2019-10-31 - Gray Harbor Masquerade

Love makes her way along the top deck in a long black dress patterned with shiny gold foliage and flowers, the pattern enlarged enough to at first seem like an abstract. It is absolutely form-following from breasts to knees, where the skirt flares out. A pair of delicate gold stiletto heels are occasionally glimpsed when she leans against the rail, which she's doing now. Her long grey hair is piled atop her head with little laser-cut gold foil butterflies tucked in, along with a few night-black ones. Her makeup is dramatic, lip blood red.

Love wears a delicate gold half-mask tied on with a little butterfly at the temple, wings moving, glittering every time the breeze blows. She's five-eleven on a normal day, but her heels bring her up to six-three. Though her dress is sleeveless, she's heavily tattooed, throat covered in flora, moths, foliage, and a large gem tattooed on her chest is displayed by the cut of the dress. Her arms are full sleeves, and all of her ink is black and grey. (Dress, mask, shoes: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/57/b1/c8/57b1c8b79eb1f4e1d1e6edd3f12ccdac.jpg)

After confirming the mask Erica made for him isn't an issue for Eleanor, August escorts her to the Harbor Queen. He's once again in his oddly forbidding costume: a jacket of deep, dark, wine red velvet with black, devore botanical patterns, with a matching vest, black tie with a gold pattern that echoes the jacket and vest, and a crisp, white shirt suit. The pants are simple black, and the mask pulls the theme together: a crown of black antlers formed from branches, with dark red, bittersweet berries and dried vines woven among them, and a black-feathered eye mask. To top it all off, his nails are painted gold-flecked black.

He gets them some cucumber sandwiches and wine once they're on board. No crazy human sacrifices and smoke people yet, so it's already an improvement over the opening ceremony. "Pretty nice, huh?" he says around a sip of wine.

Raf has found himself a spot at the bow, where he stood when the ship was moved out into the water and he still stands. He's managed to find a fairly decent costume, though hardly an inspired one. Something of a Victorian opera-goers outfit, complete with a black ruffled ascot pinned with a costume jewelry broach, and a light half-cape over his shoulders. The half mask on his face gives away the costume, a Phantom of the Opera outfit he dug up from somewhere. Indeed, despite a good ironing there's still some more stubborn wrinkles that the black color mostly hides. He has a drink dangling in his hand, but he seems completely uninterested in the drink and much more inclined to stare out over the water and listen to the music as he waits on a particular individual to get some free time.

Eleanor is dressed up in a replica of the Cinderella ball gown from the 2015 live action film. It is layers upon layers of translucent fabric in all different shades of blue topped with a layer of silk crepeline. The fabric is dotted with tiny clear rhinestones all over, making it sparkle and glitter with every movement. The top is heavily corseted, and the skirts are given volume by a crinoline that is, thankfully, not as bulky as the movie version, and made of plastic instead of metal. It is off the shoulder, with the crepe neckline dotted in blue flowers and butterflies. Her mask is a blue and silver butterfly homage. Her hair is styled like Cinderella in the movie, but is her natural shade of deep red.

[https://i.imgur.com/33fh47m.jpg]

She takes the offerings from August when he returns with them and smiles at him warmly. "This is really lovely. I'm sorry I missed last night's opening ceremonies, but well, not really all things considered."

Viktor's leaning at the aft deck, leaning up against one of the rails with a highball glass held loose in his fingers. The full flame-cut face mask in gold, black and with features lined in brocade meaning that the straw that sticks from his dark and slightly fizzing drink is a necessity, not a whim. He has, at least, gone all out with the getup, with eye-black behind the mask, and forgoing a jacket despite the weather to show off the full pattern of the waistcoat, matching the mask and with a long black shirt that drops loose to mid-thigh. (Image in desc)

He sips. From the straw. Cool as hell after three attempts.

