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

[woo_oo]

[Ooh, Lady Webby! Congrats, that got the desired giggle out of her.

She then straightens up and curtsies - what comes out of her mouth is a British accent, and a dang good one, too.]

Of course, Sir Cliff, it would be my pleasure.

[nomoremistergneissguy]

[Yes, Lady Webby. With Sunset off finding her own fun, it's his turn to do some as well. He doesn't really...get the accent, but so long as she's game...]

Then allow me the pleasure! You do look lovely tonight, I must say.

[And with that, he offers her a hand. He'll shorten his steps a bit so he isn't dragging her across the floor, either--he's had practice at dancing, it's clear.]

[woo_oo]

[As they head onto the dance floor, she's distracted enough to go back to her normal voice.]

Thanks! It's a new dress. I went shopping with a friend, and I wanted something different!

[nomoremistergneissguy]

It is different from your usual! Not that I can't say the same. [Considering he's usually in his Gekronus Maius robes. The colors are similar, at least! But as they dance, he goes rather slow, considering the height difference. That, and he doesn't want to be flinging Webby around! That would be unconscionable.]

You dance well, too! Have you been practicing? [He doesn't need to, as there were plenty of these soirees where he's from, but Cliff is well aware that's not the case for everyone.]

[woo_oo]

Hendrik taught me, along with Kazuma!

[It had been very weird, but very fun.]

I've never done anything like this before... Or even gone to any actual parties or balls or dances.

[nomoremistergneissguy]

There's a first time for everything, right? The only reason I ever went was because my parents made me, so this is a new experience for me, too.

[Cliff winks at that.] So do you want to do one of those fancy dance moves where you get twirled into the air?

[Some things must be universal. Cliff just figures it's better to ask than take advantage.]

[woo_oo]

[Webby gasps, then begins excitedly bouncing on her heels.]

TWIRL TWIRL TWIRL TWIRL!

[nomoremistergneissguy]

[He's entirely too game--and he could manage his sister in a twirl (any of them, really, Cliff is a sturdy young man)--Webby poses no challenge, though he doesn't do it so often he has to worry about getting her sick. It's just every few steps, he catches her carefully around the waist and twirls her through the air!]

There you go, good times, right? [There's another sight to be had, too--not just Tango and Ballet, but a flower-crowned Orisa and her 'date'--Cliff's familiar, Rounder, who's spinning around her feet with great care. Cliff can't help but chuckle at that.]

You know he asked her out to the dance? [He's a bit incredulous at that, but considering they seem to be having a great time, he can't argue.]

[woo_oo]

[She lets out even more giggling as she spins, slightly dizzy but happily so.]

Huh? Who asked what?

[Her head's still spinning, so she's not sure what's going on.]

[nomoremistergneissguy]

[Whoops, maybe that was a little too much. Well, knowledge for next time.]

Rounder. Well, I helped, but Rounder asked Orisa to the dance!

[Even though he bombed out, Cliff's happy for his familiar.]

[woo_oo]

Oh, that's great!

[At least she has her senses back.]

Did you ask anyone, or get asked?

[nomoremistergneissguy]

Oh, plenty of native girls asked, but I don't really know any of them--they only asked because I was 'new and exotic'. [He scoffed at that with a bit of disdain. Sure, if he thought any of those native girls were actually interested, he wouldn't have chucked the invites in the nearest fireplace, but, well.]

I was going to ask Fluttershy, but someone else got there first. I went with her friend Sunset, just to have fun. And it has been fun! But I mean, it's supposed to be casual, so.

[woo_oo]

Asking is so weird. I wish there was a way we could just ask everyone! Then nobody's left out and everyone can have a fun time!