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

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

Being as Ingus didn't like to be separated from his friends he ended up shadowing them to the ball as well. Not that he had much inclination for participating, so he'd just find a wall somewhere out of the way to lean against and be overall a boring stiff.

No amount of badgering would have succeeded in getting him to dress in anything other than his usual armor. So he was, of course, wearing it even now, leaning against the wall and managing to look somewhat sullen.

He wanted to go home, they'd been away long enough.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Hm, a sullen man in armor staring at the ball as though if he did it long enough, he could make it go away. Rydia paused to look and was promptly reminded of Kain. Perhaps this man was his spiritual twin?

Unable to help herself, she wandered over. "Why such a solemn face this evening? Surely there must be something about it that you can enjoy."

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

If Ingus were to meet Kain long enough, he would undoubtedly argue that that were not possible. He did do a very good Kain impression when he wasn't trying, though.

Upon hearing the voice he glanced up, and offered a slight bow in greeting. "Ah, forgive me if I am bringing down the mood. I was simply thinking." A lot, about home. And wanting to be there.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"I hope nothing too dire. Who knows when a celebration like this will happen again?" Rydia shrugged, knowing that there was much weighing on her mind also; Edge's disappearance, the possibility of Kefka attacking at some point during the evening...yet she saw no reason for these things to affect her enjoyment of the ball. The thought that he might not enjoy it as much in general did not occur to her--he was there, wasn't he?

She paused. "Your voice is a little familiar. We haven't met, have we?" Oh, right, introductions. Just in case she was wrong. "I'm Rydia of Mist."

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

He was there because his friends were very persuasive, and he couldn't just leave them to go off somewhere alone. What if something were to happen? He'd never forgive himself.

"Ingus of Sasune, I believe we spoke briefly over Mooglenet?" She did sound familiar too, he'd talked to a lot of people that day.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"We did! I'm glad you managed to reach Alexandria safely--and to finally meet you in person." Rydia flashed a smile, surprised but pleased. She had a feeling that meeting other people previously only encountered over the device would happen a lot tonight, but for now only focused on the one before her. "I hope I didn't come off as rude or intrusive--you just reminded me of someone who I suspect is doing the same thing."

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

"The pleasure is mine, Lady Rydia of Mist." He smiled, and inclined in a slight bow again. It was much nicer meeting people in person, though the communicator was convenient it lacked the same social graces they would normally display.

"Not at all, I am simply unsuited to such social endeavors." So he hung out at the wall and hid.

[flythesurface.livejournal.com]

After embarrassing his self with Rydia, and flustering with Selphie, the sight of Ingus quelled his momentary uneasiness. He hadn't gotten a better chance to converse with the knight, and he'd had a question from the moment he saw him fly into the air at the Qu Marsh.

He trailed over to Ingus, hoping he won't remind him of the beating he pretty much took from Refia, especially when he wanted to fix it. Ingus wasn't one for attention anyhow, but sometimes he had to point out to Ingus that they weren't ignoring him. Otherwise, he could drift off. Or so Luneth sometimes thought.

"Ingus!" he called without too much enthusiasm, as Ingus looked especially brooding, "Y-You know you were supposed to dress up, right?"

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

Ingus had enjoyed the exuberant welcome, even if it did result in more mud in his armor than he necessarily wanted. He just didn't display it well being as he wasn't a very open person. But no, he wasn't going to bring it up. Luneth was safe.

Ingus glanced up at Luneth's voice, then rose an eyebrow at the interesting outfit Luneth had chosen for himself. "...I prefer my armor." Blunt, as always. But not ill-humored, just far too lost in thought.

[flythesurface.livejournal.com]

"Hehe, same old Ingus, even in a brand new world!"

He sort of posed to Ingus, but when he saw Ingus's eyebrow quirk up, he looked down at his outfit confused. Aside from the tightness, he thought it looked swell on him. He rubbed his head and straightened his collar.

"Say, Ingus... I have a question for you."

But he ended up frowning, in case it upset Ingus.

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

"Who else would I be?" Asked with just a tiny hint of amusement. Of course he was steadfast in who he was, that was simply part of him. Ingus was the stone, ever reliable, ever unmoving.

The eyebrow raise was mostly because he'd never imagined Luneth in formal wear, as far as outfits went their own world had some strange fashion choices.

He waited a moment for Luneth to continue, then prompted. "Go ahead?" Why would he be upset?

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Feeling and undoubtedly appearing out of place, Mjrn glanced around shyly. The crowds, the brightness, the swirl of people and their finery was a sight to behold...and Mjrn felt less and less certain that she would be able to find a place in it. The evening was still too young for a polite retreat, however, and she could not bring herself to break a promise.

A passing waiter offered her wine, though the young Viera shook her head. Trying not to let her nerves show, Mjrn cast her gaze about the area. She nearly wandered away without catching sight of the distinctive armor, but a sudden turn brought her to face him mere paces away.

