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POSTED ON Dec 19, 2022 4:56:43 GMT

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[attr="class","girardtest3title"]

MERRY MASQUERADE

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Good.[break][break]
Girard would have been shocked if Yumi had taken his outstretched hand. After all, she was a volatile, haughty woman who preferred to do things her way, hiding any eagerness to dance with a handsome stranger behind a facade of carefully curated indifference.[break][break]
It was precisely this sort of behavior that made her interesting.[break][break]
And yet, she wasn’t indifferent; Girard was an observant man, and he’d caught a momentary look of intrigue behind the pretty mask she wore as he'd approached her. She wanted to dance with him, though he also knew she wanted to play her little game, too.[break][break]
It was a game he also wanted to play, so he followed her to the dance floor and, with a practiced skill, immediately pulled her close - but not too close. The appropriate distance for a traditional dance. When the music started up, he lead them into the right steps, as precisely as he could manage. It really had been a good thing that he’d warmed up, he realized.[break][break]
"You may indeed look stunning tonight, but beauty alone does not make a woman worthy," he murmured to Yumi. "So here we are, both curious if the other will impress." He paused, expression amused. "Is it chivalry you favor? Perhaps wealth? Or is it style?" At that moment, he dipped her slightly, perfectly timed with the rhythm with the music.[break][break]

Yumi Hasegawa[break][break]

NOTES

- Girard's Outfit[break]
- Girard's Mask[break]
- Mission: Merry Masquerade

[attr="class","girardtest3pkmn"]

[attr="class","girardtest3credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Dec 19, 2022 15:32:56 GMT

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[attr="class","yumi"]

[attr="class","yumitext"]

[attr="class","yumipkmn"]

Yumi was not a heavy drinker. The flute of champagne and the backforth club were already starting to take their toll on her senses and inhibitions. Her movements were looser, and so was her tongue. However, she still maintained an impeccable posture and an imperious demeanor as she and Girard began their dance, her steps confident and precise.[break][break]

"You're correct. Beauty alone does not determine a person's worth, though women in particular are judged more harshly for it," she remarked, allowing him to dip her.[break][break]

When she was upright again, she continued, "Chivalry, wealth, style — they are all well and good, and people of all kinds have them in spades, whether they possess all three qualities or just one. None of them are enough."[break][break]

Yumi was never the kind of woman to hold her cards close to her chest. She made her interests and desires plain, much to her family's lament. They'd always tried teaching her to be secretive, but for a woman who wore her emotions on her sleeve, that was impossible.[break][break]

"No, Woodsman. There is one thing in this world that not everyone can enjoy by the simple virtue of its nature."[break][break]

She twirled in perfect time with the music, the skirts of her gown flowing around her like ebbing waves. From behind her mask, she looked Girard in the eye, then leaned to speak a single word.[break][break]

"Power."

[attr="class","yumiooc"]

@girard

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Merry Masquerade (IL)[break]
⬥ Dress + hair + mask

BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 3:01:17 GMT

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[attr="class","girardtest3"]

[attr="class","girardtest3title"]

MERRY MASQUERADE

[attr="class","girardtest3body"]

Power.[break][break]
Yes, that made sense. Yumi Hasegawa had once held quite a bit of power in Johto, but in Hoenn? She was starting at the bottom of the social ladder, in a sense. As Girard expertly twirled her, weaving in-between the other couples, he considered how desperate she'd been when she'd first entered his pawn shop, willing to part with a beautiful pair of earrings - that obviously meant something to her - for immediate cash. The woman was as fierce as a Pyroar, but at least right now, it was not backed by any substantial influence.[break][break]
As she spoke, Girard realized something: they might be discussing what made a man worthy of her attention, but he had a feeling that she was revealing more about herself than she was about any desired partner.[break][break]
"Power would suit you, princess," Girard murmured to her, continuing with the fairytale theme: after all, she'd certainly dressed like one. He paused as they transitioned into a faster section of the song, focusing on his footwork. "You would wear it as effortlessly as you do that lovely gown." He nodded respectfully at her elaborate dress. Best to appeal to her pride if he hoped to learn more about her.