Tobin stands at the head of the gangway, greeting those as they arrive and welcoming them aboard, directing guests to make themselves comfortable and to let an of the staff know if they're in need of anything. He wears high black boots with a pair of midnight blue trousers lined along the outside with a silver pattern that matches the edging of his blue velvet jacket which reveals a crisp white shirt and silver vest beneath. His half-mask is the midnight sky, dotted with silver stars, and edged in silver filigree. His dark hair has been streaked here and there with silver for the night. It is only once the majority of the guests have boarded that he makes his way toward the mid-deck to take the microphone and address the crowd.

Ignacio actually owns a suit without looking like he or someone else is about to be buried. I ain't fancy but he wore it it here. A dime-store fedora that doesn't look half bad and a green domino mask and black gloves. Hey all he really had to do was buy the mask. He finds his brother who might be the only other person on this boat who can't afford to be here and limps over putting a hand to his shoulder. "We pulled Raf out of storage for ya. I couldn't dry clean all the wrinkles out though, but he's factory fresh."

Thinking of the slenderman and near sacrifice and people turning into smoke, August assures Eleanor, "Don't be," tone dry. He nibbles on a sandwich. "It went fine, though. Considering." He's using an alternative definition of fine, of course. As Tobin speaks, August falls quiet, taking in some of the other costumes. He smiles to see Raf's Phantom costume, even more so to hear Ignacio joking about him. A pause to take in some of the others--Viktor and Love, in particular--then back to Eleanor. "Good thing Ignacio's here, I can get him to take a picture of us." He tilts his head, since she's not going to see his eyebrows under this mask. "Want me to find us more to nibble on first, or you want to try a dance?"

Is there a better place for Eleanor to be? There are NO FORESTS out on the water! She even reaches a hand up to finger the branch antlers on August's mask. "You know, this kind of helps, seeing something like that, on you. Positive associations and such, like your tattoo." She smiles at him with her green eyes glittering through the mask's eyeholes. "Oh a photo would be really nice!" she exclaims before sipping her wine. "And I'd love to dance!" She sets her wineglass down somewhere then gives him a formal curtsey like the damned Disney princess she is dressed up as! Nerd.

The jaw beneath Viktor's mask tenses some during the departure out to sea, invisible behind the mask but some clues to it happening are visible nonetheless. Like how quickly his drink vanishes. Straws: They make life easier. Unless there's alcohol in that glass, in which case, someone please point out the life vests immediately.

Just do it after he's done forlornly staring at the disappearing shoreline, taking a few deep breaths and shaking out a couple of limbs once it's finally out of sight. "That... is a long way to doggy paddle."

For some reason, a bystander beside him shuffles a few more feet away.

Love leans against the rail above quite heavily, her gaze skimming the crowd, pausing here and there, most notably on the drama of that blue dress Eleanor wears. She smiles, and though it may take a few beats to recognize her, Love's in that coffee shop every day, even if there isn't a landlord discount. Her gaze strays to the fog, the thickness of it, and she glances around trying to orient herself to shore, but there's a very good chance it's going to be completely obscured if the fog thickens. She hasn't noticed Viktor yet, though his color choices for the evening mirror hers. When she straightens, she's taller, in these heels, than most of the men aboard.

"Que te folle un pez." Raf adds a little flip of his middle finger to his brother as if the words weren't clear enough. Though he's still smiling as he does so. He nudges Iggy with an elbow but turns his attention back out to the sea as the boat glides along. He's not looking back at the lights of Gray Harbor for reassurance at least. But he does tug a little at the bottom of his vest. It's not that wrinkled. "Am I going to have to carry you home tonight?" It's said as a jest, at least.

August has no idea how to actually bow, so he just does his best, setting his wine glass aside and dipping dramatically to take Eleanor's hand. "Picture first," he says, if only to go harass Ignacio. But they're not even started before things begin to shift. August stops dead in his tracks when that sensation steals over him. "Christ, not again." And oh, does he ever look a bit more elk-raven-like out of the corner of the eye. He licks his lips. "This could be a problem." He looks askance at Eleanor. "How well can you swim?"

Eleanor takes August's hand like a dainty little princess. Her skirts swirl around her, catching every mote of light in those rhinestones. Then she too feels the changes. "And people wonder why I usually spend Halloween locked in my house," she mutters. She tilts her masked face to look at him, eyes widening at the more...realistic look of his mask now. "I can swim fine but who knows what might be in the water tonight," she adds. Because Gray Harbor.

