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]

Even for one not given to watching and analyzing the behaviors of others, Garnet was not difficult to interpret. The looking for someone missing, the distracted thoughts, the admission that she thought to be married a while ago, the general gossip among her people. All pieces of a puzzle that came together rapidly.

Without apology, Vayne looked at her, leaving his hand on her cheek. "My friend, any man who has not the courage to ask for you, is not worthy of your hand. You are far too exquisite to waste on one without the boldness to petition for you."

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

The Queen's steps stopped completely then. The ballroom all but vanished, a blur of people moving around the two of them, lost in the middle of hundreds of swirling gown and feather hats in all the colors of the rainbow.

I want to be by your side, Dagger. More than anything! But sometimes I feel out of place or in the way... like I'm not good enough.

Garnet had spent days agonizing over those words. Hours spent locked in her room, trying to think of how she felt about it. About him. She loved him so much that it hurt, and when he'd walked out, it had ruined her. Even so, she knew, without a doubt, what she would say when he showed up.

But he hadn't shown up yet. Vayne was so close, knowingly or not, dangling these facts under her nose.

"I... I'm sorry," she said finally, drawing back just a little. "I think that I need some air."

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Vayne replied, stoic as ever. He extended his arm to Garnet, to escort her out to the balcony, knowing full well that a number of armed guard would take note and also follow.

He issued not another word, leaving the queen to her ruminations.