party post } { fool and king, ghoul and ghost

[mayoralty]

On the evening of the twenty-ninth, the ballroom on the main deck of the boat is decked out in lavish black and gold, thanks to Carol and Sophie, and the assistance of the very strong men they enlisted to help (thank you, boys). It's been a while since Carol has thrown a full out ball, and she liked the chance to stretch her event planning limbs again, even if those attending are mostly the ghost robots in their cater waiter wear.

A soft music is playing over the guests as they enter. As they pass through the threshold, there's a table with simple masks for them to choose from, in case they've forgotten their's. Once they pass through the main archway, they'll find their way to the large dance space where the ghost robot band is sitting, because live music is so much better than a recording, and they actually don't sound half-bad, all things considered. They also take requests, so feel free to tell them that song where you always wondered what it would sound like with a full orchestral backing. There's a large, expansive dance floor in the middle, and you're welcome to get out there and shake your groove thing whenever you see fit.

Tables with food line the far left wall of the room, as well as clusters of tables for the guests to sit when they so choose. There's also an open bar nestled into the far corner, for all your alcoholic needs. There are also plenty of dark corners to slip into, if you don't want anyone to see what you're doing, however the narration suggests watching those dark corners carefully. Rabbit holes lurk in pretty much every shadowed area of the ballroom and while they won't always drop you into a strange location of your choosing, there's a high chance they will. There's probably a high turnover of people arriving back in the ballroom, looking like they've gone five rounds with a bull.

Probably because they have.

The boat seem to want to promote this event as much as possible. While not everyone loves a good ball, some non-attenders may suddenly find themselves in attendance, completely dressed and no idea of how they got there. Trying to leave? Might not go so well either. For some, socializing isn't so much a choice as a punishment, but there are probably plenty of people to help you have a good time.

Or you could go on a trip to Narnia. One never really knows.

[OKAY BALL IS GO sorry I was late getting this up. Rabbit Holes are to be used at your discretion, but if you need suggestions or want me to randomize something for you, just shoot me a PM/private plurk/ping me (iluvroadrunner6) and I will give you a scenario. Otherwise, mix, mingle and have fun with all the pretty formal wear. o7 Actionspam/prose/whatever floats your boat for this, it was easier to just write up the top part in prose.]

Comments

John Young }

[darkplace]

[john young is here even though going to a ball would not be something he'd think to do ordinarily. he is so used to surviving and only surviving that he never thinks to do anything else. the ship is different. john isn't being hunted by ultra here. as far as he knows, there is no ultra on the ship, and part of him wonders if something is going to happen there (the last party he went to, it ended up going to hell pretty quickly), and he thinks about the people that he's met and how he wouldn't want anything to happen like at that last party, which is why he was going to show up on his own (maybe not in a suit but y'know something nicer than his patented lucky jacket) when the ship takes matters into its own 'hands'.

he is in a suit that the ship threw him in. he cleans up very nicely like damn boi. john walks through the crowd of people, socializing a little, keeping an eye on things as much as he can. it's always hard for him to relax completely even when he looks as casual as can be.

at one point, he floats a nonalcholic drink over into his hand (never again alcohol!!!!!) because he can, and he knows he doesn't have to hide his powers here and he's going to take advantage of that.]

[peacecraft]

You clean up well.

[ flute of sparkling cider in hand, relena falls into place at john's right, watching as some of the dancers twirl about on the floor. ]

Don't worry. [ she says with a smile, wiggling the flute a little (but not enough to spill any of its contents). ] It's non-alcoholic.

[darkplace]

You look beautiful yourself, Relena.

[john turns to her with a tiny smirk, and then he shakes his head with a tiny laugh when she wiggles the flute in her hand. he lifts up his own flute toward hers as if half in toast, wriggling the flute that is also filled with sparkling cider.]

So is mine. [the tiny smirk on his face widens into something of a smile.] But like I said before, you deserve to relax too more than most people even so if you wanted to have an alcoholic drink too, I wouldn't tell.

[peacecraft]

Thank you.

