after-party ♔ april

[wynn]

♬ Jeux d'eau - Ravel

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 || April 1st, 2014, 6:00PM [backdated]
HOW || Prose OR Actionspam

The "afterparty" is rumored to be the real main event of the night. A black-tie affair in the lavish, opulent ballroom, 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

[uncurse]

So I keep hearing.

[ she never had her mother to show her how. she'd just figured it out. her eyes open, gaze dropping to stare at the slowly blooming flowers down below. her hands fold together, picking a little at her nails. she hadn't gone so far as to polish them, because that's just a bridge too far. ]

No one it'd mean anything to is here. [ she'd done it with david in mind, but he doesn't even remember. mary margaret isn't here. she doesn't have anyone to be the daughter for, particularly not one that's scrambling to live up to an expectation that makes her family love her, that makes them want to keep her and not send her away again or decide they don't need her. tension flutters through her jaw when she briefly clenches it. ] We screwed up.

[ or maybe they didn't - maybe it's absurd to be fighting for an ideal that she won't have. david won't ever remember. he's not going to suddenly wake up one day and decide he wants it all, to be a father to this damaged, adult woman. maybe it's just ~not meant to be.~ ]

[unhand]

[He shakes his head, shifting his body over to face her more fully.]

Did we?. We did what we had to. And we destroyed a great evil. It won't get you your father back or break Amara's curse, but it's still something.

[Besides on Gold's part. But that goes without saying.]

And whether they're here or not, your parents... they'd be proud. Not just of the dress. Of you.

[He can't imagine anyone wouldn't be. Emma Swan is an amazing woman.]

[uncurse]

You really believe that?

[ it creeps out before she can deflect instead - before she can say he doesn't know them, before she can say neither of them ever truly knew her parents, because they'd been missing and cursed and had never gotten to truly be parents to her. instead, all she can think is how badly she wants to believe what he's saying, to the point where her chest aches and her expression and voice soften simultaneously. ]

[unhand]

I truly do. [He touches her arm, gently urging her to face him.] Have you looked at yourself, love? You're amazing. Heroic, beautiful, brave, so determined to protect those you care about even when the odds seem impossible... no parent could look upon you without being proud.

[uncurse]

Well, there's really no way for you to be proven wrong. [ unless mary margaret remembers, wherever she is. as she turns to look at him, she makes the comment as an attempt to deflect from what his words mean to her. ]

[unhand]

Guess that makes me right. [He gives her a smirk that's far too pleased with himself.]

[uncurse]

If that's your definition.

[ implying, of course, that it's not hers. but she's smirking now, at least, comfortably back into a snarking mood. ]

[unhand]

[Success! He's taking this as a win, despite the deflection. His smirk softens a little, into a smile.]

Here's a question. If, say, a particularly dashing pirate were to ask you to dance, would you say yes?

[He holds up a hand.]

I only ask because the party's been so lovely. I wouldn't want to cause you to flee by asking for something you don't wish to give.

[uncurse]

Hm. Nice lack of segue.

[ that smirk remains, and her eyebrow raise like seriously? and while she does seem to consider his offer for a moment, she shakes her head. making a gesture towards her dress, she explains. ]

Don't let the costume fool you. I don't dance. Give me ... [ she checks her watch. ] 20 minutes, I'll be a pumpkin again. [ the allusion is probably lost on him, but it's all just pretend. she's never been a princess. and he doesn't look much like a pirate right about now, either. ]

[unhand]

[A puzzled look crosses his face, but he doesn't let it bother him. Her meaning is clear enough, even if the reference doesn't help him much. He shrugs a shoulder and offers her a warm smile.]

I'd happily dance with a pumpkin, then.

[She's beautiful like this. There's no denying how she lights up the room. But when he first saw her, all dirty and sweaty and wearing those clothes that at the time had seemed so strange... well, he'd have danced with her then, too. It's not the costume he's all too quickly started to fall for. It's the girl.]

