Dance Dance Reprobation

[magicademymods]

The Twilight Ball Arrival The Promenade has been transformed. Literally. With Modification. Ha ha. Cough. Crickets. Toad familiars eat the crickets. Circle of life. Animals bow before singing lions. You get the idea. Neither tree nor stone form the Promenade now. It is instead a long bridge over a shallow and brilliant pool, the gentle ripples of which catch the afternoon sun and scatter it into a million highlights that play over the Great Hall, the bridge, and those who walk down it. There is no formal receiving line, merely a gentle procession of people across the bridge at whatever speed feels comfortable, slowly making their way to the Great Hall. The Great Hall itself has been enchanted to be completely invisible while one is inside it, save for the outline of doors so people can actually find their way out through means other than smacking their noses into the invisible walls till they find a place with no resistance. Thus the twilight for which the ball is named will show all around the dancers, while they are protected from any errant breezes, faint hints of rain, or slime monsters that might otherwise threaten the festivity. Come in. Find your date and get comfortable. The fun is just beginning. Let the Revels Begin After Headmaster Birony welcomes everyone with a speech about she's going to get on her boat, go upriver, and kick that sonuvabitch Bison's ass so HORDT that the next Bison-wannabe is gonna feel it, the dance formally begins with a peppy number designed to get people out and moving. The orchestra here comprises some of the finest players available anywhere in the world, thanks to the whole Valhudor shtick and graduates of said house, and the music is infectious as it drifts through the slowly-darkening air. But as the dance progresses, they play something for everyone. Martial waltzes and slow dance ballroom numbers. Powerful tunes to lose yourself in, and gentle melodies that slip beneath conversation and encourage intimacy and closeness. Professors Trammel and King treat everyone to an exhibition of what an Earth resident might call 'swing dancing on amphetamines' and many students do call 'the closest I have ever come to death'. No pause for speeches, no announcements or interruptions -- just a steady stream of music, bringing dates and lovers together in dance, as the sun sets and casts the room into gentle and romantic twilight. Also a dolphin and a whale are swimming through the floor and they, too, are unmistakably dancing. If this is the weirdest thing you've seen all night, you need your eyes checked. "Food! One of the food tables has been discreetly slid against a wall, where it positively shudders under the weight of a massive buffet open to everyone. The food here tends towards the light, such as fish and vegetables, cucumber sandwiches and thin-sliced meats. Things that will give you energy without weighing you down, so you can keep dancing till the dawn comes. At one end of the table, an owl the size of a cupboard sits on a perch, serenely watching the varied drinks laid out for consumption. 'Spiking the punch' is so cliche that no one is going to pretend it won't happen or the students will behave on their honor, so here you get a chaperone. Even so, this whole area is a popular gathering spot for those between dances or partners, drawing steady attention throughout the night. Meanwhile, Elsewhere Shockingly, not everyone has found that loving feeling, asked out an attractive someone, and gone to the dance with romance on their minds. The rest of the campus, and of course Anastara itself, remain open as normal... and perhaps even less-minded than normal. The faculty, the familiars, the cleaning golems -- almost all attention is on the dance itself. If there's mischief to manage, now would be the perfect time... or just something else besides wallflowering and missing out. Wait, Wasn't There a Ghost Dragon and an Off-Brand Shoggoth? Professor King managed to find a way around the protoplasmic ooze's resistance to magic and splatted it (with no small amount of help from students and faculty!). The dragon disappeared into the caverns beneath the Magicademy. That certainly isn't ominous and won't inspire anyone to go down there, will it? Don't fall in the river down there. Please don't fall in the river.

Comments

[bearshermark]

[Eleven only manages to understand half of that- but it's enough at least to gather that turning quickly is dangerous]

All right. Slowly it is, then.

[He guides her hand to the side and into a gradual turn, following along himself and trying to work in some sort of movement into the 'dance' they're making up. His grin is a touch sheepish]

This would probably be easier if I had four legs, too.

[bearshermark]

"Yeah," his smile fades a bit. "Maybe in Arboria, after everything is over. They were very formal when I visited. ..Or no, maybe when Cobblestone is rebuilt. They could use the cheer, I'm sure."

He was still so endlessly grateful just to know they were alive.

"Hm, maybe we'll have multiple dances. If we defeat Mordegon, I'm sure everyone will want to celebrate anyway."

[woo_oo]

"Kind of?" Boy oh boy, how did you describe her association with the McDuck family?

"Granny is Scrooge's housekeeper, and right now he lives with his nephew Donald duck, and Donald's nephews Huey Dewey and Louie. But Scrooge lets me call him Uncle!"

[sevenyearsasleep]

Housekeeper gave him momentary pause. He had to guess from context, some sort of servant role, but, Link wasn't certain.

"That's a lot of people, alright! Probably never lonely, huh?"

