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

[unswervingcompanion]

He saw that smile of hers and was surprised that she had bowed to him. So he smiled in return at the gesture that wasn't something Yotsuyu would normally do. The knight wasn't looking to see if her familiar was with her, but he probably should've just in case.

With a nod at her assent, Hendrik took the offered hand and led her quietly to the dance floor. The last time he'd gotten to hold her hand was when he was helping her to learn how to dance. Due to her hand in his on the inside, he felt like a little boy though none of this showed outwardly.

The knight chose a spot on the Ballroom floor and stood in position. Here though, he allowed his smile to show once more.

[darkenedmoon]

It was true she was being a bit guarded--as fashionable as she knew she was, Yotsuyu was not sure she was meant to be at a celebration of romance. That sort of thing was not meant for her, either, but she was not about to pass up a party that involved dancing. Romance be damned!

"Thank you for...broadening my horizons, shall we say? I appreciate it. As well as your patience in teaching me." It was not as if she had been a poor student, but she had been nervous.

Yotsuyu still was, to be honest, but she was doing her best to ignore it. She was glad enough that Hendrik was going to give her a dance--really, this was not the sort of thing that would make a warrior comfortable, either, she suspected. This sort of thing was for the young.

But she'd never had the opportunity to do this when she was young--damn Asahi to the seven hells!--and by the kami, she was going to take the knight's advice, and grasp this chance with both hands!

[unswervingcompanion]

The thank you caught him off guard as they danced. Really, of all of the things that she could say, that wasn't one of the things he expected, so he wasn't sure what to say at first. His mind raced as he struggled to come up with anything other than what he said.

"You are quite welcome and were a better student than you give yourself credit for. The honor was mine to instruct you."

Inwardly the knight cringed and wondered if he sounded as old fashioned and out of place to Yotsuyu as he did to his own ears. It wasn't something he thought about until he'd come here and heard the way men spoke here. They didn't speak of honor nor did many know how to dance. So at times like this, he wondered if he even had a place here other than being the Luminary's guardian.

[darkenedmoon]

Honor. Oh, she wasn't laughing--Hendrik did not sound out of place or old fashioned to her--Yotsuyu had mentioned that he reminded her of Ishgardian knights from Hydaelyn--so something she was at least used to, if only in passing. Certainly she did not know a great deal about them, but that was neither here nor there. His worries about how he sounded, at least, had little base.

But honor...that left a bit of a sour taste in her mouth. Yotsuyu was uncertain as to why it was some sort of honor--save that he was a knight and pretty words came easily to his tongue. But if Hendrik were anything, he was honest to a fault, as well.

"I do not know why. Though I suppose you knew that if nothing else, I would not stomp upon your toes, and so was likely better than your other students!"

A small attempt at a jest, and a poor one, she was sure, but Yotsuyu did not want to be too solemn at a party she was supposed to be enjoying, with a dance partner whose company she was enjoying...

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik didn't know what to say in return, because what he had thought to say was out of place. And this was why he was only dancing one dance with her so that the knight could return Yotsuyu to Sir Jecht's side.

That thought almost made him scowl because of how unhappy she always seemed around the other man. But instead, he resolved to speak to her at some future point regarding it. He just wanted her to be happy, not ruin her second chance at another life. She'd been through so much and Hendrik wanted to see her happy, even if it wasn't going to be with him. He was her friend and that's where it had to stay because even if the dinner was a fluke, being someone's date certainly couldn't have been.

It wasn't in him to interfere with this, and that's not what he was planning do. He would simply ask a question or two and be done with it as much as it pained him. She had chosen and it wasn't him and he could respect that. Her apparent unhappiness was what bothered him.

And regardless of whatever Yotsuyu said, Hendrik would always be there for her and be right by her side if needed. And he would do his best to try and find a way to save her no matter what.

So as he was about to say something, the music was over and he stopped, nodding to her slightly.

"I do believe that concludes repayment for my lessons."

[darkenedmoon]

It seemed like the music was over too soon. Only one dance? There was a part of her that wanted to protest. After all, in a place surrounded by so many people, surely Eleven had to be safe, here.

Couldn't he?

"You could take another, if you liked," Yotsuyu said. "It is not as if Jecht would mind." Indeed, he was probably still over at the buffet table, stuffing his face. She wasn't about to check--mostly, she had asked Jecht instead of Hendrik for two reasons. Yotsuyu thought Hendrik would be uncomfortable--and the gods knew, he certainly seemed like he was. And there was his oath to Eleven to consider. He had his duty, and she knew it. Nor would she stand in his way--at least, not for long.