[ gracious as always, the vice foreign minister knows how to accept a compliment -- but she does it humbly, without a primping her hair or smoothing out the folds of her dress. it's a calm acceptance and thanks. ]

I'll remember that, should I change my mind. Honestly, it's a little... weird not being trailed after by three to five guards disguised as dinner guests.

[ a few of une's top agents plus quatre, usually accompanying her as her "date," as nobody ever suspected the head of the winner corporation of being a gunman pilot. her eyes lifted up briefly to the highest spot in the room, the window of a what looked like a technician's box where sound and lighting was likely routed. were she back home, heero would've placed himself up there to keep watch over her from above. she did miss his eyes on her, and it had nothing to do with the school girl crush she'd had on him all those years ago, a crush she'd let go of prior to the war's end. she was confident in his ability to protect her; he made her feel safe. as nice of a break as being here was, the more she stayed her, the less protected she felt. relena was far from helpless, but for all the attempts she made at ditching her security, she was beginning to miss the comfort just knowing they were lingering near provided her with.

it was taking some adjusting to, but she hid it well, like any good politician would. ]

You could do so yourself, you know. Drink. As long as it's done in moderation, this time. I don't think I could manage to fish you out of a pool in this dress.

[darkplace]

Three to five was the average range for how many guards would follow you? Must have made you feel constantly watched.

[which she obviously was, but it would be difficult to interact with people, difficult to do anything because there would be that constant awareness that all of these people were near, watching her even if it was protectively. granted, he would also understand feeling unsettled without something even something that could feel like a cage at times.

he has been surviving for so long. john has been in hiding. he has never actually been in a position where he had freedom to do anything other than survive (lead other people, follow orders, stay hidden). but he has never had the freedom to do anything that he might want to do, and he wouldn't know what to do with that kind of freedom. it'd feel unsettling.

john smirks a bit wider at what she says before he shakes his head.]

If you tried in that dress, someone else would have to go into fish you out too, and most people here are also wearing extreme fancy wear so it could be a domino effect. [john takes a sip from the flute in his hand.] I don't drink in general. That whole experience just reminded me of one of the many reasons why I don't.

[the main would be the terrible experience he had with it growing up, being on the other side of someone's hand who drank too much, too often.]

[peacecraft]

I am constantly watched, John. Or I was. When you're a high profile figure, everyone's watching, not just the people on your payroll. And honestly, I would rather have them standing watch at my windows than someone else.

[ stalkers have been a thing, so have attempted shooters. usually the preventers get to them before she's even aware of them, but they've been known to happen. nevermind the barton foundation's successful kidnapping attempt. if not for lady une's remarkable timing, she would've perished in that bunker after heero fired upon it for a third time. (nevermind the fact that relena had essentially given heero the okay to do so with her still inside of it.) ]

Then we'd all end up in the pool. [ the thought of so many people in sequined gowns and tuxedos floating in a pool makes her laugh. ] We should probably save the swimming for a proper pool party with better attire.

i keep my promises :')

[resuming]

Playing hooky? [ yeah, elena noticed you floating that drink over, john.

there's a smile as she says it, since she's aware his powers are not something he would otherwise use so freely - not when he is persecuted because of them back in his home world. it's refreshing, to see him something close to relaxed. her experience with balls are not the best, and neither is her track record with parties in general, but one can hope nothing too terrible will happen.

right? ]

because you are *perfect*

[darkplace]

[john smiles, a helpless, warm smile, at the sound of her voice.

he turns toward her, intent on saying something teasing in response to that except the moment that he turns around, john is caught by the sight of her in that absolutely gorgeous dress that clings to her body and the way she looks in it. words are completely forgotten. thoughts leave him, and he doesn't even remember what she just said or the fact that he just floated the drink over into his hand.

the only words that escape him are:]

...wow. [slight pause before he swallows, shakes his head, stares in amazement.] Wow.

