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

Dances and Dragons

[outofyourshadow]

Lena had been off to the side of the dance floor, drinking a bit of the punch herself when she'd heard Kaiba. And though she was a bit surprised that he was starting the conversation, she didn't mind all that much. Even if they weren't particularly close, they did belong to the same house, and she could appreciate his cooler demeanor.

Plus, Yugi liked him, so he must be okay.

"Yeah, I guess so," she replied with a shrug. "I was worried this would be kind of stuffy, but it's actually been pretty all right."

[sevenyearsasleep]

"Nope. Never even went to school until I came here. I mean, my friend Saria taught me a few things, but, uh, nothing like they have here...."

Link rubbed his neck sheepishly.

[talkyourwayout]

To say Louie was surprised when Lena spoke to him was a bit of an understatement, but he hid it pretty well. He began to say a greeting in response, but they were still on the dancefloor, and he was jostled by a pair dancing by; bumped right into Lena.

Great.

He didn't want to have this conversation at all, but it had to be done, and he knew that. He told himself it was for Webby and Huey's sake - no need for them to get caught up in any drama - but really? He hated this. This fighting, this awkwardness.

Still, of all the ways he thought this conversation might go, he hadn't expected to be taking one of Lena's hands in his own, putting his other hand on her back, and taking the steps as Webby had shown him.

If they were out there on the dancefloor, they weren't going to get far without dancing, but if they headed for somewhere quiet, well... Louie didn't trust himself not to bolt.

"Forward, left, backward, right. Got it?"

[talkyourwayout]

"You're probably not missing much. School back home was safer than this place, but classes were even more boring," Louie explained. "It's pretty much a lose-lose."

[talkyourwayout]

Louie sighed a bit. How could he forget that day? Ballet had practically mowed him down. "Yeah. I do. This seems like a big change from that, though."

[stillnewatthis]

[Something about that statement seems problematic. Orisa quickly runs some analytical projections, eyes narrowing.]

A logical problem has been detected. I am built to protect and defend. Therefore, I am happiest when I protect and defend others. However, the happiness of others is compromised by needing to be protected and defended. This appears irreconcilable.

[sevenyearsasleep]

"I thought this place was pretty safe? I mean, no one's even tried to kill me."

The bar is pretty low, Louie.

[talkyourwayout]

The bar isn't so high for Louie, either, so he has to think about that one.

"Well, that's good, first of all. I guess, for me back home, school was one of the safer places. Home was... Kind of safe, but not really? And adventures were when I almost died the most. I'd say this place is on the same level as home."

He paused, then, as realization hit. "Why did people want you dead?"

[sevenyearsasleep]

"Oh. Well, really, just one really evil guy. And that's because I was trying to help Princess Zelda and save the world from him."

This was delivered in the same tones Link would use to describe the weather or his math class.

[puzzlers]

"I don't, but..." He trails off and turns to look at the boy she's pointing at with a smile. "A- And really? I guess they, ah, didn't take no for an answer? I'm sorry about that, but at least he was there to help. That was very nice of him."

[puzzlers]

"He, ah, uhm," He stammers a couple of extra seconds before laughing nervously. "I guess he can be pretty grumpy." If she thought his cheeks were red before then they're on fire right now. "Oh, so then you... hah."

ASKING THE HARD HITTING QUESTIONS, LENA. "We're t- together together." He confirms, giving her a sheepish nod. "This is our, ah, b- big debut, so to speak."

She was right! They had been dating for a while now, but hadn't really told anybody but Atem.

[outofyourshadow]

She definitely was not expecting him to lead her into a dance, but she nodded anyway. "Got it," she said, following his movements.

This did leave little room for escape, should the conversation go wrong, but watching her feet at least kept her from having to look directly at him.

[outofyourshadow]

She smiles, and while there's still a bit of teasing as she nudges him a bit, her expression is warmer. "Well hey, congratulations," she says, and there is sincerity in her words. "At least this is the perfect place and atmosphere to reveal the news, huh?"

[shiningkindness]

"Yes, something like that. Yuki arrived and managed to get him to leave me alone, then asked me to the dance. It started as just a way to make sure some of the other boys don't bother me, but..." Her smile softens a bit. "I am glad he asked me to come with him."

