-1AN: This is another story written for the lj group 7stages. There is some OCC in this also, but oh well, I DON"T OWN ANY OF FMA. This was going to be a one shot but instead of I have decided to turn it into a mini-series. The prompt was "the ball room at midnight." I had fun writing this part of it so I hope someone out there enjoys reading it. Reviews are encouraged and welcomed. Italics are thoughts, bold is my notes, and XXXXXXXX scene change.
Annual Military Masquerade Ball
7 pm, Friday, October 31
Unmasking at midnight
Roy Mustang looked over the invitation laying on his desk. I really don't have time for this crap. slinging it to the side.
"I know what you are thinking." Maes said standing leaning up against the door frame. "You're thinking… 'I don't have time for this.'" He was rewarded with a famous Roy smirk. "I'm going as Marc Antony and Gracia is going to be my Cleopatra. We just need a babysitter. She is the best little girl in the world. The smartest and the prettiest., you've not seen the new pictures that I took of her this weekend yet, have you? I'll get them in a minute. But Roy if you aren't going to the ball?" Giving his friend a smile. "Will you baby-sit?"
Wonderful, the ball or babysitting. Not that he had anything against kids, but a Friday night babysitting wasn't his idea of a way to relax. "I'm going to the stupid ball, Maes."
"Great!" He knew that Roy would pick the ball over babysitting. "As what?"
Seeing his friends smile, he knew that he had been had. "I don't know, now go away, I've got to get through this stupid paperwork."
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"Lust, Lust, I found this. Look" Gluttony said presenting her with a piece of paper. She took it with a bored look and began to read.
Annual Military Masquerade Ball
7 pm, Friday, October 31
Unmasking at midnight
She smiled as she read it. "Well done, Gluttony. Now maybe I can get close enough to an officer to find out what I need to know?"
"Will you go alone Lust? I can go with you. Will there be plenty to eat there?" Gluttony said rubbing his fat hands together.
"I'm going alone." She looked around the dark room. "I need a costume."
"You should be a queen." He answered simply
"A queen" She smiled slightly.
"Yes, my Lust, a queen."
Her smile grew, yes I will be a queen.
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The night of the ball
"I feel like a jack ass." Roy said looking into the mirror. I should have never let Maes pick out my costume. Starring at his reflection. He glared. Glaring back at him, was the perfect imitation of a brooding pirate. He had on black knee high boots that fitted around his tight black pants. An open cheated, flowing white shirt, he completed the pirate look with a sword tied by a blue sash to his waist, and a false beard. Some of his hair fell slightly on to his forehead the rest was under a blue bandana . He drew the line with earrings.
"Riza is going to swoon when she sees you." Maes said coming up behind him laughing.
"Shut up" He said turning to his friend and he burst out laughing. "At least I don't have to wear that. You look like you are wearing a pillowcase. And maybe no one will recognize me with this beard and mask."
"Only till midnight, now Black Beard, lets get going. I want to get some pictures of all of us."
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She darkened her lips a deep red and carefully pulled the black and silver mask down over her eyes. No one will recognize me.
"My Lust is beautiful." Gluttony said, taking in his mistress. She stood and straightened her black gown. "The true Dark Queen."
She stood straightening herself a bit looking in the mirror. The dress was sleeveless, cut low enough to entice any man who wasn't blind. Form fitting through the upper thighs where it expanded and flowed loose dark material. Like the ocean at night. She took her black silk cape and attached it. Allowing Gluttony to fuss over it making last minute shifts and changes to get it to trail behind her.
"You won't forget why you are going. Will you?" Envy said snarling, hands on hips. "To find out where the full metal pipsqueak and his big tin puppy have disappeared to."
"I know this WAS my plan after all Envy."
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At the Ball
"Its beautiful." Gracia breathed as they entered the ballroom
"Not as beautiful as you." her husband answered dutifully, meaning every word of it.
