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]

Revels

[With a bit of help, Eleven has found himself dressed in a long, cream colored coat and light blue shirt with dark slacks. His hair starts out tied behind his head in the world's shortest ponytail, but threads of it gradually escape the binding as the night wears on.

Having only recently learned to dance the most essential steps, Eleven's nerves get the better him through the first few hours. He dances slow, hesitant dances with Isabel and a select few people he already knows. But it's not nearly as difficult as it seems and after awhile, he's even enjoying himself more than he's worrying about stepping wrong. In fact, as some of the catchier music begins to play and creeps under his skin with a growing itch, he finds himself urged to dance quicker beats. He falters- then grins and turns into a sudden spin with a laugh.

It's not so unlike sparring, after all.

He grows bolder, heart beating wildly to a rhythm that's already taken hold. With a breathless smile, he offers his hand to the next person he spots without a partner]

Dance with me?


Food

The only thing better than dancing his cares away to an endless stream of wondrous music was the equally endless buffet. Just looking at it made him feel as though he hadn't eaten in days.

Eleven made a point of stopping over at least once every few songs to grab something delicious and refreshing. It gave him a chance to watch the other partners dancing and admire the sheer walls of the Great Hall as they fell to dusk and the twilight hours the ball was named for.

The combination of creativity, magic, music, and energy enchanted him, and something like joy burst through his chest as he took a sip of his drink.

"...I love this world."


Wildcard

[Would you like to pull Eleven aside for something else? Feel free!]

Food

[unswervingcompanion]

"You should be cautious as to not invite a stomach ache." And that's about as protective as he's going to get at this point in time. But the knight is happy that the Luminary is here and that he's having a good time. Those were rare things back home in their own world and Hendrik is always very aware of how things went back there.

He picks up a glass of punch and takes a sip. It's not bad and he inspects it for another moment. His eyes them look out at the other couples dancing and then back at the Luminary who is alone.

"Did you not bring a date?"

[bearshermark]

Eleven grinned at his protector even as his stomach fluttered. 'Date' implied a little more than he knew what to do with, even if it was technically true.

"Yes, but I think she's somewhere on the other side of the hall." He nudged Hendrik. "Lighten up. Didn't I see you dancing with Yotsuyu earlier?"

[unswervingcompanion]

Well, at least the other had a date and was smiling. And said date was on the other side of the hall somewhere, so bonus points for finding these things out.

"I had rather hoped to see you out on the dance floor. That training was not for entertainment."

The question though had the knight cough into his hand lightly. "You did." And that's about all he's going to say about that.

[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."

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik refrained from the words that ran through his mind. Had the Luminary been the Prince of Dundrasil, things like this would be more commonplace for him. However, fate hadn't been that kind.

And then there was the fact that Heliodor castle had things like this, and again, Eleven would've been able to witness a Ball or something similar.

"If we remember this place when we leave, then you can see about creating one yourself." After the world is saved, of course.

Revels

[perfectenn]

He doesn't have to take the initiative to approach; Tenn finds Eleven first. And that is more of a surprise to Tenn, considering how quietly Eleven entered the Great Hall and how hesitant he was at the start. Whether the boy chose to stay by his date or ventured to find other partners was not his concern, beyond a hope that he would, either way, enjoy the evening. Seeing Eleven active on the dance floor, Tenn greets him now with a light step and smile.

"It’s good to see you’ve relaxed." His intense, examining gaze takes in the escaped strands of hair and ruffled clothing. "And you’ve learned to dance, I see." There may be anticipation there.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven flushes a touch self-consciously and absently brushes strands of hair out of his face.]

Yes. Somewhat properly, some not, but I'm glad Hendrik made me learn a few steps. And the partners I've had have been helpful. It's been fun, actually.

[perfectenn]

The smile eases into a smirk; Tenn makes no effort to sort his own hair - the mussed look comes with the job.

"Steps and routine are important. But it doesn’t mean anything if you aren't feeling the music and enjoying yourself." Which he would not say in a professional capacity. But this is far removed, and passion is most important in the beginning as the basis for everything that follows.

