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

[heroicmonkey.livejournal.com]

Zidane was certainly just content to hold her, stroking her hair absently. He had missed her a lot, perhaps more than he realized. Getting to hold her again and feeling her cry against his chest made him realize that. It also made him feel even worse for leaving. But no, that could be put behind them now. He wouldn't leave. He wouldn't.

"Don't cry, Dagger," He told her gently. "It's okay."

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

"Jerk. I'll cry all I want," she murmured into his collar.

Dagger shifted in his arms, mentally cursing her cumbersome dress; her corset was digging into her hips, her petticoats were making it impossible to truly get close to him, and her shoes... well, one of them had fallen off already. Disappointed, and frustrated, she drew back, trying to flatten her skirts, and wiping at her eyes. She looked as though she were sitting in a giant cupcake, but at least the edge of her skirt was on the ground now. The tears had stopped, as if in defiance of her previous statement. And then, she smiled at him.

"I've missed you. A lot," she whispered.

sorrrrrrry for the delay. holiday craziness and all that. -_-

[heroicmonkey.livejournal.com]

Zidane laughed lightly at that statement. "Yeah, okay... that's fair."

He held her for as long as she let him and when she withdrew he let her go, smiling fondly at the mess she had made of her face and fine clothing. He imagined that her clothing was probably even more uncomfortable than his. Zidane returned her smile.

"Yeah. I've missed you, too. It feels like it's been forever. But now we can make up for lost time, huh?"

it happens. I'm heading into my own, soon...

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

Dagger just stared at him in contented silence, and finally, nodded slowly. She wanted so much to simply fall against him again, spend the rest of the night lost in the garden, resting in his arms and staring up at the sky. Unfortunately, of all the nights, she knew this was one on which she could be allowed such a thing. Her smile fading slowly, she pulled her legs underneath herself.

"It will have to wait until tomorrow, though... tonight, the rest of the world demands my attention." Tomorrow. Tomorrow, we will start again. "Help me stand, please?" she asked, holding out a hand.

s-sob such a busy time of year

[heroicmonkey.livejournal.com]

He laughed lightly at that and nodded. "Tomorrow, then. I'll definitely be here."

Zidane stood, stretched lazily, and then took her hand. He pulled her easily to her, but also into an embrace again. Honestly, he didn't entirely want to give her up to the "rest of the world".

;_;

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

Such a fluid motion; from the ground, to her feet, and then forward, off her feet again, and into his arms. Her heart leaped; for half a second she was falling, and then he was there, solid, warm, strong arms around her, and she relaxed. Her lost shoe lay forgotten, like some wayward shadow of a fairytale. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him, holding on as tightly as she was able. Dagger would have been happy just to run away, ignore the party. Surely, they wouldn't notice if she slipped away for the evening, right?

...Of course they would. She was the Center of Attention that evening.

"...You promise you'll come back tomorrow?"

[heroicmonkey.livejournal.com]

He held her close, enjoying it more knowing that he'd have to inevitably part with her soon. He'd have to get use to sharing her with her kingdom. But he could. He would for the sake of staying together.

He winked at her. "I promise. Cross my heart, hope to die, eat a thousand needles if I lie."