« intro ⇢ winterball.exe »

[poised]

Who: everyone, literally everyone
When: ooc: 04/25-04/26; ic: 12/26
Where: the Gardens
What: intro log + winter ball!
Rating/Warning: PG-13 | possibly nsfw (please let me know if you need this rating changed, or you are welcome to continue any naughty shenanigans in a private log)

//winterball.EXE Pimp My Party -- Royalty Style A few weeks prior to December 26th, an invitation went out to all whom already reside in Cerealia. In delicate, curling script, it read: You are cordially invited by Natalia L.K. Lanvaldear to a Winter Ball to be held on the Eve of December 26th in the Gardens. Dress in your best attire and enjoy a magical evening of dance and fine cuisine. What do you mean we should fuss about worlds being destroyed? Get into the holiday spirit, you scrooge! And in regards to the new-comers: whether you have been wandering Cerealia over the course of the past few days and managed to receive one of the later waves of invitations or have simply suddenly appeared in the gardens with nothing but the (hopefully…. appropriate….) clothes on your back, welcome. The gardens have been transformed through the work of slave labor condoned by royalty incredibly talented volunteers. A buffet line possibly a mile long, a sprawling dance floor with temporary wood placement to cover the grass, a lovely orchestra with scheduled interruptions of magic shows on the stage, and the entire thing lit gently with lights stretch the span of the main area of the garden. Not too far off, there are ponds and pathways that take you elsewhere into the foliage, but why would you go that way? The party’s right here! "Good evening, everyone!! Whether you are new to Tellus or old, I hope to find you in good spirits. Mind you, I do not intend to ignore the blunders of CERES nor the grave situation that new-comers have found themselves faced with. However I assure you that at this time, surrounded by these people, you are in good company. Please, dine and be merry - I believe some worlds celebrated a holiday yesterday! Get to know one another so we may strengthen our ties and stand firm against whatever this world may throw against us! Also try the salmon, it's absolutely divine. . . . How do I turn this off...? Should I just walk away?"

//SCENARIOS.EXE PHASE I [ xxxx ] Like any respectable ball, your entrance is announced as you walk right into the party! What do you mean you wanted to slip in unnoticed? That simply won’t do. Natalia managed to rope in someone – is that a Tellus native? – to do the honor of acknowledging your character as they make their debut to the ball. This guy is under strict orders to not miss a single soul. If your character doesn’t give him a name and title ahead of time, then he’ll just make something up. Think along the lines of Broseidon McSnootyname, Duke of Erectile Dysfunction-- What do you mean that’s not your name? PHASE II [ xxxx ] Absolutely no expense was spared when it came to making sure that the food here was the best that money could buy (or threats could extort). Guests can select from a menagerie of main dishes from all sorts of cultures, adorable desserts that look like woodland creatures alongside towering cakes, and even those fruity drinks with the little umbrellas on them. Pig out, you animals – but there’s also a wide selection of fine wine if your tastes and curiosities wander off in that direction…. What even is the drinking age in Tellus? Remember, folks, drink (ir)responsibly. PHASE III [ xxxx ] Well, it is a ball. If you’re interested in proper, classical styles of dance, there’s certainly an orchestra that’s dominating most of the night. One of their songs may or may not sound familiar. Spin around in your flurry of skirts and do the fairy tale thing if that’s what you came here for. Romance, or whatever. Waltz your heart out and don’t forget to point your toes! … that said, there’s also a separate sound system not too far, prepared in case the orchestra might want a break. It’s also not being watched too closely. Maybe put on something to liven up the dance floor? Or did someone ruin your fantasy by putting on something unbearably inappropriate? PHASE IV [ xxxx ] The gardens really are beautiful. Spread throughout the area and more toward the outskirts of the party, there are plenty of beautiful fountains with glittering, crystal clear water. In fact, it’s so clear that you can spot the occasional alien life form flitting through it amidst the lily pads and gently sweeping foliage. It’s so graceful, what beauty! Look at how it rises to the water and gently opens its mouth into a yawn and—tries to chomp anything within range right off with razor sharp teeth what the fuck, whatthefuck. It would appear that's not all, though. Whether you're ready to fight the creature or run screaming, you feel something slowly slide and curl around your arm or your ankle. Look on in horror as you turn your head and realize that it seems that the nearby tree has grown rather fond of you very quickly, to the extent that it will reach out and lovingly wrap its hentai tentacles around you.... Brings a whole 'nother meaning to 'tree hugger', doesn't it? BONUS [ whyo'clock ] Are you lost? Did you try to catch your breath away from the party and start to wander off despite all the cautioning not to? Or maybe you were trying to leave and took a wrong turn? Either way, you seem to have only found yourself deeper in the gardens now. Try not to breathe too deeply or… at all. If you can’t manage that though, it appears that you’ve stumbled upon the hallucinogenic plants of the garden. You start to see things that aren’t there – though whether you suddenly find yourself in a den of cougars lions or think that the person standing next to you is the biggest, cuddliest pile of adorable puppies in the world depends on the person. Hope you have a good trip, bruh. [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let me know (through FAQ comment or PM preferably!) if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so I can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE Welcome to CEREALIA's latest intro post! This one is player-run and all the basics have been laid out for you here. Absolutely feel free to come up with your own prompts, I just attempted to set the scenery! For your convenience, I whole-heartedly welcome questions and inquiries being directed to my attention here and I'll answer them to the best of my ability! Have a ball! Enjoy!! OVERFLOW IS HERE Move over at your captcha-free leisure!

