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

[lowtohigh]

"Sto bene, grazie." It was absolutely the rote response, but it was also backed up by a quiet almost-smile on her lips. "And you? You've-- been well?"

The hitch came with the editing out of the direct reference to his recent change in rank. This didn't have to be that conversation, after all. They didn't actually need to have it.

Ought to, perhaps, but didn't need to.

[cutslikeaspade]

"Bene." He took a sip of his brandy, pondering the question. To her, he wouldn't lie. Omit certain truths, perhaps, but never outright lie. So he swirled the amber liquid around in his glass and answered, "More or less."

An eyebrow quirked and he couldn't help a slanted, ironic smirk. "Other than the shock value recent events--which is probably terrible for my blood pressure--things are good, yeah."

[lowtohigh]

Her grin flickered slightly, almost matching his for a moment before settling back into itself.

"Are you-- happy?"

At the end of the day. Despite the spike in his heart rate which might not yet have gone down completely. This was a good thing--something he wanted the way Julien had taught her an Ace had to want it.

Right?

[cutslikeaspade]

God, what a question.

It required another thinking cigarette, which he lit, inhaled and exhaled the smoke away from her, leaning back in his chair to consider.

"...I think...I will be, when all of this settles down." A light snort. "When it feels a bit more real, instead of some weird twisted dream."

[lowtohigh]

One that had, alas, to be asked. One that would help solidify this shift in her own mind. Hopefully one that wouldn't completely unseat Ethan from his own settling.

"Why doesn't it feel real? Just-- the newness?"

[cutslikeaspade]

"Yeah, that..." He took another long drag on the smoke, finally having enough to crushing it out, too. Ugh, no more. A sip followed before he continued.

"It's just...not how I envisioned gaining the office, y'know? Granted, I doubt it would have been the product of glorious battle, knights in armor and swords brandished everywhere, but that's how it's always sort of been in my head, ever since I was younger than you."

Ethan suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, and shook his head. "Wow. I never realized how idiotic that sounded till just now."

[lowtohigh]

It was a ridiculous image. She wouldn't deny that. But it was also the sort of sentiment that eased something slightly in her own shoulders, made it easier to lean on her elbows on the table.

"Isn't that part of growing up? Reaching your dreams and finding the reality of them rather than the drama you imagined as a child?"

It was partly conjecture. She hadn't particularly had the opportunity to romanticize their position.

[cutslikeaspade]

Memories of the past brought only lines between his brows. "Childhood wasn't exactly idyllic for me, Eileen."

It wasn't said in a harsh tone, but rather matter-of-fact. Growing up the Spade King's adopted son, considered less than worthy by the families of clout within the Suit and at six years old heir to a madman's legacy, Ethan was sometimes amazed he'd survived as long as he had.

But he had no desire to burden innocent shoulders of his own woes, so he simply shrugged. "Sounds good in theory, doesn't it? If we had our choice, I'm sure we'd do it that way, yeah." He took a breath, adding, "Unfortunately, life's a bitch for tossing curve balls more often than not."

[lowtohigh]

Her own struggles had absolutely been different than his--and his struggles were barely known to her. It didn't matter. What mattered was the slight tone of his voice that made her nod with absolute acceptance and not a shadow of a question.

Her lips twisted slightly to one side before she leaned properly onto one arm, chin in her hand.

"Can I help?"

[cutslikeaspade]

That was a question far easier answered. He smiled across the table at her, a bit of his familiar twinkle reappearing.

"Assolutamente, cara. I'll take a hug, a kiss and a dance, in that order."

[lowtohigh]

Of course there was a brief wrinkling of her nose. Of course she had to let her breath out in a tiny bit of a huff.

But of course she shifted to her feet, tugged just a hair self-consciously at her skirt--her first time, clearly, in one cut quite like this--and moved closer with arms up over her head like a much younger child.

"Suppose I prefer that to helping with the paperwork."

[cutslikeaspade]

"I'd hope so," he teased her, watching her come around the table with just a hint of devilish intent, and when she approached with her arms outstretched, he took full advantage of that by ducking his head under them, scooping her up as he bolted up from his chair in one fluid motion, swinging her around as he squeezed her tight.

Chortling theatrically, Ethan planted a kiss to Eileen's pale cheek, spun them around once more time before gently putting her feet back on the floor and stepping back, grinning.

"There," he told her, more than delighted. "Now I feel better."

[lowtohigh]

That got absolutely the tiniest bit of a shriek, largely muffled by biting down on the inside of her cheek. This was, at the end of the day, a good thing. Because this was Ethan still being Ethan--still being half an uncle or older brother, still treating her with the age-appropriate understanding of her childhood. That hadn't changed.

It would be a different relationship than she had had with Julien. That was all right. Her relationship with Julien, after all, was still with Julien. This would settle into whatever it would settle into, and that would work well enough.

"Did-- that count for dancing as well?"

[cutslikeaspade]

Yes, that was better. Nothing had really changed, save for profession. Well, not yet. Changes would come, surely, but Ethan in all was grateful they'd be gradual, instead of having them shoved down his throat all at once.

And if he could keep his extended family--for Eileen was, in some sense, a cross between a favored niece and a doted upon little sister--so much the better. His sanity would appreciate it.

"Only if you don't want to really dance with me, carina."

[lowtohigh]

"I quite like my shoes, mostly. D'you promise not to stomp on my toes?"

Which was a change, if a small one. Graduating from still being small enough to dance on the feet of others had come fairly recently. It had barely been two years since she was popped up on the tips of David's shoes to shuffle to the music.

That was then. This was now. And now came with a firm sort of smile to accompany the tug properly toward the dance floor.

[cutslikeaspade]

Ethan clutched his chest with a stricken look, doubling over as he shuffled after, adopting a completely cheesy Italian accent.

"You'a wound'a me'a, carina. To-de-qwick!" Then he snorted a laugh and straightened, heading out towards the lighted area with his little fellow Ace.

Spinning once on his heels, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it to a waiting Card by the bar, he adjusted his collar and asked, "Can you even dance this way, brat?"

[lowtohigh]

This year, thus far, had been marked by being rather rocked by things. Emotions had been hitting hard and fast, hormones had been muddling clarity; events had been shoving her already nervous mind into a mess of confusion.

This? This was simple. This was silly. This was a relief, absolutely enough to have her grinning bright as she flicked her hair back over her shoulder.

"Would Elani let me come to something like this without being quite good at this, old man?"

[cutslikeaspade]

"Well, I'd certainly hope not." The band kicked up again and Ethan reached for Eileen's hand, not missing the nuance that she was chest-high to him now. A good thing.

The music was comfortably paced and light; it didn't take Ethan long to unloosen his shoulders and get into a good groove, even if he did ham it up a bit, totally for his partner's benefit, of course.