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

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

To say that Mjrn was out of her element was an understatement. There were celebrations in the Wood, to be sure, but they were far simpler and more intimate than this grand gathering for Alexandria's queen. Even the sprawling festival preceding this event could not compare to the splendor before her. It was amazing...and frightening.

Mjrn tried not to gape, but it was difficult. The palace ballroom was beyond anything she had ever seen before, and the combined effect of regalia, flowers, draperies and so on was intoxicating. She felt rather small and insignificant by comparison, suddenly fearful that all her careful preparation was perhaps not enough. Many nobles were in attire far more elaborate and she suddenly wondered if her attempt at hume attire was not enough.

The young Viera was clad in a long gown (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/evilhippygoddess/hm4_1_19_1_big.jpg?t=1256021045) of silver and white, a sharp contrast to her dark skin and complimenting her bright hair. She was slightly regretful that said hair was too short to style in any elaborate way, and the seed for thoughts of growing her hair as Fran and Jote did took root. The dress was far more clothing than Mjrn had ever worn in her life, and she felt a little confined as a result, but at least she could now move around in it without tripping. That was an accomplishment in and of itself.

She took a deep breath, making an effort to seem less self-conscious and more graceful than she felt. Time would tell if that effort had any success.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Having earlier spotted his partner's younger sister, Balthier bowed out of a conversation he'd been dragged into - due to a group of nobles mistaking his accent for having noble breeding, and although he did have such breeding, he would rather not state so - and made his way towards the younger Viera.

Her attire indeed shocked him. She was fully clothed. A surprise for a native to Ivalice, but more of a surprise to a hume so closely tied to their family, even if he was likely part of the reason Fran would never return. Not in his lifetime, at least.

"Mjrn. You look absolutely spectacular, this evening." Of course, he couldn't put any kind of moves on this Viera. Fran would punish him continually for at least a month. In various hideous ways. Mostly involving her claws. Still, he gave his polite bow, a soft smile on his face.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

"Balthier!" Mjrn started upon hearing her name spoken in that familiar voice, turning to face the sky pirate. His words sunk in and a small, self-conscious though genuine, smile formed as she managed a curtsey as best she could in the dress. "I--thank you. This is a most welcome surprise."

She made no immediate inquiry as to Fran. It was not an intended slight to her sister, more so an attempt not to slight Balthier himself. She did not want him to think that his presence was only welcome because of his partnership with her sister. Besides, now that he was here, she knew Fran had to be around nearby.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

While it was quite true he and Fran were often seen together, they hadn't arrived together and he wasn't even sure if she'd be at the ball. He didn't control her, after all. "Indeed it is, I had hoped we would meet again. It is always a pleasure to speak with the young sister of my partner."

Perhaps that could've come across a little like he only saw her that way, which he quite possibly did, but there was a fraction of a brotherly feeling towards her. Perhaps one of the few women he had no real romantic interest in, and would sooner call his sister.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

That made her expression brighten a little. Earlier, she wasn't certain if Balthier's discontent with his new surroundings meant that he was somehow annoyed with her as well. That such was either untrue or forgotten was a relief...even as she grew resigned to being seen largely or solely as Fran's sister.

"Have you been well? And your moogle friend--he has recovered from his ordeal?" The earlier concern felt for Nono resurfaced. The poor moogle, arriving in such dire circumstances. Had she been closer, Mjrn would have freely offered her aid.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Balthier gave her a gentle smile. One he reserved for close friends and those he would call family. Mjrn was more like family, due to his and Fran's partnership. "I have been quite well, and Nono has recovered nicely."

For the most part. A moogle like Nono was always skittish.

"I hope you've been well, Mjrn. Are you settling in well into the world of humes? If I recall, you always did wish to break free of the boughs of the Wood."

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Mjrn smiled in relief at the news about Nono. She was rather curious to meet him, but if he wasn't in attendance, then perhaps another time. He seemed quite likable, skittishness aside.

She nodded, a brief shadow in her eyes at mention of the Wood, but it was a passing thing. "I did...long before our first encounter. My departure was only a matter of time." But she did not want to think about events leading up to that. Instead, her smile returned as she turned her attention to the present. "I am settling in well. I know not if Alexandria is to always be my home...but for now, I am content."