(no subject)

[analyzing]

Who: Everyone! New Feathers especially.
What: New Feather welcome party!
When: Thursday, 5 pm.
Where: Battle Dome
Summary: IT'S A SUMMER PARTY
Rating: Worksafe, I reckon!
It's cold out there today, isn't it? Sure, it's not snowing but once you get into the Battle Dome, it'll be comfortably warmer. Warmer, not warm. Follow the tiny paper arrows and you'll probably find yourself in, well...summer!

It certainly looks convincing enough (a pool, a volleyball court, deck chairs, everything that you'd think you'd find at a pool party) and feels convincing enough (take off that coat! Aren't you hot?) so why not not step in? The barbecue's sizzling and there's some nice cold drinks at the cooler.

C'mon in, the water's awesome!

Comments

First post locked to Jigen, though intercepts are allowed.

[redjacketthief]

Residents of Luceti won't recognize the tall, buxom blond in a classy red swimsuit, but that's okay. It's exactly as she planned. For now, she's going to be lounging by the poolside, casually watching the throng as she smokes her Pall Malls.

But--worry not! The lady is actually one Arsene Lupin III in disguise. He'll be roaming about in his red speedo after Jigen (metaphorically) kicks his rear out of 'bored thief' mode. Though he mills about, talks to people, flirts with the ladies, he's also hiding a small degree of discomfort.

He doesn't like having his wings as exposed to the open. It's the first time since he's been in Luceti that he's allowed people that aren't his immediate friends to see them.

But that smile of his shows that he's not focusing on the strangeness of it, and that he's more focused on having a good time. Feel free to grab him anywhere, everywhere. Parties are his thing. He loves them, and would love to talk or play.

[needabourbon]

Jigen isn't much of a party person like Lupin but has been urged to attend by his close friend. He's dressed in sandals and some blue-white Hawaiian print trunks, light blue shirt unbuttoned (holes cut nicely for wings to slip through) and the dark fedora fit just to cover his eyes, as usual. After strolling in and pulling out his smokes from his pocket to light a cigarette he finds a seat poolside--next to the young lady.

Seeing Lupin's wings was Jigen's only reminder of his own. Most of the time he forgot he had them, though when it came time to lounge back into a sofa or slip on his coat, they were nothing but bothersome. Oh well if they were out in the open--he didn't care for them whether they showed or not.

"Planning to impress someone tonight, madam?" A grin as he breathes out that smoke.

[redjacketthief]

Oh? The blond woman smiles coyly, those bright eyes humorous but revealing nothing as they stray up and down the gunman's figure in those trunks and the out of place fedora. Lupin would laugh at how adorable the sight was, if he really were a woman.

Instead, 'she' takes another puff before she answers with a french accent. "It won't take much to impress, with the competition here!"

[needabourbon]

"Well, now. Aren't we proud this evening?"

It's almost frightening for Jigen to admit to himself that this is normal behavior. Lupin could play just about any role of any person slapped on that monkey face. Many times had Jigen also thrown on some outfit to disguise himself. Just not quite as thoroughly as Lupin...

"That's not what you're really wearing for the whole night, is it?"

[redjacketthief]

The feminine voice and accent never faulters with Lupin's rebuttal. "And waste all of the hard work that went into this?" 'She' sounded actually scandalized. Then, like any woman flirting with a handsome man, 'she' leans in.

Sotto voce he continues. "I've been bored, Jigen. Very bored--didn't know what I was gonna do before you got here, aside from work. I'm just playing!"

[needabourbon]

He couldn't blame him for practicing his talents while work was at a record low. Still. Did he have to be doing it so well?

Like any interested man in a woman, he leans just close enough for the brim of his fedora to shadow over 'her' eyes as well. He gently presses a thumb to her chin, enough to keep a firm hold between fingers.

Just as he's staaaaaaaring into HER eyes about to speak, the cigarette resting between his lips--he grips just a bit more tightly, in just the right way, to tear the mask right off Lupin's face.

