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

Arrival

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

[Since their altercation, Isabel had given Kuja a wide berth. But it had eaten at her. Neither of her parents were like to approve of her behavior, and to tell the truth, she didn't, either. Even if her mother was likely to understand.

Her approach was ginger, nervous even, though the only thing she held in her hands was a rose; a single blossom, brilliant yellow petals tinged with crimson at the edges. A spectacular specimen, indeed. Isabel dropped him a pretty curtsey, then proffered the bloom to him. A peace offering, though he didn't know it.]

When last we met, my behavior was uncalled for. It didn't matter that my singing bothered you, I was not really sorry when it did. So...I'm sorry.

[She didn't really expect forgiveness, but she proffered the flower anyway.] This is for you.

[treno_nobleman]

[If he was honest with himself, he had thought that Isabel was thoroughly done with him after their last conversation. It was just as well, since his own understanding of the encounter had framed her in his mind as a terrible person. When she approached him that evening, as he made his way to the promenade, and offered him an apology and a rose, it came as a surprise.]

[Kuja looked between Isabel and the flower twice each before reaching out a hand slowly to accept the gift.]

I must admit, I did not expect this. But you are very considerate, and I will accept your apology. [Automatic courtesy. He didn't know if their acquaintanceship had shifted with this or if this was something she was doing simply to clear the air for her own purposes.]

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

I had a lot of time to think. I'm not sure I'm ready to explain more about that song, but...if you really care to know, at some point, I will. Not tonight though.

[Because even if she isn't sure this is his type of thing, if there's any chance that Kuja will enjoy the night, Isabel doesn't want to risk ruining it by shoving her foot in her mouth again. Even though her blue slippers are pretty and match her dress, she's fairly sure the shoe leather won't taste good, even if the action isn't literal.]

I don't really want to start another fight, or ruin your night before it starts. This might just be a spectacle, but if you can eke any enjoyment out of it, I want you to.

[Damn it, usually she wasn't so bad with her words, but Isabel sure felt like she'd stumbled, fallen, and couldn't get up. Where was her Life Alert? Maybe she should just shut up while she was ahead...so she did, looking down and scooting a rock along the ground with the toe of her slipper.]

[treno_nobleman]

[Well now he truly is baffled. What else could she explain about that song to him that wouldn't sound terrible? He had a feeling there was more to it than this or else she wouldn't have come to him looking like she felt so guilty about a few things. When they'd parted ways the last time, he had assumed that they would see each other again in the classroom and that would be that and he was content with it.]

[But this wasn't the act of a mere classmate or even a concerned lab partner. Kuja stared at Isabel a moment more, then fitted the rose to a pocket on his coat and offered her his arm, to escort her inside.]

You came dressed to enjoy the occasion as well, I see. Might I escort you inside?

[hyperdrivemonalisa]

I asked someone here, but I suppose it doesn't matter if I wait for him inside or out--I'm sure he can find me either way.

[It wasn't as if Isabel and Eleven were meant to be glued together at the hip, anyway. He was supposed to have a good time, whatever that meant to him.]

I just...I wasn't thinking. I don't even know why I wanted to get a rise out of you back then. [But boy, Isabel did. In spades. Not that she hadn't deserved every bit of Kuja's ire, but it had bothered her. Even more than she let on now.]

I don't want to go on about it, but...I suppose I want you to know I'm sincere in my apology, at least.

[treno_nobleman]

[He nodded, and let his hand back down by his side. If she was waiting for her chosen escort, he was keeping her up, but it had left an impression on him that she was willing to keep her person waiting for her to bring this to him.]

I understand. We won't speak of it again after this if you'd like not to. The slate is clean and we can start over again. No more irritating each other. [With that, he offered a smile and his own honesty, not that he had given her anything but, in his own brutally honest ways.]