The 300th Annual Hearts Tiding Ball - RPLOG
Participants
Date
16/2/482
Log
It's a warm, pleasant evening. The sun has set, but the air is still pleasantly warm, and the castle is decorated with a multitude of heart-shaped decoarations, along with warmly glowing torches and magical lights. An almost cozy look. Guards are busy at work, helping beings find their way to the grand hall, and making sure no-one goes and wanders off too far into places they shouldn't...
Inside, there's already a bustle of beings, crowding on the floor, and gathering near various tables with drinks and hors d'oeuvres... When the royals throw a party, they throw a /party/.
Leighton was amongst the crow being guided in, her head turning every which way, though usually craned upwards, her mouth slightly agape, both from the angle and the sights. The squirrel was almost bumping into people, only paying marginal attention to where she was going. She was lifting her skirt ever so slightly, careful not to tread on it, or drag it on the floor.
Peter is clearly aiming to look far above his station and failing miserably. He's been tailored into a suit much too small, as tufts of his fluffy fur pour out at the ends of the sleeves and around his collar, the poor lad looking like he may burst out of his jacket with one false move. Despite that, it's at least more flattering than his usual mustard-stained fare. He waddles forth with confidence despite the silly look. The sight of Leighton's head amid a group of beaks catches his attentions and leads him to double his efforts of tampling on - a guard stifling a laugh at the sight. "Hey!" he hisses to her, like he's got a secret to tell.
A red and white bustled dress doesn't fit every occasion, but it fits this one, and more importantly it still fits the fennec wearing it. Cassidy runs her fingers along her ears, scratching and lightly jingling the hanging jewelry in the process as she eyes the food table. The worst part about being a noble at functions is that she had to restrain herself. A small snack is claimed, a bit less than she'd have liked, but she had to be dainty.
Formal events. They really aren't Aleera's specialty. This party might have dancing and drinking, sure, but it's not the kind that she's used to and certainly not the kind that she'd prefer.... No, it's all far too fancy for her... but there's still fun to be had. And besides, she has someone that she needs to meet here.... The siamese has actually bothered to dress up for once. She's wearing a dark purple waistcoat over her usual puffy tunic, allowing the frills of the collar to poke out over the collar of the coat, and it's accompanied by a similarly colored pair of dress pants. She's wearing her usual boots and belt too, but for once she doesn't even have any ordnance on her! She's gone all out, indeed.
She's currently simply lingering around where her and Lyas's meeting point was supposed to be -- likely someone near the edge of the crowd -- and idly nibbling on... some sort of snack she snagged from one of the tables along the way. Noble food is weird....
Lyas enters the castle after the main throng has passed. He looks contemplatively up the blocked-off staircases.. but takes no more than a couple, joking steps towards those areas the guards are standing prohibitively in front of. It's worth it to see their scowls, before he turns on his heel and follows the intended path to the grand hall.
The Cat would have gravitated straight towards all that free food - if he wasn't waiting for someone. He lingers by the doorway, inspecting the newcomers. He spots Leighton in the crowd, waving as he lounges back against one wide leaf of the door.
There she is! Lyas gets a glint in his eye as he catches sight of Aleera's back, her long cream hair a dead giveaway. The tabby slips through the crowd, clamping his hands down on Aleera's shoulders. "Evenin'," he murmurs to her, then spins her around to look at him. Now, she can see that the Cat has also made some efforts towards dressing up - he wears a clean white shirt, with a laced v-neck, and faun-coloured trousers. He's ditched his normal leather armlets, though of course he still has the cords for his necklaces - and what's more, he's wearing a brand-new Adaptable clan badge, prominently displayed on the front of his shirt.
Crowds, noise, and festivities: Three things that one wouldn't expect to find a certain small cat around. But Zalthar is one to suprise occasionally, and can be found having slipped in early, sitting on one of the chairs designed for the shorter folk.
She's not especially dressed up compared to the others in the party, but even she put some thought into how she looks today. A fitted black jacket with brass buttons down its front and on its cuffs, embroidered with gold thread along the hems and shoulders, while her trousers seem to have been re-tailored shorts, a bit baggier than most beings', but still quite respectable.
