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

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

Despite the jostling, Ashe wasn't really thrown off balance since she'd opted for flat shoes, far more comfortable by this stage of her pregnancy. Turning her head, the princess looked to the woman who'd offered an apology, nodding one time in acceptance. "It is rather difficult to navigate, I know," she said, moving a little more to allow a group of elaborately-dressed nobles to pass.

"Perhaps I have seen more people here, this evening, than the entire time I have been living in this world," she noted, glancing around again, wary of her surroundings.

[artemistardust.livejournal.com]

Rosa still felt a little guilty for jostling a woman so obviously encumbered, but she tried to push the thought away as she stopped. Well, the point was to mingle and see the rest of the people, right? Or one of the points anyway. So she decided to stick around for a short while.

"I would agree," Rosa commented, eyes moving around before they returned to Ashe. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if it would be uncouth of her to ask what about curiosity was plaguing her over. Eventually, she decided it shouldn't hurt anything. "If you don't mind my asking... when are you due?" She loved children and the sentiment was likely obvious on her face as she asked. Someday, she hoped to have children of her own... and if Cecil was right about having married her (and why would he lie about something like that?), then children were likely in her future. The thought made her happy and her smile warmed considerably.

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

It was a result of the friendly nature of the Alexandrian people that Ashe was well accustomed to having people pose questions about her condition. Accustomed to, but never against - she was almost always pleased to respond, and that night was no exception. The woman in pink bore an expression almost as warm as the shade of her gown. Could it be that she was thinking of starting a family of her own? Ashe offered a smile in turn, partly directed at Rosa, partly because realising that her due date crept ever closer tended to leave the princess with a pleasant knot of anticipation in her chest which was undoubtedly better than the one of hurt and anxiety she'd endured in the past.

"I have three months more to wait," Ashe replied, that reaction blooming surely enough. "This is my first child."

[artemistardust.livejournal.com]

The woman was positively glowing and Rosa found herself glad she had asked. Children were always exciting, but in a place like this it was more so as far as she was concerned. They all needed something to look forward to, something to appreciate and that would make them happier.

Rosa returned the smile. "How exciting. Congratulations. We could always do with a little more happiness and cheer." And then she recalled that it might be prudent to offer a name. "Forgive my manners. I am Rosa F-" She hesitated at that, wondering if she ought to take Cecil's last name or not. Most of her companions seemed to know she was married at home... but still. She couldn't quite decide what might be the best course.

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

The words of congratulations were recieved with a further smile, knowing just how incredible the prospect of this child's existence was.

At her hesitation, a slight frown of curiosity crossed Ashe's brow. Had she possibly lost her memory? Perhaps she was trying to maintain some anonymity? And then the name Rosa sounded familiar; had they spoken over the network at some point? Either way, Ashe would allow the other woman to finish.

"...Is there a problem?" Concern was clear, there in the princess' tone and keen eyes alike.

[artemistardust.livejournal.com]

"Hm?" Rosa snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head slightly. "It's nothing to be concerned over. I was simply attempting to make a decision about my last name." She hesitated again, wondering how to best phrase this. It was a difficult thing at best to explain and understand.

"When I was brought here, I was yet single, but Cecil, and I believe others, are from a time when he and I were married. The event of our marriage would be a joyous occasion for me, but I am unsure what would be the best..."

Her voice trailed off for a moment and she shook her head again, smiling apologetically. "It's not important. I can ask Cecil when he arrives."

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

Not certain whether or not she was married? The differences in time, here, could be very perplexing. Case in point, Larsa was gone a month and had aged by years upon his return. "I still find it incredible that the means by which we appear here is able to transcend time..."

Ashe mused over her own situation, then. "My own marital situation was dramatically affected by that ability. In fact, I believe my husband knows yours - knows Cecil," she corrected herself? "Did they not travel together on the journey to find Eiko?"

Realising she was lacking an introduction of her own, the princess complied with a gentle smile. "As for names, I am Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca."

[artemistardust.livejournal.com]

It was definitely awkward for Rosa, to say the least. She still needed to get used to it all. The White Mage nodded at Ashelia's assertion. "I believe they did. And you may... call him my husband. From the sound of the situation from home, he must have proposed to me shortly after the point from which I was taken." Her cheeks glowed slightly at the very thought.

"Which would make me Rosa Harvey."

And even if she didn't have a ring to prove it here, she was sure that they could get one, but that it also didn't matter.

"It's very nice to meet you, Ashelia. I'm glad to know a few other people outside those from my own home."