The musicians are picking up the beat again, so Tenn moves closer. "Having good partners does make all the difference. You seem to be lacking one now?"

[bearshermark]

Eleven smiles, though it's all nerves. He's just a little intimidated.

"Yes. Did you want to..? I- I mean, I'm not as good as you."

Neither is he as nicely dressed, he can't help but notice.

[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?"

Revels

[stillnewatthis]

Of course!

[Orisa finds the beat infectious herself. It's no masterpiece by Lucio, but she has four feet to tap to make up for that. So when someone offers her the chance to indulge, why, of course she's gonna take it!]

[bearshermark]

[Eleven takes her hand with a laugh and while he has no idea how to dance with someone with four legs, he decides they might just have to make it up]

Are there any dances from your world I could learn?

[stillnewatthis]

As an omnic designed for combat, I am not programmed with any. My presence at a wizard ball was unanticipated.

[She says this so matter-of-factly, too!]

[bearshermark]

Hm, that's right. Well, let's invent a new one then.

[Eleven doesn't have any idea of how to go about that but she's taller than he is, so he decides to start there and raises her arm over his head]

How easily can you turn?

[stillnewatthis]

Easily if I am not swift. Accelerated movement can pose a danger as I am not able to track all potential vectors of motion for clearance.

[In other words, if she whirls around to fast she might take some people out. Pretty much just what one would expect from an omnic of her size and build.]

Food

[hotheadwarmheart]

Eleven might not have been talking to anybody in particular when he spoke, but somebody in particular replied. "I dunno," Lea said as he approached, his own drink in hand. "I'm still in the 'mixed opinions' camp myself, because, you know magical kidnapping and all. But this?" He indicated the party setup. "Yeah, this is really cool."

[bearshermark]

"..It is. I've never seen magic like this in my world; I don't even know if it's even possible, so I'm glad I'm able to witness it here."

Eleven tore his eyes from the display to look Lea over and blinked. His suit was certainly brightly-colored, but Eleven smiled.

"I wonder how I missed you in that."

[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."

[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."

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Thanks," Lea said. "I like your outfit too. Not really something I'd wear, but like you said about mine, it suits you."

He chuckled though at the way Eleven commented on his choice of date. "Heh, yeah well, I got tired of people pestering me for dates pretty quick, so I figured that would be a good way to get them to cut it out, potentially in perpetuity. Though I do genuinely think she's a pretty cool person and didn't want her to have to come alone. She is a bit... intense, though, even for me."

Wildcard (as discussed)

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

Things had been pretty much a whirlwind of activity since Isabel and Eleven had gone their separate ways to have their own fun. But she tapped him on the shoulder, having caught up with him near the punch bowl again--and availing herself of a drink, as well.

"I hope you've been having as good a time as I have! Thank you for coming with me. Did I tell you that you look great already?"

It had all gone by in such a blur, she honestly couldn't remember.

[bearshermark]

"Isabel." Eleven turned toward her, relieved. He'd just started to look for her. "You have- and yes, it's been more than I expected."

He couldn't quite make his smile genuine, but he tried for her sake. "Thank you for asking me to come with you."

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

"Oh, you're welcome! But! I hope you'd have come anyway, even if I hadn't asked you!" Isabel knew he had a lot going on, even if she didn't have all the details. She didn't need them to know--she tried to make a point of being perceptive. But the fact that he did seem to have had a good time? That alone made it worth it to her. He deserved to have fun and get the weight of the world off his shoulders.

But something was off--not that it had to do with her, but she could tell. "Did something happen? Are you okay?"

[bearshermark]

He can't say that he would have, without a date. He couldn't dance and didn't have any real desire to learn. Isabel had given him a reason to learn and to attend and for that, Eleven was grateful. He might never have discovered his new love for dance if not for her.

"I'm okay," he assured. He wished the weight in his chest would dissipate, but he could only be grateful now that it had settled enough that he no longer felt the urge to cry.

"..But I think I might be a bit worn out, after everything."