While resting back in the poolside chair, he's flopping the mask in any which direction (Possibly toward the pool. It's just floating there now.) He doesn't say anything and just keeps smoking his cigarette with an accomplished grin, waiting for the complaining to start.

What are almost-brothers for than to ruin something nice and kind of creepy?

[redjacketthief]

Leave it to Jigen to always catch him no matter what face he donned or voice he copied. It was in some ways a blessing; in others a pain in the ass!

In no more than a second Lupin has leapt from the inflatable latex ensemble he found in the shops and is standing in his own skin, clad in that red speedo of his. "Jigen-CHAAAAAAAANNNN~~~~???!!!" He wails at the top of his lungs, grabbing the gunman's shoulders to shake him none too gently. "How could you do that??? Do you know how hard that was to find???"

[needabourbon]

The old gunman chuckled while pulling the cigarette from his lips to speak, "You'll find something else. Eventually." Which always seemed to happen. Lupin would stop at nothing for one of his little pranks, Jigen took a joy in watching all the effort.

He gave a nod to Lupin's sexy red speedo, "Haven't I told you before that you might scare some of the ladies off with that thing?"

[redjacketthief]

"And haven't I told you that your face might scare some of the ladies off?"

It was a lame comeback, he knew. Irritable as he was about his disguise being ruined by his best friend and partner, he just didn't care.

He did manage a smile, though, and lit a fresh cigarette for himself. Jigen was right. He would find something else. Maybe he'd disguise himself as the gunman next time.

[fleurdesel]

"Lupin." Why on earth Adele catches sight of the thief so quickly, or calls out to him at all is beyond her. Still, there was some sense of camaraderie there. Or she found him irritating in a familiar way. Or they were both French and she wished to speak it to someone that understood it in the way it was spoken.

Most likely the latter, she was exhausted with English. She gives the thief a smile and wave from her chair before setting her book aside to walk over.

[redjacketthief]

"Dellie." He quickly smiles; if she hadn't seen his debacle with Jigen, he was not going to mention it. Instead, he meets her halfway, hands casually resting on his hips. He'd found a white short sleeve button-up to wear along with his speedo in the interrim, mostly as a means of partially allaying his own discomfort. Though it was a paltry cover for the wings, it helped him feel moderately normal.

"What's up?" He asks, as a casual conversation starter. "What were you reading over there? Victor Hugo?"

[fleurdesel]

"Is there a reason you were a buxom blonde woman earlier?" Adele chuckles, smiling up at the thief. It had been...interesting to watch, and had she still held any doubts that Lupin was who he claimed to be they where dashed. His disguise had been admirable up until the moment Jigen had pulled the mask off.

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame, yes. Something I reread whenever I've the time."

[redjacketthief]

...don't ask a liar the reason why he does something; you'll never get a straight answer. Instead, he grins at Adele with all of his roguish charm. "Is there a reason why you're not a handsome dark haired gentleman?"

He was always going to be a showman, no matter what setting or scenario. To be less was to no longer be himself. Casually, he changes the topic. "Hunchback of Notre Dame, huh? That's kinda heavy for light reading. Why don't you give Agatha Christie a try?"

[fleurdesel]

"Because dying my hair would be difficult and I have yet to find a wig, but since you've had no trouble perhaps you could point me in the right direction." Adele crosses her arms and shakes her head, and no Lupin she is absolutely not smiling even a little bit at that. Not at all.

"If I can find her books, I shall. The copy of The Hunchback I found literally fell into my hands while I was at the library not long ago." A strange, yet not at all unwelcome turn of events.

[redjacketthief]

"I can help you dress up as anything you like." There's a sly wink as he says that. All she would need to do is follow his instructions completely, and he could transform her into anything with just a little work.

Not that she would listen, and not that he would waste his time if it wasn't requested.

He gets to thinking about the library, and her coincidence with the novel. "You know? I think there's a lot of different kinds of books in there. You might be able to find something interesting. What were you looking for anyway?"