You look... gorgeous.

wow no not even :|

[resuming]

[ similarly, once john turns to her and elena gets a better look at him, something in her smile transforms. it's not that it had ever escaped her notice he was gorgeous himself - she's got eyes - but it's all the more pronounced tonight. she likes the blue in his suit; she isn't even thinking about how it sort of matches her own outfit, it's more that his eyes are very blue, too. yes.

(everyone is so good-looking in this boat, it's a problem.) ]

What, this old thing?

[ her smile widens a fraction as she gives a flourished curtsy in response. it's almost playful, as she smooths down the sides of her dress. ]

I didn't even get to pick it, if I'm honest with you. I was going to use something else and the moment I stepped in ... poof. [ there it was. she straightens a bit, giving a pause of her own as she smiles over at him. ] You look really good. Too. Hi.

SO EVEN :|a

[darkplace]

[john notices the way something in her smile transforms the moment that she turns and gets that better look at him. his smile widens a bit in response to how beautiful her smile looks as she wears that dress, and he is taking in the sight of her in front of him.

he laughs at that almost playful curtsy.]

Oh, so that is just regular, everyday wear for Elena Gilbert. I see.

[the tiny smile on his face tugs into a smirk as he breathes in, taking a step closer to her.]

It did the same to me. I stepped in and... poof. [john gestures with one hand as if to show that poof-ing, and he smiles a little more at what she says.] ...Hi. [john stretches his hand out toward her, taking another step in her direction.]

Want to dance?

[resuming]

[ the sound of his laughter alone made it worth it.

elena can be surprisingly playful when she wants to be - when life allows her to be. the problem is life has rarely allowed her to be over the past few years. she forgets sometimes she can still be that girl, the girl who knows how to have fun and let her hair down and not feel like everything's going to come crashing down if she lets the good stuff in. ]

At least it's got good taste?

[ the boat - or whoever, and that's kind of creepy to think about - picked out a suit that goes really well with him. she's about to say something else when he stretches his hand out to her. she answers wordlessly by tilting her head, smiling a soft smile at him, and slipping her hand into the one he is offering. despite the slight pause, there isn't any hesitation.

once she has, she starts to tug him toward the dance floor where people are already twirling the night away. ]

[bowery]

[ Hi, John.

You're pretty. Selin likes pretty things that clean up very nicely, such as yourself. It's why she will mosey her way on over to him, a smirk playing on her lips as she watches him on motion for a moment. He's got an interesting story - several, perhaps - rattling around inside of him. She can tell. ]

That's a nifty little trick you've got there.

[darkplace]

[John turns toward the beautiful woman in the purple dress at what she says, lifting an eyebrow with a tiny smirk in her direction as he keeps hold of the glass in his hand. He has many, many stories (most of them are terrible,

some of them are less so but all of them very interesting. he has not lived an uneventful life).]

It makes getting a drink easier anyway. [he is joking since that is obviously the bare surface of what it can do, what it does, what he's used it for in the past and how it's been used against him.]

[bowery]

[ She is beautiful, thank you for noticing, John.

Selin has several talents of her own, but none of them involve telekinesis. She might be the slightest bit jealous now, but it only manifests in her curiosity. She props her chin on her elbow, appraising him for a moment before she tilts her head to the side. ] Does that mean you can get me one, too?

[ Help a girl out, John. Maybe she just wants to see that trick again. ]

[darkplace]

[John smirks a tiny bit as he looks at her while she props her chin on her elbow like that before he nods in answer.

Something he never thought he would be doing with his powers? Getting drinks for people with them at a ball. Then again, he never thought that he would be in a situation where he could use his powers so freely which wasn't inside of the lair.

There's not really room for a ball down there.]

What's your poison?

[bowery]

A Black Russian, if you please.

