Event: Eiko's Birthday Ball

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

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.]

Comments

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Oh! Eiko remembered this grown up. There were a lot of them at the party she was pretty sure she never met, or if she had, she really didn't like them. Stuffy and boring. The people who liked gross foods like stewed prunes for dessert instead of ice cream. But Halim she liked, so she didn't try to make tracks as fast as she could for the kids who were engaged in a game of duck duck goose at the far end of the ballroom.

After executing a fairly adept curtsy like Hilda had taught her, she responded properly too, "Thank you for the pleasure of your attendance, Marquis. Thank you also for your kind gift." Being a lady is hard work.

Tough to remember all the formalities at such a young age. Which is why she reached for the box too eagerly and opened it without handing it off to the poor servant standing nearby waiting. Once she realized just what the gift was, she let out a delighted squeal. "I love it!!"

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Then Eiko would be glad to know that the Marquis of Bhujerba was quite different than most of the stuffy adults here at the ball. He would be quick to send those stewed prunes to Vossler’s plate rather than actually take a bite of such monstrosity. However, he made it a note not to keep the young princess away from her friends for too long. Lady Eiko looked as if she still had tons of energy left for another game or two.

Hearing her well-rehearsed lines, Ondore couldn't help but chuckle since he was sure Lady Hilda was the culprit behind the girl's good manners. "You are more than welcome, milady."

Allowing his grin to show once the princess opened her gift; the Marquis was pleased with the shimmer of gold that shone. It was a charm bracelet, a pure gold charm bracelet decorated with a small crystal chocobos. He figured that Lady Eiko would adore such gift, especially since all ladies seem fond of both jewels and chocobos.

"I am certainly glad you do, Little Eiko. Here, allow me to fasten it around your wrist." Ondore replied as he gently placed the bracelet around the youth's dainty wrist. "It matches your dress perfectly; you now have jewelry of your own that matches your mother's brilliant gems."

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Eiko held her hand out as bidden for the Marquis to fasten on the bracelet. Once it was settled, she turned her wrist back and forth to watch the play of the light on the gold and the sparkles from the crystal chocobos. They reminded her very much of the other jewelry she wore at all times, the tribe's special jewel and the one that Garnet had given her so long ago.

And then the small child realized exactly why she liked Ondore so much. He reminded her of her grandfather. No summoner's horn on him, but the Marquis was the one who came to mind when she thought of Grandpa, whose own face was being lost to time and memory. She was only five when he died and that had been five years ago. Half of her life. Some days, she never even thought about him, and that made her sad when she realized it.

Without warning, Eiko's little face screwed up as she wrestled with tears, and then she impulsively flung herself forward to hug the Marquis tightly. "Oh thank you so much!"

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Nothing the tears that swelled up within the princess’ eyes, Halim immediately gained a worried gaze within his. “Is it too tig—” Before he could even finish his question, the girl flung her arms forward in search for a hug. Smiling softly at the painfully sweet gesture, the Marquis wrapped his arms around her.

“You are eternally welcomed, Lady Eiko.” He replied quiet enough for the girl to hear. Wondering what brought this show of emotions on, Ondore decided not to question it for it seemed as if something from the child’s past brought about such emotions. While he truly knows very little about the Regent’s daughter, he could tell that Eiko was not his own. The horn gave that truth away quite easily along with the sprightly aura that the child exudes.

“Eiko…” There was no need to titles now. “You shouldn’t keep your friends waiting. You still have a game to win.”

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Eiko nodded her head and she beamed up at Ondore, before turning to skip away to the other children. She made it two steps, turned around and bestowed one more hug for good measure. "Thank you Grandpa Marquis!" Whether it was a correction or what she dubbed him on the spot remained unclear, but she took off towards the game, planning to show off her bracelet.