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

I just bet she is...

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

Realization that he spoke of her came marching in on Penelo, and an overwhelming sense of both sadness and worry took hold. There was a nagging sense of familiarity, that all of this had happened before, some of it. Something. Yet she couldn't place it or why Larsa looked so devastated. Only that somehow she played a part in it and couldn't remember.

"Larsa..." She gave in to impulse, putting aside matters of class and time and age and lost memory and pulled him into a gentle hug. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, uncertain what to apologize for. She'd hurt him in some way, from disappearing? and that was the last thing she ever wanted for him.

And we're not? Poor kids. Both of 'em.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

It took more than a moment for realization to dawn on Penelo, and once it had, there was no stopping the inevitable. Larsa was kissing her! Not even lingering, but it was nothing she'd expected and yet...

All those lingering sensations of memories like faded dreams came crashing in, like ocean waves knocking her over at the shore, immersing her fully. A startled gasp escaped her, more for the flood than shock of having her once young friend do something so very... they had been close. That return of knowledge stained her cheeks crimson.

They had been dancing at the Queen's party, then kissing. Gabranth separated them. He'd asked her to marry him! Her blue eyes shot wide open. "I was here before. And we..." She remembered everything. How she'd hoped for a home and a family, how close they had grown. Small wonder he was so heartsick. "Oh Larsa..."

Now what was she to do?

we really are *snicker*

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

Even with walking away from the dancers, Penelo's cheeks continued to blaze on with a blush that would not go away. What would she say to Vaan? How could she possibly make it up to Larsa for forgetting something like that? How was it even possible for her to return to Ivalice and not realize she had been gone?

"I... I think so," she answered, not sounding in the least as though it were true. The longer she looked at Larsa, the more she remembered. Mjrn, and Ashe's pregnancy, Larsa sobbing his heart out on the floor, Velis killing her. She'd died! That memory jolted her hard, sending her heart thudding against her ribs, thinking of someone she hadn't seen in years. Hadn't thought of in almost as long.

She wasn't the same young girl anymore, and yet Larsa was very much the same. The one who loved her and wanted her. That thought wandered into places she hadn't considered. He said he had for years. So even when she was back, in that time she lived on, he fought with her absence, her infrequent letters. Just that alone was enough to prompt her to hold him tightly again. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I promise."

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

The difference he was sensing was the same one that Penelo noticed. How stiff and tense he'd become and suddenly everything was awkward between them. It was if a wall had gone up, an unbreachable wall that would never fully go away. The difference was that she had grown, she had moved on, she had given up on her naive hopes for a normal, quiet life. Even with remembering they could never go back to the way they were.

"I know you wouldn't. But that doesn't change what's happened." There had to be a way to put a positive spin on this, some way to at least regain some of their closeness as friends. "Are you alright?"

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

It hurt so much to watch this, to see their once innocent relationship dwindle into little more than awkward shuffling, to see Larsa apologizing for something beyond his control, to know something was wrong with him and she couldn't fix it.

"Please don't apologize, Larsa." Penelo sighed, watching him helpless and miserable. "I just wish I knew what I could do to help."

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

So much to be said, and yet Penelo just didn't have the heart to vocalize it. That you couldn't get the past back, that it couldn't be changed just like that, no matter much you wanted it or tried to make it happen. Stating the obvious would be unkind.

Then there was the matter of Larsa caressing her cheek. She hadn't blushed so much in such a long time, and suddenly she felt like the naive child she once was, awed by a sky pirate's gallantry over a handkerchief. Such an intimate and tender gesture and yet so much time had passed for her that while she remembered her past affections, she still couldn't quite figure out what she should do now.

"Days from... what?" She wasn't entirely sure what he was alluding to. Much of those days were still in something of a fog for her.

/ninja tag! [now with correct order. derp.]

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

So there's this game called tag, and much to a lot of people's dismay, the kids at the party are playing it. They're running all about, being cute and having fun.

Marlene had been getting chased by Denzel, and she turned her head to look behind her shoulder when she collided right into the back of Penelo's legs. She stumbled slightly, then righted herself.

"Sorry about that!" She chimed before she darted off again.

Children. Everywhere!

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the conversation, Shelke was being chased by the little black mage boy from earlier. She had initially considered simply turning invisible, but in a sense that removed a lot of the sport from it all. And really, the poor child had enough trouble catching up to her as it is.

Not that she would admit this was actually fun. There were so many things she never got to do as a child, so...now she was. Even if she was somewhat line-face the whole time.

She was half-turned to check on the progress of the little black mage, only to find out he was, in fact, only a couple feet behind her! She would've been impressive if the little guy hadn't managed to trip at just the wrong second, sending himself hurling towards her.

She reacted immediately, moving to catch him without too much effort...except the force if his tiny body hitting her tiny body sent the both of them stumbling backwards...and smack into poor Larsa from behind.

Meep!

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

Hearing the news about the ring sent Penelo's eyes wide with surprise. She remembered talking about the possibility, but if there was a ring then he--

OOF!

The enthusiasm of the playing children sent the normally graceful dancer crashing into Larsa. Out of reflex, she reached out to catch herself and ended up with her arms flung around his neck and barely a quarter of an inch away from his face.

[tinymakoaddict.livejournal.com]

Shelke ended up on her rear on the floor with the black mage child in her lap, both of them looking a tad confused. After a moment to reaclimate, she carefully checked the little mage over for injuries and then lifted him back onto her feet, standing as well and brushing dirt off her dress.

"You are alright," she stated at the other child, only to realize that he was not looking at her, but at whatever was behind her. She turned, considering the pair of teenagers making out, sighed, and turned back to the mage. "It isn't polite to stare." A pause. "Also, I am now it."

Reminded of the game at large, the little mage took off, and after a moment, Shelke went chasing after him.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

For a spare moment, Penelo melted against Larsa, reflexively returning his kiss with like intensity.

Then she remembered herself.

The dancer sucked in a startled breath, pulling away and trying to put some distance between the two of them. Why did I do that? More frustrated by her own reaction than Larsa's, she glanced off just in time to see retreating children. Not only had she given in to impulse without thinking, she'd put on a show for little ones?

Her cheeks blazed crimson, and she could not will herself to even look at Larsa, she was so ashamed of herself. They were just mending their friendship, what place did she have to complicate it?

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

"I could never detest you, Larsa." Just at the moment, she couldn't look at him. Penelo lapsed into silence, just watching their little audience vanish into the crowds and using that opportunity to calm down. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have. Forgive me."

Her sunny head dropped and her heart sank even further than it had earlier. That response implied things she couldn't offer or promise. And if Vaan saw...

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

Penelo found herself unable to breathe, or withdraw her hand, watching the ring slip onto her finger with no difficulty at all. No difficulty because it was made for her, or because somehow she felt detached from her own body, watching this unfold before her, as if trapped in a dream.

Yet there was something so final, so heartbreaking in what Larsa said, that she followed his back as he retreated into the crowds until finally he vanished from sight. Only then did she lift her hand, studying the band on her finger.

I can't.

Those were the only words that came to mind, although she remained uncertain whether it was regarding the gift or the giver. With haste, she slipped across the room to seek solace alone in a darkened alcove, to think and whisk away tears she didn't want to show.