[ P ] Blinking Lights

Torchlight reflected off of the stone walls and cast long shadows that trailed along the floor and rafters like ink. Thick was the scent of smoke and incense, each breath bringing with it the alluring perfume of alcohol. He had yet to try any and, given that he was here on duty, Victorian had done his best to avoid the ball amenaties. Nonetheless, he could not help but feel his gaze be drawn to the array of food that had been put on display. Plump fowl, boar, venison. Rumor had it that some of the food had even been scorched and although it was foreign to him, he could not help but want to try it. And there were the berries too, whispering the siren song of summer. Wine was already becoming rare with the most recent vintages having been drunk. There was nothing else to harvest until two seasons from now. If only Florence was here, she would have loved it. Alas, she was studying. Dark ears flicked as he glanced around the hall, eyes straining as he searched for Manon. He had earned another ticket since his Lieutenant had gone a bit soft on him. Victorian was a hard worker and a genuine soldier—and whenever he put in overtime, he was well rewarded. Perhaps his Lieutenant also had a soft spot for him. She was an outlander too and remembered the feeling of being a stranger in this world. There were so many marvels to discover. He gazed at all of the masked wolves, their scents impossible to discern with all of the perfumes and mixed scents in one place. It would be difficult to guard—but for once his mind was elsewhere. Victorian stepped to the side as a dance began to form around him, and he was eager to escape before he was pulled into something where he knew none of the steps. "If the accident will."

STOCK➤ Dawnthieves ART ➤AMPHI

@Ace

This ball is something new for Ace. Back home, there were parties sometimes but nothing as fancy as this. He's still surprised he managed to sneak his way in with a stolen ticket and mask, but he did it and hopefully he'll catch wind of something interesting. Or maybe an opportunity to make this ball a little more exciting. The rich schmucks are so used to their fancy shit and routine, but where's the fun in that? Even with the music and the poet and the painter, it's all kind of… meh.

Beneath his skull mask he feels a little more comfortable. He'd like to think his stealthiness is one of his strengths, so at least this way he's not completely exposed. If anyone he happens to know is here, at least they might not recognize him so easily. Then he can decide whether or not to make himself known. Plus, it makes it easier to make moves on some pretty wolves. If he swings and misses, at least they won't know who he is to call him out again.

He then sees a man standing in the middle of the dance floor as it comes alive again. There are couples smiling and moving in sync, but this man jumps back as if he's startled by all the commotion. Ace tilts his head and holds back a laugh, but then his heart skips a beat when he realizes who the man is - Vic. All thoughts of remaining hidden are thrown out, but he knows he should be careful. He knows he shouldn't reveal his identity so quickly for his safety. But there's just something about this guy that keeps Ace wanting to come back for more.

So the thief strolls over to Vic with a smile on his face, his teeth seeming to sparkle from the surrounding torchlights. "Afraid of dancing, are you?" he asks with amusement and stops by the man's side. "I could teach you," he offers and lifts his paw to gesture towards the dance floor. For a moment, he gets a little lost in the man's fire-orange eyes that seem to flicker like the torchlights.

"Speaking."

{ Art by Raiden1122 ; Table by Claerie } @Victorian

"Afraid of dancing, are you?" A smooth, oddly familiar voice croons and Victorian turns, ears perking a little too quickly from surprise. Thus far, he had felt more like an inconvenient shadow than a guard in this ball. None had spoken to him—rather they had urged him out of the way with shoulders and shoves. Now, as he turned, he found himself staring at glimmering eyes of mismatched color and a skull. Amber eyes widen, the shock electric as his heart leaps as well (albeit for a different reason). Although skull masks were not wholly uncommon in the ball, they seemed to be reserved for those with a more macabre sense of refinery. "I could teach you," the masked stranger muses, a gray paw lifted in invitation. The words of polite refusal begin to form upon the soldier's tongue when a stranger brushes by. Her side knocks into him from behind and he pushes forward, accidentally invading the stranger's personal space. Victorian winces as if he physically hurt the other man and cranes his face away—but not before the proximity affords him a familiar scent. And the puzzle pieces click together. They were still quite close—and would continue to be unless Ace chose to retreat a pace or two. Victorian was sandwiched on all sides, but for the moment, he was too wrapped up in his discovery to truly notice. "You—!" Victorian isn't sure whether to feel bemused or... or... amused? Dark brows furrowed as memories of their last encounter rush back. They hadn't ended that day as enemies or friends, per say, and Victorian was still unsure of how to describe the silver-tongued rogue. "If the accident will."

STOCK➤ Dawnthieves ART ➤AMPHI

@Ace

It seems like fate when Vic is accidentally pushed forward. It closes the distance between them and he is oh so close to Ace. So close that he can smell the sweet smoke on the tips of his fur and he so badly wants to bury himself into it and the honey-yellow of his gaze.

He can't help but smile then, even as he notices the realization wash over the man's face. "Me!" he replies, his eyes widen as he pretends to be surprised. "Was it my dreamy eyes or my dashing good looks that gave it away?"

There is music in his ears as the crowd keeps moving around them. He can feel it in his paws how much he wants to move closer and dance with him. He doesn't care if another thief might see him with someone in the army. He could explain it then if he gets caught, but that's assuming they've paid as much attention to what he looks like. He doesn't think they have as much as Vic has.