[ Selin finds herself smirking right back at him, keeping her chin propped on her elbow. She studies him rather openly for a moment, and it's only after the fact she stretches a hand out on his direction. ]

I'm Selin. Proper introductions should've likely come first, but I have been known to get ahead of myself. [ It's part of her ~charm.~ ]

[phased]

[ there is one thing most hales have in common - ethan, you weirdo - and that one thing is a voracious appetite. that's probably why it's not too surprising to find connor where the food is, only minutes after alek found himself there. his plate is filled to the brim with goodies, and he does not look too worried about the fact it may be too much for any one person. it's just right for him.

never mind that he didn't trust the food in this place when he first showed up here. and can anyone really blame him, with the way it just appears out of thin air? but apparently, he got over that quickly.

his mouth is also full, or he would be introducing himself right about now, john.

connor does have manners. ]

[darkplace]

[john is near the food with the glass of sparkling cider in his hand, and he lifts his eyebrows in amusement when he sees just how much food that connor has managed to pile on to that plate. it reminds him of the feast they'd often have in the lair the first night after a good grocery store run. they'd all fill up their plates with anything fresh after subsisting off of canned goods for days. he has the average appetite for someone his size, but he knows what it is like to be starving and how rare it has been to get anything fresh so he knows how to appreciate food.]

Your plate would not be complete unless you tried one of these.

[he gestures to it with a tiny smirk

but no, really, it is delicious.]

[phased]

[ connor has always lived a life of privilege. even when they were technically on the run, their mother had saved up enough money to keep them afloat. he's never known what it's like to genuinely starve, save for that year following the end of their world. he'll never take for granted again all the things he never thought twice about - because he didn't have to, because it was given to him on a silver platter so he never had to ask. ]

... I have a feeling you're right. Thanks, man.

[ he smirks over at john before dutifully plucking one of them onto his plate. ]

Y'know, for a creepy ship that seems to be headed nowhere, at least it keeps us well-fed. [ it's a pretty big plus for him. connor has his priorities straight and food happens to be at the very top of that list. ]

[darkplace]

You're welcome. It looked like you were pretty serious about that plate of food and missing out on that one would be a terrible loss.

[john picks up another one of them by the toothpick in the center, taking a bite out of it, shaking his head as the taste of it hits him. it's so fresh and full of flavor. lair food can't really get that delicious ever. there's no kitchen in an underground subway station. he smiles a tiny bit in his direction.]

Yeah, it keeps us well-fed and makes it really easy on us. Don't even have to go to the kitchen if we don't want to. The food will just appear out of thin air, already made, exactly what you were craving.

[it's a little creepy, but none of the food is poisonous as far as he can tell. whatever is going on with this ship, it's much deeper than wanting to off them.]

[phased]

That obvious, huh?

[ he is still very partial to his brother's cooking - seriously, nobody cooks like ethan cooks - but he's a big fan of the selection here. it's obvious the people that put it together did so with care. the smirk stays in place as he looks over at john in commiseration - that's the thing about situations like these. much like chicago, it has a tendency to bring people together when they're dealing with the same problem. ]

You don't trust it either, do you? [ connor would really have to question someone's judgment if they did, honestly. but he senses a similar skepticism in john. ]

[zorro]

[ mamoru saw that, john. and it's piqued his interest enough to lure him out of the corner he's been standing in to inquire about that little show he just saw. ]

That's quite the trick.

[darkplace]

[john turns to him with a light smirk at that.]

Not the most productive use of my powers, but I'm not used to being able to use them out in the open so I've been... taking advantage of it. [even if it is to do really simple things like bring a drink over.]

[zorro]

[ use your powers in the open??? mamoru's gaze flits back to where usagi's chatting with someone he doesn't recognize. he can't imagine either of them using their powers without the veil of glamour that renders them unrecognizable while transformed. it's vital to their missions that it stays that way. there are a handful of people who know – motoki, asanuma – but they aren't here. ]

I take it that means you don't have the luxury of using them openly where you're from.

[darkplace]

[john nods at what he says, taking in a deep breath and a long drink from the glass in his hand. it's nonalcoholic, because seriously, he will never again have a drink unless he can ever deal with his issues when it comes to alcohol and his own inability to lower his guard at any given moment.]

No, I don't. I can use them in my home. [which is an underground subway station with a group of people like him, people he is trying to keep safe.] But if I go out in public, it's... dangerous to do so.