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[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

[swordboning]

Fine. But if this is some kind of challenge, I'll destroy your expectations.

[Horrendously stubborn. But he takes her hand and walks out with her to the get jiggy with it floor.]

[poised]

[ . . . . . well, she goes along easily since this was her idea but even as she moves to put a hand on his shoulder, she kind of just can't help but remark--]

You would only dance with me if it was a challenge? That's offensive.

[swordboning]

We should be fairly clear. Your station is far above mine so it only makes sense.

[He doesn't know WHAT life she lives but its been fairly clear to him that she's far above him on the social scale. Said the lowly hero who never actually became a knight. He's not speaking out of any issues, though. Just fact.

Of course, an arm goes to her waist, because he's no actual plebe.]

[poised]

But my station is of no consequence here!

[She'll clarify that first! Even as the music starts up and she follows his lead easily--

are they really going to bicker while they dance]

[swordboning]

[This is these two. Of course they're going to bicker while delicately dancing. Archer is no slouch at dancing and multitasking.]

In terms of law, you're right. When it comes to bearing, it matters quite a bit. How do you think you would act if you were me?

[poised]

[At least dancing is just as much in Natalia's blood in this case.... So much bickering even as the violins playing in the background--]

No differently because I've requested not to be treated differently.

[duh]

[swordboning]

Good luck with that. So what is it? Duchess Natalia? I'm kind of curious.

[He's just going to start guessing if she doesn't answer.]

[poised]

[ . . . . admittedly

she would be more ruffled if she didn't trust Archer as much as she does. so the fact that she doesn't seem to really get flustered is probably the greatest testament to the fact that she doesn't mind telling him.]

No.

I still don't think it matters, regardless.

[swordboning]

It matters to me. I told you about myself so it's only fair in return.

[He shakes his head, though.]

Don't think that anything you say will make me treat you differently.

[poised]

If I thought you would, then I wouldn't still be entertaining this conversation.

[That much is honest.

... hm. Well, at least he's right, so she just relinquishes a moment later--]

My name is Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, of the Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. I'll be inheriting it from my father in due time.

[and that's how she tells him that she's a princess without saying the word 'princess']

[swordboning]

A Princess, huh? Just make sure Saber doesn't hear that.

[Because he is the most unknightly of knights. Saber, on the other hand, being the King of Knights, has a much different view.]

I can't say I'm entirely surprised. Especially considering how high class this event is.

[poised]

Keep your voice down.

[SO QUICK. Don't say the p-word!! Or at least don't mention it around her that loudly, she'd rather not have more people pick up.]

Well... no one else has bothered to confront me on the matter tonight and I'd like to keep it that way. Being treated differently would just be bothersome when I have no kingdom here, I think.

[swordboning]

Saying something like that is almost insulting. Do you really think your friends will think different of you if you talk about who you are?

[He's not insulted at all. Never is, really.]

I hate to give you a reality check but you could yell at the top of your lungs who you are and everyone who knows you will probably just nod and move on.

[poised]

Good thing you hate to do it because you're incorrect.

[to be honest. and the bickering resumes!!]

Not everyone is like you or I. While I admit that many of my close friends don't treat me differently, those who live and breathe hierarchy and chivalry will still consider me their friend but find it impossible to forget my status.

Isn't that why I'm not meant to tell Saber?

[swordboning]

I said to not tell it to Saber because she's an idiot. There's a big difference. I hope you'd made other friends that don't exist on her intelligence level.

[Absolutely the rudest.]

[poised]

Why are you even ruder to the people you're fond of?

[hONESTLY.]

Aside from Rin, at least.

[swordboning]

I'm not fond of Saber at all so I don't know where you're getting that idea.

[That's a lie but no one would ever know, considering how he treats Saber.]

[poised]

You absolutely are.

[Admittedly he speaks so harshly of her--

But he was the one to tell Saber to contact Natalia for Rin's magic lessons instead of doing it himself.

Yeah, she knows.]

Frustrating as always.

[swordboning]

Saber stands for everything I dislike. I can't think of someone I don't get along with more.

[Gotta be overly defensive about it too.]

[poised]

[ . . . . . ]

What did she do to make you so determined to appear as though you dislike her?

[swordboning]

Who do you think made me into the person I am today?

[It was totally Saber who egged him on into being a hero. Which means he partially blames her.]

[poised]

Yourself, and no other, though you may have had influences along the way.

[are you really blaming other people for that, Archer]

[swordboning]

[Yes, he absolutely is.]

That would be wrong. People who tell you to take a lifestyle and offer you no other option have just as much blame to take.

[poised]

Are you saying that Saber forced you into your choices?

[why does she feel like she needs to talk to saber more about this....]

[swordboning]

I'm saying she could have stopped me from traveling down the same destructive path she traveled. She simply used me as a proxy for her own failed goals.