timeandtides_backup | Event: Eiko's Birthday Ball

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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.]

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"Do I not have you caught already, Quistis?" His hand tightened slightly on her back and he pulled her just a fraction closer to make his point. "You've little room to escape or perform actions of espionage when I have you here," he murmured, a smirk quirking his lips. After all, he was a soldier. He had the stamina to keep going and going all night, and if it meant he had to just keep dancing, he would.

Laughing slightly, he loosened his hold once again. He had something he wanted to say, and his gaze fell for perhaps the first time. "Quistis; you would consider us friends, correct?"

As his grip on her tightened slightly, a breath caught in Quistis' throat, her eyes widening a bit at his words. Though it was obvious by Gabranth's tone that he was joking, the teasing question tugged lightly at a thought she had tucked away subconsciously into the far reaches of her mind, one she didn't dare broach with their current proximity. Instead, she gave him a small smile, hoping it erased any traces of her surprise.

"I think you underestimate my strength-- I'm not as delicate as I appear." Quistis replied with a light tone. It was quite obvious that Gabranth outmatched her in both height and weight, and could easily overpower her. She kept up their banter though, hoping their lighthearted exchange would keep the mood between them light.

At his next question, Quistis tilted her head to the side, a curious and slightly confused expression gracing her features. "Of course, Gabranth. Why do you ask?"

Gabranth searched around them for his words, though he couldn't think of how to say what he wanted to say. It was a show of trust to do what he wanted to do. Did he trust her that far? His brow creased as he thought on that for a moment.

Yes.

He trusted her. He honestly, truly, firmly trusted her. Probably more than he trusted almost anyone else which was a little unsettling, but he wanted to just... make a point of it.

"Quistis, I..." Leaning very close, almost as if he was about to kiss her, he moved to her ear. "I wish to tell you something I do not tell other people."

Her thoughts seemed to slow down as Gabranth leaned forward, the simple action seemingly taking forever. She was frozen in place-- her eyes wide as she looked up at him, a single thought seemed to loop through her mind as he closed the distance between them: "Hyne, is he going to do what I think he's going to do?"

Quistis let out a breath she wasn't aware she had been holding as Gabranth veered to the side at the last moment. Her eyes fluttering shut, she took a second to breathe deeply, hoping the action would slow the pace of her beating heart.

She was seriously overreacting.

As his words met her ears, Quistis opened her eyes, her head turning slightly so that their eyes met. There was a brief silence between the pair, before Quistis finally spoke, her words soft and reassuring.

"What is it, Gabranth?"

Edited 2010-03-21 02:45 (UTC)

"It may seem trivial, but I wish to tell you my real name. 'Tis something few people know; only those I trust or care for." His voice was soft, and he was only vaguely aware of the fact that the music had slowed and they were swaying and turning in time with it, their dance slow and private.

His gaze had softened when their eyes met, but he still felt awkward and nervous.

Quistis was a beautiful young girl and with them so close now he was becoming increasingly alert to his attraction to her. He didn't want it to compromise their friendship.

Taking a slow breath in, he averted his gaze for only a moment, finding her eyes an instant later. "My name is not Gabranth; that was my mother's maiden name. My real name is Noah fon Ronsenburg."

"Noah..."

The name rolled off her tongue slowly, as if she were testing it. Her eyes remained locked on his all the while, her gaze connecting the new name with the man before her. To know that he trusted her to be able to confide in her the piece of information warmed her immensely, and Quistis felt honored that he held her in such high regards. Slowly, her lips lifted into a soft smile, her hand giving their still interlocked grasp a small reassuring squeeze.

"Noah fon Ronsenburg. It suits you." She stated simply. "Why did you adopt 'Gabranth', though?"

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He'd been about to respond to Quistis and explain his reasons, but then voices interrupted and he tensed up at the second voice. OhFaramwhynow?! Stepping away from his beautiful, blonde dance partner, Gabranth's hands slid away from her and clasped behind his back.

"There is nothing suspicious about it, Selphie, and there was nothing to interrupt. We were merely speaking," he murmured, refusing to lock gaze with Larsa.

Gods bedamned, they had to show up at the worst time, and Noah's gaze wandered to Quistis with an apology in his eyes.

And of course, Selphie had the innate timing to pounce the moment Quistis let her guard down. With quick reflexes, the blond female pulled away from her escort, her expression indifferent through the slight flush to her cheeks proved otherwise.

"Evening, Selphie and Larsa." She greeted the pair, smiling slightly with all the grace and dignity she could muster. "And yes, we were just conversing. How are you both this evening?" She barely hesitated as she tried to transition the conversation to a more neutral topic-- she definitely did not want to be on the receiving end of Selphie's speculation at the moment.

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"Whyever would I wish you to leave, hm?" His tone was flat and Gabranth felt his face deadpan at the teenage Emperor. Oooh, if he could just give the young lad a good smack for his cheek at times... but that was a very bad thought and Noah took a slow breath to cool his temper. But if he could just smack him-- no. Just no.

Clearing his throat, he glanced around the room. "'Tis a lively evening. Perhaps I shall find a reason to converse with the Marquis, or even the Lady Ashelia." Anything to get away from this hell.

"There's nothing to wonder about, Selphie." Quistis answered pointedly. She knew that her words would do nothing to squash Selphie's assumptions, and she suppressed a sigh. At Larsa's comment, Quistis gave the dark haired male a slightly bewildered look, before shaking her head. Gabranth seemed to have the same idea as herself, and she gave a small hum of agreement as he spoke of mingling with guests.

"Yes-- I think it'd be best if I went and tried to converse with some of the other attendees. SeeD has to keep up it's appearances, after all." She spoke with a matter-of-fact tone, though she couldn't help but give Noah a brief glance in the corner of her eye.

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Rinoa had also noticed Gabranth and Quistis dancing, but unlike Selphie, she did not approve. She found Gabranth boring and stand-offish, not to mention he'd worked for Vayne.

Frowning, Rinoa approached Selphie and Larsa as soon as they moved off.

"Hey, guys. What's going on with Quistis and Gabranth? She's not with him, is she?"

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"Hmm." Rinoa put one hand on her hip and tapped her mouth with the other, thinking. "I'm gonna ask her."

She immediately set off towards Quistis, hanging back until the pair separated. Rinoa wanted to hear this from the horse's mouth.

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Event: Eiko's Birthday Ball

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