Let The Spectacle Astound You

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

Characters: OPEN
Progress: Continuous
Summary: The party you've all been waiting for: the Grand Ball of Alexandria!
Location: Palace Alexandria
Date: June 21st, 1803
Warnings: TBA. Eventually, Violence.

For weeks, the palace had been abuzz with activity; even more so than usual. On top of the usual hustle and bustle of daily life, there were the extensive preparations to be done for the festival, and this, the grand finale. The palace's largest ballroom had been decorated from floor to ceiling, wall to wall. Long elaborate draperies of silk and chiffon in white and cream, the stairs lined in a rich, crimson carpeting. Gold and silver everywhere, framing the large windows and the door opening out to the courtyard. A warm summer evening, with the roses in full bloom. Flowers adorned every table, column, and doorway. It wasn't just the ballroom that had been decorated, however; the entire palace was decked in regalia, the staff having obviously anticipated the crowd to be much larger than usual.

All around the palace, inside and out, the guard was on high alert. Every guest was greeted, checked, and in the case of the higher-ranked, announced to the company at large. The sun had not quite set, and already the ballroom was half full; nobles and low-born alike, natives and foreigners, all dressed in their best. The guest of honor had yet to make her appearance, but no one seemed to be fussed by the fact.

But the night was young, and there was bound to plenty of seeing and being seen before the night was over.

[[ooc: Here we go, everyone! Party style still applies. Tag in, tag each other, mingle, HAVE FUN!... while you can. Thread jumping and ninja tagging is encouraged. ^.^]]

Update: A fist fight broke out on page two. Feel free to ninja in to spectate, generally comment or gasp, or just read it and have a laugh. Appropriate authority figures... Squall, Steiner, etc may need to step in.

Comments

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"A truly natural pilot you are then, and a woman after my own heart," he smiled and swept her around the dance floor with ease. She was quite the delight to dance with, and moreso to talk with. Their common ground just so happened to be something he was very glad to talk about.

Balthier gave a smile and was now willing to mention his own wings. "The Strahl was my ship. A prototype with speed and power entirely unmatched in all Ivalice. I indeed miss her dearly, as though she were a part of me." His face almost, almost, looked sullen for a split second but he managed to smile it away.

*HIJACK FOR JEALOUSY!*

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine had been a far just looking around the dance floor and had noticed the woman in the yellow dress dancing around. He grinned softly which quickly faded when he recognized someone he had not seen since he returned to this city. Balthier. His eyes widened as he thought to himself, "Crap, crap, crap! Not him!" Irvine knew that if Balthier was anything like him, if not more, then Selphie would melt in his hands. He managed to get closer on the dance floor with a look of determination, but when he looked at Selphie have a good time, he stopped mid-step and just watched.

He didn't want to interfere with Selphie having a good time, but he felt that he would lose her to this silver tongued sky pirate. All he did was watch them, from a distance.

[wwiiflyingace.livejournal.com]

Nida happened to catch sight of Irvine, and also just happened to be near enough that he could innocuously walk over to see what had him stopped cold. He followed Irvine's line of sight to - Ooh, Selphie dancing with another guy and looking like she was enjoying herself.

"That's rough, man," he said, clapping a hand on Irvine's shoulder. "But hey, it's not like you're dating or anything, right? She can dance with any guy she wants."

LOLOL Poor Irvine! xD

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Gracefully swinging Selphie around in the dance, he pulled her a little bit tighter against him as he drew her in near once more. "Indeed, it is quite like that. I assume. I've never exactly had a... break up, per say. Relationships are messy business."

Not that he'd ever had a serious relationship with, well, anyone. No, back home he was the love 'em and leave 'em type. Not that there weren't a million and one people all over Ivalice who'd love to actually get him to settle down with them.

Leaning to her ear to speak a little clearer over the music, (which could clearly upset any jealous almost-boyfriends) he smiled slightly. "Perhaps we may tour a few hangars sometime and discuss this in full. Comparing lesser crafts to our own might prove amusing." And for Balthier, that was almost an offer of a date.

It's almost as if I WANT him to suffer :D

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine looked down just looking at them and stated to Nida, "Yea, she can dance with anyone she wants." He looked at her seeing she had fun, seeing she was enjoying herself, and seeing she was happy. That's all Irvine ever wanted for her. He looked at Nida and stated, "So where's your date? Or are you flying solo?" He was still a bit depressed, something he hated, and you'd have to be blind not to notice it.

[wwiiflyingace.livejournal.com]

"Nah, I'm going stag." And that was nothing to be ashamed of. It wasn't like there were any girls here he felt comfortable asking to go with him anyway, right, so. So it was an opportunity to meet new ones! ...Who also didn't have dates.