Ignacio just grins through the obsceneties and wraps an arm around Raf patting him on the back. "Shit, bro I'm way off my meds. Yesterday was literally insane, We're gonna get lit. it'll be great... if we don't drown." And that said he drinks his damn drink. He pulls out his phone. And holds it up to get a pic of other-jefe and Eleanor. "Closer together... closer... don't look at the flying sharks... Awesome." Snap!

"You're going to get lit. I don't drink." Rafael suddenly perks up slightly as the odd feeling passes over him. "Well... shit." At least his outfit doesn't look like it's been sitting at the bottom of a storage bin for the last couple years anymore. Is that filigree on the vest now? Fancy. Even his mask looks to be made of fine porcelain now. He looks over to Iggy with a roll of his eyes. "So much for a nice night out on the water."

"Aaaaaaaand I need another drink."

The fact that Viktor has only been drinking soda up to now is besides the point. Pulling away from the railing, he shifts his waistcoat from where it started to pinch against an obstruction at his side, idly wondering aloud something about "If that got engraved, too." as he passes the fine folks in their now finer finery. A couple even get a little side-salute from a couple of fingers that tap against the top of his mask, the brocade now real gold-coated thread as opposed to spray-on from hobby lobby. Any idea of stopping is fully thrown aside when he realizes he can head on in, mine-sweep that bar like his future coping methods depend on it, and then beeline for the top deck.

Love is eavesdropping bigger than shit. Sound carries over the water, she isn't that far up, but she calls down, "The water temperature is too low for evening swims, sweetpeas." Does she say that when the photo's about to be snapped. Yes.

Sure, you might make it into the water, and you might even make it most of the way to shore, but 50 degrees takes its toll quickly. She's a strong swimmer and she might not even make it. Not to mention this is the worst time of day to go into the water, particularly with visibility so low. Love moves back from the railing, making her way to find the staircase down again. She needs a drink. Where's the bar? This should put her on some kind of collision course with Viktor in 5, 4, 3...

Tobin makes his way over toward Ignacio and Rafael, having seen the party off to its start and then leaving the others to the business of serving the guests and steering the ship. He lets out a slow breath and looks around, "Everything.. seems alright.. so far," he says with the kind of trepidation that comes from having been already sucked into one Dream the night before. He says under his breath, "Let's.. not panic anyone just yet." Because panicked people in confined spaces doesn't sound like a good idea.

August rolls his eyes at Love's voice once the picture's taken. He steps in closer to Ignacio, one hand still clasping Eleanor's. "Something's up," he says, keeping his voice low. "Keep an eye out." Then he straightens, lets out a slow breath. An apologetic glance for Tobin, because after last night, August just isn't buying it.

He finally takes a second to look at Eleanor, stares. "Did your dress...always look like that?" The gemstones look real. Like diamonds. The skirt looks impossibly huge and ornate. He's a bit concerned about looking in a mirror now.

The rhinestones in Eleanor's gown shine brighter. They're now the Swarovski crystals like the actual dress had, instead of the cheaper form of bedazzling. Her shoes change too, into the diamond-like facets of glass slippers. The curls in her hair go from those rendered by a home spiral curling iron, to more traditional sausage curls from an older time, perfect and glossy. The butterflies at the neckline of her dress begin to move their wings slowly, as if they are living things, resting there because she is their princess, instead of fabric decorations. She is utterly enchanting, and every movement seems to cast fairy dust off the swirling skirts of her dress. "Your mask, August, it looks a lot more...real..." she breathes.

Rafael turns as Tobin approaches, leaning lightly against the railing as he looks him up and down with a bit of an appraising eye and a smile. "I'm not about to panic a boat load of people." He says softly, bringing his drink up to his lips for a sip. He looks relieved after a moment. "Still just tonic with cranberry." He smiles slightly though definitely looks much calmer after that sip.

