bluh bluh huge ball

[thalassino]

Characters: Vatheon
Location: That Castle
Time: Evening, on Sunday
Style: Any
Status: OPEN. Threadjack, threadhop, spam away!

[ Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen of Vatheon— whatever your newfound stature may be, Prince, Princess, Knight, or Peasant, you will all receive a message on your SFC on the eve of Saturday regardless:

You are cordially invited to the castle for this evening's ball. In addition, you are all welcome to try and solve the riddle if it fancies you. It just may break the curse!

The invitation is unsigned, but its intentions are clear. Maybe you hadn't quite noticed the sizeable castle in the distance of the city that had sprung up, but this message would surely garner your attention toward it now.

Should you arrive at the castle, plenty of attractions await you:

Ballroom ❧ A very large and beautiful ballroom is lighted up, complete with a playing violin orchestra. While the curtains will be drawn during this event, there is a windowed view and exit on one side of the ballroom that leads to:

Smee's Rose Garden ❧ A broad and colorful spanse of a garden, complete with many paths and turns. Plenty of roses are arranged in great arches, which provide perfect little places should you need some privacy with your sweetheart. Anyone familiar will even tell you that the garden was purposefully designed for just that sort of thing.

The Riddle ❧ There is an inscription located on a noticeable plaque set in one of the garden's benches. It reads:

Two are necessary to break this curse
Riled up, upset, what kind of love?
Only this kiss will stop it from getting worse.
Look for a winged one is push comes to shove,
Look for a glance slightly dark,
Search for a pair in reluctant love.
One answers a call; that's your mark;
One longs for patria though adverse.

Dining Hall ❧ Connected to the ballroom is an extremely long hall that stretches as far as the eye can see, elegantly arranged as the dining area. Expensive and exquisite cuisine seem to be on the menu— try something new? Chances are you won't be eating from a selection such as this again anytime soon!

Dais ❧ There is a noticeable raised dais that is easily visible via any area within the ballroom. It's locked off from guests, though— what is it for...?

Do enjoy. ]

Comments

[disastergirl]

[GAH. That just got her flustered all over again.]

That...that's a secret! It's nothing that's as bad as losing memories, though!

[rainbowarch]

Then we should go together, ja? I probably won't know what most of the food is.

[a_violent_end]

Oh okay. You don't have to tell me.

[He didn't mean to fluster her again! Ah, he feels like he's doing a really bad job, here.]

[seablaze]

[Glances around.]

Huh. Don't see anyone around. Think you're seeing things, mate. No pretty girls round here.

[a_violent_end]

Sure. [Smile.] I'll help you.

[ninthserenade]

<sub>[Shhh, they're his ticket to wooing people.





Even people he doesn't know. Which is why he's presenting this new guy with a nice ol' white rose.]</sub>

Hey, you.

[rainbowarch]

Thank you! I'm Cielo, by the way.

[kingwithnocrown]

It's not as though Izaya had planned to go to this ball to meet Shizuo. No, really, he had awoken just in time for this grand celebration. Since he had been in his coma, he had really missed out on potentially vital information gathering and he hated to be out of the loop. He didn't know anything and he didn't like that so he had decided to dress up and go mingle for the evening. After all, he was to be among 'kings' and 'queens' and the such. He figured it wouldn't hurt to doll up for an evening. It wasn't anything special. Just a well-fitted, solid black suit. The only color on it was a narrow, dark red tie.

As he first approached the elaborate castle, he stared around at the many people that had arrived and all of their wonderful outfits. It was pretty breath taking and he had a good time just mingling and doing what he did best- observe. He watched them interact and communicate and merge together. All from the walls and the shadows, keeping to himself. At some point an hour in, he had decided to take a break and head outside. He didn't really even think twice about it until he reached the actual gardens.

He was just about to pluck a large, completely blossomed red rose from a bush when he noticed- just barely- out of the corner of his eye, the one person that had intruded his life so violently: Heiwajima Shizuo. It was enough of a surprise that he jerked his hand back and caught a finger on one of the thorns. It pricked his flesh and he instantly stuck the bleeding digit into his mouth. He was close to Shizuo, just a few feet behind him.

Was he still under the curse? Izaya glanced around. There were statues and beautiful bushes of flowers that he could easily hide behind. Did he really want to interact with Shizuo? He could still feel that knife through his chest. More importantly- that surge of physical enormity of Shizuo's mouth on his own. No, no. He could take advantage of this situation. Right? He could very well just stroll over and try to work in under Shizuo's skin...Yeah.

That and he had made a promise, hadn't he?

He slid the finger out of his mouth and wandered towards Shizuo, around the curve of flowers. His fingers are just barely on the edge of a dark blue rose when he clears his throat.

"I never really thought that you'd be the type to like flowers."

[rebull]

Oh! Yes... I.

Am... Lysunder? Wait are you sure of that? Have you mistaken me for someone else? I've always been Reynard to you, have I not?

[rebull]

[His paws are now tangled along with briars and horse hair and ow ow ow. Reynard curses as he ties to tug either back but they only seem to snap on the thorns more. Dang it all... That didn't work, he has the lock of hair in hand at least but he's caught. At least he can hide the majority of him back in the bush...]

[kingwithnocrown]

[Izaya's dressed up in a simple, fitted black suit with a dark red tie. He's been mingling around actively. After all, he just awoke from a coma and needed to make up for lost time.

So of course he's interested in talking to Zelda. Screw the riddle.]

Princess Zelda.

[He's beside her at once, an easy, honestly pleasant smile on his face.]

