Chapter THIRTY EIGHT
"Cobra and Angel." Lucy muttered. "Former guild mates."
Jellal narrowed his eyes. "Yeah."
"Don't be so negative!" Meredy whined, causing Jellal and Lucy to smile. "Plus, Gray, Juvia and Lyon are competing!" She continued. "Ah, the love triangle."
Lucy giggled. "Right."
Sting stormed up to the balcony. "Poison bastard!" He yelled, catching everyone's attention. Midnight shot Rogue a 'Keep-your-partner-in-check' look and Rogue sigh. "Don't you dare lose!"
Cobra smirked and ignored him, causing Sting to get even more riled up. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anymore, Rogue appeared behind him and hit him on the head, before dragging him back to his seat.
Cobra and Angel faced each other as they waited for the theme to be announced.
"Hello, Cobra." Angel said. Cobra nodded, and turned away. Angel laughed, and walked off. He noticed Gray, Juvia, Lyon and Eve sending him distrusting glances and smirked.
Mato appeared through a hologram. "The topic of Fashion Monster is...a Masquerade ball!"
Cobra paused. A masquerade ball? He had heard of it, but there was an actual costume for it? He tuned his hearing towards the judges panel, but their thoughts were clouded. Was it some sort of thing against him? Their thoughts weren't fully blocked, but it was effective enough.
Lucy had been a heiress, right? That should mean that she had been to parties and balls. He turned his attention to the Grim Requiem guild stand. Lucy stood at the head of the balcony, dressed as Valkyrie.
The block around her mind faded away.
'Cobra, can you hear me?'
Cobra raised his hand to signal that yes, he had. To others, it would probably look like he was waving.
'Good. I'll explain to you the things you would need, okay?'
Cobra faintly nodded. Just then, the bell rang, signalling the start of the event. Cobra leaped down from the stage and glanced around. There were puffs of smoke as the monsters appeared. The tags on the monsters showed things from casual jeans to butler suits.
'There. See the monster behind Gray? The blue one with feathers?'
Cobra turned around and nodded in confirmation.
'Defeat that one.'
Cobra moved behind the monster, noting that the tag showed a picture of a black dress suit with tails and blue lining. He frowned. Nonetheless, he quickly defeated the monster. The monster disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the tag behind. Unsure, Cobra just scrunched it up and stuffed it into his pocket.
'Next, go for the red one walking around on all fours. The one a few meters to your left. See it?'
Cobra turned to face the monster. He noted that this one's tag had an picture of a masquerade mask that went over the eyes.
'It's a blue masquerade mask with rhinestones and feathers. Decorated with Silver Laser cut filigree.'
Lucy's voice sounded a bit dreamy. Her description was very detailed. Well, the tags weren't that small, and anyone with good eyesight should be able to see it, but really? How did she know it was decorated with Silver Laser cut filigree? Cobra quickly defeated the monster and slipped the tag into his pocket.
Under Lucy's instructions, Cobra proceeded to defeat several other monsters. He had gotten a white poet shirt (The frills made him want to gag), a black open waist coat (How many layers did masquerade balls require a person to wear?), a pair of large cuffed heel boots (There were male heels?), a black masquerade cape with light blue linings (Cobra had no idea what the difference between a normal cape and a masquerade one), a black hat that could have belonged to a pirate if not for the gold linings and the dark blue feather (He was so glad they had do dress up a mannequin; he wasn't going to wear a hat), and a pair of black suit trousers which matched the dress suit.
He then decided on the snake design cufflinks and a pair of black gloves. After that, he just wandered around, waiting for the times up signal.
The bell rang twenty minutes later. He heard someone let out an annoyed growl as the monsters all poofed out of existence. The competing members all appeared back on the stage. Mato dismissed them into their changing rooms.
Cobra stared at the full body Mannequin. Under Lucy's detailed instructions, he dressed up the mannequin.
'The poet shirt first, then the waist coat over it. Leave the front open so that the frills are visible. Put on the gloves first because they have to go under the sleeves, then put the dress suit over that. Button up only the middle two. Put on the trousers, then tuck the bottom into the boots. Don't make then straight, leave some creases. The mask first, then the hat. Tie the cuffs of the poet shirt, then clip on the cufflinks.'
Finally, Cobra hear a voice telling them that they had only a minute left. He leaned back to look at the mannequin.
'I'll leave the rest to you. Good luck.'
Lucy's voice faded. Cobra tried to catch it again but he couldn't. She must have put the mind barrier back in place. A countdown started, and when it hit zero, the mannequin disappeared in a puff of smoke. The door opened and Cobra stepped out. Mato directed them to a set of seat to the sides. Cobra took a seat at the edge, next to Gray. They didn't acknowledge each other as they waited for the judges.
Cobra glanced around at the other costumes. One of the costumes looked like a wedding dress. He had seen the water mage's reaction towards Gray, and had heard her thought enough times to know that it belonged to her. He also had an rough idea on what had been running through her mind throughout the contest.
Cobra focused on Gray's thoughts. Gray seemed to have followed along Rufus's costume, and Cobra thought it was close along the lines of masquerade, judging from what Lucy had told him.
The mage from Mermaid Heel, Arana's dress looked like a Halloween costume, completed with a witch hat.
He skipped right past Nobarly's...er...(was it even a costume?) and looked over Eve's, which he also deemed pretty good.
Lyon's just looked like a normal party male costume. Too formal.
Angel met Cobra's gaze, and he realized that he couldn't read her thoughts, only to remember that Angel was Lite's Candidate. The mind block. However, the only costume left had to belong to her. It was pretty impressive, and he felt sorry for whoever that might wear something like that. It looked very feathery and heavy, with all the accessories. The earrings seemed as big as his hand and the full face mask seemed suffocating.
From what he had seen of Lite during 'Monster Tag', he didn't seem like the helpful type.
Cobra sighed. He guessed he would be fine. He turned to see Lahar glaring at the mannequins, as if trying to figure out which costume belonged to Cobra so that he could degrade it. He clicked his tongue and turned his glare towards Cobra. Cobra met his glare and smirked.
New chapter!
Who do you want to win (Does that even make sense?) in Fashion Monster, Cobra, Gray or Angel. (Give us 1st, 2nd and 3rd) :P
Again, we're sorry if the ideas are stupid and stuff.
We're planing a Jellal and Lucy vs Angel and Rustyrose for the tag battle on the fourth day.
If you have any ideas for the events, please do tell us. Should Jellal and Lucy reveal their identities?
Read and Review!
Read and Review!