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

[holdyourhorns]

"Insane math teacher?" Because Spyro certainly wasn't going to willingly pick up a math class for himself if he can help it. "You don't mean who I think you're talking about, do you?"

Because. They might've met before. And it wasn't fun.

"But we might just see about that, either way." Any dragon that proves to have enough intelligence to speak its mind shouldn't be owned by anyone.

[blue_ice]

"Minamimoto. I have the pleasure of sharing a dormitory with him. His nonsense lasts all hours of the night. I should've known he was likely lying."

Oh, don't get him started on that subject. He scoffed.

"Do you have any leads?"

[noasark]

"Ah. ...Can't say I've encountered them," Noa remarks, crossing his arms. Regardless, he nods.

"The last anyone saw, it apparently disappeared into the caverns beneath- I don't intend to go too far without a way to navigate, of course."

The question is how well Noa can actually judge that for himself.

[holdyourhorns]

"I think it's clear we're getting another addition to the party here, so might as well lay out all of your reasons for why 'of course' there's enough brains for this to be a great idea."

Are these guys bros? Spyro wouldn't know without asking.

[blue_ice]

What, don't see the resemblance? Well. They're fairly different enough for humans. Kaiba gives Spyro a small nod of acknowledgment.

"I'm guessing there's no map. At minimum we'll need light---I'm sure you have that, but I can be a backup. And some working protective glyphs wouldn't hurt either. I know a few."

His tone leaves no room for argument, but his face softens a little with what he says next. "The name's Seto Kaiba, by the way."

[noasark]

They have the same face Spyro.

The Same Face-

Noa looks for a moment like he'd rather refuse more company, but after an internal debate that goes on for about ten seconds behind his eyes he simply nods. "Light, certainly- glyphs, not so much...so you'd be right there," he concedes. "I've also asked Adelai to provide us with a simple option for keeping our path."

The penguin among them gives a quiet croak, and holds a large ball of twine. If it worked for Theseus...

[holdyourhorns]

Flip things around and one might assume any purple dragon is one of Spyro's relatives. But he does end up broaching that exact off-topic subject anyway. "Are you guys related?"

... Another reason the dragon doesn't keep up with the talk of necessary preparations is that he's been on more than enough adventures with little to no need for such besides locating butterflies and his own tenacity. And there's no Sparx to feed butterflies to here.

[blue_ice]

That's an interesting question. Seto straightens his robes with a small cough.

"His father was my legal guardian for a time, making us stepbrothers."

He gives Spyro and then Adelai a nod. "That should work. Ready?"

[noasark]

"In other words, not physically no," he answers, shrugging.

Adelai- and the fact that he's bothered joining really proves he's interested, even if it's in a stupid shoulder palanquin attached to a larger penguin- gives a firm nod.

Noa's nod is unnecessary. "I certainly am. Let's get to it, shall we?"

Hi- hoh!

attempt #2

[blue_ice]

They're clearly not getting anywhere tonight. But some days later, with some more preparation...they're off, again.

It's getting progressively colder as they descend. They should have expected that, really, but it's surprising just how biting the chill is. Kaiba zips his coat shut, occasionally checking in on his companions. The penguin should be right at home, at least.

Unfortunately, they soon reach a barrier. He pinches the bridge of his nose.

"If this was a firewall at home, I'd simply hack the underlying system and bypass it, or redirect the firewall to guard something else. Magic isn't so easily bent to my will."

There's disdain in his voice as he says it, but he still lifts a hand, stepping closer to examine the barrier for clues.

[noasark]

Better preparations make for a better attitude all around, not that Noa was especially testy to begin with.

Though he does make a very, Very good show of not talking about a single thing that happened in recent time. Like that thing with the Fantastic Foils they won't talk about that, they just Won't, he has Burned those clothes,

At any rate, Adelai has provided his charge with a winter coat fortunately, so while it's fairly chilly at the barrier, he can't help but be thankful about someone's foresight.

This, however... "Magic itself is a program of sorts though, isn't it?" Noa hums, looking over the barrier with crossed arms. Adelai merely strains to turn, having fixed together some sort of babycarrier/palanquin so that Noa could take him along. "Hmmmmnnn..."

He gives an experimental whistle, hoping to reveal some sort of clue in the structure.

[holdyourhorns]

Cold is nothing as far as Spyro is concerned. These are all-weather scales thanks to the fire in his chest. In addition to of course his wand, the dragon also decided that bringing the guitar he uses for music and Fantastics classes couldn't hurt for boosting the effectiveness of his rather limited repertoire.

"Got an idea there? Something that has to do with us being two students in the Valhudor house assembled?"

Spyro stands onto his hind claws and at first strums out some acoustic notes here and there, trying to match enough that it doesn't throw Noa off.

[blue_ice]

"This is not even in the ballpark of my area," Kaiba frowned at them, staring at the barrier in disbelief. Was this seriously the plan? He didn't take Fantastics because he thought it was ridiculous on a good day!

But he does have ears, so he'll just tap his foot. Miraculously, it seems to be in time with their music.

[noasark]

Hahhh. Well, not quite what he was getting at, but-

"...Are either of you familiar with the idea of shattering glass with sound?" Noa asks 'rhetorically', humming another note as he focuses on the barrier.

If it reacts- and only if it reacts- he'll put into play an idea. "...Adelai," he remarks for seemingly little reason. "We're going to need a bit of help."

Specifically, a choir of help, provided his hunch is right. If they can shatter a barrier with the right amount of intent and musical force, then there they are!

x.x crashes late

[blue_ice]

Seriously? Seriously.

