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

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

"I am pleased to see you so quickly returned to my side, Gabranth." It wasn't precisely a compliment, as Vayne was not wont to give them. In fact, it was little more than a warning and a call to heel. Whatever fabrications the judge magister spoke of in regards to a future which Vayne held no belief in, the truth remained that the armored one belonged with him, to do his bidding. Some might consider this a harsh and cruel way to think of others, but he saw it as the logical statement of fact.

In an attempts to appear fully at ease, Vayne locked his arms behind his back, adopting a less formal posture. "It has been troubling to find myself away from my responsibilities, and without adequate means to ensure Larsa's safety. Tell me, have you any of your nethicite on you?" He had but the one piece he had conveniently found at the Treno auction, but he was ever looking to expand his holdings. At one time, he thought it to be useless in these lands, but further consideration gave it new purpose. It was a means to forge alliances.

[empires-lapdog.livejournal.com]

At Vayne's words upon his swift arrival, he gave a firm nod but said nothing. He knew his place. No royal or pirate, no street rat nor honored knight was he. He was but Vayne's dog. A pet; a posession with which Vayne could often take over nations. While his strength was almost unmatched, he was little more than Vayne's toy. Anything he considered important was likely of no or little importance to his master.

While the point about Larsa's safety startled him for the briefest of half-seconds, he was quick to give another nod at the question. "Aye, My Lord," he said, his tone as humble yet strong as always, around this man. Retrieving the nethecite on his person, he produced the manufacted stone, holding it to his master. After all, Vayne had been the one to give it to him. It was Vayne's.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Taking over a nation or two here was exactly what Vayne had in mind to do with the stone which was tucked away with nary a word of thanks or acknowledgment. It was a temporary goal for him, as he more sought a way to return to his rightful place, but even to do so took planning and financing.

His arrival in this wretched place had wrenched him away from all he had strove so hard to accomplish. Would his deeds ever go unrewarded? No. He would not have it.

"I have hired a group to see to Larsa's protection in your absence. You too will watch over him this evening. He is to be redirected away from the Lady Ashe and her husband. Despite his idealism, I do not think it wise to allow her access to him. Would you not agree?"

[empires-lapdog.livejournal.com]

The Judge Magister gave a single nod yet again. "Aye, Lord Vayne. Should there be chance of an encounter I will tactfully redirect the young Lord." He knew quite well indeed how Larsa should be kept away from that shrill princess. Despite whether he sided with them or not in the end, he had never once done it to aid her. It was to protect his charge and nothing else. Any amends he made with his brother was simply a pleasant after effect.

Glancing around for all of a few seconds, his gaze returned to Vayne once he was sure they could discuss things without the issue of specific people listening in.

"My Lord, concerning what I divulged to you via the network; would you prefer we discuss the matter or is it better left untouched for the moment?"

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

"This is hardly the time or place for such a conversation, Gabranth." Vayne was just as interested in that particular topic as it appeared the judge was in sharing it. But he would not risk either being overheard, or being seen as anything but a displaced ruler wishing to return to his people. He worked in secret, keeping his motives and methods well hidden, unless it served his goals to do otherwise. "We shall have ample opportunity to hear all. I would not dishonor Queen Garnet by entertaining that topic at her party."

[empires-lapdog.livejournal.com]

"Indeed it may not be the time nor place, but whether we have ample opportunity is another matter entirely." Was he suggesting he wasn't going to play puppy for Vayne? Perhaps. After seeing what the man was truly capable of, he trusted him very little. His only reason for even bothering to listen to the man now was that Larsa needed him, despite any fools Vayne may have hired in his place.

Looking around yet again, it would possibly become apparently that he was searching for Larsa. It was Larsa he had in mind most, and would sooner be at the boy's side, whether he was now a man or not, than to listen to Vayne a moment more.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Vayne's eyes narrowed, almost imperceptibly. There was something in Gabranth's words that grated him, and it almost assuredly smelled like a backstabbing of some sort. Perhaps the hound needed a reminder of his place. "The Ministry of Law's duty is to see that the law is upheld, and to protect the interests of House Solidor as the ruling family in Archades. See to Larsa." That last statement was an order. The remainder was a verbal slapdown, meant to put Gabranth in his place. He should remember quite well that treason bore a heavy price.

[empires-lapdog.livejournal.com]

Gabranth gave a slight nod, receiving the verbal beating with as much grace as he usually did. Like kicking a dog, Vayne knew well how to abuse his power and strength, and did so often against Gabranth. It was nothing new and even if the threats did still sting, Gabranth made no attempt to flinch or shy from his master's gaze.

"My Lord, may I inquire as to who has protected Lord Larsa in my absence? A young woman with dark hair," and an insufferably happy nature, "had mentioned of her friends doing so." He needed to know who was his technical ally and who he was to keep away from the young man he so cared for.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Cold eyes covered the room, and one by one, Vayne pointed out the SeeD members which he had met, naming them one by one. "Squall Leonhart, the leader of the group, Selphie, Nida, Rinoa." The others that were part of the group, he had not met prior, so he could not identify them as easily. He took their presence at the event to indicate that Larsa was indeed somewhere in the room. There was no mistaking that all of them appeared to be quite young.

"They are a mercenary organization, called SeeD. I appreciate the job they have done thus far."

[empires-lapdog.livejournal.com]

At each person, he made a mental note to remember their faces, then soon turned to look at his master once again. If they'd done a good job then he had to outdo them just to prove some sort of loyalty to Vayne. "I will familiarize myself with each of them, yet I am to assume Lord Larsa is once again under my personal care. Should they impede me, I will not resist in removing their aid."

Saying nothing else, he simply turned to continue into the crowds, intent on finding Larsa. He needed to see the boy. And now.