#fancy parties

Art by Arvalier (AO3)

Story by @oopsbirdficced / ingenious_spark (AO3)

Fic rating: T / 13+

Warnings: discussion of political marriage for other parties

Relationships: Finrod/Legolas, Legolas & Elladan & Elrohir & Gimli, Legolas & Thranduil & Legolas's Mother

Characters: Legolas, Finrod, Thranduil, Legolas's Mother, Elladan, Elrohir, Gimli, other incidental characters

Tags: romantic comedy, reunions, cultural differences, cultural misunderstandings, post sailing to Valinor, love at first sight (kind of), formal parties, banquets, politics, matchmaker, formal matchmaking, tea parties, slow romance, illustrated work

Word Count: 18k

Summary: Legolas has traveled to Valinor with his family and friends at long last. What will he find there? Different culture, curious politics, strange and delicious new food, fascinating art and dancing...

When he meets the kind and handsome Findaráto, fresh off the boat, will he even find... love?

-

A note from the artist:

A big thank you to my Author, my lucky star who looked kindly upon my art and decided to grant their wonderful gift of partnership and brilliant writing this year. I feel humbled and incredibly lucky. There are so many pinch-hits this year round, and even a few dire pinch-hits so close to deadline. For what it's worth, I think the pinch-hitters deserve all the shout-outs for their struggle & effort to deliver. So here's one from me. Thank you for your hard work. You're all saviors. As always, my solemn respect and hugs to the Mod team, the backbone of this event. The enormity of this year's event left me unable to form adequate words to thank you all for everything you've done. Blessed be your days to come. And for the rest of the participants: Great job, Everyone! *claps*

A collaboration created for the 2021 Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang, @tolkienrsb !!!

Decadent Boys & Spilled Truths

‘Someone has finally been able to fix your hair, Granger?’

‘There are hundreds of people at this party, could you just let me be, for once?’

‘Tsk, and where’s the fun in that? Better see you getting bothered and flustered’

"Fancy meeting you here, Miss Luthor"

"It is my party, after all"

This got a little bit more ambiguous, but nothing more Luthor than a big fancy party, right?

This was requested by @ask-cryle-anytime hopefully you like it! I am also going to tag @danspector Sorry for the long wait! I was inspired from a movie I watched a long time ago, I can't remember the name though.....

They have been working together for five years. Been in a relationship for two of those five years. And now they are about to pull off their biggest heist yet, all because a certain female wants a two million dollar necklace that is going to be wrapped around Empress Allura’s neck. The only problem? It was going to be at a high class party with people wearing to much perfume and expensive dresses and suffocating suits. Or what Keith would like to call it, the snobs get together.

“I’ve got an idea.” Pidge exclaims suddenly causing him to jump. “Jesus Pidge, don’t scare me like that!” He yelps and she blushes. “Sorry.” She says sheepishly. Keith shook his head with a fond smile before he tilts his head, crossing his arms together across his chest. “So what’s your great idea?” He asks, hinting her to get to the point.

“Oh right, anyway so my brother can get me a vial of stuff, that I’m not going to say because it’s Matt’s invention and I promise I wouldn’t tell anyone the brand name not even you. Anyway getting to the point if we can get it into Allura’s drink, it will take about ten minutes before she feels nauseous. I will be great buddies with her while you, my handsome boyfriend, will be dressed up as a waiter and make sure to get that stuff into her drink. Then when she runs to the bathroom to throw up and all that jazz, I will go with her to ‘help’ her and take it off and replace it with a fake while she’s busy puking her guts out.”

Keith blinks in surprise because that was actually a good idea. “Alright then let’s get started.”

Pidge beamed as she picked up her phone to contact her brother and Keith sighed as he walked towards her, bending down quickly to place a gentle but quick kiss on her temple. She looked up smiling wide at him and he couldn’t stop the smile that danced along his lips. She may like this plan until she has to wear a dress, then the dread will show up.

He will admit that she always looked beautiful in a simple gown or even a pretty sundress whenever she was in the mood to wear one.

“Alright! Ready to dress like a waiter!?” Pidge beamed as she wrapped her arms around his waist and he couldn’t help but to roll his eyes.

“I have never been so excited.” He replied, his voice dry and clearly screamed that he didn’t really exactly care because honestly he didn’t care. This isn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last time. He laughed when he heard her groan at his tone. “Let’s just get this done alright?”

He felt her nod against his chest before they pulled apart. It was time to get straight to work and make sure this plan won’t go to shit, and if it does a back up just in case.

~*~

Keith will admit that he hates wearing tux’s of any kind. He hated the multiple layers, the stuffiness is brings and the feeling that you are going to choke and not breath because of the tie or even a bowtie that was wrapped tightly around your neck. He also knew that Pidge was stuck in the same situation he was in so he didn’t feel as miserable as he thought he was going to be.

He has already been at this ridiculous party for three hours, being the waiter that everyone ignored unless they were mad that he didn’t have any champagne on his tray. He still has yet to see Allura and he was starting to get annoyed. He sighed as he paced around with the tray full of o’dourves, watching as grabby hands took each one before he slipped back into the kitchen.