[talkyourwayout]

Revelry
Rather than find something special to wear to the ball, Louie had enlisted Professor King’s Help in outfitting him, with the only specification given being “I like green, I don’t know.” - as a result, Louie had arrived alongside Webby in some Gekronus Maius robes that were quite poorly tailored to his small duck frame. But he could dance without tripping, and that was what mattered. Louie was the least talented dance of his three brothers, perhaps, but the same skills that allowed him to swim in money meant he had a certain level of grace? Coordinatation? Honestly, sheer willpower had helped him swim through the bin, but he was finding there was something transferable.

But the decent dancer of a duck was most often dancing alone. Don’t expect him to admit it, but he might like some company.

Food
Uncle Scrooge had taught Louie well, and he could be found at the food table, filling his school bag with any treats that didn’t look as if they’d make too much of a mess. Anyone who seemed baffled, troubled, or disgusted by this would get a flat look.

“What? Free food.” As if school meals weren’t normally free...

Wait...
If Louie was a bit jumpy that evening, because part of him was perpetually expecting that ghostly dragon to show up through the floors.

“I mean,” he explained, if asked about his concerns, or if the topic otherwise came up, “it could show up anywhere. At any time.”

Wildcard option is, of course, also available!

The one for Louie

[talkyourwayout]

Louie wasn’t psyched about the ball, not because of the misunderstanding - that was no surprise, in retrospect he should’ve expected it. But it was still a dumb fancy ball, and his gold and green robes didn’t fit; especially too big and too long in the arms. He was trying to roll the sleeves up and get them to stay for the twelfth time so far, not looking up much as he approached the Promenade.

He did hear Webby, and shrugged a bit as he worked on those sleeves. “If it helps. Hey, Webby, do you have a pin or something-“

And then he looked up and stared. She looked pretty, but not in her usual way. He almost didn’t recognize her. It was weird, and he didn’t think he exactly liked it. Of course, that would be dumb to say. So after a while of thinking, he went with, “That’s not pink.”

[woo_oo]

Webby cocked her head at him, wondering what the big pause was for. Was there giant monster she was missing out on? A glance behind her said no, so...?

Oh well! She began to fish in her hair for a pin, since it came with the hairdo.

"Here you go!" She chirped as she handed it over, and once it had, she grabbed fistfuls of her dress to twirl it around. "I know, right? I wanted to try something new since this is my first dance! Yotsuyu helped me pick this out! It's really soft and comfortable, and hides my knife really well. Isn't it nice and pretty?"

Of course she's going to bring a knife.

Revels

[talkyourwayout]

Louie had headed over to Fluttershy shortly after seeing her familiar and her familiar’s... Date? This was, as far as he’d been aware, a new development.

“So... What happened there?” he asked as he approached Fluttershy during one of her breaks from dancing.

Arrival

[talkyourwayout]

There are definitely some new relationships to learn about for Louie that evening. Kaiba and Yugi’s is one, and fortunately, he wasn’t in deep enough with feelings for Yugi that it hurt. Instead, it really just made Kaiba even more impressive. Louie was pretty good at tuning into emotions when he bothered to try, too. This hardly seemed like something brand new... He caught Kaiba in a moment alone, his expression somewhere between amused and downright smug.

“So, when did it start?” he asked, nodding a ways over toward Yugi.

[talkyourwayout]

Green coat, pink bow(tie) and a cane? It’s like a horrid hybrid of his style, Webby’s, and Uncle Scrooge’s, but Louie does admire the boldness. He also hasn’t meant Link yet, and now seems as good a time as any, so he approaches the apparent teen with a smile.

“Hey. Having fun?”

[puzzlers]

[ he has a couple of things to do, but then he's back at the dorm packing. it doesn't take long since it's just going to be for one night, but... he lingers alongside his bed for a couple of extra minutes. he's nervous. really nervous. and he's still feeling an assortment of strange feelings that he can't really place. he sighs, smushing his hand into his face as he slings his pack over his shoulder and heads to kaiba's dorm. ]

[ he almost forgets about the stupid math locks, but manages to solve them to enter. ] Kaiba?

[puzzlers]

Sure! I'm not sure when the next dance will be, but we could always throw our own party too. Maybe over the summer.

Revels

[talkyourwayout]

“Hey,” Louie approaches the other student with uncharacteristic shyness, but ugh, this was just so stupid. “Um, I don’t think we’ve met yet? I’m Louie, and I was wondering if you could teach me some of those moves?”

Lena seemed to be having fun dancing with Huey. Webby deserved the same. Plus, this would no doubt be helpful in the field of Fantastics!

[talkyourwayout]

Louie, being left-handed as animated characters are wont to be, used the pin to keep up the left sleeve of his robes. Normally, he’d freak out a little about the knife, but it’s nice to know she didn’t totally change her ways for this dance. Speaking of...

“I’ve never been to a dance, either. Not for school, anyway. I went to some old people party with Uncle Scrooge, once.” Another shrug. “And it is pretty! I just... Did you pick it out?”

