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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

[poised]

[ . . . . well, she looks out at the rest of the ball at the question, smiling faintly. There are plenty of people dancing and others who are enjoying themselves at the buffet table. It's a bit like a scene out of a fairytale (since the lights of the ball don't quite reach to illuminate the people dealing with alien creatures and tentacle trees).]

I would....

[Her voice is almost unbearably fond.]

I think it's been a very fun evening so far.

[newtimes]

( He can hear it, )

What matters the most is right now and if ya're having fun right now, don't worry about it!

... But after it's over, ya owe me one! Unless ya find another festival to have fun at.

[poised]

[Well, she can gently tease--]

I have a feeling that even if I did find a festival, you would be in attendance.

[newtimes]

Ya got that right! ( There's not much that could keep him away. ) Ya gotta enjoy everything while ya can with everyone ya can.

( Blah blah live like you're gonna die young. But no he's seriously speaking from experience and also with their whole worlds being destroyed deal, who knows when they might not have time anymore. LIVE THAT LIFE, LAVENDER-SAN. )

[poised]

[That much manages to get Natalia to laugh faintly, though she does agree.]

Well, I find it hard to disagree with that logic....

But you seem to be taking everything remarkably in stride, sir. And here I was certain that you were a new arrival to this world...

[and we round right back to ARE YOU A CRIMINAL]

[newtimes]

( Oh, he's actually pretty pleased to hear that. He tries hard to adapt and go with things so that's certainly a compliment! )

Yeah? Well, ya wouldn't be wrong! I've only been here for a couple of days. ( He's practically preening now. ) If ya act like ya're lost, ya're gonna be pretty lost.

( So in theory, if you act like you got your shit together, you'll eventually really get it together??? )

'Sides, this isn't exactly the first time I've been brought to a new place without much warning.

[poised]

[??? So he's been pretending this entire time and it's worked out for him. That's what she's getting out of that--]

Ah...?

Are you a type of adventurer? A pioneer...?!

[AND NOW SHE'S DISTRACTED AGAIN

natalia your attention span needs some work]

[newtimes]

( And here, we see Mutsu's humbler side... )

Nope, nothin' like that. I'm just an old fashioned sword.

( Living in the real world and it's so hard to get by.

No but 4 real, he's just a sword. His masters are the ones that are the adventuring pioneers. He just follows. )

[poised]

[ . . . . . ? ]

A sword? As in... a knight?

[A sword for his master, a noble?

THE MYSTERIES CONTINUE.]

[newtimes]

Nope, just a sword! Which I guess is pretty weird for some people, huh?

( So...... is he going to explain.............

A beat, )

Do ya believe in spirits?

[poised]

[Honestly that's incredibly hard to say. Perhaps in typical terms, the answer is no but... well, now that she thinks about it, don't large pools of the same fonons have sentient forms?

Could it be that the same can be said of perhaps certain weapons?

.... It's still hard to imagine but she can't rule it out anymore--]

Ah... To an extent, I suppose.

Do you... mean to tell me that you're a spirit?

[Admittedly her fingers kind of itch to touch and see if he's a ghost? Ah...]

[newtimes]

Yup! But I'm real!

( And he'll hold out his arm. She can see for herself if she'd like. )

Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki! Sword of Sakamoto Ryouma! ( And if he wasn't proud before, he's practically sticking his chest out now. Don't know him? Know he's clearly a big deal to this guy. ) Pretty cool, yeah?!

[poised]

[Well, it's not as if Natalia can't appreciate pride and confidence. That doesn't put her off that much and-- she's also incredibly curious!

Hey, if he's offering then certainly she'll lay a hand on his arm, tilting her head as she does so. Hm! A physical incarnation of a spirit. There's a faint smile on her face even as she looks up at him and keeps her expression so carefully neutral otherwise--]

And are you a wanted man?

[Here we go.

Also she doesn't lift her hand.

Probably because she'll strangle him with his coat if he might cause a ruckus at her ball.]

