Overflow for Masq. Ball

[not_heavens_adam]

Who: Absolutely everyone
What: Masquerade~!
Where: The Golden Victory Club
When: Night of Saturday the 8th
Style: Whatever you want
Status: Open like the club's doors~

All day the Golden Victory club had been closed, the only people allowed in being the workers and helpers who were setting it up for the night's big event. Finally, at seven, the lights all turn on and the main doors open.

Leading up to the main doors is a red carpet walkway that will lead right into the main room. There, the usual club room is well illuminated with it's large bar at the back wall with plenty of drinks available for everyone. Along the walls, the club's chairs and some new loveseats are placed for anyone who would rather sit and socialize than stand or dance.

At the back, on either side of the large room, there are food tables with a wide selection, certain to please everyone. Along with these food tables are separate dessert tables. On their own table, there are three, large, cakes that anyone is welcome to dig into. (Although, they're just so pretty!)

In a few, strategic, locations there can be found baskets of masks just in case anyone needs one or wants to try and get one on a stubborn friend.

Lighthearted ball music and slow, peaceful songs lend to the atmosphere; loud enough to be heard and danced to, but soft enough that conversation is possible.

The hosts themselves, along with the staff of Temptationis Clementiae, are already there and in costume, as if welcoming their guests in for the festivities.

[OOC: Feel free to just make an initial comment with a link to the thread you're continuing here and then thread on your merry way~]

Comments

[shirleyhopeful]

[Don't mind Shirley nervously laughing a bit here!]

No, I'm afraid not, I just never had the time to.

[Well, she already had a dance with one of them so...]

[asea]

[ . . . Well, it wasn't as though he'd dedicated much time to learning such a thing, either. He considers this, finding that it really isn't a surprise.]

Life on the Legacy and around was rather confined . . .

[shirleyhopeful]

But the important thing now is that I have a chance to learn right?

I've been looking at other people lately and doesn't seem that difficult to dance to. [Or so she thinks]

[asea]

[The important thing is to get far, far away from the Orerines.]

Are you certain? It may look easier than it actually is.

[He doesn't want Shirley to underestimate the art of dancing and potentially fall or hurt herself.]

[shirleyhopeful]

Hm? Does that mean you know how to dance, Walter?

[asea]

No, Merines. I've only seen and heard of basic Orerines dances.

[He isn't interested in learning, either.]

[shirleyhopeful]

Then...do you think we should try?

[She gave her hand out, will you take it Wally?]

[asea]

[He stares at the hand, bewildered by the offer. Dance -- with the Merines, no less? If she desired, then so be it, but -- ]

But . . . neither of us knows the moves.

[shirleyhopeful]

We could always copy the people next to us, it's better than nothing right?

[asea]

That . . . [didn't seem very ideal.] If that is what you wish, Merines.

[There was a pregnant and almost awkward pause before he rigidly extended a hand to take hers. From that alone, she could probably tell he was too stiff.]

[shirleyhopeful]

[Shirley took his hand but she gave it a gentle squeeze on it. As she did so, she wondered had there been a time she held his hand before.]

Walter, there's nothing you should worry about. This suppose to be for fun and you should enjoy yourself!

[asea]

[But he didn't know how. Rather, fun equated to slacking, and he should be on guard, not enjoying himself. The two redeeming facts were that he could ensure her safety in close distance and do as she pleased.

But he never cared to take up Orerines dance tradition of all things. The form he could easily replicate, but the actual technique behind the motions . . .

Squaring his shoulders, he looked to the heavily populated area of the room where the dances were being held.]

[shirleyhopeful]

[The closer they got to the dance floor, the more she glanced back at Walter.]

Here, I'll try my best to teach you. [By looking at others. With that, she looked at the other couples for a couple of seconds before sighing. If that was what they were doing...

Shirley hesitated a bit before putting her hand on his shoulder. This was off to an awkward start]

[asea]

[He didn't doubt her ability to teach. Still, considering both of their lack of credibility in the department . . . Well. He didn't understand how Orerines dances worked. He was at least more salvageable in traditional Ferines dances. He had observed Orerines dances in the past, which had mostly consisted of the Bantam Bouncers' strange song and dance mix as he'd passed them while gathering information. That clearly didn't apply here.

