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

[darkenedmoon]

It seemed like the music was over too soon. Only one dance? There was a part of her that wanted to protest. After all, in a place surrounded by so many people, surely Eleven had to be safe, here.

Couldn't he?

"You could take another, if you liked," Yotsuyu said. "It is not as if Jecht would mind." Indeed, he was probably still over at the buffet table, stuffing his face. She wasn't about to check--mostly, she had asked Jecht instead of Hendrik for two reasons. Yotsuyu thought Hendrik would be uncomfortable--and the gods knew, he certainly seemed like he was. And there was his oath to Eleven to consider. He had his duty, and she knew it. Nor would she stand in his way--at least, not for long.

On the other hand, Jecht had a way of schmoozing--it might have to do with his stardom in Zanarkand, or perhaps Spira. He soaked up attention in a social setting--oh, Yotsuyu would likely dance with him more than once, but if she left him alone for a time, Jecht wouldn't think a blessed thing of it.

"You look very nice tonight, you know. One more dance? Please?"

[stillnewatthis]

"It seems likely! My analysis suggests you would be highly attractive to anyone for whom your gender and species are compatible."

Orisa appeared intent on adding to the list of things she shouldn't just outright say, tonight.

[mithrarin]

"Isabel..."

She'd gotten more of his frustration than she deserved, when it ought to be aimed at himself. She couldn't know about the stupid things he'd done when under the influence of a love potion, as he'd only later found out. Or understand his life, and how he'd become what he was.

"Thanks. For thinking of me."

[perfectenn]

Tenn offers raised eyebrows at that resolution – one does not learn 'moves' by giving up. But! Third time is the charm!

"You did." He withholds a sigh, trading for a triumphant smile. Listening to the rhythm of the band’s current offering – it’s not too fast – Tenn demonstrates the sequence again, matching the timing.

"Think you can do it again? On the beat of the music this time?"

[areasontohope]

He still wasn't used to females touch him even though his curse was broken. But Yuki didn't pull away since Webby looked so enthusiastic.

"Ah yes, we can go together if you want to."

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight didn't know what poor words of comfort he could offer in the face of such a fate. He knew there was pressure, he just hadn't realized how heavy it could weigh down on those thin shoulders.

"Then I shall still protect you and ease up on your training." It really was all he could think to do. He felt so helpless and dumb.

But Yotsuyu seemed to know how to talk to him and what to say, and Hendrik was so very grateful for her presence.

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik swallowed his comment and shook his head. And then he wasn't sure what to make of Yotsuyu's compliment but his face reddened. He hadn't told her how lovely she looked but maybe she would get mad and losing her was the last thing that he wanted. The knight was going to save her, he hadn't given up on that quest and wouldn't.

Heavens knew that he wanted to dance with Yotsuyu and all damn night if she'd let him. But she had a date and it wasn't proper to keep her away from him. Still, she had asked for one more dance and Hendrik didn't know how he was supposed to just walk away and leave. Could it hurt to have another dance?

After a moment or two, he held out his hand to her with another small bow. "I would be most honored to dance with you if you will indulge me."

Yes, he was going back out onto the dance floor again with the most beautiful lady here, and that was that.

[areasontohope]

For his part, Yuki was trying to make mental notes where they were going so in case something happened and he had to go back on his own.

But he couldn't believe his eyes when the owl landed on a branch and he saw small fires burning everywhere. This was somewhere he hadn't been and he half worried about the books on the inside. Was everything inside the same as here??

"I've heard of this place."

[talkyourwayout]

Louie was not entirely used to the feeling of anxiety, at least, not in this sort of situation. It wasn't fun, and for that reason - and for the sake of focusing on the subject of Jecht's life - he tried to set thoughts of Lena and her fate aside for now.

"Oh. I, uh... I didn't know that, either. Sorry," he mumbled. "But you like it here, then? That's good."

[talkyourwayout]

Giving up is the 'move' Louie's best at, is the problem. But he looks pretty pleased with himself for having actually accomplished something, so maybe there's hope yet.