Ignacio looks to Eleanor and says smoothly, "He meanss amazing. And tell him teh answer is no. I make this dress look damn good." The Green Hornet...er... Hornet Verde winks to her and waves. "Love Bug, what is new with you? Look great. Looking to Raf and Tobin he asks, "Hmm?" Looking around does he notice anyhting different? That his suit is made of nicer material and slightly metalic like an insect? No but this is his third drink which means he is winning!

Scooping up a glass from the bar on his way by (Sorry, lady totally playing with that guy's newly filigreed lapel broach, you took your eye off the real prize), Viktor gives the pilfered port a perfunctory taste, having scooped the straw from his now-abandoned empty glass that lies in stead, like some kind of drive-by Indiana Jones switch.

It's a good thing he's got that full mask on, because drinking port through a straw brings expressions that are hard to fathom, let alone describe.

He's letting out a soft "Auuugh." right as Love appears. So, yeah. That's a fantastic greeting and response to an outfit, right there.

Love's just making her way down, twin handfuls of her dress keeping it off the floor while she navigates her way down in precarious and perilously high heels. She pauses in her progression when that reaction gurgles out of a full face mask. "Okay. Well that's your opinion." Oh, little sharp, that, when she hears Vik's... sound.

The tattooed woman continues on her way down two more steps, which brings her about even with the straw sipper. She looks over the hair, the build, and then steps in closer to get a look at the eyes through the mask. "Did you just choke on your drink?" She gives it a sniff. "Is that port? That's disgusting." So of course she moves to take hold of the glass in one inked hand and liberate it to taste it. Any port in a fog bank, as they say.

They don't say that. No one says that.

Well, no slenderman or cultists have melted out of the fog, walking over the water to board the ship claim their prize. August allows himself to relax a fraction. Right. No panicking, like Raf and Tobin are insisting. "You do make it look good," he says to Eleanor, taking a cue from the Hornet Verde. "Think it's safe to dance?" Maybe that dryad ichor's still in there, giving him ridiculous ideas. Or maybe it's just a damned hard thing to forget. He runs his thumb over the back of her hand; his nails look more like gold-black lacquer, rather than simple nail polish.

Ellie's smile becomes a shining thing, sweet, unburdened by her usual anxieties. She leans up to whisper to August, "Dance with me. I feel like dancing." She feels graceful and confidant, beautiful and dreamy. She's not the usual ball of OCD and stress he's known her as. She's got the poise of a princess as she tugs his hand to lead him to the dance floor, and her footsteps are almost musical.

Ignacio looks around and tells Love, not that she's focusing outside of her company, "That ain't port, it's Starboard!" And his hands go out. "Juuust give me your glasses Roen. Get out there. Be cute and ...young again." There's taht grin but he does free up hands so people can do things other than figure out how to not make their glass blow away.

"You both look fantastic," Tobin says to Eleanor and August, when August seems to relax. "Please, dance, and try and enjoy yourselves. If things.. go awry, make your way to the main deck toward the bow. There are life rafts." He tries to keep things calm, reassuring, giving them both a warm smile. Then he smiles over at Love and Viktor, chuckling a little bit at the kerfuffle over the drink. "Would you like me to see if someone can get you something else?" he offers, before finally slipping an arm through Rafael's. "If I'm not mistaken, I owe you a dance."

Raf looks up at Tobin's hair as he lets him take his arm. "Hmm.. gray streaks. I guess it looks distinguished enough." He does pass one look over towards his brother, arching a brow that might have more effect if it wasn't behind the mask. "Try not to fall overboard." He states with a shake of his head and moves to head to the dance floor with Tobin.

"Just because I can accurately pictures your tattoos with my eyes closed-" Viktor starts right as Tobin enquires about drinks and Ignacio calls across, sending his head turning aside before locking eyes on Love's face once more, voice lowering to a dull whisper, muted moreso by the mask. "Does not mean you can steal my unhealthy coping mechanisms, sweetheart."

He doesn't even need to examine her to know it's her. Because, c'mon. She might as well be wearing it on her ski-oh wait.

"...You got taller." He adds after a moment, a pair of pinching fingers reaching out for a wobbling-to-and-fro straw.