Been a while. You look very pretty this evening. Having fun?

[aim_exorable]

[So let's recap.]

[Dualscar wants Darkleer to drink with him. Dualscar gave permission for him to 'indulge in his lesser nature'. However, Dualscar is also not going anywhere, and told him to get his own drink.]

[Well, let it never be said that Darkleer is not obedient.]

Thank you kindly, sir.

[More movement, but this time, the way he shifts forward isn't to help himself get up. Oh no. Instead, it's to get closer to Dualscar's face. One hand curls beneath the seadweller's chin, and then he's pressing their lips together.]

[What? He's getting a drink to taste the wine. If the wine happens to be in Dualscar's mouth...]

[disastergirl]

[Honestly, this was downright tame compared to how she usually reacted when she was upset or angry.]

Who are you, anyway?

[zelda_hylia]

Izaya!

[She actually hugs him suddenly. Sola had worried to the princess about Izaya being unconscious, so she was quite aware of his predicament.]

You're awake!

1/2

[rebull]

[Ignore the rather angry sounding fox noises from a near by bush, followed by some cursing because ow ow ow ow thorns ow. Why is this making him so mad?!]

[ALSO, HAH. NOTHING HAPPENED. THE KISS DID NOTHING.]

2/2

[rebull]

[Right, shit, nothing happened... he's still, the same. Dangit.]

[kingwithnocrown]

[Luckily for Selphie, Izaya is quite observant. And he's come to this ball to do just that- observe. Make up for lost time and say hello to people that it's been a while for.

He's in a black suit, fitted and formed, with a red tie. It's a pretty standard suit and now that he thinks on it, he's pretty sure he's worn it before.

Either way, he's just going to be strolling along the gardens when he notices it. Just barely. Enough to stop and look.

Then his face lights up in surprise.]

Selphie?

[Woah. No way. It is. He turns and leans down to get eye-level with the miniaturized version of his friend.]

What happened to you?

[kingwithnocrown]

Hell-o!

[Surprised Izaya is wide-eyed Izaya. He's honestly not used to this sort of thing and it takes him a moment to process the hug.

Well. Okay. He's just going to hug her back now- albeit after an awkward pause but it's not an awkward hug.]

That I am. And you don't seem too affected by the curse. That's good to know. Nya! I'm so happy to talk to you! And to be walking around again. I don't like not having been conscious for that long. It's scary.

[zelda_hylia]

[She lets him go fairly soon. Zelda's not much of a hugger, but she was relieved to see him.]

Sola was terribly worried about you. He said that you seemed to just lose all your energy one day and then you just... did not wake up. I know that sort of thing is common in Vatheon, but I was concerned nonetheless. As for the curse.

[She indicates her wing ears.]

I turned into a siren. It was not pleasant, but I seem to have regained my sense of self for now.

[red_medic]

Zheir doom...?

[He frowns at that, perking a single brow, but shifts to not stare at her too much.]

Und you do not remember anyzhing of it?

[a_violent_end]

Shizuo had told Zelda that he would be heading into the dining hall shortly, and after about ten minutes passed, he tried to encourage himself to do just that. However, lingering was the subtle hope that maybe - even though it was too early, and not the right place, and everything did not fit the occasion to which he looked so forward - he'd meet Snow White a second time, under different, better circumstances. Shizuo the huntsman was able to think on their shared moments without any reservation. They had been powerful, and though Shizuo had sliced open Izaya's chest, he had still taken his hand - after all of that. And the blood that he had left behind on Shizuo's palm had been proof of that.

Now, hand washed and dressed in attire similar to what he had been wearing that evening - well-made clothes of leathery animal hide were all that lined his closet during this curse - minus the blood stains, Shizuo gave himself some more time. Just in case. He kept his attention on the flowers, walking slowly, without any real purpose.

And then he heard it. That voice - the one that had so kindly promised him a heart.

Shizuo turned and his expression was one of pleased surprised. The curse afforded him the luxury of being without the weight of any negative feelings toward Izaya, instead leaving him openly appreciative, and even somewhat enthralled with the man who, even after having been stabbed, had given him a promise. Izaya was still his Snow White, only this time the promise freed Shizuo of that weight that had forced him to raise a blade to him.

"I do," he replied. Shizuo the huntsman had respect for all life, even plants, and a deep appreciation for the way they contributed to the cycle of life. That's probably why he made a terrible huntsman; he could hardly bring himself to uproot a plant, let alone kill an animal. "Especially the red ones," he added, looking into Izaya's eyes.

Then he looked away.

"It's early," he said, attention on a rose bush. One week had not yet passed.

[zelda_hylia]

I would prefer it that way. I do remember it. I simply did not remember who I actually was when I was doing it.

[She sighs heavily.]

This curse is very strong.

[prominence_glow]

[Good point. All kinds of crazy huntsmen wandering around these days. Not that Lea minds; as long as they don't try to steal his feathers or make him dinner, they're cool. A huntsman helped him...]

[Let's not think about that.]

Alright, if you say so. See if this is too heavy.

[Handing it off now!]

[stayb100ponyboy]

DAD!!!

[Gosh, taking a walk in the rose garden to clear his head and he turns a corner to see this.]

[Equius comes charging over, blowing air hard through his nostrils and prancing on his front hooves, almost rearing up. This is one displeased horseboy!]

[a_violent_end]

It's no trouble.

[After all, he had kindly stopped eating the roses at Shizuo's request.]

I'm Shizuo. Nice to meet you.