after-party ♔ february

[wynn]

♬ Kodo (Inside the Sun remix) - Yoshida Brothers

WHO || Wynn, any and all Knights not currently on missions (if you are uncertain if your character would be at the castle for this, ask!)
WHAT || Squiring Ceremony Afterparty
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Ballroom
WHEN || February 1st, 2014, 6:00PM [backdated]
HOW || Prose OR Actionspam

The "afterparty" is the real main event of the night at every squiring, but tonight's party is a little different than usual - Faith has successfully lobbied (as in roped people into helping her decorate for) a Chinese New Year's party, or Lunar New Year, theme.  With Knights from all over the world, it was easy to get input from those who traditionally celebrate the holiday, and Wynn is all about the spirit of cultural unity.  Not to mention, the second of the 15 days of the spring festival is all about spending time with one's family and friends.  

The lavish, opulent ballroom has been transformed, filled with red lanterns, peach blossoms, kumquat plants, and chrysanthemums.    People are encouraged to dress in red to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, and avail themselves of the New Year's Cake, golden champagne cocktail, rice pudding, candied fruits, and the Tray of Togetherness.

As always, it is every new Knight's chance to mingle and meet some of their new brothers in arms. Of course, a couple hours are provided following the ceremony for everyone to change, do hair and makeup, and choose from the vast array of formal attire in the closets of the balcony "dressing rooms" located at the top of spiraled staircases on either side of the ballroom. A separate dressing room exists for men and women, and they include full bathrooms (with, thankfully, very modern plumbing).
The squires are usually among the last to arrive, and the ballroom is full to the brim with a fancy array of people, of all shapes, sizes and species.

Hope you aren't shy. They're all here to meet you.

Feel free to make your own open threads for people to come congratulate your newly pledged knight.

ooc; also if your Knight wants to get all gussied up, you can make a Disguise (Cha) check for how good they were at hair/makeup/stylin', etc! This goes for... any time.

Comments

[unhand]

For taking advantage of you. [It was like a year ago but IT NEEDS TO BE SAID.] I should have treated you better.

[reallywicked]

[blink]

What? [no really] Pretty sure it was my idea.

[unhand]

Perhaps, but that doesn't mean I should have said yes.

[reallywicked]

[Her confused look shifts to one of annoyed realization.]

This is about Emma.

[unhand]

[He shakes his head.]

No. Well... [He tilts his head a bit, considering.] Not entirely, anyway. This is about me and you. I know better than most what it's like to feel lost and try to find yourself in someone else. It never quite works out how you plan, does it?

[reallywicked]

[Faye is not impressed with your attempt at insight.]

Look. Whatever you're trying to do here? Just give it up. If you want me to tell Emma that you made me regret my wicked ways or something, you should try bribery. I like rubies, for the record.

[unhand]

You're not quite comprehending the not about Emma bit, are you? You can tell her what you will, it won't change anything. And I'd advise against lying to her. She's rather astute when it comes to that sort of thing.

[reallywicked]

[She doesn't know why, but she believes him (sense motive 17). Folding her arms over her chest, she looks about as irked as a person possibly can. Teenagers.]

There's nothing to apologize for. I wanted you, I had you. I could have you again. I could have anyone here if I wanted. I don't need your apologies or your fucking pity.

[She believes every word of it. She's confident to a fault and buried deep in her own defense mechanism.]

[unhand]

[He steps in closer, turning on the charm, though not as intensely as he could (diplomacy 16). He's trying to prove a point, not melt her panties off. He brings his knuckles up to touch her chin, looking her up and down with a bit of a smirk.]

So could I.

[He lets it drop abruptly and steps away.]

And I know better than most how it feels. Being wanted like that. Knowing that with a look and a smile you can have anyone at your beck and call.

[Anyone except the one he really wants. But then again, maybe that's why he likes Emma so much. She sees through his bullshit.]

But it's lonely, too. All the friends you could possibly want and not one of them actually cares.

[reallywicked]

[O-oh that single digit will save is not doing her any favors when he steps in close. Faye's breath hitches, because as much as she acts like she's fine with a "one and done" life, she wouldn't mind a repeat offender in her bed. And Hook was good (and bad) in all the right ways. When he steps back, she frowns, pissed at herself for getting weak in the knees, even for a second.]

You don't know the first thing about me. [She says through gritted teeth. He never cared to, never sought her out. As she was fine with that. She didn't pine for him, didn't think about him at all, really. But this? This was bullshit.]