"For the eleventh time, Viktor," Love replies, her hand around the glass that was his pilfered property until but a moment ago, "I did not get taller. There are these things called high heels. You and de la Vega need to stop drinking. You both drink too much." Says the bartender who's just stolen a stolen drink.

She glances up briefly. Did someone make a nautical joke or is there a disagreement on right and left for real? She's distracted by Tobin shortly, though. "Do you have bellinis, because I could murder about four of those right now." Still, she takes the port and takes a huge mouthful. Which is a mistake. She hates port. She swallows it anyway, because sometimes it's just what you do. Ask anyone. "You're sharing, babe. Adjust." She doesn't lower her voice, but since she's usually soft-spoken, it probably doesn't carry all that far anyway.

"Life boats," August repeats, like they're words he doesn't understand. He nods, though, smiles at Tobin and Raf. Love asks about bellinis, and the word sounds strange in his ears. He'd ponder it, why things aren't making sense like they should, except Eleanor is tugging him to the dance floor, and he follows. His gait is much more stately and graceful than it's ever been or will be, more suited to the creature suggested by the mask than an old guy who had a building fall on him. August is a passable dancer under normal circumstances, yet now, he's some strange forest spirit that's come to whisk the princess away, and to hell with the prince and his promises of castles. This is a different sort of fairy tale.

Eleanor is taken into August's arms on the dancefloor, one hand on his shoulder, the other tucked into his own, as her skirts swirl around them, almost floating on air. They move dreamily, like they are made of the music, one with it, bound together in this woven fairy tale where all things are somehow just right. There is no fear associated with his antlered mask, no worries about the fog, no desire to do anything other than be swept away by this forest spirit.

Tobin leans over toward a passing crew member in their tuxedo and asks, "Two Bellinis, for the lady and her friend. And more if they want them, afterward." He then gives them a smile before giving Ignacio a little grin and a shake of his head for the port joke. He then smiles to Rafael and says, "Was supposed to be silver, and shimmery, but it didn't quite come out that way." Though it certainly looks that way now, with the way that his whole costume seems to have become richer, finer, in the light. He takes Raf's hand and leads him out onto the dance floor, then, and slips in close, leaning in to whisper, "I'm glad you came. Thank you."

Ignacio takes over for Tobin so he can be less official for a while. He flaps a hand at him to go on. He's rolling stag but really it's goot to spend time with his bro and do something that lets the people he usually depend on enjoy themselves. He looks up watching the harlequins and the jugglers come like some fantastic dream. This is pretty good. Maybe Z was right and not all weird things are bad

Raf finds a table in passing to set his glass down on after draining the last of his drink. "Well, I think it looks good one you. Maybe a decade or so too early, but at least I know it'll look good when it happens." He lowers his voice only a titch in response to the whisper. "Well, you asked, I wasn't going to say no." He starts in on the steps for the simple waltz, only just noticing the performers out of the corner of his eyes. "This isn't so bad for a, uh, you know."

Viktor is clearly about to start a retort, finger pointing upright towards the ceiling. He's interrupted by the sudden appearance of a champagne flute containing one deftly made Bellini within, the hand that placed it there retreating in a flash. You can't pay for that kind of service, really, even if it seems to confuse the shit out of him.

With his free hand, he surreptitiously pats two distinct parts of his waistcoat, double checking something or other at the appearance of the additional performers. It's hard to tell what, exactly, his opinion of this is. Ah, the benefits of a mask that covers your entire face. "You got taller, and I'm pretty sure we're under attack from juggling pirates."

His straw goes in to the drink, and it's gone in a single go.

Tobin mouths a "thank you" to Ignacio for taking over for a little bit so that he can dance with Rafael. His lips tic upward a bit at the corners and says, "Glad you approve." A simple waltz is about Tobin's speed, and he seems more than happy to slowly make his way around the dance floor. He glances over at the performers, watching them a little bit out of the corner of his eyes, "Yeah," he says quietly. "I know." Those performers weren't hired by him. "I'm glad you were here though, and not at the opening ceremonies last night. That was.. something. But I'll tell you about that later."