Comments

[sunshrouded]

[What are up with all the people saying weird things about him tonight... He seems to make a face at that, though--]

What'd give you that idea? I'm here talking to you, aren't I?

[tenka please be careful that's getting dangerously close to hella gay]

[emotive]

We all did our best. I'm happy that it was too your liking.

[brbwalking]

[ Because parties are boring without the right people, and more than half of hers are missing. ]

Oh, I agree. Vicious things can be adorable as much as anything. I'm sure it helps lower their victims' guards.

[brbwalking]

How rude of it. Did you tell it you had other plans for the evening?

[ If plants were capable of regret, this one would probably be weeping by now. ]

[heiwana]

It might be any number of unknown things. Here there are...stranger things than even what we are. [ He steps away from the pond as a large ripple erupts from a portion of it. Sending wave over wave of gentle cascades up to the edge of the water. The light from the sky will dance along the surface of the trees over hanging the water. Nothing ominous about it, but Kousetsu knows better than to just assume it's a peaceful creature swimming about in there. ]

...it is most likely dangerous.

[luckybreaks]

I can show you the way back to that building after this is done, then. Aside from that fish, it seems to be pretty safe...

[ Naegi says, with the hesitant confidence of someone who hasn't been hugged by a tree yet. ]

That is, there's no reason not to enjoy ourselves...? And to try to meet people who might know more about this place, though it doesn't seem that the people who have been here longer than us have many answers about it either, as of yet.

[sunshrouded]

[ . . . . ]

Are you a hamster whisperer?

[That's what Tenka got out of that. Though admittedly he does offer a grin back to Maga-Z and another headscritch.]

Thanks buddy! Guess your mom's not so bad if he listens to your opinion like that. He kinda reminds me of my little brother.

[faithfulflame]

There are worse things, though.

[She chuffs a vague laugh and takes a seat on one of the benches lining the walls. No point in standing, really]

You could have been called something offensive instead of something just stupid.

[tsuranuki]

[ Just one word is able to encompass so many things. ]

I have only just arrived. [ But that's probably obvious. ] Am I right in assuming that ghosts, then, are a common occurrence?

[ He nearly asks about the robots. One question at a time, however, is always better. ]

[sunshrouded]

I don't know, but she is! Where did I go wrong...?!

[HE'S NORMALLY SO GOOD AT PARENTING--

the point here is though]

But -- it doesn't change that if we don't do this then she'll be upset!

[faithfulflame]

Yes. That's quite true. Though, so far it's been normal, aside from that announcer.

[Ugh. he had just...ugh]

Did they mangle your name as well?

[wedlocks]

[At least she doesn't go too far. She feels like the wind's been knocked out of her; her arms are wrapped around her like she's cold, but there isn't any visible bleeding as far as she can tell.

Probably just really bad bruising, and scrapes.]

No, I'm fine. [Still sounds really annoyed, though. She adjusts her glasses, sighing quietly.] I don't think it's just the trees. This entire garden seems... alien.

[Alternately: this entire damn planet, because it's so obviously not Earth, as much as her rationality refuses to believe that.]

[faithfulflame]

[The wrong people, though. She's remarkably attached to the people who's souls are bound to hers...]

