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

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

The first part was acknowledged with a nod. The second received a slightly uncertain look and a shake of the head. "I'm not certain," she answered honestly. "I thought to remain until the ball is over... after that, I may take my leave for a time, if nothing more than to ensure I know of his whereabouts."

The last thing she needed was for him to follow her straight into a large city like this. Of course, that also begged the question of Terra. Kefka liked to chase after both of them, after all.

"You know that if you have need of my services, you need only ask."

[knightedmayrose.livejournal.com]

"That knowledge is assurance enough, Celes. I thank you." The general bestowed one of her warmest smiles on the blond, dipping her head in acknowledgment of the offer. "I cannot say that I blame you for feeling ill at ease with his whereabouts unknown."

The general's single eye followed a line of sight to where Garnet was engaged in a dance, enjoying herself by all appearances. "Why would he target her? I cannot fathom what interest she holds for him."

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

"It's the least I can do."

Celes's own gaze followed Beatrix's to where the queen was dancing. She was very beautiful and shone with a radiance the ex-general had seen in few others. In a way, that made Kefka's choice of targets all the easier to understand.

"She represents a conquest, magic that he does not have or cannot understand. He lives for knowledge, especially magical, and he will stop at nothing to gain it." She pursed her lips. "If Garnet knows of summon magic, of the Espers themselves especially, then she is an ideal target for him."

Not that she knew she'd just hit it squarely.

[knightedmayrose.livejournal.com]

Those words were a gutpunch to Beatrix, who knew better than to betray it in either word or reaction. Garnet's heritage, her real birth circumstances were a zealously guarded secret, not only for the sake of her throne, but out of respect for her concerns. Only a small handful of people knew that the young queen could summon eidolons, fewer still that she was not the Garnet born of Queen Brahne's body, that the little princess that the woman before their eyes had replaced, died years ago.

None of this shook Beatrix's faith or fealty to Garnet or her crown. Rather, it made it more lasting and steadfast, knowing that the woman could well throw away the regal robe and give herself over to the errant thief she loved so dearly, but that she hadn't... and never would.

"He shall not have her. She is no prize to be won."

/wins at life sooob

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

"No, she isn't," Celes agreed thoughtfully, unaware of Beatrix's internal struggle as she glanced around the room again. The longer the party went on, the more uneasy she became, but she hoped Kefka wouldn't put in an appearance here. He'd done enough at home, and here as well. They didn't need anything else.

"And she's got many people to guard her... people who care for her."

It was no secret to Celes that Beatrix's loyalty was fully on her queen and she couldn't blame the other general. Celes herself almost missed those days of fealty, but for her they were black days. Blind days. She much preferred the freedom that her betrayal and the Returners had granted her, even though she wouldn't be truly free until Kefka breathed his last. It was still better than what she'd had before.