[newtimes]

( Head tilt

Blink

Crossing his arms... or at least, the best he can with one hand on one arm. But he looks thoughtful. He has to consider this... )

Well, I guess it depends.

( Hrngh... frowning. This is a hard question. )

The old man's a hero now but he still broke a lotta big rules. ( Except maybe to his enemies, some of which are in this cereal box he'll learn, sigh. ) 'nd not everyone really forgave him, so...

( Just a sigh. His old man deserves better. )

[poised]

[ . . . . ]

Ah, I see.

[Well, it's at least a good enough answer that she'll retract her hand and place it against her cheek instead as she hums in thought. This man didn't want to scare anyone, at least, and it sounds as though this 'old man' of his - probably his owner if he's a sword - was a rebel of sorts but Natalia is understanding enough to not want to pass judgment on merely that.

Hm.]

... did your 'old man' [yes, she uses airquotes] hope to instigate change, then?

[newtimes]

( Ears perked, tail wagging okay not really but if they could, they would. He does, however, actually skip a little. )

That's right! He wanted to change the country and he did! ( And he helped! Even if it was just a little, he helped! And he was by his side the entire time, to the very end! ) There was nothing he couldn't do! He could do anything!

[poised]

[Congratulations Mutsu, you managed to say the Exact Words to get Natalia's attention and in the Correct Order as well - 'change the country'. She doesn't quite skip but she does perk up immediately, wearing her heart on her sleeve as she does.

Then she steps forward to denote her interest even as she looks up at Mutsu so interested. PREPARE YOURSELF--]

Did he? How? Negotiation and diplomacy or was he a warrior if you're his sword? Was he of common birth or a nobleman...?

[SO. INTERESTED.]

[newtimes]

( Please don't mind him coming a little closer just because he really wants to brag about this, okay. Oh gosh oh gosh. )

He was a samurai! ( Which may or may not mean anything to her. ) But no one thought he was very important.

He was strong and wasn't afraid to fight if he had to but he was even better when ya got him talking! ( So, basically, negotiations. ) He could make anyone get along and convince old leaders to step down.

He might have carried me around but I was just there to get him outta trouble.

[poised]

[In truth, she doesn't mind him coming closer at all. Rather, she's so wrapped up in his words that his excitement manages to get her even more fired up. Oh goodness.

No, she doesn't know what a samurai is but she can parse through the rest of his words to figure out what he means. So a negotiating style while at the same time being a warrior of sorts.... It's just--]

Splendid! Absolutely amazing...!!

Reconciling differences through negotiation and compromise, though refusing to back down for what he believed in, no matter what threats may come his way. Oh, what a wonderful man he must be! How I'd love to meet him....!!

[newtimes]

Isn't it?

( Amazing?! Splendid! Yes, all of the above! )

Heh heh, that might be a li'l hard, seeing as how he isn't here.

( Because he's dead but he won't rain on anyone's parade here, )

[1/2]

[poised]

Then if he were ever to arrive, you simply must let me know.

[She says that so certainly. No room for argument!]

I am very interested in meeting this man you have described, Mitsunako--

[poised]

[ . . . . guh, awkward.]

Mutsunaki....

[ . . . . oh god, what was it. She seems to wince a bit--]

... Please repeat your name once more....

[newtimes]

If he shows up, ya'll be the first person to know!

( You know. After himself. And Haru. And the other swords... but they're like family!! So Natalia will certainly be the first friend to know. Because now we're friends and friends tell friends things.

Also, he doesn't appear to mind the mispronunciations. If anything, he just smiles, )

Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki. But ya can just call me Mutsu.

[poised]

[Ah... both of those things are very reassuring to her. So she seems relieved and offers a smile.]

Mutsu, then. It's a pleasure. [She then gestures more toward the ball in process--]

My name is Natalia L.K. Lanvaldear if you were not able to hear my announcement earlier. This is a winter ball that I had orchestrated with the help of my friends.

Would you like to see more of it?

[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?