« 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

[hoasen]

[Hearing that, she blinks in surprise, but manages a small smile.]

I guess we are always nervous when we first start something...your understanding of it is what is guiding me here. I am only getting better because of a patient dance partner.

[Dat means u. She's grateful! And for that additional remark too.] Aha, I still will try not to step on your feet for the duration of our dance. Should it happen, I am very light, so perhaps the damage will be non-existent.

[deontology]

[don't be desperate, cashew, it's not an attractive trait in men and swords.

Either way, that was definitely super wise and poignant-- though he can't deny that Kashuu is somewhat right. After all, even if Sousei himself is not particularly skilled at dancing (though he does know the steps) he can tell when someone is skilled at it, and they have a particular grace much like a skilled warrior does.

....Hm.]

I suppose I had not thought about it that way. Nonetheless, I am not a particularly skilled dancer, so I'm afraid you will be disappointed in that "training".

[he's probably not bad, really, he's just stiff.]

[shacklebreaker]

Oh, yes. You attorneys live and dine like kings... Wright-dono's bank balance permitting.

[Poor Phoenix, forever being made to pay for everything.]

And don't forget there are the new years celebrations in a few days time, as well.

[hoasen]

[And now looking towards the party. So far, nothing but laughing and dancing and feasting. Good, really.]

Mm, it would be a shame for it to affect the rest of the ball.

[She nods, with her own...offer?! Which probably means he won't be able to run at all.] I will do the same. I am unfortunately unarmed, but I will be fine with fists alone.

[Her feet can't do shit in this dress.]

[swordboning]

It doesn't help that I'm practically a maidservant to the woman hosting this party. And that's a more literal meaning.

[Natalia uses him quite well, apparently. But he has no complaints to it.]

If sake was fine, that was good. He grabbed the closest bottle within reach and filled up a small cup for Simon.]

[deontology]

Is that so...

[To Sousei, it was a symbol of complacency and unnecessary indulgence, but...maybe there's something of worth to be found in it as well.

It's worth considering, anyway.]

Well, I suppose it has worth then. [If Hinata was looking forward to it....yeah.

He's a sap.

Shut up.]

[deontology]

...Yes.

[Yes, he's seen plenty of deaths here, even if they haven't been...well.

...Proper...deaths... god jamjars are weird. Ultimately, he nods.]

This is harmless. But there have been less harmless incidents. Robots intended to assassinate us, ghosts with the intent to harm--and often, they do cause harm to those who can't defend themselves.

[it's a disaster.]

[beaconed]

[ Unfortunately, Pyrrha's little joke is wasted here, as Jaune didn't hear a word she said just then. Even he didn't speak much since his reveal a few moments ago, instead spending the next few minutes in blissful silence, even carrying into the next cheesy song. By this point he's just accepted that these are going to be their songs tonight.

Theirs...?

Come to think of it, there are a lot of people on this dance floor, and yet Jaune's been dancing with Pyrrha like there's nobody else around them. Just the two of them, and these awkward songs about rediscovering love or something. Funny. But is it really awkward, though? Right now, he can't think of a place he'd rather be, not without his partner, his friend, his confidant. The one person who never turned away from him, even for all his lies and mistakes, even when he was just that idiot stuck in a tree. Truthfully, in many ways, he still is that idiot stuck in a tree, but she's always there with her smile and a playful joke, just like on that day.

And there is that reassuring smile again, his eyes intently falling on her lips. They're so close. So very... hang on, they're getting a little too close. Or is it Jaune that's being drawn to them without realizing it? What's happening here? ]

[sjokolade]

[And all Anna could do was simply stare at whatever these shooting stars were!]

Uh...shine bright as what? [She said before looking around the ball for said stars]

No really, where are you pointing at, Natalia?

[impheired]

[Good call there, Gundam, because that tree is definitely trying to pull Kuzuryuu back closer to it. And he's not very big so even if he's resisting as much as he can, the tree eventually would have succeeded. That said, you might want to use both hands until your foot is free.]

[Thank you hamfriends, too. He's even more thankful now than he was a second ago that Gundam didn't leave you back at his apartment. Even if your teeth are very small and not really doing a whole lot, it's the thought that counts.]

[flaredo]

[ And when she does, she's accepting it gratefully. ]

Thanks... I'm all heated up now!

[deontology]

Shy--

[what the fuck.]

No. I am not.

[he will admit he is kind of uptight though.]

Do you need something still?

I

[guidetoblivion]

[Riku recovers just in time from his own embarrassing introduction (why would anyone ever call him a knight, really!?) to witness how Inaba's deals with hers. ...Well.]

...That was efficient.

[Violent, but definitely efficient.]

[masakados]

...I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think he'll be just fine.

[Naoki will turn, tilting his head invitingly-- time to kinda get away from where the sorry "Duke of Spiky Collars" is getting announced and head on in further. Yeah, that guy'll be getting his revenge out for his work all night with these titles.]

I'm Naoki, by the way. [A beat--] Kashima Naoki.


(you can tag to the overflow here!)

[sjokolade]

[This is Anna. This is Anna staring at the young girl before staring at the plant once more. This is also Anna having no idea what to do with the scene before her]

Uh...then is there anything else I can do to help?

[...No seriously, what?]

[hamham]

[But they must pay for their misdeeds!