The hand on his shoulder, a rather foreign touch with its tender nature, brought him back. His arm on the same side instinctively rose, and with a quick glance over Shirley he glided a hand, fingers and thumb closed together, over her upper back. The other hand slowly reached for hers, though he stopped just before they could touch.

. . . ]

[shirleyhopeful]

[Shirley continued to look at the others before she looked back at Walter's hand. Is this really how the dance goes? So much bodily contact? The blush on her face was starting to show and out of all people, it had to be Walter. Suddenly, she was feeling lucky that she wasn't doing with Senel or else who knows what might happen.

She could feel his hand on her back but she couldn't bring herself to look at him. She took his other hand and wrapped her fingers around his before taking a small step to the side]

[asea]

[He didn't notice the blush forming, his attention occupied with the hand that Shirley had grasped to save him the effort. Her fingers intertwined with his felt awkward, unfamiliar to his calloused hands that were more accustomed to beating monsters and being grazed. That they would be holding hands like this, even as part of an Orerines event, was surreal -- but very much real.

Walter didn't have much time to dwell on it any longer when Shirley stepped to the side. He raised his head then, and saw that she had broken eye contact with him. The reddish shade of her face caused his step to be overly rigid and short, and he corrected this with a second small step before coming to a dead stop.]

Are you feeling all right?

[shirleyhopeful]

[Shirley was stepping to the side in order to avoid eye contact from Walter. She still couldn't believe that she was dancing the waltz with Walter, out of all people. If she had to choose, it would definitely be Senel or one of her other friends. However, she couldn't think something like that. She had to pay attention to her surroundings.]

Yeah, I am. I'm just...not use to dancing like this.

[Ferines dances didn't involve a lot of physical contact did they? She briefly looked up when...oops, there goes Walter's foot]

[asea]

[Oh.

That was fine. He wasn't discomforted, at the least.

Unflinching, he nodded, understanding the predicament. This was only the beginning, and it already didn't seem so good a progress. Their close proximity still struck him as unusual, and therefore still foreign.]

If you wish to continue, we can start off slowly.

[shirleyhopeful]

I do.

[But now what? She mumbled a bit as she looked at Walter before looking back at the side. Hm...]

How about you take the lead? I'll follow though.

[asea]

[As it was her will, he did so without a word. That he straightened should have been indication, coupled with the way his gaze momentarily shifted to the side to observe the flow of the crowd.

A beat, then he slowly -- fluidly, unlike the rigidity of the last attempt -- took a step to the side. The rest of him fell into position, the motion encouraging Shirley to do the same.]

[shirleyhopeful]

[With each step, she followed wherever Walter was guiding her. She did look down a couple of times to avoid stepping on his feet but it seems that they're doing fine.

She wasn't planning on doing anything but she was smiling] I think you're getting the hang of this! We can keep going if you want!

[asea]

[They were decent, if slow compared to the rest of the floor. Dancing wasn't too different from the way he leaped into battle, and both emphasized footing, but he couldn't be too reckless when he literally held the Merines. Consequently, they were off beat to other pairs.

He stopped at her encouragement. Again, they were still as though they'd never started dancing in the first place -- if that slow motion could have passed for a waltz.]

What about you?

[shirleyhopeful]

Hm...I think I'm fine right now. [Personally, Shirley found this dance to be no different from what she is use to. For the most part, she was support in the battlefield so it would make sense that she wouldn't move quite as much as Chloe or Senel. Still...]

We can keep going!

[asea]

[Judging from her tone, he took it as an affirmative to in fact keep going and resumed position without another word. As long as she was pleased, continuing was no problem. That they were still off sync with the others didn't bother him in the slightest.

The nature of subsequent steps encouraged their speed to pick up, as he swerved to bring them about in a semi-circle. His step there might have been wider than it should have been, demanding Shirley to increase her stride.]

[shirleyhopeful]

[Shirley took a quick look to the side to see if there anyone there. With that, she followed Walter and took a wider step from the back. She was just happy to see that her friend guard was starting to feel relaxed and was starting to have fun.

She took another step to the side and waited his turn]