He had just placed the tray onto the table to let the others place more shrimp onto it when his phone buzzed, which was his signal to get to a champagne glass at some point and pour the odd cocktail her brother made into it. It didn’t smell pleasant was all he was going to say about the clear liquid.

“Hey Frank! You want to switch for a bit again!?” Keith decided to call out as he pocketed his phone, turning around as his new friend Frank huffed as he placed the tray onto the table beside him.

“Man yes. These maniacs are freaking stupid crazy about their champagne, no wonder you were about to deck that one guy. He’s had six glasses since we switched an hour ago.” Frank complained as he leaned back against the table, arms crossed his chest as his brown eyes rolled. “You think he will take a hint when I turn and go the other way when I see him coming my way.”

Keith huffed out a small laugh as he handed Frank his tray before he grabbed Franks. “Whatever, not our problem if he makes a fool of himself.”

“Damn right kid.”

Keith couldn’t help but shake his head in amusement as he opened the doors that lead him straight back to the party, spotting Allura making small talk with his girlfriend. Really they both looked beautiful, Pidge with her signature green dress, this time an emerald green that helped her golden eyes pop as Allura was wearing your typical pink dress that hugged every curve of her body. The diamonds sparkled as the light hit them and Keith had to wonder why the hell would she come to a gathering wearing such a stupid necklace.

Pidge always did tell him that he was dumb when it came to female things when he asked her about it earlier. Which still didn’t give him an answer.

The next part of the plan was the easiest to him as he uncapped the viral and dumped the remains inside the drink before he walked over towards them, watching as Allura took the glass with a smile before she went back to her conversation and he was done. Now time for him to slip out and to wait at the safe zone that Pidge deemed safe, which was an old Korean food shop. He didn’t know if she picked it because he was part Korean or if she loved Korean food.

So he sat there and waited, and waited and waited. He frowned once he met the two hour mark of waiting before he saw Pidge come running inside the shop with a huge smile on her lips. “Let’s go home.”

“Wait? I have been waiting here for hours and you don’t want food?”

Pidge shook her head as she leaned up to place a quick kiss on his lips before she grabbed her hand. “We can order something later but come on. I can’t wait to tell Matt that it worked!”

Keith slowed to a stop, watching as Pidge looked up at him with her wide eyes. “You’re beautiful tonight which means I won’t get upset but why are you making it look like we have someone on our tail?”

He watched as Pidge turned a light shade of red before she slapped him lightly on the chest. “We don’t, I just want to get home so we can celebrate.”

Holy SHIT! A Cocktail Friday submission? Jeez, it’s been forever. Written for this post.

Plunked out just in time! Enjoy! 

@thisweekingundamwing @gwcocktailfriday

Trowa suppressed a sigh as he looked over the room. “Remind me again why I agreed to this?”

His companion snorted delicately, hooking her hand around his arm. “Because you look damn good in a suit and get to drink for free.” Relena glanced up at him with a knowing smirk before pulling him further into the room.

Trowa fell in step obediently, feeling like he had stepped into a time warp. The theme for the party was pre-colonial 1950s, complete with period style furniture and dress. It was basically a fancy Halloween party in mid summer, all in the name of whatever charity suited the host’s mood.

Relena had requested his presence, even though he normally didn’t attend events like this. Heero and Wufei were the first picks for protection during formal events, and in the event that either of them were unavailable, Duo stepped in, though he had been dropped lower on the list following the events during his last party with her. Relena had argued vehemently for his place to be restored, claiming it had been as much her idea as his, but her pleas had fallen on deaf ears.

Duo had merely shrugged, telling her she didn’t need the excuse of a stuffy party to get together for a real shindig. Relena had been thrilled at the open invitation; Heero and Wufei, not so much.

Thus Trowa had been added to the list, the wisdom of which he was still debating.

He casually noted more than a few admiring looks, and didn’t have to glance at Relena to know she found the attention amusing.

“I’m not going to say it,” he murmured to her.

She chuckled lightly, pulling closer to him as she squeezed his arm. “You don’t have to,” she smiled up at him, all charm, her voice like honey. “Their reactions say it all.”

He bit back his reply, knowing it would be pointless to draw her attention to the looks she was getting. As a prominent politician, she was used to being the center of attention, and as a beautiful young woman, used to the less than innocent leers.

Trowa glared over her head at one such expression, allowing himself a twing of satisfaction when the man paled and turned away as he took a hasty sip from his drink.

“See? You’re already enjoying yourself,” Relena commented, still wearing her polite mask, but her eyes were sharp. She knew exactly what he had been doing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Trowa sniffed.

She huffed a laugh and stepped away from him. “Any preference on drinks?”

Trowa arched an eyebrow at her, then pointedly looked around the room, catching sight of the various martini glasses clutched in the hands of the guests. “I’ll let you take a wild guess.”

Relena rolled her eyes and left, leaving him to entertain himself with watching the effect she had on the other guests.

