I just want to be at Châteaubriant tonight. [EVENT - OPEN TO ALL]

[childqueen]

WHO: The Queen, and all her guests.
WHAT: The ball.
WHERE: Châteaubriant Ballroom, within the queen's castle.
WHEN: Today, all night.

EVENT - THE FIRST BALL
Châteaubriant Ballroom.

Comments

[a_noble_thief]

"Why of course, my lady." Balthier had just finished placing the lily in Bela's honey-hued hair, when he heard another voice. The Sky-pirate paused mid action, brows raised in surprise.

"Say what?"

The newly approaching woman was a lovely silver-haired creature in a stunning black and gray dress. If this new woman was Kuja, then who was the beauty beneath his fingertips? Both the women were wearing black dresses. It took Balthier's brain a moment to realize they were wearing, THE SAME DRESS. He remembered seeing it posted in Kuja's journal. A lovely smouldering black charcoal number, with quite a bit of attention drawn to the decollatege. The thief had to think quickly, he hated to look caught unaware.

There was a vase behind his back, similar to the one he had been eyeing earlier. Stepped back from the first woman, he bowed with an arm behind his back, slipping one of the long-stemmed orchids from the porcelain with ease. Straightening himself, he extended the second flower to the silver-haired woman newly before him.

"For you, Miss..Kuja?" It was not possible there were two, so one or the other was lying. Balthier trusted either of them as much as he did Lady Luck, which wasn't much. "Two lovely ladies, and one name. I wouldn't consider myself a nosey man, but to whom did the diary I reply to belong? If you'd be so gracious to enlighten a fool such as myself, I would be much obliged."

[ms_delusive]

Giggling, she touched the lily gently, now intertwined with her locks. Smart and handsome -- this one was a keeper. Too bad Bela never thought much of commitment. Not to mention the fact that she really wasn't this man's sweetheart.

Speaking of which, danger was coming their way, wearing her dress. Bela had to hide a scowl. The party was only beginning, and already her fun was being spoiled. It wouldn't help to start a scene in the middle of a hall, especially in front of a beautiful man. There was still the possibility that Bela will have some fun with him later.

"It is possible for both of us to be Kuja," she replied, an innocent smile on her pink lips. "Small world, you know."

She turned her gaze to the man, producing another flower for the real Kuja. Bela was mildly impressed. The poor man...caught between two beautiful women, but he was playing it safely. Bela ought to play it safely too. If Kuja admitted it was her diary, and offered proof --

"Wouldn't it be better to escort us both to the ball? It would be a shame to leave one of us out in the rain, don't you think? And you are a gentleman...aren't you?"

[de_novo_xiii]

A charming one eh? He turned to hide the fact he rolled his eyes. He had designed this dress. He had gone to the Eagle's Spelndour to pick it up. How dare she turn up in the very same dress? Ooooh, he smoldered, he was going to have a word with those Hitachiin brothers.

Kuja accepted the orchid, and managed a smile. He actually liked orchids. And this one was purple. His date got a bonus point for that.

It would be too too easy to procure his journal and declare himself the real Kuja, but that would spoil all the fun. He was a villain of course.
"Now Balthier, listen to what...Miss Kuja has to say." He giggled, it was too amusing! "We both can't afford to catch a cold."

He fussed over his bodice, and drew out something. It was a filigree lapel pin with a blue gem the color of his eyes. Smirking at the 'imposter', he tucked it into Balthier's collar.

"Shall we?"

[a_noble_thief]

Balthier had been expecting much less from this ball. What he had expected to be mostly business, seemed to be taking a turn towards pleasure. Balthier would of felt guilty, if Fran and himself didn't have such an open relationship. The two cared deeply for one another, but it transcended being lovers. As long as they had their ship, and they had their shared dream- the faith and loyalty was there. The stern Viera cared little if he bedded a hume female once in a while, it had gotten them a delicious tidbit of information on more than one occasion. The same went for Fran, though she took a bit more sadistic pleasure when it came to playing with hume men.

The answer of who was the real Kuja had not been answered, but it wouldn't make a terrible difference. Both of the women were drop dead gorgeous, and had an equal amount of fierceness. The brunette princess, or the silver-haired beauty. It would of droven him mad to pick, so he would do them all a favor.

