Reborn spins out from the dancefloor, smug at the gazes that follow him, and sashays past the prince with a seductive smile. He continues across the room to one of the many large balconies, an extra sway to his hips when he notices the prince's eyes quite a bit lower than his back.
The prince needs to come to him first because from what Reborn has observed, the prince likes to be in charge. If Reborn slides in and sweeps the man off his feet, then Reborn is more likely to get beheaded than invited into bed.
He rests his hands against the cold marble of the balcony railing, looking over gardens teeming with shifting shadows, only lit by the glare of the ballroom lights behind him. The cool wind brings a bit of relief. He's hot from dancing and this suit is slowly suffocating him.
Someone settles on the railing beside him, the man's back to the garden but his head turned to watch Reborn. The man smiles serenely. "My name is Fon. May I have yours?"
Reborn slides him a glance. Good clothes but strange fashion with a long red tunic and wide sleeves, lengthy hair up in a braid. Reborn guesses something like an eastern ally or diplomat, so no one who would have a say in the wedding.
Reborn ignores him.
That earns a laugh. "Arrogance suits you," Fon says with only a faint accent.
"Everything suits me," Reborn retorts derisively. "I'm the most handsome thing you've ever seen."
"You'd look even better if I had a name to go with your beautiful face."
Reborn rolls his eyes. "Don't talk to me, commoner, I'm going to be ruling this country very soon."
Fon tilts his head, hair swinging with the motion. "Is that all you need? If I tell you I'm a prince will you fall into my arms?"
Reborn glances sideways. "Are you?"
"I promise. Prince Fon of Namimori."
Reborn smiles charmingly and leans in. "Well then. Don't talk to me, Prince Fon, I'm going to be ruling this country very soon."
"Cruel," Fon states. "It must be pain from your sharp words that are making my heart race because surely this can't be love at first sight."
A laugh is startled out of Reborn. "Cute. Not cute enough." He casts a look over his shoulder and smiles coyly when he sees his target prince finally separate from the ballroom, firmly locked on to Reborn.
"Be careful," Fon murmurs with a calm smile. "Bermuda likes to own things. Don't get into something you can't get yourself out of."
Reborn turns fully to face the approaching royalty but keeps his voice low. "Watch yourself, Fon. I may just take offence and order Namimori wiped off the map."
Prince Bermuda steps up and holds out a hand. "May I have this dance?"
"Of course, I'd love to," Reborn says deliberately too fast, his words stumbling over each other. He takes the prince's hand with a light and weak grip, letting himself be led away.
Fon's smile fades away as he watches the handsome man act demure, falling into Bermuda's arms with a love-struck expression.
What a waste.
Skull steps from the darkness outside into a blindingly bright ballroom. He nervously smooths down his dark purple waistcoat that matches his tie and adjusts his rolled-up sleeves, the shirt a pretty lavender. The sliver chain running from his lip piercing to his ear glitters like the massive chandeliers spaced over the ceiling and his hair is slicked back.
He moves to the edge of the stairs leading down and grins when he sees the couple gracefully moving across the middle of the dancefloor. Reborn and Bermuda blend together in soft black hues, the prince's cape almost entirely engulfing Reborn as they spin around each other.
Skull hurries down the steps and quickly locks onto Mammon near the edges of the crowd. He does spot Colonnello also on the dancefloor, constantly switching out with young ladies.
Mammon does a double take when they see Skull and drags him off to the wall by the arm. "How did you get those clothes?" Mammon asks quietly. "And how did you even get here without a carriage?"
"It's a long story," Skull admits.
"I have the time," Mammon grits out.
Skull bites his lip but then quickly stops before he ruins his lipstick. "So I was in the garden and then an old lady - well not an old lady but she looked like one - I mean I don't know why-"
"Skull," Mammon barks. "Bullet points."
"I met a fairy godmother named Luce and she magicked some clothes and a coach for me," Skull rushes out.
Mammon's grip on Skull's arm tightens painfully because they've seen some things as they travelled, most of it not good. "Did anyone see this happen? Does the coach look normal?"
"No and yes," Skull answers quickly. "Why...do you look so freaked out?"
Mammon lets out a shaky breath. "Because they could burn you for being a fucking witch, Skull. That bullshit stopped only a few years back."
"I-I'm not," Skull stutters. "It wasn't me."
"You have a magic fucking coach," Mammon hisses. "Now we have to get rid of it-"
"It disappears at midnight," Skull explains desperately. "The clothes, everything."
