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

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

He was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. This was Terra after all standing next to him. His job had always been to keep Edgar away from her and now he was trying to toss her to some random guy at a party. The internal struggle of whether to lie and spare her weighed heavily against the desire to let her know she was beautiful.

"I think pink is the perfect color for you." He rose his hand to adjust his bandanna, yet all he succeeded in doing was mussing up his hair. Breathing deeply one again, "You really are captivating them."

[alittlebitesper.livejournal.com]

Terra didn't say anything to that for a long few moments, just looking over at the young man Locke claimed was captivated by her. Of course, the poor young man was now intently talking to someone else and not looking their way at all, now that he'd been noticed.

"Huh." Terra finally said, smiling faintly before she turned back to Locke. "But there are so many prettier people than me here who actually know about...well...normal things. Why me?"

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke roared with laughter when he saw the man pretending not to look.

"Do I need to leave so he'll have the courage to talk to you?"

He could only begin to wonder what normal things Terra was thinking about right now. Deciding to tackle what he determined to be the easier insecurity to address. While it was true that Terra was extremely pretty this evening, he couldn't believe he was the one convincing her she was pretty.

"And Trust me, you are a pretty woman."

[alittlebitesper.livejournal.com]

Terra shook her head. "I don't know him, I don't see why he'd actually come over and talk to me whether you were here or not." She seemed uncertain though, looking out at the crowd. She had watched several people that appeared to be strangers start speaking with each other. Perhaps it was normal at these sorts of things?

"Well, thank you Locke," Terra finally said about the compliment, turning to offer him a small smile. "That means a lot, coming from you." A pause, as she flicked her gaze away. "Is Celes with you?"

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Turning his attention from the stranger, Locke stared at the floor. Images of practicing flooded his thoughts.

"I ... haven't seen her yet tonight."

[alittlebitesper.livejournal.com]

"You haven't?" Terra frowned, seemingly genuinely puzzled by that. "Why not? I would have thought the two of you would have been dancing." She nodded towards the crowd. "There are so many other pairings out there."

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Shrugging off the thoughts, he was determined to take the spotlight off of him and place it squarely on his friend. "So who have you been pairing off with out there? Anybody I should meet?"

[alittlebitesper.livejournal.com]

Terra couldn't help but be curious. She had some inkling of the connection between Locke and Celes, and she was curious about it. She had been hoping for a chance to watch them in a setting like this, honestly. And part of her was jealous, too. Not of either one of them, really, just...that they could do something like that. That there wasn't the question hovering above their heads about whether or not they were even capable of it.

"What? No," she shook her head. "I danced with Irvine, and Selphie made a boy named Nida dance with me, but..." She just shrugged.

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

"You've been busy" Locke joked shaking his finger. "Two guys already? And that third one eyeing you from across the room. I'm sure Edgar and Sabin would be surprised!"

Locke was enjoying himself teasing around with Terra, but the joking stopped when noticed Terra's demeanor. Not knowing what was going on, he settled down.

[alittlebitesper.livejournal.com]

Terra did flush faintly at that comment. "It is not as though I am aiming for such things, Locke. And Edgar would not be surprised, though...I think he would be somewhat amused." She sighed faintly. She was never quite sure what Edgar thought of her.

"But there are other women here, if you are not dancing with Celes, could you not with some of them?"

[notathiefcole.livejournal.com]

Locke was surprised at Terra's comment. Whether it was from who the giver was or from the topic at hand was unknown, but suddenly Locke felt flustered.

Locke's cheeks began to show some color, "Dance with other women? But who would want to dance with me, I barely even know how."