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

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"Kain!" Of course Rydia had to notice him and she had, some time after Cecil. There was an inward sigh as she noted his armor. His usual attire wasn't unexpected, but she had hoped that he might see reason at the last moment. Oh well, so much for that. At least he had arrived.

She headed toward him in a billowing sea of green, a smile to counter his dour expression.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

In Kain's reasoning, he was the most prepared out of them in the case of an unexpected attack. Given the last time there'd been a ball... He was planning on needing it. He also was still pretty moody about being here, although hid it well behind the usual Kain-style indifference.

"Rydia..." Kain moved away from the wall when she approached, although he definitely wasn't as enthused as she seemed to be.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad you showed up." And she meant it. Even though she didn't expect the same (or any) enthusiasm from the dragoon, the fact that he honor his agreement meant something to her. Due to that, she didn't make a comment about his armor even as he earned several glances from passerby.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

It was his own fault that he'd probably end up drawing more attention to himself than he would have dressed otherwise... but Kain would deal with it. He hadn't seen the need to make an effort for something he was being forced into.

"As you said, yourself... I'm obligated to be here for the sake of the others." Cecil and Rosa, mainly, although Kain didn't get into the specifics. It was probably obvious enough, anyway.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was. Rydia crossed her arms, wishing he hadn't put it quite like that but trust him to repel any enjoyment of the event as effectively as a Reflect spell. She shook her head, an amused tone creeping into her voice. "Yes, though mingling with the wall doesn't count. It will survive without you, I'm sure."

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

Kain shot her a Look, but didn't think this was worth arguing and carrying on. Instead he sighed and tried hard not to roll his eyes. "I hadn't seen you of any of the others yet. I was waiting." Since unlike the Summoner, Kain didn't have as much desire to mingle. Although he did have it in mind to make sure he spoke with all of the others from home so that he could prove he'd indeed been here.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't hurt to look around and see who's about while you do." Rydia knew by now from the communicators that Kain at least had become acquainted with people outside their homeworld set. She shook her head, not ever understanding his antisocial nature, but enjoying the night too much to needle him about it much. Just a little friendly teasing.

"I don't know where the others are at the moment, so you just have me." She glanced over as the music wound to a close, some dancers departing the floor while others streamed toward it. Then she turned to him with a knowing look. "Just one?"

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

"I did look around." Which had amounted to very quickly moving through the crowd in order to avoid most eye contact. It had seemed like enough effort to him, however...

As soon as Rydia made that glance toward the dance floor, Kain had a creeping suspicion what was coming next. He frowned more and wondered if there were any possible chance of escape at the last minute. Perhaps a distraction, like something being set on fire. But no maniacs seemed to have attended tonight's event, to Kain's dismay.

"...Do I really have a choice?"

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia fought not to roll her eyes at his thin excuse and won, though Kain's next question nearly brought it out again. Of course she couldn't let him think there was a choice, or he would go back to being a wall ornament. "Not really, no. Oh, come on. One dance won't kill you."

She leveled a look at him before taking hold of a hand to lead him over. The dragoon could spare a moment from his brooding and learn to behave like a normal person at a ball. Thoughts began to form of sending women his way for later, though. Maybe if he was too busy being ambushed by those looking for dance partners, he wouldn't be able to flee so quickly. It would be good for him.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

"Yes, it will," he answered with complete seriousness. Then Kain sighed deeply. It wasn't as if he'd never danced before- he'd been forced into it at various times over the years back in Baron. It just wasn't among one of his favorite things to do.

But Rydia was already pulling him along and by this point it would draw too much attention to resist. That didn't mean Kain was going to show any enthusiasm...

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"Prove it." So unsympathetic to his impending demise. Rydia rolled her eyes a little at that sigh, remembering last time that he seemed to hate it at first and then managed to relax as the dance continued. Hopefully, that might happen again if he thought no one was paying attention to them.

Once they were at the edge of the dance floor, the music began to pick up again. Rydia took a moment to watch the other dancers, then nodded as she looked to him. "This one won't be difficult." Not one of of those slow, romantic dances -which would just be weird with Kain- but nothing fast or complicated, either. In fact, it was pretty similar to that other dance they tried at the ball. She closed in, ready to start.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

Kain also had realized he could use some excuse about simply not knowing the dances here in this foreign world. But no. There was the fact that they'd already danced at that other ball also working against him. Kain made one more displeased face before resigning himself to going along with this.

"...Why do I somehow doubt that?" But still not wanting to make an unnecessary scene of it, Kain had little choice but to go along. He moved somewhat stiffly toward her as they began, terribly awkward as ever in this situation.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"Because you're just like that." If only Rydia could somehow make him not so allergic to fun...but she doubted that if would ever be her talent, or that there might be a woman aside from Rosa who could. Not interested in thinking further about Kain's feelings for her friend, she turned her attention to the dance steps. Since the dragoon was being all stiff and awkward, she did her best to compensate and lead them through the steps as the song began to pick up the pace.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

"...and the way I am won't ever change." Kain's own attitude didn't make it easy on anyone to get him to lighten up, and he was well aware of that on some level. He saw no need to feign happiness for anyone. Bad enough he had to pretend some of his other feelings didn't exist... Particularly in regards to Rosa.

So he let Rydia take the lead, halfheartedly keeping up with her.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

"You know I won't either, right?" Rydia raised an eyebrow, peering at him as she helped start them off. The summoner was friendly and stubborn by nature and while she didn't expect everyone to be the same way, she wasn't going to change who she was for anyone. Attempting to have a light moment with Kain was part of that, even though she knew it would only half-work, at best. She still had to make the attempt.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

"...I'm well aware of that." Not that it was such a bad thing in itself. Kain would find it rather strange were Rydia suddenly as aloof and guarded as himself, after all. And he did like being around her when he wasn't overcome by one of his guilt trips. Other than Cecil and Rosa, she was one of the few people who seemed accepting of him. Despite everything.

Kain tried to keep up with her, finding it somewhat easier to think of the motions of the dance as almost like stepping around during a heated battle. He still wasn't relaxed, though.