I imagine so, yes. You must enjoy not having a bed-time, hmm?

[A light bit of teasing as she eases the dance into a faster step...]

[brbwalking]

Hm? No, I was something like 'The Mysterious Sultry Temptress'. It wasn't very loud.

[faithfulflame]

Well, I suppose if I were to have a title, and it was transcribed into whatever language that person's familiar with instead of my own it would be rather lengthy.

[After all, a single character can mean so much.]

What did they call you?

[poised]

-- what?! If they were in trouble then of course I'd want them to be saved. Do not think to twist my words in such a way!

[gonna strangle you at her nice party, someone clean up the corpse]

Regardless trust me that it is so.

ota!

[spiritpearls]

PHASE I

[ Pearl wouldn't have missed this ball for anything. She's wearing a lavender dress with white open-toe flats, and plenty of snowflake jewelry in white or ice blue. She also is wearing jewelry she got for Christmas, such as the bracelet Athena gave her, the star necklace from Trucy, the tiara Mr Nick gave her (because what's fancier than a tiara??), and the bracelets Mabel gave her.

She's announced as "Pearl Fey, Princess of Spirits" which is... inaccurate but close enough? She'd said spirit medium but ok. Ok.

At first she'll shyly be at the edge of things for a few minutes, taking in the sheer amazingness of the ball. ]

PHASE III

[ Pearl is not dancing, because no one has asked her to dance yet, and isn't that how this is supposed to work? She can't just awkwardly dance by herself, that's not how balls work. Probably. Maybe. So, she's just waiting by the edge hoping someone asks her to dance. ]

PHASE IV

[ Wandering in the gardens, you may find a young girl being hugged fiercely by an overly friendly tree. Pearl is trying to wiggle free with little success. ]

Hi! Can you please, please help me? [ Someone save her from the tree, she's being a little crushed here. ]

BONUS

[ You know what every party needs? A fortune teller. Pearl only brought a pack of mysterious cards that aren't tarot and look very homemade, but if she sees you standing around she may approach with an offer. ]

Hello, would you like to know your fortune for the new year?

[poised]

[Oh good, Naruto, you're learning. Still though, she seems excited at this bit of gossip?! (Is it really gossip though....)]

Oh, truly?!

Who might it be? Do I know them?

[bakudanma]

_{[ ...
Don't even think about insinuating stuff like that... ???? Like, don't. ]}

Tenka-kun...
_{[ Oh, his voice is so soft. ]}

You don't have to dress up to talk to me. We already shared drama night together. You don't have to impress me.
_{[ too late. you've created a monster. please do something about this before.. before...
I don't even know. ]}

[faithfulflame]

[Good, get used to it Saber. Get very used to it. Rei's used to dealing with a pair of blondes about your height with even more ravenous appetites.]

You can always wait till it dies down.

[Sensible advice.]

But is all this for you?

[poised]

I know her well!

[That much is easily admitted.]

You'll have to forgive me for not having a chance to speak with you before. Allow me to introduce myself properly - my name is Natalia and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[rebelia]

[IV hums in the affirmative. Sticking out the way he does, he can't deny it.]

I was dropped here after the meeting.

[While the ball is undeniably nice, he can't appreciate it in its entirety. Not when he looks like this and not so soon after the excessive information during the PowerPoint presentation. Which he hasn't swollen whole.]

[wedlocks]

[What the--

She turns at the voice she wasn't quite expecting. When had he snuck up on her? And he's young, too. A teenager, with glasses like hers, almost.]

Oh. [heh. she doesn't quite meet his glass. something doesn't quite feel right about drinking around a teenager, but she raises hers too, albeit hesitantly.] Hello.

I suppose someone was bound to find me eventually.

[souredsweet]

[Rude as hell!! Double rude rainbows all across the sky-! Kaoru may be internally laughing...]

But as the head of your clan, you must be forced to attend functions like that fairly often... My, what a shame. Still, most of those "parties" are just excuses for political discussion, isn't that so...?

[Tenka's clearly just not out for the slimy politician life!! Neither is Kaoru though, honestly, even if he excels at it. His true love is the genocidal maniac life.]

[sunshrouded]

[.... wait no he just meant that if he was chasing after some pretty girl then he'd be doing it properly and not here talking to Katsura--]

A-Ah....

[Should he say that, though?]

Thanks for being understanding, then.... [???] I'll keep that in mind.