While Cassidy may be dainty, the fennec's wife is... well, at least she is graceful. The athletic jaguar, Natska Solacious, is wearing one of her favorite dresses tonight - an elegant silken one in deep blues and purples, accompanied by silver ribbons and accessories. She is also right at Cassidy's side as her wife visits the snack table, but she declines to get any for herself as she takes in the crowded ballroom.
Next to Leighton is another, an older Jaguar. Ambrose, smiling faintly as the squirrel looks out over the crowd, peering out over the group of crows that has managed to surround the two. There's a momentary glance towards Peter, a little gesture of his muzzle suggesting to the lad to come closer, though he makes sure they don't hold up the crowd too much... No use holding the queue up.
The crowd does steadily move forward, and soon enough, most beings are inside the large ballroom.
And then, mione steps out, holding an air-magic enchanted rod of metal. "Beings All. On behalf of Good King Good, I am delighted to declare the three-hundredth annual Hearts Tidings ball offically opened," his voices calls out, audible properly everywhere in the ballroom, and a little more exuberant than his usual, restrained self...
As his voice dies down, and the music starts to play, two -very- prominent beings make their way onto the dancefloor... The King and Queen themselves, traditionally opening by taking the first dance, as the music starts to play... A slow, rhythmic waltz...
Leighton is almost startled by the whisper from Peter, but smiles as she notices who it comes from. "Peter!" The squirrel giggles a little at the sight of the chipmunk. "Hi!" As she is offered food she politely nods at the staff...and tries taking the entire plate, perhaps having misunderstood something. Even then, she smiles at Peter. "How have you been?" She glances to Ambrose every now and then, clearly not wanting to get seperated in the crowd.
The usually dark furred Cassidy is, today, her original more natural colouration. She almost feels like a different person, but no, she's still the same short statured vixen as ever. "It feels like ages since we've been to a ball," She comments to Natska with a flick of her tail and a nibble. "The croissants are good. Highly recommended."
Aleera perks up when she feels those hands on her shoulders, and... really she already had a hunch about who it was. Not many people would dare to approach her in such a way, after all... but she does also look a bit less intimidating than usual, seeing as how she isn't a walking fire hazard right now. "Evenin' to you, too," she says right back, a grin on her muzzle, though she doesn't actually turn to look at him until he spins her around. She looks him over, her smile widening a bit -- especially after she spots that proudly displayed badge. "Y'know, you clean up pretty nicely," she teases, reaching out to take one of his hands. When the music starts up, she even adds, "I'd ask if you wanna dance, but I've got no idea how we're s'posed to dance at somethin' like this."
Peter jerks his head up and straightens his back into an upright posture at the sight of Ambrose - though he quickly slumps again, as the fabric of his outfit strains against the slight movement. A few crows are bumped aside as he makes his way up to the jaguar and the squirrel. "I been okay, I went and got some good clothes from my brother," he says, as an explanation of both his absence and his apparel. "Look- look! three hundred," he says, eyes lighting up at the sight of the King and Queen taking the first dance. He watches intently, bouncing excitedly on the toes of his scuffed leather shoes.
Natska puts a gentle hand on Cassidy's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I know," she replies, tone soft. "It's been... oof. Far too long. I'm almost not sure what to do with so many Beings around. And thank you, love, I will keep that in mind." She gives the shorter woman a warm, fond smile, then gives her attention to the dance floor as the royals move in.
Zalthar sits on her perch, watching the first dance of the night take place as she sips on a glass of wine. Distracted, she jumps down and starts to wander among the crowd, humming along to the music.