Roy had to agree, it was amazing. But he just nodded and looked around. A few of the people where easy to pick out. Havoc dressed as a dark age solider, had his cigarette firmly in place. Riza he recognized her because she was dressed as Anne Oakley, gun and all. He lifted his hand to her, but immediately felt foolish. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him a tiny smile formed on her lips as she appraised his outfit. He turned and started looking for the bar. I need a drink.
"Brandy straight." he told the bartender. Taking his drink he scanned the crowd from this vantage point, it was darker back here and he didn't feel quite as exposed. His eye got caught not surprise by a beautiful woman, sitting at one of the back tables. She was gorgeous. Her lips where the only color to her costume. "Who is she?" He whispered out loud. He began to smile as she approached him.
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Lust entered the ball with no problem, she just handed the "monk" the invitation that Gluttony had found. Within in minutes of being inside she was asked to dance by a wolf, a doctor, a priest, and the monk from the door. She politely refused. She had to stay focused, or she might as Envy suggested forget why she had came. She made her way back towards the bar, where she n noticed a pirate leaning against the corner of it. Wow, was her first thought. He seemed to be smirking at the crowd. He looks like he has some sense, and the alcohol will loosen his tongue, maybe I can get what I need from him. She watched him smile as she approached him.
"Buy you a drink?" He said as she took a seat near him.
"Yes, please, that's very kind. I'll have what you are having." He nodded, giving her a once over, his eyes brightening some at the sight of her body. Just a few to loosen up, tonight might be fun after all. They moved back to her table. Where they sit for the first hour, drinking and making the usual small talk, she didn't reveal much about her self. But found herself staring into his eyes more and wondering.
"Where are you from? I can't place you. You are stationed in Central are you?" Roy finally asked.
"Um I'm um stationed up north." She answered. "Are you stationed here/"
He nodded
"So is the famous FullMeatal Alchemist isn't he?" She glanced around as if to see if she could spot him.
His dark eyes darkened even more at the question. "He isn't stationed anywhere, in fact the brat hasn't sent a report in, in well a month." He said before he thought, the brandy loosening him up more than he liked at the moment.
"So you are over him?" I have to figure this out, who this man is, how much he knows. She finished her drink, as Roy motioned for another one.
"Should have known, you'd be here, Black Beard." Maes came up, putting his arm around Roy's shoulder. "Tonight is a night of mystery and surprise, no names and no rank. At least till midnight. Figures you would pick up the second most attractive woman here tonight."
"Second most?" She asked pretending hurt. Damn, intrusion.
"Forgive him, he is an idiot?" Roy said smiling. "You are the most attractive woman here. Now you know my name for the night, what is yours?"
She smiled slightly "I'm the queen of darkness."
Roy laughed and bowed. "Your majesty." The liquor had hit him finally and he was able to loosen up
"You drunk." Maes laughed and walked away, turning before he left. "If you can't make it back to your ship, you know our couch is open."
I'm not drunk, just a bit tipsy. Roy thought. "May I have this dance?" Why shouldn't I enjoy the company of a beautiful woman when I feel like it.
I've not danced since I was alive. She thought but she accepted his hands. Even she had to admit that this mystery was intriguing and the pirate was good company once he loosened up some and seemed to actually enjoy himself. Plus he was handsome.
He held her close on the dance floor. They would occasionally talk and laugh. Who is this woman. She doesn't have the military feel to her. She looked up at him. He was staring at her rip lips, he leaned down. Before their lips could met she moved.
I can't let myself, no matter how tempted. I'm not even suppose to be having these feelings. "Sorry I don't kiss on first dates." Flirting with her eyes, she had to keep him on the line.
It's a good thing I like a challenge. He laughed and said. "I guess it's a good thing that we aren't on a date then." Giving her a seductive grin.
She just shook her head and laughed.
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10:30 PM (This part of the story should be rated Older Teen, just thought I'd give a warning)
Between the company, dancing, and brandy. Lust had forgotten why she had came here in the first place. She didn't know she would met someone like him tonight, someone who knew all the right words and moves to make her feel alive.
"Come on my dark queen" Roy said pulling her off the dance floor. "Lets get some fresh air."
She looked down, then back up at him coyly. "Its almost time for the unmasking."