"Uh, yeah, I think so." He closes his eyes for a second, to focus on listening to the music. Once he feels he has the rhythm down, he starts to move in time with the beat. It's far from perfect - clumsy and stiff is a better way to describe how he's doing it.

But he's doing it.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

"Hey. Quite getting all melancholy on me!" Jecht leaned down a little to give the duckling a solid whack on the back, the sort of locker-room companionship a guy like him understood. "Damn straight I like it here! I got no worries, I got things to do, and I got a life to live. It's the best!"

[talkyourwayout]

Louie stumbled at the clap on the back, looking up grumpily for a moment before he laughed it off. "Yeah, okay. Although I don't know if this is the best. But I guess it's not bad here, either."

He would not define this place as being free from worry, for one thing, but why should he bring down Jecht's mood by reminding him of, for example, ghost dragons lurking around?

[woo_oo]

[She lets out even more giggling as she spins, slightly dizzy but happily so.]

Huh? Who asked what?

[Her head's still spinning, so she's not sure what's going on.]

[woo_oo]

"Great! Let's do that right away!"

Pause, as she remembered her surroundings.

"Well, not now, since we're at a party. Later. Right now, we should dance!"

[nomoremistergneissguy]

[Whoops, maybe that was a little too much. Well, knowledge for next time.]

Rounder. Well, I helped, but Rounder asked Orisa to the dance!

[Even though he bombed out, Cliff's happy for his familiar.]

[shiningkindness]

"Maybe...though they've all had years of learning, so hopefully they're not expecting us to be this good right away."

As he holds the door open for her, she smiles a bit shyly an steps inside.

"Thank you."

[shiningkindness]

[She nods.]

I did hear quite a bit! [Not that she sounds like she minds all that much.] But he also asked quite some questions about my world too. He was really interested hearing about the magic from my world.

[outofyourshadow]

Lena can't help laughing a bit.

"Dude, you've gotta relax."

[outofyourshadow]

Luckily, Lena doesn't take offense to it. Because really, she was pretty sure that it wasn't happening.

It was kind of nice to think about though.

"Well thanks. I'm glad to know someone could find me attractive."

[talkyourwayout]

Yeah, he's like that. Huey's really into knowing everything about, well, everything.

[Louie doesn't get it, but it's fine. To each their own, as long as he isn't dragged into it too much.]

[noasark]

"What-!" He looks a bit like he swallowed an egg. "...I'm at least a little relaxed..!"

He is definitely not, though at least it's not Lena's fault? "I just want to dance properly, that's all."

A Fool's Errand when it is FREESTYLE time

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Not sure if it would be possible in my world either," Lea said. "I mean we've got some pretty amazing wizards there; Merlin and Master Yen Sid are two of the best around, and Donald's no slouch either. But I don't know if their magic would allow for this sort of thing." Then again, who really knew what they could do once they didn't have more important matters to deal with?

He chuckled though, at El's comment about his outfit. "Given some of the other stuff there is to look at here? You could be forgiven for missing a lot of things, But yeah, I figured there'd be no chance for blending in given my hair and the fact that I arrived with the Headmaster, so I figured might as well stand out, you know? And besides, I do genuinely like this outfit; always had a thing for warm colors."

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea nods.]

Tall and lanky, yeah. Most clothes are made to fit people with more average proportions, so if you're outside that range, finding things that fit properly becomes increasingly difficult. Sometimes I still wear my Organization uniform pants because not only do they go with pretty much anything, but they fit properly too.

[bearshermark]

"It suits you." Eleven thought so, at least. The colors matched. Speaking of Lea's hair, he idly wondered why Erik didn't wear blue.

"You came here with the Headmaster?" he asked, amused. "I guess she found someone to go with, after all."

[treno_nobleman]

[He nodded, and let his hand back down by his side. If she was waiting for her chosen escort, he was keeping her up, but it had left an impression on him that she was willing to keep her person waiting for her to bring this to him.]

I understand. We won't speak of it again after this if you'd like not to. The slate is clean and we can start over again. No more irritating each other. [With that, he offered a smile and his own honesty, not that he had given her anything but, in his own brutally honest ways.]