The tabby Cat smiles widely, tail brushing Aleera's leg affectionately. "'Clean up nice'? That's it? And I went and snuck out at five this morning to get this daft badge and surprise you." He lets Aleera take his hand, lifting hers for a kiss. "Had it booked a week ago. Thought I'd best not mention just when it was. Always I chance I'd have ended up leaving with their silverware instead of a badge." With that, he steps one foot past Aleera's, using his other to hook her legs out from under her. One arm around her waist, the other supporting her shoulders, he bends her back for an enthusiastic kiss. It's very public and some of the more refined citizens will doubtless harrumph about the display, but what does he care? "Don't think this'll stop us having fun though," he whispers to the other Cat, jerking his head down towards the clan badge. "Just need to get a bit creative about it. An' no more overnights in a goal cell!" He ruins the moment by dropping Aleera. She's only inches off the floor when he does, but still, how undignified!
Leighton giggles slightly. "I think...maybe the jacket looks better unbuttoned." She suggests to the chipmunk, perhaps trying to relieve the stress on his clothes a little. "Still! Glad to see you here." The squirrel's attention is caught by the king and queen, dancing. "Is that..." She mutters in a tone of disbelief. "Never figured I'd see them in person..." Her hand drifts to hold onto Ambrose's sleeve.
Lyas's apparent disappointment over her reaction simply makes Aleera laugh and grin that amused, toothy smile of hers, "What else do ya want me to say? That it's shiny 'n nice? It does look real good on you." Her tone is still teasing, of course, but once he finishes explaining the circumstances of getting that badge, she goes to speak... then pauses and glances around the... rather public place that they're currently in.... Whatever she was going t say, she leans in to whisper it to him instead. She moves in for a kiss after, but he beats her to the punch there, a surprised, "Ack!" coming from her as she's tipped back... only for her to lean into that kiss a moment later... and then be dropped on her bottom a moment after that. She pouts up at him, but then chuckles and hops up to her feet to pull the tabby into an... uncomfortably tight hug. "Aye, aye, no more a' the hardcore stuff. I'm sure we can find some new ways ta have some fun...."
Peter unbuttons his jacket in silence. The shirt beneath clings to him like a second skin, fur even poking out from between the buttons - but hey, at least it's perfectly white and kept clean, a feat for the young lad. "It's really them!" he mutters. His jacket bunches up a bit now that it's open.
Cassidy nods in agreement, before looking up at Natska. "Not sure what to do? Well, what else would we do at a party? We dance. After the royal pair, anyway. Dance, mingle. And eat, if you're me. Just a little though," she winks. "I have not danced in front of people in a long time. Hopefully I haven't lost my touch."
Slow and steady, the music moves, waxing and waning. One two three, one two three. And the king and queen move to the beat, in that same slow and steady rhythm. And slowly but surely, other beings start joining them. First, those of the high nobility who've found the time to come, together with their partners. By the looks of it, High Lady Solacious, a short fennec-fox herself, and High Lord Blackback, a bit more portly.
The food, all of it, really, is delicious. Most of it is locally sourced, to boot, the height of Sweetwater quisine, although there are a few dishes from Shralesta and beyond, as well.
Ambrose, for his part, makes sure to remind Leighton she's only supposed to take one item from the plate, before taking something himself, and gesturing towards a congregation of nobles. "If you need me, lass, y'can find me over there. There's some people I ought t'talk to."
Natska glances down at Cassidy to catch her look; she grins, then sticks her tongue out for just a brief moment. "That is what I meant. I know the routine by now - dance, snack a little, maybe mingle. There are just so many people here; I haven't dealt with a crowd like this in years." She looks back up at the dancing and caaaarefully sneaks a crossoint herself before rejoining Cassidy, standing at her shoulder and waiting for their turn to join the dancing. "... it is... what is the word though. Beautiful, to see all these Beings here together, even as... different as some are." She grins, glancing at the couple making a small scene off to the side. "I wonder if Sven was around to get invited. It seems like his thing."
Leighton seems a little discomforted by being left to her own devices by Ambrose. "You can't, I don't..." She sighs once he leaves, whispering to herself. "I don't know what to do..." Breathing in deeply, she smiles at Peter. "So...how's the career going? Doing well with the...guards? Militia?" She seems a little unsure. Glancing about, she seems to be looking for something to drink, her throat feeling dry.
