« 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]

[ . . . . . and that much manages to get Tenka to snort faintly. Well, the thought is nice at least! Tenka can at least be pulled away from his discomfort if he's got the good company to distract him. He really isn't the type to dwell but--

Eh, something about this just manages to rub him the wrong way.]

Alright, let's see what you got, kiddo. Just give me something to do so people don't realize that I walked into this place and immediately wanted to walk out.

[newtimes]

Well... no one! ( Really. He wasn't a merchant or anything in that sense. ) My master was Sakamoto Ryoma though and he was in charge of the Kameyama Shachū.

( Either of which may or may not be familiar. Kameyama Shachū was a private merchant fleet which became the Kaientai , a private navy fleet, which eventually gave way to the imperial Japanese navy so... H E H. )

He had a lot of other business too though so he wasn't always trading.

[bropane]

[ He still finds himself an inconvenience, but he nods right away just to make her feel better. Especially after that embarrassing ordeal. ]

Yeah, I— I'm really sorry about that. [ He approaches her now, though his smile slowly dissipates since he's distracted by the light from her palm. How is this happening is? IS NATALIA IRON MAN? This stuff isn't supposed to be real!

With a deep breath, he stops right in front of Natalia and puts his smile back on. He puts his feet apart, and outstreches his arms as if he's at an airport and some guard is going to pat him. ]

I'm ready now.

[ It may sound a bit too formal, but he's not really sure how to address this whole glowing palm thing, in the first place. ]

[kaihentai]

Settle in?

[He sounds surprised.]

I just got here! And, when I first set foot in this place, I searched for the most important thing...

[He pulls a bottle of sake out of his coat. Where the fuck did he get that?!]

Alcohol!

[sunshrouded]

They're all pretty removed from Otsu so I don't concern myself with them a lot.

[BLUNTLY.

.... though he seems thoughtful in the next moment even as he drinks his wine. For a second, he probably looks dignified. What comes out of his mouth is a little bit more explanation-]

Japan's changing... and the higher-ups are making the decisions for it. I guess... I just want to see what comes of it. See how it affects people. But politicians don't have those answers for me.

[poised]

[this just in, Tadashi Hamada is a really embarrassing nerd

Considering the fact that he takes on a.... completely different stance.... and looks so stiff and is he posing? What's going on.... Natalia is trying so hard to continue to be polite and no... no, it's just not happening.

So don't mind her if she takes her free hand and covers her mouth with it, even as her shoulders shake faintly with giggles. Ah. At least she's still trying to be graceful about it.]

Ah-

Please... feel free to relax a bit, sir. You needn't be so stiff.

[hoasen]

Ah, I see, so your master is a businessman. But you worked for no one? What did you mean you had a master--...

[HANG ON, she knows this name. Sakamoto Ryoma. Kameyama Shachū not as much, but she is certain that Japan has spoken of Sakamoto Ryoma.

...that and she may have watched a bit of Ryomaden (the parallel universe equivalent). With subtitles, of course.]

You were in the service of one of Japan's great men?

[newtimes]

( "The times have changed, and so must I."

Mutsunokami might... look up a little at that. )

Hey, wait a minute! ( Just going to come on over. ) If ya're gonna be asking, ya gotta look the part first.

( YOU STILL DON'T HAVE PANTS... )

Ya'll have better luck if ya get some more clothes to wear, mister.

[dereban]

What-? [ She's baffled that someone would actually dare suggest that. It's okay though, Inaba's only had one drink so far. She's not too far gone. ]

I'm not stupid, I don't plan on... doing anything like that. I don't want to lose myself more than I already have.

[variform]

Who knows~ I'm sure crazier things can happen, though. Isn't that more innocent in the end?

[He may or may not have meant that. Although- there also may have been a time where he took on the 'role' of a cannibal, and played it perfectly. It's completely possible, albeit not within his most recent memories. Ai would have surely known. . .]

What they really shouldn't serve are frogs, though.

[IT MATTERS.]

[gao]

[ he waves a hand, a smile on his face. ]

No, it was super fun! It's my first time attending a party like this, so I'm glad I came.