"Come on, dance with me," he pleads, looking at him all puppy-eyed. "Let loose for once." And his body begins to sway in step with the crowd and he hopes Vic might follow rather than run. Even soldiers deserve a break to have a little fun.

"Speaking."

{ Art by Raiden1122 ; Table by Claerie } @Victorian

"Me!" Comes the cheeky response and Victorian feels the surprise sour into seriousness—and yet he can never be quite as serious as he wants to be. Even as his brow knits and his eyes narrow, something inside softens. He can't muster a proper glare either for there is a faint fondness in amber eyes, even if it's bemused fondness. "Was it my dreamy eyes or my dashing good looks that gave it away?" And at once the smile that had threatened to appear slunk away, spurned by Ace's ever-overindulgent ego. Victorian snorts, ears perking as the faintest touch of a blush scorches across his cheeks. In front of Ace, he felt like one of the court ladies, endlessly pursued by a baron's son or some other lord. He—or she if we keep the analogy—knew the suitor's intentions were not genuine and yet. Tsk. Victorian's tongue presses against the back of his teeth and he glances away, rolling his eyes. At the invitation to dance, a wane smile touches the soldier's lips and he scoffs. "No of course not," he shakes his head. "I am on duty, I can't let loose," he answers decisively. "Do you ever tighten up, huh?" Amber eyes narrow as he taunts the strange man back, though those bi-colored eyes still can't help but capture his attention and hold him still. Even as Ace begins to sway, Victorian attempts to resist the tug and pull of the crowd as they spin and sashay around him. He can't deny that his tail, however, is thumping in time with their steps. "If the accident will."

STOCK➤ Dawnthieves ART ➤AMPHI

@Ace

Vic can't seem to keep eye contact, yet the way his eyes drift back to Ace's tells him that he wants to look. There is a part of him in there that admits it, even if he doesn't want to. This only makes Ace press a little closer. Even the eye roll is enough to make his heart thrum faster inside his chest. Like a bird wanting to be freed of its cage.

But there it is again, the stubborn, stick-in-ass, "duty" mentality that all the army brats seem to have. Do all they ever think about is work? No wonder they can never have fun, they've been sucked of any little bit of happiness. Their training must include punishment for showing even the faintest smile.

"Do you ever tighten up, huh?"

Ace raises both brows, surprised at such a question. Of course, his mind goes in an entirely different direction than Vic likely was. "Oh, I do. I'd love to show you sometime," he strikes Vic with a toothy grin, but his eyelids droop ever so slightly in a provocative glance.

The crowd continues to sway and spin around them. Ace even catches the glimpse of Vic's tail moving in tune with the music, but for now he doesn't point it out. It's likely the man doesn't even notice it's happening.

"Your duty is to make sure the ball goes swimmingly, right? So wouldn't making sure I'm having a good time fall into that category?" He feels pretty confident that he has a point here. He continues to sway his body to the music, adding in his own spin after a few moments and hopes Vic is paying close attention.

"Speaking."

{ Art by Raiden1122 ; Table by Claerie } @Victorian

Although Victorian was too sheltered to know what Ace referred to, he could not help but feel that it was lewd. Why else would the man's gaze be half-lidded, his expression provactive with those come hither eyes? Victorian snorted and looked away, mildly affronted. What if someone had heard? Or seen? He cast a glance around for the faces of the ball's attending soldiers but none seemed to spare him a second thought. If any looked his way, they lost him in the sea of masked faces. As Ace mused, twisting Victorian's duty into that of a personal babysitter, the soldier couldn't help but quirk his brow. He was baffled to the point of aghast amusement and a bark of laughter was pulled from his lips. "Why? Are you threatening to tear the whole ball apart if you are unhappy?" At worst, he imagined Ace might pilfer a few strawberries before slipping away into the night. Or maybe he'd stain a noble lady's mask on cause a royal hub-bub. Before answering, the man does a saucy spin in tune with the music and he can't help but feel slightly (very slightly) impressed. Although he was a soldier, Victorian did not have the same fluidity of movement. Not by any stretch of the imagination. "If the accident will."

STOCK➤ Dawnthieves ART ➤AMPHI

@Ace

Ace can tell that the man wants to be unamused by Ace's comments and charm, but if he didn't appreciate it even an ounce, he would've left. He's still here, so that must mean something is working, right?

Although, it's surprising that it's not his spicy comment that gets Vic, it's his comment about making sure Ace is having a good time. What isn't surprising is how the man immediately goes on the defensive.

"Oh, you army lot are all the same. I'm not threatening anyone, relaaax! Just focus on the music and the dance," he tries to be reassuring, but it seems his time to be charming is over. Suddenly there is a crashing noise and a bunch of yelling and growling off to the other side of the room. He turns to find everything erupting into chaos - there are soldiers calling out to a group of wolves and accusing them of trying to assassinate the king. The crowd is beginning to split up into all directions and a woman accidentally bumps into Ace's shoulder, throwing him off balance.

He thinks he still sees Vic nearby, but it's hard to get a good look with all the frantic bodies. "Vic?" he calls out weakly, but it's likely his voice isn't loud enough to be heard over the crowd.

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

"Speaking."

{ Art by Raiden1122 ; Table by Claerie } @Victorian