[woo_oo]

"Yep! I wanted to go for something different, since pink and purple is what I wear... pretty much all the time."

Especially given that they are animated characters and such can never change their outfit.

"Plus, it's a Twilight Ball, and that means the stars are out! So I thought yellow would fit - like I'm a brand new star on the horizon, granting hope and wishes to all those see me before I burst into a fiery explosion millions of years later."

She might look different on the outside, but this is definitely still the same Webby.

[holdyourhorns]

The tiny dragon isn't wearing anything fancy for the ball aside from a red and polished gold bowtie. Well, it's likely not real gold, but it was bought very recently thanks to Ire sending him a generous 'allowance' of money.

And initially, they seem unamused at Noa's assumption, about to argue a point to him until the tall stranger cuts in. Spyro peers between the two, debating if he should attempt some sort of excuse, confirm their intentions, or overall leave the matter to his partner-in-crime.

...

But soon enough he pipes up with, "Who said anything about a ghost dragon?"

[perfectenn]

Coming out of a series of spins that ended the last song, the lingering dizziness means Tenn has to look left, right, then down to find Louie. As his vision adjusts, he recognizes the fellow Valhudor member (aren't those Gekronus Maius colors, though?)

Give him a moment to breathe... okay, all good. "Louie. Yes... Tenn." Not the best introduction either way, but that bashfulness earns an amiable smile.

"What in particular?" Spinning? Kicks? Perhaps something basic like good leading techniques. He can't promise anything, but he also can't say no to a child.

[perfectenn]

Tenn’s eyes narrow further. He didn't expect humor, didn't feel the situation merited it, and it ruffles him more than relieves tension. He would be content to leave it at that and let the man go on his way. His familiar is of another opinion.

Goliath can hardly roll his eyes or kick his master under a table, but around a mouth-full of celery, he does give a pointed snort. Really now, why all this nonsense when there were Sundering classmates who could give perfectly good advice? What was the point of their conversation if only his help was being asked for?

Enough of his subtle exasperation carries over to draw Tenn up short. The boy casts a questioning glance down to his serious-faced companion. Admittedly, Goliath has often proved the wiser in the past.

"It's fine." Tenn looks back up and blinks, easing out of the glare. And then suddenly, with no preamble except whatever took place between himself and his familiar, "You're in Ka, aren't you?"

[perfectenn]

Was? Well, yes, that much was obvious on both their accounts. And clearly, Tenn did not expect company either. Avoiding it was precisely why he came late, when the classrooms were deserted; he wasn't keen on being followed.

It's a little unnerving to think another student might be having a similar line of thought. And it begs the question of why. But Tenn sees no reason to show his hand if this is a simple matter of a student returning to find a lost book or sneak in some late spell practice.

"I often come down here." Tenn answers dismissively. At night, dressed to the nines, to examine the paths with a lantern, obviously. "You?"

[perfectenn]

"Heh, do you want me to ask directly that much?" He teases, head tilted and cat-like eyes intent. But his tone is serious.

"Comparisons will only get in the way tonight. Aren’t you here to have fun?"

[treno_nobleman]

[Their movements are easier now, more fluid, like the dance should be, and Kuja is pleased to see the progress. He wonders at the boy's willingness to try another step out soon, or perhaps shifting him back into the dip again without warning him. A step to the side, an expectant look, to see if he would go for it or resist.]

[But mention of his world quiets those thoughts for but a moment.]

I was. There were few with greater wealth and esteem than I had achieved at one time. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and so they did. [He smiles again, but it's just this side of forced until he relaxes into another round about the dance floor.] Not quite the pleasant tale, I'm afraid. We would enjoy the songs in the air and the rhythm of the step better.

[sevenyearsasleep]

Link munched a small piece of fruit. "Mm-yeah, pretty fun, yeah."

[bearshermark]

He's not sure how Tenn manages it- to be both intimidating and friendly at the same time. It nearly feels almost as though there might discover something dangerous if he dances with him. But that doesn't stop him wanting to- not after already having had the thrill of an experienced partner to learn and feel semi-competent with.

Eleven nods and offers Tenn his hand.

"I just wouldn't want to disappoint you. But if you're sure, you can take the lead. I think I will be able to follow well enough."

[bearshermark]

[Eleven throws himself into the new move, grinning when they pull it off smoothly after only that initial surprise. When they rejoin, his grin turns a bit sheepish]

Sorry. I'd thought maybe you were royalty or something, since you seem.. refined? [Is that the right word? He's suddenly unsure and colors a bit, eyes dropping to their feet and working to explain.] You dress, dance, and speak well, I mean. A-anyway, what house are you in?

[blue_ice]

If you mean that I'm not particularly social, then...yes. It's interesting to watch everyone trip over themselves to impress someone.

[ Not that he's doing such a thing. He's perfectly confident in how well he's handling that front. ]

I've danced, but it's far different in the business world. It's more of a mechanized ritual than something for 'fun'.