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

[shiningkindness]

[A dark blush colored her cheeks, and she ducked her head a bit.]

O-Oh...thank you. You...look very nice as well.

[The compliment sounded a bit lacking, especially compared to his of her, but in her fluster she couldn't think of a better way to say it.]

Yes, I've been having a wonderful time. It kind of reminds me of some of the dances we've had at school back in my world, but even more grand and wonderful.

[king_of_egypt]

[The humble reaction was endearing, you could tell that Fluttershy wasn't used to being the center of attention. Conversely, Atem's occupation more or less demanded he take center stage in many functions and obligations.]

You're welcome, and I thank you.

[She needn't have complimented him at all so the effort was appreciated]

I'm glad to hear it. I seem to recall that dances like this were held at different times during the year in one of the countries I visited. [Not so much where he was originally from.] I definitely think it's been a positive experience overall for the students and a great opportunity to take a break from the usual routine.

[shiningkindness]

[She nods.] I know dances like this can be for different events, and have different meanings depending on where they come from. The ones at my school were usually just for fun, though.

And it is nice to have a break like this. Especially after that monster attack earlier this month, it's good to unwind a bit.

[king_of_egypt]

[Noticing an oversight on his part he corrected himself] Ah- I neglected to mention that I was referring to school dances specifically. My kingdom holds a variety of festivals and religious functions that feature dancing as well.

I do wonder just how many monster attacks we can expect throughout the year.

[shiningkindness]

Oh, I see. [Even so, she giggles.] Though I think some school dances also have different meanings for different things, depending on the school and the time of year. I wonder how school dances between other countries would be different.

I...kind of hope it's not a lot. There are a lot of things we have to worry about already, without adding monsters into it.

[king_of_egypt]

That's true too. I'm sure they must have their own stories behind them and why they became traditions. [It was an interesting subject to say the least] As do I, now that you bring it up.

[It was at this point that Atem realized he might have gotten a little too used to battling with monsters in his own world...] Oh, no. That would be dreadful. [At least he didn't want any innocent people getting involved or injured in the process.]

We haven't even figured out why we were brought here in the first place...

[shiningkindness]

[She nods.]

Right...there are still a lot of questions and things about what we're doing here, and what's going to happen.

[Then, glancing at him, she smiles.]

But I think that's why something like this is important. Giving everyone a chance to relax and have fun will help if things get difficult later on.