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

There was a familiar face, albeit she appeared a bit nervous and out of place. With a slight smile he motioned her over, his spot against the wall had been fairly safe so far. Granted he'd managed to attract a lot of attention regardless of his attempts to hide.

"Are you well, Lady Mjrn?" He asked quietly, he could tell well enough that she was just a little bit nervous.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

As he motioned her over, Mjrn didn't hesitate. At the moment, any familiar face was an anchor, and she had remembered his tales and kind demeanor of earlier. She paused before him and tried to think of how to answer that. The young Viera was nothing if not honest, but she did not want to complain. "I-I do not know. I thought I had adapted to such crowds, but this is so different from merely wandering the streets of the city. It is a little overwhelming. I suppose such thoughts are silly...."

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

Ingus nodded in understanding, crowds made him uncomfortable too. Why else would he have segregated himself off against a wall? "Nonsense, tight quarters and such excitement one would not find on the street. I have found this position somewhat quieter, if you desire a break, Lady Mjrn." She was welcome to hang out and hide with him for a while.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Mjrn nodded gratefully. "Thank you. The reprieve is much-needed." She moved to the side, watching all the nobles and dancers and people who were far more comfortable with this situation than she would ever be. "You do not seem partial to such crowds or noise; why did you come?" After all, his discomfort was noticeable. As much as she appreciated his company, it did seem a little strange to her.

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

"My friends wished to attend, I came to watch them." He was protective of them, in his own way. Certainly they were capable of taking care of themselves, but they were a team. If they wanted to go he'd go and try to have a little fun. So far it hadn't been horrible, he was just very uncomfortable in crowds.

[prez-leg-cramp.livejournal.com]

Now that just screamed Squall. Only, you know, it was a kid in armor looking sullen, rather than Squall. But still, he caught Laguna's eye and the older man made his way over. "Why the long face?" He asked.

Why were people always content to be wall ornaments?

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

Trying to remain inconspicuous seemed to garner a lot of attention, Ingus was beginning to notice. Oh well, he wasn't going to relinquish his spot against the wall. It was a good vantage point for watching what was going on, and keeping an eye on his friends. When he could see them that was.

A new voice startled him out of his watch, and he stood offering the newcomer a slight bow of greeting. "Ah, forgive me. I was simply in thought."

[prez-leg-cramp.livejournal.com]

Laguna nodded his head in kind. "Seemed to be some hard thinking there," He said with a small grin.

Well, at least this one did just stay silent and glare.

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

"I seem to be suffering a bit of nostalgia, is all." A weak smile, at that. "Forgive me, sir. I am Ingus of Sasune, and you are...?" Introductions were always a good thing! Especially for extremely proper knights.

No, he only looks unfriendly from a distance, Ingus is normally a nice kid.

[prez-leg-cramp.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm sorry!" He gave a sheepish laugh. "I'm Laguna Loire... of Esthar." He added the last bit awkwardly but refrained from saying he was president. He may not have liked keeping it a secret back on his world, but he didn't flaunt it much either.

People would get all formal and awkward with him. He didn't like formal and awkward even if he was made of awkward.

"Nostalgia, huh?" He returned the smile, looking as though he knew the thought well. And he did. "I'm not sure standing in the corner of a ball is the best place for it though."

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

Ingus chuckled quietly. "Perhaps not, though I have been away from home for quite a long time. I had hoped to be back a little longer before being spirited away to a new world." Of course he spoke of it as though it were perfectly normal.

It wasn't, Ingus just wasn't one to get too upset over strange happenings. Heck, he'd been to the World of Darkness, after that nothing was too weird.

"A pleasure to meet you, Laguna."

[ava-illumina.livejournal.com]

Cecil was careful not to bump into anymore people tonight (especially since certain parts of his armor were liable to bruise someone if walked into, though it wasn't as bad as Kain's), but for all his efforts, he still managed to jostle a person or two as he walked, apologizing quickly after the fact. It was just that crowded in here. Still, he found it was much safer to walk along the wall as he searched for his friends. He only spotted Ingus at the very last second before he nearly walked into him.

"Sorry," he apologized, stopping to look at him for a second. The way the man was standing there, looking as though he'd rather be somewhere else, reminded him very much of his friend, Kain. So much so that it made him smile without even realizing he was doing it.

[light-chosen.livejournal.com]

At least Ingus wasn't easily offended, he just looked a little confused at the smile. Regardless he returned the smile with a half one of his own and shook his head. "No need, it is very crowded in here, and I seem to have selected an unusually popular spot to try to stay out of the way." His attempts at hiding weren't working, apparently.

"Forgive me, I do not believe we have met. I am Ingus of Sasune," And he'd offer a little respectful bow. He was doing that a lot tonight, part of why he didn't really like social events. Not knowing anyone and constantly having to introduce himself.