[uncurse]

[ in case emma was starting to feel like her stomach wasn't in her throat anymore, there it is again. butterlies have effectively hauled it up out of her gut and into her chest cavity. she opens her mouth, a strange noise coming from the back of her throat that's aborted before it can be an actual rejection. she glances away, warring with herself, but she finds herself incapable of arguing. her will save of 20 is nothing in the face of his 35 charm check, basically.

begrudgingly, she rolls her eyes to put on an appearance like she's not half as doe-eyed as she actually is and holds out a hand with a huff. ]

They teach you how to dance in pirate school?

[unhand]

I've picked up a trick or two in my time. [He catches her hand and spins her into his arms. They can hear the music well enough out here. He sees no reason to go back in around all those people that aren't them.

He's actually a pretty average dancer (dance 11) but at least he's not stepping all over her feet...]

[uncurse]

[ well emma's dance 9 is nothing to be wowed by either, and she's obviously still less practiced than he is. she mostly follows along, misstepping intermittently and having to catch up or falling out of sync. she keeps close to him regardless, one hand on his shoulder and the other twined with his. just as long as he doesn't start stabbing her with his hook she'll remain comfortable, however awkward. despite every urge to look away, her eyes stay riveted on his face, thoroughly charmed. they briefly flicker between his eyes and lips but she doesn't make any moves, just remains breathless as she spins with him. ]

[unhand]

[♬ So This is Love]

[His hook rests lightly against her side, not even tearing the cloth, and he's staring down at her with undisguised adoration. She's so close, and it would seem natural to lean his head down and kiss her. He doesn't even think she'd mind this time.

He doesn't, though. He doesn't want a repeat of last time, and that means waiting. Waiting til she's ready. Letting her make this move for herself.

But she's warm and close and dancing with him. That's a million times better than anything he expected tonight.]

[uncurse]

[ as the song wears on, emma shifts in closer, until her head is rested against his shoulder and her hand grips the fabric of his coat tightly in a fist. her eyes shut and dancing steadily becomes swaying. the acute fear she'd felt the last time they'd stood out here together bubbles up, and she fights it back. it's not only the fear of how he'll break her heart anymore, though; it's fear that she'll lose him the same way she lost graham. he'd never even truly been in danger down in the goblins' citadel and even that had been ... well, she'd kept close to him for a reason. she's afraid to let this in because she's afraid that she'll have to let it go. ]

[unhand]

[His arm slips along her back, holding her tight against him. The ache of his own loss might have been forgotten in his trip through the veil, but he still holds her tight against him. The memory may be gone, but the urge to hold on tightly to the people you love, his own fear of loss, it's still there, and it keeps his arms steady around her.

When the song ends, he doesn't immediately let go. His thumb traces patterns against her hand as they stand there.]

[uncurse]

[ it takes a moment for her to straighten up into looking at his face, putting a standard amount of dancing distance between them again. the spell doesn't break instantly, and she spends a minute yearningly staring into his eyes as her grip loosens on his jacket. finally, she tears herself away, dropping his hand and stepping back. ]

Time's up.

[unhand]

[He doesn't want to let go. He wants to dance again, or maybe kiss her, or even pull her back to his bedroom in the castle. Anything that isn't stepping away from the comfortable closeness.

But he's already pressed her enough tonight. He gives a nod, a smile playing across his lips.]

It was a pleasure dancing with you, Swan.

[uncurse]

Yeah.

[ the reply is quick and slightly breathy. she ducks her chin a little, raising her hands to rest on her hips to more clearly distance herself - she's not going to be reaching out to pull him in again any time soon. ]

I'll, uh. See you around.

[unhand]

[He glances away, suddenly awkward and unsure now that the easy closeness of the dance is over. He glances back to the ballroom.]

Are you heading back in, love?

[uncurse]

No. [ she hunches her shoulders, moving towards the edge of the deck's railing. ] I need a minute.

[unhand]

[Damn, he needs a minute too to deal with his erection emotions.]

Alone, I take it. [His tone is resigned, though a bit disappointed.] Well, Swan, you know where to find me.

[He lingers for a last moment, watching her, but if she doesn't say anything, he'll slip away into the ballroom.]