houseofcards_rp | It's Swing Time~

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Elisha's motivation for organizing - or, honestly, delegating the organization of - a semi-formal dance party. Lucinda had suggested a ball, with stars in her eyes. She probably had already picked out ballgowns and themes in her head when Elisha had nixed the thing and - in a moment of desperation, with the memory of the swing-themed Fox wedding still in his head - suggest a Spring Swing, instead.

Everyone had run with it, and Elisha was pleased to say it had come out well. He was even more pleased to say that he didn't have to wear a suit, even if he stepped out into the lantern-lit gardens in everything but the tie. He paused near the raised dais provided for dancing and gave the small band the signal to start up the music before he attempted to fade back in the crowd. Not that that ever worked.

"Let the games begin," he murmured to no one in particular as he picked up a glass of champagne off a tray.

Note: Open to everyone and their brother; tag around, have fun!

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It was still early when she found her brother, and she couldn't help smiling a little bit as she walked through the people to reach the table where he was seated. She slipped into the chair beside him, lit a cigarette of her own, and took a long drag off of it before reaching over to give Ethan's arm a squeeze.

"You don't look too thrilled, fratello. What's with the long face?"

He nodded and gave a minute wave of fingers when she sat down, exhaling a last cloud of smoke and stubbing out the cancer-stick.

"Hey, Ames." Ethan rubbed the bridge of his nose, replying, "Nothing too serious. Been slogging through Julien's filing cabinet all day. My corneas need therapy, I think."

"That sounds like fun," she snorted.

"You're not actually going stag tonight, are you?" She hoped not. Considering the whispers of time being spent between him and Avery, she could reasonably hope that he was attending with the Ace of Diamonds. It'd be cute. Endorsed by Amy, too.

Neither here nor there, Amy sat back in her own chair. "Do I gotta drag you out there and pretend I know how to dance to put a smile on your face?"

An eyebrow lifted over the rim of his glass. "I didn't come here with anybody, if that's what you're asking. Didn't really have much time to secure a certified 'date'."

What with getting his teaching schedule in order, getting jacked to the highest position in the Suit, and trying to adapt to it before everything else caught up--social life would just have to wait.

"Didn't you practice beforehand? Elani was apparently offering lessons, or so I'd heard."

"Well, shit. Bet you could sneak a dance or three with Ava if you tried." Was she matchmaking? Maybe. It didn't matter that he was Ace of Spades and Avery was Ace of Diamonds. It didn't matter. Not to her.

What mattered was seeing her brother happy. Which, apparently, meant rolling her eyes at the thought of spending any amount of time spent with Elani. "If I ever elect to spend time in Miss McCartney's company, please put a blade through my head immediately. And my heart, just to be doubly sure. Shoot me, too, if you've got a gun or two." Just to be safe, obviously."

"Probably, in a bit." Ironically, Ethan was absolutely unaware of his little sister's hormonal need to manipulate the lives of others; he contrived to ignore all of it.

"Jesus, Ames, she can't be that bad. A little 'blonde-bubbly-too-happy', maybe, but would it really warrant all of that?"

It wasn't hormonal; it was a sister's desire to see him happy, and she hated that he wasn't. Sure, he was content, perhaps. He had the office he'd always dreamed of having, but he stood there alone. It didn't matter if he had his sister at his back and Jordan at his side, or even David on his other side. She wanted someone for him who would make him happy in a way that none of them could.

She'd just have to keep looking.

As for Elani, Amy shuddered. "Yes, Ethan, it would. If I were like that all the time, you'd kill me as creatively as possible."

Content was enough for now. It was something he'd never believed he could even have, so Ethan was all right with not rocking the boat, so to speak. He'd had enough of heavy weather for a good long while.

"I would, probably, but then you're not built right to be a cheerful soap bubble, either."

"I could, if I tried," she mumbled. "Or, at least, I could if I tried, and didn't talk. Or do anything but smile." Okay, so this was a terrible plan. Good thing it wasn't an actual plan.

"Really, though. What's it gonna take for you to have a good time?"

Ethan cocked an eyebrow her way. "What makes you think I'm not?" Honestly.

Taking the chance to sit back and enjoy the quiet, soak up some of the general ambiance, that was good, too. He didn't have to be gallivanting all over the place to enjoy the evening.

"It's your 'I'm here because I have to be' face, mostly. But the fact that you've been sitting pretty much since you got here probably doesn't help your case any." She shrugged.

"If you're having fun, great. I'm just sayin' you don't look it."

"And what, you expect me to be bouncing off the walls? C'mon, Amy. I'm not good at Swing, and I'd rather just sit and be seen for a while. That's not a crime, sis."

He finished off the current glass and set it aside. "That said, why are you over here pestering me instead of annoying someone else, huh?"

With a dramatic roll of her eyes, she reclined in her chair. "Papa never thought it was important to add that to our education. I can't say I'm complaining, but still." After all, she was here, and she couldn't dance for shit. Ever. In any style.

"You're my favorite person to bug, E. I like it. It makes me tingle in my don't-touch-me spot." Not really. Hopefully, the dry way that she said it communicated that point clearly enough. "And I ain't talked to you today, so it's almost like killing two birds with one stone. Almost."

It's Swing Time~

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