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

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa felt as though she was in a fairy tale. She was at a formal ball, in a beautiful castle, and the ballroom met all her expectations with ease. True, she wasn't really a princess, but in her gown (http://www.victoriantradingco.com/store/catalogimages/1a/1a2677-LARGE.jpg) she certainly felt like one.

She entered with the SeeD party, Squall next to her of course - and he owed her a dance - but she was up for mingling as she looked around to see how many people she recognised.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

There were few in attendance that Vayne truly had any business with. The ballroom was filled with the faces of strangers, which allowed him the opportunity to do what he did best: observe others. He had been lavishing a marked amount of attention on the guest of honor, but felt it best to give her room to mingle as well.

Just as he was stepping away from Garnet, he espied another lady he had business with. With a confident step, he approached Rinoa, issuing a formal bow to her. "Lady Rinoa. It is an honor to see you again."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Vayne!" said Rinoa, startled. "I mean, Emperor Vayne."

It was one thing to see him in the company of her fellow SeeDs. It was quite another to meet him at a ball. He fitted in perfectly here; he was royal and he looked it. Rinoa found herself wanting to curtsey, but she didn't quite manage it; instead, she dipped slightly as she nodded at him.

Recovering her usual brightness, she smiled. "It's great to meet you again! Kind of confusing too though - I mean, Larsa's fine, so I'd say we did okay there, but I'm sure I saw Balthier and Ashe here somewhere and weren't you talking to that guy, what's his name - Gabranth? What's going on with him?"

Okay, so maybe she was still rather flustered.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

"Please, there is no need for formalities," Vayne assured Rinoa, voice actually taking on a warm tone. "I would have you call me by name."

He took a brief look around the room, scanning for the sky pirate and the Dalmascan shrew. Noting their locations did not even reflect by a flicker in his eyes, and he looked back to his young companion. "Gabranth is Judge Magister, a member of the Ministry of Law in Archades, and a personal bodyguard to the members of House Solidor."

Vayne would very much have liked to know what was going on with Gabranth himself, and he had every intention of ferreting that out at the conclusion of the evening's festivities.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"Okay, Vayne. As long as you call me Rinoa," she replied, a teasing note slipping into her voice.

She frowned when he told her about Gabranth. "I know that much. I guess you'd better talk to Squall about the contract. But for now, how about we dance?"

She held out her hand to him, smiling. Hey, Squall couldn't fault her for this. She wanted to get to the bottom of all this - why Gabranth had felt the need to protect Larsa from Vayne, for a start. Maybe Squall didn't care what kind of person they worked for, but Rinoa did.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Vayne politely extended his arm to Rinoa on espying her hand held towards him, with intent of escorting her properly to the dance floor. She stood correct that he would have to discuss the contract with Squall at some point, especially since it was due to expire soon. But now was not the time to discuss such matters.

"I apologize if I was remiss in conveying what you wished to know, Rinoa." Vayne's head dipped just a hair, then he lightly laid a hand on her waist, catching her hand in the air, taking the lead in the dance. "Ask whatever you like, and I shall strive to satisfy your interest."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa grasped his hand firmly, confident in taking hold, and followed Vayne's lead in the dance. Well, this was easy. He was inviting her to ask anything she liked, so she did.

"It's okay. There was just something Gabranth said that I didn't understand. He said that he had to protect Larsa from you - but you've done everything you can here to protect Larsa..."

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Gabranth has been terribly free with his doings. This earned Rinoa a nod, then a drop in Vayne's voice. "I must confess, I do not know what he refers to. I assure you, there is nothing I want more than to see Larsa kept safe. Ne'er would I harm the boy. He is all the family now left to me."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

She bit her lip, confused. "Is this one of those weird timeline things again?"

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

"I believe it might be." The idea was troubling. There had been so much he had gleaned from Larsa, much of which did not sit well with him. Vayne took a more reassuring approach. "I firmly believe that a man's fate is not predetermined, nor controlled by either fates or false gods. Whatever this is to which they refer, I am not bound by it, and will not permit it to come to pass."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"You don't believe that some things are destined to happen?" Rinoa grinned. "Like you being such a good dancer?"

She was making light of it, but really if she stopped to think about these things, it was troubling. To believe that she and Squall were destined to be together was comforting. To believe that Squall and the other SeeDs had no choice but to face and defeat Ultimecia - that wasn't so comforting.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Vayne shook his head in the negative. "I thank you for your kindness, but no. That is the fruit of years spent practicing at official functions." He offered Rinoa the very briefest of smiles, as such an expression was not normal for him. "I have spent these last six years putting the reigns of history back into the hands of man. Man is free to determine his own destiny by his own works or sloth."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"Back into the hands of man..." Rinoa echoed. "Like how?"

It sounded like a romantic notion, which she found appealing, but she wasn't sure what he meant. They were dancing slowly too, and she looked up at Vayne with her best adorably curious face.

[tempest-lion.livejournal.com]

Well, Larsa was right that Squall really wasn't too happy about the crowd of people in the ball. Even so, Squall nodded his head politely in Larsa's direction as well. Each of the members of SeeD had taken to taking turns trailing behind Larsa as unobtrusively as possible in the ballroom. It wasn't his turn right now, so he was with Rinoa.

"Good evening, Lord Larsa. I hope you are enjoying yourself."

[tempest-lion.livejournal.com]

Squall shrugged and replied a bit obliquely, leaving himself out. "I think I can speak for Rinoa that she is most definitely enjoying the party."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"I am!" Rinoa grinned. "Mr Grumpy Pants here still needs to get into the swing of things."

She knew Squall didn't much like parties, but a dance or two would get him into it, she was sure.

"Anyway," she went on, "you definitely looked like you've been enjoying yourself, Larsa! Was that Penelo I saw you with? So is she the cute girl you sneaked off to see?"

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

His smile told her everything she wanted to know. "I knew it!" said Rinoa triumphantly. "That is so sweet."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"So are you gonna ask me to dance or what?"

Rinoa: not subtle at all. She was pretty sure Squall wouldn't mind, since he'd get the lion's share of her time on the dance floor. Besides, it was a great way to look out for Larsa, right?

[tempest-lion.livejournal.com]

"I don't mind at all." Squall replied honestly and took a step back. He wasn't really the jealous type. As long as Rinoa was happy, he was happy.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa smiled and gave Squall a quick peck on the cheek before she stepped forward to take Larsa's hand. He had the most adorable smile.

"Haven't I told you not to call me Lady?" Rinoa teased him.

Still, she felt as lady-like as she had ever felt, on the dance floor of a royal ballroom, wearing a beautiful dress, and about to dance with a young prince. This was such a great party.