"Drink your drink." Love replies, her gaze going to the performers, watching all the fire swirl into the air. She accepts a flute of peachy, bubble-infused cocktail and sips it. "Oh, yes. We're serving these at the Platinum's Goblin Danse." She takes another sip, her gaze straying to August and Eleanor, watching them move together. Her hand finds Viktor's upper arm. She gives him a squeeze. "Just jugglers. Pretty sure." She lists a little, her grip tightening on Vik's upper arm.

Ignacio winks to his future brother-in-...law...oh shit did he not give Raf the memo> Ah well he'll figure it out. He smiles at the performers and gives the their compliment as a juggler passes by. It's mured and something which translated to Thank you for bringing us joy."

August remains focused on Eleanor for the most part, though sometimes his attention drifts, and he looks around them like he doesn't know what to make of anything. He tracks the jugglers and fireeaters until the disappear, blinking when he loses them. He watches Love, taller than most others here, with Viktor; Raf and Tobin; Ignacio, glittering green and holding down the fort. His gaze moves back to Eleanor. "Maybe we should have him take another picture. Just in case."

Viktor waggles his empty glass to show Love he's well ahead of her. Only she could hear the soft sigh of appreciation from a drink well taken. It helps that the inside of his mask now smells fantastic. There's a slow blink in the woman's direction as she says words his way, her hand finding his arm and his hand finding somewhere to stow the second of his empty glasses. "Did you say Goblin Dance?"

You don't need to know his facial expression there. The incredulity is obvious. "This. Town." That only doubles up when he turns his head towards the performers to find them gone. His hand finds hers immediately. "This Town."

The waltz is grand, the flames from the fire breathers reflecting off every faceted crystal on Eleanor's dress. She has eyes only for August, in that dreamlike state she's in. When he suggests another photo, she makes a mmhmm sound of agreement, willing to follow wherever he leads.

"One day I'm going to get stuck in an unpleasant one of these, but for now.." Raf shrugs as he moves around the dance floor, light on his feet. It's unclear if it's from the night's own special ambiance or a skill he actually possesses, but he doesn't look surprised by the motion of his own feet. "And it's always nice to just be able to enjoy the music rather than provide it."

Love takes a step back to lean against the rail at the foot of the stairs. It seems a good idea to move off the stairs when things go a little wibbly. "Yes, Goblin Danse." You can't really hear the 's' difference there, but someone was being clever. "Have you ever seen Labyrinth? There's a beautiful, glittery little dance scene where everyone is in masks. What's wrong with the town? The town's fine. It's Halloween, and it's going to be gorgeous." She takes another sip of her drink. "I feel a little funky. This is why I don't drink port." Also gross. Her hand closes on Viktor's. Even so, she watches the waltz continue. "I'd ask you to dance, but I'm not sure I can in this dress." It's a little tight. It's a lot tight.

"Let's.. just enjoy the moment for what it is," Tobin suggests, knowing full well that ending up in an unpleasant dream is only a matter of time. He remains blissfully unaware of Ignacio's planning on their behalf. Whether he can actually dance without the aid of the supernatural nature of the evening is impossible to tell, but he seems more than content to enjoy it for now. "And it's nice to actually enjoy the party instead of steering the ship." At the helm for the evening is the retired former owner of the Boat Tour company, who had come out for the evening to help, thus allowing both Tobin and Ignacio, as well as Dawn, the ever-sunny assistant, to actually spend some time with the guests.

August leads Eleanor off the dance floor and towards the Hornet Verde in his shiny green duds. "Another picture," he says, voice oddly husky somehow. "Just in case the first one didn't come out." A little bit of August peeks through the strangeness: he adds, "I'll even let you post it on the shop website."

Ellie poses with August for another photo, like a damned model born to be a princess or something. At least this is a pleasant dream. No giant seafood trying to grab her, no buildings trying to fall on her, no demonic goats, though those were kind of adorable.