"Fuck," Mammon cusses. "They look at their watch and swear again. Go to the coach, I'll send Colonnello home with you. Take off the clothes, hide the coach, and for the love of god don't talk to the fucking fairy again."
"It'll be fine," Skull insists. "No one will know. We still have time before it changes back."
"Just. Just stay here, I'll get your brother," Mammon insists and quickly makes their way across the room.
Skull stays against the wall, worried. He catches sight of Reborn being dipped low by the prince as the song ends. Reborn is swung up into Bermuda's arms and they have a quiet conversation before they start moving towards a side door that leads into the garden.
Reborn pauses mid-step and turns, immediately locking onto Skull. Skull tries to wave him off but Reborn says something to the prince and parts, heading to Skull.
Skull flails his arms as subtly as possible at the older man but it doesn't deter him.
"Skull?" Colonnello asks as he steps closer with Mammon at his side. "Where did you get the clothes? What's happening?"
Mammon starts explaining but only gets as far as Skull being tricked by a magic user before they catch sight of Reborn coming closer.
"Reborn, go back!" Mammon whispers fiercely.
Reborn takes up a solid stance in their little huddle and crosses his arms. "Why are you all so freaked out?"
"Just go to the prince," Skull says. "He's staring at you, go."
Colonnello is still gaping at Skull, not even properly registering Reborn's presence. Mammon is serious about this so Colonnello automatically believes it's true. "A fairy magicked you a fucking coach? What did you give her? Did she ask for a soul or something?"
Reborn turns a glare on Skull.
Mammon makes a pained noise and looks at their watch again. "The ride takes almost an hour and we have to hide the coach when we get back. We don't have the time for this, we have to go now. Reborn, go back to the prince-"
"No," Reborn snaps back. "There's a fairy hanging around Skull, probably trying to get his trust for something sick. If fairies are real then why Skull and why waste magic on such a thing as getting him to a ball? I'm going with you."
"We can handle it," Colonnello promises.
"The fairy has magic," Reborn argues. "I'm not dancing while worrying about you being turned into toads. Or having your eyes pecked out by birds."
Skull waves his hands around to get their attention. "The bird thing is a little much. It's probably nothing bad-"
"Why did the fairy help you?" Reborn fires back.
"Because she's a good person?"
Mammon frowns. "You said she was disguised at first. She clearly has an ulterior motive. Once she noticed you were too nice, she latched on, wanting you in her debt. Trust me, I know these types."
"You are that type," Colonnello deadpans.
"Exactly!" Mammon cries. "Fuck, we don't time. Just - shit. Fine, Reborn come with us."
Reborn's eyes widen in shock. He didn't think Mammon would actually let him. "Really?"
"Don't make me regret it," Mammon sighs, moving off. "Even though I already do. Shit, lost a once in a lifetime chance."
They rush from the ballroom and Skull takes one last look back to see the prince trying to push through a crowd of people to follow. Another man in red catches Skull's attention but he isn't sure why.
Mammon sucks in a sharp breath at the very human coachman. Reborn and Colonnello appear wary but climb in regardless.
"Stop!" a voice cries. "Stop right there!"
Reborn leans out of the window to look behind at the voice and finds a mass of guards running for them. Did they notice something is wrong already?
"Go," Colonnello barks at the coachman and the vehicle takes off with a sudden jerk.
Reborn gasps in shock when his hat falls off from the sudden motion and tries to grab it but the coach is already full speed ahead. Reborn sits back into the seat, stony faced.
"It's okay," Skull soothes, patting Reborn's leg. "We'll come back later and get it."
Reborn sighs, which quickly turns to a curse when they hear a stampede after them.
"Skull," Mammon begins. "If they catch us, I'm just letting them burn you."
"That's fair," Skull mutters, peering out of the window at what has to be half an army chasing them.
The coach, magic that it is, quickly out matches the guards on horseback. Unfortunately, just as they lose sight of the chasers, the coach starts to fall apart. Reborn grabs Mammon and Colonnello grabs Skull before they bail out of the sides just in time for the coach to shrink back into a pumpkin.
Colonnello angles them so he hits the ground first and they roll, the blond quickly dragging Skull behind a bush as the guards round the bend, smashing apart the pumpkin underfoot and sending the lizards and mice scattering. On the other side of the road, Reborn and Mammon have also hidden themselves.
The walk back is long and tense as they keep an eye out for guards.
