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

[puzzlers]

"He, ah, uhm," He stammers a couple of extra seconds before laughing nervously. "I guess he can be pretty grumpy." If she thought his cheeks were red before then they're on fire right now. "Oh, so then you... hah."

ASKING THE HARD HITTING QUESTIONS, LENA. "We're t- together together." He confirms, giving her a sheepish nod. "This is our, ah, b- big debut, so to speak."

She was right! They had been dating for a while now, but hadn't really told anybody but Atem.

[outofyourshadow]

She smiles, and while there's still a bit of teasing as she nudges him a bit, her expression is warmer. "Well hey, congratulations," she says, and there is sincerity in her words. "At least this is the perfect place and atmosphere to reveal the news, huh?"

[puzzlers]

He knows he doesn't need to be embarrassed, but this is all so new for him. He really didn't think he'd ever have a girlfriend, let alone a boyfriend. "T- Thanks, Lena, that means a lot. I... I'm really happy with the way things are. Kaiba is... he's great." Nods, giving her a smile as he tries to pull himself together. "Y- Yeah. Kinda fits, right?"

[outofyourshadow]

"Well, that's good," she replies, easing up on the teasing to show that she really means it. "I'm happy for you guys. And no better place to show everyone than a dance made for this sort of thing. I hope you guys are really happy together."

[puzzlers]

"Me too. I have been kind of worried, since I, ah, I didn't know how well received this sort of thing would be or if Kaiba was really ready to... let everybody know... Back home things are a bit different and I imagine he'd have to be more careful, since his reputation is of the utmost important. I'm just glad we don't have to worry as much here?" He lets out a relieved sigh, since he's pretty much been rambling for the past few minutes. He nods, giving her a sheepish smile. "I'm happy."

"But, ah, all of that aside," He looks over his shoulder to the dance floor. "Would you like to dance, Lena?"

[outofyourshadow]

"Well hey, at least you guys don't have to worry about that here." Then she grins. "And if anyone gives you any trouble about it, lemme know. I'll give 'em a good hex for you."

His invitation to dance has her hesitating a bit, though, mostly because she's still new at really dancing around people. But after a moment, she nods.

"Yeah...all right."

[puzzlers]

He can't help but to chuckle at that. "Thank, Lena, I really appreciate that. I don't think I'll have anymore problems though. We, ah, encountered a few obstacles, but nothing recently, so that's good."

Yugi offers her a hand and smiles encouragingly, glad when she decides to accept. "I promise I won't step on your feet. I've been practicing." He winks, leading her to the dance floor.

[outofyourshadow]

With a grin, she nods. "Okay. But I'm here if you need me."

As they step out onto the dance floor, she shrugs a bit. "Wish I can promise the same thing, but uh...this is all still a bit new to me. So sorry in advance."

It also doesn't help that she's wearing boots.

[puzzlers]

"I appreciate that, Lena."

He stifles a chuckle. "It's alright. I'm sure you'll do just fine. I'm only halfway decent, because a friend of mine was a dance and I picked up a few things here and there. O- Otherwise..." He tapers into a laugh as he joins her on the floor, offering a hand and then leading her in a slow dance.

[outofyourshadow]

"Hopefully it's not too hard to figure out."

Though she hadn't been expecting a slow song. She hesitated for a brief moment before taking his hand and following his direction.