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

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Garnet's joke drew a rare smile from Vayne. Normally stoic, even when pleased or furious, there was an unmistakable air of both pleasure and respect in regards to the young queen at his side. "And now I am content, having both my dear brother and my dear friend present. I could ask for no better this evening."

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

The customs and greetings of court were long ingrained in her upbringing, and well-worn on top of that. Even so, there was something so very genuine and gentlemanly about these Solidor men. She smiled, and gave a small curtsy. It certainly didn't help that both brothers were quite handsome; the trio had quickly drawn eyes from around the room.

"I think I am inclined to agree with this observation," said Garnet softly.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

"If charm is a herald of belonging to House Solidor, perhaps we would be well served to add the Lady Garnet to her numbers." Was that a joke? The compliment for the queen was certainly not veiled in any way.

While stooping to marrying for position was not within Vayne, and he had far too much respect for Garnet as a person and a ruler to attempt such, the idea of adding her to the family very much appealed to him. She and Larsa were much of an age. It would solve her outstanding martial issues and would find Larsa somewhere safe and easily found.

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

Garnet, however, was stunned to silence. Too surprised was she, by the suggestion (serious or not), and that sudden meeting of Larsa's eyes with her own. Her hand did not yet withdraw, and she could not help the color that came to her cheeks.

"I --" she cut in, near breathless, with a somewhat broken laugh (even so, a pretty little sound), "I'm sorry, I'm not sure I follow. Just what are you suggesting?" she'd never actually been propositioned for marriage, and after her previous conversation with Vayne...

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

"I believe, my dear, that you ought look to the young man who seems quite taken with you. And I would have no regrets in being able to name you sister as well as friend." He glanced over to Larsa, then back to Garnet and added, "Though if you listened to the idle gossip in the room, they shall have us both dueling to the death for your hand."

Just to smooth things over, should she not take the half-jest as such, he leaned closer to Garnet and whispered, "I assure you, my only intention in bringing you here was to introduce the two most important people to me."

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

Garnet truly was at a loss. When her hand was released, she reclaimed it rather gingerly, lacing fingers together over her abdomen. It took some real effort to smile, brush it off. She didn't wish to insult either of them, and there she was, stuck between the brothers, sensing a strange undertone that was not readily apparent to the casual observer.

"Ah, yes, we've only just met, after all," she replied, taking a hint from Larsa. He was a very attractive young man, well groomed, very charismatic, and (this, certainly her council of advisors, and all others of title would have found to be important) of noble blood... but that was hardly enough to seal a marriage contract.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

That undertone that Garnet was sensing was very evident to Vayne. Bad form of Larsa to bring up something like that during a party. Especially when the elder Solidor still could not and would not believe such a thing would happen. The only acknowledgment he gave it was a subtle quirk to his brow, before he dismissed it in likewise light manner.

He bent, placing a brotherly peck on Garnet's cheek. "Forgive me, Garnet. It was unkind of me to tease. Matters of matrimony are both laughable and yet troublesome for ruling families. Perhaps I should leave you to my brother's charms. I believe you will find he has them in greater number than myself, although I still claim it is the boyish dimples that tips matters in his favor."

With that, he reached over to ruffle Larsa's hair as if he were a tiny child playing in the Imperial Gardens once more.

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

Garnet couldn't help herself. She started giggling, one hand reaching up to cover her mouth. She had never had siblings herself, so seeing brothers and sisters engaging in such good-natured play always gave her a little smile, and a little pang of envy. She'd seen the Tantalus boys behave similarly (although, significantly more crude), and it always made her wonder... what it would have been like, growing up with brothers, or sisters...

Her smile turned whistful. "I am glad you two at least have each other, if you must be stranded in a strange world."

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

The playful tackle took the older Solidor by surprised, and yet at the same time pleased him greatly. It had been years since he had tussled with any of his brothers, and it reminded him of days gone by. Happier days. Days before executions of necessity. Days when they were a family and not merely a houseful of political rivals.

An uncharacteristic chuckle broke forth, as Vayne contemplated genuinely wrestling with Larsa, and flipping the boy over his back to the ground. Still, a ball was hardly the place for such an uncivilized display. Instead, he straightened, enough that it would leave Larsa's feet dangling from the ground if he did not turn loose and looked to Garnet.

Her smile did not go unnoticed, and indeed, he felt something the same as her expression implied. He longed for the comfortable relationship of family again. "Indeed, I could ask for no greater blessing than the presence of my dear brother."