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

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa knew what she was doing. She wanted him to recall that moment. Maybe if they could recreate all those wonderful moments, everything would work out between them just like it had done before.

"Maybe," she said, "but I wanna dance with you."

[brewing-storm.livejournal.com]

That was rather dependent on one's view of 'wonderful'. Squall was, however, a little caught off guard by her words. Perhaps into a bit of speechlessness. What was there to say to something like that?

He shifted his weight. One of those silent ticks.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa took Squall's silence for assent. If he really didn't want to, he would have said so. Smiling, she took his hand to lead (or perhaps drag) him onto the dance floor.

[brewing-storm.livejournal.com]

A soft sound of surprise escaped him. His fingers felt suddenly rather numb, and the signals to try and get his legs to work seemed to want to miss-fire. Squall stumbled a little after her, something like anxiousness twisting inside his gut.

This wasn't a good idea-- he wasn't very good at this!

"--what are you doing?"

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"Well, let's see," Rinoa said, pretending to think about it. "I'm taking your hand like this, and putting my other on your waist like this... A bit closer, please, aaaaaand off we go. You remember your moves, right? We can take it slow."

He'd learned quickly the first time they'd danced, so she hoped he would pick it up again soon. Smiling up at him, Rinoa encouraged him to begin waltzing slowly.

[brewing-storm.livejournal.com]

This was not a good idea, this really wasn't, Squall wanted to say, but he was already in position and stumbling through the paces-- scowling. This was a little different than the waltz at graduation.

And they were already in motion. Just a matter of trying to catch on, quick to keep step. Squall shoved down the internal irritation to count his steps.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa kept in step with him, gradually allowing Squall to lead. She moved gracefully, beaming as she lost herself in the dance.

[brewing-storm.livejournal.com]

Well, it was certainly easier to pick it up than he'd thought. A little lacking in refinery, but Squall caught it. It was... strange. Felt a little strange. This was... the second time he'd ever danced with Rinoa.

That Squall could remember.

The vague thought that this... wasn't so bad maybe crossed his mind.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa, on the other hand, had danced with Squall quite a few times in the three years they'd known each other. She knew him intimately, well enough to anticipate his movements better than Squall might have expected.

As the music ended, Rinoa came to a stop. She brushed her hair back from her eyes and grinned. "You do remember your moves."

[brewing-storm.livejournal.com]

Squall's hands withdrew. And he shrugged, just once, a small motion. "Maybe..."

It was almost a disturbing thought, that anyone could "know" him. Perhaps it was a good thing he hadn't managed to step on her, much less anyone else.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"Definitely." Rinoa was a little out of breath. "I'm gonna get a drink. Do you want one?"

She was practically offering him the chance to skulk in a corner now.

[brewing-storm.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it was a little more than predictable that he'd take it. Within reason. He still had a job to do, or so he saw it that way. Squall shook his head, feeling a little awkward in his own skin.

Was that normal?

Didn't seem like it should be. His palm felt a little... er, kind of warm, still, from where her hand had been.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Rinoa shrugged and smiled at him, before walking off. She had plenty of mingling to do. She'd be back again, but she had to keep resisting the temptation to act like his girlfriend. She needed to get out of that mindset... And try not to feel like she was chasing after a toyboy too. The age gap wasn't that big.

This was all still so weird.

[brewing-storm.livejournal.com]

It wasn't her fault. Something like that... he didn't blame her. It was strange to think of it that way, to try and imagine himself in a relationship with... anyone. At the same time, he wasn't going to say that her emotions weren't justified. Maybe that's how it was-- maybe that person, whoever he'd been like...

Squall put the thought side. Yes, it was weird. Yes, he was confused. But he'd deal with it. OR so he told himself.

He watched her a moment longer, pondering what to do.

In the end, he decided for air before he suffocated in this place, turning off to find some place to think.