On the other hand, Jecht had a way of schmoozing--it might have to do with his stardom in Zanarkand, or perhaps Spira. He soaked up attention in a social setting--oh, Yotsuyu would likely dance with him more than once, but if she left him alone for a time, Jecht wouldn't think a blessed thing of it.

"You look very nice tonight, you know. One more dance? Please?"

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik swallowed his comment and shook his head. And then he wasn't sure what to make of Yotsuyu's compliment but his face reddened. He hadn't told her how lovely she looked but maybe she would get mad and losing her was the last thing that he wanted. The knight was going to save her, he hadn't given up on that quest and wouldn't.

Heavens knew that he wanted to dance with Yotsuyu and all damn night if she'd let him. But she had a date and it wasn't proper to keep her away from him. Still, she had asked for one more dance and Hendrik didn't know how he was supposed to just walk away and leave. Could it hurt to have another dance?

After a moment or two, he held out his hand to her with another small bow. "I would be most honored to dance with you if you will indulge me."

Yes, he was going back out onto the dance floor again with the most beautiful lady here, and that was that.

[darkenedmoon]

"But of course. Had I not just asked?" It was a coy smile Yotsuyu gave Hendrik, but after so many years of training, most of her smiles did not come to her as naturally as she might have liked.

She was learning, however. Perhaps someday she'd smirk less, and truly smile more.

"You haven't spent all your time tonight watching over Eleven, have you?" She'd hoped the boy was having a good time--she'd caught glimpses of him from afar, dancing with a couple of people, though he'd started the night with a slender redhead. Yotsuyu thought it a good thing that he wasn't limiting himself to one partner, at least.

Maybe if she got Hendrik engaged in small talk, he'd forget to wander off again.

[unswervingcompanion]

There was another look of hers that he was unfamiliar with and Hendrik simply didn't know what to do about the look that resembled a smile yet had some sort of fire to it. But for now, he would just have to muddle his way through it.

The knight was surprised at her question, but he shook his head at Yotsuyu as they began to dance. "No, I have seen him and he is aware that I am here should he require my presence." He had clapped the boy on the shoulder and nodded, and that was about it really. But he would probably catch up later with the Luminary just to check in.

"I will not haunt his steps. This night is for him to have fun and socialize." Like nights the boy would have had, had fate been kinder and made him the Prince of Dundrasil as he should have been since it was his birthright.

As far as his own plans went, he was going home once he was done dancing with her and had checked in on Eleven. There was nothing more for him to do here and this was the highlight of his time here.

[darkenedmoon]

"Good. Yes, you are right about that." That he shouldn't haunt the boy's steps. Eleven needed time to breathe--all the gods knew the boy needed it! They also knew that he was wise enough to run to those who would protect him, if he couldn't manage himself. At least she was confident in this.

Trying to tell Hendrik that, however...likely an exercise in futility. Yotsuyu knew she was stubborn, but comparing that stubbornness to Hendrik's own hardheadedness was like comparing a candle flame to a bonfire...

And yet it might serve her here. It might echo a bit more towards her old ways than her current, but as the music slowed, Yotsuyu arched a brow at Hendrik. She, at least, was having fun...

"Once more? I could hope you are enjoying yourself, you know."

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight blinked in some confusion as Yotsuyu asked for yet another dance. "Should you.." His voice trailed off. He'd meant to ask her if she should be getting back to Sir Jecht's side but didn't complete the though out loud.

But Yotsutu looked as if she was having a good time and he was happy that he could at least give that much to her. If she was his lady, he would give her anything and everything, but she already had someone.

Finally the music had ended and he nodded, unaccustomed to allowing his heart to lead him as he did now. The knight nodded, hoping to cover all of this asking business. If he made Yotsuyu happy, he would do everything he could to do so, even in this small capacity. And it was in that moment that Hendrik realized he was hers to do with as she pleased pretty much anyway.

"You may have as many dances with me as you wish this evening."

[darkenedmoon]

"Should I what?" Yotsuyu couldn't for the life of her predict the end of his sentence at the moment, especially considering the confusion on his face. It was echoed by her own.

She knew that she'd been monopolizing his time, which wasn't terribly fair, but Yotsuyu had come to dance, and she knew damn well that Hendrik did know how to dance, to say the very least. Oh, sure, she could be spun around the dance floor and swung around like a rag doll with her 'date'. But that was less fun for her--and a reason why she hadn't availed herself of much to eat. Jecht was just...more rowdy.

And sometimes she didn't want that!

"I should not take you from your duty overlong. Perhaps one more after this, and then I should let you go. Midterms are coming soon...I am sure you've studying to do, and I shouldn't keep you."

It was only considerate, after all. And Yotsuyu was trying her best to do that.