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]

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.

[theartofboom]

Then let's finish the rest of the dance.

[She smiles back, shaking her head.]

I'll let you lead, since I'd rather not dance with any of these buzzards.

[And she waves off a guy who's reaching for her hand.]

[hiken]

Are you sure? I don't try to embarrass my dancing partners or anything like that.

[One eyebrow was upraised. He was genuinely surprised Chandra was even interested in dancing beyond that bit of recon.]

So, I might disappoint.

[theartofboom]

Eh, my first chance to dance in a place like this for a while. I'll take what I can get.

[Shoot. She's just happy to have a chance to unwind. She's not Selphie, but she's still a lady.]

[hiken]

Ahhh, well, it's gonna have to end eventually. When they decide to man up and fight, it's gonna go back to the status quo.

[He didn't have to remind her of that, but it seemed like the only response he had in him. Ace wasn't one for fancy dinner parties, but he liked playing the part of the gentleman, because it was a funny way to act.]

I already know which people I'm knockin' out with my Color, so the rest is just gonna be a bunch of fist-fights.

[theartofboom]

It is. [She grins nastily, looking around the room.]

I've got my plans, just another hour or so till then.

[hiken]

We'll see if it's any fun. Pretty sure it's gonna be a disappointment.

[He added, frowning.]

And, I'll see if anyone actually listened to my speech.