timeandtides_backup | Event: Eiko's Birthday Ball

Characters: OPEN to all party guests
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: A big party for a small girl. Yep, it's Eiko's birthday and she's having a ball.
Location: Lindblum Grand Castle
Date: March 21st, 1804
Warnings: N/A so far

Nobody could say that Regent Cid wasn't generous when it came to his adopted daughter, Eiko. In fact, some said that he was too indulgent. But on this, the evening of Eiko's tenth birthday, the citizens of Lindblum were ready and eager to celebrate. A free ball! Free drinks, free food, and a free pass into Lindblum Grand Castle. Many had failed to acquire tickets in time and were disappointed, but the lucky few piled eagerly into the castle.

Security was tight, and every single guest was checked by the guards before being allowed to enter. Once inside, they would find a wide and sumptuously decorated ballroom. A small group of musicians played slow and ambient music, while the party guests swayed across the floor dressed in all their finery. What could only be described as a flock of moogles flew or scurried around the room, offering glasses of champagne and various sweet treats. Regent Cid himself sat on a grand throne at the head of the room, nodding graciously at the guests who came to pay their respects.

The ball was already in full swing, and the party would go on for a long while yet.

[ooc: Don't worry if you didn't comment to Regent Cid's earlier post requesting tickets. Handwaving is just fine if you want to hop in. It's party style - go tag and mingle! Thread jumping and ninja tagging is encouraged.]

[ooc: Eiko has made a very loud announcement about a celebrity couple's engagement. Feel free to overhear, react or congratulate.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"And I." Saying no more on the political matter, Ashe instead chose to follow a different path, fingers trailing up and down her glass. "I had heard of your military role," she noted, head tilting slightly in interest. In Dalmasca, the Knights of the Order were all male, even if Archadia employed women in Judicial roles.

"By tradition, we have no female knights in Dalmasca," came her observation. "Tell me, do you still hold that position in your world?"

The sudden change from politics to the military caused Celes' fingers to tighten on the stem of her glass. Given that her hands were in plain sight, her less than savory reaction to this new topic was likely very visible. Still, she tried to push it away. No one here would toss her just for a mistake made in the past. Her talk with Beatrix had proven that.

"None at all?" Somehow that wasn't very surprising. Celes herself had been a prodigy, or something close to it. Eyes narrowing a little, she turned to glance out at the crowd as she answered. "No. I'm a traitor to the Empire now, an Empire that Kefka now commands at home. But before that, before he killed Emperor Gestahl, I betrayed the Empire to aid the Resistance." She paused for a moment and took a sip of her wine again. Her voice was tinged with bitterness when she continued. "I was tired of being used to murder innocent civilians. If Maranda ever turns up, ask the people of that town. They can tell you better than anyone."

Talk of Empire and Resistance rang all too true to Ashe, but murdering the innocent? It was little wonder, had Celes been faced with such evil, that she had turned against her Empire. If only, Ashe thought, studying Celes in silent contemplation, more of Archadia's military had thought like she.

For a short time, Ashe was almost sorry she asked - her eyes lowered, watching Celes' wine swirl about. But then she realised past was past, Gaia being another world, and the ex-general's decision had ultimately been the right one, betrayal or not.

"... It is easy to find regrets within the past," Ashe began, glancing across the guests again. "They should not stain the present, nor future."

Celes had long since come to terms with her past, even if it wasn't the easiest to admit to. In some respects, it was nice that Maranda hadn't been one of the cities to arrive here on Gaia. It meant she didn't have to worry about the townsfolk spreading rumors about her or shooting her ugly glares every time they saw her.

Eventually, she turned back to Ashe and shook her head a little. "I guess that's one good thing about this place: few people know who you are until you tell them. When I'm in Alexandria, I'm a guard in Beatrix's squadron. The rest of the time, I'm just an explorer to most of the people here. No one really cares about the past. It's... nice."

Ashe brushed a thumb across her moonsilver wedding ring, a subconscious action which usually meant she was giving something a lot of thought. "Yes... It is. Despite the concerns I harbour for my country, I consider this world to be a blessing like no other. Gaia is a world of second chances," she said softly, eyes following her thumb where it stroked the cool band.

Ashe had been reunited with Rasler, they had given life to a son. Not a day passed when the princess didn't thank whichever gods or forces were responsible for bringing her here.

Celes didn't notice Ashe's action with her thumb until after the other woman had spoken, drawing her attention back over. Her own mind wandered back to the moment she'd hit the water after her terrible plunge off the cliff, her leap of faith. This world really was one of second chances.

"I worry for my home world as well," she answered, fingers loosening their grasp on her glass again. "But with Kefka here, I wonder if it matters." She was about to add that he couldn't be in two places at once, but she stopped, thinking of Edgar recently.

"I have to hope he hasn't managed to destroy the entire world yet. Knowing him, he'd certainly try. And he'd better not start it here."

At that suggestion, the princess could only shake her head, hair brushing her shoulders.

"He would be opposed by every corner of Gaia, should he do so." Kefka... did any way to defeat him exist? Would they ever be rid of the disillusioned, mad clown? If anything, the fact he'd been so quiet was as concerning as his outbursts of violence.

"Perhaps I am mistaken," she spoke up then, eyes lifting, "however, did he not announce his desire to leave Gaia, then vanish?"

"I can only hope," Celes murmured to the first statement, sighing as she stared down into her wine glass. Her luck would never go that far, she was sure. Especially here.

"That I wouldn't risk hoping for. He's not one to give up on something like this, and leaving now would equate to that. If anything, he'd want to take over this world and control it and then find a way home. Two worlds under his command would be better than just one."

"Then..." Ashe paused, brow furrowed slightly in her concern, "It may be his desire that we believe him to have left, whilst he continues with such plans." It was a worrying thought, Kefka could be absolutely anywhere. Anywhere. Suddenly, she felt an urge to retreat from the ballroom and check upon Shain's well being.

A slight shake of the princess' head; she was over-reacting, wasn't she?

"I only hope he spares us from such treatment as the last gathering," she sighed, watching the masses dance and chatter.

Event: Eiko's Birthday Ball

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