. [The reply came easily, just the same as his dancing. Ace was waiting for the after-party. The end to the Marines' joy and the beginning of his fun for a long time. He wanted to start a war and it was an excellent kick-off to the formalities of it all.]

But, not everybody comes to these things for kicks.

[maskedtyrant]

[The Tyrant gives a very un-ladylike bark of laughter.]

No kidding! [She giggles her way back into casual, composed dancing.] Well, I'll give you credit for being direct. Some people here are on missions, after all.

[Which...could mean anything, really, but Codi hopes he interprets that the way he's supposed to if he's a pirate.]

[hiken]

[Ace, naturally, would hit the topic with a hammer. He had no regard for subterfuge beyond his little mask.]

Lookin' to gatecrash, too? I've been waitin' for the trap to get sprung, but every presence in the room's been tense and worried.

[He snickered, suddenly moving to dip The Tyrant. His smile? Not at all a charming one.]

It's weird, bein' one of the calmest guys in the room.

[maskedtyrant]

[Well, Codi was pretty calm prior to this...She's inwardly thankful that her mask hides her cheeks somewhat, so Ace can't see the color drain from her face.]

Tell me about it. [Just...play along...still confused if this is a pirate trap on the Navy, or a Navy trap on the pirates, though...best stay ambiguous.] You think they know what's about to happen?

[hiken]

Oh, they know. [Ace felt the shift in the Tyrant's mood immediately. There was a tug on the corner of his mind as her calm demeanor turned south the second he let the beans spill.

Admittedly, anyone would have been troubled by what ht eadmitted.]

They're definitely tryin' to set up an ambush, but they're not expectin' a counter-ambush--that much's clear already.

[maskedtyrant]

...Huh. [So regardless of who this is, both sides are in for a brawl. Brilliant. That is, if they decide to go through with it.] I just hope everyone's in the know--wouldn't want to catch them in the crossfire, right?

[hiken]

Anyone who isn't in the know probably shouldn't be coming to a party hosted by the Marines, I think.

[He said this fairly dryly in comparison.]

It's kinda beggin' for trouble.

[maskedtyrant]

[A wry smile crosses her face.]

Does that include the civilians who just showed up for the finger sandwiches?