Yumi Hasegawa[break][break]

NOTES

- Girard's Outfit[break]
- Girard's Mask[break]
- Mission: Merry Masquerade

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[attr="class","girardtest3credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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played by

gunsmile

she / her

august 1

Goldenrod City, Johto

power

casino owner

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5'7" / 170 cm height

When someone says you can't do it, do it twice. And take pictures.

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POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 13:54:18 GMT

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[attr="class","yumi"]

[attr="class","yumitext"]

[attr="class","yumipkmn"]

As much as Yumi wished to be immune to flattery, she was anything but. Girard's comment brought a smirk to her perfectly painted lips.[break][break]

"Those honeyed words will get you far, Woodsman," she commented idly, subtly drawing even closer to him. Her hand moved from his shoulder to the nape of his neck.[break][break]

"It makes me wonder: are you the kind of man who is quick to praise, or are you careful about who receives your adulation?"[break][break]

Yumi had been raised to assume power would be hers; it was only a matter of time. She had trained for it. As much as she hated to credit her grandparents or parents for anything, they taught her how not to abuse what power she claimed for herself.[break][break]

For they were right about another thing: someone could easily rip it right out of her hands.

[attr="class","yumiooc"]

@girard

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Merry Masquerade (IL)[break]
⬥ Dress + hair + mask

BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Dec 20, 2022 17:24:43 GMT

Cillian Quinn likes this

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[attr="class","girardtest3"]

[attr="class","girardtest3title"]

MERRY MASQUERADE

[attr="class","girardtest3body"]

He relished in the weight of her hand on the back of his neck; it meant he was endearing himself to her as planned. Despite her obvious independent streak, if she wanted to gain social influence, she would need help from people like him, whether she liked it or not. Girard liked to hone in on those who showed promise; in the end, he would pick and choose who to be loyal to, but it was best not to put all his eggs in one basket, so to speak. In any case, he found Yumi's immense self-confidence rather amusing.[break][break]
"My praise is not so easily earned," He answered. "I have spent a great deal of my life in service to the powerful, judging the men and women one might consider this region's leaders. Some have worked hard to earn their positions, and others have bought or inherited their way to the top."[break][break]
He thought of Cillian: sometimes, tragedy forced a person to seek power. Luckily, Cillian Quinn was more than worthy of Girard's loyalty, the right combination of ruthless and intelligent - and, more importantly - he was a man who understood what it meant to lose everything. For that, Gavin treated his own power with a great deal of respect, aware of how much responsibility he had to make good on his promises to Rocket.[break][break]
"You strike me as someone who understands power," he said, sincerely appraising. "Its gifts and its burdens. The responsibility as much as the privilege."

Yumi Hasegawa[break][break]

NOTES

- Girard's Outfit[break]
- Girard's Mask[break]
- Mission: Merry Masquerade

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[attr="class","girardtest3credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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gunsmile

she / her

august 1

Goldenrod City, Johto

power

casino owner

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5'7" / 170 cm height

When someone says you can't do it, do it twice. And take pictures.

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POSTED ON Dec 21, 2022 12:14:10 GMT

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[attr="class","yumi"]

[attr="class","yumitext"]

[attr="class","yumipkmn"]

Girard's boast of his supposed credentials caused Yumi to raise an eyebrow, though he could not see it behind her mask. "What an impressive résumé. Yet it's easy to make such bold claims while anonymous."[break][break]

A man could claim to be the prince of Galar while he hid his face, and those who did knot personally know the prince would be none the wiser.[break][break]

Still, her partner in their dance seemed — at least on first brush — to be such a man who knew how to act around power: that is, deferential. Perhaps there was truth to his claim after all.[break][break]

"You presume much," Yumi said to his last comment, though her tone lacked the guardedness her words suggested. "But I dare say you don't know a thing about me."[break][break]

Yet she smirked, clearly amused.[break][break]

"Perhaps we should get to know each other more throughout the night. I hear there's dinner later. Dine with me."[break][break]

After all, one could easily assess how much of a gentleman someone truly was when observing them eat alongside others.

