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]

Ashe lifted the glass to take a sip of the cool liquid, her eyes doing the smiling as they held his the entire time. After a moment, both glass and gaze lowered while she gently placed her free hand to the underside of the bump. "I am," came her contented answer, barely finishing before she looked up to the prince again. "All I require, all I wish for, I have here with me this evening."

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

*If only said child could distinguish between night and day," she sighed, though she smiled still, closing her eyes at his kiss. Finishing her water, she, too handed back an empty glass. "I fear this rest will be compensated for when we return to the inn and try to sleep."

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

Rasler's gesture had her laughing softly, the colour strengthening in her cheeks. The hand which bore her wedding band lifted to take his within its hold. "After the birth, you may make amends for that," she teased. "We shall be faced with many more sleepless nights."

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

Tilting her head slightly, the look she gave him was tender. "Perhaps you are too good to me," she said, both jesting and sincere at the same time. "I have strength enough, however," she began as his lips touched her hand, "Should you wish to dance with me."

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

As custom, Ashe gave a curtsy in response. "My lord." Formalities over she relaxed into hold with him, one hand at his shoulder, the other nestled in his palm. They stood close enough that her stomach just touched his, the musicians beginning a slow, pleasant tune.

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

A quiet laugh escaped her - oh, she certainly did remember, all too well. "How could I possibly forget?" As they continued to dance, it was easy to forget about the crowds surrounding them, Ashe's attention solely focused on her prince. "And I would not object to an earlier exit," she breathed, only for his ears. "Not at all."

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

"Yes, my father..." Ashe laughed softly, finding the bump less of an obstacle than she'd expected. "Had I not approached you in the hope you would ask me to dance that night, I feared you would remain a wallflower." Touching her cheek to his, they continued throught the steps, slow and precise. "A few hours would suit me fine, as there are certain people I hope to find, and introduce you to."

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

"I did wear a flower," she recalled, her voice almost melodic in her happiness. "A traditional Nabradian blossom, a subtle symbol, on my part, that I had developed feelings for you."

No, she didn't mind the roughness of his cheek in the least. If anything, it was evidence that this world was allowing Rasler to develop into the man he should have rightly become.

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

Dancing with the prince was effortless, as was the demure smile she bestowed upon him then- at a memory surely worthy of a blush. "Not once did I hear you object, Rasler."