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

[areasontohope]

Somehow he shouldn't have been surprised that Fluttershy took his hand, but he was. His legs were shaking and Yuki was glad he had a long white coat that partly hid them, convinced as he was that she would somehow notice them.

'Breathe, just breathe.' Yuki told himself as he tried not to squeeze her hand too tightly when he felt it in his. With a nervous sort of nod, he remembered how to do the whole lead thing and moved closer to her.

He took a deep breath and got as close to her as he could, repositioning their hands as they had been before. This time he didn't ask if she was ready, he simply lead.

[shiningkindness]

She didn't really notice him being nervous, too nervous herself. But she somehow managed to follow his lead, even while her heart was racing.

It was still...nice though. Despite how nervous she was, once they started dancing, it was easy to forget all that for a moment and just think about moving with him to the music.

[areasontohope]

Yuki couldn't say it, but he knew if he managed to ever hear this song again, it was always going to bring Fluttershy to mind. And he tried to focus on something else instead of listening to the words.

He thought to talk about her hair but that was stupid so that thought was dismissed. And he was sure his face was turning red because of the words to the song and the way the lights were dancing in Fluttershy's hair.

There was no escaping this, and Yuki's breath constricted slightly as he realized his hold on her had gotten just a little tighter.

[holdyourhorns]

Yeah well the fact that Noa is pulling back from him is a hindrance. Though the majority of people don't take kindly to others trying to drag them along against their will, which is fair...

So Spyro's solution to the impromptu tug-o-war is to thankfully let go... before snapping his jaws closer to Noa's actual arm- okay no it's a grab directly onto the boy's arm with only the loose fabric as a meager barrier. How rude.

[noasark]

"What did I say?" he continues blandly, carelessly shoving his arm back in attempt to dislodge the dragon. Even though it scratches, and even though it stings, he still refuses to budge- though that doesn't quite cover if he'll successfully get free obviously.

[blue_ice]

Kaiba's slow march back to the castle takes some time, but when he reaches the threshold...he remembers what he'd been chasing. And that his brother (and a dragon caught in the middle) are still there.

After a moment he slaps warmth into his face, lights a small torch, and starts alone down the corridor one more time. There's a light approaching from the distance, but we'll see how far he gets.

[holdyourhorns]

Well, he's not trying to maul a kid... so eventually, the dragon finally gives up entirely on trying to pull Noa anywhere. His teeth leave and he remains steadfastly unamused by everything.

"Ugh fine!!! But if we're gonna keep going, then I need you to follow my lead on this technique before we move...!"

... Which might clear the other's head enough for them to go back after Seto if necessary.

[noasark]

Noa does not narrow his eyes, but does stare quite emptily now that there's a dragon officially holding him back. Logically, he could probably try and go around it. Logically he is also well aware that this is wasting a lot more time than necessary, and trying that will waste even more time.

Logically, if he listens to the dragon, he can continue pressing forward the way he simply Is.

"Fine," he answers tonelessly. "Show me."

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Yeah, Lea honestly doesn't know what to say to that, so he opts to change the subject.]

...Anyway, wanna go get some punch before it gets too crowded?

[woo_oo]

Oh sure, I love punch and juice in all its forms!

[She merrily skips away~]

[holdyourhorns]

Well, that's promising. Immediately Spyro gets started on instructing Noa with the best and most applicable way he can remember from Ire's letter.

And that's a wrap, I think? :3

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea chuckled and followed after her. Though he wasn't about to try skipping in a tux.]

[goingbythebook]

He felt a little laugh when she did, the music and the atmosphere pulling a different sort of magic, endorphins filling him with delight. He pulled her closer a moment and then extended arms between them, falling back a bit with a light spin to the rhythm-

And maybe it was the dance, maybe it was the light, maybe it was something else but as he watched her he felt his heart jump up to hit his throat like it had never done before, not even in the Woodchucks. The glow caught her hair, and she looked so happy, and for those few seconds everything slowed down. He found himself staring and then quickly looked away, time returning to normal as he continued dancing with her, while hoping it just seemed like he was watching the rest of the floor to make sure they had room.

What even WAS that...??

[outofyourshadow]

Despite the faint light, she seemed to notice...something, even if she wasn't sure what it was.

"You okay?"

[goingbythebook]

"Fine! Absolutely fine!" Even though he was the absolute worst liar ever, and his voice- high enough on its own -had hit another octave and a half, he was also a man of his word and at least saw the rest of the song out with her. Then, in a break in the music he stepped back and cleared his throat, looking at anywhere but Lena.

"I bet you're thirsty after that, right? Right! Proper hydration is key and all, wouldn't want you to get light-headed in the middle of the dance, that would be good for nobody-" Huey you're rambling, "-so sit tight, and I'll be right back."

And off he went, though resolutely staring at the floor as he was, he almost ran another student down. A quick apology and he scurried off all the faster.

[outofyourshadow]

She didn't have much of a chance to say anything before he dashed off, leaving her still on the dance floor.

"Uh...okay..."

Figuring they probably weren't going to dance to the next song, she moved out of the way to let other students go.