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

[flythesurface.livejournal.com]

Luneth posed for her, thinking the suit looked more like a sailor suit than anything. He was liking it save the tightness. He stuffed a tiny piece of cheese in his mouth and caught some more details around the ballroom. He wondered if Castle Sasune was as big as this one.

"I'm glad you made it safely. I went to the festival with Arc and Ingus! We met this nice lady named Mjrn there. Did you go to it? I'm sorry if I didn't see you..."

Now he tried to remember if Rydia had ever told him why she went to Alexandria in the first place. Wasn't it for some guy?, Luneth kept racking his brain.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia shook her head at the apology, untroubled. "It's fine. I was there, actually, but it was difficult to spot anyone familiar in those crowds! I'm glad you didn't miss it, though."

She glanced around, frowning a little. "I'd be happy to introduce you to more friends of mine, though I seem to be having the same luck I did then. Perhaps later." She shrugged, that faint frown disappearing. After all, they had to be busy and she was enjoying her company anyway.

[flythesurface.livejournal.com]

It was good to hear that Rydia wasn't being trodden down with the aspect of being stuck here. She seemed shy to him, but he didn't know her past and couldn't assume anything. He made a secret vow to protect her if ever she was in trouble. It's the least he could do to repay what Rydia had done for him.

"Ohh. Well, if you ever find one, let me know! I'd love to meet them. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine!"

He mimicked Rydia and picked up a glass of wine. He began to nearly hork it, but the taste surprised him. The purple colour reminded him of the homemade grape juice Elder Topapa made Arc and Luneth back in Ur. He coughed and hacked and spit the rest out. He was certain to annoy any of the cleaners, as there was now some wine on the marble floor.

"Hehe, sorry Rydia."

He put the wine glass back nonchalantly, as if that hadn't even happened.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia chuckled a bit, shaking her head. "It's all right. Wine can be an acquired taste, even when it isn't very strong." She leveled a glare in return to a couple of nobles staring disdainfully at the display, then turned around and ignored them.

"I'm sure one will be easy to spot--his name is Kain and he'll be wearing dragoon armor. And he'll probably be brooding in a corner somewhere, so I think he needs as many people greeting him as possible." Was she trying to be helpful? Yes, but there was some slight mischief in those eyes.

[flythesurface.livejournal.com]

He rubbed his head, and felt foolish for a moment for having not thought it was wine. He should have known — Cid carried something around like that. He didn't even noticed the contemptual nobles, but he would have thanked Rydia all the same.

When she mentioned Kain, though, he thought about it. He had seen Ingus brooding up against a wall in dragoon armour. He told him he was supposed to dress up, but Ingus wouldn't have any of it. Then he thought about it. Ingus's dragoon armour was usually blue with gold. But he swore he saw another in black armour. He thought it was just Ingus having changed jobs, but... A dragoon was a dragoon.

"Oh!! I've seen him! I ... barely even realised he was there. Hehe. You know that guy, Rydia?"

He turned round to try and spot him again, but the ballroom was pretty packed.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"That's probably the impression he wanted to give, too." Rydia smirked and nodded. "I know him well enough. He's a companion from home and an excellent dragoon...but he doesn't seem to know when to stop being serious and just have a good time."

She didn't echo Luneth's glance around, certain she'd find him when it was time for that. "Actually, his reasons for being vigilant aren't without merit tonight." Her expression grew more serious. "I don't know if you heard that madman over the network, but he threatened Alexandria and its queen. Given what I saw in Mysidia, he has the power to make good on his threat."

[flythesurface.livejournal.com]

"Hehe, sounds like someone else I know."

Ingus and Kain might get on great, and smiled at the thought. But Luneth took the news of Mysidia deeply. He had known about Kefka, thought he was even half joking. But if what she said was a hint at its depth, then she was right; he would make good on such a threat.

"Oh no... I hadn't even heard about Mysidia. Is... Is that why everyone is so tense? I see some people have fear and doubt shadowing their expressions."

He had noticed it even at the door; the guards seemed really uptight to him.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia nodded. "You're pretty perceptive. I'm sure there would be heightened security anyway, but the threat of hims arriving prompts even more measure for tonight."

She took another sip of the wine. "I wouldn't be surprised if you did hear about Mysidia at all tonight. Few of us were actually involved, but I bet you could see the fireworks from quite a distance. We were lucky...but don't let that spoil your evening. If he comes, we'll deal with him. If he doesn't, then there's no reason for letting his shadow spoil festivities anyway."

[flythesurface.livejournal.com]

The news was terribly grave. If it turned out that that crazy clown guy was going to show up, then... He might have to hold back on his plans to leave for the Outer Continent early.

"R-Rydia, I gotta go!"

He didn't want to leave the kindness and calm surroundings that Rydia created, but he needed to tell the other Warriors of Light.