Ignacio is so all about adorable blackmail. "Oooonly if she saves some of the maple coffee beans. I need like..." He squints making his phone take teh pics he wants, "Lik e a pound or a bathtub fulla that." He ponders taht with a smile, "Like a ballpit of coffee beans. Eh, we can worry about that later." He snaps the pic with a grin and puts the phone in his coat tapping his chest. "Safe with me, man."

"Hokay." Viktor's tone is a little tense, but he's doing what he can to seem respectable in a situation that has him well out of his depth. "I'd ask you to dance, but that's a terrible idea when someone's just gone and told me they're feeling funky. You are taking a seat." His hand slides down her arm to take a gentle grasp just above Love's elbow, stepping out to one side so she can at least watch the dancing as he makes an attempt at walking her towards a chair, pausing only to take a head-to-toe look at her outfit. Normally, it'd summon a compliment. Today? Today, it summons a quick little "... Can you even sit?"

"Right, right.." Raf chuckles as he smirks below his mask. "Don't be a downer, I got it." He continues on in the dance, leaning in to whisper something into Tobin's ear, a devilish grin on his face. Then he's back to normal, calm if mischievous smile. His eyes dart out towards the lights coming closer over the water, and moves the dance a little closer to a window so they can see out at what's coming their way.

"You..." Love is led over toward a chair, without too much fuss or difficulty. She can definitely walk in this dress, but it's so tight to the knee that sitting might actually be an issue. "You're not supposed to sit in a dress like this." Maybe she could have chosen something with a little less drama and a little more stretch. "Of course I can sit." She doesn't sound so sure. But then she's doing it, gingerly, like she's afraid a seam might go. Ha! Success. "I hopped a bar one time drunk off my butt. Feeling a little funky is just a blip." She touches Vik's hip and murmurs, "Relax, babe. You seem very tense for someone who just shotgunned that much alcohol." As if telling anyone to relax has ever helped them relax.

Tobin laughs just a little bit at Rafael and says, "That's not what I meant.." Though he tilts his head to listen to what is whispered in his ear, and his lips curve into a smile, the half-mask not hiding the expression at all. He leans in to murmur something back quietly, before Rafael begins to pull them closer toward the windows, his attention finally shifting away from his boyfriend to the lights on the water, curiosity flickering over his expression.

August grins at Ignacio, holds out a hand. "Want me to take yours?" He glances at the approaching lights. "Before..." Before it's over, he means. He can feel it leaving them, even now.

Eleanor moves to the rail to watch the lights approach, making soft sounds as they near and she can make out the lovely contents of the gondolas. "It is like being in Venice..." she murmurs softly.

"I don't like the ocean." Viktor mutters. Well, hisses. Eitherway, it comes after the urge to applaud Love for actually managing to sit has passed. "Also-" He begins to add, dropping down a hand to interlace their fingers. "I might be tripping balls."

"Well." Love glances over the rail, watching the lit little gondolas go by. "At least the scenery is intriguing, and you look nice." She's not actually looking at Viktor when she says that, though her hand is in his, fingers laced with his. "I've been on a lot of trips, sweetheart. I've got you. If you need to vomit, just lean over the side. It's good for the fish." Don't listen to her, she's been mixing alcohol who knows what was in that port. This is what happens when you steal drinks from fancy partygoers.

Ignacio looks at teh water, his glass and sighs, "Yeaaaaah I'm cut off." He watches, curious, mesmerized, and then gets this idea that lights up teh broken author. Whatever that is has his eyes darting all over a grinrelaxing into a perfect idea...he hope won't make the house kill him... more than it probably already wants to. Maybe.

"You should have Finch dress up as Kato." August winks at Ignacio, moves to join Eleanor at the rail and watch the gondolas. He takes her hand, laces his fingers through hers. "This is much better than last night."

Eleanor twines her fingers with August and leans her head on his shoulder. "This is perfect. Just perfect." If it were animated instead of live action, little hearts would float up around her.

About twelve years later, Love realizes what Viktor just said to her. "What do you mean, you don't like the ocean?" Asks the retired surfer of the Wyoming boy. "Babe, can you even swim?"

