high_seas | Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

*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.

Even if they aren't ugly, I find that make up just hides their face. It makes it seem unnatural to me, that's all. I'm not going to tell anyone to not do something they want to do, no matter how stupid I find the reasoning behind it.

[Though if they are trying to impress him, painting themselves like doors isn't going to help at all.]

If there had been something worth to steal, I would have taught her to do it myself. But there was nothing that could be stolen, she lived in a small and poor island with a volcano that's constantly active and spewing ashes everywhere. She was a slave, sold by her parents in exchange of flour, but even her owners were nothing but poor rats as dirty and poorly clothes as she was. The main difference was that they had more than one set of clothes and slept in a makeshift bed rather than on the floor with the animals. None of that dampened her personality, though.

And in case you ask, I would have taken her with me, even if it was to a world where she could at least steal something for herself. But she died before that was possible.

[He smirks and chuckles lowly at the last part.]

Sensible and sweet? Maybe, it's probably the only sweet and sensible thing that's left in me.

*Faye listened carefully to his story, her smile still on her face despite what he was telling her. As a woman with an insane amount of debt, it occurs to her as so horribly unfair, worse still when he mentions that the girl died. But, for appearance's sake, she couldn't look upset for the dancefloor, so she was smiling brightly when she nodded her head*

I understand.

*But then the look in her eyes matches her pleased expression, and her hands gave him an extra squeeze*

Is that right? Then maybe you ought to hold onto that.

[Ikki only realizes belatedly that his little story doesn't really belong to the dancefloor, but it's too late to take it back. So instead he focuses on the rest, chuckling in bitter amusement.]

You think so? Unfortunately, I don't think that's really possible. Have you ever seen a fire that's sweet and sensible?

*That's okay, Ikki, Faye's expression seems to have kept anyone around them from wondering too much what was going on, and the conversation passed without notice or comment. To his question, Faye tilts her head ever so slightly and smiles*

I have, actually. It's definitely possible. Sweet, because there's so much possibility for romance around a fire. It's warming. And sensible, because fire is one of the most practical and useful elements. Does that describe you well enough? Warming and practical? Sweet and sensible?

[Was that the idea Selphie had got when he told her? Was that why she didn't understand? Or is it that people in general like to refuse that something, someone, may be way too dangerous for their own good under certain circumstances?]

I'm afraid that there's a key mistake there. It wouldn't be "around" a fire, but "inside" a fire. Maybe it would be better to think of it as an active volcano? Dangerous, capable of easily killing, the risk of exploding at any moment. You can have romance and all you want around a volcano, but inside one? That wouldn't be wise unless you want to burn to death before you even reach its deepest part, no matter how big the diamonds down there are.

It's not worth it.

[There's a smirk on his face, but it's not one of challenge, neither an amused one. It's both bitter and serious, though the bitterness won't be noticeable by anyone who can't see his eyes up close.]

*Faye just laughed as he explained himself further, and anyone around them would just think that he'd been especially charming. Then she gave the slightest shake of her head*

Then no. It's not worth it. Sure, it sounds like a challenge, exciting to play with fire for a brief fling. But seriously? No way. I value my life and my sanity too much. But then... I don't have the same ideas about romance as other women. I can't vouch for what they'd think.

[His smile actually grows at that, sincerely amused even if still bitter.]

No need to swear on that, I know one woman who underestimated my words.

[Or thought that she could be the holy girl that would deactivate his volcano. All while riding high on insecurities and on valuing her worth and his feelings by how much he wanted to throw her to bed.]

*It was good to see that this guy could actually smmile, but there was that bitterness there that was concerning. Not that Faye would make it any of her business*

Oh yeah? Got yourself a little girly all melted inside that volcano of yours?

There was one who tried. I'm sure she's still regretting it with all her being.

[When she isn't busy being brainless and ignoring yet again all the warnings and hints that she should back off, that is.]

You sure? You don't seem all too regrettable to me.

*But she says it with a light-hearted air, because she barely knows him, and she certainly knows nothing about him and this girl*

But hey, sounds like that volcano of yours is hard work so - maybe not every girl can withstand the heat.

*Faye flashes a wink beneath her eye mask at that - though it might mean nothing to him*

Masquerade Ball - Totally not an ambush

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That Face!

Isn't it perfect?

Very! XD

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almost tagged as Selphie - in your dreams, missy!

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