She, like everyone else here, was wearing a dress appropriate for the theme, a dark green knee length cocktail dress with a sweetheart neckline. The back of the dress was cut lower than some of the more conservative version he’d seen, swooping just above the small of her back. Her hair had been coaxed into thick waves, clipped carefully out of her face, leaving the rest loose down her back, highlighting the exposed stretch of skin. The dress flared out at her hips, accenting her trim waist. She finished the ensemble with simple, low heels. She had forgone wearing gloves, something he hadn’t realized was unusual until he noted how many others wore them.

Trowa watched her move through the crowd, grateful for his height, and made his way to a sitting area set in the corner of the room near the bar. He nodded to her when she turned to scan the room, then settled on the couch, angled to keep her in his sighs.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?”

He glanced up at the woman who smiled at him in what he assumed was a charming manner. She twirled a finger in her hair as she cocked her hip, holding her glass delicately in the other hand.

“Yes,” he replied, dismissing her.

“I haven’t seen you before,” she pressed, sitting down regardless, blocking his view of Relena. He narrowed his eyes at her slightly, annoyed by her insistence. She crossed her legs delicately, carefully adjusting the folds of her dress to drape just so, then leaned forward. “I’m Amelia.”

“A pleasure,” Trowa answered flatly, glaring down at her before glancing over her head, trying to catch sight of Relena.

“I’m sure it is,” Amelia purred, inching closer with a sultry smile. “You’re quite the handsome picture. Most men here can’t quite pull off the look.”

Trowa returned his attention to her, not bothering to suppress his frown. He was dressed in a dark charcoal suit, the cut slightly different from the ones he owned, but the kicker had been his hair. Relena had insisted he style his hair appropriately, which meant a lot of hair gel. He had parted it on the side and slicked back his bangs, finishing it off with a polished sheen. He’d gotten more than a few looks and comments when he had arrived to escort Relena to the party.

To his surprise, Duo had been in her office, the two engaged in conversation when Trowa had entered. Relena had immediately voiced her approval, showering him in compliments, but Trowa internally braced for a comment from Duo. He had hoped to finish the evening without having to face any of his fellow ex-pilots.

Instead of a snide comment, Duo had studied him from top to bottom with a curious expression. He had risen from his sprawled position in his chair, murmured something to Relena before giving her a kiss on the head, then left, leaving Trowa more off-balanced than expected.

“Did you come here alone?”

Amelia’s question pulled him back to the present, noting she had moved closer during his lapse and was now nearly in his lap. Just as he opened his mouth, another voice cut in.

“He’s currently occupied.”

Trowa quirked a grin at the icy tone, standing to accept the drink Relena held out for him. She smiled back then turned a frosty glare at the woman still seated on the couch. “I thought I saw your husband in the other room,” she said sweetly. “I’m sure he’s terribly lonely.”

Amelia stood quickly with a huff, and marched off, disappearing into the crowd.

Trowa shook his head, smirking slightly as he watched Relena glare after her. “My hero.”

She turned to him, all traces of her glare gone. “She’s a leech,” she said bluntly, shocking a laugh from him. “I don’t know what her husband sees in her.”

He shook his head and motioned to the couch and settled down beside her. They sat in comfortable silence as they sipped their drinks when a thought occurred to him.

“Why did you ask for me?”

Relena finished sipping her martini before answering. “It was Duo’s idea.”

Trowa frowned slightly, not expecting that bit of information. “There were others who could have done this,” he said. “Jones and Turner were both ahead of me.”

“True, but they’re not nearly as nice to look at,” Relena said as she leaned back, laying an arm over the back of the couch, her empty glass hanging loosely in her grip.

“You’re saying Duo suggested I take you to this party just so you could see me dressed up?”

Relena hummed an affirmative as she smiled. “He has excellent taste.”

Trowa turned over the new information, thinking back to Duo’s watchful eyes, the way he had looked him over, his closeness with Relena, how the pair, despite their obvious differences, seemed drawn to each other. Trowa would be the last to admit, especially to himself, that he was a little jealous of their bond, how comfortable they seemed together.

“And you?” He finally asked, draining the rest of his drink.

“Our tastes often fall in line,” she answered, leaning her head back to stare at him with hooded eyes.

Trowa inhaled a shaky breath and set his glass on the coffee table. He had assumed, given when he had seen and the rumor mill, that the two were together in some capacity. She wasn’t really offering, was she? “What about Duo?”

Her smile stretched into a grin, and Trowa suddenly found himself pulled forward by his tie. He followed her willingly, until he was leaning over her, his heart in his throat as he realized what was happening.

I just wished to write you a quick note thanking you for inviting me to your gathering last night. You were very kind to add a stranger to the city to your guest list, and I had an absolutely delightful time! I came to Mashoy partly because my companions wished to and partly because of my interest in technology, and the welcome has been wonderfully warm (and the opportunity to speak to a few people on the technological side of things last night was an unexpected bonus to the party, I must say).

I hope we have the chance to meet again! My one regret about your party is that I was so interested in the conversations I was having that I didn't manage to circulate around enough to greet everyone, yourself included after our first arrival.

Thank you once again for your invitation, and for helping to make my time in Mashoy pleasant and interesting!

With respect,