"Who am I to question such beautiful ladies? The idea of either of you cold, in the rain.. As a gentleman, it's far too much to bear." The smirk that had been tugging at his lips had turned into a suave, generous smile.
He inclined his head as Kuja pinned the expensive looking lapel pin to his colour. How generous, they both had shown good taste in such a situation- and in dress.

"I would suppose I am the luckiest man at this ball! Shall we?" He took both of their hands gently, kissing the back of both hands with soft lips.

[ms_delusive]

Thankfully the real Kuja was playing along for now. She can claw Bela's eyes out later, or wait in line, considering there were plenty of other people -- men and women alike -- who would love their turn. What was not thankful was the little precious gift Kuja had bestowed upon Balthier (What a name.). Bela would have to one up the gift.

Balthier was a true gentleman, taking both ladies in his arms, and kissing their hands. Bela smiled to herself, very pleased, even if she was sharing her new escort with another. She pulled herself closer to Balthier, brushing his hip, and puffed out her chest to accentuate her - ahem - assets.

"And I - we are lucky to have you. And they said chivalry was dead."

[de_novo_xiii]

Breasts, Kuja almost snorted. Leverage that usually worked on undesirable men, and 'their' date was hardly undesirable company. He seemed as elegant and eloquent as they come.

He didn't feel the need to rub up against Balthier, though he did note the man was rather dashing, complete with the almost smarmy grin.

As they walked into the ballroom, he shoved aside all other thoughts and began to profile the people here. Potential allies, potential enemies and those whose neutrality he'd have to sway.

"We'll need to excuse ourselves a little later. Exit to the far far left of the ballroom." He batted his lashes and lilted his speech. "So we can escape to somewhere private to discuss many things."

He'd seen the gardens and private courtyards on his way here. A little socializing to placate the masses, and then escape to explore.

[a_noble_thief]

He was much warmer- his body well aware of the figures pressed up against him. The sky-pirate knew at least he certainly wouldn't be catching a chill as the evening wore on.

Balthier could feel eyes on them as they walked into the ballroom. It was probably a formidable sight, the two gorgeous women on each of his arms. It was the perfect distraction. While the guests of the ball were staring at Kuja and Bela, he would be scanning for valuables. No one would be the wiser, unless either of his escorts picked up on it. He wouldn't be surprised if they had. It was beautiful, the last tools a queen would expect a thief to bring to her ball would be vixens.

The room itself was rather entrancing to look at, if he hadn't been raised amongst the ranks of nobility himself and used to such sights of splendour. The rich costumes twirling to eerily familiar tunes set the perfect scene for a drama. He would pretend they were actors, in the midst of a theatre. He would play the part of the leading man, of course. He wouldn't settle for anything less.

"Private you say? Why Miss Kuja, how intriguing." He winked to Kuja with more than a touch of amusement. They weren't here to simply spin and preen- there were other matters to attend to as well. He was glad to see she was keeping her head about her, not that he had ever doubted.

[ms_delusive]

Already planning a private rendezvous? Bela tried not to glare daggers at Kuja, and kept herself warm by Balthier's side. If anything, she was not going to be left as a wallflower that night. There may have been other men on the dance floor, but Bela had her sights on Balthier and she was not going to give this one up. It was like her job in a way. No matter what, she was going to obtain that magical relic through any means necessary.

"And what shall we be discussing?" She asked innocently before turning her attention to the music. Bela smirked to herself, and grabbed Balthier's hand. "Shall we dance?"

[de_novo_xiii]

{{So my fellow ball-goers: do we enter the fray? Or more precisely- are we ready to use it as a distraction?

Miss Bela will you come along with us? The Winchesters are already in the fray, so you're welcome to dash off to find them. I'll delete this post and repost a proper reply}}

[ms_delusive]

((We definitely should! And Bela will go with Kuja and Balthier since she is not exactly on good terms with the Winchester boys. They'd more than likely kill her on the spot. X) ))

[kocho_blade]

[]I think we should all act like the self-serving thieves we are and use it as a distraction to acquire some lovely vase's and expensive decorations![]

[de_novo_xiii]

{{This could be very very advantageous X3 If our lot bumps into yours- does your character have a place to stay? We're going to need a hideout until we manage to find a house for ourselves X3}}

[de_novo_xiii]

{{Guys, posted in the bloodbath thread here}}

[ms_delusive]

((She is staying at the Crimson Dragon. 8D))