He raises a brow at that suggestion, looking to the dance floor. While there's not really wrong with the idea of dancing, certainly not with Hinata, there is still a problem that's causing him to hesitate a little.

He uh. Can't dance.]

I wasn't aware you had an interest in such matters...

[Does he sound a wary? Maybe a little. But he's not saying no either.]

[masakados]

[D-don't compliment him too much. Naoki's gaze actually shifts off to one side and it's not too too difficult to talk himself out of a faint blush. But that instant of self-consciousness is pretty noticeable anyway.]

Yeah, it'd be just fine. [Hmm. Ooh, wait, that gives him an idea.] So, O very light dance partner, want to give a twirl a try?

[He won't do it without forewarning-- he saves that for Yang.]

[hamham]

[A ghost, huh? So she's an undead queen...

But we're back to the problem of dancing. Because while it's certainly a relief to know that he can't poison her thanks to the properties of being dead, that...has always been a bit of an excuse to avoid touching. And dancing, inevitably, involves touching.

And also dancing, which he can't do.

So it's with a tense and hesitant nod that he agrees, though he doesn't move to offer her a hand or anything.]

And where would you have us dance, Mistress of the Dead?

[Yeah, let's stall a little while he figures these two problems out.]

[provoquer]

[Of course he read up! But this bag is supposed to be on the back of a sleigh pulled by reindeer by an overweight man with a beard. Beards run in your family (sort of) Oz couldn't you have made the effort?? He's smiling pleasantly as he takes the gift, holding it out at arm's length as he turns it this way and that.]

My, my. Did you wrap this yourself? [Most important question here.]

[masakados]

All ready to face the rest of the night?

[Naoki smiles up at her, and he's just going to smush one of Yurlungur's heads between his palms a little as light revenge for that haughty look the demon thought he could get away with.]

[reuser]

[ It takes her a moment, or two, to realise what’s happening. With the full brunt of her laughter exhausted, she’s left docile and happy, tucked close in his arms as the songs switch but they keep dancing. Trust gives her enough berth to allow her eyes to slip away, moving langorously over the ice-stained décor, the other dancers, the ethereal quality that has settled over the whole evening. She knows she can look back, at her leisure, and Jaune will still be there.

When her gaze does fall back, pinned to the slope of his messy fringe and the deep blue in his eyes, she ends up blinking into his stare. Rational thought has all but fled. Laughter has left her warm, the music has left her blurry, and Jaune—

His breath is warm against her lips, marking his proximity.

She ought to say something, as her shoulders take on a more stalwart arc, almost anticipatory. This - would be a disservice to him; he’s still dealing with his feelings for Weiss, watching and wounded in the wings as his choice made a choice of her own.

Pyrrha says nothing. She leans up, head tilted just so, and her fringe threatens to brush against his. A hair’s width more, and they’ll be nose to nose. ]

[deontology]

There's no need for thanks.

[As far as he's concerned, dropping newcomers into this mess is a shitty thing to do, but alas.]

It appears as though the majority of dangers are on the outskirts of the ball, but there may be some still elsewhere. [he can't say for sure until he checks everything out for himself.]

[sjokolade]

[Don't worry, Riku, Anna will help you out with that. Which was why the princess just stared at him before a small curve appeared on her lips]

Really? Then how about you try it now? I don't know when this party will end but you should have fun while you can!

You might as well while you're here right?

[provoquer]

[The word "owner" gets more of a reaction from him than "without human shape". Simply without a human shape could insinuate all sorts of things, but "owner" narrows that list down considerably. A pet? A tool? If he'd once been something more like a Chain, the term "Contractor" would have been the appropriate term.

...He suddenly wonders if Chains could ever appear here like that. They were humans once, after all. Huh.]

Hah, it's fine, it's fine! [He answers, in response to the gratitude.] But you have to admit, anyone would be curious to know more after a statement like that. What were you before you came here?

ota

[andimfine]

Phase II

[ Not being a huge fan of dancing, Apollo is currently hanging around the tables of food. In one hand is a glass of wine that has hardly been touched and in the other is a petit four. He's staring at it because it has a cute-ish animal face decorated onto it, and he's really not sure if he wants to eat it or not. This place is tricky, and he frowns at the prospect of the cake actually turning out to be an animal somehow. What if it's a meat cake? That thought causes him to look somewhat disgusted because that would certainly be an unfortunate surprise. Anyone passing by will just see him grimacing at the tiny cake. ]

Phase III

[ The music sounds fancy enough, but it also sounds like something else he's heard. He's momentarily lost in his own thoughts as he attempts to figure out the familiar tune until someone walks over and pulls him out of it. Are they talking to him? Apollo brings his attention to the person. Pardon his look of confusion. Did they just ask him to dance..? ]

Me?

Bonus

[ Apollo wouldn't consider himself a person who is put off by large crowds, but he does enjoy the occasional break from the hustle and bustle. After an hour or so into the ball, he slips outside and towards the gardens. Without a particular destination in mind, he continues onwards into the area while enjoying allure of the garden; it really is quite pretty.

After awhile of exploring, there is a moment where his head feels somewhat fuzzy, but it soon clears. ]

That was odd.. [ He mutters while placing the palm of his hand against his forehead. Thinking that it would be best to turn back, he starts walking towards what he think might be an exit until a very familiar someone catches his the corner of his eye. ]

Clay..?