[attr="class","yumiooc"]

@girard

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Merry Masquerade (IL)[break]
⬥ Dress + hair + mask

BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Jan 9, 2023 16:32:36 GMT

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[attr="class","girardtest3"]

[attr="class","girardtest3title"]

MERRY MASQUERADE

[attr="class","girardtest3body"]

Girard smiled enigmatically. "Ah, but I do know a thing or two about you, princess," he countered as smoothly as he twirled her. The music had grown to a resounding crescendo, so Girard dipped Yumi in time with it, and when he pulled her back up he leaned in close and murmured in her ear, "I haven't sold them yet. Your sapphires."[break][break]
He drew back, then, moving in-step with the dancers around them as the song proceeded towards its natural end. With one hand, he lifted the bottom of his mask up just-so, enough for her to see the face that matched the amber eyes behind it. He winked. Then dropped it back down, feeling pleased with himself.[break][break]
"I am afraid I have other dinner plans this evening, but we've had our fun, have we not?"[break][break]
He had no such plans, of course. But Yumi Hasegawa ought to spread her influence if she wanted to make an impression on the many powerful people who happened to be in this room. He was doing her a favor by rejecting her offer. He had full confidence she would do well continuing to mingle with this particular crowd, filled with notable League and Rocket leaders alike.

Yumi Hasegawa[break][break]

NOTES

- Girard's Outfit[break]
- Girard's Mask[break]
- Mission: Merry Masquerade

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[attr="class","girardtest3credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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played by

gunsmile

she / her

august 1

Goldenrod City, Johto

power

casino owner

executive

5'7" / 170 cm height

When someone says you can't do it, do it twice. And take pictures.

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TAG WITH @yumi

POSTED ON Jan 9, 2023 17:29:01 GMT

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[attr="class","yumi"]

[attr="class","yumitext"]

[attr="class","yumipkmn"]

The revelation of the stranger's identity, previously hidden by his autumnal mask, hit Yumi like a sack of bricks. She audibly gasped in his ear at the mention of her sapphires, her body tensing in his arms as they ended the song together.[break][break]

"I thought you'd have sold them by now," she admitted, her brow knitting together in confusion and curiosity, though he could not see it. All he could see was her painted lips pinched into something of a frown, though it was not one of displeasure.[break][break]

Girard was refined enough to reject her offer graciously, whether he truly had dinner plans or not. Yumi, who had opted not to lift her own mask to confirm his guess, gave him a simple nod.[break][break]

"That's fine. Enjoy your evening, Mr. Fraser."

[attr="class","yumiooc"]

@girard

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Merry Masquerade (IL)[break]
⬥ Dress + hair + mask

BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Jan 9, 2023 21:00:20 GMT

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[attr="class","girardtest3"]

[attr="class","girardtest3title"]

MERRY MASQUERADE

[attr="class","girardtest3body"]

Girard shrugged. Why hadn't he tried harder to sell her earrings? Perhaps he was merely waiting for the right buyer; perhaps he had just been particularly busy as of late. Or, perhaps he liked Yumi's bold character enough to want to see if she would ever be able to acquire them back someday.[break][break]
"They won't be with me forever," he said cryptically, knowing that much to be true. As the music came to a decisive end, he let go of the lovely young woman before him and bowed respectfully to her. Around them, couples began to disperse from the dancefloor.[break][break]
"I enjoyed our dance," Girard told her, meaning it. "And I meant what I said earlier: power suits you. Should you find yourself in possession of it, you may also find a man with my history a useful ally."[break][break]
What went unspoken - and yet, implied - was the opposite of course: Girard could as easily ruin someone as he could aid them. It was how he'd joined Rocket in the first place, after all.

Yumi Hasegawa[break][break]

NOTES

- Girard's Outfit[break]
- Girard's Mask[break]
- Mission: Merry Masquerade

[attr="class","girardtest3pkmn"]

[attr="class","girardtest3credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

close tab

played by

gunsmile

she / her

august 1

Goldenrod City, Johto

power

casino owner

executive

5'7" / 170 cm height

When someone says you can't do it, do it twice. And take pictures.

awards

731 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @yumi