It's Swing Time~

[cipherspeak]

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!

Comments

[somuchheart]

It's more daring than usual. But hey, it's a Spring Swing. Rebirth or something like that. She's a new Blythe.

Or, at least, an old Blythe with new clothes. She's totally at ease (not really) in the lace dress, the stockings, the shoes. And there's a smile on her face as she pointedly avoids the dance floor. Look. Food in her hand. She can't possibly dance.

[falsepretences]

It is more daring than usual. It's daring enough that Jordan raises an eyebrow underneath his rakishly tilted fedora and just stares at the Ace of Hearts for a moment before he straightens away from the post he's holding up and....steals her canape.

There goes her excuse.

"They're playing our song, Blythe." Well, they're playing a song. They can pretend it's theirs.

[somuchheart]

She jumps, laughing a little when she sees him. "I'm sorry, I can't p--" Wait, he has her food.

No problem, she'll just grab more, then lift her plate apologetically. "Sorry, can't. You do look nice, though."

[falsepretences]

He's a sneaky one. He's also a persistent one, and he tips back his hat, giving her a skeptical look. "What do you think's going to happen if you get on the dance floor?"

Lord knew there were enough ladies and gentlemen up there trying not to flash the crowd that they wouldn't notice in the least what they were doing. Which would be completely platonic dancing. Obviously.

[somuchheart]

"... I'll... disappoint Monty if I don't save the first dance for him. You understand."

Also, well, she's never danced swing dance before and that's just a little scary.

[falsepretences]

"See, that's an actually good excuse," Jordan tells her, and since he's there, steals food from her plate. "But I'm taking the second one."

He hasn't done much swing either, but he figures he can avoid making himself look like an idiot.

[threecardmonty]

"Well, ain't my ears burning?" Never one to resist a good entrance, Monty steps up and hands Blythe her drink. Winking at Jordan, he adds, "You trying to steal my gal, Novak?"

"Darlin', dance with anyone you want, though I hope you save that last one for me."

[falsepretences]

"Every day, of course." He'd been, according to his friends, grumpy and boring lately, but Jordan's well-known sharp humor and charm is in effect tonight. It's probably the hat.

"See, Blythe, you've got permission, so you should absolutely dance with me." He won't let her fall over, of course. Or drop her. Or even do any complicated flips.

[somuchheart]

The heat is definitely rising to her cheeks, and she gulps at her drink before pouting at the two of them. "You're both awful. I hope you know that." She turns to reach up and place a kiss on Monty's cheek - or, well, at least his jaw. "I'll take a dance with Jordan really fast? If I fall, I'd rather ruin a dance with him," she says, laughing a little before pushing her drink back gently into his hand.

[threecardmonty]

There you go. Blythe can only dance with fellas wearing hats. Sounds good to him. He tips his brim at the other man.

"Take something a darn sight tougher than a dance to make you fall. Won't hold it against you if you want to step on his feet some, though."

What? It's a joke.

[maskofhearts]

Hadyn was looking strangely put together tonight. It was probably because he felt a need to be different than most of the 'causal' group around, though there was something not quite normal about his clothing either.

That aside, he smirked as he came up on Blythe, offering her a drink and a smile. "My dearest Ace," he said, "a drink?"

[somuchheart]

"I'm going to be drunk by the end of the night," she muses, taking the glass from him anyway. "You'll have to carry me home."

Or someone else might.

[maskofhearts]

"Love, I am more than certain that Monty would be pleased to carry you home." He said, smirking a little as he shook his head.

"Have you danced yet?"

[somuchheart]

"Stop! Stop..." She's waving her hand firmly before taking another drink. "No. Bad P.A. And yes, I have danced, with your incredibly embarrassing brother. He's not very hardcore, though."

[maskofhearts]

"Are you going to fire me?" He asked, raising a brow and almost challenging her to threaten it. He was, after all, very good at organizing her and her people. "And if you danced with Jordan, you know that means you simply must dance with me."

[somuchheart]

"I'm not going to fire you, Hadyn. Don't be silly," she says, nudging him. "As long as you'll try more jumps than your brother did."

[threecardmonty]

She can possibly dance which, he might add, she's proven with another man--not that he found his eyes following the other couple while they were on the floor or admired the way her red dress swung around her thighs. Nope, not him.

Still he's quick to claim her when Jordan returns his girl. "You look good enough to eat," he murmurs in her ear. "Did I tell you that already? I was half afraid Novak would be tempted to start nibbling."

[somuchheart]

She flushes, fingers curling slightly in his shirt as she bumps her temple against his. "You're ridiculous. I'm certain you're the only one who'd want to-- um-- you know."

[threecardmonty]

"Well," he allows, "I only ate a light supper. I'll warn you if I start feeling peckish. Want to get a drink while you catch your breath?"

[somuchheart]

"I've had so much already," she protests, clinging to him. "Give me a couple of moments and we'll go dance, hmm?"

[threecardmonty]

"No hurries. Gardens look right nice." He grins. "Heard Evan brought in bouncy castles for the kids--and the older kids."

[somuchheart]

"That's not a joke about my height, is it?" She demands, pouting up at him. "I won't dance with you if it is."

[threecardmonty]

"Now that's hurtful. You'd dance with Novak and not me? Anyways, no height jokes. I've known some pretty tall ones in my day." Himself included.

She really oughtn't pout. Someone might be tempted to kiss her.

[somuchheart]

"No," she admits, shaking her head with a smile. "It'd be a terrible fault on my part to dance with Jordan and not you. I did practice for a reason."

XD was supposed to say tall "kids" not ones!

[threecardmonty]

He settles his hands at her waist. "Never heard any rule that dancing had to be limited to the dance floor."