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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

[psycholawgy]

Probably not! [ Another point for whatever house Simon is in! ] I just hope that these kinds of gatherings stay safe.

[ It's really been a while since the terrorists of the colony have made a move, and it's unsettling. Hopefully, they don't decide to ruin Christmas. ]

And speaking of working, I might go to the research facility some time to investigate what the natives could be hiding. Someone good at making people talk would make good company.

[ She can threaten people to do her bidding on her own, but a "pro" in action might be better at it! ]

[shacklebreaker]

A daring venture into the lion's den... A pity my specialty is counterintelligence, not espionage itself. Any successful infiltration would turn up valuable information.

[He drops his voice at that. It's highly unlikely they'll be overhead over the music, and the other couples around them are focused on each other, but he'd still prefer to play it safe.]

Yet standard questioning might yield fruit as well. It is worth the attempt.

[psycholawgy]

[ Coughs rather loudly, you know... just in case others may have overheard. Athena's not good at covering things up. If anything, that may have made them look suspicious. ]

I'll do it after the holidays. I hope I'll be able to get some answers.

[ But this much serious talk is dampening the mood of the party, or so Athena thinks, anyway. ]

I'll bring it up again another time, sorry!

[shacklebreaker]

[Super smooth, Agent Cykes.]

Hmph... All right. I'm only giving you this one dance, remember, so you're wise not to squander it.

[So he says, but his heart says otherwise. He's actually enjoying himself.]

[psycholawgy]

We have to move closer to where the dj is, then! I gotta tell them to put the song on loop!

[ That is clearly the way to solve things. ]

[shacklebreaker]

[Good grief.]

I'm sure the rest of the ball will get tired of hearing the same song, Athena.

[psycholawgy]

It still doesn't seem like a bad idea.

[ But her smile is mischievous enough to show that she doesn't mean it. She isn't trying to pull him to where the dj is, either. ]

[shacklebreaker]

I'd not be caught by such a flimsy snare. I'd simply slip away while you were speaking with the disc jockey.

[He's joking too... mostly.]

[psycholawgy]

Hey! Don't do that!

[ Her feathers are definitely getting ruffled that she accidentally steps on his foot.

It was 100% an accident!!! ]

[shacklebreaker]

[Ouch!!] Are you dancing or throwing a tantrum?

[psycholawgy]

I- I didn't mean to! [ She is now frantic with worry. ] Sorry...!

[shacklebreaker]

No harm done...

[At least it wasn't him stepping on her foot. That would have hurt.]

[psycholawgy]

Look at how much stress you caused just by saying you'd try to escape!

[ There is no escaping!!! ]

[shacklebreaker]

[How do these things always wind up being his fault?]

Maybe if you weren't such a troublesome brat, I wouldn't want to escape.

[psycholawgy]

[ That hand of Simon's? She's going to grip is reeaaaaally tightly now. ]

Say that again!

[shacklebreaker]

[He'll just lean in closer in response.]

You're a troublesome brat. [And proving his point right now, in fact!]

[psycholawgy]

[ There's making a scene, and there's making a scene in such a formal event. She can try to threaten the prosecution or the witnesses in court, but she'd rather not do something like that when everyone's looking so sharp and celebrating Christmas! So instead of shouting again, she instead says: ]

You're not any different!

[ Because what is coming up with logical arguments when one is really riled up, and is just trying to contain their anger? ]

[shacklebreaker]

[In response, he dips her over without warning, until her hair is nearly brushing the floor.]

You'd best hold tight, or I might drop you.

[Because this is how to threaten without causing a scene, right? It's totally part of the dance.]

[psycholawgy]

Hey, wait!

[ THAT IS TOTALLY CHEATING and Athena can't even react verbally to it since she's trying so hard to maintain her balance and not completely fall on her behind. ]

[shacklebreaker]

[Regretting choosing him as a dance partner yet? After a few moments he decides she's been tormented enough, and pulls her back upright.]

You were saying?

[psycholawgy]

[ He'll have to excuse her for a few good moments because she has to catch her breath. ]

That- That was cheating...!

[shacklebreaker]

No, it was a perfectly legitimate dance move.

[DEAL WITH IT.]

[psycholawgy]

[ ... yeah, she can't contest that right now. Instead, she just squeals in frustration. ]

Do it again when I'm more prepared!

[shacklebreaker]

But catching you unprepared was the idea.

[Clearly the solution is to judo flip him at the next opportunity.]

[psycholawgy]

[ More like punch him in the face when the situation calls for it. ]

This is so unfair! I can't even do the same!