high_seas | Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

Not negatively, but an idea of who you might be allianced with might be more useful?

*Faye spoke quietly, as though she was having to really spell it out for him. She just wanted to know what crew he was with, really. For no real reason other than her own curiosity*

Useful for what? And what would I get for giving you said idea?

[Is there any reason why he should state clearly which crew he belongs to? No. Would the information expose a weakness or something? Not really. But basically all he has is the same amount of reasons to answer as he has to not answer, and Ikki's far from being happily informative just because.]

You already know in which side of the line I stand, don't you? Isn't that enough?

*What is this guy? So many questions...and so suspicious. They were on the same side, he was right, and yes, perhaps knowing who he belonged to didn't make a blind bit of difference but still, did he know what conversation and amusement were? She side eyed him and waved a hand airly in front of her*

I'm just curious, that's all. I've met some interesting people, it's just amusing to know if you know of them, that's all. But if you want to be that way, that's fine by me. No chip off my shoulder, anyway.

[Amusing, yeah. Definitively not a good reason for him, especially when she hasn't stated who she belongs to either. Why should he be any different?

No, definitively not answering that. He takes another sip and the music changes, initiating another song and catching his attention. His eyes move around, noticing a couple of eyes on them, though most probably they are just passing glances.]

Would you like to dance?

*Finally, this guy was suggesting something perfectly normal and, to be honest, expected. Sure enough he wasn't the most forward or friendly guy she'd met all night, but he'd warm round to her eventually she knew, and that involved asking to dance*

Well, thank you, yes. I thought you'd never ask...

[Ikki places his drink on the tray that a waiter is carrying before offering her his hand with a polite bow and a small smile though it's barely perceptible. Ready to bring her to the dancefloor.]

In that case, if you would honour me...

*Faye graciously takes his hand while giving a brief curtsy, pleased to note the disgruntled look of some of the unknown Navy men who had been watching them*

The honour would be all mine.

*She smirked as though that might be only partly true, and waited for him to hold her in stance to begin the dancing*

[He does as he must, holding her in the proper stance before he starts to lead the dancing. Despite it not being something he does regularly, thanks to Marco's lessons Ikki's far from being mediocre or even average. He's a good dancer, so despite his attitude and personality, at least as long as they are dancing it should be enjoyable for her.]

For someone who doesn't seem to enjoy being around people very much, you're not too bad at this.

*He was good, and she's quite surprised, but she smoothly falls in step with him. When it comes to dancing, Faye certainly doesn't seem to have a problem with personal space, holding herself close to him*

[Quite honestly, Ikki doesn't appreciate the lack of personal space, though that's hardly a surprise. However, as far as he knows, dancing means pretty much giving up on personal space, so at the very least he doesn't oppose to it either.]

I had a good teacher, my older brother is more used to those things than I am.

[Way more used, actually.]

*Faye smirked as they continued to dance, quirking a brow*

An older brother, hmm? Is he as handsome as you?

[His eyes narrow for a split second and his instinctive reaction is to actually get defensive. More than he normally is. But just as he has been doing so far whenever a girl commented on him being handsome or whatever, Ikki pushes it all back. Instead, he focuses on the rest of what Faye said and ignores the "as you" part, so she gets a humming noise before he replies with a smirk.]

Well... You could say that he sparkles with fabulousness. Not sure if that counts as handsome in your books.

*Well, that was quite the reaction that Faye had expected - her compliments are usually met a bit more enthusiastically. But perhaps what he says next has something to do with it. She tilts her head slightly and smiles*

"Sparkles with fabulousness", hmm? In my books, that can count for handsome, but maybe not the kind that likes what I personally have to offer...

*Perhaps both brothers are gay, she decides*

[And Ikki arches an eyebrow at that.]

I'm afraid you have lost me. What do you have to personally offer besides good company and conversatio-

[He pauses as a lightbulb flashes in his mind, because despite everything and the comment about being handsome or not... Those kind of things still don't come to him as an actual thing that comes up in natural conversations.]

Oh, you mean that. You're wrong, he would like it, he's fabulous but not in that way.

[Now excuse him as he turns red under the mask.]

*When Ikki initially begins to ask the question, Faye raises an arched eyebrow of her own, pressing her chest ever so slightly closer to him in order to aid him with the answer. She smirks widely at his realisation and laughs, tapping his upper arm with her hand*

Interesting. And good to know. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Ikki growls lowly at that, feeling the urge of pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.]

You people should wear a sign or something that announces when you're starting to talk about that or flirting or whatever.

[It would help him to keep track at least.]

If by 'you people' you mean 'gorgeous women', then you're right. Perhaps we do. Though a handsome dancer like yourself should be used to such attentions, no?

*Well, now that Faye has discovered he's capable of being flustered, that just makes things all the more interesting*

I mean people, in general. Those kind of things aren't anywhere near the top of the list of things that come to mind when I'm dealing with another living being.

[But it seems that they are on everyone else's top lists, or at least that they expect his top list to include those things.]

Eh... I guess the women I've danced with so far may have done it, or maybe they were just being over-flattering and nice as it seems to be expected from those things. I don't really know.

[His social skills are really close to zero in every aspect.]

Ah, I see. Then it's neither hear nor there for you, but I'd be bored in a world without attraction. It's just too much fun.

*She could be prepared to accept that he just doesn't like this sort of thing, or maybe he's asexual. She'd come across that once or twice*

For example, I rather like that there's a few men around the dancefloor who have been between eyeing me in my dress, and glaring at you in envy.

*Faye chuckles slightly, then tilts her head at Ikki*

And what about me? You think I'm just being nice because it's expected?