[shiningkindness]

"Y-Yeah...I suppose all that time being rivals, they ended up developing a mutual respect for each other, which turned into something more. It's kind of like that thing in movies where two people who hate each other at first end up falling in love, because they are dating now."

However that worked for familiars.

[woo_oo]

CHOCOLATE FOUNTAINS ARE THE BEST!

[She didn't hear anything after that, let's be real.]

[woo_oo]

"Oh yeah! Lena's amazing. She was one of my first friends outside of the mansion, back in my world."

Which was very important - they "chose" each other, instead of running into one another because of family.

[woo_oo]

"Yep! We explained that Tango could just ask Ballet normally, Ballet accepted, and there they are."

A happily ever after, in the strangest way.

"It's the perfect love story. Dancing, love letters, and swords!"

[woo_oo]

"YAY, WE'RE FRIENDS!" Webby still lacked an indoor voice, and she felt this was appropriate to shout.

[woo_oo]

Oh, I love it! Most of my life, I wasn't allowed to have any.

But now that I am allowed, it's an endless sugar and hamburger party!

[Which probably raises a few questions...]

[king_of_egypt]

[It's apparent that something he said has thrown her off, but he's not entirely sure why. Conversely, he's used to giving encouragement and receiving it from his close circle of friends and advisers. Sure, some of them could be more stoic than others- or might offer their support in different ways but he's been fortunate to have met a wide variety of considerate and understanding people. They no doubt have had some influence over his own interactions. If she had met him previously when he had lost his memories and been stowed away inside an ancient puzzle for a few millennia then it might have been a different story. Though Atem had still sought protecting those in trouble his methods had been more questionable then. That being said he doesn't regret what he's said to her and just gives her time to process it on her own]

The more I hear you talk about them the more curious I become. [Basic to one person could seem more complicated to someone who was unfamiliar with the steps. Either way, there were plenty of folk dances in his own kingdom and they were fascinating in their own right.] Mm, they tie in to everything else.

[Little did he realize the confusion, since it would have been difficult to show her how to ballroom dance without a partner. He could have found a broom perhaps but no he was definitely implying that the two of them should give it a try together. Lys's response garners a light-hearted chuckle]

That was the idea, yes. [Then after a pause he tried to help encourage her] It is easier to remember the steps through experience. Will you grant me the honor of a dance? [Phrasing it as a question this time and holding out a hand towards her]

[woo_oo]

Thanks!

[She grabs fistfuls of her dress to twirl around.]

I wanted to try something different... Plus, it's a twilight ball, so I thought of stars!

[nomoremistergneissguy]

So, is it everything you expected? Is it fancier back at home, for you? [The topic of conversation was similar to when last they'd met, but Cliff, dressed to the nines, had to ask. He was a tad surprised to find that it was, indeed, gaudier than the balls he'd been involved in at home. Then again, his mother had always had impeccable taste when it came to decor, and her own style of dress.

He was glad he got his fashion sense from her, really.]

My parents never put on anything this fancy, I've got to admit. The food seems similar, though.

[king_of_egypt]

[It was soft but still audible, and something about it was alluring. Like as if there was an unspoken promise in it Keeping close to Yugi as they continued to follow the music, it wasn't hard to envision that it was the two of them that had ended up together and not the other way around. This line of thinking was dangerous ground to be treading, but even then Atem still lingered close until certain urges nearly prompted him to cross the one line he shouldn't. He knew this had been a bad idea that would lead to temptation, but at least he was still able to exercise his self-control] [Atem isn't even aware of where they'd drifted, so caught up in the moment itself. If he had decided to do the less honorable thing, likely no one would have been the wiser save for the two of them..... but he couldn't place Yugi in that position. It wouldn't have been right, nor fair to anyone involved. He feels a bit guilty despite not having done anything.] Mm, yes.. it's nice. [A little too nice, but nice all the same. Atem started thinking of ways to disentangle himself from Yugi but he should at least wait until this song had completed]

[woo_oo]

"A little bit of both?" She answered with a half shrug.

"Ever since I first learned about Uncle Scrooge, I wanted to be just like him. He proved his worth to the entire world... and I want to do that too."