CLOSED ♔ knighting ceremony

[ironsides]

WHO || Wynn, Hook, Thoster, David Levin, Lanston Wellington, Belle, Lila, Faye, Amara, Erky, Gold, Buffy, Spike, Luthir, Fred Jr., Eric, , Mark, Edain, Riddick, Jaime, Jaina, Dimitri, Miles, various other unnamed members of the Dragon's Hide [closed]
WHAT || Hook's full Knighting ceremony; induction into the Dragon's Hide
WHERE || Knight's Headquarters, the Great Hall
WHEN || May 24th, 2014 evening
HOW || Actionspam

Unlike the grandiose nature of the squiring ceremony each Knight undergoes upon their initial entrance into the Knighthood, the graduation to Full Knight status takes place in a much more intimate affair, between the Knight, their mentor, invited friends, and the members of the sect to which they will be inducted. There's no pompous music, no stolid rank and file, no elaborate march.

Hook's invitees are given seats of honor at the front of the ranks of the Dragon's Hide members - the largest sect in the castle, with the most representatives here, and Dovan, Wynn, and Thoster wait up at the front of the room for David to approach them, but the attitude of the ceremony is much more relaxed, full of smiles and light conversation on all sides.

Wynn finally gets things rolling, by saying in his loud listen-to-me voice: "Approach and kneel, Sir Killian Jones."

Comments

[uncurse]

[ with a dance of 11, emma is not pulling out any fancy moves. she's able to follow relatively well, only getting behind a few times and having to hurry to catch up. ]

"It"? [ yeah. watch her withdraw into her turtle shell. ]

[unhand]

Dancing with you. [He doesn't seem aware of any faltering. Probably because he's too busy giving her a besotted smile. To him, she's perfect.

But he doesn't want her to close off. He spins her and gives a slight shrug.] It's just fun.

[uncurse]

Then, what's what we'll call it.

[ she nods her agreement, schooling her face into a carefully neutral expression with just a slight turn at the corners of her mouth. she moves out with the spin, and turns back in without doing anything fancy about it. ]

[unhand]

[He gives her a subdued smile as he pulls her back against him, but it doesn't take long for it to sharpen into a smirk.]

I do enjoy having fun with you, then, Swan.

[uncurse]

I'm sure you would.

[ because she's taking that smirk to mean he's deliberately making that sound less like dancing now. she suppresses her smile, gaze dropping away from his eyes briefly to consider his mouth. ]

[unhand]

[Yeah, of course it's deliberate. He bites the inside of his lip, looking far too pleased. But he's dancing with Emma. He's got a lot of reasons to be pleased.] You don't look too miserable at the notion yourself.

[uncurse]

I’m a better liar than you are.

[ she does a better job at fighting the smile this time, but it still breaks through. when she turns her face away, it’s in an attempt to disguise that look. ]

[unhand]

You're only pretending to enjoy yourself? [He raises his eyebrow.] So polite. Doesn't sound anything like you. [Especially since she's trying s-so hard to act like she isn't having fun.]

[uncurse]

Because you're such an authority on what I'm like.

[ she scoffs a little at that. ]

[unhand]

[Yes, he is, but he doesn't say it. It's a fine line, dancing with Emma. He'd like very much to do more than dance, but without a bit of pushing, they'll never get there. Push too much, though, and she'll run off.]

I know that if you didn't want to dance with me, you wouldn't. [He pulls her in a little closer, moving in time to the music.] And I know what you look like when you're trying not to smile.

[uncurse]

[ her breath fails her as he pulls her closer and sated warmth spreads under her skin like smooth liquid. forcing her eyes to follow a path back to meet his, rather than staring at his mouth, involves a flutter of eyelashes and an indomitable strength of will (26). ]

You sure you don't just have a high opinion of yourself?

[unhand]

Oh, well, that too. [He dips his head in, forehead brushing lightly against hers.] But not nearly so high as the one I hold of you.

[uncurse]

[ she leans into him, chin tilting up and bringing their lips closer together as she draws a shuddered breath. the movement carries through, but not to a kiss. blinking hard to center herself, emma draws a deep breath as she turns her head away, gazing out at the other dancers. ]

And here I thought you found me frustrating. [ her smile creeps through, though her eyes persist in evading his. ]

[unhand]

That too. [He smiles, lips brushing lightly against her hair.] Frustrating, stubborn, strong, smart, and unbelievably beautiful.

[uncurse]

[ gratitude fills her, making up for her weakened resolve when she hears the music dwindle off into silence. letting out a breath, she steps away from him, dropping his hand. while he was talking, she hadn't realized she'd begun to hold her breath. she nods to him, swallowing thickly. ]

Hook, I — [ every time she starts like that, a fragile explanation follows. ] I need to focus on getting David back, I can't — [ she makes a gesture between them, then finally gives up on avoiding his gaze and locks eyes on him. ]

[unhand]

[He nods, expression sobering. He reaches up to touch her face, a gesture of affection, even if he doesn't follow it with the kiss he'd like to add.]

I'll wait for you, Swan. Long as it takes.

[uncurse]

[ hope swells in her chest until she fears it might burst—or worse, carry her so high than when it's disappointed, she crashes. she doesn't move away from his hand, only searches his eyes until his promise prompts something in her. ]

About the Amara thing ... We might have something in Germany. I'm leaving next week to look into it with Faye and Gold. If I find anything ... [ she nods. ] I'll call you.

[unhand]

You're welcome to call even if we don't. [He smiles at her softly.] I'll miss you.

[uncurse]

[ raising her hand to cover his at her cheek, she turns her face to briefly nuzzle against his palm, savoring the touch before she secures her hand around his and drops her hand back to her side, pulling his away with it. ]

Keep an eye on Lila, would you?

[unhand]

Of course. [A slight frown.] Has she talked to you yet?

[uncurse]

She's a teenager. She's always avoiding someone. Pointing out how sketchy her boy toy is just makes me an easy target. [ emma shrugs, deliberately unaffected. it's easier to pretend it doesn't bother her than crumble under perceived abandonment, even if it follows the same pattern: emma's loved ones finally catch onto something about her they don't like, and they bail. lila's just a kid, though—it's not her fault. ]

[unhand]

I'll keep an eye on her. [And possibly point out a few things of his own. He gives her a soft smile.] Good luck in Germany, love.

[uncurse]

Between you and me? I think I got the easier job.

[ she claps him on the shoulder. ]

Take care of yourself.

[ and then moves past him towards the exit. ]