[fleurdesel]

"Of that, Monsieur Lupin, I have no doubt." Especially when Adele took into account the detail and realism of Lupin's earlier disguise. If she had need of instruction, this would be the man to go to for assistance; his offer something she tucked away until she needed it. And she very well might one day.

She is distracted momentarily by a splash from the pool, far enough that they and her book were in no danger, but loud enough to warrant curiosity. "Mm? Ah, yes. I was trying to find texts on traditional Eastern Medicine. Not that I think anything other than a full course on the matter would be enough for me to perform it but I may have to work around such treatments at the clinic. I would rather not do so uninformed."

[redjacketthief]

If he had to choose another profession ever in his life, He'd like to be an actor. On stage. With the lights on him and the orchestra playing tunes that simmer in his blood.

Perhaps in a different lifetime; he'd never trade his current life and career for another. Ever.

"Eastern medicine, huh?" As nerdy as he is, he's stumbled upon references to it and scraps of information from time to time. He was by no means an expert, but he was aware of the idea of it, and perhaps even a few fundamentals.

"...in a place like this, you never know. Isn't that more about balancing your 'chi' and making sure none of your 'chakras' are blocked anyway? Maybe someone with a more...i dunno, magical bent can point you in the right direction?"

[lostinmyway]

Grune is dangling her feet in the pool and not paying attention to anything in particular when she notices one of her friends in the area. Being herself, not saying hello is entirely of the question.

"Hello, Arsene!" she calls out cheerfully. ...Was she supposed to call him something else? Oh well. "Are you having a nice time?"

Despite what happened with Jigen earlier, the answer may very well be yes for Lupin, considering Grune is wearing a bikini and nothing else.

[redjacketthief]

"Oh! Grune-chan! Hey." He smiles at her, and dumps the water-logged mask in a nearby potted plant for recovery later. Such detailed equipment was valuable; he'd hate to lose it.

Mindful of Fenimore's warning, he carefully keeps his eyes from straying to her chest...not that it was something that was easily avoided. He could be the gentleman. Totally. "I'm having a great time! How are you?"

[lostinmyway]

Grune doesn't at all notice his quick actions with the mask, which is probably a good thing. Explaining it to her would no doubt be an exercise in futility.

Instead, she replies, "Oh, yes. This party is a lot of fun! I'm sure all the New Feathers must feel very welcome now."

[redjacketthief]

"Everyone should feel welcome here; it's an excellent party!"

...It's impossible for him to not notice how the colors of that bikini suit her, or how the cut is very very flattering for a woman with her figure. Unable to help it much longer, he comments on it. "You look very nice there, Grune."

No flirting. Just saying.

[lostinmyway]

Even if Lupin did flirt with Grune, it would pass far, far above her head. There would be no need for him to hold back on her account--it would be everyone else that he'd have to worry about.

Flirting or not, she responds with a big, innocent smile. "Thank you! You look very nice, too!"

[redjacketthief]

This skinny, lanky thing clad only in a speedo and a white short-sleeve button up shirt? Naaaah. He'd only pass as 'vaguly eccentric beach bum' at this point.

He's smart enough to know that Grune won't reciprocate the flirtation, and is thankful for the fact that she likely hasn't noticed his carefully concealed discomfort in this setting. Normally his wings were kept under his suit--they were representative of something he wanted nothing to do with, and he wanted them as far from his thoughts as possible. A pool party didn't help with that desire at all.

He smiles, just smiles. "Thanks Grune."

[lostinmyway]

By contrast, Grune's wings are always on display; she's as comfortable with them as if she had been born with them. At the moment, they're folded against her back with no sign of self-consciousness.

"Have you gone swimming yet? The pool is nice and warm."

[redjacketthief]

"uh..." He had taken the time to dive in and fish his mask out. Jigen hadn't been kind or observent when he tossed it aside--it was in the center of the pool! He runs a hand through his wet hair, curious, before he responds.

"I have. It's very nice to be in after walking here in the snow!"