"Familiar enough. All right."

Kaiba will do what he can, which isn't much, except to stomp in some approximation of the rhythm. He feels ridiculous, but if this has a chance of getting them closer to their goal...

[holdyourhorns]

*PHWOOM*

[Well, it seems that barrier sure did react to their combined magic once they built it up with more music and more penguins.]

... Shattering glass is cute, but I've seen bagpipes make rocks explode. Beat that!

[noasark]

"Psh. I don't have bagpipes, and those are better for open air anyway," Noa grumbles, leaving the question of how he even knew that for anyone to guess.

The answer is probably books.

A few of the penguins are still humming the notes of whatever they used to break the wall, and Noa himself opts to begin pressing forward. On the one hand, pushing ahead is an easy, mindless task- as long as he doesn't expect any traps again. (Hopefully there are no traps)

On the other, he's finding himself curiously bored by the motions only a little ways into the tunnel, simply following the lead of the others.

Which is impressive since until a few minutes ago he was probably trying to take the lead himself.

The penguins are faring similarly- Adelai is actually asleep in fact. But at least he's still moving forward...

...Possibly humming that tune still. It's stuck in his head alright?

[blue_ice]

"Must've been truly ear-shattering," Kaiba answers back, giving a small scoff before pressing on with them.

As they descend, it gets significantly more difficult. He quickens his pace in an attempt to shut out the elements around him, but the cold will not be denied. He won't bow to something as ridiculous as the weather...will he?

But the ice is so numbing it doesn't even register as cold anymore. It's more like an invisible solid sheet strangling him in place. His mouth doesn't seem to want to work anymore either.

"Ugh---"

And that's all he manages.

[holdyourhorns]

"Actually it had a really nice tune."

Which probably speaks to the fact there was more magic at work than mundane, but that's exactly what they did to a force field just earlier. The dragon has the guitar strapped away again between his wings. And then as the group is further in, apparently it's immediately odd for Spyro when there's a feeling of the cold trying to worm its way past his scales- trying to impress how comfortable it would be to curl up with his inner fire as warmth, to shut down and nap. Hibernate until...

... Hibernate?! Since when?

Cold is right. Spyro doubles back to Seto after bracing his mental defenses as Ire dictated in a letter, nudging at him. "Hey, you gotta pull yourself together! That other dragon is close, I bet...!"

[noasark]

Frankly, Noa would like to just curl up in a pile of penguins and nap now. Even his humming is coming to a stop, his footsteps dragging a bit on the ground. It's cold. It's very cold, and...

And Spyro shouts, giving Noa something of a jolt. Only a little one, but enough that he's blinking a bit confusedly about what's going on. "Hnn- what...what on..."

It's so strange, really, this feels almost like how most people start experiencing hypothermia, or...

oh that's bad actually

Subconsciously, he starts rubbing against his arms, choking a bit at the mental idea of curling up in an icy cave forever. Nope. Bad. That's Bad.

So the upside is he's no longer thinking about curling into a ball.

The downside is that he's...just thinking about staying warm.

Someone, please, light a Fire,

[blue_ice]

Seto remains frozen there until something headbutts his leg. He drops his head and blinks slowly. Right. Ghost. Chase. Noa

He clenches a fist and crouches low, huddling a little closer to him. Sorry, Spyro, but he needs to stay focused. He reaches into his bottomless pocket, searching for anything that could be useful---ah, there's powder. Usually used for sleeping, but anything he can draw with will work.

It's just a matter of keeping his hand steady. He grips his wrist with the opposite hand as he draws loose lines, willing a short wall of fire to appear.

Let them thaw for now---he'll work out how to carry the warmth with him soon, when he brain thaws.

[holdyourhorns]

Spyro darts uncertainly just outside the conjured fire. Because sure humans are obviously way more vulnerable to cold, but he has a feeling that warm fire wouldn't ward off the whole mental numbness part.

Or would it? Magic is tricky.

"What's going on could be something in that Dictation area of magic too. If that ghost dragon is native to here like Ire thinks, he warned me that they might use mind tricks."

[noasark]

"Mind tricks?" he grumbles, blinking through the 'fog' with a grimace. "Of course, why not..."

He's just a little frustrated. If there's one thing he's learned about Fantastics thus far, it's that it's one part illusion and one part wordplay, so trying to think of a way to combat this from his limited knowledge on top of the fog is...a struggle at best.

....

"...Does anyone know a campfire song."

Yes he's serious.

[blue_ice]

"I've never done something as frivolous as sing around a campfire."

Kaiba digs his fingernails into his palms. "Fire can be made with friction. The glyph should...therefore be drawn quickly.

His strokes are hurried, but he's pouring all his concentration into making them precise. He repeats this over and over again. He can't stop.

[noasark]

Well.

Boo then. Noa tries to think of something that works. Anything that works, really. He even focuses his eye on Kaiba's glyphics, and yet somehow...

Somehow he finds himself caring less and less about this. Somehow, his eyes narrowing, the penguins behind him dwindling number by number as they too are struck by apathy, he feels he's going about this the wrong way.

The...illogical way.

And later he'll recognize what happened of course- the slow drain of emotions that came when he was a computer, left to nothing but a bitter goal and cold logic. But that's later.

This is now. Noa doesn't even scoff- scoffing would imply there was a reason to be haughty, even. Instead he merely picks up speed. Motion means heat, not that he feels much of the cold around him now. He'll just walk onward- not because he wants to, or feels the need to, but simply because that was what he was already doing and why bother doing anything else?