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

[burningbrighter]

"Webby! Hey!"

Sunset greets her with a bright smile. That enthusiasm is infectious as always.

"I've never seen one with a sparkling pool or a starry sky before...but yes, it's always fun. Did you come with someone?"

[burningbrighter]

"Sure. A beautiful evening under the stars, and you're matching...I'm not saying guys and girls can't be friends, but it's not impossible, you know?"

She had to smile. "All I'm saying is that maybe happiness is right in front of you, if that's what you both want. Don't force it, but don't just dismiss it out of hand either."

She sure was one to talk about things like that. But that was all right. She spun gracefully on her heel, laughing.

[blue_ice]

With you? Never. You're my equal and it's perfect.

[ Okay, he might learn the social grace to occasionally pull a little punch, but he's content right now. His plans for later notwithstanding. Kaiba smiles into the kiss...it really is freeing, not caring who knows it. He doesn't have to care in this world.

All he cares about is getting this right. So he squeezes Yugi's hand and steps out, and...of course the tempo slows. Of course. He takes him into a polite hold at first, before drawing him a little closer...this was his boyfriend, not a client, so that was appropriate, right? ]

I've never done this for pleasure before. I think I finally see the appeal.

[blue_ice]

I'm relieved.

[ He can't resist glancing across the room at Yugi, animatedly talking to another friend. Kaiba knows that this was the right choice.

Back to Fluttershy. Right, she'd said she had someone... ]

Has your partner been treating you well?

[puzzlers]

[ he smiles at that. his equal. he knows he's come along way, but there's something about hearing that, especially since he had always been in the pharaoh's shadow. sure, he had proved himself in the ceremonial duel and then one could even argue for afterward during that mess with diva, but after everything he had done he didn't mind the praise, although he always tried to be modest. ]

[ yugi is a little still when they reach the dance floor for an assortment of reasons, the newest being the newly slowed tempo of the song. wonderful. he keeps himself pressed relatively close to kaiba as they start to glide around the dance floor along with the rhythm. ]

I've never done this at all. [ he stifles a chuckle, face turning red, which prompts him to look aside. ]

[puzzlers]

oof. [ she does bump into him, but he hadn't been paying attention either. he had also been gazing up at the stars. ] It's alright, [ he covers a laugh. ] I was actually doing the same - it's gorgeous!

arrival

[puzzlers]

"Lena!" He's kind of surprised to see her here, since he didn't think this was her sort of thing, but he's definitely not disappointed. Lena was fast becoming a real good friend of his, so he'd take any opportunity to hang out with her. Yugi was still feeling a bit nervous about the dance, but he was doing his best to keep his reservations to himself, so he approached her with a smile and accompanying wave.

"You look great!" He, himself, was dressed in a black suit with a blue tie, a contrast to Kaiba's suit with the purple accents.

[woo_oo]

"Oh, definitely! All the pretty stars, and everyone dressing fancy and having fun... for my first dance, this is going really well."

Deciding to stay optimistic, she pops the sandwich into her mouth.

[bearshermark]

"Link," Eleven spots him from across the buffet and approaches with an appraising smile. The colors are bright but seem to go together well enough in his eyes.

"You look nice. Did you come here with someone?"

[woo_oo]

[... That raises about six questions.]

I don't think so? I made sure to come here early, just in case. It's my first dance!

[bearshermark]

Eleven laughed. "You must have found something else to do, if you haven't seen me trying to dance. But it's fun, I think. I like it. I wish we had things like this in our world."

[woo_oo]

"Oh, yeah, Louie invited me." She gave an off hand shrug about it, still not really getting the process.

"Did you come with someone too?"

[woo_oo]

[Oh, hey buddy! She lets out another giggle, following his line of sight.]

Are all dances like this? No wonder people like them!

Revels

[bearshermark]

[Now there's a person that looks like they could use a partner. Eleven doesn't give the matter any further thought, and approaches the well-dressed man with an outstretched hand]

Would you like to dance?

Revels

[bearshermark]

[With Isabel taking a detour to the buffet and his dance with Yotsuyu at an end, Eleven finds himself abruptly partnerless and shifts a nervous gaze around the hall. A familiar glint of gold catches his eye.]

Atem!

[Sorry about your attempt at anonymity there. Eleven moves to greet him.]

It's good to see you. Are you enjoying yourself?

[puzzlers]

I would think they're all pretty similar, but I've never actually been to one, myself. I'm enjoying myself though, and it's only just started!

[sevenyearsasleep]

"Oh, well, they said I couldn't bring my sword, so I figured this was close enough," Link grinned.

[woo_oo]

Me too! I've never been to one either! So I had to come to this one!

[sevenyearsasleep]

Link was examining a tiny sandwich, when Eleven approached. "Oh, hi!"

He shook his head. "Nah, I don't know anyone that well, and everyone watches the people dancing anyway."

[woo_oo]

Ah, that made sense. "What you have to do is wear something that conceals your weapon. I'm hiding a knife in this dress."

[bearshermark]

"What," Eleven said, half laugh, half disbelief. "You should try it. I can even dance with you if you want; it's fun."

[puzzlers]

I was kind of interested to see how things might be different with all of the magic. [ and he's not disappointed! ] Did you come with anybody?

food.

[puzzlers]

He's taking a break too, and though he's got no interested in the food he's been drinking punch like it's going out of style. He's nervous and he's hoping that someone has secretly managed to spike the punch in spite of the chaperone, because he needs to relax to some extent. He catches sight of Fluttershy and abandons his drink to greet her.

"Fluttershy, hey," He can't help but admire her choice in dress. "you look beautiful tonight. Have you been enjoying yourself?

[woo_oo]

Oh yeah, Louie invited me.

[off-hand shrug, no biggie.]

I would've invited everyone, if that was allowed.

[treno_nobleman]

[Small talk had been the highlight of his night after the newness of the beauty of the place wore off and he had taken to a few snacks to calm his hunger, but he stood idle by a pillar, enjoying the crowd and the atmosphere as much as he was able when the boy nears him with his offer.]

[And Kuja can't help a smile.]

How very bold of you. I don't usually dance with men, but such opportunities so rarely present themselves. Say I do accept your offer. Will you lead, or shall I?