"Just a few minutes." He said massaging her shoulder. The combination of the alcohol and the challenge, to have this woman had taken him beyond intoxication. I have to have her, no one has made me feel like this. "Come on." He coaxed, planting a small kiss on the side of her neck.
She gasped, his lips were as hot as breath. Its been years since I have felt anything like this, tonight is almost over. She agreed with him. "Just a minute." And allowed herself to be lead outside, into the gardens away from the lights. It was cooler outside and she shivered, her cape was left on the table.
He stopped, satisfied that they were away from the lights and the party. He turned to her turning on his most charming smile. The one he knew no woman could resist. He was sweating and in the night air, his shirt clung to his upper body like a second skin. He looked over his companion, this strange mystery woman. Her hair in wild curls, her mask reflecting the star and moonlight. He knew he had to have her. "You aren't in the military." He said pulling her close to him. He chuckled softly as she stiffened in his arms. He had suspected this since they first met. He moved her back off the path, to a small grove of trees. He lifted her chin with his fingers and began to draw close to her.
de ins
She licked her lips in anticipation. One kiss won't matter. And she brought her lips to his. The kiss started out tentative, like a test. With in seconds though she felt him run his tongue along her lips. She opened her mouth and they began to explore each others mouths. He pressed her back against a tree. She pulled back her eyes on fire, he caught his breath and brought his lips to hers again. She moved her hands over his chest and on to his back feeling his skin, the way his muscles moved as he pulled her closer his hands moving down her shoulders and back to cup her back side. He began to pull up the layers of flowing material. Her lips trailed down his neck. His hands now under the dress he found her back side again and lifter her slightly. Pressing himself against her, he moaned softly. She could feel him through his pants. He began to kiss her neck. Brining one hand around the side of her thigh, She moaned and let her legs spread slightly. He ran his hands over her. She shivered as he found and moved the panties easily out of the way. He let one finger slid in and out of her rocking her against him. He hands begin to fumble with his pants. "I want you" he whispered nibbling her neck.
I feel human, like a woman. The thought brought her out of the trance out of the moment. She pushed him back slightly. "You don't even know who I am."
"I don't care." He responded in a low growl. He reached for her mask.
She knocked his hand out of the way. "I'm going back" She began to walk back to the ball, alone. I let myself go to far. He once he finds out who I am what I am.'
Roy caught up with her inside. "I'm sorry about um outside. I got carried away." Normally he wound's bother apologizing, but there was something about her, he just wasn't going to give up on.
"Ladies and Gentlemen the midnight hour is quickly approaching." The Furher began. " Time enough though for one last song, then the unmasking."
"Can I have this dance." He asked. She knew she should leave, but she needed to know who he was and she wasn't ready to tell goodbye yet. A few minutes and that would be that. She took his hand. "You maybe the one, who doesn't want to see me again, after you see who I am." He said laughing.
"I think it will be the other way around." She said sadly.
"Why?"
She just shook her head and laid it against his shoulder. He was a bit confused but he pulled her closer and kissed her hair. Never before has a woman attracted him like this. And I don't even know her name, but she makes me feel like, feel like I don't know. The song ended and they both started at each other. He removed his beard. In the mist of the laughter around them, he began to take off his mask.
"Wait" she said. Kissing him quickly on the lips. "Thank you."
"Let me." He said taking off her mask, as she took off his.
With the mask off they both stared at each other. Numb with shock and struck dumb with recognition. "You're Lust. You're a hom.." Before he could finish she took off quickly disappearing into the crowd.
"Wait," She heard he shout. But she never looked back. Of all the people, the flame alchemist, of course he would recognize her.
Roy walked back to the table where they had spent the evening. He sit there for a while. Until the bartender said that he was leaving. He drank and fiddled with her cape. A homunculus, I'm an idiot. Lust. I can't believe this. He laughed out loud. He knew that he shouldn't be feeling like this and shouldn't even be contemplating his next move. But he couldn't help but wanting her. He slid his private number into her cape. In case she comes back for it, or something.. He got up and began to stagger home.