There's attraction and there's that. For me both things are very different, though I've come to understand that people can't imagine one without the other.

[And it had been a bitter lesson, to be honest, even if technically he knew it all along. He's not normal and thus not made to have normal relationships with others.]

That's good, you can enjoy whatever you want after all. Though I would prefer if that doesn't mean that you value your worth based on how much someone wants to do that to you.

[Unlike other girls seem to do. Sure, this one seems smart but... So seemed Selphie and she has thoughtfully demonstrated him to lack an actual functional brain regarding her own worth.]

You? No, you seem to have much more than that in you. If it was just like that you would have excused yourself nicely well before we started dancing.

Hmm, no. I don't think they're very different. But they're different. For a start, I think you're attractive, but I have no designs to take you home with me. There's nothing less attractive that forcing something on someone that doesn't want it...

*The music tempo changes into something slower, and Faye pauses to rearrange her footing. Her voice lacks the cheekiness that it had in it a moment ago*

Every woman hinges worth on her attractiveness. It's not our fault - we've been brought up to believe that if men don't want us, then we're useless. It's not all my worth, but it's still a part of it.

*But then she smirks, apparently much amused by his final statement*

One hundred per cent genuine. That's me.

That's more than what some people think.

[Ikki adjusts the dancing as soon as the tempo changes, pausing just enough so both can get into the new pace. What she says next makes him hum lightly, it's something no one had told him so far so he just didn't understand it. Suddenly he thinks he can understand why Athena makes her female Saints wear masks, and why Selphie was so focused on being wanted.]

I see... It's disgusting. [Actually by his tone it's far beyond disgusting but he can't think of a better word at the moment.] No living being should value their worth on that and no living being is useless. Women are far more than baby fabrics and a pretty face.

[He can imagine where those teachings come from. Men like his father. Maybe even men like Seiya, he didn't see women as objects, true, but he never really treated women the same as men, not when he hesitates to punch a woman even if she's trying to kill him. Ikki, however, never saw the point on it. He had wanted to rescue Esmeralda and protect her, but had she been a boy, as long as he was also kind and suffering, Ikki would have befriended him and would have wanted to save him. And obviously he never hesitates in punching a woman when she's fighting him. He doesn't hesitate even when it's someone he loves.]

Thank you, believe it or not, no one had mentioned that to me before. I think I can understand things a bit better now.

[Even if he still disapproves of it and all, at least now he isn't that surprised or confused as to where it comes from.]

*The hand on his shoulder runs gently, as though trying to calm him down in case he lost his temper on the dancefloor. He did sound particularly angry, Faye thought*

Nice to have a male agree. But sadly, there are too many men that see women as objects for the taking, for owning. Even if they claim otherwise. Way I see it, if men are too stupid to realise what they're doing, then I'm more than happy to use my looks to get exactly what I want from them. It can be depressingly easy sometimes.

*She frowns a little at his thanks - polite, but how the hell could he be this age and not have known that? Faye didn't know exactly how old he was, but judging by his build, he was certainly old enough to understand more about women*

Are you kidding? Never noticed a girl trying out new clothes, new styles? Playing with her hair? Wearing make up? All about trying to impress, to be wanted. Women feel rejection more keenly than men, because it makes us wonder about what we're worth. So we preen until we're noticed, and accepted.

[He is angry, however it takes more than that to make him actually lose his temper. Especially when he knows he has to control it. Still the hand movement makes him realize that he may be letting a bit too much of said anger show and he takes a breath, forcing himself to relax, at least as much as he can relax normally.]

I know of men that don't even consider women objects for taking or owning, just as toys to play with for a bit and then throw them aside. Which is why I have never understand why anyone would want to be wanted that way. It doesn't just put someone's worth in their appearance, but it doesn't even last as it's a one time thing.

[He sighs at her next question, yeah, he probably should have noticed. But without knowing the basics...]

I knew girls liked new clothes and new styles as well as painting their faces. But I thought the clothes thing was just because they liked them, the styles because they wanted to see themselves differently... And depending how it was wore I thought the make up was either a paint to hide their real face or some sort of war paint.

[He shrugs lightly before he adds something else, his tone calm but there's a hint of pain deep under it.]

I once new a girl who wore no make up on her face, but mud and ashes. Her only dress was just a ragged sheet poorly patched as something wearable, dirty and with washed out colours. Her hair was blonde, but it was so dirty and uneven that it could have been a wig made of hay. And her hands were just as dirty, rough and calloused due all the work she had to do. Compared to those noble ladies gathered here with their most expensive clothes and jewels I guess people would say that she was nothing. But I assure you that I have yet to meet a woman who is more beautiful than she was.

[Pause.]

That doesn't mean I haven't meet women whom I thought were pretty or beautiful, though. It's just that for me, no matter how a women or a man preens or whatever, if the inside is made of shit, all I will see is exactly that, even if it's covered with make up and fancy clothes. I guess you could say that my perception of the world is broken.

Girls like it for themselves too - that is true. I didn't spend all day choosing what to wear just for the benefit of every man in this room. Hiding their real face? Maybe if they're ugly. Ugly girls have a harder time trying to convince men to like them, you know.

*Faye chuckled at his little story, glancing around the room at the ladies that he had mentioned*

Oh? So blondes are your thing, huh? Poor girl all dirty, though. She should have learned to steal, get herself clothed and clean.

*Speaking from her own experience - what is necessary to survive is necessary to survive*

No, I don't think it's broken. It's sensible, and sweet. Just rare, that's all.

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That Face!

Isn't it perfect?

Very! XD

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