Auuuugh.

Anyway. "Irvine, you're an open book. Seeing her dance with some other guy like that bugs you. It is blatantly obvious to everyone but her that you like the girl."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

As they turned, Balthier caught sight of Irvine and flashed him a cheeky little smirk. The kind of smirk that just said 'Yes, I'm dancing with your woman. Got a problem with that?' He smiled down at Selphie, dancing closely with the girl.

"Perhaps we may be able to find something actually worthwhile about these airships, hm?" Really, he'd love to build one with her, but that'd mean having to rent out space in which to do it and, while they probably didn't have enough gil between them, he wouldn't be able to anyway.

Feral partner, bounty on your head and a need to fly were things that impeded such efforts.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine saw the smirk and heard the excitement and put two and two together to see what could seem like Selphie being somewhat very friendly with Balthier. He sighed to Nida and replied, "Look at her Nida, she's happy, why am I gonna ruin her good time cause of my own feelings." He shook his head looking down and stated, "You wouldn't understand Nida."

Now he wasn't bothering trying to hide his feelings to anyone. Yes, he was upset she was with Balthier, yes he was upset that he was going to lose Selphie. But he found that as long as she was happy, who the hell was he to butt in and interrupt.

[wwiiflyingace.livejournal.com]

Oh, now he was going to get melodramatic about it? Jeez.

"It's Selphie, Irvine. She's got a terminal case of romantic obliviousness. They're probably talking about trains or sugar or trains made of sugar." He gave Irvine's shoulder a thump and tried to look as stern as possible. "You like her, she likes you. Quit moping and do something about it!"

Pause. "But, you know, you should wait until they're done. Don't make a scene or anything."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Smiling lightly, Balthier slowed their dance to a graceful stop, kissing her cheek before dipping to kiss her hand. "Thank you, it was indeed my honour." Without another word to Selphie, and after a bow, Balthier turned, walking right in Irvine's direction.

Slapping a hand to his shoulder, he smirked at him. "Next time you desire to dance with your girl, there is such a thing as having the guts to cut in."

Balthier glanced to Nida before returning his attention to Irvine. "She's all yours, cowboy." And with that, he sauntered off.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine looked at Nida with a look of disbelief when he said what they might be talking about and replied, "I take it you don't know the man she's dancing with!" But he was right, he had been always timid to try anything too much with Selphie, but if even Nida could see past his cover, then anyone could. He exhaled a deep breath and was about to go, but, Balthier came to him and gave him his little pep talk.

That's it! He grinned and was about to say something witty, but Balthier left his sight before he could. He then walked over to Selphie and tried to find the words. But all he really could muster within Selphie's presence, seeing her look so...beautiful, was just, "Uh...hi Selphie." Great Irvine, just great.

[wwiiflyingace.livejournal.com]

Nida just arched an eyebrow at the guy. Daaaamn. He had to resist the urge for a tactical, "Oh, snap."

But it seemed to get Irvine moving, nonetheless. Nida hung back and watched, waiting to see whether Irvine would totally botch it or not.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

He chuckled and remembered EXACTLY when Irvine met Balthier and simply replied, "Let's just say...it's a long story." He was a bit nervous, but there wasn't any way in hell he was going to let Balthier upstage him in winning Selphie. No way, no how.

Irvine was a bit shaky, but he found his courage deep down and stated grabbing her hand gently, "Ms. Tilmitt, Selphie, it would be my greatest honor if I could have this dance with you." There he said it, now he felt a little more calm.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

And grab her waist he did, as he started up to dance with the brown haired angel in front of him. He shuffled and moved to the music with her as he looked at her with a very soft smile and stated, "You look amazing Selph, I mean like wow, you're just so...beautiful." He didn't know what else to say, Selphie looked like a knock out. Compared to her, he felt like an idiot. He was still peeved at Balthier, but all that took second place. Right now Irvine was dancing with Selphie, and nothing could spoil this moment. Nothing.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

He chuckled a little almost getting a small amount of color himself. He noticed she had glanced down and rested her head on his chin. He let this happen for a bit just feeling that small warmth on him so close to his lips. He leaned back and lifted Selphie's head to him and said, "I didn't come to dance with you, just to look at the top of your head. I wanna see those eyes, those cheeks, and that smile of yours as well. He held her close to his body all the while dancing and looking right at her.

[ladiesmanirvine.livejournal.com]

Irvine chuckled and replied, "Would you like it, if you stood on my feet and danced with me?" But when she showed her eyes pierce his own, nothing else mattered in the world, everything around them melted for Irvine as he just looked and simply stated, "And much more...Selphie..." He was still left awestruck as he simply smiled and continued to dance with her, now completely distracted by her.