[rollin]

Oh. [ Jeez, he wasn't expecting that. What does he even say? ] Sorry.

Some ball, huh? Least the food's good...

[sunshrouded]

[ . . . hah. It manages to get Tenka to grin before he nods firmly in agreement-]

Right, that's right!! And we're family now, Kousetsu-kun. So I get it if you're protective over me but... hey, you don't need to be so uptight about it. I don't get beaten easily! I'm the strongest in all of Shiga Prefecture, after all!

[dishonorstudent]

Yeah? Same here! I hope you find it, Natalia.

[ BECAUSE THIS ONE IS NOT YOURS. ]

[sunshrouded]

No.

[THAT WAS SUCH A FAST ANSWER]

It's constricting and uptight and I don't get what's wrong with what I normally wear.....

[sunshrouded]

[ . . . hm. It's something that Tenka thinks about before faintly shaking his head--]

Nah... I don't know about that one, Celty-chan!

Even adults who're no good with kids still don't want to see them hurt. Lots of people want to help each other in general, they just don't always know how. That's all it is.

[kaihentai]

[Sakamoto gasps at that small miracle, taking a few steps back. In his excitement, he ignores her kind words almost completely.]

Uwooooooh! She used magic to clean the stain... Almost as if it was-

[where is this dramatic music coming from

oh right it's just playing in Sakamoto's head]

BLEAAAAACH!

[Wait a minute! Isn't that what Ich*go was doing? Using magic to clean the dirty houses of millions? That's obviously was b*nkai was for, right??? That's definitely what it was for!]

You're... You're...!!!

[Unfortunately, Sakamoto can't remember the woman's name, but there was some very attractive catwoman in this series. Right? Of course! It's an anime. There's always some really hot girl who can turn into a cat.]

Yolanda-sama!

[THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT NAAAAAME?]

[dragonseyes]

[There is no hesitation as Shin-Ah nods, more than ready to comply with with Natalia's request. She is more experienced than he is and it would be silly for him to demand the leading role straight away. Not that Shin-Ah is that kind of person in the first place.

Natalia is taking this more than a little seriously and what else did he expect? She's always passionate about what she does and this is her party, it's her evening.

He'll have to remember to give her the present. It's safely, securely tucked away in one of the breastpockets so it's within easy reach.

The music pulls him out of his own head again and Shin-Ah watches attentively when the first movements start.]

[sunshrouded]

Of course we have.

[Just as simple, honest, and open. He says it like it's fact - because to him, that's what it is.]

You two are swords - technically, I get that. But... you have personality! Bodies, fingers, emotions... how can you be anything other than human to me?

[bropane]

[ Hey, it's good if she laughs. It'll make the air less awkward. Being embarrassing is for the good of mankind. ]

Yeah? [ That's his cue to loosen up a bit, and so he does. His posture is much more casual and relaxed now. None of that soldier-looking stance. ]

How's this?

[poised]

[That much manages to put a smile on Natalia's face as she nods in agreement.]

You and I both! I'm very glad you were able to make it. I'm so glad that it's to your liking.

[shoutai]

[Of course they are.

He turns away again.]

When they decide to rejoin us, then maybe we can talk.

[God, he's going to regret this, he just knows it.]

[poised]

Oh Ryuko, you're so silly! Truly, your sentiments are appreciated.

[SO HAND OVER THIS ONE]

[kaihentai]

[Sakamoto grabs Mutsu's shoulders with both hands. His expression is dreadfully serious.]

Sometimes, my friend...

[In a whisper:]

Less is more. Less is definitely more!

[he looks serious but is he joking he has to be is this for real]

[newtimes]

( What the heck kind of Western name is this to his old Japanese ears. He might have raised an eyebrow at her. She honestly should have just told him her name was Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Plum Peppers or something that might have been easier, to be honest.

He'll tackle that road block when he gets there, for now, he can focus on the easier things and he nods. )

So ya're the hostess? ( And he bows! ) Thank ya for hosting this event, ( Oh, Gods, he's really trying. ) Lavender-san.

( HE TRIED. HE REALLY TRIED. HE GOT IT, RIGHT??? )

... And are ya sure ya don't have other guests to take are of?