"I can swim." Viktor could run laps in a pool all day, his eyes leaving Love's face to blink against the sight of even more boats out on the water. "I just don't like the ocean. At all. It's..." Shrugs the Wyoming boy to the Surfer. "Problematic."

Raf stops in the waltz, instead just staring a bit transfixed as those gondolas float by. He lets his arm wrap around Tobin's waist and holds him close as he just tries to enjoy a sight that probably shouldn't exist, or else only exists for the most exclusive parties. "I just meant, you'd be missed." He mutters only slightly under his breath as his eyes flick for just a moment towards Tobin.

"Why the fuck you on a boat on the ocean right now, dude?" Love's question is a little bit loud, kinda in the realm of you idiot, but in a totally fond sort of way. Her accent couldn't swerve more SoCal right now if she tried.

Tobin leans in against Rafael's side, his own arm slipping around him and resting his head against his shoulder, and smiles as he murmurs, "I got others to do much of the work so I could spend time with you tonight." But his eyes are on those boats as they slip past, taking in that view and appreciating it for so long as it lasts.

"Because you do like it." Viktor replies, nowhere near as loud as the question Love sent his way, his eyes never leaving the sight of the gondolas passing in the night.

August makes a low of agreement in response to Eleanor, watching the gondolas fade. As things slowly become normal, he looks down at her, says, "Still perfect," and leans in to kiss her gently.

Ignacio grins to August and says proudly, "Yeah, but I'm her sidekick. We're gonna be Tink and Pete tomorrow." Yeah he's damn proud of that but waves a hand at August looking to Eleanor, "Pretty lights. Boat ride. Kiss that mana nd make him stop talkin comics to people he sees every day." Enabler.

Eleanor now blushes just a little bit as she is returning more to herself, and she returns the kiss from August, holding it far longer than is probably polite in public. Screw it. It's a perfect night.

Love sits there for a few beats after Viktor answers her. Her mask is only a half mask, so he can likely see her expression shift. "Oh." Oh. The tall woman rises from her seat, seeming to fight gravity a little bit before she grabs the railing with her other hand, shoulder bumping into her fellow black-and-gold reveler. She blinks a couple of times and says, "I think your port was a little extra." She falls quiet, then finally says, "Let's find some cheetos and call a Lyft when we dock." There's a 77% chance Vik picked the wrong drink off the bar top.

Slipping his hand from Love's when she stands, Viktor nudges her with a shoulder as he watches the lights of the harbor slowly approach, leaning up against the rail with his forearms crossed. He considers things for a short while when Love falls quiet, then shakes his head softly. "Nah. It was free."

"I appreaciate that you did, too." Raf says, giving Tobin a little squeeze around the waist. His eyes still linger on the floating gondolas until the drift out of sight. He tilts his attention in the direction of Iggy with a thoughtful look. "And he seems sober enough to get himself home." He grins a little then disentangles himself. "I'm going to go get myself another drink before we dock."

Tobin glances over toward Ignacio and nods to Rafael, smiling a little bit as he goes off to get himself another drink. Tobin lingers there, just looking out over the water to watch the lights for a moment before he begins to make his way through the crowd, thanking some people for coming, mingling like he should as the host for the evening, checking in on Love and Viktor to make sure they got their bellinis and are okay, and then over toward Eleanor and August before eventually clapping Ignacio on the shoulder.

Love seems to have finished her bellini; the table nearest Vik & Love has several empty glasses atop it. The pair are leaned at the rail talking quietly. "I mean why else would you drink port." She does the smart thing and steps out of her heels, nudging them aside under the drape of her gown. Suddenly, she and Vik are the same height again. "Later, maybe, I have a question for you."

Ignacio wanders over to his brother as things start to disentangle a bit and holds out his hand palm up. He tells his brother, "Dame tus llaves." There's an easy smile for his brother with a side nod. "Si quieres ir a casa puedo desaparecer un poco." yeah he can get lost. Ain't like he isn't willing to kick over to his girl's place and give the apartment some space. He's just not walking there to do it, but he'll totally do it. Tobin gets a smile. "I think our best tour truth be told."