[unhand]

[He gives her a smile, but there's no mirth to it. He doesn't know the first thing about her, no. But he knows where to touch to make her scream. And he's more convinced than ever that he's right about her.]

That's why I'm apologizing, lass. But I'd like to change that, if you're willing.

[reallywicked]

[She's visibly torn at his offer. No one has ever said anything like that to her. Well, maybe Andie, but she actively pushed the girl to regret caring about her. Even with Lila, the friendship was built on a mutual understanding that they were terrible people.

So why would he want to get to know her? She can't think of anything to say except that one hilariously simple yet complicated question.]

Why?

[unhand]

[He raises his eyebrows. It's not the question that he expected. But it makes sense. And just goes to show yet again that he was right. Or Emma was right. Why would he want to get to know her? Why treat her as a person instead of a plaything? It's so obviously the right thing to do, yet so hard to explain the why of it.

He shrugs, trying to act casual instead of looking at her with sympathy he knows she won't want.]

There's more to you than meets the eye. I'd like to find out what.

[reallywicked]

[Considering other conversations she's had this evening, Faye isn't feeling all that highly of herself. Fighting with Lila had out her on edge and what should have been an easy conversation with Hook was turning into a more difficult one than she wanted to face. She glances away, turns slightly so she doesn't have to face him dead on.]

And what happens if you're wrong? What if what you see is what you get? Gold star for trying, Captain, but I'm not looking to be anyone's charity case.

[unhand]

Pirates aren't known for being particularly charitable, lass. Or perhaps I'd be giving you those rubies you asked for.

[He steps in a bit closer, a hint of a smirk on his face.]

You're not... scared of something so simple as getting to know me better, are you?

[It's a challenge and goading her all at once. Obviously, there's lots to be afraid of. It's the same reason he doesn't let people know the man beneath the scoundrel. What if they don't like your true self? What if they see that you really are just as worthless as you want them to think? But just because he's got no interest in unburying his issues doesn't mean he can't dig at Faye's.]

[reallywicked]

I'm not scared of anything. [She responds without really thinking. That's another defensive instinct she's never been able to shake. She doesn't turn towards him fully, but part of her smirk returns.]

So what do you want to know?

[unhand]

[That's even harder than the why one. Hook's not overly experienced at this friendship thing either. Or at least, he isn't anymore.

Well, he's a pirate. And she mentioned jewels earlier. He can work with this.]

Rubies, huh? Tie in to that whole red thing you've got going on?

[reallywicked]

[Her hand instinctively reaches for the hollow of her throat where her usual necklace rests. The pendent is a small star ruby. Unbeknownst to her, it's her power stone and deeply connected to her magic.]

It came with me through the Veil. Between that and my name, that's about all I remember about my life before.

[unhand]

[He reaches forward a finger to touch, stepping in a bit closer to look.]

It's beautiful.

[Yeah he really isn't trying to be creepily sexual IT JUST COMES NATURALLY. He looks up at her eyes.]

I remember near everything. I'd think I'd forgotten nothing, but for one thing.

[He drops his arm and pulls up the sleeve with his hook to reveal a tattoo.]

[reallywicked]

[Again, her breath catches. He's close, close enough to touch, and he's giving her attention, saying that he cares and wants to get to know her. Even if he started the conversation all but telling her much he regretted sleeping with her (whatever he claims his reasons for that may be...), she doesn't mind the attention.

So when he pulls back his sleeve, her fingers instinctively reach out to run over the tattoo lightly.]

Milah. [She says the name, glancing up at him with humorous curiosity.] Like Mr. Gold's familiar?

[unhand]

Aye. [He glances away from the tattoo and Faye. He doesn't remember the human Milah. But he knows from Emma's reaction and from the fact her name is tattooed on his arm that she meant something to him.] Also a woman. One Mr. Gold murdered in another lifetime.

[reallywicked]

[Her eyebrows go up at the mention of Gold's murder victim. Maybe she should be more upset about that, huh..? She's mostly just curious about it, honestly.]

A woman he killed that you cared about enough to get that?

[unhand]

Presumably. [He tugs his sleeve back down with his hook.] Though seeing as I've no memory of either the lass or Mr. Gold, I can only speculate.

[reallywicked]

I don't know who I was before this place. I can't remember where I lived, what my parents looked like, anything. Sometimes I wonder if I was better there. At least there, I might have known how to use my magic.

[unhand]

[Maybe. Hook doesn't feel much better off for the memories left to him. He's done terrible things. Presumably for his revenge but without his memory of that, it all feels so... hollow.]

Not one for the ignorance-is-bliss theory, then?